Vol 53, Issue 5

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February 3, 2017

erfect 1111 S. Dee Road • Park Ridge, Illinois 60068

The band, choir, and orchestra win 17 awards at a national competition held in Washington D.C.

pitch

PHOTO BY TED WYSHEL

See page 4

Vol. 53, No. 5

Post-Truth

“Fake News� replaces reputable journalism.

Page 7

Working It Out

Athletic Alumni Fresh Folk Tale

Southwords reviews the best Talented MS graduates now Theater tech shines in this play at the collegiate level. year’s winter play. gyms in Park Ridge.

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NEWS | February 3. 2017

Members of the Maine South community win city awards PHOTOS BY ARDEN SASAK

Catherine Coyle

as the volunteer art teacher for this program. Interacting with over 130 students for six hours, three days a week, she planned crafts ranging from masks to hot air balloons for the students to take part in.

Marino was first nominated for a 207’s Best award for community service by her counselor. Prior to receiving the award at the November board meeting, Marino was interviewed by Principal Shawn Messmer. After hearing about Marino’s work, he nominated her for the Community Star Award.

“My advice for students interested in volunteering is to just go for it,” said Marino. “My experience has made me feel like I have truly set students on a better path. The best feeling in the world is helping a student I have worked with to succeed. There is nothing like it. Overall, if you want to

be more involved in the community, it is much easier to do than one may think. Find something that means a lot to you, there is probably a charity for it.”

Dr. Collins is also very active in the community. She is the executive director of the Maine Community Yout h Assist ance Found at ion (MCYAF).

“I do all of the programs,” Dr. Collins said. “I do the classes. We do drug and alcohol prevention for teens. MCYAF is for the prevention of adolescent drug/alcohol use and promotion of constant mental health for all teens in Maine Township.”

Dr. Collins’ dedication to the community is inspired by the work of her parents.

“I’ve made [service] a priority,” Dr. Collins said. “When I grew up, that’s what my mom and dad did. My

parents gave back to their community, and I just think that’s a part I have to do in this life. Like with drugs, a lot of people don’t want to talk about it, and I think that one of the things that’s most important is to get out and talk about it. To say you’re not alone. There are other people in this situation. I think this helps people, it maintains communication, and being out in the community is what it’s all about.”

The effects of MCYAF are tangibly seen throughout the community. A current initiative Collins is leading is the “Town Hall Meetings.” Kids involved in this program will attend the next “Town Hall Meeting” in April. Everyone is working on a project related to drugs or alcohol, and lawmakers from mayors and aldermen all the way to state senators and representatives will be attending to see these presentations.

“I don’t know who nominated me [for the Community Star Award], but I’m extremely honored,” Dr. Collins said. “There are so many people in Park Ridge who are so giving of their time and treasure. We’re lucky to have people like that. To be nominated among people like that [makes me] feel so privileged and honored and humbled. I never expected anything like this.”

“We’re very privileged in Park Ridge and we have an obligation to give back, educate, and serve,” Dr. Collins said. “I’m not the kind of person to go into the military, and this is my way to serve. We have an obligation to give serve, and educate.”

It has not yet been decided, however, exactly which products will or will not be available.

“We’ll be getting together next week to talk about the cost of everything, and we have to create policies for checkout that the Board has to approve,” Van De Carr said.

The Park Ridge Public Library has run similar programs in the past.

About ten years ago, the library started circulating eBooks and eReaders to patrons.

“That, at the time, was new technology, and we wanted people to be comfortable with them and learn more about them,” said Van De Carr.

“This is along the same lines, getting people an opportunity to try out some new technologies without having to make a financial commitment

on their own.”

This program could mean further technological integration for Maine South students in the classroom, as they could easily check out advanced technological resources, with which to work. Some students see that as a positive development, such as Junior Gillian Niezeneckie.

“The standards and expectations for projects are increasing, and being able to rent equipment is very helpful for kids in high school,” she said.

She also noted that, as students become more interested in technology, “these resources can allow [students] to pursue their interests.”

Younger students could see restrictions on their access to the new technology.

“I think that probably, depending

on the cost of [the item], we would require a parent,” Van De Carr said.

“I think most parents would want to know if their 12 year old was checking out some $300 item, so we probably will have to have some sort of age restriction.”

Van De Carr says that the Park Ridge Public Library hopes to introduce the program by March or April of this year.

She also stressed the community aspect of the program, saying “We’re certainly open to suggestions. If there are students who’d like to suggest things they would like to see us circulate, we’d love to hear about that as well.”

Suggestions can be submitted to Van De Carr through the Park Ridge Library website.

News Editor

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chool board member Dr. Teri Collins and senior Amanda Marino will be presented the honor of winning the Community Star Awards at the “Night of Stars” dinner in Des Plaines on Feb. 11, 2017.

The Community Star Award is presented to anyone in the Park Ridge area who has shown exceptional dedication to service and creating a permanent impact in the community.

In order to win this award, one must be nominated more than two months in advance of the ceremony and be approved by the Park Ridge Chamber of Commerce.

Marino won the Community Star Award for her work with the Salvation Army. She began working with the Salvation Army during middle school as a bell-ringer in front of one of the local Jewels.

“As I grew older, I wanted to be more involved because I really appreciated what the Salvation Army stood for and wanted to help more,” Marino said.

“Upon entering high school, I became a volunteer at the after-school program, ROCK, where I would help kids with their homework and play with them in the gym until their parents came to pick them up. They offered me a job there three times, but I just didn’t feel right making an organization as incredible as the Salvation Army pay me for something that I truly loved doing,” Marino said.

Last summer, Marino worked

HELPING HAWKS

Senior Amanda Marino (left) and school board member Dr. Teri Collins (right) are recognized for their volunteer work in the community. They will receive their awards this coming February.

New technological tools arriving at the Park Ridge Library Ryan Prendergast

News Writer he Park Ridge Public Library is adding new technological equipment to its existing circulation.

“We thought it would be fun to offer some things that people in the community might want to try, but might not want to go out and buy without trying out first,” Library Director Janet Van De Carr said.

According to Van De Carr, the Library is looking for things that could be easily checked out to patrons.

“We started talking about things like Virtual Reality headsets,” she said. “We’re looking into getting some green screens and tripods.

We’re also looking at possibly circulating WiFi Hotspots, GoPro Cameras, as well as maybe telescopes.”

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February 3, 2017

| NEWS

Finals to become optional for students in AP classes Staff Writer & Contributor n an attempt to decrease stress levels of AP students, District 207 instituted a new policy stating that the second semester final exam for AP courses will be optional for students who take the AP exam. The policy is effective immediately.

Teachers of AP classes have the option to continue to assign a final project during the time between the AP exam and final exam week, but they will not be able to require a final exam.

Principal Shawn Messmer said that the policy aims to lower student stress levels.

“Our typical AP student takes more than one AP course, so that crunch during that two-week time period is pretty intense," said Mr. Messmer. "That really was the main motivation for the policy. We wanted to look at what we could do to help relieve the stress that exists for studying for AP exams.”

Starting the school year earlier to fit semester one finals before winter break reduced the time that had traditionally been present between AP exams in early May and final exams.

“The new policy is a good idea because with the way the school year calendar has changed, AP exams and finals are suffocatingly close together," said junior Emma Wonsowicz. "No one should have to take two daunting tests on roughly the same material."

The number of AP exams taken by students is a factor in many national school rating measures, including The Washington Post’s “Most Challenging High Schools” award that all three Maine schools received in 2016.

Although it was not a large problem at Maine South, a motivation for other schools in the district was to eliminate students who were enrolling in AP classes and then not taking

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the AP exams.

In 2016, the number of Maine South students enrolled in AP classes who did not sit for the AP test was 53 (4% of AP students) compared to 73 (7.5%) at Maine East and 154 (15.5%) at Maine West.

The initiative began to take shape last spring in meetings between Principal Messmer and the Principal’s Advisory Council made up of student leaders. The draft proposal was then shared with AP teachers and then adapted after winter break.

Assistant Superintendent Barb Dill-Varga surveyed area schools regarding AP classes and final exams.

“We’re really out of the loop, here, as far as what schools in the area are doing," said Mr. Messmer in regards to the results of the survey.

