The Voice October 21

Volume 15, Issue 1

thevoice 10.21.11

Huntley takes steps towards career prep 5 Students taught medical skills in newest course

by Ashley Secreto

In Features: Homelessness in Huntley 23

by Joe Cristo

In Opinion: “Kat Hates YOU” on “puberty cocktails” with columnist Kat Enciso 8

In A&E: Art poles serve as canvas for art students

by Kayla Summerville

23

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Huntley High School - 13719 Harmony Rd. - Huntley, IL 60142 - 847-659-6600

2

Huntley now ‘On Air’

staff writer

Zoe Detlaf zoe.detlaf@huntleyvoice.com

On Oct. 13, Huntley’s TV and Radio Club met in room W13 from 2:40 to 3:40.

The club is led by Speech Team coach Tom George, and campus supervisor Mark Loewe, a former nightclub DJ. The group will be broadcasting through a community station at Del Webb for an hour every day. This hour does not include special projects such as the coverage of sporting events and concerts that will also be broadcasted. Broadcasts are set to begin the first of March.

“Last spring, some members of Del Webb talked to Mr. Johnson to see if some people were interested in going to a meeting,” said George. “I went, and they wanted Huntley High School to have an hour on the radio.”

The initial meeting for the club brought in 25 prospective members, and two students have already started working on projects for the community station.

“Well, during volleyball games, we record those, or home football games or basketball games,” said senior Nathan Camacho. “And also, when they need

extra help, we just do a little bit of play-byplay where we actually say what’s going on in the game, and we broadcast it that way.”

He and junior DJ Lucas are working together on these projects to help get the club off the ground. George also wants to start broadcasting as soon as possible, starting with the Friday announcements, which he plans to start airing on Oct 21.

W13 will be set up like a newsroom with two students as newscasters, one student as a cameraman, another scrolling through the teleprompter, and one as a video editor. The announcements are taped at 6:30, edited by 7:20, and uploaded onto YouTube by 7:25.

Any room with an LCD projector will be able to display their announcements on YouTube.

Principal Dave Johnson also asked if George could streamline the announcements, which he plans on doing by excluding reminders for team meetings. The school will be using new software that allows coaches to text reminders to students.

George says that the announcements will be done in five minutes, including a one minute interview. The content of the other projects is up to the

I’ve always been interested in directing and acting, so I thought, why not give broadcasting a shot.

Nathan Camacho Senior

TV and Radio club picture from left to right, the students are Hunter Stewart, Yasmin Dominguez, Irina Tuluca, Brooke Romero, Alex Carpenter, Nikk Ybarra, Jacob Quirk, and Jake Highley.

(Z. Detlaf).

members. Suggestions have ranged from interviewing players during sporting events to radio plays.

George will be grading students on a “First Quarter in Review” video presentation with interviews with athletes, different club members, and newspaper staff to be streaming on the TVs in the cafeteria.

Eventually, George is hoping for the club to become a class, partially so the students can do the announcements live, but right now he is showing that there is interest. For some, like senior Chris O’Meara, the club offers a similar experience to something they already enjoy.

“It definitely seemed like something that would interest me because I compete

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in radio speaking as a speech event, so it seemed like something that would fit me well,” said O’Meara.

For others, it is a chance to try something new or an experience in a different side of something they enjoy.

“I’ve always been interested in directing and acting, so I thought, why not give broadcasting a shot,” said Camacho. “Because being a sort of radio correspondent, that’s kind of, in the radio world, being an actor. You got to have the voice for it.”

The club will continue meeting once a week until George decides they are far enough along to meet only once a month, brainstorming and preparing their projects for broadcasting.

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3

Goodwill store open for business staff writer

Holly Baldacci holly.baldacci@huntleyvoice.com

Huntley has welcomed a new Goodwill center gracing the intersection of Kreutzer Road and Route 47, which opened on Wednesday, Oct. 12.

Every year, Goodwill Industries International evaluates areas in need throughout the country, and it determined that Huntley would be a prime location to open a new center. After getting approval from the Village Board, construction on the store advanced quickly, and a groundbreaking ceremony with the Huntley Chamber took place on May 3.

According to Shannon Halverson, Goodwill’s Northern Illinois public relations and marketing manager, the new location will feature programs aimed to help residents of the area to not only purchase necessities at discounted prices, but improve their lives as well.

The Attire to Hire program, which will be one of the programs featured, will help provide job seekers with appropriate office wear for interviews and professional events. The Good Dollars and Sense program helps to educate people about financial literacy and how to manage money wisely with information on savings plans, identity theft, and home ownership.

“Free and lasting only six weeks, the program is an easy way to get people started on improving their lives and finances,” said Halverson.

Goodwill has taken on a greener atmosphere inside and outside their new

“Things have been going really smoothly, and I’ve been to the center myself,” said Halverson, “We’ve been making good progress on setting up for the opening, and the new store is very sharp” (H. Baldacci).

stores with the company’s goal in mind: reuse, recycle, and resell.

According to Halverson, the store is built over a sub base of recycled asphalt grindings, while Energy Starrated appliances and renewable energy certificates (RECs) have been added to offset energy use.

“The grindings are a by-product of old roadway removal that would otherwise end up in landfills,” said Halverson. “So this is an exciting new idea that is green as well as practical.”

The recent construction along Route

47 was a bit of a challenge when building the new center, but the store is set to open around its original estimated time.

“Things have been going really smoothly, and I’ve been to the center myself,” said Halverson. “We’ve been making good progress on setting up for the opening, and the new store is very sharp.”

To help run the center, the new location will staff 42-45 jobs at all times, and volunteers will be needed.

“The center is still looking for more applicants, so students who are

interested should definitely look at our website for more information,” said Halverson.

More information about the new store and Goodwill Industries International can be found at www.goodwill.org.

V

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4

The Voice online News Editor

Brendon Urban brendon.urban@huntleyvoice.com

The Huntley High School newspaper launched their new website “The Voice Online” last month and is hoping to get the attention of the greater community.

The Voice, formerly known as The Tribe, has been the newspaper for Huntley High School since 1997. The paper is entirely student-run and prints eight issues a year and will continue the trend with the site now available. This will be the newspaper’s fifteenth year of publishing.

The start of the website came last January when the newspaper’s design editor, Michael Geheren, started creating a prototype of what would later become “The The Voice Online.”

Online. He revealed the site to other editors and his journalism advisor, Dennis Brown.

“We never did a website because I always wanted it to be as good as

our newspaper,” said Brown. “But with Michael’s assistance and his knowledge of all this, I’ve managed to catch up and he has managed to set up things.”

Brown taught Web Design at the high school years ago and knew the basics of website design, but was hesitant to start something of his own. Over the summer, he attended a week-long web design clinic at the University of Iowa and learned from Journalism Education Association Digital Media Chair, Aaron Manfull.

“I knew I needed to get caught up if I was going to have a hand in this, which I think I did,” said Brown.

Other members of The Voice’s editorial board also made contributions to the website’s planning. Each section editor brainstormed ideas for what they wanted done to their part of the site. bo “Sports used to be a boring section su where it used to be like summaries of the month,” said sports ed editor Marek Makowski. “Now it’s like S Sports Illustrated where we can have big fea features in print so it’s not that dull, boring sec section.”

The site also drew upon other online

influences: The Huntley Patch, Highlight (Caramel High School), FHNToday.com (Francis Howell North High School), The Maneater (University of Missouri), and The Daily Iowan (University of Iowa).

Because The Voice Online is studentrun like its print newspaper, writers have the responsibility to keep the rest of the school up-to-date. Unlike previous years, all 32 writers in the class are responsible for submitting articles.

The workload varies depending on the section and other side projects (columns, blogs, etc.).

“The students are the ones who are supposed to be in charge,” said Brown. “I hang back and watch and coach them.”

Even after the completion of the website, the District 158 Board of Education had to grant the newspaper permission to launch.

According to Brown, the board was concerned with students’ safety and the circulation of pictures posted with content.

The board approved the site last month, officially opening it up to the

public.

“It’s been a long process, but I think it shows the district is very supportive,” said Brown. “Their interest is making sure when this thing got off the ground that we do it well.”

The newspaper staff has new objectives in mind to increase the site’s views and get the rest of the school involved. The improvements will be made to make the site more interactive and user-friendly.

“I would like to hopefully allow students to write blogs and make their opinions known,” said Geheren. “It would an after school activity, but it hasn’t been approved.”

Other innovative ideas will be added to the site as time goes on, but the ability to get breaking news to site-goers is what matters most to the writers.

“It [the website] is more like what a real newspaper does,” said Brown. “It allows us to pursue journalism the way it should be pursued. That is exciting to me.”

site views

Sep. 15, 2011 - Oct. 15, 2011

New Faces reported by Mckenzie Fulcer

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Secondary-education: Purdue University One thing students should know: I was a subsititute teacher for District 214.

Patrick Odarczenko Math

Jeffery Robbinson Science Secondary-education: University of Wisconsin-Madison One thing students should know: I was a bond trader for five years.

Amanda Wills Spanish Secondary-education: Northern Illinois University One thing students should know: I love to read Stephanie Plum books.

Brian Conant English Secondary-education: Illinois State University One thing students should know: I enjoy many of the same movies, bands and books they enjoy.

Dr. John R. Thodos (847) 458-1437 1437 Merchant Drive Algonquin, Illinois 60102

OCTOBER 21, 2011

A Boeing 747 airliner holds 57, 285 gallons of fuel.

5 Medical Academy offers medical classes for science-savy students staff writer

Ashley Secreto ashley.secreto@huntleyvoice.com

School District 158 is planning on installing Medical Academy into the curriculum. The district plans on using the ’school-within-a-school’ method to implement the Medical Academy. It will be a set of medical-related classes that students can choose to take.

The Medical Academy is a series of classes that will prepare students for a specific career. If they choose to take one of the two series of classes in the Medical Academy, then the students have to follow the series as they progress through high school and take the required high school classes.

These classes can prepare students for a variety of medical professions.

There are five main categories of medical related professions: Therapeutic Services, Diagnostic Services, Supportive Services, Information and Communication Services, and Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Services.

“It will allow students to build classes into their schedule to give as many opportunities as possible,” said Mike Moan, chief academic officer of District 158.

Northern Illinois University (NIU and Centegra paired up with the school district in order to help implement the Medical Academy.

According to Moan, Centegra gives the point of view of someone who would possibly hire the students at Huntley High School. NIU is a four-year college that provides guidance in the creation of the Medical Academy.

The Medical Skills and Services class that was recently offered is only the first step in the process of implementing the Medical Academy. When students were offered to enroll in Medical Skills and Services, which is taught by Renae St. Clair, over 100 students showed interest in the class.

The next school year, 2012-2013, will introduce Project Lead the Way (PLTW). According to St. Clair, PLTW is a

national organization that has formerly concentrated on engineering, but recently added a biomedical science program.

There are hundreds of schools in the state that adopted PLTW’s engineering program.

“There are only two schools in the state that have the biomedical science program, and we hope to be the third,” said St. Clair.

The PLTW classes that will be offered include Principles of Biomedical Sciences, proposed to begin in 2012-2013 school year, Human Body Systems, proposed to begin in 2013-2014 school year, Medical Interventions, proposed to begin 2014-2015 school year, and Biomedical Innovation.

PLTW classes are not the only classes that are offered in the Medical Academy.

There will be completely new classes created including History and Current Issues in Medicine, Athletic Training and Sports Medicine, Medical Math, and others. There will be classes that exist in Huntley High School already, such as

AP Chemistry, Animal Science, Honors Biology, and others. The Medical Academy includes existing classes that will be modified including Human Anatomy, First Responder, Medical Internship/Coop, and others.

All of the classes offered in the Medical Academy are organized into two pathways: Certified Allied Health Pathway and Medical Professional Pathway. According to Ms. St. Clair, the Medical Professional Pathway is the more rigorous course for students who plan to go to college for four years or more.

The Certified Allied Health Pathway is a moderate course for students who plan on only a two year degree.

The mission of the Medical Academy is to ensure a variety of medical careers, a successful transition to college, and as many opportunities as possible for students.

“I think this could be a great opportunity,” said Moan.

Trinity Lutheran Church celebrates, extols 140 years in Huntley staff writer

Kierra Renwick kierra.renwick@huntleyvoice.com

always doing a lot of activities.”

Parzygnat is still a member of the congregation and worships at Trinity Lutheran regularly.

Although Trinity has been through many changes throughout its existence, the mission of the Church stays strong.

By “sharing God’s love and hope, spreading his word,” the congregation hopes to serve the

community for future years to come.

Trinity Lutheran plans to celebrate the anniversary through prayer and by coming together as a community.

“We are celebrating through what we call ’40 Days of Love,’” said Pastor Kittel. “It is a six-week journey of seeking relationships to God and one another.”

(K. Renwick)

Pastor Charles Kittel approaches the brick building that stands on N. Church Street in downtown Huntley. He knows the building as Trinity Lutheran Church (TLC).

He enters through the front doors and then sees the chapel entrance and the TLC wing. He opens his office and gets to work. Later, he will preach the Lutheran religion to several of the area’s families.

Kittel works to preach the same message that has been spread from pastors of the past.

This is the one-hundred-fortieth year the Trinity Lutheran Church has opened its doors to followers of the faith. The German Evangelical Lutheran Church, now known as Trinity Lutheran Church, was created in March of 1871 and serves as a pastoral part of Huntley’s history.

Before the church was created, Lutheran religious practices started with farmers in the surrounding area. Thomas Huntley, Huntley’s founder, later set aside land for an actual church building.

The church was built and had a 105foot-tall steeple and a bell that weighed 1,545 pounds and hung from the steeple. The bell was important because it called worshippers to the church every mass. The bell can be found at Trinity Lutheran, to this day.

Reverend Henry Schmidt was called to preach in Huntley. He was the first pastor at Trinity Lutheran. He was very devoted to the religion and wanted to spread its messages to Trinity’s members.

After Reverend Henry Schmidt came to Huntley, he began to preach and the church slowly gathered more followers.

Trinity Lutheran Church has changed throughout the 140 years it has been around. Some changes include the types of members found worshipping, the building, and the extra programs offered.

The first worshippers included farmers who later moved west as the community became less rural. As the farmers moved west, people from more urban areas moved to Huntley.

As the population in Huntley grew, the number of members also increased. The Church began as a small group of farming families to now serving about 200 family units.

After the population of worshippers increased and the original church’s steeple had been struck by lightning, a new building was constructed.

In addition to the construction of the new church, TLC Preschool was added and has been the preschool of many Huntley students.

Freshman Abby Parzygnat was one such student at the preschool.

“I remember going to preschool there,” said Parzygnat. “I had fun there. We were

OCTOBER 21, 2011

Follow @HuntleyVoice on Twitter for daily updates.

6 EDITORIAL Editorial Board Awaited interchange to Tyler Davis

editor-in-chief

Randi Peterson

act as “economic engine”

managing editor

Michael Geheren

digital editor

Brendon Urban

news editor

Bailey Poczos

opinion editor

Ashley Knipp

features editor

Sydney Hellgeth

design editor

Mitchell Urban

arts&entertainment editor

Marek Makowski

sports editor

Hannah Sturtecky

photography editor

Kayla Summerville

business manager

Dennis Brown

advisor

The Voice Staff Holly Baldacci Joe Cristo Zoe Detlaf Yazmine Dominguez Kat Enciso Mckenzie Fulcer Tamara Funke Kayla Garcia Tommy Heagney Thomas Helm Michael Krebs Mollie Murk Sophie Murk Franca Onyibor Emeer Paz-Mody Cameron Peckham Kierra Renwick Caitlin Salerno Ashley Secreto Corey Steinert Jade Strong

Cover photo by

Jazmine Chartrand

Huntley has, for the longest time, been considered “out of the way” by many. The inhabitants of the high school refer frequently to, “living in the middle of a cornfield,” or, “living in the middle of nowhere.”

But it appears this may soon change.

On Sept. 21, the Illinois Tollway Board of Directors recommended approval of an intergovernmental agreement that would result in the construction of a full I-90 interchange at Route 47, the window to Huntley.

Huntley would have a direct gateway to I-90, the king of roadways in Illinois. And we only have to wait until April 2012 for the construction to begin, predicted to finish in 2013.

Finally, Huntley would get the economic stimulus it had been begging for.

“It would be a huge economic engine for all of Kane and McHenry County,” said Pam Fender, Huntley village trustee.

No area has been left untouched by the recent economic downturns, and with the coming of this interchange, economic stimulus may be on the way to Huntley. According to

Margo Griffin, Huntley’s business development coordinator, all Route 47 businesses are definitely for this project.

“Hopefully the interchange will increase business traffic and improve the local businesses,” said Griffin.

