Vol 58, Issue 2 Southwords

November 5, 2021

1111 S. Dee Road • Park Ridge, Illinois 60068

Vol. 58, No. 2

WE ARE HAWK

NATION The student section is inspired by Hawk Nation to show up and shout out.

PHOTO BY KELLY WOLiNSKI

See page 14.

Our Promise

Giving basic necessities to those in need.

Page 2

COVID & Cafe

Pandemic protocols seem to disappear in the cafe.

Page 5

Nifty Thrifts

Students benefit from shopping sustainably.

Page 9

Keeping Pace

Girls’ XC stays strong as the end of season approaches.

Page 15

The NEWS

| November 5, 2021

Students and staff make ‘promise’ to give back

Olivia Deluca & Charlotte King

Sports Writer & Contributor nspired by discussions with students who said that the lack of personal care products were causing them to miss school, PE teacher Ms. Beth Vainowski is launching a program called South’s Promise.

Using a Google form, students and families of Maine South in need of hygiene products can obtain them from donations made by students and staff.

The program was introduced to faculty and staff at a meeting in October, and Ms. Vainowski is finalizing logistics for the collection and distribution of needed products.

Through this, Maine South families will have the opportunity to get the personal care products they need to decrease the number of student absences.

“Think about what it took to get you here this morning, all the different personal care items it took and what an issue it would be if you were without those,” Ms. Vainowski said. “It’s a reason why some students don’t get here.”

Ms. Vainowski hopes that with the launch of this project, students will feel more comfortable being at school because they will have access to essential items.

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GIVING BACK

PHOTO BY EDEN WENING

Some staff and students have already donated items for those in need. Donations will continue to be accepted once a donation bin has been made.

Some of these items include deodorant, shaving cream, razors, toilet paper, hand soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, feminine hygiene products, lotion, sanitary wipes, and more.

A Google form will be released after the project is presented to students in November. The form will be sent out to students and families where they can list the items they need and note issues such as allergies and sensitivities.

While student volunteers will help fulfill the requests, the requests will remain anonymous.

“No name will be attached to

anything—those who are assembling the care package will just see a request number,” Ms. Vainowski said. “We want students and families to feel comfortable.”

The staff have been supportive of Ms. Vainowski’s project.

“I think anytime that you can help students in need, of course it’s fantastic,” AP Economics and AP Psychology teacher Ms. Rachel Santucci said. “I think it’s something that I’m not sure teachers are aware is an issue within the community.

Anytime that something can be brought to our attention that we are unaware of, and we have the ability to

make a difference, why wouldn’t we?”

The plan is to present it to students in November, but that hasn’t stopped the word from spreading through sports teams, clubs, classes, and social media.

According to Ms. Vainowski, there are plenty of clubs and teams who have already reached out to ask how they can help.

“I’ve seen a bunch of people post about the drive on social media,” sophomore Bella Venetucci said. “I think it’s an amazing opportunity for students to get what they need and avoid feeling ashamed about asking for help.”

Wh i l e s om e s tu d e nt s m ay receive assistance from the state, Ms. Vainowski pointed out that personal hygiene items are not part of that assistance. In some situations, families are making difficult decisions about what they can afford. This is a situation that no student or family should be put in.

A donation drive will be set up soon and an account in the bookstore will be established for students and staff to donate money to the cause.

Donations will continue all year.

“There is a need,” Ms. Vainowski said. “It’s our commitment to say ‘we want you here, and we are going to do our best to get you what you need to get here.’”

Senior Class Council takes over fundraising Cecilia Tecu

News Writer n years past, Maine South’s Schoolwide Fundraiser Club has had the responsibility of organizing donations for a chosen charity, taking place throughout the school year.

However, with the School-wide Fundraiser Club being disbanded, the fundraiser selection was placed in the hands of Senior Class Council.

SCC chose the Ronald McDonald House as this year’s charity. They provide financial aid to families with sick children in their time of need.

The purpose of the Ronald McDonald House is to reduce the stress and financial burden of families.

“Traditionally, school-wide fundraiser was sponsored by one person,” Associate Principal of Student Experiences Mike Edwards said. “We were not able to do that this year for a host of reasons. It

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[The schoolwide fundraiser] will normally have. Even though the instead go through my office. All School-wide fundraiser is going to Maine South clubs and activities that be the responsibility of many clubs fundraise this year are being asked to in the school, we want to give the donate a percent of their fundraising same contributions to the Ronald earnings.”

McDonald House that we have to Despite the fundraisers in new leadership “Even if you can’t go out and years past.” team, the goal This year’s of the fundraiser physically help your community, charity gives remains the same: you can always give a little bit of us a lot to look to raise as much what you have” forward to as money as in -Associate Principal of Student a school in previous years. of ways Experiences terms “The primary to get involved Mr. Mike Edwards and give back. goal is to not skip a beat given Students that the Schoolcan look wide Fundraiser Club isn’t a part forward to many in school fundraiser of Maine South anymore,” SCC events this year. co-president Tommy Locascio said.

“The biggest one [fundraising “We want to stay on the same pace event] that is always an annual that we normally do and maintain thing is Hawk Fest,” senior StuCo the amount of fundraising that we president Jillian Koepke said. “That

is probably where we get the most fundraising from, but there are also raffles and community outreach events throughout the year.”

Hawk Fest will take place in the spring, as always, providing students with the opportunity to volunteer for the event as well as help donate by attending and enjoying the festivities.

“There are a lot of in-school and out-of-school events,” Locascio said.

There has already been an inschool event for fundraising during the week leading up to Halloween.

Students donated money to the fundraiser by casting their votes (in the form of dollar bills) for which Halloween doll was scarier, Jigsaw or Chucky.

After the first in-school fundraiser, Senior Class Council is working to plan several other events allowing students to get involved and donate before Hawk Fest.

in o sch

November 5, 2021

| NEWS

Listening groups give students voice Beth Kosiorek

News Editor arlier this month, advisor y teachers announced that Maine South will be implementing listening groups. These groups are run by Maine South’s equity team, a group of staff and administrators that want to make sure all students have a voice.

“The purpose of these groups is to make sure Maine South is an equitable place and every student here feels like they belong no matter what they look like, what they believe in, or who they love,” Assistant Principal of Student Experiences Mr. Mike Edwards said.

The main objective of these listening groups is to hear students’ voices and make changes for students

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that are less represented at school. principals here believe in is student Students’ interested in the groups voice,” Mr. Edwards said. were given personal invitations to These new listening groups are join after the groups were mentioned a helpful resource for all students, in advisory. regardless of While at the background “Maine South’s listenthese groups, they come from. administrators “I think that ing groups give students want to hear these groups are a chance to share their a great way for how students’ experiences opinions and be heard” all students to have been at included at

Chris Kulas ‘23 feel Maine South, as Maine South,” well as inquire sophomore about any Mary Keller said. issues students may face. This gives These groups take place during anyone the opportunity to share lunch periods, allowing invited their opinions in a safe environment. students to eat a provided lunch “One of the things that all the while discussing equity issues at

Maine South.

Making students feel comfortable and involved is a top priority of listening groups.

“At the groups, we try to make sure there is someone there who is either an ally or identifies with that population of students,” Mr. Edwards said. “The purpose is to make sure that we are intentionally trying to hear student voices.”

With listening groups being relatively new, the hope is to continue hosting sessions throughout the school year. Ultimately, the goal is to provide a reliable and constant environment for students to openly express their issues and opinions about the school.

PHOTO COURTESY DISTRICT 207

National Merit Semi-finalists selected

ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE

Seniors Emily Hader, Darin Cheng, and Ryne Downing (left to right) stand with Dr. Ben Collins after being congratulated on being National Merit Semi-Finalists. These three students will represent Maine South as they compete to be National Merit Finalists, the results of which will be announced in February 2022.

Elizabeth Handley News Editor

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he 2022 National Merit Scholarship Semi-Finalists have been officially announced and the finalist process is underway. Maine South’s three semi-finalists this year are seniors Darin Cheng, Ryne Downing, and Emily Hader.

Each year, approximately 16,000 students get chosen as semi-finalists and 7,000 become finalists nationwide.

The semi-finalists were all proud to be recognized by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation for their success.

“I definitely feel honored,” Hader said. “It makes up for all my hard work and accomplishments throughout high school.”

