Issue #8 21-22

THE

PROSPECTOR

801 WEST KENSINGTON ROAD, MOUNT PROSPECT, ILLINOIS

THE VOICE OF PROSPECT HIGH SCHOOL SINCE 1959

VOLUME 60, ISSUE 8

FRIDAY, MAY 21, 2021

Wh at ’ s t he re a c h o n

free sp ee c h ?

Supreme Court examines schools’ ability to restrict off-campus speech, social media posts OLIVIA KIM Editor-in-Chief *name changed for confidentiality

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hen Brandi Levy was 14 years old, she posted on her private Snapchat story, “F*ck school f *ck softball f *ck cheer f *ck everything” with a photo of her and her friend holding up their middle fingers. At the time, Levy didn’t realize that it would lead to her being suspended from participating in her school’s cheerleading program for the whole year.

Leading up to the incident, the former student of Mahanoy Area High School in Mahanoy City, Pa. was placed on JV instead of varsity, and her state of displeasure led her to share her thoughts on that private story once she was outside the school. Her post eventually made its way to the head cheer coach, and the school took disciplinary action against Levy. The conflict went to court and has arrived at the highest one in the United States: the Supreme Court — which is expected to give its ruling some time in June.

While the school argued that Levy’s post was disruptive enough to get her suspended from the sport, Levy and her lawyer from the American Civil Liberties Union assert that her freedom of speech had been violated. Despite this starting as a quick Snapchat post, the Supreme Court ruling will have the biggest impact on student free speech since 1969, according to Media Analysis teacher and Knight Media adviser Jason Block.

For one, this will be the first Supreme Court case to make a ruling on social media, and it will also ask whether public schools have the right to restrict speech that happens off-campus. “[If the ruling is in favor of the school], it’s just opening Pandora’s Box of allowing administration to have any say in what happens outside of school,” Block said.

One of the students this ruling could possibly impact is junior *Melanie Taylor.

For her, it’s not uncommon to post critical statements about Prospect on her Snapchat stories. She knows nearly everyone does the same because that’s what she believes social media is used for: expressing ideas and emotions. Taylor is aware of the faults of social media, but she appreciates the platform it gives people to speak up about topics important to them. For example, she attributes the success of the #MeToo and Black Lives Matter movements to social media and Generation Z’s ability to navigate these platforms.

“Not only have [members of Generation Z] made [others] aware that these situations are going on, but they’ve made it OK for other people to speak up about their issues and

not be scared about it, [so free speech on social media] is very important,” Taylor said.

The impact of these movements would not be possible either if it wasn’t for the sheer number of people that use social media, according to Taylor. 90% of teens reported using social media, according to the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. This means that 90% of teens could potentially be impacted by the Supreme Court’s decision.

The magnitude of this case could mean protecting student liberties in using social media without intervention from government bodies (except in cases of harassment, threats or perceived dangers to others). Or it could mean the start of the government being allowed to censor free speech in social media among students.

“The school is a branch of government, and the First Amendment says the government shall make no law abridging freedom of speech,” Block said. “Them reaching out — outside _student_free_speech the school

to evolve with and grow with because it’s a form of communication; it’s here to stay,” Mirandola said. “And it’s just a matter of how we could continue to teach and learn and grow from our current modes of communication — whatever they may be.”

Because social media is still considerably unregulated territory in the United States, it’s even harder to draw the lines of what should and shouldn’t be said. However, Block says that this question should be answered by parents and not schools when it doesn’t threaten the safety of others and it isn’t on school grounds.

Regulation outside of school would mean an expansion of government power that goes down a road of damaging consequences, according to Block. He compared the possible court rulings to a situation where students pass notes in class. If students pass them in class, they can get caught and punished for disrupting the educational process; however, if a student wanted to pass a note to someone in their own home, it would

seem ridiculous for the school to intervene.

“It makes me angry [and] just kind of disappoints me because it’s 2021; students should definitely be able to speak their truth and speak how they feel — especially on social media if it’s outside of school,” Taylor said. “I feel like the school shouldn’t have any business going into it.”

Despite social media being something new and constantly changing, constitutional rights are not. It is essential that the first amendment can hold the same power through evolving technology and not be limited because of it, according to Taylor.

“Once you leave this building, you’re just a regular human out on the street doing your thing; your rights should be no different than seconds before I put you in class,” Block said. “Somebody who’s 25 and somebody who’s four — neither one of those people is in the public school system. Why do they have more free speech rights just because you happen to be enrolled at a public high school?”

Supreme Court cases

and doing that — Tinker v. Des Moines (1969) that’s the Public school students don’t “shed their governconstitutional rights to freedom of speech or ment punexpression at the schoolhouse gate” unless ishing you it “disrupts classwork or involves substantial for somedisorder or invasion of the rights of others.” thing you said.”

Bethel school district v. fraser (1989) Block does not “It is a highly appropriate function of public believe that school education to prohibit the use of vulgar the lives of and offensive terms in public discourse.”

Prospect Morse v. Frederick (2007) students w o u l d Schools can limit student speech that seems c h a n g e to advocate illegal drug use. For example, a much with student can be punished for wearing a sports the ruling jersey with a beer logo even if it ended up being in favor of the school. He does not envision Prospect’s administration sifting through social media accounts in an attempt to find a way to punish students; however, he does not think this is the case for all schools across the nation. Additionally, if it is ruled that it is constitutional for public schools to restrict students for these actions off campus, then the lines between what government bodies can and cannot restrict begin to blur.

Associate Principal of Student Activities and Music Frank Mirandola noted that social media posts do come up several times per year to the administration for them to take action. He said that what goes into evaluating each case is looking at the impact on the student and school while making an emphasis on getting to the root of what caused the conflict. This course of action helps to reach a meaningful understanding and solution.

Mirandola’s understanding of social media is that it is just another vehicle for students to express themselves that isn’t inherently problematic; it’s just new, and the learning process surrounding how to use it hasn’t ended.

“It’s just kind of a different mode of communication that we have to continue

FOLLOWING: As a student walks off campus, an administrator’s hand extends out to censor the student’s actions on social media. (photo illustration by Alexis Esparza)

What’s inside?

Opinion

Knight Media staff share what the supreme court should rule in this case (page 3)

Features

Trust in government, authority wears down among members of generation z (Page 5)

In-depth

Sports

Standardized testing loses weight in admissions process; will trend continue? (Page 6)

GARY Moeller commits to University of WisconsinMadison for football (page 12)

2 NEWS

PROSPECTORNOW.COM

MAY 21, 2021

Seeking out American citizenship Nation sees surge in immigration; student, teacher explain impact of migration to U.S. OLIVIA KIM Editor-in-Chief

*name changed for confidentiality hen sophomore *Maria Villanueva turned 15, she planned on taking driver education and completing all the steps to get her permit and later her driver’s license like many other teens were doing. The only obstacle standing in her way was paper — missing papers to be more precise. Her parents refused to let her enter the process of recieving a license because they figured that she wouldn’t have the right documentation to get the license as an undocumented Mexican immigrant. Even though she researched if she could, her parents still told her she couldn’t out of the fear of being deported.

DREAMER: A Mexican immigrant looks towards the future with hope of new opportunities. Although Villanueva is currently trying to get documentation through Deferred Action for attempts were made to repeal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) in the previous presidential Childhood Arrivals (DACA), which enables administration, the system still stands as more immigrants are seeking a better life in the U.S. “I think [immicertain people who immigrated illegally as children to avoid deportation and be allowed gration] is the fabric of this nation,” Spanish teacher Ryan Schultz said. (cartoon by Ondine Cella) to seek work in the U.S. Since its start in 2012, ish teacher Ryan Schultz said. “That’s ... the pay taxes” and “steal jobs,” all of which are DACA has helped over 800,000 children stay seeking more job opportunities since they thing I respect the most is that foresight.” entirely untrue, according to Villanueva. in the U.S. with their families. Villanueva had grown up in tight financial situations in Mexico. Even though Villanueva acknowlSchultz’s mother is a Palestinian immi“I think [immigration] is the fabric of is currently four months into the six month edges the hardships of moving and being an grant, so he was aware of common hardships this nation, to be honest with you, and I feel process of trying to receive documentation. immigrant, she that come with migration to the U.S., howwhen the stigma is removed from immigraE v e n is grateful for the ever, it wasn’t until he started working in tion, there’s more benefit than detriment,” though Presability to receive high school that his perspective drastically Schultz said. “When we really consider, as a ident Donald a good education widened. nation, based on the amount of cultural diTrump’s Adin a safe environSchultz figured at a young age that he versity and religious diversity, [there is a sigministration ment. She hopes would pursue a career in restaurant mannificant positive] perspective that you gain made nuto be the first agement alongside his brother. He was emfrom having a population [that] is so diverse. merous unin her family to ployed as a manager at a restaurant where For me, it’s something that I don’t think we successful graduate college. he worked with seven Mexican immigrants. appreciate enough and that maybe we should attempts to “ J u s t Eventually, he learned to converse in Spancelebrate a lot more than criticize.” end DACA, being able ish to communicate better with them.

