Vol.1 #4310 Green Bay Road, Winnetka, IL, 60093

Thursday, February 14th, 2013

The Politics of Valentine’s Day

Ilia Labkovsky ‘13

Every year, Valentine’s Day comes with the normal festivities and symbols: candy, hearts, and candy hearts. But is one of the most beloved Valentine’s Day symbols setting a bad example for all of us?

I’m talking, of course, about Cupid. You’ll know him as the winged baby who flies around shooting people with his arrows and thus making them fall in love. This approach strikes a chord with much of the public. Bow and arrow control is obviously a hot button issue in our country right now, so how do most Americans feel about Cupid’s gear? I conducted some random-person-on-the-street interviews to find out.

On the pro-Cupid side, you have the traditionalists who think that Cupid should stay the way he’s always been.

“I can’t believe that someone would try to take away such an old tradition,” said one interviewee. “It’s been clear since the beginning of history that Cupid has a bow and he can do as he pleases with it. It’s his god-given right.”

One particularly angry woman proclaimed, “It’s so like the socialist left and the liberal media to try to politicize Valentine’s Day. I mean really, what does St. Valentine’s life have to do with bows and arrows? He had a peaceful death, right?”

When informed that St. Valentine had in fact been clubbed to death as a martyr, the woman claimed her quote had been taken out of context.

The main goal of the pro-Cupid side has been the passage of state-by-state concealed carry laws, which would allow Cupid to carry his bow and arrow hidden in his diaper so long as he has a permit. The law would also allow anyone with a permit to carry a concealed weapon of love onto public grounds like universities.

The proposed law comes at a clearly divisive time for our nation; the past year has seen an unprecedented increase in mass infatuations. Despite this, there are still those who insist that Cupid is doing nothing wrong.

Matt Griffin ‘14

The Diller Street JournalAsk Piper

Page 4Photo Contest Results

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An old man on a park bench said, “The gods can take Cupid’s bow and arrow when they pry it from his cold, Greek hands.”

Leading the charge of this pro-Cupid side is the National Romantics Association (NRA), whose mission statement proclaims, “Arrows don’t make people fall in love, people make people fall in love.”

They have a large base of support and offer members bow and arrow shooting ranges and hunting grounds, where they can practice shooting at small, confined bunnies to make them fall in love.

North Shore is full of people who strive to make a difference and help others. One such student, Jonathan Segal ‘15, organized an event in honor of his grandmother to raise money for Alzheimer’s research. Dunk Alzheimer’s, held during a recent Raider boys’ basketball game, was extremely successful and well-organized, which speaks to Segal’s dedication and hard work.

In the weeks leading up to the event, Jonathan and his brother Andrew Segal ‘13 spread awareness about the event and the disease. They talked about why the fundraiser was important to them, what their connection was, and how people could help.

The proceeds from Dunk Alzheimer’s were donated to the Alzheimer’s Association. The Segals sold custom-made T-shirts for people to wear during the event. The shirts were designed to show support, spread awareness, and commemorate the unforgettable display of student support.

The event took place at an important Friday evening basketball game on

Dunking for a Cure

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Photo by Brent Rolfes ‘16

Photo courtesy of the Segal family

Algebrainiacs: The Inside Story of AMC

News

Justin Savin ‘15

2 2/14/13

TurnaboutMackenzie Nolan ‘15“Fungle in the Jungle”: the surprising name drew a crowd to the Saturday night

dance. On January 26, the annual Turnabout for the Upper School took place in the Activities Center.

Previously scheduled for later in the school year, it was moved to the night following the famous Basketball Bash. The theme of “jungle” was well represented by cheetah and tiger prints, and there were also mushroom costumes highlighting “fungle” the part of the phrase.

“I thought everyone dressed to the theme and had fun,” said Jonathan Segal ‘15.

“It was one the of best dances at North Shore,” said Sarah Metz ‘15. For this dance, the students chose a different DJ group than usual: students from

Loyola who have an internship with B96. They created a new atmosphere, receiving great responses from the crowd. Whether you enjoyed the pop music or the few slow songs, there was enough to keep everyone on the dance floor happy.

“I hope they use this DJ again, the strobe lights were a nice effect,” said Caroline Abrams ‘15.

Daniel Vielliu ‘15 disagreed. “I was not a big fan of the DJ. But the decorations and food topped it off.”

Throughout the night, videos and photos were taken by the DJ crew. This footage is intended for a music video for North Coast Music Festival, which will be promoted on YouTube. To check out the footage you can visit their Facebook page: www.facebook.com/DJPaulyZ.

February 1, when the Raiders were playing to stay alive in the conference title race. Dunk Alzheimer’s brought in a huge turnout and the student fans were energetic and excited.

The Segal brothers were able to acquire corporate sponsors for the event, including Skinny Pop and Greater Than, who donated popcorn and drinks to be sold to benefit the fundraiser. Students who came out to support the event chowed down while cheering on the team.

The festivities continued with a three-point shooting contest at halftime. Throughout the night, student announcer David Blechman ‘13 talked about supporting Alzheimer’s research and what the event was created to do.

The Raiders’ conference hopes were ultimately dashed, but the Segals were able to pull off a successful event. It was a great example of North Shore activism and is an inspiration to other students who want to organize to make a difference.

