NEWS | March 17, 2017
Performing arts students advance to ILMEA competition
Dimitri Speron
News Editor aine South’s most talented musicians participated in the All-District level ILMEA this year, and a select few went on to the AllState level. From the band, nine students participated in the All-District level. Sophomores Grace Dziedzic and Olivia Davis, juniors Thalia Koupas, Steve Manos, Dan McCarrick, and Nick Bridich, and seniors Emily Donahue, Joe Hands, and Katie Daehler auditioned at All-District for a position in the All-State band. “We are very proud of all the students who auditioned to participate in this statewide event,” band director Mr. David Hutter said. After practicing for many weeks, students were anxious to audition. “[When] it was my time to audition, I was nervous, naturally,” junior Steve Manos said. “I didn’t trust myself to expect anything, so I just hoped for the best and started playing.” Of those that attended from the band, one senior, Joe Hands, made it to All-State. Upon making it to All-State in Peoria, Hands auditioned once again and was awarded the first-chair amongst all of the clarinet players in the state. “Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think I was capable of achieving that goal,” Hands said. “I learned from my experience that if you really set your mind to something and put in all the extra hard practice with great determination and dedication, it may actually take you beyond what you expect.” From the choir, many students participated in the All-District event, and four, junior Grace Goble, and seniors Megan Wilcox, Dan Morales, and Wesley Dziedzic went on to place in the Honors Choir at State. The orchestra had a number of people attend All-District. “We played ‘Scheherazade,’ which is a beautiful piece,” senior Caroline Dudlak said. “It was a lot of fun to work with other musicians from different schools. ILMEA gave me an opportunity to play with other people that I otherwise would have never met. It was both a social and an educational experience.” The students learn which pieces they are to play several weeks before
PHOTO COURTESY NATALIE BRIGGS
PHOTO COURTESY JOE HANDS
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PHOTO COURTESY MEGAN WILCOX
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MUSIC MANIA
From left to right, senior Natalie Briggs, junior JJ Butler, seniors Wesley Dziedzic, and Dan Morales, junior Grace Goble, and seniors Megan Wilcox, and Joe Hands pose with their instruments at ILMEA All-State. The group previously competed at the ILMEA All-District competition.
◄◄ STRINGS ATTACHED
Junior JJ Butler plays the bass at ILMEA All-State. JJ participated in the ILMEA orchestra and then went on to play in the All-State orchestra.
◄ QUICK HANDS
Senior Joe Hands practices for the AllState performance Peoria. He earned the spot of Principal Clarinetist in the Honors Band.
their performance. Two musicians, junior JJ Butler and senior Natalie Briggs, continued onto the All-State level. Both received places in the Honors Orchestra, for bass and viola respectively. Students who participate in multiple musical groups at Maine South can participate in ILMEA auditions for more than one group. “I auditioned for all three, and to me, they came in order of importance,” Butler said. “I am a pretty capable bass player in orchestra, and I squeak by playing bass for jazz. I am nowhere near as good a singer.” The process at All-State is essentially a large-scale version of the
ILMEA All-District performance. “I had to go through the exact same audition process at All-State with the same audition material as used for the District audition,” Hands said. “I prepared as hard, and I was fortunate enough to place as principal clarinetist in the Honors Band.” After the extensive additional rounds of auditioning in Peoria, those who do well are awarded seats at the All-State orchestra. They retain these positions for the rest of the year until they have to audition again the next year to attempt to improve or maintain their ranking. There are no age-related restrictions at ILMEA. A sophomore or
junior that fails to advance can try again in successive years. “The idea of auditioning was intimidating, considering how many excellent musicians I was competing with,” Manos said. “I had auditioned my sophomore year as well, and I hadn’t prepared nearly enough. I wish I had some mystical preparation technique to share, but basically I just practiced the audition music and refined it as well as I could.” The ILMEA itself is an affiliate of the National Association for Music Education, and is an organization of music educators. Their primary focus is to provide an impartial mechanism by which to judge high school musicians.
March 17, 2017
| NEWS
Principal Messmer earns district administration job
Mary Godley News Writer
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rincipal Shawn Messmer was approved for the position of Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Innovation at the March school board meeting. He will succeed Dr. Barbara Dill-Varga who has been chosen to lead the Carmel California Unified School District as Superintendent. A 20-member committee chaired by District 207 Superintendent Dr. Ken Wallace screened applicants for video interviews and scheduled live interviews. The committee then made its recommendation for the appointment of Mr. Messmer to fill the vacancy. Mr. Messmer, who has served as Principal of Maine South since 2010, will begin his tenure as the Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Innovation on July 1, 2017. The new position will include working with the principals and staff of all three high schools, South, East and West, on curriculum design and instructional strategies. “It is imperative that we continue to evolve what we do in schools to meet the needs of our students," Messmer said. "This position will give me the opportunity to focus
LEAVING THE NEST
After seven years as principal, Mr. Shawn Messmer will move on to be the District 207 Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Innovation. The search has begun for his replacement.
more singularly on that goal and I am looking forward to it." M r. M e s s m e r v i e w s n e w technology as vital in keeping students engaged. “There is a core body of knowledge we should all have, but what school is really about is learning how to learn,” he said. “New technologies are always affecting how we work." Many are curious to see how Mr. Messmer will change the district curriculum. “Our students need to stay curious and explore what the world can teach
Decisively Indecisive by Lulie Duerkop
us," he said. "But you have to start somewhere—exploring a career now is so important, as 'catching a spark' about the possibilities in life around a career is what is necessary to inspire us to explore and grow." Mr. Messmer believes students should have a variety of options for the future. “While there may have been a time when college was a time to expand your horizons and the degree alone would guarantee you a leg up in life, I am not so sure that is the case any more," Mr. Messmer said. "We want you to be prepared for whatever it is you want to pursue and enable you to get there in the shortest time possible." In their search for the new Superintendent of Curriculum and Innovation, the B oard of Education looked for someone with experience in high school teaching, administrative work, and leadership roles. Mr. Messmer started out as a social studies teacher in Pennsylvania. He then taught theology in Washington D. C . A f t e r m o v i n g b a c k t o Pennsylvania, Mr. Messmer taught social studies at Souderton Area High School. At Souderton he became a dean, and then an assistant principal, before being hired as the principal of
Maine South. Although he has a wealth of educational experience, Mr. Messmer noted that one of his most valuable educational experiences came from an unlikely source. “This might seem funny, but the job that may have best prepared me for being a principal was managing a hardware store when I was in high school and college," Mr. Messmer said. Working in the hardware store taught Mr. Messmer the value of helping others, which he later applied to his work in education. “Working in a hardware store is a unique experience because it is where I started teaching people how to do things at an early age," he said. "It was incredibly fulfilling to help others help themselves, and it was really foundational to me becoming a teacher and in forming my values.” As Assistant Superintendent, Mr. Messmer will have less direct involvement with the students, which is what he will miss most about being principal. “I have loved working with the students at Maine South and seeing them realize success in the classroom, on the playing fields, and on the stage," Mr. Messmer said. "My most memorable moments at Maine South
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NEWS
| March 17, 2017
Arden Sasak
Production Editor ward–winning graphic novelist Gene Ha shared his graphic novel experience with students on March 2 during 6th, 7th and 8th periods in the LRC. “I belong to a group of high school librarians in the area, and I got Gene Ha’s name from them,” librarian Mrs. Kowalski said. A well–known comic book artist, Ha has won four Eisner Awards— three for his work on America’s Best Comics’ Top 10 series with Alan Moore and one with Brad Meltzer on DC’s Justice League of America series. On Feb. 7, volume one of his first graphic novel, “Mae,” was published by Dark Horse Comics. “We have been having more teachers use graphic novels and express an interest in graphic novels,” Mrs. Kowalski said. “Mr. Parrilli, the chairman of the English department had thought that this year, it would be different to have a fiction author or graphic novelist, so that’s why I chose [Ha].”
