Vol 52 Issue 8 Southwords

April 21, 2016

1111 S. Dee Road • Park Ridge, Illinois 60068

Vol. 52, No. 8

GET HOOKED ON

BIG PHOTO BY MONICA BIELAWIEC

FISH

Junior Megan Wilcox and senior Jack Cahill-Lemme star in this year’s spring musical, ‘Big Fish.’

See page 12

We The People C-Team may be headed for some amendments.

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Got roomie?

Spontaneity when choosing a roomate may not be bad.

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Camera Ready Aces on the Team

Maine South students share Seniors lead boys’ volleytheir experiences as models. ball into a hopeful season.

Pages 8-9 Page 16

NEWS | April 21, 2016

Melis Ozkan

Commentary Writer

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aine South’s Science Olympiad team competed in a Regional Competition with fourteen other schools at Oakton Community College on March 16. After a day of testing, experimenting, and operating machines, the team took 6th place overall and qualified for State which will be held at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign on April 16.

After four years of almost qualifying for State as runners-up or 8th place, the varsity Science Olympiad team earned the opportunity to compete with hundreds of other schools from different regions in Illinois.

In 2015 and 2016, Maine South was also awarded the Spirit Award which is given to the school with the most positive outlook, encouraging attitude, and best sportsmanship.

“Science Olympiad taught me the value of friendship and community,” said senior Charlie Mistrata, reflecting on the short, yet exciting year that he has had being a part of this club.

This is als o t he f irst st ate competition for club sponsors Mrs. Wagner and Mr. Pisanko. This is the second year that they have jointly been in charge of the club, having participated in two invitationals and one regional both years.

“We are so proud of our SciO students,” said Mrs. Wagner. “They

have demonstrated the principles of Maine South, studying science and building in their ‘spare’ time with a smile on their faces and the fight song on their lips. So many students were involved this year that we fielded strong varsity and junior varsity teams, and we have high hopes both for the State competition and next year.”

Most of the bonding happens over the various events that the students are assigned.

“I came for the science, but I left with friendship and integrity,” said senior Jeff Galiotto.

The competition consists of different testing, lab, and building events. Cell Biology took second place, Chemistry Lab took third place, Anatomy took fifth place, and Protein Modeling took sixth place for the Varsity team. The junior varsity team also performed very well with multiple first, second, and third places.

“I think Science Olympiad has helped me grow as a person while allowing me to explore my love for science,” said junior Katherine Heyde.

“I am excited for the opportunity to go to State this year.”

Most participants in Science Olympiad have shown character development as a result of individual hard-work and skills from working in small groups.

Because the competition fund

PHOTO COURTESY MELIS OZKAN

Science Olympiad goes to state for the first time

FINALLY, STATE

Varsity Science Olympiad members Jessie Krawitz, Isis Zaki, Melis Ozkan, Ann Kapustiak, Katie Donovan, Jeff Galiotto, Katherine Heyde, Anjali Venkat, David Kloc, Alys Dobbins, Lia Grandinetti, Joe Grigus, Charlie Mistrata, Fritz May, and Steve Manos dedicate some of their success to their strong team chemistry. Their victory in Regionals has qualified them to compete in the State competition.

for the school has been depleted this year due to the number of teams that qualify for higher competitions, the Science Olympiad team boarded a yellow school bus instead of a coach bus (which was used four years ago, the last time Maine South made state) for the six-hour journey. Students needed to meet at school at 3:00 a.m. because the competition events began at 7:00 a.m.

The team also had to leave before the awards ceremony because some

varsity members, such as juniors Ann Kapustiak, Heyde, and Alys Dobbins, needed to be back at Maine South in time to participate in the musical, “Big Fish.”

The members of the Varsity team were excited to finally be a part of the State Science Olympiad competition.

They hope that their continued hard work, motivation, and passion for science will allow them to succeed and to return multiple times over the next few years.

together to help make communication more effective.

The cost of making this change also played a factor in the decision.

By switching to School Messenger, the district will be saving $22,894 per year. School Messenger proposed that the district pay $31,255 per year for

the full suite of tools.

The new website will feature a fresh look with modern tools. It will also be more convenient for faculty and staff to manage and maneuver.

“It will be much easier for our staff to edit content, and it integrates with other online services such as Google Docs,” said Dr. Thiele.

The website is currently in the works and will be ready for use before the start of the 2016-2017 school year.

A mobile app will also accompany the new website, providing a useful and accessible resource for parents and students.

“We are in the design phase right now and working on moving our current content to the new platform,” said Dr. Thiele. “It will be ready to launch sometime this summer with the mobile app coming shortly after the launch of the site.”

District 207 websites under construction Rhyanne Noche

News Editor fter eight years of using the c u r r e n t w e b s i t e v e n d o r, American Eagle, District 207 has decided to switch to a new company.

As a result, this will lead to changes in all Maine Township high school websites.

The district has decided to make this change to achieve one of the goals they set this year.

“One of the district goals this year was to increase our ability to communicate effectively and efficiently,” said Dr. Thiele, Assistant Superintendent of Technology and Learning. “In meeting this goal we are recommending that we switch web hosting companies to Sharp School by School Messenger.”

For the last five years, District 207 has already been using School

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GRAPHIC BY ARDEN SASAK

Messenger for mass communication. “ We c u r re nt l y u s e S c h o o l Messenger for our autodialer, the tool that makes automated calls home,” said Dr. Thiele. “They offer an integrated communications suite including web services, autodialer, and a mobile web app that all work

PHOT

April 21, 2016

| NEWS

John Zaris

News Writer ormer Detroit Lions quarterback Eric Hipple visited Maine South on April 6 to speak to the senior class.

His speech was not focused on his 10-year NFL career or even football at all, but rather on the issue of mental health, a topic which has profoundly affected Hipple’s own life.

Hipple, who now ser ves as the outreach coordinator for the University of Michigan Depression Center, discussed his own experiences with depression and provided methods to combat mental illness.

Hipple noted a parallel between football and mental health.

“We study film after film after film of the other teams,” he said. “And we do that because we want to know what they can do, how can they hurt you.

Because if you know that, then you can have a game plan around it, and you can be effective.”

A similar strategy, he argued, can be implemented to promote mental health.

“It’s about knowing what can hurt you that really counts,” he said. “Let’s learn about the things that are out there so we can have a game plan against them so we can maintain our mental health.”

Hipple’s own experiences with depression have led him to devote much of his life to spreading awareness about mental illness.

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In 1998, Hipple attempted suicide, and he explained that even after his suicide attempt, the stigma he believed to be associated with mental illness prevented him from seeking help. Two years later, his fifteen-yearold son committed suicide.

“It got to a point where he took his life. And that’s sad,” Hipple said.

“And one of the reasons why I’m here is because it’s a sad story. And we can change that story. We can learn from the past and we can change the future.”

Hipple emphasized that we must get rid of the stigma surrounding brain illnesses.

Throughout his talk with the senior class, Hipple also stressed the importance of asking others about their mental well-being because mental illness is hidden from view.

“We can see physical injury, so we respond to it and know what to do about it,” he said. “If somebody walks into here with crutches, we help them.

We recognize that. The thing is, we need to also recognize brain illnesses.

The thing about brain illness, though, is we can’t see it.”

Hipple’s daughter, Tarah, also addressed the seniors, and detailed the struggles she faced following her brother’s death.

She explained how she was able to overcome post-traumatic stress disorder after seeking treatment.

“Bad things happen to us,” she

TACKLING THE BIG ISSUES

PHOTO BY PATRICIA SMRYSKI

Former NFL quarterback discusses mental health

Former NFL quarterback, Eric Hipple, gave a presentation to seniors in the Maine South auditorium about battling and overcoming depression and suicide. His daughter, Tarah, also spoke about her struggles and played an original song on the piano.

said. “But those bad things don’t define us. What defines us is how we get through it, how we help others, and how we help ourselves.”

To help ourselves, Eric Hipple explained that it is important to reflect on the choices we make, because this helps to boost selfesteem. In the closing of his speech, Hipple presented the seniors with a simple task.

“What I’m going to ask you to do for the next two weeks is, at the end of the day, I want you to look back at the choices that you make and I want to you to recognize them, because

90% of them are going to be great choices,” he said.

The seniors who saw Hipple’s presentation found it to be very moving and impactful. They felt that they learned a lot about mental illness that they may not have known otherwise.