Despite the diversity of the nation that is President to go to What came from his discussions with seen by Schultz, there is a push for assimiJoe Biden school and these seven migrants was a realization of the lation that Villanueva sees in others. A comshared in his a c t u a l l y hardships and sacrifices that they endured mon scenario for Villanueva is going to a first joint address g r a du at e just to seek a better life not just for them — store and noticing that someone can clearly to Congress that he college — that’s but for their children. One story that resospeak Spanish. And in one specific instance, hoped to focus on protecting what … immi- nates with Schultz particularly is that of his she noticed someone fitting this description DREAMers (young undocugration means co-worker’s brother getting shot down and working the cash register, so she naturally mented immigrants) and farm to me — try- eventually dying at the border as they were decided to go up to them speaking her first workers who already immiing to find a crossing. Just getting to the U.S. involved language: Spanish. However, they reacted grated. better life and such high risks, but the cost of not pursuing by pretending to be unable to speak Spanish, At the southern border, have more the opportunity to immigrate was higher for and Villanueva attributes this response to U.S. Customs and resources,” them. feelings of inferiority based on their race.

Border Protection Villanueva “That spirit to endure and overcome and “I feel like they do that because they feel (CBP) encountheir fear essentially for their own lives like if they show they ... [are] Mexican, they tered over 170,000 *information according to a Prospector said.

In ef- based on what he had seen — I think that will feel less than … white people,” Villanuemigrants just in forts to kind of sparked a lot of desire for me to unva said. “I feel confused on why they do that March alone, the greatest survey of 235 students a c h i e v e derstand their stories fully,” Schultz said. because they should be proud that they know number counted in over a “And I feel like the only way you can do that how to talk Spanish, too.” decade, along with a record number of un- these better resources, Villanueva notes that Villanueva’s father also told her about accompanied minors crossing, too. Despite her father does have to work many hours in is by being able to speak the same language a hard job, construction, in order to make a that they speak.” seeing similar situations happen, but Villanthe surge in immigration along the border, good living for her family. Due to the extenTalking to these immigrants, he found ueva does not want to give in to that push for the Biden Administration has taken steps sive process of achieving citizenship in the that their stories were so powerful that he assimilation. Schultz recognizes this, too, to try to reduce the number of families and U.S., her parents are left without paperwork, changed his career goals from the restauand feels that Hispanic immigrants are marchildren in CBP custody with six executive which makes getting a loan to buy a car or a rant business to becoming a Spanish teacher ginalized and even demonized more than orders he signed to solve this issue. house nearly impossible. Another thing that to share the lessons he was able to learn as those of other countries oftentimes.

While many immigrants crossing the a teen with students and hopefully inspire “I think we all have a civic responsibilborder have been seen to experience great her family gave up when moving to the U.S. is the ability to go to the doctor or dentist since them to do the same. This is why he works to ity to ... either fight for some sort of reform difficulty, Villanueva stated that her parents integrate units in his Spanish classes about or at least advocate for a different change in were lucky enough to have some relatives al- they aren’t covered by health insurance due to their documentation status. the migrant experience in the U.S.. perception so that somebody like my daughready in the U.S. to follow. She moved to the “Most of the immigrant spirit comes from He finds these topics especially important ter doesn’t look at it the same way that I was U.S. with her parents from Mexico when she exposed when I was a child,” Schultz said. was three years old — first going to Califor- the want to pay it forward to the future gener- to discuss because of the consistent stigmaations because I think [immigrant parents] ... tization and marginalization of immigrants.

“So that acceptance is probably the princinia to be with family and later to Illinois. pal there, but I think we all need to ... spread, Villanueva’s parents decided to move to compromise themselves in certain ways that Villanueva has also noticed anti-immigrant the U.S. in hopes of earning more money and make their lives even less comfortable now to sentiments through the media describing acceptance and understanding rather than sacrifice for the people of the future,” Span- Mexican immigrants as “thugs” who “don’t judgment and criticism.”

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35.9%

of prospect students have one or more parents that are immigrants

4.7%

of prospect students are immigrants

find us @

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_knightmedia

Cirrincione says ‘Adios’ to prospect

Prospectornow Knighttv801

Opinion: Elk grove Shouldn’t hold summer festivals

knightVoices

Opinion: harder to connect as new student

Knight tv

KNIGHT VOICES

Teens waste free food, raise concerns

NEW EPISODE OF GIRL TALK: VACCINATED GIRL SUMMER

lunch time litter: LISTEN TO A Click on the photo to watch the video

photo by Charlie Dhalgren

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staff EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Brendan Burke, Olivia Kim ASSOCIATE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Alyssa Schulz MANAGING EDITOR Charlie Dahlgren COPY EDITORS Kailie Foley, Kevin Lynch KNIGHT TV PRODUCERS Juliet Aquino, Emma Letzig KNIGHTVOICES PRODUCERS Nolan Hamilton, Kaylie Pasternak LIVE SPORTS PRODUCER Luis Hernandez ONLINE EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Jacob Siciliano, Cameron Sullivan PROSPECTOR EDITORS Maeve Molina, Ella Mitchell,

MAY 21, 2021

ONLINE EDITORS Joey Delahunty, Marina Makropoulos SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR Abby McKenna REPORTERS Dean Carlson, Alyssa Degan, Riley Peterman, Cedex Estella, Nic Fardella, Aidan Murray, Chris

VISUALS EDITORS Alexis Esparza, Ondine Cella,

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Some material is courtesy of MCT Campus High School Newspaper Service.

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3

We stand with free speech Staff Editorial

initials “B.L.” represent the cheerleader’s name, Brandi Levy, but her name was abbre-

the American Civil Liberties Union.

The big question before the court is some“It can hardly be argued that either stuthing that could not have been anticipated dents or teachers shed their constitutional rights to freedom of speech or expression at in 1969 with the Tinker ruling. Social media did not exist back then, so the question the schoolhouse gate.” of whether or not a school has the right to These are the timeless words stated in the regulate off-campus speech was not on the majority opinion of the 1969 Supreme Court case Tinker v. Des Moines Independent court’s mind because there were no social Community School District. Back then, the media platforms leaving written evidence of off-campus speech. Levy’s case is now catchcourt’s decision in this case made history afing national attention, and ter it declared that the susopinions on this issue vary pension of public school from person to person restudents who wore black gardless of political ideolarmbands in protest of the ogy.

Vietnam War was unconFor example, President stitutional.

Joe Biden has voiced his This was a landmark support for the Mahanoy ruling primarily due to Area School District in the fact that the Supreme this case for the sole reaCourt ruled in a broad son that he believes that sense that public school off-campus threats of vistudents have free speech Voting results of the olence and cyberbullying and expression rights so Knight Media staff in need to be within every long as there is no substanschool’s disciplinary juristial disruption to another regards to this editorial. diction. However, many of students’ right to an educathe justices appointed by Democratic prestion. idents have indicated support for Levy in Unfortunately, the court has yet to side their oral arguments — indicating that this with any public school students in First Amendment lawsuits since the Tinker case, issue is one based on how individuals interand now the time has come again for the pret the Constitution rather than on their highest court in our country to rule on yet political beliefs.

We, The Prospector, strongly support another free speech issue. Mahanoy Area Levy and the ACLU in the Mahanoy case School District v. B.L. is a court case that is because of the dangerous precedent that is set if the ruling goes in favor of the school lic school students for decades (see “What’s the reach on free speech?”). Both the dis- district. If schools are suddenly granted the right to regulate and punish students for trict court and the U.S. Court of Appeals for off-campus speech that does not disrupt the the Third Circuit have sided with B.L. The

1

Against

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For

educational process, we will be living in a censored society that is the antithesis of every principle this country was founded on.

