Issue 3 12 1 17

Volume 108, Issue 3

Senior wins individual state title D

by Grant Campbell @grantc_3100

Danny Kilrea ‘18 caps off dominant senior cross country season as 3A champion Danny Kilrea ‘18 finishes state meet in first place.

(Submitted by @ColinBPhoto)

espite missing the entirety of his freshman cross country season due to two stress fractures in his left leg, Danny Kilrea ’18 bounced back from injury to become a state champion in his final cross country season at LT. “[My injury] taught me how to take better care of my body,” he said. “If it did not happen to me, I would not be the runner I am today.”

On Nov. 4, Peoria’s Detweiller Park was plagued with mud and faced serious rain the night before the race and during the race.

While the conditions were not ideal, Kilrea was able to maintain his composure for one of the biggest races of his career.

“I knew times would not be as fast because of the muddy course,” he said. “My plan going into the race was to compete.

During the race, I only thought about finishing. It feels great to be a state champion.”

Kilrea finished with a time of 14:08, 14 seconds ahead of the second place finisher.

Since Kilrea’s injury, he has dominated practically every race in his high school career. In addition to his natural talent, his teammates have noted his work ethic in and out of practice.

“Everyday he comes to practice with a great attitude to get better,” varsity teammate Charlie Harders ’18 said. “He works hard and keeps his goals in mind to make sure that every day he gets close to the goal he sets. His competitiveness and passion for this sport allow him to have the drive and strength to win every race he’s a part of.”

Friday, December 1, 2017

P H aper

ighlights

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

Page 2: Have you heard of “The Do It For Dominic Hero Fund?” If you haven’t, check out Page 2.

Page 3: Have you ever wondered what it’s like to live a life of poverty? McClure recently had a simulation.

Read all about it on Page 3.

Page 4: Special needs Theater delivered a great performance of Beauty and the Beast. We have pictures on Page 4 in case you missed it.

Continued on page 12

Page 5: The community page is back. See what’s happening at the start of the Christmas season on Page 5.

“I was just really interested and wanted to go and see it for myself,” Kuntz said.

Kuntz returned home to begin her freshman year at Savannah College

by Pilar Valdes of Art and Design, but did not feel satisfied with her time at the film Less than 24 hours after graduating from LT, Rebecca Kuntz ‘11 was school, Allan said.

She decided to take another trip to Africa through Carpe Diem Edon a plane to Ghana, Africa, to volunteer with Light for Children, a nonucation, an organization profit organization based that runs gap semesters in Ghana that focuses on focused on volunteering, education, orphan preKuntz said. She spent three vention and health for months in East Africa and children. went to Uganda, Rwanda Throughout her tenand Tanzania and volunure at LT, Kuntz was inteered at local nonprofits. volved in LTTV as both “We would really just a student director and a be the hands and feet of filmmaker, advisor Bill whatever they needed done Allan said. During her there,” she said. senior year, she became After permanently leavinterested in documening SCAD, Kuntz enrolled tary filmmaking. in DePaul University and At the same time, continued to work towards she interned at a docher degree in peace justice umentary film compaand conflict resolution onny, What Took You So line, she said. For the next Long, which worked three years, she continued with Light for Children to go to Africa every three and produced documento six months and stay there taries about Africa. This for months at a time voluninspired her to go to Afteering at Light for Chilrica herself and help in dren in Ghana. the local communities “At LT I was always with the nonprofit, she Rebecca Kuntz ‘11 hoists her newly adopted daughter Ellie Grace. (Kuntz) involved in leadership posisaid. “[Kuntz] was really moved by that,” Allan said. “I think a lot of people tions and I was interested in volunteering and giving back,” Kuntz said.

“I knew that my life passion was working with kids.” were, but Rebecca especially. Something clicked.”

While in Ghana, she saw the need for an education center for chilThe summer before college, Kuntz spent three months in Ghana, working with Light for Children, Kuntz said. She spent the summer volunteer- dren, Allan said. She began to raise funds with the help of the LT community to build a multipurpose education center. Continued on page 6 ing and working with children through the non profit.

Page 6: If you didn’t already know, the LION seniors killed it in Dallas. Check out our trip in the Snapchat box on Page 6.

LT alumnus improves Ghanaian community Rebecca Kuntz ‘11 brings home daughter after six years of volunteer work in Ghana

Beverage tax canned Tax on sugary drinks repeal to go into effect today, Dec. 1

by Grace DeKoker @grace_dekoker

The Board of Cook County Commissioners reached a decision regarding the highly contested tax on all sweetened beverages on Oct. 10. After months of pressure from their constituents, the commissioners took a vote which would repeal the beverage tax, Cook County Commissioner Sean Morrison (R- Palos Park) said. The board voted 15-2, ruling that as of today, Dec. 1, the penny-per-ounce tax on drinks with added sugars or sweeteners would be rescinded.

“It was the general public that absolutely helped drive the repeal,” Morrison said. “I was the lead sponsor, I wrote the ordinance to have it put in, but I very likely could not have gotten it repealed. The citizens of Cook County placed a lot of pressure on my elected colleagues, which helped to encourage them to vote against the tax.”

Morrison was immediately against the beverage tax, and voted against it from the get-go, he said. The initial vote was 8-8, and Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle (D-Chicago) tipped the scale. She was one of the tax’s largest proponents, though several drink companies and most citi-

North Campus

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zens of the 17th district opposed it.

Small businesses faced an immediate threat, as the tax would impact their sale and distribution of most offered beverages. The expected revenue was anywhere from $90170 million, Morrison said. In his tenure as a commissioner, he had “never experienced anything like [the soda tax]; no tax issue has had this negative of an effect.”

Additionally, a lawsuit was filed by the Illinois Retail-Merchants Association earlier this year challenging the constitutionality of the tax. The Illinois Constitution states that taxes must be evenly applied; the specific target on the soda industry was hard-hitting, opponents say.

“Any tax that segments a small section is bad tax policy,” Morrison said. “A government should never sue a resident or resident organization for something like that. It was my last straw.”

Yet with the repeal, the promised funds disappear. In order to begin paying off the state’s debt, Preckwinkle has proposed the elimination of several mid-level management positions and vacant positons.

“Without revenue, we are left with no other option,” Preckwinkle wrote to the county’s commissioners.

“It’s not a case of not wanting the money to go to Cook County, it’s a case of appropriating the money… we have to live with money issues, with political issues, with taxation, but I personally don’t think that tax looked at the big picture,” LGBA President Kathy Dierkes said.

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

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Page 8: What do you think should happen to the $20 bill? We have some ideas of our own on Page 8.

Page 9: Everyone hates the reminder emails about submitting proof of meningitis shots. See how we feel about vaccines on Page 9.

Page 10: This former LT runner dominated his first marathon. Read all about it on Page 10.

Page 12: Remember Chris Herren from health class?

He came to talk to South Campus. Full coverage on Page 12.

Page 14: Want to reminisce about the 2000s? Flip to Page 14.

Page 16-17: Will we ever make it to Mars? We talk about it on Pages 16-17.

Page 19: Sexual harassment is always coming up in the news. We decided to cover this topic too. Flip to Page 19.

JEA/NSPA Results

by Harper Hill @harpss42 The following current LION reporters received national recognition for their work at the National Scholastic Press Association and Journalism Education Association convention, held in Dallas from Nov. 16-19. The JEA national write-off consisted of 48 contests with a total of 1,581 student journalist participants.

Sydney Kaehler ‘18- Honorable Mention in Editorial Cartooning Luke Lusson ‘18- Excellent award in Sports Writing Greta Markey ‘18- Excellent award News

Editing/Headline Writing Spiro Kass ‘18- Excellent award in Editorial Writing Mikaela Larson’18- Superior award in

Commentary Writing Caroline Konstant ‘17, Sheridan Speiss ‘17, Grace Palmer ‘17, Maddy Cohen ‘18- Honorable Men- tion for two-page spread in May 2017 issue

4900 Willow Springs Rd. Western Springs, Ill. 60558

NEWS

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Friday, December 1, 2017

Project Empathy provides global outlook

Members of Thomas Ford Memorial Library teen board create outreach program, supply information to third-world country

by Greta Markey @gretamarkey

There are people living on this Earth without access to any information via the internet. When Renata Schmidt ‘18 heard this information as a sophomore on the Thomas Ford Memorial Library Teen Board, she was struck with a desire to send help. When Project Empathy was presented to her by librarian Heather Booth, she knew how she was going to give back: by sending much needed information to communities in Malawi, Africa.

“I loved the idea that you can have a connection with people who are so different and so far away from you, and both communities bond over shared knowledge and information,” Schmidt said. “‘Project Empathy’ is so monumental because it allows students in the area to give back to a community worldwide.”

Project Empathy is an organization that uses a product called “Rachel,” which basically acts as a mini hard drive, Co-creator of Project Empathy Nora Dunleavy ‘18 said.

Members of the communities in which they are sent plug “Rachel” into their computer and download all the necessary or requested information from it.

At first, the group started compiling information that they thought was interest-

Project Empathy members review plan of action for providing information. (Schmidt)

ing, Dunleavy said. But as the project gained traction and technology advanced, members of Malawi communities started reaching out to Project Empathy on Twitter by using the hashtag #keepreq, short for keep requesting.

Anyone in Malawi that needs information can request it through the hashtag.

The group was soon receiving requests for information on how to utilize drip irrigation

systems, ways to grow maize, how to sun dry tomatoes and even fun requests like the rules of cricket ball.

“I didn’t realize how big of an impact the internet has until you see the effects of living without it,” Schmidt said. “Yes, they have limited access to social media, but more than that they don’t have access to important files and government information which they

have a right to.”

Malawi, which is a small, landlocked country in Southeast Africa, is extremely poor and struggles with issues regarding HIV, AIDS and malnutrition Schmidt said.

They are the last country scheduled to receive internet access, which puts community members at a disadvantage.

“You look into classrooms in Malawi, and they’re basically a concrete wall cube with dirt floors,” she said. “It’s amazing to see that anything that we do, even if we fundraise to provide key-pods for libraries, we would still be making a difference because of how little they have.”

Since illiteracy is a significant problem in Malawi, Schmidt and Dunleavy plan on recording videos with the requested information in order to expand the number of community members who can utilize their service.

Project Empathy also plans on reaching out to the University of Massachusetts, Amherst for their help in facilitating the transfer of information from the organization to the communities in Malawi. The group meets once a month at the Thomas Ford Memorial Library.

“It’s a great way to give a few hours each month to give back to struggling communities,” Dunleavy said. “We’re giving them access to something we use daily.”

Local fund honors life, donates for cancer research $115,000 contributed in honor of elementary student

by Lars Lonroth @larslonnroth Ogden Elementary School student Dominic Cairo died of pediatric cancer—the name of cancer when it involves a child—on June 22, 2011, only days after he had finished second grade.

When he died, his mother, Anna Cairo, wanted to take proactive steps towards finding a cure for pediatric cancer.

The desire to help manifested in ‘The Do It For Dominic Hero Fund,’ a fund organized through the St. Baldrick’s Foundation to honor a child who died from cancer while simultaneously raising money for cancer research.

“Quite honestly, with where [the cancer] was located, I guess we were lucky to have him as long as we did,” Anna said.

When Dominic was diagnosed with cancer, specifically Acute Lymphocytic Lymphoma, a three-year battle began. While going through treatment for a third time, doctors discovered that the cancer had moved into Dominic’s bloodstream and reached his brain, which made his chance of survival slim.

Since his death, the fund has given out three grants to cancer researchers in Dominic’s memory, including two that went to local hospitals. The most recent grant went to Dr. Matthew Barth from the University of Buffalo, who received $115,000 this October to study Burkitt Lymphoma.

This type of lymphoma already has a survival

rate of around 90 percent, and since the survival rate is so high, it is quite hard to increase, Barth said.

“We do a very good job of treating children with Burkitt Lymphoma—we cure a lot of them— but it does mean they need to get really intensive chemotherapy to try and treat them,” he said.

As a result, Barth’s research focuses on making the treatment less painful for the children suffering from Burkitt Lymphoma and increasing their quality of life.

“Is it going to be possible to find agents [and treatments] that are a little more targeted?” Barth said. “Can we find things that are really going to affect mostly the cancer cells and not cause all the side effects that chemotherapy causes? That’s one of the ways I have approached this project.”

All three grants that the Do It For Dominic Fund have given out are largely a result of local fundraising efforts from various schools, organizations and individuals.

The fund holds an annual event every March at the MAX sportsplex in McCook, featuring various activities for attendees to enjoy while honoring the individuals who’ve raised money during the fund’s main fundraising season, Anna said.

But fundraising in Dominic’s memory predate the Do It For Dominic fund, and even inspired Anna to create the fund in the first place, she said.

After he died, the student council at Ogden Elementary School and its sponsor, Tara Petersen,

Dominic Cairo, center, on a trip in the Bahamas that was sponsored by Make-A-Wish.

Cairo passed away a couple months after the photo was taken. (Anna Cairo)

created a team to raise money for St. Baldricks while also honoring Dominic.

While Anna cites Petersen as making the fund a reality, Petersen said that all she had to do was “set up the website and the team” and then “the kids just ran with it.”

During her time at the helm, the student council at Ogden was consistently the largest contributor to the fund, Anna said.

The student council, comprised of fourth through sixth graders, raises money in a multitude of ways—including bake sales and selling rubber bracelets— and have raised thousands of dollars each year for the fund. At one point, they raised $50,000 in one year.

“The community really feels for the Cairo [family],” Petersen said of their fundraising success. “They really feel for what they have gone through.”

Direct primary care practice starts in LaGrange Cara Direct Care now open

by Mary Okkema @maryokkema

During the 12 years that Dr. Clodagh Ryan completed her residency at Adventist LaGrange Memorial Hospital and worked in private practice in Western Springs, she realized the flaws of the current healthcare system. Doctors spend most of their time filling out bills for the insurance companies, or spending time on the phone with them discussing medications rather than focusing on the patient’s needs.

Dr. Ryan was unhappy with the complexities of dealing with the insurance companies and the stress it triggered, so she decided to break away from the traditional medical practice and start a direct primary care practice called Cara Direct Care located at 1400 West 47th St., Suite 1. The practice opened on Sept 1.

“I was very frustrated because I was spending at least 60 percent of my time doing administrative duties, not patient care,” Ryan said. “The computer work and phone calls to insurance companies are not what I trained for. I trained to take care of people, to listen to them, to talk to them, and to offer them [wellness] advice.”

Direct primary care focuses on restoring the doctor-patient relationship and making

Dr. Clodagh Ryan takes notes. (Okkema/LION)

the patient the number one priority. Direct primary care is different from traditional practices because it does not require patients to have insurance to receive care. It is still recommended that patients have a plan for catastrophic events, like hospitalization or surgery. Paired with a high deductible insurance plan, direct primary care often saves people money on their healthcare. “[Doctors] have to deal with insurance companies and pharmacies and referrals,” she said. “It is very complicated and it does not need to be.”

Since direct primary care does not involve the insurance company patients pay a flat fee each month, Ryan said. This is called pricing transparency. At Cara Direct Care, the price ranges from $50 for an adult 18-44 years old

to $140 for a family with two children. It is $10 for every additional child.

“Everyone has been trained to think that health insurance is required to get basic medical care and they become reliant on it,” said Dr. Sital Bhargava, who owns a Direct Primary Care practice in New Lenox, Ill. “[People] don’t realize sometimes it can be cheaper without using your medical insurance. Labs, X-rays and doctor’s visits can be a lot cheaper for better care if you don’t use your insurance and pay the cash prices.”

The direct primary care also benefits doctors because they will know how much money they make monthly. The doctors are also able to assign the medication they think will best suit the patient without worrying if the patient’s insurance covers it. The doctors also do not have to follow the insurance’s special charting system which requires them to write an unnecessarily long doctor’s note.

“I really like the idea of Cara Direct Care,” Reilly Holly-Meadowcroft ‘17, patient of Ryan, said. “It’s a relief that insurance is not a factor in this model of service.

I have an insurance that [is] difficult to find providers for and so this model takes that issue right off my shoulders.”

Since the doctor does not have to fill out insurance bills there is more time with the patients. Ryan used to see patients for

a standard 15-minute appointment. Now, each patient has a set hour long appointment with at least an extra 30 minutes if need be.

“I have patients from my old practice, which I was at for seven to eight years, and several of them have come over with me,” Ryan said. “I am getting to know stuff about them that I never knew before because I have time to talk to them. That social history can really help when you are trying to help a patient feel better and have a better lifestyle.“ Another unique feature is how patients have all the doctor’s contact information, so they are able to get in touch 24/7. This makes the doctor also available on weekends, early in the morning, or late at night.

The doctor also takes on fewer patients, which makes it easier to accommodate to each patient’s needs.

“Virtual care is a huge part of my practice that patients love,” Ryan said. “They don’t have to leave work to take care of minor illnesses—we can do a virtual visit by phone, video call or email and help them feel better without disrupting their day by taking time off work or having to find a sitter for their kids. That leaves more time in my office for those patients who really need the face to face visit to work through what issues they might have. It’s a win win.”

