Issue 2 10 26 17

Life of alumnus inspires author Paper ighlights

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Jack Kunkle ‘14 serves as influence for main character in new book as tribute to his fight with cancer, adversity

by Grant Campbell @grantc_3100

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nderson’s Bookshop in LaGrange hosted author Jordan Sonnenblick’s book signing of “The Secret Sheriff of Sixth Grade” on Sept. 25.

Community members filled the seats of the local bookstore to learn more about the book that appeals to middle school students and others.

Maverick, the main character, is inspired by Jack Kunkle ’14 and his ongoing response to hardships. Jack battled brain cancer starting in sixth grade, and later passed away the summer after he graduated in 2014.

“I was surprised [when I first learned about the book],” Jack’s mom, Ellen Kunkle, said.

“We had seen how he touched the lives of so many people around him, but it never occured to me that Jack’s life would affect others beyond our community.”

Jack first encountered Sonnenblick’s writing through “SuperSibs!”, an organization that reaches out to siblings of cancer patients. Jack’s sisters Leigh and Emily Kunkle were sent Sonnenblick’s book, “Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie” after Jack’s first diagnosis in sixth grade. His sisters liked it so much that they encouraged Jack to read it.

“The experience [Sonnenblick] wrote about felt real,” Ellen said. “It was spot on with cancer drugs and the tough experiences that we could

relate to. [Sonnenblick] created a real story that was accurate unlike other books we had read.”

After Jack read the novel, he was inspired to personally reach out to Sonnenblick and sent a fan letter, she said.

“In the letter, he told me that my book made him feel like he wasn’t alone being the bald kid in sixth grade,” Sonnenblick said.

“He found a touching way of complimenting me on what I had done, and I could immediately sense that he was a special person.”

From there, the two kept in Jack Kunkle and Jordan Sonnenblick pose together. (Ellen Kunkle) touch as pen pals, and Jack would also reach out to Sonnenblick requesting signed ple happy, and make sure that everyone came books for other cancer patients Jack knew, Son- together,” he said. “He was brilliant, witty, hilarious and never cruel, judgmental or harsh in any nenblick said.

“The big thing about Jack was he always asked scenes he did.”

The first Mr. LT competition occurred during other people what he could do for them,” he said.

Jack’s senior year. He entered, and was crowned “He was a superlatively selfless person.”

Jack’s passion for the performing arts began in the first ever Mr. LT, performing stand-up comfourth grade and continued during his tenure at edy as his talent.

“Despite his size and tough life, he was able to LT, his father, John Kunkle, said.

During his treatment, he was able to maintain accomplish so much through his fun-loving spirhis helpful character towards classmates and fac- it,” Theatre Board sponsor and playwriting teacher Lawrence Keller said. “There may be future ulty, Improv Teacher Mike Kuehl said.

“He looked at it as his job to make other peoContinued on page 3

DACA rescinded, causes disorientation LT DACA participant concerned for future, unsure of how policy changes will affect her

by Brandt Siegfried Secretary of the Department of Homeland Se@brandto_13 curity Elaine Duke at the direction of the president, rescinds the DACA program. The For the nine months President Donald benefits will continue for a grace period of Trump has been in office, immigration six months until March 2018. For those issues have received a front and center who only know the United States as seat in the national policy debate. Ever their home, including Emma Wise ‘19, since announcing his candidacy for DACA is an important part of life. president in June 2015, Trump has “I’m not an illegal immigrant, I engaged with immigration, favoram a U.S. citizen, but I am a part of ing stronger restrictions and more DACA,” she said. “It’s all so confusborder security. ing to me. I’m not an illegal immiThe Deferred Action For grant, but for some reason I am Childhood Arrivals propart of DACA.” gram, commonly known Uncertainty has been a as DACA, is not safe large part of Wises’ expefrom changes. DACA rience with DACA, she was established in 2012 said. She was born in

by President Barack Uzynagash, KazakhObama. It effectively stan, and was brought allows people illeto the United States at gally brought to the 10 months after she was United States as chiladopted by her mother. dren to receive pseuShe was naturalized do-legal protection. as a citizen after her The program defers DACA recipient Emma Wise ‘19 (Rossetti/LION) arrival, meaning she is a deportation for qualifying illegal immigrants, while granting them U.S. citizen. The international adoption process, the legal ability to work through three-year re- however, is full of complexities. “[The whole adoption process] was in Rusnewable work permits.

A Sept. 5 memorandum, issued by Acting sian, and my mom doesn’t know a lick of it,”

Wise said. “It had to be translated to English, which took a lot of paper work. My birth certificate says I’m Russian, but my adoption certificate says I’m from Kazakhstan. When I was born I was Russian, and by the time I was adopted I was Kazakh.”

Paperwork inconsistencies with the nation of birth have created other issues, especially when traveling out of the country.

“We go to Canada a lot, and when we have to cross the border it takes a long time,” Wise said.

International travel is not the only thing for which Wise uses her passport. Passports can be used to prove citizenship, and she carries her card with her everywhere as a safety measure in the event she has to use it to prove her citizenship.

“I have to carry my passport around at all times,” Wise said. “People ask for it if I’m doing something and if they think I’m an illegal immigrant, they have the right to ask for my card. That’s why I have to have it. I still carry it around just in case because I don’t know what will happen. This world is crazy.”

To attempt to mitigate the confusion, Wise’s family is consulting an immigration lawyer. The confusion comes from DACA enrollment while concurrently possessing U.S. citizenship.

Continued on page 6

Organization provides platform to give back

West Suburban chapter raises money for small charities, next event welcomes high schoolers

by Greta Markey As Western Springs resident Caitlin McNeily drove in her car shortly after the 2016 presidential election, she realized that instead of being frustrated with events, like the election, that she couldn’t control, there was instead a way she could help give back. Inspired by her husband’s organization, “100 Men who Give a Damn” in Chicago, McNeily decided to create a west-suburban organization titled “100 Women who Give a Damn.” This program, now consisting of over 100 women, holds events every few months where each attendee donates $100 to one local charity selected via a voting process.

“Every woman at the event is there to give of their time, to give of their hearts and to give of their mental energy,” McNeily said. “I think

North Campus

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that giving people a place to remember that making a difference doesn’t always have to be so emotionally charged is important nowadays. It can also be thoughtful and kind and easy, like the events we put on.”

Each event consists of five-minute presentations from three different local charities, McNeily said. After the presentations, each woman has the opportunity to vote for which charity moved them the most. The charity that receives the most votes is then donated $100 from each of the women attending the event. With around 100 women attending each event and each donating $100, the organization is able to raise around $10,000 at each gathering.

“Our goal is to make a large difference for a smaller charity,” she said. “There are so many

small organizations that do such good work, and a $10,000 donation could be more than what they raised all of last year. Although it may seem disappointing to the charities that didn’t get selected, the opportunity to raise awareness for their organization means that generous women who were moved by their presentation often reach out and donate to them as well.”

The decision to keep “damn” in their title, although initially debated, has helped McNeily and her team become more recognizable and gain an online presence, she said. The group initially had thoughts that it would turn away charities, but has yet to experience any problems or complaints. Additionally, since no other organization had used “damn” in

100 S. Brainard Ave. LaGrange, Ill. 60525 South Campus

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Look here for some quick reads on this issue’s features.

Page 2: Former White House Advisor cautions us on the potential of legal marijuana. Curious what he has to say? Check out Page 2.

Page 3: No, this LT alumni is not affiliated with Batman.

Turn to Page 3 to read about his work with Gotham Greens.

Page 4: Students have been seeking out official club status for an LT Chess Club.

Full coverage on Page 4.

Page 5: This new Community page features some of the community efforts to combat hurricane damage.

Page 6: Don’t forget to add us on Snapchat! See what you missed on Page 6.

Page 8: We’ve improved our point-counterpoint. Flip to Page 8 to read THREE opinions on what you can do during the Pledge of Allegiance.

Page 9: As a newspaper, we love our freedom of speech.

See what we mean on Page 9.

Page 11: Did you know historic Coach Joann Pyritz is retiring this year? Read our tribute to her career on Page 11.

Page 12: Who is this issue’s Athlete of the Month? See who it is on Page 12.

Page 14: Are you interested in photography? We have some suggestions on how to improve your photos on Page 14.

Page 16-17: The Good, the Bad, the Greek. Full coverage on Pages 16-17.

Page 19: Confused about the tension with North Korea?

We have a whole page to describe it on Page 19.

Page 20: We have a spooky Halloween themed Pet of the Month on Page 20.

“100 Women who Give a Damn” has held two successful events so far, and their third event is coming up.

Approximate amount of money donated to “Share our Spare” in the organization’s March 2017 event.

Approximate amount of money donated to “Cal’s Angels” in the organization’s August 2017 event.

The date of the next “100 Kids who Give a Darn” event, which will be held at the Capris Banquet Hall in Countryside. High schoolers are encouraged to attend.

Source: Caitlin McNeily

Compiled By: Greta Markey

4900 Willow Springs Rd. Western Springs, Ill. 60558

NEWS

Page 2

Thursday, October 26, 2017

Marijuana presentation at Neuqua raises questions about legalization Former White House Advisor Kevin Sabet discusses cannabis, potential industry commercialization

by Lars Lonnroth @larslonnroth

NAPERVILLE, Ill.—In the debate over the legalization of marijuana, former White House Advisor on Drug Policy Kevin Sabet is ardently opposed to the growing efforts to legalize the drug. In the Neuqua Valley High School auditorium on Sept. 28, Sabet implored an audience of parents, students and the Naperville community to reconsider the legalization efforts.

“Young people need to know that their brains are essentially [viewed as] dollar signs right now by an industry that wants to get rich off them,” Sabet said. “Their parents’ generation were duped by tobacco; the question is, will we be duped by marijuana.”

On a wider scale, the effort to legalize medical and recreational marijuana has been gaining popularity in state governments nationwide—with more and more states decriminalizing or legalizing marijuana—as more of the public perceives it as a potential solution to a plethora of problems, while having few repercussions if enacted.

In Illinois’ General Assembly, state Sen. Heather Steans (D-Chicago) and state Rep. Kelly Cassidy (D-Chicago) have both authored bills that aim to legalize marijuana for recreational use in Illinois (or as the lawmakers call it “adult use”). Marijuana was legalized for medical use in Illinois in 2013.

Cook County Commissioner John Fritchey came out in support for the legalization of marijuana on Oct. 4, pointing to the projected $350 to $700 million that it would bring in for a state grappling with immense financial woes.

In his presentation, Sabet said that the idea there would be no repercussions if marijuana is legalized is false and the public is being sold something that’s too good to be true.

“Marijuana is claimed to be the answer to cancer, budget deficits

Kevin Sabet argues against marijuana legalization at Neuqua Valley High School. (LION/Lonnroth) and Mexican drug cartels,” he said. legal does more harm than good.

“Anything that claims to solve all those “If you look at anything that has been problems we should be skeptical of.” made illegal and tried to be banned—just While many supporters argue that lelook at the parallels between prohibition—it galization gives the government the ability is only going to continue to put this inside to regulate the industry, Sabet claimed the the hands of an unregulated market where United State’s history of regulating the drug we are unsure of where the product comes industry is complicated. from,” Mendoza said. “We need to regulate it “I’m not confident that we’re going to be and make sure it is used responsibly.” able to regulate this in a safe way and get all Many of those pushing to legalize mariof the benefits that are being claimed,” Sabet juana for recreational use agree that regulasaid, pointing to prescription drugs, alcohol tion is important, but argue consumers need and other legalized drugs where he claims to be responsible in their use and storage of regulation has been more lax. marijuana.

Gabriel Mendoza, secretary of the Chi“We would expect that adults, in the cago chapter of the National Organization to same way they would lock up their liquor Reform Marijuana Laws (NORML), argued cabinets, would be responsible and lock up that this is untrue and keeping marijuana iltheir products,” said Rose Ashby, state field

Library seeks funding

director for both of the politicians pushing legislation in the Illinois General Assembly.

“You cannot control what an adult does inside their homes, but [you] can have penalties for [allowing it to get in the hands of minors.]”

Ashby points to studies that have shown marijuana to be safer than alcohol and argues that it should be legal for those of age to use while simultaneously raising much-needed revenue for the state.

“Everyone over the age of 21, just like they can drink, should be able to use a product that on its face is less addictive, less harmful and associated with less crime and aggression,” Ashby said. “It is, on its face, less harmful than alcohol—and that is our point.”

Sabet argues the bar shouldn’t be whether marijuana is safer than alcohol as he questions if “alcohol is legal because it is safe or is it legal because it has been in our culture for a long time” and “if we were to go back in time, would we legalize these drugs.”

“I’m trying to get out a message that is based on the evidence [and] really have people stop and think... if we really want to go down the path of legalization the way we did with tobacco and alcohol that have had disastrous implications,” Sabet said.

He added that: “It may take five, 50 or 100 years for people to realize this is the wrong way, but it will happen at some point. We just don’t want it to happen like it did with tobacco where we had to have 500,000 people a year dead for the last 80 years until we woke up.”

Bob McBride, Principal at Neuqua Valley, said it was a good opportunity to promote conversation about marijuana and analyze the issue.

“Anytime you have an opportunity to think through the consequences and implications of something that could happen,” he said, “you should think that through.”

Aviation students fundraise

Local library aims to raise taxes for renovations

Plane pull donates money for Special Olympics Illinois

The Thomas Ford Memorial Library in Western Springs is seeking approval from Western Springs residents to implement a $2 million tax increase to renovate the facility.

“The library was last renovated in 1996,” Library Board of Trustees President Mary Greska said. “Since then, there have been amazing technology advancements, so much of the renovations have to do with bringing the library into the era where it’s more friendly to technology.”

The major renovations would include adding more outlets, study rooms and a teen/tween space, as now one-third of Western Springs residents are under 18. However, the outside of the building would not be changed.

“The voters realize that they’re very fortunate to have the Thomas Ford Library,” Library Director Ted Bodewes said. “I think they recognize that every so often the library has to modernize, otherwise it stops being functional. People want to live in a town that has good schools, parks and libraries, so we work very hard to keep the value of the community organizations prominent for the residents.”

Voting for the referendum will take place March 20 for Western Springs residents, Bodewes said. If passed, property

taxes would be raised for 10 years. In turn, a Western Springs home costing $100,000 would pay approximately $10 extra in taxes per year, so residents would pay approximately $10 for every $100,000 the home is worth. The money would be used to pay back the library’s loan.

“The past November election has mobilized a lot of people that were perhaps quieter politically before,” Greska said. “If you take that combined with the Gubernatorial primary in Illinois, I think we may have a more significant turnout than usual. We want the community to come out and indicate their approval or disapproval, hopefully their approval!”

Only Western Springs citizens can vote at the referendum to approve the tax, Bodewes said. Anyone who will be 18 years old by the fall election is allowed to register to vote in the primary election.

“It’s awesome that they’re making it more spacious,” LT student and Western Springs resident Emily Weibel ‘19 said.

“Especially because right now there’s not a lot of area to do homework or study.”

If the referendum is not approved, the library may make smaller renovations but would not afford the major ones, Greska said. If it is approved, construction would begin at the end of 2018 and finish in 2019.

Seventeen aviation students and two teachers piled into a school bus heading to O’Hare International Airport on Saturday, Sept. 16 to participate in LT’s second plane pull fundraiser.

This year marked the ninth annual Law Enforcement Torch Run Plane Pull event, according to Special Olympics Illinois. Along with 84 other teams, LT’s crew of 19, including Applied Technology teacher Dave Root and Small Engines teacher Josh Nabasny, successfully pulled a plane 12 feet, using a tug-of-war rope attached to the nose of a plane, Root said.

The two planes consisted of an Airbus A300 and a Boeing 737-900, each weighing about 180,000 pounds, according to Special Olympics Illinois. LT’s group was assigned to pull the Airbus A300, Root said.

“It was really hard,” aviation student Luciano Vitale ‘18 said. “It took us probably about 10 seconds to actually even get it moving. And then from there it was like we had almost run out of time already.”

The event was divided into three separate divisions: Public Safety, Hotel and Open Division, according to Special Olympics Illinois. LT competed in the Open Division, Root said.

In order to participate, each team had to raise a minimum of $1,000, Root said. LT

is not classified as a 5013c nonprofit charity, they cannot collect the money from all of the women and give it directly to the charity that is chosen at each event. Instead, they act as a channel for donation to the charities.

Each woman who attends an event brings her checkbook and is prepared to donate $100 to whatever charity ends up being chosen.

“We may eventually switch over to becoming a registered 5013c charity so that one day someone can make a donation to ‘100 Women who Give a Damn’ and we can put those funds where they’re needed,” she said.

“But for now, we are very happy with the

work that we are able to do: giving each charity exposure and providing the chosen charity with some well-deserved funds.”

At their first event in March 2017, the women were able to raise around $14,000 for a charity known as “Share our Spare”, which collects baby supplies for families in need.

