Elite School Offers Free Tuition The Race for 2016 Isis Confusion

the
Vol. 29 Issue 5
Campus Crier
Sacred-Heart Griffin High School 2014-2015
When You’re an
Addams...
By Sabrina Johnston
Staff Writer
illusions and special effects were constructed
The SHG student cast performed
with help from the owner of Terror on the
The Addams Family Musical on Thursday, March
Square in Petersburg and a designer from The
26 through Sunday, March 29, in the SHG
Boo Crew in Rochester.
Dominican Hall Theatre for the entertainment
Many practices and rehearsals,
of both SHG students and all people around
normally
Springfield.
spanning five
The
days a week,
Addams Family
Sunday through
Musical was
Thursday, were
SHG’s most
held and filled
successful
with students
musical for
seriously
ticket sales: over
wanting to make
2,000 tickets
this musical the
were sold. Also,
best yet.
three of the five
After
showings were
months of
completely sold
practicing,
out.
opening day
The
for The Addams
preparation
Family Musical
for the musical
came on
began in
Thursday, March
November, five
26. During
months before
the musical
the opening
performances,
night. This
the SHG
musical has
students sang
only been open
and entertained
for high school
their audiences
production since
through the
September 2014;
Senior Maddie Reavy is lifted by fellow cast members during the
weekend.
SHG took the
performance.
With
opportunity to
the singing and
perform this
dancing from the musical cast, the music played
“newer” musical.
by SHG students, and the help of the SHG
William Bauser, the musical director,
stage crew, The Addams Family Musical turned out
recounts his inspiration for bringing The Addams
Family Musical to SHG: “I had the opportunity to very successful.
“A lot of people stood in the aisles
see the production with Roger Rees and Brooke
to watch it and even more people stood outside
Shields on Broadway and remember saying to
the auditorium to hear it,” observed sophomore
myself while watching the show, ‘With a few
Marisa Patten, who played a gargoyle in the
changes, we will be able to do this show at SHG
musical.
someday.’”
Through much work and effort,
After auditions in the middle of
The Addams Family Musical was rewarding
January, it was nothing but practicing and setting
and received many encouraging and positive
up for both the staff and students. Sometimes,
comments. One patron said, “I saw this show
the nearby high schools share many props and
when the national tour came to Sangamon
costumes, but, for this musical, almost all of the
Auditorium, and SHG’s production was much
props and costumes were newly made, mainly
better.”
because of the regency of its release for high
school showings. Along with the new props,
The Race for 2016
By Beth Haxel
Editor-in-Chief
With Barack Obama’s second presidential term coming to an end in 2016, one thing is
certain: someone new will occupy the White House. Several politicians have recently announced their
bid to run in the election with hopes of becoming the forty-fifth president of the United States.
Most notably, democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton finally announced her expected bid in
a short video on April 12. As wife of former president Bill Clinton, Hillary hopes to become our
nation’s first female president.
In her announcement, Clinton said, “Everyday Americans need a champion. And I want to
be that champion. So I’m hitting the road to earn your vote because it’s your time. And I hope you’ll
join me on this
journey.” Clinton
has political
experience from
both her husband
and Obama’s
terms.
On the
opposite end of
the spectrum,
Texas Republican
Senator Ted
Cruz announced
his campaign
in late March.
In his formal
announcement,
he vowed to
keep true to the
Constitution and
“stand for liberty.”
Another
Republican
Senator, Rand
Paul of Kentucky,
announced his
2016 bid shortly
after Cruz’s
announcement.
In his passionate
speech, Paul said,
“I have a message, a message that is loud and clear and does not mince words. We have come to
take our country back… The Washington machine that gobbles up our freedoms and invades every
nook and cranny of our lives must be stopped. Too often, when Republicans have won, we have
squandered our victory by becoming part of the Washington machine. That’s not who I am.”
Most recently, a Republican junior senator, Marco Rubio of Florida, announced his bid
on April 13. So far, he is the youngest candidate at age forty-three. As the son of Cuban immigrants,
Rubio’s campaign will highlight the attainability of the American Dream.
These early candidates have quite the journey ahead of them, as many more politicians will
announce their bids, and the primaries do not begin until January 2016.
April-May 2015
Isis Confusion
By Rachel Elmer
Staff Writer
Many are now aware that there is a new terrorist group that poses a threat towards the
United States called ISIS. There are many popular questions that have been floating around the
media. Those questions will now be answered.
Why is ISIS targeting
the United States? The
radicalists who are part of this
terrorist group believe that
America’s western ways are
wrong.
Although ISIS has
never directly attacked on
American soil, “They hinted
that attacks on American
interests or even U.S. soil were
possible through sleeper cells in
Europe and the United States,”
claims Business Insider Magazine.
What has President
Obama done about ISIS? At
first, he was hesitant to make
any sudden moves involving
violence.
