Vol 50, Issue 6

Maine South’s student voice See page 2 since 1964

, No. 6

Maine South High School, Park Ridge, IL

February 21, 2014

Even with only one built-in emergency day remaining for Maine South, more extreme weather doesn’t necessarily mean “gameover” for a full summer vacation.

See page 5

Sick beats

An in-depth look at Maine South’s first DJ Battle Page 6

Best in film

Wage wars

Predictions for the Academy’s A higher minimum wage most prestigious awards raises the living standard Pages 8 & 9 Page 11

GRAPHIC BY DORA BIALY | PHOTO BY MICHAEL DEVERMAN

Vol.

Disney dance-off Hawkettes place third at nationals in Florida Page 12

50TH ANNIVERSARY

| February 21, 2014

years of

DOUBLE TROUBLE

Southwords has showcased a plethora of flags over the years; however, in the ‘80s, only one new one was introduced (pictured on the cover), while the other (shown below) was a remnant of the mid ‘70s.

▲COP OUT ▲GRADUATES REBELLING AGAINST DUMB DECISIONS Volume 21 Issue 7 ● Dec. 21, 1984

Letters to the Editor are always prime examples of the unyielding intensity of teen angst. However, Doug Johnson’s (‘82) argument regarding graduation location isn’t completely unwarranted. We’re just a bit skeptical about the legitimacy of G.R.A.D.D. Our sources are only familiar with the organization known as S.E.N.I.O.R.—Students Entirely Not Involved Or Responsive.

2 SouthwordS

Volume 18 Issue 5 ● Nov. 13, 1981

Although Action Ridge is no wild, wild West, students in the ‘80s had some pretty creative ways of stirring up trouble with the law. While two of these stories involve a camera and a undeniably believable prop, our fast and furious friend from the class of ‘82 takes the cake for most notorious crime. Driving two miles above the speed limit?

Despicable.

February 21, 2014

| NEWS

Lizzie Porter News Editor

D

PHOTO BY HANNAH SIMPSON

isplacing hundreds of students, and causing stress for many staff members, on Jan. 31, at approximately 9:00 a.m., a downpour began in the PA wing.

The flood found both the north and south PA-Wing hallways underwater, and most of the PA wing was unusable for five days, from the 31st of January to the 4th of February.

“It was a hectic Friday morning,” said Fine Arts teacher Mr. Matter.

“However, there was overwhelming help from students dealing with the situation.”

Fine Arts classes were diverted into the Auditorium for the day.

“It was pretty weird,” said sophomore Anthony Dare. “The teachers were panicked, and it definitely stopped progress [for the classes].”

Though seemingly the effect of intense cold and heavy snow, the leakage was unrelated to the current weather.

The problem was caused by maintenance done on the air conditioning unit.

According to Mr. Beese, Director of Building of Grounds, the maintenance being done on the air conditioning unit by Kroschel Air conditioning wasn’t routine work.

After the work was completed on the air conditioning unit, the worker ran the machine.

As the conditioning unit is tied in to the heating unit, when it is turned

on, it also initiates the pumps from which water flows, forcing the residual water out.

Because the company usually works on the unit during the warmer months, this problem hasn’t arisen before, and surprised Mr. Beese and the janitorial staff.

The worker doing the job has worked on Maine South equipment for over 20 years, but made a mistake that left the PA wing under water. He had never worked on the system during the winter.

“He started the system without notifying any of us, and he should’ve asked us, but he didn’t do that,” said Mr. Beese.

“All of the mechanical equipment in the Fine Arts wing is up above everything, unlike the A-wing where everything is on the same level. The ceiling and pipes can account for minor leakage, but it was such a massive amount [of water] the ceiling couldn’t handle it, and it gave way to a downpour.”

As three of the mechanical units were affected, most of the Fine Arts wing was under water, but some sections remained dry.

“One [unit] feeds the lobby and auditorium, and then one more [unit] for each hallway services those areas,” said Mr. Beese.

“Just adjacent to where those systems are installed suffered the worst flooding.”

The far east end of the PA wing suffered the most damage, with the water increasing as you traveled from

SLIPPERY WHEN WET Both the north and south PA wing

hallways were affected by the flood. Shown here is the north hallway, where PA109 was heavily damaged, along with adjacent practice rooms.

PHOTO BY HANNAH SIMPSON

PA wing, A wing, and more under water

TAKE CAUTION

In the girls’ locker room, two buckets catch leaks from the roof. According to Mr. Beese, the source of the leak is hard to pinpoint, but the janitorial staff is working hard to contain the water and keep students and staff safe.

the stairs that connect the PA wing to the V-wing.

“Had the company contacted us before they started up the system, we would’ve told them not to go through with it, and just come back and run it in the spring to restart the system.”

The company accepted entire responsibility of the situation.

With the janitorial staff accumulating extra hours with the constant winter storms and cold, Mr. Beese described the situation as a “nightmare” and cost the staff numerous hours to clean up.

The staff worked 10 hours overtime solely for the PA-wing flood, and worked 81 hours total the same week, and even a few hours over the weekend.

“Clean up was bad, it ruined a lot of ceiling tiles,” said custodian Mr. Rich Kulczak. “There was just water gushing, water everywhere.”

“Everybody pitched together and got it fixed,” said Mr. Beese.

The staff replaced many ceiling tiles, continuously checked for more leaks, and diverted gallons of water from the ceiling.

“Although there was considerable property damage, luckily nobody got hurt,” Mr. Beese said. “It was a large inconvenience, but we got it cleaned up.”

On top of the large flood in the PA-wing, on Tues., Feb. 4, the main A-wing stairwell experienced water as well.

The stairwell was the victim of a broken flush valve from the boy’s bathroom.

No substantial damage occurred, but proved to be an inconvenience to staff and students throughout the

day. The water was cleaned up in a matter of hours.

Over the past few weeks, numerous minor leaks have sprung up around the school.

“Currently we have over 25 leaks around the school,” said Beese.

Buckets have been placed around the school to catch the leakage.

Leaks can be seen in the main hallway, in the V-wing hallway, in some English classrooms, and the girls’ locker room.

“What has caused some of the roof leaks is the extreme cold temperatures and the accumulation of ice and snow on the roof system,” said Mr. Beese.

There has been more than 60 inches of snow this winter, and as it has accumulated on the roof, there is no way to pinpoint the source of the leak without clearing the snow.

“The problem starts with the ice that is under the snow, and the ice is frozen to the pea gravel and the roofing membrane, so more damage to the roof could occur if the ice is chipped away, creating more holes in the roof,” said Mr. Beese.

As the leaks are mainly caused by melting snow, with the subzero temperatures we have been having, the leaks haven’t been as frequent.

Once the weather warms up, the roofing company will begin to repair the leaks.

“With moderate temperatures expected later this week the ice and snow can be removed without damaging the roof and repairs will then be made,” Mr. Beese said on Feb. 11.

Over the summer, roofing contractors are scheduled to work on two sections of the roof to prevent further leakage.

SouthwordS 3

NEWS

| February 21, 2014

State of the Union address focuses on the economy Staff Writer peaking in front of a joint session of Congress on Jan. 28, President Obama gave the annual State of the Union address. Obama summarized the successes of his administration in the previous year and also outlined his agenda for the upcoming year.

Vowing to “make this a year of action,” Obama primarily focused on the topic of the financial security of the American people, but also touched upon foreign policy.

Although he continued to make promises regarding bipartisanship throughout the speech, Obama did not shy away from telling Congress that he will use his own executive authority in cases he deems necessary.

Using the economic safety of the American people as an example, Obama demonstrated this with-orwithout-Congress mentality adamantly and specifically throughout the address.

“Wherever and whenever I can take steps without legislation to expand opportunity for more American families, that’s what I’m going to do,” Obama said.

The president continued to focus on the financial safety of the Ameri-

S

can people throughout the beginning of his speech.

