Vol 49 issue 8

April 19, 2013

1111 S. Dee Road • Park Ridge, Illinois 60068

Vol. 49, No. 8

Oh, PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY MICHAEL DEVERMAN & SARAH HANDS

Baby!

Infant simulators give students a glimpse into parenthood see page 7

Blocked In

Maine South considers block scheduling for 2015 Page 3

‘Blonde’ Ambition

A look at this year’s spring musical, ‘Legally Blonde’ Page 10

Vegging Out

The story of trying to go vegan for a week Page 13

Boys’ Water Polo

Maine South water polo splashes to 13-1 start Page 15

NEWS

| April 19, 2013

Students to receive free cardiac screening Staff Writer t the beginning of May, the Young Hearts for Life Cardiac Screening Program will offer free cardiac screening to Maine South students. Up to 1,500 pre-registered students will receive a simple cardiac screening May 2 or 3 during the school day in Health and Physical Education classes.

The Young Hearts for Life is a cardiac screening program that is designed to identify high school and college students who are at risk for sudden cardiac death.

These screenings, which would cost the district about $15,000, are being offered for free at Maine South because of the school’s partnership with Advocate Lutheran General hospital and other local businesses.

This screening process includes the administration of an electrocardiogram, or EKG. According to the American Heart Association, this is a painless and non-invasive process

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that uses electrodes attached to the skin to measure the rate and regularity of heartbeats and the heart’s electrical activity. Once the screens have been taken, a group of cardiologists will observe the results to detect any abnormalities.

Dr. Joseph Marek, Young Hearts for Life founder and Medical Director, stated in an interview with the Chicago Tribune that EKG screens are very easy procedures to administer. “The machine is low-cost and simple to use. You could do the test in a couple of minutes.”

While this procedure can detect various potentially life-threatening heart conditions as well as risks for sudden cardiac death, it is not a completely perfected process.

Marek wrote in an informational letter to parents that an EKG can detect “approximately 60% of the abnormalities from these heart conditions that are associated with sudden cardiac death that a stethoscope cannot.”

He also noted that an electrocardiogram can produce a false positive for heart conditions roughly 2% of the time.

He adds in response that “we believe that the benefit of this potentially life-saving screening outweighs this concern.”

The Young Hearts for Life Cardiac Screening Program is CARDIAC CARE Because of the the largest cardiac screening Young Hearts for Life program, Maine South program in the U.S. designed students can receive free cardiac screenings that to prevent cardiac death in would otherwise cost the district $15,000. all physically active young persons, young adults. It arose out of the need for cardiac testing in physi- regardless of gender or sports affiliation is clinically justified, cost-effeccally active young adults.

In the same interview with the tive and ethically compelling.”

So far they have been able to Chicago Tribune, Marek spoke of the need for this testing. “For years, screen over 84,000 young adults we’ve always been bothered—both in high school and college. Over from a standpoint as a parent and 80,000 of these screenings have been as a cardiologist who should be able administered for free as a result of to do something about this—about partnerships with high schools, hossudden cardiac deaths that occurred pitals, businesses, families, and volunteers. Registration information in these young athletes.”

Young Hearts for Life’s stated can be found online at the Maine mission is that “EKG screening of South webpage.

sen, it will become the slogan of the celebration. Administrators hope to make the statement a focal point for the 50-year anniversary and have it featured throughout the coming year in yearbooks and other official school notices.

The contest, as of April 19, has garnered 73 responses. Anyone in the community that is interested in contributing is welcome to do so with either an original statement or a relevant existing quotation (see the Maine South website for details).

Other tentative plans for next year are already in development.

One idea is to create a display highlighting important historical events and accomplishments of the school’s past.

Furthermore, the planning committee intends to combine the 50th anniversary celebration with Homecoming in the fall. The Student Council, the annual coordinators of Homecoming, will be working along with those in charge of the anniversary celebration in order to plan a corresponding theme.

The administration has begun solidifying plans for the creation of a Wall of Honor to acknowledge the accomplishments of distinguished

alumni. A mix of 15 male and female nominations were received, and recipients of this honor will be recognized in the 2013-2014 school year.

“Our goal is to have these events take place over Homecoming weekend next year and we will have a ceremony with plans to have the inductees speak to the student body,” said Principal Shawn Messmer.

In order to be eligible for this tribute, the nominee must be a graduate of Maine South, at least 35 years old, and may be recognized posthumously.

“Thirty-five [years old] is a bit arbitrary, but we felt that in most cases it would take that long to accomplish something that would be noteworthy enough to be inducted,” said Principal Messmer.

With the goal that these accomplished alumni serve as role models for the students, Messmer emphasized that age is, in fact, a contributing factor.

“Maturity is important. We want to be sure that we do not induct someone that later we may want to remove as a result of some undesirable actions.”

Furthermore, the applicant is required to demonstrate a significant

PHOTO CREDIT YH4L

Chris Brendza

Administration makes plans for 50th anniversary Wall of Honor and quote contest are among the festivities to celebrate Maine South’s 50th year Natalie Kirchhoff Staff Writer

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s the 2012-2013 school year draws to a close, school administrators have begun developing plans for the 50th Anniversary of Maine South High School, which will be celebrated next year.

In order to engage the community in the recognition of this achievement, there are several events being planned to commemorate the landmark year.

The planning process for next year’s festivities has already begun, and coordinators are already trying to get members of the school and larger community involved in the preparation. For example, the school launched a quote contest, asking that members of the district submit a statement they feel is representative of the school.

When a quote is eventually cho-

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contribution to society. The extent of this contribution is not a limiting factor; according to the nomination form, a nominee’s achievements must have “gone beyond a personal benefit and his/her contributions were of a significant nature to the community and society.” These achievements can vary in extent of outreach, ranging from bringing change within the Maine Township community to charity work on behalf of a larger demographic.

According to Messmer, the location for the Wall of Honor has yet to be determined, but the committee is currently considering the two main hallways of school or the LRC. When it is put up next year, the honorees will be arranged by the year in which they were inducted currently planned for every other year after the 2013-2014 school year.

Nominations are currently being reviewed by the Wall of Honor Selection Committee. The committee is comprised of a student, a faculty member, and an alumnus, all of whom will review the applications and make a decision on who will receive the honor. The recipients will be revealed next year during the 50th anniversary celebration.

April 19, 2013

| NEWS

Block schedule possibility for South in future Kristen Van Tine & Sarah Asson

News Editor & Staff Writer

in an uninterrupted period. They also have more time for extended activities like seminars, projects, and labs. Benefits for students include a less-fragmented curriculum and more time to complete assignments since classes do not meet every day.

Teachers would be more likely to incorporate active learning activities

spend the afternoon in seminars, electives, music classes, gym, more courses, or AP classes.

Despite the potential advantages, there are some concerns with block scheduling. Many students worry about losing interest in a subject after sitting in one class period for such a long period of time.

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ecently, Maine Township has begun to consider implementing a block schedule in order to use the time students spend at school in a more efficient and effective manner.

The Scheduling Committee is looking at the possibility for a general schedule change that would increase the length of class periods.

Periods are currently 45 minutes long, but with block scheduling, classes could potentially be 60 to 80 minutes long. Longer periods could allow students to study their coursework in greater depth.

Every day, there are 45 minutes of passing periods alone. The frequent class changes add to the hectic nature of the school day.

“When I am asked what it’s like to be a Maine South student,” said Maine South principal Mr. Messmer. “I say it’s like running an obstacle course every day.”

Although it is unrealistic to completely eliminate all passing periods from the school day, a block schedule would allow students to have fewer classes per day, yielding fewer passing periods.

According to Mr. Messmer, lengthening the school day is not a good solution.

“I personally do not believe there needs to be a longer school day,” said Mr. Messmer. “The quality of learning is more important than the amount of time spent in school.”

A block schedule could potentially reduce students’ academic stress on a daily basis, since students would be required to focus on a few classes per day rather than their entire course load.

The most common forms of a block schedule consist of about four classes per day, with the courses alternating every day or from semester to semester. There are countless variations of block scheduling, but the commonality among them is fewer classes per day with longer class periods. This benefits teachers by allowing them to cover more material

“When I am asked what it’s like to be a Maine South student, I say it’s like running an obstacle course every day.” - Mr. Messmer. into course curriculum in order to keep students engaged and actively learning throughout the duration of the class.

In general, a block schedule has the potential to reduce wasted time spent on passing periods, taking attendance, and the few minutes at the beginning and end of class that often go unused.

There are many different types of block scheduling. In the 4-by-4 Schedule, students enroll in four courses per semester. Rather than taking the entire course load of eight classes throughout the entire school year, students take four of their classes one semester and another four in the next semester.

In the A/B or Alternate Day Plan, students take four courses per day.

