Volume 51, Issue 7
Friday, March 9, 2012
TheVoice of Prospect since 1960
ROSPECTOR
Several teachers in the Social Science and World Language division really put the “social” in social studies. To read more about their special bond, see...
Features, page 7
801 West Kensington Road, Mount Prospect, Illinois 60056 * prospectornow.com
Spring season brings sneezes Mild weather leads to earlier allergy symptoms By Andrew Revord and Kyle Brown Associate Editor-in-Chief and Entertainment Editor For some, Chicago’s abnormally warm winter this year may have come as a relief. For junior Hannah Wendling, who has year-round seasonal allergies to “[just about] any plant” in addition to fruit allergies, the weather did not come as a relief. She said her seasonal allergies are the worst in the fall, but “this is definitely the worst year” for her allergies in general. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA), nearly every day from December through February this winter was above the historical average, as opposed to last winter when the opposite was true. The mild winter could cause allergy sufferers to experience symptoms earlier than usual. Science teacher John Kenney said a mild winter makes it easier for aller-
gens, like mold, to persist through the winter and therefore have a stronger presence earlier in the year. “The ultimate translation is it comes earlier, and it comes to a greater degree,” Kenney said. According to school nurse Cheryl Novak, symptoms of seasonal allergies can include coughing, a runny nose, sneezing and in some cases dry, puffy or watery eyes. However, seasonal allergies are rarely lifethreatening and usually don’t require serious medical attention, unlike, for example, some food allergies like severe nut allergies. This means students are largely responsible for controlling their allergies outside of school; Novak does not have many students coming in with seasonal allergy problems. Rather, she said most people go directly to a doctor, who recommends treatments, usually medications. It is then up to the patient to take the medication and follow any advice the doctor gives. Still, Novak has been keeping an eye on the weather and local pollen counts to know when exactly spring-related seasonal aller-
See ALLERGIES, page 2
Graphic by Ian Magnuson
Students plan Relay for Life By Danielle Keeton-Olsen News Editor Since her grandfather lost his battle against cancer, junior Lisa Borawski felt a pull to fight back where her grandfather could not. She joined Relay for Life, which raises money for the American Cancer Society, with her grandfather in mind and has since participated for the past five years. Now, she will have worked on the Relay for Life committee for three years. “I’m actually making a difference in other people’s lives,” Borawski said. Borawski is not alone in changing the lives of cancer patients and victims. This year, Prospect continues the tradition of Relay for Life, hoping to get more participation out of students. Relay for Life is one of Service Club’s largest fund-raisers. In addition to the American Cancer Society, Service Club teams up with members of the community to pull off this huge event. Relay for Life will occur May 18-19 in the George Gattas Memorial Stadium, according to the Relay for Life website. Basically, Relay for Life is a team event, where students can create a team and raise money that will go toward services and a cure for cancer patients. After fund-raising for weeks, the goal is to
have at least one team member walking the track at all times. There are other activities for participants, such as movies, student performances and contests. While many students only participate in their own teams, some prefer to help the Relay for Life committee. At committee meetings, which take place in the community room, students and community members join smaller groups to tackle different jobs of the extravaganza that is Relay for Life. Such groups include Entertainment and Activities, which asks community and school members to perform and plans things for kids and adults to do during the night, Sponsorship and Fund-raising, which asks local businesses to donate money or participate in Relay for Life, and Survivorship, which plans the dinner and gift bags for the survivors. Students can pick which team they would like to be a part of, and they are assigned tasks to complete. For example, although this is her first year on the committee for Relay for Life, sophomore Shannon Koch’s task is to send letters to local stores, and even celebrities such as the Harlem Globetrotters, for donations that the committee can use for a raffle. Students even participate extensively at meetings. The meetings are run by
pRAISING HOPE: Flags fly in the wind at Prospect’s 2011 Relay for Life. Prospect will host the event, which raises money for cancer research and partners with the American Cancer Society, again on May 18-19. (Photo courtesy of Dave Jacobson) Service Club Coordinator David Jacobson and staff partner Andy Fry from the American Cancer Society, but the meetings are completely open to ideas and suggestions that students and community members have. For example, students brought up how cold everyone was at the Relay for Life event last year, especially late at night. Through the suggestions of students and community members, the committee decided to move Relay for Life from the track outside into the field house at 11:30 p.m. to keep warm, while still en-
joying the beautiful May weather. Although Fry is the connection to the American Cancer Society, his goal is to keep the committee very involved. “This committee-based environment allows me to do a little more coaching, helping other folks be creative while I manage it, as opposed to running everything,” Fry said. “This allows for a lot more autonomy for those folks who are relaying, and it makes it more personal for them.” In addition to allowing more com-
Facebook frenzy
The professional world
Make-up mix up
What started out as a friendly site to keep in touch with acquaintances has quickly evolved into a collection of information on anyone and everyone. To see Kiley Walsh’s personal take on the Facebook network, check out...
Unknown to many students, Prospect offers classes to prepare high schoolers for taking their places in the world of business. To read more about what Prospect does for these interested students, go to...
A staple in any girl’s morning routine, make-up can be judged in everything from color to quality. To read Maddy Moloney’s personal review of her products, flip to...
In-Depth, pages 8-9
Entertainment, page 12
Opinion, page 6
See RELAY, page 3
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NEWS
Friday, March 9, 2012
ALLERGIES: Wind, warmth intensify seasonal sicknesses CONTINUED from front page -gies will hit. When the pollen counts are higher, she knows allergies are going to be worse. She said although she is predicting symptoms to come early, she has not yet received complaints from any students. When students do visit the nurse’s office complaining of seasonal allergies, Novak has them call home to have their parents or guardians bring their medications to school, as students are not allowed to bring medications with them to school, except for Epipens and inhalers with a doctor’s permission. According to Novak, trees are the biggest cause of seasonal allergies this time of year. Trees usually pollinate in the early spring, but they can pollinate as early as January if the winter has been mild, as has been the case in Chicago this year, according to the Allergy Relief Center’s website. Kenney said allergies are, in essence, the body’s overreaction to a non-pathogenic agent that triggers a response from the immune system. It sets off the body’s defenses like increased secretions inside the upper respiratory system, leading to restricted airways. This especially affects athletes who spend a large share of their time outdoors. “If the cross-sectional area of the tube goes down, then resistance to air flow goes down,” Kenney said. “So yeah, it can impair [breathing].” Freshman tennis player Steve Kollias is allergic to grass. Usually, his allergies hit around April, but he suspects they’ve already started this year.
“Some days they’re worse than others,” Kollias said. “I can definitely tell [when they’re worse].” According to Brooke Quentrill, a registered nurse for United Healthcare, wind can carry pollen easily, so people’s allergies are aggravated more on windy days. Still, not everyone who has springtime allergies and is involved in a spring sport has noticed a difference this year. Sophomore Blake Hallman, who does track and field, has pollen allergies in the spring that hit around March, but he has not seen his allergies get worse or start earlier. Instead of visiting Prospect’s nurses office, Novak said many students with seasonal allergies take medications outside of school to ease symptoms even if they don’t bring those medications into school. These treatments include anti-histamine drugs like Allegra (fexofenadine), Claritin (loratadine) and Zyrtec (cetirizine), which don’t cure the allergies but target the secretions caused by them. Other medicines, such as Sudafed and nasal sprays such as Nasonex, are decongestants, which simply clear mucus in the nose and sinuses that might have built up as a result of allergies, according to Quentrill. Wendling has had to take Zyrtec for her allergies, but because they’ve been worse this year, her doctor prescribed Nasonex as well. During the spring, Kollias has to take Nasonex and Claritin, and Hallman has to take Zyrtec. Those suffering from seasonal aller-
pFEELING THE HEAT: The winter of 2010-2011 was one of the coldest on record for Chicago. This winter, in contrast, was one of the warmest. Warmer winters can make plants pollinate earlier, which can aggravate seasonal allergies. (Graph by Emmy Lindfors; information courtesy of noaa.gov) gies should learn when their particular allergies are worst, Quentrill said. Watching the weather and local pollen counts can give a good idea of when particular allergies will be bad. However, not all seasonal allergies are plant-related or at their worst outdoors. Dust and mold can also become problematic when it is warmer and there is more wind and moisture. To avoid dust and mold problems, Quentrill recommends keeping indoor humidity at 50 percent (a dehumidifier can help), making sure there are no
cracks in the house’s walls and dusting and vacuuming floors and furniture regularly. Frequently, it is any number of factors worsening allergic reactions instead of just one, according to Quentrill. Allergies can be intensified when people have other conditions, like a cold going on at the same time. “It’s pretty rare for people to be sensitive to just the ragweed, just the grass,” Quentrill said. “Allergies are caused by a whole group of conditions.”
