Vol 47 issue 7 by Southwords

April 21, 2011

1111 S. Dee Road • Park Ridge, Illinois 60068

Vol. 47, No. 7

Was the courtyard once a smoking lounge?

Is a stolen car at the bottom of the pond?

busted Earthquake aftermath Full update on the damage so far Page 4

‘Once Upon a Mattress” Maine South musical revives a classic Page 5

confirmed

Eliminating senior finals

Boys’ volleyball

Should senior final exams be scrapped? Page 13

South kicks off the season with a win Page 16

graphic by adrian adamiec

Turn to pages 8 & 9 to see if these Maine South myths and more are

APRIL 21, 2011

VOL. 47, NO. 7

2) On April 12, France’s ban on facecovering Islamic burqas and niqabs took eﬀect. The ban caused widespread upheaval among the Muslim community, and led to the arrest of three women who wore their burqas in protest of the ban. Amnesty International had repeatedly urged the French government not to pass the bill, saying it violated human rights. The French government says they will not reconsider the bill’s passing.

NEWS

1) Nine sets of human remains have been found on Long Island, local authorities confirmed April 12. The remains are thought to be those of online prostitutes, and all are thought to be killed by the same person. No suspects have been brought into custody as of yet.

3) According to two State Department oﬃcials, an American businessman of Korean descent is being held in North Korea. The Swedish Embassy, which has a consulate in the capital of Pyongyang, has been working on behalf of the U.S. government to release the man. As of April 13, the North Korean government has refused to grant his release.

France

New York Mexico

Egypt

North Korea

4) On April 12, Mexican authorities confirmed reports of a discovery of a mass grave with over 120 bodies in the northern state of Tamaulipas. Mexican Attorney General Marisela Morales told reporters that 17 members of the drug cartel, Zetas, and 16 police oﬃcers accused of aiding the Zetas, have been detained in relation to the killings. Tamaulipas is one of Mexico’s most active states in terms of drug traﬃcking and cartel activity.

5) Former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarek was admitted to the hospital April 12 with complaints of chest pains. An Egyptian television station reported that Mubarek suﬀered a heart attack during questioning by authorities about possible corruption charges. Mubarek’s 30-year reign ended amidst violent protests in February.

COMPILED BY JACKIE HAZLETT-MORRIS

New cell phone policy allows students more freedom Kaci Zimmerman ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

fter reviewing the results of 4,531 parent, student, and teacher responses to an online survey and doing site visits to schools who have already instituted a change, District 207 has begun piloting a new, and less restrictive, cell phone policy. The new policy has similarities to the first, as it prohibits the inappropriate use of any portable electronic device during the school day. However, it now allows for cell phone usage in specified areas throughout the building. Use of a cell phone is to be limited to the cafeteria, hallways during passing periods, and study halls.

SOUTHWORDS

Texting is permitted in these specified areas, while phone calls are only allowed with permission from a staff member and must take place in a designated “call area,” currently in front of the attendance office. The use of cell phones in class is still restricted. The policy states that students can only use phones during class time for educational purposes, at the discretion of the teacher. Maine S outh Principal Mr. Messmer began working on the new policy with the help of the other two District 207 principals soon after taking over in July 2010. The idea of adjusting cell phone policies is clearly a pertinent one, as many other high schools have also

been implementing new, more lenient policies. Mr. Sean Garrison, a dean at Glenbrook South High School, was a part of the implementation of a new cell phone policy there last year. Garrison states, “I estimate that we had, if I remember correctly, 180 cell phone violations last year. This year it has been 10-15 [violations]. Primarily, those few cases were students texting in class. It [the new policy] has been a success.” It is not completely certain yet if the new policy will be as successful at Maine South. At the end of this year, Mr. Messmer will decide whether or not the new policy will work permanently here.

English teacher Mr. Fechner states, “I suppose I’m in favor [of the new policy]. It seems that students will continue to use their phones as often as possible. Students simply need to be respectful in the classroom and have their phones in the silent mode as not to disrupt instruction.” Students seem to agree the new cell phone policy has made some steps in the right direction, while some issues will still need to be kept in mind. “I think it’s a good idea to keep up with what’s normal for our society,” senior Kelly McCurry stated. “I also think teachers will need to be careful about the policies they set in the classrooms themselves, since it is still a learning environment.”

VOL. 47, NO. 7

APRIL 21, 2011

New doors in library reduce opportunities to ditch STAFF WRITER

ver spring break, the installation of new the library doors between the stacks and writing lab was completed. Despite the prospect of the doors allowing Advanced Placement tests to be taken at Maine South, the new doors have caused outrage and confusion among the students at South. As a result of the installation of the doors, students are prohibited from using the passage containing the language and writing labs to enter and exit the LRC. This was done to allow the upcoming AP tests to be taken in the LRC. “One of the things we were asked to do in all three buildings was bring AP testing back to our campuses,” Mr. Messmer, principal of Maine South, said in an interview regarding the new doors. He went on to explain that the LRC was the optimal location for testtaking, though with the somewhat elevated noise associated with passing periods, some type of sound barrier needed to be erected between the labs and the testing area. The new doors will allow AP tests to be held at South this year, but the

installed, there had existed an alarming number of cases of students sneaking out of the LRC through the rear entrance after scanning in. Having scanned in before leaving the LRC, these students directly denied other students who had a legitimate reason for being in the LRC the ability to study in peace.

Mr. Messmer summarized the logic and objective of the decision: “Ultimately, more kids who actually need to use the library will have the chance to do so.” The jobs of the librarians and other safety monitors will also be eased by the new traffic patterns created by the doors.

News

installation has met mixed reactions from AP students. Sophomore Jackson Strauss, who is taking his first AP test this year, commented that he would “rather have doors and AP testing [at Maine South] than no doors and no AP testing [at Maine South].” Sophomore Rinya Kamber took an opposite stance. “I think the cons outweigh the pros,” she said. “[Having the AP tests at Maine South] is not a big enough reason to cause so much confusion and change right in the middle of the year. My everyday life means more to me than the one day I’m going to be taking a test.” Outside of academics, there is also a financial aspect to bringing the AP exams to Maine South. By giving the tests in District 207 school buildings, the district saves between $6,000 and $10,000. While the AP tests were paramount in the decision to construct the doors, supervision of the LRC also played a key role. Before the doors were

GRAPHIC BY ADRIAN ADAMIEC

Tom Spytek

Graffiti at Maine South results in new restrictions Sarah Tarabey STAFF WRITER

n the weeks before spring break, a variety of graffiti was found in washrooms and stairwells. As a result, stricter regulations on hallway activity and increased monitoring have been enforced. “For a two-week period, we had a spate of graffiti, primarily in A-wing, in the first and third floor boys’ washroom and the second floor landing in the center stairwell,” said Dean Thetard. This graffiti included symbols – such as crowns and pitchforks – along with letters and numbering typically affiliated with particular gangs. Such groups are known to identify themselves with distinctive characteristics in the form of colors, signage, and words. They use graffiti as a method to “represent” their affiliation. Often, it is also used to target other groups or individuals. “Then, a rival will draw something to react to the initial drawing by drawing it upside down or putting

some words next to it,” explained Mr. Thetard. “It’s all about rivalry, territory, etc. and dissing the rival gang.” In Maine South’s case, this was seen with the various images of crowns found: right-side up, upside down, and even a five point crown. The latter is associated with People Nation, an alliance of Chicago area street gangs. Maine South students had mixed reactions when asked their thoughts on such graffiti throughout the school. “I just ignore it,” said junior Katie Solberg. “It doesn’t seem like a good form of communication.” Others have taken a larger stance on the issue. “I think it [graffiti] is an art form, but it’s not something you should do in school. Save it for the city,” commented junior Karissa Henning. “I just think it’s ridiculous that people are putting up gang signs.” Still, being such a drastic change from the norm, preventative action was immediately taken. Faculty

have been asked to enforce stricter regulations on hallway activity and be more aware of which students leave class and when. Some teachers have even begun signing students out upon their departure. Furthermore, warnings have been issued to look out for these symbols or phrases in other places: on books, backpacks, even homework and tests. Security has stepped up its monitoring. Ultimately, the goal is to identify who is responsible for past graffiti and to prevent any further incidents. Some students, however, wonder about the effectiveness and fairness of placing increased restrictions on the entirety of the student body. “We’re not going to know who the vandalizers are just by signing out to go to the washroom,” questioned junior Ashley McAuliffe. “Why should we suffer for their mistakes?” Although the school will continue taking steps to reduce the prevalence of graffiti, there are many ways students themselves can get involved. They can use Maine South’s

anonymous “text-a-tip” line (text 274637, key word: ICARE) to report any vandalism. Teachers, counselors, and deans are always on hand, as well. “Often times students know the students who are doing it, but because there is that unwritten ‘code of silence’ students won’t ‘rat’ on other students,” explained Mr. Thetard. Most students said that it would depend on the circumstances, whether they would report a case of vandalism. “ It w o u l d d e p e n d o n t h e seriousness of the vandalism,” said junior Cassie Doody. “If someone is scribbling on a desk, then no, I wouldn’t. But if someone is spraypainting the library, then of course I would report it.” “Graffiti is something we take very seriously, and we are committed to stopping it.” said Mr. Thetard. “We appreciate the efforts of not only our staff, but students as well in helping us address the issue of graffiti at Maine South.”

