Oct. 27, 2011

the student newspaper of Kaneland High School

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the krier [

OCTOBER 27, 2011

y h t l a e h s a t i Is s k o ? o l t i s a VOLUME 38 ISSUE 2 OCTOBER

Check out the foods that aren’t as healthy as they seem HPV SHOT CONTROVERSIES p. 4

SOCIAL NETWORK COMPARISONS p. 9

FIND THE PERFECT RUNNING SHOE p. 15

PUMPKIN PATCH REVIEWS p. 15

NEWS NEWS

PODA heads to Harter

Students speak out against drugs and alcohol

BY SABRINA SIVERT, Reporter PODA members are heading to Harter Middle School to spread their anti-drug, anti-alcohol message next month.

The goal? To make students of all ages aware of the dangers certain behaviors present and to show students that they can have positive friendships and fun while staying substance-free.

Senior Megan Scott, the president of PODA, along with other seniors who have been in PODA throughout high school, will lead the awareness efforts.

“We give students a place to go when they don’t know what to do,” Scott said. “It helps them say no and know that you still can be cool and have fun without choosing dangerous actions.”

Counselor Anna Lamica, PODA sponsor, said that younger students

Courtesy photo

Members of PODA spoke out against drunk driving last May at their annual a pre-prom assembly.

typically react well to the message. “[Our] goal is to mentor the kids and prevent them from getting involved in dangerous actions,” Lamica said. “The middle schoolers will really like the older kids coming over to speak to them, they really look up to the older kids.”

PODA also holds a pre-prom assembly every year focused on preventing drunk driving. The group

brings in speakers and holds a day of silence in the spring, with members dressed in black and being silent for the day, to raise awareness about the deadly consequences of drinking and driving.

Anyone can join PODA. Meetings are after school every other Thursday in Student Services. Lamica has more information for anyone interested in joining.

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News / October 27, 2011 / KANELAND KRIER

Snowball attends Lorado Taft retreat Operation Snowball, a group that works to prevent alcohol abuse and other dangerous behaviors, will be going to Lorado Taft for an overnight retreat on Nov. 11-13.

“There are 150 people going to Lorado Taft,” senior Megan Scott, one of Snowball’s teen directors, said. “We will be doing activities in our small groups and as a big group. You basically form a family with them.”

Activities will include role playing, skits and other activities designed to raise students’ selfesteem, senior Kyle Clausen said.

“We are trying to get more students from Kaneland involved.

There were only six students who went last year,” Clausen said.

Adult sponsors include Tim Baker, Melissa Byrne and Counselor Anna Lamica, who has been involved for 15 years. It costs $150, and anyone with questions should talk to Lamica in Student Services.

–Kaitlyn Hill, reporter

BOARDBRIEF Elementary ISAT scores rise; board looks to improve college readiness

The interior of Made From Scratch, Elburn’s newest business, is decorated with yellow-and-blue stripes and pink rose wallpaper.

Photo by Ellie Strang

Bakery opens in Elburn

BY RACHEL MATHYS, Reporter Made From Scratch is open and serving up fresh-baked goods and coffee in downtown Elburn. Valerie McGrath opened her new bakery on last month on Main Street and intends to expand the menu as her business expands.

“We sell baked good, breakfast pastries, cupcakes and cookies,” McGrath said.

Sophomore Jenna Unruh, an employee at Made From Scratch, said the menu changes regularly.

“They sell different things different days,” Unruh said. “The owner is the main baker.”

McGrath graduated from Cordon Bleu, a culinary school in Chicago, and worked at several restaurants before striking out on her own.

“I’m a pastry chef by profession,” McGrath said. “And I was tired of always working in restaurants.”

Though Made From Scratch was originally scheduled to open on Dec. 1, McGrath hit several delays on the way to her dream. The new business is a welcoming sight in Elburn for many residents, who have seen too many empty storefronts in recent years.

“It’s been disappointing to see empty space downtown, so it was a breath of fresh air to see

Leslie O’Donnell

Photography

something new open,” Kelly Kadlec, an Elburn resident, said.

The bakery is a new way for residents to get stylish, homemade coffee and pastries at a convenient location. The average price for an item on Made From Scratch’s menu is around two dollars, McGrath said, and boxes of pastries or cupcakes are available.

The interior of the bakery is decorated with a variety of floral and checker board patterns, decorative tea pots and white chandeliers. There are several tables where customers can sit and enjoy baked goods and coffee, and newspapers are provided so customers can sit back and relax while eating.

Junior Lyndi Scholl said she hoped that Made From Scratch will be a success in its location on Main Street in downtown Elburn.

“I think it will be a success because there aren’t any bakeries in Elburn,” said junior Lyndi Scholl. “Everyone seems to be excited about it.”

Freshman Ben Barnes said that he looked forward to trying desserts, while freshman Kacey Farthing would like to see cookies and chocolate cake filling the display cases in the bakery.

Made From Scratch is located at 2 S. Main Street and is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

630-248-1555

–Kaprice Sanchez, editor

COMMUNITYBRIEF Kuipers’ expands with new activities Kuipers’ Family Farm kicked off their tenth season in September with new additions, from a rope maze to grills in the store.

A Charlotte’s Web themed maze made out of ropes has joined the other family attractions already at the family-owned farm, such as apple picking, duck racing and a haunted forest.

“It’s a big web of ropes you can climb,” Kuiper said.

The store, which sells apples, apple cider donuts and other goods, now has grills serving up warm items.

“The grills are definitely nice,” junior Joe Kuiper, son of the owners, said. “And they make the store look nice.”

-Amelia Likeum, reporter

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Are Kaneland students graduating college and career ready?

That’s District 302’s new mission this year, and they began by setting overall goals for ISAT scores in grades K-5 at Sept. 26 board meeting.

Test scores presented at the meeting show only 33 percent of Kaneland High School students are college ready, and administrators are tracking achievement throughout lower grades as well and trying to raise it.

Last year, all four elementary schools made Annual Yearly Progress under No Child Left Behind, with 88 to 90 percent of students meeting or exceeding on the ISATs. The high school did not make AYP, with 56 percent of high school students meeting or exceeding on the PSAE. In order for the high school to make adequate progress, 85 percent of students would have had to meet or exceed.

At the meeting, Sarah Mumm, the director of curriculum for K-5, detailed part of the district’s goal, which is to raise ISAT scores by five percent for K-5 students. Since last year’s 83 percent of last year’s third graders met or exceeded on the exam, the administration’s goal is for 88 percent or more of that same group of students to meet or exceed on the ISAT as fourth graders this year.

“I think it is a good idea for the school to have goals, but students need to have their own goals to achieve,” Christina Montalto, English teacher, said.

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Poverty rises in district Families’ struggles mirror national trend

BY EDDIE RODGRIGUEZ, Reporter The poverty rate at Kaneland skyrocketed 315 percent between the 2006-2007 school year to 20112012.

District 302 numbers show than increasing numbers of enrolled students are living in poverty or in low-income households, and it’s been on the rise since the 2006-07 school year.

In 2006, there were 226 students in the district getting free or reduced lunches. Nearly five years later, that number has jumped from 226 to 712—a dramatic 315 percent increase, though district enrollment has only gone up by 15.5 percent in the same time period.

Kaneland families mirror the national trend. Last month, the Census Bureau reported that nearly 1 in 6 Americans were living below the federal poverty line in 2010, the highest rate since 1993 and the largest number in five decades.

Social Sciences teacher Jonathan Busch said that unemployment during the recession is the leading cause of poverty.

“It’s just a condition of our economic times. High unemployment leads to more poverty,” he said. “If students’ parents have lost their jobs, that puts more pressure on their families, and a higher foreclosure rate forced them to move in and out of district.”

Busch also said that, as a result of the current economic state of the country and the Illinois budget crisis, all Kaneland teachers have

taken a pay freeze.

“When we see more job growth, things will get better,” Busch said.

Social worker Jean Ryan-Meyers said that she had worked with many struggling families.

“I have heard from students about how they can’t find jobs themselves, parents losing jobs and higher rates of foreclosure,” RyanMeyers said. “When you don’t have basic necessities met like food on the table or clothes on your back, or you’re worried about those things even, it’s really hard to focus on higher-level things like academics.”

Ryan-Meyers said that the school does what it can to support families. “I have referred some students and families to food pantries,” she said.

Junior Danielle McCormack said that politicians should focus on creating new jobs.

“Maybe having another stimulus package [will help],” she said. “I’m worried that the current economic state will affect my family down the road, I’m also worried about my friends’ jobs.”

Teenage unemployment is very high, with many teens struggling to find jobs that were once easily open.

Sophomore Luke French said he has been affected by the recession by not being able to go on trips with his father and thinks that Kaneland is seeing the hard economic times just like every one else.

“The economy sucks,” French said.

Photo illustration by Lourinda Triplett

School nurse Jo-an Husk demonstrates giving the HPV vaccine, first swabbing the area with alcohol.

Republican candidates reignite HPV debate

BY HANNAH WALLACE, Reporter Republican presidential candidates reignited the HPV debate.

Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum attacked Gov. Rick Perry of Texas during a debate over an order Perry signed requiring sixth grade girls in Texas to be vaccinated against HPV. Santorum criticized the order as an overreach of state power in a decision that should be left to parents.

