Vol 49 issue 3

November 16, 2012

1111 S. Dee Road • Park Ridge, Illinois 60068

Vol. 49, No. 4

BORN TO

PHOTO BY JESSICA GRONKE

RUN

Maine South boys’ cross country places fifth in state, with two Hawks winning All-State honors.

Going pink

Mr. Marsicano dyes his hair for his students Page 4

V-Show 2013 Life is ‘awesome’

What to look for in the ‘Reality TV-Show’ Page 6

Face the flag

Mr. Disrude goes from stroke Why it’s still important to survivor to marathoner stand for the pledge Page 9 Page 11

NEWS

| November 16, 2012

Park Ridge passes new drinking ordinance New ordinance offers option to lower fine if student attends classes about alcoholism Caroline Borowski, Dora Bialy, & Kristen VanTine News Editors

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n an effort to diminish underage drinking and educate teens on its dangers, the city of Park Ridge passed a new ordinance this past month geared towards awareness and prevention rather than short-term punishments. Students who are caught drinking are now given two options as to what their consequences will be.

The first option requires the teen to pay a $1,000 fine and attend a hearing at city hall. The second option lowers the fine by $250-$500 and the hearing is replaced by an educational program tailored to the student and his or her condition.

There are four programs available to students.

The first is “Response,” where students evaluate the harms of drinking in various situations they are likely to find themselves in and how to say “no” to drinking in them.

Another program is “Choices,” which tries to help students learn about the dangers of drug use and develop better communication with their parents.

The other program, “PEER Services, Inc.,”

helps adolescents and their parents see the dangers of underage drinking, while the last program, “FAIR,” offers students and their parents the ability to recognize the level of the student’s problem and receive treatment.

Prior to the implementation of the new ordinance, students were required to pay a $500 fine and attend a hearing. However, students that were involved in an extracurricular activity at Maine South had to adhere not only to that punishment, but were also required to attend the educational programs. The ordinance has eliminated some of the differences between the school and city consequences.

“I just saw a huge discrepancy between what happened at school and what happened on the city level,” said Assistant Principal to Students Dr. Garlasco. “If you were a student here and you were out for a sport, then you would end up coming to me for a code violation and I would refer you to one of the education programs. When you would go to the city, you would get something entirely different. They accepted our programs, but you would still have to go to court even after you already agreed to the education program. Everything wasn’t on the same page.”

The only way the school can get involved in the disciplining of a student ticketed for underage drinking is if the student is involved in a school activity or is caught with alcohol on school grounds.

That student would need to attend a meeting Dr.

Garlasco, where the penalties of the violation of the Extracurricular Code of Conduct would be decided.

According to current school policy, on the first offense, students are banned from participating in 40% of the competitions or performances for the activity they are involved in. However, they are still allowed to attend practice or rehearsals.

Rejoining their teams at competitions is allowed after the student has been cleared by the city and completed the punishment.

On the second offense, students are again prohibited from representing Maine South at events and must go through the city’s punishments before being able to rejoin their squads.

On the third offense, the student is removed from the extracurricular activities he or she is on for his or her remaining time at Maine South in addition to going through the city punishments again. However, both second and third offenses are quite uncommon.

“Out of almost 200 meetings, I’ve had approximately 12 second offenses and about 5 or 6 third offenses,” said Dr. Garlasco.

Students see this new ordinance as a positive change as well.

“I think it’s a good thing,” said junior Nermin Aly. “It’s less of a hassle; you still have to pay the consequences of underage drinking, but it’s less chaos and more in-sync with the school consequences.”

Hawk Honor card rumors addressed John Novak Staff Writer

he Hawk Honor card is awarded every October to a select group of juniors who have shown noteworthy responsibility during their time at Maine South. However, recent rumors have sparked some confusion regarding these privileges.

Student ID cards with a Hawk Honor designation can serve as hall passes, allowing students to walk through the halls before and after passing period bells ring.

Some students believe that with the Hawk Honor card, they are exempt from scanning in for their free periods. According to the deans, however, all students, even Hawk Honor students, are required to scan into lounge, the writing lab, and the library.

A number of students strongly disagree with this policy.

“We have shown that we are trustworthy, honorable students who

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PHOTO BY HANNAH SIMPSON

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DOUBLE H

A Hawk Honor card is identified by the two punched out Hs in the lower right corner of the student ID. Students with this mark on their card are free to travel the hallways during their lunch or study.

always attend class,” said senior Jack Howlett. “Scanning in is unnecessary.”

Being a Hawk Honor card member comes with responsibilities. A

Hawk Honor student cannot violate the Maine South discipline policy or extra-curricular code of conduct. A violation would result in the loss of Hawk Honor privileges.

Hawk Honor cards are given to students who have shown responsibility in attendance and behavior during their time at Maine South.

Obtaining a Hawk Honor card during junior year includes a reimbursement of the activity fee, a certificate of recognition, and a congratulatory breakfast with the Administration. During these students’ senior years, they are automatically eligible to purchase a parking permit and become candidates for the Goodwill Award, while again receiving a reimbursement of the activity fee. Also, various prizes are raffled off to Hawk Honor students including free tickets to Prom and Senior Breakfast.

Hawk Honor is a reward for wellbehaved students, not a right. While some policies and practices could be made clearer to students, it is important for them to recognize that the Hawk Honor card is not a free pass to disregard hallway, lounge, and library policies.

| NEWS

Seniors fuel Maine South November 16, 2012

Staff Writer he week of Oct. 22 was Nike’s “Who Fuels Maine South?” campaign at school. One of the main components of the week was a class competition featuring Nike’s new FuelBand. Each grade received two FuelBands: one for males and one for females. The FuelBands were passed between students during the competition to earn the most Fuel points, a number which reflects activity levels.

Nike chose eight schools around the country to participate in their FuelBand competition. According to Cindy Hamilton, a communications manager for Nike, the schools were chosen because they “demonstrated excellence academically, athletically and in the community.” Maine South was specifically picked for “a great tradition in football as well as excellence in academics and the community.”

Nike sponsored the FuelBand competition as a way to promote their new product and to motivate students to be more active.

The FuelBands tracked each class’s movement from 7:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., Tuesday through Thursday.

During that time, students were to pass of the band amongst themselves in order to rack up the most NikeFuel points possible.

Each class had a different strategy for coming out on top.

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“I made a schedule for every day of the week so that a different girl would have the band during her gym period,” said Mary Grace Inserra, captain of the sophomore girls. “I also had people take the band to their after school activities such as cross country or soccer practice.” She estimated that ten different girls had the band each day.

Tim Mizdrak wore the band for junior boys and said, “It was a really cool thing to have, and everyone wanted to see what it was like.”

At the end of the four-day competition, the seniors came out with the win. The juniors followed close behind and finished in second place. The senior class will receive $1,000 as well as free T-shirts for everyone in the grade.

In addition to sponsoring the competition, Nike funded new uniforms and cleats for the varsity football team. Each member of the varsity cheerleading team also received a brand new pair of Nike gym shoes.

The competition was not without controversy, however. The seniors were accused of attaching one of their bands to a fan, while the juniors allegedly attached one to a bike. Both of these rumors were determined to be false and neither class had any points taken away.

Additionally, it was rumored that the T-shirts for the winning class were already made for seniors prior to the

start of the competition.

However, this is not true, as the T-shirts are being made now and will be available for the senior class in three to four weeks.

The rumor that the sophomores had lost one of their bands was also untrue; it was just with the wrong person for half a day.

The FuelBand is worn on the wrist and measures athletic activity. According to Nike’s website, the FuelBand “captures and displays four different metrics: time, calories, steps and NikeFuel.”

NikeFuel is a brandnew, privately owned technology that measures activity through wrist IT’S ALL IN THE WRIST The FuelBands movement. It rewards were passed between class representatives in every P.E. p e opl e w it h e qu a l period in an attempt to earn the maximum number of points for an activity, Fuel points. FuelBands will be available for pre-order on r e g a r d l e s s o f a g e , Jan. 19 for a retail price of $149. gender, and weight.

Using a three-axis accelerometer, to be user-friendly, comfortable, and the FuelBand measures movement motivating for everyone.

At the end of the day, data can and translates it into NikeFuel. Each day, the user can set an activity goal, be downloaded onto a computer or or the level of NikeFuel they want to phone through a built-in USB on the earn. As the user moves closer to their Nike website. This allows the user to goal, the band’s LED lights go from record every day’s activity and track red to green. The Band is designed overall progress.

These Sure Seals have decreased the number of bugs crawling up the drains. It has been more effective than other water trappers as it doesn’t clog up.

Not only have these traps helped, but so has an online work order system called Eduphoria, also known as the school help desk.

“Teachers can always call my office, that’s not a problem,” said Mr. Beese. “But with filling this out, I have an actual record.”

