Vol 53, Issue 3 Southwords

1111 S. Dee Road • Park Ridge, Illinois 60068

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November 8, 2016

Vol. 53, No. 3

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY HALEY MECH

All eyes on the

With only hours left in the election, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump continue to have their sights set on the highest office in the land.

Hawk Voters

Social Science dept. holds a mock election.

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Battle of the Ballot Lasting Legacy Students explain why they support each candidate.

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Clinton makes the most of her short time at South.

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Laugh It Off

TV shows use humor to discuss the election.

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ELECTION ISSUE | November 8, 2016

Park Ridge Republicans host breakfast Mary Godley and Elaine Smith

News Writer and News Editor he Republican Women of Park Ridge held their annual Red, White, and Blue gathering on Oct. 29. The event took place at the Park Ridge Country Club.

Attendees were served breakfast and had the opportunity to listen to U.S. Representative from Illinois’ 6th congressional district, Peter Roskam.

The group meets one time per month, throughout September, October, November, February, and April.

The Republican Women of Park Ridge are very active in the community and they draw women from many different backgrounds.

Most of the women in the group reside in Park Ridge, but others, like Marica Saliga, a Glenview resident, are from other towns within Maine Township.

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“I have met one other lady from Glenview,” said Saliga. “My impression is that most of the women are from Park Ridge or Des Plaines.”

“Glenview, to my knowledge, doesn’t have as active of a Republican women’s group. This group is really good, so I have been coming to this group. We have a lot of things in common too, I am in the 9th congressional district and most of the people here are in the 9th congressional district as well.”

T h r o u g h o u t t h e y e a r, t h e Republican Women of Park Ridge host a variety of different events.

“They had the candidates’ forum, just recently, a week or so ago,” said Saliga. “They had three judges speaking.”

The Candidate Forum which took place on Oct. 20, gave local Republican Nominees a chance to present their views on important

policies as well as ideas for bettering the community.

At the Red, White, and Blue Breakfast, Congressman Roskam was the speaker. He touched on the power held by local citizens to influence the outcome of elections and the overall importance of citizens playing an active role in the election process.

After the event ended, attendees h a d t h e c h an c e t o t a l k w it h Congressman Roskam and other local candidates such as Joan McCarthy Lasonde, who were also in attendance.

Saliga had the opportunity to speak with Congressman Roskam at the end of the breakfast. She touched on the issues that she feels are most important in the upcoming election.

“We need to protect our borders, the constitution, and freedom of religion,” said Saliga. “Freedom of religion is a big one. Number two is protecting us against ISIS. All the

things that happened in our country, in Orlando, we don’t want that to happen again. And third, is property, jobs, and economic prosperity for people.”

Members of the Republican Women of Park Ridge are thankful for the access they have to the local candidates.

“I don’t think there is another group like it,” said Saliga.“They are the most influential group that I know of.

They help these candidates— they give the candidates a place where they can talk and get their message out.”

While many of the group’s members are adults, they encourage everyone to be involved in local elections.

“Well, I think that [young people] have to educate themselves,” said Saliga. “They can join [political] groups. You can’t do much by yourself.

There is more power in numbers.”

Mock election predicts election results Catherine Coyle News Editor

n Tuesday, October 25, Maine South held a school-wide mock election. Students from every grade level, freshmen through seniors, gathered at the polls during their Social Science classes to cast their ballots.

“School’s about learning and tr ying to understand the world better,” said Government teacher Mr. Kevin Hansen. “And a mock election, especially a presidential election, is your first attempt to do that.”

Maine South alumna Hillary Clinton won the school’s presidential candidate vote with 48.95% of the total 1573 votes cast. Donald Trump received 39.99% of the votes with Gary Johnson and Jill Stein receiving 6.36% and 4.70% respectively.

Maine South students also voted Republican Mark Kirk for U.S. Senator, Democrat Janice Schakowsky for 9th District Representative, Democrat John C. Mulroe for 10th District State Senator, Republican Mel Thillens for 28th District State Senator, Republican Michael P. McAuliffe for 20th District State Representative, and Democrat Martin J. Moylan for 56th District State Representative.

“It’s important that we get involved in politics,” said senior Meghan Bowler. “The political process doesn’t seem that important until you can actually vote, but it’s great to get used to that tradition for when you do vote.”

This was the first time Maine South has had all the students in the social science classes vote, so social science teachers such as Mr. Warren Scott, Mr. Andrew Trenkle, and Ms. Sherri Scorza took

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PHOTO BY PEYTON TURNER

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ELECTION EXCITEMENT

Students line up in the halls of the A-wing to cast their votes. Voting took place during students’ history periods.

on the task of organizing the event.

“There were some kinks in the system,” said Mrs. Scorza. “I think next time, we would make sure that we had the senior table covered during all class periods, just so that those who are checking in the voters are ready to go when classes come out to vote.”

Many seniors took part in preparing for the election. Groups of students visited other social science classrooms to inform the underclassmen on what the mock election was, why the school

has one, and the views of the different presidential candidates. Additionally, seniors acted as “mock election judges” by checking in students at the polls and taking their ballots.

“Checking all the names off was a little stressful at some points,” said senior mock election judge, Alyssa Tamvakis.“Overall though, it was pretty nice and it had great organization.”

For many students, this was their first time voting.

“Students should be informed on politics and what’s going on in the world,” said junior Anna Laskowski. “It’s important to be a part of this even though we can’t vote because one day we are going to have to.”

“A lot of people are going to vote uneducated about the issues,” said senior Kamila Kazimierczuk, “But it’s important to see what the results are so people can know who wins and we’ll see where our school lies on the political spectrum. It’s good for people who are educated because they would want to see who wins among their classmates and their peers.”

Even though a majority of Maine South students will be unable to vote in this upcoming election, most cast their ballots at the mock election. “[The mock election is important for these students because] one of the goals of the Social Science department is for our students to graduate with an understanding of what it means to be civicminded, to understand how the election process works and the importance of voting,” said Mrs. Scorza. “It’s like a Government class; most students who take Government will not be able to vote in the upcoming election. It doesn’t stop us from talking about the election and voting behaviors.”

November 8, 2016 | ELECTION ISSUE

A guide to the 2016 presidential election

Ryan Prendergast News Writer

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oday, Nov. 8, is Election Day. It is important to keep in mind each candidate’s track record regarding major issues, while at the same time taking into account the candidates’ stated beliefs. The following is a brief summary of each of the four major candidates’ political stances from their respective campaign websites.

Secretary Clinton’s political career includes two terms as First Lady, eight years as a Senator, and 4 years as Secretary of State.

Donald Tr ump’s leadership experience includes years chairing The Trump Organization, a multibillion dollar real estate conglomerate.

Economy:

Economy:

Hillary Clinton’s economic plan Donald Trump’s economic plan focuses on righting the inequalities of focuses on the creation of growth and the post-2008 recovery. of jobs. Central to this is his tax plan, She proposes $10 billion in funding under which three income brackets, for “Make it in America Partnerships;” as well as businesses, receive a tax cut, tax incentives for hard-hit, former and “the greatest percentage reduction manufacturing towns; a five-year, $275 in tax bill goes to working and middle Republican Democrat billion investment in infrastructure; class taxpayers.” and an “exit tax” on companies moving offshore.

Foreign Policy and Terrorism: Foreign Policy and Terrorism: Trump has proposed a foreign policy position of “peace through strength.”

