The news site of Evanston Township High School's student newspaper

The Evanstonian

The news site of Evanston Township High School's student newspaper

The Evanstonian

The news site of Evanston Township High School's student newspaper

The Evanstonian

Jessica Sehgal

Jessica Sehgal, Executive Editor

My name is Jessica Sehgal, my pronouns are she/her/hers, and I am an executive editor for The Evanstonian. As a senior, this will be my fourth and final year on staff. Throughout these past few years, I have had the opportunity to grow not only as a writer, but as a collaborator, thinker and leader. I love how The Evanstonian provides a space for me to work with people who share similar goals to myself but have a varying range of skill sets and strengths. Beyond the paper, I play volleyball, engage in community service, and spend time with my family and friends. 

By Jessica Sehgal
Clara Gustafson (left), Jilian Denlow (center) and Sophia Sherman (right) will lead the Evanstonian’s 107th editorial board.

The Evanstonian names new executive editors for ‘23-‘24

Meg Houseworth, Jessica Sehgal and Ahania Soni May 11, 2023

Nearly three years ago, three freshman girls sat behind their computer screens in their online Intro to Journalism class. Now, the three girls will unite again as accomplished seniors next year to lead...

Opinion | Four years of friendship

Opinion | Four years of friendship

Jessica Sehgal, Executive Editor May 11, 2023

Sandwiched between two glittery, cheaply-constructed covers of a Justice brand diary lies my future. At least, that’s what I believed when I was seven. I’ve had the same best friend since I was...

Photo courtesy of Darrion Coleman

Darrion Coleman

Jessica Sehgal, Executive Editor May 11, 2023

Managing the commitments of just one sport in high school can be taxing, not to mention two. That said, Darrion Coleman hopes to pursue both of his sports at the collegiate level next year. At the beginning...

Ariel Kite

Jessica Sehgal, Executive Editor May 11, 2023

Ariel Kite was just three years old when she touched her first soccer ball. Now, at 18, she’s preparing to travel 350 miles away from her American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) fields and continue...

Dear Evanstonian, thank you.

Dear Evanstonian, thank you.

Jessica Sehgal, Meg Houseworth and Ahania Soni May 11, 2023

Dear Evanstonian, Thank you. Thank you for being our platform. As journalists, we are in the unique position to tell stories that can drive real change by encouraging courageous discourse....

Photo courtesy of Flo Feldman

Flo Feldman

Jessica Sehgal, Executive Editor May 11, 2023

Going into the football recruiting process, defensive lineman Flo Feldman knew he wanted a school that was equally as academic as it was athletic, and Denison University turned out to be just the place...

Art by Kupunoli Sumi

Piling up: peer pressure pervades teenage experience

Jessica Sehgal and Meg Houseworth April 20, 2023

Teens in the ‘80s and ‘90s may be eerily familiar with the infamous catchphrase: “Just Say No.” On Sept. 14, 1986, former First Lady Nancy Reagan launched this widespread campaign in a nationwide...

‘Max effort’ spikes historic success for boys volleyball, beating New Trier for first time in 15 years

Jessica Sehgal, Executive Editor April 17, 2023

Boys volleyball made history Wednesday night when they took on their long-standing rivals, New Trier. Securing a victory against the Trevians for the first time in 15 years, the three-set match was nothing...

Badminton clears New Trier competition, ending night with net success

Jessica Sehgal, Executive Editor March 26, 2023

Walking into Beardsley Gym on Thursday night, the feeling was electric. Badminton took on infamous rivals New Trier, and the Kits did not stand down. On the court in pre-game, varsity players circled together,...

A historical tug of war

A historical tug of war

In 1969, then-senior Hecky Powell marched 250 students through ETHS’ Heritage Hall that runs right through the center of the building. Students from all walks of life parked outside of the Superintendent's...

Student athletic trainers participate in a demo of proper hand taping.

Athletic trainers: the backbone of ETHS

Jessica Sehgal, Executive Editor March 15, 2023

Anyone familiar with the ETHS gym wing knows it’s synonymous with a maze, with twelve gyms riddled throughout various cement halls and various classrooms scattered throughout. Signs hang overhead, like...

Art by Kupu Sumi

Letter from the Executive Editors | How NU, ETHS, Evanston can hold John Evans accountable, ensure Indigenous cultures can thrive

Meg Houseworth, Jessica Sehgal and Ahania Soni February 27, 2023

Right as the sun broke on November 29th, 1864, 700 volunteer soldiers entered sacred land in Fort Lyon, Colorado. Home to the Cheyenne and Arapaho, this vast prairie had become a community for over 700...