When ISIS
amped up its threats,Obama
claimed, “We did an
assessment on the ground,
and concluded that to protect
American personnel and
diplomatic facilities the U.S.
needs to launch air strikes to
ensure that towns like Erbil
were not overrun, critical
infrastructure, like the Mosul
Dam was protected, and that
we were able to engage in
key humanitarian assistance
programs that have saved
thousands of lives.”
What has ISIS done
so far? They have captured a
suspected number of twentythree American citizens who
were involved with Islam or
in Syria at the time. Many of
these people were journalists or
photographers doing their jobs.
ISIS sent out a video of a member of the group beheading an American prisoner they
captured and said in a thick british accent that the fate of the a different prisoner lies in Obama’s next
move. So far, ISIS has killed five of the hostages, who are all from the U.S. or the UK.
Elite School Offers Free
Tuition
By Beth Haxel
Editor-in-Chief
Thousands of U.S. families wish to send their children to college but dread the crushing
tuition costs. The nation’s top schools usually cost upwards of $50,000 per year. However, one
institution made quite a bold promise regarding tuition. Stanford University announced that families
making less than $125,000 per year will receive free tuition.
Previously, the poverty limit was $100,000, but the elite California school decided to make
free tuition more accessible. In addition, families making less than $65,000 (previously $60,000) will
receive free room and board, addition to tuition. With no financial grants or scholarships, Stanford
students pay about $65,000 per year.
Making education affordable is a high concern for Stanford. Current provost John
Etchemendy said, “Our highest priority is that Stanford remain affordable and accessible to the most
talented student, regardless of their financial circumstances. Our generous financial aid program
accomplishes that, and these enhancements will help even more families, including those in the
middle class, afford Stanford without going into debt.”
Right now, an impressive seventy-seven percent of Stanford’s undergraduate students
graduate with no student debt. Across the country, the average student graduates with about $33,000
in debt, compared to just $15,000 in 1993.
Stanford is not the only elite school that offers such great financial aid. Harvard’s
endowment of $21 billion (the largest in the country) enables the university to offer families making
less than $65,000 completely free tuition. Yale makes the same offer. Harvard Dean of Admissions
and Financial Aid Bill Fitzsimmons understands how debilitating college costs can be.“This very large
segment of the population was being squeezed out. Harvard’s dean of admissions and financial aid,
said last year. “At $180,000, you can be broke when it comes to paying for college,” he said.
Fortunately, with these impressive financial aid commitments from elite universities, more
deserving students will be able to attend, despite their financial situation.
Opinions
To Prom or Not to
Prom?
By Kate Halford
Staff Writer
For all students, May signals a whirlwind of events such as finals, regionals and
sectionals for spring sports, graduation, and the start of summer. In the midst of all of this
chaos stands a very notable night of the year for upperclassmen: prom.
Every movie ever made about high school would have you believe that the best night
of your life is guaranteed to be prom night. The combination of dressing up, taking pictures,
having fun with friends, and experiencing prom night as a whole sounds fun. But do our
expectations stand a chance against the reality of what is prom?
First, we need to consider what prom at SHG is like. Attire must be formal, dresses
for girls and tuxedos for guys. All who attend prom are required to eat dinner at the Crowne
Plaza (the food is not spectacular, so eating a snack or small meal before is not a bad idea).
Breathalyzers are administered to everyone every time you enter the main dance. The dance
itself is chaperoned by teachers, and dancing must be appropriate.
In general, students look forward to prom. However, you should not feel pressured
to go to prom just because it seems like everyone else is. Regarding prom night, The Huffington
Post says, “One of the biggest misconceptions of all is that you absolutely must go or you will
be missing out on some life-changing event. Here’s the truth: If you don’t want to go, you
shouldn’t feel like you have to. You know what makes you happy (and doesn’t) better than
anyone else, so don’t listen to anyone who tries to tell you that you need to participate.”
In fact, according to YouGov.com, “The latest research shows that most Americans
(53%) didn’t actually attend prom.” With this in mind, if you know that dances are not your
thing, than
maybe try
to find likeminded
people and do
something else
on prom night.
If
you know that
you want to
go, keep in
mind that a lot
depends on
your attitude. I
am not going
to recommend
that you do
or don’t go
to prom. My
only advice is
to recognize
that your
expectations
might be set a
little too high.
When it came
down to Americans’ opinions, YouGov.com found, “Among the 47% of Americans that attended
their high school prom, opinion is split - 52% say that they are important, while 48% say that
they aren’t.” You have to be open to the experience, recognize the aspects that might not be as
enjoyable, and make the best of them.
Prom is supposed to be a fun night to look your best, feel confident, and have fun.
If it isn’t your thing, don’t worry. It is okay if you know that prom is not your cup of tea. If
you know you are going, set your mind on making the best of the experience. Dance if you
want to, mingle if you don’t, and recognize that you make your own memories. If you decide to
go, try to make the best of it and realize that, even if it isn’t the best night of your life, it is an
experience all the same.
