Vol 26 issue 5

Bringing the world to IVIaine South

Q ommentary

American freedoms aren't everywhere

by Joelle Busby Join me in a day in the life of Jane Doe, a seventeen-year-old rebellious girl. Her hair is high, her top is low, and her jeans are cut to the point where any young boy's mind is bound to wander a bit. Tuesday in homeroom, her teacher hands her a dreaded green slip. She walks down the lonely hallway to hell...I mean the dean's office, and she is face to face with Dean Bitta.

"Young lady, you are inappropriately dressed for school. You have on way too much clothing!"

Now, before you dismiss this as my gross imagination, a similar incident happened in Paris when three North African girls decided to wear Moslem head coverings to junior high school. Not a fashion statement, but a serious religious belief, a freedom that many of us take for granted

The controversy started in October at Creil, forty miles north of Paris, when the three girls were told by the principal that they could not wear their head coverings to school.

Is not clothing a way of expressing yourself? Is not the fact that we are allowed to discuss rehgion in school an important issue?

The principal states that he is only applying French regulations against religion in school.

After reading this, I felt like pulling out an American flag, and sing "God Bless America!" It also made me aware of how we, as Americans, take so much for granted.

Freedom of speech!! Freedom of religion!!

True, a specific religion cannot be taught in public schools. The fact that we are allowed to debate issues regarding religion is insurance of our freedom.

Standing up for what we believe in! Instead of complaining about what we don't have, let's

think about the value of what we do have.

If there are enough passivists out there who believe someone else will take care of all the world's problems, Jane Doe might be you! Are you ready to be criticized for what you believe in?

...sometimes not even here

by Chuck Cycholl It seems that of late, our personal freedom has been rapidly sliding into the dark crevice of non-existence. Freedom to me is of a most intrisic nature, a vmt essentiality. Now, this great utterance of freedom is not just a word, buta concept; one which is unfortunately held only by a tiny fraction of the earth' s populace.

On such an earth, the masses of an oppressed and dictated nation look to the United States as a bastion of democracy and stability. It is our responsibility to the less fortunate individuals of these countries to be unified in our beliefs and set solid political goals. This nation was forged on an anvil of democracy by the hammer of hope. One of the most important insurances against despotic rule is our Constitution's fu^st amendment. An event has taken place here at our school which questions the validity of our precious right to freedom.

One of our fellow students was taken into the Dean's office by a security guard. It seems that the student was wearing a t-shirt which was embossed with a swastika, which was covered by the circular and banded "no" symbol. Now, it has always been my understanding that it is a dean's job to enforce the politics, not to make them up as they go along.

What if a dean had a personal vandetta against the color red or black? What do you think?

Letter to editor praises fans, others After an incredibly successful year, we would creating those neat banners. like to thank the following people: *The trainers, who helped the "walking *Mr. Dezurko, for working us so hard in wounded" before games and practice. the off-season and putting in all his *Mr. Johnson, for keeping outstanding effort for our team. statistics. *Mr. Pappas and Mr. Don "Bon" *Mr. Cienkus and Mr. Runblad for Johnswald, for assisting the team at video taping the games. games and helping with coaching •^Subway, who provided delicious meals after a hard day's practice or duties. game. *The administration, who gave us a *And especially to the loyal fans, who great field to play on in the Regionals. watched game ofter game and gave us •The Fish incredible support and spirit. *The Hawk Boosters, who provided us with the "No guts, no glory" T-shirts. Thanks to each player, fan, and Hawk, who *The cheerleaders, who stuffed us with made this season the most memorable ever. cookies and brownies after games.

Sincerely, *Pep Club, for going out of their way to the Maine South Varsity Soccer tepee our houses at midnight and Team

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GREG BfiRRmGTO)^

commentary

^Condemned to repeat the past?

by Matt Krause On October 15th, the Chicago Tribune published a humanities test that was given to 1,200 college seniors across the country. According the the Tribune, "Some 55 percent of the seniors flunked the test, getting less than 60 percent of the answers right Another 20 percent would have received a D by answering only 60 the 70 percent of the questions correctly." This study, without a doubt, says a lot

about education in America. I'm not saying that the educators should be blamed for this general lack of knowledge in the world's history and literaturefields,but I'm sure that they have some influence on it The major problem, obviously, is the student himself.

I think that it is very important that we, the leaders of tomorrow's world, should know more about the earth on which we live. As

George Santayana so wisely said,"Those who do not know history are condemned to repeat it." I find it very asinine to make the same mistakes over and over again, and not learn from our past.

Now, it's your turn to compare your knowledge ofhistory and literature with those of your peers. Have fun!!

A test on the How much do you know?

Are the following phrases part of the Constitution?

15. "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country." a. Yes b.No 16. "We, the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union..." a. Yes b. No 17. "From each according to his ability, to each according to his need." a. Yes b.No 18. "No person except a natural bom citizen...shall be eligible to the Office of the President." a. Yes b.No 19. "Government of the people, by the people, and for the people shall not perish from the Earth." a. Yes b.No 20. "Citizens...have the right to work,...the right to health protection,...the right to housing." a. Yes b. No ' To find out your score, simply add up the number of correct answers, and use the following scale: A: 20-18 c. 1850-1900 B: 17-16 13. Who was the leader of the Soviet Union 5. The Koran is the sacred text of...

