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S P E C TAT O R
Volume 90 Number 2
1500 West Kennedy Road, Lake Forest, IL 60045
Featured Stories
How healthy is LFA?
d
e
m
y
october 28, 2011
Healthy Choices Day just around the corner
NEWS
LFA dance rules explained page 2 NEWS
Preparations being made for AJK Enrichment Day
page 3
OPINIONS AND EDITORIALS
Dress code debate continues
page 8-9
By Sarah Clark Features Editor On Wednesday, November 9, the school community will forgo its typical schedule in favor of Lake Forest Academy’s yearly Healthy Choices Day. “The day is an opportunity for experts from the outside community to come and speak to our students on a variety of wellness topics,” said Kate Jones, the director of Counseling and Seminar. “This day offers students the opportunity to acquire knowledge and tools to make healthy and informed decisions.” The day will begin at 8:40 am with a keynote address from Monica Palmer, LFA’s new Director of Fine and Perfroming Arts. The address will be followed by discussion-based advisory meetings and various wellness seminars. These seminars will differ based on student grade level as Jones intends for them to “supplement the existing seminar curriculum for that grade.” Each class will focus on different topics, all related to overall wellness and healthy choices. Freshmen will study nutrition, cyber boundaries, active listening,
Question: How healthy do you think the LFA community is?
Survey taken by Sarah Clark
and participate in yoga and meditation. Sophomores will dedicate their day to economic awareness. Juniors will participate in classes related to the subject of sexual assault. Senior seminars will include the topics of personal addiction, teens & the law, binge drinking, and street smarts. In keeping with the theme of wellness, and in anticipation of upcom-
ing Healthy Choices Day, The Spectator conducted a survey of the student body inquiring about certain aspects of their own health and wellness. Here are the results based on the 172 students who responded: Most LFA students need slightly more sleep. While the CDC recommends 8.5 to 9.5 hours of sleep a night for Continued on page 4
Clean drinking water: a growing problem By Hunter Johnstone and Zunaira Arshad Staff Writers When most Americans take a shower or brush their teeth, they don’t worry about where that water comes from, if it is clean, or whether they will have enough to survive. However in 2008, nearly one billion people worldwide suffered from clean water deficiency, and nearly 2.5 billion still don’t have the sanitation
FEATURES
Recent teen trends: tattoos and bloodsucking page 10 SPORTS
SEEDS Academy sends first female student to LFA page 14 THE ORANGE
See Phil’s Phake Phacebook in The Orange
page 16
services necessary for water purification. Contributing further to this crisis, one third of the world population is infected with tuberculosis, a disease that had all but disappeared in the United States and is spread primarily through drinking water. This disease will claim the lives of two million this year alone if they do not receive the attention necessary to improve their health. The Pulitzer Center for Media Issues rates the story about the world’s clean water crisis as the greatest unreported news story in the world today. The Center is trying to get the world’s media operations to pay attention to the story and draw people’s attention to it. A group from the Pulitzer Center even visited The Spectator last spring. For those who live at Lake Forest Academy or in the surrounding region, it is easy to take clean fresh water for granted with the world’s largest fresh water source, the Great Lakes, so close by. It is possible, however, that because of serious pollution problems from agricultural runoff, marine Continued on page 2
Photo by Mary Kate Hayes
THE SPECTATOR 2
World News Roundup Compiled by Ariana Bhatia and Mary Kate Hayes
Gaddafi kiilled
Information from BBC News
Photo courtesy of Tribune Media Services Libyans celebrate their new independence following Gaddafi’s death.
Crowds all over Libya rejoiced and celebrated upon hearing the news of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi’s death late last week. National Transitional Council (NTC) forces claimed to have found him in Sirte, where they were fighting Gaddafi loyalists. One of Gaddafi’s sons was also killed and another was wounded. Shortly after his death, videos displaying the bloody body as well as troops surrounding the scene circulated through out the news. Gaddafi ended his 42 year reign over Libya two months ago and the International Criminal Court had been seeking his arrest. The killing of Gaddafi, for many, signaled the liberation of Libya and the NTC stated that they will formally begin reforms. More details on Gaddafi’s death are scheduled to be released in following weeks.
EU working to resolve debt crisis Information from CNN Money
News
Great Lakes drinking water depleting as pollution rises (continued from front page) dumping, sewage, and litter, that Lake Michigan will not be a reliable source of clean water in the not-too-distant future. And because the Great Lakes make up 84% of North America’s fresh surface water, this issue poses a major threat to all those who rely on them as a source of drinking water. According to a recent report by the Shedd Aquarium on the Great Lakes, “unchecked development” has greatly reduced the groundwater supply in Great Lakes communities as well, increasing the regional demand for clean fresh water. The citizens of Chicago and its surrounding suburbs
Europe is suffering a major debt crisis, but French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel issued a statement Thursday in which they “agreed to provide a comprehensive and ambitious global response to the current crisis.” The two politicians are in charge of the two largest European economies. Officials had planned to propose details of a “comprehensive” plan this month at the European Council meeting in Brussels.
Occupy Movement on the rise Information from CNN Money
Occupy Wall Street has spread to different cities, including Chicago. While the movement is gaining momentum, police officers have been under pressure to contain such protests. But, Deputy Inspector Anthony Bologna crossed the line when he pepper-sprayed women in New York on September 24th. His punishment includes up to 10 vacation days eliminated from his budget. But, the incident indicates the severity of the entire Occupy Wall Street situation.
use one billion gallons of water from Lake Michigan each day for drinking, bathing, laundry, industry and more, and even worse is that once that water is used, it doesn’t return to the lake. Instead, due to the reversal of the Chicago River, it flows out to the Mississippi River and then the Gulf of Mexico. Although the Great Lakes can still be replenished by rainfall, melting snow, and smaller rivers and lakes that feed into them, the current rate of drainage is greater than that at which is replenished naturally. For the past decade, governors and premiers of states and Canadian provinces bordering the Great Lakes have
been working on the Great Lakes Basin Water Resources Compact Agreement that will regulate drainage rates and improve conservation efforts to address and hopefully correct this issue of clean fresh water shortage. There is a dire need for pollution reduction in the Great Lakes Region, as well as in all of the other fresh water deposits in the world, say experts. It would be greatly beneficial if people prevented wasteful water usage at home and educated others on the topic of pollution and overuse of fresh water resources.
New LFA dance rules:
Seeking a compromise between student and faculty perspectives By Andrea Shen Editor-in-Chief
Photo courtesy of Tribune Media Services President Sarkozy (center) shakes hands with former Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali on his way to the European Council Meeting in Brussels.
October 28, 2011
Recently the LFA administration has tried to tackle what has been seen as a consistent problem at many school dances: the style of dancing. “With the new dancing rules, this year we tried to be a little more firm and straightforward with the rules so that students know they can’t dance front to back, they have to face each other, no wall dancing, and no dancing on speakers,” said CoDirector of Student Activities Carolyn Schoen. The new dance rules are in response to large numbers of student, faculty, and parent complaints. The goal of creating the new rules was to provide a secure and comfortable environment for all students at school dances. “I’m fine with the dance rules, but I can understand how some people are upset with them. Some students may feel awkward in certain situations, but
you don’t need to dance like that to have a good time,” said senior Leo Rudberg. Dean of Students Chris Tennyson appears to be the “lightning rod” for the issue, hearing complaints from all sides and trying to balance teenage dance expression with student and adult concerns. “Because it’s an LFAsponsored event, [we’re] responsible for what goes on, from a liability perspective,” said Tennyson. “We’ve got such a range of ages on campus, and we’ve got such a range of cultures on campus. We have to be able to find a medium.” “At school functions, parents are trusting us with their students to protect them and making sure they’re in a comfortable environment. We don’t want students to be so uncomfortable that they’re not coming to dances. We want to be able to provide a fun environment where students are enjoying themselves,” agreed Schoen.
