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FEBRUARY 13, 2020
VOLUME 93, ISSUE 5
DIVERSITY AT LHS
LACK OF TEACHER DIVERSITY LUNAR NEW YEAR BLACK HISTORY MONTH BEING MIXED-RACE AT LHS
P. 7-9 P. 14-15 P. 16-17 P. 18
LIBERTYVILLE HIGH SCHOOL’S
STUDENT NEWS PUBLICATION
NEWS 4 GLOBAL & NATIONAL
News Briefs
5 STATE
Illinois becomes 11th
state to legalize
marijuana
5
21-23 VIDEO GAMES
Gaming Revolution: The SPORTS
Rise of Esports
24-25DIVERSITY
The Cultures that
Influenced our
Favorite Sports
21-23
WHO WE ARE CONNECT
Drops of Ink is a student-written, edited and JOIN US ON SOCIAL MEDIA
produced high school publication. Our publi-
cation functions as a service to the school and @lhsdoi @lhsdoi
greater community of Libertyville, first and
foremost delivering open-minded, informative Libertyville High Visit us at
content that is relevant to our readership. While School
Drops of Ink lhsdoi.com
not our primary motive, Drops of Ink also looks
to provide entertainment to our audience.
WE’D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU
We aim to challenge readers to see different
perspectives and gain knowledge of the world Contact us at doi@lhswildcats.org
around us. Contents by Jasmine Lafita
Cover illustration by Cali Lichter
2 DROPS OF INK
7-9 DIVERSITY PACKAGE
FEATURES Daring to be more
Diverse; LHS Welcomes
Equity Coordinator
11-13 ADOPTION
Adopting a New
Perspective
14-15 CHINESE NEW YEAR
Aw Rats, Another New
Year?
16-17 BLACK HISTORY MONTH
Beyond the Basics of
Black History
26 TRENDS
What’s Trending:
14-15
Popular Songs Around
the World
27 CROSSWORD
Food Across the
Country Crossword
18 COLUMN
Off-White: What it’s like
being a mixed race
OPINION
student at LHS
19 COLUMN
The Privileged Tourist’s
Dillemma
20 COLUMN
Indigenous Voices
18
Matter
STAFF MEMBERS
EDITORIAL BOARD MOLLY BOUFFORD
Online Editor Pavan Acharya Jasmine Lafita
ELLA MARSDEN AND AMANDA BLACK Sarah Bennett Megan Lenzi
CLAIRE SALEMI Managing Editor Sara Bogan Cali Lichter
Editors in Chief IAN COX Sayre DeBruler Maguire Marth
ella.marsden@lhswildcats.org Layout & Design Editor Jade Foo Anika Raina
claire.salemi@lhswildcats.org MOIRA DUFFY Mara Gregory Christian Roberts
News Editor Lily Hieronymus Peyton Rodriguez
MICHAEL GLUSKIN CHARLOTTE PULTE Rowan Hornsey Lillian Williams
Faculty Adviser Features Editor Brooke Hutchins Sophia Zumwalt
michael.gluskin@d128.org ANDREW BENOIT Natalie Isberg
Opinion Editor
FEBRUARY 2020 3
NEWS BRIEFs
NEWS
Anika Raina Charlotte Pulte
GLOBAL Coronavirus
Coronavirus, a group of viruses that can cause disease, originated in China early this year has infected
and killed more than 500 people (as of Feb.4); the virus has since spread to eight other countries and
infected over 23,000 people, according to CNN.
The illness primarily fluctuates the ability of the respiratory system and causes fevers, but can also
resemble symptoms of the common flu. In mid-January, a Washington man caught symptoms of the
virus while travelling to the city of Wuhan in China, making the United States the first country outside of
Asia to be contaminated. As of Jan. 27, there are five confirmed cases of the virus in California, Arizona,
Chicago and Washington State.
Scientists and health officials have stated that the virus was first generated in a fish market and can be
transmitted through human contact.
Brexit
As of Jan. 31, the United Kingdom has departed from the European Union. This decision was originally
formulated by former Prime Minister Theresa May in June of 2016, but all three of her proposals were
rejected by parliament. Prime Minister Boris Johnson continued with the UK’s withdrawal and his contract
was passed on Jan. 31, formly ending the UK’s involvement with the EU. The first eleven months will be a
transition period for the United Kingdom, forcing them to comply with the EU’s rules. During this period,
the EU and Britain will have to decide how to dispute trade relations as well as security cooperation. If the
eleven month period proves to be too short, Johnson will have to either prolong the transition period or
comply with the EU’s tariffs on goods.
National Presidential Election
Impeachment Trial
The 2020 presidential election will take
On Dec. 18, 2019, President Trump was impeached by the House of Repre- place later this year on Nov. 3. So far, 12
sentatives and charged with the abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. Democratic candidates are running along
The impeachment trial in the Senate began on Jan. 21. Most of the tri- with three Republican candidates.
al revolves around the Trump-Ukraine relationship, in which it is alleged that According to The New York Times, the
President Trump withheld security assistance and a meeting with Ukraine’s most favored Democratic presidential can-
president so that Ukraine would start an investigation into Joe Biden, former didates leading the race include Joe Biden,
vice president and a Democractic contender for president. Republican officials Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren. As for
deny the allegations and rejected Democrats’ attempts to subpoena witnesses the Republicans, President Trump will likely
or allow documents pertaining to the Ukraine scandal to be presented in the not face much of a serious challenge from
Senate trial by a 51-49 vote. The final impeachment vote will be on Feb. 5 and the two men also seeking the nomination.
will determine if President Trump will be on the ballot later this year. Recent voting trends predict that the
On Feb. 5, the Senate acquitted President Trump, meaning he will remain in 2020 election will have a large voting turn-
office, solidifying his place on the ballot for the upcoming presidential election. out.
During the Iowa Caucus earlier this month,
President Trump easily won the Republican
contest. As for the Democrats, Pete
Feb. 14, 15
Upcoming @ LHS Buttigieg and Bernie Sanders were the
leading candidates after initial results were
Romeo and Juliet in Feb. 15 Feb. 22 released.
