February Issue by The Correspondent

H e r s e y

H i g h

S c h o o l

orrespondent

The

Vo l u m e 4 5

J o h n

1900 E. Thomas St.,

Arlington Heights, IL 60004

Issue 7

February 15, 2013

What’s the....

Brian Loomis suspended from 25 percent of contests or performancIsabella Murray es in each activity he is in. The second Level A viola-

Students are under the scrutiny of authority during the school day. Most kids realize they shouldn’t throw a punch in the hallway, take a swig from a flask while the lights are off for a video, or write something about their teacher on a desk and sign t h e i r name. Yet these thoughts are disregarded as students stream out of the building at 2:50. Although it seems like students are released into a world unattached to school policies, the school still has an eye on students through the co-curricular code. Since the code was put into place in the 1990’s, students have been up for discipline over any issue that arises 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Still, students make unwise decisions, and then learn all about the code. Many haven’t had the chance to learn the hard way, so questions still surround the code and the punishment that it brings. The code has evolved over time. When it was first introduced, it served as a system to discipline students across all sports and activities covered in the co-curricular code. “Prior to that time, students were punished, but due to punishment not being regulated, the repercussions varied by activity and student,” associate principal of student activities John Novak said. Punishments were given by the coaches or sponsors, which were unfair due to favoritism towards more talented students. “There is more of an emphasis recently on treating everyone fairly as well as making it an expectation that students think about their actions,” Novak said. The initial regulation of the co-curricular code has undergone numerous revisions to become the code that is enforced today. The initial code was strict in its interpretation; every student misstep was treated the same. The current code, however, has different levels. According to the student handbook, “Level A code violations are acts of serious misconduct prohibited by this code including, but not limited to, the possession, sale, use, or being under the influence of any controlled substance, possession of weapons or look a-likes, mob action, theft, and participation in gang activity.” “You aren’t allowed to participate in school activities,” junior Joey McGovern thought, but the the code is more complicated than that. For a first Level A violation, a student would get

Wa s te d

Pages 6-7

B u s t e d

Ha m m

Learn the politics of dating

Page 9 •NC LN NO MAGAZINE SALES

Fashion icons influence students

Page 10 Smith to replace Kelly

e red

tion would lead to suspension for one calendar year, and the third would secure suspension for the remainder of high school. Similar to Level A, Level B is a less serious grade of coding. According to the student handbook, “Less serious acts of misconduct shall be considered ‘Level B’ violations, except that repeated or cumulative ‘Level B’ violations may result in ‘Level A’ consequences.” The reasons for getting a code are kind of confusing. Students are often unclear. Sophomore Gretchen Lundstrom said the code is a, “punishment for something you shouldn’t do, like drinking or smoking, outside of school.” While this is partially true, substance abuse isn’t the only way to get a code, and the action can happen in or out of school. When a student gets a code, he is called out of class and has a conversation about his violation as well as the importance of good decision making. Then the parents of the student are informed by phone, which is followed by a letter home. The student’s counselor and coach or activity sponsor is informed as well. It is confidential to that extent. Although the code never becomes part of any permanent record or goes to any colleges, it doesn’t leave a student’s four year record. “My code definitely makes me think twice before I do something,” sophomore Mackenzie Farel said. Sometimes this information affects students and other times it doesn’t, but after graduation, all of a student’s coding violations go through the shredder. “Since I’m not on a sport or anything involved with Hersey, it [the code] doesn’t prevent from me from doing certain things, although I try to stay in smart situations anyway,” sophomore Kaitlin Cochran said. For a student to get a code documented proof is needed. But social media creates a different monster. “Someone who is your friend today may not be your friend tomorrow, but they may still be your friend on Facebook, and have access to all your photos,” Novak said. Taking a screenshot isn’t a difficult thing, and it doesn’t take long for the snapshot to land somewhere that leads to trouble. The school has agreements with police departments like that of Arlington Heights which is often how the school finds out about students’ actions outside of the building. “The view of the school board is that being in cocurriculars is a privilege, not a right, and we uphold you to higher standards if you participate in activities. Good behavior shouldn’t just occur within school or within your season,” Novak said. The code is effective according to Novak’s because in his ten years at this school, only two people have received their third violation. “For most people, the code makes them think twice about the decisions they make,” junior Fotis Christacos said. “The code is about trying to teach students good decision-making as they are growing into adulthood. We realize they are going to make mistakes, but asking they learn from them,” Novak said.

- Students can be considered for reinstatement based on a letter from the student, parent or guardian, dean, counselor, or a testimony from others familiar with issues relevant to reinstatement. - Violating the code involves punishments that are separate and in addition to those assigned for violating school or district rules and the law. -A student cannot become involved in a new co-curricular activity solely to serve the assigned suspension. -Violations of the code accumulate throughout a student’s high school career. Source: Co-Corricular handbook

Th e C o r r e s p o n d e n t

News You Need To Know Postal Service stops Saturday deliveries According to popular wisdom, postal workers deliver the mail in rain, snow, sleet, or hail. However, it appears that financial problems are more potent than the weather at impairing mail delivery, as the U.S. Postal Service announced that it is ending Saturday letter delivery. “I don’t really use the Postal Service that often, but receiving mail on the weekends is nice,” junior Brad Niemczyk said. Taking effect in August, this move is meant to cut $2 billion in costs from an agency that last year lost $15.9 billion and defaulted on payments for the first time. Although some paper and packaging groups, and drug delivery companies say that this move will harm their businesses, the measure has bipartisan support in Congress along with the favor of seven in ten Americans, according to a New York Times/CBS poll. Five-day delivery schedules are not unprecedented, though, as Canada, Sweden, and Australia all have similar five-day schedules. • Michael Miller

Pope parts with position Pope Benedict made history last Monday when he announced that he would resign from his position as pope. The last time a pope abdicated his position was 700 years ago. “I’m really surprised that he is doing it, but I guess it makes sense since he’s old,” senior Alexis Smith said. This decision stunned even his advisers, since popes usually reign until their deaths. Pope Benedict claimed that the reason for this abdication is that he no longer had the mental and body strength necessary. However, Pope John Paul II, who preceded Benedict, remained a pope until the day he died, despite the fact that he was severely ill, and he had been shot once, in one of the two times he was attempted to be assassinated. Nevertheless, Pope Benedict, at 85 years old, will officially resign on Feb. 28 and cardinals will meet in Rome to choose a new pope. • Natalie Czarnota

