Vol 52 Issue 7 Southwords by Southwords

March 24, 2016

1111 S. Dee Road • Park Ridge, Illinois 60068

Vol. 52, No. 7

Maine South is hosting the ‘Mr. Hawk’ pageant in order to raise money for the annual school wide fundraiser. PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY MONICA BIELAWIEC & KATE PAPCIAK

See pages 8-9

So you’re not traveling this Spring Break. Fear not—Southwords has your guide to the ultimate staycation. See pages 8-9

You’ve Got Mail District 207 responds to e-mail inundation. Page 2

Act Your Age

Students fail to respect authority figures. Page 4

Treat yo’self

Smaha Spotlight

Celebrate your birthday with A look at the Smaha family a month full of freebies. legacy at MS. Page 11 Page 16

NEWS | March 24, 2016

Nine Maine South seniors attend Republican dinner Monica Bielawiec

Editor-in-Chief ine Maine South seniors attended the GOP’s Northwest Suburban Republican Lincoln Day Dinner at The Meadows club on March 11, just a few days before the Illinois primary. The dinner attracted many high-powered republicans from all over the state and featured Republican candidate Ted Cruz as the keynote speaker of the evening. The students were sponsored by Mel Thillens, the candidate for the 28th District Illinois State Senate position, who secured tickets and tables for them. The evening began with hors d’oeuvres as guests arrived to the event. The guest list consisted mainly of Illinois republican political figures as well as avid GOP party supporters. Anyone who purchased tickets could attend the event. Dinner Chairman Joe Folisi and United States Representative Peter Roskam also spoke at the event. They emphasized the importance of contribution and support to the Republican party so that it can continue to be a strong player in Washington. However, the guest of honor was Republican Presidential candidate Ted Cruz. In his career, the Texas senator served as George W. Bush’s Domestic Policy Adviser, Associate Deputy Attorney General, and as the Director of Policy Planning at the U.S Federal

Trade Commission. During his speech, Cruz continued to encourage the election of a conservative majority, and of course, a conservative president. In terms of his campaign for president, he focused on three areas: jobs, freedom, and security. Cruz stressed the importance of small businesses for the prosperity of the nation. He vowed to abolish the IRS and other federal agencies that inhibit the success of small businesses. “The heart of our economy is not Washington,” said Cruz. “The heart of our economy is small businesses.” Another one of his main concerns was the repeal of the Affordable Care Act. “If I am elected president, we will repeal every word of Obamacare,” said Senator Cruz. “We will pass common sense healthcare that is affordable and won’t pass legislation that keeps us between our doctors.” Besides that, Cruz plans on ending welfare for people here illegally and creating a simple flat tax. His goal is to create millions of jobs, wages, and opportunities for people. Cruz also mentioned the Supreme Court justice that seat recently opened up with the passing of Justice Scalia. Cruz stressed the importance of electing a conservative justice in order to protect the rights promised by the Constitution, most importantly the First and Second Amendments and the entire Bill of Rights. Cruz pressed

that he will not compromise when it comes to personal liberties. “The passing of Justice Scalia underscored just how critical this election is,” said Cruz. “We are one liberal justice away from the Supreme Court stripping away the religious liberty of every American.” In regards to security, Cruz discussed unchaining the economy to rebuild the military “back into the mightiest fighting force on the planet.” His plans included a direct solution to the issues in the Middle East. “No longer will our military be governed by political correctness” said Cruz. “We will defeat the radical Islamic terrorists. We need to get in,

kill the enemy, and get the hell out.” Cruz also criticized Trump for many of his policies, his media facade, as well as his wavering commitment to Republican principles. Cruz, Trump and John Kasich are the last three Republican candidates in the race. Although Cruz admitted that the media has already given Trump the nomination for the Republican party, he stressed that he is Trump’s only real competitor. With the competition neck-and-neck in Illinois, Cruz encouraged everyone to go out and support him in the Illinois primary. “Come stand together, stand united as one,” said Cruz. “If we stand united, we will win this nomination.”

“This was a programming error by Hapara,” said Dr. Thiele, Chief Technolog y Officer for Maine Township High District 207. “We believe that a student found this Google Group in their student Google account and then used a fake Gmail account to contact all students.” Students who chose to use this to their advantage and sent inappropriate emails violated the Acceptable Use Policy and faced disciplinary actions. The Acceptable Use Policy states that “sending email that is unsolicited junk, rumor, harassment, obscene, or chain letters is prohibited... The use of mass mailing should be minimized, and approval for mass messages may be required by a building or district administrator.” “Those who chose to respond

inappropriately were given consequences for misuse of district technology,” said Dean Thetard. “It was a small handful of students from each of the three schools.” In total, every student in the district received approximately 460 emails sent by students from all three schools. There are no specifics regarding who suffered the consequences; however, the consequences given to t he students w ho b ehave d inappropriately were more along the lines of detentions rather than suspension or expulsion. Though there were some students who misused the technology, there were still many students who acted appropriately. “It should be noted that many

students took the appropriate response and informed administrators that something was wrong with the email system and behaved appropriately,” said Dr. Thiele. As soon as District 207 became aware of the issue, they closed the group and any others that were incorrectly set up. According to Dr. Thiele, there were no other exploits or security issues that occurred. In order to prevent this from happening in the future, the district has taken steps to ensure that Hapara does not create groups with the same settings. They are also seeing this as a teachable moment for students, parents, and staff in which digital citizenship and appropriate use of technology should be continued to be taught.

PHOTO COURTESY MONICA BIELAWIEC

CRUZ-ING INTO POLITICS

Maine South seniors Anna Kons, Austin Derrick, Olivia Frink, Alexander Yerkan, Maura Burke, Ryan Thorsen, Emma Ahlbeck, Michael Gorman, and Monica Bielawiec attend the Northwest Suburban Republican Lincoln Day Dinner the day before the Illinois primary. They saw several Republican speakers, including Presidential candidate Ted Cruz.

Email group causes district-wide disruption Rhyanne Noche

News Editor hrough a programming error in the Hapara system, a Google Group that contained student email addresses in Maine 207 was exploited and used to send mass emails to all District 207 students on March 9. As a result, other students took advantage of the group and began responding to the messages. The Google Group was incorrectly created in an automated process through the Hapara tool that is used by teachers to organize, manage, and track their students’ activities and assignments across all Google Apps. When Hapara was configured, an open Google Group was made that allowed any email address to send out to the entire District 207 student body.

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PHOT

March 24, 2016

| NEWS

Student Leader Summit brings D207 together Monica Bielawiec Editor-in-Chief

nce every year, a select group of students from each District 207 school meet to spend a day building leadership, connections, and new ideas for school programs. The Student Leadership Summit, or SLS, was an all-day event hosted by the Maine South Principal’s Advisory Council. The students of the Principal’s Advisory Council, or PAC, come from all grade levels and act as representatives. They offer input on administrative decisions that affect students. Each District 207 school has its own version of PAC, and it is these groups of students that meet at the conference every year. The Maine South PAC team worked diligently to organize the conference at Maine South. “We start planning the conference at the start of the year, but we pull it all together in the month before we hold the actual conference,” said Principal Shawn Messmer. The students are in charge of planning the schedule for the day, as well as creating activities for opening channels of discussion between the

PHOTO COURTESY MONICA BIELAWIEC

schools. The SLS conference is meant to create stronger bonds between the three District schools. “We all acknowledge that our schools never get together even though all our students live within 15 minutes of one another,” said Mr. Messmer. “We wanted to bring our students together and dispel some myths about each other and help us all realize we have more in common than we have differences.”  BREAKING STEREOTYPES The Southwords editorial board d i s c u s s e s t h e i mp o r t a n c e o f cooperation among students at all D207 schools. See page 5 To do that, the Maine South PAC team began the day by pairing up with students in the same grade level. The students from other schools then had the opportunity to attend two regular classes at Maine South before continuing on with a tour of the school and break-out activities for discussions. The goal of the conference was to unite Maine South, Maine West, and Maine East and to stimulate thoughtful discussion on how to improve each school from the students’ perspective.

A MEETING OF MINDS

Maine East, West, and South students of all grades participate in the Student Leader Summit held at Maine South. They attended classes and workshops to learn about each others’ schools and plan events that would incorporate students from all three schools.

