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S P E C TAT O R
Volume 90 Number 4
NEWS
iPads helping those with autism
page 2
NEWS
SAT cheating scandal exposed
page 4
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Several possible TV show cancellations
page 13
FEATURES
Boarder-day swap: Is the grass greener on the other side?
page 8-9
SPORTS
Winter track program growing in numbers
page 15
THE ORANGE
Letters to Leo discusses New Year’s resolutions
page 16
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January 31, 2012
1500 West Kennedy Road, Lake Forest, IL 60045
Featured Stories
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New dormitory almost complete:
Girls ready to move in By Hunter Johnstone News Editor After much anticipation, Ferry Hall, Lake Forest Academy’s new girls dormitory, is nearing completion, and plans are for both students and faculty to begin moving into the building within a month. According to Mr. Bill Dolbee, associate head of school, the builders are just putting the “finishing touches” on the dormitory and female boarding students “will move in towards the end of February.” “The plan is for the last group of faculty to move in President’s Day weekend and for the students to move in the following weekend,” said Dolbee. As of January 12, Dolbee hoped that Lake Forest Academy would obtain a Certificate of Occupancy from the City of Lake Forest by the weekend of January 21, allowing faculty to begin moving in as early as then. Regarding the process in which students are being selected to live in the dorms, Mrs.Suzy Vaughn, Ferry Hall dormitory head, said that “people are going to apply with roommates or without” and that “it’s going to be a random draw” with single-person rooms going to girls based on seniority. However, Vaughn explained that other factors are taken into account as well, such as the ratio of grades (the number of freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors in a dormitory) and the background of the dormitory residents to promote greater diversity. For example, if only girls from Illinois were selected at random, that might have to be revised in favor of more diversity. Vaughn also said that in years to come, incoming freshmen will fill out a form listing their top three choices of where they want to live and who they want to live with, and those who list Ferry Hall will be chosen through random selection. “For all campus housing in the spring, faculty members put in requests of where they would like to move, if they want to move,” said Dolbee of the faculty selection process for Ferry Hall. “Then the Head of School decides, with input from the Dean of Faculty based on institutional need, family size, and seniority.” As explained by Dolbee, institutional need reflects the specific needs of the school, such as the need for a dormitory head. Once chosen, faculty members Continued on page 3
Ferry Hall finally takes on its finished form.
Photo by of Alex Campbell
LFA students help North Chicago middle school robotics team win regionals By Matt Stevens Managing Editor North Chicago’s middle school robotics team, started by LFA senior Alex Pankhurst, recently qualified for the FIRST® LEGO® League state tournament. They came in first place ahead of 18 other teams and won the Champion’s Award at their regional competition in Zion last December. Four LFA students – Alex Pankhurst, Nyalia Lui, Jennifer Ma, and Julian Bailes – go to North Chicago twice every week to work with students from the Neal Math and Science Academy. Unfortunately, they were unable to compete at the January 20-21 state competition. Many teams were unable to make it to the competition on account of the snow. Both LFA and the North Chicago school district deemed the roads too unsafe to drive on, so the team had to forfeit. However, that does not change the fact that they were able to beat many other more ex-
perienced teams in only their first year. The competition this year centered around the topic of food contamination. Teams had to both build a robot related to reducing food contamination and had to give a research presentation on the topic. “They got to practice their problem-solving skills on real problems outside of class,” said Lui. “The research presentation was a large part of the project, and working on their speaking skills and stuff like that was definitely beneficial for them too,” said Pankhurst The original impetus for the team came when Pankhurst, who was a fouryear member of his middle school’s robotics team, decided it would be cool to start a robotics team somewhere. “I looked around and Lake Forest and a few other places had their own teams, so I thought North Chicago would be a cool place to start it,” said Pankhurst. Coordinating with Ms. Sarah Collins, Continued on page 3
THE SPECTATOR
News
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World News Roundup Compiled by Mary Kate Hayes and Ariana Bhatia
Haiti looks back on 2010 earthquakes Information from The Telegraph
Two years ago on January 13, Haiti suffered a tragic loss of 316,000 people and a displaced 1.5 million due to an 7.0 magnitude earthquake. Over 500,000 are still living in temporary camps. Prime Minster Gary Conille told The Associated Press that the second anniversary is “a day when we remember and then we make the decision to move on, which is very, very Haitian.” The country already has plans for the future: furthering education in science to propel the knowledge of future generations. “We bury the dead and go back to work immediately,” said Conille.
Exiled Prime Minister of Pakistan plans to return Information from CNN News
Pakistan’s upper house of Parliament has persistently demanded a trial for Pervez Musharraf, the former Prime Minister accused to be tied in the death of Benazir Bhutto. Musharraf has been living in exile since 2008. He has resided in London and Dubai but recently has planned to return back to Pakistan. But, the government has made clear that if he returns to his former country, he will be arrested in connection to the assassination of Bhutto.
Italian cruise liner Coasta Concordia runs aground Information from BBC News and CNN News
On Friday, January 13, the Costa Concordia sailed in too close to the shore and hit rocks just by the Italian island of Giglio. The cruise liner was carrying more than 4,000 people of which 19 people remain missing. The 13th victim was recently found under water, wearing a life vest. Divers continue to search the ship for victims and plans for cleaning up the wreckage are underway. Major difficulties include trying to figure out a way to prevent a major oil spill while keeping the ship balanced and preventing it from falling off the ledge it currently rests on. If the position of the ship were to change, there is a high chance of it plunging into water approximately 100 meters deep.
Photo courtesy of Tribune Media Services The Coasta Concordia wrecked on its side off the island of Giglio.
jANUARY 31, 2012
iPads to educate children with autism By Ariana Bhatia Editor-In-Chief Originally developed as a consumer product, the iPad is quickly transforming into a device with many previously unsuspected uses. As a school that has recently made the switch to iPads, Lake Forest Academy is well aware of the iPad’s potential as a learning device and the various teaching applications that come along with it. However, there is yet another group of people for which the iPad is growing in popularity: those with autism. Parents with autistic children are increasingly using the iPad to help their kids overcome communication barriers and process information around them. “Autistic children don’t relate well to people, that’s a simple way of looking at autism,” said LFA’s Learning Resources Coordinator, Mrs. Mary-Stewart Lewis. Those with autism have “no control over the pace of information coming at them,” said Dr.
Martha Herbert of Harvard Medical in a recent interview with Fox News. While the severity of autism can vary, children with autism generally have difficulty in interacting with other people, comprehending body language, and expressing what they want. Through apps such as FindMe and Prologuo2go, those with autism can use the iPad as a medium through which they can communicate their thoughts. LFA’s Director of Information Technology, Mr. Dave Aykroid has personally seen the benefits of using the iPad to help children with autism because his autistic sixteen-year-old nephew, Jim, uses it regularly. “He uses it [the iPad] for communicating because he’s not able to speak at all,” said Aykroid, “Its giving them a voice that they wouldn’t have and that’s a wonderful thing. That’s ultimately a great victory of technology.” While the iPad has proven quite useful on a day-today basis for communicating,
many wonder if the iPad is only a temporary distraction for autistic children, rather than a long-lasting method of growth. “If it’s involved in direct learning, and it’s part of what you need to learn then, it’s a great thing. It just depends on how it’s used in the school lesson,” said Lewis. However she also has her reservations. “If autism is concerned with how people can relate to other people, I wonder how well working with a machine is going to help you relate to people?” she said. Others, however, are fully in support and see no problems with using the iPad in this manner. “In [Jim’s] case, I don’t see a downside,” said Aykroid, “I think I can speak for my brother and sister-in-law when I say it’s helping him lead closer-to-normal life...that’s something we take for granted everyday, is just the ability to convey our basic needs.”