NEWS
Friday, March 9, 2012
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Big Knight for sports competition By Nabi Dressler News Editor Two summers ago, senior Maura Benson visited the J. Kyle Braid (JKB) Leadership Ranch in Colorado with other JKB leaders. There, the JKB leaders met a few Glenbrook South (GBS) students who told them about Gym Jam, an annual multi-sport competition GBS used to raise money for the school. Benson attended Gym Jam with other JKB leaders to see how the event was run and what sports were played. This event sparked the idea of Big Knight, Prospect’s own one-night, three-sport competition. Students can participate in Big Knight on March 16, a first-time competition run by JKB leaders and sponsors, consisting of tournaments of dodge ball, badminton and basketball, as opposed to separate competitions on different dates for each of the three sports. In the past, a dodge ball-only tournament has taken place, but it will not return this school year because of Big Knight. According to JKB sponsor Frank Mirandola, the idea of the competition was adopted and modified to fit Prospect. The same three sports in Big Knight take place during Gym Jam, but tickets
are being sold prior to the event instead of selling tickets at the door like GBS. Sign-ups in the commons during lunch hours began March 6 and will end March 14. Students have to create and sign up with their own teams. There are six people needed for a dodge ball team, two people needed for a badminton team and four people needed for a basketball team in the 3-on-3 competition that requires one alternate on each team. A staff team will also participate in Big Knight, but its players are undecided. There is a $5 fee for each person participating. Once students pay the onetime fee, they can compete in as many tournaments as they wish. Each sport
has one bracket tournament; the number of games a team plays depends on its number of wins. Brackets will be posted on March 15. Rather than using the event as a fund-raiser for the school like Gym Jam does, half of the money raised through Big Knight will go to the JKB Leadership Ranch, which is dedicated to teaching leadership skills to teens. According to Benson, although Prospect cancelled sending students to the ranch this year, it had such an effect on her that she wanted to keep supporting it. The other half of the money raised through Big Knight will be donated to Omni Youth Services, a youth organization that fights substance abuse and
runs a drug prevention program at Prospect. JKB chose to donate to Omni Youth Services because the focus of Big Knight is to provide students with a fun, clean Friday night. According to Mirandola, aside from these charitable organizations, the money raised through Big Knight will also cover the cost of prizes for students whose teams win a tournament. Prizes up for grabs include T-shirts for the winning team in each sport and gift cards from places like Dairy Queen and Olympus Gyros. Sports aside, there will be a prize for the team with the most creative and interesting uniforms. Competing in Big Knight isn’t the only way students can get involved with the event. Students can attend the event in the field house and gyms for free just to watch and cheer on their peers; however, some games in tournaments will overlap. Mirandola believes Big Knight is a way to bring fun to students and get people in different sports investing themselves in the school. The competition also allows students to be with their friends and “let loose a little bit.” Benson agrees; Big Knight gives students a “great way to spend time with [their] classmates” and is an opportunity for students to simply have fun, she said.
On Prospectornow.com...
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“Gone,” a new film starring Amanda Seyfried, hit theaters Feb. 24. To find out what Danielle Church thought about the flick, check out prospectornow.com.
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Social science teacher Mike Sebestyen and his wife welcomed twin girls on Jan. 21. Read about the family’s happiness on prospectornow.com.
Motivational speaker Allen J. Bryson came to Prospect on Feb. 22 to give a speech in honor of Black History month. Watch a video to learn more on prospectornow.com.
Get your chips and guac! Don’t miss out on the chance to make homemade guacamole, a la Carly Evans. Find the recipe on prospectornow.com.
p CRAFTY CHARITY WORK: (From left) Current senior Cassie Bach and sophomores Morgan Clow and Colleen Richards string beads on bracelets. Each bead represents one lap they have walked for Relay for Life. These bracelets were one of many fund-raisers during Relay for Life that contributed to last year’s total net income of $100,876. (Photo courtesy of David Jacobson)
RELAY: Students, residents unite CONTINUED from front page
ent newsletter. But the most important goal of the Relay for Life committee is to assure that everyone who -mittee participation, Fry, Jacobson and Ser- participates enjoys themselves while keeping vice Club hope to recruit the cancer awareness alive. more student participants The committee is in the because Relay for Life is stages of planning Team Effective fund-raising foremost a fund-raiser. Rally meetings, to excite Some of their current teams about fund-raising, Since Relay for Life was first ideas include implementas well as re-energizing hosted at Prospect in 2007, the ing a fund-raising minithe closing Fight Back cernet income of funds raised from mum for students who emony, so participants are this walk against cancer has want to stay overnight excited about all of the increased dramatically. and more closely enforcwork they’ve accomplished, ing who leaves the event as well as aware about the 2007-$48,291 after curfew. struggles of cancer until 2008-$38,725 “It’s not just supposed next year’s Relay for Life. 2009-$55,998 to be some big slumber Although planning an 2010-$74,559 party,” Jacobson said. event of this size may seem 2011-$100,876 They also have ideas to chaotic at times to the comgain a larger student popmittee, through their meetInformation courtesy of staff partner Andy ulation, even from other ings and work, on “the night Fry of the American Cancer Society schools. of the event, everything The committee will seems to flow and follow the post information around schedule,” according to JaMount Prospect and Arlington Heights to at- cobson. tract citizens outside of Prospect, and Borawski “There will always be a hiccup here and even went to Lincoln Middle School to ask their there,” Fry said. “But it’s no fun if it’s completeprincipal to post an advertisement in their par- ly perfect.”
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NEWS
Friday, March 9, 2012
Celebrate like... Graphic by Emmy Lindfors
the holiday’s colors of purple, gold and green, as well as adding sparkles, masks and crowns, which are symbols relevant to the holiday. According to Russell, the class party is a mixture of Mardi Gras celebrations, as traditionally Catholic countries have different ways of celebrating it. The idea of throwing beads and callBy Emmy Lindfors ing it Mardi Gras originated in New OrManaging Editor leans, but the actual holiday originated When senior Caroline Cooper walked in France and is known as Carnival. Overall, Russell believes it is not only into school in late October, she was a small history lesson for his students, sporting a brightly-colored outfit consisting of red pants and a green shirt, but a way to have a fun, easy class day. “While some might see it as a waste as well as rainbow-colored feathers and of time,” Russell said, “we are helping a plastic snake. Cooper was dressed up as Quet- students create social-emotional rezacoatl, the Aztec feather serpent god, lationships [during the celebrations] where we can step back, spend time unfor her Spanish 4 class’ celebration of Dia de los Muertos, the Day of the Dead. der no pressure and have fun.” Similarly, Italian classes celebrate Dia de los MuerMardi Gras, but tos is one of the know it as a difmany holidays celeferent name, Carbrated in the World nevale. Language classes. In preparation Most recently, the for the holiday, stuWorld Language dents make mindepartment experiiature gondolas, enced the celebramasks and small tion of Mardi Gras parade floats. Italthrough French ian teachers Lyn classes. Scolaro and AnAccording to tonino Bondi enFrench teacher joy giving students Scott Russell, he -senior Caroline Cooper inspiration by looks forward to bringing in actual celebrating it because students have an idea of what Mardi Gras is and can re- masks and showing pictures from the events. ally have fun with it. During class celebrations, students “Each year is fun, and each year is a are encouraged to bring in food from little different,” Russell said. Among all levels of French, students recipes they have found. “Italians base everything on food, so create a craft. In lower levels, students you need to have it,” Scolaro said. will create masks, while in the higher However, in Spanish classes, they do levels, they will make king crowns, not focus as much on food. Instead, they jester hats or small parade floats out of shoe boxes, an activity in which junior really embrace the social atmosphere. Spanish 4 classes celebrate Dia de los Jordan Pollock participated when she Muertos with a process similar to speed was in French 3. Pollock used the Mardi dating. Each student represents one Gras colors and added masks, crowns and sparkles. When creating her parade deceased, prominent person in Spanfloat, Pollock made sure to incorporate ish culture, and half of them sit in an outer circle while the other half sit in
World Language classes learn from holidays
“Before, [our options led us to] make Day of the Dead bread, and after a while, how many times can you make it? But this was something fun and different.”
Best (dead) friends forever Senior Caroline Cooper dressed up as Quetzacoatl, the Aztec feather serpent god, for her Spanish 4 class’ celebration of Dia de los Muertos. Not only had Cooper dressed herself in feathers and taped a plastic snake on her, but she and junior Emilie Adamovic embraced their roles to the fullest. Since Adamovic was Moctezuma, an Aztec emperor, she chose to worship Cooper. The two enjoyed making the connections and believed it “made the experience more fun,” according to Cooper.
pSPEED DATE WITH THE DEAD: Senior Caroline Cooper, left, and junior Emilie Adamovic, right, visit with each other while celebrating of Dia de los Muertos in their Spanish 4 class. Dia de los Muertos is one of the holidays World Language classes celebrate. (Photo courtesy of Caroline Cooper)
an inner circle. The inner circle rotates every three to five minutes. During this time, students have to exchange the business cards they made and tell an interesting fact about themselves. “I really liked it,” Cooper said. “Before, [our options led us to] make Day of the Dead bread, and after a while, how many times can you make it? But this was something fun and different.” Cooper’s Spanish teacher, Leigh Sapp, enjoys the celebration year after year. “[Cooper] was so invested in the experience,” Sapp said. “It’s always nice to see the kids get excited and into it.” While the speed dating process is unique to Spanish 4, all Spanish classes celebrate Dia de los Muertos. According to Sapp, the main focus for the lower levels of Spanish is creating a definitive line between the holiday and Halloween. “They have a harder time realizing it’s not Halloween,” Sapp said, who also teaches Spanish 2. “Yes, they happen around the same time, but they have a different meaning, which isn’t to say that Halloween is bad and this is good. “We decorate our houses for Halloween, but ofrendas [tributes to a deceased family member] are treated as part of the family. They have more meaning, and it’s more of a celebration.” Spanish 1 and 2 classes will create the ofrendas after a famous deceased person, who doesn’t necessarily need to be from Latin decent, according to
Sapp. Classes will take shoe boxes and place articles the people enjoyed in their lives, like a CD for music. Not only does Sapp enjoy seeing her students’ creativity, but she also likes seeing them “draw parallels” between their culture and the language’s culture. “Seeing them make the connections and know they are learning is great,” Sapp said. “The activity allows us to have fun while working.”
