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S P E C TAT O R
VOLUME 96 NUMBER 5
1500 WEST KENNEDY ROAD, LAKE FOREST, IL 60045
Featured Stories NEWS
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MARCH 9, 2018
From Academy Drive to Sesame Street By Shreya Singhvi Editor-in-Chief
dent, and eager to do more,” she noted. According to Franks, her affinity for TV shows grew large-
Injustice in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
page 3
NEWS
Sra. Balson’s husband knighted by the French government
page 3
OP-ED
Caxy Rave: Why we love GYLI page 4 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Global Grub takes on American food page 10
SPORTS
After years of watching it daily on television, imagine finally making a trip to Sesame Street and meeting Big Bird, Elmo, Snuffleupagus, and the Cookie Monster in person! Matti Franks ‘14 is a Lake Forest Academy alum did just that while working as a Sesame Street Production Intern at the Children’s Television Workshop in New York City. While attending New York University, she applied for the job online through Sesame Workshop’s career page. After being interviewed, she was hired to work for five days a week, and took evening classes in order to complete her course requirements for college. During her internship, Sesame Workshop was in pre-production for its 49th season. She assisted with research and preparation for the season, completed production runs, and created content for their YouTube channel. Franks was able to sit in during production meetings and table reads, and stated that “hearing Elmo’s voice in person for the first time was amazing.” Once the actual production of the show had begun, her duties shifted a bit. She was on set every day of production of season 49, assisting with casting talent, creating sets and props with the Art Department, helping producers on shoots for digital content, and was involved in endless other tasks that supported production each day. “One particularly rewarding part of my job was welcoming and spending the day with ill children benefiting from the Make-A-Wish foundation. I would introduce the families to the Muppets, show them around set, and try to give them a happy day,” Franks stated. Franks finished her internship and graduated from NYU in December of 2017. She interviewed for and was selected as an East Coast Page for the NBCUniversal Page Program. It is a 12-month rotational program starting at the end of February, in which she’ll get hands-on experience throughout NBCUniversal. At LFA, Franks was very involved with stage crew and worked on it for four years. “My stage crew experience at LFA helped me become comfortable, confi-
ly because of Mr. Matt Vaughn and her fellow boarders. Franks combined her shared interest of television and stage crew to pursue a ca-
Matti Franks ‘14 poses with Sesame Street character Snuffleupagus.
reer in Television Business & Production. “Mr. Koenig was really great about encouraging me to take on new responsibilities and gain confidence working in the theater. That was certainly most helpful for me in terms of figuring out what I wanted to do with my career and finding my place at LFA,” she said.
Boys tennis and new head coach prep for the most important season in years page 12 The Sesame Street Corporation gifted this sign to Matti for her work.
Photo courtesy of Matti Franks
Photo courtesy of Matti Franks
She explained that while although it was quite difficult to manage the hours—eight per day for interns, 12 per day for staff— the overall experience was very rewarding because of the welcoming community. Much of the staff have stayed with the Sesame Street production company for their whole lives because of their “love [of] the work and the people.” She said that one of the cameramen had been working there since the first-ever episode of the show. Franks articulated that she missed the Lake Forest Academy community, especially the boarding community and the fact that faculty families live on campus. One of her favorite memories from her internship was getting Lin Manuel Miranda a cheeseburger!
THE SPECTATOR
News
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World News Roundup
World News Roundup is a compilation of some of the prominentevents occurring in the World today. Complied by Angelina Chan Staff Writer Superb performances in the 2018 Winter Olympics Numerous awe-inspiring performances have occurred in the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics. This includes super-G gold medalist Ester Ledecka of the Czech Republic, an unexpected win, as well as the halfpipe gold medalist, 17 year old US snowboarder Chloe Kim. Additional stellar accomplishments involve Mirai Nagasu being the first American woman to land a triple axel at the Olympics, and figure skater Nathan Chen finishing 5th overall in the free skate after placing 17th in the short program. (Source: BBC News, Chicago Tribune) Magnitude 7.2 earthquake hits Mexico An earthquake on February 16th, affecting South and Central Mexico, has caused structural damage in 50 homes as well as the city hall and main church in Santiago Jamiltepec, Oaxaca state. Nearly 1 million users have lost power, although it was expected to be restored. Additionally, a military helicopter surveying the earthquake’s damage crashed later that day in the country’s southern region, killing 13 and injuring 15.
MARCH 9, 2018
Football player Dominique Collins comes to campus to celebrate Women’s History Month By Kennedy Hayes News Editor
This year’s Women’s History Month celebration at Lake Forest Academy might be one that will stand out among the rest because of the physical stature and speaker Dominique Collins. Harlow Society, which is dedicated to women’s rights and equality, has partnered with Assistant Director of the Stuart Center for Global Leadership BaSheeba Mays to bring in tackle-football player, body builder, and model Dominique Collins (who is a friend of Mays) to the LFA community. “She has become a role model for me as I have watched her become a body builder and model in addition to helping other young women feel confident in their own skin, which is really powerful,” said Mays. Prior to the event, Harlow Society leader Jenny Levitt ’18, School Counselor and Harlow Society Club Advisor Jeniffer Madeley, and Harlow Society members sat down with Mays to FaceTime Collins about her upcoming visit to the Academy on Thursday March 8th at 1:30 PM and to learn more about her background and profession. “With March being Woman’s History Month and all of the news coverage going on about women’s rights and Silence Breakers, having female athletes on campus to share their stories could be powerful,” said Mays. Levitt talked about how Harlow Society had been brainstorming the possibility of bringing in an athlete for Women’s History Month because girl athletes are
not often represented beyond college. “We wanted to talk about what it is like to pursue a field dominated by men as a woman. It is an area that takes a lot of tenacity and strength of character, so it will be awesome to hear about how society has shaped her football league,” Levitt explained. Collins stated that her journey began back in 2013, when a classmate asked her to come and practice with their football team. Collins now resides in Chicago and works on recruiting athletes from a wide range of sports. “I have been playing defense for six years, but it has all been from baby steps, from learning how to play on my team to now being the top in our league,” said Collins. Collins spoke about the diversity she has seen on the team over the last couple of years increased since she joined.
