Kaneland Krier Volume 49 Issue 5

Practicing self-reflection and acting upon it

TABLE OF CONTENTS

18 Profile

8

Sports and Activities

20 Photos

aware of your actions and determining whether or not they are the best decisions are incredibly important steps. This creates an all around positive mindset, however a prob lem appears when people stop after the reflection process. It takes more than just re flection to solve problems; you must actually act upon this reflection in order to cause change. This applies to all aspects of life, whether it is internally or societally. People often discuss how they are addicted to their phones, as our cover showcases, but never make an effort to change their lifestyle. Addiction is a problem many say is prevalent in modern society, as our centerspread discusses, but there is little effort made to create preventative measures. Even in high school, students often put academic success over other important priorities and are constantly miserable as a result, as our editorial com ments on. The need for change is everywhere, so it is time we move beyond reflection

HIGHLIGHTING DISCIPLINED LIFESTYLES

BY JACKSON KOTTMEYER Editor

In today’s fast-paced world filled with instant gratification and distractions like Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat and YouTube, finding people who live a truly disciplined lifestyle is increasingly difficult.

Living a disciplined lifestyle can look very different from one person to the next. For example, someone may be extremely academically disciplined by turning all assignments in on time, studying for each and every test and maintaining a 4.0 GPA. Another example is athletic discipline. This could come in the form of consistent time in the gym and maintaining a strict diet.

Professional athletes provide some of the greatest examples of discipline. Take, for example, Serena Williams, one of the greatest tennis players of all time. Throughout her career, she was known for spending each day training, following a strict diet and taking care of her body to ensure peak performance. She likes to start her day with a workout, which includes cardio, strength training and stretching. She also follows a strict diet by avoiding processed foods and focusing on nutrient-dense options like fruits, vegetables and lean protein.

But it’s not just athletes who lead disciplined lifestyles. Warren Buffett, one of the world’s most successful investors, is known for his frugal lifestyle. According to CNBC reporter Cheyenne DeVon, Buffett still lives in the same house he bought for $31,500 in 1958. He also follows a strict schedule, waking up at 6:45 a.m. every day and spending several hours reading newspapers and financial reports.

People in our communities live remarkable lives too, proving you do not need to be a celebrity to possess discipline. Senior Ethan Yost is one such example.

Yost has had a lot on his plate throughout his high school career. He balances elite level gymnastics with various school commitments, youth coaching and the management of a social media platform with over 170 thousand followers.

“Living a disciplined lifestyle has affected me in a positive way. By being

disciplined, I have let myself become involved in so many different activities and groups, like marching band, gymnastics, National Honor Society, coaching, content creation, Mr. Kaneland and more,” Yost said. “Getting to know people and making connections with a variety of people has been huge for me to be able to learn more about myself as well as others. Without discipline, I don’t believe that I would be granted so many amazing opportunities.”

While living a life like this can have many benefits, there are still some sacrifices that must be made. Living a disciplined life is hard to do without devoting a lot of time and effort to the cause.

“In order to live a disciplined lifestyle, I feel as if I’ve had to sacrifice a bit of my social life and downtime,” Yost said. “My schedule tends to stay pretty busy all year long, so with that comes some missed opportunities to relax or hang out witih family and friends when I want to.”

Disciplined lifestyles can also apply to academics. Senior Lindsey Andrae is one of the top students in the class of 2023 while also participating in varsity cross country and track.

“I am pretty disciplined with finishing schoolwork and training for cross country or track,” Andrae said. “During the school week, I am not able to hang out with my friends as much. But I think that because I focus on working hard during the week, I am able to enjoy my weekends and see my friends, so I don’t think it is too difficult if you manage your time appropriately.”

Like Yost, Andrae has had to make several sacrifices in order to live the life she wants to.

“I think that I have not necessarily had to sacrifice anything completely, but I have certainly had to turn down plans because I had schoolwork or practice,” Andrae said. “I also have had to commit myself to schoolwork to make sure I achieve my academic goals, which has meant that I still have a heavy workload during my senior year, so I have sort of sacrificed the typical relaxed senior year.”

Senior Ethan Yost does a handstand on parallel bars at an IHSA gymnastics competition at Hoffman Estates High School in 2022. Yost maintains a disciplined routine in order to have success in his many different extracurricular activities.

Photo courtesy of Ethan Yost

FAILURE OF REFERENDUM FOR KANELAND

BY ASHLEY VANDERHOFF Design Executive and Ad & Business Executive

During the April 4, 2023, election, a $57.5 million referendum to provide improvements to Kaneland High School failed to pass. The proposed plans included creating a safer and more efficient building through multiple projects with a temporary estimated tax impact of an additional $244 per year for the average Kaneland home value of $280,000. 4,628 votes were cast on the ballot, with 2,688 voting against the proposal and 1,940 voting in favor.

The referendum would have focused on six main projects: modern learning environments, student support, infrastructure needs, improved athletic facilities, campus reorganization and a new student entrance.

A total of three online and five in-person informational meetings were offered for community members to discuss the referendum. Emails and a referendum webpage also provided information on student and building needs. During an online meeting, Principal Dr. James Horne identified specific projects to address the needs of students.

“Currently, our social workers’ offices open up right into the hallway, so any student needing social and emotional support is often trying to access that in front of their peers,” Horne said. “[We are] trying to give opportunities to students to retain their privacy by [giving them] access to that in a more private area.”

The referendum failure renders the projects impossible to complete in their entirety. Superintendent Dr. Todd Leden spoke about continuing to address student needs despite the current lack of funds.

“We will have to take each of those projects project by project. The entire scope of projects, with our one million dollars roughly allotted per year for capital projects, was far more than a million. Hence the $57.5 million total. We can look at bits and pieces of those, but in their entirety, we would not be able to do any of those projects without a successful referendum,” Leden said.

Additionally, Horne commented on the district-wide impact of the referendum failing.

“The reality of this district is [you

are] currently sitting in the oldest building,” Horne said. “That means we suck up a lot of dollars available for the entire district. It does not just impact what is happening with our freshmen through seniors. It is happening pre-kindergarten up through seniors because we are a high dollar need. When you say, ‘What is going to happen with students,’ it is not just with Kaneland High School. It is with all other students as well because there are going to be things that have to be addressed here because of the needs of the building.”

Infrastructure and mechanical systems updates were other main targets of the referendum. Roof replacements, boilers, air handlers and additional mechanical and technical needs were proposed at $13.6 million. Director of Buildings and Grounds Mark Payton spoke on the infrastructure upgrades during an online informational meeting with community members prior to the referendum vote.

“One of the outcomes of the referendum would be a healthier and more efficient high school building. We have four boilers at the high school, two of which are original to the building. Those would get replaced through the funds,” Payton said. “We have air handling units and ductwork that are 40 years old and chillers that are over 20 years old. Our overall maintenance facilities are beyond their useful life here at the high school.”

These mechanical issues will now be addressed through the annually allotted budget for projects, construction and capital projects, which is around $800,000 to $1.2 million. Leden addressed the gap between the money needed and the amount available.

“We will take a slice of that. We will look at all of our projects, all of our needs and then based on that prioritize some parts of mechanical,” Leden said. “Will we be able to do some of the reconfigurations for student needs? Yes, probably some of it, but we do not want to put a lot of money towards it right now until we determine if there will be another referendum because we would hate to have to do a project twice. So we wait to see if there will be another referendum. Whether that is successful

or not will determine which of those projects we would do first.”

Approval of the referendum would have resulted in a tax increase spanning five years, and the following years would have seen a decrease in rates due to paying off previous debts. District Associate Superintendent Dr. Julie-Ann Fuchs had addressed the temporary increase in taxes in a previous online informational meeting.