Know your Mardi Gras -Krewe: a group of party planners in New Orleans who are named after a mythical creature or person. The identities of the Krewes are secrets. -King’s Cake: A cake decorated with purple, gold and green, Mardi Gras’ colors. Inside is a small, plastic baby, and whoever finds it is crowned king for the day, like in French teacher Scott Russell’s classes. -Doubloon: an aluminum coin that has the insignia of the parade krewe on one side and the theme of the parade on the other. -Throw: a party favor tossed from parade floats to people who yell, “Throw me something, Mister!” The throwing of beads and doubloons originated in New Orleans.
OPINION
Friday, March 9, 2012
The Staff
Stopping student suicide
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Maddie Conway MANAGING EDITOR Emmy Lindfors
ASSOCIATE EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Jane Berry Andrew Revord NEWS EDITORS Meghan Doyle Nabi Dressler Jenny Johnson Danielle Keeton-Olsen OPINION EDITOR Kiley Walsh FEATURES EDITORS Anna Boratyn Khrystyna Halatyma Angela Larsen IN-DEPTH EDITORS Katie Best Zak Buczinsky Maddy Moloney ENTERTAINMENT EDITORS Tallyn Owens Tim Angerame Kyle Brown SPORTS EDITORS Jack Mathews Alyssa Zediker Matt Bajkowski Jordan Fletcher ONLINE EDITORS Miranda Holloway Tess Bauer Heather Dove PHOTO EDITORS Ian Magnuson Nick Cartwright Maria Chiakulas Olivia MacAleer Josie Sajbel ADVISER Jason Block Some material is courtesy of the American Society of Newspaper Editors/MCT Campus High School Newspaper Service. Published by students in Journalistic Writing courses, the Prospector has won, most notably, the 2004-05 and 2006-07 National Scholastic Press Association Pacemaker and the Gold Crown from Columbia Scholastic Press Association in 2006. Mission Statement The primary purpose of the Prospect High School Prospector is to report news as well as explain its meaning and significance to our readers and the community. We, The Prospector, hope to inform, entertain and provide a school forum for the unrestricted exchange of ideas and opinions. Advertising For ad rates, call (847) 718-5376 (ask for Emmy Lindfors), fax (847) 718-5306 e-mail or write the Prospector, 801 West Kensington Rd., Mount Prospect, IL 60056, prospectornow@gmail.com. Letters to the Editor Drop off letters to the Prospector in the box in the library, in Rm. 216 or email letters to prospectornow@ gmail.com. All letters must be signed. Please limit letters to 400 words. The Prospector reserves the rights to edit letters for style and length.
Staff Editorial
COPY EDITOR Carly Evans ONLINE MANAGING EDITOR Maggie Devereux
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Prospect experienced a tragedy last year when a student committed suicide. After the event, students were left in shock, unsure of how to react or cope with the tragedy. In an effort to teach students about suicide and depression as well as how to recognize potential risks, the freshmen, along with their Leading INcoming Knights (LINK) leaders, took part in a new program. During their gym periods, students engaged in a suicide prevention program called “S.O.S.,” which stands for “Signs of Suicide.” This program was presented by Elyssa’s Mission, a non-profit organization spreading information about teen suicide. Elyssa Meyers attended New Trier, and during her sophomore year after a long battle with depression, she committed suicide. Ely-
ssa’s parents started the or- most of the symptoms are ganization to fight teen sui- subtle. cide and inform students Some of the symptoms across Illinois about what mentioned in the video they had experienced. were more noticeable, According to Elyssa’s such as increased alcohol Mission’s website, suicide use and making threats; is the third leading cause however, the more subtle of death among 10-24-year- symptoms, like increases olds, with nearor decreases in ly 4,400 suiamount of sleep cides per year. and loss of interFor Against est in hobbies, With such a large number were the focus. of teens affectKeeping the ed by suicide risks in mind, the and Prospect program taught having a more Voting results of The Pros- the students a personal expe- pector staff in regards to this new acronym for editorial. rience with it, the steps to adsuicide prevendress signs of tion has been a long-await- suicide, “ACT.” ed program. This stands for AcknowlWe, The Prospector, be- edge, Care and Tell. lieve implementing a proAlso, speaking about gram like “S.O.S.” is a great suicide to the freshmen is step forward for our school a way of breaking the stigand should be presented ma about it, which is very to all grades, not just the important. Students may freshmen. not have known it was OK Teaching students the to talk about suicide and warning signs of when depression in a school settheir friends may be suf- ting, but this program offering from depression is fers them a way to be open key because not all stu- about what they do and do dents may realize that not know.
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Without a program like this, students wouldn’t be able to recognize the warning signs or know whom to contact in a situation like those seen in the videos. The most vital part of the program was teaching students it is alright to seek help from a teacher or parent when they believe their friend could be at risk, and realizing their friends won’t be mad at them for seeking help is what students needed to hear. Students learned that if one of their friends is telling them how they are feeling, they are reaching out. To be a responsible friend, students should tell a parent or teacher about their friend, with or without permission. In Elyssa’s situation, her friends never told her parents or teachers. In the end, telling a secret is better than losing a friend. At the end of the video, one of Elyssa’s closest friends says: “I would rather have her be mad at me than [have her] be gone.”
Priorities needed at Prospect Make time for the activities you love The second I hear the final bell ring, my day begins. Whether it’s Speech rehearsal, softball practice, newspaper interviews or just plain homework, from AP World History to Honors Algebra, I always have something to do. Even on nights when my homework load is light, I still have trouble getting to bed before 11 p.m. because I tend to drag out my work. Sometimes, going, going, going keeps me awake and alert, and I love it, like those days when I go to a softball workout, then race upstairs to work on the school newspaper. Other times, however, I get overwhelmed by my seemingly endless responsibilities. It’s at those times when I have to step back Meghan Doyle and ask, “Meghan, Executive News what are you doing to yourself ?” Editor So far, I have let go of playing basketball, acting in musicals, singing in choir and pretty much everything students do as little kids before they start to focus on certain areas. But as students get older, it’s all about simplifying, according to clinical psychologist Elizabeth Bolash, who specializes in adolescent health psychology. U n f o r t u n a t e l y, simplifying typically means letting activities go. Bolash recommends making a list of the most important values. If the activities cluttering the schedule don’t agree with the priorities on the list, it’s time to make some changes. Entering high school, I was a Janeof-all-trades, if you will. From sports to theater to academics, I had it all cov-
pCHECK IT TWICE: Writing out your responsibilities on a list and prioritizing them can help you simplify your schedule and decide which activities your time is best spent on. (Photo illustration by Ian Magnuson) ered. However, once I realized what was Cartwright’s schedule, he said the work required of me at Prospect, I had some now is less stressful, both physically and major overhaul to do in my life. emotionally. Now my major focus is on academics, Even when he comes home late after but I still try to stay athletic through trav- rehearsal, he comes home happy and el softball, and I burnt out — not just burnt out. try to maintain However, even with all that I’ve let go, a performance my parents and I still have conversations outlet by partici- about me being overworked. Now I think pating in Speech the problem is putting too much effort Team. into everything I do. Senior Nick If you want to be involved with several Cartwright also clubs and activities, don’t plan on being knows the feel- president or captain of each one. If you ing, as he had to want to do that, pare it down even more give up football, so you have time to accomplish all of wrestling, track your tasks to the best of your ability. and tennis to Now the choice is up to you. You could pursue his love be a participant in several different orgaof performing by joining Speech Team nizations, or you could be truly dedicated and Mixed Company. to one specific purpose. He’s met a whole new group of friends But it all comes down to one question: since then and found something to contin- What do you want to be doing when that ue with in college. And while the switch final bell rings? didn’t necessarily free up any time in
At other times, I get overwhelmed by my seemingly endless responsibilities. I have to step back and ask, “Meghan, what are you doing to yourself?”
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OPINION
Friday, March 9, 2012
48 percent A record-breaking
of 18-34 year olds check Facebook right when they wake up.
750 million photos were uploaded to Facebook over New Year’s weekend.
As of 2011, there are 500 million active Facebook users — approximately one in every 13 people on Earth. Half of them are logged in on any given day.
Kiley Walsh
Emmy Lindfors 194 mutual friends
Kiley Walsh shared a story.
