Payton Students Travel Internationally

aw rint May/June 2017 Volume 16, Issue 4 Payton students travel internationally South Africa has unforgettable culture and camaraderie BY ABBY JAKUS Staff Writer Every year Payton students singing, and slam poetry. for the church who showed us travel to various countries across Payton students were at ALA around,” said Maddie Beirne ‘17. the world, and on February 1, for their annual Founder’s Day, “We also visited Nelson Man- eighteen Payton students, chap- where they took part in competi- dela’s house, which is located on a eroned by Mr. Walker, Mr. Pot- tions and events. Different houses super popular, lively street. Over- ter, and Mr. Silvia, left for South at ALA have various names based all, Soweto was definitely one of Africa. The trip, which lasted for on rivers in South Africa. All of the best parts of the trip, as we just under two weeks, took stu- the houses compete against each were able to learn about the town- dents to several parts of South Af- other at Founder’s Day. ship’s history and see what the rica where they met other students Payton students had their own tight-knit community looks like from around the globe. team, and enjoyed taking part in now,” said Beirne. “We first flew to Johannes- the various competitions, such as One of the highlights of the trip burg,” said Connor Steel ‘17. “We track and field events. for many students was their sa- stayed at the African Leadership Payton students also visited fari ride, where they saw different Academy for about five days, the Apartheid Museum in Johan- types of animals, including several which was amazing.” nesburg, where they learned about that are in danger of extinction. The African Leadership Acad- the history of apartheid in South Asher Borstein ’17 particularly emy, or ALA, has students from Africa and its effects on the nation. enjoyed the safari ride: “We got to Students viewed Table Mountain from the streets of Cape Town. 45 countries and has a focus on The group also visited Soweto, see all kinds of awesome animals Photo by Connor Steel leadership and entrepreneurship. the largest township in South Af- up close and personal in their nat- They learned about ALA’s BUILD rica, where they visited churches ural habitats. There were giraffes group also traveled Robben Island, ery night, where they went over (Believe, Understand, Invent, Lis- and learned about the area’s his- and rhinos just three feet away and took a tour of a prison where their day and talked about them- ten, Deliver) model, and spent an tory. from the safari van!” Nelson Mandela once was incar- selves. entire day practicing it. At ALA, “The township of Soweto was After Johannesburg, the group cerated. “It was a really awesome way Payton’s students attended classes incredible. We went first to a street visited Cape Town, where they Langa, a township of Cape to get to know people. Our group with their host students, played market, where vendors were sell- spent a day climbing Table Moun- Town, was their next stop where became really close while on our games with students from ALA, ing bracelets, figurines, paintings, tain, a flat-topped mountain that they learned about the segregation trip,” said Quinn Mankowski ‘17. and shadowed students. and a bunch more. After, we visit- overlooks the area. The climb was in the area, and ended their trip by “I’m so glad that I could go on this “I went to a pretty cool cre- ed the Hector Pieterson Memorial difficult: “It took a long time, with visiting parks around the area. trip.” ative writing class at ALA,” said with our tour guide and learned many trials and tribulations. It “We got to see baboons, pen- “Traveling to South Africa is a Darwin Garay ‘17. “It was really about Soweto’s history with Apart- was totally worth it,” said Connor guins, and ostriches. It was a re- trip I’m never going to forget” said interesting to see the classes, and heid. We also toured an amazing Steel. ally good way to end the trip,” said Aby Rivera ‘17. “The culture, the I loved meeting the students.” At church, that was the location of Besides their hike up Table Annie Decker ‘17. people I went with, and the people ALA, they also watched a student- a shooting during Apartheid, and Mountain, they toured around the Meanwhile, throughout the trip I met have taught me so much. I run show that featured dancing, met an amazing man who worked area, haggling with vendors. The the group had a dessert circle ev- already want to go back!” Three countries, three mountains: Romantic landscapes By JULIANNA RITZU Staff Writer Ben Nevis, Croagh Patrick, and saw a play at the Royal National Old Man of Coniston. The theme Theatre. From there it was on to of the 2017 Romantic Landscapes Old Man of Coniston, a mountain trip was “Three Countries, Three in the English countryside that Mountains,” and on March 28, stands approximately 2,634 feet about twenty Payton upperclass- tall. Because each of the moun- men and four chaperones, Ms. tains climbed were over 2,000 Catlin, Ms. Guizzetti, Ms. Gonza- feet, the packing list included hik- lez, and Mr. Menacho, boarded a ing boots and other camping gear, plane to Dublin, where they would a first for many Payton students. spend the next two weeks climb- Edinburgh, Scotland was the ing mountains, exploring cities, next stop on the trip, where stu- living in hostels, and experiencing dents went to restaurants and England, Scotland, and Ireland. toured different parts of the city in Before leaving, Will Trlak ‘18 preparation for hiking Ben Nevis. hoped the trip would be an amaz- This stop was also notable as Car- Photos courtesy of Grace McDermott ing experience, and