One day they take four of their classes and the next day they take their other four classes.

The Trimester Plan consists of the school year being split into three different terms with two or three courses per trimester.

In the 75-75-30 Plan, there are two 75-day periods during which students take three classes. The school year ends with a 30-day period in which students can take an enrichment program or extra classes.

The C op er nic an Plan is a trimester-based schedule in which students take two different courses each morning per trimester and

Sophomore Erin Patrick agrees. “I just wouldn’t be able to focus on one subject for 80 minutes at a time. I like changing classes often and having variety in my day,” she said.

In order for block scheduling to work, teachers would have to effectively keep the class engaged in the material for that long of a period.

Its success would depend on the teachers’ ability to incorporate active learning strategies into classroom curriculum.

For some schools in the Chicagoland area, however, the pros have been determined to outweigh the cons. For example, Glenbrook North is currently on a block schedule, and Glenbrook South is seriously considering implementing one.

Other schools in our area that are currently using the block format include Dundee-Crown, Hoffman Estates, Mt. Carmel, and Mundelein.

However, if anyone here at Maine South were to see a block schedule put into effect, it would be the current freshmen, and they wouldn’t see it until their senior year.

According to Mr. Messmer, “The very earliest [a block schedule] could possibly be implemented is the 201516 school year. So much would have to be worked out that it is definitely a few years away if it happens.”

GRAPHIC BY MATT ANDERSON

District looks into modifying the current nine-period schedule

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NEWS

| April 19, 2013

Menchie’s holds contest to meet Clive Davis Staff Writer

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GRAND OPENING

The frozen yogurt shop had its grand opening on Mon. April 8, and many Maine South students stopped by to sample the new establishment’s tasty treat. Like other local yogurt shops, Menchie’s has a wide selection of flavors and toppings.

song is not necessary, as the raffle winner can simply sit down and talk with him over frozen yogurt.

“I think that it is great that students can have the chance to meet Clive Davis,” said sophomore Shawn Loutos. “It is really a great opportunity for those interested in music and singing to get noticed by Mr. Davis.”

“Having a legend like Clive Davis come here is an honor,” said junior Nermin Aly. “I would be ecstatic if I PHOTO BY MICHAEL DEVERMAN

o celebrate the grand opening of Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt in Uptown Park Ridge, one raffle winner will be given the opportunity to meet Hollywood record producer Clive Davis prior to his book signing on Sat. May 4, at 3 p.m.

The drawing for the raffle can be entered each time a student attends the Menchie’s in Park Ridge or Glenview. The winner will be announced on May 1. Meeting Davis and the book signing will take place at the Menchie’s Shops of Uptown, but he will be making another appearance at Menchie’s Patriot Blvd. in Glenview.

Randy Sturges, the franchisee for the Menchie’s frozen yogurt stores in Park Ridge and Glenview, said, “[Clive Davis] is a close personal friend and is doing this event as a favor.”

“If there are students who sing or write songs, this is a chance to audition for a guy who was a judge/ mentor on American Idol for years and who signed or discovered Bruce Springsteen, Janis Joplin, Barry Manilow, Kelly Clarkson, Alicia Keys, Aretha Franklin, Santana, Usher, Foo Fighters, Rod Stewart, Jennifer Hudson, etc.” said Sturges.

If students have a friend who is a singer, they can enter their friend’s name on a separate raffle ticket, increasing the chances that their friend has to play a song for Clive. However, singing or playing Clive a recorded

WELCOME TO MENCHIE’S

Menchie’s is located in the Shops of Uptown, just off of Northwest Highway. The store is a great place to get yogurt and sit down with friends to chat.

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PHOTO COURTESY RANDY STURGES

PHOTO BY MICHAEL DEVERMAN

Elizabeth Stocchetti

won the raffle. It would be a dream come true.”

This past February, Clive released his autobiography, “The Soundtrack of My Life,” which details his journey in the music business and his career in guiding some of the most outstanding figures in his field.

Since its release, the novel has become a New York Times best-seller and Clive Davis has been promoting it with ap- MUSIC IN THE MAKING Clive Davis pearances on shows, such will be sigining copies of his New York Times bestas The View and Good seller “The Soundtrack of My Life” at Menchie’s on Morning America, as well May 4. Davis has jump started the careers of celebrias through book signings, ties like Jennifer Hudson, Usher, and Alicia Keys. panies: Arista Records in the 1970s such as the one taking and J Records in 2000. He signed place at Menchie’s.

Clive Davis has worked with and discovered Barry Manilow, The individuals such as Bruce Spring- Grateful Dead, Carrie Underwood, steen, Whitney Houston, and Jen- and Maroon 5, among others. Curnifer Hudson. His rise in the field rently, he is the chief creative officer of music producing began with his for Sony Music.

Menchie’s is a frozen yogurt franrole as CEO of Columbia Records in the 1960’s, where he signed mu- chise which allows its customers to sicians such as Aerosmith and Janis self-serve themselves to the frozen yogurt and toppings of their choice.

Joplin.

Ultimately, his career led to the The Menchie’s in Park Ridge is locreation of two new record com- cated on Northwest Highway.

April 19, 2013

| FEATURES

Staff Writer

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any high school students have ambitious plans for their futures. Lawyers, businessmen or women, teachers, musicians, doctors, or simply people that help others— these are just a few professions the Maine South student body aspires to one day pursue. While most students wait until college to gain professional experience, one Maine South student has already begun the journey.

From the moment she witnessed the birth of her cousin in the delivery room, Rinya Kamber knew she wanted to help new moms bring new life into the world.

“Everyone was worried that I was too young to be in the room,” said Kamber. “But I was captivated by this moment and it inspired me to want to pursue a career in medicine.”

It was not until her junior year that she realized she did not have to wait until after college or even after medical school; she could start helping now.

With the aid of her Maine South badminton teammate, Maine South alumna, Allie Sakowicz (‘12), she started the process of becoming a volunteer doula. A doula assists a mother, her partner, and her family through a pregnancy and birth by providing physical and emotional support. Even though the midwife or the obstetrician delivers the baby, it is her job to help the mom in any way she can. With plenty of advice for her patients, Kamber still stresses her role beyond simply an information provider.

“I’m there because it is nice to have someone who has been there and is there the whole time,” she said. “I’m there as a sense of security to take care of the unexpected emotional struggles.”

The most frightening surprise she had was a complication in one of her client’s labors in which the baby’s life was in jeopardy.

“How could I be torn by my own emotions in a time like that?” asked Kamber. “What would that do to the mother and father? I stayed completely composed, even though I was absolutely terrified on the inside.”

A bit shaken up after a stressful and long 32-hour delivery, she was

just relieved that the baby and mom were okay.

No easy feat, the road to doula certification takes plenty of hard work, but Kamber persevered. Despite being the Spanish Club President, and a member of the badminton team, rotary club, and National Honor Society, she took the time to jumpstart her future career in medicine now. She read, researched, and finally received her first patient the summer before her senior year. She also interned full time at the University of Chicago in a neurology lab studying the brain’s reaction to addictive drugs that same summer.

Although she admits that at times it can be hard to balance everything going on, she believes being a doula is “so meaningful and powerful,” and gives it nothing but her complete effort. Traveling personally to her client’s homes and giving them her care and patience is just one way she shows her clients her compassion. She also acknowledges the difficulty in the job.

“You need to make other people feel comfortable around you and trust you,” said Kamber. “It can be very delicate because a lot can go wrong, but it is worth it.”

She has gained an immeasurable amount of insight and experiences from being a doula. Originally, she wanted the experience of being in the delivery room and practice with patient interaction to help achieve her goal to become a physician, but she has gained this and much more. She has had the opportunity to help families who would normally be unable to afford a doula have the same care as anyone else. With each family she has built a lasting relationship, and she has succeeded in helping bring four new lives into the world. Also, after seeing the difficulties that couples go through when first starting a family, she has built a greater appreciation for her family, something she is grateful to have in her teenage years.

Most importantly, though, she has come to learn more about herself and her aspirations by helping people in a variety of circumstances.

“The funny thing is I don’t even want to be a labor support person in the long run,” said Kamber. “Don’t get me wrong—holding the baby is a wonderful reward for all my hard work, but at the end of a long day of helping a woman through labor,

▲ SPECIAL DELIVERY

Rinya Kamber poses with a newborn baby minutes after helping guide the mother through delivery. As a doula, she helps new mothers through the whole pregnancy, providing solid emotional support.

