November Issue

the krier [ NOVEMBER 17, 2011

the student newspaper of Kaneland High School

VOLUME 38 ISSUE 3 November

n o n w o d w o l n e w h o t the lockd The details of what happened

PSAE AND AYP CHALLENGES p. 2

INDOOR TANNING BANNED p. 6

KHS TAKES PART IN RECYCLING p. 14

INCREASE YOUR FLEXiBILITY p. 16

NEWS NEWS

Students commended for high scores on PSAT

BY RACHEL MATHYS, Reporter Seniors Brandon Stahl and Kayley McPhee were named commended students for their high scores on the PSAT and were honored at the school board meeting on Oct. 24.

“I was excited and proud for Kaneland High School,” Principal Chip Hickman said.

Many students take the test during their sophomore or junior years, though it’s not required.

The PSAT helps students prepare for taking the SAT, but it also

allows students to enter the National Merit Scholarship Program for a chance to win scholarships.

It uses scores from critical reading, mathematics and writing sections to honor top students, some of whom can continue in the program for the chance to win a scholarship.

Out of the 3.5 million students who take the test each year, only about 34,000 high scores receive letters of commendation that recognizes their achievement, and only 16,000 move on to be semifinalists.

Semifinalists go through an evalu-

Photo by: McKinzie Mangers

Board president Cheryl Krauspe congratulates seniors Brandon Stahl and Kayley McPhee for being named commended students at the board meeting on Oct. 24.

ation process, and 15,000 of that 16,000 become finalists. Scholarship winners are chosen from the group of finalists, and many others will be awarded scholarships from universities and corporations.

While commended students do

not advance and compete for scholarships as finalists, they do become candidates for scholarships from other groups.

“I smiled and I was happy,” Stahl said. “My work has been recognized.”

PSAE results are in, as federal standards get tougher

BY RICHARD WILLIAMS, Reporter The results are finally in for the PSAE test. Kaneland improved in math, held steady in science and went down in reading and English.

In reading, 58 percent of Kaneland students met or exceeded standards, a decrease of three percent from last year. In writing, 54 percent met or exceeded, decreasing six percent from last year but also decreasing the number of students in the warning category by two percent.

Science remained unchanged overall; 57 percent of Kaneland students met or exceeded, but the

number of students in the warning category decreased by six percent.

In math, 54 percent of Kaneland students met or exceeded, increasing two percent since last year.

“It gives us some tangible data points that enable us to analyze specifically where we need to improve,” English teacher Ryan Malo said.

Kaneland did not make Adequate Yearly Progress under No Child Left Behind, a federal law requiring schools to have a certain percentage of students meeting or exceeding on state exams.

Schools like Kaneland that miss AYP receive increasingly punishing

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consequences, but it’s a law that U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan called “broken and unrealistic.”

Statewide, 98.5 percent of Illinois high schools are considered “failing” under the law. Only eight schools statewide met the targets set by NCLB. That’s part of the reason that, according to school administrator Erika Schlichter, NCLB is both good and bad.

“It focuses us on achievement for all students,” she said, but she believes, “it is very punitive for schools instead of focusing on improvement.”

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Students, however, have different views on the matter.

“The PSAE affects the money we get for the school,” senior Patricia Lassandro said. “I went to the school for four years, and since I did my best, it isn’t my fault if I didn’t do well.”

Kaneland has been taking steps to help students improve by making STEP mandatory and adding a new program called the Response to Intervention.

What will happen next at Kaneland, however, is unclear. “[The] easy answer is that we don’t know yet,” Schlichter said.

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Gaytan remembered for humor, kindness

BY RACHAEL CLINTON, Executive Editor Christian Gaytan, a 2008 alumnus of Kaneland High School, died on Sept. 25.

The DeKalb County Coroner has not yet determined the cause of death, pending toxicology reports.

The Sugar Grove resident leaves behind his parents, Merced and Guillermina, and six siblings: Guillermo, age 23; Perla, age 19; Cynthia, age 17; Jovie, age 9; Alyssa, age 7; and Leo, age 5.

Cynthia Gaytan remembered her brother’s love for life and his happy countenance.

“Christian got along with everyone,” she said.

“He would even go and help those who seemed like they were alone. He loved to make people laugh a lot, and he never let anyone bring him down.”

Christian was part of Kaneland’s soccer and wrestling teams. He excelled in both sports, but he was mostly known for his wresting skills; he even went to state.

Gaytan enrolled at Waubonsee Community College right out of high school, where he majored in Business, but later changed his mind and found an interest in sociology, where he wanted to be able to help others.

Merced Gaytan, Christian’s father, said he valued his close relationship with his son.

“Christian talked to me all the time, but even when he had a problem, he stayed smiling,” Merced said. “Christian was a happy, happy boy, very polite, very talented and very funny.”

Merced saved a description paper that Christian wrote about someone who had inspired him because he had chosen his father.

“My dad is who I want to be when I grow

up. He means the world to me; without him I wouldn’t be the nice, gentle, tough kid that I am today,” Gaytan wrote.

Guillermo Gaytan, Christian’s older brother, said he knew Christian better than anyone.

“Christian could make anyone smile. He had a good heart. He was a positive influence on everyone around him. He was so passionate for wrestling and loved being the one to help people,” Guillermo said. “Christian will be remembered for his humor.”

Faculty and students at Kaneland remembered Gaytan as a respectful student and a good friend.

Senior Nick Fornero, a friend, said that he would never forget Gaytan. “Christian was always making people laugh,” Fornerno said. “There was never a dull moment when Christian was around.”

“He always just danced off everybody,” Fornero added. “He didn’t care. He always just did what he wanted. I liked that.”

Katie Tolan, one of Gaytan’s former coworkers at Papa Savario’s, said Gaytan never failed to make her laugh.

“Christian was really easy to talk to, he was outgoing, and he always knew how to make people laugh,” Tolan said.

“He was a very patient person, understanding and self-conscious about getting things done,” Kurt Green, Gaytan’s former speech teacher, said. “The way he treated people was respectful.

He was just a very nice kid.”

Cindy Miller, Gaytan’s former health teacher, remembers Gaytan for many positive things including his smile.

“He always had a smile and was always just so happy. He loved soccer, loved hanging out with

CUTZ & STYLZ

Photo courtesy of the Gaytan family

his friends, and he seemed to enjoy everything he did,” Miller said.

“It’s always sad to see alumni pass on. I feel really bad for his family. It’s also really hard as teacher having a student for over the years you become close, and it’s almost like losing your own.

It’s just not fair. Kids are not supposed to die; old people are,” Miller said.

A memorial service for Gaytan was held on Sept. 29 at James Funeral Home in Aurora.

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Occupy protests spread globally

Citizens stand against corporations and banks worldwide

BY BRIANNE STROBEL, Editor Occupy Wall Street has spread to Chicago and other cities across the country, as protestors seek reform in corporate America.

The general complaint? Corporations have too much power, and government should stop favoring them and start representing the people.

The movement started Sept. 17 in New York City and spread all over the world, by various names, to countries including Taiwan, Jordan, Germany, Belgium, Canada, Japan, France, England, Mexico, Sweden, Australia, Spain, Chile, the Philippines and Italy.

“It’s finally reached the point where people are upset enough [with the government]. It’s an election year, so there’s a lot of emphasis put on different issues,” Javier Martinez, social sciences teacher, said. “They have to get the support of the general population, because then they’ll get the politicians to listen.”

He said that leaders within the group have to do whatever they need to be taken seriously.

There’s the possibility that because they are protesting, they could be seen merely as inconvenient troublemakers.

Mike Polski, a resident of Joliet who was at the Occupy Chicago protest march on Oct. 22, said that the people who were planning on camping out overnight at Grant Park chose to because they can’t pitch tents on the sidewalk.

Photo by Brianne Strobel

Occupy Chicago protestors march on their way to Chicago’s Grant Park on Oct. 22.

He was holding a sign at the side of the road that said “For Sale: Congress.”

“The lobby groups have too much power and influence over lawmakers,” Polski said, “[We need to] take money out of politics. That’s what our founders wanted. They wanted Congress to be a representation of the people, and now it’s lawyers and millionaires.”

Thousands have been showing up to the

Occupy Chicago marches. At the end, there is a general assembly where speakers voice their opinion.

That night, about 130 people were arrested for staying in the park after the time of closing.

Chicago police have been paid hundred of thousands of dollars in overtime so far to maintain peace and order at the protests, while the Occupy movement has cost New York millions.

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KRIER

OURVIEW

Kaneland’s Student Newsmagazine

Kaneland High School 47W326 Keslinger Rd. Maple Park, IL 60151 (630) 365-5100 ext. 236 www.kaneland.org/krier/ Member ISHSPA, Quill & Scroll, NSPA, NISPA NSPA First Place 2010 Quill and Scroll First Place 2010 NISPA Golden Eagle 2011 Subscription rates: Nine monthly issues, two supplements School-delivered, $15; Home-delivered, $28 EXECUTIVE STAFF Kylie Siebert Editor-in-Chief Circulation Back Page

Diana Nuno Print Production Visual and Design Editorial

Rachael Clinton Digital Production Cover Design

Julia Angelotti Advertising & Business Head Copyeditor

PRINT EDITORIAL STAFF

Artwork by Kylie Siebert

The infamous blame game As teenagers, most of us opt for the easy way out. tivation, student ability, parental involvement, family Adults, on the other hand, love to take the difficult education and household income. route because most of the time, that’s the right one.

