Issue #6 April 8

Swim and dive wins state title

The team celebrates in Evanston High School’s pool. (Chris Johnston)

LT boys swimming, diving team clinches first state championship in school history, looks ahead to establish state dominance

by Sydney Hansen @_sydneyhansen

T

he LT boys swim and dive team did something on Feb. 28 that no other LT swim and dive team has ever done in LT history: win an IHSA state championship.

“It’s amazing what you can do when you have fun with a group of teammates, and that’s what they did,” Head Coach Scott Walker said.

Unlike most high school sports that compete in divisions

such as 7A or 8A, the IHSA swimming and diving meet draws all teams from the state to one single meet taking place over two days, making it an ultra-competitive competition between all swimmers in the state who qualify.

Ultimately, the success of both the team and Walker led to not only a state championship, but an Illinois Coach of the Year award for Walker.

“This year, we definitely put LT on the state’s radar,” Weston Credit ‘16 said. “I think teams will hold us to a higher standard now.”

Ousting other talented schools like Hinsdale Central, Peoria Notre Dame and Naperville Central, the team won state by 24 points, a decisive margin that was accomplished by strong performances in all swimming events as well as Seamus Scotty’s ‘17 fifth-place state finish in diving.

“There’s only one way that [the state championship win] was accomplished,” Walker said. “It was because of the 70 boys that were on the team, and the 12 guys that were standing to represent the 70.”

Continued on page 2

Third annual Mr. LT crowns new victor Chris Velisaris ‘17 steals the show with Sinatra rendition

by Céilí Doyle @cadoyle_18

The lights dimmed and the familiar song “Zero to Hero” from Disney’s Hercules began to play as the 15 contestants stepped out onto the stage of the Reber Center donning togas and bright smiles to the beat of their synchronized dance routine. The Third Annual Mr. LT Pageant went off without a hitch, eventually ending with the coronation of Chris Velisaris ‘17: this year’s Mr. LT. The show featured numerous talented acts from Luke Brom’s ‘16 “Evolution of Dance”, to Sean Thomas’ ‘16 serenade of Abby King ‘16. Jack Costello ‘17 also took a three-minute plunge into a bucket of water while being tormented by Master of Ceremonies Danny Benson ‘16 and Tommy Sopic ‘16 singing Jordin Sparks “No Air.” Velisaris performed Frank Sinatra’s “My Way.” The pageant was held on April 2 and was being planned

by Benson, Ryan Byrne ‘16 and Director of Student Activities Peter Geddeis since November. Seventy-five percent of all proceeds from the show go to The Gift of Life Bone Marrow Foundation. Overall, both Benson and Byrne were

Apple vs FBI

OPINIONS, 8

Chris Velisaris speaks after being crowned. (Ceili Doyle/LION) relieved by the success of the event, which raised $3,000 after all expenses. “[The contestants] were all very willing to take whatever we threw at them, even when they didn’t think they were going to be able to do it,” Byrne said. “During the show itself, everyone was always right where they needed to be. We didn’t really have any mishaps, which is awesome when you

Unique Stepping Team SPORTS, 12

Turn to page 12 to find Check out page 8 for our out more about LT’s arguments regarding stepping team and its whether or not the FBI upcoming competishould be able to view tion events. private iPhone info.

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

Dating Culture

consider the fact we only had a week to rehearse.”

The initial mantle of leadership was held by Joe Dillon ‘15 who created and ran Mr. LT for the past two years. According to Geddeis, however, the transition from Dillon’s organization to Benson and Byrne was relatively seamless and only a few minor tweaks and adjustments were made to the show.

Mr. LT was judged by seven faculty members: Principal Dr. Brian Waterman, Joseph Maffey, Keith Bailey, Jessica Drogos, Leilani Lopez, Gary Morrill and Laura VanWinkle. They all helped to narrow down the pool of contestants from 15 to seven during the rose ceremony.

Following the rose ceremony, the remaining seven contestants then faced a Q&A session from Benson and Sopic.

After the Q&A, the audience texted in their votes for who should be the winner. Velisaris was then announced as Mr. LT. Velisaris was beaming after his win and was genuinely surprised by the turn of events.

“I thought I was going to be knocked in the first 15,” Velisaris said. “I’m so happy right now, and I think one of the reasons why I won is because my escort Catherine [Everett ‘17]. She has been so good to me. I would like to say thank you to her. I wanted to do Mr. LT for school spirit.

I love LT so much, and I can’t believe I won this award.”

PULSE, 16-17

Curious about how dating cultures have changed? Check out pages 16-17 for more on the subject.

Campus  4900 Willow Springs

A

dd LION on Snap-

chat for updates on school and community news surrounding LT. SC: lionnewspaper

Rd. Western Springs, Ill. 60558

Banned broadcasts All high school radio stations were forced off air by 1934 because of the Great Depression in the 1930s.

NEWS

Friday, April 8, 2016



Transmission trivia The largest current trivia contest is held in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point radio station.

Page 2

Corral hosts PARCC test Schol-bowl defeated

The Corral is the location of PARCC. (Doyle/LION)

become accustomed to the exam. Our freshmen took it last year as eighth graders, so it should not be as big a surprise.”

All testing will be administered in the Corral, aside from students who require accommodations.

Two hundred-fifty computers will be arranged through the floor of the building typically used for community and school events. Students will sit alphabetically or each test they sit for.

When a student misses class due to a testing session, he or she will receive information on the instruction missed via a teacher’s webpage, email, Infinite Campus or Canvas accounts.

In addition, students will receive ample time to complete missed in-class assignments and time to make-up missed quizzes or tests. Teachers have the responsibility to inform students about their testing location and time.

“My biggest worry is that students won’t take the PARCC test seriously,” English teacher Gretchen Kulat said. “I’ve already had students tell me they won’t show up or they plan to not respond to the test questions but to write a response about how they the test is not an accurate measurement. This makes me sad; I always encourage students to put forth their best effort.”

“

Continued from page 1 Much of the team’s philosophy is concentrated on putting the team before self, a lesson that Walker teaches consistently throughout the season, Credit said.

“Even though some of our guys didn’t have personal bests [in their events], we were thriving off of the energy of the entire team,” Credit said. “We didn’t let anything take our eyes off of the state championship.”

While the team boasts a breadth of young talent, such as Jeff Vitek ‘18, Henry Claesson ‘18 and Spencer Walker ‘18, they also lose experienced swimmers in Credit, Ben Breitenbucher ‘16, Chris Phillips ‘16 and George Lundgren ‘16. The loss of talented seniors, however, offers the opportunity for others to step up to fill the gaps, David Rak ‘17 said.

“Personally, I want to try and fill some gaps that the seniors will be leaving,” Rak said. “Whether it be leadership roles or some of our high-scoring events at state, I want to help the team return strong next year.”

With a first-place trophy won and statewide respect earned, the state championship win will give current and future LT swimmers the confidence that they can achieve the same thing, Phillips said.

“Winning state definitely sets LT up well for future seasons now that we know that we can do it,” Credit said.

“

by Caroline Konstant @carolinekon

For the second year, LT is issuing the state-mandated Partnership for Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) assessment to freshmen enrolled in Algebra I and/or English I. This year, the test will be paper-free, meaning the need for computers and lab time is even greater during the two-and-a-half-week span of testing from March 30-April 15.

Last year, LT was one of few surrounding schools that did not administer the exam online.

In an attempt to be more eco-friendly this year, the test will be completely paperless, roughly 750 total students will test in three separate waves for their respective subject. Subtests consisting of Algebra 1 and English 1 are dependent on teachers and spaced out throughout the testing period to decrease sequential absences.

“Walking over to the Corral in time for my test is my biggest worry,” Grace Johnston ‘19 said. “It seems like it will be very crowded for test taking.

I am a slow test taker and worry about the surrounding testing environment.”

The results from the previous year’s PARCC assessment were posted online on both Illinois Report Card and the LTHS website. According to the LTHS website, State Superintendent Dr. Tony Smith stressed that PARCC is a completely different type of assessment and these results set a baseline for future tests to be compared to.

“I don’t think the PARCC test was well-understood last year,” Coordinator of Assessment and Research Katie Smith said. “I think our state has

think we will have a team experienced and talented enough to go further in the tournament.”

At each meeting, the team practices

by Lucy Schaefer answering questions as they would in @lucy_schaefer3 a meet, with questions from six cateAfter weeks of training and prepa- gories: math, social studies, science, ration, LT Scholastic Bowl team de- language and literature, fine arts and parted for the sectionals competition miscellaneous, according to Bjornstad. taking place on March 7 at Hinsdale “I have questions from the past 10 Central. years of coaching,” Bjornstad said. “By After two victories, one against practicing with real questions from Argo and the other against the eight previous years, it helps them learn the seed Maine South, LT lost in the re- style.” gional final against Hinsdale Central.

The club is very competitive; in “We’re a pretorder to succeed, ty young team one must utilize with six sophoprior knowledge “We’ve developed some mores, one junior really good team chemisas well as study and one senior on new information try and we have so much varsity,” team capto prepare for the more room to grow.” tain Alexander events, Kuptel -team captain, Alexander Kuptel ‘18 Kuptel ‘18 said. said.

“We’ve developed “Practice is some really good team chemistry and much more important than luck,” we have so much more room to grow.” Houston said. “Not only does it help Throughout this year, the team us increase our subject content knowlplayed 12 matches and the top eight edge, practice helps us work on certain teams are seeded accordingly for sec- skills that help in Scholastic Bowl intionals, coach Eric Bjornstad said. cluding speed, knowing when to anLT did not rank in the top eight this swer, communicating with the team year, however they did beat the eight and making good guesses.” seed, Maine South. Despite the loss in After the loss to Hinsdale Central, the third round, the team is remaining the team is out for the rest of the seaoptimistic. son. But with the combination of prac“I think we have a very bright fu- tice and a more experienced team next ture ahead of us,” team captain Tim year, LT looks to qualify for state and Houston ‘18 said. “In a year or two, I become in two years’ time.

LT competes at Hinsdale, loses in third round

LT utilizes computer labs for PARCC testing this year

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!

Ryan Dow ‘18 @ryantdow

If you look like the lead singer of LMFAO that’s it were dating

Tim O’Malley ‘17 @timomallz

If you ask me in 10 years what my biggest regret during high school was, I will undoubtedly say not going to Zero Gravity before it closed.

Ripley Cornelison ‘16 @riptease

If you can listen to bohemian rhapsody twice on the way there it’s too far away

Jack Costello ‘17 @jackdaddy_14

My 8 yr old brother just crumpled up his bracket, threw it in the fire, and claimed “God couldn’t pick a champion this year”

Mike Gilger 4 Prez @afutureforLT

I will be consuming 5 Miralax tablets 1 hour prior to the superlative picture if I win “Most Likely to be President” #WhateverItTakes

Billy Becker ‘16 @becker_122

Really hoping this weather clears up, not tryna have indoor recess

Haley Gorman ‘17 @hsgorman9

Looks like trump is bringing back big stick diplomacy #GOPDebate

Tommy Sopic ‘16 @TSOP44

Officially running for best dad bod, it’s not a choice it’s a lifestyle

Maggie Nutter ‘17 @MaggieNutter Ready for lolla!!!!!!!!

NEWS

Mad math Only around 17 percent of Illinois high school students “met” or “exceeded” expectations in the math subject test.

Stress scholars

Friday, April 8, 2016  Page 3

Researchers have found that teachers have the same stress levels as those employed as pilots, fire fighters and traffic controllers.

Clinton, Trump surge ahead Students teach Big wins on ‘Second Super Tuesday’ for Clinton, Trump across nation

by MelRose Buckler @amrbucks608

Illinois voters went to the polls on March 15 to cast their votes for the Republican and Democratic, along with other state and county positions. Donald Trump won the GOP contest—receiving 38.8 percent of Republicans votes, with Ted Cruz coming in second with 30.3 percent and John Kasich in third with 19.7 percent of votes. Hillary Clinton won the Democratic contest by a much closer margin, receiving only 50.5 percent of Democrats’ votes.

For many LT students, this the first election that they could partake in, due to the new law that allows 17-yearolds to be eligible to vote in the primaries if they will be 18 years old during the general election on Nov. 8, 2016.

“I am pretty pleased with the extremely high voter turnout in Illinois, which was near 45 percent, a number that is almost unheard of for primaries in our state,” Emily Dunlap ‘16 said. “I think a lot of the turnout was due to young people, who were strongly motivated to vote due to the variety of candidates and their seemingly polar opposite opinions on many pressing topics, from gay marriage to healthcare to national security.”

Although the results from the primaries mirrored what the polls projected before the elections took place, some were not pleased with the outcome.

“I’m not happy with the results,” Michael Gilger ‘16 said. “They show that the American people act impulsively and don’t take the time to look into candidates, their policies and substance.”

On Tuesday, March 15, Trump also won the primaries in North Carolina, Missouri and Florida—former presidential candidate Marco Rubio’s home state. Trump’s win prompted Rubio to drop out from the race, so now there are only three Republican candidates. Ohio governor Kasich beat Trump and won Ohio, giving his campaign the boost it need to continue through the election.

On the Democratic side, Clinton won all five state primaries. However in Missouri, Clinton only won by 1,531 votes to Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, an extremely slim margin.

Since the Illinois primaries, Trump won Arizona, Cruz won Utah, Clinton won Arizona and Sanders won Idaho, Utah, Alaska, Hawaii and Washington. These wins for Sanders have narrowed the gap between him and Clinton.

“The next president will have many issues to address: should we declare war against ISIS, how should we reform or replace the Affordable Care Act, how should we make college more affordable, should funding for women’s health services be continued, should gay marriage stay legal,” Dunlap said. “The next president will address all of these

National convention contests

The charts below depict the results from statewide Democratic and Republican primaries. The dashed lines indicate how many delgates are needed to win their respective party nominations. The dark gray represents pledged delegates, while the lighter gray represents superdelegates for the Democrats.

LION went to print before the Wisconson primary results on April 5 were in.

2500 2000 1500 1000 500 0

1400

Hillary Clinton

Bernie Sanders

1200 1000 800 600 400 200 0

Donald Trump compiled by Hallie Coleman

Ted Cruz

John Kasich Source: cnn.com

topics and at least one of these topics should be important to each LT student. If any eligible voter has an opinion on literally any topic of political significance, they have no excuse to not do their research and vote for a candidate they best align with.”

The Republican National Convention will be held on July 18 in Cleveland and the Democratic National Convention will be held on July 25 in Philadelphia. At these conventions the parties will choose the nominee for the general election based on the pledged and super delegates.