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Caralin Schneider

PHOTOS COURTESY RINYA KAMBER

Senior helps new moms and learns life lessons

CERTIFIED

Kamber decided to become a doula because of her interest in the medical field. The process to become one was tough, but she now serves as a certified doula.

what brings me an overpowering satisfaction is knowing that I helped someone who truly needed it. That’s all I want. To spend my life striving to make the world a better place one person at a time may sound like a lofty goal, but when it’s a real possibility, it’s utterly amazing. Like any profession, there are twists and turns, opportunities for frustration, disappointment, and conflict, but I know that I am doing something I can be proud of and that will impact a life forever.”

Through her experience as a

doula, Kamber has solidified her desire to become a physician, but has gained more than just experience. She has gained life lessons, relationships, and knowledge about herself and others.

Her story proves it’s never too early to start working towards a dream—that any student can start working toward their dreams now, whatever they may be. Kamber has proved that if high school students are willing to put forth the effort, they can achieve the unexpected, not in the future, but in the present.

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FEATURES | April 19, 2013

The secret life of the American crew director PHOTOS COURTESY MR. SANCHEZ

Sarah Householder Staff Writer

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▲ ‘CREW’SADER Mr. Sanchez (left) stands with senior Charlie Hoeg (center) who plays a young Julius Caesar right before he is captured by Sicilian pirates at a historical reenactment. Mr. Sanchez, a teacher of Theater Tech at Maine South for the past 25 years, is a passionate historical reenactor who simulates being a part of eras such as Ancient Rome, WWI, and WWII.

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any students know Mr. Sanchez as “that crew guy,” and to some extent they would be right. Mr. Sanchez, affectionately known as “Sanch,” has been teaching Theater Tech at Maine South for 25 years and is a familiar face for those who frequent the PA Wing. He serves as crew director for Maine South’s V-show, plays, and musical. But few know that Mr. Sanchez has a very unique hobby. Ten to twelve times a year Mr. Sanchez packs up his car, drives around the country and sets up camp in a different era.

“Some people have model trains or do art,” Mr. Sanchez said. “I just choose to put on an itchy coat, run around a field, and pretend I was born thousands of years ago.”

For the last 23 years, Mr. Sanchez has been a historical reenactor in eras that include the Revolutionary War, Civil War, World War I, World War II, and Ancient Rome. “ I s t a r t e d i n C i v i l Wa r reenactments with a friend, and since then have experimented with different periods,” said Mr. Sanchez.

“Right now, my favorite time period is Ancient Rome.”

Historical reenactment is a scripted activity meant to recreate a certain period in history. They can range from a specific battle, such as Gettysburg or the Battle of Bull Run, to framing a general era, such as first century Rome. Reenactments also vary between immersion events, where the actors themselves are the only ones present and conditions are as realistic as possible, to performances for spectators. For example, Mr. Sanchez had the chance to reenact the battle of Gettysburg in the movie “Gettysburg”.

In order to become completely immersed in history, Mr. Sanchez is a member of several clubs around Chicago, each one dedicated to a different era. These clubs then contact organizers of different events to sign them up to participate. Clubs generally range in size, from his Civil War club, called Stanford’s Battery, with 60-75 members, to Rome Chicago, the Ancient Rome Club, with about 20 members.

R e e n a c t or s a re p e r s on a l l y responsible for providing their own equipment. For a soldier this

SOLDIER SANCHEZ

Mr. Sanchez, left, poses as his alter ego “Thomas Boyd,” a confederate soldier in the Civil War. In historical reenactments, Mr. Sanchez recreates certain periods by gathering enough historical evidence for the experience to be as real as possible.

Mr. Sanchez was also in the movie “Gettysburg” as an extra, and is a member of several historical reenactment clubs around Chicago.

means one’s own helmet, uniform, ammunition, food, canteen, tent and weapons. If one is playing a Roman solider this would include a shield, sword, belt, costume, rations, food bag, etc. The general price for a startup kit costs $1,500.

“I try to find out more than just what they wore” said Mr. Sanzhez.

“I want to know how they lived, how they ate, what they ate, where they worked. It’s the little details that make the difference, and make the experience as realistic as possible.”

To figure out those details, Mr. Sanchez has done extensive research into his chosen time periods. This amounts to a thick, three-inch binder labeled “World War I” with pages of

plastic sleeves protecting original source documents like photographs, postcards, and letters from the war.

The details he collects come through in his appearance as well. A coat worn for WWII reenactments includes an inner pocket with authentic German money, military papers, a song book, pictures of loved ones, postcards, letters from friends and bandages.

“It’s all about trying to live as historically accurate as possible,” he said. “I make it as realistic as I can.”

When Mr. Sanchez changes time periods so does his identity. For World War I and II reenactments Mr. Sanchez generally plays a German soldier named Erich Fritsch, who was

born on July 7, which is Mr. Sanchez’s actual birthday.

“Fritsch was my mother’s maiden name; I like to pay respect to my family history when possible.”

For Civil War reenactments, Mr. Sanchez chose a young Confederate soldier, named Thomas Boyd.

“I was at a friend’s house looking at an old army picture and picked him out,” he said. “Everyone said we look alike.”

For Roman reenactments Mr. Sanchez’s alter ego is Decimus Valerius Gallus, an officer of the Roman army.

Mr. Sanchez is not alone in his passion for details and realism. The level of commitment is so strong among historical reenactors that Axis and Roman reenactments are conducted in German and Latin, respectively.

“People take this pretty seriously— we go as deep as we can,” said Mr. Sanchez. “Everyone is there for fun, so we really try to do the period justice.”

Several students have caught Mr. Sanchez’s enthusiasm and tagged along to events, including seniors Mark Gotthelf and Charlie Hoeg, and junior Mary Sobieski.

“We just kept seeing him coming to school with all this cool stuff and awesome stories,” Gotthelf said. “We mostly go to Roman ones, but have been beginning to break into the Civil War, too.”

At one spectator event, Hoeg received the opportunity to play a 25-year-old Julius Caesar, when, en route to Greece, he was captured by Sicilian pirates.

While there is always a core of enthusiasts who attend, different movies and hallmark events can bring out larger groups of participants and spectators than normal. At least 15,000 Confederate and Union soldiers are expected to make an appearance at the 150th anniversary of Gettysburg this summer, with thousands of spectators observing and learning.

In the end, the goal is education— not just for the spectators, but for the participants themselves. A person can read about history, but there comes a time to take to a muddy field in military garb and experience a small taste of what our ancestors struggled with so many centuries ago.

April 19, 2013

| FEATURES

Weekend with ‘babies’ teaches valuable lessons Baby Amanda Svachula Features Editor

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PHOTO BY AMANDA SVACHULA

ny new parent can attest to the fact that a baby brings laughter and smiles, but also challenges and exhaustion. Each year, students in Maine South’s Child Development class experience a taste of the benefits and trials that come with parenthood when they complete an unconventional homework assignment: they take an infant simulator home to call their own and care for the baby for an entire weekend. The “Baby Think it Over” project, though challenging, is an enriching experience.

“The premise of ‘Baby Think it Over’ is to expose students to the responsibility of parenting, and get them comfortable with some of the expectations of being a mom or dad,” said Dr. Duggan, Department Chair of Applied Arts and Technology and Child Development teacher. “Yes, we all babysit, but to have a baby from 3 o’clock Friday to 7 o’clock Sunday night, especially on the weekend during downtime for students, is a huge responsibility.”

During the school year, about 125 students in Child Development get a chance to take home one of 18 infant simulators for one weekend.

Each infant is modeled after an eight- pound newborn. Along with the baby, students receive a bracelet with a computer chip that responds to the baby’s different sounds, a car

seat, a baby bag with clothes, a bottle, and two diapers. Throughout the weekend, students are expected to wear the bracelet in order to always be ready to take care of the child’s needs.

“Whenever the baby makes sounds, students are to “chime in.”

There are a couple places on the baby where you place the chip [in the bracelet], and the baby will make a chime sound. That indicates that it has connected with the mom or dad,” said Dr. Duggan, “Typically that means you have to do something. Either [you have to] feed it, change it, rock it, or burp it.”

Students are assigned a baby at random, and receive him or her on Friday after school. The weekend is then filled with the giggling and screaming of a newborn. As time goes by, both the negative and positive sides of the experience start to shine through.

“The worst part of having the baby was definitely the lack of sleep the whole weekend,” said junior Carolyn Sims, a former participant in “Baby Think it Over.” “The baby would constantly cry super loud and wake you up at like 3:00 a.m. The best part of having the baby was the reaction you got when you went out in public.

People would stare at me like I was crazy, but it was funny.”

Students are required to name their babies and write down their experience in a journal. Though it is not required, according to Dr.

ROCK-A-BYE BABY

The “Baby Think it Over” project in Maine South’s Child Development Course allows students to experience new parenthood for one weekend. When students have the baby, they wear a wristband which “chimes” in to the baby’s needs. After scanning the wristband to a place on the baby, the student must feed, change, rock, or burp the child.