Even learning styles have changed; the way we learn Yet with education, it seems everyone’s looking isn’t the same as it was in 1940. Schools need to adapt in for easy answers. The PSAE test scores came out and a way that’s more in-depth then throwing computers in there’s another uproar—mostly directed at teachers and the library and giving each classroom a projector. schools. What a surprise.

Each student needs to be treated individually. Not Statewide, 98.5 percent of Illinois high schools everyone can read literature and see the importance of failed to meet federal standards under No Child Left irony.

Behind. Only eight of the 666 high schools in Illinois Sometimes it’s easy to see why one school does betmade Adequate Yearly Progress, according to the Illiter than another. For instance, DeKalb High School has nois Board of Education. a 41.1 percent low income rate, Kaneland has 13.7 perThe conversation about what to do about test scores cent, while Geneva has 5.2 percent. DeKalb’s class sizes in schools, though, never seems to change. Politicians are bigger, and Geneva spends close to $1,000 more on in Congress and citizens in their operating expenditures per pupil. living rooms alike blame the teach- EDITORIAL BOARD VOTE It’s no surprise, then, that Geneva’s ers and schools. They’re not good scores are better, Kaneland’s are in AGREE DISAGREE enough. They’re not trying. the middle, and DeKalb’s are the It’s a stale conversation, and a weakest. few epiphanies need take place beBut it’s not always easy to comfore any real change will occur. We pare schools or figure out why one need to realize that this is a complidoes better than another. Here’s an cated issue and that not every facexample: statistics show that our tor is within the school. parental involvement is 96.2 percent, while DeKalb has Accountability is a good thing, but the PSAE is a lower test scores but has 100 percent parental involveflawed test not only because it doesn’t test everything ment. DeKalb parents are more involved, but Kaneland a school does, but also because it doesn’t matter to studoes better. dents. That’s definitely true at Kaneland, where 71 perFor education to improve, all these factors need to cent of students put a lot less effort into the PSAE than be addressed—not just one. That’s why politicians, the the ACT, according to a Krier poll of last year’s juniors media and citizens should stop pointing their fingers conducted last April. and start addressing these complex social issues.

That’s why the PSAE isn’t a good measuring stick to Our scores don’t mean that Kaneland is a bad begin with. Let’s compare GPAs and ACT scores. Let’s school. Each of us are capable of excellence. compare the number of students who take AP classes.

What we do know is this: it doesn’t help students to Let’s compare solid proof. learn by labeling nearly all Illinois high schools as failBut beyond that, we need to look at all the reasons ing. It doesn’t help students to learn by stripping away why test scores don’t impove. Many factors like teachtheir school’s federal funding. ing style, years of experience and curriculum matter, Politicians should be focused on helping students, but so do social and economic factors like student monot on dinging their schools for “failing.”

27 0

News Morgan Buerke Kaprice Sanchez

Real World Matt Wahlgren

Opinion Sam Bower John Pruett

Features Lexi Roach Delaney Stryczek

Lifestyle & How-To McKinzie Mangers

Sports Feature Brandon Bishop

Centerspread Emily Gulanczyk Alex Vickery Pulse Ryan Noel Kaleb Schuppner

Depth Lanie Callaghan Casey Jacobson Sports Photography Shane Fergus Heather Shelton Jacob Razo

Asst. Copyeditor & Flex Page Brianne Strobel

DIGITAL EDITORIAL STAFF News Sara Laurie

Features Gina Jarvis

Photography Tyler Keenum

Sports Nick Philips

Technology Manager Marshall Farthing

GENERAL STAFF

Nick Albano, Matt Alfrey, Nina Burns, Jaemee Cordero, Murphy Garcia, George Graefen, McKayla Helm, Kati Hill, Maria Lassandro, Tatiana Lee, Kaley Martens, Amelia Likeum, Rachel Mathys, Michelle McCracken, Evan Ortiz, Samantha Payton, Eddie Rodriguez, Sabrina Sivert, Taylor Spooner, Kristin Staub, Bryanna Stoiber, Ellie Strang, Claudia Tovar, Lourinda Triplett, Hannah Wallace, Richard Williams

ADVISERS Cheryl Borrowdale Krier adviser

Nicole Larsen Graphics adviser

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: Julia Angelotti, Rachael Clinton, Diana Nuno, Kylie Siebert, Brandon Bishop, Sam Bower, Morgan Buerke, Lanie Callaghan, Emily Gulanczyk, Gina Jarvis, Casey Jacobson, Tyler Keenum, Ryan Noel, Nick Phillips, John Pruett, Jake Razo, Lexi Roach, Kaprice Sanchez, Kaleb Schuppner, Heather Shelton, Brianne Strobel, Delaney Stryczek, Alex Vickery, and Matt Wahlgren.

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 edit letters for clarity and length. Any material that is potentially libelous, obscene or disruptive will not be published, at the discretion of the editorial board. The Krier has been an open forum since 1974. As an open forum, we restrict editing to staff members only; prior review and editing are prohibited by people outside the staff.

Editorial / November 17, 2011 / KANELAND KRIER

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MYVIEW

What’s next: banning sunlight for teens?

CASEY JACOBSON Editor The Golden State has made it a crime to actually get golden.

In California, it’s now illegal to indoor tan if you’re under the age of 18—and Illinois might be next.

It’s the nanny state at its worst.

What makes it okay for the government to ban tanning beds for everyone under 18 just because it may cause increased harmful effects?

Yes, tanning can be unhealthy, especially when done excessively.

People who tan know the effects of sunlight and UV rays, yet they choose to anyway.

Let’s compare. People are also aware when they pull up to a McDonald’s that they aren’t going to get a plate of carrots, yet millions of people order from them every day. Obesity is an epidemic in the United States. Should the government ban fast food for kids so they wouldn’t get obese?

The freedom to choose is what California’s governor Jerry Brown took away when he signed the bill banning those under 18 from ultraviolet tanning beds and device on commercial premises into law for 2012.

Not all girls (or guys) who use indoor tanning are among the ste-

reotype who have four different accounts to different tanning salons so they can get as dark as the cast of “Jersey Shore,” and the sun’s UV rays are the same as UV ray lights from tanning beds.

What’s he going to do—ban sunlight next?

Health organizations such as the American Cancer Society argue that the bill is going to protect America’s youth. They claim indoor tanning’s UV rays cause increased risks of diseases and cancer, so the bill should be supported.

The American Academy of Dermatology Association applauded California for their decision.

“We commend Gov. Brown, Sen. Ted Lieu and the other members of the California legislature for their efforts to help reduce the future incidence of skin cancer by protecting youth from the dangers of indoor tanning,” dermatologist Ronald L. Moy, president of the AADA, said.

Although the bill will keep minors from indoor tanning, does the government really think that teens will stay out of the sun?

“It is a fact that taking away from teens the option to tan indoors will not stop teens from sun tanning; it will only send them outdoors into an uncontrolled environment, with no supervision, no trained staff, no parental consent required, where they are more likely to be over exposed or sunburned – which is exactly what the proponents of this bill say they are trying to avoid,” said John Overstreet of The Indoor

UVA/UVB x1000

Art by Heather Shelton

Tanning Association.

Overstreet might have a financial incentive to have teens tanning, but he’s right.

The sun has maybe just a teensy little bit more power than a tanning bed, and tanning isn’t bad in moderation.

“If you’re just getting ready for a special event a week beforehand, and go [in the bed] for ten minutes three times a week, we are talking about 30 minutes,” health teacher Cindy Miller said. “It’s when girls are tanning for 30 minutes at a time consistently it becomes extremely dangerous.”

The conversation about tanning has reached a certain level of ridiculousness when teenage girls slather themselves in tanning oil and bake under the sun for hours, but then are afraid that a tanning bed is going to give them cancer.

The law is unnecessary as well because protections for minors are already in place. When minors tan for the first time, a parent or guardian is required to give permission.

Paperwork must be signed warning customers about serious effects

such as eye damage, aging and skin cancers. Tanning salons even provide a mini-quiz to find out personal skin type so they know how much time should be spent in the bed.

Even in the private room for tanning, a large poster on the wall cautions customers about the harmful effects of UV rays.

“I think there is enough education going out to teens about tanning beds and tanning that they are able to make their own decision whether or not they want to do it,” Miller said. “If you’re allowed to decide whether or not to abort a pregnancy at age 16, I think that you should be allowed to make the decision if you’re going to be in a tanning bed.”

The government has no right to just take away business and jobs from tanning salons or to tell us whether we’re allowed to tan or not.

I’m not saying that indoor tanning should be taken advantage of to the point where my skin turns bright pink or freckles more than week-old bananas, but it’s my own body. I should have the right to do what I please with it.

just fine without the silly little things we do to shelter kids, and how does any of it really help? Sometimes kids need to experience a little pain. Pain is a part of life, isn’t it?