College students assist, teach in classrooms throughout LT

by Juliana Halpin @jhalps315

On average, LT students will see around three student teachers roaming the halls of NC and SC each semester, according to director of human resources, Ed Piotrowski.

Every year LT is contacted by various colleges and universities looking to place college students enrolled in student teaching programs at local schools, Piotrowski said.

Piotrowski then contacts division chairs of specified subjects like math, English and social studies to see if there are any available spots.

Division chairs then talk to teachers asking who, if any, would be willing to take on a student teacher. Upon looking at scheduling, along with other factors, student teachers are then assigned to an LT teacher.

LT tries to avoid pairing student teachers with new teachers and teachers who commute between campuses, Piotrowski said. Once Piotrowski receives word from the division chairs on their decision, he then contacts the school.

After receiving the position, student teachers are assessed and evaluated by the head of their school’s student teaching program, with input from their cooperative LT teacher.

“I think students are often excited about student teachers,” English teacher Ryan Darrah said. “[Student teachers] are often younger and can better relate to [students].”

Darrah has been a teacher for 17 years and is currently working with his third student teacher, James McCoyne, in the Language Arts department. After being contacted by Language Arts department chair Karen Raino and reviewing McCoyne’s resume, Darrah committed to having a student teacher for the semester.

While working with student teachers, cooperating teachers take a step back and pass responsibilities to their student teacher, Darrah said. Student teachers are also given feedback by their cooperating teachers and college professor throughout their time student teaching.

“I’ve been lucky to have a cooperating teacher who has given me lots of freedom in the classroom,” McCoyne said.

“Even so, I still have to submit every lesson plan I teach to him in advance.”

After student teaching, student teachers must pass the edTPA to receive their teaching license. The edTPA is a new assessment given in Illinois that is split into three tasks requiring student teachers to submit a week’s worth of lesson plans, video of themselves teaching, and copies of student work with written feedback, as well as written commentary, McCoyne said.

“I enjoy having a student teacher,” Avery Herdon ‘17 said. “[McCoyne’s] passion for teaching is shown through his preparation and work he puts into the class.”

New academic support program initiated Administration serves advocate role for minority students

by Lea Voytovich @leaaa21

In order to increase the academic achievement of minority students, LTHS administrators formed the Equity and Achievement Team (EA Team) to advocate for the correct level of placement for students during their freshman year to ensure enrollment in an AP class by senior year. The first group of students is compromised of 42 freshman from the class of 2019.

Back in 2013, the Board of Education strove to develop a goal oriented around the achievement of minority students at LT, as they do not tend to be as scholastically achieving as their white counterparts.

“I was happy to take that on as an initiative--to first identify the current reality, see if there were potential improvements to help all students, and then to look at some data,” Principal Brian Waterman said.

The discussion then evolved into a concern not so much about race, but the socioeconomic level of students’ parents. Nationwide, the greatest factor in a student’s success is the socioeconomic level of his or her parents. The problem was that parents of students from disadvantaged backgrounds were not as involved with their students’ curriculum as other parents.

“Through data collection, we found that you can come out of eighth grade with the same exact Explore score placing you into a prep level class, but the common historic trend was that if you come from an affluent two-parent household, your parents would call the school and advocate you for Accel and you’d be placed into Accel and you would do just fine,” Waterman said. “It then became why can’t we, the school, be the advocate for students whose parents have not advocated for them in this manner?”

This year LT did just that. Forty-two incoming minority freshman tested into prep classes but had the same scores as other students who moved up to Accel. As a result of recommendations through feeder schools, LT decided which students to move up.

Scores are shown for eighth grade math from the 2013 National Assement of Educational Progress and low income is defined as students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. (nces.ed.gov)

“I believe I have approximately half of the students [from the EA Team] in my three World History classes,” World History teacher James Milkert said. “Students are students and LT students are the best. I have not noticed a change in the overall grades of my students [due to the inclusion of the students from the EA Team].”

The short-term goal of this project was for these students to earn semester grades of 75 percent or higher in World History, English I Accel, Algebra I Accel and Biology Prep. After the fall semester of 2015, 57.1 percent of these students met this requirement in all four classes.

“It is a rigorous academic schedule, and colleges look at the rigor of students’ course-loads and the rigor of the school, so there is benefit in pushing yourself to a reasonable level and doing well,” Assessment and Research Coordinator Katherine Smith said.

The long-term goal for these students is to take at least

one AP course during their academic tenure at LT and eventually pass that test by the time they graduate from high school.

“The program is a benefit to all students as it has allowed teachers to emphasize building relationships with our students, communicating relevant and meaningful objectives and teaching depth rather than breadth,” Milkert said.

The program will continue into next year. The upcoming school year will include 49 incoming freshman from the class of 2020. The students who are chosen are not aware that they are being tracked throughout their academic career.

“We thought about providing mentoring, orientations, or weekly pizza parties, but we came to the conclusion that these students can do the work, they just need to be challenged by being placed into these classes,” Waterman said.

“We don’t want them to feel stigmatized or different.”

Improving instructor Good teaching over a long period of time can help students overcome the disadvantages of poverty.

NEWS

Friday, April 8, 2016  Page 4

Renowned radio WLTL alumni have gone on to work at esteemed radio networks CNN, ESPN and WGN, among others.

WLTL succeeds in NYC Tutors help in math Radio station sweeps NYC, brings home numerous awards

New STAR peer tutoring centers during lunch assist math students, raise grades at LT

by Abby King @abigailann_01

by Tim Mikulski @t_mikulski

As one of the best high school radio stations in the nation, LT’s WLTL did not disappoint at the 2016 Intercollegiate Broadcasting System (IBS) Awards on March 5, 2016 in New York City. The station had 26 nominations in 22 out of the 36 possible categories, and took home nine wins, more than any other school.

The nine awards received were in the categories of of Best Public Affairs Program, Best News Feature, Best Celebrity/Artist Interview, Best Sports Update, Best Specialty Music Show, Most Creative Program, Best Public Service Promotion, Best Website and Best Station Blogs.

WLTL supervisor Christopher Thomas, as well as the president of IBS—a non-profit volunteer organization that lobbies for high school and college radio—orchestrated the entire national event from booking speakers to negotiating contracts.

“This is the best we’ve ever done at this conference,” Thomas said. “I don’t get to go to a lot of the sessions, so for me at the end of the night ,I like asking all the students who went what was the most memorable or favorite thing that they did. Hearing them come back and be excited about radio and excited about the things they want to try is my most enjoyable part.”

Talya Nelson ‘16, Sarah Brunet ‘16, Matt Danbury ‘16, Tim Mikulski ‘17, Hunter Pendleton ‘17 and Connor Ciecko ‘17 were the six students selected to attend the conference. Because LT has a very well-funded radio program compared to other schools, the students taught as much as they learned.

“There was a huge array of sessions,” Nelson said. “We were lucky to have Mr. T who organized the conference and told us which ones to go to. One of my favorite sessions was from somebody who wrote an entire anthology on

The LT administration had a long to-do list last summer: finalizing the new bell schedule, implementing the lunch study period and familiarizing teachers with the new school day. Also this summer, the first loose plans were put together for the brand-new peer math tutoring program, known as STAR, which now takes place during lunch study period.

“By far, mathematics was the greatest need [for support],” NC Associate Principal Kevin Brown said. “We heard from students that it would be nice to get help in these classes without needing a referral [from a teacher].”

The new “drop-in centers” are available in the library at both campuses to any interested student and the tutors are LT students rather than faculty. This is different from the referral-based system that has been in place since the start of the school year, which would automatically place students in in a support room if a grade reached a D or F. “I asked my teacher to put me in the math support group because I had makeup work to do, not because my grade was dropping,” Fred Moody ‘17 said. “I didn’t necessarily need it, but it drastically improved my grade and made the class so much easier.”

The STAR centers are designed to make support more accessible for students who need help. Currently, support is available exclusively for math subjects because 41 percent of support room referrals first semester came from math classes.

Applications to become a peer tutor were offered for upper-level math classes at both campuses. The students selected to be peer tutors were required to attend an orientation and training session led by a math teacher before spring break.

“I believe it will be very easy for students to stop by and get clarification or a fresh perspective on what they’re learning,” peer tutor Ethan Mangerson ‘17 said. “[At the training session] you could tell they want this to be a student-run program.”

The support rooms will be supervised by an LT staff member, but tutoring is left exclusively to the students.

“We quickly realized that this is something we could allow our kids to take ownership of,” Brown said. “Our biggest goal is for the students to make this theirs and to take real pride in it.”

Students can sign up for tutoring at lths.net, similar to the library study hall sign-up system. Pending how effective the STAR center is, there are plans to expand lunch period peer support to science and world language tutoring next school year, as well as implementing writing labs for English and history classes.

“It’s my hope that if we allow our students to take charge and to own this, they’ll make it great in the same way they’ve made so many other programs great,” Brown said. “When our kids do it, it’s incredible. That’s our dream for this.”

WLTL students at the IBS Awards in NYC. (Cieko)

Trophies won by WLTL at the IBS Awards. (Cieko)

rock and punk music. I also realized that [the radio station] is super lucky to have so much money for these trips, so sometimes it was just about taking a step back and appreciating that we have so many opportunities.”

Aside from the sessions and inside look of media outlets in NYC, the students also managed to have fun when they were not learning more about radio.

“My favorite moment would definitely have to be getting street food with everyone on the first night,” Pendleton said. “We were all tired, hungry and wanted some food, but the only thing we could find that wasn’t $1,000 was this food cart. So we got some street food, and it ended up being one of the best meals we had on that trip.”

50% off Studio Time for LT Students

French frenzy France is the most visited country in the world, with 85 millions tourists traveling to France in 2013.

IMPACT Friday, April 8, 2016  Page 5

“The students really enjoyed spending time on field trips to Pisa, Lucca, Siena, Florence and of course their exploration of Rome during their guided tour,” veteran Italian teacher and nine-year leader of the trip Elisa Ciaglia said. “Going up the

by Charlie Stelnicki Leaning Tower was a highlight and spending time @c_stelnicki at the Trevi Fountain in Rome was a hit as well.”

Although the tourist attractions breathed exciteAlthough Italy was foreign, not every citizen into the trip, many students came to love the ment was new to the Italian students. The group of 17 quiet seaside town of Follonica and the time they LT students arrived on March 13 and departed on spent with their exchange partner and their family, March 25. Over Homecoming week, Sept. 20-Oct. getting a taste of true Italian life, Ciaglia said.

3, 21 students from the Istituto Statale d’Istruzione “This trip gave us all a different perspective. [ItSuperiore in the city of Follonica visited NC and is a place we always read about- it’s so historic aly] . lived with host families of LT students ,” Allison said. “But we never learn or beautiful and While here, they studied English and took trips society that exists now, and that’s modern the see their got LT downtown to explore the city. When our families was my favorite know to getting why chance to do the same, they made the most out of like the U.S.” nothing It’s ce. experien it, Sophie Allison ‘16 said.

Italian students

Romans reunite In addition to the Italian exchange trip to Rome, upperclassmen taking Latin had the opportunity to visit Rome.

in the Roman Fo

rum. (Sophie Al

lison)

by Lea V oytovich “Instead @leaaa_ o 21 way to g f driving, they mostly w et aroun When d.” alk or us Students e the su gart, Ge Thomas Sagg also visit bthe fam rmany, a u e d ‘1 w o 7 u e he expe through s ll a r N k r iv e n u o ed in S s w in c rienced h n s visiting w p p ir a laces nste atio tuttthe Ger delberg— historic man and the n for Cinderell in Castle, whic such as d a’s castl Mercede h was th thentic the oldest Univ estinations, suc culture e a stheir tim e G er h e was sp Benz Museum. B t Disney World dish sim erman food like sity in Germany as Heid e u if ilar to ra n — t m fe t th r a a g e n u o e n lt in d m ce aschen, g violi.

“The b a filled p auHoobyar s between Germ to school and ajority of asta se said. an and German est part of the America eing the tr a “I think n the trip,” nd American te ip was bonding culture, a ll th that sch a ool in G e American stu people o Saggau said. “Aft chers and the s with the e d r S many is e aggau sa n tu e hard to nts would agre of each long rides, you’d r two weeks wit dents of compare feels less id. “The entire e other. H h the sam th in k s li tr with LT w o k as a grou ucture is w e e e a ‘facto and free ,” p, which ever, I think w would all be sic r d y if s fe y ste re -fl e all k ma Thomas and diffe owing due to lo m’ since it is mo nt and it and 11 o de it a really coo just got closer rent clas r ) n m en g gl a Ze b th n l il r e e am e x te a (K r perience s schedu ks betw e relaxed acher K students The trip exchange. e th e r le .” e a fo , n classes s y r L a e g e ad c e a n v re c o ve stu ery da ompan ts nel R Hoob turned to German studen the Germ dents an advanta y.”

March 1 eyes. They flew yar and Spanis ied Gerge when 2, begin an class “I think ning the to Stuttgart, G h teacher ny. they reprehens everyone on th room. ermany ir two-w io e o n tr eek stay n ip p o “One of b in e t nefited fr German of view— in Germ the big b o athey tra themselv etter now and everyone can u m a comnsport th gest culture sh n th e s ocks wa emselve o to s e s p [w e Hoobyar ak greatl ho] reall derstand s s,” Kam y s y pushe il Zegle the way a im id prove . “Yo some of d n ‘17 sa the stud u got as much a d their speaking id. ents defi s you pu now.” ,” nitely h t an Irish folk song that the whole choir learned ave an e into it, so dge in c called ‘Fields of Athenry’ at the Athenry School lass of Music,” Caleb Baron ‘16 said. “The fellowship vibes were felt while singing that song, not to

by Lucy Schaefer mention the townspeople knew all the words. @lucy_schaefer3 Such an incredible experience.”

Not every high school student is given the The purpose of the trip was to provide stuchance to pursue their passion alongside their dents the chance to experience a true cultural friends in a foreign country; however, LT choir exchange with the people of Ireland, Musick was given an opportunity. An eight-day trip to Ire- said. However, the students sang a variety of land left the students with incredible experiences both Irish and American gospel and folk. The and memories and provided them with a brand point was to not only learn about other cultures, new audience. but also share our own, Baron said. Students like “The trip was truly a once-in-a-lifetime oppor- Molly Garvin ‘17 even made bonds with Irish tunity for most people who went,” choir director students.

John Musick said.

