February 2014

North CurrentThe

FEBRUARY 2014 | VOLUME 55 | ISSUE 4

the facts of mental illnesssee pages 3-8

voter registrationsee pages 18 and 19

to deport or not to deport: the justin bieber questionsee page 3

EDITORIAL POLICYThe North Current is an open forum with no prior review or restraint. It is produced five times a year by staff members as an extracurricular activity. The editorial board has determined an editorial policy to maintain a responsible, ethical student newspaper. The following guidelines are taken from the editorial policy. Individuals wishing to examine the complete policy may request it from an advisor or read it in the staff manual.EDITORIALS: Editorials represent a consensus of opinion among members of the editorial board and will not be signed. Editorials express the opinions of the North Current editorial board and do not necessarily reflect the views of the advisor or administration.ADVERTISING POLICY: The North Current agrees to accept all ads meeting the guidelines of our advertising policy. No ad may be sexist, racist or poor in taste.CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES: The North Current will avoid sensational treatment of news but will never avoid a topic simply because it is controversial. The North Current reserves the right of fair interpretation on controversial stories.OBSCENITY/LIBEL: Stories or statements of a libelous or obscene nature will not be printed. Obscenity and libel are determined according to the legal guidelines. AWARDS: NISPA Golden Eagle ’93, ’95, ’96, ’97,’98, ’99, ’02; EIHSPA Best Overall Paper in State ’95,’99,’04; Best design paper ’02; NSPA Pacemaker Finalist ’94, ’97; NSPA All-American ’93, ’94, ’95, ’96; NSPA 1st place; ’02, ’03; NSPA 1st Place Quill and Scroll ’93, ’94, ’99, ’01, ’03; 1st place KEMPA,’97, ’02, ’03; All KEMPA ’94, ’95, ’04; Gallup Award ’95, ’96, ’02, ’04; ASPA 1st Place ’99, ’02; Gold medalist CSPA ’04AFFILIATIONS: JEA/NSPA, Northern Illinois Press Association, KEMPA, Quill and Scroll, East-ern Illinois High School Press Association, American Scholastic Press Association, Columbia Scholastic Press AssociationSPONSORS: Sharon Anderson, Nicole Bachara, Erica Bray-Parker, Andrew Burkemper, Eric Day, Don Depa, Carolyn Fitzgerald, Chris Fridlund, Joyce Fridlund, Carol Gebka, Mark Glenn, Laura Johnson, Kristin Kane, Justin Kerwin, Nathin King, Cindy Maloney, Joe McKeown, Kristen Meyers, Deb Novak, Jill O’Donnell, Dorothy O’Malley, Nancy Pearson, Carolyn Rehak, Kim Sax-ton, Paulette Sokolowski, Bev Vosicky, Miriam Walton

Chelsea Hammersmith | Co-Editor-in-Chief Joe Simkus | Co-Editor-in-Chief Chris Anders | Entertainment Editor Joe Simkus | Sports Editor Marisa DiPaolo | Features Editor Sydnee Gee | Opinion Editor Karina Gandhi | Health & Fitness Editor Anisha Monga | News Briefs Editor Breanna Wishnow | Current Events Editor Nirav Virani | News Editor Kiah Vanderbrink | Asst. News Editor Kyle Berry | Photo Editor Cameron Kirk | Cartoon Editor Alex Wozniak | Business Manager Rebecca Gemkow | Advisor Carolyn Rehak | Advisor Jennifer Buck-Castaneda | Advisor

2 Table of Contents 3 Editorial 4 Stu’pinions 5-8 Health & Fitness 8-11 News 12-13 Current Events 14-15 Double Truck 16-17 Features 18 News Briefs 19-21 Opinion 22-23 Sports 24-26 Entertainment 27 Advertisements

table of contents

editorial board

FEBRURARY 2014 | VOLUME 55 | ISSUE 4North Current

2 EDITORIAL 3

deep sixes

1. Climate change: Is it over? Can we go outside now? 2. Spring break: So far away. 3. Michele Bachmann: We aren’t ready for your stupidity yet.4. Shawn White: Loser. Let us down.5. Ordering at Subway: How many different cheeses do I really need?6. George Zimmerman: Totes not a scapegoat.

1. Senioritis: Wut Wut2. Winter Olympics: USA USA3. Jimmy Fallon: A fresh new face to entertain the seniors up at 11 o’clock. 4. Chris Herren: Tearjerker. 5. ISA: Looking forward to another great show!

high fives

TO DEPORT OR NOT TO DEPORT, that is the question. Justin Bieber—icon of tween-age fanatics, pioneer of the swoopy hairstyle, emblem of

mainstream culture—was charged late last month with “drunken driving, resisting arrest and driving without a valid license,” accord-ing to CNN (and literally every single other media outlet, including MSNBC, who liter-ally stopped mid-interview with a Congress-woman to report the news). To make matters worse, Bieber is also currently battling charg-es of vandalism for allegedly egging his neigh-bor’s mansion to the tune of 20,000 dollars.

Now, to be sure, Bieber is not exactly a Boy Scout, but he comes nowhere near the status the petition for his deportation relegates him to. Run off of the White House’s official web-site, the petition currently has 260,479 signa-tures and deems him “threatening to the safety of our people” and a “terrible influence on our nation’s youth”—in spite of the fact that DUIs and drag racing are not actually deportable offenses. Still, the petition did surpass the 100,000 signatures necessary for government review, although the CNN article reminds, “fa-cetious pop culture petitions aren’t exactly a top priority for the White House” and doubts that Bieber “really will be kicked off our am-ber waves of grain.”

Now, the White House may not take this petition seriously, but the people sure do. In fact, the Bieber petition tops the list of most-signed petitions on the White House web-site—and by no small margin. It supersedes a petition to deport a citizen who was the main

suspect of a Thallium murder case in China by well over one-hundred thousand signatures. It surpasses a petition aimed at preventing conflict between Taiwan and the Philippines and another aimed at helping the Ukraine battle mass riots by about one-hundred-and-fifty thousand signatures each. That’s right; re-spondents would rather deport a rascally pop star than a suspect of a chemical attack.

What seems to be most interesting about the Bieber question is not actually whether he will be deported (we hope that most people have enough sense to realize Bieber is here for the stay), but what this means for the cur-rent state of celebrity. We tend to lionize our celebrities and get the most entertainment out of watching them fail. In fact, Bieber is probably now more well known after his DUI scandal, in a backwards, Rob Ford-esque kind of way. In the twelve hours after his arrest, 6,100 tweets were posted on Twitter about him. The same seems to be true for Miley Cyrus, who gained infinitely more attention after licking a sledgehammer than she ever did on Hannah Montana.

In reality, the signatories of the petition probably do not actually believe Bieber de-serves such vilification, but it is far easier to sarcastically rally around his cause than it is to actually pay attention to the complex issue in the Ukraine. Bieber is a topical, non-con-troversial subject upon which most Ameri-cans can agree, while still fulfilling our thirst for sensationalism. Deported or not, at least Bieber hasn’t licked any sledgehammers as of late.

THE NORTH CURRENT | FEBRUARY 2014 | VOLUME 55 | ISSUE 4

TABLE OF CONTENTS


staff writersKyle Stankoskey, Paul Pleticha, Dielle Ochotorena, Ariana Hammersmith, Cath-erine Kim, Kiah Vanderbrink, Carla Kochis, Kristin Maglabe, Ateequddin Syed, Anthony DiPaolo, Filasha Finley, Shawn Karim, Taylor Denning, Melinda Troyka, Libby Simkus, Chris Allison, Asheena Siddiqui, Tony Jacob, Alana Reynolds, Jake Jones

photo creditsJohn De Leon | Front Cover, Back CoverBilal Rizvi | Model

the

cartoon credit:cameron kirk, ’14

photo credit: john de leon, ’14

Stu’pinions4


OPINION

kyle berryphoto editor

“A marathon on ice.”-Anesh Patel, ’15

“Slope-Shooting. Snowboard down a hill while shooting targets.”

-Jason Rice, ’16

“Glacier Climbing. The fastest one to the top gets gold.”

-Paige Mishevich, ’15

“Soccer on ice skates.”-Mary Johnson, ’14

(Don’t worry. It’s just a contraction for student opinions.)

If you could invent an event for the Winter Olympics, what

would it be?


5

ATTENTION DEFICIT HYPER- activity Disorder (ADHD) is of-ten used loosely to describe a person who struggles to focus,

stay organized or sit still. Many people with ADHD, especially teens, have to bear the stereotypes society has written for them. Twenty-seven percent of kids ages twelve to eighteen with ADHD re-port being bullied by their peers, and the numbers continue to rise.

So what exactly is ADHD? According to the American Psychiatric Association, “ADHD is characterized by a pattern of behavior, present in multiple settings (for example, school and home), that can result in performance issues in social, educational, or work settings. As in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders IV, symptoms will be divided into three categories of inatten-tion and hyperactivity and impulsivity.”

As the number of ADHD diagnoses continues to inflate, the public school system is continually searching for re-sources to accommodate those who have a severe case of this disorder. There

are two options for students with ADHD: a 504 Plan and an Individualized Educa-tion Plan. These are legal documents and procedures that teachers and school staff are required to follow. These plans ensure students struggling with severe ADHD and other learning disabilities the proper educational services under the Individuals with Disabilities Educa-tion Act (IDEA). While the government funds an IEP, a 504 plan has no budget, and the student needs to take advantage of resources within the mainstream edu-cational environment. GN psychologist and interventionist Casey Pilgeram says, “We have a variety of learners at Glenbard North. We have a spectrum of students with ADHD, some of whom receive no additional services, some of whom have a 504 plan, and some of whom have an IEP. The degree of support students re-ceive depends upon the degree to which they are discrepant from their peers be-haviorally or academically.”

GN student Ashley Wind, ’15, was di-agnosed with Attention Deficit Hyper-activity Disorder last year and described the struggles she faces daily with the public school system. “I think the big problem here is that most teachers have

incurable no matter what assistance, and/or the negative connotation placed upon seeking treatment. The myth that mental illnesses cannot be treated effec-tively must be disregarded. Returning to happiness and feeling alive once again is possible through proper treatment. Depression, anxiety, phobias, disorders, and many other realities are dealt with by children, teenagers and adults on a daily basis. The articles in this section pay the utmost respect to these realities, and none of them is meant to hurt or point fingers at individuals. They were written

HEALTH & FITNESS

IN TIMES WHEN SOCIETY’S PERCEP-tion of right and wrong is largely scru-tinized, mental illness is highly stigma-tized. In regards to teenagers suffering

from mental illnesses, the struggle is be-yond words. One out of four Americans is affected by mental illness each year, and only half of people inflicted with a mental illness ultimately seek treatment. The reasons for this may include that the illness has not yet been recognized or diagnosed, a belief that the illness is

trouble understanding how to engage their students whether they have ADHD or not. It makes a huge difference for me if teachers come to class energetic and passionate about the curriculum, while presenting us with games, interesting and visually enticing Power Points, and help us to focus and zero in on the topic at hand”.

