IN THIS ISSUE...
NEWS
NHS small group provides tutoring services at Leggee Elementary School............3
huntleyvoice.com
FEATURES A Huntley High School love story: Darlene and Dennis Pfaff forty years later................10
A&E
Humans of Huntley: Junior Madison Overly chats about her childhood and why her personality stands out. Check out other Humans of Huntley, featured in a blog by senior Emily Kindl. huntleyvoice.com/ humans-of-huntley-madison-overly/
Famous comic strip inspires popular new television series “Riverdale”...............18
SPORTS Five freshmen take over the girls varsity basketball team for the first time in years.............32
OPINION
Why can’t people just take a joke? Do we have a right to be offended at every comment?..................37
Editorial Policy
Photo credits: Top photo (E. Kindl). Middle (Courtesy of J. Buchanan). Bottom (A. Sanchez). Cover photo by Kaitlyn Kalischefski.
HHS Media are the official student-produced media of news and information published/produced by HHS Media students. HHS Media have been established as designated public forums for student editors to inform and educate their readers as well as for the discussion of issues of concern to their audience. It will not be reviewed or restrained by school officials prior to publication or distribution. Advisers may- and should coach and discuss content- during the writing process. Because school officials do not engage in prior review, and the content of HHS Media is determined by and reflects only the views of the student staff and not school officials or the school itself; its student editorial board and responsible student staff emmbers assume complete legal and financial liability for the content of the publication.
Meet the team...
Editors • Alexandra Landman • Editor-in-Chief • Maggie McGee • Print Editor • Emma Kubelka • Online Editor • Peyton Moore • Doubletruck Editor • Faith Losbanes • News Editor • Jenna Link • Opinion Editor • Emily Kindl • Features Editor • Bry Walker • Sports Editor • Riley Murphy • A&E Editor • Katrina Troy • Photo Editor • Staff writers • Madison Barr • Sarah Biernat • Maddy Domek • Faith Garrity • Sophie Gire • Jen Gordus • Mason Hutson • Shaaf Iqbal • Maddy Laing • River Lee • Dani Rhody • Kelsey Ryan • Taryn Sargent • Miriam Selimi • Skylar Sharkey • Austin Sadie • Braden Turk • Riy Walker • Photographers • Madalyn Anderson • Leslie Bounchaleunsouk • Kaitlyn Kalischefski • Arianna Sanchez • Haley Smalley • Dennis Brown • Adviser
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news
december 2017 I volume 21 I issue 3
HOBY finds leaders in our community Gillianne Sivella is chosen to represent Huntley in HOBY leadership riley murphy I a&e editor
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ver the years, Huntley has grown into a great community with a bustling downtown and farm fields that stretch across for miles. New independent shops have opened and as you walk down the street, you smell the subtle scents of Manny’s Gelato and Morkes Chocolate. Friendly dog walkers and babies in strollers with make you feel a sense of comfort and ease as you walk and talk with friends or family. This place that we call home would not be possible without great leaders. The three main points of leadership- personal leadership, group leadership, and leadership in society- were all heavy factors in the build up of Huntley and these are exactly the things that the Hugh O’Brian Youth program focuses on. HOBY is a nationwide program that was created in 1958 and it helps high school students develop their leadership skills and encourages them toward their goals. It encompasses the three main points of leadership as well as create a safe environment for students to talk about leadership and service events going on in their community. HOBY offers five different programs for students interested in finding their stride in leadership. These programs are the Community Leadership Workshop open to
freshmen, the State Leadership Seminar, open directly to sophomores, the World Leadership Congress, open to juniors, Advanced Leadership Academy, open for students from the age of 16-18, and finally, the International Tours
resume, job application, inter-application, college application, any type of community service or any type of experiences is very helpful and it makes it more multifaceted,” Julia French chair of the counseling department said. R. Murphy
Program, which is open to any student. The school tries to promote these different programs and also encourage students to use what they have learned in the school and community. “I would say that any type of leadership experience that you could have on your
The application process is simple, all a student has to do is write, in 100 words or fewer, the most rewarding and challenging aspects of being a leader. Once that application is submitted, the board looks over it and decides, based solely on that essay, whether or not they would be a good
fit for the program. No name is attached to the essay and there are no grade or service hour requirements. There are two students picked for the school. The first student who is picked will automatically be sent to the program to represent the school, but the second would be a substitute if the other could not attend. The school would then pay for that student to go and represent them in the seminar. The HOBY Flagship Seminar is from June 22 to 24 at Benedictine University in Lisle and the weekend will be filled with guest speakers and interactive workshops. Earlier this year, after the applications were submitted from Huntley and analyzed by the board at HOBY, French was notified which student to inform about their accomplishment of being able to represent Huntley High School at the summit. Gillianne Savella was chosen out of all the sophomore applicants to represent Huntley as a progressive school and one that focuses on students becoming self-sufficient leaders. Tasked to write about the most challenging yet rewarding aspect of being a leader, she was able to write a well written paragraph on how bringing people together would fulfill those requirements.
see HOBY, page 35 @huntleyvoice 3
news
december 2017 I volume 21 I issue 3
Education at the elementary level NHS small group provides tutoring for Leggee students
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sophie gire I staff writer arsh wind, freezing temperatures, and an almost half-mile walk stand in the way of senior Julie Stout and junior Kyle Soliz as they make their way to the small world of Leggee Elementary. Saying a brief hello to the school’s secretaries, the pair make their way to the LRC, where they greet their first student of the afternoon, a second-grade girl by the name of Allison. Seeing grown-up high schoolers and learning with them has become routine for elementary schoolers like Allison on the Harmony Road campus, thanks to Stout, Soliz, and the other members of the Leggee tutoring group - a small group created as a part of Huntley’s National Honors Society by Stout in 2016. HHS is a proud member of the group of schools throughout the country that allow students entry to the NHS, a program dedicated to benefiting nationwide communities with various student-created and student-run volunteering activities, such as Stout and Soliz’s tutoring group for the students at Leggee. Every other Tuesday and Thursday, Huntley students make their way to the elementary school accross the parking lot to meet up with kids to help with subjects like math, reading, as well as
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social skills. “They’re in this stage where they haven’t really figured out how to get into their own friend groups,” Soliz said. “I feel like being a big-kid tutor is a part of their social development.” With the amount of high schoolers in the group, Leggee students are surrounded with different learning styles, like visuals, such as pictures and written words, or tangible tools like blocks and flash cards. “It’s a good mix for them because they get to see everything,” Soliz said. For these students, being a tutor is not just about helping kids get better grades; it involves building relationships so that each session is more comfortable for each elementary student and they feel better about subjects that are not necessarily fun. “The first time that I came in, there was a girl and she was really struggling with math she’s like, ‘I’m never gonna be good at math, this is a waste of time, I’m never gonna use this,’” Soliz said. “We’ve done about three or four sessions and gradually, I can see her getting more into it.” Last year was the first one for the small group, with Stout creating it as a way to bring tutoring to more elementary schools in the campus, especially with the change in their math curriculum that makes it harder for parents to help their kids. “Their parents, because they changed the math to
Julie Stout tutors Leggee student in math (H. Smalley)
Common Core, didn’t know what to do,” Stout said. “So since the parents didn’t know how to help their kids, I decided to create something that was similar to Raider Aid from Huntley.” The tutoring group has been a huge success with the parents, considering the elementary school teachers are not always available like they are in a high school setting. “The parents come in here and they’re always so grateful,” Stout said. “They come up to me, and they say how awesome this program is and they even ask me, ‘can you tutor our kids personally?’” Because NHS revolves around volunteer service, the tutoring group doesn’t charge a dime for working with the elementary kids, which is a major pull factor for parents considering how much normal tutoring sessions cost. Not only do the students and their parents greatly appreciate the work done by Huntley’s volunteers, it is a wonderful learning experience for the group members as well.
“There are so many small people there,” Soliz said. “It’s amazing because, surprisingly, they’re really interesting.” The experience is overall a great way to get service hours and get a refreshing back-tobasics experience, as well as building relationships with future generations. “In the beginning, I volunteered just to get the 50 hours for the silver cord at graduation,” Stout said. “But the more I do activities where people are grateful for what we do, it made me think about how I’m actually making a change in a way.” For Soliz, the gratitude from young students makes his experience worthwhile. “[My student] had this piece of paper,” hew said. “It had black Sharpie on it that said ‘Thank you for helping me with my math homework,’ and there was a taped sucker. It was so cute.” Volunteering is extremely gratifying, especially when helping 7- and 8-year-olds, knowing they are affecting an entire generation.