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During his presentations, Ha talked about how storytelling is different in a graphic novel than in a regular novel, and he demonstrated how the words and the visuals in a graphic novel work together. Ha used examples of scenes from his graphic novel to emphasize this difference. “There are little subtle things that happen inside a comic book where if you only read the words, or if you only look at the visuals, you’re not going to get the full story. And if they tell the same story, it’s not going to be an interesting story. When you get that contradiction in meaning, that’s what makes it interesting, that’s what sets off the alarm bells,” Ha said. He also got students involved in his presentations through activities. “Ha gave different people blank comic panels and asked to add in speech bubbles,” said senior Alexis Vittallo. “It showed that the same panels could be used to tell different stories.” As well as going into detail about the comic book industry, Ha talked about his own personal experiences,
PHOTO BY PEYTON TURNER
Students glean storytelling expertise from Gene Ha
INSPIRING THE NEXT GENERATION Graphic novelist Gene Ha speaks to students about his career as a writer and artist. Ha’s graphic novel, “Mae,” was published in February.
giving advice to students pursuing art. “I liked how he talked about how he got into the industry,” senior Ewelina Laczak said. “He was at the top of his class in college and then he applied to Marvel but got rejected. Then one employer helped him improve anyway.” “I thought that was interesting to hear about because I am also probably going to go through that one day since I want to go into an art career.” “Mae” was Ha’s first major writing project. “I did not do a lot of writing until I
did ‘Mae,’ Ha said. “I did one 12-page story, and the way I ended up doing that, the writer that [artist Zander Cannon and I] were working on a short story [with] stopped answering his phone, like, a week before the deadline for the script. The editor said, ‘Somebody needs to write this story, and you’re the only person left. So suddenly I was a writer.’” This sudden push into the world of scripting pushed Gene Ha into writing and drawing his own creative stories. Ha’s graphic novel, “Mae,” was funded through Kickstarter.
Students work to improve parking lot situation
Dimitri Speron
News Editor n response to the new parking system, one that has been criticized strongly by students for its perceived inefficiency, juniors Ryan Prendergast, Grant Miller, and Justin Pinsky created a solution. “On any particular day, dozens of spots are empty, and they’re empty for a wide variety of reasons,” Prendergast said. “Maybe the student is absent; maybe they carpooled; maybe their parent drove them. There are a million different possibilities. Regardless, we have a situation where spots are empty and people want to park in them, but they are not able to do so. That is inefficient.” To combat these inefficiencies, Prendergast, Miller and Pinsky created “Hawklot,” a rental service that allows people who own spots to rent their spots out to other students for a day. “[Hawklot] allows spot-owners to rent their spot out for a day, and also allows non-owners to rent those spots,” Ryan said. “Owners, then, have the opportunity to earn money from their spot, while non-owners are able to park in the parking lot.” Hawklot is currently a work in progress. “We hope to have a beta functioning soon and test the software out with a small group of juniors and seniors,” Miller said. “Hopefully this will prepare [Hawklot] for a full launch in the future.” It was initially a school project in the Data Structures and Analysis independent study class that the three are enrolled in. During the classes’
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TECH SAVVY PARKING
The new “Hawklot” website will feature an interactive map. Available spots will be colored green while taken spots will be displayed in red.
first semester, Prendergast, Miller, and Pinsky were tasked with creating some sort of computer science project with an emphasis on databases. “Prendergast is in charge of the main application and most of the front-end development,” Miller said. “I control the databases and do a lot of the backend data transfer and retrieval. Pinsky focuses on mainly developing graphics as well as styling some elements of our website.” “We had an initial meeting with Associate
Principal Dagres and Principal Messmer in mid-January,” said Prendergast. “They set up a conference with District 207 administrators. From there, we’ve been in contact with [Assistant Superintendent of Technology and Learning] Dr. Klein and [Network Manager] Mr. Urbanski, who gave us access to a school-hosted server.” Owners of spots register on Hawklot’s website with their D207 email. The website, which is primarily an interactive map, requires users to register their spots and their cars. This information is then cross-checked with the list of spot owners provided by Maine South. The spot is then open to be rented on any day the owner want it to be. Non-owners (regular students) can register the car that they drive with the website. Their view of the map will show occupied spots in red, and open spots in green. “We decided that a zoomable, pannable map provides that. It lets non-owners visualize exactly which spot they are renting, and is extremely easy to navigate,” Prendergast said. ‘Hawklot” creators cited their own experiences as their motivation behind the website. “I’m one of those who wasn’t able to get a parking pass, partly due to the new numbering system,” said Prendergast. “And I know it’s a pain to have a 10/15 minute walk from my car to my first period class, every single day. It seemed especially illogical considering how many empty and unused spots I walked past.”
March 17, 2017
| COMMENTARY
Neil Gorsuch is just what the Supreme Court needs Will Olafsson Contributor
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he recent nomination of Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court is quickly becoming an intensifying arms race in Washington as politicians on both sides of the aisle begin to question and debate the status quo. But many, including many of our classmates, are wondering, what’s actually wrong? Perhaps it’s time to have an honest discussion on the very practical implications of what happens in that ivory tower and to understand why some people get excited when they hear “Gorsuch,” and why others don’t. Gorsuch is rooting his judicial philosophy in what is called a C on s t r u c t i on i s t ap pro a c h t o interpreting the Constitution. He, among many others, believes that the job of the judiciary is to view all legislative pieces and executive actions strictly through the lens of the Constitution and relevant, timely documents. All other biases, emotions, and prejudices must be removed from the case and reserved for after the Court gives the decision. An advantage to Constructionism is that all judges from all time periods should theoretically adjudicate the same case with the same result; since all litigations must be taken in context with the same source material, decisions should be reached with consistency. Similarly, without the injection of one’s own viewpoints and biases into a decision, cases that degrade America’s history with vile and corrupt implications would never otherwise happen. For instance, in Dred Scott v. Sandford, the Supreme Court decided in 1857 that any person of African descent could not be a citizen and was, therefore, subjected to all local mandates of slavery; this decision was reached with little jurisprudence, as the Constitution does not speak at length about slavery. On the contrary, the judges reached the decision through their own opinions, lighting a fire that burned into the Civil War. A few changes, however, must be
implemented in order for a reversal to such jurisprudence take place; we need to take politics out of the Supreme Court. In order for this judicial philosophy to preside in our legal system, justices on the Supreme Court, among many other justices, should not rely on public opinion, special interest groups, political parties, foreign powers, or any other factor to judge a su it — on ly t h e Constitution should be an influencer in deciding cases. This would be a very difficult task, but strong public pressure and a series of such minded nominations could be sufficient to change the court, perhaps over the course of a quarter century. However, this is not the only group in the debate. The more liberal judicial philosophy embraces a looser interpretation of the Constitution, believing that words written in the Constitution mean different things at different times. While this may create some more inconsistent rulings over time, it also allows more morality and public opinion to be taken into account with the Court. Gorsuch has fully embraced the Constructionist philosophy of the Constitution. However, the implementation of this thinking—the voting and judging that has taken place during his career—has actually done much to assuage those who fear a very overbearing Conservative justice. Key cases include his voting on the side of Hobby Lobby in the case Burwell v. Hobby Lobby before it made its way to the Supreme Court; Gorsuch has also ruled in favor of a Native American prisoner in the case Yellowbear v. Lampert, demonstrating twice his belief in “more” religious freedom and how that also extends to all religions. He also ruled twice against attempts by the government to retroactively explain the law and Constitution to be unfavorable toward immigrants—something that could be very influential given the state of Trump’s Executive Order 13769. Gorsuch is very well respected from both schools of thought, but he is especially treasured among Conservatives and Libertarians. Obviously the liberal side of
the spectrum would not be happy with such a nomination. However, Gorsuch’s philosophies and renowned integrity would require him to check the power of any branch of government, even the executive that nominated him. In fact, he isn’t afraid to go head to head with the president before the Senate vote to confirm him, saying that Donald Trump’s comments on the state of the judiciar y are “demoralizing"; such criticisms a nominee makes of his own president is relatively unheard of as of late. Even if such reversals take place, the goal of a Conservative court is to leave all the moral decisions that are now being made in the Courts to the obviously more d e mo c r at i c l e g isl atu re ; therefore, even if the Supreme Court ruled in a strictly Conservative way going forward, the fight for public policy would not be over. It would just be beginning as, per the 10th Amendment, all federal decisions that overstepped their Constitutional bounds would be sent to state legislatures, with all 50 having to decide what to do. That’s where the voice of the average citizen is most clearly heard, and democracy flourishes. There are numerous ways to get one’s own opinions to influence public policy: advocate groups, political action committees, writing to your own legislature, and pushing for an Ame ndme nt are all excellent ways to get involved in our government. In fact, prior to the Warren Court of the 50s and 60s, almost all progress and shift in
"...only the Constitution should be an influencer in deciding cases."