Clinton proposes a foreign-policy focus on global coalitions and on Trump advocates a new budget, one which expands the U.S. Navy, Army, strength through American allies. She plans to cut spending in the Defense Air Force, and Marine Corps and focuses on new cyber and missile threats.

Department while focusing on “‘net-centric warfare’ capabilities.”

Trump proposes combating terrorism dually—both militarily and On terrorism, Clinton proposes escalating the coalition air campaign in ideologically. He supports “aggressive joint” and coalition military operations, Syria, as well as cooperating more strongly with allied intelligence forces. but also proposes a Commission on Radical Islam.

Hillary Clinton

Immigration:

Donald Trump

Immigration:

Clinton’s proposal involves “comprehensive immigration reform… within 100 days [of presidency].” Her proposed reform would create “a pathway to full and equal citizenship.”

Clinton’s proposal focuses on immigrant naturalization, expanding the Affordable Care Act to all families, regardless of their immigration status, and it creates the Office of Immigrant Affairs to expand adult English and citizenship education.

Trump’s stance towards immigration is characterized by his goal to build “an impenetrable physical wall on the southern border… [which] Mexico will pay for.”

Other major goals of the plan include immediately deporting “anyone who enters the U.S. illegally”, overturning President Obama’s amnestygranting executive action, and tripling the size of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Clinton’s educational policy focuses on ensuring every child is “guaranteed a high-quality education.” Clinton proposes a $2 billion federal investment, promising incentives to student support teams and ending zero-tolerance discipline.

Clinton’s plan guarantees families earning under $125,000 annually can attend in-state, public college without paying tuition. Her plan also ensures all students can refinance student loans.

Donald Trump’s policy on education focuses on school choice for those in elementary and high school. He proposes a $20 billion federal contribution, coupled with a collective $110 billion from individual states, that allows “[students] and their famil[ies] to choose the public or private school of their choice.”

The funding for this will come by “re-prioritizing existing federal dollars.”

Trump is also in favor of the merit-pay system.

Education:

The highest polling independent, Governor Johnson served two terms as Republican governor of New Mexico before running for President as a Libertarian in 2012.

Economy: Johnson’s economic plan focuses on reducing government regulation in order to incentivize job growth. His policies call for replacing all income and payroll taxes with a single consumption tax based on an individual’s spending.

Libertarian Foreign Policy and Terrorism: Johnson disagrees strongly with the “imperialist foreign policy” of past decades. He proposes focusing on internal, rather than foreign problems.

Immigration: Johnson’s policy on immigration involves simplifying the process of legal immigration, as well as simplifying visa legislation.

Education: Johnson spoke out against requiring free tuition at public universities.

Johnson proposes eliminating the federal Department of Education.

Gary Johnson

Education:

Jill Stein ran for Governor of Massachusetts twice, and served as a Town of Lexington Town Meeting Representative before beginning her first presidential campaign in 2012.

Economy: Jill Stein’s economic platform involves establishing “Jobs as a Right.” This plan proposes guaranteeing a living-wage job, with a $15 an hour minimum wage, to every American wishing to work.

Foreign Policy and Terrorism: Green Party Stein proposes a 50% reduction in military spending and the closure of all foreign bases. Her proposed foreign policy focuses on diplomacy.

Jill Stein

Immigration:

Stein’s stance towards immigration is an open one. She is in favor of “halting deportations, and creating a path to citizenship for... undocumented immigrants.”

Education: Stein’s educational plan involves guaranteeing tuition-free education “from preschool through college,” and abolishing student debt entirely.

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ELECTION ISSUE | November 8, 2016

Student face-off: why I am voting for...

Donald Trump

I

have always been interested in politics. From debating with my friends for hours, to extensively Maria Francque researching each of the candidates’ Commentary Writer policies, I’ve been hooked.

I support Donald Trump. There—I said it. I feel like every time I say that, the room goes silent while someone simultaneously drops a glass on the ground. To me, this stigma is unproductive to the common goal of our country for this election: to leave this country in a better place in 2020 than it currently is. I believe Donald Trump will do that.

This election is unique. On both the Republican and Democratic side, there have been daily scandals and stories that make us question why these are the two people running for office. Believe me, I’ve had those thoughts many times.

However, I have realized that, in this particular election, the only viable way to judge a candidate is based on his or her policy proposals.

For the most part, Mr. Trump is a representative member of Republican ideals. As an active member of the Republican Party for about two years, I have extensively researched the party platforms to understand why I am a Republican. I believe in the Constitution. Our governing document dating back to 1787 is what the Republican party is rooted in; originalism and a respect for the founding fathers—qualities which I believe Donald Trump possesses and can be seen throughout his policies on trade, taxes and immigration.

For the past eight years, the United States has been growing at a constant 0-2% gross domestic product rate, meaning that our economy is essentially stagnant compared to countries with healthy 2-4% GDP growth rates. Donald Trump has made a point to improve our economic standings by bringing jobs back to Americans through improving prior trade deals such as the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) which has infamously expanded our deficit with Mexico and led to a loss of nearly 600,000 American jobs over the course of 20 years.

Donald Trump’s plan to withdraw from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (another trade deal in the making) and NAFTA is likely to give America the upper hand in trade deals, bringing jobs back to the United States.

Along with our foreign relations and economic standings comes the issue of immigration. Mr. Trump plans to make immigration more difficult. He wants to ensure that American jobs go to legal citizens of the United States, and he wants to ensure the safety of our citizens. Unfortunately, we live in a world of terror, and the threat of foreign powers is imminent.

Donald Trump’s plan to have a more serious vetting process in immigration is a logical way to ensure the safety of American citizens.

Since Justice Scalia’s death in February of 2016, the court has been comprised of eight instead of the usual nine justices. Trump plans to appoint a conservative Supreme Court justice to ensure a strict interpretation of the Constitution.

His plans to nominate an originalist to the Supreme Court will help uphold the integrity of the constitution and ensure that the original platforms of the Republican party are respected.

America is in need of change. We need a strong-willed Republican in office willing to make our country a better place in 2020 than it currently is in 2016. We need someone willing to tackle the tough issues such as taxes, immigration, terrorism, and someone with specific plans to stimulate our economy’s growth once again.

Although he’s not perfect, Donald Trump will offer a fresh perspective to the world of politics and make for a fitting president.

ILLUSTRATION BY HALEY MECH

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Hillary Clinton

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’ve always known that I would vote for Hillary. The first time she ran, I supported her even though I was Katie Daehler in third grade and knew absolutely Contributor nothing about politics. Back then, I just thought it was super cool that she grew up in Park Ridge and wore brightly colored pantsuits (I was not a fashion-wise child).

When the 2016 election started, I was open to hearing what all the candidates had to say, but ultimately she got my support—and not just because of the pantsuits this time.

Most of my political concerns are with social issues. Secretary Clinton’s platform is one of reform that is driven by compassion and concern.

Clinton exemplifies these attributes through her policies about education.

While teachers do a lot for their students, they remain one of the lowest paid professions in most communities. Clinton will provide the best training and resources for teachers. She also pledges to work towards strengthening our K-12 educational system as well as providing early childhood learning resources for everyone.

However, Clinton’s policies on education don’t stop there. As a high school student, I’ve got college on my mind, and Secretary Clinton’s policy is one that I can easily get behind. All community colleges will have free tuition, making it a viable option for those with financial concerns. She’ll also work to cut interest rates on student loans, which is something everyone can appreciate.

