The Voice: Volume 17, issue 2

voice

Nov. 26, 2013

the

Volume 17, Issue 2

Do you believe in magic?

Sophomore Nate Pomegas makes an impression through the essence of magic.

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Kings Hockey, the greatest players you’ve never seen.

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Sports www.huntleyvoice.com

“American Horror Story” too graphic for public television?

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A&E

Is cheerleading a real sport?

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Opinion

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Nov. 26, 2013 Community

Fresh food, fresh faces Jaclynn Avner shows what she has to offer as a first-year teacher at HHS

By Justin Gulati

told Avner to refer to her and Pyan as “her aunties.” That’s the his year the Foods Labokind of relationship they have ratory is refreshed with a and the kind of friendly teacher brand new face. The air support base that she was missinside of Huntley High School ing out on at Donovan. Not only is filled with a sweet aroma: the does she take the scent of apple pie, new teacher advice she reJaclynn Avner’s favorite food to ceives, but she create. also provides She says she is in love with feedback of our school’s atmosphere and her own. the opportunities it offers to its Helping students. From the bustling halland being ways, full of happy and energetic there for kids, to her fellow Foods and others Nutrition teachers, Laura Martens is one and Lorelle Pyan, Avner believes thing her job here is a big leap in the right direction. She believes she will enjoy working here for years to come.

And she knows a thing or two about work. In the Donovan school district, where Avner used to teach, fewer than 500 students were enrolled, and an excess of teachers was not necessary for the 7-12 grade school to run. This meant Avner was the only foods teacher in the building. Creating her own lesson plans, finding class recipes, and dealing with behavior issues were all responsibilities that she took on with little to no support from other teachers.

As if that challenge wasn’t daunting enough, she was also in charge of teaching four other courses and an orientation class.

Avner balanced Clothing I and II, Adult Living, and Consumer Education, along with Foods I and II. She rarely had the same class twice in a day.

“I’d come up with ideas, but couldn’t figure out how to make them happen,” she said.

It was a lot of work, but she was able to manage it well.

She describes her position at HHS simply as “a relief.” Martens

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Staff Writer

Avner genuinely enjoys.

In fact, the reason she wanted to pursue teaching in the first place was so she could make an impact on the lives of others. Coming out of high school, she was interested in joining the Peace Corps.

She was willing to work full time helping people who desperately needed it for no financial gain whatsoever. The only thing stopping her was minor difference in the type of loan she had taken out to pay for school.

A financial policy dictated the path she would take, but Avner will tell you herself that she is glad that she ended up where she is now. She still dreams of travelling abroad and perhaps she will in the future. Now that she has over two years of experience, she has the option to apply for programs that would allow her to do so.

However, Avner likes it here and if she receives a full time position next year, she would love continue teaching here for a long time.

At her previous school, she was also involved in several other activities. She

was the Junior Class sponsor, the Yearbook sponsor, and she directed the musical every year.

She also coached 8th grade and JV basketball, a sport she never played before, but was willing to learn.

“The school just needed somebody to do it,” said Avner.

This year, she wanted to get involved in an activity that would help her get acquainted with students and other faculty here, so she took to coaching Junior Orchesis because Avner dancing and is excited to get back into it.

It is tough to balance all of these extra duties with her teaching responsibilities, so Avner has to find ways to get away from it all.

One thing she enjoys in particular is travelling.

At the start of this year, she felt somewhat uneasy with all this newfound time on her hands. She felt lonely being in a new city by herself. Her good friends that she has kept from college are scattered around the state, country, and even internationally. She misses close friends who live in the Donovan area so she visits these friends on weekends and breaks. They often explore downtown Chicago, go to concerts, or just hang out.

With all that she is doing for HHS, Avner is a welcome addition to the teaching staff. She has sacrificed a lot of time and energy to make sure students are receiving the best educations that they can. Her energy and good vibes remain uplifting and beneficial to students. Anyone who has had the privilege of meeting Avner would argue that our school would feel incomplete without her.

Photo taken by Z. Bridges

On Good Friday in 1930, the BBC reported, “There is no news.” Instead, they played piano music.

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Nov. 26, 2013 Community

Dancing in the Big Apple

Alvarez, Shoemaker, Czarnota to perform in Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

“All my friends were cheerleaders, so I decided to cheer,” said Alvarez, “But [cheerleading] just never felt right.”

Alvarez continued to cheer, but by the time she was a lmost everyone will be having a traditional freshman at Huntley High School, she decided to try dance Thanksgiving with food and family while the again on a whim.

Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is on TV, but “It was the night before [Poms] tryouts and I was planning Thanksgiving Day will be far from traditional for senior, on trying out for cheer, but I thought, ‘Why not dance?’”

Denielle Alvarez. Thanks to her intense dedication to After not dancing dance, Alvarez will for almost seven be performing in the years, Alvarez still parade. made the team.

While she will be with“[The night before] out her family, Alvarez I was freaking out is sure her Thanksgiving searching YouTube will be just as meaningfor ‘how to turn’ and ful with their support ‘how to leap’ videos, behind her. but somehow, I made Alvarez has been danc[the team],” said ing since the young age Alvarez. of three, and even then Now, as a senior, she showed exceptional Alvarez is co-captain talent. of Huntley High’s “By the time I was six, varsity poms team Wikimedia I had moved up to level alongside Amanda three, which [was with] The U.S. Air Force Honor Guard Colors Team leads ceremonial Czarnota. middle school kids,” guardsmen as they march in the 86th Annual Macy’s ThanksgivBoth girls are also said Alvarez. “In my ing Day Parade in New York City on Nov. 22, 2012. part the Universal recital videos [I’m] easy Dance Association, to spot-the shrimp!” which is an elite dance team that performs competitively.

After moving to Huntley, Alvarez took a break from Team members must be selected, nominated, and then go dancing to become a gymnast, following in her mother’s through extensive tryouts in order to become part of the footsteps. From third to sixth grade she took gymnastics UDA. and later on, in seventh and eighth grades, Alvarez became The UDA will also be participating in the Macy’s Thanksa cheerleader.

By Angelica Cataldo

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Opinion Editor

giving Day Parade with their All-American Program, and Alvarez received the chance to go after winning the UDA’s 2013 All-American title.

Czarnota and fellow dancer Jessica Shoemaker will also be dancing in the parade.

“I feel really blessed to be able to do this,” said Czarnota.

“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”

While in New York, they will have intensive rehearsals and then perform in the parade with a larger group of UDA dancers.

Alvarez and her teammates will not only be performing in the parade, but will also be able to experience New York City and sight-see with the UDA program.

But most of all, they’re looking forward to dancing at the 87th annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on Nov. 28 at 8 a.m.

J. Bednarczyk Senior Denielle Alvarez poses with her pom-pons.

Raider Radio goes live

After many years of struggle, HHS’s radio station finally clicks

By Kevin Klar

Staff Writer

For the past two years, senior Emily Barron had been trying to kick start the Radio Club to no avail.

Each year, only a couple of members join, not nearly enough to get an operational radio station going.

Even with luck just a bit against her, Barron kept trying, hoping for just that one special group. This year she may have found it.

During announcements, Barron was pleasantly surprised to see the number of students that had decided to show up for first meeting after school. The total number of volunteers this year was more than twice the size of the two years prior.

At the meeting, the group got right to work. Sheets were passed out to an eageryet-hushed classroom and small talk scattered throughout the new club.

Ideas popped up here and there, friends greeted each other, and everyone was quickly at ease. With that, the meeting

started, and Barron introduced herself and her aunt Ann Knipp who would be advising the club as the station manager.

She shared stories of when she was younger about interviewing Disney stars like Mitchell Musso and Emily Osment, and times where she helped around the studio and was eventually inspired create the club, Barron wanted to show others what it was like to work in a real radio station.

She wanted to give others an experience that they could both enjoy and learn from.

Barron also asked the class for suggestions for their station title. A wide assortment of different names was thrown out, until unanimously, the name was decided, and the club now had its name: Raider Radio.

Over the course of two weeks, the club made two more meetings. The second one

was in the recreational center at Deike Park.

Led by two senior station managers, the students had learned the inner workings of what made a station tick, including sound checks, programs, website tips, and the laughs in the recording studio.

Within one more week, Barron led a third meeting.

When finished she with the usual introduction, everyone was quiet.

She looked around with a small smile, and asked for ideas. With that, she had ignited a room full

of enthusiastic members, shooting ideas faster than you could count. With eyes wide, she began filling the white board with everyone’s ideas.

Some wanted original student songs that friends could listen to on the way home from school, and another added an idea for a dubstep segment called “The Noise.”

Others suggested more student oriented highlights for the station, such as getting local bands to play some music while talking about who they were to help them get some publicity, an idea pitched by junior Josh Katz. Even Barron participated, suggesting a music therapy session where she could listen to the problems of others and play them a song in hopes of soothing their day.

With hopes of a real future, the Raider Radio takes its first steps into the world as a legitimate radio station that will be broadcasting to a station near you.

Photo from Wikimedia

Oscar the Grouch used to be orange. Jim Henson decided to make him green before the second season of “Sesame Street.”

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Nov. 26, 2013 Advertisements

Fredric Baur invented the Pringles can. When he passed away in 2008, his ashes were buried in one.