“Should the referendum pass, we would be paying approximately $15.1 million per year on our bond payments. When our existing bonds are paid off in 2029, that $15.1 million annual bond payment will be reduced to about $6.8 million,” Fuchs said.

Moving forward, district administrators will continue to take steps to determine the best possible course of action.

“If it is decided for another referendum to go through, that gives the district time to learn from the community what it is about the referendum that [was not] supported. Did they not like the updates that were proposed? Was it because the overall ask for money requested was too high?” Horne said. “If we can slice away at some of it and bring down that cost…or was it simply because of inflation happening and now is not a good time to look at it? We are looking at high prices in eggs, in gas and interest rates are going up. Maybe a year from now or two, all of that looks a little bit better.”

The cafeteria and concessions area was supposed to be repurposed into a personalized learning commons. This would have created a center of support, improved traffic flow and a maker space.

Photo by Ashley Vanderhoff

KHS E-PASSES

BY ANDREW VALENTINI Editor and Co-Broadcast Manager

Kaneland High School students and staff experienced the introduction of an electronic pass system at the beginning of the 2022-23 school year. The passes have received some updates throughout the year, and now that the first school year of this new policy has neared its end, administrators are making plans for the future of e-passes.

Instead of having written passes that are difficult to track, e-passes were introduced as a fully digitalized option. They can be tracked by the origin of the pass, a student’s destination and the time it took for the student to arrive at their destination. This school year has been used as a test year for e-passes to get an idea of the effectiveness of the new technology.

“I think e-passes have been effective so far in that we are able to pull data on how often students are leaving class and accessing different parts of the building, including the nurse’s office, library, restrooms and Student Services,” Principal Dr. James Horne said.

E-passes were originally designed during the summer by the technology

department as a substitution for paper passes. Throughout the school year, e-passes have been continuously developed through the fixing of issues and the addition of new pass locations.

“We did put up some more devices so students could scan themselves in when they get to different areas, but the biggest thing is just getting people used to it,” Horne said.

E-passes have been met with mixed emotions. Some students and staff members like them, and others find them difficult to use.

“I’m not the biggest fan of e-passes. I feel like they serve no purpose from the alternative of just signing in

and out on a bathroom sheet,” junior Wesley Hollis said.

E-passes will continue to be used during the 2023-24 school year and are being considered a permanent form of passes for the high school. E-passes will continue to be updated and changed, though, to meet the needs of any new issues that may arise.

“We are going to continue to move forward with [e-passes]. The routine of checking students in and out will get better [going into] the second year of doing it,” Horne said. “Some of the glitches within the system will be worked on by the technology department.”

JOSHUA WEST LEAVES HIS ROLE AS DEAN

BY ABBEY MONDI Editor

Dean of Students Joshua West is leaving his position for teaching at the end of this year. West has been Kaneland High School’s dean since he was hired at the beginning of the 2017-2018 school year.

During his five-year tenure as Kaneland’s dean, West has had many positive experiences that have led to the memories he will take with him.

“[My favorite memories include] seeing kids work hard and graduate, even when they didn’t think they would,” West said.

Being a dean comes with many challenging responsibilities, and every day brings something new. As a dean, he is not only an administrator but a guide for many students, helping them through disciplinary, mental and social issues. Junior Latrail Morris has gotten to know West well over the past three

years.

“West is a cool guy with a nice personality. [I don’t want him to] leave because I don’t know who I am going to run to, “ Morris said.

Before transferring into an administrative role, West taught physical education for 10 years. During that time, he taught at an elementary level in DeKalb and at middle and high school levels in Rockford. After this year, West will be transitioning back into a teaching role in the high school’s physical education department, an opportunity he is viewing with optimism.

“I’m looking to move back into the classroom to have more interactions with students at a different level,” West said.

During West’s time as a dean, he worked alongside many other administrators. He collaborated with different

principals, assistant principals, athletics and activities directors, guidance counselors and security staff members. Assistant Principal Carri Oslager reflected on her experiences working with West.

“He is funny and loves working with kids, and you can see that. He is willing to do anything,” Oslager said.

West has created many relationships and memories as the dean, and he has also learned plenty of lessons. As his time in the position nears an end, he hopes to have left a positive impact on both students and staff members.

“The position of dean is a difficult job. It’s a process to get to know the students, and it will never be my intention to discipline without the purpose of changing behavior,” West said. “I hope that over these last five years, whoever I worked with looked at me and [thought] that I was fair and kind.”

design by Ashley Vanderhoff

Photo by Andrew Valentini

Librarian Jessica Parker sits at a desk that also functions as an e-pass station. The library is one of the most visited places in the school throughout the day. Teachers can give a student a pass so that Parker can check the student into the library.

THE WHALE: A CHANCE FOR REDEMPTION

BY DANE COYNE Editor

The Whale, written by Samuel D. Hunter and directed by Darren Aronofsky, is a devastatingly tragic film. A psychological thriller and a commentary on the horrors that religion can bring, this movie follows the shameful life of an obese man faced with death.

Brendan Fraser won the Oscar for Best Actor for this movie, defining his comeback as an actor. As he entered the realm of Hollywood once again, he also ended up facing a great deal of backlash for his role in The Whale.

Since the release of the movie, Fraser has been accused of “fatphobia” for wearing a fat suit during the film. The controversy is around the question of whether someone who does not struggle with something can correctly portray someone who does struggle with that particular thing. Despite this, Fraser’s reputation has come out largely unscathed by the public, and his popularity is skyrocketing.

Based on the 2012 play of the same name, The Whale does not shy away from sensitive topics. The main topics that the film addresses are addiction, religious trauma, suicide and abuse. The film follows a morbidly obese online English professor named Charlie (played by Brendan Fraser) who always keeps his camera off during his lessons. The cause of this is his depression, which began after the suicide of his lover many years ago.

We learn from his nurse, Liz (played by Hong Chau), that he is suffering from heart failure. She urges him to go to a hospital or else he may die within days. Meanwhile, a young missionary named Thomas (played by Ty Simpkins) is convinced that God has sent him on a mission to save Charlie’s soul. Charlie does not care about “saving his soul” nearly as much as he cares about talking to his daughter, Ellie (Stranger Things’ Sadie Sink), whom he had left alone with her mother eight years earlier.

The setting of this movie is dreadful. A single room in a house consisting of a living room and a kitchen. We are forced to sit back and watch Charlie struggle from the couch to the fridge, pushing himself only to get more food. This single room is claustrophobic and

dingy. You can’t help but feel trapped along with him. He’s not only trapped in his house; he’s trapped in his body more than anything. This disgusting setting intensifies the lonely and hopeless undertones of every situation in the film. He lets every depressive episode he experiences drive him to the kitchen to suppress his feelings. He’s not unhappy because he’s fat; he’s fat because he’s unhappy.

This movie has a great deal of religious ties. The loss of a loved one is collectively shared through all the characters in different ways, but they all end up tying back to the church. The main example of this is Charlie’s loss of his lover, a man named Alan that he had left his wife for eight years prior. Lost to suicide, his lover wasn’t just battling depression. He was also battling the disapproval of the ones he loved most. Shunned and shamed for his sexuality, he was driven to suicide.

It may seem hard to tie religious trauma back to obesity and heart failure, but the correlation is more than just a convenient connection in the story. This isn’t just a story about an obese gay man; it’s a story about shame. Shame for the way you look, shame for your sexuality, shame for your past and shame for your present. The Whale does an in credible job of high lighting the horrors that can come with blindly following a faith, and it shows the potential ca tastrophe that can result from pushing someone to their breaking point.

deserve forgiveness, but everybody deserves honesty.

