Kaneland Krier Volume 48 Issue 3

KANELAND

KR ER

THE PEOPLE AROUND US Acknowledging the unique people that complete our community

Volume 48 • Issue 3 • Kaneland High School • January 20, 2022

TABLE OF CONTENTS

4 News

20 Photos

8 Sports

14 Advice Letter from the Execs

Over the past two years, we as a society have been working hard to explore, under-

stand and appreciate all kinds of people who have gone through many experiences that are different from our own. While our Kaneland community may not be as diverse as some other schools, there are still many people who are interested in different activities, represent different styles and come from different backgrounds to impact our lives.

January 20, 2022 | Lifestyle

SECOND-HAND SHOPPING AND THRIFTING

BY SAMANTHA DUNNE AND ZOEY POZEN

A Editors

ccording to Axios.com, the second-hand market for clothing sales is growing at 11 times the rate of general retail sales. Business Insider says that about 46% of upper-income teenagers in the U.S. shop at thrift stores, and 58% have sold their clothes to others.

Thrifting has become a popular trend for teens all over the country, and students at Kaneland have gotten involved. They use thrift shopping to help create their style and embrace their personalities.

Sophomore Georgia Harvell describes her style as western. Because she comes from an agricultural background and grew up showing cows, this style comes naturally to her.

“I think that thrifting has helped me to define my style. Western fashion is normally really expensive, so it’s nice to know that I can go to these types of stores and make a western outfit on a budget,” Harvell said.

Having a western style may not be for everyone, but Harvell says that it’s easy to create this look.

“I start with staple pieces like jeans and a black shirt, and then I pair it with a cute sweater or blazer and big turquoise jewelry,” Harvell said.

Junior Avery Ackerman also prefers shopping at thrift stores and feels the

clothes she finds at these places suit her most.

“Thrifted items are just different from the things you find at normal stores. The clothes at thrift stores are usually more worn,” Ackerman said. “[My style is] comfy overall but still cute because I usually try to dress for comfort even if it’s nicer looking clothes.”

Junior Isabella Fleshman explains how thrifting has made it more convenient to expand her style and find what fits her best.

“I think that thrifting definitely opened my eyes to a bunch of different styles and helped me build something that I liked and was comfortable with,” Fleshman said. “When thrifting, I am always on the lookout for statement pieces or some basics to add to my closet.”

Thrifting is something that can be helpful for everyone, and it can also help a person define their style. Fleshman explained that she doesn’t have one way to define her style, and she finds herself shopping for all kinds of pieces to make her feel confident.

The items in thrift stores are sourced by many different kinds of people with diverse kinds of styles. This provides various options for

clothing that may be out of the norm for you. Senior Teagan Andrews has been thrifting since she was in sixth grade and even worked at Plato’s Closet over the summer, so she has a lot of experience, as well as advice, when it comes to shopping at second-hand stores.

“Go ahead and try out new styles.

Don’t be scared to express yourself,” Andrews said.

Senior Sydney Warford also found her style, which she describes as dark academia with a mix of indie, through thrifting. She enjoys shopping at Goodwill, Plato’s Closet and a small shop in Geneva called Deja Vu. Warford was inspired to start thrifting because she wanted to help the environment by not wasting water and other materials.

“To make one pair of pants takes tons of gallons of water, and I wanted to stop buying brand new clothes. The lower prices are just a bonus,” Warford said.

Warford does not just look for clothes while she is roaming around Goodwill. She also takes a look at home decor she can use.

“I find great glassware for my jewelry and fun crafts for myself,” Warford said.

Thrifting is a fun, inexpensive and popular way to purchase clothing.

However, Andrews believes the money-saving aspect is also a reason to avoid overbuying.

“Only buy the things that you really want. You have to remember that thrifting is a source for a lot of impoverished people, and they rely on second-hand stores to get clothes,” Andrews said.

Regardless of your financial status, style or reason for thrifting, second-hand stores can provide an outlet for people to find plenty of unique items and design them however they want, and it can be inspiring while still Photo courtesy of Teagan Andrews coming at a low cost.

Senior Teagan Andrews looks for a second-hand shirt that fits her style at a Salvation Army store. Shopping in thrift stores The opportunities for can seem overwhelming, but if you take your time and search carefully, you can come across something unexpected. creativity are endless.

Page design by Kyra Motyka

Lifestyle

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News | January 20, 2022

NEW AND IMPROVED TECH FOR KANELAND

BY AYSHE ALI

K

Assistant to the Adviser

aneland students and staff members rely on technology to get their work done every day. Whether students are using their Chromebooks for Kahoots or teachers are using their laptops to keep students informed about their daily tasks, everyone benefits from having upto-date technology at their disposal.

Over the summer, District 302 Director of Technology Tim Wolf applied for a federal grant of over 1.5 million dollars to fund new devices for students and teachers, as well as adding WiFi capabilities to all district buses.

“I had this idea that if we got WiFi on buses and students could use their Chromebooks, they could treat it as a

study hall. Let’s say it takes an hour to get to school and an hour to get back; you could get a lot of work done if you could use your Chromebook,” Wolf said.

A router will be installed and tested on one bus before WiFi is installed in all 64 buses. If everything runs smoothly, the buses will be WiFi 6 capable and equipped with 5G routers in hopes that students get the best quality internet that will last as long as possible.

“Many students who have extracurricular activities after school don’t always have the time to do their work at home," freshman Kirsten Johnson said. "The bus would be a great time to get work done.”

In addition to adding WiFi on all bus-

Photo by Ayshe Ali

As we continue to move towards a future where technology usage in schools is growing, Kaneland buses are advancing as well by adding WiFi. Next year, the bus rides to and from school can be productive and helpful times for students with busy schedules.

es, the majority of the grant money is being used to provide students from fourth to twelfth grade with new Chromebooks.

“We’re allowed to get up to 3,100 Chromebooks with the grant, which will cover any of the students that have threeyear-old Chromebooks,” Wolf said. “I applied for touchscreen Chromebooks, and we were approved for that.”

While the grant money does not completely cover the cost of laptops for teachers, it aids in providing them with new devices. Social studies teacher Kelsey Flanagan believes that new laptops will give teachers the chance to work to their full potential.

“With the way that technology advances in general, I’m sure there’s technology with better processors and battery life that will make it a tool for us to use, especially since most of what we do has gone online as opposed to print materials,” Flanagan said.

The grant deadline to purchase the equipment is June 30, 2022. Students, beginning with those in fourth grade, will get their new Chromebooks next school year. And if all goes to plan, district buses will have WiFi capabilities next fall.

2022 WELCOMES A NEW PRINCIPAL TO KHS

BY SOPHIA OPP

A

Co-Editor-in-Chief of Print

fter her 19-year career at Kaneland High School, Principal Jill Maras is set to retire at the end of the 202122 school year. This means KHS will soon be introduced to a new principal for next year. A panel of administrators, teachers and community members have conducted interviews, and according to Assistant Principal Carri Oslager, the final selection is likely to be determined by the end of February at the latest.

“We will go through the process at the beginning of second semester, and we will identify someone so that person can not only come in and be introduced, but they can also work with Maras and other administrators so when they take over officially in July, they will be able to hit the ground running,” Oslager said.

Many people have a voice in this process. Students and staff have been sent surveys, there is an interview team and there are many different steps that are taken before the position is appointed.

“It starts with [Superintendent Dr. Todd Leden], and they filter through people. They get feedback from families, then we sit and talk with them and get input as

4 News

it goes through there,” Oslager said.

Maras is involved with this process as well because she, more than anyone, knows what this job entails and who would be fit for the position.

“District offices ask for my input about the job description and what my recommendations for what we are looking for are, not [recommendations of] specific people. Then I step back and let them go through the process,” Maras said.

Maras will then come back into the process after the new principal has been selected to help ease their transition.

This shift may be difficult, but many people see the positive side. Oslager says a fresh pair of eyes may lead to new ideas or advancements for KHS. Choir teacher Bryan Kunstman thinks as long as our new principal shows strong leadership and communication skills, this will be a smooth transition.

“I do believe a good leader will find a way to work with everyone connected to our school to create a learning environment where everyone is supported and is proud to be a Knight,” Kunstman said.