Besides performing, the group also got the LT choir has traditionally gone on trips every chance to sight-see. They visited several places other year, however, this is the first time the group such as the Cliffs of Moher, Dublin, Killarney, has ever traveled internationally, besides a prior and many more. trip to Canada, Musick said. In Ireland, they per“A trip to the Emerald Isle with Jonny Muse Choir students explorin formed at several historic and holy sites, such as and Co. is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that g Dublin . (John M St. Patrick’s cathedral and the Athenry School of cannot be overlooked,” Baron said. “This was my usick) Music. last chance to go on tour with the choir. It was a “One of the best moments was when we sang no-brainer, honestly.” ris tours to see va ent on numerou rt, the cathedral France, they w po e, city, like the old ous parts of the Garde and the island, La Frioul la ey de Th . id sa i ck te Notre-Dame os Anna Maria K edieval French teacher Cassis and the m Pont , ix A of ty ci e th le , ed ct ur du to ue so aq al and the Roman

by Grace Palmer city of Les Baux 2 @gpalmz3 ench student ard. byes to their du G , after nine days with their Fr dents took od go al fin r ei stu Then said th arseille, the LT bruary, there As LT students dents in late Fe lot. Every- partner families in M they spent four days visitstu ge an ch ex French rparking , where e in the entire ed a train to Paris cki said. While they were in Pa was not a dry ey to adults were crying, sadden e ste th , Ko , m es eu sit us e m nts Orsay their ing th one from stude the Louvre, the t be able to see , the no ed se sit ld ur vi ou co w ey of th ey d, th is an artre by the fact that over a month. iumph, Montm for ens ev- Arch of Tr pp ha ch hi foreign friends w , ip . l Tower being in MarExchange tr Marseille and Eiffe favorite part of the trip was The LT French to ip inz tr k ee w o“My is a tw ge students,” Pr icaery other year, e other exchan week trip to Ch th ol al tw a ith d w an e s ill nt de students traveled se Paris for LT stu es in . This year, 27 LT e week after to said. y beautiful plac th go for the French d to visiting man to reconnect with an n k tio ea di br ad g In rin sp ch to France over nts were happy cki said. live with a Fren France, the stude t it was like to partners, Koste experience wha de r French stu nt le to expand upon their linei e th liv French students in Ma d an n . ar le g ab family rseille. (Anna Maria Ko od experience to Other than bein dents have made connections stecki) “I think it’s a go en for a short period of time,” stu e th er. s, ill sk ic re ev guist e exchange is ov in another cultu said. fit them after th ne be ill w at 7 e, th ‘1 ill in Marse Shayna Prinz dents arrived After the stu

NEWS

Random Chatter “I call my mom ‘squirrel’ when she acts dumb.”

-Annie Rius ‘17

Question What is LT’s policy regarding the timelines of grading essays?

Random Chatter

“You’re not bisexual... you’re bicameral.”

-teacher David Kruiswyk

Friday, April 8, 2016  Page 6

Th

N’s Ea O I L e rs

It is clear that this topic should be of concern: •

Associate NC Principal Kevin Brown’s Response

At least one division chair did not respond to LION’s email about this topic.

• English Division chair Karen Raino did not wish to be interviewed for this topic, though she did say that she “believes timely feedback is important.”

• An English teacher interviewed did not wish to have his name printed in this section.

“It should be every teacher’s goal for students to understand how they are doing as soon as possible. I also know what it is like as a teacher and I know it is very difficult to get papers and assessments graded quickly.

Things come up but it should not take weeks and weeks to get these back.”

Both students and faculty realize timely grading of papers is a problem. If you have any further comments on the issue, please submit. In the meantime, LION suggests you speak with your teacher about any specific instances.

Explanation

In classes such as History and English, sometimes student essays are not returned for extended periods of time.

Occasionally another essay will be assigned before students have received the prior ones with feedback.

“There is no published policy setting a spe cific return time for essays, but the best feedback is descriptive and timely.”

This new addition to LION empowers a greater number of students. Submit your concerns to us and we will do our best to get you answers or changes you’d like to see. compiled by Lea Voytovich

Submit questions or concerns to our Twitter, Instagram or email at ltlionnewspaper@gmail.com

Live from LION Archives

We took a step back this issue to review old LION news articles. These snippets range all the way from 1966 to 2003. We hope you take the time to catch up on LT throughout the decades and enjoy these blasts from the past as much as we did.

compiled by Adam Janicki

2000

1966

2003

The saying goes, “April showers bring May flowers.” However, whoever came up with that saying failed to mention the flooding that comes with those “showers.” The bursting of a pipe, after days of rain, left a handful of NC students with soggy materials and no lockers, but the school was quick to find them new lockers and school supplies.

The SC art class created a mannequin named Rosetta which rivals Chucky as the creepiest small doll ever. Rosetta was used as a drawing model for the class, however she was not the prettiest model mannequin. She had no hair, a crack in her head, no apparel and a silver metal helmet. The scariest part was that she had her profile in the yearbook.

If you thought the Mario Kart courses were fun, imagine having a home-made race through a seven-turn course in the Corral with two-by-four wagon with wheels. The seniors who raced were propelled by foot pedals and a muscular partner behind their cart, and with a total of 11 teams competing for a $105 reward, one could only imagine the chaos that ensued.

1968

Senior boys showed off their previously hidden legs by wearing high dress shorts, called Bermuda shorts, on LT’s first ever “Bermuda Day.” Teachers attested that the Bermuda shorts somehow inspired students to work harder on their schoolwork.

2000

With new trends every year, gym faculty and students recommended that LT redesign its gym uniform. The changes included improved fitting and comfortability in the shorts and t-shirts.

Additionally, the cloth became royal blue, the name label was made larger and the shorts were made with micro-mesh. Look out, Paris fashion week!

Random Chatter “If I become Buddhist, I’ll play football in my next life.”

-Mr. LT (Chris Velisaris ‘17)

OPINIONS Friday, April 8, 2016  Page 7

PageSevenGrid

Want your opinion heard?

Get it published in the paper! Submit any opinionated piece as a freelancer and you may see your work in our next issue.

GuestColumn Act with morality

America is a nation of immigrants; Wow. You are completely wasting your time reading the introduction to the Grid. It doesn’t even need we always have been. Yet for a long time, especially during this presidential an introduction. And we put absolutely no effort into writing this. So, go ahead. Waste your time. election season, that crucial fact has been forgotWhat did you do on You wake up in the body of Your campaign slogan for What’s the best hide-n-seek ten. According to Spring Break that you an LT teacher. Who is it?

2016 is... spot at LT? the Pew Research aren’t proud of?

Center, our country currently houses about 11 Thomas Atseff Mr. Tom Stukel, million “illegal” Better than Hillary. because I want to see immigrants from Mexico and Latin What happens in [ed. I think anyone on if I have the physical The safety shower in America. The easiest, most popular and Vegas stays in Vegas. most immoral solution is that they be this page could have capability to ride my the chem room. ;) punished and deported. This unjust used this slogan.] bike to school. [ed. I punishment, however, would subvert wanna see the tats.]

Trace Mortimer ‘16 all morality, fairness and freedom that our country supposedly stands for.

These immigrants are not crimMr. David Stormont; inals; they came here because they Olivia! 2016—as I let my dog eat my having a chin that value America, and sought a free and inspired by Jeb Bush’s Plain sight. No one cat’s food. My cat hasn’t seen the sun improved life. They broke the law unique campaign suspects it. wasn’t thrilled. to come here, yes, but they broke an since ‘97 could be logo. unfair, unjust and discriminatory law neat. specifically designed to impair a group Olivia Tennison ‘16 of people. Breaking an immoral law should not be regarded as dishonorable, rather, it should be admired as an act of Called my dad in courage. Many of these undocumented The man, the myth, The abandoned stairfrom work so he could immigrants came to America because the legend: Mr. Brian well behind the Reber Build a wall. stay home and buy they were being persecuted, or could Keller.

Center. no longer survive in a less fortunate me lolla tickets. :/ country or perhaps they simply wanted Francheska Mendez ‘17 to improve the lives of their children.

In the majority of cases, obeying anti-immigration laws would mean a lifetime out of the U.S., which for some Spent four hours in a The South Campus Make LT Great Again. is a death sentence.

Mr. Brian Bardy. flea market.

TriFit Lab. It is common belief that legalizing the 11 million immigrants would hurt the nation’s economy; however, some Hugh O’Donnell ‘18 evidence indicates that granting their amnesty may actually be a benefit.

Many of the immigrants are not curI hung out with Matt Dr. Brian Waterman. rently paying taxes, for fear of being What good is a hiding If ya ain’t first, ur last.

Cramsie ‘19. [ed. Really [ed. That silver fox. caught and persecuted. Their amnesty spot if I told you. special.] would augment tax revenues by a high Mmmmmmm.] margin, and according to the Center Michael Mohler ‘19 for American Progress, the government could see an increase of $4 to $5 billion Life moves pretty fast.

I was the mystery in taxes over three years. They would If you don’t stop and reader one too many acquire jobs and receive income, which look around once in a times at my son’s If I told you, you Mr. David Stormont, profits businesses and other workers. while, you could miss school. It was no would find me.

Strict state immigration laws are actuhe’s got a great beard. it (In honor of Ferris longer a mystery after ally damaging to state economies; states Brian Wolf, Special Ed that have passed stringent laws to curb Bueller). three days.

Teacher the amount of undocumented immigrants within their borders are holding compiled by Philip Smith back and hurting key industries. Legalizing illegal immigrants will benefit the United State’s capital, and maintaining unjust laws is only making it worse.

The biggest reason people are This letter to the editor was written by Viltė Baliutavičiūtė, Western Europe. While this has waned in the United States, Latin hesitant to grant illegal immigrants amthe daughter of an LT paraeducator. In the letter, she argues why remains an integral part of most scientific fields. As mentioned nesty is fear. Fear that they will “steal” students need to study Latin in school. above, the proportion of Latin words in the sciences, medicine, and our jobs, ruin our culture and somehow Why study Latin? What’s the point? Or, as the question is most technology is close to 90%. A medical student that already knows damage a perception of “purity.” These often articulated: Why learn a dead language? But the simple fact the meaning of phalanges, fibula and dura mater will have a strong fears are enduring; they have existed is: Latin never died. English is considered a Germanic language, but head start in anatomy. Any biologist or naturalist knows the nomenthroughout countless eras of time. only 26% of English words are derived from Germanic languages. clature for species is based in Latin. It is impossible to extract Latin However, they must be suppressed.

58% of English words are ultimately derived from Latin, either from the sciences—it is an integral part of the field.

And they must not be exploited. The ildirectly or through French. In the fields of science and technology, Latin wasn’t just the language of the scientists. Latin was the legal immigrants in the U.S. have been this percentage is above 90%. German may have given the English most important language across Europe from the Middle Ages, used as a vessel for fear; they have been its grammar and structure, but the words we use are Latin. through the Renaissance and well into the early Modern Age. Until blamed for problems in our country, Ultimately, a student of Latin will have a much greater unthe end of the 1600’s, most books and documents were still writand people have been exploiting these derstanding of English. Learning Latin will vastly improve their ten in Latin. Even today, Latin remains the official language of the common fears to do so. We must not vocabulary; it is much easier to understand a new word when you Catholic Church. Therefore, Latin is needed for any proper study of see fear override our morality and the can recognize its roots. Learning the grammar and structure of Latin history. The Church documents, which are our primary source of principals on which the United States also carries over into understanding the grammar of English. This population information, were written in Latin. Hymns, poems and was founded on. The only difference is supported statistically. Latin students get higher scores on the stories were written in Latin. Translations may be available for the between U.S. citizens and these illegal verbal section of the SAT compared to all other students, including most important documents, but anyone that wants to directly read immigrants is that we were lucky students of German, French, Hebrew and Spanish. In college, Latin primary sources in the Middle Ages needs to know Latin. enough to be born here, or somewhere students have higher average GPA’s than Spanish, French or GerLatin is also beautiful on it’s own. Before it was the scholarly else where they were allowed to travel man language students (and all three do better than those that take language of Europe, it was the language of the Roman Empire. The here. We need to put aside our gross no language at all). A study of students in the District of Columbia political speeches of Cicero, the military memoirs of Julius Caesar, entitlement and assist people less showed that Latin students in elementary school were far ahead the delightful poems of Catullus—they are all written in Latin. fortunate than us. Today we look back of their French and Spanish studying peers in reading skills—four The Aeneid is a classic that is still studied centuries after Virgil first disparagingly at events in our history months ahead, to be precise. As little as 15-20 minutes a day of Latin penned it. To not study Latin is to cut oneself off from some of the such as our rejection of Jewish refugees was enough to improve vocabulary scores for Philadelphia students. best literature in history. and our internment of Japanese AmerThe advantages of Latin don’t just stop at vocabulary. Sixth grade Studying the classics will also help with other literature. The icans before and during World War students in Iowa were taught Latin for five months, only half an Aeneid is heavily tied to The Odyssey and The Illiad. Learning to scan II. Do we want history to look back hour a day. As expected, they leaped ahead a full year’s worth in the meter and prosody of Virgil’s lines will undoubtedly help with on us as the generation who deported reading ability, and 13 months in language. But they also improved Homer’s, as well as poetry in any other language, including English. and denied honest and disadvantaged seven months in social studies, five months in science, eight months If you want to study history, study Latin. If you want to study immigrants, or the generation who fiin current events and nine months in math problem solving. The literature, study Latin. If you want to study medicine, technology, nally put an end to their mistreatment?

Latin students were consistantly ahead of their peers. or science—study Latin. If you just want to understand English The long-oppressed illegal immigrants Of course, Latin is worth so much more than one’s SAT score. better, study Latin. From poetry to politics, there is no aspect of life in America not only deserve amnesty, For centuries, Latin was the language of doctors and scientists in that won’t be improved with the study of Latin. they deserve an apology.

LettersToTheEditor

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

OPINIONS

Random Chatter “So basically Virginia Woolf invented Twitter.”

-Teacher Joseph Maffey

Random Chatter “I’ve seen ‘Super Size Me’ five times and McDonalds is still my favorite restaurant.”

-Clare Hauch ‘16

Friday, April 8, 2016 n Page 8

Philosophy

How should the media cover mass shootings?

Read this

LION asked 286 students about their opinions on media coverage regarding mass shootings and the shooters themselves.

Less media coverage 10%

PawsUp

n to shorts and tank topssun’s out, guns out, skies out, thighs out. n to napping- the perfect way to refresh and avoid your problems for an hour or six. n to pants- for always having my legs through the winter months. n to new seating chartsfinally, I don’t have to sit next to the foot-tapper and that kid. n to people who offer gum on plane rides- you are gods and goddesses. n to free pens- we have officially reached the point in the year where it has become acceptable to use my dentist’s pen. n to Irish soda breadnothing like a slice. Or two. Or the entire loaf. n to belts- nothing beats the feeling of not being able to see your crack. n to pudding- the consistency of liquid jello, the taste of chocolate goodness and the calorie count of an entire chicken pot pie. n to poke wars on Facebook- the only real way to flirt. n to elephants in the room- much better than any other zoo animal in the room, if you ask me.

