Feature

BY KATIE PFOTENHAUER

Editor and Columnist Manager

Aperson may not know that they are currently living history, but later on, they can connect the dots. In school, people have to take different history classes to graduate. While some students may think there is no value in taking classes that teach about the past, history teacher Sarah Ray believes that it is crucial to learn about history so that it does not repeat itself.

“[It] does start in school, especially in high school. I think people need to pay attention in their history and government classes and take [them] seriously. Many adults will wish they liked history class when they were younger or wish they took it seriously,” Ray said. “Start paying attention and taking it seriously. Watch the news to connect what you are currently learning to what has happened in the past. It is also crucial to have an open mind, whether you are a Democrat or Republican. By having an open mind, you allow yourself to have open conversations with others.” While Ray believes that learning about history is crucial, she also emphasizes how some people ignore the signs of history repeating itself. “Many people do not want to learn or put their minds together to analyze events and try to make connections between things today and things from the past. People also may not want to step on the toes of those in power,” Ray said. “There are a lot of things being fought in Washington, D.C. As we know, it is difficult to bring to attention specific issues that should be fixed and get specific laws passed. People are afraid to make changes and upset the people in charge. There is a lot of power in politics, and if you upset the wrong person, there could be consequences.” There is a common idea that the past holds lessons for the present, but what happens when society neglects those lessons? Valuable concepts can be learned from the past, which can help shape the future. “There was an influenza pandemic (also known as the Spanish flu) in 1918, and [about] 100 years later, we had the COVID pandemic. Some people did not think it was as bad as [other people] said it was, and they did not take it seriously,” Ray said. “It is interesting to see how we learned from a past pandemic that with the way history repeats itself, there are people not believing it is real even though it is pretty much the same.” According to the British Medical Journal (BMJ), a highly respected, peer-reviewed and evidence-based journal, COVID and the Spanish flu negatively impacted the global economy and affected relationships between countries. They each also had delays in diagnoses, vaccines and treatment, but there were differences in terms of the types of people classified as high-risk and the causes of death due to illness. Not only can history be repeated through hardships like illnesses but through the power that certain figures have.

According to an article from Psychology Today written by Jeremy Nicholson, a doctor of social and per- .sonality..psychology, a person may want power to gain control over others and influence their behavior,

The Elburn Veterans Memorial honors those from the town who served during World Wars I and II. Despite these memorials attempting to keep devastat-ing wars in the past, history almost always repeats itself. Photo by Katie Pfotenhauer but a powerful figure may also want that power for personal control to increase self-determination. Such an example is one most students know 10 Feature

because of how this individual’s power left a long-lasting impact on the world. In the 1930s and 40s, Adolf Hitler dictated Germany. He used his power to expand into surrounding countries, resulting in millions of casualties targeting multiple minority groups during World War II, with Jewish people being the main target of Nazi persecution. Many people compared Russian President Vladimir Putin when he invaded Ukraine to the actions of Hitler.

“Essentially, one can argue that Putin is trying to expand the power of Russia and Eastern Europe by starting with Ukraine. If he succeeds, I do not know what will happen. He might go further, but for him to take that step and invade Ukraine, that is the start of history repeating itself,” Ray said.

Students today have one thing on their side that previous generations did not have. Technology is a part of daily life. Everything is on the internet, and it is easy to stay updated through social media and online news organizations. History teacher James Fuller believes that with technology, change will happen to prevent history from repeating itself. “[Today], we have so much just on our phones. We can look up everything. Once people make those connections, we will start to see change. With access to information now, students do not need to memorize facts. All students need to do is learn how to learn history,” Fuller said. However, Ray also knows some people refuse to help positive changes happen. “I [think] people are selfish. They do not want to believe that history can repeat itself, or they only want to focus on themselves by believing that just because it is not affecting them, they do not have to do anything about it,” Ray said.

While many believe history repeating itself negatively impacts society, Fuller has a positive outlook on it all when it comes to people uniting to make change a reality.

“What I have always seen is there is always discrimination against certain groups of people throughout history; there is always movement to push back against that and attempt to change things. It is remarkable because if you look back, when things keep repeating, it can get you down and discourage people,” Fuller said. “There is almost always that movement that fights for their rights to be understood and treated fairly.”