Representative Michele Bachmann is also under fire for using an inaccurate story about a mother who claimed the vaccine caused her to daughter to become “mentally retarded,” a statement that provoked a rare political comment from the American Academy of Pediatrics. “[We] would like to correct false statements made in the Republican presidential campaign that the HPV vaccine is dangerous and can

cause mental retardation,” Marion Burton, the president of the organization, said. “There is absolutely no scientific validity to this statement.

Since the vaccine has been introduced, more than 35 million doses have been administered, and it has an excellent safety record.”

HPV is sexually transmitted disease that is the second most common cause of cervical cancer.

Seventy percent of all cervical cancers are caused by HPV, and 12,000 women will be diagnosed with cervical cancer this year, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

“I believe the shot is worthwhile, since it has minimal side effects and prevents a terrible disease,” Barb Giese, school nurse, said.

Junior Alyssa Andrae believes the vaccine should be required. “You don’t want cancer, and you obviously do not want a disease or virus. It’s called common sense,” she said.

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Real World / October 27, 2011 / KANELAND KRIER

Keifer remembered for his dedication, friendly attitude

BY RACHEL CLINTON, Executive Editor

Photo courtesy the Keifer family

Bill Keifer, the bus driver on route number 31, died on Sept. 3. He was known for his reliability and easygoing personality.

Bill Keifer, Kaneland bus driver for route number 31, died on Sept. 3 from a heart attack.

Keifer had been employed by District 302 for two years, where he made many friends.

His presence in the transportation department offices brought positive energy and smiles to his co-workers’ faces.

“Bill never complained about anything. He was always happy to be here and here early,” Jim Ogle, the director of the transportation department and friend of Keifer, said.

Keifer was known for being easygoing, Ogle said.

“He never had a problem with a single kid on the bus. He was also such a great story teller and just loved to talk,” he said.

Administrators pulled students on route 31 from their fourth block classes to inform them about the loss of their bus driver.

Students said that they were shocked by the news.

“Of course it was really sad, but all I could think about was his family,” sophomore Alexa

Certa said.

Karen Baum, friend and co-worker of Keifer, remembered Keifer as a reliable worker.

“Bill was always willing to help anyone out, always someone I could count on, which was nice,” Baum said.

Keifer’s cooking was something his coworkers and friends looked forward to at the annual barbecue.

“Bill would go out of his way to bring all his barbeque appliances and cooking supplies. This May’s barbeque will just not be the same without him,” Baum said.

Keifer, who was 62, lived with his wife of 37 years, Yvonne, in Sugar Grove. He was a father to three sons, Doug (Renee) Keifer of Maple Park, Jeff (Jamie) Keifer of Cortland and Marty (Stephanie) Keifer of Sugar Grove.

He was a grandfather to four grandchildren, Madison and Brennan Keifer of Maple Park and Jayden and Jillian Keifer of Cortland.

A memorial service was held on Sept. 7 at Conley Funeral Home in Elburn, and a memorial fund has been established in his name.

Keifer’s happy countenance and helpful attitude will be greatly missed at Kaneland.

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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 Austin Paulson

Politicians can show us a thing or two We expect high school students to be immature, but cines, and that study turned out to be a hoax. our politicians shouldn’t be.

Dr. Andrew Wakefield, the British physician who That’s why we were taken aback when Rep. Michele published the results of a study linking autism and Bachmann appeared on “The Today Show” and told vaccines in 1998, was stripped of his medical license Matt Lauer that a mother came up to her in tears afby British authorities for having lied about his results. ter the debate on Sept. 5. The mother told Bachmann Though he had said in the study that 12 people had dethat her daughter suffered from “mental retardation” veloped autism as a result of vaccinations, it turns out after getting the HPV vaccine. The statement was not that none of those people even had autism. Though only politically incorrect, it was irresponsible and false. he later admitted he had faked his results, that hasn’t There are no facts to prove that the HPV vaccine has stopped countless people from fearing vaccines. ever caused autism or any other intellectual disability.

Bachmann’s conversation with the unnamed mother There is proof, though, that each year approximatemay or may not have actually occurred, but that’s a small ly 12,000 women in the United States are diagnosed part of the problem. Bachmann was either deliberately with cervical cancer, according to the Centers of Disusing false information to score political points, or she ease Control. Although all cervical was genuinely confused and becancers aren’t caused by HPV, the EDITORIAL BOARD VOTE lieved in weak anecdotal evidence. majority are.

Either way, a presidential candidate Whether teens get the vaccine should be above that.

AGREE DISAGREE is up to them and their parents. No But because she wasn’t, no one one’s to say that vaccines are 100 should take what she has to say percent safe, and we aren’t doctors. seriously. A responsible politician However, having the correct inforprovides evidence before frightenmation and simply thinking before ing people about a vaccine that can spitting out whatever comes to mind can save everyprevent countless teens from developing cancer. one–and Bachmann in particular–a headache.

Bachmann’s not the first politician to spread misinBachmann’s misstatement provoked a rare response formation, and she won’t be the last, but it’s ultimately from the American Academy of Pediatrics. “There is up to the voters to demand more of our politicians. absolutely no scientific validity to the statement,” the They have a duty to the American public to base their AAP said in a statement. “Since the [HPV] vaccine has opinions on the facts, and the American public has a been introduced, more than 35 million doses have been duty to be well-informed and vote for politicians who administered, and it has an excellent safety record.” are serious and rigorous in their accuracy and ideas.

Let’s focus on the facts. Some people don’t have a Why is American politics the way that it is? filter, and it’s just their “nature,” but that isn’t an excuse Because we voters too easily believe what we hear for spreading misinformation and saying things that without checking out the facts ourselves. Whether it’s aren’t true. voting for fact-based candidates or deciding to get a In Bachmann’s case, neither she nor her staff life-saving vaccine, we need to act responsibly and realchecked the facts. If she would’ve, she would know that ize the serious implications our words and actions can only one study ever done had linked autism and vachave.

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Editorial / October 27, 2011 / KANELAND KRIER

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.

Drowning in your own lies? Try the truth

JULIA ANGELOTTI Editor It’s actually really simple: if we don’t lie, our lives will instantly be easier.

I call it the Regina George Principle, after that scene in “Mean Girls” where she convinces the girl passing by, Lea Edwards, that she “loves the skirt! Vintage, so adorable!” Then once Edwards walks away, she admits her true feelings: that it is “the ugliest f­­---ing skirt I’ve ever seen!”

Now, I completely understand that there are some instances where a little white lie is acceptable. I’m not saying that ruining a person’s surprise party or totally outing the movie-like scene in which your best friend is being asked to prom is okay.

But come on, lying about those pointless things—who you’re texting, where you were last weekend, your kill-to-death ratio on Call of Duty or even just how fast you run

a mile—is beyond pointless.

It’s funny how if a person is late for work and they tell the truth by saying they overslept, they’re shunned for the day. However, if they lie and claim that there was just terrible traffic, there’s more understanding. Why? Is it because they had control over getting up earlier but not over the backup on the interstate? Maybe.

In fact, Dr. Bella Depaulo, a psychologist at the University of Virginia, found that most people lie three to four times a day, and that 75 percent of those people would tell their lies again if given a second chance. Of those people, only about a fifth of them felt guilty for lying within a week.

Depaulo also found that college students lie to their mothers in one out of every two conversations that they have.

According to Depaulo, many of these are two distinct types of social lies: fake positives and fake negatives.

What exactly is the difference?

Well, it’s also pretty simple.

“Fake positive” lies are told to make it seem as is a person likes someone or something more than they actually do.

We’ve all been there, when we see someone in the halls and overhear a positive comment in that fake-but-seems-so-real complimen-

tary voice.

I’ve done it: I’ve just seen someone walking down the halls and claimed that I loved their hair or they looked “super cute” today.

A “fake negative” lie is told to make it seem as if a person likes someone or something less than they actually do—like those guys who secretly love to watch “Twilight” or read the books but won’t admit it, or the girls (myself included) who will start jamming in the car the instant that J-Biebs comes on the radio, but who will completely deny it.

But here’s the problem with these kinds of lies: not only are they catty and shallow, but we are then forced to remember all the pieces

Art by Heather Shelton

of the story. We have to make sure it stays consistent for everyone we tell, and if that doesn’t seem like enough work, we then have to be certain that those who know the truth don’t interact with those that don’t.

Then, if we get caught, we have to think about justifying why the lying even took place to begin with, and we all know that the feeling of being lied to is the worst. It also brings never ending trust issues.

Mark Twain said it best: “If you tell the truth, you don’t have to remember anything.”

That doesn’t mean people don’t deserve a second chance, but the solution is actually really simple.

Just tell the truth.

Congress: stop squabbling and grow up

RICHARD WILLIAMS Reporter Once again Congress is failing to come to an agreement over yet another action. It seems that no one is willing to settle on a budget for fear that their political opponents will get the glory during the elections.

It started merely as problems with passing bills. Then things got more intense as the economy went into a recession. Now that election season is near, Republicans and Democrats are more concerned about tearing each other apart than actually governing this country.

There has been growing concern over the partisanship of Congress these past few years. Very few bills have become law due to the great divide of Republicans and Democrats, and it doesn’t look as though things will be changing anytime soon, as we all know that the party system isn’t going anywhere.

It’s also highly unlikely we’ll be any more successful at weeding out the self-centered Congressmen during this coming election than the last one. And if we put them on time-out every time they butted heads, nothing would ever get done.

But just about all of us can agree that something needs to be done. So what can be done to fix a problem as old as the party system?

How about compromise?

When two opposing parties are grid locked in making a decision, compromise is often the key in coming to a conclusion. Understandably, few are willing to show “weakness”

by being the first to give a little. This is where mediation comes into play.

