IN THIS ISSUE...
NEWS
Huntley holds GEMS event for middle schoolers interested in entering the STEM field........9
huntleyvoice.com
FEATURES
Junior Sarah Cervantes opens up about a dark time in her past ...............16
OPINION
Humans of Huntley: Junior Bradley Walz chats about his interests in space and engineering, as well as his most prominent personality trait. Check out other Humans of Huntley, featured in a blog by senior Emily Kindl. huntleyvoice.com/humans-of-huntley-bradley-walz/
Here at Huntley, each grade level represents one of your family members..................29
A&E
Beyonce turns Coachella into her own concert and sets the stage for the future.............32
SPORTS
Freshman varsity softball starter Bri Bower is making a name for herself as she takes the field by storm...................37
Editorial Policy
Photo credits: Top photo (Courtesy of B. Walz). Left (K. Troy). Right (Courtesy of S. Rysavy). Front cover photo by Katrina Troy.
HHS Media are the official student-produced media of news and information published/produced by HHS Media students. HHS Media have been established as designated public forums for student editors to inform and educate their readers as well as for the discussion of issues of concern to their audience. It will not be reviewed or restrained by school officials prior to publication or distribution. Advisers may- and should coach and discuss content- during the writing process. Because school officials do not engage in prior review, and the content of HHS Media is determined by and reflects only the views of the student staff and not school officials or the school itself; its student editorial board and responsible student staff emmbers assume complete legal and financial liability for the content of the publication. • Alexandra Landman • Editor-in-Chief • Maggie McGee • Print Editor • Emma Kubelka • Online Editor • Faith Losbanes • Meet Editors News Editor • Jenna Link • Opinion Editor • Emily Kindl • Features Editor • Bry’ Shawna Walker • Sports Editor • Riley Murphy • A&E Editor Katrina Troy • Doubletruck Editor/Photo Editor • Staff writers • Madison Barr • Sarah Biernat • Sophie Gire • Jen Gorthe dus • Shaaf Iqbal • River Lee • Dani Rhody • Kelsey Ryan • Miriam Selimi • Skylar Sharkey • Austin Stadie • Braden Turk • Riy Walker • Photographers • Leslie Bounchaleunsouk • Kaitlyn Kalischefski • Arianna Sanchez • Haley Smalley • Dennis Brown • Adviser team...
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may 2018 I volume 21 I issue 7
Survey: Rape Culture at Huntley What do Huntley High School know about rape culture and the stereotypes that cause it?
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bry’shawna walker I sports editor
he Huntley Voice staff recently surveyed 100 high school students on their feelings about rape culture. These are the results. The survey results and graphs below depict the views of 57 males and 43 females. The survey was taken by 16 freshman, 18 sophomores, 34 juniors, and 32 seniors. Each chart shows the results based on the responses of the 100 students surveyed. However, only 98 chose to respond to the double standard question. Rape culture is defined as a society or environment whose prevailing social attitudes have the effect of normalizing or trivializing
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sexual assault and abuse. April was Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and these results shed light on knowlegde and opinions the student body already possesses about rape culture and issue relating to the matter. When looking at the results, only 6 percent of the
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respondants knew everything about rape culture, and only 32 percent knew a lot but not everything. When it came to the double standard between men and women, 41.8 percent of the answers agreed that it existed. A majority of those surveyed disagreed with the
“boys will be boys” mentality with 64 percent strongly disagreeing and 15% disagreeing. “No matter how common these actions seem, they should never be accepted,” senior Kelli Kampert said.
“No matter how common these actions seem, they should never be accepted.” -Kelli Kampert
may 2018 I volume 21 I issue 7
Annual PYLP visit is a success
Students from Mindanao, Phillipines tour HHS for a day dani rhody I staff writer
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n April 25, 24 Filipino high school students toured Huntley High School. This one day event is a part of Northern Illinois University’s Philippine Youth Leadership Program. These students were shown around the school by HHS students and attended some classes on the day of their visit. “The Philippine Youth Leadership Program was a program started by NIU through our state department about 15 years ago,” Anne Sharkey, one of the teachers that had helped organize this event, said. “[NIU] brings kids over from the Mindanao conflict zone to work on leadership, conflict resolution and environmental issues. One of the things they wanted to do was visit another high school and we immediately jumped on it.” These students will be in the United States for approximately four weeks. While they spent one of their days at Huntley High School, for the last week of their visit, the students will visit Washington D.C. During the day of their visit, the 24 students were paired with one or two HHS students who showed them around the school as well as attended some of their classes. Last year, there was also a scavenger hunt around the school. The HHS students who have been involved in this program for the last three years had a general idea of what to expect on the day of the event. Many of them prepared privately in the
Photo Courtesy of Anne Sharkey
few weeks prior to the event. “I have learned, throughout the years, that [the Filipino students] love to give gifts, they give us keychains or bracelets,” senior Becca Zayas said. “I am going to get something for them just because I know that they’ll keep and treasure that a lot.’ There are also a lot of newcomers to the program, such as freshman Abbie Tolentino. Tolentino heard about the program from older friends of hers, as well as from Sharkey, and wanted to help show the students around the school. “I really wanted to see what it was like, seeing students from a different country and how they go to school and how we do it here,” Tolentino said. This program positively impacts both the students from the
Philippines and the students at HHS in a variety of ways. “It’s a great way for [the Filipino students] to see what life is like [here],” Sharkey said. “For our students, it really helps them feel grateful for what they have.” “I think it kinda humbles us in a way because a lot of the time we forget how lucky we are to be in a school with all of these resources,” Zayas said. “It is so different in the Philippines, they have these small schools and are unable to take abundant classes or classes that are advanced or honors. It shows us that we should be grateful for what we have because not everyone else has that.” One of the things the HHS students looked forward to the most during this event was
meeting their partner that they would be showing around the school. “We [always] become friends. We also talk about stuff that they’re doing in their country and stuff that we are doing here,” Zayas said. “It is really cool to learn about what is different in their country for their schools and what is different here,. There are many different takeaways from this event, such as leadership, friendship, and communication, but there is one overarching takeaway as well. “It is that idea of creating that connection between the communities,” Sharkey said. “Getting the kids to see that there are not that much difference between them.”
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may 2018 I volume 21 I issue 7
Standard based learning to be renewed Controversial grading system has teachers and students talking kelsey ryan I staff writer
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his year, Huntley High School incorporated a new grading system, Standard Based Learning, into its geometry classes. The administration has decided to continue this program into next year and even want to implement it into other courses. Standard Based Learning uses a grading scale of 0-4 to measure each student’s grasp on the subject. Each number represents a different letter grade that is entered into the gradebook. For example, a four is an A+ and a two is a D. Teachers decide how well the student demonstrated understanding and give a number based on it. A four shows that a student has an advanced understanding and exceeds expectation for proficiency. A three means that the student is proficient and demonstrates mastery of the subject. It continues to show a lack of understanding from there. Not only are the tests graded differently, but the gradebook looks different for students too. The percentages don’t match up with the actual letter grade that was given. Also, homework doesn’t affect grades so students don’t get the usual ten percent grade boost. This means that only summative tests go into the gradebook. “To put it into a sports analogy, you can’t expect to perform well at the game if you don’t put in the work at practice,” head of math department Joshua Gschwend said.
Standard Based Learning has each student to take two tests per unit. On test days, students will take one test for the current unit and later another version of a test from the previous unit. If they score higher the second time around, they can replace their original score with the better one. On the other side, if they do worse, the grade will not be replaced and the second test will be put into the grade book as whatever score they received. Regardless, two tests for each unit are put in the grade book. If a student still isn’t happy with their score, they have the chance to remediate the test as long as they complete the required criteria. There is also a formative test for each unit that doesn’t count for credit, but shows the student and their teacher how prepared they are for the upcoming summative. “I like being able to improve my test grades by taking a second version,” sophomore Savannah Kelly said. “It helps me realize how much improvement I have made between when I first took the test till when I take the second version.” The high school adopted this program to try something new and see if it will increase future SAT scores. They decided to test it out on geometry classes first because it takes up the least amount of questions on the SAT. There has not been enough statistics yet to see how well the grading system is working, but the high school has a positive feeling about it and wants to continue it. So far, a lot of parents have
K. Kalischefski
been in support of Standard Based Learning. Once it was explained, parents understood the reasoning behind the new method of teaching math. It is a change that will take the high school some to time adjust to. Students seem to have very different views on the change. Some are in support of it and feel that it has helped them improve their math scores, however, others feel that it has become too challenging and want to go back to the original way of teaching math courses. “I understand the idea of the grading scale, but it stresses me
out more because I feel like I have worse grades with it than I would have with the original way,” sophomore Jillyan Sanders said. As for the future of the Standard Based Learning, it has been confirmed that they will be continuing to use it in geometry courses. They also plan on adding it into the Algebra 2 classes for next year. There is hope that the following year they can use it in Algebra 1. It will soon be the new normal for math at Huntley High School.
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news
NHS welcomes new members
116 students are inducted in spring ceremony skylar sharkey I staff writer Though NHS tends to
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n April 11, 116 students lined the edges of the auditorium stage, the flame from their ceremonial candles dancing through the air as they prepared to step into the next chapter of their high school careers. Parents watched adoringly, their cameras flashing, as their children were inducted into the prestigious National Honor Society. NHS is an nationwide organization that requires academic excellence as well as service without compensation. Students were told Jan. 23 if they were eligible to apply and were informed of their acceptance March 20. Students who applied needed to be either a current sophomore or junior, and were required to include both an essay and activities form in their application, which was due Feb. 9. The induction ceremony held for incoming members commenced at 7 p.m. and finished an hour and a half later. “I thought the induction ceremony was efficient and that we got the point across,” Anjali Bhatt, president of NHS said. “Obviously improvements can always be made but I think that it was a good step in the right direction.”
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look good on college applications, there are many benefits to joining. “I wanted to join NHS because I thought it would look really good on my transcript, and would help me get into the college that I want to,” sophomore Payton Gunther said. “I also like the concept of volunteer work and how you can help others through NHS service groups.” Service is only one of the values that NHS vows to uphold; character, leadership, and scholarship are all vital pillars in the organization. For Melanie Lyons, head of NHS, leadership is one of the most important parts of NHS. Through service projects, service groups can meet with members of the community and obtain leadership skills. “I think it also gives them the really good background in service,” Lyons said. “That’s the focus- make our world a little better, whether it be something small or big.We get to feed into our students in a way where they’ll become members of the community that are responsible and positive.” NHS allows students to explore what areas of volunteer work they’d like to serve in. They aren’t restricted to one service project; they have the choice to contribute to one of many service groups. “I like that it’s very versatile
E. Pilat
where you can do all kinds of activities that you are interested in,” Bhatt said. “You don’t have to do service for the sake of service, you can go into a project that you’re very passionate about. I think that’s something NHS is very special in.” Throughout her time with NHS, Bhatt has certainly showed her capability to lead through both her position as a small group leader her junior year and her position as President Senior year. “It’s a lot of work to be a leader, but I think that it’s really rewarding because I’ve seen a lot of growth and change in NHS,” Bhatt said. “Even when I was a small group leader I was able to impact the organization.” Bhatt is only one of the many students in NHS who has set the bar for exceptional service within NHS. “I’m working with the very best that HHS has to offer,” Lyons said. “I’m constantly amazed with what the stu-
dents come up with and what they want to do and how they follow through. It’s a lot of work but it’s all worth it.” The groups of students who end up in NHS tend to shape the kind of year the organization has. “What I like is that every year is different because every year we have a new group of students, a new group of officers and leaders,” Lyons said. “Basically they set the stage for what NHS is going to be. If we have a really ambitious group of leaders, like we do this year, a lot gets done, they make positive changes. If the leaders don’t have a vision it’s not quite as good of a year.” “NHS can be, if you participate, one of the best and more rewarding experiences,” Bhatt said. “It helps you grow as a leader and a person because you’re taking initiative in areas you’re passionate about. It’s a good way to express what you want to change in your world.”