News

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Speech team sends students to state Max Bestvina This weekend, two members from the speech team, senior Andrew Napora and sophomore Calvin Tran, will be competing in state for dramatic duet acting (DDA), and radio. The two will be performing the DDA together as partners, and Andrew will be performing in radio by himself. “I’m ecstatic and also kinda surprised. I really wanted to make DDA, but for radio I only ever practiced in rounds at the competitions. It’s great though to be finally going to state after four years,” Napora said. “I think all of this is just an amazing experience. I’m really happy for the both of us, and I can’t wait to compete,” Tran said. Napora’s radio performance is comprised of him gathering information in a prep round before hand, and speaking it into a microphone that leads into another room for a judge to hear. The DDA is script entitled “Normal” by Jami Brandli. Both events are eight minutes long, and there are no props allowed except for the optional use of two chairs, a table, and the use of pantomime. “We found this piece several years ago. We always knew there was something different with it what with the humor and emotion. We knew it would be a great piece, especially with these two,” head speech coach Amanda Ams said. The two performed their DDA in front of interested students and staff members on Wednesday and

received praise for their performance. “ I thought it was very well performed. T h e r e were a few mistakes, but yeah that hap•Maxwell Bestvina pens and it was reenior Andrew Napora and Sophomore Calvin Tran practice ally good,” their speechs for the state meet this weekend. Napora is pers o p h o - forming DDA and radio, and Tran is performing DDA. more Kayla Broday “I couldn’t have made it this said. far without him,” Tran said. “It was very moving. There They will be sent out on Thurswas a real nice emotional connec- day after school for Peoria Illinois, tion between the two of them,” di- and will be performing at the Peovision head Paul Kelly said. ria Civic Center on Friday and Sat“It was really good. Andrew urday. acted like he was a father, Calvin Finals will also be held on Satacted like he was ten. You couldn’t urday as well, which is the same tell that there was any accident in day they will travel home. the beginning that the story re“We’re gonna win state, baby! volves around,” freshman Celine It’s always been my dream that Crow said. someone wins first in state. I’ve had “I thought it was amazing to people that take second and third, see the talent around us. It’s a shame but never first. I would be so happy that more students in this building if they won state,” assistant speech aren’t exposed to that great talent,” coach James Schiferl said. principal Gordan Sisson said. “The competition will be inThe two performers have also sanely tough. They really ramped developed a strong relationship so up from sectionals, especially the far through the season. top four. We’re both really looking “We joke around by hating forward to seeing all of the ones each other, so that the ‘scene comes who qualified, not just from our together,’ and that we’re ‘forced’ to own area this time,” said Napora. room together,” Napora said.

Anita Dee to be post prom venue David Milligan

In the past, Post Prom’s cost has been incorporated into every Prom ticket price with the option

to raise funds in order to offset the ticket price by selling carnations on Valentine’s Day and participating After having the Post Prom in Data Match,” Mueller said. event at Dave & Buster’s for the past Another big question about ten years, the Post Prom Committhe post prom experience will tee has announced that this year’s be just that: the experience. event will be on the Anita Dee II As Novak put it in short, “hors Cruise Ship. d’oeurves and dancing.” After a decline in attendance There will be a large variety in recent years, the post prom comof foods served like “cheese/saumittee passed the decision that the sage tray, sandwich tray, cookies event would change venues, much and fruit,” and that’s just the beto the excitement of associate pringinning. cipal John Novak. The main attraction of the “I’m looking forward to the night will be seeing the “moonchange in venue,” Novak said. “Post light world-famous skyline Prom hasn’t been well attended, •http://www.anitadee.com/ views” of downtown Chicago. and we wanted to be responsive The boat will depart from to what everyone wanted.” nita Dee II will be the site for post Navy Pier at around 1 AM and This change was orchestrated prom. The post prom committee through the post prom commit- decided on this venue after low atendance return to shore around 3 AM. All passengers will return to Rosetee’s desire to find out why the rates for post prom from previous years. mont Convention Center by 4 attendance has been so low in reAM, from where they will drive cent years. A survey was sent out to par- to opt out of attendance to post home afterwards. After months of planning, the ents and “75% [of parents] said that prom. Now, because of more limstudents would attend if the venue ited space, post prom tickets will be post prom experience is coming into focus, and Novak was nothcould be changed to a boat,” presi- sold seperately. “We expect there to be a lot of ing but complimentary towards the dent of the post prom commttiiee interest in the cruise,” Mueller said. hard work of the committee to put Heidi Mueller said. “We’re not yet sure on the everything together. “Overwhelmingly,” Novak price, though,” Novak added. “Kudos to the post prom peosaid, “parents wanted the boat.” In order to help aid this cost, ple for working hard to do this,” Because of the change in scenery, the pricing and the set-up will post prom will still be providing Novak said. “The parents have change as well. One way this will fundraising favorites that have worked really hard to see this work out.” happen is through the ticket sales been successful in the past. “Our committee will continue themselves.

News

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Th e C o r r e s p o n d e n t

Mural, Mural, on the wall, watches us play basketball (and other activities) Claudia Caplan While strolling around the school, students are beginning to see and appreciate new artistic additions. Huskie murals have been appearing throughout different parts of the school. “There are three primary locations where students can find the murals, stretching across the back wall of the Carter gym, in the weight room/ fitness center, and on the outdoor equipment shed in the staff and senior parking lot,” Booster Club President Mike Mueller said. Each painting is a display of the school’s mascot, the ferocious Huskie. Kevin Hay, Unique Murals & Artwork, created all three murals. “I first saw one of the murals in the Carter gym of the giant mansized Huskie, I was in gym class and all of a sudden realized the painting while taking a lap around the court,” senior Bianca Burns said. Its addition to the school was sudden. “During last semester, approximately September-December, the murals were added to the school to enhance the overall appearance and help promote the Huskie spirit in and around the high school,” Mueller said.

The murals have shed light on some of the empty white walls of the school and have created a colorful atmosphere throughout the halls. “I think the murals are really nice, and they make the school look more fresh and with the times,” senior Atmiya Patel said. •Claudia Caplan

hree new murals, by the outdoor equipment shed (pictured above), in the fitness center (pictured on the right), and in the Carter gym(not pictured) enhances school spirit.

Math division subtracts IMP Max Bestvina

The Interactive Math Program, or IMP, will be pulled out of the math division starting next year. For the last three years, the classes graduating after the class of 2013 have not been using this program. IMP is a “curriculum that challenges students to actively explore open-ended situations, in a way that closely resembles the inquiry method used by mathematicians and scientists in their work. While the traditional curriculum emphasizes rote learning of isolated mathematical skills, IMP calls on students to experiment with examples, look for and articulate patterns, and make, test, and prove conjectures” (mathimp.org). Instead of studying the problem itself, IMP relates the problem to real world obstacles in order to understand the math better. Many, however, complain that the program doesn’t go into enough detail on how to solve the problems. Others complain that the book doesn’t even explain how to solve the problems, and just lists problems rather than show students how to solve them. “You don’t really learn anything from the book. You just do word problems. There’s no equations for the tests,” senior Kasia Sowa said. “It’s too hard to connect the problems in the program to everyday math. The ‘situations’ they present you with are truly useless.

