Scout - March 2020

Scout

March Issue Vol. 54, Issue 3 Lake Central High School St. John, Ind.

BLACK HAIR MAGIC

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Scout

March 2020 Contents Life & News

JOSHUA CHEN Editor-in-Chief JADE MEHOK NITYA SHAH AVA SOLIS

Design Editors CHARMAGNE ABANGAN FRIDA ARELLANO EMILY BELL MIA BORN CLAIRE FABERBOCK RILEY KNESTRICT HANNAH KOSINSKI MIA MARTINEZ YOUSEF NAMMARI TIFFANIE RICHERME ADRIANA RODRIGUEZ JOHN SANCHEZ BRIAN SCOTT KILEY SZATKOWSKI MAISIE WESTERFIELD

5

Fast & Fan Favorite Foods

Busy students weigh the costs and benefits of fast food

6

A New Path(way)

Indiana’s Education Board filed new graduation requirements in effect for the Class of 2023 and beyond

9

Which Assistant Principal Are You?

Take the quiz to find out which assistant principal you’re most like

5

14

Editors

KELLY HAYES JUSTYCE REED HAILEY PRASOPOULOS BRENNA SEALY MORGAN TAYLOR

Team Leaders

TAYLOR ANDERSON KYLIE BIEHLER ISABELLA BRAZZALE JEANOA CAMERON MINA CARDENAS CALEB CHEN WILLIAM CHURCHILL COLLEEN DYRA BAILEY EGAN OLIVIA FIGG MAYA FIRLEJ DELANIE FLYNN MATT GACEK ANNIKA GORNEY MACKENZIE GUTHRIE LUKE HAMILTON ALISON IRACE ANDIE KALEMBA ALYSSA KLIMOWSKI CORI LOLLIS ICYSS MEREDITH ANNALISE NELSON LILAH NELSON LITA NIGHBERT JACKSON NOVAK BRENNA POLOVINA ALLISON POTPORA EMILY PRINCE CELESTE RECIO LEXI RIGG JONA RIVERA AVERY ROBINSON EDEN SCHILLING LILLY SCHROEDER ELIZABETH SULEK MOLLY TKACH ISABELLA VILLARREAL MIA VUKAS ALAYNA WILKENING JORDAN ZNOSKO

The Taco Bell location near the school attracts students after school. Photo by: John Nick Sanchez

The boys swim team waits to start the next repetition in the afternoon practice.

Photo by: Joshua Chen

Athletics 12

Dominating the Mat

Devyn Moore (9) details her experience as the only girl on the school’s wrestling team

Features 14

13 Hours

A photo story following swimmers throughout their day

24 The Art of #Activism

The Internet is making political participation more accessible, but is online activism changing anything?

28 Black Hair Magic

Individuals consider how hair relates to personal and racial identity

For the Culture 34 Memes Galore

How memes became a language of their own

On the Cover Antoine Loubeau (12) shows off his dreads. See Page 28. Photo by: Joshua Chen Scout is a student publication of Lake Central High School in Saint John, Indiana. All content is student directed and produced. Opinions are those of the writers and do not imply the position of the school. Questions and comments can be directed to Joshua Chen at joshshuenchen@gmail.com. Businesses interested in advertising should contact 219-365-3886.

Staff Members MRS. APRIL FLORES MRS. SARAH VERPOOTEN MS. CARRIE WADYCKI

Advisers

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ONLINE

EDITOR’S NOTE When developing ideas for this issue’s feature stories, I had a fairly wideranging selection of stories, but I struggled to choose one to be the cover story.

This issue’s feature stories are all over the place, covering swimmers, the Internet, as well as race and hair. These stories ended up becoming so visually rich and dynamic, and there was an overwhelming number of options for the cover photograph. I debated which story to emphasize through the cover, considering how powerful a statement a cover photo can be. With some time, the timeliness and urgency of the feature on black hairstyles seemed just right for the cover story.

This feature explores a very specific aspect of race and identity, and it’s a powerful examination of young black individuals’ identities and relationships with hair. It was amazing to see how the story unfolded into a stunning visual presentation, with a studio photography style and huge photos flowing across the spreads.

Similarly, the other features heavily utilize visuals to tell their distinct stories.

The 10-page photo documentation of a typical day of a swimmer and vivid, bold illustrations depicting online activism greatly enhance these stories. To me, the visuals in this issue stand out; they’re professional and beautiful in very different ways. And our staff took significant amounts of time to produce and edit and perfect these illustrations and photos.

For example, when creating the swimmer photo story, our photographers shot all the photos in one single day; we followed swimmers from 5 o’clock in the morning, and gained a tremendous view into all they experience in their long day. It took an even longer time to narrow down hundreds of photos to the ones now in the spreads.

These visuals throughout the issue add and create a certain depth to these stories — or tell the stories on their own. We hope that you can appreciate this push for stronger photography and design as you take in this new issue.

Joshua Chen, Editor-in-Chief

#fastfoodfav Fast food plays a major role in our culture today. From after-school snacks to every day meals, fast food is considered a staple to many students. We asked what your favorite fast food orders are in an Instagram Q&A using the hashtag #fastfoodfav for this issue of Scout; be sure to look out for the next hashtag to be featured in the next issue.

