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Technology usage increased in classes

‘Wellness’ named new service theme

Illustration by Jini John

JOHN SCHURER co-news editor

GBS students are adapting to the increased usage of technology throughout the school, between academics, activities and athletics. According to South Principal Lauren Fagel, reliance on technology has many benefits for both students and adults.

“I think if it is used well, it can help students and adults increase efficiency,” Fagel said. “[Google is] efficient, collaborative, and streamlined.”

However, Fagel recognizes that all people have personal preferences that must be accommodated for.

“I think we are living in two worlds,” Fagel said. “A lot of people still prefer to do things by hand and we also have this amazing technology at our disposal.”

According to junior Lori Steffel, teachers have made a noticeable shift to Google products since last year.

Google Classroom in particular, a product that allows teachers to post assignments, announcements and calendars on a class blog for all their students to see, has become more common.

“Last year seemed like a transition year between Moodle and paper assignments, but this year a lot of my teachers have switched over to [Google] Classroom,” Steffel said. “I personally like this because it keeps all of my information in one place, and I know that all my teachers use [Google] Classroom [...] so I find it much more accessible.”

One student in favor of the technological shift, junior Audrey Brown, claims that Google is beneficial to an educational environment. Brown says the use of Classroom is inconsistent between her classes, but can be effective when used.

“I know a lot of teachers are attempting to use Classroom and weave it into their lesson plan,” Brown said. “[For many], it works for posting homework and announcements, but some hardly use it at all.”

Spanish teacher Rosemarie Carsello believes that Classroom is a great resource for her students to take advantage of.

“The product that I use most often is Classroom, and I use it primarily to post weekly calendars, any kind of special announcements or instructions, and anything that students may want to refer to later on [at home],” Carsello said.

Carsello appreciates the accessible features of Google and aims to deepen her level of understanding for the technology.

“I think it's a great place to go to for everything,” Carsello said. “It’s a home base, a resource for students, and I think the possibilities are many. I’m just beginning to tap into what those possibilities are.”

English teacher Katrina Prockovic straddles the line between electronics and paper, for she sees advantages and disadvantages for both.

See TECH page 2

news NEW STAFF

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LILY SANDS staff reporter

Armed with the desire to incorporate service learning into the school setting, Dr. Jim Shellard, along with students from last year, decided it was time to implement a service theme for the student body. The creation of the new theme, wellness, is in an effort to gain participation from the freshman English classes. “[I] am not trying to discourage students from doing service in any other areas, but I find it helpful to have a theme and then attach to it,” Shellard said.

Beth Ann Barber, freshman English teacher, explains that a service learning project is part of the freshman English and Communication courses being combined to form a yearlong class. “[Teachers] love the Communications course and [service] was already a part of [it], so we combined the two because service learning is so important, and student activities were really promoting it,” Barber said.

Barber explains that the plan for this year’s freshmen is to research a problem within the community and identify a solution. After that, they will find a charity linked to the selected problem, create a presentation and persuade an audience to agree with the students’ beliefs.

“The students will raise money all year long, and all money raised will go to their charity,” Barber said. “We also [strongly] encourage the students to go out and actually do service [in the community].”

Fagel reflects on first month as principal KATIE CAVENDER co-news editor

State mandates civics education, increases graduation requirements GIGI CEPEDA, CASSIDY FORONDA & MAEVE PLUNKETT staff reporters

Illinois high school students will be required to take a semester of a class that includes a focus on civics in order to graduate, according to a bill signed

by Governor Bruce Rauner on Aug. 21; the official timing of the implementation of the requirement is yet to be determined.

According to Laura Fine, the state representative for Illinois’ 17th District, which includes Glenview, the hope behind the bill is that students will gain increased ability and motivation to participate in government and democracy.

Fine, who was a co-sponsor of the bill and who is also a GBS graduate, says that education about civics, which is the study of rights and duties of citizenship, can inform students about opportunities to participate in government, even before they are old enough

to vote.

“I think through civics education, young people will realize that they do matter,” Fine said. “[Students] want to be able to have [their] own voice, and this is what [civics] is going to do for [them].”

According to Fine, low voter turnout in the past among younger people has been a result of misunderstanding among American youth who think their votes don’t carry weight.

“What we want to create with this civics curriculum is an educated student body that is now able to vote and will make an educated decision when they do go to the voting booth,” Fine said.

The newly required class, according to the bill, must include four components: the study of government, a service learning component, democratic simulations, and discussions about controversial issues. According to Fine, the Robert R. McCormick Foundation is contributing $1 million to help with professional development for teachers

statewide. Terry Jozwik, Social Studies Department instructional supervisor, sees value in these specific components.

“We are asked by the state to create a service learning component—getting students out into the real world, interacting in their community in some way—I think that will be very, very useful,” Jozwik said. “I also think setting up simulations like mock congresses and mock debates is not something that we [up until now] have [had] time to do in a lot of our regular classes in a substantive way.”

The bill, as originally passed and signed, would put the requirement into effect on Jan. 1, 2016, which would mean that all current students would have to take the class in order to graduate, including this year’s seniors. However, House Bill 800 will be heard by the senate on Oct. 6, which, if passed,

See CIVICS page 2

opinions features a&e SCHOOL SPIRIT

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GUN CONTROL

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South Principal Lauren Fagel is enjoying her new position and the experiences she has had since the start of the school year.

According to Fagel, students have been extremely welcoming thus far as she has adjusted to the South environment.

“The kids have been so respectful,” Fagel said. “Many kids have gone out of their way to introduce themselves to me, or when I introduce myself to them, [are] so gracious and polite.”

According to Fagel, something that impressed her was that a freshman who was new to Glenview acted as a guest Pep Club leader at the first football game.

In addition to students, Fagel has had good experiences thus far with South faculty members.

“I’ve been really impressed with the whole staff,” Fagel said. “Every adult in the building [is] very professional, very hardworking, very happy to be here.”

Fagel hopes that throughout the year, she can keep up the energy she has seen in staff members throughout the building. She wants to continue to interact with South students and staff as frequently as she has over her first few weeks.

“I want [the South community] to know that I’m happy to be here,” Fagel said. “I never take it for granted […] I’m the lucky one.”

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STUDENTS IN DANCE COMPANIES

sports

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FOOTBALL

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Oct. 2, 2015

end of last year, less than 50 percent of students at GBS purchased paper agendas from the bookstore, which led to an administrative decision to “I [use Google], but I don’t like to rely discontinue their production. solely on [it],” Prockovic said. “I’m all for “One of our jobs as admintrying new things and diversifying how istrators is to help prepare kids learn and how teachers convey inyou for the real world, formation.” where everything is done For Prockovic, the biggest transforma[electronically],” Sheltion has been how students complete lard said. “Using Google’s their English essays. [products], like Mail, Drive, “Two years ago was [when] I stopped Classroom and Calendar, is asking students to turn in paper hard essential to your academic copies [for their essays], because there careers at GBS.” was no need,” Prockovic said. “Kids would In addition to Google, there just share Google Docs, and we would col- has been a noticeable shift to laborate that way.” the use of electronic textbooks She believes this enhances students’ ef(e-books), according to Brown. In fectiveness in her class and helps expefour out of five of her classes, Brown dite the writing process. uses an e-book.

“On the one hand, it made for immediate “For classes like US history and English, feedback,” Prockovic I would rather said. “For seniors in have the physi“I think it’s important Rhetoric working on cal copy of the to approach everything book in front of their college essays, we could collaborate me for [annotatwith a healthy sense of very easily.” ing],” Brown said. skepticism and optiAnother applica“But, I definitely tion connected to think some stumism, and to use what Google is Calendar, dents struggle to works for you.” which allows for [avoid] distracstudents and staff at tions while using - English teacher GBS to create collabe-books—whethKatrina Prockovic orative, user-friender it’s playing ly and visually-apgames or going pealing schedules, according to Dr. on social media.”

Jim Shellard, Student Activities director.

According to Steffel, e-books have both In a survey conducted by Shellard at the positive and negative aspects to them.

“I like [e-books] because I don’t have to carry heavy textbooks to and from school, which [makes homework easy to complete] while at school,” Steffel said. “[On the contrary, staring at a screen] while taking notes for hours gives me a headache.”

Whether in favor of the technology shift or not, Prockovic believes students and staff should be open-minded about the changes.

“What works for one teacher or student, doesn’t work for everyone,” Prockovic said. “I think it’s important to approach everything with a healthy sense of skepticism and optimism and to use what works for you.”

If you were alive on this day in 1956, you would have witnessed headlines that read, “First Atomic Power Clock Exhibited in New York City.” The idea of utilizing magnetic resonance, which is the absorption and emission of electromagnetic radiation, was proposed by physicist Isidor Rabi in 1945. For four years, the United States National Institute of Standards and Technology experimented with the idea and ultimately completed the revolutionary machine in 1949.

Six years later, a more accurate version of the clock was created in the United Kingdom. It was soon followed by the production of the first commercial device, the Atomichron, on our side of the pond in Malden, MA. What makes the atomic clock better than a wristwatch? The advantage of the atomic approach is that atoms resonate at highly consistent frequencies, making it an extremely precise time-teller.

As with any unveiling of a technological, game-changing product (consider the first iPhone release back in 2007, for example), the atomic clock’s first

exhibition represented one engineer’s dream made into a reality. On Sept.

14, 2015 in Irving, TX, 14-yearold Ahmed Mohamed hoped to achieve a similar dream when he constructed his own digital clock from a pencil case and another d i s a ssemble d timepiece.

Deciding to reveal to his teacher what, in his eyes, was an innocuous invention, his ambition was soon challenged. In place of his probable bus ride home at the end of the day, he was instead confronted by policemen and arrested for the crime of developing a hoax bomb.

Technology, continued from front

Taking a closer look at events that shaped the world.

THE FIRST ATOMIC CLOCK VS. AHMED’S CLOCK DANI TUCHMAN co-editor-in-chief

sibilities, but she is also concerned about what students may have to give up in order to fill the requirement.

“If it’s a stand-alone course, that changwill delay the implementation of the rees things for kids in terms of [the fact quirement until the graduating class of that students] only have so much time in 2020. a day,” Fagel said. “[Students are] choosCara Wiley, the principal consultant for ing courses, and now this is going to be the state board of education, said that a separate requirement that [they are] she could not comment about pending going to have to take along the lines of legislation, but she knows that members health and consumer.” of “the McCormick Foundation and the In an unscientific Oracle-conducted surEducation Committee are both confident vey of 161 South students, 42 percent of that it will pass.” respondents said that they are in favor of The Social Studies Department will plan the new requirement, while 37 percent how to best incorporate these require- said that they had to learn more before ments either into existing courses or as expressing an opinion. Many survey rea stand-alone course. The creation of a spondents also expressed concerns about stand-alone course raises concerns about the potential effect on the scheduling of the potential impact on electives, both electives. in the Social Studies Department and “I think the class is useful and worththroughout GBS, while the possibility of while, but [having] so many requireincorporating civics into existing courses ments makes it hard for students to raises questions about the possible effect take the classes they want,” junior Cindy on the content of those courses.

Yang said. “I’ve already struggled with “The challenge for the current P.E., Conus is [that] we do ofsumer, Health and Arts “I think it’s really fer a number of wonrequirements, and I derful electives in important for people don’t need another Social Studies, and, one.” to learn how to [at the first departOn the contrary, jument meeting we’ve nior Nina Tojo is one of become educated, had about this topic], the students who sees active citizens.” we were trying to the potential value in figure out how not to civics education.

- junior Nina Tojo diminish those elec“I think it’s really tives that are very important for people popular with students,” Jozwik said. to learn how to become educated, active According to Jozwik, the process of decitizens,” Tojo said. “That is the only way, termining how South will meet the new in my opinion, for a democracy to have mandate will require multiple meetings a successful government that reaches its for the Social Studies Department, as well full potential.” as more information from the State Board Given recent political history in Illinois, of Education in coming weeks. Today, Oct. Jozwik hopes that the new requirements 2, Jozwik is attending a meeting of Social can help reshape students’ perspective Studies Department chairs from the sur- on government. rounding area, along with a representa“All too often, kids are turned off to govtive from state government in order to ernment, because a number of politicians learn more about both the requirements have gotten themselves in trouble,” Jozfrom the state and the approaches that wik said. “It gets a black eye, and people other schools might be taking. According then don’t want to be interested. I think to Wiley, schools do have the ability to we need to change that attitude amongst decide how the requirements best fit into young people, not only at Glenbrook their existing courses.

South but throughout the state.”

“If schools are already offering U.S. The legislation itself had largely biparHistory and [AP] Government, civics can tisan support, according to Fine, who said be embedded within that,” Wiley said. that it had to undergo many alterations “However, [the bill also gives the option] in order to satisfy all interested parties. of creating a separate civics course.”

Limited opposition to the bill did stem South Principal Lauren Fagel says that from the fact that it might limit students’ she believes in the importance of civics electives, according to Fine. education and is excited about the pos*The Journalistic Writing class contributed to this report.

Civics, continued from front

TECH TEAMWORK: Problem solving together, juniors David Magloire and Taylor Mandell use technology as an aid in completing a math assignment. Technology use in the classroom has become much more common at South, expanding to include the use of cell phones for academic purposes. Photo by Sophie Mason

news

Source: civicyouth.org

Apparently, Mohamed’s engineering teacher urged him to promptly place his device in his locker to avoid more teachers’ suspicion. However, Mohamed disregarded these instructions and s ubsequently panicked anyone who saw the clock throughout the rest of the school day.

This inattention to his engineering teacher’s suggestion begs the question: Was Mohamed intentionally defying him in order to gain recognition and eventual publicity for his problematic device? In other words, did the freshman want his 15 minutes of fame? If fame is what Mohamed de-

sired, it didn’t take long until he had the entire nation’s eyes upon him and a consequent invitation to visit the White House from President Barack Obama himself.

Mohamed’s story soon provoked the supportive trending hashtag on Twitter: “I Stand With Ahmed.” His arrest was viewed by many to be another example of racial profiling due to his Muslim background. However, it has also been argued that his innovative, intelligent mind should have known to apprise his school of his clock’s questionable appearance ahead of time.

According to CNN News, Texas law states that a person who commits a hoax bomb offense is one who “knowingly manufactures, sells, purchases, transports or possesses a hoax bomb with intent to use it” or intentionally causes alarm or reaction. The underlying question still remains: How do you arrest someone and accuse of them of malicious intent when there is no definitive proof, particularly as Mohamed was a so-called engineering student whose supposed intent was to fabricate a one-of-a-kind clock?

news

Oct. 2, 2015

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New teachers join South community with optimism into a topic, an exercise or something like that, I feel like time runs out pretty quickly, so I like having [blocks] here,” South is experiencing one of the largZagorski said. “I love the freedom to be est influxes of new teachers it has seen in able to teach any kind of fitness I want years, balancing out the retiring staff in the second half [of class] and to find almost every department. what everybody likes, not just do the This year, the Science Department has same things consistently.”