may 2018 I volume 21 I issue 7
Step aside boys, GEMS is here
Huntley holds events for middle school girls interested in STEM madison barr I staff writer
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hen the majority of society pictures a professional scientist, engineer, or mathematician, the overwhelmingly common picture that comes to mind is one of a man. The overlooking of women in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) related occupations and fields has plagued the spirits of young girls for far too long. This is where GEMS steps in. Girls in Engineering, Math, and Science, better known as GEMS, has recently hosted two events this year in order to pique the interest of young girls in grades 6-8 interested in STEM. GEMS has garnered enough momentum to propel it forward into a nationally recognized program with events running all over the country. Neighboring school district, District 155, has previously hosted similar events at Prairie Ridge High School, but Project Lead the Way (PLTW) teacher Amanda Henk and former Computer Science teacher Michelle Zietlow wanted to offer a similar and more local experience to District 158. District 158 hosted its first GEMS event in January 2017, attracting 67 girls in grades 6-8 from both Heineman and Marlowe Middle School. Cumulating plenty of positive feedback from the first event, former math teacher and current instructional coach, Laura Jenkins, and Henk hosted the second event on April
Photo Courtesy of Laura Jenkins
7, establishing GEMS as an annual event to be held at the school. The event brought presenters from outside companies who are focused on science, technology, engineering, or mathematics as well as presenters from inside the District 158 community. The event catered to an immense amount of STEM field interests with varying sessions discussing art in engineering to wastewater engineering. According to Jenkins, GEMS provides the opportunity for middle school girls in the district to participate in an experience with people in STEM-related fields and the ability to look into STEM organizations HHS offers its students. For example, HHS offers Math Team, Robotics Team, and Science Olympiad for
students who are looking for a way to participate in STEM activities as an extracurricular. All of these extracurricular opportunities allow students at HHS to get a leg up on students coming from other districts who may not have access to the same opportunities. Not only does GEMS want to encourage young girls into pursuing STEM in the future, but the district’s program also seeks to increase the amount of young women enrolled in STEM-centered classes. “Ideally, we’d like to see the number of young women in our STEM classes and extracurricular activities go up,” Henk said. “Right now, the number’s about 12 percent and we’re really hoping to see it go up to about 20 percent.” The overarching purpose of this progressive program is to
expose young girls to STEM fields and aid in closing the gender gap in specific regard to STEM professions in the future. “Women are 50 percent of the population and they only make up about 15 or 20 percent of employees in STEM-related fields,” Henk said. “Women are underrepresented in STEM fields.” By exposing young girls to these STEM-related activities at their events, GEMS hopes to continue to encourage and inspire the younger generation into further exploring STEM fields. “They shouldn’t even have to think about being a girl in a STEM field,” Henk said. “I want them to know that they should just go for it, just do it, just try it.”
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may 2018 I volume 21 I issue 7
Behind the scenes: RNN edition Members give a glimpse beyond their Friday appearances river lee I staff writer
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veryone knows them for saying,“Good morning HHS!” That is right; it is Raider Nation Newscast. Besides seeing them every Friday, what really goes on outside of the TV Production room is unknown to most students and staff members. Behind what is seen on camera are students who have planned their newscasts all month. “At the beginning of the month we [come] up with news,” sophomore Nick Decatoire said. “[On] Tuesdays we do recording, Thursdays we do editing, and Fridays we send out the video. This year we have been trying to improve quality with lights and tinkering with the green screen.” The crew is also working hard to make sure their videos turn out great. But turning ideas into a reality is never an issue at RNN. All they have to do is to simply find an effective and creative way to bring their ideas to life. For TV Production staffers like senior Madison Kerley, they
are open to letting anything inspire them. “When I make a video, I like to think of a song and then make a video that works with that song,” Kerley said. But not everybody is able to come up with ideas for a video or edit a video as easily as others. “[For] the people who are just starting, it’s a little bit tough because you’re not used to it,” sophomore Blake Kellinger said. “I have edited three RNNs. The first one was mediocre; there was a lot behind it. The second time, I learned how to line up the frame and how to use transitions better. And the third time, I put all my effort into it and everything I learned in this class…like controlling the volume and using transitions to make things flow smoothly.” In addition, others including freshman Ariana Saez feel the stress of being a news anchor. The news anchors want everything to come together smoothly; unfortunately, that cannot happen all the time.
But despite the difficulties, the TV Production course gives students a freedom when it comes to editing. “When you’re editing, it is like you are in your own world,” Kellinger said. “You are making something out of your own mind that the whole world gets to see.” Although the videos are only five minutes long, there is a lot of thought, effort, and time put into each video. One difficulty that RNN often encounters is finding people to interview. “It can be difficult because not everybody is willing to be interviewed,” freshman Andrew Burkey said. “But the ones that [are willing to] really get their message they want to get out…out there. [It’s] helpful to the whole school.” Alyssa Gilleland, the teacher who oversees the magic, is very proud of the students and their work. She believes the students’ great ideas and working minds will be able to lead to implementation of more programs at the school.
According to Gilleland, RNN is planning to expand its broadcasting capabilities to other district schools. “Students here have been thinking of extending RNN throughout the whole district, like covering news from Leggee, Chesak, Martin; the entire District 158,” Gilleland said. “They have also been thinking about having SNLstyle skits. But the issue is we are only allowed five minutes; any longer we would be taking up the teacher’s teaching time. And we can’t do that. So figuring out a solution is going to be tough.” With big plans for the future, RNN is making its way towards a new look by creating quality videos to bring the school updated news every Friday. But the only way they can produce quality videos is if they cooperate and lean on each other. “RNN is really a family thing,” Saez said. “At first we might have our disputes, but at the end we [are all] like family.” @huntleyvoice 11
K. Troy
may 2018 I volume 21 I issue 7
“I believe my body is a work of art” Junior Molly Rosen shares how her past shaped her present alexandra landman I editor-in-chief
She is a masterpiece.
he was constantly cold. Every position she tried to sit in brought excruciating pain. When she tried to get up and adjust her body, she could feel her bones grind together. Sometimes she could hear them, but she could see the way they moved when she looked at her translucent skin. Every time she stepped out of bed - a victory in itself - she would become lightheaded and have to lay back down. It was a vicious cycle, one that was killing her from the inside out. Junior Molly Rosen remembers standing in front of her bedroom mirror at 6 years old, picking out the things she did not like. This led to fasting in sixth grade, which spiraled into hospitalization for anorexia by her sophomore year. Skinny feels better than food tastes. Seeing a smaller number on the scale was a euphoric feeling. Despite the happiness she thought she felt, she was falling apart. One day, she looked in the mirror to check her progress. What happened to me? Where did my beautiful curves go? Rosen does not want to share the long, hard, debilitating journey that she went on with her eating disorder. That is not what defines who she is. She wants to share where she is today and who she will be tomorrow.
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At the point of recovery, Rosen was proud for over-
“At school, I can remember walking through the halls in the middle of a class to use the bathroom and there'd always be at least one small group of kids also in the hall,” she said.
“Some people were direct enough to message me and tell me what was wrong with myself.” -Molly Rosen coming her deeply-rooted internal struggle. When she looked in the mirror, she no longer saw all the mistakes, but a work of art. Art has always been important to Rosen and she committed to treat herself just as importantly. She wanted to show off her work of art because for the first time, she was proud of not only what she saw in the mirror,but who she saw. To celebrate her work of art, Rosen began taking photos of herself, using her iPhone and whatever materials she could find to make a camera stand. Seeing herself in the photos provided an immediate confidence boost. She began posting her photos on social media in hopes to provide others who were in a similar situation the same beauty and confidence she found. However, the feedback she received almost brought her back to where she started. Having been bullied since preschool, Rosen found that the struggle was not within herself, but came from the people she was surrounded by.
“They'd be talking, I'd walk by and glance at them and they would go completely silent. Then as I would turn around after passing, I'd hear them whispering and laughing, as
well as see them staring and pointing. This happened every day.” To make herself feel better, Rosen would go home, dress in one of the many outfits she set aside for her photoshoots, prop her iPhone on however many books she could find, and photograph her work of art. It was her coping mechanism; she felt absolutely beautiful. “It only continued with kids leaving rude comments about things I was posting or saying and then those comments being liked and backed up by their friends,” she said. “Every once in a while there'd be K. Troy
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features a post about me, too. Some people were direct enough to message me and tell me what was ‘wrong’ about myself. I'd block these people and their friends, but too many times they have created anonymous accounts to finish what they started.” The comments Rosen received came from her looks, her actions, and her views. While she was already on an emotional rollercoaster dealing with anxiety and depression, the bullying and lack of support from her teachers was killing her. According to Rosen, she had to leave school to save whatever mental sanity she had left. She had come so far and refused to let herself completely slip away. “I was in and out of the hospital three times within the two years I attended HHS,” Rosen said. “I felt alone, I was failing, and I rarely even attended class... all because I felt so disliked and unwanted to
crop tops, and her favorite pair of Calvin Kleins. Rosen’s intentions in posting were never to garner attention or receive followers. In reality, she could care less about what other people think. “I posted what I did simply because I felt beautiful and I would've done so with five followers or 500,” Rosen said. “Then there were the ones saying I wanted to get guys from it. My posts were constantly sexualized and I faced harassment every single day from it.” “I was told I brought it on myself, simply for posting a picture where I felt beautiful,” she continued. “I was told by multiple people that I didn't value myself. If I didn't value myself, I wouldn't even have the confidence to post a picture of myself in the first place. I posted because I valued myself. It's funny how people would try to tell me
“If I didn’t value myself, I wouldn’t even have the confidence to post a picture of myself in the first place. I posted because I valued myself.” -Molly Rosen the point that I thought there was no purpose in school. It also came to the point that I was telling people I would rather die than go back there, with no satire or sarcasm intended.” Much of the hate that Rosen receives is due to what people believe is the reason she posts what she does. She confidently poses in her bikini, body suits, crop tops, and her favorite pair of Calvin Kleins. 14 @huntleyvoice
about my own amount of selfworth or confidence, as if they knew me better than I knew myself when I wouldn't even know their first name.” Having felt like she was under a microscope for so long with every move, comment, and post, Rosen feels cautious of what she shares nowadays. She has not been at Huntley High School for over a year and hoped her disappearance would make her irrelevant,
however, there is always the paranoia of the bullies returning or trying to get revenge after she has blocked them. She receives the occasional direct message shaming her for the way she presents her
minded, and so much more. Thanks for existing.” Rosen’s activism has not only gotten the attention of her followers and those in the community, but she has also been able to make
“Just because I don’t cover up my body does not mean I deserve less respect than a woman who does cover up her body.” -Molly Rosen body, but as she gains her empowerment back through each post, she has a powerful response: “I don’t cover up my body because I believe my body is beautiful; I believe my body is art and I’m very confident in it,” Rosen said in a video posted to her account. “I do it because it makes me happy and it’s not hurting anybody else. But just because I don’t cover up my body does not mean I deserve less respect than a woman who does cover up her body. It’s a personal choice. I’m so sick of people thinking that just because a woman doesn’t cover up her body means she’s asking for sex. Maybe it just makes her happy, maybe she feels beautiful like that.” The video, which has received over 1,600 views on Instagram, has 61 comments. “Say it louder for the people in the back.” “I have so much respect for you, you’re so incredible and honestly so inspiring.” “I adore you, thank you for this.” “I truly admire your style, your self confidence, how strong you are, how open
connections within the music industry. She had a photoshoot planned with rapper Smokepurpp’s manager, however it never happened due to her age and location. She has applied to multiple agencies and is waiting until she turns 18. For now, she will continue to be her own model. At the end of the day, it is not about what Rosen wants people to see her as; it is about how she perceives herself. She will never forget the long journey she took to get to where she is today, but she prefers to focus her energy on the person she will be tomorrow. “I have love for myself,” Rosen said. “All I can hope is that others see me the way I see myself: in a positive light with qualities of kindness and being real.” “I receive paragraphs every single day from guys and girls alike, both near and far away, who said I had inspired them to love themselves,” she continued. “That was the true point of me continuing with what I was doing: to help others find the beauty in themselves as well.”
