Vol 50, Issue 2

Maine South’s student voice since 1964 See page 2

Vol.

, No. 2

Maine Township High School South, Park Ridge, Ill

October 18, 2013

Maine South senior Laick Sache is a model of determination— both on the field and in his life’s journey.

GRAPHIC BY DORA BIALY | PHOTO BY MICHAEL DEVERMAN

See page 14

Spirit soars

Homecoming assembly increases school spirit Page 6

Ready for battle

‘Almost, Maine’ Student driver

Recent graduates enlist in the Contemporary play retells armed forces nine love stories Pages 8 and 9 Page 10

Maine South drivers’ ed. is best in community Page 13

50TH ANNIVERSARY

| October 18, 2013

years of

▼HABITUAL HAWK

On every issue of Southwords’ fifth volume, Maine South’s iconic mascot made an appearance in the flag. Each month, a new drawing was created for the issue, and it coincided with a major article or event going on around that time. The cartoons included below are just a sampling of the hawk’s print appearances.

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he ‘60s were a time of revolution and change for Maine South. The school, young and prospering, saw the implementation of new policies as well as changes to class structure. Southwords experimented with a few different flags (including the volume five flag seen above), but eventually decided on the black flag from volume six, shown below and on the cover, to finish the decade.

◄GIRLS ‘SLACK’ OFF

Volume 6 Issue 6 ● Dec. 19, 1969

Dresses and skirts weren’t always reserved for “dressing up” days, and back in 1969, they were actually a mandatory staple in every girls’ wardrobe. The school dress code prohibited girls from wearing slacks to school, and one Maine South student decided to challenge that policy on her own terms.

Marcia Hardy (‘70), along with 75 other girls, came to school one Friday wearing pants. The girls were unhappy with the pace at which Student Council (which worked to amend and implement policies pertaining to students) was trying to alter this. Hardy made her position quite clear when stating, “I am tired of the stalling by the district and others in the dress code change.

My whole idea behind this is that the students have power and when employed in the proper use we can get almost anything we want.” Hardy did in fact achieve what she and other Maine South girls wanted—

by January 16, a new dress code allowing girls to wear slacks to school had been implemented.

◄MORE SCIENCE, MORE FUN

Volume 4 Issue 7 ● Jan. 12, 1968

Maine South’s unique system of longer science classes stems back farther than many may realize. The idea of period-and-a-half science classes was first introduced in 1968 as a trial to see if it would be more effective in science instruction. It was initially tested on a physical science course, and its implementation was limited to AP courses only. It wasn’t until 1986 that period-and-ahalf courses were extended to regular and accelerated levels.

2 SouthwordS

October 18, 2013

| NEWS

his past July, Maine South lost a beloved staff member. Mrs. Charlene Padovano, a safety monitor and study hall supervisor, lost the battle with cancer she had been fighting for three years.

She is remembered for her strength, dedication, and love for the school.

“She was a wonderful woman,” said Mrs. Antoni, librarian and friend of Mrs. Padovano’s. “She was funny and dear and supportive and hilarious and well-dressed. She was one of my heroes.”

“She walked with grace through her cancer battle,” said Mrs. Sweiger, “Not staying home, still coming back to school to be with her Hawks. You guys were her passion. For most of us that work in the hallways or are support staff, we love our Hawks. So I think that you really meant a lot for her to come to work, and you helped her persevere.”

Mrs. Padovano had been a member of Maine South’s staff for 27 years. Before the implementation of video-enabled computers and projection screens in every classroom, Mrs. Padovano was a Paraprofessional in the Audio and Visual Department of the LRC. “On a daily basis, hand-written work orders were placed in the LRC/AV department,” Mrs. Antoni said. “Charlene processed these orders

PHOTO COURTESY MRS. ANTONI

In memory of Mrs. Padovano T

and delivered, set-up, and repaired equipment in all the classes throughout the building. That equipment included VHS tapes, cassette audio recording materials, slides, headphones, televisions, record players and VCR recorders. Charlene also trained staff on how to use the equipment.”

Besides her role as a safety and study hall

monitor, Mrs. Padovano was a loving friend and mother. She was very close to her daughters and adored her two dogs.

“She was a great animal lover, as she often discussed her daughters’ dearest pets at length,” said Mrs. Antoni. “She fondly called them her ‘GrandDogs’.”

Many of the staff members were also always impressed with her sense of style. She loved to see what students were wearing and enjoyed learning about the trends that were popular at the moment. She herself always dressed fashionably, an aspect admired by her friends.

“Char was very stylish,” said Mrs. Sweiger. “I always admired the way that she dressed.”

Mrs. Padovano was a kind-hearted woman who was willing to help those around her.

“Charlene always took interest in the students and projects that they were working on,” Mrs. Antoni said. “She was always there when a student or staff member needed help. There was never a task that was too difficult for her. Mrs. Padovano will forever be missed and will always hold a special place in our hearts.”

by Hope Allchin and Dora Bialy

Committee evaluates Maine student parking M

aine South’s parking situation has recently undergone evaluation by a school committee. In attempt to create a more fair, safe, and effective environment for students, the committee, consisting of student leaders, security personnel, parents, community members, and school administrators, discussed several issues with the current system in place.

The committee’s ultimate goal is to utilize the school’s lots as efficiently as possible, while also accommodating students’ parking needs.

The policy for parking at school remains the same as last year, with one small difference in the application process; all applications are done online through the school website and Survey Monkey.

Students receiving a parking permit are selected from a lottery. The first lottery is for senior students with a drivers’ license, car insurance, and vehicle registration.

The number of students who wish to park at school far outnumber the number of student parking spaces. Currently, roughly 420 spots are available to students. It is because of this that seniors are given priority over juniors.

However, if there are remaining parking passes after the first lottery, a second lottery is opened up. The second lottery is for juniors and any seniors who missed the first lottery.

“I think the process is fair because juniors have a chance to get a pass and seniors should have an advantage anyway,” said senior Erin Fleming. “[The process] is about as fair as you can get since we have limited parking,” said Dean Thetard. “There will always be those who won’t be able to drive due to the lack of space.”

However, some students believe the distribution of the parking passes should be executed in a different way.

“I think parking passes should be based on location,” junior Katie Kaminsky said. “A lot of juniors that I know live far away and actually need a pass but did not win one in the lottery.”

Exceptions may be made for students who work. Students who are part of the work or internship program or students who have other obligations, such as sports and other extra curricular activities, will have priority over students who do not.

However, accommodations cannot be made for everyone as space is limited.

If a student parks in one of the school lots without a parking permit, the student responsible will be ticketed by the City of Park Ridge, given a $50 fine, and his or her vehicle could be towed.

Some students who have been awarded parking privileges believe that the permits, priced at $115, are quite expensive. “[The parking passes] are cheap compared to other schools,” Thetard said, “However, the money is put to

good use.”

Parking fees are not only collected at South, but also at East and West as well. The funds are used for the repair of the lots. This summer, the Maine East, West, and South parking lots were repaved at a total cost of $386,785, $132,720 of which was for the Maine South lots.

Going forward, the school committee will continue to visit the parking policy in an effort to improve the parking system for students.

PHOTO by Michael deverman

Alexandra Paoletti Staff Writer

PRIORITY PARKING

Students must have a parking pass to park on school grounds. Parking without one could result in a ticket and tow.

SouthwordS 3

| October 18, 2013

Wall of Honor dinner celebrates notable alumni I

n celebration of its 50th anniversary, Maine South held its first biannual Wall of Honor dinner on Sept. 26. Hosted at the Park Ridge Country Club, the dinner commemorated three of Maine South’s most distinguished alumni—Patricia Callahan (‘89), Hillary Clinton (‘65), and Nathan Hultman (‘92).

Members of the community, school administration, and nearly twenty former Maine South teachers gathered to celebrate the honorees’ induction.

The evening began with a social hour accompanied by a performance by five Maine South Orchestra students. The honorees were given an opportunity to meet the committee that selected them for this prestigious award.

The selection process for the nominees was based largely on Maine West’s Wall of Honor ceremony.

“We solicited nominations from the community,” Mr. Messmer explained. “We put that in the paper, and then we got those nominations back. We had about ten nominees from the community, and then we had a committee who then narrowed that down and selected three.”

Committee members include Mike Andrews, Sandy Deines, Tom Egan, Jim Lonergan, Terese McGrath, J.R. O’Rourke, Patricia Schreiber, Bonnie Trenkle, and Mr. Messmer.

