Online issue 2

Volume 53, Issue 2

Friday, October 4, 2013

The voice of Prospect since 1960

THE

ROSPECTOR

801 West Kensington Road, Mount Prospect, Illinois 60056 - Follow us:

@ProspectorNow

Prospector NOW

We reviewed some of the most entertaining television series of the fall.

To read more turn to...

11 Entertainment ProspectorNow

ProspectorNow

Prospector Now

The Rumor Mill

To hear the rumorfree truth about the cancellation of

4 Opinion

ENCAPSULATED HEALTH: Teenagers engage in extensive dieting methods. These different techiques cause future health concerns.“If there was a magic pill, there’d only be one out there,” Alexian Brothers nutritionist Asiyah Roman said. (Photo by Nabi Dressler)

Dancing Queen We talked to junior Aleks Schillmoeller about her career as a dancer. To learn more,

Extreme diets malnourish teens Fad diets evolve into further health concerns

By Kelly Schoessling

7 Features No “I” in “Team” The Boys’ Golf team talks about their friendly team atmophere as well as their goals for the season. To hear more about the team, flip to...

15 Sports

Managing Editor

According to the Merriam Webster dictionary, the word diet means to restrict oneself to small amounts or special kinds of food in order to lose weight.

The same source also defines the word healthy as the overall condition of someone’s body or mind. Together, these definitions raise questions about whether or not dieting is truly healthy.

According to a survey done by New York Daily.com, 80 percent of women attempted dieting at least once by age

10. Although many seem to engage in these different dieting techniques, few may understand the monumental health concerns directly associated with dieting. These blurred distinctions raise a second question as to when dieting is taken too far to the extreme by the desire to lose weight..

While there are numerous popular dieting and weight-loss methods, some prove to be more harmful than others. For example, diets involving cleanses, based solely off strict fluids with minimal amounts of food, have seemed to gained pop-

ularity because of the rumored detoxifying benefits they offer.

While most join this diet lose weight because of the decrease in water and stool weight, this method also poses the risk of causing dehydration, electrolyte imbalance and a lack of protein-enriched nutrients, according to webmd. com.

It is also strongly discouraged to cleanse while fasting, the process of abstaining from some or all food or drink. Though short periods of fasting (meaning a time span of one to two days) will not cause any immediate damage to the body, longer periods of fasting can cause various symptoms associated with anorexia (re-

Educators teach numerous curricula

By Eva Schacht News Editor

Math/Science Division Head Keith Bellof claims teachers have been teaching two subjects since the beginning of time. The reason, not because the math and science department is understaffed, but rather that more teachers are certified to teach two subjects.

According to Bellof, teachers need a certain number of college hours to get certified.

Depending on the subject, there are different college courses that a teacher needs to take to become certified. Most teachers find teaching two subjects is refreshing because

their days go by quicker due to the different aspects of each subjects.

Math and science teacher Greg Troyer has been teaching at Prospect for 30 years. During his first year, he simply taught all math; however, the following year, he transitioned to teaching math and physics.

Troyer got his double major in math and physics in college, so he didn’t have to take any additional certification classes, leading to a double certification in the two subjects.

The two curriculums are so similar because math is the background students need to do physics.

“The science is nice because I can show the kids where all

of their math skills are applied later in physics,” Troyer said. “It’s easier in physics to talk about [the applications of math] because now students are using them.”

Bellof agrees with Troyer and thinks that a person can find more connections between math and a physics course because the two are so closely related. “[Balancing the curriculum] is the same as balancing two different subjects within a curriculum,” Bellof said. “It’s a lot like how a student balances all of their classes. There are busy and non-busy times for all classes.”

See TEACHERS, page 2

fer to Aung’s story title).

Although diets such as the fruition diet, consuming only raw fruits, vegetables and seeds, may appear to be a healthy approach to losing weight, these natural diets can lead to serious health conditions as well. The fruition diet specifically eliminates essential vitamins and nutrients like calcium, iron and zinc, along with vitamin D and B12, therefore posing major health concerns.

Senior Ali Ward states that though she has not participated in the fruitarian diet specifically, she has attempted her own form of dieting several times.

Despite the risks, Ward believes dieting can be affective as well

as safe if teens monitor themselves with the right state of mind.

“You have to start off small by eating smaller meals each day,” Ward said. “You should cut out certain types of food, but you shouldn’t cut out all foods.”

While natural-based diets can be controlled with the right mindset, Alexian Brothers nutritionist Asiyah Roman insists it is imperative to avoid chemical-based diets involving diet pills or supplements.

“If their was a magic pill, there’d only be one out there,” Roman said.

According to Webmd.com, prescription diet pills are only encouraged for those suf-

See DIETING, page 8

On ProspectorNow.com...

Prospect’s color guard waves their pride as the football team plays Hersery at the homecoming game. To read more about the team’s season, check out ProspectorNow.com. (Photo courtesy of Ron Godby)

2

News

October 4, 2013

prospectornow.com

TEACHERS: Finding balance in teaching multiple subjects CONTINUED from front page Physics tests are usually half scantron and half show your work.

They’re easier for Troyer to grade because he can just feed the scantron into the machine and grade the two or three pages of show your work.

A normal math test is usually four pages of only show your work. This makes it harder in the sense that it’s almost double of what a physics show your work test is. The difference between the two subjects is math doesn’t have any labs.

Troyer can collect three- to five-page labs in physics about every week, but in math, a test is usually every two to three weeks with a short one-page quiz in between.

Either way, Troyer finds himself making up the work for the classes in both periods.

Junior Lauren Becherer has Troyer for two periods a day, Honors Pre-Calculus and Physics. Becherer finds having Troyer for two periods easier because she knows his teaching style is the same for both classes.

“If you know how to succeed in one class, it’s easier to transfer [the knowledge] to the other class,” Becherer said.

Becherer agrees that math is one of the key components to physics and thinks that Troyer does find a balance between the two curricula because they are so similar.

“Because the two subjects work together, it seems easier for him to control both of them,” Becherer said.

Becherer does think that she knows Troyer a lot better because she has him for two periods, and Troyer feels the same about the students he has for two periods.

“Math is a lot of lecture and kids sitting in a seat, whereas in physics, it’s a lot of getting up and lab time, and I get

GETTING CALCY: Teacher Greg Troyer goes over homework with his fourth period Pre-Calculus class. In addition to teaching Pre-Calculus, Troyer also teaches two Physics periods each day. (Photo by Cassidy Selep) to know the students a little bit better,” Troyer said.

Troyer is not the only teacher that finds a balance while teaching two curricula. Math and chemistry teacher Deb Johnson teaches Honors and regular Chemistry and Advanced Algebra.

Johnson has been teaching at Prospect for 28 years. She first began teaching computer classes, but transitioned to teaching chemistry five or six years later.

Johnson attended a small high school where her math teachers were also her science teachers. When she went to college, she wanted to get a degree for teaching two subjects.

Johnson went to school for an additional semester to get certified for teaching two subjects. Johnson has been teaching algebra for almost 28 years, so she is very comfortable with the level and the class.

The only struggle Johnson has with teaching the two courses is the balance.

“Math is more straightforward, and there is only one answer to a question,” Johnson said. “You always know if you have the right answer or not. Chemistry is more open-ended because of the labs and data collected.”

While Troyer sees imbalances between physics and math tests, Johnson believes math tests are easier to grade than physics tests.

The labs in chemistry take Johnson longer to grade because each set of data is different for each student, but in math, it’s the same question, and Johnson is able to easily detect the errors and the correct answers very easily.

“In chemistry, it’s very hands-on, while math, it’s the basics kids need to know analyze problems in chemistry and physics,” Johnson said.

If teaching two subjects seems hard,

try teaching two languages. World language teacher Scott Russell teaches Spanish and French, two languages in which he has majors.

During Russell’s first year, he taught both French and Spanish. His second year he taught only Spanish, and he now teaches both. According to Russell, it usually changes every year. Russell is also certified to teach World History and U.S. History.

Since Russell has been teaching multiple languages since he started at Prospect, it doesn’t take him that long to plan for both classes. It usually takes him about 20 minutes for each subject.

In the beginning, it usually took Russell about 2 hours.

Russell sees multiple similarities in Spanish and French.

“First, they’re both languages, and second, they’re both romance languages, so there’s a lot of linguistic similarities between them,” Russell said.

Grading tests and quizzes isn’t a problem either for Russell. It just takes him longer to grade level 3 and 4 tests and quizzes because there is a bigger written portion than the lower levels.

Russell believes that teaching two languages keeps him on his toes all the time.

Bellof, however, believes there are misconceptions. Teachers’ days go from 7 a.m. - 3 p.m., but when the bell rings at 2:50 p.m., teachers are already planning for the next day, which may take until midnight for some.

The only problem Bellof sees with teachers teaching two different curricula is the potential for “spreading teachers too thin,” where teachers don’t have enough time to devote to any one subject.

“Teaching two subjects gives teachers a better perspective as to what kids are doing throughout the day,” Bellof said.

Prospect: declassified Mysterious oddities inside school are finally brought to surface

By Shreya Thakkar News Editor

There are many odd quirks at Prospect: freshman and sophomore varsity athletes don’t get to waiver out of gym, and the door in the fieldhouse foyer bathroom leads outside.

The room organization is just as strange. The reasons for the multiple 218 rooms, organization of math and science rooms and math teachers teaching in English rooms may be known by few, but not anymore.

218’s explained Sophomore Andrew Pittman opened his schedule on pickup day and found that his seventh-period AP World History class was in room 218D. He thought that it was a mistake, as did many other students; however, he soon found out that it was a ordinary classroom.

Currently, history teachers David Schnell and Jonathon Kaminsky teach in room 218 D. According to Kaminsky, teaching in room 218 D is the exact same as any other room, the only difference being the numbering.

According to head librarian Christie Sylvester, rooms 218 A through 218 D all used to be the library.

When the library moved to its current location in 2003, the

old space was divided into four parts. Since no one wanted to renumber the entire second floor, the resulting rooms became 218 A, 218 B, 218 C and 218 D. To this day, rubber tracks remain on the floors in those rooms, showing where exactly the old library was.

The change has worked out well for both parties.

The KLC is above and beyond what Sylvester had hoped, and she believes it is serving its purpose well.

“I was thrilled [when I found out we would be moving into a new facility] because we were really busting at the seams before,” Sylvester said. “This just went beyond our wildest dreams about what we have down here because it just really met the needs of this building.”

Schnell and Kaminsky have also benefited from the renovations and are making good use of 218 D. They try to liven up their days by stealing small items from each other and playing small pranks, even writing creative captions for a picture of Queen Elizabeth II in the room.