Lucas Osterbur, Chemistry 163 and STEM Even teachers unaccustomed to the teacher. According to Osterbur, he spent block schedule have not only adjusted six years at the University of Illinois and to it, but now prefer it, including Mioriginally planned to enter private re- chelle Steinberg, new math teacher. search or teach at a collegiate level but According to Kelly O’Toole, new social changed his mind studies teacher, after becoming factor con“It was hard to get used one involved in comtributing to the munity outreach. to how many ‘thank smooth transi“[I was] attracttion into GBS for yous’ I hear after class. ” ed to teaching and the new teachers so I transitioned - Kelly O’Toole, was the in-school [to] a teacher-ed preparation they Social Studies teacher program,” Osterreceived over bur said. “That’s summer break the last two years of what I’ve done. Now from experienced staff.

I’m here at Glenbrook South.”

“We had a week-long new teacher oriAccording to Osterbur, although the entation, [...] where we learned about longer class periods and technology have the environment outside of the school,” helped him keep track of his students O’Toole said. “We learned about the stuand their schedules, the transition into dent body, [the] physical structure of the South’s environment was still intimidatbuilding [and] the best teaching practices. ing at first. [...] We learned a lot.”

“I was terrified,” Osterbur said. “It’s hard O’Toole had been teaching for five years not to be; you spend so long thinking about before coming to South, three of which the first day and anticipating [...] meeting were spent at an inner-city Chicago high a whole new staff, a whole new group of school. She says she has been impressed people you’re going to be working with with the spirit and attitude of both stu[and] a hundred plus students. [...] It’s a dents and teachers in her first month as pretty overwhelming experience.”

GBS staff.

Christina Zagorski, new P.E. teacher, also “The manners of the students and the appreciates South’s environment. The last way that the students interact with each school she worked at had a combination of other and their teachers is just wonderperiods and blocks, and she says she has ful,” O’Toole said. “It was hard to get used always preferred the latter. to how many ‘thank yous’ I hear after “By the time you really start getting class.”

LAUREN BENSON & KATE SPRINGER staff reporters

SMILING STAFF: Back row (left to right): Annie Lesch, Meg Ahlgrim, Alan Esser, Mark Knoeppel, Lauren Gruber. Front row: Alexandra McKenzie, Jennifer Smurlo, Kelly Baker, Erin MCcBride, Kate Minkus, Michelle Steinberg. Not photographed: Chris Anderson, Michelle Caporusso, Kristin Endre, Julie Haenisch, Natalie Kaminski, Nicholas Morley, Lucas Osterbur, Kelly O’Toole, Marc Popovici, Emily Porter, Elizabeth Schimmel, Zach Walker and Christina Zagorski. Photo by Ashley Clark teacher is two things: passion that he or she has for the subject, and the relationship that he or she develops with the kids.”

As for the new teachers on staff, Vicars has faith that they will serve the school well. She also has some advice for those just beginning their South teaching career.

“I think when you’re teaching something, you have to ask yourself why this is important [and] why kids need to know that,” Vicars said. “Make it relevant.”

‘

Students this year have had some adjusting to do as well. Not only are they getting used to unfamiliar faces, but they will also have to part with many familiar ones.

Mary Vicars, Social Studies teacher, is one of the most experienced in her department and will be saying goodbye to South at the end of this year.

“This is my last year, and I’ve seen a lot of changes,” Vicars said. “There’s value in being here a long time and seeing how things really work. [...] What makes a good

Vicars says that she greatly prizes her years at South. Zagorski, Osterbur, Steinberg and O’Toole all say that they have been impressed and pleased by the attitude of South’s students and staff thus far.

“The first year of teaching can be a very hard and trying experience, and [my coworkers have] been very supportive and very helpful,” Osterbur said.

In addition to the teachers mentioned, and the ones pictured, there are nine more teachers that are new to GBS.

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

Oct. 2, 2015

Letter from the editors-in-chief

Dear South, We are your outlet to bring about change at Glenbrook South. We are the students’ voice. We are the editors-inchief of the Oracle.

Dramatic openings aside, we are here, monthly, to bring you the news happening in the South community. The Oracle, comprised of 81 members (28 of whom are on the editorial board), is dedicated to keeping South updated on the events happening in and around our school.

Even in our first issue, with content spanning from local band Belmont--featuring two South students-- to coverage of the marriage equality ruling and Patrick Kane’s rape allegations, the future of the Oracle in the coming months is looking bright. We hit topics closer to home as well, such as the new mandatory Civics course and an opinion on school spirit at GBS. The beginning of the article-writing process starts with a run-through of ideas proposed by the Oracle staff. After deciding which stories are worth covering, reporters are then assigned to stories and have three weeks to investigate, interview and write. This process is repeated seven times, which brings us to the end of May. As we begin a new era with Principal Lauren Fagel, we deeply respect her input and willingness to let us have the freedom of what we write, and we anticipate that not much will change for the newspaper as we transition to new authority.

The paper is tailored to the interests of the student body. Therefore, we would appreciate knowing if we did it justice. The Oracle is an award-winning newspaper, so you can trust that all the information we relay will be up to the highest standard possible. The members of the editorial board value any feedback and constructive criticism to match the interests of our school.

Alongside feedback, we also graciously ask if there is something you would like to see in our paper, you approach someone who you know is on our staff or email our adviser, Marshall Harris. We hope to cover the most up-to-date topics happening with South, but the closed perspective of 81 journalists is a small scope compared to 3,100 total students.

With that, South, we thank you for being the best supporters and audience of our paper. We write to serve you, and we hope that every Friday, once a month, you are just as excited to pick up the paper as we are to distribute it to you.

editorial

Civics course implementation creates new options for students For more information about the Civics graduation requirement, see page 1.

Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner signed a bill into legislation on Aug. 21 adding a civics course to the list of requirements for high school graduation. Details regarding which students would be affected are not yet determined, but, according to sources, the requirement will most likely be implemented starting with the class of 2020.

According to the wording of the bill, the course must last at least one semester and must “focus on government institutions, the discussion of current and controversial issues, service learning, and simulations of the democratic process.”

As a part of the bill, individual schools are “free to determine how to incorporate civics education into their current curricula in a way that best meets the needs of their students.” The Oracle Editorial Board suggests that the Social Studies Department integrate Civics Education into Chicago Urban Studies, alongside making a stand-alone Civics class an option to take as a sophomore or senior year elective.

For students on an AP track, according to Cara Wiley, principal consultant for the State Board of Education and coordinator for Social Science, Math and English, the AP Government course fulfills the Civics requirement.

By allowing various options for students to fulfill the requirement, the Social Studies Department would meet the needs of different types of students in a way that gives them the schedule space to participate in other electives they may want to take.

The transfer to the block schedule last year was intended to allow students to take another class, thus giving them the liberty to choose electives that appeal to them. By adding another mandatory course for graduation, it limits students’ elective space, hindering schedule personalization. While it is evident that enrollment in other electives may decrease, implementation of the course this way will minimize these effects.

Terry Jozwik, Social Studies Department instructional supervisor, says that there is no possibility to incorporate the class into United States History courses because of state requirements. While it would be preferable that students have a background in U.S. History prior to learning about civics, it would be detrimental to enrollment in full-year senior history electives such as AP Psychology and AP World Civilizations if the course was only offered for seniors.

In terms of how to cover the class within the Urban Studies class, the Civics course can be taught by using current issues in Illinois and Chicago government to educate students on the legislative process, making the course more pertinent to our student body.

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.

Graphic by Ashley Clark

Students can also become involved in local government through a curriculum that involves service learning projects that will give them realworld experience in political issues. For students who are interested in an intermediate level Civics course, the Oracle Editorial Board believes the Social Studies Department should offer an honors option for the course, comparable to that of other honors-level sophomore electives.

Integrating the mandatory Civics requirement into a popular existing history elective allows for students that would have taken Urban Studies anyways to have more elective space in their schedule.

The mandatory Civics course does not have a state assessment. Unlike the Constitution test, Wiley believes that the main purpose of the Civics course is to get students more engaged in political policy rather than exam results.

“As of the way the public law reads now, we do not have an assessment tied to this,” Wiley said.

“The civics requirement is [meant to get] kids out into public forums, understanding the political nature of things, and helping you to become better prepared citizens. It isn’t so much about assess-

Civics education is important to teach students so that they can make a differece in and around their community.

editors-in-chief Lauren Frias Hannah Mason Dani Tuchman news editors Katie Cavender John Schurer opinions editors Evan Sawires Elaine Sine features editors Alexandra Sharp Anne Marie Yurik a&e editors Mollie Cramer Hannah Rauh sports editors Georgia Arvanitis Samantha Casey

illustrations editors Jini John Grace O’Malley Alex Solecki photos editors Ashley Clark Jacqueline DeWitt asst. news Grace Shin Sasha Vassilyeva asst. opinions Jonathan Lee Lilly Ludwig asst. features Leah Dunne Maddy Ruos Gracie Sands Olivia Sotirichos

ment as it is about service learning.”

Reinforcing Wiley’s idea of mainly focusing on the content rather than evaluation, the Oracle Editorial Board believes that the course would be better off integrated into Urban Studies for those who aren’t as inclined to take up Civics.

Jozwik, similarly, believes that the civics requirement will provide a valuable opportunity for students to become more informed citizens and should be a topic that students enjoy learning about.

“When I read the newspapers about the state of government in Illinois and some of the concerns we have in the state of Illinois, [I realize] we do need students to somehow be more engaged and more excited and more involved in democratic processes,” Jozwik said.

We value the wisdom of the Social Studies Department staff and respect the decisions they will ultimately make when dealing with the course, but we want to speak to the benefit of the student body, since we are the ones who will be directly affected by the implementation of the course.

Civics Education is important to teach students so that they can make a difference in and around their community. However, students shouldn’t be limited in their opportunities by yet another state mandated course. By offering several alternatives, students may view it as less of a burden, allowing it to serve its original purpose: encouraging younger generations to spearhead political change.

asst. a&e Nick Moran Hwa Oh asst. sports Sophie Hensley Cassidy Jackson asst. photos Sophie Mason adviser Marshall Harris gbsoracle@gmail.com “The Glenbrook South Oracle”

@GBSOracle @gbsoracle

opinions

Oct. 2, 2015

Exploration of interests outweighs school involvement

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Instagram culture curbs genuine self-expression

EVAN SAWIRES co-opinions editor

When the ever-enthusiastic voice on the PA commanded me to open the doors/windows in preparation for the first Friday football game of the year, I was immediately met by a familiar sense of anxiety working its way up my respiratory system.

In my three years at this school, I have never been to a football game.

I went to one dance freshman year and hated it. I have anxiously sat through every sports assembly and fight song I’ve been subjected to in my time here. School spirit is not my thing.

It’s not that there’s anything wrong with it, but it’s not where I—a crowd-averse, frustratingly uninvested and somewhat academically bitter person—would like to spend my time. I am an unflinching believer that school belongs far, far away from the rest of my life.

There are probably many reasons for this. The main one is that when I hear the word “school”, my first thought is usually “Oh God so much to do,” rather than the more positive reaction I would like to have. Things that produce such reactions ideally have no overlap with purely positive things like friends and fun and Friday nights.

It’s awesome if scholastic enthusiasm is important to you. You absolutely should go hard on Fridays if that’s what you want to do. But honestly, you guys can get aggressive.

Please stop getting mad at me for prioritizing other things. I’m willing to bet that I’m not the only person who feels vaguely disheartened every time someone tells me these are the best years of my life.

LILLY LUDWIG asst. opinions editor

BACK-TO-SCHOOL SPIRIT: Cheering on the varsity football team at their first home game, students demonstrate their school pride. Titan Nation’s presence is more appropriate at football games than in the GBS hallways. Photo by Sean Dolan

probably never have to consider its If they are, it’s because of things existence again, but I do know some that have nothing to do with school. stuff about stoichiometry now, and I write music. I teach myself extinct that makes me a better person just languages. I go to leftist discussion because now I have more knowledge panels. I read a lot. These things about how the world works. aren’t on my transcript, but they H o w e v e r, have value. it’s frustrating I really don’t I’m willing to bet I’m to hear that want to sell not the only person age-old asserschool short. I’ve tion that my had some cool who feels vaguely job right now classes here; I is to study occasionally find disheartened every hard, so I can myself wandertime someone tells be a producing into the Social Studies office me these are the best tive worker just because it’s in an exploityears of my life. got a good vibe. ative system in I’ve accepted that hopes of eveneven the least interesting informatually being happy upon my retiretion I’ve learned has value, because ment. That sort of rhetoric we hear in the acquisition of new information high school, especially with its focus has value in itself. Maybe I don’t on productivity and economic succare about stoichiometry and will cess, is crazily disheartening.

I’m here to learn some stuff, hopefully. That’s about it. I’m sure when I graduate my feelings will be a lot more complex than they are right now, but I’m also sure that most will be overshadowed by a resounding “nice”. All aspects of my identity besides “student” remain far from this building, and I’ve decided to keep them there. It’s okay that, for whatever reason, I just don’t prioritize “Getting Loud.”

Korean-American identity overcomes assimilation

CHARLIE YOU columnist

“The Koreans are coming, the Koreans are coming!” my friend Jimmy exclaimed. In the summer of 2012, twenty-five native Korean students joined my church friends and me at a summer band camp. Though lackluster, my Korean speaking abilities were still superior to my fellow church members’ so I was immediately assigned the task of making introductions and translating on demand. Rather than enjoying 13 days of music and reconnecting with old friends, I was held responsible for babysitting a group of people whom I could hardly relate to, much less communicate with.

Then, during break time on the second day of camp, one Korean student named Min-Hyeok expressed a desire to hang out with me. We spent three hours talking and exchanging fascinating experiences. I was astounded to learn that Korean students typically devote 20 hours a day towards their academics, and Min-Hyeok was shocked to hear how American students fill their days with both extracurriculars and school work.

I was stunned at how narrowly and traditionally most Koreans define physical beauty, and Min-Hyeok was struck

by the physical diversity of Americans. I envied culture. how Min-Hyeok had such easy access to all my The way I came to view my culture differentfavorite Korean delicacies at the street markets ly may seem rather insignificant, but befriending back home, and Min-Hyeok couldn’t wait to try Min-Hyeok ultimately resulted in a journey of rea Chicago-style hotdog and Giordano’s deep dish immersion into my Korean heritage. pizza.