Citing multiple examples of the gap between the wealthiest and other Americans, he reiterated hopes to expand the opportunities of Americans to move themselves forward in the economy, setting a goal to implement “concrete, practical proposals to speed up growth, strengthen the middle class, and build new ladders of opportunity into the middle class.”

Using First Lady Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move!” partnership as a model of expanded opportunity for citizens, he called for tax reform in order to lower taxes for “businesses that bring jobs into America” and for Congress to support “the entrepreneurs and small business owners who create most new jobs in America.”

The issue of raising the minimum wage also constituted a large portion of the president’s speech.

He announced an executive order that will increase the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour for future federal contract workers and the creation of a new Treasury savings bond for workers without access to traditional retirement options.

Obama declared that raising the minimum wage would boost productivity, reduce turnover, or the rate

at which employers lose employees, ease workers’ financial stress, and improve workers’ morale. For these reasons, Obama made a plea both to Congress and to business owners to raise the minimum wage.

lege. However, since it was cheaper to start a business using a food truck, they bought one from Wiesen’s parents’ business and started Beaver’s Donuts.

Some of the varieties of donuts offered at Beaver’s include Turtle, which includes pecans, caramel sauce, and chocolate sauce; Nutella Dream, where the donuts are topped with both strawberry sauce and Nutella; and Reese’s, donuts topped with chocolate and peanut butter sauces. They also have traditional flavors, such as powdered sugar or chocolate powder.

The truck runs a weekly route throughout the Loop, and their current location is always posted on their website. They also have a stand in the French Market, which is located in the Loop.

Their packaged donuts are sold at Sunset Foods, a small grocery store with only six locations throughout Northwest Chicago.

Despite their success, running a successful food truck operation is

not without its difficulties. Wiesen and Nuccio have been barred from selling their donuts in Evanston since 2012.

According to the city of Evanston’s website, “Mobile Food Vehicles licensed under the Mobile Food Vehicle Vendor license must be owned and operated by the owner or agent of a licensed food establishment in the city, and must be affiliated with that establishment.”

SHOULD THE MINIMUM WAGE BE RAISED? Southwords editors discuss whether or not the federal minimum wage is worth raising.

See page 11 President Obama spoke about foreign policy later in his speech, specifically discussing American negotiations in the international world.

He described the successes of draw-

ing American troops out of Iraq and Afghanistan.

“After 2014,” said Obama, “we will support a unified Afghanistan as it takes responsibility for its own future.”

He reiterated a vigorous anti-terror policy in other nations, but also declared a need for the US to stay out of large-scale deployments.

Obama concluded his address by introducing Sergeant First Class Cory Remsburg, who had been injured by a roadside bomb on duty as an Army Ranger while touring Kandahar, Afghanistan. He received a standing ovation from both Democrats and Republicans.

PHOTO CREDIT WHITEHOUSE.GOV

Christopher Brendza

RAISE THE WAGE Obama maintained a focus on the American economy

throughout most of his State of the Union address. During his speech, he voiced his support for raising the federal minimum wage from $7.25 to $10.10 an hour.

Maine South alumni’s donut truck coming to South in spring

Staff Writers wo Maine South alumni from the graduating class of 2004, Gabriel Wiesen and James Nuccio, are living their dream of becoming entrepreneurs. The pair started the Beaver’s Coffee and Donut food truck in 2012, and the business has been expanding steadily since then.

Maine South students will get a chance to taste Beaver’s donuts during lunch periods on April 11, when they help raise money for the freshmen class council.

Nuccio and Wiesen have also agreed to talk to the ninth period entrepreneurship class about their experiences building their own company.

Beaver’s Coffee and Donuts travels throughout the city of Chicago and its various neighborhoods. It sells fresh mini donuts with a variety of gourmet toppings.

Wiesen and Nuccio had ideas of opening up a pizza shop after col-

T

4 SouthwordS

In response to this, Wiesen and Nuccio have sued the city of Evanston.

“With Evanston, I think they are not only doing a disservice to their consumer base by not allowing food trucks to operate, but also to their entrepreneur base in Evanston, citizens that would want to be able to grow their own business,” said Wiesen on the Youtube video “Hot, Fresh and Fighting.”

PHOTO CREDIT BEAVERSDONUTS.COM

Meagan Sodaro & Chloe Bryniarski

MEALS ON WHEELS

Beaver’s Coffee and Donuts, owned by alumni Gabriel Wiesen (‘04) and James Nuccio (‘04), sells gourmet donuts and coffee throughout the Chicagoland area.

February 21, 2014

| NEWS

Cold days not a cause for concern Hope Allchin

Editor-in-Chief n the month of January, Maine South closed its doors for a total of four days, not because of oftenhoped for snow days, but instead because of extreme temperatures. The first pair of days came on Jan. 6 and 7, serving as an extension of Winter Break, followed by another pair on Jan. 27 and 28, delaying the start of the second semester.

When making the decision of whether or not to close, superintendents representing Maine Township, Districts 62, 63, and 64, and Pennoyer are in constant communication, trying to determine whether the conditions warrant a closing of the schools. There are three main cases that cause closings: snow, frigid temperatures, and flooding.

“When the actual temperatures for the day dip to zero and below, particularly with wind chill as an additional factor, we look closely at that,” Superintendent Dr. Wallace said.

“For snow, it is about timing more than anything. Our area municipalities do a great job of clearing snow; however, if the snow is heavy and comes overnight, we may be unable to open school until the roads are clear and people have had a chance to dig out of their own driveways.

“With flooding, we saw that many main roads became impassable last year; in addition, many of our families were in distress just trying to manage the flooding in their own homes.”

Because timing is often crucial, Dr. Wallace says that the administrators themselves wake up early on these mornings to drive the streets of Park Ridge, checking the conditions of the road.

There is no magic temperature number that immediately causes the administration to close the school.

Each potential closure, for whichever condition, is considered on a case-by-case basis with the safety of the students in mind.

“I think the district made the right call on the days called off for school, especially in the first round of closings,” Mr. Messmer said. “The roads were very dangerous and we would have put many students and families at risk.”

One goal of the administration is

PHOTO BY HANNAH SIMPSON

I

WINTER WONDERLAND has caused four closings in January.

Senior Emily Merrell walks to class through the snow-filled courtyard. The frigid cold

to inform students and their families about school closures as soon as possible. Ideally, families would begin to receive the automated phone messages and e-mails at least a day in advance, or as soon as the administration has made the decision, in order to give people time to figure out arrangements for younger children and working parents.

Maine Township and its elementary districts attempt to operate on an all-or-nothing closing policy, meaning that if one district closes, the others will also close. This is one of the reasons why turning days with heavy snowfall into late-start mornings similar to collaboration days is an unlikely scenario. While not a problem for many high school students, younger kids often depend on parents or the bus system to get to school, neither of which may be available later in the morning.

The only time when one school may close and not the others is because of a condition that only affects one building, like a water main break. Other than those rare occasions, the schools generally tend to stay open on the same days.

The district and its feeder districts have already used four of the five days reserved for cancellations due to weather or other unpredictable circumstances.

“We have five days built into the

calendar, so we can afford to have one more day before we would need to eliminate a planned day off or extend the school year,” Mr. Messmer said. “But, we probably need to plan on at least one flood day in the spring.”

Although there are still many days of Chicago winter weather to come, the administration says that it is unlikely that another two days will be called, and it has never been a problem in the past.

“In most instances, we would begin making plans to make those days up,” Dr. Wallace said. “If we are making up days, seniors would typically make those days up. The good news is that we haven’t had to do any make up days for a very long time.”

The first Friday of Spring Break, an institute day for staff, would be considered the best candidate for a make-up day, if necessary. Adding more days after the expected end of the school year would be a last resort, but could occur if necessary.

Seniors most likely would not make up the days in that case.

“It’s a great year to be a senior,” senior Danielle Gomez said. “I was a bit worried about missing school for AP classes, but it seems like my teachers were prepared enough to get us back on track.”

