4 The New Trier News Perspectives Friday, February 12, 2016 Student Views This week we asked Trevians what they thought about the recent name change from Turnabout to Trevapalooza...

Nick Collins, Sophomore Haiti Movafaghi, Junior Harry Clark, Senior McCall Donaghue, Senior Gabby Fishe, Senior “I think it’s good that they’re “I think it’s good because it “If they wanna do it, that’s “That might be the dumbest “I don’t like the name trying to respect everyone’s takes away the labels. Down fine. I don’t really care. thing in my entire life. Why change because it lacks sexuality since there are with gender roles.” It’s an okay name. It’s couldn’t they change it to creativity and it could’ve same sex couples going to interesting.” something different. We been much more appealing. the dance.” look like a bunch of tools.” It seems immature.” Pop music rose to New Trier joins the Iowa caucus by Will D’Angelo the top of my chart I went on the best excursion of my life last week, and I was fortunate by Michael Blickstein talking point than indie music enough to share the experience with because everyone knows about it other Trevians. and everyone has something to say On Feb 1, two AP Political Sci- Anyone who knows me well about it. ence classes combined to attend a also knows my music catalog. Lots I could talk to anyone about caucus in Davenport, Iowa. The field of indie alternative, lots of bands pop music for hours. I could trip was fun, rewarding, and an in- you may not have heard of, and a listen to the radio for hours with tense experience that students every- lot of music that I’ve seen live. As friends and review every song I where--regardless of their party loy- I’m writing this, I’m listening to hear. I could talk about whether alty, knowledge, or exposure--would “The Mowgli’s” which likely fits I like the beat, whether I like the appreciate. all three categories. lyrics, whether it’s overplayed, and A caucus is defined as a meeting of Last week, however, I found whether everyone agrees with me members of a political body who are myself listening to an EP called is irrelevant because it started a members of the same party to select “” by “DNCE.” For anyone conversation. candidates. While this definition is not familiar, “DNCE” is Joe ’ I can’t do that with a lot of the accurate, it does no favors in describ- new band who sings the popular music I normally listen to because ing the Democratic and Republican song “.” This people don’t really know it. I can’t caucuses that I attended firsthand. is a band that I probably shouldn’t New Trier students observe the Bernie Sanders caucus corner D’Angelo talk about “The Colourist” or There was excitement bubbling like, but I listened to that EP for a “Smallpools” with a big group of among students in Lindsay Arado and speeches from citizens representing the presidential race. week straight. people because odds are they don’t Alexander Zilka’s government class- candidates. After rousing declara- For Ryan Jenkins, a multimedia ed- Recently acts like The know what I’m talking about. es. The two social studies teachers tions that candidates like Trump or itor for the Augustana Observer and a Weekend, , Justin But the second I mention had been planning the trip for some Santorum would build massive walls reporter for the New York Times, the Bieber have stormed my earbuds “Coldplay,” people automatically time. or protect American liberties, I began most important thing that any young at times when I could’ve listened start talking about their Super “We have never done a field trip to understand how the caucus truly person can do is get out and vote. “As to something like “Death Cab for Bowl performance and bring up of this magnitude,” Arado said. “A worked. social media pulls in more weight on Cutie” or “The Avett Brothers.” other artists and the conversation primary is exciting, but a caucus is After speeches endorsing candi- the campaign trail, more and more As a rock and alternative gets bigger. amazing because voters can go in and dates, the Republicans present votes young people are being exposed to music enthusiast, these drum People who exclusively listen try to convince other voters to vote for their candidate in lines. It was a issues and stances,” he said. machines, keyboards and auto to classic music or obscure music the same way.” quick, efficient process, and it was “However, they don’t take ad- tuned vocals make me feel some often look down upon people who As we boarded the busses short- quite interesting to see how each vantage of their role in society. Any level of sacrilege. don’t dedicate all their time and ly after fifth period, we began live member of the party passionately ex- chance a young person has to get be- I grew up on rock and roll, money to musical discovery. They tweeting using the hashtag #NTIowa. pressed their affection for the various hind a candidate they should take it. which developed into punk and purposely try to avoid music that is After three short hours we arrived in candidates. Jenkins noted that it’s crucial for stu- modern alternative because I made for people to enjoy, and I find Davenport, Iowa. Unlike the Republican process, dents to get involved in politics and thought it gave me a sense of self that snobby and closed minded. Stepping off the coach bus, a group the Democratic process was more in- make a difference in the polls, not if I listened to music that made me I’m definitely not immune to of classmates and I decided we would clusive. Voters separated into groups just on social media. go against the grain. this pitfall, and lot of times, I won’t spend our two free hours exploring in the four corners of the gym based On the bus home, students felt a But the more I think about notice how good certain music is Davenport and searching for a local on their desired candidates (Clinton, mixture of euphoria and dismay as it, pop artists make me feel just until someone plays it for me or I restaurant for dinner. While a few Sanders, O’Malley, or undecided), we reflected on the day and also fol- as happy as some of the smaller force myself to listen past the first students ate at a local Chick-Fil-A, and representatives discussed the lowed caucus results to the minute as artists I like with even a couple of thirty seconds. most walked to “Me & Billy” where benefits of voting for each candidate. precinct results were announced. advantages. The more I listen to catchy we feasted on sandwiches slathered For Olivia O’Bryan, this was the Before arriving back at Winnetka The music I listen to is and commercial music, the more in cheese. Senior Patrick Graham had most interesting part of the caucus. at 12:30am, there were plenty of spir- generally very catchy and the kind I connect with the people around a mac-n-cheese and bacon burger, “The highlight of the trip was the ited debates, discussions, and reflec- of music you can sing along to. me and the more I’m able to and said it was “scrum-diddly-ump- democratic process and how the dem- tions on the day. Lately, my playlist has consisted of understand how they think. tious.” ocrats went from completely split up Looking back, it was amazing that “Young The Giant,” “The 1975,” The one thing I realized is After adventuring through down- into two groups [Sanders and Clin- Trevians like myself were able to ex- and “Foster the People,” all of that pop music makes me feel just town Davenport, including walking ton].” perience democracy firsthand. Zilka which have catchy songs that you as good as any other obscure act through the nearby Rhythm City At the end of the caucus, Ted Cruz commented on the excursion and the can bop your head to and sing you’ve never seen. Casino and taking plenty of pictures and Bernie Sanders carried the most impact that attending had on himself along. But if I asked you to name I used to feel bad about liking it of the city skyline, we arrived at an voters from their respective parties, and his students, saying that the field more than one song by each band, because I didn’t want to be labeled elementary school to observe our and they won the delegates from trip “was an opportunity for students you probably couldn’t. as “generic” or “conformist.” Then very first caucus around 7pm. As we Davenport to add to their grand total. who have a passion for politics and Now, if I asked you about I realized that those labels don’t walked into the building, we were After exiting the gym at the end of government to witness and experi- any of the other three pop artists really matter, and as long as it isn’t met with plenty of stares as well as the caucus, we had three hours back ence something that they study in the I mentioned, you could name at hurting anyone, I should be able enthusiastic handshakes by commu- home to reflect on the event we had real world. Some of the students in least four songs by each, and in to be happy listening to the new nity voters and campaigners. just experienced. However, before we my other classes were talking about Taylor Swift’s case, most of her Justin Bieber song. And I am. I chose to first attend the Repub- left, I had the opportunity to speak it before I even told them about it. It discography. lican caucus. Sitting in the hot cafe- with a reporter for the New York seems like people were curious and Pop music is a much better teria of the school, I listened to five Times, and his experience covering that interest was infectious.”