SNAPCHAT TWITTER

@LCNEWS @LCHSNEWS

FACEBOOK

@LAKECENTRALNEWS

INSTAGRAM @LAKECENTRALNEWS

Melina Boulas (12)

@meliboulas my #fastfoodfav is chick-fil-a nuggets with chick-fil-a sauce and lemonade Cora Lane (10) @c_o_r_a Orange chicken and rice from Panda Express is my #fastfoodfav

Marc-Henry Derogene (12) @marcderogene my #fastfoodfav is the flat bread pizza from the cafeteria

Brandt Bagesha (9) @b_bagesha my #fastfoodfav is a Chick-fil-a chicken sandwich

Taytum Emro (11) @taytumemro my #fastfoodfav is the #9 from Mcdonalds

Marko Kolundzija (12) @k.olundzija my #fastfoodfav is an italian night club from Jimmy Johns

Nathaniel Tiltges (11) @nstiltges my #fastfoodfav is the Wendys 4 for 4

Emily Thomas (11) @emily_thomas1725 my go-to #fastfoodfav is medium fries from McDonalds

Caden Valois (12) @bestofsons my #fastfoodfav is Chicfil-a’s chicken sandwhich

Carissa Mansfield (12) @carissa.mansfield my #fastfoodfav is a homestyle chicken sandwich from Wendys

Skylar Noonan (11) @skylar.noonan #fastfoodfav 5 buck chicken tender lunch from Dairy Queen

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Life & News

Quick Facts PAGE BY TAYLOR ANDERSON, JUSTYCE REED, NITYA SHAH, ELIZABETH SULEK, MOLLY TKACH

$1.50

“It was a nice bonding time with friends to relieve the stress from school.”

Price of carnations sold by Student Council for Valentine’s Day

Alexander Peterson (12) said about the video games that he plays at lunch with friends. He brings a projector to use on Main Street.

“Come help out. Donate.

The biggest thing we want to do is raise the most money for pediatric cancer research, so the most important thing is having donations come in.”

Mrs. Angela Ohlenkamp, Mathematics, said about the St. Baldrick’s Fundraiser, which raises money for pediatric cancer research through the selling of t-shirts and wristbands. Students can also donate hair.

29% Percent of 335 students polled who will vacation during Spring Break

“I’m one of three student directors for the musical.”

Kayla Longfield (11) said about the spring musical, Matilda on March 5, 6 and 7. Longfield works alongside light and sound crews backstage to help coordinate the performance.

44-46 The final score of the Varsity girls basketball Sectionals game

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Number of care packages the N-Teens club will be sending overseas to stationed soldiers

1,401 Number of AP exams ordered this year. AP exams will be held the first two weeks of May.

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Fast & Fan Favorite Foods Fast food has become a weekly routine for some people. But at what cost?

STORY BY KYLIE BIEHLER, COLLEEN DYRA, KELLY HAYES, ALYSSA KLIMOWSKI, ICYSS MEREDITH AND LILLIANA SCHROEDER Fast food has changed many common actions in American society. Like any other bad habit, people tend to block out the consequence. Fast food is a quick meal for families or individuals who can’t afford a healthier, yet more expensive meal. When working in fast food, behind the counter experience can cause a new perspective on the food you consume.

“I like working at McDonalds to an extent. It was kind of my last resort job because I just wanted a non-stressful, good-paying job. Unless you want a decent pay, I would not recommend working at fast food. It comes with a lot of rude people and gross situations,” Samantha Moody (10) said.

Fast food fanatics seem to not worry about the consequences of unhealthy food due to the addiction to convenience. One of the perks of fast food is the price. People often order more than they need because of the cheap price. Taco Bell is right outside of the school, and many students choose it as the meal of choice after a school activity or a school event. Some students make this a regular occurance and eat there muliple times a week.

“I’d say I eat Taco Bell specifically about three times a week,but only out of convenience. My usual order is almost one of everything on the menu because everything’s almost a dollar,” Keysean Wigley (12) said.

Those who work in fast food have both advantages and disadvantages when it comes to knowing where and what to eat. Many of the workers know how the food is made and in turn don’t choose to eat it anymore. Other workers begin to overeat the food and it ends up being a key part of their shifts. This is helpful for student workers when they are very busy.

“I eat fast food a lot, probably four times a week just because I work at Dairy Queen and because of that I eat dinner there. I have such an obsession for fast food, and I eat it so much that I feel like if I worked anywhere else I feel like I couldn’t sustain

The Taco Bell located next to the school is a popular place for students to eat. Students eat at Taco Bell after school, practices or meetings.

Photo by: John Nick Sanchez

that addiction,” Kelsey Lavin (11) said.

According to the health monitoring organization Partners for Your Health, one of the leading causes of death in the U.S. is heart disease. Fried foods contain trans fat which raises the level of cholesterol in the body. This can cause a higher risk of heart disease. Another issue with fast food is the controversy about what goes into the food that we eat. Statistics show that 11 out of 25 have failed their food tests.

“I don’t care that much about what goes into the food as long as it is not horse meat. It’s a fast food restaurant that is global, so it can’t be that bad.

Hopefully, I don’t have any future health problems from whatever they use,” Gianna Colao (10) said.

POLL

Do you analyze what goes into your fast food?

17%

83%

Yes

No

Poll out of 331 students

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Life & News

A New Path(way)

How are students and staff impacted by the recent education system changes?

PAGE BY JEANOA CAMERON, MINA CARDENAS, LUKE HAMILTON, BRENNA POLOVINA, HAILEY PRASOPOULOS, ALEXANDRA RIGG, AVERY ROBINSON AND AVA SOLIS The graduation requirements for the class of 2023 have recently changed, and students have torn opinions. ISTEP testing has been removed for the purpose of focusing on SAT testing. The Education System Board has also introduced graduation pathways, which require students to complete project-based learning, service-based learning or work-based learning classes.

“The biggest challenge for administrators is tracking everything, because there’s a lot of

information to track for students, and so we have to track every single student in the school. It’s suggested that you pick a pathway and stick with it, because you want to make sure you’re getting everything you need to complete a pathway by the time you graduate,” Melissa Rettig, Guidance, said.

Rettig mentions the importance of preparing for one’s future. Ryan Lytton (9) further stresses the graduation pathways.