Math rooms originally had a different home Math/Science Division Head Keith Bellof has been at Prospect for 18 years and re-

FLASHBACK FRIDAY: The past library contrasts itself to the present Knight’s Learning Center. The library was moved to the current facility in 2003, however tracks still remain in the hallway showing where the old library used to be. (Photo courtesy of Christie Sylvester) (Photo by Rich Futo) calls that almost all the math rooms used to be on the third floor. However, ten years ago because of new science standards, the labs had to be expanded.

For example, three classrooms turned into two labs, so many math rooms had to move to the second floor. Because of this change, there are currently 13 math classrooms in total and 12 science labs.

Seven of the 13 math rooms are on the second floor while the other seven are on the third floor with the twelve science labs. Six out of the 13 math rooms are on the second floor, and the other seven are on the third while all twelve science labs are all on the third floor.

1 2 3, a b c or both?

Part-time math teacher Anna Pugawko received her schedule the Monday before classes started and found out

she would teach in room 226, a math room. However, when she went to set up her classroom, she was surprised to see math teacher Lisa Halleen already in that room. Pugawko then talked to Math/Science Division Head Keith Bellof, and room 227 was the only available classroom during third period, which was near her first- and second-period classes. The only catch is room 227 is an English room.

At first Pugawko didn’t mind, but then when she took a look around the classroom, she saw some problems.

The desks were arranged in a “U” shape, which is good for an English class discussion but not an ideal math class. In a normal math classroom, the desks are in rows to minimize cheating on tests. The structure worried Pugawko because closer desks make cheating easier.

“I was like, ‘I don’t know if I’m going to be able to make this work,’” Pugawko said However, Pugawko realized the English students take tests, too, so if the organization worked for them, it would work for her as well. “I just have to keep a closer eye on [my students],” Pugawko said Pugawko has taught in an English room before, and it was not easy to do because she had little board space and did not feel welcome.

However, coordinating with English teacher Rebecca Hagberg-Cohen, who is in the room the most, has been easy for her.

She recently asked Hagberg-Cohen to have an area to write her assignments on the board, and Hagberg-Cohen was very generous and made Pugawko feel comfortable.

“She’s been very accommodating and very understanding,” Pugawko said.

prospectornow.com

October 4, 2013

Soft lockdown enforces protocol

By Shreya Thakkar News Editor

n For more on the Sept. 25 soft lockdown, go to...ProspectorNow.com

A soft lockdown was called Sept.

25 during third period and lasted for almost two hours because a suspicious object was found in Circle Drive.

Although the object turned out to be a cartesian diver, a sophomore’s extra credit science project, the administration had to act according to their best judgement, as they would in any lockdown situation, because there is no specific protocol.

Even though every situation is different, the administration still practices common approaches.

The three most common types of reactions to an unexpected situation are a soft lockdown, hard lockdown and evacuation.

According to Associate Principal Greg Minter, a hard lockdown, often only called as a drill, occurs when the administration or the police believe that there is a dangerous situation, such as an armed person, on campus.

While a hard lockdown occurs when there is immediate danger, a soft lockdown occurs when administration or the police do not want people leaving the building but believe classes can keep going on as long as student and staff stay inside in the classrooms.

That occurs typically for something dangerous in the community not directly affecting the school, such as a crime committed nearby.

Soft lockdowns are not infrequent. According to Minter, although the latest one was the only

one involving a bomb threat, there downs have only been practice have been a few in the past couple drills in his 11 years at Prospect. years where police advised the In a hard lockdown situation, school go into a soft lockdown due everyone would hide in the classto a situation in the community. rooms or offices, including adminFor example, on April 14, 2011, istration. a death occurred in Arlington “We’d be trying to stay out of Heights and was under investiga- [harm’s way] because we’re not tion as a homicide. armed,” Minter said.

The police called Prospect’s adHowever, Scott Filipek, the ministration and advised they go school resource officer, would be into a soft lockdown for safety pre- out and active. Filipek is required cautions. to do at least 40 hours of training However, there was no immi- for possible lockdown situations. nent danger to students or staff.

“We have different scenarios of An evacdifferent ways u a t i o n The police would be to handle differoccurs if situations,” flying here. They’d ent there is a Filipek said. be driving across problem “In some caswith the es, I might wait the grass, they’d building, for backup; in such as a storm this building. some cases, I gas leak or - Associate Principal might not. It a fire. all depends on E v a c u - Greg Minter what’s going ating the on.” building means everyone standHis training includes discussing outside, going to the stadium ing scenarios with administrators or even calling about 50 buses to and police and acting out possible Prospect and shuttling students to instances and reactions with his Forest View High School or Hersey team of police officers.

High School.

The police and the school work If an object were to be found together to guarantee a safe envion campus, the reaction would ronment. depend on the situation as well “It’s mainly the police departas how dangerous the object was. ment, but the police rely on the However, if there was a person on school and the school relies on the campus deemed dangerous by the police, so it is kind of a joint [relaadministration or police, then the tionship],” Filipek said. school would go into a hard lockAlong with Filipek, the police down. would get to Prospect very quickly According to Minter, hard lock- in this kind of situation.

“The police would be flying here,” Minter said. “They’d be driving across the grass, and they’d storm this building.”

Every police officer in the city of Mount Prospect has the key pass to enter the building. The police routinely practice drills, so they are very familiar with the building and its layout.

In recent years, a new approach to hard lockdowns has emerged.

Safety professionals and some police departments have started thinking about a “fight back” approach which includes running out of the building towards safety.

There is some ongoing conversation in District 214 about this new approach to an intruder in the building.

“One of the things that makes it a little more difficult to be operational in a school is that there are just so many variables and so many people,” Minter said.

“Let’s say you’re a teacher on the third floor; how do you know it’s safe to leave your classroom?

You don’t know. [An intruder] could be hiding right around the corner from you, and you could walk right into something.”

According to Minter, District 214 will probably not be taking this “fight back” approach anytime soon.

“Is that the right thing to do or not?” Minter said. “Are you going to put more people in harm’s way by suggesting...they should go [when things are safe], because what do you know? Our district certainly hasn’t taken a position to change what we’re going to do.”

News

3

In case you missed it...

Young Life starts year strong

Elevator Emergency

Learning the Knights’ Way

Physical education classes motivate with 5k

...Go to ProspectorNow!

October 4, 2013

prospectornow.com

Staff Editorial

Editorial Cartoon

Because she was so disappointed with Knightgames’ cancellation, senior Christina Santiago spent a month planning a student-run version of the event with the help of friends and the tennis team.

But six days before Knightg a m e s w o u l d have taken place, Santiago got a call from Caroline Binley the park Opinion editor district that ruined everything.

The permit for Santiago’s Knightgames was revoked, reigniting students’ fury over the elimination of the event, but the turn of events left me with one question: does anyone know what happened, or are we just going to point fingers and get our feelings hurt?

Before I started this story, I thought the end of Knightgames—as well as Santiago’s version—was the administration’s fault, and I wasn’t alone in that mindset. But the more I researched the topic, the less realistic that belief seemed.

Either Principal Michelle Dowling is a fantastic liar, or she had no clue how the permit got revoked. The park district could not be reached for com-

ment about what happened, but get involved.

Dowling explained that the adWe’re off to a decent start, acministration had nothing to do cording to Student Council adviwith the situation, though San- sor Lyn Scolaro, who said that tiago suggested that the school we did well with the dress-up police officer may have been days, but things aren’t perfect. involved.

This year, between 80 and And, yeah, it was disappoint- 100 people attended the bonfire ing that the dance held If we want Sept. 18, administration canK n i g h t g a m e s which is far celled it last too low for back, we’re going a school of year, but it wasn’t to have to work over 2,000 without students. harder to get inreason.

Maybe it A c was just volved. cording the weather to Dowling, tension at Knight- (the dance was moved indoors games had been building for because of rain), but my guess years, and the administration is that kids stopped caring. was always making changes Before the dance, I heard to avoid conflict. Issues with enough people insulting it to parking lot traffic and Knight- dissuade me from attending. games’ increasing polarity led I’ll admit that last year’s dance to the creation of the bonfire could have been better, but that dance, which was meant to keep doesn’t justify the amount of students from leaving while complaining I heard, and everythey were still pumped from one I talked to afterwards said Knightgames. However, nothing the dance was great. seemed to work, and that wasn’t The amount of negativity the administration’s fault. throughout the week was ridicProspect’s administration ulous, and requesting Knightdidn’t dislocate English teacher games on top of that didn’t do Nicole Stoltz’s shoulder; we did, anything but prove we didn’t and we need to accept responsi- deserve it. bility for what went wrong.

If homecoming week isn’t We’re not violent kids, con- your thing, it’s fine by me, but sidering the closest thing we if you forget that homecoming had to a bomb threat was a mis- week is actually about homeplaced science project, but if we coming and not just the buildup want Knightgames back, we’re to Knightgames, you have the going to have to work harder to wrong idea.

Homecoming changes over the years

The Staff EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Nabi Dressler MANAGING EDITOR Kelly Schoessling COPY EDITOR Ellen Siefke ASSOCIATE EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Andi Hayes Erin McGovern

4

Intolerance ignites hate

Lack of energy, school spirit won’t bring Knightgames back

Coronation decorations changed from a blue throne to theme-based decorations.

Opinion

Powder puff soccer switched to Knightgames.

Return of the parade.

(2011: Parade cancelled.)

Coronation moved from Friday to Monday.

Members of Somalia’s al- crowned Miss America, makShabab militia opened fire on ing her the first winner of shoppers Sept. 21 at a West- Indian descent, racism was gate mall in Nairobi, Kenya. rampant. On Twitter, some The Islamic attackers tar- called Davuluri “Miss Terrorgeted the mall for its Jewish ist” and were outraged that a and American shops and its Muslim won, despite the fact popularity with tourists and that Davuluri is Hindu. Peodiplomats, according to Al Ja- ple also accused Davuluri of zeera’s interview with an al- not being a real American Shabab military spokesman. when in reality, she’s from All Muslim shoppers were Syracuse. allowed to leave safely.

Incompetence when it According to the BBC, as comes to Middle Eastern culof Sept. 26, 67 people died on tures plays a role in such attiaccount of the four-day mall tudes developing.

We, the Prospector, believe siege, 61 people remain missing and countless others were no one should be subject to injured. different treatment on account of When attacks race or relike this happen, it ligion, and can be easy to charit is wrong acterize the terrorists as the face of a to jump to conlarger population, Against For clusions so it needs to be Voting results of the Prospector staff in a b o u t noted that the vast regards to this editorial. someone majority of Somalis don’t support albased on Shabab, and the vast majority his or her religious beliefs of Muslims aren’t terrorists. because morality transcends There are extremists in any religion.

It is vital to the progression given country, and of any given religion; take the Ku Klux of society that we learn about Klan’s innumerable slayings all religions and beliefs of in the name of Christianity others; this education should throughout history. Their ex- start as soon as possible.

