Students receive college acceptance letters

December marks the month where the majority of students who applied early action and/or early decision to their respective colleges will be hearing back about their possible admissions. The anxiety can be felt both around the school and on Facebook, as announcements of college decisions are spread online and in the halls. Students have either faced elation or sadness in the college decision process.

Habitat starts back up

Since 2001, New Trier’s Habitat for Humanity has been a fundraising project that the entire senior class works on build a house for a partner family in need. Habitat’s biggest events started in December, including the Tom DeLuca show and Feast Week. The annual Tom DeLuca show hypnotized 17 seniors. Feast week ran during December 12th-16th. When members of the New Trier Township ate dinner at a given restaurant, a portion of their meal’s cost was donated to Habitat.

Protests over Dakota Access Pipeline

Dakota Access, LLC, a subsidiary of Energy Transfer Partners, violated multiple treaties with the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe by planning to build a pipeline under the Mississippi river, plowing through sacred Native American land and coming very close to their water supply. Protesters surrounded the reserve, objecting to the repercussions of such a pipeline to both the proximate Native American tribes and the Environment. Police tried to break up protesters by using concussive grenades, rubber bullets, and hoses in subzero temperatures, leaving many with cases of hypothermia and one with an arm in need of amputation. On Dec 4, the Army Corps of Engineers denied the easement through Lake Oahe and possible alternative routes are currently being looked at.

Rap albums released

Some of the biggest names in rap have dropped or will drop new LPs this month to awaiting fans. Childish Gambino released Awaken, My Love! on Dec 2, J. Cole released 4 Your Eyez Only on Dec 9, and Kid Cudi plans to release Passion, Pain & Demon Slayin’ on Dec 16. Each album is expected to skyrocket in sales, and is projected to reach the top of the Billboard charts.