was most oline Bernet ‘17 visited the Uni- Payton travelers conquered mountains and other terrain on their hiking trip across England, Scotland, looking forward to “spending time versity of Edinburgh while there, and Ireland. with all my friends in a differ- and will now be attending college the trip was particularly enlighten- ny,” because of the lack of separa- would come up to us saying ‘My ent country and learning so much there as a student this fall. ing because of the presence of so tion between the different groups friend thinks you’re fit, can you about poetry, and hiking.” After going on the Lochness many cultural similarities and dif- staying there. talk to him.’” Simone Wallk ‘17 agreed, say- countryside tour and hiking Ben ferences. “It was so interesting to According to Hollis, “One Once finished in Dublin, it was ing she was excited at “having the Nevis, which according to Will see the cultural differences present night we were staying in a hos- time to come back to Chicago, just chance to get to know the people Trlak ‘18, was the “hardest hike,” in these countries, because some tel, and this middle school rugby in time for Spring Break. who are going, as well as having the group headed to the last leg of areas are so similar to America team was also staying there, and Katiri Sherman ‘18 said that the the opportunity to learn outside the their journey: Ireland. because America was based upon because of the way the hostel was, trip was “absolutely amazing. It context of the classroom.” In Westport, Ireland, the group them, but other places we visited we stayed in the same halls and was the best two weeks. Everyone The first stop on their trip was completed their last hike, Croagh are completely unique and unlike shared communal showers with had so much fun.” London, where they explored the Patrick, before spending the re- anything I’d seen before.” them. They were so loud and every city on foot, visited some tourist mainder of their trip in Dublin. She also characterized the hostel time a girl would leave the shower SEE ROME TRIP attractions like Big Ben, and even According to Hollis Baker ‘17, experience as “fun, and also fun- or the hall, these 11-year old-boys ON P. 7 2 OPINION PAW PRINT MAY/JUNE 2017 Dances: A cycle of failed attempts BY LESLY CASTRO Staff Writer Have you ever wondered why McGill ‘18. really hear about school dances we don’t have school dances be- Homecoming is already estab- until after they happen.” sides homecoming? You may re- lished as part of the high school The students also feel that it call that sometimes there are an- experience at Payton, but there is advertised for the younger stu- nouncements for winter dances, isn’t as much of a push for the dents. Hanna Goldberg ‘19 said, but they almost always end up be- other dances. “Kind of advertised as something ing cancelled due to a lack of at- Looking at the academics side for the freshmen.” tendance. of the school’s culture, Brendan The school culture and spirit After reaching out to the Pay- Vaughan ‘18 feels that “people are combined with the lack of adver- Walter Payton ton community to find out why just too busy mid-year so there’s tisement results in the assumption College Preparatory this may be, there was a consistent no hype to them, so people don’t being spread that no one is going, High School pattern in the responses as to why make the effort.” so students that might have been 1034 North Wells Street they feel that these dances are not Students are constantly worry- interested in going are discour- as successful as the homecoming ing about deadlines, so a winter aged due to influence from others. Photo released courtesy of Cre- Chicago, IL 60610 dance. dance that isn’t deeply embedded This creates a constant cycle and ative Commons phone: 773.534.0034 Payton is a curious case, in that into the school culture does not stigma at Payton that the dances “There is a lack of advertising, fax: 773.534.0035 it isn’t a typical high school. So seem like a priority during that are uncool. lack of spirit, lack of communica- www.wpcp.org much emphasis has been put on time. “As long as I’ve been at Pay- tion. And the school is really small paytonpawprint.com grades and worldly success that Many students also feel that ton, it just wasn’t something peo- so word gets around that it will be it leaves little time for much else, the success of the school dances is ple went to so I don’t want to be boring and would not be that fun if @PaytonNews which might be why Payton cul- greatly impacted by the lack of ad- alone,” said Martha Escobedo ‘17. only 20 people show up since we PRINCIPAL ture and school spirit has always vertisement. Elise Forst ‘17 said, Students are influenced by their are such a small school.” Tim Devine seemed lacking. “There’s never any advertising. It friends when deciding on whether In order to break this cycle and ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL Homecoming is the only typical needs to be hyped more.” they should go to a dance, so they stigma, there needs to be a change David Adamji event that Payton follows through The school dances tend to be decide not to go in order to avoid in the way that it is advertised in DIR. OF STUDENT with because it is “a classic high less communicated to students and feeling lonely at the dances. order to start changing the culture ENGAGEMENT school event seen in many popular therefore, talked about less. Mary- These three factors all play into around it. Then, people might in- Erica Bauer TV shows,” according to Annie ann Alejandre ‘17 agreed. “I never the cycle. Reyna Roldan ‘17 said, fluence each other into going.

EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Allison Cho Commentary: In CPS We Trust BY GRACE MCDERMOTT Camille Grandjean Editor-in-Chief Grace McDermott Before lunch, before dismiss- and videos. “I think that a lot of ing their identity during their high motes a religion, so we’re in a dif- al, Tuesday Mass, Friday Mass, students might, in our super-pro- school years, and question the ferent situation than creating other PHOTO EDITORS morning broadcast – we prayed gressive environment, not think religious values they were raised safe spaces when it comes to reli- Lesly Castro often at my Catholic elementary that it’s okay to recognize their re- with. Without a place to talk over gion as a public school,” said Dr. Annel Lopez school. Our faith was an ever-con- ligion as part of their identity, or this confusion with others who Bauer. stant presence in our lives and cur- they might not think to, because may feel similarly, religious iden- The “public” part of Chicago LAYOUT EDITORS riculum: we had religion classes when you’re interacting with tity can be lost along the way. Public Schools simply means that Ashley Brady four days a week (and morning someone, religion isn’t something Dr. Bauer, Director of Student the schools cannot show discrimi- Tristan Rinholm Mass on the fifth day); we tacked that comes up like race or gender.” Engagement, asserts that religious nation against or favor toward on a “pray for us” to the end of the Others think that opening a dis- identity is different from other a certain religion. However, it Jack Knabe Pledge of Allegiance every morn- cussion on religion is necessary. aspects of identity that PALs and does not mean that religion must ing; we had a crucifix hanging un- Recently, Simone Wallk ‘17 cre- Payton more often address. be erased completely from dis- STAFF WRITERS der the clock at the front of every ated the Women’s Interfaith Semi- “The discussion of religious cussions on identity, discussions Samuel Algas classroom. nar, in which a group of about 20 identity wouldn’t be in the same which would help educate students Caroline Bernet Maybe it’s because of those Payton women who identify them- category as someone’s race or sex- and enhance their understanding Isabel Constantino constant surroundings that I notice selves under varying religions, in- uality,” says Dr. Bauer. “Your reli- of the world. Evelyn Deveyra the absence of religion at Payton. I cluding Jewish, Roman Catholic, gion is something that you choose, Unfortunately, while this pro- Sarah Force don’t suggest that a public school Hindu, Ethiopian Orthodox, and your race and sexuality are not. I ductive side of religion is ignored, Will Foster abandon its secularity, but I do “questioning,” come together to don’t think it warrants the same Chicago Public Schools, like other Jessica Fuller wonder why we seem to tiptoe discuss the history and application level of discussion unless the stu- parts of the United States govern- around the topic when we delve ment, centers quietly on Christi- Darwin Garay deeply into almost every other “the recent surge in Islamophobia and anity – school holidays revolve Grant Hauskins facet of identity – sexuality, gen- anti-Semitism is an issue that needs to be around Easter and Christmas, and Abigail Jakus der, race, and nationality, to name addressed by Payton in a widespread way, while students are allowed to miss Ciera Johnson a few. school for religious reasons, the Sean Mazurkiewicz The way Payton addresses faith similarly to how the PALs addressed im- problem is just that – they have to Zemerluan Meehan and religious diversity isn’t neces- migration and race” skip out on their education to ob- Anthony Mercado sarily positive or negative – it’s serve a holiday. Omar Pasha simply nonexistent. Aside from a of religion in their lives. dents are saying ‘this is what we This is not a proposal to make Julianna Ritzu few clubs (Jewish Student Con- “I think we don’t often recog- want.’” Payton a religious environment, Filip Slusarczyk nection, H2O, and Young Life, the nize that Payton doesn’t really Religion does not always hold but of opening a discussion on re- last of which reportedly barely ad- have any interfaith spaces,” said the same clout as a controversial ligion. Connor Steel dresses its religious aspect during Simone. “Especially for religious topic as other identities like race “The issue at Payton isn’t that Taylor Carroll enrichment), the discussion of re- people, the secular environment of and sexuality, but the recent surge we don’t respect religion,” said Cole Robbins ligion is a blank slate. school can sometimes feel strange, in Islamophobia and anti-Semi- Simone, “it’s more that we don’t Joseph Walsh PALs and the administration since we talk about so many other tism is an issue that needs to be ad- talk about it.” often work together to address systems that affect our lives but dressed by Payton in a widespread In the Women’s Interfaith Sem- FACULTY ADVISOR important student identity issues, not religion.” way, similarly to how the PALs ad- inar, the first discussion regarded Michelle Mowery but it seems that religion is simply People have a lot to say on the dressed immigration and race. the concepts of tolerance and plu- [email protected] skipped over. topic of religion, and it can often These horrific events and opin- ralism in CPS – in simpler terms, “Religion is an important part be a unifier – even for those of dif- ions present an opportunity for the difference between “passively of a lot of people’s identities, but ferent religions who can connect Payton students to learn more accepting religious diversity and for a majority of students, religion on a level of shared spirituality. about what religion really means actively affirming the validity of is something that they don’t recog- Discussing religion could open up to other students, many of whom other faiths,” said Simone. nize, or it’s more an identity that a healthy, respectful conversation are affected by anti-religious sen- Simone, who identifies as Jew- aligns with spirituality,” said Man- regarding differences in identity timent. There is more of a road- ish, added: “in secular schools like ager PAL Lindsay Opie ‘17 speak- without people being accusatory block, though, toward addressing Payton, the prevalence of Chris- ing on the lack of religious diver- or angry. religious issues as a secular school. tian normativity needs to be dis- sity recognition in PALs lessons Many teens struggle with find- “We cannot be a place that pro- cussed to embrace pluralism.” PAW PRINT MAY/JUNE 2017 OPINION 3 Where’s the “fun” in Debt problem fundraising at