Huntley High School Voice March 2017

V THE VOICE

OUT OF THE

DARKNESS Eight years later, social studies teacher Ellysa Cassier reveals the trauma that changed her life (p. 10)

March 2017 • Volume 20 • Issue 6

S. Faheem

In this issue...

4

New gelato shop hits Huntley

7

#notmypresident controversy

14

Manny’s Gelato shop finds a home in the Huntley Square, while serving an array of breakfast items, specialty drinks, and Italian-style food.

4

The popular hashtag creates a dispute between both liberals and conservatives about the current state of our country.

Learning with a secret

30

One student at HHS chronicles her experience in normal classes while living with the rare developmental disorder, Asperger’s Syndrome.

24

“King Kong” revival hits mark

30

Sprinting with a purpose

“King Kong: Skull Island” transcends dubious predictions to become a successful, entertaining comeback.

32

Junior Dubem Anikamadu carries his success in middle school track to the high school level, with hopes to break even more records.

Our Editorial Policy...

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. Advisors 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.

Meet Our Staff...

Courtney Thomas • Editor-in-Chief • Maddy Moffett • Print Editor • Camille Paddock • Online Editor • Bri Governale • Doubletruck Editor • Mawa Iqbal • News Editor • Maggie McGee • Opinion Editor • Natalie Trzeciak • Features Editor • Alex Landman • Sports Editor • Lucas Modzelewski • A&E Editor • Ryan O’Sullivan • Photo Editor • Staff writers • Madison Barr • Alejandra Favila • Nicholas Fleege • Emily Kindl • Emma Kubelka • Faith Losbanes • Peyton Moore • Michael Panzarella • Noah Simmons • Bry Walker • Sarah Biernat • Tyler Lopez • Austin Zeis • Photographers • Jacob Barker • Alex Downing • Bill Hollatz • Sehba Faheem • Dennis Brown • Adviser

2 • THE VOICE • March 2017

Laughs courtesy of

BRIEFS

‘Fuddy Meers’

natalie trzeciak• features editor

O

n March 1, Huntley High School’s Thespian Troupe presented “Fuddy Meers,” a mature comedy written by David Lindsay-Abaire.

The story begins as Claire, a woman with recurring amnesia, wakes up every morning to find out she is married to Richard, a hospital worker, and has a resentful teenage son, Kenny, after reading the book that includes all the facts about her life.

The troubled family continues to go about their daily routine until one morning, the Limping Man, claiming to be Claire’s brother, kidnaps her. As the two journey through a series of chaotic events, Claire comes to realize that the Limping Man is in fact her abusive ex-husband Phil and that Richard had been taking advantage of her memory loss the entire length of their marriage. At this point, she decides to update her memory book for good.

The Thespians had been working nearly two months to prepare the goofy play and hoped the edgier subject matter would increase the interest in the production.

“The experience was a struggle in the beginning given that I had played a complex character,” Danielle Bahn, actress behind Claire, said. “But as the show went underway, it was one of the most eye opening and helpful experiences I’ve ever had.”

March 2017• THE VOICE •3

Assortment of gelato at Manny’s Gelato and

NEWS Coffee shop (Courtesty of Manny’s Gelato Facebook page).

Little Italy comes to Huntley Family opens up a gelato and coffee cafe in Huntley square faith losbanes•staff writer

I

t’s a sunny Wednesday afternoon and yellow rays of light stream in through the large front windows of the shop. There’s a warm glow in the small, homey space, contrasting the bitter March cold nipping at the faces of hurried customers walking through the glass double doors.

Manny’s Gelato & Café is scrawled across the new glass in sleek, black cursive font.

Across the room, a group of HHS band kids chatter over their colorful cold treats, discussing the rehearsal they had just come back from. A mother and daughter sit at a black wire patio table, sipping at cups of coffee. Across the store, an older couple strikes 4 • THE VOICE • March 2017

up a conversation with the smiling young man behind the counter, as he scoops generous portions of chocolate gelato into small yellow cups.

Just over a month ago, Manny’s Gelato and Café opened up shop in downtown Huntley and has not stopped buzzing since.

After a hugely successful opening with a show of over 100 customers checking out the new location, this little taste of Italy has become the new neighborhood hotspot for all ages and demographics.

According to Adam Scalise, brother of owner Manny Stier, their customers are largely made up of residents from Del Webb and students from local schools, including McHenry

County College and Huntley High School.

Rosie Scalise, Stier’s mother, was the owner of La Cucina Café, located by the train station in Cary, about 20 minutes away from the new café Huntley.

After La Cucina closed, they began brainstorming ideas for a new café. Because the gelato was so successful at La Cucina, they decided to make it the centerpiece of their café, introducing Huntley to a cold treat healthier than traditional ice cream.

They originally planned on moving their location to a place in Crystal Lake, but due to complications with the building, they found their way to 11808 Main Street, right off

of Huntley’s Historic Town Square.

“We were looking around and we saw this building when they had just finished construction all down here,” Stier said. “We were shocked that this spot was still available.”

Ever since the move, business has been better than the family could have hoped for. The family has garnered positive reception from the community.

“It’s been very good, being that everyone around Huntley has been so nice and supportive,¨ Scalise said. “Without the understanding and support of this community, we wouldn’t be what we are right now.”

Although it may be Stier’s name in big letters on the shop, it truly is a family-run business with all the charm and grace of one.

In fact, the name of the shop was named not for owner Manny Stier, but in respect to Stier’s grandfather and great grandfather who were both also named Manny.

Their italian roots serve as a source of inspiration for their menu, where they try to stay as true to their ancestry as possible.

The menu consists of three parts: the gelato menu, which is made with no articificial flavors or additives, the coffee menu, and kitchen menu. Everything is cooked on location with ingredients as local as it can get.

They regularly try out new flavors and combos and pick and choose flavors get to stay based on the response from customers. Even in the cold, late-winter weather, business has been unexpectedly good.

According to Stier, the gelato and kitchen items have caught on well but they are still waiting on the coffee to really kick off.

“Our coffee menu is super underrated because gelato is in our name, and we tried to market our lunch a lot more,” Stier said. “In my opinion, it’s some of the best coffee in the area but not too many people know about it yet.”

Aside from serving quality food, Manny’s prides itself on serving up a memorable experience for its customers.

“We definitely make it a point to emphasize the importance of customer service,” Scalise said. “Not just walk

into any old store, buy something, and leave. We greet every customer that comes in and strive to provide the best customer service possible.”

Their attention to good service has kept their customers coming back for more.

For Joshua Szeszol, a Huntley High School senior, the comfortable setting and authentic gelato has brought back fond memories from his childhood, of when he would go on trips to Europe with his family.

“I got this impression that all the employees were all part of the same family and that it was a family business, they were just very kind,” Szeszol said. “They started up a conversation with me and I talked about why I liked gelato.”

Molly Danca, another student at HHS, has been going almost every day since they opened. A trip to Manny’s has become a custom for Danca, stopping in for coffee before work, or for a chicken caesar

wrap before going to an after school rehearsal for the school play.

“I think it brought something we really needed because I feel like we always needed a cute little ice cream shop,” Danca said. “I think it brought a really cute little hangout place to go that isn’t just coffee related, cause we have starbucks and everything, but I feel like it’s a really nice place to go with your friends before dinner, after dinner, after a movie, stuff like that.”

Manny’s fits right in with the needs of the growing town, as new developments are making strides each day. ¨It brings a sense of modernistic drive to our town because our town used to have nothing and now we have all these stores popping up,” Szeszol said. “It’s really cool to see these restaurants come up.”

Fans of the new café are excited to have a new hang-

NEWS

out spot for the upcoming hot summer days which is sure to be a popular destination for all people to get out of the summer sun and enjoy a cold treat.

“I’m really excited for the summer because gelato is always best in the summer,¨ Szezsol said. ¨I can’t wait for when it’s like 100 degrees and I can just go to the gelateria and get some raspberry sorbetto cause it’s just gonna be really refreshing.”

As of right now, the family team at Manny’s is working on new plans for the café and are exploring the idea of outdoor seating, catering, and other events.

Manny’s Handcrafted Gelato and Café is open 7 days a week from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

For menu items and more information, check out their website at http://mannysgelatoandcafe.com/ • Outside view of Manny’s Gelato and Cafe shop, located right on Main Street near the Huntley Downtown Square (S. Faheem).

March 2017 • THE VOICE • 5

NEWS

Spring service: NHS edition Small group leaders ramp up service project for the spring

noah simmons•staff writer

I

t is a few days before the final exams of the semester, and you have not studied at all. Your stomach churns and your head hurts as you think about the horrible grade you are probably going to get.

Just then, a glimmer of hope appears. You see a sign in the hallway that says “Cocoa and Cram” and it says that anyone can come in and study with the National Honors Society kids and get help on certain subjects.

National Honors Society is a premier organization which recognizes many of Huntley’s outstanding students. Students from every walk of life and social clique are a part of this organization.

It is so much more than just an honor roll. According to the four pillars of the society, those who are a part of NHS have demonstrated themselves in areas of scholarship, leadership, character, and service.

These NHS kids continue to demonstrate the areas of leadership and service in small group leader events.

There, students are assigned to one of several small groups where they volunteer in specific projects.

“Two or three years ago, we decided that our numbers were getting so big [in the honors society] and students are supposed to do a leader6 • THE VOICE • March 2017

ship project,” leader of NHS at Huntley, Melanie Lyons said.

“With over 200 students, it was getting hard for people to come up with things, and so we set up this idea of having small groups, where between 10 and 30 students worked together to create a leadership project.”

Some of these events include helping out at nursing homes, tutoring kids at Leggee Elementary School, and helping other students study for their upcoming exams.