Their second event, which they held in August raised about $8,700 for the cancer foundation, “Cal’s Angels.”

Their next event, titled “100 Kids who Give a Darn” is more kid-friendly and will be held on Nov. 12 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Capris Banquet Hall in Countryside. McNeily

by Georgia Dougherty @georgiadoc6

Female charity fundraiser Continued from Page 1

their title, although initially debated, has helped McNeily and her team become more recognizable and gain an online presence, she said. The group initially had thought that it would turn away charities, but has yet to experience any problems or complaints. Additionally, since no other organization had used “damn” in their title, they were able to easily create a website and Facebook for their group without any overlap.

Since “100 Women who Give a Damn”

by Harper Hill @harpss42

students raised a total of $1,500, all of which was donated to Special Olympics Illinois. “[We participate] to raise money for Special Olympics and get our students excited to raise money for the cause,” Root said.

The Special Olympics program at LT is for students with special needs or disabilities who want to be involved in a team sport, Special Olympics basketball white team head coach Darwin De Pina said.

“I think across the board in Illinois and across the nation, Special Olympics is pretty important because a lot of the athletes want to be treated just like everybody else, so I think the money for Special Olympics is just a little extra addition,” De Pina said.

The donations to Special Olympics Illinois help with any needs the program may have, he said.

“I think it’s something that’s often overlooked,” Root said. “We don’t tend to focus on Special Olympic athletes, so I think it’s something very worthy to raise funds for and I think they could use the funds.”

Many students took part in the plane pull because of the positive effects it would have on the Special Olympics program, Root said.

“It was a lot of fun,” Vitale said. “We’re all close in this class and it was a way to bring us closer. I have a cousin that participated in Special Olympics, so that’s why I did it.” wants to gear the event more towards kids and high-schoolers.

“I think that people by nature are altruistic,” McNeily said. “It would be great to give [high-schoolers] a platform to both give back and have a say in where they give back. Even though cooking at a soup kitchen or volunteering at a homeless shelter is great work, there are also so many other smaller charities that don’t get as much exposure. Our organization sheds a light on amazing local charities. If we can get one person to realize their desire to give back to a certain cause, then I think that we’ve done our job.”

NEWS

Thursday, October 26, 2017

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LT alumnus grows for new urban farming company Business expands, opens new facility in Chicago

By Greg Smith CHICAGO—Lyons Township alumnus Craig Frymark ’02 and his wife Jennifer Nelkin Frymark currently work for the New Yorkbased urban farming company “Gotham Greens.” Craig serves as the Facilities Manager of Gotham’s newest greenhouse in Chicago’s Pullman area, and Jennifer works as the company’s Chief Agriculture Officer. Gotham Greens grows a variety of crops, including herbs and leafy green vegetables, Pullman Greenhouse Lead Maggie Rigney said.

Gotham Greens started in 2011 with a 15,000 square foot rooftop greenhouse in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. Jennifer joined the company soon after it started, Craig said.

Since the first rooftop farm in Brooklyn, three more have become operational. Gotham’s Gowanus,

Technology at the Gotham Green’s new greenhouse in Chicago. (LION/Smith)

Brooklyn facility is 20,000 square feet on top of a Whole Foods Market, Rigney said. The Hollis, Queens farm is 60,000 square feet on top of the factory where the Rubik’s Cube and Teddy Bear were

first made. On top of the Method Soap factory in Pullman, Chicago sits Gotham’s newest rooftop farm. Near this 75,000 square foot facility—the largest rooftop farm in the world—Whole Foods plans

to build a distribution center.

“We’ve learned a lot from our first two experiences that tells us this has the potential to be a very successful business model in any urban area,” Craig said. “Most people have never had lettuce this fresh before.”

Ninety-eight percent of the lettuce grown in the United States is from California or Arizona, Rigney said. As a result, much of the leafy vegetables in grocery stores can be seven to 10 days old by the time it is actually consumed in Chicago or New York. Since Gotham Greens grows its products in close proximity to where they are sold, this turnaround time is eliminated.

Crops can be harvested and delivered in 24 hours, Senior Marketing and Partnerships Manager Nicole Baum said.

The new Chicago greenhouse that Craig manages uses the most automated technology out of the Gotham Greens locations, he said.

The plants are rotated through the greenhouse during their 40-day growing cycle and every day, planting, harvesting and all stages in between occur. The plants are irrigated through nutrient film technique, which delivers the proper amount of fortified water directly to the plants, Rigney said. The method uses about one tenth of the water as regular farming, and the Pullman location— under two acres—has productivity comparable to 60 acres of farmland.

Sensors for light, heat and humidity interact with shades, lights, heaters and other technology in order to automatically maintain an optimal environment, Rigney said.

Gotham Greens is currently planning to expand further, but the company has not yet decided to make its plans public, Baum said.

“It is a really different product when you have it as fresh as we can deliver it,” Craig said, “and it’s still funny to me to hear people so excited about lettuce.”

Area receives new state senator Student Council holds blood drive ner for the betterment of the entire state.”

Curran, 44, grew up in Evergreen Park and attended Brother Rice High School.

by Lars Lonnoth He played football at University of Illinois @larslonnroth where he also studied what would now be When state Sen. John Curran (R-Down- known as Technical Systems Management. ers Grove) was informed July 22 that he Curran then procured his Juris Doctor and would be appointed to replace former Senate was hired as an Assistant State’s Attorney in Minority Leader Christine Radogno and Cook County. serve the 41st District—including parts of In describing his ideology, Curran put the La Grange, Western Springs and Indian emphasis on efficiency in government.

Head Park—it was only a matter of days be“Government needs to be responsive to fore he cast his first vote in the Illithe citizens they represent, it needs to nois state Senate. seek out and foster not only innovation His appointment transpired but efficiencies and needs to provide during the debate in Springfield high quality services at the lowest posover education funding in Illinois, sible cost,” Curran said. when some schools were at risk of Christine Cook, chairwoman of not opening due to funding from the the Lyons Township Republican state that was delayed due to the negoOrganization, was involved in tiations.

Curran’s appointment, and notWhile it was not intended to ed his efforts at accomplishing occur the way it did, Curran those goals at the DuPage Counwas sworn into office on July ty Board.

26, only four days after first “We had a lot of great canbeing informed of his appoint- State Sen. John Curran. didates,” Cook said. “We interment. viewed every single one of them.

(Illinois State Senate) “It was not intended to be All of them would’ve been terrific that quick, however, there were sessions advocates for the voters, but John has a lot on the 26th on the education bill and I was of different experience. And for me, the most needed in Springfield,” he said. “But before I impressive thing was his humble personality would be available to take any kind of action, and his experience over at the DuPage CounI had to be sworn in.” ty Board.”

Curran noted that—unlike the three-year Cook was also impressed by Curran’s efbudget impasse that ended this July, which forts at the DuPage County Board to balance he witnessed during his time serving as Vice the budget, enact cost saving reforms and his Chairman of the DuPage County Board—the willingness to engage with the community. education bill saw most legislators finding a She thought all of that experience made him way “to rise above partisanship” in a way that stand out as “somebody that anyone in the benefited all of the state’s school districts. community would want representing their “The citizens need to demand that the interests in Springfield.” state government model itself after [the way Curran wasn’t elected to the position and we approached education funding],” Curran was instead selected by the party to fill the said. “We need to work in a bipartisan man- seat that Radgona vacated.

Party selects DuPage Board’s Vice Chairman to fill vacancy

Kunkle inspires book Continued from page 1 Mr. LT’s who are as good or as worthy [of winning], but I don’t think there will ever be anyone better than Jack.”

During Jack’s senior year at LT, he was in the process of completing final round of cancer treatment. At this time, Sonnenblick was preoccupied with Jack’s health and wanted to help in any way that he could.

“Jack always loved Captain America,” he said. “Five days after his brain surgery, I gifted him a Captain America wallet. After that moment, I couldn’t stop picturing that star.

That was when I came up with the idea for a new book.”

Though Sonnenblick was able to write and publish this book rather quickly, he struggled to come up with ideas for new books. He experienced two years of writer’s block, and was considering dropping writing and continuing to be a middle school teacher, he said.

“I was about to give up [on writing], and be an English teacher,” he said. “I was on a walk with my wife, and I told her that I was going to give up. But then, the star came to me again.”

In the book, Maverick always carries a

toy sheriff star in is pocket while he tries to make his school and the world a better place as the “Secret Sheriff of Sixth Grade.”

“What I wanted to capture about Jack was that you could not beat him down,” Sonnenblick said. “He couldn’t control the situation he was born into. What he could control was how he treated other people. That’s what [Maverick] does. I was trying to teach the reader the same lessons that Jack taught me on how to respond to adversity.”

Keller also saw Jack’s unique demeanor towards his ongoing battle with cancer.

“We all complain every day,” he said.

“Jack had a way of putting everything in perspective. He had a sense of embracing life and worrying about the most important thing: others.”

When Jack was in his final month, Sonnenblick sent the first draft of his book to the Kunkles’ house so Jack could read Sonnenblick’s tribute. Jack read the copy, but he also contacted Sonnenblick asking how he could help with the writing and editing process, Ellen said.

“He not only asked [Jordan] about how to help, but he physically put punctuation and grammar corrections on the copy,” she said.

“It was a typical Jack move.”

After Leigh read it, she noted the similarities and the strength of the relationship between Sonnenblick and her brother, as well

Hundreds sign up for first blood drive of school year

by Taylor Schmitt

The LT Student Council held its first blood drive of the year in the Vaughan Gym on Oct. 25. To donate, students had to be at least 16 years old and needed to receive a parent’s permission and signature to participate if they were under 17 years old.

“You are saving multiple lives when you donate blood,” Student Activities Director Peter Geddeis said.

Student Council members have been holding blood drives for 30 years, Geddeis said. Last year, they received an award from Heartland Blood Centers, the company that runs the blood drives, for their dedication to collecting and donating blood to those in need.

“Heartland always sets the goals each year based on historical trends for a calendar slot in previous years, but our goal is always to surpass that,” Geddeis said.

The first blood drive has consistently had the largest number of people, Geddeis said. However, after the first, the numbers typically start to decrease. The numbers drop off for a variety of reasons. One of which is that

Student council member signs up student for blood drive during lunch period. (LION)

since physical activity is not allowed for the rest of the day after donation, student athletes cannot participate during their season.

Despite the fact that there are typically many sign ups, not everybody is able to donate on the day of the drive, Geddeis said. There’s certain criteria for donating blood beyond the school’s requirements for age, weight and parent approval for 16-yearolds. Heartland Blood Centers looks at other factors on the day of the blood drive like pulse, iron level and other physical health requirements.

“I was able to donate for the first time last year,” Student Council President Brandt Siegfried ‘18 said. “I think that it’s a really great

as the message that Sonnenblick was emulating through his story. “[Sonnenblick] did a great job,” she said.

“If Jack wrote a book, it would sound like this. [Maverick] realizes that he’s doing a lot and can’t fix everything. The book emphasizes to not get down on yourself because you can’t save the world. What you can do is help the people around you.”

Both Jack and Maverick are able to positively impact their surroundings through both large or small acts, John said.

“You can’t change everything, but if you can cause a ripple that expands and touches other people in a positive way, you’re doing well,” he said. “Jack had a way of touching people and making them feel good. Not always in a big way, but that made it even more impactful. He wasn’t looking to change the world as much as he was trying to make it better for everyone around him.”

Now that “The Secret Sheriff of Sixth Grade” has been published, Sonnenblick will continue his momentum from this book and continue writing, he said.

“I would have quit writing,” Sonnenblick said. “But now, I have written two straight books. Jack gave new life to my career. You can’t see someone that heroic without feeling that you need to be a better version of yourself. He was such a magnificently radiant version of what a person should be.”

way for us to help keep other people alive. My cousin works in an ICU at a hospital, and she’s explained to me the importance of having blood available. That’s definitely something that has resonated with me.”

Repeat donation is more likely if the person has a personal connection to donating blood, Geddeis said.

“Part of the reason why donating blood is special to me is because it is something that my mom has done her entire life,” Geddeis said.

“Every time I donate, I think about my mom and how she donates simply out of the goodness of her heart. I started because I saw her doing it and thought to myself, ‘I’ll start doing it.’”

Cover of “The Secret Sheriff of Sixth Grade.”

(Ellen Kunkle)

NEWS

Page 4

Thursday, October 26, 2017

MUN hopes to bounce back after loss New members face stiff competition

by Grace DeKoker @grace_dekoker

LT Model UN students faced a tough defeat in their conference at Washington University, Oct. 13-15. This conference is known throughout MUN to be a learning opportunity for newcomers, and kicks off the competitive season. Secretary General Jack Dudley ‘18 views the weekend as a success, despite LT not winning—or even placing.

“We had winners who weren’t used to winning on the university level. It was really rewarding to see that,” he said.

Part of the challenge was a difference in setup, competitor Gina Cuba ‘19 said. Debates are divided into two subsections: general assemblies and crisis committees. Assemblies are larger groups focused on broader issues like poverty or world hunger, while crisis committees focus on a specific

LT MUN victories Despite failure to place at WUMUNS, 10 indivduals received recognition in their respective committees.

problem, past or present, real or fictional, Dudley said.

“It’s very reflective of the actual UN,” he said. “You’ll be assigned a country—or if you’re in committee, a real person, figure, or character—it will most definitely be an individual though.”

At the conference, everyone was placed in crisis committee. Most students compete in general assemblies more frequently, Cuba said, which is a potential reason LT did not score up to their usual standards.

“Getting the inexperienced delegates ready for the conference, so that they have more confidence going in,” MUN advisor and social studies teacher Andrew Johannes said is a focal point.

Despite the challenges that come with a still developing team, many new members had the opportunity to grow, Cuba said. Despite the new students and change in structure, LT had competitors place in 10 of the 16 events.

“It was really cool to see,” Cuba said. “From not contributing that much at the beginning to almost yelling at the end, the growth was really cool.”

MUN’s goal is to argue for as much personal gain as possible, Dudley said.

“Experienced students need to encourage the younger ones; the more inexperienced, just to go out there and speak,” Johannes said. “The key with MUN is just speaking and being involved. Just go out and do it.”

MUN travelled to Waubonsie Valley Oct. 21, another new conference and learning opportunity, Johannes said.

“The point isn’t always to win,” Dudley said. “You just always want to be getting better.”

They managed to improve greatly though, with wins in all conferences they had delgates in, Dudley said.

Upcoming tournaments include St. Ignatius on Nov. 4 and Chicago International from Nov. 30 to Dec 3.

Xander Allison ‘19- 4th

Will Moran ‘18 - 3rd

Carl Volz ‘18-3rd

Max Bresticker ‘19- 3rd

Tommy Pigatto ‘18- 1st

Isaac Wisthuff ‘18- 3rd

Jack Dudley ‘18- 3rd

Sam Rahman ‘18- 3rd

Miles Hession ‘18- 1st

Emerson Rounds ‘19-2nd

Congratulations to all competitors at WUMUNS!

compiled by: Grace DeKoker; sources: Max Bresticker ‘19, Claire Quinlan ‘15

Students start new chess club at LT

Despite setbacks, students try to form competing chess team

by Hayden Claesson @_wizard_of_soz

Despite a lack of a sponsor for the club, more competitive members of the team, several students are determined to form team member Michael Ahrens ‘18 said. a competitive chess team at LT with the Initially, the group had a club sponsor intent to perform at competitive tournain physics teacher Jim Mshar. However, ments.

Mshar dropped out from the team, leav“It all started when a whole group of us ing them sponsorless. Despite not having on the wrestling team were playing online a sponsor at LT, when the team meets outchess together a lot,” Will Bernstein ‘19 side of school, they’re coached by Whitney said. “We then started talking about how it Young coach Paul Kash, Ahrens said. would be so fun if LT had a chess club, and “It’s kind of like we are an unofficial we looked at it and couldn’t believe that underground club without a sponsor right LT didn’t have a chess club.” now,” Ahrens said.

In order to start a club chess being “The endgame here for an With at LT, the club to be must IHSA sport, tourus is that we want to go naments kicked off on be proposed to Peter Geddis, the student activities Oct. 14, 2017 at Argo. to regionals.” director. After that, they The team plans to be -Michael Ahrens ‘18 must show student interest competitive in tourin a possible club. naments, as members “We started meeting with Board Games wish to compete at IHSA state on Feb. 19, club as a subsection of the club as chess 2018. club,” Bernstein said. “We got a big turn“The endgame here for us is that we out from that which proved interest in the want to go to regionals,” Ahrens said. club.”

“Hopefully we can make it to the secThe team continues to meet Fridays at tionals, then hopefully we can advance to SC as a part of Board Games club for the state.” more casual members of the team. Yet on Possible sponsors include John Crontop of that, they meet on Tuesdays outfel, or any teacher who plays chess and is side of school in Bernstein’s garage for the interested in it, Bernstein said.