Students with ADHD deserve to be treated the same as every other student. They may need an IEP or a 504 plan, but in the end, they will be able to accom-plish just as much as their peers. After all, there is an endless number of celeb-rities who have ADHD, including Justin Timberlake, Will Smith, Ty Pennington, Paris Hilton, and so many more. These in-dividuals have made a mark on the world through their craft and entrepreneurship, and for those who feel limited by ADHD, they serve as proof that the possibilities are endless. Students who may be suffer-ing from ADHD, know a struggling friend with ADHD, or just want to know more, visit www.additudemag.com. Here, they can join a group of afflicted individuals, find help and resources, and learn more about this disorder.

karina gandhihealth & fitness editor

Be(A)ware

The Truth Behind ADHDchris allisonstaff writer

based upon careful research and person-al recollection; some readers may view illnesses in a different light, seeing as everyone faces their own personal strug-gles in their own way. To the reader, you are not alone. If you need assistance with a mental illness or problem, seek out the GN Guidance counselors, social workers, psychologists, or teachers. To break the fear and anguish so many suffer through silently is the only correct thing to do. Ev-eryone should be able to enjoy their high school years; they only come once.

HEALTH & FITNESS6

THE NORTH CURRENT | FEBRUARY 2014 | VOLUME 55 | ISSUE 4 THE NORTH CURRENT | FEBRUARY 2014 | VOLUME 55 | ISSUE 4

7

APPROXIMATELY ELEVEN PER-cent of the US population, or twenty-five million people, may suffer from a phobia at

some point during their lifetime. Howev-er, there is no reason why people should let these fears control their lives. Hav-ing the courage and dedication to face those fears will decrease the phobia’s effectiveness. As GN Psychology teacher Brady Hansen puts it, “The best way to get rid of a phobia is classical condition-ing. If you’re afraid of snakes, then let’s put in more snakes.” Increased exposure will, in the end, help those with phobias, leading them to lives without fear. Below is a compilation of the top ten most com-mon phobias that thousands of people in today’s society suffer from.

10. Pteromerhanophobia

Pteromerhanophobia is the fear of fly-ing. There are several different versions of this phobia; some involve being afraid of flying itself, others involve not want-ing to get on a plane in general for the fear of crashing. There was an increase in this fear after September 11, 2001, and the images of explosions and scattered machinery still plague the minds of thou-sands of people in the United States.

9. Sociophobia

Sociophobia is the fear of social situ-ations. Sociophobes cannot stand being around other people. They can suffer from panic attacks from being in front of people or talking to complete strang-ers. This fear is generated from thoughts of embarrassment if something is said or done incorrectly.

8. Astraphobia

Astraphobia is the fear of thunder/lightening. Astraphobes tend to show extreme displeasure for a thunderstorm.They will try to find additional shelter such as under a bed, in a basement, even a cellar, in order to try and block out the storm. A sign of astraphobia may include the constant checking of the weather re-port for upcoming thunderstorms.

tony jacobstaff writer

7. Trypanophobia

Trypanophobia is the fear of injec-tions.While doctors are there to help, the mere sight of a needle is enough to scare people away. The typical signs of this fear include a rise in blood pressure, an increase in heart rate, and shock af-ter seeing blood. Allowing this phobia to continue to take root can lead to pa-tients skipping their routine check-ups, which may eventually lead to a prema-ture death.

6. Cynophobia

Cynophobia is the fear of dogs. This fear is mostly built upon negative past experiences from a dog bite, a rough playing experience or being sheltered from dogs by parents. Whatever the case, the fear of dogs remains.

5. Claustrophobia

Claustrophobia is the fear of enclosed spaces. People with claustrophobia tend to avoid enclosed areas like elevators or small rooms. Even open areas can be considered danger zones because a big crowd creates the illusion of a smaller space. Whenever entering a room, the first thing one would do would be to lo-cate all of the exits, and stay as close to them as possible for his or her time there.

HEALTH & FITNESSThe Real Fear Factor

4. Acrophobia

Acrophobia is the fear of heights. “Do not look down”—great advice, un-til someone actually looks. The fear of heights comes from the evolutionary idea of survival of the fittest. Instead of potentially falling to death, people want a firm place on the ground in order to live another day. This evolutionary trait has unfortunately become one of people’s greatest fears today.

3. Agoraphobia

Agoraphobia is the fear of open spac-es/being in crowded places. Similar to claustrophobia, those with agoraphobia feel that they do not have the power to leave a certain area. Should they stay out-side for too long, agoraphobics may suf-fer from a panic attack. This is why they choose not to leave their homes, fearing they may cause a scene in public.

2. Ophidiophobia

Ophidiophobia is the fear of snakes. Because of their scaly exterior, sharp fangs and their signature hiss, it is no wonder why these slithering preda-tors have sneaked their way onto this list. Some experts say that the fear of snakes is commonly seen in people with a religious affiliation. In ancient cultures, snakes were seen as having demonic powers and vengefulness against who-ever was in their way.

1. Arachnophobia

Arachnophobia is the fear of spiders.No abandoned mansion or ghoulish graveyard can be complete without cobwebs courteous of an eight-legged arachnid, the spider. Despite their small size, spiders have been known for some amazing feats; these include spinning their own web and developing tech-niques to capture prey. As with snakes, people tend to be more afraid of the pos-sibility that a spider may be poisonous.

cartoon credit:hanaa siddiqua, ’17

too heavy, and tears are the only release. And there are days where something in my headlights up, and suddenly the world seems to fall into an apocalypse where everything is broken, and noth-ing can be fixed. Even after half a year in therapy, two weeks at a hospital, and daily doses of medication, these kinds of days still pop up from time to time. Just like a diabetic will always need his insu-lin, someone with depression will always have to find ways to cope. That is where therapy and medication come in.

Therapy taught me ways of dealing with stress and depression in ways that would not end up hurting myself or oth-ers. I learned about meditation, clear-ing my mind. I learned to look at things through a lens other than one with the grim tint of depression. I found ways to deal with these feelings that inevitably come up. That is the benefit of therapy, a field that is highly stigmatized today in America. Therapy is not just a place to talk about your feelings or blame your parents for all your problems; it is a place where great lessons can be learned, and powerful skills can be built. Of course, certain things work for certain people. Where meditation may help calm some down, others may find it useless and outright ridiculous. Many of the skills I have learned have stuck with me, and I suspect I will be using them for the rest of my life.

Just like with the therapy, medication in my case took a bit of trial and error. Each morning I take twenty milligrams of Escitalopram, a prescription antide-pressant. This medicine has worked for

me from the start, but doctors say that this is not the case with everyone. Some antidepressants will have no effect on a person, and some might make people feel worse, but within a month, I did feel better. Again, just like therapy, antide-pressants seem to mark someone who is weak, someone who lets his mind get the better of him. I was hesitant to start taking medication at first in fear of it be-coming a crutch to fall back on. But the medication in reality became a support, propping me up in a good enough mind-set to get the help I needed to move on with my life.

I spent those two weeks last year in the adolescent outpatient program at Linden Oaks Medical Group in Naperville, and to tell the truth, it was a lot like school. We had time to eat and do the homework that was mailed to us. For the rest of the time, we were put into our assigned rooms with our assigned leaders, who basically functioned as teachers. How-ever, instead of learning Geometry or World History, we focused on things like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and “mind-fulness.” If it were not for the hospital setting and new age teachings, it could have almost been mistaken it for any high school classroom.

My time at Linden Oaks was not wast-ed. I am not ashamed of my therapy, my medication, or my condition. There is a way through it, if you are willing to let people help. Depression, anxiety, or whatever it may be, there is a way to live your life and cope with it in a safe and healthy manner. You just have to take that first step and reach out.

F OR TWO WEEKS DURING MY junior year I was out of school. I missed Halloween, and I missed an entire issue here at the North

Current. When my friends started asking where I was, I told them I was in the hos-pital and everything was fine. Vague an-swers except for those closest to me. In reality, I spent those two weeks in circles with schizophrenics and kids with bipo-lar disorder. I was talking to kids who cut and burned themselves in the darkness of their rooms, people who attacked their parents at the slightest provocation. It was a veritable mad house, but at first glance, it would have appeared like any high school classroom. Each morning we gave introductions, regardless of wheth-er or not there were any newcomers. Every day, I recited the same line, “My name is Joe Simkus. I’m seventeen years old and I’m here for anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts.”

When it comes to clinical depression, it can become hard to define. It is very reliant on personal recollection of emo-tions and thoughts, concepts we cannot measure in milligrams or pour into vi-als. Some disorders overlap in terms of their symptoms, making it hard to label just what is going on. I do not recall ever being formally diagnosed with anything, but the words anxiety and depression were the ones most frequently thrown around during my therapy. There are days where the will to even move just fades away, leaving me in bed listening to the hum of the heater for hours on end. There are days when things just feel a bit

joe simkuseditor-in-chief

Living with Depression

If you are seeking help, but do not know where to go, here are some resourceful hotlines. Please do not hesistate to use if neccessary.

National Suicide Hotline: 1-800-784-2433

Depression and Bipolar Support: 1-800-273-8255

Health Department:1-630-627-1700

Mental Health Association of Greater Chicago:1-800-248-7475

INDIA NIGHT HAS BEEN A TRADITION here at GN for the past six years. It con-sists of singing, dancing, and music from the unique culture of India. GN students

spend countless hours putting this produc-tion together for many to see. This perfor-mance will be on Friday, February 28, and Saturday, March 1, at 7:00 pm. India Night has been recognized as one of the largest cultural events in the state of Illinois.

India Night provides individuals with a different perspective on cultures and the world. Some pop-ular dances and songs performed in the show in-clude Bollywood, Bharatanatyam, Kathak, and Fil-mi. Also, modern dances with some elements of tradi-tional Indian cul-ture are incorpo-rated. These key elements serve to make India Night a popular cultural event not only at GN, but for the community in its entirety.