NEWS

Friday, December 1, 2017

Poverty simulation opens eyes Church organizes experiment in McClure gym, explores effects of poverty

by Taylor Schmitt

Imagine the frustration that comes with being arrested for a crime that you have not committed. Add that to the fact that you were next in line for a service you desperately need in order to stay healthy and care for your family. Justin Stewart ‘19 experienced a whole new level of exasperation and hopelessness as a participant in the Communities First Association’s poverty simulation. “[This program] really taught me how frustrating it is for the lower class to try to do anything in their daily lives,” Stewart said. “Everything about this experience was so much harder than I imagined.”

The poverty simulation took place Nov. 5 in the McClure Middle School gym. Thirty-one total case studies were handed out to children, parents and community members, organizer of the simulation Rev. Kate Spelman said.

The case studies, developed for the simulation by the Communities First Association, all consist of characters living in poverty who needs to complete specific tasks in order to care for themselves and their family each day, Spelman said.

The development team worked with people who are or have been in poverty to create realistic scenarios depicting poverty, facilitator of the simulation Olivia Weathers said.

“It’s a great program for helping people build more empathy with folks in our community,” Spelman said. “In Western Springs especially, we have the privilege of ignoring a lot of the poverty and a lot of the need in the rest of our larger Chi-

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The simulation had participants travel between seven different stations using slips of paper labeled “bus passes” each time they moved between stations to mirror standard daily tasks. Although the case studies did not have a lot of items on the list, the lines for each station were long, for only having a 15-20 minute day.

“A lot of times, it felt like we were doing everything right, but we were never where we needed to be,” participant in the simulation Jill Thornberg said.

After the tribulations ended, all of the participants gathered to share their experiences in a group discussion led by Weathers. They explored how they felt during the simulation and also what that taught them about the overall experience of poverty.

“I think the most significant impact is that the poverty Left: Justin Stewart ‘19 scans his case file as he stops at the SSA Imsimulation equips people with the different definitions of migration station. Right: Participant John Hines-Shah speaks about poverty,” Weathers said. “The hope is that they take that his experiences at a debriefing session. (Schmitt/LION) knowledge on to their everyday lives. Because now that cagoland area. This is a really good way to find out about the you have a different understanding, you are able to apply situations of others in our community in a really holistic way that knowledge in a new way.” that invites people into the lives of those around them.”

More than just the experience of financial poverty, the The program consisted of three “days” that lasted 15 to 20 simulation provided participants with experiences related minutes each, with breaks to debrief. Weathers helped partic- to emotional, mental and spiritual poverty, all of which ipants analyze the experiences and emotions that they experi- can contribute to monetary problems Weathers said. enced during their “day.”

“I think understanding others is extremely import“The ultimate goal is to broaden the view of what poverty ant, but it isn’t intuitive,” Weathers said. “Changing your looks like in the eyes of the participants,” Weathers said. “In mindset, or your posture, in how you interact with people a lot of places, people who don’t have any experiences with who are different from you can unlock more human conpoverty may feel like financial poverty is the only form. They nection. Building tolerance is just an important life skill to aren’t necessarily equipped with the ability to understand the have, and I think the poverty simulation does a good job idea that there are different types of poverty.” starting those conversations.”

Student reporters confront school censorship

By Lars Lonnroth go Levitan, online executive editor at the @larslonnroth Evanstonian, said. “As student journalists, A group of student journalists at Evan- we hope that Evanston’s message of free ston Township High School assembled Oct. speech would apply to student voices as 5 for a Monday night Board of Education well, even if that topic is considered taboo.”

But Evanstonian reporters didn’t just meeting equipped not with their traditional tools of notepads and pens—but with law- think that the confiscation of the paper was disappointing; they also thought it was illeyers.

On Sept. 22, student journalists with gal. The 2016 Illinois Public Act prohibits ETHS’ school newspaper, The Evanstonian, the censoring of student media unless cerwere distributing their first issue of the tain criteria enumerated in the law are met school year when they were told to cease (school publications are not fully protected distribution. The administration argued that under the First Amendment).

“This issue goes a two-page section beyond just the discussing marijua“As student journalists, we content of the pana glorified student hope that Evanston’s mesper, it is a matter drug use and forced of principle,” Mithe students to stop sage of free speech would chael Colton, exthe distribution of apply to student voices as ecutive editor at the paper.

The Evanstonian, well, even if that topic is Approximatesaid. ly 500 issues were considered taboo.”

The pages, endistributed in the -Margo Levitan, Online Executive Editor titled “The Pot hour before the Thickens,” includschool pulled what a student press lawyer called “the nucle- ed coverage on the efforts to legalize mariar option.” They pulled the papers out of juana in Illinois, marijuana’s medicinal uses, circulation and left the students struggling the impact school stress has on marijuana with how to proceed with future issues of usage and, most controversially, an interview with a drug dealer. the paper.

The interview with the drug dealer— “When student journalism incites unlawful acts, violation of school policy or who was granted anonymity—provided disrupts the school, the administration has information regarding their process and the the authority to impose limits,” ETHS said revenue reaped from their activity, which in a statement. “The articles on Sept. 22 did school officials claim “promote illegal concross these lines and were removed from duct.” The newspaper’s advisor disagreed.

“I felt, as an adult, that they did it in a circulation for that reason.”

Almost two weeks later, Evanstonian responsible way,” Rodney Lowe, the advistaff members lamented the confiscation at sor of The Evanstonian, said. “I think it was their school’s monthly Board of Education a situation where they [the administration] meeting, with local lawyers and student just felt like the topic was something we shouldn’t touch on.” journalists arguing for redistribution.

During the board meeting, Evanstonian “We were disappointed when our most recent issue was confiscated because it News Editor Trinity Collins argued thattouched on a controversial topic,” Mar- since “marijuana is a part of student culture”

“

What is the Illinois Public Act?

Prohibits the CENSORSHIP of student publications and media.

What CAN schools censor?

LIBELOUS, SLANDEROUS, or OBSCENE content

Content that involves an

INVASION of privacy

UNWARRANTED

Anything that incites students to commit

UNLAWFUL

acts

Sources: Illinois Public Act 099-0678, Mike Hiestand

at ETHS, they deemed it necessary to “use when the subjects of scrutiny are also the our student platform to professionally re- source of the resources needed to operate.

Even though it is illegal in Illinois, Mike port on a relevant topic.”

Many student editors were ardent that Hiestand, a lawyer for the Student Press they took a responsible approach to the Law Center, said proving censorship can be section and emphasized that they were not difficult because it is a matter of motive.

“School officials are clever; they are savintending to promote the use of marijuana. vy as far as the “I want to make law goes,” he said. clear that our pur“I want to make clear that “They can come pose in printing our purpose in printing these up with all sorts these stories was of subterfuge and to discover why stoies was to discover why so other reasons for so many students many students smoke mariengaging in the smoke marijuana or censorship.” used marijuana and juana or used marijuana and In the case of our purpose was not our purpose was not to prothe Evanstonian, to promote any usmote any usage.”

Hiestand said age,” Collins said. the nuance is in The paper was -Trinity Collins, News Editor whether or not redistributed on the article would Nov. 3, over two months after the original distribution was “incite other students to go out and hit the first halted; however, student journalists bong.”

“I think it is a stretch,” he said. “It has were required to add information on the harms and risks of marijuana before they to be very immediate. The incite standard has to be more than just persuading and sugwere allowed to redistribute.

The Evanstonian incident highlights gesting. It really is they read this article and the difficulty of fostering free student press I’m going out to buy a bong.”

“

“

Lawyers brought to Evanston Township High School board meeting following confiscation of school paper

“

Western Springs hosts community styrofoam drive Collections of plastic collected to be recycled, reused

By Camilla Breen @c__breen125

Four years ago, Wendy Vichick of the Green Team at First Congregational church had the idea to start a styrofoam drive in Western Springs in order to promote recycling in the community. Many community members had thought that styrofoam was biodegradable; however, that is not the case.

“We realized that most people did not know that [styrofoam] cannot be recycled,” Vichick said. “It just ends up in our landfills.”

In order to kickstart their styrofoam campaign, Vichick and her co-chair Richard Kassner contacted the Village of

Western Springs, and enlisted their help to start styrofoam collections. They now regularly take place on the first Saturday of the every month at the Grand Ave. Community Center.

“It has been very successful,” Vichick said. “We probably collected enough last month to fill a 20 by 20 foot truck.”

Styrofoam takes nearly 500 years to decompose, and is a persistent source of pollution near water sources, Vichick said. Although it can never fully be broken down, it can be reused into other things; Dart Corporation in Aurora helps with that.

“The people at Dart use the recycled styrofoam and turn it into smaller pellets that can be made into other products,” Vichick said. “The main one is cafeteria trays, which are reusable.

Vichick is hoping to continue the program for a long time, and expand it to involve different groups from around

the community, such as church or scout groups; however, the 9 a.m. to noon time slot has apparently not been enough for the community, she said.

“Everyone who has come and dropped off their styrofoam has been very appreciative of our efforts and hopes that this will continue,” Vichick said. “But, our collection has been so great that the location for collecting may be changing to better meet our needs.”

The collection will continue through March, and started Oct. 7. Kassner—the other co-chair of the green team—will be at each collection of styrofoam to aid the process, he said.

“For the short term, it is great if people are aware of the collections and take the time to collect and deliver the Styrofoam to the recyclers,” Recycling club sponsor William Meuer said. “I truly applaud their efforts. But for many people, that process is too inconvenient and most will opt to trash the styrofoam.”

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Friday, December 1, 2017

Special needs theater maintains tradition Adults perform ‘Beauty and the Beast’ in SC Performing Arts Center, director carries on legacy to honor mother, family

by Christina Rossetti @c_rossetti6

The Beast talks to Belle while at the castle. (Valdes/LION)

O

ver the last 24 years, Adult Special Needs Drama Teacher Christine Gronhe has been working at LT during the night hours, coming up with new ideas for each year’s performance. This year, her team decided to put on “Beauty and the Beast” for the LT community in November.

“We have great success with Disney plays because they offer a junior version of their show-which usually has more minor roles included, more choruses and they’re shorter,” Gronhe said. “Our actors know all the Disney stories so that’s a huge plus right there.”

Gronhe started this project as dedication to her mother, who first started this program with two other women who wanted to allow more options for adults with special needs.

Belle reads in the town center with onlookers. (Claesson/LION)

“Twenty-five years ago there really weren’t acting troupes for special needs, much less one actually housed in a high school,” Gronhe said. “We are unique in that [way], which is why we have always been so grateful to LT. They allow our stars to shine. I have grown up in the theatre and that is why creating this unique class which is a legacy from my mother has been a joy to teach.”

When Gronhe’s mother died last year, she dedicated her time to the theater program.

“My mom, Arlene Rehak, and two other moms approached Dr. Larry Bond who was head of the Adult Education Department at the time,” Gronhe said. “He took the chance

Belle talks to librarian about her favorite book. (Valdes/LION)

and allowed our mothers to create a curriculum for school graduates and other young people with special needs who lived in our community. The need for continuing education classes was apparent and so cooking, finance, reading, yoga and drama were offered.”

The 24 actors ranged from 18-50 years of age. This year, Barb Cerkanowicz played the part of Belle.

“When I found out I was playing Belle, it felt as if it was a dream come true,” Cerkanowicz said. “I heard my name called, and I cried happy tears because I always had a dream that I would one day play the part of Belle, and now that day was finally here.”

Cerkanowicz, along with Rob Incerto, former LT graduate Doug Toops and the rest of the cast, prepared for a long time for this production, Gronhe said.

“I decided to start performing when my mom told me I had it in me,” Toops, who played Lumiere, said. “Once I finished my first play, I realized I loved it and wanted to continue, and now here I am.”

The play was held on Nov. 18-19 in the SC Performing Arts Center, with a special performance of “Be our Guest” which seems to rival the New York City Rockettes, Gronhe said.

“When I see our actors on stage so full of pride, and the audience crying their eyes outand they will—it’s unstoppable,” Gronhe said.

“Then I know I’ve done my job.”

Illinois college student rights secured, affecting loans

by Brandt Siegfried @brandto13

SB 1351, also known as the Student Loan Bill of Rights, will become law in Illinois on Dec. 31, 2018.

The bill, which faced a tough path to law status, finally passed the legislature on Nov. 7 after a contentious debate and a gubernatorial veto from Gov. Bruce Rauner.

The bill comes in response to the increasing level of defaults on student loans. SB 1351 requires lenders, which are often considered to be predatory, to explore all financial options with clients before signing a potentially costly loan. It also creates a new position in Office of the Attorney General called Student Loan Ombudsman to assist loan holders and ensure legal compliance.

For LT students who will need student loans to finance instead of being told and placed into better repayment optheir college education, the new law is a plus. tions,” Madigan said in a press release. “The Student Loan Bill “Given that I wouldn’t be able to realistiof Rights will ensure that borrowers cally afford college [without loans], having receive the necessary information to “The Student Loan Bill of Rights some regulation around our only option is handle repayment of their student will ensure that borrowers receive loans in a financially responsible purely beneficial,” Antonio Giron ‘18 said. “[The law] will hopefully give some clarithe necessary information to han- manner.” ty around many of the confusing aspects of Detractors of the bill argue that dle repayment of their student student loans and protect us.” further regulation of the credit inloans in a financially responsible dustry will discourage business in For LT families, students must be presented with all financial aid options before Illinois. manner.” signing a student loan. They are ensured “Today’s [veto override] vote -Lisa Maddigan, Attorney General could create a damaging loss for the fairness in the loan process, and a reasonable interest rate under the new legislation. economic competitiveness of Illinois,” (in press realease) This is the main reason Illinois Attorney Rauner said in press conference.

General Lisa Madigan lobbied heavily to pass SB 1351.

Students will be able to judge the law’s success after the “Student loan debt impacts thousands of Illinois borrowers class of 2018 goes through the college loan process for the upwho were steered into forbearance or costly repayment plans coming 2018-2019 school year.

“

“

General Assembly overrides Governor’s veto, secures privileges for loan holders

Community

Friday, December 1, 2017

Page 5

As the month of December begins, the season of giving has dawned upon the community. Highlighted on this page are four fundraising efforts from LT and Ogden Avenue School that occur annually.

Ogden Avenue Red Sled still thrives after 38 years Ogden Avenue School fundraises, creates sense of community amongst vendors

by Christina Rossetti @C_rossetti6

Over the last 38 years, Rose Szymanski has been spending her time hand crafting polymer clay ornaments for craft fairs and, every month of November, for the annual Red Sled event at Ogden Avenue School.

“I’ve was a part of the Red Sled event at the very beginning, and I’ve done it ever since,” Szymanski said. “I thought because I was stopping doing craft shows, it was only fitting to end at the same place I started.”

The Red Sled event took place on Nov. 11 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., with numerous craft tables, a room for pictures with Santa and “Candy Cane Lane”, which contained activities for the children to enjoy, put together by the Parent Teacher Council (PTC), Principal Joe McCauley said.

“Our PTC does a great job of organizing and carrying out an event,” McCauley said. “There’s a lot of work behind the scenes.”

Along with the PTC, many students got involved this year, helping to put together decorations for the whole school.

“This year, we have at least one student group that will set up a vendor table with all their proceeds going to a local animal shelter,” McCauley said.

Numerous items were sold, ranging from headbands, T-shirts, ornaments, to photographs.

“Because this is in my neighborhood, it gives me a chance to see and meet people from around my neighborhood, who I wouldn’t normally see at an art show,” local artist Brian Horan said.

Children had the opportunity to go out and participate in a raffle, putting in tickets for their chance to win numerous prizes at the Red Sled event this year, with money going to the aid for teachers and instruction. Along with that, Ogden has found a new focus, McCauley said.

“Ogden has made it a goal this year to focus on diversity and the recognition of all cultures and individual differences,” McCauley said. “You’ll see classroom decorations that recognize all the winter holidays. Also, the student vendors doing grass roots fundraising for local charities is a direct result of our personalized learning time and the idea of giving

back that is central to our focus as a school this year.”

For Szymanski, events like these are very dear to her heart.

“I like it because I see so many people I never see,” she said. “It’s almost like a fun time for me. Not only am I selling the ornaments, but I’m socializing at the same time, and it provides people with a sense of community you don’t find in other places. Many of these objects sold are one of a kind, and you’re getting them handmade, instead of the factory produced.”

Shoppers browse at Ogden Elmentary School. (Rossetti/LION)

LT joins in annual Secret Santa

Holiday event continues legacy

Student Council helps with community toy drive

LT Write Night gains new coordinator, tradition remains

by Mary Devine @marydwannab

by Isabel Tuisl @isabeltuisl

Throughout the month leading up to Thanksgiving break, Student Council and the Rotary Club have been working together to make this Christmas special. An LT tradition for decades, the Secret Santa gift drive has returned once again. On Nov. 29, Student Council delivered over 100 different holiday gifts to children in the community that cannot afford their own presents and holiday tradition.

Student Council President Brandt Siegfried 18’ has been helping to organize the event and make it as successful as possible.