“

“

Minimum wage, negligible impact With decision for Western Springs, LaGrange to not increase wages, businesses preserve protocol

by Mikaela Larson @mikaela_larson

On July 1, 2017, legislation from Cook County Board of Commissioners went into effect raising the minimum wage from the state mandated $8.25 an hour to $10 an hour; however, both La Grange and Western Springs voted to opt out of the pay raise. “[The Western Springs] Board was in a state of transition prior to the effective date,” Village President Alice Gallagher said. “Three new trustees and a new president were sworn in on May 22, 2017. That left only three trustees from the old Board transitioning to the new Board. It has long been the Western Springs Board’s policy to avoid saddling a new Board with policy decisions that have a major and long-term impact on the community, like the Cook County ordinances.

Temporarily opting out of the ordinances gave the newly elected Board members time to settle into their roles and carefully review the issue before coming to a decision.”

Many seasonal jobs who sent out their offer letters before the villages’ decision to withdraw, kept their promise of a wage increase. This included the La Grange Coun-

try Club (LGCC), La Grange Field Club (LFC) and Western Springs Service Club (WSSC), LGCC employee Claire Gertsmeier ‘18 said.

“I think it is important to have a higher minimum wage because it motivated me a lot more,” Gertsmeier said. “I have to do the work that supports the money I am earning.

It also made me want to work more so that I could earn more.”

While Western Springs has chosen for the moment not to follow Cook County, it does not mean it will stay that way, Gallagher said. The Board has adopted an ordinance that advises them to revisit the issue if the state legislature has not acted on increasing minimum wage by the end of 2017. Addittionally, the potential strain that would affect small businesses is a factor in the vote, Gallagher said.

“Historically, labor issues have been resolved at the federal or state level,” Gallagher said. “Some believe that the county does not have the authority to impose labor standards on its municipalities and in enacting these ordinances it has overreached its authority. There are several states’ attorneys opinions that advise the county it lacks the authority to enact a minimum wage law.”

Community

Thursday, October 26, 2017

Page 5

Amid the destruction inflicted by recent hurricanes, the LT community has strung together numerous hurricane relief efforts. This page highlights four such efforts by different groups and organizations: LT’s World Language department, Park Junior High, McClure Middle School and a collaborative effort between LT and Hinsdale Central.

World Language department gives back Park Junior High generates donations LT foreign language students, teachers donate to PR, Mexico

Students, staff, community come together to provide hurricane relief

by Pilar Valdes @pilarvaldes55

by Christina Rossetti @c_rossetti6 On Aug. 3, Texas was hit with a devastating blow: Hurricane Harvey. Many people lost homes, valuables and countless other objects in the wake of this natural disaster. Then, on Aug. 30, Florida was hit with Irma, and just recently, on Sept. 16, Puerto Rico was hit with Hurricane Maria. Zenia McBride, art teacher at Park Junior High School, knew she had to do something to help.

“After watching it every night on the news, I knew I had to do something [to help],” she said. “I could have donated $10, but I thought this was a perfect opportunity to get the students involved.”

McBride, along with Gayle Prior, full time substitute and paraeducator, and Geri Pasieka, another paraeducator at Park Junior High School, organized the 10-day fundraiser.

“I announced it at a school assembly,” McBride said. “I gave them a date to come to the art room and we would have a meeting where we would talk about what we could do to raise money.”

For their fundraisers, the students and staff sold buttons embroidered with art stating “Park Loves Texas,” had a bake sale and kept water jugs around the school as donation bins.

Collectively, they raised $2,000 through the American Red Cross.

“It was fabulous,” Prior said. “It was so cool to see the money coming in, and the kids, so many of them had such fabulous ideas. A lot of kids stepped up to take charge of the different programs and helped. There were even kids volunteering at lunch to sit at the tables [to sell buttons].”

Ana Amparan, a student at Park Junior High School, went out alone and asked 25 local businesses, including Cheesies, Trader Joe’s and Hot Dog Company, to allow the buttons to be sold in their businesses, McBride said.

“One day, while I was in the office, I had three girls come to me with a little container,” McBride said. “I was astonished. These girls went out and hand wove bracelets, and went out on their own and sold $180 worth just to help out. I was wowed.”

The money was donated to the American Red Cross, who will donate 90 cents out of every dollar to the victims of both Hurricane Harvey and Irma.

“With a hurricane, you have time to get out,” Prior said. “But that doesn’t mean you can uproot your house and take it with you. So, even if you got out safely, and got pets and important stuff out, to come back to, nothing, and I mean nothing, it’s terrible to see.”

In addition to collecting donations for the American Red Cross during Spanish classes, the World Language department is also gathering supplies to send to Puerto Rico to help those impacted by the recent Hurricane Maria, French teacher Elizabeth Martinez said.

Spanish teacher Karly Enright organized donations for the Red Cross in Puerto Rico and Mexico. Over two weeks, 10 Spanish teachers raised $1,010.75 that will be split evenly between the two countries, Enright said.

Enright desired to help Puerto Rico and Mexico because of the Spanish classes’ focus on Spanish-speaking countries and their culture, she said.

“We have a responsibility to think in a global way, but act locally and do what we can here even though it might not be much,” Enright said.

Ten Spanish teachers asked each of their students to make a contribution of $1, Enright said. Each teacher has about 130 students, so Enright’s goal was to raise about $2,000.

As the Spanish classes closed the opportunity for monetary donations, Martinez opened up the opportunity for World Language department teachers to donate supplies to Puerto Rico. Martinez extended an aid opportunity made available through her husband’s company that collected essential items for the island.

“I had been talking with my colleagues about finding meaningful and impactful ways to directly contribute,” Martinez said. “When my husband sent me the details from his company, it seemed like a great way to ensure specific items are being given directly to where they are most needed.”

Both relief efforts have focused mainly on Puerto Rico due to the island’s greater financial need and increased obstacles to overcome, Enright said. Additionally, Martinez felt connected to Puerto Rico because of her past travels.

“My husband and I spent a week in Puerto Rico living in an apartment and met many great people,” she said. “We drove all around [Puerto Rico] and feel a special connection to this island and its people.”

Both teachers emphasized the importance of giving back to those in need and hope students learn valuable lessons through these relief efforts.

“If students take even a moment to think about what it would be like to lose their home, or belongings, or stability, they might achieve greater empathy for and insight to the rest of the world,” Martinez said.

fundraised in a collaborative effort between LT and Hinsdale Central fundraised by Park Junior High

Hinsdale Central, LT join forces

fundraised by the World Language department

McClure supports Texas school

Rivals jointly fundraise for hurricane relief in Puerto Rico

Bulldogs provide financial, moral support after hurricane

by Mary Okkema @maryokkema

by Pilar Valdes @pilarvaldes55

In the week leading up to the rivalry football game between LT and Hinsdale Central on Friday, Oct. 13, the schools changed the tune of their typical competitive spirits and decided to do a joint fundraiser to help the victims of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico.

“The goal was just to do something different, especially because of the people who are going to benefit from this,” LT’s Activity Director Peter Geddeis said. “It is not something nebulous like a particular disease research or a general non-profit like it has been in the past. It’s something that seems like it is a little more noble.”

Together the schools raised $5,552.75. It is not yet decided which hurricane relief organization that the money will go to, but the activity directors are looking for a small charity that will be able to give the money directly to the victims, not towards the salaries of their administration, Geddeis said.

“When we collect money like this, it allows the relief organizations to get what they need for Puerto Rico,” Student Council President Brandt Siegfried ‘18 said. “It is not us telling them what they need. It is them having the ability to get what they need, which allows them to do the most good.”

At Hinsdale Central, the ecology club, National Honor Society and Student Council have been doing collections, along with the money raised by T-shirt sales for the football game, Activities Director Sally Phillip said. Their AP language department is also allowing students who made a donation to paint their handprint on a pillar in the cafeteria to remember them for making a difference.

At LT, Student Council carried around cans to collect donations from students on Thursday, Oct. 12 and Friday, Oct. 13. The Spanish Club, World Language Departments and Treble Choir pooled the money they raised with Student Council to go towards the grand total.

“We come from a position where we have so much, and [the Puerto Ricans] lost so much,” Pilar Valdes ‘19, North Campus Vice President of Student Council, said. “They are just not in the position to recover the same way that we would be able to recover from a natural disaster, so recognizing our privilege and giving back is really important.”

McClure Middle School’s principal Dan Chick has reached out to Watkins Middle School in Houston, Texas, to organize a gift card drive for students impacted by Hurricane Harvey that recently hit that state, Chick said.

Chick reached out to Watkins principal Jose Martinez to see how he and his students could help; the immediate response was that the need was mostly financial, Chick said.

Although none of the Watkins students’ homes flooded, many of the students’ parents’ employers were flooded, Martinez said.

“Above the obvious reasons of paying it forward, I would love for my kids to begin to have relationships with those outside of their ‘normal’ community,” Chick said. “Watkins is much bigger than McClure, and has a totally different demographic than Western Springs.”

Additionally, Chick has worked to build a relationship with the school beyond donations by having the students write letters to students at Watkins during their English Language Arts classes, Chick said.

“The more connections our bulldogs can make with each other, the better each group will be in the long run,” Martinez said. “We see a lot of life lessons coming out of this relationship for our student bodies by staying connected.”

Both schools share the same bulldog mascot, but their connection goes deeper. Both principals noted the importance that building relationships with those who live different lives has on McClure and Watkins students.

“We hope our students learn that we can’t control natural disasters, but we can control how we respond to them,” Martinez said. “We want them to learn that as strong as a hurricane can be, it is not stronger than the bonds that connect us as people.”

Teaching students compassion by modeling caring behavior is key to Chick’s plan to help his students “pay it forward.”

“Chick and McClure exemplify the indomitable human spirit to care for those who are in need,” Martinez said. “It is an amazing, uplifting feeling on the receiving end to know people want to help when things are not looking positive. Hope has a way of creeping back in when you know there are good people doing amazing things for you.”

NEWS

Page 6

Thursday, October 26, 2017

Whenever an important event happens at LT, the LION Snapchat has it covered. Here are some featured snaps that highlight major events of Pink Week at North Campus:

Decked out for Pink Out

Go pink or go home

All pink everything

Make sure to follow LION on Snapchat to keep up to date on what’s happening around the LT community!

Kiss cancer goodbye

Let’s beat cancer

@lionnewspaper

If a student would like to promote an LT-related event through the LION’s snapchat and to be potentionally featured in our next issue, please contact Kas503525@student.lths.net for more information.

Compiled by Spiro Kass and Greta Markey

Want one of your tweets featured in the next issue? Follow us on twitter @LTLionNewspaper. To be eligible to have your tweets in our paper you have to follow us. So if you think you are funny, clever or witty enough to have your tweets in here, follow us and keep the tweets coming!

11

Michael Ahrens ‘18 @moahrens

0

Mari Vulich ‘19 @MariVulich

Kaira Alcala ‘19 @KairaAlcala

Me with the popular kids: I’ve never heard of steel cut oats Oat Club: come on guys... he doesn’t care about us...

12

26

2

Emma Parzyck ‘19 @EmmaParzyck

Someone call Jessie #HuckFinsdale

The only study guide you need for APUSH is that Sweet Life of Zack & Cody episode where they reenact the Boston Tea Party

5

Grayson Goodwin ‘20 @graysongoodwin1

3

18

5 *shrek voice*

2

If you say Jesus backwards it sounds like sausage

4

Ryan Green ‘20 @ryangreen____

2

all i wanna do is listen to music while im sleeping but stay awake to hear it

DACA controversy affects LT student Continued from Page 1 “I am part of DACA, and my mom is trying to figure out why,” Wise said. “We’ve always had a lawyer for it. [We have used] a lawyer since I was adopted, and [my mom] has called her up to see what’s going on. That’s why it’s hard to talk about; I don’t know enough details about it.”

As a member of the LT girls cross country, Wise shared some of the details of her DACA situation with Maggie King ‘19.

“She seemed very stressed about it because her mom had to take all these phone calls and spend extra time to figure out her papers,” King said. “She [told] me about how terrified she was because she didn’t want to leave and she didn’t know anyone in her native country and how awful her life would be there.”

Fear for the future is a constant concept that Wise and other beneficiaries of DACA face regularly.

“I fear what will happen because I [might] have to go back to Kazakhstan,” Wise said. “It probably [will] not happen, but it could, and it’s still a scary thing that it could. I would have to live on my own, but I don’t know any Kazakh nor Russian. I have an American accent, I look Kazakh, but I’m not going to be able to [interact in society].”

Even if faced with deportation, Wise has a positive outlook towards all possibilities.

“I’m just going to handle one problem at a time” Wise said.

“There has to be a reason if I’m deported; God’s plan. I know that I have a huge family that supports me and my decisions, and I know that in a heartbeat my mom would fight with her life to come with me.”

Visit the LION Website at www.lionnewspaper.com Want to make your voice heard?

Email sie503320@student.lths.net or kil503529@student. lths.net to get your journalism posted online.

Thursday, October 26, 2017

opiniOns PageSevenGrid

Page 7

GuestColumn

Climate consideration

Welcome to the Page Seven Grid, which some of you know as the only page in the paper. This is where we can watch people (try to) be funny. Your classmates are asked a series of questions, to which they respond with the most humorous answers. If you have a funny question, bring it to Room 220 and maybe you’ll see it in here next issue!

What Halloween costume should not have an inappropriate counterpart?

You get the aux for a heart rate day. What’s the first song you play?

What’s your clown name?

What was Captain Hook’s name before he got the hook?

President of the United States

“Jump Around” by House of Pain

Dimewise

Captain Nonhook

A pickle

I’m bumpin’ the whole Kendrick Lamar “DAMN.” album

Choo-Choo Chubby Cake Face

Captain Finesse

A Burger King worker

“Rockstar” by Post Malone

Cash

Captain Stump

“Single Ladies” by Beyonce

Puddles the Sad Clown

Captain

Tyler Guagenti ‘18

Azariya Dismuke ‘19

Cassius McNamara ‘20

A nun Maddie Ohm ‘21

LetterToTheEditor

compiled by Sydney Kaehler

In response to “LT alumnus steals spotlight...” Sept. 22

by Liz Martinez, with the support of Mark Dahl, Emily Fellmann and Leo Reyes I am Jewish. My husband is Latino. My children will attend Consider the nuance of each part of an article and how they LT. I teach French – which includes the idea that languages and work as a whole; the quotes used, the photo and its prominence, cultures are valuable. And, reading this article, I felt I did not the placement of the article, the lack of immediate dissent, the belong at LT. Then, I imagined my students reading this article. missing facts (the group with which Fuentes marched and idenWould they too feel they did not belong? tified as “we” is a white supremacist group), and the headline end I told my students: the ideas presented in this article are not up appearing as an endorsement of Fuentes’ beliefs.

LT. We are a multicultural school in a multicultural country. If If the story was meant to be about Fuentes, these facts should you ever are made to feel like you don’t belong– don’t listen. You have been included. If you want to write about alumni activists, belong here. you can find Lions who are actually improving the world.

But I could not get this article out of my mind. I discussed it The LION is better than this. I know you are still learning. with many. And I’m now talking to you, because I do not want But please, take the time to consider your entire audience. When this article to represent my community or our school. As teachers dealing with sensitive or controversial quotes or ideas, think of are wont to do, I’d like to make this a teachable moment for the this article and how it has made people feel. Ask others. DiverLION. I would suggest challenging Fuentes earlier in the article; sify your perspective. Words matter; it’s important that we use he says the protest was peaceful, yet someone died. them responsibly.

Spiro Kass, author of Sept. 22 article “LT alumnus steals spotlight...,” responds to criticism After the distribution of the Sept. 22 issue of the Lion featuring my profile on Nick Fuentes, I was well aware that my piece would stir discussion, one of the major reasons why I chose to write the article in the first place. Since the distribution, I have kept updated with local complaints surrounding the intent/ message behind the article, and I want to make it clear that I understand the concerns.

There are certain parts of the article that I could’ve rephrased, including emphasizing the fatal outcome of the rally, and stating what Fuentes meant by saying “we”, which in fact was not in reference to the group of White Supremacists, but rather a group of friends he was accompanied by who he claimed were “traditionalist conservatives” in our personal interview, even if it seems otherwise. Yet through all of this, myself, the LION staff, our adviser, the administration and the Board of Education stand behind the reality. The reality is that what I wrote was objective, non-biased, and journalistically ethical.

Objectively, no one can deny the fact that Fuentes is a newsworthy alumnus. A person’s political ideology, and their infamous perception, does not make them more or less of a newsworthy topic. The fact of the matter is that Fuentes graduated LT, and he eventually made national news due to his infamous activism and attendance at a controversial rally, ultimately proving his newsworthiness and reason behind his appearance in our first issue. We are well aware that there are several LT alumni that are newsworthy, but Fuentes attended LT with current juniors and seniors, giving more of a reason to report on him now.

