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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

Zachary Bahar

Zachary Bahar, Executive Editor

My name is Zachary Bahar, and I am an Executive Editor of The Evanstonian overseeing the amazing News and In-Depth sections. This is my fourth year on staff, and I have previously been the News Editor, Copy Editor, Assistant News Editor, Assistant Copy Editor and a Staff Writer. Outside of The Evanstonian, I am a captain of the Scholastic Bowl team and a member of the Math Team. I also enjoy cycling, playing golf and tabletop games. Lastly, I love fantasy and sci-fi, particularly J.R.R. Tolkien. Seriously, please talk to me about Tolkien.

By Zachary Bahar
Senior Column | Above all shadows: Fighting the Long Defeat

Senior Column | Above all shadows: Fighting the Long Defeat

Zachary Bahar, Executive Editor May 21, 2021

Sam sat in the darkness. Amidst by the plains of Gorgoroth, stranded a world from hearth and home, staring at the great fires of the mountain before him. Those fires, issued from Orodruin, marked both...

Introducing the 2021-22 Evanstonian Editorial Board!

Zachary Bahar, Eli Cohen and Nora Miller May 21, 2021

The outgoing Evanstonian Executive Editors are pleased to announce the 2021-22 Evanstonian Editorial Board! Executive Editors: Lauren Dain, Eden Drajpuch Community Impact Editors: Maddie Coyle, Eva...

Mock Trial team wins state for first time, headed to nationals

Mock Trial team wins state for first time, headed to nationals

Zachary Bahar, Executive Editor April 26, 2021

This season brought ETHS’s Mock Trial team to new heights, as the team will attend nationals for the first time after winning the Illinois State Bar Association State Competition. “Overall, this...

HOSA places in state during first year

Zachary Bahar, Executive Editor April 26, 2021

While the ETHS branch of HOSA hasn’t been around for long, they’ve created a space for students to discuss and learn about medicine and health care. “We started [thinking about] the club [in 2018-19]…....

DECA makes international competition

Zachary Bahar, Executive Editors April 26, 2021

ETHS DECA has had a long history of successful seasons, a history that was continued in this strangest of years. “All of our club meetings have been online; usually, we perform in front of a judge...

Model U.N. adapts systems to fit remote year

Model U.N. adapts systems to fit remote year

Zachary Bahar, Executive Editor April 26, 2021

This has certainly been a tumultuous year for both local and international politics, something reflected in ETHS’s Model U.N. team. Model U.N. typically consists of a series of committee and General...

Chess Team finds success with young team

Chess Team finds success with young team

Zachary Bahar, Executive Editor April 26, 2021

While every club has had to adapt to fit the remote ecosystem, Chess Team has had a unique evolution as, despite being able to play chess online, the game is fundamentally different. “Usually, we...

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.
ETHS to implement block schedule, eliminate finals beginning fall 2021

ETHS to implement block schedule, eliminate finals beginning fall 2021

Zachary Bahar, Executive Editor March 24, 2021

Beginning in the fall of 2021, ETHS will implement several major changes that will radically restructure the school that so many have known, the largest of these being the adoption of a block schedule. “ETHS...

White students make up two-thirds of hybrid opt-ins

White students make up two-thirds of hybrid opt-ins

Zachary Bahar, Executive Editor March 22, 2021

On March 1, ETHS announced that it will transition to a hybrid learning model on April 15—almost 13 months to the day after the school shut down. The announcement, made in an email sent to students...

Teachers react to in-person announcement

Teachers react to in-person announcement

Zachary Bahar, Executive Editor March 22, 2021

On March 1, ETHS announced its plan to begin hybrid learning on April 14. Coming almost 13 months to the day after the COVID-19 pandemic forced a nationwide shutdown that, among everything else, impacted...

Day in the life of a hybrid student

Zachary Bahar, Executive Editor March 5, 2021

* What follows is not the most conventional Evanstonian story. Rather, it is an attempt to imagine what a day in hybrid learning, which will begin for ETHS students on April 15 for those who opt-in, might...

ETHS announces hybrid plan to begin in April

ETHS announces hybrid plan to begin in April

Zachary Bahar, Executive Editor March 2, 2021

On March 1, ETHS announced that it will transition to a hybrid learning model on April 15—almost 13 months to the day after the school shut down. The announcement, made in an email sent to students...