Part of this system allows teachers to report on pests they have seen by simply filling out an online form.

This report is then sent directly to Mr. Beese, and it allows for a record of pests around the school and the filing of an extra service report.

“Every report is taken seriously, and, with this system that we are using, we are more aware of sightings and [have] better record keeping.”

This leads to faster calls to the exterminating company, International Exterminators, which the school works closely with to find what works best in decreasing the amount of pests. They come out twice a month as well as whenever a sighting has been reported.

“Compared to last year, I have seen fewer cockroaches and mice around school,” said sophomore Shawn Loutos. “Everything seems to be more controlled.”

Despite the decrease in creatures, there are still many that live and are present throughout the school.

PHOTO BY JESSICA GRONKE

Sarah Asson

Critter sightings decrease over past year Elizabeth Stocchetti Staff Writer

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lthough both staff and students continue to spot some mice and cockroaches around the school, the number of vermin that exist here has diminished substantially in the past year due to the number of services put in place to eliminate the pests.

Last December, mouse traps disguised as rocks were installed around the school. According to Mr. Beese, head of building and grounds, having all those base stations has cut down tremendously on the vermin population.

This year, new water trappers, called Sure Seals, have been installed in drains throughout the school.

Sophomore Mary Grace DiCola said, “I’ve seen fifteen cockroaches this year.”

“I’ve seen a few cockroaches in the fieldhouse, during gym by the walls, and sometimes I see them in the locker room during swim practice, especially when practice is in the mornings,” said junior Lauren Sargeant.

Students can help by reporting sightings to their teachers. With Eduphoria in place, teachers can file a report and the extermination company can be called in to manage the situation that same day.

“I want to get it to the point where I have no phone calls, no reports. That’s what we’re heading for,” said Mr. Beese.

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| November 16, 2012 PHOTO BY JESSICA GRNOKE

NEWS

ABOVE AND BEYOND

Mr. Marsicano’s 3rd period English 1 class poses with the cards they made for hospitalized kids. A total of 119 cards were made and sent to sick children to help raise their spirits and encourage them to stay strong.

English students make cards for charity Caryn Clark Staff Writer

n the spirit of Breast Cancer Awareness month, Mr. Marsicano’s third period freshman English 1 class was inspired to make a difference and organize a charity project.

The class of 25 students brought in a total of 119 cards, and in return, Mr. Marsicano came to school on Friday, Oct. 26 with his hair, eyebrows, and goatee dyed pink.

“We were listening to the announcements and overheard that a charity was filling shoeboxes,” said Mr. Marsicano. “This tumbled into a charity discussion about how we, as a class, could do something to make a difference. We decided that making shoeboxes would cost too much money and kids might forget materials; we wanted to do something where every kid could contribute and feel good intrinsically.”

It was freshman McKenna Rothchild who stepped up to the plate and threw out the idea about Cards For Hospitalized Kids, a charity she knew about from her older sister.

“I asked the class what they’d have me do if they brought in 100 cards by the next day,” said Mr. Mariscano.

“One kid blurted out, ‘You have to show up to school on Friday with pink hair, eyebrows, and goatee,’

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PHOTO BY JESSICA GRONKE

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PINK OUT

Mr. Marsicano proudly shows off his temporarily pink hair, eyebrows, and goatee on Friday, Oct. 26.

To see more pictures in color, go to http://is.gd/4hisho or use your smartphone to scan the QR to the right.

thinking it’d be too crazy for me, but I said, ‘Okay, it’s a deal!’ I’ll do whatever for motivation if it means we’re making an impact, even if I might look a little crazy coming to work.”

Rothchild came to class the next day with a list of “Do’s and Don’ts” for card-making from the charity’s website cardsforhospitalizedkids.com and the altruistic class came through on their deal. Mr. Marsicano was effusive on the benevolent, dynamic of

this particular class.

“I did little in this process. I made suggestions and might’ve added incentive, but really it wasn’t about me dying my hair pink—it was the class’s desire to make a difference. It’s rare to find a great group of kids like this that really works well together, and I think it’s our role, as teachers, to seize opportunities like this.”

The Cards For Hospitalized Kids charity was started by one of Maine

South’s very own: Jennifer Rubino.

Jennifer endured 23 surgeries in the past 6 years while suffering a chronic illness. Jennifer’s difficult experiences inspired her to create a beneficial system that now brings smiles to children’s faces across America.

“It was after my 13th surgery when I was close to losing hope that I had gotten a card from someone that lifted my spirits,” said Rubino.

“It inspired me to start this charity, so I could do for other kids what that one person did for me.”

The organization started off small, with just Jennifer and her friends making the cards. Cards For Hospitalized Kids has now given cards to over 10,000 hospitalized kids and is endorsed by a handful of celebrities and athletes such as Lucy Hale from “Pretty Little Liars,” Lauren Conrad, Stephanie Pratt, Nastia Liukin, Jordan Wieber, Aly Raisman and several others. These celebrities have used social networking sites to gather support for the organization as well as sent autographed cards for the kids.

For those who would like to get involved, the Cards For Hospitalized Kids charity provides card-making instructions on their website and hosts card-making events at the Des Plaines Public Library. These events are posted on the charity website or on their Facebook page.

November 16, 2012

| ENTERTAINMENT

Social Media permeates M.S. Yavor Todorov

web.

Facebook’s group “Maine South Memes” has been a popular page for students to “like.” The partial reason for the success of memes is that they bring to light common social issues that we all share and portray them in an entertaining manner.

Important ideas and emotions are expressed through social media and the Internet. Now more than ever, people are voicing their opinions through satire and playful teasing. Humor is used as a crutch of sorts, a way to address important issues without the need to confront them face-to-face.

It would be ignorant to say that these new means of entertainment are just mindless distractions; the communities of people who make them, most notably those from Reddit and 4chan, are, in their own respects, geniuses.

TWEET, TWEET Twitter accounts focused on Maine South have recently This catharsis through become more numerous. They’re sometimes controversial, but often hilarious. social media has also hit Maine South. Maine South Entertainment Editor n recent years, social networking has evolved from simply instant messaging to the hyperlocal voice of students’ opinions.

Much like Twitter and Facebook have evolved over the years, so has the voice of Maine South students throughout the Internet. Students have steered their complaints away from the suggestion box and to humorous sarcastic remarks on the

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students have recently been using social networking sites to target Maine South and joke about its flaws.

Groups on Facebook like “Maine South Memes,” and handles on Twitter like @MSHSPROBS are taking advantage of social media and using it as a tool to express their personal vexations, again addressing real issues in a satirical manner.

The reason satirical Twitter handles and memes are so funny because they are relatable. Things you thought only applied to you suddenly appear to be a common among all your peers.

Tweets like “When your school was built on a landfill = cockroaches ever y where #mainesouthproblems” are not only funny, but shine light on the issues that particularly bother students.

Social media is also used to poke fun at ourselves in a playful and lighthearted manner. A Maine South Twitter handle that does this particularly well is @S***NoHawksSay. For example, “I don’t check myself out in those glass cases in the A-wing. #s***nohawkssay.” These kinds of Tweets get at the experiences that only Maine South students have.

The evolution of social media has provided teens at Maine South with a new means of communicating their thoughts and ideas.

Whole lotta love for concert DVD Nick Arger

Entertainment Writer

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ed Zeppelin is widely hailed as one of the greatest rock bands of all time. Having pioneered blues rock and heavy metal, Led Zeppelin isn’t like any other ordinary band.

Although their live shows are legendary, they have never appeared on television, nor have they released any non-album singles.

Their most popular reunion to date was their appearance at a tribute for Ahmet Ertegun in 2007, held in London’s O2 Arena.

Since their drummer John Bonham died of alcohol poisoning in 1980, they have not gone on tour or released a major studio album. However, they have had numerous oneoff reunions since then, including playing at Live Aid in 1985, Atlantic Records’ 40th Anniversary party, and their Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction ceremony.

Despite internal conflicts in the band, the surviving members came together to throw a tribute show in memory of Ahmet Ertegun, a famous record company executive. Afterwards, fans hoped for a huge reunion tour or a new studio album.

Instead, they received a compilation album,

2007’s “Mothership.”

Then came “Celebration Day,” which is what patient fans have been craving for years. “Celebration Day” is a live album and documentary based around the 2007 reunion.

The movie perfectly captures the essence of the band. Though Robert Plant’s voice isn’t exactly what it was 40 years ago, the passion and intensity behind the words are still there.

Jimmy Page proved that he hasn’t lost a beat over the years, tearing through classics such as “Kashmir” and “The Song Remains The Same” on guitar.

John Paul Jones’ subdued bass playing remains as stellar as ever, holding the band together through fifteen years of hits.