In result, everyone just ends up failing the tests.” senior Jenn Nemoy said. “There needs to be less word problems and more material. The are so many problems that don’t even have numbers,” senior Sarah Knight said. “I would say it’s [Math Analysis] a complete 180° turn from IMP. It helps out a lot, it’s more hands on compared to Functions,” Knight said. Some still support the program, and enjoy how it focuses on real world problems, so it’s easier to relate to. “Our test scores went through the roof with this program. But despite us getting rid of the book, it changed the way we teach. We don’t need the book any more to maintain success,” math teacher Mary Fendly said. “It’s a good program in terms of getting kids to think about problems. I’m sorry to see it go, it called for thinking outside of the box. It’s quite a deviation in terms of repetitive problems,” math teacher Greg Stenzel said. “It’s significantly easier. I’ve seen all of this stuff before. I just don’t really understand what the point is though.” junior Lizzy Toffenetti said. When IMP is completely pulled from the curriculum, it will be fully replaced by a nameless traditional math program. “I like where we’re going now for college. This is all key for the ACT,” Stenzel said.

Opinions

Th e C o r r e s p o n d e n t

f e b r u a r y 15 , 2 013

Staff Code creates excuse S peaks Students have reason to avoid risky situations

CHOIR

YEAR BOOK

BAnd

“No, man, I can’t it is too much of a risk. I love playing basketball.” The code is an excuse. It can keep kids out of trouble and involved in school activities. It keeps them focussed on grades rather than hung-over from booze. Let students stay out late rather than on lock down in their own homes. It has a purpose, it serves to protect kids from their bad decisions

DIVING

“Sure, if it is going to be small, the police won’t show up.” (or “He won’t find out, it is going to be small.”) What happens if a best friend turned enemy sends him pictures?

FCCLA

SOS

DEbate

“Sure, if my parents find out, I’ll just be grounded for like two weeks.” What if Novak finds out? A code will be given, one that prohibits students from participating from basketball, soccer, show choir, debate, SOS, cheerleading, and any other activity.

percent of contests or performances in each activity they are in. They can possibly be suspended for one calendar year or the rest of their high school career. “If Novak finds out, I’ll just get The code follows students everya code, whatever it’s not that big of a day. It becomes an important aspect deal.” to all athletes and those involved in Students can be suspended for 25 any activity. By joining an activity, students are make a commitment to higher standards.

GOLF

Partying surrounds high school. Students are pushed by peer pressure; “try this... do this...be this...” but when most students decide to take a smoke or a shot, they are risking more than they think.

Novak receives anonymous emails with pictures and things stated on Facebook. Everything is evidence and affects the code.

MAth Team

“Hey man, want to go to this party at John’s?”

BASKET BALL •Graphic by: Jessica Lynk

Requirements kill student’s ambition Michael Miller

During junior year, eight decisions determine the future of students’ academic lives. Eight senior year class slots, open for personalization more than in any year beforehand, provide ambitious students the opportunity to take high level, AP classes that have the most influence on their college and career choices. With so much on the line, creating a schedule for senior year is critical for success in life after high school. However, for academically involved students, a precious class slot senior year is often used on one of the district-wide graduation requirements. Possibly the most restrictive of these is the fine arts requirement, as it cannot be taken over the summer. The problem is not fine arts itself, but rather how the district determines proficiency in fine

arts. For one, the actual activities that qualify as a fine art are not clear. Under the fine arts tab on the Hersey web site, journalism is listed even though it doesn’t actually count for the requirement. Other District 214 schools list speech and debate as a fine art, yet these do not qualify for the requirement either. The shortfalls do not stop there. The definition of a fine art that the district uses for its requirements appears to be similar to the one supported by the National Art Education Association, which says that only the “visual arts, dance, music, and theatre” make up the fine arts. Even if this strict interpretation of fine arts is justified, the district’s policy is still misaligned because it doesn’t recognize that fine arts can be mastered just as easily outside of school as in a class or school-sanctioned activity. As a piano player myself, I’m able to learn music and experience fine arts on my own. Other students play in their own bands and sing in their church choirs. As long as legitimate, outof-school activities are disregarded, the current fine arts requirement will only continue to be

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redundant for some, limiting for many, and inefficient for all. So, how can the district refine its system so that every student experiences fine arts, but no student is forced to take a redundant class? The answer lies in a method already employed by the district to be more flexible with other requirements: an opt-out test. This system is already used by varsity athletes to opt out of gym, and countless students took a test to spare themselves of the now defunct info processing requirement. Even driver’s ed allows for private certification, so why can’t fine arts? Overall, this method strikes the right balance between proficiency and redundancy. Senior year is fast approaching for juniors, and pressure to schedule correctly is mounting. In music, an octave is eight notes, and it represents a full scale of keys on a piano. In our school, a schedule is eight classes, and it should represent the full scale of ambition and potential for each and every student, not some singular solution for a diverse student body.

What do you think of not having Turnabout this year?

“I think turnabout is a way to see what’s on a girl’s mind, so it should stay”

“Kind of nuetral. It doesn’t really matter. Not a big deal for me”

“Dancing is too mainstream, and I’m a hipster, so you see how that works”

“Personally, I really don’t care. I heard it was for couples only, and I don’t think that’s fair”

-Freshman Alex Yager

-Junior Jimmy Scheuman

-Junior Sean Hlavin

-Freshman Lorraine Hargrove

“It’s fine since no one really goes”

-Senior Ruben Gonzalez

“It’s upsetting, I really liked Turnabout”

“I’m OK with it. Not that many people go”

“Not suprised. There wasn’t a good turnout last year”

“I don’t care because it wasn’t fun”

-Junior Lizzy Toffenetti

-Senior Tess Campbell

-Sophmore Angela Kucharski

-Sophmore Kevin Messer

“I think it’s fair because not a lot of people went last year, and it saves money” -Junior Brin Joseph

Opinions

F e b r u a r y 15 , 2 013

Th e C o r r e s p o n d e n t

It’s a massive world after all Nick Diaz

No falser words exist than ‘It’s a small world after all.’ In fact, they couldn’t be further from the truth; the world is vast beyond imagination. It is difficult to even try to comprehend just how many places are out there and how many people inhabit them. I learned this for myself as I traveled to Europe twice during my high school days. I visited Spain in 2010 and just came back from Italy and Hungary over winter break. After trekking through various cities in these magnificent countries, my perception of Earth has been transformed. The wonders of traveling have the ability to open a person’s eyes and I insist that all students experience it in their lives. The first thing to understand is that since the world is so massive, different places will be relatively different from each other. Culture shock sets in pretty quickly for someone who just arrived in a foreign land, but if approached with an open mind, the shock can be easily subdued. After that’s taken care of, it is important to let the mind and senses take in everything around. The images, architecture, people, language, smell, food, and the general atmosphere can be overwhelming for the observer, but oh so splendid. The worst thing to do is rush through a visit. I understand a tight schedule, but I have found that spending longer periods of time in a few single locations is better then trying to see a bunch of different places in a short amount of time. Culture cannot be truly appreciated in a few hours or even a day. Visitors have to immerse themselves in the way of life and try to move with the flow of the culture to attain a genuine experience. As students, there is no sweeter word than ‘vacation.’ Getting away from school is the greatest treasure for high school students. That being said, when taking a huge trip out of the country, it is recommended to retain the scholarly attributes that exist during the school season. Unlike the young country of America, the rest of the world is overflowing with thou-

