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S P E C TAT O R
VOLUME 94 NUMBER 6
1500 WEST KENNEDY ROAD, LAKE FOREST, IL 60045
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APRIL 29, 2016
Featured Stories NEWS
Advisories go out on the town page 5 NEWS
LFA creates Master Plan for the school page 3 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Cindy Wang’s YouTube page gains thousands of followers page 13
Prom eclipses expectations By Julia Mills Managing Editor News
OP-ED
The pros and cons of raising tuition page 7 SPORTS
Poska adds badminton as new spring sport
The spring season at Lake Forest Academy can be very hectic. There are AP exams, finals, sports, and dozens of other events and activities going on constantly. One of the most awaited events in the spring is the annual LFA Prom. This year Prom was held at the Adler Planetarium in downtown
Chicago on April 16th and the theme was “Interstellar.” The LFA community unanimously agreed that Prom was a night that everyone will remember forever. “I had a great time at Prom this year! The planetarium was beautiful,” said junior Grace Rempala. Prom has always been a tradition that LFA students have looked forward to. This year, after months of hard work, the night
was able to run smoothly from start to finish. Because securing a specific location is so important, planning the dance started months in advance. “More time goes into planning prom than I ever imagined,” said Assistant Director of Academic Technology Ashley Kolovitz. This year the junior class president and representatives met every cycle with a... (Story continued on page 2)
page 19 SPORTS
Alumnus David Levine finds speed in NASCAR racing career page 20
All photos taken by Spectator staff or LFA community members
Don’t miss out on breaking news! Go to caxynews.com for never-before-seen stories.
THE SPECTATOR
News
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World News Roundup Compiled by Julia Mills Managing Editor of News The Spectator compiles a monthly summary of world news events. Below are the most pressing issues this month.
APRIL 29, 2016
Prom was out of this world (Continued from the front page)
7.8 magnitude earthquake in Ecuador devastates country
The earthquake killed 570 people, injured 7,000, damaged around 2,000 buildings and forced 24,000 survivors to seek refuge, according to government tallies. Trump and Clinton win big in New York primaries
committee of 5-10 volunteer juniors that made up the Prom Committee to plan the event. The help of Junior Class Advisors and the Parents Association Committee also contributed to the event’s success. “It takes an extraordinary amount of time to pull off Prom. In many ways, it is like a wedding with all of the details that need to be attended to,” said Dean of Students Chris Tennyson. The decision to hold this year’s Prom at the Adler Planetarium was the result of a positive experience a few years ago. The venue was both unique and different from
any other LFA Prom. “This year the venue really stood out. It was a beautiful space overlooking Lake Michigan which opened up to a terrace,” stated Kolovitz. Throughout the night students were able to explore the permanent exhibitions at the Adler and view a 15-minute show at the Grainger Sky Theatre. There was also a photo booth set up and a DJ with an emcee, a live percussionist and spectrum risers. For food students enjoyed appetizers, pasta, salads and a wide variety of dessert and candy options.
The candid photos were taken by numerous LFA students at the Pre-Prom and the Alder Planetarium, an absolutey stunning location for a Saturday evening Prom.
Trump secured most of the 95 Republican delegates with 60 percent of th vote. Clinton won 58 percent on the Democratic side, allowing her to beat Sanders’ 48 percent. Car bomb explosion in Kabul kills at least 28 people, Taliban responsible
At least 28 people were killed and hundreds injured when a suspected car-bomb exploded in Kabul near government offices and a bus-stop. The Taliban have claimed responsibility. Sources: Reuters, Yahoo! News, CNN
“The Adler Planetarium was by far my favorite location of all four proms,” said senior Catherine Kvam. Pre- Prom this year was also different. In years past the Pre-Prom has almost always been held in the Formal Gardens on LFA’s campus. This year, however, the location was moved to Crown due to a wedding that took place on campus the same night. The post- prom was held in the Student Center this year. A myriad of food options and activities, including Ping-Pong and movies made the night a huge success and fun way to relax after the dance.
THE SPECTATOR APRIL 29, 2016
News
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LFA Master Plan in the works to create massive changes to school and campus By Andrew Ryder Features Editor Corporations and other large operations normally prepare a master plan to keep track of current facilities and mesh the integration of new ones into the overall organization. LFA is no different. The school’s administration has recently completed a new campus master plan that incorporates substantial changes and new facilities to the campus. The school recently began sharing its first new master plan since 2005 with City of Lake Forest officials as well as neighbors in Academy Woods. “It’s an ongoing process. There’s been a group of faculty, administrators, and board members who have been working on the campus plan for several years,” said Associate Head of School Bill Dolbee. “There were projects on the 2005 plan that didn’t happen, so they are on the new plan.” Among the biggest changes on the 2016 master plan is the addition of three new dormitories. Two of the dorms would be built in place of Field Dorm and each would be able to house approximately 36 students and four faculty members. An additional boys dorm would then be built where the current tennis courts are as a replacement for Warner Dorm. The tennis courts would be shifted to just south of the football field and Warner House would then be used as administrative offices or faculty housing. The new master plan would also greatly improve the athletic facilities at LFA. This plan would include an athletic field house and two artificial turf fields. The field house would be located just west of Crown Fitness & Wellness Center and would provide a place for sports teams to prac-
tice and would include a 200-meter indoor track. The turf fields would be constructed where the current softball field and football practice fields are located and could be used as a place for teams to practice when the grass fields are not playable. Other changes in the master plan include the construction of more faculty housing, renovations to academic buildings, additional parking, a pedestrian walkway, lighting on sports fields, and an additional emergency access road out of LFA that would connect to Field Drive in Conway Park. However, not all of these changes to the school will necessarily happen. The master plan is just a proposal that lists all the objectives the school would consider in the foreseeable future. The master plan has also created controversy among neighbors in Academy Woods. Residents there argue that the master plan will increase traffic throughout the area and generate a safety issue. They also argue that the school creates a large amount of noise and doesn’t properly handle the water runoff that goes into their community. In a meeting at Lake Forest City Hall on February 24, 2016, LFA presented the master plan for approval, but the Academy Woods residents argued against it. “The revised master plan does not address the problem of increased traffic, road safety, or noise pollution,” said Academy Woods resident David Laski. “What Lake Forest Academy is trying to do is take its tax exempt educational facility and make it a for-profit sports complex with extensive rental opportunities.” “We’re glad that Academy Woods residents had the opportunity to express their
Photo courtesy of LFA SmugMug
The construction of the Student Union which was a part of the 2005 campus master plan.
Photo courtesy of lfanet.org
An overhead view of the newest campus master plan with all new potential renovations.
views. LFA remains committed to its central mission of a college preparatory school. It is able to achieve that mission by hosting ancillary as it has done since it moved to the campus in 1948,” said Dolbee in response to David Laski’s statement.
LFA hosted a meeting with residents of Academy Woods to discuss the revisions of the Master Plan on April 19, 2016 at LFA. An additional meeting at the City Hall of Lake Forest was scheduled to take place on April 25, 2016.
Major proposals in the new campus Master Plan
• Two athletic turf fields • Three dorms • Athletic field house • Additional faculty housing • Academic building renovations • Emergency access road out of LFA • Lighting on sports fields • Additional parking • Pedestrian walkway
THE SPECTATOR 4
News
APRIL 29, 2016
LFA’s incoming students list to be finalized soon By India Shelley Editor-in-Chief
This year in late March, 177 eager 8th graders and high school students were excited to learn that they had been admitted to Lake Forest Academy. This year had been one of the most selective ever for LFA. The overall acceptance rate for the academy dropped this year, and the admissions office accepted a mere 26% of the 684 applicants. The Admissions Department works laboriously for months to find the perfect applicants to offer a position at Lake Forest Academy, pouring over hundreds of applications attempting to identify students who would be successful here. “Every year continues to be more and more selective,” said Carolyn Gorowski,
Dean of Admission. “The students just continue to get stronger.” Last year the overall acceptance rate was 36%, a much larger percentage compared to the acceptance rate for this comng school year. Gorowski expects that once some students are taken off the wait-list, the acceptance rate for 2016 will be slightly below 30%, still demonstrating a fairly sharp decrease in the admission rate. The process of admission for applicants to Lake Forest Academy is a lengthy one and involves an online application, the SSAT for incoming freshmen and sophomores, the ACT, SAT, PSAT, or ACT-PLAN for incoming juniors and seniors, the TOEFL for international applicants, academic transcripts from the past two consecutive years of schooling, recommendations from their current school’s English and Math teach-
ers, two long essays, two shorter essays, and an interview. All of this must be completed by interested students by the application deadline of February 1 for an applicant to be considered. The Admissions office says that it uses a holistic review during the process, and it tries to examine the whole student and imagine how they would find their place at the Academy. “The students bring a number of different interests and passions. It’s a really well-rounded group” said Gorowski. LFA hosted an Admitted Students Day on April 4th, which gave potential new students the opportunity to explore life as a student at Lake Forest Academy and the information to make a decision as to whether or not they will attend LFA in the fall. The incoming freshmen students experi-
enced three mini-classes, which covered topics such as math, history, and fine arts, while the incoming upperclassmen had the opportunity to shadow a student in their grade. The day finished with a student life panel with tables on all of the aspects of life at LFA such as clubs, arts, and sports. The next step in the admissions process is for students to formally accept or decline their spot at LFA. Then, if there are spaces available, some students who were originally placed on the waitlist will be offered admission, while the rest will be notified that they did not receive a place. Due to this having not happened yet, Lake Forest Academy cannot give specific statistics about the overall make-up of the incoming freshman class, such as the ratios of male to female, boarding to day, and domestic to international. Only time will tell.
