October 7 Issue

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Vo l u m e 4 4

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orrespondent J o h n

H e r s e y

19 0 0 E . Th o m a s St . ,

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S c h o o l

A r l i n g ton H e i g h t s , I L 6 0 0 0 4

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‘We’ve got e-mail’

7,

2 0 11

District provides GAPPs e-mail for students

Page 10

With this year’s various technological advancements, the school is hoping to create a more professional sense of communication between students, teachers, colleges, and other parties. Although the new system is seen as beneficial in the eyes of the district, some students question the policies.

This year, electronic communication is being accomplished through the Google Apps for Education (GAPPS) system. Since this system can be purchased by schools at a reduced rate, the e-mail accounts for all students and faculty come at no charge.

A reason for the adoption of the new system is for advocacy of professionalism. “Lots of freshmen, for example, often type like they text, so we want to educate students on how to actually manage a professional e-mail account,” academic technology coordinator Gabriella Stetz-Jackson said.

This comes with a new district-wide policy, for usage and conduct regarding technology and social media, in which students are urged to keep professional relations with teachers.

This new policy states that students and teachers should not be Facebook friends on the teacher’s personal page or text each other without parental consent.

In addition, the new policy states, “A Facebook Fan Page, not a Facebook Group, can be appropriate as a supplemental method of communicating electronically with student groups if it is set up correctly. Make sure that

your settings do not allow fans to be able to post comments, photos, videos, or links to your wall, and that only you have control of the content.”

“It seems a little late and weird that the district is cracking down on this now. It’s not like Facebook is new, or teachers are just now getting Facebooks,” junior Jensen Smith said.

The new GAPPS accounts will be monitored if need be. Students are expected to keep relations and conversations appropriate on their new accounts.

The “TAP” test is a way for students to make sure that their correspondence is transparent, acceptable, and professional.

“I think it’s a little weird that the school can look at our e-mails.

If people are going to write bad things, they can just as easily use their own personal e-mail accounts. We can just as easily get on those accounts at school.

It may seem a little invasive, but I see where the school and district are coming from,” junior

Light shed upon the job and duties of the notorious “van lady”

Van Lady

Elizabeth Odegard said.

Students are concerned with the implementation methods. Since the start of school, Stetz-Jackson has been going to certain classes of different grade levels in order to verse the students in the GAPPS accounts.

“I am a one woman team,” Stetz-Jackson said.

Some students have not been formally taught how to use the system. Stetz-Jackson has met with the freshmen twice since the start of the year, some seniors through social science classes, and sophomores through a variety of classes.

• Continued on page 2

Page 11

Kevin Hyde

Issue 3

Choir hosts trick -or-treat for little ones Erika Murillo Every year, choir holds an event called Happy Hersey Halloween. This year, on Oct.28, the Friday before Halloween, the choir will be running that event from 5 to 9 p.m.

Happy Hersey Halloween invites little kids from the area to come to Hersey and trick-ortreat throughout the school to various classrooms.

“I’ve been doing this since freshman year, and I think it is one of the highlights of my life!

It’s so fun and the kids love it too,” junior Nicky Mendelsohn said.

Not only do they have to dress up in their adorable costumes to trick-or-treat, but they can also play Halloween games.

They have an option of face painting, coloring, and character search in which selected students dress up as specific characters and the kids have to go and find them.

“I love the little children.

They’re so cute and very excited when they come in. Their costumes are amazing!” junior Madeline Brown said.

“I”m excited to see the kids dress up and smile. They’re all so cute!” senior Liz Curley said.

The events will offer a scavenger hunt and other great photo opportunities.

Happy Hersey Halloween is a night where kids can come and have a great time even before the actual night of Halloween.

Any child up to age eight is welcome to attend with parents and enjoy trick-or-treating along with fun and games, as long as a canned food is brought for admission. The food items brought will be added to the Hersey food drive in November.

This is the choir’s tenth year of holding this festivity that gives back to the community.

Swimming team’s Amanda Petro sets school records

Girls swimming

2

The Correspondent

News You Need To Know

nas part of an effective strategy for keeping the invasive fish at bay while long-term biological controls are developed.

Cantaloupe outbreak kills 16 people

Cantaloupes from Colorado have been linked to a strain of listeria that has, to date, infected 72 people. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed deaths in seven states. Cases of the illness have been reported in a number of additional states, incl‍uding Illinois.

The outbreak has been traced to Colorado. There is currently a recall on the cantaloupes, which can be identified by a number of different stickers; however, not all of the cantaloupes are marked. Anyone who has a cantaloupe that may or may not be infected has been advised by the CDC to dispose of it, because listeria can grow at room and refrigerator temperatures.

Symptoms of listeria, which include fevers and muscle aches, can take up to four weeks to show. The disease only affects the elderly, pregnant women, and others with compromised immune systems. “It’s a relief to know that I’m not really at risk,” senior Skye Mooney said.

With as many as 16 people dead, the infected cantaloupes have become the deadliest food outbreak in a decade.

• Erin Horne

Students succeed on PSAT

The 57th National Merit Scholarship Program (NSMP) semi-final results are back and students here made a impact on the list. Four of the 11 students from the district who make semi-finalists are from here. The semi-finalists were seniors Catherine Kemp, Claire O’Donnell, Alexander Roznai, and Grace Sinopoli.

“We found out in the spring that we were either a semifinalist or commended scholar but didn’t know which one until September, so I was excited and proud when I finally found out I was a semi-finalist,” Sinopoli said.

Approximately 1.5 million juniors in about 22,000 high schools entered the 2012 NMSP last October by taking the 2010 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.

To be considered as a finalist for the Merit Scholarship, students must have high academic performance throughout high school. This scholarship picks students based off of skill and potential for success in college.

16,000 students throughout the U.S. will move on to win one of 8,300 National Merit Scholarships. Next spring, $34 million in scholarships will be given away to the winners.

• Jessica Lynk

News

October 7, 2011

H

omecoming King Joe Sessions and Queen Kelsey Martin smile as they start to walk around the Carter Gym.

F

ormer Homecoming Queen Annie Cerniglia congratulates new queen Kelsey Martin .

• For more homecoming festivities, visit correspondentlive.org and click the link

• photos by Dan MIka

‘Best Buddies’ builds new friendships Julia Kedzior Becky Pauwels

should talk to them, so they assume it’s better to stay away from them. They can become friends. It helps members grow as people,” Miller said.

Members of the Best Buddies program will be S.O.S. has sponsored a new program to help special needs students interact with their peers. “[The goal spending a lot of time with their buddies. “This is difof Best Buddies is] to make friendships and promote ferent from a lot of S.O.S. activities because it is a full inclusion. Each member is matched up with a CLS stu- year commitment. Each set of buddies will hopefully dent and they form a friendship,” senior and chapter develop an actual relationship. Students have to take initiative and want to do things even outside of school president for Best Buddies Kara Miller said.

“We want to create opportunities for new friend- with their buddies,” Gritt said.

The club got started when S.O.S. teacher Mark ships and integrate students with intellectual and deGunther decided to join the program where Best Budvelopmental disabilities,” senior Molly Gritt said. originated. In order to The Best Buddies program is be“We want to create dies make this possible, Miller had ing renovated this year and has exopportunities for to attend a leadership conferpanded much from last year. “It was not very big at Hersey last year. I know new friendships and ence to become the chapter president. they went to the zoo, and I heard that integrate students Members of Best Buddies was very successful,” Gritt said. with intellectual are satisfied with the club and Throughout the school year, members and their “buddies” parand developmental what it has to offer. “I always wanted to help kids with speticipate in different activities. “All the disabilities,” senior cial needs, and it is a great way students involved meet for chapter Molly Gritt said. to help out. I love the feeling activities a few times a month. Some of helping others,” sophomore examples include the match part, breakfast buddies, lunch buddies, circus, and movie Rachel Cleven said. “The club helps kids understand how it is like having a good friend.” nights,” Gritt said.