Discussions ranged from fundraising ideas to ways to improve school spirit. “We hold the SLS every year in order to have leaders from all three Maine schools collaborate and share ideas on how to make our schools better,” said Maine East senior Yash Patel. “The student leader summits help to combine the minds of students who really care about their respective schools. Ultimately, we are able to bounce ideas/learn about how things work in each of the three buildings in order to possibly integrate those ideas

into our own schools.” The SLS was started only three years ago. However, it has already built strong bonds among its members. Each year, the students look forward to meeting and sharing new ideas about how to improve the District 207 schools. “Being a senior, I’ve been able to experience three SLS conferences and built bonds with the members of the teams at the other Maine schools,” said Maine West senior Kari Radke. “Being with everyone is what I look forward to most every year.”

Hackathon keeps Maine South coders up all night

Noah Balduf News Writer

aine South hosted its second annual hackathon, called 207Hack, last weekend. The Hackathon took place over two days, where students stayed up for 24 hours to code a variety of projects and games. Students arrived at 11:00 a.m. on March 5 and left at 3:00 p.m. on March 6. Participants came armed with multiple desktop computers, tents, sleeping bags, and Mountain Dew. The hackathon was not hacking in the literal sense, but building a program from scratch to perform a function or provide entertainment. Students wrote in a variety of languages, including Java, JavaScript, Unity, and C#. Students were allowed to create whatever program they desired, but it had to be created within 24 hours. No work could be done before or after.

Students executed various ideas, such as an app that solves math problems by looking at a picture of them, all kinds of video games, and even a virtual reality program. “Students learn how to work in small teams to deliver a project under a strict deadline,” said computer science teacher Mr. Hurley, who organized the hackathon. “They also sometimes learn that the original vision for their project isn’t realistic, so in that sense they learn time management. This year’s hackathon brought in 18 groups, twice as many as last year. Students from Maine East and Maine West attended, as well as a team from Fremd High School in Palatine. The hackathon was completely free, and anyone could attend. No prior coding experience was necessary, and people could even come just to learn and watch the proceedings. One of the main goals of the

hackathon was to make coding more fun and accessible for students who were not necessarily taking a class. “I would say that it’s less difficult than most people think it is,” said sophomore Nathaniel Cohen. “If someone is good at math and foreign language, this will come easily to them.” Cohen made a video game with his hackathon group. The game, called “Luv Finder,” asked players a series of questions and matched them with a character at the end. His group finished within the 24-hour time limit. If students wanted to take a break from coding—many students coded for over 10 hours at a time—students were encouraged to blow off steam by playing volleyball in the back gym or hanging out in the fieldhouse. The time allotted for writing code ended at noon on March 6, and then the projects were judged by computer science students at local colleges such

as IIT and UIC. The winner of the competition was junior Graham Plank from Maine South, who made his own video game. The game was titled “Project Flywheel,” and was a virtual reality experience. Users strapped on headsets, picked up controllers, and explored the virtual world that Plank created. The controller would help the player move around, while the headset’s gyroscope determined what the player would be looking at. Cohen’s team took second place, and third prize was awarded to seniors Dylan Redeker and Kuba Wiszowaty, who developed the app that solves math problems. 207Hack allowed many students to experiment with new techniques and express their love of coding. In the future, Mr. Hurley and Maine South’s coding enthusiasts hope that the event will continue to expand and introduce students to computer science in a new and exciting way.

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COMMENTARY

| March 24, 2016

Showing respect to our authority figures I

t is not uncommon for students to have issues with a staff member, whether that be a teacher, dean, or security guard. However, recently there has been discussion around the school concerning the appropriate way to handle these problems. Students seem to have trouble understanding the purpose and place of authority figures in a learning environment, and as a result have difficulty handling these problems in a mature and respectful way. A major reason why teens have trouble with authority figures is the misunderstanding that students have about adults. Students are expected to behave like adults, but are still under the control of authority figures. Many aspects of our lives are micromanaged: where we are allowed to be, when we are allowed to be there, and what we are allowed to do. This can be frustrating for many independent-minded students who feel that they are mature enough to make these decisions for themselves. However, in order to create a cohesive, ef fective learning environment, a school needs to have authority over the student body. Regardless of how arbitrary or pointless some rules may seem, many are necessary in order to prevent chaos. What many teens don’t understand is that authority figures exist to make and enforce rules that keep us safe from our own potentially destructive

IE DUERKOP

Features & News Editor

ILLUSTRATION BY LUL

Margaret Cahill & Anastasia Dalianis

decisions and those of our peers. In doing this, they also help us to learn from a young age the difference between right and wrong. Te e n s a l s o h a v e t r o u b l e recognizing that no matter what job they have after high school or college, freedom from supervision never truly happens; it is likely that most will need to answer to a superior, such as a boss or a manager. Au t h o r i t y f i g u r e s in s cho ol prov ide teens with the opportunity learn to interact respectfully with adults. If students are allowed to grow up without learning how to form these crucial relationships, their professional careers may be compromised. There certainly are t i me s w he n authority figures treat students unfairly. Not all rules will be just, and there is always the potential for law enforcement to abuse their power. The problem comes when teens do not understand the difference between an authority figure simply doing his or

her job and an authority figure truly overstepping the line. In cases where students feel that certain rules are unnecessary or unfair, they have a tendency to blame the people enforcing the rules instead of trying to mend the unfair p olicies themselves. For example, if a student is in the halls during a class period without a pass and she gets stopped by a security guard, instead of blaming the guard, she should direct her frustration at the rule that prohibits students from walking through the halls during class. In doing this, the student must remember to evaluate the possible reasons for the rule. In this case, the reason passes need to be checked is to make sure that students are where they need to be, when they need to be; the school is responsible for student safety at all times, and if they can’t locate a student, parents need to be informed.

If the student still believes that the rule is unfounded, then she could broach the subject with an administrator. This mature way to approach the problem is much more likely to show administration that the student is serious about effecting change, instead of merely being upset about personal consequences. The best way to resolve a conflict with a staff member (or anyone for that matter) is to address the problem calmly and honestly with that person. If the problem persists, then the student should talk to a counselor or dean about the problem and try to resolve it that way. Students could also speak to their parents or other trusted adults and explain the situation to get an unbiased perspective on the issue. Complaining to friends or other students might actually make the problem worse and encourage them to try to deal with the problem in an immature and disrespectful way. For example, in many cases, students may misinterpret brusque behavior from security guards as rudeness or disrespect, when in reality these security guards are in charge of monitoring thousands of students every day and are just trying to do their jobs as efficiently as possible. Students who engage in destructive behaviors on school property and act negatively or violently towards authority figures should not expect these adults to be lenient. While students might think they are standing up for themselves when they rebel against authority for trivial matters, they are actually undermining their own purpose. This behavior doesn’t empower students—it just prevents us from being taken seriously in the future by the administration.

What do YOU think? Submit article ideas or write a letter to the editors!

Deliver signed letters to the Southwords office (next to the testing center) or e-mail southwords@maine207.org

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March 24, 2016

STAFF EDITORIAL Building bonds for the betterment of D207 I t is undeniable that there are wellestablished stereotypes among all three of the District 207 schools. As bad as it is to admit, many of our students have a dismissive attitude towards our sister schools. We are often blinded by our own successes, causing us not to recognize others which means we miss the opportunity to make valuable connections with other schools. It simply boils down to this: Maine South has an unfortunate superiority complex. By superiority complex, we mean that Maine South students often easily believe the narrative that other schools don’t measure up. Our hallways are embellished with trophies and recognitions—both athletic and academic—and this oftentimes makes students feel they have a reason to disregard the other schools with different areas of focus and recognition. Instead of being preoccupied with ourselves, we should recognize and aspire to emulate all of the positive characteristics of the other schools. For example, Maine East has an incredible drama department that produces professional-quality shows. Maine West displays thundering school spirit which empowers

the school both athletically and academically. Both schools are composed of a melting pot of diversity that creates a unique student body and generates a wide variety of talents and skill-sets. Emphasizing that we share one district identity can only benefit our schools in the long run. Still, each school carries what seem to be unbreakable stigmas. For Maine South, these stereotypes include classifying Hawks as rich, snobby, and over-confident. This perception of Maine South, while not necessarily true, can be attributed to our own actions. We have not given any of the schools an opportunity to become familiar with who we really are. Our three schools are different. That is undeniable. We come from different neighborhoods, different socio-economic backgrounds, and different ethnicities; however, that does not make one school better than another, nor does it mean that we cannot learn from one another. We need to overcome these stigmas and expectations and improve the relationship between students in the District 207 schools. In doing so, we would open up new opportunities for all students and share facets of our

schools that can facilitate growth and development. Currently, our district holds the annual Student Leadership Summit at one of the Maine schools in an attempt to bring students together. The day is spent breaking down stereotypes, bonding, sharing and collaborating among the schools. While the conference is successful, we should further promote these connections; the schools should i mpl e me nt pro g r ams su ch as shadowing for students to switch schools for a day, inter-school sports, or even combined events such as a V-Show or school dance Learning about the different school cultures can introduce new perspectives and increase the diversity of thought at Maine South. Addressing mutual school issues can encourage problem-solving and teamwork. Becoming familiar with our peers at other schools can teach us all to appreciate and respect the one another. We’re all high schoolers. We’re all trying to find ourselves, to work hard these four years and make something of ourselves. It’s time we shed our differences and welcome new and positive influences into our lives.