Facebook reveals more than a name By Kiley Walsh Opinion Editor
Whenever taking a picture with friends, the most obnoxious thing to hear is, “Let me see it! Ew, delete — I look gross!” It’s an automatic reaction for teenagers, especially when thinking this “gross” picture could be going up on their Facebook. I try to convince myself over and over that my friends on Facebook already know what I look like and that I don’t need to look perfect in every single picture, but it is easier said than done. Something I’ve come to realize about Facebook is that a lot of information and judgement on people you meet is based off their page. Especially before meeting someone for the first time, everything you would need to know about a person is just a click away. And while the free information has a few up sides, it also has its fair share of negatives. It can save someone from feeling like an idiot when people identify who their siblings are or when are their birthdays in their Facebook profiles. But more easily, Facebook can make someone look like a straight-from-Chatroullette creeper with full knowledge of who your friends are, your phone number, e-mail address, favorite quotations, relationship status, workplace and current city. By just looking through someone’s page, you can find out more in a minute than you might have known through
Jenny Johnson 167 mutual friends
Meghan Doyle 156 mutual friends
Zak Buczinsky 389 mutual friends
Heather Dove 94 mutual friends
Andrew Revord 154 mutual friends
your whole friendship, and not once would you have needed to talk to that person. Sometimes you don’t even get the opportunity to tell people what your favorite movie is because they could have already checked for themselves. With all the easily accessible information, teenagers tend to feel responsible for updating their Facebook profiles, but they shouldn’t have to be constantly monitoring their profiles to watch for pictures or posts that could lead people to the wrong impression of them. And the startling part is instead of having to learn things about people throughout a friendship, everything they like or dislike is clearly printed in words right in front of you face. Scary, huh? As soon as people hear something about a person they don’t know, myself included, they search for him/her on Facebook. Sometimes it’s frightening to know the way students display their profiles could not only attract creepers, but also change the way other students think about them. Students could have a good impression of a new girl at school, but then they could notice that she constantly updates her Facebook with pictures and statuses, which may change their perception of her. If the students are annoyed when people update Facebook all the time, they may just assume this girl is annoying. But on the other end being the person
searched and judged based on pictures and wallposts is discomforting. Students should not have to worry as much as they do now about how their Facebook profiles are presented. It’s a website, not a human. But with the constant updates and photos, students have let their Facebooks become their personalities, which is what makes an embarrassing picture such a big deal to have online. It is beneficial to be conscious of what people put on the Internet, since it stays there forever, but the level of care and input some students have with Facebook pictures and obsessing over the perfection of their hair or facial expressions has crossed the line. Facebook has evolved from a fun site with a few pictures and a way to reconnect with old pals into its own person with a face, friends and all your interests clearly written for anyone to see. It’s a website, not a human. Ultimately, students are the ones projecting their interests and activities to everyone, but they need to be aware that every one of their friends has access to this information. And in all seriousness, students really need to stop living up to the lightheartedly looked at, but still creepy as ever, Facebook stalker stereotype. Because the next time someone can name my No. 1 favorite quotation faster than I can remember it, my Facebook will be deleted. And maybe next time I’ll just tweet it...
Americans said they find out about the news through Facebook.
57
percent
of people talk more online than they do in
real life.
In 20 minutes,
1,851,000 statuses
are updated,
2,716,000 messages are sent and
1,587,000 wall posts are
written.
Alyssa Zediker Angela Larsen Danielle Keeton-Olsen
There are
Ian Magnuson
206.2 million internet users
Emmy Lindfors
in the U.S. That means
71.2% of the U.S. web audience is on Facebook Graphics by Heather Dove, Emmy Lindfors and Kiley Walsh
48 percent of young
Heather Dove Miranda Holloway Tallyn Owens Tim Angerame
Nabi Dressler
Information courtesy of the Huffington Post
Friday, March 9, 2012
7
FEATURES
Tales of a chess mate
start with a school club or be- Beata said. cause his friends were doing it; Although he came to the his mother, Beata, taught him U.S. in sixth grade, Robert how to play while they lived in didn’t join his middle school’s Poland. club until seventh grade. “When I lived in Poland, I “I kept playing until I startBy Jane Berry remember thinking that chess ed to beat my mom, but then I Executive Features Editor was such wanted to beat my a stupid coach, and now I Junior Robert Moskwa was game,” Robjust want to keep ahead 6-0 at the start of the last ert 40 hours, 20 min said. winning,” Robert round of the state meet on Feb. “My whole said. 11. He was nervous — not just motivation According to the Robert tries to because of state, though. Guinness World Records, for playpractice about an “When I am playing a really ing it was this was the duration of hour each day, tough guy, I’m always afraid to beat my the longest chess whether I am going to really blow it,” mom.” marathon ever w i t h Robert said. “My emotions played. The Robert friends, were jumping all over the said Beata match took place family or, place.” in Ostfildern, used to beat more often This is not a game with half- him in evGermany, in 2010 than not, naked, painted men running e r y t h i n g : between Daniel his comdown a track, and you will chess, pingHäußler and puter (see never see one of these players pong, volPhilipp Bergner. “Want to arguing with a referee; Robert l e y b a l l , practice?”). is a chess player. even swimAccording After winning the state ming. It to Robert, tournament, Moskwa is head- was not surprise to him that keeping up ing off to compete at nationals his mom beat him in swimwith what in Seattle, Wash., this August. ming, however, since she was is happening Robert’s love of chess didn’t an Olympic swimmer. when new strategies are posted A c c o r d i n g online is crucial. to Robert, his “I always need to be looking mother is very ahead, onto further positions,” supportive. She Robert said. Want to practice? drives him to all He also frequently enters Junior Robert Moskwa uses of his tourna- independent tournaments as Chess.com to practice after ments and “something not too serious, school. He said Internet pays en- more to make a quick buck.” Chess Club is also a good t r a n c e Robert said it can be incredresource, but because fees, but ibly draining to sit and think players have to pay to use more than for such long periods of time. it, he doesn’t like it as that, she He once had a match that much. All sites match a is always lasted seven hours, and he was player up with others at up for a only allowed to have water at the same level as them, so round. She the table. Robert believes chess according to Moskwa, one believes it is competitors here are much day he could be playing really Robert’s colder than in Poland. a 10-year-old in initiative that “Sometimes it’s a little awkPakistan and got him to ward when we play matches,” an old where he is, Robert said. “No one talks to man in though. each other.” China “I’m no Chess is not always so inthe next. match for tense. According to Robert, him now,” players and teams will fre-
Junior wins state for chess
pTAKING THE KING: Robert Moskwa won the state chess tournament on Saturday, Feb. 11. Moskwa’s mother first played chess with him when he was a child living in Poland. (Photo by Ian Magnuson) quently dress up. He has seen neon orange costumes, a Pikachu outfit and many crazy hats. One kid even stripped down to a tank top and shorts during a match. Robert doesn’t dress up or try to distract his opponents. He believes the person who notices an opponent’s weak move first wins the game, and he doesn’t need a costume for that. Although many players take the game very seriously, Robert describes it as more of a pastime for him. He loves to play, but also needs to keep up with
school work, soccer, tennis and hanging out with friends. “He is so hard-working,” Beata said. “Sometimes it seems too difficult to keep up, but he does it.” In the future, Robert is looking to study medicine, preferably in Poland. He is even considering a specialty in cardiac surgery because “saving someone’s life would be something to really strive for.” “I’m just hoping for the best, that he can keep going as long as it makes him happy,” Beata said. “Whatever makes him happy will make me happy.”
Social science, world language teachers share special bond not meet until they started work at the school. Illinois Wesleyan is also the school where social science teacher Qiana Social science teacher Jay Heilman Drye and division head Gary Judson tore up the dance floor at his fellow soattended; however, they did not know cial science teacher and friend Frank each other or Mirandola and CamardelMirandola’s wedding about seven years la. ago. “There’s fun rivalries between all of “I go to his wedding, my tie ends the schools,” Mirandola said. “Talking up around my head and I have a good about how this person’s school is better time,” Heilman said. “I like to dance; I than [another] school — it’s a fun point can’t help it.” where we can go ahead and tease one It may seem strange to see a coworkanother.” er “tearing up the dance floor,” or even The majority of the staff in the deto be invited to a summer barbecue, but partment has been there for about eight this close group of coworkers in the years. Even more recent additions, like Social Science and World Language DeTim Beishir and Brad Rathe, have partment don’t feel their relationship is been here for about five years. “We’re all relatively the same age, so our families are often going through similar experiences,” Heilman said. “I think that helps us be close, because we can share stories, confide in each other and have similar lifestyles.” pALL IN THE FAMILY : Several Prospect staff members pose for a photo at social science teacher John Camardella’s Judson feels wedding. Several members of the Social Science and World Language Department have a close relationship. (Photo courtesy that everyone’s of John Camardella)
By Angela Larsen Features Editor
weird at all. In fact, they feel the exact opposite, due to the fact that they have a history together. “I wouldn’t want it any other way,” Mirandola said. “It makes it a place where you want to be, you want to share, you want to go ahead and help one another out.” Unlike Mirandola and fellow teacher John Camardella, who knew each other while attending Illinois Wesleyan University, many teachers didn’t know each other prior to Prospect. For example, social science and world language teachers Daria Schaffeld, Leigh Sapp, Jay Heilman and Julie Stoker all went to University of Indiana, but did
Party Time! All the departments in the school have a holiday party for the entire staff in the building. For example, the math and science department hosts a Halloween party, and social science and world language teachers host a March Madness party. at different stages in their lives, so it makes sense that the younger ones tend to hang out more. “It’s probably better that I’m not at those functions,” Judson said. Despite not being at all weddings or barbecues, Judson still feels close to the entire division, even after 15 years of being a division head. “In a way, at times it feels like I’m the father figure,” Judson said. Although there is no argument the department is close, nobody feels as if they have a best friend. Heilman explained that he feels closer to some people during different parts of the year. For example, he feels closer with Schaffled during the spring and fall because of AP psychology. On the other hand, he feels closer to Camardella and Rathe during the winter because of the basketball season. “It’s the opposite of weird,” Heilman said. “It’s appreciated. It’s wanted. It’s natural.”