Talk

Duggan, about seventy percent of students choose to take their baby out into public.

“My baby was a girl and I named her Charlotte,” said Sims. “Overall, Sophomore I really liked the experience. Even Colleen Katkus though I acted like I hated it the gives Southwhole weekend, I look back now and words an see that it was fun and challenging.” inside look The final grade for the project at her weekis based on student journals and end with an electronic documentation of the care infant simulator. given to the baby.

“There is a computer system to indicate how long the baby cried, Colleen Katkus and whether there was abuse, which Guest Writer One of the reasons why I means ‘Did the baby have enough wanted to take Child develophead support?’ or ‘Was the baby ment as an elective was because I shaken?’” said Dr. Duggan. heard about how you get to take Since the babies are computer home a baby for the weekend. I operated, there is also always the babysit all the time and love kids chance of a glitch. so I thought this would be a good “Once in a while, there may be experience. a fluke, that the baby goes haywire,” You have to pick up your said Dr. Duggan. “The teachers baby and a few accessories right always give a cell phone number so after school, but it doesn’t turn that students can contact us and we on until 6:00 on Friday night. I can go through the steps to how to named my baby Shane. Shane make sure everything is alright [with didn’t waste any time and started the baby].” crying at 6:05.

Maine South students tend to Over the weekend I went take Child Development freshman or to several places: Yogli Mogli, sophomore year. The class also usually Payless, Dick’s Sporting Goods, mainly consists of females.

Chipotle, and the park. Every“The whole program brings up where I went I got bad reactions conception, pregnancy, birth, and from people when they saw that child development all the way to I had a baby. the age of three,” said Dr. Duggan.

During the weekend, I always “Students who take the class are very worried that every noise I heard interested because of the baby. Many was the baby. Once he started to are students who want to work with cry I would have to stop what I children [in the future].” was doing to figure out what he The ability to actually simulate needed. This is not easy. You have taking care of a baby adds multifaceted to try everything (feed the baby, value to the classroom experience of rock it, change it, or burp it), until Child Development, because students the baby signals you with a sound are able to learn lessons that they that it’s happy and satisfied. would never actually be able to I didn’t mind the baby crying experience unless they had a real child until it woke me up five times themselves. each night. I’m a heavy sleeper “The best part of it was getting and I thought I would have a hard your own little ‘live’ baby to play time hearing the baby, but Shane with,” said junior Becca Blazek. “It was managed to wake up everyone in almost like going back to childhood my house. when you would pretend a baby was Although the weekend was real, and now it almost was. I learned rough, I enjoyed having Shane what teen mothers have to go through around. I give credit to all parents. when they have a baby.”

Being a parent is the hardest and Many, after the experience, realize most stressful thing you can do, the massive responsibility that comes yet all parents truly believe every with child care. child is a blessing. If I could do “I learned that I am nowhere near this again I would, but I definitely ready to take on the responsibility of do not want kids for a very long caring for a real baby on my own,” time. said Sims.

SouthwordS 7

ENTERTAINMENT | April 19, 2013

Lollapalooza tickets sell out in record time Soren Ramsey Editor-in-Chief

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 FRIDAY, I’M IN LOVE

The Cure will be one of this year's headliners. They plan to release a new studio album late in the year.

FIRST CLASS

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The Postal Service performs at San Diego Street Scene. A string of shows this summer ends the alternative supergroup’s ten year absence.

three-day passes with the idea of making a profit through web sites like Stubhub, or through individual transactions. Buying tickets with the intent to sell them for more than face value without going through a ticket broker like Stubhub, though, remains illegal in the state of Illinois.

Because of scalpers, anyone who missed the boat on general admission ticket sales will have to pay anywhere from $215 to $525 for a single Saturday pass through Stubhub. Three-day passes will set you back anywhere from $400 to $2,500 for general admission. This means that many people initially shut out by the short window of opportunity are now prevented from going by the inflated cost.

Not being able to get tickets when they went on sale nor being able to afford them later through ticket broker web sites leaves some considering the prospect of gatecrashing. Despite improved security and more fences, many continue to try to gain entry to the festival without a ticket. Methods range

PHOTO Credit freschwill, flickr

t had always seemed like getting tickets to big music festivals like Lollapalooza was a pretty straightforward affair. There was time to think about the lineup and weigh the cost of going against how attractive the lineup looked. Then when the tickets went on sale, people had until May or June to buy tickets.

Now, buying tickets means more planning and timing than a bank robbery.

“I had two of my siblings and my mom all on the Lolla web site while I was at school, and they only managed to get Friday and Sunday tickets,” said senior Jimmy Mangan. “That’s how hard it was to get Saturday tickets.

Here’s some advice; save yourself some money and go to Summerfest.”

People who had been waiting for Lollapalooza for months were denied three-day passes after they sold out in less than three hours. The single-day passes went on sale a week later, and all three days sold out in less than an hour.

“This was my first year buying tickets to Lolla and I thought it was a good time to go before college,” said senior Wilson Ngai. “I bought my one-day tickets in class near the end when we had some down time. I was stuck waiting on the standby page for a long time—so long that I was late to my next class. I knew of others that tried to buy tickets but they couldn’t get them.”

This has become quite a problem for many Maine South students who look forward to this weekend all year, only to be denied due to how quickly the tickets routinely sell out.

One reason why it’s so impressive that the tickets sold so fast is the fact that the lineup for the festival hadn’t even been officially released yet.

People were buying $235 tickets based on nothing more than a few leaked headliners.

Then, the single-day passes sold out before the schedule was finalized, meaning people essentially gambled on which day would have their favorite bands. Tickets sold out in record time in part due to people who have no interest in actually attending the festival. People bought up large numbers of single-day and

PHOTO Credit absolut xman, flickr

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from hopping or trampling the fence, getting in with fake wristbands, or simply running at the gate in a large mob of people.

Promoter C3 Presents, in charge of organizing Lollapalooza, stated that in the last five years, the number of people at the festival illegally has slowly climbed. The city of Chicago has responded by adding a number of off-duty police officers to the festival’s

security workers, patrolling on bikes and watching the main entrances in order to discourage gate-crashing, as well as fighting. Last year, 40 people were arrested, and dozens more were ticketed.

Some notable headliners at Lollapalooza include Nine Inch Nails, New Order, The Cure, The Postal Service, and The Killers. The festival runs from Aug. 2 through Aug. 4.

April 19, 2013

| ENTERTAINMENT

New ‘Gatsby’ film highly anticipated Danielle Kirincich

Staff Writer any have tried to successfully adapt the unparalleled classic that is “The Great Gatsby” into a feature film, but it is the fearless Australian director Baz Luhrmann who will make the next attempt at achieving greatness. The screenplay, written by Luhrmann and Craig Pearce, is heavily based on the original novel, and the movie is set to be released nationwide in 3D on May 10.

This is the sixth time the novel has been adapted into a feature film. Critics as well as students are expecting this to be the greatest attempt yet. Massive hype and anticipation has been circling the movie since its preview release on May 22, 2012, almost a full year before its current scheduled release.

The film was shot in Australia by Luhrmann, who showed interest in the project in 2008­­—a few years before production actually began. Luhrmann is best known for directing “Moulin Rouge!” and “Australia,” which became one of Australia’s highest grossing films of all time, raking in $37.6 million and second only to Crocodile Dundee ($47.7 million). Many people believe that Luhrmann has the expertise that could make “The Great Gatsby” live up to its enormous expectations.

The movie will stray slightly from the book.

Rather than Nick Carraway narrating the story throughout the film, the movie will show scenes of Nick writing the book “The Great Gatsby.”

Writers Luhrmann and Pearce did this to show how Carraway dealt with his experiences with Gatsby. They also did this to avoid voiceover narration throughout the film. The movie will still be presented from the perspective of Nick Carraway, however.

Other revisions that Luhrmann has made he has kept to himself, urging fans to discover them when they go to see the movie in May. While some fans of the novel may have wanted a movie completely true to the book, Luhrmann defended himself, stating the production would be too lengthy and therefore he only kept the scenes essential to the story.

Luhrmann started by selecting a strong cast to portray Fitzgerald’s characters, most notably signing Leonardo Dicaprio to play the role of Jay Gatsby and Tobey Maguire to portray Nick Carraway.

The film’s $127 million budget still wasn’t enough to keep the production from running into trouble, however. This past seasons while filming in Australia, the cast and crew experienced one of Australia’s wettest summers to date. This is why the film’s debut was pushed back from December 2012 to May 10 of 2013. Others speculate that the director needed extra shooting days, which Warner Bros. did not sponsor. Luhrmann was able to handle the money situation by himself and do the reshooting that he wanted on his own in time for the rescheduled release.