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Nov. 26, 2013 Community

Escaping the Swastika Senior Rachel Watts’s great-grandparents fled Austria after Anschenluss

By Jackie Polit

Staff Writer

They could have been incarcerated, captured, and forced to live in the most inhumane concentration camps known to history: Auschwitz, Bergen-Belsen, Dachau, and Flossenberg. They could have become wisps of smoke, vanished and unheard of, had it not been for a strong endurance, determination, and hope.

Senior Rachel Watts’s great-grandparents, Morris and Barbara Strom, were 30 years old when they fled their once beautiful country, then marred with the scars of the Swastika. Both were born in 1908 and raised in Austria. They grew up with Jewish traditions including Hanukkah, Shabbat, and kosher delights. The young couple eagerly looked forward to a peaceful future.

Then came March 12, 1938. The day Hitler declared an Anschluss, or union, between Austria and Germany. The day the Strom’s dreams were demolished underneath the feet of the cheering crowds welcoming Hitler. The day all strict rules established to control Jews in Germany were passed into Austria. The military needed to enforce these rules included not only the Germans, but the Russians as well.

The oppression of Jews did not stop them from continuing on with their lives, though.

How much worse could it get? Jews were not able to sell goods, and children were

not able to go to school. They could manage.

Then the unthinkable happened. Morris Strom was enlisted into the Russian army.

This, they could not endure. To enforce the rules that harassed their own people was preposterous.

With this gruesome invitation added on to their own oppression, they decided it was time to flee, and quickly, while Germans were still in favor of Jewish emigration.

With their minds made up, they entrusted their lives to a pair of $30 tickets en route to “The Land of Opportunity.” They departed just before World War II was declared in 1939.

Departing from a country about to collapse should have filled the Stroms with relief; instead, it filled them with deep sorrow.

The Stroms were forced to leave behind their loving families and dear friends. The house they lived in was nothing more than a husk when they finished packing their entire lives into their small suitcases.

The process of emigration quickly eliminated their sorrows, though. The void was hastily replaced with apprehension. Their host country, the United States, demanded they answer 31 basic questions, like gender, age, and marital status, and asked if they had at least $25 with them before letting them step on board their ship. The Stroms then underwent rapid medical examinations

and sloppy vaccinations. With shots still stinging, they were led to the lower decks, where all sunlight was blocked. They were encased in a black coffin, shielded from seeing what fate would befall them.

The chaos of boarding was only the tip of

Courtesy of R. Watts

the iceberg. Below deck, cleanliness became green vapors of stench. Food was handed out in inadequate portions and at odd intervals. Sickness was rampant. The worst part was that the morbid conditions lasted 40 days. When Lady Liberty finally came into view on the horizon, the Strom’s joy could hardly be contained. They made it. Their voyage was over, and they were finally safe.

Their hopes were soon crushed when they were told America had taken in too many Jewish refugees. They could not raise the quota any higher than 20,000, a number fairly low for United States immigration policies. A vast majority of Americans were opposed to admitting large numbers of Jewish refugees into their homeland.

Where the Stroms went next was beyond imagination and courage. They refused to return to their damaged country, so they rerouted to Argentina. Back beneath the hellish coffin below decks, they endured another 40 days. Argentina was in favor of the Axis powers, so allowing European immigrants onto their land was not as limited as it was in most countries.

After months of enduring a black hell and a roller coaster of emotions, the Stroms were finally able to settle in the capital of Argentina, Beunas Aires. They lived there for 25 years, learning a brand new culture, before moving to Illinois, where the U.S. finally accepted them.

Now, 75 years later, Rachel Watts is here, listening to the story of her great-grandparent’s fantastic voyage with a look of wonder and pride on her face.

“I think it is very brave and courageous of them to go to a new country. I would be so lost if I were in their situation,” said Watts.

Do you believe in magic?

Sophomore Nate Pomegas makes an impression with the essence of magic

By Rachel Brands

Staff Writer

Every morning before class, sophomore Nate Pomegas is in the same place: the cafeteria, underneath one of the TVs that shows daily announcements. He is surrounded by a group of friends; some are wrapped up in their own conversations and others watch him while he performs.

Pomegas is a magician. He has been ever since one fateful day last summer when his friend, sophomore Erik Mitchell, started doing magic and got him interested. The details of that day are fuzzy to Pomegas, and it seemed to him like Mitchell started doing magic tricks out of nowhere.

“He just started doing it and I’m like, ‘Okay, teach me,’” said Pomegas.

Mitchell cannot tell Pomegas or anyone else why he took an interest in magic. He is simply unable to explain it, but is glad he decided to pick it up. He noticed that Nate seemed interested when he was performing tricks and got his friend in on the magic.

“I asked if he wanted to be taught,” said Mitchell. “I taught him and helped him practice.”

The first trick Pomegas learned was a counting card trick so simple that it was nearly impossible to mess up. He mastered

the simple tricks and moved on to harder things. He and Mitchell worked their hardest to get where they are today.

Performing a trick for the first time in

front of someone else is always nervewracking, especially if the person is someone Pomegas doesn’t know. He is always afraid that he will mess up, but all that practicing has not gone to waste and he is confident after the first trick.

No matter how good Pomegas gets, he can always get better and he has several people that inspire him to improve. One, of course, is Mitchell, the one who got him started on magic. The other is famous magi-

cian Jarek 120.

“I got a lot of card tricks from him,” Pomegas said. “Also, he’s one of those inspirational stories.”

Not everyone in Pomegas’s life is supportive of his talents, however. His parents disapprove and tried to get him to stop, causing him to refrain from telling them that he still does magic. To this day, Pomegas is unaware of why his parents are so strongly opposed to his hobby, but he will not let them or anyone else stop him from doing what makes him happy.

To him, the whole reason he loves magic so much is because it’s different. It is not every day that you see a person with a pack of cards in their hands that can make something brilliant out of it. Magic is special and should be kept that way. It also should not be kept in the dark.

Pomegas enjoys showing off his tricks to as many people as he can because he doesn’t see the point in keeping his talents to himself. Talents are useless unless they are practiced to perfection and shown to the world, and that is exactly what Pomegas is doing with his.

He enjoys sharing his talents, but to an

extent. He will teach a simple trick or two to the curious observer, but nothing more than that. If he taught all of his complex tricks, then everyone would know the secret and magic would not be worth doing any more.

Magic leaves an impression. Anyone who has witnessed Pomegas’s tricks would agree with that. Magic has left an impression on Pomegas as well. He has more self-confidence now than he ever did before, and he has magic to thank for it.

According to Pomegas, most people who do not know him refer to him as “the Asian kid who does magic,” but it does not bother him.

Labels do not matter to him. His legacy at Huntley will hopefully continue into his future.

Photos taken by J. Bednarczyk

Johnny Cash’s “A Boy Named Sue” was penned by beloved children’s author Shel Silverstein.

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Nov. 26, 2013 Editorial

the

voice

Editor in Chief..........Holly Baldacci Content Editor....Kyle Sommerfield Design Editor...........Kierra Renwick Community Editor....Megan Wilson Opinion Editor.....Angelica Cataldo Entertainment Editor...Kat Gorospe

Sports Editor.........Adam Reckamp Photo Editor............Katie Gallegos Business Manager....Tamara Funke Staff...... Rachel Brands, Trisha Fritz, Justin Gulati, Sarah Henderson, Kevin Klar, Darek Makowski, Shravan Panchal, Laura Pilat, Jaclyn Polit, Danielle Rivera, Hannah Rosso, Kanchan Sachchidanand, Chris Sawalski, Kyle Torp, Cullen Walsh, Jenny Bednarczyk, Zane Bridges, Alvin Wong, Menley Urban, Emily Vitacco

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he HHS Media Editorial Policy pertains to all HHS media, including the newspaper, The Voice; the yearbook, Chieftain; and the website, huntleyvoice.com. The full editorial policy is available on huntleyvoice.com.

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 members assume complete legal and financial liability for the content of the publication.

This Thanksgiving, consider those who have suffered losses

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his Thursday, most people will be sitting around a table with their families enjoying a Thanksgiving feast. It’s an American tradition, something that has become an expectation for most families. But as we bask in the glow of one of the great American holidays, many of us will forget that many others have been robbed of that privilege.

On Nov. 17, the Midwest was struck by a series of extremely destructive tornadoes. According to the Chicago Tribune, 16 tornadoes have been reported in Illinois and northwest Indiana and 80 have been reported throughout the Midwest. Shocking and disturbing videos continue to emerge from the disaster.

Perhaps the most devastation came to Washington, Ill., a small town near Peoria. Over one thousand homes were destroyed and an estimated six people were killed. Needless to say, the residents of Washington have undergone extreme loss.

In just a few hours, the victims of this natural disaster lost nearly everything they own. These victims won’t be able to celebrate Thanksgiving in peace and many of them will spend it without a home.

What we should take from this disaster is that we should truly be thankful for everything we have, no matter how many challenges we face. Even the little things, like having a place to sleep or being able to go to school, should be appreciated.

When you sit down at the table for Thanksgiving dinner, be sure to remember that everything in your life should be valued, even if it seems insignificant.

At any point in your life, everything you have could be destroyed. So, make the

All fun facts courtesy of mentalfloss.com.

most of everything you have while you still have it.

To help show your appreciation for everything you have, you can help the people affected by the disastrous tornadoes in Illinois. The relief efforts of several philanthropic individuals have already made a world of difference for these victims.

Famous organizations have made an effort to improve the condition of the tornado victims. The Chicago Bears have brought goods to Coal City, Styx and REO Speedwagon will be performing a benefit concert in Bloomington, and the Chicago Blackhawks will be donating $200,000 to the Washington Tornado Relief Fund.

