Vol 58, Issue 5 Southwords

ISSUE 5

3/11/2022

Southwords MARCH 22, 2019 • VOL. 55, NO. 6

Our story

sniffers at south page 4

viral trends pages 10-11

crossword page 14

l a i a ic ed o s m Southwords

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e h t

e u ss

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Regular news and sports coverage on pages 17-20

March 11, 2022

D

ear readers,

In today’s society, social media seems somewhat indispensable. Whether chatting with friends or posting status updates, “screenagers” rely on social media to make connections that were once formed face-to-face.

Considering the amount of time we spend on our devices, questions inevitably rise about the power social media holds over us, both positive and negative.

Why do high schoolers use private accounts versus public ones? What is the effect of too much screentime? Do Instagram standards really promote body positivity? Is the dress blue and black or white and gold?

In this issue, we’ll do our best to answer these pressing questions as we scroll through social media’s effect on our lives.

Swapping coloring books for iPads, the age that kids are accessing the internet is lower than ever before. With social media at their fingertips, kids struggle with body image, can be exposed to inappropriate content, and sometimes fail to fully understand the legality of their actions.

Although Gen Z is often reprimanded for being online too much, to the point of earning “iGen” as a nickname, social media isn’t always the villain it is portrayed to be. It has an immeasurable impact on our lives—sometimes in ways we don’t fully understand.

Social media can be a positive force—a catalyst for social change that also aids in everyday social interactions. Social media allows political movements to gain momentum via national, and sometimes international coverage, while individuals can connect on a personal level with others. The spectrum of social media’s use, its users, and its messages reveals a lot about who we are as a society.

Social media is, and will continue to be, a leading medium for communication and connection in our society. We hope our deep dive into social media and its impact inspires you to think about your use of it and its role in your daily life.

Like and subscribe, John Biagi, Lillian Niziolek, & Elizabeth Ryser Editors-in-Chief

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 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 h e newspaper, whether through readership, submitting articles, or voicing comments or concerns, is encouraged.

Signed letters to the editor can be 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

John Biagi Lillian Niziolek Elizabeth Ryser

News Editors Elizabeth Handley Beth Kosiorek Jake Snyder

SCREEN TIME: STUDENTS VS TEACHERS A voluntary e-mail survey of 181 students and 52 teachers shows the average amount of time per day students and teachers spend on their phones. More than 10% of students spend more than 8 hours a day on their on their phones, while no teachers had a daily average of more than 7 hours.

STUDENTS 5-6 6-8 hours hours 16.7% 12.8%

4-5 hours

8-15 hours 10.1%

0-1 hour

20%

3-4 2-3 hours hours 20%

TEACHERS

12.8%

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2.8%

1-2 hours 5%

3-4 hours 2-3 hours

25%

4-5 hours 5.8%

6-7 hours

26.9%

1.9%

1-2 hours 30.8%

0-1 hour 9.6%

Commentary Editors Darin Cheng Jacob Mascort Andjela Trkulja Features Editors

Finley Roland Lilien Schirazi Molly Shanahan

Entertainment Editors Julia Gryczko Jenna Marchuk Andrea Smith Sports Editors Madison Basquin Hayden Bower Matthew Moskal Production Editors Natalia Kowalewska Eden Wening Adviser

Mr. Stathakis

March 11, 2022

Screenagers learn to practice the art of self control Campbell Micek News Editor

E

lectronic devices have become a vital part of most people’s daily routines, especially those of the Gen Z and Gen Alpha age demographics, as these devices have been relevant for as long as they can remember.

Many students and teens experience high levels of screen time due to social media apps. These apps, targeted for teens and high school students, can often occupy a large amount of time and distract students from getting other important tasks done.

“I spend about 2 hours and 45 minutes on my phone each day, a large chunk of which is the time I spend on TikTok,” freshman Charlotte Hartung said. “I find myself scrolling through what I think are just a few 15-second videos, but by the time that I am done, what I originally thought was five minutes magically turns into much more.”

According to a voluntary survey of 181 students, 80 percent of those who responded indicated they spend at least three hours on their phones a day.

“My daily average screen time at the moment is between four to five hours,” junior MaryClare Koch said. “At times it has been higher or lower depending on whether it’s summer or during the school year.”

Social media apps like TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, and Twitter are downloaded by a large percentage of the population and have ultimately been recognized as a “time suck” for many teens.

“I spend most of my time on TikTok,” junior Collette Hennes said. “It’s probably because it’s so easy to lose track of time on that app.”

Social media can begin to monopolize students’ free time.

“I think I spend way too much time on my phone because I haven’t been able to partake in other hobbies I used to enjoy as often like reading and baking,” freshman Eliza Goldwasser said. “It has even gotten in the way of more important things

like homework.”

However, despite these concerns over screen time, only around 27 percent of students who responded to this survey stated that they set time limits for their apps.

“Because social media decreases productivity, I decided to limit my time on social media,” junior Maggie Woods said. “Before finals, a friend and I set screen time limits on each other’s phones on certain social media apps. By doing this, I could not override the notification without her inputting the password she had created. To this day I have not removed the limits and my screen time has never been lower. My current screen time is about two minutes, compared to my original screen time of 10 hours prior to enabling screen time limits.”

“When I keep my phone in another room from the one I’m in, it is so much easier to avoid checking it and focus on whatever I’m working on,” -Eliza Goldwasser (‘26) Some students already have limits set by their parents.

“My parents set screen time limits for my social media time,” Goldwasser said. “These limits help me a lot, as I know that I’m not spending too much time on my phone.”

Along with screen time limits, another way that students have been working on cutting down their screen time is distancing themselves from their phones for periods of time, such as leaving their phone in another room while completing tasks that require focus.

“One thing I currently do to help limit my screen time is leaving my phone in another room

when I’m doing homework or studying,” Koch said.

“I find that leaving my phone on my charger in my room while I’m doing homework allows me to be more productive and helps me establish a way to practice self control.”

Creating this boundary has been beneficial for students who are trying to be productive and complete tasks thoroughly.

“When I keep my phone in another room from the one I’m in, it’s so much easier to avoid checking it and focus on whatever I’m working on,” Goldwasser said.

Students have found that they have more control over their phone usage when they spend their time on social media for “brain breaks” between homework assignments.

“Sometimes I do need to take a break or clear my mind a little after doing homework,” Koch said. “I recognize this and allow myself to go on my phone for a little bit, but I am also working on finding other outlets to use as a ‘brain break.’”

However, not all screen time is spent on social media.

“I spend a fair amount of time on apps like Messages, Photos, Safari, Notes, and Google Drive for school purposes,” Koch said.

Many students recognize that social media is the main reason for high screen times.

“I try to keep myself in check when using my phone. I don’t want to spend 10 hours a day scrolling so typically I avoid downloading apps like Instagram or Snapchat,” junior Jack Hartung said.

With society becoming more and more dependent on smart devices, it may seem difficult to escape technology.

“It is easy for people to say ‘I should take a technology detox’, but it is significantly harder to execute,” junior Neve Sullivan said. “Regardless of how I manage my time on my phone, I still will always have to open up my Chromebook to do something related to school, which in the end will never actually leave me ‘screen free.’”

What is your favorite social media app? *Based on 181 responses to a voluntary e-mail survey

Facebook

Snapchat 21.8%

0.6%

Youtube 16.2%

No

72.4%

tumblr 0.1%

Twitter 1.1%

TikTok 40.8%

Instagram 14.5%

Pinterest

Yes

27.6%

4.5%

Do you set screen time limits? *Based on 181 responses to a voluntary e-mail survey

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March 11, 2022

‘Sniffing’ out the legality of social media accounts at school

Elizabeth Ryser

“We can’t control social media use with students lot, at a sporting event, in a crowded hallway or Editor-in-Chief with one major caveat: any school-affiliated or cafeteria, etc.,” Mr. Hiestand said.

It is not quite as clear whether students can his school year has seen a rise in Instagram related social media post that causes a disruption accounts that rely on posting images of to the school environment. Should we discover a expect privacy in classrooms.

“There are lots of areas in a school that are students in school without their permission. While post/account that creates disruption here, we can probably ‘gray zones’ in that they are neither many see these as harmless posts, students who and do always take action.”