news
december 2017 I volume 21 I issue 3
Free feminine products for all
Pads and tampons now accessible in every middle and high school bathroom at no cost madison barr I staff writer
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n the United States alone, feminine hygiene products are a $2 billion industry; the United Nations declaring menstrual hygiene an issue of public-health, gender equality, and human rights. On Aug. 18, the House and Senate passed Public Act 100-0163, also known as the “Learn with Dignity Act,” which integrated access to free feminine hygiene products in the schools of Illinois for grades 6-12. The act specifically states that the General Assembly found that “feminine hygiene products are a healthcare necessity and not an item that can be foregone or substituted easily.” This act was an amendment incorporated to The School Code, where Congress added Sections 10-20.6 and 34-18.53 while also changing Section 27A-5. This historic act makes Illinois one of the first states requiring public and charter schools to provide free femi-
nine hygiene products, following New York and Colorado. While this act does not go into effect until Jan. 1, Huntley High School, along with Marlowe and Heineman Middle School, quickly added dispensers with the free products a few weeks ago. “We get these legal briefs every so often, so when it was pointed out [to me] I reached out to our Director of Operations and Maintenance, Mr. Renkosik, and pointed it out to him,” Principal Scott Rowe said. “Then it all just kind of took off.” Prior to these newly added dispensers, students could go see the nurse to request feminine hygiene products, but many girls may feel embarrassed to go ask someone else instead of just having said products at their disposal. “Not everyone is just carrying change around, so I think making them free will be good,” junior Susan Lynch said. “It’s also embarrassing to walk into the nurse’s office and ask for feminine hygiene products.” A lot of women do not
want to have to announce that things that we’ve dealt with in they are on their period to terms of waste,” Rowe said. When it comes to possible someone, even if that person is just the school nurses. concerns surrounding the Although some people may implementation of this new not see this as a big deal, it is a policy, Huntley High School, matter of privacy to others. Marlowe and Heineman Mid“I think that [though] not ever having to deal with it [myself], I can understand why someone would not want to go see another person to make that request,” Rowe said. A slowlyrowing concern within the school however, is the possibility of Feminine hygiene dispenser in girls bathroom in front people taking of door 27 (K. Kalischefski) advantage of the easy access to these products, free dle School, they run with the of charge. same theme: respect. “I’m a little concerned “I think that [my concerns are that] we respect each other because some people like to abuse that power,” sophomore and respect the school’s propRiley Partin said. “I saw a erty,” Rowe said. “You know, photo where some girl took a that cost comes from somewhere and wasting would just bunch of tampons and threw them in the toilet.” mean we have to take steps to prevent the waste, but then This problem has also become apparent to the school’s also prevent the unnecessary maintenance and janitorial cost of other damage.” staff. see FEMININE, page 35 “There are other schools that are tinkering with ideas, @huntleyvoice 5 to avoid some of the initial
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december 2017 I volume 21 I issue 3
Home away from home, in just 4,000 miles Ayman Mirkhan shares his story of immigration from London skylar sharkey I staff writer
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little boy and his family of two younger siblings and a single mother sit in the uncrowded airport, waiting to board a one-way flight. Outside, it is an unusually warm day in June, considering the normally chilly temperatures of London, England. The little boy and his family have brought multiple items of luggage containing all of their possessions, each family member knowing that this is the last time they will see their home country for quite a while. This little boy’s name is Ayman Mirkhan. And as a 7-year-old, he is leaving all that he has ever known. “It was all just very unexpected,” said Ayman, now a sophomore. “It was stressful.” In 2009, Ayman’s mother, Shama Witczack decided to immigrate to America for the better of her other child, Aidan. He has autism, and the special education programs in the United States were more prepared to meet Aidan’s needs than those in the United Kingdom. Though the task was certainly daunting, having been a single mother moving three young children across the Atlantic ocean, Shama tackled it with full force. “I have a really close bond with my mom, especially because of the traveling,” he said. “My mom has been my main supporter through-
out everything. I feel like throughout those important moments in my life, I’ve had her to rely on.” Shama is not the only one that experiences a special bond with Ayman: Ayman’s sister, freshman Maria Mirkhan, also mentioned the exceptional relationship she has with him. Both of the siblings experienced bullying during their younger years due to their accents, but by middle school their peers recognized and accepted their cultural background. “Ayman is like my best friend,” Maria said. “We’re always able make each other laugh.” Though Shama certainly demonstrated that she had the strength to uproot her family’s life for the sake of her child, the move had a major effect on her culturally. “In particular, the hardest thing is that allegedly we speak the same language but there’s the misconception that the culture between countries is the same as well,” Shama said. “The most difficult thing was the culture shock. I felt like I was really in a foreign country and I think that the kids felt that too.” Throughout the process of moving, Ayman was also upset about the initial change but did not fully realize the impact it would have on his lifestyle. “It made me kind of upset, but at the time, due to my very closed and confined mindset, the only thing I real-
A. Sanchez
ly worried about was leaving my school and friends and having to adjust,” Ayman said. “I wasn’t really taking in the reality of having to leave my whole family and adjusting to a whole new lifestyle.” A couple of years after the Mirkhan family immigrated, Shama was diagnosed with a condition that her own father eventually died from: a brain tumor sitting on her brainstem. For months before her recovery, her vision was entirely impaired. She was in the hospital for months on end, but thankfully she recovered, her vision intact. “She’s really been a major fighter and a big inspiration to how I tackle each and every day,” Ayman said. Ayman and Shama both appreciate the opportunities that the United States has to offer them and their family, but Shama mentioned she initially struggled with the idea of connecting with those around her after the move. “This is not meant to offend, but at first I thought of Americans as outlanders,” Shama
said. She admits that after she and her family had settled in, she was surprised to find that she could relate to those around her in the U.S. Though there are aspects of Ayman’s home country that he misses, he does not have any immediate plans to return permanently. “I’m not a citizen [of the U.S.] yet, but we have a green card so we’re lawful until the time in which it expires,” said Ayman. “Then I’ll probably go take the citizenship test myself or my mother will before I’m 18.” Though Ayman has adjusted to such a monumental change, the experience has transformed Ayman’s disposition and well as the way he regards himself. “Coming here kind of changed my personality,” said Ayman. “Being British in America has kind of shown me who I am inside and helped me not only become more expressive but also shown me the definition of Ayman.” @huntleyvoice 7
features
“Don’t hate... meditate” Erin Seitz copes with past teaching anxiety miriam selimi I staff writer
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ugust. The lights dim in her health classroom. Students close their binders, get up from their desks, and sit on the floor. These freshmen let out a deep breath as they listen to the instructor on the speakers. December. The small, shared, cozy office is decorated for Christmas. Soft music and warmth fills the room as water starts to boil in a kettle. Teacher Erin Seitz makes her mug of tea and sits at her desk. A meditation application is pulled up on her desktop. April. A light breeze washes over the lacrosse team as they lay on the ground with sticks and goggles surrounding them. Some of the girls close their eyes and listen to what is going on around them, and some notice how fast the clouds move above. Their coach insists that this will calm the team down. Not to Seitz’s surprise, it does. After the five minutes of meditating is over, the girls beg for more time to be in that moment. The time spent looking at the clouds felt longer than it really did. “If you have time to breathe, you have time to meditate,” Seitz said. “That’s all it is: clearing your mind, recharging, not worrying about anything but the moment that you’re in.” Worry-free has not always 8 @huntleyvoice
been Seitz’s state of mind, though. Her journey to find a clear state of mind took work. “I had anxiety that needed taken care of and that’s where it all started,” she said. Seitz’s anxiety did not affect her until her second year of teaching at HHS when she was asked to teach Health. “I was so excited, because I just love Health,” Seitz said. “I was so excited to teach in the classroom, I was so excited to get to know another side of my students, not just in the gym.” Even with all that excitement, Seitz still felt anxious in her health classroom and at school. Fearing the unknown, she would worry before and after every lesson. “Maybe I didn’t know the material 100 percent, or what kind of questions my students would have. What could I have said differently? What could I have done differently? Should I have done it like this? Oh no did I forget to say this? I ended up having chest pains from anxiety.” Many people can say that the feeling Seitz had is familiar. They worry about things that probably will not matter in a year. Overreacting about simple situations seems normal. Seitz did the same thing. “I went to the doctor, and they did an EKG on me because I demanded they check my heart,” Seitz said. “I seriously thought something was wrong with me. The doctor
said, ‘It’s anxiety; your chest is tightening because you have anxiety.’” Mistaking one thing for another is fairly easy, especially when it is a problem that cannot be seen physically. To solve problems like this, Seitz had to believe that she could get better. She researched, read articles, borrowed books, watched videos, and found applications and programs that could help her deal with her anxiety. One thing that caught her attention was meditation. Practicing mindfulness and teaching oneself how to be peaceful is an extremely hard thing to do when all there is to do is to worry. Learning to get used to being in the moment took a lot of work for Seitz. Training a brain to think differently takes time. “I started meditating in October of 2014, three years ago,” Seitz said. “The next year, I was okay. It took time, I had to meditate everyday. And it changed me, it completely changed me.”
The effect meditation had on Seitz was remarkable. As her problem with anxiety decreased, her reaction to simple day-to-day troubles was greatly altered. “I can’t tell you the last time I had a day like that,” she said. “I don’t overthink things any more, I probably worry about 50 percent less than I used to, I don’t take things as personally, [and] I remind myself that I’ll have something else to worry about tomorrow.” Seitz tells everyone to “Don’t hate, meditate,” when they ask her about it. Meditation is her go-to, and she tries to influence everyone around her about it. “I have friends calling who struggle with the same problems and I try to turn them to meditation.” Seitz influenced a colleague and friend, Elyssa Cassier, to try her method. “When I was having my anxiety, I understood what Ms. Seitz was going through,” Cassier said. “She showed me
see MEDITATE, page 35
Seitz meditating along with students. (H. Smalley)
december 2017 I volume 21 I issue 3
Huntley’s fine arts at its finest How Luke Bucaro’s passion for theater thrives riyana walker I staff writer
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ith his stomach filled with butterflies and a big lump in his throat, for the first time in his life, he took the stage. He was thinking, Don’t screw up. Don’t screw up. Don’t screw up. With nothing but himself and his fear up there, getting ready to perform, Luke Bucaro began to speak his lines and immediately fell in love. “The feeling I get when I’m on stage is indescribable,” freshman Bucaro said. “It’s like I can forget about my life and let go of all my stress and become a totally different person.” As a child, Bucaro tested the waters for different potential interests, but none of them quite fit for him. “I was never really good at sports; my first hockey practice ever I kept bawling my eyes out because I kept falling,” Bucaro said. “I was never committed to sports, nothing ever interested me or stuck with me as much as the theater did.” Theater has been in Bucaro’s life since the third grade. When he went to see his first high school play, he fell in love with the theater. When he noticed how much the theater interested him, he was amazed. It was better than any sport he had ever played. The aspiration of being a famous actor when he grows up brews inside of Bucaro’s heart.
“Luke loves to help out, he’s always open to being himself and helping out anyone who needs help,” said Elizabeth Troy, one of Bucaro’s fellow cast members. The theater allowed Bucaro to be himself. It allowed him to step outside of his comfort zone and do something he enjoyed. At first Bucaro would lie about where he was going when his friends asked why he could not hang out he would say, “Baseball practice…catch you later.” Then one day, all of a sudden, he told the truth and people accepted his dreams. He was afraid of being judged by his friends, but in the end it all worked out. One thing Bucaro enjoys most about being in theater is the interaction with the audience. It is like being someone else, but also being able to connect with individual members of the audience. Seeing his friends in the audience, Bucaro is always excited because he knows that they are proud of him and that they support him. Bucaro has been in a number of plays, but his all time favorites is “The Lion King,” which was through District 158. He also does another theater program called Spotlight Youth Theater. Two of his favorite plays he performed in SYT were “Bye Bye Birdie” and “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.” Working on improving in all areas of theater is very
K. Kalischefski
important to Bucaro because he knows what is needed in order for his dreams to come true. So, he goes to dancing classes and singing classes, as well as acting calls in order to help him to understand his craft and to work on it all at the same time. Someone that inspired Bucaro was one of his directors, Anna Greeno. She was someone he looked up to and she helped him to be the actor he is today. “She is someone who knows her stuff and someone I take very seriously because she used to be a Disney princess
in live shows at Disney,” Bucaro said. “And in order for me to be able to do these kind of things I have to listen and pay attention to what I am being taught.” Bucaro truly does apply what he is taught, and uses it to inspire others as well. “The one piece of advice that I would give [those who] are on the verge of trying theater: go for it,” Bucaro said. “But just know that there are people in the world who won’t support your choice. But if you really love what you’re doing, everything that they say won’t make a difference.” @huntleyvoice 9
features
What started here will end here
How 23-year-staffer Darlene Pfaff’s future began at Huntley
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maggie mcgee I print editor don’t think you get away with
s a 17-year-old, Darlene Pfaff was against moving to some stupid little farm town. The previous 17 years of her life had been spent in a town where kids did not drive their tractors to school every day. She had grown up in Palatine and attended Fremd High School, that was until junior year when her father and family made the move out to the small, rural town of Huntley, Illinois. Moving from Fremd to Huntley was a completely different world for Pfaff. She now had to adjust to a one hallway school instead of a two-story school. She now ate lunch in the same room where she participated in gym class. She now had only one teacher per subject in school. And most foreign to her, everybody knew everybody around town. The culture around town was a huge shock as well. Many students were excused without question if they were late for school. Phrases such as, “The cows got loose this morning” or “I had to finish up my morning chores on the farm” were common back when she was in high school. According to Pfaff, “bibs,” also known as overalls, were worn regularly too. “All of it was excused because [Huntley] was a farm town,” Pfaff said. “At Fremd or at any other high school, I 10 @huntleyvoice
that.” Huntley High School in 1973 was nothing like Huntley High School in 2017. Although the differences in the town and school were plentiful, she quickly adjusted
to her new life in a town out west. Huntley students were always very friendly as Pfaff recalls. However, she was not always a Pfaff. In spring of her junior year, Huntley High School
was hosting its annual Sadie Hawkins dance, where it was tradition that the girls ask the boys out. One of her friends asked if she was planning on going, which explained that she would go if she had someone to ask. Pfaff recalls
Darlene and Dennis Pfaff at Prom in ‘73. (Photo credit: 1973 HHS Yearbook.)
Darlene (Lesniak) Pfaff as a senior in 1973. (Photo credit: 1973 HHS Yearbook.)
mentioning the name of one boy in particular, and thinking he was cute. Coincidentally, the two girls were walking down the hallway soon after their conversation had occurred. Her friend pushed her right into that boy, causing both of them to slam into his locker. This was her one chance to ask him to the dance, and so she did. The boy said yes, and so they planned to attend the dance together. “It was very fun,” Pfaff said. “But we dressed up a little differently.” The theme of the dance was hoe-down or to dress up formally. They had discussed this before hand and both agreed to “dress up.” “He came to my door and said ‘I thought we were going to get dressed up!’” Pfaff said.