Four Years Later…
Kate Halford
Staff Writer
After a chaotic, four year rollercoaster of joys and sorrows, we seniors have all made
it to the end. Graduation, which we thought could never come soon enough, has sprung up out
of nowhere. While everyone is excited to graduate, it’s hard for two thoughts to not immediately
pop up: Where has the time gone, and what will my future hold?
While the future is looming,
it’s important to remember the past,
in all of its ups and downs. As a
class, we have experienced pride in
our school and in ourselves. We have
made new friendships and excelled
in sports, clubs, and classes. We have
celebrated back-to-back State football
championships. We have experienced
retreats together (from the
awkwardness of sophomore retreat to
the sometimes enriching experience
of Kairos).
All of these memories and
more contribute to our overall feelings
for our school and class. Anna Brown,
a senior, remembers her years at SHG
fondly, saying, “These past four years
have flown by. I changed a lot as a
person and made many new friends
and memories that I will never forget!”
We have all experienced
loss, both as a school and individually.
As a class, we have had to say goodbye
to Sister Peggy, Mr. Cory, and Mr. Elliott, all of whom are missed dearly. Many of us have lost
close family and friends. These four years have been hard. We have all struggled through life. But
we have conquered so much. We are stronger for all of it.
We have matured since freshman year and become adults. Now we must take what we
have experienced and learned and take it into our futures, as we all pursue our different paths.
However, remembering where we came from and who has shaped us is crucial.
Senior Katherine Henebry shared her feelings on how SHG has affected her, saying,
“Although there are many things that will be drastically different for me next year, there are many
people who will remain in my heart forever. Names and faces may change, but my memories at
SHG will never fade. It has been an honor to go to school with everyone. Thank you for all the
laughs, tears, and priceless experiences.”
The future holds new, scary, and exciting experiences for all of us, but we should not
lose sight of our pasts or forget to live in the now. In the words of Brian Kenny, “There’s no
there. That elusive ‘there’ with the job, the beach house, the dream, it’s not out there. There is
here. It’s in you... right now.”
Not a Fan of Fan of a Fan
By Rachel Elmer
Staff Writer
Hip Hop/ Rap stars, Tyga and Chris Brown recently released their first album
together, after previously releasing the mixtape. The album entitled Fan of a Fan has sixteen
tracks on it, and every single song is explicit.
I am a big fan of both Tyga and Chris Brown, but I do not support anything this
album stands for. The album is good if you don’t listen to the lyrics. Each track has a great
and catchy beat that sticks with you like most rap music does. The rap industry is infamous
for objectifying and degrading women and glorifying drugs, sex, and alcohol. This album is no
different.
One would think with both Chris Brown and Tyga turning twenty-six years-old this
year, they would want to start making more mature music. Think again. Within every song, you
will find a drug, sex, and alcohol reference more than once. Oh, and this album surely won’t let
you forget that women aren’t good for anything except looking good.
Typically, I listen to rap music, so I was very excited when I found out two of my
favorite artists are coming out with an album together. Brown in the past has been one of my
favorite artists and one of the only musicians in the rap industry I believe is truly talented.
Chris Brown has a good singing voice and is also a great dancer. I enjoy Tyga’s rapping but, like
most of the people who listen to rap, I
don’t condone what the lyrics say.
As previously mentioned, I am
a fan of rap music, but Fan of a Fan
went too far in its sexist comments.
Every other line had something to
do with women living to please men.
For example, the line “She’ll cook and
clean/ I got it made/Handcuffed like
she a slave” is an example of almost
every line in the songs on the album.
Nothing sets this album apart
from every other rap album ever made.
The website Rap Reviews says, “It’s
nothing we’ve not heard before.” The
album has the same bouncing beats and
content as any other rap song does.
Until Chris Brown and Tyga
decide to grow up and stop treating
women as property, I will not be as big of
a fan as I once was. If you are a feminist, or someone who takes lyrics literally, this album is sure
to grind your gears. Personally, I would not recommend this album due to the lyrics, but, if one
is out for just a good beat, then this is the album for you.
Admission Isn’t
Everything
By Beth Haxel
Editor-in-Chief
It’s that time of year: college admissions season. Thousands of high school
seniors have spent countless hours visiting potential colleges, completing the detailed
applications, and writing responses to answer the dreadful, vaguely worded, open-ended
essay prompts. Now, the wait is over as schools sent out their admission decisions at the
beginning of April.
Like most students, I received both acceptances and rejections, but, overall, I
was happy with my choices and very excited for my future. I applied to a few extremely
selective schools and, without much surprise, I was waitlisted or rejected.
Of course, I was slightly disappointed but, the more I thought about it, the
more I realized that is was probably for the best. I had previously thought that the most
important task was to be admitted into an elite “name” school.
But throughout the entire process, I learned that I will be able to prosper and be
happy anywhere. In fact, many students turn down offers from top schools to attend less
“prestigious” colleges for a variety of reasons, a concept that I previously could not grasp.