“It is my job to make sure that as a Student Council we select how many names we take, and then to publicize it so people purchase their gifts and turn them in on time,” Siegfried said.

Activities Director at LT along with the Student Council sponsor, Peter Geddeis, also helps to organize and inform the LT community on the fundraiser.

“I work with Student Council and the co-sponsors, Frank Pierson and Kathryn Pieper, to market it and to coordinate the logistics,” Geddeis said. “I oversee the whole thing, but we work together as a team to pull it off.”

For Student Council, this fundraiser is a long process. This year, they have created a specific committee that will be coordinating all of the advertising, Siegfried said. They are looking toward reaching out to more clubs and community businesses so that they can meet their goal of adopting 170

kids, the most they have ever opted to take.

“It takes only $100 to buy a kid Christmas,” Siegfried said. “You get a slip of paper and a purchase sheet which has their name and gender with their interests to direct what gifts to buy. It is also expected that you buy something like winter clothing and school supplies so that they have a mix of things they can utilize and enjoy.”

Emails were sent out to the staff and flyers were prepared, along with several announcements made during the school day to spread awareness, Geddeis said.

Word of mouth is a powerful form of marketing as well. A volunteer for Secret Santa since 2000, Alison Kelly, also sees the work that is put into the gift drive. These gifts are given to local children in need through the Rotary Club and is run by members along with volunteers amongst the whole community.

“Student Council delivers to us [the volunteers] right after Thanksgiving,” Kelly said. “The Spanish Club also helps in the workshop with getting all bags ready for the specific families. We then process the bags—making sure they are all [prepared] —and we have a big giveaway week where the parents come pick them up in early December.”

Overall, the effort put into Secret Santa is something that Student Council takes pride in doing.

“The Secret Santa is an example that Student Council does out of the kindness of their hearts,” Geddeis said. “It is not just a gift-wrapped present under the tree, it is potentially a life changing event.”

This year’s Holiday Write Night is the first without Dorothy Cochran, the recently retired coordinator. The new coordinator, Belinda Salutric, replaced Cochran, and is working with students and other DC workers to plan for a night of letter writing from Santa, for children kindergarten through third grade. The event is Dec. 5 from 4-7 p.m. at the SC Discovery Center.

“This is a team effort with the ladies in the DC,” Salutric said. “We are involving student council, National Honor Society and a number of other LT organizations and clubs to make Holiday Write Night a special event for the young children and their parents.

We are still in need of more volunteer [students, or elves], however, so if you would like to participate in Holiday Write Night please register online at lths.net/HolidayWriteNight.”

Salutric, along with Mary Craggs and Janice Devereux, worked with Cochran in the Discovery Centers, Director of Technology Ed Tennant said.

“When Mrs. Cochran retired, it was decided that the remaining Discovery Center team members would take the lead in keeping the event going,” he said.

“Ms. Craggs and Mrs. Devereux are stationed at South and North respectively, so Ms. Salutric had more opportunities to lead the communications efforts for Holiday Write Night.”

Cochran was instrumental in transforming Holiday Write Night from a simple program that involved a small number of LT students and a few dozen youngsters, Tennant said.

“She found ways to add entertainment and enjoyable activities to the event, including the sing-a-longs, radio interviews, cupcake decorating, coloring and craft stations,” he said. “She also introduced the food drive to the event as a way of helping those in our community who are less fortunate.”

Over the years, Cochran improved the event in many respects.

“I started working at LT in 1994 and at that time Holiday Write Night only involved writing letters to Santa on the DC computers, and we only accommodated 40 little children by reservation only,” she said. “The next year I added a story telling room and each successive year I became more involved until I was promoted to the Discovery Center Coordinator and Coordinator of Holiday Write Night in 2001, until my retirement in June of 2017.”

Although Cochran is no longer the coordinator, she will still be volunteering this year.

Salutric is trying to keep the event similar to last year, with the exception of a higher goal for the food drive.

“The food collected from the Holiday Write Night food drive goes to two churches in our community, St. Cletus and St. Francis,” Salutric said. “In 2015 we donated 37 boxes of food and in 2013 we donated 92 boxes. I would like to try to get back up to 92 boxes or more this year.”

LT paraeducators organize clothing drive for needy Staff encourages donations to winter clothing to those in need

by Georgia Dougherty @georgiadoc6

For their fourth straight year, paraeducators Vicky Cernetig and Sharon Wierema organized Woolly Woolly Warmth: a clothing drive that provides warm articles of clothing to the needy.

“We realized it was a need of the community,” Wierema said. “We are always trying to be involved in something with our paraeducators.”

All students and teachers had a chance to donate brand new mittens, gloves, scarves, hats, socks, or money donations to the library, discovery center, mailroom, and main office of both campuses until Nov. 30, Wierema said. They will be donated to the First Congregational Church of LaGrange.

“My dad works at the soup kitchen at the church on Saturdays,” Cernetig said. “I used to go once in awhile to help him. One cold morning I walked in, and he said that

somebody had just come in looking for warm gear and was wondering if my dad had $5 so he could buy gloves. Then the idea hit me.”

Unlike previous years, this year’s drive started in October and was supposed to end Nov. 1, but they had to change the deadline.

“Our hopes were to collect more in October this year, so we could distribute before the weather changed,” Cernetig said. “I think staff and students are used to the November collection time, so we extended it through the end of November. Normally around Thanksgiving, people start bringing in everything because everything’s on sale.”

Last year, the paraeducators received 144 articles of clothing and $100 in donations. Cernetig and Wierema brought the donations to the church and gave the clothes to the breakfast and lunch goers, and even had enough leftover to bring to BEDS, a local housing provider for homeless individuals.

“Our goal is to get as many donations as we can and to hopefully beat what we got last year,” Wierema said.

“Which we have been successful at so far.”

In addition to donating to the church, the paraeducators

Hat and gloves collected from 2016 clothing drive. (Cernetig)

keep out around five hats, scarves and gloves for kids at LT that are in need of items, Cernetig said. Every year they give at least five or six out.

“We [Cernetig and Wierema] usually find a day in December to run the donations to the church together,” Cernetig said. “We open up the door and they [the soup kitchen goers] just horde in and grab everything. There’s so many people that use that kitchen in the morning, and now they’re even starting to get to know us, asking if we’re bringing the items.”

NEWS

Page 6

Friday, December 1, 2017

Whenever an important event happens at LT, the LION Snapchat has it covered. Here are some featured snaps that highlight the NSPA Convention in Dallas, Texas:

LION bringing home some hardware

Views

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

@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!

9

Mattigan Kelly ‘18 @MattiganKelly

4

5

Caroline Anscombe ‘19 @cancombe411

2

Sometimes I go into public and talk gibberish just to see people’s reaction

5

Emma Parzyck ‘19 @EmmaParzyck

Mac Most ‘18 @MacMost27

Allison Keeley ‘20 @AlliKeeley

the only college email I’ve ever replied to promised me a present in return for a ton of personal information...@Minnesota I’m still waiting

0

33

34

Hey @PostMalone got me feeling like a rock star

16

0

MISSING: please help find this man. He has been lost since National Treasure: Book of Secrets came out

i live for when ppl dont get sarcasm and look in horror as i claim im If you say Jesus backwards it sounds like sausage gonna cut their skin off and wear it on my own bc they bumped into me

11

Jonah Ozer ‘18 @jonah_o123

1

PSA: the newspapers are meant to be READ, not to be worn on your HEAD, please respect your student journalists.

Kuntz builds school, foster home in Ghana

Continued from Page 1

10

LT’s Student Council and other community organizations adopted Kuntz’s cause and raised money to help her build an education center with a computer lab, art center and library, she said.

“She had this dream, she wanted to do this,” Allan said. “Today, there’s a [building] in Africa that this kid built just by sheer will, generosity, relationships that she has and the generosity of other people. [Her dream] became a real thing, which is just astounding.”

After the education center was being run solely by Ghanaian staff, Kuntz began to learn about the plight of special needs children in Ghana. She decided to build a foster home to help mentally and physically challenged children in Africa—who are commonly mistreated in their homes—receive the appropriate medical care they need. According to Enliven Mama Africa, a nonprofit based in Ghana, mentally and physically disabled children in Ghana are often ostracized and viewed as cursed or possessed by the devil.

“She wanted to do more,” Allan said. “She recognized culturally that there was this group of people who were essentially abandoned.”

After moving to Ghana permanently in 2014, Kuntz decided to build a foster home for mentally and physically challenged children and develop a medical sponsorship program to get special needs children appropriate aid.

“When I would go and work in the villages, I would learn the different aspects regarding [how special needs children are treated in Africa], and I knew that I could do something,” Kuntz said. “One person can make an impact. Putting one kid

into school or getting one child treated for malaria is enough the best care for special needs children in Ghana,” Kuntz to change their entire life.” said. “It’s a really hard job, and everything that I’ve done The foster home that she built, which Ghanaian staff would not be possible without them.” also run, would go into villages, and evaluate the homes of Now living in America, Ellie is 4 years old. Shriner’s Chilchildren with special needs, Kuntz said. If they were being dren’s Hospital has taken on her case as a charity, meaning mistreated, or were unable to be properly cared for, the fos- that she receives free medical care for her disabilities for her ter homes would take them in and give the children all the entire life, Kuntz said. medical attention they could provide. “[Ellie has] bettered my life more than “It’s incredibly inspiring, because a lot of I’ve bettered hers,” Kuntz said. “She is the kids in high school have these lofty dreams most resilient kid I’ve ever met. When I got to go out and save the world, and I think her, she was 16 months old and five pounds [Kuntz] really did,” Allan said. and could fit in the palm of my hand. EvDuring this time, Kuntz came in contact erybody needs an Ellie in their life to show with a baby who had cerebral palsy, microthem how strong the human spirit is. She cephaly, and club foot, she said. It was best has overcome so much; she teaches me so for the child to be removed from her family, much more than I could ever teach her.” and Kuntz decided to personally foster Ellie Ellie has done much more than just Grace. After a long and complicated proinspire Kuntz, Allan said. Their story has cess with the Ghanaian government, Kuntz been shared across social media platforms was able to officially adopt her. and continues to inspire people.

After the adoption process, Kuntz con“Sometimes, in our society it can be tinued to live in Ghana with her daughter, overwhelming with the amount of negabut decided to return to the United States tive media that we’re saturated with,” Alto get Ellie the health care that she needs. lan said. “It can be overwhelming, depressRebecca Kuntz ‘11 poses with her “She urgently needed medical care in the ing and anxiety inducing when you look daughter Ellie Grace after officially United States, but the process took about at the amount of bad things that go on in adopting her (Kuntz). three years,” Kuntz said. the world. I think Rebecca’s story shows This past October, Rebecca and Ellie returned home. that you can do something. You can do a lot. She was a kid They are now living in Western Springs with Kuntz’s par- with nothing and just by sharing her passion, she achieved so ents. The foster home and education center are still up and much in such a short amount of time. I hope that she will be running in Ghana, supervised by Ghanaian staff. an example for people, or maybe just give them a little bit of “[The community] rallied around our projects to provide hope in what can be a very dark world.”

Friday, December 1, 2017

opiniOns PageSevenPhotoGrid

Page 7

GuestColumn

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!

If Quavo was a teacher at LT, what would he teach?

What thing, besides a shark, should have a week dedicated to it?

What’s your favorite obscure holiday?

Who would back you up in a rap battle?

Black names 101: spelling and pronunciation

Beyonce, because why isn’t that already a thing?

National Pancake Day

Mrs. Tieman. She may be white and from Hinsdale but she could drop some bars.

American history.

He’s a big fan of Benjamin Franklin.

Danny Duncan

Deviled Egg Day, because I love deviled eggs.

I wouldn’t need backup

Culinary Arts. Always cooking it up in the crock pot.

Post Malone

Arbor Day and it’s not obscure.

Mr. Meuer

Metal work and jewelry because he’s got that ice.

A lion

April 6, “Sorry Charlie” Day.

Axel Orum

Amaria Clarke ‘18

Erik Chomko ‘19

Allison Keeley ‘20

Dan Weiler ‘21

compiled by Sydney Kaehler and Greg Smith

LetterToTheEditor In response to Lion’s Sept. 22 page 13 Elaine Smith ‘14 responds to the Issue #1 Pulse section cover page on feminism.

While I was happy to see a Pulse section devoted to the issues of feminism and women’s rights, I was surprised and disappointed to see that the page 13 Pulse cover included a sign calling for “Safe [and] Legal Abortions.” The juxtaposition of the “safe and legal” sign with signs carried by the “First Wave” feminists—women who, at great risk, sought workplace equality, the right to vote, and simple dignity for American women—was both unfortunate and historically inaccurate. It was unfortunate because it incorrectly equates feminism and the women’s rights movement at large with the awful license of a mother to take the life of her unborn child. Legal abortion is, in fact, universally unsafe for the unborn child. It is also unsafe, both physically and emotionally, for the mother—the victim who is intended to survive. (The gruesome medical practice of Dr. Kermit Gosnell provides a disturbing illustration of how unsafe abortion can be to both children and mothers, and the public Grand Jury report that led to his murder conviction reads like a horror story.)

The juxtaposition of these photos was also historically inaccurate. The “Feminist Foremothers”—women like Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and Alice Paul—universally saw abortion as an evil and a means by which men exploited women for sexual convenience. Indeed, the women who fought for the right to vote also fought for the right to life for the unborn. They vigorously opposed the practice and legalization of abortion and would no doubt be appalled at the depiction of suffragettes near a sign advocating for the practice which they abhorred. (One need only look at articles written in Stanton and Anthony’s newspaper, “The Revolution,” to understand how strongly they opposed abortion.)

Society’s confusion on this issue is no accident. Although it claims to be a not-for-profit, Planned Parenthood makes substantial sums on its booming abortion practice and has been implicated in the sale of fetal remains. Its supporters in the media and popular culture are eager to normalize abortion though cheap hashtag activism (#ShoutYourAbortion) as they attempt to sell the myth that “safe [and] legal abortions” are or should be part of the feminist ideal.

Indeed, the article within the Pulse section on the Women’s March failed to mention that abortion supporters worked hard to ensure that pro-life feminists were excluded from the march. (One wonders whether Susan B. Anthony herself would have been permitted to join the march.)

By including the “safe and legal” sign on the Pulse cover, the LION and its staff have unwittingly played a small though unfortunate part in a larger normalization and marketing of an abhorrent practice. As an LT alumna and a former LION staff member, I find this inaccuracy disappointing, disturbing, and sad.

RandomChatter

Whether it’s a cafeteria conversation gone wrong or something you overheard in the hall, LT kids say weird things. If you’re upset that something that you or a friend said isn’t featured, you should email it to kae503519@student.lths.net or Snapchat it to @lionnewspaper.

“Quavo is the Einstein of our generation.”

-Simon Lux ‘18 “It can’t always come full circlewe’re gonna break it off at a nice ¾ loop.”

-Sarah Barcelona ‘19 “God, I wish I was hairless.”

-Quinn Fraser ‘18 “She can’t always be a best friend, sometimes she has to be mom.”

-Abby Hennessy ‘21 “That’s how sad my life is, I’m excited about calculator engraving.”

-Maggie King ‘19

WriteUsALetter!

Have an opinion on a story? Are you passionate about something in the world or school? Any news? Opinions? Want to clarify something? Anything you want to tell us?

Write us a letter! Simply bring a letter, of any length, to NC Room 220, put it in Mr. Scales’s mailbox, or email the letter to Sydney Kaehler at kae503519@student.lths.net and you may see it in the next issue!

Make sure the content of the letter is appropriate, sign your letter with your name and make sure to put down your email!

LION reserves the right to edit all submitted letters, and unfortunately not all letters will be published.

Correction: In our Oct. 26, 2017 issue we published a staff editorial on Gold Cards called “Fool’s gold card.” In it, we argued that not all sports should be required to sell them, but we included some false information about which teams do sell them. We stated that the football team does not have to sell them. Football does in fact sell both cookie dough and Gold Cards. We regret this error.

Popping Pills

When scientist Alexander Fleming returned to his lab in 1928, he discovered that his sloppy technique Maddy Cohen had resulted in the contamination of one of his petri dishes that contained Staphylococcus, a bacterial infection. Instead of throwing the moldy petri dish out, however, he took a closer look at the mold and found something that would soon be impossible to forget.

Looking into the petri dish, he found that bacteria in the dish seemed to repel away mold, creating a bacteria-free ring around it. Fleming deduced that the mold secreted something that stopped all bacterial growth, essentially the cure for Staphylococcus. This “mold juice” would soon be known as penicillin, and would eventually lead to the discovery of countless other antibiotics that would change the medical field forever. Nevertheless, we are abusing this astounding medical discovery, and it is backfiring on us.

According to the CDC, up to 50% of antibiotic use in humans is unnecessary and inappropriate, causing strains of bacteria to become resistant to antibiotics instead of treatable. Furthermore, the antibiotics start killing the good bacteria in your body instead of the harmful ones, allowing the infection to spread ferociously.