Jason Bonham, son of the late drummer, powers the band forward with expertly crafted beats and fills.

The movie doesn’t mess around with any unnecessary extras or lulls. It is simply footage of the concert with staggering sound quality and a crystal-clear picture.

There are no overly-nostalgic montages of “the good ol’ days” or anything like that. It’s simply the footage of the band, in all their glory, doing what they do. Led Zeppelin proves that, while the years may come and go, the songs will always remain the same.

The band’s second movie and fourth live album comes out on Nov. 19 on DVD, Blu-Ray, CD, digital download, and vinyl.

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ENTERTAINMENT

| November 16, 2012

Better than reality TV Augusta Paulik & Maggie Lynch

PHOTO BY JESSICA GRONKE

Staff Writer & Entertainment Editor

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pening Nov. 15 and running through Nov. 17, Maine South’s V-show returns with its particular blend of music, comedy and dance.

A long-running tradition here at Maine South, this year’s “Reality T.V. Show” will once again highlight the talent of Maine South.

Featuring songs by artists like The Doors and Stevie Wonder, this year’s musical tracks will contribute to the exciting atmosphere of the show.

A number of Maine South’s dance groups are performing, such as Orchesis and Advanced Dance.

The seniors from the Maine South Hawkettes will also be performing.

Orchesis and Advanced Dance both have numbers that are out of the ordinary. Orchesis is performing an extremely avant garde piece that demonstrates the difference between basic dance and complex performing arts.

Advanced Dance, on the other hand, takes a whole different approach with an animated novelty dance to the classic “Batman” theme song.

Thes e d ance numb ers are particularly different in that they’re all performed to live music. The stage band plays all the songs used in the show. The use of live music is what

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JUST KIDDING

Trunk actors prepare their skits for the upcoming V-show.

The funny interludes keep the show running smoothly, and are a hit with the crowd.

sets Maine South’s V-show apart from other schools’.

A number of individuals are also bringing their solo talents to the show.

Senior Robert Mazza will be singing and playing guitar on The Band’s famous ballad, “The Weight.” Senior Marla Micor will be performing an original song on the guitar while Maggie Fleita, also a senior, dances in accompaniment.

Senior Jeff Czerwonka will be bringing Michael Jackson’s “Pretty Young Thing” to life, complete with backup dancers.

However, this show contains much more than dance numbers and vocal solos.

“We have tons of variety, from comedy to spoken word to some acts that just can’t be defined,” said junior Lily Elderkin, one of the student directors. “It’s going to be a really high-energy show filled with a lot of talented people. It’s one that can’t be missed.”

Starting at 7:30 p.m. in the Watson Auditorium, the show will kick-off with the Footlighters, and continue with the rest of the acts and Trunk.

The first act is choreographed by Student Director Alyssa LaTragna.

The Footlighters are a group of singers/dancers who traditionally

start the show.

Between acts, Trunk keeps the audience engrossed with fast-paced, witty skits. Run by Trunk Heads Gibson Odderstol, Lauren O’Machel and Sarah Householder, Trunk fills the time while the acts are setting up to ensure there are no lulls in the show.

In a lot of ways, Trunk sets the tone of V-show, adding to the other entertaining and talented acts.

“V-Show is different because it has more room to goof around and make it your own, rather than sticking to a script,” said Senior Ben Wilson.

“I love all the other shows I’ve done and seen just as much, but they’re just completely different.”

While the acts are busy soaking up the spotlight, Stage Crew is backstage working hard to make everyone look and sound their best. Crew is a major part of every show, and V-Show is no different.

Those involved in crew are determined to take care of the crucial details like light and sound to make the show great. They work to set up the stage successfully for each act.

Though Trunk works to keep audiences laughing every year, rarely is there another comedy act included in the show.

In the early ‘90s, Saturday Night Live ran recurring sketches including the Spartan Cheerleaders, played by Will Ferrell and Cheri Oteri. In this year’s V-Show, seniors Stefan Tosic and Jane Acker take on Ferrell and Oteri’s role as the Spartan Cheerleaders.

Going back to the ‘90s comedy, the Senior Act will give all students something to remember with the popular SNL skit. This year’s senior class act, an act that wasn’t a part of last year’s show, takes a different, more upbeat approach.

Normally senior class acts consist of teary shouting to a sappy song. This year however, the senior class opted for a lighter act, using the “Friends” theme song. Many seniors remember watching the show while it was still on in prime time.

“It [V-Show] gives students a chance to see kids bust out of their shells,” O’Machel, a four-year participant in V-show and trunk head, stated. “The best part of V-show, though, is everyone in the show getting together to sing ‘Gonna Build a Mountain’ [the closing song], the same song that we sing every year.

That song speaks to everyone on so many different levels. It’s also a great song that brings people together for a great end to a great show.”

November 16, 2012

| ENTERTAINMENT

Top five things to do over Thanksgiving break Maggie Lynch

Entertainment Editor ith the nine days off for Thanksgiving break, Southwords gives you tips to keep you occupied.

1.Park Ridge’s Black Friday: It’s a tradition in Park Ridge to head Uptown on the Friday after Thanksgiving for deals on Christmas gifts.

In true Park Ridge tradition, grab a Starbucks hot chocolate and wander over to the double-decker bus; which gives tours of the beautifully decorated Park Ridge homes. The bus takes riders from Hodges Park to South Park.

2.THE Sandwich: If the turkey, stuffing, and cranberry sauce leftovers from Thanksgiving in the fridge are plentiful, create THE Sandwich from “Friends.” Start with a piece of sturdy bread (bonus points for a toasted dinner roll leftover from the night before). Pour cranberry sauce over the bread. Layer as much or as little turkey as desired on the

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gorgeous cranberries, or omit this step for a meatless option. The key to THE Sandwich is a piece of bread soaked in gravy on top of the turkey, known as the “moist maker.” Stuffing is usually the next layer, but mashed potatoes or yams are allowed. Lettuce or potato chips can be added for extra crunch.

3.Work Out: It may be the last thing anyone wants to do, but working out can not only help burn off a Thanksgiving feast, but also increase endorphin levels and brain function, thus breaking the cabin fever accumulated from lying around and watching far too much television.

4.Excursion of the Unusual: While massive groups head towards Best Buy and Sears for Black Friday, go against the grain towards stores that offer different items. Half-Price Books has books for a discounted rate, and a better deal could be found at Barnes and Noble at midnight.

Vintage stores and thrift stores are scattered throughout the Chicago-

land area and have great discounts on unique items. These stores offer more than just low-priced novelties. Trying on old ‘80s fashions or nosediving into a fantastic read can be a truly good time. They’re a great alternative to going to “the big Starbucks” for a fifth time.

5.A Breath of Fresh Air: There’s nothing more refreshing than going out into the cool air of November after lounging in a heated house. Football, ice-skating, and bike riding are just some of the options.

The cool air cleanses the lungs and closes the pores, thus allowing more fresh oxygen into the bloodstream and locking it in, giving one the feeling of getting a full night’s sleep. Getting outside will also bring

HIGH

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vitamin D into the body, boosting the immune system and preventing the dreaded holiday season sniffles.

Snow or no snow, go throw around the pig skin, or just breathe in Earth’s natural detoxifying agent.

Algonquin Records a must for audiophiles Matthew Weiss

Staff Writer lgonquin Records in Des Plaines is not a typical record store. From CDs, to comics, to visual media, this store is a convenient entertainment destination for Maine South students especially those who love music. iTunes is fine for students who are into Maroon 5 and Justin Bieber, but classics such as The Beatles are artists more likely found at Algonquin—in both music and video formats.

They have new DVDs and Blurays of concerts, especially from current rock artists. However, they mainly specialize in music. Algonquin offers new and old artists on records, including albums like Green Day’s new trilogy “Uno,” “Dos,” “Tre.” The music selection features many artists, ranging from the rock roots of Bob Dylan to Indie rock’s Mumford and Sons.

“It’s a nice little store that can sometimes send you back in time,” said sophomore Nick Arger. “It’s awesome how much a variety they have there and it’s not just in music genres, but also whatever medium you’re looking for.”

Algonquin features a wellorganized CD system, in addition to a plethora of records. With shelves

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VINTAGE VINYL

The store is a hidden gem down East Algonquin Road, a few minutes away from Maine South. Since 1976, the record store has been selling movies and music.

lined from A to Z, any fan of Classic Rock can purchase the essentials of a successful record collection. One can get lost flipping through the the CD racks and gazing at posters on the walls. If a customer doesn’t feel like listening to music or watching movies, they have the option of reading

occasional comics and visiting with the store owner, Dan Malapanes.

There is a wide variety of customers such as regulars, newbies, rock fans, and more. Everyone is welcome to stay as long as one wants, reading comics in the aisles and piling up the music they want to buy.