The Mayoral Election

Zachary Bahar and Sari Oppenheimer February 17, 2021

Daniel Biss For those familiar with local politics, Daniel Biss’ name probably rings a bell. Serving as a state representative from 2011 to 2013 and then as a state senator from 2013 to 2019, Biss...

ETHS announces in-person experiences

ETHS announces in-person experiences

Zachary Bahar, Executive Editor February 2, 2021

Updated Feb. 10: After almost 11 months away from ETHS, students will be allowed to reenter the building in the coming weeks with the rollout of in-person experiences and activities.  Announced...

Zach's most apathetic layout comments.

Opinion | Why I hate news and love journalism

Zachary Bahar, Executive Editor January 25, 2021

This is my fourth year writing for The Evanstonian, and, while it has been an incredibly unpredictable, horrifying, tear-inducing, screaming-into-the-darkness kind of year, it has also been my most prolific...

“My crown, my sword:” Life as a hijabi at ETHS

“My crown, my sword:” Life as a hijabi at ETHS

Zachary Bahar, Executive Editor January 25, 2021

Humans are nothing if not storytellers. The stories that we tell, the things that we place faith in and will into existence, guide us through the world that surrounds us; they give us hope in dark places,...

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...

Art by Ellie Lind

Opinion | There will be feasting and dancing in Jerusalem next year

Zachary Bahar, Executive Editor December 14, 2020

2020 has been a hard year for all of us. From the plague sweeping over our homes and disrupting our communities, to the turbulent events following the murder of George Floyd, to an election that dragged...

Winter sports, activities suspended

Winter sports, activities suspended

Zachary Bahar, Executive Editor November 20, 2020

On Nov. 19, ETHS suspended all winter sports in accordance with the Tier 3 Resurgence Mitigations presented by Governor J.B. Pritzker on Nov. 17.  “All IHSA sports and activities will cease by November...

Nov. 3: Student thoughts on Biden’s victory

Nov. 3: Student thoughts on Biden’s victory

Zachary Bahar, Executive Editor November 16, 2020

After months of lead-up, the 2020 election ended in a victory for former Vice President Joe Biden and California Sen. Kamala Harris. The election served as a catalyst for students to get involved in...

ETHS Mock Election results

ETHS Mock Election results

Zachary Bahar and Sari Oppenheimer November 16, 2020

As The Evanstonian began to think about how to cover a historic election, an idea emerged: conduct a mock election. While the idea is far from an original one, it ultimately offered some insight into the...

Teaching the 2020 Election

Teaching the 2020 Election

Zachary Bahar and Elise Goulding November 16, 2020

2020 has been an eventful year. The constant news has led to countless classroom discussions about world events, with the election chief among them. As in years past, students and staff have used the election...

The final debate

The final debate

Zachary Bahar, Avi Shapira and Reggie Teinowitz October 25, 2020

Less than two weeks from the election, the last presidential debate between President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden has come and gone.  Originally scheduled to be the third debate...

The lost debate

Zachary Bahar, Avi Shapira and Reggie Teinowitz October 20, 2020

In every election cycle, the presidential debates are key parts of the process. These debates garner tens of millions of views and offer insights into each candidate; however, in 2020, one of these debates...

Courtesy of Sebastian Nalls.

Sebastian Nalls: ETHS alum runs for mayor

Zachary Bahar, Executive Editor October 20, 2020

While the general election is fast approaching, it is far from the only important election in the coming months, among them being the 2021 municipal election which will decide the next mayor of Evanston. While...

Art by Ellie Lind

How to be optimistic in 2020

Zachary Bahar, Executive Editor October 20, 2020

I consider myself to be an optimist. I don’t believe that the world is perfect, but I do believe that through dedication, unity and effort, humanity improves. We push ourselves farther, see a ridge...

Vice Presidential Debate

Zachary Bahar, Avi Shapira and Reggie Teinowitz October 13, 2020

The only vice presidential debate of the 2020 presidential campaign took place on Oct. 8 at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. The 90-minute session was moderated by USA Today’s Susan Page and...

First Presidential Debate

Zachary Bahar, Avi Shapira and Reggie Teinowitz October 11, 2020

The first presidential debate took place on Sept. 29 at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. The 90-minute session, moderated by Fox News’ Chris Wallace, consisted of six 15-minute segments...

Road to the election: thoughts on the presidential debates

Road to the election: thoughts on the presidential debates

Zachary Bahar, Avi Shapira and Reggie Teinowitz October 2, 2020

The 2020 election is fast approaching, bringing a period of intense political focus to an already intense year. A cornerstone of every election cycle is the set of presidential debates, which offer the...