GN Social Stud-ies teacher and supervisor of ISA, Kevin Erday explains, “The show should be humorous and well-performed, but I hope that the audience walks away with an inspirational message which we are keep-ing a secret!”

Priya Rajan, ’15, remarks, “Some of the unique characteristics of the show would definitely be the way that we encom-pass so many different art styles. Those art styles include acting, dancing, playing instruments, and singing. We subdivide these styles according to the region of In-dia throughout our show.”

Each year India Night becomes more

and more popular at GN, and tickets sell fast. A total of 800 people can watch the show each night, and tickets sold out two and a half weeks prior to the show.

Additionally, traditional Indian foods such as samosas are served after the show to invite the audience to experi-ence the culture first hand. Throughout the performance, unique clothing will be worn as a part of their fashion show. This includes Saris, Anarkalis, and Kurta Pyjamas. These unique clothing styles are

made up of different colors and materials to represent the true Indian culture. Also, the women wear many different kinds of jewelry to show viewers the beauty as-sociated with Indian culture.

Over the past few years, ISA has had many different slogans to promote their event. In 2012 this was “So You Think You Can Dance,” in 2013 it was “Extra! Extra! Dance All About It,” and in 2014 it is “Chotu Hit A Sixer.” Erday explains, “Chotu means small in Hindi, and hit a sixer means to get a homerun in cricket, a well-known sport in India.” Moreover, Er-

day shares, “The show has a theme where a kid struggles socially in life and ends up in success by the end of the show.”

In addition to fashion, food, and slo-gans, ISA is a group that allows people of the same culture the opportunity to come together and form everlasting bonds and friendships. Cultural clubs here at GN al-low many students to unite under a com-mon identity. Cultural clubs are important because they give a different perspective that normally is not seen.

Priya Rajan shares, “ISA is a big family. It is a true honor to be a part of the largest high school cultural show in Illinois. Be-cause we spend so much time together preparing for the show, we develop re-lationships that many people do not have the privilege to have in high school. Old traditions are carried out, yet new ones are constantly made. You develop friendships from all grade levels all based on one com-mon goal of produc-ing a wonderful show in the end.”

Erday also shares that this year’s perfor-mance will have fourteen acts with mini skits in between each act. The final act will be a dance with Erday and all of the ISA members. Overall, India Night 2014 will surely be a night to not miss. It offers ex-ceptionally unique culture with lots of en-tertaining music and dances.

India Night 2014: Chotu Hit a Sixer kyle stankowskey staff writer

9NEWS


photo credit: kyle berry, ’14

WITH DEEP SNOW, ICY roads, and extreme chills, this winter has been one of the worst Chicago has

seen in decades. As of February 5, CNN reported a total of fifteen cold-related deaths, not including deaths from traffic accidents during icy conditions.

Here at GN, safety is very important, especially due to this dangerous weather. Sidewalks are shoveled and layered with salt to prevent ice from forming. How-ever, students walking to school or back home are forced to either walk through uncleared sidewalks or risk walking on the streets. Unfortunately, clearing side-walks is not an initiative taken by the village of Carol Stream. According to carolstream.org, “Sidewalks will not be

plowed by the village, including those in the area of schools.” Eric Johansen, the Assistant Principal of Operations, clari-fied that GN is responsible for clearing the parking lot and the exits, the park-ing lot by the church, and the sidewalk up to school boundaries. Two grounds workers help keep the area safe, and in emergencies another one is hired. How-ever, the main problem about clearing sidewalks, according to Johansen, is that “If we clean beyond our area and some-one gets hurt in those spots, we may be held liable. Another issue is that cleaning the sidewalks beyond our property line simply becomes too much for our two workers.” Mr. Johansen has contacted the village to see if they can assist in mak-ing conditions safer for students, but no action has been taken by the village. So, the responsibility for clearing the side-walks on Kuhn and Lies is in the hands of

the citizens. How can residents safely clear the

sidewalks? Methods of removing snow from sidewalks include shoveling, snow blowing, and plowing. To remove ice, sand and salt can be used. But in reality, not many homeowners have these handy, and the costs for the materials and labor can add up. Why would the village leave its responsibilities to its inhabitants? Just last summer, Carol Stream spent sev-eral months and thousands of dollars to pave a new bike path going down Kuhn road, but now they refuse to maintain it. Taxpayers spent a lot of money to fund this sidewalk, but instead watch their children take a dangerous path along this street. The village has a responsibil-ity to its citizens in ensuring that they are secure throughout public locations and pathways.

Walking in a Winter Wonderlandkiah vandenbrink assistant news editor


HEALTH & FITNESS/NEWS8

THE MOST COMMON MENTAL disorders that are often over-looked are those pertaining to anxiety. Anxiety is a term used

for disorders relating to excessive fear, distress, or uneasiness in certain situa-tions, and it can develop from genetics, brain chemistry, personality, or a life ex-perience. Anxiety disorders are highly treatable, yet only one-third of people actually receive the treatment, and this might be due to the fact that they do not believe their symptoms are serious. However, treatment is important, even for the most minor symptoms.

Anxiety is when a person has general worries or fears. This can also be as-sociated with phobias, which is a fear directed towards a specific object or situation. Symptoms may include un-controllable or repeated thoughts, night-mares, problems sleeping, shortness of breath, sweaty hands, or inability to be still. Without treatment, these symptoms

can worsen over time. Anxiety may not seem like something

important, but it can affect people’s everyday tasks. Some people are em-barrassed by the disorder and isolate themselves from going out, but there is nothing to be ashamed of. There are mil-lions of people who have an anxiety dis-order but suffer silently. Chris Evans, a famous actor who plays Captain America in The Avengers, suffers from social anx-iety. Evans once said, “I can handle the craziness some of the time, maybe most of the time, but I know I can’t handle it all of the time.”

One anxiety disorder known as ob-sessive-compulsive disorder can greatly influence a person’s life. It is a disorder in which a person has constant thoughts about something and often performs cer-tain rituals or routines. This can disrupt necessary tasks that need to be com-pleted such as going to work or school because sufferers are constantly fol-

lowing an unnecessary routine. Another example of an anxiety disorder is panic disorder. This is when a person has sud-den and repeated attacks of fear, which can prevent them from completing daily tasks because they are afraid of getting another attack.

As the years progress, doctors develop more ways to treat anxiety. A few treat-ments include medication, exercise, or psychotherapy. Psychotherapy involves talking to a mental health professional such as a psychiatrist, psychologist, counselor, or social worker. This can help uncover what triggered the anxiety. Everyone is different, so certain treat-ments might not be as effective as others.Ultimately, more people should become aware of anxiety and encourage those who suffer with an anxiety disorder to seek help. Nobody should have to suffer with anxiety, so people should focus on helping those who have a disorder and finding them treatment.

Anxious to Read This?libby simkusstaff writer

ON MARCH 18, THE CITI-zens of Glenbard Township School District will have an integral decision to make:

whether or not to approve the district’s referendum to extend the current tax rate to fund many district-wide renovations. The exact question that will be presented to voters on March 18 is, “Shall the Board of Education of Glenbard Township High School District Number 87, DuPage Coun-ty, Illinois, improve the sites of and alter, repair and equip each of the School Dis-trict’s four high schools – Glenbard East, Glenbard North, Glenbard South and Glen-bard West and issue bonds of said School District to the amount of 35,000,000 dol-lars for the purpose of paying the costs thereof?” Thus, as explained in their ten-year master plan, Glenbard Township School District 87 hopes to obtain thirty-five million dollars from reissued bonds for school renovations while maintaining the current tax rate.

District 87 reassured voters that their tax rates would not increase if the refer-endum passed, as the district would be able to obtain an additional thirty-five million dollars for the proposed school improvements. Schools in the district range from forty-one to eighty-seven years in age, and therefore require thor-ough improvements. Among the im-provements set to occur is the installation of air conditioning at Glenbard East and West, which have lacked air condition-ing since their original construction. Ac-cording to the school district, the money that will be obtained if the referendum is passed is essential to go forward with the installation of air conditioning at these two schools.

Also, other improvements include needed primary infrastructure, which the district refers to as their “Warm-Safe-Dry-

Cool” initiative. In addition to adding air conditioning, the district hopes to reno-vate roofs, siding, windows, bathrooms, mechanical devices, and other hardware to ensure that both students and teachers are able to have an enjoyable and secure environment to work and grow in. Spe-cifically at GN, though, the district hopes to improve the showers available in the gym locker rooms, the school’s roofing, the science rooms and labs, the valves

and piping, the cooling tower, the tennis and basketball courts, and the forty-six- year-old boilers and burners.

The final cost of the overall master plan will be $179 million, of which $100 mil-lion is already accounted for. Sixty-five million dollars will be funded through the standing Operations and Management Budget, and an additional thirty-five mil-lion dollars will come through voter sup-port in the form of bonds, which were issued earlier for other capital improve-ments and will be extended for future projects.

Eric Johansen, Assistant Principal for Operations at GN, stated, “The most im-portant thing to me is that GN is forty-

five years old, and many improvements are needed. Therefore, it is integral that this master plan be put into action as soon as possible, and the measure on the March 18 referendum will certainly assist in speeding up the renovation process.” Many people often ask Johansen why, then, the referendum only stipulates thir-ty-five million dollars in bonds, and not more. Johansen answers, “Many citizens view schools as the cornerstone of their neighborhoods, and therefore they will go to long extents to improve schooling opportunities. Though, because of the economic conditions, it is integral that we ensure that tax rates do not increase to give our citizens more economic se-curity. Thirty-five million dollars is the ideal amount, as it will not force citizens to pay higher taxes.”

Additionally, this referendum not only represents a new start for District 87, but also offers countless students of the dis-trict with an opportunity to take part in the community and reflect their opinions about the district’s schools. According to Erica Bray-Parker, a Government teacher at GN, “It’s an exciting time for students because on March 18, they will be able to see their vote in action because of the ref-erendum. Nearly 120 students registered to vote in the past week, and I hope that they actually use their new right to make an impact. People often do not see the direct impact of the presidents and Con-gresspersons they elect, but the impact of the referendum will be directly seen.”

Overall, the March 18 referendum is a giant measure to jump-start a much needed renovation project in the district, and what is special about this is that eli-gible students can use their votes to as-sist the school they attend and see the impact of it.

A Refining Referendum

nirav virani news editor

10 NEWS


“Thirty-five million dol-

lars is the ideal amount, as it will not force citizens to pay higher taxes.”