The first nominee to be honored was Nathan Hultman, professor at the University of Maryland and global climate expert. He was introduced by his former physics teacher, Mr. Marino, and physics teacher Mr. Egan.

“He was really an ideal student to have in my class,” Mr. Marino said.

“Not just because he was remarkably smart and intuitive in physics, but he was also incredibly articulate, gracious, and kind-hearted. You can imagine how wonderful it was to have the smartest kid in my class also be one of the nicest kids in the school.”

Upon accepting his award, Hultman credited much of his success to the experiences he had at Maine South.

“As I was reflecting on how to

4 SouthwordS

frame my remarks today,” Hultman said. “I was struck by the irony that my path was so intertwined with my time at Maine South, that it is quite impossible to imagine how I would have gotten here without that experience. Maine South is an environment where you can enter in as a freshman and cross the threshold into the next phase of your life, but then have opportunities in different dimensions.

You have all this kind of intellectual nurturing from teachers, but then you have extracurricular types of activity, and I did a lot of that.”

Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and Chicago Tribune reporter Patricia Callahan was the next nominee to be recognized. Close friend and current Maine South English teacher Mrs. Headley shared several anecdotes about her and Callahan’s experiences at Maine South.

Additionally, former English teacher Mr. Michael Deines spoke about Callahan and her talent as a writer which he discovered when she was in his sophomore English class.

“Trisha’s skill in writing insightfully influenced her ability to see beyond the surface of issues and events,” Mr. Deines said. “Even in her years at Maine South, she was a young woman with promises to keep.”

In her acceptance speech, Callahan spoke highly of the experiences and opportunities that were given to her at Maine South.

“Every now and then in a writer’s life, something very rare and kind of magical happens,” Callahan said.

“You get so drawn into the story that you’re writing that it completely and utterly consumes you, and you lose track of all time and place. A fire alarm could go off, and you wouldn’t hear it. It’s very rare. It’s maybe happened to me at most 10 times in my life. And the very first time that happened was in Mike Deines’ English class.”

The third nominee, Hillary Clinton, was unable to attend the event; however, her award was accepted by her close friend Betsy Ebeling. In addition, she pre-recorded an acceptance speech that was played at the dinner as well as the homecoming assembly the following day. Ebeling expressed gratitude on behalf of Mrs. Clinton for the honor.

“I’m hoping we can get her back

SCIENCE SCHOLARS Nate Hultman poses with MS physics teachers Mr. Egan and Mr. Marino. Hultman was a student of Mr. Marino’s back in 1992.

YOUTUBE SCREEN CAPTURE

Editor-in-Chief

ALUMNI ACCEPTANCE Hillary Clinton accepted her award via video-

recording. Clinton was unable to attend, and her high school friend Betsy Ebeling accepted on her behalf.

PHOTO BY MICHAEL DEVERMAN

Dora Bialy

PHOTO BY MICHAEL DEVERMAN

NEWS

REUNITED Best friends Patricia Callahan and Mrs. Headley are all smiles reuniting with their former English teacher, Mr. Deines. Both women discovered their love for writing in Mr. Deines’ class sophomore year. here sometime,” Ebeling said. “She was in last week, and she was saying, ‘I didn’t think I would be this busy.

I’m retired!’ But she’s finishing writing her book, and she’s speaking and doing other things. But maybe we’ll get her back. She’d love to see this on the wall. I can’t wait to send it to her.”

The dinner was organized in

partnership with the District 207 Educational Foundation. The foundation is a non-profit organization that raises money through various fundraisers to offer grants to Maine South, Maine West, and Maine East.

Every other year, two more alumni will be inducted into the Wall of Honor.

October 18, 2013

| NEWS

News Editor n the afternoon of the Homecoming dance, following the parade, Maine South hosted a barbecue and an open house in honor of its 50th anniversary. There were games, food, and memorabilia.

“My hope was that people would come out, eat a little food, listen to some music, and enjoy all of the memorabilia that’s on display,” said Mr. Messmer.

The memorabilia was located in the Deans’ hallway, where the walls were lined with tables with yearbooks, handbooks, and scrapbooks from the past fifty years. Multiple models of the school were also put on display, including a site plan which included the original building. Many alumni from past decades paged through the books and examined the models, reminiscing of memories at Maine South and pointing out old pictures to their friends that filled them with nostalgia.

At the end of the hallway, in front of the doors leading to the courtyard, a projector was set up that played a video showing highlights from Maine South’s first year, 1964-1965.

The highlights included the school’s first homecoming, graduation, and basketball season, and was set to a soundtrack of classic ‘60s music that

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included such songs as “I Got You (I Feel Good)” by James Brown. Hillary Clinton’s Wall of Honor acceptance speech video was also projected on the screen.

The most extensive display of memorabilia was located at the west end of the hallway, where a glass case contained artifacts and accolades from Maine South’s academic, artistic, and athletic groups. Included in this case were playbills from past Maine South plays, including one for “Our Town” from July 16, 1976, when Maine South staged summer dramas.

Another item included was a certificate from the Grammy Foundation recognizing Maine South as a Grammy Signature School. Also found at the end of the hallway by the front circle was an original auditorium seat and an old driving simulator from the driver’s education classes.

The glass cases of artifacts are being displayed in the main hallway through the end of the year for students and staff to see what Maine South was like 50 years ago.

The barbecue was located outside in the faculty parking lot, where vendors served ice cream, chips, and barbecue pork sandwiches from Sweet Baby Ray’s.

Bean bag toss games and volley-

TEACHERS ROCK

Celtic Bikini, a rock band featuring Mr. Dutmers on drums and Don Francisco on guitar and vocals, plays at the barbecue. Music from the past fifty years helped celebrate the 50th anniversary.

ball nets were also set up in the grass, where children played with their friends and family.

A stage was set up outside next to the vendors on which Celtic Bikini, a rock band featuring Spanish teachers Mr. Dutmers and Don Francisco, played.

The band played a variety of rock hits, such as the Gin Blossoms’ “Hey Jealousy” and Little Richard’s “Kansas City/Hey, Hey, Hey, Hey” medley.

They were well-received, with the audience applauding them warmly at the end of each song.

Parents and students came out to

participate in the celebration. “[I enjoyed] meeting Mr. Messmer at the door, Sweet Baby Ray’s, and was surprised to see teachers in the band,” said Russ Gentile, father of Maine South junior Brian Gentile.

The crowd was primarily composed of alumni. The lack of current students was noted by the ones that attended the event, and was one of the downsides of an otherwise successful event.

“It’s fun, but I wish there were more Maine South students here,” said sophomore Nick Mas.

DIST. 207 COMMUNICATIONS

Jake Kay

PHOTO BY:MICHAEL DEVERMAN

50th celebrations kick off Homecoming weekend

v a lu e, s ome stu d e nt s b el i e ve standardized tests such as the PSAT/ NMSQT hold little practical value in the grand scheme of things.

“I think it’s unfortunate how much emphasis is placed on standardized testing in high school,” said Campbell.

“Obviously it’s rewarding for those who can take tests well, but so much time is spent honing test-taking skills that they don’t serve their purpose of a national academic benchmark.”

In addition to the NMS semifinalists, Lauren Smith is one of the 2013-2014 National Hispanic Recognition Program scholars. This recognition is given to about 5,000 Hispanic students out of the 260,000 who took the PSAT/NMSQT last October.

To qualify, students needed to have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher and also score above the minimum cutoff score of the PSAT/NMSQT.

Nine Hawks receive NMS honors

John Zaris

Staff Writer he Maine South senior class now has nine National Merit Scholarship semifinalists. The recipients of this honor are Everett Allchin, Hope Allchin, Alex Campbell, Lily Elderkin, Elaina Frankos, Jenna Galuska, Sarah Householder, Brian Johnson, and Peter Mocarski.

Each year, 1,600 of the most academically talented high school seniors from around the country are selected from a pool of around 1.5 million students and awarded semifinalist status.

In order to take part in the National Merit Scholarship Program, juniors must take the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. Then the selection pro cess b eg ins. Hig h-s cor ing participants become Commended Students, but fewer than a third of

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5NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARS Left to right: Lily Elderkin,

Everett Allchin, Jenna Galuska, Peter Mocarski, Hope Allchin, Brian Johnson, Sarah Householder, Alex Campbell, and Elaina Franks

these are named semifinalists.

Semifinalists can achieve finalist rank and, after further review of such factors as their academic standing and extra-curricular activities, can potentially receive a scholarship.