“Having an idea of what you want to do in the

future is a very important and serious thing. I think the career pathway should be required, because it will help students figure out what job they want in the future. The sooner students give it some thought and pick what field they want to go into, the better.

I already know what field of work I want to go into when I’m older, and based off of that I have a few ideas of colleges I would be happy to attend. It would help students, because if you understand and are interested in the subject of the class you are taking, it is more beneficial in the long run,” Lytton said.

While some students believe going in one direction is beneficial, others think it is not that simple due to the large load of work put on freshmen.

“I don’t think the new program was smart to do for the freshmen. It is too soon for us to pick what field we want to go into so soon in our life. There is so much to pick from, and some people might have an

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new things, especially since the school has so much to offer. You just never know if your mind is going to change, so I think we shouldn’t have done this because it adds stress so early, and as teenagers, we are still growing and changing and figuring out who we are. That is the whole point of high school, so by doing this they are almost limiting us to one thing instead of letting us experience everything,” Vivian Denson (9) said.

Struggling to find their place in high school, Benicio Cardenas (9) argues the unfairness of choosing pathways and mentions other possibilities.

“You have to prepare and be ready to take the classes that will pertain to your future career throughout high school.”

Josh Warn (9)

Megan Soeka (9) sits in an empty classroom, surrounded by papers. She feels pressured by the new graduation requirments. Photo by: Jeanoa Cameron

idea of what they want to go into, but some people might not have any idea. Some people in college still don’t know what they want to major in,” Jacey Graham (9) said.

According to Katelyn Ruse (9), the graduation pathways should be required for juniors and seniors, rather than starting the program with freshmen.

“I think it is unnecessary as freshmen, because your mind can change a lot from the time we are seniors, and we are only in high school, so you might find something fun now, but who knows if you’ll still find it interesting in a few years. You might also find

“I think [the new requirements] are a smart idea, because it helps us see our options on what we can do. At the same time we are really new in high school and making us pick a career so soon is unfair. We could [do] it when we are in junior year or maybe sophomore year, but doing it during the beginning of freshman year is too soon. Even though I think it is too soon, they were just trying to prepare us for the future,” Cardenas said.

Having to pick a pathway at an early time is having an impact on freshmen. However, not having to take the ISTEP definitely appears to alleviates stress upon the freshman class’ shoulders.

“I think that with not having to take ISTEP, I feel much more relaxed. I feel relaxed because I don’t have to worry about taking the ISTEP. The thing that would worry me about taking it is failing it. I think if I took it and failed it, it could affect future jobs and college because they look at finals and ISTEP and I would worry about that,” Nikola Krajisnik (9) said.

Counselors stress the graduation pathways so student indecisiveness does not settle in. Rettig explains the direction of how to choose a future career.

“I think the new graduation requirements are good, because it can help kids have a little more direction. We do everything we can as counselors to prepare you for any post-secondary goal you may have. I think these pathways are good, because kids have to start thinking about it a little earlier,” Rettig said.

IN-DEPTH

Pick One Pathway

Project-Based Learning Students can exchange ideas in an extended process of questioning, find resources through employability skills and apply information in their lives. Students will share their work with their peers through explanation, display and presentations outside of the traditional classroom. This can be done through completion of projects, a course capstone, an AP Capstone Assessment or more experiences that the State Board of Education approves.

Service-Based Learning Service can create an academic knowledge application, teach both civic and personal responsibility for the futures of students and create a stronger community that everyone can experience. Students can do this through participation in volunteer work or civic engagement experience, being involved in a school-based activity like a co-curricular or different extracurricular activities for at least one school year. Other experiences must be approved by the State Board of Education to qualify for this requirment.

Work-Based Learning Academic, technical and social skills are taught in classes through group activities that allow employer partners to collaborate, apply theories and practical problems, explore potential career options and the ability to pursue both professional and personal goals. This can be achieved through the completion of a course capstone, internships, obtaining the Governor’s or LocalWork Ethic Certificate or a job outside of school.

Information from LC Guidance

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OPINION

New Foundations The new pathways are important, to build structure in students lives

Cutting ISTEP out of the graduation requirements is beneficial so we can focus on SAT

BY GUEST WRITER MAYA GORNEY (9)

BY GUEST WRITER RUTH ALVAREZ (12)

I agree with the new graduation requirements for the class of 2023.

These requirements will allow students to become more involved in activities in and out of school.

Depending on the path one chooses, some of the requirements have students join extracurriculars or participate in outside jobs.

These requirements can potentially help students become more prepared for their future no matter what career path they end up choosing.

Some students might already have some of these requirements completed, but for others these may challenge the students into becoming better versions of themselves. Through volunteering students can learn new skills and become a better person.

Volunteering could also help out students get their dream job. For example, I want to eventually get a job in the medical field. One way to show colleges and future employers that I am a good student and a good person is through volunteering at hospitals. This will show that I am a hard worker and that I am very interested in my future profession.

I have also found that joining clubs is a great way to not only become more involved in our school; it gives students chances to gain great experiences and meet new people. I joined the WISE club this year. This club allowed me to learn a lot about future professions and also allowed me to meet new people.

Though these requirements might be challenging for some, they will be helpful in each student’s future. These requirements will create a more well-rounded student.

They could also help with social skills that they will need one day when it comes time for them to get a job. These requirements will be more helpful than the ISTEP 10+ test. Personally, I feel that this test does not prepare us in any way for their future. A single test score should not be the only thing that represents a student. It also does not teach students any social skills that they might end up needing. The new graduation requirements put the students in better shape for their future than the ISTEP 10+ test.

Changes Made to Graduate

3

Pathways

4

Diplomas

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Credits for Core 40

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Credits for Academic Honors & Technical Honors

“The requirements will help students become more flexible for future colleges.”