PawsDown n to non-smiley face cookies- how am I supposed to be happy now? n to Peter Geddeis- why have you not been bringing up the fact that you were on “Who Wants to be a Millionaire” in every conversation ever? n to people who went away on Spring Break- I understand you spent a week scuba diving in Fiji.

I stayed in my basement.

All week. No need to rub it in. n to tropical placesmaking you realize that where we live is cold, ugly and cold. n to shamrock shakes leaving soon- I’ll vote for whichever political candidate can convince McDonalds to keep it all year round. n to the day after working out- I lifted to be more active, and now I’m trying to move as little as humanly possible. n to sick students- we appreciate your dedication, but please don’t come to school and infect us all. n to non-gummy vitamins not shaped like a cartoon character- no way am I eatin’ that. n to sad dog movies- WAY sadder than when people die in movies. n to Adam Janicki.

Should mass shootings be publicized (covered by the media)?

No 11%

Not sure 22% Stricter gun laws 34%

Yes 89%

How should Americans respond to mass shootings?

More mental health services 34%

Do you think the media focuses too much on victims or shooters?

Both 17% Neither 23%

Victims 14%

No 37% Yes 63%

Shooters 46%

Do you think the media influences the shooter’s actions?

Point

Coverage creates change

After 26 innocent people, 20 of them only children, were murdered in Newtown, Conn. in 2012, the entire nation grieved together. President Barack Obama held a press conference and social media was MelRose Buckler flooded with messages of condolences to the victims and their families. The media covered the story for weeks, talking about how the shooter executed his plan, what semi-automatic rifle he used, how he entered the elementary school, how the staff and students responded in the building and how the families and friends of the victims were coping.

You could not turn on the news or go on Facebook without seeing someone talk about the Sandy Hook shooting. The media and nation fiercely responded to the heinous murders of these young children, and the national dialogue about gun control and mental health began to shift immensely.

Without the media coverage, few would have known about the horrific killings of the 20 innocent children and the discussion of gun control and mental health reform would not have been renewed. If few know about mass shootings, how will laws and policies change to better the safety of the citizens? The nation would not be educated on the violent acts that occur daily in the United States, which is why the media must report mass shootings.

The contagion effect for killers would be a valid reason to stop covering shootings because no one wants to create more murders after there is coverage about the shootings in the media. However, what needs to change is the way the media covers the shootings—not the coverage itself. The media should talk more often about the victims of the crimes and what is and will be done to help end gun violence in the U.S. After every major mass shooting, Obama stands at a podium and expresses his condolences for the victims and their families. During his two terms as president, Obama has stood there at least 12 times. At the press conference following the Roseburg, Oregon mass shooting Obama said “somehow this has become routine. The reporting has become routine. My response here, from this podium, has become routine.”

Obama makes an excellent point—mass shooting coverage has become the new normal. Americans are becoming numb to hearing about victims and shooters and some believe the coverage is starting to become redundant and obsolete. Although this may be somewhat true, that should not be the problem—the problem should be that the media has so many shootings to cover. Without the media’s help, people will not be informed about the innocent lives that are being lost and change will not occur. Actions must be taken to stop these shootings, and as history has proven, the media is a huge catalyst to create change.

CounterPoint

Erase the immoral face Fear. Fear possesses the human race; it is a presence that never sleeps.

Fear eats away at sanity and leaves nothing but vulnerability. Fear is paralyzing. Imagine walking into some place you find comfort, a place in Hallie Coleman which you feel safe. Imagine never being able to walk within a five block radius of this place because of fear. Imagine as if you are a student attending Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Oregon. The only affiliations you have with going here are positive: you have gained experience, education and friendships.

Then one day you find yourself standing in a hallway, sweating and unable to move. There is a student you recognize holding a gun. Everyone around you holds their breath and makes short mortified glances at one another. Your heart is racing and fear has overtaken your entire body. You reminisce over your life that you wish had been extended. You convince yourself that you will not survive. You watch as this 26-year-old student kills eight students, one teacher and then himself. This image is not erasable. It repeats in your head over and over again. You try to relive it and tell yourself to do something, not to just stand there staring aimlessly; you want to help, but you can’t.

Let the victims of any shooting be remembered because their lives ended abruptly and unfairly, but do not let the shooters be remembered. We cannot allow the media to provoke people who are vulnerable. Although as a journalist I understand the aspect of newsworthy topics, we have to take into consider-

ation the people who were there. We cannot paste the image of a mass murderer on the abundance of screens that surround us. By exposing this face to the children that are constantly staring at an Apple product, we are showing them violent and disturbing behavior. How are you to explain to your child that a man decided to take 10 peoples’ lives? There is no explanation.

This person may have had a great deal of inner pain that others were not aware of, but this person chose to become a killer, a mass murderer, a person who killed someone else’s child. The people who were affected or present at the shooting will never be able to get the image of the shooter out of their mind. The last thing these people need is seeing the face of person who killed someone they care about broadcasted in every form of media. As citizens of the United States, emphasis on the word “United,” we owe it to one another to experience the tragedy as a whole. We owe it to the survivors to cope with the shooting in peace and we owe it to anyone who lost a love one to mourn in peace. Not only do we need to take into consideration of the feelings of everyone, but also the safety. If the shooter is not caught right away, he/she could use the attention from the media as ammunition to continue to repeat the same painful process. In addition, if someone else were to want to draw attention to themselves and saw how much attention a mass shooter received from the media, then we may experience a devistating copy-cat incident.

The bottom line is this. The mass shooter does not deserve the attention of the media nor does the public sensitive to the situation deserve to relive the tragedy.

Summer is almost here. With it will come warm weather, beaches, ice cream and of course, the LT summer reading Philip Smith program. Students leaving LT for the summer are handed a list of books and are told that they have to read one. Many don’t. When school resumes, some teachers almost completely ignore the books, while others spend weeks focusing on them.

The system is imperfect, to say the least.

Maybe its biggest shortcoming is a lack of quality choices.

Some of last year’s books look more like dime store paperback novels, not like literature. While some classics made an appearance—“The Once and Future King” or “The Maltese Falcon” were impressive choices—how many students chose to read them? Or did they just settle for another cheap lovestory paperback from that guy who does those funny history videos we all use?

I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with occasional light reading.

I’m a big fan of Tom Clancy and his ghostwriters, along with Brad Thor and other fictional authors, but this is fluff reading—the enjoyable but hardly healthy junk food of literature. Why does summer reading treat all books like they are created equally when they are obviously not? Celebrity biographies may introduce a nonreader to reading, but they will not turn a nonreader into a reader.

But I understand the choices for the summer reading books. In the age of digital neon lights and six-second attention spans, it’s hard to get anyone to pick up a newspaper, let alone a large book, and the problem is this: Many students simply will not read assigned summer reading if it does not interest them, and classics aren’t always the most interesting.

However, there’s an easy solution.

Instead of forcing kids to read full, dull books, give them a short literary smorgasbord. A Winston Churchill speech, a Ray Bradbury short story, a Rudyard Kipling poem and a little bit of Mary Shelley, combined with a book that is interesting to students that they choose to read would do much more for advancing reading comprehension and intangible reading skills than reading Tina Fey’s memoirs would do.

Some students and teachers oppose summer reading. I am all for it, if it is revised. Its critics point out that no other class requires students to work during the summer. Do we have a math unit to cover? A science topic to learn? How about an era in history?

No, but there’s a reason why reading is so important. A study by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) has found that employers rank reading and writing deficiencies as top concerns when hiring new employees, and good readers have better opportunities for career growth and generally higher salaries. Reading keeps the mind sharp.

Obviously, there is room for growth and LT students should take advantage of it. If we want to excel, we need to read, and LT has a responsibility to help boost its graduates to the top.

Reading good literature also helps developing writers. Will a basketball star’s book demonstrate the correct way to write, or would Ernest Hemingway be better? You wouldn’t turn to Hemingway for lessons on how to play basketball, would you?

The NEA also found correlations between reading habits and test scores.

Reading raises comprehensive scores on standardized tests. If we read more and better literature, our future opens up for us.

So, even if the summer reading list this year is the same as it has been in years past, let’s do two things: We can try to change it for years to come and we can still read. It’s your future if you do, it’s your lack of one if you don’t.

Random Chatter “When I grow up, I’ll vandalize snow plows so kids can have snow days.”

-Armin Korsos ‘17

OPINIONS Friday, April 8, 2016 n Page 9

Random Chatter “I love when Snapchat doesn’t even recognize your face because you don’t look human.”

-Cora Hulten ‘16

AnotherView

StaffEditorials

iPrivacy

On Dec. 2, 2015, 14 people were killed and John Oliver puts it beautifully, “Think of the 22 were seriously injured in a terrorist attack on government as your dad. If he asks you to help San Bernardino, California. Since then, the FBI him with his iPhone, be careful because if you’re has been in a heated legal dispute with Apple, going to do it once, you’re going to be doing it Inc. over unlocking the terrorist’s phone, which 14 times a day.” they cannot do without Apple disabling security One of the most glaring questions with this features on the phone for them. However, the entire debacle is whether the government even encryption and security of iPhones is so complex has the authority to do what it is demanding. that even Apple doesn’t possess the ability to The FBI is citing the All Writs Act of 1789, a do so without designing an entirely new iOS, 230-year-old law, to justify its demands to gain which is what the FBI wants them to do. access to iPhones for criminal cases. This act The demands for Apple to unlock the San basically says that U.S. Courts can issue any Bernardino terrorist’s phone aren’t as simple as and all writs necessary within the constraints they may seem. First, it seems Our position: Demands by of the law to aid in jurisdicas though anyone connected the FBI for Apple to create tions. Citing of this act by the with this attack or with ISIS an “all access” iOS operating FBI is simply an overreach would have dropped off the system that would allow them of power, and is an example face of the Earth as soon as it to access data and information of the government taking an happened. Plus, it’s not like from any iPhone are not only age-old act way too far. If they the terrorist would have bla- an overreach of power by the can use this to gain access to tant text messages or other federal government, but also any phone for criminal cases, key information that the gov- could pose extreme security then what is to stop them from ernment could potentially use risks and are a violation of our intercepting text messages or just lying on his phone. The personal security and freedom tracking health records too? government attempting to fish as American citizens.

The magnitude of this case around in the terrorist’s phone cannot be overstated. Despite isn’t worth the trouble doing so would cause. the government recently gaining access to the So what exactly is that trouble? In order for terrorist’s device via alternate means, the debate Apple to unlock the phone, they would have to that is beginning to emerge as this case gains design an entirely new and revamped iOS opermore and more popularity is not new: how ating system with less security than the current far can the government’s power extend into OS has. The danger of designing this OS is that our personal lives? Should the government be it hasn’t been done yet, and once the method allowed access to all of our personal records and to do so has occurred, there’s no telling whose phone use in order to better monitor possible hands it could fall into. Apple would effectively acts of crime and terror? be creating a master key for every phone on the The answer is no. The United States of planet, and although they could strive to keep it America was founded on the fundamental basis safe and out of the reach of terrorists, in today’s of personal freedom. The government wasn’t extensively technologically focused world, designed to reach into our personal lives and there’s no way to ensure that. monitor everything we do. As Americans, we It’s dangerously and horrifyingly easy for have certain constitutional rights such as life, methods and code to be stolen. The power of liberty and the pursuit of happiness, and most what the new iOS could do and the security it importantly in this case rights to privacy and would eliminate would be hazardous if acquired security. The government being able to monitor by hackers or terrorists. Sure, you can say up our phone use is a flat-out violation of our perfront that it would only be used for specific scesonal privacy, and this case is something that no narios, such as San Bernardino, but once Apple one should take lightly. As Benjamin Franklin has submitted once, what’s to stop the governonce said, “Those who would give up essential ment from demanding the same thing again and liberty, to purchase a little temporary safety, again for other cases? “Last Week Tonight” host deserve neither liberty nor safety.”

Staff Vote: 18-8

Illustration by Owen Swanson

A helping hand

We have all had that one math class that we The open area to the left of the computers stumble out of in a haze of confusion and fear, will be converted into a more classroom-like unsure of what foreign language we struggled to setting at NC, complete with a whiteboard, listen to for the past 48 minutes and what it was markers, erasers and other classroom equipment. trying to tell us. LT administrators understand The West Wing computer lab in the SC library that too. They also understand how it is not will be converted into a tutoring center as well always easy to ask for help in the middle of class, during 4A/4B and 5A/5B. worried that you will slow down the pace or The administration is looking forward to sound foolish. That is why LT, effective fourth reaching out to students in a different way, and quarter of the 2015-2016 school year, is initiatis excited about the prospect of helping students ing peer math tutoring during the lunch periods better understand mathematics and offering in the lower level of the library at NC and in new resources to do this. LT has a plethora of the library computer lab at SC Our position: The new math students who are eager and called the Students Teachers peer support rooms are what excited to help others with and Additional Resources school, and the STAR Center is needed for LT. The new (STAR) center. helps tap into those resources. policy can help all students This is an outstanding Peer tutoring is important, regardless of class level and step in the right direction in year in school when they are because the student tutor reaching out to the students struggling, providing a onehas been in the shoes of the who are too afraid to ask for on-one opportunity to learn. other student. He or she can help, and give them an oppormore easily understand your tunity to learn, because, after all, that is why thought process and teach it in a way to make we are here. There are approximately 50 tutors you understand and allow the information to who are student volunteers that are currently click. Research has shown time and time again in either AP statistics, AB calculus, BC calculus that peers teaching peers yields a higher outor trigonometry pre-calculus Honors at NC, come of understanding. and approximately 75 tutors who are algebra While 25 minutes may not seem like much, or geometry honors students at SC. There are once a student has mastered a certain type of five to 10 student tutors available each lunch problem once, they can look back to that probperiod and 25 open slots for students seeking lem as a guide. help. There was a mandatory training seminar Approximately 75 percent of the people who the week prior to spring break in which current were sent to support rooms this year were sent math teachers taught the tutors teaching tactics for math related issues. This is an additional way and other useful skills, so they will be able to to reach kids and give them the highest amount help others. The tutors will report to the lower of resources possible to give them the help they level for the rest of fourth quarter and will be need in order to be successful. STAR Center is a ready to help whoever signs up the day before fantastic addition to LT, and a great way for stuor morning of in the library. dents to connect and reach out to other students.