Auditorium Best Buddies Carnival Turnabout in Main
@ 7:30 Feb. 14, 9:00 Feb. 15 in Main Gym Gym
4 DROPS OF INK
NEWS
ILLINOIS BECOMES 11TH STATE TO LEGALIZE
RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA
Jasmine Lafita Megan Lenzi
The new law outlines that amounts will be taxed
based on the percentage of Tetrahydrocannabinol, or
THC, in the product. THC is the chemical in marijuana
that releases dopamine into the brain, giving people
the high when they use marijuana.
According to ABC 7 News, recreational cannabis
products containing less than 35 percent THC will be
taxed at 10 percent of the price; 35 percent THC will
be taxed at 20 percent; and more than 35 percent
THC will be taxed at 25 percent. Individual
municipalities will be able to place additional taxes on
recreational marijuana, if they choose to do so.
Medical marijuana will not be taxed.
Representative Edly-Allen would like more of the
tax money to go to mental health and substance
abuse help, stating, “We need to support the
people who struggle with addiction. We have very
little money going towards that. Some people will
say, ‘We don’t need to tax [cannabis] that much,’ but
we need to take care of the people who are falling
through the cracks.”
The Rise dispensary opened in Mundelein on Jan. 1. There are 37 recreational This law has led to the opening of 37 recreational
marijuana dispensaries that opened throughout Illinois since the new law came marijuana dispensaries across Illinois. The Chicago
into effect. Tribune explained that these stores brought in more
than $3.2 million on the first day they were open,
O n Jan. 1, following a law passed last year by the Illinois General Assembly, Illinois
became the 11th state in the nation to legalize recreational marijuana.
This law states that all adults over the age of 21, who are residents of Illinois, can
leading to many having to close because of the
immense demand. Dispensaries are expected to bring
in $420 million by the end of the year.
purchase up to 30 grams of marijuana plant material. It also states that it is a felony In a village newsletter sent out to Libertyville
to give any of the marijuana bought legally to other people. residents, there was a poll on whether or not Liber-
People in prison for possession of fewer than 30 grams of marjuana. previously a tyville should try to get a dispensary, and 75 percent
crime, will be released and have their records expunged. Anything over 30 grams is of the respondents voted no. The Libertyville Village
still considered a felony with a mandatory jail sentence. Board also voted not to zone a dispensary in town.
According to the Chicago Tribune, the Illinois House of Representatives passed According to Mayor Weppler, even if they voted in
the law by a 66-47 vote and the State Senate passed it by a 38-17 vote. The favor of one, “There’s [a dispensary] in Mundelein, and I
representative for Libertyville’s district, Mary Edly-Allen, voted “no” on the bill. don’t think another would open up that close.”
“I’m totally for expunging records. I don’t think that anyone should be The new law may also increase the use of marijuana
incarcerated for [less than 30 grams of] marijuana, but I think we’re about two years in teenagers. According to the National Survey on
ahead of ourselves because police don’t have any way of testing in the field [for Drug Use and Health, in the other states that have
DUIs],” explained Representative Edly-Allen. legalized cannabis, use among those 12 and older is 10
One of the most prevailing issues surrounding the law, as Representative percent greater than in other states.
Edly-Allen referenced, is the inability to test people for cannabis on the spot. It is likely that LHS will see an upsurge in marijuana
Libertyville’s mayor, Terry Weppler, said during a phone interview, “The problem is, use because of this law. According to Officer Kincaid,
there’s no breathalyzer for marijuana use, and that’s why I’m against it.” “Whenever you have more of something and it’s no
Officer Wayne Kincaid, Libertyville High School’s police liaison, added, “We’ll longer illegal and since it’s recreational, there’s more
probably find more people driving under the influence [of marijuana]. Studies have supply, so students will have more access to it.”
shown that where they’ve done this before, like in Colorado or Oregon, that DUIs LHS has not taken any specific measures to
go up.” prevent marijuana use after this law was passed, but
Libertyville is $180,000 short of the funds to get equipment to test Officer Kincaid explained that the school will continue
whether people have ingested marijuana. Even if Libertyville were able to pay for to use drug-sniffing dogs and educate students on
this, it would need to be approved by the courts before it could be used by police the dangers of marijuana.
officers. Marijuana also stays in the body for much longer than alcohol does, so it
would take new technology to test for that as well, according to Mayor Weppler.
FEBRUARY 2020 5
ADVERTISEMENTS 6 DROPS OF INK
diversity
Teacher Demographics
Daring Within LHS
To Be 1.7%
0.8% 2.5%
More
0.3%
White
Diverse
Asian
Hispanic
Mara Gregory Black
Brooke Hutchins
Ian Cox 94.6% Other
T he majority of students at Libertyville High School are white, 80.7
percent of them to be exact, according to the Illinois School Re-
port Card. Whether you’ve merely ventured the halls during a passing
find out next year — is that different perspective,” she explained.
Higgins also stated that when speaking on racially-charged topics,
it can be challenging because most LHS teachers don’t possess the
period, or you’re a student here, chances are the homogeneity of first-hand understanding needed to provide students with an inside
the student body is something you’ve taken note of. This pattern is perspective. “For example, I know in [English] last year, we talked
also reflected among teachers and to an even greater degree — 94.6 about police brutality, but it’s from an outsider, saying ‘This is how
percent of teachers at LHS are white. it is.’ And it never goes deeper than that just because that’s the
This is not a situation unique to LHS. In fact, according to an perspective they can give us.”
article from The Washington Post, the number of students of color Junior Celia McDermott-Hinman, who is white, agreed with this
outweigh teachers of color in almost all U.S. school districts. The sentiment, saying that teachers at LHS do the best they can to teach
teaching industry in the US is primarily dominated by white women, students a wide range of perspectives, but having more diversity
with 80.1 percent of teachers being white, and 76.6 percent of them would help.
being female, as reported by the National Center for Education Sta- Junior Amal Hasan, who is Muslim, also expanded upon the topic
tistics in 2016. This is an issue, as “minority students often perform of teacher diversity, stating that every teacher she’s ever had has
better on standardized tests, have improved attendance, and are been white. “Having a teacher who [fully] understands that different
suspended less frequently when they have at least one same-race perspective [would] develop their ethos ... [and] really help in their
teacher,” according to The Brookings Institution. teaching because they’re confident in what they’re saying,” she said.