C: 15-14 when the United States entered World War II? a. Buddhism D: 13-12 a. Yuri Gagarin b. Islam F: 11 and below correct b. Joseph Stalin c. Hinduism c. Nikita Khrushchev k 6. The region of Asia known as "the cradle of f-q)-Oc Cq)f llili:!;::: 14. The author of "Paradise Lost" and "Samr civilization" is...

(•q)'/,i (•(0-91 (•<!)• Si *'3)'l!lffi£1-:^ son Agonistes" is... a. Egypt C3)T1 ('q) U ^'^y()\ ('IOT) (-nys (-a)-/. a. Joseph Conrad b. Stonehenge (•0)-9 {•q)-g (•q)-i? Vv)'i (•c)-^ Cq)'! c. Mesopotamia b. James Joyce :S^aaAVSMY 7. The rupture within Christianity that rec. John Milton 1. In addition to writing plays, Shakespeare suited in the first Protestant churches is also wrote more than 100 poems in the form of known as... the... a. the Great Awakening b. the Puritan Revolution a. ballad c. the Reformation b. sonnet 8. What are the first ten amendments to the code Constitution called? a. Bill of Rights 2. A central episode in the Anglo-Saxon epic b. Mayflower Compact "Beowulf involves a... c. Articles of Confederation a. hero's battle with the monster Gren 9. The Bolshevik Revolution of 1917 was led del b. group of people trying to escape the by... a. Lenin plague b. Stalin c. young boy's battle against a giant c. Czar Nicholas II 3. In Greek mythology, Prometheus was 10. In which time period was the First World chained to a rock as punishment for...

War? a. stealingfirefromthe gods and giving a. 1800-1850 it to mortals b. 1850-1900 b. killing a sacred animal in defiance of c. 1900-1950 religious laws c. spreading false rumors about Zeus 11. At the Battle of Hastings in 1066... a. the House of York triumphed over the 4. What is the novel "1984" about?

House of Lancaster a. The destruction of the human race by b. the Normans won a major victory nuclear war over the English b. A dictatorship in which every citizen c. the military superiority of infantry was watched in order to over cavalry was established 12. In which time period was the Civil War? stamp out all individuality a. 1750-1800 c. The invasion and ultimate takeover of b. 1800-1850 the Earth by creaturesfromouter space

features

Paraguay sends Maria with a smile

by Jim Rogers One of the three AFS students currendy attending Maine South from abroad is Maria Perez, a senior from Asuncion, Paraguay.

Maria comes from a family offiveand has one 14 year-old sister and one 16 year-old sister in Asuncion.

Here, she is hosted by the Camphora family, which "I like...very much," says Maria with a smile. With the Camphoras, she has a 21 year-old brother and a younger sister. The brother is currendy attending college, and the sister, Maria Camphora, is currendy a junior here at South.

Talking about the school system in Paraguay, Maria explains to us that it is significantly different. Only six years are devoted to the primary educational system, contrary to eight years in the United States. Also different about the Paraguayan school system is the fact that six years are required to complete their secondan' education. Even though she is now

a senior at South, she will have 1/2 a year of secondary education to complete once she returns to Paraguay.

Maria, because of her background at a small private school in Paraguay, says of South, "It is so much bigger, like the colleges at home. Here, the teachers stay in the classes and the students move, while at home the teachers move while the students stay in the same classes."

Anodier change for Maria is that, "Here it seems as though sports are everything. At home, to the school, sports are not considered very important."

Some of Maria's interests are in computers, art, Spanish, and soccer. This can be seen as she participates in both Spanish Club and Ecology Club, and enjoys playing soccer with friends after school.

Maria looks forward to die rest her year at Here at Maine Southfrom Asuncion,ParaSouth, and hopes it will be as fun as the first guay, Maria enjoys playing soccer with two months have been for her. friends and singing in the Concert Choir.

Winnie says'Ciiow' to Hong Kong

by Chris Sosnowski

Living with another family always proves Winnie recieved her AFS application to be a challenge atfirst,but Winnie says diat dirough her father, who works at a bank. This she already feels welcome living with her host particular bank provides money for students family, the Larsons. The Larsons have one involved in the AFS program. AFS decides son, Scott, and two daughters, Susan and where die student will go. Winnie had six difBarbara. In Hong Kong she has two brothers, ferent countries she could have gone to: Wai Kei Chow and Wai Kin Chow.

America, England, New Zealand, Japan, AusWhen Winnie is not involved in student tralia, or Canada. council at Maine South, she says, "I just like to sit and watch television." On weekends in Hong Kong, just Uke in America, Winnie and her friends go to see movies. When asked what she was going to do when she got back, she replied, "I have to take my junior year over." Winnie, unlike the rest of us, has to wait until she is 18 years old to legally drive.

Winnie stresses how different die living Winnie has taken 13 years of EngUsh, but conditions are between the U.S. and Hong she says that talking with people is still very Kong.

She says diat the houses in U.S. are difficult She also says diat while she is getting much larger then die usual apartments in used to South, students here have been treatHong Kong.

Also, die distances between ing her okay. Reflecting on die classes here at places here are much greater. In Hong Kong Soudi that she is taking, she says that it is everydiing is within walking distance, where "easier to get an "A" here dian back in Hong as here we have to drive to the mall, or Kong." wherever our destination may be.

Her school in Hong Kong arranges die The one main point that Winnie wants to students schedules for them, unlike Maine stress is that, "People in Hong Kong don't South, where our schedules are more elasdc.