It is too early to know who the new

principal will be, but regardless, Maras and many other Kaneland staff members and students have high hopes. “[I’m just hoping to see] compassion and genuine care for Kaneland. There is not a right or a wrong,” Maras said.

Photo by Sophia Opp

Starting this July, a new principal will enter current Principal Jill Maras' office and prepare for the 202223 school year. The selection process is ongoing.

Page design by Alan Tapia

January 20, 2022 | News

LEARNING ACADEMY OPENS IN FALL OF 2023

BY NICHOLAS MITCHINSON

D

Co-Editor-in-Chief of Print

istrict 302 has formed a Personalized Learning Steering Committee that includes administrators and teachers of all grades, and it is led

by Personalized Learning Coordinator Laura Garland. One goal of the committee is to implement personalized learning to some degree across all Kaneland schools. The second goal is to create the Personalized Learning Academy for Kaneland students.

The Personalized Learning Academy will be officially launched in the fall of 2023 and include fourth through eighth grade students. The purpose of the academy is to take the ideas and concepts of personalized learning to the deepest level and apply them with a smaller population of students. There will initially be 50 students from fourth and fifth grade and 150 students from sixth through eighth grade. After each year, the grade above the current highest grade will be added until the academy is accommodating twelfth grade students.

Each student will be tasked with learning objectives to guide them, but it will be up to the student to choose their daily schedule and when they want to

work on what. Each student will be assigned to an advisor to support them.

Seventh grade teacher and committee member Kendall Lawson is pleased with the decision to incorporate personalized learning as an additional learning option for Kaneland students.

“When I think about the careers and other opportunities my current students will be competing for after high school, I know we need to be providing different experiences for students,” Lawson said.

“Personalized learning is multi-faceted and has many different components, but to me, it allows for systems and structures to be entirely student-driven with the necessary support. It allows students to create their own path of learning and success.”

A major emphasis of personalized learning is letting the students have a voice in what they want to learn. Kaneland Harter Middle School Instructional Coach and committee member Charri Trembley is an active supporter of students having more choice in their learning.

“This integration of active student voice is really difficult to reach in the confines of a 43-minute period. But what if

you didn’t have that as a limiting factor?

What if you wanted to complete your science standard in one day? To be able to immerse yourself in the information, lab and results all naturally flowing from one to the next…that’s powerful learning,” Trembley said.

Students receiving more freedom and being given the responsibility to decide when and how they want to learn can lead to skepticism from some. Garland believes that a common misunderstanding of personalized learning is that the students are left by themselves to do everything and therefore end up struggling or not achieving enough.

“Initially there is going to be a significant period of time where we teach [students] how this works, and then we start to release responsibility where they can have more say over what they learn and how they learn and the other ways in which they learn things,” Garland said.

“What will be consistent is that they all still have to learn the same standards that all students do, but how they do that and the pace at which they do that and how they show mastery will all be a little different.”

place right after second period for 30 minutes. This time will allow students to participate in different activities as well as to get work done. The only day that won’t have a homeroom period is Wednesday, which will remain the current Wednesday schedule.

“There will be some days dedicated to students getting help from teachers and having time to reassess. Some days will be used to help address topics that are important to students and grade level activities. There will be some fun activities thrown in,” McNally said.

Assistant Principal Kristin Faber, the head of the Homeroom Committee, has been working on this plan for several years. The committee has gathered data through student surveys to figure out the best plan to benefit students.

“Students feeling connected to the school is an important indicator of long term success,” Faber said.

Students will not only have the same homeroom teacher throughout high school, but the committee wants to keep the same group of students together as well.

“I think having a homeroom is a great way of making friends,” freshman Ashley Zwick said. “If you are new to the school, it allows you to form a connection with students that you might not have gotten to know otherwise.”

The Homeroom Committee is still working on finalizing the details of the plan, however they are optimistic about what homeroom can provide for all students at Kaneland.

“I hope students view homeroom as another way that KHS cares about them,” Faber said. “And that they learn more about themselves through the four years of homeroom activities.”

HOMEROOM PERIODS STARTING NEXT YEAR

BY AYSHE ALI

K

Assistant to the Adviser

aneland High School strives to create an environment that provides students with any help they need inside and outside the classroom. Administrators are constantly thinking of new ways to offer resources to benefit students, and next school year every student at KHS will be getting a homeroom period.

Homeroom is designed to offer all students in the building an opportunity to form connections with their peers and a staff member. Every student will have one homeroom teacher throughout all four years of high school.

“The purpose of homeroom is to give every student a chance to have a teacher in the building that they are going to have and get to know over the course of four years,” social studies teacher Jessica McNally said. “This will give students an advocate in the building that really knows them.”

The bell schedule will change from eight periods to nine, and each period besides homeroom will be 45 minutes.

STEP will no longer exist with the addition of homeroom. Homeroom will take

Page design by Casey Walters

Photo by Anna Olp

The Homeroom Committee meets in room C110 to discuss plans for next year. Assistant Principal Kristin Faber leads this committee.

News

5

Voices | January 20, 2022

IF YOU COULD SWITCH PLACES WITH SOMEONE

“Someone who inspires me a lot would be a TikToker whose name is Nayelly Zamora. She’s very talented because she creates nail videos, and I admire her work so much.”

Sandra Garcia (Senior)

FOR ONE DAY, WHO WOULD IT BE?

“My cousin Madelyn Bogathy inspires me the most. I’d want to live through her eyes for a day because she’s a special effects makeup artist, and she’s involved in the production of a bunch of movies. It would be really cool if I could experience that too.”

Brenna Miller (Junior)

6 Voices

Page design by Samantha Dunne

January 20, 2022 | Voices

“I’ve looked up to Simone Biles for so long, and I’d love to see what her average day would be like. She is also physically capable of so much, so it would be amazing to experience her strength.”

Ethan Yost (Junior)

“My dad inspires me the most in my life because he’s a well driller, and it would be really interesting to be one because he comes home from his job with fun stories all the time.”

Madeline Kerry (Junior) Page design by Samantha Dunne

“I’d switch lives with my twin brother because I would want to experience the emotions he goes through each day. I would be curious to see who he is in his friend group and how a guy’s daily life differs from a girl’s.”

Sophie Thill (Freshman)

“I’d switch lives with Sebastian Vettel for a day because he’s a great role model. His lifestyle is amazing because he’s a racer in the Formula One Divison.”

Cody Ganzon (Senior)

Voices

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Sports | January 20, 2022

BASKETBALL PROGRAM RETURNS TO COURT

BY BRADEN BABKA

T

Editor

here is nothing quite like lacing up sneakers, putting on the uniform, walking on to the gym floor and hearing the excitement from the fans.

Kaneland basketball players were thrilled to get back to what they love doing, and fans have shared the same enthusiasm about being able to come back this season to watch and enjoy the 2021-22 version of the Knights boys varsity basketball team.

The boys started their practices on Monday, Nov. 8, but they had been encouraged to do offseason lifting, conditioning and skill development throughout the summer and fall. Their practices are held in one of the four gyms between the high school and the neighboring Meredith building, and here the players do many different things to work on all areas of their performance.

“After stretching we usually start a practice with some simple shooting drills,” junior Austin Lilly said. “After that we might do some passing, practice our offense or do some defensive drills. We usually end practice with some sort of scrimmaging against ourselves.”

Just like varsity players, freshmen athletes also have a specific practice routine.

“Early on in practice, we do a lot of shooting. The goal is a minimum of 150 shots per player, per day, as well as some other full-court drills,” freshman basketball coach Michael Cimino said.

Players are also expected to continue their practice on days they are off to stay in shape and to keep improving.

“The expectation is that players will

Photo by Braden Babka

Sophomore Troyer Carlson shoots over a Rochelle defender. Carlson finished with 29 points against the Hubs.

8 Sports

Photo by Braden Babka

Senior Jacob Harrison attempts to finish at the rim during a Dec. 3 game against the Hubs. The Knights lost by a score of 74-69.

do what they can in their free time to continue to work on the skills we discuss at practice. In other words, we hope that, even on off days, the players grab a ball and get some work in, either at home or at the local gym,” Cimino said.