Before this past Homecoming Dance, old fashioned “town hall” meetings were held with the intention of informing students about the dance rules and the reasons behind them. Tennyson felt the reasons for the new dance rules weren’t explained clearly in these meetings, and he hopes that through better communication, students will come to understand and agree with the rules. “There’s a lack of awareness and education as to why we have certain rules and policies,” said Schoen. “We had the town meetings hoping that peers getting up and telling students what the rules were and the reasons for those rules would help students understand.” “My hope is that with an understanding of the rules and why we have them there, the students can realize they can still come to the dances and have a blast and have a fun event that’s totally safe,” said Tennyson.
THE SPECTATOR
News
October 28, 2011
3
Campus News In this space, The Spectator provides further details on several major upcoming events at Lake Forest Academy. Compiled by Hunter Johnstone
November 3
LLORK Concert
Photo courtesy of Lake Forest Academy LLORK member Palmer Taylor plays at the Parents’ Weekend Concert this year.
Lake Forest Academy’s Laptop Orchestra will be performing November 3 in the Cressey Center, showcasing their usual array of original and creative electronic music pieces.
November 4-6
Trustee Weekend Trustee Weekend begins Friday, November 4 with classroom visits by the trustees, followed by discussions with school directors regarding future changes to Lake Forest Academy.
November 9
Vox Concert Cheerleaders base an A.J. Katzenmaier student at last year’s enrichment day.
Photo courtesy of Lake Forest Academy
Harvesting Hope’s service at AJK expected to continue under new name By Jane Xu Staff Writer Lake Forest Academy’s primary annual service project,
student leaders in charge of Harvesting Hope are Bailey Ayers, Shane Penman, Andrea Shen, Taylor Spratt, Adam Mills, and Spencer Friske.
dance, art, sports, and cheerleading. “This year we have some new changes on Enrichment Day: it will begin with lunch, and we
Harvesting Hope, will celebrate its sixth year of operation this year culminating in the donation of food, school supplies, and tutoring for the A.J. Katzenmaier School in North Chicago this November. After long-distance trips to needy schools in Detroit and southern Illinois at its inception, Harvesting Hope began working with AJK several years ago in what has become a good working relationship between LFA and the elementary school. LFA students and families work together on a series of projects that help the children attending A.J. Katzenmaier School by donating food, fundraising, tutoring, and delivering school supplies. This year, the
“This year we have the Harvest Run, Pack the Pod, the Thanksgiving turkey handout, and Enrichment Day as the four big projects of Harvesting Hope,” said Ayers, who is the main student leader of the project this year, “I wish more people could come out because these AJK kids really need our help and their parents are very grateful.” The Harvest Run raised funds for expenses on Enrichment Day. On race day, students and other LFA community members could either run a one-mile or 5K race, or serve as a volunteer. On Enrichment Day, volunteers will teach AJK kids
invite the AJK parents to stay for the program in enjoy the afternoon,” said Ms. Sarah Collins, the Director of Service Learning. “It will end up with kids gathering in the gym and having basketball competitions.” Even though the name of Harvesting Hope was created in 2005, organizers expect that by next year, a new name for this project will be selected. “Some people say it is offensive because we are not just offering hope to them, we are actually sharing resources,” said Collins. “It is more about community engagement, and I believe a new name will better represent the activity.”
Photo courtesy of Lake Forest Academy Vox performs at this year’s Parents’ Weekend Concert.
On November 9, Vox will be holding a concert at the Cressey Center stage. The singing ensemble will be performing a number of solo and group songs ranging from classical to pop.
November 21
Co-Ax Concert
Photo courtesy of Lake Forest Academy Members of Co-Ax playing at their spring concert last semester.
Co-Ax will be holding their annual fall concert in the Cressey Center on November 21, featuring a wide variety of vocal/instrumental music from the past few decades and many different genres.
THE SPECTATOR
News
4
October 28, 2011
Healthy Choices Day and LFA student health report (continued from front page) adolescents age 10 to 17, about 94% of LFA students get 8 hours or less a night with 59% reporting 7-8 hours. ”Sleeping is really important for teenagers, but a lot of us don’t get enough sleep because of school, extracurriculars, and all of the responsibilities we have each night,” said Andrea Shen, senior. LFA students are generally more physically active than the national average and meet the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommended hours of physical activity a day for teenagers. According to their 2009 survey, only an approximate 37% of high school students in the United States got at least 5 hours of physical activity per week. According to The Spectator’s recent survey, this number is 79% at LFA. Meanwhile, LFA students have reported moderately high stress levels (seven out of ten) and eating habits that are at least somewhat healthy on average. When students were asked to what extent they thought LFA was a healthy community, 54% responded that it was only “somewhat healthy.”
Healthy Choices Day Universal Schedule 8:40-9:30 9:30-10:00 10:00-10:50 10:50-11:40 11:40-12:30 12:30-1:20 1:20-2:10
Keynote Address by Monica Palmer Advisory/Schedule Distribution Period 1 Period 2/Lunch Period 3/Lunch Period 4/Lunch Period 5
*Sophomores and juniors will have a slightly different schedule but meet up with the all-school programming at the appropriate times. Topics in Brief: Freshman Topics
Sophomore Topics Junior Topics
Senior Topics
- Nutrition - Cyber Boundaries
- Economic Awareness Competition
- Personal Addiction - Teens & The Law - Binge Drinking - Street Smarts
-Sexual Assault Series
LFA Curriculum Committee promotes development of public speaking skills for 21st century students By Hunter Johnstone News Editor If you have ever wondered why your history class has more public-speaking opportunities this year or your science class suddenly involves more creative projects, then your answer lies with the Lake Forest Academy Curriculum Committee and that group will have a continuing impact on LFA classes for the foreseeable future. A recent creation at the
school, the Curriculum Committee decides on classroom changes, not only to what is taught in the classroom but also to how things are taught. More specifically, the goal of the committee is to examine what experts say are necessary 21st Century skills, according to Associate Dean of Faculty Kristine Von Ogden, who serves as Chair of the Curriculum Committee, to see which are currently covered in the LFA curriculum and focus on ways to enhance and add to those skills.
A faculty representative from each department sits on the Curriculum Committee so that teachers in all academic subjects get an equal voice regarding any changes that may be made. “Right now we’re working on a public speaking initiative that we started last spring,” said Von Ogden. “[As a result], students should see more opportunities to hone these incredibly important skills across the curriculum.” Although public speak-
ing is the committee’s primary focus at the moment, it is just one of the committee’s five goals for classroom learning this year: communication (which includes public speaking, reading, and writing), creativity and innovation, critical thinking and problem solving, ICT (Information and Communications Technology) skills, and global citizenship. The committee is also working on curriculum maps that make sure that the LFA Mission Statement is reflected in the curriculum. These
maps then serve as a base for all changes made by the committee. Over the next few years, the Curriculum Committee plans to continue implementing new teaching techniques and uses for the iPad, as well as make interdisciplinary connections for faculty and students, keeping with its goals to prepare students with necessary skills for interactions in the modern world.