“My advice for everyone taking

any type of standardized test is to not freak out about it,” Elderkin said.

“It’s not going to make or break your future, so trying your best but not completely stressing out is really the way to go.”

Though the honors have academic

SouthwordS 5

NEWS

| October 18, 2013

Homecoming assembly journeys into the past

Monica Bielawiec & Lizzie Porter

Staff Writer & News Editor he 2013 homecoming assembly celebrated not only the current students, but the past graduates of Maine South, dating back to the class of ‘65.

In honor of Maine South’s 50th anniversary, three alumni were chosen to be on the “Wall of Honor”— Patricia Callahan, Hillary Clinton, and Nathan Hultman. The three had messages for students and staff at the assembly.

Investigative reporter Patricia Callahan (‘89), spoke of a defining moment as a writer that took place in Mr. Deines’ English class, and talked of her friendship with current English teacher Mrs. Headley. Callahan also spoke to English classes during the day.

Climate scientist Dr. Nathan Hultman (‘92), who spoke to science classes throughout the day, reminisced about his time at South and wished the current students good luck in the future.

Former secretary of state Hillary Clinton (‘65), sent a video greeting students and staff.

The 2013 homecoming assembly, earned praises from both teachers and students of Maine South.

“It was the best assembly I’ve seen in my time at Maine South,” said junior Matt Houck.

“All of the students seemed focused, even with the length of the assembly,” said Mr. Deger.

“In the classes afterwards, I didn’t hear the usual complaints about how boring the assembly was. All of the

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HAWKS BREAK IT DOWN Freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and

seniors showcase their best choreography in the dance off. Seniors Katherine Miles, Tatsuya Takizawa, and Erik Sanetra danced their way to victory.

“I used the voice of Doc Brown from ‘Back to the Future’ to get into character,” said Mr. Deger. “I was asked by Assistant Principal Berendt, who came up with a rough script, and we worked from there.”

Some of Maine South’s teachers and staff members, many of whom are alumni from various decades, were celebrated and honored, including alumni Mr. Smaha, Mrs. Statema, Mr. Fechner, Mr. Fee, Mrs. Sagmeister, Mr. Inserra, and more.

The thespians presented their own take on South history in a short comedy skit, featuring Dora Bialy, Molly Butler, Michael Deverman, and Sam Frey as students from the ‘60s.

Butler portrayed a young Hillary Clinton, and stood up for her rights as a woman in the sixties.

“Mrs. McClenaghan asked all of us in Trunk if anyone would want

PHOTOS PHOTO BY MICHAEL DEVERMAN DEVERMAN

kids seemed pretty receptive.”

The student council, in cooperation with Assistant Principal Berendt, arranged this year’s assembly. The homecoming committee based the event on the theme of “Back to The Future” and Maine South’s 50th anniversary.

“We barely slept all week,” stated homecoming chair Georgia Loutrianakis. “However, it looks like it was all worth it.”

Celebrating the 50th anniversary of Maine South wasn’t just appealing to the alumni.

“I liked the theme,” said junior Matt Houck. “Seeing all the old pictures was pretty cool.”

Also making an appearance this year was “Doc” played by Mr. Deger, who drove a golf cart disguised as a time machine, and transported the assembly into the ‘60s, ‘70s, ’80s and ‘90s.

to play a ‘60s Hillary, and I couldn’t turn down the opportunity,” said Butler.

Two students from each of the four grades competed in an obstacle course and a dance-off.

In the obstacle course, the freshmen and sophomores advanced to the final round, with sophomores Patrick Doherty and Anthony Fioretto taking the victory, completing the cone slalom, and bat twirling the fastest.

The seniors redeemed themselves in the dance off, with Katherine Miles, Tatsuya Takizawa, and Erik Sanetra taking the victory.

“I like to dance a lot, and we really wanted to go out there and bust some moves,” said Miles. “It was great to go in front of the whole school and be funny.”

Despite all the new events introduced to homecoming, the homecoming council made sure many ideas from the past weren’t overlooked.

“We brought in some old traditions, such as Harley the Hawk, to tie in with the anniversary of Maine South,” said Loutrianakis.

To conclude the assembly, Harley the Hawk rode in on a motorcycle with Mr. Berendt.

The new Assistant Principal also introduced the “spirit stick” to Maine South, which was competed for in the chant competition.

Katia Campos, a sophomore transfer student experienced a Maine South assembly for the first time.

“The theme, the teacher driving in on the Harley—it was all really fun,” Campos said.

HAWK TERRITORY Harley the Hawk dances at the assembly, after entering on a motorcycle driven by Mr. Berendt. The Hawk performed a short dance routine to excite the crowd.

6 SouthwordS

ROYAL SMILE

Sarah Otis smiles as she receives her crown, along side fellow homecoming court members Melanie Ropski, Britt Bruce, Erin Fleming, and Megan Considine. She was crowned by the 25th homecoming queen.

October 18, 2013

| ENTERTAINMENT

‘Gravity’ special effects trump underdeveloped plot Alex Korzynski

Entertainment Editor he highly-anticipated 3-D movie, “Gravity,” ushers in an awe-inspiring new era of special effects in cinema and has been lauded by critics and audiences alike. However, when one looks beyond these effects to the actual plot, the movie falls short of expectations.

The film is about biomedical engineer, Dr. Ryan Stone, played by Sandra Bullock, and astronaut Matt Kowalski, played by George Clooney, and their space shuttle mission. Debris from a Russian anti-satellite test causes a chain reaction of destruction, and the two have to abort the mission. They have to fight to survive, even when they are up against appalling explosions and tangled parachute cords.

The special effects and cinematography realistically portray what it’s like to be 600 kilometers above the earth. The director, Alfonso Cuarón, uses pronounced details that physically startle the audience and attract the moviegoers’ attention.

For example, parts of spaceships fly directly into the audience, loose screws drift across the screen, and teardrops roll directly off the face and float instead of falling.

“Gravity” isn’t a movie you can get the full effect of at home; it must be seen on a huge screen in a 3-D theater to truly appreciate the imagery.

The quick pace of the cut shots can be overwhelm-

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ing, and one can start to get dizzy, but the movie wouldn’t be the same without that simple effect on the audience. Viewers can start to relate to Bullock while she spins in space.

Despite the ground-breaking special effects, “Gravity” lacks a developed plot and doesn’t fully develop the relationship between characters. The

film focuses on character vs. nature for all of its conflicts, and overlooks what could and should be a focus on the relationship between the main characters.

The movie’s tag line “don’t let go,” refers to the life or death situation that characters experience every time they go on a spacewalk. Letting go, however, is also the big theme of the movie.

Clooney helps Bullock get through a past experience which made her stop appreciating life, and he helps motivate her to overcome the failed mission.

Many movies depend upon “everything going wrong” and the ride that comes along with the adventure. “Gravity” is based on a chain of events that continually pose new challenges. After a multitude of things go wrong, though, the events in the movie start to get redundant. After the first half of the movie, many of these problems feel too contrived.

Despite these flaws, Alfonso Cuarón hits perfection with the ending of the movie. The last scene resolves the conflicts and is an appropriate, serene ending after watching an hour and a half of intense action. There is nothing blowing up, no shrieks of fear, and it relieves the tension built up in the movie.

While the character interactions can be disappointing at times and the plot can be slow-moving, the beauty and simplicity of the special 3-D effects make “Gravity” worth watching.

Five reasons to fall for autumn Anna Laskaris

Entertainment Editor s the temperature drops and the days are shorter, there’s no reason to get depressed. Colder temperatures and shorter days do not necessarily mean it’s time to hibernate. Here are five reasons fall is the best time of year.

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1. Fall Concerts

Chicago is full of a variety of fall concerts. For example, The Black Crowes are coming to the Riviera Theatre on Nov. 1, and famous rappers like Macklemore, Kanye West, and Kendrick Lamar all come to the Chicagoland area in November. For a little country, Hunter Hayes comes to the Rosemont Theater on Oct. 25.

2. Fashion

Fall is the perfect season to buy new clothes. Oversized, cozy sweaters are a girl’s best friend in the frosty fall weather. Boots have evolved this season, with many different styles and types like combat, studded, and riding boots that are perfect for any outfit. Cozy flannel shirts and fluffy scarves bring a little comfort while sitting in class. For some fashion inspiration, catch the last two days of the free 9th Annual Fashion Focus: Chicago’s Fashion Week located at Millenium Park and the Chicago Cultural Center. This event is a designer shopping event with dressing rooms. Starting Nov. 21, the playCHIC Fashion Show comes to River East Arts Center. It is a fashion show that incorporates high fashion with top children’s toys.