It does not matter where I go, but what I do there.
Admissions officers control who gets accepted, and the college admissions
process can be as random as the lottery. I will never understand why some students are
accepted at some schools, but rejected at others, and I will always wonder what exactly
goes through the minds of admission committees.
But success in college is up to the individual. I am a firm believer anyone can
succeed with determination. Anyone can succeed with hard work. Essentially, the goal is to
earn a degree and establish a career while benefitting from and enjoying the experience.
In the end, it is irrelevant whether you attend a trade school, community college,
or elite university. With determination and hard work, you can achieve your goals and have
the opportunity to excel.
Seniors
Paul Ahn
Undecided
Chloe Albert
Lincoln Land
Kourtney Baker
Murray State
Justine Barber
SIU - Edwardsville
Megan Bauman
SIU - Edwardsville
Natalie Bayer
University of Dayton
Monica Bell
Notre Dame
Haley Bentel
Quincy University
Maxwell Bloink
U of I - Urbana
Ethan Bluhm
U of I - Springfield
Cody Bowman
U of I - Urbana
Allison Brent
St. Ambrose University
John Broeker
U of I - Urbana
Anna Brown
Marquette University
Hunter Burg
Charles Burns
Ohio State University
Wyatt Bussone
MaKenna Butcher
Parkland College
Angela Cagnoni
Illinois State University
Courtney Caldwell
Bradley University
Sara Canny
St. Ambrose University
William Charlton
Lincoln Land
Cody Chrzanowski
Lincoln Land
Katelyn Churchill
St. Louis University
Michelle Clark
Columbia College
Lauren Carter
U of I - Urbana
Sean Chapin
Erin Cetindag
American University U of Southern California
Frank Coffey
University of Mississippi
Robert Collier
Indiana University
Christopher Conrad
Bradley University
Erin Crabtree
University of Iowa
Graham Cross
Creighton University
Mitchell Curry
U of I - Urbana
Kelsey Cutler
SIU -Edwardsville
Cole Daily
Notre Dame
Ian Davis
Clemson University
Paige DeWeese
SIU - Edwardsville
Anthony Dinello
St. Louis University
Nicholas Divjack
Loyola University
Ashley Eastman
Lincoln Land
Benjamin Eck
Marquette University
Amber Eden
Mizzou
Kyle Espejo
U of I - Urbana
David Evanich
Lincoln Land
Isabella Faber
Lincoln Land
Erin Faloon
University of
Portland
Nic Farris
Undecided
Lindsey Fassero
Lincoln Land
Lowery, Alex Mandeville, Laurel Mason,
Seniors
Allison Frank
SIU-Edwardsville
Mitchell Franklin
Lincoln Land
Jane Grieser
Lewis and Clark
Alyssa Guinan
SIU-Edwardsville
Jennifer Haley
University of Iowa
Emma Hardy
Brandon Harney
University of Missouri U of I- Springfield
Alex Harvatin
U of I- Springfield
Beth Haxel
Indiana University
Nicholas Heisler
Iowa State
Katherine Henebry
Illinois Wesleyan
Aubrey Henson
Illinois State
Suesauna Hernandez
Navy
Elias Hopkins
Mizzou
Sebastian Huffman
Undecided
Regan Israel
Illinois State
Andrew Kinsel
Illinois College
Miranda Koehler Meghan Kramp
University of KentuckyU of I- Chicago
Megan Fassero
SIU-Edwardsvile
Joseph George
University of Miami
Olivia Hanning
Mizzou
Joshua Magowan
Lewis and Clark
Riley Finney
Truman State
Delaney Flattery
Butler University
Gabriel Green: U of Nicholas Gregory
Southern Mississippi
Lincoln Land
Alex Mandeville Nicholas Martin
Kankakee CommunityIndiana University
College
Patrick Flattery
Indiana University
Bethany Hays
Lincoln Land
Bryce Fults
St. Louis University
Kathryn Halford
Illinois Wesleyan
Dani Healey
University of Iowa
Ashleigh HernandezRenfro: U of Iowa
Cole Hillestad
Indiana University
Celeste Holmes
Mizzou
Bailey Jones
Lincoln Land
Lindsey Kavish
U of I- Springfield
Eric Ketchum
U of I- Springfield
Yeonwoo Kim
Undecided
Lydia Lex
Lincoln Land
Dylan Londrigan
U of I- Champaign
John Londrigan
University of Miami
Laurel Mason
Undecided
Sean Mason
Lincoln Land
Claire Mayfield
SIU- Edwardsville
Andrew Lowery
Columbia University
Sian McBride
U of I- Springfield
Seniors
Bridget McClain
Notre Dame
Meghan McClain
Notre Dame
Pat McCormick
U of I- Springfield
Tessie McDermott
Loyola University
Sean McDonald
Illinois College
Benjamin McElwee
Lincoln Land
Conner McEvoy
Lincoln Land
Samantha McFarland
Illinois College
Daniel McGrath
Eastern Illinois
Olivia McNamara
Lincoln Land
Alexander McNear