The world today is actually a safer place than it was 30 or 40 years ago. However, with the advent of cell phones and the Internet, people have become more aware of hazards and more cautious as a result.

That isn’t exactly surprising, but the amount of time kids are spending out and about is plummeting.

As many as 40 percent of schools nationwide have cut recess. A recent study by the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York surveyed

11,000 eight and nine-year-olds. It showed that kids who got at least 15 minutes of recess time per day behaved better in class.

We’re taking away their fun time, covering them in alcohol-saturated slop, and preparing them in dry classrooms for tests that may or may not matter.

We used to be a less regular, less regimented society, and that worked just fine. It’s just not necessary to overshelter and overschedule kids this way.

Some precautions make sense, but there is a line, and it seems to me like we’ve crossed it. Let kids be kids.

We need to quit sheltering our youth

MATT WAHLGREN Editor I had to shake my head when I saw another mother carrying around hand sanitizer, because it’s a symbol of what’s wrong with our society.

Hand sanitizer is stupid and unnecessary. When someone prepares my food, it’s an acceptable time to apply hand sanitizer (because, as we

6

all know, kitchen workers intentionally sneeze on their hands before making our food). But I can’t seem to go far without seeing some poor preschool kid getting drowned in hand sanitizer, and it’s ridiculous.

It’s hardly the only silly thing we do—it’s part of a larger cultural movement to protect children from everything.

Some of it’s for the best, no doubt. Airbags, for example, are a beneficial safety precaution for young drivers. But when we’re wrapping children in a dripping bundle of sanitizer and padding, things have gone too far.

Previous generations survived

Opinion / November 17, 2011 / KANELAND KRIER

EDITORIALBITES

MYVIEW

Nov. 27 is ‘takes-giving’ EMILY GULANCZYK Editor Superlatives run lives. Everyone expects the latest and greatest, no matter what the cost is. The most expensive cars, the most advanced cell phone and the most stylish clothes.

For example, take the new iPhone 4S that came out on Oct. 14. All the people that recently got the iPhone 4 are left in the dust as Apple unveiled their latest masterpiece. When there had been rumors of the new iPhone, most teens went crazy trying to pre-order the anticipated model and anxiously waited for the newest tech toy.

When the iPhone 4S came out, which is an updated version of the iPhone 4, most people were disappointed because it wasn’t as technologically advanced as they had hoped, and people complained because they couldn’t get their grabby hands on it.

The expression “keeping up with the Joneses” refers to a social comparison to your neighbors. It has to do with proving your social status and making others perceive you with a certain notation. “[The expression means] appearing that you have as much or more than your neighbors, friends or circle of peers,” psychologist John Markovich said. “It’s not necessarily limited to materialistic things; it can be the fact that you got a BMW after your neighbor got a Lexus.

It can be extended to vacations, having a better family, being in better shape than your neighbor, looking better physically or your relationship statuses.”

Are expectations and feeling of entitlement too high in our society? We all have this idea that we are entitled to only the best, and believe we should be pampered and only think about ourselves. People expect their wishes to come true-if that was the case, everyone would go pick some money from the mon-

I am grateful for Art by Heather Shelton

ey tree growing in their backyards.

“Parenting can have an effect on if parents spoil their children.

If parents don’t act like the authority figure and try to be friends with their kids, it can lead to them being spoiled,” Markovich said.

The perfect example of showing off extravagance is Bravo’s “Real Housewives of New Jersey” star Teresa Guidice. Guidice and her husband Joe filed for bankruptcy after their lavish spending got way out of control. After filing for debt ($11 million), Teresa and Joe have a collection of expensive luxury cars and three houses with a total of eight mortgages.

Eight mortgages for three houses should’ve raised a red flag to the Guidices, but in their quest to show off, they did what they could to make sure they looked rich.

The Guidices income is less than $100,000 so why do they spend money they don’t have?

The answer is simple: The Guidices are trying to become the “Joneses”–even though they’re broke.

The Guidices may look like they have it all, but at what price?

Joe Guidice may face prison time after getting sued by an ex-business partner and Teresa’s family is in shambles after an explosive season premiere at the christening party for her nephew where physical fights and verbal abuse occurred.

Guidice’s parents are in poor health and they are forced to cut back on their lifestyle. So is having material possessions worth having a broken family and failing health?

I don’t think so.

We put so much into putting out an image for people to see us as “perfect” or “rich” but we all forget about the important things in life.

“Audiences are bombarded by advertisements during commercials. They show that you can be cool and make friends with their product and it pushes you to buy it.

People want to appear cool in the eyes of their friends, so they feel pressure to get the newest items,” Markovich said.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying it’s wrong to want the best, but I think we take all our material possessions for granted and just want more. We forget we have to work hard to get what we want instead of getting it handed to us.

How many times do we stop and think about how lucky we are?

We all have families that love and support us, friends that cherish us and endless opportunities to look forward to.

I think we would be so much happier and less stressed if we focused on what we have instead of focusing on what we don’t have.

Comparing ourselves to others can have damaging results on our own self-esteem if we’re constantly thinking we aren’t good enough.

In the words of one of my favorite bands, The Zac Brown Band, “It’s the little things in life that mean the most, not where you live, not what you drive or the price tag on your clothes. There’s no dollar sign on a peace of mind, this I’ve come to know...”

We should all take a little time to stop looking up to the “Joneses” because obviously we’re forgetting about other important things in our life.

So, while you’re sitting around the Thanksgiving table with your family and friends, give thanks for the most important things in your life instead of dreaming about that iPhone 4S you haven’t gotten yet.

Loyalty doesn’t mean what it used to Lady Gaga prides herself on being different and she constantly reminds her fans of the importance of tolerance.

On this year’s VMA’s Adele received more nominations than her counterpart, and Gaga’s fans went wild. They began attacking Adele for her weight, one user tweeted, “CONFIRMED: Gaga will not be wearing the meat dress at the 2011 VMA’s because she is afraid Adele will eat her.”

It’s true that Gaga didn’t say it herself—but her influence was enough to turn her fans into the nasty people she rallies against. This is something that is common in high school.

We can find that the underlying reason for a number of altercations is someone sticking up for their friend. We’re not saying that sticking up for a friend is a bad thing, but there’s a fine line between making a point and belittling someone to make a point.

There’s absolutely no reason or excuse for slander to someone. It’s never acceptable, under any circumstances. Loyalty will never be an excuse for snarky comments, quick judgement, and deliberate belittlement.

Organization is key On Oct. 14, Kaneland High School faced a moment of chaos: the school went into lockdown, and students were not fully informed of what the situation was.

The lockdown could have easily gone smoother if students had more background knowledge about the different types of lockdowns and what has to be done with each level.

Even some teachers were in the dark.

We praise the fact that the administration was able to act quickly to keep everyone safe and to organize and simplify the matter, but more steps need to be taken to ensure a more efficient lockdown method.

It’s time for some practice lockdown drills.

See p. 12-13 for more info on the lockdown

Opinion / November 17, 2011 / KANELAND KRIER

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FEATURES

A major decision: choosing money or happiness

BY NICK PHILIPS & TYLER KEENUM, Editors Do you chase money or chase your dreams?

Senior Allison Tate has chosen what she would like to do for her future career path. Though her future occupation, art, doesn’t pay much, it’s happiness not money, she’s chasing.

“There’s lots of money in the world to be made, but you have to do things that will make you happy. You shouldn’t do something for four years if you hate it,” Tate said.

Many students face the same dilemma as Tate: money can’t always buy happiness, but just because something makes you happy doesn’t mean it will pay the bills, either.

The questions students ask themselves are crucial: is going to a state college over a community college really worth paying extra? Should a major in college be based off personal happiness or one that will make the most money?

It’s a question that has become more important in an age of recessions and college debt.

Getting a job straight out of college is far from a guarantee. Over a year later, just 56 percent of 2010 college graduates had found a job, according to the John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development at Rutgers University, and 2011 graduates are not faring better.

Even among those who found jobs, starting salaries have been declining—the average new college graduate made just $27,000 last year, a 10 percent drop—and many more have struggled to find jobs.

Many recent graduates have taken any job they could find, even if it was not their dream job.

“You have to be able to survive out there. It’s

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majoring in something they want to do, not just something that they believe will pay well. He said students feel that doing something that they personally chose “empowers them.”

Senior Megan Scott is part of that 70 percent.

Her future plans are to go to either Waubonsee or Iowa University and major in psychology. “[I would pick happiness over money] because I don’t want to be doing something that I hate for the rest of my life just to make more money,” Scott said. “Happiness is way more important to me.”

Reaching that dream job can be difficult, but it’s worth it, school psychologist John Markovich said. He said it’s important to choose a career that is purposeful.

“Most people lean towards their strengths because it’s very rewarding to them sometimes, and they get to feel like there is a purpose,” Markovich said.