3. New Television Shows 4. Pumpkin Everything Fall is one of the best times to snuggle under a warm blanket and start flipping channels. Not only does the fall season bring back new episodes of familiar shows, but new shows fight to gain our attention. New shows like “The Goldbergs,” an ABC comedy starring Jeff Garlin and Maine S o u t h’s o w n Sean Giambrone premiered this fall. The highly anticipated “Michael J. Fox Show” hit NBC on Sept.

26. For those obsessed with the latest sci-fi and futuristic shows, “Almost Human,” premiers in early November.

A new season brings new items to familiar menus at many stores. Starbucks has brought back it’s famous Pumpkin Spice Latte. Also, Panera now serves pumpkin bagels. Fall is the perfect time to turn on those ovens and bake unique pumpkin treats. Pumpkin brownies are a simple treat, and if one wants to get creative, Cinnamon Sugar Pumpkin Bread is the perfect complement to any meal. For expert chefs, a pumpkin pound cake or a pumpkin gingerbread trifle are great options when trying to impress someone. In addition, roasted pumpkin seeds are now in season. This simple snack takes 30 minutes and only requires three ingredients: pumpkin seeds, salt and olive oil. If one isn’t in an adventurous mood, try the classic pumpkin pie.

5. Halloween

Halloween brings a variety of activities that only come around once a year like carving pumpkins, visiting haunted corn mazes, and more. Haunted Houses are a must this season. This is one of the only times one can let out a shriek without being judged. Corn mazes also provide fun ways to get together with friends. With “The Walking Dead” starting this October, players can get a feel for a zombie apocalypse through Zombie Safari Hayride at Odyssey Fun Farm in Tinley Park. This hayride is a unique twist on paintball, with zombies being the target. This attraction is open from 7 p.m. until midnight for only $20 per person.

SouthwordS 7

FEATURES

| OctOber 18, 2013

From

n Students

to

Features Editor & Staff Writer

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he motto for the US Marine Corps is “Semper Fidelis”—always faithful or always loyal. The Marine Corps is only one branch of the United States military, but along with the Air Force, Army, Navy, and Coast Guard, it stresses teamwork and loyalty— important characteristics that many Maine South students also value.

“I learned a lot from the being in the [military], but most importantly I learned to trust the person to the right and left of me because they were my family,” said Maine South alumna Lindsay Jozwiak (‘06).

This October, while some students in the Class of 2014 finish last-minute touches on early action college essays, others are preparing to become a part of the US military “family” like Jozwiak.

“Students choose one of three avenues to the military: direct enlistment after graduation, ROTC while on campus, and application to the Academies,” said Ms. Maksymiu, Maine South Career/College Counselor.

Senior Daniel O’Connell is one of those enlisting.

“I’m currently enlisted in the Marine Corps,” O’Connell said. “As a member of the delayed entry program, I am called a ‘Poolie’ and am expected to think as a recruit.

8 SOuthwOrdS

That means [I am encouraged] to work out daily, stay motivated as a future Marine, and set a good example for Marines everywhere.”

Enlisting in the Marines opens up many opportunities.

“Those enlisted after high school are looking for direction, discipline, and duty to serving our country.

Upon completing the requirement, the may utilize the G.I. Bill and may attend college with the government paying a portion or all of the cost,” Ms. Maksymiu said.

Maine South students looking for military-related careers also have the opportunity to go to colleges that provide Army Reserve Officer’s Training Corps (ROTC), or to enroll in a military academy. ROTC, which provides education in military leadership, is available at over 1,100 colleges in the US. Prominent military academies include the U.S Military Academy at West Point, in New York, and the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, in Maryland.

“Those attending college and joining an ROTC program may want to pursue life after college as an officer and/or reservist,” Ms. Maksymiu said. “Those applying to the academies want to develop in four critical areas: intellectual, physical, military, and moral-ethical.”

Maine South students either enlist, join ROTC, or go to Military Academies for a variety of reasons.

Sargent Harris, a Marine Corps Recruiter, works with Maine South students who are considering these options.

“A lot of the reasons [students join the military] vary,” Harris said. “Everything from the benefits of getting college paid, to getting a stable, solid job out of high school, or just wanting to serve their country [are reasons].”

Many students are influenced by veteran family and friends.

“I know a lot of friends and family that are in [the military] so they’re kind of like motivation [to join],” said Brittney Brooks, a senior who is planning on enlisting in the Marine Corps. “Most of my family is in the Air Force, so [choosing the Marines] was a big jump for me.”

Tyler Lanners, a senior who is also enlisting the Marine Corps, received inspiration from a veteran family member.

“Well, my grandpa was a Marine. [When I was growing up], every Christmas, we’d go down to visit him and I heard all of his war stories like a hundred times,” Lanners said. “He’s my hero. I just want to live up to that.”

For other students, joining the military has simply been a life dream for as long as they can remember. It is the only place they picture their future selves.

“I plan to stay in the Marine Corps for as long as I can,” O’Connell said. “I can’t dream of anything else in the world I would ever do.”

The enlistment process begins with recruitment. Recruitment officers from each of the branches of the military provide information for students looking to join.

Sargent Harris is one of the Marine Corps Recruiters that has visited Maine South.

“As re c r u ite rs , our job is to screen individuals to ensure they are qualified for our programs. These screenings include questions about medical status, police background, drug usage, and mental aptitude,” Harris s ai d. “Af te r an individual is deemed basically qualified, then our job b ecomes that GRAPHIC BY CECILIA CORTÉS

Amanda Svachula & Laney Kraus-Taddeo

| FEATURES PHOTO COURTESY AMELIA GRITSONIS

OctOber 18, 2013

Number of Students Enlisted in Military and/or in Enrolled in Military Academies Over Past 5 years

of a career counselor for that individual, answering questions about the Marine Corps and their future goals and how programs can help expedite their path there.”

Lanners has worked with a few of the recruiters.

“The whole recruitment process i s p r e t t y c o o l ,” said Lanners. “The recruiters are really nice. Ever y body is really cool and understanding. One thing you have to remember is that the recruiter is almost like a salesman. Most of them are pretty truthful, but some of them will try to sell you the world.”

(Based on self-reported data in Southwords senior issues) After a student is recruited for one of the six branches, he or she must take the ASVAB, a Camp Pendleton in San Diego or in Parris Island, written and physical test. Both parts of the test need to North Carolina. be taken and passed in order to enlist. Different jobs “The goal of boot camp is to make you stronger, are available based on the score of the ASVAB test. yes, but it’s also to break you down mentally and The types of jobs in the military are endless. rebuild you into a Marine,” O’Connell said. “It’s three Before Jozwiak served as a human intelligence months of hell basically, so it’s weird to be in my collector, she served as a chemical specialist trained position and want nothing more than to go to it.” in biological, nuclear, and radiological warfare. Her “The part I’m dreading the most is called ‘the brother, alumnus Michael Jozwiak, served as a scout Crucible’. It is two days where you eat twice during the sniper and a hand-to-hand combat instructor in the entire time and you get almost no sleep,” Lanners said. army for eight years.

For many of the alumni of MS who joined “I did three combat tours,” Michael Jozwiak said. the military, the choice was the right one, but not “One short six-month tour in Afghanistan, a twelve- necessarily an easy one. They offer advice to students month tour in Iraq, and a fifteen-month tour also interested in the military. in Iraq.”

“Do it. Don’t be afraid of failing anything,” Lindsay O’Connell is currently signed up to go into the Jozwiak said. “There is a feeling that is indescribable engineering field of the Marines as a welder, while when you put on the uniform of whatever branch Lanners hopes to go into infantry. you choose.”

“I’ve been going back and forth. I think I’m going “There is a great sense of pride being in the to do infantry though,” Lanners said. “I want to go military, but that must be earned,” said Michael into something like Law Enforcement afterwards, so Jozwiak. “It is not easy and it is not for everyone, but I think that will be a good transition.” it can be the greatest experience of your life if you let Before the enlisted students go off to train for their it. Work hard, study hard, and get in shape because specific job choice, they must complete boot camp. In that will help you be the best that you can be and will the Marines especially, boot camp is an essential part allow you to have a wider range in jobs to choose from of the experience. Marine boot camp is held at either when you join.”

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Amelia Gritsonis (‘11)

Occupation: Navy/Marine Corpsman Stationed: Okinawa, Japan

F

or Maine South alumna Amelia Gritsonis (‘11), joining the navy was not a life-time dream, but a dream that began in high school.

