The Challenger Spring 2007, issue 3 A publication of theWilliam Rainey HarperCollege Honors Program In this issue we The Historyof What We Now Call Life challenge the Jennifer Bynes suburbs... It is an eerie truth that our every­ life became prevalent alongside the Editor: day behaviors, such as going to the mass production of the automobile. Ian Taylor Jewel, attending classes at Harper Col­ In a short amount of time, big lege, or flying out of O'Hare did not Contributing Editors: things happened for Chicagoland. The even exist 100 years ago - the idea may term "Chicagoland" was actually cre­ Jennifer Bynes have been evolving, but the actual loca­ ated by reporter James O'Donnell Ben­ tions at which we practice our daily Brandon Czajka nett of the Chicago Tribune. On July 27, routine were nothing more than a pos­ 1926, Mr. Bennett headlined the paper, Andrea Lett sible idea in dirt. It really wasn't until "Chicagoland's Shrines: A Tour of Dis­ Faculty Advisor: the 1960s that the suburban popula­ coveries." Since Bennett's article, Chi­ tion expanded. Alicia Tomasian cago and its surrounding suburbs have It was in fact Chicagoans who come to be known as "Chicagoland." Also inside... coined the term, "The Burbs." A sub­ The suburbs of Chicago are categorized urb, as all who reside in the questiona­ by the township's name; there are the bly grand northwest suburbs know, is a Barringtons, the Groves, the Forests, Fat Nation? 3 residential area outlying a city. Sub­ the Heights, the Woods, the Lakes, and urbs have been around since at least the Parks. While some are unable to be Growingup in the 'Burbs 5 the 6th century B.C. Beginning in an­ classified, some names capture two of cient Greece, the suburbs were a haven the categorized labels. outside of the populace city for the Suburban Identity 6 wealthy. In the 20th century, suburban Continuedon page 2 The Suburbs'One Salvo­ 9 The Suburban Culture Theorem tion Brandon Czajka "Are we there yet?" is indisputably tioning, "Is there really anything to do lescents escape to enjoy the thrills the anthem of rural areas, while out here?" city life has to offer, leaving sub­ "What should we do next?" is that of urbia behind.Like my fellow com­ The northwest suburbs cer­ urban regions. Suburbanites, how­ rades, I too flee the suburbs on tainly contain an abundance of activi­ ever, are left in the gray area, often the weekends. However, I ties and places such as multiplex cine­ contemplating questions such as thought it would be intriguing to mas, fantastic shopping, and great mu­ "What do you want to do?" or embark on a mission to determine sic halls that all allow groups of teens "Where do you want to go?" Our ifa distinct culture, along with to come together and have a good time. area has its pros and cons: Our pub­ activities independent from urban Despite the array of great hangouts, lic education system is high quality. and rural regions, actually exists many aspects of our lives still demon­ Our air is cleanlier compared to the for younger generations in the strate that the suburbs . well ... stenches of toxic dumps and cow suburbs. manure (although the newly-placed they flat out suck. Rural areas have fertilizer outside Building Z at square-dances, cow tippings, transistor Woodfield Mall is one Harper College is appalling).Most radios, and urban areas have cutting­ location in the northwest suburbs of us need never fear high-rise fires edge culture. What does suburbia where everyone has spent some or cow tipping casualties. Despite have? Most of us know that downtown time. AB nearly everyone knows, these benefits, the average adoles­ Chicago has everything that suburbia shopping centers and malls seem cent trapped in the northwest sub­ has to offer and then some. With such a to be primarily a suburban phe- urbs is still left perpetually ques- tantalizing city in our midst, most ado- Continued on page 2 PA GE2 THE CHA LLENGER SPRING 2007. ISSUE 3 History who lived close to a grove that cut ended isolation for Schaumburg, through the area. Its official name was not constructeduntil 1956, Continued from page 1 at the time was Township 41. over a hundredyears after Ger­ Schaumburg, in particular, is Members of the community con­ man settlers had arrived. That difficult to classify because its his­ sidered Lutherville or Luther­ same year, the Village of Schaum­ tory is vastly different from other burg, until deciding upon burg was incorporated. Quickly northwest suburbs. Records state Schaumburg. They quickly organ­ after, roadways and industry that Joshua Sunderlage, a Ger­ ized a congregation, leading to the really blossomed. By 1980 most of man-born surveyor who helped building of the first church in all the land was built up. As of divided Cook County into town­ 