“I said, ‘I thought we were going to dress UP!’ So he went all dressed up and I went with my short-shorts on, pigtails, and fake freckles.” Pfaff had also made him a homemade boutonniere to go along with their “themed” outfits. She cut up radishes and shredded carrots to make the traditional dance garland that pins nicely onto men’s shoulders. Little did they know, that night at the dance would lead to four more decades together. That boy, Dennis Pfaff, became her husband just a few years later. “That was one of the best memories during my high school time,” Pfaff said. After high school, the Pfaffs wanted to stay in Huntley and raise their children, and so they did. Since her husband
december 2017 I volume 21 I issue 3 had grown up in a farming there Pfaff moved to the main family, Huntley was the peroffice, which is now known as fect place to stay settled. the H-O Pod by door 27, and “We didn’t really discuss was the secretary there. After what we were going to do,” moving positions once more, Pfaff said. “But I didn’t really want to move back into town. she became the Freshman Academy secretary where she I like the farm so much betstill remains today. ter, we’ve raised some cows For the first 10 years workand a couple pigs and have ing in the offices, her children crops every year too.” attended Huntley just as she Pfaff has worked many loand her husband had. cal jobs while living in Hunt“I liked it [working at the ley. She started out working school] because I had the at Dairy Mart, which was a same hours that the kids had,” huge hangout spot during Pfaff said. “I was still able to her high school years as she help raise them and be home recalls. She has also worked with them when needed and at the Huntley Supermarket, still work at the same time.” which was located where As you would expect, Wisted’s formerly was, and because she has came to work Algonquin State Bank, which almost every day for the past was also located on the other two decades, Pfaff has seen all side of where Pub 47 stands of the changes that the camtoday. puses have undertaken. However, the longest and “There have been a lot of most unexpected profession changes around here, a lot of of hers has been working at changes!” Pfaff said. District 158. Pfaff has worked Pfaff has been a part of at Huntley High School for Huntley’s backbone for 23 the past 23 years, holding a years, and has stuck with the plentitude of different posischool through it all. tions and playing a key role I have enjoyed working here in the operations of Huntley throughout the years,” Pfaff High School offices. said. “But I hope to retire Over the years, Pfaff has in the near future; 23 years worked as a lunch/recess is a very long time. I never supervisor at the old elementhought I would stay here 23 tary school, which has since years, never.” been torn down, as an aide to Pfaff represents the history June Brown, who was the high that fills this town, the untold school secretary when the stories, and the heart that high school campus was at the passes through Main Street Cosman Center, and later on day in and day out. Whether had a sub-caller added to her it remains a farm town or a title as well. growing suburb, Huntley has She was offered a position at some great stories. Dennis the Harmony Road Campus and Darlene Pfaff ’s is one of to be the athletic director them. secretary, so she dropped everything with Brown and has remained at the campus for the past 20 years. From @huntleyvoice 11
Photo credit: Hayley Orellana
december 2017 I volume 21 I issue 3
Underneath the flesh and bones Senior Cindy Jimenez uncovers life-changing struggles emily kindl I features editor peace by simply saying “stop.”
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kay, this is the time. I need to do it now. Tears had already drenched her face as a crying spell overtook her being. Her feelings and emotions were hazy and painfully overwhelming, but the choice she just made was the clearest. Her mind had not pondered it before, though. She had not thought of it until this moment. But here she was, standing, gazing at the blade. Having a history with self harm, bleeding out simply seemed the best way out. This would be her end, the period concluding her sentence. This is what she wanted. Overpowering thoughts of negativity were circulating the vast terrains of her mind. She tried justifying to herself why this was the best choice. She was not happy with her life or who she was. The fears, the sadness, and the body image expectations that controlled the levels in which she ate. The utter hatred she felt for herself gripped tighter every second. I’m not contributing anything to this world. People are just going to be happier if I’m not here. I’m going to be less of a pain. Her mind was a battlefield, the negative thoughts making piercing wounds in what was left of hope. It was not like she could end the war and bring
But, as if being shaken awake from a dream, she came to the realization that this would not be her way out. She could not do it any more. She did not want her life, but she could not be the one to take it. Not this way. She released the blade from her fingers and stepped out of the bathroom, still crying. She soon saw her sister. She was most vulnerable, trembling, with her face flushed and soaked, a thousand thoughts running through her head… But she did not care. She and her sister were best friends; they would tell each other most everything, and they knew each other like the backs of their hands. With one look, her sister knew that she had lost herself completely. She went over to her sister to hug her. “I want to die,” she said, sobbing again. Her sister burst out in tears, and held her tightly. “No,” her sister said. “Please don’t do that.” ••• Things were just fine when Cindy Jimenez had lived back in Belvidere, Illinois. She lived there for her whole life up until 8th grade, and things were not as complicated. But since she had moved to the Huntley area, her life had shifted. It was a good change, but the way she felt about herself was turned upside down. During freshman year, her second year in Huntley,
feelings of alienation soon held her captive. She knew something felt wrong inside, something was off, but she did not know what. It just was not the same. Then, eventually sophomore year had come around. People were spreading rumors about her, and these previous feelings had compounded. Her grades were dropping, she would skip school and isolate herself from others, and she would eat in moderation. This all led to the breaking point where she decided she would take her life that April, and then revoked that decision soon after. Her family was not blind to what was going on, but nothing was quite done until after the attempt. There were prior episodes of panic and depression, one of which left her rocking back and forth in her bed for about an hour, due to constant hallucinations and voices…which her sister, Deissy Jimenez, now a sophomore in college, was there to
witness. After she nearly committed suicide, she confided in her best friend at the time, telling her all that had happened. Her friend, having gone through similar things, understood. And for Cindy’s safety, she told her school counselor the next day. Cindy was pulled out of class, and a suicide hotline worker interviewed her. After asking her questions, they thought it was best for Cindy to be hospitalized for the critical condition she was in. She stayed in the counselor’s office for the rest of the day, and Deissy was able to stay with her for some time. Her parents were not able to understand English very well, so Deissy had to temporarily take on the parental role. When school hours were over, the ambulance arrived to the school to take her to the emergency room. There, they treated her with the fluids her starving body was yearning for, but she and
Cindy painting on her body. (Courtsey of C. Jimenez.)
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features her family had to wait a long time for Cindy to be admitted into the mental hospital to receive further treatment and a diagnosis. And as the time had prolonged, her and her family’s veins ran with worry. Late at night, a hospital was finally found, one that would be able to take their insurance and had an availability for Cindy. The day after she arrived, she received her diagnosis from a psychiatrist: major depression, generalized anxiety, and eating disorders bulimia and anorexia. More than likely, her family has not had any history of any of these things. Her parents fought and blamed themselves, and seeing that ripped her heart in half. But what happened did not destroy them, and according to Deissy, this was a new obstacle the Jimenez family would have to face. At that moment, she definitely did not want to be at the hospital. Cindy was upset that her friend had told her counselor, even though, subconsciously, she knew she needed to be there. She connected with people her age that were struggling with similar things, and was also able to receive support from staff members who provided her with several coping mechanisms. Cindy only remained there for two weeks - because of how badly she wanted to be released - whereas most patients stayed for at least a month. Those two weeks were especially hard for Deissy because she missed her best friend so much, and because she was not yet 18, she was 14 @huntleyvoice
not able to see Cindy at all. She was glad Cindy was getting help she needed, but she just wanted her sister back. When she was released, the hospital found a psychiatrist and therapist for Cindy based on where she lived. Her school counselor and social worker also worked to help her get back to where she needed to be. Cindy was progressively getting better in the sense that she ceased wanting to harm herself or take her life away. “But [like anyone], I did have my relapses where I just did really bad,” she said. “And I would have crying spells, and have depression episodes, and have psychotic episodes… I was still missing a part of myself.” And because she was still missing that piece of herself, her struggles with the depression, anxiety, and eating disorders were an infinite cycle of ups and downs. The medication she took did smooth the mind-numbing bumps along the way, although she did (and still does) not want to fully rely on what was chemically made to help her feel better. The coping mechanisms her previous therapist had suggested had brought some peace and stillness to her life. And now as a senior, she still uses them. ••• “It is hard to deal with regular things,” Cindy said. “I feel overwhelmed over the littlest things… It’s not fun.” Since then, she has not found a new therapist as good and genuine as her old one: a person who was much like a best friend to Cindy. Her ther-
apist really helped her, being a person she could talk to and a source of healing. Her therapist encouraged her to do things that interested her when her depression and anxiety would surface. She loved Cindy’s writing and art, and motivated her to do these so Cindy could find joy and realize life’s worth. In particular, she paints on her body to distract herself from intense negative thoughts against her body or being. She also paints on canvases, draws, doodles, takes photographs, journals, makes bracelets or other crafts…all in order to express herself and release her emotions. “I think it’s really nice, and I like to channel my sadness through different forms of art,” Cindy said. To help cope, she also reads, especially a lot of poetry, and listens to a lot of music. There have been different bands she has listened to that saved her, some that address tough topics, such as Beartooth and Twenty One Pilots. In terms of coping with the eating disorders, she has since stopped hiding her food, eats even when she is not hungry, and tries pushing away thoughts screaming at her not to eat. She pushes herself to spend more time with her friends, to try things she is not completely comfortable with, to try her hardest to be above her thoughts…and she encourages others to do so as well, because she believes in life’s value.
Art box her therapist gave her. (Courtsey of C. Jimenez.)