“I thought it was really thoughtprovoking and it hit home with me because of my family’s mental illness history,” said senior Kali Penze. “It made me realize that with time and proper care, people with mental illnesses can get over that obstacle and live a life full of happiness and love.”

already.

The change in school policy does not necessarily mean that students cannot take the ACT. Some Illinois school districts have stood by the ACT despite the new contract from the state; they will continue to provide the ACT to their students.

In order for this to happen, the school districts that choose to provide the ACT at no cost to their students will need to use other sources of funding.

“The state has actually not had adequate funding to provide us with ACT tests,” said Mr. Scotellaro. “This year, the school district had to pay for our students to take the ACT.” Starting this year, District 207 was responsible for paying for the ACT. Next year, the district will also have to pay for the SAT.

Schools will need to allocate funding on a district level in order to ensure that their students still have access to the tests that they need.

This could lead to some schools in less wealthy areas being unable to provide their students with equal access to testing.

“While the school may provide ACT tests in the future, in order to help students get into colleges in the midwest and west, students will likely have to take the ACT out of school,” said Mr. Scotellaro.

Students who can afford to take the SAT or ACT may have more access to colleges and universities. While this may not seem like a big deal, in the future, it could lead to a disparity between those students wealthy enough to take the test on and those who cannot.

Illinois high schools to offer SAT instead of ACT

Dimitri Speron

News Writer ue to state budget issues, Illinois has signed a contract for 14 million dollars with the College Board to replace the ACT with the SAT. The College Board contract provides 1.37 million dollars in savings over three years.

Up until this year, the ACT was funded by the state so all students would have the opportunity to take it. Now, individual districts would be responsible for funding the exam.

The ACT has been the official standardized test given to all high school juniors in Illinois for the past 15 years.

This decision to switch to the College Board’s SAT exam rather than the ACT makes Illinois unique among

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midwestern states.

The SAT, up until now, was used almost exclusively by states on the Eastern seaboard. The new contract to provide the SAT lasts for at least three years, and is likely a result of the redesign that the SAT recently went through.

“The state of Illinois is currently in a bit of a budget crisis,” said Mr. Scotellaro, the SPS director. “The last several years, Maine South (and other Maine schools) have been paying out of district funds for the ACT tests.

The College Board (which provides the SAT) made a better deal with the state, allowing them to provide the test to more people, for less money.”

The new SAT is a product of extensive market research that has received generally positive reviews from students who have taken it

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NEWS

| April 21, 2016

District 207 switches to flat fees for book sales Catherine Coyle News Writer

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eginning next year, students of all grade levels will no longer pay the cover price for each individual required book for the upcoming school year. Instead, all District 207 students will pay a yearly flat fee for all of their books, including Chromebooks.

“The district is always looking for ways to try and reduce the cost of books and other supplies for students and wanted to find a way to give families a predictable yearly cost to plan for,” said Principal Shawn Messmer. “This should enable more families to utilize the pre-pack option and hopefully make check-out much easier for all involved.”

No changes are going to be finalized until after the Board of Education meets in May to solidify any possible decisions. As of right now, the estimated flat fee, including Chromebooks, is projected to be $355 per year.

This will help eliminate the “shock” that comes with the freshman year price tag when you pay for the Chromebook all at once on top of other expenses. Instead, the new system averages out the prices of courses, books, and the Chromebook among the four years so the same price can be expected every year.

Students who have a Chromebook already will not have that included as a part of their flat fee. The estimated price for students already in possession of a Chromebook is $290 per year. This switch is estimated to save families more than 6% throughout the entire book sales process.

Of course, there are exceptions to this change. Specific classes, such as Art I, that require the purchase of many extra materials will be an additional cost on top of the flat fee.

Student costs have been falling in the past few years, but the district is now at the point where this will be the most cost-efficient path without eliminating publisherprinted textbooks or print novels altogether.

“The flat fee and how books will be ordered as a result will allow for greater flexibility and creativity in the selection of class texts,” said English department chair Mr. Parrilli. “This new system will afford us the opportunity to be more responsive to students’ interests and abilities.”

T h e w ay t h at t h e f l at f e e averages out fees for courses overall throughout the school is what makes this new plan so flexible. Ideally, it will allow students to pick classes without too much worry about

ILLUSTRATION BY BASIA CHRUSCHINSKI

cost.

The change will also allow funds to be allocated to different departments to pay for supplemental res ources and supplies. E ach department will be presented with a budget that they must work inside when planning future student purchases.

“This new program will place

g re ate r re sp ons ibi l it i e s up on department chairs and teachers, b u t I d o n o t a nt i c i p at e a ny challenges for students,” said Mr. Parrilli.

A formal statement concerning all finalized prices and decisions will go out to students in parents in May after the District 207 Board of Education meets.

C-Team changes likely for 2016-2017 school year Mariam Zaki

Commentary Editor fter having its first year with a stand-alone, honors-credit course, the Constitution team is preparing for the possibility of changes in the structure of its class yet again.

The team has traditionally held try-outs to form a team of around 2530 students. Prior to this year, the team members would be placed among the AP Comparative Government classes, where they would prepare for the AP test along with learning extra necessary material for the competition. In addition, students were also required to meet frequently outside of school hours.

As of this year, a course was created specifically for the Constitution Team members to follow the “We the People” curriculum while still

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fulfilling the graduation requirement of a Government course.

Initially, the course was made to be unweighted, but was later changed to a weighted scale in order to match the rigor that many felt the class offered.

“This was the first year that this class structure was instituted,” said Prinicpal Shawn Messmer. “With 31 students enrolled in the class, it worked very well to have one class designated to the team.”

Some students have noted that this structure has helped the team.

“There is such unity between our team and the changes that have been made this year allow for that,” said senior Lily Elyin.

For next year, however, it appears that more changes will need to be made with over fifty students who have requested to be enrolled in the course.

T h e p l a n s f o r n e x t y e a r ’s C-Team are not yet determined, but conversations have begun about what will be best for the team and its potential members.

Yesterday, Mr. Messmer met with the students enrolled in next year’s course to discuss the options at hand.

(At press time, the specifics of this meeting were not yet available.)

“What I really want to do, is sit down with the students and have a conversation about what they think the course should look like for them,” said Mr. Messmer. “That may include a larger class size or tryouts like they had been done in the past.”

Any changes to the C-Team class will reflect the course’s distinctive nature.

“In reality, there is no other program like the Constitution team,” said Mr. Messmer. “Although it is

similar to groups like Mock Trial, there are other aspects that make the program different.”

The experience offered by the We the People competition creates a unique educational opportunity at Maine South, and some Constitution Team members worry that more change could hurt the team’s chances for success at the state and national levels.

“I feel that any changes that are to be made need to keep the team as together as possible to ensure the success that we have had over the years,” said senior Joey McGrady.

Although the changes will alter the existing structure, the team is still expected to continue its success following an impressive record of consecutive state titles since 1992, numerous national top-ten placings, and one national title.

April 21, 2016

STAFF EDITORIAL

The reality of being rejected

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ejection is one of the biggest d is app oi nt me nt s for h i g h schoolers, especially seniors. We devote our time, energy, and tears into perfecting our application for admission to our number-one college.

For some, this work pays off; for others, it feels like days wasted.

Handling rejection is no easy task, but that should not lead us to feel defeated; rather, it should stimulate us to learn from those failures. Failure gives us the ability to pick ourselves up and keep moving forward with a stronger and more determined mindset. Failure is a teacher, and without enduring it, we lose out on those vital life lessons.

Fear of failure often leads us to not even try. But, whether you are applying to a few reach schools or trying out for the musical as a freshman, it is critical to make an attempt or else you will never know what the outcome could have been.

You will regret using self-doubt as an excuse to not put your best foot forward.

When an outcome is not satisfactory, that does not justify shutting down, acting bitter, and letting opportunities pass you by. Rejection should not be our undertaker, inhibiting us from experiencing new things and seizing other opportunities. It is necessary to pick ourselves up and see the good that can come out of failure.

If you are under the impression that rejection is only a once-in-a lifetime occurrence, think again. It is to your benefit to know how to deal with failure sooner so you are better prepared for life. Perfection is simply not reality. There will be times of failure and it is important that you know what to do.

Those who have never dealt with rejection do not appreciate the value of achievement. This essential life lesson teaches you how to savor each triumph you earn.

Failure motivates you to strive for success. Employers actually prefer people familiar with failure over those who are a stranger to it because they

have the ability to bounce back from failure, an inevitable occurrence in the workplace.