Lake Forest Academy Application Checklist -Online application -SSAT for freshmen and sophomores -ACT, SAT, PSAT, or ACT-PLAN for incoming juniors and seniors -TOEFL for international applicants -Academic transcripts -Two teacher recommendations -Four essays -An interview Photo courtesy of Google images
Graphics by Tori Koontz and India Shelley
THE SPECTATOR APRIL 29, 2016
News
LFA tuiton to rise Cost of attendance to increase by more than 4%
By Austin Clamage News Editor The tuition for the 2016-2017 school year at LFA has increased by a blended 4.25%. The tuition for day students and borders will now be $41,600 and $55,350 (which includes room and board) respectively. The rise in tuition is primarily due to the pay increase teachers will be receiving and the impact of inflation. “We want to attract and retain as many high caliber faculty members as we can,” said Head of School Dr. John Strudwick. According to Strudwick, a major reason for the significant raise teachers are receiving is due to several, prestigious teachers leaving LFA and taking jobs at other schools, including prep schools on the East Coast. Teachers normally receive, on average, an annual salary increase of 3%, but this year they will receive a raise of approximately 5%. Tuition could be lowered, according to Strudwick, but that would affect the overall experience students have at LFA. One way to lower the tuition would be by having a pay cut, but this would most likely mean that teachers would leave. Another way is to increase the class size. This, however, would take away from LFA’s identity of being a school where there are small class siz-
es and close teacher-student interactions. “I wish tuition could be lower,” said Strudwick. “Our goal is to keep tuition as low as possible in order to deliver the quality of educational product that it needs to be.” The current tuition level of LFA could actually be higher, but the LFA budget is helped by the offsetting contributions from other revenue sources such as donations, weddings and summer camps. However, the tuition at LFA has also continuously been rising due to inflation. With inflation constantly rising, the tuition will most likely continue to rise proportionally. While the tuition has been increasing, according to Strudwick, there is only a small increase of families applying for financial aid. “We’re proud to have financial aid available to help a number of families at different levels,” said Strudwick. At LFA, 31% of students are on financial aid. LFA is able to do this by using 23% of gross tuition for aid and taking a 4% draw on its $30 million endowment. Compared to other schools, LFA’s endowment is significantly lower, which takes away many opportunities from LFA, which might include a lower tuition. While the tuition at LFA is a significant amount, Strudwick points out that it is a very competitive price relative to other Prep schools in the U.S. that are similar to LFA.
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Photo by Andrew Hechtman
Seniors Nubia Beasley-Bartee and Perculiar Adimabua enjoy a dinner at Tsukasa of Tokyo.
Anonymous donor gives
$10,000 for advisory dinners By Andrew Hechtman News Editor
Grapic by Andrew Hechttman and Austin Clamage
The graphs show ow tuition has risen for boarding and day students in the past seven years.
For the second year in a row, an anonymous donor has given $10,000 for every single advisory to have dinner together. The donation matches last year’s in amount, but this year the donation came with a stipulation: no cell phones are permitted at these dinners. “The donor felt like the advisory dinner was really an essential part in bringing people together,” Dean of External Relations Susan Hoagland said. “It builds community in ways that we hadn’t been able to do before.” Hoagland’s staff was very excited that the donation enabled all advisories to spend more time together. Hoagland hoped that all advisories would take advantage of this opportunity. She hailed these dinners as a great chance to bring people together. Advisory meals are great for the community. They help bring the community together, and allow students to bond with their advisors and fellow students. The no-phone rule was meant to alleviate phone distractions, according to Hoagland. Students and their advisors are meant to enjoy a meal together.
“The donor feels that any type of technology draws people out of the moment…” Hoagland said. “In a technology- laden time, it’s really important to put [phones] aside and live in the moment.” New senior Jake Klein and his advisory took advantage of this opportunity. They followed the no phone policy. “I had a great time,” Klein said. “I thought not having phones was good because there were no distractions.” Advisories meals have been a tradition for many years in some advisories. This donation enables advisories to expand previous traditions with larger budgets, or to create new traditions and new memories. “I’m glad we had the chance to [have an advisory dinner],” Klein said. The External Relations office added another rule to the advisory dinners. Hoagland said they would like a group photo of every advisory. Hoagland was very excited and thankful to receive this donation again. She hopes that all advisories find time to take advantage of this very special opportunity. “It gives us a chance to do something we otherwise couldn’t,” Assistant Dean of External Relations Christine Ryder said.
THE SPECTATOR 6
News
APRIL 29, 2016
Annual Senior Lock-In proves to be a successful event again By Tori Koontz Editor-in-Chief Who doesn't love staying up until 7:30 A.M. playing ping-pong, poker, and laser tag? Earlier this month, that is exactly what the senior class spent their Saturday night doing. The Senior Lock-In could possibly be one of Lake Forest Academy's most successful new traditions. Started last year by the prefects, the Lock-In was held for the second time on April 2nd. This event has been put on by the prefects both years, and features many events, such as movies, video games, card games, and (sometimes) sleeping. This year's lock-in went off without a hitch. Planning, according to Prefect Catherine Kvam, took place a week or so before Spring Break and continued all the way until the night of the event. The biggest event of the night, which attracted many interested people, was laser tag. Reid Hall was turned into a temporary battlefield for this high-energy game, with all the lights turned off and the tables flipped over to create barricades. "The laser tag was pretty easy [to rent], since we just went through a website that offered rentals. I believe it was about $100-200, which wasn't that much of our budget. We believe it really made the night a success," said Kvam. Another big event of the night was the four different gaming consoles located in lower Corbin. Games played included Mario Kart, Super Smash Bros, Dance Central, Rock Band, and Call of Duty. No
Photo courtesy of Carly Levin
Senior Grant Schmarak wakens senior Catherine Kvam by pulling her out into the hallway.
matter what a student's gaming preference, there was a group for everyone to join and get involved with. Of course, there were also rooms supplied for those students who did wish to sleep. For those who dared to stay up for the entirety of the evening, Red Bull drinks were supplied to make the challenge easier. Although most did not feel the need to rest up, spaces were available to accommodate. Dean of Students Chris Tennyson, a faculty coordinator for the event, shared the opinion that the Senior Lock-In was a hit. As someone who not only planned but attended the event, Tennyson has witnessed every aspect of the lock-in. "With this event, I never really know what to expect... I wasn't sure how many students would come, because it took place on a weekend and a lot of day students don't like coming back to campus... I think it was a great turn out though," said Tennyson. The Senior Lock-In, only in its second year at Lake Forest Academy, has proved to be an event that has something to offer for every student. Whether you're interested in video games or ping-pong or Netflix, the lock-in has accommodated it all. Every senior interviewed by The Spectator agrees that this is an event that underclassmen should continue. "The thing I was happiest about was just walking around as the night quieted down and seeing groups of people hanging out that normally wouldn't. I thought this was really a great success," commented Tennyson.
Instagram account “exposing caxys” causes concern within the LFA community By Will Everett Op-Ed Editor Over spring break, LFA students were stunned to discover an Instagram account with the username “Exposingcaxys”. The anonymous account was offering to post pictures to “expose” LFA students in situations that would essentially be proof to have them expelled. The account was following 12 people and had 10 followers. Non-LFA students were also following the account. When many students discovered the account, it was a shock to all of them. They thought, why would someone target us? “I couldn’t tell you,” said Dean of Stu-
dents Chris Tennyson, ”because I never would want to give an answer. It saddens me that someone would potentially want to do that to their peers, friends, and acquaintances.” As this article went to press, the account has not been officially deleted, but it has received a username makeover, yet the profile picture it used remains the same. The account was private, meaning that in order to see the photos, one had to request to follow the account. Then, once a user had been approved, they could view the content. When the account posted its first photo, a wave of fury and confusion rocked LFA. The photo was a screenshot of a private
text message conversation. According to sources, the series of texts previewed contained “harsh and irresponsible ideas.” Allegedly, a screenshot of the post itself was then printed out, and shoved under Tennyson’s door, which is the first time he became aware of the problem. This is not the first time social media was used irresponsibly at the Academy. Several years ago the chat room app Yik Yak was popular for about a week, until students began to report posts written about other students in a negative manor. “A lot of people were hurt by it,” explained Tennyson. “If they were on the receiving end of comments, they didn’t feel good about themselves.”