When two parties are unable to reach an agreement on their own— just like children squabbling over the last piece of candy—a need for mediation occurs.

A mediator is a neutral third party that helps the two opposing parties come to a reasonable agreement, usually a compromise of the two ideas. A mediator is different from an arbiter in the fact that he or she cannot make the decision for the groups; the two parties must still reach a decision themselves.

The mediator would not have the ability to vote on a bill, only the ability to suggest a course of action that would be equally beneficial to both sides.

Selecting a mediator wouldn’t be a simple process, as Jonathan Busch, social studies teacher, points out “It would have to be someone well-respected by both parties,” he

said. “That person needs to be good with negotiations.” He believes such a person is likely to come from the private sector.

In addition, the mediator would need to be politically neutral. If the mediator was Republican, for example, the Democrats would accuse the person of being biased. And then the two sides would be back to trying to bash each other’s faces through the table. While it’s normal to have a position on certain topics, the mediator must be willing to put that aside to maintain neutrality.

It is likely that there would need to be two mediators: one for the House of Representatives and one for the Senate.

The biggest challenge? The mediators would have to be approved

by Congress before being able to take office. Appointing them would require them to stop throwing tantrums long enough to agree on two people.

Opinion / October 27, 2011 / KANELAND KRIER

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MYVIEW

The line between offensive and funny

KALEB SCHUPPNER Editor “If my son was gay, he better come home and talk to me like a man and not (mimicking a stereotypically high-pitched voice), or I would pull out a knife and stab that little n- - - - - to death.”

I’d expect this severely racial and offensive quote to come from a less respected member of the media—possibly a dispassionate paparazzo.

However, comedian Tracy Morgan, who stars on “30 Rock,” delivered that outrageous line to an audience in Nashville. Morgan continued his offensive stand-up by saying that gay people were “pu----s” for complaining about being bullied because of their sexual orientation.

Well, I don’t think that many of us see people being made fun of or ostracized for being heterosexual. Morgan’s controversial routine started a firestorm because of the extremely homophobic stance he took.

Popular blogger Brad Phillips raised the question: “What, exactly, is the appropriate line for comedians? Surely, comics and social satirists should have more license for politically incorrect humor than, say, a politician. But where, exactly, should the line be drawn?”

It’s a thought-provoking question—one that should be considered by all of us when we are interacting with others in everyday life. It’s quite common for dear friends to ridicule each other from time to time, but how far is too far?

Let’s be honest, we all see it in the hallways.

There’s always at least one kid that is known for being picked on constantly. I think that it should be relatively easy to see if it is targeting or just joking. Obviously, threatening someone’s wellbeing is going too far, such as implications of killing them.

But I feel like the risky jokes and names should be saved for our very close and trusted friends, if

WE ASKED

Art by Heather Shelton

“The Today Show.”

“And maybe she’s trying to say, ‘Maybe I need to stay away from men a little while, and maybe being bald will help me do that,” Ludwig added.

My question: seriously? A highly educated member of our society was quoted sounding like a snotty, drama-crazed housewife. A vulnerable, impulsive young woman shaved her head and suddenly, people were assuming that she did it to make herself less appealing.

When Britney Spears shaved her head and became the punch line of nearly every joke in 2007, comedian Craig Ferguson drew the line.

“For me, comedy should have a certain amount of joy in it,” Ferguson said. “It should be about attacking the powerful—the politicians, the Trumps, the blowhards—going after them.

We shouldn’t be attacking the vulnerable.”

In other words, tasteless attempts at comedy, such as Tracy Morgan’s controversial routine, usually only result in hurt feelings. I believe that is where we, as decent human beings, should draw the line. If the target of the joke is vulnerable, that’s where the line is crossed.

What are you looking forward to on Halloween?

“I’m looking foward to eating all the candy I get on Halloween.”

–Freshman Madie Keith

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we say them at all. Many people don’t understand how much an immature, snarky comment can affect someone. Perhaps what seems like a harmless joke can provoke one’s deepest insecurities.

Bullying includes behaviors that focus on making someone feel inadequate or focus on belittling someone else. It could also include harassment, physical harm, repeatedly demeaning speech or efforts to ostracize another person. Everyone has heard the caught-red-handed-phrase: “I was just joking.” The fact of the matter is, if only one person thinks that it is funny, it cannot really be considered a joke. This often leads to something much more serious than heckling a few buddies.

As many of us remember, Britney Spears shaved her in head in 2007. She was obviously struggling with her personal life at the time, but the media was extremely insensitive. People were jumping to judgmental conclusions when, really, it was none of their business to begin with.

“I think she was basically saying, ‘I can’t protect myself anymore. Let’s see who really likes me for me,” psychotherapist Robin Ludwig told

Opinion / October 27, 2011 / KANELAND KRIER

“I’m looking forward to haunted houses.”

–Sophomore Evan Boewe

“I’m looking forward to going out to party and wearing a very fun costume.”

–Junior Abby West

“I’m looking forward to being able to get candy and to go out with my friends.”

–Freshman Kendall Krawczyk

FEATURES BOOTS

Rake up fall fashion

Tall black boots are a must this season and go with everything.

This stylish suede pair from DSW come up to just below the knee and retail for $59.99.

Bold prints and accessories are in

BY KRISTIN STAUB, Reporter Skinny jeans? Out. Flares and boot cut jeans? In. With fall upon us, fashions are changing once again. This season, it’s all about flared jeans, stylish boots, textured knits and bold prints and accessories.

Popular prints include cheetah prints, as well as florals, plaids and “ethnic” prints, such as Navajo style patterns. Creative layering of patterns is also fashionable this season.

Accessories are bold. Large, statement pieces complete any outfit. Big diamondcovered or rustic-looking bracelets and necklaces are very popular, and scarves, headbands, rings and large belts complete the look.

Many scarves are now in more neutral colors and patterns, which makes them easy to coordinate with any outfit.

Several styles of boots are in fashion, and sophomore Maddie King loves her Ugg boots.

“You can wear them in any season, and

they look good with everything,” King said.

As for the guys, comfy flip flops and calf-high socks complete their outfits.

For a dressier day, pair a nice sweater with jeans and Sperry’s.

Sophomore Jaumaureo Phillips comments that he prefers UGGs on a dressed up day, but Nikes or Jordans on a casual day.

These items are not to hard to find, if you look in the right places. Many Kaneland students favor stores such as Forever21, H&M, Urban Outfitters and other vintage looking stores.

Senior Demi Schlehofer commented that she likes to shop at thrift stores because there is always something unique there.

Schelhofer said people should develop personal style rather than following trends.

“Try to stand out and be different.

Wear something that you feel comfortable in!” Said Schlehofer, “Wear what makes you happy.”

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495 N. Route 47 Unit A, Sugar Grove Feature / October 27, 2011 / KANELAND KRIER

9

A faith

s

The idea of openly welcoming gay members, let alone allowing gay marriage or gay clergy within the church, has caused schisms in some churches—and it’s even spilling over into some schools. BY CASEY JACOBSON, Editor SENIOR JAKE ROSKO GREW UP in a Roman Catholic religious household and was raised practicing the Catholic faith.

Rosko attended church with his family, but he said he stopped going consistently about two years ago.

“It’s been a while [since I’ve practiced]. I don’t go to church much anymore, but I still believe in the concept,” Rosko said.

Then, during Rosko’s sophomore year, he wrote a letter to the editor to the Elburn Herald about how derogatory remarks towards gay people were harmful and that all people had a right not to be harassed. Rosko mentioned in the letter that he was gay, which his church community had not been told at the time, but his main point was about treating others with respect.

Yet after the letter was published, Rosko said he was faced with criticism of his article at church, where several people expressed that the article left them uneasy.

“People around the area read it and brought it up in church. They claimed how being gay was unnatural and not right,” Rosko said. “They didn’t bring up my name, and it wasn’t the pastor who brought it up. When they read it, it was blown way out of proportion. I didn’t say anything about gay rights; I was just talking about having respect for all people,” Rosko said.

Since then, Rosko doesn’t attend church as much as he used to.

“It’s not something to be happy about, but I was expecting it,” Rosko said.

Both churches and gay individuals have struggled to reach agreement. Issues of homosexuality, from gay rights to gay marriage to gay clergy, have caused debates within several churches, including

three of the largest: Episcopalians, Lutherans and Presbyterians.

A CHURCH BREAKING APART Some churches have openly accepted gay members and others have even accepted gay clergy, while the issue has torn other churches apart.

The Episcopal Church began allowing the ordination of gay clergy, including those in active relationships, several years ago, according to Reverend E. Suzanne Wille, a pastor at Christ Church in Warwick, New York and the former director of Catholics Opposing Racism, a diversity program run in schools in the Chicago Archdiocese, the nation’s largest Catholic school system.

“The issue [in the church] is always on the proper use of sexuality,” Wille said. “The church is being forced to understand whether or not being gay is who you are created to be. Major arguments go back to Genesis about Adam and Eve and how woman was created for man. The ultimate question has been, how strictly do you interpret scripture?”

The Episcopal Church agreed to find a way for people in publicly accountable, lifelong, monogamous and same-gender relationships to serve as clergy members or leaders, Wille said.

“Most people are aware of the issues and disputes within the church. People believe different things, and even when the Bible is clear, it’s hard to change their view if they grew up believing it,” Wille said.

Yet within the Evangelical Lutheran Church, the debate has become so bitter that the church is splitting into two separate churches—one that allows gay clergy, such as pastors and other religious officials, and one that does not.