SOUTHWORDS

APRIL 21, 2011

VOL. 47, NO. 7

Tsunami and earthquake in Japan leaves devastation in its wake Jon Tatlock

n March 11, a devastating 9.0 magnitude earthquake occurred off the coast of Northeast Japan. It’s epicenter was located about 231 miles northeast of Tokyo. This earthquake was the most powerful earthquake to ever strike Japan, and the fifth strongest earthquake ever in recorded history; it was about 700 times stronger than the one that struck Haiti in 2010 and spawned an even more catastrophic tsunami that affected areas as far as California. Waves as high as 80 feet wreaked havoc on towns and cities bordering the ocean in Japan. Cars, homes, and boats were swept away and destroyed as the wall of water continued farther into the country. As of April 10, the death toll stood at 13,013 with 14,608 people still listed as missing. There are still about 150,000 people in shelters. The prefectures of Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima have requested construction of 62,000 temporary houses. The total cost of this disaster is estimated somewhere around $300 billion. Following the earthquake and tsunami, fires broke out and strong aftershocks continue to occur. Entire houses, oil refineries, and fields were engulfed in flames. The entire town of Kesennuma City, home to 74,000 people, caught fire and added to the destruction. Japan has also been struck by hundreds of aftershocks, most of them only minor tremors. The biggest problem following the earthquake seemed to be the possibility of a nuclear disaster at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. This plant comprises six separate boiling water reactors

maintained by the Tokyo Electric Power Company. R e a c t o r s w e r e s hu t d o w n automatically after the earthquake, and emergency generators were started to run the water pumps needed to cool them, but soon failed. The plant was protected by a seawall designed to withstand a tsunami of 19 feet, but a few minutes after the earthquake it was stuck by a 46 foot tsunami wave that toppled the seawall. The entire plant, including the low-lying generator building, was flooded. As a result, the emergency generators were disabled and the reactors started to overheat due to natural decay of the radioactive waste contained in them. As time went on, the radiation continued to spread. The evacuation zone was extended to 18 miles from the plant on March 27, affecting 200,000 people. As some experts predicted, radiation levels in the United States have risen slightly due to the wind. At least 15 states in the U.S. and Canada, South Korea, China, and Germany have reported trace amounts of radiation. “The levels that we’re detecting are extremely, extremely low— we’re talking about many orders of magnitude below what we consider a risk,” said Eric Matus, a radiation physicist for the Nevada State Health Division. U.S. states, which aren’t recommending protective measures for the public, are reporting tiny amounts of radioactive iodine known as iodine-131 that is seen in the early stages of a nuclear reaction. It has a short half-life of eight days, meaning that in that time, half of it will have decayed to a non-radioactive state, a process that will continue until it is undetectable, Matus said. Very low levels of radioactive

material have even been detected in Illinois. The Illinois Emergency Manage ment Agenc y (IEMA) director Jonathon Monken says that the elevated levels are infinitesimally small and that there is no threat to public health and safety. Increased amounts of radiation have been found in soil, grass, air, and milk. The closest report in Illinois to the Chicago area of these increased amounts of radiation has been in Will County. Monken says that they will continue to monitor the radiation levels very closely. Since the reports of a possible nuclear disaster, Japanese workers have been scrambling to try to stop the radioactive material from spreading and reaching the ocean. According to the New York Times, emergency workers at Fukushima are building barriers, using sandbags, and preparing water tanks for storage. Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan said his government is now in a state of maximum alert. Unfortunately, there have been several leaks into the ocean and reports indicate that radiation levels are at least 1,250 times normal level in surrounding seawater. There is a lot of work being done in order to contain the nuclear waste. Power has been restored at the plant, so the water has cooled by several degrees. Several containment methods have failed, including the dump of seawater into the fuel rods, but the three damaged reactor buildings have been fit with fabric covers and filters to limit radiation release. A long-term solution may be to build a containment shell around the plant, like the one built in Chernobyl. Japan is one of the world’s leading producers of rice and Fukushima is

Japan’s fourth largest rice producing state. According to Yoshiyuki Ueda, a rice farmer near the damaged nuclear plant, “The soil around the plant is basically ruined.” Experts say it will take hundreds, if not thousands of years before the surrounding land can be farmed again. Traces of radioactive iodine have been found in the tap water in Tokyo. According to Japanese officials, food products, like milk and spinach coming from the area have been found with iodine levels high enough to be harmful to human health if ingested. Since the devastation in Japan, there has been an outpouring of aid from around the world. According to the Washington Post, this event has been one of the U.S. military’s largest relief efforts in years. About 50,000 personnel are stationed in Japan. About 17,000 of them are involved in relief operations, according to the Pentagon. Sailors and Marines have delivered about 129,000 gallons of water and 4,200 pounds of food. American scientists are even sending robots to help repair the damaged power plant because radiation levels there are ver y dangerous for humans. More than 45 other countries are also helping Japan. Many organizations and funds have mobilized to provide relief to those affected by the disaster. In response to the quake, The Red Cross has launched efforts in Japan. By texting REDCROSS to 90999, $10 will be donated from your phone. UNICEF and the Salvation Army have also set up similar hotlines. There are scores of other organizations and programs to help those in Japan. You can visit newsfeed.time.com for a list of ways you can help.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF GOOGLE EARTH

NEWS

STAFF WRITER

Sendai’s city center remained largely intact after the quake, but there was massive damage along the coast. Left: a satellite image from April 4. 2010. Right: a satellite image taken March 12 after the tsunami.

SOUTHWORDS

VOL. 47, NO. 7

Comedy Central awards show a farcical feat

Kaci Zimmerman ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

What do you get when you have a room full of comedians dressed in ballroom attire? One heck of a time. Comedy Central’s first annual Comedy Awards aired April 10 and left the viewers at home in stitches. The ceremony had no opening song, nor an opening skit. Instead, Jon Stewart just casually walked on out to kick things off.

Craig Robinson from “Hot Tub Time Machine” took the podium to present, but first called out the viewers at home who think that the only way a funny movie is funny is if you’re under the influence.

Daniel Tosh was honored with taking home the title of “Best Breakthrough Performer.” While Jon Stewart was giving his acceptance speech for “Best Late Night Comedy Series,” Stephen Colbert literally stole Stewart’s award, as well as the microphone, and starting giving his own acceptance speech.

PHOTOS COURTESY COMEDY CENTRAL

Kristen Wiig earned victory as “Best Comedy Actress—TV” for her weekly hilarious skits in SNL.

Bill Murray presented David Letterman with the first-ever “Johnny Carson Award for Comedic Excellence.” Bill Murray also got the first-ever standing ovation just for walking on stage.

Entertainment

As the creators of “South Park” accepted their award for “Best Comedy Series— Animated,” they admitted that, “getting an award from Comedy Central, was like being named student of the month when your mom is the principal.”

APRIL 21, 2011

Eddie Murphy accepted the “Comedy Icon” award which was presented by Tracy Morgan. Morgan claims that Murphy is the reason he got into comedy in the first place.

Andy Samberg and his band The Lonely Island performed “I Just Had Sex” with Akon, which was nothing less than a hysterical train wreck. The Lonely Island will drop their second album this May, so be on the lookout for “Turtlenecks & Chains”; it’s sure to be a comedy classic.

“30 Rock” triumphed for “Best Comedy Writing” which is done by Tina Fey (who won “Best Comedy Actress—Film”) as well as Alec Baldwin winning “Best Comedy Actor— TV.”

Zach Galifianakis won “Best Comedy Actor— Film” for his humorous role in “Dinner for Schmucks.”

Louie C.K. took home the award for “Best Stand-up Special” proudly and delivered a very funny acceptance speech.