The work of relief volunteers has made huge differences in the lives of the victims of the destructive storms. There are even several people from the Huntley area who have donated time and resources into helping these victims.

In the aftermath of this disaster, the only appropriate response is to help and to show appreciation for everything we have. To truly show how grateful you are, you should make every effort to help the victims of this tragedy.

There are several opportunities to offer your support. Many organizations are looking for volunteers to provide handson support and donations to help people rebuild their lives. But perhaps one of the most effective ways of helping storm victims is to spread the word and gather people to offer support. A collective effort will help speed up recovery.

As Thanksgiving approaches, the state of the storm-ravaged areas of the Midwest remains uncertain. The lives of several people have been destroyed, but we can easily make a difference with a little work.

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Nov. 26, 2013 Opinion

PRO/CON: Is cheerleading a sport?

Smiling is not a sport They’re athletes too Cheerleaders block the view of real athletes

Cheerleaders do the same work as other sports teams

Trisha Fritz

By Kat Gorospe A&E Editor

Staff Writer

The cheerleaders here at HHS practice four days a week for two to three hours a day.

They run, lift weights (and their flyers), and practice their routines until they get them right.

They practice to win. Last time I checked, that’s what all the other sports do as well, so why is cheerleading still looked down upon by some?

After school, while most kids are on their way home or staying after to catch up on

“We work all year for our competitions.

I explain and inform [other people] that it’s not something everyone can do, and [tell them] what they actually do and how hard the girls have to work,” said JV coach Renee Fowler.

While they’re practicing routines for Homecoming, staying in shape, and building up their endurance during conditioning, the cheerleaders are also preparing for competition season in the winter.

This year, there are seven competitions that varsity will be competing in, and just like any other major sporting event, it’s

K. Gallegos

K. Gallegos

Cheerleading should make people scared.

Not because you saw a routine or tumbling pass that was really good at the pep rally, but because people are actually making a big fuss over it and starting to believe that it is actually a sport.

By definition, sports are activities involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against others for entertainment.

An exertion of force…like lifting 125 pound weights or running straight at a 200 pound, 6-foot-2 guy in head-to-toe padding. Should lifting an 80 pound girl with the help of 4 others while screaming “GO RAIDERS” really be considered a sport?

Whether it is a football player in your math class or a random student walking through the halls talking down about cheerleading, as soon as someone says it is not a sport, you can expect angry glares and the phrase, “Do you know how hard we work?”

You cannot start an argument with the, “It’s difficult” or, “We work hard” junk.

We get it, cheerleading requires a lot of flexibility and training. Brain surgery is difficult, but do surgeons say that it is a sport? Heck, what about war? Is that a sport now too? High school cheerleading was created to get the crowd fired up and excited to cheer on the other students who are actually playing the sports behind them.

Also, do not forget the fact that a huge

part of cheer has to do with looks. What other sports have an emphasis on how you look? The false smiles and big lashes are nothing compared to what is happening right behind their backs while they are waving their hands around. Could you imagine if a basketball team was fixing each other’s braids before walking out onto the court?

The big argument that football players or soccer players do not work as hard is ridiculous. Football players practice in the morning as well as after school. Do people really think high school cheer is comparable to the extreme work that other students do to become the next Peyton Manning or LeBron James? As soon as they can put on some 100 pound gear and get out on the field with guys the size of tanks, I will give them some recognition. Just because you slap a big bow in your hair and do a couple of cartwheels does not make what you are doing a sport.

Not many sports take place on the sidelines dodging foul plays.

“On the sidelines they don’t do much, as of now they are just in our way of watching the game,” said junior Katelyn Behrens.

Honestly though, half of the time people just say things to get a reaction out of cheerleaders to pass time. But others truly believe that there is no athleticism behind it at all.

Overall, cheerleading is considered difficult, and the cheerleaders do work hard.

But this does not make it a sport.

work, junior Lexi Gardocki, frustrated and tired, is limping out of the gym to take a breather from practice.

With a bruise on one leg and a knee brace on the other, it’s clear that being a base for varsity is not easy.

Before you say “catching someone”or “being thrown in the air” is no big deal, consider the risks that cheerleaders face.

A stunt group consists of two people as bases, one flyer, a backspot, and sometimes a frontspot. It’s all about timing and precision, and if one person isn’t in the correct spot, taking a foot to the face when a flyer comes crashing to the ground is a serious possibility.

While stunting can cause injuries like concussions and broken bones, the tumbling done at practice also leads to long-term back and knee problems.

Although it may not seem like much compared to what football players do under the Friday night lights, the hard work that goes on behind the scenes is just the same.

going to take time and lots of practice to perfect their skills.

That hard work pays off. Last year, the varsity cheerleaders earned fourth in sectionals and second in state.

If you still think cheerleading isn’t a sport, try telling that to the U.S. All Star Federation.

Since 2004, The Cheerleading Worlds has been hosted in Orlando, Florida where allstar cheerleading teams compete. Cheerleading has Worlds, just like football has the Super Bowl and how hockey has the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Not so different, are they?

A sport isn’t categorized by how difficult it is, or how what the injury statistics are.

The players are who make the sport what it is.

Whether it’s cheering on the sidelines at a football game or being part of the Wildcats at Worlds, cheerleading is a sport that takes time, dedication, and passion, just like other sports.

M&M’s actually stands for “Mars & Murrie’s,” the last names of the candy’s founders.

K. Gallegos

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Nov. 26, 2013 Opinion

The benefits of year-round school What year-round school entails and what Huntley High is missing out on

By Adam Reckamp

Sports Editor

By 1870, every state in America had a public school system. A normal school was in session for nine months during the fall, winter, and spring and off during the summer. This type of schedule, an agrarian schedule, was designed because America was still an agriculturebased society and many kids had to help out on the family farm over the summer.

Fast-forward 143 years to today. In Huntley we no longer live in a society where farming is a primary occupation for most families. But we still have the same ineffective school schedule we had over 140 years ago.

When students hear “year-round school,” the common reaction is extremely negative. Most students take the term “year-round” literally and assume they will lose their summer break. This is not true at all. In a typical year-round school schedule, students attend school for nine weeks and then have three weeks off. They repeat this cycle four times and then have an extra four weeks off during the summer.

Students still attend school for 180 days

and get the same amount of time off as normal, it is just distributed differently.

There are many advantages to yearround school. One advantage is that due to a shorter break during the summer, students would lose less knowledge over the summer. This would lead to much less review time during class and a lot more time learning and reinforcing new material. This would be especially beneficial to special needs kids who lose a lot more knowledge and skills during the summer than the average kid.

“I think all kids would benefit from year-round schooling. In the summer months when you are not in school your skills obviously regress and it takes about a quarter to recoup those skills.

This is especially true for special needs students,” said Karen Aylward, the director of special services in District 158.

The three-week breaks during the school schedule would be great for students who are struggling as they could remediate material they were having trouble with during the school year instead of at its conclusion.

Many students feel like the fourth quarter, with its lack of breaks, is very stressful. By the end of the quarter, many students have already checked out and are looking forward to summer, even with their very important second semester finals coming up. Year-round school would give students more frequent breaks and help them stay focused and refreshed while in school, hopefully improving their learning capabilities and their grades.

One problem with a year-round school schedule would be athletics.

“During the 15 day break, how would students whose parents work get to practice? How would students get to games? Athletically, it would be really hard for students whose parents work to get to practices and games,” said Michelle Jakubowski, the athletic director at Huntley.

While year-round school could be an inconvenience to many athletes, I do not think it would be that big of a deal.

Many athletes already have practices during breaks. For example, the basketball

teams have practices and tournaments during winter break. Students whose parents work already find ways to get rides during these periods, therefore I do not think year-round school would be that big of a problem for athletes.

A year-round school schedule could also provide families with good times to take vacations while many other districts might still be in school.

This would really help students in America keep up with students around the world as many other countries employ year-round school schedules.

According to a global education study done by Pearson, the United States has the 17th best educational system in the world. This is troublesome to most Americans, and the implementation of year-round school schedules with less time spent reviewing and more time learning could lead to America going up in those rankings.

Is Huntley due for another dance?

After this year’s Homecoming hype, STUCO may take a shot at yet another winter dance

By Sarah Henderson

students will be able to say whether or not they would attend the dance, suggest themes, and give ticket price preferences. Two possible themes are a simple winter theme and a turnabout.

A turnabout, also known as a Sadie Hawkins dance, is a less formal dance in

Staff Writer

“

Courtesy of Courtney Kampert

From the minute Homecoming ended, my Twitter feed has been packed with memorable and happy tweets talking about that night. Soon after that, dozens of people began tweeting to suggest that Huntley High School should host a winter dance. I thought the idea was great and I wanted to dig deeper to find out the chances of Huntley hosting such a dance.

“I think having a dance would be a lot of fun, especially after Homecoming.

We have had dances the past couple

years,” said Megan Wheeler, head of the freshman/sophomore Student Council.

Last year, STUCO attempted to host a neon-themed dance, but too few tickets were sold and it was cancelled. Following all the Homecoming hype and positivity, I believe that the winter dance could be successful this year.

“We’re definitely considering a dance, and we do every year,” said Tom Kempf, one of the STUCO heads.

According to Kempf, a quiz will be posted on everyone’s Haiku pages where

could have been improvements.

Numerous people would agree with me that the music was not the greatest. I think the music slowed down for too long and killed the vibe. I think that if the school decides to have a winter dance, they should look for a

“I think having a dance would be a lot of fun, especially after Homecoming.

