Vol 49 issue 5

January 31, 2013

1111 S. Dee Road • Park Ridge, Illinois 60068

Finals Change Mr. Beauprez

Calendar committee looks at moving finals Page 3

The story of Maine South’s beloved substitute Page 5

PHOTO BY JESSICA GRONKE

Senior captain Regan Carmichael named Allstate Player of the Week

Vol. 49, No. 5

Feelin’ Blue

College Bound

A guide to ‘L’-accessible Society pressures some into food and entertainment the wrong college decision Page 9 Page 12

NEWS

| January 31, 2013

Party buses banned from campus Sarah Asson

Staff Writer efore the 2012 Homecoming dance, the Maine South administration issued a ban on party buses and limos picking up students on campus. The ban required students who wished to rent party buses or limos after school dances to be picked up at someone’s home, not at school.

The policy will still be in effect for the upcoming Girls’ Choice dance, as well as all future dances here at Maine South Dr. Garlasco, assistant principal for students, said that when school administrators first began seeing students renting party buses for Homecoming and Girls’ Choice several years ago, they were a little surprised because the buses were usually only used for senior prom.

She checked with other schools in the area, and all of them confirmed that they weren’t seeing their students using party buses like the students at Maine South were.

Dr. Garlasco, along with the Deans and our School Resource Officer, began searching the party buses.

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Legally, the school was allowed to search the vehicles because they were parked on school property. On several occasions during these searches, the administrators found alcohol. Further investigation showed that the alcohol had either been brought to the bus by the students, or was left over from other clients.

Due to these findings, a new policy was put into effect a few years ago stating that the administration would search the party buses and limos that came to pick up students at the end of dances, and if they found alcohol, they would call the parents who had reserved the bus.

According to Dr. Garlasco, “The administration put a protocol into effect that if parents were signing contracts for the buses and limos, they would have to come to the school to take the alcohol or we wouldn’t let the buses and limos leave our property.”

However, after a couple years of doing this, the administration decided that dealing with the alcohol issue was a parental responsibility not a school responsibility.

“If parents want to have buses

and limos take their teens out after the dance that is their choice,” said Dr. Garlasco. “Parents sign the bus contract and they have to have the buses pick them up after the dance at someone’s home.”

Dr. Garlasco reports that there were no problems with the new policy during Homecoming, and the school did not receive any complaints. They did, however, receive several calls and emails from parents who agreed with the decision.

S t u d e nt s a l s o s e e m t o b e in agreement with the decision.

Sophomore Theresa Rathslag attended the Homecoming Dance this year, and did not have a problem with a policy.

“The ban does not prohibit students from using party buses, so I don’t see why people would be upset by it,” she said. “They could always get picked up somewhere else.”

Sophmore Michelle Kaufman said, “I believe that it should be a parental decision. If parents think that it’s appropriate to allow their son or daughter on a party bus, then they should be the one to monitor it.”

The homeroom system was eliminated at Maine South in the mid-2000’s.

Hawk Pride leaders are now able to meet with their advisory classes, but the number of these meetings has decreased since the homeroom system ended. Recently even the number of advisory meetings has decreased.

“Hawk Pride was created with the great idea of character education in mind, but the payoff today is not as great as it could be,” Mr. Deger said.

“I think one of its main problems is with its connectedness to the students,” Mr. Deger explains.

“Now, of course, this can’t be all attributed to the changes in school.

Stuff like social media has changed student culture, allowing students to connect with everyone much easier outside of school,” Mr. Deger noted.

“But at the time it was born, I think it had more of an environment. Now, I don’t know if that environment is as friendly to do what we need it to do.”

To this end, Hawk Pride has recently made some slight changes.

Since he became a sponsor of Hawk Pride two years ago, Mr. Deger worked with Mr. Scott to revise the

topics of the Hawk Pride.

“This year, we’ve tried to thematically link lessons to things going on in student’s lives, to make the issues more apparent to students.”

He says these changes have made an impression, but with the sporadic advisory schedule in place, Hawk Pride leaders can’t reinforce these as much.

This is why he is meeting with the group: to look at Hawk Pride’s situation and to work towards making more changes that would make the group’s work with students in advisory more impactful.

“Some think Hawk Pride has run its course, while others want much more radical changes, such as leaders going beyond Maine South to work,” said Mr. Deger.

He says that the goal of this meeting, and of more to come in the future, is to assess these opinions and to see if revising Hawk Pride is a viable option.

“Hawk Pride is in sort of a limbo right now,” states Mr. Deger. “But obviously both we and the school want it to continue, as its principles are good.”

Hawk Pride looks to evolve Chris Brendza Staff Writer

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aine South’s Hawk Pride has been in existence since its inception in 1996. Although the system has had a few changes, some more drastic ones might be necessary soon.

It seems that Hawk Pride is gearing up for these changes as Mr. Deger, one of the sponsors of Hawk Pride, plans to meet with a group of juniors and seniors soon to look at the organization’s future.

“Hawk Pride has been directly connected to the homeroom system since its creation,” Mr. Deger explained. “When Hawk Pride started, homerooms used to meet everyday.

The Hawk Pride leaders would then come into the classrooms twice a week to meet with the students.”

He believed that this situation made Hawk Pride most effective as the leaders were able to meet with their students more often and get to know them better.

But the slow deterioration of the homeroom system has diminished the ability of Hawk Pride to flourish.

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Students’ grades held confidential District policy prohibits public announcement of students’ grades Jonathan Zamaites

Staff Writer t the beginning of the year, the Maine South administration reiterated to teachers the District policy regarding the handling of students’ grades. This policy, among other things, restricts students from passing out their classmates’ papers, protects students’ privacy.

Mr. Messmer noted that the public announcement of students’ grades is inappropriate, and that if teachers were to allow students to pass out papers, the names of the students should be replaced with their ID number.

According to Mr. Messmer, “No student should learn another student’s grade from a teacher.”

He also stated that teachers can reward students for doing well on tests by handing out prizes if the other students in the class are given equal acknowledgment for trying.

According to Mr. Messmer, giving students special recognition is actually in violation of the law according to the Students Records Act. He explained that for a school to release a student’s information, the school must have that student’s permission.

This act transfers into the classroom.

He feels that this expectation for professional behavior between teacher and student is important to a student’s educational success.

Many faculty members agree with the policy. “In my classroom students will not pass out papers,” noted math teacher, Mr. Lavorato.

Mr. Scott, a Social Science teacher, said that he always followed this expectation.

“I understand why [the school] expects teachers not to share grades,” said Mr. Scott. He agrees that the students can become embarrassed if their grades become publicly known.

Mr. Nordahl, a Science teacher, gave a similar response. “Grades are private between student and teacher.

Violation of this privacy can affect how inclined students are to learn,” he said.

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January 31, 2013

| NEWS

First semester finals before break?

Kristen Van Tine & Natalie Kirchoff

News Editor & Staff Writer

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s some area high schools begin changing their schedule to put final exams to before break, the possibility is also being explored at District 207.

Under the current school schedule, finals are held after Winter Break.

After the two-week vacation, students return to normal classes for a week, either continuing with regular lessons or reviewing for final exams held the next week.

District 207’s Calendar Committee has discussed shifting first semester so that it ends before winter break.

Multiple public schools in the area, such as Lane Tech, have changed their exam schedules to allow students to take their exams prior to winter break.

Additionally, many private schools in the area give final exams before break, including Loyola Academy, St. Ignatius, Resurrection, and Notre Dame.

In order for first and second semester to have an equal number of days, the school year would need to start earlier to fit in all 90 days of school prior to finals, if the semester were to end at an earlier date.

There are many ways to alter the calendar to fit the required 90 school days into the semester. For example, the school year could start a few weeks earlier than usual. As a result of the school year starting earlier, the year would also end earlier.

Another possibility includes eliminating or shortening holiday breaks, such as shortening Thanksgiving break or making Columbus Day a school day.

Any changes in the school calendar would not only affect District 207, but also the feeder schools’ schedules, District 64 elementary and middle schools. Even if the calendar committee and District 207 administrators agree on changing the school schedule, the change would not be put into effect without the consent of District 64 schools. District 207 and District 64 schools have an agreement to run on the same school calendar.

For some students, the current exam schedule is advantageous, allowing them additional time to study without the additional burden of

▲ THE CURRENT SCHOOL CALENDAR The current first semester schedule requires students to take finals after winter break. However, the school year starts around the same date as nearby school districts.