The new set up for the class of 2023 and beyond is pretty interesting. I guess to a certain extent, having something like work, service and project based learning courses may be beneficial, but I also just do not understand the concept.

It may be because I am a senior so it has not been explained to me, but I have gone all four years of high school without these requirements, and I think my graduating class is fully equipped to survive with or without these requirements. I guess it could help students who may have trouble figuring out a major or help with learning how to do group work, but by junior or senior year, most kids either have an idea, or they go into college undecided, and if someone is going to college who still has no idea how to work with others, I do not think there is much any class could do. Even if someone goes to college decided and winds up hating their major, they can change it up until sophomore year, and as for groups, well you either figure it out or you do not.

As for the ISTEP no longer being a requirement, I am extremely excited to see the change. I honestly wish it was in my own year that it was decided that it was unnecessary and removed, but better late than never, I suppose. Kids already have to deal with the stress that the SAT puts on their junior year, the fact that the ISTEP takes up most of sophomore year, it felt like teachers were more worried about the ISTEP and were thuse unable to truly help prepare their sophomores’ for both the SAT and their junior year. Also, because the ISTEP was a requirement for students to graduate, we couldn’t focus on preparing for the SAT. It is the more important test of the two, people were required to put off that focus and instead focus on a test that would be required for graduation and nothing else. Colleges do not look at the ISTEP when it comes to admissions, but the higher the SAT or ACT (I specified SAT because it was the test the school gave for free) the better chance at getting into better schools, so I am happy to see it go.

“Without ISTEP, students can now focus more on the SAT.”

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QUIZ

Which Assistant Principal Would Be Your Best Friend?

Take the quiz to find out all you need to know about your best friend in the office!

A. Pig

B. Dog

C. Elephant

D. Shark

A. Baseball

B. Football

C. Hockey

D. Soccer

W H AT I S YO U R FAVO R I T E S U B J E C T ?

A. English

B. Business

C. History

D. Math

W H AT I S Y O U R F AV O R I T E GENRE OF MUSIC?

A. Hip Hop

B. All Types

C. Classic Rock

D. Jazz

W H AT I S Y O U R F AV O R I T E L C P U B L I C AT I O N ?

A. LCTV

B. Social Media

C. Scout

D. Yearbook

W H AT I S YO U R FAVO R I T E A N I M A L? W H AT I S YO U R FAVO R I T E S P O R T ?

Mrs. Novak

Mr. Freeman

Mr. Beck

Mr. Moore

If you got mostly As, your best friend is Mrs. Erin Novak. You both are very positive and like to keep a smile on your face. You like to joke around and have fun. In your free time, you both hang out with family and friends. Some of your favorite things to do are go to amusement parks, travel and experience new things.

If you got mostly Bs, your best friend is Mr. Martin Freeman. You both are very family-oriented. You like to go outside and enjoy the feeling of being outdoors.

You enjoy things like hiking and camping. You are also very organized. When it comes to goals, you are very internally driven.

If you got mostly Cs, you are best friends with Mr. Edward Beck. You both enjoy learning new things and why things are the way they are. You love the classicism of older things, but love changing it up as well. You enjoy family time and prefer interacting faceto-face instead of through a screen.

If you got mostly Ds, you are best friends with Mr. Richard Moore. You both enjoy entertaining friends and family. You are extremely in touch with nature; you enjoy going to the beach, hiking and even shoveling snow in 2-degree weather. Family is the most important thing in your life, right before your shared love for cooking.

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LENS

Basketball Brawl Sean Sullivan (12) and Principal Mr. Sean Begley fight over the ball at the Student vs. Teacher basketball game during the Winter Pep Rally on Jan. 24. The students beat the teachers in a quick match. Photo by: Jade Mehok

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Athletics

Dominating the Mat Devyn Moore (9) dominates despite being the only girl on the team PAGE BY BAILEY EGAN, ALLISON POTPORA, EMILY PRINCE, JUSTYCE REED, NITYA SHAH AND JORDAN ZNOSKO Devyn Moore, only a freshman, has been wrestling for four years. What started off as following in her sister’s footsteps quickly became something she was passionate about. Despite the amount of expericence she has, she continues to face the stereotypes revolving around being the only female wrestler on the Junior Varsity team.

“A big thing that motivates me to keep wrestling is that I have big dreams I want to accomplish and I know I have a ton of people who believe in me and

that I want to make proud. I feel that most of the pressure from my family comes from the pressure I put on myself first. They always set goals for me that they want to see me accomplish because they know that’s what I want to do,” Moore said.

Moore wrestles for both Lake Central and an all-girls club team,i and each team challenges her in different ways. Once Moore competed for Lake Central, she learned boys were generally faster and stronger. In a match, she couldn’t rely

on just physical strength; wrestlers are taught specific techniques geared toward taking down an opponent. Moore paid no attention to being the only girl on the wrestilng team. She wrestled every other boy on the team.

“During girls tournaments I always try to be the faster and stronger one but when I wrestle boys, I know they’re naturally going to be faster and stronger so I need to use my technique more with them,” Moore said.

Moore believes it challenges both physical and mental strength. When she started wrestling, people didn’t spare her a second glance until she started winning matches. She understands that people are not afraid to voice their opinions, but she stays confident in herself and focuses on winning a sport she enjoys.

“When I first started wrestling I felt like I fit in

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“This year has been pretty easy to manage my weight because I’m already at the lowest weight class, which is 106, and I’m pretty much always right around there. For off-season tournaments I do plan on getting down to 100 or lower and I plan on getting there pretty easily just watching what I eat and how many calories I eat,” Moore said.

Even though Moore competes on the Junior Varsity team, she still won her match in State this year.