The Cost of College: Comparing tuition rates across the world By Ariana Bhatia Editor-in-Chief The number of colleges and universities in the United States abounds. Relative to the rest of the world, however, the United States proves to be one of the countries with the highest tuition. Despite this, there were 723,277 international students attending college or university in the U.S. in the 2010-2011 academic year, according to USA Today. They stated this was a 4.7% increase from last year. As a school with boarders from around the world, LFA is accustomed to foreign graduates desiring to continue their studies in the United States. The majority of international students at LFA come from China, South Korea and Canada. On average, in the United States, “For the 20092010 academic year, annual prices
for undergraduate tuition, room and board were estimated to be $12,804 at public institutions and $32,184 at private institutions,” according to the National Center for Educational Statistics. For international students studying in the United States this is even higher. For locals in China, however, this cost ranges from $3,500-4,500. In South Korea, it is approximately $10,000. And in Canada tuition for residents ranges from $5,000 to $18,000 according to studyabroaduniversities.com. While the cost of higher education in these countries is on average significantly lower, many students choose to continue to study in the United States for a variety of reasons including teaching style and recognition of its educational institutions around the world. “I believe the tuition is worth it...we accept such tuition
because we prefer to get into the name brand universities in order to get better jobs later on,” said senior Roland Tan. “These American universities train us to think independently and give us creative insights.” “The education back home forces students to only study and memorize everything they learn whereas the education here gives students opportunities to have our own thinkings,” said senior Julie Choi. International exposure, as well as the boarding experience, are also strong appeals. “One advantage would be the experience of going to school in a different country,” said junior Andrew Purdom. “You also get a chance to meet some awesome people that you might not get a chance to if you stay at home.”
THE SPECTATOR
News
jANUARY 31, 2012
Civic Action Weekend offers unique service learning opportunities in several Chicago neighborhoods By Jane Xu Graphics Editor Civic Action Weekend is an annual student service trip taken in conjunction with Northwestern University which provides students great service learning opportunities in numerous Chicago neighborhoods. During the upcoming Winter Weekend (February 18-20), Mrs. Sarah Collins and Mr. Nat Small will be leading LFA students to participate in the social service program. What is more fun than cooking dinner for the commu-
nity? What is more practical than learning how to cultivate an urban garden? Nowadays, education just presents students information, but Civic Action Weekend actually teaches teenagers who lack experience how to utilize practical skills. “We will be living in the shelters, cooking in the homeless kitchens, and working with families in transition to the shelters”, said Collins, Director of Service Learning at LFA. “We will split up into groups to take advantage of several service opportunities.” “[Students] could learn
Photo courtesy of Sarah Collins LFA students participate in last year’s Civic Action Weekend.
about human right issues, social policy in large cities, and careers in law or medicine,” said Collins, explaining how students would benefit from the service. “It is going to be a unique experience because the students will share a direct urban experience with the people they help,” said Collins. “They will take public transportation to get there, and they will have to cook dinner on their own.” “Cooking was exciting because we were given a certain amount of money, we had to equally distribute money and cook every meal,” said Luke Baek, who was a participant in the program last year and is planning to go this year as well. When asked about the reasoning in his decision to go again, Baek explained that he definitely needs to learn more about the service and helping these homeless children. “We plan to have 24 students participate,” said Collins who expects student participants to exhibit high motivation, positive attitudes, and ability to work as a team.
Ferry Hall opening approaches (continued from front page) then select their apartments based on seniority. “I got picked because I applied and had seniority over a lot of the people who applied,” said Vaughn regarding her selection. “I was also picked because I am going to be the dorm head, and because we have a child and it’s a good apartment for a family
with a child.” As for current female students living in other dormitories that may want to transfer to Ferry Hall in coming years, Vaughn “personally anticipate[s] that it’s going to be hard for kids to get into Ferry Hall next year if they are not there already.” Current sophomores and juniors who
move into Ferry Hall now will return there next year, and based on the low number of seniors this year in Ferry Hall and the need to move in incoming freshmen next year, there will likely be little or no room to accommodate any transfers next fall.
North Chicago Robotics takes regionals (continued from front page) LFA’s director of Service Learning, Pankhurst contacted administrators in North Chicago, who replied that they did not have the resources for such a program. So Pankhurst sent a sponsorship proposal to several major companies. BP responded with a $700 sponsorship, and the program was able to get off the ground. “When we first went there they were all interested in
learning about things like engineering, computer science, and programming, and they were excited to actually get to use what they were learning in school and see that it was useful,” said Pankhurst. However, starting the group was not without its hiccups, and there were disagreements and disorganization in the early weeks. The group eventu-
ally came together, though. “The kids learned that in order to be successful they have to be able to work with other people, set aside their differences, and be a team. Getting them to realize that is probably the most beneficial thing we’ve done in the past couple months,” said Pankhurst.
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Campus News In this space, The Spectator provides further details on recent and upcoming events at Lake Forest Academy. Compiled by Hunter Johnstone and Mimi Moses
January 26-27
Jeff Lieberman visited LFA By Mimi Moses A&E Editor On January 26-27th, the LFA community welcomed Jeff Lieberman, The Discovery Channel’s host of Time Warp, to campus. Lieberman attended MIT and was there for 10 years completing four degrees: BAs in physics and math, and Masters in mechanical engineering and robotics. Currently he splits his time between a few different pursuits: “Primarily I am an artist who utilizes science and engineering in my work,” he said, “looking for intersections between the sciences and the arts, and methods by which the arts can communicate the emotional side of the sciences. I am also actively researching the intersections between neuroscience, consciousness, and spiritual traditions such as meditation, to find ways that those processes change the human brain and the way we understand ourselves.” In speaking to students, he primarily talked about two things that have influenced his life very deeply: the connections between the arts and sciences, and human perception (often these overlap). His work on Time Warp provides a fun intersection between all three, where he used technology and engineering through artistic presentation to highlight scientific phenomena that transcend the limits of human perception. The more time spent exploring these intersections, the more they fascinate people, and the more Lieberman hopes to help students realize how little we currently understand about the universe, and consequently about ourselves. Lieberman was happy to meet the LFA Community and for the enthusiasm shown during his visit.
February 3-5
Model UN conference Lake Forest Academy’s Model UN Club will be representing the countries of Brunei Darussalam and St. Kitts and Nevis at the Model United Nations conference in Chicago from Thursday, February 2 to Sunday, February 5. The event is run by the University of Chicago and students will be debating world politics with other students from schools around the world.
February 23
Winter Musical The LFA Fine Arts Department will be putting on a performance of The Secret Garden at 7pm on Thursday, February 23. The doublecasted lead role of Mary will be played by Hannah Olinger and Madeleine Pattis, and Haley Wilhelm, Jessie Rosso, Matt Stevens, Chris Siemasko, Stanton Cope, Chinara Hill, and Greta Nagel will be some of those among the supporting cast.
THE SPECTATOR
News
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jANUARY 31, 2012
SAT cheating: The Spectator takes a closer look at recent cheating scandals and what LFA students can take away from them By Sarah Clark Features Editor This fall, more than 20 high school students and graduates from the affluent suburbs of Long Island, New York faced criminal charges for their involvement in an ACT and SAT exam cheating operation that has existed since 2008. Each with nothing more than a fake ID and a number two pencil, four of these teens committed, on multiple occasions, felony worthy identity fraud when they accepted up to $3,600 to take college entrance exams for other students. With lax or nearly nonexistent security measures at some sites, one such test taker, 19- year old Samuel Eshaghoff, even “allegedly took the exam for a teenage girl” according to the Associated Press. At least 16 other students have been charged as the “clients” in this operation who paid for such services. This scandal has raised
important questions that relate directly to the LFA community: what could push relatively good students to take such extreme measures? “In a word, unrealistic expectations—by parents, students, and the media” said Andrew Poska, LFA’s Senior Associate Dean of College Counseling. When outside pressures, such as parents and the media, convince students that getting into a selective college is the be-all and endall for a successful life, students can become convinced that such cheating is necessary and even justified. “Ignoring the ethical issue, the students in question see the [money spent cheating] as a mere investment,” explained junior John Luttig, “Good scores, good school, good job, good life.” “I think nowadays there’s such pressure to succeed academically --not necessarily because students are self-driven and love learning, but because of
Photo and comic courtesy of Tribune Media Services Multiple instances of SAT cheating have been reported as a result of poor security measures at certain test locations. The issue has received nationwide attention in the media and has even made its way into comic strips like that pictured right.
Photo courtesy of Tribune Media Services Long Island police officers arresting two of the 20 high school students and graduates involved in an ACT and SAT exam cheating operation.
the pressure they feel from their parents and peers to get into a good college,” said senior Nina Varilla, who took 10 standardized tests in preparation for her college applications. During junior and senior year, when college admissions anxiety and pressure reach their highest point, students begin to believe that their exam score is the single most important item on
their applications. Senior Allison Stankowicz called the SAT “a four-hour test that seems to matter more than your four years of high school.” While the exams do have importance in the college process, Poska insists that students’ transcripts and the difficulty of their academic program hold more weight. Nevertheless, students continue to be pushed
to cheat. In a culture that puts so much emphasis on college admissions, it doesn’t seem to be going away anytime soon. “As long as there is pressure for many students to enroll at the most selective college or university they can, [cheating] will continue to be an issue that warrants attention” said Poska.