“Honestly, I never thought I would’ve joined the military—I was probably one of the last people you’d expect to join,” Gritsonis said.

Gritsonis currently serves at Bush Clinic at a base called Camp Courtney in Okinawa, Japan. Gritsonis is a Corpsman, which means that she is a medic for both the Navy and the Marine Corps.

“At the current clinic I’m with, I see both military and their families,” Gritsonis said. “As a Corpsman, it’s my job to assess the patient and figure out what’s wrong with him or her, so I can relay the details to the doctor.”

Gritsonis has been stationed in Okinawa for a year and a half and will stay there until April of 2015. Before her station, she completed boot camp and went to Corps School. In Corps School, she took basic nursing and emergency medicine courses, completing a year’s worth of classes in four months.

“I didn’t choose to go to more schooling to become a technician, because that will limit you to one job in the medical field your whole military career,” Gritsonis said. “Right now, my title is a “0000 Corpsman” [pronounced “quad zero corpsman”]. This makes me deployable anywhere. Basically, I have limitless options for jobs instead of being stuck as a certain technician for my whole five years active duty.”

A Maine South teacher inspired Gritsonis to look into this specific military career.

“Mr. Fermanich, my science teacher, was the first one to tell me about the Corpsman job in the Navy.

Being a Navy veteran himself, he was always very supportive and ready to share information about the Navy with me,” Gritsonis said.

Being in the military allows Gritsonis to explore unique parts of the world, like Okinawa. This is one of the positives, but Gritsonis reminds students that joining is a serious decision that will affect their lives for years to come.

“If you’re thinking about joining the military, please talk to other people who have already experienced it,” said Gritsonis. “Listen to them when they talk. I remember listening to my dad try to give me advice on the military and I totally brushed him off and was ready to do my own thing. That’s not a good attitude to have, because this lifestyle really is not a joke.”

SOuthwOrdS 9

ENTERTAINMENT | October 18, 2013

Almost ready: ‘Almost, Maine’ Danielle Kirincich

PHOTOS BY MICHAEL DEVERMAN

Staff Writer

W

atson Auditorium will be hosting a unique brand of contemporary theater this October entitled, “Almost, Maine.” The play features a cast of only 20 characters, along with unique special effects, including lifelike snow and a dynamic light show.

The Theatre Department chose “Almost, Maine” as the fall play for this year so that students can learn about contemporary pieces and broaden their range of interest. The upcoming play is very different from last year’s fall production, “The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later,” because while they are both nonfiction, and focus on harsh reality, “Almost, Maine” portrays distraught relationships rather than specific tragedy.

Possibly the most interesting thing about “Almost, Maine” is the number of special effects that are embedded into the production. Crew members say that the special effects that depict the aurora borealis light show will make this play stand out from all others in the past.

“We’ve got snow, [a] light show, and we’ve never had a show with just two people on stage [at a time] before,” said technical director Mr. Sanchez.

Mr. Muszynski directs the play with the help of junior director Kamille Garst and stage manager,­ senior Gillian Mays. Mays’ job as stage manager entails overseeing the production of the play’s set and its props. Mays’ job is especially important for this play because of the technical aspects that this play entails: special effect light shows, intricate props, and most importantly, snow.

Director Mr. Muszynski is excited to see how the audience will react to the surprises in the play.

Mr. Muszynski guarantees that the audience will be led on an entertaining journey through the nine stories being told, and that the sudden twists and turns of “Almost, Maine” are sure to engage the audience. “‘Almost, Maine’ is a play that speaks to people

LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION

Junior Vicki Tanquary adjusts the stage lighting as actors rehearse their lines. The crew has worked long hours to create the aurora borealis light show for this production.

of all ages, but especially connects with students,” said Mr. Muszynski. “It’s funny, romantic, poignant, intelligent and entertaining.”

“Almost, Maine” is a play filled with love, lust, loss, and hope. It takes place in an unorganized “almost-town” in northern Maine where everybody knows everybody else.

It is referred to as an “almost-town” because the residents are too muddled to officially create a town. The “almost-town” is small and most of the residents work at the local mill. Since the residents live in such tight quarters, there are no secrets left unknown. The residents fall in and out of love in unusual ways on a cold Friday night in the middle of winter during a light show in the sky—the aurora borealis.

The 20 characters in “Almost, Maine’s” 9 love stories have quirky, small-town personalities that fit in well with the unorganized “almost-town.”

“Almost, Maine’s” romantic and comedic moments are known for pleasing audiences, but also for embodying a reality that’s almost ugly.

One of the distraught lovers, senior Alyssa LaTragna, is cast as the role of Marci, a stay at home housewife who deals with marital issues with her husband Phil, played by senior Alex Moderhock.

“I really like playing Marci because [Marci] has such a range of emotion throughout the scene and has so much ALMOST-LOVERS Junior Conrad Showley and depth and background,” said LaTragna. senior Paige Garbarini gaze thoughtfully into the winter sky. These “She is so real but has a lot of emotion are the actors’ first roles in a Maine South production. and feelings that basically spill out of her

10 SouthwordS

STARRY NIGHT Seniors Natalie Zak

(left) and Victoria Pelarenos create a night scene for the play. The backgroud consists of a massive canvas that took three weeks to paint.

during the scene.”

“Almost, Maine” takes place in a modern setting, a setting costume crew head and ardent fashionista Maria Beniaris was excited to work with.

“I love working with costumes because I get to bring out a character’s unique qualities. This show has very interesting, modern characters, so costuming them has been fun,” she said.

The play will premier on Oct. 24 at 7:30 p.m. and will run through the Oct. 26 at Watson Auditorium. Tickets are $6.00 and sold at the door.

October 18, 2013

| COMMENTARY

Hawks need Halloween in these hallowed halls Staff Writer

I

t’s that time of year again—time for a night of pranks, scary movies, and haunted houses. Spookiness and uniqueness are both the core of Halloween. But let’s be honest, what would Halloween be without costumes? Costumes are essential to the tradition.

Who would undermine a hobbit? Or challenge Shrek? One night a year, the world belongs to the youth and young at heart. So why shouldn’t we be able to celebrate this ultimate day of fun in school? Costumes are an outlet for student self-expression and creativity­—qualities we should be striving to encourage in the high school setting.

Maine South undoubtedly houses extremely creative teens, as was evidenced during our spirit weeks.

Costumes raise the student morale in each classroom and hallway. Not only is dressing up a fun thing to do, but kids are generally happier during the day. Think about it—wouldn’t you enjoy physics more if you were solving equations in a llama suit?

Or have more fun eating lunch in the cafeteria if you went to school as a giant Pac man? My day would be made if someone came wobbling

the students, we’ve got to establish these guidelines.”

Still, the idea of dressing up to school on Halloween is not a lost cause.

“I’d be willing to get more info [from students and teachers] and talk about what might change or a way to do it based upon the feeling of everybody,” said Principal Messmer.

Here’s what I propose: if everyone follows the implemented school dress code or certain guidelines applied by the school board, then everything should be fine.

This would include no masks for security reasons, proper coverage, and no costumes that could be seen as disruptive or harmful to others. If there are too many students who don’t follow the policy, the worst case scenario is that we never try dressing up again.

Sending students to the Deans’ Office or having them change into a gym uniform is a classic solution for those who abuse the policy­­­­­—but, we could take a more preventative stance and compromise that students wear everyday, school attire underneath their costumes.

If there were to be an issue with the costume choice, students

could quickly change and attend class without being dressed inappropriately or piling up in the Deans’ offices.

“We are at a stage where we are not quite kids or adults, so the majority of students do not trick or treat, or they simply cannot because of their workload,” said junior Lauren Acker.

“Wearing costumes to school could allow us to celebrate the holiday when we would otherwise be working the night away and avoiding answering the door by pretending to be asleep, out of town, or deaf. Recognizing Halloween reminds us that Maine South isn’t an institution based solely on college preparation, where academics take precedence over enjoying our youth and making lasting memories.”

One thing’s for sure—even though we are high school students, many of us are still full of Halloween spirit. We are now old enough to recognize what is appropriate and are wary of why costumes were banned. While allowing students to wear costumes to school would take a leap of faith, I believe that, on t h i s d ay of tricks and treats, it is worth it.

tem. And there is no way I will ever be considered a minor in a court of law.