GRAPHIC BY AUSTIN BRYNIARSKI

SOUTHWORDS

APRIL 21, 2011 VOL. 47, NO. 7

High ‘Blood Pressures’ can ‘Kill’ you ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

“Blood Pressures”

T ENTERTAINMENT

he Kills aren’t a band that many people knew, until two years ago, when Alison Mosshart (Also known as “VV”) fronted a band called “The Dead Weather.” That side project made her a star, bringing more attention to her original band, “The Kills.” She works together with Jamie Hince (“Hotel”) in The Kills. Earlier this month, they released their latest album, “Blood Pressures.” The Kills started in 2002, when they recorded an EP that was sent to Domino Records. This EP would set the bar for the image of The Kills as a lo-fi band. Not only was the recording very raw and under-produced (on purpose), but the record cover featured pictures of Mosshart and Hince taken in a photo booth, instead of professional photos. A year later, in 2003, the band released its full-length debut, “Keep On Your Mean Side,” recorded in just two weeks. From there, they went on to record and release “No Wow” in 2005, and then their tertiary album, “Midnight Boom” in 2008. Finally,

the duo has returned with Along with the release their new fourth album. of their lead single, the first The two of them met song on the album, “Future when a previous band of Starts Slow,” was featured Mosshart’s, “Discount,” as the “iTunes Discovery was touring, and the Download” recently (a two of them heard each promotion in which the other practicing through song was released on iTunes the hotel walls. After for free). Another song “Discount” broke up, the off of the album, “DNA” two started writing songs is available as a download together. through their website if you The band’s newest sign up for their mailing list. effort, “Blood Pressures,” More singles will be released is not a disappointment. as the album sales go up. There’s not a better way the Both of these giveaways have band could have returned garnered much attention for from a three-year hiatus the album’s release. than this album. The band Overall, “Blood Pressures” has experimented from The Kills’ latest album, “Blood Pressures,” builds upon is a great album. The Kills their typical style, exploring the under-produced sound of their previous albums. have shown that they can do ballads (“The Last Goodbye”) has risen to a bigger prominence in two things at the same time, keeping and “cleaner” beats (“Damned if She this album, showing that The Kills their initial fan base happy while Do”), but still retained what made isn’t a band led by Mosshart; it’s a experimenting enough to attract them popular in the first place: their two-person band. Jamie Hince also new ones. Many bands have tried lo-fi, edgy sound (“Future Starts Slow,” played a part in producing “Blood and failed to do this, but The Kills “DNA”). Pressures.” are different. They can only become Hince’s participation in The Kills “Satellite,” released as the album’s more successful after this album of has a bigger prominence in this album, lead single, is a great way to show fans perfection. While there are no plans with his voice backing vocals on most the band is back. The song is an instant for another new album by this duo, songs, and even getting lead vocals classic, with great sing-along vocals, you can count on the band touring in one song (“Wild Charms”). Hince and a driving reggae-like beat. sometime soon. PHOTO COURTESY OF FLICKR.COM

Max Mallory

Animated movies top the box office Anthony Eugenis

COMMENTARY EDITOR

ith “Toy Story 3” winning the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, sequels of animated flicks have proven to be successful. So far though, this year’s films so far have been originals, with some coming from directors who have made their debut in the animated genre. “Gnomeo and Juliet” — Feb. 11 This animated film, the first major one to come out this year, is an interesting adaptation on the play “Romeo and Juliet.” Fear not: the movie is not full of iambic pentameter, but there are tons of references to the play. The humor is stupid, but entertaining, even for someone who isn’t nine. The idea as a whole is very creative; who would think to put one of Shakespeare’s tragedies into a comedy full of gnomes? “Rango” — March 4 This western film features Rango, a chameleon voiced by Johnny Depp, who finds himself lost in the Mojave desert while being chased by a hawk. He comes across an Old West town

SOUTHWORDS

and, realizing he is a stranger, pretends to be a cowboy from the far west parts of the country. He is soon promoted to Sheriff of the town and investigates the water drought problem that plagues the townsfolk. By far, this is the best animated film of the year. Its humor is quick but extremely hilarious. One of the better gags in the film is a mariachi band composed of owls who constantly speak of Rango’s doom. There is a great Western feel to the movie, despite the characters being animals. Viewers may even catch some veiled references to “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas”, another film that Johnny Depp starred in. “Mars Needs Moms” — March 11 The story tells of a boy who, after an argument with his mother one night, wishes that he did not have a mom (a thought that many teenagers may have once pondered). His wish is granted soon after when a group of Martians arrive and take her away. What follows is a generic search-and-rescue quest with an assortment of oddball pets and aliens

to assist him and reunite with his mother. The jokes are lame, and the plot gets boring. “Rio” — April 8 This animated film is a lot of singing and very little comedy. It casts a whole bunch of animals in the city of Rio de Janeiro who are soon captured and sent to the US. It is there that Blu, the main character, is found by a girl who takes care of him. Years later, Blu returns to Rio and goes on all sorts of clichéd adventures, including finding a love interest. It’s not that good, and it is disappointing since it is coming from the guys who made “Ice Age,” which is a much more entertaining film. “Kung Fu Panda 2” — May 26 The new kung fu master, Po (voiced again by Jack Black) returns to his old master, Shifu, and the Furious Five to protect China from a new evil that would expel all of kung fu forever. The original ensemble returns with a few new friends. “Cars 2” — June 24 The sequel is slated for a June release. Lightning McQueen, the red

racecar, returns to race overseas in the first World Grand Prix, but not without a few obstacles and new characters getting in the way. A video game version of “Cars 2” is coming out three days before the film. “Puss in Boots” — Nov. 4 The cat with the sword from “Shrek” is getting his own movie. The story shows how the feisty feline came to meet Shrek and Donkey, but there will be all new characters. This flick will be presented in 3D and IMAX 3D. “Happy Feet 2” — Nov. 18 The original characters from the first movie, which was a flock full of penguins, returns as a sequel. Not much is known about the plot, but many of the voice actors from the first installment, including Elijah Wood, will return. “The Smurfs” — July 29 That’s right, the ‘80s cartoon series is coming to the big screen. The movie is set in New York City and will be a combination of live action actors and CGI animation for the blue munchkins.

VOL. 47, NO. 1 APRIL 21, 2011

STAFF WRITERS

Everyone will be extremely pleased to find all the new twists that Mr. Muszynski and the rest of the musical staff have created in the show. There are many modern references built into the “Once Upon a Mattress,” such as a fashion show scene. When the show was put on

ten years ago ago, it stuck very close to the medieva medieval, renaissance style of the show, wh while this year it possess a funky 1970 1970s quality, including vicost brant costumes. This musical is an entertaining production with great music too. The entire cast has spent weeks perfecting their voices as they sing beautifully so to songs like, “Fred,” “The Swamp of Home,” “Song of Swamps Love,” and “In a Little While.” ca has spent hours in The cast rehears rehearsals, as well as their own time at home, to hit every note, and say every line with emot emotion. The dance ensemble hits every mark with precision, da and dances to the wonderful music p played by the orchestra. The pit features fe some of the finest orchest orchestra and band members working together to to play the show’s music music. The The p pit’s work truly contributes to transporting the audience to an enchanting land of swamps, and kingdoms. Another memorable aspect of the musical is the set and lighting. The crew works tirelessly to get everything right. This year’s musical features a professionally painted back drop that truly looks as if the cast is

in an actual medieval kingdom. Photography teacher Ms. Moore, also a professional artist, worked with the painting crew, teaching them how to turn the backdrops into true pieces of art. The set, props, lighting, sound and costumes are all created by students. With help from teachers like Mr. Sanchez and Ms. McCleneghan, along with volunteers Ms. Swindel, Mrs. Gorske, and the drama and music boosters, the students on crew learn and apply painting, building, and sewing techniques into the show. Their work behind the scenes is what allows Maine South’s production to go off without a hitch. The back drops and sets created by the crew are professional looking. Lighting and sound crew is to thank for turning the Maine South Auditorium into a Broadway-esque stage. To see students take on a musical and turn it into a professional production is impressive to anyone. Be sure to be there for this wonderfully humorous piece of theater. The show runs April 29 and 30 at 7:30 and May 1 at 2:00, and May 6 and 7 at 7:30. Tickets can be bought at the door, but they can also be purchased online at SeatYourself. com via the link on the Maine South home page.