“Although the league was founded on one type of girl, we have made sure to get away from that. We have dentists, mothers, 6’1 girls, and girls who are over 200 pounds, everyone looks different.” said Collins” A promotional video of her football league is in preparation to be played at Morning Meeting prior to her visit. An informal discussion with Collins and some of her team will happen in the Student Union at 1:30 on March 8th for any students who would like to join and continue the discussion on what it is like to be a female athlete, on Collin’s football league, or what it is like to pursue being a model and body builder. “I think it is important for young people to realize that you can do more than just that one thing. You can be a mother, a model, or a professional athlete and still be able to do other things, ” said Madeley.
Photo by Kennedy Hayes BaSheeba Mays, Kelsi Jackson, and Jenny Levitt (pictured from left to right) get ready to Skype Dominique Collins in the GYLI room to discuss her plans for her upcoming visit.
(Source: Chicago Tribune) Oil spill in China affecting important fisheries in Asia Although an oil spill off the coast of the East China Sea occurred a month ago, many important fisheries are still affected. The type of petroleum involved, condensate, cannot be easily pumped out, unlike in crude oil spills. Potentially deadly seafood contamination is possible due to the amount of condensate in the area. The area affected by the spill produced five million tons of seafood last year. (Source: The New York Times)
Photo courtesy of USA Today Rosie the Riveter was a campaign aimed at recruiting female workers for defense industries during World War II and now has become an iconic image for working women in the 21st century.
THE SPECTATOR MARCH 9, 2018
News
Sra. Balson’s husband recently knighted by French government
By Ananta Srivastava Editor-in-Chief It is always a great honor to be recognized for one’s efforts in making a beneficial difference to a community. That was the case recently for Mr. Patrick Balson, husband of Lake Forest Academy Spanish teacher Mrs. Noelle Balson, when he was commended by the French government for his efforts in founding the Lycée Français school in Chicago, Illinois. The award that he received was the Ordre des Palmes Académiques (Order of the French Academic Palms), at the grade of chevalier (knight). “For those who stand up for the French, medals are very key,” stated Mr. Balson. “For me, the medal is a way of saying thank you for the work that has been done.” According to the American Society of French Academic Plans, the award was first created by Napoleon I in 1808 as an honorary title to acknowledge outstanding members of the university community. It later changed in 1866, under Napoleon III, to also honor non-teaching people who have contributed eminent service to French education. Mr. Balson was included in the non-academia profession category. “The French senate for people within the Chicago and Detroit area elected to build a school that did not belong to any
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specific individual, but a school that belonged to the French-American community in Chicago,” explained Mr. Balson. Mr. Balson elaborated that Lycée Français school in Chicago was founded because the previous private school that followed the French curriculum was shutdown due to several difficulties. They built Lycée Français in order to replace the old school, but Mr. Balson disclosed that it was not easy. He was given 200 days to complete its construction and was not provided anything by the French government. However, Mr. and Mrs. Balson were able to successfully open the school in September of 1995. Mrs. Balson worked with the administration for the first two years of the school. Mr. Balson remained as the Chairman for the Board for two terms, but recently stepped down in July of 2017. The ceremony, to recognize Mr. Balson for his efforts in founding the school, took place on March 2, 2018 at the residence of the Counsel General of France in Chicago. Mrs. Balson said that the medal was hand-delivered from France to Chicago, and the ceremony was presided over by the Consul General of France in Chicago Guillaume Lacroix. “Now, I will be working behind the scenes of the school on the Committee of Books to help families that have financial difficulties,” reported Mr. Balson.
Photo courtesy of Noelle Balson Counsel General of France in Chicago (on the left) poses with Patrick Balson (on the right) wearing his medal after the ceremony that took place on Friday, March 2.
places where you don’t have that ight, it puts things into context to appreciate the rights that you do have as a person living in the United States,” noted Mr. Sam Wold, history teacher.
Wold and other LFA teachers have found it important to incorporate the injustices and the history of the Congo in their classrooms. Wold teaches his AP World History class about the Belgian Congo and how
Democratic Republic of the Congo injustices brought to the surface
By Tiffany Filawo Features Editor
Freedom of speech is accepted as an inalienable right within the LFA community or the United States, but not in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, a place 7,085 miles away.The Congo, a country known for its abundance in natural resources, has a history of oppression that dates back to the 15th century and continues today in the current regime of President Joseph Kabila. As of December 31, 2017, a protest, organized and supported by the Catholic Church, was held outside of St. Alphonse church in Kinshasa because Kabila did not respect the terms of a truce made between him and the Catholic Church in which they agreed on him stepping down from power at the end of his tenure in 2017. Another protest, supported by the Catholic Church, was held on Sunday January 21, 2018. Six people were killed and 50 injured. Teachers within the LFA community have deemed it a necessity to understand what the definition of freedom of speech is at LFA versus the Congo to put it into perspective. “When you see outside examples of
Congalese protestors flee police harrasment.
Photo by Tiffany Filawo Students presnting in Global Concentration.
Photo courtesy of Japan Times
Photo by Tiffany Filawo Mr. Wold is reading about Belgian Congo.
the atrocities during that time are directly correlated to the issues Congo faces now. “The Belgian influence and the horrible things they did in the Congo directly connects to what’s happening now. The instability they created has made it hard for the nation to overcome that,” said Wold. History teacher Dr. Julia Sagraves has created a Legacies of Colonization project in her World History II class as a response to President Donald Trump’s comments about immigrants from Africa and Chimamanda Adichie’s TED Talk about Africa. “Africa cannot be a single story of problems and issues…This project is to represent the positive parts of African countries,” stated Sagraves. In this project, her students will do research about the history of colonization in an African country and how it has lead up to that country’s current events. Ms. Kristine Von Ogden makes sure that the students in her Monde Francophone class and Global Concentration gain skills from growing a global perspective. “It all boils down to understanding where someone is coming from and being able to connect with them on some level,” she said.
THE SPECTATOR
Features
4
MARCH 9, 2018
ACT vs SAT: Choosing which one of the standardized tests is the best option for you By Parker Amoroso
ple on the ACT is the science reason-
News Editor
ing section…which is a little bit odd to some students if they haven’t been ex-
Every year hundreds of thousands of
posed to it before,” mentioned Poska.