After she finishes high school, Winnie says speak Japanese, they speak Cantonese[ a that "if I do good enough, I'll go on to col- form of Chinese]." She also wants to thank evlege." She hopes to major in bioscience. eryone for their cooperation and friendliness Pui Shan "Winnie" Chow has become oneWhen asked about Uie type of career she hopes in helping her adjust to the American life style. to pursue, she says she like to be an anisL more smiling face here at Maine South.

Pui Shan "Winnie" (the American name she has chosen for herself) Chow, has been an AFS student from Hong Kong in the United States for a little over two and a half months.

During these months she has been to many places, die best of which, in her opinion, were Wisconsin and Downtown Chicago.

"/ just like to sit and watcti television"

peatures

•Maine South vs. Spain: an AFS view

by Chans Runnels

Luis Bustillo, a Maine South AFS student A. The thing that amazes me is the this year, reflects on some of the differencesweather. I live in the south of Spain and I have between the United States and his home in never seen snow falling. The time that it snowed I thought it very beautiful.

Spain.

Q. Why didyou decide to come to the U.S. ? Q. What differences are there between the A. The United States is the dream for most schools in Spain and Maine South?

A. The high schools here are good and bad people from Spain. That is why I come here. in comparison to those in Spain. Schools here Q. How much American influence is thereare more strict in the respect that the students in Spain? in Spain have more personal freedoms while A. People from Spain see stuff from the they are at school.

United States all the time. We see American clothes, hear your music. I like to come here to Q. What difference have you noticed in learn about it. people here in America?

A. Americans are very uptight. You Q. Do you miss Spain? should not worry so much about tomorrow.

A. Not while I am at school, I do not miss Improvise and create. it, but when I come home I miss my brother and my Mom and Dad. My brother is 19. My Q. What problems have you encountered? dad is a banker and my mom is a housewife.

A. The only problems that I have encounBut there are a lot more women working today tered are those of language. In Europe, Engthen there used to be. 1 think this is very good. lish is the key to communication. I am glad to Luis Bustillo, AFS Student from Spain, is have this opportunity to live here and learn. I involved in Student Council and V-show here Q. Is there anything that seems strange tolove the United Slates and I love Maine South! you here in America? at South.

We're under attack...again!!!

by Amy Huser

Crunch.. .crunch.. .crunch. ..crunch.. .crunch, is the sound you will be hearing soon, this coming summer as a matter of fact.

That sound that comes every 17 years is the sound of the cicada (locust) shells under foot.

A pleasant thought, isn't it? Well, the thought of hundreds of BIG, BLACK bugs with BULGING RED eyes, and RED VEINS on their orange wings,flyingaround my neighborhood certainly thrills me to no end, let me tell you.

It's the classic love story: guy meets girl, guy mates with girl, girl lays eggs in tree.

Mark your calendars! They should infest our humble dwellings in mid-May or June, and hand around a couple of weeks to check out the sites.

These locusts hatched 17 years ago, and have been in the ground since 1973. The cicadas come out of the ground, climb the u-ees, shed their skin, wait for their wings to dry, then fly to the treetops. Then the guy locusts sing th the girl locusts to attract them.

Now if you were a female locust, would that annoying sound attract you?

When the guy (locust) gets the girl (locust) they mate. The female deposits the eggs in the tree, then the locusts die. It's the classic love story: guy meets girl, guy mates with girl, girl lays eggs in tree.

The problem is the enormous number of cicadas. Each female lays a large number of eggs and they have been known to harm trees and shrubs because of the number of females laying their eggs at the same time.

There are no insecticides available to use against the cicadas, although they do have natural enemies such as birds. But even birds can't keep such a population explosion in check. So much for the ultimate love story.

An interesting note to the cicada saga; the U.S. Open will be played at Medinah Country Club in June. It should be fun to watch the greats U7ing to concentrate with that irritating buzzing going on.

••J

W "

Southwords Southwards is the student-produced newspaper of Maine South High School, Park Ridge, IL. I>«tlers to the editor should be delivered lo room V430 or given to a member of the editorial stafT" below. Southwards reserves the right to edit Icttens containing obscene or libelous- material.

ICditor-in-chief.

.,.Nata,sha Slddiqui

News editor Associate News etlitor Commentary editors

Maureen Sheehan Imran Slddiqui Natalie Kuehn Matl Krause Features editor Charis Runnels Associate Features editor...Chris Sosnovvski Sports editors .Amy Hust^ Tom Lin Production editor ...Jim Salsakorn ; Photo/Art editors f>rrg Harrington Josh Anderson Adviser

T, R. Kerth

features

Travel opens a world of exotic# If there's one thing I love doing the most in my free time, it's travelling. You've already heard itfromMaine Southers who have gone overseas and excitedly explained their experiences and you'll hear it from fpreign exchange students coming to the U.S. So why travel, you may ask? If not to fulfill a burning desire to discover and see different wonders of the world, then just to experience the thrill of travelling. We definitely learn more by travelling than reading about places on a one-dimensional page. Seeing monuments of the past and living in a different culture brings life and reality to facts learned from a book.

I was fascinated in my travels overseas when I learned about the exotic nature of Australia, the culture of different provinces in India and the mystical history of Egypt.

Though the three countries are totally different regions of the world, they have all made lasting impressions on me.

Exotic Australia is beautiful with its large desert in the center and west, mild greenery in the south, lush variety of marine animals on the east coast and its dangerous marshlands in the northern territory.