Before going to State, Moore understood that she would be going against a girl who she previously lost to and she knew that she had to find her confidence in able to win the match. Once she stopped doubting herself and got her mindset in the right place, Moore came out with a win with a score of 7-2.

“Parents started to say things when I wrestled their sons and teammates started saying stuff to me when I started to beat them. I feel like most of the time people aren’t scared to voice their opinions about it, especially when they have something bad to say.”

Devyn Moore (9)

Devyn Moore (9) pins her teammate to the ground during practice on Thursday, Feb. 20. The team was preparing for their upcoming Regional meet on Saturday, Feb. 22. Photo by: Emily Prince

right away and not a lot was expected to come from me. I feel that most of the pressurefrom my famly comes from the pressure I put on myself first. They always set goals for me that they want to see my accomplish,” Moore said.

Weight class plays a vital role in Moore’s day-to-day life. She watches what she eats and works out both in season and out. She is currently in the 106 pound weight class. However, she is looking to go even lower because she could be even more sucessful in a lower weight class because there would be less competition.

“During the week between regionals and state was one of the hardest weeks for me just getting my mind back in the right spot and knowing I had to stop doubting myself and everything I’ve been working for. At state I ended up beating her 7-2,” Moore said.

Moore still has three more years at the school to perfect her technique and ambitions. Along with being on Varsity, Moore wants to improve her strength and continue fighting against the stereotype. Out of all the sports, wrestling is what makes Moore determined to work and succeed for her passion. Regardless of the time or place, Moore is always prepared for a match.

“A big thing I enjoy is that I can push myself in a way other sports can’t. I like the mental part of it and always testing how far my limits are,” Moore said.

TIMELINE

Growing Up and Moving Up 2016

Moore’s first middle school wrestling match began in 6th grade. She started in the lowest weight class, but didn’t win a single match until the following year.

2017

After a year of wrestling Moore finally won her first out-of-season win. She wrestled only agaist boys in her weight class.

2018

Moore switched from just wrestling boys to wrestling girls. In season, she continued wrestling boys, but out of season she particiapted in all-girls tournaments.

2019

Moore graduated from eigth grade and moved up to high school wrestling.

She is currently the only girl on the team. As a freshman, she made JV but also wrestled varsity a few times.

2020

Moore continues to improve her skills daily, practicing six times a week. She is currently still wrestling and plans to continue the next few years of high school.

Athletics / 13

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Eric Tinsley (10) takes his mark on the diving block in the afternoon practice. The team usually practices dives off the blocks at the end of practice.

Photo by: Joshua Chen

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Five a.m. to 6 p.m. five days a week. Plus Saturday morning practice. The days of the boys swim team revolve around the pool. Take a glimpse into one typical day in their lives.

P H OTO S BY J O S H UA C H E N , M AT T GAC E K , A D R I A N A R O D R I G U E Z , J O H N N I C K S A N C H E Z A N D M A I S I E W E S T E R F I E L D / D E S I G N BY J A D E M E H O K

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4:59 a.m. Carter Schuster (10), Griffen Weber (9),

Micheal Nelson (11) and Jakob Halling (12) are the first people ready to jump in the water. Most of the swimmers are up by 4:30 a.m. “I like waking up for morning practice because while everyone else is sleeping you’re putting in the work,” Schuster said. Photo by: Maisie Westerfield

4:59 a.m.

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5:11 a.m. The team completes a set with kickboards. Every

practice always features a kick set. “Kicking is about pushing through the ache and pain. When it starts to hurt, you kick harder,” Sajjad Jaffer (11) said. Photo by: Adriana Rodriguez

5:11 a.m.

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5:33 a.m. Thomas Tinsley (9) takes a

breath while swimming freestyle. Morning practices usually focus on sprint-based training instead of long distance. Photo by: Adriana Rodriguez

5:58 a.m. Sajjad Jaffer (11) sits on the pool deck to put on fins for the next set. Many of the boys often hop out of the pool and catch their breath, especially in between strenuous sets.

Photo by: Adriana Rodriguez

6:16 a.m. Head Coach Jeff Kilinski holds

a pep-talk about the upcoming week. That morning marked the two-week period before Sectionals. Photo by: Adriana Rodriguez

5:33 a.m.

6:48 a.m. Walking into the team breakfast, Sajjad Jaffer (11) demands to know who ate his last bagel. The girls and boys teams usually eat with each other after morning practice. They have a rule that if someone’s food doesn’t have a name on it, it’s free game. Photo by: Maisie Westerfield

10:05 a.m. Warren Chekaluk (12) takes a

short nap during PTE. Chekaluk brings a pillow to his White day classes to rest when he can. Photo by: Joshua Chen

11:49 a.m. Daniel McGrath (11) prays with

his friends before eating lunch. His table started to pray jokingly, but the prayer evolved into something real. “Usually I eat pretty healthily in general, but during swimming I definitely eat a lot more,” McGrath said. Photo by: John Nick Sanchez

12:46 p.m. Daniel McGrath (11) wraps

himself in a blanket during his AP English class’s food day during seventh hour. The class ate snacks while reading the novel As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner. Photo by: Adriana Rodriguez

5:58 a.m.

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6:16 a.m.

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1:04 p.m.

2:37 p.m.

2:55 p.m.

1:04 p.m. Sajjad Jaffer (11) rests on bleachers on deck and talks with Warren Chekaluk (12) during their seventh period Lifeguarding class. The students in the class rotate lifeguarding duty daily, which some use as an opportunity to rest before afternoon practice begins. Photo by: John Nick Sanchez

2:37 p.m. Leo Bowman (10) maxes out on dumbbell bench.

Muscle strength is important to swimmers because it helps them move through the water faster. Photo by: John Nick Sanchez

2:55 p.m. Leo Bowman (10) and Carter Schuster (10) laugh in the weight room. The swimmers start several afternoon practices in a week by lifting. Photo by: John Nick Sanchez

9:25 A.M.