BY ELLIOT KRIPPELZ

Editor

As social media continues to advance, so does the hateful speech that comes with it. In recent years, bullying has taken an elevated online form through hateful comments and negative posts on various social media applications. Hate speech has become more normalized due to the accessibility of posting seemingly everything online. Negative comments have become so normalized to the point where things like death threats are taken lightly. This elevated, or at least different, level of bullying compared to previous eras has likely caused some who witness or are victims to acts of bullying a certain degree of desensitization because of how frequently it occurs. Senior Victoria Romano is active on many social media platforms and has become familiar with the culture surrounding online bullying. Romano has witnessed increased hate speech and desensitization over the years that come with having an account.

“I rarely see [in-person] bullying. Now it’s mainly online. Before, [I observed bullying] in school and some online, but now I only see it on social media,” Romano said. “People think they can say whatever they want because they are online; however, they don’t realize they are harming a group of people or another person.” The fact is that most people are not getting their lunch money stolen by the school bully. In contrast, the age of social media has made it so people can easily hide behind a faceless profile picture, spreading hate that once had to be expressed without the shield of anonymity. Anyone can make hateful messages and posts. The normalization of posting whatever comes to mind has become an issue because of the accessibility that social media offers. Many people are so used to seeing hate-filled content that it has become ordinary. Letting these negative messages get out of hand can lead to further discriminatory oppression.

University of the West Indies student and Integrated Marketing Communications major Isheba Cornwall advocates for youth empowerment and creating positive changes to social media. In an interview with the United Nations Academic Impact initiative, Cornwall expressed her belief that hateful speech is a significant problem today.

“Hate speech is one of those problems that can influence society and develop into something worse. Hateful phrases and casual racist comments are all-powerful, impactful and dangerous,” Cornwall said.

Cartoon by Lilliana Bobé

Some phrases and expressions are used so often that they lose their meaning. Some particularly harsh comments, like telling others to inflict harm on themselves, are often used in casual conversations as jokes. Although threatening physical harm is severe, the repeated use of these words in the form of humor can further contribute to the loss of meaning of these specific phrases, further indicating widespread desensitization.

“When people say hurtful phrases, it’s not just an off-the-cuff comment. I think they want to do harm, which is not good because of how normalized these comments are now,” Romano said. The masses of people on social media apps spreading even slightly negative comments can turn into a slippery slope. As there are people purposely spreading hate in the hopes of hurting someone else, those who make these lesser, yet still harmful, comments feed into cyberbullying. Despite this, many people still fall into the enticing trap of online negativity that leaves victims feeling like they are in a hopeless fight against the entire internet.

It can be challenging to get away from hateful messages, especially online. Understandably, for the sake of defending themselves, many people find it hard to stop replying to hate comments on social media. While challenging, turning off your device and clearing your head before responding can be a way to prevent more hate from spreading into the world. Counselor John Markovich has worked at Kaneland High School for over 10 years. Markovich sees many students each day and understands the struggle behind hate speech spreading through social media. “I think that [people] are sometimes afraid to block someone. Honestly, the easiest answer is if it’s affecting you so heavily, don’t engage in social media. When you are constantly on social media and seeing all these comments, it can be extremely damaging,” Markovich said. “I suggest not engaging with the person or getting off social media in general.” Some people may feel apprehensive about fighting back against online haters simply to be perceived as a chill person. This can cause victims of online hate speech to become desensitized to not only others’ bullying but their own as well.

Being belittled constantly online can result in harmful mental health issues. With the normalization of hate speech, it might seem to some that these comments aren’t as dangerous as they presume, when in reality, these comments can alter someone’s perception of themselves in a negative way.

“Children’s brains aren’t necessarily [fully] developed where they need to be,” Markovich said. “It is hard for them to manage what they should and shouldn’t post, especially because they don’t know the damage they can create.” Falling into the hateful culture of social media is the easy thing to do, and getting back out can be difficult. It is our responsibility to make the internet a safer space.

