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gay marriage illegal

The Illinois State Congress will soon vote on a bill to legalize gay marriage, and civil unions are legal in the state, thus requiring both colors. Information Source: Talking Points Memo Graphic by Sarah Jaleel & Kathryn Jaslikowski

gay marriage legal no laws about gay marriage domestic partnerships legal civil unions legal

EQUALITY NOW: At a gay marriage rally in Chicago March 25, activists gather to ‘demand legal equality’ as they await the Supreme Court hearing of the most recent gay marriage bill. The activists were also at the rally to support the bill going through the Illinois House. Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images

Illinois Senate passes bill for gay marriage, House vote may legalize Rosie Kelly

staff reporter The Illinois Senate passed legislation to legalize gay marriage in Illinois on February 14, and the bill is awaiting a vote in the Illinois House of Representatives. The House currently has the bill out of committee and on the docket, according to Laura Fine, Illinois House Representative for Glenview and Northbrook. If the House passes the bill, it will be signed by Illinois Governor Pat Quinn and become Illinois law, according to the Chicago Tribune. According to Fine, the House has taken ‘roll calls,’ or informal votes to see if the bill has enough representatives on board to pass the bill. The bill is a few votes shy of the necessary 60 for passage. The Illinois Congress is not in session right now, but Fine said sponsors of the bill are work-

ing hard to get remaining ballots. “The people who are working on the bill are really talking to people and making them have a better understanding of the bill and what it means so they can gain their support,” Fine said. The major opposition has come from religious standpoints according to senior Max Sendor, President of the Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) at South. A lot of religions define marriage as between a man and a woman, and Sendor believes that some don’t want to stray from that viewpoint. “People are very hardwired in their val-

ues of family, and they don’t want to vary [politically] from their personal ideas,” Sendor said. Other opposition is grounded in party politics, according to Fine, who supports the bill. There could be some representatives that might personally support the bill but feel like they can’t vote for it because of the constituents they are representing and those opinions. Fine said that the recent media publicity from major political figures like Hillary Clinton and Republican Senator Rob Portman, both who have recently come out in support of gay marriage, could help Illinois’ changes.

“Even though I have my strong beliefs about sex and marriage, it is not my duty, nor the government’s, to impose upon anyone else my beliefs.” -Junior Jeffrey Mathew

Fine also thinks that the March Supreme Court hearings about California’s legislation banning gay marriage (Proposition 8) and the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act are helping to spotlight the issue. “Especially [U.S. Senator Mark Kirk from Illinois] as a Republican coming out and saying [gay marriage] is something they support, it’s easier for someone else to say [...] if the leaders in my party support it, then I can support it as well,” Fine said. Fine’s choice to support gay marriage is shared with many at South. According to an Oracle-conducted survey of 217 students, 85 percent support Illinois legalizing gay marriage. Cheryl Hope, staff sponsor of the GSA, sees the numbers in support of gay marriage on an upward trend. Hope attributes

See GAY MARRIAGE page 5

Explosions at Boston Marathon hit runners, spectators, affect members of South community Sarah Jaleel & Kathryn Jaslikowski

co-editors in chief

RUNNING FOR COVER: On Bolyston St. near the finish line of the Boston Marathon, two explosions hit a crowd of people. According to The New York Times, dozens of people were amputated from the blasts as rescue workers rushed in. FlickrStorm

NEWS

OPINIONS

Two bombs detonated 12 seconds apart near the Boston Marathon finish line at 2:50 p.m. April 15, causing three fatalities and at least 175 injuries, according to The Boston Globe. The cause of the explosions was unknown, according to a White House official when The Oracle went to press. Among the more than 27,000 runners participating in the marathon were Diana Starcevich, English administrative assistant, and her husband, Scott; Paul Herzog, former South guidance counselor; and their friends Peggy and Matt Dettloff (mother and son). Diana said that she crossed the finish line approximately 15 minutes before the blasts went off. “I was asking a guy where the bus was

FEATURES

for my gear check, and we were talking, and I heard that boom, and I mean, that was loud,” Starcevich said. “I knew right away […] it just didn’t sound right. […] My husband and I were leaving and then just that quick, that second one went off […] No one knew what was wrong, and people were running past us, leaving, and we had to go back in the direction people were running from because […] we had agreed to meet [there].” Herzog explained he met up with Diana, Scott and Matt at their designated area, but the last notice they had gotten from Peggy was a text message at her 40k mark, about two miles to the finish line. According to Diana, it took them about an hour and half before they made contact with Peggy. Herzog said the relief he felt once the group reached her was tremendous. “Peggy walked up Heartbreak Hill [during the marathon], and she should’ve been running, and I would’ve usually yelled at her for being a slacker, but because of

See BOSTON page 2

A&E

SPORTS

news

April 19, 2013

North Shore students participate in growing charitable tradition Faith Savaiano

co-news editor Sally You

asst. a&e editor The 10th annual student-run Burger Day raised a record amount of approximately $74,000-75,000 April 15. The event was held at the Plaza Del Prado McDonald’s in Northbrook and was led by Burger Day Team members from GBN, GBS, New Trier and North Shore Country Day. The GBS Burger Day Team members, sophomore Henry Dickson, junior Johnny Cowhey and senior Paul Masini, advertised the event around GBS by selling t-shirts for $10 with 100 percent of these funds, along with the burgers sold on Burger Day 10, being donated to Ronald McDonald House Charities. “Ronald McDonald House Charities is a great charity that supports kids in a hospital,” Cowhey said. “It opens their doors for families that have children staying indefinitely at hospitals in order to make the healing process easier on everyone.” Now in its ninth year, Burger Day originally began as a prank among five friends from Field Middle School who attempted to purchase as many burgers as possible from the Plaza Del Prado McDonald’s. The five friends expanded the number of people who took place in every successive Burger Day until the fourth occurrence of the orchestrated prank. “After the fourth time this happened, […] [the participants] bought over one thousand burgers,” Cowhey said. “The owner of the local McDonald’s approached the kids and told them that buying out the burgers from a McDonald’s is impossible and what if they turned it into a charity event? This is how the event was born.” According to Josh Tolmatsky, Burger Day President, Ronald McDonald House Charities employee and GBN Burger Day Team member, the event featured new aspects including a title sponsorship of $10,000 provided by Dr. Pepper. “Getting a title sponsor is very exciting,” Tolmatsky said. “The entire Burger Day Team and I presented to a representative from Dr. Pepper who runs their McDonald’s account for the Midwest.” Dr. Pepper was one of 40 sponsors for Burger Day 10— up from 28 sponsors last year. Also new this year were a series of entertainers alongside Ronald McDonald such as Benny the Bull and the Incredi-Bulls. “Having the entertainers was absolutely awesome,” Tolmatsky said. “I thought it added an entire new element to the event that really made it a lot more fun for everyone.” In the spirit of the first Burger Day, there is an annual burger-eating contest in which teams from participating

HAMBURGER HELPERS: Biting into their burgers, juniors Richard Pearl, Matt Chorvat and Chris Neuhaus participate in Burger Day 10 at McDonald’s April 15. This was the first year that New Trier and North Shore Country Day joined GBN and GBS at the same location to celebrate Burger Day. Photo by Jackie Cortopassi

schools attempt to eat as many burgers in a half hour as possible. Students from GBN, GBS and New Trier formed teams of four. Juniors Denatra Moshi, Aaron Rowe, James Roberts, and Peter Balabanos represented GBS. GBS fell three burgers short of GBN’s winning amount of 61 burgers, roughly 4,000 calories per team member, according to Tolmatsky. Moreover, Lake Park High School participated in Burger Day 10 for the first year . “[Cowhey] connected us to Lake Park High School through his brother who is a teacher there,” Tolmatsky said. “They actually have community service class that enacts various projects so they will be starting their own Burger Day event, [...] but they will have the basic Burger Day event to help raise funds for the charity.” As Burger Day expands to other schools and areas, Cowhey reflected on GBS’s place as a founding Burger Day school. “GBS has been one of two schools that has seen the event grow from the start,” Cowhey said. “Half of the original founders were from GBS when it was still a prank. Now, the event is passed down from GBS students to GBS students, and the event continues to live on.”

BOSTON, continued from front page that, she was probably a minute behind the finish, where she should have been [if she hadn’t walked up the hill] right at the time of the explosion,” Herzog said. Similar stories of miraculous coincidences are springing up, according to Herzog. Adam Vevang, Boston University (BU) student and 2012 South graduate, said that he and his friends were planning to go to the finish line around 2:30 p.m. but decided to eat in the cafeteria first. Vevang and his friends learned of the explosions from the cafeteria TV. “We could’ve been standing right where the second explosion went off […] I don’t like to think about it just because I’m really thankful that for some reason, my stomach wanted me to eat [and that] I’m here right now,” Vevang said. According to Vevang, his cousin also goes to BU, and Vevang couldn’t contact him as phones were ringing constantly yet cell service was not cooperating in the hours after the explosions. He said that students at BU were walking up and down the river on phones, shouting out whenever they were able to get ahold of someone. “I wasn’t able to get ahold of my cousin for two hours [...] That was hard because you start to think the worst,” Vevang said. “I started to hear my cousin’s voice in my head, and I started crying because I couldn’t help it […] You can’t help but think the worst but hope for the best.”

Vevang described the atmosphere in Boston April 16 as tense and cautious. According to him, it is odd that such a celebrated day in the city has suddenly become an event full of grief, and sirens can be heard frequently throughout the city, adding to the sense of panic that something else could happen at any second. “You walk down the streets on our campus, and you can’t read anyone’s mind, but it seems like everyone’s got a thought bubble that you can see above their heads, and you know exactly what they’re thinking about, and it’s quiet, and it’s eerie,” Vevang said. Despite the fact that the Boston Marathon will now always be associated with the bombings, according to Herzog and Diana, they will not let it stop them from competing in future races, even in Boston. “One of our friends back in Chicago said, ‘You know what, we can’t let our kids go to school, that’s dangerous. We can’t go to movie theaters, that’s dangerous. We can’t go to a sporting event, that’s dangerous now’,” Herzog said. “I think we all agreed we’re not going to let them win by scaring us away […] We can’t let this ruin a really positive experience.”

“I started crying because I couldn’t help it [...] You can’t help but think the worst but hope for the best.” -Adam Vevang, 2012 South graduate and current BU student

BITES BY THE NUMBER...

Graphic by Wyatt Richter

Information provided by Burger Day Team Members

news

April 19, 2013

Desi Club celebrates arrival of spring with colorful Holi festival Ruhi Bhaidani

staff reporter Desi Club celebrated Holi, the Hindu spring festival of colors, at South in the ARC courtyard March 21. According to junior Joris Powathil, the participants wore white clothing and threw colored powder at each other. “Everybody dresses in white to signify that everybody is equal in the eyes of God,” Powathil said. “So, everybody just throws colors at each other and nobody knows who’s poor and who’s not because they’re all wearing white.” According to Sejal Schullo, Desi Club sponsor, the white clothing is a tradition long embedded within the celebration of Holi due to India’s caste system. “In India, there’s still a lot of influence from caste system, even though it’s illegal,” Schullo said. POWDER PLAY: Showering each other with colorful powder, members of South’s Desi Club celebrate the Hindu festival of Holi for the second year at South. Senior Seena Kurian “And so everybody said she brought the idea of celebrating Holi to Desi Club last year after remembering celebrating the holiday while visiting India in eighth grade. Photo by Wyatt Richter wears white on that day so you can’t tell from outward appearance what socioeconomic group a powder as well. learn about the significance behind Holi.” person is because everybody is wearing the same color. “After they get all powdered up and they get caked According to Schullo, celebrating Holi achieved the And it’s not fancy; it’s just plain white clothing.” with the different rainbow colors, they decide to kind of goal of Desi Club to increase awareness of Indian culture According to Schullo, Holi is the Hindu celebration of come in and do a group hug with me in the center which at South. the coming of spring as well as the god Krishna, who is makes [a] colorful mess,” Schullo said. “And it’s one of Schullo said that Desi Club thought about the idea of an avatar of Vishnu. our last events, especially for the seniors who are leaving, allowing everyone at South to participate in the event “It is really a celebration of good versus evil,” Schullo and so it’s a nice little moment of their gratitude as well when they began planning, but ended up being held said. “It’s also a celebration of kind of re-birth and a re- as their excitement for being part of this organization and only for Desi Club members because they wanted the generation of good things that come with the spring: the doing something that is both fun and educational.” participants to understand the culture and significance flowers, the trees [and] the fertility of things.” Though Holi is typically a Hindu festival, the majority behind Holi. According to Schullo, Holi is traditionally celebrated of students in Desi Club who celebrated it are South In“It’s a fun activity and we don’t want people to just do with religious observance, dancing, singing, bonfires and dian Christians, according to Powathil. it to do it,” Schullo said. “We want them to understand the throwing of colored powder and water. “Our Desi Club only had three members that were ac- the meaning behind it. We want them to understand why Schullo said the members of Desi Club have a memo- tually Hindu,” Powathil said. “However, it was a great it is they’re doing it, what the holiday is, what it signifies rable tradition during the celebration to cover Schullo in cultural experience for every single one of us. We got to in terms of social and political issues in India.”