We should begin or contintremism isn’t indicative of Christian beliefs, just as Is- ue researching all religions lamic extremism isn’t indica- to find out what they really preach because judging miltive of Muslim beliefs.

Such ignorance about Mid- lions, even billions, of people dle Eastern religions paves based on handfuls of extremthe way for hate crimes and ists is inaccurate. Taking discrimination around the classes like World Religions globe. According to the U.S. can be a starting point to Department of Justice’s Hate learn about different beliefs.

Crime Victimization report, Once we go off to college, religiously-motivated hate get jobs and thrive in new, crimes have more than dou- diverse cities, it’s important bled in the past decade, now that we detach ourselves from indifference about racial and accounting for 21 percent of religious issues if we haven’t all hate crimes in America.

Both a Sikh man and a already, and respect both reMuslim woman were attacked ligious and nonreligious inby over a dozen teenagers in dividuals. We should become Harlem that same Saturday. more accepting of our fellow For reference, Sikhism is its Americans.

Just because we’re teenown religion, separate from agers doesn’t mean we’re too Islam.

Even police and those in- young to recognize racial and volved in the judiciary sys- religious injustices and speak tem can let ignorance dictate out against them, regardless their decisions. Last Janu- of what we hear at home or ary, a Sikh truck driver was around us.

We don’t live in an unprejarrested and harassed by Mississippi police officers udiced America yet, but with and later kicked out of court open-mindedness and edubecause judge Aubrey Rimes cation, we can keep moving didn’t like “that rag” on his in the right direction and at head, according to Huffington least shed light on bigotries and attempt to fight them.

Post.

When Nina Davuluri was

21

ONLINE MANAGING EDITOR Jack McDermott

IN-DEPTH EDITORS Aungelina Dahm Abby Sunu

VISUALS EDITORS Rich Futo Cassidy Selep

NEWS EDITORS Brian Park Eva Schacht Shreya Thakkar

ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR Grace McKay

ADVISER Jason Block

OPINION EDITORS Chris Kivlahan Caroline Binley FEATURES EDITORS Khrystyna Halatyma Mary Kate Moloney Shannon Smith

BROADCAST EDITOR Lauren Miller

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.

ONLINE EDITOR Spencer Ball

The Prospector is published by students in Journalistic Writing courses

SPORTS EDITORS Peter Fusilero Molly Mueller Devin Prasad

0

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

Advertising For ad rates, call (847) 718-5376 (ask for Kelly Schoessling), 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. Limit letters to 400 words.

The Prospector reserves the right to edit letters for style and length.

October 4, 2013 Opinion

prospectornow.com

5

Public humiliation the norm in P.E. Gym class unfair, needs to change

public school gym programs. The standards should be determined by body type, not just gender, as it is the only way to provide fair, attainable fitness goals for each student.

It cannot be overlooked that the only element of the tests being worked on in gym classes is the cardio, or running, test. Lazarevic claimed that as the year goes on, PE teachers will begin to work on the other three tests in their classes. However, given that the same claims were made last year, and I was never even told to stretch after running, this reporter is rather skeptical, to say the least.

I propose a system in which each student meets with a PE teacher and determines specific, attainable goals that are based on ability and body type and then is rewarded for meeting said goals. For example, if a student is not a natural runner but likes to lift, the student could set some lighter cardio goals and more intensive strength goals.

Sure, this would create more work for the teachers, but is it not their responsibility to, as Lazarevic stated, give each student what they need?

If there is something reasonable that PE teachers could do to help each student become not only happier, but more healthy and active, it is their responsibility to do so.

Fitness scoring by the numbers

release from daily stresses or Dividing students into two running more often than not. separate classes, one with This year, the students have groups one and two and anothbeen divided into four groups er with groups three and four is based on fitness scores. Group not a sensitive way to organize one, containing the most ath- the groups. Though well intenletic students, does tioned, the program is Gym class has been the bane not run at all. Group unfair. Dividing stuof the unathletic high school two runs once a week, dents into easily idenstudent for as long as teachers while groups three tifiable groups based have been able to put out dodge- and four run twice, on factors many teens balls every day and call it a ca- with an additional are self-conscious reer. However, in recent years cardio day for group of, namely body type Prospect has gone through sev- four. and athleticism, is eral steps to correct this lack inviting students to The issue with of education in physical educa- this system is that, grow resentful from tion classes, culminating in the despite the teachers’ the P.E. program and creation of the controversial best efforts, it is im- Chris Kivlahan teachers. fitness score program.

In addition to possible for those in Executive Opinion According to Assistant Prin- lower fitness groups Editor the discrimination cipal Jovan Lazarevic, the fit- not to view the exagainst body types ness score program is focused tra run days as punishment. and fitness levels that are, to an on “giving students what they This, coupled with the fact that extent, outside of a student’s need.” However, with count- groups three and four are com- control, the fitness score calculess different body types and monly referred to as “fat gym,” lations are weighted such that lifestyles, it is near impossible makes for a system that is at in all categories but flexibility, to give all students what they best unfair and at worst cruel. the requirements for girls are need—whether that be a fun substantially lower than those for boys.

Lazarevic stated that these requirements are based off of nationwide data from the Cooper Institute in Texas.

Sure, it may be true that boys tend to have more upper body muscle mass than girls.

However, this fails to take into account everything other than gender, including body type.

Furthermore, the male tendency towards more muscle strength hardly gives them the higher running ability that is represented in the fitness score.

This is the 21st century, and adjusting programs based on the assumption that girls are by nature weaker than boys would be regarded as sexism NO-RUN FUN: Students in higher fitness groups play Frisbee while and discrimination of the hightheir less athletic peers run laps inside. The new fitness program est order in any other realm forces the least athletic students to run three times a week while of society. However, for some the highest scoring students don’t run at all. (Photo by Rich Futo) reason we happily allow it in

New home, new life

ly minor we had to take care of. As native South Korean citizens, we had been living in the U.S. for nearly the past ten years through my dad’s E-2 business visa, and had to renew that visa at the U.S. embassy before it expired.

With no doubt in our minds, we knew Editor’s note: This is only a small we were going to get that visa since portion of former Prospect student Bri- we have renewed it before in the past. an Park’s reflection on his experience There was no reason for us to get denied moving to South Korea. To read the . . . or was there? rest, visit ProspectorNow.com During the interview, all the questions were normal and everything I lost everything. All my close seemed to be running smoothly, unfriends, teachers, relationtil the embassy interviewer ships—gone. Everything I found a problem in my dad’s worked for in school—extrabusiness and consequently curricular activities, leaderdenied us a visa, which was ship opportunities, awards, a life-changing move for my grades, reputation, future family. plans—all disappeared in a After that incident, we had blink of an eye. All because of to go to the embassy again to just one misfortunate word, get temporary nonimmigrant “no”, in the wrong time, in the visas to close my dad’s busiwrong place and in the wrong ness, pack up all of our beBrian Park circumstances. longings, and say goodbye to As many students at Pros- South Korea all of our close friends. But, pect are in the thick of school Correspondant guess what? They denied us life after homecoming week, again because they didn’t it would be difficult for them to imag- trust that we would leave the U.S. afterine going to any school besides Pros- wards, which was really nice of them pect. For most students, leaving their considering our circumstance. hometown, lifetime friends and the It seemed to me that my future was outstanding education Prospect has to crumbling all around me. It felt so unoffer would be unthinkable. This un- fair to have worked so hard the past imaginable outcome is exactly what two years in preparation of junior year happened to me this summer. and to have participated in programs It all started with a trip to South Ko- that were best in the nation, such as rea this summer to meet up with all of robotics, fine arts and the newspaper, my relatives and to go on vacation. How- and have that all stripped away in an ever, there was also something seeming- instant.

Student, family forced to move to South Korea

A WHOLE NEW WORLD: After unexpectedly moving to South Korea, I was forced to find a new school fast. I’m still adjusting to the new culture. (Photo by Brian Park) So in desperation mode, after days of frantic school-searching, my family stumbled across Cheongna Dalton School. It was a brand-new K-12 school opened in 2011, which was one of the international schools that was still accepting applications during the summer and had the cheapest tuition that we could afford at that time After the first week, I realized how Prospect was a god of a school compared to my new school. My new school was so shockingly “different” that I was in disbelief and was wondering how in the world I was going to succeed there.

The first thing that was a shocker for me was the class size. With only 56 juniors in a high school of 150 students, I feel like I got to know everyone in my class within a few weeks, whereas I didn’t even recognize some people in my class while walking past them at

Prospect. And guess what? Everyone in my class is Korean.

But they aren’t your average study 24/7 Korean high school students. A special requirement to apply for the school was that each student had to have lived in a foreign country for at least three years. When I asked around, I found that students had come from all over the world, from countries such as the U.S., Canada, Malaysia, China, Japan and more, making a school with a much more diverse background.

However, as most of them only lived in these countries for 3-5 years, they still converse in Korean with each other. Being around American classmates my whole life, I wasn’t sure how to fit in at first...

Read the rest of Brian’s story on ProspectorNow.com

6

Features

October 4, 2013

prospectornow.com

Internships shape students’ futures Program gives participants unique experience through hands-on learning

By Mary Kate Moloney Features Editor

Senior Emma Loeffler was not sure which path she was going to take after high school. During her junior year, Loeffler discussed with her counselor the possible internships or work experience that would be available to her through school, hoping she could get a better idea of what direction her future is heading in. Her counselor suggested she look into Ed Academy, a program designed to give students a look at what it is like to be a teacher.

Loeffler knew that being a teacher was not for her, so her counselor suggested the District Internship Program (DIP).

Loe f fl e r has decided she wants to be a music therapist due to both her mom’s job as a music teacher and her own passion for music. She interns at Westbrook, a school for preschool to first grade, which helped her decide to work with children in her future because of all the work that she has done with children at the school.

“In college, since I have actually gotten hands-on experience with what I want to be doing, it will give me a leg up,” Loeffler said.

At Westbrook she observes special education classes and works one-onone with children who have disabilities. Loeffler works on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays in order to meet the district requirement of five hours per week. Loeffler feels that the more time she spends at Westbrook, the more she is able to do for the kids.

The DIP has helped many students find the right career path for them and allows them to get a head start in their field of choice. The program’s goal is to give students a very hands-on, authentic experience that cannot be replicated in a classroom setting. DIP has a wide range of career areas to choose from, like art or veterinary medicine,

and if a student expresses interest in a career not on the list, accommodations can be made. “[The] District Internship Program gives students the opportunity to be able to try real life experiences before they go off to college and major in business and realize they hate business and change their college major,” counselor Dustin Seemann said.