▲ A POSSIBLE REARRANGEMENT The school year calendar could be changed in a variety ways to allow finals to be done before break. This would require school to start about three weeks earlier.

daily homework and extracurricular activities. The two-week break can be an opportunity to catch up on schoolwork and hold study sessions with fellow peers before school resumes.

However, many students disagree with the current finals schedule. For some students, Winter Break is not seen as a viable studying period.

According to sophomore Grace Naum, schoolwork is less of a priority than seasonal festivities.

“I think it could be used to study, but not many people do use it for studying anyway,” said Naum. “It’s a break and is, for most people, used to celebrate the holidays.”

In this respect, some students are not happy with the current final exam timetable. During the time away from school, there is a the possibility for some that they will lose their scholastic focus. For these students, it would be more beneficial to have finals before winter break, while the coursework is fresh in mind and the students are still in an academic mindset.

“I don’t think it makes sense to have two weeks of break interrupt

the curriculum you’ll be tested on right when you get back,” said senior Ben Wasik.

If finals were held mid-December, students would be able to take time to rest and transition more smoothly into the second semester. Wasik feels that this change could be a successful choice at Maine South, just as it has at other schools.

“I know students from other schools and colleges that have final exams before their Winter Break who enjoy the weeks to relax before the new semester,” said Wasik.

However, some feel otherwise.

“At least with finals after break, you have the opportunity to study if you really want to,” said senior Maddie McGrady.

While there might be a worry that pushing finals back to before break would cause classes to cram the same amount of information in a shorter period of time, or cover less information, these worries are unfounded. If finals were pushed back, then school would start about three weeks earlier, meaning that each semester would still have 90 days of school, just as it does now. The only

difference is that school would start and end earlier. This bothers some students.

“Even though everyone says they’d rather have finals before winter break, I honestly wouldn’t because that would mean that we would end school earlier and start earlier,” said junior Sylwia Kmiec. “Usually, in early June, the weather outside is still not as warm. It’s not warm enough to go to the beach yet and I feel like we wouldn’t be able to get the most out of summer.”

Teaching does tend to cease before break. For this reason, some feel that having the finals before break wouldn’t made a difference.

“Almost all my teachers did finish teaching the material after break,” said Naum.

At this point, it is difficult to determine if first semester finals will ever be given before break in District 207 schools. If such a change were to be made though, it would not be for next year. The school calendar for the next school year has already been planned. The earliest these changes could occur is for the 2014-2015 school year.

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| January 31, 2013 PHOTO BY HANNAH SIMPSON

NEWS

I CAN’T BELIEVE THEY’RE NOT PANTS

Maine South students congregate in the hallway, and the majority of girls are wearing leggings. The garment has taken school fashion by storm, and many female students argue that the stretchy pants are not only comfortable, but a necessary staple in any girl’s wardrobe.

Schools consider leggings bans Students’ fears of a legging ban at Maine South are unfounded Elizabeth Stocchetti Staff Writer

W

hile school officials in some schools across the nation have considered banning leggings, Maine South and other Chicago-area schools have not followed suit.

Principal Dave Adney from Minnetonka High School requested girls to “dress modestly” and banned the tight-fitting clothing at the Minnesota high school this past November.

Adney sent out an e-mail to all the parents at the school, asking them to support the administration in making sure their daughters keep “things covered up.” He was concerned with the way in which girls, lately, are choosing to “wear t-shirts with leggings, thus exposing more leg and backside area” which, as stated in the e-mail, “can be highly distracting for other students.” He wants to “encourage students to dress modestly” and cover their backsides.

Adney, however, has made sure to point out that he has not banned the use of wearing leggings with dresses or long sweaters. He just wants the students at school to dress appropriately and cover up, ensuring that no distractions ensue throughout the school day.

Neil Armstrong Middle School in Forest Grove, Oregon joined Minnetonka in implementing the ban in 2011. The Meriden School Board of Education in Connecticut attempted to pass a ban in March of this past year that would prohibit all

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students in Connecticut from wearing both leggings and skinny jeans to school. The plan was voted on in April 2012, but it was not passed.

The talk over legging bans have led to other schools considering the ban around the nation, but District 207 has not followed suit.

The issue has not come up at Maine South, according to Dr. Rose Garlasco, the assistant principal for students. The dress code is discussed once a year, and no such ban on yoga pants or leggings has been mentioned.

The fashion trend is highly prevalent throughout the school, and Dr. Garlasco doesn’t have an issue with it, as long as the student is wearing the outfit in an appropriate manner.

“For me, it’s not the leggings, but it’s the tops that are worn too short. If the sweater, shirt, etc. does not go to mid-thigh, then it’s inappropriate,” she stated. Depending on the material of the clothing, not all shirts and leggings cover all body parts, which is not suitable for school.

Other schools in the area have expressed similar sentiments.

Mr. Ron Bean, the Assistant Principal Dean of Students at Glenbrook South High School, said, “We have not had any conversations about banning leggings. I do not think there is a reason to ban leggings at GBS.” Chicago Public High Schools, such as William Howard Taft High School, have a school uniform.

Part of that uniform code requires that students wear black pants to school, preferably ones that are not leggings. However, leggings are not explicitly banned.

Many students, specifically girls, have made it clear that they would not support a ban on the

garment.

“Schools shouldn’t be allowed to ban leggings unless they’re banning pants in general,” said junior Colleen Murphy. “As long as they aren’t see through or worn too low, they’re the same as regular pants, just stretchy. If skinny jeans are allowed, why shouldn’t leggings be? They’re just made of a different fabric.”

“Leggings are practically every girl’s essential piece of clothing,” said junior Annie Paoletti.

“What do I wear if my jeans and sweatpants are dirty? I wear leggings because they’re comfy, cute, and go with anything. That’s why.”

Other students see the problem many administrators have with leggings and yoga pants.

“Leggings should be banned at school because if guys aren’t allowed to show their underwear, then girls shouldn’t be allowed to show theirs either,” said senior Lauren O’Machel. SHOWING SKIN Alex Moderhock addresses the issue of students wearing clothing more revealing than is appropriate. Page 11

However, students don’t have to be in any rush to worry about any ban on what they can wear, as long as they follow the already written dress code.

“Most students come to school dressed appropriately,” said Dr. Garlasco. “If a student is dressed inappropriately, the issue is dealt with immediately and effectively.

“Students are pretty much compliant and will change their clothes,” said Dr. Garlasco. “It’s always a challenge in the spring and in the early fall because the weather is warmer. I think students understand that what they wear to school and what they wear outside of school are two very different things.”

January 31, 2013

| FEATURES

No substitute for Beauprez’s passion Amanda Svachula and Des Mustafa Features Editors

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5A TRUE HAWK

Mr. Beauprez started teaching in the English Department at Maine South in 1967, and also served as a baseball coach. He currently works as a substitute teacher at Maine South and is known and loved by many different students.

PHOTOS COURTESY EYRIE

or Maine South substitute teacher, Mr. Beauprez, the beginning of a 30-year teaching career was spurred by a spontaneous moment of inspiration. This moment occurred when he, a young man fresh out of the military at the time, boarded a train back to Chicago.

“I was in the club car and a little boy, about five or six, was fascinated with my watch. So I taught him to tell time a little bit,” said Mr. Beauprez.

“When I finished, there was an executive from my home town, from a factory, who asked if I was a teacher. I said, ‘No I’m not,’ and he said, ‘You should be.’”

Months went by, and Mr. Beauprez found a job in a downtown office. But soon enough, he realized that the office life was not for him.

“I went back to get my master’s degree, and became a teacher at a very old age, for today’s standards,” said Mr. Beauprez. “I was 25.”

“My first job was in a town called Atkinson in Illinois,” said Mr. Beauprez. “There were 150 students in the entire school. I was in the English department, but I was also, by necessity, a French teacher. I also taught a speech class and a special ed. English class. It was a delightful experience. It was so wonderful since the school was so small. It was so personal. You knew everybody.”

After four pleasant years of teaching in Atkinson, Mr. Beauprez taught at Lake Park High School for four years. Then in 1967, in need of change, he came to teach at Maine South. He taught at Maine South for 23 years, coached for 30 years, and has been a substitute teacher here since the 1990s. In his time at Maine South, Mr. Beauprez has come to love the spirit and passion of the school.