The exotic landscape of Ayers Rock is a magnificent sight when its plateau changes from shades of yellow to orange to brown to a deep red during sunsets. Also inviting are the national parks that alio w animals to be viewed in their natural habitats. Eventhough I had to stay in my car when I visited the Lion Park, I was able to get close enough to a few kangaroos and wallabies so that I could feed them while they roamed around in a natural conservation. Equally fascinating was seeing animals only found in Australia, the duck-billed platypus and the spiny anteater.

Cockatoos, kookaburras and parrots stole the animal shows I attended, with their sharp wit in imitating people and their beautiful feathers which displayed a myriad of colors.

But still, my favorite animals are the koala bears. In the Lone Pine Sanctuary in Brisbane, I held a sleepy, medium sized koala bear while it clung to my shirt. Its fur was soft and thick and it smelled heavily of eucalyptus from its last meal off of a eucalyptus tree.

Most parks don't allow them to be held, though, since they like to keep them wild and untamed.

Along the east coast, the advanced underwater life in the Great Barrier Reef dominated my interests. I saw thousands of reefs, humongous and tiny, lying on the oceanfloorwhile I rode a glass-bottom boat. Ominous clams lay open while my tour guide explained how fatal

The marvels of a trip to Australia include Koala bears (right), which can be found nowhere else on the planet, the skyline along Sydney Harbor (below), and a beached blue shark off of Townsville's shore (bottom right).

it would be if anybody got their foot stuck in one by accident. Even more scary was knowing that the waters were unsafe for swimming because of its inhabitants - the sharks! However, I agreed to visit the safe underwater observatories where I saw thousands of species offish,including the colorful parrot fish.

While at Cairns, I took a boat to Green Island to see Oscar, the largest crocodile in captivity. There I realized just how dangerous it would be to be lost in the marshlands of the north since the crocodiles are very good at camouflaging themselves. Luckily, I was also able to see and tough a real blue shark in Townsville, eventhough it was under unfortunate circumstances. For some unknown reason, the blue shark beached itself along the shoreline, making it "drown". But I did get to run my fingertips down its back which felt smooth from head to tail but razor-like in the opposite direction, confirming what I had only read about in biology.

Nature has definitely been prominent in

my memories of Australia, but so is the beauty of Sydney harbor. I love the skyline with its unique Sydney Opera House docked along the harbor and the Sydney Bridge stretching across the the waters. Ferries for "coffee cruises" make the cosmopolitan city picture perfect. The impact Sydney has had on nie, now makes me determined to live and work there someday.

peatur es

nature, culture, and history Contrary to my prior belief, I found that not all of India is arid and dry. India's Kashmir province is filled with ice-peaked mountains and green hills that make the weather chilly, even during the summer. I spent a week in History and culture Gulmarg, a high hill in the Kasmir mountains. spring from the textSurrounded by thick grass, a dozen or so book Into real life In horses and a nearby forest, I stayed in a cabin the form af the Taj equipped with running water and a pot-belly Mahal (right), Egyptian heiroglyphlcs stove. (below), the PyraThe beauty of it all was that it was far from mid of Cheops and any city, with only a few cabins close by, the Great Sphynx beside my own. The only form of technology (below right), and was a small t.v. in the lounge area which was the architecture of New Delhi's buildhardly used, anyway.

The friendly people offered rides to the ings (bottom). snow areas where exhilarating sled rides down an incline were given. And each day, old men would sell fresh strawberries and cherries that they had picked at the dawn of that day.

But the Kashmir mountains are only one of the surprises of India; I also found that there are swampy marshlands. I stayed in a floating houseboat for a week and had fun taking smaller boats to get to the land. Small families i lived in their huts on the edge of the swamp with pens of ducks and chickens.

However, eventhough it was fun to explore India's less known areas, I wanted to visit the city, too. In the capital New Delhi, I found it to be very crowded. The souks, or markets, having slaves buried along with them and were filled with people selling hand car\'ed having maize (com) put in their mouths for wood pieces such as intricately carved leaf their long journey. These practices were done bowls, tea tables and napkin holders. Many to help the pharaohs continue their life after shops sold saris and punjabis, the native dress, death. in a variety of cloths ranging from cotton to By visiting wax museums I learned that .silk. The mouth watering aroma of sam- Pharaoh Akhenaten and his queen, Nefertiti, bouseks and kababs floated through the air. began monotheism by praying to only one Agra was definitely a place I wanted to tour god, Alen, god of the sun disc. Various hieroto see the Taj Mahal, built by Shah Jahan for glyphics also tried to explain the past through his wife. To look inside, I had to take my shoes tional papyrus. off since it's considered a holy place. It's One highly popular, outdoor market I surrounded by four minarets and also has shopped at was the Silver Souk that always atrows of plants in front of it. In a way, it seemed tracts flocks of foreigners. All types of silver unreal. jewelry and silverware are sold by civilians Egypt, the "cradle of civiHzation", was and I even noticed some shops selling Egypwhere I learned a lot from the history attached tian clothes. It wasn't hard to get a good to the famous ruins. The F*yramids of Giza (the bargain,though, since sellers are constantly Pyramids of Cheops, Chephren and Mycer- competing against each other. inus) have been built for the pharaohs at one Australia's exotic land and wildlife, time. I visited the oldest and largest pyramid, India's culture and provinces, and Egypt's the Pyramid of Cheops, which has the Sphinx mystical past have all impressed and taught beside it. At the sight, I learned that it took 30 me through experiences I could never forget. ' years to build the pyramid, with its long, steep Eventhough these are the most significant passages which I found to be claustfophobic. things I have learned, they are, by far, not the The pyramids were geomeu-ically de- only things. I think that travelling, in itself, is signed to give pharaohs eternal life by point- something I have learned a great deal from ing to heaven and the polar star. These phar- and I hope I can travel to many more countries aohs were prepared by being mummified. in the future.