t s Ju

sands of years of history. Relaxing during vacation is fine, but missing out on learning about these amazing places and their pasts is a total waste if not a crime. These cities and countries are begging for tourists to come and observe their respective histories and stories. Even though I hate being considered a tourist, it is hard for people to hide when the sense of awe overtakes them and they are forced to marvel at the breath taking historical material. Museums with ancient statues and beautiful paintings, old castles and fortresses displaying relics of the past, and an endless amount of stories of valiant heroes, bloody wars, and complex politics flood the world. I know students would rather jump off a cliff than be subjected to these things, but I still can’t stress enough how important it is to try to learn about the world’s intricate past. For me, though, the most incredible thing about traveling is meeting people from every corner of the world. It is easy to forget just how many people, each with their own stories and experiences, live on Earth. Getting to know these people, even if for a short period of time, is a remarkably rewarding experience. While in Budapest, Hungary, I stayed in a hostel with only my brothers and the other young travelers who were staying there. Hostels are ideal for passing travelers who need a place to stay and want to meet new people. Instead of paying for a room like in a hotel, travelers only pay for a bed and share a room with other people. It isn’t exactly ideal for those high maintenance types of people, but if students don’t care about sharing a bathroom with strangers and being woken up every other hour of the night, it’s perfect. Forming brief connections with other people from around the world who had the same sense of wonder of the world as I did, was one of the greatest feelings. It is a mysterious thing, but it can only be described as deep human connection. This is something not to miss in a lifetime. If nothing else, eat as much of the traditional food as possible because that alone can be life changing. Of course, students could always just have a Big Mac too because for all the differences in the world, McDonald’s isn’t one of them.

’ n i y a S

Web dates create trouble

Sleep trumps studying

Dino Ljubijankic The chances of finding out a loved one is actually a Hawaiian prankster isn’t as likely as some may think, but it happens. When words are put in an image macro, and a website URL is at the bottom of a page, people will believe anything. Yet, a picture with the date and time isn’t enough. Manti Te’o has become the poster boy for guys who get tricked into an online relationship. Is it his fault that the person he though was his girlfriend was actually a Hawaiian prankster? No, but he should have known better then having an online-only relationship. Hell, the show on MTV, Catfish, is dedicated to showing guys the true identity of their online soul mates. How does this keep happening? Why do people keep falling for people who lie about who they are? People need to be more aware about who they meet online. Just sayin’.

about an hour ago • like •

Caitlin Strozewski

The night before a big test is filled with cramming and lack of sleep. Students think that studying until 3 a.m. will better prepare them for a test than being well-rested. It’s pretty obvious that this is not the best strategy when looking at the zombie-like expressions on classmates. Studying doesn’t do any good if a student is practically falling asleep just trying to read the questions. If a student doesn’t know it already, cramming it all into an overtired and distracted brain is not effective. It’s pointless to try at that point because no one had the attention span or drive at 3 a.m. to get anything out of it. A better use of time would be to sleep so at least you are awake enough in the morning to be able to think and make educated guesses. Just Sayin’

about an hour ago • like •

Senior Soundoff •A rotating column by class of 2013 •

No major, means no worries

With college right around the corner, it’s impossible not to feel stressed over application deadlines and deciding which college to choose. I have set what college I’m planning on going to, but not what to major in. When I was younger, my dream was to be a nurse, but now I realize all the work, dedication, and money that’s put into it. I had to let that dream go. Freshman and sophomore year, I signed up for pre-school class and I realized how much I loved teaching and working with children. However, after hearing all the teacher strikes, my opinions changed. Junior year, I joined The Correspondent, and I had a hard time writing stories and keeping up with deadlines. Now that it’s my second year, deadlines are still hard to keep up with, but I feel more comfortable with interviews, writing, and even taking pictures. That’s when I realized journalism or communications could be major options in college. Thinking of what jobs may be available in a major’s area is also something to think about. After doing research, I was worried I might not be able to find a job in my field after college, especially since I’m planning on going to college in the city of Chicago. Even though it’s a city and there are always some opportunities, with my luck, I’m afraid I won’t land a decent job. Since I tend to over think everything, I now fear I might never commit to anything. Communications is still a major I’m leaning towards, but it’s something I really have to think about. After talking to most of my friends, I realized that I wasn’t the only one who didn’t have a major in mind. That’s when my stress level lowered a bit. So for those who still don’t have a major in mind, there is nothing wrong with that. Being undecided when entering college is okay, and I’m more than positive that others who feel the same.

Erika Murillo Th e C o r r e s p o n d e n t is published 10 times a year by the journalism 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 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 2012-2013. 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. Editors-in-Chief Ashley Hawkins Kevin Hyde

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Th e C o r r e s p o n d e n t

u o y e v o l I .P S., a^ ybe) m ( Dating differs daily in definition Mili Pandya While the concept of dating may appear simple, the idea of an actual date is more complex. The biggest debate over what a date is probably deals with who should even be there. “I think it has to be one on one and one person has to ask the other,” sophomore Laura Bjankini said. However, not all dates need to be only one couple. Going on dates with other friends, whether they are dating or not, isn’t uncommon, either. “A date is just being with that special someone-- it could be alone or with friends,” sophomore Zachary Lingen said.

When two people decide they want to get to know each other better and decide to venture out on their first date, most people agree that it should be private, yet casual. “It should be something simple that’s not too crazy, and it’s only the two people,” junior Alisyn Greenfield said. “The first date should consist of talking and getting to know the other person better, but also something more like going out to dinner after a movie,” Lingen said. Unless it’s just hanging out, any date will have people pulling out their wallets, the costliest being going out for a movie or eating dinner. However, it’s quite common to see a guy grabbing and paying the check. “The guy should pay for the night, but the

a m Fro t e r c se r e r i adm

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girl shouldn’t order the most expensive thing on the menu unless it’s a special occasion,” Lingen said. Although it may expected of guys to pay, most girls agree that it shouldn’t become a habit. While special dates may be an exception, girls shouldn’t avoid paying their half of the bill. “They can pay for the first date, but after that they definitely shouldn’t be paying for everything after that,” sophomore Zeynep Abat said. As kids get older, these dating ‘norms’ will obviously evolve and change. “You’ll spend more time with that person-- it’s more serious than a teenage relationship,” Lingen said.