THE SPECTATOR October 28, 2011
Arts and Entertainment
5
Future DJ’s of LFA: Brendan and Mantas A production class taught by Mr. Grier Carson teaches them the software that they would use to DJ professionally. By Anastasia Perry A&E Editor One of the most pleasant surprises at the recent Homecoming Dance was the DJ work of LFA students Brendan Baldwin
Photo courtesy of Ally Dunne
Mantas Ivanauskas and Brendan Baldwin DJing for their friends.
and Mantas Ivanauskas. This led many students to wonder: “Are they the new LFA DJ’s?” “Ya, for sure, if they ask us to,” Baldwin replied enthusiastically. Their success as DJs might be connected to a class they took at LFA. Having always enjoyed many forms of music, Ivanauskas and Baldwin decided that they wanted to learn to create it. They approached Mr. Grier Carson, the Director of the Library, who has been working on musical production, to learn how to create music. As a side note to their work with Carson on musical production, the pair taught themselves how to DJ in order to perform what they had made. In this production class, they worked on familiarizing themselves with the software that they would use for live shows, and also the software Massive, used by big-name musicians such as Dead Mau5. Carson also showed them how to make and
Photo courtesy of Ally Dunne
Brendan Baldwin having fun DJing this past year.
route certain sounds from scratch. They create the music by choosing from an assortment of instruments to customize their own beats and mix in other songs. They first start out with drum tracks and create their own drum kick. They then create the notes and tones with other instruments. “You basically start with nothing and customize it,” ex-
plained Baldwin. Club tracks usually last about eight minutes, and though they haven’t completed one yet, they have been working with many different ideas to find one that they really like. They are not going to write things live; they plan to be like the more popular artists and DJ their already set tracks mixed with other current
songs. “We are basically trying to, with this class and with DJing, achieve a semi-professional level,” said Ivanauskas, as the two students are getting in as much practice as they can by performing at LFA dances. They aspire to someday play at professional venues.
“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. Las Tablas 2942 N Lincoln Ave. Chicago 60657 Mon-Thu: 5pm-10pm Fri: 5pm-11pm Sat: 11am-11pm Sun: 11am-9pm This is the best Columbian steak house in Chicago! Dimly lit and draped with Columbian art, Las Tablas is often full of people, but you still get seated pretty quickly. Though it’s pricey, the portions are huge and absolutely worth it. The Matrimonio is a mouthwatering dish that I highly recommend; it has a slice of steak, a slice of chicken, sweet plantain and potato. It’s lively, friendly and everything you could want out of a restaurant.
Dee’s 1114 W Armitage Ave. Chicago, 60614 Sun-Thu: 4:30pm-10pm Fri-Sat: 4:30pm-11pm Dee’s has been around forever... which says something about how great the food is. It’s a comfy Mandarin restaurant with a patio outside, a fireplace on the second level and the nicest waiters. The menu isn’t unique and the layout isn’t special, but every single meal is made just right. The sauces on all the dishes are mouthwatering and everything is combined and cooked perfectly.
The Belly Shack 1912 N Western Ave. Chicago 60647 Sun, Tue-Thu: 11:30am-9pm Fri-Sat: 11:30am-10pm A new, unexpected mix of foods and decor is the best way to describe the new, one-year old “Belly Shack”. There is a limited menu, but the choices that are there are an interesting enough mix that you will not be disappointed. ChicagoFoodies calls it “Asian-Latin fusion street food.” Not only is it tasty, interesting and well priced, but it has a unique feel to it. Sip some soup or grab a sandwich under the noise of the “L” tracks, in a room with concrete floors, graffiti and a great deal of metal.
Icream 1537 N Milwaukee Ave. Chicago, 60622 Sun -Thu: 2pm-10pm Fri-Sat: 2pm-midnight Make your own ice-cream or sorbet within 5 minutes! You chose two favors to mix together, add toppings and syrups and they literally make the ice-cream right in front of you with liquid-nitrogen and mixers. Pick from 32 different flavors, 24 toppings and any color. It’s reasonably priced and tastes amazing.
Pink Berry 635 N State St. Chicago, 60654 Mon-Thu, Sun: 11am-12am Fri-Sat: 11am-2am The famous southern frozen yogurt chain has finally arrived in Chicago! You pay by the size so pile on the toppings, as long as they fit in the cup. It’s surprisingly low calorie and the tangy taste is addictively delicious.
By Anastasia Perry A&E Editor
All the places (in Chicago) you’ll go Photo Courtsy of Robert D. Hughes
THE SPECTATOR
Arts and Entertainment
6
October 28, 2011
LFA in the spotlight: Movies filmed on campus Page compiled by Bailey Ayers and Mimi Moses Students all know that LFA has been used as a venue for many different occasions over the years, but the majority of the LFA community probably does not know that LFA has been the background for several films. You might start to recog-
nize common places at school where you hang out on the big screen in films such as “The Babe”, “The Package”, and “Damien: Omen II”. The filmmakers utilized LFA as a movie set in many various
ways. The films selected for this article do not represent the only times you could see LFA on the screen. According to long-time faculty member, Mr. Mark
Dryfoos, many other films and TV shows have been filmed here over the last four decades.
Damien: Omen II The Babe
The Package Each film strip from left to right shows one still from The Babe, courtesy of Universal Pictures, one from The Package courtesy of Orion Pictures, and two from Damien: Omen II, courtesy of Twenieth Century Fox Film Corporation.
The Package, a 1989 Orion Pictures film, is set during the Cold War. A ‘political thriller,’ the movie shows a voyage gone wrong for a Master Sergeant who is escorting a prisoner back to the United States. After a series of events, they all end up in Chicago, where the leader of the Soviet Union is meeting with the
President of the United States. Reid Hall is used as the base of the meeting place in Chicago. If you want to get a quick look at Reid in the movie, it can be seen in the trailer. The meeting room in which the two parties meet is rumored to be Armour Conference Room, Head of School, Dr. Strudwicks, former office. The office was used for the setting because of the formal wooden panels, just like most buildings from that day and time.
This movie shows the downfalls and successes of Babe Ruth’s childhood and professional baseball career. Released in 1992, starring John Goodman, this movie follows the comedic and dramatic moments of Ruth’s life. Once a reckless troublemaker, Ruth was sent away to school where he discovered his love for baseball. The movie takes us through flashbacks and flash forwards into his life. The batting practice fields in the movie took place at the current Varsity Baseball field. It is also rumored that the lake used in the movie was actually Caxy Pond.
“Damien: Omen II” was released in 1978, following the first Omen. This horror film uses the Armour Estate as the home in which Damien now lives in with his aunt and uncle. According to the Internet Movie Database, “All exteriors had to be shot in the back garden of the academy/estate because the school had erected a very modern structure [Corbin] in front of the old estate.” The film gives a very different view of the Formal Gardens and Pagoda using statues and even placing a car on the cobblestone pathway. The picture of the car on a road would be Caxy, before newly constructed land developement.