ENTERTAINMENT

n Chicago, go, a patron of the arts can head d d downtown owntown to a number of shows, ws, wait in enormous lines, ines, pay to park, and then pay for a ticket—and cket—and maybe even n pay again for overpriced ced snack or drink. However, Maine South’s uth’s annual musical ical is professional onal quality likee shows in the city, but seeing eing a play at South uth is quality with out the cost. t. This year’s musical usical is the exciting iting and enchanting, nting, “Once Upon on a Mattress.” This original rigina n l 1960s production oduction is an adultt twist on the classic ic fairy tale “The Princess rinceess and the Pea.” Princess Winifred, an unsuspecting princess from the swamps, is tested to see if she is eligible marry Prince Dauntless, the unsuitable mama’s boy. The Queen doesn’t want the prince to marry anyone, and the King is speechless—literally. The prince’s marriage not only affects the royal family, it affects the entire kingdom as well. It is law that, until the prince is married, all subjects can not marry, which proves to be a problem for Lady Larkin, because she is pregnant and must get married or flee the kingdom. The Maine South musical is filled with a large cast of talented actors, singers, and dancers. This year’s cast of 42 people includes Noel Konken playing Princess Winifred, Alex Steele as Prince Dauntless, Jenna Hesseln as Queen Aggravain, Matt Bonadona as King Sextimus, Dylan Heck playing Sir Harry, Tamara Bodnar as Lady Larken, Edgar Cancinos as The Jester, and finally Jack Ryan as the Minstrel. Maine South produced this show about 10 years ago, but this time, the Theatre department is taking a different spin on it. Their job is to make this show different from the one a decade ago.

A new twist on a classic musical

PHOTO BY DANIELLE SOLDAT

Maggie Lynch ynch c & Danielle le Soldat Soldat

The cast of “Once Upon a Mattress” poses after practicing singing and dancing for the Spring production.

SOUTHWORDS 7

April 21, 2011

Vol. 47, No. 7

MYTH #1: Maine South was Meant to be a California School Kathy Wabiszczewicz

Walking down the halls at Maine South, you can’t help but notice its unique layout: classrooms within classrooms, lots of narrow hallways and just one wide one, bipolar temperatures, and so much glass. These characteristics have led several to theorize that the school would better match a different climate. Could this be possible? McCaughey, Ekrickson, Kristmann, and Stillwaugh, Inc. was the original architectural firm hired to design the school layout. According to Mr. Galis, District 207’s Director of Facilities and Purchasing, part of Maine South’s Administration staff, the first proposal wanted to “incorporate individual buildings as the inherent design.” “According to Mr. Stillwaugh, retired District 207 Architect, this would have created a school more similar to a university layout,” commented Mr.

Beese, head of the custodial staff at Maine South. The original plan, however, was rejected by the School Board; instead, the present day design was approved and executed. Yet the themes of the original plan can still be seen Southwords investigates some of Maine South’s most popular questions: Should Maine South actually be in California? What exactly haptoday. Mr. Lonergan, former Maine South pens when you step on the Hawk? What’s on the bottom of the pond? And, was the courtyard a smoking lounge? student and current English teacher, recalled Find out in this issue of Mainebusters. “the school being designed with the thencurrent ideas of schools, ‘open’, flexible, and modular rooms and floor plans.” The classrooms within study halls are reminiscent of modular design. The separation between the C-wing and A-wing give the school a semi-university feel, with the walkways in the back. The glass windows in the front and back halls expose students to the outdoors, if only for a few seconds. So, hate to break it to you, but despite its unique characteristics, our building was not designed to be built in California.

MYTH #2: Stepping on the hawk is bad luck Sarah Hands

staff writer

As the school’s mascot, the Hawk, has always been a symbol of pride at Maine South. Students plaster its head on hoodies and t-shirts, identify themselves with its hallowed name, and, above all, do not step on its face. While not trampling all over the emblem of our beloved Hawk logo in front of the Spec Gym might seem like common sense, it is hard not to ask the question: what would happen if—heaven forbid—someone were to step on the Hawk? He or she would probably get trampled by the football team, but why is it such a big deal? Since freshman orientation, students are told that stepping on the Hawk is bad luck, especially stepping on it before a game. It seems to be a common assumption that stepping on the Hawk can wreak havoc upon the world, or at least Maine South’s athletes. One unfortunate student accidentally stepped on the Hawk, resulting in a verbal attack by the boys’ basketball team, complete with panicked shouts of “Kiss the Hawk or die!” When asked about the legend surrounding the Hawk, students gave

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a few unexpected answers that had little to do with black cats or spilled salt. “I guess it’s bad luck to step on [the Hawk], because it’s an unsavory metaphor symbolizing defeat,” says sophomore Claire Dockery, “and, as we know, our school hates defeat.” Athlete Caroline Novak also thinks that stepping on the Hawk is more than a silly superstition. “It’s all about respect,” Caroline says, “to respect our mascot is to respect our school. I don’t know if there’s any superstitious power behind it, but it’s still tradition to walk around the Hawk. Anyway, if Coach Inserra says not to step on it, I wouldn’t.” The basic point is this: students should not step on the Hawk, even if they don’t believe in bad luck or don’t really care about sports. There are reasons why walking all over the main symbol of our school is looked down upon. No, it probably will not affect how many games are won or lost, and it is highly unlikely that stepping on Harley’s beak will trigger a zombie apocalypse. This unspoken tradition is about showing respect for the Hawk; not for the inanimate logo itself, but for the success, tradition, and pride that it represents.

MYTH #3: A stolen car was driven into the maine south pond Kacey Suvada

staff writer

The Maine South pond is part of student lore. From senior pranks to the basis of jokes played on freshman, the it is an important part of the school’s history. “I think the funniest thing I heard was that if you tried to walk across the pond when it was frozen, you would automatically get expelled,” explains junior, Lindsey Alpert, “The worst part is I have witnessed a few naïve freshmen try to attempt it.” One thing is for certain: the pond has been a source of interest to many, which is possibly the reason it has been talked about at least four previous times in well-known newspapers

such as the Chicago Tribune. Many seem to think that the pond was made during the construction of Maine South. It was actually around before the construction of Maine South, and it has an unpleasant past. Many of us Hawks are aware of the fact that Maine South is built on a garbage dump. Back when the territory was still a landfill, the pond served as a garbage transport system. It would essentially help take trash from the dump and transport some of the waste to drains and some into the Des Plaines River. Once Maine South was built, the waste transport device was cleared out and cleaned, making the pond what it is today. The rumor that seems to leave all incoming

freshman baffled is that a car lies at the bottom of the pond. There is a reasonable reason as to why and how this rumor got its reputation. The pond has had more than one experience with a car over the years. In September of 1975, a Mercury Comet was stolen from Touhy Ave. Motors and was driven into the pond. No one noticed the car for quite some time until a custodian noticed something bubbling from the pond. Firemen came and immediately probed the water and eventually found it and reeled out the car. The car-pondcrasher was never discovered, but many had suspicions it was some troublemakers from Summit Square. The most tragic encounter that the pond

MYTH #4: The courtyard was a smoking lounge cost of which totaled $30,000. Part of the work Maddie McGrady

Built in with the rest of the building during the original construction in 1963, the courtyard is located just outside the SPS office. Its flowers and trees, its hawk statue, its concrete steps, and so forth, can all be viewed from the hallway, the foods rooms, the art rooms, and some of the administrative offices. But what is, and more intriguingly, what was, the purpose of this concrete garden in the middle of the school? One popular rumor is that it was a smoking lounge during the 1970s. It’s hard to say if this rumor has any merit—no one remembers it ever being a smoking lounge; however, no one remembers it not being a smoking lounge either. If the smoking policy was open during the ‘70s, meaning that students were permitted to smoke on campus, then, according to Counselor Dennis McCann, the smoking lounge theory is plausible. “[The student smoking policy] was [open] at Loyola Academy,” said McCann. “There was a courtyard [at Loyola] where students could smoke. Here, I don’t know. It might have been possible.” According to Mrs. Terese McGrath, Administrative assistant to Principal Messmer and a member of the first class to enter Maine South as freshmen in 1964, the smoking policy was open for staff for a time. The original smoking lounge for teachers was located near the current computer lab before moving to the I.D. office, and then being shut down when smoking was banned at Maine South. But the courtyard was never open for student smokers during her years as a Maine South student. Whatever the case may be, the courtyard underwent a few major innovations in 2009, the

done included removing some of the raised concrete stairs in the courtyard to create a walking path, building ramps leading into the courtyard, and replacing some of the dying trees and shrubbery. “With the way things are now, [our goal] is just to maintain the building,” said Mr. Ed Beese, who has been the Director of Buildings and Grounds here at Maine South since 1988,.“There are no real projects. The only projects that we will do are those that will improve health or safety, something that’s dangerous or things which are old and really need to be done for the safety of the students, faculty, and staff ” “The art department uses it. They’ll take the students out there when it’s nice out and draw their still art. They would fire the clay work out there with a 55-gallon drum. Also, the foods classes have used it in the nice months for a barbecuing unit,” Beese added. Foods student, senior Eileen Cameron, recalls using the courtyard to barbecue for her Foods 1 class as a sophomore. “We used the courtyard for the end-of-theyear final; we had to make either chicken or hamburgers on the grill. I was able to learn the art of barbecuing in the courtyard,” said Cameron. Though the custodial staff is responsible for the heavy-duty maintenance of the courtyard and its landscaping, the Botany Club has also contributed by planting bulbs around the courtyard trees and in the courtyard flower pots. “Once everything comes up, it gets pretty nice out in the courtyard. I know it looks a little drab right now, but especially this year, since this is the second year everything will be in bloom, it really should be a lot better than it has been in the past,” said Beese.