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3:08 p.m.

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The boys team does ab workouts in the weightroom after weightlifting. Core strength helps swimmers get faster in the water. Photo by: John Nick Sanchez

3:22 p.m. Eric Tinsley (10) puts his goggles on and prepares

for the second practice of the day. As captain, Tinsley helps motivate the team in between sets. “It’s really cool that the team chose me to be a captain this year. I think it shows how far I’ve come in the last year,” Tinsley said. Photo by: Joshua Chen

3:23 p.m.

Griffen Weber (9) hops in to the water for the second practice of the day. Afternoon practices last until 5 o’clock in the evening. Photo by: Joshua Chen

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3:36 p.m. The swimmers perfect

their streamline as they push off the bottom of the pool. This set was meant to help refine technique as Sectionals approached. Photo by: Joshua Chen

4:25 p.m. The boys team watch the

clock for their next send-off. Each set typically has a certain time that needs to be met. Photo by: Joshua Chen

6:18 p.m.

The boys fill their car trunks with toilet paper, preparing for a Sectionals tradition. On the night before the girls Sectional finals, the boys drive to every girl’s house and throw toilet paper around their yard. Then the girls team does the same before the boys Sectional finals. “It’s always a pain to clean up, but it’s really fun in the end. It gives the boys a chance to have fun before our finals, and it also gives us a chance to laugh at them,” Jourie Wilson (11), a swimmer on the girls team, said. Photo by: Matt Gacek

4:25 p.m.

6:39 p.m. The boys team hurls toilet

paper. By the end of the night, they had gone through about 300 rolls of toilet paper. Photo by: Matt Gacek

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6:39 p.m.

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Black Hair

Magic

African-Americans express themselves with their hairstyles. From afro to dreads, black hair has given them a unique look; however, the topic of cultural appropriation has become controversial over the last year.

Opinion Story by Jeanoa Cameron, Icyss Meredith and Justyce Reed / Photos by Joshua Chen, Adriana Rodriguez and John Nick Sanchez / Design by Ava Solis

“When my hair looks good, I feel confident. It makes me feel like I can go about my day in a positive manner,” Janila Hendley-Crayton (10) said.

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S

ixteen-year-old Texas student Kaden Bradford was put on an at-home school suspension and was told he could not return to class until he cut his dreadlocks that agreed with the school’s dress code. For years, African-Americans have been faced with situations like this. Racism, intentional or not, and probably not as severe as Bradford’s situation, is not surprising to hear.

Thankfully at Lake Central, we were never told to trim or cut our hair because the people in our class didn’t like it, but Bradford wasn’t the first, and probably won’t be the last person who was told to fix their hair.

For years, blacks have been told to keep their hair “tame” and to make the curls look “professional.”

We were pressured to straighten our hair to fit in with our white peers and not to stand out from the crowd. We didn’t want to stand out more than we already did. In the past, our moms would explain how they had to get relaxer once every six weeks to keep their hair straight. Most times, they were never told how to deal with their hair and in turn, struggled to teach us the right way to deal with it.

People of non-afro descent wear hairstyles commonly thought as “ours” and claim it as “theirs.”

Stars such as Kim Kardashian, Danielle Bregoli and Victoria Waldrop AKA Woah Vicky, have been accused of cultural appropriation.

Wanting to be accepted in a society where you don’t see many people like yourself, especially where you live, work and go to school can be a struggle. Not only that, but wanting to be accepted in a society that doesn’t want to accept you can be tiring.

We have come to accept our culture and the history that comes with it. Learning how to work with and manage our hair has given us confidence.

In the wake of Instagram, Twitter and Youtube, influencers have helped us become more comfortable in our own skin.

“My hair is a big part of who I am. People say that first impressions don’t matter, but it really does,” Alaina Collins (10) said. “When you see me, you see my hair. This is who I am. I love my curls and you can’t deny them. They look at you and associate you depending on what you have on your head, and you know how you look and you can’t escape that. I’ve noticed that if you look more approachable or you look like how people want you to look like, they’re going to talk to you and they’re going to socialize with you more.”

“Sometimes I do wear my hair in [a] weave or protective styles or other days I’ll wear my hair out or natural,” Kortni Minter (10) said.

J U S T YC E R E E D , ICYS S M ER EDITH A N D J E A N OA CAMERON

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“People do treat me differently based on my hairstyles. If I have my hair a certain way, people look at me a little bit differently. This is the first time I’ve done a different hairstyle other than a box cut, so I like it a lot more and I feel like I can do a lot more with my hair now,” Antoine Loubeau (12) said.

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“I’m not completely opposed to [other people wearing African-originated hair styles] as long as the origin isn’t lost. I wouldn’t appreciate it if they wore those hairstyles and called it something else or they completely disconnect the hairstyle from black culture because it stems from that. My hairstyles and curls make me confident,” Alaina Collins (10) said.

“My hair plays a major role in my life. It depends on what I wear. Some styles don’t go with certain outfits. Some hairstyles last longer than others so it just depends on whatever I put on. I wouldn’t say that people treat me differently with different hairstyles. Some people give me more compliments with certain styles, but I feel like for the most part, they treat me the same,” Kamryn Stenhouse (10) said.

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“I’m mixed, so if I come in with braids then white people may look at me differently or start asking me questions. Because I am black and white, I understand the questions that they ask because it’s not something that they’re used to. I grew up in Sauk Village until about 3rd grade, but [braids/twists were] just normal out there because it’s mostly black people. Then I came here, and people started looking at me differently,” Eric Burns (11) said.