According to Krista Paul, Director of DIP, the program is open to juniors and seniors who have a good grade point average and are dedicated. In order to participate, students are required to work five to ten hours per week. These internships are not paid, but transportation can be provided. Students will receive half of a credit every semester. “ [ C o l leges] are going to see you are taking this seriously and then look at your college application a little more s e r i o u s l y, ” Seemann said.

Senior Chrissy Loeb is also participating in the DIP. She interns at Lions Park Elementary School for Pamela Dolniak’s fourth-grade class. Loeb spends the last two periods at Lions Park every school day except on Thursdays. The DIP provides Loeb a cab to and from the elementary school.

Loeb mainly observes, makes copies or walks around and helps kids, occasionally helping teach. Going to Lions Park is Loeb’s favorite part of the day.

“There is something about kids who want to go to school,” Loeb said. “They are genuinely nice and say thank you all the time.”

Loeb decided to participate in this program because she had two open periods in her schedule, and her counselor suggested she fill it with an internship. She knew she was interested in being a teacher and thought it was a good idea to try out.

“I really wanted to see if this is actually what I want to do in the future,” said Loeb. “Now I am set on wanting to be a teacher.”

Career areas available for internships Art Architecture Automotive Business Computer Technology Culinary Arts Education Engineering Healthcare Journalism Law Manufacturing Pharmacy Physical Therapy Veterinary Medicine

Since I have actually gotten hands-on experience with what I want to be doing, it will give me a leg up [in college].

- senior Emma Loeffler

WANTED: ?

Each issue there will be five facts about a mystery teacher.

1) I teach two different subjects.

2) I’ve worked at Prospect for 13 years.

3) I spent my 10th birthday with the

assistant prime minister of Iceland.

4) I was almost named Tyrone.

5) As a kid, I danced in a sketch on Nickelodeon.

REWARD:

Tweet @ProspectorNow with your name and guess to be entered in a raffle for a $10 Chipotle gift card.

ternship Steps to get an in 4 through district 21

counselor 1.Meet with your ation 2. Fill out applic

Krista Paul, 3. Interview with Director of DIP local 4. Connect with business

prospectornow.com

October 4, 2013

So you think you can dance?

Junior dreams of becoming a professional dancer

By Khrystyna Halatyma Executive Features Editor

Marijana Schillmoeller, mother of junior Aleks Schillmoeller

Junior Aleks Schillmoeller got a glimpse into the professional dancing world when she was a part of the production of “The Nutcracker” with Joffrey Ballet in December 2010. “[When performing] there’s nothing else I focus on besides being on stage,” Schillmoeller said. “It’s kind of like you’re flying.”

According to Schillmoeller, being involved in a professional production is completely different than being in a ballet studio. Instead of following her regular routine, she got to learn new choreography and work with amazing people. As much as Aleks loved performing the Nutcracker, her mother, Marijana, loved watching it just as much.

“When I watch her dance, everyone else on the stage disappears,” Marijana said. “I can’t even describe the feeling. I feel not just pride, but just such pleasure at watching her dance. She moves so easily; every movement is just right, like poetry in motion.”

According to Aleks, the dancers she worked with inspired her with their motivation. One of those people was dancer Victoria Jaini, someone Schillmoeller envisions herself to be like in the future. She remembered being inspired when Jaini told her that, “When I go onstage, I don’t think about me dancing; I just think about me living.” It’s a quote that has stuck with Schillmoeller ever since.

Schillmoeller started dancing at the Mount Prospect Park District when she was 3 years old. According to Marijana, it was Aleks’s idea to start ballet in the first place.

“It was really nice for me to find a mix of an athletic type of thing but also something that is very artistic and beautiful,” Aleks said. “That’s what I really fell in love with.”

Aleks transferred to Joffrey’s fulltime program when she was 12, and at age 14, she switched to the Faubourg School of Ballet. This allowed her to have more control over her schedule and take up to six hours of class each day, compared to Joffrey’s only two-and-a-half hours of class.

Marijana sees this dedication as a valuable part of her daughter.

“It’s not so much what she does; it’s who she is. She’s very kind-hearted [and] considerate,” Marijana said.

“I think she’s probably a lot older than her age would suggest in terms of maturity and knowledge.”

According to Marijana, Aleks always does her homework and is on time with everything, which is a necessity with her busy schedule.

After fifth period she goes downtown to Joffrey Ballet to do her physical therapy, pilates and core strengthening from 1-3 p.m. Her next step is dance classes at Faubourg School of Ballet in Hanover Park from 4:30-9:30 p.m. Over the course of one week, Schillmoeller takes about eight to 12 classes, on average dancing up to 40 hours, the equivalent of a full-time job. Even though the majority of her time is spent on dance, she wouldn’t have it any other way.

“No matter how many times you do something, there’s always some-

thing you can improve on,” Aleks said. “You always have to consistently push yourself to new perfection levels.”

The atmosphere during classes is extremely competitive­—to the point where Aleks and her friends don’t talk until it is over. One of her dance teachers says that when you walk into the ballet studio, it doesn’t matter who your friends are since you’re competing with everyone, and she agrees.

“You always have to be pushing to do 110 percent, no matter how you feel that day,” Aleks said.

Even though the competitive atmosphere may seem to prevent girls from forming friendships, they find a way around. When they walk out of class, they forget what happened in the studio and just try to hang out.

Aleks says she sees them as practically her sisters.

To fit in her social life outside of dance, Aleks goes out every Saturday night, regardless of how she’s feeling, because she knows that’s the only time she’ll be able to see her friends that aren’t involved with dance. Their favorite things to do are going out to Alt Tai or watching scary movies.

To balance her busy schedule, Aleks completely separates her social, dance and school lives. When she is at school, she focuses her classes and tries not to think about her other responsibilities. Dance helps her to focus on her academics. Her mom is strict about grades, and if they start slipping, Aleks has to cut back on her dance classes.

“We’ve never really had to do it, but there’s always been a threat of [cutting back on dance],” Marijana said. “I am a firm believer that school has to come first...I’ve had to set down the rules because I think if [Aleks] had her way, she’d spend all her time in the studio.”

After her senior year, Aleks hopes to dance professionally with Boston Ballet, Houston Ballet or Ballet West because these companies are based on the same classical technical training that Aleks has been taught. Marijana agrees that going straight into professional dancing would be better for Aleks’ dancing career, especially because a dancer’s career is basically over by age 30. Many studios want dancers to start early in their life, just like Aleks has.

“A lot of people don’t realize it’s really life training, like for a professional sport,” Aleks said. “[People think] you don’t necessarily have the same stress level as professional athletes or you’re not putting your body under the same pressure.”

Even though it will better her professional ballet career, Marijana still wants Aleks to get a college education in order to have a back-up plan. If this were to happen, Aleks says she would like to go into the economic field. Although the two are still split on college, one thing is for certain: ballet will continue to be a prominent part of Aleks’s future.

“Ballet is my life. If you told me tomorrow I couldn’t dance, I don’t know what I would do with myself,” Aleks said. “I can’t imagine not being able to do it for the rest of my life.”

Features

7

8

In-Depth

October 4, 2013

Weight: the good, the DIETS: extensive methods of weight loss CONTINUED from front page *In order to maintain the privacy of the sources they remain anonymous

diet pills are only encouraged for those suffering from obesity .

Although these drugs suppress teenagers’ appetites, they have serious side effects including addiction, tolerance, increased heart rates, anxiety, insomnia and drowsiness.

According to a study done by Dimensions Magazine, 20 percent of teenagers smoke primarily to lose weight.

Although nicotine is proven to also decrease appetites, the immense damage done to organs, as well as increased risk of cancer, inhibits the benefits.

While these dieting habits pose more immediate and extensive risks, Roman believes that all dieting is an unhealthy lifestyle for teenagers to engage themselves in.

Roman works specifically with patients suffering from eating-related disorders and therefore sees how dieting can lead to serious behavioral changes as well as diagnosed eating disorders.

“Any kind of extreme weight loss [is] a red flag or even having a fear of favorite foods or not enjoying social ac-

tivities because of food,” Roman said.

Sophomore *Jen Smith has personally suffered from EDNOS, eating disorders not otherwise specified, which involved a combination of anorexia as well as bulimia.

Although her sickness began because of depression due to bullying, dieting also became the onset to her eating disorder. She started eating salads and drinking water excessively until she realized she could lose weight faster by purging.

“Eating disorders are a lot like addiction in a way because you never stop trying to fix things about yourself,” Smith said. “You focus so much on the small things that eventually they turn huge and life-consuming.”

Although Smith no longer agrees with dieting after overcoming her eating disorder, she understands why teenagers engage in it nonetheless.

Smith believes that much of the pressure among teenagers to lose weight originates from the media. When adolescents are exposed to advertising for the perfect body, they choose dieting as an answer.

Ward also believes that teens will always diet despite the potential dangers.

“It’s a quick way to lose weight,”

said Ward. “All you have to do is cut down what you’re eating instead of exercising.”

Despite the differing perspectives, Roman finds it important for teenagers to be educated on health concerns connected to dieting. She specifically insists on clarifying the vast differences between dieting as an adolescent as opposed to an adult. “[Adults] usually don’t stunt their growth; they don’t stunt their organs or bodies from developing,” Roman said. “Adults have met their nutritional needs whereas adolescents have doubled theirs.”

Although the objective of maintaining a healthy diet is often diminished by both intense media pressure and need for social acceptance, Roman hopes teens as well as adults find a balance when dieting by switching the variety of foods they consume as well as substituting sugar-based drinks with water.

“If you are trying to make weight changes, I recommend speaking with a dietitian ahead of time to affirm whether it’s necessary, and even make some behavioral changes,” Roman said.

My secret struggle with an eating disorder There was never a time in my life where I had a flat stomach, bony arms or thin legs. I danced, worked out and tried to eat as well as I could. But the image I saw in the mirror never was and still isn’t the body that I wanted to see myself in.

To me, the solution was to decrease my food intake. If there was something I wanted to eat, I would watch the calAungelina Dahm ories of the product and make sure I Executive In-Depth burned that amount off later.

Editor It got to a point where I wouldn’t eat at all if I was depressed. That, along with attempts at suicide and self-harm, led me to be admitted into an adolescent mental health program for two weeks in October of 2010.

My food intake was monitored, and the only exercise I got all day was yoga.

Going through anorexic behaviors, I was never extremely thin. You don’t have to be the stereotypical “stick skinny” type in order to struggle with an eating disorder.

According to the Mayo Clinic, anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder that causes people, especially teenagers, to become overly concerned about their weight and the food they eat.

Anorexia is most commonly developed between the ages of 13-17, a time of emotional and physical changes, academic pressure and a greater degree of peer pressure.

As a result, every one or two students out of 100 will struggle with a severe case of an eating disorder. To prevent weight gain, one might resort to excessive exercising or starvation.