-Eric Johansen

11NEWS

2014 WELCOMES GLENBARD North’s second World Expo! The GN World Expo is a chance for our school’s students to share

their culture with their peers and the community. Students and staff can an-ticipate an event with foreign dishes, student folk dances, and other traditions from around the world. Amanda Kim, ’14, a member of the World Expo committee, promises, “The Expo will be a fun experi-ence that will allow students to experi-ence a ton of different cultures.” Mem-bers of the GN World Expo committee will represent countries of their choice like Germany, India, Japan, Mexico, Po-land, Russia, South Korea, and others. Anyone curious about or interested in joining the Expo should contact the com-mittee advisor, Radomir Niewrzol, or one of the enthusiastic committee members. The GN World Expo is scheduled for March 15, 2014 and will be held in the Glenbard North cafeteria.

Second Annual World Expo


radomir niewrzolscience teacher

Creationism v. Evolution breanna wishnowcurrent events editor


CURRENT EVENTS12

HOW DID LIFE BEGIN? THIS is the age-old question that philosophers, scientists, and prominent thinkers around the

globe have been trying to answer for cen-turies. Over time, the answer has come down to two essential theories—cre-ationism and evolution. Evolution is the theory taught in schools and accepted by mainstream science. It says that the Earth was formed billions of years ago and slowly, life began on the planet and over millions of years evolved into the life forms of today. Creationism instead uses the Bible to explain the origins of life, stating that the Earth was formed six thousand years ago with God creat-ing all basic animal kinds simultaneous-ly and that life as we now know it first began after the great biblical flood four thousand years ago. The proponents of these two theories have opposed each other for decades, but never in recent history has there been an open de-bate between the two sides, until now.

Tuesday, February 4, on a cold, icy night in Kentucky, evolutionists and cre-ationists alike came together to watch the revolutionary debate. Ken Ham, a for-mer science teacher, the president of An-swers in Genesis, and the founder of the Creation Museum, faced off against Bill Nye, a graduate of Cornell University best known for his science program for kids, Bill Nye the Science Guy. Within days of the announcement of the debate, it be-came a trending topic on Facebook and tickets sold out within two minutes of re-lease. Close to a thousand people attend-ed the event, including reporters from various major news outlets, and another million watched live on the Internet.

The debate, moderated by CNN’s Tom Foreman, ran for two and a half hours focusing on whether or not creationism is a viable model of origins in the mod-ern scientific era. Ham pointed out the gaps in the evolution theory, as well as the various not-proven assumptions evo-lutionism makes about the past and the lack of counter-theories or ideas present-

ed to school children. Ham formulated strong points about the necessity of criti-cal thinking and the questions left unan-swered by evolution, saying, “You can’t observe the age of the Earth; you can’t see that.” Still, Nye presented an over-whelming amount of evidence in support of the evolutionist model of the world that contradicted creationist doctrines. Strong language was used by both sides, with claims like the “indoctrination” of school children and the “hijack” of sci-ence by secularists as well as the “magi-cal” ideas of creationists and purported “superpowers” necessary for Noah’s Ark to have worked. Nevertheless, the de-bate remained rational and cordial, and while neither may have altered their op-ponents’ perceptions, both Ham and Nye provided evidence and reasoning for their points, and if they convinced just one person to think more critically and independently about their beliefs, it is a win for science and education. As Nye said, “I learned something. Thank you.”

#SochiProbschris andersstaff writer

ON FEBURARY 7, THE 2014 Olympic Winter Games be-gan in Sochi, Russia. A resort town in southwestern Russia,

Sochi was chosen to be the host city in 2007. In order to prepare for the games, Russia pumped fifty-one billion dollars into athletic facilities, hotels, and restau-rants in Sochi. Unfortunately, the city’s Olympic Village has faced serious prob-lems concerning sanitation and safety.

One of the more pertinent problems that Sochi has faced is sanitation. Nu-merous hotel residents and spectators have reported dirty water coming out of faucets. Over the years with Olympic construction, landfills surrounding the Mzymta River, Sochi’s major source of drinking and bathing water, have been overloaded with debris and industrial waste. Run-off filled with industrial waste has contaminated the river and

polluted the town’s water supply. The main concern with the impure water is the health effects it could have on ath-letes and tourists. Officials recommend that Sochi visitors consume bottled wa-ter and be wary of bathing conditions.

In addition, many of the new ho-tels clearly were not ready for guests. One athlete, Johnny Quinn, found him-self locked in an unfinished bathroom. Trapped and without a phone, he was forced to smash the door open. Also, many hotels have botched reservations, having guests enter their rooms only to find them occupied by other guests.

Questionable safety of visitors has also plagued the city since the 2014 Winter Games started. For instance, there have been numerous reports of dangerous, stray dogs, many of which have since been euthanized, roaming around the Olympic Village and open manholes that

drop up to fifteen feet. The current con-troversy surrounding Russia’s anti-gay propaganda law and arrests of visitors “violating” this law has led many to ques-tion their safety in Sochi. Nevertheless, President Obama himself issued a state-ment saying, “I believe that Sochi is safe and that there are always some risks in these large international gatherings.” The president also assured Americans and visitors alike that Russian officials un-derstand the current situation in Sochi and have a good safety plan established.

The problems in Sochi prompted a Twitter account titled “Sochi Prob-lems.” With an estimated 337,000 fol-lowers, the account continues to grow as more issues become apparent. While Sochi may be able to claim the title of the official village of the 2014 Winter Olympic Games, they certainly cannot claim that they were prepared for them.

13CURRENT EVENTS


Burning Bridges alana reynoldsstaff writer

dielle ochotorenastaff writer

Italy’s Treatment of Immigrants

A FTER THE RECENT GUBER-natorial elections in 2013, it seemed to many that popular New Jersey governor Chris

Christie was headed not only for contin-ued local success following a landslide reelection over Democratic opponent Barbara Buono, but for national suc-cess as well. Many marked him as one of the most popular Republican candi-dates for the 2016 presidential election. This mounting approval, however, came to a grinding halt following allegations that the unexpected lane closures on the George Washington Bridge last year were an orchestrated act of political retribution against the city of Fort Lee’s Democratic mayor, Mark Sokolich, who publically refused to support Christie’s recent campaign for reelection. The clos-ing of the bridge resulted in a massive week-long traffic crisis in Fort Lee, New Jersey. The temporary closure of one of the most heavily trafficked bridges in the world occurred suddenly and with-out any warning to police, emergency response teams, school buses, com-

muters bound for New York city or local lawmakers, many of whom then had to respond to crises of their own resulting from an inability to reach those injured in accidents or in need of emergency medical care. Even more concerning were the claims that these emergency services, as many disgruntled local medi-cal and police forces claimed, took twice as long as usual to deliver. Schools and businesses were also closed throughout the area as many children and labor-ers were unable to travel in the severe gridlock. Chris Christie’s administra-tion justified the decision by saying that it was conducting a “traffic study,” a vague assertion which many in Fort Lee claim does not justify their actions and is, regardless, a violation of federal law.

Following the subsequent criminal subpoenas filed against Christie’s ad-ministrators, emails surfaced that were allegedly traded between Christie’s close advisors during the time. These emails strongly suggest that Christie’s inner cir-cle, despite denying foul play, directly planned the lane closures as political re-taliation against Fort Lee’s mayor, Mark

Sokolich. In these emails one of Christie’s top aides, Bridget Kelly, explicitly stated that it was “time for some traffic prob-lems in Fort Lee,” and in response to mas-sive school bus delays said, “Is it wrong that I'm smiling?” Perhaps the most in-flammatory of all the emails, which mock Sokolich as he scrambled to discover the reason behind the bridge’s closure, came from Christie’s close advisor, Wildstein, who stated that it would “be a tough November for the little Serbian," igno-rantly referring both to the problems the purposeful bridge closure would cause that month and Sokolich’s nationality, which is actually Croation and not “Ser-bian.” Following the release of these emails both advisors resigned and cur-rently have criminal defense attorneys.

Chris Christie continues to deny any knowledge of the plot to punish his political opponents, but it is clear that what many are calling the “Chris Chris-tie Bridge Scandal” is rapidly becoming yet another disturbing display of glar-ing political misconduct in the United States that will almost definitely damage his bid for a 2016 presidential election.

IN DECEMBER OF 2013, A SCANDAL broke in Italy when a video from Lampedusa, an immigration camp for refugees from the Middle East and

Africa, showed detainees of the camp were forced to strip naked outside while a worker hosed them down. As turmoil increases in the Middle East and Africa, more and more immigrants are seeking refuge in European countries. Terrorism and mass murders plague the Middle East with the Iran and Afghan wars dis-rupting the peace of the people. Seek-ing safety and a better life, these people make the treacherous voyage to the clos-est countries with thousands landing in Italy. The immigration camps house

the brave people who venture to Italy in boats, often overcrowded and in ter-rible conditions. People were outraged by the video, and a refugee said they were “being treated as animals.” Even Giusi Nicolini, mayor of Lampedusa, told BBC News, “The video made the center look like a ‘concentration camp’ and that Italy itself should be ‘ashamed.’”

For nearly three weeks, the media re-leased new photographs of protests emerging in other immigration centers in Italy, while politicians continued to blame one another for lack of coordination and support for the immigrants seeking asy-lum. In addition, journalists themselves lacked knowledge or facts on the repeat-ed violations of human rights refugees in

Lampedusa and other immigration camps. Even though there are problems re-

garding the safety and treatment of refu-gees, Italy is making an effort to improve travel for immigrants with the aid of the Italian Navy and Coast Guard. Since the tragedy in October that saw the death of 360 migrants when their ship sank on the coasts of Lampedusa, humanitarian and military operations have organized safer gateways to Italy. Over 800 lives have been saved preventing further trag-edies. The number of refugees landing in Italy rose from 217 in January 2013 to 2,156 migrants in January 2014. As the amount of immigrants arriving in Italy rise, the Italian government continues to make an effort to improve migrant travel.

14


15


The Rich Story of Early Admission

chelsea hammersmitheditor-in-chief


AS GEORGE WASHINGTON Carver put it, “Education is the key to unlock the golden door of freedom.” Now, this senti-

ment, as expressed by the inventor of peanut butter (probably), is incredibly compelling. One pictures the American education system filled with hallways of golden doors—nay, buildings full of them! A student may pick from any of the rows of possibilities, relishing in the various likeli-hoods that lie behind each em-bossed door. Right? Right!

Of course educational op-portunities have expanded infinitely since Carver’s time, and his image is not necessar-ily wrong, but in some ways, today’s students are encour-aged to narrow these opportu-nities by applying to colleges via early decision. In a modern setting, college applicants are motivated to pick a door and then commit to it in a binding, single-choice fashion.