has had was with the death of an elderly woman on a brisk and bitter winter day. In December of 1990, Elaine Daly, 61 from Chicago, was making her daily commute to her work in Des Plaines when she hit some black ice and swerved into the Maine South pond. No one is certain if she didn’t see the pond or just had no control over the car. She was found by scuba divers a half hour later and was pronounced d e a d a t Lu t h e r a n General Hospital later that evening. There are now more lamps around the pond to prevent events like this from happening in

the future. There is no doubt that the Maine South Pond does have a history to it. Some of it very disheartening and upsetting, other parts of it are slightly amusing. Whether there is a Loch Ness monster, a yellow submarine, an old stolen car, or SpongeBob still at the bottom no one knows for certain. All we know is that this pond is an iconic image of Maine South and will continue to be one of the most talkedabout aspects of the school for years to come.

staff writer

Features

staff writer

April 21, 2011

SouthwordS 9

April 21, 2011

Vol. 47, No. 7

MYTH #1: Maine South was Meant to be a California School Kathy Wabiszczewicz

MYTH #2: Stepping on the hawk is bad luck Sarah Hands

staff writer

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MYTH #3: A stolen car was driven into the maine south pond Kacey Suvada

staff writer

MYTH #4: The courtyard was a smoking lounge cost of which totaled $30,000. Part of the work Maddie McGrady

staff writer

Features

staff writer

April 21, 2011

SouthwordS 9

APRIL 21, 2010 VOL. 47, NO. 7

Can great friendships last even after graduation?

Best friends Pat Johnson, Emma Briars, and Zach Timm pose for a photo after a trip to Goodwill.

Josh Timm ASSISTANT EDITOR

hen students think about their friends, oftentimes, the first things that come to mind are the good times shared, the adventures had, the jokes told, and the support received. Students don’t usually think about the fact that they will go their separate ways and stop being a huge part of each other’s lives after graduation. When senior year arrives, the threat of losing your best friends becomes more and more real, and people can find themselves asking the question, “What’s going to happen to my friends after I graduate?” To find an answer to this question, Southwords asked three Maine South alumni, all best friends, about their take on high school friendships. Those three friends are Patrick Johnson, Emma Briars, and Zach Timm—all currently sophomores attending the University of Notre Dame, Boston University, and the University of Southern California, respectively. An important part of keeping long distance friendships alive is contact. These three friends still manage to stay in contact with each other, despite being busy. Emma: “I feel like we talked a lot more [freshman] year—like Skyping and texting and calling pretty frequently. [Sophomore] year is more sporadic and less often… because we are just busy and pretty comfortable with our friendship.” Pat: “I talk to Emma about three times a week, Zach like twice a month to complain about the Bears or Bulls or something. Outside of [a few people from high school] I really don’t have any contact with other Maine South people because I

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know who my good friends are, and that’s all that matters to me.” People wonder if their high school relationships, once they move away, will matter to them. Once again, the alumni share their takes on how their high school friendships impact their college life. Emma: “There are definitely some high school friendships I had that really only lasted through high school, and after graduation, things were just different, so you just go your separate ways. But with the majority of people who I would have considered my best friends in high school, I still consider them some of my best friends. Once you go to college and meet so many new people and get out of the Park Ridge bubble, you are able to see what high school relationships you had were real, and which ones weren’t meant to last.” Pat: “[My best friends] were extremely important to me, especially during senior year as we all started getting ready to move on from high school because I think we all realized that these were the people that we really enjoyed spending time with and wanted to stay in touch with down the road. They’re still an important part of my life because since we all didn’t go to the same school together and we all go to schools around the country, it is great to have your best friends be right back where you left them when you get back from school.” Zach: “[My old friends] matter a lot. If something really good happens, I’ll tell Pat or Emma first, and basically anything really important I’ll share with them, because they’ve known me for so long, they know how to talk with me. Obviously you’re not going to know everything about a person, especially in college, where you don’t have that much

history with the people you meet. But you have a lot of history and have gone through a lot with your old high school friends, so they can give me advice, commiserate with me, basically help me through things that only they can understand. Not to mention that inside jokes from years ago only get funnier over time. My college friends understand me now, but Pat and Emma are really important to me because of all the things we’ve gone through together. They’re always there, and they always will be there.” Since these three alumni know that they were important to each other in high school, are important to each other in college, the question still remains: will they be important to each other after college? These three certainly hope so. Emma: “I mean obviously we won’t all be moving back to Park Ridge and buying three houses in a row so our children can all go to Maine South together and be best friends, but I think the fact that it’s almost two years since graduation and we still keep in touch means that we will continue to keep in touch.” Pat: “I know that eventually we’re all going to probably not end up in Chicago, but we’ll enjoy our time together until then. These [two] are going to be at my wedding some day and my kids are going to meet them. I could really care less if my kids ever see Park Ridge or Maine South, but they will know the people that made that place special for me. You realize when you get to that summer between senior year and freshmen year of college which friends are classroom friends and which were going to be lifelong friends. My best friends in college are people that I know would get along great with my best friends from home but it’s just amazing to have such great people both at home in Park Ridge and away at school. I know Zach and I spent many an afternoon just sitting around watching TV doing absolutely nothing with our lives, but for some reason I would take that over doing something exciting with kids I don’t talk to any more from high school because for some reason it just felt good to be bums together. Or Emma and I just enjoying being pigs and eating ice cream while watching TV because honestly, who doesn’t like ice cream or TV? But it isn’t the ice cream or the TV that made those days fun and special; it was just spending quality time with a friend who means a lot to me. Basically, there is no need, in my humble opinion, to have 30 friends you keep in touch with if the few good ones that you have are people that you know you want to have around for the rest of your life.” Zach: “Yeah, my best friends from college and high school I will try and talk with. I won’t talk to all of my friends from high school and college once I graduate, but my best friends from both high school and college will always be with me, and I don’t mean my group of friends—I mean my very best of friends: the people who are the closest to me in the world. They’ll definitely be at my wedding, and hopefully they’ll get to see my kids, but the point is that I’ll know them after college.”

Features

PHOTO COURTESY EMMA BRIARS

Southwords gets in touch with three high school best friends from the class of 2009 to find out.

VOL. 47, NO. 7

APRIL 21, 2011

An entirely different Maine South Jimmy Loomos

FEATURES EDITOR

rooms that connected the smaller classes directly into the library. While at points this lay-out may seem impractical, movable walls were used to allow the larger rooms to be designed in any way the teachers desired. So, in actuality, this set-up created a more versatile classroom. Most of these classes, as is the case today, were English classes. Mr. Lonergan, who was a student at Maine South from 1970 to 1974, says, “The idea was that English classes would have immediate access to the library.” The deans’ hallway has also been remodeled since the early days of Maine South. Instead of offices and classrooms lining that hallway, there was one study hall and one lecture hall on each side of the deans’ office. The study halls were similar to the ones used today; however, the lecture halls were very different than the typical classrooms at Maine South today. The lecture halls were designed so that teachers of the same course could

simultaneously teach a large group for certain topics. For instance, take freshman biology. All biology teachers would be on the same schedule. Then, on certain days, all of the biology teachers would bring their students to the lecture hall where one teacher would explain a lab for the entire group. After that, the students would go implement what they had learned in their individual classrooms. The goal of this was to allow teachers to teach the area they were strongest in, and also more efficiently teach a larger group of students. It also gave students a feel of what college class would be like. Maine South’s design history is very interesting, with a two-story language lab, a pit in the library, and classrooms for wood shop. But in spite of the drastic differences that have changed both the appearance and the feel of Maine South, the pride and productivity of South students has persisted.

