NEWS
2 Blueprint
Feb. 5, 2015
DGS student tours North Korea over winter break ingly said, ‘So, you want to celebrate New Year’s with the enemy?’” McLennan visited North Korea Most students at DGS spent their from Dec. 29-Jan.2. To get to North winter break catching up on sleep, Korea, he first had to fly to Beibinge watching Netflix or celebrating jing, where a tour company picked the holidays with family. One junior the group of 54 up and flew them at DGS, however, spent his break to Pyongyang, the capital of North doing something most Korea. Once people would never in the coundream of. That junior try, the group was Noah McLennan, spent their and this winter break nights in a he spent three days in hotel situated North Korea. on an island “I would definitely go in the middle again,” McLennan said. of a river “I felt really comfortand their able, because the Koredays bouncans were basically the ing around nicest people I’ve ever the counmet.” try, which North Korea, or the is slightly Democratic People’s Rebigger than public of Korea (DPRK), Illinois. is one of the most “We stayed forbidden and isolated in Pyongyang countries in the world, [the capital of especially to Americans. North Korea], Many people think McLennan stands in front of the stat- but then we that it’s impossible to get ues of deceased dictators Kim Il-sung went to a city into the so-called “Her- and Kim Jong-il. near the border mit Kingdom” without that used to a special invite from its leader, Kim be the capital of Korea before it was Jung-Un, but this isn’t true -- apsplit. We went to the DMZ and the proximately 6,000 Americans travel 38th parallel [the border between there each year through various tour North and South Korea], where the companies. soldiers stare at each other,” McLen“[We went with] a company called nan said. “We were a few feet away. If Koryo tours, and there were 54 of us I wanted to, I could’ve ran across the signed up -- three groups of 18. In our border, but that wouldn’t have gone group of 18, we were the only Ameriwell.” cans,” McLennan said. “They were If McLennan chose to run across he all curious why we wanted to go, as border, he almost surely would have Americans. One of our guides jokgotten shot. In fact, despite its name, By Eileen Tyrrell, Head Copy Editor
the DMZ (or Demilitarized Zone) is one of the most heavily guarded borders in the world, and crossing it is a sure way to get arrested or killed in The demilitarized zone (pictured here) sets the boundary between North North KoKorea and South Korea. Photos courtesy of Noah McLennan rea. A list mausoleum where Kim Il-Sung and of recently detained visitors to North Kim Jung-Il are embalmed. Korea reveals that other than illegal“The mausoleum was amazing, bely entering the country, the biggest cause the leaders are in glass cases, punishable offense is exposing native and they’re embalmed -- they aren’t Koreans to different religious beliefs. According to McLennan, there were skeletons. So you see Kim Il-Sung and Kim Jung-Il, and it’s just really no issues with security on his trip. surreal to see dictators. We had to The most intense part of the trip, bow at their feet, their side and their security-wise, was going through the other side,” McLennan said. airport in North Korea. North Korea is not a popular tour“The airline security was worse ist destination, especially for Amerithan normal airport security. They cans. McLennan, however, claims a actually check every single item you valid reason for wanting to visit the declare and make sure it’s exactly oppressive country, despite its govwhat you said it was. It was pretty ernment and concentration camps. intense,” McLennan said. “I knew I He believes that people shouldn’t didn’t have anything bad, but I was judge the citizens of North Korea by still nervous.” the decisions of their government. Although there were no security “I’m a big fan of the idea that issues, there were a lot of rules that there’s two sides to the story,” McLenMcLennan and the other tourists nan said. “People forget that the had to follow throughout the trip. They weren’t allowed to take pictures people there -- most of them have regular lives…. I’m not saying it’s a of construction sites, wander off, or good country, but it can’t be all bad.” leave the hotel without a tour guide and of course they had to show proper Contact Eileen at respect for the leaders of North Korea etyr2717@csd99.org at all times -- for example, in the
Black History Month play to shed light on modern-day racism By Asma Zaman, News Editor In an epic contribution to the civil battles fought in past over African-American rights and continue to be fought today, the DGS theater program will be putting on the “North Star.” The play centers around the struggles and discrimination that African-Americans faced in the 1960’s and continue to face today. Play director and English teacher Nathaniel Haywood explains the premise of the play. “The play is about a black woman named Aurelia who encounters some racism in modern day. That experience makes her think back to her times as a child when her parents were involved in the restaurant sit-ins of the 1960s. The play then flashes back to that time and we see the characters deal with their lives as they fight for their rights,” Haywood said. “I chose this play because it covers a
can connect to. It’s a great play for Black History Month, but it’s also just a great play,” Haywood said. This year’s play features the likes of Cameron Hollins as the character, Manson. Hollins describes the role his character has to the black history movement. “He is Relia’s father but also the leader of the civil rights protest in this town. I find him interesting because he has a Martin Luther King Jr. type feel to him. He is relied on to rally everyone together. I feel that there are many important aspects of black history that through that are portrayed in ‘North Star’,” Hollins said. Finding actors for demanding roles such as these can often be tricky when selecting from a pool of high school students as Haywood explains. “I was looking for students who were open, willing to try things, had natural instincts, and were engaging on stage. Among other things, Cameron had the maturity to play an adult character (which is important when you’re in a cast full of high school students) and he could also be paternal,” Haywood said. A play as complex as this often requires a great variety of actors and roles. Senior
“Cameron is a very talented actor. He takes his craft serious and likes to hear criticism to make him better.” very important part of Black History and the Civil Rights Movement, but it is also a very personal story that is very well written and has characters that the audience
acting abilities, but Tacoby Cobb is also as a person. acting alongside “Cameron is a very Hollins this talented actor. He year in the play takes his craft serias Franklin, a ous and likes to hear college student criticism to make him with a passion for better. From working the black rights with him last year on movement. Cobb this play he’s helped describes how me a lot with the Cameron’s work nerves aspect when it ethic movtivates comes to performing,” others. Woolfolk said. “Cameron has “In the play ‘A Raireally taken on sin in the Sun’ Camthe leadership eron played George role on the cast. Murchison a wealthy I have seen him and very well educatimprove a lot ed African- American since we last worked together Senior Cameron Hollins plays the leader of the male who can be a bit arrogant towards during last year civil rights movement in his town during the 1960s. his own people, but on the Black Photo by Gina DeCarlis Cameron portrayed History play. Cameron keeps the cast focused and gives his character like any professional would. His acting was Assertive and kept you advice to many of the younger cast memengaged in the story line every time he hit bers which really inspires me to do more and try and also take a role as a returning the stage.” The play will take place during Black black history member,” Cobb said. History Month, on February fifth and Senior Imani Wolfolk has known Holsixth. lins’ throughout high school in addition to working alongside with him in the play Contact Asma at last year. Over the years, Wolfolk says she azam2301@csd99.org has seen Hollins’ growing not only in his