Tomorrow is the day that, as far as the government is concerned, I am legally an adult, legally responsible for my own actions. But when I wake up tomorrow, my ceiling will still be white, my alarm will still be deafeningly loud, and my mind won’t notice the extraordinary ramifications of this seemingly-ordinary birthday. In short, I won’t feel different at all.

And maybe that’s because I don’t want to feel different. There’s an unspoken assurance of knowing that there’s still someone out there who will sign my field trip permission slips, remind me how to do laundry, and

pick me up from school after second period because I’ve overestimated my ability to function after getting my wisdom teeth removed. Maybe it’s because, every day, I have to think a few moments more about college and the incredible impact that one decision will have on the rest of my life.

Maybe it’s because being an adult is a little bit scary and being independent is a little bit scarier.

Tomorrow isn’t a routine birthday, but that doesn’t mean that anything immediately needs to change. I won’t decide to drop out of school, get a tattoo, or otherwise flaunt my newlyinherited freedoms.

I won’t become more impulsive

overnight, but I won’t become any wiser either; I’ll be the same headstrong teenager fumbling her way through high school, pretending she’s got a plan. Only now, I’m expected to actually have a plan, one with as many details as possible. And my plan is nowhere near complete.

Eighteen is just an age, an arbitrary number assigned to adulthood. I don’t want to grow up, and until tomorrow, I don’t have to. So for today, I’ll ignore the implications of reaching a birthday of exaggerated importance and enjoy the last few hours of being a minor. After all, I have other things to worry about—like making it home before curfew.

graphic by cecilia cortes

Valerie Asimacopoulos

through the hallways dressed up as the Michelin man.

There are possible drawbacks, however, including inappropriate dressing. If we were allowed to wear costumes at school, students would have to be respectful toward one another, costume or not.

When costumes used to be allowed at Maine South, an estimated 10 years ago, there were issues with scantily-clad and otherwise inappropriately-dressed students. Students chose to disregard the dress code, resulting in classroom distractions and an influx of the Deans offices. Because of theses abuses on Halloween, our costume privileges were revoked.

“We used to have [costumes at school] and had a lot of fun with it, but the problem was that too many people would go to the extreme,” said AP Psychology teacher, Mr. Deger, who, too, enjoyed dressing up as characters such Aladdin and even created his own costumes. “A number of students were coming as more questionable things, so they put an end to the whole thing.”

While Mr. Deger believes that it is great for students to express creativity, he notes the importance of “respecting our school at respecting each other.” Without respect, dressing up at school can become quite problematic.

“We want to say yes to Halloween costumes,” said Assistant Principal Dagres. “We want kids to come to school, have fun, get a great education, be with their friends and have a great experience but it’s like being a parent. As much as we want this for

Eighteen years old, but forever young Hope Allchin Editor-in-Chief

T

omorrow is my eighteenth birthday. I can purchase lottery tickets, my signature is binding, and my curfew has expired. My employers are mandated to raise my hourly wage to $8.25, the minimum wage in Illinois. In November, I will be able to vote, participate in government, and choose my representatives—the most important aspect of our political sys-

SouthwordS 11

COMMENTARY

| October 18, 2013

STAFF EDITORIAL

Selective Service too selective

12 SouthwordS

Many are worried that having women in the military increases the danger for men. Male soldiers may have a natural instinct to protect the female soldiers whom they fight alongside. A legitimate concern, this reflex is something the armed forces would have to address in training.

Others argue that including women in the draft is unnecessary.

A draft at this point in our history is unlikely, and if it did occur, there would most likely be enough volunteer soldiers to protect the country. If this is truly the case, selective service should be eliminated for both genders, not just forced upon one.

Many men would choose not to register for the draft if they had the option, which makes it unfair that women do get the choice whether or not to participate in the armed forces if a draft were called.

The argument that families are unready and unwilling to send women to war is invalidated by the fact that most families are unwilling to send men to war as well.

Including women in the draft benefits both genders. It would decrease the likelihood of a man’s chance of military service by increasing the pool of possible soldiers and evening the odds of being selected so they are the same for both genders.

It would also bring women one step closer to full equality.

There would still be ways to avoid combat, regardless of gender, if this change was implemented, just as there are ways to avoid being drafted now. If women were expected to register, there would have to be certain exceptions, most noticeably in cases where both parents of a child are drafted.

It is both genders’ duty to serve and protect our country. Women should be obligated to register for the Selective Service just like men because they cannot be truly equal until they break through this final gender barrier, which would require support from women who are ready to face the possibility of going to war for their country.

Signed letters to the editor should be delivered to LRC1, given to a member of the editorial staff, or e-mailed to southwords@maine207. org. Southwords reserves the right to edit material for clarity and brevity and to reject obscene/libelous submissions.

Scan this QR code to e-mail Southwords

Editors-in-Chief

Hope Allchin Dora Bialy

Production Editors Michael Deverman Hannah Simpson News Editors

Chloe Bryniarski Jake Kay Lizzie Porter Kristyn Tarpey

Entertainment Editors Alex Korzynski Anna Laskaris Yavor Todorov Features Editors

Katie Krall Des Mustafa Amanda Svachula

Commentary Editors

Annie Krall

Marisa Sclafani

Lauren Smith Sports Editors

Alex Ellyin Brendan Ploen Stephen Sakowicz Kay Thursby

illustration by cecilia cortTÉs

I

n the United States, men are required to register for the Selective Service System when they turn 18.

This makes them eligible to be called to serve their country in the military whenever the government issues a draft. The Selective Service requirement, however, should not just apply to one gender. It is only fair that women also be required to register for the draft.

In the crusade for equality, women have demanded treatment on the same terms as men. The historic fight began with the passing of the 19th amendment and has continued into the 21st century, as women push for equal pay.

Despite arguing for identical rights, women are not equal in the eyes of the government, as is evidenced by the rules for registering for Selective Service. Equality implies no special treatment, which means that women should enjoy positive rights like voting, but also requirements like the possibility of military service.

The American military, however, has always consisted of mostly male soldiers. It has been considered a man’s role to serve his country and much of our society continues to uphold this belief.

Nevertheless, things are changing for women in the armed forces. As of January 2013, women are allowed to serve in combat on the front lines if they can pass a test proving their qualifications. Since then, talk of changing the Selective Service System to also require women to register has come up in Congress.

While men tend to have a physical advantage over women, the purpose of basic training is to prepare soldiers for combat, regardless of gender. The idea that women are unfit to serve in the armed forces is backwards and old-fashioned; women have been proving their ability in the military for years.

If an individual soldier’s role were based on his or her strengths, then physical ability would be even less important because women could participate in the armed forces by doing less physically demanding duties. At this point, tradition is just an impediment to progress.

Maine South High School 1111 South Dee Road Park Ridge, IL 60068

Adviser

Mr. Stathakis

October 18, 2013

| COMMENTARY

Slow and steady is always safer Annie Krall

Commentary Editor

T

aking drivers’ education is necessary to get your diploma on graduation day, but even more importantly, it is a pivotal moment in a teenager’s life. Maine South offers a limited number of drivers’ ed. classes, so many Hawks opt to take them at private schools. What many don’t realize, however, is that they are missing out on a higher-quality education. Driving sooner doesn’t equate to driving safer, especially after completing courses that don’t take a lot of commitment.

Getting a license means more independence, and getting a permit fast seems like a great shortcut. Private companies offer shorter classes, but data from major insurance companies shows that adolescent drivers who have gone through a high school’s driver education course have fewer crashes than teens who took drivers’ ed. elsewhere. In fact, students who learn how to drive from their high school have fewer traffic violations, fewer drunk driving arrests, and fewer license suspensions.

That’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the drivers’ ed. courses offered here at Maine South.

This year, there is a new drivers’ ed. instructor, Mrs. Bonifazi, who has much to offer the Hawks coming from Maine West, where she taught drivers’ ed for three years.

“We’re trying to bring more guest speakers in, like judges and police officers,” said Mrs. Bonifazi. “I’m

PHOTO BY ANNIE KRALL

LAYING DOWN THE LAW

A police officer talks to a class of drivers’ ed. students at Maine South. South requires all students to take drivers’ ed. before graduation (either at school or a private company).

also trying to do more field trips. We went on our first field trip last year at West, so I’m trying to bring that here to South second semester. We also try to bring a technological element to make [learning about insurance] more fun and exciting.”

With personalized simulation, day-to-day instruction, and behind the wheel driving time every week, it’s no surprise why Maine South is able to cover so many driving-related topics in such depth. Because the Maine South course is a semester in length, it gives students more driving experience than the four behindthe-wheel sessions offered by private schools.