THE SPECTATOR
Opinion and Editorial
October 28, 2011
Editorial:
T h e L a k e A c a d e m y
Recently, dress code has
conditions, not to mention it is
become an overpowering issue
extremely difficult to find clothes
a dress code, though, has to do
for the LFA community. Students
that abide by the current rules in
with the idea that students should
and faculty seem to be not only
many stores.
learn how to dress appropriately
on different pages, but on two
If administrators decide
as future working professionals.
separate chapters on the issue.
a necessary plan of action in
And, although uniforms are one
Many faculty members feel as
this ongoing clothing battle is to
viable option for a change in
though students are not dressing in
increase the amount of restrictions
dress code, uniforms do not help
a way that would be appropriate in
put on students through dress
students learn how to dress in a
the professional world. Students,
code, then the school might be
professional manner. Another,
on the other hand, feel as though
better off by requiring uniforms.
more beneficial change that could
the limitations and guidelines
This switch to uniforms would
be brought to the dress code
outlined in the dress code are far
obviously save time and money
deals with the severity of current
from those that a normal adult
for students as they decide what
guidelines. With a diminished
abides by and these rules seem
to buy and wear to school. With
extremity in the dress code’s
unrealistic.
uniforms no one has to spend
restrictions, students would have
has
an unbearable amount of time
a reasonable set of rules which
reasoned that current constraints
getting ready in the mornings.
would be easier to put in effect
on dress code are impractical. It
Uniforms also sharpen the blurry
while still allowing students
is hard to keep up with current
line between what is appropriate
to shop for and wear current
fashion trends with such strict
for school and what is not.
fashions.
The
Spectator
The real reason LFA has
Letter to the Editor:
The importance of finding a medium between e-books and paperbacks To the Editor:
ers. Am I to believe that my stu-
dynamics and reaction kinetics
I read with dismay The
dents and I will be more enriched
modeling, using supercomputers.
Spectator’s recent article about
if these are removed, and instead
I teach AP environmental science
the "long term hope. . . towards a
we are forced to look at these im-
and fully support going paperless
book-less (library) system." I am
ages on a small plastic screen?
wherever possible. This year, my
one of those people who loves
Will those of us tactile persons
APES students are using an eb-
feeling and seeing a book, news-
who enjoy surrounding ourselves
ook, but I have a hard copy of the
paper, or magazine in my hands.
with the real thing, become out-
textbook in the classroom, and it
I have bookcases in my house,
casts?
would be great if there was also
and I enjoy seeing my books all
I love having an actual
a hard copy available in the LFA
around me. I cannot imagine my
book in my hands while I am
library. I embrace everything that
life without books, and while I re-
reading; I do not have the same
computers and the digital world
alize that within my lifetime this
emotional response towards my
have brought us, especially the
will probably all change, I do not
computer. My computer is a
ability to communicate more ef-
think this will be a step forward.
tool, whereas my books and art-
fectively. So yes, I am torn be-
Will this be the new real-
work feed my soul. Before I am
tween the digital world and the
ity? Will our museums follow the
dismissed as an "old stuck-in-
world of books. But can't we have
path of libraries, where we will sit
the-past fogey," I want to point
both?
in our homes looking at images on
out that I have spent my life sur-
screens, instead of experiencing
rounded by computers. My Ph.D.
Dr. Kathleen Barton
paintings first-hand? The walls of
thesis involved numerical mod-
Science Instructor
my home and classroom are cov-
eling, and I wrote my own code.
LFA
ered with reproductions and post-
My research career involved fluid
F o r e s t
S P E C TAT O R
The impracticality of LFA’s current dress code: A call for modifications
7
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 Phil Pray Leo Rudberg Jane Xu Bailey Ayers John Luttig 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
“Journalism can never be silent: that is its greatest virtue and its greatest fault.” -Henry Anatole Gruwald
THE SPECTATOR 8
Opinion and Editorial
October 28, 2011
Dress Code
Revising the Rules By Mary Kate Hayes and Erica Lewis Staff Writers Girls owe it to themselves, the faculty, and their classmates to look presentable. Presentable can be defined as classy and appropriate. If LFA’s girls’ dress code is implemented to achieve this goal, why does the faculty enforce petty rules? We agree with many of the concepts of girls’ dress code, but we suggest that they only serve as guidelines. Dress code needs to be more realistic and then evenly administered by all members of the faculty. For example, “no jeans” is definitely a rule all should abide by, but “no shirt lower than the collarbone” is unrealistic. Stores simply do not sell enough shirts of this style, and a rule that extreme is not necessary. Girls should
use their own discretion in determining an appropriate cut of shirt. If cleavage is showing, then students should realize they are subject to getting points for dress code. Another rule is about bandage skirts. First, it is unfair to the students and their parents who bought clothes before the start of the school year without knowledge of this rule. Second, we agree some of the skirts are definitely too short, but under a fair length rule (the tips of your fingers, not four inches above your knee), skirts of this type that are of appropriate length should be allowed for this year, at least. As long as a girl looks appropriate and together, there should not be the threat of getting in trouble. We see girls in “perfect” dress code wearing loose corduroys and baggy sweaters, yet no one would ever go to work dressed like this. “Loosening” the dress code is not our objective. We would like to see the current dress code fine-tuned so that the rules are easy to follow and serve to create a stylish and classy student body.
The jean cut cords and shirt below the collarbone are technically out of dress code, yet this outfit is more presentable.
The Purpose o By William Murphy Newspaper Advisor Why does LFA have a dress code? Different schools have dress codes for different reasons. Taking fashion out of the high school mix can have very positive effects on a school atmosphere. Not worrying about what to wear can reduce stress. Dress codes can also eliminate socio-economic differences between students. Some experts even think that dress codes – and especially uniforms – reduce students’ distractions in class caused by revealing clothing. A large number of schools say they require dress codes because students who look presentable also act more professionally in school. People in the LFA community believe that if students do not comply more closely with the requirements of our school’s dress code, the next step for the administration could be uniforms. If the school does make this change, it would be following the moves of numerous other schools that were based on significant amounts of educational research. Such research, done by sociologists at both the University of Notre Dame
THE SPECTATOR October 28, 2011
Opinion and Editorial
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Disconnect
of Dress Code Seeking Responsibility and New York University, indicates that students who attend schools with uniform policies perform better than students who attend schools without dress regulations. The research focused on religious schools with uniforms, but it extended to private schools, and it compared those schools with public schools without dress regulations. The numbers were compelling. Students with uniforms achieved significant positive academic differences than their non-uniformed counterparts. Many of the educators who are in favor of uniforms, including people at LFA who feel that too many students (both female and male) are abusing dress code regulations daily, could point to the research and feel strongly about making a switch to uniforms at LFA. So if you don’t want to wear a uniform every day, or if you don’t want people to think about switching to a uniform environment, you would be wise to adhere more closely to current dress codes. Then you could point to the one anomaly in the research: in academically demanding schools with either dress codes or uniforms, students who only had dress codes tended to perform better.
This outfit is completely in dress code: shirt to the collar bone, dress slacks, and cardigan, yet it looks less presentable.
By Phil Pray Entropica Editor “You’re out of dress code!” The average student enrolled at Lake Forest Academy either observes a teacher confronting a student, or is the student being called out, at some time during their four years here. But the majority of dress code violations during each week are usually girls not following their dress code. This angers many male students who stay within their dress code. As a result of the countless fashion choices facing them, girls feel each day because of the high school pressures of looking great (but still staying appropriate), girls attending LFA usually “bend” the rules. It can become very irritating for guys to be in class, or around school, hearing that because the girls not following the simple bylaws of school dress code, LFA is considering a school uniform for all students in the near future. The excuse that female students often turn to is that guys have it so easy just having to wear to a tie, collared button-down shirt, dress pants, and nice shoes; but the
truth is that guys have difficulties as well, but manage to follow dress code more closely. It appears to me that the freshman class is, by far, the largest offending group, sabotaging themselves for future years by wearing short skirts and tight clothes. I usually don’t care about dress code. In fact, I usually welcome breaking dress code until it begins affecting me personally. But, as a senior, I am writing this for students who will be returning to LFA next year: you have a choice of looking good (yet staying unique) and following dress code, or you might force the administration to change the code to something more stringent and lose all choice.