Despite not being involved in regulating the clearly public or clearly private,” Mr. Hiestand create these accounts to poke fun at peers may not recognize the unforeseen legal consequences if an account and its posts, Maine South could suffer said. “A school classroom sometimes falls in account is run improperly, particularly regarding legal liability should the account harm the learning that category and we generally suggest student the non-consensual photography of others on environment and administration fails to intervene. media obtain consent before taking photos in “I would imagine there such spaces.” school grounds. are certain situations that @sniffersatsouth has faced some backlash from When mask restrictions “Photographers cannot the school would be liable— people who were unhappy after being posted on were still in place, two take photos in places where mainly if we were aware of a the account, but the admins have been able to s e n i ors , one ju n i or, a sophomore, and a freshman, students or others would have threat or danger to students resolve these issues with minimal consequences. and we did not address it,” “Someone said they’d push legal action, w h o w i s h t o r e m a i n a ‘reasonable expectation of Mr. Edwards said. “The so we took down their post as soon as they anony mous , u nite d to privacy.” create @sniffersatsouth on -Mike Hiestand person who carries the most said they were uncomfortable with it,” one liability would be the person @sniffersatsouth admin said. “A Direct Message Instagram, posting images of Senior Legal Counsel at the who created the account, with a screenshot of the post or forwarding the students with exposed noses.

Student Press Law Center made the threat, or illegally post to us is enough to get a post taken down.”

“A sniffer is someone recorded another person The @sniffersatsouth admins have not faced who doesn’t wear a mask legal repercussion but made an internal choice to properly, such as under the nose or under the chin,” without their consent.”

In his work with the Student Press Law Center, terminate the account on Feb. 8. one @sniffersatsouth admin said. “We started it [the “Maine South has never come forward asking account] as a joke, but slowly started getting into Senior Legal Counsel Mike Hiestand warns it a lot more as time went on due to the number of students about the legality of non-consensual us to delete the account and neither have parents,” photography. one @sniffersatsouth admin said. submissions we were getting.”  UNMASKED “Photographers cannot take Read more about the decision “We [the five admins] all decided Trending accounts like this did not originate at Maine South, but each account has a similar motive. photos in places where students to remove the mask mandate to quit posting because of the walk out.”

“We were inspired by @sniffersatnorth [the or others would have a ‘reasonable at Maine South.

With the multitude of uses for Niles North mask-patrolling account],” one expectation of privacy,’” Hiestand See page 20 technology, and particularly social @sniffersatsouth admin said. “We wanted to said. “That means, for example, you showcase what kind of state our own school was can’t take photos of students in the bathroom or media, Mr. Edwards is hopeful that students in when it came to the volume of sniffers we had.” in a locker room or another area where they could choose to uplift each other.

“Social media, like any other tool or technology, Though the administration does not approve of reasonably expect they have privacy.”

Many of the photos used for the account, can be used for uplifting reasons, but can also be the account, it has still been active.

“We were disappointed that students would use however, are taken in high-traffic areas, where used for negativity,” Mr. Edwards said. “I would hope that our students can spend their energy social media to intentionally shame others for any students do not have an expectation of privacy.

“They [students] generally wouldn’t have a legal and talent highlighting all that is good about reason, even if they were technically calling out misbehavior of a certain sort,” Associate Principal right to complain if their privacy was invaded if what happens inside of this building, rather than of Student Experiences Mr. Michael Edwards said. a photo was taken of them in the school parking making others feel shame when they slip up.”

T

How do you feel about the @sniffersatsouth Instagram account?

“Even though it was a little weird that people took pictures without consent, I think it spread awareness to wearing masks during peak Covid time.”

Skylar Shipp ‘24

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“It wasn’t effective. I know people who have been posted five to ten times but still don’t care.”

Andres Torres ‘23

“I think it would have been a problem if people took it seriously, but people thought it was funny.”

Evelyn O’Leary ‘22

ILLUSTRATION BY EDEN WENING

F

Social Media Graveyard

or most, Vine is likely the first app you think of when you think of a “Dead Social Media App.” It was founded in June 2012, allowing users to share six-second-long video clips.

It was acquired by Twitter in October of 2012 and later officially released on Jan. 24, 2013.

There were over 200 million Vine users by 2015; however, on Oct 27, 2016, Twitter announced that uploading to the app would be discontinued. Previous posts and videos were still accessible and could be downloaded until April 2019. Vine launched many current influencers’ careers like Liza Koshy and Logan Paul, who moved to YouTube upon the closure of Vine.

T

umblr is a social media app in which users can post multimedia and other content to create a small blog, known as micro-blogging. You can follow other peoples’ blogs and make your blogs private.

It was founded in 2007 and has been taken on and off the App Store amidst a variety of controversies. The app was particularly popular among “hipsters” in the early 2010s, and continues to be used, though by many fewer users.

The biggest intimidation when using the app is the complex interface, some see it as creative while others see it as messy. While the app is still in existence, the decline in users suggests it’s no longer relevant.

P

March 11, 2022

interest allows users to share images, GIFs, and short video clips that are saved (known as “pinning”) to pinboards.

This concept is reminiscent of vision boards as you “pin your interests” into different categories like haircuts, weddings, nail art, and so on. The app is also often known for its recipes and DIYs. Pinterest was also most popular in the early 2010s, as Time magazine listed it in its “50 Best Websites of 2011” article. As of March 2021, the app had over 478 million global monthly active users, so while you may not classify it as “dead,” many teens have abandoned their onceloved boards.

Mia Parangalan Entertainment Writer

F

acebook was one of the first social media apps to take off. The app provided a way to connect with people all over the world through the internet, sharing photos, videos, and comments.

There are many other features the app offers like streaming, news, games, Groups, and Facebook Messaging.

The app continues to serve a large active user base, though it is more popular among older generations than teens. The younger generation may occasionally use the app for college Facebook Groups, but it seems they prefer Instagram, which is coincidentally owned by Facebook’s parent company, Meta.

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March 11, 2022

How TikTok has encouraged and promoted reading Natalie Polinski

Entertainment Writer ikTok is one of the most popular social media apps around.

The app is most notably popular amongst teens; connecting them with their friends and other users with similar interests. TikTok has an algorithm that filters through posts and hashtags to show users what the app thinks they would enjoy. When it comes to an interest in books, users may find themselves in an online community called BookTok. BookTok is a hashtag used by readers to review and talk about books. It has become exceptionally popular on TikTok, renewing users’ love for reading and helping them discover new books, genres, and authors.

BookTok gives users a space to voice their opinions on popular books, uncover new favorites, and connect with others.

Students at Maine South are no exception to BookTok’s influence, and many feel that it has encouraged reading and has allowed them to identify books that they would enjoy.

“TikTok knows my interests and knows what I’d like to read,” junior Franky Alesi said. “It gives me a good explanation of the book, but if

I had seen it at a bookstore, I might not have bought it. It knows what I want.”

Maine South librarian Ms. Suzanne Kowalski has taken note of the emergence of BookTok. “I [have] talked to other librarians and read articles and library journals about BookTok,” Ms. Kowalski said.

“It clearly is influencing a segment of students here and it’s interesting.”

BookTok isn’t only known for helping retired readers to get back into their passion, though; it also helps to keep already sparked flames within readers lit.

“Because my ‘To Be Read’ list is so long, it puts pressure on me to keep reading,” sophomore Elliot Natura said. “Seeing your feed filled with

tons of highly reviewed books and seeing your favorite creators talk up their favorite books is bound to keep readers’ ‘To Be Read’ lists growing and keep their passion alive.”

Besides being a way to inspire re a d e r s , B o o k To k i s a g re at place to find book and author recommendations.

With such a large user base, BookTok is able to simultaneously recommend genres readers already know and love, while also exposing readers to new genres they had previously never read.

“Most of the books I’ve read and enjoyed recently have been from TikTok,” junior Kaitlin Warner said.

Warner has also found herself expanding the genres of books she

reads, such as LGBTQ+ romances and fantasy books.

BookTok makes it easier to find new books, and allows users to discover books they wouldn’t have necessarily picked out on their own. Bookstores like Barnes and Noble have picked up on the trend and assist with finding the actual books.

“Barnes and Noble actually has a section for books from TikTok,” Ms. Kowalski said.

Some specific books, such as “It Ends With Us,” by Colleen Hoover, have been viral on BookTok, which could be a negative when it comes to students being open to a variety in their reading.

“All of a sudden, it’s like, ‘why are all of these people asking for the exact same book?’” Ms. Kowalski said. “As a librarian, it’s kind of hard because people just want that book. They’re not interested in reading anything else, and I try to talk to them about other great books, but they have their minds set on that one book.”

The BookTok community has successfully rehabilitated a healthy practice among teens, along with adding positivity to the app. Whether BookTok followers are devoted readers, or just getting back into the pastime, it’s clear to say that BookTok has rekindled and expanded teens’ love for reading.

This book follows Lily, a young girl who meets charming Ryle. We follow their journey together as their relationship is repeatedly challenged.

Famous actress Evelyn Hugo recounts her life in Hollywood and reflects on the trials and tribulations of the seven highly publicized marriages she had.

An adaptation of Homer’s “Iliad,” this story is told from the perspective of Patroclus as he and Achilles mature and prepare for the infamous Trojan war.

In what started as a retelling of “Beauty and the Beast,” a huntress agrees to live in a faerie realm to spare her family, but realizes that all is not as it seems.