Payton? causes stress BY CAROLINE BERNET BY ANNEL LOPEZ AND OMAR PASHA Staff Writer Staff Writers Payton has always been a place As the semester drew to a filled with fundraising. People close, many Payton seniors found are constantly inviting students to themselves with a new problem: events or selling stickers to help huge student debt. However, this raise funds for their club, trip, or year Payton administration sent charity. There are a number of out student debt letters at the rules and regulations in terms of end of each semester, which is a the process for fundraising, and change from last year when the your fundraiser has to be approved letters were sent out only once a by Local School Council. In order year. to get the project approved, you Still some students were sur- have to fill out a form and wait for prised to find new charges that Photo courtesy of Creative the monthly meeting before you they were not aware of initially. Commons can start on your project. Jamyah Hawkins ‘17 said, “I parents are not alerted when stu- “Last year to fundraise for our was charged for temporary IDs dent fee amounts change. In fact, trip to Buenos Aires we did half of that I never got because I’ve many students, not just seniors, stuff through school and the other never forgotten my ID, and I keep were not aware of the system of half was outside of school,” said my old IDs in my bag just in case. student debt. Lindsay Opie ‘17. “The fundrais- And I had other fees that I am 100 Brendan Vaughan ‘18 said, “It ing we did in school was frustrat- percent sure I paid.” accumulates over the years. All ing at times because sometimes Screenshot of DonorChoose.org Although students can talk I know is if you don’t pay it off, you come up with ideas, and you Donors Choose was started by a teacher, Charles Best, as a way to to Ms. Nantwi about these fees, you don’t graduate.” want to run with them, but instead fundraise for public schools. other students have accumulated The system itself is not ex- you have to wait for approval and over 200 dollars worth of debt plained to students meaning stu- meet specific guidelines.” and who gets approved first. It groups to post a project and collect that they were either not notified dents are more susceptible to “For Amnesty International we can be difficult to wait for- ap donations from friends, families, of or were given at the last min- fall into accumulating student sold stickers to raise money for the proval each month before starting and major companies or other do- ute. debt. He also comments, “I was White Helmet fund in Syria,” said on a fundraiser, because each trip nors. Cristian Niño ‘17 said he had really surprised when I saw my Lucie McKnight ‘17. “It was pret- leaves soon. “The fundraising process is both occur: “I owe like 200 dol- total student debt. Thankfully my ty easy to get approved especially But not every trip goes through worth the hassle because it ulti- lars and got told two weeks ago. It mom was able to pay, but I was because we aren’t on a time crunch the same stressful fundraising pro- mately benefits the group of - stu stressed me out so much.” definitely concerned.” like some of the [other] trips. We cess. “When raising money for dents who fundraises. Repercussions of not paying The current student debt sys- are just waiting on getting a check the Prague trip we mainly went In the case of fundraising for them range from no entrance to tem could be detrimental to future to send.” through Donors Choose and that the Romantic Landscapes trip, go- prom to withholding diplomas. financial management skills in a Sometimes the fundraising for made the process easier on every- ing through the process was fun- But senior fees are not the only time when school tuition is at its trips can be more frustrating be- one. We got a lot of money without damental. The motivation of being problem. highest. cause there is a time constraint. a lot of hassle,” said Colette Gor- able to eat three meals a day over- The schedule of when student Allison Leon ‘17 said, “I don’t And with more than one trip, this don ‘17. seas definitely made the process fees go out is not clear. On top of think high schoolers should have can cause competition between Donors Choose is an online worth the hassle,” said Malaika that, students are not aware of any to worry about any type of debt, trips in terms of fundraising ideas nonprofit website that allows Shuck ‘17. updates to their fees. Students and especially going into college.” Food fight: the truth behind high school lunches BY CONNOR STEEL AND DARWIN GARAY Staff Writers Since historic times, the act bly heard all the jokes --“The best only thing that fuels them before of breaking bread with another thing I’ve ever had in the school practice. has been a symbol of respect and cafeteria was a fire drill.” But it’s Track and Field runner Ale- goodwill to others. Sharing a meal just like those stories of morti- jandro Vargas ‘17 said that “most comes with a unique aura, a deed cians and police officers who have student-athletes . . . go to practice that runs deeply within that sacred spent too long on the job. Laughter hungry and lacking energy.” He vein that connects us all as friends, heals, so we joke about it to ease said that to fill the void he is “al- as neighbors, as humans. the pain. ways looking for food or snacks.” Despite the positive changes to Just two years ago, school lunch It isn’t just upperclassmen who school food such as improvement became free. Even though this was agree, either. Miguel Lozano ‘19 a major improvement from previ- feels that certain lunches “could ous years, for students, the real is- be doubled” to accommodate his “They just want sues boil down to two main areas: appetite. Some students have even enough food to func- taste and portions. turned to something more sinister. tion. This is a real To call school lunches bland When David Seward ‘18 feels would be a compliment. The food he hasn’t had enough, he uses his issue for student seems to be served onto the trays “second ID . . . to go back in line athletes, who need in an aggressively unappetiz- and get another [lunch].” Students ing way, where it’s prepared and like David have resorted to us- many more calories served in contempt of those who ing other people’s IDs just to get in order to feel sat- are made to eat it. enough to eat. isfied.” Lawrence Wong ‘18 said that In the eyes of many students, he usually “[does] not know what breaking bread at Payton does not they are serving [him].” live up to the history and rever- to healthier lunches and provid- Milk cartons are served with ence that the act carries