Senior Molly Speckman describes herself as both Lutheran and a Republican, but she said she is fine with her church’s decision to allow gay clergy.

“As a Lutheran, I think it is a good decision.

Religion is a personal thing, so if some Lutherans are uncomfortable with it, they should separate,” Speckman said.

Senior Zach Brown, who described himself as strongly religious and is considering entering the ministry, said that Christians can be accepting of other people without accepting their behavior.

“The very nature of Christianity is on the basis of love,” Brown said. “But that being said, we believe homosexuality to be sinful. To say ‘accepting’ or not is not right; we see homosexuality in the same light as stealing or lust. It’s sin, but it’s forgivable.”

Wille said that though the issue was divisive in some churches, it was not the first challenge or societal change churches had faced.

“It’s true that some churches are very homophobic, and churches are slow to change. The church is one to help people who are portrayed as outsiders in society. This issue [of allowing gay clergy] has only been around 15 years, while the church goes back 2,000. There’s enough change in our society to be openly gay and feel accepted, unlike 15 years ago,” Wille said.

Yet in the Evangelical Lutheran Church, which is among the largest religious groups in America with 4.5 million members in 10,500 congregations, the change has not come easy.

The Lutheran church has agreed to disagree on the issue for the sake of their members and community.

While homosexuality is among the most di

KANELAND’S DIVIDE how students feel about gay issues

59 percent of Kaneland students think homosexuals choose to be gay

85

percent of Kaneland students think is it possible for a homosexual to be religious

48

percent of Kaneland students think that homosexuality is a sin

54

percent of Kaneland students think gay marriage should be legal

Source: A poll of 112 randomly-selected Kaneland students conducted on Sept. 22. Contribution by Tatiana Lee.

10

Focus / October 27, 2011 / KANELAND KRIER

visive issues in today’s churches, it’s not the first political or social issue the faithful have struggled to address. Major debates on the morality of slavery, the necessity of circumcision, civil rights, divorce of church members, interfaith and inter-denominational marriage, and the ordination of women have also caused heated debates within Christian churches over the past 150 years.

Yet Wille said that the debate in the press, which often portrays religious people as close minded, is misleading and one dimensional.

“I think that the most vocal people in the church have been homophobic, and that’s what unfortunately the press covers. Everything that the church does to help people mostly goes unreported. Some Christians need to remember they should be lining up behind Jesus, not lining up behind politics,” Wille said.

Speckman agreed that the media falsely portrays religious people as homophobic.

“It’s ridiculously unfair. While I believe in my religion, I’m by no means ‘scared’ of gay people. I have several homosexual friends, and their sexuality doesn’t make them any less of a person. I think that it is important that people learn to accept each other, regardless of religion or sexual orientation,” Speckman said.

A DISTRICT UNDER FIRE The religious divide over how to treat homosexuality has spilled over into schools in some areas of the country, where some Christian groups have been worried that schools might teach their children ideas about homosexuality that aren’t in line with their faith. Some groups have pressured school districts to stay neutral on the issue of homosexuality.

That’s been the policy at AnokaHennepin School District in Minnesota, located north of Minneapolis. The district is Minnesota’s largest, with 38,000 students, and represented in Congress by Michele Bachmann, a Tea Party conservative and a Republican presidential candidate.

The district’s policy is to remain “neutral” about anything involving sexual orientation, which means teaching about it is not part of the district-adopted curriculum.

District officials believe that “such matters are best addressed within individual family homes, churches or community organizations” and the school board has a policy that

Photo by Erin Arndt

Above: “I still strongly believe in God, but my views on religion have changed since my sophomore year,” senior Jake Rosko said. Right: A poll of Kaneland students found that 23 percent of KHS students are Roman Catholic, including Rosko.

says “Anoka-Hennepin staff, in the course of their professional duties, shall remain neutral on matters regarding sexual orientation.”

That policy of neutrality has become the subject of a fierce controversy after what’s being called a “suicide contagion” began: nine students in the district-committed suicide in a two-year period, at least four of whom were known to be struggling with their sexuality.

Anoka-Hennepin is being sued by six students, represented by both the Southern Poverty Law Center and by the National Center for Lesbian Rights, who argue that the district’s “neutral” policy has turned into a gag policy that prevents teachers from standing up for the students being bullied based on sexual orientation or from speaking out about their abuse. It not only prevents teachers from openly discussing homosexuality, NCLR argues, but also prevents them from intervening when abuse is occurring.

The students charge that staff members who witnessed or heard reports of antigay harassment intentionally “ignored, minimized, dismissed, or in some instances, blamed the victim for the other students’ abusive behavior.”

“The district has to stop turning its back on children and recognize that its illegal policy that singles out

those who are lesbian, gay, trans gender or bisexual is the reason that so many children in their schools continue to be tormented—verbally, physically, and emotionally—every day,” NCLR Executive Director Kate Kendall said.

One of the students in the suit, identified only by the initials E.R. because she is still a minor, is a 15-year-old female who identifies herself as a lesbian. She moved to the Anoka-Hennepin school district in Sept. 2010 and charges that beginning on her first day of school, she was continually taunted by peers.

In the complaint, E.R. said that she reported the harassment to the teachers and administrators, but no action was taken, and she said that a staff member once told her that she had overheard other staff saying that they wished the school could “get rid of her.”

“This is yet another incredibly distressing example of how the district’s shameful policy has hurt kids,” Kendall said.

Kaneland’s policy is different than that of Anoka-Hennepin. Gay Straight Alliance sponsor Sharon Beck spoke about Kaneland’s sexual orientation policy and said that while homosexuality is not typi-

cally addressed in the curriculum, Kaneland has a clear anti-bullying stance.

“I wouldn’t see a teacher really discussing homosexuality in class unless it was part of the curriculum.

Government, sociology and health classes could be discussing laws, harassment or equality,” Beck said.

“Throughout Kaneland, we have many different clubs that promote diversity. In the GSA, we promote tolerance and most of the students are straight. We don’t talk about sexual orientation, we talk about how to end bullying.”

Whether a teacher intervenes is based on several factors, she said, including the relationship with the teacher and how the teacher perceives the situation. “It’s hard to stay completely consistent with different perception levels of different students and teachers. But, as a staff, we do not tolerate any harassment or bullying,” Beck said.

Rosko said that in his experience, some teachers put a stop to bullying, but it varied teacher to teacher. “Some people try to stop bullying on only certain topics, but they’ll ignore it with some other topic,” he said.

Focus / October 27, 2011 / KANELAND KRIER

11

Hidden calories & unwanted fat

Many “healthy” menu options can be unexpected calorie bombs. How many

BY EMILY GULANCZYK AND ALEX VICKERY, Editors hidden calories and fats are in our favorites?

SENIOR SARAH EDWARDS is not fooled by the seemingly “healthy” choices on menus. If she counts calories, she is sure to choose a dish or entrée that isn’t loaded with hidden calories.

Surprising numbers of calories are hidden in dishes ranging from homemade favorites to restaurant classics. Author David Zinczenko has made a career out of pointing out the worst offenders in his book Eat This, Not That!

On his list of worst restaurant items? Zinczenko nominates Blimpie’s foot-long vegetable sub as the worst “healthy” sandwich because it contains more than 1,500 calories, 29 grams of fat and the sodium content is a whopping 3,540 milligrams.

Zinczenko also names Wendy’s the home to the worst fast-food burger, the Triple Baconator, which has 1,350 calories, 90 grams of fat and 2,780 milligrams of sodium.

Surprisingly high calorie counts in many restaurant items, combined with increasing obesity rates, are one reason that President Barack Obama passed a law requiring restaurants with more than 20 locations—in other words, chains like Olive Garden, Outback Steakhouse and Subway—to include calorie information in conspicuous locations on menus and drive-thru signs.

The law, which was modeled after a New York state law that requires restaurants, vending machines and buffets to display calorie information,

6

is part of the health care bill passed last year.

California and Oregon adopted similar measures this year, as they wait for the national health care legislation to take effect.

“From Portland, Oregon to Portland, Maine, the new standard will help chain restaurants provide the same type of nutrition information to consumers in any part of the country,” Dawn Sweeney, President of the National Restaurant Association, said.

It could be years, though, before consumers start seeing calorie counts on menus everywhere because the regulations are likely to be challenged in court. What can consumers worried about expanding waistlines do in the meantime?

“I think people need to be more observant and realize what they’re ordering isn’t as healthy as they think it is,” Edwards said.

One thing that makes that difficult is that designations like “low fat” and “low calorie” don’t necessarily mean what consumers think they mean. For example, the Food and Drug Administration regulates the use of terms like “low fat” and has defined the term “low fat” to mean that 30 percent or less of the calories in the item come from fat. But that doesn’t include the high-calorie condiments and extras served with dishes, such as dressings, sauces, cheese, bacon and extra salt.

“If a restaurant is promoting an item as ‘low calorie’ or ‘low fat,’ they should be willing to

Worst Food in America

WORST 1.

FOODS in Worst Dessert AMERICA 2.

12

Centerspread / October 27, 2011 / KANELAND KRIER

Cheesecake Factory Bistro Shrimp Pasta Calories: 2,727

provide the nutrition information per request.

Be careful though, because oftentimes the nutrition information doesn’t include the dressing or extras,” Laura Cannell, registered dietitian, said.

One dish that often has unexpectedly high calories are salads, which are perceived to be healthy.