public opinion occurred independently of the Courts. After all, women didn’t gain suffrage from a Supreme Court case. The Supreme Court has always been an extremely inf luential branch of government, clarifying Constitutional interpretations and the meaning of what was written so many years ago. It is a cornerstone of American political tradition—the separation of powers so that no one may be too influential. However, the court has grown too far from the original governing body it was intended to be. Instead of ruling cases with the sole perspective of the Constitution, justices fill in the gaps with their own perspectives, taking cases that have no bearing in the Constitution and stifling democratic processes. A more Constructionist approach to the Constitution would send more social decisions back to the states, thereby heightening civic engagement and the people’s voice in social matters. Neil Gorsuch is a definitive step in that direction.
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COMMENTARY
| March 17, 2017
Make specialized schools available for all
Arden Sasak
Production Editor
s a junior in high school, it seems like every day I’m being asked about my future. What am I going to major in? Where am I planning on going to college? Every time I answer these questions, there always seems to be some sort of comment or opinion that makes me doubt the decisions that I am making about my future. Most students face the same problem I do; they do not know what to do when they go to college, either out of lack of a particular interest in any one field, or having too many interests, like myself. This is where specialized high schools become a possible solution to the problem that many students face. In order to make specialized schools a reality, we have to change our country’s philosophy about education. Specialized high schools focus on a specific subject area and have more resources dedicated to that subject. Many high schools worldwide are specialty schools, like most state-run secondary schools in the UK or other European countries. For example, in France, their final exam to graduate from high school, the baccalauréat, is specialized in either science, social science, or the humanities.The majority of high schools in the US do not specialize in any sort of subject, but specialized high schools do exist. These schools have selective enrollment and have the freedom to accept or deny students as they please, despite some being publicly funded. A specialized high school that many Maine South students are aware of is the Illinois Math and Science Academy (IMSA), located in Aurora, IL. This particular school focuses on programs in STEM field subjects. A number of students from Maine South have either transferred to IMSA or have thought about it. A more distant example of a specialized high school is the Las Vegas Academy of the Arts (LVA). In addition to regular core classes, each student has a major and a concentration. For example, a student I know is a visual arts major with a concentration in animation there. As a graphic designer myself, I sometimes find
ILLUSTRATION BY ANNE LONGMAN
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myself jealous of the specialized experiences that these students receive at LVA that I might not be able to in a traditional high school setting. But as reality hits me, I remember that it’s not easy getting accepted into an art-based school like LVA. There are lots of hoops that prospective students need to jump through in order to get admitted. To get accepted into the school for a concentration in animation, for example, a student must put together a portfolio of artwork and present it to representatives from the school, along with presenting multiple character designs, a storyboard, and motion sketches. Specialized high schools like LVA and IMSA have one main goal: getting their students into top tier colleges in their fields. These schools are made to be preparation for college and career. Students in specialized schools are expected to apply to colleges and pursue careers. The push for specialized schools coincides with the rising number of students going to college.
What do
This ideology about specialized schools is much different than the one in Europe. Specialized high school degrees in Europe are much more comprehensive, and having a high school degree in Europe makes many more jobs available to high school graduates than in the US. The push to go to college in the United States isn’t because we’re becoming better educated. It’s because high school cannot provide the skills students need to go straight into the workforce after graduation. Specialization can be available for students going to college, but in order for specialized schools to be mainstream in secondary education, it needs to be available to all students. If America is heading towards the idea that specialized schools are better, then our country needs to realize that these schools are meant for a specific group of students. They are meant for students who know what they want to do with their life early, and are willing to work hard to get there. The problem is that specialized schools are not available for everyone. We need to open up the opportunities these schools can give to all students, from those applying to Harvard to those going straight to work after graduation.
YOU think?
Exercise your voice— write a letter to the editors! Deliver signed letters to the Southwords office or scan the QR code on the top of page 7 to e-mail southwords@maine207.org
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March 17, 2017
STAFF EDITORIAL
Now is the time to be an intern
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n paper, internships for high schoolers seem invaluable. To many students, the opportunity to work in a field of their interest and gain hands-on experience can appear to be far more worthwhile than a paid job; however, there is a fine line between an internship whose value lies in education instead of cash and one that is simply taking advantage of high schoolers in order to procure free labor for the company. We often overlook this important distinction and just assume that internships are always beneficial to us, but neglecting the potential drawbacks of unpaid internships can lead us to be susceptible to exploitation from companies and businesses. Most people who take internships do not know that there are actual legal standards for ethical unpaid work. There are six, as established by the Fair Labor Standards Act: the intern must be trained during their time working for the company; the internship must benefit the intern more than the employer; the presence of the unpaid intern must not displace paid employees; the intern is not guaranteed
a job at the end; and both parties need to agree that the intern will not be paid. Many internships available to students do not follow these standards. Interns are assigned busy work, such as making copies or getting coffee for paid employees. These activities have little to no educational value and clearly are meant to provide benefits to the employer for free. Also, an unpaid intern assigned to do this type of work is taking a paid position away from a secretary or assistant who would be doing the same job. This does not mean that unpaid internships are inherently wrong—it simply means that we need to be cautious. The internships that are sponsored by Maine South, for example, are completely worthwhile. In these programs, the supervisor of the intern is in constant contact with the school in order to create an educational environment and monitor a student’s progress. These internships are an especially good fit for high school students because we are already financially dependent on
our parents. It might not be as big of a deal for us to take unpaid jobs now than it would be after college. Internships are considered to be so beneficial because no matter what kind of work the intern ends up doing, it gives them a taste of the working world. However, it is important that we know what our rights as unpaid interns are. Internships should be a symbiotic relationship—while the work that interns do will probably benefit the company, the interns should gain even more from their time working there. We cannot allow companies to use interns as a way to get away with getting labor for free. Maine South vets the internships to ensure that the ones the at the school offers are legitimate and not exploitative. So if we want to take advantage of an unpaid internship, now is the time. We have access to the resources in this school and do not need to support ourselves and our families. And when we have marketable skills and actually need the money, we must know how to ensure that the companies we work for do not take advantage of us.
rhythms and dissonant chords didn’t make sense to me. So, despite my complete lack of interest in listening to a 50-minute symphony, I pulled up a YouTube recording. I listened to the whole thing, then I pressed the rewind button and listened to it again. And again, through the date of the winter concert, and many more times after that. I couldn’t reconcile the raw, gutwrenching heartbreak in the cello solo of the third movement with the bombastic brass and jagged sixteenth-note passages in the fourth movement. This movement didn’t seem like something Shostakovich would willingly write. He had composed under Stalin, so the vast majority of his music was depressing. It didn’t seem possible that Shostakovich truly believed in the triumph that the fourth movement displayed. Some think that Shostakovich was trying to mock Stalin by creating music that would appeal to the dictator, and that the common people would grasp the composer’s hidden intent. Others say that the fourth movement was overtly subversive.