“I feel like if the roles were reversed and I was in her situation, I don’t know if I could’ve handled it the way she did,” Deissy said. “She’s a lot stronger than she thinks she is. I don’t think she realizes it, but she’s gone through a lot and she’s been through a lot…and she’s still here. And I’m glad.” Her story is still continuing. It is all still hard. She has not yet conquered her demons. Yet. These struggles are not who she is, but simply a part of her story. “I just want to say that, in the end, it’s worth it,” Cindy said. “I know that’s really f*cking cliché, but it really is because there’s just so much left in life for you. And if you just take away your life so soon, then you’re not going to be able to experience all that.” Although it is exhausting, she strives to recognize how precious her own life is, no matter how messy. She keeps her soul’s struggles hidden under a blanket. And while she usually only invites few to see… This is what is underneath. VIEW CINDY’S LETTER TO THE READERS ON HUNTLEYVOICE.COM
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“Stranger Things” is anything but strange Number one Netflix show keeps fans waiting for more maddy domek I staff writer
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n ode to the ‘80s, “Stranger Things” has found its way into many people’s hearts as their favorite show. Arguably, the biggest Netflix release of the year was season two. However due to the fact that the creators are quite new to Hollywood, “Stranger Things” did not start out with a lot of confidence. Creators Matt and Ross, also known as The Duffer Brothers, have in fact only written a handful of shows for sci-fi series “Wayward Pines,” as well as most of their work in horror. They also previously created the film “Hidden” which was released in 2015. Their love for horror came from the first director they fell in love with which was Tim Burton who captured their imaginations and hearts and you can definitely tell considering the heavy influence it has on the show. “Stranger Things” is set in 1983 in Hawkins, Indiana and is strictly fictional.The inspiration for the location and some of the story line came from “Camp Hero” in Montauk, New York. Conspiracy theorists speculate that Camp Hero was used for developing psychological warfare techniques and also time travel. Some parallels to the show with Eleven’s character, such as her telekinesis like abilities. Inspiration for the shows image came from the works
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of Steven Spielberg, John Carpenter, Stephen King, George Lucas, and others. “Stranger Things” appeals to a wide range of audiences from old to young. Something for everyone is in the show and the cast really makes it exceptional. Millie Bobby Brown, “Eleven,” on the show is currently only 13 years old. She was born in Spain to both British parents and she later moved to Orlando. She took acting classes on Saturday and to which not much came out of. Her parents then received a call from a Hollywood Talent Scout that she had an exceptional grasp on acting and decided to move to California and get her started. Eleven’s character has developed a lot more from the beginning of the show. She started off as being a frail, bald girl who ran around in ragged clothes, but in season two her true personality starts to shine through. Thanks to Hopper the town’s sheriff, played by David Harbour, for taking her in and teaching her a few more words. Eleven has become a lot more independent and a lot more angry. She expresses jealousy towards Max, played by Sadie Sink, for being close with Mike, which is her love interest. Her hair grows back and the audience starts to see a strong, loyal, and defiant young woman. She also runs away for a period of time in an attempt
to find her mother and the woman she grew up with. She travels to Chicago to find Kali, played by Linnea Berthelsen, who helps her strengthen her power. Finn Wolfhard, “Mike,” is currently 15 years old and hails from Vancouver Canada where he attends high school. Mike’s character throughout season one and season two has not really changed and is more or less the same. In the show, he is able to see first hand what lengths the monster inside Will will reach to protect the Upside Down. Along with this, Mike’s love with Eleven further develops. Gaten Matarazzo “Dustin” is currently 15 years old. He suffers from Cleidocranial Dysplasia, A rare genetic disorder in which you’re born without collar bones, which adversely affected his facial, skull, and teeth development and in the pilot you can see a bully harass him about the way he speaks. He has become a little bit more confident in season two, with not being afraid of Steve Harrington and actually teaming up with
him in an attempt to capture Dart. Caleb McLaughlin “Lucas” is currently 16 years old. McLaughlin, a New York native, studied dance at the Harlem school of arts under Aubrey Lynch, former Lion King producer and director of dance at the school. Lucas has a love interest as well and is so overtaken by Max that he decides to divulge all of the secrets about what happened to Will in an attempt to keep her as a friend of the group. Noah Schnapp “Will” is currently 13 years old. A Hollywood veteran, Schnapp has appeared in Steven Spielberg’s Oscar winning thriller “Bridge of Spies,” as well as some indie films. Will’s character has changed such as when he gets horrific flashbacks of the monster taking over inside of him, but things end happily and he is freed. In season two, the characters instead of sharing a joint delima, have developed problems of their own which makes their individual char-
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New Pixar movie is fun for the holidays Disney’s new movie “CoCo” is a great trip for the family faith losbanes I news ediotr The direction and story was
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ith a grin on his face and strum of his guitar, he is surrounded in the orange glow of a twirling sea of marigold petals and transported into the Land of the Dead. The newest heart-warming and culturally sensitive Disney Pixar Film “Coco” leaves audiences in tears as they exit the theatre. However, the witty humor, vibrant animation, and beautifully traditional Mexican music makes the film much more meaningful than one centered around the celebration of death. The film follows an eager 12-year-old boy, Miguel Rivera voiced by Anthony Gonzalez, who aspires to follow in the footsteps of his idol, a hugely famous musician, Ernesto De La Cruz, voiced by Benjamin Bratt. Banned from playing music by his greatgreat-grandmother who was abandoned by her musician husband, Miguel plays guitar in secret. Presented with the opportunity to perform in a competition on El Día de Los Muertos, Miguel sneaks into de la Cruz’s tomb in order to “borrow” his guitar. In a turn of events, Miguel finds himself trapped in the Land of the Dead on a mission with an unexpected guide, a trickster named Héctor, voiced by Gael García Bernal, to find de la Cruz. 16 @huntleyvoice
lead under the experienced Lee Unkrich, known for his work on Monsters Inc. and Toy Story 3. “Coco” is his second film as head director, the previous being Toy Story 3 back in 2010. Unkrich and co-director Adrian Molina have crafted a major success, topping the highly anticipated “Justice League” on its opening weekend. It continues to dominate the charts as the holiday season continues. This movie was stunning in every sense of the word. The world building was intricate and lively, and nothing about the animation felt lacking. The intricacy of the movements was incredible with the finger picking of the guitars and characteristic skeleton walking. The weathered skin on Miguel’s abuela and titular character, Coco, was shockingly realistic and an animation feat that I couldn’t help but be amazed by. The film features a large Hispanic cast, appropriate as “Coco” being Pixar’s first feature film highlighting a mi-
nority protagonist. The atmosphere of Miguel’s home town was inviting and celebratory, almost informative but in an immersive way. I felt like I could relate to the family and community, despite not coming from a Latino background. The film fully immerses itself in the Mexican culture in to strive to create compositions full of authenticity. Michael Giacchino is well known for his musical work in video games, television, and movies. No stranger to Pixar, Giacchino is credited with the composition to several studio films notably including Inside Out, Cars 2, Ratatouille, The Incredibles, Riverdale Facebookand Up. The soundtrack also features songs from other writers, including husband and wife duo Kristen Anderson-Lopez, and Robert Lopez who composed the most recognizable song in “Remember Me.” The music was beautiful and really conveyed the vibe of popular love songs from ‘30s and ‘40s Mexican music. However, “Coco” was not musical in the way a Disney
Princess movie is musical. There were some spectacular and showy performances, but the performances that really stole the show were the ones that had rawness to them. The less produced songs were shining moments in the film: the simple picking of the guitar and soft vocals were what gave it a sense of authenticity. While not every song was one that made you want to sing along, the creators succeeded in creating inescapable moments between the audience and the characters on screen, as well as tear-heavy moments. As emotion filled as the movie was, this, in fact, this was one of Pixar’s most witty films. I was pleasantly surprised to see an appearance from a skeletonized Frida Kahlo who was given an extravagant and hilariously self aware personality. Her over the top ‘Dramatic and Inspired’ artist persona added a few moments that had everyone doubled over laughing. “Coco” was very reminiscent on the themes of their older films, and truly fits in with the levels of movies from Pixar’s early days. At its core, this was a movie about family and should be watched with love ones. With just the right amount of tugs on the heartstrings, brilliant animation, and excellent writing, it makes for an instant feel good classic that will make you want to go and hug all of your family.
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“Three Billboards” Twitter
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New indie movie shocks crowds to tears Bitter as poison but with a heart of gold, “Three Billboards stuns
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brayden turk I staff writer being as objective as possible, bbing, Missouri: the most backwater town in Midwestern America. Enter Mildred, a mother who recently lost her daughter to a horrific crime… one that ultimately goes unsolved, the local police all but flat out ignoring the case. In retaliation, Mildred puts up- you guessed it-three billboards on the outskirts of town publicly questioning the slow investigation and directly calling out the beloved, cancer-stricken police chief. Tackling issues of sorrow, head on morality, and with an acid-tongued script and direction by Martin McDonagh, “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” is certain to be the new indie darling of 2017, but does it deserve the praise? The movie makes a point of
choosing to show the facts instead of vilifying certain characters other films would dehumanize in a heartbeat. The racist, power-abusing cop? He’s a mama’s boy, who ultimately throws away his prejudices for the greater good. The grieving woman who, at a glance, appears hysterical and inane? She’s a mother overwhelmed with guilt and heartbreaking regret over her daughter’s rape and murder. In the end, the mystery is never solved, but then again, finding answers really wasn’t the point of the film was it? “Three Billboards” is not only a blistering study of grief: the film is also a tale of injustice and redemption. There is a layer of boiling hatred throughout the film, but all of these are resolved by the end. In a bleak world of crime and
unfairness, there still exists hope, whatever form it may take. McDonagh wrote the script with only one actress, Frances McDormand, in mind, which becomes perfectly clear when hearing how the dialogue is presented. The Chicago-born spouse to famous director Joel Coen, has starred in a variety of roles, from “Fargo” to “Moonrise Kingdom.” In here, she is at the top of her game. There truly is a broken heart underneath all of that pent-up anger, and McDormand lets out everything at exactly the right times. The supporting roles, from Woody Harrelson and Sam Rockwell respectively, are true to the movie’s themes as well. Unfortunately, the independent film landscape provided almost too much freedom. “Three Billboards” feels bloated at points, especially
in the latter half. Far too often do various character choices and decisions seem unrealistic, moving past biting satire and into the realm of the just plain absurd. If the movie was trimmed down, say 20 minutes, that razor-sharp edge it was aiming for might not be so dull. But, despite its flaws, “Three Billboards” is a thought provoking, emotionally challenging fable certain to garner powerful reactions ranging from the ecstatic to the horrified. Whatever the opinion, it is certain to be strong. “Three Billboards” dares you to look away. Willingly or not, the movie is bound to leave an impression a long, long time after the credits roll. Whether you want to experience it, well, that is just up to you. @huntleyvoice 17
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Riverdale season two, gone dry
“Riverdale” is a new addition to the long list of teen hit shows
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shaaf iqbal I staff writer iverdale” might seem like just another show about a group of teenagers in a small town, but it is much more than that. In his first ever major role in any show, K.J. Apa who plays high school jock Archie Andrews, does a good job of becoming everybody’s hero. Always being a leader and having a charming personality, Apa was able to grab the hearts of everybody with his heroics in season one. Lili Reinhart also has her first major role in a show by playing the pretty girl next door Betty Cooper. Betty is portrayed as the quiet one of the bunch, but is also very smart and able to piece things together in the show. Camila Mendes, plays new girl in town Veronica Lodge whose fierce and assertive personality helps establish her character as a woman who will not take no for an answer. Cole Sprouse, everybody’s childhood favorite who was most notably in Suite Life of Zack and Cody, plays social outcast Jughead Jones whose observant personality, knowledge of the town, and relationship with the South Side of town helps round out the main group. The group helps each other get through the mysteries surrounding “Riverdale.” They stick together in order to uncover the mystery behind the death of Jason Blossom 18 @huntleyvoice
eventually finding out the truth that Jason was killed by his own father. Season one left everyone on the edge of their seats as Archie’s dad was shot in a diner by a masked man before the episode ended. Season two began with so many questions, is Mr. Andrews dead? Who shot him? Was there a reason behind his shooting? It was full of exciting new developments and plots twists. We finally got to meet the mysterious business man himself, Hiram Lodge. Hiram was in jail for all of season one because of some illegal activities and running some a shady business that started to go south. So he came back to Riverdale to try and save his business, but claims to be back to be a better father for Veronica. Another new development is that there’s also a new drug that has popped up in Riverdale, called “jingle jangle.” It is a dangerous drug that has suddenly popped up and no one really knows how or why. But easily the most prominent and mysterious problem
is the search to discover who the killer is known as the black hood. The same guy that killed Archie’s dad has been going around Riverdale with the bizarre motive of killing those who are sinners. Ironically, a man trying to cleanse a town of sinning, is doing so by killing them. At first it seemed that the killer was trying to just go after Archie’s life, by shooting his dad and killing his former music teacher, Ms. Grundy. Both of these led to Archie going crazy and starting a gang to try and track down the black hood, one of several odd things to happen this season. Right after this happened nothing was going on and the show got boring for a bit. It really made the show unwatchable because it seemed that the show had no plot. This was also where the inexperience of all the characters showed, as when the plot got dry, the acting also got dry and you really could not get excited about anything. A common trend was that after something new entered the plot, the characters would re-
spond in a way that would either leave the audience bored or scratching their head. But then suddenly the black hood started threatening the whole town and demands that he have his letters published in the newspaper, which is the cheesiest thing ever, basically copying what the “Zodiac Killer” did. The show could have introduced the black hood in a more creative way but instead chose to copy it from one of the most notorious serial killers ever. The rollercoaster continued with the twist of Jughead officially joining the “South Side Serpents” a gang based in Southside Riverdale. It was a major surprise and finally something new to get excited about. As the drama continued, Jughead grew closer to his gang and further from his friends. But just like every other big development, it was either followed by something weird or boring. In this case the whole town of Riverdale is blaming the Serpents because they believe the killer is from the South Side.
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This leads to easily one of the dumbest moments of the show, where Archie and his friends fight the Serpents for no good reason. Tensions were rising between the North and South sides but there was absolutely no reason for them to fight and one of Archie’s friends, Dilton Doiley, got stabbed. Things get even weirder when Betty learns that the black hood is inspired by her and that he wants her to get rid of everyone in her life, basically torturing her in a weird, stalker like way. Because of this Betty starts to become more sinister and always obeys what the killer says. Such as posting a mug-
shot of her mom in the paper and even telling the black hood to kill Nick St. Clair, who tried to rape her friend Cheryl. Betty’s changed from being the nice and friendly neighbor to now being a ruthless leader not afraid of anybody. She goes as far to threaten to the black hood that she’ll hunt him down and even accuses Sheriff Keller of being the killer. Things get strange again, as Jughead, Archie, and the Serpents challenge the other Southside gang, The Ghoulies, to a street race over territory, which was pre-planned by Archie to let The Ghoulies run right into the police to be arrested. It was another
weird way to settle problems between two groups and only made matters worse. However, one of the cooler things happened in season two is linked back to season one. Going back to season one, there was a big drug company in Riverdale that had an executive known as the sugar man. In season two, one of the black hood’s instructions was to find out who the sugar man was. It was a pretty cool connection made back to season one, but finally the identity of the sugar man is revealed to be a teacher at the high school in south Riverdale. This leads to more tension between North and
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South Riverdale and growing suspicion that the killer is from the South Side. Although “Riverdale” has its moments where it can get very dry or just plain weird and leave the audience scratching their head, there are enough developments and interesting sub-plots that keep the audience engaged, like finding out who the black hood is. Will Betty and her friends solve a big mystery again? Is the black hood from the south side? Is the black hood one person? Everyone wants the answers to these questions and we’ll just have to keep watching to find out.