Ilia Labkovsky ‘13Dunking for a CureCont. from 1

American Mathematics Competition (AMC) is an organization that facilitates a series of educational competitions for high school students. Founded in 1950 by the state of New York, the American Mathematics Competition eventually transitioned from statewide to nationwide, and 13 years ago it became international. The recently rejuvenated AMC Club at North Shore is helmed by Jackson Lubin ‘15 and Veb Annand ‘15. This past year, the club was hard at work preparing for the culminating AMC test on Tuesday, February 5. “Depending on how well you do on that test, you can receive certain distinctions or be placed on an honor roll,” said Lubin. “[It helps you] measure yourself against other people in the country.” To prepare for the test, the AMC club met weekly on Mondays to, according to James Robinson ‘15, “practice.” Lubin said that members of the club “get there, we eat our lunch, and then normally we will put problems on the board. And then, after everybody has completed the problems, if there is somebody who would like to share how they answered the problem, we will have him [or her] come up and explain his answer.” In addition to the hard work members of the AMC Club put into the meetings, Lubin says there is time for fun as well. The club photo is always a fun and climactic experience in and of itself. Beyond that, the friendly competition and the camaraderie of the group are major reasons students should consider joining the AMC Club at North Shore. If you are not one of the 30 students who took the AMC test, you should consider joining the club and taking it next year. “You can contact Veb, Mr. Cousineau, or me,” Lubin said. The commitment and dedication of the AMC Club members is evident. Their success and determination to improve their problem solving skills manifested on the AMC test, and this club will continue for years to come.

Photo courtesy of Annie Murnighan ‘13

Photo courtesy of the Segal Family

Many people question teenagers’ ability to make a difference in the world. It may seem like our generation cares more about what Kim Kardashian is wearing or who Justin Bieber is dating than we do about the fact that thousands of individuals across the globe are being denied their basic human rights. What is often kept hidden is that there are thousands of teens all around the world who are fighting to make the world a better place.

In school, we are taught about war and justice, but we are rarely taught about what teens can do to make a difference. Each year, high school students from different countries are learning what it takes to create long lasting peace at Seeds of Peace International Camp in Otisfield, Maine. They are learning that peace does not come solely from the absence of conflict, but from the presence of joy.

Each summer at Seeds of Peace, 200 teens from South Asia, the United Kingdom, the Middle East, and the United States come together to learn about peacebuilding and conflict resolution. There, they spend three and a half weeks living, eating, and sleeping with other teens — many of whom they have grown up viewing as enemies. They spend two hours a day, six days a week

in intense and powerful dialogue talking about the conflicts.

For those three and a half weeks, teens come to realize that it is not about who is right or who is wrong, or who is suffering more, but about the fact that no one benefits from the conflict. They stop seeing the “other side” as an enemy or nameless face, and they start seeing them as their brothers and sisters.

The enduring impact that Seeds of Peace has on teens all around the world is almost indescribable. Today, there are more than 5,000 “Seeds” planted worldwide. They leave camp and go out into the world to create meaningful change. These teens will grow up to become writers, lawyers, politicians, and more. The values they learned at Seeds of Peace will stay with them for the rest of their lives.

So when you think of our generation, think about those children who are striving for peace and social justice. Think about those teens who spend their summers learning about conflict resolution and peacebuilding. Think about those teens who are fighting to make sure that everyone is being granted basic human rights.

Think about the teens who are planting seeds of peace around the world.

Opinion

Darling Kittoe ‘13

Seeds of Peace

3 2/14/13

February 14 rapidly approaches, despite my best efforts. Call me a Grinch, but I’m not looking forward to Valentine’s Day. The holiday will soon be upon us — or at least the contemporary version will be. Valentine’s Day used to have class. It used to have swag. Back in the good old days, it celebrated a Catholic saint named Valentine. Back then, Valentine’s Day included aspects of Christian and Roman culture. Then corporations got their meaty hands on this perfect holiday, one thing led to another, and now we have significant others shelling out $130 for one day of the year.

While it has some somewhat bearable aspects, like the fact that I can swoop into good stores, buy things more cheaply than usual, and then retreat, I still think that the new version is a phony.

Here’s why: It was manufactured by HallmarkYep, you read this right: manufactured by Hallmark. Like many other corporations

in our dog-eat-dog business world, they’re hungry for cash. Personally, I think their appetite should be gone, as, last time I checked, CEO of Hallmark Donald J. Hall’s net worth was nearly $2 billion. On Forbes’ list of the 400 Richest Americans in 2003, he placed 103rd. That kind of money will get him into early retirement without breaking a sweat.

But no, Hall and his cute little corporate posse have to have more. And what better way to get money in their pockets than to create a fake holiday to exploit everyone’s need to buy useless junk?

I hear people complain about not having enough money after taxes. To this group, I say stop buying the useless junk. Besides, I bet that half of the merchandise people have bought over the years for this “holiday” is in our landfills, slowly rotting. We hear about our landfills being filled with trash, stuff that can’t be recycled. I have a feeling that all that cheap Valentine’s Day junk is a major player in this game. By participating in this “holiday,” you buy into Hallmark’s scheme, and you simultaneously hurt the environment.

