Vol 49 issue 2

October 12, 2012

1111 S. Dee Road • Park Ridge, Illinois 60068

Vol. 49, No. 2

FALL PLAY

HIGHLIGHTS

big

issues

Maine South’s production of ‘The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later’ addresses issues such as prejudice and acceptance.

See page 6.

Chicken Run

Elusive rooster captured in forest preserve Page 3

MS Recycling

The truth behind Maine South’s disposal system Page 11

Pay for Points

How economic factors unfairly skew test results Page 12

Recruitment

How the college recruiting process works Pages 14

NEWS

| October 12, 2012

CPS walkout resolved

layoffs.

In an interview with the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Teachers’ Union attorney Robert Bloch also stated ust one week after the beginning that eliminating student scores as the of the school year, the Chicago basis for the evaluating teachers was Public Schools’ teachers’ union be- a key victory.

The CPS contract also resolved gan a strike that lasted nearly two weeks. It ended Sept. 18 when the the issue of reduction in force by Chicago Teachers’ Union voted to agreeing to a proposal that 50 perend the strike and tentatively agreed cent of the people hired for new positions will come from a group to a contract.

Two areas of contention included of highly rated teachers who have the evaluation of teachers and reduc- already been laid off. This proposal tion in the workforce, both of which also ensures job security for many have dramatically changed due to a CPS teachers.

The Chicago Teachers Union at new state law.

The contract agreed upon in CPS first demanded a 30 percent pay inworks to reform teacher evaluation crease over the course of two years, Chris Brendza by creating a new category for CPS but they conceded to a three percent Staff Writer teachers to be evaluated in, ensur- pay raise in the first year of the coning that not every teacher who is tract. The contract will be voted on n June 15, the Maine Towndeemed “developing” or “needs im- by the union membership on Oct. ship High School District 207 provement” will be vulnerable to 24.

School Board and the Maine Teachers’ Association approved a new STRENGTH IN NUMBERS Teachers and students rally together at three-year teacher contract. The conMarshall High School. Approximately 8,000 teachers gathered on the school’s field. tract slightly raised salaries, created a new salary schedule, and addressed teacher evaluations.

“Finding ways to keep costs within our revenue window was and will be the big challenge for us, particularly if other costs like pensions get shifted back to the District from the state,” said District 207 Superintendent Ken Wallace. “Economically, my goal is to always work to have balanced budgets so that economic reductions in force don’t happen.”

Teachers in District 207 will see two-thirds of a percent pay increase in the first year of their contract, and have been bumped up a step on the

Chris Brendza Staff Writer

PHOTO BY CAROLINE BOROWSKI

J

Maine 207 contract approved

PHOTO BY DENNIS HEHN

O

salary schedule that determines their salary, which now has been increased to 25 steps instead of 20.

Along with pay raises, the District 207 contract also helps the district better contain insurance costs by lowering the benchmark for enacting changes to the insurance plan.

Superintendent Wallace went on to state that the new contract will ensure students receive the same educational opportunities they had before, both academically and in extracurricular activities. He also explained how the new evaluation system will improve instruction for every student across the board.

“My goal is that every single student has the very best educational experience in District 207 to help them reach their full potential through inspired teaching from outstanding teachers and coaches,” Dr. Wallace stated. “Improving teaching and learning is our central mission.”

Changes made to LRC Jonathan Zamaites

Staff Writer he start of the new school year brought changes to the setup and policies in the LRC. The area closest to the main doors and glass hallway is now the “collaborative zone” where students can sit with their peers and collaborate on school-related activities. A significant change to this area is the allowance of four people to a table, where previously there was a twoperson limit and talking was strictly

T

2 SouthwordS

prohibited.

The section across from the LAN is now the silent reading area, or as some have dubbed it, “The Reading Rainbow.” This area is reserved for students who wish to work silently without being disturbed.

In addition to the change in layout, the LRC has loosened some policies. The maximum capacity of students per period has been increased to 80-90, compared to the 60-student limit that was in place last year. Also, the limitation on the number of

times a student can visit the library per day has been removed. Additionally, the hours of the library have been extended so that the library remains open until 4:30 pm.

The book arrangements have also undergone some changes. Reference books, biographies, and other nonfiction materials have been moved to the bookcases near the collaborative zone, while fiction and graphic novels have been moved to the main bookcases in the rear of the library near the silent reading area.

The library staff has also started “weeding out” unread books to ensure that all the books in the library are being utilized.

Librarians Mrs. Kowalski and Mrs. Ryan mentioned the implementation of a suggestion box where students can leave feedback. They also hope to create a bulletin area on the pillar by the whiteboard schedule so that students can post flyers and other school-related items. Mrs. Ryan also plans to start a book club in the coming weeks.

October 12, 2012

| NEWS

Resident rooster removed from forest Staff Writer

O

n Saturday, Sept. 22, a party of six animal lovers set out to rescue the rooster that had recently taken up residence in the forest preserve across the street from Maine South.

The group consisted of seniors Laura Arieli and Connor Ferguson; Laura’s mom, Dr. Susan Arieli; Midwest urban chicken consultant Jennifer Murtoff; a man who had experience capturing roosters; and a woman who said she saw the rooster everyday and just wanted to help.

The rooster has been quite a popular topic at Maine South lately, with many teachers and students spotting it frequently. Many people tried to snap pictures of the rooster; however, it proved to be quite elusive.

Mr. Gaughan, a social science teacher, says he began seeing the rooster as early as July. According to Mrs. Biewenga, Science Department Chair, it emerged almost every morning between 6:00 and 7:30.

“I have stopped and tried to photograph him, but he is afraid of people and runs away,” said Mrs. Biewenga.

be the reason the rooster was abandoned.

Chickens are legal to own in cities such as Chicago, Evanston, and Oak Park. Places like Arlington Heights and Glencoe are working on legalizing the ownership of chickens. Many people are beginning t o r ai s e t h e i r ow n “backyard” chickens as pets as well as for their eggs; however, slaughtering backyard chickens for meat is considered illegal.