After the controversy came to my attention, I asked fellow students what they thought of the article, consciously making an effort to ask students who represent different racial backgrounds, and not one peer found my article offensive, biased or glorifying white supremacy. It goes without saying that I am aware that some found the profile to endorse Fuentes’ beliefs and glorify white supremacy, yet it appears that the major concern arose

from the the adults of the community, rather than the high school students themselves.

I had a specific intention behind the profile. Before starting to write, I knew Fuentes was a common name here at LT, and I knew he had been featured by several major news networks. So I wanted to offer something different, something that you can’t find online, by sharing the personal interview I had with Fuentes. I wanted to leave the interpretation of his quotes up to the reader, to encourage the viewers of my profile to form their own perception of him and his ideology. But seeing this, some drew the conclusion that I leaned right while crafting this profile.

As I made evident in my personal column on page seven, I embrace multiculturalism. I purposefully chose the topic of my column to refute the ideology of Fuentes, which I was not able to accomplish in the article itself due to the objective nature of news reporting. We live in a time when major news networks incorporate opinion and bias into news that should be presented strictly nonpartisan (New York Times, CNN, Fox News to name a few).

But here at LT, we’re taught to be objective and to avoid personal bias in reporting, no matter the circumstance. I made an effort to offer both views of Fuentes by including a Boston University student who titled him a “Nazi”, yet some believe this quote was insufficient.

In the end, I am a student here at LT. I embrace our diversity. The LION staff embraces our diversity.The information we present in news stories does not mean we support what is happening. That is simply not how journalism works. In order to truly understand the importance of different perspectives, you must be presented the other side.

We work actively in the LION Newsroom to show what is happening in our community, and filtering out newsworthy stories to protect students from potential offense is not learning. It’s shielding. And if anyone believes otherwise, stop by NC room 220 during eighth period and I’d be happy to walk you through it.

I grew up in an environmentally conscious home. In middle school, instead of following the “Twilight” sagas, I would stay up late and watch Greta Markey documentaries about fracking and garbage island with my mom. I learned from a young age that many human activities have a major impact on our natural world, but it turns out that this is not entirely common knowledge.

Based on the Yale Climate Opinions Maps, in Cook County, Ill. only 63 percent of adults believe that climate change is mostly caused by human activities, a statistic that is 10 percent higher than the national average of 53 percent. This means that almost half of the adults living in our country do not believe that their actions have any large effect on the world around them.

Even scarier, in the same study of over 100 million citizens, 30 percent don’t believe that climate change exists at all. Misinformation is dangerous to the condition of our planet and allows industries and governments to take advantage of their citizens and promote their own agendas.

Modern hydraulic fracking is a prime example of this development.

When oil wells in Texas began to dry up, instead of searching for a more sustainable source of fuel, oil and natural-gas drillers discovered that they could drill into shale and fracture it with pressurized fluids to release the oil and gas they need. Before long, oil producers were using this technique all over the country and drilling up major profits.

These profits were not only going into the pockets of the oil industries, but also the pockets of government officials; a 2013 Huffington Post article revealed that from 2004 to 2012, contributions from fracking companies to congressional candidates of states and districts where fracking occurred increased from $2.1 million to $6.9 million. Both the government and the industry benefitted from a practice that was later shown to have increased the radon levels in the homes of areas near fracking by nearly 40 percent and contaminated the drinking water of millions of Americans.

But what happened when people found out about fracking’s dangerous effects? They fought back. Once educated and informed with facts, citizens began to protest this environmentally draining and harmful practice. And they won - sort of. From 2013 to 2016, the rate of production of crude oil in the United States began to slow as people argued for cleaner, more sustainable sources of fuel, but fracking is still on the rise.

Today, we see that the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is also a self-proclaimed “advocate against the EPA’s activist agenda,” and that our commander-in-chief has dismissed climate change as a “hoax.”

What can we do to help our environment when our country is being led by people who disregard climate change? We can stay informed. We can lead by example. We can refuse to be swayed by the opinions of the people we see on TV who tell us that big business is more important than the health of our planet.

We can believe that while many human practices are harmful to the environment, there are also many resilient people who are working to reverse these effects. Believe that the smallest act of conservation, like picking up a piece of trash from the ground on the way from your car to school, does something to help. Believe that climate change is real, and that you can make a difference. The two most dangerous threats to a society are misinformation and loss of hope.

Write in and make your voice heard.  100 S. Brainard Ave., La Grange, Ill. 60525  LION reserves the right to edit all letters.

Opinions

Page 8

Thursday, October 26, 2017

SydneySays

Enough is enough

PawsUp

n To McDelivery— about to get my McFlurry in a hurry. n To multiple pictures on Instagram— slowly ridding social media of tacky collages. n To fall— those water bottles in my car are finally the perfect temperature. n To Christopher Columbus— although you didn’t actually discover America, thanks for the day off. n To the Cubs— even after that L, we’re still better than the Sox. n To movies in class— 30 minutes of uncultured nap time. n To PopSockets— we didn’t realize you had a cool purpose besides being fiddled with. n To the College Career Center— the only source of light among the darkness of college applications. n To Monstober— I may be too old for tick-ortreating, but I will never outgrow Halloweentown. n To Pennywise— you’re the only reason we’re getting through to kids about stranger danger. n To Devil’s Advocate— showing a little class and style where your classmates are lacking. n To Sparknotes— I feel like I really know Hamlet.

PawsDown n To Hype Central— being fed mini weenies and having 100 G’s on your wrist doesn’t make you good at football. n To teacher recommendations for college— we hate asking you just as much as you hate getting asked. n To Twitter for killing Vine— you got excema! n To going to the dentist— I can’t tell you how my school year’s going with your hands in my mouth. n To first semester senior year— the constant battle between staying in school and getting into school. n To leaf piles— what seems like a nice, crisp pile is actually a very damp and disappointing surprise. n To annotation checks— I love being graded on my illegible scribbling. n To gym teachers— the only thing worse than running to West Fields is seeing you riding a bike. n To Pennywise— you ruined red balloons, clowns, and pretty much everything for me. n To mansplaining— I got it the first time, thanks.

Should the Pledge of Allegiance be said in School?

LION polled 280 students about their opinions on the Pledge in school.

Should the Pledge of Allegiance be announced over the intercom every day in school?

The pledge should not be said 4% No, never 21%

Yes 32%

Yes, every morning 79%

Is the daily pledge/ moment of silence useful?

Should students participate in/ stand for the pledge?

They should have a choice: 63%

No 1%

I am unaware of these protests 13% No, it’s lost its meaning 43%

Yes, it is 57%

I learned a lot during my first day at Cossitt Elementary School. Following the rules of freeze-tag, I discovered that the act of standing and facing the flag with your hand over your heart was called the Pledge of Allegiance. Yet it was rote memorization, not understanding, that Grace DeKoker drove me to say the pledge daily. I was never taught what the words meant; just that it was part of living and coming-of-age in America.

I was proud to be American at 7; I knew America was free, which equated with good. Yet if I were still 7, I wouldn’t understand that I live in a country where our president brags about his sexual advances on non-consenting women. I wouldn’t understand how some police officers can disregard some lives, or that a madman could purchase a gun and murder over 50 innocents. This doesn’t mean I’m not proud to be American now— it just means I’m socially conscious.

In 1954, “Under God,” was added to the pledge, domestically defying the Soviets’ universal atheism during the Cold War. The addition violates the Establishment Clause.

I really am indifferent towards the Pledge of Allegiance. Slow your roll, that statement doesn’t mean I hate America or our troops, like most people assume when someone says how they feel about it. I think saying the pledge in school is fine, but people Sydney Kaehler should be able to sit without receiving unforgiving or confused gazes from their peers. I think people should act on their principles. Whether this means sitting during the pledge or kneeling during the National Anthem, both are valid views that aren’t actually about the pledge or flag. Everyone who sits during the pledge or National Anthem is either exercising their rights or making a statement. Just like bus boycotting was never about the buses. It’s about how the government treats their citizens.

Anyways, this is about the pledge. The original version of it read: “I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” As we know, that’s dif-

The debate around the seemingly small Pledge of Allegiance now extends well beyond the words “under God.” Some object to saying the Pledge, and others believe that it should not be part of the Greg Smith school day at all.

While no one can be forced to say or believe anything, saying the Pledge is worthwhile. Standing for the National Anthem or the Pledge is not about calling attention to oneself, but about respect and commitment all Americans owe, not to any government, but to their nation, which is made up of all of their fellow citizens.

Because we live in a nation which guarantees and protects our freedoms, opinions, and our very lives, we owe some measure of respect to that nation and to our fellow citizens who make up that nation and make it great. No American is perfect, but the freedoms we enjoy, especially the freedom to express ourselves, define our great nation.

In addition, countless American men and women have sacrificed their lives over the past 200 years to uphold and protect our American values and freedoms.

I do not support them 30%

I support them 57%

How do you feel about the recent protests involving the flag, the pledge or National Anthem?

Mandating the pledge as it is currently written isn’t just morally errant, but unconstitutional.

Our system of choice appears to work well; it lets some their display national pride, but doesn’t force it.

When I tested this theory for myself, I received a few questioning looks. I explained my reasoning to sit, when asked, so as to avoid judgement from my peers. I could form a bias about one’s political beliefs as well, based on their participation in the pledge. Through a judgmental eye, you’re damned if you do and you’re damned if you don’t. Offering the pledge opens up the classroom for more than just political discourse- it runs the risk of making a public mockery out of students’ beliefs. My citizenship should not be judged by a monotonous recitation. It goes against our Constitution to force students to say the pledge. Given the choice, students may be concerned about facing judgement, so they’ll face the flag in the name of assimilation. In an academic environment, students should not be forced to demonstrate their beliefs to the class, or be pressured into conforming to the norm; the best option is to have no option at all, and eliminate the Pledge of Allegiance from schools.

ferent than the pledge we recite every single morning.

In 1954, in response to the Communist threat of the times, President Eisenhower encouraged Congress to add the words “under God.” This is where I butt heads with the pledge. LT is a diverse school filled with lots of different religious views. We may be one united nation, but it doesn’t have to be under God, especially since this is a public school.

I respect America. I respect the troops. My dad served in the Army for 22 years; however, my utmost respect goes to anyone who stands up for what they believe in, no pun intended.

Everyone is allowed to choose what they want to do.

If you choose to sit, no one, legally, is allowed to stop you. If you stand, say every word, and actually reflect during the moment of silence, so be it.

All I’m asking is that you respect other people’s beliefs. Any student, staff member, pro-athlete or sports fan should have the choice to sit without receiving any judgement from the people around them. It is America, after all. Land of the free.

Some believe that not standing for the pledge expresses valid objections to our government. But the pledge is not about the government. It is a statement about the way we interact with one another. Professional athletes, many of who enjoy a lifestyle that is entirely unavailable to gifted athletes in any other nation, protest during the National Anthem and the Pledge because they believe that our government does not treat its citizens well. But such a protest is both misplaced and disrespectful to all Americans.

Yes, the work of all our serving men and women and the sacrifices they make each day do indeed protect the right not to stand during the Pledge for those who wish to do so. Freedom of expression in a peaceful manner is one of our sacred American values. But there are still actions that are respectful, and words that are disrespectful to express. My freedom to be rude, impolite, or disrespectful does not mean that I should be so. In the same way, all of us should stand for the Pledge and the National Anthem. We owe it to each other, and we especially owe it to the ones who purchase our freedom.

One of my most vivid childhood memories occurred on Dec. 14, 2012. I was 12. I knew Sydney Kaehler something was wrong when I came home, and my mom explained what had happened that fateful day. I wasn’t able to understand why someone would go to an elementary school and murder 20 children and six adults. The same question ran over and over again through my head: how could someone do this?

Five years later, I still will never understand. But I’ve done my homework. There will always be sick individuals, Congress can’t control that. What we can control, however, are firearm laws and how we portray killers in the media.

After the fact, the Sandy Hook shooting fell off the front pages, and gun violence hype crept back under the rug, but it never left my head. Occasionally, an article would surface, saying something like: “Adam Lanza, Sandy Hook Shooter videotaped playing ‘Dance Dance Revolution’ six months before shooting.” Look it up, it’s a real article on DailyMail. I was too young to realize it then, but the media loves to humanize killers. To somehow make them relatable.

I won’t read anything that tries to justify why someone would commit a mass shooting.

A neighbor of the Las Vegas shooter Steven Paddock described him as a “quiet man, a pilot and a professional gambler.”

To make these attackers somehow seem human is disgusting and extremely disrespectful to their victims. They aren’t “lone wolves,” and they aren’t “misunderstood” either. They are terrorists. They may have “led a different life” before their crime, but they’re still the same people.

It feels like the trending hashtag is always “#PrayFor (city of mass shooting or terror attack).” Whether these attacks are centered on a certain group of people, (San Bernadino shooting) or simply at random for highest body count, (26 at Sandy Hook or 59 in Las Vegas) they all have something in common: they’re all horrible acts committed by terrorists on American soil. Safety should be a valid reason for change.

After the too many mass shootings I’ve been alive to witness, I wonder how we could prevent domestic terror attacks in the future. How do we stop gun violence without pissing off gun-toting Americans?

The answer is, we can’t. In the United States, the death rate from gun homicides is about 31 per million people—the equivalent of 27 people shot dead every day of the year. That’s 27 too many. No one needs a rapid fire assault weapon that fires off 1,000 rounds in nine minutes for the use of hunting or home protection. That isn’t a good enough argument anymore. Guns continue to fall into the wrong hands. What will it take for change to occur? I guess 20 gunned-down first graders wasn’t enough back in 2012. It wasn’t enough after Columbine.

Or Orlando. Or Las Vegas.

Also, say what you want about how “guns don’t kill people, because people kill people.”

Obviously. There needs to be stricter background checks, usage laws on people, not for the guns. I’m mad about the shooters, not the guns. If you think that’s the argument, then you shouldn’t own a gun.

Opinions

Thursday, October 26, 2017

Page 9

ComicStrips

StaffEditorials Fool’s gold card

There are so many opportunities at LT. You every sport. Everyone asks their friends, and no can join a club, join an academic team like one buys them because we’re ALL selling them.

Speech or Science Olympiad or join a sport.

What ends up happening is that your mom Everyone already knows these things. What angrily slides you a $20 bill and you toss the people don’t know is how the money is handled two Gold Cards out or shove them in a drawer for all of the activities we have here. Everything to be forgotten about. costs money: sponsors, equipment, uniforms, The only sport that doesn’t have to sell gold hosting meets or events, etc. The Boosters Club cards is football. Nothing against football; it’s does a great job with selling spirit wear and a great sport that has the biggest turn out for other fundraisers they host throughout the year, their games. But let’s be real. They don’t need but when it comes time for the distribution of a different uniform for every game, and they money, or how money is raised for sports, not definitely don’t need new ones every year. so much.

Football gets to sell the very popular cookie The LTHS Boosters Club handles the money dough, that sells for $20 a box. It sells out and provides financial supimmediately. The system Our position: LTHS, spe- right now makes it seem like port to enhance the academic, athletic and fine art cifically the Booster Club, football is superior to all of programs and activities for should fix sports fundrais- the other sports, and the rest the benefit of the students of them are left with Gold ing policies either by not and faculty at Lyons Townhaving every sport sell Gold Cards. People may attend ship High School. They raise football games instead of Cards, or by not limiting most of its funds through cross country meets, but Gold Card sales; however, the higher interest items (i.e. that doesn’t mean that sport cookie dough) to football. needs fewer materials. For line is drawn when it comes to cookie dough sales. Everyexample, cross country and one who is on a sport knows that fundraising is track are both larger teams than football, and an essential part of team success. It pays for new they both have only recently gotten new uniequipment, new uniforms, tools to use if someforms. These teams also need stationary bikes one is injured, etc. The Booster Club website and other materials. says that all money raised goes directly back to Booster Club needs to take every sport’s the students and the community, and it does, needs into account, or at the very least, have but not equally. us sell different things. No one buys our Gold If you participate in a co-curricular activity, Cards. Along with this, their sale does not you should be well aware about the fundraisers help the local businesses representing them, that have to be done every single year. If you’re either, because no one truly uses them. A much on cross country, swimming, volleyball, soccer needed change will bring in a higher amount or multiple other sports, you sell Gold Cards. As of money for all of the sports offered at LT, and handy as it is to get $.10 off your bagel order, it will make it easier on the athletes, because not every sport should sell them. LT needs to honestly, we don’t have the time to sell things have a different form of fundraising for each and people are not going to buy.