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New album receives a great ‘Reputation’ Taylor Swift’s debut album and hot hit songs are huge for fans
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taryn sargent I staff writer t all started with the first album,“Taylor Swift,” and when it launched fans ate it up. They begged and pleaded with her through emails and fan letters for a tour, a concert, anything to feed their hunger for the new country star. Now we have “Reputation,” a completely different album from her first. Instead of heartbreak and love, the album sings of a ruined image and admitting of problems in love and life. Although Swift’s style has been changing her new album, “Reputation” is the epitome of her current self. “Reputation” was released Nov. 10, and according to CNN in the first four days of its release it sold over a million copies. “Reputation” is currently number one on the Billboard 200 albums chart and will make even more revenue before the year is done. Unlike her first album, “Taylor Swift,” which only made it to top forty on Billboard 200. The album has both her countless devoted fans and new fans ensnared by the drama filled lyrics. According to Billboard and Cosmopolitan, Swift has recently used these fans to make profit. She made the smart business tactic of having a concert where tickets were available sooner if certain merchandise was purchased. But there is a reason why her mil-
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lions of fans are obsessed with “Reputation.” The album contains intense beats and strong vocals conveying clear a message to listeners. Unlike her albums earlier in her career which focused more on the message of love and relationships with acoustics in the background. Popular songs on the album including “Look What You Made Me Do” speak of her conflicts with other
“I’m sorry the old Taylor Swift can’t come to the phone right now.” celebrities. This feeds a fan’s hunger for something personal about their favorite singer’s life. “Reputation” also has songs of love and affection including “Gorgeous” and “Dress,” which lets long time fans hear her usual message they have grown attached to. “Reputation” was created to let her fans know how other celebrities have teamed up against her to trash her reputation. She hints and explains this through lyrics as well as visually. In her music video for “Look What You Made Me Do” she sat atop a throne of snakes and which symbolizes lies and deception. Supporting the fact that she is often called a liar by fellow pop stars. She conveys through multiple songs that she tries not to let the drama get to her and does admit to having faults and lying sometimes. “I Did Some-
thing Bad” confesses that Swift has had multiple unhealthy relationships because of her bad habits. Lying and showing artificial affection in relationships are just some things that Swift thinks are fine for her to do when involving love interests. Swift also makes sure to touch upon how a new relationship has helped her get over the insults and not focus on the drama. Lyrics convey that the drama does strain the relationship between her and her lover. In “End Game,” she stresses that she wants her lover to know that she does not like the drama and to not listen to what others say about her because of it. This album marks Swift’s growth as an artist because “Reputation” shows that this celebrity has her own demons, not just crushes. What better way, as a singer, to convey to your fans that you have grown up and your personality has changed then to state it in your songs? Swift is no longer that new 16-yearold country star that just debuted, that was 2006. She is now 27 years old and a international pop star that has won 10 Grammy Awards. For any of those that have doubted that she truly has changed her genre from country to pop this album was a declaration. “Reputation” is the first time Swift has ever used swear words in her music because this album left nothing back. Her emotions were displayed to anyone listening. Her message of her being changed from who she was was sent. “Reputation” truly reveals that the old Taylor Swift is dead.
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double truck
On to the next chapter of their lives Seniors look back on years of high school and on to the future bry walker I sports editor
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typical day for this student includes waking up at 7 a.m., eating his breakfast which consists of seven eggs, five slices of toast, and a protein shake. He then proceeds to make his lunch and come to school. After his last final on Wednesday, December 20, senior Matt Barnas’ daily schedule will change forever. Although he will not be attending high school any more, he will continue parts of his routine such as healthy eating and his workout regimen.
“Hopefully one day I’ll be a jacked FBI Agent.” - Matt Barnas “I’m graduating early because I feel like second semester of senior year is pointless,” Barnas said. “I want to get some college credits. I also plan on lifting more so I can get ready for my bodybuilding competition in April.” Barnas plans to attend Parkland Community College for the spring semester and then transfer to a university for the fall of next year. Barnas aspires to work in the law enforcement field in the future.
“Hopefully one day I’ll be a jacked FBI Agent.” Barnas said. Both Prom and the graduation ceremony are on Barnas’ agenda for the spring. Participating in senior year activites is important to Barnas, because he would like to be part of the school even though he has started college. After having classes with the same people for the past 12 years, Barnas is ready to move forward in his life and start his career. Barnas has made close friends in high school and wants to stay close to them in college and throughout the rest of his life. “The one thing that I’ll miss most about high school is seeing my friends and favorite teachers every day.” Barnas added.
mason hutson I staff writer
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he alarm on your iPhone rings. The same alarm that plays every morning to let you know that it is time to wake up for yet another day for school. For seniors, they have been hearing this alarm every school day for the past four years. Many students wake up in the morning, tired and grumpy, and find themselves wondering why they have to get up so early for school. Sometimes the motivation for school is not there, and some students wish their high school careers ended earlier. Like many students, senior Adrian Santos cannot wait to finish up the school year and continue on with his life. He will be graduating early, and beginning his future; his last day of high school being the day before winter break. “I’m graduating early so that I have more time to work and save money for college,” Santos said. His family fully supports his decision to graduate early, and they hope that his brain will still be fresh for college in the fall. Santos plans on attending Loras College which is located in Dubuque, Iowa. “I plan on working to save up for a house after high school 22 @huntleyvoice
and working on a career,” Santos L. Bounchaleunsouk said. Although he does not yet know for sure what his major will be, he hopes to take time while off school to think about what he wants to do with his future.
“I don’t think I’ll miss the school that much but I will miss the people.” - Adrian Santos As many students do, Santos has a love/hate relationship with high school. Although the school work is stressful, he will miss the friends that he has made over the past four years. “I don’t think I’ll miss the school that much but I will miss the people,” he said. Santos also plans on rooming with some friends from Huntley at Loras, which will hopefully make him feel right at home. Santos has a bright future ahead of him, as do the other students who are graduating early.
december 2017 I volume 21 I issue 3
jen gordus I staff writer
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ith a bright future and a couple of bright smiles in her favor, senior Kiley Fluhler prepares to graduate early and brace herself for the life ahead of her. “I’m graduating early because I’m basically in my career already,” Fluhler said. Fluhler currently works the same grind, day after day, at a dentist office. Graduating early gives her more hours to fill, opportunities to explore, and lessons to be learned to help prepare her for the future. Deciding between either becoming a cosmetic dentist or a hygienist is something currently cramming Fluhler’s mind. The two careers are not complete molar opposites, but there is still quite a gap between the two. While the career choice may not be set in stone, college definitely is. “I’m going to spend two years at Harper,” Fluhler said. “After then I’m planning on going to Marquette.” The future can be deeply unnerving, especially when Fluhler has to decide between going to school for two years to become a hygienist or 10 years if she goes the cosmetic dentist route. Graduating early may not come with a plaque, but her future patients definitely will no matter which career she choses. Just because she is graduating early does not mean she plans on missing out on one of the most significant events of high
school, Prom. Hopefully she receives a crown on Prom night, but if she doesn’t, then she will just have to make up for it by giving others crowns when they walk into the dentist’s office. People may complain about a tooth hurting, but at least Fluhler won’t have to stay in school until 2:30 p.m. May her future be bright and the smiles she cleans be brighter, because graduating early is just the beginning and there are quite a few people in desperate need of a flossing lesson.
Photo courtesy of K. Fluhler
L. Bounchaleunsouk Photo courtesy of https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/ thumb/e/e8/Marquette_Golden_Eagles_logo.svg/2000px-Marquette_ Golden_Eagles_logo.svg.png Photo courtesy of https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/ f9/LorasCollegeKeaneHall.jpg
@huntleyvoice 23
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december 2017 I volume 21 I issue 3
Fresh face in Huntley’s administration Meet Huntley’s new Athletic Director, Glen Wilson emma kubelka I online editor
A
s students stand shoulder to shoulder, their feet on the edge of the bleachers trying to peer past the crowded heads in Raider Nation, they hear the buzzing of the fluorescent overhead lights and inaudible, yet rhythmic chants and screams. Through the chaos of football season, one consistency remains. A red polo shirt paces the sideline. A new yet familiar face, Glen Wilson, has made a name for himself. He has early connections with the teams, coaches, and student fans of HHS. His red Nike polo shirt stands out among the sea of orange construction vests that identify the chaperones. Wilson takes pride in developing relationships with students and enjoys taking part in their fun. From Deans to Physical Education teachers, Huntley High School has seen a dramatic increase in new staff members this past year. Wilson is different though, because of his interaction with thousands of student athletes. A graduate and teacher of Woodstock High School, Wilson offers a new voice and set of eyes in the world of HHS athletics. This Blue Streaks alumnus taught U.S. history, AP U.S. History, and has a background in athletics, ascending to the Athletic Director position at his alma mater.
During his years as a teacher, Wilson coached baseball and football, and through this came the recognizable and growing bonds between him and his athletes. He is motivated by the passion athletes have for their teams and he showed that in the beginning of the season when he personally introduced himself to each team. He takes his passion for sports and to the next level, whether it be on the tennis court, the football field, or running alongside the cross country teams during their 85 degree practices. “I was interested in widening those relationships, and moving along in a leadership position,” Wilson said. “And when you pair those things together, that’s how I moved into the athletic director arena.” During his time as an assistant athletic director at WHS in 2004, Wilson was was quickly loaded with more responsibilities when the head athletic director had to take administrative leave due to medical reasons. Because of this, Wilson’s experience with each position was inconsistent, causing a difficult transition. Once again, he was forced to adjust and rebuild a positive and constructive environment. That fast transition took time away from properly ascending into the offical Athletic Director position and learning all of the ropes. Wilson was forced to develop
a functional style of leadership and take everything he learned and quickly apply it in his new role. “My learning was more jumping into the deep end of the pool,” he said. “But it’s actually been a functional way for me to figure it out.” Introductions to teams, involvement in their events, collaborations with Raider Nation, and discussions with student leaders soon became Wilson’s reality. Huntley sports teams have history of success and are recognized as a power-house throughout the Fox Valley Conference. Wilson accepted this responsibility and has done everything in his power to ensure the Raiders stay on top.