Megan Wheeler STUCO Advisor

which girls ask out guys. These types of dances are typically held by high schools and take place between Homecoming and Prom.

Personally, I would love to have a turnabout dance and I think it would be a lot of fun. Girls from all four grades have stated similar opinions and even talked about how they would ask other guys.

There are great ideas out there, and if turnabout is the theme, do not be afraid to Google ideas to get some inspiration for creative ways to ask guys out.

I also believe some changes can be made based on my Homecoming experience. I had a lot of fun with my group of friends and the overall atmosphere was good, though I still felt like there

”

younger DJ that would play more upbeat dance music that everyone would enjoy.

I did think the decorations were exciting and interesting, but not too overthe-top. The same should go for the winter dance so the theme is understood but not too obnoxious. Various types of decorations and themes can be done with a winter dance, and there are many different styles and interpretations of winter atmospheres possible.

Homecoming was a great experience, and many students are anticipating even more fun out of a possible winter dance.

If you are interesting in attending the winter dance, be sure to log into Haiku and vote in the upcoming weeks.

Ben & Jerry learned how to make ice cream by taking a $5 correspondence course offered by Penn State.

9

Nov. 26, 2013 Opinion

Are you a superficial Facebook user?

It’s not loathing until it’s Facebook official

By Holly Baldacci

F

Declarations of love

By Kyle Torp

Editor-in-Chief

acebook makes me want to throw up in my hands.

There are few things in the universe that I deem to be deserving of this disgust. Among them are mullets, romantic comedies, and the word “swaggy,” but none of the aforementioned items irks me as much as Facebook, which I’ve just recently joined. As a self-proclaimed Facebook Morrissey, I obviously have quite a few comments (most of them petulant and negative) to make about the social media giant.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m definitely aware of the many positive aspects of Facebook.

Since the day of its founding in 2004, it’s never been easier to stay in touch with old friends and family that live far away, and the site is a great way to share information about campaigns and ideas. For example, Huntley freshman Camille Paddock founded a Dare to be Different page, which fundraises to help kids that are bullied.

Despite these altruistic possibilities, though, Facebook simply seems to spread a lot of superficiality.

The main issue I have with Facebook is the constant information overload. We want to share our lives with the people around us, and to demonstrate how fun, smart, healthy, cool, and popular we are.

It seems to me that the site just enables the Narcissus within us to have a field day of frivolity. Here’s just a little glimpse into many of the fatal flaws of a Facebook feed: During the few times I’ve settled down on the couch for a bitter dose of Facebook ridiculousness, I’m usually so put off by endless pages of flowery birthday and anniversary posts that I just shut down my laptop. All age groups are guilty of this Facebook sin, too. I’ll see mothers pouring their hearts out on the screen every time their child’s birthday rolls around, lauding their beautiful daughter or handsome son for how they’ve matured into such a

Are Raider Way tickets effective?

S

fine young man/woman over the past X amount of years.

Here’s a wild and crazy idea: why not step away from the computer desk, walk down the hallway, and give your heartfelt speech in person, or at least make a phone call if they’re far away?

Also, once that love has worn off, be wary of whom you unfriend. Susan Krauss Whitbourne, Ph.D., recently wrote an entire article for psychologytoday.com about how unfriending someone is comparable to estranging them, and is a form of passiveaggressive rejection.

Tagging me… 47 times

Since Facebook’s tagging feature was introduced in 2008, millions of people have tagged and been tagged in photos. Tagging can be a great mode of finding pictures of yourself without having to sift through the massive amounts of information and photos on other people’s pages, but with great tagging power comes great tagging responsibility.

I myself am a victim of being tagged in another person’s unflattering photo. Also, it’s great if you tagged me in that photo from your birthday, but you didn’t need to tag me in all 58 photos you took that day, including ones I’m not even in.

The same goes for advertising through Facebook. Companies can tag you in an advertising photo or video just to increase the chances of you seeing it. Now, this is fine if you’re an affiliate of the company (which “typically pays 50% to your partners on sales initiated by your social networking list,” according to Julie Spira from huffingtonpost.com) but if you’re just a plain old high school student, this is little more than a giant annoyance.

Posting your dinners and workouts

I don’t need to see that you ate a “perfectly balanced meal” of quinoa, grilled salmon, kale, and green tea. I also don’t need to see a selfie of you in a leotard headed out to jazzercise class or post-work-

out with sweat running down your face.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s great that you’re living healthy. I just don’t need to see every little facet of your incredibly fit and active lifestyle. Let me sit on the couch and eat my French silk ice cream in peace, and try using a website like myfitnesspal.com to record all of the calories in your Gwyneth Paltrow-esque green smoothies.

Posting too many selfies

It’s awesome that you posted a cute selfie of yourself chilling at home with your dog, but was it really necessary considering you just posted a different one 20 minutes ago?

We currently live in an age of affirmation, where the number of likes a teen gets on one of their photos can determine their self-worth. Personally, I think this is sad.

“The danger exists in the possibility of a very public rejection. Negative feedback is there for all to see. Often it’s purposefully hurtful spiraling into cyber-bullying. The problem is the child asked for the feedback not having yet learned that not everyone will supportively respond. Even worse, they don’t recognize that peripheral opinions simply shouldn’t count,” said writer Carolyn Savage in an article for today.com.

I couldn’t agree more about the delusion of the need for affirmation.

Also, just be careful what you post. The Derek Medina case clearly showed us the power that Facebook photos can have in a court of law after he murdered his wife and posted a shot of her dead body on the site. I think people also need to keep in mind the repercussions posting certain images on the web can have in their daily lives.

Now, you may be wondering why I’m still a member of Facebook when I can barely stomach the stupidity that confronts me there. Not only do I need it for newspaper networking, but frankly, it’s a great source of entertainment, and either way, Mark Zuckerburg is probably out there somewhere laughing at me as he rolls around in a pile of money.

Content Editor

ome have called Raider Way tickets effective, while others have called them stupid.

A Raider Way ticket is the little red piece of paper that you can receive for standing out above the rest for doing something extraordinary. With the tickets, you can win tons of great prizes, including DJ of the week and Raider Way student of the week.

According to Laura Jenkins, head of the Raider Way ticket program, we have Raider Way tickets to reinforce the school’s mantra: “Be Respectful, Be Responsible, and Be Involved.” They are here to reward the students for doing the right thing.

“We wanted to distribute the attention to the students that do what is right.

Instead of [giving] the kids that are doing wrong things all the attention, we wanted to spread that attention to the kids who are well behaved,” said Jenkins.

Have Raider Way tickets proven to be effective? Should we get rid of them?

“It is hard to say because there are many factors going into the changing culture at Huntley. I think that PBIS and the Raider Way is definitely one of them,” said Jenkins.

But what about success? Are Raider Way tickets successful compared to the goals that they were set out to achieve?

According to Jenkins, the program seems to be popular.

“There are a lot of tickets every week when I go to get them. I get a big bucket and pick 10 out every week and all those kids get prizes,” said Jenkins.

What do the students think about Raider Way tickets? I have heard numerous kids say that they are stupid and question why we have them. But I have heard others say that it motivates them to keep doing what they are doing.

“I feel Raider Way tickets are good for the school because they motivate others.

The people who get them set good examples for others to follow,” said junior Brendan Hagn.

Senior Jimmy Jestus agreed.

“Raider way tickets are good for the school because they help set good examples for others to do well,” said Jestus.

Others have contrary opinions, and doubt the tickets have any real effect.

“I feel that no one cares about Raider Way tickets,” said sophomore Ryan McGrand.

My feeling on the whole Raider Way ticket issue is simple. I feel that they do help some kids. They reward kids for staying out of trouble. If someone needs Raider Way tickets because the program helps them, then so be it. Raider Way tickets aren’t going anywhere so everyone better get used to them.

When the mummy of Ramses II was sent to France in the mid-1970s, it was issued a passport, listing his occupation as “King (deceased).”

10

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Kool-Aid was originally marketed as “Fruit Smack.”

The Places You Will Go

Reporting by

Shravan Panchal and Megan Wilson

Design by

Kierra Renwick

Six students talk about their new lives and how they adjusted to moving to a new country

Who are you and where are you from?

I’m an exchange student from Ukraine. [My] region is situated in the center of Ukraine which is near the capital of my country. My village is considered to be a tourist attraction since we do have many children summer camps and places of rest for adult people. My village is surrounded by two rivers, so in the summer it’s a really cool place to visit.

How long will you be here?

I’m going to be here for nine months. I’ll come back a little bit earlier since I’m technically a senior back in Ukraine. So I need to go back earlier to pass my exams to graduate from school and enter to the university.

What do you want to do at University?

I’m planning in my future life to learn languages. Maybe I’m going to be a translator, something really interesting. Something which I will get a pleasure. I really enjoy languages; that’s why I’m here.

How did you come to Illinois?

I’m here thanks to Plex Program. It was a huge competition in the Ukraine. I believe more than 20,000 students took part and only 200 were able to come to the U.S. Are you in any activities at HHS? Now I’m in Orchesis. It really takes a lot of time. Especially for me it’s really hard. Sometimes it’s really hard to do my homework because it’s all in English.

