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the Correspondent • Volume 48 Issue 1 • August 26, 2015 •
• Twitter: @Hersey_corre • Snapchat: hersey_corre • • Instagram: @hersey_correspondent •
Communication in our generation
Students make use of new technologies Kelly McCarthy
Ho u rs New therapy dog to bring smiles into halls Zoe Strozewski Hersey has taken numerous steps in the past to encourage good mental health, but its latest effort is different than the previous ones. Community resource teacher, Mark Gunther, began to train his own puppy, Toby, to be the school’s therapy dog. Therapy dogs are dogs trained to provide comfort to people by visiting places such as hospitals, schools, and nursing homes. It has been proven that being around these animals can lower stress levels and blood pressure in addition to improving people’s moods. Hersey is not the first school in District 214 to have a therapy dog. “A couple of years ago Prospect High School got a therapy dog and it opened my eyes to this cool new opportunity that we could have a therapy dog for students to interact with,” Gunther said. Therapy dogs are expected to behave differently than regular dogs, so students won’t necessarily be able to treat him like their family pet. There are a few rules that students will need to abide by, especially since Toby has just started his training, the most important being not to feed him, as human foods can be toxic to dogs. Students should also avoid riling him up too much and playing with him too roughly. “Approach calmly, pet him, ask questions,” Gunther said. Toby won’t be at school every day, but Gunther will continue his training throughout the school year by bringing him around the school halls, taking him to the cafeteria during lunch periods, and bringing him to some after school events. Gunther is hoping to benefit the school and students with the positive company of Toby. “We’ll see if there’s an incentive for kids to work harder so they can spend time with Toby,” Gunther said.
• John Hersey High School •
In the past 20 years, technological advances have completely transformed the ways we communicate. Changes in communication have impacted the dynamics both in classrooms as well as in sports and activities. Many groups use resources like Facebook groups, the GroupMe app, text messaging, and emailing to send instant updates and information. Students now have 24 hour access to their coaches and teammates. While some find this constant communication annoying or overwhelming, others enjoy the constant updates. “My golf coach uses a group messaging app called Remind. If we need to ask a question or tell Coach something, we just send a text within the app,” freshman Josh Perkins said. In addition to texts that are sent through personal phone numbers or Facebook groups on student’s own accounts, the primary way for teachers and administrators to communicate with students is through the district-issued stu.d214.org email address. “Email is the most confident form of communication and the most appropriate for student-teacher relations,” senior Charlie Bay said. While all students and teachers have a school email address, that doesn’t mean they check it often. This often leads to communication errors when one end is waiting for a response and doesn’t hear back on an urgent matter for a few days, especially now that our culture depends on instant responses. “I get a text whenever I get an email so I don’t really check my email that much,” Bay said. While these different methods of communication are often used with friends, peers, family, and teachers, it is easier than ever to communicate with different people not involved in our day to day lives.
Most followed Hersey Twitter Account: @HerseyOC 740 followers
even if I don’t want to answer my phone, it’s always near me and it is distracting when it keeps going off,” Slosar said. Part of this new age of communication involves sharing our daily lives on social media. It’s possible for someone to let all their freinds immediatelyknow what he or she is doing at all times. While this is an amazing feat of technology, it can lead to an obsession with what other people are doing and “FOMO”, or fear of missing out. “Our generation has basically grown up with social media around us and a lot of kids, teenagers, and still some young adults don’t know how to communicate in real life. Instead, we are stuck behing a phone screen,” Slosar said. It’s so easy to constantly check social media to find out what people are doing, where they are, and who they’re with. Communication has changed from an individual basis to group information-sharing systems, which can take away from personal relationships. “All of our communication stems f r o m social media. S om e times it’s like you don’t have anything to talk to beside your social media, and some people think that the more likes or favorites you get, the more successful you’ll be in life,
Most members in Hersey Facebook group: Hersey S.O.S. 2014-2015 361 members Text messaging and social media sites have made it easy to not only stay in touch with people who live far away, but also to meet and develop new relationships with people online. “I have cousins who live in California and I text them every week and try to call them once a month and I keep up with what they are doing on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter,” sophomore Mara Slosar said. This phenomenon of instant communication is great when people commit to checking and responding to it, but can become a hassle when people don’t use it as much as others, leaving one end of a conversation to wait on a response. It becomes difficult to focus on what’s happening in our real lives when we are trying to concentrate on who else may be trying to reach us at any given moment in the virtual world. While these technological advances can be extremely helpful and beneficial to society, they have also taken away from our lives. “I feel that texts are very distracting when you’re trying to have a conversation with people because
which should not be how our society works,” Slosar said. A phone call used to be the only way to reach someone without actually seeing them in person but now everyone is just a text message away. Making a phone call has gone from being the quickest way to reach people to a last resort if a text or email doesn’t receive an immediate response. This transformation into instant communication that is available anywhere at any time results in the dependence of people to always be near their cell phones and able to respond within minutes. It’s rare to have someone leave the phone unattended for more than a couple of hours or not reply to a text within a day. “Personally, the easiest way for me to talk to a friend is just by texting them. It gives me time to text or reply back, and then all I have to do is wait for my phone to buzz to get an answer from them,” Perkins said.