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...

Jacob Blake: Evanstonian

Jacob Blake: Evanstonian

Zachary Bahar and Eli Cohen September 24, 2020
Before he became a symbol for numerous Evanstonians and Americans on Aug. 23, Jacob Blake was your average Joe.
Illustration by Nora Miller

All the faces that I know: The Office, The Evanstonian

Zachary Bahar, Executive Editor September 24, 2020

What makes an office an office? Is it the products? The work? NBCs The Office gives a very simple answer to this question: the people. It is the people who make an office—or, perhaps, a school—a...

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...

District 65 prepares for school reopening

Zachary Bahar, Executive Editor August 17, 2020

As a result of COVID-19, every institution is being forced to reevaluate the fundamental aspects of its operations—District 65 (D65) is no different. “[There have] been a lot of meetings, a lot...

ETHS announces plan for fall semester

Zachary Bahar, Executive Editor July 22, 2020

On July 17, ETHS announced its fall reopening plan, which aims to facilitate daily student attendance, student social-emotional health and student and staff safety as the school year commences remotely,...

Evanstonians march on May 31. Photo by Kaila Holland.

Evanstonians unite to demand action

Zachary Bahar, Executive Editor June 7, 2020

In the days following the traumatic death of George Floyd, people the nation over have erupted in protest against violent acts of brutality—such as those against Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor—and...

Four years of fire: timeline of events

Four years of fire: timeline of events

Zachary Bahar, Louise Bond and Rebecca Lustig May 14, 2020

This timeline captures the national to local events that have resonated with the class of 2020.  Fall 2016 – Summer 2017  Standing Rock and DAPL protests heat up--Summer 2016 Native Americans...

The IIT department's EdTechTeam—David Chan, Jessica Don, Mina Marien and Melanie Marzen —at IDEA minicon.

Evanston’s shutdown staff: how departments are changing as a result of the quarantine

Zachary Bahar, News Editor May 1, 2020

Every Evanston student and staff member has been impacted by the changes that COVID-19 has brought into the world—schedules have been changed, classes made digital, tests changed, relationships challenged—and...

Economic ramifications of COVID-19 affect Evanstonians

Economic ramifications of COVID-19 affect Evanstonians

Zachary Bahar, News Editor April 3, 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted every aspect of our lives. From the way we interact with others, to the amount of time we spend outside, to our mental state, nothing has gone unscathed; while public...

Quarantine Critique: The Life Of The World To Come—The Mountain Goats

Zachary Bahar, News Editor April 3, 2020

I have always considered myself to be a religious person living in a secular world. I go to a public school; I don’t keep the Shabbos; I don’t adhere to strict kashrut; I don’t know the 613...

Students create Excite club to continue legacy of former program

Zachary Bahar and Louise Bond February 28, 2020

In 2015, Northwestern cut the funding for Project Excite which, according to a Longitudinal Study of Project Excite conducted at Northwestern and published in 2017, provided extracurricular education programming...

ETHS sophomore receives honorable mention in The New York Times essay contest

Zachary Bahar, News Editor February 3, 2020

Every year, The New York Times runs a personal narrative essay contest for high school students; this year, an Evanston sophomore—Madeline Gingold—received an honorable mention with her essay “The...

How student political involvement will flip the script in 2020

How student political involvement will flip the script in 2020

Zachary Bahar and Rebecca Lustig January 31, 2020

On Jan. 17, 45 ETHS students traveled to Iowa to experience first-hand political activity. With the Iowa caucuses approaching on Feb. 3, many Democratic presidential candidates focus their attention on...

Empty Bowl raises money for local organizations

Empty Bowl raises money for local organizations

Zachary Bahar, News Editor December 13, 2019

The 19th annual Empty Bowl fundraiser event took place on Dec. 4 with aims to continue the efforts of ETHS students and community members to help fight hunger and food instability in Evanston.       The...

Evanston: a community of faiths

Evanston: a community of faiths

Zachary Bahar and Avi Shapira December 13, 2019

As winter begins, the holiday spirit takes full form across the country, bringing self-examinations of religion and how people balance their religious and secular lives. The Evanstonian has dedicated this...