The movie is not called The Whale just because of the main character’s appearance. The desire for creativity is brought up throughout the film. As an English professor, Charlie pushes his students to do something more with writing. He pushes them to write something “honest.”

At the beginning of the movie, during a heart-related episode Charlie has in his living room, Thomas (the missionary) finds him clutching his heart and reading an essay about Moby Dick. Instead of calling for help, Charlie asks Thomas to read the essay to him. Charlie survives the heart pains, and when asked for an explanation as to why he wanted to hear it so badly, he simply says it was a good essay.

Later on, it is revealed that his daughter wrote it. He considers it the most honest essay he has ever read. In the end, all Charlie ever wanted was honesty. Even when he messed up his life beyond repair, he showed that his ability to be truthful with himself and admit that there was no going back to what once was is what brought him

Cartoon by Dane Coyne

One mistake leads to another, and the shame can live with you forever if you let it. The moral is that you may not

,

WE ASK YOU ANSWER

WHAT IS A PROBLEM IN SOCIETY YOU THINK NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED?

BY LYLA CHRISTAKES

“I think a problem in our society is healthcare. Necessary drugs, such as insulin, cost way too much, and the [price] should be brought down.”

- junior Ian Stein

“I think that climate change should be addressed, especially the Willow Project. We aren’t doing something about [climate change] soon or quick enough to actually make a difference.”

- freshman Emma Gatz

“I think the biggest social problem is [a lack of] education in areas that are not as well off as others. There, the graduation rates are much lower, and people are not getting the education they deserve because of the area they grew up in.”

- senior Ethan Nitsche

“A problem in our society is pay inequality. I still believe that the pay gap is very prominent, especially in male-dominated fields.”

- senior Kellie Peters

KANELAND PROGRAMS RETURN TO TRAVELING

EXTRACURRICULARS RETURN TO TAKING TRIPS OUT OF STATE AFTER EXTENDED BREAK

BY BENJAMIN WARFORD

Spring and summer bring excitement for both students and staff members, not just because of the warmer weather, but also because of the out-of-state club and athletic trips that take place during these seasons.

The Kaneland choir will head to Finland and the Baltic states for the first time since previously touring other European countries like England, Scotland, Ireland, Spain and Portugal, making it their sixth international tour since 2009. This will be their first post-COVID trip, marking the end of a three-year hiatus with a 12-day visit from May 30 to June 10.

Choir director Bryan Kunstman is thrilled for his students to have an opportunity to showcase their talents.

“The trip is a culmination of the students’ hard work and preparation throughout the year,” Kunstman said. “Students will be able to perform in seven separate churches and cathedrals in three different countries.”

While students’ main focus of the trip is to highlight their musical talents, they will also have the opportunity to interact with and experience Baltic and Finnish culture.

“Through travel and interaction with others, our students learn that while our unique perspective and experiences have helped shape us, there are many commonalities that connect us with those we interact with as well,” Kunstman said.

Finland and the Baltic states are heavily enriched in choral traditions, and performances that take place there feature drastically different styles than

the “single concert and single performance” that students are accustomed to back at Kaneland.

“The opportunity to interact with eager and appreciative audiences from different countries adds further depth to these rich educational experiences,” Kunstman said. “The standing ovations that often occur at the end of the concerts validate the students’ hard work as they strive to inspire every audience they encounter.”

While the choir has their international trip to look forward to, a few Kaneland sports teams recently returned from their Spring Break trips to the South. The varsity baseball and softball teams traveled to Gulf Shores, AL, for their annual tournaments that took place during the week of March 24-30. Each program played several games, with a strong focus on bolstering team chemistry for the upcoming conference and regular season.

This was junior Corinne Pugh’s first trip to Gulf Shores, and she especially appreciated the team bonding activities that took place during the week.

“We made dinner together as a team one of the first few nights we were there,” Pugh said. “Later in the week, we played mini golf and went to the beach. I had a great time with my teammates.”

Alabama has some competitive teams that are usually in the middle of their seasons, so these experiences for both Kaneland teams are a great way to get any preseason cobwebs out of their systems. Having some warm weather games for players and coaches who are accustomed to the opposite certainly

doesn’t hurt.

The Kaneland Winter Percussion (KWP) group also traveled last month, heading to Dayton, OH, for the Winter Guard International (WGI) from March 17 to 19. KWP co-director Michael Speziale emphasized the importance of safety and communication on that trip.

“Active communication with the group, as well as their parents during and before the trip, was vital,” Speziale said. “Food preparation regarding allergies and making sure the students feel safe in general is always very important to all staff members.”

Speziale and other staff members had been preparing for the event well ahead of the actual occasion, starting back in October.

“We had been planning the trip since the very beginning of the season,” Speziale said. “We typically set a goal for the end of the season and work backward as the year progresses.”

The spontaneity and moving parts throughout the preparation process and then during the trip itself were hard to adjust to, but Speziale felt that the group responded accordingly.

“The random cancelations were frustrating at times,” Speziale said. “It all ended up working out, but it was different from our normal performances where we can typically account for most people.”

The opportunities to travel that come with this time of year afford student-athletes, club members and musicians valuable experiences that can then positively impact the rest of their seasons.

Kaneland Winter Percussion members load the trailer to transport their intruments. They traveled by bus to Dayton, OH, for their final competition of the season.

Senior Alex Panico is safe as he slides into home plate. The varsity baseball and softball teams traveled to Gulf Shores, AL, for tournaments during Spring Break.

Photo by Kevin Sigrist

Photo courtesy of Grace Collins

BASKETBALL TEAM’S MEMORABLE SEASON Boys basketball team ties overall win

record

BY SOFIA WILLIAMS Editor

The Kaneland varsity boys basketball team finished the 2022-23 season with a record of 26-6, with that win total putting them in a tie for the school record. Those 26 wins included a 14-0 first-place finish in the Interstate 8 conference. This took a lot of passion, dedication and effort from the team.

Prior to this year’s varsity team winning 26 games, only the 1961-62 and 1981-82 teams had reached that win total. All of the players on this year’s team played significant roles in helping the team achieve this milestone, including senior guard Johnny Spallasso.

Spallasso left a mark on the team for his role on both offense and defense, where he was typically asked to guard the opposing team’s best player. A natural leader to his teammates, Spallasso was named a firstteam All-Conference member. He also spent his fall season as a wide receiver and cornerback on the varsity football team, and he is currently playing shortstop for the varsity baseball team.

Spallasso has played basketball for the past eight years, and while he is not continuing his basketball career in college, he has had a significant impact on the Kaneland program. There are many techniques when it comes to being a leader to your teammates, and Spallasso’s approach was to lead through his actions.

“I was leading by example, doing everything the right way [to show] the younger guys how things are supposed to be done,” Spallasso said.

Another valuable asset to the team this season was junior shooting guard Troyer Carlson. He not only surpassed the 1000-point career scoring mark (he currently has 1002 points), but he accomplished that with one year remaining in his high school career and despite having one of his three seasons cut short due to the pandemic. After

this season, Carlson was also named a first-team All-Conference member and was voted by Interstate 8 coaches as the conference’s Most Valuable Player. He was also named as a Special Mention to the 2023 Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Class 3A Boys AllState team. Carlson and Spallasso were

We were undefeated in our conference, which has not been done in a long time. It was a team accomplishment. Hopefully the returning players learned that hard work pays off, and setting goals as a team and working towards them as a team is rewarding.

- head coach Ernie Colombe

joined on the All-Conference first team by senior point guard Gevon Grant, and junior forward Parker Violett was an Honorable Mention. Carlson comes from a family of multi-sport athletes, so it is no surprise that he plays basketball while also putting in the time and commitment to be the varsity football team’s starting quarterback. His achievements so far have not only demonstrated his commitment to basketball but to the program as well. Carlson came into high school with a personal goal of scoring 1000 points, which has long been viewed as a milestone number in high school basketball.