Failure makes you a better person because it permits you the time to reevaluate your goals and fight for the ones you truly wish to accomplish.

There is nothing wrong with striving for success—that is, until you lose sight of why you care in the first place. Failure is a great indicator of the goals that matter to you the most.

This opportunity of self-reflection often doesn’t occur when success is easily attainable. It is important to be able to recognize your strengths and weaknesses in order to be successful.

Failure teaches us to think more creatively and find alternative paths to success; if it does not work one way, then try another. Once you fail, sometimes you need to find different roads to get where you want to end up.

Whether you were denied from your number-one college or rejected from the musical, whatever the loss may be, there are other ways to be successful.

Monica Bielawiec

the sleek, black trigger, I knew that in one touch, everything could change.

My life would no longer be reading books for English or preparing notes for history. It would no longer be meeting with my friends for good food or our ritual girls’ nights. It would no longer be returning home to my bed, my family, my safety net.

Like the average teenager, I always took things for granted. I watched the news, I read about the unfortunate events that touched the lives of other people, then continued on my day basically unaffected. What I failed to realize is that disaster can just as easily reach me too, and threaten the stability of the perfect bubble I created around my life.

It’s hard to forget the moment when the offender removed the menacing gun from his pocket. It’s hard to forget the sharp pressure as he pressed in against my shoulder blades, ordering me to open the cash register for his counterpart.

Unfortunately, that wasn’t my only experience being held at gunpoint— it happened once again just a few months later by different culprits.

Although both experiences were

nightmarish, the trauma and fear pales in comparison to the insight I gained during those experiences.

When you stare eye-to-eye with danger, you begin to look at things through a different lens.

After that, I gained a greater appreciation for the delicate gift of life I had been given. When I laughed, I laughed genuinely and heartily. I grasped every opportunity and experience with both hands.

I renewed my hunger for passion, success, and selflessness. I eagerly made new friends and engaged in positive relationships. I appreciated what I had and returned a helping hand to others.

As millennials, we live in a materialistically-fueled world that constantly encourages consumption.

Social media feeds our desperate need for social approval and spurs our desire for the best clothes, electronics, and goods. When you do not possess those things, your value decreases, and you are not subject to the same social tier as others may be.

Truthfully, such things are trivial.

Most of us don’t realize that. Not until we’re staring down the barrel of a gun.

Lessons from the barrel of a gun Editor-in-chief

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e believe that we are invincible, superhumans that cannot be touched by potential danger, that can walk out unscathed even in the most reckless situations. More often than not, we take the simple blessings of our daily lives for granted, unappreciative of the small luxuries that seem to be solidified. We go about our days with thoughtless conventional routine, absorbed in our own daily struggles. Until those things are compromised.

For me, this reality check occurred on an average day at work, right as my coworker and I began to close the T-Mobile store for the day. Two men walked in, cloaked in black garments, with one thing on their minds: money.

Within seconds, I was staring down the barrel of a gun.

In those moments, my world seemed to slow in a sullen, drowsy daze. The situation seemed unreal.

Seconds prior, my life had consisted of complaining about schoolwork and staying out too late on weekends, but watching the man’s hand tremble on

| 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

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COMMENTARY | April 21, 2016

Being in France after the Brussels attack Production Editor

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hen you think of France, what does your mind go to? I know for many people in our school, it goes to the suicide bombings that happened in Paris and one of its suburbs last November, where 130 people were killed and hundreds were injured.

I remember seeing all sorts of support for France in November during the days following the tragedy—the mass news coverage on this event, the “Pray for Paris” slogan, changing icons on Facebook to the French flag. For me, I was worried about my friend Amélie, who lived with my family last summer as an exchange student, and lives in the 16th district of Paris with her mom.

However, the memory of the attacks faded in the past four months,

had to get my coat patted down and my purse checked by police when entering Notre Dame on Easter.

Despite these experiences, I was never scared of another attack

happening in Paris while I was there.

The agency that was in charge of our trip, ACIS, made us well aware that they had plans for us if something happened on our portion of the trip in Paris.

Another thing that was calming is that there had been multiple arrests of terrorists in France during the days before the attacks in Brussels; the terrorists that were arrested were the ones involved in the Paris attacks.

With this news I felt as if there was nothing more to fear.

It wasn’t just that, however, that made me feel calm. I realized that if I focused on the ISIS attacks in Paris while I was there, I would not enjoy the fact that I was actually going to France. I would focus too much on the bad things there than the good things, and that would have ruined the French experience that I had been anticipating for so long.

Looking back on my trip, I would not change a thing. The resilience of the French people taught me to never let fear stop me from having the experience of a lifetime.

and Washington D.C. Just a click on Amtrak’s website can lead to many travel opportunities; it is miraculous how cheap and efficient it can be to reach all parts of America in just a few days.

Even without the aid of parents or guardians, travel can still happen smoothly. The coupling of self-reliance and courage make conquering a new city or environment that much easier.

This fact is important to remember during our allocated summer vacation months; gone are the days where

time is wasted by mass indecision and boredom. Instead of incessantly roaming about graveled alleys with a large slurpee and a longboard, we can seek adventure in an entirely new way.

Websites like Groupon, VRBO, and Kayak make it effortless to excite one’s senses in a multitude of facets.

Get a massage, rent a cabin, or take a bus to New York.

As Denis Waitley might say, “Life is inherently risky. There is only one big risk you should avoid at all costs, and that is the risk of doing nothing.”

PHOTO COURTESY ARDEN SASAK

Arden Sasak

until the Brussels attacks happened two days before our spring break started, and two days before I left for an eight-day trip to France with a tour group of other Maine South students and teachers.

The trip was my first time traveling internationally. Three of those days were spent in Paris, which just months before had been a terror zone. Everyone going on this trip remembered this as they were leaving O’Hare and going to Charles DeGaulle Airport in Paris.

Multiple students who were planning on going on the trip dropped out because of the attacks. I’m not sure if everyone that dropped out did it because of the attacks, but I asked a friend why she dropped out, and she said, “I really am not in the mood to get bombed on spring break.”

Thankfully, no one was “bombed” and we all had a wonderful time during the three days in Paris. But there was no denying that these attacks happened, as French soldiers with machine guns lined the base of the Eiffel Tower as I walked by, and I

STILL PRAYING

This graffiti was spray painted in the center of Avignon, France. The city of France was reminded of the attacks when Brussels was also targeted this past month.

Kevin Scherer

Commentary Writer

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or far too long I have been restricted in my movements.

When I turned eighteen I imagined freedom and liberty to feel quite different. I want to walk, run, bike, and drive down the streets of Park Ridge without my parents wondering where I am.

The limitations that are associated with familial, academic, and social matters are enough to drive a teen mad. There is no wonder all we hear in the hallways is “I wish I could just run away.”

The affluence and aristocracy that is Park Ridge deprives people of experiences that mirror those of our future. Before leaving for college, I can guarantee a large percentage of students have not volunteered directly with the homeless, eaten ramen noodles for three straight meals,

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or properly filled out a W-4. Some students and teens have never even experienced the freedom of traveling alone with their friends.

This lack of “real world” experience can hurt our future beyond the corridors of Maine South. The homogeneous environment in which we have grown up has narrowed our view of the world around us.

Collegiate studies and employment will immediately expose our sheltered tendencies.

There is an antidote to our plague of uniformity, though: travel.

By putting your own personality, intellect, and charisma into new environments you are bound to grow.

Responding to new stimuli allows us to be more willing to change; when we handle external situations effectively it makes solving familiar ones quite simple.

As the end of the school year approaches, it is a perfect time to reflect on where we want to go and how we hope to be impacted.

More recently, my friends and I have discovered how to explore destinations like New Orleans, Seattle,

ILLUSTRATION BY ANNE LONGMAN

There’s a world out there to discover

April 21, 2016 | COMMENTARY

The roommate search may be easier than you think

things that set you apart from the crowd as opposed to blanket qualities that apply to nearly everyone in the group?

In fact, if I met someone on a roommate search that didn’t fit most of those, I would be genuinely shocked.

Not that I ever will, considering I’m not in any of those groups.

This is because in the fall of 2016, when I move into my dorm, I will first meet the person I’ll be sharing my space, time, and freshman year experience with: my randomly assigned roommate.

I think trying to find your perfect roommate is futile and unnecessary.