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news

April 19, 2013

Holocaust speaker teaches through living history Tammy Craven

news editor Carolyn Kelly

asst. news editor Holocaust survivor Aaron Elster spoke about his experiences to U.S. History students March 15. Elster was 11 years old when his mother, father and younger sister were killed by Nazis. Elster escaped from the group being sent to the concentration camps from the ghetto where he was living in Poland. He was a hidden child until the country was liberated, and he was reunited with his older sister who had also been hidden by the same family. After the end of WWII, Elster lived in a Polish orphanage until coming to the United States. According to Stacy Flannery, social studies teacher, Elster’s presentation, which he has done for the past three years at South, reflected the course’s focus on personalizing what students are reading about in textbooks. “I think one of the things all of our speakers have done is connect with the kids and give them a sense of why their story matters to them and how they can take something from their story and use it in their own lives,” Flannery said. “I don’t think [Elster] thinks anyone in that room is going to be subject to the experiences that he had, […] but evil exists in locker rooms and lunch tables and lots of other places, and here is as a model and inspiration to all of those kids about reasons which they can be upstanders in their own world.” After Elster told his story, junior Alexis Landsman said she had a better understanding of what she learned about the Holocaust. “All these numbers are thrown at you, like six million people died, there were this many tens of thousands of concentration camps,” Landsman said. “I think that it takes away the human sense of what was really going on. I think that [Elster’s] presentation just showed that each person [...] from the Holocaust had a story that was noteworthy.” Although Elster spoke about being forced out of his home and his cold, hungry winters hidden in an attic, he consistently mentioned that he “wanted to live so desperately.” Listening to the presentation, Terrence Jozwik, Social Studies Department instructional supervisor, took away the message not to be a bystander. “And he alludes to even in this day and age, there are still problems out there, and we read about them in the newspapers and we kind of say, ‘Oh, those poor people. Somebody should do something,’ but the idea is you are that somebody, perhaps, and you should do something,” Jozwik said. Junior Gabby Medovoy, who volunteers at the Holocaust Museum in Skokie, hopes that students continue to share stories like Elster’s. “[Elster] has suffered through so much, and he’s still going around today and sharing his story,” Medovoy said. “He’s looking to us [to tell future generations] we cannot let this happen again.” According to Flannery, she hopes the students’ positive reactions to Elster, evidenced by the long line of students thanking Elster and buying his book, meant that they understand the value of hearing a survivor’s story. “I tell my own students there’s a chance if you have younger

siblings they might not have this opportunity, […] and so I tell them one day you’re going to be able to tell your child, ‘I heard someone speak who lived through this and let me tell you what they told me,’” Flannery said. “I want them to see the value in the fleeting nature of the moment, and I really think they get that.” While Flannery recognizes that students won’t always be able to hear a Holocaust survivor speak, she hopes that Elster’s presence will live on through her teaching. “I don’t want to be pessimistic, but our teaching of [the Holocaust] will be diminished,” Flannery said. “I’d like to think I’m really good at [teaching], but someone who stands in front of you and lived it, I can’t deliver.” Jozwik said teaching history after all survivors of an event are gone is the history teacher’s dilemma. “Now that those people are gone, we have to keep the stories alive,” Jozwik said. “But that’s the job of the history teacher to make that past come alive as best we can even though those participants are no longer around.”

Photo by Marley Hambourger

Graphic by Wyatt Richter

BPA demonstrates achievements in competitions, service DOWN TO BUSINESS: Representing South’s Business Professionals of America (BPA) chapter, juniors Max Mattappillil and Joel Mathew present their awards. According to junior Joseph Varughese, some students received the Merit Scholar Award this year, an award for students with 90 percent or higher on a test about knowledge of the BPA program. Photo

courtesy of Rosanna McManamon

Richard Pearl

staff reporter The Business Professionals of America (BPA) chapter at South has continued to have success this school year. According to BPA sponsor Rosanna McManamon, BPA members participate in competitions against BPA chapters from other schools. In each competition, participants compete in a maximum of two of four possible categories. “It’s really divided into four areas,” McManamon said. “Financial, which is like accounting; administrator support, which is the Microsoft Office package; information technology, which is technical computer stuff; and then management and marketing of human resources, which is presentations having to do with human resource management or interview skills.” According to McManamon, there are three competitions: Area, State and Nationals. Nearly each of the 40 BPA members qualified for the State competition after participating in the Area competition. At the State competition, seven members qualified for Nationals, which will be held May

7-12 in Orlando. Juniors Hinna Raja and Nick Langas received first place in their respective categories. According to BPA president Max Mattappillil, students are preparing for Nationals by taking tests from previous competitions and asking McManamon for advice. “Before, people would just enter an event without knowing much about it, but taking a practice test and familiarizing themselves with the material really helped boost scores,” Mattappillil said. Another success for the BPA chapter at South was receiving the Professional Cup, a trophy given to the most outstanding BPA chapter in regards to service outside of the school. Judges chose the deserving chapter based on descriptions of the services that students wrote. Numerous BPA members also received Statesmen Torch Awards, given to students for success in all seven ‘torches’ of leadership: service, cooperation, knowledge, friendship, hope and faith, love and patriotism. Finally, McManamon said, as State Officer, junior Anastasia Athas led a team of seven students from other schools to raise over $4,500 for the Special Olympics. McManamon and Mattappillil are hopeful that BPA will continue to be successful next year, despite BPA’s new requirement for members to be enrolled in a business class. This could lower BPA participation. “We’ve had a strong group of members that did very, very well this year, and I’m sure they’ll join next year,” Mattappillil said.

news

April 19, 2013

Pope’s humility, devotion to poor impress community Aaron Ach

staff reporter Jorge Mario Bergoglio, who will go by the papal name Francis, was elected Pope by a gathering of Catholic cardinals in Vatican City March 13. Despite his Italian heritage, Argentinian Pope Francis is the first non-European to fill this position in over a millennium. Another distinguishing fact is that he is the first pope from the Americas and the first Jesuit pope. He is taking over for Pope Benedict XVI, the first pope to step down since the fifteenth century. Joanna Lialios, Western Religions teacher, believes his traits demonstrated as a member of the papacy and as a selfless member of the Catholic faith also distinguish him from his predecessors and other members of the papacy. “One thing that really stands out about Pope Francis is his devotion to the poor and his dedication to living out his role as a servant of others,“ Lialios said. FRESH FACE: Riding in the papamobile, newly elected Pope Francis spends time at his inauguration mass at St. Peter’s square at the Vatican March 19. Joanna Li“A major criticism of popes of the alios, Western Religions teacher, believes Pope Francis’ humility, shown by his actions of riding his bike or taking the bus to work as an archbishop and choosing to past, and some would say their live in a simple apartment rather than the archbishop’s residency, will allow him to serve as a positive example for the Church. (Maurizio Brambatti/Ansa/Zuma Press/MCT) downfall, is getting wrapped up in the prestige of the position [...] Pope Francis has shown that although he is the Pope, he Hickey believes the manner in which some controversial Church by the meeting of Pope Francis with the Patriarch is not going to be distracted by the more prestigious and issues are viewed has the potential to change. of Constantinople, thus softening centuries-old tensions material elements of the position.“ “Part of it will not be in so much the laws, [but] in the between the two Churches,“ Lialios said. “It is an incrediFather Thomas Hickey, priest at OLPH Church in tone in which we talk about people who are divorced or bly big step in [...] which could have lasting significance.“ Glenview, agrees that there are aspects of Pope Francis’ who are gay or poor,” Hickey said. “I think some of the Despite the new pope’s accomplishments in his currule that may be eye-opening for Christians and non- teaching he will probably do will have us come to a great- rent position and in those prior, some have feared that he Christians alike. er understanding of poverty in the world. […] That’s is too elderly and will serve a relatively short time until “I think it will change a lot of perspectives because been a lot of his life.” his death, assuming that he continues the general trend most of the world’s [Christians are from] the Southern Other issues being debated in addition to gay rights, of popes occupying the position for life. His age may be Hemisphere,” Hickey said. “This man coming from Bue- divorce and poverty are celibacy, abortion and priests’ a positive quality because he has more experience in the nos Aires comes out of a very different experience than inability to marry, according to Lialios. However, Lialios papacy and “hopefully more wisdom,” Lialios said. Western Europe. […] He comes less out of a bureaucracy believes that he may not be willing to make changes or In addition, Hickey believes that the papacy was not than he does a pastor.” decisions as quickly as many Catholics would like. ready for a term as long as John Paul II or other previSenior Shawn Kurian, a Catholic, agrees with Hickey “Many people believe that the Catholic Church needs ously long-standing popes. Hickey believes that it is reathat Pope Francis will change perspectives, but Kurian to change its views to fit modern times, but the pope has sonable to expect Francis to have a great deal of influence also observes a stereotype that exists within Roman Ca- shown a level of conservatism in the past that leads me to and even give the Church a “new face,“ even if he does tholicism. believe he will not budge on certain issues,“ Lialios said. only fill his position for a relatively short time. “[Because] he is non-European […] he can certainly atConsidering Pope Francis’ modern beliefs, Lialios sees “It’s interesting to me that since he spent mass on tract members from South America in particular, but [he him changing the way popes contact leaders of other Holy Thursday at a youth detention center in Rome, I’ve can also attract] more people in general because he has faiths around the world. heard of two bishops in the United States who went to broken the stigma of ‘white Catholic believers,’” Kurian “In the Christian world, there’s already been prog- prisons and did similar things; it’s kind of follow the said. ress in improving relations with the Eastern Orthodox leader,” Hickey said.

GAY MARRIAGE, continued from front page

“We took an important step with the passage of civil unions, but it is now time to pass full marriage equality.” -Daniel Biss, Illinois State Senator for Glenview

“In this country, everyone should be free to marry who they love.” -Laura Fine, Illinois House Representative for Glenview

the trend to an increase in people coming out in recent years, and people becoming more familiar with the reality of those around them being gay. The publicity and awareness have helped increase support for marriage equality and are turning it from a political issue to a civil rights issue. “I think most people have made [the] decision based on fairness and equality and equal rights,” Hope said. Those surveyed who opposed the legalization cited religious and personal reasons. Junior Krystian Szorc believes that both government and religion are key to leading peaceful and happy lives. “I believe God made it very clear that it takes a man and a woman to produce a happy, healthy life,” Szorc said. “I believe that all people should go about this standard, and for those who don’t want to, a law should be put in place to keep them in line. I know others may disagree, but this is just my opinion.” Hope responds to the religious opponents that there is a difference between a legal marriage and a religious marriage and argues that religion doesn’t have to play a part in the political aspect.

Junior Jeffrey Mathew believes that personal opinions should not inhibit legalization. “Even though I have my strong beliefs about sex and marriage, it is not my duty, nor the government’s, to impose upon anyone else my beliefs,” Mathew said. If Illinois were to legalize gay marriage, it would become the tenth state in the United States to do so. Illinois has been one of six states to offer civil unions to same-sex couples since summer 2011. According to the Oracle-conducted survey, of the 15 percent of students against legalizing gay marriage, 73 percent support the current civil union legislation. Sendor does not believe that civil unions are as comprehensive as a marriage, and they often result in legal confusion. “The laws get really hazy when it comes to civil unions,” Sendor said. “People tend to err on the side of conservative in that situation and are a lot less [cooperative].” Some common differences between a marriage and a civil union include hospital rights and health care benefits, issues with child adoption and estate taxes. According to CNN, there are approximately 1,100 federal benefits to marriage, not all of which are encompassed by civil unions. If the legislation passes the House, it will allow for gay students and staff at South to gain equal standing with straight peers within the law.

April 19, 2013

is published monthly by students at Glenbrook South High School, 4000 W. Lake Ave., Glenview, IL 60026. The opinions expressed in The Oracle are that of the writer(s) and not necessarily of the staff or school. The Oracle neither endorses nor rejects the products and services advertised.

editors in chief

Sarah Jaleel Kathryn Jaslikowski

news editors Tammy Craven Faith Savaiano

opinions editors Bailey Monte Emma Sailer

features editors

Camille (CJ) Park Zoë Shancer

a&e editors

Maddie Abrams Rachel Mann

sports editors John Adkisson Ethan Spalding

web editors

Mary Friedman Ben Kraus

illustrations editor Ellen Takagi

photos editor Evan Richter

asst. news Carolyn Kelly

asst. opinions

The editorial expresses the opinion of the majority of the editorial board and not necessarily that of the publisher, adviser, school administration or staff.

Students should take full advantage of PLTW opportunity

Next year, South will join thousands of high schools across the country in installing Project Lead the Way (PLTW), a national movement to involve American students in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). For the 2013-2014 school year, South will add two new courses: Introduction to Engineering Design and Principles of Engineering, before potentially adding six new courses the following year. According to the U.S. Bureau of Statistics, the fastest growing career fields in the U.S. are STEM-related, increasing annually at about 21.4 percent. For this reason, the Oracle Editorial Board strongly encourages students at South to take full advantage of the PLTW movement coming to our school next year and applauds the district for electing to participate. Nationally, STEM is crucial for the U.S.’s survival in global competition. In 2011, the National Center for Education Statistics (NCFES)

conducted the International Mathematics and Science Study, testing students in more than 60 countries in math and science proficiency. While the U.S. did not rank particularly low (ninth place in eighth grade math, tenth place in eighth grade science), PLTW aims to push the U.S. higher into the rankings of a competitive STEM world. Additionally, while 46.7 percent of Chinese university students graduate with STEM degrees, only 5.6 percent of Americans do, according to lessoncast.org. According to NCFES, with only six in one hundred American high school students choosing to pursue a degree in STEM, it is becoming increasingly difficult to keep up with emerging careers that require STEM preparation. The Editorial Board hopes students will take full advantage of South’s PLTW opportunities, as there are numerous advantages to joining the program. In an economy where the unemployment rate reached 7.9 percent in January 2013, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, joining PLTW in high school can set students up to enter the job market easily post-college. PLTW also gives real students invaluable real-world experience that will prepare them for STEM-related careers. Even students who feel they lack an affinity for math or science may find that the creative, design aspect of STEM appealing. Lastly, by taking PLTW classes, South students will make America stronger, not just globally, but also domestically. In the 2013 State of the Union address, President Barack Obama called for opportunities in high school to “better equip graduates for the demands of a high-tech FUTURE TRAILBLAZERS: Hard at work, junior Atticus Hebson and junior Cormac O’Brien use NXT Mindstorm Programming to program economy.” The Editoa robot built out of Legos to complete a challenge in Honors Engineering Physics. Next year, students will have the opportunity to enhance rial Board is proud that their engineering studies with Introduction to Engineering Design and Principles of Engineering. Photo by Evan Richter South will be helping to make that happen.