That’s why despite the low pay, educators are among the happiest workers, according to a 2010 study by the University of Chicago. The study found that the happiest jobs were those where people had social interaction and felt like they were helping people, such as firefighters and teachers. Jobs with more freedom also led to happiness, such as authors and operating engineers.

Can someone ever have complete personal satisfaction and be truly happy? “There’s no real meter. If you’re happy with what you do, then you’re truly happy,” Markovich said.

MAJOR IN MONEY

MAJOR IN HAPPINESS

These bachelor’s degrees lead to high starting salaries

These careers have the happiest workers

1

Petroleum Engineering

$97,900

1

Clergy

2

Chemical Engineering

$64,500

2

Firefighters

3

Computer Engineering

$61,800

3

Physical Therapists

4

Electrical Engineering

$61,300

4

Authors

5

Computer Science

$56,600

5

Special Education Teachers

6

Biomedical Engineering

$53,800

6

Teachers

Southwest fries

Beer nuggets

7

Applied Mathematics

$52,600

7

Artists

Pizza by the slice

Hand dipped ice-cream

8

Construction Management $50,200

8

Psychologists

9

Economics

$47,300

9

Financial Services Sales Agents

10 Finance

$46,500

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8

scary. You can still do things on the side to fulfill those [personal] interests. Pursue your dreams so you can move into your dream job someday. I say never give up,” school counselor Andrew Franklin said.

School psychology teacher Mark Meyer believes many people sacrifice some happiness in order to make enough money.

“In the end, unfortunately, most people take jobs that they can get to help pay the bills,” Meyer said.

U.S. Labor Department statistics showed that certain majors were more likely than others to find a job in this recession: students who majored in engineering, education and medical fields were most likely to be employed, while those who had majored in fields like humanities and Latin American studies were least likely to.

Data from PayScale also showed that different majors led to different starting salaries, with engineering and mathematics leading the list. Elementary education, social work and culinary arts had some of the lowest starting salaries.

Those who graduate from a four-year college also typically make more money than community college graduates, according to Payscale, and those with master’s degrees make more. But while education gives you a faster start, many factors, like performance and seniority, can change who’s making more money mid-career.

Franklin said that about 70 percent of Kaneland students heading to college plan on

Feature / November 17, 2011 / KANELAND KRIER

Source: PayScale.com

Operating Engineers Source: 2011 General Social Survey by the University of Chicago Compiled by Claudia Tovar

M ROAD TO RECOVERY What’s next for

Mackenzie?

BY ALEX VICKERY, Editor

Senior Mackenzie Curran stands in a circle with four other P.E. leaders during her third block P.E. Leadership class.

They’re laughing and smiling as they pass a volleyball around the circle while other kids are shooting hoops and playing catch.

These past two years haven’t been easy for Curran, who suffered from a arteriovenous malformation or AVM in 2009 that caused strokelike symptoms, is still recovering and is now a fifth-year senior. But doing things like coaching the freshmen volleyball team and riding bikes during P.E. Leadership are “excellent” for her, Sue Curran, Mckenzie’s mother, said.

Curran is in a unique position: she is both a P.E. leader and working on regaining lost academic, speech and volleyball skills.

Twice a week, Curran goes to speech and physical therapy outside of school. At school, she has speech therapy for two hours a week, occupational therapy one hour week and physical therapy for 45 minutes a week. She does almost ten hours a week of activities and works on reading, speech and stretching exercises at home.

One of the hardest things for Curran to do is talk, and it’s one of the most challenging things she’s had to overcome.

“She wishes she could talk like she used to.

Some of her old friends don’t know what to do or say, and she just wants to hang out and talk like old times with friends. She says she’s still

Top: Mackenzie Curran was voted Homecoming Queen last fall, as she began her recovery from the AVM. Curran continues to make progress and plans to attend college next year. Right: Curran reads music in choir.

the same person inside,” Sue Curran, Mackenzie’s mother, said.

The once talkative senior is still regaining her speaking abilities and is now able to say a few words at a time—an improvement from just last year.

Walking is another big challenge Mackenzie Curran has had to overcome.

“The first three weeks, we weren’t sure if she’d ever walk or talk again. Kenzie knew us, but we didn’t know what she really understood or remembered. Then by leaps and bounds she started improving,” Sue Curran said.

Although Mac—a nickname her volleyball teammates shouted on the court when she did a “Mac Attack”—can’t fully play volleyball like when she was on the Kaneland varsity team, she is coaching the freshmen team and assisting Coach Breanne Kahl.

“When we found out she would be here again [this year] and wanted to stay involved, we thought that it was a perfect way for her to stay involved by helping with the younger girls,” Kahl said.

Curran is a very positive coach and cheers really loud for the team, Kahl said. Curran said all the team does is “win, win, win.”

“Besides logistics, she’s been a huge inspiration

Photos by Heather Shelton and Jaem

ee Cordero

for all the girls on the team,” Kahl said.

To help support Curran and her family, a former student from Geneva and a former club volleyball teammate made “We Heart Mackenzie” t-shirts, and Kaneland graduate 2011 Alyson Rehr made bracelets to sell.

Curran’s reaction? “Touched,” she said.

Her story is one that has touched many others as well. DeKalb’s varsity volleyball team asked to wear the “We Heart Mackenzie” shirts, and so did Augustana’s team. She was also interviewed for ESPN. “Mackenzie hopes to attend Lincoln College next year. She has many years of recovery ahead of her, but she improves everyday and our hope is for a full, dramatic recovery,” Sue Curran said.

To everyone who has supported Curran over the past two years, all she has to say is two words: “Thank you.”

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9

Anime Artistry &

It’s capes and conventions—but the world of Japanese anime is wide enough to include high fashion, romance and fast cars.

BY MORGAN BUERKE AND HEATHER SHELTON, Editors

Sabrina Watts knows that when she wears her black and red cape emblazoned with the symbol of Naruto to school every Friday, her classmates will stare, but she doesn’t care.

“When I wear my cloak, I feel alive, and I notice that people stare at me,” Watts said, “At first it was awkward, but now I’m okay with it.”

Watts used to feel uncomfortable because of the people who kept staring, but her friends were dressing up, and she didn’t want to be left out, so she wanted to too. Now Watts has fun wearing her cloak and loves the attention she gets from wearing it every week.

“One time I went to the mall and a group of girls walked up to us and asked me and my friends who we were dressed up as,” Watts recalled, “I told them we were dressed up like Akatsuki, and then they asked us for hugs.”

The cloaks that Watts and some of her friends wear are part of something called cosplay, a large part of Anime that literally means “costume play.” Cosplay is something usually only dedicated anime fans participate in, and it involves dressing up to fit the person’s favorite show, manga, or other type of anime.

Anime sales hit their peak in 2003, according to the Japan External Trade Organization but there’s still a dedicated fan base at Kaneland.

The anime world is a strange and mysterious place that few know exists—most American’s

Like this? >>try that Takashi Murakami

>>

This famed Japanese artist is known for his graphic, pop style, which describes as superflat. Though he uses lots of happy flowers and mushrooms, the mutated eyes and shapes reference the mushroom cloud formed by the atomic bomb and the and horrors of Hiroshima.

10

In-Depth / November 17, 2011 / KANELAND KRIER

first thoughts that come to mind either begin with the show Pokémon or DragonBall Z Kai. Pokémon sales actually represent 60 percent of all anime in the United States, but anime is much more than just those stereotypical shows, and junior Alexis Davis isn’t fond of people stereotyping about anime.

“People think it’s nerdy and that’s not fair.”

Davis said, “So many people watch it and don’t realize it. Let people express themselves how they want.”

Dr. Susan Napier, a professor at Tufts University who studies anime, agrees that there’s to anime more than the usual stereotypes.

“Some of them are genuinely adults works that are very thought-provoking, very challenging, very disturbing in the way a good work of art should be,” Napier said.

Anime in general ranges from shows such as: “Death Note,” a fantasy-style “Criminal Minds,” to “Initial D,” a series about drift racing that inspired both “Tokyo Drift” and “The Fast and the Furious,” and even to anime-style, to manga include textbooks where Japanese characters teach subjects like math and science.

Anime conventions are also a large part of this subculture. The feature everything from Masquerade and crystal balls to other entertainment such as gaming, concerts, panels, art shows and more. “[I prefer] Anime Central because it’s the largest in the area, and I look forward to it every year,” senior Heather Clark said.

The largest convention in the Midwest is called Anime Central (Acen for short), which goes on every year in Chicago.

“I don’t know what to say about the first time I went to Acen,” Clark said. “I mean, what can you say when you roll up to an enormous convention center full of a bunch of nerds who’ve dressed up as their favorite character from who knows what? It wasn’t anything I haven’t expected it didn’t surprise me even. It was like going to a school for people who were usually very, very

The Animatrix

The Matrix This 1999 blockbuster featured a computer hacker who learns from rebels about the true nature of his reality. He also learns about his role in the war against its’ controllers.

>>

Louis Vuitton Handbags These luxurious purses and other fashion products are coveted by fashionistas worldwide.

Japanese artist Takashi Murakami designed logos for the multicolor bags.

A collection of short animated films detail the back story of the “Matrix” Universe and the original war between man and machines.

nice and liked a lot of things I liked.”