In this country, the free speech and expression rights guaranteed to all Americans — including us high school students — are sacred and cannot be infringed upon. Contrary to what the Mahanoy lawyers are arguing, we do not support cyberbullying or off-campus school threats in any way, and the current laws in place already protect the school’s rights to punish students for this kind of behavior.

Even with the Tinker ruling, a Prospect student does not have the right to walk into a student makes a threat like that at the school, they are disrupting the educational process. When a student harasses and bullies another student online, they are breaking state anti-bullying laws. The narrative being pushed by the school district that free speech advocates are advocating for bullying is laughable. Yes, Levy was acting childish in her reaction to not making the varsity cheerleading team, but that aspect of the case is irrelevant and a mere distraction from this case’s impact. Turning a very serious free speech issue into a fake war against cyberbullying is a desperate attempt by a school district that is clearly in the wrong to overturn the rulings of two federal courts.

This time it is “F*ck cheer,” but next time, it could be a student speaking out against a sexist dress code, a biased school curriculum or an unfair bag search. Our free speech rights are slightly regulated at the schoolhouse gate, but if the Supreme Court rules in favor of the school district, our cell phones become the new gate and that means our speech will always be regulated.

That isn’t democracy.

Summer brightens as camps open S

ince I was in 7th grade, every sum-

KNIGHT TV DIRECTORS Katherine Lytle, Henry Kauke, Matthew Niemczyk

OPINION

kids ranging from my age all the way down to six-year-olds to Camp MacLean in Burlington, Wis. The stuffy coach bus was tired teens and the occasional adult telling everyone else to calm down.

The hour-long ride was hardly interesting; there was never anything fun to look at outside the widows, aside from the cow or horse you’d see every few towns.

But once I saw the wooden arch and the hanging sign of Camp MacLean, I knew I was about to have the best time of my life.

Summer camp, MAEVE a Disney Channel MOLINA summer experience like the ones in the Executive corny kids shows, Features is real, believe it or not. The whole idea Editor of sleeping in a cabin with strangers and sharing a bathroom with every girl there is an experience that I’m sure every kid dreams of.

But in all seriousness, my best summers were spent on the rock wall, zip lines, kayaks and, yes, communal bathrooms in the “middle of nowhere” YMCA summer camp. It is true what the corny shows say; camp really is a home away from home.

My sophomore year, I was hired as a junior counselor at Camp MacLean, which has camp. I wanted to be the cool counselor — the one who showed the campers what an amazing summer they would have. I wanted to be the counselor that makes kids come back to camp.

I wanted to watch those little kids have a summer they would remember for the rest of their life.

I had been hired and was waiting to get my pack list for the upcoming trip, but like everyone else’s summer plans last year, it was cut short before it even started.

Camp MacLean announced that its gates would be closed for the summer of 2020. The moment I received the email that was basi-

it felt like COVID-19 had taken everything from me. It felt like the world fell down upon me and said “Screw you; no fun summer for you.”

COVID-19 shut down 62% of camps all across the country during the iconic summer of 2020; now, a year later with summer approaching, summer camps are once again starting to get prepped for the sounds of young children and teens coming through the wooden gates and having the summer of their lives.

Yet the question remains: how will this summer be compared to the last? Since our life is not yet back to our normal, how can camps go back to being what they were?

Summer camp is a big deal. Not only to the campers, but to the counselors, administrators and the camp itself. It was devastating when the camps shut down.

The closure left campers and staff disappointed, and it was predicted that the industry took a $16 billion revenue hit. Many camps lost all the revenue from camp registration, special trips and additional merchandise sales.

Like schools, opening summer camps back up required lots of planning and setting up. CDC guidelines include a section about summer camps and how they can operate while being safe. Like in other public spaces, all campers, staff and visitors in camp will have to wear masks at all times with exceptions for certain people with approved medical conditions. Exceptions are also made for certain settings or activities, including eating, swimming or sleeping.

Many camps will also be cohorting their campers. These cohorts, or “pods,” are groups of campers and staff that stay together throughout the day. This will minimize exposure to other people at camp. Campers group and unit.

Camp MacLean is also restricting the mixing between their cabin groups; the campers will take part in activities, like rock climbing, arts and crafts and archery only

with members of their assigned cabin group.

This is different from previous years where campers would be able to do these activities with any camper from any cabin.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE REST OF THE STORY cartoon by Ondine Cella

4

OPINION

MAY 21, 2021

PROSPECTORNOW.COM

Therapy benefits drown stigma A

nxiety and depression were the last words I heard before my mind blocked out the rest of my thera-

of white noise until I pushed it away entire-

On the wall in front of me was a black -

of emotion that held my head underwater

to speak, my head was the only place where I

When I came home, I buried my head unif I was a boat that had already sunk in the -

honest about mental health and the -

20% of Americans will experience a mental

Click here to listen to a podcast about understanding anxiety

less than half of that 20% will seek treat-

called psychotherapy

-

TREADING WATER: Overcome with a wave of overwhelming emotions, a person holds their heart above water. As the water rages, the person keeps in mind that they know how to swim and remain afloat. They now understand their own behaviors in order to rise above the current and breathe again. These skills can be attained through psychotherapy. (painting by Ondine Cella)

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this can make a person feel more in control

When I sit in her room each Saturday, I tend to understand more about my life and

make an effort to understand their problems

that help me step back and see situations

worked on myself to the point where I am surrounded by friends I can talk about thera-

In 2020, I opened up to my -

in my life, I had seen a social

derstand why I think the way I

brows raise when I talk openly about thera-

limitations were attached to my -

stand the worth of your emotions, so do not I talked with my therapist, she led me back to

my brain with my own bare hands not often talk to people about my mental health besides a friend on occasion, which still made ple answer to my distress, but I questioned if my problems were

KAILIE FOLEY

to speak out about the state of your -

mental health experience is linear, but, with

-

Copy Editor

-

-

about who I was or how I felt from my theron my chest, my problems were not importated my problems and therefore they did not

was called pathetic by a peer in return and

rienced within relationships would not be

It felt as if the word pathetic had been

no matter how you feel or think, and there is

I suddenly focused on her words and underI now could think about the situation difto blame myself for choices I would make dif-

hard to take in her words and attach them to

and

because of my mental health, I in-

than it is to let yourself feel the emotions

OPENING UP: A client sits down with her therapist as she talks about her thoughts and feelings in psychotherapy. As a result, the client feels more in control of her own life after she learns how to problem solve in new ways. (painting by Ondine Cella)

apy is one of the outlets that is open for peo-

click on the image to Read about senior sarah ryan’s mental health experences

PROSPECTORNOW.COM

FEATURES

MAY 21, 2021

Squishmallows squish compet-ish Rise of new trend attributed to popular demand, emotional need for customers ALYSSA DEGAN Features Reporter

P

rospect alum Gianna Shaw was in rough pain after getting her wisdom teeth out during her second year of college. Although, this pain was slightly eased after she saw a pleasant surprise waiting for her in the car. As she entered the passenger seat, feeling all loopy, her eyes met a 24-inch blue dragon Squishmallow named Devin.

Squishmallows, a new fad item, have been around for four years now. Coming in all different characters, around 800 to be exact, and sizes, ranging from 3.5 inches all the way up to 24 inches.

Since Shaw has so many of her own Squishmallows, it’s hard to pick her favorite.

She likes her bee, shark and watermelon, but after debating, she ultimately decided on her avocado Squishmallow as her favorite.

“I like my avocado the best because it’s a really cute one,” Shaw said. “It’s kind of derpy and a little weird. I just wouldn’t have imagined having an avocado stuffed animal.”

Shaw thinks Squishmallows appeal to all ages for a different reason. For Shaw and her college roommates, searching for Squishmallows at a cheap price started out as a fun bonding experience.

Shaw thinks Squishmallows appeal to younger people as well because all kids love stuffed animals. She also believes that they appeal to teens with their cute and comfortable aesthetic.