College debt can be crippling, and at this juncture in my life it’s a legitimate concern. Hillary’s plan will help ease my fears of an impending financial ruin.

For me, one of Hillary’s strongest points is her policy on campus sexual assault. She wants to provide support to survivors, ensure a fair process for reporting, and most importantly prevent it in the first place. One in five women report being sexually assaulted on college campuses. I want to know that I will be safe next year, and Secretary Clinton’s policy will assuage my fears.

I believe that Hillary will look out for my rights as a woman. Protecting a woman’s right to choose, working to close the pay gap, guaranteeing paid maternity leave, and advocating for women’s rights around the world are things that matter to me. These policies are long overdue. I trust Hillary to deliver this overdue equality.

Secretary Clinton will keep our country safe, both at home and abroad.

I agree with Hillary that we need stronger gun control measures. I believe in the second amendment and Hillary does too, but above all else I believe in keeping people safe. Everyone should go through a background check, and domestic abusers, violent criminals, the mentally ill, and people on the terror watch list should not be able to purchase a gun.

That’s not taking away people’s rights. That’s keeping them safe.

People say that if you want to know what someone truly stands for, you have to look at what they were doing before anyone was watching.

Hillary’s been working to make the world and America better for a long time.

Her character isn’t new. She is, and always has been, focused on helping people. With the skills that she has, she believes that she can do the most good as President, and I believe that’s the mindset we need.

We need someone who isn’t focused on his or her own image or celebrity. We need someone who cares about the people—someone who will care for and help those who need it most.

I believe that Hillary is that person, and that’s why she has my vote.

I’m with her because I know she’s with me.

November 8, 2016 | ELECTION ISSUE

BACK TALK:

Students respond to four of the candidates’ controversial statements

“I mean, politics is like sausage being made...But if everybody’s watching, you know, all of the back room discussions and the deals, you know, then people get a little nervous, to say the least. So, you need both a public and a private position.”

Hillary Clinton July 28, 2016, Wells Fargo Center

“She sounds very unsure of herself and I did not really understand the analogy that was being used. Sausage, what?”

Anna Gerbich, ‘19

“I don’t think that Hillary deserves to be criticized for this quote. A good politician should act in the interest of his or her personal goals. It’s like a politician putting aside their religious views in order to protect freedom of religion for the good of the country. I respect a presidential candidate that recognizes this, if for nothing else.”

Ann Kapustiak, ‘17

“Snowing in Texas and Louisiana, record-setting freezing temperatures throughout the country and beyond. Global warming is an expensive hoax!”

Donald Trump Jan. 29, 2014, Twitter

“I think that global warming is a threat, but I don’t think it’s as big as a threat as people make it out to be.”

Toma Stojakovic, ‘19

“Not really. I don’t think it’s a hoax. It’s a problem that needs to be fixed.”

Angelina Popovic, ‘18

“What we have to do, I think, is defend the Affordable Care Act and fix it.”

Hillary Clinton Oct. 19, 2016, UNLV

“Clinton is just protecting her party by continuously keeping the acts that favor her people and her party in the system, saying that we just need to fix it, not change it or remove it—just fix it and make tweaks.”

Andrew Sullivan, ‘18

“I agree 100 percent, wholeheartedly, thinking about myself, my future, some of my family members, and people I know. Not everyone can afford proper healthcare, but that doesn’t mean that they don’t need or deserve it.”

Annie Koutavas, ‘18

“For many years, Mexico’s leaders have been taking advantage of the United States by using illegal immigration to export the crime and poverty in their own country.”

Donald Trump

Aug. 9, 2015, DonaldJTrump.com

“My family immigrated from Ireland, and if he were running the country, we wouldn’t have been able to come here He has a negative view of other countries. I think he’s very biased and his supporters have tunnel vision regarding the bad things about the different nationalities.”

Melissa Cronnolly, ‘19

“Donald Trump wants to protect the well-being of the American people and this is an area that needs major improvement.”

Katelyn Khan, ‘17

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ELECTION ISSUE | November 8, 2016

THE

STUDENTS HAVE

SPOKEN

S

outhwords surveyed over 485 students regarding their political opinions. Of the 485 students who took the survey, 220 said that they generally support the Democratic Party, 143 support the Republican Party, 103 people identify as independent, 8 support the Libertarian Party, 3 support the Green Party, and 8 support none of these options.

No 14.6%

Do you support the same Presidential candidate Parents/guardians that your parents/ support different candidates guardians do?

20.6%

How knowledgeable do you think you are regarding the candidates and their political beliefs?

Yes 64.7%

38%

57.5% I don’t know— we have never talked about it 28.7%

No 20.6% Do you support the same Presidential candidate that your friends do?

Very Knowledgable Somewhat Knowledgable

Yes 50.7%

4.5%

Unfamiliar

If you were to vote in the upcoming presidential election, which candidate would you vote for?

4.1%

Gary Johnson

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25.3%

Donald Trump

15.0%

54.2%

1.4%

No One

Hilary Clinton

Jill Stein

INFOGRAPHICS BY TOMMY O’CONNOR, CHRISTINA JOHNSON, & EMILY ROSCA

Poll position

Students find ways to impact elections outside the voting booth Christina Johnson Features Editor

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here are some who think that since teenagers can’t vote, their viewpoints don’t matter when it comes to political affairs. Many Maine South students, however, prove that there are significant ways to contribute to important government decisions, even if they aren’t old enough to vote in the 2016 election.

Students working on political campaigns have found a course to influence voters for candidates and beliefs they feel strongly for.

“I believe that Mel Thillens can actually make a difference in our state, unlike the same politicians who run for office every opportunity they get,” said junior Shea Walters, who has served on the Mel Thillens campaign as a paid intern since the beginning of August.

Inte r ns h ip s an d volu nte e r opportunities have also been a way for some students to learn more about what goes on in the political field.

“I’m hoping to gain more political knowledge and experience,” said freshman Luigi Laudando who volunteered for the Mel Thillens campaign in June, but became a p ai d i nte r n in August.

“I know that [Thillens] would m a k e a g r e at senator down in Springfield, since he’s not the typical politician.”

There are an array of jobs to do for each candidate that include both technology and physical labor.

“I do a variety of things, including going door-to-door, making phone calls, and just spreading the word to vote for Mel,” said Walters.

The urgency of election day is not only stressful to the candidate and

voters, but also those working on the campaign. Attempting to sway potential voters is only intensified by the impending election day.

“We’ve been transitioning to doorto-door canvassing, as it’s usually more effective at this stage in the election,” said senior Alpri Else, who began working on the campaign in late September after receiving an e-mail from Ms. Laura Cook, the district’s Career Coordinator. “Many of the people we call at this point have received more than ten calls from different campaign offices and find political calls to be annoying. Usually, I’ve been able to make 80 to 100 phone calls during my shifts, depending on how many people answer.”

Wh i l e s om e s t u d e n t s choose to focus on local campaigns, with the current presidential election in full swing, it is nearly impossible to stay out of it.

“I work as a student intern for congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, but a lot of my time is spent campaigning for the Hillary Campaign,” said Else. “We also c a m p a i g n f o r Ta m m y Duckworth and Susana Mendoza.”

B eing wel lversed in the art of -Alpri Else communication is ess ent ia l to fulfilling the necessary duties required to work on a campaign.

“I’ve had some really good and in-depth conversations at the door, but some people just outright refuse or just don’t answer the door,” said Laudando. “I’ve also had people try to fake a phone call or say that they don’t live at the house. Regardless of the bad people you may meet, door

“ I wanted to be a part of something historic.”

knocking is still a very unique experience that will improve your communication skills.”

