SEPTEMBER 2014
THE
HIGHLAND
VOLUME LXIV, ISSUE 1
FLING
Summer’s Coldest Craze Shana Oshinskie & Jana Choi
N
o one could have foreseen that by the end of the summer, Ethel Kennedy, Adam Levine, and Chris Christie would all have poured buckets of frigid water over their heads. Celebrities, however, are not the only ones who have voluntarily doused themselves; Highland Park students and alumni (in steadily rising numbers) have also been participating in this summer’s coldest craze: the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. The challenge is simple: once nominated, you have 24 hours to either dump icy cold water on yourself or donate 100 dollars to the ALS Association. If you choose the water, you film yourself getting splashed and then nominate 3 friends or family members. This simple trend, not so different from planking or Tebowing, has helped raise over 100 million for the ALS Association, a charity dedicated to finding a cure for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig’s disease. However, the challenge has received almost as much criticism as praise. It isn’t because fighting ALS isn’t a worthy cause. Thirty thousand Americans currently suffer from it, and it is diagnosed all around the world. The average life expectancy is between two and five years after the diagnosis is made. It isn’t because the ALS Association is a corrupt charity. The Association has a rating of 90.73/100 on Charity Navigator and has identified the gene that most likely causes ALS and a treatment that may be able to target it. It is because the popularity of this challenge shows that it has, to some degree, failed. Most (but not all) of the millions of people who posted their icy splash did not donate to finding the cure for ALS. Many people may not even know that “ALS” stands for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, otherwise known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, which targets nerves in the brain and spinal cord. Strangely enough, the premise of the challenge itself contributes to the controversy. By saying “Pour icy water on yourself or else donate 100 dollars”, donating is perceived as a boring and cowardly way to escape a challenge. Still others worry that the true meaning of the challenge is becoming lost in the social media frenzy. Martha Stewart’s video, for example, makes no mention of ALS. While she did film it early on, her video is often cited as an example of the phenomenon’s inherent problems. Many videos are devoid of the word ALS or even the option to donate,which means they aren’t raising money or awareness.
SPLASH MOUNTAIN Students and staff cooled off from the summer heat and accepted the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. (In rows from top left): Mateo Juliani ’16, Jamie Atschinow ’16, Mr. Ruck, Rahmate Islam ’15, Mr. Gold, Geoff Muniz’15, Leo Goldman ’16, Farhan Rozaidi ’16, Katherine Davila ’15
Some also worry that the inherently goofy task of splashing oneself and then participating in the hysterics that often follow don’t match the seriousness of the disease. Families of those affected have mixed feelings towards the challenge, some with great admiration and others with disappointment. The ALS association has embraced the challenge, posting a video of its New York chapter members accepting the Ice Bucket Challenge on their website. If participants don’t donate and aren’t raising awareness, how much good is the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge really doing? The 100-plus million dollars proves a lot. While the challenge had the potential to raise more had donating been a more central part of its procedure, it ended up being tremendously successful and bringing a lot of attention to ALS. Dominance over newsfeeds on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram have turned the frigid challenge into an almost-overnight phenomenon, and have undoubtedly piqued users – particularly young people’s – interest in Lou Gehrig’s disease. Highland Park High School participant, Christiana Fabito (’15) affirmed the effectiveness of the challenge in spreading awareness, admitting that she “had heard about ALS before, but didn’t know what it was exactly”, leading her to a quick Google search. She says “I think the challenge has a positive effect even though not everyone is donating” because of the way it is informing people about an otherwise lesser-known ailment. Countless Highland Park students have accepted the challenge thus far. Mateo Juliani (’16) participated in the icy bath, saying that “It’s a good and a fun way to spread awareness of a disease that maybe was not well known before,” adding that the millions of dollars raised since the challenge’s eruption in popularity also adds to the appeal. Julia Brennan (’17), who has a family friend afflicted by Lou Gehrig’s, questioned the future of the Ice Bucket Challenge and praised its effectiveness simultaneously, saying that “it’s becoming less focused on ALS, and more on the challenge part. However, overall [the challenge] definitely has had a great impact on donations and awareness for ALS.”
INSIDE
The fate of other viral phenomena foreshadows what will most likely be the destiny of the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. Tebowing, planking, and Harlem-shaking all slowly became over-hyped crazes that are now only distant memories. Although tremendous amounts of money and awareness have been amassed, the fad cannot and will not last forever.
Scan here to help continue the fight by donating to the ALS Association at alsa.org.
news
opinion
feature
arts
sports
What You Missed This Summer
Conversation with a Grandmother
Back-to-School Life Hacks
Highland Park’s Budding Artists
Pre-Season Checkup: Girls’ Tennis
(p. 2)
(p. 4)
(p. 5)
(p. 7)
(p. 8)