It’s advertised far too muchWhile Valentine’s Day is not as overly commercialized as Christmas (story for a

later date), it’s still pretty bad. Every year, I prepare myself to witness the onslaught of commercials. Every year, around the beginning of February, I give myself my annual personal pep talk.

I assure myself I will not — I repeat, will not — buy into their scheme. Then, the commercials flow, almost like a tsunami. As the time passes, I think, “I’m outnumbered by these god-awful commercials telling me that I can get 40% off on select furniture. This is too hard. I can’t make it.” Then I remember, “Do not buy into this faceless corporation we call Hallmark’s scheme. They’re making enough money off their over-commercialization of Christmas.” After that, my morale is renewed, and I survive.

On February 15th, I congratulate myself on rising above the commercial onslaught. However, I limit myself to one day of celebration, for the fight is not over yet. I must prepare myself for my next battle over over-commercialism — St. Patrick’s Day.

It sets a bad example for othersHallmark’s creation of this Valentine’s Day atrocity is counterproductive for our

society. It gives other companies ideas. Bad ideas. To put this in a simpler light, it’s like a family of brothers. The older brother (Hallmark) does something bad (this version of Valentine’s Day). His younger siblings (smaller card companies) see this, and because younger siblings often blindly follow the examples of their older siblings, they follow suit. This amalgamation of terror wreaks havoc on the home (society) and everyone’s common sense (common sense).

Due to Hallmark’s flub of a holiday being created, we now run the risk of more of these atrocious holidays. What’s next? I Sat Behind You In English Class Day?

As a society, we really need to get back to the basics in many areas, especially Valentine’s Day. There is goodness in simplicity.

To Celebrate or Not To Celebrate: That is the QuestionCooper Ochsenhirt ‘16

Photo courtesy of www.seedsofpeace.org

My teacher acts like his/her class is the only class I take, and assigns extremely large amounts of homework. I am so overwhelmed, and I find myself doing almost two hours of homework for this one class each night. What do I do? The class has tried to talk to this teacher, but she will not listen.

Hmm. This seems to be a common problem for students. I’d suggest talking to your advisor, as they are meant to act as a middleman between you and your teachers if you’re having issues. You can always bring some classmates along to talk to another adult if you’re not that comfortable with your advisor. There’s safety in numbers, and if others are having trouble with the same teacher, it’s clearly not just you who’s experiencing stress.

How many dogs will fit in a four door Ford Explorer? Comfort level really doesn’t matter.

I would guess around six, but it definitely depends on the size of the dogs. I’d say six large dogs or ten small dogs. To report animal cruelty, you can call the ASPCA at (212) 876-7700, ext. 4450.

How do you spell sovernighty?Sovereignty.

Would you rather fight 100 duck-sized horses or one horse-sized duck?

Although 100 duck-sized horses would be pretty awesome, I’m going to have to say one horse-sized duck, so after I defeated it I could ride it Pegasus style.

What is the square root of 38? My calculator is missing and I need the answer by the time the next Diller Street Journal comes out.

6.164414002968976. Good luck!

Is mar00n purple or red. ;]I would consider it a dark brick red with slight

purple undertones.

My parents bought me a car for my 16th birthday. However, when I drive places with my friends, I tend to forget where I parked my car, and I end up not finding it. The police cannot seem to locate it either, so I have had to buy a new car three times. My parents are upset and will take it out of next week’s allowance if I lose my car again. What should I do?

Take the bus.

Valentine’s Day Crossword

Features

An Anonymous Student Answers Other Anonymous Students’ Questions

Annie Murnighan ‘13

Ask Piper

4 2/14/13

The Politics of Valentine’s DayMatt Griffin ‘14

On the other side of the issue is the pro-bow and arrow control view. Due to increased amounts of affection resulting from Valentine’s Day, these people have rallied to fight against the crush-creating crusader. With signs reading “Stupid Cupid” and various other anti-NRA slogans, they formed large crowds to protest in Washington last week.

A senator speaking at a rally announced his support for the cause.

“It is no coincidence that Americans support Cupid and fall in love at a much higher rate than citizens of other countries,” he said before a booming crowd.

The main purpose of the rally was to fight against the concealed carry laws. Earlier this month the President proposed a ban on larger admire arms in hopes of curbing the rising infatuation trend. The plan has been met with strong resistance from those who feel their love rights are being infringed upon.

I was fortunate enough to get a comment with the senator after the rally, where he told me, “Cupid has no right to go around manipulating our feelings. People will fall in love as they will without his interference. In our bow and arrow culture, we’ve seen the weapons popularized in video games, movies, and more. What is this teaching our kids?”

In response to the rally, an NRA staff member told me, “People blame so much love on bow and arrows. Well, take away the arrows, and people can still infatuate others with things like a love potion. So really, getting rid of admire arms won’t affect love levels at all.”

To this reporter, it is shocking to think that with people being senselessly enamored every day, there are still people who would have bow and arrows available to all. The arrows don’t do the work themselves, but they make it easier for people to enamor others.

It is clear that a change needs to be made to how our country deals with the issue of admire arms. We need to look past the argument that it is not the weapon but the person; we must learn that the responsible party is both the person and the Eros.