Area schools have varying policies concerning final exams for AP students. Districts 219 (Niles), 127 (Grayslake), 113 (Highland Park/ Deerfield), 155 (Crystal Lake), Grant, and Leyden all do not have or have optional finals for students who take the AP Exam.

Other schools have hybrid options, such as Lake Park, which requires students to have an A or B in their AP class and take the AP exam to be exempt from the final.

At Loyola Academy, AP students are exempt if they take the AP exam and their class grade is over 90%.

Linda Knerr, New Trier’s Director of Academic Services, stated that no seniors take finals second semester and have not for 25 years.

The practice is not universal, though. According to Prospect Principal Michelle Downing, AP students at all six District 214 schools still take final exams in addition to the AP exam.

According to Mr. Messmer, most teacher opposition that he heard was initially due to not knowing enough of the specifics to be in favor of it.

Once the policy was adapted to allow for class projects that finished after

CSL schools' AP class final exam policies All AP students must take a 2nd sem. final exam

AP test-takers are exempt from a 2nd sem. final exam

2nd sem. AP final isn't necessary if conditions are met (e.g. B avg.)

INFOGRAPHIC BY HALEY MECH

Colleen Johnson & Mary Pat Roche

the AP exam, the policy was “widely supported.”

“I like the policy," said AP Physics teacher Jeff Downing. "Last year, we got ourselves in a position where we didn’t have enough review days prior to the AP test. We wanted to give [the final] before, but we were stuck giving it after. Students were shut down at that point because the AP test is what you’re gearing up for, not so much the semester exam."

Students generally support the proposal.

"I believe that having finals and AP testing only weeks apart from one another causes a lot of unnecessary stress,” said senior Kamila Kazmierczuk. “The AP test is the best determinant of how well one learned the course material so it should be the focus.”

Some students still have concerns, though.

“I think it can be good and bad," said junior Amanda Walbert. "It has a positive effect on the stress levels of the students by removing the extra pressure, but, it can be negative

because some students may just take and bomb the AP test in order to avoid a final exam.”

The District 207 School Board is further encouraging students to take AP classes by instituting a new policy. The first AP test that a student signs up for will cost $15 instead of $93.

“Since this is the first AP test I’m taking, I don’t know exactly what to expect and might not perform that amazing on it,” said sophomore Rachael Malinowski. “But since it is only $15, now it takes some stress off of me because I know that if I don’t do that great on it, it isn’t as big of a deal as if I paid $90.”

Recently, more AP classes have been offered in order to encourage increased student participation in AP classes. Mr. Messmer sees value in all students exploring AP as an indicator of the rigor of what students might see in college.

“My goal is to have every single student take a dual enrollment or AP class by the time they graduate," he said.

Should AP students have to take the final after taking the AP test?

"It’s a good idea for AP classes not to have finals, but some people could blow off the AP exam and then not have to take the final."

-Owen Young '17

"Having a final in the middle of the semester is okay, but after taking the AP test, there really isn’t any point in taking another test."

-Jennifer Loforte '18

"Not having a final would make it easier for me to balance studying for the AP test with other school work."

-Katherine Novak '19

"If I have a strong grade throughout the semester, not having a final won’t hurt my grade."

- Brennan Keeley '20

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NEWS

| February 3, 2017 PHOTO BY TED WYSHEL

MUSIC TO OUR EARS

Symphonic Band students give their award-winning performance at the Presidential Inaugural Heritage Music Festival. The band students played the song “Inchon” by Robert W. Smith.

Performing Arts students visit Washington D.C. Anastasia Dalianis Editor-in-Chief

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and, choir, and orchestra students traveled to Washington, DC from Jan. 19 to to 22 to compete in the Presidential Inaugural Heritage Music Festival and attend the inauguration of President Donald Trump. The music groups won 17 of 22 possible awards at the festival. They were accompanied by several WMTH broadcasters, who filmed the events of the trip for a documentary.

The Presidential Inaugural Heritage Music Festival was sponsored by WorldStrides Educational Travel, an organization that arranges music festivals for high school students around the country.

The awards were divided into three categories: Gold, Silver, and Bronze. Gold awards were given to ensembles that scored a 90 or higher for their performances. All of the ensembles who competed—Concert Band, Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra, and Concert Choir—received Heritage Gold Awards. In addition, six trophies were awarded to Wind Ensemble, Chamber Orchestra, and Concert Choir. They were recognized for outstanding performances, received top recognition in each of their categories, and were awarded firstplace trophies for the highest scores.

Six individual awards, called Maestro Awards, were given at the competition. Maestro Awards were given to students who gave solos or otherwise noteworthy performances. Five of the six Maestro Awards went to Maine South students. The awards went to seniors Georgia Slojkowski, Olivia Conklin, and Anastasia Dalianis from Chamber Orchestra; junior Andrew Failma from Symphonic Band; and sophomore Sara Nelson from Symphonic Band.

Failma, who received a Maestro Award, said

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the festival was something he will remember for the rest of his life.

“I feel like after those first few days of bonding, when we played that music for the first time in five days, we all connected,” he said.

As well as being a performance opportunity, the festival provided students with the chance to work with clinicians from music schools around the country. After each performance, they worked with the students and gave them advice on how to improve their playing.

“There were three judges in back, and they were talking as we were performing, so it was like live feedback, and then they came up on stage and worked with us,” senior Katie Daehler, a member of choir and band, said. “It was neat to get live feedback on what we just did and to hear how we sounded in a true concert hall.”

Another highlight of the trip for many students was the inauguration of President Donald Trump.

On the Friday of the inauguration, they woke up at 4:30 a.m. and traveled to downtown D.C. They then waited four hours to get past the security checkpoint and onto the National Mall.

Despite the long wait, crowds, and protesters, both Failma and Daehler were glad that they were able to attend the inauguration.

“Even though it couldn’t have been more chaotic, to be part of this type of historical event was life-changing,” Failma said. “I really enjoyed it, there was so much to see and so many stories to tell my kids one day.”

Daehler agreed, saying that it was a very valuable experience despite her own political beliefs and the contentious nature of this election.

“It was such a neat experience because it’s such a key part of American democracy,” she said.

“Hearing his speech, it was such a neat thing to be there with so many people. Sometimes with the election, it gets so, ‘how can you people do this,’ or ‘how can you think that,’ but to see all those people there reminds you how they’re just people. They’re just people who believe something that’s maybe a little different than you.”

A unique aspect of this trip was that it was fully documented by WMTH broadcast students and their teacher, Mr. Strom. The students filmed nearly every student event, including the bus rides to and from DC, the inauguration, and the music festival. They took photographs and interviewed many students and teachers. The documentary will be about 40 minutes long, and will cover each individual day of the trip.

Senior Bridget Johnson, who was invited by Mr. Strom to come on the trip and help film the documentary, said the trip was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for her. She said the highlight of the trip was filming interviews at the awards banquet because everyone was full of energy and “happy about winning awards.”

“I learned that you can never have too much footage and that close-ups are key to telling emotions,” she said. “It was very stressful filming surrounded by protestors screaming and lots of people, but it was truly an experience I will remember.”

The trip to Washington, DC was an enjoyable and, in some cases, life-changing event for the students and teachers involved. It is one that they hope to replicate in the future.

“These students experienced moments in our country’s history, moments in our country’s present, and gave some incredible performances,” Fine Arts Department Chair Teralyn Keith said.

February 3, 2017

| COMMENTARY

Chicago Women’s March—why I marched States, this was the largest political demonstration since the anti-Vietnam War protests.

Even though the marches were packed with people, they were remarkably peaceful. In fact, there were many children in attendance who contributed to the non-threatening environment.

Margaret Cahill My experience with the march began when I Editor-in-Chief casually brought the idea up to a few of my friends attended the Women’s March in downtown whom I believed might be interested in showing Chicago on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2017, to advocate support for this movement. Soon, seniors Tara for several groups that have felt marginalized Faraji, Isis Zaki, and I were looking into the details due to much of the rhetoric of this past election of the march and making plans to attend. As we season. And while some would believe that a brainstormed ideas for signs and talked about the demonstration like this is divisive, this could not statement we wanted to make, it hit me: this was democracy. be further from the truth.