No uniform excuse, response for students who sleep in class

Whether it’s because of an issue at home, too much homework or just exhaustion, sleeping in class sometimes seems necessary or unavoidable. Other times, however, there isn’t a reason except for the asst. features fact that the student feels sleeping would be a better use of their time. Shea Anthony The Editorial Board views the issue of sleeping in class as one that Elisa Kim should be treated on a case-by-case basis. While students should be Madison O’Brien doing their best to stay engaged during class, we believe that teachers should also be more understanding towards the students who asst. a&e only fall asleep every so often. Sally You In an Oracle-conducted survey of 58 teachers, 23 mentioned some variation of just strictly “waking them up” or “pranking them” as asst. sports their method of waking sleeping students. The Editorial Board views Rachel Chmielinski this as a problem because there are often legitimate reasons as to why the students are falling asleep. asst. web Faculty should consider the factors that may be at play when a stuKelsey Pogue dent sleeps, such as insomnia or family troubles. The Editorial Board Madeleine Salah encourages students like this to seek help for their problems, whether asst. photos that be with a school social worker or a good friend. We also ask that teachers keep an eye out for students potentially in these situations Wyatt Richter and let them sleep before addressing them after class. adviser Jean Simmons, consumer science teacher, agrees with the notion Marshall Harris that extenuating circumstances may be present when students fall asleep in class and treats them accordingly. “When students fall asleep, I assume something in their life is out Letters to the Editor of balance,” Simmons said. “I wake them, talk with them, then send We would love to hear from you! Write a letthem to the nurse to either go home ill, stay at school and sleep in the ter to the editor at gbsoracle@gmail.com. nurses’ office, or perhaps discuss an […] emotional problem they are The editorial board reserves the right to edit letters, being careful not to alter intent. trying to work through.” On the other end of the spectrum, Spanish teacher Mark Bauman, Signed letters may be published anonymously doesn’t allow sleeping in class, like 22 of his 58 counterparts in the with the consent of the letter writer, the adviser, and the editors in chief. Oracle-conducted survey. Although he understands the variety of reasons behind a student’s sleepiness, he finds it necessary to wake the student. “I don’t tolerate it, and if someone is sleeping in class, I usually yell at them or say something about them in Spanish to draw the class’s attention towards them, and then once I have their attention, I call on them repeatedly to perk up,” Bauman said. While we do agree that teachers who habitually wake students up have good intentions, the Editorial Board believes that waking a student up, especially in a dramatic manner, is more of a distraction to the class than helpful to the tired student. Occasionally, there are stu-

Julia Jacobs

editorial

dents who literally cannot keep their eyes open during class and involuntarily fall asleep. Waking them up will not add a lively presence to the classroom. In addition, the Editorial Board would like to address that it is the student’s responsibility to make up the work that he or she has missed. The student will probably need to spend his or her own time at home trying to relearn the material. Senior Nicolle De Roeck, who says she sleeps in class about twice a week in different classes, agrees with this principle. There is no question that the students at South are stretched thin with their participation in academics, extracurriculars, jobs, etc. When caffeine or other methods of staying awake don’t work, falling asleep in class every once in a while may be justifiable for some students under certain circumstances, and the Editorial Board asks teachers to let up on those who do not abuse this proposition.

The Oracle Editorial Board Vote

Agree: 19 Disagree: 4 Abstain: 2

DRAMATIZATION

opinions

April 19, 2013

Reliving memories of middle school bullying allows for self-reflection few, the site remains alive, buried in the vast sea of the web. But despite this site, along with prank calls containing nothing but a slew of expletives and a social atmosphere that ultimately led her to eat lunch in a bathroom stall, Finnegan forgives her tormentors. Finnegan suffered from years of depression, yet she still forgives the people who did nothing to deserve it. This floored me. Forgiveness happens when people tell you that they’re sorry, that they regret their words and actions, not when they torture you for years and then push the “eject” button while you hurtle into the psychological unknown. Yet when I observe Finnegan now, preparing to graduate in less than two months, here’s what I notice: she exudes color and smiles a lot. She is unabashedly positive and complimentary. She is so full of life because forgiveness allowed her to transition healthily into a new high school identity. For all victims of bullying, holding lifelong grudges will not relieve you of your past but will become a continuously negative impact on your life. You are the only one who has the power to filter out the bad parts of a memory and take full advantage of the good. This requires not disposing of the memory that seems like unwanted baggage but carrying it with you wherever you go to remind you that you are in a remarkably better place now. When you tuck that unhappy identity away so that its only remnant becomes the oldest photo in your sequence of Facebook profile pictures, the wisdom gained from that experience is lost. Because this idea is a bit abstract, allow senior Victoria Sampson’s* story to bring it to life. In seventh grade, when Sampson reached 165 lbs, the

mockery she received reached a similar peak that prompted her to do anything she could to shed the weight. This meant limiting her caloric intake to 400 calories a day, which according to Medical News Today, is less than 25 percent of the number of calories she should have been eating. Julia Jacobs During the summer after her freshasst. opinions editor man year, Sampson had plummeted “What was the worst time in your life?” I asked senior to 110 lbs and would frantically exerDanielle Finnegan. Without hesitation she answered, cise each day the number on the scale “middle school”, as I expected she would. If I could, I was too high. It is without question too would stuff middle school into a shoebox, jump up that the bullying Sampson endured and down on it for a while and then bury it deep in the had a profoundly negative impact on backyard beside my dead pets. Whether it’s the surge of her relationship with food, but withhormones, the seemingly arbitrary array of rules or the out it, it may have taken decades for constant reminders that you’re really not a person yet, her to seek a healthier lifestyle. After there must be something about middle school that makes years of hidden eating followed by it the darkest time before our mid-life crises. years of secret starvation, Sampson For Finnegan, the trauma can be resurrected with a believes she has finally found a midcouple clicks of the mouse. The teasing about her weight dle ground. began in sixth grade and escalated into what felt like a “Although it was a struggle to get battle between her and the entire school. The ringleadthere, I got there,” Sampson said. ers of this effort succeeded in not only creating a toxic After years of teasing and friendschool environment for Finnegan but one at home as lessness due to Tourette syndrome, well through the near-obsolete social media phenomJane Packer, a 2011 GBS graduate, enon called MySpace. They created a page specifically also got there. Her middle school designed to host gossip about Finnegan, encouraging peers’ taunting ranged from calling outsiders to instant message the AIM screen name with her a “nerd” for showing interest questions or new information about her. during classroom discussions to acIn this biting, spiteful excerpt written five years ago, cusing her of dramatizing her tics for Finnegan’s classmate compares her to Cinderella, referattention. ring to her as “Danerella”: The part of Packer’s story that had the most impact on her though, “In this story though the prince doesnt pick her was the resounding lack of a support but picks the princess. Which danerella wish she was. system throughout her three years But no she never will be. Shell never be as pretty, or as in middle school. Though her parthin, or as nice or even as rich. She cant even get friends. ents were actively trying to improve So how does this story end? Well exactly how it started. her situation, within the walls of the Danerella is still the loner, loser, fata** b*tch who no one school, she felt that she was truly golikes. ing at it alone. ” Instead of withdrawing into a corNot only does this excerpt show that our kindergarten ner of inevitable loneliness, Packer teachers need to do more to ensure we accurately underentered high school with a desire to stand the message of fairytales, it encapsulates the crumake connections with a newly- maelty Finnegan endured amidst the most emotionally vultured student body, even fostering nerable years of her childhood. a friendship with a girl who used Although the majority of information has been deleted to throw things at her in the locker Illustration by Ellen Takagi room. Now, Packer holds substanand the hundreds of “friends” have dwindled to only a tive, meaningful relationships that trample the memories of her onewoman army that had to face a barrage of senseless mockery alone. In my own story of redemption, I am not the victim, but the bully. Though the memory feels removed, as if this fourth grade self existed only in a dream, I definitely recall teasing one boy in particular. For what? I don’t remember. The teasing may have not had a life-changing effect on him, but because I don’t know if that’s true, I decided to act. The particular person I teased ended up becoming a friend of mine, which made it that much easier to say, “I’m sorry.” He forgave me, then joked about the fact that if I tried to abuse him now, he could probably take me (he is now more than a foot taller than me). Although when I think about it, it sickens me to think that I may have caused others pain, I am not sorry it happened. Those memories from seven years ago have bred in me a hypersensitivity to the feelings of others and an innate desire to be a source of comfort rather than a source of grief. Like Finnegan, Sampson and Packer, the wisdom I gained from this dark period of my life was transformative. Whether we admit it or not, our present identities are forever linked to our past, so the least we can PAST REVISITED: For the first time in years, Senior Danielle Finnegan stands in front of her alma mater, Springman Middle School. Throughout sixth and seventh do is take away lessons that propel us grades, Finnegan was a constant target for her peers who created a MySpace page dedicated to “gossip” about her. At South, Finnegan found her niche in the Theater into better future selves. Department as a freshman, quickly recreating her identity at a new school. Photo by Evan Richter

*Name changed to protect identity.

opinions

April 19, 2013

US citizens vulnerable to drone attacks; Obama must act Chris Callahan

columnist We all know that we got Osama bin Laden in Pakistan two years ago. But what people don’t talk about is how we failed up until that day in 2011. For example, according to The Nation, in Feb. 2002, an unmanned CIA Predator drone shot at a site in Pakistan suspected to harbor bin Laden. It was the first-ever independent attack by a US drone. Soon after the attack, accounts from locals revealed the actual victims of the strike: civilians collecting scrap metal. This first strike started a pattern that has continued for the last 11 years. The US sends in a drone to strike suspected terrorist cells, we get it wrong and innocent people die. This is not likely to end anytime soon; according to The New York Times, a drone base just opened in Niger, ensuring drone presence in Africa for the foreseeable future. And the military loves the ability to train a drone pilot in a shorter amount of time than a real pilot and keep them safely behind a joystick at mission control. Drones are bad. I don’t want to sugarcoat it. According to Pakistani estimates, casualties from drone strikes may be as high as 98 percent civilian – and remember that the US also conducts drone activities in Yemen, Somalia and, now, out of Niger. While these numbers may be overstated, even a conservative estimate of 75 percent is an astounding number of civilians killed. Innocent people do not deserve to die because the government thinks that they might live near a terrorist. The entire strategy behind terrorism is to kill civilians to create fear in another country, society or group. But if our “war on terror” involves the same killing of noncombatants, are we really better than the terrorists we fight? Obviously, the argument remains that drones kill terrorists, so it’s worth it. But drones are also counterpro-

ductive. When an American drone kills civilians, the family and friends of those civilians aren’t likely to hold hands and sing Kumbaya if and when American troops come through the area; they’re much more likely to be easy recruits for al Qaeda and the Taliban. And according to the Globe and Mail, drones create these effects even without killing anyone. How would you feel if China had flying cameras with rocket launchers attached in our skies all the time? However, that isn’t the worst part. According to The New York Times, for several years President Obama has used the 2001 law authorizing military force against al Qaeda to theoretically justify drone attacks against any-

one, including US citizens on US soil. This means that if you were suspected of being a terrorist by the US government, you could be fired upon by a drone over your house. Forget “right to a speedy trial in front of a jury of his peers” - you are now dead to the US government. This is an offense to the Constitution and to every citizen’s due process rights. Every single US citizen deserves to face his or her accuser and be assumed innocent until proven guilty. I can only hope that President Obama rethinks the way his administration conducts counterterrorism operations and forgoes the drone option.

DONE WITH DRONES: During a protest against drone attacks in Pakistan’s tribal region, a protester carries a burning US flag in Multan on Oct. 13, 2012. According to the Globe and Mail, drone strikes that kill civilians are said to breed terrorism and provide ample terrorism group recruits. Photo from S.S. Mirza

Violent games desensitize players to violence, reward killing

Claire Fisher

columnist Aiming a perfect gunshot right through your friend’s chest. Stealing a car and shooting a cop that’s on your tail. Sneaking up on an enemy and slitting his throat from behind. These may all sound like scenes from a gory movie (or good ways to end up in jail), but they’re simply parts of many teens’ favorite pastime: playing violent video games. According to a recent Oracle-conducted survey of 209 students, 48 percent play violent video games. South is no exception; according to ign.com, of the 213 million video games sold in the United States in 2012, five of the top 10 most popular games were violent. Video games have always been a fun way to escape from reality, but lately, these violent games haven’t seemed so innocent. According to huffingtonpost.com, Adam Lanza, the Sandy Hook Elementary killer, and Anders Breivik, the man who killed 69 people in a mass shooting at a summer camp in Norway, in 2011, both frequently played

violent video games before they committed mass murder. People want answers when tragedy strikes, and some have blamed the video game industry. So, the question is: do violent video games cause violence in real life? Unfortunately, there isn’t a clear answer to this question, but some think that violent games can cause mood changes. Sophomore Sabrina Palmer notices that her younger brother becomes more aggressive after playing violent video games. “After he plays [Call of Duty], he tends to push around the dog, and he likes to hit me and my sister,” Palmer said. “He is more irritable.” According to The New York Times, it’s true that video games can cause short-term aggression. However, while 15 minutes of getting pushed around might be annoying, violent video games aren’t proven to cause anything more. So maybe the jury is still out on the ability of violent video games to incite mass murder, but there’s still something twisted about trying to kill another human being, even in a virtual world. According to scienceblogs.com, the military has been reported to use violent video games to desensitize soldiers so they stay calm in combat. For the gamers that aren’t training for battle, however, I see an issue with becoming so numb to violence. Junior Christian Wilke doesn’t see an issue with kill-

ing in video games. “Whether you’re killing people or aliens, or [you’re playing] Tetris, and you’re getting rid of blocks, I think it’s all the same,” Wilke said. “I don’t play to kill, I play to win.” This is a prime example of desensitization. It is true that the goal of most video games is to kill in some way, but there’s a problem if you’re able to see the brutality of shooting a person until blood spews as equivalent to removing blocks. Think of the message it’s sending - we see killing people as a game. That message might be taken even more seriously if you’re exposed to violent video games at a young age. According to the same Oracle-conducted survey, 45 percent of students who play violent video games started playing before middle school. There’s a good reason for age requirements on games. According to drphil.com, violent video games teach kids incorrect moral consequences by awarding killing with extra points instead of a jail sentence. Additionally, violent games train children to externalize strong feelings through violence, impede social skills and weaken the ability to control anger. Though there may not be enough solid research at this point to create a direct correlation between these games and real life violence, that doesn’t close the issue. People still need to watch that the line between fantasy and real life doesn’t blur.

photos from Google images

reviews

April 19, 2013

Timberlake’s 20/20 Experience proves he hasn’t lost his touch Will Gould

music critic It’s been a long seven years since Justin Timberlake’s last solo album, Futuresex/Lovesounds, and the anticipated follow-up, The 20/20 Experience, was released March 15. While I was never an avid Timberlake fan, my seventhgrade self in no way hesitated to get down and boogie to 2006’s smash-single, “Sexyback”. Considering my meek exposure to Timberlake’s music, I was expecting roughly 45 minutes of “Sexyback”. While that would have been good enough for one listen, I am far more satisfied with this robust and diverse effort. “Pusher Love Girl” sets the tone for the album, opening with Disney-esque strings and promptly dropping into a smooth groove that I just can’t help but nod my head to. Once Timberlake adds his trademarked croon to the mix, there is nothing to do but hum along with the deceptively simple melody. Timberlake’s voice even makes the repetitive lyrics, a collection of narcotic similes about his lover, compelling. Normally, an eight-minute song would be THE JT EXPERIENCE: Releasing his third studio

album 20/20 Experience last month after a six year break from music, Justin Timberlake has had an extensive career. Here are a few of his noteworthy projects and moments during the hiatus and throughout his life. (1) In 1993, Timberlake joined the cast Mickey Mouse Club alongside future star Ryan Gosling and future girlfriend Britney Spears. (2) In 1998, boy band ‘Nsync released their first album with Timberlake as their frontman. (3) In 2004, Timberlake made a stir at the Super Bowl when he accidently exposed Janet Jackson’s breast during the halftime show. (4) Beginning in 2010, Timberlake pursued an acting career starring in films like Bad Teacher and The Social Network. (5) In October 2012, Timberlake married his on-and-off girlfriend of five years, Jessica Biel. (6) In March Timberlake joined the elite SNL five-timers club for hosting the show his fifth time.