Cont. from 1

Nick David ‘15

1. Adjective ____________________________2. First Name of a Person _________________ 3. Noun _______________________________4. Class _______________________________5. Noun _______________________________6. Noun _______________________________7. Teacher _____________________________8. First Name of a Person _________________9. First Name of a Person ________________10. Song _______________________________11. Noun - Plural ________________________12. Lunch Item __________________________13. First Name of a Person ________________14. First Name of a Person ________________15. Noun - Plural ________________________16. Restaurant __________________________17. Dinner Item _________________________

It was a _____ morning at North Shore Country Day. ____ parked her __________ in the parking lot just 2 minutes before A Block ________, so she had to run to class. It was Valentine’s Day and she was planning to deliver a huge ____ to her friend as a gift. When she got to class she realized that she had forgotten her ______. However, ______ wouldn’t allow her to go back outside so instead she had to borrow one from ________. About halfway through class, _______’s phone rang and the ringtone was ________. The teacher took away her phone and gave them the punishment of having to clean _______ in the V. A few hours later at lunch, her bad day continued. It got worse when she spilled her _____ all over ______. However, she finally ran into her friend _____ and gave him the gift that she had been wanting to give to him all day. Additionally, she gave him a basket full of _____. That night they went to dinner at _______ and got ____. The End.

“My playlis t reflects the music my friends and I listened to as we came of age during the 1980s. I remember almost freezing to death in 1983 while camping outside of Madison’s old Dane County Coliseum to buy tickets for a Genesis concert. They were one of

the groups that pioneered the use of synthesizers and other non-traditional instruments as early as the late 1960s. That sound would gain mass appeal during the eighties through groups like Tears for Fears, A Flock of Seagulls, and Pet Shop Boys. My friends and I also liked bands like Joe Jackson, XTC, and The Clash. These groups kept the traditional rock and roll sound while still integrating some of the techno elements of the era.

Don’t get me wrong... I wasn’t a fan of every musical trend of the eighties. You won’t see any Bon Jovi, Def Leppard, or Madonna on my list. Yuck. You also won’t see any songs from an Irish group called U2 that burst onto the music scene in 1980 with their debut album Boy. I was a huge fan back in high school but have grown tired of their music in my old age. Bono... I think it’s time to hang it up!”

1. “West End Girls” - Pet Shop Boys2. “Cars” - Gary Numan3. “Mad World” - Tears for Fears4. “I Ran” - A Flock of Seagulls5. “I’m The Man” - Joe Jackson6. “Just Like Heaven” - The Cure7. “Man On The Corner” - Genesis8. “Mayor of Simpleton” - XTC9. “Pretty In Pink” - The Psychedelic Furs10. “Saved by Zero” - The Fixx11. “She Blinded Me With Science” - Thomas Dolby12. “Spirits In The Material World” - The Police13. “Tempted” - Squeeze14. “Train In Vain” - The Clash

To nominate yourself or someone you know to be featured in DSJ’s “North Shore Mixtape,” please contact Annie Murnighan at amurnighan13@nscds.org.

Features

Nick David ‘15Valentine’s Day Mad Libs

Annie Murnighan ‘13

North Shore Mixtape: Mr. Curren’s Groove Salad

5 2/14/13

This issue’s riddle:

A wise man is having a Valentine’s Day party for 250 people. For the celebration, the man has bought 250 cans of Sprite. However, just one day before the party is set to occur, the man realizes that inside one of the Sprites there is a potion that will transform a human being into a frog. The potion takes effect between 11-17 hours after consumption, and no symptoms are shown before this time. However, the wise man does not have the time or money to buy new cans of Sprite, so instead he calls on his servants. He has 250 servants available to sample the Sprites. Assuming each servant can try as many Sprites as he is ordered to, what is the smallest number of servants required to unequivocally identify the one Sprite containing the potion? If you think you know the answer, email it to me (ndavid15@nscds.org). The winner will receive their choice of an iTunes or Amazon.com gift card. Previous winners are only eligible if no one else submits a correct answer.

The solution to last issue’s problem:

Last issue, our logic problem involved a planet full of people trying to figure out what color hair they had.

After receiving many incorrect guesses, we finally received a correct answer from Jackson Lubin ’15. He said that on the 74th day, all 74 people with black hair would leave. The solution to this problem can be better understood by simplifying the problem to when there are only a few people on the planet. If there are only two people, for example — one with black hair and one with blue hair — the person with black hair would leave the first night. Why? Because when the guru said that he saw someone with black hair, the person with black hair would look around, see that no one else had black hair, and realize that he must be the person with black hair. So he would leave that night. If there were two people with black hair in the scenario, both of the people with black hair would look around, see that the other person has black hair, and since they are wise men this will be their thought process: “When the other man looks at me, he sees that I have a hair color other than black, and he will use that logic to leave tonight. However, if he doesn’t leave, then he must have seen someone else with black hair, and since I can’t see anyone besides him with black hair, I must have black hair too.” Therefore, if both people had black hair, they would both leave the second night. Using this same logic, 74 people will leave on the 74th night.

Logic Problem: A Love Potion

Photo by Art Jessen

Sports6 2/14/13

The 2013 BCS National Championship between Notre Dame and Alabama was one of the most anticipated games in college football history.