We are citizens of the United States expressing This was a march about unity.

It was a demonstration of American citizens our right to express our beliefs to cause real whose primary goal was to show solidarity for these change in our government. This is one of the most groups of women, Mexicans, Muslims, African- important elements of a democratic society, and the Americans, immigrants, and LGBTQ people who idea that, at age 18, I could be a part of something have been subject to discrimination. Others at like this felt so important to me.

As we boarded the L train early Saturday the march chose to speak up about issues such as morning, I was immediately struck by the number healthcare or environmental protection.

It is important to note that the aims of the of people that were coming out to this event. The march were not expressly anti-Donald Trump train was packed with enthusiastic people from (although there were many people there who chose the area carrying signs and speaking excitedly to to criticize the president)—this was a movement one another. One of the women with whom we chatted even remarked that the crowd seemed to be about acceptance and unity.

The march in Chicago, a gathering of about even greater than it had been for the Cubs parade.

250,000 women, men, and children from all Everyone was very friendly and willing to talk and over the area, was an extension of the Women’s laugh with perfect strangers.

Our common cause united us, and a strong March on Washington, D.C. This began as a grass roots movement started by a single woman from sense of community was already apparent—and Hawaii, but quickly grew to become a massive we hadn’t even entered the city yet.

After about an hour commute in a packed train, demonstration that included sister marches worldwide. Participation in the marches worldwide we reached the Jackson station. We walked out into was estimated at 4.8 million, and in the United the air, particularly warm for January, and were at once engulfed in the massive crowd.

All around us, as far as we could see in every direction, were people of every age, gender, race, religion, and sexuality, proudly holding signs with slogans such as “a woman’s place is in the fight for human rights.” However, while in name this was a women’s march, it seemed like over one third of those in attendance were male, some of whom came in support of a wife, girlfriend, mother, daughter, or sister, and many others that were there entirely on their own.

This was impressive to say the least, and I believe that it is important to realize that this was not just a movement of women, but of all people. This was also not at all a movement of “angry millennials.”

There were groups of women and men well into their seventies and eighties who held signs and marched long distances. Many of them could PHOTO COURTESY ISIS ZAKI WE THE STUDENTS... Seniors Margaret Cahill, Tara Faraji, remember protesting for civil rights and Isis Zaki (left to right) hold up signs along Michigan Avenue. They in their youth and were excited to were among many students who marched in Chicago’s Women's March. continue exercising this right.

PHOTO BY ARDEN SASAK

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PHOTO BY ISIS ZAKI

THIS IS WHAT DEMOCRACY LOOKS LIKE An estimated 250,000 people marched along the streets of Chicago on Jan. 21. Many held up signs and chanted phrases such as, “Fight like a girl."

There were also many children present. Nineyear-old girls chanted and held homemade signs, leading a new generation into the fight for civil rights. But the diversity did not end there.

There were groups clad in gay pride flags demanding that their rights, such as the right to marriage, be protected under the incoming administration.

This was also a movement that united all races, and wherever we looked, we saw people of all skin colors and ethnicities. The variety of cultures was also prominent at the march, as it was not uncommon to see a sign in Arabic or hear a cheer in Spanish.

This is what contributed to the most striking and beautiful aspect of the march: its emphasis on unity and positivity. We all went to the march for different reasons, and while we definitely did not agree on everything, we were all ultimately there to express our beliefs and support our fellow Americans.

With chants like “a country united can never be divided” and “this is what democracy looks like,” it would be extremely inaccurate to believe this march to be something divisive.

The peaceful transfer of power is an important tenet of any successful democracy, and this march was not about denouncing our new president, but rather imploring him and his administration to listen to our concerns.

Even supporters of Donald Trump will admit that while he may prove to be a good president in the future, some of the comments he has made about women and minorities are offensive. The dialogue among Americans about these issues will prove essential in keeping America a nation for all people.

As John F. Kennedy said, “Without debate, without criticism, no administration and no country can succeed and no republic to survive.”

I love my country, which is why I will never stop making my voice heard. I will work to make this a nation for all Americans, especially those who have been targets of hatred.

SouthwordS 5

COMMENTARY

| February 3, 2017

Thanks, Obama. Seriously.

Tara Faraji

Commentary Writer

bama, Dear President O

Tara 6 SouthwordS

A MUGHAL

Sincerely,

ILLUSTRATION BY RID

urs, ree-and-a-half ho th r fo er th ea w ee able by the s were made bear stood in three degr ., on m iti a. nd 00 co 4: h rs at ha up is the ese 7, I woke get involved, who ell Address. But th d w re an e Fa ic On Saturday, Jan. ur vo y yo m to e t ired me to us fully for a ticke be successful. the man who insp and waited hope — el od m le ro at minorities can y th m e e m se ht to ug ce ta an ho ch hope for a rnment, and w cold for ented in my gove es pr re el fe I d in the freezing on an st d reas an y, rl ea ident, e up e?” Well, Mr. Pres m een-year-old wak nt ho ve n se ow a r ld he ou of w has mfort k yourself, “Why at your presidency ched from the co th at ct w pa ve im ha e ly th Now you may as si e ea ecause I realiz n she could just as gs. But I didn’t. B in th e several hours whe os th of l al by your legacy. d have done en. I was moved tiz ci a you’re right. I coul as ns tio rstand morals, and ac rnment and unde ve go e th t had on my views, ou ab ck of the arting to learn r looking at the ba s old. I was just st ar be ye em m ne re ni I , as w cy I en id , a new gan when y. Before your pres a new dimension tr d un de Your first term be co ad r u ou Yo . of n en the unificatio esident’s shoes. : all old white m its importance in e myself in the Pr evious presidents se pr d of ul s co ce I , fa ce e th on ning erywhere—for textbook and scan inority children ev m r fo ch lacks al go w ne r government whi ou dream, and a by ed iz gn co re ar and y Persian New Ye ally made me feel er fin ev s n an w ic do er g m in A tt l nited d si reach out to al President of the U inter, I remembere e w th go at ca th hi as C Your endeavors to w er I tt k ial. I was no d how awestruc d outside in the bi made me feel spec ople. I remembere u diversity. As I stoo pe Yo n e. ia lif an y Ir m e of th t address to dden for mos listening to your hing that I had hi et m so ed dg le ow kn ption.

States had just ac a highlighted exce er th efforts ra t bu tic is stat couragement and en nt ta ns co longer an ignored ur my opinion government. Yo ve a voice in my er afraid to voice ha ng lo to e no m I’m ed ir u, sp yo of as a whole. you have in ican community s worked. Because er ha m e A ic e President Obama, vo th r of ei s th st e s, but the intere involved and us t only my interest to get the people no fit ne be ch hi w causes and fight for the r is irrelevant. fference, skin colo di a g in ak m to when it comes old into an You proved that stinate nine year ob y, sh a d ol m ns. And You helped ith strong convictio w ld -o ar ye nee involved sevent at ticket to the end up getting th ’t dn di I gh ou th have been even rtunate enough to fo el fe I , ss re dd A Farewell ur presidency. present during yo k you for l role model. Than na io pt ce ex an g in color Thank you for be only for people of t no e, ag im l tia ent. iden ed in our governm nt redefining the pres se re ep rr de un e who are but for all of thos l you’ve done.

Thank you for al

Febraury 3, 2017

EDITORIA

L GRAPH

IC BY JUST

YNA LEPA

STAFF EDITORIAL

We must resist ‘alternative facts’ O

ur current political landscape is changing. And a huge part of this has to do with the way that media is being used by citizens. Press conferences and newspaper subscriptions have been replaced with Twitter discourse.

There is increasing distrust of large journalistic organizations, and many people believe that it is better to get information directly from politicians.

Others simply do not want to invest time or money into reading lengthy articles from reputable news sources when articles are short, free, and easily accessible on social media.

In the face of this radically new environment, it is our responsibility as students and citizens to seek factual information, keep ourselves informed, and support true journalism.

According to Business Insider, more fake news stories than real news stories were shared on Facebook in 2016. These stories, which tend to make outlandish claims about politicians as well as false reports about terrorist attacks, have contributed to new levels of fear and anger in the country.