I began by obsessing over popular Korean TV Besides its fascinating insights into comparshows, such as Running Man and Reply 1997/94, ative cultures, this conversation spurred somestealing colloquial phrases to incorporate into thing greater: it was the stark realization that I my vocabulary. I also began using Korean with had abandoned my heritage while assimilating my boss, parents and predominantly Korean into American culture. speaking students, all without the help of Google After immigrating Translate (well, most of I’ve now come to accept the the time). I even wrote to the United States, my parents were adanotion that it is impossible for my A.P. United States mant in making sure History paper on the me to live a life without both Korean War. my sisters and I didn’t become ignorant of Even though my my Korean and American our Korean culture. experiences may resobackgrounds. nate more with the KoI vividly remember rean population, my six gruesome years’ story of cultural neglect can’t be confined to just worth of Saturdays locked up in Korean school, one group. These kinds of experiences can be had forcibly watching Korean historical dramas and by anyone. solely speaking in Korean at home. All while trying to fit in at an American public school during For so long I struggled internally with finding my identity. After 18 years of wavering back the week. and forth between two cultures, I’ve now come to However, as my parents accept the notion that it is impossible for me to grew overwhelmed with live a life without both my Korean and American work, their guided activities backgrounds. I’ll continue eating at La Taquiza slowly disappeared. From and Greek Feast, yet I’ll always crave my mother’s then on, I cultivated a disdain towards my Korean Kimbap and Kimchi-chigae. I’ll still rock out to heritage. At school, I Beyonce and Kelly Clarkson, but also to Kim Bum joined activities, such as Soo and Song Yoo Bin. basketball, volleyball and Quite frankly, I’ll probably never fully understand the vernacular and mannerisms of my Kodebate, for there were far rean culture. However, my cross-cultural backfewer number of Koreans ground continues to mold me into a human being who participated in these whose blended values and beliefs will play out in areas; I ignored the Asianways I can’t, right now at least, begin to fathom.

American students while I have faith that they will push me in enlightensolely conversing with my ing and rewarding directions as I go forth into the white peers. world.

Most regrettably, I encouraged the ridicule of Korean culture, most notably KPop (Korean pop music). I held great pride in being considered one of the only “Americanized” Koreans, even though it came at the cost of betraying my native

If you’re one of my 262 Instagram followers, you probably noticed something different about the way I was posting this summer. My posts tended to revolve around animals, because truthfully, I spend most of my time with them. It’s not glamorous, but it’s something I love more than anything else in the world.

I did this because I made a pact with myself at the beginning of the summer to start using social media as a tool to actually express who I am. Admit it: most of us use social media as a way to make ourselves appear cooler than we actually are. I just think there’s no reason the pressure to conform should follow teenagers all the way to social media.

Of course there are exceptions, but I’ve found a vast majority of my peers only post when they’re at parties or other social events. This made me think to myself, ‘surely my peers have values beyond just partying’. And the thing is, they do.

However, these values don’t always fit the social norm of social media usage. The reality is that most teenagers are insecure about who they really are, and social media is a great tool to mask a person’s true identity.

Now I think part of being a teenager and part of growing up is learning to overcome this insecurity. It’s very normal for highschoolers, especially underclassmen, to feel that they need to misrepresent themselves just to be comfortable in the school halls. The problem with this, though, is knowing where to draw the line.

Let’s take your average sophomore girl, for example.

We’ll name her Emily. Emily loves to hang out with her friends as much as the next girl, but her real passion is coding. Emily spends all afternoon programming a new app, and she snaps a picture to send to her parents. Later, on Saturday night, she goes to a party and takes some pictures with her friends.

On Sunday afternoon, when Emily wants to post on Instagram, she’s definitely more likely to post the pictures of her at the party instead of the new app she designed, because her peers appear to value partying over her real passions.

The problem with this is that by posting the picture of her partying instead of her accomplishment, she tells herself that there’s something wrong with the part of her doesn’t fit the social norm. The more she lies about herself using social media, the more she will begin to actually believe that her real interests and values aren’t worthy of sharing with the world.

Emily is just a fictional example, but she could be any teenager. There is so much pressure for teens to act and be a certain way. As a teenager, it can be really scary to put yourself out there and be an individual. But you can’t spend your whole life pretending to be somebody you’re not. Being an individual is so much more valuable than trying to blend into the crowd.

How do I know this is true? The feedback I’ve gotten from my little animal experiment on Instagram has been really positive. Not only is my family excited that they get to see what I’m up to, but my peers have been extremely encouraging. Ever since coming back to school so many people have told me that they look forward to seeing my Instagram posts and Snapchat stories.

Obviously, becoming recognized on social media was not my intention for this project, but the positive feedback I’ve received has been really encouraging. It’s proof that my peers do value more than just partying, even if sometimes they’re afraid to show it.

It took me three years of high school to fully embrace the part of my life that brings me the most happiness and joy and stop apologizing to people for being the “animal girl”. I encourage you to do the same.

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reviews

Oct. 2, 2015

look out above: Assembled together onstage, the cast of October Sky concludes an ensemble number. A musical running through Oct. 18 at the Marriot Theatre, October Sky tells the story of a small-town teenager’s journey to find a fulfilling path. Photo courtesy of the Marriott Theatre

October Sky launches otherworldly performance JULIETTE OVADIA theater critic

On Oct. 4th, 1957, a beeping, unlike any sound heard before, emanated from radios across the United States. The sound came from a small object traveling across the night sky, an object glimpsed fearfully by millions of Americans. That object was Sputnik, a satellite launched by the Soviet Union and the first artificial Earth satellite. In the world premiere of the musical October Sky, by Aaron Thielen and Michael Mahler, it is also the beacon that allows teenage Homer Hickham to escape the confines of his mining town.

October Sky centers on Homer (Nate Lewellyn), a high school boy living in Coalwood, West Virginia, a rural Appalachian mining town characterized by little opportunity. Its inhabitants’ lives are lives of sacrifice.

Parents spend their days in the deep recesses of the mine, and children go to school with the looming understanding that their future lies not in college but in the coal mines, except for the lucky few athletes who receive scholarships.

Llewellyn’s Homer begins the play as aimless and

uninspired, yearning for the approval of his father, (David Hess) who is the mine superintendent, but conflicted as his dreams go beyond the constraints of his town. Only when he sees Sputnik is he energized to attempt to change his reality by building a rocket with his friends to enter into a science fair with the hope of gaining scholarships to university.

The innovative Marriott Theatre is unique because it is in the round: the audience surrounds the stage and is part of the set. The stark set of corrugated metal and wood beams cut in geometric shapes encloses the audience and immerses them in what it feels like to live in Homer’s world.

The hazy rust red and blue lighting that opens the play is the permeating dust of Coalwood mines.

The music itself is exciting and fresh, a mixture of bluegrass, rock n’ roll and traditional musical theatre.

While Michael Mahler’s score can become one-note at

times, the actors sing beautifully and with great power and force. The music hints at the fellowship and community forged below the earth.

Homer’s solo “Look to the Stars”, is a poignant song about the power of dreams to uplift and inspire, sung sweetly by Llewellyn. “Never Getting Out Alive,” about fitting in high school, is a wonderful ensemble number, in which fabulous ‘50s costumes are showcased. Truly the most exciting was “Moonshine,” in which Homer and his friends, O’Dell (Ben Barker), Roy (Patrick Rooney), and Quentin (the hilarious Alex Weisman), find rocket supplies in an unlikely place.

Susan Moniz is moving as Elsie, Homer’s mother, as is Johanna McKenzie Miller as Miss Riley, who serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of teachers as mentors and guides. While historical context about the Cold War and the fear of rockets at the time is

October Sky is a story about our ability as teenagers to endure and persist despite tremendous odds.

lacking, these actors still paint an encompassing portrait of the roiling emotions of those pivotal decades.

Most of all, October Sky is a story about our ability as teenagers to endure and persist despite tremendous odds. When Homer’s rocket finally shot up into the sky, the audience cheered, and I heard weeping in the seats behind me. That’s what theatre does. It uplifts. It allows you to grasp at the stars.

Readers’ literary escape: Ishmael Beah emulates strength army, but I am a kid. As much as I like to pretend I’m independent, I rely heavily on my family for all the basic essentials of survival When I was little, I used to read action and more. While Beah never had this opporstories and then try to imagine myself in the tunity, the memoir still gives a strong appeal character’s shoes. I would ask myself if I could to innocence and the frailty of it as the readbe brave like them; if I could survive. And I er watches him grow year after year. I was like to think that I would always surpass evdrawn to Beah’s struggle towards adulthood eryone’s expectations of me and succeed. But as he fears losing his childhood, yet is eager then I read A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy to show his maturity. For me, the book’s reSoldier by Ishmael Beah. As I was reading, I felt latability to young-adult life is why I was enas if I was with Beah on his adventures, and, tranced by it. when I finished, I was happy to return to my Besides the plot itself being fascinatsafe reality. This time, I didn’t need to wonder ing, every page’s story is horrifying, beautiif I could be brave like him; instead, I knew ful, discouraging and hopeful. It is in Beah’s that he was stronger than I could ever be. sometimes simplistic, yet exquisite writA Long Way Gone is an intriguing narra- ing that I found myself wanting to turn to tive telling the the next page story of Ishmael It is both humorous yet depressing, before even Beah, a 12-yearlearning what straight-forward yet complex. old boy living had happened in Sierra Leone on the one during its destructive civil war between the I was on. It is a page-turner like no other.

Revolutionary United Front (RUF) and the SiWhen I thought nothing could get worse, it erra Leone army. The author brings the readdid. But, on the opposing side, when everyer through a long, treacherous journey as he thing seemed hopeless, Beah showed a small relives his attempts to flee the RUF rebel forc- ray of hope in the distance. es, stay alive as a child soldier in the Sierra Now, I know that A Long Way Gone is taught Leone army and cope with a new life full of in the English curriculum, which for many grief and anger. As the memoir’s official webpeople might be a turn-off. After all, who site says, “[It’s] a child’s journey through hell wants to read an “educational” book for fun? and back.”

But this book is different than Shakespeare What makes this book different from all and Sophocles. If you want to, you can look others is the way it invites the reader into its at the word choice and syntax to find interpages. I was sucked into the story, watching it esting style decisions and act as the critical unfold as if I were in the midst of it. As Beah reader every teacher wishes their students draws the reader into his past, with the occawould be. But just as easily, you can sit back sional insertion of present day, I felt uniquely and read it as a memoir that will keep you inconnected to his struggles. trigued for hours.

No, I am not a refugee or fighting in the A Long Way Gone is not without its flaws. AlALEXANDRA SHARP co-features editor

though I saw few negatives, there is one part of the book that bothers me tremendously: the title. Ishmael Beah, and the editors he worked with, decided on the subheading of the book to be Memoirs of a Boy Soldier. While technically he was a soldier for the Sierra Leone army, that section of the book is a very small portion. Instead, the novel focuses on his search for safety, whether as a soldier, a refugee or just a boy struggling with his past.

Although this flaw did not affect the way I view the book as a whole, it did shift my attention while reading. I felt as if I was always waiting for his soldier lifestyle, and when it came, it was too short to be considered the center of the book’s attention.

Besides the slight flaw in the title, A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier is truly a remarkable book. It is both humorous yet depressing, straight-forward yet complex.

I was reminded of how evil a person can be and how that same person can be compassionate if someone only gave them a second chance. This memoir is definitely not the action-packed adventure I expected, but it is the story that will always remind me of true strength and bravery.

features

Oct. 2, 2015

7

Technology takes over with time

OLIVIA SOTIRCHOS asst. features editor

The bell rings after class, and the halls flood with students. As one attempts to navigate to their next class, they are nearly bound to bump into someone who is more focused on their Instagram feed than on the fact that they have begun to walk on the wrong side of the hallway. It is no secret that technology and the constant use of cell phones have become deeply embedded in our culture.

In fact, in an unscientific Oracle-survey conducted of 170 South students, 78 percent of students surveyed stated that they use their phones for more than two hours each day, with 18 percent of these students claiming to use their phones for six or more hours each day.

According to senior Lauren Yep, the increase in the use of technology is more evident amongst her peers now, in comparison to when she started school at South roughly three years ago. Yep attributes the apparent increase over the past few years to the rise of social media.

“It has become so easy to always be connected to everything,” Yep said. “When you feel disconnected,

tings. “When I go out with my friends, everyone is always on their phones,” Yep said. “It [seems like] it’s really hard to communicate face-to-face.”

This past summer, Yep traveled to the Philippines to visit her family. For these three weeks she spent abroad, she did not have access to a network that would allow her to use her phone. According to Yep, engaging with her family in a technology-free environment was a very different experience from what she is accustomed to in Glenview.

“When I went out with my friends for the first time after I got back [from the Philippines], I realized that they were all on their phones,” Yep said.

“After that trip, I was so used to being surrounded by people that were all interacting with each other that I became the one trying to get [my friends] to talk because they were all buried in their phones.”

Though technology has become an efficient way to communicate, not every individual necessarily adores their devices. According to Glass, his students have voiced the fact that they are not entirely content with their phones or other technology.

“When I [ask my students] if they are dissatisfied or satisfied in general with the way they use their devices, the majority of people will always say they Photo Illustration by Sophie Mason are ultimately dissatisfied,” Glass said. “They do feel as if they use it mindlessly, or do feel unnecessarily it’s just so different.” attached and even addicted to always having to check Scott Glass, Media Collage teacher, discusses the [their phones]. I think as that feeling grows [...] maybe way in which one can use this generation’s connec- people either on their own or together will start to tion to technology in mindful, creative ways as opresist some of those temptations and begin to carve posed to thoughtless ways, such out time for more non-tech moas mindlessly scrolling through ments.” a social media feed or surfing the In terms of the future, Yep Internet. Similar to Yep, Glass has predicts the use of technology also noticed a development in the will not reach a natural period use of technology amongst his stuof decline anytime soon, and dents. suggests there would be ma“Up until about five or six years jor repercussions if the current ago, there weren’t as many stugeneration attempted to live dents who had cell phones,” Glass without technology. Because said. “Certainly when it comes her generation has become so to the kind of smartphones we dependent on technology, she have now, I’m always curious to believes we would not be able Glass, Media see what people do when they to function without it. come into the classroom. I would Collage teacher “I think technology is going say about half to three-quarters to be used more when it’s effi[of students]- if they aren’t already looking at their cient [in the future],” Yep said. “Hypothetically, if evphones- the first thing they will do once they sit erything were to crash, we would all be lost.” down is take [their phones] out.”