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K. Troy
Young and afraid
may 2018 I volume 21 I issue 7
Junior Sarah Cervantes shares her story about her painful past
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maggie mcgee I print editor he used to be a bubbly kid. She used to love playing with kids her age at school. She used to be her mom’s sweet little girl. She used to be happy. She used to be herself. She used to be Sarah. During the summer before she started sixth grade, everything changed for junior Sarah Cervantes. Most kids spend summer outside, at the pool, playing in their backyards, and enjoying the bright summer sun. However, her summer was spent in a dark place. Over the course of the summer, Cervantes found herself spending more and more time at a friend’s house. The first time they hung out, she knew things were horribly wrong. “The person forced me to go hang out with them every day and then they would say ‘okay let’s do it,’” Cervantes said. They both hid in the person’s room and the person would lock the door. They directed her to take her clothes off, to take their clothes off, and then proceeded to kiss and touch her all over her body. Each time Cervantes would go over to their house, the situations became worse and worse. “I had to let it happen because I was so young and I didn’t know what was happening,” Cervantes said. “That is when I started to feel voiceless and like I couldn’t really do anything. Since it was happening I couldn’t really think to tell them to stop so I had to let it happen.”
She had met this person through a friend at the time, but since they were so much older, a senior in high school at the time, she didn’t understand their motives to keep hanging out. There were many times she lied to her parents because the person forced her to come to their house. Her parents made had a rule that she wasn’t allowed to go to anyone’s house if there was not a parent home. So, when she would ask the person if anyone else was home, they would lie to her and say yes. This led Cervantes to start lying to her parents after getting to this person’s house and realizing that no one was actually home. These events would be repeated all summer long and would end up altering the way she acted and felt towards others. Her mother was the one who first noticed that something was off about her. “[My mom] knew that they were mean and that they were changing who I was and how I acted,” Cervantes said. Sometimes the person would come to her house and see if she was home and her mom would have to lie and say she was grounded so that they would leave her alone. As an 11-year-old, the fear of getting in trouble and telling someone about these actions scared her to death. “I was so young and I was so scared of what would happen if I did tell somebody because this person told me to never tell anyone,” Cervantes said. Eventually, she did tell her
parents. After confiding in her middle school counselor about the topic, the counselor convinced Cervantes to talk to her mom about it. Although her mother had that maternal instinct that something was off, Cervantes never actually told her until three years later. “My mom found me crying in my bathroom one day,” Cervantes said. “She kept saying, ‘what’s wrong, what’s wrong?’ I finally told her, ‘this person touched me and assaulted me every day for the entire summer.’” Her mother was so upset when she found out and wished that she told her when it started happening. Just like Cervantes, her mother blamed herself for having an idea that something was happening, but not saying anything. Her instinct was right; something was definitely off with her daughter. As the assault grew worse, her mental and emotional scars cut deeper and deeper. The sexual assault changed how Cervantes viewed herself and how she acted with others. She was more mean to her parents and family than ever before. Three years later, she mustered up the courage to tell her dad about what was a horrible nightmare, especially for a now sophomore, she had been living. It was during a very serious conversation between her mother, father, and herself that she broke the news to her father. “I screamed at my dad, ‘Dad!
Your own daughter was sexually assaulted by her friend!’ It went quiet for about five minutes,” Cervantes said. “He started to cry a little bit and said, ‘You were sexually assaulted and did not say anything?’” She explained how afraid she was of what he was going to do, think, and say. Her parents were devastated and discussed if they were able to press charges or if there was anything they could do. Her mother wisely said that it was “their word against ours” and that all they could do was move on. Since the assault occurred six years ago, Cervantes has had to learn how to live with the thorns. She has self-harmed, starved herself multiple times, and even attempted to commit suicide not too long ago. Through it all, she has had to learn how to fight off the negative thoughts that fill her mind. Some nights she would just cry, and cry, and cry. “I felt so ashamed of myself,” she said. “I wished that I didn’t have this body anymore after what happened.” Though the pain of living in her own skin overwhelms her some days, without the strong support system that surrounds her, she admits that she probably wouldn’t still be here. “[My family and friends] are happy I am still here,” Cervantes said. “They are happy that I stopped self harming and stopped starving myself. They are just proud that I can trust them and trust people again, because after it all happened I
see AFRAID, page 41 @huntleyvoice 17
features
Double the skill, double the competition The Kapayo twins compete for national-level rock climbing
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faith losbanes I news editor
hree days a week − Monday, Wednesday, and Friday − juniors and twin brothers Connor and Spencer Kapayo leave school at 2:26 p.m., just like every other Huntley High School student. However, rather than going home, doing homework, and then getting to sleep at a decent time…the Kapayo brothers are on their way to Avondale, Chicago to attend a tiring three-hour rock climbing practice. In addition to the two hours of travel time, they normally get home late, only to be
greeted by a long night of AP and honors homework. For them, though, they normally catch up on their sleep during the car ride over to Chicago. And as members of NHS, the Engineering and Medical Academies, and occasional involvement with Science Olympiad…the boys have a full schedule. For the past 11 years or so, rock climbing has developed into a lifelong love of theirs. They are out as often as possible: practicing, traveling to competitions, and building muscle. It all started in 2007 when Connor decided to take a
Spencer training on a rockwall. (Courtesy of C. Kapayo)
18 @huntleyvoice
summer camp at a local rockwall, after not finding much luck in other sports. He instantly found he had a natural aptitude for the sport and pulled his brother Spencer into it soon after. A year later, they were traveling to various cities competing in bouldering, sport climbing, and speed climbing at a national level. Since then, they have each gathered numerous accolades. Connor has won a handful of national medals, and Spencer has made the USA team in speed climbing. They make up two of the top ten climbers in the nation, each bringing their individual talents to the table. As top athletes on their team − First Ascent − they both work to motivate and give tips to those younger than them. “We just try to teach the other kids and motivate them to try harder and complete the workouts,” Connor said. “We inspire them.” Spencer also applies his skills as he teaches the children to improve their own skills. “I try to motivate people,” Spencer said. “I try to teach them the stuff I’ve learned over the years, like, ‘Hey, this is the correct form
of the exercise,’ and ‘Hey, this is what you’re supposed to do to keep on task.’” Over the years, First Ascent has become like a family to them. While instructors and teammates come and go, they always leave a lasting impression on each other. From such an open and welcoming group, they have each learned life skills that will continue to influence them as they move onto college and beyond. Both naturally shy people, talking to people within the rock climbing community has helped them open up and improve their communication skills. Not only has it helped them in regard to confidence, but in other valuable attributes including basic first aid, perseverance, strategy, time management, and setting goals. Because are both males and the same age, they often must compete against each other within the same division in both local and nationally recognized events, making an enthralling spectacle for those watching. “We’re one of the only male twins who have to climb against each other,” Connor said. “It really puts on a show for the other people watching because they love seeing this sibling rivalry, and that definitely pushes us to climb harder.” While it can be fun for the two of them to go head-tohead at tournaments, it also increases the intensity of each competition.
may 2018 I volume 21 I issue 7
Connor applying his climbing skills to a real rockwall. (Courtesy of C. Kapayo)
“You want your sibling to do well but at the same time it’s like, ‘I want to get that spot. I want to get first place. I want to rub it in his face. I want to move onto the next round. I love you, but I want to go through,’” Connor said. “So [competing against Spencer] is definitely like a love/ hate relationship.” However, that does not get between them. Though they compete individually and against each other, they are constantly helping each other solve problems and discuss strategy. In practice, they help each other train. “When we boulder, we motivate each other and push ourselves to train harder,” Connor said. “If I see him do a climb, then I know I can do it too. It’s like a partnership in a way; he’s my buddy and I trust him with my life.”
In their 11 years of rock climbing, they have experienced a variety of ups and downs; along with lots of triumphs, they have also endured injuries, near-death experiences, and bittersweet goodbyes to beloved coaches and teammates. “I was bouldering one time, and I was like 20 feet up,” Connor said. “I was climbing out of the range of the mat so it was kind of dangerous. My foot popped and I grabbed onto a tree, so if I fell I probably would have really hurt myself. It’s just scary whenever that happens.” According to Spencer, twisted ankles, hurt shoulders and finger tendons are all common rock-climbing injuries. But something always keeps them coming back. “I just love the challenge because once you’re out there
you’re all alone, you basically have to push your own personal fears in order to get that one hold higher,” Connor said. “Because once you start getting tired and you can’t hold on any more, it’s up to you to get one hold higher to get to the top. I just love the personal gain I guess.” The thrill of the adrenaline and the sense of achievement that comes with each successful climb is their source of pride. For Spencer, it’s something that keeps him productive, having fun, and in his best shape. “I just do it because it’s fun; I’ll climb anything, no preference,” Spencer said. “As long as I’m [doing] something, then I’m doing something with my life instead of sitting on the couch watching Netflix. [I like] the feeling of getting exercise done that’s not really conventional…because everyone else does weight lifting, running and all that stuff. But with climbing, you’re working your whole body.” As dedicated rock climbers, their season runs year round with only a short, two-month break before competitions start up again in the fall. It is not always work either. Since the two boys have started climbing, the rest of the family has developed an interest in climbing as well. The Kapayos have taken trips as a family to places like Colorado to climb together. To Connor, there is nothing like reaching the top of a climb and taking a serene pause to
soak it all in. “I just love being outside,” Connor said. “It’s totally different when you’re 50 feet up or 100 feet up, and you can see the birdseye view of the place and it’s really nice to get pictures up there.” The brothers plan to climb for the rest of their lives. While Connor plans to pursue medicine in college and Spencer intends to follow a chemical engineering career, they both intend on climbing competitively as they higher their education. Climbing with and against people from all over the world has always been a dream of theirs. They hope to one day be a part of the U.S. climbing team, a goal they have come close to achieving but have not quite made yet. There is so much culture they look forward to exploring at an international level, and so much they intend to learn from the climbing styles of people from other countries. For Connor and Spencer, climbing has become something bigger to them than just a sport. It has been a mentor and a home to them. “It’s just funny to explain people what rock climbing is because people just think it’s you going up a wall, but it’s something totally different,” Connor said. “It’s been life-changing. I strongly encourage anyone who would like to try it out, because it helps you out with so many skills that people probably don’t realize it does. It’s fun explaining to people how we [became] who we are today.”