I was fortunate enough to secure tickets and be able to experience the anticipated game. The feeling around the stadium was electric. Tailgating started at 10 a.m. and lasted until the game began at 8:30 p.m.

It was clear the Notre Dame fanbase had traveled well, as there were a lot more Notre Dame fans than Alabama fans. The hours before the game were long and filled with excitement.

After hours of tailgating, it was finally time to go into the stadium. As my dad and I walked in, “Let’s Go Irish” echoed through the ramps and stairs. Notre Dame Nation was in full force.

As we got to our seats, Notre Dame fans surrounded and welcomed us. The teams were warming up and the excitement kept building. It was almost time to witness the main event.

Before the game started, five parachuters flew into the stadium. For Notre Dame fans, the highlight may have been the Notre Dame parachuter sticking his landing and the Alabama parachuter falling upon hitting the ground.

As the teams entered the field, the stadium was the loudest it would get all night. The time had finally arrived. Some called the pre-game one of the loudest and craziest events that they had ever attended.

The highly anticipated game quickly turned into one of the biggest blowouts in history. By the time Notre Dame had attempted 3 rushing attempts, Alabama was up 21-0. Alabama was able to pick Notre Dame’s #1 ranked defense apart as if it

were nothing.Notre Dame’s offense abandoned the run from

the start and kept throwing in the direction of cornerback Dee Milliner, who is the best one on one defender in the country. Milliner spent most of the night shadowing Tyler Eifert and did a pretty good job of it. The play-calling by Brian Kelly was questionable at best.

The first quarter was the longest quarter of football a Notre Dame fan could ever endure. Notre Dame was able to get some stops in the second quarter, yet Alabama scored with under a minute remaining in the half, which just about put the game out of reach for Notre Dame.

While the first half was out of hand, the second half was even. Both teams scored 14 points. The final score was 42-14.

Notre Dame was a year ahead of themselves. The team is not on a Championship level yet, but they are very close. With a majority of their starters returning, a more experienced quarterback, and one of the top recruiting classes coming in, a return to the Championship would not be surprising.

There were several Notre Dame fans that traveled from all over the country just to see this one game. Many thought it would be the best game in history, however, they were dead wrong. Mid-way through the third quarter, Notre Dame fans started to pile out. There was no energy in any of the Notre Dame fans as they were watching their team be demolished.

Were the fans disappointed? Yes. But did they regret going? Absolutely not.

The experience of the National Championship is one I will never forget.

Will Lawler ‘16

National Championship Blowout

Justin Savin ‘15On the Right Track

While the boys’ and girls’ basketball teams continue to compete on the court, the winter track team is just getting ready to partake in competition. I sat down with two of the track team’s rising stars, Jackson Lubin ‘15 and Tonya Piergies ‘15, to discuss the team’s preparation, present accomplishments, and future goals. Lubin said that since there have only been two meets so far, the past few months of the season have been primarily for training. While the season has been uneventful, Piergies expressed that the next few weeks are going to be an important stretch for the team, including a “big meet” coming up at University of Illinois this Saturday, February 16. As for the meets themselves, Lubin said indoor and outdoor meets share many similarities, one of them being that the team relays are the same. Piergies pointed out differences, stating that indoor meets have shorter distances for some events. “For example, instead of the 100 [meters], it’s the

50 [meters],” said Piergies. When asked to name some key team members in the upcoming spring season, Lubin and Piergies immediately recognized Veb Anand ‘15 as a pivotal player. Anand runs the 200 meters, 50 meters, and 400 meters. Lubin expressed his optimism about the sophomore, saying, “You [the student body] should definitely watch out for Vaibhav.” In addition, Piergies qualified for state as an alternate in the 2011-2012 season, and she will be looking to build on that success this year. “Pizza!” was Lubin and Piergies’ response when asked about traditions of the winter track team. Piergies stated that pizza was a rare occasion, though, hinting at the fact that the track team is one of the more serious and dedicated teams at the school. This attitude is evident in their motto, “One Shot,” and Piergies and Lubin agreed that this attitude not only keeps them focused, but motivates them as well.

This level of ambition has resulted in hard work to date, and will ultimately result in a valiant effort by the team during competition. For more up-to-the-minute information on the winter track team, check out Mr. McHugh’s blog at raiderathletics.blogspot.com, or follow the Twitter feed @NSCDStrack.

Girls’ Basketball:on the UpturnRachel York ‘15

As all athletes and fans know, breaking a losing streak is difficult. It takes hard work, perseverance, and hope, all of which the North Shore girls’ basketball team knows a lot about.

The team had a strong start this season, making it above .500 before winter break, but then fell into a slump coming back from the holidays. A big win against Roycemore at the basketball bash helped get the girls’ spirits up, and helped them bring home a buzzer beater, 42-40 regional win against Ida Crown. I recently spoke to two of the team’s leaders, Annie Kroll ‘15 and Becca Slotkin ‘14, to get some insight on the season as a whole.

“We lost a fair amount of really good players last year, so going into the season I wasn’t expecting to be the best team. This team has exceeded my highest expectations,” said Kroll of the team’s successes.