Illustration by Anonymous Artist

AnotherView

Staff vote: 25-0

Free speech hypocrisy The war on media has picked up a lot of trac- Discussion is a skill that has been on the decline tion in the recent years, particularly due to Presi- in more recent generations. A cause of this is dent Donald Trump’s continuous attacks on the biased news networks; people typically gravitate so-called “liberal and unfair” media. In response, towards networks that articulate points they the public has outcried that this is an attack on a agree with. The problem with this is people key pillar of democracy, and a contributor to the never hear things they do not want to, so when president’s extremely low approval rating. it comes to the real world, they do not know However, when the tables are turned, and those how to handle it. who criticize the president for shaming the media Due to this difference to opposing viewpoints go on a rant about how a certain article is too introduces a danger to free speech itself. People biased, the logic does not add up. In fact, there is may want to limit the opinions of those they no law that says you must consider, read or agree do not agree with. This is the exact opposite of with someone else’s ideas or writings, but there is what America should be about. Different opinan amendment that gives everyone their right to ions and different types of people are lauded; convey their ideas. So, if something is so abhor- America was intended to be a diverse network rent to you, don’t consider it and move on! of different types of people. Limiting others’ Free speech is a hallmark of the American viewpoints because you do not like it is hypodemocracy. For years, people have come to critical: you limit one’s speech, but want yours America to be able to say whatever they want to flourish. By all means, call out people on hate without fear of government prosecution. With speech or ignorance, but in a respectful way the increasing level of partisanship in the recent that does not take limiting free speech to a new years, it has been tough for Our position: Free speech is height. For example, a group many to read, hear or see of LT teachers submitted a a right all people are entitled letter to the editor in response something they disagree with. Regardless, it is essen- to, but those who support it to a controversial Lion article should also be able to accept from Issue #1 rather than calltial in any scenario to procriticism of their views and ing for Lion to be censored. tect everyone’s right to free speech, even if the issue is There are too many people beliefs. controversial to one’s own who shame others for their ideologies. opinions, but cannot take criticism on their Unfortunately, a common facilitator of this own views. Body shaming makes people cringe, wrongdoing is the leader of this country. In “opinion shaming” should fall under the same a press conference, President Trump shouted category. It should be frightening to our counat CNN reporter Jim Acosta after he asked a try that people’s viewpoints are being silenced. question, “No! Not you. No! Your organization Never be afraid to say what you believe in. This is terrible.” Perfect example of what not to do. nation need not stoop to the level of someone The president could’ve engaged in a thoughtwho is criticized often for bashing the media ful discussion with Acosta and brought up and others with whom he disagrees. We must what he thought the organization was doing all take the high road, be civil and allow others wrong. Rather, he tried to limit someone else’s to think, say and write whatever they want. free speech because he did not like what they This principle is a hallmark of this country and were publishing. is included in the First Amendment because of Polarization of each political party has truly its importance. Citizens of this country need to brought out anger from each side of the spectrum stay on target with what this country believes on controversial issues. Rather than a civilized in: diversity. From this point forward, continue discussion between two parties to figure out how to consider ideas that are different from your to better society or iron out issues, there seems own. In the end, you may disagree; however, to be a shift towards yelling, accusations and know that America is the place to allow ideas inability to consider what someone else thinks. to flourish.

Staff vote: 25-0 C ontact

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sports

Page 10

Boys golf continues tradition of success

Thursday, October 26, 2017

Team wins regionals, junior advances to state

by Mary Devine @marydwannab

By missing a full day of school while intensely competing, the LT boys varsity golf team succeeded in winning regionals on Oct. 3. For Patrick Akaniroj ‘18, this is his fourth year winning this title.

“It was great,” Akaniroj said. “We had the best tournament of the whole year and probably since last year, too. [It] was a really good time to come together and put in a good performance.”

The team gained five new players among the four returning golfers from the previous season, Akaniroj said. But according to head coach Brian Kopecky, team chemistry was not a problem at all.

“This team has blended very well together; they seem to enjoy each other,” Kopecky said. “The team bus rides are very noisy.”

The team practices three to four times a week for about three hours, Akaniroj said. The hard work finally came to surface when the team was able to shoot a 295, their second best score of the season, and

place second in their conference meet.

“The two seniors, Patrick Akaniroj and Jack Suedbeck ‘18, have done a great job,” Kopecky said. “The team struggled early in our team competitions, but has come on with very solid performances.”

At sectionals on Oct. 9, the team competed at Winnetka Golf Club, Kopecky said, where they golfed against many other teams looking to make it to state. The team itself did not advance, but Mike Kozub ‘19 did so individually.

“It is awesome to represent LT at state because coach told me after I qualified that I have kept the streak alive for an LT student heading down to state, which is now eight years in a row,” Kozub said.

Kozub competed at state on Oct. 13 and 14 where he shot both an 81 and 79, he said.

“They were a fun group to be with,” Kopecky said. “ I appreciated the two seniors efforts over their high school career.

They did a great job in leading the team.”

Owen Figge ‘19 finishes his swing off the tee at Chicago Highlands Golf Club. (Suedbeck)

Mia Rago ‘18 reads a putt at the Regional tournament at Carillon Golf Course. (Mitchell/TAB)

Girls golf finishes with positive outlook Despite disappointing finish, team looks forward to future

by Hayden Claesson @wizard_of_soz_

The LT girls golf team finished the season with several individual members qualifying for sectionals, despite a slight disappointment in conference placement and a failure to send any members to state.

“We had hoped to finish a bit higher in conference, but the teams are very balanced and second to fifth were very close scores during the year,” varsity coach Jeff Johnson said.

The team finished fifth in conference scoring and had a conference record of six wins and three losses. However, three of the conference matches were decided by three strokes or less, Johnson said. For an entire team to qualify for sectionals, the team must place in the top three at regionals. The team ended up placing fifth at regionals.

“At regionals we were hoping to make it to sectionals as a team; however we did not,” team captain Mia Rago ‘18 said.

Despite falling short of sending the whole squad to sectionals, the team still competed at regionals and three individual golfers qualified to compete at sectionals, Eliza-

beth Sommerfeld ‘19, Rago and Cassidy McNichols ’18, Rago said.

“At regionals I didn’t do as well as I would have liked to,” Sommerfeld said. “I was a little surprised by how I made it to sectionals.”

Despite the season ending a little short of their goals, the returning members of the team are looking forward to competing next season.

“For next season we want to practice a lot and advance the team to sectionals,” Sommerfeld said.

This past season is one that the members of the team will never forget, not just with the performance on the course, but from some of the memories off of it.

“This season was one of my favorite seasons of LT golf,” Rago said. “And I have played all four years so that just shows how great this year was for the team.”

On top of the team competing on the course and as a testament to the team’s kindness, they also raised over $200 to donate to the American Red Cross for hurricane relief, Johnson said.

Girls cross country remains confident

In face of injuries, team steps up, prepares for final meets

by Spencer Levinson @spencerlevinson

Danny Kilrea ‘18 maintains a lead at the LT Inivtational on Sept. 2. (Devine/LION)

Boys cross country aims for state finish

Difficult conference challenges team, which finishes second

by Harper Hill @harpss42

On Oct. 14, a stormy Saturday morning, the boys cross country team arrived at Katherine Legge, only to find conference would be postponed due to a flooded course. The meet was rescheduled for Monday, Oct. 16, at SC. LT went on to take second overall in the conference meet.

“The change in location did not affect the team,” Danny Kilrea ‘18 said.

“Changes always happen, and this team is mature enough to handle it.”

LT ran against Hinsdale Central, Oak Park River Forest, Glenbard West, York, Proviso West, and Downers Grove North, head frosh-soph coach Tom Stukel said.

“Our conference is the toughest in the state and one of the better ones in the country,” Kilrea said. “Placing second speaks a lot to the talent of this team.”

Kilrea finished first with a time of 14:41.7 and Charlie Harders ‘18 was fifth

overall and second for LT with a time of 15:09.6. Colin Costello ‘19 was 16th overall and third for LT with a time of 15:37.8, according to Milesplit IL. “It’s really great to see the growth of the athletes throughout the season and where they get to close to conference,” Stukel said. “It’s really impressive.”

The bond the runners have with one another will continue to push them towards success, Kilrea said. They will continue to train daily to prepare for state.

“There are some teams that think we’re just counting on Danny, but we know that one guy can’t win a cross country meet,” Stukel said. “Danny’s really nice to have and he’s been working really hard to get where he’s at, but we need seven guys to get there and we know we’ll have that come state.”

The state meet will take place at Detweiller Park in Peoria on Nov. 4.

As the varsity girls cross country team prepares for its final four meets of the season, Coach Alex Lyons is confident in the team’s ability to perform. Even as star runner Sarah Barcelona ‘19 sits out with an injury, the team remains solid and confident going into the conference, regionals, sectionals and state meets.

“They don’t get too frustrated after a bad race or too excited after a good one,” Lyons said. “They continue to maintain consistent emotions. They make sure to take care of people that have a really good day or a really bad day by making sure girls who crush it during a particular race continue to work hard, while if a girl has a bad day they pick her up.”

The team experienced a tough loss in the form of a series of stress fractures for varsity runner Barcelona. Her injuries, which occurred in the summer and during the season, will require her to miss the rest of

Source: ihsa.org Compiled by: Luke Lusson

the season to fully recover.

“It is incredibly hard to be out this season,” Barcelona said. “Cross country holds a special place in my heart, and junior year is definitely an important year. However, my teammates are always amazingly supportive and seeing their success has been a silver lining.”

Despite losing their lead runner, this malleable team has done a great job of filling the gap.

“It’s hard when you lose a runner like that from your lineup,” Lyons said, “but the kids that we do have have done a great job of filling that space. It definitely hasn’t cost us in the way that it could have because other people have stepped up and made big contributions.”

The IHSA state meet will take place at Detweiller Park in Peoria on Nov. 4. Last year, the team placed fifth at the state meet and hopes to improve upon that this season.

sports

Thursday, October 26, 2017

Volleyball coach to retire

Girls volleyball team looks to win regionals, celebrate coach’s final season, storied career

by Luke Lusson @LukeLusson

Despite all her sucThis season, cess as head volleyball the girls varsity volleycoach, Pyritz feels that this ball team stands in a is the right time to retire unique position. Besides from teaching and coaching looking to add on to the at LT, the same place she atillustrious tradition of tended high school.

LT girls volleyball, play“LT is a place I love,” Pyers have added sense of ritz said. “On the other determination as their hand, I feel like it’s time for long-time head coach, someone else to take their Joann Pyritz, will be return. I’ve worked hard to tiring following this school try to teach not only athletes year. and students, but to teach “We felt it was one of adults in my company so our jobs to try our very that it’s a seamless transition best to give Coach Pyand the program continues ritz her very best last to be well represented.” season coaching for As a coach, Pyritz has LT girls volleyball,” midlooked at success in other dle blocker Nikki Jones ways than just the wins and ‘18 said. losses column.

Pyritz has been head “High school volleyball coach of the girls volleyis taking the athletes you ball team since 1989 and have and turning it into a head coach of the boys product that you’re proud team since 1994. Along the way, she has had several Joann Pyritz advises players on the court in a match against Mother McAuley on of,” Pyritz said. “To me, an accomplishment really is major accomplishments Oct. 18. Pyritz will retire after the boys season in the spring. (Devine/LION) having had all these great including two state titles connections with parents and athletes over with the girls volleyball program in 1989 have fun while we were out there.” and 2010. As a result of her team’s state As well as helping the team as a the years.”

As of Oct. 23, Pyritz’s team has a 17-17 championship in 2010, Pyritz was named whole, Viliunis thinks Pyritz did a great the National High School Volleyball Coach job of developing the skills of individuals. overall record this season that includes conof the Year.

For Viliunis, Pyritz played an important ference wins over York and Proviso West.

Alexis Viliunis ‘12, a member of the part in her earning a scholarship to play vol- Their attention now turns to the state play2010 state championship team, believes Py- leyball at the University of Illinois, where offs, where they look to make a run for their coach. ritz’s head coaching role was vital in their she did so for four years.

“We want to make it past regionals and state title run.

“I took away from Coach Pyritz her atti“Coach Pyritz was such a calming pres- tude,” Viliunis said. “She knows how to have work hard for Coach Pyritz so we end our ence and had the utmost confidence in fun but knows when it’s time to get down season with a bang,” Jones said.

Following the girls season, Pyritz will all of us and our team as we played each to business, and I think I took that from her game,” Viliunis said. “She reminded us that and tried to do that on the court as well as coach the boys volleyball team for one final spring season. volleyball was more than just a game and to in everyday life.”

Student showcases strength, courage in XC Freshman with Cerebral Palsy participates in XC, inspiring story encourages team members

by Spiro Kass @spiro_kass

Among the LT girls cross country runners, Grace Mayer ‘21 courageously maintains pace with the rest of the group during practices and meets despite certain physical barriers that hold her back. Although she lives with a condition that affects her ability to play sports, nothing is stopping her from living her dream.

“I just like the people and the feeling it gives me,” Mayer said.

“It’s good to exercise and it helps my grades, too.”

Ever since she was a kid, Mayer has been living with Cerebral Palsy, she said, which is a term to describe a group of disorders affecting a person’s ability to move due to damage of the developing brain, according to Cerebral Palsy Alliance. The condition varies in intensity and location of the body, but Mayer has a mild condition where she is still able to write, move and play the sport the loves.

There are certain circumstances where Mayer’s limitations set drawbacks to her participation, she said. When the terrain of the course is rough, she makes the best decision for herself so that she does not get hurt.

“One thing that sometimes gets in my way is when the courses are bumpy or hilly,” Mayer said. “I may not be able to run which is hard because I always like running.”

Mayer’s perseverance does not go unnoticed by other members of the team, who believe she is motivated, determined and incredibly humble, cross country runner Kate Beumer

Grace Mayer ‘21 runs in the frosh-soph conference meet at Camera Park on Oct. 18. (Kaehler/LION)

‘18 said.

“She pushes herself harder than anybody I have ever seen and never asks for recognition,” Beumer said. “I personally want to improve myself as a runner and an overall person when I get to see Grace achieve.”

Not only is she applauded for her determination, but Beumer and the rest of Mayer’s teammates are impressed with her improvement throughout the season, she said.

“The coaches give out a ‘bounty hunter’ t-shirt to a run-

ner who does really well at a meet,” Beumer said. “One time, Grace got one for dropping almost 15 minutes off of her three mile race, and the girls on the team have never clapped louder.”

Many view Mayer’s accomplishments as remarkable, but some believe her determination delivers an encompassing message about people with similar conditions, Lion’s Den Supervisor Karen DalPorto said.

“She’s an inspiration for anybody with any type of disability,” DalPorto said. “She’s willing to move forward with her dream, and it requires a lot of sacrifice and self preservation.”

Beumer also sees a similar message surrounding Mayer’s hard work.

“The effort Grace puts in at cross country proves that people with Cerebral Palsy are just as capable as anybody else,” Beumer said. “Though she has to work harder than most, she always keeps up and never complains or lets her condition get in her way.”

As the season is coming to a close, Mayer wants to continue running after cross country with LT track and field in the spring, she said. In the meantime, she continues to work hard in cross country for one main reason.

“I want to inspire other people and to say that nothing is impossible,” Mayer said. “When I was in preschool, I was walking with a walker, and now I came so far that I can be on a high school team. I just want people to know that it’s not impossible to follow your dream.”

Page 11

TradeTalk This past NBA offseason was crazy. An abundance of big names were moved to teams attempting to throw themselves into the championship Luke Lusson conversation, thus continuing the “superteam” era. At the other end of the spectrum are the hometown Chicago Bulls.

Just about every move made by the Bulls front office has been torn to shreds by fans.

The most recent and notable example comes from this past summer’s NBA Draft, where the Bulls traded away Jimmy Butler and their 16th pick to the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for Zach LaVine, Kris Dunn and the seventh pick, where the Bulls took the 7-foot shooter Lauri Markkanen from the University of Arizona.

Immediately after the deal, the vast majority of Bulls fans exploded with anger. I was not one of them.

Listen, I understand why so many people were mad. The Bulls traded away their best player for a guard coming off a torn ACL (LaVine), a former top 10 pick who had a disappointing rookie season (Dunn) and a rookie big man that many consider a question mark with his unique style of play for his size (Markkanen). Also, the Bulls sent the Timberwolves another valuable asset, their 16th overall pick in that very draft.

Okay, I get it. The Bulls gave up a lot for some young players that have yet to prove themselves. In the short term, this deal certainly favors the Timberwolves, who gained an All-Star guard without giving up any of their core players. For the Bulls, this deal will make them considerably worse for the next few years to come. But, let’s think in the long term instead.

In today’s NBA, there are three types of teams: the super-teams, the rebuilders, and those that hang out somewhere in the middle. What’s the worst place for a team to be in this spectrum? The middle. The exact place where our Chicago Bulls have sat for the past several years.

If you’re a fan of making the playoffs every year but having little to no chance of actually making a run for the title, then the Bulls have been your favorite team. In fact, they have made the playoffs eight of the past nine years, yet have only made one trip to the Eastern Conference Finals in that span. If you’re just going to lose round one or two, what’s the point of even being in the playoffs? You might as well make some moves to get some draft picks rather than giving your fans false hope and going nowhere in the playoffs year after year.

