The Spectator January 2015

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S P E C TAT O R

VOLUME 93 NUMBER 4

1500 WEST KENNEDY ROAD, LAKE FOREST, IL 60045

Featured Stories NEWS From Caxy to convict: Christopher Wheeler sentenced to up to 50 years in prison

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NEWS LFA sees a record number of Early Action applicants in senior class

page 2 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Into the Woods big-screen debut impresses the LFA community

page 12 OP-ED All-girls fitness sparks debate at LFA

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SPORTS B-team strives for improvement through new PE basketball program

page 15 SPORTS Z makes a splash with LFA swimming

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JANUARY 30, 2015

New IT Director hopes to take a mega bite out of LFA’s internet issues

By Michael Phillips Managing Editor

It has happened to everyone: a productive study session goes awry as your iPad disconnects from the Internet, leaving you in the dark, or slow download speeds stop you from working entirely. While these issues are certainly frustrating to students, they are frustrating and complicated to LFA systems administrators as well.

These issues are being addressed and have seen substantial improvements in just the seven weeks that new Information Technology Director Chris Kozlov has been at LFA. With more than 20 years of professional experience in the IT departments at other venues, Kozlov is in the process of addressing the problems that plague students and faculty, and he will hopefully have some solutions in the coming weeks.

“The first portion of my job is to ‘try to grab hold of the low-hanging fruit’, if you will, and find the biggest problems first,” said Kozlov. “The biggest problem with the Academy [Internet] was on the faculty side with email.”

Kozlov explained that faculty members were transitioned to G-mail over the course of Winter Break. With that completed, Kozlov is now turning his attention to the problems with Wi-Fi and the Internet as a whole at LFA. “In total, before I came here, we had 100 megabits [of bandwidth] for everyone,” said Kozlov. “That is the equivalent of you and two of your buddies if you have Comcast at your homes. We have 600 people to provide access for, so we have to find that perfect balance. That is where we are going to have a lot of conversations with AT&T and Comcast [in the next 30-45 days].”

Photo by Michael Phillips According to TechTarget.com, bandwidth is often referred to as a synonym for data IT Director Mr. Christopher Koslov, shown above, works with LFA’s servers. transfer rate, and it is the amount of data derstand and doc it 10% for being late—it that can be carried from one point to anothsucks.” er in a given amount of time. A good analoKozlov does acknowledge that students gy to use to understand bandwidth is that of can at times be upset, as it can be frustrata bathtub. If a small drain is at the bottom ing when things do not go accordingly. of the tub, then water will drain slowly. If “If I was in your shoes I would feel the there is a wider drain, then water will exit same way if I did not know what exactly the tub at a faster rate. Think of the wider was going on,” said Kozlov. drain as having more bandwidth.

What is important for students to know, “I do not have a problem [with the Inaccording to Kozlov, is that improvements ternet] right now but every now and then to both short-term and long-term issues are “There have been countless times that it gets really, really bad and really, really on the way. slow and my laptop and iPod do not con- the Wi-Fi at LFA has completely ruined “I have experience in these types of probmy life,” said junior Joyce Caldwell. “Esnect to it,” said senior Calum Bishop. lems and the [IT] group is ready to address While some students do not get too upset pecially when turning in papers...the Wi-Fi them,” said Kozlov. “It just takes time like over the Internet situation, others are less is always down and I am not able to print anything else.” out my paper and then teachers don’t unforgiving.

“There have been countless times that the Wi-Fi at LFA has completely ruined my life,” said junior Joyce Caldwell.

THE SPECTATOR

News

2

World News Roundup Compiled by Jason Lee News Editor

Gas Prices:

By Julia Mills News Editor

Paris terror attack rattles world In the last few weeks, a total of 17 people were killed in Paris, France in three terror attacks. On January 7th, two masked gunmen went into the office of a French satire magazine, Charlie Hebdo, and killed 12 people. The gunmen killed one worker in the lobby. They opened in the magazine office, killing 11 people including the editor-in-chief, cartoonists, and the bodyguard of the editor-in-chief, asking for specific names before the shooting. On January 8th, a French policewoman was gunned down, and on January 9th, a terrorist seized a Jewish grocery store, killing four hostages. Charlie Hebdo has had a history of depicting Mohammed, often in a disrespectful light. Since any images or depictions of Mohammed are regarded as blasphemy in Islam, experts suspect that the terrorists had an intention to avenge the Prophet Mohammed.

In response to the terror attacks, people are protesting with the slogan, “Je suis Chalie”, endorsing freedom of speech and showing worldwide solidarity against the attacks.

Source: CNN.com

Many members of the Lake Forest Academy community commute to school each morning, a trip that can sometimes last more than an hour and be quite costly. For those who drive on a daily basis the recent drop in gas prices is something worth celebrating. Prices have dropped dramatically in the past few months throughout the nation, reaching an average retail price of $2.26 per gallon, a price that hasn’t been seen since May of 2009. This lessened cost of gasoline has significantly benefited LFA students and faculty who drive to school every day.

“The gas price change has dramatically affected my commute,” said English teacher Emily Asher.

Asher is just one of many commuting LFA community members. Her daily trip of 33 miles to school each morningnd back home each afternoon originally could cost up to $88 a week in gas. However, the recent drop has allowed Asher to spend almost half that amount on weekly gas prices.

“I filled up my gas tank and it was only $35, while at the start of the year it was over $50,” said junior Shai Kiven.

The pricing of gasoline has been dropping for more than 100 days and is currently down an average of 39%. The AAA Mo-

JANUARY 30, 2015

Pumping up day students’ wallets

tor Club states that this cut has given more than $14 billion of disposable income to consumers throughout the nation and predicts if the oil prices stay relatively low the average American can expect to save $234 on gasoline by this time next year. These numbers can majorly benefit LFA community members, as approximately 230 students either drive themselves or receive a ride to school each day. LFA’s diverse community has students who drive each day from as far away as Evanston. These commutes can sometimes be more than 30

miles away and can be quite expensive by week’s end.

Experts are attributing the recent dramatic cut to greater oil production in the United States. In general the global supply is higher than the demand, which helps to decrease the price per barrel. In fact 18 states now have gas priced at less than $2 per gallon, a fee that may drop even further.

If these prices continue to drop or remain constant the economic and enviornmental benefits for LFA students and faculty will be huge.

Photo courtesy of hamptonroads.com

Gas prices throughout the country continue to drop, in some cases as low as $2.00.

Record numbers apply Early Action Photo courtesy of Our Tribune Services French President François Hollande and German Prime Minister Angela Merkel march through Paris in memory of those who died.

162 people die in AirAsia crash The AirAsia QZ8501, carrying 162 people from Surabaya, Indonesia to Singapore disappeared on December 28th, 2014, and was found to have crashed into the Java Sea off Borneo, Indonesia.

The plane left Surabaya at 5:35 A.M. local time. About 40 minutes after takeoff, at 6:18am, the plane disappeared from the air traffic control center’s radar. There are still speculations about the cause of the crash. An Indonesian weather agency has said that bad weather would have been the biggest factor in the crash since according to the airline, the plane had requested a deviation from the usual flight path because of the weather conditions. Some wreckage of the plane and bodies were found floating about 10 miles away from the plane’s last know coordinates. So far, bodies of 40 passengers have been found intact, and their bodies are being transported to Surabaya where DNA sampling will be used to identify them.

Source: BBC.com

By Jason Lee News Editor Last semester a record number of LFA students applied to colleges using Early Decision, Early Action, or Rolling Decision. School officials estimated that almost 40 percent of the senior class applied to select colleges Early Decision, and almost 90 percent utilized one form of early application to at least one college.

“When I first got here, a quarter of the school applied Early Decision,” said Dean of College Counseling Andrew Poska. “It pushed up last year to 30 percent or so, and this year it was closer to 40 percent of the class applying Early Decision.”

The Early Decision policy is a binding commitment whereby students apply by either the November 1st or the November 15th deadline. Once they get admitted, around the middle of December, they are bound to attend that institution. According to Poska, it has been found harder for students who get deferred in Early Decisions to get admitted in the Regular Decisions, since “Regular Decision pools tend to be little bit larger and more competitive.”

Another admission procedure that is similar to Early Decision policy, but has one critical difference, is the Early Action policy. Even though Early Action applicants might hear a bit later from the colleges than the Early Decision applicants, students apply following a similar deadline.

“If they are accepted they can keep the admission tickets in their back pockets and don’t have to enroll at the school until the National Deadline for College Admission Deposits (May 1st),” said Poska.

Not bound to the one college they are admitted to, the Early Action applicants get to have more freedom regarding which college to attend.