Each group will pick an area that they are passionate about, for example, a group that is passionate about animals will help out at the animal shelters.

“We have events that help those in need, like our Adopt a Family project during Christmas time,” junior Mallory Moffett said. “Members in NHS learn responsibility and how to help others from our events.”

“These events can range from helping out the local animal shelter to volunteering at the hospital to making care packages for soldiers overseas” junior Veronica Casey said.

According to the NHS Haiku page, “the willingness to work for the benefit of those in need without compensation or recognition of any kind is a quality that is essential in NHS members.”

As a service club, the National Honor Society is highly concerned with giving its all to the school and community at large.

These small group leaders are incredibly passionate about whatever project they are doing. Junior Julie Stout was inpsired by her work tutoring Conley Elemntary School students over this past summer to base her small group project around that.

“Just like the leaders themselves, the events reflect the person’s interests and experience of who is organizing them” junior Julie Stout said.

“For me, I wanted to host an event of tutoring to help the kids at Leggee.”

On May 13 at Huntley High School, NHS will be making care packages for United States troops overseas in a small group event called “Operation Desert Angels.”

All of these students involved in NHS have really set their priorities in aca-

demics, but are also incredibly involved in the school’s community.

“The goal is to build that leadership and that passion for volunteering so that when they get out of high school, I feel like they’re going to be the people in the community who are doing the volunteering, who are the organizers.” Lyons said.

“You get as much out of NHS as you put into it; the projects aren’t going to plan themselves,” junior Sam De La Paz said. “The main goal is to make a difference in the community, no matter how small. Good memories and valuable experiences come out of projects as well.”

For more information on National Honors Society or these small groups events, please contact Mrs. Lyons at mlyons@district158.org. • NHS member Senior Jaclyn Smitendorf tutors senior Amanda Jeurgensen in Statistics during Raider Aide (S. Faheem).

OPINION

Hashtag leading to havoc? “#notmypresident” is creating change despite beliefs madison barr • staff writer

T

he ever-so-prominent hashtag “#notmypresident” has been the center of attention across many social media outlets since Nov. 9, the day Donald Trump was announced as president elect.

With the hashtag paving its way on social media for citizens from the U.S. and around the world to have their voice heard on why they oppose Trump, protests quickly began forming.

Many have said that the protests are what is dividing the country and bringing out the worst in people, but I’d like to argue that it’s bringing many groups of people from many different backgrounds together to fight for a cause.

Women band together at women’s marches, those against the “Muslim Ban” gathered at airports, and even LGBTQ+ activists held a protest on the street of Mike Pence’s home, where they danced and danced to show their disapproval of his anti-LGBTQ+ stance.

Of course, some could see a divide in the battle of Trump supporters versus the Trump opposition. And yes, it is clear when you point it out, but I think the fact that so many people are gathering

together and fighting for a cause, specifically the Trump opposition, is a beautiful thing.

“As someone who has attended three protests, I don’t see anything wrong with it,” sophomore Molly Rosen said. “In fact, I admire it. Protests have extremely positive and supportive atmospheres that everyone can benefit from. I still remember the look on the face of my friend, who is Hispanic, when we went to a Trump protest and they began a chant in Spanish. That representation meant the world to her.”

Now, while people like myself may see protests as a productive form of the First Amendment, others do not see that as easily. In fact, some may think or believe that protests are unnecessary and obnoxious and that they divide the country even further.

“I think the protests are continuing to divide what is already one of the most divisive nations in the world,” junior Charlie Zornow said. “You are either very Republican or very liberal. There are fewer and fewer people who fall on both sides of the spectrum.”

No matter what your opinion is on if the protests are worth it or if they actually provide results, I believe they should continue.

“I’m sure that there are more calm ways to get our voices heard, but he [Trump] probably won’t start to listen unless his people are in a constant state of anarchy,” sophomore Nicolas Reese said.

Another reason for believing why the country is divided is because of who exactly the President of the United States is.

“Some of the things that he has said and done are ridiculous and unforgiv-

able,” sophomore Braeden Clements said.

“No matter their policies, I could never support someone who carries themselves like that.”

Even if you support Trump, you have to be able to see what his faults are and why people do not support him.

“I admire his entrepreneurship and success as a businessman,” Rosen said “but that is the extent of my ‘support.’ I can’t support someone who is so selfish and oblivious to the needs of the American people, especially minorities. He doesn’t represent any of my views.”

Of course, you always run into people at “#notmypresident” protests who exclaim that he is in fact the president.

But what they apparently cannot seem to grasp, is that the opposition is fully aware of that.

“We all know that Trump is the current President of the United States by law,” Rosen said “That being said, it’s not necessary for us to accept him as our own personal president. If you didn’t vote for him and he’s not representing your views, you don’t have to call him your president.

He’s the President of the United States; not the president of you.”

At the end of the day, what is important is getting your voice heard. You can do that through contacting your representatives, participating in rallies and protests, volunteering, and simply voting.

“In my opinion, I wished that we could all get along, and in doing so, the protests [would] stop,” Clements said. “However, I realize how far fetched that is, and I think they should continue. It’s important as citizens that all of our voices are heard.” •

#notmypresident

March 2017 • THE VOICE • 7

OPINION

The secret life of athletes

Misconceptions lead to unfair labels placed on athletes maddy moffett • print editor

D

ean of students Tom Kempf walks down the hall lined with endless lockers. It is either six in the morning or six in the evening; he cannot really remember. As he trudges along the tiled floor, he glances at the ruddy brownish-red lockers at the various event flyers and sports posters adorning them. A specific sign on a locker makes him stop, tilt his head in consideration, and pull his phone out to snap a picture. The poster read: “She wears short skirts, and I’m forced to wear skirts at fingertip length because I’m not a cheerleader.”

Athletes have always been seen as over privileged. The arguments are something along the lines of these generic sentiments: they are not punished as severely, they get extra leniency from their teachers, they walk around like they own the place, and the list goes on and on. But in reality, athletes act well within their earned, not given, behaviors.

Being an athlete myself, I have always felt personally attacked by these arguments. Most student-athletes are like me; we do our homework, work diligently on and off the court, and respect both our peers and our teachers. Most do not have the “elitist” view of the world that so many believe we do. But that does not go without saying that they are a select

8 • THE VOICE • March 2017

minority of student-athletes that take advantage of their status and give the rest of us a bad name. They are found in every sport in every school. However, making blanket statements about all athletes is ignorant and closed-minded and only feeds into the stigma surrounding student-athletes.

Perhaps the greatest misconception about athletes is their supposed lack of disciplinary actions. Because student-athletes, and also students involved in HHS clubs, are subject to the Athletic and Activity Codes of Conduct, they are held to a higher behavioral standards.

Anything that they do outside of school, as well as inside the building can warrant both academic and athletic punishment.

To get hypothetical, let’s say that Student X is a player on the football team.

X has to make sure he has no Fs and no more than two Ds, has no detention hours, does not fail a drug test, and does not violate any actions depicted in the Student Handbook. That’s just in the building. When X is not at school, he cannot be caught drinking, doing drugs, posting inappropriately on social media, or any other infractions that violate the Code of Conduct. Because even though he’s not on school property or on a school function, X has to be an outstanding citizen to be eligible to compete all season long.

Now let’s say that Student Y is just an average student that does not participate in any sports or activities at Huntley

High School. Y keeps a squeaky clean record at school; but outside of school, Student Y puts his wild weekend escapades featuring beer bongs and no shortage of marijuana on his social media. Despite his illegal actions, Student Y will not face discipline from the school.

Student X, however, would receive major punishment.

As a former football coach and athlete himself, Kempf understands the misconceptions about athlete privilege from many angles.

“The perception is that athletes can get away with anything,” Kempf said. “In reality, athletes are in the top 1% of kids here behaviorally because of the possibility of losing part of your season.”

According to Kempf, the so-called “privileges” that athletes have are earned, not given. Earned in the hundreds of hours both in-season and out-of-season spent working on their skills. Sacrificed in the hours of sleep given up due to homework and projects that had to be put off until after practice.

However, I have heard an argument that athletes are not the only ones with busy schedules and lack of time for homework and friends. Jobs can also be extremely time-consuming; I am not disputing that. But those with jobs do not fall within the orbit of school-sponsored athletics and activities. As much sympathy as I have for those students, or even the sympathy that the staff at HHS has, the same rules do not apply to them here.

Athletes and those who participate in activities and clubs are the face of HHS. We represent our school with the names on our jerseys and content of our character. With the blood, sweat, and tears we have put forth over our tenure here, we have earned the opportunities and privileges that we have access to.

“If that’s what you think, that’s okay.

But you should then come out and see what it takes to be an athlete here,” Kempf said. •

OPINION

We have a plan, what plan?

Active shooter drill points out flaws in school’s plan camille paddock • online editor

Y

ou’re sitting in the commons, it’s a blended period and you’re chatting with your friends.

Then you hear gunshots. After realizing they are real, you do the only thing you can do: follow your instincts.

Will you run and hide? Will you freeze?

Will you follow directions from others?

No one truly knows the answer to any of these questions until the time comes, and at that point it is too late.

While it may seem dramatic and even morbid to have a live shooter drill, you never really know how you are going to react or how helpful and efficient the procedure our school has truly is. Since the last code red drill, there are a lot of flaws that were made obvious in the system.

The most alarming being the cafeteria shutters not coming down all the way.

Whether or not that was a one time mishap, being prepared for the worst is the only way to ensure complete safety for the students and faculty in our school.

Those shutters protected nothing during that drill, which would have allowed an introducer to do a lot of harm to a

large number of people who are in the commons area and cafeteria at any given time.

Personally, I think it is so important to start having active shooter drills in the high school so everyone can be prepared if anything were to happen. It would force our procedure to be flawless and sew up any gaps in the system. The administration seems to think a bit differently, though, and seems to be taking things slow.