Features

very year thousands of restaurants, shops, and theaters are remodeled in order to fix problems or keep up with the ever-changing times. But, it is not just commercial property that undergoes these changes; many schools are also revamped to give their students the best possible learning experience. What many people don’t know is that since opening almost 50 years ago, much of Maine South has been remodeled, changing the entire feel of the school. In the mid ‘70s, Maine South had a student population of over 3,600, which seems massive compared to the 2,500 or so that attend the school today. What this meant, however, was that the school needed to be set up differently to accommodate the large student body. The design was called an open floor plan, or flexible classroom set-up. The major differences are evident

in the library area of the school. First, the library extended from the first hallway following the deans’ offices all the way to the last hallway in the C-Wing. Then, the centers area was split into thirds (see picture below), with the actual library in the center and six specially-designed areas filling the two outer thirds. Each of the six specially-designed areas was split into several smaller rooms, with movable walls to account for changing class sizes, as well as a counselor’s office. Each of these classrooms housed several homeroom classes where all of the students of a certain counselor began their day. For example, each counselor was given two homerooms of each grade level. Then, that counselor would be given the office in the room where all eight of these classes had homeroom. That way, all students had easy access to their counselor. In these special rooms were a large study hall, usually three or four smaller classes, and three reference

Original 1964 Maine South Blueprints

IMAGE COURTESY MR. MIKE GALIS

The room that is currently C101, a freshman study hall in the deans’ hallway, was once a cafeteria.

Inside the library, there was a sunken-in pit where students could study in the chairs or work in groups at the table. The lecture halls at the ends of the hallways were used to accommodate several classes which were taught by one teacher for certain activities.

Maine South used to have wood shop rooms before it underwent changes. It has been over 25 years since Maine South last had a wood shop. The PA-Wing has had the fewest layout changes since Maine South originally opened.

At one point, in the center of the library, there was a two-story foreign language lab. Counselors had all of their students, at every grade level, in the same homeroom location, and they were located there to facilitate student contact.

There were six large rooms that had removable walls that allowed for flexible class structures.

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APRIL 21, 2011

VOL. 47, NO. 7

Nuclear energy necessary despite Japan’s issues Anthony Eugenis COMMENTARY EDITOR

s brave workers in Japan battled floods and radiation to prevent a nuclear meltdown at the Fukushima nuclear power plant, it appeared as though the chances of nuclear power becoming a major viable alternative energy were doomed. The media was quick to show the damage in Japan. Cable news networks went into a frenzy as reports of radiation in tap water were released; breaking news updates flashed across screens in front of America as nuclear power became the new boogeymen to humanity. Common sense had, once again, escaped many minds across the globe. While nuclear meltdowns are serious safety concerns, they can be blown out of proportion. After the

accident at Three Mile Island, several investigations concluded that the radiation exposure was less than half a year’s worth of normal amount of background radiation for living in the US. Increased cancer rates were discovered in the following years, but were not found to be caused by the radiation. After the accident at Three Mile Island, construction of new nuclear power plants declined. An anti-nuclear movement exploded with this event, and millions across the world would protest their local power plants. The sentiment grew larger seven years later with the Chernobyl disaster, which left behind ghost towns. And with the failures at Fukushima, it appears once again that a disaster triggers the reaction to increase safety measures. Why is it that a disaster has to happen before someone implements routine inspections? The US Nuclear

Regulatory Commission has decided to conduct safety reviews at all nuclear plants in the country. In the aftermath of the core meltdowns in Japan, public support for new nuclear plants has decreased. T h a n k f u l l y, t h e O b a m a Administration still fully supports expanding nuclear power in the US, a country with 104 active nuclear reactors in 65 nuclear power plants. Together they produce about a fifth of the total electricity energy used in the US. Regardless of views on whether or not climate change is manmade, alternative energy should be an agreeable issue. Oil, much like everything else, has a limited supply. While that supply may last us many more decades, it may take longer for alternative energy to fully take over as the major source for electricity. Nuclear power has a small but

vital role in supplying the nation’s energy. Shutting down the facilities that provide 20% of our electricity would lend more room to coal power plants, an energy source which is about as favorable to environmentalists as summer reading is to high school students. Currently, solar and wind can’t take over the amount of energy coal plants provide. Why doesn’t the Green Movement support nuclear power? After all, aren’t they against the toxins being spewed out of those plants? For now, at least, nuclear power plant construction is dead. But nuclear power as an alternative energy is very much alive, and will gain traction as people realize that, despite the major accidents that have happened over the decades, proper regulation will allow not just nuclear power, but other alternative energies to emerge and help wean the world off of oil.

Blood donation simple, selfless Jennifer Mocarski

COMMENTARY

STAFF WRITER

very two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood. For over ten years, the Maine South Student Council has worked with the American Red Cross to sponsor a blood drive. Blood is in greater demand than previous years. Recent natural disasters such as the earthquake in Japan have caused thousands of units of blood to be lost, and the Red Cross needs to replenish blood supplies for those in need of it. High school students who are old enough and healthy enough to donate blood should take the time to perform this selfless act. Donating blood is a great way for high school students to help their community. With the opportunity to donate blood given to students by the student council and Park Ridge blood drives, students can become lifelong donors. It’s a simple task, but it has such a lasting impact. The actual donation of blood takes 10 to 15 minutes, and the whole process, including refreshments, takes about one hour. The amazing feeling of helping out someone in need makes this a well-spent hour. Here’s what you’ll do while waiting: you will be given a mini-physical, which includes basic things such as blood count and temperature to ensure you

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are healthy and safe to donate. Then, while donating, you are free to read and relax. Then, there’s another 15 minutes taken to enjoy refreshments in the recovery area. Disasters like the “Snowpocalypse” blizzard and the Japan earthquake and tsunami have put thousands of people in desperate need of blood to help them survive. The blizzard, which took place this past February a few months ago, caused a loss of over 28,000 units of blood. And while Japan is not requesting any donations of blood at the moment, the American Red Cross is standing by its promise to provide blood whenever and wherever it is needed. In addition, the American Red Cross is committed to those who regularly need blood, such as cancer patients and those undergoing surgery, as well as those situations that call for it, such as to help an accident victim. Blood can be separated into four components, three of which are transfused to patients: red cells, plasma, and platelets. Red blood cells, which are most commonly needed, carry oxygen throughout ones body. Most often, they are given, or transfused, to patients who have blood loss. The next, plasma, is the liquid part of the blood. Its job is to provide proteins for blood clotting and to help maintain blood pressure.

Platelets are the cells that actually are responsible for clotting. When given to patients, it does the former. It is very uncommon to be given whole blood, so that means when donating blood, one can help up to three people All needles used to gather whole blood are sterile, and all the staff are certified nurses with extensive training from the American Red Cross. Donating blood today at school does not only benefit those who need it: a scholarship will be given to a senior who donates, depending on the amount of total blood donations. For a total 30-60 units collected, the amount is $250, while 61-80 is $500,

provided for by the American Red Cross. This individual will be picked at random. Student council hopes to get about seventy to eighty people to donate, which happened in 2008 and 2009. So, if you are interested in donating, there are a few guidelines to follow. Donating blood is open to anyone 17 and older, and you must weigh at least 110 pounds, but this number varies if shorter than 5’ for a male and 5’6’’ for a female. Giving blood is an easy way to make a difference in the life of someone in need. Everyone eligible to donate should take the time and help save a life.

VOL. 47, NO. 7

APRIL 21, 2011

Senior finals cruel and unusual? Austin Bryniarski

COMMENTARY EDITOR

hile there is certainly no shortage of Southwords articles and high school conversations containing the words “senioritis” or “second-semester senior,” there is a lack of solutions to this problem. Hence, the debate over senior finals and whether or not they should be mandatory has arisen. I believe that senior finals should be scrapped. Taking a final when college acceptances are more or less set in stone and the fact that semester grades can only rise or fall rather insignificantly make senior final examinations seemingly pointless. To have to take a test only days before graduation might seem like some sort of rite of passage, but it is torturous in that multiple major cumulative tests are so incongruent with the excitement that comes with graduating—a kink in the graduation

Jackie Hazlett-Morris EDITOR-IN-CHIEF o some, spending spring break on a beach somewhere getting tan and relaxing with friends tops spending a week being carted around some foreign country that speaks a language you thought you had a handle on (until you actually heard them speak it). Some people chose to zip line ocean side instead of touring world heritage sites for four hours a day. But honestly? They missed out. This break, Italian, Spanish, and French students were offered the opportunity by individual teachers and a professional travel agency to travel to the country of their study and tour important landmarks and historic antiquities. The goal was to not only to better understand the mechanics of the country’s history, but also to gain some understanding of how life works in a country halfway around the world. Improving language skills was an added bonus as well. As a Spanish 5 student, I chose to spend my break in Spain. Six students from South and three from West accompanied Don Jose Arguello to Spain, where we joined up with a school group from Michigan and

high stakes exams to worry about,” Wohl says. S om e t e a c h e r s h av e b e e n instituting their own policies. Abbate explains, “I’ve had discussions with other seniors and some...of them didn’t have to take [a final] as long as they had a ‘C’ or better in the class.” Perhaps we have a reason to keep our chins up. Wohl, currently Junior Class Council Vice President and President-Elect of next year’s senior class has some solutions. “We’re planning a multi-step approach to tackle this issue. Teachers and students will be surveyed on their thoughts [to] craft a better idea as to what would work. Then, hopefully we can present [the findings] to the school and district.” Wohl also mentioned how incentivizing finals— formulating a criteria based on grades and attendance—would determine who would have the privilege of exemption from finals.