But where is the funding for this $69 million project coming from?

You know the answer.

Tolls and taxes, Illinois’s two favorite “t”s.

There will be a 35-cent toll hike for I-Pass users, effective Jan. 1, 2012, and rates for those who pay with cash will be double the I-Pass rate.

“People will give up something else [the current toll rates],” said Fender, “but they [still] need to get to work, they need to get to places.”

The Tollway is financing 50 percent of the project, while IDOT is covering 25 percent and the rest must be paid for by Huntley, McHenry, and Kane County. Huntley has already funded the $2.5 million cost of preliminary design and engineering studies. “[The project] will diversify our tax base,” said Dave Johnson, village manager. “Instead of taxes being 70 percent residential, the project will increase economic development with

new business parks and retail.”

Accompanying the interchange, which is a part of the $12 billion 15year capital program Move Illinois, is the maintenence and widening of the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway.

All of these improvements will create jobs and ease tollway travel for commuters. Essentially, this is what the full Route 47 interchange is about too.

“What we would like is some of those commuters to stop in Huntley and spend some money,” said Fender, who explained that money spent in Huntley helps improve public services for citizens.

“It’s like winning a prize in the end,” said Fender, who also said that this project has been in the works for far more than 10 years now. “Getting this roadway built is a major building block to the financial growth of McHenry and Kane County.”

This interchange makes Huntley all the more accessible to businesses, bringing jobs and tax revenue to Huntley alike. With this interchange, Huntley takes another step away from the farming community of yore, and another step toward the business community of the future.

Letter to the Editor

Dear whoever,

I just want to talk about being a senior. As soon as we enter high school we wish to be seniors. Now that I’m a senior, I can say it’s bittersweet. Of course everything seems fun, but I can’t help thinking these are all my “lasts,” too.

My last football game, homecoming, school dance.

I don’t remember growing up and now I’m starting to wish I was a freshman. I wouldn’t have to worry about college essays, applications, or what I want to do for the rest of my life.

However, all good things must come to an end. I’ve had some of my best memories at Huntley High School and I’m going to miss it. I know everyone gets sick of the corn, but it’s the people that make Huntley so great. It’s full of a variety of people but we can all agree we’ve had fun times at Huntley. In my opinion, I love Huntley and everyone in it. My advice to underclassmen?

Enjoy your time here.

Sincerely, Cate Sitko Senior

The Voice’s Editorial Policy

As preservers of democracy, schools should encourage, protect, and enhance free speech and a positive exchange of ideas.

This is the goal of The Voice. The Voice is a student-produced newspaper published every four weeks by Huntley High School’s Publications Production students.

The Voice is an open forum for student expression and discussion of issues of concern to its audience.

OCTOBER 21, 2011

The Voice’s editorial board will determine the content of the newspaper and all editorials.

As a result, material may not necessarily reflect the opinions of the officials of Huntley High School or District 158.

Signed columns or reviews only reflect the views of the author.

The staff will publish only legal protected speech, following the legal definition for libel, obscenity, and

Barbie’s full name is Barbara Millicent Roberts.

invasion of privacy.

The Voice will not avoid publishing a story solely because of possible dissent or controversy.

Letters to the editor should be 300 words or less and sent to the highschool, room 224. All letters must be signed.

The editorial board reserves the right to edit material for length, grammar, libelous statements, and invasion of privacy.

7

Now that interest has been expressed A JROTC program should be the next step for Huntley High School

H. Sturtecky

staff writer

Caitlin Salerno

caitlinsalerno@huntleyvoice.com

Since my freshman year, the Armed Forces have been on my mind, including JROTC (Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps). I looked up information, went to recruiters, asked family members, yet words and promises didn’t solidify my decision.

I wanted an experience; I wanted to feel what it was like to be a part of the Armed Forces.

“I don’t know [why we do not have a JROTC program],” said Principal Dave Johnson. “There was no interest expressed by parents, staff, or students.”

Most of what people know about the Armed Forces is what they see

More than teaching just military in movies. Misrepresentations—for the history, JROTC trains its cadets in basic most part. Most war movies depict a male life skills, self-reliance, leadership, and soldier in basic training—grime covering verbal and written communication skills. most of his body, the stench of death emanating JROTC trains you to be ready from his ragged for life in the Armed Forces or uniform. In any other career.

“JROTC instills discipline reality, the JROTC instills disciand pride, while learning Armed Forces, pline and pride, while especially about the Military,” said learning about the JROTC, are very Savoy.

Military. different from Many high schools have school-sponsored many of the organizations that support gory and horrific movies. career development like FFA “That’s not (Future Farmers of America), FBLA (Future Business basic training; Leaders of America), and FTA that’s theatrics,” (Future Teachers of America). said Alton B. Savoy, Sgt. First Participation in any of these Class. organizations neither guarantees nor JROTC focuses on learning about the requires students ultimately to become farmers, business executives, or teachers, Armed Forces and the history behind each but it does encourage students to branch. A common misconception among many parents and teens alike is that JROTC consider various career options as they learn valuable life skills. is the first step toward enlistment.

“JROTC is not a form of enlistment at all.

Currently, Huntley High School does JROTC actually teaches about the history of not have a JROTC program or even an the Armed Forces,” said Savoy.

Armed Forces club. Unfortunately, many

Alton B. Savoy Sgt. First Class

teens don’t even realize that JROTC exists.

Because they are not exposed to the benefits of JROTC in high school, they also are typically unaware that many colleges offer ROTC, too. It is not until the military recruiters start setting out the flyers and lanyards on the lunchroom table that most of our students even hear about these programs.

“I didn’t figure out about ROTC until senior year,” said senior Lisha Chavez.

Why should a student’s only exposure to the military be from watching the evening news or seeing a gory war movie?

Fully engaging in JROTC would give students the opportunity to learn for themselves, whether a military career is for them or not.

V

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Raider Aid looks like a ghost town; students should utilize it

opinion editor

Bailey Poczos bailey.poczos@huntleyvoice.com

I get community service hours for doing absolutely nothing.

NHS members spend long hours in soup kitchens, animal shelters, and charity drives to rack up those 30 community service hours needed for a silver cord. They slave over our community, while I just hang around the Raider Aid room waiting for the nonexistent kid who needs help with French.

And to be honest, I feel pretty bad that it’s so easy for me.

Leslie Parrin announces it to each of her French classes every Tuesday. Maybe no one comes because they are afraid to be taught by someone they don’t know, or perhaps it’s because they don’t even know it exists.

“In college tutoring centers, you don’t know who is going to be teaching either,” said Anne Price, this year’s new adviser of Raider Aid. “Peer tutoring is not uncommon, so I don’t think it should be discouraging.”

So as I awkwardly sat on one of the desks at 2:30, twiddling my thumbs because there was no one to tutor, I scanned the room.

One of the round tables was occupied by a group of about seven who were reviewing Spanish vocabulary with a teacher. Opposite that table was another cluster of students getting help on math.

Another girl sat alone at a table, working on homework in Raider Aid for the sake of having a quiet environment—or what was supposed to be a quiet environment.

By 2:40, still no one has come in. I watch the door, eagerly waiting for that non-existent student who could spare me the discomfort.

Then I noticed something. Not only was the room packed with non-existent students; there were also non-existent teachers scattered about the room looking over the shoulders of those non-existent students who were hard at work. One of the non-existent tutors stood by the door, holding up a non-existent clipboard with a non-existent check-in list.

“We are paid tutors up here,” said Price. “It’s not necessarily

that teachers refuse to tutor, but they have other commitments. Numbers will keep increasing as the year goes on.”

Raider Aid was implemented in the 2007-2008 school year. Records for that year were not kept, but in the following year, 315 different students signed in, out of a total of 1131 sign-ins. Sixteen percent of the student population had used Raider Aid at some point during the year.

Since 2009, Raider Aid has been utilized less and less. The percentage of the student population using Raider Aid dropped 7.1 percent between 2009 and 2011. At the rate it’s going, the decrease is only becoming more drastic.

At 2:50, it was safe to say that no one was coming to be tutored. I signed out on the non-existent check-out list.

“While Raider Aid was running, RtI [Response to Intervention] was going on,” said Raider Aid’s previous advisor, Renae St. Clair. “The state has said that we need to do more for students in class, rather than after school.”

RtI has been limiting the availability of one-on-one tutoring during after school hours in order to increase the learning productivity in

it, and if you don’t get it, come after school,’” said St. Clair. “Now it’s ‘I’m going to teach it, and if you don’t understand it, I have to somehow make time in school.’”

That’s all fine and dandy, but sometimes students miss several days of school in a row, and a teacher isn’t just going to say “Well let’s forget about the lesson today. You kids can eat candy and smoke cigarettes and draw on the walls while I help these students catch up.”

“I think you always need both RtI and Raider Aid,” said St. Clair. “Some students just need to come after school.

They need the extra help and they need to put in the extra time.”

Of course RtI has good intentions.

Students do need some one-on-one time in class, but they also need the opportunity to get help when they don’t understand something.

That opportunity is still there— somewhat. There are math teachers available in Raider Aid daily. As for other teachers . . . they should probably step up to the plate.

Maybe I would deserve those community service hours if more students

classrooms during school.

“The old way of doing it was, ‘I’m going to teach S. Hellgeth

OCTOBER 21, 2011

Follow News Editor @BrendonUrban on Twitter

8

Kat Hates

accomplishment. Guys get labeled as “players” the same way that girls can be “sluts.” The two words basically refer to a person who is sexually active beyond what is considered normal, but have drastically different connotations.

If a girl loses her virginity, she runs the risk of being called “easy,” statement.” and her reputation may Here I am, “o be destroyed with the untouchable me,” spread of a simple rumor. assuming that this girl The problem lies in the I’ve never met is some way people perceive girls promiscuous deviant, all because of the underwear who have sex, not in their sexual activities. poking out of her pants.

“It’s mainly the guys So why is it acceptable that always ask, even if that most boys in high they don’t like the girl,” school intentionally expose said Riccardi. “Girls their underwear and get probably get asked twice away with being “the as much as they actually norm” when one girl can do it.” so easily be singled out There are too many as a “slut” for the same cases where the reason? consequences of a This mindset can be devastating when it carries person’s actions are dependent on their sex. over into other, much As much as it sounds more serious aspects of like some after school society; girls and boys special, people need to who are sexually active be judged on who they face completely different are and their actions. consequences for their There aren’t that actions. many social problems at Everyone is HHS because the idea of perfectly aware of the social hierarchy doesn’t generalization put on all really exist in obvious young men: “they only things like cliques or want one thing.” trends. But we “Guys kind of go around are all missing asking everyone,” Riccardi out on the said. “More than anything, huge problem it’s just guys who with how are the ones that we want sex.” perceive Between all each the hormones other that come in based on their little sex. puberty People cocktail, continue all the to carry on sex in the the plague media, and of idiocy with the overall their double stigma of being standards. a male virgin, Everyone it is a point of should be held embarrassment accountable if they have for their own their virginity K.Enciso inappropriate after high school. or irresponsible When I hear guys behavior, regardless of joking about the big their sex.

“V-card,” they make it It’s sad that no matter sound more like a rash what, there will probably that needs curing, not a part of them to be given to always be someone out someone they care about. there to prove stereotypes Senior Brandon Pejchl about sexually active girls ended his virginity because true and allow the use of such a cruel word to it was something that continue. But hopefully he wanted to get rid of, people will begin to despite his hesitance. realize that guys can be “I have had sex, and I sluts too. don’t see me having sex with anyone else being as important as the first time,” he said. “It was way different the first time around.”

In society, when a boy loses his virginity, he has taken a huge step toward manhood.

The image of a guy who sleeps around with a lot of See more perspectives from The Voice’s bloggers girls comes with an air of on huntleyvoice.com

YOU

Library lockdown isn’t as bad as it seems

Guys are promiscuous, too

opinion columnist

Kat Enciso

katherine.enciso@huntleyvoice.com

I, avid feminist that I believe myself to be, am a judgmental hypocrite.

As I walk down the senior hallway, I scan the surge of people being herded into their classes by the morning bell. My eyes lock on to some girl stooped into her locker. And like a knee-jerk reaction, that little voice in the back of my head begins spewing venomous observations.

Dried out, bleachblonde hair and fake extensions—cheap. Sweat pants a size too small, deliberately rolled down to reveal a pierced navel— trash. And worst of all, a bright blue g-string pulled over her hips for the world to see—slut.

I probably could have drawn a more malicious word from my vocabulary if I had tried.

This girl has only been in my realm of existence for about eight seconds and I already know everything I need to come to the conclusion that this girl is no virgin. With a cursory glance, I have determined things about this complete stranger that I would never assume about my closest friends.

I am so consumed by my harsh critique that I almost don’t notice the boy a foot away with his jeans bunched up around his thighs so that his boxers hang out.

This guy is everywhere.

In fact, he is the majority of teenage boys today.

Normally, I would go through my petty grocery list of observations and quietly move on with my life, never thinking twice about it. But the scene before me is screaming too loud to ignore.

“I’ve thought that girls are slutty if their thongs are showing and they should keep it in their pants,” said senior Tricia Riccardi, “but they probably don’t know and can’t help it; when guys do it, it’s a fashion

V OCTOBER 21, 2011

staff writer

Yazmin Dominguez

yazmin.dominguez@huntleyvoice.com

Rushing from his third hour class, junior Christian Nuñez ignores the hunger pains in his stomach and heads straight into the library. The only thing on his mind is printing out his English essay he had worked so hard on the night before when his computer failed to print. Upon entering the library, he eyes an open computer and strides past the librarian’s front desk heading towards it.

He is only a few steps away from sitting on the chair until he hears the demanding voice of the librarian, abruptly stopping him in his tracks.

“Excuse me, where are you supposed to be, young man?” asked librarian Linda Mulcany.

Nuñez braces himself for a form of tonguelashing. Being told to leave the library was not what he expected to hear.

“It was the beginning of the school year and I was already going to miss a major grade because of this new rule,” said Nuñez.

“I was so shocked that the librarians would be so cold.”

Students are no longer allowed to enter the library during their lunch periods.

This is a new rule that was imposed on the student body by Sandy Brooks, the LRC media specialist.

This new rule has caused problems for students such as Nuñez who try to finish the “last minute” type of assignments.

“It is stupid,” said senior Jake Benz. “Some of us don’t have a computer at home.”

Students believe that this new rule has prevented them from printing out assignments or using the computer for quick research, but this is not the case.

This new change was

made for the better; it to have an approximately is intended to prevent 3000 students in the high student and teacher school. complaints regarding the “I am not planning library’s lack of silence. on it to change,” said “Last year it was a Brooks. ”Students need a complete zoo in here,” commons area where they said Brooks. “We had kids can get together and do complaining because they homework from wherever couldn’t study.” they are coming from.”

Students would abuse Although this could the library policy by using possibly be a solution to it as a commons area. the rule, the possibility They would leave their of building of a new study halls or come into commons area is distant. the library during their A school commons area lunch period in order to will only appear if students socialize inside the LRC. demand it and are willing “They [students] didn’t to wait for construction. For use it as a place to study,” now, all that students can said Brooks. “They would do is become aware of and come down here to meet accustomed to the new with friends.” rules.

While it is If coming from lunch, understandable that students who need to lunch is the only free complete quick, last20-minute period students minute assignments can have to see their friends, be made exceptions and the library should not be allowed in. Students need treated as a second lunch to simply explain to the room. librarians their It simply reasons for comes down needing the It was a very to respect. library and stressful time.

The library is passage will Now it’s not a place be allowed. peaceful. to be loud.

Students It defies from advisory the whole Ann Christiansen classes and librarian study halls meaning of the word LRC: are required learning resource center. to have passes signed If students are being by either their study hall prevented from learning in teachers or the teachers a studious environment, who assigned what they then this rule change is will work on at the LRC. needed.

Therefore, the library is The library is still that--a not completely blocked off library. It does not make from student access. The it acceptable for students rule change is for the best. to disrespect the library’s Pages of a book being rules. turned should be heard, At first, the rule change not laughter and the sound might seem unfair and of crunchy potato chips unnecessary to those who being chewed. The new would rather not be in the rule has already caused lunch room for whatever a change in the library’s reason, but the library atmosphere. should be only used by “It was a very stressful students who need it for time,” said librarian Ann academic purposes, not as Christiansen. “Now, it’s a get-together location. peaceful.”

“Kids should be able to See more perspectives come into the library,” said from The Voice’s bloggers on huntleyvoice.com senior Alexis Mamparo.

“Not to just hang out but to actually do homework.”

This new library rule is not subject to change any time soon due to the increasing rise of student population. In the next five years, HHS is predicted

If you took a standard slinky and stretched it out, it would measure 87 feet.