THE SPECTATOR jANUARY 31, 2012
Arts and Entertainment
5
And they (still) live happily ever after:
A fairytale comeback
By Carina Baker and Bailey Ayers Staff Writers Fairytales are often viewed as children’s stories; however, they were originally oral legends meant for adults. Over the past couple of years fairytales have been making a comeback in adults’ lives as well as in children’s lives. Some link the recent fad to the financial situation of the economy; fairytales and their adaptations allow people to escape their everyday struggles and enter a familiar fictional world. These brand new takes on familiar tales have come alive through movies, television, comics, and books. “I think it’s becoming an increasing trend. I’m not sure if I like it or not because they’re just kind of twisting classics out of context. They’re trying to do variations, like with “Tangled”; we all know Rapunzel- you know, ‘Let down your hair’ or whatever- and now they’ve changed her... it’s a positive image, but just different,” said senior Beverly Li. In fall 2011, two new fairytale
TV shows premiered, both aimed at adults: NBC’s “Grimm”, in which a homicide detective discovers the world of Grimms’ fairytales hidden beneath the veneer of the modern world, has become a popular crime drama; ABC’s “Once Upon a Time” shows the mystical world of a town where fairytale characters are trapped in modern times, also exploring a parallel plotline set in a traditional fairytale land. Both shows have high ratings. “I really like [Once Upon A Time] because I like fantasy... I like the show because it takes the elements of the real world and the fake world and combines them,” said sophomore Amy Krivoshik. Movies such as “Ella Enchanted”, “Tangled”, and “Hoodwinked” are only a few of the popular fairytale adaptations in the past ten years, and there are many more set to come out in the near future. Two different Snow White retellings are currently in production, one action-oriented and one more comedy-oriented. Within the next year, two different television shows based on “Beauty and the Beast” are premiering;
there are two film adaptations of the tale set to begin filming as well, on top of the recent re-launch of Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” in 3D. The recent movie “Beastly”, another adaptation of Beauty and the Beast, was based on the book of the same name by Alex Flinn. Books such as Beastly are examples of how the fairytale adaptation trend has shown up in publishing over the last few years as well. A scattering of publications in the late nineties, such as Gail Carson Levine’s popular Cinderella adaptation Ella Enchanted, gained popularity in the early 2000s, and the trend has recently become much more relevant, with dozens of fairytale adaptations appearing in the last few years. Most fairytale re-imaginings are categorized as Young Adult- aimed a teenage readers. It’s a crowded niche in the market, overflowing with books classified as anything from speculative fiction to contemporary novels to paranormal romance, the genre launched to prominence by Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight series.
Everything from the tale of the Twelve Dancing Princesses (Juliet Marillier’s Wildwood Dancing, Merrie Haskell’s The Princess Curse, and Suzanne Weyn’s The Night Dance), a folktale detailing how twelve princess sisters vanish each night to a fairy court where they spend their entire night dancing, to amalgamations of the Brothers Grimm fairytales (Cornelia Funke’s Reckless and Michael Buckley’s The Sisters Grimm series, aimed at younger readers) and more obscure folktales has been adapted. The settings for these novels vary as well; from pre-colonial India, the setting of Toads and Diamonds by Heather Tomlinson, to futuristic New Beijing as the background of Melissa Meyer’s Cinder. The same idea has shown up in comics as well; the Fables series, created by Bill Willingham and published since 2002 by Vertigo, follows a group of reinterpreted fairy- and folk- tale characters ensconced in modern New York. This trend isn’t dying out, either; even more fairytale adaptations are slated for publishing in the coming year.
“They’re trying to do variations, like with ‘Tangled’; we all know Rapunzel- you know, ‘Let down your hair’ or whateverand now they’ve changed her... it’s a positive image, but just different,” -Beverly Li Photo courtesy of filmflies.com
“Grimm” is a new crime drama incorporating fairytale elements.
Photo courtesy of tvposter.net
Another popular new TV fairytale adaptation is “Once Upon A Time”.
“I like [Once Upon A Time] because it takes the elements of the real world and the fake world and combines them,” -Amy Krivoshik Photo courtesy of wikipedia.org
Ella Enchanted is a Cinderella adaptation by Gail Carson Levine.
Photo courtesy of wikipedia.org
The Fables series, a comic created by Bill Willingham, is an adaptation of many fairy- and folktales.
An illustration of the girl and the White Bear from East of the Sun, West of the Moon, a Scandinavian fairytale.
Image courtesy of surlalunefairytales.com
THE SPECTATOR
Arts and Entertainment
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JANUARY 31, 2012
Sneak Peek: Must see movies of spring A summary of the most exciting and anticipated 12 movies to look out for this early spring with release dates.
The Woman in Black - Horror/Thriller February 3, 2012 Starring Daniel Radcliff A depressed widower, played by Daniel Radcliff, travels to a secluded village to deal with the affairs of his late friend. Haunted by a ghost, the widower is determined to uncover the secrets that the villagers are so intent on hiding.
The Raven - Thriller March 9, 2012 The Raven follows a fictional story of the end of Edgar Allen Poe’s life as he searched for a serial killer whose crimes mirror the Edgar Allen Poe stories. Starring John Cusack and Alice Eve, this thriller takes you deep into the disturbing and mysterious writings of Edgar Allen Poe.
The Secret World of Arrietty - Animation February 17, 2012 Written by Hayao Miyazaki, this is an animated Japanese movie about a little girl who lives under the floorboards of a house and befriends a young boy with a serious heart condition.
Star Wars: Episode 1 Phantom Menace 3D - Action Febuary 10, 2012 Starring Liam Neeson and Natalie Portman, the first of the Star Wars movies is finally depicted right before your eyes in 3D. Wanderlust - Romance/Comedy Febuary 24, 2012 Starring Jennifer Anniston and Paul Rudd, a couple stumble upon Elysium, a very liberal and idyllic community where jobs are pointless and morals are left behind.
Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax - Animation March 2, 2012 This animated and colorful version of Dr. Seuss’s book tells the story of a young boy trying to win over the love of a girl by discovering who the Lorax was and why he disappeared.
Salmon Fishing in the Yemen - Comedy/Drama March 9, 2012 Starring Emily Blunt and Ewan Mc Gregor From the screen writer of Slumdog Millionaire and the director of Chocolate, this is an extraordinary story about a fishing expert who is asked to make the sport of fly-fishing in the desert possible.
Being Flynn - Comedy/Drama March 2, 2012 Starring Robert De Niro and Paul Dano Being Flynn transports you into a world of love, loss and struggles as Nick Flynn is suddenly contacted by his absent father after his mother’s death. Learning to deal with all the difficult relationships in his life, he finds a way to make a better future for himself and his father. Project X - Comedy March 2, 2012 Starring Thomas Mann, Oliver Cooper and Jonathan Daniel Brown From the director of the Hangover, Project X is a hysterical comedy about three high school Seniors who make a last attempt at becoming popular. Throwing a party that spirals out of control, the movie depicts a wildly unbelievable series of events that turn the three seniors into legends.
The Dark Knight Rises - Action/Crime July 20, 2012 In an all star cast with Christian Bale and Morgan Freeman, the Batman trilogy comes to an end with The last movie: The Dark Night Rises. After eight years of peace, a terrorist leads in attack on Gotham city, forcing Batman to rise again and fight. By Anastasia Perry A& E Editor Images courtesy of AMCTheaters.com
“All The Places (in Chicago) You’ll Go” is a monthly list of great places for LFA students to visit when they go down to the city. Each month there will be reviews for places in Chicago to go for food, events and activities. Uncle Julio’s 855 W North Ave Chicago, IL 312-266-4222 If you love Mexican food, this is the best it’s going to get in Chicago. With a patio outside and a colorful interior, Uncle Julio’s is a fun, festive place to go. Though I have never been there at night, I hear that they have bands come in on weekend evenings. Though they do serve some unique dishes, their simple enchiladas never cease to amaze me. Overall, it is the best place to go for a mouthwatering, large meal, reasonable prices and fun time.
Wow Bow 225 N. Michigan Ave. Chicago, IL 835 North Michigan Ave. Chicago, IL 312-226-2299 Similar to an Asian McDonalds, this chain of quick and limited Asian food is popping up all over Chicago for a reason: it’s really good. It is not at all healthy or natural, but when you see those steaming Teriyaki Bao dumplings, you just got to have one. Choosing from Bao (Dumplings), Potstickers, Bowls (marinated meat or veggies) and Salad, Wow Bow makes for a great lunch on the go.