After two weeks of pre-season training, the varsity team was ready for their first game at Woodstock High School’s annual Hoops for Healing tournament.

The season officially started on Nov. 22, with Kaneland defeating Marian Central Catholic by a score of 72-64. The Knights went on to defeat Woodstock North before losing to Hoffman Estates in the championship. Coaches and members of the team have high hopes and standards for the remainder of the season.

“My hopes for this season are to win at least 20 games because I think I remember [head varsity coach Ernie Colombe] saying that only nine Kaneland basketball teams have won that many in the last 50 years,” Lilly said.

Sophomore players have similarly high expectations for their season.

“Our hopes are to win conference and to play the best we can,” sophomore Zachary Ramos said.

Freshmen players are hoping for success so they can go on to play at the higher level in the future.

“My hopes for this season are for the players to improve their skills and become assets to the program in the future,” Cimino said. “[Also] for the players to continue to develop into well-rounded young men and, most importantly, for the players to have fun.”

Bringing these goals to reality will require teamwork and strategy, and the boys basketball program knows how to do just that.

“We are absolutely focused on the whole team rather than the individual. As the freshman basketball coach, it’s of utmost importance that I set this standard for the players right away, so they know what to expect throughout the remainder of their time in this program,” Cimino said.

On the varsity level, the coaches use many strategies to give their players the best chance for success on the court.

“We are a program that focuses on motion offense and man-to-man defense,” Colombe said. “Our strategies also are specific game to game based on our opponent and what they run. We try to take away some of the strengths of our opponents each game. In a team sport, we focus on the team while trying to utilize the strengths of each individual.”

As fun as competing against other teams can be, players also make many memories with their teammates throughout the season, and seniors who have been with the program for four years have a lot to look back on.

“My favorite memory of high school basketball is during my sophomore year when we beat Morris at home to win second in our conference,” senior Aidan Pawlak said.

Some of the athletes’ favorite memories don’t involve winning an important game but something they found particularly funny or entertaining.

“My favorite memory from basketball was last year when [my teammate] got a technical foul for pointing that we had the ball,” Ramos said.

With the popularity of the sport at Kaneland seemingly growing each year, Colombe is aware of the benefits of more interested players and has a sense of what it takes to ultimately see the program succeed.

“Our plan is to continue to grow the program. Our numbers have been excellent, and more and more students are trying out each season,” Colombe said. “We want to be one of the best programs in the area and in Class 3A. In order to do that, we have to do a lot of work in the offseason.”

The Knights will next take the court at LaSalle-Peru on Saturday, Jan. 22, followed by their next home game against Ottawa on Friday, Jan. 28.

Page design by Braden Babka

January 20, 2022 | Sports

THE INFLUENCE OF KANELAND’S COACHES

BY NICHOLAS MITCHINSON

C

Co-Editor-in-Chief of Print

oaches of various sports can have drastic effects on their players’ struggles and successes. Games may be altered based on coaching decisions, for example, but their players’ current and future mindsets beyond the game can also be impacted. A coach will forever be one of the greatest influences on the student-athletes they work with.

Coaches who work hard on all aspects of their sport, from physical improvement to mental toughness to keeping the sport enjoyable, are very important in keeping the players engaged and motivated to continue growing in the games they love. Sophomore basketball and baseball player Parker Violett believes having fun is just as important as putting in the hard work because when both of those things occur, it becomes more likely that a player will enjoy the process a lot more.

“I like coaches that know how to let us have fun,” Violett said. “Finding a balance between fun and hard work is important.”

Coaches also understand the importance of allowing their athletes to have fun while maintaining their various coaching responsibilities. Having fun while playing or practicing a sport can lead to a greater amount of effort from the athletes, which also leads to a greater likelihood of individual and collective improvement. Kaneland sophomore girls basketball head coach Jenna Thorp realizes that to get the most out of her athletes, she must make sure they are also enjoying the game.

“If [the athletes] do not have fun doing what they are doing, I think they are not going to give you full effort, and without full effort you will not get that complete team chemistry you want to be successful,” Thorp said. “Whether we are doing a drill in practice or scrimmaging, I think it is important to have a good balance between fun and still learning and improving.”

As a coach, being a role model for your student-athletes is extremely important and allows a coach to create a positive culture. As a result, their athletes will enjoy themselves more. Kaneland head wrestling coach Kenneth Paoli is aware of how being a good role model will help him and other coaches succeed along with their athletes. Beyond success in a sport, a coach has the ability to develop their athletes most significantly by helping them become a better person.

“Coaches can push athletes to quit or distance themselves from the sport if

Page design by Braden Babka

Photo courtesy of David Rohlman

Head varsity girls basketball coach Kelsey Flanagan addresses her team during a timeout. Basketball is a sport that involves a lot of effort, preparation and attention to detail from those who coach it.

they are too hard on them. Coaches need to find a balance between building relationships with athletes and correcting them. If all they do is correct and are too hard on the athletes, they will lose them.

I think it is more important for a coach to be a good role model than to know a lot about the sport,” Paoli said. “Without a good role model as a coach, you may have a good program competitively, but the team culture may be toxic and you will likely not be developing character in your athletes.”

Paoli applies this philosophy to the wrestling program at Kaneland and is confident that his athletes become better people and appreciate the community and atmosphere the team has developed. “[I try to develop] character and make better men and women out of my athletes

Photo courtesy of Kaneland Knights Wrestling

Kaneland wrestlers surround head coach Kenneth Paoli at the conclusion of one of their practices. Paoli has tried to create a family environment.

while creating a sense of community in our program. I’d like to think that each athlete leaves our program better than when they came in. Not every athlete buys into the culture of the program, though,” Paoli said. “I think all of my athletes feel a sense of belonging in the program, as one of our core values is family.”

The ability to comfortably interact with coaches can develop a stronger connection between players and those who lead them, which can ultimately lead to improvement of skills, confidence and in-game performance. This is all done through coaches taking the time and putting in the effort to build positive relationships with their athletes.

“Building relationships with each wrestler is the number one strategy I use to develop character and create a sense of community in the program. I do not think character development or creating a sense of community can be done without building relationships,” Paoli said.

Athletes greatly appreciate when their coach takes the time to develop a personal relationship with them because it shows they truly care. Senior soccer player Audrey Salamon is an example of an athlete who enjoys when a coach tries to make a personal connection with her.

“I do believe it is important for coaches to build relationships with their athletes so the athletes feel like they make an impact on the team. My coach was the reason I believed in myself,” Salamon said.

A coach’s impact on the mental and physical health of their athletes can be life altering; coaches can influence the biggest changes in a young athlete’s mindset and goals throughout their sports journey.

Sports

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Feature | January 20, 2022

KHS TEACHERS DEAL WITH A DIFFICULT YEAR

BY PAIGE WHITESIDE

I

Editor

t is a well-known fact that school can cause a lot of stress in someone’s life.

Between due dates, heavy homework loads and personal drama, high school can be a tricky place to navigate. However, students are not the only ones who face a lot of stress during the school year.

Teachers also have to deal with certain challenges in a school environment, especially in recent years. The shifting circumstances due to the pandemic have created heightened challenges for teachers, and although students have struggled as well, turning the spotlight onto Photo by Paige Whiteside some of the difficulties that teachers have New Kaneland English teacher had to deal with is also important.