In the current state of com-petition, restrictive early deci-sion programs are on the rise. These programs, originally de-signed for a minority of students who have determined their preferred uni-versity without a doubt, have devolved into a no-holds barred, Texas-style cage match for acceptance. In many ways, to apply early decision is seen as a simple necessity to gain acceptance to universi-ties. General application, in the eyes of many, is left for the hapless, unmotivated masses.

As the New York Times put it in a 2012 report on early decision statistics, “Many binding early decision and nonbinding early action programs continue to re-cord double-digit increases in applicants when compared with the previous year,” including an incredible forty-one percent

increase from 2012 to 2013 at Boston Uni-versity. What’s more, this phenomenon is not specific to highly selective schools, as less selective colleges and universi-ties have recorded notable growth in early decision applicants as well. To be sure, not all universities that responded to the Times report noted considerable increases in early decision applicants; several noted increases in applicants be-

low five percent, and a few others not-ed small decreases in these applicants. Dartmouth actually counted a significant loss, as their early decision applicants decreased by thirteen percent. On the whole, however, there exists an escalat-ing trend.

Now, if the percentages were to stop here, there may not be such an issue. Of course, however, what becomes more discon-certing is the widening disparity between regular acceptance rates and the acceptance rates of early decision candidates. To start with, Ivy League schools historically have laughably low accep-tance rates, bottoming out at five percent accep-tance overall. But when it comes to the early appli-cant pool in specific, that number leapt to eighteen percent acceptance at Harvard and Princeton, fourteen percent at Yale, and twelve percent at Stanford. Barnard’s ad-mittance rate leapt from twenty percent of regu-

lar applicants to forty-two percent of the early applicant pool, and the Col-lege of William & Mary’s admittance rate climbed from thirty percent of regular applicants to a comfortable forty-seven percent for its early applicants.

So accordingly, early decision appli-cants are beginning to fill up to forty per-cent of freshman classes. (Forty percent!) Even universities that have not noted an

exceptionally high increase in early de-cision applicants (below ten percent) report similar numbers. And to their binding early action program, Harvard reported an even higher composition, at fifty-four percent of the class of 2017. Yes, a majority of Harvard freshman ap-plied early decision. Now, Harvard of course, has never been considered the everyman’s school, but this is especially concerning. Either Harvard applicants are way more insecure than they had been, or some overwhelming outside pressure is creating this change.

This problem may be self-inflicted; as more students apply via early decision, pressure mounts for other students to do the same thus amplifying this change. And the incentives for applying early seem to no longer be creating their in-tended effect, benefitting a small minor-ity of interested students; but instead they have perhaps “backfired,” as Kevin Erday, GN Social Studies teacher, sug-gests. “For lack of a better term, students are trying to game the system a little bit,” Erday observes. What used to be a small, generally non-competitive environment has grown to the point that even other-wise qualified students are turned away.

Now, is this really good for the univer-sity system as a whole? What seems to be the most damning are the socio-eco-nomic ramifications. One can reasonably conclude that the majority of early deci-sion applicants must be willing and able to pay full tuition, meaning this policy may indirectly favor wealthier students, creating a less economically diverse stu-dent population. Even when need-blind institutions are considered, where finan-cial need has no bearing on admission, early decision applicants still indirectly offer very telling information about their financial situations. The only condition a student may decline early admission is if the financial aid package offered is not suitable for the student’s needs. Of course, the majority of universities and colleges claim to be committed to meet-ing demonstrated financial need, but this does not always necessarily equate to satisfactory aid.

To the same end, universities may ma-

nipulate early decision students to raise their yield of accepted students who ul-timately enroll. In an Inside Higher Ed ar-ticle, reporter Ry Rivard explains, “some colleges are offering the students most interested in attending less financial aid on the premise that the students will come to the campus anyway, whatever the price.” This philosophy does not only apply to early decision candidates, but Rivard also notes that a few unnamed universities have manipulated certain in-formation in a similar way. Specifically, on FAFSA (the Free Application for Fed-eral Student Aid), applicants are obligat-ed to list up to ten colleges or universi-ties—in no particular order—for which they wish to be considered for federal aid. Here, universities are beginning to speculate over this information and per-haps “punish” students “for where they appear on the list,” as Rivard discovers. He notes that students who unknow-ingly list a college further down on the list may be more likely to be rejected or wait-listed. Although the names of spe-cific institutions have not been divulged, David Hawkins, director of public policy and research for the National Associa-tion for College Admission Counseling, confirms the article’s claims to be true at some colleges.

It is very easy to blame this issue entire-ly on preying universities or on fixated, overzealous students, but the question seems to resist simplicity. To be clear, we at the North Current are not necessar-ily exempt from this trend (and are still hoping the financial aid gods smile upon us favorably), but it seems clear that these glaring ramifications pose worrying problems to the university system.

“One can reason-ably conclude

that the majority of early decision candidates must

be willing and able to pay full tuition, meaning this pol-icy may indirectly

favor wealthier students.”

Science, Technology, Engineering, Math —and the Arts

marisa dipaolofeatures editor

melinda troykastaff writer

IN THE FAST-PACED LIFESTYLE OF the technological era, the push for in-struction in science, technology, engi-neering and math (STEM) has been at

the forefront of educational reform dis-cussions. In fact, President Obama has stressed his goal of emphasizing STEM education in order to create a more globally competitive economy. According to the US Department of Educa-tion, “Only sixteen percent of American high school seniors are proficient in mathemat-ics and interested in a STEM career. The United States is falling behind internationally, ranking 25th in mathematics and 17th in science among in-dustrialized nations.”

Though math and science fields may put the United States in a better position as far as global competition is concerned, the question arises of whether a STEM-focused education is actually better for students. There is a develop-ing stigma surrounding people who major in an art related field in college. This suggests that any field of study that does not automatically place a graduate in a high-paying job is an unwise decision. But this down-grades the value of a liberal arts educa-tion, something that has been driving the field of education for centuries.

An education in the liberal arts offers a different perspective than a STEM-fo-cused education might. According to an article published in the Huffington Post by the president of Wesleyan University, “Liberal learning introduces [students] to books and the music, the science and the philosophy that form disciplined yet creative habits of mind that are not re-

ducible to the material circumstances of one’s life.” A liberal arts education can produce students with a wider variety of skills to prepare them for their future. In a survey released by the Association of American Colleges and Universities, em-ployers were asked about what they look for most in hiring employees. Ninety-

three percent said that “A demonstrated capacity to think critically, communicate clearly, and solve complex problems is more important than [a candidate’s] un-dergraduate major.” Ninety-five percent responded that “ethical judgment and in-tegrity; intercultural skills; and the capac-ity for continued new learning” are also important in hiring an employee. Though studies in math and science fields might prepare students for specific careers, the possibilities of a liberal arts education

have even broader benefits. The arts offer endless opportunities for

students to expand their minds and open themselves up to new ideas. Exploring different ways of thinking is a significant part of becoming a well-rounded indi-vidual, and the arts are one way that stu-dents can accomplish this. From the visu-

al arts to music to theatre and dance, the arts offer countless modes of expression that can allow people to explore sides of themselves that cannot be tapped into through solving a math problem.

Beyond the benefits for in-dividuals, it has been deter-mined that arts education can increase graduation rates and therefore improve the educa-tion system as a whole. In a 2009 study of New York City public schools, the Center for Arts Education concluded that schools with more preva-lent arts programs are more likely to have higher rates of high school graduation.

Though the push for sci-ence, math, engineering and technology education is vital for the US economy to rise to the caliber of global competi-tors, the value of the liberal arts in education is something that cannot be forgotten. An

education in the arts offers countless ways for students to open their minds to new ideas that can prepare them for suc-cess in the world, through broader cul-tural understandings and an expanded ability for self-expression. Ideally, it is a combination of opportunities in the lib-eral arts as well as science and math that would be ideal in order to produce well-rounded members of society.

17FEATURESFEATURES16

This issue, the North Current got the chance to catch up with some of Glenbard North’s teachers in the lib-eral arts to find out what they think of the changes going on in education. Many teachers at GN have witnessed first-hand the difference that the arts can make in a student’s education.

Have you seen a decline in student interest in the arts?

“I don’t think there is a decline in stu-dent interest. I think there is a decline in opportunities for students to experience the arts during the school day. Schedul-ing requirements make it more difficult to take fine art classes.” -Joyce Fridlund, art teacher

“There is a decline in [the] number [of students enrolling in art classes], but I don’t think it is because of interest; I think it’s because of academic require-ments. There are many more electives of-fered to students, so it becomes harder to choose. Also due to the weeding of AP and regular kids, [students] are taking more classes that look good and smart on transcripts.”-Debbie Novak, art teacher

“Yes, definitely. Schools reflect the communities they serve. Not surprisingly, it would be very hard to make a living if you major in liberal arts. Communities no longer place large importance on these things.“-Gary Krasno, English teacher

Have there been any cuts to funds within the liberal arts sector recently? If so, has it af-fected students’ motivation to

participate within the arts?

“We always have everything we need. When there are cuts, they take them out of salaries, not supplies. It’s a great dis-trict; it’s actually gotten better with time.

We have labs and programs devoted to the arts.”-Debbie Novak

“I have not had any personal experi-ence in budget cuts that affected my students’ performance and interest. We have always had the ability to purchase items that we need for students.” -Joyce Fridlund

“Yes. The English Department has the fewest electives of any department on campus. There have never really been any electives. Students would rather take double math, history, or science because they get more out of it.“ -Gary Krasno

“Not that I’m aware of. If anything, the district has done what it can to provide resources where needed, when there is a big enough student interest.”-Erica Bray-Parker, Social Studies teacher

Why is an education in the arts important?

“My current theory is that art is what makes me feel. Stories do that. There are stories out there that are flat, that make me feel nothing. The best art makes me openly weep.“ -Nathan King, Fine Arts Department Chair

“For many high school students this is their last chance to explore options. Col-lege is just getting too expensive, and taking a class just to see what it’s like is a drain on the pocketbook.” -Erica Bray-Parker

Have you witnessed growth in students due to the arts? Do you believe the arts make stu-

dents well-rounded?