While it may have been a successful season from both individual and collective standpoints, Spallasso still critiques himself on what could have been. This shows what kind of competitor he is, one who knows that there is always room for improvement and who does not get caught up in the glory of all the wins.

“Obviously, the first thing you think of when you go back to our season is the number of wins we had. It feels great to have tied the school record in total wins in a single season, but at the same time, it feels disappointing knowing that I was only one game short of having that record all to ourselves,” Spallasso said. “Being a part of it was awesome, though.”

The athletes’ dedication plays a big role in how successful they can be, but none of it can be done without the guidance of a dedicated coaching staff.

Head coach Ernie Colombe recently completed his fourth season as the varsity boys basketball head coach. Prior to taking over the boys program, he was the head varsity girls coach for 13 years. This past season has stood out as one of the more memorable ones from his career.

“It has been a great year. We were undefeated in our conference, which has not been done in a long time,” Colombe said. “It was a team accomplishment. Hopefully the returning players learned that hard work pays off, and setting goals as a team and working towards them as a team is rewarding.”

Senior guard Johnny Spallasso attacks the basket during the first quarter of a January home conference game against Rochelle. Kaneland defeated the Hubs 86-64, with Spallasso adding 15 points.

Photo courtesy of Benjamin Falk

ACKNOWLEDGING ACCOUNTABILITY

LACK OF RESPONSIBILITY IN CELEBRITY CULTURE

From the smallest of content creators to household names, celebrities are some of the most respected people in society. Many look up to them due to their wealth or talent, but the way celebrities behave can be perceived in different ways by different people and then turn into situations that are out of their control. High-profile figures often suffer from a lack of accountability, drastically influencing young people who idolize them.

Kanye West is one of the most notable celebrities under discussion as of late. West, who now goes by ‘Ye,’ has had a tumultuous last few years of media coverage with his personal life and controversial statements in the spotlight. Recently, West appeared on the far-right conspiracy theory website InfoWars, where he praised Adolf Hitler, denied the Holocaust and identified as a Nazi. Though he faced severe backlash from the general public for these comments, West has sparked a rise in antisemitic crime organized under the “Ye is Right” slogan. A February report by the Anti-Defamation League showcases a list of crimes across the United States involving antisemitic rhetoric. It includes multiple instances of hate speech, vandalism, harassment, intimidation and acts of violence against Jewish people. These events taking place soon after West made his antisemitic comments exemplify the consequences of being a polarizing public figure.

“Celebrities represent what ‘regular’ people

aspire to be, so they impact those who look up to them,” freshman Ava Wukitsch said. “Popular celebrities usually have a lot of young fans, so many see them as examples of a perfect person and take inspiration from them. This isn’t always good because some celebrities are out of touch with society and lead their fans into blindly supporting what they say.”

In 2021, Australian pop singer Sia released a film titled Music, which is about a non-verbal woman on the autism spectrum coming under the guardianship of her half-sister. The film received criticism from neurodiversity activists before its release because of the choice to have Maddie Ziegler, a non-disabled and neurotypical person, play the lead role. Despite Sia’s responses defending her casting choice, the movie’s release did not see better public reception. Critics, autism advocates and audiences alike felt that it inaccurately depicted those on the autism spectrum through stereotypes and tropes commonly seen in film and television.

“It’s not that autistic people don’t have meltdowns, or echolalia or tics; there are elements of truth to Ziegler’s performance, but even a stopped clock gives the right time twice a day,” journalist Clem Bastow said in an article from The Guardian by editor Betsy Reed. “Any pathos is undone by the (mis)understanding of autism betrayed by Sia’s lyrics...Music is gifted an AAC device to aid her communi cation, but it seems to only have

two phrases installed: ‘I’m happy’ and ‘I’m sad.’ Music manages to both underestimate autistic people and infantilize them.”

Assuming that Sia did not intentionally offensively portray autism through her film, it still does not dismiss her from her decision to direct Music. Soon after the film’s release, Sia posted apologies for the depictions of autism and the restraining scene in the movie. For a film filled with stereotypes and questionable acting performances, some think it’s good that it received backlash long before its release. “Despite what her intentions might have been, the movie portrayed autistic people in a way that would’ve caused more misunderstanding and disdain towards those who are autistic,” Wukitsch said. “The fact that people were discussing its problems before and after it was released is a sign that there are those who want to learn and improve. It’s also clear that they wished to help Sia realize what she’d done, but she didn’t accept it until it was too late.”

Celebrities are heralded as role models, but that isn’t their job. They will make mistakes, and some may be worse than others. Supporting a celebrity does not equate to blindly following their influence, but we can understand what their power entails and hold them accountable for what they do. Celebrities are imperfect, and their actions, whether they are good or bad, are often en- abled by their sup- porters.

Kanye West has made controversial statements regarding African Americans, Judaism and human rights throughout his career. As a result, he has lost many partnerships. West’s behavior towards his ex-wife, Kim Kardashian, is widely considered to be harassment.

Sia’s first film, Music, took place amid much controversy due to her lack of knowledge on autism. Sia’s relationship with her muse and lead actress Maddie Ziegler has been viewed as excessive, and concern over Ziegler’s role arose because of the fact that she is not autistic.

Alexander James O’Connor, known by his stage name Rex Orange County, was charged with six counts of sexual assault in Oct. 2021. He was alleged to have assaulted a woman in June 2021, but in Dec. 2022, O’Connor announced that all of the charges against him had been dropped.

Story by Rafika Khan • Cartoons by Lilliana Bobé • Page Design by Ashley Vanderhoff and Jackson Kottmeyer

AMERICA TEETERS ON BRINK OF RECESSION

BY KEVIN SIGRIST Editor-in-Chief of Print and Production Executive

Over the past year, economists have been noticing trends and patterns regarding the level of economic growth that have led to speculation that a national economic recession is approaching within the next year.

A Forbes article written by financial copywriter David Rodeck defines a recession as “a significant decline in economic activity that lasts for months or even years.” Declaring that a country has entered a recession does not indicate that conditions are going to drastically worsen or deteriorate, but it essentially declares the economy is at a level of weakness it rarely enters. The past several recessions the country has experienced have been unexpected, but for a variety of reasons this current instance seems to be predicted.

A major point of interest is inflation, where current evidence suggests a recession. According to the U.S. Inflation Calculator, which calculates data from the Labor Department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics’ monthly consumer price index (CPI), from 2013 to 2019, inflation rates have risen no higher than 2.3%, but from 2021 to 2023, they have been at a minimum of 6.4%, almost three times as high. Due to major product shortages in recent years, inflation has risen to the highest rate it has been at since 1982.

The data is not limited to inflation, however. Unemployment rates are not necessarily in a bad spot, sitting at 3.4% according to Trade Economics, but worry comes from the drastic nature of those numbers in recent years. Following the unprecedented spike in unemployment in 2020, rates made a quick recovery, and that creates worry as to the stability of the job market.

One of the biggest concerns is the gross federal debt to gross domestic product (GDP) ratio. According to Trade Economics, the United States gross federal debt to GDP sits at an all-time U.S. high of over 130%. From 2013 to 2019, this ratio did not surpass 107.2%, but from 2020 to right now, it is yet to duck under 125%.

Prices and various interest rates associated with housing prices, mortgages, bank loans and student loans are also see -

ing increases that add to the list of concerns about a recession.

If economists decide that this data is confirming a recession, this will mean a variety of things for the American people, especially young adults.

Personal finance teacher Renee Grisch teaches her students all about the economy and ways to handle their own finances and has developed her own worries regarding the economy as her students will soon enter it.