According to Napier, anime also uses art to explore serious themes like war and isolation, as well as more light-hearted romances, thoughtprovoking horrors and many more.

“Young people do want to see a more realistic version of the world,” Napier said. “They’re not satisfied with everything tied up in a bow and walking off into the sunset.”

Junior Alexis Davis and sophomore Dzenan Bogaljevic watch almost all of these categories.

“I like most of the story plots,” Bogaljevic said.

Seniors Krysta Knarr and Kayley VanVliet are mostly fans of fantasy and horror anime.

“For horror, I like a good thrill,” VanVliet said. “And sometimes when you draw anime, you can take it farther than with actors.”

VanVliet would know, too, since she’s been drawing since kindergarten. She said that she started drawing in an anime style just three years ago.

“I like to mix Western and anime styles for a more realistic touch,” she said. She believes that drawing is “a good way to vent creativity and emotions.”

She’s not the only anime-lover to draw either.

Art teacher Carleen Wieg said that she’s actually seen an increase in anime-artists at Kaneland over the years.

“I started drawing anime in sixth grade,” Davis said. “I love to draw anything; I prefer to draw girls and animals. Guys are like ridiculously hard to draw.”

Many students have gotten into anime by chance. However, it doesn’t take a skilled artist to get into anime; anyone can become a fan. All it takes is a computer or remote.

“I have seen an increase in the number of students. I believe it has to do with the different climate and envoriment the students are in. I do have an appreciation of the designing. However, the asthetic part is very repetitive,” art teacher Carleen Weig said.

Artwork by Alexis Davis

“Initial D”

“The Fast and the Furious”

>>

This TV show inspired “The Fast and the Furious.” It focuses on the world of Japanese street racing, following a teenage drifter named Takumi as he races down winding mountain roads.

In the lastest installment in the series, “Tokyo Drift,” Sean Boswell moves to Toyko to avoid going to jail and to live with his military father. He is soon caught up in the underground world of drift racing.

Death Note

Criminal Minds

>>

Ordinary high school student Light Yagami gets a supernatural book called the Death Note.

When he writes the name of someone in the Death Note, he takes on an alter ego, Kira, and begins killing off criminals. Meanwhile, a detective begins searching for Kira.

This CBS favorite follows a Behavioral Analysis Unit of elite FBI profilers as they investigate a variety of criminal cases. The cases vary from simple child abductions to murder, but there’s always suspense and action.

Classic Disney For years, Disney has produced family-friendly animation. The studio is now putting its name behind legendary filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki, whose animated films are beloved worldwide.

Howl’s Moving Castle

This Miyazaki favorite features a young woman who is cursed by a witch.

She’s trapped in an elderly body, and her only hope of breaking free is with an insecure young wizard who she falls in love with.

In-Depth / November 17, 2011 / KANELAND KRIER

11

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Centerspread / November 17, 2011 / KANELAND KRIER

O E RAZ TORS N, J A K G E R S, E D I A H G LLA MA N NIE C A MCKINZIE

BY LA D N A

The intercom buzzed, and students looked up from their books.

“We are going into a hard lockdown,” Principal Chip Hickman announced.

All over the building, classrooms doors slammed shut. Blinds went down. In some rooms, students crouched under desks with the lights off. In other classrooms, teachers continued teaching, simply barring their doors.

Students in Kurt Green’s speech class in A209 were among those who hid under the tables.

“Mr. Green told everyone to go up against the wall and under the tables,” sophomore Alexa Certa, who was in class at the time, said.

“Everyone was freaking out.”

In an age where school shootings regularly make the news, and at a school just 14 miles from Northern Illinois University, the scene of one of the worst shootings in recent memory, it was a scary moment for some.

“I automatically thought of Colombine,” sophomore Nelly Sepulveda said.

Sepulveda wasn’t alone. Ten percent of Kaneland students said that they were scared during the lockdown, a Krier poll of 201 students on Oct. 18 found.

Teachers were caught off guard, The fire drill that morning had been planned in advance. The lockdown, they knew, was not a drill.

Students had no idea what had happened. Text messages flew back and forth, with 53 percent of students polled texting friends or family, trying to figure out what was go-

ing on.

“I was just wondering what was going on and if it was a drill or not,” freshman Elise Fichtel said.

Some were worried. Some weren’t. Senior Brittney Boettcher said she wondered “is it real?,” while senior Jessica Martinez was more nonchalant.

“I didn’t really care,” Martinez said. “I knew nothing was serious because nothing ever happens at this boring school.”

It wasn’t quite nothing—bullet casings had been found in the halls of Kaneland High School, and initially, no one knew that they were only from a track starter pistol or where they’d come from.

“The understanding from the administration was that the bullets were scattered in the hallways,” superintendent Jeff Schuler said. “[The administration] couldn’t identify what type of casing they were at first, so the administration didn’t know if they were potentially dangerous.”

Since the situation might’ve been dangerous, administrators decided to put the school in a “hard lockdown”—something that confused students and teachers because it was a term many had never heard before.

CONFUSION REIGNED Upperclassmen remembered drills where they’d practiced a Code Black lockdown, which takes place when a “serious event” that might threaten students’ well being, such as a potential shooting, is imminent, but none had ever heard the term

TS E L L U B

FO

“hard lockdown.”

The terms had changed last year, Schuler explained, and the term “hard lockdown” was no longer used.

“There used to be different types of lockdowns, but there aren’t different types anymore because if we need to go into a lockdown, we just go into a lockdown,” he said.

Hickman sent e-mails to teachers briefing them on the situation, but they were instructed to keep the details confidential as the investigation proceeded.

Administrators, staff and police were on the case, Schuler said.

Officers from the Kane County Sherriff ’s department came out to assist, while Officer Keith Gardner, the school’s resource officer from the sherriff ’s department, led the investigation.

“Officer Gardner is a full-time officer, so he quickly identified where the bullets had come from,” Schuler said.

Gardner identified the bullet casings as being from starter pistols used at track meets. Hundreds of casings are strewn around the track outside the high school, the remnants of hundreds of track races over the years.

Yet the investigation didn’t stop there—police and administrators alike wanted to be sure that the building was safe before releasing students from lockdown.

The sherriff ’s office brought five trained dogs in to sniff out ammunition. The officers and canine units searched the buildings, sniffing lockers and other areas, for telltale scents like gunpowder. Nothing was found.

Rumors were spreading like a cold in winter, and Schuler’s phone was ringing constantly. Within 20 minutes, parents were calling and wanting to take their children out of school.

S H K T UND A

A COPYCAT? One of the rumors that began circulating immediately among students was that it was a copycat incident, similar to the one that had happened just a week before at St. Charles North, roughly 16 miles east of KHS. Senior John Michek said his first thoughts went to the incident at St. Charles, which had led to school being cancelled there. “[I was] a little disgusted after hearing about what happened in St. Charles,” Michek said.

Schuler said that the situations at Kaneland and St. Charles were different and St. Charles experienced a more serious event.

“In my understanding, St. Charles North found real bullets that had not been fired, not casings from bullets,” Schuler said.

St. Charles North was locked down at 11:50 a.m. on Sept. 29, when students were told they were not allowed to leave their classes. Students knew there were search dogs in the building, but even after the dogs left, students were still not allowed to leave classrooms. “[We were told] we were in lockdown for drugs, when the girl sitting next to me in class got a text from her mom saying that they found a bullet,” Corrine Sullivan, a sophomore at St. Charles North, said.

A dean arrived in Sullivan’s class at the end of the period telling the class that they were to evacuate.

“It just happened randomly. It came on the announcements that there was a security problem, and we needed to evacuate,” St. Charles North sophomore Alexa JohnsonRoach said.

Though students were sent home, they were only permitted to take personal belongings—they had to leave their backpacks and bags behind to be searched by bombsniffing dogs looking for weapons.

Kaneland never considered cancelling school, Schuler said.

“It was a different situation. As

Photos by Jacob Razo and Casey Jacobson

Top: Officer Keith Gardner, the school resource officer, helped the school investigate the source of the problem. Above: Track starter pistol casings like these are all around the outdoor track, where they are fired to start a track race. Officer Gardner found dozens lying on the ground.

soon as [administration] identified there wasn’t a dangerous situation, it was not necessary [to release students],” Schuler said.

“The situation was under control, and often students are a source of information,” he said. “If they went home, it would take more time to get things settled.”

ROLE OF STUDENTS Who brought the pistol casings into KHS has not been released, but it wasn’t a copycat incident and no one was trying to get school cancelled. Schuler said there was no reason to worry. “[Administration] does not believe there was any intent to do harm or create panic,” Schuler said.

He said the texts, rumors, inaccurate Facebook posts and parent phone calls had made the situation more complicated than necessary.

“Students need to respond to what adults are asking them to do in that moment,” Schuler said.

The district didn’t immediately send out a phone blast to parents, he said, because they didn’t want to scare people or have parents showing up and trying to take students out of school.

“In my mind, it brings parents to the problem when there is a mass phone call, like when we have snow days telling parents that their kids need to be picked up or they will be coming home early via bus,” Schuler said.