Maine South makes a point of teaching its students one or two aspects of driving at a time. For example, a new student might sit in a car and learn the different controls first, then move on to driving on

Welcome to Wisconsin This was going to be our highway lesson and neither my partner nor myself had any experience on highways. It was a late night lesson, starting at 7:30 p.m. I was nervous as I buckled into the driver’s seat. Our instructor turned to us, smiled, and said, “We are going to Kenosha!”

-Kaitlyn Conway ‘14

the streets, and finally take on the highway.

Brittany Lung, a senior at Maine South, is one of the many who enjoyed the pace of the class.

“It was better to learn in small increments,” she said. “Instead of all at once, we were able to learn gradually.”

This philosophy of keeping some training wheels on while novice drivers take their first tentative spins out on the road is not as heavily implemented at private driving schools.

“We did everything all at once,” said junior Karolinka Leziak. “Most of it you learned on the fly driving around. [The instructor] would say turn and he really didn’t have any particular place to go.”

Its obvious that the staff cares about the level of education that is happening during a drivers’ ed course at Maine South, but what really

Drivers’ ed. HORROR stories

makes the class worthwhile is how the students truly enjoy their experience.

“I really liked the class,” said Molly Nuzzo, a junior. “It seems like we got a lot out of it and learned a lot like, safety.”

New and changing laws each year constantly force the class to adapt.

With the many outside-the-text examples the instructors bring in such as employees from the secretary of state, or police officers who have witnessed unfortunate driving collisions, it’s revealed how important a well-rounded understanding of the road is needed. You can’t always expect what other drivers are going to do in the next second.

While Maine South’s drivers’ education program may seem like taking the long way home, it is worth the extra time. What you will learn in this program will not only make you a better driver, but a safer one as well.

Can you say that again?

Parking Lot Escape

Our driving instructor was from Poland, and still had a thick accent.

During my highway lesson, he suddenly made me pull over to the shoulder lane. After shifting to park, he started yelling at me for a good two minutes, and to this day I have no idea what I did wrong or a single word he said!

-Michael Harris ‘15

Our instructor directed us to a Chipotle parking lot during our lesson in order for him to get out of the car and make a phone call. After he walked away from the car and turned around, we pulled out of the spot and started driving in the opposite direction. The sight of him chasing and yelling after us was hilarious!

- Caela Ancona ‘14

SouthwordS 13

SPORTS

| October 18, 2013

Brendan Ploen

Sports Editor here are very few students who have been through as much as senior Laick (pronounced “like”) Sache has. Life is often filled with tough tasks and challenges, but Sache has gone through more in his 17 years than most will in an entire lifetime.

Born and raised in one of the world’s most dangerous countries, Guatemala, Sache was born into poverty, violence, and often did not have enough food to eat. Soccer has been his escape from troubles since he was a kid. It has been his one constant in his ever-changing life.

“When I’m playing, all my struggles go away,” Sache said.

“I don’t care what has happened to me in the past, or what will happen to me in the future, all that matters is that I am playing the game I love.”

Growing up in Guatemala City, not only were his opportunities diminished by his poverty, but also by difficulties in his home life.

His home should have been a safe place, but he is still haunted with the vivid memories of the past that have caused him to be understandably reluctant in sharing his story.

His journey to the United States seems straight out of an Oscarnominated script.

After making the decision to leave his home country at 15, he took busses from Guatemala City to the Mexican region of Sonora. From there, he

Photo by Hannah simpson

T

walked through the desert in Mexico for eight days with little food or water and risked being attacked or abducted by dangerous cartels. Eight days later, he crossed the United States border.

The entire journey was just under 2,500 miles­—about the distance from New York City to Las Vegas.

“For the first time, when I was leaving Guatemala, I saw my family crying for me. To this day, I still don’t know if it was tears of joy or sadness.”

Towards the end of that journey, Sache was discovered by the border patrol. He had been in Arizona only a few days when he was caught.

While with the border patrol, he was involved in a legal process that lasted about a month.

They helped locate Sache’s uncle who lived in North Carolina, just outside of Charlotte. The journey from Guatemala to the United States lasted just over two months.

Once he arrived in North Carolina, he had to adjust not only to living without his family, but also had to learn the English language and the American way of life.

“It was very difficult at first, but once my language skills improved, my grades went up dramatically and my life finally was starting to change for the better,” he said.

Junior Katrina Iorio has an older sister, Alex (‘07), who happened to be Sache’s English as a Second Language teacher in North Carolina.

Now, Sache is staying with

HEADS UP Senior forward Laick Sache goes up for a header in a game against Maine West, which took place on Tues. Oct 8. The Hawks fell to their CSL foe 1-0.

14 SouthwordS

Katrina and her family in Park Ridge.

“I admire his resilience and tenacity,” said Iorio. “He is amazingly determined, especially for a kid who has been through so much to bring him down. It’s amazing that he keeps pushing on.

“I can’t imagine having to go through all that. The school he was at was not very good and [Alex] went to Maine South herself, so she realized that Maine South would challenge him, give him more opportunities, and provide him with a quality education that never would be possible if he stayed in Guatemala.”

Alex Iorio, Sache’s ESL teacher agrees.

“It was immediately clear how wickedly smart he was,” Alex said.

“Even though he had only been in the country for a few months, he usually scored the highest on tests. As he learned English, his confidence grew and he emerged as a leader in my class and in other areas of school as well.

“By the end of the year, a kid who couldn’t ask where the bus was on the first day, gave a speech on his journey to the U.S. to a packed art gallery in downtown Charlotte,” she said. “There wasn’t a dry eye in the house.”

Since arriving in Park Ridge in the summer, he has been instrumental in leading the soccer team to victory, leading the team in goals with 12, and tallying 5 assists.

“He is more guarded in his approach to everything, both on and off the field,” coach Dan States said.

“The moment when he is less guarded and truly comfortable is when the ball is at his foot and that is when he really expresses himself.”

When facing New Trier on Sept.

28 in Winnetka, Sache scored both goals for the Hawks in a 2-1 victory.

The second came with less than 30 seconds left in the second half.

Senior captain Brendan Faley has witnessed Sache’s growth as a player and as a person in the past few months.

“We embraced him both on and off the field, trying to involve him as much as possible,” said Faley. “That involvement was imperative in the summer and has really helped our team succeed.

“Laick brought scoring prowess right away, as he just has a knack for finding the back of the net. His goals

Photo by Lauren smith

The unlikely story of Laick Sache

LOOKING BACK, MOVING FORWARD

Sache watches the ball as he paces down the field against Maine West. Although the Hawks did not win the game, they look to find success in the playoffs.

might not always be pretty, but he has found a way to get it done.”

Alex Iorio explains why he pushes himself to great lengths.

“He is a quiet leader and has a drive that is contagious with a sense of self and purpose that shapes everything he does,” she said.

“He evaluates every move that he makes with his future in mind. I feel lucky and proud to have him in my family.”

Alex Iorio recalls Sache’s ingenious idea for international students to play the world’s most popular game.

From the streets of Guatemala to Wilson Field, soccer has always been there for Laick Sache.

“The end of my first year of teaching, Laick had the idea to start a recreational soccer league that focused on ESL students and community service. This team evolved into a full-blown community project that still exists today,” Alex said.

Even though Laick has been through so much, he still finds ways to be happy and be thankful for what he has.

“The experiences make us who we are, but people change, life changes, and now, I finally believe that I am someone.”

October 18, 2013 | SPORTS

Haven’t we seen this before? he last time the football team lost two games to start the season was three years ago. The start of 2010 began with losses to Schaumburg and Wheaton Warrenville South.

After the defeats, the team won out in the regular season, then advanced to the postseason with a lot of momentum. The team, led then by sophomore quarterback Matt Alviti, won the state championship with a victory over Mount Carmel.

The 2013 season is following the same pattern. The squad lost to Montini and Wheaton Warrenville South to begin the season. However, just as the Hawks did in 2010, they are enjoying success after their first two losses.

Over the past four weeks, they have defeated four CSL opponents, outscoring their foes 174-38. After only scoring 32 points combined in the first two games, the team has passed the 40-point mark four straight times. The Hawks have scored more than 40 points in 21 out of their last 23 CSL conference games.

The team’s success should not merely be attributed to the lowerranked opponents, but also to sophomore quarterback Brian Collis stepping into the starting role.

Maine South has a history of talented quarterbacks, but Collis is focused on the present.