American high school students sit down
In terms of Lake Forest Academy, the
to take millions of standardized tests for
choice between one or the other tests has
college. For many, it will be a crucial part
resulted in a pretty even distribution. A
of their college application as they try to
survey conducted of the Junior and Se-
be accepted by their favorite institutions.
nior classes showed that 80% of students,
Though the standardized testing process is
who responded, who were planning on,
relatively cut-and-dry, there is one choice
or had taken, the ACT, while 78.2% were
students have to make: ACT or SAT.
planning on, or had taken, the SAT. The
The ACT and SAT are similar in many
large percentages can be accounted for
aspects, however, the differences can real-
because 70.9% of LFA students surveyed
ly impact a student’s overall score. One of
are planning on taking both tests. As for
the key factors in choosing one is the time
whether taking both is a positive or neg-
allotted in the tests. The ACT gives stu-
ative, it varies from student to student.
dents an average of 50 seconds per ques-
“If you are a student that is looking at some
tion, while the SAT gives an average of 71
of the most selective places nationally, then
seconds per question. This time difference
some of those schools will want you to re-
adds up and can make quite a difference,
port all of your test scores, so it may not be
according to Lake Forest Academy Head
in your best interest. If you are not a stu-
of College Counseling Andrew Poska,
dent that is applying to one of these places,
when asked what he views is the biggest
and most schools do not require students
factor in choosing between the two tests.
to submit all testing, then I don’t think it
“I would say time. The SAT is a little bit
can hurt to take both tests,” said Poska.
more generous in terms of time,” said Poska.
At the end of the day, Poska be-
Another big difference is the science
lieves that the decision between tak-
section that is in the ACT but not the SAT.
ing the ACT or the SAT is one that ul-
“The section that scares a lot of peo-
timately
“depends
on
the
student”.
Graphic by Parker Amoroso Pie charts depicting the results of a survey completed by The Spectator of LFA Junior and Senior Classes regarding what standardized tests they are taking.
Is standardized test prep beneficial?
Graphic by Parker Amoroso Graph depicting results of a survey conducted by The Spectator of the Lake Forest Academy Junior and Senior Classes about the forms of standardized test prep they have taken part in.
Photo by Parker Amoroso Lake Forest Academy ACT and SAT information board with upcoming test dates, statistics, and more on standardized testing.
By Parker Amoroso
helpful for another, and vice versa. Lake
News Editor
Forest Academy college counselor Ben
Covering a variety of different topics,
Wetherbee believes it is a process that
many students find themselves wondering
very much depends on the individual.
how they can best prepare for the ACT and
“ The best form of prep is one that is
SAT. While they certainly can’t repeat,
consistent over time, and one that best fits
for example, that year of Geometry class,
a student’s unique learning style; for some
there are many options for those looking
that’s a classroom setting, for others it’s
to prep, and many students find themselves
1-on-1 attention, and others it’s studying in
involved in books, classes, and more. But
solitude. I do think that taking a few practice
how are effective are these methods of
exams under exam like conditions is one of
prep and how have students at Lake For-
the best ways to prep for students taking
est Academy taken advantage of them?
their first SAT or ACT,” said Wetherbee.
In a survey conducted by The Specta-
Specific examples of the forms of prepa-
tor of the LFA senior and junior classes, it
ration out there are the books published
was found that 85.5% of respondents have
by ACT and the College Board, who op-
taken part in some form of test prep, or are
erates the SAT, to help prepare for their
at least planning on it. The most popular
respective tests. ACT also has an online
form of prep for LFA students is by far
preparation course that one can sign up for.
practice exams, which 76.4% responded to
At the end of the day, when its comes
have taken part in. Next to that was classes,
down to it, there is no quick route to suc-
which 61.8% reported to have taken part in.
ceeding on standardized testing. Stan-
As for the helpfulness of this prep, re-
dardized testing is meant to test one
sults were mixed. For example, only
on years of learning, and, as a result,
61.1% of respondents found that their
the best test prep is what students have
SAT or ACT prep class was helpful and
been doing throughout their lives and
said that they would recommend it to oth-
school and then, according to Poska, the
ers. This is far from a large majority of
amount of reading students have done.
students. However, just because it wasn’t
“I mean, the best test prep is to
helpful for one, doesn’t mean it won’t be
be a life-long reader,” said Poska.
THE SPECTATOR
Features
MARCH 9, 2018
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President Trump’s immigration pillars and their impact on the nation and LFA By Tyler Medvec Op-Ed Editor In President Donald Trump’s recent State of the Union address, he focused on various aspects of the nation’s development, one of the largest being his new immigration policy. He used a format of four pillars to help explain the new policy. Similar to the four pillars that signify the foundation for LFA, these pillars represent the base of Trump’s immigration policy. The Spectator looked into how these policy changes influence the nation, as well as the students of LFA. The first pillar of Trump’s immigration policy focuses on the status of DREAMers, immigrants who entered the nation with their parents when underage. In previous statements, Trump had taken a tougher approach on the DACA issue, putting many of them at risk to be deported. In his new policy, he has declared support for DREAMers who meet education and work requirements, as well as a good moral character over a 10-12 year period. “I think that this new plan is a little more reasonable because it does give DREAMers a chance, the chance they were promised during the past presidency.” said Camille Pastrana, a junior at LFA. The second pillar of Trump’s policy is an increase of funding for border security, as well as more funding for services such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement. This
increase would create around $25 billion of funding for border protection and services related to it. The major focus of this increased protection is on the border wall that Trump has promised since he took office. The third pillar is one of the more controversial, ending the diversity visa lottery in favor of a merit-based system. This proposal is in hopes that the change can open up visas for more merit-based categories, such as the highly-skilled, employment-based visa. The final and most controversial pillar is one that would limit family-based immigration to include only spouses and minor children, replacing the current policy of spouses, minor children, parents, siblings, fiancées, and children over the age of 21. This pillar is so controversial due to the fact that for many immigrants, family-based immigration is their only hope of legally coming into America. Pastrana stressed the worry she has around this pillar because of her extended family. “It will be even harder to obtain these visas and there is a possibility of them (extended family) being deported back to Venezuela if their applications get denied” she stated. While many people disagree with Trump’s pillars, the policy changes are seen by others as a positive change to his previous immigration policy, showing signs of giving immigrants a greater chance of legally staying in the U.S. and giving them the opportunities that every American deserves.