10
FEATURES
Friday, March 9, 2012
losophy of giving credit only for courses they teach. According to Bourn, though an AP class might prepare a student for the rigors of a collegelevel class, it may not teach students By Anna Boratyn everything that Features Editor a college expects they will learn Students don’t often think of their from taking the teachers as test takers, but that’s ex- class there. actly what psychology teachers Daria Like an introducSchaffeld and Jay Heilman had to do to tory college course, teach AP classes. AP Psychology is a In order to count for college credit, survey course, touchAP classes have to reach a certain stan- ing on 12 units in the dard of quality, so both Schaffeld and field of psychology. Heilman had to be accredited by the AP Psychology’s College Board. Accreditation is a pro- curriculum goes from cess that involves the College Board’s neuroscience to personreview of Schaffeld and Heilman’s cur- ality theory to memory riculum, lessons and calendar. to therapy. According to Schaffeld, colleges are “We really run the now more accepting towards AP pro- gambit, and we touch grams. For examseveral ple, there are now different very few colleges topics,” that don’t accept Schaffeld said. AP Psychology Kenney said the credits. College Board is reAP Biology ducing AP Biology’s teacher John Kencurriculum to emney said college phasize inquiry more -AP Psychology teacher Daria Schaffeld acceptance of biolthan memorization of ogy credits varies facts, better reflecting widely but is more sparse in eastern college curriculums. and Ivy League colleges. According to Bourn, students are Even when an AP course is accepted expected to be more independent in by a college, AP courses and college college. Taking AP classes doesn’t just courses often differ in the way they’re help earn credits; it promotes indepentaught. dence. Guidance counselor Diane Bourn Senior Maddie Loeffler, who plans to said when colleges don’t accept an AP major in psychology, expects psycholcredit as a substitute for their classes, ogy class in college to be far less guided. they usually do so because of their phiBourne recalls the conversations of alumni talking about their college experiences when they visited Prospect to advise students on their college choices. Getting credit for AP “They were always saying, ‘I’m glad The higher a student scores I took AP classes,’ or ‘I wish I took on their end-of-the-year more,’” Bourn said. “It was really their standardized AP exam, the more AP classes that prepared them for collikely they are to earn credit from lege.” a college. Even if an AP credit isn’t accepted by a college, Kenney sees value in takScores: ing AP Biology because introductory 5= very highly qualified biology college classes repeat much of 4= qualified AP Biology’s curriculum. 3= may qualify Schaffeld sees advantages of taking 2= probably not qualified AP Psychology in high school rather 1=not qualified than introductory psychology in college. In high school, classes meet ev-
p
AP classes promote preparedness PSYCHADELIC : At left, AP Psychology teacher Daria Schaffeld instructs senior Emily Aron during an experiment where the students drank tea that inhibited their ability to taste sweet. Below, Schaffeld helps junior Claire Schober during small group discussions. Schaffeld makes a point to run an interactive class. (Photos by Jane Berry)
Advanced classes introduce students to college academics
“The difference is that I run a very interactive class.”
ery day in classrooms of about 30 people, as opposed to every other day in large lecture halls. “Big lecture halls, several hundred people, a professor on a stage, talking and you taking notes like a bandit — every now and then it might be a demo or a video clip, but I think the difference is that I run a very interactive class,” Shaffeld said. Loeffler participated in a demo where she was given five food items, like pretzels and cane sugar, and then was given a tea to drink. Then she was given the five food items again. The foods that had been sweet tasted like sand; the tea inhibited the ability to taste sweetness. “It was really bizarre and surreal because I’ve never experienced anything like that before,” Loeffler said. Loeffler was reminded of the demo during discussions on taste and smell and on the test when there were questions about it.
Schaffeld prefers her variety of teaching. “[There are] a lot of demonstrations, avenues for discussion, a lot of experiments and doing as opposed to me saying. I really believe in that kind of learning,” Schaffeld said. “I think that’s the difference.”
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11
FEATURES
Friday, March 9, 2012
A Different Kind of Spring Break Student, teacher spend vacations volunteering, giving back to the world By Khrystyna Halatyma Features Editor “If you could change one thing in your life, what would it be?” This is the question social science teacher Erik Hodges decided to ask one woman in Ecuador while he was doing missionary work. He expected answers such as money, a car or even food, but the answer he got caught him by surprise. “I wish we had sewers,” the woman said. “I was not prepared for her to say sewers,” Hodges said. “I don’t think I would have ever guessed she would have said sewers, but it made sense. It would have improved everyone’s lives.” She explained that during the raining seasons, it floods and life just stops. There are parasites that swim through water, and when anyone walks through the flooded area, which is unavoidable, they get terrible rashes. However, if they had sewers, their lives would be unaffected and people could get in and get out and go to work. “In her mind, she had her family, her
kids were healthy and life was good,” Hodges said. “That’s what was so telling, you can live anywhere as long as you have things that are important to you.” Senior Ellie Taves and Hodges use their spring break as a chance to give back to the world. Taves is going to El Paso, Texas as part of a missionary retreat with her church, St. Paul Lutheran Church. Yet missionary work does not only stay within the boundaries of the United States. Hodges has gone to Ecuador and Guatemala, as well as volunteering in pHELP FOR TEXAS: Senior Ellie Taves and her church group in Texas doing missionary the states. work during spring break. Taves volunteers every spring break. (Photo courtesy of Ellie Taves) In past years, Taves and her youth group have managed to build entire watching TV.” your children or, in some cases, the orhouses, but since there is a smaller Hodges is on the same page, he ganization would send in free vaccines. number of people volunteering this doesn’t want to waste away his spring Volunteer work doesn’t only have to year, they will be fixing up an existing break. be at an international level, contribuhouse. “Most people in college, or even tions can be made at a smaller scale. Through this, Taves has learned high school, think of spring break as On a trip four years ago, Taves and practical skills such as how to insulate Mexico and indulging,” Hodges said. “I her group gathered up the kids from the house, use a nail gun and painting a thought it was cool to go and volunteer local neighborhood to lead bible classes building. to give some- and played games with them while the One year, as thing back [in- adults were working on housing. part of her misstead].” “We really liked it because it gave us sionary work, While in a chance to give back to people,” Taves Taves helped put Ecuador, Hodg- said. “[And] see how poverty really is in a floor for a es surveyed compared to how it is here.” family’s house, mothers who Taves not only enjoys the work she opposed to the were waiting does, but looks forward to and learns dirt floor they in line with from it every year. would have had their children “It really just spun my perspective instead. for medical at- on the world,” Taves said. “It’s helped Taves said seetention or vac- me appreciate what I have and not to -social science teacher Erik Hodges ing the family’s cines. take much for granted.” grateful faces afHe asked Hodges feels the same way about his ter they saw their new floor was worth simple questions such as, “How many volunteer work abroad. the work. children do you have? Do you purify “It changed my life... It helped me The mother even started crying be- your water? Are you literate? How do realize that experiences and what you cause she was so happy they had a bet- you expose of your waste?” value is what will make you happy, not ter house. There were no services offered to the what you have,” Hodges said. “We have “Seeing that we made someone hap- communities, and with the results of so many comforts in the United States py, and we had changed their life moved the surveys, it was easier to see what that we don’t even realize, we take [it] me,” Taves said. “It made me happier was most needed in each community. as standard. It gives you a perspective that I decided to do a mission trip inThen, educators would be sent in to on what we have [here] and what people stead of sleeping in every day and explain how important it is to vaccinate have around the world.”
“Most people in college, or even high school, think of spring break as Mexico and indulging. I thought it was cool to go and volunteer to give something back [instead] .”
A cockroach experience While volunteering in Ecuador, social science teacher Erik Hodges was staying with a local family. One night, Hodges woke up and saw a huge cockroach on the floor Instead of dealing with the problem in the middle of the night, he swept it into a drawer. The next morning, Hodges attempted to face the bug again. When he opened the drawer, the bug scurried
pVOLUNTEERING: Social science teacher Erik Hodges goes abroad for volunteer work. Hodges prefers this to the ‘average’ spring break. (Photo courtesy of Erik Hodges)
for freedom behind the dresser. Hodges went to the grandmother of the house to ask for a pesticide to kill the insect. In response, the elderly grandma walked into the room, moved the dresser and killed the cockroach with her bare hands. All she had to say afterwards was, “Dinner will be ready soon.”