“From 1967 on, I just became a Hawk. When I die, my blood is going to be red, black, and white, said Mr. Beauprez. “My heart is bleeding Hawk blood. I love this place.”

For Mr. Beauprez, the highlight of his teaching career was “every year” and with each passing of time, he was able to develop as a teacher and a person.

“It was fun. I didn’t have TGIF as a part of my vocabulary. Friday was just another day.

I truly enjoyed what I did.”

Moreover, at Maine South, he came to love his career more and more each day.

“The reason I love teaching is because there’s nothing that comes as close to changing everyday,” said Mr. Beauprez. “I think that each day is a new challenge. You do repeat a lot of your lessons year after year and each of those take on an added dimension as you find out what works better

5A+ TEACHER

Mr. Beauprez, pictured here in the 1972 yearbook, was a full-time teacher for 30 years, and for 23 of them, he taught at Maine South. His experiences as a Hawk have helped him develop not only as a teacher, but as a person.

and what doesn’t work as well. It is a constant experimentation, a constant change, and a constant lesson.”

This constant change Mr. Beauprez speaks of is also present in education on a broader spectrum.

With each new decade, society itself changes, altering education along with it. As a teacher for such a long time, Mr. Beauprez has been able to witness this evolution in education.

“As each decade progresses, your music changes, your clothing changes, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it is new.

B u t b a s i c a l l y, everything around you changes,” said M r. B e a u p r e z .

“The world that is passing me by is the electronic age.”

According to M r. B e a u p r e z , the electronic or technological age t hat t he world has recently entered has caused the most visible differences in education.

“I have a difficult time taking attendance here on the computer. Thank God you kids are in the class because you know.”

Since technology has become a basic part of daily life, it has become intertwined with school

“When I die, my blood is going to be red, black, and white. My heart is bleeding Hawk blood. I love this place.”

-Mr. Beauprez

as well. Though he realizes the positive aspects of technology, Mr. Beauprez recognizes the need for simplicity.

“My life is basically one that is devoid of anything electronic. I like to consider myself a little like Henry Thoreau: ‘Simplicity, simplicity, simplicity.’”

Besides technology, a major difference in education today that stands out to Mr. Beauprez involves the powerful element of respect.

“Back in the ‘60s, you could demand respect from the kids. They might not give it to you in the halls or in the locker room or wherever, but you did have a respect from the kids,” said Mr. Beauprez. “I think that down the road, it seems to have changed.

You’re just another guy, or you’re just there. I feel that a bit.”

Though there may be less respect from some students today, Mr. Beauprez still believes that students are similar no matter what decade they live in.

“Overall, I’d have to say kids are the same. You want to laugh. You want to have fun. Believe it or not, I was in high school once. I was going through the same motions everyone else does.”

With his positive outlook on life, Mr. Beauprez offers some words of wisdom that he has learned through his experience of connecting with kids on a personal level as a teacher.

“Try to keep everything in perspective. Your worst day is going to be better tomorrow,” said Mr. Beauprez. “Feed your brain. You owe it to yourself.”

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FEATURES | January 31, 2013

Senior raises money for Sandy Hook families Justin Gustafson and students from Maine South take action to help ease the burden of the Sandy Hook Elementary Massacre Sarah Householder Staff Writer

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n Dec. 14, at 9:35 in the morning, Adam Lanza shot his way through the locked glass door of Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. At 9:48 he shot himself. During those thirteen fateful minutes, he brutally murdered 20 elementary children and 6 adults.

The world reeled as news spread of the tragedy, the second-largest school shooting in American history (following the 2007 Virginia Tech massacre) and the largest elementary school massacre in the last 75 years.

The Internet exploded, as millions of Americans expressed their anger, outrage and distress via Twitter and Facebook.

“I saw everyone complaining about it, making statuses like ‘For every person that likes this comment, the murderer gets a punch to the face’ or something like that,” said Justin Gustafson, a senior at Maine South and varsity baseball player.

To him there were two options: stare at the computer vacantly, or actually do something to ease the pain caused by the murderer.

Gustafson searched for a cause that would directly impact the victims. He discovered a fund set up by the family of Emilie Parker, a six-year-old victim who, in the wake of the shooting, had been rushed to the hospital barely alive. The young blonde with blue eyes and a disarming smile died later that night. Emilie’s father was one of the few parents to make a public statement about the crime, and asked that the tragedy “not turn into something that defines us, but something that inspires us to be better, to be more compassionate and more humble people.”

The Parkers had only moved to Connecticut the previous year from Ogden, Utah, where the majority of their family and friends still lived. Her parents decided to have Emilie buried in Utah, but they were faced with the

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▲RAISING THE BAR

Justin Gustafson, above, stands in front of Maine South with his certificate recognizing his contributions to the Emilie Parker fund.

Gustafson raised $750 in donations he collected in the hallways of Maine South and on the streets of Park Ridge.

crippling costs of transporting the body along with expensive hospital fees. The Emilie Parker Fund was created by her relatives in order to help the family with the financial and emotional burdens.

Once the family’s initial needs had been met, any additional money would be used to support the families who also experienced loss and to

for donations around Maine South.

Unlike other fund raisers that go on at Maine South throughout the course of the school year, Gustafson’s was not run by a teacher or staff member. In addition to raising money from his friends, he went table to table during his lunch periods and asked hall monitors, security guards, deans and teachers for donations. No hallway

“We’ve all lived through the tragedies of Virginia Tech, Columbine, and Northern Illinois, but this was the first one where the victims were all women and six-year-old kids” —Justin Gustafson ‘13

establish a replacement school for the surviving students. The charity is reputable and all the money raised goes directly to the families.

“We’ve all lived through the tragedies of Virginia Tech, Columbine, and Northern Illinois, but this was the first one where the victims were all women and six-year-old kids,” Gustafson said. “I can’t imagine what the families are going through, to have to bury your kid before Christmas.

The least we could do is raise money and help out.”

Gustafson spread the message behind his work through Facebook and text messages, and after the weekend, he spent three days asking

was not searched for potential philanthropists.

“Often high school students won’t cough up a couple bucks for some random charity,” he said. “I think because it was me, someone who they knew, they gave more.”

To ensure the money would reach the right people, Gustafson got in contact with the fund personally, even taking the initiative by calling the director of the fund, Brad Schulz, a close friend of the Parker family.

“I figured if I could get $5 from 100 people I would definitely meet my goal of $500 easily,” explained Gustafson.

In total, he raised an even amount

of $750. Loose change and crumbled dollar bills translated into comfort for the victims’ loved ones. He sent the money directly to Schulz, along with an eloquent letter expressing the deepest sympathies from Maine South students and himself. Schulz was extremely grateful, and ensured Gustafson that the letter and the donations would reach the Parker family.

Gustafson’s check joined thousands of dollars and sympathy cards pouring in from all corners and regions of the United States. A letter posted to all contributors from Emilie’s father, Robbie Parker, reads, “Your support has been felt and has touched all our lives in a very personal way. Thank you is not enough and feels inadequate to express our gratitude.”

The average student participating in Justin’s fund raiser donated around $5, with several individuals, namely the Cooney Funeral Home and the Beck family, making very significant donations. Any student who missed this opportunity to donate can visit emilieparkerfund.com.

“Raising the money was a great experience,” Gustafson said.

The entire country will remember Dec. 14, as it goes down in history as one of our most tragic dates. But for all those who contributed, the day brings another memory.

“We all left the situation knowing that we personally helped,” Gustafson said. “It wasn’t all me, everyone who contributed should feel proud for making a huge difference.”

January 31, 2013

| FEATURES

MS lockers: the good, the bad, the ugly

PHOTO BY AMANDA SVACHULA

Besides the disadvantages of lockers in the PA-wing, there are a lot of well-placed lockers. In the survey, students agreed that the C-wing lockers, mainly those closest to the A-wing, are the most coveted.

Even Dr. Garlasco recognizes this convenient location.