As the months of the school year pass by, the club It’s easier for the CLS students to socialize when they have leaders with positive attitudes who are will- will be looking for new ways to have fun and get ining to spend a small of their time to bond with them. volved with the CLS students.

There are many opportunities to join and help out “A lot of people don’t know how to act around kids with intellectual or developmental disabilities. They with Best Buddies, and help is very much appreciated. don’t know if they should talk to them or how they “Bring your friends! It’s so much fun!” Cleven said.

Gmail accounts prove useful Continued from page 1 Only a handful of juniors were actually taught how to use the system, and other grade levels are still not completely educated.

“Juniors didn’t even get taught how to use it until after homecoming votes were due. How were the juniors expected to vote if they hadn’t even been told user names and passwords?” Odegard said.

Homecoming votes were carried out through the new Gmail

• Carlos Andina

accounts,which encouraged some students to use their GAPPS account, even if they had not been formally trained.

“I haven’t used it so much, but I did use it for homecoming voting. Maybe that will make me use it more in the future,” junior Lisa Myszkowski said.

According to student council sponsor John Dyer, who was in charge of the voting this year, voting had gone over as student council had hoped.

“Voting has gone very well. We had a great turnout. [...] We were very pleased with the number of responses and how the voting went. We plan on voting this way in the future,” Dyer said.

Although homecoming induced greater usage of the GAPPS accounts, the overall usage by students is still in its beginning stages. In a poll of 200 students, 40 percent stated that they do not often or have never checked their student e-mail account.

“I’ve used it once or twice, but I will probably use it more if I need to use it for classes or something,” senior Grace Sinopoli said.

Teachers also can now get in contact with students by way of HomeLogic through their GAPPS accounts. Each student’s HomeLogic account is registered with their GAPPS account, so if a teacher needs to contact the whole class or a larger group, HomeLogic will send an e-mail to each student’s account.

The new e-mails are in place to promote positive, professional relationships.

For step-by-step instructions on how to log on or set up your account, visit CorrespondentLive.org or ask a technical adviser for further details.

October 7, 2011

News

The Correspondent

Students take steps to aid epilepsy cure Matt Stadnicki more Eric Wingeard said.

Everyday, people face many challenges, dealing with epilepsy is one of those challenges.

According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, epilepsy is a brain disorder where disturbed brain activity causes seizures over time. These seizures can happen at anytime. Also, a person with epilepsy was not necessarily born with it. “The saying is that if you have a brain, you can get epilepsy.” Debra Schmidt, the mother of Paul, said.

Seizures can trigger cardiac arrest, which can lead to death, as in the case of Paul Schmidt, a former Hersey student.

According to the Paul’s Run for Epilepsy website, at the age of 15, Paul had his first seizure. Shortly afterwards, he was diagnosed with epilepsy. After six years of battling seizures, doctor examinations and implants, Paul went into cardiac arrest from a seizure. On October 17, 2008, he passed away. On that same day, a year later, the first annual Paul’s Run for Epilepsy took place.

“My parents are friends with Paul’s parents, and my older brother was friends with Paul,” sopho-

100, and 400 meter races for kids The run takes place every year under 12. For those over the age of on or around October 17, the day 12, the actual run is five kilometers that Paul died. At 9 (3.1 miles) and a.m, the run starts is professionat Gary Morava ally timed. The Recreation Cenrun extends into ter in Prospect the surrounding Heights, with a vastreets in Prosriety of activities, pect Heights. including the run.

“As the morning The run is always goes on, I love to an emotional exlook out on Elm perience, bringStreet and see it ing many different becomes a sea of people together. orange and purOne of the ple [the color of parts of the day the shirts of runthat stands out for ners].”

Schmidt is “how The cost for wonderful our famthe race, which ily, friends, neighis donated to epibors, and even new lepsy research, is • paulsrunforepilepsy.org people who have 20 dollars for stufter Paul Schmidt died come into our lives as dents under the age from complications a result of the 5K have of 17, and 30 dollars been throughout this from epilepsy, his family if over the age of 17. journey of ours,” decided to hold an annual Medals are 5k in his honor The race is Schmidt said. available for the Oct. 16.

New events this top two winners in year include a one each age and gender mile run for kids ages category, and a 100 12 and under. There are also 50, dollar gift card to Running Unlim-

A

3

ited, a running store in Palatine, is awarded to the top male and female runners.

More importantly, this run will raise funds for CURE (Citizens United in Research for Epilepsy).

CURE is a non profit organization dedicated to raising funds to help research a cure for epilepsy. According to the Paul’s Run for Epilepsy website, the money raised by the race will be given to CURE, which in turn will be used to research this important cause.

While donating to charities is a nice thing, one of the main ways that causes are made known are through runs like this, especially if a cause is relatively new or unheard of. “Epilepsy receives very little funding, but more people die each year from epilepsy than they do from breast cancer.” Schmidt said.

Run/walks help fund research from fees to run.

“It raise awareness on the problem,” sophomore Brentyn Leong said.

Whether it’s a run in a small town, or a massive run in Chicago or New York, every step taken saves lives.

Senior wins national writing award Becky Pauwels

Senior Monica Burckhardt was the only recipient of the prestigious National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Achievement in Writing Award from District 214 this year.

“From a total of 1,649 candidates, there were 520 winners, 37 from

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Illinois, myself among them,” Burckhardt said.

Burckhardt had to do a lot of work to even be considered for this award. “Three juniors were entered into the competition with the recommendation from their English teacher. Mr. [Jim] Miks suggested me last year because of my performance in his class,” Burckhardt said.

From there, she had to put together a portfolio to enter the competition. “I had to compile 10 pages of my best writing and submit a response to a prompt that I completed during two hours at school. These samples were then submitted to Mr. Schifferl for NCTE judging around May,” Burckhardt said.

“It’s really exciting to be recognized for my • Becky Pauwels writing, and I’m truly grateful to be given this openior Monica Burckportunity. It’s been great to have competed with hardt was the only so many excellent writers, and I’m proud that I student in the district to can represent District 214 in this way,” Burckreceive the prestigious hardt said.

NCTE Achievement in Writing Award

S

Postal Service faces troubles Dan Mika

During its 200-year run, the United States Postal Service has delivered mail on time almost everyday during a revolution, two world wars and multiple depressions.

Today, however, the Postal Service is struggling to survive. After losing $2 billion in 2010 and being on pace to lose over $7 billion this year, the General Accounting Office has said that the Service is on the verge of bankruptcy and could shut down before Christmas.

The crisis is a product of multiple new factors. The economic downturn has forced citizens to trim their budgets and stamps are being cut out, resulting in a loss of 20 billion pieces this year.

The internet is also causing problems as e-mail has now become the way to distribute documents. Online stores like Amazon now prefer to ship with UPS and Fed-Ex, deeply cutting into the

Postal Service’s business.

“If online stores shipped with the post office instead of Fed-Ex or UPS, they’d be set,” said senior Erik Kowols.

The USPS is undergoing daring measures to stay afloat.

Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe has borrowed the last $3 billion available to them from the U.S. Treasury for the rest of the year. The USPS is also planning to shut down low-traffic branches.

The Service is also asking Congress for the authority to cut up to 120,000 workers with no-layoff clauses in their contracts and the ability to stop Saturday delivery.

