J2 Extra 2015 by The Correspondent

April 10, 2015

VOLUME 16 ISSUE 1

Produced by Journalistic Writing 2 students

John Hersey High School-1900 E. Thomas St., Arlington Heights, IL 60004

School gets facelift

Karla Wascow said. The CLS deRC A e partment is also h ot t o g ? receiving wheel ou ons y i l t l i a v chair lifts for W no e r r C e their bathrooms aft he AR t and more o t o g ? u s wheelchair ac: 64% J Do yo ide of clas s % e cessible ramps. 3 Y So: 5 outs these are all F:57% necessary 30% : % e 5 S : y items that are e l J ayb 3% gular % J: 25% 3 M e : r o , S s finally being Ye 32% So: 17 : F % 4 added to the F: 4 eek w % 1 a school. 1 J: 31% t once : 25% Se: s a % o e 4 l “Ever y N t J So: 1 Yes, a So: 15% % s 1 l e 1 s t udent F: % de lev a h r t F: 20 g n has the o am J, Se 25% , e : c o e : S n S d , o e F 3 right to l least % J: 30% ts pol : 56 Se: 4 t n a e , d s u a c c e s s St Ye : 43 J So: 53 o S % 4 0 t h e i r F: 4 F: 2 school : 34% e S % 0 2 build% J: 5 1 No : o ing. In%S F: 16 div iduals in wheelchairs have a more difficult time when there are not ramps or proper access to a building. Lack of ramps and/or accessible areas is also a safety concern when it comes to exiting the building in an emergency,” Wascow said. Kayleigh Padar The floors in the 124 rooms are going to be leveled and the walls are going to become movEveryday students talk and complain about able. The rooms will be able to be combined or what this school needs. Some would like a Star- separated depending on the situation. This is imbucks in the lunch room, the upper floors con- portant for clubs and classes with larger groups nected, or a swimming pool. So, after a lot of of students. SOS leader Mark Gunther said, “Stucommunity meetings and decisions, there finally dents will have a much better student workspace is an updated list about what renovations will than the current small desks which are often loose or crooked. I understand this would be a take place over the summer. The biggest summer renovations will be a re- great space to host a forum, a team meeting, or a done library, improved stadium and concession public event.” Plans have finally been made with the village stands, completely changed 124 rooms, and othto add in a cross walk closer to the school along er improvements made to smaller facilities. with a little light. This should make crossing the All the old books will be replaced with new, road easier and more organized for both drivmore relevant books. The head librarian Catheers and students. “A cross walk would be imporrine Alexander said, “There will be an abundance tant in front of the school because kids cross of seating and collaborative spaces for staff whenever they want anyway, so if there and students. The ARC will have easwas a cross walk warning the drivers ily accessible books, many more they would be a lot less likely to be tables and chairs, soft seating, hit,” senior Charlie Smith said. charging stations, and interThe tennis courts are beesting art. Staff and students ing completely redone and will be able to collaborate matched to the standards of and access all of the rethe American Tennis Assosources the ARC offers in ciation. “I’m excited because a fresh new space.” it’s not going to be choppy Firstly, the ARC will See blue prints of the new floor anymore, and the courts be completely redone. plan on CorrespondentLive.com will actually grip better An extra door will which will help me imbe added from prove my game,” freshman the hallway closStephen Fazekas said. est to the cafeteria. Funding for all these projects will be reThe Writing Well will be ceived from the district’s money that they set expanded because the number of aside each year for capital improvement, life safestudents using it has increased from 4,005 peoty money for the school, and money raised from ple a year in 2012 to 5,876 people last year. The the athletics booster club. Students have helped computer labs will be taken out. Also, the conout with this by encouraging parents to speak out cession stands near the stadiums are going to be at board meetings about what the school needs, improved and redone to include bathrooms. The and attending community meetings themselves. home section of the bleachers will become wheel Students can help with the renovations by chair accessible. staying patient and understanding. Associate “If you are in a wheelchair, you cannot watch from the bleachers with your peers. You have to principal Joe Krajacic said, “Be patient with us be on the track with limited viewing. If there were because parking will be tight. During the sumramps to the bleachers, the students in wheel- mer it may be aggravating. Make sure that the chairs can be part of the student section and lockers are cleaned out so the custodians can do cheer on their team.” special education teacher more with their time.”

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Coffee draws crowd

•Joshua Irvine uniors Eric Solberg and Morgan Buckley perform at the Coffee House on Wednesday.

Jennifer Lechowski This past week students gathered in the black box awaiting entertainment. Coffee house was held last Wednesday during students lunch periods. Hosted by English teacher Lara Becker, this event has been going on for over a decade. This is a great way to expose students’ talents throughout the school while drinking coffee and eating cookies. Continued on CorrespondentLive.com

DECA heads to Nationals Mckenzie Mauer The DECA business club has achieved success at a variety of competitions and have most recently qualified to compete at the national level. On March 12 -14 DECA traveled to compete at the state competition held in Springfield, Illinois. This competition showed off the member’s business skills, specifically through the 15 students who qualified for nationals. At these competitions students put their skills to the test with challenges taking place within a variety of categories. Continued on CorrespondentLive.com

Debate earns state honors

•CourtesY OF HERSEY DEBATE he debate team appeared in Springfield for the IHSA state competition.