The Rosebud 1500 West Taylor St. Chicago, IL 312-942-1117 This quiet little restaurant in Little Italy welcomes its customers with a warm friendly atmosphere. Under the dim lighting and delicious pasta, the Rosebud is perfect for a romantic date. Not only is the food tasty, but the portions are fairly large and you are sure to be full by the end of the meal. Though simple and classic their Rigatoni alla Vodka, Fettuccine Alfredo and Linguini all taste great
Second city 1616 N Wells St. Chicago, IL 312-337-3992 The legendary Second City, where many famous actors and comedians such as John Belushi, Chris Farley, Nia Vardalos and Tina Fey started, is just a 40-minute train ride away. With tickets ranging from $15 to $30, the shows are surprisingly cheap for the quality of the performance. The shows follow a basic prompt for topics that are covered but because most of the shows are improv, no one show is ever the same. One of the best parts of the
show is the audience participation, where the audience yells out topics that change the direction of the performance. Sometimes they have shows at 1:30 in the afternoon but their shows usually start in the late evening around 7:30 or 8pm. On weekends they also have a later show.
By Anastasia Perry A&E Editor
All the places (in Chicago) you’ll go
Photo Courtsy of Robert D. Hughes
THE SPECTATOR JANUARY 31, 2012
Arts and Entertainment
TV shows face cancellation:
7
One day you’re in, the next day you’re out Page compiled by Andrea Shen and Mimi Moses In the world of television, the ratings game rules all. Viewer ratings are the most important factor in deciding what shows get aired, when they are shown, and what will be advertised in that time slot. Every year, shows scramble to score higher ratings, employing strategies from adding big-name guest stars to writing
Which show would you save? “I’ve heard rumors that House may be in its last season. I love that show, I don’t want it to end!” “The Office. Without Michael Scott the show just isn’t funny anymore.”
Chuck Desperate Housewives Glee Community Survivor SYTYCD
dramatic plot lines, but the end is often inevitable. This month, The Spectator took a look at six shows that are in their last season or are under fire and facing possible cancellation. We surveyed and asked the LFA community: what shows would you save and what shows would you cancel? Here are the votes of 140 respondents.
Which show would you cancel?
Chuck Desperate Housewives Glee Community Survivor SYTYCD
“All Animal Planet shows that don’t have animals.” “Fox News should probably be cancelled. Long live the Simpsons!!” “No; TV shouldn’t be regulated by bureacracy.”
Bar graph represents number of individual votes.
Glee is a musical comedy about a motley crew of stereotypical high school characters who make up McKinley High’s Glee Club. While its members deal with relationships and social issues, the show also depicts Spanish teacher Will Schuester’s (Matthew Morrison) efforts to save the glee club from the schemes of diabolical cheerleading coach Sue Sylvester (Jane Lynch). Glee’s musical numbers, underdog characters, and rousing soundtracks have all helped make the show a pop-culture hit. However, rumors about the cancellation of the show surfaced after the ratings for the premier of its third season dropped 32% from 2010’s opener, and viewer ratings and song downloads have continued to fall.
The competition reality show follows a group of strangers as they eagerly outwit, outplay, and outlast each other in pursuit of the coveted million-dollar prize. The show strands the contestants in a desolate locale, where they must provide food, water, fire, and shelter for themselves, while competing in tests of endurance, strength, agility, problem-solving, and teamwork. Unfortunately, what was once the leader of American reality TV has faced major bumps in the road, including dull casts, lower ratings, and disastrous seasons. However, the show has managed to survive 24 seasons; we can only wonder when Survivor will run out of steam.
Chuck is an action-comedy about your average computerwhiz-turned-super-spy. In the opening season, Chuck receives a secret, encoded CIA email from an old friend in college who was now working as a spy. That email was the only copy of all of the United States’ greatest spy secrets that now remain embedded into Chuck’s brain. As the second season came to end, the NBC program was in danger on cancellation, until fans successfully campaigned to encourage producers to continue the show. Also, the Subway restaurant chain helped fund the third season in order for the television show to continue. The finale will end with a two-hour special on January 27th, 2012.
The dance competition and reality show has kept viewers amazed and inspired as talented dancers skilled in everything from Hip Hop, Krumping, and Popping to Salsa, Quickstep, and Jive compete to be named America’s Favorite Dancer. So You Think You Can Dance became the No. 1 rated show in summer 2006 for adults aged 18–49 during its second season, but the start of the 2011 season marked the beginning of the show’s decline in ratings. Although the show has been renewed for next season, it will return to a one-show-per-week format, as the ratings for the show continue to drop.
Desperate Housewives centers around the setting of show: the street Wisteria Lane in Fairview. It follows a group of women seen through the eyes of their dead neighbor and friend. On the surface you see beautifully trimmed houses and yards—but behind the doors of these home are the secrets and mysteries of this so-called perfect suburban life. The show first aired in 2004, and it had attracted more than 120 million viewers world wide and continued its success in 2010 being the most watched TV show internationally. Now, The ABC network and actors in the show have concluded that it is time for the Desperate Housewives family to move on from this beloved series after its many successes. The series will end sometime in 2012.
Community has been a hit show for NBC and extremely popular in the LFA community. The show centers on a group of students who attend a community college in the fictional location of Greendale, Colorado. The series is known for its use of media and pop culture referencing-humor and often parodying film and television clichés. The show is currently in its third season. The media has speculated about possible cancellation of the show due to its popularity with a small market share of viewers, but fans have been extremely supportive and vocal. The show has been on “extended hiatus” during its mid-season schedule but will return at an undetermined time. Images courtesy of Google Images
THE SPECTATOR 8
Opinion and Editorial
jANUARY 31, 2012
Poor or positive pol
Political discontent seems to have hit a fever pitch in the United States. Groups have sprouted up across the country with the goal of returning the government into the hands of the people. Americans Elect is well on their way to holding a nonpartisan primary for a third-party
candidate. Both Occupy Wall Street and the Tea Party have gained and kept huge followings, and although their ideologies could hardly be more different, they share a common grassroots populism that appeals to increasingly discontented voters. By many different metrics, confidence in
John vs. Jon:
the government is at near all-time lows. Yet with a large portion of the senior class eligible to vote in the upcoming election and an even larger portion of the school eligible for mid-terms two years from now, now is the time when many LFA students are being introduced to the political process and
A faceoff over the importance of political involvement among teens
By John Luttig Staff Writer
As school is now at full speed in second semester, it is easy for non-voting students to overlook the political system of parties, polls, and primaries entirely. However, it may be time to reconsider your interest in the upcoming election, as it is will most likely effect your future in one way or another. It is hard to see the immediate effect of actions taken by the American presidents, because any changes that they make usually don’t go into effect until after they are out of office. For example, the Affordable Health Care Act, commonly known as Obama-care, will not initiate all parts of its legislation until 2014, when Obama may or may not still be in office. However, the effects will eventually touch your life as you will be required to purchase healthcare at some point in the future. In fact, the 2012 elections are more influential than any other presidential election for us, as the effects of the next presidential term will happen at around the same time that we graduate from college. At that time, we will venture into the “real” world: seeking employment, paying income taxes, and observing the benefits and disadvantages of our government as the president and representatives of today shaped it. A complaint that I hear all too often is the following: “The election doesn’t matter because my vote has no effect on the outcome, and the president has no effect on my own life.” No matter your level of political involvement, this statement couldn’t be
John Luttig and Jon Katz “fight” over the importance of political action.
further from the truth. If you’ve stayed upto-date on your political news, you’d know that Republican hopeful Mitt Romney won by a margin of only eight votes over Rick Santorum in the Iowa Republican Primary. Additionally, George Bush won the election in 2004 due to a less than 500-vote win in Florida. Indeed, it seems that every vote does count. But does the president ultimately affect each individual? In short, yes. Consider your personal taxes, our country’s reputation in global affairs, the moral issues that must be solved, and the economy, to name a few. These are all issues that the president can alter drastically, whether today or in 10 years. Even nonvoters have reasons to be interested in the 2012 election, because it will affect all of us eventually.
VOTE
Use Y o Voice ur
HOPE
given a voice, however small. But with so many voters feeling discontented, discounted, and disinterested, for many students it is not only worth asking how they can play a part in the political process, but whether they should participate at all.