V

H. Sturtecky

Are AP kids too arrogant?

9

Photo by Kat Enciso

The pretention needs to stop AP kids have a bad stigma

a&e editor

Mitchell Urban

mitchurban@huntleyvoice.com

It’s not senior Kate Darby’s fault she got off with less work in English III Honors than she would have if she took AP Language and Composition.

“It was my choice not to take [AP] Lang.” said Darby.

Darby didn’t feel like taking AP Language and Composition her junior year and instead chose English III Honors. She didn’t want to overload her schedule with another AP class, since she was already taking AP US History, so she took honors. Little did she know how much that decision would affect her.

Fast forward to this year when Darby and other English III Honors students, as well as some students that took English II Honors as sophomores last year, are taking AP Literature and Composition with students from AP Lang.

Behavior-wise, having a mix of students enrolled in the course has not worked out.

Students from AP Lang. have noticed that Literature is easier and not as demanding as Language was for them last year.

The stigma around the class is that the kids from English III Honors are causing the class to be easier.

“They aren’t giving H. Sturtecky

English III Honors and “I’ve never noticed it,” juniors a chance,” said said Best. “If they are Darby. [arrogant], it’s internal.”

She does not even AP kids also have a slightly resemble a slack tendency to complain off student, as she is about the pile of currently taking two other homework they have AP classes in addition to every night. Although AP Lit. The accusation and students may be loaded arrogant attitude of the with work, they don’t kids that took AP Lit. is not need to arrogantly fair to the other students. complain about it, Darby says that anyone considering they should be able to take an chose to put that on AP class as long as they themselves. they’re ready to do the “Students can’t work. expect it to be easy,” “You can’t just blow it said AP Biology teacher off,” said Brigitte Darby.

Zielinski.

“You “It’s a have to college dedicate level yourself class, to the so they work.” should Senior know Nichole what to Best Brigitte Zielinski expect.” agrees AP Biology teacher Students with may not Darby, know the saying that as long as amount of work they will students do not slack, they be getting, but the “AP” can survive an AP class. title at the beginning “It depends on if they of the class should give have the drive to get work them a hint that it is done,” said Best. not going to be a blowBest is also an AP kid, off class. According taking four classes this to Zielinski, students year, including Lit., and should treat the class nine total in high school. as though they are in Not all of the kids in college.

AP classes have arrogant Whether or not and egotistical attitudes, teachers see the though. Best has never arrogant side of AP seen any sort of conceited kids, other students behavior notice it. They are no by different from the rest of them. us students and should not expect special treatment.

It’s a college level class, so they should know what to expect.

V

See more perspectives from the Voice’s bloggers on huntleyvoice.com

staff writer

Kat Enciso

katherineenciso@huntleyvoice.com

Senior Zach Polentini leans forward in his seat and rests his chin on his clasped hands, eyebrows furrowed in concentration.

He tries focusing as his AP Literature and Composition teacher discusses last night’s lesson.

A boy and girl sitting directly behind him gossip loudly so that he can barely hear the teacher’s lecture. The air grows stagnant when she is only met with blank stares of indifference.

He looks around the classroom and notices the collective lack of focus: some people chatting here and there, others doodling, and several students gone in their daydreams.

It is not exactly the most constructive learning environment.

“I try to concentrate for myself but the talking is distracting,” Polentini said.

He longs for the drive and participation he sees in his other classes. He misses the intrigue of a class discussion when everyone is involved; the atmosphere is much lighter and students can feel more comfortable giving their input.

AP Literature and Composition is one of three AP courses he has taken on this year, along with the three he completed his junior year.

After six AP classes, this kid at least deserves a hug.

With so many advanced classes, the only conclusion that one can draw is that Polentini is some smarty pants prodigy. Everybody knows that immensely intelligent

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people all have a pedantic attitude toward all those who are fortunate enough to behold their glory.

The absurd glorification of kids in higher academic levels has resulted in dissent even amongst current AP students sharing the same class, all because some are in their first AP class while others are veterans.

Hardworking students like Polentini are assumed to have an arrogant demeanor, when his path onto the AP track was not as simple as it was for most.

“I don’t believe I have any more of a right to be in an AP class than anyone else,” said Polentini.

Unlike many students who were simply referred into their classes by a teacher at the end of the previous year, he had to push his way onto the AP track. And while he did not necessarily have to defeat a battalion of ninjas, the simple gesture of going out of his way for the opportunities provided by an AP class speaks to his determination.

AP classes provide a lot more than just pigheaded prestige. They offer a challenge to those students who are willing to push themselves to the best of their abilities and the chance to earn college credits.

However, it is unfortunate that academic tracking at HHS seems to have set bigger dividing lines between students than any clique or social trend. Perhaps too much emphasis is being put on what level class a student takes says about them and mistakenly puts honors and AP students on some sort of pedestal.

Junior Alex Morton, also enrolled in AP classes, feels that she is lumped in with others as having a pretentious attitude.

“Sometimes I can see even my friends get

annoyed like if I forget they’re in honors and ask what the homework was,” she said.

Erica Holton, who teaches both English III and AP Language and Composition, was shocked to hear that there was any dissent between last year’s AP students and Honors English students.

She had never noticed animosity between the two while they were in separate academic levels.

She firmly believes that all students should focus on their own academic goals and push themselves within their capabilities.

Holton has witnessed firsthand the difference in classroom behavior, including work ethic and participation levels.

“I wonder if it’s more about intelligence or about being perceived as intelligent. Because sometimes it’s just not ‘cool’ to be smart,” she said.

And it is terrifying to thing that someone would allow their grades to suffer just because of a social “norm.”

These differences are not between jocks and nerds, or between popular kids and social outcasts.

They are ridiculous ideals and stereotypes between academic levels upheld by stupid generalizations.

Yes, the average AP student is very involved in his or her school work, because they spend their time studying and applying themselves.

If people just do what they are supposed to do and try their best within their own academic bracket, then they would not be wasting time complaining about how an AP student or honors student behaves.

OCTOBER 21, 2011

10

staff writer

Kayla Garcia kayla.garcia@huntleyvoice.com

“It’s strange . . . but so good,” said Juliette Gautier.

This is not the typical reaction to a fifteen year old eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Neither is the excitement of taking the school bus or even something as simple as the use of a mailbox.

It is the little things that we take for granted that sophomore foreign-exchange student Juliette Gautier really enjoys.

Gautier is from a small country town called Chateaubourg on the west side of France. The little town consists of a mere 6,000 people at most. There are three

It was weird when I was in the plane, it was like time was in pause.

Juliette Gautier Sophomore

H. Sturtecky

primary schools, two colleges (which in France is equivalent to a high school), a cinema, a church, and some restaurants, just like in every other normal town.

“My house is in the very center of the town, which is nice because I was near everything.” said Gautier.

She realized that she wanted to experience something new. Something like becoming a foreign-exchange student. It would have all the fun of living a completely different lifestyle.

“I also came over here because I want to be an English teacher [back in France],” said Gautier.

On the plane ride over, Gautier endured nine exhausting hours of just sitting and being horribly bored in broad daylight,

preventing opportunities of sleep.

A feeling of dread surpassed both boredom and excitement for her on the plane, when the realization of leaving her home seemed to hit.

“It was weird when I was in the plane. It was like time was in pause,” said Gautier.

“I was thinking of all my friends and my family, and I just couldn’t believe that I won’t see them for ten months.”

She knew she would be staying with a good family, and that would make things a little better.

Gautier is staying with the Planskys, a family of four, but five including the oldest daughter Allie in college. Emma is the younger daughter living at home who happens to be Gautier’s age.

“We wanted to get a girl who was Emma’s age, and it turned out perfectly because we found Juliette,” said Kristin Plansky.

At four in the afternoon, it was finally time to pick up Gautier. Emma and her mother Kristin arrived at O’Hare airport only to discover Gautier’s flight was delayed. It led to a twohour wait before they found Gautier. The ride back to the Plansky residence was quick to become a little uncomfortable. What do you say to a girl you are taking

home and just formally met for the first time?

It was the moment when “The Lazy Song” by Bruno Mars came on the radio that the girls discovered how they both loved the song, and they finally warmed up to each other. There was a new member to the Plansky family.

“I was afraid to speak because I didn’t want to mess up,” said Gautier.

Both Planskys and Gautier had the same feeling hesitation on what to say, there being a slight French-English language barrier at first.

Now their favorite thing to do together is sing. They enjoyed football games and the Sunset Festival.

They also like to hang out with Emma’s friends on the weekends or simply visit family. Gautier often goes to Emma’s varsity swim meets too.

There are still so many new things Emma wants Gautier to experience during her first time in the United States.

“It is so different and so cool here,” said Gautier. “Like the school bus, that is so cool.”

Gautier was fascinated with the fact that a big yellow bus comes to pick students up and take them to and from school, because back in France, they would walk to school.

Most high school students hate taking the school bus, but not Gautier.

“She also thought it was

Come to an FBLA Meeting with this coupon before the end of November to receive a free drink or ramen from the school store during your lunch hour

OCTOBER 21, 2011

In a year, the average person walks four miles to make his or her bed.

funny how I can just put the mailbox flag up and the mailman knows to take the mail,” said Kristin.

Homecoming week rolled around and Gautier enjoyed it. She found it funny that everyone dressed up during spirit week.

Friday came and it was the big Homecoming game. Of course, Emma and Gautier went; it was long, cold, and loud.

For weeks, Gautier could not stop talking about it.

In preparation for the dance, they got their nails done, which was the first time for Gautier. At the dance, it was not what she expected. In fact, it was better.

“I thought it was going to be like in the movies with tables and things like that,” said Gautier.

For Gautier, Homecoming was an exciting experience she will remember of her time in the United States: one of the many fun things she has done so far.

“Every day is so cool,” said Gautier.

“There are so many things to do here in the U.S.” Next month, they plan on going to a Skrillex concert if it is not too expensive, and, of course, take Gautier into the city.

When the following eight months come to a close, it will not be the end for Gautier and Emma’s friendship because Emma plans on possibly staying with Gautier in France.

“I would consider being a foreignexchange student,” said Emma. “I really want to become fluent in French, and we both think it would be really cool if I could stay for a few months.”

Before that, of course, Emma and her family will make sure Gautier has the time of her life here in the United States.

Huntley has a lot to offer Gautier and hopefully she will be able to get the full suburban experience in the eight months that she is here.

V

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BEST Wishes to ALL on your Academics and Athletics

11 H. Sturtecky

Out of school, and into music staff writer

Franca Onyibor franca.onyibor@huntleyvoice.com

F

or many of us, age 5 was one of the most carefree times of our lives; we were free to explore life and question everything we came in contact with.

By age 5, junior Vickie Choin had already received her first musical lesson on the string bass.

“I saw it one day and I wanted it,” said Choin. “I knew I had to play.”

From then on, her life would forever follow that exact lead. In nearly a decade, Choin would pick up and play several other instruments.

In the sixth grade, she was challenged to construct her own instrument (a challenge, mind you, brought on by her own voracious appetite for music) which she titled the pipaphone.

Entirely constructed out of PVC pipes, it was designed to play like a brass instrument.

In spite of this, the pipaphone itself was never meant for any real audience.

“It was just something I did for fun,” said Choin. “I guess I just really loved string bass at that time.”

If truth be told, till this day, the pipaphone’s only audience has been two friends and Jeannette Choin, Vickie Choin’s mother.

“I honestly don’t know why I did it,” said Choin. “I saw the brass instru-

ments all in a store one day and figured I could make my own. So the next day, me and my dad went out to buy the parts. It really was something I did for fun.”

As a result, while the motive for selecting one instrument after another may not always have been evident, the reason has forever stayed the same: Choin would never be able to escape her unquenchable thirst for music.

Nevertheless, many might reason that such a future was inevitable. Growing up in a family in which both her mother and older brother play instrument, Choin’s love for music came as no surprise. It was foresseeable that the love of creating music would transcend over the generations and catch the ear of young Choin.

Choin however, holds firm that regardless of her background in music, in a way music found her.

Fast forward five years and Choin is still the same remarkable girl chasing after

her unwavering dedication to music.

“I do it because I love it. It’s really that simple. I can never be sad or angry when I play.”

This definite passion has led her to play the French horn, the string bass, pipe organ, guitar, drums, trumpet, trombone, accordion, obo, clarinet, hand bells, and piano, along with holding a strong position in her church choir at The First Congregational Church of Huntley.

“When people hear how many instruments I play, they don’t believe me,” said Choin. “And when they do finally believe me, they think I’m relentlessly practicing.

But actually I don’t. It’s like this constant wrestle with homework and practice.”

It is this unpretentious and effortless rationale that allows Choin to accomplish these musical feats.

“We really didn’t know what she wanted to do, but she stuck with it,” said Choin’s parents. “And I honestly believe it’s a gift

from God. She’s a very talented young lady.”

So focused and eager, the summer of her freshman year, Choin got in contact with one of the high school counselors, Angie Daurer.

“I decided early on in eighth grade that I wanted to study music, so I needed to graduate early,” said Chion. “That’s when I started my college search.”

As the result of hours of college searches, Choin stumbled across St. Olaf’s blue and yellow admissions page.

“Because I plan on doing a dual degree, one in church music, and one in history, it is going to take me about five years,” said Choin.

Acclaimed for its academically demanding program, St. Olaf University now stands as Choin’s primary university choice following graduation.

“My parents are very supportive of my passion,” said Choin.

Graduating early in high school, Choin hopes to graduate with the rest of her class in college.

“My dream job is to be and organist at a cathedral,” said Choin. “For me, music is like the energizer bunny. It’s my soul and it drives me forward and keeps me going.”

V

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OCTOBER 21, 2011

12

Beth Parks overcomes hip dysplasia to become one of the state’s best runners

by Sophie Murk, staff writer sophie.murk@huntleyvoice.com

W

hile lounging on the South Carolina Beach, Sara and Bill Parks enjoyed their first family vacation with their 1-year-old daughter, Beth.

The sun beat down on their faces, and the humidity tempted them to dip their feet into the cool ocean. On the wet, sandy ground, Beth sat, unable to walk, as she had for these first 15 months of her life.

Something in that South Carolina air must have called to Beth pushing her to use her legs for the first time. Maybe it was the heat, maybe it was the rushing waves, or maybe it was the first spark of passion for running that gave her a boost. She could not hold back, and she sprung onto her wobbly, unused feet. All of a sudden, the baby took her first steps across the sand.

Beth, now a sophomore, was born with a condition that caused her hips to be dislocated at birth, Congenital Hip Dysplasia.

The thigh bones were not connected to the hip joint, scientifically known as the acetabulofemoral joint. It is a condition that is most common in first-born females like Beth.

Sara Parks had hip dysplasia as a baby as well. As soon as the doctors told her that Beth needed to see a specialist, she knew it had to be hip dysplasia. The new mother was devastated, placing most of the blame on herself. Still, she was aware that the condition was not life-threatening, and she was thankful for that.

Bill, on the other hand, saw the news as his first opportunity to protect his daughter. He had to do what was best for her to keep her healthy. They both wanted know as much as they could about the disease so that they could educate her about it later in life and so she could grow up with an understanding of her situation.

Treatment for hip dysplasia includes putting the baby in a brace, also referred to as a Pavlik Harness, which pulls the

legs in. This brace is supposed to eventually push the femur bones back into the hip socket, and it works for 98 percent of all children diagnosed.

Unfortunately, Beth was not part of this 98 percent.

Her right hip was not cured by the brace. Therefore, surgery was the only option. Without it, she would have had a high risk of developing osteoarthritis early in life or even the inability to walk.

Because of the right thigh’s dislocation, it was not growing properly, causing them to have to enlarge that bone using a cadaver. The process consisted of breaking the right femur bone and adding the cadaver to keep it inside the hip joint. The doctors had to reschedule the surgery three times because of uncertainties and an unexpected case of chicken pox.

Finally, on April 15, 1997, at the age of fourteen months, Beth experienced a successful surgery, and she was put in the full body cast, stretching from the chest downward.

“Prior to the cast, she was trying to pull herself up and walk, and now she could no longer try or even crawl for that matter,” said Sara.

The brace limited her mobility, but the cast restrained her completely.

“I developed a need to comfort her and help her heal,” said Bill.

While her mother was more empathetic, Beth’s dad had the fatherly instinct of wanting to protect his daughter. Both parents were very devoted to comforting Beth as a result of her constant need to be carried everywhere, especially in a full body cast for six weeks.

One week before Beth was sitting in the South Carolina sand, she was sitting in a doctor’s office. The doctors had always told Bill and Sara that she would be limited athletically. They were instructed not to let her walk yet, and after what she

Beth Parks and her stuffed animal are both in full lower-body casts.

had been through, no one would have expected her to try.