To qualify, students must go through a rigorous process which consists of essays, applications, and more.

“You must fill out an application that includes an essay, an extracurricular involvement list, testing scores, c ons i s t e nt ly m ai nt ai n i ng t h e same level of excellence, personal information, etc,” Cheng said. “The score of your junior year PSAT/ NMSQT is then recalculated into an index and the National Merit

organization calculates the state index to compare individual scores to the state. If you meet that index, or get one above it, you are deemed to be a semi-finalist.”

Associate Principal for Student Services Dr. Melissa Pikul likens this complex procedure to that of a college application.

“When one is a semi finalist, the counselor submits their entire course history (rigor of courses, amount of courses, GPA, test scores),” Dr. Pikul said. “They must also write an essay or writing component, similar to what you submit for college applications.”

However, all the hard work of

these dedicated students is well worth it due to the the prizes awarded by National Merit.

“Students receive the recognition of being a National Merit finalist, and many are awarded scholarships, directly from National Merit or from a business that sponsors them,” counselor Ms. Erin Sanchez said.

“About half of all finalists receive a one-time $2,500 scholarship along with the possibility of schools also granting scholarships to those finalists who committed,” Cheng said.

National Merit Scholarship finalists will be announced in early February 2022.

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NEWS

| November 5, 2021

Students and staff show custodian appreciation PHOTO BY MOLLY SHANAHAN

Jake Snyder News Editor

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n Friday, Oct. 22, students and staff came together to show their appreciation for the custodial staff. The event was planned by the Underclass Council, led by advisers Mr. Jason Marsicano and Mr. Garrett Fechner, who are both teachers in the English department.

“Each year, we have a parade because we found that the maintenance crew really does enjoy it,” Mr. Marsicano said.

The parade featured members of the custodial staff walking with the Maine South Band.

“Mr. Hutter brings the band to the parade, in addition to students having signs with the custodian’s name on them thanking them for what they do. There was also a banner for the custodians as we wanted to show how valued they are at Maine South,” Mr. Marsicano said. “We also encourage teachers to bring their students to the parade so that we can show the custodial team how much we appreciate them.”

In terms of the turnout, Mr. Marsicano was pleased with the number of students and staff that showed up to the parade.

“It was nice because the math

APPRECIATION PARADE The maintenance staff at Maine South walks in the custodian appreciation parade. Students and staff gathered to express their gratitude.

classrooms could just step out into the hallway. I also had a number of colleagues in the English department tell me they were coming as well,” Mr. Marsicano said.

While having the parade at 2:25 p.m may have seemed like an odd time, it was intentional.

“The reason that we chose that time was because it was a shift change for the custodians,” Mr. Marsicano said. “The first shift was ending and the second shift was arriving, which allowed us to maximize the number of maintenance team members in

attendance for the parade.”

Students were happy that they had the opportunity to show their gratitude towards the custodian team.

“It was nice to see the custodians get recognition for their hard work because a lot of the time they don’t get enough credit for what they do,” senior Annie Middendorf said.

In addition to the appreciation parade, custodians were also provided a catered lunch from Jimmy John’s, as well as Dunkin’ Donuts gift cards.

The parade is important, as it allows the staff and students to take

time to thank the maintenance team for everything they do. “ There are so many people involved in helping the school run successfully,” Mr. Marsicano said.

“A school this big functions when everyone is working together. These are great people who do great work and deserve recognition for it.”

It seems that the parade was successful, as many custodians were grateful for the event.

“It’s nice to be appreciated as we work hard to keep the school clean,” custodian Mr. Rich Kulczak said.

COVID protocols get a ‘boost’ this school year Olivia Das Gupta News Writer

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ess than a week after school began, new state regulations were put in place with the intent to ensure school safety. On Aug. 26, Governor J.B. Pritzker issued a mandate requiring all teachers and educational staff to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

While this aims to minimize infection, some students don’t feel the mandate is necessary.

“It’s better if teachers could choose whether they want to get vaccinated over being required to,” junior Victoria Majchrowicz said.

However, the mandate does not appear to be an issue to many staff members at Maine South. According to Dr. Collins, 97% of the staff is currently vaccinated.

“If this is what they deem as important to get our students back in school, I’m all for it,” math teacher

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Mr. Tony Lavorato said.

After a year of virtual learning, this mindset of avoiding the return to e-learning is becoming increasingly common among students and staff.

“If everyone does their part, keeps their masks on correctly, and gets vaccinated, we can beat COVID and get back to normal,” junior Aisha Arshad said.

Getting back to normal is of high concern, but another benefit to vaccinations is the feeling of safety they allow in the building.

“I feel much safer being around and physically closer to those who are vaccinated,” Arshad said.

This security can be felt in the classroom as well as outside of it. With the vaccines and recent introduction of booster shots, members of the school community have been feeling more confident about returning to school fully in-person.

“I feel confident about being in

the classroom with students,” Mr. Lavorato said.

Regarding these booster shots, Dr. Jonathan Pinsky, Medical Director of Infection Control and Prevention at Edward Hospital, thinks that booster shots are essential to stopping the spread of COVID-19.

“For the 2-mRNA vaccines such as Moderna and Pfizer, a third ‘booster dose’ given six months after completion of the primary series elicits levels of antibodies that are much higher than after the primary series,” Dr. Pinsky said.

The booster dose works by allowing “immune memory” to build, leading to a more effective and durable response to COVID-19.

Therefore, a vaccinated person can have a milder infection if they become infected with the virus.

Now, with the new variant of COVID-19, these boosters may be more important than ever.

“Six months after completing the primary vaccine series, the levels of neutralizing antibodies fall, and may not be high enough to neutralize the Delta Variant,” Dr. Pinsky said.

This is where a booster shot is pivotal.

“The neutralizing antibody level against the Delta Variant was six to eight times higher after the booster dose than after the second dose,” Dr. Pinsky said. “The delta variant has mutations that cause changes to some parts of the spike protein.

After vaccination, antibodies are made that target different portions (epitopes) of the spike protein [which make host cells easier for the virus to attack].”

Vaccine mandates and boosters could be the key to keeping us healthy.

While controversy around these measures remain, many believe these precautions are an important step in keeping people healthy.

November 5, 2021

| COMMENTARY

COVID takes a lunch break in the cafeteria Veronica Arghiropol Commentary Writer

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lease keep your mask above your nose!” We have all heard this phrase in the halls and in class, but when students enter the cafeteria, this rule no longer applies.

Many students seem to believe that COVID-19 just disappears the second they enter the lunchroom; students even believe that it is acceptable to not wear masks in the lunch line.

I have never once seen a teacher or supervisor enforce mask protocols in the cafeteria. If masks are so heavily mandated everywhere else in the school, why are they not mandated in the cafeteria?

The cafeteria is a shared space used by students during both lunch and free periods, serving as an additional hangout space.

Even though plenty of people use

the lunchroom throughout the day, presents a major COVID-19 hazard. many students neglect to wear their Simple solutions to this would masks after eating or drinking. These be limiting the number of people students also roam from table to table at a table or providing additional without a mask on. Students have seating outside. Despite the seating become lazy and will not wear a mask accommodations outside of the even when walking two feet to a trash gymnasium and next to the newly can in the cafeteria. Some students built workout room, teachers and wear them incorrectly, loosely-fitted supervisors will not allow students to and resting underneath their noses. eat lunch outside with their friends.

While it is understandable that Eating outside would allow one might want a break from wearing students to space themselves out a mask all day long, it is important comfortably. Instead of being stuck to keep in mind indoors next that we are still in to people who a pandemic. We “Without the proper ignore masking must wear masks use of masks, especially regulations, to ensure that we given the upcoming flu students should keep ourselves be given the and others safe season, there will be a option to eat t h rou g hout t he higher risk of catching a outdoors. This school day. would ease In the cafeteria, cold...” anxiety for many students are students who crammed next to each other and lack feel that the lunchroom isn't safe. the room to social distance. With The issue of proper mask-wearing students being so close to each other is present outside the cafeteria as well; and people rarely wearing masks, this the commons and some hallways that

lack student monitors are rampant with students who refuse to wear a mask correctly. It is crucial that we all wear masks correctly not only in the cafeteria, but in other shared spaces such as the hallways and commons.

More people are getting sick with colds which could be due to the low quantity of people wearing masks properly.