Photo courtesy of Associated Press
President Donald Trump in his recent State of the Union Address, where he discussed his new immigration policy.
LFA Orchestra heads to “Music City” By Katy Morrison Managing Editor of A&E
Photo courtesy of Grand Ole Opry The Grand Ole Opry, pictured above, where the LFA Orchestra will see a vintage variety show in Nashville.
The LFA Orchestra on their previous trip to Memphis in March of 2016.
Photo by Adam Schlipmann
Watch out, Grand Ole Opry fans! LFA is coming. On March 7th, the Lake Forest Academy Orchestra will depart on a four-day, coach bus, road trip adventure to Nashville, Tennessee. The trip has almost full participation with the exception of just a couple unlucky students who will be taking the SAT on March 10th. “The group this year feels strong. All of the kids are engaged, which keeps the music consistently interesting and us driven to improve,” commented senior Angela Zhou. Orchestra Director Adam Schlipmann additionally felt that the group was constantly improving and so part of the trip’s purpose is to further that group’s advancement. “The purpose of this trip is to have a good group educational experience outside of the LFA campus”, Schlipmann said, adding that Nashville served as the perfect setting for their trip. Nashville is known as Music City, USA, meaning there will be no shortage of educational experiences. The Orchestra’s itinerary features events such as line danc-
ing classes, the Nashville Symphony in concert, in addition to touring one of the great traditional music venues in the country, The Grand Ole Opry, where students will get to see a vintage variety show featuring various country and folk musicians. Every year, the Orchestra and Choir alternate the trip experience. The last time the Orchestra traveled, March 2016, they also went to Memphis. Zhou, who attended the trip two years back, brought back fond memories. “The previous orchestra trip was great for helping [the Orchestra] to hone our skills in listening and communicating with each other. It’s fun to go out as an orchestra group in a context that isn’t a performance or practice, and so I expect that this trip will also be a good chance for us to connect as a class, ” said Zhou. According to Schlipmann, trips like these enable the students to learn from places different than the classroom, allowing them exposure to the variety of music and the accompanying processes that places outside of LFA have to offer. Schlipmann is grateful for the willingness of the chaperones, Mr. Matt Boresi, Ms. Emily Wagner, and Ms. Grace Kim.
THE SPECTATOR
Centerfold
Reflecting on the pa 6
MARCH 9, 2018
Life in the 80’s
Classes were not on a rotating schedule as they are now, so they met the same time each day. Also, class sizes were smaller We recently spent some time thinking (typically 8-10 students). There were no about our experiences as LFA students in regular morning meetings, and All School the 1980s compared to today. The big- Meetings usually had guest speakers. Once gest difference that came to mind was the a week, boarders had to dress up for “forcomplete lack of digital technology in the mal dinner” which was held in Reid Hall. classroom. With no cell phones, iPads, We do recall a few memorable classroom or laptops, we relied solely on textbooks moments from that time. Once a student and printed sources such as encyclopedias wrote math formulas on the cinder block and dictionaries for information. With no wall in chalk right under the chalkboard internet, finding answers to factual ques- eraser ledge, which all the seated students tions took time and effort. We took notes could see but not the teacher standing at in notebooks and everything was turned the board. This led to giggling among the in on paper. We typed papers on type- students and bewilderment for the teacher. writers, fixing typos with “white out” or One history teacher was known for eraser ribbon. There were no multimedia shouting at students to keep them engaged slide presentations— only oral reports in class and throwing his chalk eraser at with handmade visual aids such as posters. anyone tuning out. Another teacher once The classroom atmosphere was more for- kicked an empty chair to make his point mal than today. For example, we’d nev- and caused the whole desktop to fly off. er bring food into class. Dress code was Finally, one shared memory that we also more formal— boys were required to will never forget: we were both on wear sport coats in the hallway between stage together in the musical Brigaclasses and had to ask permission upon doon doing a sword dance when the enentering the classroom to remove their tire archway above us crashed to the jackets. Girls had to wear skirts, except ground with a huge boom! Fortunateon approved winter days when they could ly nobody was injured, and we just kept wear dress pants (but only with a blazer). right on dancing around the fallen set. By Chris Dozois and Rita MacAyeal LFA Faculty members
This picture is a compilation of how the old Armour house used to look like in comparison to how it looks in present day. LFA removed the fountain to free space up for students and faculty to have a more accessible path to get to Reid Hall.
Athletics before Madeley’s arrival By David Wick Varsity Baseball Coach
When I first set foot on the baseball field in the spring of 1982 as a new varsity coach, I thought I was stepping onto a makeshift diamond scratched into the hard clay of an empty lot by neighborhood kids looking for a place to play ball. Add James Earl Jones as a blind, ex-baseball star living outside the leftfield fence with his giant English Mastiff and you’d have the setting for the film Sandlot. Little did I know that LFA’s “sandlot” would make history…sort of. Thick woods surrounded much of the field, and my team managers usually spent their time during practice shagging foul balls among the trees and brush, often returning with poison ivy and waterlogged balls from previous seasons so swollen that they had burst at the seams. We had no batting cage, no safety screens, no outfield fence, no scoreboard, no drainage. But we
did have what no other team had: a backstop ten feet high made of chicken wire and two-by-fours painted a discreet Lake Forest green. When Academy Woods’ homes were built near the field, LFA extended the backstop all the way down the third-base line and raised it to a height of twenty feet, thereby giving us—I convinced myself— the largest and longest chicken-wireand-two-by-four backstop in “history.” A few years later, when Lake Forest Cable TV asked to film one of our games, LFA decided to repaint the backstop the morning of the contest. The paint, still wet by game time, created numerous delays and ruined about a dozen balls, but our games did become a regular feature on local cable that season, a step closer to making history, if only in Lake Forest. After several years as head coach, visiting teams’ and spectators’ snide comments about the field and the backstop no longer fazed me. In fact, inexplicably I had become proud of our field. After all, the woods and
the lake created a beautiful setting, and my teams were dominating the Independent School League and would continue to do so for a decade, winning seven conference championships between 1985 and 1994, going undefeated in 1990 and 1994, and often beating large public schools. We were winning with everbody playing. Who cared if it was on our “sandlot” or on somebody else’s “field of dreams?” In the early nineties, everything changed. First, I discovered these historical facts: 1. LFA alumnus, Roscoe Wattie Holm, ’21, played for the St. Louis Cardinals from 1924-1932 with hall-of-famers Rogers Hornsby and Grover Cleveland Alexander and against Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig in the 1926 World Series. 2. LFA boasts the oldest high school baseball program in Illinois, which started in 1867 and in 1876 lost to the Chicago White Stockings, 31-1. Suddenly, we were legitimately “historical!” Then Hollywood came calling. Universal
Studios rented our “sandlot” to film one scene of their 1992 film The Babe, starring John Goodman, because the field resembled a typical 1920s spring training facility. In the scene, John Goodman, as Babe Ruth, pulls up in his car, late to practice and still dressed up after a night of carousing. After a scolding from his manager, he takes off his coat and proceeds to hit homer after homer into the fake clubhouse in left field and over the former boathouse in right field. You can even get a glimpse of the backstop if you look closely. LFA has a small mention in the credits. The Chicago Tribune interviewed me during the filming; I remember saying something stupid about history being made at LFA because our field was immortalized in film. The backstop is long gone, the field has been renovated twice, and I’ve retired from LFA baseball. I know now that history was really made—if only in our memories—on that field by those of us who played so hard on it for so many years.