with it. ing a free lunch, Chicago Public every meal, and are often frozen. The monthy CPS food menu is available online at http://cps.edu/ Whether it be the the grey Schools is still dealing with issue It has yet to be discovered if this About_CPS/Departments/Pages/MealMenu.aspx chicken or frozen milk, it’s the after issue about their ability to is accidental or some crude milk- The cheese found on egg sand- For most students, however, only option for a great number of feed the students in their schools. shake attempt. wiches and hamburgers is a fright- taste is a secondary issue. They students, so having enough to eat With students beginning to speak Chicken patties, a staple, are ar- eningly pale yellow that mimics just want enough food to function. is crucial. out, we are faced with the brim- guably one of the best items on the the consistency of plastic. This is a real issue for student ath- If not for the sake of the stu- ming possibility of an all-out food menu even though they seem to be To top it all off, it’s not uncom- letes, who need many more calo- dents, fixing these issues should be fight. composed of a grey matter not of mon to be served bags of slimy ries in order to feel satisfied. For for the sake of that vein that runs As a student, you have proba- this world. apple slices. many students, school food is the through us all. 4 NEWS PAW PRINT April 2017 Fine Arts Snapshot: Student Artist on Display at Payton

Sitting in a worn, hardwood chair somebody found outside in the alley Some years ago Is a most pleasant experience, especially when It gets cold out And the only real friend you think to find Is the mug Of a preferably sweetened, gently warmed beverage Alone In an claustrophobic old apartment Watching something on Netflix Or your personal equivalent And behind the LCD display Of your softly smouldering television set Far beyond the steam settling On the frozen patches of grass Behind the Five Guys down the block And exceeding even the tepid monotony Of your placeholder Cookie-cutter job Something stirs in your soul Just as easy as the gelid breeze Knocks at the window A freedom, perhaps? It’s something As a sense of belonging and Beautiful, intoxicating contentment Eats away at your limbs delicious It is as though the painkiller you took an hour ago To forget the headache you wanted to prevent Or the awkward, wonderful still looking Text you received I don’t have From your other a homeland. Electric I have to Connects you to everything that is worth Anything find myself Invisible synapses dancing everywhere else. The universe flailing in your muddied mind -Rose Jacobs It is gorgeous and pure You are thirsty for more To remain like this, cathartic in your softening chair, for as long as you haiku can haikus are not hard. Until you realize you i bet i can write one forgot your paycheck at work now. -Zemerluan Meehan see! look! i did it. -Rose Jacobs NEWS PAW PRINT April 2017 5 Fine Arts Snapshot: Student Artist on Display at Payton young adult fiction an old man in a forest once told me I was predisposed to be a sav- ior. I laughed in his face. -Rose Jacobs

If you want me to like you Read my poetry. I’m desperate. -Rose Jacobs

The Dregs go to Bloom

And the smoke is hidden Nailed down under forty thousand leagues of lumber and press And heaving, gasping frames Struggling to hold that wretched mess Of soot Molten gloom Tendrils of heat- coiling in the warm afternoon Thick and coarse and wistfully it goes From the quench- hissing time begins to dream As the oil evaporates it is all over and i And leaves something furious behind am nothing in it Bright and terrible -Zemerluan Meehan -Zemerluan Meehan

It is hard to be content with the world when I Left my check at work -Zemerluan Meehan 6 NEWS PAW PRINT MAY/JUNE 2017 Students GET involved in feminism at Payton BY SARAH FORCE Staff Writer A large part of the culture at feminism in her life and encour- with my biracial Asian American Payton is the passion students aged everyone to meet someone identity and the agency and mo- have for leadership, discussion, new to discuss how gender equal- bility of Asian American women and social awareness. On February ity shapes their lives. in the world. I think that in the 25, the annual Gender Equality for She said, “GET is a collabora- realm of social justice, individu- Teens Conference was hosted at tive effort put on by Payton stu- als of Asian American identities Payton, embodying these aspects dents of different backgrounds. often are left out. Art is a critical of the Payton community. They bring issues they experience component of social justice--per- GET Conference was started to the forefront of our planning forming my poems and leading the four years ago by the Payton Orga- seminar and then we base our dis- Asian American identity session at nization of Women to provide an cussion session off of those inter- GET was an opportunity for me to inclusive space for Chicago teens sections. At its core GET is about start and continue discourse about to engage in meaningful discus- intersectionality - what makes our Asian American individuals’ place sions about intersectional femi- conference special is how much and experience in regards to feminism. passion our students have when nism and social justice.” This goal was met, as more planning it.” After this powerful opening than 100 high schoolers showed After her introductory words, hour, the audience broke off and up to voice their thoughts and some students shared their artis- chose student-led sessions they Photo courtesy of Sarah Force unite to promote gender equality. tic expression of their experiences wanted to attend every hour for Students at the GET conference came from a variety of grades and Elise Forst ‘17 said, “It was a very and intersections. three hours. backgrounds to discuss intersectionality of experiences. inclusive space, and I felt very safe Christina Hijiya ‘18 was one of Many Payton students were in- nism, Rape Culture, Internalized this year, as always, but it was my to express my opinions.” three slam poets, as she shared a volved in planning the conference Misogyny, and Body Image. They first year leading conferences. It The conference began with an poem about her experience as an during a first semester seminar. worked hard all semester to plan was great and comforting to see hour of introductions, speaking, Asian American woman. She said, These students came from a va- their discussions, which all went where everyone took the conver- and poetry, in which all of the at- “I was given the amazing oppor- riety of grades and backgrounds, smoothly on the day of GET, as sations.” tendees gathered in the café. Alexa tunity to perform two poems that and helped with promoting the they engaged their audiences with GET provides an opportunity Moster ‘17 was the student leader I wrote, one called ‘How to Ride event and planning sessions, interactive activities, videos, read- every year for students to prac- and organizer of the conference the Train During Rush Hour’ and which included Black Identity and ing, and discourse. tice their leadership skills and for this year, and she offered a few the other ‘Yellow Women.’ Both Feminism, Latinx Identity and Grace Hauser ‘18 said, “GET many to dig deeper into topics they words about the importance of poems are about my relationship Feminism, Religion and Femi- was super cool and enlightening are curious and passionate about. Girls lacrosse is Payton’s newest official sport BY CIERA JOHNSON Staff Writer The wait is finally over. Payton tions for coaches this year. Before now has an official girls lacrosse that Ms. Bertoni applied to CPS to team. Previously, there had only start a new team my freshman year been a co-op team that included so, we got that approved my soph- students from Payton and Whitney omore year. And after that it was Young High School. just a matter of finding a coach Girls who wanted to play la- and finding enough girls who were crosse would have to join a club willing to play.” team or try to join another school’s PP: Did you get a lot of support lacrosse team, ultimately traveling from Payton students? more than they needed to in order CN: “Yeah, so we have 31 girls to play a school sport. committed this year, which is a lot. This process was very frus- Usually a roster for a varsity team trating for many until our athletic is only 22. So we have 31, and it’s director, George Klupchak, and going to be no-cuts, everyone is Payton student Caitlin Nygren playing. And even before this, we ‘18 who came up with the idea to had almost 70 girls enrolled in a found the girls lacrosse team here seminar that we have had over the at Payton. past couple of years. So there’s Caitlin Nygren worked exten- been a lot of people.” sively with Mr. Klupchak and oth- Screenshot @PaytonBoosters on Twitter PP: How long is the season? er members of the athletic commu- The girls lacrosse team was a co-op sport last year and is now an official Payton team. CN: “It ends in late May.” nity to get the girl’s lacrosse team have a girls lacrosse team? to join the girls lacrosse team? PP: What can we expect from the started. GK: “Well, before you can start GK: “We had a few info meet- PP: How did you start the team? girls lacrosse team? After a few years of hard work, any team, you need to make sure ings for students and parents back Caitlin Nygren ‘18: “There was CN: “I’m not sure. It’s just going consistency, and enthusiasm, Cait- you have the funding, the interest in December. We also had a few a girl who was here before me to be a start. Like building skills lin was finally able to found the from the students, and the logistics interest meetings for students and named Elaine Sobel. She was try- this year, so I don’t anticipate win- team for girl’s here at Payton. and timing of actually starting a seminars as well.” ing to start the team before I even ning when we play but, I’m just Paw Print interviewed Mr. season. So I think the holdup came PP: When does the season start? came here. Last year, Elaine and I looking forward to getting the girls Klupchak to gain a greater under- from finding enough students who GK: “The middle of March.” worked together, and I reached out on the field so that we can learn standing of why it took so long to were interested. At first, we didn’t to coaches of mine, Ms. Bertoni about lacrosse. And hopefully, we get the lacrosse team and what the see a significant amount of - stu Paw Print also interviewed the and Mr. Klupchak helped me, and can beat the lower level teams that process was. dents interested in a girls lacrosse captain of the girls team, Caitlin I emailed everyone in the lacrosse are in our division.” team here at Payton. Those who Nygren ‘18, to gain clarity as to community in Chicago to ask for Paw Print: Who came up with the were interested could have just how this team came about. a coach. And so, we got applica- idea to start a girls lacrosse team joined the co-op team we have at here at Payton? Whitney Young. So when we saw PNN Wins George Klupchak: “It was re- more students interested over the 24 Awards from the quested to the CPS administration years, we decided that it was time Illinois Journalism before I became the athletic direc- to make an official team.” Education Assn. tor. We also had a bunch of semi- PP: Does the girls lacrosse team nars beforehand, and when we saw here at Payton consist of any stu- that there were a lot of students in- dents from other schools (co-op See paytonpaw- terested, it just made sense to start team)? print.com for the a team.” GK: “Nope. Just for Payton stu- PP: Was there any holdup as to dents.” full article when the school was allowed to PP: How can students find out how Photo by Eli Selz PAW PRINT MAY/JUNE 2017 REVIEWS 7

MusicBY COLE ROBBINS review: Smino’s blkjuptr & blkswn Staff Writer “Got me sweating like/ Black and ambition. tempo flow and songwriting talent hoodie/ Black Timbs/ Black leath- Indeed, most everything that over background vocals from a fe- er jacket/ Sun beatin’ on my black Smino raps sounds gorgeously male ensemble. skin”, St. Louis native Smino smooth, as the artist is equipped “Blkoscars,” a timely take on flows smoothly through the open- with a musically gifted voice that the emphasis that has recently ing bars of his impressive 2016 EP, sets him apart from many. been placed on the ignoring of “blkjuptr”, a five-track project that To be sure, the slick production the accomplishments of people of showcases a knack for crafting that covers “blkjuptr,” and returns color at the Academy Awards, is catchy hooks, an ear for layered on his new debut album, “blkswn,” sonically reminiscent of “blkjuptr” instrumentals, and an engaging plays no small part in the musical as Smino and Jay2, a collaborator balance of witty and meaningful quality of Smino’s tracks. The ex- on the 2016 EP, deliver intricate lyrics. tremely talented Monte Booker, a lyrics with socially conscious un- The evident quality of the mu- Chicago-based producer signed to dertones: “My pimping sharp as a sic on “blkjuptr” tacked another electronica label Soulection and cleaver, my pencil shark/ Shark at- name to the list of talented Mid- known for collaborating with local tack, I’m a hood (architect)/ Saint west artists currently on the