Without the proper use of masks, especially during the upcoming flu season, there will be a higher risk of catching the flu as illnesses will continue to proliferate among the student body.

Without adult supervision and enforcement, it becomes exceedingly difficult to ensure that each and every student is doing their part to limit the spread of all diseases.

Especially in the cafeteria, it is crucial that we all step up and work to protect each other by wearing our masks properly. We must ensure that both COVID-19 and other seasonal illnesses do not trap us in our homes once again.

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COMMENTARY

| November 5, 2021

Maine South High School 1111 South Dee Road Park Ridge, IL 60068 http://www.southwords.org

Scan this QR code to e-mail Southwords

ILLUSTRATION BY EDEN WENING

STAFF EDITORIAL This is high school, not elementary school H

igh School is supposed to be a segue into “college life”; however, the current academic and b ehav i or a l p ol i c i e s s e nd mixed messages to students about expectations. The over-restrictive rules in the hallways and relaxed academic policies counteract one another, proving to be confusing and harmful for many students.

During the 2020 school year, regulations were relaxed to accommodate for the uncertainty students faced amidst the pandemic.

Temporary policies such as offcampus lunch and unmonitored testing environments were implemented with the goal of keeping Maine South healthy and safe; however, they unintentionally introduced freedoms that students became accustomed to.

As rules were reimposed and extended this school year, returning to campus meant returning to structure.

Bathroom passes, coupled with highly restricted movement around the building, have proven to be one thing: elementary.

Both students and staff have

noticed a worsening in student behavior, which could be attributed to a lack of willingness to abide by rules viewed as unnecessary by the student body. These unessential rules are inhibiting students’ abilities to slowly develop into people who are ready for post-high school life.

Current academic policies are not consistent with the strict rules around the building. The infamous “40% rule” gives students credit for not completing or not performing well on assignments, leaving no student with a grade below 40%.

Furthermore, summative assignments also offer students a chance to retake a test to replace the original score. Essentially, the first attempt on a test does not matter.

These policies create less incentive for students to complete assignments or even score well on tests.

Additionally, the current system for finals lacks congruence with the reality of college academics, where many classes require a final exam. In post-secondary education, some grades are calculated almost entirely off midterms and final exams,

What do

something that students coming from this school would no longer be used to or prepared for.

High school should be the time to learn good study habits and behavioral norms in academic environments. Taking away that opportunity completely or providing too much structure prohibits that learning process.

By n o m e ans s h ou l d h i g h school be structured precisely like college. This transition period is a necessity. However, including more of the expectations of college could be beneficial in preparation for higher education.

This could be accomplished academically through strategies such as limiting the number of retake opportunities available. In regards to behavioral expectations, students should have the opportunity to move freely within the building unless they demonstrate a need for extra support or structure.

Adjusting these policies will provide students the best learning experiences to help prepare them for the future.

YOU think?

Deliver signed letters to the Southwords office or scan the QR code on the masthead to e-mail southwords@maine207.org

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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 Commentary Editors Darin Cheng Jacob Mascort Andjela Trkulja Features Editors

Lilien Schirazi Molly Shanahan

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

Mr. Stathakis

November 5, 2021

| COMMENTARY

The unwarranted stigma of community colleges Commentary Editor eniors are swerving through a tumultuous season of college applications and increasing amounts of academic and extracurricular involvements.

With consistent weekly advisories about the FAFSA, the Common Application, transcript delivery, and post-high school career plans, those who choose to continue their education struggle to escape the anxieties of choosing a major and getting admitted into college.

That being said, community colleges are under valued and commonly stigmatized by students because they are guaranteed safety schools.

The constant stigma surrounding community colleges is unfounded and unfitting. The primary purposes of these schools are to provide an affordable education, twoyear degrees that offer additional preparation for students entering the workforce, and the ability to transfer to four-year institutions nationwide.

This is commendable and hardly deserving of disdain.

The total yearly costs at community colleges are often a fraction of the cost of most state colleges. For example, Oakton Community College costs

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of Engineering at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. It can also be for young adults who either have been rejected from top engineering schools or wish to explore the field without spending thousands of additional dollars.

The Engineering Pathways program offers qualifying students guaranteed admission into the Grainger College of Engineering, ranked as the sixth best undergraduate engineering program in the nation according to U.S. News & World Report.

However, compromises remain unavoidable when it comes to attending community college; most of these schools do not offer oncampus housing, which saves on costs, but results in the majority of students living with their parents for their two-year stay.

Moreover, as the primary goal of most students at community colleges is to transfer out, the social scene may be stunted and underwhelming.

A social scene may cost additional

tens of thousands of dollars, but many students value the experiences and transition into independence that universities provide, so twoyear institutions may not be a viable option.

Before entertaining the thought of applying to community colleges, everyone must prioritize their own interests and strengths.

Students who have part-time jobs or familial commitments may find community college attractive, with most colleges offering online courses and flexible scheduling.

Additionally, their advisers and deans are experienced and unmatched in accommodating and maintaining the school-work-life balance of students, adults, and retirees.

Everyone should weigh their own priorities at institutions of higher learning and decide if their personalities and goals fit at a certain school. The stigma of community colleges should not dissuade students from considering their many benefits.

ILLUSTRATION BY NAT KOWALEWSKA

Darin Cheng

around $10,000 overall every year while UIUC costs roughly $38,000 every year. With an average student loan debt at around $30,000 according to U.S. News & the World Report, attending Oakton would allow a student to matriculate and come out years ahead financially relative to students who take on loans and assume debt.

Furthermore, several seniors remain undecided about their college major due to a lack of experience and exploration. Instead of attending a four-year institution as an undecided student to pursue several introductory courses, a student can explore their interests at a local community college.

Once they decide on a major, they will have the ability to transfer out to a four-year university.

Some of the best universities in the nation are known for being more lenient in their admission of transfer students. Northwestern University accepted 15% of transfer applicants in 2020, with the University of Notre Dame accepting roughly 30% and Vanderbilt University accepting 22%.

Students rejected during their senior year can reapply two years later with a strong college transcript and better admission prospects. It is a safer, cheaper option to explore interests and select a major before transferring to a four-year university.

Oakton Community College offers especially-lucrative opportunities for students interested in engineering who may not have been accepted into the selective Grainger College

Accountability highlights poor student behavior John Biagi Editor-In-Chief n social media and other online platforms, there aren’t many consequences for bad behavior and disrespect. With the increase of student social media use during the past year and half, the norms of social media seem to have replaced typical behavioral norms.

Unfortunately, some students have struggled to revert back to the appropriate expectations of in-person activities.

Many students primarily relied

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on electronic media to fulfill their social needs during the e-learning year. This technology worked well in the situation, but underscored the middle school warnings that we really can hide behind our screens.

On Zoom calls with my camera and microphone off, I often would roll my eyes to show my annoyance with a peer’s comment or verbally express my dislike of an assignment.

Of course, none of my reactions were seen or heard.

Understanding that I was able to get away with gestures like these, they became more common in my life. At the beginning of this year, I caught myself rolling my eyes and muttering at school.

I’ve since corrected these impulses

because they aren’t acceptable in the classroom. However, some students adopted other disrespectful behaviors and haven’t corrected them yet.

Many of us have heard of or witnessed the disrespect that many safety monitors face. They have to monitor students and enforce school rules, two practices that students had a one-year break from.

I’ve witnessed students talk back to and argue with safety monitors, adults who are now holding them accountable for their actions.

Although there is no excuse for being rude, students weren’t penalized for improper conduct—if it was even noticed—in the past year.

It appears that many students have either forgotten or were never

exposed to the behavioral norms of high school. This school year may be the first time that some sophomore students had classes, lunches, and extracurriculars in the building.

L i ke e ve r y ye ar, f reshmen students don’t come to high school with an understanding of the new expectations and norms. They learn what is acceptable from their older peers.

Freshmen this year face an additional challenge: they have fewer experienced upperclassmen to look up to for guidance.

In and out of school, there are times when repercussions for aren't given. As students, we need to recognize that in those situations, poor behavior still isn't acceptable.

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FEATURES | November 5, 2021

Cheering for more support Paige Shane

Features Writer

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PHOTO BY MOLLY SHANAHAN

he Maine South football team garners a lot of student spirit and attention. Many other sports, however, don’t sometimes receive the same level of support and often seem to go unnoticed.

Fridays in September and October, students flock to Wilson Field and fully pack the stands.