But calorie-ridden dressings, cheese, fried chicken and bacon, calories add up quickly.

“Salads can be a very healthy choice. You can always ask for toppings and dressing on the side so you can control of how much goes on the salad,” Cannell said. “Dip your fork in the dressing as you take each bite instead of pouring it all over the salad. You can also say ‘no bacon and no cheese.’

Again, you are paying money for that meal. Ask what comes on the salad so you can make the right choice.”

Ordering a Premium Caesar Salad from McDonald’s with crispy chicken? It has 350 calories, 18 grams of fat and 740 milligrams of sodium. To save on calories, switch to the grilled chicken, which only has 190 calories, 5 grams of fat and 580 milligrams of sodium.

“I am surprised. People always say how healthy salad is, but then once you add dressing it’s just as bad as fried food,” sophomore Chris Van Dinther said.

It’s a concern that a lot of Kaneland students share. According to a poll of 84 students conducted on Sept. 19, 72 percent said they thought many

3.

Uno Chicago Grill Mega-Sized Deep Dish Sundae Calories: 2,800

Worst Chicken Entree Cheesecake Factory Crispy Chicken Costoletta Calories: 2,494

4.

Worst Pizza Uno Chicago Grill Chicago Classic Deep Dish Pizza Calories: 2,310

restaurants are less healthy than they appear.

“Our nation is working hard to get kids healthy and active, yet they are tricked every time they walk into a restaurant,” freshman Madi Jurcenko said.

Yet some restaurants have also been working to shed their unhealthy images.

McDonald’s has switched to using a canolabased cooking oil—which is healthier because it contains no trans-fats—for all their fries, hash browns, fish sandwiches and fried chicken products. The chain has also added many healthy options to their menu, including apple-dippers, low-fat milk, oatmeal and fruit for low-calorie breakfast options and a fruit and walnut salad.

Wendy’s has also taken steps to make their choices healthier. Their new natural-cut fries are made with sea salt, which is supposed to be a healthier alternative to table salt.

Many foods are often not as healthy as they seem. Though 45 percent of Kaneland students polled indicated that they believed the words “baked or “grilled” indicated the item was healthier than fried options, that’s not always the case, Cannell said. Even foods described as “grilled” can still be smothered in butter, so Cannell advises asking how the dish is prepared.

There are many simple tips to be taken that can lower the calories and fat consumed. Cannell said diners should be assertive enough to ask question about their cooking methods. Also, most restaurant serving sizes are way too generous. Share a meal or dessert, or take half of it home, saving half the calories, she advised.

Another common source of unnecessary calories is fountain drinks, Cannell said. The calories can add up: drinking just one can of soda every day can cause a person to gain 12 to 18 pounds a year. Ordering a water instead can cut 239 to 477 calories, depending on the drink.

“The problem with most fountain drinks is the high sugar content, which adds calories quickly when you have lots of refills. People don’t notice that they have made several trips to refill their drinks. [An] eight-ounce cola has approximately nine teaspoons of sugar. If you order water instead, you save money and reduce your sugar intake, as well as the amount of empty calories,” Cannell said.

The bottom line is customers are responsible for making the right choices, Cannell said.

“Whether you eat out, at a friend’s house or at home, you have the choice to eat healthy.

It is about living a healthy lifestyle. That means making the healthiest choice possible no matter where you are. There are often healthy choices available, so the responsibility is on your shoulders,” Cannell said.

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Source: “Eat This, Not That,” by David Zinczenko. Compiled by Ryan Noel.

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Wendy’s 1/4 lb. Single Calories: 470 Source: “Eat This, Not That,” 2011 version. Compiled by Ryan Noel.

Centerspread / October 27, 2011 / KANELAND KRIER

13

5

Getting to theFINISH

BEST TYPES OF RUNNING SHOES

Any runner knows that slipping on an old pair of Converse and going for a three mile run is a recipe for pain. Good running shoes are essential, but different feet have different needs.

“New customers come into the store asking for the best running shoe we sell here, but they shouldn’t be asking that because it’s not the best shoe, it’s the best shoe for you,” Brian Harks, an employee of Dick Ponds, said.

Harks said there are five types of running shoes: NEUTRAL TRAINER

Selecting the right running shoes Photo illustration by Brandon Bishop

BY SARA LAURIE, Editor Throughout nine years and over 30 triathlons, the shoes have piled up in senior Jenn Howland’s closet. The internationally-ranked triathlon runner has three different pairs of running shoes she uses to compete in events.

“A good shoe has enough support to support the way you run,” Howland said. “I own Asics, and they are pleasing to my foot. My feet usually don’t hurt after a race.”

For both the serious runner and the high school athlete, having the right running shoe is important. Every foot has a different shape and different sports have different needs, so picking the right shoe is more than just selecting one that looks good.

How can an athlete pick the right shoe for their foot and sport? Follow these tips for purchasing and maintaining shoes from the experts.

The first step in picking out a running shoe is to figure out the size and the type of shoes needed. According to the American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine, it’s a good idea to start off at a specialty shoe store that’s nearby with a good reputation.

Good stores will fit the foot and help through the course of finding the perfect shoe.

“Dick Ponds is a great store to get fitted at.

They take the time to fit you and allow you to test the shoes,” Douglas Ecker, cross country and track coach, said.

According to Dick Ponds employee Bryan Harks, finding someone’s foot size is actually quite simple: there should typically be a thumbnail length between the tip of the toe and the end of the shoe. This way if the foot swells during a race, there is room for it to expand.

Knowing what type of shoe to get can be difficult. That’s where the professionals come in.

Dr. Anthony Luke of the University of California, San Francisco said that when asking about what the best shoes are, consider how that certain shoe will be of benefit. Having a solid heel is key to keeping feet and ankles stable. To check if the shoe has a solid heel, squeeze the heel to see if it is stiff, Luke recommended.

Another thing to check is mid-foot support, Luke said. Do this by grabbing the front of the shoe and the heel of the shoe and twisting. If this is easy to do it means that the shoe usually has less mid-foot support, whereas if it’s hard to twist the shoe, then there is more mid-foot support, which is good for a foot. When picking out a shoe, make sure to think about the arch in the foot.

There is a shank in most shoes, Luke said. The shank hardens the shoe under the arch, keeping stability. Some shoes now have the shank wrap up the medial side or, in other words, the arch side.

The consequences of having a shank are that it adds weight to the shoe, when a lighter shoe is better for speed, Luke said.

Light shoes can get people ready to run barefoot, which is –Senior Jenn Howland scientifically tested to be better than running with shoes, according to Sports Science. Some shoes have gel backing so the heel doesn’t rub raw. It’s not just the shoe that needs to be comfortable; wearing the right socks is important too. Checking the shoes regularly can prevent injuries.

“It depends on the quality of the shoes and the person. Someone older will probably need new shoes sooner than someone younger,” Ecker said.

Luke said shoes should be replaced every 450 to 600 miles because a whole shoe can fade and be rubbed down, and so can the midsoles. According to the AAPSM, the midsoles are worn out when having run or walked 300 to 500 miles or having played 45 to 60 hours of basketball or tennis.

“A good shoe has

enough support to support the way you run.”

14

Sports Feature / October 27, 2011 / KANELAND KRIER

“It has a lot of cushion in the back heel and is used if you don’t have any arch problems or flat feet,” Harks said. The shoes last for 300 to 500 miles.

Women’s Gravity Neutral Trainer

STABILITY TRAINER Those with flat feet or an arch that overcorrects itself will want to get a stability trainer. The shoe has more dense material in the arch, so it gives flat feet enough padding to prevent injuries. Like the Basic Trainer, New Balance KJ860 these shoes should only be used for around 300 to 500 miles.

MINIMALIST “The purpose of this shoe is to replicate running with out any shoes,” Harks said.

He advises slowly working this style of shoe into a Vibram Five Fingers workout, since they are used for warm-ups and short periods of time. The shoes have less padding and will last longer.

“These shoes will make running strides more efficent,” senior Chris Spadfora, a cross country runner at Batavia, said.

RUNNING SPIKES “These are the shoes that are used by track or cross country runners,” Spadfora said. “They are light and they have little cushion.

Asics Hypersprint track spikes Track spikes have spikes in the front, and it makes you run on the front of your foot. Since you only use these shoes on race day, you can use the same shoes for a long time.”

RACING FLATS “These shoes are almost only used on road races or on concrete,” Spadfora said. “They have basically no cushion Nike Zoom Streak 3s for your heel and the bottom of the shoe is flat. Most people who run on concrete races use these. But these should not be used as a workout shoe because of the lack of support.”

–Nick Albano, reporter

The mobile versions of Facebook and Google+ offer similar features for users on-the-go.

Photo by Ellie Strang

FRIENDS

HOMEPAGE

Social network SHOWDOWN

PROFILES FEATURES

Junior Ann Marie Giese isn’t a fan of Google’s new social networking site, Google+.

“It’s a replica of Facebook; it’s a wannabe Facebook,” Giese said.

It’s a sentiment to many users who wonder why they’d switch over to a new network when they’re perfectly happy with the old one.

Google+ is the latest in a series of social networking sites that seeks to dethrone Facebook’s dominance.

Other attempts from MySpace to Twitter have been unsuccessful.

Part of the challenge? Facebook already has 750 million users—many of whom are as devoted as sophomore Madeleine King and Giese, who spend four to five hours a day online—and people gravitate toward it because everyone they know is already on it.

“Facebook has so many users,” Giese said, “Google+ probably won’t be able to live up to its expectations.”