Staff Vote: 26-0 C ontact

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Boastful batting Joe Sewell had the lowest strikeout rate in MLB history, with one every 63 at-bats.

In 1930, he only struck out three times.

SPORTS Friday, April 8, 2016 n Page 10

New baseball coach up to bat Varsity baseball begins season, hopes new philosophies inspire improvement

by Heidi Hauch @heidihauch13

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his season marks a unique transition for boys varsity baseball, as it is the first season in 29 years that George Ushela, who retired last year, is not standing in the dugout.

Last season, he acted as assistant coach for the team, after transferring the position of head coach to Kevin Diete.

However, this season, Ushela has retired from the boys varsity baseball coaching staff completely, granting Diete the ability to take the team in a new direction.

“Coach Diete is trying to get us to be more mentally tough,” Michael Phelan ‘16, left fielder, said. “He wants us to play more aggressively, to be willing to lay out for a ball and to do anything it takes to get a win.”

Diete and Ushela differed in some of their coaching philosophies. They found middle ground; however, it was a sometimes a difficult dynamic for the players, Diete said.

“At times, it was a little unfair for the players because they didn’t know which philosophy or strategy they were expected to follow at the time,” Diete said.

However, this season, Diete is implementing a new philosophy and strategy for the varsity team. His philosophy aims to better educate the players in the game of baseball and to change the culture of the team.

“This year, I am all about trying to change the culture in a positive way,” Diete said. “I think in the past couple years, we’ve been trying to rely on our reputation and our talent as opposed to trying to work hard and improve our skills to be a top program in the state.”

by Adam Janicki Along with chang@Ad_Man34 ing the culture of the team, Jon Miranda As Grant Leader ‘19 ‘16, second baseman, Emilio Guitron peers into the eyes of indicated the team’s ‘16 squares up his stance his opponent at bat, he goal in improving the at the plate in his team’s home reads what the batter’s overall team dynamic. uniform. (Hauch/LION) next move will be. With “We are trying to concentrated precision build team chemistry,” he decides the best pitch Miranda said. “I think with good team chemistry, we would be to throw a will be more successful. We had previous experiences fastball, but not just any last year where we didn’t have that team chemistry, and fastball, an 87 mph fastwe lost a couple of games.” ball, the third fastest for As for improving skill-wise, the players are looking to the class of 2019 prospects in the nation. He aspires to use his improve their hitting and continue to strengthen pitchterrific pitching skills to help his freshman team succeed in ing and defense, Diete said. their upcoming season.

Although they are predicting tough competition this Additionally, Leader is ranked by Prep Baseball Reports as year, especially in conference and sectionals, the team the number one prospect in Illinois for 2019. He has been playis hopeful they will have success this season, Diete said. ing baseball for the past 10 years, and for seven of those years “[The goal] is to win conference,” Phelan said. “I he was a pitcher. think it’s definitely an attainable goal.”

“You see the kids of pro-athletes follow in the footsteps The team plays Proviso West on April 8 at the SC varof their parents, and this was like me when I was a little kid,” sity field.

Leader said. “My mom played tennis at the University of Min-

Freshman sets bar high

nesota and she always wanted me to play tennis too, but instead I tried t-ball, and I loved it”.

With much of his free time spent throwing a variety of weighted balls to quicken his wrist and strengthen his arm, Leader has taken his game to a whole new level. He said that he plans to be able to throw a 90 mph fastball by his sophomore year.

“In the two and a half years I have known Grant, it has been incredible seeing the amount of effort he puts in,” freshman catcher Danny Machaj ‘19 said. “He is always in the cages working on everything, from pitching to hitting.”

Leader has many goals that he is aiming for in the future.

These include playing for LT’s varsity team, then for the University of Michigan or Vanderbilt University. His biggest goal of all? Making it to the Major Leagues, he said.

Fast Fastball Grant Leader’s average: 87 mph

National: 75 mph

Statistics for 15-18 year olds from efastball.com.

Badminton enters season sans former star player Girls badminton enters season prepared to fill vacant spot in key varsity lineup

by Katie Palermo @thekatester223

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his season, varsity badminton is without three-time singles state champion Stephanie Lin ‘15. Although the team still stands strong with seven seniors, Lin will be missed.

“Stephanie had a remarkable talent that will definitely leave a hole in our lineup,” varsity Head Coach Susan McClenahan said. “But we have some young girls who are eager to fill it.”

One of the team’s challenges is working on finding who best competes as a doubles team. Finding the right combination for five doubles teams and what gels on the court is important, McClenahan said. Within the first week or so of practice, the singles lineup is chosen, but the doubles teams take more time to put together.

Gwen Grodek ‘17 played on varsity the 2014-15 season with Lin in her final high school season. The goal is going to be coming together as a team and working hard as a unit to try to win games and tournaments, Grodek said. To be effective and achieve this goal, the team has to work together.

“Even though only a few people can be on the court at a time in badminton, it is still really a team sport,” Grodek said.

First-year member of the varsity team, Lauren Schissler ‘18, hopes to learn from the more experienced girls on the

Students play in badminton’s Orange Crush fundraiser for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society on April 1. (Palermo/LION)

team to improve her game. Since Schissler was on the freshman team last year, she did not have personal experience with Lin, but has heard lots about her excellence in the sport and her push for team bonding.

“I think that it is too early in the season to say who will be the leaders,” Schissler said. “There are different people on the team who are pushing the team bonding, and it isn’t just one person.”

Lin’s legacy continues to bring more popularity to the sport even after she graduated. This year, 40 girls went out for the freshman team, an all-time high. The team hopes to continue its success and keep putting one foot in front of the other, McClenahan said. The team faces Riverside-Brookfield on April 18 at home.

Glamorized game

The 1992 Barcelona Olympics was the high point for world interest in badminton, when over 1.1 billion tuned in for the final match.

ChicagoConfidence Remember 2008? The most recent year that both the Chicago Cubs and White Sox made the playoffs? Probably not, seeing as both teams were quickly and painfully eliminated in their respective division series. How about the second most recent year?

Garrett Ariana 1906, of course, where the Cubs were defeated in the World Series by the Sox. If that one doesn’t ring a bell either, I’ve got good news for you: baseball is back in Chicago and this year (as well as future ones) will be a season to remember.

For only the second time in MLB history, three teams won 95 games in a division and had the top three records in the league. One of them, your Chicago Cubs, had one of the best second halves in a season ever with a 50-25 record and won a playoff game for the first time since 2003.

At surface level, the success of the Cubs has come from the Rookie of the Year, Kris Bryant, the Cy Young, Jake Arrieta, the fourth place MVP finisher, Anthony Rizzo and rookies such as Kyle Schwarber, Addison Russell, Jorge Soler and Javier Baez. Due to the ability of small-name players to take big time advantage of the long ball in windy Wrigley Field, the Cubs rallied to strike hope and faith into Chicagoans whose battle cry of “no more next year” became a reality in 2015. Veteran pitchers, who gave the Cubs the most strikeouts in the league, also aided in this stretch as they kept earned runs to a minimum.

However, below the surface, every last drop of credit can be attributed to Theo Epstein, Jed Hoyer and Joe Maddon. Maybe not as wellrecognized as the blue-eyed miracle, Bryant, or the beautifully-bearded, cutoff t-shirt making, push-up doing, mustache onesie-wearing ace Arrieta, yet exponentially more valuable to the future of the franchise, these men have promised an anticipation, a reason for optimism. Cubs President of Baseball Operations, Epstein, who has already broken one long-running baseball curse for the Boston Red Sox, and General Manager Hoyer have strengthened the team in several ways. Large deals in free agency to land Jon Lester, John Lackey, Ben Zobrist and Jason Heyward as well as finding huge upside value in Arrieta, relief pitchers such as Hector Rondon, Travis Wood and Justin Grimm and field players like Dexter Fowler, Miguel Montero, Russell and Schwarber have allowed the Cubs to become the most dynamic and deep team in the MLB. The best thing about the Cubs upcoming lineup is the depth. At any given moment, there are two more-than-capable players of filling in any position. There are powerful lefties (Schwarber, Rizzo, Heyward) to land moonshot dingers off of RHPs onto Waveland Avenue, contact righties (Zobrist, Russell, Soler) to wear down LHPs and fielders (Russell, Rizzo, Fowler) solid enough to take home gold gloves. They’ve got beautiful chemistry between a lot of the players including the budding Bryant-Rizzo romance, the long standing Ross-Lester relationship and the everlasting love between Maddon and Zobrist that roots back to Tampa Bay. This assures that even if speedbumps such as Soler’s stretch on the disabled list or Russell’s postseason injury are faced again this year, something can and will be done to assure that they are not missed.

However, what makes 2016 fascinating is more than the Cubs 4-1 odds to be wearing golden rings after October. The South Siders too are experiencing a revival as a team to be reckoned with.

The addition of a former Cincinnati slugger Todd Frazier, and veterans Jimmy Rollins and Brett Lawrie to an already-talented infield with young star Bobby Abreu will create a high-powered batting lineup that is backed by Melky Cabrera and Adam Eaton. Jose Quintana will be accompanied by hard-throwing, strikeout machine Chris Sale on the mound to form a very dangerous 1-2 combo. The White Sox are no doubt legitimate contenders. Despite competing with the defending World Series Champion Kansas City Royals, the Sox should match up well the Cleveland Indians, Minnesota Twins and Detroit Tigers. Any of these teams, however, could take control of the division or crumble like cookies, making it of utmost importance that the Sox get off to a hot start in April and May. As the great announcer Harry Caray once said, “Sure as God made green apples, someday the Chicago Cubs are going to be in the World Series,” and I have no bigger belief that not only the Cubs, but also the Sox will shine this year.

Sparkling stars The U.S. Womens National Team has three stars across its crest, each representing a championship won: 1991, 1999 and 2015.

SPORTS Friday, April 8, 2016 n Page 11

Tribal tactics In the summer of 1763, a game of lacrosse was played by two tribes to distract British soldiers in order to recapture Fort Michilimackinac.

Girls soccer tackles Shred 415 Varsity members participate in new workout program

by Drew Cushing @TheTrueManBear

L

eading up to the beginning of the season, the girls soccer team participated in a pilot workout/donation program run by PepsiCo Showdown in partner with Shred 415, a personal training and fitness gym.

The team, along soccer teams from Loyola Academy, Whitney Young and Jones College Prep, worked out at the Shred 415 facilities, and instead of paying the full $25 fee for the workouts, players only had to pay $5 thanks to the Pepsi Showdown’s partnership with Aquafina, alongside bringing in items to be donated each week to a Chicago woman’s shelter.

“The program helped show me that I can get involved in giving back to the community while also being active with my teammates,” varsity forward Delaney Fox ‘16 said. “It helps show that something as simple as bringing in some items every week to donate will make a huge difference in peoples lives in the community.”

This program is run by the community service arm of PepsiCo Showdown, called Buddy’s Helpers. Its goal is to get players to make a difference on and off the field.

The program ran for four weeks from Feb. 21 to March 13, with workouts taking place for one hour each Sunday. Each week, the players were expected to bring in donations such as toiletries, toys, articles of clothing and even motivational letters.

The team poses at one of the Shred 415 gyms Girls participate in a side plank during one of after completing a hard day of the new work- the workout routines for Shred 415 to prepare out regiment. (Christina Thornton) for the season. (Christina Thornton)

“It was an intense work out that definitely pushed us to become better athletes,” defensive midfielder Sarah-Kate Weibel ‘16 said. “But also just working out with all the girls, knowing full well that what we were doing helped other women in need was especially rewarding.”

This is the pilot year that Pepsi Showdown is running this program, and all the donations are going towards Connections for Abused Women and their Children Shelter, previously known as the Chicago Abused Women Coalition.

“There’s no greater feeling than giving back and enhancing someone’s life,” founder of the Pepsi Showdown Joe Trost said. “When you have an event as large as the PepsiCo Showdown, which features 216 high schools and more than 21,000 athletes, you can make a big impact.”

The gym’s high intensity interval training has helped to prepare the team for any challenges it may face during the rest of the season. The training has also left an impact on the players due to the program’s emphasis on coming together to make a difference both on and off the field.

“I think the teams [in the program] are sending a message that if we come together to do something fun as a team we can also come together to give back,” Fox said. “It helps show the community that we are able to use the time we spend together to not only improve ourselves athletically, but to also make an effort to help others.”

The program appears to have paid off, as the team has gone 4-0-1 overall and 1-0 in conference as of April 4. The girls are set to kick off the Pepsi Showdown tournament on Saturday April 9 against Lake Zurich.

Boys, girls lacrosse ignite into season Boys seek to redeem conference title after rare loss last season, look to new talent

Team unity becomes asset to girls team as season kicks off

by Juliana Halpin @jhalps315

by Caroline Konstant @carolinekon

After not placing first in conference for the If you took a glance at the 2016 girls varsifirst time in 10 years in their 2015 season, LT’s ty lacrosse roster, you would be shocked to see varsity boys lacrosse is playing for redemption that underclassmen outnumber upperclassmen and to reclaim their title, varsity Head Coach Tim two to one. Girls lacrosse has decided to take Duffy said. what should be an equally successful path of “The hope is obviously always to win a supporting a younger team this year. state championship,” attacker Charlie Kidder “They are much more enthusiastic,” varsity ‘17 said. “A smaller more personal goal would Head Coach James Moy said. “As they progress be to rebound from last season and win a from freshman to senior year, they tend to get conference championship.” less enthusiastic. We have a lot of energy.”

With last year’s starting lineup consistIn the off-season, girls were encouraged to ing of relatively young players, the loss of last attend intramurals, summer league and play year’s seniors will not have an immense impact on travel teams to heighten their skills while on this year’s team, Kidder said. This year’s building bonds with their teammates. team, consisting of 26 players, has eight new “From tournaments to practices, there is a underclassman, with only three seniors on the huge team bonding effort,” team member Rastarting lineup. chel Kocek ‘17 said. “Team unity is important “[Having a younger team] is interesting because to be able to play well you need to because you get to see a lot of the seniors, play as a team. Each player contributes to the juniors, and even sophomore step up as leaders,” game and when everyone is working together defender Jack Walton ‘17 said. and the dynamic of the team is good then that’s Above: Captain Jane Ragains ‘17 In preparation for the season the team has poses for the camera during a when you start accomplishing your goals.” been training together throughout its off season, practice behind SC. (Konstant/LION) With team unity at the forefront of the proDuffy said. Starting in October the team has Below: Casey Gignac ‘18 dangles gram, the girls attempt to learn more about each met every Wednesday night to play intermural against St. Rita on his home turf on other off the field. From going out to a local games and had been conditioning three days a March 31. (Halpin/LION) breakfast joint to a competitive game of laser week since the start of January. tag, the girls aim to build a strong relationship “I’ve seen a lot of younger [players] really with their teammates this season, and not credevelop in the off season,” Duffy said. “I ate a divide among classes. think that this will make up for our loss of last “There really isn’t a divide. The upperclassyear’s seniors.” men just have more experience playing in the Letting up only six goals in their first two high school level,” Hannah Greving ‘19 said. games, one of the team’s strengths this season “As a whole, we are able to work nicely togethhas been its strong defense, Duffy said. er but we are still learning the strengths and “Our defense, led by goalie and 2015 MVP weaknesses of each player.”