The next challenge Luhrmann had was acquiring the props and scenery that would make the Roaring Twenties come to life. Australian costume designer Catherine Martin was responsible for the wardrobe

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of the characters. While many praise the flashy and daring outfits, The Huffington Post reported that fashion historian Jacqueline WayneGuite feels that they are not historically accurate. The inaccuracies in the movie are all for effect in an attempt to make the production look better and appeal to its modern audience by fusing modern styles with the styles of the 1920s.

Jay Gatsby’s infamous car from the novel was a pricey find. TMZ reported that the producers of the film spent from $800,000 to $3 million on just three cars from the Volo Auto Museum outside of Chicago. The two 1929 Duesenbergs and the 1929 Packard, which are all rare and expensive, were then shipped to Australia where the entire movie was produced.

Luhrmann sought to keep Fitzgerald’s jazztheme while collaborating with modern hip-hop artists to add appeal for younger audiences while staying true to the book at the same time. He mainly collaborated with singer/songwriter Jay-Z, whom

he chose to spearhead the musical production of the film. Jay-Z collaborated with Beyoncé, Florence + The Machine, as well as other chart toppers to carry out this important task.

Juniors in Maine South’s English classes all get to read the beloved “The Great Gatsby,” and are looking forward to the movie’s debut.

“My three junior classes seemed to have really enjoyed the novel and vocalized their excitement for the remake,” said English teacher Mr. Fechner.

“The casting of Gatsby and Nick Carraway was spot on for 2013. After seeing Luhrmann’s version of ‘Romeo & Juliet’ years ago, I’m sure that Baz will have a few unique surprises up his sleeve while following the novel for the most part.”

The highly anticipated movie is projected to bring in revenue of about $24 million on opening weekend. With all of the money and stardom thrust into this movie, the film is destined to have a big opening weekend and will surely attract loyal fans of Fitzgerald’s book.

SouthwordS 9

ENTERTAINMENT | April 19, 2013

From red and black to blonde: ‘Legally Blonde’ Julia Koza Staff Writer

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roles or a small solos in at least one of the numbers.

All the hard work that the students have put in has paid off.

“The audience can expect a really good time,” says Mr. Muszynski. “The show will take the audience by surprise, and they will be sucked into the show and enjoy every minute of it. This show is for everyone.”

According to the cast, it has been extremely fun working on the show and they have grown closer to one another in the process.

“This experience has been one show to remember,” said sophomore Trevor Ross. “Working with the cast has been very special. We have been one big family. Working on this show has been good.

There are parts that will make you laugh and cry.

This is a must watch-show.”

“Our cast is incredible and everybody has been working so hard on the show,” said Bartucci.

“There is this fierce dedication and passion that you don’t see just anywhere, and I am so fortunate to have been able to work with such talented individuals. There are so many new faces among the familiar ones this year, and it’s been great to see everyone take so much pride in the whole process.

“As seniors, we’re so happy to know that we’re leaving our beloved theater department in such good hands.”

Bartucci also says that playing Elle Woods has changed her.

“It’s been a huge privilege to have been cast as Elle Woods, especially among so many talented actors,” Bartucci said. “As clichéd as it may sound, Elle has really inspired me to be a better, more loving, and less judgmental person. She accepts everyone for who they are and doesn’t let others define her. These are such important qualities to have, especially as we navigate through the challenges of high school.”

The musical premieres on April 26 at 7:30 pm in the Watson Auditorium, and performances are on April 27, May 3, and May 4 at 7:30 pm and April 28 at 2:00 pm.

JUST WHIP IT “Whipped Into Shape” is just one of the many upbeat dance numbers, starring, Kailee Breslin, as Brooke Wyndham. It features the entire female ensemble, including Alyssa Latragna, who plays the sassy Pilar, and Katrina Iorio.

A ‘BONE’IFIED ACTOR Students work with a bulldog, Bear, who plays the role of Rufus Buonofonte. Paulette, Elle’s divorced friend, is the owner of Rufus until her ex-husband takes custody of Rufus. Elle uses her confusing lawyer lingo, researching laws of custody to win Rufus back for Paulette.

PHOTOS BY MOLLY PETRAY

his spring, the Maine South Fine Arts department will be performing “Legally Blonde: The Musical,” adapted from the blockbuster hit, “Legally Blonde.”

The prevalence of serious topics sprinkled with humor sets this show apart from others. The story centers around California sorority girl Elle Woods (senior Giuliana Bartucci) who goes off to Harvard Law School to win back her ex-boyfriend, but surprises everyone with her legal wits.

‘Legally Blonde’ is a show that has a moral message that is so much more important than what it looks like on the outside,” said director Mr. Muszynski.

This production demonstrates that anyone can succeed regardless of what they look like on the outside. It’s a show that brings a lot of laughs and also some very important life lessons.

The Fine Arts department chose the show because of its contemporary and fresh nature. They also wanted something that would appeal to the student body and would also be enjoyable for all ages.

Auditions were held in January right before final exams, and rehearsals began at the end of February. Two days of rehearsals were lost due to severe winter weather, but that didn’t stop the cast, crew, and pit orchestra from working hard.

“We wanted something to challenge our students,” said Mr. Muszynski. “It is a much more difficult show than it looks to be.”

The music for the show is extremely difficult to learn because of complex pop rhythms that are easy to hear but hard to play accurately and in unison. While learning and memorizing the contemporary music, the students must also remember the staging for various scenes and numbers.

Another of the unique challenges in presenting “Legally Blonde,” is the use of live dogs. For the production, a short brown-haired Chihuahua and a Bulldog were needed for the cast. A casting call was put out for the dogs in January, and after all the auditions, a Chihuahua named Rusty and a Bulldog named Bear were chosen for the roles of Bruiser Woods and Rufus Buonofonte.

“It has been good working with the dogs, and we just have to realize that they work differently than the students,” said Mr. Muszynski.

“Everyone has been very caring of the dogs,” Muszynski added, “and ultimately they’re going to do a great job.”

The musical features a large cast of almost 50 students. The show is composed of about 14 larger roles, and a number of smaller ensemble roles.

Almost all of the ensemble members of the production were cast in at least one specific smaller role. Some were cast in two, and a few were cast in three. The majority of the actors have speaking

April 19, 2013

| COMMENTARY

Fact or fad: The right way to lose weight for life

a way to lose weight and fit into that prom dress. What many overlook when doing this is that you’re not actually losing fat. People who go on this diet are losing water weight, and the weight will come back once a normal diet is resumed.

Being healthy is more important than looking thin for prom. Hurting your body to achieve society’s skewed idea of beauty is always a dangerous road to go down. Yes, maybe you should pass up on the candy and pop, but don’t deprive yourself of

nutrients, which is often a result of crash dieting. Not only will it prevent weight loss, it will dry up your skin and make it look pale, thin out your hair, and make you feel overall very weak and very tired.

“I’d rather just eat healthy and work out,” stated senior Luciana Raspanti, who has tried cleanses and diet fads in the past. “It’s healthier and will make you feel much better than just trying to lose all the weight at once.”

On top of AP tests and finals,

crash dieting could increase stress and anxiety levels. When a person is not consuming the number of calories the body needs, the body will go into starvation mode. This lack of calories tells your body to hold on to any fat you have as a way of surviving. Doing this to your body wreaks havoc on your metabolism, as well on your vital organs. Instead of boosting metabolism by eating healthy, balanced meals, it is slowing down considerably, resulting in weight gain.

A healthy diet and regular exercise is the best approach to losing weight the right way. It may take longer, but the benefits of being good to your body outweigh the costs of mistreating it. The only difference is it doesn’t happen overnight. If a person starts to eat healthy and focus getting exercise, she will actually lose extra body fat and will be able to slide into that dress without a problem as well as keep off the weight long after prom night.

The healthier you are, the happier you will be. Remember that as the days to prom loom closer. Health and happiness will last longer than any cleanse, and you’re healthy smile will shine brighter than a half-starved grimace.

continue to come to games? Part of the draw of Cubs games, after all, is the idea of spending an afternoon in that place that evokes so much nostalgia. Win or lose, you generally end up having a great time. Then, there are all sorts of great restaurants and shops within walking distance of the park for after the game.

From purely a logical standpoint, moving the Cubs to somewhere near where the Bandits currently play makes sense. There’s a lot of open space in that area, meaning they could not only build a large, modern stadium, but also build parking garages, cutting out the hassle of paying a guy to park in his car port half a mile from the field.

It would be very similar to Dodger Stadium, which is located away from the main of Los Angeles. It has plenty of parking, and getting in and out is the easiest thing in the world.