In a community as close as LFA, not a lot is required for social media to be an excellent tool for communication, as well as involving and inspiring the community. Yet, when a platform with that kind is used for harm, said Tennyson, it is extremely significant and can effect more than just individuals. “A lot of good can happen as a result of using that tool,” Tennyson said. “A lot of injustices can also be exposed.” Who did it? That may never be known. But the real question still remains, Why would someone try to expose LFA students?
THE SPECTATOR APRIL 29, 2016
Opinion and Editorial
A Look into LFA’s tuition
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It’s on the rise and what it means to the community P R O / C O N - B R E A K D O W N “LFA has provided my children with an educational experience we only dreamed of over the past six years. To say that it has ‘rocked’ our world would be an understatement. For this, I am eternally grateful. However, affording such an opportunity is a challenge.” -Mark Meyer, LFA parent Lake Forest Academy will be undergoing a 4.25 percent increase in tuition for the 2016-2017 school year. With this raise, we decided to break down the positives and negatives of this issue among students, teachers, parents, and administrators.
By Tori Koontz and Catherine Kvam Editors-in-Chief
PRO: Rest assured that the increase will be utilized through positive means. It is mainly expected to allow for a necessary bump in teacher salaries in order to remain competitive with other schools, provide for the added expenses that come with the addition of two new buildings, and keep up with the rate of inflation. At LFA, the allotted amount of money used for financial aid is not a fixed amount every year, and fortunately increases along with this rise in tuition; approximately 23% of the gross tuition is used for financial aid. This way, the increase can be felt less for families with less yearly income. Another positive factor about higher tuition is the preservation of the high quality education that can be found here. Lake Forest Academy is one of the top private schools in the Midwest, and that has to do with the small classes, experienced teachers, and close community found here. CON: It is easy to un-
derstand the benefits and necessities of increasing tuitions across the board; however, we also are aware of the extreme burden the pricey tuition that rivals private college places on families. Families with children who have spanned many years at LFA have witnessed a considerable increase, ranging more than $10,000 in some cases, which may deter or keep siblings and potential students from being able to attend LFA in the future. It can also be a huge deterrence for interested students from a socio-economic class that are unable to comfortably afford this expensive education. At first glance, a price tag as large as LFA’s can seem impossible to pay. Many might not believe that, even with financial assistance, it is possible to afford this school. We are always trying to promote diversity within our student body, and a high tuition can act as an initial barrier for students who come from families with lower salaries.
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LFA is more expensive than some colleges, which is astounding to think about. Who spends more money on high school than college?
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We recognize both sides of this argument: it is impossible to reduce or retain the same tuition without compromising the quality of the education. In a perfect world and a larger endowment, we both agree that students should have a fixed rate upon entering LFA until graduation. Then, this rate can change with each incoming class or student if completely necessary, but would remain consistent for their class for their four years at Lake Forest Academy. However, it seems that the best decision, unfortunately for our parents, is to increase the cost of tuition. It may not be something anyone necessarily wants, but it necessary in order to preserve the quality of this great school.
Photo by theatlantic.com
The average cost of Midwestern private schools is approximately just under $20,000, which, compared to LFA, is significantly lower. New England private schools, however, have the highest average tuition in the United States.
THE SPECTATOR
Opinion and Editorial
8
APRIL 29, 2016
Each year, Dr. John Strudwick chooses a topic for the whole LFA community to closely look into -- technology, religious pluralism, gender issues, and the environment were topics of previous years. This year, Strudwick has chosen to focus on Immigration, Emigration, and Migration. The Spectator is offering various opinions regarding the HOS Symposium each month, hoping to gain insight on this topic.
Photo by Bill Murphy
Students attending the Head of School spring break trip in Ireland overlook lambs while on their way to the prehistoric monument. Newgrange Stone Age Tomb
By Bill Murphy Spectator Faculty Advisor I recently led the Head of School Symposium Trip to Ireland. It was my second HOS trip and it reinforced for me two valuable purposes of Dr. John Strudwick’s symposium trip idea at LFA: 1) Travel is the best way
for our often-insular student body and faculty to learn about current events, public crises, and the fragility of peaceful civilization on our diverse planet; 2) That travel teaches all of us unexpected things of value, which may be its greatest component. For example, on an HOS trip to
Israel five years ago, I visited Jerusalem. There I saw three of the most holy places on Earth to three religions: the Dome of the Rock (Islam), the Wailing Wall (Judaism), and the Church of the Holy Sepulcher (Christianity). The centuries-old tensions between the religions became clearer to me in person than they ever were on the nightly news. Then, unexpectedly, I witnessed the wall, barbed wire, and automated weapons that separated Bethlehem (Palestinian territory) from Jerusalem. It was shocking and eye-opening! Recently in Ireland my student tour saw the rural poverty in Western Ireland, why a dependence was built upon the potato (Please, no more potatoes for dinner Mr. Murphy!), and what happened when the potato
blight caused the Great Famine. Just like in Northern Africa, millions fled a country with no economic future for their families. Then we visited Northern Ireland and the areas of “The Troubles”, Londonderry and Belfast. Those areas experienced civil rights marches, religious tensions, and nightly terrorist bombings that we watched on televised news programs. Despite the fact that there has been relative peace for a number of years, the Bogside neighborhood in Londonderry and the Falls Road area of Belfast are still struggling for economic recovery decades later. Unfortunately both factions in the fighting are continuing to paint murals on buildings perpetuating 600year old Catholic-vs.-Protestant slogans that still made me worry
about bombs today. It is violence like that which is making millions of Syrians flee to Europe today. And then there was the unexpected education from a professor at the Clinton Institute at University College Dublin. Anticipating a lecture on why millions fled Ireland, we were surprised, instead, to learn about the influence those millions of immigrant Irish have had on Irish politics since they rose in learning, wealth, and power in America. That was not a topic we expected to hear about on our trip, but we might not have learned it without traveling. So hurray for LFA’s philosophy of student travel, and thank you to everyone for taking an interested part in this year’s Head of School Symposium topic!
Inquiring Photographer What did we ask?
Due to generous gift by an anonymous donor, all advisories were able to plan an outing funded by the donation, allotting every student $20. In addition no technology, such as phones, was allowed. For this month, we asked several students and faculty to share some of their experiences.
“It was a really meaningful experience for my entire advisory to sit down together and share a meal without any technology. It definitely brought our advisory closer together.” -Ms. Diane Cooper, History Instructor
“In my advisory we went out to eat two times. It was a fun time to hang out with my advisory. They paid for most of it so it was a nice free meal. And I’d do it again if we had another chance.” -William Choi ‘17
“We had a nice dinner, lots of conversations, and lots of sushi. All of the advisees showed up, nine out of nine. It was a fun outing and we appreciate the money that was given.” -Mrs. Loring Strudwick, Math Instructor
“The favorite part I liked about it was how we got together at a table without any disturbance from technology like phones or iPads so that we can actually talk and connect.” -Kori Zhang ‘17 (left)
“It was excellent. People talked. Everyone had their phones away, which was particularly good. The ability to have conversation with each other is a skill that needs to be developed.” -Mr. Joe Ward, Math Instructor
“What I liked the most was that we got to bond together, and even though we didn’t have our phones or anything we made a lot of memories. We got to know each other more.” -Carolina Borjas ‘16 All photos by Sandra Shaw
THE SPECTATOR
Opinion and Editorial
APRIL 29, 2016
Editorial
T h e L a k e A c a d e m y
Does AP stand for Academic Pressure or Actually Prepared?
AP. Two letters; two weeks; lots of stressed-out students. As we start heading into May, one of the most time-demanding undertakings students will spend time preparing for are the AP exams. It’s the annual near-culmination of tests that evaluate how well a student has done in a subject throughout the school year and whether or not they can get college credit. With all the expectations of succeeding in AP exams, it’s clear to see how pressuring it can be. But is all of that pressure really necessary? The Spectator agrees that while AP exams are an important component in applying to colleges and a good indication of mastery, overall grades should supersede AP exams in that aspect. Students should not let AP exams be such great stress triggers as they previously have been. “One, [the students] are well
prepared because of the faculty and the classroom experience. Second, I think our students are really motivated and very bright and work hard, and so I think that kind of individual preparation helps and goes a long way,” said Dean of Students Chris Tennyson. Tennyson also believes that our students are “ultimately very well prepared”, largely due to confidence in the students’ and teachers’ abilities. But while some say AP exams should be nothing major to stress over, there are students who impose the high pressure of doing well on the exams on themselves, especially if they are taking multiple ones. Whether it is because they want to be in advanced classes in college or are challenging themselves with a rigorous chain of AP classes, many students arrive at the conception that they need to take (and excel at) multi-
ple APs in order to be successful. “We have students that take multiple APs, and we live in a world that now has this notion of high-stakes-testing and what an AP score means. That brings a pressure that I think is sometimes hard to deal with,” said Tennyson. Yet according to CollegeXpress, there are other standardized tests, such as the ACT and SAT, that weigh heavier than AP scores in the college admission process. What’s more important with the APs is that they help students skip entry-level courses and gain entry into higher level classes sooner in college; that can save tuition money and add a safety net for graduating on time if one decides to change his/her major multiple times. With that in mind, we wish good luck to all the students taking AP exams. Remember , try not to psych yourself out too much.