Joey Rebello ‘17 is very big and physical, making Last year, the team went 17-7 and was it one of our biggest strengths this season,” ranked 11th in state. In order to continue forKidder said. ward and build upon past successes, Moy inAlong with its strong defense, the team tends to keep a talented group of subs in his has been working to improve their offense, back pocket to maintain a well-rounded team.

Walton said.

“Starters can always get hurt or sick and if “We struggled putting points on the board we don’t have quality subs, we are in trouble,” last year,” Walton said. “Having trained and Moy said. “I will give subs more playing time in improving throughout our offseason will hopegames this year so that they have game experifully help us this year to reach our goal of a conence and are comfortable to replace a starter.” ference championship.”

To have a successful season, Moy plans to inSo far, the team remains undefeated in its corporate a new motion-oriented offense to put season having played three games thus far more pressure on the other team. Once the girls against Carmel Catholic, Brother Rice, and St. Rita. The team expertly understand the fundamental concepts and strategy of will play next against Conant High School on April 11 at the game, then the team will win more often this year, he said.

Bennett Field at 7 p.m.

Girls lacrosse plays Palatine on April 9 at Bennett Field.

UnbelievablyUltimate Four score and seven years ago, when I joined the LION Newspaper as a loyal but bungling apostle to the infamous Joe Rossetti ‘15, I told myself I would spare readers from having to deal with me Bailey Blum writing about ultimate.

Well here I am, 13 columns later, and I’ve finally decided the time has come. I must now write about what so many of you probably expected me to do a long time ago.

First and foremost, it’s called “ultimate,” not ultimate Frisbee. A “Frisbee” was a play disc invented by Hasbro, who was quick to trademark the name and prevent the sport from using it. Thus, in all formal contexts, it is referred to as solely “ultimate.”

Second, I would like to address the outrageously negative stigma that surrounds a game that for so long I have held extremely close. If you go around and ask your friends about ultimate, most of them will think, unless they actually know someone who plays competitively, that it is just a “picnic game.” Unfortunately, the overwhelming stereotype that comes to mind is kids tossing a Frisbee around on the beach or at a park.

While this is accurate for some cases, it is not accurate for the majority of people who say that they play ultimate. When you tell somebody that you “play football,” you aren’t implying that you toss the pigskin around on the beach; you’re implying that you suit up for the season and play real games. It’s the same thing with ultimate.

Third, if you type “ultimate Frisbee” into Google, the first autocomplete that pops up is “not a sport.” However, I think that when most people say this, it isn’t because they are against the idea that ultimate is a sport, but rather they just don’t know enough about the game beyond the “picnic stereotype.” Allow me to provide a little insight.

Ultimate is a game played on a 70 by 40-yard field, with 20-yard end-zones. Two teams of seven square off on opposite ends.

Play is started by what is known as a “pull,” which is like a “throw-off” and is very similar to a kick-off in football. Once the other team catches the pull, they cannot move with the disc and have 10 seconds to pass the disc to a teammate, who will in turn have to do the same until eventually the disc reaches the opponent’s end-zone. Play is non-stop, and there are turnovers and fouls just like every other sport. It’s kind of like a combination of football and soccer.

One of the most integral parts of the game, however, is what is known as “Spirit of the Game.” The founders of the sport back in 1968 knew that they wanted a game that was self-officiated, one where players could make their own calls and settle disputes on their own. It’s a concept that has remained with the sport up until today, and is one of the many reasons so many people love it and play throughout their lives.

It’s hard to describe, but it’s something I notice wherever I go in the country for tournaments. There’s always a sense of camaraderie amongst players, regardless of what team you play for. Everyone who is playing ultimate is playing it for the love of the game, and nothing more. It takes away the drive and necessity to be successful and get paid that accompanies so many other sports, and in my opinion embodies the ideal of what sports should really be about: having fun.

It is also what led Tom Crawford, former coaching director for the U.S. Olympic Committee and current head of USA Ultimate, to become instrumental in getting ultimate to be recognized by the International Olympic Committee. Crawford said, “This is like everything that you would want to bake into a sport, if you were creating it from scratch.

The speed, quickness, power. Women and men playing. Few disputes. And the entertainment value.” (Crawford is right. Lookup ultimate highlight videos on YouTube, and I swear you won’t be disappointed.)

What ultimate presents is something entirely unique, and something I think would thrive on the Olympic scene. It has gender equality, huge potential for global growth (all you need is some grass and a disc), appeals to youth and most of all represents what makes sport as a whole such a great thing: a spirit of fair play and a love and passion for the game.

SPORTS SPORTS Friday, April 8, 2016  Page 12

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Greek gambol The stepping tradition in the U.S. came from the song and dance rituals of black sororities and fraternities starting in the early 1900s. In recent decades, it has skyrocketed in popularity, with major motion films like “Stomp the Yard.”

Students participate in nationally ranked step team, look toward state competition on April 15, providing an environment for personal, cultural growth along way

by Charlie Stelnicki @c_stelnicki

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hen the LT Steppers take the stage to captivate crowds, be it in LT’s fieldhouse or Atlanta, Ga., they are not only shaking the floorboards with their passionate stomps. They are shaking the preconceived notions in the audience of what it means to be a part of not only a dance team, but a family.

The back of last year’s team shirt proudly states “INDIVIDUALLY WE ARE SEPARATE BEATS, TOGETHER WE ARE ONE SOUND.” Under that mentality and the experienced 17-year leadership of math teacher and Coach (Mama) Tamaika Killins, they achieved second-place in the Illinois Stepping League (ISL) competition and a 10th-place finish in nationals in Atlanta on June 13, 2015 through the National Step Association Co-ed competition (NSAC).

Step competitions are judged on 15 criterion, but they are primarily based on the performance’s Theme Originality, Vocal Clarity, Showmanship and Precision (unison of body movement), Killins said. Each performance has a theme and is a skit that involves creating a unique beat with clapping, stomping and body slapping. Themes range from fashion shows to Mario Bros., and outfits for both male and female steppers go with the theme. It can be summed up as a mix of dancing, acting and gymnastics.

“When I started as a freshman, I only heard people talk about us looking forward to our performance at the allschool,” Captain Melissa Monrroy ‘16 said. “But as we’ve

gotten more advanced and with our successes at state and nationals, we’re definitely more acknowledged at LT.” Fourty-seven teams from across the country competed at the NSCA. LT Steppers brought home the 10th place finish, the best in LT history, as well as the competition’s Sportsmanship award.

“At nationals, [southern teams] have a very different way of stepping than we do up North, so seeing what they brought compared to what we can do as a family was interesting,” Captain Robert Cole ’17 said.

On April 25, 2015, months prior to the event in the south, the team took on other Illinois teams head-to-head in DeKalb. The ISL hosted the event. The team took home a second place finish and is ready to rock the stage this year on April 15, Killins said.

An overwhelming majority of the students involved consider this club to be the most influential thing in their high shcool careers. The sense of community is like nothing else, Tatiana Walton ‘18 said.

“In middle school, I joined five clubs, and I didn’t find anything like what I found here,” Samantha Diaz ‘17 said.

“We practice so hard and give everything we’ve got.We’re a family who argues, but we accomplish great things together.”

Starting with 12 girls in 1999, the Steppers team has had over 100 students at times and is now co-ed. This year, there are 43 consistent members, 32 of whom compete, Killins said. Some students choose to not compete and solely help out with fundraisers and things like the Martin Luther King Jr. cultural celebration.

“We’re the most diverse club there is. Male, female.

Black, Hispanic, Asian, Caucasian, Middle Eastern. Doesn’t matter to us,” Killins said.

LT is four percent African-American, but the team is primarily black. Because of this, black students are sometimes assumed to be steppers by other students when they are not.

Over the past 17 years, there has been a shift in the school’s attitude toward the team, Killins said.

“People come up to me, ask if I’m a stepper, and they try to step and it’s cute,” Captain Lydia Colazzo ‘16 said.

“People doubt themselves and say ‘oh I can’t be in steppers,’ but it really is easy. Most of my white friends say they’re not coordinated, but anybody can do it. Trust me, I didn’t have it either as a freshman- we teach you that.”

Despite high levels of energy from all members of the team, upperclassmen leadership is hard to retain due to a handful of factors, Killins said.

“Of our 43 steppers, I have two seniors,” Killins said. “The reason it tends to die off towards the end is because they have to get jobs or focus on college visits and scholarship applications. But we support one another no matter what.”

The team is hosting their second-ever home competition on April 30, which will host teams from surrounding states.

Food, fun and friendship will be provided, Killins said.

“People get excited at the all-school and they get excited whenever they see us because of the flare we bring,” Cole said. “Some people say that they aren’t ‘black’ enough to step. The reality is we’re already diverse, and if you live with an open mind, you can learn anything.”

people say “that“Some they aren’t ‘black’

enough to step. The reality is we’re already diverse, and if you live with an open mind, you can learn anything.”

Robert Cole ‘17 performs a step routine in his fashion show outfit. (Charlie Stelnicki/LION)

“

-Robert Cole ‘17

Melissa Monrroy ‘16 showcases step movements in her shirt for the fashion show themed routine. (Caroline Konstant/LION)

by Gaby Sabatino @gabysab8

Vanessa Flaherty ‘16 started running like many other people do.

As she entered her freshman year at LT, her parents wanted her to get involved and do something that would fill up her schedule. Little did they know that three years and hundreds of miles later, Flaherty would hold all of LT’s records for 800-meter races and be one of the best track runners in the entire state.

“My parents wanted my sister and brother to do a sport, and they picked running, and I decided to follow along,” Flaherty said. “As time went on. I improved greatly and worked my way up to the varsity level by the end of my freshman year.”

Flaherty has been competing at the varsity level for all of her high school career. She primarily runs 4x800 meters races where she is currently ranked seventh in the state with the time of 2:16.14, according to DyeStat.com (a website that ranks runners nationwide). She also runs the mile race and has qualified at state for both of these events for the past three years.

“Vanessa has an incredible work ethic which is what makes her such a successful runner,” Head Coach Joe Pontrelli said. “She puts forth 100-percent effort every day in practice, she wants to get better, and she is passionate about distance running.”

Flaherty’s times have also greatly improved over her high school career. Freshman year she was running a 5:25 for her one-mile time.

Now, Flaherty is running a 5:12 indoor mile and a 5:08 outdoor mile.

Flaherty’s goal for the end of senior year season is to get her mile time under five minutes.

“On the team, she is a person who leads by example and always ensures none of us slack off at practice,” longtime teammate Diana Kafkes ‘16 said. “Vanessa cares deeply about, not only her own goals, but also helping our team reach a level of excellence as well and is committed to seeing each and every one of us improve.”

This year has also marked a big change in Flaherty’s career. The team was introduced to coach Pontrelli when former cross country coach Stetson Steele stepped down.

“At first, the transition was a little rough because their coaching styles are so much different,” Flaherty said. “But I have adapted to coach Pontrelli’s coaching methods because I am a highly motivated runner myself.”

Although Pontrelli has only been coaching Flaherty for about three months, he has been coaching track and distance running for 10 years at various schools. He has seen Flaherty’s talent grow just within these past couples of months.

“Vanessa progressed very well; we still have a couple of things to work on to help her improve, but overall she’s exactly where she needs to be right now,” Pontrelli said. “By the end of the season, I think she is a state contender for the 800 meter run.”

Flaherty hopes to continue her running career at the collegiate level. Her plans are still unclear, however, she is getting recruited by division one schools and is looking forward to improving even more.

“I can’t wait to see what’s in store for her because it is sure to be amazing,” Kafkes said.

Turn to pages 16-17 for full coverage

Recycling

Towering trash

The average person generates over four pounds of trash every day and about 1.5 tons of solid waste per year.

Powerless plastic

Americans recycle only 5 percent of all the plastics that are produced in this country.

Friday, April 8, 2016 n Page 14

All over our nation and the world, more people are realizing the need to take care of our planet. Our landfills are overflowing and our waterways are taking a hit. Following the trend of recent decades, LT and our surrounding communities have made a more consistent effort to recycle and reduce our carbon footprint, ensuring a healthier and more stable future for generations to come. rds

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For the Love of Earth and LT: Recycle

sam ds ont of w h aste a ye ar.

by Mary Sullivan

LT recycling is run by Waste Management.

LT’s waste either gets reused as natural gas (methane) to fuel the Waste Management trucks or is broken down to be reused in playgrounds, parks or recreational facilities.

Statistics compiled by Adam Janicki

Imagine that you are on the verge of death. Incapacitated, unable to move, you are nothing. Then a large green woman comes and takes you in. She shelters you, feeds you, builds you up to your maximum strength and gives you everything you will ever need to succeed simply because she is kind and she is able to.

Now imagine that you are restored; you are alive, thriving and happy. You turn around and see the green woman smiling pleasantly at you and then you pick up an axe and begin viciously attacking her. That green woman is mother nature, our planet.

That person is you.

I know you hear it a lot, and I am sure you probably disregard it, or think that there is nothing you can do, but the truth of the matter is that everyone in this building has an ecological footprint that they are leaving on this planet, some bigger than others, and believe it or not, there are ways to reduce that footprint and help sustain Earth for future generations.

One large step individuals can take towards achieving an ecologically friendly status is clean and uncomplicated: recycling. Yes, recycling is good for the environment, yes, it preserves landfill space and saves energy, but an often time overlooked fact is that recycling is also beneficial for the economy. Many American companies rely on recycling programs to provide raw materials for the manufacturing of new products. The current recycling industry in the U.S. is worth $236 billion a year

Recycling Club combats waste

by Thomas Atseff @thomas_atseff

and employs 1.1 million people nationwide, according to the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability for Higher Education.

Reduce, reuse, recycle: three words that are constantly being reused and recycled in our daily language yet somehow in the United States, the message is reduced and lost when compared to other countries.

