Vol. 54, Issue 1 Southwords

September 8, 2017

1111 S. Dee Road • Park Ridge, Illinois 60068

Vol. 54, No. 1

Students take a break from classes to witness a historic eclipse.

PHOTO BY SABRINA NASH

See pages 8-9

Block Party

Hybrid schedule to be adopted for next year.

Page 2

Decoded

Dress code demonstrates larger themes in society.

Page 5

Cross it Off

Seniors reveal what’s on their Maine South bucket lists.

Page 10

From the Heart

New mantra and new leaders power football team.

Page 16

NEWS | September 8, 2017

School board votes to adopt a new hybrid schedule

Elaine Smith

News Editor t the June 5 board meeting, the District 207 school board voted to adopt a new hybrid schedule to be implemented starting in the 20182019 school year.

The “Hybrid 4” schedule combines elements of a traditional eight period day with those of a block schedule.

This new schedule will consist of three eight-period days and two block schedule days that each have four periods. All eight classes will meet at least four days per week.

The hybrid schedule is a culmination of four years of research and discussion between administrators and teachers, with feedback from students and parents.

“We went to the teachers union and said we would like to form a study committee that would be made up of MTA members and an administrative team,” Dr. Wallace said. “We wanted to do some surveying.”

The schedule committee, composed of teachers and administrators, reviewed a number of schedules and were asked to identify the strengths and weaknesses of each.

Despite these conversations, the Maine Teachers’ Association is not entirely in favor of the scheduling change.

“The plans for implementing the hybrid schedule have been vague and fluid while the consequences and negative impact on current services are concrete,” said MTA Vice

ILLUSTRATIONS BY GABRIELLA KAMINSKI

A

2 SouthwordS

President Jennifer Sarashinsky, at a June 2017 Board of Education meeting. “All current period-and-a half classes, including all science classes, will see reduced classroom time.”

“It’s very clear-cut that science is losing minutes,” Board President Carla Owen said. “But there are ways to build more lab time into the new schedule.”

On the hybrid schedule, Thursday would be the late start day with school starting at 8:45.

“On the late start day, there are seventy minutes there,” Dr. Wallace said. “You could come in while your teacher is on their PLT time and do a Chem lab. We would work with the science department chairs and the science teachers and we would hire technicians.”

Certain high level and transitional math courses that are currently 1.5 periods will also lose class time.

“I don’t see us running extended time for math classes,” Dr. Wallace said. “On this schedule, you have 461 minutes of extra support time, through Individual Enrichment periods and other times.”

There are concerns that going to an eight-period day would result in fewer opportunities for students to take electives, but administration says that is not the case.

Over the course of the past year, current student schedules have been run successfully in the hybrid model, with over 700 more course requests met for students compared to the current schedule.

Six parent meetings were held across the district where parents had opportunities to learn more about the schedule and ask questions.

“There were still a lot of questions out there that were not accurate,” Owen said. “And we wanted to get input from teachers, parents and students.”

Each school’s student leadership team and members of the District 207 Community Advisory Council, which is made up of parents and community members from each of the District 207 schools, reviewed several schedule types as well.

“I think the new schedule has potential to help a lot of students out,” Student Council President, Ellie O’Brien, said. “The longer periods

can allow kids to get what they need done. I think that this change will allow for more success for students and that they will like this change.”

Students in all three D207 schools will be affected by the change.

“If a schedule is a good fit for students in terms of service, then it’s good for all of our students,” Dr. Wallace said. “We felt pretty strongly that we’re going to have a schedule that works for all three buildings.”

The hybrid schedule was designed to better meet students needs.

“I like to say that my job is president of the students’ union,” Dr. Wallace said. “I start my decision-making focus with students in the middle.”

Both teachers and administrators agree that students should be the focus of any school changes.

“We want to have a voice in helping improve students lives, which is the foremost reason we chose teaching as a profession,” Mrs. Sarashinksy said at the June board meeting.

“We want change based on clear data and change that will definitely improve the lives of our students.”

Dr. Wallace hopes that the increased scheduling flexibility will give more students the opportunity to have internships.

“It’s those relevant career experiences that we are really trying to do,” Dr. Wallace said. “We are up to about 700 kids getting career experiences.

We need to get up to about 1,750. We have a big lift, but we are getting toward doing that.”

The hybrid schedule increases the amount of time students spend in class.

“Every teacher will see you four times a week at a minimum,” Dr. Wallace said. “And we have 460 other minutes that they could see you multiple other times, but at a minimum, they are going to see you four times in a regular class setting.”

The district sees the blended schedule as a way to reduce stress for students.

“Now you only have three classes that you are preparing for, so the stress level is going to go down,” Dr. Wallace said. “I have seen this on a block schedule, so I know it going to work on this [schedule].”

“One of the biggest pluses for this schedule, I think it is going to decrease stress,” Owen said. “Students can’t have a test in every class [on Tuesdays and Wednesdays].”

However, there is concern that the changes to the schedule will result in increased stress if a student were to miss a Tuesday or a Wednesday. “[Missing a day of school] will result in additional stress on students who would already be responsible for adjusting to the irregularity of their days and the pressure of effectively utilizing their individual enrichment time,” Ms. Sarashinsky said at the June board meeting.

On block schedule days, students will have 90-minute class periods.

This includes periods like physical education and study halls. Under the hybrid schedules, study halls are referred to as individual enrichment (IE) periods.

“Those IE periods will be structured mechanically, where you will still be assigned to a study hall,” Dr. Wallace said. “You will have a teacher who will take attendance. It’s not like you are just floating with nothing to do.”

The longer free period gives students more opportunities to receive college guidance from counselors.

“Counselors will have access to kids who have long blocks of time available,” Dr. Wallace said. “You have 90 minutes here where you could get 40 or 50 minutes just with your counselor.”

Currently school starts at 7:45.

On the hybrid schedule school will begin at 8 a.m.

“I like that the schedule starts later,” Owen said. “I’m a big proponent of later starts.”

September 8, 2017 | NEWS

Return to unassigned parking for the 2017-18 year

Dimitri Speron

News Editor fter a one-year experiment with assigned parking, Maine South has returned to general parking for students and staff.

The assigned parking system created a host of unforeseen issues “Every student and staff member had a reserved parking space,” said Mr. George Dagres, Associate Principal. “What we didn’t anticipate is [issues surrounding shift workers]."

Though the shifts barely overlap, each employee needed an individually-assigned space.

Because spots assigned to second-shift staff could not be utilized by students or other staff, the total number of students that were assigned parking spots declined from previous years.

“We want to maximize the number of spots for as many kids as possible,” said Mr. Dagres.

Numerically, general parking allows for a greater number of students who apply for parking permits to be granted said permits.

The general parking being used

A

for the 2017-2018 school year is similar, but not identical, to the parking system in place before 2016.

“Now, students can park in the North Lot,” said Mr. Dagres. “I feel like this system gives people flexibility. If I know I’m going to be leaving the fine arts wing very late, then I’d park there. If my ninth period is math, then I can park in the A-wing.

If I’m an athlete, I can park in the jock lot.”

Not all lots, however, are available for Maine South student parking. The cafeteria lot and the back drive are still off-limits to students.

Remaining from the 2016-2017 system is the visitor parking in the front of the school.

“We want to give community members easy access to the school,” said Mr. Dagres. “When I go to my kids' school, it is kind of nice that there is visitor parking in the front, so I can park my car, go to the visitor entrance, and check in—it’s all right there.”

The circle drive, with the exception of several marked spots, is intended to be used as parking for visitors and substitute teachers.

PHOTO BY ARDEN SASAK

FREE FOR ALL

Maine South returned to general parking for students and staff for the 2017-18 school year. Students can park in the A-wing Lot, North Lot, and Jock Lot, but are still unable to park in the circle drive, cafeteria lot, and back drive.

The school may yet see a limited return to assigned parking spaces.

“We’re thinking of sending an email to everyone that is eligible to get a parking permit and saying something along the line of, ‘are you interested in getting a reserved spot in the A-wing for the entire year and participating in HawkLot?’" said Mr. Dagres.

HawkLot, the website that was created by seniors Ryan Prendergast, Justin Pinsky, and Grant Miller, was intended to allow students and staff members to rent out their parking spots to students who otherwise do not have parking spots.

This system is currently not implemented but it would open a small number of spaces to any students.

Two Park Ridge boys absolved of charges after initial court hearing

cause they are juveniles.

Summer school classes were being conducted at Maine South that Monday, and because police believed the situation to be contained and isolated, Maine South did not go into lockdown.

“At all times, our number one priority is student and staff safety," Dr. Collins said.