As Yep observes, a world without technology In alignment with the observed increase in the use seems unfathomable to many. Technology plays such of cell phones, Yep is able to notice changes in the a pivotal role in the everyday lives of this generation, way individuals around her interact within groupset- it cannot be overlooked.

“They do feel as if they use it mindlessly, or do feel unnessarily attached and even addicted to always having to check [their phones].”

-Scott

Summer work provides students with head start SHARON KIM staff reporter

As the last bell of the year resonates throughout the hall, most GBS students rush out of school ready to bask in the warmth of the summer sun. Within the bliss of a long-awaited vacation, schoolwork is hardly the first thing on a student’s mind. However, students with summer homework are given an early start to the upcoming school year.

According to junior Elizabeth Kunnel, she received assignments for both her AP Language and AP U.S. History courses. As summer came to an end, she claimed that the homework helped her get back into the flow of school and make the transition a lot smoother.

“I started [the homework] a week before school because I kind of went into panic mode and I knew that there was a big assignment due so I started reading the book,” Kunnel said. “It took me four to five days and I took notes and finally got it done.”

Although Kunnel finished her assignments, she claims that she struggled the most with finding the motivation to start her work, yet the work paid off on the first day of school.

“My favorite part was probably being able to feel productive on the first day of school because we jumped right into the curriculum from our summer assignments in the classes,” Kunnel said.

According to history teacher Benedict Hussman, summer reading has numerous positive purposes, one being to maintain reading skills.

“Numerous studies show that reading facility declines over summers as students don’t read,” Hussman said.

Sophomore Jarrett Prchal was assigned a math packet for for his Advanced Algebra course. According to Prchal, he found that the summer work prepared him for upcoming topics.

“It wasn’t easy, but it was definitely helpful to me because I’m using the skills now in math class,” Prchal said.

However, summer homework is assigned to keep skills fresh in order for students to be prepared when they return to class, according to Math teacher Teresa Youngberg.

Youngberg claims that the work is also a useful tool for those switching into higherlevel classes.

“It’s a great tool for students who are changing levels so they can see what’s missing in the material and then help them have several weeks to learn it,” Youngberg said.

According to Hussman, the content that students are expected to cover over the summer exposes them to aspects that may not be touched on during the school year, but will aid them throughout the year and give them an immediate advantage.

“One of our goals in the books we choose for summer reading is to pick some larger historical monographs, which are historical narratives that expose students to better historical writing,” Hussman said.

Photo illustration by Jacqueline DeWitt Hussman claims that summer homework is by no means a form of punishment, and that the assignments will help students in the long run.

“I’m very worried that in the age of the internet extended reading is a less and less part of students lives, and I think that’s very sad because clearly, anyone who operates at the top of any profession is able to read complex materials and understand them well,” Hussman said.

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Oct. 2, 2015

features

South through the decades: staff contrasts past, present GRACIE SANDS asst. features editor

With every decade comes defining qualities. The 1970s brought an open mind. The 1980s pioneered the alternative movement. The 1990s was home to grunge, and the 2000s delivered technological innovation, according to four different teachers that graduated from four different decades. They have seen many trends come and go while living through the evolution of South.

From Titan Nation to the annual homecoming parade, South has a history of school spirit. Science teacher Deborah Stein graduated from South in 1997.

Although South is all about the spirit, Stein says there are certain traditions she loved that she wishes were still around.

“Everybody went to float construction for homecoming,” Stein said. “You would go to people’s houses, and they wouldn’t necessarily be your friends, it would just be a person from your class who was hosting the party. It didn’t matter who you were friends with or what you were involved with, everybody just participated in float construction.”

Matthew Whipple, social studies teacher, graduated from South in 1984, and also taught Stein during her time at South. Like Stein, Whipple explained how some of his most vivid memories of the time as a student at South had to do with school pride, specifically nights when the football team took on rival Glenbrook North. Whipple said that when he was in high school, the games were often controversial, because students would wave Confederate flags at the game, symbolizing that “South will rise,” rather than being an intenPOMP AND PLAY: On the left, English teacher Katie Hoover leaps high into the air to block the ball. On the right, science teacher Deborah Stein works on float design for the South tional act of racism. homecoming parade. Hoover and Stein were graduates of South in 2000 and 1995, respectively. Photos courtesy of Katie Hoover & Deborah Stein “The early ‘80s [were] a time when at Glenbrook open the door to the English office, a cloud of smoke “There wasn’t this sense of anxiety or fear that you South-Glenbrook North football games, they waved advancements.

“When I was here I still typed [out] papers on a would come out.” weren’t going to get into a school,” Sullivan said. “You the Confederate flag [to symbolize that Glenbrook Stein believes that students are not as social as they took the ACT once. It’s not that way anymore, and it South was in the southern part of Glenview-North- manual typewriter,” Whipple said. “I got to the point at the very end of high school when the very first were when she was a student. According to Stein, inhas taken some of the fun out of high school years. We brook],” Whipple said. “By the time I came back to Mac [computer] came out. stead of students conversing in the hallways face-tocould be goofy, try new things, and not think those teach in ‘92, we had abandoned that strat“What makes Glenbrook South There was no Internet and face, they are often looking down at their cell phones decisions were going to have such a great impact on email communication. while walking. the rest of our lives.” egy. People had no conreally special is that we are able no In the mid 1980s they came “Kids talked more,” Stein said. “You walk in the English teacher Katie Hoover graduated from text. When I went to out with the bag phone; the hallways now and everyone is on their phone. There South in the year 2000. Hoover says her class could not school here there were to hold onto the traditions of was huge. The phe- used to be a bench outside of the cafeteria, and it was have been prouder to be the millennial class, because eight African-American respect, loyalty, hard work and thing nomenon of communica- supposed to be where juniors and seniors were althey were the first class of the new century. According students. There wasn’t a tion has radically changed.” lowed to sit. People would just hang out and talk to to Hoover, she is thrilled that South has always upheld dialogue about race and service.”

In stark contrast to each other. You never saw kids walking around with values that have been the fabric of the South comethnicity.”

-English teacher Katie Hoover South’s current regula- their headphones on listening to music; everybody the munity.

In addition to the tions, Whipple also notes just talked more.”

“What makes Glenbrook South really special is that change in spirit throughthat teachers would oftenHaving been a student at South in the mid to late we are able to hold onto the traditions of respect, loyout the school, several 1970s, John Sullivan, social studies teacher, has no- alty, hard work and of service,” Hoover said. “I think teachers have noticed that the current development times smoke cigarettes while in their offices.

“When I was in high school [1980-1984] teachers ticed a shift in the overall mentality of students. He we have been holding onto them, refining them and in the use of technology has drastically affected the could smoke in their offices,” Whipple said. “If you believes students place intense pressure on themimproving them as new faculty and staff come in. At way South operates. Whipple explained how throughthe same time, South still allows for [...] new [interout his high school years at South, both as a student went to visit your teacher, they might actually be selves regarding grades as a result of competition ests] of our student population.” and now as a teacher, there were many technological smoking when you walk in the door. Whenever I’d within the school.

features

Oct. 2, 2015

9

Q&A with Niam A brief question and answer with Niam Abeysiriwardena, a South senior who happens to be 12 years old.

ANNE MARIE YURIK co-features editor

HUMOROUS HENDERSON: Demonstrating to his students the physics behind Newton’s first law of motion, Physics Teacher Tom Henderson lays on a bed of nails and has a student swing a sledgehammer onto a cinder block resting on his chest. In the picture to the left, Henderson instructs the students on how to perform their own version of the experiment. Photos by Rachel Nwia

Twelve-year-old Niam Abeysiriwardena started his senior year at South in August, having recently moved from his home in Huntsville, AL to Glenview after his mom got a job nearby. Abeysiriwardena, who is considered a “child prodigy” by some, started his schooling at a Montessori preschool. He then transferred to another school where he did Kindergarten and first grade at the same time, and then later started an accelerated program in Lexington, Kentucky. This program spanned third, fourth and fifth grade, but Abeysiriwardena completed only third and fourth before enrolling in an online high school in Huntsville, Alabama.

After a year in online high school, Abeysiriwardena moved to Glenview, completed another year of online high school and then finally transferred to South for his senior year in August.

He reflects on his past schooling, and also looks ahead to the future at South and beyond in the Q&A below.

Q: Where did you go to school?

Tom Henderson named 2015 Distinguished Teacher the focus from what I’m doing to what [the stu“He’s such a great teacher because he exdents] are doing as a result of the instruction.” plains things thoroughly, but in a very interestOne fellow physics teacher in the Science Deing way,” Lau said. “He knows how intensive his partment, Neil Schmidgall, who has been teachclass is, and he knows how to keep people enFor 26 years, Physics Instructor Tom Hengaged. If he feels like he is losing his audience, derson has put thousands of hours per year into ing alongside Henderson for 25 years, would agree that Henderson has provided an extensive then he knows he can tell a joke or something his work as a teacher, and has become a source relatable to the students to get them involved of knowledge for millions of people worldwide. amount of resources for South’s physics curriculum. According to Schmidgall, Henderson’s again and start concentrating.”

All of his past efforts were put in the spotlight knowledge extends beyond what is in The PhysZulfiqar explains how Henderson’s use of this year at GBS as Henderson was given the The Physics Classroom has increased her educa2015 Distinguished Teacher Award in May. He ics Classroom.

“He’s tremendous support, and he’s a tretional experience, and was given a golden apple as an award for being mendous supply of things to teach with,” has provided her with named Distinguished Teacher of 2015.

Schmidgall said. “He’s great at digesting inforan abundance of physics In addition to teaching multiple different mation and organizing it, and he’s able to share resources to help with any levels of physics at South, Henderson is also the that at any point in time during potential confusion within the creator of a website called The Physics Classroom. the year. He’s always sharing class. She points out that his According to Henderson, The Physics Classroom is anything he’s ever produced skills are exemplified both in a full-service physics website that provides easy Winners of the Disor known about, so he’s a his work on the website and to understand and ready-to-use materials for tremendous colleague.” in the classroom. students and teachers alike. tinguished Teacher According to Schmid“Whenever he wanted “There are a lot of teachers who come to The award traditiongall, most of the recognito teach us certain topics Physics Classroom [and] have said, ‘I’m no longer ally receive a goldtion for the South physics he had the perfect video going to use a textbook, instead I’m going to use classes comes from Henor reading to go along with The Physics Classroom,’” Henderson said. “So it en apple in order to derson’s work on The Physit because [The Physics Classbecomes a free textbook for numerous classes commemorate their ics Classroom. His ability to room] was tailored to what he [around] the world.” wanted to teach us,” Zulfiqar Other resources on The Physics Classroom in- broadcast various physics reachievements. sources, explains Schmidgall, is said. clude interactive materials, as well as quiz and what makes Henderson so worAccording to Henderson, one of test preparation. According to Henderson, these Illustration by Jini John his favorite parts about teaching is resources are designed to assist first-year teach- thy of the Distinguished Teacher award. seeing students interpret concepts in ers who need something to help them work “He has put GBS on the map as far as physways he never thought of, and having students their way through the subject matter. Every day, ics goes because he’s the originator of The Physask profound questions. This changes his outHenderson gets proof that his work has impactlook on physics, while expanding his experience ed people all around the world in emails thank- ics Classroom, and that’s known throughout the world,” Schmidgall said. “So that’s where his and knowledge to be even greater than before. ing him for his website. abilities shine because he’s able to take all that “I’ve taught all levels of first year phys“The emails that I get [keep me motivated],” ics,” Henderson said. “I’ve taught some of the Henderson said. “The other thing is finding information and put it into a readable and usable format for students. That’s his way of using best freshman physics students that we have, new, cutting-edge ways to present physics to his abilities to impact the whole community of [as well as] some of the best junior and senior students and provide teachers with good tools.” physics students we have. I’ve [also] taught stuAccording to Henderson, the success of The physics education.”

Schmidgall also reflects on the impact that dents who struggle a lot with [math, physics, Physics Classroom has surprised many students The Physics Classroom has had on his own physics and reading]. It’s a difficult thing. And I think on and teachers that have used the website as it curriculum. He explains that The Physics Classboth those ends, I get a challenge.” has grown over the years. It started as a “sideIt was Zulfiqar’s idea to nominate him for the line” endeavour and has become a professional room is very applicable for students to use at all times, which is part of what makes it so useful in award, and petitioned his name to other stuproject. and out of the classroom. dents in order to get signatures.

“It started as just a hobby and something I “We use parts of it very specifically, targeted “I thought that he deserved the award bewas passionate about and something I could cause of the way he interacted with everyone,” create to support my students, and then it grew for specific assignments so it’s a great supply of exercises and animations,” Schmidgall said. “I Zulfiqar said. “He was very warm and friendly, bigger than I ever expected it to grow,” Henthink that’s the profound nature of the interand he was also open to answering any quesderson said. “Now people are expecting [a lot net: it has the ability for a student to interact tions.” from] The Physics Classroom, but they don’t know with an animation and According to Zulfiqar, Henderson approachthere’s just one person here always there, so they es teaching in a refreshingly new way. She attrithat’s doing all the work.”

“He has put GBS on a it’s can use it whenever they butes her knowledge of physics to his effective According to Henderson, map as far as physics need to.” techniques when delivering learning material to he is also taking this time to According to Schmidhis students. reflect on the past 26 years goes...” gall, working with Hen“He helped us learn in a very fun way so that as a teacher. He claims that - Physics Teacher Neil derson for the length of we would be able to digest the knowledge and working at South has providhis career at South has be able to remember it for future purposes,” Zuled him with a lot of insight Schmidgall had a positive impact on fiqar said. “My favorite part about him is that he into the world of education. is very comical in his teaching [style].”

“There are a lot of things I like, from the col- his ability to problem-solve. He credits HenderHenderson’s willingness to help has also leagues that I teach with, who are so wonder- son with the ability to improve the learning exbeen recognized as one of his strongest qualiful and professional, to being in the classroom perience for both his students and colleagues.

“He’s a guy that you can go to for anything,” ties by many colleagues and students. Accordwith students and thinking about creative ways Schmidgall said. “If you’ve ever wondered how ing to Schmidgall, Henderson is very focused on that you can guide a lesson as well as foster good he approaches [a problem], he will always try supporting his colleagues and ensuring that his learning,” Henderson said. [to] help with what you could do to make [it betstudents understand the content.

Henderson also explains how teaching at ter]. 25 years later we’re still [working towards] “He’s other-centered with colleagues and South for 26 years changed the way that he fostudents, and he does whatever he can to help cuses on certain aspects of education. He de- making it better and that’s pretty impressive.”