The United States recycles 31.5 percent of its waste, making it seventh in the world for recycling. Americans only represent five percent of the world’s population, but we are generating 30 percent of the world’s garbage, according to the Natural Defense Council. Why? Why do we feel the need to chop so many trees, burn so much petroleum, destroy so many habitats just so we can greedily claim title to world’s biggest consumers? Reduce, reuse and recycle.

Just because we can have something new and shiny does not always mean that we should.

So, the next time you hold a plastic bag, a water bottle, an empty tissue box, a paper towel roll or even an old razor blade, do not be allured by the nearness of a garbage can. Instead, try to conjure an image of your future children, grandchildren and great-great-grandnephews; think of your little rose bush outside, that elephant you once saw on TV, the transparent cleanliness of the lake a few years ago when you went fishing with your grandpa and all the lurking inhabitants of our oceans. Think of the future. Do the right thing. Recycle.

To produce each week’s Sunday newspapers, 500,000 trees must be cut down.

LTHS as a combined district (North and South) currently fills about

1,250 cubic yards of recycled waste per year, enough to fill five olympic swimming pools.

Sources: Kevin E. Mitros, Sueanne Byrnes, William Meuer, Tom Swiontek, National Recycling Coalition.

egies is diverting as much recycling With the ever-growing distress away from the waste team,” Meuer over the world’s environment, waste said. “We are better at it now than we reduction and waste management have were 10 years ago.” emerged as one of LT’s largest concerns. One According to Kogucki, some of LT’s recent of the major catalysts of both their concerns and additions to the school have been effectively asenvironmental action is the LT recycling club. sisting the recycling club in its mission for a cleaner “I think the biggest reducer of waste itself is LT environment. our recycling club,” member Tim Kogucki ‘16 “LT’s recent commitment to the water filters around said. “It allows the school to recycle while incurring campus have definitely made it easier to avoid plastic bottles minimum costs.”

According to SC recycling club advisor William for the club,” Kogucki said. “Also, the additions of recycling Meuer, until 10 years ago LT did not officially recycle, bins in the lunch rooms have certainly helped to create an incentive to recycle.” but through the years it has become more and more While the club’s success escalates year after year, committed to helping the environment. its ultimate goal for LT’s waste reduction will require “One of [the recycling club’s] biggest strat-

significant help and participation from students and the community, Meuer said.

“If each student at LT helped out once at each campus during their four years, I think we would be ready to start talking about a zero-waste goal for the school,” Meuer said.

Constantly seeking to recruit more students to participate, the recycling club does have a great membership and group of students with a consistent willingness to help the environment, Meuer said.

“By committing time to LT, the club and the people show that we care for our school’s image and our community’s environment,” Kogucki said.

Vast volunteering

In 2012, 64.5 million Americans contributed 7.9 billion hours of volunteer service at various agencies.

S S C O T T’S R A M B L E

Welcome to Scott’s Scramble, the only place in LION where you can find purposeful typos. Your mission, if you choose to accept it, is to unscramble these Basketball-themed words, and then use the highlighted letters to solve the riddle.

Stumped or want to review your answers? Go check out lionnewspaper.com online to see this issue’s solution to the scramble.

Puzzle created by Izy Scott

1) UPALY __ __ __ __ __ 2) BILDBRE

PROFILES Friday, April 8, 2016 n Page 15

Friendly faces of LT Security Star

Soldier’s Security

Most students know security guard Al Karpiak from NC study hall. However, there are things many don’t know about Karpiak, like his interest in Broadway theater. Being the youngest of six siblings, Karpiak watched whatever his older sisters chose, most often a musical. This led him to think about being on stage.

“I was nervous for most of my life, but in the past few years, I have been on stage and sang in front of an audience twice,” Karpiak said. “I hope to be onstage again in the future, but I am waiting for the right project and role.”

Karpiak has been working at LT for about a year and a half. He enjoys working with his coworkers and especially likes helping students with homework by, on occasion, proofreading papers and giving his opinion about projects when asked, Karpiak said.

“The students help me stay young with fresh perspectives on life and they keep me up to date on the current trends,” Karpiak said. “I have been taught many of the various new dance steps: the whip, nae nae and the dab to name a few.”

To students, Yolanda Rodriguez is a security guard who has been working at LT for four years. However, most students don’t know that Rodriguez spends her time off in the summer as a security guard for Monterrey Security. Through this company, Rodriguez works as a security guard at Soldier Field and Toyota Park, working for events such as Chicago Fire and Bears games as well as various concerts.

“It’s very exciting,” Rodriguez said. “Plus I get to watch free Bears games!”

Rodriguez has been working at LT for four years. Students recognize her for her exuberance and her contagious smile, Rodriguez said.

“I like working with the kids,” Rodriguez said. “I just like talking with them and listening to them. They have enthusiasm when something goes good with them and then I listen to the problems that they encounter.”

Rodriguez enjoys the notes she often receives from past students thanking her for her help. She tapes them in her locker as keepsakes.

Community Caregiver

Dazzling Dresses

by Kristen Roemer

by Sheridan Spiess @sheridanspiess

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ 3) DRUGA __ __ __ __ __ 4) SLABEENI __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ 5) ODRUNBE __ __ __ __ __ __ __ 6) KRABCOBAD __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ When students were called into the AP office for watching March Madness during school hours, the phone used was ruled an: “__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __.”

Don’t forget to visit our website for additional stories at

www.lionnewspaper.com and follow us on social media

@LTLionNewspaper

facebook.com/Lionnewspaper

lionnewspaper

@ltlionnewspaper

Trending themes

Over half (about 59 percent) of brides use the popular virtual pin-board Pinterest to browse dress trends and ideas.

by Kristen Roemer

by Philip Smith @phil_ip_smith

Jennifer Bialobok, community relations coordinator, has dedicated her time to writing press releases, newsletters and working with the local media for the past 23 years at LT. She oversees the Hall of Fame program and the Alumni Association at LT, as well as leading a 4H club for children, including her own.

“We concentrate on community service projects, which is very fulfilling for us,” Bialobok said.

The 4H club is a program that commits its time to community service. When the children that were part of the 4H club were young, they would trick-or-treat for canned goods. They also participate in Wreaths Across America, in which they would lay wreaths on the gravesites of men and women who were veterans.

“Without question, the community service aspect of 4H helped my children realize the world beyond their community,” Bialobok said.

After a fire caused a family to lose their home, Bialobok and her children took the opportunity to help that family after they losed so much. They collected clothing, pots and pans to help the family recover. This is one of the many ways she and her children have reached out to the community.

“Helping those less fortunate and those in need ensures [my children] don’t take things for granted and they are thankful for all they have,” she said. “It also allowed [my children] to realize that they can make a difference in someone’s life.”

Managing a bridal shop is not easy, especially when each wedding gown is made-to-order from thousands of combinations of fabric, styles and tastes.

Yet Zofia Michniak, who handles shipping and receiving packages at NC, used to own and manage her own shop that did just that. Creating custom masterpieces for large weddings, her work was very intricate.

“It took many hours of [stressful] custom work,” Michniak said.

In the shop, the bride-to-be could pick out different ideas from the dresses available, and it would be up to Michniak to make a new custom dress that had all of the features that the bride desired.

Michniak has also created many intricate prom dresses, ranging from simpler, premade options to custom, handmade individual dresses.

“There were some girls that designed their own,” Michniak said, in a process similar to the creation of her wedding dresses. “They showed me their picture [of what they wanted], and that was what we were making.”

But her days of dress-making are over now. Although she says that she still sews occasionally and does some work outside of LT, she would probably turn down an order for a prom or wedding dress.

“I would just recommend someone now,” she said.

Instead, she has taken her impressive sewing talents to LT, where she has made many things, ranging from the drapes for the Transition Perks Coffee Shop to the banners at graduation.

Active Alumna

Rambunctious Racing

Each day Melinda Edwards, administrative assistant, spends her day in the NC main office working on anything from organizing substitute teachers to planning graduation. Since she graduated from LT, for the past 34 years, she has worked various jobs at LT. She takes on important tasks that affect LT students and staff members, but she does much more than just her job at LT. Edwards spends her time at LT sporting events working on ticket sales for football and basketball games and scoring for volleyball. She enjoys being able to watch students grow and improve each year in their sporting events and advises students to participate in the games.

“I always tell kids to get out there and experience [LT sporting events] because there is a lot of fun when going to games,” Edwards said.

Edwards enjoys her job at LT because of the time she spends with the people around her.

“The best part about working here is interacting with teachers, students and administrators,” Edwards said.

In her free time, Edwards works on fixer upper jobs around her home, along with the homes of her friends. She also sews, crochets and works in her garden.

While custodian Gregory Mesich may be seen setting up for events such as the All School Assembly or graduation, he is much more in his element at the Chicagoland Speedway.

Racing and participating in demolition derbies since 1984, he now owns and runs his own demolition team.

“I started [racing] back in ‘84, and I raced ‘til ‘94, when [the Santa Fey racetrack] closed,” Mesich said. “They brought [demolition derbies] back out to the Chicagoland Speedway back in ‘99, so I got a team together.”

The team, which consists of Mesich and four other drivers, has been very successful in recent years.

“We did really good, we had some really good seasons,” Mesich said. “We had teams that finished second place a couple of years in a row, and teams that finished third place.”

Mesich prefers to buy old Lincolns from shows or other people, but he is not picky. In the derbies, his team can make a significant profit in a good year.

The profits, however, are not without risks. Last year one driver broke his back and another had to be put on life support after an injury, Mesich said. But it is this extreme nature of the event that draws the huge crowds.

“We’re hitting each other at like 70 miles an hour, like head on,” Mesich said. “It’s pretty crazy, it’s pretty intense.

It’s one of those extreme sports. People love it, it sells out every night.”

by Sheridan Spiess @sheridanspiess

by Philip Smith @phil_ip_smith

“My phone battery lasts longer than some relationships these days.”

-Annie Rius ‘17

“If she grabs the dinner check, marry her.”

-Justin Goethals ‘16

romance Friday, April 8, 2016  Pages 16 and 17

“People break up over text. We play mind games like not responding right away.”

-Sarah Gorecki ‘18

“[Romance] doesn’t exist anymore. We need to go back to the 1950s.”

-Grant Kedzuch ‘16

The dating game is changing and once again, society is left without a rulebook on what “checkmate” really means in the chess-like game of romance.

As the dating culture has evolved, so have the terms that describe different aspects of romantic life. Read below to learn of the translations from traditional dating vocabulary to modern dating vocabulary. For full definitions of both the new and old terminology, visit www.lionnewspaper.com. compiled by Garrett Ariana and Izy Scott

Beau

Bae

Dolly

Dime

Getting Pinned Little black book

by Heidi Hauch @heidihauch13

Tinder Flirt

Groovy

Chill

Keen

P

icture this: it’s a Friday night. You are dressed in a new

Sliding into the DM’s

Get jiggy

The evolution of high school dating outfit, prepping for your dinner date with a person in your English class. This person is someone you have only talked to a couple of times, so you are looking forward to tonight, when you can finally get to know him or her better. Seven o’clock hits and you hear a knock on your door. And...news flash! It’s not 1981. The reality is that in 2016, teenage “dating” is different than it once was. My purpose is not to carelessly slam modern dating culture as there are plenty of blogs run by paranoid mothers with that exact purpose, but to analyze why teenagers go about dating the way they do.

We have some idea of what dating culture once was. We’ve seen movies where a boy picks up a girl in his dad’s nice car and takes her out to a fancy restaurant, and we’ve all heard stories from our parents or grandparents about their experiences going on dates. However, these practices are foreign to many teenag-

Catch feelings

ers living in the 21st century. Dating with the purpose of getting to know someone you like is, as of today, virtually nonexistent. For the most part, teenagers nowadays go on dates only after they are officially a couple and they have already gotten to know each other.

The most obvious contributor to the transformation in dating culture is technology. Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook, texting, all of these forms of media have replaced dating as ways to get to know your next girlfriend or boyfriend. Teenagers treat Snapchat like a precursor to dating. It seems as though becoming Snapchat best friends has become a necessary step toward having a serious relationship. And in an era where “Instagram/Facebook official” has become an important milestone in a relationship, it is not surprising that dating mostly operates on cellular devices. Technology has made it easier to get to know a person without going on an actual date.

A problematic characteristic of these kinds of “dating” approaches is that the profile pictures, the Instagram posts and the Snapchat stories are the mediums people rely on when getting to know another person. Personalities have taken a backseat to what people look like in pictures and how they behave on social media or through text. Society is placing more and more emphasis on what people look like, therefore it is not surprising that all it takes for someone to lose interest is a bad

three-by-three-inch profile picture on his or her phone screen.

“Hooking up” is also worth mentioning, as it plays a substantial role in modern dating culture. In fact, randomly “hooking up” with someone is seen as more normal than going on a date. Teenagers “hook up” with someone they may not know very well, tell their friends it meant nothing or that they regret it and try to avoid eye contact the next day at school. If you have been “hooking up” for a longer period of time, then your relationship progresses to a “thing,” and maybe if your “thing” with someone lasts long enough, you will progress to the “dating” stage of a modern, high school relationship.

Some teenagers are comfortable with this system, some just deal with it and others hate it, but I think most teenagers would agree that how many people you have “hooked up” with is often viewed as more important than who you have “hooked up” with. As society puts more value on image it seems the value that people--adults included--place on physical intimacy declines. The media encourages girls to wear less and to behave a certain way in order to attract boys, while encouraging boys to ignore any feelings they may have and aim to “hook up” with as many girls as are willing.

Nevertheless, the transformation of dating is inevitable. Most people are not getting married at 23 anymore, women are working or going to college and are no longer expected to stay home and raise a family. The world has changed mostly for the better since the 1900s, and it is expected that dating culture has, and will continue, to change along with it. However, as we move forward with our lives, I think it would be valuable to reconsider how we approach getting to know people. Whether it be dating or making friends, the true value of a person comes from their personality, their sense of humor and their values. I hope that for the future, the way we go about dating will place more importance on these traits, and less importance on appearance and social media presence.

A look back in time

compiled by Mary Sullivan ‘16 and Bailey Blum ‘16.

‘50s

‘60s

‘70s

‘80s

‘90s

‘00s

Relationships were all about longevity. Dating seriously, or “going steady,” was all the rage. Ice cream parlors, diners, drive-in movies, dances, church/school functions and record shops were great locations for a classy date-- only after the girl introduced the boy to her parents of course.

Furthermore, the guy ALWAYS called the girl, not the other way around, and the male behavior was never anything short of chivalrous and gentleman-like. Oh, and there was absolutely NO kissing on the first date.

There was still a plethora of organized activities for girls and guys to meet in a safe environment.