LFA girls frequently get away with just wearing leggings and a sweatshirt, but this is neither in dress code nor is it presentable.
Photos by Zunaira Arshad
Images by Jane Xu
THE SPECTATOR
Features
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October 28, 2011
Teen tattoos on the rise Ariana Bhatia Editor-In-Chief For their birthdays, teenagers have been known to ask for new cell phones or to get their driver’s license, but in a growing national trend, teens are asking for tattoos. Tattoos are surging in popularity among teens reaching their 18th birthday. Whether it is for religious reasons, for the sake of remembrance, or simply to look cool, getting tattoos is a trend that is growing in popularity and doesn’t appear to be going away any time soon. According to an article on abcnews. com, “A 2010 Pew Research study found that nearly 40% of young people between the ages of 18 and 29 have tattoos, and of those, half have two to five tattoos.” Not surprisingly, as the tattoo craze has grown, the dissention from parents has decreased over the years. That is probably because more parents of teenagers now have tattoos as well. Tattoos, permanent designs in the skin, are made by injecting ink through a needle. Professionals generally use handheld electric tattoo machines. Penetrating the skin at the proper depth is crucial to making sure a tattoo is clear but also long lasting. The permanent nature of a tattoo arises from the fact that the ink is injected below the top layer of skin. Tattoo laws vary from state to state and for this reason the requirements on li-
censing and training also vary widely. In Illinois it is “a misdemeanor for anyone, other than a person licensed to practice medicine in all branches, to tattoo or offer to tattoo a person under age 18.” This regulation was originally crafted by the National Conference of State Legislatures before it was adopted here. The Spectator conducted a survey regarding the prevalence of tattoos within the LFA community and received 196 random responses. Of those who responded, 116 said they currently did not have one and had no desire to get one. Sixty four people said they wanted one. We did ask people if they currently had tattoos but there were doubts about the seriousness of the responses to that question. It is a fact that there are several faculty members and students here at LFA who have gotten tattoos. Of those people who said they want one, eighty six percent said they wanted to get one within the next five years. Sixty one percent said their parents know that they want one; however, fifty nine percent said their parents would not allow them to get a tattoo. While the desire to get a tattoo is widespread, the risks are plentiful. The risk of regret is often one parents worry about most as they feel teens are too young to make a decision that is permanent. While tattoo removal exists, it is not easy. It no longer requires surgery but a laser remover
Vampirism “Sucks” An unhealthy and bizarre teen trend grows in popularity
Priscilla Shi, a senior, recently got a cherry tattoo on her wrist.
Photo by Carina Baker
is necessary. The success of tattoo removal is dependent on several factors including size and age of the tattoo as well as the ink that was originally used. The possibility of judgment by others is another parental concern. Lastly, the risk of infection is ex-
tremely high. Without proper cleanliness and sterilization, the process of getting a tattoo may cause staph infections, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, or even HIV.
Mary Kate Hayes Editor-in-Chief
bacteria.” Not only is the new trend embarrassing and odd, but also it’s also very risky and dangerous. “Human bites have been shown to transmit hepatitis B and C, herpes simplex virus, syphilis and tuberculosis to name a few,” Avitzur said. “Evidence even suggests that it is biologically possible to transmit HIV through human bites.” Compared to other sexual practices, biting each other like vampires falls between kissing and sex. There is no risk from closed-mouth kissing and only a few rare reports of HIV being transmitted from “French” kissing but in each case there was infected blood being passed from one to another. Hepatitis B virus is found in very high concentration in blood, and could theoretically be transfered through this practice. Pretending to be a vampire carries serious health risks In order to keep LFA clean from the health and social risks of participating in this activity, doctors recommend avoiding this dangerous practice.
There’s nothing more romantic than biting into someone’s neck, right? Except for maybe drinking a little of their blood? Hopefully no one at LFA thinks so. But, across the country this trend is catching on. You might feel disgust, surprise, or just plain confusion, but teens across the nation have taken on this odd and very dangerous trend. Twilight, Teen Wolf, and The Vampire Diaries are popular television shows or movies that display the current teen interest in the fantasy genre, and more specifically, vampires. The interest is so intense that teenage couples have decided to reenact the scenes they see in these shows and read in books such as Twilight. “We don’t even know how common the practice is because teens don’t tell adults that they are engaging in such behavior,” says Dr. Orly Avitzur, a physician who has been speaking out against this new teen practice. “But, approximately 10-15% of human bite wounds become infected by
Graphic courtesy of costumes.twenga.com
THE SPECTATOR October 28, 2011
Features
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Treasures from the Archives By Carina Baker Features Editor There is a nondescript white door in Upper Reid, set in a corner just across from Reid room 1. The staircase leading up to the Archives is dark and small; the rooms above, though, are not. Cabinets line the walls of two rooms where paintings lean in corners, and another, much larger room has rows and rows of shelving. The sheer number of objects is overwhelming; numbered and labeled containers of all shapes and sizes are everywhere. Holiday decorations inhabit a corner, and old hardwood boxes, lined with metal for fireproofing, are set against one wall. In amongst this mass of past prom decorations and boxes of blueprints, several real treasures are hidden. “They may not necessarily be treasures as in material value, but more in uniqueness,” said Ms. Rita MacAyeal, LFA’s archivist. Among the special boxes, made to keep the materials inside acid-free, is a letter from the 1800s of particular importance to school history. Spidery writing, with open bottomed ps and trailing capitals, covers all sides of the age-yellowed paper. "This is a letter from Reverend Ferry, and he's sending the seed money so the school can build a seminary. Fifteen thousand dollars; that's essentially creating Ferry Hall," MacAyeal explained. Many of the objects kept in the archives were originally just everyday objects, now valued and preserved for decades or even centuries. An herbarium, which belonged to one of the first students at Ferry Hall school, Anna Holt, dates to 1873, when Ferry Hall was only four years old. It was a biology project, said MacAyeal, where the student selected samples from around cam-
Harlean Harlow Carpenter’s (Jean Harlow’s) application form for Ferry Hall alongside a picture of her later in life.