“Now, what would be an improvement for us in the future would be to run a drill with kids in the cafeteria or a passing period,” Principal Scott Rowe said.

“We aren’t ready for that yet but hopefully soon.”

Waiting for the perfect time, though, isn’t the best plan of action because there isn’t going to be a time when everything lines up right.

The apprehension may come from the fact that the active shooter drill with the faculty did not go over so well. On an institute day, the teachers were completely unaware of the drill. A police officer in civilian clothes came into the building and started shooting blanks. This sent the teachers into a frenzy and they were able to see how they would react in a real life

situation.

“All the drills [faculty] have been through, we all know the procedures of what exactly we are going to do,” Rowe said. “This was kind of like a wild card thrown in because there are no written rules, all you can do is react with your instincts, which unfortunately is the real way ito would happen if it was to happen.”

Our school only teaches students and teachers how to hide in the classroom when there is an intruder inside or around the building. But what happens if that door opens? What are we supposed to do then? As of right now, we are pretty much on our own.

“We don’t even get trained like [the police department detectives],” campus supervisor John Szatkowski said. “We just have a protocol that notifies everybody that there is somebody in the building that shouldn’t be.”

Not only is it unnerving that our campus supervisors, the men hired to protect us, are not trained to deal with any kind of situation, but they also didn’t get to attend the active shooter drill. Considering the fact that they are the main security we have in our school, I would think the campus supervisors would be the most important people to have present at that drill.

“Supposedly, the district board did not want to pay us to be here since we are not required to be here like the rest of the faculty,” campus supervisor Robert Fish said.

As of right now, all I can do is hope that Huntley High is never put in a situation with a shooter, because we surely are not prepared to deal with that. • March 2017 • THE VOICE • 9

FEATURES

A story from the statistic

Teacher shares her life-altering experience for the first time alexandra landman • sports editor On Feb. 27, 2015, social studies teacher Ellysa Cassier was at the party, having a good time, celebrating a friend’s graduation and a new job in the finance industry. She was standing in the kitchen facing the porch, her back turned to the people in the house.

Her hair was up and somebody came up behind her and playfully pulled it. It was with enough force that it sent her instantly spiralling back into something that happened one night years before.

She ran outside, screaming at the top of her lungs. She fell onto her back and continued to scream bloody murder.

“Get off me, get off me, get off me!”

There was nobody near her.

In her mind, she had felt that same feeling that she had felt that night. Automatically, psychologically, her brain put her body back in that defensive mode, as if he was on top of her again.

After hearing the commotion in the front yard, two girls came outside to sit with Cassier to make sure she didn’t hurt herself.

When she was finally able to calm down enough to realize that she was not in immediate danger, she slowly

walked back inside to find a mess of confusion. She hadn’t told anyone.

She found a laundry room closet, locked herself inside, and sat in the corner and cried. Cassier shook uncontrollably. She was there again, it was happening again.

It’s 1 a.m. and she called her lifeline: her dad.

Cradling herself in the corner with her head propped against the cold metal of the washing machine, she told her dad that she was raped five years before.

He drove two hours to get her. The next day, she had to break down the wall that she spent so much time intricately building, the wall kept her safe for five years.

It was time to show her dad the other side of the wall.

comfortable, she brought two of her closest guy friends who lived on her floor with her.

She sat on a couch with her two floormates and a fellow classmate, the four of them just hanging out and studying.

What seemed to be a group of four friends having fun quickly went wrong when Cassier began to feel strange.

She thinks that the friend who had invited her over had slipped something into her drink. Immediately, she lost complete control of her legs,

arms, and nearly all of her bodily inhibitions.

She felt as though chains were locked around her body and there was nothing she could do about it. For an independent woman, the feeling of being restrained was not an option. Nobody held Cassier down.

“This isn’t normal, this shouldn’t be happening.”

He got on top of her, starting kissing her, but she couldn’t do anything. She looked to her two friends,

Cassier with the two “friends” who left her the night she was raped (Courtesy of E. Cassier).

…

In 2010, Cassier was an 18-year-old freshman at the University of Iowa. She had taken an honors seminar about the history of ancient Greece, a class that excited her because history was her thing. She had met a guy in class who became one of her friends. He was a smart, charismatic, attractive, fraternity brother who made her laugh frequently. They hit it off instantly.

One night, he invited her over to his fraternity house.

In order to feel safe and THE VOICE • March 2017 • 11

FEATURES who she brought for safety and comfort, and watched them walk out the door.

To them, it looked like she was enjoying it. They figured it was best to go and leave her there. What appeared to be enjoyment for others ended up being the most traumatic night in Cassier’s life.

He picked her up by the hair and dragged her into another room down the hallway.

He took off her clothes without her consent and threw them off the bed.

“Help, help, help, I don’t want this, no!”

But he did not stop.

Outside, she could hear his frat brothers laughing. After he was done, he threw her into the hallway. Not being able to process what happened, she could only piece together one thing.

“Did you have fun? Sounds like you had a great time,” his brothers taunted.

She sat there in the hallway with the extremely bright lights and the white noise.

It was as if a bomb had just exploded and the ringing resonated in her ears. The deafening silence was too loud for her to bear. She stared ahead at the wall because she could not bring herself to look at anything else.

“I need to go home. I need to go home.”

The fraternity brothers did not help her up. Instead, they stood there laughing. She was on the ground, numb. Not giving her time to catch her breath, he came back, dragged her into the room, and raped her a second time.

“I’m done with you, you can go home now,” he said, 12 • THE VOICE • March 2017

pushing her out of the room.

She haphazardly put her clothes on and stumbled down the stairs with her leggings inside out. Not knowing where she was, Cassier walked a mile and a half home by herself, still processing what had happened. Two hours later, she got back to her dorm, locked herself in the bathroom and cried, something she would find herself still doing five years later.

The embarrassment was too strong for this independent girl to confront, so she didn’t say a word. She was well aware of the possibility of being sexually assaulted on campus, but never thought she would become a statistic.

The effects began to chew at her insides. She just had to tell someone. The first person she told was her boyfriend who had been out of town for the weekend.

“So you had sex with him?” he asked.

“No...I was raped,” she said.

“No you weren’t.”

Thinking he had been lied to, he hit her. Having already been abused enough, both physically and emotionally, she broke up with him.

“I figured if somebody who said that he loves me is going to react that way, then everyone else is going to react that way too,” Cassier said.

“So I didn’t tell anybody for probably five years.”

Upon hearing the demons their daughter was dealing with, Cassier’s parents told her that in order to continue living in their house, she needed to go seek help.

“I hate asking for help or

admitting that I need it,” Cassier said. “I think I needed someone to force me to get it.”

But she did need help; little did her parents know that her darkest demons almost took her life.

It had gotten to the point a couple months before the 2015 party that she had tried to commit suicide. She just could not mentally take it.

Five years later, it was still a burden she was physically sick and tired of carrying.

In February 2015, five years and four months after she was violently raped, Cassier went and received therapy.

Having gone through such a traumatic event, Cassier had pushed that memory as far back as she possibly could, building the walls around it to protect it.

Because of this, her therapist made her bring that memory to the front of her brain so that she was forced to relive it. Needing to process the rape for the first time since Oct. 9, 2010, Cassier had to think about it while moving her hands so that way both sides of her brain were actively thinking.

“I’ve processed it enough, but not anywhere where I should,” Cassier said. “Although, I’ve gotten to a place now where I can control it better.”

Seven years removed from the situation, Cassier sees the severe impact those psychological side effects still have on her day-to-day life. She still deals with PTSD, severe anxiety, severe depression, and panic attacks. She has to take medication to help control her anxiety and panic

attacks.

“There’s days where I’ll have 20-30 really short panic attacks in a day,” Cassier said.

“Or there’s days where I’ll have a six-hour long panic attack and it’s just trying to get through that day. I have to realize that I’m okay, I’m safe, but my brain doesn’t necessarily process that all the way.”

“For the longest time, I justified it as ‘it happened to me because if it had happened to somebody else who was weaker, they would not have survived,’” Cassier said. “So, yeah, kind of a messed up justification. But, to an extent, I still believe that had it happened to somebody else who was not as strong a person as myself, that it would have killed them.”

Learning to live with her inner demons has made Cassier realize who she really is.

She is happy, outgoing, always smiling and joking with people she sees.

The teacher who has an open-door policy and excitedly welcomes all students into her classroom is the same person who still struggles at times to get out of bed in the morning because of her anxiety.

“It’s okay. We all have our things and you can still be successful. You can still persevere through. You can still live your life with these things,” Cassier said. “I’ll be that support if somebody’s going through this at a very dark time like I was, ready to just end it all and commit suicide.

I know that there is some light at the end of that tunnel, there’s something there.” •

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March 2017 • THE VOICE • 13

FEATURES

Taking it one day at a time Student with Asperger’s faces challenges of daily life bri governale • double truck editor

I

n elementary school she was picked on for being different. She was extremely sensitive; crying over something that upset her was not uncommon. The other kids teased her for that, and called her a “big baby”.

In middle school, a rumor was spread about her but she did not know what it was. She was not the best with socializing, so hearing this was extremely hard for her. It was in seventh grade was when she realized she did not fit in.

When she started high school her anxiety increased and she began having panic attacks. Her panic attacks happened in public when she was set off by something that bothered her, she would yell at anyone around her and become very angry. But she never meant it.

Asperger’s is a developmental disorder that affects the ability to effectively socialize and communicate.

Everyone with Asperger’s is different, but they all have similar social problems.

“I don’t think other people want to be around me since I’m so weird because I have Asperger’s,” she said. “I became more lonely, I felt more uncomfortable around people, anxiety really starting kicking in. I didn’t think anyone liked me.”