Lizzie Porter “If I was a student, I would prefer Staff Writer a locker down by the C-wing because it’s midway between the A-wing and aine South lockers are notorious the rest of the school, and I would for their small size and bright probably pass it at least once a day.” red color. For four years, students get Junior Celine Wysgalla, who to fill these tiny slivers of space with has a locker is in the b o oks, lunches, C-wing, agrees with and, in essence, this viewpoint. their lives. They are “I love my locker stopping points, location because it meeting places, is off to the side, so I and, occasionally, do not have to worry garbage cans. about getting run Though the over by a big crowd Maine South of students, and I lo ckers are to o pass it multiple times small to fit even during the day.” t he sma l lest of Lockers in freshmen, students remote places are manage to fill often frowned them with enough upon, but lockers material to grant in overly crowded them a locker places are also clean-out period disliked by students. at the end of the For freshman Emine year. Even with the Mustafa, size is not a strange little box problem, but a busy at the top—which location is. m a ny s t u d e n t s “The size of confess they haven’t l o c k e r s d o e s n’ t ever opened—the matter to me,” said biggest complaint 5BALANCING ACT The lockers at Maine South were Mustafa. “I just don’t the student designed to fit in a limited amount of space. Students balance their li ke w hen p e ople population has of schedules and their books in an endless dance with their lockers. c rowd arou n d it . the lockers is their Sometimes I can’t get size.

According to a voluntary e-mail to have a locker would be the PA wing. through a big crowd because it is in survey of 914 Maine South students, With it being an average five-and-a- such a tight hallway. Even though it’s lockers here contain everything half minute walk from the A-wing, it tough sometimes, I like its location. It’s from everyday items such as jackets, is not an ideal location. Several of its in the middle of all of my classes.”

Whether a locker location is good lunches, old worksheets, and books residents claim a perpetual lateness to to “a broken coat hanger,” or “sports lunch or first period, because of their or not also depends on a person’s class locker placement. Many PA-wing schedule, which changes each year. equipment.”

At the end of a long school day, locker owners also admit that they This is just the case for sophomore most students certainly aren’t in the visit their lockers only once a day—if Rachel Frank.

“Last year I hated my locker mood to nicely place their textbooks they’re lucky. Some students instead in their lockers, and within the first choose to share a locker with a friend location, but this year it’s great,” said Frank. “But I only keep my Spanish month of school, many become who has a more desirable area.

Junior Megan O’Donnell, who stuff in it.” a bottomless pit of worksheets, Though many Maine South passes, and old lunches. Maybe the has a locker in the PA-wing, dislikes students seem to constantly whine administration got something right the location.

“My locker is across from the about their lockers, the custodians with the size of them. If they were any bigger, that would just be more room band room in the PA-wing,” said are the ones who have a legitimate O’Donnell. “It’s pretty out of the way complaint—cleaning the lockers at for more messes. the end of the year.

With about 2,600 lockers in the and inconvenient.”

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whole school, it’s clear why our lockers are so small. Though the small locker situation seems to be unique to Maine South, according to Dr. Garlasco, it is actually common.

“These [lockers] are typical for high schools, especially large schools, because you can fit more lockers,” said Dr. Garlasco. “If they were larger, we wouldn’t have enough space for every student to have one.”

Regarding the location of lockers, most of the students who took the survey agreed that the worst location

6%

of students decorate their locker

10%

of students share a locker

71%

of students like their locker location

38%

ts of studenck lo r ei visit th a dayer twice Results gathered from 914 students in a voluntary e-mail survey that occurred between Jan. 10 and Jan. 17.

GRAPHIC BY DES MUSTAFA

Maine South students express different opinions on locker size, location, and everything in between

SouthwordS 7

ENTERTAINMENT | January 31, 2013

‘The King Stag’ casts a spell on Maine South Greta Ramsey Staff Writer

T

his year’s winter production of “The King Stag” is an 18th-century commedia dell’arte style play that is its own kind of fairy tale based on various ancient folk tales. The production runs from Feb. 21-23.

The commedia dell’arte style of acting is very presentational, and the use of masks and puppets is a challenge the actors had to overcome. The cast members had to learn a whole new skill set in order to portray their characters while wearing masks.

The masks themselves exhibit a work of art that is inscribed into leather.

“Much of the face is covered, so emotions are interpreted by the movements of the body,” said sophomore Trevor Ross who plays Leandro, a member of the king’s court. “This is unlike the usual ways [of presenting emotion] we are used to.”

Since the “magic” that is shown throughout the play is very tech-oriented, the show requires the backstage crew to create the leather masks and wooden puppets used on stage, as well as orchestrate the special effects that surprise the audience. For example, the statue that aids Deramo in finding a wife is broken later on in the performance, so sometime after the statute speaks and before the statue is broken, the crew must swap out the actor for an actual statue.

The characters that make up the cast of The King Stag are actually found in many commedia plays from the time period in which this was written.

“The characters are what we call ‘stock characters,’ so you have young lovers, you have an evil villain, you have clown characters” said Mrs. McCleneghan. “Those stock characters have personality types that are the same, no matter what play they’re in. What changes in commedia, is the situation that those characters are in.”

For example, the bird catcher named Truffaldino can be found in many different commedia plays. The characters don’t have as much depth to them as you might think, and the play relies on the presentation to bring out the character’s personalities.

These actors try to bring out the character’s personality through many asides. These asides make it seem like the audience is being included in the production.

Commedia is not designed to be realistic, which forces the actors to step outside of their comfort zones.

“The King Stag” requires open-minded audience members. It displays the creative theatrical side of theater, rather than the realistic depth that you may find in other plays, such as this year’s fall production of “The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later.”

The production begins in the kingdom of Serendippo where king Deramo is searching for a wife. With the help of a magical statue, he meets Angela, who already loves Deramo for himself.

All is well until a love triangle emerges when the evil Tartaglia is in love with Angela. Tartaglia hatches a plan after discovering Deramo knows a

8 SouthwordS

PHOTOS BY LAUREN SMITH

5THE HUNT BEGINS

Students work with puppet prototype on “The King Stag.” This bear plays a crucial role as comedic relief in a tense scene.

3THE MAGICIAN’S CLOAK

Freshman Kelly Bauer gets fitted for her noble robe by Annie Hoeg, left and Mrs. Hoeg, right. Bauer plays Durandarte in “The King Stag.”

magical spell that can transfer his soul into a dead creature. Tartaglia challenges the king to display this by changing into a dead stag. After Deramo performs this action, Tartaglia transfers his own soul into the corpse of the king.

“If you’re coming to see intense, realistic acting, that’s not what’s here,” said McCleneghan.

“The audience will be impacted by the spectacle of it. The transformations, the puppets, those sorts of things. It’s a totally different kind of experience altogether.”

Even though “The King Stag” is a light-hearted play you can simply watch and enjoy, there are still morals to be picked up. True love can always be recognized, which is demonstrated when Angela sees that Deramo is really not himself, even though it’s his body she talks to.

This 18th-century piece by Carlo Gozzi is a work of beauty and portrays the true essence of theater in only 90 minutes. The audience need not worry because this fairy tale, like any other, ends with a “happily ever after.”

January 31, 2013

Blue Line.

California

| ENTERTAINMENT

Alex Korzynski

Entertainment Editor

Chicago is an awesome city; with so much to see and do, it’s easy to understand why so many Maine South students Since the selection take advantage of its close is small, you location. While it’s near might not have a wide variety to impossible to find parking choose from but you Downtown, the ‘L’ is are bound to quickly find an interesting novel a great alternative about UFOs, conspiracies.

The Bucket O’ Blood has a vinyl to driving. Here are collection which the owner, Marc some places to visit Ruvolo, carefully handpicks in an effort to satisfy all his loyal while riding the customers.

Blue Line.

The Boiler Room offers a semiextensive menu including appetizers and salads, but they are most famous for their pizza. Located just outside the California stop, The Boiler Room is great if you’re looking to eat at a casual restaurant. The lively atmosphere of the restaurant will welcome you, and everything inside is made from recycled materials. Even the seats are eco-friendly. They were one of the first restaurants to open in their community, named after a 1905 boiler plate from Illinois Steam &

Boiler Works.

Tastee Freez specializes in ice cream, frozen yogurt, mix-ins, shakes, sundaes, and more. Not only will your stomach thank you for filling up on delicious ice cream on a warm day, but Tastee Freez also includes chili dogs, burgers, and fries on their menu.

Perhaps you can tell by the name alone, but Bucket O’ Blood Books and Records is not your regular bookstore.

This compact bookstore offers a small but eclectic variety of books, namely used sci-fi, fantasy, and horror novels.