The Rolling Decision policy allows students to apply as early as August or September. This policy is generally utilized by large public schools, and once the students have applied, they will hear back from the colleges in four to six weeks. This policy is also not a binding policy. There are also about 25 schools nationwide that offer an Early Decision-To policy, where the students have the same deadline as a Regular Decision, but will hear back in early February. Students are bound to this decision.

In addition to the 40 percent of the students who applied Early Decision, when the students applying Early Action and Rolling Decision are taken into account, about 90 percent of LFA seniors submitted applications to at least one school. This 90 percent, according to Poska, “is a significant number”.

“They are getting a better understanding of what they want, and what they like, and their priorities for college experience earlier on,” explained Poska about the increase in the number of students applying earlier.

He also explained that this phenomenon was “somewhat of a reaction to the fact that colleges and universities are taking a larger percentage of their class Early Decision”. When he first started, schools took no more than a third of its students through Early Decision, but now some school have pushed towards 50 percent of their students being admitted Early Decision.

Based on the results so far, the Class of 2015 has a 63-percent admit rate, which, according to Poska is a good number.

“We are proud of the fact that 91 students of the Senior class have at least one college option,” said Poska.

THE SPECTATOR JANUARY 30, 2015

News

3

What determines a snow day?

Dr. Strudwick reveals

By India Shelley Arts and Entertainment Editor

At Lake Forest Academy, students are used to a wide range of unpredictable Chicago weather. From 100º temperatures to five feet of snow, LFA students have seen it all. While schools in other, warmer, states will cancel with three inches of snow, it takes very severe weather for a Chicago school to cancel, especially a boarding school like LFA. “We don’t have students that have to walk blocks to school, or take public transportation,” says Dean of Students Chris Tennyson, “and so by not having either of those things for the significant body of our community, we feel that we can go forward with school (in extreme weather).”

The majority of LFA students are either dropped off less than a minute walk from the academic buildings, or they live on campus. Only a small percentage of students use the parking lots and have to walk a short distance to buildings.

“It does make it quite a different decision from public schools; obviously when they have people waiting for buses, and they have problems with the bus companies themselves,” explained Head of School Dr. John Strudwick, “so we are very different from that.”

Together, Tennyson and Strudwick examine the weather forecast, predict road conditions, and make decisions about keeping

school open, based on those predictions.

They rely very little on whether other local public and private schools are closing.

Tennyson feels that safety is the main priority of the administration, but he understands that many LFA students would rather risk weather conditions to get to school than miss a day of classes.

“One day isn’t going to be the end,” said Tennyson, “and our faculty are so caring, and so understanding, that on those days, they have to be even more so, and they will always do what they need to do to catch people up.”

A full cancelation of school at LFA is very rare. Instead, the administration calls for a “Technology at Home Day,” where teachers email students work to do, instead of coming to school. They are able to stay at home, safe from the elements. This is so that work is still accomplished, but no one’s safety is put at risk in compromising conditions.

“It is rare that we would fully cancel school. Given everyone has an iPad, we can do all of the classes electronically,” said Strudwick.

The only occasion when LFA fully cancels classes and all activities is for a Head of School Day, when Strudwick decides that the entire LFA community “needs a break.” There is one of these days every year, it is usually in the second semester; however, it is rarely held due to issues with the weather.

Graph by India Shelley

This graph shows the comparison of winter temperatures from both last year (2013-2014) and this year (2014-2015). The x-axis shows what month and the y-axis show the average tempereature.

Photo by Tori Koontz

Dr. Strudwick sits and talks with The Spectator about his snow-day policies.

Far cry from a Polar Vortex: Warmer winter weather in store for 2015 school year

By Tori Koontz News Editor It has become very apparent that the winter chill has set in for this year. Within a week after many schools on the North Shore and Chicago returned from break, a vast majority were cancelling classes, for numerous days in some cases, due to subzero temperatures and unsafe driving conditions. According to many sources, including the Weather Channel, this winter is relatively warm, especially considering the weather conditions last year at this time.

“Last year was colder earlier and stayed colder longer, which had a more severe effect on our buildings… [Facilities] went through a considerably greater amount of salt and snow removing crystals than we have this year,” said Chief Administrative Officer Andrew Kerr.

Regardless of the predicted mildness of this winter, LFA facilities are well-prepared. So far, 26 tons of road salt have been ordered (compared to 78 tons used last year). One of the biggest priorities every winter is Caxy Drive, the only road to and from campus, so that students and teachers drive can arrive safely.

The facilities crew is also prepared to offer van shuttles from dorms and parking lots to the main academic buildings, as they have

been doing for the last several winters. This is done in an attempt to keep walking students as warm and safe as possible, especially once temperatures drop below zero.

“When we get a lot of snow over a long period of time… our challenge gets to be when we’re trying to ensure that the campus roads and sidewalks are clear,” said Mrs. Kelly Mede, director of facilities.

Winter presents many challenges for everyone in terms of travel and safety. However, the facilities crew at LFA is always aiming to tame the harsh conditions and make everyone on campus more comfortable. According to Mede, there have been instances in the past where facilities members have stayed on campus until as early as 3:00 AM, or even all night, trying to clear snow or remove ice.

“Facilities has an experienced crew... they know the campus, they know what’s expected, and they know what needs to be done,” commented Kerr.

Although this winter has been much milder in comparison to last year, it’s not over yet. Sources such as the Farmer’s Almanac predict more snow and cold temperatures for the first half of February.

“I think there’s more cold coming, because historically February seems to be our coldest month…we just need to continue to monitor the snow that we get,” said Mede.

THE SPECTATOR 4

News

From Caxy to convict:

By Kristen Van Tine Managing Editor

Former LFA Assistant Headmaster Christopher Wheeler was found guilty of 25 counts of child pornography by a Delaware court last December. Each of the convictions requires a minimum two-year prison term, so Wheeler will be behind bars for at least 50 years.

Wheeler left LFA in late 2004 for a position as headmaster at Tower Hill School, which is a prestigious private school founded by members of the du Pont family in Delaware. The former LFA administrator worked here for 14 years prior to accepting the Tower Hill School headmaster position.

Allegations of child sexual abuse that were made against Wheeler led the police to search his home and office at Tower Hill in 2013 for evidence of witness tampering or intimidation. While no evidence of child sexual abuse was found from the search, the police did find evidence of child pornography—more than 2,000 child pornographic images were found on Wheeler’s laptop. A Delaware State Police officer testified that Wheeler had subscribed to online newsgroups involved in child pornography and that Wheeler tried to scrub

JANUARY 30, 2015

Former Dean of Students sentenced up to 50 years

his laptop when the police closed in on him. Wheeler resigned from Tower Hill School in October 2013. Since his arrest, Wheeler has been imprisoned. His bail was set at $1.5 million in cash.

Superior Court Judge Eric Davis said the evidence indicated that Wheeler had actively looked for and downloaded images of child porn on his computer.

“Mr. Wheeler developed a pattern of browsing for child pornography,” Davis said.

According to the court’s records, in response to a letter from a Pennsylvania man that asked Wheeler to make amends for alleged child abuse, Wheeler admitted wrongdoing.

“I did those things. I am the one responsible,” Wheeler wrote, according to court documents. “I will not compound your pain by attempting to deny or in any way deflect responsibility for my actions 35 years ago. I’ll wait to hear from you about further appropriate steps towards resolution and restitution.”

Wheeler has actually never been charged with sexual abuse of any kind, although he acknowledged allegations by the Pennsylvania man and his own adopted son has accused him of abuse.

LFA responded to the news by alerting

alumni of the Wheeler conviction. Headmaster Dr. John Strudwick sent an e-mail to former students who attended LFA at the same time as Wheeler worked in the school.

“We put out an e-mail to alumni on December 21 asking alumni to come forward with any information that they feel the police should know,” said Dean of Communi-

cations Catherine Morrison.

So far, none of the alumni have reported anything to LFA or the authorities.

“A couple of alumni said they were sorry to hear that we’ve had to go through this and said they were glad that the academy was forthcoming and transparent about what was happening and what the outcomes were,” said Morrison.

police,” said Bucks.

The Kenilworth Police Department has not made any changes to their operations since the shootings, because they feel their procedures are already effective and professional.

Recent legislation passed by the Illinois House and Senate has added to this controversy by banning citizen recordings of encounters with the police. Local officers assure that it will not pose a problem since interactions are visually and audibly

recorded by police. The new legislation seems to limit rights, however, the law is in place so that it is illegal only when recording begins to interfere with an arrest.

It exists to allow police to carry out their intended arrests.