Parents received e-mails about what had happened, similar to the announcement students heard at the end of the day.

“I think they did a great job by not scaring people but still letting us know what happened,” freshman Andera Halsey said.

Centerspread / November 17, 2011 / KANELAND KRIER

13

Recycling improves Kaneland and Chicago alike are working to help the environment by recycling

BY BRIANNE STROBEL, Editor In the United States, people are becoming more conscious of how their everyday actions affect the environment.

Kaneland takes steps to be environmentally friendly by having recycling bins in most of the classrooms. These are collected by student council every Thursday during Step.

Not only does recycling reduce the amount of garbage that goes into the ground, some of it staying for thousands of years before decomposing, but it also makes the times waste recepticles need to be emptied less frequent.

According to bigbellysolar.com, garbage trucks use over a billion gallons of diesel in the United States per year, and they only get an average of 2.8 miles per gallon, which is significantly lower than most vehicles.

The company manufactures bins, called BigBelly Solar Compactors, that use solar power to crush items that need to be recycled. This helps reduce waste by providing people in public a way to recycle and also by reducing the need of fuelconsuming garbage trucks.

The compactors have sensors in them that

compact the waste when it is full. When it has compacted all that it can and can no longer compact more, it sends a message to the command center saying that it needs to be emptied. This prevents wasted trips to empty them, saving fuel and time.

In 2007, the city of Chicago signed a $2.5 million contract with BigBelly Solar and placed 400 compactors all over the city to help improve the enviorment.

The units cost between $4,000 and $5,000 each, but through the money they save, they are supposed to pay for themselves eventually.

“I think it’s awesome that we’re making improvements in our environment. It helps our economy and the world that we live in. It’s important to save trees and help out in any way we can,” junior Bailey Burns said.

It doesn’t take a large corporation to recycle.

Most communities that recycle allow a few of the following to be recycled: clear and colored glass containers, aluminum cans, newspapers, normal office paper, steel cans, plastic and cardboard.

Overtime this should increase the amount of products being recycled.

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Flex / November 17, 2011 / KANELAND KRIER

Photo by Brianne Strobel

Carter chips away at course, school records Sophomore Kyle Carter exceeds his own expectations on home cross country course

BY KATIE HILL, Reporter Sophomore Kyle Carter is fast.

So fast that he’s broken a record at Sterling Invitational and beat former state finalist Trevor Holm’s record on the Byron course.

“It makes you feel good and pretty honored to do that,” Carter said.

At the Sterling Invite, the previous record was held by Cody Webster at 16:08, and Carter eclipsed it by one second.

“Considering the meet is 62 years old, and this record has been broken time and time again, it’s an honor that Kyle has chipped away at a piece of history. When he broke the record, he and another boy from United Township High School broke free from the rest of the pack and did it virtually alone, which is difficult to do,” Coach Chad Clarey said.

“I knew about being able to break the record, but I never really thought about it, because I didn’t want to get stressed,” Carter said.

Carter and Tyler Rasso, the

UTHS runner, were the only two to break the record.

“We were confident, given some of the recent races that Kyle had run, that he would be in contention for doing such a thing. We did not anticipate that Rasso would also be trying to shatter the record as well,” Clarey said.

Carter was part of a Kaneland team that took fourth place in the invite.

He teamed up with Luis Acosta (7th), Ryan Bower (15th overall), Nathaniel Kucera (37th overall), Brandon Park (65th overall), Dylan Kuipers (68th overall) and Phil Cutsinger (101st overall).

On the Byron course, Carter also ran faster than Holm, a 2011 graduate who held the school record.

Holm held the record for the fastest three mile at the state finals course, running it in 15:25 during the state finals, but his best time on that course was 15:09 in 2010.

This season, Carter ran the course in 15:07.

Since that time, he’s been work-

Kyle Carter runs in the conference meet at the Geneseo course.

ing up into the lead packs and just finished fifth at the Conference Championships at the Varsity level.

“He’s coming strongest at just the right time,” Clarey said.

Even fellow teammates agree that Carter is becoming a stronger runner.

“It means when he gets older and better, he will break more records,” junior Connor Johnson said.

Courtesy photo from Marshall Farthing

Carter has yet to let pressure affect him when he runs, and brings a lot to the table.

“We are very excited for Kyle, and what he brings to our team.

He’s focused as a competitor and does not get too overloaded or burdened by pressure. He’s steady and a good teammate to key off of because of his consistency,” Clarey said.

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Be more flexible with these five moves

BY MICHELLE MCCRACKEN, Reporter Sore after a tough practice and not sure how to relieve the stiffness? Why not try yoga?

“Yoga develops strength and flexibility in the body and mind which will leave you feeling inspired, alive and aligned,” said Barb Glennon, yoga instructor.

Many athletes become sore in the heat of the seasons and need a way to release some tension.

This is a inexpensive and quick way to stretch out sore muscles.

“Usually my knees and my shoulders [are sore],” freshman Aislinn Lodwig said.

Next time muscles are sore after a game, practice, or whenever muscles need relief, try these five moves suggested by Glennon to stretch the abdomen, hamstrings and calves.

Photos by Michelle Mccracken

EAGLE: Begin by squatting. Slowly cross one leg over the other, keeping your balance. Once stable, bring your hands together and relax. This stretches the hamstrings.

A LIGHTER

Thanksgiving

FEAST With Thanksgiving just around the corner, teenagers everywhere are preparing for the feast. The average American will consume 4,500 calories and 229 grams of fat, according to the Calorie Control Council. That’s more than double what should be eaten per day.

There are easy ways to cut back on the calories, just by doing simple swaps like these:

Swap

Dark meat (220 cal.)

White meat (188 cal.)

Why? Not only does white meat have fewer calories, it also has less fat and cholesterol. Want to make it even healthier? Take the skin off. “There is a fine layer of fat on the skin. When the skin is taken off, that has more of a chance to be cooked off,” Judy Fabrizius, Family Consumer Science teacher, said.

Swap

Stuffing (175 cal., 14 g. fat) Green Bean Casserole (100 cal., 6 g. fat)

Why? “Stuffing has tons of salt and carbohydrates,” Culinary Arts teacher Tara Wood said, ”especially with mashed potatoes and rolls.” The casserole is healthier, Wood said, because beans provide vitamin B6 and folic acid, making them a heart healthy substitute. Wood says to make the casserole even healthier, substitute the mushroom soup with chicken broth.

Swap LUNGE: Start standing up, slowly going into a lunge position. Be sure the back leg is straight out. Put both hands next to the front foot, and lean forward. Feel the stretch in the hamstrings.

REVOLVED TRIANGLE: Stand with legs shoulder width apart.

Bring left foot forward slightly. Slowly turn and lower your upper body, placing the left hand on the ground and keeping the right one in the air.

Do the same for the right leg. Stretches the hamstrings and calves.

Rolls (227 cal., 11 g. fat) Cornbread (120 cal., 0 g. fat)

Why? Dinner rolls alone are a better choice than cornbread, but most Thanksgiving feasters add butter and jam to the rolls.

To make cornbread a healthy starch, put a little honey on it. The honey adds numerous vitamins to the cornbread, Fabrizius said, including vitamins B1, B2 and C.

Swap

Pecan Pie (450 cal., 21 g. fat) Apple Crisp (280 cal., 10 g. fat)

Why? Healthier meal choices at Thanksgiving doesn’t mean cutting out dessert. Replace pecan pie with an apple crisp to cut back on calories and fat, recommends Kathy Goldberg, a registered dietitian and culinary arts specialist for the University of Michigan Health System.

BRIDGE: To stretch the abdomen, begin by lying on your back with arms at the side. Slowly raise the abdomen in the air, keeping feet on the ground.

COBRA: Begin by lying on your stomach with your arms pushed against the shoulders. Slowly begin to raise yourself, feeling the stretch in the abdomen. Glennon recommends holding for five rounds of breaths.

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If all these swaps were taken to heart, over 660 calories in one serving could be shed from a Thanksgiving meal.

–Michelle McCracken, reporter

Cheaters, caught red-handed When one Kaneland sophomore got the call from her friends, she was surprised. The news?

Her boyfriend of five months had cheated on her.

By Emily Ferrell, Reporter She broke off the relationship right away.

“If they feel it’s not worth it to be with you, it’s not worth it to be with them,” she said.

Though her experience was painful, it was not unique. In a poll of 118 randomly-selected Kaneland students, 37 percent said they had been cheated on, and 13 percent confessed to cheating on their partners.

Nationally, two-thirds of young adults in a committed relationship have encountered betrayal to their monogamous other, according to a study by Tricia Orzeck and Esther Lung, published in Current Psychology. “[The cheater] may think the grass is greener on the other side,” school psychologist John Markovich said.

Being betrayed can have compelling emotional consequences. Sophomore Ieisha Johansson perce would know after her boyfriend of six months nt cheated on her. polled of student s hav “I felt like everything was my fault and that I cheat e been wasn’t good enough. Sooner or later I got over it ed on and went on with my life,” Johansson said.