out of place on a pop record, but, “Pusher Love Girl”, sets the stage in that regard as well. At a whopping 70 minutes, with only three songs less than seven minutes long, the album is the definition of getting your money’s worth. While many songs have ambient introductions and conclusions leading into the next tune, it makes for an engaging experience when heard from end-to-end. “Suit & Tie”, the first single for this album, is sure to be the next dance floor staple. It has already found a home on radio stations like Kiss FM and the Mix, and will definitely make its way onto many summer playlists. One of the most memorable moments on the entire record is Jay Z’s verse on, “Suit & Tie”. Atop a minimal halftime beat, Jay Z’s aggressive flow adds an interesting aspect to an already catchy song. Following this single is my favorite song on this entire record, “Don’t Hold The Wall”. The beat is comprised of ancestral drums and handclaps, alongside a group of people chanting as if around a fire. The hypnotizing vocal sample from which the song draws its title is repeated throughout the chorus, serving as a home base for this experimental track to return to before ventur-

ing back out into the uncharted wilderness of pop-dancetribalism. In the time since its release, the second single, “Mirrors”, has become wildly popular. Undoubtedly, this is due to its more conventional take on the rhythm & blues with which Timberlake has become so comfortable. Normally, I would have an issue with this sort of generic track getting more recognition than other, more “out there” songs like, “Don’t Hold the Wall”, and, “Spaceship Coupe”, but this song has such an infectious melody and relatable lyrics that I have nothing to say. It will likely join “Suit & Tie” on contemporary radio shortly. When it comes down to it, there aren’t many negative remarks to be said about The 20/20 Experience. Aside from occasionally boring lyricism, this is an incredibly well put-together and thought-out record, showcasing a fantastic vocal performance by Justin Timberlake along with solid production by J-Roc and Timbaland, alongside other established producers. I eagerly await the release of the “second half” of The 20/20 Experience this November.

(5) (1) (2)

(6) (3) (4)

Photos from Google images

Jackie Robinson biopic captures reality of racism in baseball, history Kathryn Jaslikowski

co-editor in chief “We’re a ship without a captain, and there’s a typhoon coming.” It was April 1947, and the Brooklyn Dodgers were without a manager. Leo Durocher was suspended, and his replacement had quit after two games. Dodgers’ owner Branch Rickey was desperate for an experienced manager who could weather the proclaimed “typhoon” headed their way. As it would turn out, Rickey didn’t have to worry so much because the typhoon that carried Jack Roosevelt Robinson had already begun to crash upon the shores of the US, destroying segregation in sports, eradicating the tradition of baseball as a “white man’s game” and leaving behind the most influential ball player of all time. 42, the Jackie Robinson biopic released April 12, is the story behind the man who “broke the color barrier” in Major League baseball. Rickey (Harrison Ford) spends a couple days searching the black baseball leagues before he comes up with Robinson (Chadwick Boseman), and thus, history was made. Just seven days after Robinson’s debut on the Dodgers, Phillies’ manager Ben Chapman (Alan Tudyk) stood outside his dugout telling Robinson to “get back to the cotton fields.” This scene is Boseman’s most impressive performance as his character struggles to control his temper. Fed up with Chapman’s chirping, Robinson retreats to the locker room, smashing his bat against the wall in frustration again and again. Boseman’s sincere and raw sobs connect him emotionally to the audience. Casting the iconic Ford added a layer of theatrical talent that balanced the inadequacies of some of the lesser-

known actors. His portrayal of complex Rickey is spot-on sometimes makes me ashamed to admit that I’m Amerias the owner uses every excuse to explain adding Robin- can. It tells the story of the incredible Jackie Robinson, son to the team, from finances to publicity, before finally who is not only a legendary baseball player, but also a admitting the truth to Robinson in a private moment: “It reverential figure in the civil rights fight. After all, he was was something unfair at the heart of the game I loved, the first player to have his number, 42, universally retired and I ignored it […] you let me love baseball again.” from all major league sports, and the great Martin Luther My major complaint about the film is that it lacks some King Jr. called him “a legend.” character development. After only a few scenes together, Robinson tells Wendell Smith (Andre Holland), a writer for the Pittsburgh Courier covering his rise to fame, that Smith is one of the only people Robinson can count on. I hadn’t even known that Robinson was fond of Smith, as he seemed to reject Smith’s constant presence in their other shared scenes. The nature of the movie called for painful themes to be addressed: the constant use of the “n-word”; the reality of segregation; and the constant death threats Robinson received. These elements put the film where it belongs in the timeline of history when the US, over 100 years after ending slavery, was still a divided society. It is not pretty to watch, but it was reality. This movie should not just appeal to baseball fans because it is not a movie about TEAMMATES: During a game in Cincinnati, Pee Wee Reese (Lucas Black) throws his arm around baseball. It is a movie about Jackie Robinson (Chadwick Boseman) in response to the crowd’s outlandish racism. This moment, a time period in history that which actually happened, is memorialized at KeySpan Park in Brooklyn. Photo from shockya.com

features

April 19, 2013

Teachers reminisce on past careers, previous job experience Maggie Engels & Ariana Nufio

staff reporters

Marshall Harris English Teacher

Marshall Harris, English teacher and Oracle advisor, was a vendor at Wrigley Field for ten years during high school, college, and his first few years of teaching. He began working at Wrigley Field during his sophomore year of high school. “It was a lot of fun and extra money,” Harris said. “It was an awesome experience.” According to Harris, his experience consisted of walking up and down the aisles trying to make a sale and afterwards getting to watch the game for the last two innings, a practice not appreciated by his bosses. He explained that there were many cool aspects of his job. “They hire everyone, there’s no interview process, you

basically just go and sign up,” Harris explained. “If I were a sophomore in high school or a junior in high school right now, I would go get that job, especially if I were a big baseball fan.” Harris witnessed some historic moments while working at a stadium with thousands of people and cameras. “In the summer of 1998, Sammy Sosa was going after the all-time home run record and when he broke it, […] I was on TV,” Harris said. “I was selling beer in an aisle and I was right behind where the hitter stands so you can see me, and I was on Sportscenter at night, and all my friends were calling me.” Harris says he was also about 50 feet away from the famous “Bartman incident” in October of 2003.

BEER, HERE: During the 2003 playoffs, English teacher Mar-

shall Harris worked as a vendor at Wrigely Field with his brother and friends: (L to R) Adam Carter, Kevin Harris, Mark Carman, and Harris. Photo courtesy of Marshall Harris

David Kane

Social Studies Teacher

COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY: After graduating

from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1989 with a degree in political science, social studies teacher David Kane studied law at DePaul University. In 1993, Kane graduated with a J.D. (juris doctor degree) from DePaul University and worked as a lawyer from 1993 to 2006. Photo courtesy of David Kane

Political science teacher David Kane, who was a lawyer before becoming a teacher, says he was not passionate about his previous job. “Other than sports, there’s not another job where someone’s actively trying to make you lose,” Kane said. “I liked being a lawyer but I didn’t have a huge passion for it; I’m not a person who loves arguing.” Although Kane was not one for arguing, he still believes there were some pros to being a lawyer. “Some of the best days are when I’d have trials or big motions; there’s nothing like the feeling of coming out of a trial and having won it,” Kane said. Despite those moments of happiness, Kane realized that that job was not meant for him. He recalled a Thanksgiving

dinner with his dad where a moment of epiphany occurred to him. “My dad was leaving the next day for somewhere in Iowa and I was making fun of him, like, ‘Dad, [you] know your house is paid for, the kids are all out of college, we’re all married--why are you leaving Friday after Thanksgiving?’,” Kane said. “And he told me, ‘I love what I do’.” His dad’s actions really made Kane stop and think about his own career choice. “That was the moment I said I don’t love what I do, [and] I would quit my job tomorrow,” Kane said. “My dad, who was in his mid 60’s, was driving halfway across the country because he loves what he does; I have to find something that I love to do.”

Jennifer Friedmann Science Teacher

Another teacher who had an interesting job before coming to South is science teacher Jenny Friedmann, who was a professional actress prior to her teaching career. “[Acting] started off very rewarding, [...] and it eventually got to be less rewarding and more frustrating,” Friedmann said. “You can be really talented and do all the right things and still not get cast or not be successful or not be able to build a career on it.” According to Friedmann, in order to pursue an acting career she had to maintain many day jobs, which included retail, temping, and others. “When I liked my job, it made it easier to keep up with the rigorous schedule, [but] when I didn’t like my job, it was harder,” Friedmann said. Friedmann explains that her favorite part of acting was being able to interpret one thing in many ways.

“I was naturally good at reading lines and making characters come to life, “ Freidmann said. “I loved that I could make the same person say the same thing ten different ways and it would mean something completely different each way.” According to Friedmann, sometimes she still notices her experiences with acting in her personality. “You can always tell when I’m tired in the classroom,” Friedmann said. “I’ll start getting really goofy. That’s when my theatre side comes out.” Friedmann feels that her day jobs and her career as a professional actress have helped her become a better teacher. “A little life experience helps anyone who’s going to teach anything,” Friedmann said. “Anyone who has spent time [...] doing more interesting things [brings] more to the front of the classroom.”

ACT IT OUT: Before her career as a science teacher, Jen-

nifer Friedmann pursued a career as a professional actress. Starting in college, she worked for about ten years at theatres like the Live Bait Theatre, the Prop Theatre, and the Writers’ Theatre. Photo courtesy of Jennifer Friedmann

features

April 19, 2013

A HELPING HAND:

Reading together during class, senior peer mentor Erin Mincer (left) points to pictures as she works with a student (right). Mincer is one of 120 peer mentors currently enrolled in the peer mentoring program at South. Photo by Evan Richter

Peer mentors provide engaging learning environment for students with special needs Calli Haramaras

staff reporter While capturing the mind and interest of a large portion of South’s student body, the highly interactive peer mentor program has continued on the rising path after years of fluctuation. What started with just three handpicked mentors now compares to the 120 students serving as peer mentors this year. The peer mentor program was started 26 years ago to determine whether or not peers could impact students with special needs in a different way than teachers, according to Mary Jaeger, peer mentor director. After numerous years of peer mentoring, Jaeger continues to see positive results. “After 26 years, it still amazes me how the special needs students will perform for the peer over the teacher,” Jaeger said. In every special education class throughout DANCING QUEENS:

Dancing together during class time, seniors Taylor Sharwell (left) and Sophie Hartler (middle) work as peer mentors with Christie (right). Activities in an average peer mentor classes range from reading and mathematics to games in P.E class. Photos by Evan Richter

the day, there is at least one peer mentor, according to Jaeger. A typical day for a peer mentor depends on the class and the number of students. According to sophomore Sam Garman, a current peer mentor, everyday tasks with the students can range from reading to mathematics to games in P.E class. According to Jaeger, a peer mentor can work with just one student or multiple students at a time with each activity. The peer mentors get the students started, on task and engaged. Peer mentors can also assist in the Adapted Physical Education class, a gym class for students with special needs that offers more adult help. According to Dawn Fendt, physical education teacher, the class is also less competitive than other P.E classes. “The peer mentors make a huge difference in my class because of the relationships between these

adapted students and the mentors,” Fendt said. “They don’t just work with them in P.E, but [they] become friends with them during the regular school day also. Overall, the true friendships that are made that make these students feel good about themselves, that can be life changing.” Not only does the peer mentor program affect students with special needs, but also the peer mentors and teachers themselves. According to Garman, she has learned to become more patient and understanding of special needs students. Also, peer mentoring has interested Garman in the possibility of becoming a special education teacher. Similarly, junior Quinn Abrams’ two semesters of

peer mentoring have resulted in a positive outcome. “[I learned] just to accept everyone for who they are no matter if they have a disability or not because they’re all great people,” Abrams said. “I look at people in a […] better way now, like if I don’t know them I’m not going to judge them.” Fendt continues to see a daily impact on herself in her Adapted Physical Education class. “I could be having a really bad day and when I get to 4th period with this class, it just makes me smile and gets me back in such a great mood,” Fendt said. “I think I learn more about life from these students sometimes than they learn from me.” Encompassing all the great aspects of peer mentoring, Abrams feels it’s a course everyone should experience. “I recommend everyone should do [peer mentoring] because you learn a lot from it, and I would say it’s one of the best classes I’ve ever taken at this school,” Abrams said.

12 The Oracle conducted an investigative experiment by creating a Facebook identity under the name of “Sarah Letterman” and sending requests to South students in order to collect data on students’ online leniency concerning accepting friend requests from unknown persons.