“Very much so. There is an emotional and social maturity that comes with [studying the arts]. You put Hamlet in the hands of a freshman, and it is a wasted experience. But you put Hamlet in the hands of a senior, and it is transforma-tive. “ -Gary Krasno

“You can tell an art thinker from an av-erage thinker. It certainly does make a person well-rounded. Kids learn to live with ambiguity and learn to work with students who are not like them. The cool-est thing that I see is the community that forms. I get fourteen to nineteen-year-olds, quarterbacks, wrestlers, gangsters. I don’t know whom they are, and I don’t care. We just get to make stuff. It forms a group at its best…It teaches you to hang in there when it’s not clear. It leads to a way of approaching your experiences with wonder and curiosity or the belief that you can, the knowledge that you re-ally suck at this but you’re willing to try it.“-Debbie Novak

“Oh yes, there are all types of learn-ers with all types of abilities. Students that find interest in one area of school may struggle in another area. It helps to balance out their success and provide some ‘relief’ during the day. In addition, the themes in liberal arts can be applied throughout the curriculum.” -Erica Bray-Parker

Do you think there is enough support for the arts for them to thrive in this technology-

based world?

“Yes, there is definitely enough sup-port. People will always want to make something. I think there’s an urge to make it. In digital art class, we were talk-ing about why people make art, and I think it’s to tell your stories. People still always want to tell their story, so there will always be support. It makes it easy to take other people’s art and imagine that it’s yours.”-Debbie Novak

“This is a tough one. Liberal arts usu-ally includes interaction with people and ideas. Technology tends to be input and output. So, it needs to thrive, it just de-pends on what we value as a society…” -Erica Bray-Parker

taylor denningstaff writer

THE NORTH CURRENT | FEBRUARY 2014 | VOLUME 55 | ISSUE 4 THE NORTH CURRENT | FEBRUARY 2014 | VOLUME 55 | ISSUE 4

cartoon credit: eric nguyen, ’15

ariana hammersmithstaff writer was every bit deserving of this media

backlash, and race is not a factor here, the specific choice of the word “thug” clearly demonstrates glaring racial bias and even fear of Sherman. Sherman is held to a double standard, expected to restrain himself from getting riled up and not get wrapped up in the heat of the moment, lest he be seen as an angry black man.

On the other hand, Sherman’s friends in the liberal media seem to use a whole other kind of racism. With only the very best intentions, they run to Sherman’s defense, reflexively proclaiming his good high school GPA and status as a Stanford graduate. Valerie Strauss of the Washington Post laments, “His GPA becomes a tool in wink-wink-nod-nod public discourse that is just as poison-ous as the word thug.” In this way, the media insinuates that it would be okay to call Sherman a thug if he were not so well-educated. Even so, both the liberal

19


and conservative media treat black and white men in different manners. Take, for example, Mayor Rob Ford of Toronto. Throughout accusations of drug use, fits of anger, and a cursory dismissal of seri-ous sexual harassment charges, the me-dia treats Ford as harmless and not to be taken seriously. Consider, for a moment, if Ford happened to be black. Would he still be in office? Would his offenses not be taken more seriously?

It appears that subtle racism pervades modern society. While legal inequalities do persist, these social biases may prove nearly as dangerous. As it can be seen in both the liberal and conservative media, no news station fairly portrays Sherman, instead casting two extreme character-izations of him. Unfortunately, these so-cial biases and ugly prejudices are not going away any time soon; rather, this will take gradual change and acknowl-edgement of the intricacies in cases like Sherman’s.

Racist Media

AS REPORTED BY THE DAILY Show, the media referred to African-American Seattle Se-ahawks team member Richard

Sherman as a “thug” six hundred twenty-five times after his outburst at the NFC Championships in January. Six hundred twenty-five, a terrifically inordinate, inap-propriate, and shameful number of times to disrespect a man for one statement. The cornerback approached the camer-as yelling after the Seahawks’ win, talk-ing trash about an opponent. Athough this was not a particularly humble deci-sion, how could the media justify calling Sherman a thug six hundred twenty-five times?

“The only reason it bothers me is be-cause it seems like it’s the accepted way of calling somebody the N-word nowa-days,” asserted Sherman at a press con-ference. While some argue that Sherman

OPINION

HISTORICALLY, THE US HAS been considered the “police-man of the world,” involving it-self in many foreign conflicts as

a result. This pattern was illustrated with the conflict between Egypt and Israel in 1978, throughout the Cold War, and again in the 1990s, when the US helped Kuwait fight a war against Iraq.

Looking back at these events and com-paring them to today’s issues reveals that the US mainly participated in foreign con-flicts that interested the US or threatened its stability. For example, the US helped Kuwait mainly because it has huge petro-leum deposits. Further, it helped Viet-nam, Korea, and Cuba because it was worried that communism might defeat democracy. Similarly, many have argued that the US invaded Iraq due to the im-portance of Iraq’s oil fields. If the US truly considers itself to be the “policeman of

the world” then it would have ceased the genocides in Bosnia, enforced the 1948 Partition Plan of Palestine, and the most recent incidents in Syria.

According to the Partition Plan of 1948, which divided land between Israel and Palestinians, Israel was supposed to get fifty-four percent of the land and the Palestinians forty-six percent. However, due to constant disagreement and atroci-ties on both sides, Palestinians are now left with only thirteen percent of the land promised. As the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, Yugoslavia got its independence, but because of many disputes between ethnic and religious groups, Yugoslavia failed and broke into six countries. The small country of Bosnia revolted for its independence in 1992. Conflicts over territory quickly spiraled out of control as tension rose between the Bosnians, Serbs, and Croatians, and the revolution turned to genocide. According to histo-

ry.com, 80 percent of the Bosnian popu-lation was slaughtered by Muslim ex-tremists. This was considered the worst genocide since World War II. For the Syrian war, The US only interfered when the government used chemical weapons against the civilian population, which threatened the security of the US and the balance of the countries around Syria.

If the US calls itself the “policeman of the world,” then it must solve serious problems that impact innocent civilians instead of picking the fights that inter-est the US. As one of the most powerful countries in the world, the US is capable of ending catastrophes that take place. Instead of getting bogged down about maintaining peace in Middle East and protecting American interests, the US could have spent those trillions of dol-lars saving countless others around the world.

America’s Chosen Foreign Policy ateeq syedstaff writer

NEWS BRIEFS18


shawn karimstaff writer

February 27: Polar Bear DayFebruary 28: Teacher’s Institute Day March 1: Peanut Butter Lovers’ DayMarch 2: Old Stuff DayMarch 3: If Pets Had Thumbs Day March 4: Hug a GI DayMarch 5: Multiple Personality DayMarch 6: Employee Appreciation Day March 8: International Women’s DayMarch 9: Panic DayMarch 10: Middle Name Pride DayMarch 11: Johnny Appleseed DayMarch 12: Plant a Flower DayMarch 13: Jewel Day March 14: National Pi DayMarch 17: Saint Patrick’s DayMarch 18: Supreme Sacrifice DayMarch 20: Extraterrestrial Abduction DayMarch 31- April 6: Spring Break

STUDENTS WHO ARE LOOKING to join a club full of fun, energy and acceptance should consider attending a Prism meeting here

at Glenbard North. Prism is a club that supports different types of sexualities, but members are not pressured to talk about their sexuality and nobody tries to convince them what is “right.” Prism accepts people who are confused about sexuality and want more information as well as those who are confident in their sexual orientation. Each meeting con-sists of members gathering around in a circle, discussing club affairs, goals, and sometimes going through lessons about different topics. The topics discussed range from how the students are feel-ing about society’s view on sexuality to stories shared by members. Members openly share opinions and toss around friendly jokes whenever possible.

Similarly, Prism educates people about sexual orientation and how people all overcome challenges when it comes to defining themselves. The club is always open to more members. The supervising teacher, Casey Pilgeram, keeps a very positive and loose atmosphere. “Our mission,” stated by Pilgeram, “is to make our world a more accepting place for all people. We seek to do this by making our community more aware of how our actions and use of language can be both powerfully liberating and healing.” Prism meets every other Tuesday in Room 1406 from 2:45-4:00; any exceptions are an-nounced ahead of time. For more infor-mation please contact Pilgeram or presi-dent Amber Wood.

Best Buddies

BEST BUDDIES IS AN ORGANI-zation that helps students with intellectual and developmental disabilities create friendships

and break through social barriers. The organization focuses on employment in-tegration and leadership development. Best Buddies is a global volunteer move-ment and started at Glenbard North four years ago. According to Best Buddies In-ternational, the organization “has grown from one original chapter to almost 1,700 middle school, high school, and college chapters worldwide.” There are over one hundred members involved in this organization at GN, including Peer Bud-dies who contact their buddy at least twice a month. They participate in many activities throughout the year includ-ing dances, parties, various trips, and an end-of-the-year talent show in late April. Best Buddies is a great way to make close friendships and help bring more aware-ness to the disability rights movement. For more information, contact president April Murray or sponsor John Baloun in Room 1319.

NAHS

catherine kimstaff writer

Prismanthony dipaolostaff writer

NATIONAL ART HONOR SOCI-ety is new to Glenbard North and open to any student who has taken one semester of a vi-

sual arts class. Students must have a B-plus average in the class and have at least a 2.5 GPA. NAHS is organized by the Professional Teachers Association and is designed to promote student leadership as well as art appreciation. Alayna Davis, ’15, wants “people to appreciate and ac-knowledge the visual arts.” An art show is planned for May, featuring an interac-tive exhibit that stresses the importance of being exposed to art. NAHS works on bringing the visual arts to the public. The society is lead by teachers Debbie Novak and Joyce Fridlund. To join, one should speak to either teacher.


Olympic Beauty Pageants

GRACIE GOLD, LOLO JONES, and Ashley Wagner are all anyone can talk about at this year’s 2014 Olympic Games.

All three of these competitors deserve the media attention for their athletic ability and accomplishments; however, much of this attention is based on their photogenic good looks and modeling campaigns rather than their Olympic performance. Gold, Wagner, and Jones have all put in countless hours of hard work and dedication for their respective sports, yet reporters seem only bent on interviewing them for their best beauty tips and favorite hairstyles. In an article posted on the Australian Sports Com-mission’s website, the Australian govern-ment defines the sexualizing of athletes in the Olympics as “sexploitation,” or, “the value of the female athlete is judged primarily in terms of her body type and attractiveness, rather than for the quali-ties that define her as an athlete.”