Throughout the 2021-22 school year, Luc Al-Sakhria helps freshman Charles Capes with an essay. there have been many changes and new challenges to deal with. With this year be- in the school. Finding new ing completely in person with a five-day ways to teach can be difschool week versus last year’s hybrid and ficult, but it gives teachers even fully remote schedules, the return to learning experiences of semi-normalcy has challenged teachers their own. Modifying cerand students alike with settling back into tain activities and altering a more typical school environment. Aside them to be safer for the from the pandemic, teachers deal with students and faculty alike their own issues in relation to their teach- gives teachers new opporing careers. Figuring out how to provide tunities to test themselves in a classroom the best tools and apply the most use- environment, sparking creativity. ful tactics for teaching students can be Physical education teachers have also tricky, especially when considering how faced similar challenges with accommoeach student learns best. Working hard dating changes in the school setting. For to teach the necessary skills to a class a class so dependent on physical activity, while also attempting to create strong wearing masks while exercising can be difbonds with groups of students who have ficult for students and hard for teachers to unique social-emotional needs takes a lot enforce. P.E. teacher Jill Carpenter, though, of hard work. In the is handling her classend, it is worth it to es by running things I am going to try to be an optimist, teachers who are as close as possible to though, and I am hoping that we can passionate about how she ran them in quickly return to having a sense of their careers. previous years while what we considered normal in the Choir teachtrying to make sure past. er Deanna Cates everyone is still stay-Choir teacher Deanna Cates agrees with the ing safe. idea that this year “Honestly, I have has been difficult been running my so far, however she is still managing to classes pretty normally, although it has stay positive by continuing to connect been difficult for some of my classes to with her students and teach her classes transition back indoors. The masks do as normally as possible. make things a bit uncomfortable, but most “Music is such a personal experi- of my students have had a really good attience, and having to wear masks can be a tude about this, trying to not let this bother challenge when directors cannot see stu- them,” Carpenter said. dents’ expressions or their faces as they Changes resulting from the pandemic sing. This definitely makes teaching more have called for the rethinking of teachers’ difficult,” Cates said. “I am going to try plans, but these are not the only challengto be an optimist, though, and I am hop- es that teachers must overcome. While ing that we can quickly return to having dealing with COVID-19 is a tough task, a sense of what we considered normal in solving other problems and learning new the past.” ways of teaching are things that happen in Teachers like Cates have had to adapt a typical school environment as well. to new ways of teaching due to changes Just like teachers who have been

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10 Feature

Photos by Paige Whiteside

(Top) Choir teacher Deanna Cates teaches junior Nicholas Johnson a song on the piano.

(Bottom) P.E. teacher Jill Carpenter teaches junior Isabella Fleshman how to play tchoukball.

teaching for multiple years, first-year teachers have to work hard to form bonds with their students and teach in the most effective way possible. However, since first-year teachers are new to the school, they have to work extra hard to establish the type of learning environment that will work best for them and their students.

English teacher Luc Al-Sakhria, a new teacher at Kaneland this year, feels that his year is going well as he adjusts to a new environment.

“I have enjoyed the school year so far. There have definitely been some challenges, though, such as getting used to procedures at Kaneland versus the rules where I previously taught,” AlSakhria said. “At the end of the day, I have formed some great relationships with my students, and really, that’s why I do what I do.”

Teachers put in a lot of hard work to simultaneously improve their students’ learning experiences and improve their own teaching abilities. Students have their own issues that they have to deal with, and they can often fail to see the work that teachers do for their benefit.

Appreciating teachers and being respectful and understanding of their time is key to becoming a better student yourself.

Page design by Zoey Pozen

January 20, 2022 | Feature

CULTURAL APPROPRIATION V. APPRECIATION

BY ALAN TAPIA

I

Editor

n this day and age, more and more people are opening up and experiencing different cultures around their communities and places of gathering. Ranging from our neighbors down south to our neighbors across the pond, today’s world is more accessible than ever before. But in a society where it is expected to come across many different cultures in many different types of communities, where do acts of cultural appreciation end and cultural appropriation begin? While many people seem to understand the boundaries on such a topic, it’s not uncommon to commit the occasional mistake. It is necessary to be able to understand these boundaries to be mindful of yourself and others. People of all generations, beliefs and backgrounds can learn more about this issue so that all of us can grow from past mistakes and not make them again.

APPROPRIATION

Unlike the act of appreciation, appropriation is a negative term used to describe the act of inappropriately taking an idea or item from another culture without understanding what it is or where it came from.

“Cultural appropriation is more like taking something from another culture and using it to represent something that it wouldn’t necessarily represent in that culture and then using it for your purposes or your design,” social studies teacher Jessica McNally said. “Maybe even to the point of giving it a new meaning that it doesn’t [actually] mean.”

Appropriation can be very offensive towards those who are targeted. This is often seen in stereotypes or myths presented as insults and beliefs against cultural groups. Senior Archita Joshi, a Hindu, has also experienced this behavior.

“I’ve seen people do Bollywood dances but kind of mocking it, and that gets offensive because I know you’re not respecting the culture. I take pride in who I am and where my parents came from, where I come from, so seeing people mock my culture hurts me,” Joshi said.

If one hopes to know how not to appropriate someone’s culture, education is an important first step in doing so. If you feel that you are unsure of someone or something’s cultural significance, there are many things you can do. Asking questions and researching are ways you can help yourself understand and

Page design by Kevin Sigrist

APPRECIATION

Let’s start with what exactly cultural appreciation is. Cultural appreciation is understanding and respecting another culture to broaden one’s horizons and knowledge of the world. Spanish teacher Michelle Jurcenko tries to pass on her appreciation for Spanish culture to her students.

“Appreciation is when you take something from another culture and use it as part of your daily life, knowing where that item came from and giving appreciation to it,” Jurcenko said. “But also giving credit where credit is due and understanding why you’re doing what you’re doing and not just taking it from another culture, using it as your own.”

One of the reasons why this is important is to be able to properly connect with others who may come from different cultures and backgrounds than your own. This might involve learning a new language, visiting culturally rich areas

Photo courtesy of Archita Joshi

Senior Archita Joshi wears a half saree, which is a mix of two diferent styles of clothing, a saree and a lehenga. She attended a Christian-Hindu wedding.

empathize with others.

Beyond understanding the boundaries of your knowledge, it is important to know where such negative beliefs came from. Lots of problems and misunderstandings came from times of conflict and strife. Things like war, cultural differences and religious and ideological guidelines can cause fear towards others and contribute to appropriation.

“That fear I feel could certainly be subdued if people just talked, asked questions or tried to understand. I do feel like what we’re seeing right now comes from this fear that fuels this hatred and creates people to have some sort of outlet for that,” McNally said.

Photo by Anna Olp

Spanish teacher Heather Spaetzel features a variety of Mexican, Spanish and Barcelonian plates in her classroom. Featuring these plates allows her students to appreciate the culture of these countries.

and befriending individuals from different backgrounds. Rather than cherry-picking different cultures for their cuisines or popular pastimes and traditions, those who appreciate them go to the lengths of learning about their history, mannerisms and lesser known customs. Whereas someone may go to a culturally significant site to learn and grow in their understanding, someone who may be insensitive may only be there to take pictures and post them online for clout.

It’s easier than one may think to appreciate rather than appropriate. It all comes down to honesty and earnest intention. If you feel as though you want to understand the culture of those around you, simply ask. Asking questions and obtaining accurate knowledge helps in understanding culture. Cultural diversity is part of our everyday lives, and as such, we should embrace opportunities to appreciate cultures we don’t understand. If you’re a student, you might have a language class where you learn about the culture. Jurcenko uses cultural appreciation in her day-to-day life and especially loves teaching her classes about different celebrations. ‘’In the classroom, teaching kids where stuff came from around the holidays and teaching about how in other countries, especially the Hispanic countries, they celebrate some of the same holidays we do while also celebrating their holidays,” Jurcenko said. “For example, el Dia de Los Muertos, we don’t necessarily celebrate it here, but it’s heavily [celebrated] in Hispanic countries, so we see a lot of the artifacts of Dia de Los Muertos in our stores and decorations. [I enjoy] teaching them not only about those traditions but where the root of those came from to actually appreciate the culture whose holiday it is celebrating.”

Feature

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Centerspread | January 20, 2022

HIGHLIGHTING THE PEOPLE OF KANELAND

BY KEVIN SIGRIST

S

Editor

tudent communities are found in every school and work as a way for students to build camaraderie and relationships during their time there. There are many different kinds of communities here at Kaneland, but they are more similar than they appear.

BAND

The band, when viewed as a community, is a very welcoming group. It is a relatively large time commitment, but it is full of people who are passionate about what they do, making it a unique environment within the school.

“Student communities are really important because they help students who are new to the school or don’t have a lot of friends find people who share similar interests,” junior and trombone section leader Matt Manugas said. “For my situation, band has become a great part of my life. I have met a lot of great people through it and found a hobby along with it.”

As band is both an extracurricular activity and a class, members participate in a wide range of activities and spend a lot of time together throughout the year.

Manugas has had quite the range of interactions within the band community.