In-Depth

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Roses are red, violets are blue Students rid of dating taboo

Th e C o r r e s p o n d e n t

What lyrics remind you of Valentine’s Day?

Natalie Czarnota are exclusive. But it’s all in the importance of Ashley Hawkins always being connected nowadays. Everyone While dating and relationships don’t come with an instruction manual, there are some unofficial rules that people are expected to follow. The question of how a date differs from just hanging out perplexes students, since everything in a relationship between two people changes when the line between ‘just hanging out’ and ‘dating’ is crossed. However, what happens after that varies in each relationship. “Every relationship isn’t the same, so it’s hard to make generalizations,” senior Ryan Vorndran said. In some cases, couples do something special on a date, such as dressing up and going out to dinner. Other times, however, the line between dating and hanging out is smeared and couples treat a date as something completely ordinary. “Could be going out ice skating during the winter months or staying in and doing homework together on a Sunday,” senior Clarissa Cruz said. A specific amount of time doesn’t dictate when a relationship becomes ‘serious.’ Rather, students seem to agree that a relationship is brought to that next level when a couple is completely comfortable with each other and is willing to devote themselves to one another. “A relationship becomes serious when both people go beyond just attraction and feel something more than that, also when they feel comfortable telling one another anything even if it is not what the other necessarily would want to hear,” senior Jamey Hill said. “I think a relationship becomes serious when each person realizes that they have mutual feelings of affection for the other. More of a commitment. And especially when meeting parents/families are brought into the equation,” senior Justine Bowes said. There is a saying among students that “it’s not official until it’s Facebook official.” While becoming Facebook official isn’t necessary to make a relationship official, it asserts that it’s public knowledge and lets everyone know what is going on. “It’s to let the general public know that you

has to know what everyone else is up to,” Bowes said. However, not all students enjoy receiving constantly changing notifications about other student’s love lives, and find it unnecessary. “Going Facebook official is just a way to show off to all of your friends,” junior Julia Petrusan said. There are also certain moral expectations that are demanded in a relationship. Most of them are common sense things that are the foundation of a stable relationship. “I would say honesty and respect are most important. Expectations would be to make time for your boyfriend or girlfriend, and to treat them the way you would want them to treat you,” Hill said. The expectations that are put on the roles of each gender are just another thing that shows how each relationship is different. “I personally don’t believe that gender roles attribute much to a relationship. Women are more independent in this era and men aren’t expected to baby them. I pay on dates and sometimes we even switch off who pays depending on how much money we have (because we both work). I just see gender roles as more of a 50s thing or when our parents were growing up,” Bowes said. Celebrating Valentine’s Day and anniversaries doesn’t have to be that big of a deal. Extravagant gifts such as bouquets of flowers and diamond jewelry aren’t necessities to express one’s feelings. “If you’ve been dating a while, then any gift is appropriate, but if you haven’t been dating long then a small and simple gift is probably more acceptable,” senior Sally Tran said. “I’d say the thought is more important than the money value.” “It is about expressing how you feel more than buying a bunch of gifts,” Cruz said. Saying “I love you” is a big step in a relationship, but much like getting serious, there is no specific time frame to tell when the time is right. “It depends on the couple. A person will know when it’s time to say it,” Tran said.

“All I do is win, win, win, no matter what” -freshman Jeremy Kush

“Love me, love me, say that you love me” -sophomore Elise Bang

“Home is whenever I’m with you” -junior Katyee Okon

TO WRITE A LETTEr TO A SECRET CRUSH GO TO CORRE LIVE

“We are never, ever, ever ever getting back together.” senior Ellie Lovisetto

Th e C o r r e s p o n d e n t

Boyle-ing it D O W with N BRian Boyle

Predictions locked in place Every year, the movie awards season comes to a head in February, when the Academy Awards announce their coveted picks for the best of the best in the filmmaking industry. For movie-lovers, the Oscar’s, which airs on February 24, presents one of the most entertaining times of the year, if not only for the sparking of debate and conversation. Though there were a few snubs in this category, (Ben Affleck!) incredibly deserving Steven Spielberg will win the Best Director award for his work in Oscar favorite, “Lincoln.” “Lincoln” should also win for Tony Kushner’s brilliant script in the Best Adapted Screenplay category. Kushner expertly makes dialogue feel authentic yet comprehensive for this mid-seventeenth century period piece. Best Original Screenplay is a toss-up between Tarantino’s snappy, witty, and brutal script for “Django Unchained,” and Wes Anderson and Roman Coppola’s whimsical and quirky script for “Moonrise Kingdom.” While Anne Hathaway is a lock for best supporting actress for her performance in the musical, “Les Miserables,” the best supporting actor category is a battle, with each of the five nominees being previous Oscar winners. Hopefully, the Academy recognizes either Tommy Lee Jones from “Lincoln,” or Christoph Waltz from “Django Unchained.” Jessica Chastain gave one of the best performances of the year as the confident and calculated CIA agent in “Zero Dark Thirty,” though “Silver Linings Playbook” star Jennifer Lawrence will most likely snag the win for best actress in a leading role The best actor in a leading role category, does, however, have a clear-cut winner. Daniel Day-Lewis, as the sixteenth president in “Lincoln,” gives one of the most engaging, intriguing, and downright entertaining performances I have ever seen. While there may be nine total nominees for best picture, only two films have any real chance of winning. “Argo,” has been an awards season favorite, winning big at the Golden Globes, BAFTA’s, SAG’s, and pretty much every other awards show, though the lack of recognition for director Ben Affleck hinders its chances for the gold. The other frontrunner, “Lincoln,” secured twelve nominations, the most this year. The all-star cast, as well as the classic Spielberg feel of wonder and awe, make “Lincoln” my choice to win best picture.

Reviews

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Take it

You tube sensation motivates viewers

“We need a pep-talk.” Kid President, a new YouTube sensation, takes American’s hearts by surprise as he innocently motivates people to never give up. Our biggest heroes have recovered from difficulties. Take a look at Bill Gates. Gates had a mild case of Asperger’s Syndrome as a child and yet was able to become the richest man in America. Michael Jordan didn’t make the basketball team in

high school which drove him even more. He became one of the most well-known players in NBA history. In fact, his posters still hang in Mr. Pihl’s classroom. When stuck in a hard place, like an astronomical amount of homework or just one too many bad grades, remember the most successful people have also failed many times, but continue to get up and fight. Watch what Kid President said, “Don’t be boring. Boring is easy.” • ABBY FESL

The other day I wore a green and red Power Balance bracelet, when one of my fellow peers said to me in an obnoxious, hateful tone, “Why would you ever buy that? What a waste of money.” Well, excuse me. Some may be unfamiliar with what a Power Balance is. Basically, it can either be a bracelet or necklace that claims to infuse the body with strength and balance. At the time of my purchase, man, did I think it was cool. “Finally, I’ll have washboard abs and I’ll be able to do the crane kick just like Daniel-san in Karate Kid!” Wow, was I wrong, it’s really just a pretty neat looking bracelet with two pointless mag-

nets on the outside of it. Not only is the bracelet useless, but at common stores where it is available, such as Dick’s Sporting Goods, it can be as much as $30. Ya, I’m leaving it on the Power Balance bracelets. An 8-pack has yet to appear.