While the USPS isn’t a direct agency of the federal government and doesn’t receive direct taxpayer dollars, Donahoe has made multiple visits to Congress to ask for emergency funding. However, the divided climate in Congress makes a compromise on a rescue package unlikely.

4

The Correspondent In

OUR

Opinions

October 7, 2011

Students should appreciate this school

Despite students’ complaints, we go to an excellent school.

Hersey is great academically. Just look at the ACT scores. This past year, our average composite scores was 25.2. Seeing that the national average is around a 21, this is outstanding.

Here students are given the opportunity to receive a first-rate education, and many take advantage of this opportunity. Our dropout rate is minimal, and 95 percent of graduates enroll in college.

Even if students do begin to fall behind academically, plenty of opportunities are available to get the help. This starts by teachers often staying late or coming in early to help. But another key part is the Writing Well where teachers of every subject are always available to help and even edit papers.

This school is also graced with some really fantastic teachers. This school has rather high hiring standards, so the staff more than qualified to teach their individual subjects. The teachers also put plenty of time out of school to make this school a better place.

A small survey revealed that teachers work about 10 hours a day on average. This includes staff meetings, after-school activities, and out-of-school grading.

Opinion

Some teachers have also been known to keep teaching while pregnant until the day they deliver. Not even an incoming newborn can pry them from what they love to do.

Hersey is one of a few schools in Illinois that houses deaf students. This allows other students to feel comfortable communicating in new ways. The Career and Life Skills program, or CLS, helps students with disabilities grow. The school welcomes students with all kinds of disabilities and teaches them vital life skills while exposing the general population to those who have struggles but have a lot to offer.

We are also fortunate to have great sports programs. Sports for both genders include swim and diving, soccer, tennis, basketball, golf, water polo, track and field, cross country and technically football. That’s right: if a girl wants to, she can join football. Although we don’t always win, the Orange Crush continues to be supportive of the teams.

In short, This school has a lot to offer. The four years students spend here shape them, so they should take advantage of what is offered to make these years count.

Although the school may not be the most attractive, it is loaded with opportunities.

Grades online provide unrealistic real world preparation Jessica Lynk their grades at every moment. It is the responsi-

In the early days of preschool, coming home to sit down and practice my letters was not even close to a chore.

Sitting down with my mom and drinking juice while practicing my abc’s was a highlight of my day. Going from grade to grade, homework seemed to become more of a burden than actual fun.

With the new Homelogic system, it seems easier for parents to get in touch with teachers.

This isn’t a bad thing until I am being questioned about homework and grades on a daily basis. I get that my parents are doing this because they love me, but I am not in kindergarten anymore.

Some students decide not to do their homework, so the Homelogic system can be helpful for those students. In reality though, parents aren’t going to be following them around college, messaging their professors, and checking

The Correspondent

In-Depth Editors

Shea Anderluh Ashley Hawkins Kevin Hyde Becky Pauwels

Nick Diaz Megan Boyle Julia Kedzior

Editorial Board

Entertainment Editors

Abby Fesl Connor Hargett Jessica Lynk Garret Matchen Emily Swanson

Graphics Editor

Managing Editor

Carlos Andina Zack Killam

Claudia Caplan Lauren Kelley

News Editors Melanie Cohodes Erika Murillo

Michelle Chester Susannah Sinard Natalie Czarnota

Sports Editors Brian Loomis Michael Miller David Milligan

Opinion Editors Anthony Bellafiore Luis Rueda Dan Mika

Feature Editors

Max Bestvina Mackenzie Francis

Headline Editor Scott Bakal

Photographer Madeline Weber

Adviser Janet Levin

Getting calls so parents stay involved in school isn’t a bad thing, but every week is a little extensive. Especially because the system takes 24 hours to update, students could have gotten their grade up to an C, but they still get a call because the system hasn’t been updated yet.

Parents should care about grades, but not to the extent of excessively checking grades every day.

When my parents get daily e-mails telling them what my homework is, they seem to be more involved in my school life, but they normally have no idea what my homework actually is and have no recollection of what I am learning, so help is no where to be found. My parents can tell me to do my homework, but the effort comes from within.

Homework can be done with self-motivation. Of course, when parents give a little push to do it, it might get done, but they won’t be there in college, so they don’t need to be here now.

Lonely naked man wants a new place Carlos Andina

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Editors-in-Chief

bility of the student to get homework done and study, parents can’t do that for them.

College is right around the corner, so getting a phone call telling parents that grades have become lower than average is not necessary.

In college, no parents should be able to check grades on a daily basis. In four years or less, students will be on their own, not getting a call from a machine that can’t even pronounce their name.

No parent will know what “El Secuestro one through four,” “foundations binder check, LOTF chart,” or “Issue two duties” is. Neither will they ever need to. It is the responsibility of a student to do their homework. LOTF chart will not be something that they did in high school nor will it be something they remember. Parents can check and question why it is not done, but there is no way that a parent will need to help a student through her homework. We all have been in school for at least ten years, I think most of us know what to do.

The naked man statue looks lonelier than ever in the back of the school. While he was once accompanied by a bike rack and pine tree, our beloved statue now stands all by himself.

With grass clippings scattered on his base and garbage filling rust holes in his legs, the naked man has definitely seen better days. But why do we have to limit the view of his welcoming pose to a forgotten corner of this school? With all the renovations going on, we should take the time to find the naked man a new home.

The way I see it, we’ve got some options here. We can take the more subtle approach and put the naked man under the freshly painted Roland R. Goins Stadium sign. What better way to welcome people to our new turf field than with the naked man’s outstretched hand. He could become a new mascot! We could even dress him up for different holidays. Come to think of it, he even looks like the Orange Man! This was clearly meant to be.

While the naked man will be a stud wherever we put him, it’s our responsibility to make sure he’s used to his full potential.

So I say we go all out: put him smack dab in the middle of the front entrance hall, welcoming

all the students as they walk in the front doors.

Not only could our plain white interior use a little bit of awesome statue, I bet seeing this rusty guy getting the attention he deserves every morning would help cheer up students as they headed to their first period class.

If his mild nudity • Carlos Andina is the reason for his solitary confinement, then we can compromise. We’ll make him wear some clothes. I’m sure we could use some of this school’s artistic talent to make some metal shorts for him, so he’ll be a bit more family friendly. If he’s too heavy, we’ll use some weights class guys to lift him while our physics students figure out a good way to move him. We should let the naked man bring us together.

Some schools might be embarrassed to have a rusty naked guy hanging out on their back porch. But not us. They’re just jealous. Most of the high schools around here don’t have much to set them apart. So let’s embrace our statue and invite him in.

Other schools might have swimming pools or nicer cafeterias, but what they don’t have is good ‘ol Rusty. It’s time we give the guy a proper home.

Opinions

October 7, 2011

The Correspondent

J U S T S AY I N ’

Shirts bring opportunity to reminisce I was putting away clean laundry the other day and noticed that the amount of oversized shirts with iron-on decals far outbalanced the amount of properly fitting shirts I have actually bought. Most of these ruling t-shirts have some form of “JHHS” and always have a shade of orange somewhere on them. Over my past four years here. I have accumulated well over a dozen school shirts, ranging from Freshmen Orientation to Homecoming and AP Photo shirts.

I wondered how large my collection would be if I had taken up all the t-shirt opportunities presented to me. They may not be my article of choice as far as fashion goes, but once I graduate each and every one of these orange-laced tees will bring back fond memories. The more involved the student, the more chances they will have to reminisce each time they tug an orange sleeve out of the bottom of their drawer. Dresser nuisance now, cherished high-school memory later. Just sayin.’