Sarah Greenswag, who teaches social studies and identifies herself LHS Principal Dr. Tom Koulentes, who is white, speaking on the
racially as white, commented on the effects that a lack of diverse topic of teacher diversity at LHS, asserted that “it’s an issue at Lib-
representation in media and at the local level can have on students: “I ertyville High School and Vernon Hills,” as well as statewide in Illinois.
think that it does send certain messages to our students about who He said that ideally, he would have the ability to create a staff that is
has the authority to teach,” she said. “And so I think it can uninten- representative of the student and community population. He cited
tionally or subconsciously promote the idea that only a certain type the application pool as a challenge, stating “It’s the lack of diverse
of person is qualified for this role.” candidates that apply. And so our task then is how do we get [them]
For this story, Drops of Ink contacted multiple teachers of color, to apply?” He also said that the fact that there are no big colleges
all of whom declined to comment; they expressed discomfort near LHS besides Loyola and Northwestern Universities makes it
speaking on the topic. difficult to draw in new applicants.
Senior Jada Higgins, who identifies as mixed race, stated that lack Dr. Koulentes stated that bringing in diverse staff members is
of teacher diversity is definitely something she’s noticed at LHS, and a definite goal for both him and the administration. “Part of our
she is looking for a way to expose herself to more staff and student DARING mission...is being global, meaning that we seek out multiple
diversity in the future by seeking that out in her college search. “I perspectives to make decisions about the world. So in bringing in
feel like the only thing I’m missing out on in my education — and I’m that diversity, we’re gaining this wisdom of this collective experi-
not saying there’s a hole in my education, or maybe there is and I’ll ence that helps us [make] even better decisions and create better
FEBRUARY 2020 7
diversity
"I feel like the only thing
Higgins commented that diversity in terms of curriculum is
something that she’s been trying her best to seek out in the
I'm missing out on in my scope of LHS. Being in AP Seminar has exposed her to more
education - and I'm not
global texts, and in AP Environmental Science, she works on
problems that can be applied to situations outside of the United
saying there's a hole in my States, which she said also gives her more of an international
education, or maybe there
viewpoint.
Q-Z LST Counselor Ana Molina-Rojas, who just recently
xt started working at LHS two years ago after working for six years
year - is that different
at a high school in District 215 and another six years at a private
school in Puerto Rico, actually cited one of the main things that
perspective. attracted her to LHS was the DARING mission, specifically the
quote that supplements it. That Maya Angelou quote on the
- Jada Higgins
DARING posters around campus reads “success is loving life and
daring to live it.” Molina-Rojas said that to her, it showed that LHS
was making an attempt to be more globally-minded. “For me,
coming from a minority and diverse culture, it was [nice to see] a
conscious effort being made.”
Overall, Molina-Rojas also said that there is an effort being
pathways.” made by administration and staff to be more diverse, although ac-
Hasan expressed that entering LHS as a freshman, she had some tually getting candidates to apply is something that is somewhat out
doubts about how lack of representation would affect her educa- of their control. “[The] staff is really making a conscious effort. We
tion. “[I saw] that all of these teachers are white, and every teacher want kids to be more global,” said Molina-Rojas.
I’ve ever had is white, and [I wondered], ‘Am I going to do well in Dr. Koulentes expanded upon this sentiment, explaining some
school? Is my education going to be in jeopardy?’” of the efforts that have been taken behind the scenes to become
In terms of feeling represented in the curriculum, Hasan said more global. “We have an equity leadership team at our school, which
“[when conversations] about Muslims come up, obviously I’m going is a team of staff members who come together once a month to
to feel a little [singled out], but teachers do a good job about con- learn about identity. So they’re learning about race, sexual orienta-
trolling the conversation.” She expanded upon this by saying that tion and age, and they’re using that learning to look at our school
although it’s not something that is talked about all the time, when and say, ‘Where are we doing things that are equitable, that are truly
teachers do talk about it, she noticed that they attempt to portray inclusive?’”
everything accurately.
English Language
Learners
Student Demographics School- 1%
District- 2%
State- 12.1%
Within LHS
1.8%
1.5% Low Income Students
8.6% School- 4.7%
District- 7.3%
2.5% State- 48.8%
White
Asian
Hispanic
Black
80.7%
Data from the Illinois
Other
Report Card
8 DROPS OF INK
LHS welcomes new
diversity
equity coordinator Claire Salemi Amanda Black
B efore this year, Mrs. Anne Singleton was an English teacher with
five classes a day, and on the side, she was educating herself on
equity issues. Now, she has taken on the role of the LHS equity co-
as I began changing practices in my own classroom, I began thinking
about other classes too and my department,” Mrs. Singleton ex-
pressed about what she took away from the class.
ordinator, while teaching two sophomore world literature classes. One of these changes was helping the English Department focus
While the position of equity coordinator isn’t new to the educa- on using classroom books that were not just about one race or just
tion system, it is new to LHS and District 128. Surrounding schools, focused on male characters.
such as Evanston and Highland Park High Schools, have equity In her new role, Mrs. Singleton has so far worked a lot on educat-
coordinators. The job itself entails supporting all students and staff ing the staff about equity. To help accomplish this, she held meet-
members in making sure that all students are learning to their full ings to learn what the LHS staff knows about equity: “I met with
potential and achieving success, according to Mrs. Singleton. over 70 staff members from ESP (education support professionals)
Mrs. Singleton started learning about equity -- its definition, to administration to teachers to LST staff...and as a result of that, I
according to Merriam-Webster, is “justice according to natural law learned a lot of things...[One thing] I learned is that we have teachers
or right” -- at a night class provided to LHS teachers, which she first who are really interested in supporting our LGBTQ+ population.”
attended during the 2016-2017 school year. This led to her second-semester goal, which is learning about
“I began to see more of what things that I was doing in my class- the students. Within the first two weeks of second semester, Mrs.
room that I could do better in order to support all my students. So Singleton has worked with the Gender-Sexuality Alliance (GSA) club
to understand the LGBTQ+ community
and has met with the gender-equality club,
Advocats, to learn about a female student’s
experience at LHS.
Another goal of hers is to help students
of a lower socioeconomic status: “There
are supports in place that we have here at
school, to support students of lower so-
cioeconomic status, but [the] concern is [if]
that’s being communicated clearly enough.