Belly Shack is a hit if you’re looking for a traditional Asian-Latin cuisine. The restaurant includes dishes such as soups, sandwiches, sides and soft-serve. For adventurous people, they have combinations like fried noodles and papaya on a bun. It is located right off the Western stop of the Blue Line, making it an easy place to walk to in the frigid cold. You can dine for a casual dinner, or just stop by to try some of their Vietnamese cinnamon ice cream.

Challengers Comics and Conversation is an organized, classic Comic Book shop. If you’re looking to reading something new, they have back issues, trade paperbacks, and graphic novels. The employees are extremely knowledgeable, and will help newcomers find different types of comics. They have a clean, and friendly atmosphere, which allows you to enjoy your visit as much as your purchase.

Red June Café is a cozy coffeeshop

that you can hang around in with some friends. They have a large variety of drinks for an affordable price, and a menu for breakfast and lunch food. The seating includes tables, window counter seating, and outdoor seating for warmer weather.

They even have a convenient walk-up window where you can order on the go. Besides your average tea, coffee, Italian sodas, and baked goods, Red June offers breakfast burritos, sandwiches, and eggs. Unlike your

local Starbucks, Red June Café is oneof-a-kind because you can’t spot one on every street corner. It will keep you coming back because of their friendly staff and mellow atmosphere.

Miko’s Italian Ice is located in a garden apartment just outside of the Damen stop. Recently, Lisa’s Italian Ice in Uptown Park Ridge closed after serving many satisfied customers over the years. Miko’s Italian Ice can be an alternative, and even though it is farther away, you won’t be disappointed with their whipped up fruit, sugar, and water concoctions.

Co-owners Rick and Mike Roombos change the menu depending on the season, so you can always try new flavors, or mix and match flavors.

Their newest concoction is green tea, which is one of many refreshing choices for the upcoming summer

heat. You can order quickly through the window, and continue walking throughout the city.

Birchwood Kitchen attracts people because of their unique and tasty sandwiches, and their friendly staff. Besides their sandwiches, they offer soup, salads, and regular desserts such as brownies and cookies. If you come early in the morning, you can grab anything from French toast to croque madame, which is a French ham and cheese sandwich covered in cheesy béchamel with a fried egg on top. Birchwood Kitchen is the place for you if your looking for a quick bite or a satisfying breakfast.

Alliance Bakery and Café focuses on the bakery part of their name. They have a vast assortment of little treats such as Linzer hearts, dipped cookies, sweet bars like “raspberry oat,” and fresh tea cakes, in addition to the usual muffins and cakes. You won’t be disappointed by the quality and taste of the cakes and tarts because Alliance Bakery and Café also bakes cakes for special events, such as weddings. Inside is a very pleasant, inviting and comfy atmosphere.

They can fix your sweet-tooth, while also filling your stomach with their fresh-baked breads like foccacia, rye, and six-grain.

Chopin Theatre has been around for 15 years, and presents mostly stage productions but also premieres film and jazz events as well. Chopin Theatre has a main stage, a café, a spacious lounge, and a grand foyer.

It gives you sense of an antique theatre because of the furniture and atmosphere. Performances include “Rose and the Rime,” which is a play about a fairy tale, and “Wilson Wants It All,” a play revolving around politics and a dystopian future. The theatre also presents many magic shows.

There are snack and drink shops that you can enjoy while watching the show as well.

Western

Damen

Division

SouthwordS 9

ENTERTAINMENT | January 31, 2013

TAKE A BREAK

PHOTO COURTESY THE BREAK

“The Break” has been working hard after high school to pursue their ambitions as musicians.

The Break to release a new album

Maggie Lynch

Entertainment Editor

M

aine South Alums Matt Gieser, Sean Cahill-Lemme, Miles Malin, and Paul Ansani (‘12), continue to follow their dreams beyond the Maine South stage with the release of their band, The Break’s, second album this spring.

The four of them met in middle school and continued to grow as a band throughout high school, playing shows and recording songs.

Now, as college students, they aren’t giving up on their dreams and are ready to take their career to the next level.

The Break’s yet-to-be-named new album is set to be released in March.

“I would say it’s mellow alternative rock,” drummer Matt Geiser said.

“We have some really poppy songs on it, but overall I would give it an alternative rock tag.”

Paul Ansani, the band’s bassist agreed, adding, “It’s very genuine to who and where I want us to be musically. [The album] has a good mix of dancers, jammers, pop songs, and dark songs.”

10 SouthwordS

It’s no surprise that the boys have such a eclectic mix culminating into a singular alternative sound, as they have found influence in varying artists, such as Oasis, Kings of Leon, Coldplay, and a fair amount of 1960s artists.

“At the time of recording, I was listening to a lot of Pink Floyd, Weezer, and the Weeks,” Gesier said.

“Lots of 1960’s rock, Janis Joplin and tons of The Who and 1950’s pop music, stuff like Garnet Mimms.”

The new album doesn’t reflect a lot of the music heard on the radio today, but instead, it’s a throwback to the music of decades past.

It’s certainly not the type of music that most would expect from a group of 18- and 19-year-olds.

“The songwriting has gotten more mature,” said Ansani “We’ve been continually experimenting with new tones and directions.”

The new album is a departure from the musical style of their last album “Welcome to Our Side.”

“This new album uses more organ, keyboard, piano, and synth than anything we’ve done before,” said

Ansani.

“I think its gotten a lot more mellow to be honest,” Geiser added.

“There’s tons of synthesizers, pianos, acoustic guitar and drum machines.”

The maturity in their sound reflects the growing up they’ve done these past few years.

It has not always been easy to remain a band as they’ve gone their separate ways for higher education; Geiser, Cahill-Lemme, and Malin are staying in Chicago, while Ansani is in Champaign-Urbana at U of I. “It’s been a struggle in the sense that it is difficult to practice together, but doing gigs is not an issue as we can all meet for a show,” said Ansani.

Geiser noted how they have focused on practicing by themselves and organizing themselves in an attempt to have everything remain as smooth as it was before.

The Break has been focusing on expanding their horizons and playing more headlining shows.

They’ve recently played at Chicago indie-rock hotspots, including The Metro, Hard Rock Cafe, and others.

“Chicago’s a great city that has

been fostering a solid underground music scene for years now, so its nice to be a part of that,” said Ansani.

“All [the shows played as a band] are valuable to me,” Geiser said, “[the most memorable] was the Red Line Tap. The band had recently almost broken up during our trip to Texas, then we all got together with zero practice in easily three months and performed at the Red Line Tap for the international pop overthrow music festival. We headlined it, and it was the best feeling ever to get back together with my best friends and do what we love.”

While they have grown far beyond their Park Ridge roots, The Break is still thriving in Chicago.

Not only are they playing more shows in the area but are even being featured on DePaul’s radio station.

They’ve gone from playing two or three gigs a year to playing headlining shows multiple times a month.

The Break has upcoming shows in Madison, Wisconsin at The Union South on Feb. 1, and Martyrs in Lincoln Park on April 27. Both shows are all ages.

January 31, 2013

| COMMENTARY

I’ll make a headline for this later Sarah Hands

Editor-in-Chief here are so many other things I could be doing right now instead of writing this column. On the list of things that I want—and have the ability—to be doing right now, writing this column is probably no higher than number twelve. I’m fresh out of ideas.

Actually, that’s not true. I have a lot of ideas, but I have no idea how to milk five hundred words out of any of them without sounding overlyjudgmental or rude or a combination of the two.

T

Eighty-six words down. Time for a Facebook break. …

Okay, Facebook break is over.

Where was I? Oh yeah. I actually do know what to write about, and I have a pretty good idea of how I’m going to go about writing it. I just don’t want to. Like I said, there are so many other things I would rather be doing right now. Yeah, this column is probably number one on the endless list of things that I should be doing right now, but I’ve already hit about a hundred and eighty words. That’s progress, right?

Time for a snack. …

Just kidding. There’s nothing good in the fridge, anyway. Maybe that’s a sign that I should get to writing this thing.

Realistically, I could have this entire column done in half an hour, and the editing shouldn’t take too long.

That would give me a lot more time to do the things that I would rather be doing, so it makes sense to just get everything over with now.

But… Tetris. …

Okay, done with Tetris. It’s such a frustrating game.

What was I saying? Oh yeah, the column. I’m at about two hundred and eighty words, so I should be at three hundred by the end of this paragraph, right? I’ll finish the rest tomorrow. …

Oh man, I completely forgot I had to do this. The column’s supposed to be in by the end of today, and I have all this work I need to get done for

my other classes. Okay, time to get focused. I’m serious this time.