“If we’re in a recession, the main concern for young people is the bringing back of jobs and the salaries that match those jobs. In recessions, we lose different types of jobs and they don’t come back for a long time,” Grisch said. “Generally, in the economy, in a recession where we go into debt, it’s unknown how young people will pay off that debt, and that’s not as much of a problem for my generation as it is for younger ones.”

In a recession where interest rates, inflation and unemployment increase, companies cannot afford to pay as many employees while also continuing to consume as they do. This then leads to unemployment, and as more people have less money, the debt increases. As the economy recovers, however, it becomes difficult for people to secure well-paying jobs in order to pay off this debt, as companies seeking workers are also struggling with debt of their own. This chain of events leads to an unfavorable job market and lots of lingering debt for many Americans.

This data points heavily towards a recession, and the economy is transpiring in a way that appears to be indicative of one as well. Despite all of this, there is one final piece of information that is crucial in economists’ minds in determining if this specific instance of negative economic growth

The most recent data of gross federal debt to GDP shows a huge spike around 2022: up to 129%. In addition, this spike seems to be more severe than that of the recession in 2008, which was only at 61.3%.

could be indicative of a recession.

The COVID-19 pandemic caused problems globally for the economy. Between major product shortages, freezing of debt and interest rates and a major spike in unemployment, the pandemic caused so many unforeseen impacts on the economy that professionals are still determining what is simply the aftermath of COVID-19 and what is an apparent standalone recession.

“I think the most prevalent reason as to why conditions have worsened is that we are still at the tail end of COVID. During COVID, pretty much everybody stopped making payments such as student loans,” Grisch said. “Banks said, ‘Hey, you don’t have to pay your car loans, and you don’t have to pay your rent,’ and we went from that to spending massive amounts of money after they set us free. I think this is all part of that whole wave of [the] aftermath that’s coming through.”

This consideration of COVID as a reason for the economy’s behavior is apparent in economists’ predictions, as the time frame for a recession has continued to be pushed back later into the year or into future years over time.

Between various instances of economic data and the behavior of the economy, many would make the claim that the U.S. is entering a recession. However, given that the country is still rebounding from the unprecedented detriment to the economy that was the COVID-19 pandemic, it is simply too unclear to give a definitive answer. It is still incredibly important to be prepared because of this instability.

Graphic by Lizzy Sidman

BAD HABITS AND ADDICTION:

BY: KATIE PFOTENHAUER DESIGN BY: ELLIOT KRIPPELZ

Most people have probably done something harmful even though they knew there would be consequences. For example, in the summer, it is common knowledge that wearing sunscreen can help prevent sunburn and skin cancer later in life. Even though many are aware of the repercussions of not wearing sunscreen, plenty of people still do not wear it because they do not understand how important it is or do not think it matters because it is not impacting them now.

Sure, one may get sunburned, but that sunburn eventually goes away. The same concept can apply to bad habits and addictions. While someone may think it is okay to develop bad habits now because the impact of a certain behavior or action has manageable consequences, the long-term effects can drastically influence the rest of their life, whether they know it or not.

First-year guidance counselor and former school psychologist John Markovich knows how easy it is for students to form bad habits.

“You start something, and it makes you feel better. That thing that makes you feel better in the short term does not always make you feel better in the long term. You start to get into that habit,” Markovich said.

Markovich

anisms do not offer benefits.

“There is a commonality among people where they do not see the forest through the trees. You are just trying to make it day by day, and if there is something that can help you get through the day, we tend to rationalize our actions even if the outcome does not look great,” he said. “That is a major component of humans because we think, ‘Oh, that will never happen to me.’ It is a huge flaw we all have.”

Some students have a mindset that something unfortunate will never happen to them as a safeguard. While optimism is not a bad thing, being overly optimistic about something harmful

know what addiction is and the detrimental consequences it can have on a person.

According to the article Habit vs. Addiction: What’s the difference? published by Alvernia University, “The most important distinction between habit and addiction is how choice, to an extent, is still possible with habit-forming behaviors. When it comes to addiction, people generally have a harder time making decisions because of their dependence on a substance or behavior.”

Bad habits are obstructive, but a person can still function with them. For example, a bad habit may be drinking too much caffeine. While caffeine is a stimulant that many consume from energy drinks and coffee, it can become unhealthy when consumed in copious amounts. When someone starts to rely on the caffeine from something like energy drinks, it can turn into an addiction when how they act starts to change.

. understands that students might just be trying to get through daily battles, but he knows some coping mech -

may cause them to be unprepared for the outcome.

The word “addiction” can bring a range of emotions, and most are negative. Addiction is prevalent in society and can tear apart families.

Whether a person has seen addiction on television, watched someone they know go through the struggle or dealt with it firsthand, most people

14.1%

OF TEENS REPORTED CURRENT E-CIGARETTE USE IN 2022

According to the New Choices Treatment Centers’ article Different Types of Addiction: Physical and Behavioral, “Physical addictions are the ones that are generally better known. These are addictions to substances that are ingested or otherwise put into a person’s body.”

When addiction comes to mind, people may think about abusing alcohol, tobacco, prescription drugs or marijuana, but addictions are more than what impacts a person physically.

Also according to the New Choices Treatment Centers, “Behavioral addiction is classified as any time that one loses control of their actions to engage in behaviors that result in brief feelings of happiness. That person becomes dependent on the pleasurable feelings that come as a result of certain behav -

27.6% OF CURRENT YOUTH E-CIGARETTE USERS USE A PRODUCT

ThispicturewastakenwithpermissionfromKanelandsecuritystaff.

A TABOO THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED

iors and begins to compulsively act on that behavior.”

In school, a well-known addictive behavior is vaping.

“We can all agree that vaping is prevalent, as it is pretty accessible. I think it has even become normalized,” social worker Jenna Cartwright said. Addiction is a form of escapism used so an individual can briefly get away from something, which can then impact their mentality.

According to the study To Get High or to Get Out? Examining the Link between Addictive Behaviors and Escapism by Hannu Jouhki and Atte Oksanen, “Escapism is a tendency to seek escape and distraction from reality or real-life problems. Past research regards escapism as a negative inducement that leads to adverse consequences when combined with substance use and other addictive activities.”

The use of escapism leads to consequences that are not beneficial to students.

“There is a connection between escapism, mental health and addiction, which leads to problems later if left unchecked and can affect a student when escapism, mental health and addiction build on each other. Even when we feel something is helpful, it is not doing any good,” Markovich said.

Stress also plays a critical role in bad habits and addictions. Short-term relief can happen while stressors continue to get worse and more abundant, and Cartwright knows how that repetition of stress and short-term relief can affect students.

“You are here to be a student. If you are scrolling on your phone for

3.3% OF MIDDLE SCHOOLERS REPORTED CURRENT E-CIGARETTE USE

the entire class period because that is something you use to help you feel better, the stress will pile on because you missed what you are learning in class,” Cartwright said. “Even though you have to get caught up, you cannot remember the information now, [as you have] disrupted your learning environment.” If a student does something harmful when stressed and their parents find out, it can cause that stress to become more severe, leading to an impact on their everyday life.

“Before long, you start to

people at school who want to help students learn how to cope and can provide resources for them.

“Not everyone gets the education they would get if they were coming to Student Services and meeting with their school counselor or social worker about what it means to implement positive coping strategies and learn to move away from [harmful] coping strategies,” Cartwright said. “The lack of education that some students face is doing more harm than good.”

With regular Monday lessons during homeroom, students can get some information that they may lack.