1847 on the corner of Schaumburg August 18, 2007, Schaumburg's ships around 1833, was the earli­ Road and Roselle Road. development will have its own est to reside in the area. Legend exhibit at the Chicago History claims it was then occupied in the In 1900, Schaumburg cele­ Museum - making it the first sub­ mid-1830s by a New Yorker, brated itself as a "model commu­ urb to have its own display. Trumball Kent. As other ''Yankee" nity for Cook and surrounding settlers made the journey to this counties." In fact, Schaumburg In September 1959, Hoffman new locale, German settlers also never even had a jail. Until the Estates was incorporated. Mary traveled to the area - asserting 1950s, it continued as a farming Gannon, a 47 year resident of their influence on the region, community. In Schaumburg, the Hoffman Estates, recalls her move which explains sometimes hard to residents began to industrialize to Hoffman Estates from the city pronounce German street names extensively, but, unlike newly cul­ beingdiffi cult because of the lack such as ''Biesterfi.eld. Many of the tivated suburbs, Schaumburg was of public transportation. "If you German farmers traveled from not built around a railroad depot. didn't have a car you were out of Schaumburg-Lippe, Germany. Thus, growth was slow due to the luck," she said,joking "I never "Schaumburg" was the name lack of communication with Chi­ plannedon being a pioneer." It given for just that reason. The cago. Many German settlers re­ was after the construction of the original, unofficial name was sided along the Chicago-Elgin highway that the Village of Hoff­ Sarah's Grove, derived from three Road, or what is now known as man Estates appropriatedthe women, Sarah Frisbe, Sarah Irving Park Road, because the land north of Schaumburg in Smith, and Sarah McChesney, Northwest Tollway, I-90, which Continued on page 3 "If we need clothes, there Culture are mall is a place where suburban millions of stores to check out. teens can escape their daily lives Continued from page 1 Woodfield has it all." and focus on shopping, relaxing, nomenon. Woodfield Mall is ar­ or getting their fix of daily gossip. ranged under a roof spanning an options. expansive area, so you won't be If we must be trapped within the confines of suburbia, exposed to the elements, the way Aside from the shopping we might as well sing and dance you would on a ''Main Street." and enticing restaurants, Wood­ the pain away. Another common The indoor mall also provides a field also houses popular events escape for adolescentsis music. year round ''hangout'' forjuve­ such as celebrity signings, interac­ Many suburban teenagers escape niles. Scott Moore, a regular of the tive karaoke, and dancing. With into the lyrical world of music to mall, states, "When Friday ar­ 27 million annual visitors, Wood­ detourthe anxietyof havingnoth­ rives, I usually gather a group of field clinches the title of the most ing to do. Others just enjoy cut­ friends and head to Woodfield. If popular tourist destination in Illi­ ting back and getting loose to we get hungry, we have plenty of nois; it's no wonder why people their favorite beats. Perhaps mu­ restaurants to choose from. If we from not only the northwest sub­ sic exists because of the need for need clothes, there are millions of urbs but the entire country might expression of emotions that "can stores to check out. Woodfield has look at Woodfield as one of the only crudely be measured or de­ it all." Stretching over 2.7 million must-see tourist attractions of the scribed in words" (Leeds 2). Re­ square feet, Woodfield currently Chicagoland area. As the holiday gardless of the reason, live music holds the distinction of being the season rolls around, Woodfield is so popular it exists even in the fifth largest shopping mall in the becomes Hell on Earth, but the culturally deprived suburbs. One United States. Its immense size groups of juveniles never disperse. offers a dizzying array of retail This leads me to believe that the Continued on page 4 PAGE) THE CHALLENGER SPRING 2007, ISSUE 3 Fat Nation? Andrea Lett and the figures are multiplying each day. So what is causing There goes mom leaving just in time for supper. Now fami­ this "obesity outbreak?" Among work, making her first stop at Star­ lies are constantly on the go. This the Qbvious reasons arepoor bucks, grabbing her triple venti sort of structured, fast-paced life­ diet and lack of exercise; how­ vanilla skim latte, then she's on style could sound appealing to ever, studies performed in re­ her way to take the kids through some, but it has actually contrib­ cent years prove that these are the McDonalds drive-thru for uted to health problems in the not the only reasons for society Happy Meals, off to soccer practice, United States.