However, it feels pretty isolated and a little less welcoming. There

are few better things than the feeling of being in a huge crowd of exultant fans after a big win. One of my favorite memories of Wrigley is walking out after the game that clinched the Cubs’ spot in the playoffs in 2007. It wasn’t just the people who had been to the game who were so elated, but everyone in the neighborhood, sitting on their porches and enjoying the electricity of the moment. You can’t celebrate with strangers if everyone’s off in their own cars.

Another part of the rationale for moving the Cubs out of the city is the possibility of playing more night games. The Cubs were the last MLB team to get lights in the ‘80s, and once they did, there were agreements made to prevent the team from playing more than 18 home night games due to noise laws.

Since then, it has been raised to 30, but that still leaves a lot of prime time viewership lost. Moving the Cubs out of Chicago would mean that more

night games could be played, meaning the franchise can make more money off of prime-time advertisements.

But again, this flies in the face of tradition and what the Cubs are known for. When you think of a Cubs game, you think of a 1:20 game that you go to after telling your boss that you have the “24-hour flu.”

And in the end, that’s really what it comes down too. Wrigley field has entirely transcended its status as a ballpark, and become a symbol of Chicago. You can’t just get rid of something so historic for the sake of easier parking and some advertisement revenue.

Clearly, moving is a terrible idea.

The Cubs have become as much a part of the culture of Chicago as the skyline and the blues. People around the world know the team for being the lovable losers in one of the most iconic spaces in sports, and changing that would hurt the Cubs more than it helps.

Maggie Lynch

Entertainment Editor s spring rolls around and everyone watches the thermometer rise, some girls are hoping to watch the scale go down. Many Maine South ladies are getting healthy—or what they think is healthy—to lose weight fast for prom. This kind of “quick fix” dieting is questionable at best.

One problem with crash dieting, or dieting in an unhealthy way to drop weight quickly, is that it is unsustainable. After the diet is over and normal eating habits begin again, the weight will most likely be gained back. Regardless, many flock to the gym to over-exercise, skip meals, or search for diet fads for a fast fix to look fit.

Girls will go into a workout frenzy, cut back on calories, and follow any phony fad that Seventeen Magazine suggests in order to don a gown in the size they hoped for. One answer that people have been turning to is a “cleanse.” Cleanses are short diets that claim to rid the body of anything from toxins to fat. The “Lemonade Cleanse,” for example, is a diet where one only consumes lemon water, cayenne pepper, and maple syrup as

PHOTO by jessica gronke

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Moving the Cubs out of Wrigley would be a bad call

Soren Ramsey Editor-in-Chief

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oving the Cubs out of Wrigley field and into a new stadium in Rosemont or any other location would be a horrible idea. In fact, it might just be the worst idea to come to a team owner since the Red Sox sold Babe Ruth to the Yankees.

OK, maybe not. But you get my point.

Abandoning the city in favor of more space and a modernized ballpark would mean that, for the first time in a while, ticket sales for the Cubs would actually be tied to how well they play.

If you take away the atmosphere of Wrigley, and the appeal of Wrigleyville in general, will as many people really

SouthwordS 11

COMMENTARY

| April 19, 2013

STAFF EDITORIAL

24/7 policy in need of revision

ILLUSTRATION BY CECILIA CORTÉS

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he Extracurricular Code of C onduct (more commonly known as the 24/7 Policy) at Maine South is a system of consequences for students who engage in illegal activities or misconduct. While well-intentioned, the policy serves as a simple deterrent while failing to address the central problem. In a sense, it may actually aggravate the cause.

It’s important to understand what the consequences of violating the 24/7 Policy are, since there are often many misconceptions surrounding it. There is a three-strike system described in detail in the student handbook.

For the first offense, “the student will [generally] be prohibited from participating in up to 40% of the extracurricular activity.” A second offense results in “suspension from all extracurricular activities up to one calendar year from the date of the Review Board’s decision,” and a third offense results in the student being banned from all extracurricular activities for the remainder of their time at Maine South.

The 24/7 Policy serves primarily as a deterrent, meaning that its goal is to discourage bad behavior by a known risk of punishment. The deterring nature of this policy is the source of the problem.

Since early childhood, we have been disciplined in the same manner: disobedience usually results being grounded, the confiscation of valued possessions, a shorter curfew, etc. We learn to obey authority because we don’t want the things we love to be taken from us.

While that may work well as children, the reason our parents punished us as children (and still punish us now) is because they want to protect us from the behaviors we don’t realize are harmful. A five-year-old who doesn’t steal cookies from the cookie jar isn’t doing so because he wants to develop a life-long healthy lifestyle; he’s doing so to avoid getting placed in “time out.”

While somewhat effective in preventing isolated incidents of illegal behavior, the 24/7 Policy is

not constructed to change student behavior. If illegal activity is happening at all, it simply serves to temporarily suspend it or decrease the frequency with which it happens—it does not change a student’s attitude toward what he or she has done. While that solution is certainly better than no solution at all, there are better forms of punishment that would work to ensure that the harmful behavior does

it would make more sense to address the existing problems through more rehabilitative punishment, or punishment meant to change the behavior in the future.

Currently, the 24/7 policy allows for a student to attend a districtapproved intervention program in order to decrease their suspension by half of its original length. This is only allowed for the first offense, and the handbook makes no mention of any sort of intervention-programalternative being offered for the second or third offenses.

If a student is caught engaging in illegal activity three times, is that not an indication that there is a stronger problem that would be exacerbated by the prohibited participation in extracurricular activities?

Removing the student from a healthy environment such as a team sport or club is not the best way to discourage unhealthy behavior in the long run. The absence of these alternatives may actually encourage this behavior, which completely contradicts the purpose of the district’s policy. If—or rather, when—a student engages in misconduct, punishment should be more rehabilitative in nature, rather than serving simply as a deterrent.

“By isolating a student from healthy activities as punishment for participation in unhealthy activities, the problem is more likely to be aggravated.”

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not occur in the future.

The policy itself fails to attack the source of the behavior, which most likely stems from a lack of knowledge or a teenage illusion of invincibility. By isolating a student from healthy activities as punishment for participation in unhealthy activities, the problem is more likely to be aggravated.

Rather than aiming to discourage behavior purely through deterrence,

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

April 19, 2013

| COMMENTARY

Food for thought: vegan for a week Nick Santelli Guest Writer

an I have your room when you die, Nick?” was all my sister said to me as I tried to enjoy my last meal before eliminating all animal products from my diet for a week. I savored every bite of creamy Caesar salad dressing, every slice of my mom’s homemade pizza topped with gooey mozzarella and greasy pepperoni, and every gulp of 2% milk.

The task did not seem daunting at first—just one week of a vegan diet, meaning no meat, dairy, or animal products of any kind, not even honey or gelatin. I agreed to it on an impulse, not knowing the trouble I was about to step into.

The day before my diet began, I tried making as many preparations as possible. I did a lot of research on what vegans can actually eat and was very surprised to see the variety of options. I thought I was doomed to eating celery sticks and lettuce for an entire week, but with a little creativity, vegan dishes can be just as delicious as ones with meat and dairy in them.

I found an entire web site of p r o d u c t s t h at h ap p e n t o b e “accidentally” vegan. When I spotted Oreos on the list, I knew I was going to be able to survive the week.

Even though I can eat Oreos and potato chips for a week and still be within the requirements of a vegan diet, I realized this wouldn’t make for a good article. I needed to go beyond my limits and experiment with the many intimidating substitutes of the vegan diet.

The f irst t hing in need of replacement was my whey protein shake I drink everyday for lunch. I needed something to fill me up so I turned to energy bars, specifically Clif bars.

I had to get into the habit of checking all ingredient labels just to be sure the product was completely vegan. When I looked at the contents of the Clif bar, I was a little confused.

No ingredient itself was from an

ILLUSTRATION BY CECILIA CORTÉS

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animal, but at the bottom in bold print listed “may contain traces of dairy.” I never entirely read ingredient lists, and this never concerned me before, so I wasn’t sure what to make of it.

When products are labeled with this, it often means that the machinery used made other products that did contain eggs or dairy, but companies usually take careful consideration when cleaning between uses. Most sites I looked at assured me it was okay to eat and wouldn’t break my vegan vow.

As with any withdrawal, I had cravings. Nothing seemed to satisfy my hunger quite like meat and cheese.

I had to begin my search for a fulfilling substitute.

I craved creamy cheese caramelized atop a crispy crust, so I tried to recreate that with the vegan pizza pie.

In Trader Joe’s you can find everything you need to make it. Most pizza dough does not require eggs or milk so that was easy, but finding something to replace the cheese and meat would be the toughest challenge.

To my surprise, they actually make vegan cheese, and in moderation it could possibly fill the gap of real cheese. Take my advice, though, and don’t pile mounds of it on the pizza as if it were regular cheese. The flavor becomes a little off, almost too creamy, and then you remember you aren’t actually eating real cheese.