Balance bracelet busts expectations

• TIM GRIFFIN

Leave it

Grammy performances awe audiences Natalie Czarnota

The performance of this song made me feel as though it was from the previous century- and not in Continuing the tradition of 55 a bad way. Best Rock Performance went to “Lonely Boys” years, music fans gathered in front of their televisions to watch the Gram- by the Black Keys. The collaboration of Maroon 5 and my Awards, which took place on Alicia Keys was surprisingly satisfying, and the unlikeSunday Feb. 10 at the Staples Center ly medley of “Daylight” and “Girl on Fire” was pleasant to the ears. in Los Angeles, California. After a flustered Kelley Clarkson accepted the The first performance was from Taylor Swift, who sang “We Are Never Ever Getting Best Pop Vocal Album award, Rihanna sang “Stay,” Back Together” while wearing a white ringmaster suit looking sophisticated in her plain, long black dress. The stripped back song revealed what was probably and surrounded by dancing circus people. The performance was strange, and not in that one of the best vocals of the night. The Black Keys perst range-but-or ig ina l formed “Lonely Boy” kind of performances and Kelly Clarkson that are associated by sang songs by Patti Page Lady Gaga. and Carole King, both It seemed over the of whom were hontop for Swift. ored with the Lifetime This isn’t the only Achievement Award. factor that appeared as The Best Country though she was trying Album award went to to attract attention. “Uncaged” by the Zac Throughout the enBrown Band, and then tire show, Swift seemed a Bob Marley Tribute inclined to sing along was performed by Bruto every other song perno Mars and Sting, later formed, probably for joined by Rihanna, Zigmore camera time. gy, and Damien Marley. Following Swift The Lumineers’ was Ed Sheeran, who performance was plain performed his song “A compared to the other Team” on the guitar •NC WEB LN ORANGE COUNTY OUT NO performers, but that is with Elton John on the MAGAZINE SALES what made them stand piano. The arrangement out and put a focus on amplified the beautiful arrie Underwood sang her hit single “Blown Away” at the their music. song. 2013 Grammys last weekend. The lights on stage danced Carrie Underwood Then came the first around projecting monarch butterflies onto her dress. Underperformed in one of the award of the night. Fun. made a splash while wood won the Grammy for Best Country Solo Performance for best visual performances of the night. Her ball performing “Carry On.” “Blown Away” earlier in the night. gown-like dress put Towards the end of the amazing and distinct vocal display of lead singer Katniss’ “fire” dress to shame, displaying mesmerizing images projected onto it. Nate Ruess, water poured down on the band. The other extraordinary visual performance came Best Song of the Year was “We are Young” by Fun. after the award for the Best Record of the Year, which This was one of the six nominations the band had. Although they clearly began to receive a lot of at- was won by Gotye’s “Somebody That I Used to Know.” tention lately, the band has been thriving under the LL Cool J, Tom Morello, Travis Barker, Chuck D, and mainstream radar for 12 years, so the success they Z-Trip closed the show with a performance following the award for Album of the Year going to Mumford have received is quite incredible. Mumford and Sons performed “I Will Wait” after and Sons’ “Babel.” those awards, and then Justin Timberlake performed his come back song, “Suit and Tie.”

Entertainment

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Th e C o r r e s p o n d e n t

Fashion icons send symbolic message Miranda Fanella

The persona and reputable characteristics of fashion icons have significantly changed over the past 60 years. In the 1960s, Audrey Hepburn set new fashion standards in her filming of “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”, bringing a new level of class to her style and women everywhere. During the 1950s and early 60s, actor, model, and singer Marilyn Monroe embraced her curvy body and became a known sex symbol. Preaching self-acceptance and beauty, Monroe taught girls that size zero pants don’t have to be ideal and that a size four is not deemed fat. The most current upcoming fashion icons are a few of the slimmest and fittest women of the public eye, much different than some from the mid-1900s, who had tiny waists and curvy hips. “I think that people should use fashion as a tool to make them feel better about themselves, not worse just because they aren’t a size two,” senior Bianca Burns said. Current icons influence fashion among students much differently than in the past due to the fact that past fashion icons were more renowned by all of society than those of today are. “Katy Perry influences me the most, but I don’t think her style will be remembered 50 years from now,” sophomore Jenelle Rosario said. On the contrary, figures like Monroe, Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor, Jacqueline Kennedy, Coco Chanel, Kim Novak and Princess Diana have remained prominent in the fashion world since their breakthroughs in the mid-1900s. Currently, these dominant fashion influences have continued their legacy with many styles being dubbed “very Audrey,” and books being written praising their style. A helpful factor in recognizing each of these admired women’s distinguished styles is through their display of it in their films, photo

•NC BL WEB LN

ichelle Obama at the 2012 Democratic National Convention at the Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte, North Carolina.

ate Middleton on April 29, 2011 at Westmister Abbey in the City of Westmisshoots, and any other form of memorable publicity. Monroe’s style of sexy and curvy was shown •NC WEB LN NO in most of her films and MAGAZINE SALES photo shoots, primarily in the “Seven Year Itch” and the famous photo of her dress blowing upwards from a street vent. Princess Diana’s iconic mini black dress that hugged her figure became well-known due to the press posting a photo of it everywhere in 1994. “Today, women like Michelle Obama and Kate Middleton are the new icons,” Burns said. Obama is known today in average women’s fashion for sporting arm-baring dresses and high-end designer clothing as well as

causing clothing from affordable companies that she wore to be sold out within days. Being the First Lady, Obama is known across all of America, but her sense of style might not be as recognizable as Coco Chanel’s or Grace Kelly’s, causing the degree of fashion influence between the two eras to differ greatly. “Fashion has changed so much, but it’s just like history. It continually repeats itself and there are so many pieces that never go out of style. Women of the past, like Hepburn, Monroe, Princess Diana, and Jackie O-their styles are timeless because they created the style standards for their time period,” Burns said. Students in the 50s and 60s were more likely to wear similar styles than teens of today due to a difference in how distinguishable icons were then and now. In current fashion, icons are typically celebrities that became known for their notable style or who develop such an image. Kate Middleton is an example. Her modest look, adorned in a pastel palette, is simple yet elegant, making her an easy influence for students to follow, but it might not match what students are looking for. That’s where creativity comes in. When Monroe wore her famous white dress from “The Seven-Year Itch,” or when Hepburn wore her iconic black, classy “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” gown, students didn’t rush to buy out every long, black gown or flowing white dress. Instead, fashion took a revolutionary step towards the specific trends and styles known to that era and that have also influenced some of today’s styles. “The styles back then were very daring with bright colors and big jewelry. You can still see some of that today,” Rosario said. The little black dress, for one, was not eminent until the 1920s when Coco Chanel’s design was published in American Vogue, proving her influence on fashion. Taylor, Kennedy, and Queen Elizabeth II were a few who popularized pearls in the 1960s and made them fashionable still today. The pencil skirt became a ground-breaking look in the 40s after being introduced by Christian Dior. “I think these fashion staples are still popular because the people who created them are still influential today,” sophomore Megan Grawe said. All these trends have continued from their time of development and have remained strong because their creators and promoters, iconic figures in the fashion world, have continued to be influential since then. Students can develop their own style by taking what influences them and refining it to their own liking. Styles take off and trends sink in by students reliving the iconic aspects of certain fashion influences and continuing the strongest fashions.