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5 CHARACTERISTICS THAT MAKE SOMEONE LIKELY TO CHEAT

Photo illustration by Emily Ferrell

EXTROVERSION

AGREEABLENESS

CONSCIENTIOUSNESS

NEUROTICISM

OPENNESS

A recent study published in 2009 found that extroverts believe that they are more social and active than their significant others. They don’t invest as much as they should into relationships, which lowers commitment. Their personality type is more likely to cheat to prevent boredom.

The cheater is more cooperative and generous.

They are agreeable and want to please others. The cheaters with this trait will feel that by being cooperative their monogamous other will reciprocate the favor and be more willing to please them, Orzeck and Lung found.

Cheaters tend to be more disorganized and unreliable. They tend not to make an effort in their relationship and pay less attention to their partner, which leads to an affair. “Individuals who describe themselves as unfaithful were found to be low on conscientiousness,” Orzeck wrote.

People with a neurotic attitude have low emotional stability and they aren’t in control of their temper.

They have lack of psychological adjustment and low openness with others.

These neurotic people are more likely to cheat and have shorter relationships, Orzeck and Lung found.

Cheaters see themselves as more open than their partner. The study showed that cheaters think they are more creative and intellectual compared to their noncheating partner. Having this trait makes the cheater seek out for someone to compare themselves to.

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Source: Tricia Orzeck, University of Calgary and Esther Lung, York Unviversity

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PULSE PULSE

“Breaking Dawn” sure to draw huge crowds Popular saga returns in Part 1

BY HANNAH WALLACE, Reporter Vampire hype is at an all-time high as Isabella Swan and Edward Cullen prepare to exchange their wedding vows in Breaking Dawn Part One, which is set to hit theaters tomorrow. Forever is a long time when there’s a sparkly allpowerful vampire, and Bella is determined to become one.

Robert Pattinson plays Edward Cullen, vampire heartthrob, and Kristen Stewart plays Bella Swan ,the vulnerable human who is head over heels in love with Edward.

The onscreen chemistry is hard to ignore, and these actors are sure to put on a good show. Taylor Lautner, who can be very frightening when he explodes into a horse-sized wolf, plays Jacob Black, and he is sure to spend at least half of the movie shirtless, much to the delight of fans. Wedding, surprise pregnancy, forbidden love and thwarting allpowerful leaders are the key elements to this book turned movie.

However, in order to keep from making this movie cheesy and irritating, there will need to be a balance between the doomed to die ultimatum and reality.

Fans are held in breathless

anticipation as they wait for the movie to begin, but will the movie really live up to the expectations?

Keeping the cheesiness in line has proven to be a challenge for Twilight film writers.

Director Bill Condon, who has previously directed films such as “Dreamgirls” and “Gods and Monsters”, has been selected to direct the fourth installment of the Twilight saga.

With vampire romance, the line between heart wrenching and “OMG-this-is-so-cheesy–I-wantto-puke,” is a narrow one. Fans should give this movie a chance if they enjoy action, drama and romance, and are not afraid of werewolves. Despite the many directions this film could take, viewers should still take the time to watch it, because fans never know what could happen. If they watched the first three movies in the saga, viewers will want to find out how it ends anyways (or the beginning of the end since there are two parts to this story).

The midnight premiere is tonight, so there are probably going to be some tired “Twihards” shuffling through the hallways tomorrow morning.

Photo courtesy of Summit Productions

St. Charles native reveals Munger Road

BY SABRINA SIVERT, Reporter

Photo courtesy of Fox

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Pulse / November 17, 2011 / KANELAND KRIER

There are many myths about Munger Road. It is said that many years ago, a school bus full of kids was driving down Munger Road when it stalled on the tracks. As the kids were trying to push the bus of the tracks, the train came and plowed through the bus, killing everyone. It is said if someone parks on the tracks and sprinkles baby powder on the bumper of their car, put their car in neutral and roll down the windows the kids will come and push you off the tracks.

(Remember this is a myth).

Munger Road was filmed in St.Charles. Ironically, it takes place the night of the annual Scarecrow Fest. Two police officers search

for a prisoner missing/killer that escaped the prison bus and stole a van. The mayor is alarmed because the town will be filling up with visitors for the festival. The same night, four teenagers go missing on Munger Road after going out. They were driving down the road and were foolish enough to challenge the myth.

Nicholas Smith, who was a high school graduate of St.Charles, directed this movie and currently lives in west suburban St.Charles.

This movie is filled with mystery and suspense and keeps viewers interested. They did a great job keeping a mood by keeping viewers excited for what’s going to happen next and building suspense all throughout the movie.

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Pizza Villa serves up gooey, delicious cheese pizza in a classic, family environment.

Photo by Brittney Larsen

Change isn’t needed in the recipe at Pizza Villa

BY BRITTANY LARSEN, Reporter With so many pizza places around these days, it can be hard to decide which one is right.

Often we’re tempted to take the easy road and just order delivery from some run-of-themill place like Pizza Hut. However, for those looking for a classic family pizza experience, Pizza Villa in DeKalb might be just the right.

The place has a very old-time feel, with its rustic and homely details. It’s wooden and dimly lit, with many decorations that hark back to a different time. And they do: Pizza Villa has been around since our parents were in high school, and it hasn’t changed much in that time. But it doesn’t need to—that oldschool vibe is part of the charm.

The tables are perhaps a little too small— they allow for intimate conversation, but fitting all the food on the table can prove a bit of a challenge. But the food arrived promptly, even though it was crowded on my visit, and the waitress was friendly and courteous and never left us waiting.

Drinks are delivered to the table in pitchers, which has become kind of retro in itself these days, but there’s plenty to go around and no hassle waiting for a refill, especially when you’ve sprinkled a bit too much red pepper onto a slice.

We ordered a basket of Villa Nuggets along with the drinks. They’re just simple mini

breadsticks, but the simplicity is extremely enjoyable. They were baked to be crisp on the outside and soft inside, and the marinara sauce it’s served with is well done too. It’s slightly spicy, to give the bread flavor, and it’s bursting with tomato flavor. To finish off the appetizers, the salad was fresh and crisp.

A place called Pizza Villa, though, is all about the pizza, and the main dish didn’t disappoint. The cheese pizza was big, enough to bring some home for later.

The flavor was fresh and rich, the cheese was very gooey, and the bread was thick to balance it out. It was a bit greasy though, so a fork and knife are recommended. Eat this pizza with your hands at your own risk. The pricing of the food was exceptional.

The entire order was $24.75. A large cheese pizza cost $15.25, Villa Nuggets were $4.95 and the salad was $2.30. Given the huge portion sizes, that’s a deal.

Those who have been here before know that there’s an arcade downstairs in the restaurant, but unfortunately many of the games are out of order now. They’re an enjoyable part of the restaurant, especially for teens and families, and it’d be nice if management fixed them.

Parking is limited and hard to find on busy nights, so be prepared to find a different place in the complex to park on weekends or during special events.

It’s no surprise that it’s busy, though because Pizza Villa provides a nice family experience that’s just a cut above ordinary.

“THROUGH MY EYES”

By Tim Tebow

Tim Tebow was almost never even born.

It’s one of many surprising stories in “Through My Eyes,” an autobiography that touches on nearly every aspect of Tebow’s life, from his birth in the Phillipines to being homeschooled to playing football for the Florida Gators.

Tebow’s story is one of faith, and readers will be touched by how his family’s belief in him and his belief in himself ultimately gave Tebow the chance of a lifetime—playing college football.

“Through My Eyes” truly delivers as a top-notch autobiography. It’s a heart-warming story that will appeal to anyone who enjoys a good read and a feel-good story.

–Ryan Noel, editor

2

“TH1RTEEN R3ASONS WHY”

By Jay Asher

Jay Asher outdid himself with the best selling novel “Th1rteen R3asons Why.” Clay Jense obtains a box of old audiotapes from an unknown sender has no idea of what they contain. On the first tape, he hears a familiar voice, it’s Hannah Baker; a girl he hardly knew who committed suicide at his school.

Thirteen sides, thirteen reasons, and a map explaining why her life had to end. The only rules: Listen and pass it on.

“Th1rteen R3asons Why” will leave readers thinking and satisfied with the story—and Asher just released the much-anticipated sequel.

–Taylor Spooner, reporter

3

“STEVE JOBS”

By Walter Isaacson

Maybe one of the most famous and innovative CEO’s, Steve Jobs gets his life forever preserved in history with his biography, “Steve Jobs.”

Written by best-selling biographer Walter Isaacson, “Steve Jobs” sheds light on how the Apple CEO was able to change technology in a way that no one could have imagined.

Throughout the book it talks the arrival of highly anticipated products, ranging from the old school iPod to the new and fashionable iPhone.

“Steve Jobs” has gathered information with over 40 interviews with Jobs, as well as family, friends, competitors, and partners. The founder of Apple will always be remembered, and “Steve Jobs” helps cement the technology wizard’s place in history.

–Ryan Noel, editor

Pulse / November 17, 2011 / KANELAND KRIER

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NOVEMBER at Kaneland Color Guard practiced for LUX, Scholastic Bowl prepared for their first competition, Art Club shared school spirit, and Early Child Development classes developed young minds.