Have you ever picked classes based on teachers? By Will Everett Op-Ed Editor There comes a time when a student must dictate their future path within the school they attend. Lake Forest Academy does an excellent job of offering these options before college, where classes are never recommended and can be 100% chosen by the student. Consequently, professors can therefore be chosen because there is usually one professor per subject. Backtracking a little bit, students at LFA can choose their classes after freshman year, which in turn allows them to choose their teacher. Junior and senior year at the Academy allows for more freedom to select certain faculty members to learn from. But is it true that students chose their classes based on who’s teaching them? Out of 125 Lake Forest Academy students surveyed on this premise, 66% said they have chosen a class based on the educator. 43% of the students who an-
swered the survey in general were seniors. Teaching style, energy level, humor and even easiness are some of the attributes students associate with a good teacher. Many teachers say energy is one of the most important aspects to a successful class. It’s not to say the student’s interest in the class is nonexistent, but I think this number shows that a teacher can
“Teaching style, energy level, humor and even easiness are some of the attributes students associate with a good teacher.” -Will Everett help a class be more interesting. It can be understood, as a student, why some classes get chosen because of the teacher. Some class-
es have been taught by the same teacher for half a decade, to a decade and so on. This means that older siblings, cousins, or friends have the inside scoop on who to try and get for a teacher, as if they have a crystal ball. Nonetheless, a younger sibling is often going to follow in the older ones footsteps, but not always. Also, teachers admit to liking or not liking certain siblings. This also has an impact on the choice of the course. Nobody in their right mind would take a class if their older sibling already soiled their reputation. Lake Forest Academy may be seeing more of this predetermined class picking, as more teachers are parting ways with LFA than in recent years. Nobody likes to be thrown into a class with a new teacher; it’s uncomfortable. Honestly, I guess I was lucky. No siblings before me to burn any bridges, and no siblings after, so no bridges for me to burn. All in all, it all comes down to a teachers will to teach, and students will to learn.
9 F o r e s t
S P E C TAT O R
STAFF LIST Editors-in-Chief
Tori Koontz Catherine Kvam India Shelley
Managing Editor- news
Julia Mills
Managing Editor- photography
Arthur He
News Editors
Austin Clamage Peter Corsiglia Andrew Hechtman
Features Editors
Hong Joo Kwon Andrew Ryder Hunter Wolff
Op-Ed Editors
Will Everett Sandra Shaw
Sports Editors
Obaid Ansari Jacob Chagoya Lucas Jacob Nithin Reddy
Faculty Adviser
William Murphy
Online Faculty Adviser
Jeremy Sands
PUBLICATION
The Spectator is published eight times per year by the students of Lake Forest Academy and is a forum for student expression. The views and reporting herein are the sole product of The Spectator’s student reporters and in no way reflect the official views of Lake Forest Academy faculty, staff, administration or Board of Trustees.
EDITORIALS Opinions of the staff are presented in the form of unsigned editorials. Personal views are bylined or presented as formal dissents.
LETTERS TO THE EDITORS The Spectator welcomes responses to its articles in the form of Letters to the Editors in addition to letters on subjects of the author’s choosing. Please e-mail Letters to the Editors to Mr. Murphy at wmurphy@lfanet.org.
AWARDS The Spectator has been awarded several prestigious journalism awards in recent years. It has consistently taken first place in competitions against schools of similar size held by the American Scholastic Press Association and the Kettle Moraine Press Association.
QUOTE OF THE MONTH
“If you want something you never had, you have to do something you’ve never done.” -Anonymous
THE SPECTATOR
Centerfold
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APRIL 29, 2016
Legends
... Performing Arts: Jessica Anderson and Joseph “Mojo” Lee By Ananta Srivastava and Shreya Singhvi Staff Writers Musical performance has always been a big part of student life at Lake Forest Academy. Recently, The Spectator sent out a survey to faculty who have been at LFA the longest to ask which performing arts students stood out the most in recent memory. The results were Jessica Anderson ’10 and Joseph “Mojo” Lee ’10. Anderson focused mainly on theater and voice, while
Lee was an expert violinist. The teachers remembered Anderson as a determined student who took the lead in several musicals in past years at LFA. Her most memorable performance, according to Director of Performing Arts Mark Dryfoos, was as the witch in Into the Woods, which she played her senior year. “[Jessica] created the character pretty much on her own. I gave her some guidance but she took the role of the witch and made it very, very much like herself. It was very believable, and as an
Photo courtesy of Ruth Keyso
The Be
Lake Forest Academ of talent, ranging from am ed performing and visual ble minds. The staff of T a survey to several of the m at LFA, asking about som students to pass through t reflect the results of that su
actress she embodied the character very well,” Dryfoos recalled. Outside of performing, Anderson was also an avid leader in the community. She held many leadership roles, including All-School President her senior year, and was known to have “lofty ambitions and goals” which she constantly strived for. Lee was a talented violinist who had won several important competitions. Although he only attended LFA for two years, he made a large impact on the community, and performed at several special events. According to Director of Music Timothy Plambeck, Lee blew the audience away each time he performed. As well as playing the violin, he played on the LFA Boy’s Football team as a kicker. “He had a professional violin technique and his way of performing was so engaging because his pitch was always great and he could play anything,” Plambeck recalled. Both Anderson and Lee continued their success after graduating from LFA in 2010. Anderson continued on to Stanford University, and is still involved with theater and music. Lee studied at the University of Miami, but a hand injury may have ended his violin career.
Jessica Anderson went on to perform at Stanford University.
... Academics: Matt Stevens and Sam Dolbee By Elizabeth Christoph and Brandon Simberg Staff Writers When veteran faculty of fifteen or more years here at Lake Forest Academy were asked who were some of the most academically memorable students, Sam Dolbee and Matt Stevens came to mind. Dolbee, son of current Associate Head of School Bill Dolbee, graduated from LFA in 2004. Dolbee was very intelligent, but teachers also remembered him as a very hard worker with a passion for learning. "I could have given him the textbook at the beginning of the year, and had him take the final in May and he would still get a five,"
said Mrs. Suzy Vaughn, who taught him in A.P. US History. Mr. Chris Tennyson, who taught him in AP Econ said, "His ability to connect concepts and see the big picture while think critically of it was awesome". Dolbee also excelled in athletics where he was a three-sport varsity athlete. After LFA, Sam became fluent in Arabic and is getting a PhD in International Relations. Matt Stevens, Class of ’12, was praised not only for his naturally gifted brain, but also for his eagerness to learn the material. During his time at LFA, he took the hardest classes, yet was still a very well-rounded student. He played football, was the Managing Editor of the newspaper, and
had a lead role in the musical. Emphasizing his amazing ability to retain everything, Dr. Kerry Cedergren recalled that in her AP Chemistry class he would remember the jokes the second year. Many teachers thought they didn’t even need to teach him in the classroom. "He didn’t need too much help with any of the problems… he could read the book and do two problems and totally get it," BC Calculus teacher Loring Strudwick recalled. According to his teachers, Matt’s inquisitive nature and independence in learning allowed him to excel in all subjects making him an all-encompassing student.
LFA’s Prep Hockey scores a goal while playing a home game against a tough oppon
... Team 2009-10 Prep
By Jack Mahon Staff Writer Lake Forest Academy has boasted a multitude of great sports teams in recent memory, but according to a survey of faculty who have worked here for a long time, the best team was the 2009-10 Prep Hockey Team. Led by Captain Harry Matheson, it finished an amazing 2nd in the nation, with a very strong record of 44-5-4. Although the defensive line was
good, this prep team was known for two things: goals and depth. “Our third line could score on you just as easily as our second line could score on you,” said Coach Darrin Madeley. The team was stacked from top to bottom. Darcy Greenaway had an amazing 111 points (a hockey stat for goals plus assists), while Charlie O’Connor chipped in with another 108 points. Harry Matheson missed the last eight games of the sea-
THE SPECTATOR
Centerfold
APRIL 29, 2016
s of LFA
est of...
By Dieter Villegas and Ayaan Ahmed Staff Writers
my is host to a large variety mazing atheletecism, giftartists, and brilliant, nimThe Specator recently sent most experienced teachers me of the most memorable the school. These stories urvey.