How can we make it easier so that there’s
less burden on students who are lower
socioeconomic status, too?”
For the future, Mrs. Singleton looks
forward to “doing some of the equity
work with students and just teaching our
students more about [it and] helping them
figure out their own identity and the
different ways [to do so],“ she stated.
FEBRUARY 2020 9
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10 DROPS OF INKFEATURE
ADOPTING A NEW
PERSPECTIVE
Charlotte Pulte and Anika Raina
Rowan Hornsey
O ver the years, popular culture has por- stated
trayed adoption or foster care in a variety that they Jade Foo
of ways. There’s Annie, a little girl in the consider the child
Great Depression who is swept away to an “very fortunate or blessed.”
orphanage and eventually adopted by a mil- Senior Erin Custod was 18 months
lionaire. More recently, there was the book old when she was adopted, but it has still
and movie “The Blind Side,” where Sandra affected her throughout her life. doesn’t
Bullock’s character and her family take in a Custod was adopted through an agency have much
troubled football player whom they quickly near the Nanjing province in China and has information from her
embrace as one of their own. And there’s an adopted sister who is six years younger life before she was adopted,
“The Jungle Book,” where a baby is aban- than her. Like many other adoptees, Custod but she does know that she was left
doned in the forest and grows up among a
pack of wolves and becomes a “man cub.”
These media portrayals are often very
different than how things happen in real life.
While being placed into foster care or be-
ing adopted can be a traumatic or disruptive
experience in some cases, it can also occur
at such a young age that there are few or
no negative memories attached to one’s
adoption.
“My mom and dad love my sister and I as if
we were their own blood-[related] children.
There’s never been a divide or an awkward
gap,” explained senior Anna Meershaert, who
was adopted from China, specifically the
Wuhan province, and also has an adopted
younger sister.
“I don’t consider my family like step or half
siblings. I just call my sister, my sister or my
mom, my mom,” stated Meerschaert.
Meerschaert explained that, in her sit-
uation, most of the negative connotation
surrounding being an adopted child is ac-
tually not accurate, stating that her biolog-
ical parents “wanted to give [her] so much
opportunity in a different place than there
was in China.” Erin Custod repeatedly stated how important her sister has been to her especially because
Furthermore, she expressed that people her sister understands the feelings that Erin has about being adopted.
in China typically view a child as very lucky if
they are adopted by American parents. She
FEBRUARY 2020 11FEATURE
outside of a bus station in China.
“My sister and I used to struggle a lot
with abandonment issues, and it’s not like
we remember being abandoned, but it was
just kind of an internal subconscious thing,”
stated Custod. “We didn’t want to feel aban-
doned again, so instead my sister and I just
kind of leaned on each other for support.”
Custod described their tendency to push
people away when getting close to some-
one new and difficulty connecting to other
people.
“My sister has been kind of my rock since
day one, and we just kind of get what the
other is going through. It’s really nice to
know that we’re both there for each other
when other people might not be,” said
Custod.
Senior Keyda Feltner, originally from San
Angelo, Texas, was placed into the foster
care system as a newborn. After 28 days in
the system, she moved in with the Feltner
family, who adopted her three years later.
Feltner has three brothers and one sister,
who is also adopted. She explained how
she and her adopted sister feel “closer just
because we kind of have similar ideas and
questions about our pasts.”
“My family is crazy but it’s like a fun crazy.
Keyda Feltner is the only adoptee featured who doesn’t only have adopted siblings,
I love my family, [and] there is nothing in the but also siblings who are biologically related to her parents. She feels closest to her
world that I wouldn’t do for them,” Feltner adopted sister, but she would do anything for any of her family members.
explained.
Along with Meerschaert, Feltner described an adoptee and stated that “people just to adopt you,” Feltner explained.
the negative connotation upon being automatically think, ‘Oh, well you were put Both Custod and Meerschaert described
in a bad circum- others expecting them to have a vast
stance so you knowledge of the Chinese culture, even
“My sister has been kind of my got removed or though they were both infants when ad-
taken from that opted and have lived in the U.S. for as long as
rock since day one, and we just situation.’” How- they can remember.
ever, adoption “Sometimes I get asked, ‘Oh, you’re
kind of get what the other is going can be the result Chinese, say something in Chinese to me’
of many different or I’ll get questions about Chinese culture.
through. It’s really nice to know situations. They expect me to act like my culture and
“Adoption can know all these things about it, even though I
that we’re both there for each other be something like wasn’t even raised there,” stated Custod.
your dad and your Even if they do not speak the language
when other people might not be,” mom not being fluently or have a personal connection from
married and your that culture, some families celebrate where
-Erin Custod step dad decides their adopted children are from. Both Meer-
12 DROPS OF INKFEATURE
“I think what a lot of people struggle
schaert and Custod described the different
ways that their families celebrate traditional
with when they are adopted is ‘How do I
Chinese holidays.
“My parents always celebrated my Chinese
hold onto my culture from where I was
background. We used to celebrate Chinese
New Year, and my parents would try to
born but then also connect to my culture
incorporate whatever they could into my
daily life just so that I didn’t feel like we were
here in America?”
leaving all that behind,” stated Meerschaert.
She described how she no longer feels
- Anna Meerschaert
the need to celebrate the Chinese New Year
because she’s “not actively seeking out to
grasp onto something from this culture.”
“I think what a lot of people struggle with
when they are adopted is ‘How do I hold Chinese background, but rather is rooted in 27, the family makes a trip to their favorite
onto my culture from where I was born her life in the U.S. Chinese restaurant, Tang’s in Grayslake.
but then also connect to my culture here in Some families with adoptees, like the All three seniors have closed adoption
America?’” said Meerschaert. She explained Custods, celebrate their own holiday, called cases, meaning that the adoption agency
how she “never felt like [she was] out of Coming-Home Day. This day symbolizes the does not give any information about the
place.” day the children were adopted and brought child’s biological parents, if any is known at
“I think one of the biggest things that can home. all. Once the child turns 18 years old, all doc-
make you feel out of place is race, but that “Me and my sister actually have the same uments and legal papers will be handed over
stems from identity,” Meerschaert said. She coming home day which makes that day to the adoptee, if any exist.
explained that she always felt acclimated extra special,” said Custod. She described Although 135,000 children are adopted
because her identity doesn’t stem from her how on their Coming-Home Day, every July in the United States each year, every child
has a different story when it comes to their
adoption process. Some children might
spend up to 2-5 years in the foster care
system waiting for a family while others may
be adopted from overseas, according to
the Adoption Network. There are, however,
428,000 foster children in the U.S. wait-
ing for a family and hundreds of thousands
more all over the world.