It’s not bad to be addicted to stress Monica Bielawiec Editor-in-Chief

o to school. Focus in class. Go to practice. Go to work. Keep up with homework. Study for 5 AP classes. Go to the other job. Write articles. Volunteer. Run the newspaper. Fill out college forms. Write scholarship essays. Attend this meeting. Organize this event. Breathe. Twenty-four hours just never seems like enough. I rarely come to school without bags under my eyes, sleep deprivation taking over my entire system. I can barely function, let alone keep my attention focused on that day’s worth of lessons and work. I’m also fully aware that there is another hectic day awaiting me, along with hours upon

hours of after-school activities. More often than not, people ask me: why do I do it? I have begun to realize that I am addicted to stress. Yes, I’ll complain about it, but I’ll refuse to take the actions necessary to cut back its influence on my mental and emotional well-being. I need to be busy, active, and engaged in a variety of activities and events. If I have too much free time, much of it is wasted that could instead be used to do something of value. The truth is that stress is also motivation, energy, pressure, and excitement, and without it, I would have accomplished very little. Stress is also manageable when the source of it is something you don’t mind being stressed about. As a journalist, being worried about an article due date or an upcoming assignment is positive stress because I know the process of addressing my responsibilities and the final outcome will be things I enjoy and am proud of.

For me, stress becomes unmanageable when I’m engaging in the things I am not passionate about. That’s when stress devolves into something negative—dealing with responsibilities that have no meaning to you. It is just tedious busy work—time wasted instead of well spent doing something you love. You don’t need to be involved in a million activities, as long as the few you are participating in are ones that you are interested in and passionate about. Really consider what is important to you and don’t waste your time doing something that isn’t. As a member of countless clubs and organizations, I am an active participant in all of them. I look forward to my activities and eagerly take on duties and responsibilities for each of them. At the end of the day, my plate may be more than full, but because I’m hungry, every bite is delicious.

| COMMENTARY

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

Scan this QR code to e-mail Southwords S outhword s is a stu d e nt - r u n publication designed as a public forum for student opinion and balanced reporting on topics relevant to the Maine South community. Unsigned editorials represent the consensus opinion of the Southwords Editorial Board. Personal commentaries represent the opinion of the author alone and do not represent the opinions of the publication nor District 207. Stu d e nt p ar t i c ip at i on i n t he newspaper, whether through readership, submitting articles, or voicing comments or concerns is encouraged. Signed letters to the editor can be delivered to the Southwords office (next to the testing center), 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.

Editors-in-Chief Monica Bielawiec Kate Papciak News Editors Anastasia Dalianis Rhyanne Noche Entertainment Editors Laura Cash Lauren Papp Olivia Post Features Editors Margaret Cahill Christina Johnson Bridget Yagihashi Commentary Editors John Sullivan Mariam Zaki Sports Editors

Art Editor

Mike Greco Sam Tinaglia

Basia Chruscinski

Production Editors

Haley Mech Arden Sasak

Adviser

Mr. Stathakis

SouthwordS 5

COMMENTARY | March 24, 2016

Online classes expand curricular possibilities Caroline Coyle Caroline Coyle

Commentary Writer

regular Maine South day consists of nine, forty- five minute periods, which some complain is too much time to be in school; however, for others it is simply not enough. Many students at Maine South have full schedules, and some don’t have room for lunch, let alone another class. Expanding online course offerings would allow students to take classes that won’t fit into their schedule. Maine South offers a wide range of classes for students to take. From culinary to choir, to fashion to French, our curricula allow students to express their creativity and explore

career paths. Unfortunately, due to the heavy required course load, students are forced to stifle their creativity and chose only one or two electives. Students should be able to take as many classes as they would like, and students would be able to do that if more classes were offered online. If students were able to take social science classes online, for example, then they would be able to take more hands-on classes during school like art or orchestra. Allowing students to take certain classes online would also clear up scheduling conflicts. For example, if two classes that a student wanted to take were only available during 8th period, a student could take one of the classes online and the problem would be solved. Curricular conflicts also arise when students consider their summer school schedule. If a student would want to take U.S. History over the

summer, an online course could eliminate conflicts involving travel. The idea of online classes is sometimes frowned upon by some students because they would be taking a full course on top of all the work that is given in school. It is true that online classes won’t work for some students because with extracurriculars, there simply isn’t time to complete the additional course work. However, online courses aren’t meant to cater to everyone; it is for the students who want to take a class but simply don’t have time in their schedule. Consumer Education is already offered online and a Government course that is a campus/online hybrid is soon to follow.Think of how many more would benefit from more varied online course offerings. Online courses could prove to be a very beneficial option for many

students in a variety of situations. Like most things, though, there are drawbacks to consider. It is clear that a laptop and a generic voice cannot replace the learning experience that a teacher and a classroom environment offers. Online courses shouldn’t be taken as a replacement for core classes. Instead, they should be used rarely to cover certain graduation requirements that would otherwise cause a detrimental conflict in a student’s schedule. Overall, allowing students to have more options to grow using the benefits of technology would only serve to better our academic environment. This new frontier could open doors for students to take courses that they otherwise would not have the opportunity to take. This would allow for a more fulfilling high school career, which would ultimately lead to more well-rounded students.

Maine South currently offers five languages: Spanish, German, Chinese, Italian and French. This is a generous selection because many schools don’t offer such wonderful opportunities to learn about other languages and cultures, but the school would benefit by adding several more that are widely utilized around the world. Wit h t he emphasis on communication in every aspect of our life, a greater variety of foreign language options will be beneficial to the student population in a few ways. Additional languages could prove to be a popular pick for a students who want to expand their horizons. Spanish courses seem to be overwhelmed with students, and adding another language or two could reduce class sizes and give the students a larger range to choose from. Languages such as Russian and Japanese are the national languages of two extremely influential world

powers that are continuing to grow every day. Either language would be a fine asset to the school’s foreign language department. With additional choices, more students could discover a language that fulfills their interests. Polish is the third most popular language in our state, topped only by English and Spanish. Creating a Polish language course would be beneficial for any individual that would like to remain in-state for the majority of their life. I personally grew up with both my parents preferring Polish over English. If I had not taken Polish language classes, I would not nearly be as close to them as I am now. Some would argue that the cost of increasing course offerings would be too much. To be fair, adding additional language options would require more teachers and would cost the district a great deal of money. But the costs are far outweighed by the opportunities that these extra

classes would provide. Exposure to these languages in high school would pay off, in the same way that an AP course would. Even in a seemingly mundane setting like being a cashier at mall or working at a restaurant, one could benefit greatly from additional language skills. When one encounters an individual that speaks the same language, a connection is immediately formed, increasing profits and customer potential. Parents would also appreciate additional languages offerings. If students were able to learn a language that is part of their own culture or heritage, it would be a great opportunity for students to explore more about themselves. Overall, the addition of languages offered in our curriculum could serve to widen our perspective on the world around us. One class has the potential to impact one’s life in school and beyond, wherever they may go.

More language options for us, por favor

Justyna Lepa

Commentary Writer

ommunication is what powers our lives. We joke with our friends, debate in our classes and comprehend words and sentences in every imaginable circumstance. Life as we know it would cease to exist without the convenience of verbal communication. He re at Ma i n e S out h , it’s mandatory to take four years of an English/Literature class to develop teens’ communication skills. The English department also has a wide selection of courses. And although there is some variety in our foreign language offerings, an even greater variety would be beneficial.