11
...Visual Arts: Kat Delby
Kat Delby, a member of the Class of 2013, is considered one of the greatest artists of Lake Forest Academy, according to the recent faculty survey. She started her art career at LFA in 2009 as a freshman, but by the time she finished Delby was interested in different kinds of arts, such as 3-Dimensional and Ceramics. Art teacher Mrs. Lauren Fowler remembered Delby enthusiastically starting work in Ceramics and saying she wanted to make the largest bowls possible. “Bowls that big take a lot of skill,” said Fowler, who described Delby as a hard-working person who would utilize every free period she had on any given day so that she could accomplish the goals she had set for herself. “By the end of the semester she was making these ridiculously enormous bowls on the wheels. It was super impressive.” Delby was an engaged, enthusiastic, and determined artist. She would go to the Cressey Center for the Arts, to work on many of her art projects during
Photo courtesy of Ruth Keyso
Delby throws a clay pot on a pottery wheel in Cressey.
all her free time. Delby had a variety of artistic interests, but was more focused on ceramics at LFA. Although she was more focused on ceramics, she was more inclined towards photography, but most of her work in media was done independently. “She was enthusiastic and energetic in class and spent a lot of time in Cressey,” said Chris Tennyson, dean of students. Teachers remembered Delby as a funny, lighthearted student who did not take things
too seriously. She asked many questions in class, and she was into sci-fi/fantasy genres like “Game of Thrones”. “Film was where her heart was and much of what she did, she did independently in her time at LFA,” said Fowler. In addition, during her time at LFA, she acquired some speaking parts in the “Divergent” movie trilogy. Currently, Delby is majoring in film at NYU and is working on an upcoming animated film.
... Athletics: Dejon Brisett
nent, Ridley High School.
Photo courtesy of Darren Madeley
Sports: Hockey Team son, but still totaled 101 points. Madeley’s team played very fast, but at the same time controlled the puck excellently. It had impressive victories against Culver (twice) and Shattuck-Saint Mary’s. They also beat notable club hockey teams like Chicago Young American and Chicago Fury. “There were no egos, everybody played the role they were supposed to play,” recalled Madeley. This team was not only a group of fantastic hockey players, but
also a group of very good students. Matheson, younger brother of another great LFA athlete John Matheson, led by example by having an astounding 4.06 GPA, while another player had a 4.07 GPA. “If you took the four defensemen we had on this team (this year) and put them with the three offensive lines we had on (the 2009) team, nobody would touch us. We would have been first in the nation,” said Madeley.
Photo courtesy of SmugMug
Brissett plays defense at one of his last basketball games.
By Max Hayes Staff Writer Dejon Brissett was the most popular nominee for Best Athlete. Brissett, from Mississauga, Ontario, was a charismatic super-athlete who played football, basketball, and track. Brissett, as well, had equally strong feelings about his time spent as a Caxy. “The coaches really care. Coach Bowkett, Coach Ward, Coach Vaughn really wanted me to do my best, which is what
pushed me to be the best athlete I could be”, said Brissett.. Brissett graduated last year with an offer from the University of Richmond to play football. Athletic Director Darren Madeley, who knew Brissett well, was pleased with Brissett’s commitment to the University of Richmond. “He was extremely athletic. His best sport wasn’t even the one he committed to; it was track”, said Madeley. Madeley’s positive comments further proved how truly talent-
ed of an athlete Brissett was in all of his sports, not just football. Brissett played 2 games as a freshman for the University of Richmond and totaled 2 catches for 21 yards and 1 touchdown. Even more impressive than Brissett’s accomplishments in college and how he earned his way into a NCAA Division 1 football program was his long list of achievements earned during his time at LFA as an athlete. Brissett earned All-Conference his junior year and senior year, and he took on the role of team captain and MVP during his senior year of football. His senior year stats included 35 catches for 862 yards and eight touchdowns. “Brissett made big plays for us in all three phases and was consistently our extra heart beat. He was a team-first guy that any coach would enjoy having in his program”, said football coach Robin Bowkett.
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Arts and Entertainment
APRIL 29, 2016
Build-A-Bear is great fun, even if you’re in high school By Tori Koontz and India Shelley Editors-in-Chief Each month in Date Night, members of The Spectator team up and visit locales to give the Lake Forest Academy community ideas on fun outings that could be worth venturing to. They then rate these dates based on price, distance, time needed, and overall enjoyment. For our final date night, we decided to return to the place the both of us had spent many childhood birthday parties perfecting our dream stuffed animal: BuildA-Bear. By going to Build-A-Bear, we realized that we would have a tangible way to remember our joyful year as Date Night co-authors. Plus, who doesn’t love making a cute, plushy, stuffed animal? We thought that we would have to drive a fairly long way away to Schaumburg in order to find a Build-A-Bear, however we were pleasantly surprised to learn that one had just opened in the nearby Old Orchard Mall. Once we arrived, we quickly located the store, which was only a brief walk from the parking lot. The store was clean, bright, and contained an array of colorful bears and accessories and clothes for the bears. Build-A-Bear is exactly what it sounds like: a store where you can build your own bear and then dress it up in a variety of out-
fits. This particular store was not the most elaborate or well-stocked like the ones you could find in the city, but it has all the basics you could want if you’re simply interested in the experience of bear building. The employees greeted us cheerfully and we set out on the process of choosing a bear to stuff. There was a good selection of stuffed animals, ranging from colorful to classic, to other animals such as bunnies and dinosaurs. Depending on the time of year and other pop culture influences, they even have themed bears to bring something extra to your animal. We ended up choosing a classic brown bear because we thought that a simple bear would lend itself well to more exciting accessories and clothes. Aside from just clothes and accessories, Build-A-Bear also has additional add-ons you can put inside the bear, like recordable voice boxes and scented sachets. These can add an extra something if you’re interested in a laughing or strawberry-scented bear. Next comes the stuffing of the bear. The employees are very willing to let you customize the fullness of your bear, depending on personal preference. After you are satisfied with your animal’s stuffed-ness, the employee helping you makes you perform a silly, slightly-embarrassing ritual with the cute heart patch you put inside your animal as well. This ritual can include various
Our completed bear, which we decided to name Colby, was just as cute as we had hoped.
activities, such as jumping up and down, spinning around, and rubbing your elbows. When all that’s said and done with and the bear is all stitched up with love, we moved on to clothing, which is arguably one of the most important steps. Although we originally had in mind a graduation robe and cap, since graduation is right around the corner, none could be found, as this wasn’t an extremely large, varied store. No matter, we still found a cute cheerleader outfit, significant to us as we both participated in cheer here at LFA. With the outfit, pom-poms, and cute bows in our bear’s hair, we were ready to move on to the final step of building a stuffed animal at Build-A-Bear: naming your animal. The station to name your bear is all computerized, making it easy and fast. You can even input your address and
email, in case your bear gets lost. When you are done filling out the questions and information, the store prints out a cute “birth certificate” for your furry friend. Once we finished with our certificate for our bear, Colby, the store packed him up in a cute take-home box and that was it- time to take him home! Because the store was located in the Old Orchard mall, there are tons of activities to enjoy afterwards. In our case, we decided to grab a bite to eat at our all-time favorite restaurant, Shake Shack. Overall, we had a great experience. We were concerned that this date may be a bit juvenile, but it is surprisingly fun getting to customize a bear. This is definitely a date that we recommend to anyone looking for a fun way to spend some time at the mall. All pictures by Tori Koontz and India Shelley
The Verdict: Build-A-Bear
We both had a great time during the entire process of bear-making on this date.
Price:
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APRIL 29, 2016
Arts and Entertainment
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Nair becomes well known on campus for his traditional Bharatanatyam dancing By Nithin Reddy Sports Editor Krishna Nair has been known around LFA for numerous reasons. Whether it’s his teachers commenting on his intellect, or his friends describing his camaraderie, Krishna has been known as a contributing member of the LFA community. These qualities are evident in one of his lesser known skills: Bharatanatyam. Bharatanatyam is a traditional Indian dance that is commonly performed in the southern regions of India. As a child, Nair started bharatanatyam, but he didn’t become seriously invested in the dance until he was older. “When I was about five I would go to the temple in Grayslake and dance for fun,” said Nair, “It wasn’t until I was in about second grade when I went to classes and spent time learning the dance.” Nair has continued the dance as he attends classes in a rather unorthodox fashion. His teacher, Sajilal Narayanan, currently lives in India, so for obvious reasons they can’t personally see each other every week. Instead the two have Skype classes where Nair projects
Narayanan on his TV, and they will practice out dance moves. Nair has been doing this for a while, and it has worked well. The LFA community has already seen Nair perform his Bharatanatyam dance. During the multicultural day talent show Nair performed his dance in front of a packed audience. You could tell that some audience members were confused with what was going on, but the experience was rare and as a result the crowd cheered him on throughout the performance. Some have been a bit surprised by Nair dancing because it is out of the ordinary to see Indian boys in the U.S. practice Bharatanatyam. “When I was younger people would be surprised to see me dancing. Some people would tell me I looked like a girl, but I wasn’t very bothered by it because I enjoyed Bharatanatyam,” said Nair. As Nair continues to study Bharatanatyam, he will have numerous performance opportunities. Each year he will usually have about three or four performances and in the next few years he will have an Arangetram. Arangetram will be his last performance as a Bharatanatyam stu-
Photo courtesy of LFA SmugMug Krishna during his multicultural day perforance in the pose of the Hindu elephant god Ganesha. His right hand with the index finger pointed up represents the tusk of the elephant.