ACE

YOUR FRIENDS

Graphics by Evan Richter and Wyatt Richter

percent of South students who accepted Sarah Letterman

percent of South students who say they would not accept an unknown requester

55 according to an Oracleconducted survey of 179 students

Who are your Camille (CJ) Park

co-features editor Shea Anthony

asst. features editor You’re casually scrolling through Facebook when a tempting red notification appears on your top bar. Curious, you click on the blue silhouette that denotes a friend request and take a good look at this potential friend. She has good looks and mutual friends, but you don’t immediately recognize her from her name or her photo. This presents a dilemma common amongst teen Facebook users: whether or not to accept a friend request. This scenario is widespread and for several South students, this described their exact experience. In order to collect data on the leniency of students’ acceptance of Facebook friend requests, The Oracle conducted a month-long investigative experiment. Seventy-five students from each grade were chosen at random to receive a friend request from an Oracle-created account under the pseudonym of “Sarah Letterman”. Out of the 300 students who were sent requests, 62 percent accepted. Contrary to this result, according to an Oracle-conducted survey of 179 students, 56 percent said they wouldn’t accept a friend request from an unknown person. Junior Trey Buckingham was one of the 64 percent who accepted Letterman as a friend. “The mutual friends I had with her were close friends, which gave me more confidence that this girl really did exist and attended South,” Buckingham said. “When I saw that she had that many mutual friends and went to South, I figured I had met her before or must have seen her around.” Similarly, freshman Jamie Reynolds accepted Letterman’s friend request due to the substantial amount of mutual friends, paired with the alleged fact that Letterman attended South. “I accept people I don’t know, but only if they go to my school and have a lot of the same friends with me or are in the ‘friend group’ of one of my friends,” Reynolds said. “Now that I consider it though, it’s creepy, especially since you don’t know the person.” Accepting requests from unknown people conflicts with the childhood lesson: stranger danger.

r friends? Nowadays, “stranger danger” doesn’t just mean somebody offering children candy from a van, but it has evolved as online networking has expanded. Journalist Amy Summers from socialtimes.com echoes these sentiments, emphasizing the hazard of being too trustworthy online. “The scariest thing about this technology is that we never know who we’re talking to,” Summers said. “Strangers from all over the world can now be following not only children, but teenagers and mature adults from all over the world.” Senior Grace Pittner follows the “stranger danger” rule when it comes to Facebook friends. According to Pittner, there is no point in accepting friend requests from unknown people. “I chose not to accept Letterman because I didn’t know who she was,” Pittner said. “I accept friends that I talk with at school a lot and have some classes with.” Like Pittner, sophomore Breck Murphy decided against accepting Letterman. According to Murphy, she, or a close friend, needs to know the name of the requester in order to accept. “If [the name] sounds unfamiliar or there are few mutual friends, then I immediately deny the request,” Breck said. While some, like Pittner and Murphy, declined the request, other South Facebook users decided to send a request to Letterman. Amongst the request senders was freshman Mclain Murphy. “I friended her because she was always popping up on the ‘People You May Know’ list, and the name sounded familiar,” Mclain said. Similarly, sophomore John Hennelly requested to be friends with the account, basing his rationale on mutual friends and school information. “It says she goes to GBS and maybe I would meet her,” Hennelly said.“I do friend people that have many mutual friends and go to GBS.” While some students are more lenient with their online friends, others tend to question unknown requesters. One example is senior Vika Petlakh. According to Petlakh, she denied Letterman’s request due to the fact that she did not recall meet-

ing her. Petlakh sent a message to the fake account, asking if they knew each other. “[I normally reach out to unfamiliar requesters] to be able to better filter my friend requests and who can view stuff on my profile,” Petlakh said. Like Petlakh, senior Victor Balan questioned the account by sending a message, yet unlike Petlakh, he did so after accepting the request. According to Balan, he questioned the account in case she was a new student and “to see why she added me.” According to the Oracle-conducted survey, 52 percent of students would feel uncomfortable with a stranger looking through their online profile. To accommodate these sentiments, Facebook has several privacy settings. One recent modification on Facebook involves the concept of “stranger danger.” According to Facebook, it is against their Terms and Conditions for people to send friend requests to people they do not know, and such activity could be considered harassment. According to the survey, 14 percent of students believe that Facebook privacy settings are not secure; however, Breck disagrees. “Facebook does all that it can to protect its users,” Breck said. “I think it’s actually people who don’t protect their privacy enough.” Reynolds offered an explanation to the alleged lack of privacy settings usage. “I do think [Facebook privacy settings] are relatively secure, except I feel like no one dares to use all the privacy settings for a few reasons,” Reynolds said. “It could make it harder to make Facebook ‘friends’ if everything’s blocked off.” During the investigative experiment, the account received several warnings from Facebook about sending requests to people who said they did not know Letterman. Recently, Facebook has been asking receivers of friend requests if they know the requester in real life. If the answer is no, Facebook warns the sender of the request and potentially blocks them from sending more requests. Though Facebook is taking extra safety precautions, it’s ultimately up to each individual to decide the availability of his or her profile.

“Facebook does all that it can to protect its users. I think it’s actually people who don’t protect their privacy enough.” -Sophomore Breck Murphy

percent of South students who say they are not personally connected to all of their Facebook friends

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percent of South students who say they are not comfortable with a stranger looking at their profile

percent of South students who say they would accept an unknown requester

percent of South students who say Facebook is private

to collect data concerning the leniency of South students with their social networking. Seventy-five students from each grade were chosen to receive requests from the fake identity.

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FRESH FACE: By creating a fake Facebook identity, Sarah Letterman, The Oracle was able

features

April 19, 2013

Years after traveling, Flickinger encourages students to gain own experience Caroline Berg

staff reporter

S S A L C T S R I F

Costa Rica, Spain, Ireland, India and Korea: these are just some of the places Susan Flickinger, social studies teacher, has traveled. “All during college and in high school, I loved the adventure of travel,” Flickinger said. “I was always interested in other people’s ways of life.” According to Flickinger, her first trips to Costa Rica and Spain in high school gave her the “traveling bug.” After working throughout college, Flickinger became interested in Eastern philosophies. “I had really met a lot of people who had taught English abroad whenever I was in Europe [...],” Flickinger said. “I ended up finding a program in Korea thinking that I’d stay a year and backpack Southeast Asia, [...] and [I] ended up staying another year [in Korea] and meeting my now-husband.” According to Flickinger, her future husband was instrumental in helping her feel comfortable in Korea. “This guy who I had known, that is now my husband, had kind of become a friend, and he and a group of Koreans were like, ‘Hey do you need some help?’” Flickinger said. “And they just helped me do a lot of things I couldn’t do because I wasn’t fluent in the language [...] We started dating about seven months later.” Flickinger decided to marry her husband in Korea rather than in the United States in order to introduce her family to Korean culture, honor her husband’s heritage and be respectful of his family’s traditions. Five months ago, Flickinger and her husband had a baby boy named Ian, whose name they carefully selected. “The most important thing for us was to have a name that was reflective of both cultures but that is also more simple to pronounce,” Flickinger said. In addition to meeting her husband and getting married as a result of her travels, Flickinger was inspired by the places she visited to become a teacher. “I was always like, ‘No, I am never going to become a teacher; I’m not interested in it,’ even though my parents loved their job,” Flickinger said. “I saw all the grading

USA

they were doing and thought it wasn’t for me. Then when I went [to Asia] and started teaching English, I knew teaching was something I wanted to do. I totally fell in love with it.” Flickinger feels that traveling has particularly influenced her teaching of English Language Learner students. “I feel that it is an important element of my teaching because I do feel you can’t understand what it’s like to be in another country, to move to another culture, to be in a country that’s not your native language, unless you have been immersed in that kind of experience yourself,” Flickinger said. The students of Flickinger’s Pacific Rim class feel her travels have positively affected their learning.

“Normally in class, you get what’s right out of the textbook, but her first hand experiences allow us to better understand the true views on things versus the objective stances taken by textbooks,” sophomore Jane Brennan said. According to sophomore Chris Clifford, Flickinger’s classroom has an exciting learning environment. “[Flickinger] is always excited about what she is teaching and happy to be in class,” Clifford said. “She makes her students want to learn and makes the topics covered interesting and easy to follow.” When teaching her students, the main message Flickinger wants to get across is the importance of traveling. “My message to [students] all throughout the semester is don’t just listen to me, don’t just listen to my stories, go live it yourself,” Flickinger said. “I want them to know what it is like to feel the ‘other’, to be the ‘other’ and to be challenged with the complexities of traveling [...] Traveling can help you realize kind of how insignificant you are, in the greater world, and it brings a sense of humility that I think you can only acquire by going outside of your bubble.”

SS A L C T S R I F

NOT-SO-LAZY SUSAN:

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In Kathmandu, Nepal, Susan Flickinger, social studies teacher, stands with a crowd of school children she met on a hike up to a Buddhist temple (above). Standing in front of the Taj Mahal (bottom left) and the Great Wall of China (bottom right), Flickinger takes advantage of her time abroad in India and China, respectively. Flickinger has traveled to various foreign countries and attempts to incorporate her first-hand experience abroad into her classroom lessons.

Photos courtesy of Susan Flickinger

features

April 19, 2013

4H program provides farm experience for Glenview youth Addie Lyon

staff reporter Bailing hay and feeding cows aren’t part of an average student’s afternoon activities. 4H is a program at Wagner Farm that gives young Glenview residents a rare opportunity to experience farm life. According to Todd Price, director of the Wagner Farm branch of 4H, the initial purpose of the program was to teach kids without higher-level education the skills necessary to follow in their parents’ footsteps in working on farms. “These early 4H clubs learned things [like] how to grade corn, which was important during that time,” Price said. “For the female members, they would talk about how to raise kids or prepare meals.” Price explained that although 4H has changed since its start, it still teaches kids important life skills. “I don’t think [the program] has [lost its value] because it still is teaching lessons that I don’t think you can get anywhere else,” Price said. Junior Claire Rowlands is in her ninth year at 4H and is now the vice president. “In my first five years, I raised lambs, then for five years I raised cows,” Rowlands said. “We have to buy them, walk them, clip them, feed them, wash them and address any other needs.” Junior Marguerite Daus, member of 4H, talked about the added responsibility of the dairy program. “The [cow] program is a lot more rigorous than the lamb program because it’s older kids, more rePAGEANT PRINCESS: At the Illinois state fair, junior Jenny Hinkamp poses with her cow for a costume contest. Hinkamp dressed her cow up as sponsibility and a bigger animal,” Daus said. “So, “Little Moo Lake County” in honor of Little Miss Lake County, an annual title that’s given to an individual at the fair. Photo courtesy of Jenny Hinkamp you have to do more chores, more walking and more training.” Rowlands talked about how at the end of July, school year,” Daus said. “During the summer we don’t spot opens. all of their hard work culminates in the Lake County Fair, [...] since we’re always at the farm anyway.” Daus feels lucky to have been chosen to participate in which occurs in Green Lake, Wisconsin and includes Rowlands has created positive and lasting relation- 4H program. many games, activities and food, according to Rowlands. ships with many of the other members of the 4H. “I definitely think it’s a great and an extremely unique “Every year at the end of July,we take them to this big “Wagner Farm has been basically my second home,” opportunity because many kids who live in the suburbs event at the Lake County Fair where we stay there for a Rowlands said. “I spend so much time there with a great of Chicago don’t usually get the opportunity to own an week and show our animals,” Rowlands said. group of friends that I’ve made through the program.” animal and have this experience,” Daus said. There are many requirements that go along with being Price described the high demand in the community to Price believes the 4H program is an opportunity for an active member of 4H, according to Daus. be a member of the program. members to discover their passions and gain valuable ex“You need to be involved with at least two events ev“Our club is usually about 50 members, which is one of perience not attainable elsewhere. ery year,” Daus said. “For example, I make different fam- the biggest clubs in the state of Illinois,” Price said. “And “I have a program that’s going to bring you to life,” ily recipes every year, or [you] can choose to make cre- in the past few years we have had upwards of 80 people Price said. “I think that everyone has different niches and ative poster boards and knit.” on the waiting list.” this is a great program for people who have this interest. Along with individual responsibilities, Daus emphaAccording to Price, it is difficult to be chosen due to the So I don’t think this program is better than any experisized how the members of 4H must function as a group. popularity of the program. The new members of 4H are ence you could get on a sports team or doing anything “We meet once a month every Tuesday during the chosen using a random lottery system whenever a new else, I just think it’s a different one.”

South students take AP tests without enrolling in AP classes

jheed said. “Even if you know the material and you know how to answer it, there will be a twist in [the question]. To answer it you have to think about the question and At the end of the year, Advanced Placement (AP) stu- combine [what it’s asking] with everything you know.” Senior Peter Westerfield is enrolled in numerous AP dents put what they’ve learned to the test when taking the infamous AP exams. While many believe taking an classes and feels like taking an AP exam after a year of AP exam after a year of covering material is difficult learning the material in a classroom makes the exam exenough, some South students go the extra mile by tak- perience less stressful. “We get time in class to prepare, and that’s a big ing AP exams without being in the designated AP class. help,” Westerfield said. “I know that if Sophomore Areesha Majheed is one of these stuyou were taking the test alone, you’d dents who is planning to take an AP test withhave to find your own time to study out taking the course. Majheed says her Chemand learn [... ] I think it’s a lot easier Phys teacher, Jim Glynn, suggested she take the to use a book and notes that you’ve AP Chemistry exam to test her knowledge on used the entire year to look back the subject. on.” “I want to see where I Elizabeth am in Chemistry, because Lupfer, AP EuI’m not sure if it’s my ropean histostronghold or not,” Mary teacher, has jheed said. “I think taking had a lot of exthe AP exam will show me perience teachwhere I am in the class.” ing and preparing Because Mahjheed students for AP is currently enrolled exams, and she in AP European Hisbelieves that stutory, she has had exdents lose some periences with AP key benefits when tests and touched on the they opt not to take difference between AP the actual class, only and normal test questhe test. tions. “I think the courses “[AP exam questions] offer a lot in the dayaren’t fact based,” MaDRAMATIZATION Dani Tuchman & Hailey Hauldren

staff reporters

to-day class,” Lupfer said. “You learn a lot from other students. There’s a lot of great discussions and insights, and our group analysis is fun. These are experiences that you’re not going to have on your own.” Along with Majheed, junior Atticus Hebson has decided to teach himself the AP Music Theory material instead of attending the actual class, due to scheduling issues. “I can’t take the class because it’s third period and I have Academy periods one, two, and three,” Hebson said. “I haven’t really been preparing aside from what I do every day, which is practicing music, playing piano and singing.” AP Spanish teacher Jorge Zamora is in agreement with Lupfer that it is very important to enroll in the class along with taking the exam. Though Lupfer does see many benefits to taking the class, she noted that some colleges may find it admirable if a student gets a good score on an AP exam without taking the class. Hebson stresses the importance of time management and structure while studying for AP tests without taking a class. “One of the problems that I had with studying AP Macro last year was that I just tried to figure it out as I went along,” Hebson said. “Structure it and make sure that you know what you’re doing so that you’re not throwing away 87 dollars [in exam fees].”