Gracie Gold, an eighteen-year-old fig-ure skater from Chicago, Illinois, was recently named the “Face of the Ameri-can Team.” While Gold is an excellent skater and deserves all the media’s hype, much of it is geared towards her flaw-less looks and great physique rather than her technical performance. This is Gold’s first Olympics and she has yet to medal, but regardless of that, she has a large fan base and is receiving plenty of endorse-ments such as representing CoverGirl for the duration of the 2014 Sochi Olympics along with her teammate, Ashley Wag-ner. Gold should not be faulted for her beauty, but the fact that she is getting more endorsements and media atten-tion than other more accomplished ath-letes speaks of the skewed values of the media. Wagner, another figure skater on

the US Olympic team, has also received a lot of praise and attention for her good looks. Wagner is a great athlete, but her model looks and photogenic smile defi-nitely play a role in her popularity with the media and endorsers. Because their attractive looks gain them such attention with the general public and the media, Wagner and Gold have scored great en-dorsements. The money raked in from those advertisements helps fund their pricey professional careers and training

until the next Olympics. Lolo Jones, a former Olympic track

runner and current Olympic Bobsledder, has been the subject of heated debate over whether her looks played a big role in her success as an athlete. Having just switched from hurdling to bobsledding a year ago, Jones scored a spot on the 2014 Olympic team and beat out two veteran bobsledders, Emily Azevedo and Katie Eberling. Azevedo bitterly commented, “I should have been work-ing harder on gaining Twitter followers than gaining muscle mass” when Jones made the Olympic team. Whether having good looks and a charming smile actually wins over Olympic officials when pick-ing teams is debatable; however, there is no arguing that good looks, more so than athletic achievement, are the basis for endorsements. Jones’ athletic career and

exotic beauty land her jobs modeling for ESPN the Magazine and Outside Magazine half-naked in bikinis. Elite athletes are being featured for their attractiveness, and that gives them an unfair edge over other competitors because it contributes to their popularity and brings in money for their careers.

This is not by any means a new trend. Anna Kournivkova, a tennis player in the 1996 Summer Olympic Games, reached stardom for her beauty and tennis skills. Even though Kournivkova did not med-al in the singles event at the Olympics, she has modeled for companies, such as K-Swiss, Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, and Berlai, played exhibition ten-nis matches, and received tons of media attention. At the peak of her popular-ity, Kornivkova’s name was one of the most common search strings on Google. Meanwhile, Lindsay Davenport, the ten-nis player who actually took the gold medal for the 1996 Olympic singles event, did not receive nearly as many endorsements, nor publicity. It is unfair that athletes who may have more accom-plishments and athletic ability end up be-ing discredited due to the sexploitation of their young, beautiful competitors.

Gold, Wagner, and Jones are all excel-lent, honorable athletes; however, the extreme bias of the media and endorse-ment companies when it comes to pick-ing athletes cannot be ignored. While there is nothing wrong with being a beau-tiful, powerful athlete whose good looks and athletic ability combined get her en-dorsements, good looks are the biggest requirement for getting sponsored. This puts undo pressure on athletes to be not only accomplished, technical players, but to also be pretty for the cameras in order to get money to support themselves and their expensive athletic careers.

carla kochisstaff writer

OPINION20

“I should have been working harder on gaining Twitter fol-lowers than gaining

muscle mass.”-Emily Azevedo

21


What Democracy?kristin maglabestaff writer

AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL AND land of the free; the citizens of this nation pride themselves on civic participation and de-

mocracy. Every year on the Fourth of July, the country celebrates the people who fought for their representation in the government. In addition to the Founding Fathers, women and African-Americans also fought for their right to vote in their respective civil rights move-ments. These protests stand as some of America’s greatest feats, but as of late, the efforts of the revolutionar-ies seem to be in vain. Despite the work of these historical figures, it seems as if Americans are taking their right to vote for granted.

The American population is lucky enough to have a choice in who leads the country, who represents it, and who runs each state and town. The US Census Bureau recorded that only 57.5 percent of eligible voters partook in the 2012 presiden-tial election, a significant difference from the 62.3 percent of people who voted in the 2008 election. The American people are given an opportu-nity to voice their opinions, yet nearly half of them do not use that power; in or-der to have a government that meets the peoples’ needs, the people need to voice those needs. It seem as if the people who fought for the right to vote fought in vain, as modern Americans seem to take these rights for granted.

Knowing that half of the country does not use this power challenges the idea that America is the “land of the free.” The US has a representative government, meaning the citizens vote for who repre-sents them and their beliefs. In the 2012 election, some of the most controver-sial issues were debated, such as mar-riage equality, abortion, and Affordable Care Act, along with pressing economic troubles and foreign policy. When half the country does not vote, the decisions

made by the government body neither represent the majority of the nation’s needs nor wants. People who complain about government policies can only blame themselves for not voting. They are given a voice, and if that voice is used, the government must obey it. By not us-ing the right to vote, citizens are blatantly saying that their opinion does not matter;

they willingly give up the freedom given to them by historical leaders and squan-der their chances to speak up.

Though the low turnout for presidential elections is surprising, the turnouts for lo-cal governments are even more shocking. There is a general misconception that the president’s decisions affect an individu-al more than the people in their city or town governments. In reality, the choices of the mayor of someone’s town change their lives more drastically than what the president does. When asked about the significance of local elections, GN Social Studies teacher Erica Bray-Parker states, “Voters between eighteen and twenty years old have the lowest turnouts, and students don’t realize that the local gov-ernment affects the changes that happen in school. It’s your tax money.” Accord-ing to the DuPage County website, in

2010 only 51.48 percent of eligible voters participated in general elections (general elections being a conglomerate of elec-tions for mayors, people on the school board, and other officials in each town in the county). With thirty-eight towns in the county, this shows that there is a significant lack of people taking action in matters that closely affect them. When

people complain about the lack of plowing provided by the city, choices made by the school board, or changes around the city, they do not see how their vote could change the results of the de-cisions made in the commu-nity. It is incredibly important to use the right earned by historical leaders, not only to prove that their sacrifices make America truly free, but also to move the country in the direction of the wants and needs of the people.

In order to increase the number of voters, it is neces-sary to get people involved

at an early age. It is essential to raise awareness and educate students about elections both nationally and locally. The votes cast by people affect the way the community is run, the way taxes are spent, and other factors that can change their daily lives. Bray-Parker goes on to say, “Government teachers are trying to get as many students as they can to reg-ister to vote,” and suggests that people should, “put a voice to your taxes.” When more people use their right to vote, the government will conform to their voices, rather than the people conforming to the voice of the government. If citizens vote, America will change from the land of the hypocrites to the land of the free.

OPINION


SPORTS22

THIS LAST SEASON HAS TRULY proved to be a great one for the GN boys’ wrestling team. On February 2, the Panthers were

able to secure their seventeenth consec-utive DVC championship. With a stagger-ing ninety point lead ahead of Glenbard East and Wheaton North, the Panthers absolutely dominated their competi-tion. Of the fourteen participating wres-tlers, six of them took first place in their respective weight classes. Veterans Jon Marmalejo, ’14, and Jered Cortez, ’14, as well as freshman Austin Gomez, ’17, be-came champions by defeating wrestlers from Glenbard East that day. Others to win championshiops included Pat Au-gustyn, ’15, Colten Wegner, ’15, and Luke Greenberg, ’15.

The work these boys have put in has been a true testament to the will and de-termination it takes to be a king on the mat. After yet another great run in the DVC, many of the Panthers stand poised to take on competition from all across the state. Regardless of the outcome at the IHSA state wrestling competition, the GN boys wrestlers had an undeni-ably great season. While the current se-nior wrestlers will be moving on to big-ger and better things, there are countless great underclassmen to fill their places and carry on their glory.

joe simkuseditor-in-chief


23SPORTS

filasha finleystaff writer

BASKETBALL SEASON WRAPPED up for the Glenbard North girls’ team this February. The girls had a rough season, but they

kept playing every game. The girls did not have the best of luck, only winning a handful of games out of the twenty-three. Two of these games took place at the Wheaton North invite on December 23 and 24. They won the first game 34-31 and the second one 54-38. Another vic-tory came against Lake Park on January 25. The game was hard, but they won 58-

52. In the Panthers victory over Lake Park, Jennifer Deegan, ’16, led with a season-high twenty-seven points; she also had eight rebounds.

This season was very different from the previous years as the girls had many more obstacles to over come, like space for practice, late finals, and the biggest one, injuries to key players. Though the season may not have been the best, se-nior Laila Pickens, ’14, still had a positive attitude. Pickens concluded, “This sea-son has been a long one. We have faced some competitive teams, but we have

also had many stand out victories. Hope-fully the girls get a lot of good work in during the off-season to make next year even better.” This will be the last season playing for GN for Pickens along with Caitlyn Deegan, ’14, Emily Skorupa, ’14, Katie Chamberlain, ’14, Samantha Yocum, ’14, and Marisa Ferreri, ’14. The girls have already played their last regular season games and went off to regionals, where they faced a litany of other schools. The girls’ season was a tough one, but they pulled through and kept playing their hardest.

SO FAR THIS SEASON, THE GLE-nbard North Boys’ Basketball team has an overall record of 16-5 and has a record of 8-2 in

conference play. Ten seniors and eight juniors fill out the team, including Jer-emiah Fleming, ’14, who averages 14.4 points per game, Justin Jackson, ’14, who averages 9.5 points per game, Kend-all Holbert, ’14, who averages 10.8 points per game, and Chip Flanigan, ’14, who averages 19.5 points per game. These are just a few of the talented senior players the team has this season.

All eighteen players have played re-markably well this season, with a win in the District 87 tournament back in No-vember. They finished 3-0 in that tourna-ment, beating all three Glenbards by at least six points. The largest victory of that tournament was by sixteen points when they beat Glenbard East 62-46. After a loss at Hinsdale South, the team bounced back and won five games in a

row, but what goes up must come down. The team could not pull out the win against Phillips (68-66). The next day the

team was ready for Elgin. They creamed Elgin by twenty-two points in a score of 98-76, showing that they have the ability

to bounce back from a tough loss.After a three game win streak, the team

narrowly lost to Geneva by a score of 55-53. Three days later, the Panthers beat conference rival Wheaton North (70-52). The team’s next game was a tough con-ference loss to Naperville North (49-46). The team bounced back by going on a three game win streak. The team starts regionals on March 3, so be sure to cheer the boys on to victory.

paul pletichastaff writer

Boys’ Basketball

Wrestling Girls’ Basketball


photo credit:kyle berry, ’14

photo credit:GN Wrestling

Varsity Wrestling 2013-14

Junior Varsity Wrestling 2013-14

Freshman Wrestling 2013-14

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT24


ON JANUARY 26, THE FIFTY- sixth Annual Grammy Awards were held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Originally set

to air in February, the show was resched-uled in order to avoid competing with the 2014 So-chi Winter Olym-pic Games. Hosted by rapper LL Cool J, the awards aired on CBS at eight pm.