While Mark Zuckerberg has dismissed claims that Facebook had any influence in the election, he has also stated that Facebook has helped two million people register to vote.

This indicates that social media does, in fact, have some influence over voting behavior.

However, statistics may not be necessary to prove this—it is obvious

from first glance at almost any social media platform. Social media outlets, especially Tumblr, Twitter, and Facebook, provide very small, specialized spaces in which people can express their beliefs.

While this is a good idea in theory, it contributes to group polarization. As people talk to the same friends about the same ideas over and over again, their beliefs become more extreme. It’s in these circles where fake news tends to emerge and circulate. This echo chamber can be very harmful to our society as facts are disregarded and people rely on their emotions and believe anything that supports their position on an issue. Living in a “post-truth” world, our country’s growth and progress is inhibited and the educated electorate is quickly deteriorating.

In an age of “alternative facts,” it is important to maintain respect for the objective truths that should guide our decision-making and our engagement in p olit ic a l conversation. We cannot always depend on politicians to tell the truth in all matters, and this is why the filter of the media is important.

The media will report on what a politician says and does, but they will also fact-check and provide balance.

Wit h out l e t s l i ke Tw itte r replacing traditional press

conferences, the door for discussion is closed as politicians can choose which questions they respond to—if they respond at all. This does not allow reporters to ask follow-up questions and hold politicians accountable for what they say.

As high school students, we have grown and evolved with social media.

It has given us the power to not only choose what we want to see and read, but what we represent and who we are.

As we move into a new political era, it is our responsibility to use this power to better ourselves and the people in our lives.

Legitimate news sources rely on professional journalists to do quality investigative reporting. People are becoming less and less likely to support these organizations, forcing them to rely on fewer journalists and work with fewer resources. We need to keep these organizations alive with our support because a free press is the hallmark of a successful democracy.

We n e e d t o b e out s p o ke n advocates for truth. We cannot spread information that is not verified by a reputable organization, and must encourage others to do the same.

While free news may be enticing, it is more important to pay for a subscription to a newspaper and rely on its detailed and accurate information to inform our views. A $10 subscription is a small price to pay for an educated society.

| 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 staff 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

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FEATURES

| February 3, 2017

Christina Johnson, Tommy O’Connor & Emily Rosca Features Editors

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n the age of smartphones, smart appliances, and smart cars, smart roads are the next field of innovation. Over the past two years, new technology has been installed over 16 miles of the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway, Interstate 90, creating Illinois’ first ever SmartRoad.

The SmartRoad serves two important purposes: making transportation efficient and ensuring safe travels. This was the final step of a large $2.5 billion reconstruction project, which began in 2015 and was completed at the end of 2016.

The SmartRoad is set to be functioning by late spring or early summer, according to Peter Stresino, an Intelligent Transportation Systems Program Specialist at the Illinois Department of Transportation.

The portion of highway spanning from Barrington Road to O’Hare International Airport features a gantry every half mile, which provides information to road users regarding traffic and roadway conditions.

“They’re putting up what are called gantries, structures that have message-changing [LED] signs,” Stresino said. “[The signs inform you of whether or not] you can use a certain lane. As you’re approaching the area, it informs you if a lane will be closing soon, or it tells you to vacate the lane and move in whatever direction the arrow points to.”

Additionally, a lane may be closed for usage by a mass-transit Pace bus line, a bus system along the highway; that information will also be broadcast on the screens. “[Gantries] are backed up by a network of new sensors and cameras that are along the roadway, so we can provide the information as rapidly as possible to drivers,” said Dan Rozek, Senior Manager of Communications for the Illinois Tollway.

The SmartRoad technology is built to handle all common traffic hindrances, including accidents, sudden braking, and weather conditions.

“One of the other neat features of this is that not only will this information be displayed on the roadway signs, but it will be collected and distributed out to navigation apps, such as Google Maps or Waze,” Rozek said.

As time passes and more and more data is gathered, the gantries can detect patterns in the

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future features for the SmartRoad.

“Because of the way the road was built, we’ve included fiber optic power lines along the whole route of I-90, not just the SmartRoad zone,” Rozek said. “In the future, if connected-vehicle technology becomes available, where vehicles could communicate with each other, it’ll be easy to adapt to the stretch of road because the conduit and fiber optics needed for these systems are already installed in the road.”

Thinking ahead to future endeavors, the Illinois Department of Transportation planned ahead for revenue-generating opportunities.

“There will be message-changing signs on the data that may expedite travel time. Already existing side of the road that will let people know if there travel apps will be equipped with this data, which are incidents up ahead or what the toll-rate is,” will allow drivers to more accurately plan their trip. Stresino said. “[The left-most lane] could be used “Before you leave your house in the morning for someone who is willing to pay more money in to drive to work, you could check Google Maps or tolls to use that lane if the traffic that is moving a Waze to check the traffic conditions on I-90, and little bit slower. If there is a crash and lanes are taken if it’s crowded, you can decide to leave earlier and out, it would help guide traffic into the available plan for your trip before you even leave home,” lanes so that people could move in advance instead Rosek said. of waiting for the last minute.”

Any construction project can expect some Now that the infrastructure is in place, the hope is degree of criticism and that vehicle manufacturers “There will be mescomplaints and the will take the technology that SmartRoads provides SmartRoads are no exception. sage-changing signs Lanes become blocked, and and continue to innovate. on the side of the road traffic gets restricted to fewer “Eventually, the cars lanes, which leads to some t hems elves w i l l have that will let people frustration. A lane was added the capabilities builtknow if there are in to process the data in each direction, making it four lanes rather than three. transmitted by ot her incidents up ahead.”

“There are a couple [cities cars,” Rozek said. “If you’re -Peter Stresino including Minneapolis and traveling and 10 cars ahead Seattle] that have done of you a car has to slam on something like this, but to my understanding, its breaks for whatever reason, that information will they’re a limited model of this,” Rozek said. be transmitted to other vehicles nearby, and your “What we’re doing here is more advanced and car will be able to start braking even before you comprehensive.” get close to the other vehicle. It’s a safety measure This technology is by no means complete, and which uses technology to make traveling safer and developers are already looking ahead and planning more efficient.”

LIFE IS A HIGHWAY

PHOTO BY TOMMY O’CONNOR

Structures like these, called gantries, are positioned every half-mile throughout the 16-mile stretch along the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway between Barrington Road and O’Hare International Airport. The screens on the gantries will provide the public with up-to-date travel statistics such as delays and lane closings.

February 3, 2017

| ENTERTAINMENT

Anna Hyslop

Entertainment Writer ith extravagant set pieces, unique props, and studentc omp o s e d mu s i c , t h i s y e a r’s preparation for the winter play has pushed students to new levels of creativity.

This February, the Maine South Fine Arts Department brings to life the Norwegian folk tale, “East of the Sun and West of the Moon.”

One of the most unique features of this year's play is that most of the music is student composed.

"There was original music that came with the show, and I orchestrated that with the ensemble that I had," said senior musical director Natalie Briggs. "In addition to that, I wrote an overture, a few different sequences and some underscoring."

Although Briggs did much of the composition, she had some help with composing.

"My brother Aaron Briggs has been helping to arrange and write some of his own music," Briggs said.

"But it has been a really collaborative effort. The entire band has been involved in the production. I will give them a chord progression and they'll just improvise over it."

The music is brought to life in three separate ballads sung by leads Megan Wilcox and Moise Tomas.

Accompanying them is a pit orchestra made up of seven students.

Another aspect of this show that makes it different from past winter plays is the complex set design. With the settings taking place in a variety of fictional locations, the designs are

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very specific and detailed.

“The stage pieces we are going to have for this show will be amazing,” said senior Dan Morales, who plays Tove’s crippled father. “I’m so excited to see it. The mountains and the trees and everything are unlike anything I’ve experienced in past productions at Maine South, and I think it will be really cool to work with.”

Besides the appeal of the set pieces, other stage crews explored new ways to bring the show to life using props.

“There’s a lot of really unusual props for this show: moose ears, a canopy bed made out of butterfly wings, and other completely random things like that,” said sophomore Jen Beck of props crew.