Shaw obtained her first Squishmallow during junior year of high school. Now she is in her second year of college, giving in to the popularity and cuteness of Squishmallows as she continues to collect them. She has at least 10 with her in her room and 25 collec-

tively with her roommates. She plans to get more, of any character, when she can find them at a cheap price.

People are buying out all the stock at local stores, like Walgreens and Five Below, trying to collect the popular stuffed animals.

Even after calling in advance, it’s not certain customers will receive what they hoped for.

With the growing popularity of squishmallows, stores have amped up the prices, hoping that the fans won’t let sellers down.

“They are like our generation’s … Beanie Babies where they are already worth more monetary value than what you would buy them at retail price,” Shaw said. “And I think it’s only going to go up.”

There have been Facebook groups created for people who buy, sell and trade Squishmallows at crazy prices depending on their rarity. The resale price can be two to three times the retail price coming from all over the world.

There could be many explanations for why Beanie Babies and Squishmallows get so crazy popular abruptly.

Shaw thinks that they get popular because of how they make people feel.

“They give a sense of nostalgia for Gen Z back to the Webkinz days” Shaw said.

Prospect’s school psychologist Dr. Jay Kyp-Johnson has his own hypothesis.

Kyp-Johnson thinks that people get them when others have them and want to hop on the trend instead of actually needing them for sensory reasons.

“If you go back through history, Furbys, hula-hoops [and] Beanie Babies were all fads,” Kyp-Johnson said. “Millions and millions of things were fads. They get socially popular then start to die out.”

He believes as people grow older, they don’t find the same things fun anymore and people develop new fads. Many items over the years grew popular, stayed popular for a while, then no one heard about them anymore. Of these items, some were used just for pure fun and others started off to help people focus and fidget with. Then, most turned into a popular craze for anyone and everyone.

Some people use things like worry stones and fidget toys to keep them focused. Studies say that fidget toys aren’t just hype, and they actually help people that need them. Fidget toys have been seen to benefit people with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactive Disorder and

5

SOFT SURROUNDINGS: Prospect alum Gianna Shaw sits with her many squishmallow plushes. The toys’ cute aesthetic has made them a popular fad item recently. (photo courtesy of Gianna Shaw) anxiety.

Doing experiments with certain kids with ADHD, the educators had them work once without anything and then gave them a stress ball the next time. In what they gathered, the stress ball helped the students focus and get work done better more often than not.

Kyp-Johnson said that the physical activity of using the toys helps create the neurotransmitters in your brain that help a person focus and feel good.

Sometimes a toy may help the person using it, but distract others around them. He also has said that people think an item is helping them when it’s really not, but then they feel more comfortable.

This is similar to the placebo effect. The effect could be the reason that fidget toys seem to help students focus. Although, there may be other reasons and factors.

Special Education Division Head Christina Diaz has gotten a good handle on what the students’ needs in high school are. She believes an item that helps a person focus or stay calm is often an individual experience.

She says something like a Squishmallow

wouldn’t be commonly found in a high school class. The students don’t want to look like they are standing out. They would prefer to have something smaller and more subtle.

Diaz noticed that most kids could use things as simple as a pencil or pen cap to keep them focused. She says even at this age physical toys have been less common for students because they have found more simple and discreet ways to stay focused.

She often works with the kids to discover something more age appropriate to have in class. Such as the pen cap, doodling or even getting up and walking around for a second.

Even the actual toys people use to focus have died out. This makes it unclear how long the Squishmallow trend will last. Maybe it will continue to grow for a while, or maybe it will have a sudden downfall.

Since Squishmallows have already grown so popular, they may continue to grow in value as other things gain the hype. Shaw is planning for if the value of Squishmallows does increase.

“I will definitely save them and see if they will ever be worth something,” Shaw said.

Anti-authority attitude arises among teens JOEY DELAHUNTY Executive Online Editor Sophomore Jack Imperial remembers being told that various figures in government were admirable and trustworthy when he was younger. The most notable of these figures, and the most admirable, was the President of the United States.

But today, Imperial believes that this simply isn’t true and that various figures of government are not and have not been as admirable as they once were.

As with many large-scale social movements, the massive protests of police brutality since last summer have sparked a new wave of anti-authority beliefs. While these beliefs were roused by individual acts of violence committed by police, physical conflict with law enforcement at protests has only furthered them.

Distrust in authority isn’t a new development in the United States — especially among young people — but the recent debate about the way policing functions has brought the issue to the forefront of the national conversation.

According to AP U.S. History teacher Brad Rathe, distrust in government is fairly constant throughout American history. The initial disconnect between citizens and government tends to come from the feeling that the government is not acting in the people’s interest.

The deeper, more active anti-authority movements usually grow from that feeling due to a political scandal or direct, negative government action of some sort.

One of the largest modern examples of events of this type is the Vietnam War and the anti-war movement surrounding it. The war was already controversial with the information that was known publicly, and violence against protestors at various times certainly didn’t help, such as the shootings at Kent State University in 1970 committed by the National Guard. The next year, in 1971, saw the release of the Pentagon Papers, exposing secrets and bringing more Americans against the war. For many reasons, these various scandals made the government seem untrustworthy — sparking numerous protests and political movements.

Later in President Richard Nixon’s presidency was the Watergate scandal as well, which led to his resignation and the indictment of several government officials. While political scandals certainly weren’t an invention of the ‘70s, the period marked some of the largest and most famous in U.S. history.

Of course, anti-authority sentiments didn’t stop in the 1970s, either. Imperial believes that his caution toward authority figures developed from getting a clearer view of the way they act at times.

“Especially when you’re little, they always teach you stuff like ... they look to the president as a role model, they look to people in the government as a role model,” Imperial

photo by Angus McIntyre, licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0

said. “Especially recently, that has apparently been proven false.”

Imperial’s distrust isn’t absolute, however. He believes that while power itself isn’t necessarily to be trusted, there are some individuals in government who are acting in the interest of the people.

However, he thinks caution and distrust are still wise to some degree. Imperial also believes too little trust in any authority can lead to conspiracy, while too much leads to blind obedience.

While Imperial believes these feelings can get too extreme, he also believes that in certain circumstances outright resistance is necessary and positive. “[When] you see something in your leader that you do not like and that you don’t agree with, you can challenge that authority,” Imperial said. “... There are a lot of times in history where they do challenge that authority and it yields some amazing results.”

However, being in a situation where citizens feel like they cannot trust their leaders clearly has negative effects as well according to Rathe.

“It leads to more polarization,” Rathe said. “It leads to people who are conservative Republicans saying ‘the Democrats are all crooks,’ and it leads to Democrats saying that ‘Republicans are all crooks.’”

The recent Black Lives Matter protests have been some of the largest ever, according to The New York Times, and various aspects of the movement have been divisive even within political parties. While it’s largely a left-wing movement, the Democratic Party often draws criticism from activists for being too moderate in their goals. Rather than a conflict between parties, many instead view it as a conflict between the people and the establishment.

Despite his issues with the government, Imperial believes that there are certain people in power who have good intentions and act well as leaders. For the future, Imperial wants to see more of that at the forefront.

“Governments being more honest and focused on the people instead of ... government officials looking for their own gain and looking for their own power [is what I want],” Imperial said. “I think if they really just put the people first ... that would obviously help build a better relationship with people, especially when it comes to trust.”

6 IN-DEPTH

MAY 21, 2021

THE NEW S

Test-optional college admissions provide choices, diversity KEVIN LYNCH Copy Editor

S

enior Irena Hong did not feel ready to take her ACT as the test date approached last spring. While she had taken a practice SAT and several PSATs to prepare for that particular test, she had never taken a practice ACT and had not studied as much for the ACT. However, just before her scheduled test, the pandemic forced her ACT to be rescheduled. As the summer wore on, her testing dates were continuously moved or canceled, and after multiple reschedulings, she came to a Illinois.

“I knew that I had to take [the ACT], so it was frustrating that it was hard to get a time to take it, but also I was relieved because … I was dreading taking it,” Hong said. “ … It was happening to everyone, so I knew that … if I wasn’t able to take the ACT, neither were most of the people at my school, and it’s not like colleges are going to penalize everybody for not being able to take the ACT.” Eventually, Hong realized many of the schools she hoped to apply to only required either an ACT or SAT score, so she wouldn’t have to worry about taking the ACT and could simply take the SAT when the school administered it this fall. However, she was also persuaded into making this decision by another rising factor: test-optional admissions.