I’m too tired to focus. I should take a nap. Just for half an hour. …

Okay, that was more like two hours, but now I can get this done.

I could finish after dinner, though.

I’m still groggy from my nap, but I’m sure some food would restore my energy. …

This is ridiculous. I don’t understand why I do this to myself. I know that planning is better than procrastination, and I know that I’m just stressing myself out in the long run for a few minutes’ worth of momentary relief. It’s not worth it. I should really reassess my priorities. Yeah, that sounds like a good idea.

I think I’ll do that tomorrow.

Some might argue that clothing and style is an opportunity for self expression; it’s our way to stand out in a crowd, to be ourselves. Freedom comes with responsibility, however, and there need to be restrictions on exactly how much “expression” can be exposed.

“Students should have the freedom to wear what they want as long as it’s not distracting in the learning environment,” said Social Science teacher Mr. Poskozim.

While opinions on what is appropriate and what is not may vary from one student to another, people need to use a bit of common sense when they decide on their outfits each morning. We need to realize that the clothes we wear to school may be distracting to others. After all, Maine South is a learning facility,

not a fashion show.

According to the Maine South Deans, girls are written up more often than guys for violations, but not by a huge margin. Girls tend to have larger and more ornate wardrobes than boys, so their outfits are more likely to cause distractions. Boys are usually written up due to wearing hats, inappropriate shirts, strutting around in their muscle tees or leaving that buttoned up shirt half-buttoned during the warmer months.

According to the student handbook, students cannot dress “in a manner that may endanger the safety and welfare of any student or staff member, disrupt the school environment, or conflict with acceptable community standards.” Specifically, we are not allowed to wear hats or headcoverings (unless for religious

or medical reasons), chains, bandanas, headbands, hoods, or outerwear (jackets).

Many teachers feel uncomfortable approaching a student about an inappropriate outfit. Telling a student that an outfit is too revealing or unacceptable for school can be embarrassing for the student and teacher. Teachers don’t want to make the students feel uncomfortable, so they often just ignore it.

The dress code is something that needs to be taken seriously. Teachers should address obvious violations, no matter how uncomfortable the situation might be. More importantly, students need to use discretion in their clothing choices; we need to recognize that what’s appropriate for a night out may not be appropriate for school.

Problems to address with dress code

Alex Moderhock Staff Writer

W

hether it be in the hallway, classroom, or cafeteria, it isn’t difficult to find those students who show a little too much skin.

Within the last few years, it seems that students have really been pushing the envelope in regards to acceptable attire. It may not be as apparent in the winter months, because most sane students dress in sweaters and jeans to combat the January chill.

In the warmer months, however, we start to see short shorts, lowcut shirts, muscle tees, and exposed stomachs. It’s fine to dress for the weather, but when it reaches the point where there’s more skin than clothing... that’s a little too much.

What do

YOU think?

Sumbit article ideas or write a letter to the editors!

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

SouthwordS 11

o

COMMENTARY

| January 31, 2013

STAFF EDITORIAL

Overemphasis of college hurts everyone F

rom the first day of freshman year through commencement speeches at graduation, it seems like Maine South students have one message forced into their heads: you need to go to a good school because it’s central to your future success. It gives students the impression that the only purpose of high school is to get into college, with the actual material and learning taking a back seat to the almighty grade point average. From the endless college fairs, to the visits in the CRC, to the reminders from teachers and counselors, high school kids are inundated with the idea of college leading to success.

Presumably, the general way of thinking is that by emphasizing college to high school students, more are likely to attend and to better themselves. However, having a culture based around sending everyone to college causes a few problems.

For one, it pressures some people into college when their career choice doesn’t strictly require it. Someone whose job choice might be more suited to a two-year trade school or an interning position might feel obligated to attend a standard fouryear university anyway due to what they’ve been told for the past four years.

Instead of getting relevant training, they’re stuck with a somewhat unnecessary bachelor’s degree an d $ 1 5 0 , 0 0 0 worth of student debt. There are

GRAPHIC BY SARAH HANDS

12 SouthwordS

many situations where it would be much better for someone to take classes directed at their field, or even just to intern at a job. Instead, people opt to go to a costly college anyway in the name of having a fallback plan.

In a way, this can be connected to the perceived stigma of going to a community college or trade school.

For some people, a two-year college is the right choice, but they feel like a four-year college is “expected,” either by their parents or by society.

The idea that you’ll be judged for saving money, preparing for a specific job, or even just not knowing where you want to go is a ridiculous one.

After all, 44% of college freshmen are enrolled in some kind of community college or other two-year school.

Many then go on to complete their education at a regular four-year university. Still it’s true that there is a belief that going to a four-year university makes you “better” than a community college graduate.

This over-saturation of college degrees means that the power of a bachelor’s degree goes down. If everyone in a job applicant pool went to college, an employer may choose the candidate who went beyond that, even if a master’s degree is unnecessary for that p o s i t i o n . Now people

are being turned down for a job they are perfectly qualified for, in favor of someone with extra schooling. This kind of thinking might foster an education arms race of sorts, since people are pushed to acquire more and more education for the level of employment that a bachelor’s degree might have earned a decade prior.

Over-qualification is also a legitimate problem. Due in part to the fact that they feel like it’s just what they’re supposed to do, people will go to college for a bachelor’s degree. Unfortunately, when they go to apply for a job that may not require that much schooling, they may find themselves to be overqualified. Then, instead of offering the job to someone deserving a slightly higher starting paycheck, the employer may opt to hire another candidate.

The idea that everyone should go to college therefore creates two conflicting problems. It can leave you overqualified, or it can leave you with a degree that doesn’t count for much.

However, this issue is by no means a simple problem to address. The pressure to follow this one specific path in life comes from all over the place, from teachers and parents to the media in general.

What essentially needs to happen is for a societal shift to take place, with a change in the way people think of success. The belief that there is one specific way of achieving success and happiness after high school will do nothing but convince more people that what they’re doing is not good enough.

The prospect of college has been romanticized for decades, both in the movies and throughout high school. Rising college costs and high student loan debts, on the other hand, remain very real issues to consider.

Thinking about life after high school more realistically will mean a better shot at future success. If you want to be a plumber, or a carpenter after college, don’t let anything pressure you to do otherwise.

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

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.

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 Editor Jessica Gronke Adviser

Mr. Stathakis

January 31, 2013

Shayna Patt Staff Writer

W

alking down the white tiled halls of Maine South High School, you see a lot of action; people rushing to class, kids stopping to talk to friends and that couple from your math class totally eating each other’s faces by the vending machine.

You are not the only student rolling your eyes and grimacing in disgust. Do these people really not realize how widely disliked public displays of affection are? Students and teachers alike testify that PDA is one of the most cringe-inducing aspects of high school life.

There are certainly many different types of couples at Maine South. There are the average “walk together like normal people” couples. There are also the pretty acceptable “handholding” couples. Beyond that, however, the PDA levels get out of control when overly touchy pairs get too close for comfort in the face area.

“It’s just really obnoxious to get stuck in the hallway b e h i n d couples that can’t go two fe e t w it hout k i s s i n g ,” s a i d junior Maggie McEnerney. If you walk behind lovebirds like this, you would likely lose count of the number of times each person leans in and plants a kiss on the other’s cheek.

“I mean, it’s great that people like each other so much, but they could save it for a less public setting,” said junior Kelly Kons. From there, it goes to passionately kissing near the lockers, to nearly tearful good-byes when it comes time to get to algebra, to being overly flirtatious in the classroom.

“I’m not afraid to walk right in between couples holding hands. I don’t care if you are in love, you are in my way,” said senior Anne Marie Pavlis.

Not only are public displays of affection annoying, they also disrupt the learning environment a school is supposed to promote.

Teachers do take notice of these

couplings occurring in their rooms, and do not enjoy them. Teachers may rearrange seating charts to discourage this behavior. The fact is that it really is distracting to those students who are trying to learn. When getting an education is interrupted by couples being over the top lovey-dovey, a line is being crossed.

“There’s a time and a place and school isn’t it,” said Mr. Hurley, a math teacher at Maine South. “It’s rude and disrespectful and just not appropriate. You’re a couple—we get it. You can accomplish the same thing holding hands.”