@huntleyvoice 19
features
The blessing of pursuing opportunity Adriana Boukhari shares details of her immigration to the U.S. austin stadie I staff writer
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ivid memories of a simpler, more innocent time still occupy her mind. Summers with the Girl Scouts being among the fondest of the bunch: warm months by the seaside, pitching tents with friends, cooking for the others, guarding the camp, and bonfires with guitars and singing. She went onto high school trips to the Bieszczady mountains, where the only thing colder than the mountains themselves was the shower water. Even the unpleasant parts of the trip, such as jogging up and down the mountains before bed to stay warm and eating frozen tomato sandwiches, became fun relics of her childhood in Poland. It is safe to say that most people do not decide to get up and move 4,700 miles from home on a whim, but Biology teacher Adriana Boukhari is an exception. When she was just 7 years old, her father left the country. Poland’s political climate in early ‘80s was heated, to say the least. Martial law was declared in Eastern Europe due to the increasing power of the party in opposition. Russia ordered these countries to straighten out or else they would invade. “I was too little to understand a lot of it, but I just remember everyone crying, and there were no cartoons to watch,” Boukhari said. “There 20 @huntleyvoice
Boukhari (front; in white sweater) on a high school trip in the Bieszczady mountains. (Courtesy of A. Boukhari)
were men in uniform talking to people, and everyone on TV was in uniform; we had just two channels.” After some time passed, and the Cold War was winding down, her mother was asked by a friend to accompany her on a trip to Krakow. She was looking to obtain visas for her children, who were very young at the time. Her mother could not go, but asked Boukhari if she wanted to go in place of her. She had a passionate love for the city of Krakow, and she did not have to go to school that day, so her decision was clear. “None of them got [a visa], but I did,” she said. “It was for only three months, and I didn’t want to miss the opportunity.” It is unsurprising that she
ended up living in the Chicagoland area. The region is said to be home to the largest Polish population outside of Poland itself. Even so, the feeling of isolation that accompanies moving to a new country
it certainly was not as easy as sending a friend request on Facebook or following someone on Twitter. “I miss the people, like my friends…it would be nice to have them,” Boukhari said. “If
“I was too little to understand a lot of it, but I just remember everyone crying... There were men in uniform talking to people, and everyone on TV was in uniform.” - Adriana Boukhari at the age of 18 was strong. “When I first got here, I knew nobody. I hadn’t seen my father, who had been living here, in 11 years.” Because it was the early ‘90s, she did not have the luxury of texting the friends she was leaving behind, and
not on a day to day basis, at least a weekly basis.” Initially, she experienced a culture shock of sorts. She was just a high school kid, and was removed from her friends and social group. She was not happy for a while, but meeting new friends helped
A photo of the high school she attended. (Courtesy of A. Boukhari)
her recover. At the time of her arrival in the United States, she primarily listened to Polish radio. One station in particular had a competition run by students during the last hour of the show every day. Calling in felt inconsequential in the moment, but it ended up shaping her first couple years in the country. “I won,” she said. “It was only 30 minutes away, so I [just] walked to the radio station. Once I got there, I got to know people, and they offered me to come volunteer with them. On my second or third visit, the owner offered me a job, and that’s where I found the friends I have today.” This does not mean her old friends have been forgotten. Communicating with them has become much easier and more convenient due to the creation of mobile phones, computers, and the internet. Even so, she still returns to Poland during the summer
months to relax and catch up with the people she grew up with. “I keep in touch with my closest friends from high school, and when I go back it’s like no time has passed,” she said. Finding faults in her move was no easy task. In a way, it felt like a natural progression from her childhood in Poland to her adult life in the U.S. Even when she visits today, it is completely different. No longer is she worrying about her schoolwork and grades; rather, it is just a time to unwind and catch up. One thing does stick out in her mind, however.
may 2018 I volume 21 I issue 7 “You’re not as anonymous people is more uplifting than when you are there,” Boukhari dealing with old people who said. “They are small commu- need medicine.” nities, and everyone knows When students speak of each other. So when I come their time in Boukhari’s back from across the ocean, Biology, class it is rare to hear they know everything, and it anything but positive things is a lot of pressure.” and pleasant memories. When There, in those small communities with her mother, “I keep in touch is where her love for science with my closest was ignited. Her mother was a nurse, so she often found herfriends from high self in an environment with school, and when syringes, lidocaine, numbing I go back it’s spray, and other medicinal items. This, in part, shaped like no time has her into a bright and inquispassed.” itive child. Once she reached elementary school, her fond- Adriana ness for biology, chemistry, Boukhari and physics solidified, which largely impacted her potential she began teaching, she wantcareer choices as she entered ed to approach it in a way that secondary school. made it fun for her and her “There were a couple things students. With eight years of I was contemplating, but they teaching under her belt, she is all had to do with sciences, continuing to do so and has like the medical field or pharcreated a learning environmaceuticals,” she said. “I felt ment that is not only fun, but like there wouldn’t be enough interesting and applicable to human interaction in pharthe real world as well. macy, and dealing with young
Boukhari (front row; in white shirt) at the Polish radio station with the friends she met there. (Courtesy of A. Boukhari)
@huntleyvoice 21
double truck
Thespians take their final bow
Seniors in Metamorphosis relfect on their final high school show Senior Dani Bahn
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here once was a man named Orpheus who played music so beautifully he enchanted those around him, even the god of the underworld. Music wasn’t his only love. He fell in love with a nymph named Eurydice who died from the bite of a viper. Orpheus traveled down to the underworld and used his music to persuade Hades into releasing his lover’s soul. The only condition was that he was not to look back on her until they left the underworld, but Orpheus could not resist and looked back before they had left and she was gone from him once again. “I can relate to Eurydice in her love for Orpheus and the art that he creates,” senior Danielle Bahn said. “But I’m different in that I have never experienced true love.” Bahn is one of several seniors working towards the end of their high school theater experience. “This part of my life has taught me how I want to be as a person now or in the future,” Bahn said. “I’m eternally grateful for that.” Unlike Orpheus her love for theater will not vanish down into the underworld. “I chose theater because this is genuinely my passion,” Bahn said. “I would love to spend the rest of my life doing it.”
jen gordus I staff writer shaaf iqbal I staff writer riley murphy I a&e editor photos by katrina troy 22 @huntleyvoice
Senior Noah Simmons
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s the lights dim and the red, velvet curtains open up to welcome the applause, senior Noah Simmons takes center stage alongside his fellow thespians. As the school year quickly comes to an end, Simmons makes this fnal performance his best ever yet. In the production of Metamorphosis, Simmons plays the part of Poseidon, Orpheus, Midas’ servant, and Philemon. Mainly his characters have to deal with the theme of power and love, which is the base of the production. “It’s weird how we use these fantastical characters to make things seem more real to us,” Simmons said. Along with Simmons investing his time into this masterpiece, he also has committed to DePaul University in Chicago where he plans on pursuing film and theatre. With the city surrounding him, he really hopes to make the best of his college experience. “I really want to make things, I just want to create. Whether that be making a performance or directing a show,” Simmons said. Even though Simmons has high hopes for the future, he will most definitely miss being a part of the thespian family. “That’s really what makes a show is just the moments you have in rehearsals with each other that are not part of the show,” Simmons said. “It just makes the most of these memories, I’m really going to miss this a lot.” From the late night rehearsals, to the actual production itself Simmons has worked hard to to stake his claim in the world of theatre.
Senior Olemich Tugas
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s the seniors prepare to leave school in a few days, the senior Thespians hope to put out one more show to cap off their great careers in theater. “Metamorphosis is a compilation of scenes based on a poem, that depicts how many concepts of our world began to take form, filled with Greek gods and stuff like that,” senior Olemich Tugas said. “This show is different because of the way it’s played out. It’s a compilation of many stories, instead of one solid story, [where] different actors play different characters.” Being his last show Tugas recalls what he loves most from his time in theater. “My first main stage show, Twelfth Night, is my favorite memory. [I loved] really seeing how much support people had for me, after the show was done.” Tugas said. As for future plans, Tugas doesn’t want this to be his last show. “I definitely want to pursue acting in the future,” Tugas said. “The idea of pulling in an audience, telling them a story and bringing them these characters, it naturally brings about ideas and concepts of us being human, opening up the viewpoints for audiences, I think exposing that viewpoint to audiences and opening up that different lens to the world is really amazing.” But for now, Tugas wants to soak in all the hard work he and his peers have put in throughout high school. “This show means a lot as an accumulation of all of our skills, to see how far we’ve all come and seeing my peers grow, the show brings all that to light and we can look at where we are now.” Tugas said.
Senior Ben Johnson
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or senior Ben Johnson, Metamorphosis is a busy way to end his high school career. “I play Eros, Hades, Phaethon, son of Apollo, Silenus, and I narrate a few things,” Johnson said. “My favorite is Hades, he’s got this rough voice,” Johson said. “I’m most similar to Phaeton and I love how he’s so flawed. What motivates me is the idea to continue to learn, no matter how far I think I get, I’m still leaps and bounds away from where I could be. You never stop growing as an actor.” Johnson is famously known for his dark role in Macbeth the previous year. Metamorphosis gives him the opportunity to explore a different character dynamic than what he has been able to in the past. “I’ve been known to play dark characters so it’s cool to now play the happier roles,” Johnson said. “This show is tough and there’s a lot of other stuff on the outside. [I have to] block out the noise and figure out what’s most important to me, I don’t want to neglect the other things in my life. I just pinpoint what I can and focus really hard on that because of one its being performed on stage the audience his close to the actors and this quilt effect of many stories being stitched together.” With this being his last show Johnson feels that the show will be a bittersweet moment knowing that the cast has limited time together. “As sad as that is, we’re all working on creating something together, it’s a beautiful thing to know this is the one and only time it will happen,” Johnson said. “Being as its my last show, this is the like last picture in the album, it’s already becoming a memory.”
Senior Jacob Lopez
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ver since senior Jacob Lopez stepped onto a theatre, he knew that performance was a passion he wanted to pursue. Since then, he has performed in numerous productions that have challenged him and field his passion. In Metamorphosis, Jacob plays Zeus, Apollo. King Axiaux, a forman named Iresectin, a soldier named Insinerus, and Adenazin of the underworld. Not only do all characters give a different aspect to the show, but provide a new challenge to Lopez. With most of the characters he portrays revolving around the theme of greed and power, Lopez must be comfortable with realizing that he is flawed. “We are human beings and we are flawed and we will always be flawed and that’s ok,” said Lopez. “And that’s something that I had to come to terms with a long time ago and that’s kind of shaped me as a person.” Needless to say he has taken all of the things that he’s learned to heart. In his final chapter on the stage of Huntley, he definitely has given a lot of thought into how life will be after high school. He plans on pursuing theatre and is looking into Milliken University for its excellent theatre program. “Theatre has been something that I’ve been doing since middle school. It’s my solace,” Lopez said. “I do believe there are other career paths and things I could’ve majored in, but the things that I’ve done have been because of theatre.” As the curtains come to a final close, Lopez will look to the future for the adventures that lie before him. “It’s a good-bye. It’s the beginning of the end, it’s the end to the beginning,” Lopez said. “There’s just so many things that go into this and I believe fully that this will be one of my best high school memories that I will have.”
may 2018 I volume 21 I issue 7
Senior Marisa Bowman
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any eons ago in the times of ancient Greece, where gods, goddesses, demigods, monsters, and mythological creatures were the subjects of myths and stories created to inspire, warn, and teach the world about the lessons of life. Fast forward to 2018 where the thespians of Huntley High School are on a quest to teach others valuable lessons through these stories in the play of “Metamorphosis” by Mary Zimmerman. Bowman plays both Psyche and Aphrodite. “I don’t really relate to Aphrodite because she’s very petty and quick to hate other women,” said Bowman. “I think that bonds to other women are very important and that we should all stick together.” For Bowman and the other seniors in Metamorphosis, there quests here at Huntley are coming to an end. Many of them will continue the journey of theater, but Bowman has other plans in store. “I feel like I’m the only senior who’s not pursuing theater after highschool,” Bowman said. “I’m planning on going into biology and a career in the medical or dental field.” While most Greek myths end in tragedy, the end of high school is more so bittersweet. “It’s really difficult because this is the concluding show for me and I want it to be good,” Bowman said. “It gets me all choked up because this is the last time I’ll be onstage and I guess if theater is meant to be in your life then it always will be.”