While not every adoption is the picture
perfect kind that is portrayed in the media,
the three seniors are happy and content
with where they are currently.
Anna Meerschaert feels just as close to her family as she would if they were
biologically related.
FEBRUARY 2020 13FEATURE
Aw Rats,
Another New Year?
哎呀，新年又来了？
Rayna Wuh Sara Bogan Ian Cox
3...2...1...Happy New Year! As the clock struck midnight, peo- ence on the characteristics of people born in that respective year.
ple across the country celebrated the start of the new decade. People born in the Year of the Rat are said to be mild, intelligent
Gathered at large parties alongside friends and family, some people and independent.
made resolutions looking towards a fresh start. However, for the The series of celebrations for the new year are called 春节 (chun
many Asian Americans who celebrate the Lunar New Year, the main jie) or the Spring Festival in China. The Spring Festival takes place
event is yet to come. for over two weeks and is filled with several traditions. Although
This year, the first day of the lunar calendar fell on Jan. 25, which most LHS students who celebrate the Lunar New Year only take
marked the start of the Year of the Rat. The rat is the first within a part in a fraction of these activities, they each have their own ways
cycle of 12 different zodiac animals, each believed to have an influ- of participating and connecting with their culture.
Sight
Oftentimes, preparations for the holiday’s main festivities can take
several days. Although her family only does minimal preparations for
the new year now, freshman Ellie Chen recalled the amount of work
that took place when she previously lived in Taiwan. There, “everyone
was making decorations and everything for weeks before...I remem-
ber [making] a lot of decorations at school,” she said.
A major cleaning of the entire house is typically done prior to
putting up decorations. In addition to improving the aesthetics, the
cleaning is intended to clear out the old and make room for the new.
New clothes are often purchased in the same spirit.
Then decorations like lanterns, paper cutouts and banners adorn
houses and streets. Vibrant hues of red and yellow, both considered
to be lucky colors, can be seen all around. The character 福 (fu), which
represents good fortune, is also often hung, but it is placed upside
down to symbolize luck pouring over the occupants of a house.
Some decorations are specific to families. Senior Karen Tarman’s
family sets up “a tree with Sakura flowers, red lights and hanging
The Chinese New Year is celebrated at a smaller scale in red envelopes,” which is almost “like a Christmas tree,” she explained.
Chinatown in contrast to China’s multiple weeks of Although it is not the most traditional of decorations, Tarman’s tree
elaborate decorations, dancers and parades.
represents the same traditional wish for luck in the new year while
incorporating an American twist on the holiday.
Many LHS students who celebrate
Chinese New Year participate in
exchanging money, enclosed in
special red envelopes,
with relatives.
Chicago’s Chinatown holds a
parade and festival along with
performances of traditional music
for Lunar New Year.
Photo Courtesy of Shirley Ma
DROPS OF INKFEATURE
Touch
When asking LHS students what kinds of customs they partici- Tarman feels that living in an area without a large Chinese com-
pate in for the Lunar New Year, the first answer was almost always munity has impacted her ability to speak the language. “I can’t speak
the exchange of red envelopes, or 红包 (hong bao). The envelopes Chinese. I can understand the basics, but like I feel like I should be
are filled with money, but it is really the red paper wrapped around able to as a Chinese-American,” she admitted.
it that is considered to be lucky. Red envelopes are handed out to Although senior Alysa Zhang values the connections she has with
children by their relatives as a way of sharing blessings and express- her culture now, she also had similar feelings about trying to assim-
ing hope for more happiness and prosperity to come. ilate into a predominantly white areas as an Asian American: “It took
Also during the day, traditional dances like the dragon and lion me a really long time to appreciate my heritage,” she stated.
dances take place. The colorful and textured costumes are held up
by a coordinated team of dancers manipulating the figures in an
attempt to create life-like movements.
Taste
A few years ago, sophomore Shirley Ma’s father and a few of his Degrees of participation in New Year’s activities are different
business partners began organizing a small parade and festival for the from person to person, but a family dinner is often seen as a central
Lunar New Year in downtown Chicago’s Chinatown. In preparation, part of the celebration. Often taking place on the eve of the Lunar
children hand out small flyers with symbols of good luck on them, New Year, the Reunion Dinner features several dishes with symbolic
while adults build and man the parade float. meanings.
Ma acknowledged that in China, “everywhere you go, there’s festi- Some dishes, like steamed fish, are based on homophones (words
vals and music,” whereas in Chicago, “it’s a much smaller magnitude of with the same pronunciation but different meanings). Because the
celebration.” However, the performances of several local groups are Mandarin words for fish and surplus sound the same, people eat
something she looks forward to as “a nice thing that happens every fish and leave leftovers with the hope that both the upcoming year
single year.” and the future bring surplus. Other dishes have additional meanings
based on their shapes: long noodles are representative of a long life
Smell and dumplings resemble an ancient form of Chinese currency.
Depending upon the region, the dishes served and their meanings
Between the burning of incense and fireworks, the lingering smell vary. However, what does not change is the sharing of food among
of smoke is also a common feature of the new year. While the noise family and sometimes friends.
and brightness of fireworks are believed to ward off evil spirits, the People like junior Richard Xiao and senior Cat Corliss, who each
burning of incense is used to communicate with family members have family in China, make sure that they video chat with their
who have passed on. relatives during the holiday and dinner. Xiao stated that compared to
Senior Jessica Li acknowledged “I don’t think [the way my family New Year’s Eve on December 31, the Lunar New Year is “a bit more
celebrates is] that traditional at all. We’re pretty relaxed about it.” festive for [his] family because the culture is more relatable.”