7

peature;

8-

Real-life "Raiders of the Wild Cay"

by Ms. Joyce Albrecht, physical education teacher Jungle mud and sand fleabite speckled I returned last March from two weeks of hard labor and fantastic adventure in the boonies of Belize, a small Central American country.

Wild Cane Cay, a three-acre islet 12 miles off the coast of southern Belize, was my home. There I was in company with six other Earthwatch Reasearch Team volunteers, four archaeologists, and Adel Cabral, the cay's aged Creole owner.

After an hour's flight south from Belize City in a tiny aircraft, our team was greeted in Punta Gorda by Dr. Heather McKillop, one of the project's two Canadian directors. Tanned, tall, and a fit 35, she is a renowned Mesoamerican archaeologist, as is her codirector, Laurie Jackson.

"Don't worry," said Heather as we eyed skeptically the seemingly primitive 34-foot dugout, the expedition's boat. "The Indians have used these canoes for nearly 2,000 years.

There will be lots of freeboard." There was; even with nine passengers, all of our gear, and a week's supply of water, food, gas, and kerosene.

For two hours we motored among mangrove cay s, to our left the distant craggy peaks of the Maya Mountains crowning wild coastal swamp and savanna. At the camp on Wild Cane Cay, under coconut, tamarind, breadfruit, and mango trees, we were greeted by Laurie, Adel, and an army of sand fleas.

My first realization was that we were walking on a litter of potsherds and chips of chert and obsidian. "The whole cay is our site" explained Laurie. "This is the debris of a thousand years (c. 400-1400 AD) of Mayan occupation, first as afishingvilliage, then as a trading port and obsidian workshop."

Over barracuda stew and fried plantain, we gotacquainted. We six Earthwatch volunteers came frcmacross the United States and from very diverse backgrounds. One member of our group, a "perpetual student" was sporting a huge head bandage. "I backed into a fan while killing a cockroach in my Belize City hotel room!" he explained. In addition to the two archaeologists, the project staffers were Paul, a Canadian grad student, and Meredith, a Texan housewife with a M.A. in archaeology.

Next morning. Heather gave us a tour of the cay's six Maya mounds. The one we were to excavate was a small hill of coral and earth that had been dug by earlier teams in a five meter cellar-like hole. Heather pointed out two coral floor levels visible on the sides.

"We are mainly interested in this unique coral construction," she said. "Thesefloorsare for a pole and thatch building similar to modem Maya houses."

Later that morning, Paul showed us how to trowel away the dirt and pan it for screening.

"You are looking for sherds, for charcoal, and for bone," he instructed. We asked if they had found anything but sherds there. "Only onehalf of one jade bead," he said. "These were not rich Mayan, only traders of the 900-1000 AD period after the Maya had stopped building great temple cities like Chicher Itza near Cancun, Mexico."

A short time later Paul unearthed a kneecap

for if the local people heard that gold had been found on the cay, they would certainly come to hunt for treasure and destroy the site for future research.

Throughout the weeks we excavated the floors, removing layer upon layer of finger coral, earth, and huge brain and elkhom coral.

We screened all debris and drew each new stratum in square meters on graph paper. We profiled the walls, noting anomalies; a cooking hearth, large sherds, and charred ceramic caulking attesting to someone's house fire a thousand years ago.

On other days we test-pitted the mangrove fringe of the cay. In big rubber boots, soon swamped, we sloshed about with machetes, shovels, and screens. Our efforts, however, yeilded nothing.

Another day was spent surveying the Deep River for unmapped Maya sites. Earlier teams had covered the delta and one tributary revealing seven sites, but the main branch was unexplored.

Four of us set out in the dugout carrying machetes, compasses, maps, water, matches, survival rations, and snakebite kits. Hosts of waterfowlflewoff before us, our eyes peeled for manatee. At our first landing we found only the traces of a hunter after agouti, iguana, or deer.

We were looking for high ground which hopefully would contain a Mayan site. The P.E. teacher Joyce .\lbrecht tells of her adven- nearest access to a two-mile ridge up the river tures on an archaeological dig in Belize, Central was through a quater-mile of mangrove; a marathon of hacking with our machetes in America, earlier this year. mud over our boot tops. From steamy swamp CENTRAL AMERICA we emerged into cool twilight. Huge jungle trees were hung with orchids, philodendra, and naked vines descending to waist-high bromeliads and spiney bamboos. Our noise hushed the raucous bird sounds, and we saw no furred, feathered, of scaled creatures.

Through the days, drama unfolded as we excavated the tomb area. We unearthed six more burials, photographing, measuring, SOUTH AMERICA^ drawing, and bagging each. We also found a and several of us worked around a skull and its perfectly preserved glazed and patterenetl mandible. It was thrilling to unearth these vessel embedded in the earth. bones that had not seen the light of day for The archaeological work on the cay was hundreds of years. tedious, hot, and physically difficult, but the Soon a speck glittered and with great an- work was softened by our beautiful island ticipation the archaeologists were sum- "home" surrounded by the warm, clear Carmonedâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;-a piece of pounded gold was re- ribean water. The coral reefs around the cay vealed. It was too small to fill even werefilledwith colorful tropicalfish,a wonTinkerbell's tooth, but it was the first gold derful place for snorkeling andfishing.The flake found on the cay in six seasons of exca- sea and the tropical vegetation supplied a vations. Several other smallflakeswere found large portion of our food. Many edible fruits in the following days, and we refered to these were available just a "short tree away". finds as "bottle caps". Heather explained that The ancient Mayans had certiiinly picked a we had to keep these small discoveri^ quiet beautiful island on which to live!