Although most of the experiences while working on these campaigns have been positive, certain aspects of the job—including rude or disrespectful voters—can be a drawback to working in politics.

“I love politics, but sometimes I dislike it with a passion—especially when people are rude to you at the door,” said sophomore Angie Siegienczuk, who worked on the Mark Kirk campaign. “When I was walking door-to-door, a man opened the door and I said, ‘Hi, I’m Angie and I work for Senator Mark Kirk’s office...’ and he yelled at me. He said, ‘We don’t want no damn Republicans.

Let’s keep this country Democratic for crying out loud.’”

While some students would simply seek out a job or internship to make some extra cash, others working on political campaigns are personally invested in government affairs and

their outcomes.

“I decided to help out with the campaign, because I wanted to be a part of something historic: getting the first female president elected, hopefully,” said Else.

The idea that students can be such a significant factor in influencing the election of government officials is most of the reason why some Hawks have gravitated towards such internships and jobs.

“I went into this experience to take part in a historic political election which I feel deeply passionate about,” said Else.

Experiencing the inner work i ng s of p ol it i c a l campaigns helps contribute t o s t u d e nt s’ ov e r a l l understanding of how our country works and provides a real-world glimpse into future career opportunities.

ILLUSTRATION BY GABRIELA KAMINSKI

November 8, 2016 | ELECTION ISSUE

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ELECTION ISSUE | November 8, 2016

Once a Hawk, always a Hawk Jill Steffen

Entertainment Editor

N

o matter your political leanings, it is certainly noteworthy that a Maine South alumna is vying to become the next President of the United States. These pages chronicle Hillary Clinton’s senior year of high school as captured by the inaugural volume of Southwords in 1964-65.

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POLITICAL SWITCH-HITTER

KICKIN’ IT ON THE STAGE

A lesser-known talent of Clinton’s is theater. She was a narrator in the play, “Halibut,” a parody of “Hamlet.” Clinton was inspired to partake in this production when she read “Hamlet” in her AP English class.

During Clinton’s Maine South career, she was the director of the Republican organization. In the image below, she is mock-fighting the directors from the Democratic organization.

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FOUNDING DAUGHTER

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Clinton’s first political debate occurred at Maine South. As director of the Republican organization, she debated for Senator Barry Goldwater who won the mock election, although he lost the popular election by 22.6%.

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CHANNELING HER ROOTS

Hillary Clinton co-wrote the student council Constitution.

November 8, 2016 | ELECTION ISSUE

CHASING HISTORY

Each year, one student is selected as the top scholar in each subject.

In 1964, Hillary Clinton earned the Social Science Award.

When Maine South’s National Honor Society was founded in 1964, Clinton became the first ever Maine South NHS vice president.

After taking the PSAT, students can qualify to be considered as National Merit Finalists. For this highly-competitive award, Clinton was one the 11 students from Maine South who advanced into the semi-final competition.

TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS

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ELECTION RESULTS FALL IN HER FAVOR

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BEST OF THE BEST

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The DAR good citizenship award was given to Clinton for exemplifying leadership, patriotism, and service.

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DARLING CITIZEN

As organization committee chairmen, Clinton was in charge of protecting the rights of her fellow classmates.

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ELECTION ISSUE | November 8, 2016

Executive fashion statements S

Julia Klages

ince President Obama is nearly done with his term, a new president will take office, and with a new president comes a new sense of style. Southwords looks at how presidential fashion has drastically changed with each president.

PHOTO CREDIT BEHINDTHEFINEPRINT.COM

Andrew Jackson made the boldest dress statement of his time. Looking like a magician, he read his speech discussing Jacksonian democracy while wearing a black tailcoat, pants, vest, and big bow tie. This inspired many future presidential styles such as the frock coat. His outfits were always completed by his notorious white mane, often giving off the appearance of a superhero due to his long, flowing jackets. His style reflected his very authoritative presidency.

PHOTO CREDIT TSHA.COM

Zachary Taylor was known for his out-of-the-box clothing styles because he did not care about his appearance at all. This was unusual because typically presidents dressed to represent authority. As a result, he wore farm clothes under his military suit during inauguration. His trends were not as inspiring as others since no other president has taken a fashion risk as controversial as this one.

PHOTO CREDIT JOHNSONPOST.COM

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Thomas Jefferson was the next president to change styles. He refused to wear a suit or bring a sword because he wanted to be a president among the people, not above the people.

Because of this, he decided to dress as a common man. Similarly, he was one of the only presidents to walk to and from the inauguration because he did not want the presidency to be in any high regard. He wore many statement pieces such as fur coats with gold lace and bold, red clothing.

1829-1837

1849-1850

1841

Wi l l i am He n r y Har r i s on’s wardrobe choices may have been the cause of his term being cut short. Although he did not have the most memorable presidency in office, he did have one of the most memorable inaugurations because of his clothing choices. It was close to freezing outside and he refused to wear a jacket or hat. This resulted in Harrison developing pneumonia and dying soon after because of how wet his clothes were.

1861-1865

Lincoln wore a frock coat, a long jacket that men wear to formal occasions today, and a top hat. This style was worn frequently by the next several presidents during inauguration with few changes from presidents after him. Theodore Roosevelt wore a frock coat with a “turndown” style collar and necktie while presenting New Deal policies. The frock coats inspired the use of overcoats.

1974-2017

1961-1963 Each president after Lincoln continued the top hat trend, but JFK made one bold statement by ridding of the generic black top hat. John F. Kennedy was the last president to wear this style and in return is known as the “top hat killer.” He wore a hat, pinstripe pants, and overcoat to and from the ceremony but took the top hat off during the inauguration itself.

He took a more casual approach, similar to more current presidents.

PHOTO CREDIT GALLERYHISTORICALFIGURES.COM

George Washington established the first presidential wardrobe by wearing a brown woolen waistcoat and breeches along with the typical fashion choices of a powdered wig and stockings. His woolen waistcoat and breeches were woven from America’s textiles, at a time when most cloth was imported from foreign powers.

This displayed his faith in America to create an industry to thrive on its own. As he swore to defend America, he held onto a sword of honor.

1801-1809

PHOTO CREDIT VINTAGEFASHIONGUIDE.COM

PHOTO CREDIT MOUNTVERNON.COM

1789-1797

PHOTO CREDIT KQEDARTS.COM

Entertainment Writer

PHOTO CREDIT WHITEHOUSE.GOV

Presidential styles have become more modern and simpler in recent terms. Suits have gone from double breasted to single breasted in recent years. Presidents including Gerald Ford, George H. W. Bush, and Bill Clinton, just wore plain suits with a tie. Obama wore this type of suit but with a long coat due to the cold weather on his inauguration day. He is known for his laid-back style and is sometimes seen out in public in jeans.

November 8, 2016 | ELECTION ISSUE

Live from Washington, it’s a whole big mess Kelly Lennon

Entertainment Writer

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his presidential election will go down in history, and not just because of the politics behind it.

Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton have caused quite a stir this year with their antics, garnering them unprecedented dislike among the American people. Amidst this, comedians have provided both laughs and relief from the stressful time surrounding the election. With their witty jokes, hilarious segments, and scathing portrayals, neither party is safe from mockery.

Humorists have used their lighthearted jabs and often-exaggerated impressions to comment on the absurdity of politics.