Last year, the team lost Kim Kahnweiler ‘12 and Alex Barker ‘12, integral players and members of the starting lineup. Both Kroll and Slotkin expressed initial dissatisfaction with their record, while also noting their great strides to success they made at the end of the season.

“Our record wasn’t stellar, but I think as a team we improved and have started working better together,” said Slotkin of the team’s gradual improvement, a sentiment shared by Kroll.

Both attributed their early and late successes to hard work. Slotkin said that even though they were struggling through a losing streak before the landslide victory over Roycemore, that the practices

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Photo by Art Jessen

Sports7 2/14/13

Ilia Labkovsky ‘13

Boys’ Basketball: Growing Pains

and games leading up to the Roycemore game they were working hard, and working together to bring each other up and improve as a team.

Kroll also stated that coach Dana Leonard was a factor in their success. “She’s one of the most experienced basketball players that I’ve met and she really pushes us hard… to do better than we ever have.”

The win over Roycemore certainly helped the girls gain their steam to bring home their first regional win. They had played each of the teams in their regional tournament before; according to Kroll, their only loss in the regular season to a team that would be in their regional was to Ida Crown, who beat them by 17 points in the regular season.

All their hard work paid off, and the regional final was a close match the whole game, with a score of 11-11 at the half, and 26-26 in the third quarter. The girls managed to push through for a win, giving it their all in the last two minutes to bring home the regional title.

This will certainly be a season to remember for these girls, who are overall a strong team. Despite their brief losing streak, their determination and love for the game has been unwavering, proving that underdogs can bring home a victory. These girls certainly have a bright future ahead of them.

North Shore’s boys’ basketball team went through growing pains during the first part of the season. The Raiders have had to adapt to new team members and injuries as they fight to match the success that many expected from this team. North Shore basketball came into this season with high hopes and even higher potential. After becoming the first North Shore basketball team to make it to the state semifinals last year, the Raiders took home the fourth place trophy. The team lost only one player from last year who played significant minutes, guard Jake Bruce ‘12, who provided solid scoring as a starter. It was believed that current senior Elias Butler ‘13, who is new to the team this year, could provide the same scoring punch off the bench or even make his way into the starting rotation. Butler has played well but has only recently begun to live up to his potential, with games like his 18-point outburst off the bench in the heartbreaking one-point loss to conference rival Francis Parker. The Raiders have lost four conference games and cannot win the conference championship. The team can still qualify for the state playoffs without winning conference. They have been moved up to the 2A qualification, which brings with it bigger schools and better competition in the playoffs, but

this team believes that it can find the same success in 2A as it did in 1A. Team captain Austin Curren ‘13, the team’s all-state selection last year, is making a steady return from injury. Curren suffered a hamstring injury in the summer that caused him to miss his whole senior football season, and he is now being worked into the team’s rotation. Curren has been coming off the bench lately and has been a big factor in games such as the Raiders’ recent defeat of University High School. Butler has replaced him in the starting lineup. The team is trying to gain chemistry with new players such as guard Ayo Okesanya ‘13, guard Sam Kayser ‘15, and forward/center Sam Tullman ‘13. Forward Riley Hall ‘13 (nicknamed “Cornbread” for his simple but delicious game) has been playing at an extremely high level lately, punctuated by games like his 24-point, 22-rebound outburst. Point guard Jamie Swimmer ‘13, who has been running the offense efficiently, and a host of other great returning players make this an overall deeper and more talented squad than last year’s. When this team irons out their issues, they will certainly be a force to be reckoned with in the state playoffs.

Girls’ BasketballRachel York ‘15

Cont. from 6

Photography by Brent Rolfes ‘16

When I stepped into the Diller Street Theater to see North Shore Country Day School’s production of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, I was expecting a cute, child-friendly translation of the Disney production. For the most part, I was not disappointed, but it didn’t keep exactly to the happy-go-lucky Disney tale that I’ve always known.

We all know the Disney version, where the Evil Queen wants to kill Snow White. She disguises herself as an old lady and offers Snow White a poison apple, and Snow White is only saved when a prince kisses her and brings her back to life. This production was similar to the Disney version, with a few ominous, dark twists. The melding of these different interpretations of the story of Snow White along with the actors’ own interpretations of the roles made for a child-friendly show that still contains much of the original fairy tale.

When the evil queen Enviana (played by Hannah Klaeser ‘13) said ,“Cut out her heart and bring it to me, and I’ll eat it for my supper,” I knew that this show was not exactly like the movie from my childhood. Though the line made me cringe, the artful manner in which Klaeser played such a terrifying and slightly cannibalistic character made her more animated and enjoyable for children.

Although Klaeser’s character was darker than what many parents may have been expecting for their children, Sara Hondmann ‘14’s portrayal of Snow White and Matt Griffin ‘14’s portrayal of the Mirror added elements of youth and comedy, respectively. Hondmann’s naturally high voice

coated Snow White’s character with a childlike innocence, which offset Klaeser’s sinister Grimm’s fairy tale approach. Likewise, Matt Griffin managed to turn a typically mundane role into comic relief that contrasted well with Klaeser’s character.