Facebook has undergone dra-

matic changes to its home page, friends lists and profile over the past two months, and some believe it’s to keep up with Google+.

When Google+ introduced its “circles” feature, which allows users to categorize people as friends, family or acquaintances, Facebook quickly came out with new friends lists that began automatically categorizing friends. The new profile, called a time line, is also seen by many as an attempt to offer more features than Google+.

Yet the continual changes have frustrated many users.

“I like Google+ better [than Facebook] because they don’t change as much as Facebook,” sophomore Kaylee Shoaff said. “I didn’t like the Facebook change. It really bugged me,” Shoaff said.

Twenty percent of Kaneland students said that they preferred Google+ to Facebook, and another 23 percent said they thought it would catch on, according to a poll of 266 randomly-selected students performed on Sept. 21.

PHOTOS

BY DELANEY STRYCZEK, Editor

VIDEOS

Is Google+ the hottest thing in social networking or just another wannabe?

USERS

Google+ vs Facebook

Google +

Facebook

The colorful homepage allows access to all main places, including the stream (similar to Facebook’s news feed), sparks, photos, hangouts, circles and user profiles.

The news feed is Facebook’s homepage, which shows users their friends’ recent activity and statuses. There are links to access profiles, friends lists, photos and more.

Places friends into circles, which categorizes them based on your relationship with them. People can be listed as friends, family or acquaintances, and users can decide what to share with each group of people.

Users used to be able to group their friends into customized lists, but Facebook is now automatically creating lists for users, similar to the “circles” on Google+. Users can decide which lists or which individuals see each post.

Over 25 million members and rapidly growing. Among Kaneland students, only 19 percent said that they had a Google+ account or even knew someone with an account. Only 16 percent believed enough people would join Google+ to rival Facebook.

At 750 million users and growing, Facebook is a juggernaut. Nearly 1 in 9 people on Earth now use it, among Kaneland students polled, 93 percent have a Facebook account.

Has a tab where you can edit your profile and update details about yourself. Also you can upload a profile picture, which is mostly a picture of yourself, of you and your friends or family.

Users have a time line, which replaced the old profile and allows them to share photos, status, events and even favorite music from points in their lives. Privacy options allow users to show different information to different friends lists.

Sparks allows users to type in an specific interest and Google+ will send them things from the web that may interest them about that topic.

The main feature is commenting back and forth on photos and statuses; users can chat with friends or create groups and group chats. Facebook also has many different games to play, like Farmville, which is widely popular.

The Huddle feature allows users to have a group chat with a particular circle.

Users upload their photos from their computer, phone or iPod into albums, using a feature called “instant upload.” It’s possible to choose which circles can see the photos and which can’t.

In addition to posting videos on their stream and tagging friends, there’s an area called Hangouts, which allows users to video chat with a group of people in their friends list or just one person.

Users can upload pictures from their computer, phone or iPod into self-made albums, upload them straight to the newsfeed wall, or they can upload a picture directly to their profile picture.

Users can upload videos to their news feed or their profile, edit them and tag their friends.

Sources: Poll of 266 randomly-selected KHS students performed on Sept. 21; Google+; Facebook.

Compiled by Delaney Stryczek and Bryanna Stoiber.

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630.788.0607 Feature / October, 27, 2011 / KANELAND KRIER

15

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Rising artists showcase fresh modern sounds GroupLove Genre: Indie

With a name like GroupLove, the expectation is a deep, soulful gospel group, but that’s not the case with this band. GroupLove is an Indie rock band with a kick. With inspired lead vocals and guitar play by Christian Zucconi, GroupLove forges a sound that is easy to listen to, yet has enough substance to keep fans listening.

Hailing from Los Angeles, this five-piece unit has been on tour with the likes of Florence and the Machine. GroupLove’s recently released single, “Colours,” was featured in the movie “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice (Goldcoast)” as well as in the recently released game “Madden ’12.” The band also performed “Colours” on “Late Night with Conan O’Brien” and has shown great ability to play in front of a crowd. GroupLove is not just a studio group; their recorded songs and concert songs are the same quality.

“Colours” reached number 21 on the US alternative charts and gained tens of thousands of views on YouTube. Their sophomore effort, “Never Trust a Happy Song,” was released last month.

The album begins with “Itchin’ On a Photograph,” an emotionally compelling song that is up-tempo enough to keep it interesting. Later in the album, there are catchy songs such as “Tongue Tied” and “Naked Kids.” Catchy songs with sounds like these are compared by “Sputnik music” to MGMT. With some airplay, this band has the potential to become an Indie group icon right alongside the likes of Mumford & Sons.

DOWNLOAD NOW: “Colours” is their biggest hit; “Itchin’ on a Photograph” is the most emotionally compelling.

–Evan Ortiz, reporter

5 Halloween activities to try Looking for a good scare this fall? Or just a good place to go with friends for Halloween?

These haunted houses may be just the place, and for younger audiences, there’s plenty of pumpkins to be picked and hay wagons to ride. Here are five spots to be once fall hits.

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Pulse / October 27, 2011 / KANELAND KRIER

J Cole Genre: Hip-Hop

Mac Miller Genre: Rap

The North Carolina roots of hip-hop artist J Cole influence his sound. Cole has been a Cinderella story from start to finish, making his name by releasing free mix tapes on the internet, starting with a two-song mix tape, with his debut album released on Sept. 27. Though the artist is in his late twenties, he says he has just reached his prime in the rap game.

Cole has been featured in many songs with major artists, including Kanye West, Jay-Z and Wiz Khalifa, and his most famous single is “Lights Please,” released on his mix tape, “The Warm-Up,” in 2009. The single also appeared on his debut album, “Cole World: The Sideline Story,” which hit number one on the Billboard 200 within the first two days of its release.

Mac Miller’s popularity is skyrocketing. The artist, whose real name is Malcolm Maccormick and who was formerly known as Easy Mac, has made a name for himself in the rap world with multiple mix tapes.

Now the 19 year old from Pittsburgh has dedicated himself to hip-hop and is releasing his debut album, “Blue Slide Park,” on Nov. 8.

Though the album title sounds different than most rap albums, it has a special meaning to the young artist: Blue Slide Park is an iconic park in Pittsburgh where Mac Miller used to hangout at as a kid. “Frick Park Market” is the first single from the album to be released and is available on iTunes and YouTube.

DOWNLOAD NOW: “Lights Please” is his most famous; “Grown Simba” has an inspirational vibe.

–Sam Bower, editor

of the Dead 1 Basement 42 W. New York St., Aurora Travel down to the Basement of the Dead and meet Al and Imus, two laundry workers killed in an explosion.

They haunted the sewer lines near the laundry, but when it was abandoned, they made the basement where they died their home. If you dare, travel into the basement and see that Al and Imus are still seeking revenge.

Basement of the Dead is open on Friday and Saturday from 7-11 p.m.; on Thursday and Sunday from 7-10 p.m.

General admission is $15, and speed pass admission with front-of-the-line access is $25.

–Samantha Payton, reporter

DOWNLOAD NOW: “Frick Park Market” is a mellow tune; the defiant lyrics of “Smile Back” complement his persona.

–Brandon Bishop, editor

2

Kuipers’ Family Farm

1N318 Watson Road, Maple Park

For a treat the whole family can enjoy or just to pick that perfect Jack-o’-lantern, head to Kuipers’.

This classic, family-owned Maple Park visit is popular for a reason. Pumpkin picking is available until Oct. 30, and pumpkins are 39 cents a pound. The corn mazes are also open through Oct. 30 and are free with admission; stop by the orchard shop and bakery to pick up some fresh donuts, cider and apples.

Kuipers’ has over 20 varieties of apples, from Honey Crisp to McIntosh, and apple picking is available on weekends through the end of October; customers have a choice of picking apples or buying pre-package bags.

The pre-package bags are $7.99-14.99 a pound.

Kuipers’ also has other activities, like venturing off into the haunted forest, visiting the animal barn and taking the hay wagon. Kuipers’ is open Tuesday through Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

–Maria Lassandro, reporter

Kutcher’s time to shine is now off.

“Two and a Half Men” is alive and well, even if the central character of Charlie Harper has been killed

Charlie Sheen’s odd behavior last spring caused CBS to terminate his contract and kill off his character in the premiere episode. His character Charlie Harper was similar to that of Sheen’s life in many ways.

Harper was that likeable character who could get viewers to laugh about anything. Sheen’s snide humor and remarks is something that no one else will be able to accomplish, except maybe for Ashton Kutcher.

Until Kutcher was to appear on this first episode, Jon Cryer, who plays Alan Harper, Charlie Harper’s brother, took charge.

He made my whole family laugh, as well as Angus T. Jones, who plays Jake Harper, and Conchata Ferrell, who plays the tough housekeeper

Berta.

Then Kutcher appeared as Walden Schmidt, a lovesick loner worth at least billion dollars, stumbling onto the porch after his wife left him and he tried to drown himself the ocean.

Luckily Schmidt didn’t know that the ocean would be so cold and sought refuge in Harper’s home.

The relationship bloomed from there.

Kutcher kept the laughs coming, and as his character began to grow, there was a striking resemblance between Walden Schmidt and Charlie Harper. But Kutcher put his own little spin to it and didn’t try to replicate Sheen, which worked. The new character of Walden Schmidt turned out great.

Sheen and his character can never be replaced, but if CBS had to pick someone to fill his shoes, it would be Kutcher.