“We spend a lot of time together, so we build a lot of relationships both inside and outside of the band, and it becomes a very tight knit community,” Manugas explained.

He elaborated on how a strong sense of community is formed through everyone helping each other and committing to improvement over the course of the year.

“I was a section leader this year, and I love to see how my section improved a lot, from not really knowing how to march or play properly, to seeing them improve and really play to the best of their ability,” Cartoon by Dane Coyne Manugas said.

12 Centerspread

Photo by Kevin Sigrist

Kaneland students play in a chess match at McHenry High School. The Kaneland chess team competed against McHenry, Harvard and Huntley High Schools in this chess tournament on Dec. 7.

ACADEMICS

Student communities built with academics as the primary focus are unique to other communities in that they are not necessarily formed through a common interest, but common challenges to overcome.

As a student who has taken several Advanced Placement (AP) classes, junior Paige Sparber has had some experience with these challenges.

“I have friends who aren’t in AP classes, and they don’t completely know what is going on,” Sparber said. “Having relationships with those in my classes allows me to learn of certain people who are good at certain things, and as a team, we work together to help each other.”

Not only do these students understand each other and form relationships, but they help each other in their classes.

“We have group chats for some classes where we’ll share Quizlets and other studying things. Everyone is trying to help each other,” Sparber said.

While sharing a class does not make students immediate friends, they are able to find people who are similar to them and develop bonds that last “There’s a type of person who would take the AP classes, so a lot of times, people have similar personalities, so even if I don’t talk to my peers much outside of the classes, I don’t talk to them solely because we are in the same class,” Sparber said.

ATHLETICS

Athletics create some of the strongest student communities at Kaneland due to the highly competitive aspect of sports alongside the need to physically improve. On top of this competitive nature, student-athletes must help each other succeed or they will fail as a team.

“In the sports teams I’ve been on, it’s interesting how everyone has gotten along really quickly because it’s a small group of girls, and we are all going through the same experience of difficult sports,” sophomore Abigail Fitts said.

In addition to cross country in the fall, Fitts plays soccer in the spring. Because of these commitments, sports are a large part of her life.

“I’ve met all sorts of people through sports. I’ve reconnected with old people as well, especially with people from soccer teams I haven’t played with in many years. Also, sports are something that you go to or do every day, so it becomes a major part of your life,” Fitts added.

While people may begin playing a sport simply because it’s fun, a lot of the time, they decide to stick around because of the peers they are surrounded by.

“The end result of a meet or game is extremely rewarding because it makes you realize how connected everybody is, which is why while athletics and fitness are obviously a part of why I do sports, if I didn’t like the people around me, I wouldn’t do it,” Fitts said.

Photo courtesy of Amanda Medrich

The girls cross country team gathers after their regional competition at Kaneland High School on Oct. 3, 2021. Highly competitve races and consistent practices are reasons why this community is so connected.

Page design by Ashley Vanderhoff

ART

Photo courtesy of Rachel Giles

The cast of the 2021 fall play, The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940, stand together on opening night. This year’s spring musical will be Cinderella.

THEATER

Theater is a great community at Kaneland. Rather than competing on a field or court, this group must develop their acting skills for a live audience.

Knowing each other and building a sense of community is not only socially beneficial for those in theater, but it is also very important for the sake of a performance.

“School community is built through everyone helping each other over a shared obstacle. Doing the same thing of trying to adapt to how you’re going to play a character in a scene really brings people together because it’s a shared goal amongst the cast,” sophomore and fall play cast member Jackson Guidry said.

For Guidry, who has been in choir and theater since early middle school, theater has become a very important part of his life and has significantly helped him meet new people.

“Being in theater and choir has definitely impacted my life in the way that I interact with people and the amount of friends I have because of the community that formed,” Guidry said.

The community not only helped Guidry meet new people, but it also helped him become more outgoing and friendly, as those characteristics are needed to put on a good theater performance.

“I used to be so nervous and shy about singing and acting. I would never want to do it in front of people, but I’ve grown so much since middle school to now,” Guidry said. “I’m more confident in so many ways just because of being able to perform and having that group of people that I’m comfortable with and expanding it to an entire audience.”

Page design by Ashley Vanderhoff

Photo courtesy of Brooke Heinsohn

Junior Ethan Volkening rides a tractor at the Homecoming parade in Maple Park. Volkening pulled his fellow club members along the parade route.

FFA

The FFA community is a very strong and welcoming one. Covering a variety of job fields and activities like animal science, soil judging, public speaking, farming and more, they appeal to a lot of different people and personalities. Junior Ethan Volkening discussed the impact of FFA on his life.

“Being in FFA has changed my life for the better. I have been able to serve as an officer of the team, and I’ve been able to meet new people, have new relationships and build myself as a person, and that has just been really great. It’s an experience that everyone should have,” Volkening said.

FFA members and officers have many opportunities to bond as a community.

“One of my favorite memories of FFA is when we did our officer retreat last year, which is a great time when I get to bond with my fellow officers,” Volkening said.

“We also do a whole bunch of events that we do with the whole FFA chapter that everyone’s allowed to be a part of, and those are a lot of fun as well.”

FFA members meet almost every day, whether it is for practice, competitions, general meetings or fun activities. While the outside perception may be that FFA is only for farmers, there is a place for everyone.

Despite his experience in FFA and passion for agriculture, Volkening does not believe that to be the biggest takeaway.

“In the future, the thing I will remember the most about FFA is the relationships I built with people. They will go on past my time in high school, and without FFA, that wouldn’t have happened in the first place,” Volkening said.

January 20, 2022 | Centerspread

The community of students that make art is unique to the other types of communities at Kaneland. Rather than a focus on team bonding, it is very individualistic.

Senior Mason Rogers has created art for a very long time, and he has had plenty of experience with others in the art community.

“Art is unique in that it is different for everyone who experiences it. There are a lot of patterns and consistencies in the other types of communities, and they all have things in common, but I think art really comes down to each individual and the places their art takes them,” Rogers said.

Rather than art being about bonding with others, it’s a way for people to express themselves and show that expression to others who understand them.

“I struggle with verbalizing thoughts and feelings inside of my head, and sometimes the only way that I can get a point across is through visual representation,” Rogers said. “It is interesting because while I’m trying to get a point across in my head, it’s up to the interpretation of whoever sees it.”

There are many different ways that people can express themselves through art. Rogers has his own way as well.

“I love to show colors all over the place, even when they don’t make sense.

Colors are extremely important in expressing what you’re feeling, as well as the lack of color,” Rogers said.

While art is not like other communities where people are constantly helping each other and have to act like a team, it is a very important one that allows students to express themselves in a variety of unique ways.

Senior Mason ety of artistic trait. He uses teresting way

Photo courtesy of Mason Rogers

Rogers enjoys creating a variworks, including this self porvery diverse colors in an into express himself artistically.

Centerspread

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Advice | January 20, 2022

IMPROVING YOUR INTERIOR DESIGN SKILLS

BY KYRA MOTYKA

B

Editor

eing a young adult living in your parents’ home as you develop into your own person is challenging. An effective way to stay independent and have time alone is personalizing your room. As we all get older, our rooms should mature with us, especially if it’s the room we grew up in.

Senior Kaitlyn Luetgert said fully refurnishing a room to your liking could cost a few thousand dollars, but simply redecorating would only be about 10 percent of that price.

“To fully redecorate without buying new furniture would only cost 200 to 300 dollars,” Luetgert said.

Senior Emma Obremski agreed that you could fully redecorate your room for under $500.

“A full revamp would be between 1,000 and 2,000 dollars, depending on if you get everything brand new, or if it’s hand-me-downs or whatever, but I’d say that just for decorating, it’d be closer to like 300 or 500 dollars,” Obremski said.

Both girls said going out and buying decorations can be easy as long as you know what you want.

“Target, especially for fake plants, Yankee Candle because candles are room decor, Amazon, especially for lights like LEDs or fairy lights, are all good places to shop for interior decorations,” Luetgert said. “Even just opening candles without lighting them produces a scent throw that will create a smell and ambiance in the room.”