1 2

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Photo / November 17, 2011 / KANELAND KRIER

5

4 1. Senior Veronica Peterson, junior Brittany Larsen, senior Sarah Kitz, sophomore Angelique Franks and junior Jayme Kufer practice for LUX, the color guard’s half time show.

2. Junior Danielle Wylie, junior Brendan Dunphy, junior Graham Jefferson, sophomore Kiersten Knarr, sophomore Jeromy Faivre, sophomore Dzenen Bogaljevic and art teacher Carleen Wieg paint the softball dugout for Coach Brian Willis. “We’re painting the dugout because Mr. Willis asked us to paint a slogan,” Jefferson said.

3. Fox Valley students Ashley Vlach and Jocelyn Woods sit down with Morgan, Luciana, A.J. and Emma for snack time, singing a song before the snack in Early Childhood Development.

4. Sophomores Josh Rodriguez, Muneeb Rehman, Ethan Witt and Taylor Robertson prepare for the first Scholastic Bowl competition, which took place on Saturday. “We are ready to take on the world,” Witt said.

5. Matthew Grimm does research for Patty Welker’s AP Literature class.

Photos by Heather Shelton, Amelia Likeum and Katie Hill Photo / November 17, 2011 / KANELAND KRIER

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Tennis doubles team takes third

SPORTS

Tori Guyton concentrates on making a putt while preparing for her match against Hinckley-Big Rock at Hughes Creek golf course.

Photo by Anthony Sperando

Guyton sets the bar high

Freshman Tori Guyton advanced to conference during her first season as a Knights’ golfer, creating high expe ctations 3

BY BRYANNA STOIBER, Reporter Freshman Tori Guyton has golf in her genes—the younger sister of Hayley Guyton, who’s now at ISU on a golf scholarship, advanced to the Class AA women’s sectionals last month.

Guyton, who plays for the junior varsity team and is the only female golfer at Kaneland, got the last spot in the qualifying by shooting a 102 during the Class AA regional, which was held at the Sycamore Golf Club on Oct. 5.

Her season ended at sectionals, when she shot a 102 again on the Cog Hill course in Lemont, but it was a strong end for a young player.

“Tori’s future looks bright. She played well in conference and regionals,” senior Adam Grams said.

Guyton’s best score so far this year was 91, which she earned on the Rochelle Sports Club.

Guyton said her father introduced her to golf, and though she’s played for as long as she can remember, she “just got serious this year.”

She said she keeps her game sharp by practicing a lot.

“I just keep trying because the more practice, the better you become,” Guyton said.

Having a lot of guidance from older players really influences the newer golfers, Coach Mark Meyer

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Girls Sports / November 17, 2011 / KANELAND KRIER

said, because younger players tend to look up to the older players for advice and tips to keep their game up.

Meyer said that two golfers stood out in his mind as excellent golfers: Haley Guyton and graduate Kevin Schramer, both now alumni.

But he said Tori Guyton could become very successful in the sport if she continues to work at it.

“It’s up to any golfer and how much practice they put forth,” Meyer said. “I think she played well for a freshman.”

Grams said that Guyton was fun to play with on the team.

“She adds an eccentric positive attitude,” Grams said.

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The doubles teams of senior Amelia Napiorkowski and freshman Madi Jurcenko advanced to state after placing third in sectionals out of 20 teams.

The pair’s first sectionals match against Sycamore was lost 2-6, but Napiorkowski and Jurcenko pulled through to win the next two matches 7-6 and 6-2. They went on to defeat Glenbard North 6-3 and 6-0, then lost 3-6 to a top-ranked Bartlett team in both matches.

Napiorkowski and Jurcenko came back to win 6-3 in the first match against St. Charles North and won 7-6 in the second, with a tiebreaker score of 6.

It was the second year in a row a doubles team went to state. Though they did not place, Coach Tim Larsen said it was the best tennis team had ever done.

“It equals what was done last year during playoffs,” Larsen said.

“But we won Conference [too], which was why this year was better than last year.”

The Knights finished their overall season with an astonishing 29-1, and Jurcenko broke the record for the most total wins at Kaneland with 32 victories—a record that Napiorkowski had set just last year with 25 victories.

“No matter who they played, they reacted well and found a way to beat their opponent,” Larsen said.

–Gina Jarvis and Sara Laurie, editors

Girls basketball ready for the season The girls basketball team is pumped and ready for the season.

The freshmen teams play their first game tonight against Sandwich, while the sophomore and varsity teams begin their season with tournaments this Saturday.

Senior Kelly Evers said the varsity team is hoping to improve on last year’s 13-16 record.

“I really just want to get a better record than last year, to improve and have fun,” Evers said.

Junior Lexee Guerra agreed.

“I would really love to be undefeated. I want it to be fun for everyone this year.”

–Murphy Garcia, reporter

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving Break!

Boys cross country looking to finish season strong

Courtesy photo

Sophomore Drew David looks for an open receiver during the Homecoming game against Rochelle on Sept. 23.

Football defeats Morris to win conference title

BY EDDIE RODRIGUEZ, Reporter This year’s varsity football players may be smaller in stature than last year’s team, but they’re faster.

“We’re fast and we do what we’re supposed to do, which gives us an upper hand against most teams,” junior linebacker Ryan Lawrence said.

The team finished the regular season campaign with a 9-0 record when the Knights defeated the Morris Redskins 31-28 to win the conference title.

Both teams had 8-0 records going into the game, and it was the second back-to-back undefeated regular season for the Knights, who made to to the semifinals last year, only to be defeated by the Montini Broncos, who later won

the state title.

Eleven Knights players (six offensive, five defensive) were named all-conference. Drew David, Quinn Buschbacher, Sean Carter, Ben Kovalick, Alex Snyder and Nick Sharp rounded off the offense while Jacob Razo, Lawrence, Blake Bradford, Kory Harner and Ryan Noel rounded off the defense. Running back Jesse Balluff was also an honorable mention.

“I think [the season’s] gone well,” junior linebacker Blake Bradford said.

For him, the best game of the season was the Knights’ comefrom-behind win against Sycamore on Oct. 14, when Kaneland trailed 14-0 in the first quarter but wound up winning 35-21.

It hasn’t been often that this powerful Knights team has had to

BY GEORGE GRAEFEN

WAY YOU’LL SPEND THANKSGIVING?

come from behind in the regular season, but they expect the competition to get tougher.

The Knights headed into the 5A playoffs as the number one seed for the second year in a row, defeating the sixteenth-seeded Belvidere Bucs 51-45 on Oct. 28.

The Knights are expected to face the two-time defending state champion Montini again, after possible matchups against Burlington Central, Sycamore and Rochelle.

The team has been closely studying its opposition before each game, watching hours of video.

“We’re watching plenty of film, making sure we know our responsibilities and going over our fundamentals,” Kovalick said. “I definitely think we are right up there.

It’s a great privilege to be on a team like this.”

EXCITED ABOUT IN THIS SEASON?

FAVORITE TV SHOW?

FAVORITE SUBJECT IN SCHOOL?

“Hang out with my family in my pajamas.”

“I am looking forward to having a good year and meeting new people.”

“Anything on the

“My favorite subject in school is history because it is interesting.”

“Go to St. Louis to visit family, but this year we have a basketball tournament.”

“I am looking forward to working with a lot more juniors this year.

It will be different.”

“Eat dinner with my family.”

“With wrestling, I am just excited for it.”

History Channel for entertainment and on Thursdays on NBC for fun.”

The boys cross country team has been on a roll for a while, excelling at several events throughout the season. Several new personal records have been set, with breakout stars and veteran leadership, and the team is looking strong closing out the year.

Regionals were a great display of that with a fifth place finish at Elburn Woods. Top finishers for the Knights were sophomore Kyle Carter and junior John Meseinger.

By the end of the Geneseo meet, the course proved to be a difficult challenge. With several hills and dips in the course, the Knights faced an uphill battle, literally. Even faced with such a challenge, the team still placed a solid third place, improving upon last year’s seventh-place finish.

“We must take it one week at a time, focus on one another, and make sure we do all the little things to have that opportunity at State.

Nothing is a given, and qualifying is a major achievement. We have to go out and earn it,” Coach Chad Clarey said.

“The season’s gone great,” senior Clayton Brundige added. “[We’ve] got young talent and some great leaders, and we’re coming in hot for state.”

As the team has progressed toward the state series, they’ve changed their practice routines to prepare for the conference, regional and sectional meets, Brundige said.

“We’ve been doing a lot of speed intervals, some long distance runs,” said senior Frankie Furco. “But overall we’ve been keeping practices light to keep fresh.” -Evan Ortiz, reporter

Madi Bluml

Know Your Knights

Senior, Bowling “I like Glee because it is a high school life on a different level.”

“My favorite subject is math because it is challenging.”

“I do not have one.”

“History because it is interesting.”

Marina Schaefer

Sophomore, Basketball

Stephen Gust

Junior, Wrestling Boys Sports / November 17, 2011 / KANELAND KRIER

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