“Mr.Wilson has not been nothing short of fantastic when it comes to helping raider nation.” -Ben Litwin “We’ve got a good thing going and I want to be a part of that and support that,” he said. All though no drastic changes have been put into place yet with Wilson’s transition to HHS administration, small changes have been recognized. “Part of the thing that attracted me to HHS was the great vibe and current and
tone that it has,” Wilson said. “I like our head coaches and what they’ve done for their programs and their dutiful assistant coaches.” Partnerships and collaboration with the student body this year have lead to noticeable growth in student athlete involvement in events outside of the traditional Friday Night Lights. “I had a really strong connection with the Blue Crew [at Woodstock],” Wilson said. “And it’s something that I’ve grown to be a part of and have as a part of my regular interaction. I was really fortunate that we had some seniors who were really hungry to move that forward as well.” “Mr. Wilson has been nothing short of fantastic when it comes to helping Raider Nation,” senior Raider Nation leader, Ben Litwin said. “Whether that’s in helping us coordinate events, giving his support to what we do, and always being available to us whenever we need him.” fghh
@huntleyvoice 25
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december 2017 I volume 21 I issue 3
Dancing like nobody is watching Five senior leaders serve as role models on Orchesis team
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alexandra landman I editor-in-chief Move Competition in early
espite the bland, prison-white colored walls, flurry of red chairs, Cheeto powder on the floor, metal security doors, and the smell of day-old cafeteria food, it is not hard for the HHS Orchesis Team to transform the atmosphere. Dressed in all black, they position themselves and move in sync to the 5-6-7-8 beat. They transform the floor into their own stage. The power of their movements and music redefines the space into a comfortable environment that is free for all expression. For the five senior leaders, dance is not only a hobby, but a passion they all share. They practice around six hours each week preparing for their K. Kalischefski
February. Catey Johnson, Alaina Moran, Mya Saucedo, Allison Simons, and Paige Wegrzyn all come from different dance backgrounds, ranging from five to 13 years of experience. Through they all have diverse studio experiences, they all joined for the same reason: to learn more about dance and make new friends. For Wegrzyn, joining was an impulsive decision. “I remember hearing about it over the intercom at school and seeing the girls perform at the pep rally my freshman year made me want to be a part of it,” Wegrzyn said. “I remember my freshman year I grabbed Mya Saucedo after our gym period and we just decided to go from there. The
rest is history.” In fact, all of the senior captains heard about the team by word of mouth. Simons joined because Johnson encouraged her and Moran joined because her friend in eighth grade thought it would be fun for them to make new friends, especially as incoming freshmen. All of the girls, except Simons, have been on the team since their freshman year. Being on the team for four years has allowed them to gain experience in choreography, grow as dancers, and develop relationships with each other and the rest of their teammates. “I meet some of my best friends on Orchesis,” Moran said. “I really like how well the team works together. We all get along really well and can be ourselves around each other.” According to Moran, they have all control to create pieces they would want to perform in a show. This is their creative outlet and allows them to express themselves in unique ways. Sure, the sparkly outfits, makeup, bright lights, and cheerful crowd help, but the best part is the memories made along the way. “ I will always cherish are all the little moments in between,” Wegrzyn said. “The plans before and after a performance, the inside jokes that were created, the accom-
plishments, the mistakes, just everything in between. You really learn to find joy in the little things.” As the bright lights beat down and they quickly run through the dance in their head, quickly moving their bodies to the beat, the nerves still do not hit. They get into position, anxiously waiting for the music to begin. In the several seconds that they are on the stage waiting for the music, that is when the nerves hit. Then, the music comes on and they dance as if nobody's watching. They don’t dance for the credit, to impress their peers or to show off their talent. “I am dancing because it is something that I am truly passionate about and cannot live without,” Johnson said. “I perform because it has been a passion of mine for many years and I want to do my very best,” Moran said. “I try to make it fun and remember that this is what I like to do,” Saucedo said. “It’s for me to prove to myself that all the hours of hard work was going to pay off one way or another,” Wegrzyn said. “The fact that I get to perform this in front of people is just like a little bonus.” As leaders on the team, the girls work to ensure the younger members are on track and understand the cho-
see ORCHESIS page 35 @huntleyvoice 27
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december 2017 I volume 21 I issue 3
Leave it to ‘Wreck-it-Rukkus’ Sophomore Rukkus Hunkins describes his experiences as an underclassmen on varsity
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austin stadie I staff writer
restling was becoming second nature, doing the same thing day after day for eight years will do that to anyone. However, this match was different. This was on a whole new stage, wrestling at a varsity level for the first time. Sophomore Rukkus Hunkins, who was a freshman at the time, was more than nervous. Hunkins was set to wrestle against Hampshire, but he could not think about anything besides getting out of that place. Hunkins knew what he had to do, he takes pride in his school, and went out to fight with his teammates, the same guys that he had been looking up to for so long, were cheering him on. Everything was a blur of yelling and chanting, a hardfought match. Overcoming his nerves, not only for himself, but his team and school as well. He ultimately came out on top. He barely remembers his
Rukkus Hunkins wrestling his opponent from Harry D Jacobs High School. (A. Sanchez)
time in Colorado. Hunkins, accompanied by his family, made the nearly 1,000 mile journey from Denver to Huntley when he was 4 years old. “We wanted to move closer to family that lived in Minnesota, and my parents ended up really liking the area,” Hunkins said. In the years following, Hunkins’ love for sports grew. Simply watching them was not enough, he was interested in playing them himself. His neighbor, who coached both football and wrestling, helped him get started. Wrestling was his first true love, the feeling of self improvement and hard work coming to life on the mat was something that he could not find in team sports. “The more work you put into it, the better you get,” Hunkins said. “It’s more about self-reliance and you can clearly see the work you’ve put in.” Hunkins wrestled at the varsity level intermittently his freshman year and loved the
challenge. “Learning from guys much older than me and being on a team with them, learning the ropes and what it was like to compete at the varsity level in both sports helped me grow a lot,” he said. The lessons he has learned and hard work put in has allowed him to play both football and wrestling at a varsity level as a sophomore. Hunkins has bigger aspirations though, and wants to pursue a sports career in any way possible as an adult. “I would love to play at a higher level obviously, but even if I don’t I’d still like to at least manage a team or coach.” To someone with no interests in sports all of this hard work and dedication may seem like a waste of time. This is time he could be using to instead get schoolwork done or hang out with friends like a regular teenager. Sports take on a whole new meaning for him and his family though. They are not
something he is just doing to kill time. For Hunkins it is a way of life, sports allow him to not only grow physically, but mentally as well. “Sports provide structure and discipline that help him be successful,” Rukkus’ mother, Nickie Hunkins said. “Rukkus has learned more about himself physically and mentally through wrestling than I could have taught him myself.” Hunkins does not just spend all of his time in the weight room, he is a student first, athlete second. Some athletes forget the importance of maintaining good grades while fighting to be the best in their respective sport. “I think school is more important than sports, because at any moment a sports career can end due to injury or maybe you don’t get offered a scholarship by a college,” Hunkins said. “If you work hard in school though, you can still get into a good college.”
see RUKKUS, page 35 @huntleyvoice 29
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december 2017 I volume 21 I issue 3
Speaking volumes through movement Junior Jordan Buchanan expresses her emotions without words danielle rhody I staff writer
A
s she waits for her musical cue, junior Jordan Buchanan mentally runs through her routine. Right when the music starts, she begins the intricate number her coaches have developed, becoming one with the music. Buchanan has been dancing for nine years at Center Stage Dance Academy in Huntley. She started competitive dance eight years ago, through Center Stage’s competitive company, Envision Dance Company. However, she has recently joined LA Dance Magic, and now tours with them. Buchanan practices several types of dance, including jazz, tap, and ballet; contemporary and hip-hop are her favorite. She has solos and duets with freshman Megan Nowotnik. There are also group dances with other members of the dance studio. Buchanan’s favorite routine so far has been “Women Up”, the hip-hop
named Dancer of the Year at nationals. “I am really proud of [winning Dancer of the Year], it was incredible,” Buchanan said. “It had been such a huge goal of mine for so long. I still forget that it happened, because it was such a huge thing.” Buchanan has also been named Miss Teen Starbound for two years in a row, as well as Miss Starbound. “Sometimes the competitions run really late so we are all sleep deprived and running on coffee,” Buchanan said. “We had been dancing all day, so we are all exhausted but it is so much fun.” Amanda Hickey, Buchanan’s ballet teacher, started working at Center Stage about
“She is so supportive of everyone else, which is really cool to see in a person who is talented and works so hard. ” -Amanda Hickey group dance from last season. Throughout her eight years of competing, Buchanan has won several awards for her solos, duets, and group dances. Last season, she and her hiphop group won nationals, but Buchanan’s biggest achievement came when she was
a year and a half ago. She has never had a bad day with Buchanan. “Jordan has a huge drive in dance. Out of all the dancers, I have never had to guess if she is going to work hard,” Hickey said. “It is hard to find
Jordan Buchanan holds this pose during a performance.(Courtesy of J. Buchanan)
that in a dancer.” Hickey has just set a contemporary piece for Envision, in which Buchanan is part of. It should be interesting since the two only have a ballet history together. “It has been cool to work with her in that different environment, where I had always worked with her in ballet,” Hickey said. “I can see how she uses the things that I have taught her in a year and a half in ballet class, and how that translates over to her contemporary work, since that is more of what she does.” Buchanan is always a reliable teammate to the rest of her group. She always has a positive attitude towards everyone. “She is so supportive of everyone else, which is really cool to see in a person who is talented and works so hard, but is humble and gracious to everyone around her,” Hickey said. After high school, Bu-
chanan wants to continue with dance. There are many different directions that she could choose to follow, but she is currently leaning towards commercial dancing, which is seen on TV, music videos, and pop artist’s live shows. Commercial dancing combines hip-hop, jazz, and contemporary. “Some of my instructor’s students have become backup dancers for certain artists, so that would be super fun and cool to do,” Buchanan said. Dance is such a huge part of Buchanan’s life, she cannot imagine living without it. “Dance has made me the person that I am today and [I] would not be who I am without it,” Buchanon said. “I really love that dance allows me to express myself. I know that sounds kind of cheesy but it’s honestly true. It allows me to put my voice out there. At competition, it’s kind of like this is who I am, this is what I like to do.” @huntleyvoice 31
sports
Fab Five: Freshman Edition kelsey ryan I staff writer
Check out their upcoming games! 12/21 vs. Dundee Crown 12/27 @ Montini Christmas Tournament 12/28 @ Montini Christmas Tournament 12/29 @ Montini Christmas Tournament 12/30 @ Montini Christmas Tournament 01/05 vs Prarie Ridge 01/06 vs. CLS 01/09 @ CLC 01/13 @ MLK Tournament/Dekalb 01/15 @ MLK Tournament/Dekalb 01/20 vs. Jacobs 01/24 vs. Cary Grove 01/27 @ Hampshire 01/31 vs. Mchenry 02/03 @ CLS
32 @huntleyvoice
Briana Bower
Ashley Guazzo
As she prepared for her first varsity game, she felt butterflies in her stomach as the pressure rose in her, leaving her more worried than she had ever been during her middle school season. She coped by eating all of the junk food in her sight, especially caramel apple pops and swedish fish. Her hands felt sweaty but as soon as the jump ball started, her nerves calmed and she was determined to play her best. Her favorite part, though, is looking up into the stands to see her little sister, who never fails to calm her nerves. She was introduced to basketball after watching a Bulls game on TV. “I was watching a Bulls game, my dad just gave me a basketball and I started playing with my brother in the living room,” Bower said. She has played for the past eight years and hopes to continue throughout all of high school. Bower’s greatest basketball inspiration is Michael Jordan because of his work ethic. He possessed the attitude and determination that she strives for every time she plays. She loves basketball because her teammates are extremely supportive and they continually find ways to critique each other while keeping a good attitude. The beginning of Bower’s season has had its up and downs so far, but it continues to improve and she cannot wait to see where it leads.
She tried to shake the anxious feeling she had as she prepared for her first varsity game. She felt different this year because there was more pressure and the fan section had increased. “Usually before games I’m not too nervous, but this year I have been,” Guazzo said. “I just try my best to stay focused.” Once the game ended, she felt relieved due to the support from her older teammates. Guazzo’s father has played a huge role in her basketball journey for the past eight years. Not only is he the one who got her started in basketball, but he also been teaching her the sport since she was a little girl. She considers him her greatest inspiration. He coached her along with a few of her other teammates, for as long as she can remember. She is incredibly grateful for his support and guidance. Gauzzo wants to continue playing basketball through high school and hopefully even in college because she loves the sport so much. Her favorite part is the relationships it has allowed her to create with her teammates. Basketball has given her a chance to meet some of her closest friends. Making the Huntley High School varsity basketball team has been a big transition in commitment for her, but she is eager for the season and ready to accomplish her goals.
december 2017 I volume 21 I issue 3
Kamsi Nwogu
Raquel Radermacher
Madison Wash
The expectations from everyone were much higher this year giving her an uneasy feeling when she prepared for her first varsity game. The difference between middle school basketball and high school basketball was significant and the adjustment had been a big one. She looked forward to the hype of basketball games and the excitement that came with being a part of the team. Basketball is enjoyable for Nwogu because of the team bonding activities and the friendships that she has made. She began playing basketball because of her brother, Kyle Nwogu, who played for Huntley just a few years ago. When she was little she would see him playing all the time, so she slowly picked up on it and began to really enjoy it. Although she has been playing basketball for the last four years, she still gets skittish before games, but once it starts, it is her and the ball. “When I start playing, my nervous feeling just goes away,” Nwogu said. Her basketball inspiration would be Kobe. She loves how he was always reliable and dependable when on the basketball court. She is looking forward to the rest of the season and hopefully many more years of basketball to come.