“Structure it and make sure you know what you’re doing so you’re not throwing away 87 dollars [in exam fees].” -Junior Atticus Hebson

features

April 19, 2013

THEN

NOW

SISTA SISTA: As children (photo on left) sophomore Rachel Orsinger (right) and Jennifer Gottemoller (left) didn’t know they were related. Now (photo on right) the two have discovered they are biological sisters. Orsinger and Gottemoller were both adopted in China by different parents and grew up in Glenview and Palos Park, Illinois, respectively, before discovering through a DNA test that they are related. Photos courtesy of Rachel Orsinger

Orsinger builds relationship with newly discovered biological sister Nish Asokan & Don Savaiano staff reporters

Everyone always said they looked alike, but they never knew why; that is, until they found out that they were actually sisters. Sophomore Rachel Orsinger and her sister Jennifer Gottemoller were both born in China and admitted to the same orphanage. The biological data about them, however, was lost. Two families from Glenview and Palos Park, the Orsingers and the Gottemollers, respectively, both adopted children from the international agency Life Link. The Orsingers ended up adopting Rachel, and the Gottemollers adopted Jennifer. In the process, Rachel and Jennifer became friends, according to Rachel. “We were adopted in the summer of 1996, and that was right before [the adoption process] got long [and

tedious],” Rachel said. “I was nine months old, [...] and [Jennifer] was three years old.” According to Rachel, she and Jennifer, as well as their families, remained close. “[Our families] celebrated holidays [together], and [Jennifer and I] went out together a lot,” Rachel said. “When we were younger [and] our schedules were less busy, every summer [...] we’d always go downtown and get a hotel room with just our moms and us [...] and go to Navy Pier and the American Girl store, and I thought that was always fun.” According to Rachel, the adoption agency did not know at the time that the two girls were related because they didn’t have their birth records. Rachel’s mom was the one to suggest a DNA test for the girls. “A lot of people say we looked alike, [...] but I didn’t think so,” Rachel said. “When I was in sixth grade and Jennifer was a freshman in high school, they were just

“I believe this experience was put into my life for a reason. I can’t understand it quite yet, but I know someday I will.” -Jennifer Gottemoller

like, ‘Let’s do a DNA test.’” The DNA cotton swab test came back and confirmed the sisters were biologically related with a high score of 89 percent, according to Rachel. “We were family friends, and then in the middle we found out we were sisters,” Rachel said. “It made us a little closer.” According to Rachel, when the girls found out, they had a joint mass and party to celebrate in the spring of 2009. “We held a big celebration at my old house in Palos Park with all of Rachel’s family and friends,” Jennifer said. “It was definitely different from all the other parties I had. Who’d expect to have a party for finding a biological sister?” At the party, Rachel recalled that Jennifer’s grandmother even mistook her for being Jennifer from behind because they looked so alike. “I believe this experience was put into my life for a reason,” Jennifer said. “I can’t understand it quite yet, but I know someday I will. As for now, Rachel and I remain [...] friends, and maybe [there will] come a day when we will rely more on each other.”

a&e

April 19, 2013

Working together strengthens Wojcik family bond

Lilly Ludwig & Julia Sonnenfeld team, and we have

Before he was old enough to hold an instrument, Aaron Wojcik, assistant director of band, was a part of South’s marching band. His father, Gregory Wojcik, director of bands, took him to his first concert when he was just two weeks old. “He was born in January, we had a concert in February [and] he was there,” Gregory said. “Right from infancy, he was a part of the GBS marching band.” This year though, Aaron left the audience to take his father’s side as his assistant director. Aaron explained that while he went to a different High School and participated in its marching band, he grew up with South’s band program, either as an observer or teacher. Now Aaron and Gregory work side-by-side and co-teach almost all of their classes. “We work together as a

for many, many years.” Aaron said. Gregory added that he sees the value in already having a relationship with his assistant director. “You get to see your son every day, and when you get older, not a lot of parents get to do that,” Gregory said. “I’m a lucky guy because I get to work with my son, and I get to work with something I love and something I know he loves. [...] We’ve always been close, now we’re two feet apart.” According to freshman Christina Kokoris, it’s their strong relationship that helps them work well together. “They make jokes together, and you get to see their similarities and differences,” Kokoris said. However, both Aaron and Gregory will agree that being co-workers has changed their relationship. “There [are] differences in how we communicate with each other,” Aaron said. “Even outside of the office, we refer to each other as Mr. Wojcik, which is something that was unprecedented a year ago.” According to Aaron, while he thinks they have made that adjustment quickly, there have still been moments where they need to get used to that change. “It’s happened a couple times where he says, ‘Mr. Wojcik, what do you think about this?’” Aaron said. “I’m like ‘We’re having dinner!’ It definitely has made a change, but nothing drastic. We’ve always kept a very friendly, professional nature.” Even with these changes in their relationship, Aaron is

glad he works with his father. He explained that his father is his mentor and his inspiration for his work. He was able to use that inspiration at the winter band concert when he was handed the baton. “It was cool because he was [...] taking over the band,” Gregory said. “It’s handing off what you’ve done for 35 years. [...] I’m very proud to pass the baton to him. [...] It’s a changing of the times. It’s a little bit sad because it’s like, ‘Okay, old man, get out of the way.’” According to Aaron, even if the baton hadn’t been physically handed to him, he would still be excited for his future at South. “[I] absolutely [have a future here at South],” Aaron said. “This is [...] my dream job. It’s not something that happens when you get your dream job on your first go.” Photos by Jackie Cortopassi and Jacqueline DeWitt

Aaron Wojcik

Gregory Wojcik

staff reporter

Media Collage class equips students with skills to master technology

Wilson is also really enjoying designing her own perfect learning environment. She’s using her new presentation and communiAccording to Scott Glass, teenagers undercation skills in order to complete stand how to operate social technology perthis project. fectly. In fact, according to Glass, they spend “I just had a Google hangout, so much of their time on social media that they which is like a Skype kind of don’t know much about other technologies. So, thing, with the Superintendent to Glass created the new English elective, Media present him my idea, and I had a Collage, for them to do just that. Google hangout with people from According to Glass, he teaches what it means Missouri who have done their to be a learner and a creator (or an originator) school in the way that I want our in this society that is so dominated by technolschool to be like,” Wilson said. ogy and the Internet. “You’re really just learning how “It’s looking at all of these tools and the Into use all of these tools, and it’s ternet that we have at our disposal because the coolest thing I’ve ever done.” when you think about the Internet it can be According to Glass, he thinks very overwhelming, and it can be difficult to this class is interesting as well understand. ‘What can I use to navigate onsince he has actually been trying line and find the things that I want to find?’ So for ten years to create Media Colwhat I’m trying to do with this class is make it lage, and now that it’s finally been a place where together the students and I can passed, he’s really enjoying it. explore and experiment with all these things COLLABORATIVE CLASSROOM: During a Media Collage class, teacher Scott Glass makes a joke to his “It’s made me remember what and collect what we know,” Glass said. students. Media Collage, an English elective that was just introduced this year, helps students understand it’s like to be a first-year teachEnglish Instructional Supervisor Susan how to use internet technology in a meaningful manner. Photo by Jacqueline DeWitt er, just that feeling of, ‘Oh, okay, Levine-Kelley feels that teaching methods are I made it through that day, now always being adjusted and re-imagined, and “I think as teachers we all hope to learn something as Glass has introduced another way. we’re teaching, and this first year of Media Collage I have what am I going to do tomorrow?’” Glass said. “That “[Media Collage] incorporates Glass’s vision of the learned so much and that shows how collaborative the kind of feeling is really exciting and fun.” Sendor said he likes the class too and believes that the needs of technology literacy in the 21st century in terms class is,” Glass said. of how that all gets integrated in education and learnJunior Haley Wilson described Media Collage as her things he’s learning in Media Collage are going to help ing,” Levine-Kelley said. favorite class because of the things she’s learned and be- him for the rest of his life in school and professionally. “The things I’ve learned in [the class] are just really apAccording to senior Gabby Gottfried, most students cause of Glass’s attitude towards the class. know how to use technology, but this class teaches stu“I’ve always believed that if a teacher really likes their plicable to things in general as far as just the different dents to understand that there’s more out there and bet- job and their class then it’s just a better class,” Wilson stuff he teaches,” Sendor says. “Every day we’re learning about a new application or a new internet site that could ter ways to use it. For example, students in the class have said. started using Facebook and Twitter to complete research According to senior Max Sendor, the class is a good be useful to us now and later on.” Gottfried also agreed that the class is very relevant to projects by learning to get surveys out on the internet. class to have at GBS. A lot of student influence goes into “We’re just trying to widen our skills and see what what they do, and that’s what makes it such an exciting society and how technology factors into that. “I think that everybody is going to be affected one way these different devices and the internet can do for us on class. more than just a social level,” Gottfried said. “One of the most recent projects we’re working on is or another by technology, whether it’s just sitting at a According to Glass, in order to accomplish that, the designing your own perfect learning environment,” Sen- computer every day or just being social online or busiclass consists of many projects online and using different dor said. “That project was developed just from a ran- ness wise,” Gottfried said. “So everybody should be exapplications. He describes the environment of the class as dom class discussion [we] were having that transformed posed to the different technology out there that we have the opportunity to learn about in this class.” being very free and student-driven. into an interesting project idea.” Mollie Kramer

staff reporter

a&e

April 19, 2013

North and South unite to combine talents for this year’s spring musical Kali Croke

staff reporter The choir room is filled with excitement as enthusiastic students from both South and North come together and blend their voices into one beautiful melody. Whether it is through singing, acting or dancing, these students have been working hard to bring together the story of love, intolerance and tragedy. This is a typical rehearsal for this year’s Glenbrook Musical West Side Story cast, directed by Stevi Marks and Marty Sirvatka. According to Marks, West Side Story was chosen not only for its quality of plot, music and dance, but also for its relevance to the cast performing it. “The show offers an opportunity for our students to experience theater at a very high level yet find relevance to their own lives,” Marks said. “Additionally, we chose the musical because we knew we had the students to play the roles and members of our orchestra who could play this difficult score.” The plot of West Side Story takes place in Manhattan Island, New York and revolves around the forbidden love between Tony and Maria and the consequences of their relationship. The story is a twist on Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, as the “star-cross’d lovers” are forced to face the disapproving opinions of their friends and families. Like the two opposing families of Romeo and Juliet, the Jets and the Sharks represent the two rival gangs of New York trying to keep the couple apart. Tony, played by South senior Tim Kirby and North senior Nathan Salstone, is a Polish immigrant and former member of the Jets who falls in love with Puerto Rican immigrant Maria, played by North seniors Julia Levinson and Rebecca Elowe. The conflict is that Maria’s brother Bernardo is the leader of the rival gang of Sharks and will do anything to

keep them from being together. As a story that consists of intense love and tragic death, it was important that this year’s cast consisted of not only singers, but also strong actors, according to Sirvatka. “We’re looking for triple threats,” Sirvatka said. “In this particular case, there is music and then there are songs that go in the middle of the dialogue. There’s a whole bunch of speaking, so we’re looking for great acting.” Aside from singing and acting, West Side Story also focuses heavily on stylized dance. For junior Hannah Schiller, who plays Bernardo’s girlfriend Anita, this dancing aspect is very important in communicating plot and emotion. “West Side Story was one of the first shows that used dance to advance the plot, so getting to perform it is different than any other show I’ve been in,” Schiller said. “The emotions and the story and the setting are raw and intense, and one of our biggest goals is to portray these strong features to the audience.” Another important component used to communicate plot is the music played by the pit orchestra. According to Marissa Takaki, sophomore pit member, a lot of the intense nature of the story has to do with the live music. “It is important to have live music as opposed to a track because it gives the singers more musical freedom to pull and stretch their lines,” Takaki said. “The track doesn’t have the right character, feeling or emotion that is incorporated with real players.” Senior Melanie McNulty, who also plays Anita, agrees with Takaki on the importance of drawing the audience into the characters’ lives and story. It is also their presence and excitement that

“I love the adrenaline rush that comes with the audience in the house when you walk out on the stage.” -Senior Melanie McNulty

McNulty enjoys before every show. “[Performing] is definitely extremely nerve-wracking, but I love the adrenaline rush that comes with the audience in the house when you walk out on the stage,” McNulty said. “The story is very moving, and the hatred and love are so intense. You can r e a l l y b e c o m e invested as an audience member.” Junior Jeffrey Mathew, who plays Shark member Chino, explains that in addition to performing for the audience, o n e of the best parts about musical is being able to work with new students. “Meeting new people from North is by far my favorite part of the musical,” Mathew said. “Already, I have met so many enthusiastic, funny and talented kids. It really is a privilege to work with them.” Sophomore Julia Packer, S h a r k member Rosalia, is also in accordance with Mathew. “It’s so much fun to work with so many new people,” Packer said. “Everyone is so enthusiastic and we all have the same goal, which is

to make the show as great as it can be. Being involved in the musical is such a wonderful experience, and something I think everyone looks forward to every year.” This year is Stevi Marks’s final year directing the musical. West Side Story will be held May 1-4 at 7:30 p.m. in the South auditorium. TRIPLE THREAT: Acting,

singing and dancing, both North and South students rehearse for the final performances of West Side Story that will take place May 1-4. Above are leads Nathan Salstone as Tony and Rebecca Elowe as Maria; left are actors Melanie McNulty as Anita and William Rude as Bernardo.

Photos by Evan Richter

a&e

April 19, 2013

Elliot’s instruction inspires students to pursue photography Tori Brown & Victoria Sunkel

staff reporters

Photography teacher Amie Elliot captures her passion for creating art through her unique teaching style and methods of connecting with students. As a teacher of 19 years, Elliot describes her teaching style as learning through discovery. “You have to learn the basics before you can go off in new directions and create something totally original,” Elliot said. According to Elliot’s students, her teaching style gives them the freedom to learn on their own. Freshman Tommy Hagerty, who took Photos 1, was positively affected by her teaching style. “She really lets you go out and almost learn all by yourself with her guiding you the whole way,” Hagerty said. Students claim her laid-back style makes her easy to connect with. Elliot readily spends her free time helping students with projects for her class or outside of her classes. Senior Olivia Kane, Photos 5 student, credits her success as an artist to Elliot’s extra help. “In those independent study classes that I had to fit into my schedule because I didn’t have room for a photos class, [Elliot] would teach me during her free pePICTURE THIS: In the photos room, photography teacher Amie Elliot assists senior Brian Tristano in putting the final touches on a photo. Elliot has worked riods and assist me and guide me in my at South as the Photography teacher for 19 years. Photo by Rebecca Wittenstein photos project,” Kane said. However, Elliot gives equal help to interest from the get-go.” liot’s made an important impact on a Homecoming float students of all levels and abilities. According to her lessElliot not only aids her students in photography, but design shaped like the house from the Pixar movie Up. experienced students, she helps them get the feel of new in other areas of their interest as well. According to Kane, “We struggled with that house design because we skills and techniques throughout the course. she owes her future in art to Elliot’s guidance. wanted it to really look like it was flying,” Hill said. “One time at the beginning of our series of film proj“I had Elliot review my photos [for my AP Art port- “When you have an artistic eye [like Elliot’s], you change ects, we needed to learn how to load our film onto the folio],” Kane said. “I actually ended up applying to AP the proportions and the perspectives on things [...] she roll inside the darkroom,” Hagerty said. “After several Art and I made it. Without her guidance in picking out [has] that.” destroyed rolls, I asked Ms. Elliot to help, and for a few [the art in] my portfolio, I probably wouldn’t be in AP Despite her passion and experience, Elliot does not times she would go into the room with me until I finally Art today.” consider herself a professional artist. was able to get the feel of things and successfully load the According to Elliot, her helping nature is fueled by her “A professional photographer would be somebody film right on time for our final projects.” passion to show others the world in different and unique who makes money from their art, and that again takes According to her students, there is huge improvement ways. marketing and takes ambition in that direction,” Elliot in their skill levels from the start to the end of the course. “I hope what they do in class retrains or teaches their said. “I feel like that is not my skill set. I am the creator, GBS graduate Atticus Ludwig began his photography eyes to look in another way,” Elliot said. “[I hope what not the seller.” career in Elliot’s class and is now studying at The Art In- they learn] teaches them to look at the world with a difHowever, she does plan on continuing to create art stitute of Chicago. ferent perspective.” throughout the rest of her life. “I went from snapping pictures whenever I went on One perspective Elliot can easily see the world through “The process of making [art] is wonderful,” Elliot said. vacation to working with film and my hands and chemi- is an artistic and visual perspective. Dave Hill, wood- ”There is a sense of accomplishment, [and] there is a cals in the darkroom,” Ludwig said. “It really piqued my working teacher, described a time when this talent of El- sense of pride.”