dent. While Nair may have an Arangetram performance it won’t occur until he is probably a senior. In order for Nair to perform the Arangetram he must train for
a year, and that will create a challenge for him as he tries to dance Bharatanatyam and continue his various LFA activities.
of her videos, which continues to rise. Wang didn’t start singing until she was in eighth grade. She began after mesmerizing herself with countless amounts of YouTube videos. “As someone who’s been watching YouTube since even before I started singing, the people I followed and idolized on the site made me realize just how powerful technology is for artistic expression,” said Wang. The popular videos feature Wang and sometimes other guests who sing a wide variety of songs from Can’t Help Falling in Love with You by Elvis Presley to, her most popular song, Team by Lorde. “People on YouTube--at least in the old days--are genuinely there for the passion and finding a community,” expressed Wang. “It’s a sort of new media that helps people who typically wouldn’t make it in the mainstream industry get recognition.” Wang attributes her YouTube popularity to the belief that people would rather listen to her sing cover songs, which is how she picks her music. Her music ranges from Rock-and-Roll to modern R&B. “I think I was very lucky to gain recognition from my first two videos to jumpstart my channel,” said Wang.
Wang records herself singing with the use of GarageBand. What used to take her two hours to produce, now only takes her as little as 30 minutes. This is because she used to only sing in 10 second fragments and do numerous takes, while Wang now tries her best to only do ‘one takes’ where she sings a song continuously with no pauses. She decided to switch because she felt singing in fragments wasn’t as authentic as singing the songs altogether. While Wang sings for the enjoyment of sharing her voice, she is also able to profit from her music. With the amount of views Wang receives, she is able to make money from the advertisements that are played before her videos on YouTube. “It’s awesome to think that I can enjoy singing, while making some extra money at the same time,” said Wang. Even though Wang loves to create YouTube videos and sing, she does not participate in any singing groups at LFA. Instead, she only focuses on making her channel the best it can possibly be, which she has suceeded in doing. As Wang continues her academic career, she still believes that she will continue to post her music on YouTube throughout college.
LFA senior’s unheard voice reaches thousands of viewers on Youtube By Austin Clamage News Editor
When she wasn’t busy doing work for any of her four AP classes or practic-
ing her golf swing, senior Cindy Wang was building up her YouTube channel. In just two years and 17 videos, Wang has managed to get 6,508 subscribers, with over 77 thousand views on just one
Photo courtesy of Cindy Wang
Senior Cindy Wang singing “Maps” by Maroon 5 in one of her videos. This video has over 47,000 views.
THE SPECTATOR
Features
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APRIL 29, 2016
OH, FUDGE! By Catherine Kvam and Julia Mills Staff Writers
It’s no secret that fudge is a vice for many people. I was introduced over the summer by my sister to a life-changing paleo fudge. My first thought before tasting it was that it was going to be disgusting, but it was
allowed in my extremely healthy house. I gave it a try: IT...WAS...AMAZING. As my sister went off to college, I forgot about it. Once I remembered, I knew that I had to share it with the LFA community, especially those who are looking for a healthier alternative to the classic, sweet treat. Finding the unusual ingredients were not
a problem at our local grocery store. I carefully followed directions this time, so as not to completely botch the dessert. These instructions were remarkably straightforward; there was no heating involved, except when I used the microwave to soften the ingredients up a bit (which was necessary). It would be very easy to make in the dorms, you just need a refrigerator. I did decide to add a hunk of some organic chocolate hazelnut spread to give it a smoother and sweeter taste. I whipped it all up, spread it on a dish to the right thickness, and in the fridge it went. It was almost too easy. For Julia’s recipe this month she chose to make one of her all time favorite desserts: peanut butter fudge. My first time having this treat was when I was at summer camp. Immediately after tasting this delectable snack I was hooked and knew I had to make it again. When I returned from camp that summer I made my own batch of peanut butter fudge and
served it to my friends and family. Everyone loved it. When Cat decided she would be making chocolate fudge I knew I had to test out this old favorite of mine. The nice thing about both these recipes is that they are so incredibly simple and you probably have most of the ingredients lying around your house. I luckily did and saved a trip to the grocery store. Finding a recipe was easy and I chose to use one from allrecipes.com. When making this dessert I would recommend following the instructions and ingredients measurements as close to exact as you can get to guarantee the best fudge possible. I found it easiest to pre-measure all my ingredients so when it came time to mix and combine them all I had to do was dump a bowl into the existing mixture. In total this recipe probably took about 10 to 15 minutes to prepare and a few hours to chill. The result was a delicious, creamy and chewy fudge that reminded me of my childhood and sweet memories at camp.
Photo courtesy of pillsbury.com
Peanut butter fudge is the perfect snack, dessert, or treat to satisfy anyone’s sweet tooth.
Chocolate (Sort of) Paleo Fudge Makes 16-20 Ingredients: ● 1 cup raw cashew butter (or nut butter of choice) ● ⅓ cup coconut oil ● ¼ cup cocoa powder ● ¼ cup pure maple syrup ● ½ teaspoon fine sea salt ● 1 teaspoon vanilla extract Directions: 1. In a medium bowl, mix together nut butter and coconut oil until smooth. 2. Add cocoa powder, maple syrup, sea salt, and vanilla. Stir until smooth and creamy. 3. Transfer the mixture to a dish lined with plastic wrap, for easy removal. 4. Place the dish in the freezer, and allow the fudge to set for at least an hour before slicing and serving. Fudge will melt quickly if left to sit in a warm room. 5. Store the leftovers in a sealed container in the freezer.
Peanut Butter Fudge Ingredients: ● ½ cup butter ● 2 ¼ cups brown sugar ● ½ cup milk ● ¾ cup peanut butter ● 1 teaspoon vanilla extract ● 3 ½ cups confectioners’ sugar Directions: 1. Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. 2. Stir in brown sugar and milk and bring to a boil for 2 minutes, stirring frequently. 3. Remove from heat. 4. Stir in peanut butter and vanilla. 5. Pour over confectioners’ sugar in a large mixing bowl. 6. Beat until smooth and pour into a 8x8 dish. 7. Chill until firm and Enjoy!
Photo by Catherine Kvam
LFA senior Matt Pugliese enjoys Catherine’s paleo, vegan fudge during Spanish class.
THE SPECTATOR
Features
APRIL 29, 2016
15
The key to APs is to relax By Hong Joo Kwon Features Editor Late April to early May is the busiest and the most challenging time for students at Lake Forest Academy as Advanced Placement exams are taken. Students who are taking the AP exams are stressed out with the thought that there are overwhelming amounts of materials that are covered for each exam and that the score they get can greatly affect their college admission. That’s why The Spectator has prepared this Survival Guide for AP exams to alleviate the pressure placed on students, as they have been preparing for the exams throughout the year. The bottom line is: relax and stay focused to do well on AP exams. Although some difficulties depend on each individual student, the biggest general problem that most students face is forgetting the fact that they have been preparing for this exam since they started their course at the beginning of the year. Daily participation in classes has been preparing them for these exams. Just relax and trust in your teacher’s preparatory work all year. “A tip I would give for students who are taking the AP exams would be to relax and to realize the score on this exam is
not determining their future. They should just try to do the best they can and realize that this is just a portion of what they are doing here as a student. The scores on AP exams have no bearing on their grades here whatsoever. Really, they just need to sit back and realize that the score on this exam… all it’s going to do is to help them. If they do well, it can help them. If they don’t do well, oh well, forget about it and move on,” said Ms. Kristine Von Ogden, Assistant Dean of Curriculum. Von Ogden also suggested that students get a good night sleep the night before. Staying up late and cramming all night long is never a good idea. She stated that students cannot learn an entire AP curriculum in one night and that various studies show that students need to get sleep in order for things that they have studied to stick in their minds. She also recommended that eating breakfast is very important in doing well on the AP exam. School Counselor, Jen Madeley, said that most students at LFA place a high priority on their academic achievements. These high expectations can be overwhelming. She states that AP exam stress can turn into an unhealthy balance between rest, work, and play.
Photo courtesy of theodysseyonline.com
Many students around this time become very stressed due to the huge AP workload.