The Maine South rooster is described by Laura as “black, fancy, likes to be cuddled and petted, and does not crow in the morning.”

Additionally, several students have started to adopt different names for the rooster; some call him “Ralphie” or “Maine,” while others simply refer to him as “Mr. Rooster.”

Although this feathered friend will no longer be seen around Ma i n e S out h , t h e rooster is now warm and safe and will soon be settling into its new home.

“One of the challenges at our night football games has been controlling the middle school students,” said Mr. Messmer. “They aren’t necessarily coming to watch. Socialization goes from hanging out with friends to running round, pushing and shoving, trying to hold their own football game” According to Officer Mike Luehr, it became a problem when security personnel were spending the majority of their time dealing with middle school students and not providing a safe venue for Maine South students in the stands.

According to Mr. Messmer, the behavior went beyond horse play, “We had a (middle school) stu-

dent inappropriately touching one of our Hawkettes, and that’s something I can’t tolerate.”

The email was met with mixed reviews from parents and middle school students.

“They don’t make sense to me. My friends and I don’t even want to go to the games anymore,” said eighthgrader Luke Hinkamp. “Just because a couple people messed up shouldn’t mean that everyone else should have to pay for it.”

Many parents expressed support for the new rules.

“I completely agree with Mr. Messmer’s decision. Security should focus on supervising the stadium, not teaching kids how to act at a

PHOTO BY LAURA ARIELI

Sarah Asson

The rooster seemed to get braver as time went on. While it used to only go near the curb of Dee Road, it later had been seen crossing Dee and walking near the pond.

Like many others, Laura and her mom often spotted the rooster on the way to school, but they took pity on him and decided to help. Laura said he seemed to be “waiting for someone to rescue him.” After calling different animal hospitals and wildlife centers, the Arielis contacted Murtoff, and she agreed to come out to help capture the rooster. Under Murtoff ’s guidance, Ferguson chased the rooster out of the bushes he was hiding in, and captured him in a net suspended from a long pole. Murtoff now has the rooster at her apartment and is looking for a permanent, no-kill sanctuary or home for it.

Murtoff was called in to help rescue the rooster because the Arielis were worried it would not survive winter in the forest. However, Murtoff says chickens are tough animals who can survive cold weather. Murtoff was more concerned the rooster would be killed by a raccoon, coyote, owl, or hawk before it would starve to death.

Since there are no wild chickens native to this area, Murtoff believes the rooster was domestically raised and then abandoned by its owner.

Roosters are not very popular among chicken owners because they don’t lay eggs and may lead to an unwanted pregnancy. Murtoff suggests this may

▲GOTCHA!

Murtoff (pictured above) believes the rooster to be of the Langshan breed. Langshans are endangered Chinese birds usually weighing seven to eight pounds and possessing thickly-layered, black feathers.

PHOTO BY JESSICA GRONKE

Maine South’s feathered neighbor finds a temporary home

▲RUNAWAY ROOSTER

The infamous rooster is spotted at its roadside post during school. It ended up skittering into the forest before anyone could get close to it.

Restrictions placed on middle schoolers at football games Julie Haak Guest Writer

F

ollowing a physical altercation between Lincoln Middle School students and a freshman at the first home football game of the season, Maine South’s administration implemented new rules to ensure the safety of fans and better utilize security personnel.

In an email, Principal Messmer informed parents and community members that the area behind the South end zone would be closed to spectators, no footballs could be brought to the game by fans, and that all middle school students would have to be accompanied by a parent.

football game,” said middle-school parent Joanna Sojko. “That should be done by the parents,” Luehr explained that students violating the policy would be asked to leave, but no further punishment would be given. He did not think moving the extra students into the stands would create more altercations.

“We don’t have reported conflicts in the stands,” Luehr noted. “It’s been a long time since we’ve had a conflict in the stands.”

Messmer indicated that despite some unrest over the new rules, he expected people to understand the measures for safety since this policy is common at other high schools.

SouthwordS 3

NEWS

| October 12, 2012

Presidential election: Maine South decides Students share their political views on the upcoming election.

Caroline Borowski & Dora Bialy News Editors

W

ith the 2012 presidential election drawing closer, many students have begun to focus their attention on politics and the outcome of the race. Students are divided in their opinions about the upcoming election.

In an anonymous e-mail survey that closed prior to the first presidential debates, the majority of Maine South students answered that they favored Barack Obama to win the presidency. Approximately 52% of the students expressed that if they could vote, they would vote in favor of Obama. On the other hand, 33% said they would vote for Mitt Romney, while 15% rejected both.

Students from both sides expressed their reasons for supporting their favorite candidate.

“I think Obama will win because he’s a better speaker and politician,” said senior John Moran. “Romney is a smart guy and all, but he’s not a good politician.”

“I think that Romney will win because the American people are slowly realizing how badly Barack Obama is messing up this country,” said junior Ian King. “People are considering the mess future generations are going to have to clean up.”

In addition, students were asked to share their political affiliations in the survey. Of the 646 students that took part, 46% identify themselves as Democrats, while 29% consider themselves Republicans. Only 6% affiliate themselves with the Libertarian party which has candidate Gary Johnson running for the presidency as well.

In terms of the course of the race overall, many students feel dissatisfied with the choices and coverage provided.

“I feel like the media, especially in Illinois, has taken the stance that ‘it can’t get any worse’ and have ignored many of the issues by dismissing Romney as elitist while Obama has been careful not to say too

4 SouthwordS

much,” said senior Jane Acker.

Others disagree. “I think the election has been disappointing so far. We haven’t seen either of the candidates really step out and give something that American people are eager to rally around,” said senior Kellee Hartjen. “I think Mitt Romney needs to prove that he is relatable and promote a definite plan for our economic future if he is to pull ahead in the race. President Obama has broken a lot of promises in his first term and most Americans haven’t seen the drastic improvement that was expected in 2008. His amazing rhetoric isn’t carrying him in the same way it did before, and he needs to regain the trust of the middle class to have the same victory this year.”