THeidi Freitag

The debate team has returned with several accomplishments after going to the IHSA debate Finals in Springfield on March 20-21. Continued on CorrespondentLive.com

April 10, 2015

Embrace self-expression Jamie Anderluh Individuality is a frightening concept. We are often surrounded by social conformity; our decisions, beliefs, and methods of expression are easily defined by those around us. We are undeniably judgmental. We are enveloped by the same slang, songs, and people. It is not necessarily a bad thing–some of it is just the reality of high school or simply the reality of human nature. We have the choice to behave and present ourselves in any way we desire. In the end, there is something that cannot be missed: it must be our choice. We cannot be defined by others, we cannot be eating out of the hands of conformity, and we must choose to use our time and follow our passions in a way that applies only to us. We do not need to feel pressure to dress or act like any other person. Our fashion is our own just as our character is our own. Individuals have the right to their identity, for it belongs entirely to them, and no one else. No person should feel compelled to hide his or herself for others, though it is not always easy. Yes–we often spend our time in a judgmental environment–but we should never be controlled by it. All of our perceptions are unique and exclusively our own so we have the right to selfexpression. We must accept our identity for everything that it is, and hope we can be accepted in the process. We get what we want from our individuality. After all, it is not about being “different,” it is about being exactly who we are.

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Students struggle to balance schedules

Noah Karpinski Pressure in high school is becoming stronger. Colleges expect students to be involved in sports, do extracurricular activities and still keep a good academic standing. As colleges demand more, students push themselves more. According to the National Sleep Foundation, Students need an average of 8 to 10 hours of sleep per night. Unfortunately, very few students are able to achieve this. This results in many students falling asleep during class or having difficulty focusing. It is not possible for a student to manage all of these duties. Well, at least not without major health consequences. Our bodies are not meant to constantly be working. These intense schedules do not go away for most people as they get older. Americans work about 261 days per year. Possibly more shocking, medieval peasants worked about 150 days per year. That means that medieval peasants worked about 100 days less than the average American work year! Continued on CorrespondentLive.com

J2 EXTRA

opinions

Staff Editorial

New schedule can bring new possibilities The idea of adding another period to the school day has been thought of as a positive impact on this school. When students visit their counselors to choose electives, they are asked to decide what their class option would be if they had the opportunity. Changing the schedule to nine hours or adding early and late Meanwhile, classes will allow students to have more options when it comes to class choices and this will then help students decide what they want to continue to study in college. A great aspect about having nine periods is that students will be able to finish their requirements more quickly without the school day becoming longer. The consumer education requirement and the fine arts requirement can be done without having to skip lunch or skipping a favorite elective. This will allow students to enjoy breaks in the day and have more opportunities to take classes they love. A new schedule could bring in better grades and raise students’ GPAs. However, with benefits there are conflicts that will arise. Nine periods a day reduces the length for other curricular classes. This will

deep in the heart of Hersey High School... •cARToon By Joshua Irvine

deprive students of learning information they would be retaining with longer periods. Less time for academic classes could have a negative effect on the school’s overall test scores. In order for this to occur, students should talk to counselors and teachers. They can ask about how to get nine periods and what classes would be a good idea to take. If it is something a majority of people want, this can go into action in a few years. Nine periods a day or early and late classes can be both a positive and negative experience for the school as a whole. It may not be what every student wants, but changing the schedule could benefit students through college and the rest of their lives.

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Put down your phones Tommy Lumsden Look up from your phone. Instead of seeing names on a screen, we see the faces of people in front of us. This media we call social is anything but, and instead of shutting down our computer and opening our doors for our friends, we shut our doors and instead open our computers. We need to connect with people, and not over text or overuse social media. We need to go out and meet up with our friends. We need to learn to communicate with one another. We are in a digital world where we are heard but not seen. We are now craving adulation because that is what makes us happy.

J2 EXTRA is published 1 time a year by the Journalism 2 students of John Hersey High School, 1900 East Thomas Street, Arlington Heights, Illinois 60004. Subscription rate is $15 a year. Call for advertising rates. Phone (847) 718-4945. The Correspondent and J-2 EXTRA welcome 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. J-2 Extra 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 J-2 EXTRA staff. Materials in this newspaper are the property of The Correspondent 2013-2014. 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. Two hundred are printed and mailed to subscribing parents.

