The trend that is taking social media by storm isn’t a product or even the newest restaurant, but rather a year. The 2016 aesthetic is gaining popularity on social media, giving viewers a throwback to pre-pandemic life. Many students have been influenced by social media to also participate in the trends. From the purple-toned grainy filters to the 2010s radio, many students are raving about … Continue reading What’s trending? 2016 rewind

Raising Cane’s has some new competition down Route 59: Zaxby’s. Zaxby’s is another large chain fast food restaurant expanding to new states, including its new Plainfield location. Its menu consists of southern-style chicken, similar to Cane’s. Price, taste, menu variety, and customer service are huge factors in deciding which spot to go and enjoy. Here’s how we compared them.  Price The “Big Zax Snak Meal” … Continue reading Zaxby’s vs Cane’s: Which is better?

As the end of the semester nears, and students prepare themselves for the last couple of months, seniors are thinking about graduation being right around the corner. May. 16, the Class of 2026 will be finished with High School, and they feel a mix of excitement, nostalgia, and pressure for what’s to come. East senior Jacob Kalecki’s transition to college will be a bittersweet one. … Continue reading How do seniors feel about graduation?

Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic Calendar, is more commonly known as the time when people of the Islamic faith fast during the day, but there is more beyond the fasting. Adeena Siddiq is a junior at East. She is a Sunni Hanafi Muslim and observes Ramadan. “Ramadan is not just about feeling hungry or thirsty; it’s about purifying the heart, controlling my actions, … Continue reading Ramadan: More than Meets the Eye

English 1-3 are required courses at East, but there are a variety of English courses to choose from after that. College Composition is an option that tends to go unnoticed that may spark your interest. This class is dual credit taken through Waubonsee Community College that covers six different styles of writing. The class has been at East for around 10 years mainly taught by … Continue reading Niche classes we know you’ll love: College Composition

Feb. 20 was World Justice Day, a global observance that focuses on fairness, equality, human rights, and creating opportunities for all people. While the day is recognized internationally, its meaning has recently felt more personal to students on campus following conversations about the walkout protest against ICE. World Social Justice Day was created to highlight issues such as poverty. discrimination, and unequal treatment. The purpose … Continue reading World Social Justice Day Connects to Student Walkout Conversations

The Civil Rights Movement was a major period in the United States history that focused on ending racial segregation and discrimination. Taking place mainly during the 1950’s and 1960’s, the movement led to important changes, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. These laws helped create stronger legal protections for equal rights. Although the movement happened decades ago, … Continue reading The Civil Rights Movement and Why It Is Still Relevant Today

With Valentine’s Day coming up, restaurant choice is a huge decision! Many students are making reservations for the big day and aren’t exactly sure where to go. There are a lot of restaurants, but sometimes they’re easily forgotten. Lots of people have opinions on great places to eat. So why not share these ideas with everyone? Senior Keelan Quick has some ideas for possible places … Continue reading The Best Local Spots to Take your Date this Valentine’s Day

The season of love always comes and goes so fast. Stores are littered with cards, chocolate boxes, and roses in every hue you can think of. Every year companies try to grasp consumer attention and raise sales by adorning their products with heart-shaped silhouettes, but what products are actually worth the purchase? Like every other holiday, Valentine’s day is extremely commercialized. As soon as the … Continue reading The Valentine’s Day Craze: Buy or Bye?

Huh? What? Can you say that again? These words are booming through East hallways, classrooms, and commons. The culprit: noise-cancelling headphones. In recent years, bluetooth headphone technology has undergone dramatic changes, including new features such as noise canceling. These headphones have seen an increase in popularity and have even become even more accessible with lower prices. Senior Sophia Smith has used Beats Studio Pros for … Continue reading I Can’t Hear You! East’s Obsession With Noise-Cancelling Headphones

East has a variety of classes that may spark interest, but are unheard of. Many students know about AP U.S. History, AP U.S. Government, and AP Human Geography, but AP Comparative Government tends to go unnoticed. This class is an Advanced Placement class through the College Board and runs only in the second semester. East teacher, Tyler Van Landeghem, has been teaching this class since … Continue reading Niche Classes we Know You’ll Love: AP Comparative Government

Bad Bunny, a musician from Puerto Rico, is set to perform the Super Bowl halftime show this Sunday, Feb. 8. He has grown immensely in popularity over the past few years. So, what can we expect from his show this Sunday? Bad Bunny’s real name is Benito Ocasio Martinez. He was born in Bayamòn, Puerto Rico. Bad Bunny has expressed in his recent Apple Music … Continue reading What Fans can Expect From the Bad Bunny Halftime Show

As winter drags on, Groundhog Day offers a brief moment of anticipation at the beginning of February, predicting whether winter will continue or spring will arrive soon. This tradition is hosted annually on Feb. 2, which marks the halfway point between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. This event stems all the way back to 1887, and occurs in its official location, Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. … Continue reading Is Groundhog Day a Hoax?