–Ellie Strang, reporter

Ashton Kutcher replaced Charlie Sheen on CBS’s hit, “Two and a Half Men,” this season.

Photo courtesy CBS

America’s new favorite Mom and Dad Parenthood comedy is sure to keep you “up all night”

Photo courtesy NBC

Christina Applegate and Will Arnett star as sleepdeprived parents in NBC’s new sitcom.

3

“Up All Night” takes a comedic view of the lives of a busy, working mother and stay-at-home father as they adjust to parenthood.

The new series, written by Emily Spivey, who also wrote “Saturday Night Live,” “MADtv” and “King of the Hill,” has the formula for success. The show tickles audience’s funny bone while simultaneously warming their hearts with love of their infant daughter, Amy.

RAVEN’S GRIN INN

411 N. Carrol St., Mount Carroll

An alleged 37 ghosts roam Raven’s Grin Inn, and creator Jim Warfield offers creative set-ups and props to create a full-out scary effect. It’s full of paintings, cats, crawl spaces and even some slides.

Raven’s Grin Inn is a converted old farmhouse that Winfield turned into a top-notch haunted house. Yet as tempting as Raven’s Grin Inn is, it takes a fully dedicated person to take the hike all the way out to Mount Carroll, a 90 minute drive.

The inn is open Monday through Friday from 7 p.m. to midnight and weekends from 2-5 p.m. and then again from 7 p.m. to midnight. Admission is $13 per person.

–Samantha Payton, reporter

4

“Up All Night” lives up to its name, unfortunately for its characters, Reagan (Christina Applegate) and Chris (Will Arnett), who must repeatedly survive sleepless nights caring for their child.

Reagan, Chris and Amy are a family viewers will quickly fall in love with. Their roles and character make the show enjoyable: the neutral and kind Reagan balances her family and her industrious work life as a show producer for her nar-

GOEBBERT’S PUMPKIN PATCH 42W813 Reinking Rd., Hampshire

For a fun autumn activity, search for that perfect pumpkin and enjoy somewhere just a little different at Goebbert’s.

Their Farmers Wife Cafe’ has a variety homemade treats like pies, cookies, apple cider donuts and fudge. Besides the sweets, the cafe’ also serves warm bowls of soup or sweet corn for those chilly days.

The Market and Craft Barn is where visitors will find farm fresh favorites such as apples, caramel apples, potatoes, kettle corn and squash. Come watch pig races and go on pony rides.

If that’s not enough excitement, get lost in the Corn Stalk Maze and don’t forget to visit the Pumpkin Eating Dinosaur, fed everyday, handmade and 20 feet tall.

Gobbert’s is open every day through Oct 31.

The admission is $8 weekdays and $10 weekends; children two and under enter for free.

–Maria Lassandro, reporter

5

cissistic celebrity friend Ava (Maya Rudolph), while her husband Chris takes care of Amy at home.

Applegate, Arnett and Rudolph were all great in portraying their characters. The show is realistic and easy to relate to in more ways than one, which was unexpected and actually touching.

The pilot aired Sept. 14, and new episodes air every Wednesday at 7 p.m. on NBC. –Jamee Cordero, reporter

DISTURBIA 880 W. Lake St., Addison

Disturbia: Torment of Fears is the place to be for those looking for thrills and chills. Considered to be one of the best haunted houses in Illinois, Disturbia takes visitor’s biggest fears and turns them to reality.

Tormenting images throughout the house leave visitors’ hearts palpitating faster Usain Bolt’s feet move. Be prepared for anything, because Disturbia will surely frighten even the hardiest souls.

Disturbia: Torment of Fears is open from 7 p.m. to midnight on Friday and Saturday and from 7-11 p.m. on all other days. It is $18 for general admission and $35 for a V.I.P. speed pass that lets visitors skip the line.

–Samantha Payton, reporter Pulse / October 27, 2011 / KANELAND KRIER

17

Trendy circle contacts: worth the health risk?

A decorative fad started by Japanese anime

BY ALEX VICKERY, Editor Senior Sharissa Lee has big, doll-like eyes. She wasn’t born with them—she’s been wearing circle contacts since last winter. So has her cousin, Kelly Her ‘11, and her friend, Chezka Eusebio ‘11.

Lee began wearing them because she liked the look, she said.

“I just wanted to wear them,” she said.

Optometrists say that circle contacts and decorative contacts are a trend. The lenses enhance the appearance of the eyes by making the iris look bigger. The contacts add a “ring” around the iris to enlarge it.

“The iris is usually 12 mm, and circle contacts widen them to about 15 or 16 mm,” Dr. Joshua Korsgarden, optometrist at Vision Plus in Sugar Grove, said.

They have become increasingly

popular ever since Lady Gaga wore them in her “Bad Romance” music video. The cosmetic lenses are also popular with Japanese anime fans, since they make the iris look bigger like an anime character.

Lee said she was inspired to wear them to enhance her eyes.

“I wanted a different color in my eyes,” she said.

Eusebio wears hers because she has bad eyesight and needs contacts, she said.

Yet circle contacts can be risky.

Decorative lenses are illegal in the U.S., though consumers can buy them for $20 to $30 at flea markets, on the internet or at retail outlets, according the American Optometric Association.

“I bought mine on the Internet,” Lee said.

Anytime someone wears eye wear, especially contacts, that are not prescribed to them is very dan-

Senior Sharissa Lee wears circle contacts, which give her eyes a larger, doll-like appearance.

gerous, said Dr. Barry Eiden, chair of the AOA’s Contacts Lens and Cornea Section.

“Consumers who purchase lenses without a prescription or without consultation from an eye doctor put themselves at risk of serious bacterial infection, or even significant damage to the eye’s ability to function, with the potential for irreversible sight loss,” Eiden said.

Korsgarden says that circle

Follow these safety rules to reduce infection risk: Don’t use contacts longer than the specified time.

Use a fish oil supplement. This adds to the oil component of tears.

Don’t leave contacts in the eye overnight.

Use Punctual Plugs, which stay in the tear ducts to keep tears in the eyes.

Before handling contacts, always wash hands with soap and water and dry them with a lint-free towel.

Use the prescribed eye drops Restasis, which help produce more tears and reduces inflammation.

Remove contact lenses before going swimming in a pool or a hot tub.

Warning: Using red-eye reducing Visine can have a negative effect. Using it for the recommended amount is helpful. Although using Visine for long period of time constricts the blood vessels and ends up making the eyes more red.

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contacts can cause corneal ulcers if people aren’t taking care of them.

Experts warn that contacts that don’t fit right could deprive the eye of oxygen.

The AOA says that others dangers include conjunctivitis, swelling, allergic reaction and corneal abrasion due to poor lens fit. If these problems persist, it can result in reduction of sight, contrast sensitivity and other problems.

Contact safety tips

How to prevent dry eye Use artificial tears or supplemental tears, which moisten the eye.

Do not store or rinse contacts in water.

Remember to regularly clean the case and replace it every three months. Don’t use the case if it is cracked or damaged.

Source: Dr. Joshua Korsgarden and American Academy of Ophthalmology

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Lifestyle / Oct. 27, 2010 / KANELAND KRIER

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Delicious Oreo balls, decorative plates and how to keep guests out of prohibited areas

Potion

for the perfect

Halloween party Ingredients • 1 package of cream cheese • 6 packages of Oreos • Semi-sweet melting chocolate • Icing

1

3 Snacks

Halloween is a great time to gather with friends and have a lot of fun, but it doesn’t have to mean spending a fortune on a costume or haunted houses.

With a little creativity, everyone can have a fun, affordable night full of frights and screams. Make it a Halloween to remember by throwing an inexpensive party.

Below is a recipe for the always-savory Oreo balls, which can be decorated with

STEP 3: Roll the mixture into balls, making each about the size of a pingpong ball.

Fun plates like these add pizazz to any party and are easy on the budget!

Decorate tables with a white or black tablecloth, then set out decorative plates and platters full of treats.

STEP 1: Crush the Oreos and pour the crumbs into a bowl.

Make sure there aren’t any chunks.

2

4

STEP 2: Add one package of cream cheese and mix until it reaches a consistent texture.

5

STEP 4: Dip the rolled-up mixture into chocolate, then freeze for 10 minutes until the chocolate sets.

STEP 5: Decorate the Oreo balls with different color frosting or decorative toothpicks.

“This game is surprisingly fun.” Jessica Chessare, former Party City staff member said, “Games are a great way to make every party guest comfortable.”

Games

The

Decor

spooky faces or a Halloween theme. Pair the Oreo balls with some inexpensive and salty snacks, like chips or popcorn, and invite some friends over to share, watch horror movies or do other Halloween activities.

To keep guests out of private spaces, decorate the stairs or hallway they aren’t allowed in with streamers, lanterns and electronic tealights.

The guests will appreciate the creative decor and the decorations will indicate which areas are off-limits.

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October Spanish Club made festive sugar skulls, theater began practicing for “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” and seniors dominated in powder puff.

1 3 4

2 1. Junior Gemma Waldrop concentrates on decorating her sugar skull for Spanish Club’s Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebrations on Oct. 5.

2. Senior Anna Novotny shows off her decorated sugar skull to a fellow Spanish Club member.

3. Spanish Club kicked off the Día de los Muertos celebration with tacos provided by Spanish teacher Michelle Jurcenko.

4. Senior Eric Wolff rehearses his lines for the first play of the year, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream. English teacher April Rames is directing the play.