Although his music had been publicly repudiated by Stalin and at times he feared for his life, Shostakovich kept composing. Some scholars claim that many of Shostakovich’s works contained coded anti-government messages, expressed through certain themes and motifs. It was this revelation that led me to appreciate classical music and the stories that it tells, the endless labyrinth of interpretation hidden within each piece. I recognize that there is not a singular, “correct” interpretation of Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 5, just as there are myriad factors that contribute to understanding social, political, and economic issues. The nuanced perspectives invited by classical music are what gives it its value. Classical music represents a search for meaning. It is about ordinary people taking what they experience and tucking it into a few measures of a symphony or a few pages of a book so that we can take those lessons and use them in our own quest for a life worth living.
| 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
Classical music reflects rich culture
News Editors
Anastasia Dalianis Editor-in-Chief
Entertainment Editors Laura Cash Jill Steffen Mark Toledano
M
y musical training started at age three, but it would be years before I developed a love and appreciation for classical music. As a young cellist and pianist, I spent hours at my youth orchestra on the weekends, stumbling through abridged Haydn symphonies and Mozart piano trios. Yet, when I came home, I would wait until my family was away, turn the YouTube volume all the way up, and attempt to sing along to pop music artists such as Katy Perry and Ke$ha. By freshman year of high school, my attitude towards classical music remained unchanged. That same year, I joined Quartet Fidelis, my first serious string quartet. For our winter concert that year, the orchestra was performing Symphony No. 5 by Dmitri Shostakovich. I struggled immensely while trying to learn it for my seating audition. The
Catherine Coyle Elaine Smith Dimitri Speron
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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All work FEATURES | March 17, 2017
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Students discover the benefits and drawbacks of internships versus traditional employment Kat Oleksy & Emily Rosca Features Writer & Editor
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fter nine hours of demanding and rigorous academic work, for many students, the work has only just begun. Students spend much of their time engaging in AP classes, extracurricular activities, and spending time with family and friends. But as high school progresses, students feel compelled to add more to their schedule, and many choose to apply for internships or jobs, as a way to further their education and gain experience in real-world situations. “I wanted to experience what it was like to have a job, since I’ve never had one before,” senior Angel Posadas, who works as an administrative assistant at
Cambridge Educational Services, said. for some students when they are in “I also wanted to make money so I could pursuit of work experience. Internships buy myself clothes and shoes without allow students to gain an understanding of the field they may choose to study and asking for money from my parents.” Jobs can be beneficial to students will allow them to make an informed in that they can teach them to take decision about whether or not the field direction from others and be responsible is right for them. “When I started my internship, it was with money. “The monetary benefit is definitely more beneficial because I learned what it was like to be in an important part the environment of [working], but “I don’t really mind that I want to work it’s also important in,” Posadas said. to grow your skills, [that my internship is “I also got to ask to gain experience unpaid] because I’m the pharmacist doing things, to test it out, to see if doing it for educational qu e s t i on s t h at I’ve always this is the kind of wondered about job you might like purposes.” to ultimately end -Fatima Kazimi ‘18 p h a r m a c o l o g y, which was a big up in,” Assistant Career Coordinator Laura Wilkens learning experience for me. However, said. “It’s also a nice way to meet people after a while at my internship, it became and expand your social circle, to meet really routine, and I wasn’t paid for it, people of different ages, from different so after some time, my job benefitted areas. That’s a really nice way to diversify me more because I was making money.” When deciding which job or your life a little bit.” Money may not be the driving force internship to commit to, it’s important
for students to take their passions and skills, including their strengths and weaknesses, into consideration when looking for which job or internship to apply to. “If you want to be a veterinarian for example, we’re not going to have you doing surgery on a dog, but you might be in the front office where you’re greeting the dogs and talking to the owners,” Mrs. Wilkens said. “You see what kind of vaccines they need, and you see what kind of surgeries and accidents occur. You’re still in that environment, and all those kinds of things that are happening can be a very hearty experience. The observing is going to be a lot more beneficial for you compared to if you were working for them and typing things into a computer.” The experiences students have through internships can be the determining factor when deciding on a career path. While jobs build a solid skill foundation, internships have the ability to provide a depth of perspective.
Do you think a job or an internship is more beneficial for high sc “If you want more experience in a field that you see yourself going into in the future, then an internship would probably be better. If you want money or just want to work, then a job would be better.”
Liam Finn ‘17
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“I think a job is more beneficial because you make money and money is the key to success; its all about getting paid in this world.”
Jack Leach ‘18
“I think an internship is more beneficial because if you choose the right internship for what job you want to go into, it’ll help you get a better job in the future, rather than just getting one now.”
Dan Tinaglia ‘19
March 17, 2017 | FEATURES
NOW IS THE TIME TO BE AN INTERN Internships can be extremely valuable, but the focus must be on the student, not the business. See page 7
chool students?
“A job is better because, one, a student needs money for clothes, and two, they can learn what it’s like to be in the work area, which will get them ready for college when they have to work, so they’ll already be experienced.”
Sofia Lynch ‘20
PHOTO BY HALEY HECH
ALL CLEAR Senior Sydney Richter clears tables at Park Ridge’s Harp and Fiddle. Richter has worked at the resturant since August of 2016. Her position requires good communication with others.
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Learning how to balance your studies and work is an added advantage to having a job or an internship. “At first, I really didn’t [know how to balance my job and schoolwork],” junior Rachel Hans, who works at Houlihan’s, said. “However, I started to realize, even that though money makes the world go ‘round, it is not my top priority as a junior in high school. When I come home [from work], I finish everything, but I am often up until early hours of the morning.” The ability to communicate is a crucial skill when looking to succeed in society.
“It’s important to be really clear with your manager about the fact that you are a student,” Mrs. Wilkens said. “Establish your hours with your parents, so you can make your studies your priority. Studies come first and your job supplements that. Be clear about when you can work and when you can’t.” Communication between the boss and the employer creates a comfortable and flexible working environment for both parties, while also building trust and reliability. “The hours are pretty good, and they allow us to block off days,” Richter said. “We can basically choose when we want to work. If we are scheduled to work, and something comes up or we need to study that night or something, we are allowed to give up our shift and any other host can pick it up. It’s pretty flexible and they are very understanding.” The interview process is what many students claim to be the most stressful part of any job. Communication and the advice of friends and family can aid a student in giving an interview. “[Before my interview], my parents told me to calm down, give firm handshakes, maintain good eye contact, and to smile,” Posadas said. The Career Resource Center is a valuable and important resource that can help students find jobs and internships. “If students are looking for nonpaid career experiences, they can [sign up for an internship] and complete it during the summer,” Mrs. Wilkens said. “If students are interested in internships, they can come see me in the CRC on Wednesdays; we’re always here. We do things like job fairs to help students. Students can also check the ‘Don’t-Freak-Out-About-Your-Future Friday’ e-mail that Mrs. Cook sends out with volunteer, job, and program opportunities.” When embarking on the journey of choosing the perfect internship, interest in a specific career can make the selection process easier and quicker. “Find something in the field or area that you’re interested in, so you can get skills that you would use later,” Mrs. Wilkens said. “One of the biggest challenges for students is time in their schedule. After school, you don’t want to spend a lot of time trying to get to your job and trying to get home from your job because you have studying to do, so it’s important to do something that would be fun, something that interests you, or can help you grow some skills that you’re looking to develop.”