However, she and her brother still participate in some traditional Corliss agreed that “celebrating the Lunar New Year is more cozy,
customs. As a part of their celebration, Li bows to her parents and since, [she] think[s] more about [her] family and background.”
leaves offerings for ancestors whose spirits are invited to join the While the means of celebrating the Lunar New Year are far from
festivities. People pray to their ancestors in the hope that the family uniform, like their solar calendar counterparts, the emphasis remains
will continue to be looked after. Showing respect to family is a on hoping for the best alongside loved ones as time seems to reset.
prominent aspect of Chinese culture, and New Year’s is no excep-
tion.
Sound
The most common greeting on Chinese New Year is ‘恭喜发财
(gong xi fa cai).” The phrase wishes for the person who hears it to
have a prosperous and wealthy new year. With each meeting, the air
rings with the repeated phrase and the hope of good fortune in the
new year.
However, for some Asian Americans, living in the United States
means reduced exposure to the language and other aspects of Chi-
nese culture. Junior Lawrence Wang believes that at times, attempts
to be accepted have caused people to stop “doing anything that’s
completely different or really traditional to an ethnic background.”
Honoring 2020 as the Year of the Rat, buildings and homes
are adorned with lanterns. “Rat people,” or those born in
the Year of the Rat, are considered witty, imaginative and
adaptive.
FEBRUARY 2020FEATURE
BEYOND THE BASICS
Ella Marsden Peyton Rodriguez Maguire Marth
The History of Black History
Du Bois, another African American activist who gave
Feb. 1, 1865 marked a monumental time in United presentations at Black History Month celebrations and
States history, especially for African Americans. On this applauded Woodson’s work in coining the holiday.
day, President Abraham Lincoln signed into law the 13th Each year’s celebration is focused around a central
Amendment, abolishing the legal institution of slavery in theme or message. This year, the theme is “African
the United States. Americans and the Vote,” according to The History
Fifty years later, in 1915, author, editor and histori- Channel. This was chosen because 2020 is the 100-year
an Carter G. Woodson (known as the “Father of Black anniversary of the 19th Amendment — which gave
History”) began advocating for the creation of Negro women the right to vote — and the 150-year anniver-
History Week, which carried the message that “Blacks sary of the 15th Amendment, which stated that it was
should be proud of their heritage and that other Amer- illegal to deny suffrage to someone based on their race.
icans should also understand it,” explains the National
Association for the Advancement of Colored People
(NAACP). How Black History is Recognized at LHS
Lincoln and Frederick Douglass were each influential
in promoting racial equality in the United States; both In past years at Libertyville High School, students and
have birthdays that fall in February, the Association for staff have recognized Diversity Week during February.
the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) Aside from this week, however, LHS has no traditions to
explained. These days have been celebrated by the recognize Black History Month. Mrs. Anne Singleton, an
African American community before February was even English teacher and newly appointed Equity Coordinator
deemed Black History Month; Woodson thought that (see page 9 for a feature on her position), has plans to
celebrations should be redirected from their focus on change this for 2020, though.
the individual men to recognition of the achievements She’s worked with the Principal’s Advisory Board to
of the race as a whole. come up with a list of possible school-wide events to
The NAACP explains that Woodson pushed for the recognize black history. One event that has been imple-
creation of this celebration with certain morals in mind: mented is a trivia contest in the library about prominent
“learning to accept insult, to compromise on principle, people in black history. This trivia will include facts about
to mislead your fellow man, or to betray your people, is well-known activists as well as not-so-well-known
to lose your soul.” These principles were shared by W.E.B. influencers of various racially-charged movements.
In the classroom, recognition of Black History Month
is on a class-by-class basis, so depending on the nature
of the course, different classes offer different lessons
about black history.
U.S. History teacher Mrs. Kristi Robertson explained
how she and the other U.S. History teachers talk about
it, stating that because African American history is
such an integral part of American history, it is inevitably
taught throughout the year, not just in February.
In Spanish classes, black history is recognized dif-
ferently. Spanish teacher Mrs. Sarai Nieto has plans to
recognize Black History Month in her Spanish III Honors
classes: her classes will look specifically into influential
members of the Afro-Latino community. In addition to
studying Roberto Clemente and his influence, she plans
to teach her students about “La Borinquena.” ~ This comic
features an Afro-Latina superhero from Puerto Rico
in her journey to help recovery efforts after Hurricane
Katrina.
Martin Luther King Jr. was a prominent figure in the Civil Rights While certain teachers are covering black history in
movement and inspired others even after his death in 1968. their classes, senior Drew Hopkins, who is white and
16 DROPS OF INKFEATURE
OF BLACK HISTORY
their classes, senior Drew Hopkins, who is white and ary, teachers could begin each class with an anecdote
the president of History Club, worries that since not or recognition of a prominent black historical figure
all students take the same classes, not all students will related to the course’s focus. Before moving to Liber-
have sufficient knowledge of black history. He said that tyville in the middle of fifth grade, Jordan lived in Dallas.
it’s important for all classes to cover it in some capacity, This idea of recognizing different influencers of black
emphasizing that the only reason he’s even aware that history came from her school in Dallas; bringing it to
February is Black History Month is from his own re- LHS, she explained, could be as easy as sharing daily facts
search outside of school. on the announcements.
Mrs. Singleton recognizes this issue and hopes to As one of the few black students at LHS, Jordan of-
initiate classroom conversations about black history: ten feels a pressure to blend in with those around her:
“As a white woman, it’s important for me to know the “I’ve had to sometimes refrain from reacting to things
story of all people of color and to learn more about their that I hear in the hallway because there is the stereo-
experiences and learn more about [black history] be- type of being the angry black woman...being one of the
yond Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, Harriet Tubman only few black people, it’s like once you’re labeled, then
and maybe Frederick Douglass,” Mrs. Singleton explained. it’s kind of like, I don’t want to mess it up for everybody,
She continued by describing that in her own personal so I kind of dim my light a little bit.”
experience learning about African American history as a When considering LHS’s predominantly white demo-
student, she wasn’t taught much more than the basics. graphics, there’s not one answer as to whether or not it
Mrs. Singleton hopes to initiate change in education should influence the way black history is taught. Hop-
surrounding black history for the current generation of kins, for one, thinks that it’s even more important to
students. emphasize black history at LHS: In not being a member
In the 1970s and 1980s, history textbooks began to of the black community, “you don’t get that experience
include more about black history than they previously at home, you don’t get that in your surroundings, so you
had, but in the beginning of this reform, it tended to be need school as the place to teach you about that,” he
a superficial add-on. The textbook writers would add a explained.
paragraph toward the end of a chapter to describe the On the other hand, Jordan thinks that everyone
happenings of African Americans during this time peri- should receive the same education: “History is history
od, Mrs. Robertson said. and people are people no matter what,” she said. To her,
She believes that the coverage of black history spread what’s important is that no one is left ignorant of such a
throughout her class’s curriculum is sufficient and large part of history.
doesn’t want to return to the ineffective ways of the
past: “For me to have a lesson specifically in February
about African American history, that would almost be
going back to that 1970s, 1980s tacky, superficial [ap-
proach].”