SIU-Carbondale
Grant Meckes
Texas A&M
Derek Miller
Drake University
Marissa Miller
Mizzou
Aliana Minder
Elmhurst College
Heyli Minder
Lincoln Land
Peyton Minder
Undecided
John Morgan
Robert Morris
Michael Moscardelli
Illinois State
Riley Murphy
Worsham College
Chaepter Negro
Illinois Wesleyan
Michelle Norris
Illinois State
Ethan O’Connor
Lincoln Land
Timothy Oh
Illinois State
Quinn Oseland
Minnestoa University
Maria Palazzolo
Notre Dame
Albert Perlman
Missouri University
Logan Pierce
Navy
Cecilia Pitchford
SIU-Edwardsville
Joseph Pohlman
SIU-Edwardsville
Taylor Pohlman
Illinois State
Emma Powell
U of I-Springfield
Cody Prosperini
Vanderbilt University
Adrian Pryor
Lincoln Land
Blake Putman
Creighton University
Katherine Rahn
Bradley University
Madeline Reavy
U of I- Urbana
Alex Reinauer
Southern Methodist
Ariel Rhodes
Purdue University
Matthew Richey
Bradley University
Michael Richey
Bradley University
Reed Roesch
SIU-Carbondale
Samuel Rogers
U of I-Urbana
Dominic Romang
Lincoln Land
Jessica Ryan
Western Illinois
Matthew Mosley
Sophia Mounce
Saint Louis University University of Kentucky
Madeline Olson
Illinois State
Andrew Oreshkov
Loyola University
Seniors
Peter Salvo
Lincoln Land
Danielle Schmitt
Illinois State University
Terri Sitton
Madeline Smith
Eastern Illinois University University of Dayton
Brianna Sutton
MacMurray College
Rachel Treat
Saint Louis University
William Smith
Undecided
Emily Sestak
Loyola University
Reily Sharpe
Parkland College
Jasmine Shu
University of Nebraska
Brendan Stannard
Clare Stannard
Illinois State University of South Carolina
Benjamin Thomas
Iowa State
Taylor Thomas
Lincoln Land
Hayley Tolan
U of I-Springfield
Aidan Urbina
Lincoln Land
Emily Valentine
Lincoln Land
Brett Vicari
Lincoln Land
Tyler Vogel
Mizzou
Alexandria Yarnik
Indiana University
Jonathan Yoswig
Lincoln Land
Kyler Younkin
Lincoln Land
Katherine Yun
U of I-Urbana
Justin Zanger
SIU-Edwardsville
Jeff Zheng
SIU-Edwardsville
Sherry Zuo
Iowa State
Trever Turley
Megan Urbas
SIU-Edwardsville Northern Illinois University
Sarah Zenge
Bowling Green State
Alan Shao
U of I-Urbana
Madeline St. Aubin
Yeji Son
U of Washington-Seattle
Mizzou
Kaylin Tate
Clayton Taylor
Ryleigh Taylor
Bradley University Southwest Baptist University Indiana University
Thomas Wilson
Emily Wilson-Clinton
Illinois State University Illinois State University
Michael Zeigler
SIU-Carbondale
Benjamin Sestak
Illinois Wesleyan
Features
Breaking in N.Y.C.
Kate and Kate
is almost over, and
students are itching for
summer vacation, but
there is still so much
school left! Ugh!
However,
school understands our
pain and sets aside one
whole week for a small
taste of summer: spring
break!
For
Springfield students,
there are mainly two
options for spring
break: stay here in the
oh-so-pleasant (and very
humid) Midwest, or go
to the beautiful (and
hot) southern beaches.
Spring break can be
extraordinary for anyone, no matter where they are!
Spring Break 2015 was especially extraordinary for SHG sophomore Calyn Reardon, who
traveled north to New York City for a week of fun.
Her trip started when she stayed at a hotel in New York City, only about a block away from
Times Square. Then, the activities started rolling out, one at a time. Reardon went to Times Square
(obviously).
Then, she took a very touristy ferry ride, allowing her to see both the Brooklyn Bridge and
the Statue of Liberty. “It was incredible!” she explained.
She saw even more fantastic sights when she visited the 9/11 memorial and traveled to the
top of the 70-story Rockefeller building, the fourteenth tallest building in New York, and the thirtyninth tallest building in the U.S.
She really enjoyed the view. Reardon said, “I thought it was way better than the pictures I
had seen of New York.”
Along with visiting all of these places, she even saw the musical Wicked performed on
Broadway. As any girl would, she hit many stores while she was there and bought clothes at stores
that are not in Springfield.
Reardon spent a lot of fun time with her family, and when they returned back to
Springfield, they already missed the cool N.Y.C. weather. “This was definitely the greatest spring
break I’ve had so far!” explained Reardon.