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D d you KN W? Air and Water show accident results in death
During the 57th annual Air and Water show in Chicago on Aug, 15 and 16, an accident during a parachute jump resulted in the death of Corey Hood. Hood collided midair during the stunt with another jumper and was in “serious condition” before passing away on Aug.16. Instead of landing in the designated landing zone on North Avenue Beach, Hood became unconscious and drifted roughly half a mile away from the beach before striking an apartment building and falling to the ground. “It’s terrible that something like this happened at such a widely viewed event. Dangerous stunts are performed and it’s awful that one of them cost someone their life,” senior Sophie Shepley said. Hood was a member of the U.S. Army parachute team and 14 year veteran who served 5 tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. In light of the accident, the parachuting events were canceled for Sunday’s show.
• Julia Hapanowicz
Skydivers set record Thirty nine women skydivers from all over the country have set a state record on Aug. 15. This record was located in Northern Illinois. All 39 women jumped from two planes to build a crossshaped belly formation over ‘Skydive Chicago’ in Ottawa, 80 miles southwest of Chicago. They broke the previous record of 35 women skydivers set in August 2013. “I think it’s cool how 39 women could come together and break a skydiving record,” sophomore Ana Manrique said. Also, 32 women skydivers from the same team set a state women’s two-point sequential record. This means the women built two pre-designed formations during one sky dive. For this category there was no previous women’s sequential record. Both state and sequential record were certified by US Parachute Association judge Rishard Gomez.
• Jennifer Lechowski
News
August 26, 2015
Renovations result in big changes Nate Horne Students expect change when they return from summer vacation, but this year students will notice a much larger change than just new teachers and new classes. After a decision made in Jan. 2014, Hersey underwent numerous renovations last summer costing around $8.5 million; this is the first time Hersey has had major renovations done since 1999. The first project started slightly before the end of the 2014-2015 school year, and the last project, the field house, is expected to end around the second week of September. “A lot of great people have been a part of the renovations and everyone has done an amazing job so far,” Associate Principal Joseph Krajacic said. Pepper construction has had the largest role in the renovations, but many other sub-contractors are involved. Junior Tara Daily said, “I really hope Hersey becomes a little more modernized like some of the other schools in the district.” With all these new changes, seniors will once again gawk at the sight of high school just as the freshman do every year. All athletic renovation projects varied in size. A less obvious renovation was the lights in the Carter gym, East gym, and field house were all replaced. More noticeable is the replacement of the field house floor. While the gyms had few renovations, the stadium has changed significantly. In the stands, 14 out of the 16 pylons were replaced, and they became ADA compatible. Also, bathrooms were added in the stadium and the ticket booth was relocated and redone. The most apparent change though, is the newly added arc that hangs over the entrance of the stadium. Sophomore
•Eric Czarnota
arc provides a formal entrance into Anew the stadium.
Leah Ryg said, “The arc adds a totally new feeling to the stadium. It feels less like a high school stadium and more like •Eric Czarnota a college one.” The enovation materials clutter Arlington hallways as progress continHeights ues. Park District and Hersey Boosters helped fund the stadium renovations. The last of the renovations for athletic purposes was the tennis courts; the courts were replaced and leveled to USA Tennis Association standards. In the academic aspect of the renovations, many upscale projects took place. In room 158, an absolute remodeling took place. The room is referred to as Mobile Makers/Incubators due to its many resources. The room offers adjustable tables, flat screen televisions with Apple TV above each table, glass boards, couches, and even a coffee station. Krajacic said, “We hope that with the comfortable furniture, students will feel more relaxed and then feel more creative. This class is much nicer than any standard classroom.”