Obremski’s favorite places can all be found locally on Randall Rd. “I really like that At Home place or Marshalls, places that are discounted. I like to keep the price down. I got my comforter at Bed Bath & Beyond,” Obremski said. “My bed is my favorite thing in my room. The comforter and pillows are Ugg, and all of it is so soft, and I love it. I have

a fuzzy blanket underneath; it’s so cozy, and it’s all topped with pretty sheets.”

Luetgert’s favorite room decoration is a homemade collage-wall that includes miscellaneous photos that all fall into one aesthetic.

“I have a collage-wall that has a bunch of pictures and also has some 3D items, and it’s all black and white. Some of the stuff on my other walls is DIY, and I have glass bottles with lights inside of them hanging,” Luetgert said.

Obremski also made some of her own things. She put together the majority of her furniture.

“I built my nightstand, a cubicle thing and my desk, and I DIY’d two woven baskets. I put them upside down on the floor and put my mirror on top of it. It really heightens the mirror and finishes the look,” Obremski said.

Finishing touches, such as Obrems-

ki’s mirror, aid in the process of cultivating a theme or unique look for your room. Luetgert uses lighting to create her ambiance.

“I try to do light colors and minimalist as my theme, and the vibe of my room is relaxing, or it can be productive. It all depends on the windows and lighting,” Luetgert said.

Many teenage girls tend to follow a minimalistic design. Obremski’s vibe is very similar to Luetgert’s.

“My theme is pink, orange and a rusty red. [It’s] definitely boho, minimalistic and clean. The vibe of my room is comforting and safe. It’s all very simple and relaxed,” Obremski said.

While the girls have different rooms and different themes, the overall vibe is very much the same. Personalizing your room should be a liberating form of self-expression.

HOW TO DIY A HANGING SHELF

BY KAMRON SCHOLL

Sophomore Kamron Scholl said his DIY decor of choice would be a hanging shelf. According to Scholl’s plan of action, this DIY could be completed in eight steps.

1. Get a wood plank that is a size of your choice from somewhere like Menards.

2. Sand it so you won’t get splinters.

3. Measure four holes (two to a side) that are an even distance from each end (using a measuring tape), and mark the designated spots.

4. Drill the holes.

5. Buy thin rope from somewhere like Hobby Lobby.

6. Put two ropes through the holes.

7. Tie the ropes at the bottom.

8. Hang the shelf on a wall.

Photos courtesy of Emma Obremski and Kaitlyn Luetgert

Senior Emma Obremski’s room (two leftmost photos) follows a boho and minimalistic theme. Her room has warm colors and light shades. Senior Kaitlyn Luetgert’s room (two rightmost photos) follows cool colors and is decorated with pops of black and white.

14 Advice

Page design by Paige Whiteside

January 20, 2022 | Editorial

Kaneland High School 47W326 Keslinger Rd. Maple Park, IL 60151 (630) 365-5100 www.kanelandkrier.com

Cartoon by Dane Coyne

Cartoon by Anna Olp

Kaneland High School has a total of 1,375 students this year, and we come from nine different communities. Rather than sticking to the same social groups we came into high school with, we should embrace the opportunity to meet and learn from other people while we’re here.

BROADENING SOCIAL CIRCLES

F

or as long as most of us can remember, we’ve been watching cheesy high school flicks and hearing stories of the social hierarchy that is embedded into high school. Most of us have probably also experienced this firsthand.

While we all know of the existence of these cliques, we don’t often question their purpose. Why do we have different social groups, and why is it nearly impossible to blend them?

Humans are made to form groups. Finding similarities and creating connections play a key role in our well-being. This is nothing new; the idea of social groups dates back to thousands of years ago when humans had not even fully evolved yet. While it may not be obvious, our livelihood and sanity depends on being a part of social groups. Even so, our perception of them may be skewed in that some of us become so dependent on our tight knit cliques that we judge those not in our inner circle.

Many high school students become confined to these groups, which are typically solely based on common interests.

For example, band students are friends with band students, football players are friends with football players and so on.

Other times, friendships can be based on things like common culture, where we grew up or academic classes. Especially in high school, the only time students will talk to those who aren’t considered to be a part of their social group is when they’re forced to do so. However, we don’t limit our social interactions because we are rude, small-minded or pretentious. It’s human nature for us to find natural comfort with those who are like us. While sticking with people who are similar to you is a great way to make friends, it’s not

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Page design by Sophia Opp

the only way. If we can move out of that comfort zone, great things can happen.

One of the most evident benefits to breaking this conformity is seeing life from a different point of view. Whether the topic is political views, religious beliefs or even trivial opinions, talking to new people will open your eyes to many things. The same thing can be said about athletics, clubs and classes. For example, speaking to someone who is into literature may make you realize you love to write, and seeing someone who is successful in a sport may push you to try out for something new.

As we age, more of us get jobs, join sports or clubs and are put in many situations where we can’t choose whom we are surrounded by. These conditions tend to be anxiety inducing because they lead to very unfamiliar feelings. But if we are able to put those feelings aside and embrace the situation, we’ll learn that there is nothing to fear. We’re all the same, in that everyone is just looking for a connection. But being different is what makes those connections interesting.

Once you move on from this cliche idea of having to fit into just one group, you can connect with people on a real, deeper level, and not only have friendships based on similarities. The more you do this, the easier it will become.

Sticking to cliques is something we must leave in the past; it’s a part of middle school and high school culture that we should be quick to shed, especially as it could lead to immature tendencies like judging others. Becoming an adult and growing up means opening your mind, broadening your horizons, understanding those who hold different values than you and getting to know new people.

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Member of IJEA, Quill & Scroll, NSPA, NISPA IHSA State Finalists 2013-2021 IWPA Silver Pen 2017 NISPA Golden Eagle 2017 IJEA First Place for Krier Online 2021 IJEA First Place for Best Hybrid Publication 2021 IJEA First Place for Best Overall Publication 2021 Subscription rates: Five issues, three supplements School-delivered, $15; Home-delivered, $25 EXECUTIVE STAFF Sophia Opp Co-Editor-in-Chief of Print Madeleine Little Editor-in-Chief of Web

Nicholas Mitchinson Co-Editor-in-Chief of Print & Sports/Activities Executive Sarah Janito Production Executive

Anna Olp Design Executive & Photography Executive Gabrielle Parker Ad/Business Executive

MANAGING EDITOR STAFF Casey Walters Technology Manager

Ayshe Ali Assistant to the Advisor

Karmyn Hookham Social Media Manager

EDITORIAL STAFF Lifestyle Kyra Motyka Voices Samantha Dunne

News 1 Alan Tapia

Sports Braden Babka

News 2 Casey Walters

Feature 1 Zoey Pozen

Feature 2 Kevin Sigrist

Centerspread Ashley Vanderhoff

Advice Paige Whiteside

Editorial Sophia Opp

Opinion 1 Sarah Janito

Opinion 2 Sarah Janito

Profile Anna Olp

Photos Madison Kleivo

Advertisements Gabrielle Parker

STAFF

Taylor Anello, Ashlyn Becker, Lilliana Bobe, Ethan Bollhoffer, Delaney Calabrese, Lyla Christakes, Dane Coyne, Chloe Crewse, Arianna Failor, Kira Helm, Tiffany Johnson, Rafika Khan, Jackson Kottmeyer, Elliot Krippelz, Alexander McLean, Abbey Mondi, Cameron Neis, Katherine Pfotenhauer, Sophie Ponce de Leon, Angelina Provenzano, Sarah Schimmel, Mikalah Seward, Elizabeth Sidman, Jordan Theis, Andrew Valentini, Kisella Valignota, Sofia Williams Cartoonists Lilliana Bobe, Dane Coyne and Anna Olp

Print Production

Lauryn Moneta

Bradley Vohs

ADVISORS Dominic Bruno Krier advisor

Eli Jeppesen

Nicole Larsen Print advisor

EDITORIAL POLICY

Editorials represent a majority opinion of the Editorial Board and are not necessarily the opinion of Kaneland administration, staff, students or parents. The Krier Editorial Board consists of designated Advanced Journalism students: Ayshe Ali, Braden Babka, Samantha Dunne, Karmyn Hookham, Sarah Janito, Madison Kleivo, Madeleine Little, Nicholas Mitchinson, Kyra Motyka, Anna Olp, Sophia Opp, Gabrielle Parker, Zoey Pozen, Kevin Sigrist, Alan Tapia, Ashley Vanderhoff, Casey Walters, Benjamin Warford and Paige Whiteside. Students make all publication decisions.