While it is uncommon for police shootings to occur on the North Shore, one shooting took place in Highland Park on November 3, 2014. The police shot suspect Christopher Anderson who was armed at Highland Park Hospital, after he pulled

out a handgun and was told repeatedly to put his gun down.

Many hope that relationships between the public and police will improve on a national level, though the current situation is a complicated one.

“It’s so complicated because really it depends on the citizen’s perspective,” said Bucks. “If people have had favorable interactions with police officers, generally they’re supportive (of the police). And that’s generally the case here on the North Shore.”

Specifically in high crime and high drug areas, there is a general mistrust that has existed over many years. It became especially evident when cases such as the deaths of Eric Garner and Michael Brown sparked protests nationally and around the world. Tensions were raised when Officers Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos were killed. It seems as though these issues are difficult to talk about with each other, and discussions remain taboo.

“I think relationships have to improve, but I think it has to come from both sides,” said Bucks. “I don’t believe there should be violence from the police side either.”

The Spectator also contacted the Lake Forest and High Park police for this story but they did not respond or denied requests for interviews.

Photo courtesy of nbcphiladelphia.com

Christopher Wheeler made national news headlines for his arrest to his conviction.

Local officer responds to national media

By Catherine Kvam News Editor Cases such as Michael Brown and Eric Garner, as well as the shooting of Officers Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos, have sparked a national debate and controversy over the current relationship between the public and the police in America. The Spectator took the opportunity to speak with a local police officer from the Kenilworth Police Department to gain an understanding of his position on these issues.

The death of Michael Brown, and the national attention drawn by the case, was a good place to start the discussion. “[My reaction] was mixed, because when I heard about the death at that point I had no idea really what happened,” said Kenilworth Officer Holger Bucks, who has been an officer for 29 years. “It always seems at least early on you hear conflicting stories. My main objective was I wanted to know what really happened.”

The death led to many protests nationwide and a shift in the overall public view of the police. Responses seemed to differ based on an individual’s previous encounters with police officers, though officers are aware of this change as a whole.

“I think it’s a matter of perspective: who we are and how we have been dealt with by

Photo courtesy of www.kenilworthpd.org

Officer Bucks instructs a class of 2nd graders on the importance of bike safety.

THE SPECTATOR JANUARY 30, 2015

Features

5

Ebola outbreak threatens world chocolate supply

By Matt Filip Senior Op-Ed Editor

There is currently not enough chocolate in the world to meet demand. Barring major changes, there will not be in the near future, either. That may mean higher prices at Sonia’s.

The Ebola epidemic in West Africa is the reason. According to the Chicago Tribune, the world is currently one million tons short of cocoa. By 2030 the shortfall is projected to double. Relatively stagnant production combined with increased demand from the newly wealthy in areas such as India and China present a bleak outlook for chocolate lovers.

Current annual cocoa production stands somewhere around three-to-four million tons, mostly from West Africa, although Oceania and South America also contribute. The cocoa tree cannot economically be grown anywhere else, which raises a serious problem. If even one of those regions loses a large portion of its crop, the world market will take a huge hit, and chocolate prices around the world (and at Sonia’s) will increase.

According to experts, compounding this is the extreme difficulty of breeding cocoa trees, which take nearly a decade to mature. Breeding better plants may offer a long-term solution, but the foreseeable future the world market operates under the constant specter of a worker shortage or an

invasive fungal disease damaging crops.

If demand outpaces supply prices will rise. Indeed, cocoa prices are through the roof. A ton of cocoa beans cost around $1,670 a decade ago. At present day it would cost $2,358, with prices having gone as high as $3,500/ton in the winter of 2009. Simple economics would hold that the producers of cocoa should be receiving more than ever for their crop and have every incentive to make more. The only issue is that that is not happening.

According to the British newspaper The Guardian a cocoa farmer can expect to see 3.5-6% of the final value of a chocolatbar, down dramatically for the 17% they earned

in the late eighties. Even with the increase in cost of cocoa the farmer earns less now than he would have decades ago. Predictably manufacturers and retailers have benefitted from this.

The net effect does not look good for the long term future of cocoa farming. Farming communities tend to be impoverished, leading to poor living conditions for farmers, outdated and ineffective farming methods, and an overall net loss in productivity. To say nothing of the potential future effects climate change, disease or unrest could have on cocoa growing regions.

With rapidly rising costs and a dim long term prognosis how have companies re-

sponded? One common tactic is to sell smaller candy bars for the same price as before. Tom Wenman, LFA’s Director of Purchasing, has noticed this with the snacks sold at Sonia’s.

“I noticed that the UPC code for Butterfinger had changed, and when I took a look I realized that the size of the Butterfinger, of the candy bar, had gone down. It had gone from 2.1 ounces to 1.9 ounces. It’s getting to be a common tactic by vendors, instead of raising the price they give you less for the same amount.”

The long term future of chocolate is not the sunniest, perhaps we should enjoy the 1.9 ounce bars while we still have them.

Photo courtesy of politico.com

West African countries were by far the hardest hit by Ebola. In the wake of the tragedy, chocolate production has plummeted worldwide.

Arts concentration program junior girls take their talents to Broadway

By Aban Yaqub Senior Features Editor Rejoice, surprise, and excitement were just a few of the words a group of LFA girls used recently to describe their reactions upon learning that they had been admitted to a select training internship for Broadway theater in The Big Apple next summer. Juniors Kendall Logan, Sophia Platcow, and Aggie Walgreen will be attending a week-long seminar hosted by the Open Jar Institute in New York City and co-sponsored by Carthage College, where they will be taken under the wing of Broadway professionals to enhance their singing, dancing, and acting talents.

As they are each enrolled in the Arts Concentration program at LFA, they are very excited about a summer internship which aims to help aspiring actors, singers, and musicians alike to sharpen their theatric and artistic potential. The program’s master classes, nightly Broadway show viewings, and final performance will be ideal summer fare for the LFA trio.

Mrs. Peg Plambeck, who has served as the LFA Adjunct Instructor in the Performing Arts for the past seven years, and also currently works with Carthage College, introduced students in the Arts Concentra-

tion program to the opportunity to attend the workshop. The Open Jar Institute hosted auditions for the July seminar at various schools and others institutions throughout the nation, and Carthage College happened to be an audition location. As a concurrent

liaison between Lake Forest Academy and Carthage College, Plambeck notified students, including those to whom she gives voice lessons, who were likely to be interested in the opening.

“Taking voice lessons with Mrs. Plam-

Photo courtesy of Mr. Tim Plambeck

Kendall Logan ‘16 (left) and Aggie Walgreen ‘16 (center) imitate dance routines at Carthage.

beck helped me build character for my [song],” Platcow said.

The program is highly selective, as it only has 60 slots each for the hundreds who audition nationwide for the three seminars held over the course of the summer: two are designated for high school students, and the other for college students. Logan, Platcow, and Walgreen entered the process as a chance to grow as artists, whether or not they were accepted into the program.

The nature of the selection process meant they were competing against one another.

“In order to make it in this business, you have to be confident no matter what. All of it is about how you carry yourself,” Logan commented.

The audition entailed contestants completing a series of activities for the judges to gauge the girls’ current standing, such as priming their vocals, practicing dance routines, and singing.

“I don’t care if I’m a plant, I’ll be the best plant I can be,” said Walgreen, emphasizing her passion for acting.

While Logan hopes to pursue a career in singing, and Walgreen prefers the acting component of her experience. Platcow believes she will attempt to grow in both areas.

THE SPECTATOR

Features

6

JANUARY 30, 2015

Charlie Hebdo attack in Paris, France:

Sparks discussion at LFA and around the world

By Jordan Wolff Editor-in-Chief The attack on the offices of Charlie Hebdo has triggered numerous discussions at Lake Forest Academy, like the All School Meeting held two weeks ago. The purpose of the meeting was to give everyone a basic understanding of the event and then pose questions regarding the issues surrounding the attack. LFA students saw the value of the discussion and enjoyed being informed of world news.

“I believe talks like the one at All School Meeting are needed in order to create students who think about the world on a global scale. We should definitely continue these talks with the same type of venue,” said Senior Alec Mesrobian.

The worldwide media has outlined in great detail how two masked gunmen recently walked into the offices of Charlie Hebdo and killed eight members of the paper, two police officers, a caretaker, and a visitor. Jokes and depictions of Islamic leaders and the prophet Muhammad were believed to be the principal motive for the attack.