Editorial Board

Jamie Anderluh Joshua Irvine Kayleigh Padar Caroline Stiefbold

Managing Editor Jessica Ahon

News Editors

Heidi Freitag Jennifer Lechowski McKenzie Mauer

We feel the likes we get show our popularity, but it is exactly the opposite. We should want to be noticed away from technology. We should want to be liked away from Instagram or Facebook. People spend hours together without making eye contact. Kids are becoming socially isolated. Ever since they were born, they have had this technology and used it all the time. They have been growing up with their parents and siblings using technology like robots. Kids used to run around outside for hours, running around and getting themselves dirty. Their mom would get upset at them for ruining their pants. Continued on CorrespondentLive.com

Entertainment Editors Claire Durand Nate Kim Lexi Wachal

Sports Editor

Tommy Lumsden

Opinion Editors Ashley Elenz Alyssa Sok Lauren Theisen

Feature Editors Konrad Babinski Allison Busby

Photographer DJ Bergstrom

Adviser

Janet Barker Levin MJE

J2 EXTRA

features

April 10, 2015

Freshmen cook over closed lunch hours Joshua Irvine A flood of students leave the school around at 10:15, 11:10, and 12:05 each day, fleeing to the nearest Jimmy John’s or Portillo’s in hope of beating the crowd. Open lunch has been a common part of this school’s policy for decades, allowing students to leave between their fourth, fifth, or sixth period lunch. In recent years, however, one group has disappeared entirely from this crowd ‍of students: the freshman class. While sophomores and upperclassmen are allowed to depart for lunch, an additional school policy now bars freshman from leaving the building. Established in the 2009-10 school year alongside a short-lived “no iPod rule”, freshmen now must eat lunch in the school’s cafeteria or other facilities everyday. Unsurprisingly, the policy is not popular with freshmen. “I think it’s unfair because all the other grades get to go, and we don’t,” freshmen Samantha Oliva said. The policy has a particularly negative perception within the freshman class, likely due to some seeing it as part of the stigma of being a younger student. “I think that’s wrong because all of us should have the same privileges as others,” freshman Matthew Krzywosz said. However, the policy attracts far less concern amongst upperclassmen. “I’m neutral; I really don’t care about it,” junior Spencer Gorman said. Furthermore, other students find the policy

Hopkins said. “It really helps with the transition.” Concerns include the lack of transport for freshmen, as well as the risks of crossing the busy nearby roadways, such as the nearby crossing at Thomas and Rand. The freshmen are considered to be more at risk in these scenarios, likely due to the perceived inexperience. “They probably wanted to keep them [the freshmen] safe, and not get hit by cars,” Oliva said. Upperclassmen, who are more likely to be licensed to drive, typically have easier access to cars and other forms of transport, and are considered to be more experienced with the roadways around •jOSHUA iRVINE the school. tudents eat 6th period in the Hersey cafeteria. “The upperclassmen understand the road and have a little more experience with going out,” Hopkins said. to be an important one; “I think it’s a good idea, Ultimately, this is unlikely to improve the polbecause as we know, freshmen can be a little rowdy,” sophomore Vince Reisel said. “It was icy’s appeal with the freshman class, with some good for me freshman year to not be able to go considering the logic of the policy to be flawed. “We do stupid choices, but the older kids - the out.” Some argue that the closed lunch can be ben- seniors and juniors and sophomores - they also eficial for the less experienced freshmen. “It’s make stupid decisions,” Krzywosz said. “We can hard to get used to the academic rigor of fresh- all do the same things.” man year, and it actually helps to be able to go into the library and study,” sophomore Matthew

Spam gets crammed into email inboxes McKenzie Mauer Everyone knows the stress that accompanies the little red bubble that appears on the mail icon of their home screen. Whether it be an overload of college emails or a plethora of retailers informing recipients of sales, full in-boxes are becoming more and more frequent. Email in-boxes are turning from beneficial resources to a resting place for useless junk mail. According to spamlaws.com, “Over 50 percent of people feel that spam is becoming a problem.” While spam is a vague term that defines everything from useless emails to ones containing viruses, the digression of emails from being productive resources is overwhelming. Part of this stems from the bombardment of emails from retailers. These retailers often ask for a customer’s email when the customer checks out. It is the additional “and your email please.” They then use these email addresses to inform customers of every little detail that surrounds their product.

They email about every sale and every new product which creates a significant amount of emails that the customers really don’t care to know about. “Sometimes I just do it [give retailers email information] out of habit,” junior Julia Morgan said. In the same respect, in-boxes are full of college emails, especially for juniors. These emails usually consist of the same headlines over and over again, “we want YOU,” “our campus could become your home,” “do you know what we have to offer?” and many other general statements that go to perspective college students across the country. The colleges typically get their mailing list from sources such as standardized testing like the ACT or AP Testing. These colleges work so diligently to send students emails, but the information doesn’t seem to resonate with them. “I get around 50 emails per day and the majority of them are useless. This year I started receiving a lot of college emails and paper mail. I don’t really look at much of it because that is not where I get my information about colleges. I look for most of

that information online or when I visit a school,” junior Annie Barton said. Regardless of the content of an individual’s junk mail, it is a hassle that reduces the productivity of an email account. “I have to go through and delete countless emails just to even find the ones that are important,” Morgan said. While there is the option to unsubscribe in many cases, the links are often directed to a website that requires a survey or some time consuming informational form just to stop receiving emails. In many cases, if an individual had to do this for all of the sources that he/she receives emails from, it would take all day. With the decreased ease of email and the increased popularity of texting, emails could eventually phase themselves out. “I don’t write emails very often. Most of the messages that I send are texts,” Barton said. If the amount of worthless emails doesn’t decrease, and the little red bubble doesn’t soon diminish, emails could become a thing of the past.