• Madeline Webber

Bathroom writing disgusts students

Whenever I walk into the girl’s bathroom and open a stall door, I’m greeted with random colors of writing on the wall. I remember watching TV or movies about high school and watching scenes with girls writing guy’s names or whatever on the bathroom doors. However, I remember I never thought that I’d look at writing with such language against this school. I can’t think of a reason for this. Is this school so horrible for some students that they have to write their complaints on the bathroom walls? I don’t understand the meaning and I get annoyed whenever I see it. This habit needs to stop. Just sayin’.

• Emily Swanson

Class ring personalization defeats purpose Julia Kedzior A high school class ring is known to most people as a symbol of graduation that commemorates the end of one’s experience of high school over the four years.

Ever since the idea of the class ring originated in 1835, it has been meant to unify each class and give them something to remember high school by. Each class is different from the others, and they share hundreds of memories that will stay with them.

The identical rings were usually kept for a long time and worn often, and could be seen at class reunions.

Even though some of these things are true for the class rings we see today, the rings have become significantly more individual, and the unifying force has been lost.

Josten’s, the company that provides class rings here, has decided to promote rings that can be different for each person. The rings now have a surprisingly

wide range of design possibilities, displaying anything from a representation of a club or activity to a student’s name. The different stones and types of metals that are used to make the rings as personal as possible allow students to really get creative and make something unique.

In all of this variety and individuality, we have lost sight of why the class ring was created in the first place. If every person has a different ring, how does it unify everyone as a whole?

It’ll be just like any other ring that can be bought outside of school for personal amusement. When I go off to college in a few years, I want to look at my ring and remember how awesome my class was, and know that no matter where we all are in the world, we’ll have that one thing to represent our time together in high school.

The realization that class rings have lost their original true value is making them seem less special each year. I already know what activities I participated in and what my birthstone is, and a class ring isn’t needed to remind me of that.

Somethin’ to talk about

The greed for speed

In the short time I’ve been here, the world has become immensely faster. Cars have cut down their zeroto-sixty times, mail can be sent around the world in seconds and with the black magic of Netflix, we can watch entire movies on our PCs instantly. This newfound speed is undeniably awesome; we can now learn more about our world in a few hours surfing Wikipedia than our ancestors did in a lifetime of experience. But this blistering exchange of information carries a hidden downside: it’s turning the world’s inhabitants impatient.

Our inner speed demons manifest themselves everywhere, demanding fast food to be ready before our nerves can relay the message representing hunger to our stomach. If a airline pilot tells his passengers that the flight’s been delayed, they’ll all groan and run to Twitter and Facebook to complain about their 30 minute wait. It seems that anything other than instantaneous results are unacceptable these days. In fact, a good chunk of the readers who started this article have already stopped reading it (thanks for sticking with me!)

Maybe it’s just my inner senior citizen speaking, but no one appreciates the wonders of mankind that make life immensely easier. Take the plane analogy; people have no problem whining that their flight from New York to London was delayed 30 minutes. They believe it to be an injustice for them to sit on a grounded plane with internet access. Orbitz says that on average, their plane would take off from New York and land in London in under eight hours. If one was born before commercial flight existed, their trip across the Atlantic by boat would take eight days.

It seems like taking it slow is a skill that has become obsolete. But it’s still necessary in the age of the fast and (if they’re stuck behind a slow driver) furious.

The brain simply hasn’t reached a point in its evolution that it can process so much information in such a small amount of time. It’s the reason why the world becomes a blur when looking out the window of a car speeding down the freeway. It’s the reason why a class would fail a test on material they learned the day before. It’s the reason why I had writer’s block and took two weeks to write this story.

While a faster world is great, some parts are better when served slow. “Romeo and Juliet” wouldn’t be as good a story if Shakespeare just wrote “and lo, the teenage lovers killeth themselves.” So if life is looking like one tripping blur, then step back for a second, take a deep breath, and notice something that wasn’t there a few minutes ago.

• Dan Mika -Read More Opinioms online and then sound off yourself!

Visit www.CorrespondentLive.org-

t n e d u t S Sass What is your favorite aspect of Hersey?

5

Freshman Sophomore

Jackie Aronson “I enjoy the variety of clubs.”

Sabrina Barrett “I love all the activities and sports.”

Junior

Nick Schneider “I like the bathroom by the East Gym. It’s really nice.”

Senior

Keith Pedersen “I like our athletic programs and the teachers.”

6

The Correspondent

Haunting

October 7, 2011

Legends and terror What is the scariest movie you have seen?

Insi d iou s

-freshman Alex Nowak

The

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-sophomore Maya Moyal

Eerie encounters inhabit Cuba Road Kevin Hyde my mind to go on it sometimes,”

Local lore and legend have provided students an outlet for amateur ghost hunting and countless adventures. One such legend is that of Cuba Road. The hilly, scarcely lit country road in the wooded area of Barrington has presented students with plenty of scary and frightening accounts of their experiences.

“Cuba Road is scary, plain and simple. Me and my friends usually go on it late at night to get scared, and there have been some creepy, unexplained things that have happened,” junior Lisa Myszkowski said, “Knowing the backstory of the road is what makes it so scary.”

According to local lore and popular tales, stories of mysterious phantom black cars follow travelers down the road, eerie orbs appear, and ominous figures line the dark road. That said, many students have had paranormal encounters that cannot be explained.

“One time me and my friends went on Cuba Road and saw creepy lights in the cemetery. Everyone saw them, but no one said a word.

There was this crazy feeling that it gave all of us. No one could really explain it, but everyone agreed that it was just scary. I’m scared out of

on e r a m Night Street Elm -senior Kelsey Haas

Paranormal Activity

-Special Ed teacher Justin Penio

the wooded section of the road, is said to be home to the graves of many local residents of the area during the late 1800s and early 1900s. Many reports have claimed to see vanishing orbs and flickering lights coming from the gated cemetery.

Even though a fair share of students believe in the legends presented by the road, skeptics also like to express their opinions of the road.

“I’ve been on the road a couple times and to be honest, nothing has ever happened. It’s just scary because it’s a dark road. Some of the stories that go along with it seen a little out there,” junior Alli Harwell said.

Regardless of whether or not students believe in the spiritual legends of the road, it will keep some of them coming back in hopes of finding some paranormal evidence or just a good scare.

-“It’s one of those typical high school things. It’s like a right of passage to go out to a creepy road and get scared.

We can tell our kids about it when we’re older. I know me and my friends will still be going just to get a little scared,” Myszkowski said.

Local suburbs house horrifying hauntings Mackenzie Francis

-junior Niko Poulos

junior Melissa Hanahan said.

Other students have experienced paranormal situations, followed by some police run-ins, adding to the fright experienced by individuals willing to brave the road.

Legend has it that during the time of Prohibition, legendary Chicago gangster Al Capone and his henchmen set up places to smuggle alcohol and other prohibited items.

Some say that the “phantom cars” that drive behind people and disappear are those of the ghosts of mobsters who have died along the road.

“I’ve been driving down the road and there have been cars behind me that have kept flashing their brights at me, and then all of a sudden they were gone. It is so scary,” Hanahan said.

“Me and my friends got out the car one time and tried to get into the cemetery. As we were walking across the street, a cop drove by. We ran back into our car and drove off.

The cop followed us, and pulled up next to us and warned us not to go back and said that it wasn’t haunted. That was scarier than any of the ghost stuff,” senior Coco Hamann said.

White Cemetery, set amongst

Television shows usually segment haunted places around the country in October. Surprisingly, the suburbs of school contain some of these haunted places.

Arlington Heights, Buffalo Grove, Gurnee, Palatine, and Rolling Meadows all are known to have residents who have spotted suspicious behavior, such as ghosts and unusual noises.

One in particular being on Smith and Route 14 in Palatine.