"We review procedures, protocols, and practices on an ongoing basis and constantly make updates and improvements,” When the incident occurred, the 12-year-old was a student at Lincoln Middle School and the 15-year-old was an incoming freshman at Maine South.

As the Police investigated the situation, three guns were found in the home of the 12-year-old.

The District 64 School Board unanimously approved an unspecified agreement in mid-August concerning the 12-year-old student.

Similarly, the enrollment status of the incoming high school freshman is also unclear, as District 207 is not allowed to disclose information about students.

Senior challenges dress code Charges dropped for snapchat posts

Revisions may be on the horizon after yearbook photo is flagged Mary Godley News Editor

S

enior Grace Goble made news this summer when she was informed by the HR Imaging/Root Studios, that her photo was not allowed to appear in the yearbook and that she would have to retake the picture because she wore an off-theshoulder sweater that exposed her shoulders. Exposed shoulders violate a section of the school dress code.

The dress code reads "Students shall not wear halter tops, garments with thin straps, or strapless garments."

“The school actually didn’t have an issue with the photo," said Goble.

"It was the photo company that told me that my picture wasn’t allowed in the yearbook."

Goble issued a complaint with the school administration and started an online petition to raise awareness of the issue and to change Maine South’s dress code.

The petition, titled “Maine South High School: end the over-sexualization of young women’s bodies,” currently has 3,324 supporters. “[Principal] Dr. Collins called me the night that the petition was created and told me he would see what he could do to get my photo included in the yearbook," Goble said. "He also told me that he was looking to get a student group together to help revise the dress code.”

Goble’s decision to challenge the school’s dress code stemmed from her belief that the dress code in place unfairly targets female students.

“I think that many of the its rules are ridiculous and unnecessary," Goble said. "There is no reason that someone should be offended or uncomfortable because they can see my shoulders.”

Goble’s frustration sparked a nationwide debate. Her story has been covered by outlets such as Journal and Topics, WGN, Chicago Tribune, CBS, TODAY, Daily Mail, Teen Vogue, Refinery29, PopBuzz, Huffington Post, NBC, ObserverReporter, Seventeen, and The Sun.

Will Brendza News Writer

P

rosecutors in a juvenile court have dropped charges against two Park Ridge boys who created social media posts in which they were pictured holding firearms.

Southwords contacted the Park Ridge Police Department, but they were unable to comment on the reason why the charges were dropped.

An anonymous tip to the Park Ridge Police led to the two boys, 12 and 15, being identified and taken in for questioning.

Each boy was initially charged with unlawful use of a weapon and disorderly conduct. They were subsequently held at Cook County Juvenile Detention Center for a short period.

The social media post was identified by Park Ridge Police Chief Frank Kaminski as a video on the app Snapchat. The names of the students have not been released be-

SouthwordS 3

NEWS

| September 8, 2017

Nine new teachers welcomed into the Hawk family Elaine Smith News Editor

This year, Maine South welcomed nine new teachers into the Maine South family. Almost every department gained a new member for the 2017-2018 school year.

M r. Trevor Fritz is a new teacher in the Social Science Department, and will be teaching AP Psychology.

Raised in Arlington Heights, IL, Mr. Fritz worked at Cary-Grove High School for the past four years before coming to Maine South.

“I felt that my high school teachers made a huge impact on the course of my life and I would like to do the same with [my students],” Mr. Fritz said. “ I am most excited about meeting all of the awesome students I have heard about from other teachers and read about in the newspapers.”

During his time in college, Mr. Fritz was in charge of planning spring break trips. Now Mr. Fritz enjoys reading, playing sports and traveling.

Mr. Patrick Fonsino is the new

CTE Department Chair at Maine South. He began his career as an off-campus buildings trades teacher and previously worked at Rolling Meadows High School. Mr. Fonsino has also worked as a movie extra. Currently, he enjoys snowboarding and doing home renovations.

Mr. Fonsino looks to share his love of construction and architecture with his students. “My favorite part of teaching is sharing my passion with others,” Mr. Fonsino said.

“Teaching allows me to show students all career options whether that is pursing a college degree or directly entering the workforce.”

Mr. Brian Lorenz is the newest member of the Physical Education Department. He will also serve as the Head Varsity Baseball Coach.

Mr. Lorenz graduated from Lyons Township High School. Before coming to Maine South, Mr. Lorenz worked at Momence High School for three years. Mr. Lorenz enjoys working out and golfing. He is also an avid Cubs fan.

“I am most excited about getting to know the student body,” Mr. Lorenz said.

“My favorite part about Maine South is the school spirit.”

PHOTOS BY JEN BECK, JUSTYNA LEPA, AND ARDEN SASAK

4 SouthwordS

Mr. Matthew Nix joins Maine South as the

new Orchestra Director.

“A mentor of mine said once, ‘Music teachers don’t teach music to people, they teach people through music,”’ Mr. Nix said. “Teaching was a vocation and a calling for me.”

M r. N i x ’s favorite part of teaching is making meaningful relationships with students, families and colleagues.

“Sharing my love of making music is what I wake up to do every morning,” Mr. Nix said. “I can’t imagine life doing anything else.”

Mr. Nix attended Michigan State University after high school, and majored in cello performance and music education. In high school Mr. Nix worked at a Hallmark store where he was chosen to be the Easter bunny two years in a row.

Mr. Joel Porterfield is the newest

member of the Foreign Language Department. Mr. Porterfield teaches Spanish at Maine South after spending time working at an ESL school for adults downtown and at a public elementary school in Chicago. Mr. Porterfield grew up in Park Ridge and is excited to get to teach with some of his former teachers.

“I want to help students see the fun in learning a foreign language like my teachers did for me,” Mr. Porterfield said. “My favorite part about being a teacher is sharing my enthusiasm for languages.”

Ms. Leslie Shobe-Lettiere is a new

teacher in the English Department, but she br i ng s a we a lt h of experience after having taught for several years in Lake Central High School in Indiana, and as an adjunct instructor at Moraine Valley Community College. Most recently, Ms. Shobe-Lettiere worked in District 207 filling in for medical leaves and as a TA. “I am excited about working with a new group of students and being a part of the Maine South Community,” Ms. Shobe-Lettiere said. “I love helping students tap into what they already know and discover new knowledge and interests.”

Ms. Shobe-Lettiere was born in Illinois but spent most of her childhood living in California, Hawaii, Connecticut, and Virginia before moving back to Illinois in high school. “I wanted to be a teacher since I first became a student,” Ms. ShobeLettiere said. “I still exchange Christmas cards with my very first teacher.”

Ms. Marissa Ristich is the new school

psychologist. Previously, Ms. Ristich worked at Friendship Junior High in District 59.

She is excited about getting to know the students and staff as well as getting involved with sponsoring clubs and activities.

“I became a school psychologist so that I could have a positive impact on my students and help them achieve their goals,” Mr. Jan Wieczorek will be teaching Ms. Ristich said. “My favorite part of being a school psychologist is establishing a rapport with my physics this year as a member students. I love when kids stop by just to say hello of the Science Department. and let me know how their day is going.”

An alumnus of Lane Tech Ms. Tracy Siligmueller joins Maine South High School in Chicago, Mr. Wieczorek formerly worked as a speech therapist. Before becoming a speech in the Science Support Center therapist, she previously worked as an Assistant District Attorney in the Bronx. Prior to arriving at at Maine East.

“I am most excited about Maine South, Ms. Siligmueller worked at Andrews Elementary in Burlington, NC. meeting the students “I like working directly with and getting students,” Ms. Siligmueller involved in the said. “My favorite part of c o m m u n i t y,” teaching is seeing students Mr. Wieczorek said. “Everyone is fun and friendly.” make progress and feel proud Mr. Wieczorek became a teacher because he is of themselves for their hard good at understanding people and believes that this work.” is a fundamental quality for teachers.

M s . Si l i g mu el l e r “Knowing that I have the opportunity to make g re w up i n G l e n a small impact in people’s lives is why I became Ellyn and attended a teacher,” Mr. Wieczorek said. “Then they can Glenbard West High hopefully take [that] out into the world and School. perpetuate [it].”

Grace Goble Contributor

I

took my senior picture for the Maine South yearbook in early June of 2017. I wore a yellow sweater that was off the shoulders—a choice that I did not think was a problem.

I was notified that my picture had violated the school’s dress code and was not allowed to be printed in the yearbook despite having worn the sweater to school before. I was shocked.

In my opinion, Maine South does not stress or enforce its dress code enough because I was unaware that my sweater violated the code. I was also upset because I felt that my picture was unfairly sexualized because of the dress code.

The Maine South dress code specifically targets women, and a dress code should address the student body as a whole and not target one specific group.