Being a teenager is tough, adding Asperger’s to the mix 14 • THE VOICE • March 2017

can make school and even life seem impossible. But that does not stop her from trying.

Since she was 3 years old, she has been receiving large amounts of therapy such as occupational, speech, equine, and physical.

“She has made an immense amount of progress throughout the years. She has always had an internal drive within herself, to achieve goals and do her absolute best,” her mom said. “I never coddled her, meaning, I refused to let her feel sorry for herself or feel different from her peers.

Also, I encouraged her to try everything she could, with all of my support.”

Outside of her Asperger’s, she is a regular student at HHS. She takes the classes required to graduate, and does extremely well in them.

However, the distractions caused by other students is

what makes school tough.

The tapping of pencils, clicking of pens, and crowding in the hallways are some things that may bother a student with Asperger’s.

“I try to pay attention in class, I want to get good grades and succeed, and I care about what I want to do when I grow up,” she said. “Seeing other kids constantly interrupting the teacher or just being distracting overwhelms me. Sometimes I have to leave the room because it overwhelms me so much.”

Students should be mindful to those around them; it is not easy to tell when someone has Asperger’s. One student messing around in class could really hurt another’s grades.

She wants people to know she is a regular kid, just like anyone else. People who know of her disability will compliment her for anything she does and that is not what she wants.

“You don’t have to compliment me for every time I get a goal in P.E. hockey or for everytime I get an answer correct, just treat me like a normal person, that’s who I am,” she said. “Outside of the Aspergers I’m like anyone else and I don’t feel like I should be treated any different all because I was born with something that makes

myself different than most people.”

The most important thing to her and her family is awareness, for students and parents to know what Asperger’s is.

“Awareness is something that parents and teachers should be addressing with very young children,” her mom said. “Young children are nonjudgmental by nature, so that’s the time when inclusion of other peers with differences, should take place in every aspect of socialization.” •

Quick Lesson on Asperger’s Syndrome 1. Asperger’s is considered a form of autism, but has its differences

2. Doctors d o not know what cause s it

3. Individuals with Asperger’s can be extremely intelligent 5. Albert E

rred fe e r o ls a is ’s r e g 4. Asper ” to as “mild autism

is believ instein is ed to ha ve Asperge r’s Infographic by B. Governale

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March 2017 • THE VOICE • 15

FEATURES

Building a better tomorrow Willow Creek Huntley looks to build their own facility emily kindl • staff writer

S

everal people walked into the high school the morning of March 5 , people of all ages, of all walks of life.

Huntley High School’s auditorium was filled with people who belonged to the Huntley campus of Willow Creek Community Church, a nondenominational Christian church. It had never been filled like this, in contrast to day one.

The staff planned a special service for that day. Many attendees fervently sang along with the songs the worship team planned, shook hands with a few people they just met, and listened attentively to the message the church’s lead pastor was speaking unto the people.

Whether the attendees were first-timers or have been coming since the church started, their arrival meant so much to the congregation since this special day signified the six-year anniversary of the church.

16 • THE VOICE • March 2017

(Courtesy of Willow Creek Huntley Facebook )

The service then concluded with the worship team singing a song that represented the church’s current journey, and everyone was welcomed to grab a celebratory cupcake, or two, and lemonade.

This anniversary, however, was much different from the church’s previous anniversary celebrations.

Since Feb. 5, Willow Creek Huntley had been focusing on Home Vision, a campaign launched on that date to fundraise for a permanent church home. This dream, this journey, was a huge part of this celebration.

About a year ago, a family generously donated 65 acres of land for a lower than expected cost of $350,000. Because of the generosity of the church’s congregation, the cost is already covered.

Through the years that Willow Creek Huntley has been renting HHS every Sunday for their services, they had been

praying for a permanent home to serve their church family, and their prayers were finally answered.

Many of the churchgoers believe that a blessing like this is the perfect formula to make a much greater impact on their community and its surrounding areas.

The space currently provided by Huntley will not allow the church to expand further.

“There’s definitely nothing wrong with renting, but there’s something powerful when a church family has a building and a place that they can call their own,” Todd Katter, lead pastor, said. “Being a mobile church is crazy, having to set up and tear down from 5 a.m. to 1 p.m., and it’s like a full-time job for the volunteers that do this every single week.”

Willow Creek Huntley aspires to have a 24-hour access to space and an establishment that will be convenient and be

FEATURES able to serve the needs of its people and the community. According to Katter, the building will overlook the beautiful wetlands of the area and will contain a 1000-seated auditorium.

The establishment will be located on Huntley Road before the Huntley and Boyer Road intersection. On that very land, they cannot wait to see a welcoming building that they can ultimately call their home.

Willow Huntley’s goal is to raise $10 million through the campaign, and hopefully become debt-free. Of that amount, an overwhelming amount of about $7.4 million has already been donated since the campaign’s start date of Feb. 5.

Though there is no exact timeline, Willow Creek is going to begin construction after the total goal is raised, with hopes to finish by the fall of 2018. Katter highlighted that it will be taken one step at a time, so no dates are set in stone as of yet.

This vision, though, is impossible without God and His movement through the people, and Student Ministries Director Pat Brennan identified this objective.

“The whole idea is to cast a vision for a permanent home and what that would look like for our community,” Brennan said. “And a part of that is a financial campaign that allows people to engage in it only if they feel led to.”

For the fundraising campaign, the leaders have to make sure that the people have all the information they need. Not only that, they feel they should emphasize that the campaign is not simply asking for money, but it is for people to follow where God specifically leads them, if He leads them, whether it be prayer, donations, or support.

People of all ages have felt led to participate in the campaign, and especially in such creative ways.

“We’ve had a single mom who saved up $1,000 for a down payment for a home and that was her big dream,” Katter said. “But when she heard about this vision of a church home - this isn’t something we told her, but something God

told her to do - she wanted to take that $1,000 and put it towards the church’s home. [It’s] a very touching story, knowing the level of sacrifice she was making.

We’ve had couples in retirement or with young kids who are cutting back: less meals out, cancelling cable, or donating jewelry and all sorts of [creative] things.”

The church’s leaders are so thankful for the committed group of people that attend this Willow Creek campus. The Director of Operations & Compassion and Justice pastor, Shannon Swift, admires the church family’s strong, loving, and genuine spirit among other things.

“We’re so unique because we have a congregation that represents people who are in their senior years, family years, and we have a good, healthy student representation as well, and [it’s] such a diverse age span,” Swift said. “I just love our sense of community, our sense of family, our age diversity, our all-in spirit, and our sense of ownership.”

Katter, Brennan, Swift, and the other leaders of the church commend the people’s heart for Jesus and their unconditional willingness to serve others. They think Willow Creek is such a different church in contrast any other church. As a Christian church, their focus is not on a to-do list but with their relationship with God, where all people are welcome regardless of where they come from or what their beliefs are.

HHS student, junior Sid Schroepfer, has been attending the Willow Creek Huntley campus since around the time the campus was launched. To have his church home get so close to realizing their own permanent home is very exciting for him. Though he is going to leave for college in a little over a year, he knows how much satisfaction he will have once his home church has its own home.

Schroepfer wholeheartedly believes that attending Willow Creek, and growing up with the church family, has completely impacted his life and the way he approaches Christianity.

He loves attending Impact, the church’s high school youth group, and

he is so thankful for the people he met through it. He has close connections with his small group and his small group leader. He admires how the group is like a counseling session: where they are able to give and receive advice, overwhelming love, and incredible support all while on a journey with God. “A non-denominational church, [like Willow Creek], is definitely a different style of church than anything else; it’s a different environment,” Schroepfer said. “Our church is very diverse in age, race, and ethnicity and such. It’s a really friendly environment to be a part of.”

Pastor Katter believes that the church, in general, is the most important thing happening on the planet for anyone to be a part of. He loves the idea of the church being an impact to an irreligious person, in hopes that they will soon become fullblown followers of Christ. Loving everyone always is what the church believes in, and they are still living that out today.

The leaders of the church had decided to choose a verse to represent not only the

church itself, but also their current journey.

“God is building a home in all of us,” Katter said. “And God is the one that is building this home, but we’re playing a part in it. I feel like we’re called to be a family, and the latter section of Ephesians 2 talks about [that], and how Jesus is the cornerstone of a church family.”

He said that, specifically, Ephesians 2:19 is the theme Bible verse for the campaign. It says, “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.” “We’re so connected,” Katter said. “We talk about being like a family and you just feel that. I feel it every Sunday when I go to church; I feel it everytime I walk into our office. There’s people who really see this church like their family and I love that.”

And Willow Creek Huntley’s new home will be just that, and more. •

March 2017 • THE VOICE • 17

DOUBLE TRUCK

SPRING BREAK GET AWAYS Students of HHS share their plans for spring break 2017 and how it compares to spring break 2016.

Background courtesy of: flickr

S

PARIS, FRANCE

pring Break is known for wild parties on the beach in Florida with your friends and everyone else on break. It is a time to let loose and forget your school related worries. But most people do not actually go to Florida and party it up on the beach.

Some take advantage of alternate spring breaks and dedicate their time to volunteer work across the country. Others simply use the nine days to catch up on sleep and television shows.

For the students part of Huntley High School’s Travel Program, Spring Break means visiting another foreign country. This year, a group of HHS students will be flying to France on March 25, visiting Paris, Normandy, and St. Malo.

Senior An Nguyen is very excited to be going. Her and her three closest friends, Nicole O’Sullivan, Amy Liam, and Tiffany Tran, all decided to go on the trip together.

“It sounds kind of cheesy, but it’s always been my dream to visit Paris because movies just romanticize that place a lot and it’s just like would be a really great place to visit,” Nguyen said.