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Another renovation occurred in the 124 rooms, which were infamous for their tiered seating and triangle shaped design. Now, thanks to high density foam, the floors are completely leveled and the incline seating is no more. The new 124 classrooms have whiteboards completely surrounding the room from floor to ceiling, and have the ability to be divided into one large classroom, or multiple smaller rooms. Although many rooms have been renovated in the academic wing, the largest renovation took place in the ARC. The ARC was fully redesigned and now includes bathrooms, an assessment center, RTI and test makeup center, a writing well with 300 more sq. feet, lots of comfortable seating, a lounge, a charging station, and four small group rooms for students to rent out. For teachers, there is a kitchen, nursing room and conference rooms. Although much was added, some things decreased. All books were sorted through and only the most current and useful books were kept, so now only 7,000 books will be held in the ARC. “ I can’t even remember the last time I checked out a book, so the books Hersey is losing will not be missed,” senior Abbey Chester said. Also, the main desk is much smaller and the ARC is down 14 computers. All these changes were due to the redesign of the ARC shape that was created to accommodate the flow of activity. Even larger than the ARC, was the addition of CLS rooms on the west wing of the school. New rooms were added, as well as a staff room and a sensory room in each classroom for CLS students to use when necessary. A 10 foot sidewalk leads to an entrance with automatic doors that is ADA accessible and much more convenient for CLS students’ needs. Besides the large projects, many smaller renovations took place such as the replacement of the auto room’s floor, which cost $25,000, and the upgrade of the security entrances in the front and back of school. Krajacic said, “I’m so proud of what Hersey has evolved into, and I can’t wait for the students and teachers to use their new resources.”
Vaccines create controversy Jennifer Lechowski For over 80 years vaccine controversies have raged until the terms vaccine and vaccinations were introduced. Opponents have questioned the safety, effectiveness, and necessity of vaccines. Others say not only is it safe for oneself but helps protect others around them. There are many sce-
narios where getting vaccinated is a must. Students who travel to other countries or enter certain grades have to be vaccinated. “Before I entered high school I had to get the necessary vaccines,” sophomore Ivana Santiago said.
• Continued on
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• Lauren Theisen ophomore Lauren S Theisen receives a vaccine before school starts.
August 26, 2015
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Camp SOAR excites student body
Ellen Bakal
them,” senior Tom Schwaba said. Two weeks out A camper’s imof the summer pairment ranges on a camp, Camp a wide spectrum SOAR, takes place including Down in Williams Bay, syndrome, autism, Wisconsin. and cerebral palThe camp is a sy. Some campers program of Chilcannot walk and/ dren’s Research or talk. Triangle and in“Many times vites kids with spethese campers cial needs to attend would be frustrata week -long camp ed because I didn’t justified to their understand what needs, but also ties they were trying in an opportunity to communicate to for teens ages 14 me, which someand up to have a times resulted in one-on-one expeyelling, hitting, bitrience with special •Ellen Bakal ing, and hair pullneeds children. ing,” Kim said. Students have enior Tom Schwaba enjoys “free time” with his This camp gives gone to the camp camper students the chance for years and to experience taking spread the word to counselor, so assistants help out the have their other peers join. “I actu- counselors who have a challenging care of a special needs child. “I think camp changed how I ally heard about camp through Mr. camper or need a break, that way Gunther, and he really praised the everyone stays happy,” senior An- looked at people with disabilities, and it made me more mature and camp which made me decide to do drea Kim said. it,” senior Kevin Paton said. The camp reflects the stereotypi- responsible because I had to look Counselors either have one cal camp setting with bunk sleep- out for others,” sophomore Bobby camper assigned to them, or they ing arrangements, a dining hall, Baratta said. The overall experience has sent are a cabin assistant. campfires, and multiple activities : a solid amount of our students to As a one-on-one counselor, each swimming, sports, crafts, music. is responsible for 24/7 attention to“I am with my camper from camp every year. “Camp is a big highlight of my wards the camper. This includes di- when he wakes up until he goes to etary, medical, and any other needs sleep for the whole week. I am right summer because I know I get to they may have. Whereas cabin as- on my camper’s side for all of the help out some great kids. I love it sistants overlook an entire group of awesome activities we do at camp, because I know the campers are gocampers. and aid them in anything tricky for ing to have one of the best weeks of their lives,” Paton said. “Each camper gets a one-on-one
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Bracelets spread good vibes Gracie Scannell With a new school year, comes a new wave of trends. Warm weather leads to exposed arms and has people showing off their arms lined with colorful bracelets. This trend has become more popular in the past year, following the trend of Lokai bracelets. These rubber bands contain water from Mount Everest on one end, and mud from the Dead Sea on the other in order to signify the highest and lowest points of life. These bands come with a tag that say, “Sometimes you’re on the top of the world, stay humble, sometimes you’ve hit a low, stay hopeful.” Social media accounts posted photos, desciribing what exactly this accessory means. “I really love the message that the bracelets convey, it’s a really great reminder,” junior Emmie Hermann said. This accessory is sold by multiple different locations. “I feel like they are really encouraging, and teach a great lesson.” The rubber pieces serve as a constant reminder, giving an inspiring message, and a great addition to any outfit, sophomore Stefanie Pawlis said.