STEP UP TO THE PLATE
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“I don’t really mind [that my internship is unpaid] because I’m doing it for educational purposes,” junior Fatima Kazimi, an intern for the Elmwood-Grove Animal Hospital, said. “I gain experience to see if I will like it and decide if I want to do it later on in life. It’s better to know now than to go to college and pay that much money just to find out I don’t want to do it.” Through work experience, students learn valuable skills that will allow them to build a foundation that will benefit them in life down the road. “This job has taught me how to work efficiently, how to manage time, and how to handle stress,” senior Sydney Richter, who works as a hostess at Park Ridge’s Harp and Fiddle, said. “I learned that if you work with people you like, busy days will be less stressful, and slow days will be more fun.”
Junior Rachel Hans places an order under a heat lamp at Park Ridge’s Houlihan’s. Hans has been an “Expo,” putting together orders before they leave the kitchen, since July 2016.
PHOTO BY JENNY BLASIUS
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Committed to competition FEATURES
| March 17, 2017
Student athletes motivated by their commitments to playing beyond high school Daniela Conforti Features Writer
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tudent athletes are recruited from colleges across the country starting as early as ninth grade. The college recruiting process for athletes continues throughout high school and can be both strenuous and exciting for athletes who are deciding whether or not to commit to a school where they want to continue their athletic careers. Most athletes have been playing their sport since a very young age and dream about playing for as long as possible. Having the opportunity and play in college is a goal for many student athletes. “I chose to play football in college because I PHOTO COURTESY DANIELA CONFORTI love the sport and just couldn’t stop playing it,” said senior Sean McNulty, who committed to playing OOPS!...I HIT IT AGAIN Senior varsity softball player Toni Tortorella slides into second in a game football for Army West Point. “Ever since I’ve been against New Trier during the 2015-2016 season. Tortorella will be playing softball at Illinois Wesleyan University a little kid it has just been a part of me and I want in the fall. to keep playing football for as long as I can because Lowell. “My club coach told me that UMass-Lowell would be best for their career playing sports, but had interest in me, so I decided to set up a phone also what college would be best for them if they you never know when your last game will be.” were not to play a sport professionally and be in a College coaches can make a call to the athletes call with them.” However, committing to a college is not always different line of work. or make a visit to their school and games, but the “I chose Illinois Wesleyan because, unlike recruiting process varies by sport. In addition to easy and exciting. Many athletes receive contact making visits to see how athletes perform, colleges from multiple colleges. The process of picking out many schools, I will be able to play softball and also look at academics when recruiting athletes. one school out of many that have expressed their pursue a nursing degree,” Tortorella said. “Not It’s important for the athletes to keep up with interest can be lengthy and tiring. Many different only are the benefits of school and athletics great, schoolwork and maintain grades in preparation colleges make contact with athletes who then need but the coaching staff at IWU iss also a huge part of my decision. The softball coaches provide a for getting into college. It may even cause students to decide which school best suits them. “The process becomes quite stressful when you healthy competitive environment pushing us to to work harder. “I asked my teachers to recommend me for begin to build a list of schools that are interested our best with not only the drive to win, but also more AP classes to challenge myself academically,” in you, and you really need to weed out the good unconditional support on and off the field.” Athletes’ plans differ throughout and after said varsity wrestler, junior Eugene Lee. “I pushed and bad of each,” said senior Toni Tortorella, who is committed to playing softball college; some continue to have sports be part of myself to exceed more in the Illinois Wesleyan University. their lives, while some have plans to pursue a classroom. In the wrestling “The process becomes at “Although this does bring a lot different career path. room, I worked even harder “If all goes as planned, after college I would love to perfect my technique and quite stressful when you of stress and takes a lot out of you, nothing is more rewarding to play soccer professionally either in the United condition in order to outdo begin to build a list of than finally committing to a States or overseas,” Thompson said. “After, or if that my opponents and be one of doesn’t work out, I would love to be an anchor on the top 16 individuals in my schools that are inter- school.” All the stress of choosing a ESPN and continue to be surrounded by sports.” weight class to make it to State.” ested in you.” college is worth the effort once Athletes find a way to balance both sports and The recruiting process does -Toni Tortorella ‘17 the perfect school has been their other plans in college. They can’t just stop not always start with colleges located. playing the sport they have been playing for years; making the first formal contact “It was a lot of fun to see it’s a part of them. with the athletes. The athletes how different each school was,” said senior Emma “I’ve been playing [football] my whole life and have the option to contact colleges as well. “Earlier in the summer, The UMass-Lowell Thompson, who is committed to play soccer at I just couldn’t see myself not playing it anymore,” coach watched me play at a tournament in Penn State. “It’s a great feeling stepping onto a senior Luke Hinkamp, who committed to playing football at Illinois Wesleyan University, said. “I have Florida, and after that she came to watch me play campus and feeling right at home.” A lot of things need to be considered when the opportunity to play four more seasons when not a few more times throughout the summer,” junior Lauren Katayama, who committed to play Division choosing the school that is right for the athletes. everyone does. I felt like I had to take advantage of I Lacrosse at The University of Massachusetts- They need to not only think about what college that opportunity.”
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March 17, 2017 | ENTERTAINMENT
Ensemble cast makes ‘Moonlight’ shine Lucas Bechtel
Entertainment Writer
“Moonlight”
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ince the notorious Oscars mishap involving “La La Land” being incorrectly announced as the winner for the Best Picture award, “Moonlight” has been receiving more much-deserved attention at the box office, with many theaters giving the film a second run since the landmark win—and for good reason. “Moonlight” is very much a landmark— a transformative, historic work of art that was unquestionably the best film of 2016. “Moonlight” is the second offering by up-andcoming filmmaker Barry Jenkins, based on Tarell Alvin McCraney’s 2003 play, “In Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue,” which had, prior to the film adaptation, lain dormant from publication and never saw the public eye. The film focuses on the maturation of Chiron, an impoverished African-American child who, through a three-act structure, grows from a child to an adolescent to an adult as he struggles with his identity and sexuality under the pressures of extensive bullying, parental abuse, and the destructive influence the Miami drug scene has on his family and way of life. The driving force behind the film’s drama is Chiron’s trials and tribulations involving his sexuality. A main narrative thread involves Chiron’s friendship with his best friend Kevin, whose
companionship reaches a crux during a teenage sexual encounter, after which a still-closeted Chiron can’t bring himself to be intimate with anyone else for the rest of his maturation. The film’s depiction of repressed sexuality and marginalization is timely, artfully crafted, and pertinent to society’s status quo. The film features an all-black ensemble cast, ranging from experienced actors like Naomie Harris and André Holland to newcomers Trevante Rhodes and Ashton Sanders, both of whom play different incarnations of Chiron (adulthood and adolescence, respectively). Their performances drive the emotional, tragic
coming-of-age story with unmatched gusto; other standouts include Mahershala Ali in the role of Juan, a drug dealer who befriends Chiron in his childhood, and Naomie Harris, who plays Chiron’s crack-addicted mother. Every actor’s performance feels poignant and natural, crafting a melancholy, lived-in Miami that glows with pain within its own city limits. Other areas of note are James Laxton’s masterful, gorgeous cinematography, and Nicholas Britell’s haunting score inspired by Southern hip hop’s “chopped and screwed” musical technique blended with the flavor of a classical, orchestral film score. Featured songs include works by Jidenna, Aretha Franklin, and Goodie Mob. “Moonlight’s” accolades are both historic and plentiful. Few predicted that a film about a marginalized minority group could win Best Picture at the Oscars against “La La Land,” which, despite its cinematic successes, is undoubtedly more palatable to a general audience. Not only was “Moonlight” the first all-black cast and LGBT film to win Best Picture, it also had the first Muslim to win an acting Oscar (Ali) as well as the first black woman to be nominated for an editing Oscar (Joi McMillon). “Moonlight” is truly a historic achievement for cinema, because it reflects a growing social change from a place of anguish to one of acceptance. Through the heartache and sense of desolation Chiron experiences, emerges a personal film that shimmers toward something transcendent.