Malapanes grew up in the area and attended Maine West High School. He recalled the times back in 1976 when the store was in its infancy. It has been in the family ever since. He recalled how quickly the 36 years flew by, with the store’s 37th anniversary coming in February.

So why come here? The most obvious draw is its proximity to Maine South. The record store is located at 532 East Algonquin Road, a mere five miles away. That may be enough alone, considering the next “top” record stores are in Wilmette (Hipcat Records), Oak Park (Oak Park Records), and Evanston (Vintage Vinyl).

Can’t find something in store?

Algonquin will special order it and have it for you within about a week.

Malapanes has never had anyone ask to match iTunes pricing, but sees no reason why not to.

“I’m easy to work with,” he said.

“If I’m not losing money on [the merchandise], I would gladly match the price.”

Now is a great time to purchase Christmas gifts for the music lovers of your life.

The great deals, nostalgia, and cozy environment all add up to make this a happy listening experience.

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ENTERTAINMENT | November 16, 2012

Fuel the feasting: A guide to conquer Thanksgiving Lizzie Porter

Staff Writer he stereotypical Thanksgiving tends to involve giving thanks and building relationships. Each of these elements make Thanksgiving what it is, but one has to admit that there is another vital component of Thanksgiving that shapes its outcome each year: eating.

Since Turke y Day is an American holiday most devoted to food, it must be taken very seriously. The simple act of eating goes without explanation, but the steps taken before and after Thanksgiving can make or break a person. Southwords has some tips to make Thanksgiving 2012 the best one yet.

Before the meal: Steal your mom’s old headband from 1982 and turn on “Eye of Tiger” because it’s Turkey Day. Amateur hour is over, and this is the time when the pros are separated from the rookies. To start you need to build up stomach endurance. The Laws of Physics state that the stomach can only hold a limited amount of food. Before Thanksgiving, gradually expand your stomach’s limit. Instead of eating one waffle for breakfast, eat five. Play a game where whenever someone calls your name, you grab the nearest food item and eat it.

Super size every meal, and instead of having a midnight snack, have a midnight feast. Be sure to keep in mind a Turkey Day food goal in order to know just how much your stomach needs to carry.

Not only must you prepare your stomach for the sheer amount of food, you must also prepare it for the length of time you will be eating for. Just like a runner starts breathing heavily at the end of their workout, so should you at the end of the big meal.

Depending on your Thanksgiving traditions, you might start with

TURKEY

GRAPHIC BY SARAH HANDS

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appetizers at three in the afternoon, and end with dessert at ten at night.

Prepare for this in your practices by constantly snacking from dawn to dusk. This is how legends are born.

After the meal: With all the preparation leading up to it, and the hard work that went into eating it, after the big meal, you should feel very proud. However, it is normal to feel somewhat depressed. This could be because of the typical turkey “coma,” which is caused by a chemical in turkey known as Tryptophan.

Other reasons for depression might be that Thanksgiving is over, or that your least-favorite aunt decided to disclose your Christmas gift this year.

It turns out that you will be receiving a T-shirt with her face on it—along with “world’s #1 aunt” written across the chest. Never fear—there are simple ways to recover.

The first step towards your turkey “coma” recovery, starts right after you get up from the dinner table. Slowly make your way to the couch. If you can’t make it that far, find a comfy spot

Number of Turkeys raised in the U.S in 2011.

248

MILLION

TALK

8 SouthwordS

on the floor.

Start with a few deep breaths.

Mentally, go through every piece of food consumed. If you really want to remember Thanksgiving 2012, write the type and amount of each food in a color-coded journal. Next, get a kind family member to measure how much your stomach has expanded.

Essentially, this is a measure of how successful your Turkey Day was—the bigger the measurement, the better.

Make sure to record this in your Thanksgiving journal.

From here, close your eyes. Distract yourself from food-induced nausea by imagining the cleansing Christmas music you will now be able to listen to since Thanksgiving is over. Then start from the toes and move each body part one inch. You don’t want to over exert yourself at this point.

Then find a simple movie to watch.

Your brain is now likely just as tired as your body. Now is a great time to start with some animated Christmas classics, like “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer” or “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” These don’t require too

750 MILLION Pounds of Cranberries produced in the U.S in 2011.

much mental stimulation, but when the screams of Lucy yelling at Linus are loud enough, they can drown out your grandpa’s monologue about how global warning is a government conspiracy.

The Next Day: Wake up and eat a light breakfast.

Do not panic if you have forgotten events from the previous day.

Throughout today, you will indeed be very hungry. Feel free to snack during the day. The goal is to eat less than yesterday, which shouldn’t be that hard of a task, considering that you probably ate your body weight.

Keep in mind that Thanksgiving will happen every year. If you are still feeling sad weeks after Thanksgiving, plan to join in on C anadian Thanksgiving next year, which is held on the second Monday in October.

Don’t worry—more winter holidays are coming. Though those holidays aren’t as devoted to eating as Turkey Day is, there are still many good meal opportunities. Remember that you conquered Thanksgiving 2012. Until next Thanksgiving, you can revel in the whole turkey leg you ate, brag about the gallon of mashed potatoes you consumed, or dream about that piece of pumpkin pie that might have actually been a whole pie.

Number of pumpkin pies eaten at Thanksgiving.

50

MILLION

2.4

BILLION Weight of Sweet Potatoes (in pounds) produced in 2011.

November 16, 2012

Portrait of

| FEATURES

Features Editors

T

he morning of Sept. 6, 2011 began like any other for Mr. Disrude, Maine South physical education teacher and wrestling coach. He woke up to get ready for classes and went through his ordinary morning routine. But his morning, and his life, changed in the blink of an eye when Mr. Disrude suffered a severe stroke.

“All of a sudden it felt like a rubber band snapped in my head and I just fell and totally lost my balance,” he said. “The room was spinning. The last thing I remember was calling for my wife.”

Thirteen months after the stroke, Mr. Disrude ran the 26.2 mile Bank of America Chicago Marathon. But this feat could only be accomplished after hard work and therapy—both physical and mental.

“I went to the rehab institution in Wheeling, and I was there for eleven weeks, trying to re-figure everything out in life, from how to walk to how to eat to how to process and everything,” said Mr. Disrude. “It was quite a work out and quite a challenge. While I was in therapy we noticed the really big things right away. I couldn’t move, I couldn’t walk, I couldn’t function at all. As I was in therapy over time, then all of a sudden everything else started to come together.”

The recovery process was made easier by Mr. Disrude’s wife. Mr. Disrude was unresponsive for three days following the stroke. At the time, Mrs. Disrude was twenty weeks pregnant, but she was right by Mr. Disrude’s side, keeping both him and their growing baby healthy.

“The whole thing made us so much closer, and it made us see each other in a new light,” Mr. Disrude said. “I am so lucky to have her. She is absolutely amazing.”

Mr. Disrude’s hospital support group also made a huge difference in his recovery.

“Therapy and my support group were essential,” he said. “With my support group, I was able to go somewhere and not feel alone. To walk into

a room and look at people who have the same problems. It made it possible to deal with the challenges as a group instead of just on my own and feeling isolated.”

Small steps in Mr. Disrude’s recovery, from regaining strength in his arms and legs, to recovering the process of putting thoughts together, turned into big ones and eventually Mr. Disrude made the decision to run the Bank of America Chicago Marathon.

“We started doing more time at the hospital, Advocate—a main sponsor of the Chicago marathon,” said Mr. Disrude. “We began talking to them while we were training for a half marathon, then someone asked us if we ever thought about running a full marathon. I had never done one, but my wife had, so I discussed it with her.

At that point it hit me: there was no reason not to. It was the ultimate test to my rehab. I really ran it for everyone that has dealt with the challenges of stroke recovery. We gained so much by running it.

On Oct. 7, 2012, Mr. Disrude and his wife crossed the finish line. Crossing the finish line left Mr. Disrude with a plethora of emotions.

“I don’t think words could ever describe that feeling,” he said. “Each of the last six miles my wife kept saying the different people we were running for, and the last mile we ran for my son because he was such a huge motivation for me in therapy.”

“All of a sudden we got to that last turn and saw the finish chute.

It was so overcoming to see Logan, my mom, and all the different people there afterwards. The emotions were just so strong and I don’t think any words that I used to describe it give any justice to the feeling I felt.”

Mr. Disrude was recognized as a stroke survivor at the Chicago White Sox “Strike out Stroke” game. The goal of the game was to raise awareness of stroke warning signs and how to respond.