Sixteen years ago, seven people were murdered in what used to be known as Palatine’s Brown’s Chicken.

Since then, the building has been torn down and replaced with a shopping center. Removing the building appears to not remove what happened there, though. People claim to hear weird noises and have an eerie feeling when around the former Brown’s Chicken restaurant.

“I have not been to the location, but I’ve heard about it. If I could, I would visit the place just to see how it looks and at night to see if there are any noises or ghosts,” sophomore Michelle Bielecki said.

Another place in the area that has also been rumored to be

haunted is the Brookwood condo’s in Rolling Meadows. A few years ago, two little kids died there while helping their father with construction work. Some say that the children can still be seen and heard playing on the playground at the apartments, as stated on theshadowlands.net.

“I would like to go there because it would be fun and scary,” sophomore Haley Cecala said.

In some cases, an actual electromagnetic meter has been used to detect paranormal activity in the area. According to scientificsonline.com, an electromagnetic meter is often used by paranormal researchers to detect unexplained magnetic fields which may be associated with the presence of ghosts or spirits.

A house in Gurnee known as the Mother Rudd Home was just one of these cases. This summer, an investigation of paranormal activity was conducted by the McHenry County Paranormal Research Group.

“My group was requested by W.T.H.S. (Warren Township Historical Society) to do an in depth investigation of the their property and then report the findings at a public meeting,” founder of the McHenry County Paranormal Research Group Tony Olszewski said.

“Six members of our eleven

member team are sensitive, two are medium/psychics, and four are empaths. All six had personal experiences, which included visual, sensory, and audible contacts while investigating. Every single one of the spirits located at the Mother Rudd Home were connected to the property in one way or another.”

In the investigation, male and female adult spirits, along with a female child spirit were located, and all interacted with the team of researchers.

Even though the house is haunted, the investigation team found no negative energy. “Most spirits located had already crossed over and they come back to visit for a variety of reasons, but all were positive energy.

However; we were able to assist one female spirit to cross over, and her name is Anna,” Olszewski said.

“I would say that most haunted places should be visited. to just to see if the myths hold truth or not. I would go there just to experience the feeling and see for myself if the place has ghosts,” Bielecki said.

October 7, 2011

Haunting

r and blood,

The Correspondent

7

Oh mY!

In minds of students, Halloween’s history fades Claudia Caplan

Halloween is upon us again. Oct. 31 brings an opportunity for fear and frenzy all around.

It is a time when superstitions are celebrated and when looking scary at school isn’t frowned upon.

Most students take dressing up like an evil villain or mass murderer as a

positive thing. Alike, small tikes and young adults stuff their bellies with the delicious sugary addiction- candy. During this time of year, anxiety goes up all around from superstitious beliefs. Students start to fear paranormal activities going around in people’s homes.

“I feel Halloween is a night to walk around and ask for free candy from strangers,” junior Mat Obstoj said.

At what point did “all hallows eve” become an evening more appropriately known as get free candy day? The history of this blood-curdling day actually dates back to the 16th century. Scottish immigrants take the credit for bringing over this holiday.

According to history. com, the Gaelic’s participated in a festival called Samhain, which celebrated the end of the harvest season.

Samhain was used to stock supplies to prepare

for the winter. The spin on this activity is the Gaelics believed that on Oct. 31, the boundaries between the worlds of the living and the dead overlapped and the deceased would come back to life and cause havoc such as sickness or damaged crops.

To prevent this wreckage, the Scottish would wear masks or costumes to mimic the evil spirits and frighten them away. From there, the tradition of dressing up and begging for candy bloomed.

Something that derived about from old Scottish men who believed in what now can probably be seen as insects that spread disease and unfortunate weather.

“I had always thought Halloween derived from people being accused of being witches and then getting burned and killed,” Obstoj said.

The day truly has nothing to do with trickor-treating, apple-bobbing, going to haunted house, carving pumpkins, or watching horror films.

Halloween had also been derived from situations like the Salem Witch Trials which brought a new name to the word witch. From there, the haunted histories of the night of the dead sprouted into ghosts, vampires, zombies, and more.

Not only do students think these customs of this day have gone down the toilet, but also now, it has become a day to become something the opposite of scary; sexy.

Superstitions clearly get to peoples heads though-out Oct. Things like black cats during the year may just be viewed as a regular feline, but during the Halloween season, the mischievous mammals are viewed as awful luck and “spirit watchers.”

“I believe in ghosts, and I am an avid watcher of the show, “Ghost Adventures,” which complete freaks me out,” junior Jim Thomsen said.

Young teens up to aged women have taken no pity on this sacred of nights and have decided to make it into a skimpy show. It has become a day where girls and women can wear cowboy outfits, police officer uniforms, and the best of all, bunny rabbit tails.

The day that is supposed to be created to scare away the dead has now been thought of as a contest of who could make it into the Playboy mansion.

Whether or not our Scottish descendants would take pleasure in knowing how the future of this once sacred tradition is now an unholy sham is a question that will never be answered.

“During Halloween, I believe more then ever I can see ghosts, and almost a psychic sense comes over me,” freshman Mariah Ureta said.

Halloween will be forever and always the night of the living dead and be looked at as haunted. Whomever is determined to make it otherwise may continue making what was a night of scare, now a night of sham.

Halloween became nothing more than a evening to look like a cheap mimic of Minnie Mouse, eat candy till stomachs ache, and lunge their heads into a barrel of water and apples.

Graphic by Carlos Andina

8 The Correspondent Movies to watch with... friends Ashley Hawkins With Halloween coming up, my friends and I have been shying away from the bland comedies and cliché chick flicks in exchange for the horror genre. Searching for something that will make us jump or scream is much more suiting at this time of year.

But finding a good, classic horror movie was hard. The films we looked at were too gory, too predictable, too unrealistic, or not scary enough.

So, I began another adventure on my Netflix as I scrolled through the B-rated horror movies, hoping to find the ultimate, cheesiest movie ever.

I live for awful horror movies. The never-before-seen cast paired with poor film quality and shallow plot, keep me thoroughly entertained for hours. If there’s nothing to scare me, at least I can laugh.

When I stumbled upon the movie “ThanksKilling” and was presented with all of the above; I fell in love immediately and knew this was what my friends and I would be watching next.

Tag lined “The Ultimate Low-Budget Experience” on its website, we were not prepared for what the next 70 minutes contained.

According to the Internet Movie Data Base, the film was made on a budget of an estimated $3,500 and filmed in less than 11 days.

Lead actress Lindsey Anderson met with filmmakers in a donut shop a few days prior to filming, and auditions were held in director Jordan Downey’s garage.

The movie has a cast of 15 people, all of whom I had never heard of before. The five main characters are stereotypical of teenagers: the jock, Johnny; the nerd, Darren; the good girl, Kristen; the hick, Billy; and the ditz, Ali. The little acting experience the cast contained made the emotionless, monotonous tones of reading a memorized script all the more hilarious.

Along with the horrid acting, this movie added an interesting twist we hadn’t really seen before.

No Freddy Kruger appearing in dreams.

No man donning a hockey mask and wielding a knife. No creepy little girl crawling out of a television screen.

The notorious killer in this flick: a demonic turkey. A wrinkled, foul mouthed, puppet turkey.

We watched in pure amusement as the turkey hobbled across the screen, cursing and furious, trying to kill the five teenagers that got in his way.

In one scene, the teenagers are sitting around a campfire and a stuffed animal bunny is flung through the air.

Darren, the nerd, proceeds to say, “That baby bunny got his stomach gnawed open by a beak. But not just any beak. A turkey beak.”