“They get to the heart of the matter,” says freshman McClain Clancy. “They say what’s not being said.”

Comedians provide a light-hearted atmosphere in which they can reach a wide audience of people through the universal language of laughter.

“The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” Many late night hosts have been tossing their two cents into this election, and Colbert is no exception.

Lately, it’s rare to see an episode go by without a segment on the election. Colbert has been following the election since day one, and the jokes haven’t stopped coming.

Along the way, he has incorporated segments such as “The Road to the White House,” “Cartoon Donald Trump,” and “The Hungry For Power Games.” Colbert has even brought back his popular segment “The WERD,” a re-boot of “The Word” from his previous show “The Colbert

Report.”

Colbert offers a very sarcastic take on daily political stories. He does not hold back when it comes to the candidates. Some criticize him for being too opinionated, but Colbert offers a refreshing, albeit brutally honest, take on the election.

“Saturday Night Live” “Saturday Night Live is at its best during elections,” claims junior Julia Jann. The rest of the American public seems to agree with her, as SNL’s ratings have increased significantly since last year. In fact, the last time they were this high was in 2008, another election year.

Lately, the NBC sketch comedy show has done spoofs of all three of the debates between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, which have garnered immense popularity.

“A l e c B a l d w i n a n d K a t e McKinnon are scarily accurate,” says Jann. Baldwin and McKinnon, who impersonate Trump and Clinton respectively, have also been critically praised for their portrayals.

In addition to these mock debates, SNL has incorporated election-related skits throughout their shows. They have taken on both the Clinton and Trump families, as well as other key players, such as Trump’s campaign manager Kellyanne Conway. If something big happens in the election, it is almost guaranteed that SNL will incorporate it somehow.

SNL has als o involve d t he candidates in the process. Trump hosted an episode last November, while Clinton made an appearance in a sketch last year. In doing so, they have allowed the candidates to be seen in a different light, one quite different from the typical podium setup. This

MAKE AMERICA LAUGH AGAIN

PHOTO CREDIT CBS

CBS host Stephen Colbert delivers a monologue aimed at Donald Trump. The Republican nominee’s blunt dialogue has been used as a springboard by Colbert many times.

PHOTO CREDIT NBC

WILL HE GO FOR DEBAIT?

Alec Baldwin and Kate McKinnon impersonate Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, respectively, on Saturday Night Live’s parody of the first presidential debate.

election seems to be benefitting SNL as much as SNL is benefitting the election, and it’s not over yet. “ The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon” Jimmy Fallon is a staple of late night TV, famous for his wide array of guests and almost infinite supply of creative skits and games. Fallon is known for his light-hearted jokes and inability to keep a straight face, so it comes as no surprise that he has taken a sillier approach to this election.

Fallon has done his own impression of Trump many times— complete with the wig and orange makeup. He has also had Clinton and Mr. Trump as guests on his show. Taking an entirely humorous approach, Fallon doesn’t ask the hardhitting questions, but rather focuses on what will garner the most laughs.

“Last Week Tonight with John Oliver” John Oliver, while only on once a week, is known to thoroughly delve into topics and often blatantly point out the absurdity of them. As of late, his favorite topic has been Donald Trump. He has dedicated entire segments to investigate both Trump and his policies.

In one segment, he researched Donald Trump’s ancestry and found that Trump’s ancestors once went by Drumpf. He then went on to create and sell hats that read “Make Donald Drumpf Again” in a fashion similar to the hats bearing Trump’s own campaign slogan.

Though Oliver may not be the most impartial host, he does an incredible job of balancing humor and facts. He constantly has you laughing while also making intelligent and thought-provoking points. He strikes

a perfect balance.

The Verdict When it comes down to who provides the best portrayal of this election, Saturday Night Live takes the cake. Their skits covering the election bumped the show’s ratings up 20 percent from last year, and have reached tens of millions of views on YouTube, which is a clear indication of their success in reaching a large audience. If viewers keep coming back for more, they must be doing something right.

SNL stands out because they have actually received a response from Donald Trump himself (similar to Bill Maher, whose comments actually started a lawsuit with the billionaire).

In response to their portrayal of the second presidential debate, Trump sent out a tweet bashing Alec Baldwin’s performance of him.

Rather than back down, SNL performed a skit on the third debate; this debate received the same positive response from the public that the others had.

The weekend sketch comedy show also does a fair job of remaining unbiased in the election. Not only do they mock Donald Trump, they also mock Hillary Clinton. They point out the flaws they see in both candidates.

“They take some of the seriousness out of the election,” said senior Samantha McAllister. “That makes it a whole lot easier for people to accept what’s going on.”

By looking at this election through a satirical lens, Americans get the truth as well as their daily dose of laughter. After over a year of this election and all that comes with it, the world will see who gets the last laugh tonight.

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NEWS

| November 8, 2016

District seeks to renew driver’s ed waiver Noah Balduf

News Writer he district is planning to file a waiver that will continue to allow driving simulation to count towards the behind the wheel requirement of driver’s ed classes at Maine South.

The driver’s ed curriculum at Maine South has required 30 hours of classroom instruction, 3 hours of real world driving, and 12 hours of simulator driving since 2008.

A law had previously passed in Illinois that prohibited using simulator hours as a replacement for driving hours, but Maine South applied for a waiver that allowed their classes to still count the simulators as driving hours, but at a much smaller ratio; 1 hour in the simulator is equivalent to 15 minutes of real world driving.

The agreement called for 9 hours of simulator to be equivalent to 2.25 hours of real driving.

The waiver Maine South received when the law was passed is the reason that students do not have to drive for 6 hours—the simulators compensate for more than two of them.

Maine South recently received new simulators for students to use in 2014. The simulators allow for individualized instruction and more tar-

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geted learning for students. Settings can be altered to change the situation to night or day, rain or snow, and even show students what it is like to be driving while intoxicated.

Along with driving in every kind of situation, students learn the nuances of driving a car with the new simulators. There are window wipers, a key starter, and a realistic gear shift.

There are also buttons for looking over your shoulder and other features that help enhance the simulator experience. Students can even learn how to drive stick shift.

“It allows students to learn things at their own pace and work on things that they are struggling with,” said Drivers’ Ed Instructor Mr. Kibiersza. “It’s also easy for students to catch up if they miss a day because the simulators are all individualized.”

He also likes the new simulators because they can teach specific skills.

With the limited time an instructor can have with students on the road, learning these things while still in the classroom can be invaluable.

The simulators are designed to emulate actual driving, and the ones at Maine South are state-of-the-art.

Students who have used the simulators believe that they are similar to

PHOTO BY JUSTYNA LEPA

SIMULATED REALITY

The school’s new simulators represent the latest in simulator technology. They are each controlled by a single computer.

actual driving. The simulators have three screens to create a feeling of depth. Visual effects also simulate the feelings of acceleration.

These simulators represent a substantial progression from the previous generations of technology, which were not as realistic.

Driving simulators that have been used in other high schools have been proven to create safer drivers and reduce driving fatalities in the surrounding area.

In Georgia, when simulators were implemented into 148 schools in an area, teen driving fatalities

went down by an astonishing 60% and saved about 181 lives.

Multiple other studies have shown that simulators protect and save thousands of lives each year because of the unique learning opportunities they provide.

Maine South administrators have looked into these studies, and are integrating the results into the Driver’s Ed curriculum.