“Friday night under the lights is always an exciting atmosphere filled with students and parents ready to cheer the team on,” senior Sargon Adam said. “They are some of the most exciting moments for any student in high school.”

A significant draw of the football games is the social aspect.

“They [football games] are a big social gathering,” junior Franco Alesi said. “I have made new friends even with people in different grades JUST FOR KICKS A small group of juniors from last year gather together and create a student section to cheer on the junior because of these games.” varsity boys’ soccer team in their last home game of the season on April 17.

The liveliness at football games said.

“People can cheer for us and “There is nothing like scoring and motivates the team to win their The lack of a student fan base is jumping into the glass by our student people could also try to learn a little games. present in a variety of sports. section,” Zabratanski said. “My energy bit more about swimming,” Simpson “Being in the student section at the “At home soccer games in the is different when there are students, as said. football games is always fun,” junior past, low numbers of fans can often I’m just more fired up to play.”

It can help spread school spirit, Sean Crosson said. “It doesn’t matter make the game feel as though it’s That energy advantage should be form new friendships, and even teach if it’s at home or away, the student moving at a walking pace,” senior shared among the rest of the sports more about the sport. section is always packed.”

“This past year, I attended several soccer and volleyball player Christo teams.

Unfortunately, Hawks don’t Maheras said.

“At the home soccer games this boys’ lacrosse games home and away,” provide as much support for their A fuller student section creates season, the student section gave us a junior Reese Lawrence said. “Coming classmates’ other sports games. in to it, I had no clear idea on what a more exciting environment for massive boost,” Maheras said.

“Football games are the heart athletes.

The presence of a student section the rules were, or even how to play. and soul of our “The stands at other sporting events can further Watching the games made me have a school, but other new understanding and appreciation a r e a l w a y s help the players’ game. games are p a c k e d , b u t “With fans, though, the boost for the sport. I saw certain techniques sports are not as “Football well attended,” the heart of soul of our t h e r e a r e n’ t we get has allowed us to get back the players used to increase their Adam said. many students into games,” Maheras said. “The chances of having a good game.”

“Friends and school, but other sports in the stands momentum created by attendance f a m i l y c o m e are not as well attended.” and we all wish is real.” WE’VE GOT SPIRIT to w atch ou r we had more,” Increasing attendance at more New student organization Hawk -Sargon Adam (‘22) matches, but we senior four-year sports would help to emphasize the Nation aims to provide support to obviously don’t swimmer Evan many extracurricular opportunities all sports through an active student have as many Simpson said. that are available. section and social media. fans as football does,” senior tennis Supporting sporting events other “Students can get excited and See page 14 player Mina Radosavljevic said. than football would increase the promote Maine South hockey by Typically, students do not flock to energy levels at the games, meets, coming to our games and being loud Showing up to these games can other sports stands besides football. or tournaments, which could in at them,” Zabratanski said. provide a social event in which “We don’t have a huge fan base turn increase the team’s chances at The lack of support for some teams students can start new friendships when it comes to regular games,” winning. while supporting the school. may be due to a lack of publicity. senior softball player Colleen Griffin “There’s no better opportunity “When students come to our “I feel like we should post about said. games, specifically our Oakton games, the game times, where it’s at, and what than supporting your classmates When students do show up, it’s the atmosphere is nothing short of school we are playing,” Griffin said. and sports that aren’t traditionally usually only when the team is doing electrifying,” senior hockey player “That will get a larger audience since popular,” Adam said. “The games well.

Connor Zabratanski said. more people will be aware of when can be unexpectedly exciting and the “We only got fans when people atmosphere is intense because the Hearing the fans scream and cheer the games are.” saw that we were getting really far in someone on motivates them to push Showing up and bringing spirit to classmates who are there care about the season and doing well,” Griffin themselves to do better. sporting events motivates the athletes. the team and players.”

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November 5, 2021

| FEATURES

Out with the new, in with the old

Alex Shapkarov, Lilien Schirazi, & Lillian Niziolek

Features Writer, Features Editor, & Editor-in-Chief urchasing clothes in your style and size at a reasonable price can be difficult and time-consuming; however, thrifting provides an easy and affordable option.

Many teenagers can be found wearing outfits that include pieces from the thrift store.

One of the most obvious reasons for turning to a thrift store would be its contrast in price to a department store.

“It’s convenient, since not ever yone, such as myself, can nor wants to spend, say, $40 on a sweatshirt; you can find many likenew ones for $3-8 at a thrift store,” sophomore Helen Yang said.

Being able to purchase favorable clothing at a decent price has proven to increase the sales of these nonprofit and charity organizations.

“I’ve gotten so much new clothing for a fraction of the price I would have paid if I purchased it brand new,” Yang said.

Senior Madeline Schimka has

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ILLUSTRATION BY JOE DICOLA

been thrifting for this very benefit since her childhood.

“I started thrifting as a child because my mother couldn't afford to buy new clothes for my sister and me,” Schimka said. “When I got older and had to buy my own clothes, I still thrifted because it was cheaper for me, and it was something I was used to.”

Senior Kenny Rink also started thrifting as a child and appreciates the financial benefits of thrifting.

“My dad would take me and we would look at the fun pieces and buy unique clothing for cheap,” Rink said.

There are also environmental benefits of thrifting that students recognize.

“It [thrifting] serves to be very environmentally friendly as it creates a new purpose for clothes that would otherwise not be worn and/or thrown away,” senior Mia Parangalan said.

“The fashion industry is being proven more and more to be extremely wasteful.”

Schimka not only buys second-hand clothing to help the environment, but also because of ethical implications.

“I became more motivated to

thrift when I entered high school because I was more conscious of the environmental issues surrounding clothing production,” Schimka said. “I also started to learn more about slave and child labor in clothing companies, and the cheapest way to buy ethical clothing was to thrift.”

Parangalan is similarly motivated to fulfill her moral obligations.

“I have found thrifting to be the easiest solution to this problem, as it avoids companies with unfair labor practices altogether,” Parangalan said.

“Most brands have a darker backstory than you may think.”

There is hope that a collective effort to shop sustainably at thrift stores will resolve some immorality and environmental consequences of the fashion industry.

“I b e l i e v e t h at i n d i v i du a l people are not responsible for the environmental crisis, but individual actions still matter,” Rink said. “If you are persistent in what you believe and do, others see that and are inspired to rethink their own actions.”

Not only does shopping at thrift stores help one’s wallet and conscience, but it also allows one to cultivate their own style with unique wardrobe pieces.

“You get to shift through clothes from all different stores and time periods,” Schimka said. “Better yet, there is no chance of you accidently wearing the same shirt or dress as someone else because everything in a thrift store is one of a kind.”

Just like Schimka, Parangalan is able to define her own style through the eclectic items she finds thrifting.

“I get asked almost daily where I get my clothes or people telling me that they like my style,” Parangalan said. “This began when I started thrifting exclusively.”

However, wearing more peculiar items from the thrift store took some getting used to.

“While it might feel weird at first to wear statement pieces that display your style loudly for all to see and judge, I truly have never felt more myself since I started thrifting,”

Parangalan said.

Parangalan is specifically proud of her find for homecoming.

“I purchased the dress I wore to Homecoming this year for only $5,” Parangalan said. “It was this ruffly, vintage, g re e n , Ju i c y Couture dress that impressed all of the moms at my Homecoming pictures.”

Parangalan is now on the hunt for the perfect dress to wear in the spring.

“I have now been racking up prom dresses with the hope of having many to choose from by the end of the year,” Parangalan says.

Rink found a prom dress while thrifting. “I came across a prom dress once and I bought it for a simple five dollars,” Rink said. “I have used it as a focal point for multiple photoshoots.”

To further personalize her style, Schimka uses her creativity to upcycle the pieces she finds.

“I would say thrifting gave me a unique sense of style because of how I interpret some of the clothes I buy,” Schimka said. “I tend to look for clothes that I could cut, sew, or change in some way to make them even more original and even more me.”

Searching for these clothes is a part of the experience.

“The challenge of searching, sometimes hours at a time, for really amazing clothes is almost like a game, which I think adds another layer of fun to the whole experience that you don't get from just shopping at Forever 21,” Parangalan said.

Thrift stores organize clothing in a different fashion, taking the "search" to a whole new level.