T

SKA

BY ION TRAT

LIA NATA

ALEW KOW

S

ILLU

Prominently featured books on BookTok

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March 11, 2022

vs.Insta Insta Finsta vs.

Finley Roland Features Editor

I

nstagram is one of the world’s most popular social media platforms where users can share snippets of their lives with followers, connect with friends, and keep up with influencers, brands, and celebrities. Users can create a profile that represents who they are as a person: their interests, friendships, travels, favorite recipes, etc.

However, just about everyone has heard the saying “Instagram is fake.” Whether or not you believe it, it is almost impossible to ignore the intense pressure for feeds to be both “aesthetic” and “perfectly curated.”

These factors have all led to the creation of what users call the “Finsta.”

A “Finsta” is short for “fake Instagram.” It is meant for more casual, spontaneous photos that don’t “make the cut” for the main account: think embarrassing selfies, photo dumps, or memes.

“My Finsta is for more random t h i n g s a n d c a s u a l p i c t u r e s ,” sophomore Kaitlyn Brown said. “It’s a lot more fun and relaxed than my Instagram. My Instagram is more formal and has more of a ‘facade’ to it. I generally post on my Instagram after I travel or if I take pictures with my friends.”

With the nature of the posts on users’ Finstas being more casual and private, it is not uncommon for the number of followers between the two accounts to differ drastically.

“I have 619 followers on my

Instagram and 33 on my Finsta,” Brown said. “On my Instagram, I mainly let all of my friends follow me; however, I also let people who are in my grade, go to my school, are friends of my friends, or who I know in general follow me as well. I only let my close friends follow my Finsta.”

The idea of creating a more public Instagram account paired with an exclusive, close-friends-only Finsta is not uncommon.

“I let anyone follow my Inst ag r am ,” f re sh man S oph i a Cannetta said. “I only let my friends follow [my Finsta]. If I don’t know them, or I am not that close with them, I don’t let them follow me. I don’t want my Finsta acting like my Insta, so I only let certain people follow me.”

Having two accounts doesn’t just mean being selective only with followers, but with what pictures end up on which account.

“I rarely post on my main page, because it’s a picture, and many people can sit and pick at it over and over again,” sophomore Annie McDonough said. “It’s hard to put yourself out like that. So, I choose photos where I think I look my absolute best. My Finsta gets everything unfit for the main.”

Creating a Finsta also allows for a safer, judgement free space because its audience only includes friends.

“With my normal Instagram, I don’t post that much because, to me at least, it creates random stress about someone making fun or judging me,” Cannetta said. “With my Finsta, I feel

like I can post what I want since only my friends will see it.”

It is clear the two accounts have a distinct difference, and for many this relates to their insecurities.

“It sounds cliched, but we really do put a lot of pressure on ourselves and others to be perfect,” McDonough said. “Instagram has become a place to share the best moments in our lives, but it can’t always be that great. I use my Finsta as a place to share the best and worst moments of my life with people I trust.”

It is definitely not uncommon for people to have feelings of anxiety or added pressure when posting on their main accounts.

“I don’t post on my Instagram,” Cannetta said. “I used to have a few posts, but I deleted them because I thought I didn’t need them anymore or just didn’t like them. There were occasions where I had a post up for less than a day and took it down.”

There doesn’t seem to be a rush to combine both of these accounts, or make Instagram the casual space it once was as more users create Finstas.

“I think I’d consider combining aspects of both accounts,” McDonough said. “I like the sparkle and glamour of my main, but also the fun and real side to my Finsta.”

While there might be some advantages to having just one profile, a number of users are fine with maintaining two accounts.

“I like having one account for fun and friends and another account for more intricate and thoughtful posts,” Brown said.

Top 5 student private story names: 5. Panic With No Disco 4. The View From 5’2” 3. XOXO, Gossip Girl 2. The Snack That Smiles Back 1. All Problems, No Champagne

Students’ most used social apps:

1. TikTok (40.8%) 2. Snapchat (24.6%) 3. Youtube (16.8%) 4. Instagram (8.9%) 5. Pinterest (1.1%)

Students’ daily time on most-used app: 1. 1-2 hours (34.6%) 2. 2-3 hours (24%) 3. 0-1 hour (17.3%) 4. 3-4 hours (11.7%) 5. 4-5 hours (5.6%)

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March 11, 2022

Do you really know the person lurking behind your screen?

Jacob Mascort & Andjela Trkulja Commentary Editors

A

s technology advances, many teenagers are finding new friends with similar interests to talk to online.

When Omegle was first released to the public, it became a social hub for making new friends. Users could enter a single word and be instantly matched with random people who typed in the same word.

However, in the first few years after its launch, it became infested with trolls, predators, and bots. The website is becoming more of a safety hazard rather than an entertaining website to pass the time and talk with like-minded individuals.

Omegle is formatted in a manner where you can talk to strangers in two ways: text or video. You can skip a person and talk to others once your conversation ends or when you get tired of speaking with the same person.

When using the chat option, most people will share with each other their gender, age, where they’re from, and personal interests.

However, this can create alarming situations in which the person sharing their information can be put in serious danger.

While the skip feature does add a certain degree of safety, the website is not as safe as it should be—especially on the internet, where absolutely nothing and nobody should be trusted.

There have been many instances where people have come forward with their alarming—and even threatening—experiences on this website.

Despite, all of the stories and warnings being shared all over the internet about Omegle, many people—most commonly teenagers— continue to engage with others on this website.

The website retains its image as a fun activity to partake in when spending time with friends or when you desire to meet new people, in spite of some concerns.

“I do enjoy using this website because I like meeting new people,” sophomore Reem Hattar said.

Multiple students at Maine South have had first-hand experiences with this website.

“I was introduced to Omegle in middle school,” junior Louisa Baluga

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ILLUSTRATION BY JOE DICOLA

said. “I don’t remember who I heard with the internet in general. it from, but it became somewhat of “A lot of guys on Omegle harassed a trend to go on these websites and me to give them my Snapchat converse with strangers.” username so they could stalk me Another frequently experienced and send inappropriate pictures,” scenario on Omegle is an invasion Donohue said. “Friends of mine have of privacy. been tracked down and had their In a voluntary survey of 181 Snapchat hacked.” students at Maine South, 37 percent Not only have teenagers been reported that they had experienced targeted by multiple child predators a dangerous or scary situation using on the website, but they have also been the website. targets of discrimination and racism “One time, this guy was trying to via Omegle. get my number and I declined the “I was using the video feature, offer,” Hattar and as soon as I said. “He asked “The surplus of unwanted, connected with m e t o h a n g gross images that are someone, they out and said, started calling ‘I think I live scattered all over the me racial slurs,” around your website makes it an Baluga said. “I first a r e a .’ I w a s using it uncomfortable experience started scared and lied during e-learning about where I for people” and early COVID, lived and he - Emma Donohue (‘24) so they started kept going on, saying things like and then said he could hack my ‘You caused COVID-19’ and calling laptop. I left right away because I got me very rude names.” really scared.”

It can be difficult for teens to Although these situations are combat racism when left alone on dangerous enough, nothing is more the site. terrifying than being a victim of a “I’ve heard racial slurs and security scare. inappropriate language used very “It happened to one of my friends,” frequently,” says Hattar. “Omegle can sophomore Emma Donohue said. be scary to use when you’re alone “The guy she was chatting with found because you can never know what where she lived.” will happen.”

Child predators are perennial “A lot of people made comments concerns, not only on Omegle, but about my race or my gender just

because that’s the first thing they see,” Hattar said. “So, I felt a little bit hurt because of these comments, but then I realized that the people making them are just doing it out of boredom.”

Hattar recognizes how easy it is for some users to act differently and share false information when they have the protection and anonymity of hiding behind a screen.

The anonymous feature of Omegle can make it easy to get into unsafe situations.

“Because Omegle is anonymous, you never know if you’re being lied to,” Baluga said.

Omegle is now characterized by students as an unsafe place due to the high concentration of inappropriate content all over the website.

“The surplus of unwanted, gross images that are scattered all over the website makes it an uncomfortable experience for people,” Donohue said.

Because the negative aspects of Omegle outweigh the positives, people online are calling for the creator to make the website a safer place and redirect it to the way it was meant to be used.

“I think that there is definitely some potential regarding making Omegle a safer website, but I feel like most people use it because it’s so unmonitored,” Baluga said. “It can be exciting, but also risky. If Omegle it isn’t made safer, it should be taken down.”

March 11, 2022

Lilien Schirazi

Features Editor ocial media contains a whirlwind of comments, videos, and pictures for people to look at. While many of us look at this content as a window into others’ lives, these apps hold content that could easily be fake or made up by the creators to portray a “perfect” life. Though it has the power to unite, social media can be incredibly damaging and hurtful to young adults around the world.