On page 28 of the student handbook, under a bold headline reading “INAPPROPRIATE DISPLAYS OF A F F E C T I O N ,” t h e

administration’s rules regarding PDA are laid out clearly: “When a staff member observes students who are not exercising restraint in displaying affection, the staff member will request the students to stop.”

That means that not only is a heated encounter in the school obnoxious and distracting, but it is not allowed.

Although students may be aware of this fact, the rule is not always strictly enforced. Some teachers see PDA take place in the hall, but are too uncomfortable to take action.

Kissing is an intimate expression, and intimacy goes arm and arm with privacy. When making out in the hallway, couples are sharing an intimate moment with over 2,000 students and staff who would rather not be part of that intimacy.

The rule that prohibits inappropriate displays of affection should not be the only reason why people restrain themselves at school.

It is common decency to behave properly in public places, where respecting other people is imperative.

Kissing or showing other signs of affection in front of others may not be disrespectful, but making others uncomfortable is. So the next time you feel the urge to plant one on your significant other, try to remember that your English teacher, and the entire school, does not want to watch.

What is an alternative way to show affection in public?

Private displays of affection?

| COMMENTARY

“Eskimo Kisses.”

- Matt Coglianese ‘13

“Air high-five hand hug.”

- Edward Mendoza‘13

“Holding hands is fine. No one wants to see you sucking face.”

- Megan Donnelly ‘14

“Secret handshake.”

- Katrina Lorio ‘15

SouthwordS 13

SPORTS

| January 31, 2013

Grabowski breaks diving record far,” he said. “After that, I reflected Alex Ellyin

on how my freshman year went and I realized how far I had come. After the [season], I looked to improve even more on my skills.”

During his sophomore season, Grabowski worked hard and learned many new dives. His goal was placing in the top three at the conference meet and he ended up taking fifth.

“Although I fell short of my goal by two places, that was motivation for me to improve next season.”

Heading into his junior season, Grabowski had three goals. The first was to break the six-dive record. He also wanted to break the eleven-dive record, in addition to qualifying for the state meet.

Up to this point in the season, he has broken the six-dive record at Maine South. Grabowski scored 245.50 points during the season’s first dual meet against Maine West. This was not only a record for the school, but it was also a personal best.

“Breaking this record was a big accomplishment for me as it was a goal I had been working towards since the beginning of my Maine South career,” Grabowski said. “I felt so proud of my accomplishment and I knew my hard work had paid off.”

Also this season, Grabowski and teammate senior Robert Mazza placed fifth at the Deerfield Invite.

Grabowski attributes a lot of success to his family for all the support they give him. His dad drove him to every practice as a child and now, his family attends each meet he is a part of.

“I would not be anywhere now without all of them,” Grabowski said.

Alex Ellyin

attributes this success to the team’s hard work. DeNeve-Arnam describes their work ethic as “amazing to say the least.”

“What makes us successful is that we usually push each other to do better,” he described. “Coming in before and after school takes a toll, but we tough through it.”

Coach Don Kura believes this work will pay off.

“The team works pretty hard every day and they do a good job of pushing each other to be better every day in

I

Another strong supporter is his coach, Mr. Paul Davis. Coach Davis has given Grabowski a chance to learn new dives as well as the opportunity to work hard.

Coach Davis describes Grabowski as a “diligent” and “fearless” athlete.

“Andrew is a unique athlete because he is a highly motivated individual who is never satisfied with his performance. No matter how well he dives, he is always striving for better,” said Coach Davis. “[He] comes to every practice ready to work hard and often stays late if he isn’t satisfied with his dives.”

Coach Davis knows Grabowski has the potential to win the Central Suburban League’s south division conference championship and to qualify for the state meet.

“Over the past three years, Grabowski has become a top-tier diver in the CSL,” Coach Davis said.

“That means a lot considering this conference has some of the best divers in the state each year.”

Coach Davis feels he will benefit from the work he puts in.

“Grabowski always rises to the occasion whether it is a big meet situation or against another talented diver.”

Looking ahead, Grabowski doesn’t want the end of high school to also be the end of his diving career.

“I would love to dive in college and continue my career as a diver, because I love the sport.”

To Grabowski, diving is more than numbers given to him after a meet.

“The sport of diving is important to me and it has taught me how hard work and determination can go a long way. I learned that with enough effort, anything is possible,” Grabowski added. “At the start of my freshman year, I didn’t see myself going too far; however, after awhile, I realized how much potential I had and I knew if I worked hard enough I could achieve any goals I set for myself.”

practice,” he said. “For as much as I get after this team in practice, they have done a great job of sticking together, working hard, and paying attention to details day in and day out in practice.”

D e Ne ve - Ar nam t h i n k s t he team’s greatest success will come at Sectionals.

As an individual, his goal is to be an All-Conference and All-Sectional athlete. In addition to that, he is working towards qualifying for the state meet in most of his events, which

also include the 200- and 400-yard freestyle relay.

The 200 freestyle relay team, composed of DeNeve-Arnam, junior Mark Padron, and seniors Matt Kramer and Tom Larocca, set the meet record at the Deerfield Relays with a time of 1:31.42. Kramer has also swam personal bests in the 100yard freestyle this season.

The conference meet will be on Sat. Feb. 9 at Niles West High School.

Sectionals will take place the week after.

photo courtesty Andrew Grabowski

Sports Editor n 2008, Kyle Benedix set the sixdive record for Maine South. On Dec. 7, 2012, Andrew Grabowski broke this record.

Grabowski, a junior, began diving at the age of seven. His father heard about a diving program at Northwestern University and Grabowski decided to give it a try.

“I started to really like the program, as well as the coaches and kids there,” he said. “I liked going each week and it was a great experience for me as a kid.”

After two years of Sunday morning practices and hours of training, the program shut down due to small attendance numbers.

“I thought my diving days were over after that, and I was disappointed,” he described.

Grabowski decided to put diving to the side. After five years, when he arrived at Maine South, Grabowski learned that his new school had a diving program.

“I was very excited to try out diving again and work on my skills that I used to love doing,” stated Grabowski.

Joining the team as a freshman made him “nervous” and “a bit scared,” but his teammates along with the swimmers, made him comfortable and welcome.

Grabowski experienced success in his first season, placing first at the conference meet. He still knew though that he needed to work harder to keep up the success.

“For me, [winning conference] was a huge accomplishment and I felt very proud of myself for getting that

READY POSITION

Junior Andrew Grabowski prepares for a dive at the annual Hawk Relays. Grabowski placed second at the meet.

Boys’ swimming looks to sectionals Sports Editor he Maine South boys’ swimming team has experienced success this season, but has not achieved all of their goals yet.

The team placed second at the Hawk Relays, the home meet of the season, which took place on Sat. Jan. 5. The squad has tied Sandburg High School and beat Conant High School, both top-20 teams in the state.

Junior Makai DeNeve-Arnam, 50- and 100-yard freestyle expert,

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14 SouthwordS

January 31, 2013 | SPORTS

Carmichael named Player of the Week A

SHOOTING FOR SUCCESS Senior captain Regan

Carmichael displays her leadership against state-ranked Marian Catholic.

Carmichael was given the Allstate Player of the Week and was interviewed on Comcast Sports Net.

such as Twitter and Facebook congratulating her on this award; an Allstate account tweeted Carmichael a shout out, which was exciting for Carmichael to see.

Carmichael’s leadership on the court is a virtue that was obvious to Allstate when they were judging candidates for this award, and it has also been essential to the Hawks

throughout the season.

After a rough first half in the championship game of the Dundee Crown tournament, Carmichael knew that something had to be done.

Carmichael thought that her drive was a factor when she was given this award. “My determination to win that championship game and to not give up are qualities that helped me win that game and get this award.”

“I capitalized on situations that my teammates put me in,” she said. I think that it [this award] showed a lot of leadership on the court during the championship game.”

“We have great leadership on this team to begin with,” said Carmichael.

“Everyone does little things to help us win games.”

In the championship game, Carmichael could not have been as successful if it was not for the support from her team. “It’s so fun to play when everyone is excited to see me do well.”

“Not only is this an award for me, but it gives our team some recognition,” she said. “We work so hard, every girl does, and I’m glad we got some notoriety.”

Wrestling places third in conference meet Hope Allchin

Sports Editor aine South wrestling is once again proving that they can challenge the state’s top competitors.

Maine South placed third in the Central Suburban League Conference Meet on Saturday, Jan. 19 hosted by Niles West.