Students are also very concerned about the policy ideas, or lack thereof, put forth by the candidates.

“I’m mostly interested in social issues, since they affect daily life more immediately,” said senior Claire Dockery. “Issues like abortion, religion’s role in government, gay marriage, and drug legalization are on the mind of my generation, and such questions have produced the most controversy.”

Obama announced that he is pro-choice when it comes to abortion. Romney, on the other hand, is pro-choice only when it comes down to the mother’s health. He supports abortion only if the pregnancy was due to rape or could significantly endanger the mother’s life.

Obama also took the stance of supporting civil unions between gays. Romney is strongly against gay marriage, as he signed the National Organization for Marriage pledge proclaiming that marriage should only be between a man and a woman.

On the issue of illegal immigration, Obama plans to tighten security around the borders of the United States to curb the number of illegal immigrants crossing over to the United States. However, he does support giving those illegal immigrants that already live in the United States the opportunity to become citizens. Romney, on the other hand, advocates voluntary deportation. His plan is to have every citizen obtain a card that expressed his or her legal status, so that employers

can filter out illegal immigrants and avoid hiring them. In turn, these immigrants would have a harder time finding jobs and would essentially self-deport.

Based solely on the issues, it will clearly be a closely-contested election. The race will be largely come

down to swing states like Ohio and Florida, as well as the Hispanic vote.

Though Obama has a slim 49-45% lead over Romney according to an October 8th Gallup poll, it’s clear that the remaining month of this election season will be hard-fought and bitter.

Who would you vote for?

Neither- 15%

Romney- 33%

Obama- 52%

Are you eligibleYes-to9% vote?

No- 91%

With what political party do you identify the most?

None listed- 19%

Democratic- 46%

Libertarian- 6%

Republican- 29% Results gathered from 646 students in a voluntary email survey that occurred between Sept. 18 and 27.

October 12, 2012

| ENTERTAINMENT

Perks of seeing “Wallflower” Maggie Lynch

a pickup truck. Sam stands up in the bed of the pickup truck, and Charlie says his tephen Chobsky’s famous line, “I feel “The Perks of Being a infinite.”

Wallflower” hit the big screen While a few minor Sept. 28 with a star-studded changes were made cast, featuring Logan Lerman, in this scene, it still Emma Watson, and Ezra successfully captured Miller. the emotions of “The Perks of Being liberation conveyed a Wallflower” follows the in the novel. main character, Charlie The style the film (played by Logan Lerman), was shot in shows an introverted writer starting off the technological his freshmen year of high advancements that school. He is befriended by a the film industry group of upperclassman who has made in the 21st are heavily influenced by the century. punk-rock grunge movement The lighting and of the early 1990s. digital effects amplify The main reason this movie has an effect on so WALLFLOWERS UNITE The cast of “Perks of Being a Wallflower” amazes audiences with it’s in- the mood of the ‘90s.

The filming of this many people is because it’s sight and discussion of the prejudices of today’s world. movie with split shots so different. Movies have done teenage angst and youth culture a million well, Watson’s American accent proves slightly and duplicate shooting really creates the effect of times over, but what this film says what others do distracting. Sam is a character whom many can what Charlie is going through.

The split shots reflect the difference between not. It depicts being judged, the fear of not fitting relate to, and her lines add to the wisdom of the in, and the panic of never finding anyone that movie. Her accent made it more difficult to connect Charlie in the real world and Charlie in a fantasy with Sam as a character in the same way many world, creating visual juxtaposition of his feelings understands. and his confusion to the change going on around It moves moviegoers to understand that they connect with her in the novel.

Regardless of the accent, Watson’s acting was him. are not alone; there are many people that feel the The duplicate shots, created with multiple same when it comes to loss and growing up, and the impeccable and she reflected a realistic sense of movie shows really cool characters going through purity in many scenes, successfully encapsulating versions of the same shot, show Charlie stumbling the unadulterated emotions Sam faces throughout not once but three times as he walks. By doing this, similar things.

Despite the intensity of some of the drama in the the movie. It’s safe to say that the combination the emphasis is put on what Charlie is doing and it movie, the characters are still realistic and relatable; of Chobsky and Watson created something strengthens the meaning of him stumbling. extraordinary.

When Charlie feels like he’s alone, the entire they’re like fellow classmates.

Many of the fears teenagers have are displayed background is blurred; when he feels alive, the Miller, who starred in “We Need to Talk about Kevin,” displays his humourous acting abilities in this movie, without being glamorized. This movie lighting shifts to what seems to be an almost as Patrick, a.k.a “Nothing,” Sam’s step-brother. doesn’t try to say that these problems are fabulous urban feel.

The soundtrack to this film is vastly different Patrick is an openly-gay high school senior that has and people should strive to have them, like some movies do. Instead, it just creates characters with than what is expected. The songs in it are unknown an affair with the closeted quarterback.

Miller’s portrayal of Patrick was spot on, the same problems. It doesn’t create a romanticized by many. There are a lot of ‘90s rock songs, and matching the sarcastic, witty, and morose comedic view of the common fears of teenagers. It shows they’re not all hits, so it is initially hard to connect with the music playing. way the character has about him while solving that anyone can suffer.

In Charlie’s mind, Sam is characterized as The Smith’s song “Asleep” becomes a motif, issues of his own. The profound-yet-comedic character portrayed by Miller displays the exact the most beautiful girl in the world, but despite along with David Bowie’s song “Heroes.” These personality that caused readers to initially fall in her beauty, she is not perfect. Sam has an adult two songs strengthen the subtle dialogue of the reputation and suffers from depression. Despite her film through the lyrics. Charlie’s need for a hero love with Patrick in the novel.

Patrick’s character, aside from his drug use, flaws, Sam’s beauty, understanding, and personality continues while he searches for the song he heard is a role model of sorts, turning his cheek to the almost dispose of the stigma that only a basket case in the tunnel, “Heroes.”