Since the dawn of profit-making, Humans have used marketing to ensure sales and boost the economy. For a while, advertisements seemed harmless and were just trying to cater to their target audience for sales, and have always been framed as neutral transactions, but with the new age of social media, it has morphed into a new form. It poses the question: has marketing become something … Continue reading Marketing: The creation of business is the business of creation 

As second semester begins, students are returning from a long winter break, having to adjust to the normal school schedule once again. Early mornings with packed schedules can be a shock to some after weeks of rest. Checking in with students helps build a stronger community within the school. Just asking how their break went and how they’re doing can help students get back on … Continue reading Second Semester Temperature Check: How are Students Adjusting?

Senior year brings numerous changes. Many students apply to college early in the school year, but the work is not done after that. Whether it is applying for scholarships, finding roommates, deciding on a major, school, or plenty of other responsibilities, it can feel like there is always something to worry about. Since the second semester started, stress levels are rising. Senior Autumn Wieczorek shares … Continue reading I’m a Senior: Why am I overwhelmed?

It’s almost 2026, and a new year leads to new beginnings. One of the most popular New Year’s traditions is making a New Year’s resolution. Although many people participate in this tradition, driveresearch.com found that just nine percent of Americans actually keep their resolutions throughout the year. New Year’s resolutions are important because they offer a structured way to set goals for self-improvement. There are … Continue reading How to Keep Your New Years Resolution

As Christmas approaches, families embrace the holiday spirit with festive traditions like decorating the tree or building a snowman. One of the most cherished activities is gathering in a warm living room to watch holiday movies together—classic favorites like Home Alone and Elf are always at the top of the list. But there are also lesser-known hidden gems worth enjoying during the holidays. Alongside these … Continue reading What are the most popular Christmas movies, and what are some hidden gems?

Many seniors are finding that senioritis, the traditional decline in motivation, hits harder than anticipated as the academic year draws to a close. Excitement for graduation frequently turns into a daily battle to maintain attendance, stay focused, and complete homework. Teachers across the school have observed a difference in energy. Formerly active students are now more likely to appear fatigued, submit work late, or discreetly … Continue reading Senioritis: Is It Kicking In?

Last Saturday, Winter weather struck Oswego and may continue for the next few months, affecting how everyone must drive to remain safe. Normally, it takes senior Gavin Zuber about five minutes to drive to school each morning. “We spent 16 minutes getting the snow and ice off. It was like a 16-minute drive,” Zuber said. According to the National Weather Service, “When driving, if roads … Continue reading How to Drive safe in the Winter Weather

As the first period starts at 7:20 a.m., most students are still half asleep, dragging themselves to class, struggling to focus on anything beyond staying awake. Vivi Mendygral, a freshman here at East, struggled to adjust to the earlier start of high school after coming out of middle school. “Sometimes I cut it close getting to school on time. I think we should definitely start … Continue reading Should School Start Later?

Cost of equipment, enrollment fees, and uniform costs; it all adds up. Winter activities are underway at East, and many students are faced with fees and expenses. Senior Angelo McLearnon, an athlete entering his fourth year swimming on East’s varsity swim team, provides his insights on spending for sports. “I spend about $300 on equipment a season on swim caps, goggles, suits, and gear. Varsity … Continue reading The Price of Participation

In the fall, cheerleaders were on the sidelines cheering on the football team. As East transitions into winter sports, the cheerleaders switch over to competition season. Although they both are forms of cheerleading, the two seasons are very unique.  The level of intensity rises as the competition season nears, which affects practice times. Senior Hannah Adams has been involved in cheerleading at East for the … Continue reading Sidelines to Competitions: Differences in East Cheer

As winter weather is upon Illinois, student’s fashion adapts to it. Some wear coats, some wear hoodies, and some people just wear t-shirts. Other than what people typically wear, what makes a winter outfit unique? Senior Alex Lass explains what he wears during the winter time and why.  “I usually wear a coat during the wintertime to stay warm. It’s the best thing to wear … Continue reading What’s on the Forecast for Winter Fashion?

Black Friday might feel like a day for shopping for the holidays, but its history is a lot more than long lines and TV’s. The name originated from a financial disaster in 1869 on Wall Street, trying to pay national debt. The Black Friday that we know and love today started in Philadelphia in the 1960s when many suburban tourists came into the city to … Continue reading The History of Black Friday

Wellness is essential for a student’s life in and outside of school. Without wellness, people would be struggling with many things at school and at home, which include, but are not limited to, homework, chores, health, hygiene, etc. How does social media affect student wellness? Students today are surrounded by media 24/7, making it a major influence on their daily lives- especially their behavior in … Continue reading How can we Improve Student Wellness?

Oct. 19 2025, The Louvre was robbed in broad daylight for the first time since 1998, quickly becoming one of the most infamous heists to date. The public was astonished that amateur criminals managed to break in and steal around $102 million worth of precious jewels in under ten minutes, leaving unidentified and unscathed. This crime left the internet inspired. The crime quickly went viral, … Continue reading The Louvre Heist: Criminal or Chic?

Every October, candy corn makes its way back into stores and back into debate. Some people see it as a Halloween classic, while others think it’s completely overrated. Senior Yazmine Cruz said she’s never been a fan. She said she usually prefers chocolate or sour candies instead. “It’s too sweet and I don’t like the waxy texture,” Cruz said. “I try it every year just … Continue reading Candy Corn: A Sweet Treat or a Sugary Controversy?