NAVIGATING OUR

BY LIZZY SIDMAN

Students in the United States have been facing a rapid increase in school shootings over the past 10 years. There is no other way to say it: school shootings are terrifying, but the student body should not be petrified. Students need to be informed about these terrible events and be allowed a safe place to speak out on the issues that affect them and their peers across the nation who do not have as secure of an experience as the one at Kaneland. Though a tragedy like a school shooting has not happened at Kaneland, they have become a massive problem in the U.S. With the high number of shootings, many have become desensitized to them. “There have been 47 school shootings [in 2022 in the U.S.] that resulted in injuries or deaths, the most in a single year since Education Week began tracking such incidents in 2018,” according to an article from Education Week updated on Dec. 8, 2022. The reality that there were, on average, over three school shootings a month in 2022 in the U.S. is appalling but not surprising anymore. Millions of high school students across the country live with these facts in the back of their minds, but it may seem impossible to make a difference. The March For Our Lives (MFOL) movement was founded in the days following the particularly deadly Parkland shooting on Feb. 14, 2018. MFOL leaders took action supporting gun control legislation and worked against the government's passivity toward the issue. “In the days after the tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, we knew we had to make sure that what happened to our community never happens again,” MFOL wrote as a mission statement on their website. Then 18-year-old Parkland shooting survivor X González propelled the gun control movement by giving their iconic We Call BS speech. “Every single person up here today, all these people should be home grieving. But instead, we are up here standing together because all our government and president do is send thoughts and prayers. It’s time for victims to be the change that we need to see,” González said. From González’s perspective, thoughts and prayers are not enough to fight the complex issue of gun violence. In the speech, they directly call out adults and those in power for their detached treatment of the problem.

Politicians on both sides of the political spectrum are called out for their inability to pass comprehensive legislation to prevent school shootings from happening again. While both Democrats and Republicans acknowledge the problem of shootings in America, their ideas on combating this issue vary. “About three-quarters (76%) of Democrats say the ease with which people can legally obtain guns contributes a great deal or fair amount to gun violence, compared with just 39% of Republicans,” senior researcher J. Baxter Oliphant wrote in response to data collected by the Pew Research Center.

Generally, Democrats believe that guns must be more difficult to obtain to prevent mass shootings, while Republicans are mainly against government restrictions on weapons. These stark differences make it very difficult to pass legislation on either side.

In the last 10 years, only one national act regarding mass shootings was passed by both the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate: the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which was put into effect on June 25, 2022.

According to the website of the activist group Everytown for Gun Safety, the law will “enhance background checks for buyers under 21, support state red flag laws, invest in mental health services and provide school safety funding,” among other goals.

Despite accomplishing the feat of any bipartisan gun control act being passed, this bill is found by many Democrats to be too moderate on an issue requiring bold steps to make progress. The Pew Research Center reports that 74% of Democrats in Congress say the new gun law will do little to nothing to stop gun violence. A common Republican view on issues pertaining to gun control relates to loyalty towards and protection of the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution.

Gun control opposers view the Second Amendment’s right to bear arms as an absolute right, one that is not to be changed. On the flip side, many ad-

This data comes from a 2022 U.S. News & World Report.

The map demonstrates the U.S. states most affected by school shootings that have occurred since 1970. Red represents the states most detrimentally and tragically impacted by these horrific shootings

vocates for gun control interpret the Amendment in a different historical context.

Historian Irving Brant argues in his book The Bill of Rights, “[The Second Amendment’s objective was] to forbid Congress to prohibit the maintenance of a state militia. [Therefore,] that Amendment cannot be transformed into a personal right to bear arms, enforceable by federal compulsion upon the states.”

Brant contends that the Second Amendment was not created in anticipation of highly advanced military weapons being available to the public and should change with the times, as it has for other countries.

CHANGING WORLD:

How school shootings shape our lives as high school students in an uncertain America

German foreign exchange student Filippa Koch offered her outside perspective as someone who lives in a country where it is much more challenging to obtain a firearm. “People say, ‘Guns are illegal. That’s so weird.’ But in Germany, I never thought about a gun,” Koch said. The difference in the mindsets between German and American youth is

Cartoon by Ashley Vanderhoff

The map demonstrates the U.S. states most affected by school shootings that have occurred since 1970. Red represents the states most detrimentally and tragically impacted by these horrific shootings.

spawned from their governments’ contrast in response to violence. “[There have been] eight [school shootings] in Germany since 1913,” according to the World Population Review in research titled School Shootings by Country 2022. There have been 47 shootings in America in the last year, colossal compared to the eight in Germany in over 100 years. With such low numbers, it may seem to some that Germany has more extensive countermeasures than America, but from Koch’s perspective, they do not seem to. “The doors [at my school] are not locked, and someone could go inside easily. There are no security guards; the hallways are empty. The only reason [why this works] is that we are not allowed to obtain guns easily [in Germany],” Koch said.