“My advice would be to be mindful of your time during AP exam season,” said Madeley. “Make sure that you work hard preparing for your exams, but also make sure you get enough sleep, eat healthy foods, and spend time doing things you enjoy. It’s ok to take study breaks and hang out with friends, go for a run, watch something on Netflix, meditate, play
games, or do other things you find relaxing. Not only will this help to reduce your stress, but refresh you for more studying.” Junior Sandra Shaw, who took 4 AP exams last year, advised that the general key for doing well on AP exams is to manage time well and work consistently. She said that cramming at the last minute does not work well.
“A tip I would give for students who are taking the AP exams would be to relax and to realize the score on this exam is not determining their future.” -Ms. Von Ogden
Photo designed by Arthur He
Although AP season can be extremely hectic and stressful for students, the best thing for anyone looking to unwind is to smply relax every now and then.
THE SPECTATOR 16
Features
APRIL 29, 2016
Everything we’ve come to expect from The Last Shadow Puppets By Arthur He Managing Editor of Photography
The Last Shadow Puppets just released their highly anticipated second album titled “Everything You’ve Come To Expect”. It surely is everything we’ve come to expect from this dynamic duo. The band, consisting of Alex Turner, the suave lead singer of Arctic Monkeys, and the frontman of the Rascals, Miles Kane, dropped their first collaboration album in 2008. It is widely acclaimed for its new and experimental approach to rock. After almost eight years of waiting, their second album is finally here. The album started in a way almost identical to their last album, a cacophonous crescendo of strings, building up to the first song “Aviation”. The opening number definitely sets the mood for the album, a bit ominous, yet hauntingly beautiful. The lyrical genius of Turner is prominently present throughout. The whole song has a repeating theme that’s slightly altered during the chorus, which builds up to a different last verse, with amazing harmony on Kane’s part. Overall, it’s a very well-rounded starting track. The next track on the album, “Miracle Aligner” is more of a catchy ballad, repeatedly saying all the things one would do
for a particular girl. It’s light-hearted and somewhat promiscuous (much like most of this album). The fourth song on the album is the title track. Surprisingly, I found it one of the less memorable tracks on this album. The tune becomes too mellow and fades out fast after a couple listens. “Bad Habits” is definitely a song worth mentioning in this album. It has a different feel then the other tracks on this album. It’s more similar to “Aviation” and even some of the early Arctic Monkeys work. However, the cacophonous strings in the background are certainly to die for. My personal favorite track on this entire album is “Sweet Dreams, TN.” It is a relentless showcase of the ridiculous charm of Turner and he’s voice performance. The more percussion-like guitar in the background is also very catchy. The lyrics of the last verse are also just mesmerizing, poetic-yet-flirty. The delivery by Turner is also very spot on with the song. It’s one of those songs that you know would sound good in a live performance. Overall, the album is very satisfying. Lyrically, I have always had high expectations for Turner and he sure delivered in this album. I would definitely recommend this fantastic album for anyone who’s into the suave kind of Rock.
Photo courtesy of thelastshadowpuppets.com The duo Alex Turner (right) and Miles Kane (left) in their new album promotional pictures.
Caxy Match
Image courtesy of house-of-cards.wikia.com
Photo by Tori Koontz
This month, the staff of The Spectator agreed that Math instructor, Mr. Makovec, bears a likeness to Corey Stoll, who plays Peter Russo in House of Cards.
THE SPECTATOR APRIL 29, 2016
Sports
17
Spring weather causing problems for sports practice By Obaid Ansari Sports Editor Spring time in Chicago is filled with rainy days, sometimes punctuated with snow. The constant rain makes it hard for spring sports teams to practice on a daily basis as their fields are almost always wet. Fortunately, Athletic Director Darrin Madeley has acquired time at fields and facilities off campus to help the Caxys. It is vital during the first week of spring season that teams have places to practice so that the coaches can evaluate their players. To fulfill these needs Madeley rented Batspeed for baseball, Athletico Center for soccer and girls lacrosse, Techny Fields for soccer, and Lake Forest College for boys lacrosse. These sites have allowed outdoor sports to practice even when the weather did not cooperate, ensuring that the teams started the season off on the right foot. However, it is not easy booking all these places for many various reasons. “It’s difficult because of the different times that we need to practice,” said Madeley. “Also the cost for some of these places is extremely expensive and I need to make sure I don’t spend too much.” The sports teams never know when
they will need the off-campus cites, it all depends on the weather. This makes it extremely difficult to schedule times to practice at the facilities as they are in high demand. Another issue besides the scheduling and the cost, is getting the teams off campus. There are only six Caxy Vans and some teams need more than one depending on the number of players. The players and coaches know it is not easy to get off-campus cites for practice and are extremely grateful. “He (Madeley) got us the artificial field at Lake Forest College, which was perfect. It is important for us to have a large space where we can run, catch and throw,” said Head Lacrosse Coach Bill Murphy. In the past the lacrosse team was forced to play in the gym which was simply not big enough. “Having a place off campus is important if we want to compete,” said Varsity Girls Soccer Coach Paul Makovec, “If we didn’t have those spaces I don’t know what we would do.” There are two solutions that would make everyone’s life easier and they are a turf field and/or a fieldhouse. “It’s an expensive luxury to have, but if we had turf it would make life a lot easier in the spring,” said Madeley.
Photo by Obaid Ansari
Athletic Director Darrin Madeley has to juggle all the practices for spring sports.
Photo courtesy of LFA SmugMug
Junior Thomas Pinel tries to get around Spartans a defender during a recent game.
Caxy lax looking to win conference By Lucas Jacob Sports Editor The 2016 Lake Forest Academy Lacrosse team is off to a hot start after winning its first game of the season 12-8 against Marion Catholic. The team was able to prevail due to their high powered offense ran by senior captain, Ford Johnstone, and junior captain, Thomas Pinel. Pinel totaled six goals with four assists and Johnstone totaled four goals and four assists in the win. “Our biggest strength right now should be our offense, because two of our three offensive players are very experienced and being recruited by multiple schools,” said Coach Bill Murphy. Despite an effective offense, every team has its struggles. One of those struggles for the Caxys was coping with the loss of star players due to graduation. The Caxys’ biggest loss may have been starting goalie, Liam Kakavas, and his backup, Spencer Chen. When asked about the graduation losses Johnstone said, “ We don’t have an experienced keeper now which is a lot bigger of a problem than we thought, because opposing teams are able to score a lot more
easily than they could in the past.” With the team needing a goalie, senior defenseman Gaston Adam has decided to step up and take the place in goal, trying his best to keep the team competitive in games with a shot at winning its conference. Goalie is a very tough position to take up and learn in a short period of time. “I’m very proud of the way Gaston has stepped into goal. He did a nice job in his first game ever as a goalie and I think he’s only going to get better. But, we are also working on trying to support him more. We’re working on the long sticks and defensive middies trying to do a better job of stopping the ball before it gets to the point where Gaston has to stop it,” said Murphy. The team knows its strengths and knows what to do in order to improve. They want to maintain their record of five consecutive winning seasons since the connception of the sport at LFA. The Caxys also have a goal to win their conference. As long as that Caxy defense keeps improving, there’s a clear path to the trophy. “It’s my senior year and Whitney Young has lost a lot of seniors, giving us a good chance to win the confrence. We’re going to give it our best; everyone plays a vital role and has to step up,” Johnstone said.
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New college counselor has storied basketball history By Jacob Chagoya Sports Editor Mr. Ben Wetherbee joined the Lake Forest Academy community at the start of the school year as the Assistant Dean of College Counseling. Helping students with their paths to college, Wetherbee was also the Assistant Coach for the Boys Varsity Basketball team. Wetherbee spent the first 18 years of his life in Australia and grew up playing basketball there before coming to the U.S to play basketball at Knox College. The Spectator asked Wetherbee some questions about his basketball life: Q: When did you first get into basketball? A: [My dad] had gotten tickets to go see the Sydney Kings (Part of the Australian National Basketball League) play the Canberra Cannons. I had never been to a basketball game. The game ended up going into triple overtime and I remember I couldn’t watch and I covered my eyes for the entire overtime. It was so intense and so riveting. Since that day I was infatuated with the game. Q: How was college basketball different from the basketball you played in Australia? A: In Australian the style of play is similar to the NBA (National Basketball Association) because we had a 24-second shot clock and it made for a very high scoring
affair. Here teams slow it down and it’s just a defensive grind. It was just a completely different style of play. Q: Were you offered a scholarship to play basketball? A: So, Knox is a Division III school so they can’t give out any athletic scholarships. I did have some interest from a few different Division I and Division II schools as well Q: What was the league you played in in Australia? A: We called it Reps where you get the best players from each area and they compete against each other. We’d have state teams and a national tournament where each state plays each other. That was probably the biggest thing I was a part of in Australia. Q: How did your previous basketball experiences affect your coaching style? A: When I stepped into this role I tried to put myself back into the shoes of a player, what I used to like, what drills really resonated with me. I tried to implement as many of those that I could. Q: How did you feel about your performance at the GSA Students vs. Faculty basketball game? A: [Laughing] Very lackluster I guess. The basketball that was on display may not have been my best but the cause that it was supporting was certainly a worthy one.