Soon after I received the news about my photo, I contacted Dr. Collins, Mr. Berendt, and my dean about what happened and why it was an issue.

Dr. Collins called me several hours later on his personal cell phone to tell me that he saw no problem with my yearbook picture, he would do what he could to get it to print, and that he wanted to start a committee of students to revise the outdated dress code policy.

I also took matters into my own hands and started a petition on Change.org to revise the dress code. My petition received an overwhelming amount of support from both my fellow Maine South classmates, and people who I have never met.

Additionally, I was featured on various news sources such as the Chicago Tribune and The Today Show.

I had no idea that my story would reach national news, but I was happy that my story was getting publicity so the message of outdated unjust dress codes could be spread.

The support that I received validated my feeling that a change needed to happen because I feel like it is too often that women are discriminated against regarding their choice of clothing.

The feedback that I received was mostly positive, but the negative comments I did receive mainly pointed out the fact that I should follow the rules.

The goal of my petition was not to allow my picture to be printed in the yearbook—I understand that I broke the rules and was willing to retake my picture.

The goal of my petition was to inspire needed change to an outdated dress code.

I was very impressed with how concerned Dr. Collins was regarding my issue. He treated me with the respect rather than writing me off as another complaining teenager.

Dr. Collins is a very busy man, but he took the time to address my problem individually and found

a solution that would involve students in revising the dress code.

The way Maine South handled the issue was ideal, and other schools should look to it as a model in handling dress code problems.

I look forward to meeting with Dr. Collins and other Maine South Students to revise the dress code at Maine South.

However, this is not just a problem at Maine South but rather society at large.

Shaming women for wearing the things that make them feel comfortable and happy in their bodies is horribly sexist. This leads many girls to believe that they are a distraction.

I have grown a lot from this experience. I was passionate about feminism and equality before this incident happened, as I am a member of empoWer, Maine South's feminism club, and have participated in protests for equality in Washington D.C. This experience has taught me first hand how women are treated with a different standard than men even at the high school level.

The sweater that I wore was very modest and covered my body appropriately. My yearbook photo was completely innocent.

When I wore the sweater to school and school events, I never received any negative comments from security guards, teachers, or administration.

It wouldn't have caused any problems had it not violated the dress code.

I have spent a good majority of my life wondering why exactly woman’s shoulders are so offensive. It is ridiculous that young women aren’t allowed to wear the clothing that they wish to wear simply because it could possibly distract someone.

Why must young women be denied the ability to express themselves through their fashion simply because there may be a few people out there who cannot control themselves?

Strict dress codes are reinforcing the claim that bare shoulders pose a threat to education or work—which is a laughable thought. If someone is distracted by a shoulder to the point that their education is at risk, it is a personal problem. Being distracted in a workplace or a school setting is a choice.

Women’s clothing choices are all too often blamed for men slacking off in work or at school— and that is not okay. It is especially not okay because men are never held to the same standard. If a woman complained about feeling distracted by a man’s choice of attire, she would be scolded for acting unprofessional.

Many dress codes were created by men in administrative positions. It is too often that men are responsible for making decisions about women and choices that women have to make.

It is unfair that the clothing that women wear to work or school has to be approved by a man. Men don’t have to gain the approval of a woman in order to wear their favorite sweater—so why should I? It is discriminatory against women when they are forced to abide to sexist regulations, and this is an issue that our society needs to address.

What is your opinion of the school dress code?

I'm more than a distraction

September 8, 2017

| COMMENTARY

"It's more against females than males. I don't necessarily know why things like spaghetti straps are against the rules. It's just clothing."

- Isabel Gibson '21

“I definitely think that the dress code is sexist against women. I think it's unfair that they can't show their shoulders.”

- Brennan Keeley '20

“There's nothing wrong with [the dress code].

There are more clothing options for girls, so of course they have more rules.”

-Toma Stojakovic '19

“To an extent, you should be covered up in the right areas...but you see guys wearing shirts with beer cans so why isn't that worse than a girl's shoulders?”

- Maddie Harper '18 SouthwordS 5

COMMENTARY

| September 8, 2017

Fulfill the promise of justice and liberty for all Louise Macaraniag Commentary Editor

A

merica has always been a country infatuated with unity and the idea of a powerful union. From the initial motives of the Revolutionary War to the creation of the Constitution, the U.S. has strived to be “one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” These words are recited at schools, sporting events, and even during the naturalization processes of new immigrants.

However, these words are not accurate. There is cultural fallacy that labels America as a nation with “liberty and justice for all.” It suggests that all men and women are treated fairly and equally, which is not the case.

Though there are efforts to try to create an equal and just system, some reject these changes to society

and to the government. This constant resistance towards change reinforces backwards thinking and preserves unfounded ideals of the past.

The romanticization of the past causes the acceptance of old views, which has emboldened white nationalism and given rise to racism.

When I heard about the events that happened in Charlottesville a couple of weeks ago, I was astounded, dismayed, and terrified. I thought that white supremacy was basically on the brink of nonexistence, but I found that it was just hidden.

Acts of violence were committed, and horrid racial remarks were expressed. Men and women marched with their torches, intimidating protestors with their hostile chants.

White supremacist groups cried phrases such as "Jews will not replace

us" and "white lives matter." Groups broke into verbal and physical conflicts, resembling a social civil war.

I thought back to other similar incidents: the riots in Ferguson and the church shooting in Charleston.

These events were all a result of racial conflict, stemming from the persistent racism in today’s society.

Po l i c e b r u t a l i t y a n d h i g h unemployment and crime rates are all components of a system that disenfranchises minorities.

These issues are derived from the same outdated ideologies which created inhumane institutions such as slavery.

Some argue that slavery is an institution that no longer holds relevance in today's world. Though slavery has been abolished for hundreds of years, the remnants of its torment still taint our

"The romanticization of the past causes the acceptance of old views which has emboldened white nationalism and given rise to racism."

contemporary society.

Unemployment, poverty, lack of education, and many other disadvantages of minorities originate from the post-Civil War Reconstruction Era. T h e A m e r i c an s y s t e m h a s historically marginalized groups of people based on color, religion, gender, etc.

In its deep, dark roots, this country has generated a culture of white supremacy. Colonization, slavery, gentrification, and all other acts of hatred and disrespect towards certain groups all contribute to systemic racism.

The root of racism and white nationalism comes from somewhere deeper in the history of America.

Both racism and white nationalism insinuate that America is home for only for one race—a mentality not only consumed in hatred but in ignorance as well.

It’s an issue that requires everyone, politicians and citizens alike, to combat and dismantle.

Work should be a safe space for the LGBTQ+ community Commentary Writer

A

few days ago while I was at work, I saw a man with a "straight pride" tattoo on his arm. One of my coworkers is gay, and he found the tattoo offensive. Our manager wrote up my coworker for his attitude toward the man, even though his anger was justified.

In the weeks following (prior to my own resignation), I noticed the manager picking on that same coworker.

Unfortunately, this type of discrimination is too common, and we need to do more to protect the LGBTQ+ community.

The Justice Department recently briefed the public on gay rights in the workplace and the lack thereof. On July 27 of this year, it stated that Title VII does not cover discrimination based on sexual orientation; therefore, complaints about discrimination based on sexual orientation aren’t protected under the law.

This is especially concerning because the Supreme Court is soon going to hear a case on religion and same-sex marriage. According to the New York Times, “The case will be a major test of a clash between laws that ban businesses open to the public from discriminating based on sexual orientation and claims of religious freedom.”

6 SouthwordS

in. Minorities, especially gay people, face a lot of discrimination throughout their life. By providing a safe workplace for gay people, we’re allowing them a bit of solace in a chaotic life.

ILLUSTRATION BY YARA RUZHKOVSKA

Fiona Nimietz

While it may not seem like workplace discrimination and discriminating against a customer are related, it's logical that if discrimination in one area of life is allowed, discrimination will be allowed in other areas as well.

While it is true that, from a legal standpoint, sex discrimination is not the same as sexual orientation discrimination, sexual orientation is a subset of gender and sex.

Title VII should be expanded to include sexual orientation as a protected class under the law.

Redefining Title VII is a surefire way to protect a minority that may not otherwise be protected.

The government is allowing people to discriminate against a minority without a sound basis for their argument.

Same-sex marriage doesn’t affect heterosexual marriage. No one is being forced into a same-sex marriage or forced to participate in a same-sex wedding ceremony.

The LGBTQ+ community has the same inalienable rights as others, so it should be obvious that this discrimination has to stop. Likewise, discrimination has to stop in the workplace, too.