pus and wrote the plants’ genus, species, and common name in careful and elegant handwriting. Plants are pressed between the pages, root systems dangling, and colors faded from the petals. A silk dress, blue with a pattern of green, pink and white flowers, is enclosed with a picture of its owner wearing the dress. This dress, which belonged to Elizabeth Buell Patterson in the 1880s, was donated to the school. In one box is a sketchbook which belonged to a Ferry Hall student from 1887. It offers colored drawings of the chapel, staircases, Lake Michigan, and the view from her dorm room window. A golden charm in the shape of a football has “Champions 167-0 1925” inscribed in tiny lettering. The LFA logo
is printed on the front above the date and score of the game. According to MacAyeal, LFA defeated the Notre Dame and Princeton freshmen to win the National Academic Football Championship in 1925. There are books of all sorts in the attic, too. George Holt's physics textbook from 1863 has his name written on the inside cover, along with "LFA" and doodles of Civil War battles, complete with puffs of gunsmoke and officers on horses. There are more recent objects stored in the Archives as well. Just from 1990, a trophy from the Model United Nations awards the Outstanding Delegate prize to two students. One of them is Skippy Adams, now Sam Adams, Rod Blagojevich’s defense attorney. A scrapbook from the 1920s,
Photo by Carina Baker
made by a Ferry Hall student named Anna May Houston, contains black and white photos of daily life around Ferry Hall and LFA. In it are two unique photos of influential artists during their school years; Doris Emrick Lee, an artist renowned during the Depression era, and Bix Beiderbecke, an influential Jazz musician. “It’s just such a cool item that has a bigger historical context than just our school,” said Ms. MacAyeal. Various documents regarding Jean Harlow, an actress from the 1930s who was a student at Ferry Hall, have been kept in the Archives. Among them are her application to the school (much shorter than applications today) and a doctor’s note giving her permission to wear high heels at school. Phioto Courtesy of Alexandra Campbell
Photo by Carina Baker
A golden football charm from 1925 when LFA beat Notre Dame and Princeton freshmen.
The first Ferry Hall and Lake Forest Academy yearbooks.
Photo by Carina Baker
THE SPECTATOR
Features
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October 28, 2011
HOS Religious Pluralism: The Spectator Celebrates LFA’s Many Fall Holidays By Ariana Bhatia and Sarah Clark Staff Writers In light of the Head of School Symposium on religious pluralism, the Spectator looked into some of the religious
Candles are lit in celebration of Diwali.
Photo courtesy of www.4to40.com
Diwali - October 26, 2011 The celebration of Diwali, the festival of lights, is a prominent Hindu religious festival. Celebrating the victory of good over evil, Diwali marks the beginning of a New Year in the traditional Hindu calendar. The origins of the festival lie in Hindu mythology when Lord Ram returns to his kingdom after being banished for 14 years. His subjects celebrate his return with lights, fireworks, food. It is tradition
to wear new clothes and exchange sweets. “So for Diwali, we normally light at least 50 lamps around the house, inside and outside, and visit and Vishnu and Lakshmi Temple,” said Senior AJ Jayakumar, “Also, we make a rangoli from colored powder and flowers for the front of the house.” Observed all over India, Diwali is also celebrated by Sikhs and Jains.
holidays in autumn that are celebrated by members of our community. These widely celebrated holidays often sound familiar but many of us do not know where they come from. We hope the following will give some insight into religious traditions.
Photo courtesy of BBC News
Muslims worship at Jama Masjid mosque in Dehli.
Eid al-Adha- November 6, 2011 On November 6th, Muslims will celebrate Eid al-Adha, the Festival of Sacrifice. This holiday commemorates the selflessness of Abraham. In Islamic, Christian, and Jewish religion it is believed that when God (Allah to Muslims) asked his follower Abraham to sacrifice his only son, he was willing to do so for his faith, despite his own pain. After thus proving his piety, he was allowed to sacrifice a ram instead. During the three days of Eid al-Adha, Muslims
Photo courtesy of www.ebibleteacher.com
Worshippers gather to pray at the Wailing Wall.
Yom Kippur - October 7, 2011 Began at sunset Yom Kippur, a time of atonement, is one of the most important days of the year for the Jewish faith. Yom Kippur marks the end of the High Holy Days, which begin with Rosh Hashanah. There are exactly ten days between these holidays. Yom Kippur is a time for one to admit one’s sins and gain God’s forgiveness. “This is the Sabbath of all Sabbaths,” said Senior Adam Mills, “It is a day of rest where you fast and pray to God.”
The day is traditionally observed with five prayer services and fasting for 25 hours. “I celebrate the the holiday by going to services at temple, one the evening before, following a big dinner, and then going to two services the next day,” said Junior Lauren Clamage, “I don’t eat until sundown, when all of my dad’s side goes to my aunts house to break the fast.” Information from chabad.org
celebrate Abraham’s unwavering faith. According to senior Arwah Yaqub, this holiday is celebrated by attending mosque, worshipping with prayer, and eating ram with friends and family. “You gather together and share meals,” said Yaqub, “because in Islam, Abraham is portrayed as being very selfless.” To Yaqub, Eid al-Adha is a time to “take a moment to pause” as you spend time with your family.
Photo courtesy of www.history.com
Children trick-or-treat in costume on Halloween.
Halloween - October 31, 2011 Halloween is a widely celebrated holiday in communities across the country. Though in its modern context it is seen in a secular light, the holiday does have historical religious ties that may surprise many of those who celebrate it here at LFA. “I have no idea why we celebrate it or where it came from” said Junior Lauren Pugliese. This opinion is very common to-
day in people who know Halloween just as a day of costumes and candy. Historically, Halloween, or All Hallow’s Eve, is a Christian adaptation of the Celtic festival of Samhain in which the dead were believed to return to earth. Costumes were originally worn to ward away evil spirits. It marks the day before All Soul’s and All Saint’s day which honors the deceased.
Information from Encyclopedia Britannica
THE SPECTATOR October 28, 2011
Features
Students often find themselves balancing thoughts of sports, academics, and media distractions all at once.
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Graphic by Matt Stevens
Multitasking: taking a toll on the teenage brain By Matt Stevens Managing Editor Let’s pretend for a second that instead of listening to music and instant messaging with your friends you are using the internet to do research about multitasking. Your research will show you that in today’s world of technology, there is no shortage of opportunities for distraction. At any instant friends, movies, cats, music, and (God forbid) books are all a few clicks away with nothing but self-control between them and the user, and the effect is potent. There is a strong temptation to engage in what has been termed media multitasking, consuming multiple forms of media at once, and it has become commonplace at LFA. Some people’s headphones seem to never leave their head, and only sometimes their ears. People sit playing angry birds with an open textbook on their lap. In the Student Center, there always seems to be about five songs playing at once with everyone in various states of getting things done. “If I’m not listening to music, I get distracted, and sometimes fall asleep,” said senior Amanda Shi. Yet there is a great amount of professional research which supports many people’s intuitions that these habits make their practitioners much less efficient. However, this knowledge has done little to discourage the habit. On a national level, high school-
ers are glued to media. According to a Kaiser Family Foundation Study in 2009, not counting academic use, young people consume on average a little less than eleven hours of media per day. They manage this through media multitasking, condensing over ten hours of media into seven and a half hours of consumption per day (still more time than a standard work week). Media multitasking is very prevalent, with about four in ten kids saying that they consume another form of media most of the time they listen to music, use a computer, or watch TV. The part of this trend most worrying to teachers and parents, however, is that more than half of young people use media during some/most of the time they’re doing homework. The study found that heavy media users were much more likely to get poor grades than light media users. This makes sense in light of the current brain research. A great amount of research suggests that the human brain works less efficiently while multitasking. According to University of Michigan professor David Meyer, this is because the brain processes information through different channels (auditory, visual, etc.). If two tasks occupy one learning channel at the same time, the brain cannot handle both simultaneously and must switch between them, which involves mental costs. This means that the only multitasking that is effective involves separate channels, like folding laundry (visual-manual) while listening to the news
Photo by Sarah Clark
Hunter Johnstone studies, texts, and listens to music at thePhioto same Courtesy time. of Alexandra Campbell
(auditory). So trying to text in between reading a textbook is taxing on the brain because the two tasks occupy the same mental channel, requiring constant switching of attention. “Listening to music helps me block out everything else,” said junior Palmer Taylor. “But I can only listen to music while doing certain things. I can do math, but if I try to listen to music while reading, I get distracted.” Researchers say that multitasking may still be detrimental even when done productively. fMRI scans of people learning without distraction show that the hippocampus, the part of the brain important for storing and processing information, was engaged. When people learned while multitasking, however, the striatum, the
part of the brain used for performing habitual tasks was activated instead, indicating that multitasking interrupts and alters the normal process of learning. In addition to short-term downsides, there appear to also be long term changes in thinking patterns in heavy media multitaskers. A Stanford study found that people who multitask tend to be worse at filtering out distractions, and worse at task-switching. Simply unplugging for a while could help your concentration and focus. “I’m trying to minimize my computer usage to get more work done. I know if I start looking at things on the internet I’ll get distracted and get caught in an endless loop,” said Taylor.