“Unlike the mall, some thrift stores organize their clothes by color, size, and style of clothing instead of by brand or store,” Yang said.

Overall, shopping at thrift stores has a vast variety of clothing and benefits.

“My favorite part of going into a thrift store is finding pieces that I love and are at a very affordable price,” Yang said. “Thrifting is a good alternative way to get clothes you love while contributing to helping out the environment.”

“I truly have never felt more myself since I started thrifting.”

-Mia Parangalan (‘22)

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FEATURES | November 5, 2021

Around the world in seven clubs

Jane Roche

PHOTO BY MOLLY SHANAHAN

Features Writer

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aine South is home to a variety of cultural clubs that connect many students to their roots.

As one of four Ir ish C lub presidents, senior Kelly Carroll appreciates the connection she has made with her heritage.

“My dad’s family is Irish, and I just always loved the culture,” Carroll said.

“I used to Irish dance when I was little, and our family would take frequent trips to Ireland to visit family.”

Despite not having Italian heritage, senior Italian Club president Sylvia Pasieka still values her involvement in the club.

“I am actually Polish, not Italian, so I don’t have any Italian roots,” Pasieka said. “Despite this, I think that learning languages is beneficial to becoming a global citizen. With that, engaging in these cultural clubs can help you communicate with other people and have greater ease when traveling to a foreign country.”

Senior French Club President Mia Parangalan agrees with Carroll and Pasieka.

“I think cultural clubs are important to join regardless of if that culture is a part of your bloodline or not,” Parangalan said. “A large aspect of everyday life is being exposed to different cultures so immersing yourself in them early on as a student is very important in my opinion,” Parangalan said.

B eing a four-year member, Parangalan recognizes the importance of French Club.

“I have been involved with the French Club since freshman year so being a part of it this year was really important to me,” Parangalan said.

Serbian Club has helped its sponsor, Mr. Paul Bellisario, connect with his wife’s roots.

“It helps me learn about my wife’s family’s culture,” Mr. Bellisario said.

“My wife is Serbian, and we were married in a Serbian Orthodox marriage ceremony.

Irish Club co-sponsor Mr. Bob Tortorelli notes that clubs are a way to stay in-tune with cultural traditions.

“I think learning about and preserving culture is important, and joining one of these clubs is one way to do that,” Mr. Tortorelli said.

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CATCHING CULTURE

Freshman Stephen Ronan and juniors Sean Crosson, Jake Birkett, Luke Lesinski and Irish Club co-sponsor Mr. Bob Tortorelli (left to right) run to the ball in a tough football competition. They woke up early on a school day to learn how to play Gaelic football.

“Our activities relate directly to Irish culture in that we learn about and experience Irish music, geography/ travel, immigration, food, history, sports, and traditions.”

Irish Club hosted a meeting for members to learn about and play a popular Irish past-time, Gaelic football.

“I really loved the Gaelic football meeting we had on the field outside,” Carroll said. “Gaelic football is a huge sport in Ireland.”

A Gaelic football pro was invited to accurately describe rules and tactics to the club.

“We had a Maine South alum and Irish football expert lead and organize us in an Irish football game before school,” Mr. Tortorelli said. “We had about 25 students participate.”

Like wis e, French Club has implemented a multitude of activities to bridge the gap between students and French culture.

“We have done many activities that directly connect to roots of France like celebrating Mardi Gras, having Buche de Noël contests (Christmas log cakes), and watching French movies,” Parangalan said.

The clubs offer many activities for students to engage in, including feasting on traditional cuisine.

“My favorite French Club activity was definitely making crepes,”

Parangalan said. “French cuisine is one of the most enticing things about French culture so making crepes was super fun and scrumptious.”

Similarly, Chinese club’s sponsor Ms. Chao explains how the Chinese club pays homage to Chinese cuisine.

“Gathering for food is very big in Chinese culture,” Ms. Chao said.

“All the major events or holidays revolve around food. The Chinese club celebrates Chinese New Year every winter. We order Chinese food, play Chinese games, ping-pong, and hang out.”

Italian club is honoring the culture and traditions.

“My favorite activity in Italian Club is actually something we are currently in the process of planning,” Pasieka said. “It is a meeting centered on coffee. Italians generally start the day with a cup of coffee and it is essentially a staple. We are also planning on doing a mocha demonstration in which we show how a real Italian espresso is made.”

Cultural club celebrations have stretched to sister schools. “[Serbian club has] participated in the International Celebration at Maine East where the members dressed in traditional Serbian clothes and performed a traditional dance,” Mr. Bellisario said.

Teacher sponsors love sharing

their cultures with students.

“My mom’s parents were both born in Ireland...I am so proud of my Irish Heritage,” Irish Club co-sponsor Ms. Schroeder said. “I wanted to share that pride, get to know other people who love Irish Heritage, and teach kids about Irish Culture.”

Sharing their traditions is a valued custom among many cultures.

“If you ever visit a Chinesespeaking country, I think you will find that the people are generally very friendly and welcoming to foreigners,” Ms. Chao said. “Chinese people love sharing their culture. If Chinese Club reflects that same value of being excited to share what they know, then we will have connected with Chinese culture in a major way.”

Parangalan confirms that cultural clubs do a good job of this.

“It’s a really rewarding feeling after you’ve immersed yourself in French so much over the years,” Parangalan said. “So, that only motivates me to celebrate French culture more.”

By joining a Maine South cultural club, students will be able to connect with to their roots. The teacher sponsors are welcoming and open to new students joining their cultural clubs.

“We welcome any student who wants to be part of our group,” Ms. Schroeder said.

November 5, 2021 | ENTERTAINMENT

V-Show: the nightmare you’ll never want to end Julia Gryczko, Jenna Marchuk few different Indian and other dance & Andrea Smith styles,” Merrill Philip said. “I am Entertainment Editors

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his ye ar’s V-Show will b e performed live, a stark contrast from last year’s V-Show which was recorded and available to stream online. With the show being in person, those involved are returning to a more traditional V-Show production experience.

“V-Show is a lot different from last year,” Music Director senior Emily Wegrzynowicz said. “Last year, we recorded all of the acts and trunk sketches and edited them together in a video that people could pay to stream for 48 hours. This year we are having live shows with a full audience.”

Wegrzynowicz notes that this V-Show production is also different from any previous V-Show.

“It is different from before COVID, because all of the performers will be wearing clear masks (the same ones used in the fall play this year), and acts with more than one person will have to be safely spaced apart,” Wegrzynowicz said.

The theme is “Nightmare Before V-Show”—a connection to the movie “The Nightmare Before Christmas.”

“We thought this would be really fun as V-Show lands right between Halloween and Christmas,” senior Trunk Director Mia Parangalan said.

“We’re excited to incorporate fun music to go along with this like the Ghostbusters theme song and the Monster Mash.”

This year, there are many unique acts being performed; senior Merrill Philip is going to be performing a Bollywood dance with her sister Leah Philip.

“Bollywood dancing is a mix of a

excited to perform this dance with my sister to represent our Indian culture. We are preparing a lot for the V-Show by rehearsing and perfecting the dance.”

Another act will come from senior Timmy Wilcox, who is no amateur when it comes to writing and performing songs. He will be performing a song he wrote called “The Nature of the Mind.”

“The song basically describes a dream without overthinking and how it’s natural to overthink,” Wilcox said.

“I will be playing piano and singing with it. Because I wrote it, I am feeling super prepared. My personal rehearsal process is just honestly sitting down and playing it through a few times whenever I want to. It’s pretty laid back.”

Wilcox has been part of the V-Show before and performed a similar act last year.

“Last year I performed another original piece called ‘The Moon and the Sea,’ which I added to after the V-Show,” Wilcox said. “The process didn’t change a lot, but I have a feeling it’ll be a lot different performancewise because of the fact that it is in person this year.”

Another act being showcased is senior Samantha Hecker’s solo performance of “Rainbow” by Kacey Musgraves. Hecker dedicates this performance to her mother, adding a personal touch to her performance.

“It’s a song my mom and I used to sing together, so it’s a tribute to her and all she’s done for me,” Hecker said.

Hecker is excited, yet nervous, as this is her first time performing in the show.

“I’ve been practicing every day and

PHOTO BY EDEN WENING

MAKING A STIR

Senior Adriana Andreolas stirs paint to use for part of the set for the V-Show. The crew paints all of their sets for each V-Show.

this is my first year doing an act in V-Show, so I’m a bit nervous but really excited to be able to be involved,” Hecker said. “We have act rehearsals scheduled where we perform our act for the student director and get tips and tricks.”