But the U.S. is not Germany. Guns are more easily bought in this country, and political leaders struggle to make a substantial change, so schools turn to countermeasures. Kaneland uses the ALICE (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter and Evacuate) drill to protect students against potential active shooters. Adopted by the school in 2018, the acronym aims to create an easy-to-remember strategic plan, and numerous drills take place each school year. The main controversy surrounding ALICE is the “counter” aspect of the drill. Critics say that fighting back may put kids in additional danger. The creators of ALICE offer a different perspective. According to their website, “Counter - Create Noise, Movement, Distance and Distraction with the intent of reducing the shooter’s ability to shoot accurately. Counter is not fighting.”

Despite any controversy, the ALICE drill at least offers a strategy and provides a basis for schools and other organizations to learn about and prepare for mass shootings.

Kaneland and other schools with similar precautions appear to be doing what they can to be safe, given the circumstances in America. Where some issues with these drills begin are the desensitized student mindsets during ALICE training, which Koch observed.

“[During ALICE drills] I didn’t see anybody worried. If we talk about it in school, it’s ‘funny, haha.’ For me, it wasn’t strange, but if you think about it, [school shootings] can happen,” Koch said. The sheer number of school shootings in the U.S. is scary, but some students, according to Koch, have light-hearted reactions to the topic. Still, it is also essential to reflect on the reality of the situation so that students do not become indifferent to tragedies in schools. Many people, such as MFOL activists, refuse to be indifferent and continue to call for gun control. Still, people on the other end of the political spectrum insist that mental health issues are the leading cause of mass shootings, not guns.

Licensed clinical psychologist Joel Dvoskin spoke to the American Psychological Association to refute such claims, beginning with anecdotes of mentally ill people’s pre-diagnosis.

“You say, 'Wow…that guy should have been [pointed out as a potential threat].' But the truth is that most of the people…were people who were very early on in their illness, who had not been identified as seriously mentally ill, who wouldn’t have been on [a shooter watchlist],” Dvoskin said. Despite psychologists like Dvoskin refuting the effect mental health has on mass shootings, Republican House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy believes that mental health issues are the real problem surrounding mass shootings.

“It’s just tragic what happened down there. We learn something new every day about how [we can] improve,” McCarthy said to Fox News after the Uvalde shooting at Robb Elementary on May 24, 2022, later saying there should be more funding for focusing on mental health. Despite McCarthy’s claims, just over four months later, 205 out of 212 Republican House of Representatives members, including him, voted against a bill that would expand mental health services. Their votes reveal a reality that many politicians have no intention of introducing or voting for legislation that would positively impact the state of shootings in the United States.

Kaneland may be a safe place to go to school because of precautions like ALICE drills, security guards and more. But errors within the U.S. government have caused a standstill in any sort of compromise being reached, leaving some student lives at risk. There should be no impending shooting leaving any students afraid, but that isn’t the reality. There are national leaders failing students and putting them in dangerous situations. It is up to the new generation to fight against indifference and desensitization. In the end, it could save lives.

BY PAIGE WHITESIDE

Editor-in-Chief of Web and Copy Editor

Activism is important when you want change to occur. Activism can be demonstrated through various means, such as protests, sharing resources and information online and discussing important topics with those around you. When a group of like-minded people comes together to raise awareness about what they believe in the form of a protest, significant change can happen. Protests take place all around the world and happen for many different reasons.

In a recent example, thousands of people marched in Chicago on June 24, 2022, to protest the Supreme Court decision that overturned Roe v. Wade. Protests against the overturning of Roe V. Wade, as well as many others, happen frequently, whether they are on a large or a small scale. Marching and speaking out about issues brings awareness to many, and with continuous efforts, change is possible. Positive change has been made because of protests in the past, like those that led to women being granted the right to vote and people of color being given the right to citizenship.

Some people, though, are unable

Cartoon by Lilliana Bobé Protesting is a way to spread awareness on important issues and to promote essential change. Checking social media platforms, talking to others around you and reading credible articles are all ways to find out about activist movements both locally and nationally.

to attend protests due to their age, their schedules, inconvenient locations or other factors. Utilizing online resources like social media platforms to spread the word about important things going on in the world can be just as beneficial as physically attending protests. While using the internet as a platform to make your voice heard is beneficial when done right, it can also be damaging when false information is spread. It is important to check what sources you are getting the information from to make sure they are reputable and unbiased. The spread of fake news can cause unnecessary panic and undermine real problems that are taking place in the world, such as when lies about COVID-19 were spread during the height of the pandemic. Maintaining a critical mindset when looking at articles and asking yourself whether or not something seems realistic or blown out of proportion can be helpful when trying to identify fake news. Using a fact-checking source such as Snopes or PolitiFact can also help determine whether something is untrue or exaggerated.