It’s so hard and I have to translate Ukraine everything.

ria es

razil

e who are school really

off in the middle to school often.

of meat, like beef or

razil is a big problem so much more relaxed now if it’d be worth uld be a number one ange.

es since they are so can do that easily.

and Brazil? e maybe d more of the

Anna Deviatko

Koki Ito Japan

When and how did you come to the US? I was selected to be an AFS (American Firled Service) exchange student last year in Japan, and came here on Aug. 23 by air. The flight from Tokyo, Japan to Chicago O’Hare was 12 hours long.

What did you think the US was going to be like?

Before I left Japan, I had read and heard that everything in the U.S. would be huge in size, for example, food, land, houses, schools, cars, etc. and I wasn’t wrong with most of the things, although the size of a Big Mac is the same. I thought I would be busy trying many different things in America, but never thought that I would be this busy with schoolwork on the weekdays.

Why did you choose to come to the US and not another country?

There are several reasons why I chose to come here. First, I wanted to learn English and live in an English-speaking country. Then, the USA fascinated me with its environment and massive scale, a big country with diversity in culture, economy, technology, entertainment and so on. So I wanted to experience a life of high school students in America.

What do you like most about your home country of Japan?

Being away from my home country gives me an opportunity to see my own culture calmly. I can’t say one thing, but I thought about around-the-clock convenience stores with small, truly convenient Japanese stuff, or vending machines everywhere with incredibly various choices of drinks. At school, I had a school uniform and didn’t have to think about daily clothes, so that was good.

After being in the United States what do you like most about it?

As I expected, I have liked the lifestyle of the U.S. very much. You have a lot of space in anything, houses, shopping malls, roads, fields, parks, nature, etc. Huntley is really huge and the school facilities are fantastic. Also, in many things, you have choices. For example, you have much more choices in recreational activities and I like the ideas of seasonal sports, because in Japanese schools we do only one sport if we become a member of a club all through the year. I also love watching movies and sports events here, so I’m really excited every time I watch TV. Luckily, I went to see a Chicago Blackhawks game the other night. It was awesome! In Japan, hockey is not the famous sport, however, I came to like hockey.

How do you like the United States?

I really like it, what can I say. People are more friendly in Germany and are really welcomed.

Why did you decide to be a foreign exchange student?

In order to improve my English, and I wanted to learn the culture. Learning English is really important to my studies. I want to study medicine.

What’s the difference in culture between here and Germany?

Here is more modern, we have internet and TV, but here you have the newest technology. Germany is really old and full of history.

How long are you staying?

I’m here since the end of August, and I’ll be here ‘till June. I don’t get credit for this year in Germany, so I’ll be a year behind.

What do you think of HHS? It’s really big here. In my old school, we only have 300 students from fifth to twelfth grade. It’s really modern, lots of technology, and I really like the American lockers because I could never open my one in Germany.

Tami Koenig Chemnitz, Germany

Mario & Alessandro

Vergara-Martinez Mexico City, Mexico

In what city did you live in?

M: We lived in México in the city of México, but first we lived in Puebla.

Do you like the United States?

A: Yes, it’s a little different. Well, the type of government in México, the rules aren’t as strict as here. Here you have to carry out the rules, and there in México, you can do what you want. It’s like [America] is being more strict and more organized.

What is the difference in culture between there and the United States?

M: In México, school is not as important as here. There you can do what you want at school, not like here.

Are you living here permanently or temporarily?

M: We’re living here permanently, well, if we can. Because [our] dad has lived here for years, so we came for our dad to be with him.

Why did you move to the US? A: We came because we wanted to see our dad. We haven’t seen him in five years. And after that, we wanted to learn another language. We know Italian, Spanish, and we’re going to learn English. We also have studied Latin and Greek.

M: We also want to learn English because they will accept you in more jobs. Also, we want to learn from schools that are different here than in México [that] can teach greater things.

What are your favorite foods around the area?

A: My favorite food is Italian. I love spaghetti and lasagna, and my favorite is Noodles & Company.

M: Me too. Also I love pasta and ravioli, lasagna, and I also like meat. Brazilian meat is tasty.

What do you think of HHS? A: I think it’s a very good school that helps us be a better person for tomorrow and I feel that here you can learn a lot of things. That is the best.

M: I believe that Huntley High School is like a step to learn new things and the good thing about the people that work here [is] that [they] teach you, they help you.

They explain to you, then you feel really thankful because they try to help you. I like this school.

Vitor Reale

Sao Paulo, Br

When did you move here?

I first moved to South Carolina when I was 2 years old and seven years ago moved here.

What’s the difference in schooling here?

Kids often go to private school more than public school. People in the middle class tend to go to private school since the public s isn’t that strong.

They have a lot more holidays like a lot of Saints days so they’ll have of the week all the time which isn’t fair. So I feel they don’t go t What’s a typical meal in Brazil?

Rice and beans is the traditional meal. Rice, beans, and some sort o chicken, and then salad.

Would you move back if you could?

Probably not because I’m so used to living here. The safety issue in Br with the violence, so it would be a huge change in mindset. Everything is s here, and if I go back to Brazil it would be a huge change, and I don’t kn it. Even though I love my family and I love Brazil, I feel like [safety] wou priority in your life that would probably be too big to cha What are the advantages of being bilingual?

When you’re learning a new language, especially the romance language similar, it’s convenient because I can talk to my mom in secret and I c I like being bilingual.

What’s the difference in the sense of community between here a I’ve always felt like in Brazil there is this sense of family like because it’s such a dangerous situation so they have to band together, you know, and so there’s hospitality in that side o community that is sometimes lacking here.

14

Nov. 26, 2013 A&E

“Allegiant” leaves readers reeling Roth’s futuristic adventure comes to an end

By Holly Baldacci

Editor-in-Chief

A

nd you thought a butter knife to the eye was violent.

Veronica Roth’s “Allegiant,” the final novel in her “Divergent” trilogy, focuses on post-apocalyptic teen heroine Beatrice “Tris” Prior’s continued battle to find the truth about the damaged society she lives in. This time around, however, Roth delves deeper into intense topics and crafts even darker action scenes.

The novel picks up where the second book of the trilogy, “Insurgent,” left off.

The society Tris lives in was once divided into five factions, though the factions have recently been intermixed in multiple rebellions and are plagued with questionable leadership. In “Allegiant,” Tris must rely on her friends and new allies to determine what should be done about their crumbling society.

Despite covering more twisted topics like genetic warfare and extreme prejudice, “Allegiant” can still read as a washed-up teen novel at times, especially during scenes describing the relationship between Tris and her love interest, Tobias “Four” Eaton (as nicknamed due to only having four fears).

Additionally, the novel fails to develop many of the characters any further than in previous books. The only significant backstory presented is that of a character that had already passed away in the first book of the trilogy. The novel does, however, reveal many details about the world beyond Tris’s city of Chicago, which is closed off from the rest of the world by large gates.

One of the most powerful scenes of the novel is when Tris and some of her friends get the chance to see and travel in an airplane for the first time. The flight reveals the world around them that they have never had the chance to see, including the vastness of Lake Michigan, which had begun to transform into a marsh near the coastline.

This expansion of setting adds a new sense of excitement to the novel, as do the characters (some of whom were previously believed to be dead) that they find beyond the gates.

As someone who lives in the Chicago area, it was also interesting to hear

about local areas in their post-apocalyptic state. Previous novels explored landmarks like the Hancock building and the Navy Pier Ferris wheel, while “Allegiant” allows the reader to explore other well-known places, like Millennium Park and O’Hare Airport.

A welcome change in “Allegiant” that sets it apart from the previous two books of the series is the fact that it isn’t just told from Tris’s point of view; this time around, Four narrates nearly every other chapter, which offers a fresh perspective on the plot

(Divergent Wiki) and the relationship between the two characters. The shift in perspectives is always smooth, and adds a needed complexity to the novel without being confusing.

The series is entertaining, but like most commercial literature, I don’t see it withstanding the test of time like other dystopian classics. Additionally, the novel is about a teenage girl forced to fight for her life in a post-apocalyptic society built on corruption and the division of its people- sound familiar? “The Hunger Games,” which came out in 2008 (three years before the 2011 release

date of “Divergent”), is grounded in a similar plotline, and is written in a more elegant, exciting manner.

Additionally, the book’s controversial ending, in which Roth kills off one of the novel’s principal characters, has caused plenty of chatter amongst reviewers and fans. It’s praiseworthy that Roth was gutsy enough to take this giant literary step, but the true purpose of the death is questionable and, frankly, it seems unnecessary.

For die-hard “Divergent” fans that have already finished the series and are still dwelling on its questionable ending, there is some good news on the horizon.

A film version of “Divergent” is set to be released on March 21 of next year, which, like the book, is set in post-apocalyptic Chicago. Nearly all of the principal photography for the movie was taken in and around the city.

The sci-fi adventure film is directed by Neil Burger, who also directed the 2011 mystery thriller “Limitless,” and stars Shailene Woodley as Tris. Woodley has previously appeared as pregnant teen Amy Jurgens in ABC Family’s “The Secret Life of the American Teenager” and as Alex King alongside George Clooney in “The Descendants,” a role for which she received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture.

Other well-known actors have joined the cast as well. “Titanic” star Kate Winslet, playing the first villainous role of her career, is portraying Jeanine Matthews, and Theo James (Turkish diplomat Kemal Pamuk from “Downton Abbey”) stars as Four, though he’s 10 years older than the 18-year-old character.

Zoë Kravitz plays Tris’s good friend Christina, and coincidentally, her father Lenny Kravitz recently played Cinna, Katniss’s stylist, in the similarly dystopian “Hunger Games” films.