Letters can be sent to the address above or e-mailed to krier@kaneland.org. Letters must be signed (names may be withheld under extraordinary circumstances as deemed by the editorial staff) and must be under 300 words. The Editorial Board has the right to work with writers to edit for clarity and length. Any material that is potentially libelous, obscene or disruptive will not be published, at the discretion of the Editorial Board. All decisions to publish or not publish letters are made by executive editors. The Krier has been an open forum since 1974. As an open forum, we restrict editing to staff members only; prior review and editing are prohibited by people outside the staff.

Editorial

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Opinion | January 20, 2022

SOCIETY IS TOO DESENSITIZED TO TRAUMA

BY SARAH JANITO

O

Production Executive

ne way people cope with tragedies and traumas after experiencing them is making jokes about these events. While it can be effective and relieving to be able to laugh about them, there is a difference between coping and being plain offensive. I, for one, am able to laugh about plenty of things that have scarred me throughout my life, but my jokes and laughing never consist of wishing my traumas on another person or making fun of someone with similar experiences just because I’m comfortable enough to laugh and talk about mine.

For example, comedian and Saturday Night Live cast member Pete Davidson’s father died on one of America’s most tragic days, 9/11. Since he was so young and has come to peace with losing his father, he is able to make himself (and possibly others who have lost close relatives) feel better about the situation by including some material about this incident in his comedy sketches. No matter what people think about what he says, Davidson is able to face his tragedies head on and come to terms with them in his own way. But again, there is a difference between how Davidson copes with what happened to his family in 2001 and making insensitive jokes about that day as a whole. That does not stop us from still being insensitive at times, however.

Because all of our experiences are different, we may not be affected by a tragedy like others. As a whole, society tends to be desensitized to other traumatic events, and we sometimes do not think about what we say beforehand. There are plenty of examples of issues that we do not often think about, but we need to start doing so more often. This can range from the lack of diversity in the media to humane issues like declawing cats, but a prime example of something we can and should be more aware of and affected by are the many school shootings we have seen in recent years. In fact, it seems like the last time we were really affected by an issue like this was when Nikolas Cruz openly fired on his former high school in Parkland, FL, in 2018. When shootings since then have happened, when I look around all I see is people either not having heard about it at all or saying “that’s so sad” and moving on with their day.

Contrary to reactions from our peers, however, tragedies like school shootings are devastating and seem to be brushed off by students, and it is truly surprising to see how little gets through to us.

Is our lack of sensitivity due to social

16 Opinion

media, video games and other media? It is possible and has been researched, but it is up to us to have a heart about tragic things and empathize with people directly affected by something traumatic. While humor is a widely-used coping technique, some use it as an excuse to be rude to others. There is a line between having a dry or dark sense of humor and being inconsiderate, and many cross that line. It is not up to us to make jokes to try and help another person feel better about a situation; it is up to them to reach a place to be able to laugh about it and make a joke here and there. If you can play a part in making them feel better when they ask for help, that is the best option.

In most cases, we should not make jokes unless we have had a personal experience and have had time to live in it and work through it. There may be some running jokes that are deemed acceptable, such as comparing COVID to the beer brand Corona, or mocking disgraced actor Armie Hammer after he was exposed for alleged cannibalism. Sometimes it can be comedic to make fun of an extreme situation to take away some seriousness, but it would definitely not be as funny if I told someone whose family member is struggling with COVID, “You better not make them laugh; they already can’t breathe!” In fact, my brother had COVID a few months ago and at the time, he was the only one not qualified for the vaccine in our house. The rest of us never contracted it from him, and he recovered.

It was not a big deal in our house, but others have had family members pass away from this. This experience did not affect me personally, but I can still recognize how easily this and other sensitive topics

strongly affect others. With that knowledge, I can actively choose to not say anything about someone else’s situation, especially if I do not know all the details.

It should not be all that hard to simply not comment on something you do not have firsthand knowledge of, but we overstep boundaries more than we think we do.

Not only can we be insensitive to traumatic events like hurricanes or assaults, but other social topics like racism and politics as well. It truly astounded me to see the amount of people who stayed silent during the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests and how dividing it was across the country. We should not have to sit back and ponder whether or not Black, Asian, Hispanic or any other lives are important (which they are). By choosing not to speak up about something serious, that is ignoring the problem and ignoring those directly affected by it. Sitting back and shrugging something serious off is far worse than speaking up about it or being able to say, “I’m sorry. Is there anything I can do to help?” to someone who is hurting. Apologizing for being offensive, intentional or not, can be difficult, but it has to be done sooner or later.

We cannot keep going on thinking that it is okay to say whatever we want to say to whomever we want to say it to.

People can certainly be overly sensitive at times, but we need to recognize when it is not okay to make jokes about certain topics and stand together when sensitive issues are presented. We should never divide from each other or be intentionally offensive to others, and we should learn to apologize when we do offend someone. We are all growing and learning together.

Cartoon by Lilliana Bobe

Most social media users regularly get alerts of breaking news and shocking events. Because this is such a regular occurrence and is often presented casually in the media, it is typical to feel no reaction to these alerts.

Page design by Sarah Janito

January 20, 2022 | Opinion

MILK IS NOT ESSENTIAL TO A HEALTHY DIET

BY ANNA OLP

A

Design Executive and Photography Executive

llow me to paint a picture for you: You’re walking through your elementary school’s cafeteria and take a seat at your assigned table. A poster hung on the wall right next to your table depicts a burly football player holding a full glass of milk. “Got milk?” it reads. Now as an impressionable elementary schooler with a milk carton probably already on your lunch tray, you may have wondered, “If I drink all of my milk, will I look like that guy?” The answer is no.

In no way can you attribute the fitness of a professional football player to drinking milk. This is just one way the importance of milk in a healthy diet has been exaggerated by the U.S. government. For as long as you and I can remember, we’ve been told that milk is essential. A glass of milk has been on every food chart since the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) first food guide focused on the nutritional needs of children, according to a USDA pamphlet from 1916 called Food for Young Children. The truth is, milk is a completely replaceable aspect of your diet.

According to Vasanti Malik, a nutrition research scientist with the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, “Eating a well-balanced diet that includes plenty of green leafy vegetables and nuts can better help you get the calcium and protein you need rather than relying too much on dairy.” Milk contains many beneficial nutrients, but there are other ways of getting these nutrients just the same.

People prove every day that you can be a healthy individual without drinking milk. According to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse, some 30 million to 50 million Americans

are lactose intolerant. There are many options available to substitute dairy milk for people who fall into this category.

“If you can’t have milk as a part of your diet, there are other alternatives.

Soy milk is one of the better choices as an alternative for the protein in cow’s milk, and it is often enriched with calcium,” Northwestern Medicine Dietitian Mary Zupke said.

The negative effects of some dairy products don’t stop at those who are lactose intolerant. Dairy that is heavier in fats can be detrimental to anyone’s heart health.

“We recommend low fat dairy mostly because of heart health. We want to make sure we are not overdoing it with the high saturated fat forms of dairy such as sour cream, cream cheese or whipped cream.

These can provide a lot of calories and saturated fats, which might not be good for cardiac health,” Zupke said.

The USDA emphasizes the importance of drinking nonfat milk and recommends adults and teens drink three cups a day. The USDA’s recommendation for how much milk you drink isn’t the only place you’ve probably been told to drink milk.

Milk has been advertised to its consumers in the United States for decades.

According to USDairy.com, “In 1940, dairy farmers found the American Dairy Administration to promote U.S. milk products to consumers through advertising and retail promotions.” The American Dairy Association is also known for its milk advertisements from the 50s and 60s.

An action initiated by dairy farmers and the government is the dairy checkoff. According to the USDA’s Agricultural

Cartoon by Lilliana Bobe

The USDA currently recommends that teens and adults drink three cups of milk per day. There are other ways, though, of getting the same calcium and protein that drinking milk can provide.