The Board of Education public hearing to discuss this will take place on Nov. 7 in the Frost Administration Center. The hearing will open at 6:05 p.m. for public input.

hind the postponing of the fee collection was the discussions with the districts.

“I think they are reasonable in asking for the city to consider these for them, to a point,” Mayor Maloney said, regarding the district’s attitude towards taxation. “I don’t believe they will be able to get a credit that would cover 100% of their stormwater utility, but if the other taxing bodies are working on projects to help our sewer system, they should be given credit for that.”

Cooperation between the taxing bodies (the schools and the stormwater fund) is an important step on the road to getting this fee implemented.

Some of the city’s residents are concerned that the solutions to the stormwater issue are not coming fast enough, but one undisputed opinion is that there is, in fact, a problem with flooding in Park Ridge.

“Those that favor the City work-

ing on addressing the flooding problem in town often claim the City is delaying or taking too long to provide a solution,” Mayor Maloney said. “Theirs is a glass half empty view. My view is a more glass half full.”

The fee, should it be implemented on Jan. 1, 2017, is to be $2.75 a house, per month. This fee is comparatively much smaller than other taxes in Park Ridge.

“I’m expecting that the size of the projects is going to require external funding (bonds),” said Mayor Maloney, due to the fact that the $2.75 a month/house will not provide nearly the funding needed for large scale improvements.

If no further delays come into effect, once the plan is created, the fee collection will begin around September 2017.

The dates of public forums on this issue can be found on the city website.

New stormwater plan to begin in 2017 Dimitri Speron News Editor

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ark Ridge has decided to levy a new utility fee based on stormwater runoff to raise more money for public projects. The collection of the stormwater fee was planned to begin in January 2017, but the start date was pushed back to September 2017.

“We are waiting for the results of work on creating a stormwater master plan to come back and be presented,” said Mayor Martin Maloney.

“We have had other studies done on this topic in the past, and we have either completed the work those plans recommended or voted those projects down.”

The city wishes to ensure that a plan exists before any sort of taxation is implemented to reduce potential squandering of funds. The plans created by the city outline the specific actions that will be taken to manage stormwater and the associated costs

12 SouthwordS

of these measures.

Funds will be allocated from the money collected by the city for the fee to finance and construct the projects outlined in the plans.

Part of the planning process includes discussions with officials from the two school districts that service Park Ridge: District 64 and District 207.

The school districts, along with the Park District, are discussing incentives and credits with the city, for the purpose of reducing the monetary strain that could result from the application of the fee to their large tracts of land.

Maine South in particular, due to the large retention pond in front of the school, is aiming for a total, or near-total exemption from the tax.

This pond retains flow from the entirety of the plot of land that Maine South is built on, along with some rainwater from the nearby forest preserve. One of the reasons be-

November 8, 2016

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

Margaret Cahill Anastasia Dalianis

News Editors

Catherine Coyle Elaine Smith Dimitri Speron

Entertainment Editors Laura Cash Jill Steffen Mark Toledano Features Editors Christina Johnson Tommy O’Connor Emily Rosca Commentary Editors Louise Macaraniag Isis Zaki Sports Editors

James Bednarz Christo Fosse

Photography Editor Peyton Turner Production Editors Justyna Lepa Haley Mech Arden Sasak Adviser

Mr. Stathakis

| COMMENTARY

STAFF EDITORIAL The importance of keeping an open mind T o say that the 2016 election is unique is an understatement.

While there have been some very contentious elections in American history, the polarization that has occurred in our country this year is almost unprecedented. The vitriol coming from both sides has created, at best, an uneasy environment, and at worst, a downright hostile one.

This has carried all the way from the presidential debates to the halls of Maine South.

The behavior of people engaging in political discourse seems to reflect that of the two candidates, who would not even shake hands before debating.

Even though much of this anger is justified, it is important to remember that societal progress, especially in a democracy, is impossible without a certain level of open-mindedness.

It is our responsibility to show respect for others’ views when it comes to politics and recognize that there is no “correct” solution to every problem.

The stakes in this election are higher than ever. The recent death of Supreme Court Justice Antonin

Scalia has left an opening in the court, and the new president will have to fill it with either a Democrat or a Republican. Each nominee has already outlined controversial plans for what they want the new justice to do on issues such as LGBT rights, abortion rights, and gun control.

The frenzy of this election has also been fueled by the media. 24-hour news cycles thrive off of scandals and have the airtime to report on every detail in the news—no matter how insignificant. But compared to past elections, social media has had a much larger role to play in 2016.

Social media provides a platform for anyone to express opinions on the candidates, but also gives users the opportunity to attack those who hold different political views.

Furthermore, social media leads to group polarization. This occurs when people speak exclusively with those who share their beliefs. As a result, the ideas of people in that group become increasingly radical. With both sides becoming so extreme and moderates becoming so rare, compromise is much harder to achieve.

While it is easy to do what everyone else is doing and become blinded by rage, it is important to retain perspective in the midst of insanity. The election of either Clinton or Trump will not bring about the apocalypse.

Anger will not solve a conflict or change the mind of either person involved in an argument. We need to maintain a certain level of doubt in our own opinions.

It would help us all to stay open to the opinions of others and not automatically demonize everyone who does not share our views.

While some people may be selfish, the majority of Americans have our country’s best interests at heart.

Everyone has different definitions of “right” and “wrong,” and it’s impossible to change someone’s entire system of values with insults.

Although some of their actions seem misguided, both candidates are trying to give Americans the rights promised to them in the Constitution.

We should not be afraid to express our opinions, but we must recognize and respect that others have them too.

informed. We need to understand the problems and learn which solutions seem to work and which do not.

This requires skepticism.

We cannot take everything we see or hear at face value. Teenagers especially tend to be swayed by what we see on social media, without fact-checking. Political memes can be funny, but they should not be considered a legitimate source of information.

Candidates on both sides also like to make vague generalizations about issues, making them seem much more straightforward than they really are. Issues like economic problems, trade deals, immigration, or healthcare are extremely nuanced, and it’s impossible to summarize these in one vague slogan. If the solutions to our country’s problems were as simple and obvious as they are made out to be, they would likely have been successfully implemented years ago.

Because our problems are so complex, the solutions are usually imperfect—at least in the minds of the majority of Americans. It’s important to recognize that plans for

our country are never 100% “good” or “bad,” but are rather subjective and multidimensional.

It’s also important to avoid aligning all of our beliefs to conform with one party and automatically closing our mind to the views of the opposing side. We all have the power to do our own research and come to our own conclusions before deciding which candidates represent ideas closest to our own.

Upon hearing a new idea, we need to distance ourselves from our emotions and gut feelings and instead try to think rationally.

This is not a call to spend countless hours analyzing every bill that goes through Congress or reading every single political commentary piece in order to get the broadest perspective; we just need to do some simple investigation to stay generally informed. This will help us to develop educated opinions that we can use when going to the polls.

As American citizens, it is our duty to do our homework. It may take a little more time and effort, but it will pay off in the long run.

Taking politics with a grain of salt Margaret Cahill

Editor-in-Chief olitics can be confusing. Each candidate and party seems to present information that directly contradicts the other side. When both candidates are widely seen as dishonest, it can be hard to determine when their statements are entirely truthful. The facts seem to come secondary to what people “feel” is true. But these “feelings” are largely based on our own limited personal experiences and often only serve to cloud our logical judgement about the issues. We tend to believe things that seem to confirm what we already think to be true, and disregard any information that doesn’t align with our beliefs.