In the case of my friend, he ended up quitting because of the pressure put on him following the incident. Countless others in less open-minded areas of the world have experienced similar incidents or worse.

The government should implement antidiscrimination laws and practices, and so should the workplace.

Everyone deserves humane conditions to work

September 8, 2017 | COMMENTARY

STAFF EDITORIAL

Too many decisions, too little time T

his year, Maine Township District 207 approved a new hybrid schedule for next school year, which dramatically alters the current nineperiod day.

Under the new schedule, each school will transition to an eightperiod day on Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays, and a four-period day on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

No matter what your opinion on the change is, it can’t be disputed that this will require a significant adjustment for both students and staff—another in a long line of shifts that have occurred in the recent years.

In 2013, the district moved to a 1:1 computing environment, replacing paper and pencils with Chromebooks.

In 2014, the district implemented a new schedule which involved moving finals prior to winter break and ending the year before Memorial Day Weekend.

In 2016, the district created the 40 percent rule and retake and redo policy, making it impossible for students to score below a 40 percent on anything and allowing students to retake any

summative assessment.

While change can certainly be a good thing, we believe the district is moving too fast in making these decisions, failing to allow time for effective adjustment.

When different policies are enacted too quickly, it’s impossible to understand their long-term effects.

Major changes need to be made at a slower pace to determine what decision is causing each effect. There are too many variables involved to understand how each of them affect student life.

Part of the difficulty with these changes is that many students have felt left out in the administration’s process of making decisions. While these changes are designed to help students, in the end, students feel like they don’t have a voice. At a board meeting to approve the new schedule, the schedule still passed despite students speaking out against the change.

We feel the changes aren’t clearly articulated to us, the people whom these decisions affect the most. Many

students are still confused about the new schedule and do not understand how it will affect their day-to-day lives. For many, it’s a scary change.

The district owes it to students to be clear about impending changes.

Being clear prevents rumors from circulating, which do nothing but cause panic and uncertainty.

One way to approach changes would be for the administration to send representatives to classes during the day to answer any questions regarding new policies. This would contribute to an open dialogue where students are more comfortable to discuss new policies.

We understand these decisions are designed to improve the learning experience of all students, but because of how quickly they’re being made, it’s easier to resent them rather than embrace them.

It takes time to successfully enforce new policies and changes. To create a more open and relaxed environment in all schools, the district needs to slow down and take more time in implementing new decisions.

or expenses that came with adult responsibilities.

But as I began traveling places by myself on standby, my mind-set on these adventures never changed to that of an adult. I was able to visit my sisters and really didn’t see the problem in getting stuck somewhere.

I still don’t.

I may have an overactive sense of adventure, or it may be the fact that I’ve practically grown up on airplanes. The vacation or destination has never quite excited me like the unexpected that could come along with it.

After finally getting to LaGuardia, I met up with my sister and spent the day as a tourist around Manhattan and Queens. We talked about places we could visit before heading over to, yes, another airport. (JFK this time, though.)

Barely checking flights before we left her apartment, we stood in the middle of the international terminal with Europe on our minds. God only knew where we were bound to end up that night because we hardly had a clue.

First we would try Dublin or Edinburgh, otherwise it was Paris or somewhere in Spain perhaps. All depended on what open seats we could fill to get out of New York. We didn’t have to think far down our list because we got first class seats to Dublin without even a thought of where we would stay that next night.

The spontaneity of it all had me smiling from ear to ear for the entire 6½ hour flight.

T h e y s ay t h at it’s n ot t h e destination, but the journey that matters. I must say it’s neither. They are both the expected, the certain, the planned for. Some of the best things created in life are unexpected, and instead of being anxious or intimidated by them, you have to learn how to take these opportunities and run with them.

Every day, I enjoy the suspense that the next 24 hours could bring me. I’m afraid of missed chances, but I’ve learned not to dwell on the things that I cannot change. It’s important to make the best of whatever reality I end up with. I hope such a mindset takes me to many more places.

Standby for unexpected adventures

Christina Johnson Editor-in-Chief

W

aiting an additional two hours at O’Hare International Airport is not exactly how I like to spend my summer days, but I made do with an overpriced slice of pizza and a selfguided tour of the concourse. NYC would just have to wait.

Attempting to fly standby is not something that most people are built for.

It’s full of unease and an overwhelming sense of uncertainty. Standby is when a non-revenue passenger—usually an employee or family member of one—gets a seat that would’ve gone out empty otherwise.

My mother’s constant anxiety over getting on a flight or getting stuck in a random city always bothered me.

When I was young, I knew that no matter what happened, my parents would deal with it—that I was only along for the ride and not for the worry

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 outhw ord s i s a s tu 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 h e 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

Christo Fosse Christina Johnson

News Editors

Mary Godley Elaine Smith Dimitri Speron

Entertainment Editors Luke Bechtel Jenny Blasius Victoria Pontikes Features Editors

Kelly Lennon Erin Martin Tommy O’Connor

Commentary Editors Caroline Coyle Louise Macaraniag Sports Editors Art Editor

Colleen Johnson Kevin McNulty

Yara Ruzhkovska

Photography Editors

Jen Beck Michael Frazier

Production Editors Justyna Lepa Arden Sasak Adviser

Mr. Stathakis

SouthwordS 7

FEATURES | September 8, 2017

Jonathan Ryser Features Writer

F

rom Carbondale to Park Ridge, Maine South students took time out of the school day to witness the solar eclipse on Aug. 21.

Thanks to the efforts of many individuals in the school district, every student was given a pair of viewing glasses to witness the partial solar eclipse. The last time an eclipse passed coast to coast across the U.S. was nearly 100 years ago in 1918.

Maine South Science Department Chair, Mrs. Daun Biewenga, was the driving force in having students and staff witness the partial eclipse at the three district 207 schools.

“I contacted the principals, associate principals, assistant principals, and science department chairs at all three Maine schools to see if it could be a possibility to have an assembly for the eclipse,” said Mrs. Biewenga. “Everyone was very enthusiastic about the idea, especially Dr. Collins and the other principals.”

Organizing the assembly required the efforts of many individuals.

Maine South Associate Principal

Mr. George Dagres constructed the bell schedule for the assembly.

Maine South Assistant Principal for Students Mr. Dave Berendt was in charge of funding and ordering glasses; nearly 7,000 pairs were bought at a negotiated price of between 50-60 cents a pair.

The Science Department Chairs from all three Maine Schools worked with teachers from their departments to brainstorm ideas to make the assembly as enjoyable as possible for the students.

“Over the last two weeks, I worked closely with Mr. Berendt and Mr. Tom Egan (science teacher) to prepare an agenda and work out the logistics, such as how to distribute the glasses, which videos and other resources we wanted students to see, and how to communicate to the public details of the event,” Mrs. Biewenga said.

Mr. Tom Egan’s Space Science students designed posters, a website, and a trivia contest for their fellow students.

Custodian Mr. Cline and the Maine South Maintenance Department prepared the stadium and press box for the event.

Maine South CTE teacher Mrs.

Eyes on

Taking a break from classes, Maine South the first one to stretch across the

◄

Sheryl Peterson along with other administrative assistants in the main office helped organize resources for the day.

English Department Chair Mr. Parrilli read the poem “Seeing the Eclipse in Maine” by Robert Bly. Despite scattered clouds that occasionally limited visibility, the assembly went off without a hitch.

“Maine South has a new class this year called Space Science,” Mr. Egan said. “It is a semester long elective class. Right now, we have two sections running this semester. One section of this class made all of the posters, while the other one made a website that contained parallel information to the posters. The class making the posters started work on the first day of school, and worked nonstop through Wednesday to research, and design the posters.”

PHOTO BY JEN BECK The main worry throughout the day was weather. There was quite a bit IT’S LIT Seniors Ally Kowalski, Veronica Bystrowicz, Hope McMullen, Emily Barry, Megan Streightiff, Tressa Weddington, Haley Crawford, and Evie Costigan share a of cloud cover, and many were worried thumbs up with the camera while viewing the eclipse at Maine South’s school-wide assem- that the sun would not be visible. While bly. Their school provided glasses allowed them to do so safely. there were some visibility issues, for the

8 SouthwordS

most part, the clouds opened up, and Maine South got a view of the eclipse.

With cooperating visibility, there were also concerns for safety, as looking at the sun with a naked eye can cause permanent damage to the eye. The school made sure they gave thorough instructions regarding the use of eclipse glasses through a number of announcements, as well as a preassembly video.

In many science classes, teachers talked about the eclipse with their students. The video selected for student viewing prior to coming outside for the assembly, National Geographic’s “Solar Eclipse 101,” had an explanation about the eclipse as well as how to view it properly to ensure safety.