There will also be a variety of costumes in this production. The hags have layers of feathers, the wicked sisters have real fur scarves, and beast inspired elements are in a woodlandthemed wedding.

“There is going to be so much variety in this show and really amazing work put in by all of the crews, which will make the effects and costumes really amazing,” said sophomore Jon Luke Lassa, who plays Tove’s mischievous younger brother, Einar.

The makeup and hair crews are very excited for their part in this production; however, while it involves a lot of fun ideas and creativity on their end, it also includes great amounts of effort and time. They have to come up with ways to portray the severely weathered faces of old hags, interpret what several different trolls should look like, as well as turn a high

PHOTO BY ARDEN SASAK

Winter play showcases talented crew

BAD HAIR DAY Sophomore Ellie Carrier adjusts the hair of the North Wind.

Technical elements like these help convey the magical nature of the folk tale.

school junior into a polar bear.

With these special elements come challenges. The script involves several long, detailed descriptions of what should be portrayed in the setting, often calling for very complex scenes.

“Staging is hard mainly because the pieces we want are so elaborate and big that when we’re in rehearsal, it’s hard to truly imagine what the scene will look like,” said junior student director Michaela Parangalan.

The fact that this year’s selection for the winter play is a folk tale sets it apart from previous winter productions at Maine South, and the unpredictable nature of the play will keep the audience engaged.

PHOTO BY PEYTON TURNER “What makes this show so different is all of the unexpected scenes that are in it,” said sophomore Lily Haugen, who plays Tove’s wicked younger sister. “There’s even a poetic dance number choreographed by Maggie Ostrow, there are wonderfully funny parts, as well as parts that are equally sad.”

This play was originally written in 1910 as a children’s book, and the adaptation that will appear on the Maine South stage was written by Tina Howe in 1994.

The plot lines that make this story familiar are obvious: the love story between a girl and a bear is similar AIN’T NO MOUNTAIN HIGH ENOUGH Senior Angie Nocita to “Beauty and the Beast,” and a girl being forced to deal with her wretched builds the steps to the mountain, which is a part of the swamp setting in the play.

family as they taunt and humiliate her is like “Cinderella.” However, despite the absurd aspects of the plot, the play focuses on the relatable themes of love and sacrifice, and being willing to do anything for happiness.

While this play appears to be a mix between “Cinderella” and “Beauty and the Beast," it has unique influences from Norwegian beliefs of equality and empowered women.

The story revolves around the heroine Tove and her journey as she goes beyond the ends of the earth in a desperate search to find the love of her life who happens to be a white polar bear by day, and a handsome prince by night. On her expedition, she receives help from a variety of mythological creatures including hags, trolls, and winds.

“Tove is, as stated numerous times in the script, is extremely determined to achieve what she strives for and to help those she loves,” said senior Megan Wilcox, who plays the lead, Tove. “I think her most admirable trait, however, is her trust. She trusts others, fate, and herself, which are all reasons she has such incredible perseverance, confidence, and ability to connect with others.”

“East of the Sun and West of the Moon” runs through Feb. 16, 17, and 18 at 7:30 p.m. in the Watson Auditorium. Tickets can be purchased for $7 at the door.

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ENTERTAINMENT

| February 3, 2017

Don’t weight; get exercising

Tara Faraji

Entertainment Writer ne of the most common goals made at the beginning of the year is to exercise more frequently— a task that is much easier said than done. You may not always set aside time to workout on your own, and gyms are often intimidating. Finding a fitness program is no easier. With so many workout options around Park Ridge, it can sometimes be overwhelming to choose the right one. That’s why this year, we made it easier for you: we tried four radically different fitness programs so you can determine which one is right for you. Each program is reviewed on the purpose of the program, what each workout entails, and why it appeals to teens.

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Orange Theory

Where: 10 N. Northwest Hwy. Who: Anyone over 15 who wants to lose weight, gain speed or strength, or just stay in shape would be a perfect candidate for Orange Theory.

What: Orangetheory is a program based on science. The workouts take advantage of excess post-exercise oxygen consumption, which allows your body to continue burning calories even after the workout ends. By monitoring when you reach your target heart rate and the amount of time it’s held for, Orangetheory maximizes the benefits of each workout. The workout is designed for you to reach your maximum heart rate to increase energy levels as well as increase your metabolism. While movements are repeated through workouts, the workouts themselves differ in intensity and order of movements.

Why: Since Orangetheory accommodates many different personal training goals, it is great for any high schooler, from the athlete who wants to stay in shape for an upcoming season, to any student who just wants to maintain their health and fitness.

Review: Orangetheory is definitely one of the harder fitness classes that we took. It emphasizes endurance, which we really didn’t have prior to starting the workout. By the end of each class, you will feel tired, but energized, which is a nice balance compared to some of the other programs.

Pure Barre

Where: 110 N. Northwest Hwy. Who: For Anyone who wants to tone and get fit in a fun creative way.

What: Pure Barre is a workout program based on achieving the infamous bodies of dancers: toned, lean, and long. Each workout focuses on reps and changes and isolates specific muscles in each part of the workout to really target the muscle and tone it effectively. What makes Pure Barre unique is the addition of the ballet barre, which is often used in class for stability and balance while also providing a unique way to get fit. Instructors demonstrate each move and are not afraid to make corrections so you know that you’re doing each move with precision.

Why: Pure Barre often features a younger demographic compared to other fitness programs, so teens may feel more comfortable working out with a class that is less intimidating and closer to their fitness level. The workouts are set for maximum intensity; however, you can dial it down to fit your own fitness needs and capabilities.

Review: Pure Barre is great for those who haven’t worked out in a while and just want a way to ease back into fitness. The workouts are hard, but you always feel energized after leaving the studio and only a little sore the next day. It is a great introduction to a committed work-out routine.

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Crossfit

Where: 542 Busse Hwy. Who: Crossfit has no age limit, so it’s a customizable program which caters to all fitness abilities.

What: Crossfit is a fitness program that uses functional movements with high-intensity interval training along with weight lifting. Crossfit is unique in its ability to provide a fitness program that is created just for you.

The “workout of the day” changes daily to break the monotony that often occurs with weight lifting-based workouts, and movements during class vary to produce a different experience each

time you set foot in the gym.

Why: With its “workout of the day,” Crossfit keeps things moving and different, a key aspect to consider, especially for potential long-term members. The coaches focus directly on your specific goal, whether it be running faster, getting stronger or improving hand-eye coordination. Crossfit is like having your own personal trainer.

Review: You. Will. Sweat. This program will leave you dead and feeling like you gave 110% during the workout. It’s definitely meant for those who are serious about getting in shape and are not afraid to push themselves.

With Crossfit, you will definitely see improvements in your fitness ability and physique within just the first week. If you want to jump back into shape, Crossfit is definitely for you.

CorePower Yoga

Where: 991 W. Touhy Ave. Who: This workout is perfect for anyone prepared to change their mind and body through yoga and pilatesbased workouts.

What: CorePower offers a variety of different classes that you can choose from based on your fitness goals, previous experience, and preferences.

Classes range from Yoga Sculpt, which is one of the highest intensity classes, to regular yoga, which focuses on fundamentals. Each class includes a meditation portion which allows participants to reflect on their day and the class. In addition, instructors modify movements and workouts to fit your individual ability and interests.

Why: CorePower allows you to de-stress and meditate— two key components of staying mentally healthy while taking in the stresses of high school.

Setting apart time to focus on being present makes a huge difference in your mental health. In addition, the variety of classes always keeps things fresh and allows you to choose the intensity of each workout.

Review: The meditation aspect of CorePower is definitely something which stands out amongst the other fitness programs. With CorePower, you exercise your mind and body and we definitely noticed a decrease in our stress levels. Working out is a great way to end the day.

February 3. 2017 | ENTERTAINMENT

The magnitude of ‘Silence’ resonates loud and clear

Entertainment Editor

PARAMOUNT PICTURES

Mark Toledano

“Silence”

Directed by Martin Scorsese

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bsent from the big screen for three years now (since “The Wolf of Wall Street” in 2013), Academy Award winning director Martin Scorsese hits the ground running with his newest hit “Silence.”