Charlie Hebdo is a satirical weekly French newspaper that presents jokes, cartoons, and other satirical works. The newspaper has created a lot of controversy since it began in 1969. In 2006 the newspaper was unsuccessfully sued by Islamic organizations for publishing a series of editorial cartoons featuring Muhammad. Then, in 2011 the newspaper published an issue that showed Muhammad on the cover saying, “100 lashes if you don’t die of laughter!”

At the time, the newspaper’s office was fire bombed and its website was hacked.

In certain interpretations of Islam, any depiction of the prophet Muhammad is forbidden. Many Muslims that follow a stricter interpretation of the supplemental teachings to the Quran will challenge any

depiction of Muhammad. The recent attack was believed to be in retaliation for the newspaper’s depiction of Muhammad.

In the aftermath of the attack, French President François Hollande declared January 8th as an official day of mourning. On January 11th, up to two million people, and

40 world leaders led a “unity rally” to show unity after the attack. In total, 3.7 million people participated in demonstrations nationwide.

The Lake Forest Academy community has also addressed the attacks. On Thursday January 15 the community convened

Photo courtesy of Le Parisien

The slogan “Je Suis Charlie”, or “I am Charlie”, has radiated throughout the world with variants in multiple languages.

Photo courtesy of Kathy Morrison

Ms. Kristine Von Ogden expresses her views about the attacks at an All School Meeting.

Photo courtesy of NY Daily News

World leaders join hands at a march in support of Charlie Hebdo.

for an All School Meeting to address the Five W’s of the event: The Who, What, Where, When, and most importantly the Why. Assistant Dean of Students Kristine Von Ogden, who lived in France for many years, led the meeting.

“The meeting, in a sense, is like a global curriculum. Everyone in the community has equal access to important matters and to give everyone baseline knowledge of the event. And then everyone can have informed discussions and form informed opinions, and then hopefully take action,” said Von Ogden.

Von Ogden believes this issue is a catalyst to start these types of discussions. Everyone was already talking about the attack and students were being bombarded by it through social media and the news.

“The fact that the conversations were already there meant that we needed to build upon that momentum,” said Von Ogden.

“The event isn’t limited just to the immediate individuals and events, everyone’s effected by the event differently.”

LFA students also thought the meeting was beneficial and productive.

“I liked especially how it was structured, and that we asked why and left it ambiguous and had many opinions,” said senior Lander Braggs. “I also liked how it was kept factual and made people aware of the things that are happening and how it affects different people. This event was definitely beneficial for everyone; everyone was paying attention and could learn something from it.”

The terrorist group Al-Qaeda has claimed responsibility for the attack. The shooters, brothers Cherif and Said Kouachi, terrorized the country of France for three days, leading police on a chase through the outskirts of Paris and eventually a final standoff at a printing firm called Creation Tendance Decouverte.

Photo courtesy of The Press and Journals

Charlie Hebdo attack protests gain speed around the world. The above is a Scottish protest.

THE SPECTATOR JANUARY 30, 2015

Features

7

Kitestring keeps you anchored in dangerous areas

By Sophie Hanson Senior Features Editor Kitestring is not technically an app. It is an internet service that can be accessed from any computer or smart phone, which is part of the appeal.

“It’s helpful that it’s web-based, so it will work on any smart phone,” said senior Darlene Ineza.

Kitestring is a web service that was created to help men and women who are walking through dangerous neighborhoods alone arrive at their destination safely. The solo walker must simply create an account online using their phone number and a password of their choice. Then they enter one or more emergency contacts. Before going out alone, the user must simply log into their Kitestring account and ask for the service to check on them in 5 minutes, 15 minutes, 30 minutes, or longer if they so choose. Kitestring will then send a text message to the user at the chosen interval to which they must respond. If the user misses an interval, Kitestring will automatically alert the previously chosen emergency contact(s), and ask them to contact the solo tripper, or the police. The Kitestring user can personalize the message sent to their contact(s) to include their exact location and destination.

“I think it’s a great idea,” said senior Ella Lin. “I would definitely consider using it, especially in college.”

Kitestring has two levels of service. The first level is free, and allows for 8 monthly trips and one emergency contact. The second level is $3 per month, allows for 3 emergency contacts, and an unlimited number of solo excursions.

The internet service Kitestring comes in the wake of several other protective apps and services. The app bSafe alerts emergency contacts that the user is in danger when they touch anywhere on the screen.

Similarly, the app Nirbhaya warns emergency contacts that the user is in a dangerous situation when they shake their phone.

The difference between Kitestring and these two useful apps is that Kitestring works through inaction rather than action.

Many find this more appropriate for emergency situations.

Kitestring was created by MIT grad student Stephan Boyer. Boyer created the web service primarily for his girlfriend, who felt unsafe walking home alone through her sketchy San Francisco neighborhood.

The service has since taken off around the country and world, and has protected many men and women.

Boyer told Elle magazine that he was “pleasantly surprised” to discover that Kitestring was being used not only by people walking through dangerous neighborhoods, but by “mountain hikers, real estate agents, the online dating community, and the elderly.”

Photo courtesy of TechCrunch.com

The Kitestring app allows the user to customize check in times and messages to send to emergency contacts.

Caxy Match

Photo taken by Tori Koontz

Photo courtesy of techcrunch.com

The Spectator staff finds that freshman Chris Morrison (left), strongly resembles the mean neighbor from Toy Story, Sid (right).

THE SPECTATOR

Sports

Athletes talk College Recruitment 8

JANUARY 30, 2015

A long road to signing for LFA athletes

By Catherine Kvam News Editor

phy of the school.

“As long as the students are NCAA certified, then academics are less important (in Division I). However...they may not get into the program of their choice,” said Poska.

what it takes to play D1 college soccer,” said Madeley, who mentioned that Brosnahan has her sights set on Division 1 soccer programs.

“I will most likely go D1 just because I have worked my entire life to play soccer

As high school recruits sign commitments to their respective Division I NCAA schools in the next few weeks, the process that athletes took to attain a signed commitment remains just as important as the signature on the page. There is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to a college and student relationship, and the same applies to any college recruitment process for an athlete.

Recruitment usually starts in sophomore or junior year, depending on division, sport, and the individual player’s development, beginning a long process of communication between the coaches and players.

“Every sport is different but to Stephen Payne, a leading scorer for the Caxys, helped lead the team to a 2-1 record in an Evanston tournament. start you need to The biggest difference in recruitment in college and I want to play at the highest have contact with the college so they know where you will be playing,” said Director between Division I and Division III re- level I can, where I can compete the most,” of Athletics Darrin Madeley. “From there, mains the skill level, especially for athletes said Brosnahan, though she does not plan colleges will begin to look into your con- like junior Lydia Brosnahan and senior to commit until March.

Even when committing to a Division 1 Stephen Payne. duct on the field.”

“D1 and D3 levels are both very high school, there is a large discrepancy be “They look for those character things,” said Dean of College Counseling Andrew college levels. The amount of workload tween verbal and signed agreements.

“Verbal commitment is a pledge to a Poska. “If they haven›t seen an athlete and rigor are higher at some D1 levels and play live, then they would probably call vice versa for D3,” said Payne, who is go- school that you are going to go there, but not only the coach at the school or at the ing to UCLA. “In my opinion the biggest is not binding,” explained History Teacher club but then call probably a coach in the difference is that D1 programs set players Matt Vaughn. “It helps sort out the process up more for a professional career if they early for D1 teams and tell other recruits league.” who they think is coming in the future.”

Colleges also look into academic success want it.”

Since it is not binding, colleges or athin high school as well, to make sure ath- “Athletes like Stephen Payne and Lydia letes are a good fit for the academic rigor Brosnahan have had schools watching their letes are able to back out. Verbal commitof the institution. The stress placed on ac- club team since freshman year and now as ments have become more common and are ademics, however, depends on the philoso- a junior and a senior they see that they have used more often by colleges, but usually

they do not want to earn a reputation for consistently dropping athletes.

However, verbal or signed commitment does not exist in Division 3 athletics, which is a big difference between D1 and D3 recruitment. “[Commitment] does not exist at the D3 level despite what you hear- kids say they have signed with a school in D3, but in reality they have either been accepted by the school’s admissions department or are waiting to hear,” said Vaughn.

Some athletes choose to take more time before they commit to a Division1 school in order to further develop their skills.

“A student like (former LFA hockey player) Matt Ustaski was 19 before Wisconsin gave him the scholarship Photo courtesy of LT Photo because he developed later,” said Madeley.

Division 1 athletes that chose to sign earlier experienced different recruiting processes. For Payne, it started freshman year when coaches started watching him play, yet most offers were not made until junior year, including notable schools such as Wake Forest University and Clemson University.