Freshman strives in summer showskiing Danielle Eriksson This summerand last, freshman Sean Mahachek traveled to Three Lakes, Wisconsin to waterski for a showski team called The Aqua Devils ski team. The team performs shows on the shore of Big Stone Lake, a lake apart of the largest freshwater chain of lakes in the world. Mahacheck stays in town all summer where he attends two practices a week, two shows a week, and a state tournament in late July. “The shows are so much fun, and it’s a very rewarding feeling when we put on a successful one. Seeing the crowd’s amazed reaction to our acts makes showskiing that much more of a fulfilling sport for me,” Mahachek said. The Aqua Devil’s are a non-profit club mostly run by teenagers and kids. Members from all over the country come to ski on the team to put together a great waterski show each summer. Mahacheck’s brother and alumni, Tom Mahachek, is the president of the team. During the shows, Mahacheck skis in the acts Jump, End Pyramid, and Conventional Doubles. In the Jump act, Mahacheck and other skiers head toward a six-foot high jump, hitting it at 32 mph to coast through the air until gravity
brings them back to the water to land. Full twists (Heli’s), back/front flips, plus other maneuvers can be performed off the jump. In the Pyramid act, skiers form a human pyramid while out on the water by climbing on the shoulders of sturdy men skiing (the bases), Mahacheck being one of them. In Conventional Doubles, Mahacheck starts off skiing with a female on his shoulders until she maneuv e r s
that his arms are free to lift a female skier above his head while she performs elaborate maneuvers. In the 360 Around the Boat (ATB) act, multiple slalom skiers travel around the boat at speeds in access of 60 mph to travel all the way around the boat. In the Swivel Ski act, female skiers rotate 360 degrees. The show also consists of barefoot/backwards-b arefo ot skiing, canoe paddle slaloming, trick skiing, w a k e boardi n g , etc.
•Danielle Eriksson reshman Sean Mahachek bases pyramids as such as F this 3-teir high backwards pyramid that the Aqua Devils create during ski shows. around him to get into ballet-like positions with his assistance. Some other acts in the show include Strap Doubles, where a strong male skier is strapped by the waist instead of holding onto a handle so
Mahacheck contributes to the team off the water as well. “I help out by putting the pickup boat in and out of the water and carrying skis into and out of the equipment shack for practices and shows,” Ma-
hacheck said. “At the beginning of the summer I help with putting the large dock that we use into the water as well as taking it out at the end of the season,” Mahachek adds. The Aqua Devil’s ski team consists of fairly young members compared to other Wisconsin waterski teams, so Mahacheck must take on a leadership role encouraging and teaching the younger members so that they can develop into good showskiiers ready to fill in the acts of the show. “My favorite thing about being on the team is honestly just skiing,” Mahachek said. “It’s so fun to be able to hangout with the other members at the ski site during practice. Everyone is friends with each other; we all just have a field day out on the water while trying new things and doing acts that need to be practiced so that we can put together a successful show,” Mahacheck said. “I highly recommend going to see a waterski show in Wisconsin out of the 30 plus teams there are. The things you see will amaze you... show skiing a lot more than just two-skiing,” Mahachek said. The Aqua Devils have shows on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 6:30 P.M. from mid-June to mid-August with free admission.
4 the Correspondent
Indepth
August 26, 2015
Music makes me Concerts make for memorable moments Colette Tangney
Whether the word ‘concert’ manifests images of lighters illuminating an arena, a moshpit crowding a DJ, or dancing by a picnic blanket, everyone has varying experiences stemming from this term. Over the summer, numerous music events have been held in the Chicagoland area, a popular attraction for many students. Each genre has a corresponding atmosphere, meaning different clothing, seating, age group, and so forth. “Pop concerts usually have arranged seating, but if you go to a rave or a punk concert it is usually a big crowd crammed together and a bigger audience as well,” sophomore Ariana Tenerelli said. With these differing atmospheres comes differing preferences. “I like country music concerts the best because unlike raves, you can actually breathe, and it’s more relaxed,” senior Kevin Starr said. “I prefer punk music concerts or raves because they
have mosh pits and you can get to the front without paying more money, and it is usually more artists playing at the concert instead of three or four bands,” Tenerelli said. Despite the diverse types, each has a notable memory. “We desperately wanted to see tropical house DJ Kygo at lolla[poolza], so we decided to sit through the artist before him to get front row. Before we knew it, some gothic people crowded and the artist starting doing satanic rituals on stage...we felt really uncomfortable and out of place,” senior Monika Biernat said. “The main singer of a band called We Came As Romans had a blow up raft and surfed the crowd,” Tenerelli said. “A classic song featuring my favorite artist A$AP Rocky came on, and you could just see the excitement in everyones’ eyes. The crowd went nuts, and it made me feel connected with the rest of the fans,” senior Nora Pearson said.