This movie isn’t cliché. The ‘90s rock and well bullying he’s victim of. He’s like the kid everyone could have feelings for her. Through the struggles wants to be friends with, and Miller successfully of Sam and other characters, this film demonstrates -known quotes make many feel like this movie is that no one is immune to problems. just another angsty teenage story. It’s not. It’s artsy portrays this.

Because Chbosky is also the director of the and young, and definitely a must-see.

Watson breaks out of her Hogwarts cloak as Unfortunately, this movie is only shown in Sam, a wild and outgoing senior, and the love film, readers can be assured that the book’s interest of Charlie. Watson successfully is able to main ideas are preserved in the movie. Many select theaters, but it is worth the drive and ticket make the audience forget about her previous role fans of the book were worried that the cinematic price.

The film is rated PG-13 because of sexual as Hermione in the popular Harry Potter movies. interpretations of certain scenes wouldn’t live up content, violence, profanity, and drug references.

The character of Sam shows a completely new to their expectations.

One example of this would be the scene in For mature high school students, however, it is dimension of Watson’s acting ability.

While Miller and Lerman depict their characters which Sam, Charlie, and Patrick are riding in appropriate and shouldn’t be missed.

Entertainment Editor

PHOTO CREDIT PERKS-OF-BEING-A-WALLFLOWER.COM

S

SouthwordS 5

ENTERTAINMENT

| October 12, 2012

Documentary theater takes on a unique challenge Alex Korzynski

Entertainment Editor

O

6 SouthwordS

PREPARATION The cast

rehearses on the unfinished stage for the play. The floor of the stage will be covered with text from newspaper reports. TEAR JERKER Sarah Thomas, who plays Judy Shepard, cries over the loss of her son. The hate crime of Matthew Shepard had many effects on the community.

After the murder took place, members of the Tectonic Theater Project went down to Laramie, WY and interviewed the locals to see how the murder affected them. They composed hundreds of interviews, and from those interviews, “The Laramie Project” was created.

Ten years later, in 2008, the same theater group went back to Laramie and interviewed the same people, along with a few others to see how the murder affected their lives a decade later. They were surprised to find the story had changed; some viewed the crime as a drug deal gone wrong.

Thus, “The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later,” the epilogue, was created. The play included new information about what occurred on that tragic night, and a controversial story with two very opposing sides developed.

Since “The Laramie Project” opened, it has became ordinary for protestors who are against gay tolerance, like the Westboro Baptist Church, to picket the plays. In the ten years since the murder of Matthew Shepard, though, society has become more accepting and open to listening to people’s interests that are different of their own.

Even though the chance of picketing has decreased, and it isn’t expected for Maine South’s production, it is possible that there will be people who might not appreciate the message of gay tolerance.

“There are people who have very strong opinions, and sometimes their emotions will overtake the logic of letting everyone have their say,

PHOTOS BY MOLLY PETRAY

n the heels of last year’s musical “Chicago” comes “The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later,” which continues to stretch the boundaries of high school theater beyond the traditional productions.

Although many agree that “The Laramie Project” sends a positive and powerful message, there is still some controversy over whether this production is suitable for a high school.

This story was originally intended for mature audiences due to its language, violence and overall content.

“The only thing that we have cut is some of the language in the play,” said Mr Muszynski, the director of the play. “Although we really didn’t cut it—we adapted the language of the play.”

Despite the language, the play is suited for high-school students for multiple reasons.

“It’s documentary theater,” said Mr. Muszynski. “It is not making any judgements on anything. It’s just laying facts and ideas out there that individuals are feeling and thinking.

The piece is not set out to sway anyone’s opinion on anything. It’s just to put it out there, and any discussion in regards to tolerance is a good discussion.”

“Hate crimes are something that happen in our daily lives, and it shouldn’t be looked over—it should be talked about,” said Alyssa LaTragna who plays multiple roles in the show. “This is what we’re doing here.”

This play leads to discussions about the feelings and thoughts of everyday people. The production also attempts to send a hopeful message about tolerance and acceptance.

It suggests how the media and society change perceptions inaccurately and negatively, and helps the audience to feel and understand the lack of acceptance that exists in our society.

“The Laramie Project” is a controversial drama about the hate crimes that resulted in the murder of Matthew Shepard, a student who attended University of Wyoming in Laramie, WY. In 1998, Shepard was tied to a fence on the outskirts of Laramie and was left there to die. After investigation, Shepard’s murder was ruled a hate crime against homosexuals.

even in an artistic form,” said Mr. Muszynski. “So, you never know.”

Maine South is constantly trying to promote a safe environment for all students. For example, the Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) is a club whose mission is to help create and keep a safe environment for everyone in the school. The GSA is involved in the “lobby work” of the play, where the group sells chocolate, flowers and other commodities. The representatives of the group explain to the patrons the mission of their club, and the background of the play.

In order to get the student body together to discuss tolerance, there

are currently plans to develop a Hawk Pride lesson on the subject.

Maine South’s efforts in educating about acceptance and tolerance have been recognized in the community.

“A number of churches are using this as a vehicle to start a discussion about tolerance,” said Mr. Muszynski.

“I’ve been invited to speak at one of the churches in town to address how this play hopefully makes a statement about tolerance.”

“The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later” begins its run on Thursday, Oct. 18 at 7:30 p.m. in the Watson Auditorium and runs through Saturday, Oct. 20.

October 12, 2012

| ENTERTAINMENT

iPhone 5: Southwords’ hands-on review Yavor Todorov

PHOTOS BY YAVOR TODOROV

Entertainment Editor

U

 1.2 MegaPixel V.S VGA Camera The new Panorama feature takes splendid photos. It has also been A comparison clearly shows that the 1.2MP Camera quality (left) is much higher than that of the VGA camera (right). recently discovered that it allows people to defy the laws of the The 5’s camera also clearly captures more light. space time continuum.