As the COVID-19 pandemic descended on the country last spring, the traditional standardized test season was greatly disrupted. With a stay-at-home order in effect, schools were unable to safely administer the tests, leading to the cancellation or postponement of the SAT and ACT when many students had planned to test. These two scores, which have infamously carried a heavy weight in the college admissions process in the past, suddenly became colleges and major universities took an unprecedented approach by making the transition to test-optional admissions.

According to post-secondary counselor Diane Bourn, test-optional schools are those that give applicants the choice to submit their scores; they can also choose to be test-blind, which, in most cases, means they do not consider test scores in the applications process at all. However, she admits, the terms “test-optional,” “test-blind” and “test-free” are often used interchangeably and with different meanings depending on the circumstances. erage test scores in the majors she was interested in. Then, she submitted her scores to the schools where her score matched or exceeded the average. After decision about whether to submit her score early on to avoid paying a fee.

So, she submitted them only to her less desirable and less selective choices.

According to FairTest, a website concerned with the accurate and fair examination of students and their academic abilities, 1,050 schools employed a test-optional policy in 2019, and over 600 more schools followed the trend for 2021 admissions. This number has fallen to over 1,400 schools for 2022, still accounting for more than 60% of all undergraduate institutions in the country.

Notable schools that have gone test-optional or test-blind for the permanent or foreseeable future include Michigan State University, Butler University and University of Chicago.

Others, including the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Harvard University and Ohio State University, have made the change only for the 2022 school year, and others are branding their current policy as a pilot program Bourn says that some schools were hesitant to consider becoming test-optional out of fear that without these scores they would lack necessary criteria for admissions.

However, she says that now that data from the class admitted under temporary or pilot programs is available, it has shown many schools that test-optional admissions does not weaken a college’s ability to admit students.

“Overwhelmingly, we’re hearing that it has not [had] a negative impact at all, and, in fact, it has, in many ways … allowed them to be more holistic, meaning instead of it just being formulaic like, ‘Ok, what’s your GPA? what’s your test score?,’ it allows them to look more closely at your list of activities, look at your essays … [and ask]: ‘What kind of a student are you?’” Bourn said.

Some, Bourn said, have admitted that the process may be more time-consuming due to a need to examine other aspects of a student more closely, but many have increased their staff or moved deadlines to accommodate the change. But, to justify such drastic changes, there must also be obvious benThe movement to deemphasize test scores, while not a recent phenomenon, has gained steam in recent years outside of the argue, brings a less narrowed view of an applicant’s strengths and allows the college to use a student’s skills and attributes to decide whether they are a A 2018 study of 28 test-optional schools by the National Association of College Admissions Counseling found that crease in the number of applications received in addition to increased diversity in applicants.

According to David Wagner, director of admissions at St. Olaf College in Minnesota, his school had

The average ACT score for students with a family income OVER $80,000 is

OVer 4 Points

information according to ACT

PROSPECTORNOW.COM

higher than those with a family income lower than $80,000

already been considering making the s fore the pandemic due to positive data gone the change.

After announcing the switch, St.

about 5,000 applications per year. Wag missions were a success this year, va school to hone in on what makes each s “I think it helps us cast the net wid apply, so I think [the decision] was rec in an interview with the Prospector.

St. Olaf is not the only place wher vored; in a Prospector survey of 219 stu were happy with many schools’ decisio However, this decision has not bee Maria Tovar, who plans on applying to nurse, said that, because the school’s a that it is not test-optional, she is conce her extracurricular activities, service too low.

Much like Tovar described, stand cism for their tendency to weed out ot ting into their college of choice.

In theory, standardized tests prov a student’s intelligence and college re outside factors such as their location o dardized.”

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IN-DEPTH

MAY 21, 2021

STANDARD

switch to test-optional admissions bea from schools that had already underOlaf received an increase of roughly

gner believes that the test-optional adalidating the claims that it allows the student unique. der, and … encourage more students to ceived really positively,” Wagner said

re test-optionality has been heavily faudents, 91.3% of respondents said they on to go test-optional. en good news for everyone. Sophomore o Trinity Christian College to become a acceptance rate is fairly low and given erned that the school will not factor in hours and other assets if her score is

dardized tests have faced much crititherwise promising students from get-

vide a baseline with which to measure eadiness regardless of any number of or background; hence the term “stan-

However, much research done in recent years has concluded the opposite; students with a higher income are more than often the most successful on standardized tests.

A more extreme example of this phenomenon was the 2019 Varsity Blues scandal in which celebrities Felicity Huffman and Lori Loughlin were among 49 people charged with conspiracy to commit multiple crimes by abusing

colleges under false pretenses.

Outside of the advantages given to students with successful families and backgrounds, the college admissions process, namely standardized testing, has been accused of holding back low-income students from colleges they are “... Data shows that students whose native language is not English are not going to score as well on a standardized test, and so it may have left some students out of colleges that they have every capability to be … successful at,” Bourn said. “... Eliminating the test scores, I think, allowed colleges to evaluate students for other things than just how they did for three hours on a Saturday morning.”

According to the Washington Post, the College Board notoriously denied that test prep for the SAT could greatly boost scores, until releasing data to this effect in 2017 that showed students who used the tice on Khan Academy had an average score gain double that who didn’t use the site.

Khan Academy is not the only option available to students looking to bump up their scores, however.

Students can choose to pay for a variety of test-help services, including Tutors.com for SAT tutoring is $70 per hour.

Hong believes that, while there is inequality in everything, standardized testing emphasizes those disadvantages. Tests, she argues, cannot accurately measure a student’s abilities when they do not take into account the difference between a higher-income student attending a well-funded school who can afford test prep and a student who has to work to support their family or does not have access to the internet with which to study.

“It’s not fair to look at a great SAT or ACT test score … and say, ‘This person is most likely more intelligent, for our college than this other student’ because they don’t know the students’ lives, and they don’t know … what they’d done to get those scores,” Hong said.

Tovar says that her parents don’t mind spending money on tutoring because they want her to have a well-rounded application and the possibility for a promising future.

However, Bourn worries that some students and parents may take this line of thinking too far and overesti-

7

mate the importance that standardized test scores have in admissions.

“I think students and parents are still thinking that [standardized testing] is a way bigger factor than it is, and because of that they’re spending … hours in test prep, paying money, … just really feeling the pressure of, ‘This is it; what I do today is gonna really affect my future,’ and so I’m hoping that … with more and more schools going to test-optional … that students will put it in perspective,” Bourn said.

One of Hong’s friend’s parents took standardized tests very seriously, to the point where her friend would have to study rigorously and miss social ing allowed to see friends if he did not meet a certain score on a practice test.

She does believe, however, that many students and have begun to realize that the scores are not as important as some make them out to be.

“I feel like over time, kids are just going to realize for themselves, no matter what their parents or schools or education systems tell them … they’re just going to, over time, realize, ‘yeah who cares what I get on these tests,’” Hong said. “ … I feel like, overall, there’s gonna be less and less students who are … trapped in that mindset.”

However, despite the positive buzz surrounding test-optional admiscult for some than it might appear.

A common question that has arisen concerning test-optional schools is that of trustworthiness: will students who submit a score still be given priority over those who do not even if they are not necessarily required?

According to Powerful Prep, students should submit their standardized test scores to show that they are willing to go beyond the minimum requirements. The article argues that test-optionality is only truly optional for those who have suffered from income inequality or have experienced hardships during the pandemic.

However, Bourn and Wagner both agree that test scores will only be used to validate students’ other areas of success and students who opt to not submit their score will not be punished. According to Bourn, students should use common sense to decide whether to submit their scores. Bourn also says that this conversation surrounding test-optionality is mainly centered around highly-selective schools, and an average student should not worry too heavily.

Before COVID-19, Wagner said, many schools that went test-optional would However, only 38% of applicants submitted scores to St. Olaf last year, indicating a further decline in many students’ value of test scores. Though, this number may not be indicative of what may happen in the future as students like Hong may not have had the option to take their standardized tests at all.

Regardless, Wagner believes that the most important aspect of college admissions is allowing colleges to truly evaluate how a student will do once they are actually admitted to the college, rather than hyperfocusing on things that aren’t as indicative of this quality.