ETHS Sustainability Committee sparks conversations

ETHS Sustainability Committee sparks conversations

Zachary Bahar, News Editor November 8, 2019

The ETHS Sustainability Committee held its second meeting on Oct. 22 with the goal of creating a more environmentally focused ETHS. “If we actually wanted to create change, we needed to make a sustainability...

ETHS preserves its legacy of community

ETHS preserves its legacy of community

Zachary Bahar, News Editor November 8, 2019

Over the course of its 136-year history, ETHS has undergone massive changes. From demographics to classes, there is little that has remained constant. Fortunately, there is a group that links ETHS to...

Community Service Coordinator joins staff following transition

Community Service Coordinator joins staff following transition

Zachary Bahar, News Editor October 23, 2019

Following the departure of former Community Service Coordinator Mary Collins, Diana Balitaan has taken the role with plans to take service at ETHS in exciting new directions. Balitaan is returning to ETHS...

Graphic by Sophia Weglarz

Vaping deaths spark controversy

Zachary Bahar, News Editor September 27, 2019

Disclaimer: This article discusses the use and abuse of vaping products. The Evanstonian does not condone or promote the usage of these products. Since an Illinois man died in the first vaping-induced...

ETHS students strike for climate action

Zachary Bahar, Louise Bond and Rebecca Lustig September 27, 2019

On Sept. 20, around 200 students walked out of ninth period to protest the lack of immediacy given to the threat of climate change by the government, including by ETHS and the City of Evanston. “It...

Design by Sophia Weglarz

Mary Jane moves to Illinois

Zachary Bahar and Louise Bond August 21, 2019

Disclaimer: This article discusses the legalization of cannabis for recreational use across Illinois. The Evanstonian does not condone or promote the usage of cannabis, THC infused products or any drugs.   Legislation On...

Sophia Weglarz

National wave of ICE raids sparks community response

On July 15 2019, a nationwide series of raids to arrest and deport immigrants began after President Trump tweeted his threat to remove “millions of illegal aliens who have illicitly found their way into...

Photo courtesy of Chicago Tribune.

Equity Commission discussions reparations for “Solutions Only”

Zachary Bahar, News Editor August 21, 2019

The Solutions Only Subcommittee of the Evanston Equity and Empowerment Commission met on July 11 and 13 to discuss possible forms of reparations and repair for the Black community of Evanston.  “The...

Rolling the dice: thoughts on the college admissions scandal

Zachary Bahar, Assistant News Editor May 23, 2019

In the aftermath of a large scandal earlier this year, there has been much thought about the system of college admissions that has long been implemented by four-year schools across the United States. The...

The Final Chapter: “The Last of the Starks”

The Final Chapter: “The Last of the Starks”

Zachary Bahar, Assistant News Editor May 9, 2019

After what has been a fairly disappointing half season, Game of Thrones returns to what it does best with style. I can’t say much without getting into spoilers, but there is very little real critizmsm...

The Final Chapter: The Long Night

The Final Chapter: The Long Night

Zachary Bahar, Assistant News Editor May 1, 2019

For 23 years fans have waited patiently for the battle between the living and the dead, between ice and fire; in this episode, that battle (finally) arrives. Without getting into too many details,...

Cast your vote

Cast your vote

Zachary Bahar, Assistant News Editor April 26, 2019

Today is voting day. Three rising seniors are running for the position of Student Representative to the School Board for the 2019-2020 school year. To vote, students can visit their MyETHS accounts. Here...

The Final Chapter: A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms

The Final Chapter: A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms

Zachary Bahar, Asst. News Editor April 23, 2019

After a pretty lackluster beginning, the second episode of the final season of Game of Thrones, “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms,” returns the show to its roots through an episode of politics, conflicting...

The Final Chapter: Winterfell

The Final Chapter: Winterfell

Zachary Bahar, Assistant News Editor April 15, 2019

For the last decade, fans around the world have watched the plotting, betrayal, loves and deaths of the Starks, Lannisters, Targaryens and many, many others. After debuting in 2011, Game of Thrones won...

Reading program reflects on changes

Zachary Bahar, Asst. News Editor March 23, 2019

With a third of incoming freshmen entering Evanston with a reading level below grade level, there has been an ongoing effort by ETHS to ensure that these students receive the help and assistance they need...

Citizens to vote for D202 Board on April 2

Citizens to vote for D202 Board on April 2

Zachary Bahar, Asst. News Editor March 22, 2019

Four candidates are running for the three open seats on the Evanston School Board, the election between Slaney Palmer, Monique Parsons, Elizabeth Rolewicz and Stephanie Teterycz will take place on Tuesday,...