Beth bounded across the soft sand, stumbled, and fell over, but it did not faze her. She got right back up and kept moving forward.

The first steps of a baby are always a monumental moment for parents, filling them with immeasurable joy. However, these steps filled Sara and Bill with much more than that.

“We were shocked, scared, and excited all at the same time,” said Sara. “But

( courtesy of B. Parks)

because she was so eager to use her legs, we let her continue to walk.”

What separates her from other teenagers with similar conditions? Where could this passion and this drive possibly have come from?

She has a passion for movement. Her dad was a runner, and her mom was a swimmer. Racing is in her blood.

V

continued on 19

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OCTOBER 21, 2011

It takes six months to build a Rolls Royce and 13 hours to build a Toyota.

13

A stroke of luck V Scarbro’s grandfather survives the Holocast

Dittrich. “They wanted to take all our belongings.”

Randi Peterson Before the soldiers had a chance to randi.peterson@huntleyvoice.com deprive the group of its final possessions, In 1944, Josef Dittrich, grandfather of a German truck pulled up at the back of senior Sara Scarbro, and her brothers, the march. The troops opened fire upon junior Kyle and freshman Luke, was 11 each other, and the train was moved, alyears old and living in Romania, where lowing the Romanians, including Dittrich, he had lived for his entire life. It was to pass. two days from his birthday when his life A man asked Dittrich’s father, Ignotz, if changed forever. he could take the man and his wounded Romania, on the Eastern Front, was wife back to the town so he could find a caught between the warring nations of doctor. Ignotz agreed, but he needed help Russia and Germany. carrying supplies, and brought Dittrich “The Germans said they were going to along. They attached their wagon to ankill all of the people if we stayed there,” other and headed back to the town. said Dittrich.

Dittrich, who had been wearing shorts, The community was notified a few could hardly walk due to the bleeding weeks in advance that they would have and pain caused by the horse’s harness to vacate their homes and march to Yuon his bare knees. goslavia. However, Dittrich’s father refusd The train had moved on without them, to leave. His family waited. They were and they did not catch up until nightfall among the last people to pack up and and it had started to rain. When they head towards a new life. finally caught up, the group had been The family joined their neighbors in stopped once again by Yugoslavian a wagon train headed out of the town troops. A man from the nearby town who and began what was to be a two-day had just emptied his wagon at the local journey. Most families had a single market noticed the group and led the wagon filled mostly with the necessities: parade down an alternative route. food and blankets. Some of the wagons The alternative route, though, was not were pulled in a chain by tractors, but paved, and the rain turned it to mud. many, including Dittrich’s, were pulled by Everyone had to walk. horses.

This man, Josef Wollock was his name, At the Yugoslavian border, the path was saw Dittrich struggling to walk and ofblocked by Yugoslavian troops. fered him a ride with him and his wife, “They pulled a train across the road Helen, in the empty wagon. where we were supposed to go,” said Sometime that night, the wagon Dittrich was in got separated from the rest.

“How we got separated, I don’t remember,” said Dittrich. “I fell asleep in the back of the wagon. “ When he woke up, he was no longer alone in the wagon. There was a young man, somewhere around 16 years old, dressed in a German uniform, sitting beside him. He was Wollock’s son, Nick.

Nick had no change of clothes with him, and not wanting his son to be identified as an enemy by the Yugoslavian troops, Wollock decided to give him Dittrich’s clothes.

“I was 11 years old and tall, and he (courtesy of S. Dittrich) was short,” said Dittrich. “They put my Dittrich and his family are lucky to be safe. pants and shirt on the guy and left me in

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a blanket.”

When daylight came, they were stopped by Yugoslavian troops again.

Nick and Josef were taken away by the troops while Dittrich and Helen were allowed to continue on.

The bridge they were supposed to cross had been burned by the Germans, but eventually Dittrich and Helen found their way back to Wollock home.

Dittrich stayed with Helen for nearly two years, during which he fed horses and worked with them in the fields.

When Dittrich was 13, Nick and Josef Wollock came home. They had been in a concentration camp since they had been taken by the soldiers. They told Dittrich that while they were in the camp, a man approached Nick, noticing his attire.

“That’s my son’s clothes,” said the stranger. “Where is he?”

Nick and Josef told Dittrich’s father that his son had been living at their house with Helen. One day, the Germans entered the barracks and told all the able-bodied men to leave to go work.

Dittrich’s father, lacking full use of both hands, remained behind with the other disabled prisoners.

“All the ones that stayed behind, they took out, made them dig a grave, and shot them,” said Wollock.

The family took a ferry to Linz, Austria.

Due to previous work as a repairman, Josef was able to convince the men to stow away him and his family, even though it was illegal.

Dittrich was left behind. He was 13. He had just lost his father. He had no idea where his mother or siblings were. For all he knew, they may be in the same place as his father.

Still in Yugoslavia, Dittrich walked to a nearby town, which was predominantly German, in search of work. A farmer employed him for a summer to do odd jobs on the farm: feeding animals, working with horses, and plowing fields.

“It’s not the same as farming today; they don’t have many tractors,” said Dittrich. “Actually, they didn’t have any electricity in the town when I was there.”

Come fall, he was unemployed again, completely oblivious of what was hap-

courtesy of S. Scarbro Sara Scarbro dances with her grandfather

pening in Linz.

Nick Wollock had gone to a dance and, overhearing someone address the bouncer as Peter Dittrich, approached the bouncer and asked if he knew Josef Dittrich. Peter told him he did. Josef was his brother.

Upon hearing the news, Dittrich’s mother went to a lawyer in Austria who then contacted a lawyer in Yugoslavia.

“That lawyer came and found me,” said Dittrich. “They told me they were going to make arrangements to bring me to Austria, to my mom.”

Dittrich was taken via train to a new city where he waited three days for the train to Linz. The year was 1951. He had not seen his mother or siblings for nearly three years.

In 1956, Dittrich, his mother, and his youngest brother came to Pennsylvania, and on the Fourth of July, to Chicago. He got a job working for Oscar Mayer, and married his wife, Sara, in 1957. They had three children, Joe in 1957, Manford in 1959, and Diane in 1964.

He worked at Oscar Mayer until 1993 when the plant closed down, then worked as a loading dock worker for Wal Mart, and finally as a farmer for the plot across the street from his ranch house on the outskirts of Huntley.

In 1971, Dittrich, when he was 34, took his wife, daughter, and two sons back to Europe. They visited Germany, Austria, Yugoslavia, and Romania. While there, they found the Wollocks. Nick had died earlier that year of lung cancer.

Dittrich, now retired, has five grandchildren, four boys and one girl, and four great-grandchildren and lives with his wife in the same ranch house.

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14

This does not define me staff writer

Joe Cristo joe.cristo@huntleyvoice.com

F

reshman year at Huntley High School left as fast as it came, and there was only half a credit to show for it. A mix of unapologetic laziness and a “this will never end” attitude left an impossible-to-remove blemish on his high school transcript.

Sophomore year saw a new environment and a new school. Unfortunately, this was not for the better.

Walls flush with grey weave with a splatter into a vibrant orange and black. Spotted black tiles dot the floor, grabbing students and leading them just past the milk coolers and into line. As everyone approaches the lunch counter, they are subject to questions about what they will eat.

While each meal costs approximately $2.00, prices can skyrocket to a jawdropping $5.50, so students must be wise. They ask themselves, “Can I afford anything other than the bare minimum?”

And, curiously, one out of six at Crystal Lake Central High School knows the answer to that question.

Crowded around each other with their yellow free or reduced lunch cards, each student gets to pick from the scarce options presented to them.

These cards allow them to get through the day with something in their stomachs.

While a sight like this seems appropriate for the distant community of Crystal Lake, it is not an isolated administrative headache. Instead, about 12 percent of students at Huntley High School, 280 individuals, are on free or reduced lunches as well. But a bigger problem arises for some teens.

Bigger than missing a full and satisfying meal. Bigger than having to carry around that yellow free or reduced lunch card.

14 of those 280 students are also homeless.

But ask anyone who has been put in this situation regardless of location, regardless of race or religion, and you will receive a reply nearly identical to

one another.

“This does not define me.”

Although for a select student, while his economic struggle does not define him, it does affect him.

For him, every day brings a rush past three corridors on the bottom floor of a government funded apartment building.

A tremble in his walk as he passes the peepholes on each and every door. A feeling that they are all filled with eyes watching his every movement.

Every day entails a brisk walk from his mother’s car to his bus stop where seniors Tim Sloma and Galen Jaggers, friends since they were all children, greet their close confidant but lost neighbor.

Every day after school means waiting two hours until his mother will pick him up, no matter what time she is let go from her job as a receptionist at a free clinic and no matter how drastic the temperature.

Every other day means a visit to the food pantry. Rows of food. Piles of paperwork. Each morsel carefully Most homeless divided into people get that way because they fair parcels, no matter turn to drugs or who has it alcohol. worse off than othJordan Stringer ers.

Junior These are not handouts. Instead, they are meant to help balance a family’s daily life. Some use these services for a few financially stressful months, others for years.

“When I visited a food pantry five years ago, the woman running it asked us all a question,” said Shandon Nixon. “’How many people do you think were here at noon?’ The group responded with “50.”

What we found out was that the answer was one. Everyone else was either at work or at school. Most homeless families or government housing residents are trying to get out of the situation they are in.”

But how do responsible people like this get where they are in the first place?

Jacqueline was the owner of a bustling real estate service. Married to a man

who had his ups and downs, economically and physically, she managed to carry the entire weight of her family’s economic stability on her shoulders. But when the housing crisis of 2008 struck a blow to her livelihood, she was not able to keep her home. While she had struggled for years to make ends meet as the sole income-producing adult, she always managed to pay the bills. After what was the United States worst recession in years, the load became too much to bear.

She had lost the house.

While many families rally around an ailing relative who has hit financial woes, little to no support was extended towards Jacqueline. When her family home in Lake in the Hills was being foreclosed on, her family came in and tore the house apart, taking as much as they could with them.

After a year of serious financial ruin, Jacqueline was no longer capable of supporting the lifestyle her family had become accustomed to. No more expensive restaurant visits, costly presents or excessive birthday parties.

Instead, her family would have to pool their resources.

They would have to understand what it would be like to barely get by on each paycheck, month-to-month.

They would have to understand that their new apartment really was not their home, just a temporary means of assistance.

They would have to understand that what has happened to them, all of their emotional and financial strife, was not their fault. That sometimes, the homeless are just victims.

“Most homeless people get that way

A. Knipp

because they turn to drugs or alcohol,” said junior Jordan Stringer.

“I always figured it was insanity plus refusing mental care,” said senior Craig Walsh.

“I think most homeless just get in the situation they are in because they are negative,” said junior Jacy Hermansen.

“It’s not like they deserve it. Just sometimes they look at all of the negative things in their life and give up.”

Most students believe that the homeless of America are struggling simply because of substance abuse problems, the homeless do not try to leave their rough situations, they enjoy the adventurous nature of their lives, or they refuse to work But according to a 2009 report by the National Coalition for the Homeless, approximately 43 percent of the homeless in America work on a regular basis. Fulltime jobs, in fact.

Sometimes people become homeless because the economic system we live in makes it difficult to climb out of any fiscal hole.

According to the same report, the average minimum wage employee would need an 89-hour work week just to pay rent for an apartment, not to mention other essentials like food and clothing.

V

continued on 19

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{ECHO}

Reporting By: Bailey Poczos and Sydney Hellgeth Design By: Sydney Hellgeth photos courtesy of M. Hager and L. McCombs

Don’t Ask Don’t Tell Logan McCombs, ‘08, talks about his experiences being a gay man in the U.S. Navy

thevoice

15

We Asked . . . H a story about the “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” policy By: Bailey Poczos and Sydney Hellgeth

“It doesn’t m atter straigght, blac k, wh Jewish, or Ch riistiia yourself to w hat pe you. Do the t hings

I

t’s nothing like what you see in the movies. The soldiers weren’t those cold-blooded men who come home from war, forgetting to address their parents as “Mom” and “Dad,” but rather as “M’am” and “Sir.” The petty officers never barked, “That’s fifty push-ups, McCombs!”

To everyone at Great Lakes, he was just Logan.

And nobody gave a rat’s ass that he was gay.

His mother, Michelle Hager, and sister, Korbyn McCombs, knew that he enlisted in the navy, but that knowledge was stashed away in a vault in the back of their minds. No one had the code except Logan himself, who never opened that vault until the day he was leaving for boot camp in Chicago.

On Feb. 8, 2011, the car ride on the way to the Armed Forces Career Center in Carpentersville, Ill. was quiet.

Korbyn didn’t know what to say. It just wouldn’t register to her that her partner in crime was really leaving—the kid who she’d lock up in plastic storage bins and roll down the staircase, the kid who said his imaginary friend “convinced him” to poop in his grandpa’s pillowcase, the kid who stood beside her all of those years.

She gave him the tightest hug, but she just couldn’t cry. There was no need to.

Logan left the car nervous and afraid of the intense training that he expected to see from the movies. He was leaving behind his family, his friends, the long days he spent giving speeches at schools about gay acceptance, the days he’d spend working on the board of directors of Pridecall, making sure every student would know that someone was listening, even if it was some unknown kid like Logan on the other end of a phone line.

He walked through the glass double doors of the recruiting center, down the white hallway lined with framed slogans and words of inspiration. Finally, he came to Petty Officer Buckley’s door on the right where he met his fellow recruits to embark on a journey that would test his abilities to stand up for his fellow gays.

“My first day of training, I wondered what I had gotten myself into,” said Logan. “And then when I got there, I was like . . . Oh, this is it?”

It wasn’t that bad for him.

Logan immediately made friends when he was there. He was fed well and no one gave him any trouble. Maybe this wasn’t going to be so scary after all.

In the first few days, his closest friend, Jason, already called him out on his sexuality. Everyone knew, but of course Logan wasn’t supposed to say anything.

That didn’t stop him.

The day he enlisted at the Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS), he was given a two-sided paper regarding homosexual conduct. The paper elaborately explained how any homosexual conduct/acts are a violation of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ).

The problem is, UCMJ defines homosexual conduct in a way that includes simple statements such as “I am gay” or “I am a lesbian,” regardless of whether the person intends to engage in a homosexual act.

“It was kind of discouraging,” said Logan. “I care about how people perceive me, but I don’t care about what people actually think of me. As long as I make a good impression, and I am respectful, and I do my job, I don’t think that should have to define me. It doesn’t define me.”

During his time at Great Lakes, Logan only let a handful people

16 thevoice

know about his sexuality, if they asked—mostly the people he felt comfortable with beforehand. Sometimes you can just tell who is going to accept you no matter what. Likewise, there are people that you know who might be a risk.

After his experiences at boot camp, Logan set out to the School at Center for Information Dominance at Corry Station in Pensacola, Fla. While training to become a seaman apprentice, he could still study to become a cryptologic technician, who performs an array of tasks that support the national intelligence effort.

There he realized that there were surprisingly more gays and bisexuals there than there were at Great Lakes. He took advantage of that and surrounded himself with as many of them as he could.

In Pensacola, he was not allowed to leave the base. Disregarding the policy, he and his gay friends Trey, David, and Justin left base to go shopping, to the beach, and to a club all in the very first day.

Every weekend was like a vacation for him. In fact, every day after school was like a vacation.

One day he came back sunburnt “I care about how people after a day at perceive me, but I don’t the crystal white sands of Pensacola care about what people Beach, and a few of the petty officers actually think of me. As noticed. long as I make a good “McCombs, you’re not supposed to impression, and I am leave base, and respectful, and I do my you’re as red a lobster,” said one of job, I don’t think that the petty officers. should have to define me. “What have you been doing?”

It doesn’t define me.”

“I sat in the smoke shack all day,” Logan replied.

They let him off the hook.

Back in Great Lakes, it wasn’t like that. You had to sign out, specify where you’re going, and bring people with you.

“Well, I don’t really follow the rules,” Logan said. “I just kind of say that I’m going to be on base, but I just leave and enjoy the city with my partner. I’m not horrible. Everyone does it. I just do it more than the average sailor. And you know what? I’m not afraid. It wasn’t just any guy; it’s the love of my life.”

They were everywhere. Logan was never alone—the number of gays in Pensacola easily outweighed the number of straights. Even his roommate, Jason, was gay.

Logan McCombs Seaman Recruit

He Told r who you aree as a person: gay, hite, purplee, g reen, Muslim , an,” said Log an. “D Don’t limit eoplee think o f you. Do it f or s you want to do for you.”

Logan McC Seaman Reombs cruit

M. H M. Hag ag ger er

“Every time you turned around, you would meet a new gay person,” said Logan. “There were more than you’d think.”