@huntleyvoice 23
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may 2018 I volume 21 I issue 7
Life has no remediation policy While sometimes inconvenient, there is a reason for rules
sophie gire I staff writer
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emediating and retaking summative assessments has not been available to students for many years, and is still unavailable to some. The idea of being able to have a second chance at the right grade on a test has only been in place in the last decade or so, meaning many departments and individual teachers have differing views of remediation policy. Throughout both middle and high school, remediation policies have been widely varied when it comes to math. However, the majority of teachers seem to have a wary position around the idea of remediation, particularly with potential students’ mindset of ‘I was too lazy to study for the test last night so I will retake it when I fail.’ Comments like these before a big exam are frustrating for teachers like Anne Price, who teaches both Honors Pre-Calculus and AP Calculus AB. “I think [that mindset] fails the whole purpose of remediation,” Price said. “Our goal is that you learn, but also
learn responsibility through [remediation] and learn that there are still levels that have to be met to qualify and move forward.” While remediating math tests can help students to retain more information from a unit that may not have been properly understood the first time, students who complete the retake process an abundance of times throughout the class indicate to teachers that they should be in a lower-level class. “In the honors track, limitations make sense,” Price said. “If you have to remediate everything, then are you in the right level of math?” Many teachers offer a limited amount of remediation attempts, and this may be annoying for many students. When I was only given four total opportunities to retake math tests in my Pre-Calculus class sophomore year, I found the number lacking for a process that was helping me in the long run. Limiting the remediation opportunities to just two units each semester seemed ridiculous at the time. I did not realize this barrier is extremely helpful in motivating students to get the right score the first time. Remediation feels like a safety net protecting students from bad grades. One point that both teachers and parents tend to remind us is how, in college and in future careers,
safety nets vanish, leaving students who flourished with remediation in shock at M. Barr the difficulty of the real world. While colleges and careers are less willing to give multiple chances to get work done correctly, is that not the point of high school? If we as students are not given chances to learn until we fully take in material at this point in our lives, when will we ever get that opportunity with this kind of critical information? In elementary and middle school, grades are far less important than high school grades - hence why colleges do not view those grades. A student not given the opportunity to retake tests may end up with a D in a hard class and leave colleges believing that the student is deficient because of it, whereas that same student could achieve a B or an A with remediation on more difficult summative exams, signaling to colleges that the student understands key pieces of the curriculum. “It’s much less stressful knowing that you will always have a second chance if you have a rough day or if your mind isn’t in the right place during a test or quiz,” junior Nolan Przeklasa, a current AP
Calculus student, said. It is understandable to be concerned about the possibility of students taking advantage of the ability to retake summatives that heavily impact their grade, however the main concern is the difficulty of the remediation process. For example, the remediation process in Calculus AB is no walk in the park. “You have to have done things, as a good student would do, to qualify and say, ‘This student tried everything, they’re still struggling, they need more time, and they need another shot at this,’” Price said. Remediating a test or a quiz in that class requires putting in even more work than was necessary to take the test the first time around, on top of the fact that the rest of the class does not wait for you. Though many still find two or three retake attempts per semester to be too few - especially since many math classes have multiple tests per month - it has become much more obvious that the course load of that kind of class demands that the student understands most or all of what is taught each unit the first time. @huntleyvoice 25
opinion
Callout culture is not the answer Students make mistakes at school just like everyone else emily kindl I features editor
I
t is nothing new. People want others to respect them and to keep peace, and when anyone acts in a way that threatens that respect or peace, the instinctual response is to resolve the issue. From experience and observation, we know the only way these situations can be settled without leaving scars merely depends on how mature the approach used to solve the incident is. The irony of this topic is that some of those who we view as mature people − many of our teachers, in fact − are immaturely handling students’ disobedience and misbehavior in the classroom. Yes, if we want to grow as individuals and improve our character, we need to depend on others to bring our bad behavior and actions to light. But if the light source is shame and embarrassment − rather than sympathy and betterment − then people will shut down and will
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more-than-likely not take any advice given to them. Teachers: students do not like to be shamed in front of their peers for bad behavior or mistakes. There is nothing wrong with asking a student to stop said behavior, and/or pulling them aside to speak with them after class. The problem lies in publicly making them feel bad; individual misbehavior, such as being on a phone, talking during a lesson, or doing poorly on an assignment or test, most times does not concern every other student in the classroom. Once again, simply asking them to cease behavior is acceptable, because there are understandable reasons behind it, such as making sure students are listening to the lesson. The moment calling out behavior becomes unacceptable is when a teacher targets a student. In this sense, “targeting” means publicly complaining about said behavior and/or specifically revealing who misbehaved. “It’s better to pull students aside because they won’t get embarrassed and they won’t feel targeted,” sophomore Cassidy Riedel said. “[If a teacher displays] it in front of the whole class, the student could feel uncomfortable in the situation because everyone knows it’s about that student.”
While many students’ emotions become heightened when a teacher pulls them aside, it is a much more tolerable emotion to experience than being humiliated in the classroom. U.S. History and Anthropology teacher Erik Lachel believes bringing a student’s behavior to light in the classroom is only necessary if the misbehavior is extreme. “One [behavior] that is totally unacceptable − that I will call you out on in front
on their phone, Lachel will either make a light joke or simply ask the student to stop. If the mistake is recurring and becomes a pattern, he will pull them aside. However, he does understand when teachers publicly call out students, because everyone has their own ideas of discipline. He also knows oftentimes, certain behavior can stem from an unfavorable situation outside of the classroom.
“It’s better to pull students aside because they won’t get embarrassed and they won’t feel targeted.” -Cassidy Riedel of everybody − is if you start to disrespect people, be racist, [negatively] talk about disabilities, or bully…” Lachel said. “It will be called out immediately and you will be dealt with swiftly. I’ve let people know that from day one: I do not tolerate people who are not accepting of [others].” Some behaviors, such as the ones Lachel mentioned, absolutely need to be publicized for the purpose of teaching the rest of the class how to behave in a way that will not hurt others. As for a simple misbehavior, such as a student
Due to his awareness to this, Lachel has an administration and social worker-approved Google form on his Haiku page that allows his students to confide in him without meeting faceto-face, especially if it has correlation to any behavior. Many students appreciate when their teachers leave their doors open to them and initiate personal interaction. In turn, because students yearn for teachers to care for them beyond the classroom, they are more likely to give them respect and avoid disregarding their expectations
may 2018 I volume 21 I issue 7
− whether little or small. In addition, Physics teacher Brian Lundeen utilizes another effective way teachers can prevent bad behavior: set up clear and specific classroom expectations early on and train students
non-problematic philosophy of how to best deal with conflict: “If [a person] sins against you, go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back.”
“I try to do so in a way that still keeps the student’s dignity intact, which shows that I have respect for them.” -Brian Lundeen to follow those expectations throughout the year. In the beginning of the year, Lundeen allows his students to contribute to his classroom expectations on top of what he includes himself. He believes that students are more apt to follow expectations and hold each other accountable for them if the expectations are not “so directly imposed from above.” He runs his classroom as a democracy rather than an autocracy. “Anytime you see [a student misbehaving], you want to make sure that you do remind them of your expectations,” Lundeen said. “I try to do so in a way that still keeps the student’s dignity intact, which shows that I have respect for them. I try to do so in as unobtrusive of a manner as I possibly can.” The dignity of students is just as important as that of others in the building. In the Bible, Matthew 18:15 is one source that clearly illustrates a
This passage suggests that speaking with the person one-on-one is the best way to regain the respect of and win back the person who misbehaved. If teachers were to point
out their fault publicly, the person will not see them as someone who deserves respect. Furthermore, the passage suggests that if a person wants to speak with someone about their behavior, the goal is to win the person back, not to force their thoughts on them without listening to the other person’s perspective or reasons. It is fair to say that most students, regardless if they are familiar with this philosophy, wish their teachers would deal with their personal mistakes in an understanding or compassionate way. Students have emotions. If their behavior is publicized
and shamed and if their perspective is disregarded, they are unequivocally vulnerable. Vulnerability should be voluntary, not instigated from another person. Dear teachers: we make mistakes, regardless if we have good reason to. Sometimes, our judgment is clouded and we lose sight of our actions. If we need to be taken care of or reprimanded for bad behavior, it must be with high regard and sympathy for our emotions and personal situations. If you say you will treat us like adults, do so. If you want our respect, it has to be mutual.
M. Barr @huntleyvoice 27
opinion
Is it feminism or a fashion trend
If you want to be involved, you have to back it up with action emma kubelka I online editor
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acked together in a span of a dozen blocks, people of all backgrounds stand shoulder to shoulder, rocking back and forth with the pulsing energy of the crowd. It is a sea of pink, and it is hard to distinguish one person from the next. Pussy hats in all shades of pink are seen for miles; in fact, that is how the group sets themselves apart. She stands on her tippy toes, squinting past the thousands of homemade signs to see the tiny stage. The cheers and upbeat music radiate throughout the city. Senior Julie Stout joins the strangers around her who oddly start to feel familiar. She joins in the “this is what democracy looks like” chant and as she begins to march. Signs pass her with “respect existence or expect resistance” held proudly in the air. The youth who have yet to vote stand hand-in-hand with women whose lines on their faces say that they have fought this fight before. Unfortunately, this is nothing new. Unfortunately, these people have been here before. Regardless of whether the
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Women’s March participants are doing this to join the hype of the movement, to have a cute Instagram post, or because they genuinely care and are advocating for change, they are contributing to a greater cause and are spreading awareness. Throughout history, the topic of feminism has created differing opinions ranging from extremists to those who believe there is no problem regarding the equality of women. Trendy stores sell t-shirts with “girl power” and “nasty woman” across the chest, and Instagram models pose at marches dressed in pink with signs advocating for their rights and those of their future daughters. Although the idea that any publicity is good publicity supports these actions, often times the actual act of advocating for feminine power is lacking. The definition of feminism is the social, political, and economic basis of the equality of the sexes. The social aspect of this has been polarized and blown out of proportion. “It shouldn’t be something that we need to plaster everywhere; feminism needs to be something that we just know,” Stout said. “If it’s not being promoted for the right reasons, it won’t have any impact.” The new wave of feminism is being culturally defined by those who are not genuine-
ly living it out, making the principle less credible. Every politically relevant group has extremists, and unfortunately, it is common today that those extremists define the majority. It is important to recognize that wearing shirts and posting pictures brings feminism to the forefront of conversations, but that needs to be paired with actual action in order to make a difference. Cute captions garner attention, but what is really going to make a change is going to the polls, demanding legislative change, and living it out in daily life. “Even the people at the women’s march, a lot of that is for people posting on Instagram and cute aesthetics, but it is still doing something,” senior activist Sarah Stolpe said. “It is still saying that you are out there and you want your government to hear you. Although that’s not as influential as voting or running yourself or doing something to promote change, you took it a step forward.” It is action or inaction, and there is no in between. You are either doing nothing and contributing to the problem of intolerance or you are creating and being an advocate for a social change. Although conversation is vital, it is not the narrative that is
going to make change. “It starts from not saying someone should do something, but talking to a woman who is a woman saying ‘you should go for that job in the engineering field, go and get involved in your local politics,’” Stolpe said. “It’s encouraging the women around you to create a chain reaction where you actually see things happening rather than things being talked about.” What creates the division between “t-shirt” feminists and the people who advocate for women is the way they reflect their beliefs in how they live. Running for office, voting for women, and encouraging females in fields where they are the minority is what is going to make a difference. Talk is only talk until it is paired with action. “There are plenty of people who don’t see that problems still exist, and problems still exist,” social studies teacher Shandon Nixon said. “We have potential to come much closer to the ideal than we are, but first there is some realism we have to look at.”