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A E R H T T

#ACT Teens utilize their platforms to advocate and make change STORY BY DELANIE FLYNN, MATEUSZ GACEK, MACKENZIE GUTHRIE, CELESTE RECIO, JONAREENE RIVERA, ANNALIESE NELSON, BRENNA SEALY AND ALAYNA WILKENING DESIGN BY NITYA SHAH

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Last June, Eliza Hoeckelberg (11) took a break from cleaning her room and decided to check her Twitter. She noticed a sea of navy blue profile photos beside all of the tweets on her timeline.

Teens were attempting to show their support for Sudan with the click of a button, but after a while these pictures disappeared. Is this activism?

“The most I have done on social media to support a movement is change my profile picture. I think that changing the color of your profile picture is activism because it supports something you believe in. If people see it, and if people are likely to interact with it, then that’s activism,” Adam White (10) said.

Many students believe changing a profile picture is a great way to support causes you believe in. Some, however, believe that activism has to reach deeper than a profile picture.

“You can change a profile picture any day of the week, make it whatever you want and say it’s supporting something, but in reality, people always change those profile pictures back and the issues that they’re talking about sink back into nothing,” Hoeckelberg said.

While activism means something different to every individual, the general idea of fighting for what someone believes in remains true in every instance.

“Activism means proudly taking a stand for something you believe in and genuinely working hard towards a solution for whatever problem you’re advocating for. It means having a passion and truly believing in it,” Alysha Wenglarz (10) said.

Because technology is becoming more widely accessible, more individuals with a variety of beliefs are able to express themselves in the online community. This access to a plethora of platforms can fuel more controversy between users with conflicting views.

“I am very active on Twitter, especially in the politics side or events such as the Australian fires. Trump is one of the main [people I follow]. I personally think it makes a big difference, but other people may think otherwise. I tend to read a lot of articles in my free time. I like to be educated on what’s happening,” Karina Rivera (10) said.

Activism does not only occur online. Many people stand up for what they believe in by going to protests, rallies, marches and other events to share their opinions in ways that will make an impact. Alexis Villanueva (11) traveled to a pro-life march to stand up for her views.

“Seeing some of the people’s posters and the emotions of people at the march, I really wanted to go because seeing the impact it had on these people from all ranges of ages, I wanted to feel the impact and make an impact. I wanted people to understand that I wasn’t marching for myself, I was marching for our future,” Villanueva said.

Marches and events can be on any scale. The march Villanueva attended was held in Washington D.C., and hundreds of thousands

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of people attended. On the other side of the spectrum, Lake Central teachers held their own protest before school on December 5th, 2019, and many wear red on Wednesdays to stand up for #RedForEd. #RedForEd is a campaign to support education and schools nationwide.

Teachers that participated rallied to fight the low pay and high concentrations of students in their classrooms. One of the leaders of the movement was Mrs. Brittney Gore, English, who discovered the movement through the local teacher’s union.

“To spread the word, I use social media and I’ve gone to various events. I went to the rally in Indy and a couple of events here through the Northwest Indiana teacher’s association,” Gore said.

The participation of teachers across the nation has raised awareness across many platforms. This movement exemplifies how the involvement of people across the world can capture the attention of millions. For example, hashtags like #BlackLivesMatter and #MeToo have left an impact on social media and created a new perspective for society by being widely recognizable.

Without these hashtags gaining momentum, the injustice and assumptions surrounding the topics may have never been addressed.

Getting involved can have a great impact on the issues that need to be addressed in society, and social media provides a platform for individuals to do so. These channels of communication also allow people to inform themselves of a variety of

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How to Avoid Disinformation on Social Media 1

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Follow reliable sources.

Look past the headline.

Check before you share.

Fill your timeline with sources that are neutral. Do not just follow accounts that support your opinions.

Be open to different perspectives of similar topics, and expand your knowledge.

#

When it comes to news, headlines are utilized in order to process information quickly, but sometimes they can be misleading. Always read the stories that go along with the headline to make sure you are well-informed.

movements. Hoeckelberg believes students should incorporate themselves in this social progression of reform.

“There are movements people talk about because they want to seem up to date with these events but you

When you like or retweet something, you help spread information that may not always be accurate. So, you want to ensure that the impact your posts have on the online community is a factual and informative contribution.

#

really need to donate. You need to attend meetings; you need to follow accounts that keep you updated, and you need to make sure the sources you are getting your information from do not lean one way or another,” Hoeckelberg said.

#

#

# #

IN-DEPTH

Social Movements of the Digital Age

#BlackLivesMatter According to the official Black Lives Matter website, the movement is a member-led organization whose mission is to build local power and to intervene in violence inflicted on black communities. The project is now a global network and is a platform for people to share their stories and organize events to amplify anti-black racism across the country.

#MeToo Me Too is a movement used to break the silence on sexual assault. The movement was founded in 2006, but took off after actress Alyssa Milano tweeted the hashtag in October 2017 following accusations against Harvey Weinstein. The movement has continued to be a platform for people to share their stories and has continued to raise awareness.

#BlueLivesMatter Blue Lives Matter is a countermovement in the United States that pushes for those who are convicted of killing law enforcement officers to be sentenced under hate crime statutes. This movement began as a response to Black Lives Matter after the homicides of officers Refeal Ramos and Wenjian Liu in New York in 2014.

#WeBuildTheWall We Build the Wall is a private organization that is in support of the construction of President Donald Trump’s border wall along the Mexican - American border. Brian Kolfage founded this organization with Donald Trump Jr. to raise money for the wall’s construction without the use of government funds. $25 million has already been raised.

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For the Culture

Memes Galore

Social media platforms have seen a dramatic increase in meme sharing and usage in the past years PAGE BY OLIVIA FIGG, JADE MEHOK AND JACKSON NOVAK From movies, to sports, to current events, memes represent a variety of different subjects that are used all over social media. They can be found on almost all social media platforms and create a culture surrounding them.