THE SPECTATOR
Centerfold
ast of the Academy MARCH 9, 2018
By Bill Dolbee Associate Head of School
In the 1980s and early 1990s lap top computers, email, and cell phones were not available. Field House had 72 student residents and five pay phones, three on North and two on East. (North has always been better than East.) When study hours ended at 10:00 pm, the girls would race to the phones. Those who weren’t quick enough would line up waiting for an available phone, listening to the conversations, and enforcing the 10-minute time limit. Few students were alone in their rooms between 10:00 and 11:00 in the evening since the only “social media” was to hang out with other members of the dorm. If a call came into the pay phones outside of study hours, a student would answer the phone (maybe) and then yell down the hallway for the student who was being called. If no one responded, the student might take a message. Parents and students were not in touch on a daily basis. If a teacher or coach needed to contact a student they would leave a note in their mailbox. We spent a lot of time writing
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notes and checking our mailboxes. In the 1980s there began to be a few vending machines on campus, but even then students got much of their late night refreshment from the Pop Shop operated out of a faculty apart-
ment. A very successful Pop Shop was operated out of the Field House apartment of Bob and Darlene Fredrickson. They sold so many Tombstone pizzas that Tombstone gave them two pizza ovens and sent a truck each week with their delivery of frozen pizzas. Also in the 1980s, students who received too many points from the Dean of Students office were assigned to Walk Squad. The school didn’t want studying or service to be associated with punishment, so instead of detention or work projects, recalcitrant students were required to walk round and round the formal gardens. They had to maintain a certain distance between each other to prevent anything as enjoyable as conversation. Once when European history teacher Bob Turansky was supervising Walk Squad, the students decided to entertain him by singing “La Marseillaise,” the national anthem of France. He excused them early that day.
Academy undergoes a variety of renovations over the years Photo compilation by Jasper Fisher
By Chris Tennyson Dean of Students One of the most impressive changes over the past few years at LFA was the renovation and transformation of Corbin and Korhumel academic space. LFA alumni from the 1970s and 80s might not recognize the classroom interiors now. As one walks the hallways today, they are able to look into the classrooms and there is a sense of “openness” due to the glass doors and walls, as well as the increased levels of natural light. One is able to witness students taking advantage of the collaborative spaces, the writable walls, the study pods, or the Media Commons. This was not always the case for these two areas. In fact, it was almost the polar opposite. If someone had walked into Korhumel prior to the renovation then they would have witnessed concrete walls, floor to ceiling wooden doors, lockers (in lower Korhumel), and they would not have been able to look out onto the baseball field or Caxy Pond (those windows were blocked by offices). If you want to get
Photo courtesy of Chris Tennyson
Former Lake Forest Academy students study and work on homework in the old Corbin Building prior to the 2014 summer rennovation.
a true sense of the old classrooms, then you can walk into the current locker room and simply imagine desks instead of lockers – not nearly as great as the classrooms adjacent to it today. In lower Corbin, prior to the reno-
vation, lockers lined the hallways, and concrete blocks and wooden doors were abundant. There was no Media Commons or open sitting areas as these were either classrooms or storage rooms. All the lighting came from the lights
in the hallways and it could get crowded with everyone’s sports bags or other stuff lining the halls. The renovation of Corbin created a much more modern space – a far cry from what once was and one that we all get to enjoy today.
THE SPECTATOR
Opinion and Editorial Caxy Rave: Why we love GYLI 8
By Mia Walvoord Staff Writer When falling asleep on the midship deck of a wooden tall ship beneath a blanket of stars, it was easy to feel humble and empowered all at once. The vast sky felt like an artist’s rendition of opportunity at the beginning of our voyage. But none of us could have imagined how much our appreciation for the endless cultures around us would grow in only a few days. This past June, three crews of rising sophomores embarked on their first year experience with the Global Youth Leadership Institute, myself included. We, along with students from several other schools from across the country, traveled north on the Atlantic into New York waters. We sailed back into Mystic harbor, Connecticut several days later. Living in such close quarters
with a ship full of teenagers might seem like a perfect storm for conflict to emerge. The opposite proved true instead. Many deep discussions ensued and served to turn this group of strangers into fast friends. The trip proved the value of GYLI to me. The GYLI program offers a scaffolding experience over the course of three consecutive summers. As incoming sophomores, gaining individual significance and tapping into one’s own unique “voice” is emphasized. Expressing one’s voice is only half the challenge. Listening to others provided the most authentic inspiration to tap into our own beliefs. Equal and meaningful exchanges happened all around us. Along the journey, we engaged in team building skills, became stronger leaders, and explored the concepts of religious pluralism, multi-cultural identity,
and environmental sustainability. A common value system was felt through empathic leadership and group cooperation. We used focused attention in order to sail the ship together and each of us had our fair share of questions. Similarly, we were filled with interest in one another and our “global perspectives” grew in the most natural way. One thing we agreed upon was that we would never think of this trip as a “vacation”. As participants, we were expected to develop a Leader Learning Plan (LLP) which would bring awareness to our school communities during the subsequent academic year. The program presented each of us with the opportunity to become a better version of ourselves. We each returned home to LFA exponentially better. We choose to lead by this example every day. Because the culture
MARCH 9, 2018
Photo courtesy of Mia Walvoor
The current-sophomore GYLI group on their sailing trip last summer.
of the program was so laid back, we expressed ourselves freely in that environment. In the interest of progress, it’s becoming more rare to have such a feeling of human connection uninterrupted by technology. We experienced a sense of unity that we now each own as a true possession.