Former students of Henderson’s, sophothe students succeed,” Schmidgall said. “Teachscribes how, as his teaching career continued, ing takes a lot of work [outside of class] and he’s he began focusing more and more on his stu- mores Savera Zulfiqar and Sophia Lau, also have nothing but positive things to say about Henable to enjoy the work he has put in to be predents as his primary interest. derson after having him for physics as a part of pared during the day and during the class. He’s “I’ve tried to focus less on my instruction the STEM program last year. They both felt he willing to do whatever it takes for the class to and curriculum, and more on my students in was extremely deserving of the award. be successful.” their learning,” Henderson said. “So I’ve shifted HANNAH BUCHBAND staff reporter

“I went to New Century Technology High School. It’s in Huntsville, AL.” Q: What classes are you enrolled in?

“The classes that I take are AP Computer Science, Health, because I did not take that before. I held out on it. Next is AP World History, then AP Calculus BC, Engineering Design. I have Consumer Ed Honors. And then because Calculus BC is a three semester course, you get one and a half blocks in total every two days.”

Q: What else are you involved in here at school?

“Right now I’m trying to find some clubs to be a part of. Tuesdays is Model UN, Wednesdays is Tea Club. I love tea and we get to talk about tea for an hour. On Thursdays I have Math team; I’m trying to get involved in that again, and Fridays I don’t have anything.”

Q: Do you consider yourself a prodigy?

“No, not really. The way that I view my situation is that I have saved five years of my life...I’ve literally bought myself time, which apparently you cannot do, but I have done the philosophically impossible.”

Q: Does it make you feel really smart coming to school and receiving attention from your peers?

“It kind of makes me feel different. It happens once in awhile, but when it does, when they ask me questions, I’m viewed as a freshman most of the time. I am tall enough to be a freshman so it’s not an issue.”

Q: Where do you want to go to school?

“I’m thinking about Northwestern, UIC, Loyola, and Lake Forest College. I’m also thinking about University of Kentucky. That was where I lived; that was near Lexington, Kentucky...That’s also where my parents both went to. But not a big-ticket school unless they’re going to give me a scholarship.”

Q: What are you thinking your major will be?

“My major [would be] in the medical field, I’m leaning towards [a] neuroscience sort of thing or [a] biology sort of thing...It just seems very interesting, and also my grandmother died of a neurological disease, so that’s what started my interest.”

Photo by Sophie Mason

To read more about Niam and view extra questions from this story, scan the QR code to the left.

To scan this QR code, go to the app store, search QR code reader and download the app.

12

features

Oct. 2, 2015

SILENT STRIDE FOR SUPPORT: A group comprised of concerned parents, law enforcement officers and gun-violence survivors march in Washington, D.C. on Jan. 26, 2013. These citizens gathered on a silent march for tighter gun control regulations nationwide, honoring victims of gun violence and rallying together for the government to make change happen. Photo courtesy of Creative Commons

Gun violence: the relationship between gun regulations and mental health care MOLLIE CRAMER co-a&e editor

John Houser, the man who shot multiple people in Louisiana, was described by family as having a “volatile mental state” and was committed to a mental health treatment center in 2008, according to the New York Daily News. He had also been in a number of legal altercations. However, Houser was able to legally buy a gun. On July 23, he then used that gun to kill two people and wound nine others.

The New York Times reports that more Americans have died from gun violence in the United States since 1968 than on the battlefields of all the wars in American history. Is the reason for this loose gun regulations, the mental health care system, or a combination of them both?

Mother Jones Magazine found in their 2012 study that 38 of the 61 mass shooters in the past 30 years suffered from mental illnesses. According to Thomas McInerny, M.D., immediate past president of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the percentage of children with mental illnesses has risen to 20 percent as of 2014.

“In so many of these instances it has been found that the perpetrators did have significant mental health problems, and there’s a hope and a belief that if they were treated appropriately, they would not have performed the [criminal] acts,” McInerny said.

The theory that appropriate treatment could have stopped these mass shootings was shown in the Virginia Tech shooting. Seung-Hui Cho had a history of mental illness but purchased guns through two licensed dealers after going through two background checks. On April 16, 2007 he shot and killed 32 people

and wounded 17 others at Virginia Tech. freshman Sofia Pedrelli, said that she thinks people McInerny claims that an insufficient mental health would feel safer with tighter gun regulations in place. care system is at fault. There are two major sources “We see here in Chicago that there’s a lot of gun of mental health support. One is Medicaid, a federal- violence,” Pedrelli said. “I feel like people can get their ly-funded program, and the other is the State General hands on weapons easily right now, and that needs to Fund. This money goes towards psychiatric hospitals, be stopped.” pharmaceutical finances, and other programs.

Federal law requires licensed gun dealers to reAccording to Sita Diehl, director of state policy and quest a background check on their buyers. Howevadvocacy for the National Alliance on Mental Illness, er, the law does not require states to submit mental from 2007-2009 the amount of people served by the health records to the FBI department responsible for state mental health authority in Virginia decreased these background checks, the National Instant Crimifrom 121,696 to 104,074 nal Background Check System “We have a mental health due to budget cuts. Vir(NICS). ginia’s mental health care Wayne LaPierre, National system in this country that budget then decreased $37 Rifle Association CEO, said in has completely and totally million between 2009 and a 2013 USA Today article, “We 2012. Cho’s attack came have a mental health system in collapsed...” at a point of budget cuts this country that has complete-Wayne LaPierre, National in the mental health care ly and totally collapsed...twenRifle Association CEO system. ty-threestates are still putting Illinois also cut its budonly a small number of records get during this time. From into the system, and a lot of 2009-2011 Illinois’ mental health care budget de- states are putting none.” creased by 15 percent. According to Social Worker DaAccording to a gun violence report done by Daniel vid Hartman, the budget causes an impact. However, Webster, Sc.D, and Jon Vernick J.D., Connecticut sent Hartman feels that GBS has kept mental health sup- in 3,062 mental health records to the NICS in 2007. In port as a priority.

2013, that number increased to 14,000. Smartgunlaws.

“We have marketed the Titan anonymous concern org reported that Virginia started actively sending in hotline, we have groups like Erika’s Lighthouse...we mental health records after the Virginia Tech shoothave health class presentations,” Hartman said. “So ing, and in a three-year period, these records resulted we do have a lot of systems in place to provide supin 438 denials of gun purchases. port.”

If the answer to the problem isn’t through restrictIn an Oracle-conducted survey of 148 students, 78 ing gun access, then it might be diagnosing individupercent said that they felt the United States should als with mental illness early. According to Diehl, Early have tighter gun regulations. One of those students, Periodic screening diagnostic and treatment (EPSDT) is a program that holds a lot of potential for the mental health care system. It’s a program that

RAPID FIRE INFO

Graphics by Ashley Clark

aims to determine the mental status of children enrolled in the Medicaid program through a series of questions. Diehl says, that as of today, only Medicaid members receive this program, but the AAP recommends that all children receive this program.

“We have found from research that if we can identify mental illness early and deliver services early, then we can really nip it in the bud,” Diehl said.

According to McInerny, early identification is imperative. However, once a mental illness has been identified, sometimes the child still doesn’t receive the care he or she needs from the mental health system.

McInerny commented that the expense for mental health treatment has risen dramatically over the past 10 years. However, the budget has been steadily decreasing until recently.

“Most people with mental health problems are not a danger to themselves or others…It’s only a very small percentage of people with mental health problems who perform these terrible acts of violence, and for those people there’s one of two things that could have happened,” McInerny said. “One is the seriousness of their mental illness was not recognized at all, or it was recognized, but the treatment was not adequate.”

According to Diehl, the budget cuts that occurred mainly between 2007-2012 were a result of the recession. However, starting from 2012, states have been increasing the budget, though it’s not as much as it was before 2007.

McInerny suggests that in order to decrease gun violence, there needs to be a focus on mental health care alongside gun regulations.

“One would hope that if the system is working and if those individuals who have significant mental health problems got appropriate and effective care then they would be much less inclined to go out and commit those massacres,” McInerny said.

features

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Oct. 2, 2015

South reflects on divorced homes, impacted relationships LEAH DUNNE asst. features editor

A typical white picket fence home is often portrayed with the two happily married parents, beaming down at their smiling children. Everyone is all together and content in their picture perfect lives.

However, for families everywhere, and some students at South, this is not an image that represents their home lives.

Freshman Spencer Wells explained how one aspect of his parents’ divorce that affected him initially and still does today, is his ability to be able to switch back and forth between his parents’ two homes, and being able to adjust to his parents’ varying styles of parenting and rules. Wells said that the hardest adjustment of the divorce four years ago was managing and feeling comfortable in two separate homes with two distinct parenting types.

“When I am at my dad’s, I don’t really have many chores to do, and at my mom’s house it’s the opposite,” Wells said. “The parts at my dad’s house that were more lenient are more strict at my mom’s house and vice versa.”

Another aspect of divorce experienced by children, according to social worker David Hartman, is social isolation. Hartman explained how divorce can sometimes isolate children with joint custody to be fearful of missing potential time with either parent. This is particularly seen with a parent who lives outside of Glenview, according to Hartman, which can put a child at a disadvantage to participate in activities outside of school or with friends during that scheduled time to see the parent.

“If you’re a junior in high school, and want to go to the football game on a Friday, then someone is having a party on Saturday, and a group of friends are going to a movie on Sunday do you have to say no to [spending time with the parent] or no to those things […],” Hartman said.” The pressure that kids feel to take care of their parents by saying yes to the custody arrangements [...]. That can come at the cost of [a student’s] social relationships.”

Hartman additionally explained how students who live or see a parent that lives outside of Glenview can sometimes experience difficulties academically. This is evident specifically in regards to homework completion due to not always having the right books or homework needed when visiting a different parent’s home. Junior Natalie Paulson explained how she has a system to organize which course materials she will need, and when she will bring them from her mother’s home in Glenview to her father’s home, which is 30 minutes away.

Illustration by Grace O’Malley

“For me, I would always just bring [the homework that I needed],” Paulson continued. “Now with the block schedule [...] I’d try to go [to my dad’s house] on a day where I don’t have all those classes the next day, so I don’t have to bring all of my books with me. I try to go [to my dad’s house] on a Thursday, so I could only bring half of my books, and just be ready for the next day [of school] again.”

Another aspect of Wells’ parents’ divorce that he dealt with was helping his 10-year-old sister adjust and understand what was going on with their family. Wells explained that while his sister had more trouble dealing with the divorce in the beginning, she was able to adjust

“When [my sister and I] found out about [the divorce], she was more sad than I was. I think when we got more time to adjust [to the divorce, my sister] was able to adjust a lot quicker than I did.”

-freshman Spencer Wells

faster than he was to their new situation.

“When [my sister and I] found out about [the divorce], she was more sad than I was,” Wells said. “I think when we got more time to adjust [to the divorce, my sister] was able to adjust a lot quicker than I did, because she probably couldn’t remember a time when our parents weren’t divorced, since she was so young [...]. It was harder for me to adjust […]. I can see little inconveniences that would not be there if [my parents] weren’t divorced, which is unlike my sister […]. [My sister] doesn’t know what she is missing, but I do.”

For senior Rachel Ramm*, her parents’ divorce of five years has caused her a lot of the times to feel torn.

Ramm explained that for her, being caught in the middle between her parents’ arguments is the hardest aspect she has had to deal with throughout and after the divorce.

“I’ve been in an argument with my dad about softball, and he’ll say something like, ‘Well I come to all of your games, but your mom doesn’t, or my mom will

say something like, ‘Your dad didn’t listen when you said this,’” Ramm explained. “It’s just little comments that get slipped in really fast, trying to get the upper hand. I feel like [my parents] are almost trying to win our love, or which parent is going to be the favorite, which is hard to have to listen to. I just want to be able to split it. I don’t want to have to choose favorites.”

Wells additionally stated that although his parents’ divorce was not a positive experience, he did gain some new positive insight from his situation. According to Wells, the divorce helped him be able to be more empathetic towards other students in a similar situation to his. In addition, Wells’ parents’ divorce also strengthened his relationship with his younger sister.

“I think that I’ve really gained an understanding of situations like [my own],” Wells said. “I’m closer with my sister than I otherwise would have been. I would be with [my sister] most of the time whereas either one of my parents are only with her about half of the time.”

Fencing Club offers new opportunities, hopes for succesful season ANUSHKA KALRA staff reporter

Thwack! The sharp snap of a fencing sword rings through the empty senior cafeteria. Groups of whiteclad fencers dart around their opponents, deftly dodging and parrying their way to victory. Today is a typical Thursday for the South fencing club. From the sidelines, senior Captain Brandon Moy carefully observes the practice, and reminisces about his introduction to fencing.

“I’ve been doing it for four years,” Moy said. “I started at GBS, and [the fencing club] began at the same time. I was pestered by a friend into joining, and I found I really liked it.”

Moy had no experience prior to his involvement with the club.

However, Moy participates in activities like karate, and felt a connection between the quick movements of the sword and the martial art.

FIERCE FENCING: Fencing club

members practice by competing in pairs. Club practices always use full body gear for protection.

Photos by Jacqueline DeWitt

Sponsor John Skorupa, who fenced in high school and now coaches the club, describes the feeling in more detail.

“It’s like playing chess physically,” Skorupa said.

“You are trying to outwit and outsmart your opponent. It’s a form of offense and defense and it’s a great physical workout. You’re burning hundreds of calories. “ Skorupa has seen the club grow in the four years since it first began. With nearly 40 kids on the team, there are now two men’s teams and two women’s teams that compete at the varsity level for fencing.

Every year the club gains around twelve new members, and Skorupa considers that this growth is due to media.

“A lot of kids are exposed to video games and this is the [real life] version of that,” Skorupa said. “[Also] with the popularity of movies such as Pirates of the Caribbean and the James Bond movies, which have a lot of sword fighting, you can [now] try it and build on it.”

Sophomore David Stern has thoroughly enjoyed fencing club, both for the camaraderie in the team and the activities practiced each meeting. Concerning the fencing atmosphere, Stern feels connected to the team because everyone on the team is kind to each other.

According to Stern, there is a specific schedule of activities the team does most practices, in order to help the team warm up and practice their skills.

“We first warm up with [stretches],”

Stern explained. “Then we do some foot work drills, and then we get ready to fence.”

Moy also adds that besides fencing club practices, there are numerous tournaments in store for the team this season. This year in particular is going to be special, he went on to say.

“We have a lot of events coming up,” Moy said. “At the end of this winter season, we are going to host the first ever Illinois State Fencing Championship. We’re inviting all the fencing clubs in the state. Not a lot of it has been finalized, but it is something to look forward to.”