“I look at memes all the time, and they make me laugh so much. They are a big part of my daily social media use,” Jillian Hearne (10) said.

Although memes are seen all the time over social media, many people have different views on what is actually considered a meme. Some people do- and some don’t- consider TikToks to be memes, and some people do not.

“I consider a meme a funny picture with words or sentences that pertain to something that people are talking about currently,” Kate Wojciechowski (10) said.

Memes are seen all over social media, but there are a few places that memes are seen most frequently.

Instagram and Twitter are the two most common places. While the Instagram Explore Page features a variety of memes covering all types of different topics, the Twitter trending page holds a plentiful amount of memes as well.

“I see memes mostly on the Instagram Explore Page. I will just be scrolling through it and see funny memes that I sometimes send to my friends,” Joel Luevano (10) said.

Since memes are such a prevalent part of society today, they are shared through messages. People share memes with their friends on topics they have in common, and they provide conversation.

“I always share memes with my friends. I find it so funny when my friend shares memes with me.

They are very interesting and I feel like it makes society closer because it gives people with common interests something to talk about,” Jacob Ryctzak (10) said.

Although memes cover a wide variety of different topics, everyone has their favorites. Some people like memes about movies, tv shows, world events and sports. When people like memes about similar topics, it can bring them closer together.

“My favorite memes are the World War Three memes. I like them because they are very funny and

Memes come and go on the Internet weekly, even daily. Many come from Twitter and Instagram. Illustration by: Jade Mehok

about something that can actually happen,” Sophia Textor (10) said.

To some people, memes are considered more than just something funny you stumble across. Meme creation is something that people find enjoyable.

Thousands of memes are created and shared every day, which adds to the culture that surrounds popular memes.

“If there were no memes, social media would be

boring and full of models and food. I make memes, and I think they are the best because they are not overused and filled with unnecessary words,” said Hearne.

Memes can also be a source of income to many people. Because of this, the culture that surrounds them can be competitive. People create meme pages on social media platforms, and also create their own. Apps that create memes have been made, also providing income to be sourced out of them. “ I created a meme account in 5th grade called Overdosed Memes. I posted a lot of memes but mostly Spongebob ones. I got embarrassed so I deleted the account. Not many people had a meme

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page so I thought that it would be funny to start one,” Breanne Mitchell (10) said.

When memes began being produced, the Internet lacked a worldwide connection. Many memes were created using familiar templates, failing to gain mass popularity. With faster internet connection ever, memes today can hold an endless amount of formats and gain popularity overnight. While many memes are still created using a popular fad or format, some are unknowingly turned into a viral meme across a variety of platforms.

“A lot of memes I see on the internet are someone who didn’t really want to be a meme

become one. Like viral videos of people falling or a funny tv show or movie character like Baby Yoda,” Shelby Noonan (9) said.

Statistics show that Facebook members are getting older, meaning many older people on social media will flock to Facebook to view their memes. On the other hand, younger people are shown to be moving away from Facebook and moving towards platforms like Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok to browse and share memes.

“Personally, I mostly use Instagram and Twitter to look at memes. I feel like there isn’t a lot of them on other websites and those apps are usually just where I look. I consider TikToks memes, even though they’re videos. My mom uses Facebook a lot to look at memes that I don’t really think are funny, but a lot of moms on Facebook do,” Hailey McColgan (10) said.

Living in a time period with mass media coverage, significant events in today’s world are covered the day that they happen. With cellphone and internet usage being a significant factor among Generation Z, teens are exposed to all of this coverage of events. To cope with stress that may be formed from these events, Generation Z often shares and creates memes to add satire to otherwise serious events. For example, tensions with Iran, or World War 3, sparked a series of memes detailing “getting drafted” to World War 3 in Iran.

“I think memes are definitely unique to our generation. I think that they’re useful because stress from things like school, personal things and just life in general can become overwhelming. It’s nice to laugh once and a while about things. Also, being a generation, we have a lot of things in common, so memes are often relateable to our lives,” Kelsey Lavin (11) said.

Culturally, every generation has a unique set of fads. In the 1980’s, big hair and bright clothing were popular, while in the 1990’s, things like scrunchies and grunge rock gained popularity.

For Generation Z, memes have become widely avalible, making them considered by many to be a cultural fad of this generation.

“Memes play a big part in using the internet. My friends and I will send memes about stuff that we do in real life like swimming and school in general,” Abigail Burton (10) said.

Since the creation of the first meme in 1976, formats and usage of memes have changed. Viral trends of memes and fads in more recent years have contibuted to globalization of memes.

“Whenever I see a popular meme, I’ve noticed it only stays popular for about a week. Something new is always coming up and nothing really stays the same. It’s really easy for a video to go viral.

Older memes like the ones that teachers use haven’t changed much though,” Alaina Collins (10) said.

POLL

What social media do you use to view memes?

Instagram -37.7% Twitter- 62.3% Poll out of 350 students

BY THE NUMBERS

2000

Average Amount Of Memes Posted Daily

470x27

Average Meme Size

1976

Year the First Meme Was Made

$10

Money Made From A Meme Data from 2019

POLL

What is your favorite meme?

Baby Yoda

22% World War 3

16% Spongebob

52% Ice Age Baby

10% Poll out of 261 students

For the Culture / 35

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Find your center in

THE CENTER OF EVERYTHING Quiver 2020

Haven’t bought your yearbook? Still want a senior ad?

Visit www.yearbookordercenter.com.

Yearbook sales end March 20!

LENS

Under the Spotlight The cast of Matilda runs through a dress rehearsal on Feb. 26. The show played on the nights of March 5, 6 and 7. Photo by: Frida Arellano

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