Now for the meat. Vegans will find

anything to make out of tofu, even chicken. I looked at it, dreading eating it, let alone buying it, but I figured it would widen my vegan horizon. So I bought the chicken-flavored tofu in hopes that it would some what resemble the taste and texture of the real thing.

It looked like a normal pizza coming out of the oven. It was edible, but after just spending an entire week in Italy over spring break, my pizza standards were set high and this fell very short of expectations.

By the end of the week, my task became easier and easier. I made a habit of looking at food labels, asking how food was prepared, and being more creative to make vegan dishes interesting.

Being vegan for a week was a challenge, but the entire week I questioned why someone would choose to be vegan for the rest of their life.

For some, animal rights motivate the choice to be vegan, but there had to be other reasons.

After doing some research, I found that eating red meat, especially on a regular basis, isn’t very healthy for us.

A diet full of fatty animal products often leads to health problems later in life such as cardiovascular disease and certain cancers.

A documentary on Netflix called “Forks over Knives” shows how detrimental animal products are to our

overall health. In the documentary it also shows how a vegan diet can helps reverse sickness caused by meat and dairy.

Not only do animal products take a huge toll on our health, but our environment too. According to the Water Education Foundation, it takes 2,464 gallons of water to produce one pound of beef. This is the same amount of water you would use if you took a seven-minute shower every day for six entire months. Meat production and delivery also produces 40% more greenhouse gas emissions than all the cars, trucks, planes, and other forms of transportation in the world. The lists of resources it uses up and damage it does goes on and on.

Learning about these problems gave veganism an entire new meaning to me. It isn’t just some hippie trend— it can actually make a huge difference to our health and environment.

While going back to a normal diet wasn’t hard and I can still appreciate a juicy burger now and then, my perspective on whether I need animal products in my daily life has changed.

It is no longer a necessity to have meat every night for dinner or a glass of milk in the morning because I have had the opportunity to try all around better choices. Making these changes in my life is also making me a better person, not only by improving my physical health, but by making a difference in the world.

Submit 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 13

SPORTS

| April 19, 2013

Passion drives girls’ soccer to winning start Photo by Jessica Gronke

Claire Raphael Staff Writer

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he Maine South girls’ varsity soccer team has been training hard to make this season one of their best. The team’s current record is 3-2-2.

One of the key players on the team, junior DePaul recruit, Jessie Schmidt, came back from a knee injury, but in her second game back, injured her knee again and is out for the rest of the season.

“The girls know the best is yet to come,” said head coach, Mr. Crawford.

With only 19 girls on the Varsity roster this season, the coaches and captains know that there is a lot of potential in this team. The team is led by senior captains Allison Curry, Celeste Carlson, and Christina Kiotis.

“There is a lot of great talent and individual skill on this team,” said Curry. “I want to win conference and be able to play together to our maximum potential.”

Coach Crawford also feels that the team is capable of more than what their record displays.

“The goal for this season is to compete for a conference championship,” he stated. “I would like to win at least two games in the Pepsi Showdown tournament and win the Chatham tournament.

The girls have a lot of work to do, but I feel we can accomplish it.”

The team just recently competed in the Pepsi Showdown tournament. Although the team had a disappointing run last year, this year’s team has the

CAN’T TOUCH THIS

Allison Curry dribbles past defenders during a game against Huntley. The team participated in the Pepsi Showdown Tournament on April 6.

drive and passion to perform to the best of their abilities this year in the showcase.

The team knows there is a lot of competition in the games ahead, but with enough drive and determination, they believe they can do well.

“The work rate and passion for the game is unbelievable on this team and I know we have the potential to win Conference,” said Kiotis.

The team won the Regional title last year in the postseason, and are determined to advance past Regionals into Sectionals this season.

“Our goal for this season is to make every

game count and never give up even when down,” said Carlson. “I believe in the team and I hope that the individual skill work will help the whole team come together.”

“I think we have a lot of potential for this season,” added Carlson. “Individually we are very good. If we mesh well and fulfill our potential, we will be a hard team to beat. I’m very excited to see how this season plays out.”

“The girls have a hard road ahead of them but I know they are up for the challenge,” stated Coach Crawford.

Girls’ water polo learns from experience Alex Ellyin

Sports Editor wo years ago, the girls’ water polo team had a record of 9-11, but last season was a turning point, with the squad going 16-12. They finished third in the Central Suburban League and were one goal away from advancing to the Sectional finals. The team has carried that success into the start of this season.

As of April 12, the team is 12-1, including winning the Maine South Tournament, which took place on March 16.

Tyler Gooding, an All-Conference member last year, feels the success can be attributed to the team’s experience.

“What’s unique about this year’s team is that we are very experienced because all the upperclassmen returning are varsity members,” said Gooding. “It’s special to be a part of this group because not only do you make new friends, but you’re part of a team and you accomplish goals that everyone has.”

The experience not only comes

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14 SouthwordS

from the fact that most varsity players have three or four years of playing under their belt, but from the offseason training as well.

“Because a majority of our team did off-season training this year, our team has become a lot more experienced,” said senior defender Maddi Steiner. “We don’t have to keep going over basic plays anymore, and it allows us to be able to move on to more complex strategies.”

One obstacle the team had to overcome was losing All-Conference goalie April Simpson.

“We came into this season with no goalie because our goalie graduated, so that was a big challenge for us,” said senior Iza Matczuk, an AllConference performer. “A few people have stepped up, Anne Pavlis and Anna Graziano, and they turned out to be amazing.”

“I feel like every game I get a little better as goalie,” said Pavlis. “I learn from my mistakes and know not to repeat them. Having experience as a field player also helps me because I know what players are thinking when

they shoot.”

Second-year coach Sarah Gershon, the swim coach at Waukegan, knows this team has the potential to do big things.

“I hope that we continue to improve and have a strong showing at the conference tournament,” she said.

The only loss for the team this year has come at the hands of New Trier, on March 21. The team will have another shot at beating them during the conference tournament.

“I’m definitely looking forward to facing New Trier again this year,” said sophomore Kalin Bender, the sole addition to this year’s varsity squad. “Our girls are going to come ready to win!”

T h e t e am’s c h e m i s t r y an d motivation have led to their success.

“We work together and encourage each other,” said Matczuk. “Without that, it would be hard to accomplish anything. It is really important for us to work together even if we have problems with each other outside of the water. When we jump into the

pool, all problems are gone and we work with each other.”

Other strengths of the team include the players’ speed and endurance, which are partly attributed to the fact that many of the girls are also on the swim team. “[Our speed] has helped us keep up with a lot of other teams that we have faced,” Steiner said.

Most importantly, the team believes they must show a positive attitude towards the game and their opponents.

“My team is very dedicated to this sport and everyone wants to win as many games as possible,” Gooding stated. “Along with dedication, we are also hardworking. We have practice every day and each practice we condition and work on plays constantly. But my team is very mature. Even if we win by a large margin, we are very humble.”

The team will compete in the conference tournament on May 3 and 4 at Glenbrook South. The week after, the team will head to Fenwick for the Sectional competition.

photo by jessica gronke

April 19, 2013 | SPORTS

Mrs. Roddick-Small P.E. Department

W The water polo team waits for the opening whistle against Highland Park on April 9. The Hawks won the game 17-1.

Boys’ water polo keeps on winning Hope Allchin & TJ Zajac

Sports Editor & Staff Writer t is easy to forget that boys’ water polo is a young program at Maine South. The team has only been in existence for five seasons, during which it has grown into a serious contender. With several tournament wins and a 13-2 record, the team is looking better than ever.

The season started off with a win against perennial opponent St. Charles East and a first place finish in the Maine East Invite for the third straight year after beating Buffalo Grove, Niles West, Northside College Prep, and BradleyBourbonnais in the final. The victories continued in the coming weeks against Maine East, Deerfield, and Glenbrook North.

The team’s first loss came at the hands of New Trier right before spring break when the same team that knocked last year’s team out of Sectionals broke Maine South’s perfect record.

“They played well, and we did not quite answer the challenge as effectively as we could have,” said Head Coach Deger.

The Hawks will likely have another chance to face New Trier in either a conference or sectional championship.

“It was a hard loss, especially since it was at home and the margin was 16-8,” said junior Makai DeNeve-Arnum. “We will no doubt face them in the post-season. The number of people at that game was exciting and would be nice to have at upcoming games.”

The team also placed first in the Husky-Gren Shootout where they defeated Hersey, Maine East, and Andrew to take home the tournament win.

In an impressive 17-1 victory against Highland Park on April 9, the team added to its win streak.