Hopefully, this film platform will allow the novel’s complex settings and imagery to come to life for millions of new fans. Until March rolls around, though, I’d recommend picking up at least the first book of the trilogy if you’re looking for an intense sci-fi read. Just make sure you’re prepared for a bit of cheesy teen romance woven throughout.

(Divergent Wiki)

In 1999, Furbies were banned from the National Security Agency’s Maryland headquarters because it was feared the toys might repeat national security secrets.

15

Nov. 26, 2013 A&E

The glory of gore “American Horror Story” has spunk “Breaking Bad.” FX’s “The Shield” was a violent drama,

By Angelica Cataldo Opinion Editor starring Michael Chiklis, about an L.A. police department with ruthless officers that ou either love “American Horror would not give up until justice was served.

Story” or you hate it. There is no The shows feature extreme violence, illegal in between. activity, and sexual content, but at the same Yes it’s racy, yes it’s intense, but that is time were very popular for their audience. what makes “American Horror Story” so What’s funny is that not many people were alluring. What people don’t understand is that “American Horror Story” is not for the in cahoots over shows about dangerous drugs, sex, or violence being aired on TV, weak at heart. but when a show comes on that combines The blood, the gore, and the scandalous all of these concepts with heavy and bizarre sex bring the show to a whole new, enterplot-lines, all hell breaks loose in the media. taining level, as well as to the top of TV “American Horror Story” targets the same controversy. “mature” audience as “The Shield,” but it Many shows in the past, such as “The gets more negative attention than it does Shield” and “Weeds” have also taken their positive. plots to the edge of the moral line.

Many unsatisfied viewers have called Like “American Horror Story,” FX’s “The “American Horror Story” messed-up, othShield” and Showtime’s “Weeds” have a ers accused it of being inappropriate, or my mature rating for their risqué plots and adult content. Despite their mature content, personal favorite: stupid. Their assessments cannot be farther from the truth. these shows sparked a lot of interest from Fans of the show call it brilliant, and I viewers and became very popular.

“Weeds” is a comedy-drama series starring agree. There is so much meaning behind Mary-Louise Parker that follows a suburban Brad Falchuk and Ryan Murphy’s writing that it is hard to be overly critical about the mom who finds herself dealing marijuana show. and getting into all sorts of trouble.

It is in its third season, and the critically “Weeds” is very similar to the AMC’s

Y

acclaimed actress Jessica Lang has won an Emmy for her performances in the show.

The show itself has won many awards.

A show this good should not be shooed off of the air and on to a different, more limited TV channel because overly sensitive people can’t handle its content.

What very little people know is that cable TV shows don’t have the same Federal Communications Commission regula-

tions as over-the-air TV shows. So, despite people’s distaste for the show, I don’t see it going anywhere anytime soon.

American Horror Story is rated TV MA for a reason, and is not meant for a young or easily offended audience. If TV was meant to only show “safe” shows, TV would be extremely boring. If gruesome and brutal horror is not your cup of tea, then don’t watch it.

Rated M for too mature “American Horror Story” too inappropriate for television

By Kierra Renwick

T

Design Editor but it also graphically shows the deed being

urn on your television set and you are suddenly transported into the world of modern TV: drama, sex, and violence filled shows that in previous years would have shocked even the most open-minded person.

One such program is FX’s most popular show, “American Horror Story,” which is in its third season, “Coven.” The show has been causing quite a stir in the media and homes across the country.

The show, which is filled with gore, sex, and magic, has a great story line, but is highly disturbing.

For example, when one of the teenage witches, Madison Montgomery (Emma Roberts) goes missing, the other teenage witch girls comment on her sexual endeavors in detail that should not be allowed on television. To make matters worse, it’s revealed that Montgomery’s throat was slit (in a graphic manner, of course) by another witch.

Not only does the show talk about sex,

done, several times per episode. Sex is a large part of the show and the characters’ lives, as one of the head witches, Cordelia Foxx (Sarah Paulson), tries desperately to conceive a child.

The gore and violence of the show is so astonishing and realistic that it will make anyone’s stomach turn.

Some people argue that gore is a necessary element of entertainment. I will admit, I agree. It makes the show intense and exciting. However, it can be too much for some, especially younger viewers.

In one scene that occurred early on in the season, Delphine LaLaurie (Kathy Bates) brutally tortures her slaves. Delphine keeps her slaves in a torture chamber where she removes their organs and, in one instance, peels all the skin off of a slave’s face.

The gore is something you would expect to see in an R-rated movie, not a television show. The show is rated M for Mature Audiences, but the fact that the violence and sensuality is allowed on a television channel that anyone has access to is astounding.

The show is a masterpiece and has received great ratings and awards, but does not belong on a public channel.

language, and sex?

Perhaps the show belongs on a channel such as HBO, where the person has to

What if a young child stumbles across the channel and is shown violence, nudity,

specifically pay for the channel, and it can’t be seen by someone simply flipping through the channels.

The string on boxes of animal crackers was originally placed there so the container could be hung from a Christmas tree.

16

Nov. 26, 2013 A&E

Eminem proves he’s not afraid

“Marshall Mathers LP II” is Eminem’s latest great achievement

By Chris Sawalski

M

Staff Writer

arshall Bruce Mathers III launched his new album, “The Marshall Mathers LP II,” and lost himself in the music.

On Oct. 17, 1972, in Kansas City. MO., Mathers was born. He was a product of Marshall Bruce Mathers II and Deborah R. Nelson-Mathers, who was only 15 when she gave birth.

His stage name, Eminem, stemmed from his full name, Marshall Mathers, “M and M.” He also used the name Slim Shady as an excuse to make his politically incorrect and offensive music and to try to keep Eminem away from Marshall Mathers, father of four.

Mathers was a kid from the streets. He grew up in the slums of Detroit and attended Lincoln High School until 1989.

Working hard on his cassettes, Mathers and his girlfriend, Kimberly, whom he would later marry and divorce, had a baby girl, Halie Jade Scott, on Christmas Day in 1995.

He worked at a family restaurant until his debut album, “Infinite,” was released in ‘96.

Later that year, Dr. Dre signed Eminem to his label, Aftermath.

album was a huge hit and he won a Grammy Award for Best Rap Album.

As Eminem got bigger, so did his problems.

He showed this in his music and it was very easy to tell he was disturbed. After a while, Eminem realized he needed to clean up his act, even if it would mean selling fewer records.

In 2010, Eminem released his album “Recovery,” and instead of hurting his record sales, it helped them.

The new Marshall Mathers was a hit in the world of rap, and he was very content in his choice to clean up.

(All images courtesy of Wikimedia Commons) Fast-forwarding to now, Eminem released his first single, After free-styling on the L.A. stage, Emi“Survival,” from his unnamed album as nem released his second album, “The Slim a theme song to the video game “Call of Shady LP,” in ’99.

Duty: Ghosts.” This song wasn’t a huge hit The album hit No. 2 on the Billboard in the rap world. charts within weeks and reached platinum However, his next single, “Berzerk,” a three times. remix of an old Beastie Boys song, had This is where the legacy of Marshall listeners loving Eminem.

Mathers began. He released his first The uptempo song made fun of TV star Marshall Mathers LP with songs such as Khloe Kardashian and professional basket“Stan” ft. Dido, “The Real Slim Shady,” ball player Lamar Odom. and “Kim.” All of these songs would prove People wondered if, maybe, he had that Eminem was here to stay, as the whole

Eminem’s top 10 hits

returned to the Slim Shady that he had left behind.

The album was set to hit the world on Nov. 5, but it was leaked six days early.

Eminem was not that upset by this, and he allowed the 16-song album to be played on iTunes Radio.

There was still more to come. The deluxe edition didn’t make its splash until the original release date, and it included collaborations with Kendrick Lamar, Skylar Grey, Nate Ruess, Rhianna, Jamie N Commons, Sia, and X Ambassadors, as well as the album’s two singles “Rap God” and “The Monster” ft. Rihanna.

Nobody knew what to expect from Eminem, whether he was reverting back to his old ways or moving on.

When the album came out, it was clear that he was moving on.

He wrote a song, “Headlights,” ft. Nate Ruess, as an apology to his mother and an explanation for the songs and nasty references he wrote about her in his younger years.

The album, to me, is a wonderful representation of who Eminem is, and of the life he has led.

He has definitely grown up and is trying to stay on a better path. He wants a new life, no matter what the cost, and for all of us to know that he is not afraid.

Eminem’s discography

10. “Crack a Bottle” (from “Relapse”) 9. “Forever” (from “Relapse: Refill”) 8. “Just Lose It” (from “Encore”) 7. “The Real Slim Shady” (from “The Marshall Mathers LP”) 6. “Cleanin’ Out My Closet” (from “The Eminem Show”) 5. “Not Afraid” (from “Recovery”) 4. “Without Me” (from “The Eminem Show”) 3. “Smack That” (from Akon’s “Konvicted”) 2. “Love The Way You Lie” (from “Relapse”) 1. “Lose Yourself” (from “Music from and Inspired by the Motion Picture 8 Mile”)

Eminem’s top 3 albums 1. “The Marshall Mathers LP” (AllMusic 5/5 stars) 2. “The Eminem Show” (AllMusic 4/5 stars) 3. “Recovery” (AllMusic 3.5/5 stars)

Only female mosquitoes will bite you.

17

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“Jay” used to be slang for “foolish person,” so when a pedestrian ignored street signs, he was referred to as a “jaywalker.”