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GRAPHIC BY HALEY MECH

March 24, 2016 | COMMENTARY

Technology shouldn’t be a man’s world Anastasia Dalianis News Editor

hen I signed up for AP Computer Science this year, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. I didn’t know what code was, let alone how to write it. But what nagged at my mind even more than this was the fear that I would be the only girl in the class. Looking back, this fear seems ridiculous, but it’s very real for many teenage girls entering high-level math, science, and technology classes. While the percentage of women in STEM is on the rise, misconceptions about being a woman in technology are still keeping high-school aged girls from entering the field. Technology is the future—and it shouldn’t just be a boys’ club. At Mai n e S out h , of t h e approximately 50 students currently enrolled in AP Computer Science, only 5 are girls. Because of these low numbers, colleges and major companies are seeking women who are interested in pursuing technology. In addition, due to the applicability of computer science to almost any job, many colleges and universities are making programming classes a mandatory distribution requirement. Taking computer science in high school rather than college allows students the opportunity to learn to write code in a more stimulating and creative environment than a lecture hall with hundreds of other people. Fo r g i r l s , e s p e c i a l l y teenage girls, what can be harder to shake than lack of initial experience is the fear of being treated differently because of gender. Since its inception, technology has been associated with men. Men such as Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg i nve nte d t he GRAPHIC BY ARDEN SASAK

devices and social media platforms that we use today. When asked to picture a software engineer or IT person, most people will automatically think of a man. There have been women who made major contr ibutions to technology, such as Ada Lovelace, who is regarded as the first computer programmer—but they are rarely discussed. Because of this, girls thinking about taking classes in technology may be put off because they are worried that they will be degraded because of their gender. After a semester and a half of AP C omputer Science, I can say that this couldn’t be further from the truth. I’ve always taken accelerated or AP math and science classes, but I never noticed much of a gender divide. Male and female students worked cohesively in groups with little conflict. I thought this would be different in computer science because of the complete gender imbalance in my class—two girls out of a class of 25. However, what struck me the most after a few weeks was that there really was no difference between being

a guy and a girl in the class. I was never mocked for my complete lack of knowledge about writing code. If I had absolutely no idea what was going on—which was often at first—I could ask one of the guys sitting next to me, and none of them ever talked down to me or refused to give me help. No one underestimated my ability to write complicated programs. The teacher had the same expectations for me as for the boys in the class. And neither I nor the other girl in the class were ever called out by the other students just for being girls. We were treated with just as much respect as our male counterparts. Wit h t he abu nd anc e of opportunities for involvement in technology at Maine South, there’s really no excuse not to try something new. There are technology classes suited to every interest, and contrary to popular belief, most of them don’t require advanced coding or math skills. There’s a semester-long computer science elective and two AP computer science classes, none of which require any prerequisites. For girls who enjoy writing code outside

“Technology is the future—and it shouldn’t just be a boys’ club.”

of school but have never taken a class, IIT offers a work-study and internship through Maine South. Computer Club has members of all levels, from absolute beginner to advanced. Annua l e vents such as t he hackathon don’t just involve coders— anyone can join a team and do graphics or art for the various programs. Classes such as Graphic Arts and 3-D Animation combine art and technology. Other classes like Web Development teach web page construction and website design, useful skills for anyone looking to start a blog or future company website. Unfortunately, there aren’t a lot of chances in middle school for girls, or boys for that matter, to get involved in technology, so many come to high school with little to no exposure. However, high school is a great time for anyone to explore technology as a potential career path, and there are many opportunities to do so. For those looking for involvement outside of school, the organization Girls Who Code offers a seven-week computer science summer immersion program. Seven months after walking into AP Computer Science for the first time, I am much more confident in my coding abilities and I would encourage any girl to take it—not just those interested in pursuing a STEM field. However, if someone had given me this advice at the same time last year right before I had to register for classes, I probably wouldn’t have taken it. Even though I would have recognized the need for more girls in AP Computer Science, I would have felt that it was too far outside my comfort zone. But in order to pave the way for the next generation of female scientists and technologists, we need to step outside our comfort zones. It’s clear that the lack of women in technology is a problem, but if girls continue to stay away f rom t e c h n o l o g y because of the high percentage of male students, the gap will never close.

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Cave of the Mounds

Morton Arboretum

Cave of the Mounds is a series of natural caves located in Blue Mounds, WI, about 2 ½ hours northwest of Park Ridge. The caves are said to have been created around 400 million years ago, but have been open to the public for the past 75 years as a National Landmark. There are one-hour guided tours that follow a paved and lighted path to allow people to see the crystallized rock formations and underground pools. The caves are a moderate 50 degrees year round and special events pop up for holidays, such as Easter. On Friday, March 25, Saturday, March 26, and Sunday, March 27 a glow-in-thedark egg hunt will take place in the caves. While the caves are an obvious spectacle to see, other activities in the park include hiking and biking trails, gardens, a gemstone mine and fossil dig, and a petting farm, which is located a short distance away.

The Morton Arboretum is located in Lisle, Illinois, less than half an hour south, and covers about 1,700 acres of gardens and forest. With nine miles of paved roads and 16 miles of trails, biking is encouraged but taking in the amazing views on foot is just as spectacular. One-hour tram tours wind you through the Arboretum’s woodlands, wetlands, and prairie while guides explain what you’re seeing. There are many events for any kind of visitor seeking an educational or memorable experience. These events, which include categories of arts & entertainment, active & recreational, culinary, festivals, shopping, gardening & horticultural, and music, are listed in detail on the Arboretum’s website.

Starved Rock

ATI

IA C

CIN

Starved Rock is an Illinois State Park located in Oglesby, IL, about an hour and a half southwest of Maine South. The park features waterfalls, horseback riding trails, hiking trails, camp grounds, boating, and fishing. The 2,630 acre park has over 13 miles of hiking trails, and, in case hiking isn’t your strong suit, there is also access to tour groups with an experienced guide. Waterfalls can also be seen in 14 of the 18 canyons, but St. Louis, French, Wildcat, Tonty, Ottawa, and Kaskaskia canyons are must-sees. Within the visitor center, you’ll find a 3-D map of the park, an aquarium, interactive displays, and a timeline of the development and growth of the park.

ILL US

nature explorer

FEATURES | March 24, 2016

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Key Lime Cove While nature can be beautiful, weather can be unpredictable and cold during a spring break in Chicago. An indoor water park could be an alternative to a day in the great outdoors. Just 30 miles away is an indoor water park that offers 65,000 square feet of indoor water slides, pools, rivers, and waves to make you feel like you’re outdoors. Besides the water park, Key Lime Cove houses six restaurants, an arcade, spa, and shopping. If it’s a week with the entire family, or a weekend getaway, this could bring a splash to any staycation.

Cook County Forest Preserve

A close to home day getaway happens to run along the edge of Park Ridge. The Cook County Forest Preserve has over 300 miles of paved trails and over 100 miles of unpaved trails for hiking, biking, horseback riding, cross-country skiing, and more. There are many parking lots along the trails (similar to where some students used to park across the street from Maine South) which creates easy access if you live on the opposite side of town. The Des Plaines trail is the closest and follows the Des Plaines River for a scenic route. Sometimes vacation can be practically in your back yard.

Botanic Gardens

PHOT

The Chicago Botanic Gardens is 385 acres on and around nine islands, with six miles of lake shoreline filled with natural and exotic plants from all over the globe. Located in Glencoe, IL, and only about a 30-minute drive from Maine South, this garden showcases many nature exhibits that change throughout the year. From March 19 through April 3, the Garden’s photography club will be showing an exhibit of their work. There are also many self-guided tours that one can print before visiting. These tours allow visitors a chance to explore the gardens.

C Y A T S Margaret Cahill & Christina Johnson Features Editors

fter the long str Spring Break p temperatures. Unfor students from escap are close to home an

“Matilda the Musical”

Macy’s Flower Show

Room Escape Adventures is a lock for anyone searching for a thrill or mental challenge. In these adventures, people use teamwork and analytical skills to solve a series of puzzles and challenges in order to unlock a door and escape from a room. This is a fun, unique way for any group of friends to spend an hour in the city. This interactive movie adventure is located in the fine arts building at 408 South Michigan Avenue in Chicago.

For all theatre lovers, “Matilda the Musical” is coming to Chicago from March 22 through April 10. This Tonyawarded musical based on the beloved Roald Dahl book will be showing a the Oriental Theatre on West Raldolph Street. This is a charming story about a smart young girl growing up with disgustingly rude parents and a cruel principal. She uses her special powers and remarkable wit to survive the tribulations of her youth with the help of her teacher Miss Honey. This heartwarming musical is perfect for all ages.