Fraud becomes more common College emails overwhelm students Caroline Stiefbold

Allison Busby

Fraud is more prominent than most students realize. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS), about seven percent of people aged 16 and older were victims of identity theft in 2012. Identity theft is not the only kind of fraud. Stolen credit cards can result in thousands of dollars of unwanted purchases. Students may think that this will never happen to them, but it can and being more aware can help prevent this. “Students know about it [fraud], but probably don’t know enough about it,” freshman Kruti Patel said. The BJS also said that victims who use personal information to open an account are more likely to experience financial fraud. “Students need to be aware of fraud because it can happen to anyone at any time,” freshman Hope Calcagno said. “Students should be cautious of their belongings and know what they are getting themselves into, meaning find out all the information about a company before giving them money,” Patel said.

The road to college can be a long, frustrating route. Most don’t expect this stress to come until they’re an upperclassman, but the game to get into college has changed. Most kids around their sophomore year have started to get piles on piles of emails, letters, and even packages claiming that each college is the best. It all starts with a test like the PSAT or an AP test where there is an option for colleges to contact students. This seems like a good idea at first, until the mail starts to roll in: hundreds of emails about quizzes to take and websites to check out. What started out as a fun way to peek at your future becomes a stressful game of constantly checking emails, responding, and taking personality quizzes.

Continued on CorrespondentLive.com

April 10, 2015

J2 EXTRA

In-Depth

REWIND TO RETRO

Retro fashion returns

Caroline Stiefbold

Students find character in clothes for less Jamie Anderluh Clothing has been the essence of fixed gender roles for decades. Once separating the “housewife” from the working man, clothing has been the outlet for individuality and conventionality, changed rapidly with popular culture, and separated inferiority from superiority. Trends are everywhere and one of the latest is challenging cultural norms- buying used clothing. Appropriately deemed “thrifting” is a prime example of redefining ourselves through what we wear. It allows customers to bring back old styles and revamp their wardrobe in a unique and inexpensive way. “You can find so many unique pieces for a student budget,” freshman Emmy Pascual said. The rise of thrift store culture promotes distinct styles and has encouraged undiminished self-expression. With an everchanging inventoy, there is always a hidden treasure to be found. “It’s always cool to find things that would be fifty dollars at the mall but are five dollars at the thrift shop. More people should thrift shop because it’s easy, convenient, and fun,” senior Julie Glikin said. Thrift stores can be a glimpse into the way merchandise has shaped and changed our society and social roles. The fact that records, tapes, and CDs can be found next to eachother just shows how much history and change can be found in one store. “I can find unique and one of a kind pieces that you can’t get at a mall. For example, I can find a cool pair of ‘Levi’s’ from the 90’s that are already worn and broken in. If I were to get those at the mall, they wouldn’t have as much character,” senior Sammi Schiller said. Secondhand shopping allows us to create our own character with elements from every era and style.

On the runways and in the halls, retro fashion is making a comeback. Some styles are obvious in their inspiration from past decades while others have more subtle influences. Sunglasses are becoming more vintage looking with round and cat eye lenses avaliable at department and fast fashion retailers. Designers have drawn inspiration from the 1990s with overalls and high waisted sillouetts making a comeback along with mini skirts and chunky heels. “I like cute socks with high tops, and I actually really hope scrunchies come back,” freshman Kelly Helmer said. However, some believe that trends that have come back should have been left in the past. “I am not a fan of flare jeans, but I think the flower tops are cute. I think

they go perfectly with summer,” freshman Emily Kyle said. In addition to the 1990s grunge revival, 1980s fashion is becoming prominent on runways featuring mod styles and bold prints. While runway styles tend to be bolder than the average outfit, these trends will eventaully spread to chain stores in the mall. Retro “pinup” makeup and hair styles are becoming increasingly popular. “I think these trends are becoming popular because a lot of people like the older styles,” freshman Hannah Spalding said. These styles may be old, but they provide something new in the current fashion world. “I think they are becoming popular again because they are a different style to our usual outfits, so we are not having to wear our usual fashion all of the time,” Kyle said.

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Randhurst doesn’t satisfy shoppers Myca Bautista Ashley Garrett

Randhurst may not be the most popular place to shop, but it’s a unique spot for people who know the history behind it. People around the area have different experiences about the mall. Most students in the area remember the mall from having the “huge carousel right smack dab in the middle of it.” The memories that people have built towards that mall makes them feel nostalgic. It was a huge hang out spot. It was also a playground. It was also famous for its pretzel stand. “I remember the carousel! I miss how connected the mall was and how everything was inside. It made things easier,” senior Natalia Waz said. “I liked the ‘Paint n Party.’ I attended many birthday parties and have made wonderful memories there,” senior Julianna Rogowski said. Right when they took the place down was a huge disappointment. This brings the question whether the old Randhurst Mall was considered as one of the “dead malls in America.” Even though it was remodeled to an outdoor mall, the main cause of the shopping center’s downfall was because the consumer’s shopping habits are changing. “I remember driving past it and wondered why they took it down. I used to

•Myca Bautista andhurst Village features an open layout with a variety of stores. go there with my family a lot. I was quite sad because it was part of my childhood,” senior Jenelle Rosario said. More consumers are more into highend malls with top clothing brands and huge retail chains. When asked about new Randhurst, “I’m flustered that there’s more food joints than actual clothing stores,” senior Cristina Garcia s‍aid. ‍ “I miss how there were actual stores instead of just a bunch of restaurants that high school students can’t afford,” Rogowski said. Woodfield is considered as one of those malls. Most people shop because there are a variety of stores to choose from. Randhurst is still in the works of bringing top clothing brand stores. If the Randhurst management were to take in people’s consideration or suggestions, they might have shot in the long run.