 Panorama Feature

PHOTOS BY LAUREN SMITH

nlike some of its competitors, Apple does not release new, tablet-sized “smartphones” biannually. Apple takes their time–usually about one to two years–to collaborate, evaluate, and perfect. The final result? A product that dominates all the rest: the iPhone 5.

The iPhone 5, unlike the 4S, is no mere “spec bump.” It features a complete redesign and is the thinnest, lightest, and fastest iPhone ever created. With a 7.6mm thickness and a weight of 112 grams, the iPhone 5 is 20% lighter and 18% thinner than the iPhone 4S. With a larger, 4-inch screen, the weight and size differences improve comfort and accessibility.

The new screen has integrated touch sensors directly into the display, resulting in a more responsive experience. This also allows for fewer misspellings in text messages and a decreased necessity of the muchhated autocorrect feature. The larger keyboard not only benefits texting, but the entire interface as well. It is utilized throughout the new software, and making typing a more concrete component of iOS 6.

App Store games like “Fruit Ninja” and “Temple Run” are now more fun to play as the more responsive screen allows user to not only to shatter their previous high scores but also to play these games with a greater level of enjoyment. YouTube videos and movies look much better on the bigger, more vibrant screen as well.

Although the glass is 30% thinner, it is by no means of lower quality. The glass’ resistance to damage and its performance in outdoor conditions, including glare, is simply superb. The iPhone 5’s screen fares much better in stress tests, surviving 6-foot falls without even the slightest crack.

After a week of use without a case, the iPhone’s screen and slate backplate show no scratches or signs of wear. Visible scratches, although miniscule, have been noticed to appear on the black slate that covers the iPhone 5’s sides. However, users may be reluctant to cover the phone’s delicate design with a bulky, cumbersome case. Unfortunately, the slate design is so prone to scratching that you are not left with much of a

choice. Ghost Armor or an InvisibleSHIELD would be a wise investment if you would like to keep your iPhone in its prime.

The backside of the iPhone 5 now comes with a striking slate redesign and a slightly-improved camera.

The new iSight camera now supports 1080p filming as well as the wonderful Panorama feature, which allows users to take panoramic photos without external software or an app. What is even more impressive is the front-facing camera, which now takes 1.2 megapixel photos and shoots 720p video. Compared to the iPhone 4S’s VGA front-facing camera, this is a big upgrade and will probably result in the increase quality of selfies throughout Facebook.

Inside the iPhone 5 is the new A6 processor. Yes, the iPhone 4S was fast, but the A6 is twice as fast as the iPhone 4S’s A5 processor. The A6 processor handles graphics-intensive applications much better than the 4S. Applications including “Minecraft,” “Call of Duty: Nazi Zombies,” as well as Apple’s new “Maps” application now run much more smoothly. The new iPhone is also equipped with 1 GB of RAM, which is far more capable than the iPhone 4S’s 512MB. The iPhone 5 now supports 4G LTE and is equipped with “ultra fast” Wi-Fi. This has its benefits throughout the halls of Maine South, as wireless signal continues to be mediocre in various parts of the building.

Despite the faster Internet, the

faster processor, the larger and brighter screen, LTE, the iPhone 5 still manages to hold its own when it comes to battery life. The battery is advertised to deliver up to 8 hours of LTE browsing, 10 hours of video, 40 hours of music, and 225 hours of standby. Consequently, the iPhone 5 requires little charging, and easily handles the grueling 18-hour days in the life of a Maine South student.

Frequent visits to YouTube and Aspen seem to have little effect on the life of the battery, whose percentage is seldom in the single digits.

Along with the launch of Apple’s iPhone 5 came Apple’s new software, iOS 6, which has earned a great deal of critique. Most of the consumerbased criticism is directed at Apple’s new “Maps” application. The new application features turn-by-turn directions and a new “flyover view,” with Siri as the voice. It has been reported as “buggy and inaccurate” though out the U.S. As a whole however, the new turn-by-turn direction feature is great. The new Maps app is clean, simple to use, and unobtrusive to the driver.

At times, the new Maps application seems to be more desirable than the thousand dollar navigation systems that cars are equipped with nowadays. This is because it is simple, yet delivers all the necessary performance—a trademark of Apple design. Having the ability to ask Siri where the nicest Chinese restaurant in the area is and then not only re-

ceiving an answer but also being able to receive turn-by-turn directions from her is an indispensable feature, it is futuristic, and is yet another way that Apple and iOS simplify and improve life, this device and its features help you prepare daily tasks with an increased efficiency and are built to alleviate from the user some of the pressures of daily life so that one is left to focus on the what’s important.

Apple’s last version of Maps was created by Google and although it was more precise and more accurate—largely due to feedback and user data collected from iPhones —Apple dropped Google as a result of Google’s decision to not license its turn-by-turn directions feature to Apple. This can be seen as an attack from Google and Android, and rightfully so, as navigation continues to be one of the number one reasons why people use their smartphones; Google licensing its turn-by-turn directions feature to Apple would have given Apple an even greater advantage than the one it already possesses over Android phones.

It is fairly simple to do like many of the other smartphone manufacturers and gather processors, memory cards, and touch screen displays to assemble smartphones. It is Apple’s seamless integration of hardware and software that truly puts it above the rest. Apple has been redefining perfection for the past decade and continues to do so with the release of iPhone 5.