Senior Erin Fabian will perform a self-choreographed dance to “Don’t You Worry Child,” by Swedish House Mafia. “‘Don’t You Worry Child’ is meant to represent my personal growth and the process of overcoming challenges PHOTO BY EDEN WENING I’ve faced since the beginning of high school,” Fabian said. “In all of my self-choreographed routines, I choose to add components of my own experiences to tell the audience my story through dancing.”

Fabian spoke of her excitement for this year’s V-Show.

“It’s going to be so different this year compared to last year because this time we’re in front of an audience which I’m so excited for,” Fabian said. “Having an audience makes the performance aspect so much more enjoyable to me.”

YOU KNOW THE DRILL Junior Colleen Compton takes apart a set to reuse Bringing all these acts together is for the side stages. The crew will often reuse parts of an old sets to make new ones. always challenging.

“V-Show brings together so many different components, so there are always multiple groups rehearsing simultaneously across the school,” show director Ms. Carrie Saurer said.

“Taking each one of those elements and putting together a cohesive show is always a challenge, but that is also what makes V-Show so special—it connects so many different students and truly showcases the immense talent that our school community possesses.”

The live performances also bring more immediacy to everything that’s happening for those involved in the V-Show.

“Everyone needs to be ready to deal with any challenges or issues that might arise on the spot, as the audience is right there watching,” Ms. Saurer said. “Also, V-Show always has over 100 students involved (in the Acts, in Footlighters, in Trunk, in Stage Band, and on Crew) and having all of those people together, making a show happen, is so much fun.”

The V-Show will be performed on Nov. 19 and 20 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets for the show will be sold at the door for $7.

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ENTERTAINMENT

| November 5, 2021 PHOTO BY MOLLY SHANAHAN

DRUM ROLL, PLEASE...

The beloved drum line shows off their skills at the football game— one of their last few performances on the field as they enter concert season.

Band honors veterans with seventh annual concert Margaret Hershey

Entertainment Writer fter over 18 months away from the stage, the band has been preparing for their Veterans Day concert in Watson Auditorium. This is the seventh annual Veterans Day concert, which celebrates all the people who have fought to protect our country and who gave their lives fighting for it.

This concert was held last year virtually in a format displaying different groups of chamber music.

Each musician recorded their part individually, and then they were

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compiled by an audio engineer and sent out online.

“O u r a b i l i t y t o p i v o t o u r curriculum to fit the restrictions during COVID times has kept our skills intact,” band director Mr. David Hutter said. “I am confident that our resilience and hard work will be apparent during the Veterans Day concert.”

Another adjustment the band has had to make is going from only marching to performing concerts.

During marching season, they have larger sections of all abilities. This will change as they look forward to

concert season, which starts with the Veterans Day concert.

“S t u d e nt s a r e mu c h m o r e responsible for knowing their parts and taking leadership in their ability to play,” Mr. Hutter said about the transition to concert season. “In addition, the underclassmen no longer have the aid of more experienced juniors and seniors playing alongside them at all times.”

One of the biggest challenges that these musicians face is managing both marching band music and concert music. The new fully implemented block schedule this year has made this

issue different from many previous years.

“The block schedule makes it much more manageable to learn all of the music for the different seasons,” senior drum major Maeve O’Hara said. “We don’t have to manage all of the different music with different styles and techniques at the same time, and we get a bit of a break between practicing the music, so it doesn’t seem as overwhelming, especially for freshmen.”

The Veterans Day Concert will be held on Thursday, Nov. 11 at 6:30 p.m. in the auditorium.

The unique Thanksgiving dishes of Maine South students ILLUSTRATED BY EDEN WENING

Colleen Compton & Emily Fudali Entertainment Writers

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ith the leaves changing color and the temperatures dropping, Thanksgiving is coming up sooner than we know it. A big part of this holiday are the meals that bring families together and create traditions.

While classic dishes such as turkey and mashed potatoes remain a staple in many households, many students and their families across the Maine South community incorporate unique dishes into their meal every year.

Some families have reimagined the ways they use common Thanksgiving meal ingredients, such as freshman Victoria Marchuk, whose family enjoys her Grandma’s homemade potato chip cookies every Thanksgiving.

“My grandma got the recipe from her mom and it’s been around for generations in our family,” Marchuk said. “They’re unique addition to our

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Thanksgiving meal, which usually just consists of classic Thanksgiving food, but I always look forward to this dish for dessert.”

Another example comes from sophomore Payton Littrell who combines common Thanksgiving ingredients like cranberries and marshmallows into a dish she calls “cranberry marshmallow salad.” It is made of fresh cranberries, whipped cream, crushed pineapple, and of course, miniature marshmallows.

“My favorite dish is the cranberry marshmallow salad that we make for

Thanksgiving and I always love being able to have it as a holiday treat along with the main courses of the meal,” Littrell said.

Other than some oddities families include on their table, many also incorporate dishes that are staples of their cultures.

Noodle kugel, a Jewish dish, is enjoyed by senior Sara Kulesza’s family on Thanksgiving.

“My grandma makes noodle kugel for us every Thanksgiving,” Kulesza said. “We eat classic Thanksgiving foods, but we like to add noodle kugel

to represent our Jewish culture. We have been doing this for as long as I can remember.”

Sophomore Giada Dolce shares a meal with her family every Thanksgiving which connects to her Italian roots.

“It is a tradition for my Italian fami ly to have l as ag na e ver y Thanksgiving because it represents our culture,” Dolce said. “In my family, my aunts make the lasagna every year. This tradition has been going on for quite a few years.”

English teacher Ms. Johanna Abend’s family enjoys Thanksgiving classics along with traditional Greek dishes which they include to celebrate their culture every holiday.

“Each year we do classic Thanksgiving foods such as turkey and then traditional Greek dishes such as spanakopita,” Ms. Abend said.

Each of these dishes represents an important aspect of Thanksgiving: traditions. They also show the ways we can celebrate our cultures in the context of an American tradition.

November 5, 2021 | ENTERTAINMENT

Out of this world: alternate reality games Katelyn Whitlock

ILLUSTRATION BY DREW KOEWLER

Entertainment Writer

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lternate reality games, or ARGs, first created in 2001, have been steadily gaining popularity.

For those who don’t know, ARGs, specifically those on platforms such as YouTube, are multi-platform stories set in the real world with fictional elements.

ARGs blur the lines between game and reality, creating a fully immersive experience. The audience, or players, interact with one another to decipher clues and piece together the storyline. The end result is something that many consider art.

Just like theater or literature, ARGs are nothing short of art. It takes time to create these stories across platforms, to get the delivery just right.

These ARG creators do something that’s hard for every artist to do: engage people. They make the audience care about a story. There’s beauty in an audience working together to discover a story, to care so much about a story that they devote their time to solving these puzzles.

“I like the style of these ARGs, and the whole concept seemed really interesting to me,” sophomore Kathleen Lynch said. Lynch has had experience watching the series “Don’t Hug Me I’m Scared” on YouTube, and although technically not an ARG, it still falls under the umbrella of “unfiction” which medium.com defines as “an umbrella term for a fiction which insists that it is real, existing within the same world that you or I exist in.” The series is a short one, following a set of Muppet-like characters. A children’s show gone terribly wrong, “Don’t Hug Me I’m Scared” twists the childhood shows we all know and love into something eerie and downright scary. It was even adapted into a TV show.

The road to success for an ARG isn’t always an easy one. The shroud of secrecy many ARGs have ANOTHER WORLD Alternate reality games can immerse the player into a new world. The path of the games at the beginning often leave audiences questioning are determined by a player’s own decisions. if what is happening is real or not, a testament to a great location, so I chose to set it in my own the realism of many of the more well-made games. house, with strategic camera work to hide anything A more recent ARG called “I am Sophie” ended identifying, doing all the filming on college breaks just a few months ago and was something that and editing during the semester” stated the creator grabbed the attention of people around the internet. of “hiiammarymary” on her website. “I accepted It began with a channel calling themselves “the new that most of the time I’d just have to play all the queen of Youtube” and grew from there, amassing characters, and thankfully my sister was able to help thousands of views. Focusing on a stereotypical rich with most of the additional acting when I needed it.” girl named Sophie, the creator even went so far as to The fact that a college student can make create fake merch drops to make it seem more real. something as successful as “hiiammarymary” is Eventually, the storyline of the ARG took a very truly incredible. Many other ARG creators see this dark turn, shifting very much into the horror genre. too, and that fact inspired them to create their own.