While in Paris, students will have to opportunity to visit the Louvre, an art museum, and ascend the Eiffel Tower. In Normandy, students will be seeing the D-Day beaches, the American Cemetery, and the Caen Mémorial. Students will also visit Versailles and St. Malo.

“I’m really excited about tasting all the foods,” Nguyen said. “We are eating crepes, we are going to a cheese factory, and street food. I’m also really excited to take a lot of pictures and see the Eiffel Tower and Louvre.”

For most, traveling and seeing the world isn’t number one on the “to-do list,” but for Nyguen, it is.

“With traveling, you get a lot of experience,” Nguyen said. “It’s not materialistic, you’re spending a lot of money on living. In college, I really want to study abroad because, call me a human geography nerd, I just really like learning about culture.” courtney thomas • editor- in-chief

Photo courtesy of: static.pexels.com

Senior An Nguyen 18 • THE VOICE • March 2017

Photo courtesy of: wikimedia commons

Photo courtesy of: wikimedia commons

E

DOUBLE TRUCK

DAYTONA BEACH

ach year students and teachers anticipate the much needed break that comes every March; for senior Joe Jernigan, the expectations of spring break this year are much higher than last year.

With Panama City being a bust for Jernigan and his two friends last year, he is hoping for a much more exciting break away from small town Huntley, Illinois.

“Last year we went to Panama City Beach, me and two of my friends, and it was kinda dead,” Jernigan said.

This year Jernigan, along with nine of his friends, are packing into two cars and hitting the road hoping to make the nearly 18 hour trek to Daytona Beach, Florida in two days. They plan to stay for seven days a few blocks from the main boardwalk and all of the attractions.

“I’m super excited and it was super cheap we’re paying almost nothing,” Jernigan said. “We’re expecting it to be a blast.”

After researching what spring break destinations are best, Jernigan and the guys decided on Daytona Beach. One of the guys had been there previously and brought up the idea, so Daytona Beach it was.

Their road trip could not come at a better time, after all, spring break is a sneak peak of all the fun that summer brings.

“Since there will be 10 of us instead of three, I’m assuming it’s gonna be way more fun,”Jernigan said. “It’s going to be crazy.”

Everyone loves getting a week off of school, especially with the stresses of the SAT coming up for juniors, senioritis kicking into high gear for seniors, and even the thought of spring and summer leaves everyone at Huntley eager for sunshine and no homework. maggie mcgee • opinion editor

S

Senior Joe Jernigan

SMOKY MOUNTAINS

pring break is approaching quickly, and Huntley students are getting ready to join their friends and families on the perfect spring break trip they have been waiting for.

Sophomore Sophia Pfeifer, is trekking with her family all the way to the Smoky Mountains.

Her family is picking up her brother from college and driving about nine hours to Tennessee. They chose to go to the Smoky Mountains because of the beauty and peace of the unpopular vacation site.

“No one we are going with has ever been to the Smoky Mountains so Photo courtesy of: Wikipedia this will be a new fun experience for everyone,” Pfeifer said.

Last year, the Pfeifer family packed their bags and headed to San Diego.

“I loved Cali, but I have really high hopes for this trip too because we have fun things planned,” Pfeifer said. “When we went to Cali it was cold and we didn’t have many things planned out.”

After looking for the best things to do in Tennessee, they decided that they must visit Dollywood.

Dollywood is a theme park centered and owned by around famous, country singer, Dolly Parton. The park contains 40 rides, 15 performances, and five large festivals.

This is only one example of the countless adventures you can have with a good friend in Tennessee.

Although Tennessee is not the typical vacation spot, for the Pfeifers, fun will not be hard to find. All Pfeifer has to do is endure the long trip in a rental van with her family until she is in the mountains.

The trip will consist of unending adventures in the forest, and various trips to local and popular restaurants and shops.

“I am really looking forward to this trip because I get to spend time with my family and discover new things,” Pfeifer said.

Sophomore Sophia Pfeifer

emma kubelka • staff writer

March 2017• THE VOICE • 19

FEATURES

‘Nothing can stop Payton’

Teacher Lauren Felde describes daughter’s cancer journey mawa iqbal • news editor

T

hey wouldn’t even look her in the eye when they walked into the room. Their heads were bowed down in solemn silence, eyes fixated on the linoleum floor below their shoes.

Judging by the grave expressions the two doctors were wearing, her husband knew exactly what was about to happen: these two doctors were about to break the worst news any young couple could hear about their first born, news that would have a big impact on their little family.

But Life Skills instructor Lauren Felde just wanted to know what that news was already.

“Could somebody please tell me what is going on?!”

Tumors. Her 3-year-old little Payton had tumors inside Courtesy of Lauren Felde’s Facebook

20 • THE VOICE • March 2017

her body. She tried looking on the bright side.

Maybe it was just one tumor, it’s no big deal. It could be a lot worse.

But with every word that came out of the doctors’ mouths after that, her optimism waned more and more.

Tumors. Not just one massive tumor nested on her liver, but hundreds of cancerous growths residing in her lungs.

It was as if the rest of the conversation was spoken with no words- lips contorting to shape phrases and sentences, but nothing coming out of them.

Once the doctors left the room, Felde picked up her phone and dialled her parents.

It was about 11:30 p.m. in Indiana, but they were wide awake. Felde doesn’t recall most of what she said to her mother, except for one word.

Tumors. It was the only thing she could muster

through that giant lump in her throat. Without hesitation, her parents made the six-hour drive from Indiana to Sherman Hospital Felde and her family were staying.

October 25, 2013 is a day Felde will never forget, even three and a half years later. What they initially had thought to be constipation had later presented itself to be far more malignant. After a series of MRIs and shuffling from hospital to hospital, Payton was diagnosed with a rare liver cancer, known as hepatoblastoma.

Nobody had seen it coming. No severe weight loss, no nausea, no fatigue, no jaundice, none of the symptoms typically associated with this type of cancer. The only slight indicator was that Payton hadn’t been going to the bathroom for a couple days prior.

It wasn’t anything that gravely concerned Felde.

In fact, she brought up as a light-hearted conversation point to the students and staff members in her Life Skills class on that October day.

Some of the staff suggested shaking her legs, feeding her popcorn. Nothing unusual.

It was the end of a Friday school day and the students began packing their backpacks. As they were getting ready to board the bus, Felde received a phone call from her husband.

Payton had been feeling immense pain and discomfort near her appendix. As she

spoke with her husband she heard Payton’s cries in the background.

“It got to the point where i had to hold my phone out of my ear because she was screaming so loud,” Felde said.

When she returned home that afternoon, her husband told her it was most likely a ruptured appendix, though she didn’t really think much of Payton’s symptoms.

As if to prove her point, Payton already seemed to be feeling better. She wasn’t screaming anymore, the pain had subsided. Nothing unusual.

It only took a half an hour for the pain and discomfort to return and take a strong hold of her stomach. The Feldes took their daughter to Centegra Hospital, where she was admitted into the Urgent Care Unit.

Her husband’s worries seemed to be coming true.

The doctors were not entirely sure, but they had a strong feeling her appendix was ruptured, which is why they advised the Feldes to take Payton over to Sherman Hospital where they could perform an MRI on her.

It was constipation. At least, that’s what the doctors at Sherman told them. They hadn’t performed an MRI before they gave Payton a suppository to aid her in the bathroom. But it was a success. She went to the bathroom. Nothing unusual.

FEATURES The doctors walked into the room intending to discharge the family when they saw Payton clutching her stomach, lying close to her mother for comfort.

It was finally time for the MRI. Felde and her husband were instructed to wait in one the rooms, with a sign posted on the outside of it reading “MRI is 60-90 minutes long.

Somebody will be in your room.”

10 minutes. Nearly a sixth of the projected waiting time.

It took 10 minutes for the two doctors to come into the room and deliver the news.

Her condition was one that Sherman did not specialize in, nor had the proper tools to treat it with. They were promptly transferred to Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge. It had struck midnight that Friday when they arrived.

One hour. It only took 60 minutes for a couple of Lutheran General doctors to deem Payton’s case untreatable. There was nothing more they could do. The tumors were too far gone to see any chance of remission or even improvement.

“Take Payton home and enjoy the time you have left with her.”

No. They weren’t going home. Instead, her husband, a chiropractor with many medical connections, dialled his phone in search of a hospital that would accept Payton’s case.

But it was a risky case.

They were told that she had a 50-50 chance of survival.

Being accepted was a rare occasion.

But it wasn’t entirely im-

possible. Felde’s husband got suffered a declining immune in touch with a friend whose system, dropping blood and wife worked in the cardiolplatelet levels, increased lethogy unit at Lurie Children’s argy and blood transfusions.

Hospital. It was now Oct. 26 February 12, 2014 is at 3 p.m. and the Feldes found another day Felde will never themselves on the 17th floor forget. The chemo had shrunk in oncology. the tumor on her liver down The oncologist gave Payton enough to perform a liver a 5 to 10 percent chance of resection surgery on it, where survival. Significantly less they would directly cut the than 50 percent, but Felde growth out. figured that it was significantNine hours. What was ly better than nothing. expected to take 14 to 16 After about three days, hours ended up only taking Payton underwent a biopsy in nine hours. Everything was going as planned, except for a order to make sure she would potential threat looming over be getting the optimal treatthe surgeons’ heads. ment for her cancer. During Because of the way they the operation, her intestines had to clamp the blood touched and did not release, sticking together and blocking before the surgery, there was a chance that she would the tract for waste to exit her develop a blood clot in her body. heart. Her blood levels began There was a small chance dropping dangerously low. of it even happening in the They saw it coming, but first place. She was the small there was nothing they could chance. really do to prevent it. They Payton’s welcome back had to save her liver first. from her surgery was met What followed was a with episodes of vomiting.