LFA’s “Midwestern heart and global mindset” served as the main sail of our experience. Together we captured fair winds and discovered unexpected destinations through GYLI’s inspiration. You feel such a sense of direction when you connect to your “true north”.
Inquiring Photographer:
What do you think of GYLI?
“Even though I was never part of GYLI, I heard that every year, students from our school go on trips hosted by GYLI where they can learn new skills…and they can also learn how to communicate with other people and have stronger leadership skills.” -Carolyn Lu ‘20
“I think it’s a very good organization for domestic students or international students to improve their skills in terms of communicating with people from different countries. Also I think it provides an opportunity to travel around. I think that’s really cool.” -David Sun ‘19
“GYLI is a really good experience for youth to learn different leadership positions. You get to meet a different variety of people from all over the country and you get together and use your different talents to maneuver along in the excursion.” -Maya Harrell ’20 (participant in GYLI)
“I know that it [GYLI] is a program for students in high school and there is one for each grade.”
-Ani Plambeck ‘21
THE SPECTATOR MARCH 9, 2018
Opinion and Editorial
Editorial:
To repeat or not to repeat This March marks another Women’s History Month, an event that the staff of The Spectator believes is very important. Its importance is a result of the work that it does in restoring the balance of representation in history. We’re all used to seeing history books stuffed to the brim with Founding Fathers, great military leaders, and brilliant scientists. Mentions of women are much farther apart than those of their male counterparts. However, there are just as many women who are worthy of recognition as there are men. There is a serial under-representation of women in history, and even an entire month dedicated to recognizing women’s impact on history is the minimum requirement to restoring balance. A great example was a female scientist, tired of the numer-
ous misogynistic comments she received online, started a campaign where she created a Wikipedia page for an unrecognized female scientist for every negative comment received. She made a lot of Wikipedia pages. The staff of The Spectator agrees that, while amusing, the campaign really illustrated the lack of recognition given to many women who’ve made an impact. The reason that there were so many Wiki pages to create was because those woman scientists had been neglected and forgotten. Having a month dedicated to women’s history helps rectify the centuries where women weren’t able to create their own history. Historically, men have written history, and these men have written about men. Women were delegated to the domestic scene, unable to write history like men were able to.
Interestingly enough, the solution to this problem of under-representation can be found at the root of the problem. When men write their histories, they wrongly focus on only men. These men are subject to their own opinions and views, and they naturally focus on themselves. The way to increase awareness of women in history, then, is to simply shift focus. Acknowledge that men have made significant contributions to history, but that they’re not the only ones. Shift the focus onto women and all the amazing things they’ve done. That’s exactly what Women’s History Month does. It slowly makes recognizing women’s places in history the norm. The staff of The Spectator agree that Women’s History month is very important for the well deserved emphasis it puts upon all the women who have changed the course of history.
Why Winter Formal needs work By Adriana Rivera Op-Ed Editor
Thirty minutes after Winter Formal starts the attendance typically drops by more than half of those who were there when the dance began. The people who attend generally spend more time getting ready for the dance than being at the dance itself, and that is an issue. There is simply no point in wasting both time and money to spend 30 minutes (if that), at the dance. The question we are left with is: Why are people choosing to leave after 30 minutes and what can LFA do to change that? In my past two years of Winter Formal experiences, the students usually start trickling out once the seniors leave. This seems to have been a precedent set since my freshman year and it affects the dance itself greatly. Many people look up to the seniors, so if they go to the dance and leave after 20-30 minutes, chances are most people will follow and also leave. “Everyone leaves after five minutes and there’s no point in going,” junior Alex Alutto stated. If students, specifically seniors, spent more time actually attempting to enjoy the dance it could be a lot more enjoyable. And given the money and time spent on this night, the least they could
Caxy Rant
T h e L a k e A c a d e m y
9 F o r e s t
S P E C TAT O R
STAFF LIST Editors-in-Chief
Ananta Srivastava Shreya Singhvi
Managing Editor of Production
Jasper Fisher
Managing Editor of Op-Ed
Daniel Chia
Managing Editor of Features
Dieter Villegas
Managing Editor of Sports
Jack Mahon
Managing Editor of A&E
Katy Morrison
News Editor
Kennedy Hayes Parker Amoroso
Features Editor
Jasmine Filawo Tiffany Filawo
Op-Ed Editor
Tyler Medvec Adriana Rivera
Sports Editor
Jack Selati
Digital Editors
Max Hayes Elizabeth Christoph Ayaan Ahmed
Staff Writer
Angelina Chan Kiki Hood Mia Walvoord
Faculty Advisor
William Murphy
Online Faculty Advisor
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
Photo courtesy of Adriana Rivera LFA Students enjoying the photo booth at Winter Formal 2016
do is enjoy themselves! Besides the amount of time spent at the dance, there are other issues that students feel have made this night less enjoyable than it should be. “A better DJ and a venue other than the Garden Room could make it significantly better” Alutto commented. One thing that’s expected at a dance is to be able to dance. If the DJ doesn’t play music enjoyable to the attendees, they won’t dance and will quickly become bored, bringing us back to my first point where students leave too early into the dance. This past Homecoming a survey was sent out to the student body asking for a couple of songs from each student that they’d like to hear at the dance. But, as an attendee myself, who also completed the survey, I found that many of the
songs my friends and I requested on the survey were not played. If the same DJ plays at Winter Formal, the hope is they will take into consideration students’ song requests so that the dance can be more enjoyable for everyone. Some students feel that Winter Formal is truly a lost cause because of the precedents that have already been set. “No matter what they do I don’t think anything would change because of the reputation Winter Formal has,” said Alutto sadly. Although some may feel this way, this isn’t necessarily true. The thing with precedents is that new ones can always be set. Changes can be made to Winter Formal to make it an exciting dance that students look forward to, and where they will spend more than a half hour.