From March 21 to April 2, Macy’s puts on its annual flower show. This event includes presentations, shows, and workshops of all kinds. Learn how to upcycle flowers into fun bouquets on March 26 from 10 a.m. to noon Then there are a variety of cooking classes and seminars on March 28 through March 31 where top Chicago chefs share their skills. Create your own signature scent on March 29 with Aroma Workshop’s perfume making class. Macy’s flower show then presents a painting class on March 29 with Arts ‘n Spirits for anyone from beginners to advanced artists. On April 1, Macy’s showcases some of Chicago’s best dancing acts. The Indian dancing Natya Dance Theatre, the Hawaiian dancing with Aloha Chicago Dance Company, and everything from American Tap to Bollywood with the Chicago Human Rhythm Project performance. With these diverse events and an excuse to do some extra spring shopping, the Macy’s Flower Show is a fun

Chicago Tours Chicago is known for gangsters like Al Capone and the crimes they committed. Anyone interested in the nitty-gritty of Chicago’s shady past would love the Notorious Chicago Crime Walk. This is a tour of the city that tells the stories of some of the most fascinating crime scenes in our city. This 90-minute tour begins at 7 p.m. on Saturdays in front of the John Hancock Center. For anyone interested in a sweeter side of Chicago, the Chicago Cupcake Crawl features favorites such as More Cupcakes, Sprinkles, and Sacred Grounds. This tour showcases some of Chicago’s most delicious dessert shops and is sure to satisfy any sweet tooth. This tour begins at 11 a.m. on Saturdays and 12 p.m. on Sundays at the corner of Pearson St. and Tower Court. To buy tickets and learn more, visit americastours.net.

Good Food Festival

The locavore movement comes to Chicago with the Good Food Festival. This is an ideal place for hungry Chicagoans to go to try locally-grown, delicious food. Chefs from all over the Chicago area come to share their expertise in cooking with local food. This event happens in the UIC Forum from March 24-26.

CATION

retch of school and cold weather since Winter Break, provides a wonderful opportunity to escape to warmer rtunately for many, cost, athletics, or scheduling conflicts prevent ping to warmer climates. Thankfully, there are many adventures that nd can make students feel like they’re on vacation.

Bunny Rock 5k

Get into the Easter spirit with a fun run. The Bunny Rock 5k is an event that is perfect for kids of all ages. Run the 5k race with ‘80s music as the soundtrack with a free T shirt and bunny ears. Younger kids can collect over 3,000 eggs in Grant Park or spend time in the petting zoo. At the end, get a medal for your run and take a picture with the Easter Bunny.

city dweller

Room Escape

March 24, 2015 | FEATURES

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PHOT

FEATURES

| March 24, 2016

Tommy O’Connor

Features Writer ost seniors leave high school with lofty aspirations for their futures. However for seniors Riley Dolan and Justin Behrens, their ambitions are set higher—in the sky, actually. Both Dolan and Behrens have dreams of becoming pilots, and they plan on rooming with each other at Southern Illinois University and earning pilot’s licenses. This goal of becoming a pilot was years in the making for Dolan. “Originally I never really knew what I wanted to do, like most kids,” says Dolan. “I never really thought of aviation, although I had always thought it was cool. I then looked deeper into it and discovered a passion for it.” Dolan’s parents were instrumental in his decision to pursue this career path. “My dad’s a pilot,” said Dolan. “It sounds cheesy, but he’s my biggest inspiration. He flies private jets, and I flew back to Illinois from Wisconsin

with him when I was in about sixth or seventh grade. It was only about a 20-minute flight that I got to experience, but it was still cool.” Behren’s parents have also been a huge part of his decision. “My mom really wanted me to do it because that’s what she did and she had a passion for it as well,” Behren said. “My mom would also be able to help me out since she has experience with it.” Dolan notes the extensive demand for pilots as his motivation for going into aviation. Aircraft designer Boeing speculates that over the next 20 years, more than 558,000 pilot jobs will need to be filled. “It’s good pay for doing something that’s not really a job,” said Behrens. “You show up to work and get to travel the world.” An aircraft pilot’s median salary is anywhere from $100,000 to $120,000, depending on the type of aircraft they fly. And this makes sense considering that pilots have to

safely transport millions of dollars in equipment in addition to their passengers. Commercial as well as private pi l ot s b ot h h ave t h e s e hu ge responsibilities, though their jobs differ. “I would like to do commercial flying because you get a regular pay and you know when you’re going to fly,” said Behrens. Although they will be attending the same university, Dolan and Behrens have different aspirations for what they wish to do with their license. “My dad was in the military and I plan on following in his footsteps serving in either the Army or Air Force,” said Dolan. B ehrens do es not plan on attending the military but credits Dolan for his courageous choice to not only tackle the tough major of aviation but also follow through with the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps program at SIU. ROTC is a

program that trains new military officers, often on scholarships, and requires a commitment to serve after graduation. “As a freshman or sophomore, I’ll earn my pilot’s license in a program separate from the standard SIU admission process,” said Dolan. “Then, typically, aviation students choose to major in aviation management or technology to stay around the field. I’ll also become an instructor my junior and senior years for students in their first two years learning how to fly.” Riley’s older brother, Kyle Dolan (‘15) did not choose the aviation path but did, however, decide to go through ROTC. “My aviation choice stemmed mostly from my Dad, but my choice of ROTC was something that my brother motivated me to take part in,” said Dolan. While these two seniors are choosing a rather unconventional career path, it’s their level of passion for aviation that is truly outstanding.

PHOTOS COURTESY RILEY DOLAN

UP, UP, AND AWAY

Senior Riley Dolan stands next to a 152 Cessna plane. Dolan plans on FLYING HIGH Dolan looks forward to his future sitting at attending ISU and earning a pilot’s license though the Reserve Officers’ Training Program. the controls of a plane. He plans to room with Justin Behrens at SIU.

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March 24, 2016 | ENTERTAINMENT

31 freebies on your birthday Christina Johnson Features Editor

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

here is no specific birthday season, which means that any day is the perfect time to collect your gifts. Many retailers and restaurants offer free food, coupons, or discounts near or on one’s birthday. These offers not only help you save a bundle, but they also give you an extra present on your birthday. Create another (or multiple) new emails for these specials, as they tend to fill your inbox. Uno’s: Starbucks: Chili’s: IHOP: Free appetizer Free drink Free appetizer or Free meal Sign up for the e-club Join Starbucks rewards dessert Join IHOP Pancake Revolution online

program

Benihana: $30 gift certificate

Portillo’s: Free piece of cake

Potbelly: Boston Market: Free birthday cookie Free dessert

Culver’s: Free Coldstone: Buy one, get one free Sundae Sign up for the e-club

Sprinkles Cupcakes: Free cupcake

Ben & Jerry’s: Free ice cream

Noodles:

Sephora: A special gift!

Johnny Rockets: Caribou Coffee: Free hamburger Free drink Join e-club

Free rice-krispie treat

Become a Chunk Spelunker

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Einstein Bros Bagels: Sign up for the e-club Free egg sandwich with purchase Krispy Kremes: Free donut

Cinnabon: Free Mochalatta Chill

Join their club

Subscribe to Club Cinnabon

Au Bon Pain: Free sandwich or salad

Sbarro: Free slice of pizza

Jersey Mike’s: Free sub and drink

Red Robin: Free burger

Auntie Anne’s: Free Pretzel

Jamba Juice: Free small smoothie or juice

Baskin Robbins: Flat Top Grill: Free treat Free ice cream

Houlihan’s: Free entree

Ulta: Free mascara

Charming Charlie: $5 gift card

Join Charm Club

Redbox: Free movie rental

Get the Redbox Play Pass

Production Editor n March 6, Maine South Fine Arts and Graphic Arts students visited the Illinois High School Art Exhibition in Chicago to see their work on display along with the work of almost five hundred other students from around the state. The exhibition offered prizes as well as hosted more than 40 colleges that awarded scholarships and opportunities to stellar artists. Sophomore Elizabeth Lieu; juniors Haley Mech and Stanislaw Kobylarz; and seniors Patrick Oleksy, Patricia Smyrski, Olivia Post, Christina Mihalopoulos, and Andre Babaghasheh were selected by jurors to represent Maine South out of over thirty pieces chosen by teachers for submission. Each one entered in one of five categories—painting, drawing, photography, graphic design, and three dimensional. “[As a school,] You have 25 entries. You can kind of divvy up into however many you want per category,” said art teacher Miss Tymkiw. “Illinois high schools have to pay an entry fee to be part of the show, and then teachers on their own decide what they would like to be juried as the selection pool.” Most students were flattered to find out they were chosen because of the extremely high

expectations of the contest. “My work was entered without my knowing and I found out it was accepted for the show when my teacher told me about it—a complete surprise,” said Lieu. “I was honored by the news of my piece entering the competition because I know that by qualifying, it recognizes my ability to use art as a medium to connect with others.” This is only the third year for the Exhibition, and the second opportunity for Maine South students to participate in it. “When you see the show... you’re getting a taste or feeling of what the judges select,” said Miss Tymkiw. “They want to see new and different and interesting work, innovative and creative entries, with skill that is at a pretty high level for high school,” said graphic arts teacher Mrs. Peterson. The Exhibition itself left a unique impression on the students that attended. “The kids were extremely talented and I’m still kind of starstruck,” said Smyrski. Students saw no bounds when it came to creating art, using any medium available and taking inspiration from unusual subjects. “We had Ikea catalogs stored in a box and I drew some inspiration from them,” said Mihalopoulos, who entered a perspective drawing.