Her intestines had shut down, series of blood thinners causing her to purge black vile and repumping blood back into her body. Because the for days. The plan to begin machine wasn’t pumping the her first dose of chemo was blood pushed back, Courtesy of Lauren Felde’s Facebook back extending in fast their stay enough, from four six nurses days to 34. hurriedly The crowded long winter around months of the December operation through table and February began brought bitpoking ter cold and her arms three rounds and legs of chemowith therapy to syringes. the Felde It was family. She

Feb. 15 when they almost lost her. The anniversary of her death would’ve been on the same day as her younger brother, Jordan’s, birthday.

“Somehow, I don’t know how, she pulled through,” Felde said.

In the two months that followed, Payton was doing just that - pulling through any adversity she faced. After undergiong three more rounds of chemo, her alpha fetoprotein levels, used to detect cancerous tumors on her liver, were back on the rise.

Nothing was working. The chemo was only harming her at this point, not helping her.

They had to find other options immediately.

In April of 2014, the Felde family turned to alternative therapy, which included purchasing a hyperbaric chamber, an infrared sauna, pure oxygen, and Vitamin D therapy sessions.

It was a toss-up. Treating Payton’s cancer naturally could potentially cure her, but it could also make her AFP levels climb up again. All the Feldes hoped for was the former.

In July of that year, it was as if their wishes were answered.

Payton was back at the hospital for MRSA, a skin infection that festered in her chemo port. After completing more lab work, they discovered that Payton had entered remission.

She had done it. She beat cancer.

There are times when she’d ask her parents about her scars.

“The world better watch out, because nothing can stop Payton.” • March 2017 • THE VOICE • 21

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King Kong’s Comeback “Kong: Skull Island” finds box office success

I

lucas modzelewski • a&e editor

n 2014, a new American version of “Godzilla” came out. It got mixed reviews for the most part, and it was a decent movie overall, but audiences came to see it in flocks. It grossed half of a billion dollars world-wide during its box-office run, and made almost $100 million in its first weekend in the U.S. alone.

Now, three years later, the same production company that produced “Godzilla,” Warner Bros., comes out with “Kong: Skull Island,” another iteration of a classic monster movie. With this movie, Warner Bros. aimed to recreate the same magic that they got with “Godzilla” in an effort to create a new universe of movies, much like Marvel’s, centered around giant creatures from the golden age of monster movies.

It’s starting to look like their plan worked.

“Kong: Skull Island,” has received almost the same critical response as did 2014’s “Godzilla,” with both receiving a Metacritic score of 62, and “Kong” getting a 79% on Rotten Tomatoes, com18 • THE VOICE • March 24 December 2017 2016

pared with “Godzilla’s” 74%.

The similarities don’t stop there. Despite the not-bad-but-not-good response that “Kong” has gotten, much like its brother, it is doing quite well at the box office, with $66 million already grossed after its opening weekend. While that number pales in comparison to the other monster movie’s $507 million, there is still plenty of time left for “Kong” to make its money. The movie has not been released in across the Pacific in Asian markets yet either. While most movies make the bulk of their money in the US, these monster movies are different. A healthy majority of “Godzilla’s” gross was from its box-office run in China. Once everything is said and done, “Kong’s” numbers could end up looking strikingly similar to “Godzilla’s,” but statistics and numbers aside, how is the actual movie?

The basic plot of the movie is that Bill Randa (John Goodman) wants the government to fund a mission to explore the uncharted island known as Skull Island.

His wish is granted and he gets a military escort along with a skilled tracker, James Conrad (Tom Hiddleston), and an

up-and-coming photographer, Mason Weaver (Brie Larson). Once they arrive at the island, they find more than what they expected, which includes monsters, a World War II era pilot, and, of course, the titular King Kong.

There is a lot of good and a lot of bad in “Kong: Skull Island.” For starters, it has an absolutely stellar soundtrack. Tunes from the late ‘60s and war-time ‘70s fill the audience’s ears at an almost alarmingly obsessive rate, but it works.

Other pros for the film include great uses of color, and a solid cast all-around.

No one particularly outshines the other, but veteran actor and comedian John C. Reilly and “Me and Earl and the Dying Girl” star, Thomas Mann, give some needed comic relief. Granted, not all the jokes land, there are a couple giggles to be found here and there. Samuel L. Jackson also gives a very Captain Ahablike performance as Lieutenant Colonel Preston Packard, as he goes mad in his hunt for King Kong. The visual effects also look great, but that is par for the course, as far as the monster movie genre is concerned.

Courtesy of https://www.facebook.com/KongSkullIsland/

A&E

This month in ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT: ALBUMS:

Despite all the positives, “Kong” has some glaring negatives as well.

First off, the movie does not have much semblance of a plot. The characters have a place to go, but that is basically the whole movie. They are trying to go to this place and then monsters get in their way, sometimes seemingly at random. A lot of things just happen without explanation. There is a scene in the middle of a gun fight between the humans and some monsters, where the tracker, Conrad, is handed a sword and, without any earlier mention of his abilities, just completely demolishes everything in his path. He is supposed to be a tracker, not a samurai.

It really would not have hurt to add one tiny line earlier in the movie about how he happens to know his way around a sword. Granted, the scene is a blast to watch, but it ends up mirroring the movie as a whole. “Kong: Skull Island” looks and sounds great, but there is not a whole lot of meaning behind it.

The character development in the movie also leaves quite a bit to be desired. Of all the main characters in the movie, none of them really change at all, and none of their character arcs really go anywhere. The only characters that seem to have a point to their own story, or at least change somewhat, are the side characters that are mostly meant for

comic relief: Private Marlow (Reilly) and Private Slivko (Mann).

“Kong: Skull Island” is a decent monster movie with some colossal gorilla-sized flaws.

It has some great moments throughout, but the poor plot and the lack of any real character development or emotion bogs the film down. This is a good option for those who just want to turn their brain off and experience a roller coaster ride of a movie. Monster movie fans should give this flick a watch, but other than that, most moviegoers who see it will find themselves wishing they spent their money on a ticket to see “Logan,” instead. •

The Chainsmokers: Memories: Do Not Open- April 7 Trey Songz: Tremaine the Album- March 24 Bob Dylan: TriplicateMarch 31 John Mayer: The Search for Everything- April 14 Brad Paisley: Love and WarApril 21

MOVIES:

Chips- March 24 Life- March 24 The Boss Baby- March 31 Smurfs: The Lost VillageApril 7 The Fate of the FuriousApril 14

CONCERTS:

Bon Jovi- March 26 John Mayer- April 11

March 2017 • THE VOICE • 25

HHS goes bald against cancer

natalie trzeciak• features editor

T

he bleachers slowly began to fill as students, parents, and teachers made their way into the East Gym. Props lined the walls as the shavees eagerly waited for the assembly to

begin.

On March 17, Huntley High School held its annual Huntley Goes Bald assembly to honor those fighting cancer through various fundraising activities. The hope was to raise more than last year’s total, $105,000, in order to benefit St. Baldrick’s and the families of Julia Peluso and Jessica Diaz.

Throughout the past few weeks, students had the opportunity to raise money by donating change to a teacher’s team through “Penny Wars.” Each teacher that wished to participate had the opportunity to select two other students to shave alongside them.

As the attendees patiently waited to find out which team had raised the most money, students participated in games such as Hungry Hungry Hippos, Water Bottle Flip, and Plunger Relay Races.

As the assembly came to a close, special education teacher Matt Kaplan was met with his family as he took first place in the Penny Wars and successfully raised the most amount of money for the cause along with students sophomore Jaden Conroy and senior Rafael Rivera. •

26 • THE VOICE • March 2017

B. Hollatz

“Logan” is a perfect end

A&E

Hugh Jackman’s final “X-Men” film is a hit with fans

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tyler lopez• staff writer

Logan’s hellish life is made even worse Pierce, Stephen Merchant as Caliban and when he is approached by Donald Pierce, Dafne Keen as Laura Kinney/X-23. ince 2000, the “X-Men” film series who works for Transigen, a research Compared with other “X-Men” and has dominated theaters across agency responsible for the elimination of “Wolverine” films, “Logan” maintains an the globe. Marvel, DC, and “Star mutants. Pierce is looking for an escaped R-rating.

The film has a goal to be “darker Wars” have also released numergirl who is being cared for by a former and grittier than other films in the series, ” ous films in the same time frame, but scientist, Gabriella Lopez. per director James Mangold.

This comes none have seemed to be as monumental From here on, Logan and Xavier are to little surprise as “Wolverine” spin-offs as the “X-Men” films. joined with a young mutant, Laura, who are known to be violent.

Nine total films have been released has the same set of mutations as Logan, Set in 2029, Wolverine, or James since 2000, when Bryan Singer directed making her his biological daughter. The “Logan” Howlett, now works as a limo the first film. Since then, two films have story of “Logan” is rather the same as any driver in Texas.

It has been a number been released centering on Wolverine, other film, but it presents itself as more. of years since the X-Men were together, with “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” (2009) The goal for “Logan” was to provide a with many dying years ago or from their and “The Wolverine” (2013). “Logan” is climatic end to such a beloved character’s advanced mutations. the third and final film in the “Wolvertumultuous storyline. The characters Once unstoppable, Logan is now ine” series. feel more genuine than they have in past slowly dying. His regeneration powers “Logan” is headed by seasoned direcfilms,and the action is something that is have slowed greatly, and the scars of tor James Mangold, who directed “The utterly unforgettable. many fights are strewn across his worn Wolverine” in 2013. Some of his other “Logan” serves as the perfect end to an and aging body. works include 2005’s “Walk The Line” amazing character as everything in the He is no longer the super mutant he and 2007’s “3:10 to Yuma.” Needless to once was, as he faces the repercussions of film feels real and desperate. I have never say, Mangold knows how to make a good been a huge fan of the X-Men, but this decades of fighting and injuries. film. film fuels me to see each “X-Men” film. • Logan gains medical supplies for As one could guess, Hugh Jackman Courtesy of https://www.facebook.com/TheWolverineMovie/ Xavier, who now suffers from reprises his role as Wolverine, or Logan, highly destructive, seizure-like which is his adopted name from one of episodes that harm anyone his many origin stories.