“I’m nowhere near the great quarterbacks that have come before graphic by Michael Deverman me and I have a lot of work ahead of BIG 10 GOALS These helmets signify the goals the team accomplished me,” he said. each game. The most successful result came against Maine East, when the squad Following the first two contests, completed 9 out of 10 goals in a 49-0 shutout of the Demons.

and this year, Collis.” “[Basso] has been great helping me learn the system,” Collis said. “All of the guys have been great to me and helping me along, making the transition easier.”

“We had to really focus and make sure we were executing to perfection,” Collis said.

Also aiding the team is their “Big 10” goals. This is a list of ten goals that the team tries to achieve each game. In the first two contests, the team achieved just 8 goals total. The team completed 22 goals in the four games after that.

When the team lost to Montini, this marked only the second time under Coach Inserra that the team achieved four or more goals and lost the game.

“After our games, Coach Inserra puts a sticker on whichever goals we accomplished,” senior offensive lineman Brendan Brosnan said. “If we get five or more goals, it generally means that we had a good game.”

The number of goals completed also determines how much conditioning the team will go through on the Monday after the game.

“Every goal that we don’t complete is a sprint we have to run at practice,” junior offensive lineman Matt Berg said. “[The conditioning] is necessary to make sure we are able to outlast any other team we play,” Collis said.

This conditioning helps the team prepare for tougher opponents they will face later in the season.

The team will conclude regularseason play on Oct. 25 and begin playoffs the following week, on Nov. 2.

was out for most of the season on maternity leave.

Mrs. Bondi, who retired last year after being the head coach for many years at Maine South, helped out for the majority of the season.

“Even though there was a lot of switching around [with the coaches], I still think it was good for our team,” Meg Boyce said. “We were able to be there for each other because our coaches haven’t been very constant.

I think we have helped each other improve greatly this season.”

“This is such a great group of girls,” Coach Tisler said. “We’re a

number 1 and 2 singles and doubles can place high in Sectionals and hopefully move onto State.

There have been numerous injuries on the team throughout the season. However, the depth of the team allows them to maintain success.

Including senior captains Marisa Sclafani and Lojewski, there are twelve girls on the team.

“This year we have had a lot of injuries, but I think we’ve still done well,” senior Maddy Schulze said. “I think it’s nice that we are all really close and mesh so well. I’ve had so much fun this season.”

Alex Ellyin Sports Editor

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the team has focused on creating opportunities for both Collis and former starter senior Alec Basso.

“We have been trading reps in practice and we have different packages that suit each of our playing styles,” Collis said.

Basso, along with the rest of

the team, has been instrumental in helping Collis transition to the starting job, just like Jimmy Frankos (‘12) was to Alviti (‘13).

“The other guy can help us, in a different way,” Coach Inserra said, referring to Basso and Frankos. “The more consistent play was both Alviti

Girls’ tennis moves past conference Katherine Miles Staff Writer

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he 2013 Maine South girls’ varsity tennis team is all about togetherness and teamwork. It might also help that there are three sets of siblings across the JV and varsity teams combined.

The three sets include senior Meg and freshman Katie Boyce, senior Marisa and sophomore Adriana Sclafani, and junior Randi and freshman Marti Wind.

The girls’ tennis team is coached

by Andrea Tisler. However, she

better team than last year. The girls get along really well, and play really well together.”

The Hawks finished the regular season 12-6 and also won the Hawk Invite. The Conference meet took place on Oct. 11 and 12 and Sectionals take place today and tomorrow.

“I look for ward to playing Glenbrook South because we are just as good as they are, and we have come so close to beating them when we play,” senior captain Gabi Lojewski said. “I know if we put our minds to it, we can beat them.”

Coach Tisler believes that the

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CROSS COUNTRY | FOOTBALL | GIRLS’TENNIS | GOLF | BOYS’SOCCER | GIRLS’SWIMMING | GIRLS’VOLLEYBALL

Carpenter sets course record

Staff Writer oys’ cross country senior Jack Carpenter, captured first place at a CSL South Quad meet at New Trier with a course-record time of 15:31.

Carpenter’s record-setting race bested the previous course record, held

by Hawks alumnus Dave Eckhart, by nearly 15 seconds. “[One of my goals is to] beat New Trier, basically,” said Carpenter of his motivation during the race. “We are big rivals with them, so whenever we race them, it’s a big deal.”

Carpenter’s strong effort helped Maine South secure second place, behind New Trier. South also welcomed strong performances by senior Paul Tobin (16:46), juniors Paul D’Ambrosio (16:13), and Henry Mierzwa (16:16), and sophomore Ralph Patejunas (16:30), who finished 7th, 8th, 13th, and 16th, respectively.

“We ran well as a team,” said Tobin.

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“We have two weeks until Conference, and we are hoping to challenge New Trier for a conference title.”

The boys’ cross country team, which was ranked 21st in Illinois during the preseason, has moved up to 15th based on their performances in the Palatine Invitational and New Trier Quad.

Prior to the New Trier Quad, the Hawks performed well at both the Palatine and the Lyons Pride Invitational events.

In the former, South placed seventh as a team, and Carpenter placed fifth overall. In the latter, South placed fourth, and Carpenter recorded what was, at the time, the third-fastest time in the state (14:52.07).

Many of the other runners on the team were also pleased with their performances.

“I think I had a much better performance than I had been having, my best performance of the season,” said D’Ambrosio. “My performances before

[New Trier] had been disappointing, but the training appears to be finally taking effect.”

Carpenter currently holds the 22nd fastest time in the state as the season progresses and the State meet looms closer. The state meet will be at Detweller Park in Peoria on Nov. 9. The Hawks have run the Peoria course once already this season, placing 19th.

Out of 63 teams, Carpenter’s time in Peoria (15:04) earned him 17th place in the invitational.

“I definitely feel like [All-State] is an attainable goal right now with how I’ve been running,” said Carpenter.

“I’m really happy with how I have been running and I want to keep it up.”

PHOTO by hannah simpson

Alex Solberg

SOLE MAN Senior Jack Carpenter finishes the race at the New Trier Quad meet. Carpenter placed fifth overall, with a time of 14:52.07.

Girls’ cross country changes training plan Alyssa Darlak & Mary Grace Inserra Staff Writers

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our of the top five runners on the girls’ cross countr y team have returned for the 2013 season.

Returners include senior captains, Cailin Eckhart, Emily Leonard, and Mirae Mastrolonardo and sophomore, Gina Johnson. This season’s team has over 100 girls.

The team is currently in 2nd place in conference, with a 4-1 dual meet record.

“We have a lot of talented girls on the team this year,” said Mastrolonardo.

“Right now, everyone is working hard to try and get one of the twelve varsity spots for the state series.”

Mastrolonardo also stated that the team is better prepared for state because most of their best runners were in the top 12 last year, giving them more experience.

Last year, the team finished tenth in state, with Leonard, a three-time all state runner, finishing ninth individually.

“Our goals are to compete for the conference championship, compete for the regional championship, and to qualify for the state meet by finishing in the top 5 of the sectional meet,” said Coach Downing. “We need to continue to work hard and improve to meet these goals, which we are capable of doing.”

The meets the team have participated in this season are to prepare them for the conference, regional, sectional, and state meets.

One way the girls are pushing themselves further is by cross training.

“As of right now, we’ve been running hard and keeping our miles high, along with swimming in the morning two days a week in order to better prepare ourselves for all the important meets coming in just a few short weeks,” Eckhart said.

There are a few girls on the team who participated in triathlons, helping to show how swimming is another way to prepare for an upcoming meet.

“We found that it helped with the cardiovascular side of running,” said

PHOTO by hannah simpson

AND THEY’RE OFF

The girls’ cross country team begins their race at New Trier. The team has been implementing new ways of training such as swimming.

Coach Downing. “It had a huge impact on their cross-training.”

Although the effects of swimming don’t show right away, the team believes it will pay off in the long run.

After last season, Mastrolonardo had a few setbacks, due to injuries, but she is hoping she will get to where she wants to be by the end of this season.

“Personally, I started the season a little slower than I had hoped to,” Mastrolonardo said.

Leonard is working on getting back after many injuries as well.

“Now that I’m running again and building my base up, I feel like my base is even faster than it was last year,” said Leonard. She is looking to get her three mile time to under 16:50 this season.

Mastrolonardo believes that as long as they keep their injuries to a minimum, the team will be able to keep improving.

Eventually, the team will start to run shorter distances in order to have fresh legs for their most important races.

“We are a good team, and we have a lot of potential,” Eckhart said.