another from Seattle. The week was spent visiting seven different cities in southern Spain, and staying in five different hotels. With 45 total members of the group, chaos was unavoidable. But even through various mix-ups, the experiences we had were unforgettable. There was rarely a bad moment, and even when hours of touring became trying, I was still entertained. There was always some random, completely unrelated moment that brought us back to realizing exactly where we were and how amazing it was. I was awestruck at how much information I retained from those never-ending tours, even through jet-lag and sleep deprivation. The local tour guides told us things we never would have learned in a history class, or from a guidebook, like local legends and folk stories handed down through generations. The free time we had allowed us to venture out into the cities and experience local culture first-hand, as well as to practice the national language. I’ve never spoken more Spanish in my life than I did during our free time, while going to cafés and restaurants and shops where English really wasn’t spoken. Senior Christina McGuire, who chose to go to France, said, “The trip was completely amazing—every single second was special; even though that sounds kind of silly, it’s true. I especially loved the Louvre.

Just thinking about how old the art is and the size of the collection they have, you’re in the presence of greatness. I definitely want to go back soon; I’m in love!” Spending time with other students I had never met or didn’t know that well was really fun, and I know that I would not have met any of them—even the kids from West. Culture shock seemed a lot easier to handle when 38 other kids were just as surprised to see that nearly everyone had a cigarette hanging out of their mouths and wild dogs were everywhere. Senior Caitlin Vaughn, who went to Spain, said, “I would recommend going to Spain and I can’t wait to go back. All the food is fabulous, as well as the architecture and the scenery and the people. Not only is it a beautiful country, it’s definitely not what you’d expect.” The experiences we had on our international spring break, Italian and French students included, would never have happened if we went on our own, or with our families. It was the combination of being with other students, whether we knew them or not, and being thrown into a culture that was considerably unfamiliar, and having to just go with it. Even though the considerable time change and hectic schedule made for some frustrating moments, I can honestly say that all that beat out any tropical vacation.

Maine South High School 1111 South Dee Road Park Ridge, IL 60068 Signed letters to the editor should be delivered to room LRC 1 or 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 Jackie Hazlett-Morris Katie Hernandez News Editors Ashley Kozubal Sam Okrasinski Features Editors Jimmy Loomos Ally Stevens Entertainment Editors Max Mallory Kaci Zimmerman Commentary Editors Austin Bryniarski Anthony Eugenis Lydia Ramsey Sports Editors Erin Martell Charlie Vinopal

Commentary

hose. Senior Annamarie Abbate agrees that “it’s kind of like a bonus of graduating. Seniors should not have to stress about finals since they graduate a week after anyway.” While some seniors might not find finals to be threatening, they can be a nuisance. Just as Mr. Messmer thought our annoying cell phone policy needed some investigating and updating, so too does the issue of senior finals. Junior Pat Wohl is already arguing against taking those last few tests before graduating. “Finals, in general, are very stressful. On top of that, senior year is a very stressful time because kids are choosing where they want to spend the next four years of their lives.” The fact that senior finals aren’t the only major end-of-the-year tests is even more of a reason to scrap them. “Many seniors are taking many AP tests and so they already have many

Production Head Adrian Adamiec Production Editor Adam Smith Photography Editor Josie Fioretto Editorial Assistants Josh Timm Hope Tone Adviser Mr. Stathakis

SOUTHWORDS 13

APRIL 21, 2011

VOL. 47, NO. 7

Girls’ water polo begins third season Erin Martell

SPORTS EDITOR

game of physical strength, heart, and endurance, girls water polo is one of the most physically challenging sports there is. Luckily, the Maine South team was prepared going into this year’s season, winning their first three games against Maine East, Palatine and Maria High School. Maine South showed the strength of their defense against Maria High School March 7. They didn’t allow any goals the entire game, ending with a 5-0 shut-out, followed by a 14-9 victory over Palatine on March 12. Maine East, a conference opponent, also showcased the Hawks defensive strengths. By allowing no goals in the first quarter, it was clear the team was prepared for a victory. In the end Hawks won 15-5, with a fantastic overall performance. However, Maine East is only one of four conference games played so far this season. Another was against notorious powerhouse GBS on April 12. The Hawks played very well, though they lost in overtime, 11-13. Junior goalie April Simpson defines the game as a highlight of the

season. “Everyone played hard, and we made a comeback by working well together as a team,” Simpson said. “I just hope we continue to improve our skills and put some more wins on the board.” The Hawks will get another shot at GBS during the CSL tournament on May 6 and 7. They will be competing with most teams from their conference. There 12 member team is led by Ms. Jannon Kirley, and seniors Paulina Matczuk, Kelly Gavin, Sam Wasala, and Dosia Kociuba. The four seniors are also this year’s captains. “The girls on the team have been really supportive,” says junior Taylor Sutschek. “They make water polo a fun game to play.” But despite how well the team works together, they still faced challenges against York, Lincoln-Way Central, Deerfield and Glenbrook North, before facing GBS and Evanston. The goal is to improve, and come back to win the remaining games this season. Overall the season has gone well for the Hawks, though they set their hopes even higher for the end of the April Simpson heaves the ball down the court at a game against Evanston year. on April 14. The Hawks are currently 4-8 on the season.

SPORTS

Chicago Baseball Preview White Sox: The South Siders are looking to recapture the American League Central after being bested by Joe Mauer’s Minnesota Twins last season. The Sox made a key transaction in the off-season when they locked in on power hitter Adam Dunn. Dunn hit 38 dingers last year with the woeful Nationals and the Sox are hoping that he will add some serious pop to their lineup. The only catch with the everdangerous Adam Dunn is that he doesn’t have the keenest eye at the plate (Dunn struck out nearly 200 times in 2010) and has the potential to be a rally-killer all season long. With such forces at the plate as Carlos Quentin and veteran Paul Konerko, the Sox could prove to be a serious offensive threat. On the defensive side of the ball, the White Sox are looking for a comeback in Jake Peavy. Many questions surround the right-hander going into the 2011 season after he missed half of 2010 with a detached

14 SOUTHWORDS

muscle. If Adam Dunn can learn to stay away from balls thrown into the dirt, he will become a great pairing with the high-octane White Sox offense, that oftentimes finishes near or at the top of home run totals in the American League. If Peavy can stay healthy, he will add some serious depth to the South Si d e rs’ a l re a dy dangerous rotation that includes other aces like Mark Buehrle. The biggest problem that they will face this year is most likely the powerful Minnesota Twins, who will have their main closer, Joe Nathan, back from an elbow injury that shortened his previous season with the Twins. With all of those factors in mind, the White Sox are looking at a first or second place finish in the 2011 campaign.

Cubs: 2011 will certainly be a different year for the perennial lovable losers. The Cubs are going into the new season with new manager Mike Quade after Lou Piniella left his post of three years with the club in August of 2010. Quade and the Cubs are looking for some serious improvement from last year’s fifth-place finish in the belowaverage C entral division. The Cubs made a few transactions of their own in the off-season, picking up first baseman Carlos Pena and pitcher Matt Garza from Tampa Bay. On top of that, the Cubs picked up Kerry Wood for his second stint with the team. Wood, who at age 33 still has good stuff, should help the Cubs answer many of their middle-relief questions. Although Pena doesn’t boast

Charlie Vinopal SPORTS EDITOR

consistency at the plate (he hit .196 in 2010), he has ample fielding skills as well as a decent amount of power that will compensate for last year’s trade that sent Derrek Lee to the Braves. Now that Carlos Zambrano has sorted out his anger problems, he and Garza should make a powerful 1-2 punch on the mound. In 2011, the Cubs will also be relying on the main asset of the team: youth. One of the few bright spots in the 2010 season was 20-year-old shortstop Starlin Castro, who arrived in the Bigs far earlier than expected and hit an even .300. Castro, now 21, worked in the off-season with third base coach Ivan Dejesus on fielding problems that held him back last season. This year will most likely be better than the poor 2010 showing, but the Cubs are still a few years away from a division championship. 2012 may hold more promise for the team as they will most likely test the free agency market with power-hitter Albert Pujols becoming available.