Everyone gets a roommate, if not several roommates, and will have a

unique experience. Going through the trouble of finding your clone via social media seems to be tedious and a waste of effort.

The number of people you will meet in college, no matter where you go, is so monumental that it’s impossible to try to find the embodiment of everything you stand for in one person. Add trying to coordinate living with that person and you have a challenge of epic proportions on your hands.

Some seniors feel like going the route of a randomly assigned roommate is akin to throwing your future up in the air and not caring what happens. The uncertainty and “risk” of blind pairings outweigh any possible positive outcome.

However, random roommate assignment is not an unorganized free-for-all; the university of your choice pairs you up with a student who matches you on some basic level of criteria. As opposed to rooming with someone based on whether or not they watch “It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia,” you’re compatible in that you are both non-smokers. The fact that you are mutually okay with having guests in your room outweighs your different zodiac signs.

I think we all need to have a little more faith in our universities’ capabilities—along with our own. If you don’t believe that you can make it through the year without planning out everything, you’re in for a shock come August.

College isn’t about finding one person with whom you do everything; in the next four years, you should be broadening your horizons and reaching out to as many new people as possible.

It is not so much that it’s bad or unhelpful to plan in advance who you room with as much as it is that you already have enough things to plan for in college. You have to sign up for classes, get things for your room, figure out your major (if you haven’t already)... the checklist of things high school seniors have to do in preparation is extensive.

Why not have one less thing to stress about and broaden your horizons at the same time?

because of the questions that came with them. Some people took it as a joke, asking if I would build a wall or what I would do to make Maine South great again. But some took it a little more seriously, legitimately asking what I would do for the school and why I wanted to pursue the position.

It was these questions that caused me to question why I was doing what I was doing and what it really means to be a leader, especially in such a high-achieving school. I don’t claim to be better or above my peers. I think, at the risk of sounding clichéd, I wanted to be president in order to make a mark on the school. Not for myself or for the sake of my name, but for the betterment of my class.

I think being a leader is more than just running for a position.

Too often, people, specifically high schoolers, picture leaders as adults, people who are above us or people in a position of authority.

But that is not all a leader is. In fact, that is not who a leader should be.

A true leader is not just someone who stands behind a podium in a pantsuit. Don’t get me wrong—I love a good pantsuit. But to me, to be a leader is to find the courage, the effort, and the motivation to work to make something better—to be able to spot room for improvement or potential and to work to make it better, whether that means coming to school at 7:00 every morning

to attend planning meetings or organizing “Feast Fridays” in APUSH and “Doughnut Mondays” in Spanish.

Leadership comes in so many different forms and one definitely does not need an official title or position in order to be one.

I personally strive to work hard through my position in Student Council in order to make every assembly more exciting, every fundraiser more successful, every dance more enjoyable, and every parade worthy of the Maine South name.

But I also know that I would have the same commitment and motivation without the title of president, as well.

Fiona Gardiner

Commentary Writer

F

rom being interviewed for a job to crafting the perfect scholarship essay, we are often assigned the task of explaining the essence of our existence­—of stating in short and simple terms who we are and for what we stand.

For many, senior year is when this comes to a head. It is now, more than our other high school years combined, that we are asked to define ourselves. Nowhere is this selfassessment more stressful than during our search for a college roommate.

Browsing Facebook groups for any college will show you that most high school seniors, as a generalized group, are more or less the same.

Most posts to these groups show how similar we really are: “I’m looking to have fun, but school will be my top priority! I love going out but I’m also down for chilling and watching Netflix! I’m not crazy neat but I’m not messy either!” Nearly every Facebook group is full of the same generalities and vague blurbs worded in different ways.

If you’re trying to sell yourself and your personality to a potential roommate, shouldn’t you be writing

ILLUSTRATION BY CHRISTINA MIHALOPOULOS

What being a leader means to me Isis Zaki

Commentary Writer What does it mean to be a leader?

This is a question I have found myself contemplating recently. Over the last couple weeks, I ran alongside the wonderful Kamryn McKenzie to be co-president of the Maine South Student Council. Before I could even begin our “campaign” we both had to receive 200 signatures from fellow students.

The process turned out to be more difficult than it seemed. Not because of the number of signatures, but

SouthwordS 7

MODEL citizens

FEATURES | April 21, 2016

Margaret Cahill & Christina Johnson Features Editors

W

ith the popularity of TV shows like “America’s Next Top Model” and “Project Runway,” many students dream of modeling. For some Maine South students, however, this dream has become their reality.

These students got their start in a variety of ways. Many of these students had parents who recognized their potential at a very young age and got them involved in the business.

“I began modeling when my mom brought me to get baby pictures taken,” said senior Anna Benuzzi. “The photographer asked her if she ever considered taking me to an agency to try out modeling. She hadn’t, but she decided to do it after he told her about

it. I began modeling when I was 18 months old.”

For others, the whole prospect of modeling came somewhat out of the blue.

“We just got in the car one day and my mom said ‘Hey do you guys want to go and try [modeling]?’ And I guessed we’d go and see how far it goes,’” said senior Luke Giambrone.

Many modeling agencies and companies hire scouts to find the company new talent. These scouts tend to look in a variety of places for models that have certain ages, genders, or looks according to their clients’ needs. This way companies or agencies can recruit undiscovered, potential talent.

“I was scouted a couple of times at different shopping malls and I decided to give modeling a try,” said sophomore

pAMERICA’S NEXT POP MODEL

Olivia Chudziaszek. “Also, during one of my volleyball tournaments a man came up to my dad and said that instead of continuing volleyball, I should be a model because of my long legs.”

Although some models see modeling as just another high school job, there are many experiences that are totally unique to this line of work.

“For my first photo shoot, I was at a bird sanctuary in downtown Chicago,” said Chudziaszek. “I felt special because it was just me and the whole crew and they were all focused on me.”

As glamorous as the world of modeling may seem, going to so many auditions can become dull and somewhat unsettling.

“You’re there and they’re looking you over like you’re cattle,” said Giambrone.

“It’s a strange thing. You go and you sit

in this back area full of people and wait there. It’s kind of like caddying, that’s the other job I did, you just sit around waiting for hours.”

Still, there are many opportunities for fun depending on the type of shoot and the brand being promoted.

“I had fun on every shoot I did, but I think my favorite was when I was when I was eight years old and I did a job for McDonald’s,” said junior Kelly Maigler.

“It was a commercial promoting their Happy Meal and it took the whole day to shoot. Luckily for the two other girls and me in the commercial, we got to eat as many chicken nuggets as we wanted.

I honestly think I ate 40 that day.”

There are many different types of modeling including promotional, fashion, and commercial print. Most models tend to stick with one of these

PHOTO COURTESY ANNA BENUZZI

Senior Anna Benuzzi appears in an ad for Coca-Cola which was found in a few Jewel-Osco stores. Commercials and print ads like this are the main focus of Benuzzi’s modeling career. Benuzzi has also appeared in ads for Skittles and in the “American Girl Doll” magazine.

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PHOT

April 21, 2016 | FEATURES now, I want to make some money to pay for college and then see where life takes me,” said Chudziaszek.

While the world of child modeling can be fun and exciting, the business gets much more competitive as time goes on and many aspiring models are forced to quit.

“I’m basically done,” said Giambrone.

“My parents tried to get me to do it again, but I’m not tall enough.”

And height is a huge issue for many models, as most agencies look to represent teens with a specific body type.

“As much as I would love to continue modeling, I don’t see it becoming my career,” said Maigler. “I’m 5’ 7” which is considered short in the model world. I don’t work as much as I used to because when I was little, height wasn’t a factor.

Recently, companies have started to make more efforts to incorporate plus sized models and models of different races into their brand. Maybe someday they will start to be more accepting of models with more average heights.”

While there have been recent shifts in the modeling world, change comes slowly. Sometimes the remaining issues faced by the industry can be difficult for models to handle.

“It’s a s t r a n g e w or l d ,” s a i d Giambrone.

PHOTO COURTESY JACOB WALSH

categories throughout their career.

“I do a lot of commercial modeling, which means advertising products and clothes,” said Benuzzi. “I’ve done mostly department stores as far as clothes go and the pictures are usually used online, for posters in the store, or in catalogues. When I was younger, I did a ton of modeling for American Girl Doll.

Recently I did an ad for Skittles and an ad for Coca Cola which was on displays in the store and on some billboards.”

While many modeling jobs may seem the same, director styles and uncommon experiences certainly set them apart.