Chicago venues offer interest Lexi Wachal Amongst the many experiences that mark a student’s summer, going to see the favorite bands or singers live is one of the most highly anticipated events of the year. Supporting the many music festivals and high profile concerts is the base of all these shows-the venues. Without these different venues, the concerts themselves wouldn’t be the same. Each venue offers different character, and some venues go better with certain concerts rather than others. Take for example the practicality of Hollywood Casino Amphitheater, which was originally called Tinley Park Ampitheater. Hosting a variety of acts in-
cluding Australian band 5 Seconds of Summer, the theater has good views and affordable seats, so everyone can enjoy themselves. “The theater is pretty small, and every seat is a good seat. It’s got great views, and overall it’s just a nice sized place,” junior Allie Jedd said. It offers a host of concessions and merchandise stands, which makes it perfect for single band shows, or larger concerts, such as the 2015 Vans Warped Tour. Jedd also said, “Make sure you get there early so you can enjoy yourself, and make sure to go to concessions!” On a larger scale, Union Park in downtown Chicago is known as the home of Pitchfork, one of the many music festivals in Chicago. The grounds them-
Indepth
August 26, 2015
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Concertgoers get wise and share advice Kayleigh Padar During the summer, concerts are an extremely popular pastime. The warm weather is perfect for all sorts of outdoor venues and festivals. The city is a major stopping point for most artists who tour on their own. However, there’s plenty of information to know before show, other than just the song lyrics. Sophomore Katherine Wiemold said, “Usually people you meet at concerts are going to be the nicest people ever, so make sure to be nice back. It’s easy to make friends because you already like the same band, so just compliment and help everyone.” Having manners and being polite in general will make everyone’s overall experience much better. Senior Gabby Scannell said, “it’s important to keep your phone charged.” Concert goers should try to save as
much battery as possible. A good tip for that is bringing along a portable charger. However, it’s best not to go overboard on photos. Junior Emmie Herrmann said, “enjoy the moment and focus on the singer/band instead of trying to get it all on tape because post-concert depression is very real and you don’t want to miss a second of it.” Scannell said, “Make sure to bring water.” Water is definitely a necessity; after standing for hours on end and being squished up between other people it’s extremely easy to become dehydrated which can lead to fainting, headaches, and just general discomfort. It’s best to do a bit of research on the venue and the area around it, as well as making sure there’s parking nearby or a meeting place to be picked up at. Concerts are almost always a great experience, whether it’s a favorite band or one that can barely sing, but being prepared will help everything go even smoother.
ting concert experiences selves are huge, and offer the space for many different artists to perform. “Since the venue was for a festival, it was a really nice size. There were plenty of stages, and plenty of tents for food and art from local vendors,” junior Maddie Chaudron said. There are plenty of things to do, and lots of room to sit, which allows for a very relaxed weekend experience. “Union Park is great. It’s not in the heart of the city, so it’s not super crowded, and you’re not constantly being trampled on. Just have fun. Enjoy the bands you’re seeing and appreciate the variety that will be there,” Chaudron said. Finally, in the heart of Chicago’s uptown, is a smaller venue, hidden between restaurants and boutiques. The Aragon Ballroom typically hosts lesser known or
up and coming acts like Milky Chance or Coasts, but is known to host a bigger name, like Florida-Georgia Line or A$AP Rocky. “It’s just a different kind of venue. The painting and decorations there are really cool, and it gives it a cool, unique atmosphere,” senior Kris Donov said. The ballroom is known for its ornate Spanish style architecture and its large standing room only pit. No matter what venue students go to, the consensus seems to be that each venue is great for different reasons. They all have character and work for each of the acts that are playing there on a given night. As Chaudron said, “It fits the people there. Certain places work better for different acts and performances, each venue fits someone and their music type.”