Jackman has played the antihero in ev- caught in its wake.

All the while, Logan strugery X-Men film since 2000, but “Logan” gles to keep Xavier alive, but marks his departure from his 17 year also struggles to keep himself portrayal of the character. alive, battling suicidal thoughts.

When asked if “Logan” was his final “Logan” is a dark film. It is foray into the popular role, he said he was well worth its R-rating, as it thankful for the role. In an interview with is filled with profanity and is Adam Holmes of cinemablend.com, Jackextremely violent.

For most man said, “It just felt like the right time films, this would be a dopey to do it. And let’s be honest, 17 years. I addition to an overused plot. never though in a million years that it For “Logan,” however, it works would last, so I’m grateful to the fans for the opportunity to play it. It just feels like very well.

With the film being violent the perfect way to go out.” and profanity-filled, it accurateAlongside Jackman, the cast also stars ly displays the life in the world Patrick Stewart as Charles Xavier/ProLogan inhabits.

Every fight fessor X, who also has appeared in every is filled with desperation and X-Men film since 2000. Boyd Holbrook every conversation is filled with stars as the film’s antagonist, Donald tension.

March 27 • THE VOICE • 27

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Circa Waves returns

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“Different Creatures” tells emotional stories of struggle

D

grieving.

His heart are the mellow acoustics istorted is the new wholeringings of his new wave of acceptance some. The dirty, angsty, teenand depression. She was his first love, age problems are hot now, and even though he has had previous and boy, am I excited. relationships, this was on the one that The youthful and boyish sounds of hurt the most. To him, he did not know Liverpool indie band Circa Waves are “if this is fantasy, this is real, I love you now gone. Over the last two years since till love’s run out.” their debut album, “Young Chasers,” was This is where the story ends. This tale released, this band has blown up and encompasses the plot interpreted from grown up. “Young Chasers” speaks for a listen to Circa Waves’ new record. It is itself. The indie-pop, beachy vibes efforta never-ending storyline of lust, broken lessly resemble life like a child: young, hearts, and realizing that everything will carefree, and easygoing. be okay, eventually at least.

If the album’s age was measured in This album, as a whole, is Circa Waves’ human years, this phase of childhood frontman and his relationship struggles. would be from upper elementary to the “Young Chasers” is a memorial to his old middle of junior high. The single “T-Shirt self, and their second album is taking into Weather” is for the days “Younger Chasaccount how much people grow every ers” spent outside at the local park with day, every month, and every year. his friends playing tag; those days that are “Young Chasers” is upbeat, poppy, long gone. He is growing as guy and an and rarely talks of negativity. The events album. “Young Chasers” is not the same in Shudall’s life took a turn for the worse guy he was two years prior, now he is at one point in time. The 2015 record is “Special Creatures.” about making his way through his cha“Special Creatures” is around otic journey and surviving; the complete 15-years-old. March 10, the release date, opposite of “Special Creatures.” You canwas the first time he was rejected. “Wake not compare the two, one story is black Up” is written and exposed. He’s angry, and one story is white. he cannot help but question himself and The lessons expressed in “Young Chaswonder, “Am I a fool? I don’t know.” The ers” could have potentially aided Shudall story is of a fired up frontman, Kieran through his struggles on this newer track.

Shudall, and how he has changed. For The production is the same, but “Special Creatures,” high school has starteverything else is so different. There is no finishing statement made on “Special Creatures.” While each song is part of the story, the ending is not one single thought and feeling, but a compilation. If you listen close enough, it all ties together, and inferences can be made. To me, the unfinished statements mean he is still trying to figure the situation out, but is on the road to being fully healed.

Even though he does not know how to feel, he feels alive. On the other hand, he knows “In another life, in another time, we would be different creatures.” • Courtesy of https://www.facebook.com/ 24• THE VOICE • January 2017 March 27 • THE VOICE • 29 CircaWaves/

sarah biernat• staff writer

ed off with a bang.

It is just past 2 in the morning; “Special Creatures” cannot shut his mind off.

He has a play-by-play of his traumatic event from third period. “Every feeling and every lover I wish I said goodbye.”

His friday night is ruined, “you put me in a bad mood for a Friday night,” he grumbles to himself. “Goodbye” is the third track of the album, and the first track of the lovelife of “Special Creatures.”

Anger is disposed, and it has been a few days. Sitting alone during his seventh period class, the guilt is settling in. “I’m Out On My Own,” he thinks to himself.

He sits and ponders about his wrongdoings and their consequences. He has always failed to accept his mistakes. This time, he wanted that to change.

Another night, another empty heart, he turns to his notebook. “I don’t know how to feel but I feel alive,” he writes. “As you close your eyes tonight remember where you are.” He shuts the pad, clicks his pen. The words were glued to his mind as he drifted off to sleep.

This heartbreak has taken a bigger toll on him than “Special Creatures” wanted it to. “Love’s Run Out,” is the constant reassurance that what you get is what you see. He has mellowed out. His internal conflict is not filled with booming drum beats and slashing guitar chords like during the first three stages of his

SPORTS

Sprinting towards success

Junior Dubem Anikamadu breaks multiple track records bry walker • staff writer

E. Pilat 30 • THE VOICE • March 2017

T

he runner lines up for the 60 meter dash.

After putting on his track spikes and tieing them, he applies his number to the bottom left of his shorts. He requests a practice start. After he’s granted his request, he returns to his lane at the starting line and stretches. He looks to his right and shakes teammate Eric Mooney’s hand, then proceeds to shake the hands of each of his competitors. “ON YOUR MARK,” the starter yells.

He jumps up and stretches his legs before settling into the blocks and placing his hands behind the white line.

“SET.” He holds his head high, looking forward, and positions himself. Everyone is shaky initially before they find their balance, still awaiting the sound of the “POP.” After the gun goes off, he is a blur and the blocks shake from the impact of his departure.

When he first started competing in sixth grade, junior Dubem Anikamadu was totally opposed to going out for the track and field team. He was forced by his sixth grade physical education teacher.

“I would come home and complain every day after practice,” Anikamadu said.

“As the season continued over time that year, I began to tolerate it, but seventh grade is when I started to get better and that’s when I actually began enjoying track.”

Anikamadu broke Marlowe Middle School’s 200 meter dash record in the eighth grade. Since breaking that record in middle school, he has broken several more; including four high school

junior varsity records and two high school varsity records.

Recently at the indoor Fox Valley Conference meet, Anikamadu broke the indoor 200 meter dash record with a time of 22.31 seconds.

As for his goals, Anikamadu hopes to place individually at state, as well as continuing to run at the collegiate level.

“To achieve my goals, I need to strengthen my work ethic and I also need to to surround myself with people who will motivate me to get better,” Anikamadu said. “What will make me a great athlete is how I deal with adversities.”

Anikamadu’s family is very supportive of his passion. He has three older sisters who all attended Huntley High School. One of them, Chika Anikamadu, Class of 2016, ran track. His father ran track during high school.

“My parents attend most of my meets and my father is helping me more with the recruiting process,” Anikamadu said.

According to Anikamadu, a lot of people do not realize that track is not just an individual sport.

“We need to rely on each other in order to get the team titles at invites,” Anikamadu said. “I think we all try to push each other to work hard.

If I think that a key person on the team is not working hard enough I tell them without sugar coating it.”

Anikamadu’s teammates hold him in high regards and know that they can always count on him.

“Dubem is a great athlete.

I can always count on him to catch us up during a race.

Whenever I hand him the ba-

SPORTS

Anikamadu situating himself in the blocks, preparing for the 4x200 meter relay (J. Barker).

ton it is in good faith,” senior Ben Stevens, a member of the 4 x 200 meter relay team, said.

“You can always expect great things from this kid.”

At last year’s conference meet, Huntley was in second place for the 4 x 400 meter dash, with Jacobs in first, but only by a mere 15 meters.

Anikamadu anchored the race and because it was rainy, the track was wet. In the last 100 meters, Anikamadu was able to get the first place finish. To him, it was one of the biggest nail-biting experiences that turned out good.

Where many student athletes struggle maintaining their academic course load and athletics, Anikamadu insists it is not a problem.

“It’s not difficult to balance

because practices aren’t typically long and our track Coach Rolando would understand if we needed some time off to do some school work,” Anikamadu said.

Anikamadu’s sports hero is none other than gold Olympic medalist, Usain Bolt.

Anikamadu looks up to Bolt because he is both a very humble and decorated athlete, to the point where he has had the entire world look up to him, twice.

Since words of encouragement are what put Anikamadu in the starting blocks, he would like to give a few of his own.

“To all my young children out there, never stop working don’t stop at your limit push to make that limit higher.” •

March 2017 • THE VOICE • 31

SPORTS

Smashing cancer in the ace State-qualifier Charlie Burian shaves head in honor nick fleege • staff writer

R. O’Sullivan

The hard asphalt courts were a familiar place to him.

They were like a second home to senior Charlie Burian, a varsity tennis star. A home where he has spent hours crafting his skill with the racket, turning every serve into an ace and following every hit with unmatchable speed and power.

Burian found his passion in tennis at the age of 10 through encouragement from his father who played at a young age too. Burian has been competing ever since, and began starting for the varsity tennis team his sopho32 • THE VOICE • March 2017

more year.