Based upon a novel written by Japanese author Shusaku Endo, “Silence” is the story of two Portuguese Catholic priests who travel to Japan in the late 1600s to locate their missing mentor who had gone there years prior as a missionary to spread Catholicism.

The main conflict of the movie centers around the persecution of Christians in Japan at that time.

Avid moviegoers will immediately recognize that “Silence” is told through a narration. No surprise here. Part of what makes a Scorsese flick enjoyable to watch is the main character’s commentary throughout the movie. But what sets “Silence” apart is that multiple characters

LORD, HEAR OUR PRAYER Father Ferreira, played by Liam Neeson, prays silently in the presence of a Japanese official. Neeson delivers a dramatic performance grounded in grief and pain.

partake in the narration, not just one.

We hear the story from three angles: the Portuguese, the Japanese, and even the Dutch. This little trick, which Scorsese has used before, gives the movie a more diversified structure.

The cast is strong. If you’ve spent your entire life watching comic book movies, the first thing you say when you watch “Silence” will probably be something like, “Hey! Kylo Ren, Ra’s Al-gul, and Spiderman all teamed up to make the ultimate Lucasfilm-DC-

Marvel crossover! Where’s Scarlett Johansson?” Close, but not quite.

The film does indeed star Adam Driver from “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” Andrew Garfield from the new Spiderman franchise, and Liam Neeson from the Christopher Nolan Batman series (or “Star Wars: The Phantom Menace,” if you haven’t chosen to forget about that by now).

But this isn’t some kind of fan fiction biopic about the mastermind villain who transcends comic book universes

to steal the magic light bulb.

These actors, along with the dozens other Japanese actors and actresses pulled off dramatic roles unlike anything they’ve done before.

Liam Neeson’s role in this kind of conflict is similar to his role in the film “Schindler’s List,” where he plays a German businessman trying to shelter Jews from the Nazis. The heavy subject matter are alike in both films, and, like in “Schindler’s List,” Liam Neeson does not let down.

It’s humbling to know that “Silence” is Martin Scorsese’s own personal passion project. Unlike the big budget, big studio movies that dominate box offices today, “Silence” is the 30-year culmination of Martin Scorsese’s spiritual connection to the centuries-long struggle of practicing faith freely.

If you’re looking for a cookiecutter, fast-paced action flick with tons of explosions, you’re not going to find it in this film. What you will find is the story of struggle. One man’s own struggle, the struggle of an intolerant nation, and the relevant struggle that everyone faces when tasked to do the right thing.

Swing, step, twist, and whirl in Damien Chazelle’s ‘La La Land’ Jack McMillan

LIONSGATE ENTERTAINMENT

Entertainment Contributor

“La La Land”

Directed by Damien Chazelle

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ovie musicals have been on the wane for the last couple of decades. In the 1950s, a new musical came out every week; now it seems like there’s only one every year. Damien Chazelle’s “La La Land” is a musical set in modern day Los Angeles but feels like a nostalgic throw back to the golden days of MGM musicals.

The film is a love story between a jazz pianist and an actress struggling

to make it big in Hollywood. Ryan Gosling plays the jazz pianist, Sebastian, who dreams of opening his own club to allow underground jazz musicians to play what they want when they want. Emma Stone gives perhaps the greatest performance of her career as Mia, a struggling actress who has hopes of grandeur in a city where dreams are often broken. Both desire something more out of life, but cannot seem to figure out how to attain it. Once they meet, they try to help each other out by giving each other advice, but soon a romance blossoms instead.

From the opening scene, the viewer is sucked into a different kind of world that lies somewhere between dream and reality. The opening musical number depicts people trapped in traffic on the highway, but rather than shouting at each other in anger, all of the drivers get out of their cars and express their grievances through song.

We recognize that what we’re watching is modern day America, but the mood Chazelle creates through his swift cinematography and careful

choice of over-exaggerated colors makes us feel like we’re in a much more kind environment. It feels unreal to us because many of us associate traffic jams with negative feelings, and the film shows everyone being so positive, even though they’re clearly singing about things that aren’t. Chazelle creates such a positive mood that viewers can’t help but smile and sing along.

Chazelle’s background as a musician aids him tremendously in crafting the picture. He shows off his mastery through each song. Chazelle realizes that songs serve a purpose in musicals, and for this reason, every song serves an important part in telling the film’s story. Many accuse musicals for riddling their movies with nonsensical numbers in order to sell more songs on iTunes, but compared to the average musical, “La La Land” is actually light on songs.

Each musical number is shot in a unique way that both complements the lyrics and helps tell the story visually.

When Ryan Gosling performs “City of Stars,” it’s impossible not

to think of Gene Kelly or Frank Sinatra because of his suave attire and soothing voice. Emma Stone’s fast-paced, almost ballet-like dancing in “Someone in the Crowd,” is a subtle tasteful homage to Cyd Charisse in “Bandwagon” (1953), and Debbie Reynolds in “Singin’ in the Rain” (1951).

Not only is the film a love letter to the golden age of movie musicals, but it’s a love letter to old Hollywood in general. There are several instances where you can see posters to classic films in the background like “Casablanca” (1943) and “The Killers” (1946). The ending of the film is a brilliantly composed scene that is actually an homage to “Casablanca” (one of Chazelle’s favorite films).

Unlike most musicals, “La La Land” focuses more on the development of its characters rather than its songs. It gives people a new interpretation on how to approach making musicals.

Not only is “La La Land” an important musical, it could be one of the most important musicals ever made. The doors have just opened to a new age of musical cinema.

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SPORTS

| February 3. 2017

Hawks alumni succeed in college athletics Christo Fosse

PHOTO COURTESY COURTNEY RICHARDSON

Sports Editor

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ach year, high school athletes from all over the country vie for the opportunity to pursue their athletic careers in college.

Maine South is no different. Last year alone, 22 senior athletes signed letters of intent to continue playing sports in college.

However, while the thrill of competition continues through college, there are many aspects of college athletics that are significantly different from high school athletics.

C ourtney Richardson (‘15) is currently a sophomore at the University of Michigan and a member of the school’s softball team.

“I was attracted to the University of Michigan because here I am able to compete at the highest level in both academics and athletics,” said Richardson. “I am blessed to be taught by prestigious professors and the most successful coaching staff in college softball.”

While at Maine South, Richardson was incredibly successful with many accolades such as a two-time AllState honoree (‘14, ‘15), and a team softball captain her junior and senior year.

“Improving my mental game was the transition between the two levels,” said Richardson. “My mental game has been strong throughout my life, but have found it to be the most important in college. At the highest level of play, there is little difference in physical ability, therefore the difference between good and great players is their mental approach.”

Brian Collis (‘16), a freshman quarterback at the University of Chicago, has also noticed the unique challenges that collegiate athletics present.

“The hardest part of the initial transition [from high school athletics to college athletics] for me was developing serious time management skills,” said Collis. “There are many obligations that pull time from your day, and it is easy to spread yourself too thin. Knowing how to budget the time outside of your sport is extremely important.”

As a quarterback on the school’s football team, he sees some similarities between high school to college.

“In Division III, there are no scholarships, so it really is for enjoyment,” said Collis. “I think the

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SOUTHWORDS FILE PHOTO PHOTO COURTESY MATT ALVITI

SOUTHWORDS FILE PHOTO

TAKING IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

Brian Collis (‘16) throws a pass in practice during the 2015-2016 season (top left). He currently has a roster spot on the University of Chicago football team. Courtney Richardson (‘15) waits for a pitch at Alumni Field during the 2016 season (top right). As a student at Maine South, she was recruited to play softball at the University of Michigan. Matt Alviti (‘13) looks for a receiver in high school (bottom left) and in college at Northwestern University (bottom right). He notes how much faster the college game is compared to what he experienced in high school.

coaches understand that our players have other commitments outside of football. The coaches expect us to represent the school and the team in a positive manner at all times, which isn’t any different from varsity sports at Maine South.”

Matt Alviti (‘13) is a senior at Northwestern University. Alviti also plays quarterback for the football team. While at Maine South, Alviti led the Hawks to a state championship in 2010.

“The hardest part about the transition was the discrepancy in the size and speed on the field,” said Alviti.