We fought to stifle our chuckles, but to no avail. Laughter erupted in my living room I’ve watched the movie with horror fanatics and closed minded individuals alike, and more often than not, it ushered the same hilarious response. Internet Movie Data Base states that the film is not rated because the filmmakers could not afford a rating.

“ThanksKilling” truly is the ultimate low-budget experience, and should be taken very lightly. A killer turkey isn’t frightening, but it makes for an entertaining time.

Reviews

a t t Go

October 7, 2011

Smash Burger smashes competition

A new fast food restaurant opened last week on Rand Road.

Smash Burger is a perfect restaurant if one is looking for a nice juicy burger. In addition to the burget selection, the restaurant contains salads, chicken, and hot dogs.

Smash Burger has it all.

Building a sandwich or burger with any topping, they can be made in less than five minutes. Big, thick burgers with fluffy buns makes this place unique.

Smash Burger has a modern decor and

a fun, friendly, family environment. Although it’s a little expensive, it’s totally worth it. Smash Burger has been extremely busy these past couple of days because everyone wants to get a little taste in.

Smash Burger is a franchise and is growing faster then ever. Joining the Smash Club will come with many benefits. Just hop in a car and arrive in five minutes and enjoy the nice tasting burger.

•Justin Jobski

OR Colors not enough for Charming Charlie customers

Randhurst’s latest addition of accessory store Charming Charlie grabbed my attention right away. Everything is sorted by color.

When I walked into the place, I was greeted by a sea of various blue shades and a wave of pinks, reds, and greens. My eyes were drawn to the spectrum of colors, and I struggled to figure out where to begin browsing. My friend and I snaked our way around, running our fingers over the chunky jewelry and bead necklaces that rest on the tables.

However, my enthusiasm quickly faded.

Once I got past the wide array of colors and the multitude of zebra print handbags, I realized there was nothing in the store worth buying.

The jewelry was too gaudy, the hats weren’t stylish, and the handbags were not worth the price. If I ever need to be amazed for a few minutes, I’ll go into Charming Charlie to check out the rainbow of accessories, but I’ll be sure to leave my wallet in the car.

N o t ta •Ashley Hawkins

Students welcome chain restaurant to area: ‘Original Chicken Sandwich’ chumps competition Brian Loomis

“Eat Mor Chikin” has been a slogan that has been on the TV during a multitude of events that students have watched for years, but they have never had the opportunity to do as those crazy cows have implied until just recently.

The company that put out those ads was Chick-fil-A, and they have now moved into the northwest suburbs located on Golf Road in Schaumburg, west of Woodfield Mall.

Chick-fil-A was first created in Hapeville, Georgia in 1946 named the Dwarf Grill. It has since evolved into a fast food chain that can be found in both malls as well as free standing restaurants across the nation.

The restaurant opened on Sept. 15 and has had a constant flow of customers ever since its doors were opened.

As a customer, the initial sign of long lines and the drive-thru looking like a Los Angeles Freeway may turn some away.

However, as soon as customers walk through the doors, they are greeted by a smiling face handing them a menu to keep the lines moving.

As soon as someone has decided what to feast on, a cashier is ready to take the order and looking forward to helping the hungry customers out. They will take the customer’s name and will call it out as soon as the order is ready. Although there is no self-serve soda machines, they offer free refills.

The only problem that may be faced is finding a seat.

Each seat is presented with a flower on the table and is constantly being washed to make sure that it is able to eat food off of.

Plenty of people are taking the opportunity to try something new at Chick-fil-A, which makes it difficult to find a seat inside the restaurant. Patrons may have to stand around for a while until a table is open.

The venue has outdoor seating, but as the weather is already beginning to change, people may not find that to be much of an option.

•Ashley Hawkins

C

hick-fil-A opens new chain in Shaumburg at 935 E. Gold Road. The restaurant opened in September.

It wasn’t until 1946 when Chick-fil-A’s

“Original Chicken Sandwich” was created. It is now the number one on the menu and has been enjoyed by many Americans. Other items on the menu are grilled chicken sandwich, chicken strips, and chicken nuggets.

They also offer a breakfast menu which features a chicken biscuit, as well as other breakfast favorites.

The chicken is seasoned to perfection no matter what way its ordered, and as the customer sits and enjoys his food, it is even sweeter knowing that it is a new treat that has moved into Schaumburg.

With the quick service that is given, as well as the kind personalities offering help. Chik-filA is a fine establishment that all students should visit.

October 7, 2011

Entertainment

The Correspondent

Students shine at first performance:

9

Fallapalooza entertains audiences of all ages Jessica Lynk Mixing together pop and classical music can be tough to showcase, but for the choir, this mix comes easy. During Fallapalooza, choir did just that as they mixed together pop selections like “Tik Tok” by Ke$ha and the classic “Let Freedom Ring.”

Blending together these songs helped accommodate every age from teens to the elderly.

This seemed to make the show successful.

“I felt the concert went well. We had a lot of fun, and it turned out to be a good performance,” sophomore David VanScoyoc said.

The name doesn’t come from the season, but the fact that fall comes at the beginning of the school year.

“It’s our first concert, hence fall- beginning of the year. We didn’t really incorporate the season. It’s just more casual, kind of an introduction of our choir family,” sophomore Rose Katz said.

The performance began with a meet and greet at 6:30 p.m. for parents to ask questions about choir, and for other students to learn more about choir. Then, the performance began at 7:30 in the East gym.

Tickets were sold for $3. The performance featured multiple songs, including performances by OnStage, Ladies First, Commercial Break, Heart & Soul, and the massive choir as a whole.

“There were multiple numbers that I thought went well. The ones that went the best are all of the mass choir numbers. They all sounded fantastic,” sophomore Tia Lindholm said.

The freshmen choir seemed to shine at the concert.

•Melanie Cohodes

D

uring Tuesday’s Fallapalooza, multiple programs showed off their skills while performing pop and classic songs.

“The Treble Choir (freshmen) were extremely impressive this year. One of their pieces, “Climbing Over Rocky Mountains,” is a piece from the opera Pirates of Penzance by Gilbert & Sullivan. This piece has many difficult aspects to it. It requires a large vocal range for all voice parts. The text is fast and very wordy. It is also sung in three part harmony for the large majority of the piece,” choir director Sara Michael said.

The concert was casual and the seating was non-reserved style, making the night all about the singing and introduction to the choir.

Fallapalooza was a way to show how the students improved from the beginning and showed how close they became in the course of a month.

“This concert is often challenging for the students because it happens so early in the school year. We have about a month to prepare this music. The students are still learning about their role within their new ensemble,” Michael said.

The preparation began weeks before to get ready for the show, but it didn’t seem to set them back one bit.

“We began learning our music the first week of school and have been working hard since then to make this show the best it could be,” senior Kelsey Martin said.

The performance was held with high expectations and showcased the accomplishments of choir.

“I expected the show to be a good showcase of what the choir department has accomplished so far this year, to show what we can accomplish in a short period of time,” VanScoyoc said.

The performance had minor set backs, but they pushed through.

“The dancing was great just some tempo problems, but the girls worked really hard,” junior Asha Worthy said.

Many of these setbacks were due to nerves.

“For many of the students, this is their first time performing in public. It may not seem as intimidating when you are surrounded by classmates, but it still can cause students to have anxiety,” Michael said.

Each year the choir has multiple performances, each which can accommodate each student here.

“Yes, come to support. It’s entertaining to watch and listen to people you hang out with; there are definitely some hidden talents!” Katz said.

10

The Correspondent

Features

October 7, 2011

Students seek alternative Friday nights activities

Brites Junior leaders train in Lake Geneva Phy s i cal education teacher Jeanine Konkolewski took two junior leaders gym classes to Covenant •Kevin Hyde Harbor in Lake Geneva, WI on Sept. 29 for an all day field trip.