The Great Lakes Fencing Championship is another highlight for the club’s season. Teams from Wisconsin, Michigan and Illinois will compete at this tournament, which is hosted at New Trier High School. Stern describes one of his favorite fencing club events.

“The first [tournament] at Stevenson [during my freshman year] was the best because it was the first one, and [...] I had no idea what to expect,” Stern said.

Much like Moy, Stern joined the fencing team with no experience in his freshman year, but was able to grasp the sport fairly quickly. According to Stern, he is very glad that he joined the team, even if it was only to try something new. He went on to explain how a typical tournament, something he greatly enjoys, would play out. “[You] would be sorted into pools of five people and fence all five of those people,” Stern said. “Then your score is calculated, and then you are placed into a bracket, and

the worst will play the best until a winner was found.

There can be about 70 people in a bracket, although it’s different for each tournament.”

Stern emphasized that newcomers shouldn’t be afraid to come and join fencing, for they will be treated with kindness. Along with Moy, he hopes that the Illinois State Fencing Championship will bring more people into joining the club.

“Last year, we were just starting out,” Stern said.

“This year we’re in a division, and we’ll be playing different schools. We’ll be better this year. We have a lot of [promising] people.”

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a&e

Oct. 2, 2015

Streaming services blamed for decline in music industry’s profits HANNAH RAUH co-a&e editor

In this technological-savvy era, there are many different ways of obtaining music, including streaming services like Spotify, media libraries like iTunes and buying physical copies like CDs and vinyls. However, according to forbes.com, digital sales of music have declined by 5.7 percent in the past year, and album sales by 8.4 percent. Some blame streaming services for this decline, while others believe streaming music is the future of the industry.

Pop star Taylor Swift brought this debate to a bigger stage in November 2014 when the singer took all her music off of the popular streaming service, Spotify. Swift explains why she decided to take her music off of the streaming service in an interview with Time Magazine.

“I’m always up for trying something,” Swift said. “And I tried [Spotify], and I didn’t like the way it felt. I think there should be an inherent value placed on art. I didn’t see that happening, perception-wise, when I put my music on Spotify.”

According to Swift, the reason behind the shrinking sales of albums is due to people’s inclination for streaming services.

Sophomore Julia Sarasin said she was shocked when Swift pulled her music from Spotify.

“I thought it was a little bit crazy, because she does have a lot of fans that will pay for her music,” Sarasin said. “[Because] she’s a famous artist, a lot of people want to hear her songs on Spotify.”

However, senior Sarah Jane Rubenstein agrees with Swift’s decisions and the reasoning behind it.

“I think that music has value,” Rubenstein said. “I think now people don’t treat it that way, but it’s an art, and if you look back in history, music was always treated as an art and people made a big deal out of it.

Now with technology, people are treating it like something that they’re entitled to.”

According to Time Magazine, an artist with their music on Spotify makes between $0.006 to $0.0084 per stream, depending on whether or not the song is streamed by a free user or a Spotify premium user (premium users pay $9.99 a month). Currently, premium users only make up 26.67 percent of Spotify’s 75 million active listeners, according to spotify.com. iTunes pays the average artist about 8 cents a song, according to The New York Times. However, due to the fact that Swift writes or co-writes most of her songs, Swift will gain around $3 for every album sold, whether physical or on iTunes. Swift needs thousands of streams to equate to the price of one album sold on iTunes. This, according to Swift, is the reason financially for why she took her music off of the streaming service.

However, many will argue that the exposure streaming services like Spotify or Pandora give to artists will, in the long run, be just as effective as a sale made now. Junior Jane Carpenter sees streaming services as an advantage for artists.

“I think artists are entitled to release their music to whoever they want, but I don’t think it’s wise to withhold music from streaming services,” Carpenter said. “Most of artists’ revenue nowadays is generated from concerts, and limiting fans’ access to the music probably means selling less tickets.”

In an unscientific Oracle-conducted survey of 171 students, 56.7 percent of students said they use some type of streaming service. Sophomore Ethan Sawyer follows this trend, saying that streaming services are the future of music sales.

“I think artists like Taylor Swift won’t be making as much money [with their music on] streaming services; however, it’s necessary for artists to join streaming services since that’s where music is headed,” Sawyer said.

“I think artists are entitled to release their music to whoever they want, but I don’t think it’s wise to withhold music from streaming services. ” -junior Jane Carpenter

Illustration by Jini John

a&e

Oct. 2, 2015

15

Dance companies inspire, teach students AAKASH BHOJWANI staff reporter

People connect to many aspects of art. Many South students dedicate their time to the art of bending their legs and twirling to the beat. Several students are involved in dance companies outside of school and commit themselves to their craft. According to students in dance companies, dancing has given them an opportunity to have fun, build relationships and increase their confidence.

Junior Devin Rachiele currently dances in the Allegro Performance Company. She says she first started dancing when she was three-years-old and grew to love it.

“I feel like every mom puts their daughter in a ballet class, because it’s cute to see them in all the little tutus and stuff,” Rachiele said. “That’s how I got involved, but then I really liked it, so I just stuck with it all my life.”

Rachiele says that her company does various types of dances, including pointe, jazz and contemporary dance. She believes that there is an important connection between dancing and storytelling.

“My favorite part about dancing is acting as different characters, because I feel like a big part of dancing is acting,” Rachiele said. “You have to portray the story, and that is probably my favorite part.”

Sophomore Allison Krolopp agrees with the idea that dancers have to be storytellers as well. Krolopp has been dancing with the Center Studio Dance Company for many years and enjoys this aspect of dance performances.

“When you dance, you can’t just do it with your legs and arms; you have to use your face too,” Krolopp said. “It makes the performance seem a lot better.”

Like Rachiele, senior Bridget Fogarty is also a member of the Allegro Performance Company. She says she has been with the company for eight years, and it is a big part of her life because of both the time commitment and relationships she has developed.

“Sometimes [the time commitment] is nine hours a week, sometimes it’s seven,” Fogarty said. “If we have things on the weekend, like performances, it will be more time. Competitions will be a whole weekend event.”

After hours of rehearsing, the time comes for dancers to showcase their talent and perform.

Rachiele says that while she does get nervous for her dancing performances, she tries not to focus on the audience but rather on her dance sequence and the music.

“When I perform, I don’t even feel like anyone is there, even if there are hundreds of people,” Rachiele said. “It’s just such a personal experience, and my mind [races].”

According to Krolopp, participating in her dance company affects her daily life and her personality. Dancing has been a major part of her personal development.

“Dancing improves your presence around people and confidence,” Krolopp said. “It’s just something that’s entertaining, and it helps you express yourself.”

Junior Rafi Surani is a part of the dance group Midwest Masti. According to Surani, this group mainly does Bollywood dances. He said his first performance with the group was very memorable.

“There was like a couple thousand [audience members] , [and] it was my first [performance],” Surani REACHING FOR SUCCESS: Performing with the Allegro Peformance Dance Company, South students Bridget Fogarty, Grace DeBois, Becca said. “That’s probably the most Zlotowitz, Megan Sullivan and Annalee Tvorah demonstate their artistic skills and techniques in their rendition of “Heritage”. Many students scared I have ever been because enjoy performing with dance companies because of the comaraderie and opportunities that come along with it. Photo courtesy of Bridget Fogarty everyone was just staring at me. I was really nervous especially for Performing and receiving good feedback is one of generation of dancers, and being a role model brings the [part] that I was in the front of the line for. [The multiple rewards of dancing. Apart from receiving her a feeling of pride. dance lasted] about 10 minutes, but once it started, I feedback from the judges, Fogarty also enjoys feed“[My proudest moment] was probably being in completely forgot about all my nervousness, [and] it back and support from other dancers on her team. charge of a show [and] seeing the little kids lookall went away. That was probably one of the best moAccording to Fogarty, she has built good relationships ing up to me and wanting to be like me,” Davis said. ments of my life finishing that.” with her fellow company members.

“They all know my name, even though I don’t know According to junior Cammi Davis, a member of the “I like the whole ambiance of the studio, because them. It just makes me so happy that they look up to Sheila Tully Academy of Irish Dance, one challenge of I have been dancing with these people since I was in me so much and that I am an inspiration to them.” dancing is receiving scores from judges in competififth grade,” Fogarty said. “We have kind of grown Rachiele says that she hopes that she can teach tions. She feels that the critiques are difficult to take up together. You have your school friends, you have dance to others in the future because she’s been so but helpful. your family, but then you have your dance friends, inspired by her own dance instructors and overall “It is really hard, especially in my age group, to do and that’s a nice place to escape to whatever you are dancing experience. She feels that dance provides an well in competitions,” Davis said. “While I have the dealing with.” important artistic outlet for young students. support of my entire company, it is really hard on Davis says that she feels proud when she gets to “I’m pretty sure that I want to be a dance teachmyself when I feel that I am going to do really well, mentor younger members of her dance company. It’s er because I feel like everyone should do at least one [but] the judges don’t think so. ” a chance to share her skills and tips with the next dance class in their life,” Rachiele said.

“When I perform, I don’t even feel like anyone is there, even if there are hundreds of people. It’s just such a personal experience, and my mind [races].”

-junior Devin Rachiele

Affordable fashion tips to embrace the fall spirit HANNAH MASON co-editor-in-chief

October is the beginning of my favorite season: fall. The season of crisp cool breezes, apple picking, pumpkin patches and, most importantly, the best fashion of the year. Colors such as maroon, olive, wine, beige, brown and black run the season. Not only is it important to look good, but it is also necessary not to spend your entire paycheck on clothes that you’ll only wear for a few months out of the year. Stores such as Forever 21 and

Urban Outfitters are great places to go for quality clothes at good prices. This season is a time of excitement and activity, and with that, one should look their best for any occasion. Before long, the snow will begin to fall, and the holiday season will be upon us. Until we have to wear heavy coats and sweaters, use these outfits as inspiration to embrace the nature of this wonderful season.

Photos by Jacqueline Dewitt

The centerpiece of outfit #1 is definitely the hat. I love both the color maroon and the chic look the hat adds to a basic sweater and jean combo. The hat, scarf and sweater are all courtesy of Forever 21, priced under $15 each. The light-washed ripped jeans are from American Eagle and cost about $40. The black combat boots were from Kohl’s for about $40. This outfit can be worn in many settings: school, home or when you’re out with friends.

My latest purchase, and one I am extremely proud of, is my Timberlands, which I got for a great deal of $99. Unlike the traditional ones, mine are darker brown with stitched patterns on the sides.

I wore leggings, but a darker pair of jeans would work just fine.

The flannel is courtesy of Urban Outfitters Outlet. The beige vest is from the Lands End Outlet. When I created this outfit, I imagined myself wearing this to a pumpkin patch or apple-picking.

The main feature of this more formal outfit is the floral patterned dress. The dress is from Urban Outfitters Outlet that I got for $15. Over that is my leather jacket from Forever 21, which costs about $25. The Steve Madden knee-high boots cost $80. Accessories in this outfit include the bright orange necklace and knee-high light brown socks that go with the boots. This outfit would be perfect for a dressy occasion, such as a birthday party or family gathering.

16 a&e Drum majors march into new season Oct. 2, 2015

JOHN PARK staff writer

During a marching band performance, the audience may have their eyes fixated on the impressive patterns that the band is making on the field. But all of the band members have their eyes set on one of three conductors that have led them throughout the season: the drum majors. The 2015-2016 GBS Marching Band drum majors are seniors Matt Grinde, Adam Ley and Lauren Yep. According to Aaron Wojcik, assistant band director, drum majors are chosen through a process consisting of an interview and an audition that is watched by all of the members of the band. Afterwards, the students select their leaders for the next year through an online vote.

“If you could choose who your leader is going to be, the idea of it is that you are going to be more willing to follow that person’s lead,” Wojcik said.

According to Yep, a drum major’s job consists of setting up the field before rehearsal, leading warm ups, conducting, and helping the sections make their forms on the field. According to Band Director Greg Wojcik, the drum majors are given full control during rehearsals.

“When they step on the field, they are in charge,” Greg said. “We’re trying to move it from my voice being heard on the megaphone to the drum major on the podium.”

Aaron believes that this encourages the idea that band is a “student-run organization.” In addition to the technical aspect of leading the band, Grinde says that the drum majors have to face the challenge of inspiring everyone to work hard each rehearsal.

“The biggest challenge I think is just motivating every person in the band, because there’s 150 kids, and getting every single one to buy into the program is definitely difficult,” Grinde said.

In order to motivate, Yep understands that everyone learns in different ways and needs different kinds of encouragement and criticism. Yep realizes that trying to please everyone and encouraging them is very difficult. However, according to Ley, the drum majors attended a leadership camp called The George Parks

Drum Major Academy over the summer, which helped them overcome the challenges of being leaders. “[The camp] gave me a new perspective on how to teach people and how to interact with new students who were learning how to march,” Ley said.

According to Grinde, around 80 drum majors from different high schools gathered to learn how to lead bands and listen to lectures and speeches.

One thing that Yep realized through the camp was that she is not just a drum major when she is on the podium.

“Everyone in band, [looks at me and] they see me as their drum major, so I have to be presentable all the time, not just during band,” Yep said.

The drum majors have the responsibility of memorizing the music, conducting in tempo and leading the band. According to Ley, all of their hard work is paid off when they step up onto the podium and conduct the show.

“Going up on the podium for the first time, there’s nothing that you can compare that to,” Ley said. “Everything sort of depends on you. It’s uncomfortable, but very empowering.”

Grinde, who conducted at the first football game, also experienced this feeling of empowerment. According to Grinde, one reason he became a drum major was to be a role model to the newer band members.

“We got to the beginning of ‘Festive Overture’, and

“Everything sort of depends on you. It’s uncomfortable, but very empowering.”

-senior Adam Ley

CONDUCTING WITH CONFIDENCE: Sustaining a steady tempo for the marching band, Drum Major Adam Ley conducts the musicians during the show. Ley, along with the other drum majors, seniors Matt Grinde and Lauren Yep, led the halftime performance during a home football game. Photo by Ashley Clark

Belmont expands fan base with Midwest tour NICK MORAN asst. a&e editor

Seven guys, one minivan and plenty of shows to rock the Midwest with their sound. Belmont, a band featuring South seniors Joey Legittino and Brian Lada, spent part of their summer touring states such as Iowa, Tennessee and Wisconsin. The band, also featuring members Taz Johnson, Sam Patt and Matt Fusi, took the tour head on, all with the hopes of taking their music to the next level.

Since the release of their first album, Vicissitude, Legittino says the band has gone through a metamorphosis.

“We have a new guitarist, Matt Fusi,” Legittino said. “We have sat down and really practiced our songs until they’re tight and second nature to us because we can’t afford to be [not giving it our all].”