“I know there have been social-emotional learning (SEL) lessons in homeroom on base-level strategies. There is a reason why we talk about it. Some may not see the helpfulness of SEL lessons because they think, ‘I’m not stressed. Why are you telling me to take a deep breath?’ However, there is a benefit to taking [those lessons seriously],” Cartwright said.

Some students may worry about their parents’ reactions to certain situations, but someone admitting they need help is a step in the right direction to break bad habits and addictive cycles. “There are times people think, ‘What will my parents say?’ But that

have health problems and drop out of sports and activities. Then, your grades drop. Once your parents find out and get mad, you have that added stress. Then, you get caught at school, and you get in trouble. You go home, and your parents are upset,” Markovich said.

Dealing with stress by forming bad habits is not beneficial, but there are

11.6% OF HIGH SCHOOLS IN SOME DISTRICTS SELL ENERGY DRINKS ON CAMPUS

phone .... call is the first step to get help. If you deal with the underlying issue, you may not need to use small crutches to get through a day,” Markovich said.

The final statistic comes from a 2022 article, The Buzz on Energy Drinks, from the CDC.

IMPORTANCE OF APOLOGIZING

Admitting when you are wrong can be extremely difficult depending on the situation. Many people tend to get tunnel vision when viewing a problem they face, resulting in only seeing one side of the story or automatically thinking they are in the right. Breaking out of this habit by taking a moment to look at the situation from all perspectives, knowing when you are in the wrong and being able to apologize are all important skills that improve communication in relationships.

Being able to openly talk to people and understanding that communication works both ways can be difficult. When you are disagreeing with someone, it can be easy to assume that you are in the right. Taking a moment to step away from a situation and evaluate what you said and how you can healthily address the issue will make you a better communicator.

Sophomore Christian Martinez understands the importance of open and healthy communication in relationships. Martinez uses his communication skills to create stronger relationships with people in his life.

“With bad communication, it is hard to get to know someone and develop a connection with them,” Martinez said. “You miss out on all the opportunities you would get if you did have open and honest discussions.”

Relationships require both parties to put effort into them. Even personally acknowledging your mistakes is not enough at times; apologizing and addressing the situation properly are also necessary for relationships to progress. When you can properly apologize to someone, it shows the genuine effort that you put into discussing your mistakes and attempting to move forward.

Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) facilitator Mallory Sunday provides academic and emotional assis -

tance to students. Sunday, who has years of experience working with students in both a traditional classroom setting and more of a supporting role, shares some appropriate strategies to use while apologizing and trying to improve communication.

“Apologizing is important because it gives both people closure [on the situation]. If you get the chance to apologize and you are sincere about it, you give yourself the opportunity for growth and you allow the other person to know that you care about the issue,” Sunday said.

When you can truthfully admit you are wrong and acknowledge your behavior to the person who was affected, it strengthens your relationships and your skills related to healthy communication. Taking some time to reflect on the situation entirely and coming to the conscientious decision to sympathize with the other person also shows maturity and the willingness to be vulnerable even in uncomfortable circumstances.

Some issues can become difficult to confront because of lack of comfort that you or the other person may have. Even though apologizing may seem straightforward, it can sometimes feel uncomfortable. It is still necessary, though, to apologize even in tense situations. It may be easy to send a text saying, “I am sorry,” but providing a detailed acknowledgment of your faults will be more beneficial in terms of how healthy your relationship will be.

“Being able to apologize in person with a genuine tone of voice is important. Taking the time to show [someone] that you genuinely mean [what you say] and not just saying, ‘I am sorry you feel that way,’ will make a difference,” Sunday said. “Listen and understand the things that you could do better.”

Understanding the importance of being able to reflect on what was said during an argument is also extremely beneficial. Even if you think what you

Elliot Krippelz

said was correct, comprehending what the other person felt after you potentially said hurtful phrases are things to look out for when evaluating an argument.

Medical writer and executive editor of the Harvard Heart Letter Julie Corliss writes about the significance of knowing when to apologize and how to do it properly.

“Even if you don’t think what you said or did was so bad, or believe that the other person was actually in the wrong, it’s still important to apologize when you’ve hurt or angered someone,” Corliss said. “That ability is one of the cornerstones of emotional intelligence, which underlies healthy, productive relationships of all types.”

Trying to back down and admit your wrongs to somebody can be emotionally defeating, especially if you hurt them. Putting aside your pride can be extremely challenging and can result in doubling down.

Doubling down means taking a further risk in a situation or trying to passionately prove your point by continuously making your argument seem correct. This strategy is easy to accidentally do when you can’t accept your faults and want to be viewed as correct. Consistently doubling down can make the situation way worse than it already is. Taking a minute to communicate logically without strong emotions gaining control can prevent doubling down during a disagreement.

“When you find yourself starting to double down, you need to make sure to be open-minded to the fact that you could be wrong. Many problems usually don’t have one factor to them, and emotions [tend to] play a really big role in decision-making in arguments,” Martinez said. “You could be right about a situation but be wrong on how it comes across. Doubling down is purely [triggered by] emotions and can be interpreted in the wrong way.”

1 3 2

shows accountability and a willingness to fix the situation.

Show respect through listening and communicating. That is part of proper apologizing.

Cartoon by Lilliana Bobé

In high school, students often put off many necessary priorities in order to uphold their self-established expectations of academic success. Academic success is important, but nothing is more critical than your own health, both mentally and physically.

PRIORITIZING YOUR HEALTH

Having a strong work ethic is incredibly important. Being able to work through your different priorities to maintain your expectations of success is critical in life. This being said, in the world of high school where students balance a variety of responsibilities as well as their own expectations of themselves, it is incredibly important to understand how seeing results is not always indicative of a healthy habit. In school, it’s common to hear students repeatedly talk about how busy they are and how they are simply trying to make it to the end of the week. Oftentimes they also mention how this process is making them miserable. They shun any personal desires or necessities in order to fulfill their expectations of success. This applies to almost any facet of their lives, whether it is sports, aca demics or health.

While it is important that you feel fulfilled in what you do, and sometimes having to work incredibly hard to meet a goal is important for challenging yourself and learning to overcome obstacles, it is never worth it to put your own mental or physical health on the line for just one aspect of your life.

“I see a lot of this behavior with students who are trying to be perfect. Whether it is sports or school, they sacrifice being a kid because they feel they have to be perfect,” guidance counselor Cynthia Violett said. “That takes a lot of energy and time, and they think that is success when success is really about being happy. Success isn’t saying, ‘I’m a straight A student’ or ‘I’m number one in my sport.’ It’s just being happy.”

Beyond any school expectations, your own mental health comes first,

however this concept goes beyond school. When it comes to one’s health, especially as a young person in a time of the most change, living an unhealthy lifestyle to achieve a desired body type is far more harmful than many believe.

Being unhappy with your appearance or weight is incredibly common in high school, and while it isn’t necessarily a bad thing to change your lifestyle in order to see results, many people go about this process in a damaging way. Some develop eating disorders because they view that as a way to lose weight fast with the least amount of work. This is not at all the case and is an unsustainable way to go about losing weight, as it is incredibly detrimental to your growth and health, both mentally and physically. Physically recovering from eating disorders can take months or even years, and mentally recovering can take even longer. The tradeoff is in no way worth it.

“Everybody is always looking for quick results, but that is not always the best [idea],” Violett said. “Now that I’m older, I think it is most important to keep this concept in mind [when it comes to] your physical health because things that you do to yourself when you’re younger will impact you later in life. It’s important you’re physically healthy and doing things that are beneficial for you.”

It can feel rewarding to meet your expectations, but when these expectations cause copious amounts of stress or in any way jeopardize your mental or physical health, it is necessary to adjust your expectations.

“So many kids don’t know how to fail,” Violett said. “It’s okay to fail. That’s called resilience.”