“At my last photo shoot I was asked to wear this white collared shirt,” said junior Jacob Walsh. “Everything was normal until they asked me to wear this pair of latex underwear.”

Balancing school and a modeling career can get hectic for many kids.

“In the beginning I’d be getting a lot of work and I’d be leaving school all the time and going to Milwaukee or Madison,” said Giambrone.

A future in the modeling industry may be a huge commitment and lots of hard work, but these jobs can help in the short-term for these teens to earn money and gain valuable work experience.

“It depends on how far I go, but for

FACE VALUE Senior Jacob Walsh stares off into the distance for a head shot that he uses when auditioning for jobs. Models use head shots to send to agencies or clients.

If they like the model’s look, then he or she can get hired.

PHOT

PHOTO COURTESY KELLY MAIGLER

COVER GIRL Junior Kelly Maigler poses for the a 2010 cover of “American Girl”

magazine (above). Maigler also appeared in a Bitty Baby advertisement for this company (below). Maigler was about two when her mom recognized her potential and sent baby pictures to a modeling agency where her career would take off.

PHOTO COURTESY KELLY MAIGLER

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FEATURES

| April 21, 2016

Bridget Yagihashi

Features Editor aine South offers a wide variety of sports and clubs for students to participate in—so many that every student can find something they are able to enjoy and fit into, whether it is through simple activities, or challenging competitions and events.

For a while, however, the Ice Skaters of Maine South did not have this opportunity.

The team’s previous sponsor left the role in early 2015, which disappointed skaters who wished to join in the upcoming year.

“I was new to everything from the beginning and was expecting there to be a Maine South figure skating club,” said freshman Emma Nazar. “When I found out it had been cancelled I was sad because it was a club I was interested in and excited for.”

Before it had been cancelled, it was just like any other ordinary club at Maine South. Anyone could join for a fee, and it came with a t-shirt. It was not a possibility to physically engage in the sport with other members, or compete through the school. The club was there simply to express that figure skating was an interest of the members.

This all changed when junior Maggie Carey decided to get involved.

With hard work and determination, she was able to make the dream of an active, competing Maine South figure skating team a reality.

“I began the process when I was a freshman,” Maggie said. “I asked

PHOTO COURTESY MAGGIE CAREY

M

Mr. Berendt about starting a team, but because of cost issues, nothing ever really happened. By making the skating team a club, however, we were able to make it possible in January of 2016 with the help of our sponsor Mr. Parrilli, the English department chair.”

The other aspiring figure skaters involved in the once non-competitive club were very thankful for Maggie’s hard work.

“When I found out that Maggie had been able to make skating team happen, I was happy and excited to represent Maine South,” said Nazar.

“It took a few years, but I am so happy that it finally happened because we are now able to show our skills against different schools, which is different than what we did before.”

The team is now composed of passionate skaters from Maine South, many of whom started as early as three or four years old. Expressing their passion from a young age jumpstarted their future as aspiring skaters.

“I started skating when I was only three years old at Franklin Ice Arena,” said sophomore Angelina Moore.

“Ever since then, I have been in love with the sport.”

Ice skating is a sport that does not get much limelight. Many people do not know about it or do not truly understand it. By introducing it as a competitive club to the school, it brings much-needed attention to the sport.

“What I love about the sport is

TERRIFIC TRICKS

Junior and Varsity member Maggie Carey performs an element during a competition this February. This element is called a ‘camel-catch’, which is one of Maggie’s favorite spins.

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PHOTO COURTESY MAGGIE CAREY

Maine South’s star skaters

SUCCESSFUL SKATERS

The Varsity team poses with their third place trophy they took home at a competition at Homewood-Flossmoor High School. The competition was their very first.

its rarity,” junior Monica Olszewski says. “It’s not a sport you hear people participating in on a daily basis. I love expressing myself through the music in my programs, and learning new spins or landing new jumps gives you such a rush.”

The girls of the team put in a lot of time and effort to achieve their goals.

“Most skaters practice every day after school,” Carey said. “Some even skate before school daily in addition to the practices we have as a team, which help us grow and improve as a unit.”

The skating season that the team does have is short, which makes these practices even more stressful for the team and involves even more work to be done each practice.

“When our season comes around, we have practice as a team once a week,” says sophomore Krisi Marcheva. “We don’t have much time, so these on their own can be strenuous.”

All of their hard work goes into the two competitions they have in which they show the judges, as well as their relatives and peers, what they have been working at all season.

The competitions are relatively new, with the most recent one being only the fifth Illinois state skating Competition.

“They’re really different from other skating competitions,” Carey says. “Instead of doing a program all by yourself, you compete with your team and work together while combining different elements of skating.”

The teams have already found success, with both JV and Varsity placing well at both events. At Homewood-Flossmoor High School, the team’s second competition of the season, JV placed first overall against about six other high school teams.

Varsity achieved an impressive third place at the competition as well, which the team was very proud of.

“I was very happy with how we did because we didn’t have a coach, we only had each other,” Nazar said.

Moving forward, the team has many goals they would like to accomplish in order to expand the success of Skating Club, such as recruiting more girls to make the team even better and the club more well known.

“In the future, I hope that the Maine South skating team keeps growing,” Nazar said. “I know there are many other skaters out there and I want them to hear about what we do, as well as have an opportunity to join and help us achieve the goals that we want to reach.”

April 21, 2016 | ENTERTAINMENT

Safety first on social media Laura Cash

Entertainment Editor n today’s digital world, social media is omnipresent. We’ve all grown attached to the apps that open endless pictures and updates posted by our friends.

However, because posting, tweeting, and updating statuses come so naturally to us, we often forget how much power we have and what consequences the misuse of power can lead to.

Students, unfortunately, have engaged in a variety of regrettable activity on social media: threats, bullying, harassment, stalking, and posting inappropriate images.

“We’ve seen it all, we’ve dealt with it all, and that’s hard not only for the kid, but for the family as well,” said Dean Thetard, who has been at Maine South for 21 years and is retiring at the end of this year.

The choices we make on social media can not only affect us, but those close to us. Kids threaten to fight, they bully over text message, and they save pictures that are hurtful to others. The quickness and availability of social media apps also contribute to the vast number of misconduct cases. This can result in Maine South getting involved and giving consequences when necessary.

How and when Maine South gets involved depends on the circumstances of the situation.

“If it’s on our devices or if it happens in school

I

then it immediately becomes our problem and consequences will be given,” said Mr. Thetard. “But if it happens outside of school and it’s brought to our attention, then we will try to resolve the problem by talking it out.”

Maine South wants its students to feel as safe as possible when it comes to attending school, so resolving any issue regarding bullying or social media misuse will be addressed immediately.

Whether or not consequences will be given, however, depends on the situation. Mr. Thetard also said the authorities can get involved if someone feels unsafe, and they will alert Maine South and explain the situation.

Because face-to-face interaction is less frequent now, people often post or text what they want to say rather than tell that person. Anonymous sites such as Ask.fm and Yik Yak have resulted in a substantial number of bullying cases because there is no name attached to the post.

People may think they are acting anonymously, but in reality, everything can be traced back to a device and the owner can be tracked down. Text messages can be screenshotted and sent around, so whatever you text is not always necessarily just between you and that person.

Because what you post never truly disappears, your past can come back to haunt you, adding to the danger that comes with what people post.

Decisively Indecisive by Lulie Duerkop

“Nothing ever goes away; everything is retrievable,” said Mr. Thetard. “Once you write something down, I have it forever. As opposed to when you and I talk face to face, it would be your word against mine.”

To ensure safety, be sure to set accounts to “private” so you control who sees your posts, remember what you post is permanent, and don’t display personal information such as your address or phone number publicly. For more information on being safe online, go to https://staysafeonline. org/stay-safe-online/protect-your-personalinformation/social-networks.

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ENTERTAINMENT | April 21, 2016

‘Big Fish’ swims into Maine South transitions to and from flashbacks

Entertainment Writer or this year’s Spring Musical, Mrs. Carrie Saurer and student director Bonnie Millener are tackling the Broadway hit “Big Fish.” Since its original release as a novel, “Big Fish” has been adapted into both a movie and a Broadway production, and now the story is being brought to Maine South. “‘Big Fish’ is unlike any other musical, let alone any other musical we’ve done at Maine South,” said student director Bonnie Millener.

“The range of emotions portrayed onstage, and hopefully felt by the audience, makes the show more lifelike and realistic than any audience member could anticipate.”