While there are ways for schools to petition the state to limit the num-

ber of days that need to be made up, it is unlikely that Maine South would ever take advantage of this ability. Eight or nine school days would need to be cancelled in order for the district to consider this option.

As technology progresses and becomes a larger part of the school day, calling off school for weather days may become less problematic.

“What if, on a snow day, we were appropriately wired so that we could have school without being here?” Dr. Wallace asked. “I’m sure that will freak some people out, but it is possible to conduct school outside of the classroom. It’s a really cool field.”

Even over the last few cold days, some teachers throughout the district posted material and assigned work online through the Google Drive. There may be a point where, at least for a day or two, being in a physical classroom is unnecessary and learning can proceed as planned despite the weather outside.

Weather emergencies are always a tough call for the administration and are often thought of as a no-win situation because they face the decision of decreasing the amount of instructional time or possibly endangering students on their way to school. But either way, many students consider these extra days off a positive—as long as it doesn’t cut into summer vacation.

SouthwordS 5

| February 21, 2014

THE WINTER

BLITZ: Maine South’s First DJ Battle

O

n Jan. 23, 2014, the Winter Blitz broke the monotony of Maine South formal dances. That night, student DJs took the stage. With their music and mixing skills, they transformed the Spec gym into an EDM scene.

“I had so much fun,” said Alec Zamora, a senior DJ. “The feeling of performing live and physically seeing the crowd go nuts for you is unlike any other feeling I’ve ever experienced.”

The Winter Blitz was the first winter dance held at Maine South in five years. The idea of a “Battle of the DJs” started within the senior class council run by Taylor Martell, Michael Deverman, Brendan Faley, and Antonietta Caporale. Senior Class sponsors, Mrs. Deering and Ms. Ball, were crucial in making the vision come to life. “ The idea for the DJ Battle germinated as one for a fundraising Dance Marathon, like the ones that Northwestern hosts every year,” said Vice President of Senior Class Council, Michael Deverman. “As we began to realize the impossibility of getting Maine South students to dance for 24 hours straight, the idea expanded and grew [into the Battle of the DJs].”

To g e t t h e d a n c e s t a r t e d , professional DJ equipment and lighting had to be found.

“It was a very difficult process,” said Deverman. “DJ equipment and professional lighting is extremely expensive.”

The class counsel ended up renting equipment from Gurnee-Based Entertainment Concepts.

The next step was to find students from all grade levels that were willing to perform in front of their peers. The

6 SouthwordS

Georgia Loutrianakis Staff Writer

final list of competitors included Allen Canilao, Alec Zamora, Roy Roman, Nick Petrovic, Patrick Hartmanis, and Greg Jaros. The DJs came to a few meetings before and after school to practice with the professional equipment.

At the dance, each student that performed had a 23-minute set.

As DJs, the students were able to interact with the audience and create an atmosphere that Maine South has never seen before. The experience proved to be amazing for both the performers and the audience.

“I thought the Blitz was really cool because it was different,” said senior Celine Wysgalla. “I had fun dancing with my friends and listening to the DJs. It was an awesome way for people at Maine South to showcase their talents.”

The students in attendance were given two opportunities to vote for their favorite DJ. As students walked through the entrance, there were boxes where one could place the receipt for admission or a dollar to vote. After all of the sets were played, the audience was asked to cheer for each DJ and the excitement and loudness of the crowd for each competitor was measured.

A combination of these two factors decided the winner of the DJ Battle, senior Pat Hartmanis. “ The music, the vibes, the sensations [of the Winter Blitz] was a great time,” said Hartmanis. “I’m glad so many people came out and I hope to see everyone around some other venues.”

There was a sufficient turnout of over 250 students at the dance.

“We were extremely happy about the senior turnout,” said Taylor Martell, Senior Class C ouncil

What was your favorite part of the DJ Winter Blitz?

PHOTO BY JENNA ZAMAITES

FEATURES

President. “So many loyal friends showed up to support their favorite Dj. I think if we would have had more DJs representing every class, the overall student turnout would have been greater. That could be something to improve on for future dances.”

The students that attended the Winter Blitz enjoyed the unique experience that the event offered.

“It was very entertaining,” said sophomore Jenna Zamaites. “The music was exciting and the DJs were really good. I had a good time.”

The student DJs appreciated the experience as well. It offered them an outlet for an unconventional talent.

“It felt wild,” said junior DJ Roy Roman. “The crowd and the bass were addicting. I was consumed by the music. My favorite part was seeing everyone in their own little world during the madness. They were all gripped by the music. When it takes hold of you it just won’t let go.”

Not only did this event help increase school spirit, but it also raised awareness for the Alzheimer’s Association. Since the Winter Blitz was so successful, more events like this are likely to be a part of Maine South’s future. The Senior Class Council hopes that word gets around about the dance from people who attended this year and that will increase interest for something like this to happen again next year.

“I think anything that we can get students involved with to show their talents is amazing,” said Mr. Berendt.

“Maybe next time there’s a live band there, maybe next time there’s a dance crew there. You know, I think that we could bring more students in and more student talent. It would be great.”

“Patrick Hartmanis killed it. Period.”

-Luke Gardner ‘14

“Cameron Wolters’ beatboxing was incredible.”

- Bethany Cunningham ‘15

“The whole atmosphere was great, but the DJs were amazing.”

- Austin Ramirez ‘16

“The amount of energy in the room was crazy.”

- Graham Weygandt ‘17

February 21, 2014

The darkest side of the circus Greta Ramsey Staff Writer

I

n the final issue of Southwords during his senior year, George Brant (‘87) said, “My most amazing moment this year was when the curtain fell on my last performance here and I realized that that was my last show at Maine South—ever.”

Little did he know, 27 years later, the curtain would rise on another of his productions.

“Elephant’s Graveyard,” for which Brant won the 2008 Keene Prize for Literature, is based on a true story that explores Americans’ interests in violence and revenge.

“Other than the town being excited that the circus is coming, it gets dark fairly quickly,” said Mrs. McCleneghan, drama teacher and director of the winter play. “There is some humor in it, but I wouldn’t say it’s a light piece.”

The curtain rises, and the audience immediately discovers the meaning behind the title. A town has hanged a circus elephant. This act of cruelty sparks outrage and confusion among the characters, all of whom are involved in the traveling circus, leading to emotional battles and questions of moral responsibility.

“It’s about mob violence, basically… and having your own accountability,” said senior Sarah Householder who plays the Tour Manager.

Contrary to many other plays, “Elephant’s Graveyard” is delivered in a series of monologues, told from the point of view of each character.

The main character, the elephant Mary, is never seen on the stage. In fact, much of the play requires imagination, since the setting is sparse.

“It’s very theatrical, in that respect,” Mrs. McCleneghan said. “It’s not realistic.”

Because of the play’s heavy emotion and narrative style, it is particularly difficult for the actors to access what playwright Brant was going for.

“Going in and out of this character is hard because she carries so much baggage and emotion,” said senior Alyssa LaTragna who plays the Trainer.

Another pressure the actors must face is the fact that the playwright will actually be attending the performance.

“It's really nerve-racking knowing that George Brant is seeing the

CIRCUS TOWN

Sophomore Jack Cahill-Lemme tries on his costume during the costume parade. Cahill-Lemme plays the emotional role of the Ringmaster of the circus.

| ENTERTAINMENT

Book Review:

The Year of Shadows Anastasia Dalianis

Staff Writer antasy and mystery consume the life of Olivia Stellatella, a distraught teenager in the midst of a destructive family break up. Plagued with money troubles, she finds herself living in a run-down concert hall by ghosts. Despite the fantasy that pervades aspects of the story, this novel presents a realistic character who faces many of the same struggles as teens nowadays.

Throughout the course of the novel, Olivia faces bullies, family struggles, and isolation. Olivia is generally a very angry character; she feels neglected by her father and mother, because her mother left and her father cares about the orchestra more than anything. She feels like she needs to spite her father by doing badly in school and getting into trouble in general.