We use antibiotics as a form of reassurance more often than as a feasible, medical treatment. While many think that antibiotics can cure all ailments, antibiotics only have the ability to treat bacterial infections. Common illnesses like colds, flu and most sore throats are viral infections, meaning that antibiotics will have no effect in curing them. Still, people are determined to use antibiotics regardless of what the illness is; patients often beg, even threaten, their doctors to receive antibiotics.

It is not solely the overuse of antibiotics that causes this resistance, but antibiotics in the food we eat as well.

Eighty percent of the antibiotics sold in the U.S. are used in the poultry and meat industry to prevent disease in the animals. As a result, bacteria is forced to evolve in order to survive. The new, evolved strains of bacteria are now resistant to the antibiotics, and can infect countless numbers of humans and animals.

The effects of antibiotic resistance are almost unimaginable in the world we live in today. Without antibiotics, we will reverse the medical advancement of the past 70 years. Common bacterial diseases like strep throat, pneumonia, and gonorrhea will become untreatable, resulting in the hospitalization and deaths of thousands.

We will live in a world where a minor surgery poses a risk of death. As time passes, we are losing the tight grip we have had over bacterial infections over the past seven decades.

The post-antibiotic world is not as far as we think. In fact, it is already upon us. According to the CDC, antibiotic resistance in the U.S. affects over 2 million people, and kills 23,000 a year.

Not all hope is lost, though. There are many ways you can try to prevent this approaching disaster. The first, and most obvious, is to only take antibiotics if you really need to. If the ailment is not bacterial, antibiotics are not necessary. Next, if you are prescribed antibiotics, use them correctly. Take the correct dosage, don’t stop taking them early and only use prescriptions that are written for you. Finally, have good hand hygiene and stay up to date with recommended vaccines.

On Nov. 13, 2017, the United Nations warned that the antibiotic crisis is one we cannot overlook. Our many years of carelessly overusing and musing antibiotic medication must come to an end. If it does not, we will be forced to pay the consequences.

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

Friday, December 1, 2017

SydneySays

Gotta go my own way

PawsUp

n To holiday shopping—the perfect excuse to treat yo’ self while pretending to be in the “giving spirit.” n To LT electives— making me sound way cooler than I am when I tell my relatives I’m in metalsmithing. n To the seniors—cheers to our last finals (hopefully). n To Thanksgiving— there is literally no better feeling than laying on the couch, stomach out. n To The Lion Staff at JEA/NSPA—this newspaper brings home some hardware. n To Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez revival—2010 me is THRIVING. n To Christmas catalogs—making me realize I need a Roomba? n To Dunkin Donuts— fueling our staff’s late layout sessions. n To people that understand vine references— keeping the spirit of our loved ones alive. n To the woman that threads my eyebrows— teaching me how to be strong through life’s most difficult situations. n To no harm finals— making me believe that someone up there is looking out for me.

PawsDown

n To iOS 11—still can’t play music from YouTube, but thank goodness we have a baguette emoji. n To iOS 11, again—“A ?” hate your glitches. n To teachers that don’t hole punch papers—glad we got a three-ring binder anyways. n To people with only two instagram posts— are you still alive? n To winter break starting the 22nd—three days is not enough time to enjoy pre-holiday festivities. n To public school bathrooms—thin sandpaper is NOT an excuse for toilet paper. n To January—brown snow, gray skies, still fat from the holiday season... n To yellow lights—you should just be considered “an extremely stale green light.” n To Thanksgiving—yes, I have grown, and yes, I am getting a third plate. n To LT’s temperatures— the 90-degree heat in my face is making me regret this sweater. n To people that walk three-across in the hallway—who raised you?

Should Andrew Jackson stay on the $20 bill?

LION polled 246 students about their opinions on the twenty dollar bill.

No face should be on the bill

4% Should the face on the $20 bill be changed?

Indian Removal Act

No 48%

All of the above

Yes 48%

If the face should be changed, why?

19%

Jackson owned slaves

53%

15%

A woman should be on the bill

13%

American Flag

12.5%

If the face should not be changed, why?

Jackson gave power to the common man

All of the 15% above

56%

Statue of

An Eagle

Liberty

12.5% He advocated

25% The White House

for the Union

11%

As a historical figure, Jackson

If no face should be on the bill, what should the symbol be instead?

50%

should not be removed 18%

We live in a country where past presidents are often denounced for erroneous policy and decision making, and Andrew Jackson has made his way onto the list over the years. Yes, he was not a perfect commander-in-chief. He was hostile to abolitionism, he inhumanely relocated Spiro Kass thousands of Native Americans (many of whom died) with the Indian Removal Act of 1830, and was a hot-headed general who was quick to violence and known to step over legal bounds.

Although his reputation may seem flawed, there was more to his presidential philosophy. In fact, this president who is now made out as a villain of American History is the reason behind early unification of the universal democracy that we live and breathe in today.

Before diving in, it’s important to clarify a common misconception. Today, people often link Jackson to the strengthening of slavery, yet little do they know that he advocated for the Missouri Compromise, which aimed to keep slavery out of politics. It is true that he owned slaves, but most other presidents of this era were slave owners as well. According to the History Channel, Jackson owned about two dozen slaves to his name, roughly equivalent to his two predecessors James Madison and James Monroe.

Although quite a significant number, it doesn’t even com-

pare to the 300 slaves George Washington owned while in office. Yet, there seems to be no argument waging against his presence on the one dollar bill.

Unfortunately, the positive elements which Jackson brought forth to our country are often drowned out by his infamous perception. He was first president to not be born from affluence and made an effort throughout his political career to bring the underrepresented West into the life of the nation. In doing so, Jackson casted a stern eye on laws that seemed to favor rich or the elite insiders while in congress. More importantly, all white males were granted suffrage under his administration, disavowing the property requirements and higher class status previously needed to cast a vote for office.

But why should he remain on the $20 bill? Well, he accomplished a task most presidents were never able to achieve: eradicating national debt, ultimately creating economic strength—in addition to the expansion of politics—that should be remembered and represented on our currency today.

In the end, Jackson helped open national politics to men of all classes, not just the wealthy elite. His expansion of the right to vote set a precedent for future equality and suffrage, propelling the eventual spread of political representation that now reaches all members of our nation, no matter gender or race.

The $20 bill is the third most common currency in circulation.

The faces and symbols on this bill are intended to represent America; however, Andrew Jackson is currently the face of the $20 bill. His face does not remind us of the amazing history AmerMaddy Cohen icans have had, but a dark one that we often try to forget. Harriet Tubman is a female, African American abolitionist who represents everything Jackson does not: she represents the United States.

As one of the most well-known and successful abolitionists in America, Tubman risked her life countless times fighting for racial equality. Often referred to as “Moses”, Harriet Tubman transported and saved over 300 slaves through the use of the Underground Railroad, an illegal system utilized by abolitionists to move slaves from the South to the North. Not only did Tubman rescue hundreds of slaves, she herself escaped slavery, twice. The Fugitive Slave Law and the Compromise of 1850, both making her job as a conductor much more dangerous, did not stop her from completing 19 trips on the railroad, liberating slaves.

Tubman’s fearlessness and dedication to racial equality

deserves recognition and praise.

Once the Civil War started, Tubman further proved her selflessness and commitment to the nation. She worked for the Union as a nurse and cook and subsequently earned a position as a spy and scout. Furthermore, she became the first woman to lead an armed expedition in the war, which resulted in the liberation of over 700 slaves. Again, Tubman fought for racial equality and succeeds.

Tubman was also a champion for women’s rights.

Beyond being one of the first female leaders in the Civil War, she also worked alongside Susan B. Anthony in the suffrage movement. She travelled around the country advocating for women’s rights at various conventions and rallies sparking major progress in the suffrage movement.

As a believer in the equality of race and gender, Tubman is a symbol of America. The Declaration of Independence states that all men are created equal; the foundation of America was built on this clause. It is time for us to acknowledge those who fought for equity and freedom. To acknowledge these truths, Tubman is the perfect candidate to replace Jackson on the $20 bill.

With the recent feminist movement, our society has been much more conscientious about making sure men and women are equal, which is a good thing. One of the recent ideas is to put a woman, such as Harriet Tubman, on the $20 bill, conDanny Kilrea sidering it is only men right now. While equality is essential, I’m not quite sure changing the face of the dollar bill will make a difference. Rather than change the faces of who is on our nation’s currency, faces should be eliminated from the bill all together.

In a technological era, people rarely use cash anymore.

Between ApplePay, credit cards, debit cards, online shopping and online transactions, many people are not reaching into their wallets and using paper bills. That poses the question: is changing the currency even promoting equality?

Slapping a woman on a bill when money is used much less

than years ago seems like an afterthought.

If the government ends up recycling old money and printing new dollars, it is only logical that they redesign the bill to show no face at all. Considering people are not taking time to look at their dollar bills, or even use them as much, it does not really matter who or what appears on the bill. To appeal to all parties, an image of The White House on the bill or even a Bald Eagle would be more patriotic and equal.

The point of the matter is: dollar bills will be used rarely in a few years. Therefore, changing who is on the money is a waste of energy and a pointless symbol.

Eliminating faces on reprinted currency will show that this country is looking to establish equality in ways that matter. The debate about who appears on greenbacks, though, should be considered obsolete. Progressing in the right ways is what truly matters.

I asked my mom if we would be able to plant pumpkins in our garden Sydney Kaehler next year. She promptly replied, “you won’t be here next year,” and then it hit me.

This time next year, most of the senior class and I won’t be home. We’ll be calling a new school, country or job “home.”

Come December 2018, no one will care what anyone’s plan is, because everyone is doing their own thing. But, for some reason in December 2017, my business is everyone else’s. As excited as I am to be deciding my “home” for the next four years, I’m not excited for the underlying judgment that comes with a life decision. I have to address this now, and everyone else does, too, because “tis the season” for the seemingly endless stream of questions regarding college from friends, family and relatives.

The concern starts when standardized testing begins.

Scores start to become the topic of conversation, and moms start to whisper about how well their children are doing. Fast forward to this point in senior year: everyone’s wondering where you got in, what’s your #1 and everything in between.

The question I want people to be asking is, “what do you NOT want to be doing in 20 years?”

And I would then reply, “paying off my student loans.”

Every family makes a different amount of money, and every student has a different plan. If someone is planning on attending community college for two years because they’re looking at their life in the long term, why is that person treated or looked at any different than someone who plans on going to a fouryear university, possibly graduating with debt? Personally, I’d rather pay $30,000 a year instead of $70,000 for the same quality of education.

The only difference between the two is $40K and one happens to be a “name brand school.” This has nothing to do with people that end up getting into and going to an Ivy League or competitive college. This is just a public service announcement to let people do their own thing. It shouldn’t be any sweat off your back if someone wants to go to a less prestigious school than you.

Maybe the school they want to go to grants a lot of financial aid. Or maybe, people should mind their own business and let everyone be happy with their post-high school choices, no questions asked. I’ve told people some of the schools I’m thinking of, and it has prompted a furrowed brow, or a “why there?”

Why is everyone so concerned all of a sudden? No student should feel ashamed of what they believe is right for them.

Come fall 2018, every senior right now will be in a different environment, whether you’re in college or not. The end of high school marks the end of our seven-hours-a-day, scheduled life.

By December 2018, I hope that everyone is happy with where they are, because that’s all that matters. Do what is best for you and don’t look back.

When I weigh my college options, I think about that school’s reputation. What I need to remember is that my opinion’s the only one that counts And, wherever I am next year, I’m still planting those pumpkins.

Opinions

Thursday, October 26, 2017

Page 9

ComicStrips

StaffEditorials

Irate with immunization rates

From a healthcare perspective, we are fortuWakefield’s work has been disproved dozens of nate to live in 2017. Right now, we are living our times and he has not been allowed to practice healthiest, longest lives, with effective treatments medicine since 2010. Yet the damage had been for most diseases. We can prevent and eradicate done. Chief of Infectious Diseases at Children’s disease with vaccinations that plagued us in the Hospital of Philadelphia Paul Offit put it best, past. Why does anyone knowingly expose their saying “[i]t’s very easy to scare people; it’s very unprotected children to these pathogens? hard to unscare them.”

Vaccinations are one of medicine’s greatest The danger does not lie in the few individuals accomplishments. They prevent deadly diseases who are not vaccinated. Some may have immulike pertussis, measles, mumps and rubella. By nosuppressive disorders or religious restrictions. injecting a dead or weakened part of a virus into That’s okay with mass immunity, as everyone the bloodstream, the immune system is able to who has the capability to be vaccinated theoproduce antibodies against the retically is, so disease has nowhere Our position: Federal to spread. But fewer children are disease. The first vaccination law should require was created in the 1790s to fight receiving immunizations, which smallpox. Today, smallpox is com- immunizations for all allows diseases to work their way pletely eradicated from the world. 14 serious childhood back into our lives. diseases.

Yet some parents choose not At LT, a case of pertussis has to have their children vaccinated. been confirmed as of Nov. 21.

Vaccines have been proven to be one of the most We should be worried; this should scare us; for effective methods of preventing disease; the only years, whooping cough was never a concern in better way is actually contracting and fending off parents’ minds, and now a potentially fatal and the illness. Parents worry about the exposure to completely preventable disease is back, and at our harmful ingredients present in trace amounts in school. Pertussis is not alone; instances of measles most common vaccinations. But numerous studies and mumps have also risen in recent years. have shown that the quantities of these chemicals Schools should require their students to be are small enough to literally have no effect. vaccinated. Employers should require their The crusade of the “anti-vaxxers” is fueled by employees to be vaccinated. the research of Andrew Wakefield, a physician People who are sick less will not only miss less whose work showed links between vaccinaschool and work, but they will contribute to a tions and autism in children, according to “The healthier environment. For the good of the genLancet.” His work, faulty and fraudulent as it was, eral public, basic vaccinations should be required is still the basis of vaccination misconceptions. to stop serious infectious disease.

Illustration by Anonymous Artist

AnotherView

Staff vote: 22-2

School vs. sleep

High school students are very busy. Obligaing cause of death for American teens, according tions must be fulfilled and many extracurricular to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. activities must be attended to not only have an Research has also shown connections between enjoyable high school experience, but also to have insufficient sleep and obesity, diabetes, immune a reasonable chance of admission to a post high system and mood disorders, and lower life expecschool program of the student’s choice. tancy.

Unfortunately, high school sports increasingly In light of the profound effect sleep has on encroach on students’ social engagements, school- health and performance, both academic and athwork, and–most importantly–sleep. Students who letic, it is no wonder that California’s governing wish to stay involved at school frequently must body for high school athletics (CIF) has already forgo sleep to the detriment taken action to limit the amount Our position: Because of their health. Most medical of time sports can practice to 18 students are busy with professionals agree that teenaghours a week (competitions count extracurricular obligaers need a minimum of eight, as three hours and no practice may tions, schools should usually nine, hours of sleep be held after competitions). limit the amount of time per night. Students already put The regulation included any sports can hold practices themselves into rigorous course time outside of school “implicto 18 hours per week. loads to gain a competitive edge itly or explicitly” required by the for college admission. With their coach. Such regulation would be academic commitments alone, adequate sleep is a dramatic improvement for LT sports, some of already less than likely to happen. But with 20 or which have well over 20 hours of commitments more hours per week of sports, there is absolutely per week. The IHSA and LT should follow suit in not a chance that students can sleep enough. order to promote the health and safety of student According to Harvard Medical School, sleep athletes. helps memory and learning, which are of prime Most student athletes will not continue their importance for academic success in high school. sports in college. High school athletics should be a Sleep deprivation also creates a higher risk of positive experience, not one that harms students’ automobile accidents, which are already the lead- health and academic performance.

Staff vote: 15-9

AP should stand for A-Political

wealth gap is lamented, and the use of fossil The College Board: the powerful company that controls the SAT, the PSAT, and AP testing, fuels is demonized. Opinions on these issues may differ, but the truth is that there are legitimate among other college preparation tests. Most stuarguments for capitalist economics and diverse dents are probably unaware of the Board’s influarray of energy sources. ence in education or its organizational structure It is wrong to teach an issue in a single-sided that works to insert politics into the classroom. manner. The College Board should maintain a While the College Board is membership focus on education instead of inserting irrelevant, driven, it is governed by a Board of Trustees. potentially political topics into curriculum.

These trustees are a wide assortment of figures As another example, one must look no further in education, from college admissions administhan the popular AP U.S. Histrators to high school superintendents.

Our position: The College tory curriculum; the “Migration But when it comes to curBoard should maintain a and Settlement” theme is the riculum, the trustees aren’t the focus on education instead most obvious offender. While immigration certainly played an ones calling the shots. Commitof inserting irrelevant, tees of “expert” college-level potentially political topics indisputably important role in American society and still does, educators in respective fields into curriculum. the APUSH curriculum delegitidesign AP curriculum, and they mizes the notion that immigrants should assimidevelop the course goals and themes. Then, they late into American culture. Again, while opinions choose content based on the aforementioned will inevitably vary, it should be agreed that both items. sides of any political issue have merit, and that This is where the trouble occurs. According presenting a conclusion about the “correct” side to Econ Journal Watch, only about 8 percent has no place in the classroom. of college professors identify as conservatives.