“You are generally playing against much better talent. In high school, you were among the best athletes on the field. However, in college, you aren’t necessarily the best athlete.”

Alviti was recently a part of the Wildcats’ 2016 Pinstripe Bowl victory against the Pittsburgh Panthers. The Wildcats won 31-24.

“Being in New York and being

in the stadium where legends were created was truly an unforgettable experience,” said Alviti. “ The d i f fe re n c e b e t we e n t h e s t at e championship and the bowl victory was that when you play for your high school, you are playing for your town, but playing for Northwestern, we were playing for the school and everyone associated with it.”

At her time with Michigan, Richardson’s success has continued with a Big Ten championship and a Women’s College World Series. Her first collegiate hit was also a home run.

Even with the successes, Richards on acknowledges the difference in the level of play from high school to college.

“At the college level, the game of softball is much faster than at the high school/club level,” said Richardson.

“It is very important to thoroughly understand the game and develop a great level of discipline on the field.”

Despite attending different

schools, these alumni have all developed a sincere appreciation for what they learned at Maine South and hope that aspiring athletes currently at Maine South develop that appreciation as well.

“From Maine South, I learned discipline,” said Richardson. “In high school, I decided to be disciplined and made sure that everything I did would help me accomplish my goals after high school.”

Likewise, Aliviti took a page out of Coach Inserra’s playbook.

“You just have to work hard,” said Alviti. “Try to be the best leader I can be on the field and in the classroom.”

And while the challenges of college can sometimes be overwhelming, athletics can actually ease the burden.

“Before I took my first class on campus, I had 97 great friends that I made during pre-season camp,” Collis said. “Having teammates to lean on makes the transition to college much easier.

February 3. 2017 | SPORTS

Girls’ basketball continues their winning ways a main priority.

“The upperclassmen try to advise the sophomores by trusting in their abilities to help the team win,” said Latreille.

The Hawks are near .500 in conference play after a very strong non-conference season. One key non- conference win was at Elk Grove on Dec. 3, where they defeated the Grenadiers by 23 points.

Coach Smith believes participating in both the Bison Thanksgiving Classic and the Dundee Crown Holiday Tournament also helped prepare them for tough conference match-ups like New Trier and Evanston.

“Our 17-point victory versus Hononegah at Dundee-Crown was a terrific win for us, Coach Smith said.

“We won 14 of the 16 quarters in that tournament, and after a close loss against Stevenson, I was proud of the way we bounced back.”

“The team came out of winter break with a crushing loss to rival New Trier.

They went down early and never recovered, suffering a 20-point loss.

There was a lot to learn from the loss and the

Sophomore gymnast

James Bednarz Sports Editor

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ith the departure of varsity seniors Sara Ignoffo, Alysa Chiovatero, and Erin Clements after this season, girls’ gymnastics team will need young talent to bolster the program. From the beginning of the season, sophomore Caleigh Pistorius has shown she will be an important part of that future.

Pistorius’ season has not gone without some notable accolades.

“My best accomplishment this year was probably winning all around at the New Trier Invite in December,” said Pistorius. “I also got second all around at the Evanston invite, and there was a lot of tough competition there—so I was excited

to really have a good meet.”

At the Evanston Invite, Pistorius scored a 9.825 on the vault portion of the competition. Her scores, however, are not the only way that the young sophomore contributes to team efforts.

“She really knows how to take charge and help get the team going,” said Ignoffo.

“She knows how important it is to reach our goals and work as a team so she always strives to help us. Caleigh truly helps to contribute to the team physically and emotionally.”

Varisty senior Erin Clements is impressed with the work ethic of her teammate.

“Caleigh comes into the gym every day with a great attitude and she’s always

PHOTOPHOTO

BY ALEXIS CHERVINKO

BY RHYANNE NOCHE

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irls’ basketball head coach Mr. Mark Smith has had tremendous success during his time at Maine South, compiling two State Final appearances and nine winning seasons since taking over as head coach in 2005.

This season is proving to be more of the same. The makeup of the team is a little different from years past, however: they start three sophomores, Nicole Scales, Sophia Albano, and Hannah Schilling, who all display exceptional outside sho oting.

Specifically, Scales is leading the team with 12 points per game.

“I’m very proud of the way these young players step up when we need them to,” Coach Smith said. “It seems like someone new is contributing each week. I’m also proud of the Seniors, like Olivia Latreille, who provide great leadership after being on [the] team last year.”

Team chemistry is extremely important to the team’s success because of the age gap between some players. Understanding these circumstances also helps them execute out on the court. As a team, they have some strengths and weaknesses, but having confidence in one another is

ON GUARD

Hannah Schilling defends the York Point Guard during their home game on Jan. 19. The Hawks would go on to win that game 43-35.

girls are well aware of that.

“We’ll come out more confident and ready to play this time,” Scales said. “We can’t play back on our heels either. If we put a little pressure on them it should be a better game.”

They will take on New Trier again on Friday, Feb. 10, before the playoffs begin the following Tuesday.

Knowing all of the lapses in their play is a very valuable asset and expect it to help them out in the final weeks of the season. The coaching staff has also set out some goals for the team.

“Our dribble penetration needs to get better heading into the playoffs,” said Coach Smith. “If we limit the amount of unforced turnovers, we’ll be able to compete.”

The Hawks are excited for the IHSA Playoffs and building on Coach Smith’s legacy. Some of the sophomores and juniors know they’ll be back for years to come, but they’re still focused on this year.

“I really look forward to the state tournament and getting closer with my teammates,” Scales said.

impresses varsity teammates

PHOTO BY PEYTON TURNER

Sports Writer

PHOTO PHOTO

BY ALEXIS

BY ARDEN CHERVINKO SASAK

Kevin McNulty

ready to have a good practice and improve on her skills,” said Clements. “When she gets stuck on a tough skill, she doesn’t give up. Instead, she keeps going and works on the skill until she can’t get it wrong.”

Pistorius is also known for her personality.

“She brings so much energy to practice and always knows how to make the team laugh,” said Clements. “She has fun but still manages to maintain her focus.”

Despite experiencing a lot of success this year, Pistorius had a difficult start to the season.

“I was challenged early in the season with an ankle sprain, but I quickly recovered,” Pistorius said.

With the sectional and

state meets coming up, Pistorius has some goals that she still wants to accomplish.

“I want to qualify for State all around,” said Pistorius.

She also is working towards goals for the entire team to achieve.

“I really believe that we can make it to state as a team as well. We have a lot of strong, talented girls and we have been really working hard in hopes of reaching that goal. I would really like to make it to the state finals in hopes of placing in an event.”

The girls’ gymnastics team is hosting the regional meet on Feb. 2. The sectional meet would then be at Fremd High School on Feb. 7. They currently are the sixthranked team in their sectional with 142.7083 team points.

SouthwordS 13

SPORTS

| February 3, 2017

Boys’ swimming is affected by sickness

James Bednarz

Sports Editor ith the season coming to a close in the upcoming weeks, the boys’ swimming team looks to regain their momentum.

“The season has been a little up and down,” head coach Donald Kura said. “We are a young team, and our guys have been working hard.”

Despite their best efforts, illness has impeded their success.

“The last few weeks have been pretty rough because guys have been sick,” Coach Kura said. “We’ve been missing guys because of other activities. On top of that, our conference is pretty rough this year. So January has been tough in terms of health and the competition we have faced.”

With these obstacles coming so close to the end of the year, Coach Kura has taken steps to account for the adversity.

“The biggest thing is trying to

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do things to guarantee that our guys get rest and start to get healthy,” Mr. Kura said. “I’ve cancelled practice in the morning so that they can sleep.

It seems like when I get two or three guys that start to get healthy, I get two or three more that start to get sick.”

Mr. Kura has also discussed decreasing the intensity of practices to allow for recovery.

“I’m going to try to minimize the amount of time that we are practicing and to focus on the quality of the practice so that the guys can get some rest and get better because if they are not feeling good, they aren’t going to swim well,” Mr. Kura said.

He has also expressed that focusing on the small things during the short practices would be the most efficient use of the team’s time and energy.