It’s these qualities that make Olivia not only relatable, but likeable.

Readers will find themselves growing with her throughout the novel, as she turns away from an angry and depressed misanthrope to a girl who has control over her life and knows what she’s capable of.

This novel is a modern twist on the classic coming-of-age story.

Claire Legrand uses supernatural elements of the story to relate how Olivia breaks down the walls that she’s built up around herself.

However, the supernatural elements in this book can’t exactly be classified as horror; the ghosts, cat, and even parts of the concert hall were anthropomorphized to the point where they were just as important characters as Olivia and her father.

Instead of existing just to scare the characters or thrill the reader, the ghosts were friendly, harmless, and (sometimes) helpful. Olivia eventually helps all the ghosts find their anchors, but she is reluctant to let them go because she has become so close to them.

This book definitely lives up to or even exceeds the standards set forth

by Legrand’s previous novels, and it is recommended for fans of fantasy or realistic fiction genres.

F

PHOTO BY HANNAH SIMPSON

show because, well, we want him to be proud of Maine South Theatre, where he came from,” LaTragna said.

“You can’t help but think: ‘what if I’m not saying this line the way he intended?’ or ‘what if he doesn’t like the choice I made with this monologue?’” said sophomore Jack CahillLemme, who plays the role of Charlie Sparks, the Ringmaster.

“To perform this show to its fullest potential, we have to tune out all of those little nagging fears and trust ourselves as actors and the choices we have made with these roles.”

Cahill-Lemme also faces the challenge of playing a character who is one of few in the play that is actually a real person.

“Historic characters are a challenge because they don't leave you with many options as an actor,” he said. “You're limited, because what happened has already happened and, in a way, your job is just to figure out the mindset of whoever it is you're playing.”

To assist in setting the time period and mood for the production, Tim Kwasny, a junior and amateur composer, has written original music to engage the audience even further.

Two different types of music are featured in the production: East coast blues and circus music.

“My composition was heavily influenced by the Ringling Brothers Circus music,” said Kwasny. “I decided to go with a semi-folksy sound, as well, to capture the small town feel of the play.”

“Elephant’s Graveyard” is written in a style that helps showcase the deep emotions throughout the show. “[The audience] will probably be touched by it. At least you hope they are,” Mrs. McCleneghan said. “The idea of how animals who work for us are treated is something that people might think about as well.”

A challenge for the cast is presenting the story in a way that allows the audience to relate to the situation as if they’ve experienced it. The cast hopes to perform “Elephant’s Graveyard” in a way that will demonstrate the emotions of the characters that aren’t on the stage, like the elephant Mary.

“Elephant’s Graveyard” starts on Thursday, Feb. 20, and runs through Saturday, Feb. 22 in the Watson Auditorium at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $7 at the door.

SouthwordS 7

| February 21, 2014

ENTERTAINMENT

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8 SouthwordS

| ENTERTAINMENT

With the 86th annual Academy Awards fast approaching, we take a look at a few of the Oscar-nominated films and lay out some of our top picks. Dora Bialy & Lizzie Porter Editor-in-Chief & News Editor

BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE MATTHEW MCCONAUGHEY Now I know we

all agree that Leo deserves an Oscar at some point in his life, but let’s face it—it’s just not happening this year. Matthew McConaughey’s performance in “Dallas Buyers Club” is out of this world. While he normally plays the scummy, big-shot jerk who’s supposed to be lovable, he drops that type-cast fast as lightning and shows a whole different side of himself in his role as AIDS-diagnosed, homophobic, white trash, drug- and sexaddicted, wannabe-cowboy. McConaughey brilliantly maintains the rough, bigoted edges of Ron Woodroof ’s roots, while somehow managing to show steady personal growth rather than the typicalout-of-the-blue change of heart. Plus, he lost 47lb for the role.

Talk about dedication.

BEST ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE JARED LETO Two Best Actor wins for “Dallas Buyers

Club”? Well, we couldn’t help it; Jared Leto undeniably deserves this award for his role as the transgendered woman, Rayon. In terms of the film as a whole, it was refreshing to see transgender men and women portrayed in a non-derogatory way in a relatively mainstream movie. Leto, specifically, brought a whole new dimension to this role, spectacularly demonstrating the character’s wit and independence, as well as the toll ostracism takes. In preparation, he joined McConaughey in losing a significant amount of weight for his role as an AIDS victim. His performance and dedication definitely deserve recognition.

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY “HER” The fact that Spike Jonze is the same person who wrote

both “Bad Grandpa” and “Her” is almost unbelievable. “Her” is just such an undoubtedly extraordinary film, and the screenplay is exceptionally unique and truly refreshing. The thought and detail and bizarre concepts that went into this movie is beyond amazing.

While watching the movie, you can’t help but sit there in complete awe and utter amazement that someone actually came up with all these insane ideas that make so much sense. And they really do; they make so much sense in the film. It’s clever and creative and unlike anything we’ve ever seen. This movie blows every other nominee in this category out of the water.

BEST ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE MERYL STREEP While the movie itself was kind of

bizarre, the actors’ performances in “August: Osage County” were unbelievable, especially Meryl Streep’s. Playing a vindictive and hostile matriarch who goes through life high off of a collection of prescription drugs, Streep dominated this film. Her dynamic with the other characters was definitely the highlight of the movie, even through all the brutally honest and emotionally scarring interactions and monologues. We love Streep not just for the pleasant roles she’s played, but for this vicious yet actually quite funny (in a dark humor sort of way) queen of Osage County, that’s such a marvelous deviation from her usual projects.

All hail Meryl, the new queen of mean.

BEST ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE LUPITA NYONG’O It’s impossible to describe Lupita’s

performance in just one word. One minute, she exemplified her character’s seemingly unbreakable spirit, and the next, you could undeniably feel the despair emanating from even just her eyes. Her range of emotion and skill were breathtaking, and she brought a world of dimension to the character. This up-and-coming actress is one we all should be keeping an eye out for, but until she goes on to even greater things, lets give her the Oscar for this unparalleled performance. And if you’re rooting for JLaw just because she’s Jennifer Lawrence, you need to sit down, watch “12 Years a Slave,” and reevaluate your life choices.

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY “CAPTAIN PHILLIPS” Telling the true story of Captain

Richard Phillips in such a passionate, rich, film deserves the title of Best Adapted Screenplay. To be able to convey all the feelings the Captain must have felt within the two hours of the movie was a feat to say the least. These pirate attacks were covered by the media when they occurred in 2009, but this movie captured all of the aspects in a way that made the situation easy to understand but also engaging to watch. The screenwriter, Billy Ray, beautifully adapted the book, written by Phillips himself, to converge into a multilayered movie experience that had us on all ends of the emotional spectrum.

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE “FROZEN” So this category was a no-brainer. We all knew this movie was going to win

before it was even released. “Frozen” tells the tale of two sisters in the kingdom of Arrendale— one, born with the powers of ice, and the other, born with the powers of awkwardness. The delightfully gawky Princess Anna is just like us: she wakes up late with her hair a mess and has an undying love for chocolate. Full of as-unpredictable-as-Disney-gets plot twists, this movie charmed not only its intended audience of children, but their parents, grandparents, and even us angst-ridden teenagers. We’ve seen this movie a total of three times, and each time we’ve spent the entire hour and eight minutes with a smile plastered on each of our faces. Not only are the animations beyond stellar, but the music is essentially taken straight off of Broadway, with Idina Menzel (known best for her lead in “Wicked”) voicing and singing Queen Elsa, and Kristen Bell as Princess Anna. Disney has more or less created an animated Broadway musical. And we love it.

PHOTOS CREDIT WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

to...

February 21, 2014

SouthwordS 9

COMMENTARY | February 21, 2014

Letters to the Editors TBC is for me

I cannot count the number of times people have asked me, “Wait, you’re in TBC?” Most people give me a look of shock and ask why I would do such a thing. “You want to be the only girl in a gym class?” and “I didn’t think you were the type of person for a class like that,” are a few more phrases I have to hear. There have been a lot of questions, and it’s time for some answers.