We believe that the purpose of the public eduCourse themes, while not expressly political, cation system is to educate, not indoctrinate. We clearly open the can of worms for teachers to introduce biases. For example, in the AP Spanish pride ourselves in educating the free thinkers of the future, not the operation of facilities reminislanguage and Culture curriculum, there are six cent of Chinese re-education camps. We applaud course themes; one is “Global Challenges.” This LT for its intellectually diverse atmosphere, but unit focuses on poverty and the environment, the College Board clearly misses the mark. and the course explores possible solutions. The

Staff vote: 20-4 C ontact

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Illustration by Sydney Kaehler

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sports

Page 10

Friday, Decmber 1, 2017

Alumnus succeeds in marathon

Ryan Speir ‘13 finishes race in under 150 minutes, looks to future in Naval flight school

by Mikaela Larson @mikaela_larson

As Ryan Speir ‘13 looked to the course of two or three years. But clock at the finish line of the Bank in Ryan’s case, we accelerated the of America Chicago Marathon on process because of his impending Oct. 8, he saw what many run- flight school commitment. Ryan ners can only dream of: a time of did a few weeks of high mileage, 2:29:16. Speir finished 56th over- got in a solid half marathon as a all, 50th in the men’s division and tune up, and off he went. It wasn’t second in his 22-24 age bracket, all ideal, but we made the most of the while competing in his first mara- time we had to get him ready.” thon ever.

Speir ran cross country at LT for “My sister was looking up the all four years but was only on the results and I was really surprised state team for his junior and senior because I wasn’t expecting to finish seasons, frosh-soph coach Tom so high,” Speir said. “My goal was Stukel said. to finish in under 2:30 so placing “[Head varsity coach Mike] top 50 was really just icing on top Danner tells his story every year of the cake for the whole experi- because if you work hard, it doesn’t ence.” matter where you start,” Stukel A walk-on cross country said. “He started off in one of the runner at the Naval Academy, lowest groups and was a chubby Speir trained all summer with the kid but he continued to change Georgetown Running Club (GRC) and become better. Over the four following college graduation, he years he changed his mindset and said. While many runners train for himself as a runner and you could years before their first marathon, tell he was going to be successful.”

Speir had only a few months.

Success for Speir has not been “I norlimited mally do not to cross “My goal was to finish in endorse athcountry. letes right His senior under 2:30 so placing top out of colseason, 50 was really just icing lege running he was on top of the cake for the a marathon,” awarded GRC coach with First whole experience.”

Jerry AlexTeam Aca-Ryan Speir ‘13 ander said. demic All “It takes years A m e r i of high mileage to be properly pre- can award and now has goals of pared for the marathon, and we becoming a pilot. He will report normally have athletes coming out to Pensacola, Fla., on Dec. 15 for of college make the transition to flight school, a commitment that the marathon gradually, over the includes approximately two years

“

“

Boys’ swim races towards state

of training and five years of service to follow.

“If everything goes the way I want it to, I will fly P-8A Poseidon which is a reconnaissance airplane that hunts down submarines for the Navy,” Speir said. “After I get assigned a platform I’ll have the commitment but ideally I’ll be able to continue to run and maybe somewhere down the line, depending on my schedule and Naval deployments, I’d like to give the marathon Ryan Speir ‘13 runs through Chinatown, one of the 29 another shot.” neighborhoods on the race route. (submitted by Speir) Another competed in the World Military future goal of Speir’s is to compete in the World Military Games Games several times, and Ryan and possibly the Olympic Trials, is on that level,” Alexander said. he said. Organized by the Inter- “GRC had four athletes compete national Military Sports Council in the 2016 Olympic Trials Mara(CISM), the World Military Games thon, two men and two women. bring together athletes from 136 The qualifying standard for the different countries to compete in Olympic Trials is difficult to attain annual championships for 30 dif- [2:19], but if Ryan can continue to progress, he will certainly have a ferent sports.

“Our other military athlete has shot at it.”

Season starts after two consecutive state championships

by Mary Okkema @maryokkema Last year, LT boys swim and dive team The program at focuses on creating a became state champions for the second year brotherhood in and out of the pool, Vitek in a row. They accepted their trophy with said. All the teams practice together at the bright smiles and feelings of disbelief as same time. During dryland, the captains the crowd roared and cameras flashed. The make sure to put swimmers in a variety of whole team lept into the New Trier pool to groups not based on their swimming abilcelebrate the win, because they had done it ity. This creates strong bonds throughout again. This year they are hoping for a simi- the program. lar celebration.

“My favorite part about LT swimming is “I am really excited to get back into the that there are really no divisions between water with the team,” Henry Claesson JV, frosh-soph, and varsity,” Vitek said.

‘18 said. “ There is definitely some “We are all one team. I’m confident pressure, and some eyes are that my senior class can pointed at us, but really bring the team I think we are together in the going to just brotherget in and hood it do what has been we northe last mally do. four years.”

We’ll have T h i s to see where it goes season, the team is Henry Claesson ‘18 swims butterfly at hoping to continue with from there.”

In 2017, they won the South Campus pool. (Hill/LION) its work ethic and mainthe state meet with 156.5 points. Hins- tain the focus that it had the past few years. dale Central placed second with 142 points, They have to stay driven in and out of the while New Trier placed third with 120 pool. points. “[The team needs to] keep a good work “[Winning state was] one of the best ethic throughout the season, and making moments of my life,” Michael Walsh ‘19 sure that everybody throughout the team said. “It was awesome that all the of the buys into the program,” Varsity Coach Scott hard work we put in throughout the season Walker said. “Everybody finds a way that was able to come together in the end with they can contribute to a hard working, posa win.” itive environment. I think that is how we Not only did the boys become state ended up being as successful as we were last champions, but Spencer Walker ‘18, Jef- year.” frey Vitek ‘18, Ryan Hammond ‘17 and Notable meets this season include the Walsh set a new state record in the prelims dual meet against Hinsdale Central on for the 200m Medley Relay with a time of Friday, Dec. 22 at 5 p.m. at the SC pool and 1:30.91. the New Trier invitational on Saturday, Jan. “It was a crazy experience,” Vitek said. 13 at 12 p.m. at New Trier. Their first meet “I love relays because it is not just you, you is Dec 1 at 5:30 p.m. at Glenbrook North have your team. When we finished and saw High School. the time we all went nuts. I want more of “I’m excited to see how everyone those feelings. I’m excited, and I think we emerges and how much people improve,” can do great things this year.”

Vitek said. “It will be a great year.”

Marathon distances were extended from 25 miles to 26.2 miles at the 1908 London Olympics because Queen Alexandra wanted the royal children to be able to watch the end of the race from their nursery.

The six Abbott World Marathon Majors take place in Tokyo, Berlin, Chicago, New York City, Boston and London.

At the 2011 Toronto Marathon, Fauja Singh became the oldest person to ever finish a marathon at the age of 100.

The 2016 New York City Marathon broke the record for the largest marathon ever with just over 50,000 finishers.

In April of 2016, a British astronaut named Tim Peake became the first person to run a marathon from space. He ran on a treadmill and posted a time of 3:35:21.

The length of an entire 26.2 mile marathon is approximately 504 football fields long.

The oldest yearly marathon is the Boston Marathon, which began back in 1897.

Compiled by: Luke Lusson Source: marathontrainingschedule.com

Girls basketball sets bar high, goals of state

Strong set of returning seniors competes together for final year

by Hayden Claesson @_wizard_of_soz Many basketball teams are built around combined with the overall already strong pinpoint shooters or a strong frontcourt. connection between all of the players, is However, this year’s girls’ basketball team what had been fueling them to compete at is built around something that is different, their very best for the seniors final season. something less tangible: the chemistry that “It’s almost like we’ve been building up the seniors have worked for years to create. to this year,” Bugaieski said. “I think that “A lot of the seniors have been play- this year could be a very special year for us ing together since middle school,” Sidney because we have so much experience under Bugaieski ‘18 said. “So we all have been our belt, it’s almost like it is building to a playing with each other for a while.” climax and hopefully it will be a memorable The team this year doesn’t just have expe- season.” rience, they also have In order to prepare expectations.

Last for the upcoming year the team finseason, many girls ished with a record participated in preof 16-11 and are season training and hoping to improve, club practices, last head coach Paul year’s captain Kaelan Krick said. Even Lee ‘18 said. This year though the team had the girls are excited to a winning record, get back on the court players were not to compete for their totally satisfied with school. their performance “I think that there last year. are just vibes around “I believe last LT basketball,” Lee year’s experience left said. “There is a lot a bad taste,” Krick of energy and good said. “This year the facilities, and everygirls are excited to Kaelan Lee ‘18 shields the ball from a Morton one works hard and is restore the roar.” defender at SC on Tuesday Nov. 21. (Devine/LION) happy to be there.”

Many of the goals One of the team’s of the team go beyond the final record or biggest challenges this year is the strength numerical goals, but intangible ones that can of their schedule. The team will play at the only be seen by watching the girls play. elite Montini tournament on Dec. 27 through “The goal of our program is work as a Dec. 30, which features many top teams in team, first and foremost,” Krick said. “We the state, Krick said. As well as a tournament then try to improve our individual and team schedule, the individual match ups include skills to the point that we are playing our best many hard games both in and out of the West basketball at the end of the season.”

Suburban conference. Despite this, the girls This effort to work as a team this year are ambitious in going as far as they can this is something that Krick has been trying to season. enforce, even if it means making sacrifices. “[We want to go to] state, we don’t want Last year, Krick cut two returning seniors in to put a limit on our success,” Emma Fink ‘18 order to allow juniors to have more time to said. “There is no cap on our goals to how far play with each other, Bugaieski said. That, we can go.”

sports

Friday, December 1, 2017

Boys basketball looks to improve on rough start Junior driven team faces early challenges in Thanksgiving tournament, learns from losses

by Luke Lusson @LukeLusson The boys varsity basketball team opened up its season with three games at home as hosts of LT’s annual Thanksgiving tournament. Although the Lions dropped all three games, Head Coach Tom Sloan and his players found positives in the three losses.

“We’ve improved a ton from the first game,” Sloan said.

“Right now we just want to keep getting better every day and I felt like in between game one and two we had a significant improvement.”

LT’s first loss came by a score of 59-52 against Plainfield North in a game where the Lions struggled to score, Sloan said. Their next two games were against Maine South and Hinsdale South, who both came into the season ranked in the top 20 in the state. The Lions, however, found themselves with a chance late in the games to grab their first win. They ended up falling in the two close matchups by a combined margin of only nine points.

LT enters the season as a team without much varsity experience, Sloan said. Not only that, but the team lost both Ryan Barker ‘18 and Jack Denning ‘19 in the offseason due to injury. Because of these factors, LT hopes to improve with experience as more games are played.

“Ryan and Jack were a big part of what we did this

summer,” Sloan said. “With them being pulled out of the mix, we have to get guys to

continue to play more games.”

Returning members from last year’s varsity squad include

Lazarius Williams ‘18 dribbles past a Plainfield North defender at the Lyons Township-Glenbard Thanksgiving Tournament. (Breen/LION)

step forward that we didn’t [foresee] playing as big of a role.

I’m thinking that we are going to see really big jumps as we

Nolan Niego ‘19, Tyrese Shines ‘19 and Lazarius Williams ‘18. All three players will look to step forward and

lead the young LT team to a successful season.

“Everybody needs to step up,” Shines said. “We’re all one team and we’re all depending on each other to make plays.”

Niego, who is now in his third year on the varsity team, believes that the team should be taking things one game at a time.

“This season is a journey,” Niego said. “Our goal is to improve each and every game.

The winning will take care of itself.”

On Nov. 25, LT picked up its first win of the season by beating Glenbard North 77-38. Next up for the Lions will be a matchup tonight against RiversideBrookfield at the UIC Pavillion.

The game comes as a part of the Chicago Elite Classic, a twoday event that plays host to 24 different high school basketball teams. Like LT, the Bulldogs of Riverside-Brookfield will enter the game with an overall record of 1-3.

Further down the road, LT will host Glenbard West on Feb. 16 for the annual Blackout game in the North Campus fieldhouse.

“Everybody is super pumped for the Blackout game,” Niego said. “It is always one of the highlights of the season.

Nothing compares to the energy brought by [LT] students.”

LT plays RiversideBrookfield in the Chicago Elite Classic Friday, Dec. 1 at 7:30p.m.

Competitive cheerleading grows, gains recognition, respect, talent LT’s competitive cheer team prepares for upcoming competitions, hopes to expand name

by Isabel Tuisl @isabeltuisl

With competitive cheerleading officially added to the 2024 guys to cheer,” Janis said. “At LT, we haven’t had many boy cheerOlympics, it is now getting recognized as a sport. LT’s recent prog- leaders in the past, so I think that they’re breaking the stereotype ress with its competitive and I’m glad to see more cheerleading team has guys want to cheer.” earned the sport more The boys seem to and more recognition and perceive the gender difrespect as well. Practice ference differently than for the team’s competition most girls on the team. season started on Oct. 23 “Being a boy is with 21 cheerleaders. extremely unfair,” ValThe team’s first comentino said. “You are petition is Friday, Dec. 16 the center of attention. I at Belvidere North High excel at some things that School, where they will the girls don’t, because compete against other as a boy I do different co-ed cheerleading teams. stunts that most of the The teams are judged girls aren’t capable of, on categories like jumps which puts me in the and tumbling, as well as spotlight.” technique and execuHaving boys on the tion within each of those team brings a different categories, competitive dynamic to it, Korpan cheerleading coach Demi said.

Korpan said.

“I was on an all-girls The team practices five team for one year of high days a week unless there school, but other than is a football or basketball Olivia Martinez ‘21 practices an arabesque stunt at South Campus. (Claesson/LION) that I was always on a game where they perform co-ed team,” she said. during halftime, a cheerleader on the team Aaron Valentino ‘18 “The all-girls team had a different atmosphere, and the guys always said. Sometimes, the team practices before games. Practice is 3:30-6 brought a lot of comedy and energy.” p.m. on weekdays and on weekends several of the cheerleaders will The competitive team was created by a petition started by Sarah have another practice at a gymnastics or cheer gym and practice for Better ‘18 and Jane Freeman ‘18. another two hours.

“I wanted a competitive cheer team at LT because I was cheer“Being part of the team makes you feel really important,” team- ing for many years before high school and wanted to continue the member Emily Janis ‘18 said. “Every person’s part is so crucial- intensity of doing it competitively,” Better said. “Wanting to consomebody needs to fill in [each] spot and learn the routine.” tinue with the sport, I sadly found out LT didn’t offer a competitive There are many differences between the roles of girls and boys program.” on the team. Generally, the boys have an easier time tumbling than Better also coaches LFC Tigers cheerleading, which is the junior girls and tumbling is a key point in cheer, Janis said. However, she league program for competitive cheerleading for the La Grange area. loves how the team is co-ed and more boys are joining the team.

“I was frustrated that the girls I was coaching could not take their “More people look at cheerleading as a sport for girls, even new skills to the high school level and continue doing competitive though a lot of boys do competitive cheer and it’s very normal for cheer,” she said.

Page 11

CollegiateCorruption It’s the most wonderful time of the year. Snow is falling, hot chocolate is flowing, and college basketball has begun. However, what usually is a time to celebrate and rejoice is bittersweet Mikaela Larson following the FBI’s investigations which culminated in the arrests of multiple NCAA coaches and affiliated personnel.

The unanimous firing of Rick Pitino by the Louisville Athletic Association headlined the corruption scandal. However, Pitino’s no amateur when it comes to scandals; it took three nationally recognized wrongdoings before Louisville declared the termination of his tenure. Even so, he wasn’t the only one in the wrong.

Ten individuals in total from Alabama, Arizona, Auburn, Miami, Oklahoma State, South Carolina and University of Southern California, as well as a few industry employees, are all in hot water with similar charges brought against them. Three different criminal complaints complete with bribery, mass corruption and wire fraud—not necessarily independent of one another—make up the allegations and even as a law nut, I find it hard to understand the jargon that explains the charges. The accusations are more complicated than the Kardashian/Jenner family tree.

That being said, the situation is as follows: Louisville had its eyes on five-star recruit Brian Bowen out of Saginaw, Mich., who had offers from Michigan State, Arizona, UCLA, Creighton and others but chose the Cardinals.

To have offers from some of the best programs in the country is no surprise when you’re a McDonald’s All-American, so nothing seemed out of the ordinary; except for the fact Bowen was $100,000 richer for choosing Louisville and promising to sign with Adidas and Chris tian Dawkins’ agency, ASM, upon entering the NBA. Pitino is believed to have been the liaison between former agent Dawkins, Adidas executive James Gatto and Bowen. Pitino talked to Gatto three times, the last of which came two days before Bowen’s commitment.

Dawkins was the one who negotiated the contract with Adidas and Bowen’s family but he demanded more money when an unnamed rival to Adidas offered more money. Dawkins informed Pitino “I need you to call Jim Gatto, who’s the head of everything.” The call was on June 1 and Bowen’s commitment came on June 3.