Regardless of the rapidly increasing number of gay soldiers, some of the petty officers at Great Lakes were not afraid to talk about homosexuality in a negative way. They had the policy to back them up.

“And of course, me being me, I respectfully said, “’I don’t think that’s right to talk about because it is part of our creed,’” said Logan. “‘It basically says you won’t discriminate against anyone and that everyone is a person, yet you have first class petty officers speaking negatively about gay sailors. I don’t think that’s a good example for young sailors.’”

This may have stopped some soldiers from being so open about their homophobic views, but never really diminished those ideas. There were still some who strongly believed in the policy and the traditional view that sexuality had no place in the military.

One day, Logan overheard some of the petty officers talking about the gays in the navy. “How could they die for someone who goes against God like that?” one of them said.

Logan didn’t say anything. It was just not his place at the time.

There are others that support the policy simply because they believe that sexuality has no place in the military in general—meaning that people shouldn’t be able to reveal their sexual orientation even if they are straight—because the armed forces is considered a workplace.

“Most of the time, you want to stay private in the workplace,” said Logan. “I mean, who wants to share their dirty laundry? Not that I’m saying being gay is dirty laundry, but most of the time when you’re serving with someone, you become their friend. If you become someone’s friend, you want to be honest, right? So why should it matter if you talk about your sexuality?”

It would be easier if this was a typical workplace, but in the navy, you are with the same people on a day-to-day basis. People form bonds, inevitably.

“It’s like not being able to talk about your family issues,” he said.

“To stay healthy in the military, you have to talk about your feelings . . . those issues—family issues, financial issues, sexual orientation—they all go along the same lines. I mean, shoot, how can you not talk about who you are?”

Logan had to talk about who he was. Not that people couldn’t tell anyway. And it was not that he wanted to make an advance on anyone; he simply just wanted people to know.

In late February, an assembly was called at boot camp. Logan’s Chief stood up in front of 88 recruits, male and female. He sat them down and asked what they knew about Don’t Ask Don’t Tell.

The air was thick, and the heavy silence only emphasized the tension in the room. Hearts raced; blood rates heightened; stomachs dropped.

Everyone had that lingering sense that something special was going to happen that day. No one knew quite what, but it was a shared knowledge.

When the tension could not be held any longer, he popped the question.

“And how do you all feel about the repeal?”

Those suppressed feelings crossed their thresholds, and the tension broke. Chatter disseminated throughout the room—side comments,

whispers amongst friends, and a few bold statements from students who could not hold back their rage.

There were three opposing comments about the repeal. The others said that they were 100 percent for the gay/lesbian sailors.

Comments flew across the room, until finally the chatter ended in a decrescendo.

When all was silent again, the chief stood firmly and said, “If you don’t have room for a gay or lesbian sailor, then I don’t have room for you in my navy.”

That was when Logan excused himself and walked to the bathroom.

“I sat in the stall, and I cried,” said Logan. “I bawled, because I was so emotional about it. I was so moved that I could actually be who I am without being afraid. I cried for . . . it had to have been 20 minutes, at least. I never thought this would happen while I was serving.”

Since the policy has been lifted, nothing has really changed. Logan knows that there are people who are still against homosexuality in the armed forces, but he doesn’t care; he is just being himself and not letting anything change that.

It occurred to him that people twice his age would never have dreamed of this change happening in their lifetime. Logan would be able to reflect on this moment and tell future generations about it.

He’d have a few new speeches ready for the students when he returns home, and he will be much more equipped to encourage an unknown caller on the other end of a phone line at Pridecall.

“It doesn’t matter who you are as a person: gay, straight, black, white, purple, green, Muslim, Jewish, or Christian,” said Logan. “Don’t limit yourself to what people think of you. Do it for you. Do the things you want to do for you.”

And that is how it should be.

He wouldn’t come home from war a cold-blooded man who forgets to address his parents as “Mom” and “Dad,” but rather as “M’am” and “Sir.” He will have more emotions than ever.

It really isn’t like what you see in the movies.

V

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17

{ECHO} A Brief History about the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy By: Sydney Hellgeth

What Constitues as a Homosexual Act? 1) Making a statement such as they are gay, lesbian, or bisexual.

2) Tyring to engage in any physcial contact with someone of the same gender for sexual gratification.

3) Marrying, or attempting to marry someone of the same sexual orientation.

If a service member commits one of the following acts they might be investigated or discharged acorring to the policy.

Break Down of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” There are four different parts of the policy, which are “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, Don’t Pursue, Don’t Harass.”

Don’t Ask - means that service members are not allowed to be questioned about their sexual orientation.

Don”t Tell - means that gay, lesbian, bisexual service members will face discharge if they reveal their sexual orientation.

Don’t Pursue - stops investigations. or the infamous “witch hunts,” against bisexual, gay, and lesbian service members.

Don’t Harass - is meant to stop harrassment towards one’s sexual orientation in the armed forces.

Source: Service Members Legal Defense Network

Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Discharges 1994-2010 1000

800

600

400

200

0

1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 617 772 870 1,007 1,163 1,046 1,241 1,273 906 787 668 742 623 627 619 428 261 Source: advocate.com

18 thevoice

19 of swine flu kept Beth from courtesy of B. Parks winning anything individually She played a variety of sports before at state for her last year of running, but cheerleading was most middle school cross country. restraining. She could not let herself just Nevertheless, she still was able stand on the sidelines, or stand still at all, to compete in track that year, for that matter. running her best 400-meter “Cheerleading was very frustrating.” race, and winning third place said Beth, “All I wanted was to run around in the 4x400 with her relay and play with the boys.” team.

Running was the perfect sport.

She also participated in penUpon starting sixth grade at Heineman tathlons during the summers Middle School, she decided to join cross before her eighth grade and country and track, because she wanted to freshman years with the Amaget involved at the school. Soon after, she teur Athletic Union, the USA realized that she had extraordinary talent Track and Field Youth National as a runner.

Championship, and the ESPN “From the beginning, she has faced docRise Games in Disney World. A pentathlon includes 100 meter hurdles, long jump, shot put, The condition that high jump, and an 800-meter I have is just a part race. She came in third place of me. I see people without legs, and even at both of these national comthey can still run. petitions as a freshman.

Why not me?

Beth and her friend, Delaney Loprieno, were the only freshBeth Parks men to make the varsity cross sophomore country team. She ran the 5k race in 18 minutes and 39 seconds last year at sectionals tors that repeatedly tell her “no,’” said Bill.

- the second best time on Hunt- Beth Parks sits on the beach when she takes her first steps.

“She just doesn’t take no for an answer.” ley’s team. Even at a young Despite the fact that she missed out age, she helped lead the team on competing at state for track as a sixth to be second in conference and second grader by one place, she drove down that wasn’t going to happen,” said Beth. at regionals. In track, she and her relay separately with her dad to support her “So he said just rest it and continue what team also set the school and conference team, soaking in the experience to preI’m doing, but to be careful.” record for the 4x400 race: 4 minutes flat. pare herself for her next year.

“It is a very painful sport,” said Beth.

However, these wins came with some The trip must have been worthwhile be“everything is burning.” excruciating pain. cause in seventh grade, she finished sixth This is true especially for cross country Her parents and doctors have always in the 800-meter race, third in the 4x400 and long-distance runners. The most diffimade it a priority for her to be aware of relay, and second in High Jump at state. cult part of cross country was the training. specific pains. This way, if something in An injury and an unexpected case By the end of each workout, the pain in her joint is out of place, it can be identiher hip would be almost unbearable. The fied and fixed instead of unnoticed and overworked. The worst pain that first time Beth finished a full workout, she wallowed in a personal sense of accomBeth has ever suffered in her hip ocplishment. curred in the fall of eighth grade “There is no pain when it’s fun,” said “I was running around in the grass Beth. next to my house,” said Beth. “And Her hip’s discomfort is not as prominent all-of-a-sudden, my right hip just when Beth is running for leisure, which popped.” is why she enjoys long runs in the woods She sat out for a week of cross and scenic areas. country and when the pain contin“I determine how well I do so there are ued, she went to her regular pediano excuses,” said Beth. “If I want to be trician. Dr. Robert Bielski has been good, then I know that I can be by worka close friend to the Parks family ing hard, and no one can stop me.” since Beth’s first appointment when Even after a bad race, she is still thankshe was three days old.

Courtesy of B. Parks ful that she has to ability to run at all.

“He recommended that I stop run“The condition that I have is just a part ning long distances, but I’ve known Parks is one of the best runners in the state. of me. I see people without legs, and even him for so long, and he knew that

...continued from Born

they can still run,” said Beth. “Why not me?”

“If I couldn’t run, I really don’t know what I would do,” said Beth.

“She definitely has a personality to succeed” said Sara.

Her parents believe that this trait has given her the ability overcome and achieve so much.

Beth embraces the gifts she has been given and disregards the obstacles that block her path, jumping over them like hurdles and sprinting towards more success.

“It comes right out of the story at the beach,” said Bill. “She just gets up and goes.”

V

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...continued from Define Me That is more than half of all the hours in a week.

According to a 2009 report by the National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth, 10 percent of all homeless are homeless specifically because of the housing crisis.

Not because of substance abuse.

Not because of how negative they are.

Instead, it is because the higher ups on Wall Street gambled with their mortgages, and tragically, their lives.

“I never thought it could happen to me, it just seemed so far away,” said senior Jesus Venegas. “Homelessness seems like such a non-issue, another world. But it isn’t, it can happen in a blink of an eye.”

Mentioned above, Venegas is in the center of the debate on how people become and remain homeless. Having to mount the serious implications of what homelessness means to someone’s social life, he decided he needed to speak out. Not to receive any sense of pity, but instead in order to have people understand, even if just for a second, the truth about the homeless and economically challenged of America.

“I don’t want any ‘Awhs’ or ‘Ohhh Jesse!’” said Venegas. “This is not about what I had to overcome. It is just about the situation I am in. But really, people just need to understand, being homeless is not just because you’ve done something wrong.

Sometimes it’s just something out of your control, yaknow?” www.goingverticalhuntley.com

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OCTOBER 21, 2011 More than 50% of Americans fall asleep on their sides.

21

Ladd leads ‘Project 2’ staff writer

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The high-pitched squeal of a microphone with too much reverb cut through the quickly cooling air, causing several audience members to cringe, but once the sound ended they once again relaxed as the formally-dressed students’ voices continued to pump out song after song. Most of them had come to Huntley’s annual Fall Fest looking for a good time: good food, festivities, and entertainment. Now they were not going to be disappointed.

“Despite some sound issues it seemed to get a pretty positive response from the audience” said senior Chris O’Meara, one of the singers in the group. “And it definitely gained some credibility for the group.”

The group is Project 2 and it is Huntley High School’s own group of mostly juniors that sings songs from popular Broadway musicals such as “Funny Girl,” “Hairspray,” “Wicked,” “Les Miserables,” and “Mama Mia” to name a few.

Even with this diverse musical repertoire, it started out with only one musical-- the Broadway hit “Jersey Boys”-and one song-- “Sherry.” With this, Junior Dylan Ladd, then in eighth grade, started his first group, Jersey Kids. After seeing the show for the first time (He has now seen the show 14 times and counting, according to the Project 2 website) he came back and showed it to some of his friends. He later got a group together to

perform “Sherry” for the Solo/Ensemble contest.

“We had such a great time with it we decided to do it,” said Ladd.

Thus, Jersey kids was born.

This group performed throughout the area just as Project 2 does now, though not on the same scale. It performed “Jersey Boys” songs with choreography.

Unfortunately, the group’s run was cut short.

“Jersey Kids had to end because of some legal issues with ‘Jersey Boys’ running at the same time,” said Tyler Darnell, another member of Jersey Kids.

But the singers were not kept from the stage for long.

“We kind of all realized we love singing together,” said Darnell. “So we decided to still have a group, but we wanted a more broad group.”

It was summer of 2009 when former Jersey Kids, seasoned stage performers, and some who were new to the spotlight, led by Ladd, came together to decide on a new route for the group to take.

“Originally we were

going to do a couple more songs on the side” said junior Diana Pacyga, assistant vocal director and pianist. “And that was going to be ‘Project 2’, those songs, but then we started calling ourselves Project 2.”

Project 2, a phoenix spawned from the ashes of Jersey Kids, took to flight and began performances soon after. Today, it continues to thrive and offer all involved opportunities to grow as performers and musicians.

“It’s grown a lot,” said Ladd. “We’ve gotten more members, we’ve grown stronger in our parts, and we’ve grown from just kids singing and dancing together to having an actual show.”

The group has performed at live venues such as Fall Fest, the Raue Center for the Arts FOCUS! for the Art Talent Showcase as well as at its own concert at school. Recently, they performed at the Culver’s in Huntley. For junior DJ Davis, who has also been around since the beginning and was employed there at the time, the experience was projecttwomusic.com a chance to let their

talents shine.

“It was fun to have our co-workers see how well we sing,” said Davis.

The group alternates performing with karaoke tracks and, when the venue allows, a live band. The band includes trumpet, saxophone, guitar, piano, and bass parts. The musicians, like the singers, must work hard to adjust to performing together. In many cases, it demands a new level of focus, even from experienced players.

“It’s 10 times more difficult [playing accompaniment],” said junior Andrew Rewerts, who plays Bari-Saxophone in the live band. “You have to work with the singers, cause they’re in charge.”

The band is gearing up for Project 2’s next concert- a live performance in Del Webb sometime in January.

There is certainly “more.” With more music, more musicians, more dancing, and more singers, it is clear that Project 2’s efforts are not in vain-- as shown by their successful Fall Fest concert.

“It was all a fun experience,” said Pacyga. “Just to perform outdoors with a stage...just another opportunity to show the public what we can do” The audience certainly seemed to enjoy what they did, getting to their feet as the last song ended and the group exited the stage. With another concert’s worth of performing experience tucked away, it seems certain that Project 2 only has room to grow and improve from their already impressive amount of success.

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OCTOBER 21, 2011 Oak trees are struck by lightning more than any other tree.

23

Pillars of Creativity business manager

Kayla Summerville

kayla.summerville@huntleyvoice.com

Friday Sept. 29, 2:30 p.m. While the majority of students rush out of the school as if it were on fire, there stand three dedicated artists among five decorated and four undecorated red poles in the art hallway. Junior Keish Camara and seniors Jazmine Chartrand and Sydney Hellgeth are preparing themselves for the biggest art accomplishments of their lives so far.

All her life, Camara has had a passion for art which grew stronger in high school.

Usually she draws for other people, but when the curiosity built up enough in the middle of sophomore year, she asked Advanced Art teacher Jillian Corapi about being able to decorate one of the poles.

When a proposition to design one of the poles is presented to the teachers, it is equivalent to a panel of judges deciding if you will make it to the next level in a competition. Bridget Regan and the other art teachers discuss the design idea, then the student is given a go ahead if the design is right.

For a creative mind, like Camara’s, this was a breeze.

“It didn’t take long to get the idea,” said Camara, “I just looked at the pole and thought of doing a dragon on it.”

This pole will have no secret meaning behind it, just simply a dragon. She is planning on first using Gesso as a paint

primer, then having a black cut line of the dragon in all grayscale, followed by random pops of color to make certain places stick out. In order to get this done, she has recognized the responsibility and is ready to put in the effort.

“I have always stayed after to work on the design for the pole,” said Camara.

“And I’m willing to stay after three times a week to get it done.”

Before Camara or anyone designed these poles, the idea of decorating the poles had to be brought forth. The idea originated from Regan, an art teacher at the high school for 11 years. Regan and Lauri Norris were sitting one day, talking, and decided together that it would be a cool idea to decorate the poles in the art hallway.

It was decided by all of the art teachers that this was a good idea.

“It started with me begging Kaydy Creager to paint the first one,” said Regan.

“She was done early with a project and I was like ‘well why don’t you go outside and start painting that pole’ and that’s how it started.”

Out of all the poles, Regan has no one in specific that she likes the most; they just all reflect the artist’s personality.

“If you look at the little creatures in the sand, it’s definitely Kaydy Creager,” said Regan. “[And] Joe [DeLuca] is known as ‘Admiral Cheese’ has won art shows with the same type of creatures and Kristeen Kroll is addicted to anime.”

There are only five decorated poles, but

Senior Jazmine Chartrand paints a primer on her art pole. (H. Sturtecky)

Regan and the art department eventually want to expand beyond the art hallway with decorating the poles. The only stipulations to the two undecorated ones by the band and choir rooms, though, is that they have to have something related to music.

“We are willing to go outside the art wing, the only problem is that most the other poles are too close to the wall,” said Regan. “It would be difficult to paint that close, we would need a lot more space around it.”