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Entertainment
August 26, 2015
Minion craze runs wild Claire Durand
At McDonald’s or even Target, there is often some sort of promotion for the Minions. Although the movie has already been released, the yellow cardboard cutouts stay standing. Fans continue to reference and adore them. “I think they were cute at first, but now they are being advertised on everything and it’s annoying and you can’t go anywhere without seeing a minion themed product,” sophomore Celeste Lagman said. Many agree that the promotion after the movie may be buzz-killing the hyped up minions and that their cute aura is turning obnoxious. “I get movie promotion, but I’m sick of seeing it everywhere I go. I think now that the movie is out, it should stop,” sophomore Katherine Flight said. Already there is talk about another “Despicable Me” movie bringing the minions back into action. “I think that they should make more movies because it has a strong fan base, and the franchise is really taking off. For example, Universal Studios recently put in a new Minions ride. The new movies would really promote the franchise. It is also a funny and cute movie for the family to watch,” sophomore Emily Kyle said. Generally, the movie was made for kids with plenty of slapstick humor and small adult references. It also took a different perspective from the “Despicable Me” movies. It stood as a prologue to explain the origins of the mysterious yellow creatures. Unfortunately, there were mixed reactions to a different story leaving out the lovable Edith, Agnes, Margo, and Gru. While many are looking forward to even more minions, some people have had enough. “They should have stopped after ‘Despicable Me 2.’ I think ‘Minions’ was just a way to make more money off people’s love for the minions,”
junior Quinn Gudaitis said, Although it’s been over a month since the “Minions” movie was released on July 10, they will continue to occupy many commercial spaces. So get used to seeing the yellow maniacal midgets.
FreakyFast REVIEWS
•Marjie Lambert
toys are for sale in stores Minion almost everywhere.
“Ant Man” surpasses pesty expectations
Documentary calls for action
Lexi Wachal
Jamie Anderluh
didn’t go into “Ant Man” with high hopes. I, however, was pleasantly surprised. Marvel seems to have a knack for taking little known, or cared about, comic book heroes and turning them into immensely successful feature films. “Ant Man” is amusing without trying too hard and comes with a precisely-picked cast. The movie is humorous and worth seeing for Marvel fans or comedy lovers.
etflix documentary “Mission Blue” follows the life of Sylvia Earle. Teacher and marine biologist, Earle has explored the ocean in revolutionary ways, educating about its essentiality to all life. Earle studies damage prompted by human activity: overfishing, pollution, and chemical spills. With a desire to protect the ocean, she introduces marine protected areas called “Hope Spots.” “Mission Blue” is an innovative and provocative look at the ocean. It captures the near-magic of its species, the delicacy of biodiversity, and the power held by humans. It’s a tribute to all who have a passion for protecting sea life and a prompter to become involved, share ideas, and have influence.
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•Marvel Studios of Ant Man in the Aclose-up new Marvel production.
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with Joshua Irvine
Who’s your U.N.C.L.E.? From the Guy that brought the world “Sherlock Holmes,” comes an actionpacked reboot of an obscure ‘60s spy TV show starring a bunch of actors vaguely recognizable alongside a character written for Tom Cruise. Surprisingly enough, it’s not a “Mission: Impossible” flick; it’s “The Man from U.N.C.L.E”, and it’s so much better. It’s Europe, 1963. Meet Napoleon Solo (no relation to Han), a smooth-talking soldier-turned-smuggler-turned-spy who’s quick with his hands and quicker with women. After narrowly escaping the clutches of a rival Soviet spy, he has to retrieve a missing scientist - and the nuclear formula he’s developed - from a fanatical femme fatale and her devoted husband. There’s only one problem: to find the scientist he must team up with Ilya Kuryakin, the KGB’s humorless and brutal top spy - who, to make things worse, is the same agent Solo evaded earlier. Also in the mix is Gabby Teller, daughter of the missing scientist with a few cards of her own to play, and a random British guy (who who must be important because he’s played by Hugh Grant. ) Solo and Kuryakin - portrayed by Man of Steel Henry Cavill and “Lone Ranger” star Arnie Hammer, respectively - are excellent as our unwilling protagonists. The film plays heavily on their differences, for both dramatic and comic effect; Solo’s 007-esque demeanor is quick to conflict with the more Bourne-like Kuryakin, though neither are serious enough to rise above throwing petty jabs at one another (“Loving your work, cowboy,” remarks Kuryakin sardonically after Solo accidentally triggers an alarm). As silly as it is, it keeps the film from falling into the “hardcore superspy” cliche it so lovingly mocks. However, this film would be little more than banter without its looks. Director Guy Ritchie did a solid job of recreating an era gone by in “Sherlock Holmes”, and “U.N.C.L.E” is no different; Cold War Europe is recreated in style, with little fault to be found. Between the grim and rigidly monitored streets of East Germany and the high-class Formula One races of Italy, we’re given a modish look into the world of the Sixties. This, combined with clever visuals and editing - the use of multiple camera angles separated by bars is taken directly from the original series - gives the film an unparalleled sleek look. Oddly enough, “U.N.C.L.E”’s biggest weakness falls in the most conspicuous of places: its plot. Though it manages to entertain thoroughly, it rarely rises beyond what’s largely a fairly predictable story this is, at least in part, an espionage thriller. To paraphrase Hugh Grant’s Waverly, “For a spy movie, you aren’t having a very spy movie-like plot.” “The Man from U.N.C.L.E”, though bogged down by an unoriginal plot, has enough clever performances and a dynamic look to make it worth the watch.