A more casual means of spreading awareness is to have conversations with those around you about relevant topics to keep others informed. If someone you know holds discriminatory viewpoints or is spreading false information, you can have a respectful conversation with them on why these things are damaging to others. When doing this, backing up your claims with evidence from legitimate and unbiased sources can be helpful to ensure your information is not false.

Some may avoid calling out others’ behavior for fear of ruining their relationship with them, but there are ways to shut down derogatory remarks or the sharing of false information without causing a personal divide. University of New Hampshire co-director of the Prevention Innovations Research Center Dr. Sharyn J. Potter notes that by not calling out harmful behavior, people may continue to act the same without consequence.

“When we hear this egregious, uncomfortable talk and we don’t speak up, what’s actually happening is that the person speaking is getting a green light,” Potter said. “It encourages them.”

When you are passionate about something, spreading awareness for that topic can be done through a variety of means. Attending protests, understanding and sharing accurate information and not spreading falsehoods on issues can create significant change. No matter how big or small your contribution is toward a movement, positive changes can be made.

Cartoon by Lilliana Bobé As a country that operates as a democracy, it is important that citizens vote and participate in government processes. Voting is the easiest and most effective way to have your voice heard.

PARTICIPATING IN POLITICS

On Nov. 8, 2022, the United States midterm elections took place. This election determined very important aspects of our government, such as which party would hold dominance in the House of Representatives and the Senate. In the next election taking place in November 2024, a new president will be elected, and many other important positions will be decided. America is incredibly divided right now, and it has felt like we have been at some kind of political breaking point for quite some time. Voting is as important as it has ever been in the 21st century. During the next election, a large portion of the younger generation will be voting for the first time, including current seniors, juniors and some sophomores. As the new generation of voters, it is incredibly 24 important to participate in politics, stay educated and ensure your voice is heard. Younger generations are the future of America, and a lack of voting participation from them is counterproductive to necessary progress. “[Having young people get out and vote] is the only way we’re going to see change. There are far more [young people] than there are of other age groups. They could overwhelm us with the change they want if they use their power,” government teacher Jessica McNally said. According to the 2020 U.S. census, people aged 18-24 had the least participation of any age group in the 2020 election at 51.4 percent. If more people were to participate, there could be a major shift in the political balance in our country, in both the government and society. It is possible to be a functioning member of society and not participate in politics, but the government would not be functioning if everyone had this mindset, therefore it is best that everyone participates.

When you turn 18, a high priority you should have is becoming registered to vote. Without doing this, you will be unable to participate in government elections of any kind. There are a plethora of ways to become registered, some of which McNally discussed.

“Know how to get registered. We have so many opportunities today. There’s a QR code you can scan, you can go down to the library and they can register you there, you can go to your local city hall and they can register you or you can go to the county offices. There are so many options, but [some] people don’t know that. Even my own students who I told how to don’t know,” McNally said.

0It is also important to participate in a variety of elections rather than just popular ones like the primary. Local elections, while often disregarded, are arguably the most important elections you can participate in, as they are most influential on how you live your day-to-day life. If you do vote, make sure you gather your information and collect opinions through reputable sources and through several of them, as to ensure your opinions are not a byproduct of media bias. Voting is important in order to express your opinion, but it is just as important to ensure your opinions are not ill-informed or factually incorrect.

Younger generations are the future of our society, and if they continue to behave as the census has shown and do not participate in the politics of our society, the way our government functions will not be ideal for U.S. citizens. In order to fight against division and create a society that is ideal for most people, register, educate yourself and vote when you are able. The future of our country depends on it.

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

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STAFF Xitlaly Abundiz, Isabel Alba, Alyssa Almaraz, Lauren Babka, Nicholas Casey, Bryan Cisneros, Makayla Egert, Eric Escobedo, Lucas Fiedler, Carli Filek, Natalie Foss-Ortega, Zoe Gannon, Teaghan Hardy, Freddy Hassan, Olivia King, Nathan Lapitan, Kayli Loonam, Kiara Lopez, Natalie Lycan, Barbara Martinez, River Mullins, Blythe Niemeyer, Madelyn Pabian, Jasper Paulson, Carmella Rio, Adalynn Ruh, Johanna Salter, Nathan Sand, Sarah Slattery, Savannah Suehs, Preslee Sutherland, Riley Swiderski, Ellen Taylor, Madison Taylor, Sophie Thill, Tom Thill, Audrey Walker, Adrianna Wells, Keiton Westfall, Lexi White, Avery Zahlit