Maine South school psychologist Mr. Steve Mihalopoulos feels that social media has both a positive and negative effect on students’ and teens’ mental health.

“On the positive, there’s at least some research that suggests social media can serve as a platform for students, particularly those of minority groups, to express themselves and speak out against injustice or raise awareness for causes,” he said.

However, Mr. Mihalopoulos also believes that social media can have a negative impact on students’ mental health.

“There is a good amount of research to suggest that increased social media use appears to be associated with greater mental health issues including anxiety, depression, loneliness, self-image issues, and poorer sleep quality,” he said.

Part of the challenge with social media is its ability to skew our sense of reality. Many images and videos posted on social media are edited and Photoshopped which can set unrealistic expectations for teens, causing many to gain insecurities.

Junior Pavel Oman understands the impact of edited pictures on social media and their ability to cause people to feel upset with their own bodies.

“The Photoshopped pictures can make people feel really bad about themselves because if you see an image of someone that looks almost perfect, it is an incredibly unrealistic image of what a human being should look like,” Oman said. “To put that as the beauty standard, of course, it will make people feel bad and become insecure about themselves.”

Sophomore Reem Hattar has first hand experience with the effects of pictures representing the “beauty standard.”

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“There have definitely been a lot of instances where social media has made me think of myself in a bad light,” Hattar said. “A lot of people I see on my feeds have European features which made me feel selfconscious of my Middle Eastern features, as the beauty standards differ everywhere.”

Sophomore Ryan Mullarkey is among the rare minority of students who don’t use social media. Part of the reason she doesn’t have any of these apps is because of the detrimental effects they can have.

“I think social media definitely can cause insecurities, especially if you have toxic people that follow you or that you are following because they may leave mean or negative comments on your posts that can cause you to feel bad about yourself,” she said.

Furthermore, social media can also interfere with students’ productivity levels. Many social media apps are known to draw people in and get people addicted to scrolling through their feed, watching meaningless videos for hours at a time. This can cause many students to forget about their academic obligations and do poorly in their classes and on assignments.

“Honestly, my only thing against social media is that people get addicted to it and waste more time when they should be getting work done,” sophomore Dejan Simic said.

One of the main reasons Mullarkey doesn’t have any social media apps is because she knows it can have a tremendous impact on her productivity levels.

“I think TikTok has an effect on people’s attention spans and productivity level when it comes to getting schoolwork done along with chores,” she said. “People can get lost in a hole where they just keep on scrolling through video after video.”

Furthermore, Mullarkey believes that teen are spending too much time editing their pictures rather than completing their schoolwork.

“S omet imes p e ople, g irls especially, seem to be editing their photos or making whole productions out of taking Instagram photos,” she said. “I think it’s better to live in the moment rather than take pictures of everything that is going on in your life.”

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY DREW KOEWLER

Social media is far from reality

Social media seems to be like an incurable disease taking over teens’ and students’ lives, but Mr. Mihalopoulos has a few suggestions to better improve students’ lives regarding social media.

“Monitor your use and set limits— set a time limit for how long you’ll look at social media each day and try to stick to it,” Mr. Mihalopoulos said. “You might have a cut-off time at night, avoid checking it during school, or even limit use to certain times of the day.”

Hattar set time limits for herself on specific apps and found that it improved her relationship with social media. “ This was ver y helpful, as I was more productive with the restrictions,” she said. “This caused me to set time limits on the apps I spend the most time on; it saved me a lot of time and cut my procrastination time.”

Although social media can have a negative effect on teens and students, there are still some positive components of social media as well.

Oman believes that there are many images on social media that are not harmful and can bring light to others’ lives.

“Social media can be used in many positive ways,” Oman said. “I follow many accounts on Instagram that take pictures of the world as it is and share those images with others.

These pictures help people see the world beyond their own backyards.

It helps people see other people’s life experiences and, in that way, it’s a beautiful thing to share.”

In reality, social media cannot be considered a platform that is either entirely positive or entirely negative, but rather should be viewed as a tool that should be used to expand our horizons.

“Social media can allow students to communicate with others and build social networks,” Mr. Mihalopoulos said. “Social media can also help provide richer, interactive learning experiences. It can expose teens to current events, and allow them to interact with others in different parts of the world.”

SouthwordS 9

TRENDING POPULAR VIRAL MOMEN March 11, 2022

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l t

Lillian Niziolek Editor-in-Chief

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rom celebrities, to grandparents, to teenagers, everyone was dousing themselves in ice cold water during the summer of 2014. The ice bucket challenge, started by pro golfer Chris Kennedy, promoted awareness of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Gaining recognition through the videos posted to Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, the ALS association received over $115 million dollars in donations.

Senior Sargon Adam appreciated the fond memories he made while raising awareness for ALS. “I loved dropping the coldest Gatorade bucket of ice water all over my cousin,” Adam said.

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fter a 21-year-old from Scotland couldn’t solve an argument with her friends, she took things to Tumblr. In about a week the whole world was focused on one question: What color is the dress? Blue and black or white and gold?

The dress is actually blue and black, but due to the way eyes view shadows, many did not first see this.

“At the time when the dress was trending, I was definitely excited to see how my friends saw it versus how I did,” sophomore Natalie Colletti said. “Even now, the dress will still get brought up and allow my friends and I to have a conversation about it.”

Bottle Flipping (2016)

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ike Senatore first went viral on YouTube for flipping a water bottle at a talent show at Ardrey Kell High School. Many joined in on the trend, posting videos of them flipping bottles on various social platforms.

Sophomore Jack Defilippis finds joy in keeping this trend alive with his friends at the lunch table.

“I still bottle flip to this day,” Defilippis said.

SHOW

The Ice Bucket Challenge (2014)

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LLEN

PHOTO CREDIT ROMAN ORIGINALS

our boys dressed in miscellaneous costumes in a college dorm room took the internet by storm when they posted a video of them dancing to “The Harlem Shake” in February of 2013. The boys danced awkwardly, and it quickly became a meme; others began posting similar videos to YouTube. All of the videos had one commonality: random dancing.

“When it originated, I thought it was an earthquake,” junior Siobhan Derrig said. “I thought the trend was pretty funny when I actually saw it.”

EDIT THE E

F

The Black and Blue vs. White Taylor Swift Reinv and Gold Dress Debate (2015) (2017)

PHOT O CR

The Harlem Shake (2013)

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n August of 2017, Taylo and received global atte all her Instagram photos a picture from Twitter and F Taylor was dead. About a w cover for her new album w likes in less than 10 minut “Taylor Swift took her m into an entirely new direct everyone that she wasn’t w her to be,” senior Mia Para reputation did, in fact, cha PHOTO CREDIT @taylorswift/INSTAGRAM

Yanny vs Laurel (2018)

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hen a high school s was studying for he literature class, she came a the word “laurel.” Looking on Vocabulary.com and p the audio, she heard “yann instead of the word in fron her. She posted the audio Instagram, and her follow mixed responses. The Yan Laurel debate exploded on social platforms, as people what was actually right.

Scientifically, it just dep wether the person was foc on the higher or lower fre sounds (which varies from to person).

“I could hear both, but definitely went more towa senior Adeline Bateman sa

March 11, 2022

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ith the amount of time the average person spends on social media, these platforms have quickly become epicenters for new trends. Whether it be a fun dance or a random debate, likes, shares, and reposts add fuel to the fire and cause these crazes to take off. Get ready for a trip down memory lane as Southwords discusses some top viral trends of the past decade.

NTS OVER THE PAST DECADE

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t my ear ards laurel,” said.

Olivia Rodrigo’s “Driver’s License” (2021)

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fter posting an image of an egg with the caption, “Let’s set a world record together and get the most liked post on Instagram,” world_record_egg took over Instagram, receiving over 25 million likes in just 10 days. The post still holds the record for the most liked post, sitting at nearly 40 million likes.

This post beat Kylie Jenner’s previous record of 15.3 million likes, which senior Carys Hickey saw as her motivation to like the egg.

“I feel like everyone did it just because they wanted to surpass Kylie Jenner,” Hickey said.

PHOTO CREDIT @world_record_egg/INSTAGRAM

The Renegade (2020)

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ourteen-year-old Jalaiah Harmon’s choreography to the song Renegade quickly became one of TikTok’s most popular dances. There are currently over 100 million videos that have been created with the dance, each with its own variation. One move remains constant, though: the well-known and well-loved “woah.”

Sophomore Mairead Hart thought that learning the complex dance was quite the accomplishment.

“It was hard to learn, so it felt cool to do it,” Hart said.

TV/TIKTOK

or Swift shocked her fans ention when she deleted and removed her profile Facebook. The “old” week, later she posted the which received 165,000 tes. music and self image ction in 2017 to prove to who everyone assumed ranaglan said. “Her ange.”