“The photography students were outside with their cameras, lenses, and filters during the eclipse,” Mrs. Biewenga said. “There were extra measures taken for some of our special education students so that they could participate, and the student news crew from WMTH was on hand to broadcast and film the assembly as well.”

September 8, 2017 | FEATURES PHOTOS BY TED WYSHEL

◄

TOTALITY Senior Ted Wyshel captured these shots of the eclipse at Shawnee National Forest in Herod, Illinois. Wyshel took pictures both before and after totality, including one shot of totality as seen in the middle.

the Skies

h students and staff celebrate the eclipse— e entire United States in 99 years. all students and staff,” Mrs. Biewenga said. “Many other area schools kept their students inside during the eclipse because they did not have glasses for them and were worried about the students’ safety. It saddens me to think about all of the children who were not

PHOTO BY MICHAEL FRAZIER

Stu d e nt s and te a che rs a l i ke expressed gratitude for this special opportunity granted by administrators.

“I am extremely grateful that the school and district administrators allowed us to have this assembly and found a way to pay for the glasses for

◄

SHOCK AND AWE Seniors Jonny Whitelaw and J.T Calabrese gaze at the eclipse from the top of the visitors’ bleachers. Students took full advantage of viewing the eclipse when the cloud coverage allowed for it.

able to see this rare and magnificent “As simple as it sounds, it was really natural event.” interesting that we were watching the Many people expected to see more moon pass by in front of the sun,” Voris of an environmental change which may said. “We see the moon almost every have been a result of stories told about night but this setting felt interesting. The total eclipses. natural beauty from it was also amazing “The eclipse was over-hyped,” junior to see.” They are already planning for the Tommy Brander said. “The news 2024 eclipse. constantly spoke “I thought it of the total eclipse, wouldn’t be any a n d w e n e v e r “As simple as it sounds, dif ferent f rom were told what to seeing it at school, expect from the it was really interesting but I was amazed,” non-total eclipse.

Christina that we were watching Senior I guess I expected Habisohn said. something more the moon pass by in “Especially since u n n atu r a l an d it was in totality. more beautiful front of the sun.”

We got to s e e than what I saw,” -Gavin Voris ‘18 t h e e c l i p s e at Many others, Goreville, Illinois however, were thankful for the time which was the closest spot to see that the school allotted to viewing the the eclipse with the longest duration eclipse. time of totality at two minutes and “The eclipse was wonderful to see,” forty seconds. It absolutely exceeded said sophmore Alexia Gurgone. “And my expectations,” senior Christina it was awesome to be able to enjoy it Habisohn said. with my friends in the middle of the Habisohn visited Goreville with her school day.” family and got to listen to a narration While Maine South hosted their of the event by the University of Illinois own festivities, some students went to Astronomy Department.

Southern Illinois to witness the eclipse “All around me darkened and in totality. A small group of students the temperature dropped drastically. saw a ninety-seven percent eclipse in Cricket sounds appeared but when as Springfield. the sun came back into appearance the “We actually didn’t drive to the sound went away,” Habisohn said. “In eclipse,” senior Gavin Voris said. “We seven years, my family promised that took an Amtrak train really early in we would all meet up at the same spot the morning. It was definitely worth to see it all happen again.” taking the train because we were able Thanks to the work of Maine South to dodge some traffic; it was also a cool staff and students, the entire school’s experience because none of us had view was enhanced by a well-worked taken an Amtrak before.” assembly. And for those who traveled “We had brought a speaker down the view was even more impeccable. with us for music during the eclipse. For those who played a role in the We timed our music so that when the preparation for this event, the outcome eclipse reached totality, Pink Floyd’s was particularly rewarding. song ‘Eclipse’ from Dark Side of the “This was an incredibly awe-filled Moon came on and played through the experience for me, and I hope it was remainder of the eclipse,” Voris added. memorable for all who participated,” Those who got to see the eclipse in said Mrs. Biewenga. “I am looking greater totality experienced much more forward to the next eclipse which is set drastic changes. for 2024.”

SouthwordS 9

FEATURES

| September 8, 2017

Seniors

make their

Kelly Lennon, Erin Martin, & Tommy O’Connor Features Editors

S

BUCKET LIST

enior year is the cornerstone of high school, and making it memorable is an adventure many seniors at Maine South embark on. The staff of Southwords asked Maine South seniors what they wanted to accomplish before graduating; here’s what they had to say.

1. Be front row at every football game.

-Haley Crawford 2. Survive six AP classes.

-Nikola Nikolic 3. Win Mr. Hawk.

Maine south

-Jack Muno

4. Roadtrip with friends -Grace Mountin 5. Attend a dance -Emma Wonsowicz

1.

“One of my goals is to be front row at every football game because I love cheering on our guys,” senior Haley Crawford said. “Friday nights have been some of my favorite parts of high school, from cheering sideline to now being in the stands.” A cheerleader for 3 years, Crawford made the transition from sideline to stands her senior year.

Coming off a state-championship season, this year’s football team will garner attention from all over the state as many speculate whether the Hawks can defend their title. Year after year, regardless of how the Hawks are playing, many seniors take it upon themselves to attend as many football games as possible. As the students with the most experience, seniors are given the task of organizing and leading the student section in cheer.

2.

Senior Nikola Nikolic has undertaken six AP Classes this year, an extremely arduous class load. He is currently enrolled in AP Chemistry, BC Calculus, Micro and Macro Economics, German, English Literature and Composition, and Computer Science. “My AP classes are like my children—I have to pay constant attention to them, and they keep me up all night,” Nikolic said. His goal this year is to manage all of these classes and receive straight A’s.

While a schedule this intense requires a lot of time and effort to upkeep, the benefits are worth the struggle for many students. Each AP class, although difficult, provides the opportunity for college credit. Colleges also reward those who maintain a rigourous schedule all the way through senior year.

3.

Senior Jack Muno has made it his ultimate goal this year to win the annual Maine South Mr. Hawk competition. Muno is coming off a hard loss after last year’s Mr. Hawk event.

This year he is hoping to bounce back and come out on top.

Mr. Hawk received an enthusiastic response in its first two years, and many are looking forward to the third edition. The competition pits Maine South’s most spirited boys against each other in trials of fashion, spirit, and personality. While many boys may be entered into the competition, only one Mr. Hawk is crowned every year.

4.

6. Perform in V-Show -Meghan Breslin

Senior Grace Mountin has made it her goal to hit the road with her friends this year. “We want to drive down to Tennessee and meet some really cute cowboys to bring back to Maine South,” Mountin said.

Many seniors choose to spend their time away from school with friends. Trips like these are great times to form lasting memories with those you have grown up with. With friends going many different places after graduation, seniors try and make the most of every moment they get to spend with their peers.

GRAPHIC

BY YARA

RUZHKO

VSKA

5.

10 SouthwordS

Senior Emma Wonsowicz has been to exactly one dance throughout her high school career. “As soon as I got to the dance, someone spilled punch all over my dress,” said Wonsowicz. “I’ve never gone back.” Emma’s goal for her senior year is to make her return to school dances without ruining her dress.

While every student does not attend every dance, Senior Prom is one that most seniors don't want to miss, as it is one of the last nights together with peers.

6.

Senior Meghan Breslin is entering her fourth year as a member of the Varsity Hawkettes and second year as captain. “Every year, the seniors on Varsity Hawkettes do a performance in the V-Show and I have been waiting for my moment in the show since freshman year,” Breslin said.

It has been a long standing Maine South tradition for the senior varsity Hawkettes to dance in the V-Show. Breslin and her fellow senior Hawkettes will be performing at this year’s V-Show, “How to Get Away with V-Show.”

September 8, 2017 | ENTERTAINMENT

'The Glass Castle' fails to shatter expectations Liam Conlon

Entertainment Writer

"The Glass Castle"

F

or many Maine South students who value summer fun over getting ahead academically, the first week of August presents a challenge: read a full-length novel as fast as humanly possible. Often, if the book in question has a film adaptation, many students flock to it in order to trade a week of reading for a couple hours of entertainment.

Summer reading books such as "True Grit" and "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" both have film adaptations which garnered significant critical praise. On Aug. 11, another film adaptation entered the mix: Destin Daniel Cretton's rendition of Jeanette Walls' 2005 autobiography, "The Glass Castle."

Unfortunately for future juniors, this film is proof of what we already know—the movie can never replace the book.

Walls' story is one told through the eyes of her younger self as she follows

Some of the most memorable points in the book come as Walls describes pivotal moments in her life, such as her father’s “gift” of the stars on Christmas, her days at the local swimming pool during the less-thanlegal race-restricted hours, and the family reunion at the end of the book.