The overall message was about the internet and its ARGs have touched the lives of many people. effect on the individual, repeating the point that Both the creators and the audience have a passion things aren’t always what they seem. for this art. It’s a small community, but it’s worth A lot of ARGs are smaller-scale productions, a look. It’s a beautiful cycle of give and take. The sometimes just a group of friends getting together creator gives the experience, the audience gives to create it. It goes to show how anyone can pick their time and their support. The audience takes up a camera and create a masterpiece. this amazing story, and the creator takes away A popular ARG called “hiiammarymary” creative fulfillment. was made by a college student, who remains Alex Hall, the creator of multi-platform ARG anonymous. turned Creepypasta “Ben Drowned” stated in a MOM I’M SCARED This is the official poster “​Throughout the process I kept in mind that Tweet, “Twitter reminds me why I do this. The sheer for the series “Don’t Hug Me I’m Scared.” The series was re- I didn’t have easy access to friends who would impact a writer can have on people, even years after leased on July 29, 2011, and is a comedy horror series. drop everything to film with me, nor did I have the fact, is astounding.”

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SPORTS

| November 5, 2021

Hawk Nation brings students to support our teams Julia Beck

Sports Writer

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ith Maine South Athletics now in full swing, student sections are making a comeback for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic hit. This year, unlike any before, Maine South’s Hawk Nation is paving the way for some of the largest crowds the school has ever seen.

Though the idea of Hawk Nation has been around for a few years, this year’s senior student leaders (Caroline Barker, Jillian Koepke, Michael Fortune, Leo Corbett, and Declan Pleuss) have recruited hundreds of students to get involved.

The Hawk Nation Instagram account, @MSHawkNation, has accumulated over 1,300 followers and is a driving force in getting students involved in supporting sports around the school. As a hub for all sportrelated information, the page has proved itself crucial in increasing student attendance at games.

While Maine South Football typically attracts large crowds, the leaders of Hawk Nation hope to spread this support to all sports events. Students have shown up in large numbers to support not only

football but also girls’ volleyball, boys’ soccer, and other teams as well.

This overwhelming support has certainly not gone unnoticed. Senior Madeleine Riggs, a player on the girls’ volleyball team, believes the club’s support has helped keep their team motivated in the heat of their games.

“Hawk Nation’s incredible support at our New Trier and Senior Night games was super helpful to boost the team’s spirit and energy throughout the match,” Riggs said. “All of the chants and cheers contributed greatly to our performance, and we really appreciated all of the support.”

The club has impacted not only the student-athletes they support, but also the Maine South student section itself.

Student leader Jillian Koepke firmly believes that Hawk Nation has made participating in school much easier and more inclusive.

“Hawk Nation has made the s tu d e nt s e c t i on mu c h e a s i e r to be involved in,” Koepke said.

“Whether you’re in the club, follow the Instagram, or are on the field, you are Hawk Nation, and the size and volume of our student sections definitely show it off.”

One of the Hawk Nation sponsors,

PHOTO BY NATALIA KOWALWSKA

TACKLING BREAST CANCER AND EVANSTON.

Students filled the stands at the pink-out home game on 10/15. The Hawks won 31-23 against Evanston.

Mr. Trevor Fritz, has his eyes ambitiously set on the club’s future.

“We have such a positive and excited group of students at this school and feel that we can grow Hawk Nation into a culture and not simply a club,” Mr. Fritz said.

Similarly, Ms. Sarah Kendeigh expressed a positive outlook on all the possibilities of Hawk Nation going forward. As a co-sponsor of the club, she believes the club has a bright future.

“Mr. Fritz and I both think Maine South has so much potential to have a strong, well-organized, and fun student section,” Ms Kendeigh said.

“We have such great sports teams at Maine South, and it is time for our student section to back them up.”

With winter sports seasons quickly approaching, Hawk Nation and all of the students around the school can certainly look forward to more opportunities to cheer on their classmates and peers.

49-42. Maine South finished the Palatine does not happen again. We season ranked 4th in the 8a division, know we were the better team, and and they have a six-game winning we became much more determined streak going into the next round of after the loss.”

State playoffs.

Junior Liam Dillon hopes for an The team started the season off opportunity to have a rematch with strong with an important win against Palatine.

Warren in week two. Warren was “I, along with my teammates, ranked second in the state at that really want to play Palatine again,” time, and Maine South held them to Dillon said. “To get another shot at only two points them and picking in a 10-2 victory. up a playoff win “We had a tough loss in a g a i n s t t h e m Before the Warren g a m e , M a i n e Palatine during week 4, but wou ld me an a South was ranked we rebounded and went 5-0 lot to us. Beating 11th in the state. after that and won the CSL Palatine would After the big win, make a statement the Hawks took Championship.” to any doubters Liam Dillon (‘23) we may have.” over the second position in the T he l o ss to state rankings.

Palatine didn’t stop the Hawks. Maine However, the Hawks suffered a South bounced back and didn’t lose surprising one-point loss in week another game the remainder of the four against Palatine. The loss forced season. the Hawks to sharpen up, as they did Even though there were only three not want to drop any more games. home games this season, each game “The week after the Palatine loss had the stands packed. was very intense,” said junior Jackson “The support has been amazing Magad. “We wanted to ensure from the very beginning,” said Dillon. something like what happened at “The first game at Wilson Field

against Fremd was electric. It was just so surreal being on the field with everyone supporting the team.”

T h e c row d w a s e s p e c i a l l y energized for this year’s homecoming game, where the Hawks hosted the Glenbrook South Titans. The game saw the Titans leading in the third 17-6, but the Hawks had an impressive comeback in the fourth quarter. The game finished with a final score of 32-17 in favor of Maine South.

“The GBS comeback was all about the difference in the way we played in the first and second half,” Magad said. “A lot of mistakes were made in the first half that enabled them to take the lead early. At half-time, we got it together and we played real Maine South football in the second half, and that’s how we won.”

Making in-game adjustments is just one facet of the improvement that has been a hallmark of this year’s team.

“We’ve gotten better in just about every area of the game, and that was our goal,” Coach Inserra said. “If you’re a good team, you’ll do that—if you’re not, you’ll play the same.”

Varsity football defeats New Trier to advance in playoffs Drew Koenen

Sports Writer he Hawks earned a convincing victor y on Oct. 29 as they defeated New Trier in the first round of the IHSA playoffs, 51-7. The Hawks will now continue to advance in the second round of playoffs where they will play 11th-ranked Plainfield North.

“The guys played really well,” head coach Mr. David Inserra said.

“Our goal was to play better than we did the week before against the same opponent, and we did that with flying colors.”

Much of the success was due to the performance of senior running back Mike Sajenko, who broke Matt Perez’s (‘10) 12-year-old record of five touchdowns in a game.

“Sajenko was a beast—f ive touchdowns in the first half and six overall,” Mr. Inserra said. “He ran really well, used his blockers really well, and completely finished his runs.

I’m very proud of him.”

The last regular season game was previous week at New Trier, where the Hawks won a much closer game,

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14 SouthwordS

November 5, 2021 | SPORTS

Boys’ cross country makes it to State despite season of injuries Declan Colleran

Sports Writer oming off of a strange year in the world of sports, the boys' cross country team worked hard to advance to State this year.

Sectionals took place on Oct. 30, where the boys finished in the top ten.

“We were excited with the sixth-place finish,” Assistant Coach Dave Fermanich said. “Finishing in the top seven is our goal every year.”

The team qualified for State and will send seven boys to State on Nov. 6.

Despite a delay in the summer training, the team had high expectations for the 2021 season.

“Our team goals at the beginning of the season were to make it to State and to have our top 5 runners under 16 minutes for the 3-mile,” junior Luca Arcuri said.

The season got off to an exciting start, but setbacks soon slowed their progress.

“We had, of course, injuries and illnesses in the middle of the season, to the point where we were barely running a varsity squad,” Head Coach Greg

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Nordahl said.