Now, the Huntley High School tennis courts were the venue for IHSA sectionals and both Burian and his partner, senior Jacob Wat, would be representing the first doubles team.

“I normally don’t get nervous before playing a game, but this game was different because Huntley boy’s varsity tennis team hadn’t had state qualifiers in a while,” Burian said.

On the court, Huntley’s fire truck red uniforms were not the only characteristic separating Burian from the

rest. His hair is a long, curly afro.

“I started growing out my hair the end of junior year,” Burian said. “Originally it was a bet between a friend and I to see who could grow out their hair the longest over the summer. He lost right away and I just went along with it and let it keep growing.”

Soon after semester one of senior year, Burian began taking the Service in Action class where he learned of an opportunity to help others by shaving his head.

“Representatives from Huntley Goes Bald came to

talk to me and that’s where I decided I’m going to grow it out until St. Baldricks and cut it then,” Burian said.

The St. Baldricks Foundation is a non-profit charity aimed at finding cures for childhood cancer with money fundraised through volunteers shaving their heads.

Fundraising is done through penny wars, donations, and t-shirt sales.

Burian has had a first hand account of the impact of cancer and finding a cure is very important to him.

“I’m going to be shaving

my head with my best friend, and together we have raised just short of $1,000 in a little over a month. His mother died from cancer in June, and so I’m going to be dedicating this to her,” Burian said.

His dedication and commitment to others is what has made him an outstanding tennis player both on and off the court.

“I think what makes him a good partner and friend is that he’s very reliable. In tennis, you can rely on him to keep his calm and the ball over the net. I overall just generally enjoy his company and it sure makes tennis a much more enjoyable experience,” Wat said.

It was this trust and respect both players needed from one another that led to both of them competing in the sectionals tournament, and now more than ever would it be needed to win.

It was the final game the team needed to win in order to qualify for state and Burian Senior C. Burian serves during a match, sporting his curly hair, which he shaved during St. Baldrick’s (R. O’Sullivan).

was serving the third set tie breaking ball.

“To win in tennis it’s a battle of physical skill and outplaying your opponent.

Using your head in the game, and being able to keep your temperament. They are both equally as important,” Burian said.

As he prepared his serve, he knew that a well placed receiving hit from the opposing side could cause Huntley to lose the point, giving the other team the momentum.

The ball whistled through the air and fell in the service box, only to be hit out of bounds by the receiving player. It was all that needed to happen for Burian and Wat to advance to state.

“It was very empowering.

By winning we became one of the three Huntley teams to qualify for state in a long time, so we were ecstatic because we achieved our goal as a doubles team, and as well as winning as a tennis team,” Burian said. •

SPORTS

This month in SPORTS:

HHS: Girls Soccer vs. Huntley Invite- March 29 Boys Tennis vs. WarrenApril 1 Boys Baseball vs. Crystal Lake Central- April 3 Softball vs. Boylan- April 4 Boys Track and Field vs.

Stevenson Relays- April 13 Girls Track and Field vs.

McHenry County MeetApril 20

PROFESSIONAL:

NCAA Regionals- March 23, 24, 25, 26 NCAA Women’s Final Four- March 31, April 1, 2 NCAA Men’s Final FourApril 1, 2, 3 March 2017 • THE VOICE • 33

The Voice Staff receives national award in New York

T

he weekend of March 16-18, 10 staff members from The Voice and huntleyvoice.com attended the Columbia Scholastic Press Association’s annual spring conference in New York City. Back in October, staffers learned that the publication was up for a Crown Award from the CSPA in the hybrid magazine category.

Crown Awards are one of the most prestigious awards in high school journalism, similar to a Pulitzer

Prize.

“It was a really cool experience to not only be able to see New York City, but also accept this huge award,” current Editor-in-Chief Courtney Thomas said. “The award has just really validated all of the hard work and time we have put into this publication.”

The Voice/huntleyvoice.com was awarded a Silver Crown Award on Friday, March 17 at Columbia University. The Huntley High School publication was one of seven to win a Silver Crown in the Hybrid Magazine category, and one of five in Illinois to be awarded a Crown Award.

Dennis Brown, adviser of The Voice, put the award in perspective.

“In my 20 years with the journalism program, this is one of the top awards we’ve ever won,” Brown said. “The Columbia Scholastic Press Association’s Crown Awards only recognize the best of the best. I’m so proud of the accomplishments of the students who run The Voice.”

While in New York, the group also did some sightseeing. They explored Times Square while trying classic NYC foods such as pizza and street vendor hot dogs. They also spent some time in Central Park, taking in all of the beautiful sights of the city.

After the awards ceremony, the group traveled to the 9/11 Memorial and visited the museum, which was a powerful experience.

“Even though I was really little when it happened, showed me how it affects my life and the lives of others around me to this day,” Print Editor Maddy Moffett said.

The plaque which the publication was awarded will be displayed in the newspaper display case in the commons area of HHS.

34 • THE VOICE • March 2017

EDITORIAL

Sexual assault is everyone’s issue

I

n today’s society, campus sexual assault is being pushed to center stage.

As displayed in the 2015 documentary film “The Hunting Ground,” college campuses are being portrayed as “hunting grounds” for predators to find their victims.

The movie begins with high school seniors excitedly opening their acceptance letters.

Their excitement is quickly abandoned when they stare at the camera and admit they were sexually assaulted just months after starting at their college.

When you hear about sexual assault and rape, many of us just brush it under the rug, sympathetically thinking, “oh the poor victim.” Unless you have been affected by it, you don’t think much of it.

Sure, rape culture is becoming more prevalent in the world we live in, but as long as you are aware of your surroundings and the situations you put yourself in, you think it will never happen to you.

But that’s the problem.

Nobody thinks it will ever happen to them. When we, as an editorial board, heard about the story of social studies teacher Ellysa Cassier, it hit us harder than expected, putting a face to the statistic.

It made us think about what is actually happening and what steps are being taken to help prevent these traumatic experiences.

Before this became a prevalent problem, campus sexual assault was something that was brushed under the rug because many universities

didn’t want to be defined by their students’ actions. When presented with the accusation, colleges blamed the females for wearing provocative clothing and drinking too much, and rarely were the boys held responsible for their actions.

But with the recent eruption of sexual assault cases on college campuses across the country, universities are now going to the other extreme, taking action so that they do not risk losing federal funding, or ruinning their reputations. Rather than taking no action at all, college officials are expelling students accused of sexual assault without a formal investigation.

Many people are struggling to find that happy medium, where the guilty are punished and the innocent walk, and are looking to the universities to come up with a solution.

However, the problem doesn’t lie there, but in each of us.

Rather than putting the colleges in these positions, why not stop the problem before it starts?

College is often described as the best four years of your life and we want to make sure it stays that way. When in a social setting, the most important thing you can do is protect your drink and not leave it unattended. In a drug-facilitated sexual assault, the predator could use a drug that has no taste, color, or odor, making you oblivious to the danger.

“I knew something was weird and I knew I shouldn’t be feeling that way,” Cassier

said. “It was like I was blacking out, losing memory sort of thing and I was like ‘this isn’t normal, this shouldn’t be happening.’”

Another way to stay safe is to know your limits when drinking. It is extremely important to keep track of how many drinks you’ve had and be aware of how you’re feeling. Many cases of sexual assault happen from being too drunk and having low inhibitions.

But if you know your limits and how many drinks you’ve had, this can help you identify whether or not you’ve been drugged. If you are feeling more tired or drunk than usual, you may have been drugged.

Lastly, always go to social events with a group of friends and a plan. Look out for each other and know the signs to watch for in those situations. If you notice something that doesn’t look right, it probably isn’t.

There are also ways to prevent sexual assault and

rape if you are an observer.

If you see a guy taking an intoxicated girl up the stairs, spill a drink on him and divert his attention or remove the girl from the situation.

If you see someone pour something into a drink, speak up. You could be the person that prevents a rape.

“No always means no. No matter the situation. I want guys to put themselves in the shoes of the fraternity brothers that wouldn’t help and maybe put this in the back of their mind so if they do see something like this happen, they step up and help the girl,” Cassier said. “It’s not ‘being a bro’ to let something like this happen to someone who doesn’t want it.”

Sexual assault and rape are not uncommon, and to enter the real world with the notion that it is is naive. It is our hope that all students at Huntley High School will take the steps necessary to prevent an assault like Cassier’s from happening to themselves and to those around them.

For more information regarding assault and rape VISIT:

• Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network: rainn.org • “It’s On Us” National Campaign launched by President Obama: itsonus.org • National Sexual Violence Resource Center: nsvrc.org • Advocacy group founded by “Hunting Ground” heroes Annie Clark and Andrea Pino: endrapeoncampus.org

CALL: • 800-656-4673 (National Sexual Assault Hotline) • 888-293-2080 (Chicago Rape Crisis Hotline)

March 2017 • THE VOICE • 35

V THE VOICE

Huntley High School 13719 Harmony Road Huntley, IL 60142 (847) 659-6600

Follow Us! Twitter- @huntleyvoice Instagram- @huntleyvoice Snapchat- huntleyvoice Facebook- Huntley Voice

HUNTLEY GOES BALD Why they shaved:

“I shaved my hair for all the kids at the assembly, one of my closest friends Julia Peluso, whom I’ve known since 5th grade, and also for the research for the lives that it can impact for years to come.”

- junior Samuel De La Paz

“Getting to see kids who’ve been in such terrible situations stay strong and run around, making the most of their lives is crazy and showing any amount of support for them is great.”

- junior Jackson Monis

“I’ve had a couple family members pass away from cancer, so I did this to honor them.”

- Special Education teacher Matt Kaplan

P. Moore