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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: Taylor Anello, Lilliana Bobé, Ethan Bollhoffer, Delaney Calabrese, Lyla Christakes, Dane Coyne, Samantha Dunne, Arianna Failor, Kira Helm, Tiffany Johnson, Rafika Khan, Jackson Kottmeyer, Elliot Krippelz, Abbey Mondi, Katie Pfotenhauer, Zoey Pozen, Lizzy Sidman, Kevin Sigrist, Andrew Valentini, Sela Valignota, Ashley Vanderhoff, Benjamin Warford, Paige Whiteside and Sofia Williams. 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.

BY KEVIN SIGRIST

Editor-in-Chief of Print and Production Executive

As the climate of our world has continued to deteriorate over the past several decades, it is not unlikely that you have heard somewhere, whether in school, on social media or in your dayto-day life, about your carbon footprint and what you can do to reduce it. The Nature Conservancy defines a carbon footprint as “the total amount of greenhouse gasses (including carbon dioxide and methane) that are generated by our actions.” Every individual in modern society has one, however the problem is that the media, government and many members of society put emphasis on it to take the blame off of the actual culprits behind climate change: large corporations and the wealthy.

Everyone has a carbon footprint. Whether that footprint comes from buying plastic goods, using the heat in your home or driving your car, you are affecting the climate by outputting carbon into the atmosphere. Considering the level of individual consumerism our society has adopted, it is not bold to assume that every individual’s carbon footprint likely has to pile up to a large portion of carbon emissions. However, the average citizen’s contribution to carbon emissions does not even scratch the surface of who and what is truly at fault. The true groups responsible for the amount of carbon emissions in society are major corporations and the richest 10 percent of the population. According to OXFAM International, an organization dedicated to fighting poverty and injustice, “The richest 10 percent accounted for over half (52 percent) of the emissions added to the atmosphere between 1990 and 2015. The richest one percent were responsible for 15 percent of emissions during this time – more than all the citizens of the [European Union] and more than twice that of the poorest half of humanity (7 percent).”

While the everyday, middle-class person is being told that they should be working to reduce their carbon footprint through a variety of means, such as by taking the bus or train, choosing reusable bags or converting to solar energy in their home, the truth of the matter is that these efforts are futile against the emissions output by the richest of the population who carelessly hurt the planet and go largely unchecked. Also according to OXFAM International, the Paris Agreement set a goal to not have global temperatures ever rise more than 1.5°C. They did this by creating a carbon budget that was just enough to not go past the set temperature. Following the creation of this budget, the richest 10 percent of the world’s population used a third of the goal, in comparison to the poorest half of the world’s population which uses four percent. Breaking down this distribution of carbon output, the poorest half of the population contributes four percent of the carbon. In the wealthiest tenth of the population, they output a third of all emissions. What this disproportionality means is that any one person in the wealthiest 10 percent of the world emits an average of 42 times more carbon than any individual in the poorest 50 percent of the world. This extremely disproportionate output of carbon has always been a problem but is growing as well. According to another statistic by OXFAM International, “Annual emissions grew by 60 percent between 1990 and 2015. The richest five percent were responsible for over a third (37 percent) of this growth. The total increase in emissions of the richest

Cartoon by Ashley Vanderhoff According to an analysis from TIME, the top 20 billionaires in the world emitted an average of 8,000 metric tons of CO2 in 2018, of which two-thirds was caused by superyachts. Carbon emissions from the top one percent are disproportionately larger than the rest of the population. one percent was three times more than that of the poorest 50 percent.”

While the rich are very much at fault for a large portion of carbon emissions, the more direct group that is at fault are large corporations, especially ones that have significant influences over economies and ties to the government.

According to the website of the peer-reviewed academic journal Science Magazine, in 2013, the major carbon emission companies emitted 936,612 metric tons of carbon into the atmosphere out of a global total of 1,442,059. This is roughly 65 percent of all carbon emissions generated by large, carbon-heavy companies. The information gathered in the study only referenced the top 90 companies, so there is far more from other companies as well.