There was a period of nearly six weeks in the heart of the season where the team was far from in perfect health. Approaching the regional event on Oct. 23, however, the team saw the return of many recovering runners. “[Juniors] Joey Karlesky and Alex Wille had amazing first races back,” Arcuri said.

With credit to performances like those, the team managed to advance to Sectionals, finishing third in Regionals.

Heading into State, the team is preparing to be in its best shape possible.

"We're still battling some injuries," Coach Fermanich said. "Luca Arcuri, our number one guy, is still battling some shin issues, so we've got him in the pool to try and take some pressure off the leg before the race."

The focus remains on this season, but Coach PHOTO BY MOLLY SHANAHAN Nordahl is also looking forward to next year.

FINISHING STRONG Junior Will Huddleston, “My team is essentially all juniors, so I anticipate on Oct. 23, finishes 10th out of 72 people in the three mile at that next year’s team will be good,” said Coach Regionals.

Nordahl.

Girls’ cross country earns first place at Conference Hayden Bower & Matt Moskal

Sports Editors his weekend, the Maine South girls cross country team finished 4th in their’ sectional, which allowed them to book a ticket to the state finals.

The girls have stood tall throughout the season, finishing with a 4-1 record in dual meets, with their only loss coming to the New Trier Trevians.

However, the girls were able to avenge that loss during conference play, where they not only defeated the Trevians, but also placed first in conference. Currently ranked eighth in the state, the girls have been a powerhouse this season; winning Conference has been one of the many achievements for the team.

“At the end of the day, we have gotten trophies and plaques at the majority of the major invites,” Coach Jeff Downing said. “Beating New Trier and winning the conference was probably the highlight.”

Coach Downing has been pleased with the team’s overall performance.

“We’ve been ranked consistently inside the top ten in the state for the majority of the season,” he said. “We’re happy with where we stand.”

Downing also acknowledges the level of competition the girls are going up against, and how it benefits their own quality of performance. “ To i m p r o v e t h e l e v e l o f competition, we have scheduled the

PHOTO BY SOPHIA JAROCH

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RACE TO FINISH

(left to right) Junior MaryClare Koch, sophmore Olivia Deluca, senior Maria Marcucci, freshman Sofia Arcuri, freshman Luisa Arcuri, sophomore Ryan Mullarky, and junior Caitlin Seurynck celebrate their win. The girls’ cross country team finished first overall at the CSL Conference on Oct. 16, beating teams like New Trier along with all others at Conference.

toughest invite schedule we could possibly create,” Coach Downing said. “To be prepared for the strongest competition, we have to compete at the highest level.”

Hard work and practice are not the only things helping the Hawks achieve success; the team morale and chemistry is very strong amongst the girls.

The team is composed of a variety of upperclassmen and underclassmen, as there are two seniors, four juniors, three sophomores and three freshmen on the team. Regardless of the age and grade level, the team has grown a special bond.

“My favorite part about being on

the team is the comradery,” senior Maria Marcucci said. “Since we’ve been training together 5-6 days a week since July, we’ve grown really close.

Also, nothing bonds a team more than hard workouts.”

The team’s chemistr y is an extremely important aspect to the girls, as only the top seven out of the 12 runners will compete at events.

Having the team bond that the Hawks do have, they are able to overcome things that may cause friction within a team.

Through team chemistry as well as hard work and dedication, the Hawks have achieved successes this season, and will continue to strive

for winning results. As expectations continue to grow, and with state finals coming up, the girls know they will need to continue preparing properly in order to be a formidable side at the competition.

Coach Downing acknowledges the importance of practice, and how it has contributed to the team’s success this season.

“To be the most successful during the season, you have to put in the miles over the summer and throughout the season,” he said. “Throughout the course of this season, we have definitely put in those miles and I believe the record and rankings reflect that.”

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

Girls’ swimming bonds over adversity in new season Kelly Carroll

PHOTO BY MILA HAYS

Sports Writer

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he girls’ swimming and diving season is coming to an end. The team had their senior night on Friday, Oct. 22.

“Things could not have gone better,” senior varsity swimmer Lucie Imhoff said. “I really want to work on keeping my endurance up for Conference and Sectionals.”

The girls’ swimming and diving team beat Glenbrook South that Friday.

“We won against GBS, a team we haven’t beaten in a very long time, which made it especially rewarding,” Imhoff said.

The team also performed well at the Highland Park Invite, where they placed sixth.

“We had a few best times at this meet and a couple of divers won medals as well,” said senior Grace Kopf.

“Obviously we want to drop time on our events. So, as we close the season, we just have to make sure we are putting our all in practice and getting plenty

MAKING A SPLASH

Sophomore Sofia Stojakovic swims at senior night on Oct. 22. She swam the 200 yard freestyle in our home pool against Glenbrook South.

performed my best and we competed to the best of our ability."

In addition to things going well in the pool, things outside of the pool have been going great as well.

“Having a team work well socially, not just competitively, is something that is crucial to the success of a team," Kopf said.

With girls’ swimming and diving being an indoor sport, teammates have to wear masks and social distance when not in the pool.

“Something that’s worked well for us this season is that we’ve kept a positive attitude, and made sure to wear masks and social distance in order to keep our team safe and able to compete," Imhoff said.

The girls have done very well with social distancing and staying safe with COVID. They have also grown stronger connections with each other, bonding as a team through the pandemic.

“As a whole, we’ve gotten a lot closer, and I’ve personally enjoyed seeing a lot of the younger girls get to know eachother and form friendships,” Kopf said.

of rest.”

This year’s team is very young, with around half of the members being underclassmen.

There are 19 girls in total on the varsity swimming and diving team, with nine of those being underclassman, and only two seniors. At press time, the team had a record of three wins and four losses.

“Of course, we wanted to have more wins, but I know that our team

is extremely young and it is to be expected," Kopf said. “I’m just happy because I know that our team has been working very hard and we’ve done a great job. I am very proud of everyone on the team.”

Hard work has led players to their most successful seasons yet.

“This season has definitely been the best I’ve had," Imhoff said. "I might be biased because I’m a senior and this is my last season, but I really feel like I

U.S.A. and to represent Illinois in the competition.

Although it has been a challenging year with the pandemic, Besenjak and Federico have been able to prepare for their roles on the team.

“I think playing video games was really fun and it's really cool,” Besenjak said.

The boys have been playing since Sept. 29, with the season scheduled to end on Nov. 3. They have not won a game as of yet; however, both Besenjak and Federico practice throughout the week to prepare for each game.

“I play maybe like three times a week,” Besenjak said.

Federico practices five times a week.

Both boys have many years of gaming experience.

“I play ‘Fortnite’—‘Fortnite’ is a big thing happening,” said Federico.

Besenjak has played “Mario Kart” and “Super Smash Bros.” It is safe to say that these Hawks are prepared to take on any video game competition that

comes their way.

Besenjak expressed his excitement for traveling accross the state and being able to represent his school. Federico was also thrilled to get to represent Maine South.

“It was really great being able to represent the Special Olympics, and our school,” Besenjak said.

Both of the boys and Ms. Hufnus are very enthusiastic about being a part of the Special Olympics program.

“It’s not only cool to have an opportunity to have our students in the special education program but to have an outlet to meet friends, game, and compete,” said Ms. Hufnus.

She is also hoping that in the future more Maine South students will be able to participate in the Special Olympics program and meet other students who are apart of the Special Olympics.

When Besenjak, Federico, and Galazka play their last game, they will wrap up an important moment in GIVE ME FIVE Sophomore Jake Besenjak (left) and freshman Enzo Federico Maine South's history. celebrate after one of their practice games.

Lucas Cosma Sports Writer or the first time in school history, Maine South fielded a Special Olympics Esports team. This team consists of three players who are very proud to represent Maine South, sophomore Jake Besenjak and freshman Enzo Federico who are the two Special Olympics athletes, along with their Special Olympics Unified Partner Tyler Galazka, and their coach Ms. Rebecca Hufnus.

Despite this being the first year of the program at Maine South, both Besenjak and Federico are very experienced gamers.

Federico has had some experience in the Special Olympics program in the past. Before coming to Maine South, he was a part of Special Olympics at Emerson Middle School.

Besenjak had Special Olympics experience before participating in the Esports competition, and he was selected to be a part of Special Olympics

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PHOTO COURTESY MS. KRISTIN REIFF

Maine South sends students to the Esports Special Olympics