(M. Barr)
may 2018 I volume 21 I issue 7
One big family living the Raider Way Here at Huntley, every grade level exemplifies a family member
miriam selimi I staff writer
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o many, Huntley High School is their second home. We’ve all heard the phrase “this is our house” too many times to count. In more ways than one, Huntley is our house, including how each grade resembles a family member. Freshmen are usually seen as annoying little kids who do not understand anything, but we all are missing the point that we have been there
ourselves. Instead of making fun of them, we should try to be more supportive of our youngest siblings. “Even though I’m a freshman, I have lots of upperclassmen friends who make me feel welcome at this school,” freshman Kate Rogala said. The first year of high school can be mentally deteriorating if you are not surrounded by the right people, and our school should not be a place where anyone should feel inferior. Sophomores, even though many students see this as a filler year, should embrace this time to get to know themselves, their teachers, and their classmates. “Sophomores aren’t upperclassmen but aren’t exactly underclassmen,” sophomore
Vikki Schulte said. “It’s such an awkward grade, and no one really cares about it.” Even though this year may
Seniors, do you remember all that wisdom you learned back in junior year? Well, throw it all away, because
“I have lots of upperclassmen friends who make me feel welcome at this school.” -Kate Rogala
seem useless and unnecessary now, it is the time to establish yourself as a part of this school, find your group, and learn how to be a leader. The middle children are usually forgotten and underappreciated. For juniors, now is the time for stress, stress, and more stress. Applying for colleges and making sure your GPA is higher than your self M. Barr esteem is a difficult thing to do when you try to fit in all of those volunteer hours and study sessions for ACT and SAT exams. That is why juniors are the parents of the household. During this year, you have earned more respect and responsibility. After realizing what is important and what is not, you have become wise and determined to succeed. All that horrible, wretched learning experience has actually taught you something.
there is no point in knowing it. After taking all of your college entry exams and attempting to keep your GPA up, you have given up. It is the last year of high school, and even though everyone tells you it is just as important as the rest, you cannot keep your focus on school. Soon, you will be out of high school, entering college, starting life, and making real friends. Who would want to wait for that? Due to your newly found attention span, or lack thereof, you are the toddlers in this house. Even though you are technically the oldest in the school, you are just starting to learn what life outside of high school is really like. Now is the time when you are going to grow up fast. Huntley High School is our home, and we should start treating each other as family. We spend most of our day together, and school should be our safe space, a place where we can trust one another.
@huntleyvoice 29
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may 2018 I volume 21 I issue 7
New film sparks hope and controversy Cat and dog lovers are more than welcome to see “Isle of Dogs”
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braden turk I staff writer he movies directed by Wes Anderson are some of cinema’s most peculiar pleasures. Ranging from the family drama “The Darjeeling Limited” to the Roald Dahl-adapted “Fantastic Mr. Fox,” Anderson seems to work both in and outside of the Hollywood system. His first feature, “Bottle Rocket,” was independently made and launched the careers of Owen Wilson and his brother, Luke; both have regularly appeared in his filmography since. Other earlier works brought now-famous actors to the limelight as well, like Jason Schwartzman’s debut in “Rushmore.” Now, other well-known actors tend to jump on his newest projects, with Edward Norton, Bill Murray, and Anjelica Huston being the most notable examples. These actors forfeit a large paycheck at the expense of working with Anderson, often gaining praise for the dedication and vitality they bring to otherwise independent films. Why they choose to continue working with Wes on such a consistent basis remains private, but one can assume it is simply that they enjoy working with him. And who wouldn’t? Audiences can say what they want about the hit-or-miss aesthetic Anderson stamps on all of his films, but there is no denying he has worked out a formula that produces content both entertaining and compelling. With his latest movie, the stop-motion adventure “Isle of Dogs,” Anderson returns to the
Courtesy of Fox Searchlight
animation form with an appropriately outlandish plot. In the Japanese city of Megasaki, an outbreak of canine flu forces authorities to relocate all dogs to a secluded island. 12-year-old boy Atari takes matters into his own hands, flying to the isle in search of his lost dog Spots. Once there, he meets a group of other caninesthe standout member, Chief, voiced by Bryan Cranston- and they decide to help him on his journey. For those who thought “Fantastic Mr. Fox” looked good, prepare to be amazed. One major benefit of stop motion animation over the two dimensional is the sheer level of detail required, and “Isle of Dogs” acknowledges this from the first to last shot. Every character, prop, and background has to be created by hand; each frame requires a different position for anything that is supposed to move on screen. “Isle of Dogs” improves upon the former’s already impressive animation, adding a layer of detail that can only be appreciated on a 50-foot projector screen. From each hair on the dogs to wriggling maggots on rotting food, each shot has something
for the viewer to look for, offering a visual experience that never has a dull moment. The film has not been met with complete positive claim though. Some critics have argued that “Isle of Dogs” appropriates Japanese culture and mocks an oppressed group; it “whitewashes” a way of life and diminutizes millions of people. However, this has little standing and seems to be an assumption made on the part of those outside of the “oppressed.” Moeko Fujii of The New Yorker examines these claims in her analysis of the film, suggesting that the cultural references are not out of ridicule, but respect. There are various references strewn throughout the film that only appeal to those familiar with the country: Japanese television, law, and food product references pop up when most of the audience is completely unaware. While any written kanji are also printed into English, spoken Japanese is left either indirectly translated or never fully explained. It would be counterintuitive to do so; subtitles can distract from a film and alienate those who understand the language. Somebody on the
“Isle of Dogs” crew, if not Anderson himself, had meticulous caution when approaching its references, making the movie relatable for English and Japanese audiences alike. Critics got some things right about the film, at the very least: overall, “Isle of Dogs” is not Wes Anderson’s best effort. The emotional connection characters often feel in his movies, like brotherhood in “The Darjeeling Limited” and innocent love in “Moonrise Kingdom,” is just not as present as one would hope. Not all of the five dogs are equally memorable, and the script almost exclusively focuses on only two. While the animation is stellar and the tone engaging, certain scenes could have been cut and others put in to give more life to its main cast. With just a little more character development, the film might have been nearly perfect. Despite this, viewers who walk of the theater will enjoy what was good, no matter what age, gender, or race they are. “Isle of Dogs” is not Wes Anderson’s best film. But it is one of his warmest.
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a&e Courtesy of Coachella Facebook
Catchin’ up with Coachella: a recap Beyonce steals the show with her best performance yet jenna link I opinion editor
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he Weeknd, Eminem, and Beyoncé. These performers are three of the biggest names in the entertainment industry. These prominent artists shared one thing in common this year: performing on the Coachella stage in front of thousands of festival goers. Spanning two consecutive three-day weekends, the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival is held once a year at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California, bringing together acts of all genres. Now one of the largest and most famous music festivals, Coachella had humble beginnings, with its inaugural festival held in October 1999 to its 32 @huntleyvoice
new three-day, two-weekend format starting in 2012. According to the Desert Sun, weekend passes were no longer available three hours after sales opened, while general admission passes for the first weekend were sold out in approximately 35 minutes. The 2018 lineup consisted of artists like Cardi B, who performed songs from her new album “Invasion of Privacy” after announcing she was expecting her first child with Offset of the Migos, also performing at Coachella earlier in the month. Popular acts like SZA, Daniel Caesar, Tyler, the Creator, Post Malone, Alt-J, and Russ were also part of the lineup. But, even with a star-studded lineup, the most talked
about performance was Beyoncé’s first set, inspired by the homecomings and Greek life of historically black colleges and universities (HBCU). She highlighted HBCU band tradition and musical culture by incorporating a marching band, step movements, and the “Bugaboos” of the co-ed fraternity Beta Delta Kappa created for the performance, along with the integration of HBCU band favorites. There were multiple cameos throughout the set: Jay-Z with “Déjà vu,” the Destiny’s Child reunion with Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams, and Solange on “Get Me Bodied.” However, Beyoncé’s mother, Tina Knowles-Lawson was
not sure how the performance would be received. “I told Beyonce that I was afraid that the predominately white audience at Coachella would be confused by all of the black culture and black college culture, because it was something that they might not get,” Knowles-Lawson said. “[Beyonce] said that her hope is that after the show, young people would research this culture and see how cool it is.” As the first black woman to headline Coachella, this was a celebration and triumph. Instead of Coachella, the festival took on the name #Beychella on various social media sites. According to social media analytics firm Talkwalker, her
may 2018 I volume 21 I issue 7 Saturday night performance earned 2.8 million social mentions, and the #beychella hashtag was used in 2.4 million mentions. But Coachella is not just about the music and artists who play there. The fashion of the festival has taken on a life of its own. Festival-goers plan outfits weeks in advance and follow various trends, sometimes dressing in a different style every day they attend. However, the most common look is the sun-soaked, flower child vibe. Other popular trends were body glitter, with an emphasis
on the face and chest area, pierced braids, and, of course, fanny packs. With the popularity and attention from social media platforms like Instagram, brands have begun to develop specific festival lines to capitalize on the season. “It’s mostly at the lower end of the market, with Topshop curating in-store festival shops- macramé, fringes, tassels, so-called ‘ethnic’ elements,” said Emmanuelle Dirix, a fashion historian and lecturer at the Leeds College of Art. “[Coachella] has taken on its place as a mini collection in the fashion calendar.”
Coachella also includes visual arts in the festival, being home to various art installations such as sculptures and interactive pieces. In the beginning, their art was recycled from the previous year’s Burning Man festival, as they had a smaller budget. But after 2010, they increased their budget and shifted their focus to commissioning pieces specifically for the festival. One such installation is “Lodestar” by Randy Polumbo. The floral-inspired piece was created out of a Lockheed Martin Lodestar jet scavenged from the Internet, sits on
10,000-pound legs, and stands almost 50 feet tall with an observation tower at the top. “What frankly was a weapon, today is a provocative canvas upon which viewers can explore their curiosity,” Polumbo said. “I am excited about ideas like pollination and propagation and, of course, transformation.” Coachella is one of the largest festivals in the world, and it shows no signs of stopping anytime soon. Fans can only wait to see who is next on the lineup in the future and hope they have a chance to experience the magic.