20

Photo / October 27, 2011 / KANELAND KRIER

5 6 7 5. Senior McKinzie Mangers eludes several members of the junior team during the annual Powder Puff game on Sept. 23. The senior girls won the match, defeating the junior girls and taking home the trophy.

6. The cast of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” this year’s fall play, began rehearsals. In this scene, freshman Kyra Trynoski, who plays Hermia, pleads with junior Austin Doyle, who plays the man she loves.

7. Senior Elizabeth Howie paints leaves on the set of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” Much of the story is set in an enchanted forest that’s filled with fairies.

Photos of Spanish Club by George Graefen.

Photos of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” by Amelia Likeum.

Photos of Powder Puff football by Tyler Keenum.

Photo / October 27, 2011 / KANELAND KRIER

21

SPORTS

Best start in history for varsity volleyball

BY JACOB RAZO AND NICK PHILIPS, Editors Varsity volleyball’s fast and furious start has been the best in school history.

The Lady Knights are off to a fantastic start. They are currently in the midst of a race for the Northern Illinois Big 12 Conference title. Fellow conference foes Sycamore and DeKalb are in the way. The Lady Knights’ success is no mystery though.

“We stay positive and accept all challenges that we face throughout the season and playoffs. Whether it is a injury, a tough opponent in the playoff, or just something out of the ordinary, everyone needs to rely on each other and trust that the team is there for each other,” Todd Weimer, head coach, said.

This recipe for success has helped guide the Lady Knights to a 15-5 record so far in this 2011 season. They also are 4-1 in conference play and began the second half of conference play on Thurs. Oct.5

against Morris.

“We haven’t won a conference championship in so many years and it’s exciting knowing that that is a possibility this year,” senior Kourtni Bingley said.

After getting knocked out in the first round of the playoffs last year, the Lady Knights have come back to handle unfinished business.

The team certainly has the ability to make it past the point where their 2010 campaign ended.

To pass their past success from that season, they will have to keep pushing forward and continuously work hard every single day.

“Taking practice seriously and figure out our weakness and strengths [will help],” junior Ashley Prost said.

The Knights will be in the Wheaton St. Francis Regional this year along with five other teams, St.Francis, Glenbard South, Montini and Wheaton Academy.

“The sky is the limit. However, we are taking one match at a time, one tournament at a time.

More athletic cheer team training for competitions The cheer team is becoming more athletic under a new coach this year.

Coach Melissa Maloney is in her first year of coaching at Kaneland, but she was a cheerleader for her high school team.

“Most people don’t consider cheerleading a sport, and they don’t think it takes hard work.

Our girls have conditioning, private coaches, running plans in the summer and abs workouts daily.” Maloney said.

Junior Samantha Markelz said that the coaches have high standards for the team.

“We’ve had really good coaches. They keep us working hard,” Markelz said.

The squad is currently training for competition season and

working on their choreography and routines, which Markelz said are designed by the team captains and sometimes by a choreographer.

Team captains are seniors Courtney Reiss, Kristen Glover, Brianna Brehm, and juniors Laken Delahanty and Abby West.

There are 16 cheerleaders on varsity and nine cheerleaders on the junior varsity squad.

“A lot of girls got moved up this year because they need them for competition,” freshman Jade Lara said.

The team is cohesive this year, Moloney said. “With a lot of different personalities, there is always going to be conflict, but they work it out really well,” she said.

–Taylor Spooner, reporter

Photo by Jacob Razo

Senior Katy Dudzinski goes for an attack on Sept. 28 against Dixon.

We’re focused on conference and regionals, but again, it’s one match at a time. We have to focus on now what’s happening in the present,” Weimer said.

The Knights played Geneva on Oct. 4. They lost with a close score of two to zero. They defeated the Vikings last year for the first time in 21 years, which was a big turning point in the season. It was a hard

fought two games in the second game the Lady knight’s had a tough lose in the second game with losing 27-25.

The Lady Knights will wrap up their conference schedule with games against DeKalb, Sycamore and Rochelle. The Lady Knight’s final conference game was on Oct. 20 against Yorkville. As of press dead, the team was 16-10.

Color guard’s LUX routine uses lights and movement during Kaneland Knights Color guard introduced a routine called LUX, which focuses on lights and movement, at home football games.

The routine, which has been perfected during practice, is performed in black and silver costumes, according to senior Sarah Kitz.

The team has also been using a new sign that says “Go Knights!”

Photo by Matthew Alfrey to help rev up the crowd Sara Kitz performs LUX at the homecoming game on Sept. 23. during games. more Angie Franks.

“Practice is long and tiring, but “Color guard brings a group of we still learn new things,” Kitz said. girls together with different personTeam captains are Kitz, junior alities to do something they all enMary Pat Moul and senior Molly joy,” Kitz said.

Speckman, and two new members The team also has a new coach, have joined the team this year, Renee Johnson, a student at Northfreshman Tatiana Lee and sopho- ern Illinois University.

- Lourinda Triplett, reporter

22

Girls Sports / October 27, 2011 / KANELAND KRIER

BOYS’ FOOTBALL Varsity team hopes to go deep in playoffs

Photo by Emily Gulanczyk

Sophomore Anthony Parillo goes after the ball in a home game against the DeKalb Barbs on Sept 29.

Striving for a regional title

BY KYLIE SIEBERT, Executive Editor

Varsity soccer is seeking for another regional title.

The Knights were 9-4-1 in the regular season and 5-3-1 in conference as of press dead.

The team defeated Marengo, Yorkville and Rochelle early in the season before falling to DeKalb on Sept. 13 and again on Sept. 29. After a 1-1 tie against Morris on Sept. 15, the Knights beat them the second time with a score of 1-0 on Oct. 4.

The Knights then lost 3-2 to Rochelle on Oct. 6 and 2-0 to Plainfield East on Oct. 8, before turning things around with a 3-2 win over Yorkville on Oct. 11.

“We’re happy with how we’re doing, but we could always be doing better,” Head Coach Scott Parillo said.

“We’ve had an interesting season this year. It started out shaky, and we had our ups and downs, but we are riding on our winning streak and hoping for the best,” senior Thanasi Pesmajoglou said The team has been working hard on defensive training and they have also been working on moving up the field fast on offense.

“We have a great amount of experience, and we know each other’s playing styles,” Pesmajoglou said.

“We all try our hardest to win, and I think we all love the game.”

Sophomore Tyler Siebert said that they are working on playing as a team instead of individuals.

“We are a great team filled with lots of individual talent, but we just need to put it all together and play as one team. Once we do that, we will be unstoppable,” Siebert said.

BY GEORGE GRAEFEN

DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN 3 WORDS

“No big deal.”

Senior Jordan Escobedo is leading the team with 14 goals, while junior Alex Gil and sophomore Anthony Parillo are leading the team in assists.

According to Parillo this is one of the most aggressive groups the program has seen in a while.

“We hope to win regionals again and make it farther in sectionals than the first round like last year,” Parillo said.

The team won a regional title last year, the first since 2004, and made it to sectionals—a performance the team hopes to repeat.

To do so, the team will have to get through a strong DeKalb team, which has already defeated them twice.

“We want to win a regional championship and go on from there,” Pesmajoglou said.

IF YOU HAD A TIME MACHINE

FAVORITE FOOD AFTER SPORTS

FAVORITE HALLOWEEN COSTUME

“I would watch Michael Jordan play because he was one of the best basketball players of all time. ”

“It would be Buffalo Wild Wings for the great atmosphere.”

“I really do not have a favorite costume.”

“I would go to the future to see myself, how I turned out and if I am still playing tennis.”

“Spaghetti and meatballs.”

“I was once a cop, and it was my favorite for no real reason.”

“I would change when my mom drove me home from the hospital when I was born because it messed up my brain a bit.”

“A burger or a chili hot dog from Portillos.”

“My favorite costume was Barney because when I was little, I really liked his show and I wanted to grow up and be like him.”

–McKinzie Mangers, editor

Tyler Slamans

Sophomore, Football

Know Your Knights

Forty points per game.

That’s what the varsity football team has been averaging on Friday nights, as the lights shine down on the field and they blow away their competition.

The Knights had a solid 8-0 start, with blow out games against Chicago Brooks 44-0, Huntley 3413, Dixon 59-14, La Salle Peru 56-14, Rochelle 35-14, DeKalb 49-38 and Yorkville 45-7.

“Each week we look to be 1-0,” Head Coach Tom Fedderely said.

“We don’t care who is on the other team.”

The team, which made it to the state semifinals last year before falling to the state champion Montini Catholic Broncos, is striving for another strong season.

“So far it’s going the way we planned, and we are looking to continue our success,” senior and captain Sean Carter said.

The team has several strong offensive and defensive players, including Carter, senior wide receiver Quinn Buschbacher, sophomore quarterback Drew David, senior wide receiver Jacob Razo and sophomore running back Jesse Balluff.

Buschbacher set a new school record for the number of receiving touchdowns on Oct. 7, when he led the team with five touchdown catches, beating the record for receiving touchdowns set by Casey Crosby in 2006.

The Knights were ranked seventh in Class 6A after the win against Yorkville. But as the season progresses, the competition is getting stiffer.

“Looking forward, every game is going to be our biggest game,” junior Kory Harner said.

“Calm, funny and outgoing.”

Angelica Emmanouil Freshman, Tennis

“Fast, sexy and Mexican.”

Jordan Escobedo

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Senior, Soccer

Boys Sports / October 27, 2011 / KANELAND KRIER

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Back Page / October 27, 2011 / KANELAND KRIER

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