“Big Fish” follows a man named Will and his journey to separate the truth from the tales his father once told him. Originally a book written

by Daniel Wallace, the story has been adapted as a movie and a musical.

With an extensive cast of contrasting and conflicting characters, “Big Fish” is told through flashback scenes.

“There are so many elements to the flashback versus ‘real life’ transitions that you likely wouldn’t even notice all of them,” says Millener. “One example is Edward’s costume—it was designed to have different pieces added and taken off quickly, not only to show different scenes, but also different ages. He wears a letterman jacket when he’s a teenager, glasses when he’s an old man, etc. The actors themselves add various nuances to their speech and demeanor to show different ages, which of course is crucial to the many

F

throughout the show.”

Last year, the PA wing said goodbye to long-time teacher and director Mr. Muszynski as he retired after 25 years at Maine South. “Big Fish” will be the first Maine South Musical directed by Mrs. Saurer.

Students from all parts of the production have great respect and admiration for Mrs. Saurer, including sophomore actor Grace Goble, who will be playing leading character Jenny Hill in the performance.

“I love Mrs. Saurer,” said Goble.

“She’s doing a really great job. She expects a lot more of us than any of us have ever really experienced before, which is great because she’s making us work really hard and it’s pushing us a lot, and it’s making the show better than it ever would have been without her.”

The spring musical and the atmosphere that surrounds it can be intimidating for the cast and crew, especially new members. But Mrs. Saurer and the Fine Arts community in general create a comfortable environment.

“Everyone is very welcoming,” said junior Ann Kapustiak. “They love to have anybody come on and we have a lot of new people this year.”

Sophomore Moise Tamas is taking part in his first spring musical this year but thinks that there is nothing to be nervous about.

“It was intimidating at first, but once you get into it, especially with Mrs. Saurer and the community in the PA wing, it’s easy to get comfortable.”

After having spent hours together

PHOTO BY MONICA BIELAWIEC

WHAT A CATCH

Senior Anna Benuzzi plays a beautiful mermaid in “Big Fish.” Her character is one of many that makes an appearance in one of the main character’s stories.

PHOTO BY MONICA BIELAWIEC

on previous productions, the cast and crew members found that they have already built a strong bond.

“We were all such close friends to begin with,” said senior Jack CahillLemme, who stars in the production.

“But this show has brought us even closer.”

What happens on stage isn’t the only factor that contributes to a show’s success. A big part of the show comes in the creation of costumes, set-design, and hair and makeup— all managed by hard-working crew members.

The cast and crew’s hard work has paid off as they finish production on an enchanting story of tall tales and adventures fit for viewers of any age.

The diverse cast and various musical numbers throughout the show engage audiences throughout several different set changes for each flashback scene. The show even features two of Mrs. Saurer’s children who play the sons of Will.

With the new director, actors had to become familiar with new and innovative methods of preparation.

“There have been a lot of different methods of preparation,” said senior Eamon Hurd. “We had to read the book and I had talked to real fathers to get into character.”

What makes this musical different is the emotional plot it has.

“This year’s play is a lot more emotional than last year’s play,” said senior Elena Sasso, who plays Will’s pregnant wife in the show. “It’s the READY FOR HIS CLOSE UP Makeup head Natalie Reczek gets complete opposite of last year’s which Jayden Clarke, who plays one of the scouts, ready for his debut on the Maine South was goofy and funny; this year’s is very stage. The show features four young actors in its cast. deep and serious.”

12 SouthwordS

The play required a time-intensive deep character analysis by the actors, on top of the fact that the musical also had to be produced in record time.

“This is the most rushed show we’ve ever done because we’re opening in mid April,” said Sasso.

The remaining performances for the spring musical this year are April 22 and 23 at 7:30. Tickets can be bought at the door and are currently on sale at SeatYourself.com. The link to purchase tickets can be found on the Maine South High School website.

PHOTO BY MONICA BIELAWIEC

Liam Conlon

FATHER-SON

MOMENT

Will (Eamon Hurd) shares a touching moment with his son, played by senior Elena Sasso’s cousin, Luca. The unique musical focuses on the importance of strong family bonds.

April 21, 2016 | ENTERTAINMENT

THE NEWEST NETFLIX ORIGINAL SERIES WORTH WATCHING

‘Jessica Jones’

‘Borgia’

‘Master of None’

Anastasia Dalianis

Haley Mech

Luke Bechtel

After a tragic end to her shortlived superhero career, Jessica Jones works as a private investigator in Hell’s Kitchen. She’s struggling to reclaim her life after spending eight months as a prisoner of Kilgrave, a sadistic psychopath with the ability to control minds. When she is hired by two terrified parents whose daughter has gone missing, she finds herself falling back into Kilgrave’s clutches, and realizes that he is on the way to having all of Manhattan under his control. With only 13 episodes, “Jessica Jones” is an excellent choice for a thrilling, addictive binge-watch.

While Marvel is typically known for its morally-strong characters, Jessica Jones is anything but. Jessica isn’t exactly a role model­— she is short-fused, constantly angry, and drinks to cope with post-traumatic stress. This, however, is what makes her and her relationships with others so interesting. She has a good heart and will do anything for the people that she cares about, even if it means going back to Kilgrave.

David Tennant is utterly chilling in his portrayal of Kilgrave. He believes in the validity of his cause, and he does not fault himself for any injury or harm he induces. He truly doesn’t recognize the trauma and upset he has caused upon Jessica and others.

The show contains a diverse array of supporting characters: Jessica’s best friend and adopted sister, Trish, a former child star with a dark past; stoic bartender Luke Cage, who has a superpower of his own; and police officer Will Simpson, who is unable to fully recover from his encounter with Kilgrave.

When we learn about historical figures in school, they often become one-dimensional caricatures as we simplify events into material we can memorize for a test. But historical figures, no matter what legacy they left, were humans. There were reasons behind their actions and regrets following their failures.

Netflix’s historical drama “Borgia” expertly explores the controversial motives of Rodrigo Borgia (John D o m a n ) , w h o b e c a m e Po p e Alexander VI. Beginning just before the discovery of the New World, the series follows Rodrigo’s bribes, manipulation, and politically strategic marriages of his illegitimate children, all in order to rise to power—and hang on to it. He may not seem like a stand-up guy, but the series makes him a complex character who loves his clan and wants to bring stability to Italy, though he certainly does enjoy power.

Lucrezia, (Isolda D ychauk) Rodrigo’s daughter that he married off at fourteen, is one of the most intriguing characters on the show.

It is unknown if she was Rodrigo’s co-conspirator or innocent pawn.

Creator Tom Fontana struck a balance between manipulator and manipulated with Lucrezia, having her be loyal to her father, yet impulsive and capricious in her personal desires.

Critics may claim “Borgia” is boring, but it is only boring to viewers who let it be confusing. The storyline is complex and the characters numerous, but by listening carefully to each character’s dialogue, their motives will be made clear and their actions will align with those motives.

“Master of None” is a comedydrama distributed by Netflix, and created by comedian Aziz Ansari (of “Parks and Recreation” fame) and Alan Yang.

The 10-episode first season stars Ansari as Dev, a young commercial actor trying to make it in New York City. The show also tackles the “standard” sitcom tropes like relationships, subway trains, parents, and pasta.

The comedic tone of the series seems to draw great inspiration from a similar series, FX’s more mature offering, “Louie,” starring comedian Louis C.K. In general, “Master of None” and its events feel very much like a less dark, more lighthearted take on life in New York City and all its downsides.

However, the series does take strides to create its own distinct environment, thanks in large part to its talented cast and its great chemistry, especially the oftenhilarious dynamic between Ansari and his father (played by his real-life father, Shoukath Ansari) and the relationship between Ansari and his friends Denise (Lena Waithe) and Arnold (Eric Wareheim).

The central plotline is driven by the relationship between Ansari and his love interest Rachel (Noël Wells), which picks up speed in the latter half of the season, culminating with the tear-jerking season finale.

Overall, the series isn’t one to miss; fans of Aziz Ansari’s stand-up comedy and work in “Parks and Recreation” will see his characteristic energy and charisma shine in this series in a major way.

News Editor

Production Editor

Entertainment Writer

‘Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt’ Serenity Torres

Entertainment Writer If you’re ever feeling sad or frustrated, just grab some popcorn and watch “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt,” a masterful comedy from the mind of executive producer Tina Fey. This show already earned a handful of Emmy nominations, and for a good reason.