Courtesy of Stuff
@huntleyvoice @huntleyvoice 33 X
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Punk rock lives on through Joe Armstrong Former Green Day member brings new talent to The Longshots sarah biernat I staff writer
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llinois living can be brutal; from snowstorms to hurricanes, which is farfetched, but it’s Illinois, we only typically have two seasons, winter and summer, and winter lasts longer than we would like. Amidst the sudden snow and brisk winds, summer is coming sooner, and I am excited. As the midwest attracts another white Christmas, California is in a foreign land. From palm trees, to beaches, to desserts, the warm, summer vibes from the West Coast are radiated constantly, especially within West Coast punk. Frontman of American punk band Green Day, Billie Joe Armstrong, is now part of a new punk side project, The Longshot. Releasing their first album, a self titled EP April 12, The Longshot are balanced between Green Day and ‘70s punk rock influencer, The Ramones. With three tracks, the short eight-minute record packs a punch. From explosive drums to a heavy bassline, Armstrong
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Courtesy of Green Day Facebook
is nowhere near disappointing fans. After his break once releasing “Revolution Radio,” a fiery, passionate, political anthem on Oct. 7, 2016 with Green Day, this break in the silence was much needed. “Revolution Radio’s” “Too Dumb to Die,” among its 11 neighboring tracks, is a prime example of how Armstrong’s flare was not dismissed when throwing together “Long Shot EP.” Green Day is known for their bass heavy, chant incorporated tunes. They are also recognized for pushing their boundaries and not always releasing tracks that are typically their style. Fitting into the pop-punk genre alongside Blink-182 and others, although bass heavy, it is usually poppy and upbeat. The song to encompass Green Day precisely is 2004 “American Idiot,” “Jesus of Suburbia.” Heavier and angrier than popular “Basket Case” off “Dookie” or “Wake Me Up When September Ends,” which accompanies “Jesus of
Suburbia” on “American Idiot,” one song effortlessly defines the band. As for The Longshot, they bring pop, meets surf rock realness. As Tre Cool of Green Day utilizes a rolling drum to break up his beat, the unnamed drummer for The Longshots does the same, and it is best heard on “Kill Your Friends,” the one of the two newly released political songs that did not make it onto the EP. The gloomy gun-inflicted song has a counterpart, “Body Bag.” Both especially, “Body Bag,” hold a sorrowful presence, and as a strong, resilient democrat, Armstrong hopes to express his gun views and beliefs. The one thing I have, and many Green Day fans have, admired about Armstrong from other the years is his strong stance on politics, and he is not ashamed. From the chants he starts at concerts like, “No Trump/ No KKK/ No Fascist USA,” or his incredibly belted, “everyone is so full of s**t/ born and raised by hypocrites,” in “Jesus of Suburbia,” he is a voice for those who are afraid or simply do not have an audience who would listen. The two heavier songs from The Longshots were released at a separate time to YouTube, but despite it’s week delay to the EP, the band’s power to influence their listeners to pay attention to the news and media is imperative to keeping a well-circulated world. While the kick start to “Longshots EP” is “Love is for Losers,” an edgy, electric driven, sick of
love saga, the relatable tale of annoying relationships is complimented well with “Kill Your Friends” and “Body Bag.” Similar in beats and paces, unless someone listens carefully, likewise to all of Armstrong’s work, it is difficult to decipher his message; sometimes, unless explicitly stated in the song title, these lyrics are like optical illusions for the ears. Over his career, Billie Joe Armstrong has finally done it all. From rocking guyliner like a professional, to balancing side projects, to being a gay rights activists, and pronounce Donald Trump hater, this sudden release, only after a short time of being teased on Instagram, is the cherry on top. From one success to another, The Longshot happily rests within Armstrong’s discography. As an avid listener, as I can only speak on behalf of myself, but whatever comes next, no matter how long it takes for a complete collection, will be worth the wait. Opening Spotify to find “Longshot EP” was like Christmas. Yes, it is cliche, but a solid first album is always appreciated. Hopefully there is not a long wait for more to come. Back in November of 2017, Green Day put out a compilation album with all their best recieved songs called “Greatest Hits: God’s Favorite Band.” If they put out another complication once The Longshots have more to contribute, it would be ideal. As for now, this new wave of punk rock is rocking, and Armstrong keeps getting better and better.
may 2018I volume 21 I issue 7
New show brings awareness to Alzheimer’s ‘Hilarity for Charity’ will have you laughing for a good cause maddy laing I staff writer
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eth Rogen, director of “Pineapple Express” and “The Interview” and all around funny individual has combined all genres of entertainment for a charity event, “Hilarity for Charity” (HFC). Six years ago, Rogen, his wife, and friends, began the charity to bring awareness to the youth and raise money for research and in-home care for those with family members affected by Alzheimer’s. Lauren Miller Rogen, Rogen’s wife, stated noticing her mother repeating questions and forgetting things the day of her college graduation and slowly her and Seth had to witness her mother losing her spirit. Fortunately they can pay the expenses of 24 hour in home care seven days a week, unfortunately not everyone can. That sole reason is why Seth and Lauren felt they needed to start this charity. From the HFC official website it has a small description of what the charity is about and how anyone can help. It talks about Lauren’s mother a little bit and how the show “started as five friends putting on a variety show to raise some money for Alzheimer’s disease, and has turned into something so much bigger than we ever expected,” Lauren and Seth said. In 2016, HFC raised over $1.8 million for an event that was not even globally broadcasted. Alzheimer’s is the leading case of dementia and is a memory loss disease. It has no known cure, and those affected by it start losing distant memo-
Courtesy of Hilarity for Charity Twitter
ries first, followed by the loss of being able to walk, talk, and eat on their own. As sad as Alzheimer’s is to speak of and witness, Seth believes that people should not act as if it is wrong to be sad; like it should not be there. He wants to spread awareness to everyone about how everyone can support each other and reach out to one another for the things we need or want help for. Netflix became one of HFC’s newest sponsors, taking HFC global for the first time. HFC invited a plethora of comedians and performers to put on a show that met all of Netflix’s main categories. The Netflix algorithm is what decides where things go on the home page, so Seth planned to “hack” the algorithm and incorporate all categories they could so the taping would be broadcasted to everyone possible.
Just a few of the performers involved were: Nick Kroll, Jeff Goldblum, Chris Hardwick, The Muppets, John Mulaney, Sarah Silverman, Post Malone, and Craig Robinson & the Nasty Delicious. There were many others and, even though not in attendance, Justin Roiland, co-creator and voice actor of Rick and Morty, created an animated short to complete the animation portion from the algorithm list. Being Seth Rogen, the show is sometimes R-rated, mainly PG-13, and even a little smidge of G for the, hopefully, no children watching. The event is still humorous as long as you are not bothered by anything lude and littered with f-bombs. The event starts after Seth gets himself out of hell where he bargained for his life with the devil, Ike Barinholtz, that he would start a charity and not be selfish. The show is very
meta as in it breaks the fourth wall in certain skits they do. The entertainment really pertains to teens and young adults, which was a goal of Seth’s, to get the issue of Alzheimer’s out to the youth so everyone becomes more aware of one of the worst illness. The show ends with an amazing cover of Mark Morrison’s “Return of the Mack” sung by Post Malone, accompanied by Craig Robinson. Everyone who performed had visible joy on their faces from how successful and fulfilling the show was. Seth and Lauren will continue this charity and hopefully the money will truly lead to a cure or some form of help to those struck by Alzheimer’s. This show brings a whole new light of awareness to young adults through what we know best, humor.
@huntleyvoice 35
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G O R A I D E R S
november 2017 I volume 21 I issue 2
She’s got game
Freshman Briana Bower succeeds in two varsity sports
riyana walker I staff writer
W
e all can recall some parts of our freshman year being scary. Being a freshman is scary enough as is with figuring out the new building, adjusting to classes, and joining or quitting clubs and sports. Now imagine being a freshman playing not one but two sports at the varsity level. For freshman varsity softball and basketball player Briana Bower this is a reality. She managed to play varsity basketball in the fall and still be a great student academically. “Sometimes the stress can be unbearable and the nerves can be really bad,” Bower said. “But in my case when you have something you love to do there’s nothing that you would rather do more.” With daily practices, games during the week, and on the weekends Bower’s time with her friends is very limited. Naturally this makes her sad, however she understands this necessary sacrifice will help her to achieve her goal of playing softball at the collegiate level.The fact that Bower is only a freshman and she realizes what she needs to do in order to keep doing well in sports and in school is very
Photo courtesy of Samantha Rysavy
impressive. “With playing at the highschool level having to hold yourself accountable is already a big step into becoming a better player,” Bower said. “Being a freshman on varsity softball is fun, but it can also be very intimidating at times because there is always that feeling that you can’t mess up and you have to prove to everyone that you are capable to play on that team at such a young age.” The adjustment to playing at the highschool level has been a very interesting experience for Bower. Bower has two freshman friends that help with the stress and the pressure. Paige Berkmeyer and Marley Reicher helped her to adjust by helping her become more comfortable especially since they all grew up together. “With this being my first year playing varsity with Briana I was quickly able to see her work ethic and tell that she had a great skill level and drive,” freshman teammate Paige Berkmeyer said. Playing on the team with upperclassmen may seem to be very scary but, Bower considers it a privilege because she gets to learn from them and as the
seasons pass she believes she’ll end up making lifelong friends. So playing alongside sophomores, juniors, and seniors was not as scary as people may think. Bower’s initial thoughts and feeling about playing on the varsity softball team were a mixture of excitement and nervousness. She was worried about the schedule, the older girls, and the coaches. Coaches are also a very important part of being an athlete, they help to craft you into the player that you are going to be. According to Bower the coaches are really good and they hold her accountable and also treat you well at the same time. Bower began her softball career a very long time ago with her father as the coach. Since then she has continued to grow and blossom into the high school athlete that she is today. She has been recognized by many colleges, athletic programs, and even coaches from different states. Bower’s father has been a huge part of helping her with her softball career. With coaching basically every team she has played on and being by her side
see SOFTBALL, page 41 @huntleyvoice 37
sports
These girls are ‘kic
Get to know the faces represen PepsiCo Sh
Senior Forward Brenna Keegan
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he was only a freshman. She anxiously waited as the announcer called out the names of the varsity players. Then it happened. “When they called my name it was a big ‘oh my god’ moment” she said. Senior girls varsity soccer forward Brenna Keegan had made varsity. Now, standing on the field for her last year as a varsity player, it feels unreal. Keegan was introduced to soccer at age five. She has played for 13 years and remembers how she began as if it was yesterday. Her dad was the first person to get her into sports when she was a little girl. Initially, she played softball and soccer. “Soccer was the one that just stuck,” Keegan said. “I just really enjoyed playing soccer. I loved scoring goals and running, so I’ve been
38 @huntleyvoice
apart of it since.” The PepsiCo Showdown is a yearly soccer tournament and every year individuals are picked from Illinois to recieve their own poster. These posters go on display on the side of the field to represent some of the more extraordinary players. “It’s really cool because you stand out and you’re kind of like a leader for the team,” Keegan said. “It’s a big thing for Huntley to be picked as one so it is really exciting.” Now that it is her senior year this is the last PepsiCo Showdown that they’ll play in together. Although they cannot win every game, the title is still important to her. The memories of riding on the bus with the team as they listened to music and sang songs together will never fade.