However, the truth is actually very important, making many Americans’ apparent disregard for facts especially troubling. In order to do what’s best for our country, it is our duty to be

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COMMENTARY | November 8, 2016

Unnecessary stress of AP classes Caroline Coyle

Commentary Writer aine South was recently named one of Newsweek’s top 100 schools of 2016, ranking 73rd in the whole nation. This was a result of Maine South’s 100% graduation rate and it’s 95.9% college bound rate. This success is also a result of the number of AP students Maine South has.

For a junior in high school, taking one AP class is normal; however, at Maine South, many freshmen take one AP class, and it is not uncommon for a junior to be taking four.

District 207 has been pushing for more AP classes. This year, even more students enrolled in AP classes, which boosted the school’s overall ranking.

The District’s plan seems relatively harmless, right?

In reality, the push for more AP classes adds yet another component of stress to the students.

In addition, taking four AP classes adds a whole new level of stress. Highachieving students feel obligated to load up on the number of AP classes they take because of the added point it will give them on their GPA, and

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to keep up with peers who will be earning that extra grade point.

Throughout my freshman and sophomore years, I have taken many accelerated classes and loved them.

I loved the challenging atmosphere they brought about and how in depth we got into each topic. However, I never took an AP class as an underclassmen and I never felt like I was missing out.

As a result of the recent push for students to take more AP classes, this year there are almost no accelerated classes offered to upperclassmen. In fact, they are beginning to disappear for underclassmen altogether.

This year, for the first time, Accelerated World History before 1500 was combined with Accelerated World History after 1500 to make the class AP World, which is now taught to freshmen. Imagine being thrown into a college level course at 14 years old.

AP classes prove more stressful than accelerated classes because of students’ preoccupation with the AP test, which increases the pace of learning. Accelerated classes are a good outlet for students who want to be challenged without being burdened by this demanding test.

The underclassmen of Maine

South are forced to take an AP history class or be faced with only being able to get a four on their GPA in a regular history class for both freshmen and sophomore years.

In addition to this added stress, the push for AP classes could actually end up eliminating some material typically learned during the year.

In an AP class, the primary focus is preparing for the AP test, and the end goal is getting a five on the test instead of getting an A in the class.

What this means is that most teachers will be teaching for these tests and letting the college board

dictate what occurs in the classroom, instead of doing what might be most beneficial in the long term. This trades in projects for paragraphs and simulations for stimuli. Kids will miss out on key learning concepts because they are prepping for a test.

Obviously AP classes are needed, and they definitely prepare students for college. They are essential to a student’s schedule if they plan on getting into a good school. However, District 207 needs to focus more on the well-being and academic success of its students rather than the label of the classes they take.

Botille finds Dolssa near death on a riverbank, she sees no option but to save her life. However, the vengeful Friar Lucien is on the hunt for Dolssa, and he will stop at nothing to finish the job he started.

Berry’s novel masterfully conquers all aspects of the story she tells,

giving the reader a well-balanced ratio of history to drama. The novel manages to address all the important events of the time—the Crusades, the tyranny of the Catholic Church, and France’s splintered political climate— while keeping the spotlight on the characters and not taking the story in too many directions.

The characters are the best part of the book, and they may honestly be some of the best characters that I have read in young adult fiction. What I appreciate so much about this book is that there are no characters who can be thrown away, no characters who can be used simply as plot devices.

In addition to Botille and Dolssa, Berry painted the side characters so vividly that it was impossible not to develop strong feelings about them. It was clear who she wanted the reader to like and who she wanted the reader to hate. Botille’s sisters, Sazia and Plazensa, added splashes of color and a sense of optimism to the story.

Friar Lucien and most members of the church, on the other hand, were supposed to make the reader feel nervous, unsafe, or even angry—and they did.

The narrative itself can only be described as a roller coaster. It seemed to take the reader to every possible high and low of human emotion, which made the book frustrating and difficult to read at times. Through her writing, though, Berry allowed the reader to develop a strong sense of attachment to the characters and setting. When those things were threatened, or taken away, the characters’ sense of anger and hopelessness seemed to project from the pages of the book onto the reader.

Because of this, at times, the book felt painfully realistic—but that is what made it so good. Despite being firmly grounded in the historical fiction genre, The Passion of Dolssa delivers truth and raw emotion applicable to any reader.

ILLUSTRATION BY SAVINA MIHALOPOULOS

Hope and heartbreak in ‘The Passion of Dolssa’ Anastasia Dalianis Editor-in-Chief

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he Middle Ages provide relatively unexplored territory for young adult fiction, but it is clear from what Julie Berry accomplished in “The Passion of Dolssa” that she took this as a challenge, not a warning.

In “The Passion of Dolssa,” Julie Berry weaves an intricate web of hope and heartbreak against the tumultuous backdrop of the Middle Ages.

It is the year 1241, and trouble is brewing in the south of France. Two strangers with very different lives and morals are drawn together under dire circumstances. Botille, a matchmaker, runs a tavern in the sleepy town of Bajas with her two sisters. Dolssa, an upper-crust city girl who possesses an extraordinary healing power, is on the run in the countryside after being convicted of heresy and mysteriously escaping her own execution. When

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November 8, 2016 | SPORTS

Football playoff run continues after win Sam Tinaglia & James Bednarz Staff Writer and Sports Editor fter a 42-27 Hawks win over Barrington in the second round of the playoffs on Nov. 5, they look to gain momentum going deeper into the playoffs. They will face the winner of Waubonsie Valley and Lincoln-Way East who were ranked 31st and 18th respectively.

On their second matchup against Barrington this season, the Hawks came out firing on all cylinders.

“The only way I could describe it is that it was just a team effort,” said veteran senior Luke Hinkamp. “We knew our jobs and executed in all phases of the game.”

It was an especially satisfying win after having lost to them on Oct. 9, 41-27. This theme of learning from mistakes and overcoming adversity has applied heavily to this 2016 team.

“We lost to them week three and we knew we had to move on, and we did.,” said Hinkamp. “Now we have to prepare for next week like any other week. We have to take it one game at a time.”

The Hawks entered the playoffs with a 6-3 record as a 26th seed.

“No one planned on losing three games especially in such tight games like Loyola and New Trier,” said senior defensive lineman Emmett Zima. “We all planned on going 9-0.”

Even though the Hawks lost three games, Inserra still had high hopes.

PHOTO BY PEYTON TURNER

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AIR ATTACK

Senior wide receiver Luke Hinkamp catches a pass from Senior Nick Leongas in the second quarter of the win over Barrington High School on Nov. 5th. The Hawks were leading 28-20 at the time and went on to win 42-7.

“Coach Inserra always hammered in the line, ‘We drive the bus,’ we control our destiny,” said junior safety Paul Sasso.

“After the loss coach said to us ‘How are we gonna respond? Are we gonna let this game determine our season? There’s way more than just a streak and a conference championship. You guys have the ability to play with anyone in the state. We will bounce back,’” said Hinkamp.

This leadership aspect of Coach David Inserra has been part of the reason why students at Maine South aspire to play in his program. He has a tremendous ability to rally his

troops through thick and thin. Another reason is that he helps the team to learn from losses in order to improve as the season goes on. “[I think] we are lucky that we lost in the regular season and are able to learn from those games,” said Zima. “Because in the postseason, if you lose, there is no tomorrow.”

The team is very close, and are always having fun together. From having fun at practice to chowing down at Tony’s Deli in Edison Park before games, the team chemistry is at an all-time high.