Who Knows You Better?
This issue, The Prospector interviews junior Jesse Cima’s girlfriend, junior Courtney Smith, and his friend, junior Kevin Wrobell, to see who knows Jesse better. What does he want to be after college?
4math teacher monkey
If he could be any animal, what would he be? If he could go anywhere for spring break, where would he go? Who is his role model?
What does he do in his free time?
4 4 4
Italy
W I N N E R
The Girlfriend
W I N N E R
math teacher dog Italy
Junior Courtney Smith
older brother Halo Wars
The Subject
history teacher
4
Junior Kevin Wrobell
Walter Payton
older brother Halo Wars
dog Hawaii
Junior Jesse Cima
The Friend
4
Halo Wars
Friday, March 9, 2012
ENTERTAINMENT
Make-up match-up
12
By Maddy Moloney In-Depth Editor Whether your face resembles a Domino’s Meatlover’s pizza because your research paper is stressing you out or you have raccoon eyes because you decided to wait until the last night to cram for your AP World History test, make-up has become every girl’s BFF in a time of need. Make-up isn’t just a quick fix to hide a small imperfection; it’s more fun than chasing a kid with peanut allergies with a peanut butter sandwich. From a female perspective, the best part of any school dance is getting ready with your friends beforehand. But in order to do that, you need products that will remain as pretty as you do all night long. Now, I’ve been around the Sephora counter my fair share of times, and as a proud fan of YouTube’s beauty gurus, I feel qualified to give my top eight beauty buys.
1. Urban Decay Naked Palette
($48) Give a girl an eyeshadow and she’ll have her make-up done for a day; give a girl the Urban Decay Naked Palette and she’s set for life. The versatile palette has proven neutral colors can be just as much fun as brights with its 12 extraordinary shadows that can double as liners. Nearly everything you need on the go.
3. Mac Technakohl liner
2. Garnier Anti-Dark-Circle Eye Roller
($12.95) I have had dark circles all my life, and they make me want to pull my hair out. But luckily for me (and anyone else who suffers from this pesky discoloration), Garnier Anti-Dark-Circle Eye Roller is the only specific under eye concealer on the market to successfully make it look like you didn’t stay up all night studying for your physics test.
4. Lush Color supplements
($15) For a while, I had lost faith in eyeliner. Every single eyeliner I have ever tried transforms my smokey eye into a raccoon eye by the end of the day. But once I tried Mac Technakohl liner, my faith was restored. The creamy smooth formula stays put all day and shows up vibrant on the waterline. I dare you to put away any other liner you use and try Mac’s Technakohl liner, then try to go back to your old stuff. It’s impossible. As the saying goes: Once you go MAC, you never go back.
($15.95) Infused with roses, this concealer does all kinds of crazy good for your skin, working to reduce inflammation and redness as well as hiding blemishes. The concealer was made with all skin types in mind and won’t cause any irritation. Your face will look as if it had never seen a zit.
5. Buxom Lash Mascara
($19) I must admit, I am a mascara snob, but not all mascaras were created equal. Buxom Lash is the super hero of all mascaras. Buxoms Lash’s super power is its iconic hourglass shape and intense definition it brings to each individual lash. The formula and brush collaborate to not only lengthen each lash, but also to provide thickness without ever clumping or flaking throughout the day.
6 Essie nail polish
. ($8) This is the mother of all nail polishes. Fast drying and colorful after only two coats, add a top coat and you are good to go for weeks. Colors range from all over the rainbow, giving you a wide variety of colors to choose from for any occasion (I suggest Turquoise & Caicos or Sand Tropez). To make the polish even better, the brush is just the right size to reach every inch of the nail without polish overload, and of course the cute names for the colors don’t hurt either. Some of my personal favorites are St. Lucia Lilac, Hi Maintenance and No Pre-Nup.
7. Tarte Park Ave Princess Mineral Powder
($29) Get rid of that “living dead” pale skin with Park Ave Princess, which gives you enough oomph of color not to be sent home by the nurse, but not so much that you’re mistaken for an oompa loompa.
8. Urban Decay Primer Potion
($20) This is Urban Decay’s No. 1-selling product for a reason. The crease-free primer is used on the lids to keep eyeshadow in place and vibrant from first period to after practice.
Photos by Maddy Moloney
Follow us on Twitter
@prospectornow
and like us on Facebook
Mary Kay Cosmetics
If interested please contact:
Joyce Gartz 302 N. Pine Mount Prospect, IL 60056 (847) 670-9057 www.marykay.com/jgartz
13
ENTERTAINMENT
Friday, March 9, 2012
Man behind the camera
Dedicated parent captures hard-working students in Company, Mixed Company By Tallyn Owens Executive Entertainment Editor At the beginning of last year, Ron Godby, father of sophomore Mary Godby, was faced with the decision of which committee join as a part of the Prospect Choral Boosters. Of the several different committees, including transportation, fundraising and costumes, Godby felt that he “couldn’t contribute better than I do with photography,” Godby said. So Godby volunteered to take photos at concerts, show choir competitions and theater performances. Godby began his career as a sports photographer and also took photographs during his tour of duty as a US Marine. He believes his experience with sports photography, including his personal “claim to fame” of shooting the first night game at Wrigley Field in 1989, aids him in photographing show choir. This is because the same equipment he used to cover sports is helpful when capturing the fast nature of a performance on one of his two Nikon cameras, either a D2X or D2H, along with one of six different lenses. For Godby, one reason he puts so much time and effort into photographing the performances of the show choirs is because he admires the effort they put into the programs. “I know a lot of the kids, and they’re the hardest working kids I’ve ever seen,” Godby said. In order to reciprocate the work ethic the students have, Godby also has his own elaborate process of taking the pho-
tographs and getting them out to the students. During each competition, Godby situates himself in the camera booth of whichever venue the show choirs are performing in. His battle strategy is simple: to take as many pictures as possible at very fast speeds. This way, he can ensure he achieves his “absolute determination” to get at least one good picture of every single performer, combo and crew member. The Sunday after each competition, Godby spends several hours sorting through the photos and deciding which ones are the best of each student and then editing them to make sure the quality of the photo is good, even if the lighting on the stage wasn’t. The creation of his Facebook page, “Ron Godby Photos,” came about when students continually asked him to post them on Facebook. Godby also wanted to create a Facebook page because he wanted to share the pictures with the parents in the choir department, and many of them are on Facebook as well. “These types of pictures are meant to be shared,” Godby said. According to daughter Mary, a member of Company, she was initially hesitant of her dad’s increased presence at competitions and rehearsals. However, after she realized how great the pictures turned out and how much everyone in the choirs enjoyed them, she quickly adjusted. She also noted the enjoyment competitions provide have improved their relationship.
“We get along better at competitions than we do at home,” Mary said. The sense of gratitude each of the performers feels toward Godby’s efforts is felt across the program. Junior and Company soloist Ivy Fishman feels more motivated by Godby’s presence in her performances. “It makes want to be better knowing that he’s taking pictures and that there will be proof of whether or not I was doing well in that moment,” Fishman said. Similar to Godby’s daughter, Fishman also had to adjust after Godby became a consistent presence in the show choirs. “In the beginning, it was a distraction,” Fishman said. “The camera clicking and the flash are something I had to get used to, but you learn to expect it and love it.” Godby recognizes he can be a bit distracting to the kids, so he makes it a point to keep himself in check while he’s taking photographs. All of the time and effort Godby puts into his photography is all on a volunteer basis. “The recognition and appreciation I get from the students is better than money,” he said.