The show follows Kimmy Schmidt (Ellie Kemper), a 29-year-old woman who was held in an underground bunker in Indiana for 15 years with three other woman by a reverend who told them the world had ended. When she is finally rescued, she decides to move to New York City in order to start fresh and learn how the world has changed since the bunker doors closed.

Although the summary may sound melancholy, this show is actually quite lighthearted. Kimmy knows nothing about modern technology and has the sunniest disposition imaginable, and being thrust into bustling New York City life leads to lots of laughs.

You’ll find yourself smiling at the quirky characters, like Titus Andromedon (Tituss Burgess), K i m my ’s e c c e nt r i c w an n ab e broadway star roommate and the crazy situations that occur between the two.

What makes this show more than just another sitcom is the in-depth psychological issues Kimmy faces due to her time in the bunker and the underlying themes of social class and race relations.

Be sure to catch season 2 of “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt,” which was just released April 15.

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SMYRSKI

SPORTS

| April 21, 2016

Spring Sports Briefs

Girls’ softball starting off strong before the season

PHOTO BY MONIC

Lacrosse may only be a club sport, but it is one of the more popular sports for students at Maine South. The Hawks have had great success in the last few years, going to the group B championship game last year, but are still looking to keep excelling with a new team.

“The team this year has mostly juniors, sophomores and there are even a couple of freshmen and seniors on the team as well,” said junior Anthony Reda.

A difference for the team is that there are fewer seniors than in years past.

The seniors that are on the team this year are DJ Marquardt, Egan Guzaldo, and Eamon Kelly.

“Our team goal this season is to grow and develop as a team since most of the team will be returning next year,” said Reda. “Another goal is to play every game hard and finish the game hard, no matter what.”

A BIELAWIEC

Boys’ lax leaning on young players

Team chemistry has been a common theme among many of the girls’ teams this year. The softball team will be ready to make bonds that will make the team more confident in themselves and jump start them into the season.

“We like to call our coaches ‘Mom and Dad’ because the team truly feels like a family,” said junior captain Toni Tortorella. “I’ve been on many teams in the past that have been close, but never as close as this year’s team.”

“Chemistry is super important to every one of us,” Tortorella says. “We love playing the game not only for our school, but also for our teammates.

Chemistry off the field always tends to carry onto the field, and so we try to do as much as we can to enhance that.”

With lots of returning players, they hope to use their depth to their advantage.

“Our biggest goal for the year is to play to our potential,” said Tortorella. “Our entire lineup is strong and every player on the bench makes the best kids better,” said junior Maddie Rog. “As a whole, we all do extraordinarily well working together.”

“It’s about doing the little things, and those little things will make a big difference,” said senior Julia Bork.

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Sam Tinaglia and James Bednarz Sports Editor & Staff Writer

Badminton girls practicing hard to achieve success

Boys’ gymnastics looks to finish the season on a high note

Water polo team overcomes adversity before season

Boys’ tennis ready to go with returning varsity stars

The badminton team at Maine South is preparing for another successful season. The team is formed of juniors and seniors and is ready for the new year with new players and new goals The team has had success in the last few years, but now have had some key players leave for college like last year’s captains Ashlee Kossifologos along with her sister, Paula Kossifologos, and Lisa Mak. Seniors Megan Senf and Monet Sniezek will lead the varsity team composed of 15 junior and senior girls.

“One of our teams main goal is to never give up and help one another learn specific game techniques to improve on the court,” said varsity badminton player, junior Olivia Pasko.

The Hawks know that by improving in practice, they will improve in their games.

“Our team has done pretty well so far to start the year,” said Pasko. “We have come in second at all of the tournaments we have attended so far now we are still aiming for first place.”

Winning has been important for the team, but the girls’ have a goal that they believe is much more important: knowing they did their best.

“At the end of the season I want to look back and know that I gave it my best on the court and never gave up in support of my team and our record,” said Pasko.

Coach Chris Deger’s water polo team looks to make the best out of their circumstances given the team’s adversity.

Before the season started, some Maine South swimmers were having breathing problems due to a high concentration of chloramines in the pool. The issues at the pool have since been fixed through a ventilation adjustment.

There have also been numerous cases of pink eye, which is definitely concerning to the team.

Junior Marco Pilola leads the team at goalie, along with seniors Conor Brosnan, Jason Giblin, and Patrick Folan. Other players on the team include sophomore Sean Gardiner, and junior Jake Rink.

“Our season has been pretty good so far,” said junior Will Olafsson. “Last Saturday during the St. Pat’s Tournament we played great water polo with a strong showing against Homewood Flossmoor, in a match that we lost in double overtime. We really play great in all of our games, but we just need to prepare a little more.”

Though facing some obstacles, the boys water polo team stays optimistic.

“I know that every time we get in the water, whether during practice or game, our goal is to play the absolute best polo we can.” said Olafsson.

The boys’ gymnastics team at Maine South may not have the most members, but they are still successful, with a wide variety of stars. The team this year is formed of juniors and seniors, and one of the leaders of the team is senior Lennon Fabian. Fabian has been on the varsity team for two years and is looking to finish his senior year on a high note.

“The team is doing the best we can considering that we only have four people on the team,” said Fabian. “We go to the big meets and surprisingly don’t come in last.”

The guys on the team know they aren’t the best there is in the CSL conference, but they still end up having a good time.

Fabian also enjoys getting to know some of the students at our sister schools.

“Boys gymnastics is also a great thing to be a part of because the people over at East are some of the coolest guys you will ever meet,” said Fabian.

Although the team is happy with its recent performances, they are still looking to improve.

“The whole team is improving at their own rate,” said Fabian. “Our team is strongest on parallel bars and high bar, but we need to work on our floor routine a little more. Everyone is always putting in their best effort, which is one of the reasons this team is great.”

Captains junior George Grecu, Richard Mel, and junior Colin Wesselkamper have been leading the boys’ tennis team this spring. With many returning varsity players, they are looking to keep getting better and become one of the top teams in state.

“As a team, we just want to perform well and compete as hard as we can,” said Wesselkamper.

“We have really become a great team these past few years and we hope to finish top 20 in the state this year.”

The team is coached by social science teacher Mr. Greg Young, who has given his team a mind set that has carried them to what they hope is yet another successful season.

“Though not every school we play carries D1 athletes in their lineup, we do go up against some tennis powerhouses like New Trier, GBS, and Loyola,” said junior Mark Toledano. “As for goals, I think our coach Mr. Young sums it up best with something he says to us when we go up against teams like the ones I mentioned before: ‘Beat the teams we’re supposed to beat, and do our best to upset the teams that think they’re supposed to beat us.’ I think this is a great philosophy, because it leaves room for imperfection. It is this attitude that will drive the team to success.”

April 21, 2016 | SPORTS

Baseball leaning on senior leadership Julia Sirvinskas Staff Writer

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espite their rough start to the season, Maine South’s 2016 Varsity Baseball team is looking forward to a competitive season. The team is coached by Mr. Bill Milano and led by senior captains Nick Cecala, David Fleita, PJ Teahan, and Matt Whitelaw. Though they have gone 2-4 to start the season, the players are hopeful that there will be a quick turnaround.

A 7-6 win over a good Notre Dame team on April 5 has served as a turning point for the team.

“We may have started off the season a little slow, but I believe that we will use the victory against Notre Dame to propel our season in the right direction,” said senior pitcher Alex Niezyniecki.

The team trailed through the sixth inning, until Fleita hit a pitch into the left-center field gap, giving the team the lead. Senior pitcher Russell Langan closed out the game, ensuring Notre Dame had no chance of coming back.

The weather has also been a huge impediment for the team this year, who has had multiple indoor practices.

“Weather is always an issue during the spring but we always work around it,” said senior Andrew Lynn.

“No matter the condition of the field, we find a way to practice. We might have morning practice, or just practice on the outfield grass. If games are cancelled, we just reschedule them for another day. Sometimes, we even come early on game day and rake the field so it will be ready for our game later.”

Two games have already been cancelled due to weather. After blizzard-like conditions in a game versus St. Lawrence, the game was called after a three innings.

The team has yet to start conference play, but they anticipate success throughout it. Conference play began April 19, against Glenbrook South. Teahan says the team has its sights set on winning conference, and individually is seeking an AllConference selection.