Creager was the first one to ever decorate one of the art poles five years ago. Since she was finished early with her art project, Regan asked her to start the pole… so she began. “[The best part was] being that cool kid that didn’t have to be do anything in class but sit up on this ladder and paint stuff on a pole, and it was totally cool,” said Creager.

Creager was always close with Regan,

so when she was asked to accomplish the task of the pole, she was willing to give it a shot. Unfortunately Creager did not end up finishing the pole herself, but all the little sand creatures along with the majority of the pole was done by her during a study hall or lunch.

“I had a way of sneaking around the school,” said Creager. “It seemed as long as I had a paintbrush in my hand, nobody questioned what I was doing since I was always painting something in the school.”

Studying art at Columbia College in Chicago, DeLuca is a 2011 graduate who also decorated one of the poles in the hallway. Sophomore year he got the pole assigned to him and the journey to finish it began. The inspiration first started from a good friend of DeLuca’s who goes to art school.

“A lot of it I got from [my friend’s] style then incorporated it into my own,” said DeLuca. “I then started branching off from

continued on 24

‘Real Steel’ solid, but falls short staff writer

Cameron Peckham

cameron.peckham@huntleyvoice.com

Imagine a future where the highoctane sport of professional boxing has been flipped upside-down. Instead of humans fighting other humans, advanced robots take the floor and duke it out in a destructive cage match of flying metal parts and fists. Such is the

admittedly unlikely, although surprisingly compelling, premise of this October’s scifi blockbuster “Real Steel.”

In the near future, Hugh Jackman assumes the role of Charlie Kenton, a washed up pro boxer who is well past his prime in this new era of robo-boxing.

Charlie has decided to adapt to the changing times, purchasing robots and betting high amounts of money on them to battle any opponent willing to take or

At Crash Palace, an underground robot fight club, Charlie (Hugh Jackman) instructs his former league bot Noisy Boy, left, pitted against backroom brawler Midas in this scene from “Real Steel.” (Greg Williams/Courtesy DreamWorks Pictures/MCT)

dish out a harsh beating.

Charlie’s joyride of mechanically induced adrenaline comes to a screeching halt when he learns that his ex-girlfriend has died, and his son Max (Dakota Goyo) is left without any sort of legal guardian.

Charlie, the relatively uninterested father figure, grudgingly steps in and assumes temporary custody of Max, agreeing to sign him off to his aunt and uncle at the end of the summer (Hope Davis and James Rebhorn). However, Charlie proves to be a caring father and becomes genuinely interested in Max during their summer together as they form a convincing father-son relationship and become partners in the crazy world of robot boxing. With the help of their ragtag robot companion Atom and human friend Bailey (Evangeline Lilly), Charlie and Max fight their way up the ladder of the World Robot Boxing League.

Amidst a flood of mindless explosionfueled robot flicks nowadays (ahem, Transformers), “Real Steel” comes as a pleasant surprise on all fronts. I went into this movie with low expectations, considering its genre, and left with a strange feeling of satisfaction. This is a well made film. Hugh Jackman delivers a rather convincing performance as a disheveled father who comes to appreciate and love his only son who gives a heartfelt performance as well.

A great amount of attention to the development of these characters is made, which is unconventional for this style of film. Charlie’s history as a boxer is provided through an interesting backstory, and we learn that he had once fought fist-to-fist with some of the world’s boxing greats. The only character I had gripes with was Lilly’s, who seemed to be thrown into the film simply to provide Jackman with a love interest.

Looking past the over-the-top premise of “Real Steel,” I found the movie to be a competent father-son movie at its core.

Director Shawn Levy shows off his ability to create a world that deviates from the light-hearted comedic style of his previous films “Date Night” and “Night at the Museum.” With solid directing, excellent fight choreography, and CGI for the robots, Levy showcases his skill in creating an experience unlike his other films, a grittier thrillride with true adventure.

Although “Real Steel” will not be winning any Academy Awards anytime soon, the movie is an enjoyable action-packed romp with a significant amount of character development and a surprisingly dynamic story. If you want a change of pace from the clichéd sci-fi robot movies of late, I strongly suggest you go out and see “Real Steel” for a satisfying movie-going experience.

OCTOBER 21, 2011

Only 1 person in 2 billion will live to be 116.

24

Nick brings back the ‘90s features editor

Ashley Knipp

ashley.knipp@huntleyvoice.com

“Amanda-manda-manda-manDA show.”

“Move it football head!”

“Fresh out the box. Stop. Look and watch.

Ready at, get set, it’s All That!”

Teens all around the country are humming the theme songs to their favorite ‘90s shows, and especially in the halls of HHS. “Kenan and Kel” and a list of other ‘90s hit TV shows are back on Teen Nick’s “The ‘90s Are All That” retro program, Nickelodeon’s teen channel. Here in Illinois, the ‘90s programs run from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. every night. Fridays feature “UPick with Stick,” an opportunity for viewers to vote for what episodes they want to see that night.

“I was super excited,” said junior Carissa Polo.

It may seem like nothing to your parents, but here at Huntley High School, no one has forgotten the theme songs of those shows, football-headed “Hey Arnold” or the adorable story of Doug and Patti Mayonnaise.

“Let’s just say I was ready to bring in the dancing lobsters,” said senior Chris O’Meara, referencing the “Judge Trudy” skit from “The Amanda Show.”

Launched at midnight on July 25, these late-night trips down memory lane have grabbed the attention of HHS students, now old enough to be decades away from their childhood.

“Personally, I loved 90’s programming and I will always favor it more to todays,”

said senior Nathan Camacho. “There are company offers him a million dollars and a few things on today that are decent. But a lifetime supply of tuna if he drops the it wont compare to the 90’s at all.” charges, but Kenan takes it to court, only “Rocket Power,” “Rugrats,” and for Kel to admit on the stand that he was “Catdog” are just three of the cartoons the one who dropped the screw in the that used to consume hours of our young tuna. lives. The simple mention of the names It was not the plotline that set the bring back old memories of adventures ‘90s apart, but the acting that fueled with the bratty Angelica, cowardly Chucky, the strange plots. Over exaggerated and of course, Reptar, who gave the responses, loud senseless comments, Rugrats the confidence to do anything. and random physical humor like a chase Entertainment has changed drastically scene or a slap in the face all contributed from the ‘90s to today, simply in the to the formula for co comedic success. style of humor.

“All That” r. When comparing shows Tha is a fitting name like “Clarissa Explains It All” from the for Te Teen Nick’s retro ‘90s and “Jersey program.

It is considered sey Shore,” it prog seems like today’s the center point for day’s television teen tee comedy back is nothing then, the functioning as but drama.

Nickelodeon’s version N The “All of o “SNL” (Saturday That” era wass Night Nig Live) composed focused on of sseveral skits and a slapstick humor cast that became lovable and mor and ridiculouss memorable over the years. memora situations.

Recurring skits like Recurr “[TV] was defi “The efinitely “Th theme song is better back then,” already stuck in my hen,” alre said junior Jenny head,” nny hea said Dinh Dinh. “It seems after ms corny aft mentioning the to watch it now, influential show, first w, but at the same time i think airing hink it’s more airin in 1995. appropriate and Without “All That,” Kenan nd funnier than kid With shows these days. Maybe it’s just Thompson Thompso and Kel Mitchell because we’re e older.” nickutopia.com would never have acquired the For example, in an episode of fan base to launch “Kenan and “Kenan and Kel,” Kenan sues the Luna Kel,” Drake Bell and Josh Peck could have Tuna company for leaving a screw in his never begun “Drake and Josh” (ended tuna fish can. In response, the CEO of the in 2007, still being played often on Nick

today), and the famous Amanda Bynes would not established her career with the unforgettable, “Amanda Show.”

“I mean nothing beats ‘The Amanda Show’,” said junior Maggie Anderson.

“Today you see the same things over and over.”

Of course, “The ‘90s Are All That” is not limited to television.

In this day and age, no program is complete without a well-designed online campaign. The site 90sareallthat. teennick.com features full-length episodes of ‘90s shows not yet airing on their channel, clips and pictures depicting the era’s funniest moments, and links to the program’s tumblr. The site encourages audiences to spread the word via facebook and twitter as well.

Even Apple is buying into the craze.

Now iTunes is offering deals on old seasons of shows like “Rocket Power” and “Rocko’s Modern Life” for just $6.99 or less. “The Best of Volume 1” of “The Amanda Show” is just $4.99.

“I think a lot of kids our age consider ourselves 90s kids because we were all young during that time,” said Polo.

She described that when she was younger, she could not go out as much so she stayed at home and watched Nickelodeon, as was the case for many of today’s students.

The ‘90s are now loosely considered a golden age of TV entertainment, and has become a part of what defines today’s teen generation.

Das Racist brings back old age of hip-hop editor-in-chief

Tyler Davis

tyler.davis@huntleyvoice.com

I have to admit, seeing Das Racist run onto the stage had to be a highlight of the two days I spent at Pitchfork Music Festival this summer. The Brooklyn trio failed to disappoint, delivering a highenergy performance filled with clever rhymes and fresh beats.

Das Racist, composed of MCs Himanshu

Suri (Heems), Victor Vasquez (Kool A.D.), and hype man Ashok Kondabolu (Dapwell), has received much critical acclaim in recent years. They received much Internet notoriety in 2008 with its single “Combination Pizza Hut and Taco Bell,” and the group released two mix tapes in 2010; “Shut Up, Dude” and “Sit Down, Man,” which included the song packed with “Days of Our Lives” references, “hahahaha jk?” which was

declared one of Rolling Stone’s 50 best singles of 2011.

Das Racist is known for witty lyrics, obscure references, and their somewhat eccentric style, being hailed both as an urgent new voice in the rap scene and “joke rap.” The Guardian published an article in October of last year questioning whether they create hipster hip-hop or are bringing back the days of old school rap, but it seems like Das Racist is having too much fun to be trying to accomplish anything other than playing music they enjoy.

Their first full album, “Relax,” was released on Sept. 13, 2011 and proves to be more than worth a listen. The second track “Michael Jackson,” highlights Das Racist’s clever, catchy, and humorous style, especially in the exchange between Suri and Vasquez in the final verse. “Kool A.D., you good at rapping/Yo Hima, you good at rapping/Yo Victor, you genus latin/Yo Hima, you Eric Clapton/Yo Victor, we going platinum/Yo Hima, we finna clap them.”

Much of “Relax” features Indian influences, which can most likely be attributed to Suri and Kondabolu’s Indian descent. These influences can be heard in the background music of “Michael Jackson,” and certainly in “Punjabi Song,” which interestingly features Bikram Singh, an American bhangra artist,

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singing the hook entirely in Punjabi.

“Relax” is an excellent album, but I’m not sure if I like it more than the somewhat unfinished and, at times, even amateur feel of their mix tapes. This may change in future listenings for me, but it’s hard to replace songs like, “Who’s That?

Brooown!” “Puerto Rican Cousins,” and “hahahaha jk?” though some songs from the mix tapes such as “Rainbows in the Dark” do make an appearance on “Relax.”

What is certain is that Das Racist is worth a listen, and in the future, we can expect to see great things from this group.

Above all, Das Racist seems to be a breath of fresh air in the rap and hip-hop scene. They don’t try hard – that’s where they succeed. They’re funny, they’re witty, and they’re fresh – with progressive groups like Das Racist and the Odd Future artists emerging, there seems to be a healthy future for hip-hop and rap.

Finally, we’re moving away from the canned hip-hop that has contaminated radios and iPods for the last decade.

It certainly took long enough.

V

For more reviews, check out A&E on huntleyvoice.com

Art students show talent, determination it because I was able to see it change.”

That pole was not the only one DeLuca from his stuff and making it my own.” worked on. The other one he helped with His final product was no quick task was the anime one in the hallway. Kroll, either. He ended up working on it every however, did the majority of the pole day of sophomore year during his study because DeLuca ended up decorating his hall and lunch with some company from own pole. his friends.

“I got there when it was just being abandoned, so then Joe DeLuca helped me with some of it until his style didn’t really fit the pole and he got his own pole,” said Kroll.

Just like most of the poles in the hall this was no small task. She started the end of her sophomore year and finished her senior year.

The pole consists of painted anime figures along with glued on pictures of anime Chartrand shows off her “Live vivid” design that she plans to paint on her pole. characters, which Alexa (H. Sturtecky) Swanson and Mariola Szwaja helped Kroll with, but towards the “I would hang out with friends and we end, it was mostly Kroll. just chilled with it [the pole] and listen There are a few poles that were a to music,” said DeLuca. “It was mostly collaboration of people who worked hanging out and then working on the on them. One of these collaborations pole.” for instance is the pole in the hallway DeLuca painted the majority of the pole covered in all the ceramic pieces. sophomore and junior year, but then got “For the pole, a couple of the classes to relax and do finishing touches senior used the leftover clay textiles to make year. Finally though three years later, a personal symbol,” said Laurie Norris, DeLuca’s pole was completed, and still retired HHS art teacher. “ They then stands in the hall decorated. attached them using glue and grout to fill His pole is the third one down with the in the spaces.” black background, crazy people drawn, Another one of these collaborations and gray doodles drawn in at various is the pole with all of the different CD places on it. There is more than just covers. For that one, a bunch of kids randomness on the pole though. brought in different CD covers and they “If people really look at it and look at were put on the pole. the doodles then they might find some None-the-less, it is an honor to be able really funny stuff because there’s a lot of to decorate one of these poles, whether it hidden jokes, and poking fun at a lot of be an individual or group effort. stuff,” said DeLuca.

According to Regan, not just any After it was all completed DeLuca student can decorate one of these ended up with all of his community poles; it depends on the student and the service hours to graduate with a silver teacher. For example, Chartrand really cord. He was also able to get more out of wanted to decorate one of the art poles, it. so presented her idea to Regan and the “[The best part] is that I know it’s there other art teachers before she was allowed for a long time and I can go back and see to do it. it,” said DeLuca. “It was cool working on “They have to be good artists, they have to be in our program and they have to be willing to do a good job, and they have to be people we know will have good follow through,” said Regan Chartrand started her processes of decorating her pole. She set up her paint can, peeled Mark Krueger, Agent off the top and Check out our 4670 W Algonquin Rd Steer Clear Program. slowly dipped her Lake in the Hills, IL 60156 Bus: 847-515-2600 brush into the can.

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25

Spears’ & Cudi’s talent overlooked

Joe Cristo, a&e columnist

These two artists have a great amount of talent, but have been underappreciated Britney Spears

Kid Cudi

Who is more popular:

Who is more popular:

Why the others are more popular:

Why the others are more popular:

Katy Perry, Lady Gaga and Ke$ha.

Besides Lady Gaga’s use of the same chord progression in every chorus she has ever written, Ke$ha’s “crafted for others not herself” lyrics and Katy Perry’s, well, just badness, they all have one thing in common: catchiness. The only problem with these artists is they have no hooks that will be remembered five minutes after hearing it. No longevity.

Why Britney should be more popular:

There is a reason she has six straight number-one albums.

But in recent years, Spears has experienced less popularity than the likes of, say, Katy Perry. Why? Experimentation.

For example, Spears’s latest album, “Femme Fatale,” is her strangest. She experiments with dance music which is obviously an attempt to stay competitive with other pop artists. She also mixes vaudeville themes, eerie rhythm sections, and just generally creepy ambient sounds in the

latestmusicbox.com

background of her music. Her long time producers and collaborators Dr. Luke and Max Martin have never been better than they are here, hinging on the beats instead of her voice is probably the smartest thing they can do; don’t let your artist do the work, let the music do it instead.

I am sure everyone has already heard it, but just listen to “Till’ The World Ends.”

The hook in that song is so well-written, if you could find a better one in recent memory, one that had you singing it longer after the song has ended than this gem, then you would have to write one yourself. Whether it may not be extremely deep; “I can be your treble, baby/ You can be the bass” she shows so much emotion behind what she is saying you somewhat believe she actually cares that much about dancing, if that is even possible.

Wiz Khalifa, Lil Wayne, Eminem

The common theme between Lil’ Wayne ne and Eminem, st arguably the most popular rappers of the past few years, is their unbridled anger. Sure they like to have fun, as only “gangstas” do, but they also rap about “life” as well. At least datnewcudi.com that’s what 99 percent of the teenyboppers who are responsible for their albums debuting at number one. While most people think Eminem is a gifted lyricist, if you sift through his main themes, (violence, drug abuse and more violence) then it becomes abundantly evident he is incapable of writing anything that is not based on how pissed off he is.

Why Kid Cudi should be more popular:

His beats are more minimalist than any other rap artist’s: No lush orchestras to simulate a crossing over of genres (when really, it isn’t). Instead, he uses indie band samples to further is credibility musically. If you have ever heard “Make Her Say,” then you understand what I am saying. Produced by Kanye West and sampling Gaga, Cudi is fully capable of collaboration.