Continued on correspondentlive.com

J2 EXTRA

In-Depth

April 10, 2015

Vinyls and polaroids spark students’ interest Technology from the past becomes popular again

Myca Bautista A blast from the past can be a bitter sweet moment of nostalgia. Items that were once dead have risen back to popularity in the new generation. Teenagers are turning back the clock not only in fashion, but in technology. Polaroid cameras and record players have become trendy pieces of technology for their style rather than function and quality. Polaroid cameras have been around since the early 1900s and print photographs instantly. Now that phones have cameras and most photos only exist in the digital medium, there has been a decline in print photos. However, as more people realize the risk of permanent deletion of their online photos, Poloroid cameras have beceome a necessity for many again. “It’s cool to have your photo print out right away instead of waiting for it to get developed. They also give out a cool filter to make it authentic,” freshman Alex Rivera Grant said. Those tangible moments are something that can be remembered for a long time. The instantprint is one of the reasons why it’s liked by many. “Polaroids are pretty cool and the picture prints out automatically. The fact that you only have one chance to capture a memory makes it more mean-

ingful,” senior Natalia Waz said. Even though downloading music online is easily accessible, music listeners always find different mediums to hear their favorite songs. The newest trend is purchasing vinyl players and going to record stores to buy LPs. Stores like Half Priced Books sell records that collectors give away. The sales of records are on the rise and more record labels are producing vinyls according to the Guardian. “Vinyl has a different feel when you’re listening to it. You could have your favorite album and it means a completely different thing to you when you have a physical copy rather than just a few mp3 files,” senior Christina Pawlyk said. With the help of social media and celebrities, the old fads and old technology that were once hip are making their way back to popularity.

Classics rise to popularity uncommon to get rick-rolled on YouTube. “I lIke the eighties because the music was based on raw talent and was so different than what was and is being done,” sophomore Nate Campbell said. Though this music has been around for decades, it has stood the test of time. Many students still listen to this music. “People listen to old music because it’s different; you never hear the same song twice on the radio, it has its own style,” sophomore Nick Tinaglia said.

Lexi Wachal

Music is always evolving, creating new styles and building on to old ones. But through it all, there are a few “retro” classics that have stood the test of time. The sixties gave the world greats like Jimi Hendrix and The Beatles. Hendrix’s smooth guitar riffs and interesting style of playing‍ influenced generations to come; the Beatles emotional lyrics to songs like “Hey Jude” will be forever in people’s minds. “I love the sixties because thats when Monkees came along, and the band and their music upbeat and happy,” sophomore Maxine Sullivan said. The seventies were a time of disco and classic rock, including the rise of American rock band Aerosmith and Queen. Aerosmith came on to the scene in 1973, introducing one of their number one hits, the song, “Dream On” on their debut. Queen’s British style flooded into America, a‍nd recorded a number of hits, including the likes of “We Will Rock you”, and the iconic “Bohemian Rhapsody”. “Queen is great because their songs were so unique and catchy, plus they had Freddie Mercury who was amazing,”junior Kris Donov said. ‍Music in the eighties was a mix of upbeat pop and hardcore rock. It was catchy and iconic and •Jamie Anderluh included the likes of Journey, and one-hit wonhe turntable is back in style to listen to classic songs ders like Rick Astley. Almost anyone can finish and can be purchased at stores like Urban Outfitters. the lyric, “Just a small town girl...”, from Journey’s classic “Don’t Stop Believing”. Even today, it isn’t

April 10, 2015

Entertainment

J2 EXTRA

Best sellers quick to turn to blockbusters Claire Durand With books nowadays, a movie adaptation is not far behind. Many adaptations already came out and the viewers loved them. “The Fault in our Stars” and the “Harry Potter” series, are only some of the many books that had a movie adaptation. These classic movies brought even more of a hype because of their parade of readers following the books. Movies like “Divergent” and “The Maze Runner” left viewers feeling content. Sophomore Maureen Littrell said, “In ‘Harry Potter’, the producers did a good job incorporating the important scenes into the movie and the special effects were perfect.” Some people would rather have the book stay on paper than show up on the big screen. Freshman Samantha Oliva said, “Producers cut a lot of details out for time. When you read the book you can imagine the characters and story, but in the movie, it’s directly given to you and it may not be what you expected or

wanted.” There are many pros and cons to the movie, whether it is budgeting time, or portraying the characters from the book. Junior Kelly Wong said, “Movies have all the basic points, but usually do miss out on some important details.” There could never be the perfect movie adaptation, but producers are working on that. Even though many of these movies have been successful, some readers believe that others lacked or missed what was needed from the book. Junior Anna Sutor said, “I definitely pictured ‘Hunger Games’ differently than the movie showed. I didn’t like the acting because I expected it to be much better. Katniss had more of a temper in the movie.” She added, “In the book, I saw her as a very kind likeable person.” Movies provide a visual representation for the text, but a book allows the reader to use their mind and imagination throughout the story. Sutor said, “You can interpret things the way you want to instead of watching something that tells you what is actu-

