Vol 9 issue 11

Page 1

Vol. 9, No. 11

Maine Township High School South, Park Ridge, III. 60068

Mar. 16,1973

Walkout Over; Mixed Feelings Remain

Contest Speakers Team took first place in Sweepstakes competition and w i l l now compete in Sectionals at Woodstock High School March 17. They are, left to right, f i r s t r o w : Karia Jennings, Nancy Goore, Becky B u f o r d ; second row: M a r t i Glendening, Bill Meier, Gary Grandolph. Rick T i n a g l i a ; top r o w : Scott Brownson, M a r y Rebedeau, Bob Leonard, Tom Peters. Not pictured is Kim Hartl.

Team Wins Districts; Goes on to Sectionals Maine South emerged victorious March 3 as the school swept the IHSA Speech-Drama District Contest at Maine South, winning first place award plaques in both individual events and in dramatic competition. The Maine South section of the auditorium broke into wild cheers as, in the individual events category. Rick Tinaglia '73 was awarded first place in dramatic interpretation, Nancy Moore '75 was awarded first place in prose, Karla Jennings '74 won first place in oratory. Bob Leonard '74 won second place in original comedy, and Gary Grandolph '74 won third place in radio. In addition, Maine South's contest play "The Winners", a cutting from the play "Lovers", also won first place. Starring Scott Brownson '73, Mary Rebedeau '74. Tom Peters '73 and - Kim Hartl '73, "The Winners" was the first experience any of the cast has had in a co-curricular dramatic production, according to director Mr. Hal Chastain. "We're aU very proud of the quality of the performance. We're basically looking for a top-quality performance at the Sectional contest," he added. Now the school is looking forward to sectional competition at Woodstock High School, to be held on March 17 for Individual Events and on March 24 for Drama and Debate.

Debate team, headed by Mr. David Lavelle, will enter the contest in sectional competition. The two varsity debate teams, composed of Jim Scott '73 and Bill Baumgartner '73 and of Paula Uscian '73 and Carol Lischett '73, are two of the most successful teams in the state statistically. The debate team has worked on one topic throughout the year, whether the federal government should finance all public education. The team will also use this highly controversial topic for Sectionals. Jim Scott says that "there is an excellent chance for both teams to place out of sectionals and go to state finals." (CONTINUED ON PAGE 3>

SC Election Turnout Poor "I was very disappointed at the low turnout. It was the lowest 1 can recall in the history of Maine South." Mike Eberle, Organizations chairman, is speaking about the number of students who voted in the Student Council election. Students who voted numbered 1126 or 33.5 per cent. The results are as follows. For president, Brad Stach received 693 and Jeff Smith 381. For vice-president, Tom Schaeffer received 861 and others 265. Alan Robandt received 527 and

Dean Denounces Paper; Feels It Twists Facts' Mr. Elbert Smith, dean of students, denounced a Chicago Tribune article about him as a "twisting of the facts." The article stated that Mr. Smith disrupted a Workshop on Student Discipline by walking out. Mr. Smith said, "This is essentially what happened. But I left at the end of the program. The first speaker was Mr. Patrick Keenen, a lawyer who talked about due process of law." "He was telling the 150 educators there that they knew nothing about running a school," Mr. Smith continued. "We didn't like what he was saying, but we sat through it." The program continued with speaker's of views opposing Mr. Keenan's. According to Mr. Smith, Mr. Keenan was rude to the other speakers during the presentation. When the program was over, Mr, Keenan requested rebuttal time.

The walkout is over, but it has left some lasting impressions. Participating students have mixed feelings. Jan Bohan '75, a protestor, said, "I walked out because I think there should be a smoking lounge, and I don't like teachers in the washrooms. We only accomplished making the problem more noticeable." "I don't think it was worth it," Jan continued. " T h e r e weren't enough people. Those that came were too unorganized and afraid to do anything." Another participant, Jim Conroy '73, had this comment to make: "I walked out for a smoking lounge. Other schools have them. We brought the problem to the attention of the administration, but I don't think we accomplished anything." Ann Brumbach '74 commented, "I don't smoke. I was protesting teachers in the washrooms. It's like having guards." "We didn't prove anything," Ann concluded. "Five hundred kids started out but only 150 stuck it out. There weren't enough people to back up our protests." One of the student spokesmen was Mike Springston '73. "As I see it," Mike said, "placing teachers in the washrooms is the first step in a crack down on the students by the deans. Next they'll close the lounge and do away with hall passes." "I'm not sure yet whether the effects are positive or negative," Mike continued. "We brought the issue out in the

"The rebuttal was not listed on the program," Mr. Smith commented. "As far as I was concerned, the program was over. I wasn't the only person who felt that way. Nobody wanted to hear this man tell him that after years of experience he knows nothing about handling students." "Since the program was officially over, I got up to go out to the back and get my coat," Mr. Smith continued. Mr. Ron Ritchhart, the president of the State Dean's Association, wanted to talk to Mr. Smith after the program. After he got his coat, Mr. Smith went to the front where Mr. Ritchhart was sitting and told him he was leaving. Then he walked out of the room. "A Tribune reporter was sitting there and saw me," Smith said. "He blew the facts out of proportion." "I left," Mr. Smith insisted, "But only when the program was over."