Fast food places such as McDonald’s were on the rise and a common place for young dating couples. Women typically dated men they went to high school or college with. The Vietnam War called many young men to the draft. As a result of the war, dating wasn’t taken as seriously until their mid to late 20s. Another inadvertent result of the war was the upsurge of feminism and the suffrage movement among women, and this went hand-in-hand with the sexual revolution and the increase in the production of the birth control pill and abortions, changing the dynamic of dating in the sixties immensely.

It was all about being young, wild and free in this era. Disco clubs and listening to music all night were very popular with young couples and it was in the 1970s that there was a slight shift from dating one-on-one to going out in groups more often than not. The feminist wave was still persevering and women were beginning to relish an independence that they had never felt in previous years. For the first time, dating was not the top priority, and casual hook-ups became more of a thing.

This was the golden age for proms and school dances. Asking people to such events became a very huge deal, and would often feature serenades or reenactments of “Footloose.” The idea of marriage was also not seen as the main focus of dating, and there were more opportunities to casually hook up with members of the opposite sex. Casual sex, however, experienced a dropoff as people became more and more cautious of STDs due to the AIDS scare.

As the Internet began to expand and become more available for consumer use, more people turned to online chat-rooms and personal dating websites. Match.com got its start in 1995, and people began to embrace the idea of communicating and meeting people online. The modern day email became the love letter of old. It was also very popular to make your lover a mixtape and sit by the landline phone waiting for he/she to call for hours.

The invention of eHarmony in 2000 seemed to kick-off a dating age that has soared straight to social media and online dating services. Dating culture has become seemingly nonexistent.

Sexual interactions are mostly on a one or twotime hookup basis. Starting with the invention of Tinder in 2012, many youth simply swipe to the left to dismiss a potential partner, a small action that isn’t much unlike how the real world now plays out. Chivalry and formal dating seem to be much harder to find. Modern-day dating seems to miss the whole point of dating: getting to know someone.

Talking toddlers The average 2-year-old will add five new words to his or her list of vocabulary every day.

children Friday, April 8, 2016 n Page 18

Wondering why The average 4-year-old will ask a total of 437 questions each day. Many of which are simply, “Why?”

As high school students, we are constantly being asked questions such as what we plan on doing with our lives, who we are dating or what is important to us. Despite our supposed maturity, we struggle to answer these questions on a daily basis. LION staffers Lauren Hucko ‘16 and Gaby Sabatino ‘16 decided to take the spotlight off teenagers for once and ask these same poignant questions to young children. Read on below to discover the blissful ignorance young children exuded in response to important life questions.

compiled by Lauren Hucko and Gaby Sabatino

What is the meaning of life?

“The meaning of life is to eat chicken and play video games until you die.”

–Eli H. 6 years old

Where do you see yourself in 10

“Smile! And make sure other people smile when they see you smile.”

–Alexis L. 6 years old

What do you want to be when you grow up?

years?

“Probably being a napkin, so I can clean up everyone else’s messes.”

–Alex E. 6 years old

What do you have to do to be happy?

What is love?

“Someone that’s caring for you.”

–Karina D. 6 years old

“A police officer so I can have my own gun and I can shoot bad guys.

Yaaaay.”

–Connor B. 5 years old

ADVERTISE WITH LION Interested in advertising in our publication?

Contact Business Manager Heidi Hauch at hau500920@student.lths.net for details.

people

Internet identities Researchers have been able to accurately identify a person’s personality by his or her Facebook page.

Pet personality Animal personality researchers have been able to find consistent behavioral patterns linked to a species.

Friday, April 8, 2016 n Page 19

Which LT teacher are you?

LION chose four different LT teachers and figured out what their true personalities are. Follow this flow chart to discover which one of these teachers you relate to the most!

START What would you prefer doing in your freetime?

Anything that

Reading a good

has to do with

book

art

Do you like to plan

Hanging out

things out or live in the

with friends

Twitter or Insta-

moment?

gram?

Do you prefer working alone or in I’m borderline

a group?

OCD

Bird is the word

You only live once amirite?!

I live for the #gram

I’m Miss Inde-

How much do

pendent

you know about

Gotta be with

physics?

the homies

If your friends are fighting, what

Who would you

do you do?

rather take a selfie with?

Little-to-none

Give your honest Sir Isaac

opinion

The Mona Lisa

Newton

Ask me anything

Cats or Dogs?

about F=ma

What do you write

Otto von

in your diary?

Bismarck

Try to cheer everyone up

Kitty kats #meOW Where would you rather go?

A to-do list of

Dogs all the way

the day My feelings are derived like equa-

Which would you Anywhere warm

rather wear?

and tropical

tions Fun places like WWII Germany

Anything black A sick pair of strap on sandals

MSHAR DROGOS

Like Physics teacher Jim Mshar, you are very logic-oriented and often find yourself taking a numerical approach to things. It is not unusual of you to plan things out in order to devise the best approach, and you tend to be ergonomic with your resources. You are very vision-focused and strategic in your studies, and you repeatedly are seen as the one taking initiative in group projects, social scenes and the workplace. You rarely find the person pouring their heart out to you as credible but rather the person who brought a data chart as proof. Also, any opportunities to trick people with your mathematical prowess are greatly taken advantage of.

Like World and European History teacher Jessica Drogos, you are meticulous and detail-oriented. While many people may perceive your honesty as harsh, those who know you well understand that you always have the best interests of others at heart.

Your compassion for those around you resembles Ms. Drogos’s affinity for animals such as wombats, and your open-mindedness and curiosity reflect her interest in learning about all topics.

Both you and Ms. Drogos tend to abide by the rules and complete tasks in an orderly fashion; however, you know how to let loose and have fun as long as you have completed everything on your to-do list.

REID

Like English teacher Vikki Reid, you are smart, confident and passionate.

You are never afraid to voice your opinion, no matter how controversial or crazy. You have a slightly addictive personality and you may rock the boat, but you remain true to yourself despite criticism from others. You are fiercely independent and outgoing; you respond well by working with fellow peers, or really anyone in general. Failure does not keep you pinned to the ground, but rather you believe that the true measure of yourself is how you pick yourself up. You aspire to be inspiring and a real accomplishment would be impacting the lives of those around you who share in your passions.

PAGE

Like Art teacher Patrick Page, you are fun, rambunctious and extremely well liked. Your strengths are your creativity and the ability to make people laugh.

Full of great ideas and advice, people often want your opinion because you are honest and intelligent. You are not afraid to make bold choices and stick to your instincts. Although you are bold, you have a laid back side to you--you enjoy a balance of fun and relaxation.

Often you find yourself reflecting and finding new ways to improve any assignment you are given. You have a love for art and exploring new thoughts and ideas. People love having you around because you can easily entertain anyone you meet.

compiled by Garrett Ariana, Hallie Coleman, Ceili Doyle, Lauren Hucko and Grace Palmer

Tens by Teens LT Theatre Board will present “Tens by Teens”, a collection of short plays written, performed and directed by students. Performances will be in the NC Reber Center on April 15, 16 at 7 p.m. and April 17 at 3 p.m.

Weekend Weather

Friday, April 8, 2016  Page 20

GET OUT Weekend Entertainment  Events Calendar

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

Cloudy High: 41 Low: 27

Cloudy High: 47 Low: 30

Cloudy High: 63 Low: 45

Chicago Botanic Garden

a more civilized or those who enjoy

by Tim Mikulski Chicago Botanic nature expedition, the @t_mikulski d ne sig of exhaustively de art Garden is a collection fu tilly au be scu n’s lpt de ed gar islands like the intim as. The ate Spider Island or the sweepin gardens and natural are and incredibly diverse g Evening Island. es ap dsc lan d ne sig de fully M ide or an e na gh tiv ou e settings can be fou able path thr nd in natural areas like the Prair foliage create a remark ssic nature trip. ie and McDonald cla the on e tak d fte cra woods that pr ov alized, ns, ide de gar ex o ten int ded path is divided The 385-acre location garden’s fantastic na s for immersion into the m fro d fee the es lak tural collection. nding As the weather warms up situated around the wi Peak season for th Each provides a fane garden begins at and the plants start budnearby Skokie River. of the end the Ap ril and lasts throug ding, the trails open back plants, making the of n h mid-May, which tio lec col w ne ex up for nature outings. LIO ce p tastically is an lle tri al nt ion tim e to see almost all dens a sensat N of the plants in went to some of the best g walk through the gar blo lon om be for e an extended journey spots in the area for an ou tes. throug garden becomes im tthrough various clima doors trip, and these are the possible due to summ h each lpted combination of scu a g kin see e u’r highlights. yo If ter er’s blisin ns g de he gar at. d Tr fte am cra tours of the garden takingly begin in late nature and art, pains anese Gardens are the April.

Jap like the Waterfall and her highlights include The garden is open Ot is located on Lake Co from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and best locations to start.

Chicago Lakeshore ok Road in Glenco

by Lauren Hucko e. Admission is free and pa rk o in ag g is $20 for Cook ic Ch residents. @laurenhucko County other cities, to e ry gi ra ag nt M Co re b keeping oll just befo jo str nt y m lle ituated about 20 miles fro d ce de ex lu an nc and co ng sun m NC are has done and accessible image of the setti le, and 18.5 miles of trails that spa lakefront clean e Daily Park. The ab n th cc the pe im as w Chicago Lakefront. This oas waves ed to is of natural glinting on the to all patrons. beauty is home to walkers, er-byers all seem kefront is runners, bikers, I noticed that pass iendliness evident in the The Chicago La r you if fr roller bladers and tourists fo e e iv ac ct pl lle e co th who all enjoy the exude a definitely serenity of rolling waves r a change in fo g in ok lo e and the aesthetic of smiles we shared. ar you auty of vast Lake was skyline views. or just want to If the natural be workout venue ot only does the skyline e th ith w ed os This spring and summer, .N the Chicago Michigan juxtap icago Lakefront also explore the city Lakefront should also be Ch entertainment home to you. As not enough, the in the warmer seasons. kefront provide la students, we are extremely ts views for people lucky to have hosts many even and picturesque but it is also free oon Yoga studio M d an n access to such beauty via Su , er lif alks of e, orth a 30-45 minute Every summ yoga classes at N the in all w and situated conveniently sa train or car ride. Personally ya in V ise nr su ut ss , I try to visit the holds to acce rougho lakefront once every few nture into the Additionally, th weeks in order to volleyball if you decide to ve Avenue Beach. h ac be le tip ul decompress from a busy we em ek summer there ar e incredibly entertaining heart of the city. to appreciate mother nature and take time at ar . tournaments th .

On my most recent visit to to participate in More locations: to spectate and the lakefront, I began walking near the museum campus Indiana Dunes National Lakesho re:

by Izy Scott a Lake Michigan beach backed by tow Waterfall Glen @3izy3 ering dunes to climb and trails to walk aterfall Glen was first purchased Starved Rock State Park: deep valle in 1925 by the Forest Preserve ys and wandering trails in the middle District, but the purchase came with no of a central Illinois forest waterfall. The 2,492-acre reserve was actually named after president of the District’s Board of Commissioners SeyMorton Arboretum: an enormou s formour “Bud” Waterfall, and it was not estry reserve with trails and exhibits in until 1930 that a tiered waterfall strucLisle funded by conservationists ture was man-made to fulfill the promise that the preserve’s name offers. like Febhen April weather feels Now, over 80 years later, Waterfall Glen ld Park rfie Ga the , left ruary never Garfield Park Conservatory remains a highly-populated area of hunproes immense greenhous y’s tor rva nse Co

by Tim Mikulski dreds of wildlife species, natural ponds, in absolutely any vide a tropical experience @t_mikulski guzzling streams and humans seeking last the reopened weather. The conservatory agdam flower show the ing ow s. The current spring ms last year, foll oor recreroo ow td sh its ou of ing tat ul ro tif y e au siv all res clean, be it houses imp erying 2011 hailstorm, and ll Glen offers ev s ay 10. cupied by two th as outdoor gardens. ends M ation. Waterfa ll pa we as ng s ki ape hi dsc e conservatory is oc lan th of of oor s ind ck ile ba m e Th 11 the rance hall, en e holds houseplants thing from Coming through the ent k riding and ev s. The Aroid Hous ac om eb ro rs re an ho mo , , use ng Ho hi m Pal sizes surrounding a to fis r. first sight is the enormous denser tropical nursed and nurtured into huge iing in the winte , art, while the adjaa ch s cross-country sk ss ar ate gla nday this M oor jungle that cre ed filled with Su ind tur g fea rin ction ter s sp thi wa m ere ar wh w find any On a g lots es an expansive colle atmosphere than you can multiple parkin Desert House showcas s. nt use ce Ho m Pal d the m an cars flooded the fro ay sert plant ness enthusiasts au- far north. One pathw ma- of cacti and other de the Palm House is the museas families, fit the be ildren’s Garden and a per to Ch ed ed the am to ach ds ro att lea es tly ag rec l Di Room. ional exhibit, and couples of al cat edu us sterpiece, the Fern cio lus ma ally ing equ t, ap s. nen dsc th lan pa rmer d ’s wa ve um son ch ur sea tifully-c utiful another to the Show House that holds climate in mu e small-but-bea d to mimic Illinois’s th ne footes sig ing De do nd ly wi on es r ot cas te N ding view af es, the room show ar w tim ic re or a oon, r ist fe eh lag pr of d ll ut, waterfa waterfall an or intense worko und a constructed k aro al s w th s. nt pa ly pla re e tiv isu le na a ater and ancient out above the w lined with lush ferns p.m. daily but a high look sitors to see the is open 9 a.m. to 5 ry ato erv ns vi co r e fo Th ry-Cens w ato lo erv al ns fall icago at the Co Ch in d ate loc is d an forest preserve from a birds-eye view CTA Green Line. tral Park stop on the that is hard to come by in the prairie of DuPage County. The preserve is located in Lemont—approximately a 20-minute drive from LaGrange, but it is wellworth the trip.

There was some trash on the trails from the many people visiting and its close proximity to highway I-55 results in some louder legs of the trail, but overall the cleanliness of the area was refreshing, and the meandering wilderness made you soon forget the cars rushing past in the distance.

F

S

W

W

Nature Trips

See the complete gallery of photos from our excursions to the best day trip locations in Chicagoland.

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Rally Conflict

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Hear the full story behind an LT student’s altercation at a Donald Trump campaign rally in Chicago that went viral.

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Mr. LT

Watch the full collection of video interview profiles with every contestant from last weekend’s Mr. LT Pageant.

Movie Review

Read our review of DC’s latest superhero feature, the big name crossover “Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice.”

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