On the big screen, however, much of this imagery is lost at the expense of fitting in some of the book’s many morals.

This major oversimplification is tolerable, as no honest filmmaker would want to her poverty-stricken exclude any parents across mid-20thsignificant latent century America. Walls’ themes during the strengths in storytelling transition from lie in her descriptiveness, print to picture. where she can perfectly However, with detail her father’s unstable the dire need to attitude, her mother’s fit as many of Rex spacey disposition, the Walls’ life lessons unforgiving landscape into the film as of each place they lived in, and the possible, much of the necessary figurative glimmer of hope offered character development was lost as by her siblings. the early stages of the novel were

shaved away, leading to a forced, but touching, emotional sequence at the end to stitch up the lack of connection between the audience of the characters.

Even after this streamlining, many scenes feel rushed and disconnected, and, frankly, there isn’t enough time to capture the vast, desolate sense of silence that Walls was able to describe so well in the book. It felt like watching a feature-length trailer for the book.

Despite this negative comparison, it isn’t fair to base an entire opinion on the movie around these shortcomings.

The movie itself, if the book is ignored, still has individual merit—but more so for those who haven’t, and don’t plan to, read the novel. Yes, much of the story was lost, but the motion picture still made an effort to acknowledge these scenes by including many of the small-but-memorable details.

Ultimately, Cretton's lack of faithfulness is understandable. In the comparably brief runtime allotted, adapting "The Glass Castle" to the silver screen is a task with which even the most seasoned filmmaker would struggle.

'Splatoon' gets a fresh coat of paint for 2017 Jacob Grandinetti

Entertainment Writer platoon 2,” a fast-paced and lighthearted multi-player shooter game created by Nintendo, is the successor to the 2015 smash hit “Splatoon.”

Available on the Nintendo Switch, “Splatoon 2” isn’t so much a sequel as it is an upgrade of the original. The main difference that separates it from its shooter game competitors is its unique style, fun mechanics, and all-age playability.

Much like the first game, players can customize their squid-like humanoid characters and jump into turf wars against other players. The “inklings,” as they are called in-game, use ink-powered weapons to shoot the ground and surrounding area. However, weapons can only shoot for a certain amount of time before they need to be refilled. To refill their ink meter, the inklings can transform into a squid and travel through the ink.

Players can move much more quickly in squid form, but can only travel through their own team’s color of ink. If inklings are overcome by an opposing character’s ink, they are sent back to the respawn point.

Matches are held 4v4 style, and feature two contrasting colors. The winner is declared by whomever has the most ground covered in their team’s ink.

“S

From the start, players are able to choose their gender, hairstyle, clothing options, and eye color. As one progresses through the multi-player mode, new weapons are made available, and new clothing can be purchased at various in game stores. The game ships with eight unique stages, with more to come in future free updates.

Matches are three minutes each, giving them just the right amount of action, without being too long. There’s even a whole 32-mission optional story mode, with special gear and loot being held as an incentive.

“Splatoon 2” also offers several new gameplay modes over the original game as well. Salmon Run is the real star here, allowing up to 4 people to team up and defeat waves of oncoming evil “Salmonids” and collect golden eggs. Waves get progressively harder and more chaotic until a certain number of golden eggs is reached. As Salmonid bosses are defeated, players can collect special power-ups such as XP Boosts and Speed Boosts.

Graphically, the game is vibrant and colorful, with a cartoony aesthetic that’s pleasing to the eye. With the sheer power of the Nintendo Switch, there is little to no lag during online gameplay, and loading times are short. Since the Switch is essentially a tablet that can connect to the TV, “Splatoon 2” can be taken on the go and looks every bit as impressive on the small screen.

“Splatoon 2” is a delightful game, but strays very little from its predecessor, besides adding new modes and customization options. If you haven’t played the first game, this game is great and has rounded out some major flaws of the original. If you were a fan of the first game, the core mechanics remain, so you be the judge if it’s worth the 60 dollar price tag.

GET INKED

Gameplay in "Splatoon 2" uses paint in place of the typical firearms of other shooter games, making it unique and kid-friendly. The game made a splash in its debut, selling 648,085 copies in Japan during its first week.

SouthwordS 11

ENTERTAINMENT

| September 8, 2017

The fall play is off to a noisy start Abby Cohen

Entertainment Writer n 2001, Maine South took their production of “Ice Wolf ” downstate to the Illinois High School Theatre Festival. Now, 16 years later, the Fine Arts Department is applying for another one of their productions to be brought to the festival.

The application process is very selective, as only around 25 shows are selected each year.

To d e te r m i ne w h i ch pl ay s attend the festival, 2-3 judges are sent to each school to critique their production. However, the quality of the performance is not the only factor considered. The festival must ensure diversity in the types of productions

I

present and tries to avoid consistently representing the same schools and plays.

If the play is selected, the entire show (including its massive twostory set) will be transported to and performed at the festival, where it will be among the best high school theatre productions in Illinois.

Maine South’s Fine Arts program director, Mrs. Carrie Saurer, selected Michael Frayn’s “Noises Off ” for this year’s fall play.

“Noises Off ” is a British farce about putting on a farce called “Nothing On.” The show humorously follows the dysfunctional relationships of the “Nothing On” cast members as they struggle to put on their show.

PHOTO BY JEN BECK

MAKEUP ON, NOISES OFF Senior co-head of makeup crew, Anna Laskowski, tests out potential stage makeup on fellow makeup crew member Ella Babbitt. “Noises Off ” draws makeup inspiration from the 70s, as that decade is the setting of its own play, “Nothing On.”

“‘Noises Off ’ is a play that has been on my short list for a long time,” Mrs. Saurer said. “Simply put, it is the funniest play I have ever seen. When you read the script, you laugh and there are some obvious good jokes, but the true brilliance of this comedy lies in the actors themselves.”

“Last year, our fall play was a serious drama,” she said. “This year, I knew it was time for a comedy, and ‘Noises Off ’ is the ultimate comedy. I love how it challenges all of us.”

Compared to previous fall plays with large ensemble casts, the cast of “Noises Off ” is significantly smaller.

The show’s 11 person cast, including juniors Zechariah Pappageorge and Jon Luke Lassa, and senior Claire Connolly, limited student participation.

“During the first act, we are an audience to this production of a play within a play,” Mrs. Saurer said, “The ‘Nothing On’ cast is lovable, but mainly inept; however, we cheer for them under our breath and hope they can pull it together and get the show on the road.”

“Act Two, however, dashes all hopes. We, the audience, are sitting backstage; the entire set has been turned 180 degrees. We can hear the actors performing out front, but what we see is the back side of the scenery flats, the stage manager trying to keep the action flowing and everybody happy, and the various antics of the actors offstage between their exits and

Breakfast for Dinner by Yara Ruzhkovska

12 SouthwordS

entrances,” she added.

Act Two is told almost entirely without any spoken lines. The actors tell the story almost entirely through physical comedy. Mrs. Saurer notes that Act Three is even more frenetic.

Behind the Maine South curtain, stage crew—which consists of painting, hair and makeup, costumes, construction, lighting, sound, and props and publicity—has been at work hurrying to make the “Noises Off ” stage come to life.

One of the main attractions is a two-story set that revolves 180 degrees on stage. One side acts as the set for “Nothing On,” while the other side brings you behind the scenes of “Nothing On.” “A lot of planning is going into this set piece because of how big it is,” said junior Ben Marshall, a construction crew member. “There is a front side, made to look like a house, and a back side which is going to look like a theatre’s backstage. We also have to make it revolve.”

Ultimately, “Noises Off ” is different than any other Maine South production. It is witty and fast-paced with every character just as intriguing as the next. Students on and off stage have been putting in countless hours to make this show the best it can be.

“Noises Off ” will debut at Watson Theatre, Sept. 28, 29 and 30 at 7:30 p.m., and potentially at the 2018 Illinois High School Theatre Festival in January.

Cards Against Friendship

September 8, 2017 | ENTERTAINMENT

SUMMER MOVIE B

O

M

B

S

ART BY YA

RA RUZH

KOVSKA

Although the box office totals for this summer were at their lowest in more than a decade, this past movie season undoubtedly boasted a handful of gems. Even more notable, though, were a handful of spectacularly bad films unlike any we've ever seen. Here are some of our (least) favorites.

"The Mummy"

"The Emoji Movie"

Grace Anelli, Veronica Espinoza, & Isabella Killian Entertainment Writers

S

ony’s “The Emoji Movie” has gained notoriety in the media and, ultimately, has become one of the most poorly-reviewed films of all time. But why? The movie’s hollow plot focusing on a young emoji’s quest to fit in plays extensively off the “be yourself/be unique” cliché permeating other contemporary animated movies such as Disney’s “Wreck-It Ralph” and Warner Bros.’ “The Lego Movie," except it is done much less effectively.