In 2012, I was ranked fourth-instate for Shotokan karate. This included being among the top five fighters in Illinois. I used to easily run five miles a day and train non-stop. As many girls were quitting karate, I began to train in the boys’ divisions. Although it hasn’t yet gotten to this point, I used to think that there would be mixedgender divisions.

I would wake up at five in the morning before school every day and work out, incorporating cardio, upper and lower body, and flexibility. It took discipline and dedication, but took away my sleeping hours.

All of this stopped when I tore my right ACL and meniscus last year. I had immediate reconstruction surgery, and I was unable to walk without crutches.

I have come a long way in my recovery, but I still have a long way to go to get back to the athlete I was. My goal is to recover and rank even higher the next chance I get. So, as soon as my doctor allowed me to begin training, I got back into my routine of waking up at five in the morning before school every day.

I remember trudging through the day, barely staying awake during my classes. Who wants to wake up that early every day? When I heard about TBC, I knew that was my gateway to keep working out and also recieve a sufficient amount of sleep.

TBC has exponentially increased how quickly I am regaining my strength. Mr. Inserra plans out our weeks so that we rotate through all the muscle groups, and we have a game day every Friday. At first, I was very self-conscious about being weaker

Balloons benefit students and community

Exercise your voice— write a letter to the editors

Deliver signed letters to LRC1 or scan the QR code on the top of this page to e-mail southwords@maine207.org

10 SouthwordS

Recently I was walking with someone before school and as we passed the balloon shop, they scoffed and mumbled, “School’s just trying to get more money out of us.” It was with this comment and the attitudes of several other students that it came to our attention that there are some serious misconceptions about the NHS Balloon Shop.

First and foremost, neither “the school” nor The National Honor Society is making any money off of the sale of balloons. In fact, all proceeds go directly to charity, in particular for this season, Illinois Tornado Relief.

The second issue that has come up repeatedly is the cost. I agree that $3 can seem like a lot, but each balloon costs about $1.50-$2 to make. In order to make any profit for a donation, the price had to be set at $3, or 2 for $5.

This means that for every balloon purchase, about 25% of the money spent goes directly to charity and the rest to cover operational fees.

Another misconception is that we only sell birthday balloons. We’ve tried to incorporate a lot of different

than my peers, but in the end it didn’t matter. All of the guys in the class lift at different levels, and all of us do our best to improve ourselves.

Total Body Conditioning is open to both girls and boys, but finding a girl on the class roster is very rare. I would like to keep this mentality the same.

The last thing TBC needs is a bunch of girls who are only there to flirt with or impress the guys. What TBC does need is people who are ready to work hard, and willing to push themselves past their limits. You should only take this class for yourself; don’t take it for your friends, nor for attention.

So, why am I a girl in TBC? I am here to get back in the shape I was before my injury and progress even further from there on. As a plus, I interact with people I otherwise would not have met. From inside of the weight cage looking out, I now see that I would not want to be in any other gym class.

— Polina Gubarev (‘14)

Maine South High School 1111 South Dee Road Park Ridge, IL 60068 http://www.southwords.org

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

Production Editors Michael Deverman Hannah Simpson News Editors

options in the set-up of our shop and provide not only birthday balloons but balloons for sports and holidays, as well as blank ones.

For example, basketball-shaped balloons can be bought for athletes on senior night, or heart-shaped ones for your Valentine on the 14th. If you’re decorating for a school event or feel like sprucing up a coach’s office, balloons can be purchased to attract attention.

Sales also aren’t restricted to students, and if you are placing a larger order, just e-mail our club sponsor, Mr. McArthur, and we can prepare them ahead of time. All balloons have a NHS-certified sticker which ensures that the balloons purchased are hypoallergenic, and otherwise might be confiscated.

Finally, as many of you have seen, we have changed our location to right in front of the library in order to increase visibility and ease of access for students coming from the A-Wing.

Your balloon purchase can make a friend feel special, and also serve as a donation to a great cause!

Sincerely, National Honor Society Officers

Hope Allchin Dora Bialy

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

Art/Production Team Basia Chruscinski-Ramos Cecelia Cortés Luke Giambrone Josh Larragoity Adviser

Mr. Stathakis

February 21, 2014

STAFF EDITORIAL

| COMMENTARY

Minimum wage should give maximum benefit

uring his State of the Union address on Jan. 28, President Obama presented his proposal to gradually raise the federal minimum wage from $7.25 an hour to $10.10 an hour. Although a controversial economic proposition, President Obama’s plan to raise the minimum wage seems to be an obvious winner for the students of Maine South, many of whom will directly benefit from this proposed change by earning a few extra dollars for every hour of work.

However, the minimum wage should be raised not to give middle-class high school students looking to fund their next Chipotle burrito an increased spending budget, but rather as a means of ensuring a higher quality of life for low-income Americans who subsist on this wage.

The many men and women who rely on the minimum wage, people who often live near or below the poverty line, are experiencing a growing discrepancy between the rising cost of living and a stagnant minimum wage. According to Pew Research center, over 16% of the workforce— nearly 21.3 million workers—not to mention their families, would be affected by the raising of the minimum wage. Increasing the minimum wage would raise the standard of living for these lowincome families.

Raising the minimum wage not only diminishes poverty, but it also stimulates the economy by increasing the spending money of Americans earning the minimum wage.

A higher minimum wage is beneficial to both employees and employers. Workers who earn a

GRAPHIC BY LUKE GIAMBRONE

D

more reasonable wage are more likely to stay with the company, leading to longer periods of employment and more opportunities for promotion.

Employers then have employees who are more

loyal and happy to be with the company. Costco, for example, pays it employees a wage that starts at $11.50 per hour, and the company has some of the best retention rates in the country.

There will be a slight cost to all consumers if the minimum wage is raised, but that cost will be insignificant compared to the gain for minimum wage earners, who would be making approximately $21,000 a year, an increase of about $6,000. In the current economy, some minor inflation is nearly inevitable anyway, and raising the wage floor is an appropriate catalyst.

While some argue that the minimum wage itself is unnecessary, the American government has funded social welfare programs for much of its history, and the minimum wage has always been a major component in reducing poverty.

As high school students earning money at or near the minimum hourly wage, it is a selfish argument to ask for a raise in the minimum wage. But if we look beyond our jobs and towards the people who need the extra few dollars an hour, we can see that increasing the minimum wage is really about increasing the quality of life for all Americans.

Some states, Illinois included, have already determined that $7.25 is not enough, but it is about time that all states require a fair living wage.

While the United States’ economic future is difficult to predict, it is not difficult to recognize that many low-income Americans need a reasonable, federally-regulated wage in order to maintain a standard of living, and a minimum wage of $10.10 is a step in the right direction.

Salad shaming--it’s a thing

Dora Bialy

Editor-in-Chief et’s talk about pizza. At this point, it’s basically a staple of American culture. Sure, it originated as an Italian dish back in the 19th century, but the pizza we know and obsess over today is so American, I’m surprised the pepperoni isn’t in the shape of George Washington. Pizza is so beautiful. We can pretend it covers all the major levels of the food pyramid, it’s a reliable companion for a Friday-night date with Netflix, and it can even unite a pack of hungry teens in under six seconds. But don’t be fooled; it has its dark side. No, it’s not the trans fats, or the carbs, or even the cholesterol.

It’s the power it has over us. Pizza has

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turned us all into monsters.

Okay, so maybe it’s not pizza’s fault, but we as a society of adolescents have definitely gone down this weird path of fast-food glorification.

For most of us, just hearing the word vegan turns us into a pack of rabid wolves ready to destroy and devour any poor soul who tries to eliminate happiness from their life. And by “happiness” I mean bacon. We’ll basically applaud our friends for choking down a 20 piece chicken McNugget, but heaven forbid they go for a salad.