“I think if you get … a really, really great score on your standardized test … it just means you are a smart person and you’re good at taking tests,” Hong said. “But … there’s a difference between a good test taker and a good student.”

Percentage of students that met benchmark scores on both math/reading SAT Tests

57% 29% of white students

of Hispanic students

20% of Black students

information according to a 2019 report by The College Board

cartoon by Grace He

8 FEATURES

MAY 21, 2021

PROSPECTORNOW.COM

Witchcraft takes on new meaning ELLA MITCHELL Executive Entertainment Editor

to social media platforms, especial

videos manifestation, astrology and crys

U tailing vomiting of obscure items

fessions out of people is in stark

HOCUS POCUS: Barrington High School senior Ava Seburg’s tarot cards along with her other witchcraft materials are laid out. As time progresses, witchcraft has taken on different forms and less widespread fear. (photo courtesy of Ava Seburg)

tarot cards, pendulums or some

1400s, forced accountability onto are largely based on emotion and ute costume industry one pointy

of reasons, including causing un you are putting your mind and on social media platforms, like stan Seburg believes it can actually be “It can be anyone,” Seburg of spirituality for many years, Se burg really began practicing about make a bit of trouble or maybe see suspected

of crystals to practice magic, but embracing differences or defying

into simple rituals like tarot cards,

a different brand of modern day

Cannon retires, establishes legacy based on giving back PJ O’GRADY Executive Sports Editor driving back from Illinois State

LENDING A HAND: Coach and PE teacher Dominic Cannon high-fives ‘17 alum Richard Baczek. Cannon is retiring this school year. (photo courtesy of The Crest)

about important life lessons out

gram a collapsed lung and a fractured gone to so many different parties

to be sticking around and visiting come back to Prospect and tell me

Senior baseball player Jack drug problems and learning dis

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MAY 21, 2021

ENTERTAINMENT

9

‘Chicago 7’ deserves more praise A

fter viewing the legendThe Social Network,” which director Aaron Sorkin wrote along with writer Ben Mezrich, I was immediately impressed with the movie’s

serving of the Best Picture Oscar.

POLITICAL TRIAL: The defense team in the infamous trial of the “Chicago 7” stands with their arms raised as Tom Hayden (left) reads the names of 4,752 Americans who died fighting in Vietnam. Director Aaron Sorkin’s “The Trial of the Chicago 7” follows the story of events following the 1968 riots at the Democratic National Convention. (photo courtesy of Netflix)

telling the story out of order. This is without a doubt a token piece The Trial of the Chicago 7” is no exception to his methods.

Released on Oct. 16, 2020, this kin has directed, but it managed to pick up six Oscar nominations, one Golden G l o b e a w a r d a l o n g

BRENDAN BURKE

o t h e r nominaEditor-in-Chief tions and plenty of other nizations. In fact, one of the Oscar was for Best Picture — the most prestigious award given out by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences each year. However, “The Trial of the Chicago 7” fell short on this nomination, and the academy, instead, granted the award for Best Picture to director Chloé Zhao’s “Nomadland.”

“Nomadland” was a powerful, creative way to tell a story about the Great Recession, but its mesin a way that is out of touch with reality due to the countless American families who lost it all for doing everything absolutely right back in 2008.

For those who have yet to view

pressive in most areas, it failed to further describe the investigation that proved the Chicago Police Department was responsible for the DNC riots, and this kind of gloss over can dangerously leave viewers with only a piece of the story.

Despite this, the movie should be applauded for its relevancy.

This movie is about speaking out against wrongful actions by the government. This movie is about the blame protesters receive when a riot starts due to violence startis about how “the whole world is watching” — a common mantra when a government attempts to silence its people for speaking out against them.

Chicago 7” follows the story of the notorious 1969 trial in which eight men — eventually condensed to seven after one man was granted a mistrial — were charged by the federal government for allegedly plotting a conspiracy across state lines. The “conspiracy” in question refers to the riots and protests surrounding the 1968 Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago, and the aftermath of this event — including the aforementioned trial’s verdict — left an everlasting, historic impression on the United States.

A viewing of the two hour and nine minute movie is a great watch for people of all ages who want to learn more about one of the most infamous trials in our country’s history. Sure, a quick Google search can tell you the gist of everything you should know about the trial, but for me, seeing and living the real trial rather than just

reading about it was a much more powerful, impactful way of learning and feeling the inequity of that time in history — especially when cinematographer Phedon Papamichael has his hands on the project.

Papamichael was given a cinematographer’s worst nightmare when deciding to join in on “The Trial of the Chicago 7” because about courtroom while the other 40% is riots. In reality, the courtroom in which this trial was held was small and windowless, and the only form cent light bulbs.

Due to this unappealing setting, Papamichael was given the freedom to alter the courtroom in any way that he desired in order to tell the story more creatively. The biggest alterations made were to greatly expand the size of the courtroom and to replace the

windows that provided plenty of Although these changes were minuscule, the overall effect that they had on the tone of the movie allows all viewers to feel as if they are in the courtroom being put on trial for the same crime.

Using the technique of making viewers seem as though they are the real jury in the case is not unique to “The Trial of the Chicago 7,” and Sorkin powerfully followed in the footsteps of Martin Scorsese’s “Goodfellas” and Robert Mulligan’s “To Kill a Mockingbird” when shooting the intense prosecution scenes. the tone of the courtroom, Papamichael brilliantly displays a narrative in which the literal world is stacked against the defense.

Perception is everything, and Papamichael’s clever cinematography along with Sorkin’s powerful -

the entire year of 2020. Yes, there was a global pandemic, but the idea of justice for all, addressing police brutality and not allowing a corrupt government to silence its citizenry is a message that deFloyd and the subsequent rise of the Black Lives Matter movement.

“The Trial of the Chicago 7” is more than just a movie; it is a calling to all Americans — especially us as the future of the nation — to continue to turn out, speak out and for the society we believe in.

We obviously do not believe in riotous destruction, and Sormessage with an ending focused on honoring the fallen soldiers in Vietnam through nonviolent protest.

It is important that we continue to speak up as we live in an age where people like Derek Chauvin are trying to avoid their just guilty verdicts. The same corrupt powers in this trial must hear us.

The whole world is watching.

Rise of NFTs paints new horizons in digital art RILEY PETERMAN Entertainment Reporter According to Pew Research Center, 45% of teens use the internet almost constantly. This increase in teenage internet usage shows that Generation Z is exploring a new horizon: the internet.

On Mar. 11, the artist “Beeple’’ sold a non-fungible token (NFT) called “The First 5,000 Days” for $69.3 million. NFTs are not an extremely new concept considering that they were created in 2014, however, this one piece of digital art changed the NFT game forever, making it burst in popularity.

Following this, photography, digital art and even memes have sold for millions of dollars online. But what are NFTs? And why are they the price of a nice house?

To understand NFTs, it is important to have at least a brief understanding of what cryptocurrencies and blockchains are. A cryptocurrency is a digital form of money where ownership for it is recorded in a computerized database. It uses a strong form of security called cryptography, hence why it’s called cryptocurrency, to secure transaction records and verify the transfer of coin ownership.

A block chain is a network of

computers all over the world that keeps track of every cryptocurrency transaction ever made. When someone makes a transaction with cryptocurrencies, the computer tracks it. Humans do not control this, it’s all just computers.

Because of the lack of human control, more people currently trust cryptocurrency. People also use cryptocurrency because every transaction is on a public database, which can help prevent scams.

All money in the United States is controlled by the Federal Reserve. The Federal Reserve can do whatever they want with the dollar, which makes it a centralized system. Cryptocurrencies have an opposite system: it’s a decentralized system. This means no one entity has authority and the information system is interconnected.

Cryptocurrencies are also appealing, because this is the rency ever created.

So how do NFTs work with cryptocurrencies? The biggest difference is that unlike cryptocurrency, which are worth the same, NFTs are completely unique.

The “F” in NFT stands for fungible which means one

token can be exchanged for another one of it. For example, a dollar is fungible because trading one of them would have the same spending power both ways around.

Digital art, however, is an example of a non-fungible item because there is only one original created.

The appeal to people is the ability to create just one of something on the internet. Anything on the internet can be copied.

Most of us have copied something from the internet before.