What’s worse about this is that these companies have a large impact on governments throughout the world and can halt attempts at progress through their power. According to the Center for American Progress, “The industry continues to fund climate science denial, initiate new destruction and lobby to entrench the status quo. For example, in response to litigation from the oil and gas lobby, the Biden administration announced [in August of 2021] that it would resume the sale of new drilling leases on federal public lands... Despite its reportedly mild to nonexistent impact on the industry’s operations, these companies filed suit to block this measure from going into effect.”

As the climate of our planet continues to worsen over time, concerned members of the global population are scrambling to find ways to fix and help ease the damage being done. Because of this, a lot of emphasis is placed on the individual’s carbon footprint, but this is a very misguided focus. The everyday American’s output of carbon emissions does not even begin to scratch the surface of what is being output by the wealthy and the companies that run our society. Rich and large corporations contribute disproportionately to the amount of carbon emissions, and the impact of the average individual’s carbon footprint is irrationally focused on in order to allow these large corporations to continue behaving in this way. Speak out against this behavior committed by the rich and corporations, as without their carelessness, climate change could improve more than we’ve ever seen.

“I wouldn’t really take it seriously. I feel like so many people make jokes. I hear stories about people who get in trouble because they have a knife and I’m like, ‘Oh well.’” - junior Brianna Booher “School threats don’t mean very much to me anymore because of how many times I’ve heard them and what little has become of them.” - freshman Noah Witz

“I would probably be a little bit fearful. You think that it’s not that serious, but you also have to think, ‘What if it is?’ It’s just been desensitized.” - freshman Michael Glick

“As a teacher, I am worried for my kids’ safety, but I usually am not as worried about my safety. I worry about each student and each class individually and try to process whether or not this is a serious threat and not a joke. I think of how I am going to handle that in my class and what I am going to do to keep my kids safe.” - CTE and agriculture teacher Alex Turk

“Anytime we see or hear [threats made to the school], whether it’s on social media, written or verbal, we always take it seriously and inform local law enforcement. I think that these threats are sad. We should be able to go to school without the fear of mass casualty taking place.” - Dean of Students Joshua West “School threats make me feel not safe going to school because it’s an active threat, but I understand that because they are common, it’s easy to blow them off.” “There are a lot of - sophomore Michael Tepps different ways that threats can be looked at. I think it depends on the person who is making them and the impression they have made on the school or students.” - sophomore Alex Polyak

“I don’t think it should be taken lightly, and I do think it’s kind of idiotic and immature to make a threat against a school. I think that a person who does that should get punishment, but I don’t necessarily think [we] have to go on lockdown.” - senior Olivia Howell “If a threat was made against a school that I was in charge of, I would not hesitate to take necessary precautions. You don’t want to [be unprepared] for something like that because it can ultimately lead to something way worse in the end. It’s better to be safe than sorry.” - senior Jeffrey Jurgens “There are plenty of ways to prevent threats from happening, like having students talk to their counselors if they feel troubled or having them talk to other peers. I think “[Threats are] a little concerning. Esthe best thing to do is to be there for pecially if it was a gun threat, it would people when they feel like they don’t have be a little scary because your life might anyone.” - junior Ellie Holubecki be at risk. A lot of jokes are also made that can be easily considered a joke but could be taken very seriously.” - sophomore Gavin Roberts “Whenever I hear that a school threat is out or hear it from students, I don’t take it seriously because it happens so frequently and nothing [actually happens].” - junior Amari Eddington

WE ASK, YOU ANSWER

BY SELA VALIGNOTA

Editor and Co-Podcast Manager

While they may go unnoticed by some, many students begin to recognize certain substitutes based on the reputation and relationships they’ve built with them. To many

Kaneland students, one of the most wellknown and respected substitute teachers within the district is Douglas Clark. Along with having a long-lasting effect on many students’ and staff members’ lives, Clark has multiple passions and interests that he pursues. After a major change in his life, Clark turned to his love for music, and from this would grow a whole new world that combined both his admiration for music and dance and his interest in radio broadcasting. “I’ve always had an interest in electronics and mechanical things,” Clark said. “When I was in high school, I was in the ham (amateur) radio club because there was no computer club at the time.