“At the end of the day it is an honor and a privilege to be able to play in college and have a college that wants you to represent them,” said Madeley. “It doesn’t matter what level. It’s still a select few that get the opportunity, and they should be very proud of the accomplishment.”

THE SPECTATOR

Sports

k recruitment JANUARY 30, 2015

9

Q&A with the future of LFA college athletics

The class of 2015 has the highest number of recruited athletes that Dean of Admissions Andrew Poska has ever seen.

Although the number cannot be confirmed until April, when schools release decisions, Poska speculates that the number could be as high as 21 athletes, or around 20% of graduating seniors. This number excludes those going to junior hockey leagues or other non-college programs.

Spectator managing editor Allison Hechtman went out to interview a few of Lake Forest Academy’s class of 2015 athletes.

Included were Wesley Annan (Stanford football), Malcolm Chaka (Cornell football), Dominic Rowley (Kenyon football), Stephen Payne (UCLA Soccer), Katie Kim (Boston College golf), Ryan Clamage (Rochester basketball), and Liza Tarr (Middlebury softball).

Photo courtesy of Jack Zhong

Chaka joined the football team as a junior and quickly worked to become an asset.

AH: What were the main factors behind choosing between a D1 and a D3 school?

WA: Level of competitiveness.

KK: There aren’t as many D3 golf schools, and almost all large schools are D1, so D3 wasn’t really an option.

LT: D1 is a really big-time commitment, and I want to be able to pursue other things in college, so D3 was a better route for me.

DR: I’ve been accustomed to a small school atmosphere all my life and that continued when I came to LFA. It felt natural to choose a D3 school where I would be able to play football and still receive a very good education.

AH: What do you plan to do after college, either athletically or academically, and how did this affect your decision?

MC: I want to go into law and Cornell has a really good law program that can be pursued even though I’m playing a sport, so the program is a good path for me to participate in everything.

WA: I want to pursue medicine after college, and San Francisco is a scientific and medical hub, so location-wise, Stanford is great for me. Being allowed to play D1 sports and get a degree like that is rare.

KK: I chose Boston College based on the academics mostly, not just because of golf.

I wouldn’t really base my decision off of golf. After college, I probably want to get an MBA before anything, but depending on how I play in college, I might go to qualifying school for golf and go pro.

SP: I’d really like to play professionally in Europe or around here, and UCLA sends a few kids to the [professional soccer] draft every year.

So who’s playing where?

Brandon Amoroso- basketball, DePauw Wesley Annan- football, Stanford University Calum Bishop- soccer, Lehigh University Amanda Bozorgi- field hockey, Middlebury College Malcolm Chaka- football, Cornell University Kristin Chivers- ice hockey, Elmira College Ryan Clamage- basketball, University of Rochester Katie Kim- golf, Boston College Stephen Payne- soccer, Universty of California Los Angeles Diago Quinn- basketball, Monmouth University Jacob Rooth- soccer, Creighton University Dominic Rowley- football, Kenyon College Katy Shadek- ice hockey, St. Olaf College Andrew Strudwick- squash, Dickinson college Liza Tarr- softball, Middlebury College Christian Tchamitchian- football, Claremont McKenna College Carly Thomas- ice hockey, Colby College Dejon Brissett- football, University of Richmond *list is incomplete due to later commitment deadlines for various sports*

Photo courtesy of Cathy Morrison

Photo courtesy of Jack Zhong

Ryan Clamage has averaged about 10 pts per game this season.

Throughout her LFA career, Katie Kim holds the record for most medals.

AH: What sacrifices have you had to make throughout high school in order to pursue your sport?

DR: Several of us have had to sacrifice the opportunity to see our families on a daily basis and I went through a huge cultural change when I came to the U.S. MC: The biggest thing is realizing that you can’t hang out with your friends or go out; instead you have to prepare for games or watch film. I don’t necessarily have time to fool around or relax.

RC: A lot of it is just learning time management.

LT: Malcolm pretty much said it, playing a sport takes up so much time, but at the end of the day, it’s what we love to do and I think almost all athletes would agree with that.

Kim signed her letter of intent for BC in November, and LFA looks forward to football Division I signing day on February 4th.

Signing will be hosted in the Garden Room during break.

Photo courtesy of Cathy Morrison

Dominic Rowley will play as Kenyon’s tight end after his four years as a Caxy.

Photo courtesy of Eric Frystak

Wesley Annan plans to continue wearing number 56 as a Stanford Cardinal.

Photo courtesy of Prescott Balch

While Liza Tarr plays both catcher and short stop for LFA softball, she looks forward to being Middlebury’s catcher.

Can’t make Signing Day? Check out www.caxynews.com for photos

THE SPECTATOR

Opinion and Editorial

10

JANUARY 30, 2015

All-girls fitness room spurs various reactions Pro: Con: Girls-only fitness provides a comfortable environment

By Sophie Hanson Senior Features Editor

Girls-only fitness does not help to increase their confidence.

for LFA’s female population.

If you ask any young woman if she has ever been ogled at in the gym, I can almost guarantee she will say yes. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been running on the treadmill, and have spotted reflected eyes watching me in the Fitness Center’s sprawling windows (do you think we can’t see you?) If I weren’t already red from exertion, I would blush from mortification.

Once a cycle, we girls have no such concerns. Every G-Day, Dr. Stefanie Bator hosts All Girls Gym. For 45 minutes only females are allowed inside LFA’s Fitness Center. Each time I attend I notice more women and girls working out. I can understand their attraction.

All Girls Gym provides a low pressure environment for girls who wish to exercise without drawing unsolicited male attention. Beyond providing a relaxed, safe environment, All Girls Gym also encourages girls to try new forms of training they may have avoided in the past.

I have personally learned to use five different strength machines, practiced boxing, and learned how to do the perfect pull up since the inception of the girls-only gym.

In a coed situation, the social constructs

the genders have jointly crafted tend to push women towards the comfort and simplicity of the cardio machines. Many girls who wish to expand their repertoire feel too embarrassed to ask for assistance when men and boys are dominating the strength machines. Each time Dr. Bator hosts an All Girls Gym, I see more girls drifting over to strength machines, asking how to safely lift weights, and so on. As soon as the boys return, however, they filter back towards the cardio machines and away from the burgeoning crowds around the strength machines.

There has been some push back against All Girls Gym from the male community at LFA. Some students (predominantly males, in my experience) have argued that a period of time that bars males from the gym is unfair. I would argue that it’s unfair that ladies feel forced to seclude themselves in order to get a proper work out. Some have also argued that men too feel pressure to “look good” for the girls in gym, and deserve their own ‘boys only’ gym time. If this rings true among the men and boys of LFA, I encourage you to create your own gym time as Dr. Bator did for us.

Do remember, though, in all likelihood we are not looking at you and are instead focusing on our work out.

Ananta Srivastava ‘18 stays fit by running laps on the treadmill.

Photo by Arthur He

Photo by Amanda Bozorgi

Senior Allison Hechtman poses in the weightroom.

By Allison Hechtman Managing Editor While the new G-day movement of a one-hour all-girls fitness room has noble intent, its implementation has not necessarily been useful. Some problems that are supposedly solved, I understand—boys take up too much space in the free weight area (have you guys ever heard of leg day?) and it’s a bit intimidating to bicep curl with five-pound weights when the person next to you is performing the same exercise but with four times as much weight. There has been backlash from boys (not enough time to do even more bench presses!), but there are true negatives of an all girls’ gym.

In my experience, the main cause for reluctance is simply embarrassment. For some, it is because of weight difference or size difference. Some don’t know how to use the work out machines. Others feel as though they have to compete with the boys for space. While these things are nothing to be ashamed of, it can still feel embarrassing.

The good intentions of an all-girls’ fitness time slot does not teach completely positive habits, however.

It’s important for girls to be able to hold their own in the weight room. If a boy is

taking up too much space, a girl should feel comfortable politely asking them to move.

Boys are not the only people who are sometimes unintentionally inconsiderate in the gym, but many girls are more comfortable speaking up to their own gender. Girls should feel comfortable asking if they can use a machine next, regardless of weight difference.

What I think is most important is for girls to understand is that the number on the weights being used or the number on the scale does not value one’s worth. Being in the fitness room in the first place is admirable. For the people benching 200, they didn’t start off like that. They worked towards a goal, which is what everyone in the weight room does.

I once worked out at school and then did my “arms” work at home. My “wimpy” eight-pound weights embarrassed me. One day, I simply challenged myself to think of a good reason why I shouldn’t do my “arms” work at school -- and there wasn’t one. The people who you might feel are judging you are probably too focused on themselves to care about your workout.