The realization that she was playing her first varsity game did not hit her until half-time. She was calm and had a clear head up until that point. She felt that even though it was her first time playing for this team, it was still the same game that she loved. Radermacher enjoys the challenges of basketball and the feeling she gets after she overcomes them. One of the biggest challenges that she has had to face, was last spring when she had an eight week injury that left her struggling to get back on the court. But she came back ready to play and grow as a player. Her inspiration for basketball is her brother Marc Radermacher, who is a junior at HHS. “I dedicate everything of success that I’ve ever done to my brother,” Radermacher said. “He has always been there for me and helped me through everything I’ve accomplished.” Radermacher has tried just about any sport she could. Nothing ever made her feel the same way that basketball does. She is ready for this year because it is a year of learning and growing for her.
She performed her pre-game ritual which includes taking a nap, so she is as ready as possible and tried hard to calm herself down by listening to music. Her first Varsity game playing for Huntley made her feel extremely nervous, but she relaxed once it got going and she was in game mode. Wash got involved in basketball after testing almost every other sport. It was a good fit for her because it gave her the opportunity to meet new friends and it allows her to learn leadership by helping the younger players. Her basketball inspirations would be Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry because they both work extremely hard everyday and they focus a lot on skills that they have mastered, but want to improve even more on. It is something she strives to accomplish everyday as well. “I would say the season has been a really great experience for me so far, it pushes me to do better each day and to practice every free time I get,” Wash said.
All pictures courtesy of M. Anderson. @huntleyvoice 33
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Huntley High School Students:
december 2017 I volume 21 I issue 3 not have access to these products otherwise. “I think this is a definite benefit for the school,” Partin said. “We can now not have to worry about having money on us for a simple hygiene product we all need.” While the free products in the schools may not be up to par with what students may use normally,
it is always nice to have a backup option in case of emergency. “I really do think it’s a good policy,” Lynch said. “The products may not be the most expensive or amazing or high quality, but they’re beneficial for people if they’re in need of something and it’s an emergency.” As HHS becomes more and more progressive as a school,
one can only wonder where the school is headed next. “Women shouldn’t have to pay for something they can’t control,” Partin said. “Periods are nothing to be ashamed about and having the products to help women through them is great, especially now that we have them for no extra cost.”
listening to a friend rant. Mental health is incredibly important for everyone, and Seitz believes people should overcome feelings of inferiority for a illness that is not visible. “Everyone has something going on in their head that the person next to them doesn’t,” Seitz said. “Mental health is so important because it’s what drives us, it is what motivates us, and if we’re a mess in our heads, how are we supposed to get anything done?
HOBY, page 3
all of her meditation apps and then downloaded them on my phone for me and now I do my meditation every night because Ms. Seitz helped me with it.” As other colleagues and friends started using meditation because of Seitz, she took it back to the exact place where her anxiety started. “That’s when I started moving meditation in my classroom, so I called it ‘Mediation Mondays,’” Seitz said. “I gave a few lessons
on meditation to my students: the basics of meditation. I encourage them to download the applications that I found and use to be successful.” The response she received from students is uplifting. “I’ve gotten emails from students telling me that their parents have started meditating because their anxiety is out the roof and it has helped them.” Seitz brings meditation to every aspect in her life. Whether it be on the lacrosse field, in her Health classroom, or while
RUKKUS, page 29
ORCHESIS, page 27
STRANGER, page 8
reography. Since they have been on the team the longest, they remember what it feels like to be new and confused. According to Simons, they meet the first Monday of every month to plan dances, costumes, and upcoming performances. Whether they’re performing duets or trios, as a whole group or individually, it is important for them to always remember the reason they started. Despite the chaos that is the after-school cafeteria line, these five seniors bring color and passion to the ever-dull cafeteria. As they rehearse in their all black outfits and move throughout the cafeteria, they are a breath of fresh air amidst the lingering smell of the cafeteria. It is no longer the place where thousands of students eat their lunch, but it transforms into their safe space.
actors stand out more and in the end up joining together. Hawkins National Laboratory finally gets exposed for being the reason for Barb’s death and her parents find some closure through that. Most of the loose ends are tied up, and the show was directed amazingly and the soundtrack was just perfect. The cherry on top was “Love is a battlefield,” “Time After Time,” and “Every Breath You Take” playing at their dance. “Stranger Things” is truly unique and here to stay. Although it has been incredibly watered down through social media, it truly deserves the title iconic. Season three is sure to cause some uproar.
FEMININE, page 5 And as to whether or not the implementation of this policy will be beneficial to the district, the vote leans towards ‘yes’ every time. Most students do not constantly have change on them, and with periods being unpredictable in a woman’s youth, students may
MEDITATE, page 8
It is not easy to compete at such a high level, maintain healthy relationships with friends, while taking honors classes, especially at 16 years old. “It’s hard to make time for everything, but it all comes down to time management,” Hunkins said. “School and sports take priority over my social life.” Hunkins is now entering his first year as a full-time varsity wrestler and could not be more prepared for the challenge ahead of him. This time around, he has got some experience. The few matches at a varsity level last year and his first year as a varsity football player has taught him a lot. In that time he has grown a lot as a person. “I hope I can be a role model for the kids that are just entering high school,” Hunkins said. “I want to be able to help them be better wrestlers, football players, and students.”
“There’s different opinions and different motivations and they don’t always mix together, but when you bring them together as a leader, you have limitless potential,” Savella said. “That’s how you reach places and do things you wouldn’t have been able to do for yourself.” Most students are involved in many extracurricular activities whether that be sports, a club, or a well known organization. With all these events going on there are many opportunities to show the potential one has to lead others. Savella really hopes to bring unity to the school with all that she is going to learn in June. “I think being able to band together not only for a common cause, but as a group, would definitely be beneficial to the school,” Savella said. Great opportunities like the HOBY program can really make a difference to the school, but to an individual as well. Leadership summits similar to HOBY can really unlock leadership potential. “The purpose of these programs it to not only search for potential candidates for them, but also to search for the potential within you. So if you want it, go for it,” Savella said. The world is always looking for great leaders to cause change and helping others is a job of limitless potential.
@huntleyvoice 35
sports
Upcoming Sporting Events saturday, dec. 16
Dance Force Studios 10995 Ruth Road Huntley, Illinois 60142
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World Champions Senior Coed Hip Hop 2016
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Dance Force Studios H 10995 Ruth Road, Huntley, Il 60142 H (847) 669-2700
Student Lunch Special
Only
$6 36 @huntleyvoice
Bring in your student ID for - An original burger with lettuce, onion, and tomato -A side of fries, tots, or chips - A regular drink Stop in during blended hours or call ahead: 11721 Main St. Huntley
847-669-8496
• f/s girls basketball @ glenbard north, rocket holiday tournament 8 am • f/jv/v cheerleading @ rolling meadows 8:30 am • f wrestling @ s. elgin tournament 9 am • jv wrestling @ oswego panther quad 9 am • v wrestling @ huntley quad 10 a.m. • jv/v boys bowling @ freeport 10 am • jv/v girls bowling @ rockford east invite 1:30 pm • fa/s boys basketball v mchenry 4:30 pm • fb/v boys basketball v mchenry 6 pm • f/s girls basketball @ burlington central, rocket holiday tournament
wed, dec. 27 • v girls basketball @ montini christmas tournament 8 am • v boys bowling @ glenbard east invite 8:30 am • v boys basketball @ chuck dayton invite dekalb hs
december 2017 I volume 21 I issue 3
The debate: politically correct or polite Are we too sensitive, or are we tired and worn out by offensive jokes?
river lee I staff writer
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ot everyone can be a stand up comedian. Joking about sensitive topics such as race, gender equality, politics, or anything else can get you in trouble. These days, everyone is so easily offended. Some say this generation has become less tolerant of these jokes. Others think people are not as easily offended because they have an increased tolerance for everything going on today. They have been worn out to the point that they do not care. This apathy seems sad, but many are exhausted by the current climate. When a survey was conducted in Cliff Pawlak’s first hour Drivers Ed of different subjects, there was a 6:1 ratio of students who said people are easily offended and the people usually offending others are just joking. However, people not used to this kind of joking take the statement too seriously. “People do a lot of mean things lately, so whenever something negative is said, people often take things to heart too quickly and negatively [without] realizing
it is a joke,” freshman Bryce Dalton said. Of course, it is not the person’s fault for feeling offended, because humans are complex beings. Two different people can read the same facial expression two different ways. Terms have also changed over time. Using outdated terms can lead people to become more offended. “I have noticed over time that the definition of obese has changed,” junior Alex Montalto said. “It used to mean that someone is severely overweight: like 300+ pounds [or] over. But now if someone is a little chunky, they are considered fat, and people get upset over that.” People have a right to be offended, because the term is being used improperly. It is not just the term fat being tossed around lightly. It is also terms like gay and retarded. “There is a lot of hate for everything these days, so I have just begun to care less.” sophomore Ari Saez said. Because these kind of jokes are becoming more frequent, students like Saez have become more tolerant. They do not take the statements to heart but as a joke to help them avoid any trouble. “There is a divide; there is the group of the people that get offended by everything and those who [do offend],” sophomore Matt Tepe said. “Edgy people are pretty rampant in this school, and [they] become immune to getting offended by surround-
ing themselves by those who offend them.” What people are lacking is tolerance for these jokes. It is not right to make offensive jokes, but it depends on the target audience. When the same survey group was asked if the statement was a joking or serious matter, every student said it depended. When the group was their friends, 60 percent said it was joking while 40 percent said it was serious. Many stand up comedians make jokes about their own race or people’s actions and habits. People pick up these jokes and repeat them. But when that person tries to make their own joke, they are treading dangerous territory. Stand up comedians are trained professionals. For every joke they make, they spend hours revising to make sure it will land well. Students are not trained
and are not aware of their audience, which can lead to trouble. The atmosphere is different when comedians are on stage. The student making the joke is probably whispering it to a friend in the next seat with the teacher’s back facing them. But offensive statements are not always meant seriously and most often are intended to be a joking manner. Everyone wants to be a comedian. It is just finding the right jokes for the right audience at the right time. “There are plenty of good ways of coming up with a joke that doesn’t target a population.” junior Daniel Kaye said. Making jokes that are offensive or rude in general is not the right thing to do. But people only make the situation worse when they fight fire with fire. Just learn to relax, analyze the situation, and then react.