By Jon Katz Special Contributor So you, a member of the Lake Forest Academy community, want to get involved in the prattle that some folks call “politics”. Well, there are a few things that you should think about before you wander off to that part of the dinner party. After you read this you may realize why some people are not passionate about the political process. Pop quiz: What type of government does the United States have? If you paid attention while you were reciting “The Pledge of Allegiance” in elementary school you would know that America is a republic (for which it stands). Therein lies one of the fundamental problems with politics in America. If there is a piece of leg-
The Syste m is broken
islation that you care deeply about, there is no way to vote for or against it. All that you can do is vote for a representative who will supposedly vote with a mindset that is similar to yours. What’s the problem with this? Very rarely does a candidate come along that you will agree with completely on every subject. Even worse; what if a candidate you voted for gets elected and then votes against bills you support. Once elected, re-election is the only thing stopping someone from completely dropping their campaign ideals and voting in the opposite direction. Enough of that though. You are most likely a student at LFA. This is very important in the whole political process. You most likely have other things to worry about rather than get jumbled up with all this nonsense. If you’re a freshman, you’re probably worried about being a freshman (don’t be). If you’re a sophomore, you’re probably worried about what to do now that you’re a sophomore. If you’re a junior, you’re probably worried about your grades. And if you’re a senior, you’re definitely worried about where you’re going to college (you’ll get in somewhere). But you see, there is no need to worry at all. Why? Even if you want to vote in the upcoming elections, you can’t, unless you’re part of the small percentage of high school students that are eligible to vote due to the age requirement.
F Ch als oi e ce
No Taxation Without Representation
THE SPECTATOR
Opinion and Editorial
jANUARY 31, 2012
litical participation? The Presidential Obsession
Media and voter focus on solely the President is not only unwarranted, but even harmful By Matt Stevens Managing Editor With one month of primaries over and five months left, sensational media coverage of the race for the Republican Presidential nomination continues. From the national news coverage, it would seem as though the Presidency were the only office up for election this year. Such a focus on the Presidency ignores a majority of the political process, and the system suffers for it. Take the main issues of the race, jobs and the economy. The presidential candidates have their plans for how to create jobs and grow the economy, but the debate ignores the fact that management of the economy is the purview of Congress. The Constitution clearly states that Congress has the power to impose taxes, borrow and coin money, and regulate interstate commerce. Of course, the president can propose legislation and has the power of veto, but neither of these powers means anything if Congress can’t even bring itself to pass any legislation as occurred during the debt ceiling debacle. So with Congressional approval at near record lows, it is time to pay more attention to more than just the president race. It is easy to ignore all of the governing that goes on outside the White House. I am embarassed to admit that until recently I had effectively no idea who the Representatives for the 10th Congressional District were. (The 10th district stretches from Waukegan to Arlington Heights and Glenview.) I was fairly certain Mark Kirk (R) was our Representative. It turns out Mark Kirk is now an Illinois Senator along with Dick Durbin, the number two rank-
ld o D or
f re ng co
ss
ing Senate Democrat. Mark Kirk’s house seat was filled by Robert Dold (R) in the 2010 election. Dick Durbin holds the position of “Senate Whip,” whose job it is to make sure that Senate Democrats vote in line with the party on key issues. Mark Kirk is a fiscal Republican but has proven himself independent on many other issues. Robert Dold is a freshman congressman and former small business owner focused on bipartisan solutions for creating jobs, protecting the environment, and ending human rights injustices around the world. As the March 20 primary approaches, it is important to remember that a primary is about much more than simply choosing a Presidential nominee. This election cycle neither of the Senators nor the Governor from Illinois will be up for election, but for Democrats there will still be an opportunity to choose who will run for the House of Representatives. And both parties will be able to choose who will run for many other state and local offices. A common complaint against our two-party system is that voters are often forced to choose between two poor alternatives. These candidates do not appear out of thin air, however, and must be elected in primaries. So for all the future voters reading this, watch your local papers for information about the candidates and try to dig deeper than the 30-second campaign ads. Try to make an informed decision so that you can avoid having to choose between two bad options by the time the general election comes. And perhaps by focusing more on our local representatives, we might end up with a Congress that can actually carry out the will of the people, whatever it may be, and maybe even a State Legislature that can pass a budget on time.
Trust in Government to do the right thing
Oct. 2001
Oct. 2011
Source: CBS/New York Times Poll
Source: CBS/New York Times Poll
Occupy Wall Street Supporters
Tea Party Supporters
Dec. 2011
Dec. 2011
Source: NBC/Wall Street Journal Poll
Direction of the country
Source: NBC/Wall Street Journal Poll
Congressional Approval Rating Jan. 2012
Jan. 2012
Source: CBS News Poll
Seals for congress
Corporations ≠ People
9
Source: CBS Poll
$$ ≠ Speech
ding
Spen
JOBS Drawings by Jane Xu
THE SPECTATOR 10
Opinion and Editorial
Caxy Rant: By Sarah Clark Features Editor For the entirety of my academic life prior to LFA, my H2O intake consisted of inter-
period sips of tepid, funky water from the fountains around my old school. Thus, when I arrived at LFA, I appreciated the cool, refreshing water from the fountain in lower Korhumel (outside of the Math Wing) to an almost laughable degree. As you can imagine, when the school opted recently to remove this water fountain, I felt like Bobby Boucher would have if the Mud Dogs had opted to switch to Gatorade: pretty upset. All joking aside, the removal of water fountains from LFA’s academic buildings does have an impact on the student
jANUARY 31, 2012
This school needs water fountains
body. More precisely, the replacement of traditional drinking fountains with water coolers has an impact. It’s been argued that these water coolers, presented without stacks of plastic cups, promote “green” habits. In theory, the implementation of these coolers should have led to an increased use of reusable bottles by the LFA community. Though I am happy to see LFA thinking environmentally, I would have to argue that in this case, the goal has not been met. Instead of purchasing reusable water bottles for school, students are more likely to find other alternatives. Many buy drinks from Sonia’s snack bar. Far from being “greener,” those
students now use more bottles of water, Snapple, and pop per day. Other students, like me, simply deal with it. Personally, the only water I have all day is the single cup I drink at lunch. This raises a wholly different issue: health. USDA nutritional intake standards recommend that teenagers drink THREE liters of water daily to avoid dehydration. This recommendation is even larger for athletes and physically active teens, and thus for a majority of LFA students. Water fountains don’t require plastic cups or bottles and they allow students to stay hydrated throughout the day. In the end, I suggest placing more of them around LFA’s campus.
Inquiring Photographer
Photo by Jane Xu
Senior Sarah Clark frustrated over the lack of water fountains around campus.
In light of the current political campaign, for this months Inquiring Photographer The Spectator was curious as to whether or not LFA students are keeping up with the race.
“I know I should be following the election, since I will be voting this year, but it’s really hard to find the time.” -Corry Lane
“Oh, yes. I respect Ron Paul, I’m not worried about Perry or Gingrich. I think Romney will win even though Republicans don’t like him. Rick Santorum scares me because he’s smart yet evil.” -Will Stolarski
“I don’t really keep up and I don’t have much of an opinion to be honest. It’s not something I keep up with on a regular basis.” -Jane Strudwick
“Not really, I haven’t watched any debates or really gotten to know any of the candidates, I’ve been pretty busy this year.” -Shane Penman
“Not so much. It kind bores me and theres a lot of other things going on in my life.” -Emma Carlins
“It’s my first election so I’m keeping up with the GOP candidates- I like Ron Paul, though I’m on the fence about his fiscal policies. I’m leaning towards Obama because I’d like to see what he could do with a second term.” -Taylor Spratt
“No, I can’t vote yet so I’m not really paying attention to it.” -Meg Kennedy
“I kind of keep up with the standings and who’s dropping out and staying in. I don’t go into too much depth with their views, but I do know a lot of basic information.” -Penny Tornes
“I’m not really too interested, but I did catch the New Hampshire debate the other night.” -Sam Saliba
“Yes, I’m definitetly keeping up. Santorum is the candidate that I like best, but overall it’s a pretty weak group of people who are all very corrupt.” -Charles Gallagher Compiled by Erica Lewis
THE SPECTATOR
Opinion and Editorial
jANUARY 31, 2012
Editorial Three animals gather around a watering hole: a hippopotamus, an elephant, and an alligator. Though they are all brought within confines of a mile radius, they do not bother to interact with each other. After taking their drink of water they wander towards other animals like them. There is a similar scenario present in the LFA community. Lake Forest Academy claims that it has brought students from around the world all together in one environment to engage with each other, and although the first half of this statement may be true, the second half is definitely not. The academy has managed to congregate students from diverse back-
More interaction between International and American students needed
grounds on its 150-acre campus. This attempts to paint a seemingly euphoric picture for the prospective students looking at the academy. When students get settled in on campus the truth finally comes out. There is an apparent divide. During lunches, in the dormitories, and even in class rooms there seem to be two different groups. International students sit together and American students sit together. Claims are made insisting that a language barrier gets in the way of interactions between students. Though it is true that it takes extra patience and effort when a language barrier is present, it is also generally accepted that the best way to learn a second language is by talking and
Catchy Cartoons
engaging with native speakers of the language. It is tough to learn a language through minimal interaction with native speakers. This is precisely why measures must be taken to change the way students engage with each other at LFA. Changes must be brought to the classrooms, the dormitories, and during the lunch periods. This may mean initiating assigned seating in Hutch or more “mandatory” interactions in and out of class. It may be hard to get the animals of the watering hole to communicate with each other, but with a little bit of effort students at LFA can begin to increase communications between International and American members of the community. This year The Spectator will print opinionated cartoons from around the nation.