So, next year, if you are planning to go on vacation somewhere, suggest going to New
York City to the folks. Calyn Reardon had a blast the entire week, and I’m positive she would
recommend it.
However, if you can’t go anywhere, take Reardon’s advice: “It doesn’t matter if you didn’t
go anywhere for spring break. You still get a week off from school!”
No matter where you go, and no matter what you do, make your spring break (or any
vacation) last, and fill it with special and extraordinary memories you can cherish forever.
Dear Kate and Kate,
I AM SO DONE WITH
STARFRUIT. I decided to move
with Starfruit to Nigeria because
Starfruit ruined my life in
America, and the Beliebers were
out to get me. I was adjusting
to my new life in Africa, and,
since I take my cat everywhere,
I decided to take my love bug
to prom at my new school. It’s
not like I couldn’t find a date;
it’s just that no one is as cool
as Starfruit. I bought Starfruit
a little bedazzled cat tux that
matched my dress PURRfectly,
and I was ready to hit the dance
floor with him. To my surprise,
Justin Bieber showed up at prom because he missed me. Starfruit, being the anti-Belieber he is,
decided to rip my dress and drop the disco ball on Bieber’s head, ruining his hair once again. To make
matters worse, Bieber had secretly brought Ashton Kutcher and the crew of Punk’d to film me. He
came to Africa to humiliate me! Now the Beliebers know where I am located and drove up to prom
in squad cars. I’m currently writing this because I was captured by the Beliebers and need help ASAP,
or they will never let me go free. The worst part is they let Starfruit go free because he was so cute in
his tux. Please help me!!! (Side note: Thank you for helping me deal with my problems over the past
year, especially with Starfruit. I love you, Kate and Kate).
By Sabrina Johnston
Staff Writer
School
By Kate Ross and Kate Halford
Staff Writers
Sincerely,
Belieb Me, I Need Help
Dear Belieb Me,
I am so sorry! I can’t believe all of these tragic accidents keep happening to you. I don’t know what
is more unbelievable, that there is prom in Nigeria or that anyone still likes Justin Bieber. As for your
current predicament, I have called the police because it is illegal for the Beliebers to hold you captive.
The police should be there in two or three days, so just try not to anger those girls any further. I
recommend that you sue and disown Starfruit for damages against your social life. Good luck with
the rest of your life!
Sincerely,
Fake Kate
Dear Belieb Me,
Literally, why are you still writing to us? I feel like you make up most of your stories. I have no
clue who you are, but I seriously picture you sitting behind a school desk, plotting and planning
these insane stories. Let us try to help people who need real advice. Although your imagination
is wonderful, we are professionals. We have no time to deal with your fake Bieber stories. And,
seriously, who names their cat Starfruit?? Is Starfruit even real? I think not. I have put up with your
nonsense about Starfruit for the past year, and I am officially sending all your mail to my junk pile.
Thank you for keeping me entertained for the past year. Your stories fill me with laughs. However,
I’m a professional. Want some advice? Stop creating fake scenarios, and conjure up better cat names
than “Starfruit.” This is the last time I will ever hear from you and Starfruit. BELIEB THAT.
Not Sincerely,
No Summertime Sadness Only Ten Years
of Water Left
By Kate Ross
Staff Writer
“What time
is it? Summertime,
it’s our vacation,”
sings the High
School Musical
2 cast. But,
seriously y’all,
it’s summertime!
Finally, after all
our back-breaking
projects and the
torture of waking
up early, we have a
three-month break.
The first day
of summer is
always great. You
probably end up
sleeping in, lying
around the house,
eating junk food,
and hanging out
with friends later.
However, you find
yourself doing this
the day after that,
then the next day,
and then the next
day.
This becomes a pattern, and you become bored. What are you supposed to do for the rest
of the summer? And, if you are not going on vacation, what is there to do around the 217? If you
keep an open-mind, there is a lot you can do in the summer.
One of the best things you can do in summer is hang out with friends. You could get a
bunch of friends together and have a late-night bonfire. Or you could even go night swimming if one
of your friends has a pool.
“My favorite thing to do is hang out with my friends because they’re always fun to be
around, and they’re always up for a new adventure,” says Brenna Whalen, a SHG freshman.
Do you have a summer romance taking place? If you do, take advantage of the warm
weather and plan an outdoor date with your boyfriend or girlfriend.
Enjoy a picnic at one of the local parks for a classic date. Bring a blanket, and find a place
to sit where it won’t be too hot and where you have a nice view of the scenery. Fill a lunch bag with
sandwiches, chips, candy, and make sure to bring drinks.
Another fun, summer date idea would be to go biking together. There are bike trails that
run right by where Lewis Memorial Christian Village is located. The bike trails are surrounded by
trees that shade the entire path. It’s a great way to escape the everyday view of Springfield.
Also, don’t forget to gather up some friends and head to the fair this summer! Michael
Donelan, a SHG sophomore, says, “I love going to the fair because of the food and the concerts.”