Sorry to break it to you Bulls fans, but the Bulls were not going to win a title with Butler leading their team. Don’t get me wrong; Butler is an outstanding player, one who will go on to have a great career. However, he’s not on the same level of the players like LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Kawhi Leonard, who have consistently carried their teams to deep playoff runs.

This is why I am not opposed to the Butler trade. With no more Butler, the Bulls have stepped foot on a new and better path that may actually lead them somewhere meaningful in the long run. This team will miss Butler’s play, but his absence will open the door to the younger players and will set up the Bulls for some future top draft picks.

The biggest piece of criticism I have in regards to this trade was the timing of it. Had the Bulls not waited until this past summer to deal Butler, they could have gotten much more in return. Take last year’s trade deadline for example. At that point, the Boston Celtics were a perfect trading partner: they were looking for a proven player that could give them a legitimate shot at taking down the Cleveland Cavaliers in the playoffs and they had countless young assets that they could give to the Bulls in return. Instead, the Bulls waited until draft night and gained what most people see as nothing compared to their All-Star guard. Waiting to deal Butler, combined with the random signings of Dwyane Wade and Rajon Rondo, only delayed the rebuild process and diminished the value of the players that the Bulls could receive in return.

Although they waited a while, I’m still glad the Bulls finally took a risk and made the move that sets them down a more promising and distinctive path. Don’t be surprised if they rank among the worst teams in the league for the next few years, but just remember that they are headed in the right direction.

Page 12

sporTs

Thursday, October 26, 2017

Concussion research progresses

New developments emphasize long-term complications, create worry for football, variety of sports programs

by Mikaela Larson @mikaela_larson

Michigan Stadium is the biggest arena in a history of repetitive brain trauma, accord- on their bodies all together. There are new the country. Nicknamed “The Big House,” it ing to the Concussion Legacy Foundation. restrictions placed on schools to help conrarely goes silent. But when a head-to-head As of now, CTE can only be diagnosed post- trol injuries, but it doesn’t affect what we do collision left Matthew Harris ‘13 unrespon- mortem, which leads to complications since here because we were already doing those sive on Oct. 10, 2015 at the Northwestern there is no way of diagnosing it if someone things to be proactive and keep our players vs. Michigan football game near the end of believes they suffer from CTE. The disease safe. Although every once in awhile we’ll see the third quarter, the stadium might as well has been attributed to the deaths of Mike a spike in the numbers of concussions which have been empty, it was that quiet. After Webster, Frank Gifford, Junior Seau and starts the conversation as to why it is hapwhat felt like an eternity, pening and we will he was carted off the field try to find answers with his brother by his and keep the converside, noticeably dazed. sation ongoing.”

“I don’t remember any Concussions are of [the injury],” Harris all relative, so what said. “I don’t remember may be the main the hit, the play or really symptom to one any part of the game. person may not even What I do remember is be a symptom to waking up in the trainanother, Fichter said. er’s room while they “Concussions are were stitching up my face completely differbecause there was three ent for everyone,” fractured bones in my Harris said. “Even if cheek and my head was someone gets one, just pounding. [I had to] that’s too many. You stay in a dark room away have to analyze for from my phone, computer yourself individuand TV for long periods ally when you do get of time and [I rememthem. You cannot ber] not being able to compare yourself to focus and concentrate. I An OPRF receiver is taken down by JJ Dutton ‘19, Louis Banda ‘18 and others. (Larson/LION) others and think you couldn’t do any work in can keep on going school. It was terrible. I think that’s the only most recently, Aaron Hernandez. because you have less than another person.” way to describe it.”

“It is hard when college and high school The widespread research and resultant Recent advancements in concussion get lumped into the research because people skepticism has resulted in a decrease in research shed a newfound light on the hear these high percentages but that is not football players in the Chicagoland area and impact concussions can have both in the necessarily the percentage of high school nationally. Whitney Young High School short and long term. Concussions are very kids who are stricken with this disease,” could not field a varsity team and multiple serious injuries of the brain that can often athletic director John Grundke said. “That freshman B games were cancelled during the last weeks at a time, and have symptoms that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be worried about 2017 season due to a lack of a team to play. stay for months and years to follow. CTE, or it but the research can be deceiving.”

“Typically we have been able to field a Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, is long Although the worry regarding concus- full freshman B team and have a complete term disease that can result from too many sions has been amplified in the past five to schedule,” Grundke said. “This year we had concussions and has become synonymous 10 years, LT and its fellow West Suburban to find around five games because of those with football, especially with the National Conference (WSC) schools have been proac- nine teams we usually play, five of them Football League (NFL). tive regarding the prevention, treatment and were unable to field a freshman B team.

“There is more attention to symptoms information each school and athletic pro- We’ve had fluctuating numbers in the past than ever before,” head athletic trainer gram has regarding concussions, Grundke so it’s unknown as to if it is just one year, or Robert Fichter said. “Each concussion is said. if it will decrease consistently, which could evaluated individually so symptoms may “We come together [for WSC athletic be due to concussion worry.” vary. [What happens during a concussion] is director meetings] each month and share Football is not the only sport that sees that your brain is suspended inside the skull information,” Grundke said. “We do a lot to concussion injuries. Across the board the so when there is a hit or a sudden stop, the figure out what’s best for our kids. LT was numbers stay relatively consistent when brain continues to move forward. It is the focusing on concussions even 13 years ago soccer, hockey and other contact sports are repetitive mild traumatic brain injury that when I got here. The football team doesn’t looked at too, Fichter said. leads to long term effects like CTE.” dress in full pads and practice in full “I support the decision of a CTE is a degenerative brain disease found pads everyday but it is not just for parent to let their kid make the in athletes, military veterans and others with concussions, but also wear and tear decision as to if they want to

Concussions are very serious injuries. If you experience any of these symptoms following a hit to your head, consult a doctor and request a formal diagnosis.

A loss of conciousness lasting longer than 30 seconds Repeated vomiting, nausea Sensitivity to light and noise Difficulty thinking clearly Lasting or recurring dizziness Compiled by: Mikaela Larson

Source: MayoClinic

play football or not,” Harris said. “I hope kids recognize and learn how violent and truly dangerous the game is but at the same time the game brought so much joy, passion and characteristics into my life that I wouldn’t deny that to anyone because that is a personal decision that everyone should make for themselves.”

Harris chose to retire from football during his 2016 senior season at Northwestern University when he suffered what he decided would be his last concussion. He had hoped to enter in the 2017 NFL Combine and later be considered for the Draft.

“I don’t know if I will ever be able to get to the same spot I was before [football] but now that I’ve been away from the game for a little while my memory has been getting better and I can concentrate more,” Harris said. “After that Michigan game I told myself I’d give it one more round, [because] with concussions you don’t know what the symptoms will be like in the long run.”

by Mary Okkema @maryokkema

On the night of Sept. 15, the Friday of homecoming weekend, the LT boys varsity soccer team played Reavis on Bennett Field. LT was fouled in Reavis’ goal box during the last half of the game. Charlie Clarke ‘18 called goalie Matt Vear ‘18 to take the penalty kick.

Everyone held their breath as the referee blew the whistle, and Vear rocketed a shot into the back of the net. The fans roared and the team celebrated the goal: a rare experience for the goal saver to be a scoring player.

“The atmosphere was fun and loud, which we don’t usually get at soccer games,” Vear said. “It was overall a very cool experience to get a goal after being on varsity for four years.”

The team beat Reavis five to zero, making this victory one of the 15 wins out of 19 games so far this season. In seven of these wins, Vear had shutouts.

“Watching [my teammates] work hard makes me work harder because I know we have the potential to be good, so I strive to be good and help my team out,” Vear said.

Vear excels in his hard shot block-

ing skills and reading the game, Varsity Head Coach Paul Labbato said. These skills, along with his natural athleticism, make him very successful as a goalkeeper. He runs the defensive line and makes sure all his teammates on the field are involved.

“He is a hard worker and reliable,” Labbato said. “The kids on the field know that he is going to do his job 100 percent to the best of his ability, which is very good. There are so many things that go into leadership, engagement in the game vocally, and the understanding of how focused he needs to be at all times. Throw in the fact that he has trained his Matt entire life and his athletiVear ‘18 cism, makes Matt an outtakes a goal standing goalkeeper.” kick in the New Vear not only is a Trier invitational. strong leader on the (Devine/LION) field, but also in the locker room, center

defender Tate Riordan ‘18 said. He is the motivator that gets everyone pumped up for the games.

“Matt is an upbeat energetic personality who brings the best out of people,” former teammate Gabe Drobny ‘17 said. “His best attribute is what he brings to the locker room. He always knows how to make everyone laugh, but still performs at a high level on the field. Everyone loves being around the guy.”

Vear’s leadership, quick reaction times, and calm demeanour make him stand out. He plays a major role on the varsity team that is currently ranked eighth in state, according to Max Preps.

“He’s really helped me a lot with my communication and a lot of my confidence building,” second string goalie Mark Jareczeck ‘19 said. “I’m getting a lot better because he’s been there guiding me through how to make a saves and dif-

ferent techniques.”

Vear has been on the varsity team all four years of his high school career, Labbato said. His freshman year, he played in eight games.

“Matt has improved a lot since his freshman year,” Drobny said. “He has really evolved his game to another level.

His ability on breakaways is some of the best I’ve ever seen.”

Vear is still undecided on whether he wants to play in college, he said. Despite not getting as far as they wanted to in the Pepsi Showdown, the team is hoping to go far in playoffs. They advanced to sectionals with a 5-1 win over Whitney Young on Oct. 21. The team is preparing by working hard in practices, and focusing on upcoming games.

“We are looking forward to playoffs,” Jareczeck said. “I think we will do well.

We have such a talented squad, and have really worked as a team this year.

Encouragement spreads everywhere, and it’s a good team atmosphere.”

LT played OPRF for the sectional semifinal on Oct. 25, after the LION’s print deadline.

Photography

Page 14

For people who do not have too much experience with photography, here is what LION recommends for Canon, Nikon and iPhone users. iPhone: Use the grid line on your iPhone to help you position the photo.

Thursday, October 26, 2017

Finding a good editing app for a flawless instagram pic can be a challenge, especially when there are so many to choose from.

Here is a list of the pros and cons of the top-rated editing apps on the market today to help make that process easier.

Aviary

VSCOcam PROS

Canon and Nikon: In situations where flash photography isn’t allowed (at a play or museum) use no flash (setting on camera dial that looks like a lighting bolt in a box) because it disables the possibility of a flash occurring in these settings, whereas with any other setting you could risk the chance of flash going off. iPhone: Use new add-on lenses, such as a zoom lens for your smart phone (they sell these anywhere and are iPhone and Android compatible).

Canon and Nikon: When turning the camera on, use the scene intelligent auto (usually an A in a box with the + sign next to it) because it automatically sets all the elements for you, as well as focuses for you, which saves you a lot of time and will get you better quality photos.

It is easy to navigate.

CONS You have to pay for extra filters.

The composition of There are many filters and options the app is very minimalistic, so it can be for photos. confusing for someIt has extra fea- one who has not tures besides the used an editing basic exposure/ app before. contrast editing.

PROS

CONS

Features tools such as whitening, red eye fix, and blurring. which can be good for aesthetic editing.

Photos are automatically sorted chronologically, not from what is most recent in camera roll.

They also have drawing, text, and sticker options.

Diverse editing options.

Very touch sensitive, easy to go overboard fast (filters are very over saturated and obvious).

Instagram filters

Apple photos app

PROS

PROS

Simple and easy for quick on the go editing and posting.

There lots of options for filters and undertones.

CONS There are limited cropping options, with very basic editing tools.

Lots of the editing options are either too subtle or too harsh.

It is easy to use.

It is already on phone so no extra downloading required.

Lots of options for practical editing (exposure, brilliance, contrast, etc).

Compiled by Christina Rossetti

CONS Limited filters (you can’t simply adjust them).

Quality of picture can be ruined if you apply a filter.

Compiled by Camilla Breen

Students begin to embrace photography as creative visual outlet

by Lindsey Hauch @lhauch20 A picture is worth 1,000 words, but it seems like nowa-days, these words are clearer, have better quality and are perfectly edited. While an increasing number of students invest time and money into photography, what is the attracting factor about this hobby that has begun to sweep LT? “There is a degree of instant gratification; you get to see your work right away, and you can see right away if it turned out really well or not, and you can go back to it pretty quickly and fix it,” Photography Club sponsor Elizabeth Martinez said. “The instantaneous nature of photography makes it a little more fun.”

While photography is favored due to its spontaneous nature, it is also popular because of its ability to connect people and emotions.

“I have a small friend group of photographers, and we go together to take pictures in Chicago or around here,” Kirsten Meyer ‘18 said. “I like capturing emotions, more candid photos, ones you do not expect.”

In addition to taking photos for fun, there is also the incentive to enter photography contests, Meyer said. Though

the competitive side of taking pictures is exciting, photography is becoming somewhat of a necessary skill to capture the essense.

“It is current with the world around us,” Martinez said.

“Photography is very relevant, and besides it being an artistic outlet, it is almost a practical skill. Especially with business and marketing and the internet being such a strong force, if you can also take nice pictures, that would be more beneficial.”

The type of camera used is an essential aspect of photography. After starting off with simple disposable Kodak camera in third grade, Hugh O’Donnell ‘18 eventually advanced to a more professional, higher-end option.

“I definitely have noticed a greater interest in photography as people start to realize how cool of an art form it is,” he said.

As digital photography begins to outweigh more traditional film photography, there is no doubt current technology has contributed to the expansion of this hobby.

“Part of what has changed is that cameras have gotten so much better on the cell phones,” Martinez said. “Then

you have things like Instagram and Snapchat where kids are casually taking pictures and they start to want to actually get better at it, they want to have better pictures to show everybody out in the world.”

The effect of social media on the photography phenomenon can be one of the most satisfying aspects. One can easily share their talents with the world by posting their work, leading to a greater interest in the hobby as it draws more attention online.

“I think the best thing about taking pictures is coming home and looking at them and sharing them with the people you took them of, and on social media,” Meyers said.

This art form helps apply such a wide range of skills and interests, resulting in a great passion among teens looking for a artistic outlet.

“It is important to develop yourself as a person, so being involved in a club or having a hobby really gives you a way to express yourself and develop who you are,” Martinez said. “I think the number one thing for students, and specifically for photography, is to express yourself and learn about your interests.”

These are a few examples of art work from various photographers at LT.

Kirsten Meyer ‘18

Cain Nocera ‘19

Kyle Niego ‘19

Mac Weber ‘18

Aubrie Studwell ‘18

PRofiles

Thursday, October 26, 2017

Musician plans to release album Student aspires to be music therapist, works with producer on music career

by Camilla Breen @c_breen125 Rhyan Komsthoeft ‘18 just finished performing her solo at The Jam Lab when the chief recording engineer of the studio, Colin Peterik, approached her and asked her to record music with him. She happily agreed, and this small interaction kickstarted the opportunity of a lifetime for Komsthoeft.

“I didn’t really ever think about pursuing music as a career until I was approached by Colin,” Komsthoeft said. “He asked if I wanted to record with him, and of course I said yes. He’s really helped me a lot throughout the years.”

Komsthoeft has been involved with music ever since she was a child. She is very experienced with piano, ukulele, harmonica and vocals, and has been playing piano since kindergarten, she said.

“I realized music was something I really liked to do,” Komsthoeft said. “It didn’t get serious until high school, but it’s always been a huge hobby for me. I never thought I was good enough to keep pursuing music.”

Despite working with Peterik to release a potential album, she does not want to develop a career solely in singing and songwriting. She plans to major in music therapy and procure a profession in that field, Komsthoeft said.

“Obviously, I have to be realistic,” Komsthoeft said. “I know it’s hard to make it, so that’s why I want to do music therapy, but hopefully perform places on the side. I’m trying my best to continue a career in music.”

Peterik works with Komsthoeft to record and edit original songs in his studio. Most importantly, he is a driving force in building connections for her future and encouraging her to be the best she can be, she said.

“She is very easy to work with” Peterik said. “But she also isn’t afraid to add her own flair and go one step further. I have no doubt that she will be successful in music.”

Komsthoeft records all her own instrumentals for each original song in the studio. A typical day involves a two hour brainstorm session at the beginning, followed by a meeting about next steps for her album. From there, she and Peterik record the instrumentals of a song. Afterwards, they begin recording vocals and edit it all together to have a rough track of a song.

Page 15

They spend nearly an hour and a half on each part of the songwriting and recording process, Komsthoeft said.

“I don’t think about [the process] being hard,” Komsthoeft said. “I love doing it, so it doesn’t feel like a chore.

Music is definitely my biggest passion, and I’m lucky that I was able to discover it from such a young age.”

To gain ideas for her songs, Komsthoeft uses situations from real life to inspire her lyrics. Whether it be something from her life or her friends’, she uses it to her advantage for a realistic feel to her lyrics. Practicing daily is another way she gets inspiration, she said.