T h e L a k e A c a d e m y
11 F o r e s t
S P E C TAT O R
STAFF LIST
Editors-in-Chief News Editors Managing Editor Feature Editors Sports Editor Arts & Entertainment Editors Op-Ed Editors Entropica Editors Photo Editors Staff Writer Faculty Adviser
Andrea Shen Mary Kate Hayes Ariana Bhatia Hunter Johnstone Matt Stevens Sarah Clark Carina Baker Grace Coburn Mimi Moses Anastasia Perry Erica Lewis Zunaira Arshad Leo Rudberg Jane Xu Bailey Ayers Brian Ahern John Luttig Lauren Clamage Nancy Wang William Murphy
PUBLICATION The Spectator is published eight times per year by the students of Lake Forest Academy and is a forum for student expression. The views and reporting herein are the sole product of The Spectator’s student reporters and in no way reflect the official views of Lake Forest Academy faculty, staff, administration or Board of Trustees.
EDITORIALS Opinions of the staff are presented in the form of unsigned editorials. Personal views are bylined or presented as formal dissents.
SUBMISSIONS The Spectator welcomes submissions from the community. If you would like to write an article, please see Mr. Murphy (please note: if space is limited, priority goes to journalism students). We also welcome short stories and poetry for our “Featured Writers” column, and we are always interested in publishing student artwork and photographs. Please send all submissions to Mr. Murphy via e-mail at wmurphy@lfanet.org, or hand them to him directly.
LETTERS TO THE EDITORS The Spectator welcomes responses to its articles in the form of Letters to the Editors in addition to letters on subjects of the author’s choosing. Please e-mail Letters to the Editors to Mr. Murphy at wmurphy@lfanet.org.
AWARDS The LFA Spectator has been awarded several very prestigious journalism awards in recent years. 2008 The American Scholastic Press Association... 1st Place 2008 The Kempler Moraine Press Association... 1st Place 2009 The American Scholastic Press Association... 1st Place 2009 The Kemper Moraine Press Association... 1st Place 2010 The American Scholastic Press Association... 1st Place
QUOTE OF THE MONTH
“A free press can be good or bad, but, most certainly, without freedom a press will never be anything but bad” Both photos courtesy of Tribune Media Services
-Albert Camus
THE SPECTATOR 12
Features
jANUARY 31, 2012
Music trend hits LFA:
Dubstep drops into popular culture By Leo Rudberg Orange Editor At LFA, you can hear it across campus, in many buildings, and most importantly, at dances. What you can hear is “dubstep”, a genre of electronic music that has become quite popular. It has broken into the mainstream culture, being incorporated into the music of artists like Rihanna and Jay-Z, and even into commercials on TV. “[Dubstep] is the perfect combination of techno and metal. It’s the best!” said sophomore Chris Siemasko. In addition to using a “wobble” bass, dubstep is “the residue of Drum ‘n’ Bass (DnB) made accessible through accentuated offbeats,” according to Mr. Grier
Carson, who teaches and conducts classes in electronic music. This genre originated in the electronic music explosion of the nineties, specifically in London. After some time as an underground style, dubstep evolved, implanted itself in America, and burst into the mainstream only a few years ago. Dubstep grew as part of Britain’s take on America’s hip-hop, which may explain its popularity in the States, according to Andrew Gaerig in his article “Dubstep 101: A U.S. Primer,” for SPIN magazine. “Spare, moody subwoofer odysseys by Burial, Kode9, and Shackleton gave way to artists such as Skream, Caspa, and Rusko, who produced booming, disorienting tracks stuffed with jagged keyboard riffs,” said Gaerig. “The music was
still slow, but also intense and active, and more appealing to American teenagers raised on rock radio.” However, not everyone enjoys the genre. For example, Carson finds issue with “over-reliance on the wobbling bass line and the abandonment of the midtempo aesthetic.” “Dubstep does for electronic music what Kenny G did for jazz,” said Mr. Adam Schlipmann, the conductor of the LFA Orchestra. There are conflicting views of dubstep amongst the student body at LFA, especially with its involvement at dances. “A wide variety of music [at dances] should reflect a wide variety of students,” said senior Graham Wick, who enjoys the genre.
Although he doesn’t prefer dubstep, Alec Mesrobian, a freshman, said that, “many people do. . .it should be played at dances.” “Dubstep has been blown way out of proportion. It shouldn’t be played at our dances because it’s more of a fad,” criticized Brendan Baldwin, a senior. Whether or not dubstep is just a temporary craze is too early to tell. Artists such as Bassnectar and Skrillex continue to find larger and larger audiences, as well as paychecks. However, Carson said that “all genres are fads... the larger picture is where the story will be told.”
Teen girls with guns: Shooting down stereotypes By Anastasia Perry A&E Editor “I think that everyone should know how to handle a gun, not necessarily own a gun, but I think people should know how to handle it if a situation ever comes up where you need to protect yourself,” stated senior Corry Lane, as she leans over the table describing her hobby with an enthusiastic smile. Throughout the past decade, shooting guns has become increasingly popular…with girls. In just ten years, the national total of women owning guns has doubled. Women who can handle a rifle or a pistol are sweeping the big screen in movies and TV shows while shop owners are trying to appeal more to their female customers. Though Corry Lane has been shooting ever since she was 10, many girls are just starting to learn how to use this weapon for self defense. With so many women in the movies expertly handling guns, it is no wonder that owning a gun yourself is becoming increasingly attractive. Movies such as Wanted, Resident Evil, and Salt give firing guns a romantic and dangerously exciting appeal. Even in television crime shows such as Burn Notice and CSI, women are taking more control and stocking up on ammunition. Girls, no longer damsels in distress, have been buying guns. In one recent national survey, 70 percent of gun shop owners stated that they notice a dramatic surge of female customers. After being asked why guns were such a big trend among women, junior Hillary Werner re-
plied that “I think it gives them a sense of power and control.” Many women were afraid of learning to shoot such a dangerous weapon, but recently they have exchanged that fear for empowerment. In a poll given by the National Shooting Sports Foundation 80 percent of women who own guns said that they bought their guns for self defense. “If you live in a bad enough area, I definitely think that you should be able to take care of yourself. The man around the house should not be the only one with a gun,” explains Corry Lane. Several national media reports
Junior Bailey Ayers learns to shoot a gun.
stated that many women, who were recently interested in guns, were not attracted to the idea of owning a firearm in the beginning. It was after experiencing or knowing someone who had been a victim of violent crime that many women became interested in keeping a gun in the house. As crime rates increased in certain cities, more and more women decided to take gun-handling lessons. In addition to a feeling of safety, more and more women are enjoying going to the range as a sport. Shooting practice has developed into a hobby as many women go to Indoor ranges for their Bachelor-
ette parties. Lane recalls often going shooting with her friends for fun. “It is a great way to let out a lot of steam because you have a lot of power,” she said. With almost 5 million female gun owners, manufacturers and gun store owners are reaching out more to their female clients. Many stores offer a variety of pink hand guns and rifles. Not only are pink guns in high demand, but many gun accessories such as holsters and vests are being made specifically for women. Lighter and smaller guns are also being introduced by gun companies.