12 2011-20 y n a p Com Mixed irst Class” “F U2 tion” “Eleva n o n Jo h n” - Elt a M t e “ Ro ck nelius ig Cor a r C ” “Flight if You tch Me a C “ t” from “Jet Se Can” ” - Sly Higher u o Y e na Tak “I Wan amily Stone eF h and t
Compan y 2011-20 12 “ Where t he Heart is”
“ Who S ays You Can’t G - B o n Jo o Home vi ” “Where ver My Hom I Lay My Hat, T e” - Pau hat’s l Young “Don’t F en Fitzgera ce Me In” - Ella ld versio n “Home” “Home”
- Vanes
sa Carlto
- Marc B
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roussard
Leanne Gadow, Jenny Ruda, Olivia Churchill
Seth Groharing
hiro Jen Sc
Photos by Ron Godby
It’s a mad, mad world “Mad Men,” the four-time Emmy winner for Best Drama, will have been off the air for 525 days when the fifth season premieres on AMC come March 25. As it returns after this insufferably long break, the cast and crew are trying something new: Instead of running a one-hour season premiere, the Season 5 opener will run for two hours in an obvious attempt to make up for lost time. However, it’s too early to tell if the extra hour will fill the void left in my heart while “Mad Men” was away. When the series premiered in the summer of 2007, “Mad Men” covered all of the bases Hollywood would come to love: cigarettes, social commentary and Christina Hendricks’ rear end. “Mad Men” focuses on the world of the men involved in the Madison Avenue advertising empire of New York City in the ‘60s. Given the changing times, the show does a masterful job of using hot-button topics of the day, such as the election and eventual death of JFK, the rise of television and the perpetual disintegration of the idealized vision of Americana. Approximately 52 years after the show’s pilot takes place, I still watch various episodes of “Mad Men” and see so many overarching connections to the modern world. I can’t help but be continually fascinated by the lens through which Matthew Weiner (pronounced “whiner,” you fifth grade boys), the show’s creator and general mastermind, manages to view contemporary American values. In fact, I am so enthralled by it that I chose to write my essay for the Common Application on an episode from the fourth season entitled “The Suitcase.” It earned Emmy nominations for Jon Hamm as Don Draper, Elisabeth Moss as my hero, Peggy Olson, as well as a writing nomination for Weiner. “The Suitcase” takes place on Peggy’s birthday and includes Don unknowingly holding her captive in the office while working on ideas for, you guessed it, a Samsonite suitcase. It entails Peggy’s worst day of work ever, which concludes only after she and Don have found a profound and mutual respect for each other. That brings me to my next point: It’s the only basic cable show to ever win the Emmy for Outstanding Drama four times in row. However, that doesn’t exactly mean much when you aren’t giving any awards to the other parts of the show that make it great. Hamm has been nominated for in the Best Actor category for each season of the show. The show’s supporting cast, including January Jones, John Slattery and Christina Hendricks, have also been nominated a combined total of eight times without a single win. Weiner has been nominated almost twice as many times in the writing category with only three wins out of 10 total drama writing nominations. In fact, in 2009, Weiner was nominated for four of the five slots in the drama writing category. I understand they can’t win every single award, but after four years of being named Best Drama, you’d think the other parts would start to add up.
14
SPORTS
Friday, March 9, 2012
Progress, potential for younger team Juniors take over varsity gymnastics By Matt Bajkowski Sports Editor After finishing last year’s season with a record of 1-6 and finishing the season “poorly,” according to head coach Randy Smith, boys’ gymnastics is looking to become a known name in the MSL East once again with a fresh new team. Nine seniors graduated from the team, leaving the team predominantly made up of juniors with 12 currently on the team. According to junior gymnast Matt Horn, most of these juniors have been on gymnastics since their freshman year and have been building experience since joining. On top of the experience many of the juniors have, Smith said he has been looking for other ways to improve the team this season. To turn the team around, Smith is focusing on more off-season training and working harder during the season. Senior Matt Muniz, the only senior on varsity, said the team trained at a different gym in the off-season this year to come back to gymnastics less rusty. “We worked on new tricks and what we worked on last year,” Muniz said. “We wanted to get everything back again.” Even with a majority of the team and the varsity level mostly made of juniors, Smith sees “potential” for the overall season. “If they get their heads on straight
pTHE RINGER: Junior Tim Pappas does an L on rings. Pappas’ favorite event is floor. “It feels like you can fly,” he said. (Photo by Ian Magnuson)
Solo senior This year, the boys’ gymnastics team is predominantly made up of juniors, with 12 on the team. Just like the girls’ varsity team, the boys’ team only has one senior member on varsity, Matt Muniz. Last year, nine seniors graduated from the team, and the other grade levels have been left to carry the team. “I try to set an example for [underclassmen] to follow,” Muniz said, “whether that’s by working out in the gym more or giving them rides and making sure they are here on time.”
as soon as possible, they could be East Division champions,” Smith said. Smith said the usual number of freshmen and sophomores came out for gymnastics this year, which is helping fill the hole made from losing nine gymnasts created. There is even a large number of firsttime sophomores who came out for the
team, according to Smith, and while he wishes they wouldn’t have missed the “key” freshman year, he is happy the sophomores decided to join. Horn and Smith both said this year’s team is comparable to girls’ gymnastics, who also only had one senior on varsity. Smith hopes to qualify as many gymnasts as possible for state this year,
even if the team doesn’t do well in postseason competitions. Smith also believes with only one senior this year, the team should be very strong next year. “[Juniors] are the future of the team,” Smith said. “If we don’t win the East this year, we definitely will next year.” Smith, along with the other coaches, wants to change how boys’ gymnastics is viewed in the school and the conference. “[Gymnastics] used to be a really strong, solid program here at Prospect,” Smith said. “We always used to be feared, but that reputation has faded over the years.” “We want to be feared again,” he said. “We know what it takes to be good.”
Friday, March 9, 2012
Boys’ track retains focus By Jack Mathews Executive Sports Editor In every meet the boys’ track team competed in last year, they could count on then-senior Nick Batcha to win up to four events. Even though every year teams go through the loss of key athletes to graduation, sometimes there will be athletes whose talent will not be replaced the next year. The Knights won’t have another Batcha this year, or any of the seniors of lasts year’s team that led them to their first conference championship in 41 years, but their expectations are just as high. Head coach Mike Kamedula admits it will be tougher this year but gains confidence from the approach his team takes in practice. “We are still pretty talented, but I think the No. 1 thing this year is that their attitude is awesome,” Kamedula said. “They work hard, train hard and really believe they can win.” According to Kamedula, a big key to success for a track team is sprinting depth, and he is excited about his core group of sprinters returning from last year’s state-qualifying season, which includes seniors Nick Meersman, Chris Meersman and Vito Anzalone.
“Going down state [last year] and seeing our potential motivates us to work hard every day, break our personal records and place even higher at state,” Nick said. “The seniors want to go out with a bang, and anything else is underachieving.” Assistant coach Mike Stokes feels the distance runners will also find success this season because of their strong cross-country season in the fall, where the Knights finished sixth in state. Stokes said finishing second at sectionals really boosted the confidence of his runners and expects that confidence to continue into the track season and lead to success. Despite both the distance runners and sprinters in a position to make another run at winning conference, the team is looking to improve in the field events, especially the jumping events. According to Stokes, the team is shorthanded in jumpers and is still looking to find which athletes will compete best in a few events, like the triple jump. No matter who is competing, though, the team’s main focus is gaining experience every day and making sure every kid reaches his potential. “In track, you can’t control other teams,” Kamedula said. “We have to
Down but not out According to head track coach Mike Kamedula, the number of underclassmen participating in track this year is the lowest since 2002 and could hurt the team in the field events now and in the future if they do not have enough to fill the lineup. There are 18 events in a track meet, and a single athlete can compete in a maximum of four events. “I’m worried about participation here and not just in track,” Kamedula said. “It bodes negatively for the future.” Kamedula said track is a sport that relies heavily on how many kids participate. “You could get by with having seven sprinters if they were all amazing, but that isn’t likely, especially around this area,” Kamedula said. “So when you have a lower number of kids coming out for track, it limits the potential of finding that diamond in the rough.” do what we do and try and get as good as we can for state.”
Archery lost to more popular girls’ sports By Aungelina Dahm Staff Writer Archery came and went like the moon walk, MySpace and A.I.M., but don’t expect it to make a retro comeback like peace signs and tie-dye. Girls’ archery was an official IHSA sport for just four short years; then it vanished almost as quickly as it appeared. Archery is the shortest-lived sport in IHSA history, even beating out field hockey, which survived six years (197581). For Prospect, it wasn’t a huge loss to many people when it was no longer available after the ‘79-’80 school year. On the other hand, ‘79 grad Karen VanGrondelle, who placed second in state archery, was very fond of the sport. Although it was one of her favorite sports, it wasn’t as popular with the rest of the school. VanGrondelle recalled that it was a very quiet sport, and didn’t get the attention like many of the other sports did. ‘73-’84 Prospect principal Edward Spacapan said back when VanGrondelle was making state records for archery, Prospect was just getting the golf program. Even then, the school had multiple pep assemblies for the golf team and only one for archery. “When golf was starting for girls, it was iffy,” Spacapan said, “but still, most girls had more of an interest in golf and tennis than in archery.” According to IHSA assistant execu-
pTARGET PRACTICE: An archery coach teaches an athlete the skills of the sport. (Photo courtesy of Crest)
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SPORTS
pTHE CHAMP: ‘79 grad Karen VanGrondelle, who placed second in state for archery, practices her shooting. The archery team was the shortest-lived sport at Prospect; it only lasted four years. (Photo courtesy of Crest) tive director Matt Troha, a few major reasons it was removed, along with the lack of interest, was because of lack of space, the dangers it posed — not as much for the archers, but for bystanders — and the high cost of equipment. “The quality of the equipment was pretty high,” VanGrondelle said. “In order to [compete], you have to buy your own stuff.” VanGrondelle also remembers the limited space they had to practice with. They practiced over on the south end of the football stadium. “The people [who] lived in those houses over there probably weren’t too comfortable with it,” Spacapan said jokingly. Even though it is discontinued in Illinois high schools, South Middle School still has an archery unit in their PE classes. Most students look forward to it because all they really had to do was stand up and shoot an arrow at the picture of one of their teachers on the target. “From a teacher’s perspective, I try to teach and find units that can reach every student,” South PE teacher Phil O’Grady said. “It’s not great in terms of cardio, [and] it doesn’t get your heart rate up, but what it offers is a variety or a twist on a normal PE unit.” Archery isn’t the only sport that has variety. According to Troha, the IHSA discontinuing its state competi-
tion doesn’t have an effect on individual schools continuing the sport. Actually, any school could reinstate it at any time, except there wouldn’t be any competition with other schools. Then it could be classified as either a sport or just an activity. On the IHSA website, high schools can contact LeAnna Mutchler of the IHSA board if they want to be recognized as a school that would want to add a recommendation for a sport to be added on to the Emerging Sports List. No school has recommended archery to be on the list. Troha said when a spot on the Emerging Sports List reaches close to 10 percent of their members offering a sport or activity, the board considers adding it. Even though it seems easy for archery to get recognized by the IHSA again, it would be a lot of work, and VanGrondelle doesn’t think it’s very realistic. Associate Principal Greg Minter doesn’t see archery coming back to Prospect anytime soon. He mentioned there wouldn’t be a safe place to put the practices, so they would have to be off-campus on an archery range that is somewhat close to the school, and a staff member would be need to sponsor it. “I just don’t see it happening,” Minter said.