The students were at school at 5:30 a.m. to take attendance and get on the bus for the hour car ride.

Once there, the classes were split into six groups. Each group went through team building and problem solving tasks all day through challenges and ropes courses.

“The beginning problem solving stuff was so much fun,” junior Karlie Bless said. “I loved working with my group the whole time.”

• Emily Swanson

Increased cookie prices incite district revolutions, changes

When students came back from the summer, they got a surprise: cookie prices had doubled.

At Wheeling High School, students have made shirts and Facebook groups protesting the increased cookie prices, which has done something good.

Sometime toward the end of Sept., smaller, reduced price cookies were offered in the cafeteria. “It might not be as good as the old 25 cent regular sized cookies, but it’s better than no cookies at all,” junior Jessica Jreisat said.

The reasons over the addition of this cookie can be varied. Some might see it as another way to make money, but others might see it as a way to keep students from protesting over prices.

It could be both. “They’ll get some sales back from old buyers,” sophomore John Pham said. Either reason, that’s just the way the cookie crumbles.

• Matt Stadnicki

B96 blasts beats during lunch hours DJs from B96 performed at all three lunch periods on Sept. 28.

The popular music was played loudly and pumped up the students in the cafeteria for Homecoming.

Friendly dance competitions took place among students, surrounded by about a hundred other students, to win free tickets to homecoming.

“I liked watching the dance competition because the music was good for getting people pumped up for homecoming,” sophomore Reilly Philipps said.

Many enjoyed the jam and it did get students excited and enthusiastic for Homecoming.

• Miranda Fanella

Natalie Czarnota

After a long week of drama and studying all night long, Friday is usually the most anticipated day of the week. It’s a time to forget about all the problems faced during the week and to hang out with friends. “[I like Friday because] it’s the end of school and the beginning of the weekend,” junior Ala Folta said.

However, when students get together with their friends, they oftentimes can’t think of anything to do. This usually results in spending their night bored. However, a wide variety of fun activities to take part in are available to students.

Most students enjoy hanging out with friends on a Friday night. Depending on what mood a student is in, the opportunities to do something fun are endless.

If students feel stressed and don’t want to go out, putting on some music and dance with friends is an easy fix, bake a batch of cookies, or play board games such as ‘Monopoly’ and ‘Life.’

Another good idea is to play video games; Wii Sports or Xbox Kinect are both adventurous way to spend time with friends, while getting exercise at the same time.

When excitement is desired, cosmic bowling, playing laser tag, and playing glow-in-thedark mini golf is available.

“I like to go bowling, it gives me time to hang out with my friends,” sophomore Diana

Jasionek said.

Going up at a football game and showing school spirit to cheer on the school is a great way to spend a Friday night in the eyes of students. “I like going to football games because it’s a good place to hang out with friends,” Folta said.

Sometimes students don’t feel like going out anywhere or hanging out with anyone. If this is so, students could use this time to pick up a new hobby including painting, cooking or learning to play a new instrument.

Going to a craft store such as Michael’s or JoAnn Fabrics can inspire one’s creative side and provide ideas for a craft project such as scrap booking, making jewelry, or sewing a pair of fleece pajama pants. These crafts could also be enjoyed with friends if desired.

Whatever the choice is, there’s always something to do after eating dinner with friends.

Dinner could be found at a newly discovered restaurant, or one could save some money and cook dinner at home.

By looking through recipes online, students can find a new dish every weekend and have fun preparing it with friends, for the Friday to come.

Whatever mood students find themselves in, something can always be done. By planning something to do ahead, Monday will come with a new routine and there will be something to look forward to on Friday. “I always look forward to a fun weekend,” Jasionek said.

Poll: How do you spend your Friday nights?

Hang out with friends Go out in public Stay home

14% 18%

68% •180 students polled

Carol Gresens exceeds role of “The Van Lady“ Carlos Andina Connor Hargett The Van Lady: A name notorious throughout the hallways and parking lot of this school. However, most students know little about the woman with the stickers.

“I don’t know much about her except a lot of people get annoyed with her in the parking lot. She just seems to be doing her job,” senior Hannah Johnstone said.

Her name is Carol Gresens, and she has been warding off parking lot intruders for 19 years. While she is often unappreciated and linked to student frustration, her job is an important one.

“If we didn’t have outside security there wouldn’t be any parking spots,” Gresens • Megan Boyle said. If parking passes were not enforced, then arol Gresens, or “the van lady” keeps watch over students would be free to illegally park in the cars throughout the day. lots which would increase crowding and take spots from students who actually pay for their One problem that seems to come around every spots. year which may seem surprising, is the duplication “I guess even though it can be annoying having of parking passes. her driving around, she keeps the lot from becom“Every year people try to duplicate passes,” ing overcrowded by people without passes,” junior Gresens said. In order to make sure each car is legal Erin Johnson said. to park in the lots, Gresens must often take extra Students who try to park without a pass will time on suspicious cars. have a tough time getting past Gresens, who has “Officer Hamrick runs the plate if there’s developed a keen eye for cars in the lot.

“By now I know almost all the cars in the lot,” any questions as to whose car it is,” Gresens said.

And chances are, if she doesn’t recognize the car, Gresens said.

Gresens even notices when cars (and their li- it is either new or illegally parked. However, this cense plate numbers) are passed down from sibling year students have been relatively disciplined.

“The students have been excellent,” Gresens to sibling.

Identifying all the parking passes from a van said. Her ever popular nickname, “Van lady”, is may seem impossible, but Gresens must often pa- has even grown on her. trols the lot by foot in order to ensure each car is “[I don’t mind being called the van lady] valid. at all, before kids used to call me other things,” “I’ll walk the lot to see if people have their Gresens said. “Now people wave with five fintags,” Gresens said. gers. They used to wave with one.”

C

Sports

October 7,2011

Swimming for state

• Madeline Weber

Team hopes to clinch MSL East Brian Loomis Each time swimmers hear the simple “tweet” that alerts them that the race is starting, it means it is now or never and that the next bit of time that they are in the water has to be all out.

This has definitely been the case for the girls swim team, which has come out this season with a dominant start against all of the competition in their conference. It has already been demonstrated by setting records as well as obliterating their opponents.

So far this year the swim team has gone 5-2, winning all of the meets in conference play. This is setting the team up for great success down the road as the season comes to a close. “[Junior Amanda Petro and captain [senior Erin Horne have both really stepped up this season,” coach Dick Mortensen said.

With these two stepping up, it has ensured strong leadership that has helped unite the team.

All of the swimmers are working hard to fill in the places that have been vacated by graduates.

However, it has not been a problem for the team.

“Everyone on varsity has a legitimate chance of going to state, I have never been around a team with such potential before,” Mortensen said.

This talent shines through meet after meet and is often reflected with the time drops.

“Every kid knows that they will contribute to the team,” Mortensen said.

This is an extra motivation that will push each swimmer to do the best that they can every meet. When they all have the feeling that they are going to help , it also brings a strong sense of unity amongst the athletes.

Inevitably, injuries have impacted the team, but the depth of talent has prevented any major loss. Petro has gone to state both freshman and sophomore years.

“I have been setting records all over the district, and hope to go to State and medal this year,” Petro said.

The team is well on the way to winning the MSL East for the fifth year in a row, and have their eyes locked on the state meet in November.

Cross country rebuilds

New coach and young runners take over Brian Boyle Tim Griffin

in shape, and affiliate myself with the school through sports. The experience has been awesome so far,” von der Lippe said.