It’s a weird role reversal, but it’s one that’s not entirely surprising.

It’s true, we all like to stuff our faces with a large order of fries every once in a while. Sometimes those occasions happen in rapid succession.

What’s almost as great as the sodiumpacked taste of those thin golden taters is the look of awe and jealousy on your friend’s face when you tell

them about your late night study snack. Or better yet, the onslaught of supportive favorites on your tweet: “Yeah I ate all those fries. By. My. Self. #noragrets.”

It’s a unifying experience, and it’s great that we’re at a point in time where we don’t have to feel overly guilty about choosing the “bad foods.”

It’s kind of bizarre though, because while we may be trying to combat the “need-to-be-thin-and-have-a-hotbod” stereotype imposed by society, we’ve established this new stereotype that essentially claims that you’re not happy if you’re eating healthy.

That may be a bit of an overgeneralization, but there is some truth to it. Body-shaming is definitely an epidemic in today’s culture, and it’s good that we’re starting to recognize that all shapes and sizes are beautiful and eating junk food isn’t something to be ashamed of. But taking a 180-degree

turn and shaming people for wanting to eat healthy is not the way to solve this issue.

If your friend wants to become a vegan, don’t act like he’s grown a second face on the back of his head.

He’s your friend, not Professor Quirrell; show him a little support. It’s already difficult enough for him to resist the cheesy temptation of pizza let alone the added pressure of your disapproving stare.

I can assure you, I’ve definitely been that person that’s chastised someone for ordering a light sandwich instead of a bread bowl. But I’m just jealous. I wish I had the willpower to say no to a cake shake. It’s your body, though, and I have no right to criticize you for the good choices you make. So while I order myself this large deep dish, you eat your kale knowing full-well that I’m supporting you every step of the way.

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SPORTS | February 21, 2014

Hawkettes place third at nationals

Katherine Miles

Staff Writer or the past three years, it has been the Hawkettes’ goal to place third or higher in the Large Kick category at Nationals.

The squad was determined to improve upon their performance in 2013 at Nationals, having achieved sixth place a year ago.

Seeking a top-three finish in a field of the best dance teams in the nation, the team ramped up their commitment. Practicing six days a week for three hours was not enough to satisfy the demands of their goals.

“On Collaboration Days, the team goes in early at 7 a.m. for extra workouts,” sophomore Isabelle Cho said. “Tuesday nights, a technique coach helps train us for a few more hours at night.”

In addition to the extra practice schedule, the Hawkettes debuted new costumes, which illuminated during their routine to make their performance stand out.

Dancing to Fall Out Boy’s “My

F

LIGHT ‘EM UP

PHOTO COURTESY OF KAILEE BRESLIN

The Hawkettes performed at the UDA National Dance Team Competition in Orlando, Florida. The team placed third in the nation in the high kick category.

Songs Know What You Did In the Dark (Light ‘Em Up),” the Hawkettes’ uniforms helped separate them from the rest of the competition.

The team made the decision to wait until the Final Round to unveil their unique uniforms featuring the lights. Other teams used the same song during the competition as well, but the crowd on hand was awed by

the special effects that the Hawkettes incorporated into their routine.

The competition was held at the HP Field House at the ESPN Wide World Sports Center in Orlando, Florida.

“Finding out that we had met our goal of placing in the top three was amazing,” senior captain Hayley Miller said.

Finishing behind two Floridian high schools (Seminole High School and The Villages High School), the Hawkettes were pleased with the outcome because of how hard they worked.

“We worked so hard the month before Nationals,” said senior Kailee Breslin. “It was so demanding and sometimes we would have bad practices, but we always came in the next day ready to work and ready to keep that goal in mind.”

As the Hawkettes Black team competed at Nationals, the Red Team was in competition at the State Finals.

Since the Nationals and State competitions are on the same weekend for the next seven years, the Black Team will continue to perform at the National competition every year in Orlando and the Red Team will perform at the State competition.

The Red team competed against varsity teams from Illinois this year and took home 16th place.

John Lavaccare Staff Writer

M

aine South wrestling is heading into Sectionals on a strong note. Coach Kevin Hansen has led the Hawks to a finish that has seen four of their wrestlers earn a spot in Sectionals. These wrestlers include senior Tommy Brewster and sophomores Jake Bess, Ibrahim Nasir, and Connor Schaul.

The Hawks wrestling team is a relatively young one, featuring only four seniors, with the rest of the team being juniors or sophomores.

The seniors have had to step up during the season, needing to balance their competitive goals with new leadership roles.

“I am optimistic for the next couple of years and the quality that the underclassmen can bring out,” Coach Hansen said.

The wrestlers also know the future is bright.

“We were pretty good this year, [but] we have room for improvement to be even better,” said junior Kenny Martens.

Seniors, coaches, and the underclassmen wrestlers themselves hope to help build a foundation for the

12 SouthwordS

future of Hawks wrestling. For now, they must maintain their focus on finishing out the current season well.

One of the team’s few seniors, Brewster, has been strong all season, capping off an outstanding season by winning the CSL South’s Elias George Outstanding Wrestler Award.

Last year, Brewster suffered a tough loss in the sectional round, and this season he hopes to improve on that finish.

By winning all three of his tournaments this season and being selected Most Outstanding Wrestler in two of those, Brewster has shown his determination to eclipse his past successes this season.

When asked about Brewster’s postseason potential, Coach Hansen had nothing but positives to say.

“He is talented enough to win a state title. There is a possibility for a podium finish, medaling, and being All-State.”

Martens believes the rest of the team is rallying around the senior.

“We all want Tommy Brewster to advance, make it downstate, and win it.”

On the season, the wrestlers finished with a 4-1 record in the CSL

PHOTO BY HANNAH SIMPSON

Four wrestlers move on to Sectionals

MATCHING UP Seniors Tommy Brewester and Tommy Halverson compete in practice before Regionals. They competed at Sectionals on Feb. 15.

South, putting them second in the division.

Maine South finished fifth at the CSL conference meet and moved on to the Schaumburg Regional where the team finished in sixth place.

At wrestling regionals, the top three from each weight class advance to the sectional round. The team’s accomplished their goal of having multiple sectional qualifiers.

“Our goals are trying to win Regionals, and then seeing how far we can go,” Martens said.

The Hawks used a variety of practice techniques to prepare for the postseason.

With a young team that had been

working on developing its skills all season, the practice focus shifted a bit.

“The team has focused on strengthening the things that we do well,” Coach Hansen said.

“Practices have more intensity and more conditioning,” Martens said. “We are just mentally prepping for the playoffs.”

With three sophomores qualifying for the Sectional meet, as well as the conference wrestler of the year, the team is prepared to have a strong season next year.

The wrestlers competed at the Sectional meet on Feb. 15, after press time.

February 21, 2014

| SPORTS

Alyssa Darlak

Staff Writer his season, the boys’ swim team welcomed a new member onto their roster. Transferring from Marmion Military Academy, junior Jon Ramoska has been an important part of the success that has been attained by the swim team thus far in the season.

Ramoska swam his sophomore year at Marmion, but feels a stronger bond with the Hawks swim team.

The transition onto the Hawks swim team was a smooth one.

“He fit in almost instantly,” Coach Kura said.

“The area in which there was a pretty dramatic change was our talent level. When he joined the team, he immediately became one of the top swimmers in the program. Any time you add that kind of talent, it can only have a positive impact on the team’s overall competitiveness and performance.”

One of the biggest accomplishments for the team so far was winning the Conant Invite for the first time in six years. Maine South placed in the top three in every freestyle event at every level. South also took first place in all levels in the 50, 100, and 200-yard free relay, sweeping all the events.

Swimming against Glenbrook South, Ramoska won the 100-yard backstroke. He posted a time of 58.35 seconds to beat the Titans, which was the only victory for the Hawks that night.

Ramoska has not only helped the Hawks in the competitions, but has also played a dominant role in practice.