PHOTO BY HALEY MECH

Students honored at high school art show

Haley Mech

PAPER PRODIGY Elizabeth Lieu displays her

paper cutout piece inspired by fairies. Lieu’s work won her a summer program at the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design.

Universities like Columbia and Savannah College of Art and Design were present to answer students’ questions and awarded summer programs and scholarship money to entrants. “There are colleges and universities involved which makes it a much more meaningful event for a lot of students, especially if they’re considering a career in the area they’re working,” said Mrs. Peterson.

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ENTERTAINMENT | March 24, 2016

New albums set the tone for 2016 W Liam Conlon & Lauren Papp Entertainment Writer & Entertainment Editor

ith spring break beginning, many are starting to feel the urge to get out of the house and enjoy the outdoors. Music can add to an experience in the sun, and often this soundtrack can help us savor and remember important events. With the variety of genres represented, anyone is bound to find their guilty pleasure. ately, Weezer has been making a for listening at the beach this summer. the Disco (who also just released a new resurgence in the music industry Tracks on this album “Thank God album, “Death of a Bachelor”), which multiple releases in 2015. Their 10th for Girls,” “California Kids,” and “L.A. should spark a rise in popularity and studio album is available for pre-order Girlz” have been released. Weezer also a blending of fan bases between the is slated for release on April 1. It’s put out a music video for the track two groups. Lawn tickets start at heard that this new self-titled album “King of the World,” shot entirely in $18 at Ticketmaster.com for their will be the “White Album,” continuing black and white. The band performed Hollywood Casino Ampitheater show. with the theme of colored self-titled select songs on “Jimmy Kimmel Live” Be sure to catch your summer albums. this January, making the crowd go vibes early and pick up Weezer’s selfThe new album takes inspiration wild in anticipation for the release. titled album this April, and hit Tinley from the band’s time spent in A summer tour series is currently Park this summer for an unforgettable Southern California, making it perfect scheduled with Weezer and Panic! at show.

ike him or not, Drake is one of the most popular names in hip hop today. Naturally, producers are pushing another release by Drake this year after his huge commercial successes in 2015 with mixtape, “If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late” and collaborative mixtape with Future, “What a Time to be Alive.” Drake’s upcoming album, “Views from the 6” is going to drop some

time in April. Songs on the album include January release, “Summer Sixteen,” in which Drake disses Kanye West’s pool, Barack Obama, and Meek Mill. DJ Khaled ends the song with “They don’t want us to have a bigger pool than Kanye.” It’s rumored that Drake’s leaked track “I Care” featuring Beyoncé will also be finished and put on the album. Drake recently made a surprise

appearance on Rihanna’s ANTI tour in Miami in March. Drake performed Rihanna’s hit “Work” and his own song “Jumpman” before leaving the stage. Rumors have been spreading about a possible tour with Drake and J. Cole, reminiscent of Cole’s appearance on Drake’s 2012 “Club Paradise” tour. Collaboration tour or not, be sure to check out Drake’s album this April.

n May 20, classic rock fans are in for a treat as Eric Clapton will be releasing his 23rd solo album “I Still Do.” The album cover features an illustration of Clapton that was designed by Sir Peter Blake, who also designed album covers for the Beatles and the Who. Clapton’s new music will be produced by Glyn Johns, also known for his production of works by groups like Led Zeppelin and the Rolling

Stones. Clapton has worked with Johns before as well, specifically in his LP entitled “Slowhand.” Clapton’s ability to continue making music on his own—even after 22 other solo albums—is impressive to say the least, and his original music will always be welcomed in the music community. “I Still Do” features a cover of Bob Dylan’s “I Dreamed I Saw St. Augustine” and his own rendition of

Leroy Carr’s “Alabama Women Blues.” Angelo Mysterioso is also featured on the album, which is the same alias George Harrison from the Beatles used. This makes fans believe that the track is a leftover unreleased song. A f te r 1 8 Gr am my aw ard s , countless sold out performances, and consistent critical acclaim, Eric Clapton continues to please fans by creating quality music that compliments his successful career.

egan and Sara will be releasing their eighth album, “LYTD” or “Love You to Death” on June 3. Tegan and Sara’s popularity rose in 2013, for good reason considering the fact that they write their own songs and play the guitar and keyboard. These talented Canadian twins haven’t released an album since 2013 when they recorded the popular album, “Heartthrob.” Since their previous album,

their success continued to escalate. “Everything is Awesome!!!,” a collaborative piece with the Lonely Island written for the Lego Movie, was nominated for an Oscar for Best Original Song as well. Tegan and Sara are scheduled to release new tracks April 8. They have promoted the new material through photos shared on their Instagram and Facebook accounts. They worked with producer Greg

Kurstin who also produced their last album. Kurstin is known for his work with Adele, Sia, and Charlie XCX. This upcoming album is expected to be just as popular or exceed the popularity of their previous work. The dynamic duo are going on tour this summer and will announce dates soon. Fans have been eagerly awaiting their comeback to the spotlight and will be lining up at the door for tickets.

eyoncé may release her new album sometime this April. The single “Formation” (and its music video) was released in early February. The video was shot and produced in a week, and was filmed in midJanuary. This is the first video released since “7/11” over a year ago. “7/11” was filmed at the Beverly Whilshire Hotel. It was lively and upbeat, while “Formation” shows images of police,

sirens, and flooding in New Orleans. Currently the video is available on Tidal, a music service owned by Bey’s husband, Jay-Z. Cara Delevigne, Future, and Sia are all rumored to be featured on the album. Mike Will Made-It helped produce “Formation” and has produced artists from Miley Cyrus to Ciara. Queen Bey also announced a

world tour during her Super Bowl performance. The tour will also give aid to the Flint Water Crisis through her #BeyGood campaign. Fans will be able to donate to the local United Way, which helps with water filtration in Flint, Michigan. Beyoncé is also the co-founder of Survivor Foundation, which helps survivors of Hurricane Katrina.

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March 24, 2016 | ENTERTAINMENT

Julia Klages & Jill Steffen Entertainment Writers

ll students brim with excitement whenever there is a day off or testing day because it means that they can sleep in and meet friends for a delicious breakfast out. Luckily, Park Ridge has a variety of breakfast options to satisfy anyone and everyone’s a.m. cravings. Whether savory or sweet, you can never go wrong with these eateries.

Lola’s Diner

920 Busse Highway Lola’s Diner is a Park Ridge favorite that makes you feel right at home. Owners Herman and Lola have set a goal of giving every customer a warm welcome and a ‘50s-diner environment with delicious comfort food. With a smile each time, the waiters will strike up a conversation on anything you’re dying to talk about. Your work day, the weather, your pet dog—these conversations can go on for hours. Their service is not the only thing that will make you feel at home. They strive to make sure every meal is created from a homemade recipe with the freshest ingredients. Some favorites are the Skirt Steak Skillet, Potato Pancakes, and Banana Split Waffle. The Skirt Steak Skillet is made up of skirt steak perfectly cooked to your liking, mushrooms, onions, hash brown potatoes and provolone cheese. The Potato Pancakes consist of crisp potato-filled pancakes with a side of applesauce and sour cream. Finally, the Banana Split Waffle will satisfy every sugar craving with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, bananas, strawberry sauce, and whipped cream. Lola’s also offers weekly and seasonal specials to encourage customers to learn about new creations.