You Don’t Know
JACK Catching the madness The month of March is often considered one of the best of the school year for high school students. The temperatures finally start to get warm, and spring break caps off the month. For basketball fans, though, the excitement of the NCAA basketball tournament, “March Madness,” adds even more gratification. For those who don’t watch the tournament, it is impossible to describe what makes it so appealing, but I would say it is the gambling in bracket contests and the gaining of bragging rights combined with the upsets, buzzer beaters and the genuine emotion of the games only available at the amateur level that make “March Madness” so engaging. For Prospect students, the first round of the 64-team tournament, and what some consider the best part of the tournament, usually begins on the Thursday before spring break, but this year the tournament is starting a week earlier, meaning students, like myself, will have one less-than-productive week. The first three days after “Selection Sunday” consist of studying which teams are most likely to be upset early and all the other hard work that goes into best forecasting this year’s bracket. The rest of the week is spent watching as many games as possible as CBS struggles to choose which game they should air when multiple teams are down to the wire at the same time. Seeing all the late-game drama is harder for the games that are played during the day, but when it comes to “March Madness,” school serves as a pretty useful resource. The week after “Selection Sunday,” some kids find their printing quotas down to double digits because of all the brackets they have printed out. As a result, “Bracketology,” the study of predicting the outcome of the field in the tournament, is usually the only science being learned. This is also the week most students notice the TVs in the commons and lunchroom when the games are turned on, which is probably good when afternoon attendance is taken into consideration. The schools Wi-Fi also serves as a good tool to either refresh “Scorecenter” or watch the games live on mobile devices. Even though not every teacher is very understanding when kids tell them they were five minutes late because the 8-9 game went down to the buzzer, teachers aren’t immune to the madness either. In fact, most years career/technology education teacher Paul Hennig can be caught looking very distressed as the No. 5 seed he picked to go to the Final Four gets upset in the first round. According to social science teacher Jay Heilman, the social sciences division also throws a “March Madness” party every year where the teachers can watch the games and eat. Heilman also allows his students to check scores of the games during the first or last five minutes of class when games are being played. Obviously, not every teacher or student catches the “madness,” but everyone benefits from the relaxed feel of the days before spring break when the games are going on. The combination of spring weather, college basketball and the anticipated encroachment of spring break make March one of the best months for students. Check out our picks for the March Madness brackets on
Prospectornow.com
SPORTS Friday, March, 9, 2012
Check out the season previews of all the spring sports as their seasons begin to kick into high gear.
On Prospectornow.com
Looking back: 2011 stats Batting Average 1. Jack Landwehr 2. Brian Bauer 3. Luke Bergman 7. Shane Joyce
.453 .430 .409 .325
Runs Batted In 1. Landwehr 43 2. Pete Bonahoom 29 3. Bauer 28 Runs 1. Bergman 2. Matt Molini 3. Bonahoom
43 41 30
Wins 1. Jack Landwehr 13-2 2. Ben Menich 7-1 3. Kurt Donner 4-0 Earned Runs Average 1. Landwehr 2.50 2. Donner 2.55 3. Menich 3.24 Innings Pitched 1. Landwehr 78.1 2. Menich 67.0 3. Dazzo 24.0
*returning varsity members
Looking ahead: returning players
Following the dream
A.J. Compton Thomas Donner Patrick Drucker Drew Fernandez Brad Gerdes Shane Joyce
Jr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr.
Eric Krohm Jack Landwehr Jake Logiudice Jason Spataro Nico Witanen
Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr.
pSTRIKEOUT PITCHER: Senior Jack Landwehr pitches at the super sectional game, where they defeated Glenbrook North 8-2 and advanced onto the state series. The baseball team is working to rebuild and live up to expectations. (Photo By Tess Bauer)
Baseball looks for success after third place finish By Alyssa Zediker Executive Sports Editor The 2011 varsity baseball team faced Mt. Carmel for third place in the state on June 11. Early in the game ‘11 grad Matt Molini scored the team’s only two runs off RBI from senior Jack Landwehr and ‘11 grad Brian Bauer. Following the third inning the Knights’ defense, with Landwehr on the mound, shut down any further scoring from Mt. Carmel, leading them to a 2-1 victory and the third place state title. After an unforgettable season following a 27-9 record and a third place finish in state, the boys’ baseball team lost 11 seniors, six of whom were starters. While the team still has 11 returning members, only seniors Brad Gerdes, Shane Joyce and Landwehr re-
Changing bats The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) implemented a new certification code for the bats that was effective as of Jan. 1. This means that all -3 bats, aluminum, composite and 2-piece (aluminum/ composite), will have to meet the BBCOR certification standards and have a BBCOR logo. The old bats approved by BESR will no longer be legal under the NFHS’s new rules. The NFHS hopes to maintain wood bat-like performance in non-wood bats.
ceived major playing time last season. “Nothing will be able to top last season, but we have a lot of new guys this year who have to step up,” Landwehr said. “Even out of the gate, they are playing with a chip on their shoulder,” head coach Ross Giusti said. “I think [other teams] think that just because we lost a lot of seniors that we are not going to be any good.” The team wants to disprove any non-believers; however, its intent is not to replace the lost seniors but rather to build off the talent it has and maintain a consistent level of success. “You can’t really look at it as trying to compare this season to last,” Giusti said. Senior Nico Witanen agrees and feels the team has to utilize its new talent and build on it. Witanen is one of many players taking over for the departed seniors, and he is taking the place of Molini at second base. Witanen feels he is finally getting his opportunity to play. “Anywhere we have a new player [in a position], we expect that guy to step up and play that role,” Joyce said. After losing power hitters ‘11 grads Peter Bonahoom and Luke Bergman, who each hit six home runs last season, the team is looking to rework their offensive playing style, since Landwehr is the only returning player who hit more than one home run during the previous season. Giusti said in order for the team to get ahead this season, the team is going to have to do the little things and play small ball. The team’s offense is going to have to play more strategic. The Knights are better at contact hitting and will be using more sacrifice bunts to move players into scoring position. “We’re smaller than last year, so I think we are going to have to use a lot of speed rather than power,” said Witanen, who is happy with the team’s strategy since speed is his strength. The new strategy is still a work in progress, since the players have only had the chance to briefly try out
the new offense over the summer. “Every year is its own monster,” Giusti said. “You don’t know what type of team you are really going to have until you role up your sleeves and find out.” The team’s offensive play will be affected in another way as well this season. Use of the BBCOR, a new simulated wooden bat, is now required, and it has caused a decline of home runs across Illinois (see “Changing bats”). On the other hand, with the decline of home runs across the board, Giusti feels the team’s defense will be good this season because the new bats are going to allow the defense the opportunity to make the plays. However, the only way the defense is going to have such opportunities is if the pitchers consistently put the ball over the plate. Giusti feels walks and hit batters are really going to hurt. Expanding its pitching staff is the team’s one area of concern, as they are looking for additional players to play alongside Landwehr. “Jack obviously has proven to be very consistent pitcher in the area, but we need a couple more pitchers to complement our pitching staff,” Giusti said. As the season begins, the team will head to Florida over spring break, where they hope to win a few games, practice with the new bats and offense and bond as a team. The players have set their sights on winning the East Division, and then they want to continue on to win the conference championship. “Having a year like we did builds confidence within the program,” Giusti said. “[The players] can see that it’s possible, and they want to uphold that type of reputation of being a state-caliber team.”
SWINGING HARDu Senior Brad Gerdes swings for the fences at a game last season. Gerdes hit one homer last season and will be one of three returning senior starters this season. The team is looking for all the returning members to step up and contribute to what they hope will be another successful season. (Photo courtesy of Mike Donner)
pSCOOPS: ‘11 grad Matt Molini makes a play from second. While Molini won’t be playing this season, senior Nico Witanen is excited to get an opportunity to play. (Photo by Tess Bauer)