Volume 31. issue 13 March 24, 1995
South wordS
Maine South H.S. Park Ridge, IL
Mock Trial Team competes
by Laura Batt Members of South's Mock Trial team competed against 44 other teams at the state competition held in Springfield March 11. While their official finish is unknown, m sponsor and social studies teacher Mr. •ard Rosenberg says they performed very • U. "We lost one [presentation] and won one, but we were up against some of the state' s top teams...this year's group of kids have laid a strong foundation for future teams to look to,"he says To prepare for their tournament. Trial team
members practiced five to 10 hours a week after school and some weekends, read and memorized pages and pages of facts, talked to a professional lawyer and visited a law firm. They also participated in scrimmages against Glenbrook South and Maine West. The Mock Trial team does just what its name suggests. The eight team members perform a mock trial. They perform twice, once as the defense against another school' s prosecution and once as the prosecution against a different school's defense. All teams receive the same information about the trial; this year
the thick manuals described a custody case. Team members work together to prepare all the information needed to carry out a trial, including opening and closing statements and wimess evalutions. Each team is judged separately on the fluidity, believability and factual content of their presentation. A team could lose the case and win on the number of points received. Senior Alec Schuetter feels that he learned a great deal while preparing for the Illinois State Bar Association sponsored event, but mostly he and other team members, "...had to learn ultimate teamwork through working together so much,"he says. Senior Trina Andresen says, "It's not emotional like L.A. Law; it's the facts." Rosenberg says, "[The students] came in and thought it would be all pomp and circumstance and acting...they found out that they really have to know the facts and use them to the best of their ability." This is thefirstyear that Maine South has had a Mock Trial team, although other schools have participated in the state tournament for many years. Rosenberg hopes that the experience the team gained as well as its strong performance wiU help future teams.
Teacher recognized at IMSA
A Maine South French teacher recieved a 1995 IMSA Award of Excellence for Caring to Challenge. Former Maine South student Lisa Byrge nominated Magdalena Nica for the Award. The Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy (IMS A)gives the Award annually. It recognizes educators who have challenged students and inspired and supported academic and personal growth prior to the student's IMSA enroUment Byrge nominated Nica because, as she wrote, "I doubt that the lofty French themselves have as much respect and passion for their language as my French teacher of last year, Magda Nica. Madame Nica gives her students unlimited access to her infinite storeroom of French literature, media, and knowledge with a contagious enthusiasm never to be duplicated. In spite of ^ ^ constant whirlwind pace, she carefully plans out ^Rnious activities for her class and club. She passed onto me her love for the French and their culture, and I consider her an excellent teacher and a wonderful friend."
Byrge, Nica and Dr. Greg Sinner, Principal of IMSA