“The Emoji Movie” demonstrates this motif in a grossly overblown way that discourages the audience from digging below the surface.

The movie also blatantly panders to a young audience by exploiting well-known pop culture references such as “Just Dance,” YouTube, and "Candy Crush"; Sony comes off as if they are trying to sell a product rather than offer a meaningful experience.

The only reason the movie seems to have gained any traction at all is by means of its now-notorious negative reception, with the film becoming the new "cool" thing to hate.

"The Dark Tower"

Grace Anelli

Veronica Espinoza

W

C

Entertainment Writer hen creating a reboot, it should be kept in mind that the final product is going to be heavily compared to the original. The producers must be conscious to make sure their reboot stands out from the original by making it modern, yet faithful.

This certainly isn’t the case for “The Mummy.”

Littered with annoying characters and a lackluster plot, this action-adventure flick falls far short of the two previous versions. The film is loaded with uninspired action sequences consisting of monotonously running from one location to another, and although the backgrounds are pleasing to the eye, “The Mummy” was a huge disappointment to both fans of the original work and to people simply trying to beat the summer heat for a couple hours.

The 1999 edition of “The Mummy" was widely beloved upon its release for its wonderful balance of adventure, horror, and comedy that, unfortunately, the latest edition sorely lacked. They should’ve kept this mummy underground.

Entertainment Writer olumbia Pictures’ “The Dark Tower” is this summer’s token disappointing and unnecessary novelto-movie adaptation. Based on the series of novels by Stephen King, the film tells the tale of a boy who sees the future and discovers the plans of an evil menace who wants to destroy a tower with power over all of reality. But the plot of this film fails to capture the magic of the original books, leaving audiences alienated and bored.

Further efforts that the film makes to introduce pathos through a father/son dynamic disappoint, and the film flounders to demonstrate its hackne yed theme of go o d versus evil, brushing over those important messages without any elaboration.

The much-anticipated film leaves audiences confused as to what the moral of the story is, and disappointed that they wasted their time on a poor version of a great book. For now, the best way to experience Stephen King's epic saga is sitting on the shelf at your local library.

"Transformers: The Last Knight"

Isabella Killian

Entertainment Writer eaching its fifth installment, the “Transformers” franchise has nothing new to offer in terms of plot.

Similar to the last four films, “The Last Knight” aims its action-packed lens at a world in which a centurieslong civil war has led the two warring factions of alien Transformers to Earth, where humanity’s last hope is hidden deep within history.

The allure of the classic forces of good versus evil is often best expressed through explosions and machine guns; however, after five films, it starts to get repetitive. The special effects used to create a universe filled with alien robot creatures are the highlight of the film.

Aside from the captivating effects, the plot felt lazily thrown together without regard for building an airtight story. While vapid action films can be fun, eventually, audiences are going to want something that can leave a lasting impression rather than pacify them with mindless violence.

Every franchise inevitably meets its downfall when lacking fresh ideas, as this one has.

R

SouthwordS 13

SPORTS

| September 8, 2017

Boys’ XC looks to repeat as conference champs Sam Corbett

Sports Writer ou can sleep when you are dead.” That is the mindset Coach Greg Nordahl has put into his runners at the varsity level. Instead of sleeping over the summer, the team put in thousands of miles.

“Y

PHOTOS BY LAUREN VAUGHN PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY ARDEN SASAK

Boys’ cross country is coming off a very successful year in 2016, having won conference.

They don’t plan on giving up that title during the 2017 campaign.

The runners have been working out inside during the winter and outside through the brutal heat of summer. A daily summer routine starts at 7:00 a.m. Team workouts consist of “tempo runs” which is a pace of a 5:30 mile time. They

also do core work like sit-ups, pushups, and upper body lifts, but the other main focus is lower b o dy l i f t s and durability.

During the s c h o o l y e a r, t e a m practices largely focus on stretching and lower body lifting. Senior Brandon Christopher, who is also one of the team captains, insists that the individual work is

key too.

“I made it a goal to work on getting in shape through my whole body,” Christopher said. “To do this, I had to work on what I ate, and I had to go to the gym after team workouts.”

Most runners in the cross country program will run upwards of 500 miles during summer training.

The goal of Maine South varsity runners is to run 800 miles. To put this in perspective, this is like running from Chicago to Dallas, TX. Christopher said he recognizes the importance of increased intensity workouts.

“My attitude has changed to embrace the harder workouts.” Christopher said. “This is crucial to me in order to make it into all-state competition, which is the top 25 in all of Illinois. I used to tend to think about what the minimal effort I could put in would be, as well as limiting my discomfort. As a senior, I am trying to make the most of my workouts.”

All Maine South runners share a special bond, whether it’s celebrating after a race, or hanging out at the pasta parties before a meet. These bonds can help the runners come together and surpass their goals, like beating New Trier in conference again, or to improve as an individual runner year by year.

Ultimately, the team is looking to win the CSL conference meet, as well as place well in big invites at Lyons and Palatine High Schools.

Junior Tommy Brady is looking to harness his tough mindset and talent to make a run at the podium. He realizes that the team needs to put in the work this year if they want to repeat as conference champs.

“It will take miles of dedication for us to succeed this year,” Brady said.

Wagner leads girls’ swimming to early success

Katie Roche Sports Writer

C

oming back after an exciting season last year, girls’ swimming has a lot of high expectations for the season.

Last year the team received 7th at the IHSA Sectionals and 16th at the State Meet, led by sophomore phenom Annika Wagner. Their record was near .500 during the conference and nonconference meets.

The team lost seven seniors last year, and not all of them were replaced, this has made the varsity team much younger in 2017. As a result, they are a closer knit team, as some of the teammates noted.

Swimming is a strenuous sport because of the immense amount of practice required. The team is determined to do better this year and their training shows it. Four-year varsity swimmer, Milena Lim talked about the workload that goes into a season.

“Our practice schedule is a lot more aggressive in comparison to past years, with three to four morning practices a week in addition to practices after school Monday through Saturday,” Lim said.

At any given time, the team could be practicing up to 20 hours a week and swimming up to 5,000 to

14 SouthwordS

6,000 yards a day. During their morning practices, the team switches off between running or strength work and swimming. Even though this practice schedule is extremely rigorous, it is all working to better the team and achieve their goals.

For many years, the team’s goals have been similar. The 2017 season is no different.

“The goal for the team year after year is to get a relay to State, but I think this year, it’s also necessary to have fun,” Lim said.

Last year, the team did not have as demanding of a schedule, as they do this year. The girls hope that the extra practice will pay off in the long run.

“The goals for this year are simple,” said Coach Kura. “We lost about five meets last year by a combined total of 24 points, which is not a lot. That basically means that all of those meets came down to the last relay. We want to win those close meets this year, so the goal is to train hard in practice every day and to race each other so that when we are tired at the end of meets we can finish strong.”

Annika Wagner led the team last year in the water by breaking four long-term school records during her first season at Maine South. She broke the records in the 500-yard freestyle, 200-yard IM, 200-yd freestyle, and 200-yard breastroke. At State

last year, she came in 4th place in the 500-yard freestyle and 200-yard IM. In addition to being a strong force in the water, this year, Wagner is determined to be a leader outside of the pool as well.

“As a freshman, you don’t have much say, but now that I’m a sophomore, I can help get the team together so we really become close,” Wagner said.

Despite all of her achievements, she is still level-headed and humble about doing her part as a teammate. Coach Kura certainly appreciates her leadership.

“For a swimmer that good, it would be easy for her to want special treatment by coaches or teammates. but that isn’t Annika at all. She is always team first and never wants to talk about herself; that attitude really forces other swimmers to buy into the team concept in a sport that can also be very individual,” Coach Kura said.

The team’s first meet was on Aug. 23 where they beat Conant High School 113 to 67. During this meet, Wagner broke another school record in the 200-yard Freestyle. Wagner set this record last season and beat it by two seconds. Wagner is looking forward to Sectionals and hopes that they can have a relay at the state meet as well.

September 8, 2017 | SPORTS

Lacrosse sanctioned as IHSA sport Cole Steffen Sports Writer

PHOTO BY MEGAN WEISS

T

BIG MAN ON CAMPUS Kyle Schwarber high fives campers after pitching to them in a home run derby contest.

Schwarber has taken an interest in mentoring Chicago's youth through programs like ProCamp.