Best Overall Publication 2021 & 2022

Subscription rates: Five issues, three supplements

School-delivered, $20; Home-delivered, $30

Benjamin Warford Co-Sports & Activities Executive

EDITORIAL STAFF

News 1 Ethan Bollhoffer

Feature 1 Jackson Kottmeyer

News 2 Tiffany Johnson

Feature 2

Lizzy Sidman

Sports 1

Andrew Valentini

Centerspread Elliot Krippelz

Opinion 1 Rafika Khan

Opinion 2 Dane Coyne

STAFF

Editorial Taylor Anello

Profile Delaney Calabrese

Advertisements Ashley Vanderhoff

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

Cartoonists

Lilliana Bobé and Dane Coyne

Print Production

ADVISORS

Nicole Larsen Print advisor Dominic Bruno Krier 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: Taylor Anello, Lilliana Bobé, Ethan Bollhoffer, Delaney Calabrese, Lyla Christakes, Dane Coyne, Samantha Dunne, 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.

MANAGING EDITOR STAFF Samantha Dunne Social Media

Cartoon by Lilliana Bobé

Lauryn Moneta Nick Toman Parker Violett

REFORM IS ESSENTIAL TO END HOMELESSNESS

BY LIZZY SIDMAN Editor

It is easy to see someone begging for money on the streets and look straight ahead, walking by without stopping. Erasing that image of poverty from your memory can seem easy enough compared to the discomfort of reflecting on the reality of homelessness. Many mainstream solutions toward homelessness reflect widespread discomfort, with many simply putting a Band-Aid on the complex issue rather than solving any problems.

It is easy for many to separate themselves from homelessness, as it seems like something that could never happen to them. But the fact is, unthinkable struggles are happening to hundreds of thousands of people from all backgrounds, and homelessness could happen to anyone. Homelessness is happening right now, and not enough is being done to prevent it.

Some might speculate that homeless people are not working hard enough for a job that would pull them out of their situation. A job can seem simple enough to earn for the financially privileged, but this is only sometimes true.

Lazarus House, a homeless shelter in St. Charles, assists those struggling in the Kane County community by offering resources like individualized case management, including support in finding jobs. Even as the staff promotes an end goal of independent living, Operations Manager Amy Dimiceli completely understands the struggle of finding a job while homeless.

“People say, ‘Just get a job’, but [if someone] is struggling with mental health, how are they supposed to get a job before they can get that in order?” Dimiceli said.

When someone becomes homeless, maintaining a previous job can be difficult due to the pressure of finding shelter. Even those who are employed while homeless may not be able to live without assistance. According to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Living Wage Calculator for Kane County, the minimum wage for someone living comfortably as a single, childless person is $19.23 an hour. The current minimum wage of $13 an hour is not nearly enough for someone to live, especially if they are already dealing with

homelessness.

Aside from unfair wages, many homeless people deal with other issues that keep them from working. Many problems that may have been unnoticed when they had money, like mental illness and addiction, can be brought to the forefront.

“The National Coalition for the Homeless has found that 38% of homeless people are alcohol dependent, and 26% are dependent on other harmful chemicals,” author Krystina Murray wrote in an article reviewed by an addiction specialist.

on. Fixing all those in-betweens would help us give more resources to somebody,” Dimiceli said.

Although most politicians on both sides of the political spectrum are against homelessness, disagreements on how many resources the government should extend make shelters like Lazarus House have to adapt to new conditions constantly. Some politicians against implementing extensive resources are concerned about spending too much money, but regulating the top one percent’s wealth could eliminate this concern.

“During the COVID-19 pandemic, billionaires in the United States have become unfathomably richer to the tune of $637 billion total,” journalist Taylor Griggs wrote in an article about wealth inequality. “This is while tens of millions of Americans have lost their jobs.”

Even as the rest of the world suffered from the pandemic, billionaires’ wealth grew exponentially, leaving thousands homeless and jobless, with few attempts made by the government to regulate the distribution of wealth.

Some may attack the one percent for hoarding wealth, but a few individuals cannot change homelessness alone. Homelessness can only be solved by listening to the homeless community and creating comprehensive federal legislation to tackle every aspect of the topic.

Homeless shelters work with those who struggle with addiction and mental illness daily. Still, emergency housing is not a replacement for rehabilitation centers or mental institutions. Many homeless people need additional recovery but are often financially unable due to a lack of government funding, leading many to live a lifetime in and out of homelessness.

Even with those in offices that fight to reduce homelessness, legislation is seldom passed, as homelessness has become a political topic rather than a human decency issue.

“Depending on who’s in office, we have something, and we don’t have something, we have something, and so

“At Lazarus House, we are neighbors helping neighbors. I don’t think it is like what people outside of Lazarus House would perceive homelessness as,” Lazarus House Center for Transitional Living Case Manager Katie Collins said.

Homelessness affects many people’s neighbors, family and friends, yet it is treated as taboo. Homelessness is curable, but massive changes need to be made. It is of considerable importance to reform current solutions, with helping people at the center of the movement. Being uncomfortable when discussing homelessness is expected, but it is equally significant to push through and, in the words of Lazarus House Women’s Case Manager Monse Rivera, “Be open to those uncomfortable thoughts.”

Cartoon by Lilliana Bobé

BEING ACCOUNTABLE FOR MENTAL HEALTH

BY PAIGE WHITESIDE Editor-in-Chief of Web and Copy Editor

While struggling with mental health issues, some may act out in negative ways, hurting themselves and those around them due to the symptoms of their condition. While mental health can sometimes explain why someone does problematic or harmful things to others, it does not excuse these actions.

Mental illnesses come with a wide variety of different symptoms and behaviors. Those with anxiety, for example, may find it hard to go out in crowded places or calm themselves down, while people with bipolar disorder experience mood swings and feelings of impulsivity. Symptoms of mental illnesses come with different levels of severity and affect people in various ways. Although mental health symptoms can impact your life, it is important to not use them as excuses for bad behavior.

In recent years, the stigmas surrounding the discussion of mental health have been broken down significantly. Many people find it easier than before to talk about mental health with others, including friends, parents and even teachers. Although it is important to talk about these issues with others to gain support and a sense of comfort, this broken-down stigma has also marked some negative changes in society.

According to an article by psychotherapist Nicholas Balaisis (RP, Ph.D.) from Psychology Today, an American media organization that focuses on psychology and human behavior, as mental health has become more widely talked about, so has the misuse of and dishonesty about mental illness symptoms.

“As awareness of mental health issues has grown, so too has the prevalence of people blaming their bad behavior on ‘poor mental health,’” Balaisis said. “Sometimes the use of mental health can cover up or shield an individual from taking responsibility for actions, behaviors or moods, or excuse them from the work that true mental health requires.”

Mental health symptoms can cause people to not fulfill certain responsibilities in their lives, but using these symptoms as an excuse and simulta -

neously not working towards trying to improve shows poor responsibility and ownership skills. There is a difference between taking a break to value your mental health and personal wellness and completely ignoring important responsibilities in your life - one shows growth and responsibility for yourself, while the other demonstrates a lack of accountability.

Many people fall into the trap of using their mental health as an excuse as their symptoms become more difficult to deal with. Sophomore Jessica Peterson suffers from depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). While she is aware that the symptoms of her mental illnesses should not be used as excuses, she finds it difficult to maintain her usual life while dealing with personal issues that arise from them.

“I don’t handle my responsibilities well when I am struggling with mental health issues,” Peterson said. “I can’t focus at school, and I don’t feel like talking.”

When your psychological state becomes unmanageable, there are many different ways to work through these issues. All illnesses are different, and not all can be cured in quick or easy ways, but some steps can be taken to at least improve how you feel. Kaneland

High School social worker Amanda Renn feels that communication is key to forming an understanding with others about how mental health affects you.