SouthwordS 7

Features | October 12, 2012

Thrift your way into fall fashions ‘80s-style shoulder pads your mom probably has tucked away somewhere in the attic, the selection Staff Writers will not be disappointing. If lucky, a ach September, a new year in person can find a classic that can be fashion begins, and trends are paired under an oversized sweater featured on the runway—often at for a casual, yet classy look. From high prices. With clothes costing cashmere to wool, oversized sweaters so much, it may seem that the only can be cozy and warm, for a fraction way to be fashionable is to break the of the retail prices. To fully achieve bank. But this is a misconception. that oversized look, go one size or A person can easily find fashion even two sizes up. It is important to on a budget through thrifting or always check the tags—a genuine shopping at vintage stores. Thrift silk shirt, or a vintage designer label stores may seem overwhelming at might be found. first, but if one knows where to look, The typical thrift store is also often and what pieces to look for, one can full of every kind of denim known find hidden treasures. to man. From a classic Levi’s Jean One of the first tricks of the jacket to an already-soft denim shirt, thrifting trade requires a person to it is possible to find a unique take on use the organization of the store to denim for this fall. Challenge yourself their advantage. Though organization and take that ‘90s-style cropped Jean is many times rare, if the store is jacket and make it 2012. organized, it is usually by color. This Besides having every type of makes it superbly simple to find just denim, thrift stores also feature the right shade. This fall, the color a wide variety of jewelry. People “oxblood,” or “wine,” is in style. This often forget about the importance deep red blends easily with browns, of accessories, but this season bold, creams, and navy blues for a rich, chunky, colorful accessories are in, colorful look. Other rich colors such and can be found at thrift stores. as “forest green” and “burgundy” From bangles, to dangling earrings, are key to looking fashionable this the jewelry selection is never ending. autumn.

But remember not to overload— Besides searching stores on a color those ten necklaces may be stylishly basis, look for key pieces that are vintage, but over accessorizing is a hidden gems. For example, every major “don’t” in the fashion world. thrift store has a plethora of collared Another accessory prominent in shirts. From flannel menswear to the thrift stores is the handbag. When passing through checkout, the thought of buying a handbag is often dismissed, but remember that it is essential to complete an outfit. In fashion this fall, clutches have become chunkier, and totes are bigger than ever before. Funky animal prints and textures on bags have come back from past decades.

Keep these trends in mind when digging through an accessory pile. Don’t be afraid to be bold with your handbag choices.

In addition, thrift stores give great options for the do-it-yourself project. From cutting a pair of ragged jeans into shorts, to revamping an old sundress, there is a way to personalize anything found at a thrift store.

The amount of studs, spikes, and tie-dye Photo credit Ragstock.com

Bernadette Hoffman & Lizzie Porter

E

8 SouthwordS

is endless, and everything is usually A brown, real leather jacket under $5. With inexpensive can be purchased for only prices, if the first $30. Ragstock attempt at a project also has an is ruined, there is enormous no worry about selection wasting money. of resale The best thing to boots.

A keep in mind when good pair of shopping at these stores classic wellis to be patient and open made cowboy minded. A person may go boots can sell to one store and find ten from $100 to perfect things, but may $500. Ragstock go to another and find sells authentic absolutely nothing. It “Wild-West”is important to always l o o k i n g check for stains, cowboy boots holes, and rips before for $15. For buying, and to wash this fall everything before it’s season, boots worn. can be worn As the Chicago in many land area is home to a different multitude of different ways with thrift, vintage, and s e l e c t consignment stores, outfits. For one can easily find a a casual place to go to hone photo by bernadette hoffman vibe, one one’s thrifting skills. can pair the At Encore Resale Ltd., on 1027 N. boots with a favorite pair of faded Northwest Highway in Park Ridge, jeans. With boot-cut jeans, throwing one can purchase fashions people Jean over the boot can give the boots would assume were designer, at more of a relaxed, laid-back look. If bargain prices. For only $12, the store paired with skinny jeans, tucking the sells a pair of ruby red peep toes with Jean into the boot, makes the outfit a small heel in perfect condition. more vintage. Ragstock occasionally These shoes are almost completely has one-of-a-kind resale items identical to ones from the designer like cream-colored vintage high Cole Haan that retail for $198. A boots with wooden heels. They are shimmering black sweater sold for handmade, unique, ‘60s-inspired, $11 is a doppelganger to a black and a steal at $8. sweater from Michael Kors that is Other thrift stores in the Chicago priced at $375. land area include the Salvation For fun and unique fashions, Army, Goodwill, Crossroads, which Ragstock at the Woodfield Mall has is a teen-orientated, boutique-style great finds. Do not be overwhelmed store, and Forget Me Knot at 606 E. by their wide selection of ‘80s-prom Devon Avenue in Park Ridge, which dresses, ugly Christmas sweaters, and is a women’s consignment boutique. glittering spandex. The store is also All in all, knowing how to shop, filled with unique wearable items. where to shop, and what to shop for is ideal for finding stylish clothing for the fall season without bre a k i ng the bank.

photo Credit: ForgetmeKnotboutique.net

Two students from overseas break down the cultural differences between Denmark and the US

from a K-11 school, with around 350 students total.

“I never had a class with more than eighteen people,” said Hjerresen.

“Now I never have one with only that many.”

Since school was so small, getting Shayna Patt from class to class was simple.

Staff Writer Navigating the unfamiliar and vast or foreign exchange students, hallways of Maine South is a different traveling across the world to story. “It’s crazy, only getting five live and study is an extraordinary minutes to get from one class to opportunity. Through the experience, another,” said Samuelsen. “I have gym they are able to learn and immerse and then a class in the A-Wing, how themselves in a different culture. am I supposed to get there?”

Maine South is lucky enough to “Another weird thing is that you host two Danish exchange students carry all of your books with you. I this year, Heidi Samuelsen and Jasmin guess it makes sense, with so short of Hjerresen. Both girls, although they a passing period” said Samuelsen. did not know each other before their In Denmark, the student-teacher journeys, had the same dream—to relationship is also very different than live in the United States. When they in the United States. Students know arrived in Park Ridge, they were their teachers on a first-name basis. surprised by the different elements “Most of my teachers in Denmark, of American culture. The size and I never even learn their surname,” said spacing of houses, the skyscrapers Hajerresen. Not only can a student downtown, and the fact that people call out “Hey Karen, I need help,” but didn’t find it normal to put ketchup they also feel much more comfortable on pasta, amazed them. telling teachers what they dislike “Ketchup on pasta is just so about a certain teaching style than normal in Denmark, everyone does most Maine South students would. it,” Hjerresen said, laughing. Despite “My friend, Ulrikke and I, we all of this, the girls encountered even just politely told her that we thought more cultural distinctions at Maine we could learn more from doing South. activities instead of taking notes,” According to Samuelsen and said Hjerresen. “She loved that we Hjerresen, in Denmark, classes tend told her, and started assigning more to be very different. Hjerresen came group work.”

