SteinmetzVolume 83, Number 2, November - December 2017 Star www.steinmetzstar.com Streaks win Homecoming Game; Katera and Freddy crowned at dance School spirits rise in two-week Homecoming celebration By Kyiah Morris and Aja Williams teinmetz brought the heat of Homecom- ing for two weeks. S It began with the pep rally and the Homecoming football game on Sept. 29, when the Streaks beat Foreman 36-6 at Hanson Sta- dium. Five spirit days followed the next week. The celebration ended with the Homecoming Dance, held on Friday the 13th of October. Many students participated in the spirit days, chosen by seniors with senior events sponsor Robin Russo. Students wore green and silver, pajamas, clothes from a previous decade, as characters, like their squad and in the designated colors of their class. Pajama Day was the favorite spirit day, ac- cording to a survey administered to a random sample of over 300 freshman, sophomores, ju- niors and seniors. The second favorite was Squad Day, when people dressed like their friends. More than 91 percent of the students sur- veyed said they participated in Spirit Week. “Spirit week was fun; we got to be out of uni- form, which I loved,” senior Noe Lagunas said. Nunez Steven by Photo Continued on Page 2 Students pose at the Oct. 13 Homecoming Dance, organized by the yearbook class and teacher Renato Roldan. Seniors called this year’s dance their favorite. Artists’ anti-violence message CPS policies create severe shared in Chicago and Minneapolis enrollment decline at Steinmetz By Aly Fontanilla ike most Chicago neigh- borhood high schools, LSteinmetz has taken a big hit in enrollment over the past 14 years. Steinmetz has 1,200 fewer students now than it did in 2003, resulting in dozens of lost teaching and coaching positions. The reason: CPS has in- creased high school options. Students can apply to go to Millie Martinez and Daria Velazquez pose with their artwork, displayed on billboards in Chicago and Minneapolis. The students were guests at the Nobel Peace Prize Forum in Minnesota. charter, selective enrollment, magnet, military and special- By Agape Alfaro and Elise Guillen The organization helps bring awareness of ity schools, as well as other the affect of gun violence in Chicago through neighborhood schools, in ad- enior Daria Velazquez and junior Millie the creation of art by youth, ages 12 – 25. dition to enrolling in Stein- Martinez were the only high schoolers “Today’s youth are powerful,” NYAM metz. Steinmetz High School fall enrollment, 2003 - 2017 chosen to be finalists in the National founder Janice Tisha Samuels writes on her Continued on Page 10 In 2003, Steinmetz had 2,445 students. S In 2017, Steinmetz has 1,258 students. Youth Art Movement Against Gun Violence blog. Continued on Page 8 (Source: Illinois State Board of Education) (NYAM) art contest. In this issue News: 2, 4 - 5, 8 Opinion: 3 Homecoming and Arts & Entertainment Sports, 10-12 Spirit Week, 6-7 Page 9 Photo by Eli Patino by Photo Photo by Monica Marroquin by Photo Photo by Katherinne by Garcia Photo Rethinking the zoo, p. 3 Pep rally, Homecoming game Salsa Night raises money for ‘Hamilton’ is worth the hype Boys cross country, p. 11 disaster relief, p. 8 and dance, Spirit Week pictures 2 Star News Playboy’ s Hugh Hefner, generous Steinmetz Star Steinmetz alum, dies at 91 Steinmetz College Prep High School Principal Stephen J. Ngo 3030 N. Mobile, Chicago IL 60634 773-534-3030, Star office (x) 25241 Website: www.steinmetzstar.com Email: [email protected] The Steinmetz Star is a student publication of Steinmetz College Prep High School. Photos by Datrin Butler by Photos Our goal is to inform the Steinmetz community of news affecting the students of our school. The Steinmetz Star reporters Takara Johnson and Regina Crawford meet Hugh Hefner in October 2010; Mr. Hefner poses with Anna Sofia Berglund and his then-girlfriend Crystal Harris. (They married in 2012.) opinions expressed in our articles are not necessarily those shared by the Star reporters and editors or the Steinmetz faculty and By Agape Alfaro criticized Playboy for its objectification of women, administration. others say Mr. Hefner helped bring a positive, ugh Hefner, the founder and editor of open-minded perspective about sex. He also cham- Anyone in the Steinmetz community is welcome to send let- Playboy magazine, and a Class of 1944 pioned freedom of speech and excellent journalism. ters, corrections, comments, and articles for publication in the Hgraduate, died on Sept. 29. Mr. Hefner has been an influence to Steinmetz, Star. His success began at Steinmetz, where he par- making many donations to school over several ticipated in many activities, including track, drama decades. With his $50,000 donations from 2011 Star content decisions are made by student editors and report- club, student council, yearbook, and the Star. - 2016, Steinmetz bought equipment for the jour- ers, under the advisement of the faculty sponsor. The Illinois “It was the best time of my life before I started nalism class and upgraded the Star, with profes- Speech Rights of Student Journalists Act, signed into law on July the magazine,” Mr. Hefner told students during a sional printing, to its full-size, all color format. 