The World Record Egg (2019)

PHOTO CRED IT @M

vents Herself

livia Rodrigo’s “Driver’s License” blew up on TikTok almost instantly, as it was the perfect storm of good song writing and a bit of drama. TikTok users quickly began using the audio—both praising its lyrics and theorizing the love triangle between Rodgrigo, Sabrina Carpenter, and Joshua Bassett. The song reached the top of the Billboard’s Top 100 in less than a week after its release.

“GenZ was just so obsessed with the background of it,” senior Maribelle Janzen said. “The music was good, but knowing why it was written was the best part. We all know who it’s about.”

Wordle (2022)

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he web-based game of Wordle is the latest social media trend. While the website launched in October of 2021 with only 90 people playing daily, the game now has millions of daily players. On Facebook, Twitter, and other socials, many post the color order of their Wordle boxes and the number of attempts it took them to get the word.

Sophomore Sloan Pareti sees how the app has gained traffic through social media and is now a common topic of conversation.

“Everyone does it [Wordle], and everyone talks about it,” Pareti said.

“It’s almost like asking someone ‘how’s the weather?’”

SouthwordS 11

March 11, 2022

Social media: is it really social?

Molly Shanahan

Features Editor e are often told having good social skills is necessary for success. While smart phones and social media were created to improve our ability to communicate, they actually are having a detrimental effect on our ability to talk to one another.

Technology’s often negative impact on social interactions can be seen in a multitude of different environments. School psychologist Ms. Jennifer Weber witnesses its influence first hand in the cafeteria during lunch periods.

“Despite being seated at a lunch table together, students are sometimes looking at their phones instead of looking at those around them,” Ms. Weber said.

This screen-obsessive behavior follows many students into the classroom as they dial in on their electronic devices instead of conversing with the person next to them before class.

“If students are waiting for a class to begin, they are more likely to be on their phones than interacting with their peers seated around them,” Ms. Weber said. “Social media seems like an easy excuse to not interact with those around them.”

Senior Liam Kennelly recognizes that insufficient social skills may not only be a byproduct of increased phone usage, but also of remote learning which deprived students of everyday, in-person conversations.

“I think that the lack of social skills comes from technology and recently, COVID,” Kennelly said.

“I think that being in an environment where we are working by ourselves in isolation deteriorated some of our pre-established social skills.”

Isolation has contributed to a lack of social skills in general.

“I believe that most people aren’t as social,” junior Hanna Lind said. “There have been way fewer in-person interactions because it is so much easier to talk to people online.”

Being in school forces social skill development.

“Working with others is one of the main ways we gain social skills, especially in school,” Kennelly said.

While in-person learning provides the opportunity to better develop social skills, many students would still rather spend time on their electronic devices.

“People’s social skills are diminished by social media and technology in general because when people are with their friends they are on their phones,” senior Juliana Parisi said.

In order to combat the distractions of technology, students have even created rules and guidelines for when and where not to be on their phones.

“When I go out to dinner with my family, we have a rule that we don’t go on our cellphones,” Parisi said. “But, when I go out, I see people on their phones and not interacting with each other.

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ILLUSTRATION BY NATALIA KOWALEWSKA

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I believe this has a negative impact on today’s society.”

In addition to spending time on the phone, critical social skills could even be lost from too much video gaming.

“Especially when young boys are always playing video games, they aren’t picking up on social cues that they would actually learn when they are outside playing actual games or sports,” Parisi said.

The lack of interpersonal connections, even ones as small as playing outside, can be detrimental as adolescents begin to form habits. Junior Amelia Miulli recognizes how different things would be without screens and with more person-to-person connection.

“While technology has been very prevalent throughout the majority of my life, I still imagine my life without screens,” Miulli said. “I think the biggest impact it’s had on social skills has been a lack of self-confidence and assertiveness while talking in-person.”

Students who already have adequate social skills, knowing when and when not to be on their screen, can easily segue between in-person and online.

“People who interact with a lot of social media posts either already have great social skills in real

life and can make the transition from real life to online seamlessly, or use interactions to help develop their social skills for the real world,” senior Daniel Dolan said.

Kennelly remains optimistic about student to student interaction and hopes that with more in-person school comes improvement of his peers social skills.

“I think students’ social skills will get a lot better in the next couple of years,” Kennelly said. “Coming out of COVID, I think especially for younger kids, their skills will get a lot better because of a return to in-school interactions.”

Emerging from the COVID pandemic, inperson interactions are proving to be more and more important.

“Communication behind a screen can be tempting because of it’s convenience; however, we miss out on the critical experience of discussing difficult topics face-to-face,” Miulli said.

Even with the presence of social media, there are still students who would rather be with each other face-to-face.

“For me, I have become more sociable because not seeing people made me want to reach out to more people,” Lind said. “Since COVID, I would rather hang out than FaceTime them.”

March 11, 2022

‘Like’ and its message of balance Julia Gryczko

Entertainment Editor

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he short documentary “Like” will be viewed by students on March 31 in advisory and a parent viewing will take place on April 5. The school chose to make this mandatory viewing for Maine South, as it discusses many of the negative impacts social media can have on our lives.

We hear from teenagers about their first encounters with social media and wanting to be a part of it because that is what all their friends were doing. We also listen to them analyze their relationship to social media, speaking about how some use it to fill up every free minute, and the insecurities some have developed from it.

Some of the critical issues spoken about are how the apps are addictive and the adverse effects that social media can make us feel.

While social media is how we communicate with our friends and family, it has become something we are addicted to and can make us feel insecure.

People curate picture-perfect versions of their lives, which leads to comparisons between their lives and others’. Also, the number of “likes” can feel like a measure of your worth or validation.

Some of the students even speak about deleting a post if it didn’t get enough likes in the first hour and re-uploading it later.

“The time of adolescence is meant for exploring, making mistakes, getting back up, and trying it again,” Dr. Katie Davis said. “When you’re doing all that on a public platform that ups the ante, it increases pressure on young people to have it all figured out right from the beginning.”

And as we scroll through our “for you” pages, these apps do not care about what we are consuming or how it makes us feel. The algorithms are designed with one goal in mind: to keep us on that app as long as possible.

The term “mask effect” is also mentioned, which describes that being behind a screen makes people feel they can say anything to anyone on social media. We often forget that these comments are directed at real people. You have to have thick skin to be on social media.

It is also mentioned that with social media, the more time spent on it, the more at risk one is for depression, anxiety, and low-self esteem.

Not only does social media affect us mentally, but it has also changed how we interact with the physical world. Because we spend so much time on our phones, we can get social anxiety because we’re not used to interacting with others in person.

But the key takeaway from the documentary is balance. Experts realize that you cannot expect teenagers to stop using social media entirely because it is now ingrained in our lives.

“Social media is something kids should be using in their lives with balance with face-to-face interactions, with reading, with sports, with life,” Jerry Bubrick, Ph.D., said. “But when it becomes

their sole being, then it becomes part of the problem.”

The documentary, at times, is directly aimed towards parents, telling them that simply nagging kids about their screen time will not do anything.

Setting harsh boundaries and strict stop times doesn’t work because kids won’t buy into that.

There has to be an ongoing conversation about social media’s role in our lives. Also, parents cannot be excluded from it. They need to be role models and not tell their kids to get off their phones when they are constantly on them.

About halfway through the documentary, there is a section dedicated to “how to balance social media with your life.”

Some tips mentioned include turning on grayscale on your phone. This will make your notifications on apps appear blue, and not having it be the bright red won’t entice you to open them as it is designed this way purposefully as red often induces anxiety.

Another tip is to try studying with your phone out of sight and charging it outside of your room.

Just having this object in front of you can entice you to check it. Often we think we can do two things at once, but multitasking is a myth, and not seeing your phone while doing a task can help you focus on it completely without the distraction.

While these tips can be helpful, hearing firsthand from teenagers about how they changed

their interactions with social media would resonate more with teenagers. While the teens dissect how these apps make them feel, none of them speak about deleting the apps or setting restrictions for themselves.

This documentary is merely a first step to change. If you want to get teens to manage their time better, we need to be shown how to do that in reality, as many experience these problems firsthand and continue despite it. Hearing how someone achieved this balance, or even hearing the perspective of someone who has quit using social media entirely, would have been insightful and possibly more impactful.

Overall, the documentary can be a great introduction to the problems that come with social media and starter tips for how we don’t have to eliminate but simply balance it with the rest of our lives. In addition, we can learn healthier habits and how we can ensure social media doesn’t have a negative impact on our lives.

In the end, we are in charge of what we put on our phones, and we don’t have to feel a fear of missing out when we are scrolling through the perfected, and curated images of lives posted online. Instead, that feeling can be turned into the joy of missing out, the joy of not knowing everything about everyone’s lives, and the joy of being able to lead your own life without revealing all of it on social media.