Hopkins agrees that while black history should be es-
pecially emphasized in February, that shouldn’t be where
its education ends: “It does seem almost sort of like a
token or participation trophy that one month a year you
get to learn about black history but then the other 11,
we learn white people history,” Hopkins said.
Mrs. Nieto agrees that black history should be a topic
that is covered throughout the year, not solely in Feb-
ruary. The first step to building black history into her
curriculum, she explained, is for her to learn it: “It’s our
job as teachers to do the research to inform ourselves
of what contributions have been made that we’re not
aware of that we need to become aware of, so that we
then translate that message to our students.”
Junior Breana Jordan mentioned that during Febru- In 1983, Harold Washington was elected as the first African
American Mayor of Chicago. Washington’s exhibit is located at the
DuSable Museum of African American History.
FEBRUARY 2020 17OPINION
Off-White: What it’s like being Lilly Williams Amanda Black Jade Foo
a mixed-Race student at LHS
It doesn’t take long for anyone to realize
that a majority of the student body at LHS
is, well, not a minority. While I am extremely
because it makes me stand out for having
such a unique look. Yet looking so “exotic,”
as a peer once described me, comes with
minor identity crisis as I grew up, and I don’t
think that this experience is very different
from other mixed kids.
lucky to be able to attend LHS and to be having some differences that are not always With the lack of a large black popula-
a part of this tight-knit community, the favorable. tion in Libertyville—the school’s student
predominantly white population creates a Not surprisingly, being two or more races and teacher population is a combined 91.7
fish-out-of-water situation for most is less common than being any one race, percent white, I have little to no exposure
people of color (POC) who attend this according to Data USA. Even though we to the whole African-American part of my
school, including me. I don’t speak for all POC make up such a small demographic, I know ethnicity. I haven’t been properly immersed
when I say this, but it can get tough day af- a few other mixed-race students at the in much black culture, and instead, I’ve
ter day, being the assimilated into
only non-white this mainly white
student in a given community; I’m
room. For me in missing out on an
particular, being entire half of my
both black and identity. I feel like I’m
white, it’s given no more connected
me a very atypical to my black culture
perspective, as than any of my white
well as a pretty peers. For exam-
uncommon high ple, I learned only a
school experience, few weeks ago in
especially class about “June-
compared to teenth,” a holiday
most students that commemorates
here. the abolition of
One of my slavery throughout
biggest strug- America. My teacher
gles of growing told the class that
up in Libertyville, Juneteenth is a
believe it or not, major holiday and
is my hair. My hair Growing up a person of color in a predominantly white high school, Lilly a very important
has a very unique, Williams has faced numerous obstacles. The school’s population has contributed to tradition for the
multi-cultural her unique struggles, especially when trying to find her racial identity. African American
texture (meaning community. I am still
the texture is a combination of more than school, and there’s one common dilemma disappointed about this because this great
one ethnicity), so I don’t exactly have access we often share — where do we fit? I have holiday is apparently a significant part of my
to a network of people who are familiar with a great group of friends, all of whom are culture, and I had never even heard of it. That
hair like mine. While this seems minor, you’d white, and it can be hard not to be identi- was when it hit me that if I want to become
be surprised by how many daily fied as the “black friend.” Sometimes I feel more involved in black culture, I was going
conversations of mine involve either my like a spokesperson representing the entire to need to take matters into my own hands.
hair routine, how often I brush it, pulling and black community, being one of, if not the I’ve gradually become more and more aware
petting of my hair or all of the above. This only, colored friend they have, which can be of the gaps in my knowledge of my black
is all with good intent, but it can really get a heavy weight to carry. On the other hand, culture and how to fill those gaps. I am find-
exhausting having such an attention- whenever I find myself in a group of mainly ing every day that growing up colored in a
drawing feature attached to me at all times. African Americans, I’m the “white girl.” My white setting presents its personal and social
Not to mention, having such a light very light skin tone, as well as some of my obstacles. As I adapt to those obstacles, I’m
complexion for a black girl makes my hair mannerisms, make me stand out in the black learning that the less I focus on fitting into a
one of the only things that makes me look community as well. I’ve been told by some certain group, the more accepted I will feel
ambiguous, or at least distinctively non- of my black peers that my voice, dialect and in any demographic.
white. I’m neither fully black nor white, style reflect those of any other white girl. I’d
and it shows. To me, this is a good thing, be lying if I said this dynamic hasn’t caused a
18 DROPS OF INKThe Privileged Tourist’s Dilemma
OPINION
Cali Lichter Molly Boufford
Venezuela India Costa Rica Cambodia Haiti Nigeria
El Salvador
Even though posting about service trips on social media spreads awareness, it
doesn’t make substantial change and comes off as self-centered.
Growing up in privileged areas all my life, I have been impactful service trip does: intention.
taught to use my resources in order to help others in less fortunate I have seen so many voluntourist trips in our community. These trips
areas. We were always shown photos of starving children in Africa or will go into some developing country where they will construct a project
people displaced by wars in the Middle East and have been told to donate that seems perfect on the outside but has trouble being maintained.
pocket change for them since the time we could collect allowances. I For example, you can build a schoolhouse for children in Kenya, but did
distinctly remember collecting change for a missionary school in Zimba- your organization also provide adequate teachers to teach and grow the
bwe when I was in pre-K. school?