How did this ever get out of the inner circle? Dawkins turned to a different Adidas affiliate, Brad Augustine, to voice his concern. The problem with that was Augustine was an FBI informant. Gatto and Dawkins are at the center of almost every single allegation in the FBI probe and most of them fall along the same lines as the Louisville situation. A recruit is offered money to go to a school, but they only get it if they sign with Adidas and work with Dawkins upon entering the NBA. When this investigation came to fruition at the end of September, the basketball world was rather shaken up. Less than two months from the start to the season, many questions arose regarding the schools, athletes and their resulting eligibility. Since the allegations came out, five players have been suspended from play, including Bowen.

As both a basketball fan and a person with a conscience, I was upset. How can adults exploit 16, 17, even 18 year old boys? Many of these athletes will be one-and-done—meaning they will play for their freshman season, then declare for the NBA draft—how much difference does one year truly make? As a five-star recruit, these men can go practically anywhere they want. I see the temptation of the school with underground incentives, but the people offering them do not care about the athletes; they care about turning a profit. Since many players fell victim to the selfish intentions of coaches and agents, their NCAA eligibility is in question and so is the future of their career in basketball. The college recruitment process has always been shady, but these atrocious events and decisions take the cake.

However disgraceful the scandal was, I will continue to watch college basketball. There is no boycott needed like some have for the NFL and CTE or the Soviet Union in the 1984 Olympics. College basketball is easily my favorite collegiate sport to watch, and that’s not changing because of some poor decisions made by some greedy individuals. The lesson derived by these past few outrageous months simply emphasizes the stress college athletes carry and the need to more closely monitor recruitment.

sporTs

Page 12

Friday, December 1, 2017

Respected speaker captivates SC

Former professional athlete shares struggles, true stories to highlight dangers of drug, alcohol addiction

by Grant Campbell @grantc_3100

As drug addiction speaker Chris Herren addressed SC, many students were taken aback by his presentation style. Often times during presentations on drugs and alcohol, there are times when students talk amongst themselves and shrug off what the speaker says. On Nov. 9, Herren refused to have his presentation interrupted by side conversations among students.

“I have 250 presentations a year,” he said. “When I see kids disrupt my speech and make the people around them uncomfortable, I have to stop it. Don’t ever disrupt this assembly. You never know who’s sitting next to you.”

The effect of ending all disruptions was evident for staff and especially students.

“I have never seen that happen in an assembly,” Alex Dolgner ‘18, member of the Coalition for a Drug Free LT, said. “He grabbed the students’ attention when he did that and I think it was a reminder about how important him speaking was for a lot of people.”

Herren is incredibly popular at LT due to the health class video students watch about his life and struggles with addiction. Prior to his presentation, projectors displayed clips of the video to provide background on Herren’s life. This included his collegiate and professional career as a basketball player for the Denver Nuggets and Boston Celtics.

Herren’s college career consisted of one year at Boston College and three years at Fresno State.

Herren was drafted by the Denver Nuggests in the second round, 33rd overall.

After one season with the Nuggets, Herren returned to Boston to play for his hometown Celtics.

Herren played internationally in countries including China, Iran, Italy, Germany, Turkey and Poland.

Source : Wikipedia

Compiled by Mikaela Larson

Though Herren was an incredible athlete, his struggles with drug addiction began in high school and he carried them with him for much of his adult life, resulting in him overdosing four times.

“I do this [presentation] for many reasons,” Herren said. “I was just like some of you, I didn’t want to come to these talks.

Just like you, I walked into this with an attitude that all I do is drink a few beers. Unfortunately, that attitude comes from the way we have irresponsibly presented addiction to kids.”

Herren didn’t simply focus on routine facts and effects of drug addiction. Instead, he provided a variety of stories and experiences to make his talk more impactful and emphasize his main critique with other drug presentations.

“We put way too much focus on the worst day and not enough on the first day,” he said. “It’s easy to show how ugly it is in the end. Kids will say to me, you shot heroin. You overdosed four times. They ask me what my rock bottom was. It was when I took two Miller Lites from my dad’s fridge when I was 14.”

One question Herren asked provoked deep thought for the students: how many of you have younger siblings? After Herren delivered the question, it was evident he had made an impact on the underclassmen, Principal Brian Waterman said.

“From a student perspective it’s very easy to think of how things affect you,” Waterman said. “When you start to say my little brother or my little sister, that’s powerful.

You [and your siblings] fight all the time, but at the end of the day, you still love each other.”

Despite Herren’s popularity throughout LT, he still made the choice to present at SC for one specific reason: he wanted to reach younger students before they started abusing drugs, Waterman said.

“SC includes younger kids, their brains are still developing and they are finding themselves,” Dolgner said. “Knowing about how bad drugs are and the impact they can have on a human being is a huge thing to learn. I think most kids at those ages have not yet experienced drug use or ‘experimenting’ so I think it is good for them to hear about what it can do to people and how death is always a factor when it comes to this specific topic.”

Chris Herren engages with the audience during his presentation on drug abuse. (Rossetti/LION)

Herren continuously addressed his high school experiences, the first interactions he had with drugs and alcohol.

“I remember like it was yesterday going out on Friday nights,” he said. “Sneaking beers and pouring alcohol into water bottles.

What I remember most was the end of the night. I covered up [my habits] because my mom and dad believed in me.”

The most vivid memories occurred while he was taking measures to cover up his drug habits, he said.

“As I covered up my mistakes, I would look across the room at the kids who never drank or smoked,” he said. “We laugh at those kids. We make fun of them, but let’s be real here, those kids have something special.”

Herren attempted to shed light on things that often times go unnoticed with substance abuse, including the people who don’t need drugs or alcohol to have fun. He commended them while also detailing some of his thoughts from high school.

“When I was your age, there was never a night that I walked into my house, looked in the mirror and said, ‘I’m so proud of you.

Way to do drugs again [Chris],” he said. “I was never proud of myself [for drug abuse].”

Red Ribbon week occurs in October to recognize a drug-free lifestyle. Herren weaved this routine event into his presentation to give meaning to a cause that is oftentimes brushed

off today.

“Five years ago after Red Ribbon week, you sat at the counter with your mom,” he said. “You looked her dead in the eye and said to her ‘I promise you mom, I’ll never do that stuff.’ I don’t know about all of you, but I broke that promise.”

For a second time, he called out students for disrupting his presentation. While addressing the disruption, he connected with the 2,000 person crowd with a crucial point.

“Unfortunately, every high school, college and professional team that I go to, there’s always a couple people suffering,” Herren said. “This high school is no different.”

The goal in each of Herren’s presentations is to reach at least one kid, he said. After his presentation, the full effect of his message was evident. A swarm of about 150 people surrounded Herren—including people opening up to him about their struggles or even just hoping to hug him, Dolgner said.

“I was told later in the week that 14 people spoke up and got help, whether they had a drug problem or had a family member with a drug problem,” Dolgner said. “Fourteen is a big number. Maybe there were more since then, but that is 14 people whose lives are being saved. Fourteen more people than before the presentation.”

Due to the impact of Herren’s presentation, LT has reached out to Herren and hopes to secure a date at NC next semester.

Continued from Page 1 Going hand-in-hand with his impeccable work ethic, his coaches are consistently impressed by how he interacts with his coaches and teammates.

“He’s a coachable athlete,” assistant coach Tom Stukel said. “He takes what his coaches say to heart. He knows that if he works hard, he and the team will improve.”

All of this hard work can often times be overlooked. To prepare for each cross country season, there are numerous ways Kilrea improves in the offseason. “[Danny] worked hard in track, summer running, everything,” Stukel said. “[Running] was a full time job for him.”

Kilrea never shied away from the intense involvement required to be a state champion, Harders said. Instead, he embraced the challenge. “[Danny] stepped up by putting everything he could into his running career,” he

said. “In and out of practice, he continuously worked towards being a state champion. He did everything possible both physically and mentally to be ready to win the state meet. When he wasn’t doing an intense workout, he was stretching, eating healthy or visualizing his race to make sure when it came time to compete, he would give it everything he had.”

In Kilrea’s junior season, he finished second at the state meet to senior Soren Knudsen from Minooka, losing by six seconds.

This year, the meet was expected to be a tight competition between Kilrea and Dylan Jacobs ’18 from Sandburg.

Though Kilrea and Jacobs were respectively first and second for the majority of the race, Kilrea seemingly had an edge,

Stukel said.

“You could tell that he wanted it,” Stukel said. “Danny mentally had it during the race. [His strength] mentally broke his opponents.

There was a big pack of runners behind him and Jacobs towards the end. They caught up to Jacobs, but they couldn’t reach Danny.”

To assure success, Stukel believes that Danny adopted the lifestyle of a state champion and stuck through it despite challenges.

“His mindset was unreal,” he said. “He lived and slept running.

Mentally, it was really intense for him, but it was for the goal of state champion.”

Throughout the race, specta-

tors and other runners had a sense of Kilrea’s potential and his goals for this particular race, Harders said.

“I was not surprised at all,” Harders said.

“This has been a goal for Danny as far back as last year when he finished second. He has worked hard ever since then, and has been determined to win. I was expecting him to walk across the stage to get his first place medal.”

Though Kilrea’s final high school cross country season has ended, he remains optimistic for his senior track season and his future athletic career at Notre Dame University. In addition to Kilrea committing to Notre Dame, Jacobs decided to run there as well.

“I hope to take my knowledge to Notre Dame and help my teammates in any way I can,” Kilrea said. “I would love to score for the team in my first year there.”

Compiled by Mikaela Larson Source : ihsa.org

Fall sports at LT were full of high state finishes. Three different teams placed top 10 in their respective IHSA state meets. For a quick wrap up, look to the podiums.

Boys Cross Country finished 5th in the state meet on Nov. 4 at Detweiller Park.

Led by Danny Kilrea ‘18 finishing first, the team placed with 191 points.

Girls Cross Country finished 3rd in the state meet on Nov. 4 at Detweiller Park. Led by Marta Kogucki ‘19, the team placed with 184 points.

Girls Swim and Dive finished 6th in the state meet on Nov. 17 and 18 at New Trier. Led by Callahan Dunn ‘20, the team placed with 84 points.

NostAlgia

Page 14

Friday, December 1, 2017

Most of us have grown up surrounded by technology, so we oftentimes forget what people did for fun before smart phones. Whether it’s the ‘70s or the early 2000s, let’s take a trip down memory lane.

Only 2000’s kids will remember...

Blue light effect

My heart breaks a little bit when I ask the kids I babysit if they’ve heard of a product from my childhood, and they have no idea what I’m talking about. 2000’s babies, get ready for a blast from the past.

by Sarah Grier blue light from screens passes through and @smgrier0 reaches retina.

Growing up on the 2000s was so differThe fact that this light travels all the way ent than the picturesque game of tag on a to the retina (the back of the eye) is importgreen lawn you would want to imagine. ant. Studies have shown that too much expoKids in the 2000s experienced a childhood sure to blue light can damage light-sensitive filled with computer games and better qual- cells in the retina. Optometrists believe that ity video games than ever before. due to the over penetration from smartphones Now, as teens, computer games and and other devices, there will be an increase in AIM have been transformed into a porta- number of macular degeneration cases (which ble, constant device owned by over 2.1 bil- can lead to permanent blindness). lion: the smart phone. An entire generation There has been a push to find preventaspending their tive measures days in front to shield eyes of monitors from these rays. and screens At a Westmont comes with vision firm, Dr. a price. ChilDavid Maze dren being sells special bombarded tinted glasses to with marketprotect the eyes ing campaigns from intrusive and violence blue light. is a clear neg“Future genative; but little erations are attention is going to look brought to the at watching power of blue blue screens light, a power without tinted that can blind. This picture demonstrates the clear effects of the blue glasses like we Blue light light, a dangerous phenomenon that has been more appar- view being in is a short ent due to an increase in technology use. (Breen/LION) the midday wavelength of sun without sunlight that is omitted from the sun but more screen,” Maze said. concerningly from flat screen TVs, smartBlue light can also throw off the body’s phones, LED lights and computers. These natural circadian rhythm. Blue light is similar manmade light sources give off significant to sunlight, so when viewing monitors it in a amounts of light on this spectrum; however, sense tricks the body into believing it is daythe biggest detriment is the amount of time time. This brings more alertness and energy needed to be productive depends on staring to the person, which can lead to insomnia. at these devices.

Some doctors have even advised their patients According to the National Eye Institu- to stop viewing all monitors one hour before tion, the anterior structures of the human going to bed. eye (cornea and lens) are very effective That headache after staring at a computer at blocking UV rays from reaching the for might be a warning. Computers have obvilight-sensitive retina at the back of the eye- ous benefits but the blue light admitted can ball. In fact, less than one percent of UV have the power to blind a generation. Macular radiation from the sun reaches the retina, degeneration could be the plague of the 21st even without sunglasses. Yet, almost all the century.

by Sydney Kaehler @sydneykaehler

Mammoth Crocs (furry crocs, for uncultured people) and jibets completed any look.

Whipping your ankles with a Razor scooter was a new level of pain.

Webkinz, teaching kids capitalism through “Kinzcash.”

Fred, the WOAT of YouTube but the collab episode of iCarly is 10/10.

Club Penguin, flirting with G-rated internet slang.

Poptropica, you would know the struggles of time travel.

As our generation ages, the effects of technology from our childhood could have drastic effects

Keep moving forward Technological advancements, although slightly controversial, has been driving force for humanity, health, success

by Pilar Valdes @pilarvaldes55

During the European Enlightenment of the 18th century, many new philosophical ideas emerged, including the idea of progress. The philosopher’s goal was to improve the human condition through progress in society, technology and politics.

Since then, every generation that has followed those enlightened thinkers has hoped to leave the world a better place than they found it for the generations that follow. Their goal is progress. Still, so many people in the present day are faced with a sense of nostalgia that makes them want to go back in time. Born in the wrong generation, they reminisce about “the good old days,” a time when life was simpler. By doing so, they are taking for granted all of the blessings of the 21st century.

The “good old days” were not really that great. They weren’t even “good” really.

Aside from a lack of basic equality and a myriad of social issues, the technology lagged far behind what we have today.

For example, throughout the beginning of the 19th century, polio was a threat that many children faced. Now, this sometimes life threatening disease is almost eradicated because of advances in the medical field.

Vaccines that are mandatory today for many diseases like whooping cough and

pertussis have resulted in lower infant mortality rates and overall longer life expectancy. Beyond the medical field, technological advancements have been made that have impacted all aspects of our lives. From transportation to communication, technology has transformed our world. Where people once rarely left the community where they were born, now worldwide travel is commonplace. It once took months for a letter to traverse the United States. Now, electronic communication is instantaneous. In politics, increased access to televisions make it easier to watch debates and engage yourself in the political process. Societally, we can now communicate with people across the world, something that never before seemed imaginable.

The world we live in today is not perfect. But, we are progressing. In our lifetime alone we have seen and will continue to see technological advancements that better the human condition.

It is toxic to have the mindset of wanting to go back in time. If all you want to do is move back in time or live in a different era, then you are hampering your potential. Live in the now. Be thankful for that. The 21st century is a blessing. With so much at our disposal to better society, the only generation we should long to be a part of is one in the future.

Growing up in the 1970s, the generation most of our parents grew up in, was drastically different to how most LT students were raised in the 2000s. Here is a collection of the main things that kept our parents busy and entertained in their childhood.

The Walkman

“Star Wars” Color Changing Mood Ring

Rubix Cube

Pet Rock

Tiger Beat Magazine Compiled by Lindsey Hauch

Atari Consoles

PRofiles

Friday, December 1, 2017

Student kickstarts cycling class

Page 15

Colleen Kirby ‘18 teaches teen, adult spin class at Dailey Method, encourages others to join

Every Sunday at 4 p.m., Kirby instructs a 45-minute class at the Dailey Method in LaGrange; each class has a certain focus, either endurance, strength or anaerobic skill

by Camilla Breen building. She creates a playlist of songs specifically to lead the group through the warm up and all the way to the cool down, she said. @c_breen125 “I think it’s really, really hard.” Kirby said. “I don’t sweat that much anywhere After working at the Dailey Method for two years and watching her colelse. When you ride the bike, you can’t think about anything else. There’s so leagues lead classes, Colleen Kirby ‘18 was inspired to start instructing spin much going on—there’s music, instructions, and focusing on proper alignclasses of her own. ment.”

“I noticed that teens don’t really come in [to the facility], and I was Despite the intense physical work, Kirby considers it a stress reliever wondering why,” Kirby said. “I thought, ‘are they intimidated?’ So, I for her and her students, allowing them to get away from their daily lives. thought about starting a teens class, and my boss liked the idea as well.”

Cycling also helped Kirby relieve pain from a labral tear in her hip due Kelli Teegen, Kirby’s boss, was open to the idea of a teen class. Colleen to cross country, she said. had taken both cycling and barre classes prior to her plan to begin teach“It’s my reset for the week,” Kirby said. “I feel really rejuvenated ing; she was already on her way to being qualified to teach. Clients also for the rest of the week; it’s 45 minutes where I get to focus on myself tend to be more comfortable having a peer as a teacher, Teegen said. and I don’t have to worry about any stressors.”