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
“A free press can be good or bad, but most certainly, without freedom a press will never be anything but bad.” -Albert Camus
THE SPECTATOR
Arts and Entertainment 10
By Katy Morrison and Dieter Villegas Staff Writers While in prior months the Global Grub team has tried restaurants ranging from cuisines based in Asian to European countries, this month it was time for a change. As suggested by readers, Global Grub decided to dine at Hash Hash A Go Go, an extremely popular joint in the north part of Chicago. Hash House A Go Go receives the majority of its attention largely due to their recognizable, enormous portion sizes. Post ordering, all of us were startled as towering plates of food poured out to the tables surrounding us and we watched as guests around us struggled to finish the food on their plates. Although it was dinner time when we went to the restaurant, the famous breakfast options are served all day long, prompting all of us to order from the breakfast portion of the menu. Dieter ordered the Andy’s famous Sage Fried Chicken & bacon waffle tower.
MARCH 9, 2018
Global Grub takes on American And while it was the smallest thing on the table, the ‘tower’ part of the meal was not an underestimate. Underneath two fried chicken breasts lay 4 bacon waffles on a bed of tomatoes and peppers, all drenched in a maple syrup. The combination of the sweet waffle and the fried chicken gave the dish a distinctive flavor. Katy ordered Andy’s Sage Fried Chicken which consisted of an enormous platter with two scrambled eggs, two slices of bacon, two fried chicken breasts, a heaping portion of bacon mashed potatoes, a biscuit, and an orange slice. Although tasty, the food quickly became overwhelming and became a challenge of what to eat next Sydney ordered the Sage Fried Chicken Benedict. While it looked like a big ball of sauce, the middle contained a pile of two biscuits, mashed potatoes, tomatoes, cheese, and topped with fried chicken which was slathered in a rich, spicy, hollandaise sauce giving it a tremendous flavor., in addition, to the great taste. We were impressed by how many foods could be combined and served on one large plate and the speed at which they provided the dishes. The atmosphere of the restaurant allowed us to feel as if we were transport-
ed to an American farm. The tables were made of a rustic hard wood material and the seats were red cushioned booths, identical to those found in classic American diners. The walls were adorned in a metal, tread plate, workshop material, rem-
iniscent of the industrial revolution and large family-style tables were adorned with a red patterned tablecloth and small bushels of wheat. Classic American hits by artist such as Springsteen and McLean played in the background while we ate.
Photo by Dieter Villegas Katy Morrison ‘18 gawks at the massive size and monstrosity of the Andy’s Sage Fried Chicken and Waffles.
Featured Artist of the Month: Krishna Nair By Katy Morrison Managing Editor of A&E
This month, The Spectator reached out
to Krishna Nair, a senior at Lake Forest Academy from Gurnee, Il. Nair currently partakes in a wide selection of arts activities which he has been involved
in from either freshman or sophomore year. Working with Mr. and Mrs. Plambeck, Mr. Koenig, and Mr. Schlipmann, Nair has proven excellence and dedication throughout his works over the years. Since his freshman year, Nair has been enrolled in choir and involved in extracurriculars such as Vox and the winter musical. Beginning his sophomore year, Nair added both the Caxstreet Boys and one-acts plays to his schedule. “It has always been a challenge balancing all of these activities with school and finding time for schoolwork. Sometimes I start pretty late, but as far as I can tell- it’s been worth it,” Nair stated. Despite all of his activities, Caxstreet Boys has been his favorite activity to participate in. As an a capella group, it is filled with constant collaboration among the boys, but also with the teachers, presenting complex and intriguing musical numbers to the LFA community. As one who has worked closely with Nair over the last year, Mr. Matt Boresi has been thoroughly impressed by Nair’s ability to balance all extracurriculars while remaining a “hardworking guy and all-around nice person”.
Photo courtesy of Krishna Nair Krishna Nair ‘18 twirling Julia Schroeder ‘17 during the performances of the 2017 one acts.
If you have a piece or person you’d like to see represented in the paper, contact Katy Morrison, kmorrison@students.lfanet.org
UPCOMING FINE ARTS DEPARTMENT DATES March 1 - Laptop Orchestra Concert March 6 - Choir Oratorio Concert March 7-10 - Orchestra Trip April 18 - VOX Concert April 26-27 - One Act Plays
The Featured Artist of the Month is an LFA student who demonstrates excellence and showcases exceptional prowess in the fine arts.
THE SPECTATOR
MARCH 9, 2018
Arts and Entertainment
11
Music Musings: Franz’s Always Ascending By Jasper Fisher Managing Editor of Production
Franz Ferdinand just released their fifth studio album, Always Ascending; no not the Austrian Arch-Duke, but the alternative rock band based in the city of Glasgow. Always Ascending is Ferdinand’s first non-collaborative studio album and allowed the band to truly utilize their own creative styles. Before the writing of their new album, the band had a lineup change with separation from their guitarist, Nick McCarthy. While changing out crucial members usually signals a rough patch for a band, Franz Ferdinand managed to create a new, sleek, catchy and enjoyable sound. Always Ascending debuted at number fourteen on the iTunes charts and has the definite potential to increase its position. The title track on the album, “Always Ascending,” was one of the three singles released to tease the album and has a indie-rock energetic feeling to the song. With a fast paced beat and a winding synthesizer, parts of the song could be easily mistaken for a Electronic Dance Music (EDM) song and then move back into Ferdinand’s happy guitar and drum centric riffs and rhythms. The next highlight track from the album, Lazy Boy, is by far the most repetitive and simple song of the album. Lazy
Boy is the second track on the record and gives a slower and more relaxing beat to listen to. The latter half of the song introduces another signiture funky guitar riff with the same repetition of vocals. Track five, “The Academy Award,” is an interestingly gloomy ballad. While gloomy and ballad may both be words to make the average music connoisseur turn tail and run, I promise it is worth a listen. The song is slow and magnificent with a 60’s esque piano riff in the chorus which presents a fine contrast to the sarcastic lyrics. The choral phrase, “The Academy Award for good times goes to you,” is presented as less of a social commentary and more of a joking statement made while plagiarizing the Academy Award statement. “Paper Cages”, the third track on the album, is a pop-styled energetic song. With positive lyrics centered around thinking outside of the box and breaking out of society “paper cages.” With a captivating synthesizer and portions of the song having some of the short and pleasing guitar riffs that Franz Ferdinand is known for. If you are already a fan of Franz Ferdinand, the eighth track “Glimpses of Love” is the song most representative of their older music. The song is energetic, with a walking synthesizer, a heavy beat and funky bass line. As the most upbeat and happy song
Monthly Word Search
Photo courtesy of Diffuser The frontmen of Franz Ferdinand performing on their North American 2017 tour.