Seniors direct one-acts to wrap up four years in Drama Department “You have to feel passionate about what you’re presenting,” Payne said. “You also have to be able to fight for the people that you want to star in your scene.” As a way to conclude a year filled with numerSenior Matt Miller decided to act in one of ous plays, V-Show skits and other productions, the plays rather than direct this year. the Drama Department puts on short, fun skits “The entire atmosphere and experience of called one-acts. The unique thing about them is doing senior-directed one-acts is just [really] that all are written or selected, directed and perrelaxed,” Miller said. “I’d argue that some peoformed by students, specifically the seniors. ple’s best work is shown during [the one-acts] This year, the five directors are seniors Kevbecause all of your practice time is spent on in McDermott, Molly Quinn, Raina Payne, Alperfecting this one scene.” lie Kahan and Andrew Bennett. Several other McDermott agreed and said rehearsals are seniors and underclassmen are their actors. Acalways a learning experience since the students cording to the seniors, this is a way for them to get to be in charge. take on the responsibilities of creating their own “It’s fun [working with Miller] because he’s plays and getting to work with people to create really talented,” McDermott said. “It’s good a performance of their own. because he takes my advice but keeps his own The requirements of becoming a senior direcLIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION: In preparation for the senior directed one acts, director [personality]. He can have a cool mix, and I like tor include completing an application, writing Andrew Bennet assists actor Josh Biales with his script. The senior directed one acts will that.” or choosing a play and having experience in the be performed April 25 in the Drama Dance Room. Photo by KK Kuramitsu After weeks of rehearsing, the shows will Drama Department. be performed on April 25 in the Drama Dance According to Bennett, he is especially ready to actors, and overall, about 20 participants total from the Room, and according to McDermott, the shows take on this opportunity. “It’s really exciting and something I had been look- Drama Department. Allie said this experience is bitter- will be a great culmination of everything they have ing forward to since I saw my sister’s [one-act] in 2009,” sweet since it is the last production the Drama Depart- learned throughout their four years. Bennett and other seniors agree and feel like this is a Bennett said. “I am really happy to be a part of this and ment will do. “I think that my cast is doing a fantastic job,” Allie great way to end the year for the Drama Department. would advise every future senior [involved in drama] to said. “I’m proud that this will be the final piece that I “It hasn’t hit me yet that this is the last thing I’ll ever do this.” be able to do for the GBS Drama Department,” Bennett Allie agreed and is excited to show off her comedy leave behind.” Payne felt the same way as Allie and said that it is a said. “This is the best way I could have ended it because starring her sister, sophomore Janie Kahan, as well as jugood real-world type of experience as well as a great way of how I get to use all the knowledge and experience I nior Danny Fookson as the leads. gained.” According to Allie, most of the acts have three to four to end the year. Emily Mitchell

staff reporter

a&e

April 19, 2013

Chilean exchange student embraces American culture Emily Mitchell

staff reporter When a person walks into South’s V-Show, they never know what to expect. From comedy to dancing, there is always something new and exciting for the audience to watch. This year, there were several different acts, such as junior Alison Tye’s silk act, the drum line act featuring De La Cru and a song from sophomore Florencia Cuadros, a foreign exchange student from Chile. Much like an audience experiencing the V-Show for the first time, Cuadros experienced everything for the first time: V-Show, Glenbrook South and even America. While Cuadros knew it would be a totally unique adventure, she never knew it would be as good as this. “Basically [I came] to learn English and study in an American high school for a year so that is the whole goal,” Cuadros said. Cuadros came at the beginning of the 2012 school year and is going back after the year is over. According to Cuadros, she is focused on taking fun classes such as photography and Titan Tots, and she believes South has been a great experience so far. “I really like it and everybody asks me if it’s how I expected it, and I didn’t really expect anything, so it’s been pretty good,” Cuadros said. Sophomore Janie Kahan said she met Cuadros soon after she transferred and has gotten close with her. Kahan and Cuadros became

Downtown

C hicago

friends through their love of theater and performing. “We instantly clicked,” Kahan said. “We went to football games, she’s taking a bunch of interesting electives, and we go downtown.” V-Show director Mark Ferguson said he was lucky enough to get the chance to work with Cuadros during the show. “I was just taken by not only her beautiful singing voice […] but also by the way she introduced herself,” Ferguson said. Cuadros sang, “Corre”, in the V-Show while playing her guitar. She said she was definitely nervous at first, but she loves singing and was excited to perform. “I’m really glad I did it,” Cuadros said. “I saw all these talented people before, and I was really scared, but [...] everybody was really nice. It was a really good experience.” For the rest of the year, Cuadros said she has no set goal on what she wants to accomplish; she just wants to continue to learn about and explore America. Ferguson agreed and said anyone with this type of experience should seize every opportunity they can. “Travel is the best way of getting an education,” Ferguson said. “Going to places that are outside your comfort zone is really the best

Halloween

Plane ride from Chile to Chicago: 13 hours

Favorite Chilean Food: Empanadas

Favorite American Food: Rice Krispie Treats

Photo by Wyatt Richter

How She’s Changed:

More open-minded and willing to meet new people

What She’ll Miss the Most:

Living in a small town because she is from the city in Chile

education you could possibly have.” Cuadros concurred and said she could not have asked for a better experience. Cuadros also said that despite the new world she is in, she will never lose sight of who she is. “I’m from Chile,” Cuadros said. “I don’t want to change. I’m different, but I don’t care.” Ferguson and Kahan both agree that Cuadros’s personality is just one of the things that attribute to her successful year in America. “She speaks very openly, very heartfelt and very honestly,” Ferguson said.

V-Show

Kahan recalls a conversation with Cuadros on travelling alone. “I was telling her how brave she is for just getting on a plane and arriving in a strange country and she said, ‘With an experience like this, you just need to go with the ‘Flo’’,” Kahan said. According to Kahan, that is exactly what Cuadros did. “I’m just here to have fun [...] and to have a good story to tell,” Cuadros said. “It’s amazing to have the chance when you’re 16 to go somewhere else and have to be by your own.”

Show Hip Hop Photos courtesy of Florencia Cuadros

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40 Different Styles

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sports opinion

April, 19 2013

Photo by Wyatt Richter

Gender inequality displayed through safety measures Rachel Chmielinski

asst. sports editor in some leagues, all fielders, seems to be less about safety concerns and more about whether women are capable of defending themselves. At first or third base, the fielder is standing 60 feet away from the plate completely ready to receive a batted ball. The only reason you would need a face mask in that situation would be if you were incapable of protecting yourself with your glove. Boys learn to field without face masks and girls should have the same opportunity. Equal opportunity means taking on equal risks. Of course something unexpected could easily happen, but that isn’t enough of a reason to even consider requiring safety gear. There are unexpected risks in every sport. Girls, like boys, should learn to play their sport confidently. If a face mask makes a player feel more confident on the field, then by all means they should have the opportunity to wear one, whether they are a boy or girl. But fielding with a face mask should not be a requirement based on the sex of the player.

In youth

softball,

28%

of injuries involve the head or neck

yo uth 44 ba inv % se olv of ba et inj ll, he uri es he ad or ne ck

even require it for all players, regardless of position. Last time I checked, boys’ little league teams do not have the same requirement. Instead, boys are allowed to learn how to field a ball with confidence, even if that means they get hit in the face with it. Okay, getting hit in the face with a ball is not the best way to learn, but the point is that boys are allowed to learn while girls are protected. It’s extremely difficult to argue against a safety measure, especially when there are significant anecdotal stories of severe, even life-threatening, injuries. But what’s overlooked is that those same injuries exist in baseball, yet nothing even exists to protect a baseball fielder’s face. Just this past season, both Tigers pitcher Doug Fister and Diamondbacks pitcher Brandon McCarthy were hit by line drives on the mound. As a result of that, what changes were made? So far, absolutely none. While injuries in baseball are common, they’re accepted as part of the game. At the same time, however, softball players are wearing masks just to play in the infield. It boils down to the issue of safety versus sexism. If face masks really are just a safety precaution, then there should be a male equivalent for a similar sport that poses the same risks. Proponents of face masks in softball argue that the smaller field poses a greater risk for injury. Wearing a mask while pitching is totally justified. A pitcher tends to be off balance and their reaction time is slower after the release. But it is unlikely to be true for the infielders and even less likely to be true for the outfielders. Instead, the face mask requirement for infielders, and

Long gone are the days when women were exclusively relegated to the sidelines or stands to cheer. Since Congress passed Title IX in 1972, women and girls’ youth sports programs have grown at an impressive rate. From the University of Connecticut Huskies to the Williams sisters, women are here to play and here to stay. While there are many more opportunities for female athletes, men’s programs often have more support and funding, mostly because men’s programs are generally more popular. And that’s okay. What’s not okay is when athletes are treated differently because of their gender. Girls are not more fragile than boys just because they are girls. What I’m talking about are the uncomfortable, thick hunks of plastic more commonly known as softball face masks. Yes, you’ve seen them. For those of us who have had to wear them, they are as difficult to wear as they are to look at. Touted as necessary for safety, face masks are required headgear in many girls’ softball leagues at the pitcher’s position as well as other infield positions. Some coaches

From 1983-2008, deaths in high school softball occured at a rate 1/10 that of high school baseball.

From 1996-2006, there was an average of 2 deaths per year in result of impact to the head in youth baseball. Graphic by Evan Richter Source: American Academy of Pediatrics

sports

April 19, 2013

Bob continues Meyer legacy in South water polo Ben Wittenstein

staff reporter From bench warmer as a freshman to starting at hole set this year, senior Bob Meyer has come a long way in his water polo career at South. The Meyer name is no stranger to water polo. Tom Meyer, Bob’s older brother, started at goalie for four years for the Titans and excelled at his position, earning second-team All-State honors. As the younger brother, Bob saw first hand what it took to succeed by watching his older brother, and according to David Lieberman, head men’s water polo coach, this could have created some healthy competition. “There’s probably a little bit of a sibling rivalry, a little bit of competition,” Lieberman said. “They try to one-up each other.” As much as the two brothers tried to be better than the other, the fact is not lost on Lieberman that Tom led his younger brother into the sport. “I think [Tom] introduced him to the game [and] was a huge inspiration,” Lieberman said. Meyer spent most of his freshman year on the bench, but over time, he slowly began to de- BOBBING: Taking aim at the net, senior Bob Meyer winds up to take a shot. Meyer was a member of the varsity swim team in the winter season, receiving a 22.82 in the 50-free, and is now a captain of the varsity water polo team. Photo by JP O’Rourke IV velop his game in practice and during the offseason. For example, he has ated, Meyer knows that this season won’t I have the determination I can work hard His moment came on a fastbreak play. participated in the Olympic development be without its difficulties. and get to where I want to be.” After a stop on defense, Meyer found program, which has given him the oppor“I felt [I was] missing him right away,” While personal reflection is one thing, himself and his teammate who had the tunity to play against top tier competi- Meyer explained. “But you’ve got to Meyer also has the praises of his coach ball, J.J Connor, on a fastbreak play down tion. Additionally, he swam for the Titans move on.” who has seen his growth from day one. the pool. As Connor swam down one end for four years. Meyer’s transition is expected to be a “Both swimming-and-water-polo wise of the pool, Meyer swam down the oth“You notice a big difference in the wa- quick one, as Lieberman has expectations [he has taken] just huge strides,” Lieber- er, matching his teammate’s speed. As ter: stronger movements, better balance from him now that he is a senior and team man said. “He really has just embraced they got towards the net, Connor swung and it’s easier to play the game [after go- captain. the game.” the ball to Meyer who completed the fast ing through the Olympic development “Being a senior, I expect him to be one While he received little playing time break with a goal. Later, Meyer found program],” Meyer said. of the team leaders in and out of the wa- freshman year, Meyer got a rare great op- out that his goal was the first scored by a Just this past summer, Meyer took part ter, and I think he has embraced that role,” portunity to show his potential early in freshman all year. in an adult water polo league called the Lieberman said. his career. In a sort of foreshadowing to the rest Masters. In it, he once again was given the Throughout his journey through the It was the first game of his freshman of his high school career, Meyer’s ability chance to compete against players much ranks of men’s water polo, Meyer believes year, and Meyer found himself sitting on was starting to poke its head out, even bigger than him. Not surprisingly, Meyer he has gained a great deal of knowledge the bench for the start of the game. To his then. If anything, Meyer’s story shows has seen a big improvement in his game and skill. surprise, his name was called and he was how much a person can accomplish by as a result of participating in the adult “I’ve learned a whole new meaning for put in. He knew that he had little time to just putting in the extra hours. league. hard work and determination,” Meyer show off his talents, so he had to make the “I worked really hard and that’s how I Now that his older brother has gradu- said. “I learned a lot about myself, like if most out of the little opportunities he got. got where I am today,” Meyer said.