Much of the rest of the show seemed to follow the plotline of the Disney version of the story, perhaps because North Shore didn’t feel like giving its younger students nightmares for the next three weeks. The dwarfs’ acting was superb, and their brotherly bantering — particularly between Brian Cook ‘16, Cameron Speta ‘16 and Debbie Newmark ‘15 as Dwarfs One, Two and Three, respectively — added a relatable and lighthearted humor that was very child-friendly.

Though much of the acting in this show was amazing, the extra elements that were in neither the Grimm’s fairy tale story nor in the Disney story were what put the production over the top. Pianist Adam Kim ‘13 provided seamless scene transitions, and the music made the show seem fun and childlike. The props were also incredible. The special effects of the magic potion that turned Enviana into a witch were extraordinary. The bubbling over of the ingredients, combined with the lightning effect, created a riveting scene that drew in the viewer.

Ultimately, North Shore’s production of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs used elements from both the Disney Snow White film that everyone knows and loves and the original Grimm telling, while incorporating some new elements as well. This strange, fascinating combination truly made the show an all-encompassing experience.

The Arts

Julie Block ‘13

Wait, what am I watching?

8 2/14/13

A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of attending this year’s winter play, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Typically, the winter plays here at North Shore are more geared towards children — so although I was expecting a high quality production like other ones I’ve been in and seen here, I have to admit my expectations were a little lower. However, the play far exceeded my expectations and was very much on par with other great school productions. “So far I’ve only been in dramas, but this is one of the best plays I’ve been in at North Shore,” said Brian Cook ‘15, who played Dwarf One. Many cast members and audience members, myself included, enjoyed this show because it was a nice change of pace from the past few shows here. One of the best parts was how it wasn’t a stereotypical children’s play, but instead had more of a tongue-in-cheek attitude. “The play was good... but it was rather short,” said audience member Zak Nelson ‘15. I shared this feeling. I wish there had been more to it! Still, there was plenty packed into this one-hour play. There were rave reviews from students for Director Julia Macholl. “Ms. Macholl is really cool, and a really good director, and she put the play together well,” said Raegan Burke ‘16, who played a fairy in the play. With every show, Ms. Macholl seems to be able to pull the cast together in a way they would never expect, and this play was no exception. The casting was perfect. I don’t think anyone else could have nailed the Snow White voice better than Sara Hondmann ‘14, who did a great job of being innocent with the perfect touch of comedic irony — especially in the scenes where she was whisked away by a variety of different people in the forest. The same goes for Jack Colley ‘14 and Quinn Gray ‘14, who played the servants. They had great chemistry on stage and worked well as a team. Matt Griffin ‘14 and Hannah Klaeser ‘13 were hilarious as the evil queen Enviana and her Mirror. The whole cast worked well together to put together an interesting, hilarious, and fun show. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs definitely lived up to previous North Shore productions and set the bar high for the rest of the year.

Snow White Exceeded ExpectationsRachel York ‘15

Photography by Brent Rolfes ‘16

The Arts

Justin Savin ‘15

Poetry in Our Lives

9 2/14/13

There are others who have power to loveDistance between two warm loving bright spheresTwo worlds gleaming connect the stars aboveHave been in touch across prolonged light years

It was the dear fondness of Mars and SaturnBehold Jupi-ter’s stormy jealous big eyeIn sight of Mars, she glowed as a lanternThe time to show his love Mars knew was nigh

In mind the thought “union” had soon arrivedHe thought with care of what he could proposeAnd Mars’s feelings he thought he had revivedHe hoped what he gave her was what she chose

To it the gift he gave to her she clingsAnd that is how Saturn received her rings

The Circle of LoveAn original poem by Shemar James ‘14 Poetry in the Literary Lives of Worldly Students

(PILLOWS) was originally founded by Mrs. McHugh in the 1990s, and it has been present in our community ever since. Madame Wollin-Casey, the current faculty sponsor, says PILLOWS was originally for “students who wanted to write and read their own poetry.” In the beginning, she says, students would “do what Mrs. McHugh does now with Louder Than A Bomb and work on poetry together, and then they would come together and perform for an audience.” As PILLOWS evolved, the presentations expanded to include music, and people read not just their own poetry but the poetry of others. This year, there has been some anomalous material, as the club is comprised of an unusual number of singers and musicians. Madame recognizes that while PILLOWS was a poetry-focused club in past years, “The idea [of the club] now is to encourage people to do a variety of things. [You can] read stories, read children’s books, whatever it is, but it’s all original performances.” One tradition from PILLOWS is to sing the song “Wonderwall” by the English band Oasis at the end of each PILLOWS session. The tradition, Madame says, is in its 8th year running.

While there is variety and talent in the performances, a lack of attendance has been noticeable. Madame strongly encourages people to come to PILLOWS. “The good thing about PILLOWS is that you don’t have to come every time to be a member,” said Madame. “People should come because they can see performances that they wouldn’t normally see other places. The performers aren’t always the kids who are performing in the talent shows or up on stage for Morning Ex. It’s a supportive environment... Matt Griffin [‘14] runs some of his jokes at PILLOWS. It’s a good place to try out performances, to take a risk, to perform in front of a small and supportive group, or just to see good performances.” PILLOWS is a fantastic opportunity for students to express themselves through poetry, art, and music. Be on the lookout for more PILLOWS announcements during Community Gatherings, and think about contributing in order to maintain the excellent level of performances already occurring.