The only difference with his collaboration is that he doesn’t rely on the novelty of it. He still makes sure he is the main influence in any song he releases.

Besides that, he just plainly chooses other good artists to collaborate with. He uses other alternative rapper’s experience to his advantage, collaborating with the likes of Ratatat, Cage, and the all mighty West.

He is the most exciting new rapper simply because he is a throwback to the days when rap was just beginning.

Obvious influences include A Tribe Called Quest and The Pharcyde as well as Jay-Z and Chip Tha Ripper.

And his raps are actually representative of what he feels. His lyrics are about relationships and one night stands, but he does so with condemnation for himself and others: Not with anger, just with plain sadness for the events that unfolded, somewhat out of his or anyone else’s control.

Stronger musically than their contemporaries, these two artists are capable of better than anything popular music can come up with. And why do they fail to achieve being as popular as their competition? Because they care about progression and leading, not just being another one of the artists following their genre’s trends.

V

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26

Golf teams thrive in 2011 seasons Teams roll with one state, six sectional qualifiers

by Michael Krebs, staff writer michael.krebs@huntleyvoice.com

Boys

team’s existence, finishing with a regular season record of 11-1.

They were also Fox Valley Conference Champions for the first time in Huntley history. Their record in the Fox Valley Conference was 5-1.

This season, Ryan left his mark in the record books with a new school record of 65 for a eighteen-hole match.

“Overall, this has been a very successful season,” said Ryan. “We had high hopes in the beginning of the season and we met and exceeded them.”

Head Coach Jim Rolando even compared this season to ones in the past.

“This is has been the most successful season in HHS history,” said Rolando.

“We played good, sturdy golf.”

AUGUST 19, 2011

Junior Gabby Young finished her eighteen-hole round at Buffalo Grove Golf Club at the regional tournament.

“It was a long day,” said Young.

She and her opponents turned in their scorecards to the official scoring table. Then she waited among the other golfers and their families for the scores to be tallied.

“First they add up the scores for teams and the three lowest scores will advance to sectionals,” said Young.

“All the players for the three winning teams would on to sectionals.”

Huntley was not one of

S. Duvvuri

Junior Ryan Craig walked off the course not feeling as confident as he should have.

“I wasn’t happy with my score; I felt like I could have done better.” said Craig. “I asked my brother what his score was, he shot a 78. I also shot a 78.”

Ryan’s brother, Trent, was coming off a terrific freshman season on the varsity golf team.

“I knew that it was going to be close to the cut-off [for advancing]” said Ryan. “They announce that three golfers would compete for two spots to advance to state. They called my name, Trent’s, and another golfer from Prospect High School. I was excited because it could be me and Trent at state.”

The three then stepped up to the tee. The worst scores of this hole would be face off to see who advances, while the best would advance to the state tournament. The Craigs both bogeyed the hole while their opponent shot par. They moved on to the next hole to face off head-to-head.

“It was kind of awkward to play against my brother, but it also felt like a regular match,” said Trent.

“I wanted my brother to do well, but at the same time I was going to try my best to win,” said Ryan. “One of us was not going to let the other win.”

Trent scored lower than his brother and advanced to the state championship. He went on to place fifty-third in state.

Trent definitely left his mark at state: he had the best score of the field of freshmen in the state.

As a whole, the varsity boys golf team had the best season in the

Girls

the winning teams.

But there was another opportunity to advance to sectionals. The lowest 10 scores for the individual golfers would also move on.

“They called the top 10, starting with tenth place and they called my name for tenth place,” said Young. “I was excited and nervous at the same time.”

Young was not the only Huntley female golfer to advance to sectionals this year. Junior Danielle Smith placed thirtieth overall, junior Lorin Gorecki placed thirty-fifth overall, and Young finished thirty-seventh overall.

All three girls finished in the top ten lowest scores for individuals and advanced to sectionals. As a whole, the team placed sixth in regionals.

Lorin Gorecki was not able to participate in the regional tournament because of a scheduling conflict with her classes.

“That was a huge disappointment,” said Gorecki.

The team placed sixth overall at the regional tournament.

The girls who did attend sectionals did not advance further in postseason play.

At the Fox Valley Conference Tournament, the girls took third place as a team. They ended their season with a winning record of 4-3.

“I have seen the girls improve over the year,” said Head Coach Anne Christiansen. “When some started they had never had held a golf club before their freshman year. Overall it has been a very successful year.”

Like in any season, athletes go over rough patches. Gorecki had one of those bumps in the road, but she got over it.

“My coach helped me out by giving me pointers when I was having a bad week, and I fixed the problems I was having,” said Gorecki. “Her postitive attitude really helped me out as well.”

Christiansen has only growing expectations of the golf team, now that it has been around for three years.

“I am excited for next season and hope to do even better,” said Christiansen.

V

There are 336 dimples on a golf ball.

isit huntleyvoice.com for up-to-date team summaries

27

Feeling the tide Girls swimming torpedos through its second season at HHS staff writer

Tamara Funke tamara.funke@huntleyvoice.com

Freshman varsity swimmer Emily Ferguson takes a breath of air as she practices siwimming in her Halloween-themed swimmer’s cap. (T. Mazur)

the first trophy for the program.

Although 0-4 in conference, the varsity team is doing well compared to last year.

“We win events this year, we get up on the podium more at competitions,” said Eiermann. “We know what is going on this year. We have a better attitude, and we are not deer in headlights anymore.”

The team has fewer girls than most other teams do, so they cannot put forth the same number of girls per race.

“We work with what we have,” said

Wheelr. “Since we have less girls we can only have so many swims.”

The varsity team is comprised of one freshman, five sophomores, and four juniors. Next year, there will be nine thirdyear-returner upperclassmen. This will be key for the team’s success.

“We have a really talented base of underclassmen which will help us in the future,” said Cazel.

That talent has been lead by Cazel, along with freshman Emily Ferguson.

Junior varsity has been doing well

with a 4-0 record in conference. The JV team is made up of eight underclassmen, who hope to improve with experience.

The team has a key dual-conference meet against McHenry on Oct. 27 and a non-conference meet against Leyden on Oct. 22. They compete in the Fox Valley Conference meet on Nov. 5 and then sectionals on Nov. 12.

With this base of united talent, the girls swimming team looks to stay strong for years to come.

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Sophomore Ali Cazel smiled as she compared this year’s season to last year’s.

“We are much better this year,” said Cazel. “We have more people, more practice time, and we all get along better, making us a better team.”

In its second season at Huntley High School, the girls swimming team has a better edge in the difficult Fox Valley Conference over last year.

The team practices five days a week at the the Crystal Lake Centegra Health Bridge Fitness Center. Last year, the girls practiced at the Huntley location, but had to switch for this season due to new drain regulations. These practices last around an hour each.

The girls on the team maintain their close bonds outside of practices too.

“Our team is really close, we act like a big family, which helps us out during our meets,” said freshman Emily Ferguson.

This encouragement has led the team to a more successful season.

“We are so much better, so much more competitive, and way better in conference,” said junior team captain Abby Eiermann.

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28

Free Swinging

Despite a major injury, the girls tennis team bounced back staff writer

Emeer Paz-Mody emeer.pazmody@huntleyvoice.com

“We hit people on purpose,” said senior Lexi Nichols.

The varsity girls tennis team thinks being aggressive gives them an edge on the court. The girls are not really that aggressive, but they try to pick their hits and get their targets when the time is opportune.

“Hitting people gets you points, so I like to do it,” said Nichols. “It makes sense.”

The energy of the varsity girls tennis team is contagious as every girl awaits the arrival of their coach Barry Wells. The girls sometimes just sit down and wait for their coaches or start warming up early, hitting the ball back and forth.

Wells, the varsity coach, leads them through their warm-ups and drills every day during practice and before meets.

Even with their coach present, the girls are just trying to have fun.

The players try to stay loose at practices. Practices start with “M-drills,” which are designed to work on tennis footwork.

Players line up and run along the lines on a court in an M-shape, sometimes up to four courts and back.

The players start their hitting exercises such as “Speedy V’s” a volleying exercise and then mini tennis. These drills hone the player’s agility and reflexes.

Although practice improves players for the season, for one player, it ended her season.

“I dislocated my knee cap during a practice,” said sophomore Ally Pietrusiak,

who has been sidelined with an injury since Sept 8.

Pietrusiak was disappointed with being unable to finish the season and leaving her partner when they had bonded so well through two months.

“The emotional pain had been greater than the physical pain because it was hard not being able to play tennis with everyone that I had gotten to know and love,” said Pietrusiak.

Even though the pain had been extreme, it had been tolerable for Ally having it being the second time it happened to her.

When Ally got injured, Wells needed to shift the lineup.

He moved Kelly Frankel to first doubles with Brooke Romero, who at the time they did not have the best chemistry together.

Moving Frankel had also left senior Sam Czarnota without a teammate, causing frustration.

“I was devastated because I was hoping she would be able to play again during the season,” said Romero.

“To get the lineup back in order and under control, it had taken one meet of hard work and planning,” said Wells.

Wells saw that he would have to change his conventional lineup and use a modified version.

“At that point, some of the team’s of girls had been established and we had to break the girls up a bit and have them work with others,” said Wells.

Although there were some dramaoriented outbursts between the girls, the team has stayed cohesive throughout the B. Thompson

A story of how intense preparation has molded a top varisty runner, who’s only a freshman.

Up and Running

by Thomas Helm, staff writer thomas.helm@huntleyvoice.com

OCTOBER 21, 2011

season. they just try to go out and have fun, while “The line up changed a lot and many also winning. girls on our team lost their partners, “Lexi The team’s biggest match this season is and I were when it beat Johnslucky enough burg, which has never to keep each been done in Huntother as ley’s. Huntley picked partners,” up a blowout victory said senior of 5-2.

Natlie Janelli.

“We went in know“All in all, the ing we were the better lineup worked team,” said Wells. out and I’m Huntley finished its really proud season over .500 at of our team 13-10 and ended the for working season on a high note through the by winning the Spirit of changeup.” the Northwest TournaThis new ment for the first time lineup had creever. ated tension Some of the talent between the on the team even girls because moved on to futher of who they stages season. The had to play team finished second with and who at the Elgin Sectional their partners and moved four girls were and Senior Lexi Nichols volleys to return a ball during on to the state tournasome people ment. a “Speedy V” drill. (M. Wolf) got boosted up Kayla Garcia in their rankings. clinched the first singles sectional title in “We have a good team on and off the Huntley history. court,” said senior Sam Czarnota. “We Sophomore Jessica Chalas took fourth, have girls that are quick, good returners, and the team of Frankel and Romero took and some hard hitters.” third place for doubles.

Huntley had a great team that had playThe girls hope to pick up individual ers who supported each other with every state championships after another solid point, game, set, and match. The ladies’ season. personalities complement each other and As the clock reaches 2:26 p.m. and the Meehleib finds herself surrounded by bell rings, students grab their supplies girls that will always be there for her and and head for the buses. Freshman Kelly will ease the pressure at race time. MeeMeehleib, however, is not like the others. hleib also trusts the elder trio.

Right away, she gets dressed for cross“I would say that Sara, Amy, and Emily country practice. Meehleib is not just are good leaders and they support me in another freshman runner or athlete; she everything I do,” said Meehleib. goes above and beyond what the other At practice, Meehleib finds time to runners do. increase her performance level.

Every day, she heads out to be the first “I push myself to a faster pace that I one on the track where the girls cross want and this pushes my teammates,” country team usually meets to start their said Meehleib. practice. Meehleib tries Practice has been to ensure that she can giving Meehleib plenty get the most time to of extra time to get I try to stay confident warm up. better. She has grown “I think [Kelly] has in the race and that my stronger and has bereally learned her way,” come a more competimind and myself are said Coach Brad Galtive runner. determined to do well. laugher. “She is the “I love running with first one out there at the top runners,” said practice.”

Meehleib.

Meehleib has Meehleib’s strength certainly learned her and efforts at pracway, especially since Kelly Meehleib tices have translated to she is Gallaugher’s top She won first Freshman meets. runner on the varsity place at the county squad. meet at the county “Being the top runner means that I am meet on Sept. 20, and on Oct.1 she broke probably the fastest, but that does not the time record at the Peoria Invite. mean I am the best,” said Meehleib.

Meehleib also believes that having a At the start of the season, Meehleib had physically sound performance is just as to adjust to the differences with an older important as the mental aspect of it. team.

“I try to stay confident in the race and “At first I found varsity intimidating, but that my mind and myself are determined with team support, I was able to fit in,” to do well,” said Meehleib. said Meehleib.

Meehleib looks forward to the regional She found support from the three setournament and has her sights set on goniors, Sara Scarbro, Amy Kahl, and Emily ing to state.

Kahl.

Gallaugher trusts Meehleib and sees “Sara, Amy, and Emily have not looked her as a force to stay for long. at her as a threat to their spots,” said Gal“I expect her to lead the pack and finish laugher. “They support her and give her the season strong,” said Gallaugher. credit for her work.”

Babe Ruth wore a cabbage leaf under his cap to keep him cool.

29

BACK IN BUSINESS Boys soccer rebounds with an unforgettable season

M. Makowski

staff writer

Tommy Heagney tommy.heagney@huntleyvoice.com

It is a sunny fall afternoon, and a group of boys clad in white Adidas jerseys scurry across a field at the McHenry West Campus. Despite being behind 2-0 in a pitched battle against division opponent McHenry, members of the Huntley boys soccer team maintain composure.

As time trickles away, so does hope for a win. Then, with a quick move to steal the ball away from a larger McHenry defender, sophomore Niko Mihalopoulos drives across the middle of the field and zips a pass to fellow sophomore Scott Dorvilier. Dorvilier cuts across the end of the field, pauses for a split second, and then rockets the ball past a hapless McHenry goalkeeper for a late goal.

Although the team would not be able to overcome the late deficit, they would take some comfort in their resilience in the near-comeback. It has been this resilience, said senior captain Kareem Rassas, that has lead this team to become what parents, coaches, and coaches alike have called “the best team ever” for boys soccer at Huntley High School.

“I think we will leave a legacy of playing as hard as we can,” said Rassas. “No matter who we’re playing, how much time is left, or what the score is.”

to improve on for upcoming games.”

Resilience, however, has not been the only key to success. The team has In addition to indomitable team spirit also put in an abundance of practice and and dedicated training, the team has also rallied behind the leadership of seven training. core seniors. On top of organizing a sumAfter preparing for the upcoming mer league, the seniors have provided season by playing in a senior-organized summer league, players participated in advice and guidance for their younger a two-and-a-half teammates.

“The seniors week summer are definitely training camp, where temperaleaving behind a I think we will leave a legtures regularly strong tradition,” reached into the said nine-year acy of playing as hard as Head Coach Kris nineties and playwe can... No matter who Grabner. “They ers were pushed are leaving to the limits of we’re playing, how much behind some their athletic abilities. expectations time is left, or what the for next year’s Following score is. the conclusion group.”

While the of training camp team has, for and the beginning of school, the most part, been a feelthe team began its intense pracgood story for fans, there have tice schedule.

During the school been low points.

Three losses in year, the team particular against Wauconda, Hampshire, practices on non-game days for over twoand-a-half hours, three days a week. and McHenry in which Huntley outshot their opponents 15-2, 28-6, and 22-3 re“Long practices impact us in a good spectively, continue to loom in the minds way,” said Mihalopoulos. “They give us time to focus and work on things we need of players and Grabner. The team also

Kareem Rassas senior

Set for State This year’s varsity volleyball team has not looked back so far.

Huntley has gone pedal to the metal this season, proving itself as one of the most dominant teams in the Fox Valley Conference. The main factor of the team’s success is its combination of talented upperclassmen and promising underclassmes. Similar to the seasons in the 1990s when the volleyball team won state twice.

This year’s team has impressed the whole student body. One game has showed the team play the best, however, beating top-ranked rival Cary-Grove. Huntley lost the first set 21-25 and needed to come back. After rallying to beat Cary in the second set, 25-23, Huntley showed its resilience and won the third set, 25-21.

Volleyball is making a return to its glory, playing with a purpose every game. A varsity team led by seniors Amy Dion and Sam Boesch has an astonishing 23-6 overall record and an 8-3 record in confer-

skidded in the final weeks of the regular season, finishing 2-2 in their last four games and coming to rest at fourth place in the Valley Division.

Despite an inconsistent conclusion to the regular season, the team continues to rally around the spirit of resilience heading into playoffs. Huntley began a quest for its season-long goal of a regional championship when it kicked off versus rival Jacobs on Wednesday at the Jacobs regional.