“Jon adds a lot to the team from both a competition standpoint and from the perspective of practice performance,” said Coach Kura. “He immediately made us a deeper team in all of the freestyle events and stepped in as a significant

T

contributor on our freestyle relays. From a practice perspective, Jon is the type of swimmer that challenges himself everyday to get better and accepts challenges from his coaches really well. This mentality has slowly spread to the rest of his teammates which has helped to make us a better team overall.”

As a team, the Hawks are hoping to break the school records in the 200-yard and 400-yard free relay and take these events down to State later in the season.

“The swim team is the first sport in the school every morning, whether it’s the weight room working out, or in the pool,” said Ramoska. “Then again after school.”

The Hawks are always putting forth their best effort in practices and in meets. The team understands that if they want to accomplish their goal of making it downstate, they will need to push themselves.

Coach Kura encourages the team to focus on working hard in practice, as opposed to pressuring the team to try and achieve a certain time.

“I have tried to focus on having Jon, and the other swimmers on the team, focus on the things that they can control in practice and in meets,” said Coach Kura. “Some of those things are mental focus, attention to detail, their attitude, and the commitment to trying to improve as a swimmer, teammate, and competitor every day. I think if you do well in those areas, the times will take care of themselves and more times than not, athletes will achieve their goals.”

Personally, Ramoska is striving to make the State times in his events at Conference and Sectionals. To help improve his times, Ramoska enjoys racing against seniors Makai DeNeve-Arnam, and Marco Padron. Ramoska finds it more effective to race his teammates, as opposed to swimming for a specific time.

PHOTO BY HANNAH SIMPSON

Young transfer boosts swim team

DIVE-IN

Junior Jon Ramoska is the newest addition to this year’s swim team. He transferred from Marmion Military Academy in the fall, and has hopes of going downstate this season.

“There have been times where my whole body feels numb,” said Ramoska. “But you can’t stop, and I know this is true for me and my fellow Hawk swimmers.”

Ramoska’s best time in the 100-yard freestyle is 49.76 seconds, and his fastest time in the 200-yard freestyle is 1:48.68. In order to qualify for state, the times he must reach are 48.01 in the 100 yard, and 1:45.12 in the 200.

Coach Kura believes that Ramoska wil me able to step in as a leader for next season.

“He really serves as a positive role model for guys that are just beginning swimming in terms of the commitment and effort that it takes to im-

Senior-dominated team fuels cheerleaders Kay Thursby Sports Editors

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ith a squad composed mostly of seniors, the 2013-14 Maine South cheerleading team was counting on experience to carry them through the post-season.

“The team was composed of a lot of mature people who knew cheerleading well,” junior MaryGrace Sharp said. “They were able to use their experience to help the team overall.”

This is the largest number of seniors head cheerleading coach, Mrs. Coy, has had during her career at Maine South.

Majority of this year’s team were returners, helping to strengthen the

team’s chemistry.

“Everyone had become such good friends,” senior captain Emily Butler said. “Even though there were so many seniors, age doesn’t really matter since we have been cheering together for so long.”

The squad was familiar with the State competition because many of the girls had already been to it during their cheerleading career at Maine South. “ T h rou g h out a l l t h e St ate competitions I have been in, I have learned that keeping calm is the best way to get through a routine without making any mistakes,” Butler said.

This year’s State competition was not only physically challenging for the entire team, but emotionally

challenging for all the seniors on the squad.

“This year had been the hardest for the seniors because it is some of our last times ever cheerleading,” senior captain Nikki Fabiano said. “At State, there were so many mixed emotions since we were all very sad, but at the same time we were a little happy because of how well we did overall this season.”

After achieving one of the team’s goals by placing second in their sectional, the Hawks cheerleaders were headed to State. The team had been practicing the routine they used at State since the summer.

The team’s familiarity with the routine greatly contributed to the team’s success over the course of the

season, specifically at Sectionals.

“Everyone’s minds were so focused on doing well this year and it brought out so much energy in everything we did this year,” said Fabiano.

The squad advanced to State with their Sectional score of 90.43. Their goal for the State competition was to place in the top 10, but fell short and placed 20th, with an overall score of 83.80.

Despite the fact that the team did not perform to their own expectations at State, the team’s success could be measured in other ways. “ The team has come so far compared to last year,” said Butler.

“Everyone’s skill levels have increased a ton and that really helped with the routine.”

SouthwordS 13

CHEERLEADING | BOYS’SWIMMING | BASKETBALL | HAWKETTES | HOCKEY | WRESTLING | GIRLS’GYMNASTICS

Back-to-back conference champs Austin Derrick & Julia Sirvinskas Staff Writers

A

s the last buzzer went off in the 2012-2013 boys’ basketball season, there was no question that the Hawks were losing a lot of talent and leadership due to graduation. With three starting seniors leaving, all of whom contributed greatly to the team’s scoring and rebounding totals, new players had to step into their roles for the 2013-2014 season.

Three key players from last years’ regional championship team have returned for this season, and they have been providing leadership to the other players on the team. As focal points of last year’s team, senior Andrew Palucki and juniors Caleb DeMarigny and George Sargeant know what it takes to achieve success from their experiences last year, and are using that to their advantage this year.

The Hawks, who are 19-5 overall with a 8-0 conference record, are looking to improve upon last year’s success. Regular season games and competition at the prestigious Proviso West Holiday Tournament provided great experiences for the team.

Senior forward Jake Pedrelli has learned the importance of using a home crowd to his advantage.

“I am going into these last few games just like the first 24, with a little more intensity knowing that my last home game is coming up soon,” Pedrelli said.

“Being undefeated at home again has been amazing because we are able to give our fans a great experience. They’ve supported us all year and are incredibly loyal.”

At the Proviso West Tournament, the Hawks were neck and neck with Morgan Park, ranked sixth in state at the time, but eventually lost 60-56.

Despite the early season loss, it gave

the team confidence knowing that they could compete with the toughest competition in the state. Coach Tony Lavorato, Jr. is pleased with the team’s direction thus far.

“There are always ways of improving, and we’re looking to improve every day, but I’m really happy where the team is at right now,” Coach Lavorato said.

He has re as on to b e happy, considering the challenges the Hawks have faced this season. The Hawks have overcome injuries and a highly competitive schedule.

Seniors Sean Maloney and Jake Pedrelli have become impact players on the court as well, stepping up from their limited roles on last year’s team.

The Hawks have adopted a “next man up” mentality that Coach Lavorato is an advocate of. He indicated that he likes how these two players have adjusted to the expectations placed upon them.

“We have guys who have played significant roles, like Jake, and we are focusing on trying to blend a bunch of different identities and strengths,” Coach Lavorato said. “This has been a challenge over the course of the summer as well as the season.”

With the leadership of the returning key players, this task has been less difficult. Palucki has been a steady force on the court while helping the team mold as a unit. With two new starters this year, one of which is sophomore guard Jonathan Arenas, Palucki has been providing leadership not previously required of him last year.

“I answer questions for the younger guys, and we have great team chemistry this year,” Paluki said. “We have emphasized communication, and that’s really helped us come together as a team.” The Hawks went on a overnight tournament to Galesburg and Palucki believes that trip really helped the team chemistry going into the final stretches

PHOTO BY MICHAEL DEVERMAN

CUTTIN’ DOWN THE NET Junior forward Davis Neilands slices off a part of Maine South history as he cuts the basketball net. The Hawks clinched their second consecutive CSL South Title with 46-39 win over Evanston on Feb. 8.

of the regular season.

Coach Lavorato is also on the verge of becoming the winningest coach in Maine South boys’ basketball history.

The record, 194, was set by the first head coach in boys’ basketball history, Bernie Brady, from 1964-74.

Sean Maloney sees why Coach Lavorato has been successful in his 11year career as head coach of the Hawks.