Valentine’s Day and the romantic comedy movie genre have a lot in common — a lot more in common than just romance and people laughing at them. The day and the genre that are all about love have some huge fans and some vehement haters. Most people will probably spend Valentine’s Day not caring that it’s Valentine’s Day, just like how most people will watch a movie regardless of its genre. If you want to partake in some self-pity of your singledom on Valentine’s Day, or want to have something to laugh at with whomever you love (be it platonic or romantic), here’s my take on some of the rom coms out there. First and foremost, Meg Ryan rom coms from the ‘90s will always be the best ones. Sleepless in Seattle, You’ve Got Mail, and When Harry Met Sally practically made today’s romantic comedies what they are. Those three are my top favorites, always and forever, because all of them seem like they could happen to someone. Sleepless in Seattle is a little bit sadder than the others; When Harry Met Sally will probably get you thinking about whether or not your friends are “just” your friends. You’ve Got Mail will make you wish that you grew up in a time before people knew the possible dangers of chatting with strangers online. Then there are the romantic comedies that always seem to be on TV when nothing else is on. Made of Honor is the first rom com I can actually remember watching all the way through, and I’ve always been rather biased towards it when thinking of my favorite romantic comedies. I think it’s cute and funny, which is the exact aim of rom coms. Similar movies include 27 Dresses and How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days. Also, I don’t know if it counts as a rom com, but the movie Wedding Crashers is hilarious (and people get married, so I think it counts?) — but even if it doesn’t count, just watch it anyway because it’s hilarious.

And what rom com review would be complete without Nicholas Sparks adaptations? Originally, this article was going to be a book review on some of his books, but I honestly could not bring myself to read them. And honestly, who hasn’t watched the movie in lieu of reading the book at least once before (Romeo + Juliet, anyone)? There are Sparks’ classics like The Notebook and Dear John, but those will make you cry. The best ones are the ones you can laugh at and not feel bad about, like Letters to Juliet, where millions of women write letters to a 13-year-old girl who killed herself over a guy she’d known for less than a week. Now that’s the best of romance and comedy. A little more relatable, however, is A Walk To Remember, a coming-of-age romantic comedy. Because, as teenagers, we all know that our “coming of age” is all about romance, right? It doesn’t matter if you will be spending the day celebrating your healthy, monogamous relationship, mourning your lack of a significant other, or not caring. These movies will help you through the day that seems to divide us all, and remind you that although it’s a meaningless holiday, it’s all about love — and that’s what really matters.

Choose Your Own Adventure Rom ComRachel York ‘15

The Arts10 2/14/13

Thursday, February 7th was the All School Band Concert. It showcased the performances of Beginning Band, Middle School Band, Fifth Grade Band, and the Upper School Ensemble. Beginning Band, featuring Lower Schoolers who have just started with their instruments, played classic songs like “Mary Had A Little Lamb” and “London Bridge.” Fifth Grade and Middle School performed larger band pieces like “When the Saints Go Marching In” and “Minuet.” Upper School played a range of jazz and swing songs, including “Moondance” and “Take Five.”

Photography by Brent Rolfes ‘16

On January 18, the opening reception for Inward Out was held. The exhibition featured the work of Linda Robinson Gordon and Keith Sklar. Ms. Gordon is an artist from Chicagoland, who creates sculptural art through the usage of paper, and Mr. Sklar (North Shore’s Middle School Art Teacher) creates mixed media art. He has been involved in many notable public art and art education projects all over the world. Their art will be displayed in the John Almquist gallery through March 1.

Photography by Brent Rolfes ‘16Cooper Ochsenhirt ‘16

Matt Griffin ‘14

Photography ContestThe Arts

Hosted by Brent Rolfes ‘16, Judged by The Diller Street Journal Editorial Board

11 2/14/13

1st Place (left): Alexander Mitchell ‘15

2nd Place (right): Cooper Ochsenhirt ‘16

3rd Place: Valerie Jaharis ‘14

For “Best Photograph Taken with a Cell Phone Camera”

Honorable Mention: Riley Hall ‘13

Interested in submitting your photography to the DSJ?Please contact Brent Rolfes at brolfes16@nscds.org.All writing submissions and staff inquiries should be directed to Ms. Clark at kclark@nscds.org.

DSJEditorial Board

Ilia Labkovsky ‘13, Editor-in-ChiefAnnie Murnighan ‘13, Editor-in-Chief

Justin Savin ‘15, Managing EditorNick David ‘15, EditorMatt Griffin ‘14, Editor

Cooper Ochsenhirt ‘16, EditorRachel York ‘15, Editor

PhotographersBrent Rolfes ‘16, Chief Photographer

Mr. Art JessenThe Segal Family

Staff WritersNick David ‘15Matt Griffin ‘14

Ilia Labkovsky ‘13Will Lawler ‘16

Annie Murnighan ‘13Mackenzie Nolan ‘15

Cooper Ochsenhirt ‘16Justin Savin ‘15Rachel York ‘15

Contributing WritersJulie Block ‘13

Shemar James ‘14Darling Kittoe ‘13

SponsorMs. Kat Clark