“I practice every day.” Komsthoeft said. “Whenever I have downtime, I’m always sitting behind a piano, writing, whatever helps me, even if it’s just for 20 minutes.”

Rhyan Komsthoeft ‘18 SoundCloud page. (@ryankomsthoeft)

Student starts National Guard basic training

LT senior Sam Fonseca ‘18 completes half of training in Georgia last summer

ing. Until next summer 2018, he goes to RSP, Recruit Sustainment Program, once a month for infantry training, and he will be spending six weeks next summer finishing his training, he said. His mother, Venus Fonseca, has seen the National Guard change Sam as a person, too.

by Mary Devine “When he came back from training, I was so amazed at the mannerisms he @marydwannab had; he was even more polite and observant,” Venus said. “As a student, he is even Waking up at 3:30 a.m. on a mid-summer day to exercise for two hours, put on his more dedicated. He aims to be the best.” uniform and finally start his day was the lifestyle of Sam Fonseca ‘18 from June 12 to Sam has seen how the National Guard has changed him as well.

Aug. 24. Fonseca decided to join the National Guard and went through his first part “One thing I took away from it was discipline,” Sam said. “It really instilled of basic training in Georgia this past summer. in me the seven army values: loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, “I decided to join the National Guard to serve my country because it is integrity, personal courage.” something I have always wanted to do since I was little,” Fonseca said. “It was Sam has gained other benefits from being a part of the National something I dreamed of doing.”

Guard, too. The National Guard will pay full tuition for public in-state Fonseca had plenty of responsibilities when he served. He and other trainuniversities, he said. ees would have to run up to four or five miles during their physical training, “The guard offers so many chances for careers and a sense of respect,” he said. He also was in charge of other National Guard members.

Venus said. “It’s a life choice that one will never regret.”

“When we would go on small missions, I would have to be in charge of Even though he will finish his training this summer, he plans to stay that small group of people, making sure someone is up throughout the night involved with it, he said. by having some people sleep while someone’s up keeping guard and rotating “I want to stay in it for 20 years, and retire out of it,” Sam said.

Sam Fonseca ‘18 poses in uniform. every 45 minutes,” Fonseca said.

For right now, though, he is only focused on finishing high school Even after a whole summer in Georgia, Fonseca still has to continue train- (Fonseca) along with his basic training.

Senior assists hurricane victims, helps raise money Student partners with fire departments

by Taylor Schmitt For an aspiring paramedic, it is especially devastating to hear about the destruction of so many lives in the Caribbean and Southern United States due to the trifecta of hurricanes that recently swept the region. As a part of the Young Explorer program with local fire departments, Lorenzo Esquivel ‘18 has been helping to raise money for the relief efforts through charity events and raffles.

“I believe that all people who work for fire departments should make sure that other people are safe,” Esquivel said.

“Also, we are improving their lives. We want to be there to help make them feel better and help them get through life, and not just through emergency services. We should just be there for people.”

Esquivel joined the Young Explorers program at the end of the school year last year, he said. In the program, Esquivel trains with adult firefighters from the Broadview, Country Club Hills and Melrose Park, going on live calls where their services are needed. He can respond to those calls at any time, even getting out of class at school and out of bed at 3 a.m.

“We had a child who had respiratory failure, and we got that call at one in the morning,” Esquivel said. “We have to be on call 24/7.”

In addition to providing emergency services, Esquivel also gets the opportunity to participate in community outreach, he said. The most recent example of which was the $1,500 that he and the fire department raised for hurricane relief during their open house on Sept. 27. They set up booths, sold food and T-shirts and offered direct donations to the fire department’s hurricane relief fund.

Esquivel also educates the community about fire safety and awareness, going to local schools to teach children important information about avoiding fires at home and what to do in the event of a fire, he said.

“I think that the efforts stand true whenever we make someone’s life better, just by simply talking to them,” Esquivel said. “You don’t even have to be on duty to help someone out who’s in need, just by stopping and talking to someone, you can make a big difference. I really think that these efforts are really big game-changers in a person’s daily life.”

In addition to Esquivel, other LT students participate in the Young Explorers program. Chris Senecca ‘18 works very closely with Esquivel and participates in many of the same training exercises and charity events, he said.

“Lorenzo has a ‘go-getter’ attitude, and when I ask him to do something, he gets it done, and he gets it done right,” Senecca said. “We had a drill recently, and the first time he tried it, he got it done right. It’s really impressive.”

Lorenzo Esquivel ‘18 climbs a ladder to safety. (Esquivel) The fire department will continue its charity work, with a new raffle beginning in early November and ending the week before Christmas, Esquivel said. Raffle tickets will be sold at school, and the firehouse in Broadview is always open for donations.

“Just by learning how to put yourself in others’ shoes and realize that others might be going through stressful situations or hurting and be there for them, you can make a difference in their lives,” Esquivel said.

Page 16

Thursday, October 26, 2017

21%

$7 million raised annually by fraternities and sororities

of parents believe their sorority daughters suffer from poor body image

9 million total Greek life members

Greek Life 1 in 5

college students are sexually assaulted, and three times more likely if involved in Greek life

85%

of Fortune 500 executives belonged to a fraternity

Volume 108, Issue 2

10 million volunteer hours are donated

by Greek members annually

Page 17

1

hazing death every year since 1970

75%

of Greek members are heavy drinkers, compared to 35% of total college population Source: The Fraternity Advisor

Pay for parties, audition for popularity

Today, tomorrow, forever: brothers and sisters

by Isabel Tuisl @isabeltuisl

by Sarah Grier @smgrier0 Door opens to girls clapping and chanting in unison: “I wanna go adpi. Boom! Boom!”

While watching recruitment sorority videos on YouTube to get more insight on Greek life, I’ve never been more terrified. It was as if the gates of hell were unleashed. Some of my other favorite videos featured lines like “you’ll go Zeta if you know what’s good for you” and “all we can say is… we’re hot.” DA HECK. These are literal cults and not the “snowball” cult level. As students look forward to their college experience and the sense of freedom becomes apparent, there remains an institution that will ultimately imprison them: the Greek system. While Greek life has some positives to it, the bottom line is that you are joining a messed-up system.

Greek life has evolved from the historic secret societies that popped up in the 1800s where the members pledged each other’s loyalty to death. Today, some of the traditions still held by fraternities and sororities are weirdly archaic. The secret handshakes and pledge ceremonies, as well as institutional and even blatant racism, seem to take us back 100 years.

Look at the University of Alabama Chi Omega pledge posting “got no ni**as in Chi O!” on her snapchat story… I’m sure the sorority’s philanthropy was great though!

The University of Princeton compiled the demographics in their sororities and fraternities. They found that within the students participating in the Greek system, 77 percent of them are white compared to the entire student body that is only 47 percent are white: the racism is obvious. The selection process is private, kept within the house as to how they choose; however, many former sorority members have come out exposing that they rank girls based on appearances, first impressions, social media followers and wealth. In a time where we fight for women’s equality it seems wrong to put other females down, and feels especially counterproductive.

For fraternities, it is less the rushing process but rather the bidding process that tends to be its demise. Horrible but “funny” depictions of hazing can be seen in various movies but real life hazing stories are just appalling. They emphasize “no homo” while using some questionably homoerotic hazing strategies (like the elephant march portrayed in “Neighbors”) and it seems as if they’re playing into the homosexual behavior they are avoiding. Placing merit in drinking ability, it’s not a far stretch that there has been consistently one death in the U.S. every year since 1975 as a result of college fraternity hazing. No one should die over joining a glorified club.

These systems provide a social crutch during the tough transition to college, but as an adult it is important to learn to walk alone. You should be independent of a system guided by a calendar of events, where to be and how to dress. I understand that by not being in a fraternity or sorority some parties are shut off, but if you take a deeper look into the actual circumstances going on, you may be glad you were never invited.

Two different longitudinal studies have found that fraternity men are three times more likely to commit sexual assault than other college men. Not all boys in fraternities are rapists and many are of good morals and background, but it does not take away from statistics and hard facts. The “not all men” argument is not a defense to solving this serious problem embedded in a system that celebrates social status via “sexual conquests” and the objectification of their female counterparts. If you are walking into a frat house as a female, you are putting yourself in a potentially dangerous position.

Multiple studies confirm that women in sororities are 74 percent more likely to be raped than other college women.

As a female, this seems like a death sentence. Sure the frocket T-shirts and “little” gift baskets are cute, but do I really want to pay for something that will make me a target for sexual assault? The connections could help you network, but so can a frisbee team and that’s free of insane fees. You can participate in philanthropic programs outside of Greek life. You will make friends regardless of whether you are in a house. But go ahead and put “ΑΔΠ” on your job application, only the two percent of America that was in Greek life will care. Not many people are going to ask you after you graduate college what sorority or fraternity you were in— there is a point where you have to ask yourself if it is worth it. There are some deep-rooted problems within Greek life. Death, hazing scandals, superficiality and eating disorder rates in sorority houses to name a few; yet, no one is trying to do anything about it. When will everyone uniformly agree that this system needs to be reformed? How many more deaths and rapes until this community dies?

What comes to mind when someone mentions a college sorority or fraternity? Parties? Hazing? Society’s connotation is usually negative, but that is just another reason to be a part of Greek life: to prove to the public that stereotypes surrounding the college lifestyle are wrong. Greek life is built on the sense of community brought to its members, the leadership skills that are developed, their philanthropic donations to charities and many other benefits.

The sense of community and togetherness in Greek life stems from the friends, or rather sisters and brothers, that people make in their sorority or fraternity homes. Being part of Greek life is one of the easiest ways to make friends because they are living right there with you, in a new environment away from your home and family that you have been around your whole life. In a sense, it is a “home away from home.”

“I wanted to pledge because becoming Greek allows for the creation of very close friendships, thus leading to mutual connections regarding job opportunities in the future,” former LT student Adam Janicki ‘17 said. As of early October, he was still deciding what fraternity to join at the University of Minnesota.

Many leadership opportunities are also available through Greek life. All participants in fraternities and sororities will get their chance to be a leader for an event, whether you are an officer, on a committee or just a participant, according to the Greek life website from New Mexico State University. You will learn how to manage a budget, run effective meetings, speak in public, and motivate others.

“Greek life establishes many opportunities for leadership positions within the frat and there are many philanthropic events that portray volunteerism and beneficial attributes that can be put on resumes for jobs,” Janicki said.

Not only are your fellow Greek members great friends, they can also be your academic support system. Talking to older students can save you time and energy from taking courses that are not informative, taught by teachers that are not helpful. As well as getting the scoop on the classes you are taking, your friends can also be your study buddies. Acquiring many friends also gives you a better chance of knowing someone that has connections for job opportunities after college. Plus, clubs and charity work in college look great on a resume.

Speaking of charity work, that is another huge, positive aspect of Greek life. According to the Dictionary definition of philanthropy, it is the desire to promote the welfare of others, expressed especially by the generous donation of money to good causes. Many sororities and fraternities hold charity events for their houses.

“I’m in [Tri Sigma at Mizzou],” another former LT student, Mia Shapiro ‘17, said. “At our house we [sell tickets for] a kindergarten dinner [that we hold], and the money we raise from that goes to March of Dimes. March of Dimes is a charity that raises money for premature babies.”

Next time you hear the words “sorority” or “fraternity,” do not automatically assume negative things about them, or jump to conclusions about stereotypes. People make lifelong brothers or sisters while being part of Greek life in college, as well as extending legacies and tradition and proving stereotypes wrong.

LION surveyed 225 juniors and seniors to get their opinion on Greek Life.

If you answered no to question #1, why?

Do you plan on joining a fraternity/ sorority in college?

Undecided 27%

Price 9%

Yes 39%

No interest in Greek life at all

No 34%

Stereotype of people in Greek life 16%

63%

There are no benefits 7%

Alcohol poisoning 14%

Philanthropic opportunities 3% There is no problem 18%

Psychological effect 8%

Below are recollections of horrid In 2012, hazing scandals involved with alleged hazing at a New fraternities and sororities York school came to light when stufrom anonymous dents claimed that sorority sisters allegedly threw pledges into a freezing shower while they recited the Greek sources.

Sigma

What do you think is the biggest benefit within Greek life?

What do you think is the biggest problem within Greek life?

Hazing 33%

Enter at your own risk...

Fear of assault/emotional toll 12%

alphabet, fed them pills to make them vomit on one Alpha Epsianother, and forced them to hold hot lon brother George Desdune hookah coals in their was kidnapped and driven to a townhouse hands. on campus, where he was tied up and asked trivia questions about his fraternity. This was part of an annual hazing rite, and also a way to get brothers drunk fast (a shot of vodka for every incorrect answer). Desdune was found a few hours Pledges later in a library, unresponsive, withwere allegedly out a pulse.

Connections and job opportunities 13%

Social schedule 2%

Rape 27%

Rush Reality

LION interviewed former LT students about their take on Greek Life. They highlight both the benefits and consequences of being apart of a fraternity or sorority.

“While at LT, I was heavily involved in serivce and I wanted to join a sorority that put their philanthrppy and academics first rather than social events,” Caroline Konstant ‘17, University of Wisconsin

forced to stand in a pool of water that the sorority members had defecated in, and to sit naked on a washing machine while any body part that jiggled was circled with a sharpie pen.

C

Friendship and community aspect 75%

ompil

ed by

“I joined fraternity life because I wanted a stable group of guy friends and that brotherhood aspect really appealed to me as a person,” Henry Groya ‘17, Purdue University “I joined the Kappa Sigma fraternity at MIT, because during rush I found the guys to be some of the nicest, most interesting people I’ve ever met,” Drew Callahan ‘17, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

“I joined Greek life because it felt like that was just what everyone did around me. I dropped Greek life shortly after because it’s just not me, it’s a huge commitment and I enjoy not spending all of my money on dues,” Siobhan Callahan ‘17, University of Illinois

Madd

“ When I got to U of I, I felt there was an expectation to rush, and if you didn’t join a house, or didn’t like it, you were weird and wrong. It is always going to be hard taking the less popular path, but people respect me for my decision, and I am so much happier,” Jillian Kaehler ‘14, University of Illinois

“I eventually chose to drop because living in the house, participating in events and paying dues are a big commitment and I had made good friends outside of the Greek system,” Charlie Stelnicki ‘17, University of Michigan

y Coh

en

Clowns

Page 18

‘It’ will leave you speechless

by Maddy Cohen @maddyc700 “‘It is a hard R.” After hearing this from the ticket collector as I walked into the movie theatre, I didn’t know what to expect from “It.” Upon leaving the theatre, two hours and 15 minutes later, I had an empty bucket of popcorn, a new fear of red balloons and the immense satisfaction one gets from watching a really good horror movie.

“It,” directed by Andy Muschietti, is a unique horror movie that does not hold back; it not only frightens the audience with the unrelenting presence of a killer clown, but also ties in the equally scary, if not more terrifying, horrors of real life that haunt us from day to day.

It, who refers to itself as Pennywise the Dancing Clown, has haunted the small town of Derry, Maine, for centuries. In the summer of 1988, children in Derry start to disappear without a trace, and it is up to a clan of misfits, who call themselves the “Losers’ Club” to team up and try to destroy it.

Pennywise, played by Swedish actor Bill Skarsgård, is truly menacing. Towering at 7 feet tall and adorned with a floating, red balloon in almost every scene, his presence on the screen is impossible to ignore. His portrayal of the twisted clown is original, unsettling and terrifying.

The acting done by the children in the Losers’ Club is phenomenal. Each misfit in the group comes with baggage; however, their unique backgrounds and fears are what really unite them.

The group is lead by Bill Denbrough, played by Jaeden Liberher, who struggles with a stutter and rallies the kids too look for his missing brother, Georgie. Eddie Kaspbrak, played by Jack Dylan Grazer, and Richie Tozier, played by “Stranger Things” star Finn Wolfhard, are other no-

table characters in the film that have great on-screen chemistry.

The movie provided a lot of comedic relief to counteract the chilling scenes. The bickering between the children in the Losers’ Club is genuine, 12-year-old dialogue that most movies aren’t able to perfect.

“Your mom” jokes, swearing, awkwardness around girls and Bar Mitzvahs all work together to create a realistic portrayal of the life of pre-pubescent middle schoolers on summer break.

If you’re afraid of clowns, don’t worry, because Pennywise really wasn’t on the screen that often. In the first hour of the movie, Pennywise would periodically show himself, but it would only last for about one-to-two minutes.

Pennywise wasn’t the only antagonist in the movie. In fact, the kids in the Losers’ Club were the only ones portrayed in a positive light. All of the adults in the community seemed to work against the children and their quest. This further illustrated that all of the odds were against the children; without each other, they could achieve nothing.

Beyond watching the torture Pennywise puts the Losers’ Club through, the movie also sheds light on the realistic, chilling fears that plague millions of people everyday. Some of the scariest scenes in the movie exclude Pennywise entirely, but instead include bullying, sexual assault, and abuse. The movie illustrates how ugly the world we live in is, and how, for some people, the fear I experienced while watching the movie is an everyday reality.