^'^''%^^}

N ews

-9

â&#x20AC;˘Educational reforms proposed The United States can be seen to be in a state of crisis. However, this is not about drugs, gangs, or violence, but something which is just as important - Education.

The U.S. school system desperately needs an overhaul, and just a month ago, when President Bush met with the nation's governors, that's exactly what was proposed.

However, for all the big talk and high-ranking participants, this meeting of the nation's top men ended with a few key proposals, but no definite action.

In fact, the "Education President" is proposing a $400 million cut in educational funding, which would seem to hinder many educational reforms. Luckily for many schools throughout the nation, including Maine South, most of the funds for education come from local taxes, and not federal money.

For all of its shortcomings, this historic conference did recognize the problems present in the educational system, and the governors were encouraged to put more time and effort into solving the crisis. A big step in this conference was taken when the President and the governors were able to reach an agreement to set national standard and goals by which the states could measure their schools' progress.

A few years back, this kind of plan would not be possible because the local school districts would have complained about the federal government meddling within the states* affairs.

New schedule put to good use Ever since the start of the new extended day, many people have been wondering about the practicality of it and whether or not enough people were using the extended periods to make it worthwhile.

The truth about it is that 35% of the student body makes use of the extended day. That's ahnost 600 students. These students take advantage of the early periods which start at 7:40 and the late periods which last until 3:10.

The early periods offer classes in art, foreign languages, industrial education, mathematics, music, and science. However, the only extended periods in the afternoon are science classes.

Therefore, the extended periods allow many students to fit all of their courses into their tight schedules, and is being taken advantage of.

It should be noted that Maine South is probably above these standards about to be set by the state and nation. However, "It doesn't mean that we're not out to improve," says Ken Reese, Student Personnel Director. Therefore, Maine South will probably not be affected by most of the educational reforms set by the President and the governors.

Bush also acknowledged "the need for more federal support for the prekindergarten education process." This would probably result in more federal support for programs for disadvantaged students, like the Head Start program. This cost-efficient program prepares the needy preschoolers for school, butrightnow it can only support 20% of those asking for help.

In order to help the states. Bush has agreed to help get rid of the red tape always accompanying the federal education grants. Also, Bush has pushed forward four key proposals which he thinks are necessary to improve education.

One proposal is the freedom for parents to choose the school they want their child to

attend. This program allows for students to cross district lines if they want to attend a different school which has certain courses that they want to take. It also allows for parents to have their children placed in new schools if they do not like the old one.

Another proposal is the idea of making it simpler for new teachers, especially retirees and career switchers, to receive their teaching diplomas. Now, many of the would-be teachers have to take what many think are unnecessary classes, and if Bush's proposal gets passed, many of the requirements could be lowered.

Also being proposed are partnerships between schools and businesses. This kind of program would have businesses give instruction to high school students at the work area, and would leave open many job opportunities for the graduates. Yet another proposal would have all students take tests before they could advance to the next grade or graduate, therefore making sure that the students are prepared for the next level in school or life.

America lags in science Although the achievements of American scientists are recognized all over the world, our supremacy in sciMice may be in jeopardy.

A key reason for America's decline in scientific supremacy is due to the fact that the quality of American Science education has gone down over the last twenty years.For instance, surveys show that U.S. high school freshmen ranked 14th out of 17 countries polled in basic sciÂŤitific knowledge.

Another factor regarding America's drop in scientific knowledge is the decline in the number of college freshmen who intend to major in math and science. Fewer than 1% said that they would major in math, contrasted to 5% in 1968. Physics and Chemistry majors also fell drastically, from 3% in 1968 to 1.5% in 1989.

Yet another reason that America is falling behind other countries in math and science is that interest in science by minorities and women is much less than that by white males.

If this trend continues, the U.S. will fall further behind foreign competitors because white males may no longer be the majority in the work force by the year 2000; and by 2005, the U.S. could be in need of an extra half million chemists, physicists, biologists, geologists and engineers.

Reasons for America's decline in science

include the lack of funding for science education and low emphasis on science among American high schools. For example, federal support for the National Science Foundation has plummeted from levels in the 1960's .

Also, many schools require only a year of science in order for a student to graduate.

Thus, many students are ignorant toward the importance of science.

Efforts are being made to improve the quality of science in America's schools. Although many schools still have minimal science requirements for graduation, many public and private colleges have increased their admission requirements, and now require two to four years of science, depending on the intended major.

Also, some corporations are working hand-in-hand with public and private high schools. Examples include having students help physicians perform surgery by handing the doctor certain tools and instruments, and certain corporations donating equipment for hands-on chemistry work.

Even with such improvements, science must be taken more seriously at the elementary and secondary level. Only then will we be able to better compete with the Japanese and German.

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Curling—a slick international game« In many countries around the world, such as Canada, and Ireland, a sport called curling, which was a 1988 Winter Olympic trial sport, is becoming very popular.

If you've ever played with that new toy.

Sliders, or if you've played shuffleboard, you have an idea of what curling is like. Curling was created by the inventors of golf, the Scots.

During the winter time, the Scots sought a replacement for the game of golf. Thus, curling was created.