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Staff Speaks
Follow news, not fads
While social media is great to connect to support the cause, or don’t know friends and family, both from down the where their donation is going if they did street or across the globe, and makes it in fact donate. Even if participants do have accurate easy to gain an insight as to what is going on around the world, its power can knowledge about the background behind the situation for all social media be abused. When timelines start filling up with news sharing that they participate in, hashtags or videos supporting a new the issue still stands that these serious cause, whether it is a charity or injustice issues have become “trendy” and part of in the world, it can be tempting to want “fad” culture. Ebola was the to participate in these butt of all jokes for virtual rallies for supa few months, but port. now is hardly ever However, without mentioned in regudoing research belar conversation, let yond what is posted alone online across on Twitter or Facethe nation. book by friends, it While social mebrings the ethics of dia is great to inform the cause into question. “Like OMG, North African refugees are about these issues and unites the world One sentence SO 2012.” news headlines or a •Joshua Irvine against injustices, it is important to read trending topic can’t accurately portray what is really going beyond the basic headlines and realize on in many situations so it is important what is actually going on with these stoto look beyond the basic facts before ries. With any information that we could supporting the latest issue in the world. From Kony 2012 to the ALS Ice Buck- ever want to know about these stories et Challenge to Cecil the lion, these so- at our fingertips, taking a few minutes cial media news fads have been around to become informed about these topics for years and while they all successfully can open our eyes to what is really hapbrought awareness to these issues, the pening beyond just a headline. These “trendy” issues are great in that real question is how much does the average person actually know about these they get people interested in news that issues beyond the realm of what was is going on around the world, but readposted on Twitter, Instagram, Face- ing just a few articles not related to the latest widespread headline every now book, or YouTube. It’s likely that many of the people who and then can help broaden our minds participated in the ice bucket challenge to a more accurate and intelligent way don’t know what ALS is, didn’t donate of viewing the world.
Balance academics and happiness Jamie Anderluh
Perhaps this sounds familiar: a student, caught up in his future. Trying to balance his schoolwork with enough extracurriculars to be more than just average–enough extracurriculars to stand out, specifically to colleges, regardless of whether he enjoys them. He is often stressed, unsure, and unhappy. But he’s convinced this is essential to his success. He believes that his time must be spent preparing for the future. He simply must be busy; even if he is not always happy, he will be someday. It’s all that matters. Yes, we have heard this many times, from many different angles: students are too busy. Students are unhappy. The demand for students must become less extreme. But here is the thing about these statements: we spend our entire lives being busy. Perhaps this sounds familiar: a student, dedicating her four years of high school to success in college. She will get in because her unique array of activities, along with more-than-adequate standardizing testing scores, are the perfect combination. She wouldn’t say she’s been her happiest, nor has she been doing exactly what she loves, but she’s gotten into college. She enters college. Her history will repeat itself–she will push herself to the limit, rid herself of many of the things she truly enjoys, but will see it as worth it. She’s majoring in a successful future. She wouldn’t say she’s been her happiest,
nor has she been doing exactly what she loves, but she’s going to get a job. Then, at last, she will be happy. She gets a job. It’s not what she’d really love to be doing. It allows her to scrape by. She is, quite often, unhappy. But this is the reality. Constantly, we eliminate happiness for ourselves in the present to make room for happiness in the future. Often, this feeling of closure, of surety, of happiness, never comes. As we transition from summer to schooling, we can afford to give a bit more attention to our present. We can know another state of being than “busy, just to be busy,” or “busy, just to get to college.” Yes, the latter is sometimes essential but it cannot be the entirety of our four years in high school. It’s a student’s responsibility to do the things that bring them happiness. We cannot become lost in the pressure to have activities and grades that define us as people if they don’t make us happy. We shouldn’t play a sport or choose an activity to get into college; we should do these things for ourselves. And perhaps it will be these tendencies that will show through on a college application. It will be the ability to choose the things that we love and dedicate ourselves to those things. Perhaps, when we enter our futures, we will follow a path in that we deeply enjoy. For now, our high school experience is about balance. It’s a balance of the often stereotyped hard work and dedication with feelings of enjoyment and gratification. We can be comfortable following a unique path if it brings us happiness. And this happiness should not be overlooked.