Schwarber holds ProCamp at Maine South Colleen Johnson Sports Editor

K

yle Schwarber, left fielder for the Chicago Cubs, hosted a baseball ProCamp on Aug. 2 at Maine South’s baseball field.

At the camp, kids split up into groups where coaches and Schwarber were able to help them with various skills. They worked on batting, base running, throwing, and catching.

Schwarber also gave various demonstrations in front of all the kids, teaching and giving them tips on different skills. When he was asked about how they were able to help the kids, he mentioned one drill in particular.

“We were able to slow them down while doing an infield drill, and eventually they understood what was going on,” Schwarber said.

Some Maine South Baseball players were fortunate enough to help out with the camp as coaches. Senior Maine South baseball player Declan Griffin was one of them.

“Having a superstar at Maine South was an awesome experience for both the kids and the coaches" Griffin said. "Seeing him go through his swing in the batter’s box was the coolest part."

The kids and coaches at the camp

had a great experience learning and went to one of these camps when he having a good time with Schwarber. was a kid, run by Jay Bruce, and he The kids didn’t only gain baseball noted that it was very beneficial. skills from the camp, however.

Schwarber was able to help out “I think the biggest thing the kids kids of many ages with their baseball got out of the camp was inspiration to skills, but he also had a great time work hard because his story resonates with them. He is expecting to do more with a lot of them," Griffin said. camps like this in the future. Overall, ProCamps is a company founded Schwarber thinks the camp was a in 1998 that operates camps for terrific success. professional athletes and coaches “It’s really cool to set an example across the country. Many professional for the kids, and kind of be that role athletes ranging model for them.”

“Our main goal is for from NASCAR Schwarber was t o t h e N B A every kid to have a good injured most of the are involved in 2016 season with a time. Hopefully they’ll get torn ACL. However, these camps.

B o y s a n d something out of it, but at the h e w a s a b l e t o girls from first return during the end of the day, it’s all about World Series and to eighth grade we re abl e to these kids having fun.” help the Cubs sign up for this b e c o m e Wo r l d -Kyle Schwarber camp. They also Series Champions. received a shirt, Schwarber went to autograph, and team photo with Indiana University and was drafted Kyle. to the Cubs in 2014.

Not only did kids from the Schwarber is humble about Chicagoland area come to the camp, how everything lately has been life it even attracted some campers from changing to him. as far as Indiana and Oklahoma. The “It’s been a lot of fun. Coming main reason that Schwarber held this from the minors to being a World camp was the kids.

Series champion is just amazing," Schwarber knows that these Schwarber told ABC. "It’s even a camps can be fun and helpful. He privilege to hold a camp like this."

he Illinois High School Association has sanctioned lacrosse as an official school sport and will sponsor a state competition this spring.

Maine South boys' lacrosse had been a club sport since 2010 and girls' lacrosse since 2012, but starting in the spring of 2018, both teams will officially be members of Maine South Athletics.

Lacrosse becomes the 31st sport to be officially recognized by the IHSA following the sudden burst of popularity of the sport in the Midwest.

The fast-paced, heavy contact sport has historically been most prominent on the east coast, but within the last decade, lacrosse has expanded westward. Maine South junior, Alex Winton, has been playing lacrosse since fourth grade.

“I’ve seen lacrosse grow from a little-known club sport, into a highly competitive and increasingly recognized sport,” Winton said.

Winton, like the rest of Illinois lacrosse players, is very excited for lacrosse to transition into an official school sport. The lacrosse team hopes that along with IHSA sanctioning and providing a state tournament, more and more high schools will create teams.

The girls' varsity team has already achieved great success since starting in 2012, finishing especially strong the last two seasons, ranking fourth and fifteenth overall in state respectively according to MaxPreps. The boys' varsity team finished 44th in the state last season.

The coaches are remaining the same, even with the switch.

Both teams are looking to make improvements and set themselves up for success in their first season as an IHSA sport.

"I think we certainly have potential now that we are a regulated sport."

Winton said, "This year will be a significant improvement from past years."

With newfound confidence, both boys and girls programs believe they can compete at the highest level in the state tournament.

SouthwordS 15

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

New leaders emerge as football starts off strong Michael Yager Sports Writer

C

PH

OT

O

BY

JEN

BE

CK

oming off a state championship w in l ast Novemb er, Maine South football is looking for a repeat performance of that success this year.

Even though winning is the standard at Maine South, this year’s squad has had to develop a lot since that final victory. The team had a total of 122 off-season workouts since December, and Coach Inserra believes their championship-run last year helped them prepare for this year.

“Playing an extra five weeks of football gives us more time to improve for the following year by getting more practice time,” Coach Inserra said.

Maine South has several impact players from last year returning to the team, who Coach Inserra thinks will be keys to the team’s success this year.

Senior star running back and Northern Illinois commit, Fotis Kokosioulis, has 4,000 plus all-purpose yards in just two years. Senior Cam Stacy was the second-leading receiver from last year and also starts on defense.

Finally, senior Rory Hayes, who was injured in the playoffs last year, was a starter on both sides off the ball before that.

However, with Maine South losing several starters on offense and defense, the team needs players to step up to fill their spots. They were forced to replace the entire offensive line, an all-state quarterback, and several impact starters on defense.

One of the biggest changes is that senior John O’Sullivan will be leading the offense as the new quarterback of the Hawks. He was able

to lead both his freshman and his sophomore teams to an impressive 8-1 record.

Despite the fact he has not played very much on the varsity level, his coaches and teammates are confident in his ability to get the job done. O’Sullivan is sure that the team will achieve great things on offense.

“We just have to take care of the ball and play the way that we’ve been coached to play,” O’Sullivan said.

On the other side of the ball, the team’s defense only has a few players returning. However, the players have been striving to get better during every snap at practice.

This lack of experience might concern some people, but not senior linebacker Andrew Masterson.

“I’m very confident we will succeed this year on defense because of the coaches and players that are determined to win, from the coaches’ leadership and the players willingness to play from the heart,” he said.

“From the heart,” is actually the team’s motto is for this year. This is designed to drive them later in the season.

“Playing from the heart is really a mindset,” senior offensive lineman Thomas Yager said. “Pushing yourself to give everything you got on every play. If you’re playing from the heart, you k n o w y o u ’r e going to be giving it your all, and it’s going to translate to wins on the football field.”

Although a state championship is generally a good thing for a program, it does put some extra pressure on the following year’s team. C oach Inserra knows this pressure exists, but he will not allow it to affect them negatively.

HIGH-SPEED CHASE

PHOTO BY JEN BECK

Senior Fotis Kokosioulis breaks away from the Glenbard West defense for his fourth touchdown of the game on Aug. 26. Kokosioulis was the leading CSL rusher the past two seasons.

“There is a target on our back, but we are going to use that pressure and that stress in a positive way, so we can get better as a team,” he said.

Not only is there some added pressure on the team, but they also play one of the hardest non-conference schedules in the state. The team played Glenbard West in week one, who was a semi-finalist last year, and Lincoln-Way East in week two, who Maine South beat in the quarterfinals in 2016. Next week they will take on Fremd, who knocked off the number 8 seed in the state bracket last year. They wrap up non-conference play against Palatine, who Maine South beat in the semi-finals a year ago.

The tough schedule has been a driving factor for hard work in the offseason because the team knows that their toughest tests are right at the beginning of the year.

“You know at the beginning of the year you better have your A-game, and those first four games are really going to test us,” Coach Inserra said. “We could be 2-2 coming out of the first four weeks and still be a really good football team.”

The Hawks, ranked number two by the Chicago Tribune, got off to a good start in week one with a 62-34 win over Glenbard West. Maine South played well on both sides off the ball, with the offense scoring on every possession.

O’Sullivan was a perfect 13 for 13

resulting in 168 passing yards, and from the backfield, Kokosioulis rushed for a total of 167 yards. The defense also played a key role in the victory, coming up with two key interceptions, including a pick six.

In the home opener against Lincoln Way East, the Hawks fought until the end, eventually falling 28-26. They did not have the same success with the running game as they did in week one, but defense took a step up. Led by junior Jimmy Bartell, they only allowed seven points in the second half, but that wasn’t enough to overcome missed opportunities in the first half mistakes.

For quarterback John O’Sullivan, it was difficult to follow up a 13 for 13 performance the week before, but the team hopes this game is something to build off of. Many believe this loss could play in their favor down the road, just like the loss to Loyola a year ago.

With more games against ranked teams ahead, the Hawks will look for more consistency on offense.

The CSL South has also improved from past years. Maine South’s final loss of the 2016 season came against New Trier, who brings back most of their starters on offense.

They’ll look to revert to their strengths in week one, this evening versus Fremd, before beginning the conference season.