However, those types of behaviors occur at the far side of the eating disorder continuum, according to guidance counselor Dr. Lynn Thornton.

Choosing to work out instead of hanging out with your friends, continuously counting calories on everything you eat and decreasing your food intake are all factors that can lead you down the continuum, eventually causing an extreme eating disorder.

Losing control in my life is a trigger that led me, and many others, to start living in a way that led me farther and farther down the eating disorder continuum.

At all times, I needed to be in the control of something.

Because my world was turning upside down due to a multitude of family pressures, my eating and my weight were something that I thought I could get a hold of.

“Eating disorders are truly about control,” Thornton said.

“When other areas of your life are not seemingly in control,

It’s like being an alcoholic.

You’re never fully cured; you’re always in recovery.

– Dr. Lynn Thornton, guidance counselor you have to find something that you can very personally control, and eating is that.”

According to kidshealth.org, people with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) are more prone to adopting an eating disorder because of their compulsive need for control.

Even more prone are athletes and dancers because of the continuous pressure put on by their coaches, instructors and overall physical expectations. There is oftentimes a need to stop or suppress growth in one’s height or weight in order to be a better dancer, or for example, wrestler.

In reality, not eating actually makes you gain weight in the long run. Your body is designed to be a safeguard to protect itself from starvation. So when you eventually eat something, even if it’s small, your body will keep all of the fat, carbs and sugar in order to store nutrients for the times that you don’t eat.

As an alternative, eating small, healthy snacks every few hours and working out will increase your metabolism rate and actually make you lose weight faster than starving yourself, and in a healthier way.

I learned that the hard way, gaining 15 pounds after leaving the hospital because I was back to eating on a regular basis. However, instead of going back to not eating day after day in order to lose the weight I gained, I learned to eat small meals a few times a day. Slowly the excess weight came off, and I was healthier than ever before.

Today, my family and friends know how much I love my food and how on-edge I get when I haven’t eaten that day.

Be that as it may, whenever I hit a low in my life, there is a part of me that will want to skip a meal or two in order to make me feel better.

Thankfully, my family and friends can see my red flags and encourage me to eat by bringing me to my favorite restaurants or making me one of my favorite meals.

Punishing your body to be what society has called the “supermodel image” is not worth the long-term mental and physical damage that any eating disorder will do to your body. Strive to be healthy. It’s not about the number on the scale; it’s about the confidence you have in yourself.

te alcula his c o t de ). T QR co ndex (BMI ge, s i h t i ss ur a Scan dy ma luding yo , can let o b r t inc you weigh tion, a d l n u a c l t h ca r, heig re gende ow if you a n you k eight, at a t, rw unde thy weigh heal eight overw se. e or ob

bad and the ugly

By Abby Sunu

October 4, 2013

Obesity misunderstood, not a life sentence

In-Depth Editor

A typical table in Prospect’s cafeteria can seat up to 12 students. According to Harvard School of Public Health, in this case in which a full table was seated, four of those students would be overweight or obese. This statistic only seems to grow because two out of every three adults in America are obese, which means the lunch table would have eight obese students of the 12. This large number continues to increase with this issue today.

According to Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), obesity has more than doubled in children and children in adolescents in the past 30 years. In 2010, more than one-third of children and adolescents combined were overweight or obese. Despite these statistics, the line between being overweight and being obese is one not understood by many.

According to the CDC, “overweight” means “having excess body weight for a particular height from fat, muscle, bone, water or a combination of these factors,” while “obesity” simply means “having excess body fat.”

Overweight, stressed out and un-

happy was then-eighth grader Zoe Kollias. Forty pounds heavier, an anxiety episode rescued Kollias by bringing her weight problem to her doctor’s attention.

“I was really uncomfortable and more self-conscious, and because I had anxiety, I was a nervous eater,” Kollias said. “I felt the only way to feel better was to eat.”

Kollias, now a junior, was able to successfully regain control of her health and regulate her weight by changing her lifestyle, but there are many teenagers today who struggle with trying to keep off excess pounds.

Besides anxiety in Kollias’ case, the other major contributing factors include technology, lack of physical activity and unhealthy eating habits.

Counselor Dustin Seemann, once a physical education and health teacher, finds one of the biggest contributors to obesity is technology. With new technology, teenagers have replaced a basketball with an iPhone and running shoes with a car key. According to the President’s Council on Fitness Sports & Nutrition, children are now spending seven hours or more daily in front of a screen.

Lack of physical activity is also one of the leading causes of obesity because calories are not burned off and become fat. Health and physical education teacher Michele Burnett believes exercise should be a part of everyone’s day in order for students to become more active.

“I always say it’s calories in versus

calories out,” Burnett said. “You always have to be looking at, ‘Am I bringing in more than I’m burning? Or is it vice versa?’”

While all these factors make a contribution, the main cause of obesity is unhealthy dieting and eating habits, which Burnett emphasizes.

“It’s all about choices,” Burnett said.

“People are choosing to eat what tastes good versus what’s good for them.”

Kollias found the most effective way to lose weight was by changing her eating habits. After getting permission from her doctor, Kollias started the Weight Watchers program during her freshman year. Weight Watchers is based off a point system and allowed her to eat whatever she wanted, only in smaller and healthier portions.

Although adjusting to the smaller portion sizes was difficult for Kollias, even more frustrating was the length of the process. She eventually realized that losing weight the healthiest way would take time and that she needed to be patient. Burnett reiterates the importance of being patient and adds that experts say losing more than one pound a week can be dangerous.

“At this age, you don’t want to do anything drastic,” Burnett said. “You don’t want to gain weight too fast, and you don’t want to lose weight too fast.”

Despite this, Burnett recognizes that losing weight slowly can be discouraging.

“If [people are] not successful right away, sometimes they give up.” Burnett said. “The way I look at it, there’s

According to dosomething.org: •Approximately 91% of women are unhappy with their bodies and resort to dieting to achieve their ideal body shape. Additionally, only 5% of women naturally possess the body type often portrayed by Americans in the media.

•58% of college-aged girls feel pressured to be a certain weight.

•95% of people with eating disorders are between the ages of 12 and 25.

• 80% of 10-year-old girls have dieted.

• 90% of high school junior and senior women diet regularly.

• Young girls are more afraid of becoming fat than they are of nuclear war, cancer, or losing their parents.

9

52 weeks a year, and if you stick with it, even if it’s a pound every other week, it’s still 25 or 26 pounds you didn’t have a year ago.”

To keep motivated during the process, Kollias would remind herself of her goal and how good she would feel at the end; her friends and family encouraged her as well.

Seemann also agrees with Kollias because as a personal trainer at Fitness Formula Club in Chicago, he spent a lot of time encouraging others and noticed that support was one of the biggest things to help someone’s self-esteem.

Kollias has lost 40 pounds on Weight Watchers from her freshman year to this day. She is able to do more physical activity, and she has noticed a change in her mood.

“Emotionally, I feel more confident and happier because now I can fit into more clothes and just feel better about myself,” Kollias said.

Even though losing weight takes a lot of emotional and physical work, Burnett feels that end result will make the pain worthwhile.

“Sometimes it’s a complete lifestyle change that has to happen,” Burnett said.

Kollias is living proof of how exercise and healthy eating can change someone’s entire life. ”It was definitely hard in the beginning, but you just [have to] keep your eyes on the goal and keep motivated,” Kollias said.

According to Weight-Control Information Network:

According to the Council on Size & Weight Discrimination:

In-Depth

•More than two-thirds (68.8%) of adults are considered overweight or obese.

•Almost 3 in 4 men (74%) are considered to be overweight or obese.

•About 8% of women are considered to have extreme obesity.

10

Features

October 4, 2013

prospectornow.com

Library transformed into KLC What do you think of the KLC?

Freshman Matt Gordon “I’ve only been to the KLC once so far to check out a book for a project, [but] it was really quiet and seems like a good place to study.”

Sophomore Alyssa Caccamo “I don’t like it because you can’t go in there on your free period and just sit around.

You have to sign in, and it’s too strict.”

Junior Alexandra Gorodiski “I feel like it’s unsuccessful; it’s kind of weird that you have to walk in and use your ID, and the fact that there’s so many tables just for tutors [when] there’s not many people using that. It makes it a lot harder to work on what you need to get done.”

Photo by Khrystyna Halatyma

By Shannon Smith Features Editor

During any lunch period, one will find that the hectic library of past years has been transformed into a peaceful atmosphere for students to finish homework and get help from the many tutors.

Assistant Principal Jovan Lazarevic began the process of changing the library five years ago because the library wasn’t being used properly. According to Lazarevic, many students went to the library to socialize, and some even went to beat the congestion on the stairs.

Along with the improper use of the facility, the administration noticed a lot of open space last year, and it was then they decided it was time to make huge changes. The major planning of the Knights Learning Center (KLC) began.

Planning the KLC was a collaboration of people, including Principal Michelle Dowling, Associate Principal Scott McDermott, Lazarevic, business teacher Paul Hennig and head librarian Christie Sylvester.

The first step in reconstructing the library into the KLC was getting Hennig on board, who now oversees tutoring in the KLC. Then the admininstration looked at multiple other schools’ library systems to build the foundation of the KLC. It was also decided that because of the many students who were given iPads from the school, there would be an increased focus on academics in the school. This is because by having iPads, students have learning at their fingertips and may need a place to get academic or technological help. The library had the potential become the focal point of academics at

Prospect.

“With technology, learning is basically 24/7 right now, and we wanted one place that all the students could go to to get what they need,” Lazarevic said.

Going along with the new academic theme, an all-subject tutoring area was planned to replace the Literacy Center. According to Sylvester, the Literacy Center was not working out because it was too difficult for tutors to work one-on-one with students with all the distractions in Lab D. Also, many students in the Literacy Center weren’t aware that the tutors could help with any piece of written work, not just English papers. By having tutors in all subject areas, it is easier for students to get help.

According to Lazarevic, tutors were chosen by sending out an email to sophomores, juniors and seniors to inform them of the opportunity of tutoring in the KLC . They were required to fill out a survey, and then each applicant was checked to make sure they had been attending school regularly.

Every applicant that met those requirements and submitted the survey by a certain date was accepted.

“We actually had to turn away a lot of people who wanted to come down because we just needed to make sure that before we took on more than we thought we could handle, we had a space that would be worthwhile for the kids who were giving up their time,” Lazarevic said.

So far, Hennig sees no negatives to the setup of the tutoring system.

“It’s kind of like your onestop shop,” Hennig said, “You can get help in chemistry, math

and Spanish. I really see it as a win-win-win. Students can get all subjects taken care of.

[When tutors help] another student, they are also learning, and it is also a win for the teachers because teachers are very busy.”

Junior Jenna Leane, who is a tutor in the KLC, agrees with Hennig that both the tutor and the student being tutored learn through the process.