Nintendo is 'switching' things up Catherine Coyle
News Editor umored about for years under the code name “NX” and unveiled last October, the Nintendo Switch was finally released on March 3. With this new hybrid console, Nintendo hopes to shake off the negativity following its previous (unsuccessful) console, the Wii U. And with launch sales greatly surpassing its predecessor, it has, to this point, been a success. It is nearly impossible to get your hands on a console unless you pre-ordered it or plan on camping out at least an hour for a seller to open. The main gimmick of this new console comes with how it is a hybrid between a home console and a portable hand-held. It features a dock and removable “joycon” controllers which allow players to switch between gaming on the TV and on the go. The Switch will also offer paid DLC game expansions as well as a fee to play online.
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As the Switch does not feature online browsing, the game lineup is crucial for the console’s success. At the time of release, the Switch’s biggest title is the newest installment in the Legend of Zelda franchise with “Breath of the Wild.” A huge openworld single player game, “BOTW” has already earned a spot as one of the top-rated games of all-time and truly exemplifies the power that the Switch has behind it. The second biggest launch title goes to “1, 2, Switch,” a two-player party game. This game features 28 quirky mini games which can be perfect for having fun with friends. “1, 2, Switch” is not a must-have as “BOTW” is, but it’s perfect for casual fun and shows off the “HD Rumble” feature in the Joycon controllers. The controllers include infrared motion detection cameras, which have a wealth of game-play possibilities that have not yet been revealed. But motion is not as mandatory a component as it was with the Wii.
The lack of multiple notable launch titles is the Switch’s biggest drawback at this point. It has been criticized as being a “$300 Zelda Machine.” Many big-name titles will be released later this year such as “Splatoon 2,” “Mario Kart 8,” and “Super Mario Odyssey.” In addition to Nintendo’s usual franchises will be some third party games such as the remastered “Skyrim” and indie game “Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment.” This selection of games will appeal to casual and hard core players alike. Altogether, the Switch does an incredible job of blurring the lines between home and portable consoles. For any big Nintendo fan, getting this console is a must. The biggest question is when you COYLE PHOTO BY CATHERINE should get it, though.
There have been complaints about consoles having dead pixels or nonresponsive controllers, but many of these problems will hopefully be resolved through patches later in the year. At this point, unless you are committed to avoiding game spoilers, getting the Switch is recommended, but wait until the end of the year to buy. Not only will technological problems likely be patched, but the game library will be expanded by then, and there will be more opportunities to see how Nintendo takes advantage of this new and unique platform.
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ENTERTAINMENT
| March 17, 2017
A novel way to spend spring break W
ith all the hustle and bustle of a busy school year, it’s difficult to find time for reading non-required material; however, spring break provides the perfect opportunity to catch up on some novels you might have missed. Here are four novels that are sure to entertain you during the break.
“The Kite Runner” Molly Carmichael
“We Are the Ants”
Arden Sasak
Entertainment Writer I had to read “The Kite Runner” as part of an English project this year. We were allowed to pick which book we read, and I chose this one because the plot sounded interesting, but like most assigned books, I was not expecting to be unable to put it down. It is a beautifully-written book about friendship, sacrifices, and redemption. The story is centered on a young boy named Amir and his life from the age of twelve until he is well into adulthood. After a traumatic event that occurred to his best friend Hassan, Amir is haunted by the guilt he feels for not helping his friend. Dealing with this persisting guilt, turmoil and tension from the Soviet Union in the late 1970s and ‘80s caused Amir and his father to flee—forcing Amir to leave nearly everything he knew behind him. This book may be especially compelling to read for anyone who likes historical fiction, as the majority of the book takes place in Afghanistan during the 1970s when the country was on the brink of war and chaos. In addition to the captivating story line, Khaled Hosseini’s writing creates a vibrant world with dynamic characters that truly bring the story to life. This book is perfect to read over spring break because it is much lighter than most assigned literature; however, it still has more depth than most young adult novels. “The Kite Runner” was also made into a movie in 2007, and I recommend checking out both the book and film over spring break travel to be able to experience the culture of Afghanistan and California without leaving your chair.
Production Editor If you have 144 days until the world ends, and you could prevent it just by pushing a button, would you? It seems like a question that would be asked on a college application, but in “We Are The Ants” by Shaun David Hutchinson, it is the decision Henry Dunton contemplates throughout the novel. Since he was thirteen, Henry has been abducted by “sluggers” periodically from his hometown of Calypso, Florida. Being kidnapped by aliens isn’t an ideal situation to be in, but recently each abduction is a respite from his difficult day-today life after the suicide of his boyfriend, Jesse. Being at school means getting harassed and bullied by his peers, including the in-the-closet jock he occasionally sleeps with, while also being drawn in by a mysterious new student, Diego. Being at home was not any better because it means watching his grandmother lose herself slowly to Alzheimer’s, and living with his deadbeat brother and his pregnant girlfriend. When the sluggers offer him the chance to press the button, he steps back to look at the bigger picture. Henry has 144 days left to decide whether or not to save the world and still needs to come to terms with the cards life has dealt him. Hutchinson uses an unrealistic situation to explore real life problems and feelings that resonate with teen readers. Young adult novels often have trouble creating teenage characters that are both accurate and appeal to readers, but Henry’s cynical point of view provides a fresh outlook on life. The book also stars LGBT characters, while maintaining a plot not based completely around their sexuality.
Ashley Spears
Ashlyn Enright
“Milk and Honey”
Entertainment Writer “Milk & Honey,” as described by the author herself, is “the journey of surviving through poetry.” It is possibly one of my favorite books of all time. These beautifully written poems, based on Kaur’s own experiences, are divided into four sections: the hurting, the loving, the breaking, and the healing. Though this is a compilation of poems, Rupi Kaur’s poetry is not like traditional poetry. While simple, this collection explores some of the darkest and most hopeful parts of the heart. The lengths of the poems vary, and many pages also include Kaur’s own illustrations that are equally emotional and encapsulating. These various poems help validate your problems during a time when you feel like what you’re going through isn’t important or worth talking about, and they also touch on feminism and different aspects of being a woman in today’s society. Each section tells its own story, and evokes different emotions. This extremely powerful, raw, and honest poetry is relatable and moving, especially for teenagers. It exposes you to new perspectives and guides you from past hardship and heartbreak to a healing mind-set. It is a compelling and extremely well-written piece of writing that I just couldn’t seem to put down. Needless to say, I finished it in one sitting (less than an hour). It is not a long book, and it is absolutely worth your time. This is the type of book that you can read and reread, and fall in love with each page over and over again. I especially recommend it for those who need encouragement, but this book is great for all teenagers.
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“A Fierce and Subtle Poison”
Entertainment Writer The story opens with seventeen-year-old Lucas narrating as he spends his summers in Puerto Rico while his mogul father destroys areas to build tourist hotels. Young girls have been disappearing from the island. Lucas ponders the missing girls as he spends his time exploring Old San Juan with his friends and Marisol, his girlfriend, when he encounters an old house. As legend says, a terrible scientist once lived there who locked up his wife with nothing but the plants to keep her company until she eventually passed. Now, also according to the legend, a cursed girl lives there who grants paper wishes. Both Lucas and Marisol make wishes, only for Lucas’s note to come back to him saying it cannot be granted and for Marisol’s to be crossed out. After this strange occurrence, Marisol goes missing, and in trying to find her, Lucas visits the cursed house. There he meets the scientist, a odious man with a penchant for poisonous plants, and later in secret, his daughter Isabel. She is the cursed girl of legend, but she does not grant wishes. Instead, she is filled with poison that slowly kills her and anyone she touches. Throughout the novel, they work together to solve the chilling mystery of the missing girls, all while Isabel fights the poison inside her. Mabry’s haunting writing style and strong use of symbolism in her descriptions of Puerto Rico make the novel flow smoothly. The element of mystery and beautiful descriptions of setting will entrap you from the beginning until the dramatic finale, making this the perfect spring break read.