5/5

Reason behind scary clown phenomenon

by Pilar Valdes @pilarvaldes55

This year, Andy Muschiett’s film adaptation of Stephen King’s novel “It” surpassed “The Exorcist” as the highest grossing horror movie of all time—a record held since 1973. The movie, which is a remake of the 1990 mini-series with the same title is based off of Stephen King’s 1986 novel. Pennywise, the shapeshifting, demon, killer clown and antagonist of the movie, is featured as he terrorizes a group of young children known as the “Losers’ Club.”

Last fall, clown sightings swept the nation, with videos and pictures of the eerie gatherings gaining popularity on various social media platforms. There were clown spottings in 20 states. Videos showed clowns chasing after cars, hikers and bikers, sometimes with knives or other weapons. In other cases, a clown stood in the middle of a country road, not moving, but terrifying onlookers nonetheless.

Why is our culture so enraptured by this fear of clowns? Why has something that was once associated with practical jokes and children’s parties become demonized? And why is our society so obsessed with this alter ego that clowns have taken on?

The clown persona, characterized by mischief and practical jokes, has been a part of our society much longer than its scary counterpart. From court jesters in medieval Europe to Bozo the Clown on Channel 9, clowns have been a part of society forever.

But when did they become scary?

One of the earliest records of clowns being depicted as frightening is in Charles Dicken’s “The Pickwick Papers”, where he describes a clown as “deformed,” with

“glassy eyes” and “long skinny hands.”

But even this “scary” depiction is nothing compared to the depiction of the evil clown, Pennywise in both adaptations of Stephen King’s “It.” Perhaps the mystery of who is really behind the face paint is what feeds our fear.

The fact that anyone—regardless of their intentions—can put on face paint, big shoes and a silly costume distracts us from what is supposed to be a source of entertainment. The ambiguity and uncertainty of who the clown really is adds to our fear regarding their alter ego. Take for example Pogo the Clown, who entertained many children and families in his Chicago neighborhood throughout the 1970s…until he was arrested for murder.

Otherwise known as John Wayne Gacy, Pogo the Clown was found guilty of slaughtering more than 30 young boys.

Baby Boomers see clowns as comical, while Millennials see clowns as scary. Gacy’s fault? Stephen King’s fault? Or is it really the fault of a society that is now immune to what was frightening in the past? Maybe we’ve grown immune to demons and ghosts in movies because of clichés and overused tropes. Maybe clowns create a sense of fear that we’re not used to.

We have all gone to the circus, we have all interacted with clowns, and the thought of those same people we thought of as silly when we were kids being capable of gruesome murder creates fear on a level that something like ghosts cannot generate. But maybe, our society has become so desensitized to what previous generations found scary that we need to seek out new sources of fear, to feel the same things.

Thursday, October 26, 2017

A definitive ranking of familiar clowns

Clowns were originally created to be silly, laugh-inducing characters for birthday parties and entertainment, but through the years they have taken a dark turn. Here is a ranking of the most terrifying and disturbing clowns.

John Wayne Gacy is number one 1clown on the list because he was a killer in real life! Gacy murdered 33 boys and men by luring them into his house, promising them jobs. Sometimes he was dressed as his alter ego: Pogo the Clown.

Heath Ledger’s portrayal of the 2solutely Joker in “The Dark Knight” was abterrifying. While the Joker is

not necessarily a clown, Ledger’s psychopathic interpretation of the Joker, along with his undeniably creepy makeup and acting, make the movie his own. It even earned him an Academy Award.

Twisty appears in “American Hor3show,” ror Story’s” fourth season, “Freakand returns in the seventh

season, “Cult.” Based on appearance, Twisty would definitely have taken first place; however, he is not quite as well known as the Joker and Gacy, which is why he comes in third.

Skarsgard’s version of Pen4of Bill nywise in the new film version “It” is terrifying- just look at that smile! His character is disturbingly gruesome; however, he’s just not quite as creepy as the top three, so he comes in a respectable fourth place.

Tim Curry’s original version 5miniseries of Pennywise from the 1990 TV “It” must have been scary

at some point, but compared with the new version, he’s just not cutting it.

Because of this, old Pennywise comes in fifth place.

may have been the most 6sideJangles frightening part of the movie “InOut.” His deep voice and crossed eyes were seriously creepy, but the fact that he was in the movie for five minutes and is a cartoon docked him some points on the scary ranking.

Ever wondered what the original 7Current Ronald McDonald looked like?

Ronald is also fairly scary,

but considering he hasn’t committed any murders that we know of, Ronald comes in at a solid seventh place.

the Clown was a popular clown 8ancesBozo in Chicago, making frequent appearon WGN-TV, starting around 1950. To kids then, Bozo was a hilarious phenomenon with one of the most successful children’s TV franchises in history.

right, Krusty the Clown 9scaryThat’s from “The Simpsons” is the least clown on this list. Krusty’s

clowning career is too miserable to find him even remotely creepy. His cynical and burnt-out persona makes him more funny than scary. compiled by Georgia Dougherty

North Korea

Source: Business Insider

North Korea only has three TV channels, all government controlled. Therefore, South Korean soap operas are some of the most popular items smuggled into the country.

Peace Village-a way to intimidate South Korea, North Korea built Kijong-dong in the demilitarized zone that emulates a prosperous village with brightly painted buildings, but in fact appears to have no residents and the buildings are only concrete shells.

etball n bask They a e r o K North erent rules. (if a ff i d s nters a h ur-poi ver toucho f e v ha r ne educted pointe d three- im), points ws and o r es the ssed free thr th more i o m w r fo re r unks a nts. slam d poi

It costs $8,000 for residents to legally leave North Korea and move to China which is expensive considering the estimated gross domestic product per capita is $1,800.

Wearing jeans is a crime; denim symbolizes the enemyThe United States.

105 It is currently year 105 not 2017 in North Korea because it bases its calendar year on Kim II-Sung’s birth year, April 15 1912.

In 2013, a law passed limiting North Koreans to 28 approved hair-cuts, 10 options for men and 18 for women.

South Korean feelings toward development of Northern missiles While the recent nuclear tests in North Korea have received global attention, Koreans in U.S. calmly react

by Spencer Levinson @spencerlevinson

With tensions flaring between North Korea and the United States, attention continues to gravitate toward North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un’s nuclear threats. South Korea, however, has been within range of North Korean weapons for over 50 years.

Concerns have often been raised by South Korean officials about how to deal with the instability to the North. Amidst the multiple nuclear drills conducted by the South, however, it seems as though many of the South Korean people are not focused on this issue.

“For many voters, relations with the North are not the main issue,” James Griffiths, CNN reporter, recently wrote in an online article.

As former South Korean president Park Geun-hye was impeached due to corruption charges, many South Koreans are focused on transparency in government and the economy.

North Korea has conducted six nuclear tests within the past half-century, and many speculate that these demonstrations are nothing more than empty threats. Much of the South’s concern lies with domestic issues rather than being preoccupied by the constant threat of attack by North Korea, CNN reports.

Many South Korean-Americans have also given thought to the potential for attack by the North.

“Most of my family lives in South Korea. Personally, I don’t have any concern for the issue,” Yoonje Cho ‘18, a South Korean-American student at LT said. “I am not sure what most South Korean people think about this issue, but I think they do not worry as much as Americans do. The reason may be because this is not the first time North Korea has tested missiles.”

Whatever the threat of war between the Koreas may entail, South Korea has continued to implement safety precautions just in case. Multiple city-wide nuclear drills have been conducted in the capital city of Seoul, along with military expansion efforts that have been enacted throughout the country.

By Lars Lonnroth @larslonnroth On the Korean Peninsula, Greg Ory lives in South Korea’s second largest city, Busan.

After moving to South Korea, due to the increased economic opportunities that would’ve not been available in his native Canada, he has established himself as an English teacher in South Korea and an amateur author.

With the world’s eyes seeming fixed on the Korean Peninsula as a result of North Korea’s efforts to build nuclear weapons capable of reaching the U.S. and other western nations, Ory told the LION that the issue has been overblown. Ory’s responses have been edited for length and clarity and only reflects the views and perspectives of one individual person.

Q: How has the situation in North Korea changed over time while living in South Korea?

Ory: Over the last four years the situation has not really changed to be honest.

Maybe two years ago things were at their most tense point due to North Korean soldiers sneaking over the Demilitarized Zone, or the border between the two countries, and planting landmines on the South Korean side. South Korean soldiers who were on patrol stepped on the landmine and lost limbs and even suffered severe injuries. It led to both sides shelling positions and lead to the real possibility of military action taking place.

For some reason, the U.S. media didn’t really care about the situation at the time. Only now that Trump is in office and making the situation more dramatic, the U.S. media is covering the situation like war will break out at any

time, when in reality it’s just a war of words when in previous years soldiers were killed. Back when the South Korean soldiers stepped on the landmine planted by the North, both the U.S. and global media didn’t really take an interest.

Q: How often does North Korea come up in your day to day life?

Ory: Not that often, unless me and my friend are making a joke while hiking, or I’m talking to friends or family back home.

People in [South] Korea are very desensitized to the whole situation here, so hard talk is nothing new and this kind of rhetoric is hardly even news worthy. I personally believe the U.S. and global media is sensationalizing the situation to boost their rating and viewership. The average person here in Korea doesn’t really pay attention the North Korean situation. Even when missiles are launched

and nukes are tested people here are oblivious and don’t really care all that much. It’s just a fact of everyday life living here.

Q: Do you think there could be war between the west and North Korea?

Ory: Realistically, no.

North Korea will not make any first moves in a war because they know they will lose to [South] Korean and U.S. forces. The North Korean army is not sophisticated and they lack many crucial war items such as gasoline. President Trump legally cannot declare war on North Korea without South Korea’s agreement according to the mutually signed treaty. The president of South Korea is very anti-war and is willing to engage with the North in dialogue and diplomacy. The U.S. would not unilaterally start war with North Korea because it would cost the lives of hundreds of thousands of people.

The rise of tensions

by Sarah Grier @smgrier0

1996 - Severe famine follows widespread floods; 3 million North Koreans reportedly die from starvation.

2005 February - North Korea admits publicly for the first time that it has produced nuclear weapons for “self defense.”

2006 October - North Korea conducts its first nuclear weapons test at an underground facility. The UN imposes economic and commercial sanctions on North Korea.

2011 December - Death of Kim Jong-il. Kim Jong-un presides at funeral and takes over key posts by April.

2012 October - North Korea claims it has missiles than can hit the U.S. mainland.

2016 January - Government announcement of first hydrogen bomb test met with widespread expert scepticism.

2017 July - North Korea test fires a long-range missile into the Sea of Japan, with some experts stating the missile could potentially reach Alaska.

2017 August - Tension rises in war of words with U.S. over North Korean threat to fire ballistic missiles near U.S. Pacific territory of Guam.

2017 September - President Donald Trump announces sanctions on North Korea on Twitter.

C

Lindsey Hauch @lhauch20

: BB

With many rumors circulating around North Korea, LION found some interesting facts about the country

Canadian residing in South Korea says tensions overblown

rce

Life north of 39th parallel

Page 19

Sou

Thursday, October 26, 2017

GET OUT

Page 20

Friday, September 23, 2016  Page 20

Thursday, October 26, 2017

New Starbucks brews up excellence

By Spiro Kass @spiro_kass

One step into the new Starbucks location sized plastic cup. Once the operation was complete, the barista sealed the cup with on 6 W. 47th St., Western Springs, Ill., and a strawless lid and handed the drink to me I could have been in a large coffee house in in a fast timely manner. Initially, I was downtown Chicago. The very first thing I confused as to why I did not receive any ice, noticed upon entering the was the extreme but I soon realized that the nitrogen within spaciousness of the facility. the coffee is what causes it to stay cold and Prior to the store’s opening, members refreshing. of the community would have to visit the I quickly found myself a seat on a downtown La Grange or downtown Westcomfortable, leather lounge chair along a ern Springs locations in order to enjoy a window around the corner of the coffee bar.

Starbucks beverage, both of which are tight As I sipped the coffee, I was impressed by in space and seating availability; therefore, the texture and taste of the drink. The the new location offers a refreshing bubbles from the nitrogen supcontrast to the usual lack of space. plemented the rich taste of the The most noticeable imcoffee in a very subtle manner, provement aside from the which was extremely pleasing venue’s profound expanse is due to my prior belief that the the difference in noise level in drink would be too bubbly. My comparison to other Starbucks only critique of the Nitro Cold locations. Since this location is a Brew was that it was not as strong lot larger than other local stores, and rich as the normal cold brew, customers are much less crowded which deterred me due to my taste and confined, which results in less for strong coffee. overlap of conversations and offers a Overall, I was extremely imnew sense of solitude.

Not only is it spacious, but the Starbuck’s Nitro Cold pressed by the remarkable venue of the location. The relaxing decor of the store perfectly conBrew. (Kass/LION) atmosphere of the store allows veys the congenial, coffee house its coffee-loving customers to destress and vibe everyone looks for. Wood panelling, relax, which surely made my experience black paint, leather couches and spotlight much more enjoyable. Also, I appreciated lighting mix together to create a dark, rethe well-crafted, unique taste of the Nitro laxing ambience, which is all united by the delicious, pungent smell of Starbucks’ coffee Cold Brew, yet I would not recommend it for people who enjoy strong coffee flavor. beans roasting behind the bar. In addition, Therefore, the impressive venue and the the venue offers an alternative to tables almost-perfect taste of the new Cold Brew by providing seating at the bar, adding a feeling of cohesion between the baristas and deserves a score of 4.5 out 5 paws. the customers that most other Starbucks Interior locations tend to lack. space at While approaching the register, I didn’t new Stareven need to glance at the menu due to bucks in my determination to try the critically Western acclaimed Nitro Cold Brew (Grande, $3.76).

Springs.

After placing my order, I was surprised (Kass/ by the unique preparation of the drink.

LION) Instead of turning to the usual pitcher of prepared cold brew, the barista walked to the end of the bar to a spout that resembles a beer tap that you would see at a local pub.

As she pulled down on the lever, frothy, dark coffee began to pour into the grande

4.5/5

The Hampton Social moves to the suburbs

By Isabel Tuisl @isabeltuisl If you’re looking for a new restaurant Burr Ridge Village Center,” the Hampton that is a palette cleanser from the typical Social team said. “The location in Burr Ridge dining scene, look no further; the trendy, also stood out as a fantastic space, boasting downtown Hampton Social is expanding to more than 9,000 square feet, to bring the the suburbs. Expect this nautical-inspired East-coast inspired ambiance to the suburbs seafood restaurant’s new location in the of Chicago.”

Burr Ridge Village Center mall to open in Some of the items on the lunch menu early November. include Chicken & Doughnuts ($18), Fish After about five months of construction, Tacos ($18), and Grilled Calamari ($16). the new Hampton Social restaurant location Shoppers of the mall have been excited is almost complete. By the first few weeks about The Hampton Social, Village Center of November, people can dine on food that manager Kristy Tramontana said. deviates from “They like the idea the norm of the of having a trendy city western suburbs restaurant in the burbs,” of Chicago. Since she said. there are not One shopper in particmany seafood ular, Courtney Buralli restaurants in the ‘18, found out about the area, this location new location and applied is quite unique. for a job as soon as she “The welcomcould, she said. ing atmosphere “I’m a big shopper, so invites guests to it was inevitable that I sit back and relax, would see [the restaurant] while taking part on one of my shopping in exceptional adventures,” Buralli said. dining offerings,” Store front of new Hampton Social location in In an email to Buralli, the Hampton Hampton Social Manager Burr Ridge. (Tuisl/LION) Social marketing Steve Norris confirmed her team said in an email. position on the team.

The Hampton Social’s ownership group, Buralli will attend her first day of orientaParker Restaurant Group, is based in Chition on Oct. 26, she said. cago. In 2014, they opened two venues in Advertising for the restaurant’s new Chicago’s River North neighborhood, the location has been on the mall’s Instagram team said. and Facebook pages, @shopburrridge, and “Parker Restaurant Group determined Burr Ridge Village Center. Customers at the Burr Ridge as the second location for The downtown locations have also been receiving Hampton Social because of Burr Ridge’s a flyer that notifies them about the new Burr vibrant community and opportunity to Ridge location, Marketing Director Christiconnect with growing businesses in the na Chow Komer said.

Online Poll Results:

Is it acceptable for high schoolers to trick-or-treat?

No: 94%

Yes: 6%

Roxy Buralli Type of Pet: German Shepard mutt Age: 11 months old Weight: 45 Pounds Owner: Courtney Buralli ‘18 Hobbies: Guarding the house from leaves Costume: Pirate Editors Rate: 12/10. Spooktacular

Want your pet to be featured in the LION? Send a photo of your pet with a short bio to coh503730@student.lths.net or kae503519@student.lths. net for a chance to win.

Compiled by Sydney Kaehler and Maddy Cohen

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