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Opinions
August 26, 2015
Speak UP
Getting sun isn’t always fun Zoe Strozewski
It’s a well known fact that the UV rays people are exposed to while tanning can cause skin cancer. Admittedly, there are benefits to tanning such as an improved appearance and mood, but the fact that so many choose to ignore the risks is alarming. Another problem is that many who tan don’t take any basic precautions such as using sunscreen, avoiding tanning beds, and tanning gradually instead of spending several hours in the sun. The idea of getting cancer can seem farfetched, especially to teenagers, but the risk is much greater than it seems. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, one in five Americans are diagnosed with skin cancer in their lifetime, and tanning only increases this risk. Those who insist on tanning should at least take basic precautions, but teenagers can’t believe that getting skin cancer is impossible. They need to seriously consider whether a tan is worth the risk.
Seniors take advantage of summer reading groups Mark Milligan
As seniors, we are given a little more independence going into the school year than any other grade. We are given a choice what we want to read over the summer, and instead of taking a dreaded test on the first day of school, we are provided with a book club type atmosphere. Around 10-12 students are usually in a group with one teacher, and we all meet somewhere to discuss it. So instead of having a boring test, we get to have vibrant discussions about a book we feel at least a little passionate about. Students should have this opportunity all throughout high school instead of just senior year.
The Correspondent
is published 10 times a year by the journalism students of John Hersey High School, 1900 East Thomas Street, Arlington Heights, Illinois 60004. Call for advertising rates. Phone (847) 718-4945. The Correspondent welcomes a free exchange of ideas. Letters to the editor may be sent to correspondent@d214.org. Because school officials do not engage in prior review, and the content of The Correspondent is determined by, and reflects only the views of the student staff and not school officials or the school itself, its student editorial board and responsible student staff members assume complete legal and financial liability for the content of the publication. The Correspondent will not publish any material determined by student editors or the student editorial board to be unprotected, that is, material that is libelous, obscene, materially disruptive to the educational process, and unwarranted invasion of privacy, a violation of copyright or a promotion of products or services unlawful (illegal) as to minors as defined by state or federal law. All unsigned editorial area the opinion of The Correspondent staff. Materials in this newspaper are the property of The Correspondent 2014-2015. The Correspondent is a member of numerous press associations. Some material courtesy of American Society of Newspaper Editors/KRT Campus High School Newspaper Service. Two thousand copies are made each issue to be distributed to students during their second hour classes.
Editors-in-Chief Kenzie Killam
Colette Tangney
Managing Editor Joshua Irvine
Editorial Board
News Editor
Sports Editors
Mackenzie Mauer
Caroline Stiefbold
Jennifer Lechowski Kayleigh Padar
In-Depth Editor
Andrea Cannon
Jamie Anderluh
Lexi Wachal
Danielle Eriksson
Entertainment Editors
Ellen Bakal
Julia Hapanowicz Kelly McCarthy
Zoe Strozewski
Claire Durand Nate Horne
Features Editor Gracie Scannell
Mark Milligan
Opinion Editors Nathan Kim Lauren Theisen Jordan Slonke
Photographers Eric Czarnota Sneh Pandya
Adviser
Janet Barker Levin MJE
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Sports
August 26, 2015 elow: Junior Andrew Hyndman B and senior Nick Wagner run during practice as the cross country team prepares for their first meet on Sept. 1, against Conant.
unior Maggie Anderson tees off at Glenview Prairie Golf Club on Aug. 18. J The girls beat Maine West after their season debut in the Conant Invite on Aug. 17.
•All photos taken by Eric Czarnota
eft: Junior L Andrew Hyndman, senior Nick Wagner, junior Sam Svienty, senior Dan Gerardi, and senior Brendan Stonequist train for their upcoming season. ight: Junior R Jasmin Lee sinks a putt dur-
ing the girls meet against Maine West.
Huskie
Huddle Girls Tennis “We are extremely supportive and friendly with each other.” -Junior Ana Karpetiani
What is unique about your team this year?
Boys Soccer “Hersey is known for having a strong defensive line, but this year we have a much stronger offense.” -Senior Brett Harris
Girls Cross Country “There are a lot of different personalities, and we come together well as a team.” -Senior Claire Niemczyk