Then, I worked as an engineer at the State

University of New York’s radio station, which was called the National Educational Radio (NER) at the time.” He pursued this passion during his time in high school and through college, where Clark was a part of the tape crew for the SUNY Buffalo radio station, WBFO. As he entered the workforce, his passion for broadcasting and technology became a hobby. In pursuit of a career, Clark gained experience with different jobs, such as substitute teaching and working in commercial insurance and marketing. After his retirement in 2013, Clark returned to substitute at West Aurora and

Kaneland. He enjoys the productivity of being in the high school environment without necessarily teaching the curriculum, but sometimes he finds that he prefers substituting at elementary schools. “Occasionally, when I get bored, I go down to the elementary schools because they actually do the teaching there, but the good thing about the high school [is that] the teachers don’t want you messing with content unless you’re an expert on it,” Clark said. Outside of his previous career pursuits and current position as a substitute teacher, Clark has a collection of other hobbies. From being a member of four different dance clubs to podcasting once a month, Clark spends most of his time outside of school fulfilling his interests. Clark spends almost every weekend participating in East Coast Swing dancing. Though that’s his preferred type of dance, Clark is familiar with other styles. “The primary thing I do when I’m not [substituting] is a natural fit: I’m a dancer. It’s good exercise and I do it almost every weekend. There are very few weekends that I don’t,” Clark said. “I do East Coast Swing, West Coast Swing, cha-cha, the waltz and the country two-step.” In 2007, Clark was invited to a dance club where he tried proper dancing for the first time. From there, he found his passion and hasn’t stopped since. Clark began to regularly tune in to DanceCast, a podcast on the Indy Dancers website, which is dedicated to a nonprofit dance club in Indianapolis. The podcast is hosted by Don Mindach and Rhonda Bennett and started two years ago as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic to make up for the lack of traction within the dance community. Its purpose was to not only discuss dance but to provide listeners with specific song suggestions to play with certain types of dances.

Because he was a frequent commenter, the hosts reached out to Clark and invited him on the show for an interview. He eventually became a regular speaker on the show and is now a part-time host alongside Mindach and Bennett. “People like [the podcast] because we’ve kind of got a little niche thing here where we [play music and go live] and give the listeners suggestions about the dances that might go with it,” Clark said. “Out of all the thousands of podcasts, we’re number 525, and we routinely get 160,000 people listening every Sunday from six to eight p.m.” Clark continues to pursue his passions of dance, music and radio podcasting, but he still considers substituting an important part of his life. He finds his connection with students to be different from other educators because of the opportunities that come with substitute teaching.

“What happens when you follow these kids through the years is you really end up knowing a lot of people and making a lot of friends,” Clark said. “Since I work throughout the district, I get to see kids from elementary school through high school. As an example, [in a class I had recently substituted for], I saw [sophomore] Audrey Peters. I’ve known her since she was a third grader.” Peters and Clark have known each other for more than six years and have grown close. While most students aren’t able to see certain substitutes on a regular basis, Peters has been able to see and talk to Clark almost every day. “I know him from substitute teaching, but since I see him around school and have had him teach me [in one of my classes] every two weeks, we talk on a daily basis about school, volleyball and other things going on outside of school,” Peters said. “Ever since elementary school, [Clark] has helped me realize my self-worth when it comes to school and sports. He had both my sisters from third grade to senior years as well. We all look up to the dedication he puts into his job and how he makes his students feel welcomed in their classes.” Clark not only gets the chance to teach and advocate for students, but he also builds long-lasting relationships with other people within the district.

“What happens after you substitute for a while is you become invested in the district. Everybody knows you, and that becomes like a family,” Clark said. “[Special education teacher] Sandra Faletto has always been one of my biggest supporters. I used to call her my cheerleader when she was working in the Armory.” Faletto has grown familiar with him and knows his reputation amongst students. Although Faletto doesn’t see him on a daily basis, she still recognizes his role and impact on students’ lives. “I have known [Clark] for six or seven years. I used to be the department chair for special education, and he was a sub here at that time,” Faletto said. “We have great substitutes at this school, but what sets him apart is how he is a connector. He gets to know kids individually and shares his interests.”

Shared interests aren’t always how Clark builds relationships, though. His moral code of treating everyone with respect and kindness is most important. “I don’t like to talk down to students. I think it is important to treat every kid you encounter like a grown adult. I think it brings out the best in students. It is about respect, even if you don’t get it in return. You lead by example,” Clark said. Though his position at Kaneland isn’t permanent, Clark makes it his priority to encourage the students he encounters to be the best they can be. Clark brings a feeling of community and positivity, which is what students need most. “[Students love Clark] because he’s friendly, kind and approachable,” Faletto said. “Clark brings a sense of community to Kaneland, and he understands the importance of creating that feeling at the high school.”