When we copy this item, it looks exactly like the original. But that’s it; it’s not original — it is just a copy of the original. What the NFT does is that it allows the creator to stamp these internet creations basically making sure the original stays the original by attaching it to a blockchain. Some may question why they should own an NFT if they can just look at the art online and save it onto their device.

Although copies of the image can be made, nobody can copy the original. Think of it as a print of art, a copy can be owned, but it’s not the original. And since the NFT shows the original creation, value can be assigned to it just as it would be to a physical piece of art. ists because the block chain can

For example, when an artist sells a painting in real life, and the consumer resells it, the original artist NFTs, it can be built into the blockchain code that every time it’s sold, the original artist can get a fraction of the money. A minimum acceptable price can also be set for when the consumer re-sells it.

Graphic Design teacher Andre Poisson thinks it’s more of a “how” instead of a “will” when it comes to NFTs for student artists.

Since NFTs are very popular online, could they ever come to Prospect?

“I am open to art NFTs,” Poisson said. “But, I like it when something is produced or published so you can see it in person. In graphic arts it’s mostly digital, but in other mediums like painting and charcoal it just has that feel that you don’t see online.”

However, senior Giahan Tran has a different perspective as a student who creates digital art online.

“I don’t think NFTs would change anything other than giving artists a platform,” Tran said.

“It gives them the opportunity to do the things that they actually enjoy doing. It’s less of changing how they do their art and more of now they have a better shot at be-

coming a successful artist.”

NFTs may have helped some artists get a platform. Beeple, the artist that sold the most expensive NFT, was struggling to sell his art before he sold NFTs. “I honestly ... never thought I could sell my work,” Beeple said in an interview with Business Insider. “Kind of late September, early October, people kept hitting me on being like, ‘Oh, you got to look at this NFT thing.’”

This led Beeple to make internet history. It is unknown if NFTs will stay at close to an unattainable price or if NFTs will be more accessible to very small artists in the future. Maybe NFTs will be practically unknown in a couple of years, or it could be the opposite, with NFTs being normalized for every artist to do. Google searches for NFTs spiked tremendously during 2021, and searches for buying NFTs have spiked a lot too. Only time will tell to see if this trend will continue.

NFTs just add to the horizon of the intricacies of the internet.

No matter how crazy the newest trend may be, it’s only a part of navigating the internet cyberspace.

photos courtesy of Larva Labs

10 SPORTS

PROSPECTORNOW.COM

MAY 21, 2021

Three ‘court’ athlete gets honored

Senior Alex Giannopoulos named female Athlete of the Year CAMERON SULLIVAN AND JACOB SICILIANO Online Editors-in-Chief

S

enior Alex Giannopoulos hurriedly walked toward room 229. That morning, she had received a text from her tennis coach Mike McColaugh stating that he had news and needed to see her as soon as possible. each step as she drew closer to the door. Giannopoulos’s mind raced as she had no idea what her coach could possibly have to tell her.

With her heart pounding, Giannopoulos twisted the silver doorknob and was greeted with a smile from McColaugh: “Congratulations Alex, you just won Athlete of the Year” “It was jaw dropping,” Giannopoulos said. “I never thought that I would ever win an award like that, so it was just really exciting to see that the work I’ve put in the last four years paid off.”

Besides Giannopoulos, seniors Luke Zardzin and Cole Lannert were also awarded this honor. Giannopoulos’s athletic career at Prospect was one highlighted by hardwork and dedication according to her coaches and teammates. Giannopoulos was a three sport athlete at Prospect, competing in basketball, badminton and tennis.

This past season, her dedication was put to the test as she participated in two sports during the same season.

“I invested a lot of time into my sports and

off, and I’m glad I did it,” Giannopoulos said.

Due to COVID-19, the sports seasons became displaced and stacked in some scenarios. For example, Giannopoulos was forced to play basketball and badminton in the same season. Athletes were allowed to participate in two sports if they didn’t overlap previously. However, Giannopoulos never backed down from the challenge.

“She’s probably one of the hardest working people I know because she never complained about having to go to basketball and badminton,” junior and teammate Summer Srodulski said. “She loved everyone at both of them and it was never like a job, she was just so excited to be with everyone.”

Giannopoulos would spend hours after school at her activities and then return home only to a pile of homework.

It wasn’t easy, but for Giannopoulos just being on the court was a gift after COVID-19 threatened her seasons.

“I just wanted to play. I didn’t want to look back on my junior season and say, ‘That was the last match I’ve ever played as a Prospect [Knight].’” Giannopoulos said.

With an ‘every day could be your last’ mentality, Giannopoulos left everything she had on the court. It wasn’t hard for her teammates to notice.

“You could tell that she was really tired, but she never admitted it,” Srodulski said.

“She would be exhausted; she would never tell anyone she would always work as hard as she could, and I’m sure she would get home and just be so tired.”

That’s why Giannopoulos was so touched when it set in that she had achieved one of Prospect’s most prestigious athletic awards.

“It took me a second to process what he just said because I was like OK, I just did that. My hard work, effort and everything I put in won me that award,” Giannopoulos said. “It was an emotional moment I’d say; I teared up a little bit, I didn’t cry, but happy tears [came up] because I did that.”

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CRUSHING THE COURT: Senior Alex Giannopoulos runs out for a basketball game. Giannopoulos won the Prospect Athlete of the Year award for her hard work and success as a student athlete. “... I never thought that I would win an award like that, so it was just really Giannopoulos said. (photo courtesy of Alex Giannopoulos)

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First boys’ LAX team meets PHS PJ O’GRADY

Executive Sports Editor

T

he ball is whizzing around; bodies are crashing into each other. Men

for an open lane. He shoots; he scores! It may surprise Prospect fans to learn that this description isn’t meant to highlight football or soccer. This describes lacrosse, an up-andcoming sport in Illinois.

In 2009, lacrosse could have become an IHSA-sanctioned sport if it passed the threshold of 65 boys teams, but it failed to do so. Currently in Illinois, there are 179 boys high school teams. Lacrosse is a brand new sport to District 214 and Prospect, having been announced last year.

To some people, lacrosse may be an under-the-radar type sport that many aren’t well-versed in, but it’s a sport with increasing popularity.

Boys’ lacrosse is a team sport that has 10 This includes three defenders, three midthe rubber lacrosse balls and lots of protective equipment. The equipment includes: arm pads, rib pads, chest protector, mouth guard, gloves and a helmet. tween 40-42 inches and is used more by atcontrol and ability to dodge more easily with -

TRAILBLAZER:

goal. No more than four players per team

zone with a nine foot radius. If the offense crosses it, any goals scored in that play won’t be counted. Penalties can be anywhere from 30 seconds to a minute and can be because of holding or pushing. The object of the game is to score as many goals as possible, and whichever team has the most goals when the time runs out wins.

The history of lacrosse is rich, dating

water polo was a club sport beforehand. Interestingly enough, the process to form the lacrosse team started a couple years ago due

tions. For example, if someone fails a test and blames it on themselves for not studying, then that is internal locus of control.

sports should be added to the district’s roster of extracurricular activities.

“Lacrosse was a sport that had a lot of interest, and it was something that we were ter that survey, we decided to more closely examine the practicality of starting a new

coach, was one of those coaches with that trait.

Brébeuf wrote about it being played by the Huron Indians in 1636. He was also the person who named this sport lacrosse.

In local terms, Prospect has entered a new chapter in history with lacrosse being cheer was the most recent sport to be offered at Prospect, which started competing in 2005-2006. Before that, water polo entered Illinois as a competitive sport in 2001, and entered D214 in 2004.

Assistant Principal of Student Activities between water polo and lacrosse was that lacrosse came completely from scratch, while

cants. D214 posted applications on various accessible websites, and after a while they accumulated around 20 boys’ and girls’ coaches to interview. Mirandola said at least one person from each school in the district sat on a large interviewing committee and interviewed candidates virtually during According to Mirandola, one of the most teachers or coaches is a psychological term called internal locus of control. Internal locus of control is where someone is responsible for what comes their way and realizes that they are held accountable for their ac-

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Battaglia said. “So it’s a pretty special place

Mirandola

explained

that

Battaglia

coaching it around four years ago, shortly after becoming a teacher.

St. Lawrence valley near Canada and upstate

the boys get excited for, that the parents get excited for and the school gets excited for, I

in, and they understand how to build a pro-

up, he said, because it is a mixture with so many sports.