During the summer, remember to capture the moment. Find the joy in taking photos of
the plans you make with friends. You could even embrace your inner-model and conduct a photo
shoot! Don’t forget to share your photos via Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook. Summer is a time where the possibilities are endless. SHG senior Katherine Henebry says,
“There are typically no responsibilities or obligations in the summer, and sometimes I just like to
think about all the places I could go and all the things I could do.”
Even if you aren’t going on vacation this summer, you can still have one of the best
summers ever. With a little imagination, a summer in the 217 could become quite the celebration. Be
free! It’s summer time!
By Rachel Elmer
Staff Writer
Real Kate
America’s most populated state, California, is said to have enough water to last only the
next ten years. The biggest question now is, “How do we fix this?” Many cities have been trying to
install water-reducing or water-saving systems.
Sun Valley, in California, is planning on installing at water system that will cost $47 million
and recycle all the city’s rainwater from the drains. Although the system comes at a mighty expense, it
will most likely pay off in the end.
During the decade from 2003 to 2012, we had wet years of nearly 38” of rain and dry ones of
less than 4,” but the average was still just under 14,” said the mayor of California, meaning there is
no drought in the most populous region of the state.
Many people may be wondering, “Why not just stop using so much water?” The answer is
exactly that. The state is promoting such simple acts as using rain barrels to catch rain and then
water their gardens with that instead of a hose. “In another demonstration, asphalt at a school
campus was replaced by vegetation and trees, cooling the buildings and lowering energy costs, while
capturing water under the parking lot in cisterns,” according to the California State Conservation and
Preservation society.
In both situations, the acts proved to be so helpful because there was an abundance of water
left. This shows that saving water doesn’t have to be rocket science, and it is simple for everyone in
which to partake.
In order for this crisis to be fixed in a few years, there are two simple things the state needs to
take up. First, they must limit the amount of water being packaged/ bottled and going out of the
state for profit. Bottled water companies are one of the number-one reasons California is in this
situation.
Second, there must be some control over the water usage between farmers. As of now, there
are set laws that are typically called “ use it or lose it “ laws by farmers. This means that farmers will
stock up their water before it gets limited even more but then end up with an excessive amount of
water that they are not able to use, so the water is wasted.
California obviously has a lot of changes that need to be made. It will be interesting to see what
the future has for the most-populated state in America. Hopefully, the Californians will realize the
seriousness that is the drought and start to come together in this need for water, abiding by any new
laws made.
Sports
Committed to Conquer
NHL Playoffs Begin
The SHG softball team commits a lot of time and effort
to the sport throughout the season during both practices and
games for the thrill and the love of playing softball.
A lot of time is taken out of the softball players’ days
for practices and games. The average length of a practice is two
hours. Most of the time, these girls have to be dismissed early
from school for games, which can range from half an hour to an
hour in just travel time alone. When they finally get to the softball
fields, the games usually last for two, almost two and a half, hours.
Then, they have to wait out the drive back from the game as well.
For the sport, the SHG softball team sacrifices time
for homework and time for hanging out with friends . Luckily,
they make the time to do work and set schedules for themselves.
“During softball season, you really need to be on top of things,
especially projects and papers,” explains junior softball player
Jessica Sauer. “You really can’t mess around at night after practices
and games. It’s always a practice or a game, then shower, dinner,
and homework.”
Obviously, all this commitment and hard work has paid
off. The SHG team has faced some very good competition; their Junior Katie Mclean celebrates a
statistics are 6 - 2 this season so far, and their goal this season is to victory against Glenwood’s softball
make it to State. The team has made it this far mainly because of team. (Photo courtesy of the SJR)
their commitment.
“This is a very good group of young ladies who get along well with each other,” says softball coach
Al Yoho. “It is a very enjoyable group to coach. They listen and want to do whatever it takes to win.”
However, winning is not the only thing that comes out of the commitment to softball.
Like all of the SHG sports teams, the softball girls end up becoming close friends. “I love the team
because they are always there to pick you up and give you advice when you need it,” says sophomore
softball player Jessica Antonacci. “I also love the sport because it is unpredictable. You can have a
bad game one day and a great game the next.”
The SHG softball team is still committing time and work into a great season so far. As a
unified team, they hope to conquer the competition together and make it to State.
After a grueling season spanning over six months, the National Hockey League playoffs
are finally starting. Beginning on Wednesday, April 15, sixteen teams battle each other in hopes of
winning the Stanley Cup. Two local favorite teams, the St. Louis Blues and the Chicago Blackhawks,
have both performed well enough in the regular season to continue in the playoffs.
By Sabrina Johnston
Staff Writer
The Young Master
By Beth Haxel
Editor-in-Chief
The Masters Tournament is one of
the four major championships in professional
golf. Held at the Augusta National Golf Club in
Augusta, Georgia, this year’s Masters were April
9-12. The coveted champion’s green jacket was
awarded to American Jordan Spieth.