“She has a great personality and connects well to our clients,” Teegen She is hoping to achieve her barre certification as well before she said. “She really understands how to challenge her students while having fun leaves for college, but the typical certification process takes about a year. at the same time.”

For now, she only teaches spin classes, but the Dailey Method offers many In order to prepare for teaching, Kirby traveled downtown over the sumcardio barre classes—which is why she wants the certification in the first mer and took a two-day intensive class to receive her certification, she place, she said. said. She began teaching her own classes shortly after that.

“It would be something great to do,” Kirby said. “Especially for teens “Most people who come into class know what they’re getting into,” in the off season of their sports, who still want to get a good workout.”

Kirby said. “However, it is something you have to get used to. For me, Colleen Kirby ‘18 instructs a class [cycling is] my favorite thing to do.”

(DeKoker/LION).

Senior film directors enter silent film festival LTTV students gain experience, compete, show off skills in unique medium

by Greg Smith @gregsmith After a month of work, LTTV entered its six-minute film directed by Dom Campo ’18 and Cooper Bearman ’18 into the Student Silent Film Festival, which took place on Nov. 11. The event was hosted at the Sanfilippo Estate in Barrington, Ill., home to the largest privately owned theatre organ in the world and the family’s massive collection of turn of the century machines and artifacts, including a late 19th century French carousel.

“It’s like going back in a time machine to the heyday of silent film,” LTTV sponsor Bill Allan, who is one of the founders of the event, said. “There’s really nothing like it.”

The plot of the movie, “Insomnia,” centers around a main character who lives with insomnia and his daily routine. The main character is played by Jon House, a production assistant for the TV show “Chicago Med,” who coincidentally suffers from insomnia, Campo said.

The inspiration for their film came from a personal experience Campo had with sleep deprivation, he said. With his idea, he worked with his fellow students alongside Allan in

order to prepare a thorough plot and conclusion for the film.

The entire film was filmed in only 48 hours, which presented challenges with time and transportation, Campo said.

“We probably could have taken more time filming,” Campo said. “But it was a really good learning experience.”

All films were scored live by a piano accompanist with their screenings. Contestants were given recordings of the live piano scorings to go with their films, which are 10 minutes long at a maximum. “Insomnia,” did not place among the top three at the Nov. 11 film festival, and so was not scored by the theatre organ.

The top three contestant films were accompanied with the theatre organ by world-renowned professional organist Jelani Eddington.

“It’s the kind of thing you would pay sound designers to do,” Allan said.

Paul Moorehouse ‘18 and Dom Campo ‘18 shoot a scene with The films were judged by industry professionals, some Jon House for their silent film. (Vogt) from Los Angeles, Allan said. The event got off the ground in large part due to Ed Newmann of Calabash Animation in students with excellent networking opportunities, Allan said.

“I’m glad to have had the experience of making the film, Chicago, a special guest judge at LT’s own film festival, Media and the addition to my portfolio,” Campo, who plans to study Arts Night of Entertainment (MAINE), Allan said.

In addition to the opportunity for the students to have film in college, said. “I learned how to express my vision to their work professionally scored by several musicians, the other people and I’m excited to see the results and the other numerous industry experts present at the event also provided contestants.”

Spotlight focuses on student’s behind-the-scenes action Justin Monarrez ‘18 uses independent study to further involvement in theatre

by Harper Hill and Travis Morales @harpss42 and @moratrav22 Ever since fifth grade, Justin Monarrez ‘18 has been passionate about all things theatre, especially production.

Monarrez works year round to run the production cycle of shows. With all this hard work and enthusiasm, he is working towards his dream goal: stage manager for a Broadway show.

“I’m so passionate about theatre because it’s the one place where I fit in and feel like I’m valued,” Monarrez said. “Theatre is a family, and they have welcomed me.”

Monarrez is the Theatre Board Production Manager at LT. It is a very demanding and critical position Monarrez takes on, Theatre Board sponsor Ann Dudek said.

“He’s very detail oriented, responsible and diligent,” Dudek said. “He has a strong passion for theatre.”

Monarrez has an independent study in his school schedule. He uses this time to send out emails to the crew, create agendas for meetings and learn about production. He works with Technical Director Colleen Gibbons and Facilities

Justin Monarrez ‘18 and Alex Kales ‘18 rehearse a scene (Schmitt/LION).

Manager Laura Eilers to better understand how to prepare for his future as a production manager. Monarrez explores how theatre companies operate in a professional setting.

“I plan to pursue theatre in the future,” Monarrez said.

“Nothing makes me happier and feel more fulfilled than presenting a show that I have worked on to an audience. The audience’s reaction is one of the best feelings in the world.”

Long before a production is ready to be performed, Monarrez helps orchestrate the lights and sound, supervises the construction of props, organizes crew meetings and, most importantly, makes sure everyone else is doing their job.

“Justin is passionate about his work,” Ellie Burkes ‘18 said. “No challenge is too big or small for him. We all have our own roles, and Justin makes sure that we are doing our pre-assigned jobs. He checks in with us at the production meetings and makes sure that we are on schedule.”

Monarrez is currently working on directing one of two student-directed plays from the Donna Mavros Festival, titled “All I Really Need to Know I Learned by Being in a Bad Play,” he said. After an application process and interview, Monarrez was selected to be the director. The show will take place in the SC PAC on Jan. 19 and 20.

As director, Monarrez is in charge of running rehearsals, getting props, lights, sound cues, costumes and everything in between for this show, he said.

“I am working with a talented cast and can’t wait for audiences to see what I’ve done,” he said.

Page 16

SPACE

Friday, December 1, 2017

Reach for the stars

Do you have what it takes?

by Greta Markey @gretamarkey

The Red Planet. Most people know Mars as our rust-colored galactic neighbor, but could it also be our only hope?

We as humans are consuming natural resources at an increasingly fast rate, the global population continues to grow exponentially, and our Earth as a home is quickly becoming a less and less feasible option for the human race.

Instead of looking into the night sky and imagining green, bug-eyed Martians, we should be looking into the stars and seeing survival.

Renowned theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking knows a lot more about the universe than the average person.

He was the first scientist to unify general relativity and quantum theory into what has been coined “The Theory of Everything.”

Hawking revolutionized our idea of black holes and whether or not they emit radiation. He has written at least 12 books which break down his theories regarding the universe we live in, and in his BBC documentary, “Expedition New Earth,” he predicted that within 100 years, the human species will need to find a new planet to call home.

I’m not saying I believe that in 100 years, the human race will need to evacuate

Volume 108, Issue 3

Mars One projects human colonization by 2032

by Lindsey Hauch @lhauch20

Earth or go extinct, and I don’t think Hawking believes that either. He is trying to make the point that if humans keep living the way they do, then in 100 years the Earth will no longer be able to sustain its population.

We see issues like climate change, resource shortages, pollution and habitat destruction causing major problems for wildlife, with global extinction rates at an alarming high. If we can recognize that the Earth is one big interconnected ecosystem, we would also realize that humans are just another one of these species being threatened by anthropogenic pollution and change.

Another factor that sets the benchmark at 100 years is our planet’s population. Live Science has speculated that the amount of food resources on Earth can support, at the highest, 10 billion people, and the UN estimates that by 2100, the global population will exceed 10 billion (we currently have a population of 7.44 billion).

Quantitatively, our planet simply cannot support such rapid population growth. If humans were able to colonize Mars and live autonomously, independent of aid from Earth, populations on both planets would in theory have enough resources to further flourish and develop.

Life saving antibiotics and sanitation standards have

added countless years to the average lifespan. But by creating revolutionary ways to preserve our species, we have outgrown our own planet. These life-lengthening measures are not a bad thing; however, remaining on a planet that can no longer support our needs is.

Dinosaurs existed on earth for an estimated 100 million years, they evolved, grew, ate and slept. And then a theorized asteroid collided with earth and wiped out virtually every one of their species. Who’s to say that the same thing won’t happen to us? In spreading to Mars, we are preserving the longevity of the human species.

Hawking predicted that in the next 10,000 years, a major asteroid collision with Earth is almost inevitable. If humans are able to successfully spread to other planets, starting with Mars, then we shouldn’t have to worry about such a collision being detrimental to the human existence; however, the longer we continue to exist on only one planet, the more likely an asteroid strike could cause extinction.

It’s the same idea as putting all of your eggs in one basket. Potentially disastrous.

Earth was a great place for human life to start, but we as humans have the technology and the need to do better for ourselves.

Our neighbor planet is a viable place for us to eventually call home, and for the sake of the human race, we should reach for the stars.

The following qualifications were issued by Mars One for potential astronauts, with an emphasis on emotional, psychological and physical stability. The application was closed Aug. 13, 2013, and candidates were then guided through a four-step selection process.

by Spiro Kass @spiro_kass

In 2011, two aspiring scientists with a creative vision and extreme curiosity came together to launch an awe-inspiring mission with implications that are out of this world… figuratively and literally.

Dutch scientists Bas Lansdorp and Arno Wielders devised an idea to colonize Mars, creating a nonprofit company called “Mars One” that plans to send humans to the Red Planet as early as 2032.

“I believe mankind is destined to be a multi-planet species, to move beyond the confines of our home planet,” Wielders said on the official website of Mars One. “To work with Mars One is to be a living part of this undertaking.”

However, expanding human civilization to an extraterrestrial planet is not an easy task at hand.

Many are optimistic, but LT Astronomy Instructor Kevin Murphy is hesitant to believe in the project’s success.

“I’m excited by the mission, but skeptical about it coming to fruition,” Murphy said. “The exploration, conquest and settlement of space will, like that of our planet in the 1500s, rely on commerce and funding by nations.”

The arch of the astronomy course at LT leads to a final unit in May which is about life elsewhere in the galaxy and where Earthlings might be able to survive, Murphy said, ultimately making Mars One

Source: Mars One

Visual acuity in both eyes of 100% (20/20) either uncorrected or corrected with lenses or contact lenses

Blood pressure should not exceed 140/90 measured in a sitting position Standing height must be between 5 ft. 1 inch and 6 ft. 3 inches

Mars 2011 Madness 2013 2017 202 2

At least 18 years of age and free of any disease or dependancy on drugs

Normal range of motion and functionality in all joints

Compiled by Spiro Kass

Sending humans to Mars is not a task that can be accomplished overnight.

Over the next several years, the Mars One company has much work to do in order to prepare for human liftoff. Here is a timeline that details the process and roadmap the company plans to execute in the coming years in order to make Mars civilization a reality.

Foundations of mission plan implemented.

Astronaut selection is launched world wide.

Selected candidates enter fulltime training.

Launch of Mars-bound demonstration mission, provide proof of concept for some of the technologies that are crucial for Mars One’s human mission to Mars.

Page 17

a timely topic of discussion.

There is still extensive work and preparation that is needed to lead the mission to its eventual take-off. After formulating the game plan, the company began to accept applications for the four-person spacecraft headed toward Mars, according to the Mars One website. In the first of four astronaut selection stages, the company received over 200,000 interested applicants willing to be part of the next step of mankind.

Of these applicants, who were required to submit a resume, essay and a one-minute video answering questions related to the voyage, only 660 made it to the next round.

After further review, the group was minimized once again to 100 candidates, who will endure Marslike simulations in the upcoming months to see how they would collaborate and survive on an extraterrestrial planet. After concluding the tests, two men and two women will be selected to be the first humans to step foot on Mars.

Many view a one-way trip to another planet as a daunting task, but some believe it would be an experience of a lifetime.

“I think the most important thing to do in life is to leave a legacy,” one of the male finalists from the United Kingdom told The Guardian. “A lot of people do that by having a child or having a fam-

ily. For me, this [venture to Mars] would be my legacy. To try and find new life on Mars, to inspire generations, to lead the beginning of the first civilization of another planet. That’s my legacy.”

Yet, the four selected astronauts to endure the eight month travel to the Red Planet will not arrive empty handed. In fact, there will be numerous equipment and rovers sent years before the human venture to prepare for their landing and colonization. Mars One will launch a communications satellite in 2024 that will send signals and data back to Earth. From there, life support units, food, solar panels, spare parts and more equipment will be sent to prepare human arrival up until 2030. The following year marks the date of human liftoff.

As for now, members of the team continue to prepare and anticipate the future of Mars One and extraterrestrial human civilization.

“This is no longer a dream or a sci-fi movie,” Senior Marketing Strategist KC Frank said on the Mars One website. “We are populating Mars with a group of courageous pioneers who will take the first steps, turn the first rock and build our future on the Red Planet.

Inspiring people on Earth to reach for the stars is the greatest gift we can give. We will succeed.”

Earth vs. Mars

by Sarah Grier @smgrier0

202

4

Launch of communications Satellite. It will relays images, videos, and other Mars data.

As humans look to a second far off home, there are some glaring differences between Earth and Mars. While scientists may believe this is the best secondary planet options, some of these conditional changes seem drastic.

202

6

Launch of a rover and second communications satellite.

It will rover and trailer will be launched to Mars; will drive around region to find best area for settlement.

Mars’ orbit is 49,000,000 miles further from the sun than Earth and has a slower orbit speed, this causes 686.7 days in a year

The greater distance from the sun causes the average temperature to range from -195 to 75 degrees F

202

9

Launch of six cargo missions -including second rover, two living units, two life support units, and a supply unit.

20

30

Rover prepares the outpost before before arrival of settlers.

20

31

The first crew will start their journey to Mars.

There is no oxygen in the atmosphere; for humans to survive, you would need 550 liters of pure oxygen each day and 200,750 liters in a year

If you weigh 100 pounds on Earth you would weigh 38 pounds on Mars

20

32

The first crew lands on Mars.

20

33

You would experience 62.5% less gravity on Mars than you’re used to on Earth.

Settlement expands with departure of crew two.

Source: NASA

Source: Mars One

Special Ed

Page 18

Friday, December 1, 2017

LT’s Special Education department is yet another example of the school’s adherence to “Vita Plena,” the quest for a fufilling life.

Through the involvement of students, falculty, staff and the larger community, Special Ed continues to be the heart of LT.

by Sydney Kaehler @sydneykaehler I don’t want this to sound like “my manifesto” against LT, because I think the school, teachers and learning environment are great.

But, I do have some issues with the student community. Actually, I’m not even going to be vague on this matter. I have an issue with what I heard in the hallway yesterday: “this unit is retarded.”

I hated myself for being so non-confrontational. Instead, I let my blood boil in silence. Maybe this person wasn’t taught that that the R-word, (which should only be referred to as such, if at all) is offensive. It is a swear, actually. Minorities and LGBTQ+ people have been referred to by certain names throughout the decades, many of which were considered offensive to them at the time, and are offensive to everyone in 2017. Most people know not to label others with derogatory terms anymore, because it’s just downright disrespectful.

Honestly, I’m stating things people should already know. Water is wet, the R-word is offensive; even if your great-grandmother, or anyone in her time period used it, that doesn’t mean you should.

Saying the R-word is offensive in general, but it’s extremely disrespectful and hurtful to people who have special needs. Over Spring Break 2017, my youth group and I traveled to

Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to spend a week working with an organization called The Arc. The Arc has over 700 facilities across the U.S. and it improves the quality of life for children and adults with mental and intellectual disabilities through advocacy, services and support. The community in this place was unbelievable; they were optimistic, hilarious and kind. Every single person there had a dream, ranging from being able to read to finishing college.

You don’t have to spend a week in Baton Rouge to understand that people who have disabilities are exactly like everyone else. They understand and laugh at the same things we do. So, why would anyone think they don’t understand being called the R-word? It’s as simple as paying respect to another person, whether they have a disability or not shouldn’t matter.

What I also learned on my mission trip is the “person first” language. For example, never address someone as a disabled person. They are a person with disabilities. This was the most important thing that was so thoroughly emphasized on this trip: it doesn’t matter if they have disabilities. They’re still a person that deserves respect, and I hope everyone, especially that kid in the hallway, takes this to heart.

LT’s ‘unsung heroes’ Special individuals make every day run smoother

by Taylor Schmitt that there is someone there for them through Mary Ann Rivera has been a paraeduca- good and bad times,” Rivera said. The most tor at LT for 11 years. To be a paraeducator, important thing about that connection is Rivera has to be willing to do anything. From that they feel they are part of the learning taking struggling students for a walk, to help- process. There is no doubt that there is a ing a student use the restroom, she does much bond there, most definitely.”

In addition to assisting students, the presmore than many people realize. ence of paraeducators in a “We’re unsung heroes,” Rivera said. “I don’t think “I think we are that connec- classroom can allow the that we get the recognition tion that gives the students teacher to focus on the we should. When people we work with the reassur- lesson, Rivera said. Paraeducators have the flexthink of education, they ance that there is someone ibility to work with stuthink of just teachers, but there for them through the dents with specific needs, we are also a part of that good and bad times.” whether it be intellectueducational puzzle, too.

-Mary Ann Rivera, LT Paraeducator ally or behaviorally, and Imagine a day without patherefore, the teacher can ras. It would be a very difficult day because they rely on us for a lot of feel more comfortable focusing on the goals things. Just being there with the students is of their lesson.