(M. Hutson)
@huntleyvoice 37
opinion
Clean up on aisle Huntley please
Students should learn to clean up their messes around the school
maddy laing I staff writer
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untley is filled with thousands of students and teachers, but there are some other pesky creatures that few know about. For a few years now, Huntley has had mice scurrying around the school and sewer flies in the bathrooms and locker rooms. Every time someone enters the bathroom, they have to be conscious of the sewer flies everywhere. They are in the stalls and sometimes even in the toilets. The flies are a disturbance and quite frankly, disgusting. Now, both male and female bathrooms have flies, but the female bathrooms have an issue of their own. A majority of the time, the sinks are covered in hair and makeup. There is a trash can in every bathroom, so it is confusing how girls think they can be animals and leave their shedding displayed in the sink. It is not hard to clean up after yourselves, but obviously the majority of this school does not have good manners. 38 @huntleyvoice
Huntley also has a trash problem where kids think it is okay to leave their trash at their tables or just about anywhere just because we have a custodial staff. Some have the mindset that it is the janitors’ job because they are paid to clean. Knowing that someone leaves their trash for someone else really shows their personality, no matter the excuse. “It was more convenient for me to leave my [trash] and go to my next class,” junior Jimmy Pedersen said. Last year, Pedersen left his trash on his table every day, but he now understands how rude it is and has ceased
“I’m just trying to make it easier for the lunch professtionals.” -Joel Bosman littering. “The janitors probably hated me,” he said. Known to everyone around the school, Joel Bosman, security guard, has been cleaning up after students non-stop every day from 10:30 a.m. to 12:42 p.m. Every lunch period, kids leave their trash for no reason other than being lazy. Bosman’s job description does not include cleaning up. “We’re a big family,” Bos-
(M. Hutson)
man said. “I’m just trying to make it easier for the lunch professionals.” There is nothing difficult about the task of cleaning up after yourself. According to Bosman, if we all do our part, we won’t have to worry about the mess. It is 2017 and the kids at this school act like they are still in cave times. Observing the cafeteria, I saw a student walking over to a table with leftover trash and throwing it out. “[Leaving garbage] is upsetting because it adds work [for] the custodians, and it’s disrespectful towards them,” junior Sofie Ellingson said. “It’s disgusting when people leave their trash.” The job of a custodian is to clean our school, but it is not to clean up after little children who cannot walk 30 seconds out of their way to a trash can. In the winter months, the
mice here have all the more reason to infiltrate our warm school. In all levels of the school, they are scurrying about, unseen by most. There are traps in areas where students do not travel often, but the mice are still an issue. In room C2112, the cubicles have become home to some mice. There are also mice in the art rooms, PAC, and upstairs in the history hallway. They might as well get their own IDs. If students cleaned up their trash, this issue could be minimized. Without easily available food sources, the mice would not have a chance for survival. Huntley is full of great people and, according to many of our teachers and staff, is actually one of the cleanest schools in the district. But, according to Bosman, a few bad apples in Huntley spoil the bunch.
december 2017 I volume 21 I issue 3
Filter your words before the photo
Why the filters on a favored app should not be enough filtering for us
sarah biernat I staff writer
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rowing up as an only child led me to have different perspectives on solitary activity. From a young age, I felt that privacy was imperative; having a stranger follow my every track baffled me. Then the seventh grade hit, and my best friend introduced me to Instagram. Fascinated by the platform, I posted often, still aware of how much information I made public. However, in 2017, people have grown accustomed to third parties holding a grasp on their rituals. The primary platforms used to gain knowledge from people are spam accounts on Instagram. They can be utilized for silliness and productivity, but as of recently, they are used to harm others. The concept of these platforms is smart, but malice is easily showcased. A popular trend is calling out someone on their actions discreetly. “I thought they were pointless,” senior Maddie Hermans said. “It has increased cruelty.” She is not incorrect. According to the American
Psychological Association, 13 percent of surveyed teens admitted to receiving threatening or aggressive messages. Trolling and indirects are among many other relatively harmless acts of immaturity. Although irrelevent at times, Hermans agrees there are some benefits if you choose wisely on who you follow. “I learn about other events that occur around me through my peers,” Hermans said. “I get to witness what is going on.” Here is the trick: cooing over a friend’s adorable dog is a perk, but there should be a line between sharing a small aspect and sharing too much. Everything we post is easily traceable, so if someone writes a heat-of-the-moment indirect to a classmate they cannot stand, it will bite them in the end. Indirects are the pettiest contributions to social media; they are temporary solutions for individuals who refuse to tackle their drama head on. “People subpost in such discreet ways,” Hermans said. “Sometimes that it is not always known when something or someone is being talked about.” According to Hermans, many people have a fear of actual conflict. The passive aggressive nature of this generation is not doing any good. Oversharing thoughts and opinions, if malicious, contributes to cyberbullying.
The person who presses share has no intention of having a mature interaction. However, there are benefits to spam accounts. While mainly indirects have popped up on my feed, I have had the opportunity to text that person to see what was going on. Having them talk it out privately helps tremendously; privacy is important to living a stable life. To make Instagram a fun, safe, and creative place again, there are a few simple solutions. Not everyone cares about your cat hissing at your camera. Trying to disconnect and focusing on your cat in
sections of the post is crucial to prolonged happiness. According to Hermans, people simply want something to post about to gain popularity, If someone is done with being a statistic of this plague, putting a filter on your words, not just the photo, can alleviate any possibilities of an enlarged ego. Step away from the need for constant peer validation. As someone who has a spam account (follow me @ howfunissarahspam), I know they are used with good intentions. They can be used as a public diary, and if you are into that, carry on. Just (M. Hutson)
real life, not virtually, is a fantastic way to develop a positive experience one-onone. To avoid allowing others to dictate how I feel, I am very selective on what I share. From one Instagram user to another, keeping specific details out of the comments
be conscientious of what is being said and done, because while no one likes to think about it, we are being tracked. Saying the wrong thing with an indirect or giving away too much personal information can potentially backfire. Just look out, and think before you post. @huntleyvoice 39
brief
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K. Troy
december 2017 I volume 21 I issue 3
Educating through Elections
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eniors Samuel De La Paz and Jenna Link went head to head in the primary Democratic debate during their AP Government election simulation. Both candidates discussed their standings on the current issues in hopes of gaining enough votes to be the Democratic candidate of their class period. The debate is part of an assignment for their class, where only one could win the primary election for each party. Debate questions were fed from interest groups to the media on topics like women’s rights and the environment. Social Studies teacher Ellysa Cassier’s AP Government classes all took part in the assignment with each class voting on the other’s candidates.
“Really anything that I
can make into a debate, ” I will. - social studies teacher Ellysa Cassier
@huntleyvoice 41
sports
847-659-1000 12531 Regency Parkway, Huntley
Huntley
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Lake in the Hills
Visit www.moffettpt.com for more information
Have a great break! -The Voice Staff 42 @huntleyvoice
G O R A I D E R S
editorial
Educate yourselves on academy reqs
S
he sits at her desk, poring over the course catalog. All that can be heard is the scroll of the mouse as she browses. As a sophomore entering her junior year, she quickly glances over the Medical Academy classes. Knowing that she cannot take them because she is not a member of the academy, she moves on. Should she have applied? She enjoys all of her electives, but there a few medical courses she wishes she could take. It seems as though once she commits to the medical academy, she is on a track and has to follow the progression. She is not interested in a transcript designation, let alone a medical profession. She decides to ask her counselor later and hopes to clear up some of the rumors she has heard. We at The Voice believe that there are misconceptions surrounding the academies offered at HHS that deter underclassmen from pursuing them. In 2009, the Medical Academy made its grand debut. Originally, teacher Renae St.Clair had the idea to only offer a few courses to students interested in pursuing a career in the medical field. She had no idea it would grow to become the nationally recognized program that it is today. “I saw that students were volunteering their time with student athletic trainers, and we had no courses to back up that interest,” St.Clair said. This is the problem we see:
students are interested in certain classes offered under the “Medical Academy,” but feel like they cannot participate due to the fact that they are not a member, nor do they desire to be. Many students are unaware that half of the offered classes are able to be taken without acceptance into the Medical Academy. Because of this, they do not take advantage of the classes that could potentially spark an interest in pursuing a career. There is also the idea that once a student takes a particular class, they are forced to continue on the “track” in order to remain in the academy and to receive their transcript designation. However, St.Clair insists that this is not the case. “We’re not going to have tracks,” St. Clair said. “We’re not going to make these students pick and follow a specific track throughout all their four years.” The Medical Academy touches different areas of study, including English, Spanish, physical education, science, and foods courses. Counselors are flexible and willing to work with students to ensure they take advantage of the opportunities they have. As Huntley continues to see the growing success of the Medical Academy, a group of teachers have collaborated to come up with a new program: the Global Academy. Headed by social studies teacher Anne Sharkey, this academy is
expected to be implemented but to have a structure and get next year. you there,” Sharkey said. “We gave a little bit of structure to The Global Academy will it. The idea is that a lot of [the allow students to specialize courses] overlap.” in “Globally Focused” subject matter, such as International While this seems like an Relainnovative “You could totally just tions & initiative Human [take] a bunch of these that the Rights, classes on your own. But state is enGovernthe advantage of being in couraging, ment we are conthe academy is that you cerned that & Law, Journal- can use them as a guide.” incoming ism & freshman -Anne Sharkey Media, will not and World Cultures. Essenknow which academy to join, tially, it is taking the social or whether or not to join one science electives and grouping at all. As 14-year-olds, they them together to allow for cannot be expected to have further exploration. their lives planned out and know what career they plan to “These could be careers,” pursue. The idea of an acadeSharkey said. “But, it could my can be too intimidating. just be something that you’re interested in. So by senior Some may see it as pursuing year, whatever direction you a college major, as a comwant to go, you could go that mitment toward a specific route.” course of study to eventually achieve mastery. While this She went on to say, “You is excellent for the students could totally just [take] a bunch of these classes on your who know what they want to own. But the advantage of be- do, what about the majority of ing in the academy is that you students who don’t? can use them as a guide.” High school is a time for exploration, and not every Students who choose this student has the drive and path will take a series of three direction to be involved in classes: Global Citizenship, this system. Global Seminar, and Global As class registration for Capstone. They will begin to the upcoming school year specialize their junior and approaches, be sure to unsenior year, with the end derstand all of the available goal being a senior capstone options before you miss out project in their chosen field on classes that peak your of interest. Completion of the interest. academy and senior capstone project will allot for a tranAnd remember, if you don’t script designation. know what you want to do at 15, 16, 17, or 18 years old, “It’s a way to make the sethat’s okay, too. nior year independent study, @huntleyvoice 43
huntley high school I 13719 harmony road I huntley, IL 60142
onelastthing Michelle Nigro College and Career Coordinator shares the last time she....
... wanted to pull her hair out
...changed someone’s day It was Ms. Robles birthday and I brought her in a little birthday treat and sent her an ecard, which we always joke about [because] that’s so outdated, but then we were joking that ‘See, [we] can still get some use out of it.’ She was very happy and appreciative for that. [The treat] was a chocolatina; it’s this little cake from Conrad’s Bakery in Lake in the Hills.
... cried at a movie
I’m not normally [a movie crier], so for it to make me cry I have to be in a certain mood. There’s been a few that I cried at, and we were actually laughing because I felt so stupid. It was a dumb movie. I know this is going to sound stupid because I’ve seen a lot of movies since then. My husband did not want to watch that movie because our dog is 12. Our vet said that this is going to be his last year, and he’s at the end of that last year that he was given. He’s really declining. We watched that movie, and we didn’t go see it at the movies. I think we watched it on On Demand. My husband asked my why I was watching it, and then I’m watching and this dog keeps dying in this movie. I wasn’t sobbing, but tears are running down my face. That was the movie I pathetically cried quite a bit through. I just kept thinking of my own dog. I know that wasn’t a particularly deep movie, but it was just the timing. That was reflecting on my own dog and his limited amount of time.
“[It was] all of November. My husband was deployed to Puerto Rico for hurricane relief, and it was just a lot of unknowns about the deployment. It wasn’t a standard, traditional deployment. I know it was only for a month, but there was a lot of unknowns about how it would work. It was stressful enough just doing everything that I usually do and then everything that he typically did. It was a holiday; it was my one son: getting him back from school and back to school. There were issues with the way the pay structure was. It wasn’t the normal pay structure from the military. His company doesn’t pay the full amount. It was just figuring out what that difference would be. If anything could have been an issue, it was an issue in November, and it was truly just related to the fact that [I] was taking it all on [my] own. It was only for a month, thank god. He just got home; he just got home yesterday. It was the first time he came home since late October. That made me want to rip my hair out on most days. It was a little stressful. interviewed by jenna link
H. Smalley