“You just learn how other people learn and how to teach them, and I think it’s beneficial,” Leane said.

According to Leane, however, students rarely come the first few weeks the KLC was open. Although she has noticed more students coming in recently, she still doesn’t feel the tutors are being used enough.

She thinks the tutoring center will become busier as more students become aware of it.

Teachers, as well as students, can tutor. All teachers are required to have a sixth assignment along with teaching their classes. Tutoring in the KLC can now fulfill the requirement of that sixth assignment, which has attracted many of

them.

Besides the new tutoring center and setup, an additional change is the new requirement to scan in your ID upon entering, which, according to Lazarevic, has specific purposes.

The administration found out many students were ditching classes or being called out and going into the library to study, so now a schedule pops up when ID’s are scanned in. In addition, by scanning students IDs, the librarians are able to see how much students are using the KLC and what they are using the KLC for, which helps them understand the needs of students right now as well as in the future.

“Even though we are a library as well, we’d really like to [use the KLC] because the [it] encompasses everything,” Sylvester said. “It encompasses technology [and] our print collection, but it also encompasses the tutoring area [and] study area. So there are many facets to the Knights Learning Center, and we’re hoping by that name change we can pull everything together and really make it a community.”

Information courtesy of Mark Taylor

Who Knows You Better?

The subjects Senior Max Driscoll

The boyfriend Junior Katie Villano

The subject Senior Brooke Greco

The best friend

Favorite color?

Favorite restaurant?

Shoe size?

Favorite class?

Favorite movie?

Favorite clothing store?

Signature perfume?

Purple

Stir-Crazy

Eight

Am Stud

The Notebook

PINK

Marc Jacobs Daisy

4

4

4

4

Purple

Stir-Crazy

Eight

Am Stud

The Notebook

Nordstrom

Marc Jacobs Daisy

Purple

Chipotle

Nine

Am Stud

Grown-ups 2

Nordstrom

Juicy

4

4

4

The results

Winner

4

4

X

prospectornow.com

October 4, 2013

Features

11

Netflix: TV made more accessible

With the help of on-demand Internet TV streamer Netflix, shows are more accessible than ever. Netflix is fantastic at consuming your weekend in its entirety; although you swore to yourself you’d be productive, you ended up binge-watching two seasons of your new fave show. Completely understandable, right? When Netflix releases entire seasons at once, you can catch up on shows you’re just getting into that have old seasons. Here are some TV shows Netflix offers that may be of interest to you.

By Nabi Dressler Editor-in-Chief

Arrested Development

Synopsis- Michael Bluth (Jason Bateman) keeps his family together after his dad is sent to jail and the family loses their fortune but not their spendthrift tendencies. Meanwhile, Bluth’s son, George Michael (Michael Cera), has a crush on his cousin, Maeby, whom he’s forced to room with when she and her parents move into Bluth’s model home, an isolated house resulting from a failed McMansion community, complete with plastic food and rickety cupboards.

The show has strangely charming, highly developed and flawed characters who make great contributions to the dysfunctional family tree. Sophomore Garrett Strother’s fave character is Buster Bluth (youngest Bluth bro/quintessential momma’s boy). My pick’s Tobias Fünke, Lindsay Bluth’s husband, who’s most unfortunate with his words.

Strother enjoys the show because the audience is able to connect with the characters.

“I like the fact that you actually care enough about the

Breaking Bad

Synopsis- “The abnormality of a high school teacher making crystal meth to support his family” is what makes “Breaking Bad” appeal to senior Sean Roberts. However, Roberts said the show has progressed into much more than just a show about a husband with cancer and his determination to leave money behind for his family. The show doesn’t focus on just the fact that the main character, Walter White (played by Bryan Cranston—Malcolm in the Middle, anyone?) has cancer but how he deals with it. White is determined to avoid being a financial burden to his family,

even trying to avoid cancer treatment. “[‘Breaking Bad’] is one of the craziest shows I’ve ever seen,” Roberts said. “It’s action-packed, and it never gets old.”

“Breaking Bad” has been getting much buzz as of late because it is in its fifth and final season, and the final episode aired Sept. 29. If you haven’t watched earlier seasons, don’t fret; Roberts started watching the show during the summer and caught himself up on Netflix.

Who should watch it- You should watch it if you’re into dramas/thrillers/meth (kidding).

Parks and Recreation

Synopsis- This mockumentary-style show displays the escapades of the Parks and Recreation department of Pawnee, Ind., as it tries to help out the unappreciative community. The main character is small-town politician Leslie Knope (played by life inspiration/fave current-day feminist Amy Poehler). Another is staunch libertarian and woodworking aficionado Ron Swanson (Nick Offerman), the department’s director, despite the fact that he doesn’t even want the department to exist because he opposes government.

Chris Traeger (Rob Lowe—yes, the guy in the ‘80s movies) is arguably the most optimistic character ever made, but amazingly, he’s somehow not annoying, instead reminiscent of the kind of person you’d want to be best friends

House of Cards

Synopsis- This show gives viewers a glimpse of “the inner workings of Congress,” according to Roberts. Francis Underwood (Kevin Spacey), a member of the House of Representatives who values his political position and acts aggressively towards anyone who gets in his way.

This past summer, after his dad introduced the show to him, Roberts watched the first season of “House of Cards” all at once; since it is a Netflix-produced show, the entire season was released Feb. 1. Although Netflix offers more popular shows, Roberts was addicted to the show once he

characters that you are uncomfortable when they are uncomfortable,” Strother said.

While Strother liked that all Season 4 episodes were released at once so that he could binge-watch, he had to be careful when reading online to avoid spoilers, since these outlets make it “a lot harder to keep your ears covered.”

“It was a double-edged sword in that way,” Strother said.

Who should watch it- Strother recommends the show for “people who might not have a lot of time for other TV but still want continuity in story and good writing.”

Season 4 of the show focuses on a different character each episode and offers different points of view on the same incidents and other happenings in the characters’ lives, so jumping around is acceptable.

I recommend this show for its weird characters in all their loveliness and hilarity; people are bound to love them. “[Arrested Development is] not dumb, but the characters are still zany enough for them to stand out in your mind,” Strother said.

with. He’s also super-healthy since he was diagnosed with a rare blood disorder as a child but survived.

After “30 Rock,” Strother gave “Parks and Rec” a second chance and got hooked. He is waiting for Netflix to put up the last season and plans on TEVOing the new season.

Who should watch it- Watching characters geek out over government is just that much more fun if you’re a budding politics buff (like when Leslie meets Vice President Joe Biden--it’s so exciting, I swear it is), but loving politics definitely isn’t required to love this show and its unique characters. “Parks and Rec” is my favorite show because of how infectious the great personalities of the recurring characters are. Sarcasm and deadpan humor galore clash with unwaveringly optimistic personalities.

started watching. Netflix is set to make a second season, which will be released sometime in early 2014.

Who should watch it- According to Roberts, anyone looking for a good Netflix show should watch it. Roberts is interested in politics, but what was intriguing to him was the way the shows’ characters developed and interacted. ”Because it’s about Congress, it may not seem appealing to everybody, but I’d say at least watch the first episode then try to go for it because it’s an amazing show once you start,” Roberts said. “Even if you’re not into politics or government, it’s really interesting no matter what.”

What’s your favorite song right now?

“Counting Stars by OneRepublic. I first heard it on the radio and I thought it sounded cool. I got it and I really liked the lyrics, too.”

-Julia Barnes, freshman

“What Does the Fox Say [by Ylvis], because it’s pretty funny.”

-Eulises Campos, sophomore

“Young and Beautiful [by Lana del Rey], because she has such a rich voice. The notes are appealing to the ear.”

-Marc Ford, junior

“Smile by Charlie Chaplin, because it’s my grandma’s favorite song and it makes me happy when I listen to it.”

-Mary Godby, senior

12

Entertainment

October 4, 2013

prospectornow.com

Second fall play involves audience

‘Almost Maine’ new take on finding love

By Kelly Schoessling Managing Editor

Fine Arts Coordinator Jeremy Morton began the school year with two productions on his mind, “Exhibit This!” and “Almost Maine.” The first revolved around an interactive theater while the second revolved around an intimate, emotional experience.

Although Morton usually picks a single production to direct and premiere to the student body, this year he couldn’t pick a favorite.

“There’s something about both of the pieces that I really wanted to do,” said Morton. “I really wanted to try the experimental moving theater, but I love [‘Almost Maine’].”

Morton also wanted to offer a larger portion of the student body an opportunity to be involved with the two productions.

Therefore, Morton decided that since he couldn’t pick one, he would produce both.

After “Exhibit This!” premiered Sept. 26., Morton and his cast and crew began rehearsing for “Almost Maine,” which will premiere Oct. 24.

“Almost Maine” takes place in a small town in northern Maine where every year the northern lights appear throughout the sky. Every time

WHERE IS THE LOVE?: Senior Leanne Gadow runs her lines with sophomore Adrian Politzer for the second fall play, “Almost Maine.” This show features the many different sides of love. “It’s going to be very intimate... intense acting experience,” director Jeremy Morton said. (Photo by Rich Futo)

[The play is] metaphorically, symbolically and literally beautiful, and I hope to do it justice.

-Director Jeremy Morton the lights strike someone, the relationships within that person’s life change.

“To me the play is all about love, loss of love and finding love. And it doesn’t have to be a romantic love, it just has to be a passion for something,” Morton said.

Senior Brendan Chapman agrees that the story line for “Almost Maine” was so cap-

turing with its unique relationships that it attributed to his decision to audition for the show.

Chapman explains he believes “Almost Maine” is one of Prospect’s rare productions that manages to be both entertaining as well as interesting.

The production has also attracted the attention of new cast members. Senior Matt Re-

inhardt has never auditioned for any productions before, but when he heard of “Almost Maine,” he felt an urge to join.

“I thought it’s senior year; I had never really done something like this before,” Reinhardt said. “I figured I’d try something new because who knows? Maybe I’ll like it.”

Reinhardt will be joined by 15 other cast members to perform a total of nine scenes featured within the play. The most interesting aspect of this play involves the audience.

Morton has manifested the idea to have the audience sit on the stage, surrounding the actors, while the characters only have eight feet of a catwalk to

perform on.

Morton is excited to see how the setting will impact the relationship between the actors and audience members.

“This year I wanted to provide an opportunity for my students where they are literally talking to audience,” Morton said. “It’s going to be very intimate; it’s going to be an intense acting experience.”

Although this method is unheard of, both Reinhardt and Chapman explain that they are not phased by the challenge but instead excited, as well as nervous, to perform in front of an audience for the first time completely.

“I hope [PHS students] realize that Prospect isn’t just one kind of [theater department] where we only perform on stage,” Chapman said. “Prospect actually thinks about what they’re doing with their theater department.”