All throughout high school Keegan has felt as if she has been tested in her sport. There are little moments where she looks back and says she could have done better. Yet, every time she looks at what her end goal is, she works harder each day to get back on track. “I wanted that extra playing time and I really wanted to be apart of the team moments. I wanted to be a part of the reason we did so good. That is why I kept pushing myself during practice and games. Pushing myself in order to fight for my position,” Keegan said. As her final season comes to an end and she leaves the number seven behind, Keegan will continue her academic and soccer career as number 23 at Barton College in North Carolina.
kaitlyn kalischefski
Junior Goalie Jenn
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he may have never been a goalie and may have never been a soccer player. She did start off as a goalie, but it didn’t last long. “I played in kindergarten and I was hit in the face with a soccer ball when I was a goalie actually. Then I quit because of it” Franklin said. Then when fourth grade rolled around her best friend convinced her to play again. From here Franklin continued to grow as she made the travel team the following year as a field player. “I never really planned on being a goalie again. One season a goalie got hurt and somebody volunteered me” Franklin said. Finally returning to the goalie position Jenna started the journey she is still on today. Throughout her soccer journey Jenna has had many people to look up to, but former goalies Paige (last name) and Abby Brown are two that have helped her the most. The two goalies are so strong in the back. “Paige was so intimidating to me because I was coming into the program as this little freshman” Franklin said. They held the defense area of the team together in back and were such good goalies. Jenna hopes to be this type of role
may 2018 I volume 21 I issue 7
ckin’ it at PepsiCo
nting HHS at the 14th annual owdown I staff writer
na Franklin
Senior Defender Zoe Zuzzio
model for other goalies and inspire them to push themselves in order to achieve their goals. Jenna feels that the PepsiCo Showdown is a great tournament to be apart of. “I feel really proud when Coach Lewandowski asked me to be on a poster because it is kind of a big deal. It makes me feel like an important player on the team” Franklin said. She remembers winning her freshman year and she just wants that ecstatic feeling again. The PepsiCo Showdown is much more than just a soccer tournament. “The tournament is really more about helping the community and being a part of it” Franklin said.
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trapping on the captain band had become routine for here, but every time she put it on the feelings she felt were indescribable. Throughout the seasons she works to continue her growth as a player and as a captain. “I started off my freshman year as captain, then as I made JV, and now I am the captain of varsity. Being captain all 5 years has been awesome” Zuzzio said. The PepsiCo Showdown is the highest tournament for all levels of high school soccer. Being able to compete is exciting and it is very competitive during each game. This tournament allows so much college exposure for players and with these
posters these players are put in the spotlight early on. “It’s really special to be on a poster because you get to really represent your team. You are in a leading role and you can really help point the team in the right direction” Zuzzio said. She wants to be able to participate in the shaking of the Pepsi bottles at the end of the tournament. That moment when all the pop sprays out and covers the team seems so fun. Like a wave of recognition for all the hard work that had been put in. As the senior captain’s season comes to a close she remembers so many memories. The feeling she has before a game as everyone is ready to go
and her dance she does with teammate junior Alyssa Constantino before the game starts is one of them. Yet the most vivid memory she has was in a game in a previous season. A defender broke through the rest of the defense and now Zuzio was the only person standing between the opposing team and the goalie. She quickly stole the ball from them and by doing so caused them to fall, but it was worth it knowing that in that moment she had prevented them from scoring. Although she is most excited for the Buddies Club soccer game coming up. They have done practices with the club before, but she feels this game will be the most special game she will play in.
All photos courtesy of Coach Lewandowski @huntleyvoice 39
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may 2018 I volume 21 I issue 7
AFRAID, page 16 completely lost all trust in people and I couldn’t tell anybody anything. I was quiet. I felt like a nobody because I kept so many things a secret.” Although she has lost many friends as a result of them not being trustworthy, not believing her, and not having her best intentions at heart, she has learned to value those who do understand and support her. The first few people she told didn’t believe her; they thought she was a liar. But, after learning to surround herself with those positive, loving types of people, it has made all the difference in her journey toward healing.
“I would be dead,” Cervantes said. “If no one believed me, if no one supported me, I think I would be dead. I think about it all the time, especially after my recent attempt. If the police were never called, I would be dead. I would never be telling anybody my story.” Best of all, her positive self is coming back as a result from finally getting help. The girl who her mom used to describe as her fun, motivated, and out there daughter is finally back after being shut down, depressed, and feeling worthless for years. “It’s so hard for someone to come out so clean and talk about it,” she said. “But I always tell people who went through this and who were bullied, like I was bullied so
many times, to just go to people, to get help, and especially to come to me because I have been through so much. So many people are so afraid, but if they go to somebody who understands and can relate instead of going to somebody who doesn’t understand and who makes them explain it...then they are not worth talking to.” Her mom calls her her rosebud because before the assault she was so open. She then closed back up after everything happened and is slowly opening up again and every day she is growing back into a beautiful rose. She is strong. She is happier. She is growing. She is blooming. She is Sarah.
SOFTBALL, page 37 through it all just shows how dedicated she is to making her dreams come true. “My dad has always been there step by step showing me what needed to be done in order to achieve my goals,” Bower said. “For that he is greatly appreciated and I love him very much”. Parents are always around when they’re needed most, to pick us up when we have been pushed down. To show us right from wrong but most of all to be that should that we can lean on no matter what. When the college recognition initially started for Bower she began to live by one of her favorite quotations. When the heat is on you either step up to the plate or you fail. Bower keeps these words in the back of her mind as a constant reminder to keep going and to never lose sight of her dreams. The fact that playing on varsity as a freshman was never Bower’s intent and she is “killing it,” is amazing. “It just helps to boost my confidence level and remind me that I am good enough and that hard work pays off.” Bower said. Bower is an inspiration to others and as she continues to let her light shine, nothing will be able to stop her. Bower gives fellow young athletes this piece of advice: “Always remember if you want something bad enough; keep pushing, working and striving for greatness.”
@huntleyvoice 41
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• v softball @ jacobs, 4:30 pm • jv softball v. jacobs, 4:30 pm • fs softball v. jacobs, 4:30 pm • v baseball @ hampshire, 4:30 pm • jv boys lax v. marian central, 4:30 pm • jv soccer @ mchenry, 4:30 pm • v soccer @ mchenry, 4:30 pm • v tennis v. CL South, 4:30 pm • fs tennis @ CL South, 4:30 pm • soph baseball v. hampshire, 4:30 pm • jv girls lacrosse @ fremd, 5:30 pm • v boys lax v. marian central, 6 pm • v girls lax @ fremd, 7 pm
editorial
Don’t judge an issue by its cover
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ocial studies teacher Shandon Nixon vividly remembers the day his then 7- year-old daughter and 3-year-old son came downstairs together after playing dress up. His son was dressed head to toe in a baby blue Cinderella dress. Nixon was on his way out the door, leaving with his kids to go to Walmart. His son expressed that he wanted to leave in the dress. Nixon knew in that moment that he needed to make a decision that would not only affect the way his son was looked at, but that would reflect his parenting. It is prevalent in our society that males and females are held to different standards regarding the way they act, dress, think, feel, communicate, and carry themselves. The standards to which we conform are ingrained in the way parents raise their children; females
values society has instilled in you in combination with your upbringing. Because of the double standard, men and women are looked at under a microscope and their decisions are judged immediately. The double standard is that it is acceptable for men to go about wearing or doing one thing and that same thing is not acceptable for women, or vice versa. For example, most females are taught to watch their drinks at parties or that what they wear reflects how they want to be treated. Contrarily, a majority of teenage boys are not told to watch their drinks or to cover up their bodies. They are taught to win, to fight, to be tough, and to “be a man.” These standards are placed upon the different sexes based on the expectation of societal ideals and what people think
“As a female, there is a greater potential of ‘I’m supposed to fulfill those expectations.’” -Shandon Nixon
are raised different than males. Whether this is for our own good or not, it alters they way children in today’s culture grow up. We at The Voice challenge this double standard that has been put into in us early on through society and we encourage you to do the same. Look at the cover of our magazine. Who caught your eye? Your immediate reaction to this is a reflection of the
the norm should be. This is portrayed in media, it is present in modern conversations, it is prevalent in relationships, and the list goes on. “The power structure that exists in relationships is ‘I’m the guy, I have expectations. I’m part of a society in which guys can have expectations,’’’ Nixon said. “As a female, there is a greater potential of ‘I’m supposed to fulfill those expectations.’” There is an unwritten soci-
etal code that permits sexual freedom for men but not for women; this is seen with the traditional subordination of women throughout history. We need to be held accountable for the subtle yet extremely damaging expectations we place on each other. Comments like, “boys will be boys” are often overlooked in our society. There needs to be a balance in raising our women to be strong, confident individuals, while still teaching boys that it is okay to embrace more feminine characteristics and show emotion. “My nephew is a little bit wilder and we kept saying ‘oh he’s a boy, oh he’s just a boy,’” instructional coach Laura Jenkins said. The double standard allows each sex to get away with something that the other cannot; it is society’s excuse. The media feeds on the real experiences that have victimized women, inciting fear and encouraging predatory behavior. The media justifies cultural stereotypes that are detrimental to our workplaces, schools, and households. This puts the mental stability and development of our children in danger. It is accepted in society that boys and men are rewarded and praised for heterosexual sexual contacts, whereas girls and women are derogated and stigmatized for similar behaviors. This double standard has been prevalent throughout history. The idea that women are to stay at home and men are breadwinners is one that America and the rest of the world has idealized.
Although the extreme views have decreased in modern culture, the subtle expectation for men and women to abide by these expectations is real and damaging. “I’ll tell my son not to party too much, which I’ll also say to my daughter, but for a different reason: ‘don’t party too much because you’ll be irresponsible with your grades, but also because that could put you in a situation of someone hurting you,’” Nixon said. “Both should be treated equally, but that’s not the reality. I don’t think as a society we’ll ever be able to completely eradicate those preconceptions.” It is time that we identify these societal double standards and break the expectational walls that exist between the two sexes. These impressions are not easy to stop and it takes time to change the thought process of a nation. We as a generation need to commit ourselves to working toward a goal that we will most likely not see come to fruition during our lifetime. Next time you judge someone of one sex in a way you would not of the other, reflect on your mindset. You can change this issue with positive reinforcement every day. “It is time for us to focus more on improving ourselves, rather than criticize others, especially when our critiques can be considered completely hypocritical,” junior Molly Rosen said. “Our teen years are too important and short to be overshadowed with hate and negativity. Become more self aware and empathetic of how you impact the world around you.”
@huntleyvoice 43
huntley high school I 13719 harmony road I huntley, IL 60142
onelastthing
...cried
Eric Moore
The first year Huntley math teacher shares the last time he...
... got scared
Well, I don’t scare easily and I certainly may be forgetting something, but I’ll go back to when I was seven years old. My parents took me to see “Pet Sematary” in the theaters. What were they thinking? It’s an old one, but if you’ve seen it, you can picture some things that would terrify a seven year old. My mom took me out of the movie halfway through, but my dad stayed to watch the rest. Thanks Dad! To this day I still have a hard time watching that movie.
February 4th, 2018. After almost having tears of joy watching Tom Brady lose a Super Bowl (sorry Patriots fans, I’m bitter!). Those horrible people at NBC played off of my roller coaster of emotions having watched a great game. Also, three words: “This Is Us.” I’ll spare the details for anyone that plans on binge-watching the show someday, but let’s just say it tugged at my heart-strings a bit. I only intended to halfwatch having only seen a couple episodes of the show, I was caught off guard when I became invested and felt something wet on my cheek. My first thought was something was leaking in the ceiling…no. Sweating? No. When I realized what had happened I threw the remote across the room and went to the basement to crank heavy metal and lift weights. I vowed to myself I would never tell anyone that this happened…oh wait!
... gave words of advice You truly can do anything you put your mind to, you just have to be prepared to work hard. Maybe even harder than others. It may not come easily, but if you want it bad enough you can get it. Oh, and DO NOT speed in work zones, especially when workers are present, for their safety, but even at 2:00 am in the middle of February. Not worth it!
... went on vacation I had a pretty good one [recently.] My wife and I flew into Vegas and stayed there for three nights. Then about within a four hour drive is the Grand Canyon. In my opinion, it’s a little gem and somewhere I thought was even nicer: Sedona, Arizona. If you’ve never been, put it on your bucket list because the red rocks are something to see. We spent a night there and then drove back to Vegas for one more night before we flew home. interviewed by maggie mcgee photographed by arianna sanchez