After releasing their album Vicissitude at the start of the year, Legittino decided

that the next step for their band was to grow their music further.

With the help of their Tour Manager Megan Kraemer, Belmont worked to set up shows and take off with the goal of spreading their music and progressing further than being a “local band.”

“You just want to get your music out,” Kraemer said. “I’m always up for telling bands to tour, because that is how you get out there these days. And wanting to work for it is super important.”

According to Legittino, the start of the tour was far from perfect, especially their first day on the road. However, the band still performed and remained optimistic about the trip overall.

“Everything that could have went wrong the first day went wrong,” Legittino said. “It was definitely a weird first day, but it was all really smooth sailing from there.”

On their summer tour, Belmont hit cities such as Madison, WI and Nashville, TN, where they stayed with a band called Carry Me Solo, who showed the boys around Nashville. According to Patt, it was an amazing experience being

able to see their fans’ involvement in other states.

“It’s really cool to meet people from other states that know your music and love your music,” Patt said. “In Nashville and Madison, a lot of people were singing the lyrics and moshing and stuff which was awesome.”

L a d a claims the tour led to gaining a lot of attention for the band, propelling Belmont out of Illinois.

“Now that we went on tour, we gained some national attention - even a little bit of world attention. But I’d say we’re more of a national act now,” Lada said. “For our next shows, a lot of them are going to be out-of-state.”

On top of their Midwest tour, Belmont also played on the Vans Warped Tour. Their performance was voted to take place on-stage by fans online. The band played on the tour which also featured prominent bands such as Carousel Kings and The Wonder Years.

“Our fans actually voted us on to the Chicago date and that was one of the greatest experiences of my life,” Patt said. “It was so cool. There were a lot of people watching our set, which was awesome, and I got to see a lot of really cool bands play.”

Also growing in strength with Belmont’s online following has been the music released from their first Extended Play Album (EP). According to Johnson, their music, especially their most

popular song, “Empty Shelf ”, have continued to accumulate online publicity.

“We just broke 4,000 views on our YouTube with pretty much every song,” Johnson said. “[On] Spotify, every song has over a 1,000 plays. The EP is up for free but multiple people have, on their own, paid for it.”

Belmont has been steadily accumulating fans around the Midwest from their online music prior to their tour. According to Kraemer, she learned about Belmont from word of mouth.

“A couple of my friends live [in Wisconsin] and listened to Belmont and wanted to work with them,” Kraemer said. “I enjoyed their music [...] and the guys were really cool.”

According to Belmont, their next two steps are to record their next EP and plan their West Coast tour for the upcoming winter. According to Lada, these next two steps will be pivotal for the future of Belmont, basing the survival of the band on the success of their next album.

“Once everything is planned, and we release everything, we’re just going to grind on that EP for the rest of the year,” Lada said.

“We’ll see where it is by May, and if it’s somewhere where it’s not much of anything, we’re just going to go our separate ways into college. If [the album is] amazing, we’re just going to tour right out of high school.”

“And if [the album is] amazing, we’re just going to tour right out of high school.”

-senior Brian Lada

Jammin’ Joey: Rocking out on his bass, senior Joey Legittino performs with his band Belmont at Tinley Park. The band was selected to play alongside many others on the Vans Warped Tour Photo courtesy of Lauren Rohland Photography

the first downbeat when the trumpets play is a big point in the show, and that was just a really awesome sound,” Grinde said. “[It felt] like [I was] in charge of that.”

According to Grinde, he claims responsibility over the band’s motivation and focus. Grinde also says, as a leader, he feels central to energy and emotion of the band’s performance during games and competitions when he is up on the podium.

“The emotions that I’m showing is heard through the music,” Grinde said. “So I have to feel the [band’s energy] from my conducting and give them the energy to play music.”

According to sophomore Connor Yoon, the three have met the expectations set by the band and its directors.

“They have to be fairly intertwined with music [and] know the ins and outs of notes,” Yoon said.

“They also have to have an outstanding personality.”

Pit captain Jacob Just also worked with the drum majors. According to Just, he notices the current drum majors have learned from their predecessors and used it for improvement.

“It’s really cool to see how the kids our age, kids I’ve known for four years, are running things,” Just said. “[It’s interesting] how they’re doing it and incorporating all the things that the drum majors did in years prior, putting it into their leadership styles.”

Although each drum major in the past had their own strengths and weaknesses that impacted the performance of the band, Just says this year’s drum majors are all strong.

“Usually drum majors can be classified [into categories],” Just said. “There’s maybe a quiet one, the head leader and the other one kind of varies. But this year, I think they’re all pretty solid; they’re all doing a really good job.”

According to Yep, finishing the show for the first time was a very memorable part of the season. At the beginning of the season, Yep was nervous because there were different parts that she couldn’t see coming together.

“Finishing the show was the best feeling ever, because you realize that everyone’s hard work has finally paid off, and you could see a finished product,” Yep said.

sports

Oct. 2, 2015

OPINION

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KANE NOT GET AWAY WITH IT: Speaking publicly for the first time since news of rape accusations arose, Patrick Kane held a press conference upon arriving at the Chicago Blackhawks training camp (left). Taking part in a game (middle), Kane is the right wing for the Blackhawks. Posing in his former favorite player’s jersey, Tommy Casey, younger brother of junior Sam Casey and hockey player himself, represents Kane’s large fan base. Photos by Antonio Perez of the Chicago Tribune (left), Creative Commons (middle) and Sam Casey (right)

Fame does not excuse fair prosecution HANNAH MASON co-editor-in-chief

I’ll start off by saying that I love the Chicago Blackhawks. Three Stanley cups, six years, dynasty. If you live in the city of Chicago and don’t like the Blackhawks, are you really a true Chicagoan? It’s like calling the Sears Tower the Willis Tower. Unacceptable.

However, I have never been a fan of Patrick Kane, the infamous right wing for the Chicago Blackhawks.

I’m not just saying this because of all the recent allegations against him. I guess you could say it stemmed from when, in an alcoholic rage, he beat up and robbed a taxi driver in 2009.

After that incident, many tried to assure themselves that he had cleaned up his act and grew up. Yet, here we are six years later. Kane was charged with an account of sexual assault on Aug. 2 by a woman from his hometown of Hamburg, N.Y., according to The Buffalo News. They supposedly met at a bar in downtown Hamburg.

However, people aren’t criticizing Kane for committing an awful crime because they are too busy worrying about the fact that the Blackhawks will most likely trade him.

What kind of example does that set for the younger generation? That we don’t care if he commits crimes, because we need him to win us another Stanley Cup? We need to enforce and support that no matter if you

* Source: Chicago Tribune

are an athlete, celebrity or a regular Joe, a crime is a Bulls, was recently accused of taking part in the drugging and rape of a former girlfriend, according to TMZ crime, and every one should be handled equally.

Now, I understand that I can be making a lot of en- Sports. While Kane is working out the problem, Rose emies by vocalizing my distaste for Kane; I’ve already is denying the accusation and claiming innocence.

In hindsight, I also realize that sometimes the vicgotten heat about it from my friends. I know that he tims aren’t always innocent. These celebrities and is an amazing athlete, and a hometown hero, but with that kind of status, I expect that he would hold himself athletes have a lot of money; it’s a known fact. I don’t find it unbelievable that women or men sometimes in a more responsible manner.

Kane’s Sept. 8 trial was reported to be postponed put themselves in that situation in order to steal mondue to talks of settlement. ey.

That girl chose to go Ask yourself, why should The only way to stop sexual as- from the bar, where her and he get to buy himself out of this? Not everyone has sault is if we punish the people Kane met, to his house. I don’t think it takes a rocket an $84 million dollar conthat think that they can walk scientist to figure out what tract that they can use to get out of their crime. around on their high horse, be- was expected to go on once they got there. I’m not sayAn ABC Chicago 7 arcause they are ‘famous’. ticle might have claimed ing she knew she was going to be assaulted or deserved that DNA evidence doesn’t confirm the accuser’s allegations, but that’s this is any way, but he does have a reputation.

While there is a possibility that the woman was just what the headline said. Most people probably read that and thought that Kane is innocent now, be- under the influence and unaware of her actions, it cause that’s what we want to believe. If you actually doesn’t surprise me if men and women would target read the entirety of the article, it says that the lack of celebrities or athletes. We also live in a time where DNA evidence does not mean a sexual assault didn’t people fake injuries in car crashes for money or steal occur, and the investigation is still ongoing. identities to rob a person of their money; however, we Kane isn’t the only one though; his recent scandal can’t confirm the state of the woman due to the lack of swept the news of Derrick Rose’s gang rape accusa- information being released about the case.

However, this doesn’t excuse the celebrities or athtions under the rug. Rose, point guard for the Chicago

letes; rather it exemplifies that they are not always the bad guys.

Kane and Rose are all part of a trend that has been going on for years. The only way to stop it is punishing the people that think they can walk around on their high horse, because they are ‘famous’. Just because they make millions of dollars and live in big houses doesn’t mean they can do whatever they want.

Kane recently put out the following statement: “This has been an incredibly difficult time for many people. I cannot apologize enough for the distraction this has caused my family, my teammates, this incredible organization and, of course, our fans. While I have too much respect for the legal process to comment on an ongoing matter, I am confident that once all the facts are brought to light, I will be absolved of having done nothing wrong.”

All Kane thinks about this accusation is that it is a distraction, and that’s probably what most celebrities and athletes would think too. It is distraction from them being fawned over and glorified by the fans. We need to emphasize that it is more than a distraction; it is a crime, and fame can’t prove you innocent once you’ve committed it. * The Oracle went to print on Sept. 29.

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sports

Oct. 2, 2015

‘LOVE’ THE GAME: Warming up before a match against Maine South, sophomore Kendall Oldham winds up to return a deep forehand (left). Reaching for an overhead, junior Nikol Blinov prepares for a swing during warm-up. (right) The Titans beat Maine South with a final score of 4-3 on Sept. 25. The Titans hold an overall record of 6-7. Photos by Ashley Clark

Women’s tennis works to adjust to new team dynamic CAROLYN KUHN staff reporter

The 2015 varsity women’s tennis team hopes to work hard and keep their heads held high throughout the meets, according to junior Captain Sophie Hensley.

Hensley acknowledges that the team is relatively young this year, so it’s hard for inexperienced players to compete against the top ranked players in Illinois. According to junior Riley Ondrula, the number one and two singles players are sophomores Kendall Oldham and Nicole Sedenkov, and four juniors make up the number one and two doubles pairs.

“It’s different, because we have less upperclassmen and less seniors playing the higher positions, and I think it has changed the dynamic of our team,” Ondrula said. “It has just been an interesting change,

because last year, it was almost all seniors in those team also works on consistency, cross court hitting positions, so it has been fun, and it has been nice to and keeping the ball in play. Another important assee those younger people getting to play.” pect of the game is the cheering, so the team has According to head coach Stephanie Mats, this seabeen working on their energy as well. son is a rebuilding year as the team lost a lot of top “[Against New Trier], we had one singles and one doubles playing,” Ondrula said. players from last year.

Their goal is to get stron“...We are definitely trying to “They were the last two teams ger as a team and see what the court against New Trier, establish a lineup and see on it brings. it was a big match. All of us were “We’re a lot younger who is going to play where.” sitting and cheering them on, and we were all together sitting team, so we are definitely -Coach Stephanie Mats trying to establish a linenext to each other; it was just up and see who is going nice to have our whole team cheering for one goal.” to play where,” Mats said. “Last year it was an older team. A lot of seniors already had their spots and Hensley recalls that when she and her partner, Nicole Blinov, the number one doubles pair, beat New places on the team.”

According to Hensley, the team has been focusing Trier, it was one of their proudest moments. on poaching- putting the ball away at the net. The “The past two years that Nicole and I have been on

Women’s volleyball looks to strengthen unity GEORGIA ARVANITIS co-sports editor

With a current record of 6-11, the women’s volleyball team looks to improve their overall record and compete well in conference, according to head coach Katie Hoover.

A few changes have been made to the team according to senior co-captain Mary Langas and senior cocaptain Maddy Eenigenburg. Langas acknowledges that the team has gone from a more offensive team to a more defensive team.

“We have really emphasized this season the importance of having a very disciplined, scrappy defense,” Langas said. “This has definitely helped us out in a lot of games so far.”

While trying to switch the focus to defense, volleyball has also been flexible with team members’ positions, due to injuries by Eenigenburg and junior outside hitter Sarah Wojick, “With the injuries that we faced in the very beginning of the season to Maddy and Sarah, people have been moving around [and] playing different positions,” Hoover said. “I can’t say enough about the flexibility that the players on this team have been showing and the unity with which they approach every practice and every match.”

According to Hoover, the team is still working on finding their best lineup.

The team welcomed five juniors and one sophomore this season.

In their recent loss against New Trier, according to Hoover, the team played well.

“People are just getting more comfortable with the speed of the varsity match and also the intensity,” Hoover said.

“I think we [...] really played well against New Trier. [...] We were right there with them for both

of those sets and we sometimes found ourselves in a particular rotation where we lost our confidence and we got stuck.”

According to Eenigenburg, the team also played exceptionally well in their tournament in Libertyville.

“I feel that one of our highlights was the first day of our first tournament at Libertyville,” Eenigenburg said. “We all really clicked as a team and everybody was excited to play together. We went 2-1 that day and the energy level was constant the whole [day] which really helped us.”

Langus believes that the team had a breakthrough in their game against GBN. They rallied together even though the game ended in defeat.

“We had played them in a tournament over the weekend and they had beaten us so we were very excited to have the opportunity to play them again,” Langas said. “The first set of the GBN game we really came together and played as a team and played hard. The second two sets were definitely not as great but the first set was a very big moment for us in finding our individual and team roles on the court.”

Eenigenburg and Langas agree that the team dynamic is very strong. According to Langas, the attitudes of the players off the court have assisted them on the court.

“Because we do so much over the summer to prepare for season, we were able to figure out each other’s strengths and weaknesses,” Langas said. “We all get along very well off the court, which translates onto the court. We all have a common goal that we’re working towards together, and this helps our on-court chemistry.”

Langus, Hoover, Eenigenburg and Wojick believe that the team has been getting along well, and are still working to make the team more unified. According to Eenigenburg, this is a top priority.

Eenigenburg and Langas believe that the team will do well in conference. Langas mentioned taking it one match at a time and staying focused.

“I think we will do fairly well in conference; we have some tough competition this season but we have some serious talent on our team as well,” Eenigenburg said. “If we put all of our effort into it, I think we can do really well in the state tournament.”