Te a c h e r s i n PROUD HAWKS Jasmin Hjerresen and Heidi Samuelsen are happy with their experience at Maine South. They the United States have enjoyed Maine South’s many activities, and have learned s e e m t o i n s t i l l a lot about American culture. more fear in their students, because not many students feel confident about nicely giving suggestions on how stu d ents wou ld prefer to learn.

Aside from academics, the girls continue to be introduced to things that don’t exist in Denmark.

Samuelsen, a JV cheerleader, started her year with no knowledge about football. “It’s still hard to figure out what’s happening sometimes, but it’s exciting to watch,” she said.

PHOTO BY JESSICA GRONKE

F

“Cheerleaders in Denmark don’t cheer for teams, because we have no school teams. It’s mostly just competition for us, so it’s different to actually be rooting for someone to win,” said Samuelsen.

Hj e r r e s e n , t h o u g h n o t a cheerleader, also went to a few exciting games, and cheered Maine South on in the student section.

“The experience at my very first game, against Wheaton Warrenville, will be hard to top, but I have enjoyed all the games since then a lot as well,” said Hjerreson. She found the face and body paint of the “Senior Super Fans” hilarious, and successfully lost her voice chanting “M.S.H.S! Whoda, whoda, whoda best!”

School dances are another part of American culture that amaze the two Danes. In Denmark, there are no Homecomings, no Girls’ Choices, and no Proms. “It’s sad, because all girls like to get dressed up, but we don’t have anything like this to dress up for,” said Samuelsen.

The elaborate ways of asking a date to a dance had the girls wide-eyed.

“I love how creative everyone gets,” said Hjerresen. “I’ve seen people with food, with decorated cars, everything.

I love that.”

Student life and extracurricular activities are two more aspects of American schooling that are dissimilar to what the girls were used to. “Everyone seems to do a sport here, in school or out of school,” noticed Samuelsen. “In Denmark, I was always a cheerleader, but a lot of my friends did not do activities.”

The unofficial Maine South dress code —sweats and T-shirts —was also something they were not expecting.

“I had never worn sweatpants except to bed before today,” said Hjerresen, pointing to her outfit. “It’s comfortable, though.”

Maine South High School and Samuelsen and Hjerresen’s old schools differ in many ways, it’s true; however, the transition has been easier than expected.

Both students haven’t been lost since their first week, and getting to class has become a much more manageable task. Even through hard classes, they enjoy it. Sports, like cheerleading and cross country, have become a big part of their lives, and both girls love football games.

“It’s just s o dif ferent t han Denmark,” said Hjerresen, “but I absolutely love it.”

| FEATURES

Name: Rich Kulczak Profession: Custodian

Hawk talk: the people you should know at Maine South

Exchange students experience culture shock

October 12, 2012

If you could join any clubs/ sports at MS what would you join?

Baseball, because it’s my favorite sport.

Craziest hair on a student?

Color dye on girls. They’re too young to dye their hair.

Do you know what the song of the summer was?

“Call Me Maybe,” definitely— that’s been on repeat at my house.

Would you play if there was a student-faculty baseball game?

I would totally play. I love baseball, always have.

What do you think of the music in the hall?

I like it—it gives people energy.

But I haven’t danced to it, I’d feel embarrassed if I did.

Craziest Outfit?

Mr. Messmer dressed up as a bird.

Favorite reality TV show?

“The Voice.” I like the method, only hearing the singers.

How long have you worked at Maine South?

Six years.

Favorite Halloween candy and movie: Milky Way and “Halloween.”

Who is your hero?

Former Cubs second base man, Ryan Sandberg. I idolized him when I was little.

Favorite recent movie?

“Unstoppable,” the train movie.

That one was really good!

By: Laney Kraus-Taddeo

SouthwordS 9

FEATURES

| October 12, 2012

By taking a few simple steps, students can make their money for them and save for the future Katie Krall

Features Editor ndergraduate tuition for one year the University of Illinois at Urbana Champagne- including room and board-for 2012-2013: $29,002.

The bank account of an average high school student: not even close.

With fewer jobs available, a college education is imperative for success in today’s job market. In fact, many head hunters predict a graduate degree will be essential in the near future as undergrad degrees become a dime a dozen. Though the costs to get these degrees may seem unreachable, through savings and investments, the college dream can become a reality.

The first step in saving for college is a savings account. Savings accounts are for short-term funds that may be used in the near future. The interest rate on a savings account is relatively small (.25%), but the government insures all money in the of account up to $250,000.

Depositing birthday money and even spare change in a bank account can help a student resist the temptation of spending. Slowly, those five dollar bills from grandma will add up. Working at a fast food restaurant may seem to have no impact on a student’s bank account, but saving 10% of every dollar earned is great advice and could result in financial independence during a student’s college years.

Besides saving job earnings, the stock market is also a great way to make long-term money for everything from college to retirement.

“Invest funds in the stock market that you do not need to use for at least five years. The stock market (and individual stocks) can decline significantly in the short-term,” said Michael Nadler, Head of Investment Advisory at Nadler Financial Group, Inc. The stock market should be used as a tool to obtain money for long-term purchases. Depending on how soon a student starts saving for college, the

10 SouthwordS

PHOTO BY JESSICA GRONKE

U

SHOW ME THE MONEY Students at Maine South need to make wise consumer decisions in every day life to prepare for financial responsibility after high school. stock market might be the best way to slowly accumulate wealth.