Map by Clara Gustafson

Mourning and loss: the events at Sand Creek

Jessica Sehgal, Clara Gustafson and Frank Herman February 27, 2023
On Nov. 29, 1864, when the sun had just begun inching above the horizon, the rumbling sound of approaching hooves abruptly awoke the sleeping tribes. A few village patrons presumptively celebrated at what appeared to be buffalo in the distance. However, the truth of what lay in the distance that morning was far from the hopeful symbol of buffalo and instead grew to be one of the most gruesome and inhumane massacres in American history.
Photo courtesy of Jessica Sehgal

‘Sticking together’: camaraderie proves to be the winning factor for boys hockey Senior Night

Jessica Sehgal, Executive Editor January 22, 2023

Following the girls hockey game on Saturday night, the boys hockey’s Senior Night was off to a similar start. A little over halfway into the first period, Oak Park River Forest (OPRF) scored, paving...

Photo courtesy of Jessica Sehgal

In Senior Night loss, girls hockey still gives ‘110 percent’

Jessica Sehgal, Executive Editor January 22, 2023

Going up against Glenbrook—a team that ETHS girls hockey has matched up twice before with, one game resulting in a loss and the other a tie—already evoked pressure on the Kits Saturday night. On top...

Illustration by Aiyana Jehan

Just a 30-minute cab ride away: An inside look at North Cook Young Adult Academy

Jian Kramer couldn’t remember how that pocket knife even got there in the first place, but now it sat in the palm of the safety officer's hand, staring Kramer back in the face: a mindless error that would change the course of his entire high school education.

Two doubles pairs make runs in tennis’ conference tourney

Jessica Sehgal, Executive Editor November 14, 2022

After a 10-6 season, girls tennis felt confident heading into their csl tournament on Friday Oct. 7. However, after the first round, only two ETHS teams remained in the running. Doubles team Sophie Glantz...

Photo courtesy of Kupunoli Sumi

Technological troubles in teaching: how mobile devices affect education, ETHS

The years following the pandemic saw a large uptick in students' addiction to technology, specifically cell phones. Technology had been one of the only things that allowed people to connect with each other even when everyone was stuck at home, and many teachers have noticed the increase in technological use that students endured remotely has translated into the classroom setting. The new phone policy attempts to curb that addiction.

Boys cross country runs the extra mile to initiate program excellence

Jessica Sehgal, Executive Editor October 14, 2022

When many people picture cross country, they envision one exercise: running. However, this year for boys cross country, the running itself is just a fraction of the battle to victory. “To run for...

‘Young’ girls cross country team takes strides towards success

Jessica Sehgal, Executive Editor October 14, 2022

In late February 2022, Beth Arey was named the new girls cross country varsity head coach for the 2022-2023 season, and during her first year, Arey has already established a new culture of intensity. “I...

Third-quarter ‘lapse’ leads to tight loss for field hockey versus Loyola

Jessica Sehgal, Executive editor October 4, 2022

Booming over the bleachers of Lazier Field, the announcement declared, “And as we start the second half, the score remains . . . scoreless.” It was 8:30 on Monday night, and field hockey was fiercely...

Cheer squad eager to hype up crowds at halftime

Jessica Sehgal, Executive Editor September 23, 2022

ETHS cheer has long been an integral component of football and basketball games, with an innate ability to garner enthusiasm and spirit within a crowd. However, many fail to recognize that cheerleading...

Boys volleyball closes season confident in team’s direction

Jessica Sehgal, Executive Editor August 15, 2022

On March 30, varsity boys volleyball had its first game of the season at home against Loyola Academy, and the energy was electric. Fans filed into the stands of Beardsley Gym to watch the gripping match...

Boys tennis pulls off unexpected wins resulting in successful season

Jessica Sehgal, Executive Editor August 15, 2022

Over the past few years, ETHS tennis has rapidly increased in popularity across the ETHS student body, and in parallel with this trend, the team’s success has prospered at a growing rate. Last season,...

Photo courtesy of Ahania Soni

Continuing after crisis: District 65 regroups and rebounds for next school year

The 2021-2022 school year bore hardships for students across the country. Returning to a full-fledged school schedule after a year of isolation proved to be challenging for various reasons, and student...

Matt Cless

Jessica Sehgal, In-Depth Editor May 12, 2022

After a rapid ascension through the high school track and field ranks, Matt Cless will be enrolled at Auburn University in the fall for his track and field commitment. Unparalleled to most Division I athletes,...

Shalyn Pryor

Jessica Sehgal, In-Depth Editor May 12, 2022

If there’s one word to describe Shalyn Pryor, it’s speedy. Both on the soccer field and off, Pryor wastes no time in pursuing what she wants, and college was no exception. By the end of Pryor’s first...

Kamau Ransom

Jessica Sehgal, In-Depth Editor May 12, 2022

Wide receiver Kamau Ransom knew he belonged at University of Indianapolis because of one value the institution prioritized that he didn’t see anywhere else: community. For student athletes, the recruiting...

Illustration by Sabrina Barnes

Stress and substances: the supports in place for students in Evanston

Teenagers are living in an entirely different reality. Despite sarcastic connotations that may frequently accompany that phrase, research suggests that it may be true in some ways. Dopamine, sometimes...