The team’s freshmen quickly established The boys cross country team has started off the year overcoming obstacles and putting themselves as a group of capable athletes early themselves in a good position for the years to in the summer.

The rising stars have quickly demonstrated come.

They recently placed 7th at the St. Charles that the team as a force to be reckoned with in the Mid-Suburban North Invitational, and League. Among the had some key wins at new talent acquired the Lake Park Invithis year is freshman tational and Palatine David Rodriguez, a top Sophomore Invite. tier varsity runner.

“We’re gaining exCross country is perience as a team, and a long lasting season were rebuilding and and jammed packed creating a strong prowith events.

With gram,” new head coach meets once a week Jay Renaud said. and practice everyday, The teams season the experience can be officially started at the overwhelming and difbeginning of summer, ficult for some student and they have been athletes. improving ever since.

“You just have “The varsity team is to have the right pridoing good as well, and orities and be diligent we’re only getting bet- • Connor Hargett with homework,” von ter,” freshman Grant der Lippe said. von der Lippe said. ross country athletes (from left), freshman Tommy Powers, sophomore Nick Huene, There can be two The team suffered practices a day from some big losses at the andjunior Marat Kucherina train on the track one in the morning to beginning of the year, in preparation for their next meet, tomorrow at another after school. but they have adapted Wheeling.

These boys have to be and excelled. One big loss was in head coach Tim Phillips, who left for dedicated to this sport but also be responsible a division head job at Elk Grove. The graduation with there body’s strengths and weaknesses.

“Working hard, dedication, and sacrifice is of key seniors has also affected the team.

“We lost six state runners last year, and the key to being good at cross country,” Renaud our head coach [Phillips]. We’re basically a new said.

“I think the team is doing very well considteam,” Renaud said.

This season has brought a full group of ering how young it is, and that next year we’ll freshmen, with loads of talent and high expecta- be one of the powerhouses of the conference,” sophomore Jack O’Neil said. tions for the rest of their high school career.

“I really wanted to meet new people, stay

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The Correspondent

11

SP R S S R S Volleyball seeks state

Volleyball is a well known powerhouse in the MSL, and this year is no different. In fact, the team could possibly be the best so far.

The girls exemplified this when they defeated Prospect. They ended the first game 25-13, and coasted through the second game, final score 25 to 17. This win improves their overall record to 17-3 and continues to be in first place in the MSL. “This has been one of the best teams Hersey’s had,” coach Nancy Lill said.

The 2010 girls volleyball team had five all-conference players. Senior Kelsey Haas, senior Kristen Pederson, and junior Abby Fesl are returning players who received allconference last year. Fesl and Haas were even named all-state honorable mention.

However, all stars of previous years are not the only ones impacting the team and their goals for state.

“Taylor Schill is the best libero in the league. Maggie Hogen has stepped it up hitting this year. Erica Hill has been solid in the middle. Lindsay Boivin has come up huge for us in the beginning of this season. And Allie Mueller is always solid in the back row,” Lill said.

With such a powerhouse team, there are high hopes for the state run.

• Dan Gorey • Kevin Schroeder

Soccer strives for ‘Arete’ state of mind

“The Prospect game was probably the best game of the year for us,” senior Jared Martin said. One of the stars of the Prospect game was junior keeper, Irvin Velazquez, who had eight saves in the game.

“We have been doing great. I feel we gave 100 percent in the [rivalry] games,” Velazquez said.

This can be credited to the manner which the team practices, and playing at top gear is one of the main goals that the team trains by. It is called “Arete,” which encourages each athlete to reach their own personal goals and strengths. “[Arete] is a concept which stresses every individual striving for personal excellence in all they do with virtue and honor,” head coach Darren Llewellyn said.

“We are working hard everyday and on our mentality,” Velazquez said. The goal of Arete is to institute a good work ethic and mental game, which is heavily stressed at practices.

Like all teams, they have their strengths and weaknesses. They have bad games, and good ones, but the skill of the team isn’t fully represented in its record.

“All of us involved with the team would not say we are satisfied with many of our results, or our overall record; as we know that we could have a much better season in terms of our record,” Llewellyn said.

Overall, whether the team ends with good record or not, they are a formidable team this year.

“We have our ups and downs, but overall we are a great team,” Velazquez said.

•David Milligan

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Sports

The Correspondent

October 7, 2011

• Meghan Griffin he football team not only defeated Buffalo Grove at the homecoming game with a score of 20-14, but also claimed the “Firemen’s Cup.” The Arlington Heights and Buffalo Grove fire departments both came to the gave to support their own town’s team, presenting the winner with the cup. “It was really exciting, since BG is one of our biggest competitors,” senior Joey Perkins said.

T

Rituals create proper mind set amongst athletes Mike Miller Prior to the actual competition, athletes do drills, lift weights, watch game tape, and other routines. But for some athletes and teams, along with these regular preparations, are more unique ones.

For the cross country team, much of their preparation in the days before meets involves predictable activities, like running and stretching.

One ritual they have on the night before big runs, though, doesn’t include those or other such physical activities, but rather the seemingly normal action of eating.

The team gathers at a teammate’s house or at school on the Friday night before a big Saturday meet and everyone feasts on pasta and bread. These pasta parties are special because they prepare the runners both physically and emotionally.

“The nutrients from the food helps us for the next day,” senior Alex Philipose said.

This is true, according to WebMD, the carbohydrates and fiber found in those grains help stabilize athletes’ energy supply, and the carbs, specifically, prove a source of fuel. Both of those effects are beneficial to the runners for their success. Beyond that, the pasta parties help lighten the mood before a big event.

“They help you relax, bond as a team, and have fun before big meets,” Philipose said.

Another team that has a ritual with a practical purpose is the girls swimming team. “We don’t shave our legs before meets. It feels gross at first, but then it gets better. The drag you get from all the hair makes you swim faster at the meet when it’s all gone, so I guess it has a practical purpose,” sophomore Maggie Marusek said.

Even when game time comes and mere minutes separate the athlete with the match-up, special routines still help to pump up players.

Sophomore hockey player Daniel Niersbach has a method of observing the opposing team’s strengths and weaknesses before the game starts.

TIMEOUT! Q:

Q: Q:

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How did you do at conference?

I got ninth overall with a score of 85, and as a team we placed fifth.

How do you think you’ll do at regionals?

I think we should be able to make it out, but if not, we should have two or three girls make it out.

What is you goal for the end of the season?

My goal is to make it down to state. I’m going to need to wok on my short game, chipping and putting, to make it.

ik

ki

“I skate slowly across the red line on the ice looking at opponents who I’m sizing up,” Niersbach said. “I watch the other team’s shooting practice to see who I need to defend the tightest,” Niersbach said.

Like the cross country team, these routines help him prepare for the impending competition.“It gets me mentally prepared and in the right mind set to play,” Niersbach said.

No matter what the routine that athletes perform, they all have a common effect: confidence.

“On a ten point scale, our routines give me an eight on confidence,” Philipose said.

“I have to listen to music and get to matches earlier than anyone else,” junior golfer Matt Haussmann said.

This confidence plus other physical and mental benefits of special pre-game rituals make them an integral part of an athlete’s path to game time.

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October

Cross Country @ Wheeling

All of our competition in our conference will be there, so it will show where we stack up.

-sophomore Jacob Komenda

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Volleyball vs Buffalo Grove

It’s always fun to play them. They have a good team this year so it’ll be a good game but we should win.

-senior Nicole Havel

14 14

Football @ Elk Grove

It hasn’t gone exactly the way we hoped and we’ve made mistakes, but we learn from them and get better.

-seniorAndrew Collins

Tennis @ Stevenson

I’m very excited, it will be good competition and close.

-senior Jen Hall