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Marketing Service, “The Dairy Research and Promotion Program, also known as the Dairy Checkoff Program, is a national producer and importer program for dairy product promotion, research, and nutrition education.” The dairy checkoff functions by having dairy farmers pay a mandatory fee based on how much milk they have sold. The fees go to different outlets that promote the sales of dairy, including advertisements telling people to buy more milk. The USDA approves these ad campaigns, and they are circulated throughout the U.S. The “Got milk?” ads mentioned previously are one example of the checkoff in action.

Dairy Management Inc., an organization associated with the dairy checkoff, works with “dairy and food industry leaders who want to work to increase sales of their foods that include dairy products and ingredients to meet mutual business and consumer interests,” according to their website, USDairy.com. Many of the food items they promote are not healthy.

The fees paid to the dairy checkoff also promote partnerships with companies like Domino’s, Taco Bell, McDonalds and Starbucks to develop dairy-heavy menu items. When you think of these places, proper nutrition probably isn’t what first comes to mind. Fast food with extra cheese and blended drinks made with whole milk are examples of items on these menus. Brands that also fall under this category are some with products commonly associated with milk, including Oreo and General Mills. It seems contradictory that the same people who write our nutrition guidelines are promoting items that are so unhealthy.

So why? Why does the government care so much that we continue to consume dairy? The answer is obviously money. Dairy companies cough up millions of dollars towards politicians who are willing to protect their interests whenever nutrition guidelines resurface every five years to be reviewed. Dairy farmers are practically paying the government to say that milk is an essential part of our diet through government-issued food charts.

According to the National Farmers Union, “The dairy industry accounts for 1 percent of the U.S. Gross Domestic Product (GDP), generating an economic impact of $628 billion.”

Even though there are other ways to get the same nutrition milk provides, it is still marketed as a necessity. Milk isn’t irreplaceable, and it shouldn’t be marketed as something we all need in our diets.

Opinion

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Profile | January 20, 2022

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Profile

Page design by Anna Olp

January 20, 2022 | Profile

WORLD TRAVELER EMBRACES U.S. EXPERIENCES

BY ASHLEY VANDERHOFF

I

Editor

talian foreign exchange student Alessandra Riva is no stranger to world travel. She fondly recalls her experiences in Greece for its beautiful sea and breathtaking mountains, which has led to her remembering that country as one of her favorites. But it wasn’t just the culture, the people and the food that Riva loved about Greece; she especially loved visiting a church featured in one of her favorite movies, Mamma Mia! Riva has visited several unique countries throughout Europe. However, this year is her first experience in the United States. She arrived in Illinois near the start of the 2021-22 school year and is currently attending Kaneland as a senior. While she has always had a passion for traveling, her caring and open personality suits her well for her current adventure, which is being a foreign exchange student. Riva loves meeting new people and tries especially hard to do so when staying in a new country.

“It may look easy, but it’s really not because you’re in another country, where everything is different, [with] another language. I push myself a lot to get to know other people,” Riva said.

Riva is a part of AFS Intercultural Programs, which she loves and appreciates for the opportunities it has given her. Of course, she still faces many challenging circumstances. While a friend of Riva’s who was once a foreign exchange student herself received confirmation of her host family months prior to meeting them, Riva only knew of her host family two weeks before leaving Italy. Thus, the opportunity to have many calls and text chains to get to know the family was removed. Instead, Riva was only able to exchange a few emails with the family before she was off. Also, through the program, Riva was able to choose the top five countries she would like to visit, with the United States being number one, but she did not get to pick where in the country she would stay; she could have ended up anywhere from Alaska to Florida.

However, this factor never deterred her from the journey.

“If you want to do this, you just have to be ready for everything. You grow a lot from when you leave. I’ve been here just three months, and I feel like I’m already a different person than I was before. If you want to do this, you have to be prepared to end up in a place that’s not what you expected, but I think that’s most of the experience,” Riva said.

She emphasizes that while going to

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another country is obviously nerve-wracking, the experience is worth it. Not only does she enjoy experiencing the cultural differences, but she explains that the venture is a growing one. The program builds self-confidence and is life-changing.

Lucrezia, Riva’s sister who is with her family in Saronno, Italy, also sees Riva as an intelligent and outgoing person. She admires her sister - whom she calls Ale for her desire to help others, and she says her fondest memories with Ale are just having fun and spending time together.

“One of the best memories I have of Ale is a week we spent together in our house [in Alagna Valsesia in the alpine valley in northern Italy], just the two of us.

We studied, went hiking and enjoyed our time together,” Lucrezia said.

Riva loves sightseeing in the countries she visits. More specifically, she likes to focus on what the country has to offer over activities you can just do anywhere.

“One thing that I [never] do when I travel is eat anything that is international.

I always eat the local food. Usually, I go to a small restaurant, even if they are less touristy,” Riva said.

Riva loves AFS because it is one of the only programs where foreign exchange students are able to meet each other.

“I’ve met exchange students that live in Geneva or St. Charles that are from all around the world. We’re going to Chicago together, like 25 people, and it’s going to be so cool because you’re with people from all around the world,” Riva said.

One activity Riva took part in to meet new people at Kaneland was cross country. Despite participating in middle school track in Italy, she did not consider herself that strong of a runner. She was more focused on meeting her teammates. Of course, meeting so many new people at once can be slightly overwhelming. Riva mentioned how hard it was to remember everyone’s names at first. Still, she ended up making friends and never regretted the experience.

Another aspect of Kaneland that Riva loves is the relationships you can build with the teachers and students. While she of course loves her home country, she notices major differences between schools there and in the U.S., and she loves the positivity of Kaneland. She admires the concept of someone stopping you in the halls to compliment you on your outfit.

This is something that does not regularly occur, she said, back in Italy. Overall, she seems to value and favor relationships over strict rules.

“[In Italy,] you have to be very respectful with your teachers. So you literally feel that you’re under them, like you’re not level...Here I love that you can have this relationship with your teachers,” Riva said.

Riva developed the idea of becoming a foreign exchange student by herself when her own family hosted international students in Italy. The host experience allowed her to make great friends, particularly a foreign exchange student from Finland who became like a sister. ”I hosted her like four years ago, but we’re still really close. Then I hosted a guy from China, one from Indonesia and one from Brazil. So you get all the cultures, and it’s really cool,” Riva said.

Junior Madeline Kerry, one of Riva’s friends, described Riva as comforting, open and generous. Some of her favorite memories with Riva don’t stem from planned meet-ups, but more from the spontaneous things they did together. “[She is] always saying the nicest things about people,” Kerry said. “[She is] very sharing with her time and making sure everyone’s happy,” Kerry said.

When asked what career she might pursue in the future, Riva mentioned going into the medical field, saying it was a dream of hers. And while she still has a year left of high school to complete back in Italy, she is open to the idea of her career path changing. Still, one aspect stood above the rest when thinking about her future: her biggest motivation to become a doctor is to help people.

“I thought about becoming a doctor in middle school, and it was just because I found out about Doctors Without Borders, an international humanitarian medical non-government organization. [I was] just thinking about volunteering,” Riva said.

Riva hopes to visit more countries, and traveling is not something she plans to stop doing any time soon. South America and Africa are continents she would still like to see to truly experience. It is clear that Riva is very open-minded and a lover of diverse cultures, and she has very pure and respectable values. She emphasizes the beauty of our diverse world and changing as a person in the process. Riva admitted that while it may be a little cheesy, a saying she mentioned to me still holds true.

“It’s not a year in a life but a life in a year,” Riva said.

Once Riva leaves the U.S., she will be most thankful for the memories.

Profile

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Photos | January 20, 2022

WHERE ALL OF OUR JOURNEYS BEGAN Thinking back to where we were before high school may seem like forever ago. However, there are so many parts of those times in our lives that we remember clearly. The Krier executives went to each of the elementary schools and the middle school to revisit some of our core memories.

From the colorful murals to the playful classrooms, these are some of the things that stuck out the most to us. We hope these photos do the same for you and help you look back on some childhood memories from the places we grew up.

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Photos

John Blackberry Shields Creek Elementary Elementary Page design by Madison Kleivo

January 20, 2022 | Photos

John McDole Stewart Elementary Elementary Page design by Madison Kleivo

Harter Middle School Photos

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