I propose something more helpful -- a G-day event or two where the weight room staff reserves the room for a tutorial, where each machine is explained.

THE SPECTATOR JANUARY 30, 2015

Opinion and Editorial

Editorial: Open the Library!

A controversy has arisen recently regarding the open hours of the school library. The Spectator staff would like to sign a light on this issue and show how a change in operating hours at the library might benefit day students, in particular.

Currently the LFA Library closes right after school at 3:30PM and opens again at 7 P.M. for study hours and the Writing Center. With this schedule, however, a significant amount of day-students are missing the opportunity to stay after school and study in the library. In a recent survey taken by The Spectator, results showed that 108 out of 177 respondents, approximately 61.02%, would use the library after school if it would be kept open for a longer period of time.

The library is a popular place for students to hang out with their friends or study quietly. The quiet setting lets students focus better on the things their work.

Extending the library hours can also be very helpful for students who are working on group projects, (again) especially the day students. The library is an ideal place for students to meet and work on group projects together.

However with the current library hours, it is very difficult for the day students to use the place since they would have to wait until 7 P.M. Leaving the library open after school for a longer period of time would help day students to study and finish their project loads more efficiently.

Another benefit of leaving the library open would be that it is potentially a good site to offer help sessions. LFA currently offers Math help on Mondays and Tuesdays from 8-10 P.M. which again can be a difficult schedule for the day students. If the library were to stay open after school, and if teachers from different departments agree on having help sessions for each subject in the

library, a significant amount of students will be able to benefit from it.

Nearly 84.57% of respondents to our survey agreed that having help sessions in the library right after school would at least be somewhat beneficial. LFA offers students challenging courses and large numbers of students do take on the challenge, but they still need extra help to successfully acquire all the information learned in the classes. With extra help sessions after school, the students will be able to reinforce their knowledge and be able to celebrate their learning more efficiently.

The Spectator believes that leaving the library open longer immediately after school will be beneficial to all students at LFA, especially day students, who will have more chance to study together with their friends and enhance their academic experience at LFA.

Caxy Rant: The myth of open Cressey

By Arthur He Op-Ed Editor I was genuinely shocked when I realized that evening Open Cressey three nights a week was cancelled. The reduction of Open Cressey time greatly affects students who are trying to prepare their art portfolio. Although a supplementary program was introduced at the beginning of the school year, the accessibility of Cressey Center for visual artists is still underwhelming.

The Cressey Center used to be open Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday nights last year. According to Mrs. Monica Palmer, Director of Fine and Performing Arts, Open Cressey is reduced because there was simply not enough supervision in all these areas for students to go during study hours.

“There was a need to have adults in the Media Commons,” said Palmer. “It’s something we didn’t have any control of from our department.”

This is a totally valid reason for the reduction of Open Cressey.

However, many visual artists at the school feel that Open Cressey during the evening is crucial and still much needed. Speaking from personal experience, many of my

T h e L a k e A c a d e m y

11 F o r e s t

S P E C TAT O R

STAFF LIST Editors-in-Chief Managing Editors

News Editors

Senior Features Editors Senior Op-Ed Editor Op-Ed Editors Senior A&E Editor A&E Editor Senior Sports Editor Sports Editor Staff Writer Faculty Adviser

Romaer Chopra Jordan Wolff Amanda Bozorgi Allison Hechtman Michael Phillips Kristen Van Tine Tori Koontz Catherine Kvam Jason Lee Julia Mills Sophie Hanson Aban Yaqub Matt Filip Arthur He Joseph Kim Madison Olivieri India Shelley Ned Kennedy Ryan Wong Brandon Amoroso William Murphy

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 Photo by Arthur He

Cressey Center is immediately locked after school, denying student access.

classmates had trouble finishing the assignments for 2-D studio because Cressey Center is not accessible to most students during study hours anymore. Students whose schedules are filled with sports and extra-curricular activities usually do not have any project time other then the study hours.

The Art Department definitely tried to accommodate those students who have extensive needs to use the studio by creating a special list of students who can use the space during the study hours.

However, I would not say it was a successful program because they never made a clear announcement about the policy.

“I did not know the situation because none of the teachers have spoken to me about it, nor did

anyone make a morning meeting announcement about it,” said senior Sydney Brundige.

Being an artist working intensively in both animation and drawing, Brundige felt she would have utilized the space more if she knew the policy from the beginning of the school year.

Additionally, many students are actually intimidated by the policy because it portrays an elitist image of the art studio, which used to be a cool and relaxing place where students could explore their artist interests.

Hopefully, with more students requesting the evening Open Cressey and the school figuring out how to keep up the adult supervision, Cressey Center could be open to the students again during evening study hours.

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

“By giving us the opinions of the uneducated, journalism keeps us in touch with the ignorance of the community.”

--Oscar Wilde

THE SPECTATOR 12

Arts and Entertainment

Date Night

JANUARY 3O, 2015

With Amanda Bozorgi and Allison Hechtman

A different kind of Valentine’s Day date

By Amanda Bozorgi and Allison Hechtman Managing Editors Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, and the type of anxiety that this holiday can produce is well known. Boys, you know that you have some seriously high expectations to live up to. Every girl out there demands the perfect Valentine’s date. However, do not fret. Your favorite dynamic duo was at it once again, finding the perfect date activities for your special someone or a group of friends!

Allison began the morning over-achieving by throwing pebbles at Amanda’s window. This failed to wake the deep sleeper.

When Mrs. Bozorgi let me into the house, the only thing that could wake Amanda was a tackle from her exuberant dog. Well, it was the thought of a romantic morning that counts.

Breakfast was served at a fan favorite: Egg Harbor. However, we suggest against this on Valentine’s Day due to Egg Harbor’s large weekend crowds. Instead of going out on V-day, nothing could be more romantic than being brought breakfast in bed! However, neither Allison nor Amanda can cook much more than toast.

Because of the intense pressure that

Valentine’ Day sometimes brings, Amanda suggested that this month’s date activity should be something relaxing and fun. And what’s more relaxing and fun than minigolf?

Mini-golf is the perfect date night game.

It’s very accessible, as there are several indoor and outdoor mini-golf locations throughout the North Shore, and unlike the normal game of golf, will not take hours to complete. Thankfully, you also won’t have to deal with caddying multiple clubs.

We decided on going to Rocky’s Fun House in Gurnee because it was close and, more importantly with this weather, indoors. The glow-in-the-dark neon theme was a bit overwhelming to the eyes, but the course was innovative, with different themes and fun challenges. Allison complained about the neon lights, while Amanda quite enjoyed the funky glow. It was agreed, after some bickering, that the neon lights perhaps were “not for everyone.”

It’s unknown who truly won the match because of some purposefully inaccurate stroke recordings (we both are sore losers when it comes to competitions with friends).

Amanda enjoyed the mini golf, but Allison wanted something more romantic. Golf was followed by a late candlelit

lunch of take-home Foodstuffs salads and some sparkling grape juice on the way to Allison’s house. A few pink macaroons were also purchased in lieu of the classic if overused Valentine’s Day chocolate box. All i s o n ’s two dogs brought Amanda stuffed animals as well as lots of tailwags. However, they seemed to mistake the presents for Amanda as being their own tug toys. Half a stuffed animal is still better than no stuffed animal!

After lunch, we watched a movie in front of a romantic, flickering fireplace.As the temperatures dropped drastically and ice has coated every inch of Illinois, it felt great to cozy up in front of the warm fire.

Plus, it’s an easy way to up the romantic factor of any date. Amanda was particularly impressed with Alison’s fire lighting technique. She will be much more confident now if she and Allison are trapped in

Photo by Sydney Doerge

the woods and must light a fire to survive.

After looking through classic and time-honored options of The Notebook, Dear John, and Titanic, we decided on our favorite romantic comedy: American Pie. Surrounded by blankets, candles, and Allison’s dogs, we settled in and prepared ourselves for the tears (of laughter).

American Pie is a cinematic masterpiece. No, maybe not in the way of some of the better known classics, but this film is undeniably hilarious.

It may be a tad crass and perhaps offensive, but even the biggest critic of this movie has to secretly crack a smile while objecting the intense rowdiness. For any boys that will do almost anything to avoid yet another mushy chick flick on this special, romantic day, we whole-heartedly suggest this movie as an alternative. There is a perfect blend of both raucous jokes and dysfunctional romance to satisfy both the teenage boy and girl.

Once the movie ended, Amanda realized that she was absolutely starving. The Foodstuffs salad from earlier had done little to satisfy her formidable hunger. Allison suggested they take a drive to the BurgerFi in Glenview.