“I was so excited, because I was going to play baseball. And then when I heard there

baseball anymore.’ Lacrosse was coming,

and his friends wanted to try a lacrosse camp Battaglia has indeed created a great way to build up the program. He has a Twitter account (@PHSKnightsLAX) for the lacrosse team in hopes of the team gaining popularity and raising the community’s awareness of the program. players, highlighting their successes and

“You’ve got to watch it because you don’t

that?’ But then when you watch it you see that it’s fast paced, people are getting hit and everyone’s celebrating. So you have to watch

said. “So, if it’s putting in a little extra time

Baseball swings back despite coronavirus CHRIS RODRIGUEZ Sports Reporter 693 straight days. That’s how long it has been since a baseball was thrown by the Prospect Knights. However, the

has just become second nature. “It’s honestly just a part of

-

have just been something our team has accepted and [we’ve realized] if we follow them right, we can play the game we

ing hard to ensure it’s one of the most successful to come. sports to be played, including baseball, with some minor ad-

about the news.

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BAT AT IT:

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The path to the season may have been a long and grueling one, but, now that it has arrived, the Knights have come together.

Any possible rust brought into the season seems to have

heads as they go full steam ahead toward the IHSA State

tunity would come. day at PlayBallUSA to improve their pitching and hitting.

The time off was a perfect opportunity to improve the basics As of May 12, the team is 15-4-1. The dedication during the apart may have been the ultimate factor to the success so far this season.

Additionally, the release of the highly anticipated information about a 2021 season pushed him even more to create a new goal.

original spring season and bleed into the summer along with the news of an IHSA State Tournament. Baseball is one of the only sports to have that opportunity this year, along with For the players, no matter when baseball was played it was all the same to them except for the introduction of new guidelines the Knights would have to follow.

would now have to become the new normal when not playing team has adapted to the new guidelines and has responded

The players and coaching staff have waited all year for

just six and a half innings against the Barrington Broncos, which led to a 10-3 win on May 7. rades said. “Being away from each other for almost two years

12

CURRENTLY ON PROSPECTORNOW.COM...

Boys' gymnastics recently went down and competed in the state meet and even placed sixth. Click the photo to read about the teams success. (photo courtesy of Aaron Marnstein)

SPORTS MAY 21, 2021

Knight one day, Badger another CAMERON SULLIVAN

Online Editor-in-Chief

S

enior Gary Moeller had already been committed to the University of Wisconsin-Madison and he thought his football career was over. That was, until he received one phone call that would change everything.

Wisconsin’s Director of Football Operations, T.J. Ingels, called Moeller to offer him a Preferred Walk On (PWO) for the 2021-22 football season. Moeller accepted it on the spot, and they began to work out the logistics.

“It was a dream come true; it didn’t really feel real,” Moeller said. “I don’t think it feels real yet, but … it’s a really cool experience.”

A PWO is like a scholarship, in the sense that the athlete gets a spot on the team, just without getting their schooling paid for them.

The biggest difference between a PWO and a regular scholarship is the playing time. Most of the time if the player is given a scholarship they will have a much better chance of seeing the field than a player given a PWO. That’s not to discredit all of Moeller’s work, as he put up some big numbers in his senior year.

Moeller accumulated 1,402 passing yards with 22 total touchdowns in just six games. As a junior, Moeller had a normal nine game season where he posted 2,341 passing yards and 34 total touchdowns. “[It’s] pretty awesome,” head football coach Dan Deboeuf said.

“I’m a little jealous, I always wanted to play Big Ten football myself … I’m super proud and excited for him. It’s definitely his dream school, his parents went there, his brother goes there so it’s … a really cool dynamic.”

Deboeuf was a big factor in getting Moeller that opportunity.

He reached out to Wisconsin and did all he could to give Moeller a chance. He kept trying to show them Moeller’s film; finally, he got them to watch it, and the rest is history.

“Honestly the way it all worked out was pretty cool,” Deboeuf said.

“I was able to get in touch with the coaching staff over at Wisconsin, got them to watch the film, and they really liked him, so I think it’ll be a great experience [for Moeller.]”

Moeller always knew he wanted to go to Wisconsin, whether that was to play football or not. He’s al-

POCKET PRESENCE: Senior quarterback Gary Moeller steps up in the pocket looking for an John Hersey High School Huskies. Moeller had an impressive outting and he will be joining the University of Wisconsin-Madison football team on a PWO. "He has an outstanding work ethic," senior running back Luke Zardzin said. (photo by Alexis Esparza) ways been a fan, partially because both of his parents went there.

“He always was wearing Wisconsin sweatshirts to our basketball games and everything,” running back Luke Zardzin said. “You knew that he wanted to go there someday.”

Moeller has worked hard for this opportunity and he’s done everything in his power to get to where he is now. He got a few other offers leading up to his big one from Wisconsin, including Valparaiso, St. Francis and a few others. Moeller didn’t take either of these because his dream was to play at a bigger school, like Wisconsin.

With the help of some teammates and Deboeuf, Moeller has

been grinding for this chance.

Even without knowing if there was going to be a football season, Moeller spent a lot of time during quarantine training and getting better.

“It’s just awesome to see somebody who puts in all that time to be able to put it all together,” Deboeuf said.

Since Moeller wasn’t planning on playing college football, this wasn’t something he was totally expecting. According to Moeller, it was a “super out of the blue, last minute thing.” On the other hand, this is something Zardzin and Deboeuf could see coming.

“I knew [Moeller] could do it; I knew he fell through the cracks of COVID[-19] a little bit through the

recruiting process,” Zardzin said.

“I’m really happy that Wisconsin finally opened their eyes a little bit.”

Having a season in the spring instead of the fall really hurt Moeller and many other athletes in Illinois who were trying to play college football.

Many colleges wanted tape of his performance from the fall, which Moeller wasn’t able to provide. With a fall season, Moeller might’ve had a better chance at a full scholarship.

College coaches only have a certain amount of scholarship money they can give out. Division I FBS schools have a total of 85 full ride scholarships they can hand out to players. When they’re gone, the

coaches can’t give out any more, which hurt Illinois athletes especially.

Athletes in most other states all competed in the fall, thus giving them an advantage over Illinois athletes. Zardzin is in a similar situation to Moeller, as having the spring season messed up his chances for more scholarship offers. For the time being, he is currently committed to Northern Illinois University for football. The college coaches are still able to give out PWOs though, which helped for Moeller’s case.

However, another thing working against him was his size. Most sought-after quarterbacks are usually around 6’2'' and taller. Teams usually want a bigger quarterback as they have some advantages, like having a better view over the offensive line and being less likely to get crushed after a big hit. Moeller makes up for his lack of height with his athleticism and mobility.

“Obviously [Moeller] has played at an extremely high level for a few years,” Deboeuf said. “ …

I think he’s the best quarterback in our area for sure, if not the state …

I always knew he could play at that level. The biggest drawback for him is his size, but you’re seeing more and more six-foot QBs make it in the NFL.” In today’s NFL, there are plenty of shorter quarterbacks like Russell Wilson and Kyler Murray, but a bigger quarterback is something many teams and colleges look for.

Compared to these quarterbacks, Moeller is 6’0” tall while Wilson is 5’11” and Murray is 5’10”. However, at Wisconsin Moeller will mostly be playing wide receiver, with some reps as scout team quarterback.

Moeller doesn’t believe this position switch will be a big deal. He played wide receiver before he was the star quarterback at Prospect and isn’t worried about the position switch at all.

At the end of the day, Moeller is just happy to be able to turn his dreams into reality and get the opportunity to play college football.

“It’s nice to know that when you do work hard for something, chances are it will happen,” Moeller said.

Moeller has done everything in his power to bring his hard work, goals and dreams to fruition.

“He has an outstanding work ethic,” Zardzin said. “He’s outworked so many people, and he has a real chance to make some noise at Wisconsin.”

QB COMPARISON: GRAHAM MERTZ VS GARY MOELLER GRAHAM MERTZ WISCONSIN 7

photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

NAME GARY MOELLER PROSPECT TEAM 6 GAMES PLAYED

1,238

PASSING YARDS

1,402

11

TOTAL TDS

22

38

RUSHING YARDS

150 photo by Alexis Esparza