18

Nov. 26, 2013 A&E

Everything you want in an FPS “Battlefield 4” takes gamers where no gamer has gone before

By Cullen Walsh

Staff Writer

Other 2013-14 FSP Games Final Fantasy

March 18, 2014

(MCT Campus)

I

t’s that time of year again, when the trees begin to change colors and holiday after holiday goes by.

But for gamers, this season can become a financial nightmare.

Tons of games, which seem to be in the FPS genre for the most part, are packed into this time of year to try and hit shelves for the holidays.

For those that cannot wait for presents, buying every major title that they want can be a difficult task.

It’s time that gamers had a single game that compiled everything that they want from an FPS into a single blockbuster title. The time is now. “Battlefield 4” is here.

Fans of the “Battlefield” series were blown away as they received a gameplay experience like they had never experienced before.

Developer DICE delivered more than what fans were expecting.

“Battlefield 4” is a compilation of the best features of the games throughout the series, with new and exciting mechanics thrown into the mix. Through the power of the Frostbite 3 game engine, DICE has created one of the most visually beautiful and interactive FPS games to date.

DICE promised players from the first announcement of “Battlefield 4” that it would include a single game element that would change the way people play FPS games forever: Levelution.

This is the name that was given to players having the ability to completely interact

“

with their environments during multiplayer games.

Want to close off an entrance with an object to deter your enemies? Go ahead.

Thinking about flooding an entire city to make it more difficult for other people to move around? Sure, why not?

Maybe somebody wants to bring down an entire skyscraper and all of the other players that are inside it. This is all possible through the use of the Frostbite 3 engine.

However, Levelution isn’t where the new

It’s time that gamers had a single game that compiled everything they want from an FPS into a single blockbuster title.

Players are now given the ability to lean out from behind walls and pop up from behind cover without having to hit a button to make their avatar uncrouch. This mechanic gives players a tactical advantage over each other, providing a new way to be on both the offensive and the defensive at the same time.

DICE delivers an amazing campaign experience as well, creating memorable characters and heart wrenching scenes that keep players on the edges of their seats.

Players take on the role of Sgt. Daniel Recker, a lethal mute whose mission does not have failure as an option.

As Recker, players witness firsthand how a single small military operation can nearly start a war between two of the world’s largest countries. Recker does not tread the path of war by himself, though.

Accompanying him are his trusted squad mates, Irish and Pac. Players are given control of these loyal characters, and can watch as the true nature of these modern day heroes unfold as they discover when one must do the right thing.

Overall, “Battlefield 4” is one of the most amazing FPS games to date.

Through the use of one of the most powerful game engines ever created, DICE provides an addictive multiplayer experience along with one of the greatest blockbuster campaigns a person could possibly ask for.

”

features stop. Players are constantly in pursuit of new weapons and attachments they can gain by completing challenges or clearing campaign missions.

Only through completion of these challenges do players receive the spoils of war, adding powerful new weapons to their own personal arsenal, which all feel smooth and comfortable to use.

If the weapons aren’t impressive enough, DICE has also thrown in a few small features for those who asked.

Gran Turismo 6 Dec. 6, 2013

Dragon Ball Z: The Battle of Z 2014

South Park: The Stick of Truth March 4, 2014

As part of David Hasselhoff’s divorce settlement, he kept possession of the nickname “Hoff” and the catchphrase “Don’t Hassle the Hoff.”

19

Nov. 26, 2013 A&E

“How I Met Your Mother” draws to a close The ironic show finally comes to an end after nine season of repetitve comedy

By Darek Makowski

A

Staff Writer

fter nine seasons, “How I Met Your Mother” is finally coming to an end.

The show is about Ted Mosby (Josh Radnor), an architect in New York City who, throughout the series, looks for his future wife. He also spends time with his buddies, like Barney Stinson, played by Neil Patrick Harris.

Barney is his close friend who hangs out with him at bars and loves trying to seduce anyone who is appealing. He’s another Charlie Sheen. He is also obsessed with wearing suits.

There are also many other characters in this television series like Marshall Eriksen (played by Jason Segel), who is Mosby’s best friend and is married to a kindergarten teacher named Lilly Ardin (Alyson Hannigan), who also happens to be Mosby’s ex girlfriend.

Cristin Milioti, plays the show’s titular “mother.” She has not had many interactions with Ted so far, but it is shown that she is in love with him. All these characters meet up and have different experiences around New York, like when Ted and Robin find out that Barney volunteers at a shelter.

When they go there, they have nothing to do and they find out that Barney was forced to volunteer and that not all the food is given to the needy. Ted gives away food and is kicked out even though volunteers stole food.

The show also has many other stories,

Season

1 2

like that of Marshall and Lilly who, in the episode “Who Wants to Be a Godparent,” put their friends through a test to be the godparent of their son, Marvin. The show also has many catchphrases known to teenagers and other fans around the U.S., like “Legendary,” which Barney says when something is really good, or “Suit Up,” which he says before going out to the bar.

The show has nine Emmy nominations with a couple wins, further demonstrating its popularity.

Neil Patrick Harris has had two Emmy Nods for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series and he has grown to be a hit as host of the Tony Awards and Emmys.

I believe that after watching “How I

Met Your Mother,” it is not a good show

Mosby seems sappy the whole series as he keeps on looking for the woman of his dreams.

Their only good moments revolve around drinks at bars, especially in many of the episodes where Barney goes to the bar looking for women.

This show seems so repetitive that I thought I watched the same episode twice.

Their adventures are also not interesting, with lame plots like when Barney did not wear a suit, causing him to feel strange and not empowered.

It feels like the show has not really evolved. There have not been any big developments and looking for the “mother” the whole time was boring. I’m not saying (Wikimedia Commons) the show sucks or is not funny. This show is just unreasonable to watch for the casual Neil Patrick Harris viewer.

comedy-wise. The show’s writing can give

people a couple of laughs, but not enough to make it memorable. The show also relies on cliché catchphrases.

Barney relies on the same lines while not having his character develop, just sleeping with different women and then getting rid of them the next day.

He does not have different sides to him like Michael Scott, who is also a single bachelor but has many complex elements to his character. He is either a partier, a bachelor, or a boss, and gets in different circumstances like playing Santa for Christmas.

It opens up his character to anything. Ted

Premiere-Finale # of Episodes September 19, 2005 May 15, 2006 September 18, 2006 May 14, 2007

22 22

(Wikimedia Commons)

The cast at the 100th episode celebration

3

September 24, 2007 May 19, 2008

20

4

September 22, 2008 May 18, 2009

24

5

September 21, 2009 May 24, 2010

24

6

September 20, 2010 May 16, 2011

24

7

September 19, 2011 May 14, 2012

24

8

September 24, 2012 May 13, 2013

24

9

September 23, 2013 N/A

24

Lily (left, Alyson Hannigan) and Robin (Cobie Smulders) (MCT Campus)

The archer fish knocks its insect prey out of overhanging branches with a stream of spit.

20

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The only number whose letters are in alphabetical order is 40 (f-o-r-t-y).

21

Nov. 26, 2013 Sports

Heading to the next level Huntley students sign National Letters of Intent

By Hannah Rosso

T

Content Editor

en individual baseball hats lined the edge of a long table covered in red and black wrapping in the back of Huntley High School’s library. Parents, friends, and teammates crowded the small room trying to catch a glimpse of the table where Huntley senior student athletes each sat behind a designated hat. Their legs twitched nervously under the table, and many sipped at the water bottles placed to the right of their caps.

Athletic Director Michelle Jakubowski welcomed the crowd with a few kind words about the students on display, and then it was time. Pens ready, they all signed pieces of paper that had been itching for ink: their National Letters of Intent.

After the I’s were dotted and T’s were crossed, there was an uproar of applause.

Hugs and smiles were exchanged.

The cameras started flashing as senior basketball star Amanze Egekeze’s mother pulled out sharpies and a Belmont Bruins flag for friends and teammates to sign. There was a glow in his eyes as he walked around with the white Belmont hat on. Friends took it off of his head and began signing it.

“I chose Belmont because it had everything that I was looking for in a school. It’s a great school academically. As far as basketball, they have one of the most respected head coaches in the country: Rick Byrd.

They are a winning program and have been in the NCAA tournament six of the past eight years. They really wanted

me and I have a chance to be an impact player right away.

Nashville is a great city with great people and so much to do,” said Egekeze.

Belmont University, located in Nashville, Tennessee, is composed of just under 7,000 students. Belmont com-

were on me before my knee problems kind of started to move on,” said Egekeze.

Last year, Egekeze underwent a knee operation for tendonitis performed by surgeon Brian Cole, who operated on Chicago Bull Derrick Rose.

“Belmont offered [scholarships to] me and two other kids, but they told us there were only two spots available. I knew the opportunity I had with them and didn’t want to risk losing it to the other guys, so I felt comfortable committing right away,” said Egekeze.

Next to Egekeze at the table sat senior Mark Skonieczny, who is headed to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign next fall for baseball.

“There was a lot of pressure to make sure that U of I was the correct fit. The thing that made me ultimately chose Illinois was the great coaching staff they have there. The opportunity to play for a school in the Big Ten was impossible to pass up. I am truly blessed to have the opportunity to play for a Big Ten school. Also what drew me to Illinois was the academic opportuE. Vitacco nity they have to offer. Illinois is a perfect fit for me and I can’t wait to have the opportunity to compete,” said Skonieczny. petes in Division I basketball and has made the NCAA In true athletic spirit, many athletes walked out their door Tournament six out of the last eight seasons and three with their parents and then proceeded to go to practice. seasons in a row.