The team is very upset about how they are the ones who lost the streak

of 77 consecutive conference victories dating back to 2000, but they have all learned something from it.

“It does bother us to lose the streak because we know we are a very good team,” says Sasso. “But it made us play with a chip on our shoulders.”

It is this ‘swagger’ that allows the football players to be successful in this highly emotional sport.

“The loss was hard to take, but we will use it as fuel for the fire and will make the best of it,” says Zima.

“Hopefully we will end the season on top of the 8a conference, and the newspaper headlines will read ‘Hawks Back On Top.’”

the season, I came to practice with the ultimate goal of getting top 25 at state, and earning an all-state medal is just a manifestation of all that hard work. I think that going downstate is always a very exciting experience because of the highly-competitive atmosphere as well as the time I get to spend with the team.”

The Hawks have had a successful season filled with memories, including winning their third straight CSL conference championship.

“Some of the highlights of this past year have included how the team comes together on difficult days and how we can enjoy recovery runs on the easy days,” said Dingle. “A lot of new workouts were introduced this

season and each time we pushed ourselves outside our comfort zone.”

“Winning Conference and Regionals as a team was a highlight from the past season,” said Niziolek.

“Each runner was able to rise to the occasion and make the team successful.”

The team has consistently relied on its captains for the season which along with Dingle, included seniors Olivia Holmes, Maura Lally, and Shannon Ryan.

“Some of our inexperienced runners needed to believe that they could compete at elite meets,” said Coach Jeff Downing. “The captains helped them do that.”

“As a senior, I always hoped that

the underclassmen could look up to me,” said Dingle. “Training with the underclassmen these past few weeks has inspired me and the other seniors to come to practice and give our best to set a good example, even if we weren’t feeling our best.”

Given the team’s success this past season, Niziolek believes the girls’ cross country program has an exciting future in store for them.

“I am most looking forward to seeing how not only myself, but the team as a whole, improves,” said Niziolek. “This past season has revealed that we have a lot of great potential. I am setting high goals for myself and the team, and I am optimistic about the season to come.”

Girls’ XC finishes 11th at State Kevin McNulty Sports Writer

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he Maine South girls’ cross country team finished their season last Saturday at the state meet in Peoria. The team ran to an eleventh place finish in addition to having two runners, senior Maddie Dingle, who has committed to run at Xavier University, and junior Olivia Niziolek, finish 15th and 12th respectively.

“It was amazing to earn all-state honors this year,” said Dingle. “I had a goal to get top 20, and I was ranked in the 30’s, so I felt like I needed to prove myself.”

“To finish my season with a 12thplace finish at the state meet feels great,” said Niziolek. “Every day of

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

Girls’ tennis wraps up their season at State PHOTO BY NOAH FISHMAN

James Bednarz & Christo Fosse Sports Editors

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eniors Kamila Czosnyka and Marti Wind finished out their high school careers in the last week of October during the Class AA state tournament. They had been doubles partners throughout their four years at Maine South.

They started the tournament going 2-0, but went on to lose, moving them to the consolation bracket.

They then lost in the consolation quarterfinal, finishing up at 4-2.

“We finished in the top 8 and we were proud of what we accomplished,” Wind said. “We finished with the same ranking as we did last year and my sophomore year. I played with Kamila every year and going to State with her made us so excited.”

Each year, the team looks up to these seniors to help navigate through the regular season and playoffs.

“I think being on the varsity team all four years of my high school career has allowed people to feel comfortable with asking me for help,” said Wind. “All of us are friends, so it’s kind of more of a team thing whether we’re kidding around or talking on the bus.”

“Marti and I created an environment where we

DOUBLE TROUBLE

Seniors Marti Wind and Kamila Czoysnyka work together to return a serve during practice. The duo qualified for the state tournament, and they finished in the top 8 for the third year in a row.

hoped it would foster success in the future,” said Czosnyka. “With the seniors leaving after this season, we hope for the best from the younger players coming up.”

The seniors on the team also recognize the fact that their playing has been influenced by many athletes.

“One of my closest friends Amanda [Marino] is also on varsity with me,” said Wind. “I think that she really helped me grow as a person and as a teammate, and she’s just a really awesome person.”

Overall, the varsity team has used a combination of talent and leadership to successfully close out the season.

Jordan leads boys’ XC to 9th place finish at State

Christo Fosse Sports Editor

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his past Saturday in Peoria, the boys’ cross country team wrapped up their season at the state meet with a ninth-place team finish and an eleventh-place individual finish from senior runner, Reese Jordan.

“The team ran very well in an incredibly competitive and fast race,” said Coach Greg Nordahl. “The top four teams are nationally ranked in the top five, and we were about thirty seconds out of placing in the top five.

Overall, a good race for the team to be in the top ten in the state.”

“I honestly wanted to do better in the meet, but it feels good to be Allstate,” said Jordan. “The team did well too. At state, you have to give everything you have, and that’s what I did.

I am proud of my toughness and I am proud of my team.”

For coaches and runners, there were many memorable highlights for the team.

“Individually, I had a decent day,”

said junior Brandon Christopher. “I ended up placing 53rd in the race.

Even though I wanted to place in the top 25, that spot was only ten seconds away from me. After passing the sensors at the end of the race, my legs gave out which is a good sign that I went all out during the race.”

“One of my favorite moments from state was watching sophomore Tommy Brady break 15 minutes for the threemile race with Brandon Christopher close behind at 15:04,” said Coach Nordahl. “In addition, it was cool to see Reese Jordan secure All-state.”

This past season, Jordan has been incredibly successful, setting a school record of 14:46 for three miles in addition to being a regional and sectional champion.

“It takes a ton of dedication,” said Jordan. “I run every day, unless I think that I really need a rest day. My coach believes in running every day and I trust my coach, so I run every day. All seven days of the week. A lot of people would be too lazy to get up early on Sunday to go for a 14-mile run, but

that’s what makes a good athlete great.”

Each year, twelve runners are selected to represent the Hawks in the postseason. These runners clock in the fastest times during the regular season and demonstrate dedication to the sport.

“To be a part of the top 12 on the varsity squad, a runner has to have dedication, hard-work, and be willing to do something that no one else wants to do,” said Coach Nordahl. “Our top 12 start running on May 31 and they run every single day.”

“Every year at the end of the summer, the team goes down to the city and does a 12-15 mile lakefront run early in the morning,” said junior Gavin Voris. “This year, it was fun to watch the Air and Water Show while we did our run.”

Combined with a strong sense of bonding, the team also has looked up to the seniors this past season for guidance.

It’s awesome to be a senior on varsity,” said Jordan. “Many of the underclassmen look up to you. I try to be

as nice as possible to everyone on the team, but it is pretty cool to be at the top as a senior.”

After the state meet, Coach Nordahl is confident about the future of the cross country team.

“We have a great group of runners and we expect to be as good or even better,” said Coach Nordahl. “Freshman Joey Karsh, sophomores, Tommy Brady, Ian Spears, Ian and Sean Dempsey, and juniors, Brandon Christopher, Jake Mellema, and Gavin Voris will all be returning next year. If they make the summer commitment to prepare, we will be one of the best teams in the state. They can quite possibly secure the first team trophy in school history.”

As for Jordan, he has big plans for his running career after high school.

“I do plan on running at the collegiate level, and I think I can be a very good runner in college,” said Jordan. “I will get to meet many new people and run with a new team. It will be cool because it will be like the start of high school all over again.”