Photo Coutesy of Ben Wetherbee
Ben Wetherbee (middle) takes a jumpshot as he competes for Knox College.
Daniela Gendron fulfills dream of playing for the Mexican Women’s National Hockey Team By Jack Mahon Staff Writer Daniela Gendron has been playing ice hockey since she was three years old, and has had one dream throughout. Gendron, known to friends as “Dani”, has always dreamed of playing for the Mexican Women’s National Team. This year, the Lake Forest Academy sophomore’s dream came true. Hailing from Mexico City, Gendron played her first games for the national team in February. She is one of only three 15-year olds that play for the senior team, which is made up of all ages. “It is an honor to represent your country, it always is,” said Gendron. Standing at 5’6”, Gendron is a speedy forward who shoots right-handed. While she has put in good work with her national team, the sophomore also had a dominant season with the LFA Varsity Girls Hockey team this winter. Gendron tallied up a total of an amazing 25 goals throughout the season. She also added two
goals while playing for the national team. “It’s very different. The game is much faster and the intensity of the game is much bigger than LFA games”, Gendron answered when asked about comparing the intensity levels of National team games and LFA games. Whether it’s Gendron’s club, national, or LFA team, she is clearly a player of massive value. While Gendron is busy enough with national and club team practices and games, she still makes time for her school team and shows her pride for LFA by playing with a tenacious and effective style. Not only is she good on the ice, but is a great teammate. Many of her teammates had kind words to add about her. “She adds hype, spirit and good team play,” said freshman MJ Alexander, another one of the LFA Girls Hockey stars. Even though it is spring hockey season for club, Gendron has decided to branch out athletically, and is the varsity goalie for the girls soccer team. In the girls soccer team’s first game, Gendron pulled out some amazing saves, and kept a shutout
Photo Courtesy of Daniela Gendron
Gendron ‘18 (middle) skates down the ice through Turkish defenders.
in the 0-0 draw against Glenbrook North. “Dani’s a great asset to the team. Her aggressiveness on the field and quickness to the ball is incredible and has proved very helpful, especially in our last
game,” said teammate Katy Morrison. Gendron looks forward to a successful girl’s soccer season as well as continuing her journey with the Mexican Women’s National hockey team.
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LFA serves up a new sport By Peter Corsiglia News Editor For the first time in its 159-year history, LFA has a badminton team. The Girls Varsity Badminton team is a new addition to the list of spring sports this year. The team has around 20 members and is coached by Mr. Andrew Poska, Mrs. Jennifer Madeley, and Mrs. Ivy Jiang. Last academic year, badminton was an option for girls to fulfill a fitness requirement in the spring season. According to Ailey Fang, a sophomore on the badminton team, approximately 10 students showed up every weekend to play badminton for fun. “I’m glad they made badminton a sport,” stated Fang about spring sport selections. This year, however, the Girls Varsity Badminton team will play against junior varsity teams from high schools in the surrounding area. Nine games, all away, have already been scheduled against teams like New Trier H.S. and Lake Forest H.S. According to Poska, it was fairly easy to schedule games due to the popularity of badminton in the North Shore. Team practices are held after school on G-days and Saturdays, and last about a half an hour. The practices take place in the Glore Gymnasium, where courts are taped off and badminton nets are set up. The team also utilizes practice space in the back of the Mackenzie Ice Arena. Because of the extra set-up time needed for practice, there are two team
managers who will help the team all season. The two managers, Clint Shi and Jimmy Liu, are boys who had interest and experience in badminton and who wanted to help out the team. “The coaches are all very supportive, and the managers are really experienced, so we have a good balance of both,” said player Angela Zhao about the team practices. “It runs really smoothly.” According to Poska, the three coaches will be “taking an equal role” in coaching the team. Although Poska has never coached badminton before, he has coached Tennis at LFA, and has experience in squash and other racket sports. He says there are many reasons to be excited for the season and that it will be fun to see what happens. “We will be learning from some of the more seasoned members of the team as much as they learn from us,” mentioned Poska. Many players on the team, such as Fang, are experienced and have been playing badminton from a young age, while some have never played before. For this reason, players have been divided into two groups based on skill level to help practices run more smoothly. Fang believes that after a few practices, all members of the team have been improving. Team practices are both challenging and fun for the players, and many enjoy the laid-back atmosphere of the team. Zhao commented that having three coaches allows for more efficient practices. Fang likes the fact that practices
“If we generate enthusiasm for the sport and for the group, then I think that we will have
Photo By Arthur He
Sophomore Ailey Fang and senior Janice Wang pose for a photo at a game at Glenbrook North High School.
balance training and workout portions with racquet skills. Badminton is less time consuming than most team sports at LFA, which have daily practices. Zhao says that the team is also less stressful and more fun and laid back than other teams she has played on before. “The few practices are really fun and it is not as much stress as a lot of other teams,” said Zhao. Both Poska and Zhao are looking forward to the season and seeing the im-
provement of the players. No cuts were made for the team in its inaugural season because cutting players was not consistent with the coaches’ intention in this “developmental” year. Poska calls the team “positive and hard-working” and hopes the team will continue to build and impove in future years. “If we generate enthusiasm for the sport and for the group, then I think that we will have done our jobs,” concluded Poska.
done our jobs.”
-Coach Poska Photo By Arthur He
Ailey Fang and Janice Wang line up for a serve in a doubles match at Glenbrook North High School. They are the top doubles pair for this year’s team.
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Alumnus David Levine finds speed in NASCAR racing career
Photo courtesy of davidlevineracing.com
Levine racing in his Lira Motorsports Ford Fusion at Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis. He finished the season fifth in the standings overall and first among rookies.
By Hunter Wolff Features Editor Every year Lake Forest Academy sees student athletes go off to play collegiate sports. However, in 2011, LFA saw one of its student athletes choose a less traveled path after high school. While attending Furman University, David Levine pursued a career as a professional racecar driver. Now driving in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (one of the top three levels of NASCAR), the Highland Park native has come a long way since his time at LFA. Not only has he made his way through the racing industry by being fast on the track, but also by being physically and mentally fit. Levine’s racing career began much earlier than most people even have their first job. While studying at LFA, David was racing in the Skip Barber Mazda MX-5 Winter Series, a series known to breed some of the United State’s best drivers. While managing his school work and spending his weekends at race tracks all over the country, he placed fourth nationally in the MX5 series two years in a row. “As long as my work got done on time or I handed it in when I got back, it was fine,” said Levine. “The hardest part was preparing for finals while at the track and trying to focus on going fast.” Despite common misconceptions, driving fast is no easy task. Racing does not simply involve sitting in a seat, putting your foot down on the gas, and turning left. Racecar drivers undergo incredible forces on their bodies during a race. In the corners or under heavy braking, drivers can
experience anywhere from two to six G’s of force (depending on the racing series) on their bodies. This means that the force on the driver’s body is equal to twice his weight if there were two G’s of force applied. As a racecar driver, one must do extensive strength and conditioning workouts to have the stamina to race for long periods of time. “It takes a lot to be a top-tier racecar driver,” said Levine. “In order to be able to focus on racing and making our cars faster, we cannot be focused on how tired we get in the car during the race. In order to overcome that, drivers must be in great physical shape.” On top of the physical endurance required to handle a racecar, Levine must also pay
attention to several commonly overlooked aspects of racing. Many of the challenges are mental and require 100% focus inside the car, or else, he could risk losing the race. “In my car, there are 10-15 gauges and switches that I must monitor all race long and make sure the engine temperatures and oil pressure are correct so I can actually finish the race,” said Levine. As if that wasn’t enough to manage, there’s more. Levine must be on the limit of performance while also making sure not to push too hard and crash. In a single race he could be sharing the track with 30 to 40 other cars, filling his mirrors on either side. Passing is quite difficult in motorsport and David knows the importance of choosing
the right time to pass, making the move, and getting on with his race. To cap it all off, try doing this all at 185 mph. Levine has accomplished a lot already in his young career. After finishing the past season in the ARCA (a feeder series to NASCAR) fifth in the standings and the first among all other rookies, Levine earned his big promotion to the NASCAR series. Looking forward, he hopes to have a shot at the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, the top level within NASCAR. However, as long as he finds happiness racing in some capacity, Levine believes that would be the best future for him. “My goal in life is to be happy and racing makes me happy,” said Levine.
Photo courtesy of davidlevineracing.com Photo courtesy of davidlevineraicng.com
David posing with his ARCA Series racecar.
Levine pulls into his pit-box for refuelling and a new set of tires. A good pit-stop for his team would see him in and out in just 12 seconds.