Vince Clemens 306, Dean Williams 108, Roger Burton 130, and other 55, in the election for treasurer. The last three results were write-ins. For secretary, Mary Rebedcau received 899. New President Brad Stach wants, first to meet with the other officers and discuss and combine our platforms. I'd hope to improve participation and organization to create a good council." He would also like to define the duties of committee chairman and reschedule council back into the school day. Brad also hopes to set up a Task Force which would investigate student problems. He'd also like to create an Appeals Board. "I'm striving to fulfill the obligation of my platform, although 1 made no promises," stated Brad. "We're now working on an unopcn-open campus with Principal Clyde K. Watson. This would allow a permanent hall pass for juniors and seniors. The problem arises as to which students should get this privilege: if it should be those on the honor roll, or those who haven't been suspended in the last two semesters," stated Tom Schaeffer, Student Council Vice-President. Tom would also like to have spare ID's in the dean's office. He'd also like to see more people involved in quad-council. Now only the president and two council members can attend meetings. "I'd also like to improve publicity and the Public Relations committee," stated Tom. Mary Rebedeau stated, "We haven't had much time to think about plans' since we were just noUfied."

open. A plan for student supervision passed by Student Council is now in front of the executive board. We'll have to wait and see what happens." Mr. Elbert Smith, dean of students, told the administrative side of the story. "What actually happened at the walkout," Mr. Smith commented, "was that students refused to go to homeroom and blocked the hall after being warned several times to move." "The students were pimished with three, five, and ten-day suspensions depending on how vocal and uncooperative they acted," Mr. Smith continued. "Washroom supervision won't change. The administrators have found a solution that works (vandalism, smoking, d r u g s have all been reduced.) and they'll stick to it until a better plan comes along," Mr. Smith concluded. "We'U be happy to let students try supervising the washrooms as soon as they come up with a workable plan," he added. Faculty members had a more detached viewpoint of the walkout. Mr. Patton Feichter, of the social science department commented, "The walkout o n l y proved that the students were disorganized and immature. The hasty cracks they made standing in the hall proved that." "Unfortunately, some of the freshmen that got involved in this didn't understand what they were doing," Mr. Feichter added. "They were misled by people who overly impressed them." Mr. Leslie Kent, a science teacher, expressed another view saying, "The students were divided. Some thought walking out would be fun, and they took advantage of the situation." "Because of the division," Mr. Kent concluded, "I think the sincere students were glad they did it. But for the most

part, though, students didn't feel it was worth it." Mr. C. Lane Anderson, of the science department, introduced a new aspect. He commented, "The walkout tended to polarize the administration and the kids, but the kids got involved and that's good." "As for the punishment," Mr. .Anderson continued, "By second-hand observation I would say it wasn't deserved. I think in many cases suspensions were issued too easily." "I feel the administration overreacted," Mr. Anderson concluded. "But I can't say I wouldn't do the same thing in that situation."

Applicants Await Word from AFS BY PrisciUa Condon It's only a matter of time before AFS applicants Fredericka Birke '74 and Sue Curda '74 find out if they're off to some wild, exotic, faraway country. The AFS office in N.Y. will make the final decision "very soon," said Mrs. Kerr, Chairman of the Park Ridge Chamber of AFS. They've screened all the applicants, and we're waiting to hear from them shortly." Sue and Fred were picked from 25 applicants for the AFS program, sponsored by the Park Ridge AFS. The N.Y. AFS office carefully screens the students and finds the "right" family for them to stay with in another country. The students pay $850 for transportation costs. Part of these costs is defrayed through fundraising projects by the Park Ridge AFS Chapter. One project, "Share the Fare," raised under $100. "Oui next project is a pizza sale,'' said Mrs. Kerr. "'The one before was very successful." The next pizza sale is scheduled for this spring.

Washington Delegates

s Washington Workshop Delegates are top, left to right; Barb Baumgartner, Dave Cartwright. Alternates are bottom, left to r i g h t ; Nancy Swider and Phil Cagney.


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