APRIL 21, 2011

PHOTO BY JOSIE FIORETTO

VOL. 47, NO. 7

Ali Cottrell dribbles the ball towards the opposing goal in a recent match at Maine South. The junior leads Hawks scorers with five goals thus far in the season. Cottrell and the other two captains on the girls’ squad have led the Hawks to an even 4-4-2 record in the young season.

Girls’ soccer team makes CSL South title run Kevin Hemphill

SPORTS WRITER

season with a torn ACL, Pappas has bounced back strong in the midfield. Coach Crawford expressed the importance of having Pappas back. “Having Carli back has had a big impact,” he said.“She leads by example. She isn’t afraid to work and that sets the tone for the whole team.” Pappas made her presence known immediately when she returned to the pitch on April 9. The senior tied the score at two in the 56th minute of a heavily-contested game against Oswego and kept the Hawks from their fifth loss of the season. Pappas said of being off the disabled list, “I’m doing pretty well. It’s still not back to normal, but I’m happy to be playing again.” On the defensive side of the ball, senior defender Aly Hayden has been solid in the back keeping the team in many games. Leading the Hawks in scoring are Cottrell and fellow forward Allison Curry with five and four goals respectively. The team is now looking to learn from the early season experiences and grow to be a very strong team. The girls aim at finishing at least second in

conference, which is no easy task. The girls’ soccer squad certainly has some competition in the CSL South with such perennial powerhouses as New Trier and GBS in their division. New Trier is proving to be the team to beat early in the soccer season as they are currently undefeated through 10 games. The Hawks are in the middle of the pack in the CSL South, so their play for the remainder of the season will dictate where they place in the 2011 season. In order to finish at or near the top of their division, they will certainly have to continue working hard, something Crawford noted was a strength of the girls. They will have their first chance to prove it when they open the conference schedule against the Trevians next week. Cottrell defined the key to success for the rest of the season for the girls in saying, “Our team’s key to success is hard work. We need to be able to finish on everything.” If the girls can focus on converting their chances into scoring, they will certainly be in the running to contend in the talented CSL South.

Sports

oach Crawford has had his hands full this year. He has spent much of the start of the season rotating players, looking for the right combination to ignite this year’s Hawks. Crawford shared the key to success this year for the girls: “If we can have the mind set that we need to out-work every team, we will do just fine.” After finishing last season 16-54, the team is looking to replicate that success and propel themselves forward to a strong season this year. Despite filling the roster with many new names, the Hawks return seven varsity players, including the three captains: seniors Carli Pappas and Becky Graf, and junior Ali Cottrell. These three will be integral if the Hawks are to continue their winning ways. Cottrell has been on the team since her sophomore year and detailed the girls’ gritty nature on the pitch. “Our goals may not be pretty

ones, but they get the job done.” The Hawks are also relying heavily on the play of four-year varsity goalie Katie Paddock. The senior is going to be the key to keeping the squad in as many games as possible between the posts. So far, the team has had a decent start that could have been even better if not for a couple close losses. Sitting at 4-4-2, the Hawks are in a position to go wherever they choose with the rest of this season. The first game of the season was a discouraging one for the girls as they fell 3-1 to an Elk Grove team that they should have beaten. They had a chance to rebound, however, with the Pepsi Showdown tournament. The girls won their first round game by beating Deerfield. In the next round, they played to overtime with Wheaton North, only to lose in penalty kicks. Although it was a tough loss for the team, Crawford hopes the girls will come together and build off of it. Crawford highlighted the play of Pappas, a third-year varsity player, as an essential asset to the team. After missing most of the 2010

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BASEBALL

• GIRLS’ SOCCER • TRACK • BOYS’ GYMANASTICS • BADMINTON • SOFTBALL • BOYS’ TENNIS • BOYS’ VOLLEYBALL • WATER POLO

Marc Saladino STAFF WRITER

fter last year’s disappointment in the semifinals of the playoffs, Coach Gary Granell and the varsity boys look to have a strong season in 2011. The Hawks’ finished last season with a 41-1 record, the best in school history. Their first and only loss of the season came in the state semifinals against Marist. The Hawks had an immense amount of success in the 2010 season and hoped that it would transfer into the current campaign. With the loss of All-Conference brothers Matt, Eric, and John Butch, the team has a new, young look. A cast of fresh faces as well as a select amount of veterans now inhabit the starting rotation, and the Hawks have high expectations for the current year. The young and ready-to-impress volleyball squad began their season with wins against Libertyville, 25-28 to 18-26 and St. Charles North, 25-25

to 23-22. After losing a contentious battle to Bartlett, the Hawks were slated to play in the Warren Invite that started on April 8. The 2010 Hawks won that invite, knocking out New Trier in the championship game. In 2011, the brand new volleyball team had a decent showing in the invite beating Morton, Antioch, Andrew and Niles West but losing to Niles North. Success in the invite was mainly attributed to three-year varsity starter, junior Scotty Adamczyk, who had almost 80 kills in the tournament. Maine South’s season continued with the Blue Devil Invite, in which they beat Niles West in out-ofconference play. It was a great team effort in the win, and they pulled out on top with a 25-20, 25-17 win. Their next game was against the conference rival Glenbrook South Titans. The Hawks fought hard, but in the end were bested by the Titans in a 25-18, 25-20 loss. On April 14, the Hawks looked

PHOTO BY CHARLIE VINOPAL

Boys’ volleyball builds off of 2010’s success

Senior Mike Unti spikes the ball against Marist during the game April 14. Marist went on to win the second set 26-24 to ice the game. to get vengeance against the Marist Redhawks, who dashed their state hopes last season. Marist is once again looking like the strong team that they were last year as they are currently ranked second in state. Unfortunately the team couldn’t

pull off a win against the Redhawks and fell to them in just two sets. The Hawks start their conference play on April 20, and continue on through May. They look to make it as far, or further, than last year’s team, and end with play in the state finals.

Charlie Vinopal SPORTS EDITOR

Maine Hockey: The Maine Hockey team had an impressive run this past winter and into spring. The team placed in the top eight in state after competing in the Blackhawk Cup. The varsity Maineiacs team went into the Blackhawks Cup ranked 12th in the entire state of Illinois, the highest that they’ve ever placed. The tournament began with the Maineiacs being slated to play Evanston. They beat the Wildkits 3-1 in the first round and were off to the next game scheduled over a month later. Maine Township then beat their next opponent, 5-3 and were in the elite eight. The team’s dream run eventually ended with a heart-breaking, 3-2 loss to BGHW (a merger of Buffalo Grove, Hersey and Wheeling high schools).

Boys’ Lacrosse: In their second year of existence, the boys’ lacrosse team is looking to emulate the success they had in their inaugural year. The Hawks went on an amazing run last year during the season and into the playoffs. The Hawks’ are off to a bit of a sluggish start to the 2011 season with a record of 1 win and 2 losses. Both of their defeats have come within conference to Deerfield and Evanston, having lost 10-4 and 10-2 respectively. The good news for the Hawks is that they still have the majority of the season to bounce back to the form that they held within their first year of existence in 2010. The Hawks did beat lacrosse powerhouse Notre Dame in the second game of the season with a final score of 11-4.

Badminton: Badminton has quietly been having an impressive season with a record of 5-2, good enough for third in the Central Suburban South division. The team has gone undefeated in out-of-conference play with their only two loses coming to New Trier and GBS, both of whom are formidable opponents. The games that Maine South have won have been comfortable to say the least. They beat the GBN in the first meet of the 2011 season 14-2, and then went on to trounce Lake Forest, Waukegan and Maine East all by the final score of 18-0. On top of that regular season play, the Hawks’ badminton squad won the Rolling Meadows Invite on March 26 for the second consecutive year.

Baseball: The baseball team has started off the 2011 season with a 4-5 record through nine games. The boys had a hectic first week of April, playing four games in five days. The squad split the four games, beating Lane Tech and Fenwick, but losing to Nazareth and the Notre Dame Dons. The Hawks are trying to rebuild a winning team after losing a number of upperclassmen who were key to last year’s success, like pitching aces Ronnie Muck and Jesse O’Connor, who both went on to play at the collegiate level. The Hawks are seeing positive things out of younger players this year. Junior Pat Aloisio threw a two-hitter and gave up only one in his first ever varsity start to propel the Hawks to a 6-2 victory over Fremd. Mr. Milano recorded his 200th win as head coach on March 31.