Racist events spark community response

Zachary Bahar, Ella Kanter, Taryn Robinson and Mac Stone December 26, 2018

Despite claims of acceptance and diversity, the North Shore continues to fester racism and hate -- something that has become more obvious following the posting of a now-viral video which included Glenbrook...

Scholastic Bowl team celebrates recent victory.

8-0 victory begins Scholastic Bowl season

Zachary Bahar, Asst. News Editor and Asst. Copy Editor November 30, 2018

The Scholastic Bowl team started their season strong with an 8-0 win at the David L. Riley Kickoff Tournament on Nov. 17. “Everyone on the team did so well, we really just came out and did the best...

Vigil held at Beth Israel Synagogue in Skokie on Oct. 29.

חצק חצק ונתחצק: Hate prompts emergence of peace

Zachary Bahar, Asst. News & Copy Editor November 10, 2018

In the span of a week, a gunman entered the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh killing 11 of its congregants during Shabbat prayers, two people were fatally shot in a racially motivated killing at a...

ShowcaseETHS! raises funds to grow Fitness Center

ShowcaseETHS! raises funds to grow Fitness Center

Zachary Bahar, Asst. News Editor and Asst. Copy Editor October 26, 2018

The second annual ShowcaseETHS! will take place on Nov. 4, with all proceeds from the event going into the renovations to the ETHS Wellness and Performance Center. “[Showcase] gives students an opportunity...

President Donald Trump at campaign rally in Arizona in 2016.

Journalists must fight Trump’s silencing regime

Zachary Bahar, Asst. News and Copy Editor October 26, 2018

President Trump has never been supportive of media sources that oppose his administration, but his reaction to a recent tragedy, while hard to decipher, reveals his hostility in a new light. On Oct....

Senior Maia Bhattacharyya takes advantage of  the new meditation center.

Meditation room open to students

Zachary Bahar, Assistant News Editor October 7, 2018

Amidst the noise and activity that permeates the midst the noise and activity that permeates the the halls of Evanston, a new space promises to deliver silence to students through deep breathing and meditation. “I...

Students continue the fight against gun violence

Students continue the fight against gun violence

Zachary Bahar, Assistant News Editor August 28, 2018

“None of us knew what was happening.” These are the words of Alyssa Fletcher, a senior at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, and a survivor of the shooting that occurred there on Feb. 14, 2018....

The ETHS DECA team had a terrific showing at nationals in Atlanta, GA.

DECA students compete at international competition

Zachary Bahar, News Editor May 12, 2018

17 students competed in the International DECA Competition which took place on April 21 in Atlanta, a competition in which  9 of them managed to receive an 80% or more review on their papers. “Evanston...

A student practices math problems.

Math team sends students to state following great season

Zachary Bahar, News Editor March 23, 2018

Persistence.     After a year of competition, the Evanston Math Team has made it to the State Contest in Peoria on May 5th.     “The hard work over the year is paying off, and it was a really great...

Hebrew teacher Anna Raiber addresses the class.

Students keep language alive following Hebrew class cancellation

Zachary Bahar, News Writer February 22, 2018

End of an Era. When a class community is no longer available to students, they respond. This is what is happening following the decision made earlier this month to cancel the Hebrew Program. “It...

HBCU panel aims to shed light on historically neglected schools

HBCU panel aims to shed light on historically neglected schools

Zachary Bahar, News Editor December 15, 2017

ETHS will be hosting a Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Panel on Dec. 20 to combat misunderstandings regarding institutions founded to educate people of African-American descent. “The...

Gift Drive is underway

Zachary Bahar, News Editor November 21, 2017

As the holiday season approaches, many find themselves receiving gifts, but others devote their season to giving to those in need. “There’s a tremendous amount of satisfaction that everyone gets when...

Evanston skyline undergoes changes

Zachary Bahar, News Editor November 3, 2017

Evanston is changing. Across the city, new developments have been proposed that could drastically alter the landscape. “It’s a balancing act,” City council representative Eleanor Revelle said....

Bridging the digital divide

Zachary Bahar, News Writer September 22, 2017

The internet is a necessity in modern life, but many Evanstonians lack access to this crucial resource. Thus, the Evanston Public Library (EPL) has begun to lend out wifi to Evanston citizens. The program,...

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