Opening at this year’s production were none other than the pop phe-nomenon Beyoncé and rapper Jay-Z. Singing their song “Drunk In Love,” the power couple set the tone for a night of numer-ous other incred-ible performances. Macklemore, Ryan Lewis, and Mary Lambert’s perfor-mance garnered a large amount of controversy. During their performance of gay-rights anthem “Same Love,” Queen Latifah married thirty-three couples, both gay and straight, in a mass wedding. Joining the celebration, Ma-donna sang a modified version of her ’80s hit “Open Your Heart to Me” to show her support for marriage equality. However, not everyone was as supportive of the pro-equal rights message the performance sent. For example, actor Kirk Cameron called the performance an “assault on the traditional family.” On a lighter note, other performances were applauded for their originality, namely the mash-up of Imagine

Dragons’ “Radioactive” and Kendrick La-mar’s “good kid, m.A.A.d city.”

The Grammys also paid tribute to two of the most influential musicians of all time, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr. On behalf of the band The Beatles, the two accepted the Lifetime Achievement Award. Commenting on the award, Starr stated, “It’s a lifetime achievement award

but I feel like we’ve all got a lot more life in us. Beatles music is still out there and that’s the thing I’m most proud of.” In honor of their success in the music in-dustry, both McCartney and Starr took to the stage to perform a medley of their greatest hits.

The show also included many big win-ners in their respective categories. The awards of Album of the Year, Best Pop/Duo Performance, and Record of the Year went to none other than Daft Punk with their album Random Access Memories and song “Get Lucky.” Furthermore, breakout star Lorde, from New Zealand, won Song

of the Year and Best Solo Performance with her hit, “Royals,” and Bruno Mars took home Best Pop Vocal Album for Unorthodox Jukebox. Moreover, country newcomer Kacey Musgraves was able to win Best Country Album, knocking out competitor Taylor Swift. Astoundingly, Musgraves took the award home after only her first time being nominated for

the Grammys.Unfortunately,

many stars were completely shut out, going home without a single award. Most sur-prising of all was none other than singer/songwriter Taylor Swift, who had won seven previously. While her album Red has been certi-fied 4x Platium and sold 3.9 mil-lion copies, Swift failed to win a single Grammy award. Another surprise included Kendrick Lamar who went into the award show with an amazing

seven nominations. Lamar was up for Album of the Year, Best New Artist, and several other rap awards yet he failed to win. Fellow rapper Drake, who was also nominated five awards, also failed to win.

Overall, the 2014 Grammy Awards were a complete success. Pulling in an amazing 29 million viewers, the show kept true to its mission to honor musi-cians and their achievement in the indus-try in mind.

chris andersentertainment editor

25The Grammys

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT


THE EIGHTY-SIXTH ANNUAL Academy Awards ceremony will take place on March 2, 2014. The ceremony will be

hosted by Ellen DeGeneres, returning to the stage after hosting the cer-emony in 2007. An Oscar is one of the most prestigious awards honoring achievements in the film industry. The first Academy Awards were presented in 1929, and other award ceremonies such as the Emmy Awards and Grammy Awards were modeled after the Academy Awards.

The nominees for Best Picture in the Oscars this year include American Hustle, Captain Phillips, Dallas Buyers Club, Gravity, Her, Nebraska, Philomena, 12 Years a Slave, and The Wolf of Wall Street. Below are descriptions of each film.

Gravity: Gravity, directed by Alfonso Cuarón, focuses on two astronauts, a medical engineer (Sandra Bullock), and a veteran astronaut (George Clooney). A simple mission fails as they en-counter complications, and the two must fight for their lives.

American Hustle: This film, di-rected by David O. Russell, fol-lows con man Irving Rosenfeld (Christian Bale) who, along with his British partner Sydney Prosser (Amy Adams) is forced to work for an FBI agent, Richie DiMaso (Bradley Cooper). DiMaso leads them into a world of Jersey powerbro-kers and the mafia.

12 Years a Slave: Directed by Steven McQueen, the film follows the story of a free black man named Solomon who was abducted into slavery, pre-Civil War.

As Solomon struggles to retain his dignity and deal with the harsh treatment of his owner, a meeting with a Canadian aboli-tionist changes his life.

Nebraska: This film, directed by Alex-ander Payne, is a classic as it follows a family across America. After receiving a sweepstakes letter in the mail, a man

thinks he is rich and talks his son into tak-ing a road trip to claim the fortune.

Captain Phillips: Directed by Paul Greengrass, the film focuses on the re-lationship between the Alabama’s com-manding officer, Captain Richard Phil-

lips, and the Somali pirate captain, Muse, who takes him hostage. Both find them-selves at the mercy of forces beyond their control as the ship crashes.

The Wolf on Wall Street: Based on the true story of Jordan Belfort (Leonardo Di-Caprio) and directed by Martin Scorcese, the film follows a New York stockbroker

as he refuses to cooperate in a large securities fraud case that in-cludes mob infiltration into Wall Street and the corporate banking world.

Philomena: Philomena was di-rected by Stephen Frears and fol-lows a young girl, Philomena Lee, who had a child out of wedlock and is not appreciated by her Irish-Catholic community. She is forced to give the child up for adoption and deals with conse-quences years later.

Dallas Buyers Club: Jean-Marc Vallée directed the film that fea-tures Ron Woodroof, a cowboy and electrician who, when diag-nosed with HIV, flees to Mexico and smuggles in restricted medi-cine with Rayon, a fellow HIV patient. Ron and Rayon then start the “buyers club” in which those with HIV pay a monthly fee for the medicine.

Her: Spike Jonze directs the film that follows Theodore Twombly, a personal letter writer for those who cannot express their feel-ings, as he deals with his divorce from his high school sweetheart. After purchasing an artificial intel-ligence operating system, he be-gins to fall in love with “her”—the

computer system itself.

Academy Award Nominated Moviesasheena siddiqui staff writer

photo credit:www.latimes.com

photo credit:www.bubblews.com

ADVERTISEMENTS 27


ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT26

chris allisonstaff writer

Portlandia


PORTLAND, OREGON IS HOME to an eclectic group of individu-als who are artistic, young, and have one goal in mind: to keep

the “Dream of the ’90s” alive. The Port-land mentality is reflected in the idea of getting piercings and tattoos, being eco-friendly, forming bands, and sleeping late. Most tourists visit Portland to expe-rience a brand new culture, and maybe even make fun of the people who inhabit “The Rose City.” But there’s a way to ob-serve this culture from the comfort of one’s own home: Portlandia.

Portlandia is a satire/sketch comedy show that began in 2011 and stars Fred Armisen of Saturday Night Live, and Carrie Brownstein, an indie rocker from the bands Wild Flag and Sleater-Kinney. Together, this power-duo creates hi-

larious sketches that mock and almost shame the residents of Portland, Oregon. Promptly after a short sketch by Armisen and Brownstein, the introductory theme begins. Washed Out’s indie-synth single “Feel It All Around” (instrumental) plays as shaky video clips of Portland in a green tint flash on and off the screen. The intro-duction captures the essence of Portland in a documentary style before the com-edy begins.

As previously mentioned, the show is a mockery of Portland residents; so Ar-misen and Brownstein devised a list of recurring characters that they play that are as close to real residents as possible. Some characters are feminist bookstore owners, artisan merchants, bohemian couples, and dysfunctional families. The script, costumes, settings, and acting on

behalf of Armisen and Brownstein make Portlandia a comedic masterpiece. GN student Ken O’Leary, ’16, says, “Port-landia is a hilarious and one-of-a-kind TV show that does a great job shining light on the underbelly of society. I believe ev-eryone should watch it.”

Viewers can catch up with all of the past three seasons on Netflix or Hulu Plus. Luckily, a brand new season, after much anticipation, is finally being aired on IFC (Independent Film Channel) Thurs-day, February 27 at 10/9 Central. Watch-ing this television masterpiece allows the viewer to be immersed in the Portland lifestyle and keep the “Dream of the ’90s” alive by tuning in to Portlandia on IFC.

IT HAS BEEN THREE MONTHS SINCE

the release of the next generation of consoles, the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, and disagreements among gam-ers about these two consoles are

causing a so-called “console war.” This is the second occurrence, the first be-ing between Sega and Nintendo during the ’90s and early 2000s. To explain, a console war is when two or more game companies compete with one another by having better games, software, and a larger fan base to support them.

Sony’s console, PlayStation Four (PS4), is a console that focuses entirely on the gaming experience. It still has Netflix and other types of entertainment, but the PS4’s main focus is on making certain that games are playable, fun, and lead to a good experience for users. Each game

on the PS4 runs at a graphical setting of 1080p native (HD), making its games look gorgeous. “We wanted to make sure nothing would come between the player, the platform and play,” says Mark Cerny, lead PS4 analyst. In addition, the PS4 is the more popular console, but that is only because it was launched in more coun-tries than the Xbox One. The PS4 also has the highest amount of consoles sold over the last decade, an impressive 4.2 million units sold, compared to Xbox’s three mil-lion.

Microsoft’s console, Xbox One, changes everything gamers know about a console. Instead of focusing entirely on games, Xbox One focuses on many areas of entertainment, ranging from so-cial media to Netflix and Hulu. As for its games, the Xbox One also does a good job; games on the Xbox One run on 720p but are made to look like 1080p. To-clarify, Xbox One games appear to have

the same graphics as PS4, but they do not. Neat, right? This sacrifice of graph-ics is not for nothing. Every Xbox One game runs at a smooth sixty frames per second. The constant sixty frames per second mean that games will run visu-ally clear, something that the PS4 cannot do. Although it did not sell as much, the Xbox One was the fastest-selling con-sole in the history of video games, sell-ing over 908,000 units in a span of one month.

These two consoles are big improve-ments of this last generation. If gamers want a variety of things instead of the usual gaming, Xbox One is for them. If gamers want nothing but the gaming ex-perience, then PS4 is their stop. Both PS4 and Xbox One are the true definition of next generation gaming.

jake jonesstaff writer

Console War

Benedictine UNIVERSITY

(630) [email protected]

ben.edu/fastest5700 College Rd. • Lisle, IL 60532

RSVP today! Spring Open House, March 9

ben.edu/SpringOH

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TM 02062014-001 Top Driver AD Carol Stream Ad 3.5w x 3.5h BW.pdf 1 2/6/2014 10:21:31 AM

-Mark Twain

“I have never let my schooling

interfere with my education.”

February 2014

Documents

Transcript of February 2014