“It was just an acknowledgment of ‘Hey, these things happen, but there are people who live through them,’” said Mr. Disrude. “That’s kind of our stance on being a strong advocate

Strike out Stroke Mr. Disrude and his family serve as an inspiration for stroke survivors. They attended the “Strike out Stroke” Chicago White Sox game in September, where stroke survivors were recognized.

tReady, Set, Go

PHOTO COURTESY MR. DISRUDE

Des Mustafa & Amanda Svachula

PHOTO COURTESY MR. DISRUDE

INSPIRATION

of strokes—saying that these things happen and here are the warning signs of a stroke—and there you have a stadium filled with people who just learned the warning signs of a stroke.

So now if they have family, friends, or co-workers show those signs, they can react and get that person help right away.”

The challenges Mr. Disrude has recently faced have shaped him in ways that he could never have imagined.

“Everything has changed,” he said.

“The easiest way to say it is that I function in a body that I’m not aware of and I’m still learning how this body functions. I’ve lived in this body for 38 years—I was an athletic person, I knew how it worked, I knew how it

Mr. Disrude and his wife run to stay fit and healthy. On Oct. 7, 2012 they both ran the 26.2 mile Bank of America Chicago Marathon after Mr. Disrude’s recovery from his stroke.

functioned. I’m still learning how my brain works. There are a lot of things that aren’t fully wired, but you do the best you can.”

The changes in his everyday routine have caused Mr. Disrude to gain new perspective and insight on the big picture of life, and this makes him an inspiration to everyone he meets.

“When I hold my son now, it’s different,” he said. “When I carry him up the stairs it’s different. I look forward to family time and making sure everyone’s laughing and having a good time. Just the ability to be here and create good memories, even though we have challenged ones, makes everyone realize that ‘Hey, this is an awesome life.’”

SouthwordS 9

FEATURES

| November 16, 2012

PHOTO COURTESY SR. BARBAS

Maine South’s Renaissance man: Don Francisco Music plays an important role in life of Maine South Spanish teacher Sarah Hands & Caroline Borowski

Editor-in-Chief & News Editor

10 SouthwordS

School of Rock Sr. Barbas, a Spanish teacher at Maine South rocks out with

his fellow teachers in their band, Celtic Bikini. He is self-taught in three fields of art: guitar, singing, and visual arts.

PHOTO COURTESY SR. BARBAS

s any of his students can attest, Sr. Barbas is one of the most talented teachers to walk the halls of Maine South. The Spanish teacher’s rendition of Billy Joel’s “Piano Man” (or “El hombre del piano”) can bring tears to even a German student’s eyes.

Music has played an important role in Sr. Barbas’s life for as long as he can remember.

“My mom was always singing around the house,” said Sr. Barbas.

“She still does that, I guess I took after her.”

He grew up in a family of seven, and there were no instruments in the house for the first fourteen years of his life—just his mother’s singing voice.

It wasn’t until he was fourteen that Sr. Barbas even touched a guitar.

“Pretty much, I’m self taught,” he said. “I [would listen] to songs I enjoyed, and I [would think], ‘wow, I want to learn how to play that.”

While he knows chords and basic notation, he mostly plays by ear.

“I would play the song on my guitar and try to get the chords, tr y to get the sound,” said Sr. Barbas. “Now, it’s easy because you can just go online and get the chords.”

Sr. Barbas’s music career started like many of the greatest rockers of all time. In high school, some of Sr. Barbas’ friends formed a band. He would sometimes go to their practices and learn a few guitar chords here and there from the members.

He often sang when he played, but he never performed for an audience.

Singing was always about making good music and having fun, not trying to show off.

“With music and singing, I was always very shy,” said Sr. Barbas.

It’s surprising to hear that from someone who is so outgoing in class; the only thing more renown about Sr. Barbas than his singing is his talent for making people laugh.

The first time Sr. Barbas ever sang in front of an audience was for his students at Maine South. After such positive responses from some of the

PHOTO COURTESY SR. BARBAS

A

Play that Funky Music

Sr. Barbas sings at Where Else Bar and Grill at a benefit to collect money to fight breast cancer. Sr. Barbas was first introduced to singing by his mother who constantly sang to him as a child.

most judgemental critics in the world, a love of performance was born.

Today, he belongs to a band called “Celtic Bikini” with some of Maine Township’s finest. Mr. Dutmers on drums, Mr. Matan from Maine West on bass, and Mr. Sumida, also from Maine West, on lead guitar.

“Now when we go to a wedding or a bar and are on stage, I am playing and I look at myself from [the] outside and cannot believe I can do that,” Sr. Barbas said.

As with guitar, Sr. Barbas had no formal vocal training. Singing was just something he did for fun—something that he just happened to be very good at.

Sr. Barbas has his own recording studio, where he spends many hours outside of Maine South experimenting with different sounds.

“I use my computer,” he said. “[I] bought a little bit of equipment and have a recording studio at home.

I write songs. I record songs. I do different parts. I play the percussion, bongos, keyboard, bass, guitars, and [create] harmonies. I record seven times to experiment.”

Sr. Barbas has made a number of CDs of his own composition as gifts for his students, friends, and family.

In many of his Spanish classes, he has his students create lyrics for their own songs, which he then sets to music.

While they are not yet playing on the Spanish music channel, Sr. Barbas and his students benefit from the challenge that song-writing presents.

Sr. Barbas also loves visual art.

Aside from a few high school art classes, he is a completely self-taught artist. As with music, he learns through observation and experimentation.

“I like to observe things and then see if I can do it,” said Sr. Barbas.

“For me, the main thing about being creative is not to be afraid and just jump in and do it,” said Barbas.

This view of the creative process reflects Barbas’ attitude toward his own talent in every area of art.

Whether it’s the tunes he creates, the images he draws, or the chords he plays, Sr. Barbas is a Renaissance man with a passion for knowledge and music.

To Sr. Barbas, art is not about following an established form or book of rules; art is not about technique.

Art is about courage and observation, something that isn’t found in formal training.

November 16, 2012

| COMMENTARY

Alyssa Fuhr Staff Writer

E

GRAPHIC BY CECILIA CORTES

very day, for our entire academic careers, we have faced the American flag with our hand over our hearts and recited the Pledge of Allegiance.

In a perfect world, everyone would stand, face the flag, and not only recite the Pledge, but think about the meaning too. However, some people don’t even bother to stand up anymore, and some teachers even keep teaching right through the Pledge.

It is disrespectful to America and to those who have sacrificed for her to ignore the Pledge of Allegiance.

I understand that people are busy trying to scribble down that last sentence or studying for a quiz in their next class, but it is not a huge inconvenience to face the flag and recite a few short sentences that you have had memorized for years.

In some classes, if the teacher made it clear that they expected their students to be quiet during announcements their students would also recite the Pledge. They would be even more motivated if the teacher said the Pledge as well.

Mrs. Ball, a math teacher, makes a point to face the flag and recite the Pledge everyday. She also expects her students to be quiet and listen to the announcements.

“It is unrealistic to expect everyone to feel patriotic each day when they recite the pledge,” Mrs. Ball stated. “But this daily recitation prepares us for the few times in our lives when saying the Pledge of Allegiance does overwhelm us with patriotism.”

“It’s problematic that such a formal occasion can become something else to check off the list,” Don Jose noted. “It’s problematic that it is background noise of everyday life.”

People may not think that it matters because no one is going to yell at you if you don’t say the Pledge.

What we need to realize is that it is a privilege to live in a nation where there is such freedom.

Even though it is said every day and can become a mundane task, there is still value in making the effort. One reason that we say the Pledge is because the state of Illinois requires all students to recite the Pledge of Allegiance every day.

However, as determined by the Seventh U.S. Circuit Court of Ap-

peals, students must have to option to participate.

“It is important to show respect for an important symbol of our country,” Spanish teacher Don Jose shared. “But making someone say the Pledge would be as inappropriate as not standing up for it.”

“We are also a country where free speech is honored so students should not be forced to stand if they are making a conscious decision to stay seated,” noted Mrs. Clarke, a counselor at Maine South. For example, some students may choose not to stand due to religious reasons regarding the line ‘One nation under God…’ We recite it because it is a tradition, something that every student has done. When we were young, it was exciting to stand with your class and say the Pledge. As we got older though, the novelty wore off and we think that we have better ways to use our time.

In America, we take for granted the privileges and rights we are given and exert everyday. Saying the Pledge is a sign of respect to the people who fought for those rights.

“Standing and reciting the pledge is indeed a sign of respect for our country and students should be encouraged to do so,” Mrs. Clarke stated.

Students were given the right to pass on participating in the Pledge, but that does not mean that they should take advantage of it. Most people, when asked, do not have sound reasoning for not saying the Pledge every day, but the reasons are out there.

Some choose to ignore it due to religious reasons, although the Pledge’s message is not a religious one. Others do not participate because they believe being forced to say the pledge, even though they have the option of sitting out, is antiAmerican.

People always say that they are proud to be an American, so why not show that pride by taking less than a minute each day to face the flag?