“[Mental health] should not be used as an excuse, but if you can communicate to others about what is going on and what your roadblocks are, there may be a way for someone to try to understand you and work with you [on your struggles],” Renn said.

It is also important to remember that just because you are dealing with difficulties in life, that doesn’t mean others aren’t going through their own problems as well. The people around us suffer from their own personal struggles on a daily basis, and assuming that you are the only one who has to cope with challenging circumstances is ignorant, although you may not even realize it. Blowing others off or ignoring their needs because of personal psychological struggles or a lack of awareness may cause relationships to weaken or fail.

Mental health diagnoses can cause several issues to arise, but using them as an excuse to justify poor behavior or a lack of care towards those close to you is harmful and shows an absence of responsibility for your actions.

“We can’t control how we feel,” Renn said. “We can control our actions.”

Cartoon by Dane Coyne

As a student, it is understandable to go through struggles with mental health. However, there is a balance between staying mentally healthy and using it as an excuse. Not finding that balance can put stress on those around you and set yourself further behind.

Photo by Sela Valignota

AN ULTIMATE NINJA WITH A BRIGHT FUTURE

BY SELA VALIGNOTA Editor and Co-Podcast Manager

Learning to be persistent and driven are vital parts of growing up, and for many high school students, they find that through their relationship with sports. One of Kaneland High School’s most diligent and hard-working students demonstrates this mentality through her dedicated mindset within the ninja sport. Senior Anne-Marie Lancaster has been participating and competing in ninja warrior training for over two years and has grown as an individual, both physically and mentally.

Lancaster has always had a very strong dedication to her health and athletic career, starting at six years old when she began swimming, which she then did for almost nine years. Although it was a big part of her life, Lancaster eventually stopped because she wanted to transition entirely to ninja warrior training.

“I stopped swimming a year after I started doing ninja training because I wanted to do it full-time. I had reached a place in my swimming career where I would have to go elite because of how fast I was, and I realized that I didn’t want to stop ninja training, so I decided to stop swimming,” Lancaster said. “It was one of the hardest decisions I ever had to make but definitely the right one.”

Lancaster’s ninja warrior career began four years ago when she went to the Ultimate Ninjas Naperville gym during a pro camp, which was an event where professionals from the American Ninja Warrior show came to the gym.

“I had only gone to the gym once or twice before, but I did the salmon ladder which is hard and impressive, especially for a 14-year-old. [American Ninja Warrior] Jesse Labreck came up to me and asked if I had done it before,” Lancaster said. “I tried out for the team and got on the elite team, and pretty quickly in the first year I saw a lot of progress in my strength [that I didn’t get from swimming].”

Labreck is a general manager at the Ultimate Ninjas Naperville gym and competed in the eighth season of the American Ninja Warrior show. She is not only one of Lancaster’s coaches for ninja warriors but is also one of her closest friends within the gym.

“I have known Lancaster for about

four and a half years,” Labreck said. “I compete with her and have been friends with her and her family since she started coming to the gym.”

Through her training at the gym, Lancaster has had the opportunity to meet and grow closer to people she looks up to and who love ninja warrior training as much as she does, such as Labreck.

“My coach is like my older sister, and she is one of my biggest inspirations,” Lancaster said. “She’s one of the best women in the sport right now. When I met her it was like I was meeting a celebrity, and now she’s my best friend.”

As Lancaster got older and had been going to the gym for over a year, she not only grew closer with her ninja warrior peers but was also allowed to train at the adult open gym. This was a turning point for her, as Lancaster then faced harder courses and more technical tactics.

“We have a core group at the gym of around six of us [that consists of] my coaches and my teammates. We’re constantly training, sometimes on Friday nights until one in the morning,” Lancaster said. “They let me train with them while they’re preparing for the show, and it converts over to other competitions because we simulate it like we’d be filming.”

Although she has not received a call to be on the American Ninja Warrior show, Lancaster still competes in different leagues of ninja warrior training. One of her coaches, American Ninja Warrior Chris DiGangi, started a league two years ago called the Ninja Sport Network.

“[DiGangi] is trying to get ninja warriors training to be seen more as a sport and less as just a competition show, and being in the league these past two years has been my favorite [experience]. Now that we have it, not getting a call from the show feels a little better because the league is just as important,” Lancaster said.

Like most sports, there are more than just physical obstacles to overcome. For Lancaster, while she loved doing ninja training, she struggled mentally to overcome her anxiety, most specifically during competitions.

“Ninja warrior is half physical strength and half mental strength. I struggled for a long time with competing. I got really nervous and did not do how I wanted because I was so worked up,” Lancaster said. “I eventually broke that barrier and realized [it was scary because it’s important to me]. Ninja training has definitely taught me to be mentally tough and just go for it.”

Lancaster’s dedication and work ethic is not only seen through her involvement in ninja warrior training but also within the friendships she maintains. One of Lancaster’s closest friends, senior Danielle Reinert, has known her for nine years and has noticed the type of genuine person she is through their relationship.

“[Lancaster] is very supportive, dependable and understanding,” Reinert said. “She has made me a better person because she always pushes us to be the best version of ourselves.”

Other than pursuing one of the world’s fastest-growing sports, another big part of Lancaster’s life is music. As both a guitar player and a fan of American singer and songwriter Gracie Abrams, Lancaster ultimately hopes to pursue a career within the music industry. After having attended Abrams’ concert in February 2022, Lancaster started to truly consider what she wanted to do in the future.

“Going to the Gracie Abrams concert completely changed the trajectory of my life,” Lancaster said. “I went to that concert and met someone through my uncle who works in the music industry. She showed me the ropes of music management and planning tours, and it helped me figure out what I want to do when I’m older.”

While she hopes to pursue a career in music management, Lancaster hopes to continue to develop her ninja skills and be a fill-in manager at the Ultimate Ninja Gym. Additionally, she not only plans to continue training but also intends to keep it as a major focus in her life.

“I’m just staying close to home for the first year or two [after high school],” Lancaster said. “Depending on where I go after that, there are a lot of gyms around the country, and so I’m hoping to pick a college close to another one.”

PRESENTING IN NEW SPACES

BY LILLIANA BOBÉ

Kaneland provides students with many fine arts opportunities through various programs. Students in these programs commonly leave the school to perform and compete, but construction in the auditorium has caused students that usually stay at Kaneland to also relocate and travel.

The Kaneland musical cast and pit rehearse their show The Wizard of Oz during tech week at the Egyptian Theatre in DeKalb. Because of ongoing auditorium construction, the program had to find a new space to perform this year, and while relocating created many hurdles to overcome, the group succesfully performed on April 7 and 8.

Page design by Ashley Vanderhoff

Photo by Riley Swiderski

Photo by Riley Swiderski

Kaneland teachers Erin

and Emily

students participated in the Interstate 8 Conference Art Show at Morris Community High School on March 11. Multiple schools came together to present a variety of artworks in a public art show. Kaneland placed 4th in the conference as a team, as well as earning four individual ribbons.

The Kaneland High School band performed their winter concert at the Northern Illinois University concert hall. Since construction is taking place in the auditorium, the group had to find a new space to perform.

The Kaneland Winter Percussion program performs at their final competition in Dayton, OH. This was the first time the group was able to compete in Dayton, as their previous opportunity in 2020 ended abruptly because of COVID-19.

Page design by Ashley Vanderhoff

Photos

Damisch, Nicole Larsen

VanDelinder-Birchfield and their KHS art

Photos by Lilliana Bobé

Photo by Kevin Sigrist

Photo by Ashley Vanderhoff