Originally they fished large, smooth stones out of the rivers. The object was to slide them across ice between two sticks. In its modem form, curling is played with a forty-pound circular object (ironically, called a rock). The thrower, or skip, tries to slide the rock down the ice at a bullseye at the other end of the rink.

The rink mearurement is one hundred twenty-five feet, by fourteen feet.

After the skip slides the rock down the ice.

the other three players on the team sweep the ice in certain ways with brooms. Good sweepers can steer, slow, and quicken the rock without touching it. While an accurate skip is needed to slide the rock, good sweepers are just as important.

This game may seem pretty easy, but it's not. Even professional curlers sometimes have blank ends (a scoreless period). Can you imagine trying to hurl a fony-pound weight one hundred twenty-five feet into a four-foot circle?

Scoring for curling is almost as hard as actually playing it. There are many, many scoring procedures and regulations. Some of these include: if your rock is touched by one of your sweepers' brooms, that rock can't count for any points, or if your stone turns on its side or upside down it must be removed from the ice.

It takes strength, speed, agility, and strat-

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egy to play. If you think that this sport sounds interesting, there is a book at the Park Ridge library you might want to take out. It's called Curling. Techniques and Strategv.

Rugby—more brawn needed than brains Rugby is a game which, though few know much about it, is very interesting. Unlike football, where the ball is passed forward, rugby players must pass the ball either laterally or behind them.

The player can kick the ball at any time, allowing long yardage. If a rugby player is tackled, he must fumble the ball or he will be penalized for trapping it. The reason for this is to maintain constant play.

The object of rugby is, like football, to cross the opposing teams goal line. However, the ball must touch the ground once over the line. This score, called a "try" is worth four points. The kicker then comes on the field and, from 22m out, must kick the extra point, worth two points. Another way to score is a drop

kick, worth three points. In order for the drop kick to count, the ball must first hit the ground, | be kicked, and land over the goal line. ' There are 15 players per team with many of the same positions as football (i.e.- running backs, receiver, etc.) Each half of the game is 40 min. long, with no time-outs, except for injury. When an injury occurs, the player has a minute to get off of the field. This is the only time a substitution is allowed, otherwise,all players must play the entire game.

The equipment is basic; shirt, shorts, and cleats make up the rugby players "kit".

A game of endurance and agility, skill, and speed, rugby is fast becoming the game of the future.

Polo—haughty horses and long-handjed hammers hausting game for both the rider, and the Polo anyone?

Actually, not just anyone can play the game of polo. The game itself requires a few things. To play, you need;l. a horse, and not just any horse. The horse upon which you ride has to be just as strong and intelligent as you are. 2. some real cool clothes. The attire of a polo player is very important. He has to look good (cool) while playing. 3. As a polo player you have to be able to handle a horse fairly well, and a key is to be very aggresive.

Polo, sometimes reffered to as the "sport of princes", is a team sport that requires experience, training, and anticipation. It is an ex-

rided(the horse).

Polo is played in 4 or 6 periods or "chukkers", each lasting seven and a half minutes. No pony can play more than half of the game, so during the interval,riderschange ponies.

Although polo has a reputation for being a less-than-manly sport-"Hey there's Prince Charles! "-it really is a rough and tumble worid out there on the polo field of war. It's just man and his trusty steed engaging in mallet to mallet combat.Polo is a game of skill, agression, wits, cunning, and endurance. It combines the skill of the horse and its rider

U^ViED

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football endsjJream season at 8-2 The regular season for the varsity football team has ended. Despite the Hawks' loss in the first round of state competition, qualifying for the state playoffs can be seen as an accomplishment itself. Overall, the season was certainly a success.

In the weeks prior to post-season play, the Hawks beat Glenbrook North in a game that Coach Phil Hopkins feared complacency among his team. The offense shined by tallying up 28 points in the first half and adding another seven in the third quarter as the Hawks trampled the Spartans 35-7. Bill Vrabancic had a great performance calling the plays completing 11 of 16 passes for 142 yards. Scoring for South were Graham Vandenbrink in one-yard andfiveyard runs, Mike Lawrence on a one yard dive, Steve Mendo on a twelve yard pass from Vrbancic on a run of his own. Vandenbrink also rushed for 108 The Hawks' outstanding season is symbolized yards to add to the team's great statistics.

With stats like these, the offensive live by Mike Lawrence's emotional celebration. consisisting of Doug Winter, Brian Fennelly, goal line stand by the second-string defense J.J. Buckman, Nate Paulson, and Chip Dunn late in the fourth quarter proving that they was due a lot ofthe credit. Coach Hopkins said have improved a lot as the season progressed. this game was "the best performance by our Unfortunately, the Hawks lost to rival ^offensive line thus far."

Evanston in a tough Homecoming game. 23The defense also played well with great 7. Hopkins said that Evanston kept great performancesbyBobScafa.BradPawlowski, control ofthe football limiting South to just 38 Tim Gatz, and Steve Mendo as well as a great plays of offense greatly contributing to the

loss. Vrbancic completed 8 of 18 passes for 121 yards and one touchdown pass to Jeff Chupich for the only score for the Hawks.

However, this loss did not hurt the chance of a playoff birth, though. The Hawks were guaranteed a spot after their triumph over Glenbrook North.

The Hawks ended their regular season with a victory over New Trier, 29-7. Bill Vrbancic passed for 184 yards in the game to lead the Hawks. Although Coach Hopkins was not entirely pleased with the performance, the victory gave the Hawks some momentum going into the state playoffs.