on the album, this one is a joy to listen to. Always Ascending was released on February 9th of this year and is a great album to pick up if you are still fighting off the mid-February blues, or are
just looking for some new music to try out. Even if you are not a fan of the alternative genre, never be opposed to listening to new music, you never know, you may be surprised by what you hear!
Caxy Match
Photos courtesy of Google and Joy Zhou
SPRING RAIN UMBRELLA CLEANING BREAK TRIPS
FLOWERS FRIENDS
Every month, The Spectator chooses one person at LFA who bears a striking resemblance to another. This month, we have paired faculty FRESH FAMILY member Adam Gerber with President Donald Trump.
12
Sports
Boys tennis and new head coach prep for most important season in years By Jack Mahon Managing Editor of Sports
The 2017-18 season may be historic for LFA boys tennis. Over the last three seasons, the team’s young core has gotten better and more experienced, and this year should be the peak. The team features a strong senior group, most of whom are in their third or fourth varsity season, as well as younger talent. Following the departure of Mike Friedman as coach, Ms. Kimberly Graham, varsity girls’ head coach and last year’s boys assistant coach, will lead the team. “I think this team has the potential to be the best guys tennis team in my 13 years,” said LFA Athletic Director Darrin Madeley. The team’s main production will come from seniors Mason Schilling, Charlie Kilborn, and Daniel Chia, as well as junior Jack Selati and sophomore Will Kasten. Schilling has been the team’s number one since freshman year, while Kilborn is also a college-level player who recently committed to Trinity College for tennis. “We are going to have a lot of seniors this year, most of whom have played three years of varsity. This is going to bring a leadership quality we may have lacked in past years,” said Kilborn. Selati, while still a junior, has had a great year improving. After tearing his Miniscus early in his sophomore year, he has made a full recovery. Since last tennis season, his play in tournaments has earned him some
high-major college interest, as well as being ranked 13th in Illinois for the junior class. “I noticed that over the off-season, a lot of players have been working on their game, specifically Jack Selati, who has been playing high level tournaments over the last nine months,” praised Kilborn. For Graham, the head coach position is one that will not be hard to step into. She has been head coach of girl’s varsity for the past three seasons, and boys assistant for the past two. The transition from assistant will be seamless, especially given the fact she already knows most the team well. “As the assistant coach for the boys varsity team the past two years, I was mainly responsible for showing up and driving the Caxy van. Although that was fun, I’m very much looking forward to being more hands on with the team now as the head coach,” said Graham. The team will play against a tough schedule this season, but the team is looking forward to it. Only two years ago the boys team was playing against a JV schedule, but will face tough opponents such as New Trier and LFHS this year. Behind Schilling, Kilborn, Selati, and the rest of the talented core, boys tennis could have one of its most succesfull seasons on record. The first match will be April 4th against Conant. “I think this is the year we beat LFHS finally. I’m calling it. That win would put an exclamation point on our season, regardless of how we do,” Kilborn concluded.
Photo courtesy of Oliver Yuan Two integral members of the team, Jack Selati ‘19 and Charlie Kilborn ‘18 shake hands during a doubles match in the 2016-17 season. The Caxys won the match, against a strong Maine South team.
From playing at Glore Gym to playing in front of 18,000: former Caxy sees success in international basketball By Jack Selati Sports Editor
Photo courtesy of Getty Images Brandt dunks in the NBL Grand Final against the Illawara Hawks on February 26, 2017.
MARCH 9, 2018
Lake Forest Academy has been home to many great athletes but never one who has played in the Australian NBL or National Basketball League, until Angus Brandt. This league is home to the Perth Wildcats, the team that includes Brandt. Angus was born and raised in Sydney Australia and attended Lake Forest Academy for his Senior year of high school from 2008 to 2009. While Brandt was attending LFA, he played on the basketball team coached by Matt Vaughn and Kyle Koncz. Vaughn spoke about how great his work ethic was while he was at LFA. “He was a hard worker both on and off the court,” said Vaughn. Brandt loved his time at Lake Forest Academy and believed that it prepared him not only for his Division 1 college playing days at Oklahoma State, but also for his professional career back in Australia. “Going to LFA properly prepared me for college and how to balance the rigors of being a student athlete. This led me to have a successful college career that led to a pro career,” spoke Brandt. Brandt’s hard work that he put in during his time at Lake Forest Academy pre-
pared him for the NBL and obstacles he would face. This past season Brandt and the Perth Wildcats accomplished every team’s goal and won the championship. “It was amazing, you work so hard to win one and not everyone is fortunate enough to do so during their career. When it happens it’s an incredible feeling of accomplishment,” Brandt said. Brandt has not only had great accomplishments in the NBL, last year Brandt went to the Asia Cup to play for the Australian National Team. During this tournament Brandt and his fellow Aussie teammates brought home the gold. While Brandt was ecstatic at this accomplishment, he said he would still love to play for his home country Australia in the Olympics. Even with all the achievements he has had during his career, Brandt was not always certain he would end up playing professional basketball. “I played basketball because I loved it and worked hard at it because I enjoyed that part of it. As I got older the dream of pro ball became more realistic,” spoke Brandt. As a professional basketball player, his advice to anyone who wants to pursue basketball is to be the hardest worker out on the court. Brandt will play the Adelaide 36ers in the NBL semi-finals in March, with another title in mind.