THE SPECTATOR
Sports
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October 28, 2011
SEEDS Academy student comes to LFA:
Diouf makes the Caxy team stronger By Grace Coburn Sports Editor LFA has been proud to offer acceptance to several male student-athletes from Senegal’s prestigious SEEDS Academy in the past. Tall (some 7-feet), serious young men from the African nation have played a major role for Caxy basketball teams on several occasions. But this year the situation is different. This year SEEDS Academy sent LFA its first female representative. Khadidiatou Diouf, also known as Dija, is a 6-foot forward who has been playing basketball since 2007. She comes from Dakar, Senegal, where SEEDS Academy is located. The mission of SEEDS Academy is to create an environment that will allow the growth and development of students through educational initiatives and sports instructions. Sponsored by Nike and the NBA, SEEDS Academy has already produced many amazing student-athletes that have come to schools throughout the United States to play either in college or professionally. The school has approximately 22 students; the boys board and the girls commute. LFA’s connection with SEEDS Academy started back in 2007 when former Associate Dean of Admissions, Mr. Nate Pomeday went to Senegal to visit SEEDS Academy and saw what they did. Other Seeds Academy students that have attended LFA include Aziz N’diaye ‘08, who attended LFA for only a year and now plays for the University of Washington. A filming crew followed him for a movie that comes out in limited release October 21st called “Elevate” which follows kids from SEEDS Academy and their journey to America. Remi Ndiaye ‘10 also attended LFA for two years and is now playing at Northern Oklahoma College. LFA Alumnus, Bobby Coburn, who played with both Aziz and Remi, loved the experience. “After playing with guys like Remi and Aziz, you can’t help but feel inspired by their
approach to the opportunities at LFA,” said Coburn. “To hear their stories, where they grew up and the hardships they overcame at such early ages, you’d be hard pressed not to become refocused and inspired by the relentless way they approach their goals while remaining so kind and gregarious.” The process of getting a SEEDS Academy student is long. “We first work with the US representative of SEEDS Academy, Brian Benjamin, and the director of placement at their school who sends us names and applications from the school. We’ve had boys in the past; this is first year we’ve had a girl applicant whose English was good enough to get into our intermediate ESL program,” said Dean of Admissions Mrs. Loring Strudwick. “We got her application and Mr. (Adam) Gerber interviewed her by Skype. She wasn’t able to do an SSAT, but they do national testing within a French system in Senegal so we based her admission on those results. She’s academically qualified but she’s in ESL at the moment.” “The goal of SEEDS students is to obviously play basketball, but also to go to a university or college in the states. If we can’t give them a diploma, we’re not doing anything for their goal,” said Strudwick. Coach of the varsity girls basketball team Mr. Chris Tennyson, has high hopes for Diouf this season. “She’ll be a great complement to the students we have returning; she’s very versatile, very athletic. I think she’s going to be a big contributor,” said Tennyson.
“She’s got great ball handling skills and body control for a tall person, so much so that I think she’ll probably play a swing position rather than the post. She’s really coachable and she wants to learn and play and she wants to play hard,” said Tennyson. Diouf, who’s always dreamed of coming to America, is having a great time in the states so far and loves LFA. “I really like it, everyone is really nice and it’s beautiful here,” said Diouf. “LFA is a very nice school. I like the academics; the teachers are really nice. I have the chance to meet some people from different places.” Diouf’s LFA debut is November 14th as the Caxys participate in the Cougar Classic at Vernon Hills High School.
Diouf is excited for the season to start and looks forward to meeting the girls on the team.
Photo by Jane Xu
THE SPECTATOR
Sports
October 28, 2011
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LFA Football impresses colleges: Many schools recruit senior Caxys By John Luttig Staff Writer Selective colleges across the country are particularly interested this year in many of the senior Lake Forest Academy varsity football players. Since Head Coach Ted Stewart came to LFA in 2008, the number of college recruits has increased every year. As the recruiting season is rapidly approaching, top-tier schools are looking at most of the varsity players. season is between December and February, according to Stewart. Thirty top football colleges across the country are looking at senior Faith Ekakitie, who plays defensive end and offensive line. Every Big Ten School has recruited him, with the exception of Ohio State. Other impressive schools that are currently looking at him include Northwestern, Stanford, Oregon State, Georgia Tech, UCLA, and Boston College. Ekakitie is currently
ranked 120th in the country and 3rd in state, making him attractive to the most selective football schools in the country. He has been invited to play in the USA vs. World game in Texas later this year. As a resident of Canada, Ekakitie will represent the World team at the event. He will also play in the U.S. Marine Corps game in Arizona. Rich Barber, offensive line and defensive end , is looking at schools on the East Coast. Barber feels that Colgate University is a good fit for him, as it presents a good balance between academic
rigor and athletic discipline. Matt Goad, halfback and middle linebacker, is looking at demanding colleges including Princeton, Harvard, Cornell, and Columbia. Additionally, wide receiver Charles Harris is currently being looked at by a variety of Big Ten schools, for both football and basketball opportunities. Kicker Ben Diaz is looking at several Ivy League schools, in particular Harvard University. Quarterback Seamus Finnegan, running back Quai Chandler, and linemen Eric Bauer and Reggie White also have opportunities for
college football. Unlike Division I schools, Ivy League schools do not grant athletic scholarships, but rather consider athletic performance in the admissions process. Recruiters can often be the tipping point between denial and acceptance into top schools. “Once [the recruiters] come to the school, they tend to come back and seek a recruiting relationship,” Stewart explained. “It’s all about relationships. Once they come to LFA, they’ll keep coming back.”
LFA’s varsity girls field hockey team has had an impressive season, even after graduating five seniors from last year’s team. Coach Diane Cooper has nothing but positive feedback for her current players. “We are a very disciplined team,” she said. “We have a game plan and we stick to it. We are also very good at playing as a team and we play a selfless game.” The team put extra effort into improving during the offseason added Cooper. “We are a much more serious and focused team. Everyone seems to be on the same page working during the season, as well as in the off-season,” said Cooper. Captain and senior Grace Robinson believes that this year’s team is much younger, but sees this as a benefit. “ The team is younger
It seems like just yesterday that we were all showing up for preseason getting ready for our fall sports season. Now, as we prepare for winter sports, here is a look at some of the fall sports seasons.