However, the new arrangement of having the audience in close proximity to the actors has also created difficulties for the production. Morton explains that since the audience will be on stage with the actors, there will be limited seating for each show.

Despite these challenges, the cast and crew of “Almost Maine” are fully invested within the storyline and believe it has real potential. “[It’s] metaphorically, symbolically and literally beautiful, and I hope to do it justice,” Morton said.

Third time might not be the charm MGMT produces average, lackluster, unaspiring album

By Andi Hayes

Associate Editor-In-Chief After seeing a slightly disappointing show from MGMT over the summer, I had begun to lose a little faith in them.

Sure, they didn’t play “Kids,” their biggest song that has undoubtedly kick-started a lot of success for them, but an angry post online from the band claiming that their fans were terrible and only cared about instagramming their shows didn’t really help.

MGMT redeemed themselves a little in their newest release, a self-titled album that featured their usual psychedelic, dreary progressive rock but also showed maturity from typical trippy, upbeat tracks like “Congratulations.”

Compared to previous albums “Oracular Spectacular” and “Congratulations,” this album features more of the sad, prolonging tracks like “I Love

cymbals from “I Love You Too, Death” to go along with a slow, almost spoken-paced singing from Andrew WynGarden.

To close the album, “An OrYou Too, Death” as opposed to phan of Fortune” takes whatprior bubbly hits like “Electric ever momentum the album Feel” from their sophomore al- had left and squashes it, with bum. lulling piano riffs and extend“MGMT” starts off strong- ed guitar notes, finishing with ly, with faster-paced songs like ominous horn sounds, all of “Introspection” and “Your which depleted what little enLife is a Lie” to take listeners ergy there was left in the listhrough the hardships of look- tener. ing for something real in life­­­ “MGMT” is different from “Her life is a lie/ Nobody wins/ prior albums for an array of Try not to cry/ You’ll survive/ reasons. For one, this one took on your own,” from “Your Life the longest to make, with three years between their previous album and this release. This gap obviously created high Release date: September 17 expectations for the band.

Genre: Psychedelic indie rock However, these expectations Record company: Columbia Records are not what drives the duo, Pitchfork rating: 6.2/10 as a lot of their music is My rating: 5.5/10 self-motivated and they do what they like, not necessarily what listeners want.

Overall, MGMT’s self-titled album is a step along the path of their psychedelic, is a Lie.” After the seventh song, “As- slightly droning progressive tro Mancy,” the album almost indie rock. Fans will probably loses all of its energy with slow enjoy this album for the casutambourine shakes and finger al guitar riffs with the usual

“MGMT” by MGMT

MGMT through the years MGMT recently released their third album, “MGMT.” However, their success started long before they released their self-titled album.

2007

“Oracular Spectacular” is released

“Time to Pretend” wins Best Breakthrough Track and Best Track at NME Awards in the United Kingdom

2008

MGMT: The indie rock band MGMT recently released their self-titled third album. Lack of energy and repitition made it simply an average album. (Photo courtesy of itunes.com) cryptic lyrics to go along.

What proved to be a disappointment was the lackluster music; none of the songs really resonated with me. The music was fine, but for a three-year project, I expected a little more.

“Electric Feel (Justice Remix)” wins Grammy for Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical

2009

The album was nothing unusual for the band; not very much innovation made me give the album a 5.5/10, hopefully a score not warranting any more rants on social media outlets any time soon.

Grammy nominated for Best New Artist, Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group, with Vocals with “Kids”

2010

“Congratulations” is released

prospectornow.com

October 4, 2013

Entertainment

Embracing fall fanaticism

13

Despite the unseasonally warm weather, autumn has arrived.

Students and teachers sound off on their favorite fall activities.

By Erin McGovern

Proper pumpkin selection

Apple picking

Who says pumpkins are only for Halloween? No autumn decorations are complete without a few colorful leaves, a hay bale and pumpkins. But don’t miss out on another fall experience by going pumpkin hunting amongst the rusted metal racks and disregarded shopping carts of your local Jewel-Osco. No offense to your local grocery store, but finding the perfect pumpkin for all of your fall needs can hardly be accomplished in a supermarket.

Instead, go to one of the pumpkin patches near the Mount Prospect area to pick out the pumpkin that fits your decorating needs. For a family-friendly experience, people of all ages can head to Goebbert’s Farm to select pumpkins of all shapes and prices. All sizes serve different purposes, whether it be decorating your front stoop, finding one with perfect Jack-O-Lantern potential or serving up some seeds. In any case, make the experience and save the supermarket scene for your milk and dog food needs instead.

“I love fall becuase it’s football season and a time where my family plants most of the food we eat like corn and potatoes. “ Freshman Jackson Doughty “A fall morning cross country meet would be my favorite part because it’s....a good way to appreciate a midwestern fall as it gets cooler outside.”

Social Science teacher Erik Hodges

English teacher Allyson Kreutzer

“[Autumn] is a huge deal because I get to break out all my sweaters during fall time.”

Social science teacher Brock Collins “My family started making haunted houses..for a youth group 13 years ago.

It’s fun because you get to have all of your friends over

100% Apple Cider has no fat, saturated fat, sodium or cholesterol. This drink, along with the apples it is made out of, are both great soures of boron, which can increase bone health. (information courtesy of Harvest Time Orchards)

Yellow: $9.99

B

Blue: $12.99

P

Pink: $15.99

* pumpkins are priced according to weight, with different colored markings indicating price.

You can always tell it’s fall when you look around you, and both the guys and girls seem to be equally sporting the latest fashion. Simply stated, nothing beats sweater weather. With the perfect combination of cool and crisp air, there are more possibilities for fashionable clothes during autumn than any other season. The battle of the sexes seems to cease when Urban Outfitters and Forever 21 unleash their fall apparel lines; whoever said the greatest equalizer was death was wrong— it’s sweater season. No one who cares about appearance can resist the possibilities of sweaters, cardigans, plaid flannel button-downs, faded jeans or, of course, the endless possibilities of boots. Whether you like to admit it or not, dressing to impress is fun, and fall is the perfect time to show off your fashion sense.

“I like to layer with jackets and cardigans.

I love bright colors so I wear a lot of plaid.”

s “I like to add scarves and layers to add new sides to my look. A lot of my clothes I buy at American Eagle and H&M.”

Italian teacher Antonino Bondi

Prospect’s fall favorites

Green: $6.99

Fall fashion sense

junior Allie O’Connor

Freshman Eileen Sledz

G

Y

Did you know?

Sophomore Liam Benson “I love making pumpkin bread because it reminds me of carving pumpkins with my family and toasting pumpkin seeds.”

Red: $3.99*

s “I love being able to wear sweaters and buy my fall clothes at affordable places like H&M, since I’m still growing.”

“I like finally being able to layer with scarves and other little pieces because it adds more to your look and I love wearing boots and booties.”

English teacher Elizabeth Joiner

“I feel completely alive with the cool air and the crispness of the leaves.

It’s a brief time where everything seems as it should be.”

Granny Smith apples are by far the favorite apple type for making taffy apples and baking into apple crisps. It originated in Australia and is one of the latest apple breeds to be harvested.

R

sophomore Eddie Brown

Senior Josh Johnson

Considered to be the favorite, the Honeycrisp’s heritage comes from cross-breeding the Macoun and Honeygold apples.

s

“I love fall weather because it makes golfing even better and it’s just nice to be outside.”

Goebbert’s pumpkin prices (39c per lb)

s

What’s your favorite thing about autumn?

Associate Editor-in-Chief

14

Sports

October 4, 2013

prospectornow.com

Season not about a winning record Football team looks to come back from tough 0-5 start

Stats from previous games Week 3 vs. Conant: (33-7) - Senior Brian Maigler: 3 receptions, 29 yards

By Peter Fusilero

Executive Sports Editor Losing a Division I quarterback Devin O’Hara was bad enough going into the 2013 season, but losing an entire “college football-bound” offensive line couldn’t have been tougher.

With sophomore starting quarterback Matt Drew, undersized linemen and a younger team overall (18 juniors to 17 seniors), the team has struggled, going 0-5.

“We’re a little young; we’re a little inexperienced,” head coach Mike Sebestyen said. “People are going to focus on the result. That’s the wrong frame of mind for people to look at. [The record] doesn’t always tell the whole story.”

According to junior wide receiver Greg Suarez, the team wasn’t as confident to start the season.

“From the beginning, a lot of guys didn’t think we were as good as we could be,” Suarez said. “A lot of the younger kids had doubts. When the games were going downhill, not everyone was willing to step up.”

Another factor that has slowed the team down is injuries, a problem that creates opportunities for other players, according to Sebestyen.

With some of the starters on the sidelines including seniors Andy Inserra (ankle) and Jon Slupski (knee), some

- Junior Mike O’Malley: 3 receptions, one for TD - Senior Luis Leguer: 11 carries, 53 yards

Week 5 vs. Hersey (20-17) - Sophomore Matt Drew: Ran for 52 yards, 15 carries, and 2 TD - Senior Eric Garmoe: Ran for 141 yards on 29 carries.

SCRAMBLING: Junior Greg Suarez scrambles out of the pocket looking for a receiver while the Barrington defense blitzes. With a younger team this season as well as multiple injuries, the team has struggled early on. “[The record] doesn’t always tell the whole story,” head coach Mike Sebestyen said. (Photo by Rich Futo) of the younger players have been able to step up.

“Injuries require your kids to step forward,” Sebestyen said. “You have to have a guy to step up and make plays, and hopefully you have depth. Hopefully, they will embrace the opportunity.”

Being further into the season, the team hopes to bounce back, going against the Mid-Suburban League East teams.

“Essentially, after [week four], we’re 0-0 again,” Sebestyen said. “Now we have to focus on playing in the MSL

East. We have to play five [regular season] games and try to do the best we can in the rest of the conference.”

Slupski also believes they have a greater chance to win games in the East.

“It’s a challenge, [but] we definitely feel we can win the East,” Slupski said.

“We’ve learned lessons from our losses, so I think that will help us.”

As for the future, the team is only focusing on their next game on the schedule.

“For now we’re just taking it week

by week,” Suarez said. “We [have] to make sure we’re getting better week by week. We have to focus on the now.”

Like Suarez, Sebestyen just wants his team to get better mentally and physically.

“We’ve gotten better every week,” Sebestyen said. “There’s been improvement from guys, and I really think that’s what I’ve been focused on more than anything. I’ve said it multiple times to the kids: our record is not going to be something we measure our season by. [The evaluation] is going to be how we grow, how we produce, how we progress and learn to embrace the process.”

