Volume 108, Issue 6
Students march, walkout In light of recent tragedies, students stand up to gun violence through national demonstrations
Friday, April 13, 2018
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aper ighlights
Look here for some quick reads on this issue’s features. Page 2: We miss Smashburger. Read about other business closures in our community on Page 2.
Left and right: students hold up signs and balloons in front of crowd. Middle: Students listen to speeches from walkout organizers. (Breen/Rossetti/DeKoker) by Spiro Kass In the days leading up to the walkout, Koc, “They say things like ‘Oh, kids are over dramatiz@spiro_kass Pilar Valdes ‘19, Amanda Kural ‘19, Mary ing things these days and turning this into someor the past two months, there has been an out- Beck ‘20 and many other upper and lower class- thing that it’s not.’ I think they should be more break sweeping across the country. Not a typi- men got together to organize the memorial. Be- touchy about the subject because it is so personal cal epidemic of some miscellaneous infection, but fore the day of action, the students approached [for some students].” rather something far less tangible and far more Principal Brian Waterman and assured him the In comparison to LT, some schools were not empowering. From coast to coast, there has been walkout would be handled safely and appropri- as accepting to students walking out, according to an outbreak of student voices. Voices that are ag- ately, he said. the Chicago Tribune, including Downers Grove gressively stirring our nation’s political forecast “I was proud about how they handled them- North where the administration issued Saturday by shouting two simple words: never again. selves,” Waterman said. “I was proud about how detentions to every student who exited the buildEver since the school shooting at Marjory they did it in a respectful way, a peaceful way ing to participate in the demonstration. Similarly, Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., and a civil way.” Hinsdale Central student participants were issued on Feb. 14, students have been gathering in cities After the tragedy in Parkland, Waterman an unexcused absence and a truancy charge for and schools around the nation to protest against knew LT students were going to participate in the time they were absent from class, as reported school gun violence. On March 14, exactly one the walkouts, he said. Leading up to the demon- by the Devil’s Advocate, Hinsdale Central’s stumonth after the Parkland tragedy, there was a na- stration, he met with several other principals dent-run news magazine. tional school walkout memorializing the victims in the DuPage county area and West Suburban Nevertheless, the LT walkout on March 14 was of the shooting. LT students participated by or- Conference to hear each other’s philosophies a success at both campuses, with a couple hunganizing a school walkout at both NC and SC, NC on how to handle student dred NC student participants and You don’t want to think walkout co-organizer Taylor Koc ‘18 said. walkouts. Through discusas many as 900 at SC. Throughout “I want something to change, even if it may sion and thought, the LT about a school shooting hap- the walkout, students said they felt never happen,” Koc said. “It’s starting a national leadership team decided pening at your school. It’s empowered by the words and acdiscussion, and it’s sort of making people become to not punish participat- just really personal—we’re tions of the organizers, including more informed about it because they see it on the ing students as long as they participant Maddie Dixon ‘18. news so often, even if it’s not actually changing did not disrupt a peace- students and there are other “I feel like the youth is the fustudents that are dying. the current laws.” ful learning environment, ture of this country and we should -Taylor Koc ‘18 With a history of political activism, protesting Waterman said. protect ourselves,” Dixon said. for something she believes in is nothing out of the “We’re always going to “It’s not about being mean to each ordinary for Koc. Yet, there stands a large divide maintain a compassionate student centered ap- other or posing my ideas on somebody else’s, but between her previous activism and the demon- proach; we’re going to respect student’s right just creating a society that I’m proud to live in.” strations she is currently participating in. Unlike to protest and we’re going to keep the learning Students plan to make their voices heard with before, walking out in regards to school gun vio- environment moving forward,” Waterman said. another walkout on April 20 in a national school lence is a topic much more personal and hits closAs a result, student’s respected the way the walkout on the anniversary of the Columbine er to home, she said. administration allowed them to walk out, Koc massacre, Koc said. “[School walkouts] impact us as students, be- said. However, though some teachers have been Although gun laws are a large aspect of the cause [a shooting] is something that you don’t supportive, a few teachers have not been as re- protests, national walkouts are focusing on more want to even fathom,” Koc said. “You don’t want ceptive to the demonstrations as some students than just political issues. to think about a school shooting happening at wish they were. “The walkouts were way more than for gun your school. It’s just really personal—we’re stu“I feel like some teachers are taking it on violence,” Beck said. “They were about showing dents and there are other students that are dying.” themselves to say their own views,” Koc said. respect to the 17 innocent lives that were lost.”