Allison immediately decided to order the VegeFi burger which features a quinoa patty with white cheddar and the famed BurgerFi sauce. As it was the only vegetarian option besides fries, it was the obvious choice but Allison decided that it was delicious. She reccomends it for vegetarians and meat-eaters alike. Amanda declared that the fries were the best potato-based food she had ever eaten, and the choice of fry topping such as parmesan cheese just made them even better.

At this point, the evening had somehow come around. After a harrowing week of second semester senior classes, it felt great to kick back and enjoy some laughs. The stress of the “perfect date” was avoided.

Allison feeds Amanda one of the delicious fries from Burgerfi in Glenview during their romantic date.

VERDICT: Taking it easy and spending the day relaxing with your valentine beats any stressful, fancy restaurant date.

THE SPECTATOR JANUARY 30, 2015

Arts and Entertainment

13

The Interview sparks nationwide controversy

By Madison Olivieri and Aban Yaqub Senior Editors The Interview, a film that garnered incredible attention and media coverage in the last few months due to its anti-North Korean sentiments, prompted computer hackers to reveal an exorbitant amount of both personal and company details on Sony Pictures Entertainment. It also engendered national and world-wide debates on hacking, freedom of speech, and freedom of expression.

In retaliation for the production of the film, North Korean hackers attacked Sony eventually stealing private information, including employees’ Social Security numbers, actors’ salaries, and negotiations between executives regarding said actors, which is now

available to the eyes of the public.

Many were disappointed to discover that Sony was contributing to the ongoing issue of the gender pay gap. It was revealed that actresses were being compensated comparatively less than their male counterparts by the company.

Although actresses like Amy Adams preferred to not further publicize the issue, other celebrities who had been affected by the hack did choose to speak out. When she had discovered that she was being compensated $10 million less than her costar, Chris Hemsworth, for the film “The Huntsman”, Charlize Theron successfully negotiated to receive the same pay.

The Guardians of Peace, or the GOP, as the hackers named themselves, unwarrantedly exposed

the company’s records in protest of the release of The Interview, which they considered immensely offensive. Many were lead to the suspicion that North Korea was involved in the hack, however, no public proof has been offered.

In light of The Interview’s recall from theatres due to the cyber attack on Sony, many Americans felt that their freedom of expression had been violated. Freedom of Expression is similar to the First Amendment Right to the Freedom of Speech; however, it is granted

by Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, rather than the U.S. Constitution.

According to Article 19, “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference, and to

seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.”

Despite the mediocre ratings from critics and viewers alike about the film, many agree with Sony’s decision to release it (albeit limited) on its original release date. After pulling it from theatres, newspapers such as the Washington Times argued that as Americans, we need to preserve and protect our rights.

Many argued that by surrendering to the cyber attack, we surrendered those essential rights.

Since it seemed to many that Sony’s choice was “un-American,” people naturally took to many different mediums to voice their patriotic opinions. The twitter hashtag #theinterview has exploded with patriotic sentiment.

At one point in the movie, in what seems like an attempt at dramatic irony, character Kim Jong-Un jokes, “You know what’s more destructive than a nuclear bomb? Words.”

While the joke displays the movie’s off-color, crude humor, the punch line is something to ponder. The destructive or offensive nature that words (or pictures) can possess is something that’s important to take into consideration when discussing Freedom of Speech, especially now in light of the Paris newspaper killings at the Charlie Hebdo headquarters. Americans have every right to produce and distribute The Interview, but the offensive nature of the movie is the very reason that hackers tried to prevent its Christmas Day release.

Izzy Moody ‘18 “I guess there should be respectful limits because if you know someone’s going to get really upset -- like with Charlie Hebdo-then you shouldn’t do it.”

Andrew Ryder ‘17 “I can see why North Korea would be upset because America wouldn’t be too happy if they made a movie about assaulting our president.”

Jaleel Grey ‘17 “It’s Western ideas. Everyone thinks of different things depending on where they live because not everyone has the same Western ideas of comedy.”

Paige Gulliver ‘18 “If people are going to tell Sony what to do and they succumb to it, they’re never going to be able to release anything. It’s hard to regulate respectful limits.”

Duncan Ward ‘18 “The movie could have been dangerous, but they have freedom of speech. It was fairly racist but they can make a movie like that if they want to.”

Inquiring Photographer: Should Sony have released The Interview?

Photos by Aban Yaqub

#GOP stands for Guardians of Peace: what the Sony hackers refer to themselves as.

THE SPECTATOR

Arts and Entertainment N e w Yo r k b a n d I n t e r p o l returns after long hia t u s

14

By Madison Olivieri Senior A&E Editor

Post-punk revivalist band Interpol has had an impressive musical career since their start in 1997.

After taking a hiatus which drummer Sam Fogarino accredited to the band’s need for a “big break” along with the “need to recoup and go on a proper hiatus,” the band released their fifth album.

El Pintor, released in September of 2014, shows the groups wit; from the album name’s anagram for Interpol to the confusing but meaningful lyrics, the band has brought back what old listeners loved.

Hailing from New York, the band consists of lead vocalist Paul Banks, drummer Fogarino, and guitarist Daniel Kessler.

Banks’ smooth baritone voice accompanies Kessler’s electric guitar and Fogarino’s progressive drumming perfectly. Banks’ voice

is somewhat of an acquired taste, but one that is entirely worth discovering. One thing that listeners love about Interpol is the imagery and poetry of their lyrics; Banks pulls out seemingly nonsensical lyrics and uses his melancholic voice to make them flow whether he’s singing in English or fluent Spanish.

“All the Rage Back Home,” the first track off of El Pintor, starts with Kessler’s effortless guitar and Banks’ cool, low voice before the percussions and bass kick in, completing the track and wrapping the chorus up nicely. The sixth track also serves as a flashback to their older music; “Everything Is Wrong” starts with a low bass and some light percussion before Banks’ voice seeps in with the reverbs of the guitar. Banks’ voice floats between the guitar chords before bashing out into the chorus.

Interpol’s first album, Turn on the Bright Lights, was released in 2002. It features more simplistic guitar playing and shows off the band’s early lyrical talent. “Unti-

tled 1,” the first track off of the album, is a quiet ballad. It features some light guitar playing while the bass and drums eventually come in and complete the track.

Banks’ voice fills the track for only eight verses, letting the instruments express the melancholy and romanticism of the song. It’s an interesting choice for a first track of a first album as the softness of the ballad contrasts the majority of the bands rock-androll inspired work. Many listeners deem the most “classic Interpol” song to be “Stella was a diver and she was always down.” It’s the last song that they play in the encore of their current El Pintor tour, and shows off each of the band members’ (current and former) strong suits while employing their famed, smooth lyrics.

Interpol is currently touring Europe on their El Pintor tour, but played a set at Lollapalooza and played at Chicago’s Riviera Theatre in November. They will be playing at Coachella as they continue working together after their four year hiatus.

JANUARY 30, 2015

Caxy Playlist -- Valentine’s Day Mix 1. I Wanna Be Yours. . .Arctic Monkeys 2. Love Is Blindness. . .Jack White 3. I’m Into You. . .Chet Faker 4. Do You Remember. . .Jack Johnson 5. I Would Do Anything for You. . .Foster The People 6. The Moon Song. . .L’Orchestra Cinematique 7.Video Games. . .Lana Del Rey 8. Adorn. . .Miguel 9. Every Other Freckle. . .alt-J 10. Angels. . . The xx

I n t o t h e Wo o d s b i g s c r e e n d e b u t i m p r e s s e s t h e L FA c o m m u n i t y

By Tori Koontz News Editor

it- they did rewrite some things, but it totally made sense,” said Mr. Tim Plambeck, music di Into the Woods, originally a rector at Lake Forest Academy.