Mac’s Restaurant

812 Higgins Road The ne w all-day, fast-fo o d breakfast idea made the country shake with excitement, but all-day breakfast isn’t a new concept. In fact, Mac’s has been serving up breakfast all day for over 50 years. If you want a traditional meal cooked to perfection, this is the place to go. You’ll never see a brighter smile or more genuine welcome than from the hostesses at Mac’s Restaurant. Every time you walk through the door and enter the cozy American diner, the greeting is enthusiastic. This hospitality continues well after you walk in the door. Your choice of seating includes snuggling up in an antique booth or being a part of the action sitting at the counter. Since 1959, Mac’s has managed to master just about any breakfast meal imaginable. From incredible omelets to fluffy pancakes, Mac’s will satisfy any hunger no matter whether the craving is savory or sweet. Perhaps the most beloved order at Mac’s is the french toast. A caramelized crust finished with the perfect blend of spices make a mouthwatering meal, especially topped with warm maple syrup. Not a breakfast food lover? Mac’s offers a selection of hot sandwiches to club wraps to the notorious tripledecker club sandwiches, all of which are enough to satisfy any appetite.

The Pick Restaurant The Original Pancake 1 S. Prospect Avenue House This eatery opened just this past November. The contemporary restaurant incor p orates many i c o n i c d e c o r at i o n s f ro m t h e previous Pickwick Diner, while still maintaining a modern atmosphere. Whether you choose to sit at a comfortable table with the beautiful view of uptown Park Ridge or sit in a cozy, sunken booth, you can’t go wrong. Though this restaurant has breakfast, lunch, and dinner, their breakfast is exceedingly spectacular. From choices like Belgian waffles with endless toppings such as maple syrup, caramelized bananas, or fresh berries to omelettes with as many fresh vegetables toppings that you could fathom, you can never go wrong. Your inner sweet tooth will love the French toast with cinnamon raisin maple syrup. It’s a unique twist on a traditional breakfast that will leave you addicted and wanting more. Though it isn’t all about sweets for breakfast at The Pick; the flat iron steak and eggs is a favorite proteinpacked meal complete with potatoes and your choice of pancakes or toast. The Pick has figured how to do breakfast and do it well. This new restaurant is in an ideal location in the heart of Park Ridge that makes it impossible to pass by once you smell its delicious cooking.

106 N. Northwest Highway Nothing beats the local tradition of breakfast at The Original Pancake House. The year-round Christmas tree decorations in addition with the cheerful attitudes of the workers create a festive feeling no matter what holiday is coming up. Be sure to get there early because no matter what time it is, the parking lot is packed as well as the long line of hungry breakfast-goers. If you have time to wait, the staple here is the Apple Pancake. The fluffy cloud full of cinnamon and apple will leave you dreaming of the fall season. Another incredible option is the 49ers pancakes. These paper thin pancakes will gives crêpes a run for their money. Stretching the entire width of the plate, topped with rich maple syrup, this Pancake House speciality is one that will instantly become your favorite. To complement the array of pancakes, the Pancake House offers an abundance of meat choices such as corned beef hash, sliced ham, and your preference of sausage patties or links served with eggs, any style. Their wide pancake menu ranges from savory bacon to sweet chocolate chip, with other classic dishes besides pancakes to choose from, living up to the Pancake House’s reputation for the classic Park Ridge breakfast joint.

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SPORTS

| March 24, 2016

Maine South bowler finds success in playoffs Julia Sirvinskas Staff Writer

espite the odds against her— b oth in terms of a lack of school funding and tough c omp e t it i on — ju n i or Vi c tor i a Odarczenko qualified to the girls’ State bowling championship this year. Her success started freshman year, when she qualified for the 2014 Leyden Sectional, and has continued throughout her high school career. Odarczenko entered the season with the goal of qualifying to State. Her path to achieving this goal was filled with accomplishments, like her second-place regional finish and sectional championship win at the Rolling Meadows Sectional. Her game high of 278 was enough to win

the entire sectional. However, her journey to get to this point was filled with trials and tribulations. Due to Maine South’s inability to fund her last season, Odarczenko was unable to bowl during her sophomore year. This did not stop her from returning as an improved player for her junior year, as she continued to practice each day and improve her form. Although Odarczenko wishes she could have performed better at State, she was still proud to have qualified to the highest level of competition. She earned 66th place in the competition in Rockford, IL, earning a total score of 2,332. “I am very happy with what I accomplished at Regionals and Sectionals,” Odarczenko said. “I only

wish I could have bowled better at State to make it in the Top 10.” To even be able to compete in the postseason came as a surprise to Odarczenko. She was originally not expected to be funded by Maine South’s athletic department, but was pleased to discover she would be. “I am very grateful for Maine South for giving me the opportunity to compete in the high school competition and to Keith Engeriser for being my coach for the season,” said Odarczenko. With this state-qualifying success under her belt, Odarczenko looks to continue to improve next year, but most importantly, with a team. “I hope to be able to compete again for high school, but I hope to have a team for support,” she said. “It is very

hard going in as an individual when everyone else mostly has a team for support.” The future looks bright for this talented bowler as her final high school season remains. With a large amount of postseason experience, Odarczenko now looks to have an even more successful senior season.

Correction:

In the Volume 52, No. 6 article entitled, “Girls’ hockey hoping for a comeback,” it should have noted that Karol Felinczak is the assistant captain of the team and that Cassidy Schukat is the captain. We apologize for the error.

Successful hockey season ends in close loss Sophie Miller Staff Writer

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PHOTO BY LAUREN PAPP

lthough Maine Hockey fell short of their ambitious goal of winning State, they still had an incredible run, making it to the Elite Eight and winning the Illinois High School Hockey League. After making it to the state championship last year, the boys hoped to return, embracing the motto “Return the Forks.” “Last year, after our United Center loss, we took some forks from the locker room that were provided to us, and we wanted to go back to the United Center to return those for State,” senior assistant captain Jeff Galiotto said. This mentality helped the team achieve greatness during conference games. Besides maintaining a determined attitude, the Maine Hockey players were led to success by the efforts of exceptional offensive threats seniors Kamil Bigos and Nick Porto. Additionally, the team excelled with leadership provided by senior captain Jeremy Starzec and assistant captains Nick Porto and Galiotto. But it was not just the seniors that contributed to the success of the team. Notable freshmen include Alec Andres and John Serbekian, who both scored many goals this year. With a wide range of ages, the team was able to develop a unique bond.

HITTING THE ICE

Senior forward Austin Sanetra (right) checks a defender while making a play on the puck during Maine’s loss to Glenbard South on March 11. Sanetra is one of five seniors on the team who helped to lead Maine to the Elite Eight of the state playoffs this year.

“We were good leaders for [underclassmen],” said Galiotto. “And they helped us with fresh blood—it helped getting the system working well and flowing. It actually created a lot of brotherhood because we were kind of like big brothers to these kids, and it helped encourage them to play better, and it helped us play better.” Team bonding with such a diverse team is essential. By getting to know each other during the hour before games, hanging out in the locker room, and dancing and singing to victory songs after a big win, the team chemistry improved. Team chemistry combined with

leadership and mental toughness helped the team pull out an exciting comeback win against their biggest r i v a l , B u f f a l o Grove / He r s e y / Wheeling. Beating BG/H/W in the league championship was a moment of pride for the team. “We’ve always been rivals with them,” Galiotto said. “Two years ago they knocked us out of a title in league… And their coach is the head of the league, so everyone wants to beat him.” Since hockey is a club sport, the league consists of teams that most Maine South athletes do not compete with. This list includes BG/H/W, New

Trier White, Highland Park, Crystal Lake, Carmel Catholic, New Trier Blue, Loyola Maroon, and Evanston. The coaches of Maine Hockey have done a remarkable job over the years. Head coach Greg Mrofcza just received the Coach of the Year Award from the division. Other coaches include the defensive coach Matt Kaspar, the assistant coach Brian Barnes, and the goaltending instructor Bob Moretti. Looking ahead, Maine Hockey hopes to advance further in the playoffs next year and return the forks for the seniors who guided them all the way to the Elite Eight in 2016.