Take the time to appreciate this great nation. People not much older than us are fighting and dying in Afghanistan. We can honor their service through honoring our flag.

Should students be required to stand for the pledge?

To pledge or not to pledge

“No, but students should because it is the right thing to do.”

-Natalie Casillas ‘13

“Yes, because we should take a moment to appreciate our country.”

-Juliusz Cydzik ‘14

“Yes, because soldiers are fighting for us and this shows our respect.”

-Virginia Cowan ‘15

“Yes, because it shows respect for our country.”

-John Diatte ‘16

SouthwordS 11

COMMENTARY

| November 16, 2012

STAFF EDITORIAL

Maine South High School 1111 South Dee Road Park Ridge, IL 60068

IMAGE BY SARAH HANDS

Signed letters to the editor should be delivered to LRC1, 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.

S

wearing has become part of our culture. From TV to movies to music, harsh language is commonplace. However, it seems like the amount of this language used at Maine South has gone up consistently over the past few years.

Part of the problem comes from the lack of social stigma surrounding swearing. Foul language at Maine South seems to be turning into something teachers either don’t care about, or don’t feel the need to police.

Imagine, for example, how different it would be for someone to loudly swear when walking past a teacher in middle school. Even if it wasn’t the student’s teacher, you can be sure that student would be headed down to the office for a detention.

In high school, the most a student can expect for even the most offensive swears is a stern look from a passing teacher, if that.

That’s not to say students should have to worry about getting in trouble for dropping some sailor talk when griping to a friend. However, nobody really wants to hear people loudly swearing at their friends across the hall. When used inappropriately, swearing becomes far more obnoxious than expressive.

The purpose of profanity in the first place is to provide an extreme expression of emotion into informal conversation. When used sparingly and with meaning, most find nothing wrong with the occasional expletive for emphasis.

12 SouthwordS

It’s when strings of swears are constantly flying from a student’s mouth without any apparent purpose when the act becomes flat-out annoying.

It’s also somewhat degrading to the person using the word, since it often gives the impression that he or she can’t think of more intelligent words to use. Using a profane term as an intensifier, filler, or in place of something like “umm...” cheapens the word and takes away the weight it’s meant to hold. Not to mention the fact that people often find these words (or their overuse) offensive and sometimes think less of others for filling their sentences with swears.

As more and more people continue to utilize profanity without a purpose, our society becomes increasingly desensitized to the impact that these words are meant to have.

Not only is an unfiltered and unending stream of expletives offensive and obnoxious, but the meaning these words were originally supposed to hold becomes obsolete. As a result, we become more careless in the things we say, failing to provide thought before speech.

A common counter argument, of course, also uses this desensitization to justify careless profanity. “It’s just a word” is a common phrase used by many to describe the impact (or lack of impact) of profanity used in any setting.

Still, we have to consider something: should it be “just a word”?

Should derogatory terms directed at certain groups of people lose their meaning? When a homosexual or racial slur becomes “just a word” and takes on a new meaning, it only further implies a negative association with whichever group the slur is directed toward. Every time you use the word, it implies that being a part of that group of people is something to be ashamed of.

This is when language at Maine South becomes everyone’s problem.

If you overhear someone drop a victimless F-bomb in passing, you most likely won’t get personally offended.

However, when people carelessly use racial slurs, or derogatory terms for people with disabilities, passersby can get deeply offended, even if the comment wasn’t directed at them.

Even if the word is used in place of an unrelated insult, using that slur reminds people that that specific condition is being associated with being inferior.

There’s no clear way to get people to pay more attention to what they say. It’s not an awareness issue, since the idea of swearing being hurtful has been taught to kids almost as long as they could talk. The culture of swearing is almost treated as a right of passage among teens, as if it’s a part of being an adult.

While we are by no means calling for the censorship of all profane expression, there is a time and place for everything; think about the setting you are in and the people around you before you speak.

Scan this QR code to e-mail Southwords Editors-in-Chief

Sarah Hands Soren Ramsey

Production Editors Matt Anderson Hannah Simpson News Editors

Dora Bialy Caroline Borowski Kristen VanTine

Entertainment Editors Alex Korzynski Anna Laskaris Margaret Lynch Yavor Todorov Features Editors

Katie Krall Des Mustafa Amanda Svachula

Commentary Editors Gianna Carrozza Lauren Smith Sports Editors

Hope Allchin Alex Ellyin Kay Thursby

Photography Editors Sophia Conde Jessica Gronke Adviser

Mr. Stathakis

Think before you fomit November 16, 2012

Sarah Hands Editor-in-Chief

T

ell me: does that headline look artsy and fun? Because it’s giving me a headache.

There is a word for that stylistic atrocity: fomit. It’s exactly what it sounds like; a combination of font and vomit. Well, it’s not really a word, but we’re trying to make it one.

It’s the use of an obnoxiously unaesthetic typeface, often in combination with one or more equally ugly text styles.

If you’re typing an academic or professional document—no, if you’re typing any document—do not make the heading in Onyx, the subheadings in Viner Hand, and the body text in Mistral. Not only do all of those fonts look terrible by themselves, but the combination intesifies their ugliness by a factor of ten. For the sake of your dignity and your readers’ sanity,

don’t mix and match.

Atrocious combinations aside, there is a startlingly large number of fonts that shouldn’t be used even by themselves.

While this isn’t meant to be specific to one font, it would be an injustice to not provide some degree of specific attention to Comic Sans.

I doubt that I’m the only person in this school who feels a twinge of pain/annoyance every time I see an email typed in Comic Sans. Don’t even get me started on storefront signs printed in that repulsive font; yeah, we get that you’re trying to be cute, but you’re failing miserably at it.

Comic Sans does not make you look like a “fun-loving” person. It does, however, make you look incredibly childish, immature, and stylistically ignorant.

Printing your restaurant menu in the style of a first grade book report does not constitute as a legitimate form of rhetoric, and it does not communicate that you are a “family-friendly” establishment. It does, however, make me wonder if you are

(Response to “iPhone 5: Southwords’ hands-on review,” October 12, 2012)

Exercise your voice— write a letter to the editors

Deliver signed letters to LRC1 or scan the QR code on the top of pg. 12 to e-mail southwords@ maine207.org

utilizing child labor.

(For the record, I’m not the only one with this seemingly nit-picky pet-peeve. There’s an entire website devoted to hating Comic Sans called ihatecomicsans.com. You should check it out.)

Next up is Papyrus, or, as I like to refer to it, the Scorned Lover of Comic Sans.

A lot of people (including my mother) enjoy this font because it looks “exotic,” like some sort of ancient Egyptian script written on... wait for it... papyrus. Clever, right?

No. First of all, ancient Egyptian script was written in hieroglyphics, not the Roman alphabet. Second of all, the font just looks bad.

It does not look like fancy handwriting; it looks like a default art font you found on Microsoft Works. It looks like you are trying to add an artistic element to a document by exerting the least amount of effort possible. Really, though, that can be said for anybody who uses any sort of “artsy” font.

Typing sub-headings of your gov-

ernment research paper in Jokerman (to show History is fun!)is not a good way to rhetorically communicate your sense of “carefree creativity” to your government teacher.

There are some people who feel so strongly about font choices that they’ll form intense opinions about Arial vs. Times New Roman. That’s really not necessary; 99% of the time, the general population will not care if you type your essay in a serif or sans serif font.

Whether or not he or she realizes it, however, someone who reads your writing typed in Curlz MT is going to walk away with a much different interpretation than they would if it were typed in Tahoma.

Please, unless you are creating a flyer for a Community Center Kindergarten BBQ, stick to the fonts you can’t identify at first glance.

If typing novellas in Ravie brings some sort of sick, irrational pleasure, that’s fine; nobody will judge you if you fomit quietly in a bucket in the privacy of your own home. Just don’t do it in public.

to it bringing in their own ideas and modifications that may or may not be included in the newest release.

Let’s put iPhone 5 in the ring against one of it’s heavyweight competitors, the Samsung Galaxy S III. The iPhone 5 has only a four-inch screen while the SGS3 has a 4.8 inch screen. Imagine all of those games and movies, but now bigger and brighter.

The iPhone’s 1136 x 640 screen is nice, but how about we watch our movies in HD on the SGS3’s 1280 x 720 pixel screen using Samsung’s Super AMOLED technology which allows for the deepest blacks and accurate colors? If you like the 225 hours of standby time that the iPhone can provide, then the what do you say about the 790 hours (3.5 times that of the iPhone) that the SGS3 kicks out? Both phones can shoot 1080p video from their rear facing cameras. The final number knockout: while Apple received an upgrade to 1GB of RAM, the SGS3 was built with 2GB of RAM. This means more multi-tasking and an impeccably fluid experience.