BUMP, SET, SPIKE: Jumping into mid-air, junior Zimmie Frerichs sets up to spike a ball against Waukegan on Sept. 16. The Titans won with a final score of 25-6 and 25-12. Photo by Ashley Clark

varsity, we haven’t beaten [New Trier], so it was just one of those moments where you’ll never forget it,” Hensley said.

Ondrula says the team has had three meets so far.

They placed third out of eight teams at the Fremd Invite and second at the Loyola Invite.

“We played New Trier and lost three matches to four, which is really close for New Trier,” Ondrula said. “We beat Hersey at the beginning of the season, lost to Glenbrook North and lost to Loyola, but we were close with Loyola.”

According to Ondrula, for the remainder of the season, the team’s goal is to get back to state and do well at state. The team also strives to win as many conference matches as they can and play well together while keeping the team unified.

The next time the Titans hit the courts will be against Stevenson on Oct. 2.

sports

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Oct. 2, 2015

SAMANTHA CASEY co-sports editor

Recently coming off of a foot injury, junior outside Sarah Wojick hopes to lead her team to a good conference record. Wojick also recently committed to the University of Miami Ohio to play Divison I volleyball.

ADAMOPOLOUS IN THE AIR: Warming up for the game against Palatine, senior goalie Perry Adamopolous dives to save a shot on goal. The Titans are 7-6-2 so far this season. Photo by Ashley Clark

Men’s socceer aims to perform well in playoffs HANNAH MASON co-editor-in-chief

The men’s soccer team aspires to place first in the south division of conference, a goal they haven’t achieved since 1984, this season, according to head coach Seong Bong Ha. The past few years the men have taken the second place title; however, Ha believes this team has the potential to be state contenders, something he has been telling the senior class since their freshman year.

According to senior captain Henry Tarbox, victories against GBN on Sept. 12 (1-0) and Waukegan on Sept. 15 (2-0) have been a huge ac-

complishment for the team and good opponents [recently] has given propelled their confidence. These them a lot of confidence in going victories have helped the team with where we want to be [in regards] to their dynamic, a past struggle, ac- our goals.” cording to Ha. Though the team has had some “I think we as coaches were try- recent success, and they have faced crucial injuing to “So we played with a lot of ries, such as think of what we different types of formations senior capcould do tain Iñaki and we have settled upon a B a s c a r a n . to make Bascaran led our playfew.” ers that the defensive -Head coach Seong Bong end of the m u c h m o r e team, and successful,” Ha said. “So we played with the loss, junior Grady Bruch with a lot of different types of for- has stepped up and taken on the pomations and we have settled upon sition, Bascaran said. a few. [...] I think their confidence, “[Bruch] is one of those players partially going against [some] really that you could put any spot on the

field and he can play like a master,” Bascaran said. “He’s been playing my position well, but we definitely need him up on the top too if I come back, because he is really good at header goals.”

The men recently fought hard on both Sept. 17 and 21 against Evanston (0-3) and Maine South (0-2).

However, the Titans were able to keep the game tied at (0-0) in a recent game against Niles West on Sept. 24.

With the heat of their conference games closing in, the men are preparing for playoffs which will be beginning this month.

The soccer team will participate in the Gateway Classic over the weekend.

Women’s swimming beats GBN due to disqualification CASSIDY JACKSON asst. sports editor

The women’s swim team kicked off their season with an overall record of 1-3, after losing to Deerfield (80-101), Fremd (77-109) and Highland Park (79-107). The team’s first win of the season was a home meet against rival GBN on Sept. 19 with the final scoreboard reading 93-92.

Walking into the most anticipated dual meet of the season, the adrenaline was at an all-time-high, and the pressure was on as the rivals faced off, according to junior Sam Casey.

“I [almost] swam three events in a row, the 200 free relay, the 100 back, and the 400 free relay,” Casey said.

“I was swimming well, so I was so pumped for my races that I didn’t even think about anything else. Going home is when it hit me that I was so tired from the meet.”

The adrenaline pushed the teams through the tight meet as GBS and GBN swam neck-and-neck throughout its entirety. The teams managed to hold the score at a few points difference, causing the last event, the 400 freestyle relay, to decide South’s fate. To win the meet, the girl’s

needed to place second and third in the relay. The team placed second and forth, thus losing the meet.

Yet, a GBN swimmer’s illegal action caused an uproar.

“We wound up placing second and forth,” senior captain Connie Chrones said. “So, that meant we lost, but it turned out that, at the end of the meet, the score was 93-92 because their third place relay got disqualified, because the girl swam underneath the lane lines which is illegal, so GBS won.”

GBN cheered at the top of their lungs as their relays finished, not knowing the disqualification had taken the win from under them, until the announcer presented the end score of GBS 93 and GBN 92.

“GBN started cheering right after the relay finished, and it was such a shocker when it was announced that GBS had actually won,” Chrones said. “You could just see GBN’s faces, every single one of them, including the coaches just turned around and looked at us in utter disbelief.”

Senior captain Ali Campbell acknowledges that even if the disqualification never happened, the girls still would have been content with the result of that dual meet.

“If the swimmer didn’t get [disqualified], and we didn’t win, I still would have been happy with the outcome of that meet, because we were within one or two points away from them most of the time,” Campbell said.

Head Coach Keith MacDonald attributes the win to their ability in the pool, and acknowledges that the meet contained the greatest uproar in his history of coaching.

“We had a great last relay but GBN was better so we knew we had lost the meet,” MacDonald said. “We congratulated and shook hands with GBN, and then the score was announced with us winning. In 25 years of coaching I’ve never quite experienced such a unique finish.”

The day after the meet, GBS arrived to participate in the Spartan Classic Relay, with GBS placing fifth and GBN taking sixth place.

“It felt good, because, after the [GBN disqualification], they said we didn’t deserve that win, and I think we proved to them the next day, since we beat them again,” Casey said.

The next time the team will hit the pool is Oct. 2 as they face off against New Trier.

Photo by Ashley Clark

What is your favorite part of volleyball?

“My favorite part about volleyball would be when anyone on the team gets a kill. All the cheering and excitement is what I love most.”

What advice would you give to other GBS athletes?

“My advice to other GBS athletes would be to always work hard on and off the court, because anything you do extra to improve your game is one more step to being the best player. Never give up even if you’re at the bottom [and] about to break, because it may not seem worth it. But if you love the sport, you will stay with it.”

What are your goals for this season?

“My goals for this season [are] to be named all conference and place as high as we can in conference.”

What has been your favorite memory from this season so far?

“My favorite memory from this season so far [was] the GBN game, because Titan Nation was there and it was a huge game, even though we lost. It was a great game with so much energy, and I will never forget about it.”

What is one thing you can’t live without?

“The one thing I can’t live without is my parents because they have always been there for me from start to finish in my recruiting process. They wanted what was best for me, and they wanted to make sure it was my decision, not theirs. They [also] made it possible for me to get a scholarship.”

Do you have any pregame rituals?

“My pregame ritual is to listen to the same playlist before every game. I [also] wear red to support my grandma who passed away right before the season started. She was my biggest supporter and [she] was always so happy to watch me play. Every game I play, I play for her.”

If you won the lottery what would your first purchase be?

STARTING SWIMMERS: Taking their mark on the blocks, sophomore Bella Del Muro and freshman Kate Solemn prepare to swim alongside GBN athletes in the dual meet against GBN. The team is currently 1-3, with GBN being their only win so far this season. Photo by Jacqueline DeWitt

“If I won the lottery, I would buy a plane ticket to Australia, because my cousins live there and it is my favorite place to visit.”

sports

Oct. 2, 2015

20

TOUCHDOWNS FOR DAYS: Reaching in the air to complete the touchdown pass, Jack Healy (#17) , senior wide receiver, scores a touchdown against Niles West on Sept 25. After the touchdown, Healy celebrates with teammates, including senior quarterback Daniel Jenkins (#18). The Titans beat Niles West 56-34. Other scorers included senior Captain Ryan Janczak with four touchdowns, senior fullback Calvin Sailer with two and senior Captain Owen Boyle with one. Photos by Ashley Clark

Football looks to improve blocking on the perimeter SAMANTHA CASEY co-sports editor

The football team has started off their season with a record of 3-2. Head coach Mike Noll attributes some of the early losses to playing a different and more difficult schedule than in years past. Noll hopes that playing a more difficult schedule will help the team in the long run.

“We played a much more difficult schedule this year than we played last year,” Noll said. “It can be good and bad, depending on how the team reacts to it.”

The Titans opened their season with a 23-50 loss to Barrington, a team that is ranked top 10 in the state, according to Noll. Their second loss was 34-55 against St. Patrick. “[Barrington] was a very hard game physically, but [when] you come out playing someone like that, hopefully you learn what your weaknesses are and you can move forward,” Noll said. “St. Pat’s team was really scrappy and they caught us at the right time

[to beat us].”

Noll said that the beginning of the season was concerning, but the team has gotten better which has been shown with wins against Highland Park (33-14) and Maine West (40-6). Noll said the team has been focusing on tackling better, and perimeter defense and offense in practice to help them in games. “[I see improvement] all the time, every day and I see kids continue to try hard and work hard to get better and that is very important to me,” Noll said. “You can only be as good as your talent allows, but you can work hard every day and you can have a positive attitude every day and mostly I see that.”

According to Jack Healy, senior wide receiver, the team has stepped it up when playing against easier competition such as Highland Park and Maine

West.

The Maine West game on Sept 18. did not start until 10 p.m. due to a rain delay.

“It was weird because I didn’t think we were actually going to play because it had been storming the whole time, but the coaches told us to start stretching and I didn’t even think they were being serious,” Healy said.

“Then once we got out there it was weird bcause it was so late and there was no one there, but it was just like any other football game.”

The Titans won against Niles West on Sept. 25. According to Mario Ramirez, senior offensive lineman, this game was better than previous games because there were less offensive mistakes which allowed them to score more.

“Offensively, we almost scored on basically every possession we had,” Ramirez said. “Defensively, we got

the stops we needed so it was a good win all around.”

In the Niles West game, the Titans were winning at halftime 35-27, and then won the game 56-34. Senior Captain Ryan Janczak scored four touchdowns, senior fullback Calvin Salier scored two and both Healy and senior Captain Owen Boyle scored one a piece.

According to Noll, Healy and Janczak, this year’s team is more united than last year’s team. Noll also says that they listen and do what the coaches say better than previous years.

“There is more [of] a sense of family on this team than there ever was last year,” Janczak said. “Everyone has the same goal, so people that are on the sidelines that aren’t playing, they are still into the game and they cheer us on to help us out.”

The Titans square off against Maine South, a highly ranked team, at Maine South on Oct. 2. According to Ramirez and Janczak, this year’s team is confident that they can be the team to beat Maine South.

“We are going to be prepared to win,” Ramirez said.

“I think everyone is going to leave it all out there. This game is important to all 60 of us so we know what it means to win, and I think we have the team to finally win this year.”

The Oracle’s sports editors predict the outcome of next week’s game against Evanston:

LOSE 27-31

SAMANTHA CASEY

GEORGIA ARVANITIS

SOPHIE HENSLEY

CASSIDY JACKSON

co-sports editor

co-sports editor

asst. sports editor

asst. sports editor

Due to Evanston’s 3-2 record, I believe that the Wildkits will win with a score of 27-31.

Since Evanston has proven to be a good team, I think that South will lose with a score of 21-48.

GBS’s defensive side is coming together; with that said, GBS will win 33-28.

GBS is fairly even in their offense and defense, so I predict GBS will beat Evanston 35-28.

LOSE 21-48

WIN 33-28

WIN 45-28

Field hockey starts off season with a win over Stevenson SOPHIE HENSLEY asst. sports editor

The field hockey team amassed a record of 7-5. According to head coach Tom Rosenbaum, the team is working their way through every game in order to advance further in the playoffs this season.

While the playoffs are many weeks away, the team continues to focus and work hard in practice, according to Alexa Steil, two-year senior captain.

“Going into the season, we lost a lot of seniors, yet we had a lot of juniors,” Steil said. “We had a lot of new freshman trying out, [but] we ended up becoming a really strong team and working well together. I think this year we have a really good chance at playoffs and being able to stay in, hopefully getting to the top four.”

Additionally, Rosenbaum acknowledges the girls’ capabilities as a unit on the field, especially in their first game.

“We have a lot of talent […] We have a lot of kids that have been playing two to three years, so we have some athletes who are very fast, quick, and knowledgeable on the field,” Rosenstein said.

The first big game the girls won was against Stevenson with a score of 5-1 on Aug. 24. Steil feels this game specifically created a sense of unity throughout the team.

“I’d probably say our best victory was against Stevenson, because Stevenson is usually one of the better [and] top teams that we play,” Steil said. “It was our first win as a team, so it was really exciting. To

GOGGLE GAL: Running around a Lake Forest defender, junior defender Megan Dillon looks to pass to a teammate. At the end of the game the score was tied 2-2 and the Titans lost in overtime to the reigning state champions 3-2.

Photo by Ashley Clark

see everything transfer from practice into a game and everything work out and people being in the correct places is exciting.”

According to Rosenbaum, senior Emily Abrams scored the first goal in the game, which created an

exciting energy on the turf.

“I felt a lot more motivated and stronger as a player,” Abrams said. “There’s always so much more energy when someone scores [during an important game].”

Two days later, the players fought against the de-

fending state champions Lake Forest on Aug. 26, according to junior Megan Dillon.

“We scored first, and they were the state champions last year, so we were all rallied up,” Dillon said. “It was 1-0 and then they scored [to make it] 1-1. It was 2-1 for the whole game, so, in the last five minutes, they scored, and it was 2-2, and we had to go into overtime.

We were all exhausted and ready to beat [them]. We knew we had it in us, but we ended up losing in overtime 3-2. It was a very heart-breaking game, but it was exciting, [and] we’re going to get them next time.”

Even though the team has faced countless injuries this season, Rosenbaum appreciates the key players on the team that continue to accelerate their skills, as well as new players who have improved their skills this season.

“With injuries, a lot of people have stepped up,” Rosenbaum said. “[Abrams] got us a goal in seven of the eight games, [and] that’s pretty consistent [so] she’s one of our top key kids.”

Rosenbaum and the two captains, Steil and senior Sarah Westerfield, are determined to advance much further than last year and beat Glenbard West in the playoffs.

“It all depends on how we’re ranked, who we play and when we have to play them,” Rosenstein said. “It’s going to come down definitely in the top five or six.”

In addition, Abrams feels similar to Rosenbaum and the captains in regards to their thoughts on playoffs.

“We have improved so much as a team and have continued to impress our coaches,” Abrams said. “I think we will make it further in playoffs than we did last year.”