SouthwordS 13

March 11, 2022

SOCIAL MEDIA CROSSWORD Using the clues below, complete the crossword by filling in the boxes with all things social media. E-mail a clear photo of your completed copy to southwords@maine207.org. The first person to submit will receive a Southwords t-shirt! Good luck!

ACROSS 2. A term that means killing someone, but today often references someone who is “killing it” all day 5. One of the first social networks, now reaching over 60% of internet users 8. Finish this TikTok audio: “Bag _____! Major bag _____!”

9. The last name of a 33-year-old influencer known for her muckbangs, storytimes, and eccentric lifestyle 10. An intriguing title or thumbnail that encourages users to tap on it.

13. Gatekeep, gaslight, _______ 15. Based off of interactions on social media, this ultimately determines the order in which posts are displayed on your feed 18. A widely used term to describe artsy content 19. The key fishy component of a viral meal made by Emily Mariko 21. TikTok’s older sibling; often reminds people of their cringey middle school days 25. A word for “super fan”; originated from an Eminem song

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26. An adjective describing a house of TikTok influencers who recently released a show on Netflix 27. A portmanteau for high schoolers dependent on devices 28. A short animation file 30. A virtual scrapbook consisting of DIYs and inspiration 32. A photo taken of oneself 33. The famous YouTuber who drops thousands (sometimes millions) of dollars in his videos 36. People post results of this game on their socials in the form of green, grey, and yellow boxes 37. The acronym for being afraid of losing out on fun after seeing a post

DOWN 1. An app for sharing photos that disappear after opening 3. The last name of Twitch streamer and TikTok star who has a spider tattoo; someone who breaks into an online account 4. The tab next to “For You” on Tik Tok 6. The last name of two sisters who have gone viral for their TikTok dancing 7. The name of a blue bird who hovers over a certain social media platform 10. Last name of a popular female YouTuber who has her own coffee brand 11. The place to put a description of yourself

12. A symbol that millennials frequently add to the end of their captions 14. The app used to create a personalized avatar to show a user’s location on Snapchat 16. Tiny dots of black, white, and color arranged in rows that make up the images on your screen 17. The creator of the META universe; often confused for a robotic friend 20. Lit, crazy, _____ 21. Finish this TikTok audio: “Can I also have a small blue raspberry slushie?” “A sausage _____?”

22. An often abused app to tweak appearances for Instagram photos 23. Either brewed or spilled 24. This acronym, found on TikTok, caters specifically to your viewing pleasures 29. Finish this TikTok audio: “Berries and _____!”

31. What no one has enough of on their phone in the form of gigabytes 34. Finish this TikTok audio: “Back in the 6th grade, I got them bad grades. I was in love with my _____” 35. A video encapsulating one’s dayto-day activities

March 11, 2022

Social Media

Match Game

They said what?!?!? Match the celebrities’ captions at the bottom of this page to their corresponding Instagram photos below. Can you get all six?

(Answers are at the bottom of the page...no cheating!)

Jacob Mascort & Andjela Trkulja Commentary Editors

1. DRAKE

2. LIZZO

3. DOJA CAT

4. DUA LIPA

5. RHIANNA

6. KYLIE JENNER

a.

d.

c. e.

f.

ANSWERS: 1-A. 2-D. 3-C. 4-B. 5-E. 6-F.

b.

SouthwordS 15

March 11, 2022

Which Influencer are you?

Plan your birthday party to reveal which social media influencer you are most like. Add up the total number of points for your answers to determine your results.

John Biagi, Lillian Niziolek, & Elizabeth Ryser Editors-in-Chief

What time will the party take place?

1. 3-8 p.m., I can’t stay up all night!

2. Dinner is served at 7; just don’t stay too late.

3. Come whenever, and stay all night long!

How did you send invites?

1. Texted my friends last week.

2. Sent formal invitations weeks ago.

3. Posted on my socials this morning.

What will you be eating?

1. A homemade charcuterie board with vegan cheeses and organic berries.

2. The chef has been prepping for days.

There will be a four-course meal.

3. I have a birthday cake, but I think I’ll just order pizza when the guests arrive.

Where is the party being held?

1. My house, of course.

2. A glamorous banquet hall.

3. I’m renting a mansion!

What is the theme?

1. Pool party!

2. Everything over the top!

3. Who cares! Let’s have fun.

What are you wearing?

1. Probably something thrifted, maybe with a designer bag.

2. Everything glam, lots of color; maybe even an outfit change before cake.

3. My own merch, duh!

If your total number equals...

PHOTO CREDIT @emmachamberlain/INSTAGRAM

Emma Chamberlain

You are known for your chill, sarcastic tone, and you keep a close group of friends. Your party is casual yet chic.

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18-25, you’re

Trisha Paytas

PHOTO CREDIT @trishapaytasbackup/INSTAGRAM

11-17, you’re

You’re the center of attention and sometimes stir the pot. A glitzy atmosphere dazzles your guests.

What is the gift at the top of your list?

1. Just a great pair of vintage Levis.

2. A new car, preferably gold plated.

3. A new pair of sneakers, anything Nike.

An uninvited guest arrives—what do you do?

1. Ask someone else to turn them away.

2. Have security escort them away.

3. What’s an invite? Anyone can come!

What is the party favor for guests?

1. My favorite instant coffee packs with my go-to almond milk brand.

2. Bags of pink and gold candies wrapped in a sequined bag.

3. Party favor? My party IS the favor.

What type of music is playing?

1. Indie, funky, and chill.

2. All songs birthday!

3. Today’s Top Hits on Spotify.

26-33, you’re

Bryce Hall

PHOTO CREDIT @brycehall/INSTAGRAM

How many people are you inviting?

1. Only my closest friends, five people max.

2. Probably like 15 people, but who’s counting?

3. Everyone. It’s an open crib.

You are the party. Some love you, some hate you. Either way, everyone is there for a good time.

March 11, 2022 | SPORTS

South girls’ Girls’ lacrosse building bonds Maine water polo hungry Julia Beck

Sports Writer ith winter sports coming to a close and spring sports seasons on the horizon, Maine South girls’ lacrosse is gearing up for possibly their biggest season yet. The team grew close last year, aiding in their success, and they’re optimistic for their performance this season.

“I feel like because we worked so well together last season, it will be hard to fully regain that bond we had last year,” sophomore Catherine Connolly said. “But because the COVID restrictions are lifting, I hope we are able to get a good bond as a team quickly to grow stronger on the field.”

Finishing second in conference last season, the girls are looking to outdo themselves and come out on top this year. Junior Katie Gleason says the team’s goal is to go above and beyond in everything they do this season.

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“Our motto this season is ‘one more,’ meaning one more pass, one more run through a drill, and one more win,” she said.

Hoping to boast impressive wins and advance far in the playoffs this year, the team has started preparing through preseason practices consisting of skill drills and team play.

“Pre-season was a lot of footwork and stick skills to help new players understand the sport,” Connolly said.

According to Junior Kaitlyn Goff, these practices have played a crucial part in helping them get back into the game and ready to play.

“I feel that we got closer as a team and it was good to get the ball back in our sticks to prepare for the upcoming season,” Goff said.

The program graduated a whopping eight seniors last year, five of whom were a part of the starting lineup. The program will feature a fresh new lineup and an all new

coaching staff. This year, Mr. Pankratz is stepping up as head coach, assisted

by Ms. Petrovski.

“I feel like we lost some of our stronger players, which is difficult, but I think with practice, we can become stronger as a team and not just individuals,” Connolly said. “Also, personally, this year I will not be with my sister who was a big role model for me last season.“ The team has not only been working towards improving their skill but also their bond. A strong bond will help them communicate and be successful on the field. The girls will open their season with an away game against Highland Park on March 17.

Their home opener will be March 20 against Lyons.

“I am planning on working hard both in and out of practice and becoming closer with new girls on the team so we work well together both on and off field,” Connolly said.

Boys’ track working towards Conference Lucas Cosma

Sports Writer uring the transition from winter to spring season, indoor track begins.

The team is made up of all grade levels which can bring some challenges. However, it also brings in a lot of fresh skills which aids the team’s chances of success.

“I think that the team is very strong and very skilled,” junior sprinter Aidan Devaney said. “I think our varsity team is very strong along with the sophomores and freshmen as well. My hope is that we will bring home a lot of medals and I am overall excited for the season.”

Last year, the track team placed third in Sectionals, and this year they have their eyes set on the crown. They are especially looking forward to racing against schools like Evanston.

“The power of the CSL has always been Evanston; they have won three or four state championships,” head track coach Mr. Jason Kacprowski said. “They have probably won 12 of the 16 times that I have been here.

So they, as a team, are who we are looking to beat.”

Coach Kacprowski has been coaching track at MSHS for 16 years and has served as the varsity coach for the past three years.