“There was a little bit of pressure to make the right choice quickly because most of the bigger schools that

2014 College Commitments Baseball

Mark Skonieczny: University of Illinois Eric Luecht:Lewis University Matt Sullivan: Chicago State Brendon Fitzgerald: Purdue-Calumet Nick Constantino: Drury University Johnny Nugent: Harper Junior College Roy Cantu: Illinois-Springfield

Soccer

Abby Nordeen: Minnesota State Delaney Loprieno: Northern Illinois Jessica Galason: Illinois state Beth Parks: Colorado State Rachel Zobott: Illinois-Chicago Amanze Egekeze: Belmont Sam Morin: Illinois University Springfield Samantha Andrews:Truman State Bethany Zornow: Judson University

Basketball

Alaska is the only state that can be typed on one row of keys.

22

Nov. 26, 2013

Sports

Huntley’s ice Kings Kings Hockey Club an underappreciated part of HHS athletics

By Kyle Sommerfield Content Editor

T

he first thing you notice about the Crystal Ice House is the yellow neon sign and steel structure that make up its exterior. The smell of hockey, an overwhelming mix of ice, rubber, and sweat, radiates throughout the building. It’s a simple building, the type of building you expect to see from a youth athletic facility.

And, as many don’t know, it houses athletes from Huntley High School.

Huntley High School takes pride in supporting all of its athletic programs. Millions were spent on renovating the football field, a new field house is being constructed, and Raider Nation shows up to countless athletic events. It seems like Huntley is the perfect home for every athlete, the kind of place where all sports are recognized and all athletes have a sense of camaraderie and belonging. But hockey is one sport where Huntley athletes receive little to no recognition.

The Kings High School Hockey Club is a hockey club that integrates players from Huntley High School, Jacobs High School, Hampshire High School, Burlington High School, and Marian Central Catholic High School to form a JV and varsity team. Although the club has no affiliation with any of these schools, it forms an important part of the schools’ athletic programs.

Being a member of the Kings varsity team requires commitment, as the team usually has three practices and three games every week. A Kings game means 45 minutes of hustle, with only one break at the second intermission.

One person who knows just how much work this entails is Huntley senior Dan LaSota. LaSota came to the Kings with only one year of hockey experience; LaSota put in a ton of hard work and has become an important part of the Kings team.

(M.Urban)

“Being on the team has made me realize hard work pays off,” said LaSota. “Now I am able to compete as if I’ve been playing hockey all my life.”

Putting so much time and effort into an athletic endeavor forms a close bond between teammates. A team pulling players from so many different schools is obviously going to have a harder time with team chemistry, but the Kings have been able to overcome any feelings of disunion between players. Many of the players have played together growing up and have developed bonds despite going to different schools. Kings varsity coach Joe Fell emphasizes team building and team chemistry in order to create the best environment for his players.

“We have a tight-knit group of guys on our team, which makes playing for the Kings that much more enjoyable,” said LaSota. “Whether we’re playing a game or in the locker room before practice, we’re always having a good time together.”

Every athlete and every team has dreams of success, and the Kings are no different. Fell, who played hockey at the United States Air Force Academy and coached for years in Rockford, knows what it takes to be successful in hockey.

For Fell and the rest of those involved with the Kings organization, the goal is to make it all the way.

“Our goal is to win the state championship,” said Fell.

“All of these games are about learning and preparing for it.”

At the end of the year, the Kings will be seeded along with every other team in the Illinois High School Hockey League and participate in the playoffs. They must win five games to make it to the championship held in the United Center.

Along with dreams of the state championship, the Kings have hopes of having more fan support. Although the team pulls players from so many schools, it receives little support from any of those schools. It seems strange that in an area so obsessed with the Blackhawks that a local hockey team gets such little fan support. Fell acknowledges that the team’s fan base is growing, but still wishes the team had more support.

“Part of the challenge is getting the word out,” said Fell.

“We need more fans.”

While Raider Nation makes its presence known at most Huntley athletic events, it pays no attention to the Kings, despite the several athletes on the team from Huntley. For Huntley to consider itself a school that supports all its athletic programs, it needs to support all of its student athletes; that means supporting the football team, the bowling team, and even organizations like the Kings that are not directly affiliated with the school. Only time will tell if the team will finally receive the recognition it deserves.

Every member of the Kings certainly appreciates all the support they get.

“When people take the time to come, we really appreciate it because we know it is difficult to make it that late on a Sunday,” said LaSota.

Kings games take place on the weekends, usually on Saturday and Sunday nights. A full schedule can be found on the Kings website.

December Schedule

(M.Urban)

Carmel 12/2 Deerfield 12/24 12/4 Loyola Maroon 12/7 Libertyville 12/8 CHFS 12/15

At the 1905 wedding of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt, President Teddy Roosevelt gave away the bride.

23

Nov. 26, 2013 Sports

Vaulting back into action Aubrie Purtell wins gymnastics national championship after injury

By Laura Pilat

A

Staff Writers

bout 25% of the world participates in gymnastics. Senior Aubrie Purtell almost vanished from that percentage. On June 23, 2011, Purtell’s hope of perfecting the balance beam came crashing down as she shattered every bone in her right foot. While attempting to land a backflip, Purtell came down too hard.

Stunned by what had just happened, she didn’t feel the pain at first. She realized something was wrong when she noticed two bubbles had appeared on her foot.

She cried for less than 10 minutes after the accident.

Purtell’s coach at the time told her to put her foot in a

“

You have to be careful with how you land. Just moving your foot the wrong way could be the difference between first and fourth place.

Aubrie Purtell

”

bucket of ice, and said that she would be okay. Later that day, the doctor told Purtell and her family that she would never participate in gymnastics again, and it was unlikely she would be able to walk normally.

“It was one of the most distressing days of my life, finding out I would need six months of recovery and two surgeries. Even though the doctors told me how bad the condition my foot was in, I still tried walking on it the very next day,” said Purtell.

This isn’t how Purtell envisioned her gymnastics career would go. At the age of five, her mother had her join

(A.Wong)

(A.Wong)

many sports to see which one she would be best at. Other sports didn’t come naturally to Purtell. In softball, she got a ball to the face. In soccer, she spent games picking dandelions on the sidelines. In ballet, she looked like a galloping horse. After one month of gymnastics, she had quit, but her mom signed her up again because she had too much energy.

Purtell became dedicated and developed a strong passion for gymnastics; she has been in love with the sport for the past 12 years. Her dedication to gymnastics is the reason she came back after her tragic injury to help coach the younger girls at the same gym she practiced at, the Crystal Lake Gymnastics Training Center.

While coaching, she noticed how much the younger girls looked up to the girls in higher levels of competition. It reminded her of how she looked up to Olympic gymnast Nastia Lukin, who is the 2005 and 2007 World Champion and an Olympic gold medalist. Purtell had the opportunity to meet Lukin a few times. Lukin wasn’t as nice as she had hoped, but she was still elegant and graceful. After coaching for six months, she decided to surpass everyone’s expectations while proving the doctors wrong. She began practicing again.

Purtell returned to gymnastics at level 9. Level 10 is the highest level, right under the elite level, also known as the Olympic level. For her first competition back, she only had the opportunity to participate in one event.

“Her first meet after the injury was pretty pathetic. She ended up landing on her face, but everyone cheered because it was such an accomplishment that she was able to come back,” said her mom, Jill Purtell.

This intense dedication resulted in Purtell practicing at least 20 hours a week with her current coach, Ben Hardy.

“The most important thing a gymnast should know is that success is built in the gym by doing the little things. It doesn’t matter how many times you fail, you just need to keep trying,” said Hardy.

Later on, in the year after the first competition, Purtell, along with five other competitors, qualified for Nationals.

Purtell prepared for Nationals just like any regular competition, drinking a red bull and eating sour skittles before she competed. At the award ceremony, Purtell waited to hear her fate for the most intense competition she had ever

Most serial killers are born in November.

participated in.

Purtell won the gold medal.

“It was amazing because it felt like everything paid off. All of a sudden, the hard work and countless amount of hours in the gym felt worth it,” said Purtell.

Once she was on top of the first place podium, she felt like she was on top of the world. An extra bonus was the feeling of satisfaction Purtell felt from knowing she had made her coach proud. The competition had been tense, with point differences among the top medalists being only one-tenth of a point apart.

“You have to be very careful with how you land. Just moving your foot the wrong way could be the difference between first and fourth place,” said Purtell.

With many competitions over the past 12 years, Purtell has amassed over 200 medals. She now participates as a level 10 gymnast, and hopes to have the opportunity to compete in gymnastics in college. She would prefer to join the gymnastics team at the University of Illinois Chicago, but she’ll go anywhere that wants her.

In contrast, her mom wouldn’t mind if she quit gymnastics, even offering her $5,000 to quit because she doesn’t

“

It was amazing because it felt like everything paid off. All of the sudden, the hard work and countless hours in the gym felt worth it.

Aubrie Purtell

”

want her to get hurt.

“I love to see her proud when she achieves even the smallest accomplishment. One skill better than the day before is a win. I like the sport for her because it makes her happy, but I wouldn’t mind if she decided to quit because I lose more sleep than she does,” said Jill Purtell.

SPORTS Vaulting back into action

23

After overcoming a career-threatening injury, senior Aubrie Purtell is back and performing better than ever

K. Gallegos