Although Deerfield had a clear point lead with 271 points, the Hawks won nearly as many rounds, but did not have as many top-five finishers.

Maine South, with 163 points, placed

PHOTO BY Hannah simpson

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behind Niles West, who earned 198 points.

“The tournament went well for Maine South,” said senior Zach Taalman. “We placed third as a team and had three champions. Senior Andrew Dyer and senior Kevin Collins had real tough brackets from what I saw. The CSL North in my bracket was [also] tough.”

Seniors Terry Calkins and Mike Garvey and Junior Tom Brewster won their weight classes, Taalman placed second and junior Jonathan

CSL CHAMPION

Senior Terry Calkins wrestles with Tony Mastrolonardo (‘12) in practice. He finished first in his weight class at the conference meet.

Nieder placed third in their own weight classes.

“It feels great to be CSL champions,” said Taalman. “We didn’t get it done last year, and we knew we needed to redeem ourselves. We wrestled poorly against Niles West, but we knew we had an opportunity to create a three-way tie by beating New Trier.

Beating New Trier was a tough task, but we all wrestled with honor and determination.”

A l l w rest lers att r ibute t he program’s success to hard work and perseverance.

“I think the team is so successful because of the work ethic we have,” said Garvey. “We try to work harder than anyone else. Our work combined with the great technique we have been learning has led to our success.”

“The tournament was like any other,” said Calkins. “You just have to go in and do work. It feels like we are back where we are supposed to be.”

The team will continue their postseason run with the Regional meet on Feb. 2 Sectional meet on Feb. 8 and 9.

Their ultimate goal is to place first in the Regional tournament and qualify for State.

Mrs. Torosian, P.E. Department

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or most, playing a sport in college is a dream come true.

Mrs. Torosian, however, was given the opportunity to play three sports while attending Aurora University: volleyball, basketball, and softball.

“The fact that I had the opportunity to play three sports at the collegiate level for all four years of my college experience is something that many others have not done,” said Mrs. Torosian. “Demands on the sport and athlete are different today, but if I could do it all again, I wouldn’t change a thing.”

However, Mrs. Torosian feels that students looking to play sports in college should not only like what the school has to offer for athletics, but also for academics.

“Remember when you play at the college level, you are married to the team and the sport during your four years. But if you have a career-ending injury, is the school itself a good fit and could you stay to complete your education?”

Even though Mrs. Torosian did not have many of the same opportunities that high school athletes have today like recruitment camps or as many offseason teams, she still did everything in her power to accomplish her goals.

“I practiced whenever I could. I was always one of the last players to leave the gym, court, or field. I just wanted more.”

Sports are what Mrs. Torosian has always loved, and she considers them her passion. “Everyone always seems shocked. I get it, but honestly, I just did not know any different. It was who I was, what I did, and what I loved to do, so I played.”

PHOTO COURTESY MRS. TOROSIAN

Sports Editor fter a career-high 27 points in the championship game of the Dundee Crown Tournament, senior captain Regan Carmichael was presented with the Allstate Player of the Week award.

The Maine South girls’ basketball head coach, Mr. Smith, broke the news to Carmichael with a text message New Years Day. “It made my New Year,” said C a r m i c h a e l . M r. S m i t h t o l d Carmichael to go to practice over the winter break one day earlier than the rest of the team in order to meet with representatives from Allstate and to be interviewed by the filming crew.

“I tried not to act as nervous as I felt,” Carmichael said. “It was a crazy experience, one of the best feelings and experiences in my life so far.”

Ken Petrillo, a representative from Allstate, presented Carmichael with the award, and the interview by Comcast Sportsnet was shown on the network during the “High School Lites” segment.

Carmichael’s family and friends posted on social networking sites

PHOTO BY Hannah simpson

Kay Thursby

Mrs. Torosian attended Aurora University where she played basketball, volleyball, and softball all four years.

SouthwordS 15

CHEERLEADING | BOYS’SWIMMING AND DIVING | BASKETBALL | HAWKETTES | HOCKEY | WRESTLING | GIRLS’GYMNASTICS

Gymnastics’ goal within reach

Nicole Nieder, Lauryn Rotonda, Nicole Allegretti, and Katelyn Streit.

“Sir is our strongest all-arounder along with Berns and Nieder,” stated Robinson. “Rotonda is our high scorer on floor and Allegretti is key for us on bars and beam. Streit is a solid

all-arounder as well who helps out on any event.”

“I’ve known from the start of the season that our team had a lot of potential,” said senior captain Allegretti. “It’s been rewarding to see that potential developed as we enter our

final weeks of competition. We’ve had to battle injuries, but that’s inevitable.

Luckily, our girls are tough. We’ll keep pushing, and hopefully we can qualify for Sectionals.”

“I’m really happy with how our team has done so far this season,” said senior captain Sir. “We have worked hard at practice to add new skills to our are outlines and to increase our consistency. Our goal for these next couple meets is to hit our routines in order to get a season high score. We had originally wanted to get a 138 by the end of the season and we have come close with a 137. Hopefully we will do our best at conference and continue on to Regionals and possibly Sectionals as a team, as well as individually.”

Robinson has high hopes for the girls in upcoming Regionals.

“We have all worked so hard to reach where we have gotten and it has really paid off,” said Rotunda. “Postseason we will be working on bigger and better skills.”

“This is only the second team that I’ve coached at Maine South in the past 10 years who’ve scored in the mid to high 130s, so they are a strong group and I’m excited to see where they get by the end of this season.

The United States Marine Corps offered Alviti to play in the game back in October. The Marines stress leadership both on the field and in the classroom and choose the players who exemplify those traits. “(The Marines) talked to us before every meal, went over the 14 leadership traits of Marines, and talked to us about how it will make us grow more as a person.” said Alviti.

Having to adjust to new teammates and coaches was confusing to the players the first few days. “ The coaches were great and, the other players very nice,” said the Hawks quarterback. “The plays

were short, condensed, and simple, so it wasn’t that big of a change for me.” said the Hawks quarterback.

Although it was not typically considered a football powerhouse, the Northwestern University program has been on the rise since Coach Pat Fitzgerald took over as head coach of the Wildcats, with the Cats even winning their first bowl game in 61 seasons this year. Alviti decided to commit to Northwestern because of the program’s need for a dual-threat quarterback, in addition to the beautiful campus and renowned academics.

Although he was the only player representing Northwestern in the game,

Alviti impressed the crowd and the scouts by being named the Semper-Fi game’s top performer.

“It was a great honor and I’m glad I played well enough to receive this award, and I am very thankful,” said Alviti.

Alviti finished his career with impressive stats. He threw for over 5,000 yards, ran for another 1,100, and had a total of 67 touchdowns.

Alviti knows how he wants the team to be remembered.

“We were a group of hard-working guys who were very close with each other and loved the competition,” said Alviti. “It was a blast.”

Photo by molly petray

Claire Raphael Staff Writer

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his year’s Maine South Girls’ Gymnastics team is off to a strong start. At their first home meet against Highland Park, they scored over a 135, and their dual meet record is currently 4 and 1.

Highlights of their season include winning the Niles West “A Star Is Born” Invite and the Evanston Varsity Invite, and coming in second at both the Niles North and Maine West Varsity Invites.

Head Coach Robinson’s goal for her team is to score a 138 before the season ends. So far their highest score is a 137.2 and Coach Robinson has faith that her team can do it.

“This group of girls is very focused on what they want to achieve and they work hard daily in the gym to get more difficult skills and perfect them in their routines,” she said. “They support and encourage one another to push themselves. They’ve already attained many of the goals they set before the season started and I hope they can achieve the few that are left to conquer.”

The girl’s top competitors for their team are Haleigh Sir, Carly Berns,

ALL-AROUND COMPETITOR

Senior captain Haleigh Sirr performs her floor routine on Jan. 17 at an invite hosted by Evanston. Sir helped lead the team to take first place in the competition.

Alviti plays in Semper-Fi Game Brendan Ploen Staff Writer

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aine South senior quarterback Matt Alviti played his final high school game 2,000 miles away from Park Ridge while the student body was on winter break. The Semper-Fi AllAmerican Game was shown on national television on the NFL Network. The Northwestern-bound senior finished the game 10 of 12 passing with a touchdown. “ T he w h ol e e x p e r i e n c e w a s awesome,” said Alviti. “It was really neat getting to play with top players in the country who will all be playing at big-time programs,” said Alviti.