“Paraeducators help so much in so many incredibly important.”

LT’s 110 paraeducators assist both teach- ways,” said Colleen Gibbons, who has ers and students. Their job is to help teachers spent the last eight years teaching special reach their goals in terms of meeting the needs education classes, but has taken on teaching of students, both intellectually and emotion- the new ASL class this year. “They make our ally. While helping students, paraeducators days run smoother, they make our kids hapmight do anything from leading a student pier. Their job is such a hard job, and they through one-on-one support, to interpreting are underrecognized and underappreciated. Teachers, administrators and everybody a lesson in American Sign Language (ASL).

“I think we are that connection that gives should see paraeducators as a part of their the students we work with the reassurance team, because that is how we function best.”

“

“

A person first approach

Division Chair Dr. Brian Mahoney addresses common misconceptions Compiled by Mikaela Larson

How would you say special ed is defined at LT? “LT is a special place in regards to trying to meet the need of at-risk learners, and we go above and beyond with just legal compliance.

Special education is really the floor of services of what we need to provide, but we go above and beyond that and continue to address students in areas where they may have deficits.”

What is the largest misconception about Special Education?

“By far it would be the focus on on student’s disability when it’s the ability level that needs to be the focus. While there may be a deficit area in one place, that doesn’t limit them in every other aspect of their life. Focus on a student’s ability, what can they do and just because they have a deficit area, it doesn’t mean they can’t; it just means we have to work a lot harder to close that gap.”

who really have minor disabilities whether that be a minor learning disability or ADHD. size of LT really helps beWhat does it mean The cause we are such a large to be in the Spe- high school and we are able to pool our resources to make cial Ed program? sure we can offer really qual“Special education are just Indi- ity programs for our students vidual Education Plans (IEP). IEPs fall with disabilities.” under the Individuals with DisabiliHow many stuties Education Act and Section 504 plans fall under the Americans with dents are in the Disabilities Act. Our department is Special Ed Projust IEPs and that’s anything from segram? vere and profound disabilities--often “Out of just over 4000 students served within our L.I.F.E. (Learning Independence For Every- students at LT, we have 470 day) program all the way through students that recieve special our transition program--to students education services.”

Best Buddies prepares for Holiday Party Club hopes for successful results despite leadership change

by Georgia Dougherty @georgiadoc6 Twenty six days after their bowling party, the Best Buddies club is preparing for its next party: the Ugly Sweater Holiday Party. This will include an ugly sweater competition and cookie decorating in the SC Corral on Dec. 8.

“Our November event was bowling, and that was a hit,” Best Buddies Officer Lizzie Scotty ‘19 said. “Our holiday party is always really fun, too. A staple at our parties is music because the buddies love to dance.”

So far Best Buddies has had a swim party with the girls swim and dive team, a match mixer in the SC Corral, a Halloween party on Oct. 26 and the bowling party on Nov. 12, head sponsor and paraeducator Julie McDermott said.

“It’s a really unique friendship that you get to have,” Scotty said. “You’re always laughing because the buddies are so fun to be around, the club is an awesome group of people, and it means so much to the buddies. It’s such a great organization to be a part of.”

After all the Best Buddies sponsors and officers resigned or graduated last year, the staff members for the club are mostly new to their leadership positions, McDermott said.

“We’re still trying to get some things organized,” Scotty said. “It’s new for all of us so we don’t have anything to compare it to. It’s been super chaotic and stressful getting everything up and running.”

This year there are 135 members of Best Buddies and 35 buddy pairs, Best Buddies President Abby Carlson ‘18 said.

A pair is an LT special education student who is matched with one or more LT general education student.

“I love matching the general education kids up with their buddies,” McDermott said. “One of my divers said that she doesn’t have to worry about this friendship because in this friendship they don’t get mad at her, they don’t judge her and they don’t peer pressure her; it’s a friendship she can just be herself in.”

After the Holiday Party, Best Buddies has five more events, ending with the Best Buddies Friendship walk May 6 at Brookfield Zoo. “Best buddies has given me an amazing high school experience,” Carlson said. “It’s shaped my four years at LT into

something I never thought it could be. I’ve met some of my best friends in Best Buddies. I strongly encourage others to get involved.”

From Left to Right: Jen Fritz ‘17, Brandon Gray ‘19, Hope Murphy ‘17, Katie McDermott ‘19 attend the Best Buddies Bowling Party this past November. (Scotty)

sexual Harassment Social media tag draws Voice for the voiceless attention to issue Friday, December 1, 2017

Powerful movement prompts women to speak out against, acknowledge assault as cultural problem

by Grace DeKoker @grace_dekoker

Rape is not a topic that is easily discussed.

It is not considered a socially acceptable thread of conversation. But with 312,500 men and women facing sexual assault every year, according to Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network, some may wonder why people ignore it?

The #MeToo movement aims to change that, and has taken Twitter by storm. It gained its current popularity in the wake of exual assault accusations against movie producer Harvey Weinstein, though the movement was actually started 10 years ago

by Tarana Burke as a way to ensure women who had survived sexual assault knew they were not alone. Its recent resurfacing on several social media platforms—Twitter primarily—was prompted when several women came out after years of silence in support of the 79 women and counting who have come forward with allegations againstWeinstein. #MeToo has gained recognition over the past few months, with nearly 1.7 retweets in 85 countries by people who have unfortunately dealt with the same situation they

have, according to CBS. It allows them to connect with more people: people who can truly empathize. The use of the hashtag differs from other social media activism trends. It is not a call to action, it isn’t in protest of any inequity; it is a statement; no one has been protesting in the street in the name of #MeToo, at least thus far. The hashtag is for those who desire closure, or perhaps who just don’t want to keep the secret to themselves anymore.

The act of speaking openly about one’s trauma has been proven to promote the mental healing process, according to RAINN. The intention is to help struggling women, Burke said, and to provide a safe way to join into an accepting community.

Yet, there are critics of the movement alongside its proponents—many question why typing out a symbol followed by five letters is empowering, or why one would go on online, instead of actively reporting the crime to an authority figure.

These are two legitimate points, and ones that unless you have been victimized by rape, you simply cannot answer. In the end, it really boils down to what the victims feel comfortable with, their own happiness and the recovery process.

Page 19

In recent months, celebrities, actors, politicians and other famous figures have been in the line of fire from both men and women who are claiming assault and/or harassment. In a more optimistic tone, LION chose to recognize the alleged victims’ strength, bravery and defiance in the midst of the #metoo movement.

Judd was one of the first people to speak out against disgraced movie director Harvey Weinstein. She accused Weinstein of sexual harassment, paving the way for 79 women and counting to come forward with similar stories of harassment, most notably Angelina Jolie and Gwyneth Paltrow.

Rapp, an actor for more than 25 years, claims actor Kevin Spacey made several sexual advances towards him when Rapp was just 14 years old, causing several other people to come forward to accuse Spacey of sexual misconduct. Spacey’s hit show “House of Cards” has since been dropped from Netflix.

The six-time Olympic medalist took a strong stance against the USA Gymnastics Team Doctor Larry Nassar. Over 125 women have also filed similar claims of assault by Nassar, and he has since pleaded guilty to seven counts of criminal sexual conduct.

Ladd was one of the 50 women to accuse Bill Cosby of sexual harassment, who all claim similar stories of harassment, drugging and rape. Although this is outside of the #metoo movement, these women were among the first to initiate speaking out against sexual assault. compiled by Lindsey Hauch

Source: Business Insider, USA Today, ABC News

Lion surveyed 167 NC female students regarding their opinions about sexual harassment/assault and how it may apply to them.

Are you aware of the #metoo movement?

Have you ever been Catcalled?

No 16% Yes 84%

How “objectified” do you feel about your body, as a female, walking though the halls of LT? In other words, how often do you feel like you are being judged by your physical beauty?

No 68%

Yes 32%

If there is sexual harassment at LT, what is the dominate source?

Never Very often 11% 14% Almost never Somewhat often 34% 41%

Other staff members (counselor, security guard, administrator) 4%

Coaches/club sponsors 1%

There are no excuses

by Pilar Valdes @pilarvaldes55 “They were asking for it.”

No, they weren’t. No one asks to be raped.

That is the whole concept behind rape; it is nonconsensual. Because if someone were “asking for it”—meaning that throughout the entire experience they wholeheartedly wanted to have sex — then it wouldn’t be rape.

The Oxford Dictionary defines rape as the crime of forcing another person to have sexual intercourse with the offender against their will. This crime demonstrates no humanity and deserves no respect. Men face their own stigmas surrounding rape, and can often fall silent as women do sometimes; yet with the disproportionate number of women who have been sexually assaulted, they oftentimes dominate when discussing the inherently misogynistic rape culture.

Rape is rape. And no means no. It doesn’t matter if you’re a star athlete, a straight A student, or someone with a bright future ahead of you, because if you knowingly force yourself on another person, if you knowingly violate another human being, then you don’t deserve any academic or athletic scholarship that you may have received. You do not deserve a bright future.

But more often than not, rapists get away with it. According to the Sexual Assault Research Response Services of Southern Maine, only six percent of rapists will actually go to jail. Why? Because women are afraid to turn them in.

This may seem silly, but look at what happened with Brock Turner, who raped a woman on Stanford’s campus in 2015. There were multiple witnesses and a guilty charge from a jury, and yet Brock only received six months in jail and got out early after three. The crime he committed normally warrants six years prison time.

23%

There is no sexual harassment at LT

Peers 70%

Teachers 2% The reason? Because a long time in jail would hurt Turner’s future and swimming career at Stanford, and since he had no previous criminal record, and the judge deemed such a harsh sentence to be “unfair.”

It was also unfair that a woman was taken advantage of when she was unconscious and raped behind a dumpster. It’s unfair that pictures were taken of her naked body and sent in group chats. It’s unfair that she will have to live her life knowing what was done to her, and knowing that the truth wasn’t enough for justice.

By turning in your perpetrator, you risk being told that you should’ve been more careful, should’ve drunk less, should’ve worn more clothes, should’ve said no. By going to the police, you are forcing yourself to re-live something that never should have happened in the first place. And in some cases, you get nowhere. Rape culture causes rape to be normalized and excused.

This culture of female objectification begins early. Girls often have much stricter dress code enforcements than their male counterparts, unintentionally sexualizing girls’ bodies at a young age. This leads young boys to think that they should be uncomfortable by non-sexual parts of a girl’s body-like shoulders or knees-just because they are not allowed to be shown in school.

As boys grow older, misogynistic language is normalized and places men in a position to feel as though they can — and should — overpower women.

No, not every boy who goes to a school with a strict dress code will end up a rapist. Neither will men who make a misogynistic joke. And yes, men are raped, too. The culture that exists in today’s society of normalizing and excusing rape needs to end.

If boys will be boys, then boys need to be boys that understand the meaning of “no,” respect women and their bodies, and don’t allow stereotypes to define their actions.

GET OUT

Page 20

Friday, December 1, 2017

Friday, September 23, 2016  Page 20

An indulging, pricey experience in Chicago

Finals can be stressful, so take a break from your studying (or lack thereof) to finish this holiday puzzle! HINT: The 12 Days of Christmas

by Maddy Cohen and even sandwiches are also on the menu. @maddyc700 After seeing countless people walk away Bombobar (832 W. Randolph, Chicago, with it, I decided I had to try one of their 60607) is easy to miss. It is hidden between specialty hot chocolates, or as they call it two restaurants and only uses a small walk- “Hotter Chocolate”. I grabbed my s’mores up window to run business. With only a few hot chocolate ($9) from the window and chairs sitting around it, and small brand on was awestruck. The cup overflowed with a the brick wall, it looks extremely similar to mountain of toasted, marshmallow fluff, on any trendy Chicago cafe. Nevertheless, Bom- the side of the cup was a large, chocolate bobar’s unique menu and extravagant presen- biscotti and a smaller cinnamon donut and tation make the trip impossible to forget. chocolate sprinkles covered the top. After a Bombobar specializes in Bombolonis, few sips, though, I realized it looked much or holeless Italian better than it tasted. The doughnuts. What hot chocolate was overmakes their donuts poweringly sweet, and the so special, and marshmallow fluff only photogenic I might added to the sweetness. add, is the invitI ordered a regular hot ing “squeeze me” chocolate ($5) along with bottles they stick the specialty, and found on top of the donut that this cheaper, less filled with topping extravagant drink tasted of your choice. much better. Even though Some of the filling it might not be as instagram options are Nuteworthy, I would recomlla cream, salted mend skipping the specialty caramel, peanut hot chocolates and keep it butter fudge, mixed The backdrop to the walk-by window of classic.

Bombobar. (Devine/LION) berry, and cinnaAs I mentioned before, mon apple. The small squeeze bottles are not there is no inside to Bombobar. There is only unique, but hold a practical function as only a walk-up window and a couple small well. Whether you like a lot of filling, a little tables. I was initially nervous that it would filling, or somewhere in the middle, these be too cold to enjoy my meal, but even with self-serve bottles are perfect. the below 40 weather, the heating lamps I decided to try the Nutella cream and kept my experience delightful. If you really salted caramel Bomboloni ($3.50 each) and hate the cold, though, I would wait until the was left wanting to try more. The Bombolo- spring or summer to make the trip. ni was light, fluffy, and covered in sugar. It Bombobar is a unique, hidden eatery that would be incomplete, though, without the has perfected the bomboloni. Their S’mores filling. The Nutella filling accented the donut hot chocolate was a bit of a disappointment, well, but the salted caramel sauce was a des- but they nailed the bombolonis. If you’re sert in itself. The saltiness cut the sweetness ever in the city looking for a sweet fix, head of the caramel, something the Nutella dough- to Bombobar. nut was lacking. All in all, my experience with the Bombolonis was a success.

Bombobar offers much more than its signature Bombolinis as well. Coffee and tea, homemade gelato, hot chocolates and ciders,

4/5

Cartoon caption contest

Submit your caption to the Lion Snapchat (@lionnewspaper).

The winner will be printed in the Jan. 26 issue of the paper.

Illustration by Anonymous Artist

___ french hens

___ calling birds

___ swans a swimming

___ ladies dancing ___ pipers piping

___ lords a leaping ___ geese a laying

___ maids a milking

___ turtle doves

___ drummers drumming

___ golden rings

___ partridge in a pear tree

compiled by Maddy Cohen

New Cafecito Bakery satisfies taste buds

New local coffee shop brings affordable prices to students

by Mary Devine @marydwannab Hidden behind a few trees right across the Stone Avenue train station lies the new coffee shop Cafecito Bakery, located at 703 W. Hillgrove Ave. I consider myself a coffee enthusiast; I have a large iced coffee at Dunkin or a caramel macchiato from Starbucks almost every day. However, I am open to trying new coffee to keep me wired for post school studying.

I walked in and—to my surprise—a quaint and comfortable environment surrounded me. Although the bakery was small, with only a few tables and a couch, it fit for a great study space. If you want a place to catch up with a friend, I would not recommend the quiet atmosphere that it entails. However, if you need a calm place to study, it is perfectly suitable.

I ordered a hot caramel macchiato: the perfect fall drink. The 16 oz. medium cup was only $3.50 versus the Starbuck’s price of $4.45 for the same size. So, I saved a dollar for a coffee that I enjoyed more. The caramel was smoothly mixed into the drink, and I was enjoying the benefits of caffeine without the sour taste. The fluffy and sweet whipped cream topped the coffee to enrich the flavor and take away the coffee’s bitterness. The 16 oz. was also enough to sustain alertness for up to seven hours. I do not recommend drinking this much coffee if you do not need the benefits of caffeine.

Instead, you could order any of the 12 oz. for a reasonable price.

Type of Pet: Mutt Age: 2 years old Weight: 21 Pounds Owner: Sean Ryan‘18 Hobbies: Socializing at Katherine Legge Memorial Park Fun Fact: Dragon in “Never Ending Story” look-a-like Editor’s Rate: 12.5/10. Some dogs are worth melting for.

The menu had the classic coffee drinks: espresso, cappuccino, latte, Americano, mocha, and macchiato. These also come with the option of hazelnut, caramel, white chocolate, and dark chocolate flavors. What stuck out to me though was a variety of shakes they offered, including pecan, rainbow, cafecito, brownie, cinnamon and strawberry. This menu may seem different, and is like no other coffee shop I have seen.

Their bakery was full of slices of different cakes, donuts and pastries. I tried an Oreo covered chocolate donut with vanilla glazed frosting for $1.69. Yes, this may sound unhealthy, but it was worth the calories.

The frosting complemented the chocolate so perfectly, and the Oreo tied it all together. It also had no indication of fading out. In all, I only spent $5.60 for what felt like a sustaining meal.

I recommend at least giving Cafecito a try if you are a coffee lover because I will be going back soon. It is only a few blocks away from school, and is a good pick me up for any time of the day.

4.5/5

A few of the items available at Cafecito. (Devine/LION)

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

North Campus

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100 S. Brainard Ave. LaGrange, Ill. 60525

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South Campus

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4900 Willow Springs Rd. Western Springs, Ill. 60558