Ryan Petrick & Haley Mech
your g n i w
look
Preparing for a Look
• Prime your face and eyes to help your makeup stay on. • Shape brows with a pencil or eyebrow pomade. Don’t worry if they’re too bushy; you can fix this with concealer. • Use a paint pot or thick-drying concealer to lightly cover your oily T-zone. • Apply foundation and blend thoroughly for even coverage. • Apply concealer under the eyes, on the chin, on the nose, and on acne, if necessary. • Bake under eyes by putting a thick layer of translucent powder under the eyes for at least 5 minutes. • Brush off the bake and use that same powder to set the rest of your foundation. • Prime the lid with an eyeshadow primer or paint pot and set it with a translucent powder to allow eyeshadow to blend evenly. • A lip scrub is good for cleaning off any product that fell on your lips while applying the rest of the face. • Set the look when you are finished with a setting spray to stay looking fresh all day.
Subtle Look
Barely noticeable but clean and sharp, a subtle look is great for going out with your friends or going to school. • Use a bronzer close to your skin tone to slightly define cheekbones. • A soft blush also reminiscent of your skin tone helps to keep it looking natural while adding life to the flatness of the foundation. • Sharpen your cheekbones and give a subtle glow to your mug with a light highlighter. • Bronzer, blush, and highlighter can be used for eye makeup if you make sure it’s safe for your eyes with a quick Google search. Apply bronzer in the crease of your eye and highlighter under the brow arch and all over the eye. • Curl lashes by clamping them for thirty seconds and either add one coat of mascara or light, wispy false lashes for a realistic lash. • Complete the look with a nude lip gloss or a neutral lip tint.
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ht Bro w
Glamazon
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PHOTOPHOTO BY ALEXIS CHERVINKO BY RHYANNE NOCHE
Contributor and Production Editor It’s easy to just put makeup on the same way every day for every occasion, but sometimes it’s more fun to explore makeup’s more artistic side. Here are a few looks you can rock at school, prom, and everywhere in between.
PHOTO PHOTO BY ALEXIS BY ARDEN CHERVINKO SASAK
Don’t just
March 17, 2017 | ENTERTAINMENT
Eyebr
ows
Want to look ready for an extravagant photo shoot or the red carpet? Try something new and glamorous. • Create a dark shadow base for contouring with cream contour and blending out. • To have a more intense highlight, use a liquid highlighter at the high points of your cheeks and blend. • Bake under your contour to clean up and create a defined crease. • Blend in the crease and out from about ¾ into the eye with a more vibrant color of your choosing. Use a darker shadow of about the same color to line and define the crease and create a wing coming from it. • Put concealer all over the lid and create a wing following the one you created with the eyeshadow. Set the concealer with a shimmer. Go back in with the darker shadow and redefine the line from the crease. • Create an eyeliner wing that follows the two wings you created earlier. • Use black eyeliner on the lower lash line and blend out with some browns and oranges and add an inner corner highlight. • Apply a few coats of mascara and dramatic lashes to intensify the look. • Kick the drama up another level with darker lipstick.
Arch Contour
Subtle PHOTOS
BY RYAN
PETRICK
Look Nude Lip
Crease Define
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SPORTS
| March 17, 2017
House league basketball brings fun and competition James Bednarz
Sports Editor ost Maine South students spend their Sundays sleeping in, watching television, and doing homework. However, for a select group of students, Sundays mean playing house league basketball. Starting after winter break, the Park Ridge Park District begins its high school boy’s basketball league. For high schoolers, there are two different leagues. One league is comprised of freshmen and sophomores, and the other of juniors and seniors. The games consist of twelve-minute quarters, and they are played at Lincoln Middle School on Sunday afternoons. Instead of an adult drafting a team, a group of friends get together and make a request to the league to all be on a team together. If a player does not have a team, he will be placed on one. The Park District offers more personalization to the teams as they allow them to pick their team name and jersey. Some teams choose to pick existing teams such as the Spurs and Grizzlies, but others have chosen to pick teams that are no longer in existence in the NBA. This year, a group of juniors and seniors are named the Bullets after the Washington Wizards’ previous name. The league requires an adult to sign off that they are the official coach of the team. However, a peer of the kids on the team usually acts as the coach. Seniors Kyle McDill and Matt Ligas are currently co-head coaches of their undefeated team, the Celtics. “We are looking for our second championship in three years,” McDill said. “We won back in our sophomore year, and we are looking to make another run at the championship this year.” The mix of peers makes for a combination of both fun and competition. It can be considered more than purely a recreational league because of the amount of talent across the teams. Current Maine South players, such as Ligas, are not allowed to participate in the league. But some have decided to make the switch from Maine South basketball to house league. “It definitely is a big transition,” senior and former Hawks basketball player Luke Hinkamp said. “I have certainly enjoyed playing in the house league after making the decision to stop playing for Maine South. If it wasn’t fun, I wouldn’t be doing it.” There are a few other former Maine South players that have made the same transition as Hinkamp. Some include seniors Danny Touhy, Nick Sremac, Danny Cerniglia, James Hynes, and Grant Hallock. “It is so much more fun to play without having a structured offense,” Cerniglia said. “The games are pretty much like pick-up games at the community center, and playing in the league makes Sunday a day to always look forward to.” The lack of defense has enhanced the experience for certain individuals. “Sometimes I feel like I’m in the NBA,” Hinkamp said. “At the end of games, I end up with more than 30 points and handful of rebounds and assists.”
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FROM DOWNTOWN
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PHOTO BY MICHAEL FRAZIER
The Celtics’ Nick Sremac shoots a three-pointer over the defending Sean McNulty. The Celtics would go on to win this game 71-62.
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AT THE LINE Senior Nick Manolis of the Celtics shoots a free-throw during a game against the Grizzlies on Feb. 26. The players enjoy competing against other classmates.
PHOTO BY MICHAEL FRAZIER
The interaction between the players and the referees can sometimes be contentious in the heat of games. “I cannot go a minute without getting hassled,” McDill said. Others understand that the referees are put into a challenging position. “They are just trying to do their job,” junior Paul Sasso said. “I know that people give them a hard time, but I don’t think that they deserve it. It is difficult to make the right call in these types of situations. People complain if they don’t make a
call, and then go back and complain when they do.” The majority of the players are from Maine South, but the park district also allows players from other high schools to participate in the league. However, the players acknowledge the fun in friendly competition. “It really brings me back,” Clippers shootingguard Touhy said. “Ever since the beginning of high school, I have gotten used to competing against kids that I didn’t know. Now that I am back playing with our friends and classmates, it makes me appreciate the times when we played sports as kids.”