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Features

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Division head ‘heads’ to Elk Grove Smith sets goals for next year in social sciences and foreign language division Erika Murillo Nicole Cecala Division head of social sciences and foreign language Paul Kelly has taken an opportunity that will affect not only his department, but the entire school. Kelly was chosen to become the principal at Elk Grove High School next school year. Kelly started as the division head here six years ago. “I thought I could have a bigger effect on more students in that role than just as a teacher. I like to work with other teachers on teaching and the curriculum,” Kelly said. Kelly wants to take his skills to the next level at Elk Grove next year. “Power hungry,” he jokes as his explanation for the change. But in reality, he has a set goal for what he wants to bring to the school. “I look forward to helping people work more closely together. As a principal, I can make it my goal, and make it our way to always think what’s the students’ day like rather than just their class,” Kelly said. Though Kelly is looking forward to becoming principal, he will always remember his experiences here. “It’s sad; I’ll miss a lot of people. However, each time I have moved to a different experience or school I have learned from the people I encountered and grown as a person.” In Kelly’s place, history teacher Tom Smith will become the new division head. “I’m very excited to serve as the division head. There are many great programs and courses within our di-

plement new forms of technology in a way that will really improve our educational outcomes. Finding effective ways to incorporate iPads, podcasts, and other online resources will be one priority for our staff in the near future,” Smith said. Becoming division head will allow Smith to take skills of his own and have a positive effect on the department. “I’ll be working with staff throughout the building and district in order to make sure that our division continues to provide students a valuable experience and that our courses fit in with building-wide developments.” Staff and past students wish • Matt Stadnicki Kelly well. “It’s bittersweet for me. Last year, he helped me so much ocial sciences and foreign language division head Paul Kelly has accepted an opportunity to become principal at Elk and other students as well. It’s going Grove High School. to feel strange when he leaves, but I know he will continue to be of asvision, and we are very fortunate to have such a sistance to anyone that needs it over dedicated and creative staff,” Smith said. at Elk Grove,” senior Tim Nicosia, Kelly’s former Prior to teaching here, Smith graduated student, said. from Elk Grove and went on to teach there for “Mr. Kelly is a very positive influence and 10 years. “I wanted to have experience in an- an effective leader. He has helped me to be a betother building as well as a broader perspective. ter teacher over the years, and I am sure that he I knew that someday down the road I would go will have a positive impact on the students and into administration.” staff at Elk Grove High School,” Smith said. Smith also has goals of his own. “One area that we continue to examine is how to best im-

Buddies bond at Disney on Ice

RAMMY’S IS BOSS! 834 S. WHEELING ROAD • Courtesy of caitlin nagle

tudents attend the Disney on Ice event that bonds students in the CSL program with Super Buddies and S.O.S. members. Members of the S.O.S. club accompanied students from the CLS program on a field trip on Feb. 7 to watch the live performance of “Disney on Ice: Rockin’ Ever After.” The S.O.S. members were paired up with one student each from the CLS program and got the opportunity to spend the entire day with their new buddy. “I definitely gained a lot more respect for the students and also the teachers of the CLS program,” senior Jennifer Bishop said. The show featured an cast of characters from “The Little Mermaid,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “Tangled,” and “Brave”, as well as the Disney favorites, Mickey and Minnie Mouse. “There was tons of singing, dancing, skating, and effects, all of which made it one magical afternoon,” senior Lauren Nagle said. By the end of the trip, new friendships had formed and memories were made. “Watching two people who didn’t know much about each other that morning become friends by the end of the day was amazing,” Nagle said. •Mili Pandya

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Sports

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Indoor track prepares runners for outdoor season Abby Fesl Many athletes train year-round, whether it be for three sports or one. For a few, running is an outlet twelve months of the year and all three athletic seasons because they participate in cross country, winter running, and track. For these athletes, winter running helps them prepare for outdoor track in the spring season or stay in shape after cross country season. “Everyone who does winter running is there for a reason, whether it’s to get faster for a sport or something else,” senior Sarah Mulroe said. Many of the runners are training during indoor track to get faster for outdoor track. “Obviously we want to make it as far as we can, hopefully state [for outdoor track].” Senior Amanda Cortese said. “We want to make it a good senior year for our last season.” Runners are asked to set goals at the beginning of indoor season to continue to improve for their outdoor track season. “My goal was to beat my mile time and any day that I felt lazy or didn’t want to go all out [Coach] Fonz reminded me of my goal and how being lazy wouldn’t get me there,” Mulroe said. Mulroe set a personal record at the first meet of season with a 6:45 mile. Mulroe credits her team for supporting her during her race. “Also, the environment is so supportive. I was kind of nervous before the meet because I wasn’t sure if I would run well,but it really helped when everyone was cheering,” Mulroe said. The team members support each other during all races of the meet, especially the last race. “The last race of the meet is the 4x400 and the whole team goes down and cheers for whoever is running in it,” Cortese said. “We always cheer for whoever is running. It’s supportive in that way.” The girls will be running again on Feb. 28 at York. The boys indoor track team has also been training this winter to prepare for outdoor season and possibly send a few members to state for outdoor track. The next meet will be tonight at Glenbrook South.

Whether it be a freshman trying to make it to varsity, or a senior trying to make it to state for the third time and finally clinch a state title, all athletes have an ultimate goal when they try out for a sport. For senior wrestler Hunter Rollins, 37-2 this year, the opportunity to hoist a State championship trophy over his head is attainable in his third trip to Champaign. “It feels good to make it down state for the third year in a row,” Rollins said. “I definitely expected this from myself because I had high expectations for this year.” Rollins will be wrestling as the second seed with hopes of competing against the two wrestlers who defeated him earlier in the season. “I really want to avenge those losses, but when I get out there, I have to put it out of my mind,” Rollins said. “I just have to go out and wrestle my style, and I’m sure it will work out.” In order to reach the state tournament, Rollins had to win both his Regional meet and Sectional meet.