ally happening. Reading lets you visualize the way you think something should be.” Those who aren’t as creative can rely on the movies to help them out and enjoy both the movie and the book. Producers can show off their high tech special effects and talented actors and actresses to try and express what the authors are trying to convey from their books. Littrell said, “Producers are doing perfectly well incorporating the book into the movie. And when they do that, the people who don’t read the book can get the main gist out of the movie.” Movie producers have made great profit from these book to movie adaptations and are continuing to make more. The famous author John Green who wrote “The Fault in our Stars”, is getting a second one of his amazing books made into a movie, “Paper Towns”, which is going to be released on July 24, 2015. “The Fifth Wave” is being released on Jan. 29, 2016, another great book turning into a movie. With more books coming out, it’s no surprise that more movies will follow.

Show choir celebrates successful season with Disney magic Lexi Wachal Choir is a group of students who are interested in music, or just enjoy stretching their windpipes. Among these students are the musicians who specifically try out for show choirs, Ladies First, and OnStage. All choir students traveled to Disney World over spring break, and got to learn, practice, and perform, while still enjoying the sights of Orlando, Florida. Ladies First consists of freshmen through senior girls and is the first available choir for freshmen girls to try out for. On her experience so far, freshman Rachel Fisher said, “We have fun together, from the team bonding activities, being able to get together during competitions, and staying overnight at competitions and our retreat. It’s all really fun.” Freshman Emily Kyle said, “Competitions are definitely my favorite part, It’s so fun to be with your friends and perform.” Ladies First placed third in their last two competitions making for a very successful season. Fisher said, “You can’t rely on others to do your job, you have to be independent but know how to work with your friends and your group.” The freshman are very excited for moving on in their choir experience, Kyle said, “I’m excited for more practices and competitions with the choir through the years.” Fisher said, “I’m most excited to become more of a leader as the years progress.” OnStage is coed, comprised of freshmen through senior boys and sophomore through senior girls. Tryouts are necessary for this choir,

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and this year it was composed of around 40 students. The choir was wildly successful this year, sophomore Sam Taylor said, “It went really well, we had our last competition on March 14, and we’ve made finals each competition we’ve been to, which is a huge accomplishment for us. We’ve slowly been improving and it’s been a lot of fun this year.” OnStage has built friendships and connections. Taylor said, “It’s nice being able to connect with the group, and it’s a fun en• LEXI WACHAL vironment to be in. We all nStage performed on stage at Chicagoland Showcase love each other so it’s fun in March. They also traveled to Florida for an appearto be around everyone. You ance at Downtown Disney over spring break. build a lot of amazing lifelong friends, and it’s awener demons and finding the light. It’s got a story some to watch each other achieve their goals.” to it, and a lot of people can relate to it.” Across all of the different choirs, many people For those interested in choir or show choir, feel this bond. Senior Sarah Fisher said, “I’m Fisher said “It’s time consuming but worth it, definitely going to miss all the amazing friend- definitely consider it because you don’t want to ships I’ve built over the past four years.” miss out on anything this great.” The theme for the Ladies First show is “Free Taylor said, “It’s definitely not what you would Your Mind”, and Fisher said, “It has a very good expect, there’s a stigma surrounding it but if you message behind it. It encourages people to allow look past the stereotype and give it a chance, it’s themselves to be themselves.” a chance you’ll never regret.” The OnStage show is “Searching My Soul”, Taylor said, “It’s a journey about overcoming in-

Summer blockbusters

Youtubers make millions

Stars pressured to lose weight heat up theaters

Nathan Kim

Ashley Elenz

Nathan Kim

Ever since the website YouTube came online in 2005, billions of users have been creating videos for the public. In one minute, 300 hours of video are uploaded into the site. Though the quality of such content varies between users, many individuals have gained an astounding amount of popularity through their work. Some of these now called “YouTubers” have been able to create revenue from the amount of views their content receives, some even making millions of dollars solely from views.

Tabloids throughout the world have created an idea that makes people feel self-conscious about the way other people view their bodies. It is a phenomenon that continues with each and every fashion magazine, photo shoot, or movie. Ordinary people wish they looked like the models they see on television, the internet, and magazines, and some people go to drastic measures to obtain this look. Many people have this assumption that all celebrities are stick-thin models because of their designer clothes and fancy hairstyles, but that is not always the case. Continued on CorrespondentLive.com

A number of new films are being released this summer, including some of the years biggest hits. This influx of blockbusters has piqued the interest of a number of students. Most of these new films are action movies, like “The Avengers: Age of Ultron” and “Insurgent,” and usually gain more popularity with high school students and teens. Due to the large number of high budget action films, it is no surprise that students are talking about their favorite upcoming movies.