October 4, 2013

prospectornow.com

Sports

15

MSL Conference Meet Results Team

Score

Place

Barrington

296

1

Prospect

301

2

Fremd

319

3

Buffalo Grove

325

4

Palatine

329

5

Name

Score

Place

Reid Dahlstrom (Senior) (Left)

74

2

Ralph Tenuta (Senior)

75

5

Grant Gavin (Junior)

75

5

Jacob Schwister (Senior)

77

10

Josh Johnson (Senior)

78

11

Jack Kavanagh (Junior)

79

12

Captains of boys’ golf set examples for team

By Devin Prasad

It’s not necessarily telling them what to do.

It’s doing the work that it takes to get better, and hopefully [the younger players] will follow.

Sports Editor

It has been hard to find a program more successful than golf throughout the past few years.

Both boys’ and girls’ golf have been in the forefront of Prospect sports.

Although the girls’ golf team may look like the better of the two programs, with their state championship in 2011 and their second-place finish in 2012, the boys’ team is undoubtedly a legitimate contender for success with their 13-2 overall record.

Head varsity coach Tom Martindale does not believe that the boys’ program is overshadowed and believes that the team has stayed relevant with their success over the past few years.

Junior captain Grant Gavin also believes that they are not outshined by the girls’ program. “[The girls] are a really good team, and they deserve credit for what they have done,” Gavin said.

“And I don’t think it’s bad that they are getting more press. They have done really well in the past, so I think they deserve it.”

One reason the golf program has been able to rise to the top is the leadership that the older players are able to show.

They not only encourage younger players, but they also teach them through their own games.

When looking at potential players, Martindale always looks at their leadership qualities. “[The leaders are] supporting younger players in the game and also with their classes, and [they are] encouraging other people to do the best they can in the classroom and on the golf course,” Martindale said.

Among the team leaders is senior captain Reid Dahlstrom, who has been with the program all four years.

He is able to take the leadership skills he learned from older play-

-Senior Reid Dahlstrom

FORE!: Senior Ralph Tenuta tees off during a meet against Elk Grove. Leadership has been a factor for the team’s success this season. (Photo by Rich Futo) ers in previous years and bring them to the team this year.

“It’s not necessarily telling them what to do,” Dahlstrom said.

“It’s doing the work that it takes to get better, and hopefully [the younger players] will follow.”

The golf team also looks to form a support system in which every player feels like a part of the team.

They look to support everyone in good times, like after a great round, or in times when “the game of golf doesn’t go your way,” according to Martindale. The coach-

es look to implement this type of support, but ultimately it’s on the team leaders to support younger players.

“When we are playing together, we encourage each other,” Gavin said. “That helps us feel comfortable out there when we are playing in meets.”

The success of the golf team can also be seen through its diversity. Martindale believes that each team throughout the school has its own identity, and he loves the way the boys bring all their backgrounds together to form a successful team.

Martindale believes that their friendships and memories will last for the rest of their lives “It’s not just about golf,” Dahlstrom said. “It’s about spending time with each other.”

Despite the Knights’ strong start, they still look to get better each day.

Rather than focus on the end, they focus on day-to-day tasks like practices or games.

Martindale believes that they should not get too focused on the destination that they forget the process that needs to be taken in order to get there.

“We’re hoping that that day-byday goal will help our success as we get to those [end] situations,” Martindale said.

Decisions, decisions As the high school basketball season gets closer, that only means the decision day for a Division I-bound senior is drawing near as well.

According to ESPN, 14 out of the top 25 class of 2014 prospects are still undecided, and the debate about where they are attending college is endless... well, at least it feels like it.

The buzz on Twitter and other social media is always interesting to read because I enjoy the “basketball experts’” opinions on where these athletes could possibly go.

Since Chicago is the Mecca of basketball, it’s fitting that the city is home to six ESPN Top 100 players, including No. 1 and No. 2 players Jahlil Okafor and Cliff Alexander.

Type those two names in the Twitter search bar, and you can scroll through hundreds of tweets reading “Big Cliff to DPUBB!” (DePaul) or “Jah come join the Crazies!” (Duke).

Anyway, the point is we (myself included) all wish these big-name players would commit to our favorite schools, but you have to understand the process they have to go through in making their decision.

Big factors a player looks for in a school are the relationship with the coaching staff and, most importantly, his teammates.

Okafor publicly announced that he wants to go to school with the No. 1 point guard in the country, Tyus Jones from Minnesota, and Alexander said he will go to school with No. 8 forward in the country, JaQuan Lyle from Indiana.

This makes college coaches’ jobs difficult. Very difficult, especially since many athletes are taking the same route like Alexander and Lyle. Alexander’s college list includes Illinois, Michigan State and DePaul, all of which are absent from Lyle’s list. However, the major school they share is Kansas.

Is it fair to say that KU will be the school they attend? Probably.

I hate to break it to all of the Illini and Blue Demon fans out there, but the LeBron mindset of pairing up with your all-star best friend to win a championship seems like the game plan.

The game of basketball has really changed at the high school level. It used to be only the best players from one area against the best players from another.

Nowadays, elite players all over the country get to know each other through AAU as well as sponsored camps and showcases. These relationships carry over into college, The decision- making might not be the same as it was in year’s past, but I guess the only thing that really matters now is winning.

BIG FELLAS: No. 1 and No. 2 players in the country, Jahlil Okafor and Cliff Alexander sit together after game in Las Vegas. Both have had a tough time deciding what school is best for them. (Photo by Peter Fusilero)

Friday, October 4, 2013

SPORTS

On ProspectorNow.com...

Boys’ soccer has faced some difficulties this season, but hope and a posititve attitude, could help them improve their record. They have had recent close calls with Hersey and Fremd, along with a 1-0 loss to Warren.

Competitiveness drives golfers Girls succeed due to ambition of experienced team

TEE TIME: Senior Kiley Walsh follows through on her swing during the Buffalo Grove match Wed. Sept.

25. The team finished 11-0 in the MSL for the sixth year in a row.

(Photo by Rich Futo)

By Molly Mueller Sports Editor

Prospect girls’ golf has made a name for itself throughout the entire state. It began with a fourth-place finish at the state tournament three years ago and then continued as the girls brought home a state title two years ago. The legacy was extended last year when the team had a second-place finish at state after the final day of golf was cancelled due to weather conditions, finishing just five strokes behind New Trier.

This season the girls are looking to continue the tradition and are off to a g re at s t a r t with a 13-0 overall record and a 11-0 MSL record, the sixth year in a row where the team has been undefeated in the MSL. Along with an outstanding record, the Knights won the Conant Invite, the Knights Invite and the Rockford Invite.

They also took second at the Homewood-Flossmoor Invite with a team that was half-JV and half-varsity.

The girls’ golf team is undeniably one of Prospect’s best sports teams, but the question now is how the girls became so accomplished. The secret to their success is the level of talent along with the com-

petitiveness and closeness of the girls within the team.

“The competitiveness is really unique, I think, because we all want to win and we also all want to be the best,” senior Noreen Caporusso said, who currently holds three records. “So it’s really cool that we can be competitive by ourselves and as a team.”

According to Caporusso, to help everyone get better, the team plays small games during practice, which use friendly competition to improve all the girls’ scores. Varsity coach Jim Hamann, coaching at Prospect since 2004, has created about 50 different games to use during practices. Each game is based on what the team needs to improve on and to also encourage the girls to have fun.

As a result, the girls’ team has broken every record this season, both team and individual, along with junior Emma Dazzo getting a hole-inone on the seventh hole at the Mount Prospect Golf Course in a practice round earlier in the season. The team also won its match against defending state champion New Trier Sept. 19 with a final score of 147-173, beating the Trevians by 26 shots.

The competitiveness within the team isn’t the only factor pushing the girls to success.

Senior Emma Menich, current holder of two records, believes that the team is also doing well this year due to the close bonds between teammates.

The team participates in four

day trips to different golf courses and one four-day overnight trip to Decatur during the summer to improve their game and give the girls a chance to grow closer. The players also go to school events, such as football games, together and have pasta dinners before meets, along with just hanging out in general.

“My favorite part about being on the golf team is how close we are and how much fun we have together,” Menich said. “Basically my best friends are all on the golf team, so going to practice and going to touraments is so much fun.”

Hamann also sees how close the girls are and how that affects the level of their play.

“It’s a lot of fun because they have been together for a while,” Hamann said. “I’ve never coached a closer group of girls. They really take care of each other, and they are really all best friends with each other.

They know that on any given day, somebody can lead us.”

The girls will have three more chances to continue the tradition with the regional competition Oct. 9 at the Mount Prospect Golf Course, the sectional match Oct. 14 at Buffalo Grove Golf Course and the state tournament Oct. 18 and 19 at Hickory Point Golf Club in Decatur.

“We just love the game of golf,” Menich said. “It’s not about winning for us. It’s just more about having fun together.”

Girls’ golf records continue to fall throughout the years 9 hole team record

18 hole team record

Upcoming games to watch

Friday 10/4 • Varsity football @ Wheeling

Saturday 10/5 • Girls’ cross country @ Peoria Invite • Boys’ cross country @ Peoria Invite • Boys’ soccer @ Crystal Lake South • Girls’ tennis @ Carmel

Tuesday 10/8 • Boys’ golf regional match @ Mount Prospect Golf Course • Girls’ volleyball home vs.

Wheeling

Wednesday 10/9 • Girls’ golf regional match @ Mount Prospect Golf Course

WATER BREAK WITH...

Q. How has it been playing varsity since your sophomore year?

A. It was tough playing volleyball my second year, and I was pretty bad. So it was tough to be coached by someone when all the other players on the team are way better than you, but I think it helped me improve a lot.

Thursday 10/10

Q. What is it like playing under coach Mike Riedy?

A. He really challenges you to do your best always and if you are not doing your best, then he’ll help you.

• Girls’ tennis MSL conference meet

Q. How has the program grown over the past three years?

A. We have gone through ups and downs, I guess, but I think we have gotten better. I think we have improved as far as bonding and a big thing we have improved on is Volley for the Cure.

• Girls’ swimming vs. Wheeling @ Wheeling

Q. How has this year been going?

A. Well, it is rough right now because we haven’t really learned how to play as a team yet, but I think individually there is a lot of talent on our team right now. So I think we have potential to be really good.

Q. Have any schools been interested in recruiting you?

A. Yeah, I talked to a couple schools like Lehigh in Pennsylvania and Loyola Marymount in California, but I don’t know if I want to play there. I think I just want to play club if I get into USC. Q. What has playing volleyball taught you?

A. It really teaches you a team aspect because it’s such a big team sport. It’s really not about the individual, so you could be doing eveything right and your team could still be playing really bad. So it really teaches you how to bring other people up and playing with your team instead of just focusing on yourself.

Friday 10/11 • Girls’ tennis MSL conference meet

Year in school: Senior Sport: Volleyball Position: Middle

• Varsity football vs. Rolling Meadows