“Ryan Pattullo and Makai’s excellent offense allowed for a quick lead against Highland Park,” said senior Brian Touhy. “It was a defensive masterpiece and a great game all around.”

The team consists of 12 seniors, 5 juniors, and 1 sophomore. They are led by seniors Kyle Christie, Matt Kramer, Ryan Pattullo, and goalie Brian Orzech, sophomore Phil Wachowski, and DeNeve-Arnam, who is the team’s leading scorer with 44 goals and 24 assists this season. The team

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has a deeper bench as well.

“Underclassmen have really been stepping up so far this season,” said Kramer. “They’ve been showing that we can be very dangerous if we all play as a team at our best ability, and I believe that if they keep up this play we can make a deep run.”

The players’ dedication to both the team and the sport has allowed the program to develop much faster than predicted. More than half of the current team members have participated in a summer league in addition to other off-season training.

“They have taken it upon themselves to get better in the off-season which has made us a better team and a better program,” said Coach Deger. “They continue to learn and my hope is that that is being seen by the JV guys. They have played together for a long time and have watched the program become successful because they have invested themselves into it.”

The program is thinking of the season as a series of small steps, but one of their major goals is to improve upon last year’s 23-7 record.

“So far this season, our most significant game was against New Trier,” said senior John Moran.

“Even though we lost, it gave us a reference point as to where we stand and what we have to do to get better. The main goal for this season is to beat them, which is a difficult but attainable goal. If we can beat them, we can become conference champions for the first time in school history.”

After a recent loss to Glenbrook South, the team is preparing for games against Evanston and Niles West, the Metea Valley Tournament, and match-ups against powerhouse teams like Fremd and St. Charles North. And in the back of every player’s mind is the possibility of a conference championship, a successful sectional, and a shot at the state tournament.

“We hope to make it to the Sectional Finals this year which would give us a state berth,” said Coach Deger. “Anything we can pick up along the way will be great. To take the conference or sectional would be a dream that, if it came true, would be absolutely awesome for a little team that just started five years ago. Whatever happens, I just want the guys to play hard, keep learning, and to enjoy the experience and camaraderie.”

Mrs. Roddick-Small was an outside defender at University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. She is the assistant varsity soccer coach at Maine South, and also teaches P.E. and Health classes.

PHOTO COURTESY MRS. RODDICK-SMALL

OFF THE DEEP END

hile college athletics can be an intimidating prospect for high school students, Mrs. Roddick-Small believes that confidence and determination are key factors in overcoming the difficulties of participating in a college sport.

“If there is any part of you that would like to pursue college athletics, go for it,” said Mrs. Roddick-Small. “You can find a program that plays at a level you are comfortable being a part of. You might be surprised at how you shape up compared to the rest of the talent out there, so don’t sell yourself short.”

For Mrs. Roddick-Small, that program was at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. Although she knew that she would not get scholarships for playing at the Division 3 level, she decided to play because she loved the game. She also knew everything that she had to do to accomplish her goal and be successful at the collegiate level.

“Once I realized that it was something that I really wanted to do, to have soccer be a part of my future, I began to understand the importance of hard work, both physically and mentally,” said Mrs. Roddick-Small. “I wanted to get all I could out of each situation, both in practice and in games. I was a pretty driven kid.”

Today, Mrs. Roddick-Small is the assistant girls’ varsity soccer coach, and she also served as an assistant college coach where she spent a lot of time recruiting prospective players.

Playing a sport in college is not an easy task; looking back, Mrs. Roddick-Small never thinks of the hard practices, but instead all of the great opportunities she was given, and memories that were made.

“I was pushed way past my own comfort zone, and it was only then that I figured out my potential—not just in soccer, but in life.”

SouthwordS 15

BASEBALL | BADMINTON | LACROSSE | BOYS’GYMNASTICS | GIRLS’SOCCER | TRACK | BOYS’TENNIS | SOFTBALL | WATER POLO | BOYS’VOLLEYBALL

Hope Allchin Sports Editor

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ccomplishing unprecedented success this season, the girls’ badminton team already has three tournament wins, earning first place at the Rolling Meadows Doubles Invite, the East Aurora invite, and Maine South’s own Hawk Invite.

“We’ve never had a season where we won so many tournaments and started off with such a great record,” said head coach, Mrs. Muir-Wilson. “This is the first time we’ve ever won more than one invite in the 12 years that I have been the varsity coach.”

The Hawks have a current record of 5-1-1 in addition to their tournament appearances.

“We’ve never had a season where we won so many tournaments and started off with such a great record,” said Coach Muir-Wilson.

With 10 seniors on the 14-member team, the squad is composed of many experienced players.

“The majority of seniors are playing their second year on varsity,” said senior Meghan Salgia. “We have a team with a lot of experience.

Captains Salgia and senior Rebecca Klages are first and second singles on the team, respectively, and both have winning records.

“They’re both very strong players who do well with placement and be aggressive with their opponents,” said Coach Muir-Wilson.

Other standout players include senior captain Rinya Kamber and her partner senior Natalie Michalski, who are the number one pair in doubles, and senior Sharon Shim and junior Maddy Gaertner, the second doubles team.

“I think the amount of experience and talent on the team this year has led us and will lead us to great wins,” said Salgia. “We have already won first place at all three of the tournaments we have played in, and we defeated Glenbrook South earlier this season, which was a big win for us.”

Although the team is in a tough sectional, they are hoping for conference success and would like to finish in the top four. Another goal is to advance both singles players and doubles teams to state.

“Badminton can be a bit of a mind game at times,” said Kamber. “It’s important to have good support to stay

composed when matches get tough.”

Despite these challenges, the team is staying positive as the post-season approaches.

“The season has gone really well so far,” continued Kamber. “I know it’s the best team I’ve seen in my four years here. We love surprising Coach Muir with our success—she’s always so proud of us. We have some really hard workers who always stay so determined, even with all the stress of making college decisions for our seniors and ACT prep for our juniors.”

“I am very pleased with the season so far and how well the girls have played,” said Coach Muir-Wilson. “They have worked hard during practice and it is showing in their games.

Despite these challenges, the team is staying positive as the post-season approaches and hoping that all of their hard work and practice pay off in regional competition.

The team is also looking forward to continuing its success in future seasons.

“We have good players that will be moving up next year,” said Klages.

“The juniors that are on this team will certainly be able to take over.”

PHOTO by jessica gronke

Badminton earns tournament victories

HEADS UP

Senior Sharon Shim practices for the team’s upcoming match against New Trier. The team has already placed first in three tournaments this year.

Young lacrosse team is excited for the future Katherine Miles Staff Writer

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hen the Maine South’s 21-member Girls’ Varsity Lacrosse team thinks about its goals for the season, success immediately comes to mind.

“Our team is good,” said freshman midf ielder Kat ie Har p er. “O ur chemistry is good. We give 100% effort at everything we do and we want to win.”

Lacrosse is in its infancy at Maine South as this will be the just third year for Maine South girls’ club lacrosse team. And while the season has just begun, junior captain Lauren Hendry is confident that this will be a great year for the lacrosse team.

“We are a lot more organized this

year and a lot more prepared,” said Hendry. “Last year, we were just thrown together. This year, I believe that we have a lot more confidence and we work together well.”

The Hawks are two games into the season, unfortunately having lost to both Glenbrook South and then Glenbard West. However, the season is just getting started, and there is no lack of competition. Maine South will face great lacrosse programs such as New Trier, Evanston, Conant, and Regina.

“I look forward to playing the teams that we came close to last year, like Conant, Regina, Northside Prep, and Highland Park,” said sophomore midfielder Kristen Schulze. “I have high hopes for our team this year and I know we can do really well and compete with

these teams.”

The team usually practices between two and four hours every day. A typical practice involves lots of running and various drills, such as the Star Drill.

This requires the girls to form the points of a star and throw the ball to each other.

“It takes lots of focus, but it definitely helps with coordination and catching,” said junior Jenny Swanson.

The team does many defensive and offensive drills to improve their skills and quickness.

“We run a lot,” emphasized junior midfielder Annie Paoletti.

But l a c ro s s e i s n’t a l l ab out running. It involves lots of teamwork, encouragement, and control. The Maine South lacrosse team is all about

communication; they get along great together, both on and off the field.

“We’re like sisters,” says Paoletti. “We make fun of each other, but at the same time we know we’re teammates.”

“I really like how we are a family,” said Swanson. “We bond so well; it makes playing the game easier when everyone gets along.”

Interestingly, there is only one senior on Maine South’s varsity team.

Senior captain Claire Cooney has been playing lacrosse for Maine South for three years.

“I like making new friends and I love being able to improve on my game each year,” said Cooney.

“We are going to improve more and more as the season goes on,” said Hendry. “I’m excited for the future.”