Continued on CorrespondentLive.com

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Reviews

April 10, 2015

‘Insurgent’ holds out against critics Myca Bautista The second installment of the Divergent Series, “Insurgent,” received a lot of mixed emotions after it premiered on March 20th. Veronica Roth, the author of the series, based her books on the city that is familiar to most young adults. In the first movie and book, the whole dystopian city of Chicago was introduced, however “Insurgent” tore it all up in a whole new perspective. Although the audience didn’t get much of the Chicago commotion as they did in the first movie, “Insurgent” had a way to still capture some buildings in a different perspective. Following “Divergent,” Tris Prior (Shailene Woodley) is on the run from the genocidal Erudites, led by Jeanine (Kate Winslet). With her family dead, Tris must overcome the death of

ley and Theo James’ chemistry spiced up the romantic scenes. Robert Schwentke, the director, added some incredible graphic elements. Although I expected more character development from the new casts members that were introduced, Octavia Spencer and Naomi Watts cultivated the flick to be much darker and bigger. Both of their characters showed that their post-apocalyptic world is flawed not only politically, but also with their mindset. Unlike some, the movie was very fast•Andrew cooper/lionsgate/tns paced and the action sequence was well reris Prior (Shaileene Woodley), Four (Theo hearsed. There was always something to keep James) and Caleb (Ansel Elgort) all star in the audience at the edge of their seats unlike “Insurgent.” other action movies. Being able to see it in 3-D truly did not disappoint. her family and work with former teacher Four To those who have read the books, it might (Theo James) to defeat the Erudites. not have seemed like a poor adaptation, but “‍InThe movie overall was action-packed. Woodsurgent”‍ is a good movie‍. ‍

Don’t leave home for ‘Home’ ‘To Pimp A Butterfly’ stings like a bee Tyler Anderson

Joshua Irvine Most films have at least two requirements; be at least 90 minutes, and convince the viewer not to leave before then. Unfortunately for “Home”, it barely pulls off one of these tasks and colossally fails with the other. In “Home”, a group of semi-genocidal aliens known as the Boov invade Earth, dropping (most of) humanity on the Earth’s second worst continent (Australia). Among this group of “Independence Day” meets “E.T” attackers is the incompetent Oh (“The Big Bang Theory’s” Jim Parsons), who, accidentally sends a party invite to the Boov’s worst enemy, the Gorg. Fleeing his species, Oh runs into Gratuity “Tip” Tucci (Rihanna), a teenage girl desperately searching for her mother. Out of options, they team up, and the movie runs wild from there. This flick is basic kiddy fodder; bright colors and hyperactive movement dominate the screen, while Oh (named after the groan that follows his arrival anywhere) and Tip bounce through their respective buddy-comedy roles via a slushie car and bubble-craft. However, unlike prior Dreamworks’ films like “Flushed Away” and the Oscar-winning “Shrek”, “Home” lacks what it really needs: a plot. Instead, it relies entirely on a series of convenient plot devices and random events to get to the credits, making the film almost painful to watch. The cast is equally lacking. Parson’s role as a grammatically challenged alien is little more than an annoying mirror of his “Big Bang” counterpart, and while Rihanna’s contribution to the flick’s soundtrack is noteworthy, her character, Tip, isn’t. Not even Steve Martin’s role as the cowardly Smek can boost the film out of its creative rut. “Home” may seem cute and fun, but lazy writing and poor humor drive this flick way down under.

“To Pimp a Butterfly,” Kendrick Lamar’s third studio album release, has quite possibly transcended time itself, and it has only been out for a few weeks. The early release of the album immediately sparked my interest, and I purchased and downloaded the album before the final school bell even rang, heavily expecting an instant classic and ready to jam my way out of the parking lot with a newfangled obsession. The moment the first song blared its way into my ear buds, however, I knew I had made a desperate mistake, and I had something far more intricate on my hands. To discuss each song in-depth would require a review of their own as each one is a no-bars-held escapade into a metaphorical cultural phenomena that pushes the boundaries of the Harlem Renaissance. If I had ever heard music as an art form, this is it. It’s as much of a caller for reform as Banksy, as punchy and forceful as Kanye West’s “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy,” as violent and vicious as “Good Kid M.A.A.D City,” and as carefully, breathtakingly, painstakingly constructed as any Van Gogh painting. This is the album of the year, maybe of the decade, and certainly righteous enough to warrant a cultural uprising.

On the surface it’s about black oppression, but if you dig a little deeper there’s some narrative about racial injustices and black unity. Further down there’s a troubled boy growing into a man, questioning his allegiance and freedoms beneath his mentors, and even deeper there’s an entire species, humans, fighting an insurmountable war against each other. I’ve probably listened to the whole album fully around five times, and there are things that my middle-class white teenage mindset can’t begin to comprehend. There are no A-List guests, but every personality plays a role in creating this masterpiece. This is the album of our generation. Kendrick brings the metaphor to light with a long conversation that music and unfortunately this school is the wrong generation. If Kendrick was a father to us, we would all be young children listening to his complicated words of wisdom, not understanding their impact or reality just yet because we are the caterpillars. On “Mortal Man”, the final piece, I cannot spoil. Listen to this album at your own risk. I cannot guarantee satisfaction, but it is nearly flawless and most certainly will go down as one of the greatest compositions of the modern era.