“We go into every game expecting to win, and that’s the best part. To know you are being prepared the best way possible for the opponent going into the game makes it easy to play for Coach [Lavorato]. He makes sure we are in the best position to succeed day in and day

out,” Maloney said.

The Hawks have secured back-toback CSL South Championships for the first time since 1979, and look to become the CSL Champions for the second straight year. They believe they have a good shot to go far in the playoffs and make it to Sectionals, which Maine South is hosting this year.

Recent Chicago Sun Times Player of the Week George Sargeant is confident in the Hawks’ abilities.

“We believe that we can make a deep run in March because we have strong leadership up top that just trickles down to make everyone better. Plus, we’re tough as nails.”

Follow @SouthwordsSport for updates on Hawks sporting events 14 SouthwordS

What does it take to be on the Southwords staff?

T

his pullout is the application for the 2014-2015 Southwords staff. A description is given for each position on staff.

The Southwords staff consists of editors-in-chief, news editors, features editors, entertainment editors, commentary editors, sports editors, production editors, graphic designers, artists and photographers, as well as several staff writers and freelance writers for each section.

It is necessary for editors to have strong proofreading skills and be able to work with students collaboratively.

Editors must always be approachable and never condescending. Editors should be familiar with Adobe products. As part of the Southwords editorial board, editors will come to a consensus on a topic in one well-written opinion piece that represents the newspaper’s view as a whole. Editors must be enrolled in Newspaper Practicum for the entire year, because this is where the paper is created.

All positions require enthusiasm and consistent contributions; students applying must be willing to spend time and put forth a great deal of effort on their work. Also, staff must also be able to work in a timely manner, as meeting deadlines is vital to being on a newspaper staff.

For more information on any staff position, feel free to e-mail an editor-in-chief or the faculty adviser, Mr. Stathakis.

Editor-in-chief Editor-in-chief is a position only open to returning editing staff. The editor-in-chief must be familiar with the editing process, as well as Adobe products, such as InDesign and Photoshop.

This position is also responsible for writing “Property of the Editors,” a column in Commentary section.

The editor-in-chief must be in attendance at all extra paste-up hours and offer assistance in any way possible.

The editor-in-chief is also responsible for the cover page, so he/she must have knowledge of what will be published in the other sections of the paper.

News The News section covers developing stories ranging from school happenings and local events to international issues.

News writers need to be informed about school and national issues and must be comfortable interviewing people. Staff and freelance writers alike must be able to write objectively and with finesse.

News editors must be up-to-date on news inside and outside of school.

Editors must also be ready to factcheck articles.

Features The Features section contains the widest variety of articles. Features focuses on issues that directly affect students, both in and out of school.

Features writers must be inventive; finding an interesting topic to report about can sometimes be challenging.

A good features section focuses on relevance and interest.

Features editors must be wellrounded and ready to condense and edit articles fairly. Fact-checking is necessary, but the most emphasis is placed on relevance.

Entertainment The Entertainment section contains reviews and articles related to art, music, video games, literature, restaurants, and anything else that might be considered entertainment.

Entertainment writers must be well-informed of the school’s fine art events. Unique to the entertainment section, writers specializing in a specific genre (music, TV, etc.) are welcome.

Entertainment editors need to be knowledgeable about popular events and recreational activities and open to writing and reading about different topics. The Entertainment staff also creates or assembles any games featured in the newspaper.

Commentary The Commentary section is the voice of the students at Maine South.

Commentary writers need to be creative and opinionated. They

must be able to present an issue about which they are passionate, avoiding ranting and remaining professional.

Commentary editors must be extremely careful, because editing opinions can be problematic. Editors must also be open-minded, because a wide variety of opinions will always exist in their section.

Sports The Sports section covers all sports at Maine South. It also occasionally features articles about professional and collegiate sports.

Sports writers need to be up-todate on all sports at Maine South.

Sports writers should be creative in their reporting on events. Accurate reporting is crucial.

Sports editors are responsible for making sure that each Maine South sport is covered during a given season.

Sports editors must be aware of varsity sports happenings, as well as other sports included at school. A deep knowledge of sports—within the school and outside of the school—is a necessary component of being an editor for the Sports section.

Production To help with the technical aspects of putting together a newspaper, a production editor must be knowledgeable in the maintenance and operation of Dell computers, a Windows operating system, as well as have skill in InDesign and Photoshop CS6. Most importantly, the production editor must be willing to learn to use these programs more proficiently and offer help whenever necessary.

The production editor should attend every meeting and pasteup—when the final components of the paper are added together—to provide the editors with technical assistance.

with Photoshop and/or InDesign software.

Artist/Cartoonist Artists and cartoonists must be familiar with Photoshop software, scanner software, and InDesign (or be willing to learn the software and hardware). The ability to produce illustrations quickly and on demand is just as important as the artist’s skill.

Photographers Photographers should be comfortable with taking photos and skilled in doing so. Photographers must be ready to take pictures at any time and to take specific pictures by a set deadline.

Photographers must also have flexible schedules, since they may have to attend away-from-school events. Owning a digital camera is preferred but not required.

Staff Writers All writers must have a good grasp of grammar and be able to write concisely. Staff writers should have the time necessary to complete their articles; they need to be consistent and dedicated to their work. Staff writers will sign a contract to contribute at least four articles. Though their primary contributions are towards their assigned section, they may also write for other sections.

If you or anyone you know is interested in joining Southwords, visit http://apply.southwords.org, or fill out the application on the other side of this page and sign up for an interview outside of C130 (the English workroom) by Friday, Feb. 28.

Interviews begin Monday, March 3.

A writer’s biggest reward is having his or her own words read; Graphic Designers Graphic designers are responsible don’t miss this opportunity! for improving the layout of the paper and assisting the editors-in-chief and section editors with the aesthetics of the paper. They should be familiar

Due Friday, February 28

ALL STAFF MUST SUBMIT AN APPLICATION Staff

Application

There are now two ways to apply for the 2014-2015 Southwords staff! While the online application is preferred, you may complete the paper application below and drop it off in the Southwords mailbox in the English office, C130. See the reverse side of this application for job descriptions, and feel free to contact Mr. Stathakis with any questions.

ONLINE: APPLICATION PAPER:

APPLICATION

The easiest way to apply is to visit http://apply.southwords.org or to scan the QR code to the right. Your application will not be processed, though, until you have also signed up for an interview outside the English office, C130. Current staff members do not need to sign up for an interview unless applying for an editorial position.

Please complete this form accurately, completely, and legibly.

Name:___________________________________________________________ Class of 20______ E-mail address:____________________________________________________________________ Freshman year English teacher:

My cumulative GPA is _______. My most recent semester GPA is_______. Sophomore year English teacher: Extracurricular activities I will be involved with next year:

Junior year English teacher: Art/Computer design teacher (if applicable):

Staff application:

Open to current and prospective staff members

Returning staff members must complete this form.

Please indicate your order of preference by numbering your choices (1st & 2nd). Select no more than two, but you may select only one if that’s your only section of interest.

Editor application:

Open to current and prospective staff members

ALL editors must take Newspaper Practicum (usually 8th period), which will earn you an elective English credit.

Please indicate your order of preference by numbering your choices (1st & 2nd). Select no more than two, but you may select only one if that’s your only section of interest.

­­_____News writer ­­_____Features writer _____Entertainment writer _____Commentary writer ­­_____Sports writer ­­_____Photographer* ­­_____Artist/Cartoonist* _____Graphic Design team*

*Please bring portfolio/samples to interview, if possible.

­­_____News editor ­­_____Features editor _____Entertainment editor ­­_____Commentary editor _____Sports editor ­­_____Production/Design editor _____Editor-in-Chief

(For returning staff members only. All Editor-in-Chief candidates must contact Mr. Stathakis.)

Please return paper applications to the Southwords mailbox in C130 (the English Workroom).

TO COMPLETE YOUR APPLICATION, YOU MUST SIGN UP FOR AN INTERVIEW ON THE SCHEDULE OUTSIDE C130 by FRI. FEB 28