Some of the more experienced

PHOTO BY MOLLY SHANAHAN

D

SPEEDING UP

(Left to right) Freshmen Will Christopoulos and Jackson Butterfield and senior Danny Reich race around the track at their first meet on Feb. 9. The Hawks took first against St. Patrick and Notre Dame on our home track.

athletes who have been on the team in past years are working towards improving their events for both themselves and the team.

“I have grown to be responsible this season learning from other runners on my team as well as from some of my competitors,” Devaney said. “I am focusing on my sprinting form in the 50 and 220 and I am learning new ways to improve my overall times this season.”

The track team is looking forward to the match up with Evanston for both sophomores and varsity during the CSL Indoor Conference C h a mp i o n s h i p o n Ma r c h 1 8 at Evanston. The team has been preparing themselves mentally for

not only Conference but all meets this season.

“I have high expectations for myself this year and have one goal: to win,” Devaney said. “I am hoping to finish first in a lot of my races and my team is very good at helping make sure I work towards my goals.”

The players hold each other to a certain standard which aids in motivating one another. They all understand that each other’s success helps better the team as a whole.

“I expect big things from our team,” junior jumper Jackson Magad said. “There are a lot of guys coming from different sports and they bring their’ best skills with them. We push each other to compete, which is key. ”

for success Matthew Moskal

Sports Editor s the start of the season draws closer, the girls’ water polo team is looking to make a splash. Ahead of the tryout date, the team has started to practice together in order to build team chemistry before the season begins. The captains are leading the girls to take preparation for the season into their own hands.

“Eve r y Mond ay, T hu rs d ay, Saturday, the varsity captains have been leading preseason practices for the past couple of weeks,” sophomore Zaharoula Korovilas said. “They have been a big help, and thanks to them, the team is becoming more comfortable before our tryouts.”

“One big focus in preseason practice was learning new drills, and being able to do them correctly and with speed,” Korovalis said.

Most of the players on this year’s team are new players, and because of that, it is important for the girls to create a good team environment.

“Even though only some of the girls played together last year, others have bonded together throughout the swimming season,” Korovilas said.

“Personally, I feel like I’m getting to know the girls a lot better, especially during goalie training. I am a new player, but I already feel so close to this team.”

Despite the new editions to this years’ roster, many of the senior players are continuing to make an impact towards both the team’s morale and focus.

“We all realize the importance of staying focused,” senior Lucie Imhoff said, “Obviously, many of us have spent the last few years growing closer and getting to know each other better, and because of that, it can be easy for a lot of people to lose focus, but for us, I feel like we know how to balance it where we’re still having fun as we continue to focus on improving as players.”

According to Im hof f t he importance of hard work and dedication can’t be ignored.

“We all realize that in order to be the best of the best, we need to have the work ethic of the best of the best, which is why giving it our all in practice will be such an important contributor to our potential success,” Imhoff said.

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SouthwordS 17

SPORTS | March 11, 2022

Boys’ lacrosse looking to repeat previous success Drew Koenen Sports Writer

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he Maine South boys’ lacrosse season has officially started with tryouts concluding and the roster set.

Last year, the lacrosse team finished with a record of 11-6. This is the best game record in the history of Maine South boys’ lacrosse.

Statement wins against Glenbrook

South and Glenbrook North added to the historic season as well. This year, the team has their eyes set on another great season.

“I believe, last year, we were so successful because everyone bought in,” junior Sean Mullan said. “Every person on the team played for one another, not themselves.”

Even with some COVID setbacks last season, the team still prevailed.

They made sure to keep their bond strong with one another through the off-season and are ready to prove themselves once again.

“We are all aware of our success last season, and it is now becoming our goal to be even better than we were last season,” Mullan said.

The players have been able to get comfortable with one another in their pre-season and are confident in

their skill. The team has less then a month until their first game. They’re prepared to give their all this season starting with their first game on Mar. 15 against Taft. They will be playing 16 official games as of press-time.

“I am looking forward to playing with my teammates, and I can’t wait to show that Maine South has got the skill and will to compete with the best,” Mullan said.

Girls’ track getting ready for outdoor season

Kelly Carroll

Sports Writer he girls’ track and field season has just gotten started with most indoor season meets completed. The majority of the meets have been in our home fieldhouse at Maine South.

The team has taken first at all meets thus far.

Most of the runners practice indoors on the indoor track; however, the distance runners have found it easier, despite the weather, to run outdoors. Typically, they run multiple miles at practices, and the fieldhouse tends to get cramped with both boys’ and girls’ track.

During January, temperatures hit record lows and being able to find a space to run and practice was a struggle.

“The team had to find creative ways to get a workout in” senior Maria Marcucci said. “We ran in the hallways, in the fieldhouse, and even up and down the A-wing stairs when the weather didn’t cooperate.

Everyone has been super encouraging and our hard work at practice is definitely paying off. There’s definitely a lot of potential for this team, so I’m excited to see us grow. Our main goal for this year is to grow as a team and get as many people as we can to qualify for State.”

Marcucci runs multiple events, but her best is the mile race. During that event, Maria’s usual time is 5:23. The time needed to qualify for state is 5:08.

“I’m really hoping to drop more time and get as close to the state qualifying time as possible,” Marcucci said.

The track team has seen some new runners join this season bringing in more talent for the team.

“I did not do track last year because of my schedule, but I am

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18 SouthwordS

PHOTO COURTESY DOMINIC MAZUREK

HAWK YEAH!

Members of the boys’ swim team show their support for their teammates in the state playoffs on Feb. 26. The team raced at the FMC aquatic center.

Boys’ swimming and diving coming off a historic season

Matthew Moskal

PHOTO BY MOLLY SHANAHAN

NEED FOR SPEED

Freshman Sofia Arcuri runs the mile race on feb. 8.

Maine South took first against Lane Tech and Niles North.

glad I found time to do it now,” said sophomore Gabbi McCants. “The team was very welcoming towards me and they never fail to cheer me and everyone else on during races.”

The girls have almost completed their indoor season with their last meet before Conference, tonight at 4:30 at Maine East. They will be making the transition to the outdoor season with the District 207 meet at Maine South on April 4.

“I am a little nervous to race outdoors because some of my events change,” McCants said. “I will be running some longer distances compared to my usual 50 meter race, so I am interested to see how that will differ. However, I am very excited to see my times and get the chance to possibly race at Sectionals and work towards going to State.”

Sports Editor The boys’ swimming and diving team’s season has concluded following the State competition. Head coach Mr. Don Kura is pleased with the efforts of his team and hopes that the boys’ will be able to build from this season’s experience.

“I think it was a very successful season,” Coach Kura said. “They won a sectional championship for the first time, so they’ve had a really good taste of success on a higher level this year.”

Coach Kura also credits the boys for setting high expectations, and following through with those expectations by working hard.

“The biggest thing that stands out is that it was a group that set really high standards for itself and then was able to put in the work and stay focused and achieve those goals,” Coach Kura said. “For me, that was the high point. I didn’t have to do a whole lot in terms of getting people up or telling them to think about the next race. They were very focused on what they were doing.”

This high level of focus which Coach Kura praises resulted in some record-breaking performances. In

total, five school records were broken at the sectional meet, with sophomore swimmer Dominic Mazurek setting records in the 200-yard individual medley and the 100-yard breaststroke.

“It felt great being able to drop so much time in a week,” Mazurek said.

“The 200 individual medley record was definitely the hardest to break because of how hard the event is and the previous record time.”

Although the broken records and historic sectional win were great highlights, the team is not content with these achievements. Next season, Coach Kura expects the team to be even more motivated in order to reach new heights.

“We will continue to work and improve so that we can come back and set really high goals again, higher than we set this year, and be able to try to exceed those goals going into the season next year,” Coach Kura said.

With this incredible season behind them, Coach Kura believes the future of boys’ swimming is in good hands as they pursue the championship next season.

“It’s fuel for the younger guys to put in the work and finish it the way they want to,” Coach Kura said.

March 11, 2022 | SPORTS

Girls’ soccer optimistic for upcoming season Hayden Bower

Sports Editor ith the girls’ varsity soccer season on the horizon, many of the girls are fully focused on making this an unforgettable season.

Senior defender Grace Beckman wants to make the most of her final season.

“I think we are at a good spot this year,” Beckman said. “I know it’s early to tell, but we have all the pieces to make a successful team. Hopefully we can complete the puzzle.”

Senior defender Mia Assenato and senior midfielder Izzy Kiessel share Beckman’s enthusiasm for the teams’ bright future.

“We’ve been putting in a lot of work in the off-season,” Assenato said. “I definitely feel like with the work we’ve been putting in we’ve

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put ourselves in a great position to team," Crawford said. "Hopefully, succeed. In comparison with where we can build off the opportunity of we all saw ourselves freshman year, playing together last season, and we’ve definitely come a long way. implement some new talented players As long as we continue to put in the to help us. We would like to be more required effort, we definitely have a successful on set pieces.”