Who said What? What would you watch...? With friends?

With family?

On a date?

Freshman

Jason Quito

Sophomore

Matt Hopkins

“Avengers 2,” since me and my friends really liked the first Avengers movie.

“Anchorman,” it doesn’t have a serious storyline, so it’s just good laughs

“Chappie”with my dad since it’s rated R and it looks interesting.

“Ghostbusters.” It’s a classic and it doesn’t really bring up any uncomfortable situations.

Maybe something romantic or a chick flick? I don’t really know.

It wouldn’t be my choice, I guess a chick flick,whatever girls watch.

Junior

Anna Sutor “Chappie,” It was actually really good. I wasn’t expecting to like it because it’s a robot movie, but it was so good

Senior

Elizabeth Niersbach “Bridesmaids,” it’s really funny and very quotable.

“Kingsman: The Secret Service,” it looks good

“The Blind Side.” It’s got a interesting plot, and it’s a feel good movie.

“American Sniper,” he likes action movies, and I heard it was good.

“Beauty and the Beast,” if they actually watch it, I know they like me.

April 10, 2015

Practice makes varsity Caroline Stiefbold

Under level teams do not receive as much attention and fame as the varsity teams, but that does not mean that they are not important. Good frosh/soph and junior varsity teams are the future of athletic programs. “I think good freshman teams become good varsity teams because it gives them more practice, and they become better not only as an individual player but as a team,” freshman Gabby Samperi said. “I think it’s a lot easier for good freshman/jv teams to become good varsity teams, but it depends on how much work the players put in during the off season,” freshman Asia Luboyeski said. A good frosh/soph or JV team does not automatically become an outstanding varsity team. The players need to improve and continue to get better, and this does not al-

ways happen. “They need to try their hardest everyday at practice and games to become a better varsity team later on,” Samperi said. “I think frosh/JV athletes need to put in a good amount of work to become a better varsity team. They need to listen and take in what the coaches say and focus on making themselves better which will make the team better,” Luboyeski said. One of the hardest parts of playing on a team is cohesion. Players need to get along for the success of the team. It may take a while for these bonds and friendships to form, but after they do it definitely benefits teams, especially when these bonds are four years strong. “I think it’s a lot easier for good freshman/JV teams to become good varsity teams, but it depends on how much work the players put in during the off-season,” Luboyeski said.

Athletes debate taking a (spring) break Kayleigh Padar

•DJ Bergstrom bove: Senior Campbell White prepares for the pitch in Monday’s game against Notre Dame.

A Junior Tanner Luke delivers a pitch in hopes of Below: a strike out.

Sports at any level require a lot of dedication from parents, athletes, coaches and anyone involved. Coaches have strict rules about missing practices and games, but when it comes to spring break, athletes have a lot to consider. About 39 percent of spring sport athletes planned to go to every practice over spring break. Freshman Jeanne Porges said it’s important to go to all practices over spring break because, “you got the information before you tried out.” It should be expected that there will be many practices and that the sport will require a good amount of time and energy.” 22 percent of spring sport athletes said that they would not be attending practice over spring break at all. Freshman Jodie Hermann said, “I really love softball, but my family is going to Florida over break, so I can’t stay for practice.” Freshman Krina Patel said, “spring break is a time for enjoyment and relaxing. That’s why it’s called a break. Attending sports practices during this time is complete nonsense and so frustrating.

Everyone has a life outside of mandatory sports practices, and coaches should really be able to see and understand that.” 38 percent of spring sport athletes said they were just not sure on what to do. Porges said, “Practice over spring break sucks, but whath sports are a commitment and you should be prepared to work hard instead of complaining.” Coaches of spring sports still encourage athletes to attend every single practice possible. Track coach, Stephen Kuehn said, “we incorporate very calculated training cycles that are designed for our athletes to compete at their best in May’s conference, sectional, and state meets. As a consequence, if athletes choose to avoid a week of work outs during spring break, what they are essentially doing is peaking their training about a month and a half too early, which is hard to gain back.” Overall, choosing between sports and vacation time is a real issue for many athletes. There comes a time when it’s necessary to relax, but athletes need to stay focused so that the entire team has the potential to do well.

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Athletes select track for various reasons Heidi Freitag Track and field is a sport that consists of running, jumping, and throwing. Students join track and field for different reasons. Some people join just to stay in shape, or to make new friends, or they join because they really enjoy it. “All the girls on the team are so nice, and they make track fun. Everyone is like family, and you never have to worry about being judged or disliked. There is such a close bond between everyone, and it’s so nice,” freshman Martina Schneider said. Most track and field athletes have a strong dedication but have obstacles to face. “The hardest part of track is waiting for your race during a meet, especially if you run at the end. It’s also a sacrifice to give up your Saturday mornings for practice,” freshman Quinn Cunningham said. Other athletes think that track is not a good option for them and that it is too much running. A sport like track can confuse certain athletes and make them wonder why these runners continue to run if it’s not their favorite thing to do. Continued on CorrespondentLive.com

•DJ Bergstrom uniors Jack Ruane and Daniel Sklarzewski compete in the hurdles event on Tuesday against Prospect and Elk Grove.