“From a practice standpoint, we are really starting to focus in on the

little things that are necessary to be able to swim fast at the end of the year,” Mr. Kura said. “Little things like starts, turns, and some basic stroke mechanics that guys have been working on, but it is different for each guy.”

Coach Kura also expressed that the goal going into the “championship season” is different than in years past.

“The biggest thing for us, because we are so young, is to develop an understanding of what it means to compete at the highest level at our meets,” Mr. Kura said.

The age difference between the majority of Maine South’s swimmers and the competition they are facing is often too much to overcome.

“Our swimmers are in awe of some of them,” Mr. Kura said. “They would be at the same meet with them, but they would be swimming nine heats before them because that

is how much faster and how much better some of the other swimmers are. It’s not that the guys I have don’t have talent, it is just that they are freshman and sophomores and these guys are seniors in high school. I’ve got some boys swimming against men, and that’s tough because you have to develop a mentality where you compete the same way, even though in swimming, you know that you are not going to be able to beat that swimmer.”

While some of the goals set may not be attainable now, the work they have done is preparing them to meet those goals in the near future.

“For me, it’s developing a mindset and making sure the work we have done pays off in the end and that the guys get faster so they can build in the offseason in hopes of being even better next year,” said Mr. Kura. “The times are the times—people know what they are.”

Maine girls’ hockey focusing on improvement Colleen Johnson

Sports Writer lthough the Maine girls’ hockey team may not be having a winning season so far, they are still feeling good about how the season has been going.

The majority of the teams that they play against are mostly composed of players who play outside of school too, but the Maine team only has three girls who play club as well.

Since they only have a few girls who play on more than one team, they consider themselves a “true high school team.”

The team has only been in existence for a mere three years.

“Although we may not have a lot of victories in our first 3 years, we have improved every year as players,” junior Samantha Szapielak said.

The team has multiple areas they wish to improve upon and are taking actions to achieve those improvements. Junior Sarah Hudak thinks that the team should bond more in order to be able to play better together. They must learn to not hog the puck, focus on getting off shots, and being there for rebounds. “[We are] focusing on some more offensive plays during practice along with scrimmages at the end of prac-

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14 SouthwordS

PHOTO BY PEYTON TURNER

GUARDING THE NET Nicole Dubicki waits for the puck after it was cleared in a Jan. 26 game against Warren Township. The team lost 4-3.

tices to get more comfortable with playing with our teammates,” she said.

This chemistry is going to be a area of concern going forward.

Although the team has much they can practice, they also have many strengths. “[The team’s best strength is] our ‘no person left behind’ mentality, and how everyone on our team has improved through the season,” junior Jessica Krawitz said.

“We have been staying strong defensively and not giving up during

our games no matter what the score is,” Hudak said.

This positive attitude has helped the team keep fighting during games and to improve their game. The team is also a very good skating team, having multiple players coming from figure skating backgrounds.

Just as they do every year, the girls set goals for the season to ensure that they are growing as a team.

“It may sound strange but we may set goals such as scoring a goal against a really good team or breaking a game down by periods and try-

ing to win one period a game,” Szapielak said. “Sometimes small goals can lead to larger ones, in time.”

With many of their players being new to hockey, they find that working on and improving fundamental hockey skills can have a substantial impact on their overall performance.

The team has five returning seniors who are helping lead the team to achieve their goals. “[The seniors are all] very encouraging [and] utilize their experience to give girls tips during both games and practices,” Krawitz said.

What does it take to be on the Southwords staff ?

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he back page of this newspaper is the application for the 20172018 Southwords staff. Please look below for a job description for each position on staff.

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

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

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

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

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

Editor-in-chief Editor-in-chief is a position only open to returning editors. The editor-in-chief ultimately guides the vision of the entire paper and must be familiar with the editing process, as well as Adobe products, such as InDesign and Photoshop.

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

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

The editor-in-chief must be in attendance at all extra paste-up

hours and offer assistance in any different topics. The Entertainment way possible. staff also creates or assembles any games featured in the newspaper.

News T h e N e w s s e c t i o n c o v e r s Commentary developing stories about timely The Commentary section is the issues that directly affect students, voice of the students at Maine both inside and outside the school. South.

News writers need to be informed Commentary writers need to about school and national issues and be creative and opinionated. They must be comfortable interviewing must be able to present an issue people. Staff and freelance writers about which they are passionate, alike must be able to write objectively avoiding ranting and remaining and with finesse. professional.

News editors must be up-to-date Commentary editors must be on news inside and outside of school. extremely careful, because editing Editors must also be ready to fact- opinions can be problematic. Editors check articles. must also be open-minded, because a wide variety of opinions will always Features exist in their section.

The Features section contains the widest variety of articles. Features Sports focuses on issues that directly affect The Sports section covers all students, both in and out of school. sports at Maine South.

Features articles are usually longer Sports writers need to be up-toin nature, and delve more deeply date on all sports at Maine South. into topics than news articles would. Sports writers should be creative in Also, these articles are less reliant their reporting on events. Accurate on timeliness and instead focus on reporting is crucial. relevance and interest.

Sports editors are responsible F e a t u r e s w r i t e r s m u s t b e for making sure that each Maine inventive; finding an interesting topic South sport is covered during a given to report about can sometimes be season. challenging, as the most interesting Sports editors must be aware of topics are often ones that have not varsity sports happenings, as well as been previously written about. other sports included at school. A Features editors must be well- deep knowledge of sports—within the rounded and ready to condense and school and outside of the school—is edit articles fairly. Fact-checking is a necessary component of being an necessary, but the most emphasis is editor for the Sports section. placed on relevance.

Production Entertainment To help with the technical aspects The Entertainment section of putting together a newspaper, contains reviews and articles a production editor must be related to art, music, video games, knowledgeable in the operation of literature, restaurants, and anything PC computers, a Windows operating else that might be considered system, as well as have skill in entertainment.

InDesign and Photoshop. Most Entertainment writers must be importantly, the production editor well-informed of the school’s fine art must be willing to learn to use these events. Unique to the entertainment programs more proficiently and offer section, writers specializing in a help whenever necessary. specific genre (music, TV, etc.) are The production editor should welcome. attend every meeting and pasteEntertainment editors need to up—when the final components of be knowledgeable about popular the paper are added together—to events and recreational activities and provide the editors with technical open to writing and reading about assistance.

Graphic Designers Graphic designers are responsible for improving the layout of the paper and assisting the editors-in-chief and section editors with the aesthetics of the paper. They should be familiar with Photoshop and/or InDesign software.

Artists/Cartoonists Artists and cartoonists should be able to produce realistic and creative illustrations to accompany articles on a variety of topics. It is helpful for an artist to be familiar with Photoshop software, scanner software, and InDesign (or be willing to learn the software and hardware). Often, illustrations must be produced quickly and on demand.

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

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

Staff Writers All writers must have a good grasp of grammar and be able to write concisely. Because writers aren’t in the Newspaper Practicum class, it is important that writers communicate frequently with editors. Staff writers should have the time necessary to complete their articles; they need to be consistent and dedicated to their work.

If you or anyone you know is interested in joining Southwords, visit http://apply.southwords.org, and sign up for an interview outside of C130 (the English workroom) by Wednesday, Feb. 8.

Interviews begin Thursday, Feb. 9.

Due Wednesday, February 8

ALL STAFF MUST SUBMIT AN APPLICATION Staff

Application

There are two ways to apply for the 2017-2018 Southwords staff. PLEASE NOTE: online application is preferred, so please use the paper application below only as a worksheet to prepare for the online application. See the reverse side of this sheet for job descriptions, and feel free to contact Mr. Stathakis with any questions.

ONLINE: APPLICATION PAPER:

WORKSHEET

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

Use the form below as a worksheet to prepare for the online application.

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

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

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

Staff application:

Open to current and prospective staff members

Returning staff members must complete this form.

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

Editor application:

Open to current and prospective staff members

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

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

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

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

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

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

If you have any questions, please see Mr. Stathakis in C130 (the English Workroom).

TO COMPLETE YOUR APPLICATION, YOU MUST SIGN UP FOR AN INTERVIEW ON THE SCHEDULE OUTSIDE C130 by WED., FEB 8