Illustration by Sabrina Barnes

Letter from the In-Depth editors | Fostering productive communication between Evanstonian, administration

Lauren Dain, Jessica Sehgal and Meg Houseworth February 28, 2022

For the past three months, The Evanstonian’s In-Depth section has attempted to investigate the procedures and protocols in place for incident reporting at ETHS. We chose this topic due to another Evanstonian...

Evanstonians, ETHS community members reflect on opportunity gap, efforts to detrack at ETHS

Evanstonians, ETHS community members reflect on opportunity gap, efforts to detrack at ETHS

Over the years, ETHS has been consistently scrutinized for its opportunity gap. However, it wasn’t until 2010 when action was taken to detrack select ETHS courses. Despite the process continuing today, much controversy remains. 
Emotions run high during, after two-hour lockdown

Emotions run high during, after two-hour lockdown

Jilian Denlow and Jessica Sehgal December 23, 2021
At 10:16 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 16, the ETHS building went into hard lockdown, signifying a present threat in the building, resulting in staff and students hiding and locking the doors to all classrooms. At 12:39 p.m., the lockdown was lifted and students were dismissed for the rest of the school day. “For me, it was just fear the entire time,” junior Alice Lavan shares.
Community Service Club, Students Organized Against Racism, Emerge and Paw Patrol are some of the most popular clubs at ETHS.

ETHS activities and spaces grapple with inequities

Historically clubs and activities at ETHS have been segregated, both in terms of race and gender. The Evanstonian is no exception to this pattern. For the October issue, the In-Depth staff chose to cover...

As students return fully in-person for the first time since March 2020, students work to adjust to their busy schedules.

Under pressure: ETHS students adjust to in-person school

On Aug. 16, the doors of ETHS opened to a crowd of students awaiting busy hallways, friendly teachers and rows of desks. Two years ago, this picture could have evoked a multitude of emotions, but above all: normalcy. Now, these various components that complete a “normal” school day seem foreign.
The COVID-19 pandemic radically shifted the way the commercial and the social services sectors in Evanston operate, as each innovated amid the turmoil.

Two vital components of the Evanston community begin to rebuild

Evanston's business and social service communities begin to recover following the dramatic changes caused by COVID-19.
ETHS aims to break college-or-bust culture, expand slate of post-secondary opportunities

ETHS aims to break college-or-bust culture, expand slate of post-secondary opportunities

Lauren Dain, Jessica Sehgal and Meg Houseworth May 21, 2021
After spending four years memorizing the distinct bells and navigating the different cuts and corners that compose ETHS, everyone is asked the same question: what’s next? 
A call for conscience: the layers of sexism at ETHS

A call for conscience: the layers of sexism at ETHS

Whether it is whispers in the halls, outright sexist comments in the classroom or an objectionable view of women and their role in the world—sexism is very much alive and well in schools, including ETHS.
The impossible perception of perfect: Students recount experiences with eating disorders

The impossible perception of perfect: Students recount experiences with eating disorders

Jessica Sehgal, Assistant In-Depth Editor April 26, 2021

Trigger Warning: The following story contains information regarding eating disorders including anorexia and bulimia that may trigger some readers. Disclaimer: In this article, we write about the experiences...

Tradeoffs and Triages: Students navigate mental health in e-learning

Tradeoffs and Triages: Students navigate mental health in e-learning

Trigger Warning: The following story contains information regarding mental health issues that may trigger some readers. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-8255. The Mental Health...

Making it through 2020

Making it through 2020

On March 12, 2020, the ETHS community received an email informing them that “based on the rapidly evolving health concerns with the coronavirus (COVID-19) and guidance of the North Cook Intermediate...

The Issue of E-learning

The Issue of E-learning

Letter from the Editors  What is the issue of e-learning? Of all the questions to answer about ETHS this year, this has to be one of the most challenging, because it gets to the heart of what it...

A summer of activism: making a movement

A summer of activism: making a movement

February 23. Ahmaud Arbery was murdered in Brunswick, Georgia. March 13. Breonna Taylor was murdered in Louisville, Kentucky. May 25. George Floyd was murdered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. These...

Social Consciousness

HISTORY In 2014, ETHS introduced its first Black Student Summit. This event, which at the time was broken down into a Black Male and Female Summit, marked the beginning of the Social Consciousness...

Peeling away the layers behind Pathways to Honors

Peeling away the layers behind Pathways to Honors

In 2010, ETHS gave its freshman curriculum a massive facelift. This complete detracking of the Freshman Humanities and eventually later courses sought to remove historic impediments to provide greater...

The changing face of Evanston

A study published this past March claims Evanston hasn’t experienced gentrification, though some residents think otherwise. Four former and current Evanston residents and active community members...

How lack of school spirit affects students

Lauren Dain, Jessica Sehgal and Sydney Ter Molen September 27, 2019

ETHS has a spirit problem; student attendance and involvement in school-sponsored events has been decreasing. This has caused the administration to reevaluate what spirit events are worth planning and...

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