Wit h t he C OVID s etb acks bright future,” Kiessel said. last season, the Wit h t r yout s having taken place “With the talent and the t e a m w a s n ' t a s the week of Feb. 28 team spirit we all have, I close compared to others, which was a the team is ready to jump into their new don’t see any reason we disadvantage. They couldn’t be in store for a h o p e t o c h a n g e season. things this year. “ We [ f o u n d ] historic season."

“L ast year, we skilled players with a -Izzy Kiessel ('22) played better teams good 1st touch, strong with players that had shot, knowledge of the game, that are fast and physical,” played more together, in both club and high school,” Coach Crawford Coach J.J. Crawford said.

The team has the opportunity to said. Having many returning players will help, that as well as getting to play learn from the previous season.

“We return 14 girls from last year’s a full season this year.”

The players have had over eight months of an off-season where they have been in charge of how they choose to stay in shape.

“Running has basically become a customary part of my exercise rout ine," B e ck man s aid. “I’m constantly making sure I put in all the work to ensure my success.”

Assenato also shared how she stays in shape outside of the season “I’ve been playing a lot for an outside club team, which has been an important part of my outside conditioning,” Assenato said.

Spirits and optimism are high for the girls who intend to make this a season to remember.

“With the talent and the team spirit we all have, I don’t see any reason we couldn’t be in store for a historic season,” Kiessel said.

Madison Basquin

Sports Editor he girls JV’ basketball team completed their undefeated season with their final win of the season against Deerfield on Feb. 10.

Led by Coach Sarah Kendeigh, the team worked hard to win every game in their season.

“We made our team motto to ‘go 1-0’ every day,” Coach Kendeigh said. "Our mentality was to win each practice and each game, one day at a time, and I believe this mindset helped us stay the course. We did not get too far ahead of ourselves, and this enabled us to go 1- 0, 22 times this year.”

Not only was the team prepared mentally with their strong, driven mindset, but they also showed their ambition through their work at practices leading up to the very end of the season.

“Practices played a huge role in our success this year,” Coach Kendeigh said. “Each day, we had a specific skill to work on, and the girls knew when to balance fun and focus. We keep track of JV records in our drills at practice, and this team broke every single one of them this year. I truly cannot remember having any bad practices because they came motivated and ready to encourage each other every day. Our captains and team leaders did a great

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job keeping the team energized and focused.”

The captains of the team made sure that all of the players bonded with one another to further their success as a team. Once the team had grown closer, all they had to do was execute, which they showed through their game play.

“Our team stands out because we are able to have fun when we play, we can let go of the silly mistakes, and we are a faster moving team that can outrun all of our opponents,” s ophomore co-capt ain Maura Lawlor said. “Our team also has great chemistry and we are able to pick each other up when were down and give credit to everyone each game, whether it’s an assist, basket, buzzer beater, pass, or great cheering.”

The team’s close bond and hard work paid off in their final game. The pressure was on as they were close to going undefeated. They were able to successfully put their full season of practices and games to take the win against Deerfield for the second time. The Hawks had an impressive 43-point lead, ending the game 59-16.

“The feeling of setting a goal and achieving it is an incredible feeling."

Lawlor said, “The team worked so hard the past four months and it really reflected how our season turned out.

We all gave it our all on and off the court and it paid off.”

PHOTO COURTESY SOFIA SCALAFANI

JV girls’ basketball finishes their season undefeated, going 22-0

TEARS OF JOY

The Hawkettes can't help but smile and cry after being awarded first place at the NDA championship on Feb. 26. They competed in Orlando, Florida.

Maine South Hawkettes win championship at Nationals Declan Colleran

Sports Writer n February, the Hawkettes brought home t heir four t h nat iona l championship. Since 2011, the Hawkettes have seen major success, winning multiple national titles, but this didn't come without hard work on the girls’ part.

When the team got to the ESPN World Wide of Sports Complex in Orlando, they only got 8-10 minutes to practice their routine before they got on stage to perform. They performed their pom routine twice before performing it for the last time in the final.

For their kick routine, they only had to perform it twice overall.

They were ranked fourth following the semi-final round, but their score jumped to first after the final round, winning them the title by two points.

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This year’s win was extra special for the team, seeing as last year the team was restricted to only one inperson performance due to COVID restrictions.

“We were able to get back to what we love doing, and as dancers, we like to perform,” junior Madison Gatz said. “To be able to go back in person and come out with a win was awesome.”

The Hawkettes will aim to repeat their national title, but also to win the IHSA State Championship for the first time since 2013 in the upcoming 2022-23 season.

The girls believe their strong bond will continue into future seasons and result in continued success.

“As a team, we have a really strong bond” Gatz said. “That helps us succeed.”

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Sp lI ia ec ! ue ss

March 11, 2022

1111 S. Dee Road • Park Ridge, Illinois 60068

Vol. 56, No. 5

District 207 no longer requires mask wearing

Jake Snyder News Editor

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n Feb. 5, a ruling was made by a judge in Illinois that struck down the mandatory mask mandate put in place for schools in the state. The following Tuesday, Feb. 8, students at Maine South participated in a walkout in support of this ruling.

“Students were upset with the mask mandate still being in place and they wanted to voice their disagreement with that so they decided to stage a protest in between class periods,” principal Dr. Ben Collins said.

A group of 75 to 100 students participated, with some leaving the school and others returning to class after the protest had ended and the seventh period had begun. However, one of the issues with the protest was the throwing of food that occurred.

“We have an actual process that allows students to express through demonstration their viewpoints that is not as disruptive with things happening in the school because at the end of the day, we still have students that need to go about their day,” Dr. Collins said.

“We have students meet with us and discuss the events so that we can ensure everyone is safe and that students are able to protest for what they believe in.”

As with any form of breaking school rules, there are consequences that are imposed on those who have broken them.

“We meet with students and determine the best way to move forward following an issue,” Dr. Collins said.

“These procedures can be found in the student handbook.”

This came after many parents and students had turned to the school board and voiced their concerns over the mask mandate directly to them. Nearly a week later, on Feb. 15, the District announced that the next day, all three schools would be going mask optional.

“I was really surprised when I found out that our district was going mask optional because the announcement came at 9:45 p.m. during the middle of the week,” senior Allie Zimmerman said. “I think that it felt very sudden

Now that Maine South is mask optional, what percentage of students are still wearing masks?

78% 22%

of students no longer wear masks

because it was for the following day instead of starting the following Monday.”

Despite the sudden announcement, many students still came to school the following day without their masks on.

“On the first day, I wore my mask to school because I was unsure of how many people would have their masks off,” senior Aiden Lefler said. “By the end of the first day, after seeing that a lot of other students weren’t wearing their masks, I felt comfortable enough to take my mask off.”

While a large portion of students and staff have continued to come to school maskless, a substantial minority are still wearing their masks.

“Wearing a mask usually depends on where I am in the building,” English teacher Ms. Jill Braverman said. “In a crowded classroom, I have continued to wear my mask while waiting to see that the school’s Covid numbers stay low following the mask policy.”

Others continue to wear their mask for reasons varying from comfort to the safety of others.

“I still wear my mask because I don’t want to risk putting anyone who is immuno-compromised at risk,” senior

*Based on a random sampling of Maine South classes on March 2.

Nick Urquhart said.

One of the biggest concerns when moving to mask optional was the idea of being judged for wearing or not wearing a mask.

“I was curious to see what other people were doing with their masks, as I didn’t want to be judged if I wore a mask or didn’t wear one,” Zimmerman said. “When I saw that at least half of the students in my classes were not wearing masks, I felt more comfortable taking mine off as well.”

The issue of mask-wearing has been highly politicized in the media; however, students say that they have not felt any pressure or judgment to take their mask off or put it on.

“I haven’t experienced any hostility when it comes to wearing my mask,” Urquhart said. “I think that everyone is just glad to be given a choice as to whether or not they can wear a mask and are less concerned about what others choose to do.”

After the first three days of mask

of students still wear masks

optional, the district not if ie d students and families that contact tracing will no longer be conducted by the school. However, students who are ill should remain home for five days when they have COVID, and wear a mask during days 6-10 after they test positive for COVID. Additionally, masks are still required on all school transportation, including buses for athletics, as well as the PACE buses that take students to and from school.

“I still carry a mask in my backpack at school in case I need it, but I am optimistic that we will need masks less and less as we continue into 2022 and head towards the summer,” Zimmerman said.

The CDC officially no longer recommends that those who are vaccinated wear masks, as of Feb. 26.

As a result of this, masking has become optional on a larger scale.

“I don’t see it [masking] as two sides, but as an option that one can implement when they feel appropriate,” AP Psychology and Economics teacher Ms. Rachel Santucci said. “It’s truly an individual choice, a choice that I think anyone should feel could change on a moment-to-moment basis.”