rise in artists like Mick Jenkins, provides Louis (artifact)/ Run and tell them the music industry: just as it was percussion-heavy instrumentals blank white canvases the art is for Chicago emcees Chance the that create a catchy backdrop for back.” Rapper and Noname, 2016 proved Smino’s impressive vocal range. The full track list for “blkswn” to be a huge year for Smino’s entry The lead singles from “blkswn” is impressive in scope: eighteen into more mainstream circles. have shown exciting development tracks, clocking in at over an hour “All I wanna do is zooma zoom in Smino’s sound; “Anita” is an in length, is evidence that he’s re- zoom/in the boom boom/I get intricate track that displays clear turning to the scene with a lot to some time off every blue moon”... R&B and funk influences, backed say. “Grand everytime/Like where I’m by a smooth instrumental that Smino brings the album to a stayin in the Chi… tryna be safe, provides a platform for Smino’s close with the strongest track on tryna be sane”: the rapper races steadily-improving singing voice. “blkswn,” “Amphetamine,” an through the second track on “blkj- “Anita!”, croons the twenty- impressive eight minute cut that is uptr,” “Zoom,” spinning a love five year old, “I need her!” “Father at once expansive and momentary, song with a raunchy hook into a Son Holy Smoke” showcases the complete with an uncredited Non- smooth proclamation of sexuality St. Louis rapper’s easy, down- ame feature. Photo by Cole Robbins Play Review: Payton Players Payton travels to the can take a bow after ‘Cabaret’ Eternal City BY WILL FOSTER ‘20 BY ETHAN BERNARD and FILIP SLUSARCZYK Guest Reviewer Staff Writers The Payton Players conclud- Ms. Gemskie’s senior Latin last them a month. Cindy Mei ed four days of performances of class travelled to Italy this April, ‘17 said, “My favorite city was “Cabaret” on Saturday, March 25. visiting Rome, Florence, Venice, Florence, because I got to visit The musical told the story of a Verona, and many other Italian the Uffizi Museum, which hosts lively Berlin nightclub in the early cities, where the history books some of the most famous works 1930s, against the backdrop of ris- came to life. of art, my favorite being Cara- ing Nazism. In Rome, they visited the vaggio’s Medusa and Botticelli’s “The show has been a wonder- Villa Borghese, which is a mas- Birth of Venus.” ful experience,” said assistant di- sive house in the Borghese gar- “I will remember the villa rector Anthony Saliba ’17. “Hav- dens, and is home to some of the that we stayed in in Verona for ing been in Payton’s first musical, most famous sculptures in the the rest of my life. It was a beau- ‘Into the Woods,’ I was looking world. tiful house built in the 1600s forward to seeing the musical side Throwing a coin over the left on a vineyard. Everywhere you of Payton’s fine arts merge with shoulder into the Trevi fountain, looked it reminded you of an the dramatic side. We got to work walking the same path as the older, ancient time.” with new people, and create an great Julius Caesar in the Ro- One thing that makes Payton amazing spectacle.” man Forum, visiting the largest a unique school is the travel op- Indeed, it was quite a show. dome in the world, the Pantheon, portunities for students. Whether The costumes were colorful and and last but not least, walking it be travelling to Italy, China, flamboyant, and a small jazz band through the home of the Pope, Argentina, South Africa, and provided a rollicking accompani- the Vatican were among the fea- even the Czech Republic, Payton ment for the dance numbers and tured activities. provides students with a once in beautifully augmented the quieter Photo by Hamza Oiskhine Some travelers said that they a lifetime experience. songs. “The music was great,” said Payton Players perform “Cabaret” in the recital hall in March. ate enough pasta and pizza to Mimi Hamada ’20, who attended handful of teachers. was on the rise, and the start of Saturday’s matinee, the first of two Assistant Director Saliba sat in World War II was less than a de- performances that day. on auditions and consulted with cade away. Alexa Moster stole the show teachers Kerry Catlin, Kate John- In addition to his directing role, as Sally Bowles, a young German ston and Marnice Lewis about Saliba played a member of the par- who meets the visiting Ameri- casting decisions, and worked with ty, Ernst Ludwig. can Clifford Bradshaw (played the leads to block out their scenes. “I really liked the historical by Alexis Roman). The two main “I suppose the only challenges background,” said Ashley Herrera characters fall in love, but their ro- have come with the unification of ’20. mance does not last. “I really liked the show’s many moving parts,” The finale was both poignant the actor that played Sally,” said Saliba said. “Merging choreog- and jarring. Immediately after audience member Andrew Li ’20. raphy and singing with lighting a rousing ensemble reprise of “Her singing was amazing.” shifts and microphone changes is “Wilkommen,” everything goes Imani Crews was wonderful complex and time-consuming, but quiet, and the normally flamboy- as Fraulein Schneider, the wom- we’ve managed to push through ant club Emcee (played by Jake an who runs Clifford and Sally’s and create a meaningful and spec- Elliot) solemnly strips off his boarding house. tacular show.” overcoat to reveal a concentration Photo by Ryan Sechrest The performances marked the The meaning came mostly from camp prisoner’s uniform marked Ms. Gemskie’s senior Latin class travels to Rome to see the sights culmination of months of hard the political context of that period with the Star of David. they have learned about in the classroom. work by dozens of students and a in German history. The Nazi Party 8 ARTS PAW PRINT MAY/JUNE 2017 Personal Essay: “Just imagine if ...” BY ANTHONY MERCADO Staff Writer The moment an offspring of any placed upon them. Not allowed by ized by you and the thing that you brush it off for the next couple of you interact with people. creature experiences something parents who are supposed to guide take around with you wherever years. As you get put into groups all new, they are suddenly intrigued them through life. you go, but every time you make When you’re at the school dance of a sudden deja vu smacks you by every aspect of that experience. As if learning something new is eye contact with the kid, their eyes in eighth grade your “friends” are right in the face. They examine every nook and some uncivilized act. Not only are dart to the other side of the room. like bees in a hive bouncing off of You notice that people quiet cranny, every