“Personally I would love to be named All-Conference, but I am just trying to focus on helping the team win games in any way I can,” said senior PJ Teahen.

This “team-first” mentality is one of the team’s greatest assets, and it comes with their fairly veteran lineup.

“We all know what it takes to win games and the work we must put forth in practice to do so,” said senior Matt Whitelaw. “With that being said, when we play to our true

potential, we can be a really scary team.”

Senior first basemen Austin Mose says the team chemistry this year is unmatched.

“Being surrounded by kids that you have known for over 10 years provides a sense of camaraderie and allows us to push each other to want to be the best athletes and players possible,” said Mose. “Hopefully this

team.

Many of the girls have high hopes for the season due to the hard work they have been putting in during practice.

“Since I do shot put and discus, my goal this season is to try and PR every meet—whether it’s by one or two inches or maybe a foot,” said senior Riley Eckhart. “Discus is a little different though. In shot put, it might be a couple inches, while in discus it could be a significant change, which is awesome, especially if you have the wind on your side.”

Different events require different exercises. Many of the athletes on the team have different training schedules and utilize different exercises to get better.

“The hurdlers have a schedule where we train with the sprinters

on some days, run distance on some days, and, of course, hurdle almost everyday,” said senior captain Anna Totsch. “We fall a lot, but that just makes us stronger to get over the next hurdle.”

“The jumpers usually work with the sprinters, and sometimes practice actual jumps,” said junior captain Sydney Richter. “Some of us also do muscle building too.”

Rather than focusing on beating other teams, Maine South athletes focus on doing what they do to the best of their ability at competitions.

“We try not to focus on one specific team to beat, because that really limits our goals,” Bomrad said.

Although the team faces stiff competition each meet, the hardest competitor to face is not the other teams.

BATTER UP

team chemistry can translate into wins and a conference championship.”

The team’s patience, experience, and chemistry make for a promising rest of the season. With many tough games left to come, the team is looking forward to proving themselves.

“We have confidence in our abilities as a team to play winning baseball every game,” said Cecala.

PHOTO BY ARDEN SASAK

P.J. Teahan gets ready for an at-bat in an 11-1 win against Maine East on April 14. The team is channeling the talent from its veteran leaders to win games.

Girls’ track sprinting to meet their goals Sophie Miller Staff Writer

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oming off of a successful indoor season, the girls’ track and field team looks forward to outstanding outdoor results.

“This year was the most successful indoor season that I have been a part of,” said senior captain Kalina Gardiner. “The 4x8 broke our previous school record twice. We also won at the Plainfield Invite and at Conference. The top twelve teams and individuals in the state are invited to race each other [at Illinois Top Times] one last time indoors. We were ranked tenth going into the meet, but walked away with fourth place.”

Gardiner, senior Casey Bomrad, and sophomores Lexi Kachiroubas and Olivia Niziolek were a part of this record-breaking, state-ranking

“The clock is our biggest competition,” said senior captain Julia Sirvinskas. “We have full confidence in ourselves to compete with any team we are up against, so it is just a matter of racing to win and running our fastest times.”

While the team has its sight set on winning each meet during the season, one of the captains has big goals for not only herself, but the team as well.

“I want to stay healthy and get faster at the same time,” Gardiner said. “Running is challenging because you need to work hard to get faster, but you also have to listen to your body. My goal is to qualify to for State and do the best I can there.

If getting All-State is possible, then that would be another goal to work for.”

SouthwordS 15

BASEBALL | BADMINTON | LACROSSE | BOYS’GYMNASTICS | GIRLS’SOCCER | TRACK | BOYS’TENNIS | SOFTBALL | WATER POLO | BOYS’VOLLEYBALL

Girls’ soccer looking to improve on previous season

Christo Fosse

Staff Writer his year’s girls’ soccer team has their goals set high as they begin their new season. With twenty players taking to the field, this team is not only experienced but immensely talented.

Coach J.J. Crawford believes the team has the talent and potential needed to achieve these goals.

“Last season, our record was 16 wins and 6 losses,” Coach Crawford said. “But this year, I think we have the ability to improve on that record. In addition, I think this team will win a regional, finish top three in conference, and win the Chatham Tournament.”

These goals are realistic given the time and effort that many Hawks have put into their soccer skills by participating in club teams during the offseason.

Just like any sport at Maine South, an essential key in achieving these goals is maintaining a strong bond among the players. Center defender Taylor Barzowski who has committed to play at Minnesota State University says the team bonds in multiple ways.

“As a team, we try and plan pasta parties before the games, so we can spend time together and get food in us,” Barzowski said. “We also are a very close team, and we all make jokes in practice

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to lighten the mood. But, we also know when to get serious and work hard.”

Barzowski also recognizes the important role leadership plays on the team.

“As a senior captain, I take on the responsibility to try and lead everyone,” Barzowski said. “However, everyone takes on a leadership role which allows us to work together.”

In an incredibly difficult conference that includes team such as New Trier, Evanston, and Glenbrook South, the Hawks certainly have their work cut out for them as they try to reach their goals.

“New Trier is the two-time defending champion with most starters back, and Evanston and Glenbrook South will be really good this year as well,” said Coach Crawford. “So, you have to approach these games with the mindset that you can beat any team one time.”

However, in their quest for winning games, Coach Crawford maintains that the team’s strategy will not change.

“This year we will follow the same approach that we have been doing for the past few years. We will play our system and try to out-work our opponents,” Coach Crawford said.

Looking ahead at the regular season, the Hawks’ next game will be April 23 at Glenbrook South. Regionals will take

AROUND THE CORNER

PHOTO BY HALEY MECH

Junior midfielder Sara Ignoffo executes a corner kick during a game against Lincoln Way North. The team is looking to succeed through veteran leadership and young talent.

place on May 13, and Sectionals will take place on May 24.

Barzowski, intends on making it big for her last season as a Hawk.

“For this season, my personal goal is to get All-Area, All-Conference, AllSectional, and, if possible, All-State,” said Barzowski.

All in all, with a combination of talent, experience, leadership, and bonding, the Hawks are poised and capable of making a very successful run this regular season.

As Crawford said, “If we play our best and work hard, we will be a tough team to beat.”

Boys’ volleyball leaning on senior leadership PHOTO COURTESY EYRIE 1999

Mike Greco Sports Editor

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he Maine South Boys’ Volleyball team is off to another successful start. Players and coaches alike are looking to lean on their strengths as they get ready for the heart of the season.

“We have seven seniors, so experience is key for us,” said varsity head coach Mr. Gary Granell. “Three of those seniors were starters last year, so we have a good deal of veteran leadership. I think that’s one of our strengths. Our other biggest strength is our offense. We have great hitters and I don’t see any team that could really stop us from scoring. We’re strong at all our positions and our offense is one of the things that I am most confident in.”

While the team has two different captains who have led them to success early on in the season, they have two very different style of leadership.

“Our two captains are seniors Patrick Doherty and Declan Cannon,” Coach Granell said. “Declan

is the kind of guy who leads more by example. He kind of sets the bar high and expects the rest of the team to follow his lead. While Patrick is more of an enthusiastic kind of leader and he tries to rally the players and have them get behind him on the court.”

Veteran leadership from seniors and experience have helped the Hawks to win games early on in the season, but the younger players who will lead the team in the future are already making a big impact on the team’s current success.

“One of our younger players who started as sophomore who has really taken a brunt of the work has been Paul Rzepniewski,” said Mr. Granell. “He’s very positive and he has been one our starters as a junior this year. Nick Sremac is one of our starters; he didn’t play a lot last year, but this year he has become a starter and has been a big bright spot for us. And we have two sophomores in Grant Miller and Richie Hoff, who I think can be stars in the future.”

Although the season is very young, the team has high hopes and expects nothing but success during

the rest of its season.

“Based upon what we have seen in the short time since we have started the season, I think we can make it all the way to the championship this season,” Mr. Granell said. “That’s in the sense that I believe that there is not a team out there that we can’t beat. I feel that since we are coming so close to beating many of the good teams in the state that there is no question to how far this team can go.”

Behind many successful teams there has been a sense of confidence that very few can match. Since the early portion of the season the team has shown the talent and skill to succeed but is still looking for the edge that will hopefully put the team over the top.

“The best word to describe this team is unsure,” said Mr. Granell. “They know they have the talent to win, but they are unsure whether they are ready to take the next step. They have shown they have the talent because they have proven it on the floor. But we have the talent and time to learn how to be confident in tight games.”