Photo courtesy of Bailey Ayers
THE SPECTATOR
Features
jANUARY 31, 2012
Student Swap By Mary Kate Hayes Editor-in-Chief I packed light: two outfits out for school, pajamas, and other necessities. I had one weakness, though. I brought my own pillow, blanket, and towels in a sealed bag so they could not get dirty. My low tolerance of messes and disorganization concerned me as I left my nearly spotless room. Rachel Riccio, the senior from Bolingbrook who was to live at my house, greeted me at Field. Helping carry my bags, she briefly explained the dorm rules. The designated shower times surprised me. We walked to Hutch for my first meal and we were the only ones there. We picked at mashed potatoes and green apple sitting on my plate. She put up her plate with her unfinished food, joyful that my mom had spaghetti waiting for her. When my mom picked up Rachel she exclaimed, “Where’s my new daughter?” They laughed together as they left me at LFA. Back in her room, I got tired of staring at the wall opposite her twin bed. The room itself had space to move, and her desk was cleared. But, I decided to go to the library to do homework. I got a message there from Rachel saying I didn’t sign
13
In order to discover how the other half lives, day student Mary Kate Hayes and boarder Rachel Riccio traded places
out properly—thankfully I wasn’t in trouble. That night I stayed up until 1:30, which unfortunately is normal. My savior was no class first period which meant I could sleep in. That is a great advantage boarders have over day students; I slept until 8:20 where, as a day student, I have to get up by 7:45. The next day I went “off-campus” to a day student’s house. I properly filled in a sign-out form with Mrs. Zaiff. This process isn’t tedious and takes only five minutes. The rest of the afternoon continued like a normal day. The bus took me from our basketball game to school. I braved the walk from Fitz in the freezing cold. Boarders definitely bear longer walks than day students. My mom called me later with Rachel. They were watching television and eating together. I realized I hadn’t watched television either day, and I barely ate. I finished my homework and went to sleep, waking up at 7:50 the next day. My eventual feelings about being a boarder at LFA were these: boarders may miss their family, home meals, and looser schedules, and more day-to-day variety, but they are fortunate to form relationships with fellow students, teachers, and community members that day students don’t necessarily experience.
Mary Kate Hayes signs out by using the Field dorm whiteboard.
Photo by Rachel Riccio
By Rachel Riccio Special Contributer There were a few things I was expecting to get when leaving my dorm room to become a day student: better meals, actually finishing all of my homework, privacy, and even some family time. I wasn’t looking forward to waking up early, driving to school, finding a ride home, and most importantly living away from my dorm mates. I did not realize that as a second semester senior it is impossible to finish any homework no matter if you are sitting in your room in your house doing absolutely nothing but on Facebook. I thought my distraction was my friends in the dorm, but senioritis helped me find another one. Staying up until 12 or 1 am every night seems illogical when the rest of the people you live with are sleeping (something that never happens in Field). The first night I slept there, I was up until 1. The next night I was in bed by 11. This is probably because the morning routine in a day student’s home began 30 minutes earlier than the dorm, which did help with being awake during first period. In general, school felt longer than
Phioto Courtesy of Alexandra Campbell
Rachel enjoys time with her new mom, Susan Hayes.
usual. I couldn’t go back to my room to sleep, relax, or listen to music. There was never really a place around school to get that same alone time. After school was odd, too. I waited in Crown texting friends to hang out because I had some free time before going home, and even more free time if I wanted to stay and watch the basketball game.
I decided to make plans with friends at school, considering signing out and study hours no longer existed for me. I went to a friend’s house and out to dinner later— even though my new mom’s cooking was a pleasant change from the repetitive Hutch meals. Coming home to a dog and a younger brother in the Hayes’ house made
Photo by Max Hayes
me feel right at home and that is the one thing I will miss from being a day student: being able to spend time with a family that reminded me of my own family, not just my Field dorm family as great as they are. I might also miss watching television whenever I wanted to or not waiting for the showers to be free. But, if I could choose, I would choose being a boarder.
THE SPECTATOR 14
Sports
jANUARY 31, 2012
LFA Football star, Ekakitie, commits to Iowa: LFA vs LFHS All-American student athlete participates in Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl By Grace Coburn Sports Editor LFA senior Faith Ekakitie caused a great deal of commotion in the NCAA football recruitment world this year when he became a hot commodity for many division one football programs. Facing dozens of offers to play major college football, Ekakitie finally decided to sign a commitment with the University of Iowa in February and he is confident in his decision. “I chose Iowa because it was the program where I felt the most comfortable in regards to campus life, football, and academics,” said Ekakitie. “I feel like I can thrive there academically, athletically, and socially.” Another school on his radar was Oregon, who recently defeated Wisconsin in the 2012 Rose Bowl. “Oregon was definitely a very attractive program, but when it came down to it, I don’t know how long I would have survived in Eugene,” said Ekakitie. “Also, they filled up for my position before I even had a chance to eliminate them.” Ekakitie was recently honored to take part in the Semper Fidelis AllAmerican Bowl in Phoenix, Arizona. He found the experience of competing with, and against, the top high school players from around the country enjoyable. “It was great being recognized as an All-American to begin with, especially since I’m Canadian,” joked Ekakitie. Regarding the great amount of talent displayed at the contest, he kept his composure and was not daunted. “I wasn’t really surprised at the level of competition. I knew it would be a way bigger jump from playing the regular high school teams I’ve become accustomed to.” Ekakitie’s favorite part of AllAmerican week was having the chance to meet a group of young men who were just as talented as he is. He found them to all be great people, as well as students. In addition to meeting the players and participating in the game, the athletes were able to meet and talk with the Marines. “[The Marines] really stressed being great people as well as students. They also talked a lot about what it meant to be a character citizen,” said Ekakitie, who was recruited by LFA Football Coach Ted Stewart when Ekakitie lived in Canada. “Coach Stewart found me while he was on a student recruiting tour in Canada, through one of my basketball coaches,” explained Ekakitie. Ekakitie finds that his football game has improved since coming to LFA.
Photo by Bailey Ayers
The cross town rivalry basketball game between LFA and Lake Forest High School has become a tradition for students of both schools. With the game only a few days away, it’s time to look back on last year’s game before the teams meet this year. Last year the Caxys had the crowd into the game as they defeated the Scouts 57-41. Dylan Ennis (’11) was the leading scorer with 21 points. Head coach of the Scouts, Phil LaScala recognized Ennis’ skills and how they affected their game. “He took away the momentum we had,” said LaScala. Not only did Ennis score 21 points during last year’s game, he also scored a half court three pointer as the buzzer ended in the third quarter. Other great performances by the Caxys include senior Charles Harris who tallied 10 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter. Stand out performances done by the Scouts include junior Carter Bass and Senior John Hayes. It’s always an exciting experience for LFA to play a big public school such as LFHS and it’s a great opportunity for the school to support the athletics. Every year LFA has had a great cheering section as well as school spirit. Come check out this year’s game on Saturday, February 4th at 7:30pm at Lake Forest High School.
Chicago Sports
Chicago is known for its loyal fans. I know that whenever I go to a Bulls, Blackhawks or Wolves game, it always packed with screaming fans. With that said, here is a look at how the Chicago teams are doing so far this Winter season. Bulls Currently ranked number one in the Eastern Conference. Record: 15-3 This Month’s Home Games: Februrary 14th vs Kings, Februrary 16th vs Celtics, February 18th vs Nets, Februrary 20th vs Hawks, February 22nd vs Bucks, and Februrary 28th vs Hornets.
Photo by Alex Campbell
Ekakitie (right) is looking forward to playing for the Hawkeyes next year at Iowa.
“I definitely have become a better football player over my years at LFA. A lot of my improvement has just been from getting a better feel for the game overall,” said Ekakitie, who been primarily a basketball player before LFA. “I have grown to love football a lot more while I’ve been here, and a major part of that has been thanks to my wonderful teammates. They’ve made my experience within the football program so much more enjoyable because they are all such charismatic people.”
Ekakitie is looking forward to his future at Iowa and has made some goals for his freshman year. “I’m looking forward to being able to compete against the best at Iowa and being able to play on the big stage multiple times throughout the year,” expressed Ekakitie. “For next year I want to be able to earn some playing time early on and, of course, get ahead academically,” said Ekakitie. He plans to do this by attending summer school.