PHOT
March 17, 2017 | SPORTS
Odarczenko makes her way to the state meet Christo Fosse
Sports Editor hen most people think of athletics at Maine South, they think of sports like football, baseball, and basketball. However, senior Victoria Odarczenko is making a name for Maine South—and herself— in bowling. On Feb. 17, Odarczenko bowled to an 84th place finish at the state meet in Rockford out of 123 participants. Odarczenko, the sole member of the Maine South bowling team, was one of only 30 competitors representing themselves. For Odarczenko, this did not hinder her experience. “Being at the state meet was just a highlight in and of itself,” Odarczenko said. “I really had an awesome time competing with my friend Mary [Conneely] from Maine West. We were cheering each other on the whole time, so it’s not like I was completely alone.” Odarczenko has been interested in the sport of bowling for a long time. “I have been bowling since I was five,” said Odarczenko. “My parents have been bowling since they were in high school. I have always enjoyed bowling, and I am happy to carry the tradition.” Despite being the sole member of the bowling team at Maine South, Odarczenko does not feel uncomfortable in fulfilling this role. “I like being the only member,” said Odarczenko. “It removes the pressure from having to compete against others.” To prepare for each tournament, Odarczenko has a unique approach to practicing. “ To practice, I go to many different bowling alleys, so I can practice on different lane conditions,” Odarczenko said. “Practicing a lot is definitely important to be successful. I train by myself now, but in the past, I was going to a bowling coach twice per week.” Odarczenko has enjoyed this bowling season, and her bowling career at Maine South. She is looking forward to continue bowling in college. “I will be bowling at North Central College this fall,” said Odarczenko. “I am excited to continue bowling.”
PHOTO BY JUSTYNA LEPA
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SLAPSHOT Defensemen Anthony Reda shoots the puck through the Latin School of Chicago's defense on March 9. The Maine Hockey team's playoff run ended that night with a score of 2-1.
Boys' Hockey comes up short in playoff game Sam Tinaglia Sports Writer
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he 2017 Maine Township Hockey team’s season came to an end on Mar. 9 when the hockey team lost to Latin School of Chicago by a score of 2-1 in the Elite 8 round of competition. The team was ranked second in their bracket going into the state playoffs. The whole team was thankful they received the opportunity to be part of this great program. “I believe everyone on our team is very talented,” senior captain and defensemen Anthony Reda said. “Our captains work hard on and off the ice, teaching the rest of the team and keep everything positive in the locker room.” “Some of our point leaders this year were seniors Shane Ronan from Maine West, and seniors Niko Sinatra, Ryan Dyball, myself, and John Flynn, from Maine South,” Reda said. “[Junior] Josh Wydra is one of our leading goal scorers this year along with Shane Ronan,” goalie Dyball said. “Wydra has collected 41 points this season, with 20 goals and 21 assists and Shane Ronan has 47 points, coming off of 29 goals and 18 assists, as of Feb. 28.” This year’s Maine Hockey team is very different than teams in years
past, but they still work hard for their success. “The past two years we had a very deep roster, but this year we rely more on hard work and team chemistry, not individual talent,” Reda said. “Our captains have done a good job of motivating our younger players to keep working hard,” Dyball said. “Since all of our captains were on the team that went to the state championship two years ago, they use that to motivate the younger guys. We are a much more defensiveminded team this year than in years past. We rely on strong goal tending and strong defensive play to win games.” After coming up short in the playoffs, their ultimate goal has not changed. “Our team goal has been the same for all four of my years on varsity: win a state championship,” Dyball said. “Another one of our goals as a team is to win a league championship.” “It’s our goal to compete in every game and to become closer as a team every time we’re on the ice,” Reda said. Two years ago, Dyball and Reda were both integral parts of the Maine team that went to the state championship, but fell to Glenbard in overtime.
One of the biggest highlights of the 2017 season was getting back at their rivals. “One of our high points this year was beating the Glenbard Hockey team,” Dyball said. “Glenbard has knocked our team out of the state playoffs the past three years, so winning that game against them earlier in the season was great, but it meant a little bit more to all of the older guys on the team.” Both boys knew what they had to do to succeed coming into the season, and they have adapted to help the team come this far. “As a goalie, you have a big responsibility each game, and I think I’ve handled the role very well,” Dyball said. Reda also stepped up in his veteran role. “I was very excited to get on the ice again,” Reda said. “As a senior, I obviously knew I had to step up my game. I had to produce in every game in order to help my team win.” “It has been a great experience being on the Maine hockey team for four years,” Dyball said. “Before I played for Maine, I played on a club team, but I had more fun playing on my high school team with my best friends. It’s awesome to be on the same team as the guys you go to school with and always see in classes.”
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PHOTO BY PEYTON TURNER
HOCKEY | GIRLS’GYMNASTICS | BOYS’ SWIMMING | BASKETBALL | CHEERLEADING | HAWKETTES | WRESTLING
CHAMPIONS AGAIN
The varsity Hawkette team poses for a picture with the UDA National Championship trophy. The last time the Hawkettes won the national championship was in 2011, and this marks the second time in team history. Not pictured are coaches Jackie Graney and Kate Bashir.
Liam Conlon Sports Writer
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hile many of Maine South’s students were preoccupied with the Super Bowl or dreaming of their ideal spring break paradise, our Hawkettes were in a paradise of their own—Orlando, home of this year’s National Championships for competitive dance. In early February, the Universal Dance Association, or UDA, hosted their 2017 US championship series in Orlando, Florida, an event in which the top varsity dance teams in the nation gather and compete in their divisions. These athletes are no strangers to strong competition, however. The team qualified for nationals but also finished in both Large Varsity Pom and Large Varsity High Kick competitions, placing in sixth and first, respectively. “You have to completely dedicate yourself to your team and to your desire to succeed,” four-year varsity dancer Linnea Orr said. In a dramatic finish over the competition in the Large Varsity High Kick competition, the Hawkettes’ first-place finish left them exhilarated. “The moment we were announced as national champions felt like a dream. As the announcer announced 3rd place
for Seminole High School, our major competitor in the kick category (they have won for the past five years). There was such a rush of emotions. In that moment we knew we had won,” said junior captain Meghan Breslin. Despite the intense competition, there is camaraderie amongst the teams. “The Villages, from Florida, were all rooting for us, and once they heard Seminole was third, they were already telling us we had won,” Breslin said. They were holding onto girls on our team as we were waiting for the next place to be announced.” The hard work paid off as the Hawkettes came out victorious over Seminole High School and West Fargo High School—two powerhouses in the division. “We have worked extremely hard for the last nine months,” Breslin said. “All of this was to make our team successful and confident and to have the best performance possible.” The season may have ended on a high note, but the program is already looking to their goals for future seasons. “Next year we are aiming for top three in the state and also at the top in the nation again, hopefully ending with results similar to or even better than those of this year,” Breslin said.
Keeping the program this strong, of course, requires development from the younger members of the team. “My advice to any future varsity Hawkettes is to not be afraid to push yourself,” Orr said. “Whether you’re going door-to-door selling popcorn, waking up early for competitions, or even practicing for hours in the cafeteria, the only way to reach your goal is to push yourself and keep going. In the end, all of your hard work will be worth it and you’ll never forget your years on the Maine South Hawkettes dance team.” The Hawkettes, who have earned their much needed offseason rest, leave the season with a reason to be proud. They have achieved their goal, and now it is time to look to the future. The seniors leave their high school career with an unforgettable achievement. The juniors are in position to reach even greater heights next year. As for the younger dancers, they are left with a taste of the program’s potential and a reason to come back next winter. “I am very thankful from my time as a Hawkette,” Orr said. “Being on a nationally-ranked team means working harder than you ever thought possible.” It is this work ethic that will continue to produce successful teams in the future.
PHOTO BY PEYTON TURNER
Hawkettes prove that hard work and dedication pays off
RAISING IT HIGH
(From left to right) Seniors Catie Martin, Kamryn McKenzie, and Isabelle Austriaco, and junior Meghan Breslin lift the UDA National Championship trophy after competing in Orlando, Florida. The ceremonial assembly for the Hawkettes was held on Feb. 8, and featured speeches by head varsity coach Jackie Graney and the Hawkette captains.