Apple’s iPhone has Siri and SGS3

has S Voice which pretty much does the same thing. While the iPhone may have a fixed storage capacity, the SGS3 has both internal storage (like the iPhone) and external storage via a microSD card, which is relatively cheap if you want to fit in those extra songs, movies, and games later on.

Remember all of that equipment that you bought that was “Made for iPod/iPhone?” Well now you have to buy adapters for that. The all new “digital adapter” (I honestly cringed when I heard that on the Apple advertisement) doesn’t fit, even though the technology behind it all is exactly the same as a regular USB cable. Why can’t Apple just follow certain standards like Android does and not make their customers have to spend more money?

Honestly, it is all a mind game.

Be it advertisements from Samsung, Apple, or any other phone manufacturer, they're all really just trying to make you buy their product. Don’t be a sheep—do your research and find what is best for you.

Letter to the Editors Acknowledging Android

It doesn’t take a genius to see how Android is superior to Apple. What makes Android beautiful is the fact that it is open for everyone to use and it follows time-tested standards while bringing in innovation on top of that.

Android is an open source operating system which means that the code created by our friends at Google is open for anyone to make use of and make derivatives of. This is where America comes in. The freedom of choice and the benefits from competing manufacturers. Why limit yourself to a single choice that gets “updated” every one or two years?

There are so many different phones to choose from running Android that it is almost impossible not to find the perfect one for you. The other beneficial thing to Android being open source is that the community can contribute

| COMMENTARY

— Piotr Hadlaw, ‘13

SouthwordS 13

SPORTS

| November 16, 2012

Ness goes the distance for charity Kay Thursby

Sports Editor aving found her passion early is something that Katie Ness thinks makes her the runner she is today.

Doing some “around the neighborhood” 5k’s is something that Ness started doing as an eighth grader, but once she discovered her love for long distance running, she decided to do the Soldier Field 10 Mile in 2010. Ever since then, Ness has participated in a wide variety of races where she has been one of the youngest runners there.

One of the reasons Ness runs is because she enjoys meeting new people. “It is truly a fun community of young, intelligent, intrinsicallydisciplined young adults who enjoy making the most of the lives they have been given, and I love that environment,” she said.

In her first year of running long distances competitively, Ness, then a 15-year-old, ran a sub-1:20 ten mile race, meaning that throughout the whole race, her average mile time was between 7:30-7:50. Placing fourth in the 15-19 year old group out of 60 girls, and first in her age group, Ness felt successful after finishing this race, since she not only trained hard for it, but it was also in her first year of running long distances competitively.

Ness’s mom influenced her to start running; after participating in several of the Chicago Marathons, her mom truly showcased the mental and physical strength it truly takes to be a long distance runner.

“One trains to ensure that he or she finishes, but also to ensure that he or she possesses the strength of mind and focus to run for two plus straight hours,” said Ness. This virtue of running is something Ness acquired from the beginning. Ness admits that the feeling of accomplishing something

PHOTOS COURTESY OF KATIE NESS

H

SHOWING OFF

Over the years, Ness has collected lots of race memorabilia. She started running when she was 15-years-old at the Soldier Field 10 Mile. RUNS IN THE FAMILY Ness and her mom celebrate after finishing a great race. Ness’s mom has run several of the Chicago Marathons, influencing her daughter to run.

she has worked hard for is more important than the races themselves.

Some runners participate in these races to make a name for themselves. However, Ness runs for a different reason. “I am not planning on ever winning any of these things, and the commonly accepted norm within the running community is to beat the worst critic of all, which is so often times oneself,” she noted.

Within the past year, Ness ran in the Women’s Chicago half Marathon in late June, the Chicago half Marathon in September, and the Monster Dash half-marathon in October.

The Chicago half-marathon was a race that Ness was especially excited for because she decided to raise money for the People Educating

Against Crime in Englewood, also known as PEACE. After sending out fund raising letters, Ness earned a total of $1,100 for PEACE. “The ability to use this talent for a bigger cause than myself has given my running career a new purpose,” said Ness Ness also plans on running in the Polar Dash in January, and just like she did in her first year of running, the Soldier Field 10 Mile. She has already prepared herself for both the physical and mental challenges ahead.

“Anyone could go out and mosey along for long distances; however, really successful runners are more mentally than physically driven,” said Ness. “It’s not really a fun sport, but it is when you’re done.”

Senior leaders strengthen girls’ swimming Alex Ellyin

Sports Editor eadership on a team enhances not only the team’s ability, but their focus and the goals they aim to achieve. The girls’ swimming team this year returns five seniors who have been on varsity for their entire high school career. Maddy Coffey, Tyler Gooding, Christina Kaminsky, Iza Matczuk, and Lauren Buszydlo are finishing their fourth year on varsity and are hoping that this season will be their best one yet.

“It’s really the first time since I have been the coach that I had a team that was this experienced,” said Coach Don Kura.

“We have worked together for a long time now, both during high school season and the offseason,” said Buszydlo. “We all have similar goals

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in mind and understand the process needed to be taken in order to achieve success.”

The wide range of talent on this year’s team has allowed for success.

The girls won the Highland Park Early Bird Invite for the second straight season in addition to winning their very own Hawk Relays. The team had second-place finishes in Hersey Jamboree and the Downers Grove North Team Challenge for the first time in school history.

The conference meet also went well for the ladies. The team finished fourth overall at the meet, including multiple top-eight finishes.

The 200 Medley Relay, composed of junior Hannah Ferstel, Gooding, junior Jenna Zitkus, and Coffey, finished fifth. The 200 Free Relay, made up of Ferstel, senior Anne

Marie Pavlis, Coffey, and Gooding also finished fifth.

Two-time state qualifier in the 100 butterfly and 100 backstroke, Zitkus got third place in both these events on Nov. 3, earning her all-conference honors.

The junior has set school records for both of these events and believes that this team is the best one she has been a part of during her three years on varsity.

The hard work may have been difficult; however, the reward makes up for the struggle.

“There were days when everyone questioned whether or not they could make it to the end, but we worked through the hard times and encouraged one another to persevere,” Buszydlo described. “We stood behind each other and worked

through the difficult sets.”

“Leading up to meets, we practice a lot, sometimes mornings and afternoons, and always have a pasta party,” Zitkus said.

“For the most part, the work ethic of this team has been pretty good,” added Kura. “There are always ups and downs during any season, but this was a pretty hard working group.”

Regarding Sectionals and beyond, Kura said, “My goals are that the girls swim their lifetime best times. The hope is that these times will be good enough for us to qualify several girls and multiple relays for the state swim meet.”

At their sectional meet on Saturday, both the 200 freestyle relay and the 200 medley relay teams qualified for State.

Zitkus also qualified individually in the 100 backstroke and butterfly.

Cross country has record year PHOTO BY JESSICA GRONKE

Claire Raphael Staff Writer

Boys’ Cross Country

Girls’ Cross Country

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r. Kura jumped in the water and joined the swim team his freshman year of high school right here at Maine South. On that team, he developed a desire to become the best swimmer he could be.

He attended Illinois Wesleyan University, where he continued his athletic career as a member of the swim team, swimming in the 50, 100, and 200 meter freestyle events. Coach Kura’s favorite part of the collegiate experience was getting to compete actively every day. He also made new friends on the journey and learned his potential at practice.

In addition to being a social science teacher, Mr. Kura coaches the boys’ and girls’ varsity swim teams. He has instilled the drive to be the best in his players, motivating them to strive to achieve their goals.

“A goal without a plan is a wish,” Coach Kura says about becoming a college athlete. “Don’t take any practice, meet, or game for granted, because in the scheme of things, there are limited opportunities that one has to compete in order to achieve your goals.”

He added on that students should study hard in order to get into the schools they want to attend. Balancing sports and school is difficult, yet possible, as Mr. Kura proved.

Coach Kura notes that if you have the ability, take the chance to participate in college athletics because the relationships developed on those teams cannot be duplicated.

“The relationships that I developed on my team will last a lifetime.”

got third at Sectionals, and took fifth at state. The top runners were seniors, Jon Vaccaro, Robbie Taylor, Kevin Dolan, Stephen Lavelle, Ryan Melershi, junior Jack Carpenter, and sophomore Paul d’Ambrosio.

Taylor and Vaccaro earned AllState after finishing within the top 25 times in the state. Vaccaro finished 15th with a time of 14:41 over the three-mile course and Taylor finished 18th with a time of 14:44.

“This year we were all focused on redemption from missing out on going to state by one point last year, and it drove all of us in every workout, and race to do our best, which resulted in the best boys’ cross country finish in Maine South

7. This year, with 14 returning seniors, the soccer team improved to 14-5-5, one of the eight best records in Maine South soccer history.