As a naive child, I saw no underlying issues with my donations and my Voluntourism is volunteering but for show. It’s one of those things
thoughts and my prayers for these people in these foreign countries. that makes you feel less guilty for going on a five-star vacation because
Throughout my teenage years, I have been urged by several different you’re “helping the less fortunate.” And the main thing with voluntourists
organizations and outlets to go to these countries to do good as a “way and white knights is that they just need to show everyone that they’re
to experience the world.” Now I am faced with a moral dilemma: Am I doing good.
going abroad to volunteer to help those in need, or am I doing it out of I see voluntourists in our community on social media. Selfies with
my own selfish desire to travel the world? children in a third world country with the caption “they own my heart”
Looking back on my days of youth volunteering, the memories are only goes so far when you openly say how ‘dirty’ and ‘impoverished’
now shrouded in the toxic mentality dubbed “White Knight Syndrome.” these children are when you return home.
This term is commonly used with those in the volunteering community That’s an extreme example but it’s one I see too often in our com-
in reference to people and organizations who see it as their duty to raise munity. Yes, the people you’re helping on a service trip are different
the standards of living in certain impoverished areas in order to “save” the than you. Yes, they live in different circumstances than you. But, by
people there. This outlook puts people on a pedestal and suggests that commenting on their conditions in a negative light and saying how you
we were “saving the poor children” in “country XYZ.” “raised their standard of living” negates everything you just did on the
The white knight volunteering mentality - which gained traction in trip.
the early 2000s with celebrities who would go on service trips to boost What is there to do about it? Honestly? Not a lot.
their media image - has given way to a new trend in the 2010s which is See, as volunteers, we’re put into the mindset that we are there to
called voluntourism. help those who are less fortunate, so of course we comment on how
By definition, voluntourism is exactly what it sounds like: “the act or our service makes us feel “good inside.”
practice of doing volunteer work as needed in the community where A tip that I find helpful is to break down the barrier between the
one is vacationing,” according to Merriam-Webster dictionary. In the age volunteers and the people receiving the service. By treating these people
of staying woke, privileged people feel guilty going on lavish vacations at like actual human beings and not just a prop for your Instagram post,
fancy resorts while people are on the next street over begging for food. you’re already moving in the right direction.
But, there’s one thing that voluntourism doesn’t have that an
FEBRUARY 2020 19OPINION
Indigenous voices matter
Drew Benoit Molly Boufford
Over 383,000 gallons of oil have gushed from the Keystone Pipe- aboriginal community is known for its impressive land management via
line, covering and harming an estimated half an acre of native wetlands, the use of fire. Fire holds a spiritual, often sacred, position in the aborig-
according to North Dakota state environmental regulators. This was inal communities. Called “cultural burns” or “cool burns,” these low-tem-
the second major oil spill involving the Keystone Pipeline in the last two perature, knee-high fires are meant to burn continuously throughout
years. The native populations protesting the pipeline had warned of such the landscape and have been used by aboriginal communities since long
dangers, but greedy businessmen and government officials ignored before Europeans invaded.
them. The current techniques used by the Australian government to pre-
The Keystone Pipeline system runs from Alberta, Canada, to refin- vent fire focus too much on protecting property and not on taking care
eries in southern Illinois and Texas. The Keystone XL portion of the of the land. According to the BBC, cultural burns focus on protecting the
system, which President Trump gave approval for construction in 2017 entire environment for its continued survival. Cool burning replenishes
and re-affirmed in 2019, has long been subject to protest, largely from the earth and creates extremely beneficial micro-climates. It can even
indigenous communities and their allies, dubbed the Standing Rock help encourage rain. Of course, their effectiveness is limited by global
protests. Its construction not only posed a threat to the water supply of climate change and the vast change that colonization has brought to the
the area but also to ancient sacred burial grounds. environment of Australia.
Indigenous people from all over the world came together to protect For some time, many aboriginal leaders raised concerns over the
the site, and the movement grew into something larger than a protest overgrown bush and increasing amounts of dry kindling, yet the Austra-
against the pipeline. Indigenous communities warned of the potential lian government denied permission to engage in cultural burns, the BBC
harm it could inflict, and they were right. The underlying truth of the reported. Instead, informed by the Western views of fire management,
Standing Rock protesters cannot be ignored. Indigenous people around the Australian government has forged ahead with destructive practices.
the world understand the desperate realities in the struggle against The fires in Australia, just like the fires in the Amazon, are the result
climate change and because of this deep and oftentimes personal un- of ongoing colonization. Around the world, indigenous people have
derstanding, they should lead the movement to combat it. lived and understood their native lands for thousands of years, and have
Despite their traditional connection with their lands, across the globe cared for and nurtured them. They protect water, they protect forests
native communities have been forced out of their homeland so that and they protect the earth. It’s time to realize the original stewards of
nations and corporations could exploit and destroy their homes. Violence the land should be the ones leading the charge against the existential
against indigenous people continues to rise as they remain some of threat the globe faces.
the world’s staunchest defenders of the climate and the earth. Groups
like the Wet’suwet’en nation, a sovereign region within the borders of
Canada, and the tribes defending Standing Rock, have been targeted by
governments. Indigenous defenders of the Amazonia come under at-
tack from malicious corporations looking to exploit the natural resourc-
es of the region. Companies and governments burn large swaths of the
forest, their ancestral homelands, in order to continue to profit.
The communities most often at threat from the changing climate
are the indigenous peoples of the globe. People in the Arctic, like the
Sami, live through the disappearing ice. People from the Amazon, like
the Quechua, are under threat from the destruction of their home for
profit. Aboriginal people from Australia can only watch as their home
burns around them, erasing their sacred sites and their cultural heritage.
Indigenous people, while making up only 5 percent of the world’s popu-
lation, inhabit around 25 percent of land and support and maintain around
80 percent of the world’s biodiversity, according to the World Bank.
Listening to indigenous voices forces us to come to grips
with a different worldview. Not a different worldview politically but a
In San Francisco, a crowd protested for the safety of their water
different understanding of the fundamental machinations of the world.
while also protesting against the Dakota Access Pipeline in 2016.
For people who exist in the western, urban societies, whose way of life
Photo by Pax Ahimsa Gethen, CC BY-SA 4.0.
is focused on the commodification, consumption and exploitation of
resources, the indigenous understanding of the world is foreign. Many
indigenous communities understand the earth as a separate entity, one
that provides a great deal of wealth, but one that requires care and nur-
ture.
Often, indigenous communities act as guardians of ancestral knowl-
edge for guarding and living with the environment. In Australia, the
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