Unfortunately, the varsity football team ended their seaon with a 42-19 loss to B uffalo Grove in the first round of the playoffs. The Hawks took an early lead, 6-0, and stayed close behind at 21-19, until Buffalo Grove blew open the game with 21 points in the last 10 minutes.

However, the Hawks had a wonderful season, finishing with an 8-2 record, 4-1 in conference. Coach Hopkins was extremely proud of the effort given out by his team throughout the past year, both in the season and the off-season training. This season is gone, but now next year's squad begins to build and work hard immediately on what they hope to be an even more successful season next fall.

Volleyball team tells Its own story "We were a lot more festive than last year, and we looked maahvelous!"

-"Vickster"Colovos "We grew into a team."

-Shannon Duffy "We got farther than most people expected. We really pulled together at the end."

-Kathryn Kougias "Our entire season didn't compare to last years' team, but we played our best throughout the seaon, and it showed."

-Heather McCarten

"With the help of our dedicated fans and team effort, not only did we play awesome, but we also had a lot of fun."

-Margie O'Conner "The season went better than planned."

-"Em" Pasier "We stuck with each other throughout the season, and in the end we developed lasting friendships."

-Laura "Cheetah" Potter "We started out separated and we ended up playing as a team and being close friends."

-Stacey Sasso

"We done did good, better than expected."

-"Smitty" Smith "As a team, we pulled together at the end."

-Jane Steffan "Overall, this year went better than we thought."

-Laura Wagner "The season started out in anarchy, but towards the end, teamwork and everlasting friendships developed."

-Sarah Wanat "As a team, we stuck together in the beginning, and at the end."

Diane Wolf

Parks, Nelson continue to carry CC banner Although the boy's cross-country season has come to a near-close, the varsity team did advance two members at the New Trier Regional meet. Chris Parks and Mike Nelson Advanced to the sectionals by both placing in the top 30 at New Trier. Nelson finished a respectable 26th place, while Parks captured fifth place out of the 83 runners. Parks completed the regular season in dramatic fashion, by earning "all-conference", and placing the

ninth best time ever on the Maine South home course. In the sectionals, Parks continued his success by meeting the qualifying lime needed for stale competition.

The team was successful as well, coming in sixth place overall out of twelve teams in the regional. Since only the topfiveteams go on to sectionals, the Hawks could not advance the entire team, an honor that has not been achived since 1975 for the Hawks. However, the Hawks were certainly close, needing only

ten more points to place fifth.

Other members of the Varsity team included Pete Gayford, who also achieved AllConference honors, as well as Andy Hovcland and Brian James, both of whom ran personal bests at the regionals. Sophomores Mark Wynne, Mike Palac, and Carl Steinke also demonstrated that they will be a team to contend with in the future, by pacing the sophomore team to a second place finish in conference.

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12

Hawks win conference soccer titles "We played as a team...we didn't just have one or two stars, but everyone contributed," Coach Steve Dezurko commented on his 183-4 Varsity soccer team, which was finally eliminated in the sectional finals of the state tournament.

The Hawks started their journey in the state tournament on Homecoming Day, prompUy crushing St. Patrick 6-0 in the first round of regionals. In the next game against Leyden for the regional championship, the Hawks remained tough to preserve a 3-0 shutout. In both regional games, goals were scored by six different players.

The first sectional game pitted the Hawks against conference powerhouse Evanston, who battled the Hawla earlier in the season in a game won by a single Maine South goal in the final minutes of play.

After Brian Kimura' s goal on a header and an Evanston goal, both in the second quarter of thesectional game, both teams fought to a 1-1 tie at the end of regulation time.

The Hawks completely dominated all four overtime periods and showed endurance and heart in hustling to every ball. However, due to several outstanding saves by the Evanston goalkeeper, the game came down to a shootout, five penalty kicks for each team.

Between successful kicks by Mike Defort and Derek Niepomnik, Evanston connected on their first kick. But on Evanston's next shot, Matt Cienkus made a diving save. Dave Johnson came up next and netted his kick, as did Evanston's third shooter. Jason Chidester then shot and scored, giving the Hawks a commanding 4-2 lead in the shootout Evanston's shot was stopped, and the Hawks' victory song of "Ole, Ole, Ole, Ole, we are the champions, Ole!" echoed through the stadium.

But the Hawks certainly knew that more was to come, namely the sectional finals, before the Hawks could attempt to bring back home a state championship. "I think we can go all the way," stated Matt Cienkus.

However, an upset was soon in the making.

In the sectional final against Glenbrook North, the Hawks were stunned in the first quarter as Glenbrook North tallied their first goal. The Spartans managed another goal in the fourth quarter to steal the game, 2-0.

The Hawks' exceptional season was suddenly over. The quest for a state championship would have to wait until next year.

However, there was one achievement that the Hawks did accomplish for thefirsttime at least ten yearsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;sole possession of a conference championship.

Senior Dan Schaefer (top) dribbles upfield against Glenbrook North as all-conference senior Chris Such breaks into the clear for a pass.

Below, junior Derek Niepomnik was named allstate, and coach Steve Dezurko (right) was honored as Region 5 coach of the year.

Additionally, six players were named to all-sectional honors, and Niepomnik w^ receive all-conference honorsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;Matt named all-state.

Cienkus, Mike Defort, Jason Chidester, Chris Such, Derek Niepomnik, and Dave Johnson.

Coach Dezurko also was honored, being Johnson and Niepomnik were also awarded named coach of the year for IHSA Region 5.