Titan track succeeds early with depth in sprinters, youth Hannah Mason

staff reporter

Photo by

Marque

Wyatt Ric

hter

s Thomp

son

After a successful indoor season that saw the varsity men’s track and field team winning the Fenton Invite for the seventh straight year and finishing second in Conference, head coach Kurt Hasenstein says the team is now focused and prepared for the now underway outdoor season. During the Fenton Invite Feb. 23, the energy was intense. With the team wanting to keep its winning streak alive, the Titans gave it all they had, especially because of the poor conditions of the track, according to senior Austin Dickholtz. “The track is our least favorite,” Dickholtz said. “It is very tight, slippery and bad to run on, but we wanted to keep our track meet standing for most track meets won in a row, so we ran our best.” Success at the Fenton Invite led the Titans to the Conference meet March 15, where they placed second. This is an improvement from last year, when they placed third. Hasenstein feels that the meet showed the team’s potential as it was making prepara-

tions for the outdoor season. “We made it a lot closer to the front end against Evanston than in the past, so things went well for us,” Hasenstein said. Before conference, junior Luke Pilliod had predicted the team to place in second or third. According to Pilliod, with indoor conference being one of the biggest meets they have had, it gives him a lot of motivation to do better. “We had to really prepare more mentally, as well as physically,” Pilliod said. “Conference indoor is the first big meet that leads into the outdoor [season].” According to Pilliod, the biggest advantage the team has is its strong depth of sprinters. “It’s nice because injuries hurt us but they don’t completely destroy us,” Pilliod said. Pilliod says that when he wasn’t able to compete, his backup runner was still able to help break one of the teams’ relay records by 2.5 seconds. “Myself and [junior] Sean Alexander were injured recently [and couldn’t compete] in the same meet that we were trying to break the four by four record,” Pilliod said. “Luckily for us the sprinters that replaced us were still able to break the indoor field house record.” According to senior Malcom Engel, he thinks the team has improved from last year and hopes that it sends a couple more people to State. “Some of these kids are growing, getting stronger, and getting faster,” Engel said. “The freshmen and sopho-

mores are pretty fast. That surprised me.” The outdoor season started after Spring break, so the runners are starting to adapt to the new setting, says sophomore Peter Wassmann. “It’s adjustment from indoor to outdoor,” Wassmann said. “But it is getting better now that the weather is getting nicer, and you can get into outdoor shape.” According to Engel, he prefers the outdoor season to the indoor because of the way the track is set up. “Indoor the track is smaller, and the turns are tighter,” Engel said. “Outdoor it is one big loop instead of running multiple laps.” According to Dickholtz, the team’s goals are to do well in the tough invites coming up. “The team will keep improving as it has been for the last couple of months,” Dickholtz said. “I’m very excited to see how well we do at the end.” Men’s track and field competes in the State meet May 16-17. The team also has invites against Maine South and Rolling Meadows on April 30, and on May 3 they hold the John Davis Titan Invite. With many meets to come, Hasenstein says that he is primarily focused on the safety of the runners and getting them used to the new environment. “We have to be smart that we aren’t overdoing it in cold weather and be really patient,” Hasenstein said. “The first few invitationals outside we aren’t as concerned with the team’s scores but instead getting guys into the meets and making sure they get an opportunity to compete.”

sports

April 19, 2013

Irwin turns hard work into future at Tufts University

YES HE CAM: Surveying the field, senior captain Cam Irwin looks for an open shot or pass. Irwin, who will play lacrosse at Tufts University in Massachusetts this fall, is currently part of a Titan team that has eyes on a state title. Photo courtesy of Cam Irwin

Connie Hoekstra & Georgia Arvanitis staff reporters Going into his freshman year, Cam Irwin was an aspiring hockey goalie who failed to make the GBS team. Now, as a senior, Irwin is a captain of the lacrosse team and is committed to play collegiately at Tufts University. Though Irwin has played lacrosse since age 11, he only truly committed to the game his freshman year of high school, according to Irwin. In his four years playing at South, Irwin has become an amaz-

ing lacrosse player, according to his coach Matthew Jones. “From the moment I met him as a freshman, I knew right away that he was going to be special,” Jones said. Cam’s success didn’t go unnoticed by younger brother, Jackson Irwin, either. According to Jackson, Cam inspired him to play lacrosse. “I started [playing lacrosse] because he started,” Jackson said. “It really looked like fun. Over time, we grew into it more, and then it became brother and brother competition.”

Jackson now accompanies his brother on the field as a member of the varsity team. “It’s pretty cool [playing together] because we kind of have a mental connection,” Jackson said. “He always looks out for me. He always tries to help me out [and] make me better.” As well as helping out his brother on the field, Cam also helps out the team. “He knows how to create opportunities for other people, which is very important to our team,” Jackson said. Jones also agrees that Cam’s skills help

the team as a whole. “He definitely works harder than everyone in practice,” Jones said. “He doesn’t rely upon his given abilities and talents; he’s always working, always trying to improve, which, in turn, improves everyone around him.” According to Jones, Cam’s greatest asset is his understanding of the game. “[Freshman] year he was moving up between the junior varsity and freshman [team],” Jones said. “He was practicing for the junior varsity team a lot of the time, but when he would come play with the freshmen, he just knew what we were doing, very early on he had an understanding of the game.” Varsity goalie Ryan Hauldren, who has played with Cam since freshman year, said he feels that Cam’s abilities during a game help the team succeed. “Last year we were playing Palatine, and it was our first game of the year so we were kind of sloppy, and [Cam] came in and scored four goals and it really put us over the edge and got us that first win,” Hauldren said. Cam said he hopes his team does well this season, and he especially hopes for victories against New Trier and Glenbrook North. “Beating them would be awesome this year [because] I haven’t beaten those teams my four years here [at South],” Cam said. As well as goals for the team, Cam aims high for his personal goals this season as well. Cam says he hopes to be All-American in lacrosse this year. Tufts University, located in Boston, is a Division III school for lacrosse. Cam’s coaches and teammates, including Hauldren, are very excited about Cam’s future there. “[The team] is proud of him,” Hauldren said. “We know he deserves it.” Jones has high hopes for Cam at the college level. “With his commitment to doing the very best, he’s going to get to college and he’s going to shine, and I’m looking forward to watching that,” Jones said.

Lacrosse looks to parlay leadership, talent into championship

“We tend to force the ball into areas where there are a lot of people,” Jones said. “We need to be more selective with our shooting. We always look for the first shot when we should be looking for the best shot.” After weather has slowed the start of the South men’s Ford believes that some of the Titans’ struggles have lacrosse season, the team is off to a 2-1 start. The team has been a result of miscommunication, something that he so far defeated both Deerfield and Evanston but fallen believes will be fixed as the season continues. to Glenbrook North, the number one team in Illinois ac“I feel like communication is a bit of a problem,” Ford cording to laxpower.com. said. “We have to communicate more [and] get everyone Despite the somewhat mixed early season results, the on the same page and we’ll start clicking.” team has high expectations for the season; according Jones also believes the Titans conditioning is lackluster head coach Matthew Jones, the team has aspirations of a and that it has cost them one victory already. state championship. “We need to improve our conditioning,” Jones said. “To win state […] is the expectation,” Jones said. “That “We’ve seen a decline in performance as the games have is the expectation the kids have put on themselves, and gone on. In the Glenbrook North game, we were up 6-2 any less of an expectation would be a disservice to them.” at the half and wound up losing 13-9. We didn’t have the Senior midfielder Spencer Ford shares this goal, saying conditioning to play a team like that for four quarters.” that the team will be good enough if they can work as a Conditioning is not something cannot be fixed, accohesive unit. cording to Jones, which is partially why the Titans “We want to win state,” Ford said. “I think that our have such high expectations for the end of the season. team is good enough to do it, and if we can put togethJones says that conditioning is a particular focus durer the pieces before the season ends we’re gonna have a ing practice right now. great chance.” “We try to make all of our drills really high-temTo win state, the team needs to be firing on all cylinpo,” Jones said. “We do a lot of drills that involve ders. According to Jones, the team will need to work as a transitions, and then we focus on contditioning at unit to achieve peak performance this season. the end [of practice].” “I don’t think we have one individual who will be the The Titans’ season continues Monday, when most important,” Jones said. “As in any sport, you have the team will play Libertyville at home in a to rely on everyone that you have. We need everyone to makeup for this last Monday’s game. The reguproduce.” lar season will conclude later in May, at which According to Jones, chemis- PRIVATE RYAN, SAVING: Raising his stick, senior goalie Ryan Hauldren prepares to turn away a hopetry is a strength which should ful goal-scorer. Hauldren, a captain, is a major part of the champioinship-hopeful Titan squad. Photo courtesy of point the Titans will compete for the state chamMcLain Murphy pionship in the playoffs. play a major role this season. Ethan Spalding co-sports editor

“This group of guys has really bonded very early in the season,” Jones said. “There seems to be a real sense of family and community with these guys, and they look out for each other and push each other to strive to do better.” Much of the team’s expectations rely on their goal-prevention and defense, a unit which is anchored by Ryan Hauldren, senior cocaptain and goalie. According to Jones, Hauldren is one of the top goalies in the state, which makes goal-prevention a strength of the team. The team is not without its flaws, however. According to Jones, the Titans sometimes struggle with turnovers, and they need to use more discretion in taking shots.

sports

April 19, 2013

Baseball succeeds early with several returning seniors

SNOWCOHEN: Laying out for the ball, senior Max Cohen dives in an attempt to make a put-out. Cohen starts as an outfielder for the Titans this season and is one of eight returning seniors on the team, according to senior Paul McMahon. Photo by Rob Hart ~ Sun Times Media

Breck Murphy

staff reporter Despite having multiple games postponed due to inclement weather, the South men’s baseball team has gotten off to a good start, according to senior Sam Selby. The team is currently 10-1 as it heads into conference play. “The first time that we stepped on the field, we actually beat a team who had played four or five games already,” Selby said. However, the team’s most memorable victory thus far came against Oak Park River Forest, according to Selby. “They were defending state champions last year, and we beat them by 11,” Selby said. Selby and junior Tommy O’Hara hit back-to-back homeruns in the game, Selby said. Though head coach David Lindley agrees with Selby that the boys have started strong, he still believes they have some work to do. “It’s not surprising, as we have a collection of talented players,” Lindley said. “We still have a long way to go

though.” According to Lindley, the players’ success this season will be determined by their team effort rather than concern for individual success. “We’ve been doing a really nice job of working on not just the baseball skills but also becoming a team,” Lindley said. “It’s nice to add that element.” Despite losing 2012 graduates Sully Stadler and Zack Jones, who went on to play Division I at Indiana University and Northwestern University, respectively, Lindley remains positive about the present. “[The players] move on, but to me, they are always a part of GBS baseball,” Lindley said. “It’s always fun to see the new team come together.” The conference season began the week of April 8, and the men have their goal set on winning conference, according to Selby. Although the team’s biggest rival is typically New Trier, their team to beat this season is Maine South. “Last year, we lost in the first round [of the playoffs],” Selby said. “If it’s possible, we would love to go to State and do something there.” According to Selby, the team looks to use their

“Last year we lost in the first round [of the playoffs]. If it’s possible, we would love to go to State and do something there.” -Senior Sam Selby

strengths in pitching as an advantage. Seniors Sam Koloms and Kyle Pauly both contribute to this force, according to Lindley. As far as weaknesses go, the team plans to work more on their hitting, Selby said. “We’ve started out strong, but we aren’t expected to do as much in our hitting,” Selby said. “There will be some flaws that we’ll find over the games, but [I would like to see us] with stronger fielding and more consistency out there.” According to Lindley, despite the squad’s strengths and weaknesses, the team has a deep dugout that will always be able to compete with its opponents. “The new guys are coming together as a team and carrying it on,” Lindley said. “They’ve done a great job so far, and I’m happy to be a part of the group.” To start off their season, the Titans beat Barrington 5-2 and Oak Park River Forest 14-3. Since then, the squad has conquered Schaumburg 7-4 and Rolling Meadows 7-5, while dropping a game to Wheaton Warrenville North 3-9. In more recent games, the team beat both St. Patrick and Zion Benton 11-1. The boys take the field next April 27 at Maine West High School. The playoffs are currently scheduled to start May 20.

Soccer bounces back after predictably shaky start, tough losses

that they’re not going to be complacent in really wanted when we were down for seven-eighths of the game,” Sailer said. “That says a lot about our team reaching their goals.” According to Ha, his Titans are traditional- – to show that we’re working that hard in the 70th minEarly into the 2013 season, the womute.” ly slow starters, which en’s varsity soccer team has amassed According to Sailer, sophomakes their uncanny a record of 6-4. After a year that 5-4 record okay, espemore Kaily Bruch has been an Having gone downstate for the past two years, head coach Seong saw the Titans place fourth in State, cially because the two Ha and his Titans have proven that they are a perennial pow- extraordinarily valuable asset to head coach Seong Ha expects things losses have come to erhouse program. However, early losses to other top-notch pro- the team this year despite being to pick up from here on out. New Trier grams have proven that there is work to be done to remain the a young player. “I’m not surprised with where “I think [Bruch] is such a solid and Loyola, program they are. The following is a look at the Titans’ losses we are right now,” Ha said. “It’s not who he this season. player,” Sailer said. “We don’t that I don’t have high expectations, look at her as a sophomore by feels are it has just been tough with the weather any means. She is definitely one two of the best we have been having to get good trainteams in the state. of the hardest-working players ing sessions in […] but the girls have on the team.” Despite the loss to New handled it very well; they’ve made the Additionally, Ha feels that seTrier April 2, a late surge April 11 April 13 March 12 April 2 best of the time that has been given.” Score:1-3 Score:1-3 from South at the end of nior April Cronin is the main atScore: 0-2 Score:1-2 W-L: 5-3 W-L: 5-4 W-L: 0-1 W-L: 2-2 Ha acknowledges that a repeat of tacking target this year. A Divithe game is exactly the last year is certainly no easy task, but potential the squad sion I committee at Valporaiso he feels that the ripeness of the team University, Ha sees her as not can show, according this year will prove to lend itself to only a goal-scoring threat, but a valuable teammate. to Ha. future success. “Yeah, we didn’t get the result that we “[Cronin] is a very unselfish player, and she’s very HEADSTRONG: “The girls don’t want to settle on, wanted, but they really competed; they real- cognizant of the fact that she is going to be the showcase Bracing for impact, ‘We’ve been there and done that ly stepped it up to a whole other level,” Ha piece of our team,” Ha said. “[However], she doesn’t senior captain Ally for the past two, three years, it’s said. come off cocky, she doesn’t come off in a way where she Wojick heads the ball. going to happen again,’” Ha Senior goalie Emma Sailer agrees that the is like, ‘You know what, I’m the show.’” Wojick is going on to play said. “I’m very pleased with home stretch of the New Trier game was Despite their intermediate success, the Titans fell to Division I soccer at Norththe maturation and how very positive and showed a side of the team York High School in the third round of the Pepsi Cup 1-3 ern Arizona University. Photo by Kevin Mathein they’ve handled themApril 11. South is also currently 1-1 in Conference, with she expects to see moving forward. selves, understanding “Getting a goal back is something we games vs. Maine South April 23 and Waukegan April 25. John Adkisson

co-sports editor

The Titans’ Tumult