29, 2016, affirms “students’ right to exercise freedom of speech visit to Steinmetz in 2010. “I’m grateful of the standard that Mr. Hefner and of the press in school-sponsored media.” ((105 ILCS 80/15) Principal Stephen Ngo said he wishes that every has set for our alumni,” Mr. Ngo said. “He did a student will have a wonderful experience, just like lot for us in return for his experiences here.” Editors: Agape Alfaro, Erika Carrasco, Elise Guillen, Jamara Mr. Hefner. “When he spoke about Steinmetz, his On behalf of the Star newspaper staff, we thank McGarry, Kiyah Morris and Daria Velazquez face would glow,” Mr. Ngo said. Mr. Hefner’s family for the kindness Hef showed to Mr. Hefner’s work on the yearbook and Stein- us over the years. With his donations, we were able Photo editor: Steven Nunez metz Star led him to a career in publishing and to create a newspaper that stood out from the rest. then his creation of Playboy magazine, which was We are grateful for his financial support and 8th period journalism class reporters: Karla Aguilar, Alma an influence to society as a whole. Although many encouragement. It was a privilege to know him. Carmona, Jaqueline Desantiago, Stephany Casillas, Rosalinda • Diaz, Alyanna Fontanilla, Jennifer Gamboa, Katherinne Garcia, Katera Goldman, Emily Gonzales, Victor Hernandez, Luz Her- Homecoming dance ‘was amazing’ rera, Tamara Johnson, Chiya Loyd, Monica Marroquin, Oscar Continued from Page 1 Winners of the Martinez, Yanarie Martinez, Alma Nunez, Melanie Ordaz, Alon- Students also dressed to Homecoming queen dra Ortiz, Eli Patino, Stephanie Pravinchandra, Eliseo Reyes, impress at the dance. and king were Kat- Vinnie Rivera, Kathryn Rosas, Sofia Velazquez, Jasmin Vides, The yearbook class and era Goldman and Aja Williams sponsor Renato Roldan or- Frederick Critten- ganized the Homecoming don. Newspaper Club reporters: Lara Banez, Frank Cabrera, Ezra Dance, which was located Underclassmen Chavez, Jesus Cortez, Freddy Crittendon, Danielle Dunlea, Daniel in the big gym instead of in on the Homecom- Hassan, Tom Feazelle, Tyrek Gates, Emelie Gonzalez, Luis Huerta, the lunchroom, where it pre- ing court were Litzy Yadira Lopez, Valeriia Lytvak, Millie Martinez, Alyssa Smith, An- viously was held. A lot more Ocon, duchess; Jer- gelina Villarreal students were able to attend. emiah Perez, duke; Tickets were sold out, Jasmine Gutierrez, The Newspaper Clubmeets in Room 333 on Tuesdays and Thurs- with 450 students attending. They en- princess; Miguel Rodriguez, prince; days during 5th and 6th period lunch and Wednesdays after school. joyed themselves because of the space, Janiya Carroll, lady. and the music choice was on point. The “Winning Homecoming queen Faculty adviser: Ms. Sharon Schmidt upbeat music really made people actu- was a good experience, especially ally dance then just standing there. since I didn’t really feel confident Membership: Scholastic Press Association of Chicago The scenery was amazing, there was about winning,” Katera said. “My no drama and everyone was able to have last Homecoming was really good. Printing: During the 2017-18 school year, the Star will be printed a good time. There was a picture booth If I could do it over again, I would.” three times at Topweb LLC, 5450 N. Northwest Highway, Chicago. with a lot of props such as hats, and a Freddy said that the game was station where the students could get Nunez Steven by Photos more significant to him than win- Back Issues: More than 50 back issues of the Star are available snacks. ning king:“Being chosen as king was on the Steinmetz school website at www.steinmetzcp.org. Go to “This was my first Homecoming dance and it an overall nice experience,” he said. “However, to the “Newspaper” link. Additional content is published at www. was amazing,” senior Daniel Avila said. win my last Homecoming game in the fashion that steinmetzstar.com. Students said dances should run longer because we did was overwhelming, not only for me but • no one wants to leave when they are having fun. my other senior teammates as well.”• Sept. - Oct. 2017 issue of the Steinmetz Star is available online Facebook photo used with permission photo Facebook Facebook photo used with permission photo Facebook photo Star Some of the stories in the first Steinmetz Star issue of the year – published on the school website at www.steinmetzcp.org under the “Newspaper” link and on www.steinmetzstar.com – include the front campus expansion plans (left), the disaster relief effort organized by teacher Carlos Borges (pictured in the middle photo with students), and the Steinmetz-hosted Fall Frolic cross country meet, won by senior Ezra Chavez (pictured at right).