Broadway success created by This isn’t the first exposure Stephen Sondheim and James many LFA students or teachers Lapine, has recently taken a new have had with Into the Woods, form, as a hit movie directed by either. Last year, it was chosen Rob Marshall. Although the to be the school’s winter musioriginal musical first appeared in cal, which was directed by Mr. 1987, its movie counterpart was Mark Dryfoos. Prior to last year, released last Christmas. The story this musical was also performed itself combines many of Grimm’s by LFA in 2009. Dryfoos stated fairy tale characters, such as Ra- that one of the main reasons this punzel, Cinderella, Jack and the was chosen as the musical was Beanstalk, and Little Red Riding because of its story and its mesHood. This movie version fea- sage of characters getting what tures a star-studded cast of ac- they want only to realize that it tors such as Meryl Streep, John- wasn’t quite what they expectny Depp, Anna Kendrick, Emily ed. Into the Woods also featured Blunt, and Chris Pine. Many crit- many complex songs that showed ics have praised this rendition off many students’ voices well. of the musical, saying it did the “I loved being part of [last story complete justice and in- year’s musical], it was absolutely corporated all the significant great. Into the Woods was my parts to the original production. second-favorite musical that “I thought that it was a really great I’ve done here,” said Stanton rendition of [Into the Woods], Cope, senior and four-year parand it was what I had hoped it ticipant of the musical at LFA. would be. They didn’t mess with Some areas of critique for the

movie, however, concern the rewriting that it underwent. James Lapine, the writer for the original script, did collaborate in the rewriting process for the movie’s script. One big difference between the Broadway version and the movie version is the removal of a character: the nar-

rator. Many critics believe this is because a physical narrator figure is not required in a movie remake, where narration can instead be shown with cinematic techniques. Also, Rapunzel doesn’t die in the movie, which she does originally in the musical.

However, many agree that

this rendition did live up to the original production of Into the Woods. Despite some minor changes, all other plot pieces that were vital to the original production are present, accurately retelling the Broadway story that has been held in high regard by so many for decades.

Photo courtesy of collider.com

Cinderella, played by Anna Kendrick, loses her glass slipper in the famous scene that Into the Woods recreates.

THE SPECTATOR

Sports

JANUARY 30, 2015

15

Students in first-ever Basketball PE program attempt to improve under the leadership of JV coach Kurt Vahle

By Ryan Wong Sports Editor Lake Forest Academy had one of the largest groups of boys try out for basketball in its history this year. Many had to be cut.

But Athletic Director Darrin Madeley cre-

ated a new Basketball PE class this year for any students who were interested in playing basketball during the winter. That Basketball PE class is full and it offers students who like playing basketball more opportunity for competition in playing the game.

Photo courtesy of Jack Zhong

Senior Kyle Shannahan scores an acrobatic layup.

“We had a large number of students come out for basketball tryouts. We felt that if we could find the gym space, alongside with enough interest from the students, it would be great to give the students a chance to play,” said Madeley.

The PE class is run once every cycle and once every weekend. The students are not only practicing but they also have games scheduled so that they can apply the skills they learn in practice.

“Generally anyone interested in playing basketball joins the PE,” said Madeley.

“Practice is usually every G day at 1:30 p.m. and Saturdays at 10 a.m. The boys are now currently practicing very hard, and so far we now have five games scheduled against other schools because we want to remain competitive.”

After only two practices have been held, students actually have a very good impression of the program and think that the practices have been very helpful for them in improving their game skills. Freshman Jelani Nicol and sophomore Blake Cedergren took time to explain how the practices are run, and they also break down how helpful the practices are for the players on the team.

“There are definitely some differences

compared to what the JV and Varsity basketball teams are doing, but usually the basics are the same. We run drills, learn the offense, and scrimmage. Essentially we run the practices the same as the JV basketball team does, and it helps you learn the fundamentals of the game,” said Nicol.

“Our coach is also the JV basketball coach, so we do a lot of the same drills and run same offense as the JV team currently does,” added Cedergren. “These drills and offense are actually a little bit more relaxed because they are more for fun, but the team is still very competitive. The practices are very beneficial since they give all of the people who didn’t make the other teams a chance to play and have fun.”

Nicol emphasized that the PE has goals for each student and the entire team by the end of the season.

“We will be in shape and capable of running an offense efficiently and without much problem,” stated Nicol. “We will also be able to develop an aspect of team basketball as well as each individual improving individualy.”

The PE basketball team won their first two games over the weekend against North Shore Country Day and the HRK Eagles.

Multi-sport coach Mike Friedman exercises his talents on both the tennis and squash courts

By Ned Kennedy Sports editor Varsity Tennis and Squash Coach Mike Friedman is one of the few coaches at Lake Forest Academy that coaches two different sports. Because of this rarity The Spectator wanted to talk to him about the major differences between coaching the two sports and what he likes about his new sport, squash.

The first question that had to be asked for this multi-sport coach was how the two sports differed and if there were any similarities between coaching tennis and squash.

“The scoring system is different. In squash we play three games up to 11, and after each game the players come off the court and we give them their strategy tips at that point,” said Friedman.

The scoring system is not the only difference between the two sports. How you swing the racquet, as well as the ball, are some of the other major differences between the two sports.

“Other than it being indoors obviously, hitting the ball against the front wall, the ball being much smaller, and the size of

the racquet being much longer, the ball not bouncing as high, the stroke being different (it is not a low-to-high swing like in tennis), and the head of the racquet having to be above the wrist, there is not much difference,” said Friedman.

Friedman is a very experienced instructor on the tennis court, coaching for many years in a multitude of different places, inclding the boys varsity tennis team last year as well as this upcoming season. The same cannot be said for his coaching career when it comes to squash.

“Yes, it is, (my first year) and I really like it. My years of experience are with tennis but I really enjoyed my experience with squash and I hope I can do it again next year,” said Friedman.

Considering the fact that Coach Friedman directs both tennis and squash The Spectator was curious on any crossover between the students on his team.

“Right now it’s just Joseph (Kim). Some of the other kids may have played a little bit of tennis but they are not on the tennis team here,” said Friedman.

Kim is the only player on the squash team who is lucky enough to be able to work with Friedman for two seasons.

Photo courtesy of mymoreactive

Mike Friedman is one of the few coaches that directs two different sports.

“The biggest differences between tennis and squash are the swing and the footwork,” said Kim. “The footwork is different since in squash you have to move forward and backward very quickly which

requires us to lunge. The swing is also very different. In tennis you use more topspin on your shots while in squash it’s a lot flatter and has more of a slice.”

16

Sports

JANUARY 30, 2015

Z makes a splash in LFA athletics: Olympic hopeful brings new edge to girls swim team

By Romaer Chopra Editor-in-Chief For most LFA students, partaking in athletics is simply another part of the LFA experience. However, for extraordinary student athletes like swimmer Hande Zeynep, who goes by the nickname “Z”, athletics is a pivotal part of the LFA experience. A current boarding student from Turkey, Z is known around campus for being a star swimmer, but many don’t see her hours of work, focus, and dedication to the sport.

While Z swam with the LFA Varsity Girls Swim team in the fall, she is currently swimming and training with her club team.

An Olympic hopeful for her home country, she is forced to manage her academics with a rigorous training and swimming schedule.

“On a daily basis, I have dry land (weightlifting) from 5:15 P.M. to 6:15 P.M., and then I swim from 6:20 P.M. to 8:20 P.M. I no longer have morning practices, unless if it’s during a break or holiday. I also practice on Saturdays from 6:30A.M. to 8:30 A.M. and then have weight lifting from 9:00A.M. until 11:00 A.M,” said Z. Z’s determination is backed by her ambition to one day swim at the highest college level and eventually at the Olympic level. While she qualified for last year’s National Championships, she wasn’t able to compete and hopes to compete this year.

While she has begun talking to coaches at elite schools like Northwestern University, Z also has a larger goal of competing in the European Championships and eventually in the 2020/2024 Olympics.

“I really want to go the European Championships, but I need to drop about seven seconds for that. And of course, the Olympics is everyone’s goal,” said Z. While Z’s choice to come to LFA was centered around academics, she also attributes much of her success as a swimmer to the coaching and team aspect that LFA has brought to her swimming career. According to Z, swimming in Turkey is much more self-focused, but attending LFA has allowed Z to get a valuable team experience.

“In Turkey, everyone is focused on their

individual achievement and performance.

LFA has given me the opportunity to have a team that works together to achieve its goals and encourages one another to do their best. I really like being part of the swimming community and spending time with all the other girls on the team,” said Z. While Z is grateful for being a part of the LFA team, she has left a lasting impact on the coaches around her. Athletic Director Darrin Madeley described her as the type of athlete that every team wants. Similarly, Girls Swim Coach Jennifer Madeley believes that it is her positive attitude and determination to improve that has made her extremely coachable. Both Madeleys believe that Z’s confidence, determination, and dedication to her team has her on the path for a bright future.

“Z is humble and you would never know how good she really was unless you see the record board. My favorite thing about her though is that she seems to always be smiling when she is down here. She loves to be part of a team and that’s what it’s all about,” said Mr. Madeley.

Photo by Amanda Bozorgi Zeynep ‘17 listens to music while completing her homework in the Little Theater. In the top picture, Zeynep swims laps in the LFA pool.

Photo courtesy of Hande Zeynep Zeynep takes the lead while swimming butterfly stroke in a recent home swim meet.