SP R S S R S Senior recovers for final season

•Francesca Hernandez

ophomore Laura Bjankini and senior Jenny Bishop warm up at track practice. The next meet they will have is on Feb. 28 at New Trier. The boys will be running today at Glenbrook South. “This season has been good so far, we’ve had a lot of dedicated guys show up and run with us, even on the snowy and cold days, which is always nice to see,” senior Ryan Kearns said. Training every day, no matter the weather, helped the team to finish third at their first meet last Friday. “As a team we ended up getting third place last Friday, but we feel it’s not really an accurate measurement of how good we will be during the rest of the season because we didn’t strategically place people in the events to maximize our points, and neither did the other schools,” Kearns said. Even though this is just the beginning of the season, all the runners have been performing very well while trying to achieve their goals, either set personally or by the coaches, and to ultimately achieve their team goals. “Our coach has a pretty lofty goal for us distance guys, and it’s to qualify someone for state in every distance event in the sport,” Kearns said. “As a track team in general we are hoping to beat out Prospect for the East Division title, and go from there.”

State qualifiers: Johnson and Rollins compete at state this weekend Abby Fesl David Milligan

Th e C o r r e s p o n d e n t

His Sectional championship match ended after going back and fourth to win in triple overtime in thrilling fashion. Rollins will be wrestling today and tomorrow at University of Illinois. Junior Annie Johnson will be heading down state to represent the girls gymnastics team and to compete on uneven bars. “My goal this year was to reach state, and now that I have, I want to reach the second day of competition,” Johnson said. Johnson finished with a score of 9.250 out of 10 at Sectionals on uneven bars. “I’ve been practicing every day on bars specifically because that’s what I qualified in,” Johnson said. Previously, Johnson had finished fourth all-around in her Regional meet, including placing in her floor routine (second), uneven bars (third), and vault (fourth). The State gymnastics meet will be today at 1 p.m. and tomorrow at 9 a.m. at Palatine High School.

Senior Rick Lelito is a very-skilled basketball player. Plagued by a string of injuries, Lelito has struggled to make it to the court for most of his high school career. “My last game was the first week of January sophomore year,” Lelito said. Despite his tough situation, Lelito has remained motivated. “I have spent the past 700 plus days going to physical therapy almost every day,” Lelito said. After almost two full basketball seasons of rehab for his back, Lelito made his return. He scored eight points including two three-pointers in his return to the court in a JV game against Buffalo Grove. “This has been the toughest challenge of my life and being back is the best feeling ever.” Lelito said. •Tim Griffin

Blackhawks heating up on the ice Students may have noticed the increase in Blackhawks fans appearing lately because the Hawks are in first place in the NHL. “They are having a great season. Everyone is playing very well,” senior Scott Johnston said. The Hawks currently lead the NHL with 20 points. They have been led in scoring by Kane (18 points), Hossa, Toews, and Sharp (all with 11 points). With a record of 10-0-3, the Hawks lead the second place, Anaheim, by five points. The Hawks have dominated all of their opponents this season. In fact, the Hawks have yet to lose a game in regulation. “It’s really nice having all the fans, but I can’t stand the bandwagon ones,” Johnston said. “Hopefully the Hawks can carry their excellence throughout this short season and into playoffs.” •GARRET MATCHEN

AHYBA provides athletic options Each year athletes of all ages are cut from sports teams. This does not mean that the player is done with the sport. Many athletes play sports through the park district, most notably AHYBA (Arlington Heights Youth Basketball Association). “I love basketball, but I wouldn’t want the games and practices to be as intense as high school games are,” senior Conner Steines said. Another positive of AHYBA is that it is not as time consuming and coaches are generally lenient. Students from all four grades can play. There is a league for freshman and sophomores and a league for juniors and seniors. AHYBA also gives the opportunity for kids to play on the same team even if they’re from different schools. •Scott bakal

Sports

Th e C o r r e s p o n d e n t

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Goal-oriented divers head to sectionals Emily Swanson

“When we walk into a meet, coaches from the other team expect us to do really well,” diving coach Tom Schwab said. “We expect to beat them.” The boys diving team has been undefeated so far this season. Sectionals will be held tomorrow at Glenbrook North and the state meet will be held at New Trier on Feb. 22. Last Friday, the team competed in the conference meet held at Barrington High School. Senior Mateusz Obstoj won first place, with junior Jack Kintzle finishing just a few places behind. Obstoj, who has been competing since sophomore year, reacted like any other champion would. “After they announced my name I couldn’t stop smiling,” Obstoj said. “All my hard work paid off.” For Kintzle, the competition was fierce. “I was hoping to do a little better, but in the end I was pleased with everything because I had fun with it,” Kintzle said. The boys practice for at least two hours for five or six days a week at Olympic. “I think about every aspect for the practice for about an hour and a half before practice time actually starts,” Schwab said. “I think about the team and what each individual should work on, and I think it really shows.” Goal planning is crucial part in diving. Schwab makes sure each diver centers himself and thinks about his goals at the start of each practice. This helped Obstoj complete his goals throughout his season. “My goals were to be undefeated in conference, finish first in conference, dive well at sectionals, and compete in the state meet,” Obstoj said. Diving is scored on a ten point scale with ten being the highest amount of points that can be scored on a dive. This scale has motivated Kintzle more and more during the end of his season. “I want to keep each dive scored above a five,” Kintzle said. “I plan to perform very well at sectionals this year.” Even with all its success, the diving team is very small. “It’s hard to get kids to come out because we’re away from the school,” Schwab said, but the team has begun to grow. “When kids see divers doing well, they think ‘I can do that too.’ It’s competitiveness of the human being, and it works really well here, which is another reason why we are a winning team,” Schwab said. “It would mean the world to me if I qualify for state,” Obstoj said. “It’s been my number one goal ever since I started diving.”

•FRANCESCA HERNANDEZ

enior Mateusz Obstoj finished first in conference last weekend. The diving team will compete in sectionals at Glenbrook North tomorrow. State will be Feb. 22, if divers advance.

TIMEOUT! Q:

ith

hr ey

How does being a three-year varsity basketball player influence you?

It’s a lot of fun. It’s a good experience to see how the team changes and to experience that has been really good for me and for the team.

This week in sports Gymnastics state meet Feb. 15 and 16 at Palatine Junior Annie Johnson won the chance to compete at state after placing in sectionals. “I hope to get to the second night, but I wouldn’t be too disappointed if I don’t make it [to the second night],” Johnson said.

What kind of preparation does the team go through before games?

Our coaches will get a scouting report on the other team and then we’ll focus on the other team’s strengths to prepare ourselves for them.

What has been the highlight of the season so far?

My favorite part is how well our team works together and everyone has a part of our wins and losses.

Boys Basketball Feb. 15 at Elk Grove

The basketball team will compete in their final East division conference game against Elk Grove tonight. “I expect the game to be a defensive battle and for us to grind out a win. It will help us finish the East season strong,” sophomore Max Heeren said