Blackhawks Currently ranked 5th in the Western Conference Record: 29-14 Upcoming Home Games: Februrary 19th vs Blues, Februrary 21st vs Red Wings, Februrary 23rd vs Stars, and Februrary 29th vs Maple Leafs. Wolves Currently ranked 7th in the AHL league. Record:21-16 This Month’s Home Games: February 3rd vs Rockford, Februrary 4th vs Peioria, Fberuary 7th vs Houston, February 15th vs Grand Rapids, February 18th and 19th
THE SPECTATOR jANUARY 31, 2012
Sports
15
Experienced wrestlers improve wrestling program Team is the most talented and comeptitive in four years By Lauren Clamage Staff Writer According to Coach Mathias Kerr, this year’s Caxy wrestling team can be described using two words: dedication and perseverance. Lake Forest Academy’s varsity wrestling team has more than doubled the number of wrestlers on the roster this year compared to recent years. The new depth on the team has helped the Caxys already win two matches this year after being winless a year ago. With only five returning wrestlers from last season, the team has grown to 11 participants in 2012. This change in the team has led to a great start to the season. The Caxys are 2-8, and four of their losses were by a single individual match. Coaches Charles Parmenter and Kerr are both very impressed with the new team. “The record does not represent the team very well. The problem is we haven’t had a full team in a long time or two wrestlers have been in the same weight class. Therefore, we are already down twenty to nothing before we start,” explained Kerr. Chris Karamanos is having an outstanding season for LFA with a record of 9-0. His fastest pin this year was just 32 seconds . Taylor Jemilo (8-4) and Brian Parmenter (7-6) are also among the team
Senior Taylor Jemilo (pictured above) is one of the most sucessful Caxy wrestlers this season.
leaders in competition this year. “There is more experience brought to the team in practice this year since there are several new coaches. They all wrestle differently and can help each player with different styles for wrestling,” noted Karamanos, a sophomore wrestler. The wrestling program at LFA is
improving and building from years past, according to Kerr. “We have experienced wrestlers in the practice room now. This is the most competitive and most talented team in four years regardless of the team’s record,” said Kerr. “Also, a big change is our orange vs. black squad scrimmages. We split the
Photo by Jane Xu
team in half and have a duel meet each week. At the end of the year, the captain of the winning team gets a plague with his name on it.” “It’s very fun, lots of work, and not easy,” said Deji Akere, a new freshman wrestler from Evanston. “It’s something I can do for my whole high school career.”
Winter Track on track to keep growing: Program attracts many athletes from all sports By Grace Coburn Sports Editor The new addition of Winter Track last year has proved itself to be a valuable change to LFA athletics. With almost 40 students participating in the sport, Winter Track has already grown to become one of the largest sports teams at LFA and it is expected to keep growing tremendously. “We have a universe of athletes participating who do multiple sports,” said Coach Melvin Allen. “With the addition of new students, including soccer players participating, we are expecting success for the team.” With captains Spencer Friske, Matt Goad, Sophia Smith, and Alexandria Moton the team continues to show strength in the one-mile, two-mile, the 200, and the 4x800. The new comers also show promise and are expect to do well in
the team’s biggest race, the ICOPS. This race is for boys that go to Illinois Catholic schools and will take place in the beginning of March at Lewis University. Not a meet goes by when several LFA athletes record personal bests in their various specialties. When talking about the coaching staff, which includes Ms. Carolyn Shoene, Mrs. Jen Madeley, and Mr. Joe Ward, Allen couldn’t say enough about them and the effort that they put into each individual athlete. “They want the best for their athletes,” said Allen. “[They] definitely have a passion for teaching specific events, [Shoene] with hurdles, [Ward] with sprinting and field events, and [Madeley] with distance.” Allen finds having coaches for each type of event much easier to manage and beneficial to the athletes. “The athletes get their one on
one time with each coach. It makes it a lot more fun because you get to see all those different personalities,” said Allen. “There’s never a boring practice.” A motto that Allen has developed is that when you’re running, you’re not only representing yourself but you’re representing your school; have fun and do your best. Allen has been pleased with the results so far this season. Considering the harsh weather conditions that we have recently seen, the team has found multiple ways to train. “There are other alternatives: circuit training, running up and down the [Ried] stairs, but we are looking into using the Waukegan Sports Center,” said Allen. With the Waukegan Sports Center looking like a promising option, Winter Track is going to continue growing as an LFA sport and will hopefully get more recognition in future years.
Photo by Carina Baker
Jason Santos working hard during circuts.
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L e t t e r s t o L e o : N e w Ye a r ’s R e s o l u t i o n s Dear Leo, Can you please give me some ideas for a New Year’s Resolution? How should I think about it? The New Year is a time for reflecting on the past, anticipating the future, and of course, acquiring a new calendar. If you’re like me, you’d rather spend your New Year eating or sleeping, so I have streamlined this entire process for those of you who still have to resolve something. First, I ask myself, “Did I go to jail last year?” Luckily, no: it was a good year for me. Now that I’ve fully reflected, I have decided on my resolution. Losing weight, traveling, getting a supermodel girlfriend, etc. are so last year. Choose
something that will give your life some excitement and that can actually happen. Remember, if you set your expectations low, you are guaranteed to accomplish them. My resolution this year is “Don’t die.” I mean, it’s not too hard to do, hopefully. However, this leads us to the Resolution Paradox, famously derived by Einstein when he pondered, “Dude, there is like no way I’m gonna find what E equals.” (Legend has it that the genius also said that “insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.” Remember, failed New Year’s Resolutions lead to insanity.) Basically, the inverse of whatever you hope will happen will happen. So, if you try to lose weight, you will most
likely find yourself a competitor on the show “Man vs. Food.” If you wish to travel more, you will most likely find yourself handcuffed at O’Hare after arguing with the TSA on the validity of their screening procedures. And, if you plan on dating a supermodel, you will, in fact, become a professional “Starcraft” player, and not the cool Korean kind. So, the key is to say the opposite of what you want to do: “I will gain 20 pounds.” “I will only travel to Wisconsin.” “I will not have a social life until my magick level is 500 in ‘Skyrim.’” Another foolproof strategy is to do nothing. My father, a licensed physician, said that while focusing on the past will make
iPads-Libs: Write for The Spectator! Many people are still getting adjusted to the iPads, the __________ (adj) devices from Apple. Now that everyone in the__________ (place) has one, __________ (noun) is even __________ (adj ending in -er). For example, people even __________ (verb) in class! Students can even __________ (verb) __________ (plural noun) to their teachers. Mr. Murphy, an English and Journalism teacher, thinks that, “ iPads __________ (verb) a continuing __________ (adj) challenge in my __________ (place).” Many students play __________ (emotion) __________ (plural animal) or __________ (plural noun) with Friends, while their teachers just think that they are __________ (verb ending in -ing). Personally, __________ (person) has/have become __________ (participle) to checking __________ (possessive pronoun) __________ (noun) every __________ (time period). The rest of the iPad-Libs can be found on the internet (see sidebar). Completed responses can be found at: http://sites.google.com/site/spectatoripadlibs
one depressed, focusing on the future will render one anxious. So therefore one should focus on the present, right? Wrong! I take it up a notch and focus on nothing! I follow this route and just say, “I hope I can do ___ in the new year.” But if it doesn’t happen, so what? Then I have something to look forward to in the next year (accounting for the Mayans being wrong about 2012)! Most people who try New Year’s Resolutions end up adopting this tactic. Why do we even feel the need to fix a problem in our lives? I guess I’ll have to resolve that this year! Oh, and finally, remember the calendar! If you are like me, you will receive a kitten calendar around the holiday season,
usually from an aunt. But seriously, stop sending me kitten calendars. Thank you for your question. Of course, I answered it quite well. I hope everyone had a great break. Who’s ready for this new semester? Let’s get this party started. Sincerely, Leo Rudberg.
Letters to Leo is now accepting questions and topic submissions. If you wish to submit something, please email spectator@lfanet.org. The subject discussed in this article is fictional and is meant for entertainment purposes. Created by Leo Rudberg.
Caxy Match
The Orange has produced a blank word fill-in activity based on the iPad program. To complete the activity, write in the part of speech suggested ajacent to the blank. The rest of the iPads-Libs can be found at tiny.cc/ ipadlibs, and completed electronically. Feel free to send us your response!We will judge the submissions and the winning submission might win a prize or be featured in the next issue. Please be funny. Please be creative. Please be appropriate (to an extent).
Phtoto by Bailey Ayers
Photo courtesy of nbc.com
For this month’s Caxy Match, we think that senior Ben Diaz resembles Coach Eric Taylor (Kyle Chandler) from the TV show “Friday Night Lights.”
Caxy Cartoon: Ferry Hall Lottery
By Jane Xu