edge, and continue the those being silenced by society It bothers you, but you don’t each other, and when you want to down when you go over to them, to do this until their curious minds that are being affected, but also want to make them feel uncom- go around you won’t because you and that they won’t even give you are no longer intrigued. those who are not being talked fortable so you brush it off. don’t want to hurt someone. eye contact just like in third grade Within this period, however, about. Nothing stops you from want- So you choose not to move. with the kid sitting across from schemas are created and built upon Imagine being singled out for ing to talk to the group of kids When it’s the final days before you. until the next time they experience something that you are not able to who are in one big group, but later your first day of high school you Every experience reoccurs ev- that thing again. control. noticing that when you’re in that promise yourself that things are ery second bothers you because On the other hand, how are Imagine you are a child who group each kid talks to each other going to change as soon as you en- you know what you need to do, they ever supposed to learn about sees nothing different between but you. ter those front doors. but don’t want to complain for just things if they are not allowed to in- yourself and the kid sitting across You want to say something, You tell yourself that people are “nothing.” teract with them? Not allowed by from you in your third grade class. but you learned manners, and you going to see the real you, and the the expectations that society has That same exact kid is mesmer- don’t want to interrupt. So you just way you look won’t affect the way “What wasn’t to Grow” Living Mural BY ZEMERLUAN MEEHAN Staff Writer PHOTOS BY AND COURTESY OF MADELEINE BEIRNE when the next and the last never things remained that resembled a little more than a day old now, mattered people and implied people and and nothing faced it but feathery, There was no sweet. No sesame hurt people to continue. Too much golden grass, the kind that seems chicken. No black-eyed things pollution in the air and the water almost fabricated. But for all of with swollen breasts and broken and in ourselves. Too much disso- it, there was no judgement to be legs. There weren’t any roars nance, disparity, noise. There was passed or scorn to be flinched at. anymore, because there were no far too much. There needed to be I might have done the same thing lions or dinosaurs. No train cars, quiet, so the world would tremble. if I had the will. To just stop it all. no homeless. No wealth. No cof- So I could breathe. It was fairly It is a comforting idea. But even fee grounds, no fingernails, no easy, to know restriction removed as the forests slowly cracked and love. No suffering. No pretenses. from everything, about as easy fell to stone and the lichen of for- No sadness, no guilt. No glass as getting up from your bed and ever ago, and the seas grew wider and concrete, no cemeteries. No flipping the light switch. The soft- and denser and spawned voids of spaceships, no novels, no paints or ness of the motion shone over the almost-memories and deep cold brushes or skinks or centipedes or continents and the seas, and it all in of themselves, and I simply sat headaches. No urge or misappro- just went. How easily it all uproots and let myself be rubbed out of the priation. No chocolate, no comic itself completely and just evapo- world, I felt a pang of regret for all books. No sidewalks. No bullets, rated, gone into something warm the bumblebees and ladybugs that no more words or spines or salad and far away. All of the noise was had to have gone away for this to forks. No more plastic or super- gone. The universe becomes light- come about. markets or child locks in car doors er, duskier. A slight, thin shadow is The grass and the chaff and or memory or wet clothes on cold cast over the prairie and the forest the mountains and the willows. radiators. No more wading into floors and the bottoms of the seas. Rocky cliffsides grown brittle, old rivers, no falling out of love, no The sun spins sallow and turns a footholds, and brown leaves in the votes left to cast, no hands to con- sloppy pirouette as it begins to pebbly riverbed. Through the trees, struct cheap furniture, no brains to fold. No act of god, no armaged- moonlight dribbles through cracks consider their own senselessness, don, no apocalypse. No greater in the bark, pooling emerald on alone in the dark. No more hurry, plan or power. There just was. the forest floor. Moss is creeping no more keeping score. No time- That what wasn’t, simply never silently, mushrooms unfurl. The stamps or routine or overpriced was, wiped from the annals of the spaces where whales never were water. No sociopolitical spectra, world, only a whisper of a ghost still moves exactly like them. I re- no tuxedos. No rice or viruses or left in the machine to feebly and membered the old world and could computer mice or record collec- unconsciously serve as a vessel not find anything in me for it, save tions or formalities or false mod- for that which was to peer into this a small sense of time. The wind esty or flags to wave. No more new time and weep. And there, in rises and pulls a current through photographs or affairs or vows or what would have been the fields the fields where I sit. I have not laughing, or even the last whispers of asphodel, that is, if there were known my fill of this place, but I of desperate hope before it went. any around to recount the myth, is am an oversight here all the same, where I sit and let it all wash over so I am content. I can feel it come None of it. me, too, waiting in vain for any- for me, too, the absence of force, thing to return, or for me to end. like memories that are only real None of anything I could think It was there in the long, gilded between sleep and waking. I am of, none of anything anybody grasses, and wondered at the sky swept up in it, the grandness and could think of remained. The real- and how much longer the world the wind and the ancient and the ity was that there were too many would last like this, without any- valleys. I don’t even get a chance people in the world, too many thing to keep it up. The sun was to sigh. What does your neighborhood mean to you? Most of us only experience other parts of the city on the train or on the news. Not good enough! Payton students hail from every zip code in the city to create one of the most diverse schools in the coun- t r y.

Students signed up for this enrichment to create a piece to be included in Payton’s first ever LIVE MURAL.