Spieth made some history at the
tournament. At age twenty-one, he became the
second youngest champion ever, only behind Tiger
Woods with his win in 1997. In addition, the young
golfer kept the lead for the entire duration of
the tournament, a feat only four other men have
completed. Further, he was never less than three
shots in front of second place, which has only
happened on one other occasion with Craig Wood
in 1941.
Spieth finished with eighteen under
par while American golf legend Phil Mickelson and English golfer Justin Rose tied for second with
fourteen under par. Rory McIlroy finished fourth with twelve under par and Hideki Matsuyama from
Japan finished fifth with eleven under par. Tiger Woods tied for seventeenth. Defending champion
Bubba Watson tied for thirty-eighth.
Spieth was all smiles at the conclusion of the Tournament. “This was arguably the greatest
day of my life. To join Masters history and put my name on that trophy and to have this jacket
forever, it’s something that I can’t fathom right now,” he said.
Paralleled to a young Tiger Woods, Spieth is acclaimed by several masters of the sport.
According to Mickelson, “He has no weaknesses. He has that ability to focus and see things clear
when the pressure is on and perform at his best when the pressure is on. That’s something that you
really can’t teach.” Likewise, McIlroy said, “It’s awfully impressive. It’s nice to get your major tally up
and running at an early stage in your career. It’s great to see, great for the game, and I’m sure there
will be many more.”
Only time will tell, but opportunities are looking bright for Jordan Spieth.
The Campus Crier Staff
Mrs. Tanner, Student Adviser
Kate Ross, Staff Writer
Rachel Elmer, Staff Writer
Sabrina Johnston, Staff Writer
Kate Halford, Staff Writer
By Beth Haxel
Editor-in-Chief
The Blues have fought all season long in the Central Division. After a very close race, they
finished first with 109 points. In the first playoff series, they play the Minnesota Wild, who clinched
a wild card spot. The big question with the Blues is who will be the starting goalie. Their go-to man,
Brian Elliott, has certainly proven his worth this season. However, Jake Allen, though inexperienced,
has been phenomenal in the past few weeks. Blues head coach Ken Hitchcock commented on the
unique situation. “I don’t know; I’ll flip a coin in the next couple of days. One guy’s had a great
season, one guy’s had a great last five weeks. This is a new experience for Jake, so we’ve got a veteran
guy who’s had good experience and a young guy who’s really emerging. I’ve got the best of both
worlds,” he said.
Chicago will face the Nashville Predators in the first round. Also in the Central Division,
the Blackhawks finished third overall with 102 points, just seven behind the Blues. Fortunately, after
suffering from and broken clavicle, star player Patrick Kane is cleared to play for the first game
against Nashville. The Predators were considered a favorite to win the Central Division until they
went on a six-game losing streak at the very end of the season, so hopes are high for the Hawks.
“Now it comes down to execution. You have to prepare yourself best you can to execute, and
hopefully that goes our way,” said center Brad Richards. In recent years, Chicago has done very well,
winning the championship in 2010 and 2013. They could very well add 2015.
Running into First Place
By Kate Halford
Staff Writer
This year, SHG’s track and field team has worked hard to improve themselves in the hope
of success at this year’s state meet.
The team consists of many SHG students who compete in a wide variety of track and field
events from sprints, hurdles, and long-distance running to long and high jump, as well as shot put and
discus.
Training for track and field begins in the winter as the athletes work on their strength
and agility. They meet multiple times every week to use the weight rooms and to better prepare
themselves for the upcoming season.
With the weather remaining cold until spring, track season starts with indoor meets. SHG
competed at several indoor track meets to prepare for indoor state.
Several boys and girls qualified for and attended the state indoor meet held March 27th and
28th at Wesleyan University Shirk Center in Bloomington. Many individuals and relay teams did well
in their heats. Senior sprinter Rachel Treat said, “Qualifying for state this year was the perfect way to
end my senior season of indoor track.”
The track team, having competed in indoor state, is continuing to train in hopes of bringing home
medals from the 2A state meet.
Many boys and girls have already qualified for the state race to be held in late May at
Eastern Illinois University’s O’Brien Stadium in Charleston.
However, many factors other than winning races drive the runners and field athletes to
participate in track. When asked about his favorite aspect of track, senior long-distance runner Sam
Rogers immediately replied, “I’d have to say that I most enjoy the adrenaline rush that takes over your
body just moments before the start of a race.”
For others, the athletes who make up the team make the experience worthwhile. This
is true for Treat, who said, “Although we run individual races, SHG girls’ track is one of the most
supportive and unified teams I have had the privilege of being a part of!”
No matter what draws the students to track and field, all are working to push themselves
for the state competition in hopes of representing their teams and themselves. Their athleticism, hard
work, and team chemistry will lead SHG’s track and field team to success.
Senior Emily Sestak sprints as she competes in the long jump at a meet hosted at West Campus.
Beth Haxel, Editor-in-Chief