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In memoriam: Hayden Miles ‘21, 2002-2018 by Grant Campbell @grantc_3100
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he LT community lost Hayden Miles ’21 in a tragic accident on Monday, March 5. Miles was struck by a train in his hometown of Western Springs at around 7 p.m. Despite the tragedy of his death, members of the community still remember his charisma and happiness, including his local Boy Scout Miles’ picture in his obit- troop leaders Jim and uary. (Hallowell & James) Beth Korenchan. “He was always very happy and enthusiastic about the things he was involved in,” Beth said. “I would see him in [scout] troop meetings and jazz band concerts. He was so enthusiastic about his music and scouting. He was just a happy young man.” Miles was a member of Troop #216. Before he attended Highlands Middle School, he lived in Florida. Scouting was one of the first connections he made with his new town, Beth said. “About a week before we lost [Hayden], I was at his performance in the jazz band concert,” Jim said. “He had a solo, and I think it was his first
North Campus
one in a concert in high school. When you perform a solo, you’re improvising. You’re putting yourself out there to everyone in the audience, and you’re doing it for the love of music. He was brave enough to do that.” Miles was a member of the jazz band and marching band. The Korenchan’s had children of their own who knew Miles from these activities. However, some of their fondest memories are from his involvement with their troop. “He loved being with friends on scouting adventures,” Jim said. “The first time I met him was at a scouting sledding trip with his dad. He was on the [sledding] hill the whole day. We created a little jump and he was consistently getting air [on his jumps].” Because of his love of the outdoors, Miles received a great honor from his fellow scouts. He was elected to the Order of the Arrow. “[To be considered] you must be recognized by your peers,” Jim said. “No adults vote, and he was selected from our troop to be a member [of the Order of the Arrow].” Miles was very close with his father, Eric Miles, and attended many scouting endeavors together. Because no adults were in the voting or nomination process of the Order of the Arrow, his father was unable to be in attendance for the ceremony. Immediately after he was initiated, he asked someone to take a picture of him with his sash and sent it to his dad, Beth said.
Page 4: You may have missed the March for Our Lives over spring break. It’s ok, we have extensive coverage on Page 4. Page 6: Will Moran ‘18 is Mr. LT 2018! See pictures from the night on Page 6. Page 7: Curious to see who won our ESPN Tournament Challenge? You can see who and other funny responses in the Page 7 Grid! Page 8: This should be interesting...Sydney Kaehler ‘18, Greg Smith ‘19 and Spiro Kass ‘18 are going head-tohead-to-head. Flip to Page 8 to see this epic battle. Page 9: Who doesn’t love a editorial cartoon? If you don’t, we’ll change your mind on Page 9. Page 10: It’s baseball season. We know you want to see a winning team (@whitesox fans), so read about boys baseball on Page 10. Page 11: We’ve got all you need to know about the girls soccer team (other than Charlie Clarke’s ‘18 tailgate grilling) on Page 11. Page 12: If you don’t know who Sean Ryan ‘18 is, you should read about him on Page 12, AOTM. Page 15: You’ve heard this song in the hallways. Want to know more about the artist? The full scoop on this LT alumnus is on Page 15.
“They were both good with knots,” she said. Page 16-17: We’re not calling “Both were fisherman and came from Florida. ourselves Upton Sinclair, but He and his dad knew these knots and were never we did write about the meat industry on Page 16-17. afraid to teach others about them.” Through both his participation in music and Page 20: Who secured the pet scouting, the Korenchans said that his legacy will of the month? You’ll have to live on through these passions. flip to Page 20 to find out. “He was the scout who would always be there to help,” Beth said. “Whether an adult needed help or a scout, you didn’t have to ask. He would What’s this issue’s theme for Pulse? just see the need and bring himself forward to see Here’s the cover (Page 13) if there was anything he could do. He exemplified everything important that we hold in scouting.” Jim echoes much the same, but also added onto his wife’s comments. “At our weekly Tuesday night troop meeting, we held a eulogy [for Hayden],” he said. “We had 100 people at the meeting where we would normally have 50. We found out how we could come together as a family.” Troop #216 partnered with two other local troops to cut ribbons after the eulogy. They then covered trees with the ribbons reaching from Highlands to St. John of the Cross, the host parish for his funeral. At the funeral, there was a line of at least 40 scouts saluting as the procession began, Jim said. “He will be missed,” Jim said. “He was an enthusiastic scout. As a scout leader, you love to see an enthusiastic scout. I can tell you that’s the highest compliment.” Full story on lionnewspaper.com
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