“The record is a testament to the leadership of the 14 returning seniors,” said varsity coach Dan States.

In spite of the disappointing loss to Glenbrook North at Sectionals there is still plenty for the Hawks to celebrate. The varsity soccer team won the Quincy tournament, they finished second in the conference, they conceded, on average, less than a goal a game, and they out-scored their opponents 2 to 1.

“The greatest accomplishment of the season was that the players created

a good bond,” said States. “Despite some challenges, the team stuck together and continued to march toward their goals.”

Next season the Hawks are on target to continue their success. Three of their top goal scorers are returning, including sophomore Alex Koziol.

There are eight returning players, four juniors and four sophomores. Along with the returning varsity players, the current junior varsity and sophomore teams offer numerous prospects.

The junior varsity team is coming off of a spectacular season, finishing with the best record for a junior Coach Kura, pictured above in his Maine varsity team in Maine South soccer South senior portrait, was on the swim team in both high school and college. history.

OFF TO THE RACES

Senior Jon Vaccaro competes at the state meet in Peoria. He went on to place 15th at the event.

Photo courtesy of mr. stock

Staff Writer he Hawks have much to celebrate after an amazing turnaround season. Not only were they second in the conference, they also won Regionals, only to lose 1-0 to Glenbrook North at Sectionals.

“I thought that we were the better team and we just didn’t show it,” said varsity player Henry Mierzwa. “We had played well all season and it was such a bummer to be eliminated so early.”

Mierzwa later added, “This season was without a doubt my favorite soccer season.”

Last year the Hawks finished 6-9-

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The girls’ cross country team also had a successful state meet, finishing in 10th place, tying the highest finish of the girls’ team in Maine South history. Junior Emily Leonard led the girls’, becoming the first Maine South runner to achieve All-State honors three times.

Seniors Caryn Clark, Megan Lemersal, and Maddie McGrady, along with juniors Cailin Eckhard, Leonard, and Mirae Mastrolonado and freshman Gina Johnson all competed in the state race and beat their personal best times.

L e onard, placing 9t h, a ls o accomplished her personal goals, which included breaking a 17 minute for a 3 mile, with a time of 16:51.

“This year was the most fun year of cross country by far, but it would have never been this fun if it was not for my great teammates,” stated Leonard. “ Everyone was so dedicated and that’s why we were able to get the highest place in school history as a team.”

Future is bright for boys’ soccer

Michael Gabel

Mr. Kura, Social Science

EYRIE YEARBOOK

The Maine South boys’ cross country team this year was ready for some payback. At last year’s sectional race, the boys’ team had tied for fifth place and qualified for the state meet. Meet officials then determined that a runner from Niles West who had fallen at the finish line beat one of the Maine South runners, giving them a one point advantage and thus eliminating Maine South from advancement.

“The meet officials reviewed finish line video and said the other school’s runner had his torso touching the line, thus shifting us one point out of contention and thereby eliminating our bid to state,” stated Head Coach Nordahl.

Although the same incident occurred at this year’s sectional race, Maine South runners were not part of the controversial call. St. Ignatius was ruled to have made it to state, but after reviewing the video the judges said that the St. Ignatius runner’s uniform chip did not read when he was checked in, so Lane Tech ended up getting the fifth spot.

“It was really sad to see the St. Ignatius team not able to advance to state,” said varsity runner Kevin Dolan. “They are good group of kids.”

This year’s team had a very successful season. Although the boys’ lost one senior from the team, they pushed through the loss and won both Conference and Regionals,

history,” stated Taylor.

Captain Vaccaro, was proud of two of his teammates for their exceptional performances—Taylor for his All State performance and Kevin Dolan for his All Sectional performance.

“As a team this year we really pulled through after a rough start and ended up having some guys step up for us in most races,” stated Vaccaro.

“At the state race we moved up nicely during the race starting off in tenth as a team at the mile and ending up fifth at the end.”

November 16, 2012 | SPORTS

SouthwordS 15

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

Film program tackles live coverage Hope Allchin

Sports Editor or Maine South students, watching the football games means standing and cheering on the bleachers in the student section. But for a group of film students, this is not the case. For them, going to the football games means setting up their cameras on the roof of the press box and filming each game, using multiple cameras to capture the action, which is then aired live on highschoolcube.com.

Senior Billy Ojeda is the student responsible for getting this program started. He has the help of his team, other film students who are also working on the project: seniors Nick Bartley and Nathan Pinsky and sophomores Laney Kraus-Taddeo and Roy Roman.

The group started by practicing filming the band and has progressed into covering athletics. Now, for every home football game, the film crew arrives two hours before the start of the game to set up their equipment.

They bring the cables out to the field and connect them to the cameras. The program uses three cameras: one wide angle and two free roaming cameras.

The team then runs through a series of checks, starting with the audio levels, the camera settings, and the lighting.

Filming is not easy for the team.

Ojeda has to simultaneously choose which camera’s footage will air live while directing the students behind

the cameras where to film. Live coverage is particularly difficult because of the quality of the team and its complex playbook. The cameras often get tricked by senior quarterback Matt Alviti’s pump fakes and handoffs and follow players who do not have the ball.

“You have to be on top of your game to be steady with the camera,” said Ojeda.

There is an advantage to live action coverage, though. Because the footage airs instantaneously, the team does not have to edit down the game tape play by play, which can take up to five weeks.

The success the crew has had with the football team is encouraging Ojeda to lead the group in filming a sport each athletic season. As the football playoffs finish, the film students will transition from the football field to the basketball court.

Basketball provides a unique challenge because of the limited amount of space. Ojeda hopes that one cameraman on the floor who can move anywhere around the court will create more realistic TV coverage. The other two cameras will be positioned on the top of the bleachers. As for the spring season, the group is considering both lacrosse and girls’ soccer.

The fact that crew’s work airs live on the Internet is helpful to fans, players, and their families, who may not be able to attend every game. While the football program has its own professional photographer, other programs would be able to use the footage to send to recruiting offices.

While the film program has expanded into athletics, it is already involved in festivals like the Chicago Television Educators Council Film Festival, where students have won numerous awards. Despite this, the number of kids in the program is still relatively small.

Ojeda hopes to bring recognition to the department by informing more people about the radio and film program.

“I want to set up a film festival for Maine South students,” said Ojeda. “I feel like that would be a great way to really display everyone’s work, which usually no one else gets to see.”

With the success of the live coverage athletics project, this could be the next step for the program.

“If I can make this happen it would make me feel like I accomplished something,” said Ojeda. “I would feel as if I had left my mark on Maine South by creating this yearly event.”

limited to just 95 offensive yards in the first two quarters.

The half ended with an impressive 51-yard field goal made by Maine South senior John Oberheide, bringing the score to 14-10 Glenbard North.

The Hawks could not stop Glenbard North’s offense in the second half, and Glenbard North scored another two touchdowns, one with a two point conversion. GBN’s junior quarterback Justin Jackson played on both offense and defense during the game and scored all four of the team’s touchdowns.

Alviti gave a solid performance with two running touchdowns, the second of which was for 31 yards in the third quarter, giving Maine South only six more points because of a missed extra

point.

Senior John Cerniglia intercepted the ball with eight minutes left in the fourth quarter, leading to the final touchdown for Maine South, which was scored by junior running back and safety Clay Burdelik. Burdelik had a game total of 6 carries for 24 yards.

Despite the late score in the fourth quarter, Maine South could not mount a comeback.

The defense failed to stop the Glenbard North offense on third down and ten, which allowed the Panthers to run out the clock. Glenbard North will advance to the semifinals, where the team will play Loyola.

The senior-dominated team was disappointed by the end to their

previously-undefeated season.

“It [stinks] to know that we were knocked out when we know we could have played better and have had a chance to win it all,” said senior Donny Nordstrom. “I wish I had two more weeks with my teammates. I love them all.”

Just like last year, the early end to the postseason will motivate next year’s team to earn another chance at the championship in Champaign.

“The hardest thing is knowing that that was our last game with the seniors and we let them down,” said Burdelik. “No one deserved to win a state championship more than them.

Now it’s the juniors’ job to pick up where we left off.”

Photo by hope allchin

F

I SPY During the football games,

senior Billy Ojeda tracks plays from the sideline using one of three cameras. Ojeda is hoping to pursue a career in film.

GBN hands Hawks early playoff exit Hope Allchin Sports Editor

For the second year in a row, the Maine South football team finds itself knocked out of the playoffs earlier than expected. On Saturday, the team suffered a season-ending defeat at home against Glenbard North High School.

The final score was 29-23.

The game started off well for the Hawks. Senior quarterback Matt Alviti ran in a touchdown, earning the Hawks the first points of the game.

During the rest of the first half, Glenbard North answered with two touchdowns of its own. The Hawks never regained the lead and were