March 24, 2016 | SPORTS

South Stars take on leadership conference Dimitri Speron News Writer

he CSL Leadership Conference is an all-day seminar involving students from all of the schools in the CSL athletic conference. At Maine South, students who attend the conference come from the selective student leadership program, South Stars. “South Stars is a class that meets once a week, composed of the leaders amongst Maine South’s athletes,” said Athletic Director, Mr. Steven Adams. Most of the people who are in South Stars are multi-sport athletes,

and have demonstrated exceptional ability in their sports. “The conference is an opportunity for student leaders to learn about techniques and strategies for leading their peers,” said Mr. Adams. The conference is typically held on a Monday when CSL schools are not in session. This is so that participants can be available for the conference, without interfering with students’ school schedules. This year, however, the conference was held on Monday, March 7. The conference started with a presentation about leadership. Once the presentation had concluded, the students split into groups and

went to smaller sessions where they engaged in more personalized group activities and team building. The sophomores that attended the conference are the ones who are currently in the South Stars program. The select few juniors that remain in the program to teach sophomores the next year then attend the CSL Conference again, but this time as the teachers and instructors. “This experience was extremely beneficial to go both sophomore year and this year,” said junior Shannon Ryan. “Sophomore year gave me a lot of information on how to be a captain and a lot of “food for thought” about my own actions and values. Ju-

nior year was also beneficial because it gave me an opportunity to lead the conference and have a leadership experience.” This conference provides the student athletic leadership at Maine South with vital opportunities to learn and extend their abilities with their peers from other schools in the athletic conference. It changes the way that students look at their leadership obligations, and how they interact with people. “The conference changed my perspective on leadership a lot,” Ryan said. “Because being a leader is not just being in charge it’s making hard decisions.”

Boys’ track breaking multiple records James Bednarz Staff Writer

them to exceptional performances. “The team is slowly starting to show glimpses of hope to begin the season,” said Sudrzynski. “I see much overall improvement in our talent as a whole in comparison to previous years. We are all very excited to see the increase level of competitiveness we have on display as shown through our early performances on the track. We finished second out of eight or so teams, and we are looking to improve upon that small victory.” Training is obviously important for runners, and long-distance runners in particular train so that their bodies use the oxygen in their blood efficiently; they need enough oxygen to run at 100 percent throughout the entirety of their races. This training is so important that boys’ track head coach Scott Sutschek sent an e-mail to the team informing them that they should not donate blood at this point in the season. While donating blood is certainly important, for runners, it not only sets back their training, but also could lead to health issues like low iron levels and slow re-

sponse times in recovery periods after running. With the help of the training, many other athletes besides the runners have found success in their individual events, including shot put, long jump, and pole vaulting. Kevin Jarvis and Emmett Zima are the top “throwers” on the squad. The boys’ pole vaulting squad consists of sophomore Fotis Kokosioulis, juniors Sean Stapleton and Danny Powell, and senior Matt Dilfer. With many record-breaking athletes in the program, the team has found a way to recognize those accomplishments. Each year, the track team produces a new team shirt that displays the names of the record-holders at every level. Sudrzynski, having broken a few team bests, is grateful for having his name among all the team’s recordbreakers. “It is nice to be recognized for the hard work we all put in day in and day out,” he said. “But what is missing is that person’s teammates that push them and make them better.” PHOTO BY NOAH FISHMAN

ith record-breaking runners at all levels, the boys’ track team looks to exceed expectations this spring. The runners are divided into two general groups: long-distance and sprinters. While most of the long-distance runners come from Cross Country in the fall, the sprinters come from many different sports. Despite the two groups, the team is not as divided as it may seem. “The team is a great group of guys,” said junior long-distance runner Reese Jordan. “I like how both the sprinters and the distance guys can talk and bond together.” Among one of the top distance runners for Maine South, Jordan is looking to improve upon previous accomplishments. “My goals are to get All-State in the 1,600m, and to get below 4:20 for that race,” said Jordan. He finished 18th in State last year for the 3,200m run, but his passion for this sport has been born fairly recently. “After getting into a routine of running regularly, I find it hard not to run. I used to not like running, actually, but now I love it.” And although the team has tried its best to stay healthy, the injury bug has bitten the Hawks hard this season. “Even this early in the season, injuries have been terrible to us,” said fellow junior long distance runner Brian Shanahan. “I have a stress fracture, Reese has problems with his foot, and [senior] Brian Sodaro had a minor stress fracture.” “The injuries take away from our ability to help each other become better, which is unfortunate, because we all want to succeed,” he said. “Not all is lost, however; we will recover. Our team chemistry is great and it makes all of our time together RAISING THE BAR Senior pole vaulter Matt Dilfer clears the crossbar during a home track meet. enjoyable. Junior sprinter Sander Sudrzynski is optimis- Dilfer is one of three pole vaulters currently on the Maine South boys’ track team. The team is looking for its hard tic, as he believes that the team’s talent is helping work to translate into success this season.

SouthwordS 15

The Smaha legacy continues on at Maine South Sam Tinaglia

PHOTO CREDIT EYRIE1999

PHOTO COURTESY BRYAN SMAHA

Sports Editor

here are few staff members at Maine South who can say they have been a part of the school system for longer than they have been alive. The Smaha family, however, has been at Maine South since the school opened in 1964 as both students and employees. “My mom and dad went to Maine South [along with], my four aunts, two older sisters, two younger brothers also have gone here,” said P.E. teacher and basketball coach Mr. Brendan Smaha. Mr. Larry Smaha, a Maine South security guard, started school at Maine East but then came to Maine South when it opened in 1964. He was the one that started the Smaha legacy at Maine South. “Everything was brand new back then,” said Mr. Smaha. “It was new for everybody—new for the teachers and new for the students. It was a unique experience coming from an older school like Maine East, to a brand new one like Maine South. After Mr. Smaha was a student, he stayed in the Park Ridge and Niles area, and had five kids that eventually followed in his path of going to Maine South. Two of his kids, brothers Brendan (‘99) and Bryan (‘02) have stayed in the community for O BROTHER, WHERE ART THOU? Brothers Brendan and Bryan Smaha both played varsity PHOTO COURTESY EYRIE 1999 most of their lives and now have staff and coaching basketball for the Hawks, and both wore the number 22. Brendan played on both the basketball and baseball teams and positions in District 207. coached both teams at South. Bryan now coaches the freshman basketball team. Brendan, the third oldest of five children, and Even though the brothers still work within the Bryan’s older brother, has always found Maine South young men and ladies outside of the court.” His brother Bryan graduated from Maine South athletic department at Maine South, they still miss a special environment to be in. “There are quite a few alumni that are coaches in 2002 and is now working at Maine East. He is a the old days, when they were players on the teams. “I miss the camaraderie, being in the action, and or teachers here now, but I think that coming back Teacher’s Assistant in the Transition Program which to work here says a lot about Maine South—it’s a is housed at Maine East and teaches students from just being a player on the team,” said Mr. Brendan nice place to be,” said Mr. Brendan Smaha. “It’s got all three Maine schools. He also coaches basketball Smaha. “I’m still buddies with all the guys I played with on the basketball team to this day.” the best of everything—academics, athletics, other and baseball at South. “Initially, what brought me back was to be my “I really miss getting to compete everyday extracurriculars—it’s got a lot to offer. Who wouldn’t want to be a part of this?” He also said he has never brother’s assistant coach for basketball,” said Mr. and having that bond with my teammates,” said really left Maine South, even when he wasn’t a Bryan Smaha. “Being able to teach and coach in Mr. Bryan Smaha. “I am still very close friends the district is something I’ve always wanted to do with many of my teammates, but there is just that student or teacher here. “I started coaching when I was in college, so that since I decided to become a teacher. So when I had difference between a bond on and off the floor. I do was three years, plus the eleven years I’ve been a the opportunity to get back into my home district, I wish I could go back sometimes, especially knowing what I know now. Four years really goes fast, so take teacher,” said Mr. Smaha. “That’s fourteen plus the jumped at the chance.” Along with his brother, he also played sports advantage of what is offered. Whether you are an four years I went here, so I’ve been at Maine South for a total of eighteen years. I played or coached year round at Maine South. He played baseball and athlete, artist, musician, etc., get involved and be a part of something. You will make bonds that will basketball for all those years, and I played baseball basketball, following in his brother’s footsteps. “Between my four years of high school, coaching last a lifetime and learn things about life and, more for four years and coached for eight. But I’ve been a P.E. teacher for the last eleven years.” He keeps and teaching, I have been in the district for 14 years,” importantly, yourself.” “We joke around that MS stands for ‘More Maine South close to his heart because of all the he said. “It has to be the people, the students, faculty Smahas,’ which is not the case, but Maine South is experiences he has had here with students and staff and staff,” said Mr. Bryan Smaha about what he just a great environment to be involved with,” said members. “The interactions with the students, and seeing enjoyed most about working in District 207. “I Mr. Larry Smaha. The Smahas have been a big part of the Maine the progression of students from being a 14-year-old really enjoy getting to work with such great people. I freshman to a becoming a young adult is amazing to learn something almost every day. Then getting the Community throughout the years, and hope to have see,” explained Mr. Smaha. “Not only seeing people opportunity to coach at my former high school is their own children continue on the Smaha legacy at Maine South. mature on the basketball court, but also turning into something I really take pride in.”