“Our goal from the get-go has been to win our first regional for boys soccer,” said Kareem Rassas. “And it will all begin on the nineteenth versus Jacobs.”

No matter the outcome of the playoffs, the team hopes to build on this season’s success. Behind the play of 16 players slated to return to the team next season along with up-and-coming JV players such as sophomore Matt Kitsis, the team will look to make more noise in their division.

“While we have good players, it’s been about teamwork,” said Grabner. “There is a good group behind the seniors.”

V

isit huntleyvoice.com for up-to-date team summaries

An unstoppable team looks torward playoffs

staff writer

Corey Steinert corey.steiner@huntleyvoice.com

ence matches. Jacobs and Cary-Grove are the only schools to have given the team a loss.

The varsity team has put up numbers in many categories that are above the national averages for high school varsity teams. The girls have accounted for 918 kills this season with a 38 percent success rate. More than a third of the kills have come from Boesch, who has 371 kills.

Serving the ball into play has been a big part of the team’s success. With a 90.3 percent success rate, 891 points have come from serves. Dion has the team’s highest percent of successful serves at 93.3 percent (minimum of 200 serves).

The offense isn’t the only important factor to this varsity team; the defense has been nothing short of impressive. The team has successfully received a serve 1035 times.

continued on 31

Senior outside hitter Sam Boesch elevates to slam a ball against Marian Central’s Mary Gehrig in the 27th Huntley Invitational. Huntley went on to win, 25-20, 24-26, 25-21 (M. Makowski).

OCTOBER 21, 2011

Follow Managing Editor @RandiPeterson9 on Twitter

30

The King, the Kid, and the Classy

sports editor

Marek Makowski

marek.makowski@huntleyvoice.com

After many attempts at reviving a decaying fanbase, a group of students invented a new organization. The group chose a promising trio to secede its leadership, and the result is unforgettable.

“D-D-D-DION!” early 2010, was a “Grateful Red” slogan Lyman credits some of his positive Senior Brandon King initiates chants for on t-shirts which died on quickly, and was game performance to the fans. senior volleyball player Amy Dion as she succeeded by Raider Nation.

“The game was pretty far away, but just begins to serve.

Now, only a year after its inception, having all those people there supporting “Slammin’ Sammy!”

Raider Nation has evolved into a massive us and they made us want to win even Raider Nation claps five times, just as fan organization, led by King, Wagner, and more,” said Lyman.

Cubs fans did for outfielder Sammy Sosa Lyman.

Wagner has also been close with sports 10 years ago. King again leads fans With its creators graduating a few in his life. He has played baseball every through another serve, this time for senior months ago, Raider Nation needed peoyear in his life since he was 7. Wagner player Sam Boesch. ple to take over. Alumni Nick Kostalek also played basketball, starting in seventh Junior Jake Wagner leaps with eagerand Brandon Gaston wanted devoted fans grade. ness from his seat after the first set in to follow in their footsteps.

“For me, at least, having fans to support a volleyball game between Huntley and Wagner, Lyman, and King were handyou and back you up makes you play at a Cary-Grove. Huntley lost the first set and picked to take over the Nation. The higher level,” said Wagner.

Wagner saw that the crowd needed some trio’s devotion to Huntley sports made it Unlike Lyman, Wagner’s whole family pep. unanimously acceptable to lead the fans. has not been invested in sports.

Wagner gets out in front of the student Lyman attended nearly all of the football, “My family isn’t crazy into sports,” said section and starts to stretch out his legs. He starts to hop on his feet as the crowd does the same.

Wagner begins clapping.

“Everybody do the Huntley Hoedown, everybody do the Huntley Hoedown,” Wagner and the fans cheer.

“Huntley!” Wagner and the fans raise their arms in the air.

“Hoedown!” The arms drop down and the process starts all over. Wagner leads Raider Nation two more times before ending in applause.

After Wagner does his thing, junior Colin Lyman gets up from the front row of seats and faces the crowd. Cary-Grove’s fans had copied some of Huntley’s cheers during the match, and Lyman wants to teach them a lesson.

“It’s time to show them how it’s done,” says Lyman.

Lyman faces and rallies Raider Nation by leading The Rollercoaster. (Courtesty of Gale Nepermann) Lyman loosens his wrists and rubs his neck as he begins to lead volleyball, and basketball games HuntWagner. “My other siblings played sports, fans through the signature Huntley fan but they didn’t take it as seriously as I move, “The Rollercoaster.” Lyman “straps ley hosted in 2010. Wagner came to as many as he could. Kostalek liked what have, or have continued with them as himself in his seat” and leads Raider he saw in the three guys when he asked long as I have. We’re not super-passionNation through the motions. The crowd them to lead Raider Nation. ate about sports, but I’m definitely most falls silent as Lyman lets out a “woosh” “It needed to be somebody to be out into sports in my household.” and keeps his arms at his sides, such as As in any business, the key to having a someone would hold onto their seat while there, out of thier comfort zone,” said Kostalek. “It’s hard to et a big group massive following is promotion. riding a rollercoaster. of people to go out and support their Raider Nation gets its promoting and Lyman starts to shake as the crowd school.” advertising out through the use of social imitates his actions. He puts his hands The new trio of leaders found it imperamedia. The Raider Nation Facebook page in the air and begins the ride. He swings tive to get students out to see games and has accumulated nearly 1,700 likes. King his arms from side-to-side. Right. Left. to help Huntley teams out on the field makes sure to create event pages for key Right. Left. Around and above the head in a circular motion, and then again. or court. They all have personal connecgames so that people are reminded to After two more cycles, he leaps in the air tions to sports, which motivate them to be come. Nearly 300 fans RSVPed to the and begins clapping. Raider Nation goes strong fans. volleyball game at Cary-Grove. crazy, erupting in applause.

Lyman played sports ever since he “(Senior) Tara Lycos and I sit down in A new movement in Huntley fandom is could walk. He was born with sports in study hall with a notebook and just brainin the works. his blood. Lyman’s father played basestorm things to do,” said King.

Ever since Huntley had to change its ball, basketball, and wrestled when he Raider Nation has not done all the mascot from the “Redskins” to the “Red was younger. His mom swam and played advertising on its own. At times, certain Raiders” in 2001, the fan base has golf. Colin’s younger sister, sophomore Huntley teams have united up with the never been the same. Over the last 10 Erin, plays volleyball with a passion. fan base to get more fan support. years, Huntley had one unsuccessful fan Colin’s youngest sister, freshman Delaney, One instance was when some varsity campaign after another. The last one, in was a gymnast and is now a cheerleader. volleyball players wanted to rally support

OCTOBER 21, 2011

In 1910, football teams were penalized 15 years for an incomplete forward pass.

to the volleyball games against powerhouse Cary-Grove. The girls created the “Stack the Stands” campaign for the first matchup, a home game, and posted goofy pictures of themselves when they were younger around the school. The Facebook event for “Stack the Stands” generated over 200 “attending” clicks.

King, Lyman, and Wagner also organize specific themes for games. Themes have proved to be the biggest difference for Raider Nation this year.

“Some changes we made are that we’re trying to start themes, like costumes,” said Lyman. “Everyone wore different costumes. Maybe we’ll have formal days or hoedown days.”

The trio organized a “Pink Out” for a volleyball game earlier this year, while the guys also organize the traditional Raider Nation “Black Outs.”

The leaders of Raider Nation think that their original cheers make up the fan base’s individuality. A new cheer they have implemented is “Moses Parts the Black Sea.” Fans put their arms in the air and start of wave back and forth five times, playing the role of the sea. Next, Moses, usually senior Connor Luczak, bangs on the ground three times with a stick and all the fans fall over, parting in half and leaving space up the middle for Moses to run up to the top of the stands and celebrate.

“We created the Rollercoaster, the Huntley Hoedown, and we now use the Moses chant,” said King. “We still take suggestions from everyone.”

The three sometimes like to keep the cheering simple and bring out basic cheers, such as “Let’s go Huntley!”

In addition to Raider Nation’s original cheers, King and his fellow leaders invented cheers for specific players.

“We just take their [players’] names and get creative with them,” said Wagner.

In addition to the Dion and Boesch chants, Raider Nation also has specific chants for all of the starters on the team. The Nation also chants to rattle to opposing server by all cheering and then stopping right as the serve is being performed.

Raider Nation only has unique cheers for volleyball right now, but the three leaders plan to create more for basketball players this winter.

“Basketball… basketball is really exciting,” said King. “We have all these new cheers we want to do.”

You would expect that a fan base of a football team that has an overall record of 2-6 with two games remaining would

31 be weak, but Raider Nation transcends conventional expectations.

The varsity football team started its season against some of the top-ranked football teams in the state. Huntley began the season with four losses before taking a game against conference-worst Dundee Crown. The team receded back to poor play with back-to-back blowout losses to Jacobs and Prairie Ridge. Huntley shut down Woodstock for its second win last week, also its last home game, but the win will prove too little, too late.

Wagner understands the battle some fans have to come to terms with.

“It’s definitely hard to cheer for a team that’s not competing at a level it could be,” said Wagner.

Lyman sees that although it is difficult to support a team with a losing record, people should still support their teams.

“We’ve had some good turnouts, but it just hasn’t been the same,” said Lyman.

“We didn’t give up on it though. We still encourage kids to go to the games.”

King, however, sees that it is the most important to have fans who can have an effect on the players.

“It’s hard to do something at football games, where the crowd usually doesn’t have an impact,” said King. “The biggest impact we can make is in a gym.”

The trio tries to support the team while also finding outlets in other sports, such as volleyball. Raider Nation serves as a proverbial “seventh man” for the varsity volleyball team.

Raider Nation’s affect on players has been spilled onto the performance of various players, such as junior volleyball player Coley Levra.

“All day we (volleyball players) look forward to seeing the Nation in the stands,” said Levra. “Knowing that all of our friends are going to be supporting us makes us work 100 times harder.”

“King, the Kid, and the Classy,” said Lyman.

Out of Raider Nation’s leaders have emerged three personas along with these three nicknames.

“I’m the Classy because it’s kind of a joke because I dress like a shmuck every game,” said Lyman.

Although Wagner is “The Kid,” he also has a reputation of concentrating and staying serious during games.

“I guess I get really into it. I scream a lot and lose my voice after almost every game. I get maybe too into it,” said Wagner.

Wagner has taken on the role of leading the Huntley Hoedown, and takes pride in it.

“Every time I do a hoedown for a game, I feel like it gets everyone pepped up,” said Wagner. “It gives us new life if we’re down or keeps us in the game if we’re up. “ Not only do the leaders of Raider Nation have their own alter-egos and personas, but Raider Nation has evolved into its own type of personality.

“Overall, it’s definitely supportive and positive,” said Lyman.

Raider Nation’s personality also chang-

es as the course of the game does.

“When we lead, people are talking and chilling out and it’s fine,” said Wagner.

“When it’s a close game, everyone is watching they’re just really into it. They are more focused on the game.”

Athletic Director Bruce Blumer is proud with how Raider Nation has behaved up to date.

“I have seen a lot of crowds from schools that did not have the best sportsmanship,” said Blumer. “For the most part, we’re positive. That’s the bottom line: to root for our team, not against the other team.”

Lyman, King, and Wagner all agree that Raider Nation would not be the same without the help of Blumer. “[Blumer] usually helps us out a lot,” said King. “We ask him things and he tries the best to make it happen.”

Lyman praises the organization of Raider Nation and perceives it as the biggest, and most dedicated, fan base in the Fox Valley Conference.

“Other schools don’t really have a solid basis for a fan crowd,” said Lyman. “Not many schools have a real student section with a name, leader, cheers, and just a solid well put together group of fans.”

Blumer agrees, also noticing the growing masses in the Nation.

“We always have a generous following, number-wise,” said Blumer. “We’ve had kids go to a golf sectional. It has set a precedent for Raider Nation kids.”

Not only do administrators and teachers help out with Raider Nation. Some parents even get in on the fun.

“My dad likes to think he’s a part of raider nation,” said Lyman. “He does not really sit by us in the [student section] but whenever we do the rollercoaster or hoedown, I think he does them with us and does the cheers too.”

Senior Nick Corpolongo, one of the many fans in Raider Nation, also has supportive parents. At a volleyball game against Crystal Lake South, Raider Nation was jam-packed. They wanted to spread out just past the student section, so Corpolongo’s mom, (name), asked some parents to move for the kids.

“I feel like if I’m spirited, I’ll get others moved to be so, which will make the crowd ecstatic,” said Lyman.

When King graduates and moves on next year, there are ample candidates to fill his spot as a leader. The vast depth of Raider Nation is innumerable.

“We have a lot of juniors showing up to the games. There’s Tanner Berquist, Trevor Obecny, Colin Green, Josh Perkins,” said Wagner. “I don’t want to leave anybody out. There are a lot of people who show up and stand out.”

Although many fans stand out, many also blend in, which is the biggest strength of Raider Nation. “[Raider Nation] brings us together as a school and helps us become one,” said Lyman. “You could say it brings the community together because even kids from middle schools will go to those games and support the players, so it’s good to see.”

The Raiders’ season has been headlined by many losses, which have made it more and more difficult to fill the stands. (H. Sturtecky)

Timeout with Tom Heagney A handbook for all high school coaches

I

n the world of sports, athletes are celebrated, revered, and showcased as heroes who spend hours perfecting their trade.

What most fans don’t give much thought to, however, is the fact that coaches put in many more hours behind the scenes than seen on the field.

Coaches at any level of competition, be it Little League all the way to professional, endure challenges unique to the level. Little league coaches deal with young children who lack focus and discipline while coaches in professional leagues deal with millionaire hot-shots who don’t enjoy being told what to do. However, there is one age group that requires the most skill, attention, and patience to coach.

High school.

At a volatile stage in life, most high school athletes experience more hardships than their professional or younger counterparts with distractions such as mountains of homework from AP classes and continuously growing bodies and minds. High school athletes must weather this storm of negative outside influences while also focusing inward and improving themselves both on and off the field, court, or rink.

A vast majority of high-schoolers are like emotional volcanoes, primed to blow at any time. With this in mind, it requires extreme care by coaches of high school athletes to improve their players, while also preventing a Chernobyl-style meltdown from a disgruntled star who feels they are being criticized unfairly.

The first step in this incredibly delicate juggling act is earning the respect of players. Simply stepping in and forcing rules and expectations upon a new group of adolescents all at one time and then expecting them to take it well is like giving a five-year-old a graphing calculator and asking them to find the correlation of a scatter plot; just plain unrealistic.

In earning this respect, a good high school coach breaks down the Berlin Wall-style social barrier that is put up by most teenagers when coming into contact with authority figures. The removal of this barrier allows coaches to communicate with players, and therefore defuse explosive tempers long before they cause rebellious outbursts, or assist athletes who are enduring the difficult aspects of teenage life. However, coaches must remember to be friendly with their athletes, not friends.

“A good coach is someone who players are intimidated by,” said junior golfer Ryan Craig, “but at the same time someone who can be approached.”

Coaches of high school athletes should strike a balance and use an approach geared more towards teaching discipline. Establishing a fear of repercussions from infractions related to practice times, player conduct, and effort, or lack thereof, is infinitely better than establishing a fear of missed shots, hits, or putts.

Through setting firm expectations for player conduct as opposed to performance, highly impressionable young athletes learn life lessons, in addition to still developing a healthy respect for the power of their coach.

After laying a sturdy foundation of respect and trust with players, a coach can finally begin doing what their job entails: coaching. As the athletes being coached are still developing their skills in most cases, perfection cannot be expected. Instead, coaches should seek to push athletes to their limit of their present abilities while not going overboard. “[A good coach],” said junior football player Justin Jones. “[Is] someone who pushes you to your limits and shows you that you can keep going through anything. They push [athletes], but also know limits.”

Spike to success continued from 29 Huntley has a done a great job defending kills with 1356 digs, with Dion having the highest per-game average with 6.3 digs per game.

The girls’ play has translated from high school to college. Three of the varsity girls have commitments to play college volleyball and different universities. Amy Dion will be attending the University of Maryland, Boesch will be attending Wake Forest, while Emily McGran will be attending Western New England University.

“These girls have the talent to be the best in the conference,” said Head Coach Michelle Jakubowski. “We just need to bounce back from our losses. It’s going to take some time to bounce back, but we will. We have the talent to accomplish our goals.”

Coming into the season, the Huntley girls were picked to be second overall in the FVC, behind Cary-Grove High School. The team is currently ranked 238 in the nation and 12 in the state, just four spots behind Cary Grove.

“This season by far has been the best for me,” said Boesch. “I believe that we have the potential and the opportunity to go as far as we want to. I am proud of what we have accomplished so far, but we are not done yet.”

OCTOBER 21, 2011

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