Girls Varsity Tennis Record: 5-6 Captains: Natalie Bernstein (‘12) and Mary Kate Hayes (‘12) Top Players: Number 1 Singles:Dani Mendoza (‘13) Number 2 Singles: Grace Kasten (‘15) Number 1 Doubles: Mary Kate Hayes (‘12) and Grace Coburn (‘13) Number 2 Doubles: Natalie Bernstein (‘12) and Sydney Doerge (‘15) Season Highlight: “The Madison tournament was a great experience, because we were able to start the season off by playing the best players in the Midwest and bond as a group,” said Hayes.
Girls Cross Country Record: 7-2 Captains: Sophia Smith (‘12) and Nina Varilla (‘12). Top Runners: Meg Kennedy (‘13), Vicki Zhang, Sophia Hanson (‘15), Allie Cedergren (‘13), Michelle Whitehead (‘14), Nancy Wang (‘13), and Kalina Gajda (‘13). Season Highlights: Smith won top ten medals at several meets including the Prep Classic, which she placed second. Smith took 5th place at Lisle Invitational. Kennedy and Zhang also won medals at meets this season.
Varsity Soccer
LFA continues to attract colleges that eventually recruit division I players.
Photo courtesy of Facebook
the team’s seniors and captains, Erica Lewis, Grace Robinson and Lexi DeYoung. “Lauren Stevenson has really stepped up her defense especially because of our tougher opponents. Jane Strudwick has also had a great season; she has had great games against some of our tougher opponents,” said Cooper. “Our seniors Erica Lewis, Grace Robinson, and Lexi DeYoung have also stepped up.
They have been great leaders and excellent role models for the younger players. They are also playing in some of the higher pressure positions and doing an excellent job.” As for goals for the season, the main one is to get home field advantage during the playoffs. They believe that they have become a force to be reckoned with. “We are playing at a much higher level this year,” said the coach. “Our opponents are much tougher than they have been in the past. We’ve proven to the league that we can play with the best of the best.” Wins that they’ve been proud of include their home games against Oak Park River Forest (10), who was ranked fourth in state last year, and Loyola (2-1). They also took state powerhouse Lake Forest High School into double overtime before losing. Be sure to check out the field hockey team in action as they enter the playoffs!
LFA Field Hockey has a successful season By Grace Coburn Sports Editor
Fall Sports Update
than other years, we only have 3 seniors and a billion sophomores. This is a good thing though, because it means the team is going to be even stronger in the future, since some of the younger girls really make a difference already,” said Robinson. As a team with many leaders, they’ve really come together as a team. Stand-out players include: juniors Lauren Stevenson and Jane Strudwick, and
Photo courtesy of Ms. Alexandra Campbell
The team as a whole has stepped up to make the team better.
Record: 10-5-3 Captains: Manny Chavez (‘12) Other Leaders: The juniors: Kyle Skinner, Charlie Versen, Craig Scott, Joey Laboy, Louis Bennett, Devan Daily, Charles Gallagher, Teddy Baldwin, and James Padley. Imporant Games: Glenbrook South and Reitz Memorial
Varsity Field Hockey Ranked: 8th in state Captains: Erica Lewis (‘12), Lexi DeYoung (‘12), and Grace Robinson (‘12) Season Highlights: Beating Oak Park River Forest and Loyola. Taking Lake Forest High School into double overtime.
Varsity Volleyball Record: 15-4 Captains: Jamie Balkin (‘12), Rachel Riccio (‘12), and Allie Matherne (‘12) Season Highlights: Winning the Christian Liberty tournament for the third year in a row. Beating Highland Park in our season opener. Most Memorable Moment: Dogpile after the senior game!
Golf Record: 6-6 Captain: Ariana Bhatia (‘12) Leaders of the team: “The five seniors, the hardest group I’ll ever have to replace: Ariana, Casey Coulter, Taylor Jemilo, William Duckworth, amd Jake Rosenfield,” said Coach Jonathan Freeman. Important Games: In the Midwest Prep Classic, located in Buffalo, New York, the Caxys finished 9th out of 13 teams in the cold and rain. Preseason for Winter sports begins Monday, October 31st. Be sure to support the Caxys in upcoming sporting events!
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Letters to Leo: How to look classy Dear Leo, I’ve been hearing a lot about the issues with the dress code. However, as a boy, do I need to worry about anything in particular? I need some good fashion advice. I’m so glad that someone finally asked this question. When I wake up in the morning, I pick my clothes according to a certain set of rules. Yes, think of dress code as a game and the object is to get as many fashion points as possible. (Note: this has NOTHING to do with the points system at LFA.) So, as soon as I wake up, I ask myself: “How do I look as classy as heck?” Let’s start off with the
shirt. Well my friend, I can tell you one thing. The more plaid, the better. Yes, any color plaid will do, but the more it resembles highlighter-worthy bright-
old’s drawing in a coloring book, the better. It’s so artsy. Remember, neon colors represent happiness. Plaid represents being super classy and Jack Donaghy
sary. I mean, you can just wear suspenders. But, please, wear them ironically. Students should also wear their pants as high, or as low, as possible. The former
ness, the better. If you can get into the neon territory of color, you might just as well forget the plaid because you might be close to overdoing it, of course! When you dress, you are supposed to be making a statement. Wearing bright colors shows your support for the peacocks. In fact, you should try to have colored patterns all over your clothing no matter what. That’s like triple fashion points. A tie is also an important part of a male student’s attire. The same rules apply. The more the design resembles a two-year
levels of power clashing. There is yet another criterion you should think about when choosing a tie. Regular patterns are dead, fashion-wise. Cartoon characters are in. Yes, festoon yourself with depictions of Bugs Bunny or Daffy Duck. Bonus points for the person who can find a Space Jamrelated tie. Clip-on bow ties and bolos are also very much fashionable. Trust me. Pants are necessary. Why go for the usual khaki when you can incorporate more plaid or neon colors, or both? Belts are also important, but hardly neces-
style shows respect for elders, while the latter acknowledges the societal requirement of wearing underwear. Socks are also an integral part of one’s attire. White athletic tube socks are cool. But sadly, they are too cool for school. So use some of the suggested methods to look good. Find socks that are either a) plaid b) bright neon colored or c) have one or more Looney Tunes and or Disney characters on them. This will ensure your stylishness as socks are the articles of clothing that will make or break your ap-
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pearance. Shoes are also necessary. Now, it may seem unfair that girls get to wear sandals (read: flip-flops), and it is. So deal with it. So just remember to be unique and don’t be afraid to stick to your fashion (meaning my fashion). Confronting teachers about this will definitely show how dedicated you are to your styles. I’m glad I could help. Sincerely, Leo Rudberg.
The subject discussed in this article is entirely fictional and is mean for entertainment purposes. Created by Leo Rudberg.
Caxy Match
here’s what i mean
Senioritis!
Mantas Ivanauskas’ Photos HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH! oh.. ya that sounds fun.. hahaha i know, the teachers were supervising the way students were dancing by giving out strikes if you started to get to close to your partner. haha wait.. i’m talking about the Homecoming Dance bud, not a baseball game. well besides the feeling that i was about to get a base-hit, i kept seein strikes.. oh ya? how was that..?
For this month’s Caxy Match, we think that freshman Shannon Seymour resembles famous boxer and salesman George Foreman.
ya, I went to the Homecoming Dance. Photo by Leo Rudberg
Photo courtesy of http://1.bp.blogspot.com/
haha sorry bud, no i didn’t end up going to that dance.. did you?
Caxy Cartoon: Problems with Dorm Life
By Jane Xu