When choosing investments at various companies, many financial advisors will recommend looking at statistics such as earnings growth, sales growth, pre-packs margins, after-tax margins, and ROE (return on equity), but as a teenager, try to invest in what you are passionate about. From Nike to Apple to Disney, there is stock for everyone. But it is important to not invest on passion alone, and be logical. Logic is what will pay off in the end.

A basic tip is to buy low and sell high, so timing is everything.

The old saying “don’t put all your eggs in one basket” has a more technical term on Wall Street: diversification. Buying multiple stocks can help offset possible losses. If you decide to invest in five different companies, and, after seven years, two turn out to have high losses, the results will not be as catastrophic if the other three steadily increased over the years.

Not everyone knows how to invest in the stock market. If you decide to invest your money with someone else, do it with someone who has made money themselves. Don’t gamble away your future with someone who hasn’t proven themselves as reliable.

“You will never make money as an employee,” said Jim Roppel, Maine South graduate and General Partner at Roppel Capitol Management.

“Paychecks don’t create wealth—the stock market does. You could work at a post office and amass a small fortune if you play the market.”

While they might not make you rich, jobs can help you start a college fund. When earning a paycheck, strive to avoid impulse buys.

“I spend half my money on clothes and food and the other half I save,” said senior Nicole Schaul.

While it may seem important now to purchase the new iPhone, when you are staring at the unfinished walls of your dorm room at college eating ramen noodles for the fourth time in three days, the $200 dollars you spent on 4G speed will not be as important.

“I don’t buy things or spend my money too often, but the Chase Mobile Banking app helps me stay on top of my account,” said sophomore Michael Harris.

It’s very important to keep track of your money. Use note pads, charts, planners, or even your smart phone to make sure you are saving more than you are spending. Remember to check your stocks or bank account monthly, like you would with your grades.

The earlier you start saving for college, the less of a headache you will have when you’re packing your pillow pet for your dorm and trying to scrape together a few thousand dollars for food at college. In the end, the savings will—literally and figuratively—pay off.

If you had $1,000 to invest in anything, what would you invest in?

Investments can help cut college costs

“I would invest in a cure for cancer.”

- Olivia Lacoppola ‘16

“I would invest in a company that makes solid state hard drive.”

- Jacob Campbell ‘15

“I would invest in a good car.”

- Ioanna Dededimou ‘14

“I would invest in my music and my guitar.”

- Alex Giannini ‘13

October 12, 2012

| FEATURES

Green is the new red and black

Lauren Smith

Commentary Editor

I

SEPARATION ANXIETY

Mr. Hernandez empties a recycling bin in the library after school. In his gondola, he has separated the recyclables and refuse into different bags. FEED

ME The recycling bin is located by the Northwest lot and its contents are picked up by ARC, District 207’s recycling service, twice a week.

all of us partake in, and these flyers in each classroom will let people know what they can do.”

Custodians keep two separate compar tments in their waste collectors to keep the recycling and trash separate.

Because there are two parts of a single bin, some people incorrectly believe that the custodians are emptying both the trash and recyclables into the same container and that everything is thrown out.

Anyone who has a question about what is recyclable can also call ARC services at the number posted on the flyers.

The school’s efforts to become eco-friendly go beyond recycling. All of the trash bins at Maine South are biodegradable and made from postconsumer waste. The cleaners that the custodians use, excluding the disinfectants, are all green. Most rooms, bathrooms, and hallways use motion sensors to turn lights on and

PHOTOS BY LAUREN SMITH

n “The Adventures of a Plastic Bottle,” by Alison Inches, young children can read about the life of a plastic bottle from the refinery to the recycling plant, where he is turned into a new fleece jacket.

As heartwarming as that story is, most plastic bottles meet their end in a landfill, not over the shoulders of a chilly pedestrian. And contrary to popular belief, plastic bottles that are buried under piles of trash in a landfill that are exposed to little or no light cannot decompose.

Most Maine South students know that the school is currently resting on a large plot that used to be one of those landfills, where the town’s trash was piled up high. What some Maine South students do not know is that the school is currently working on several projects to “go green” and that it does, in fact, recycle, to help reduce the number of landfills, like the one South is sitting on.

The little blue bins or red tubs in the classrooms and library of the school aren’t just there to look pretty. The custodial staff, each and every day, empties those bins in a dumpster for recycling outside the school. The dumpster’s contents get picked up twice a week by ARC, the recycling service employed by District 207.

Maine South recycles so much that Mr. Edward Beese, the Director of Buildings and Grounds, has requested a larger recycling dumpster.

“All of this is for the good of the planet,” Mr. Beese stated. “It’s just a little bit of responsibility.”

There are two main problems when it comes to recycling at South.

Some students and faculty do not know what is recyclable, and others choose not to.

To inform students and faculty about recycling procedures at Maine South, the custodial staff has posted informative flyers stating what can and can’t be recycled in every room. These papers are in each classroom above the recycling bin and can also be seen in the cafeteria and library.

“A lot of people aren’t recycling,” Mr. Beese stated. “Once a recyclable is thrown in the trash, it’s done.

Recycling needs to be something that

off, greatly reducing the amount of electricity wasted in the school, and all office lights will be replaced with LED or CFL bulbs in the coming years.

The newly-renovated bathrooms all have low-flow toilets and sinks to reduce water waste, and other renovations that will help the school become more environmentally responsible are in the works.

The future is depending not only on the little things that people, high school students included, do every day to help the environment, but the bigger choices in life. Education will help people in the community and at Maine South make smarter choices about conservation and recycling.

Getting involved in helping the planet locally and globally will not only be a rewarding experience

now, but the future depends on it.

Some opportunities for Maine South students to get involved are joining ecology club and working with their families to make more environmentally conscious decisions.

Picking a plastic bottle out of the trash and placing it in the recycling makes a difference. Doing that good deed only 25 times will make a jacket for someone to wear on a cold day.

For ever y 150 fleeces made from recycled bottles, 42 gallons of oil is saved and half a ton of toxic air pollution never reaches the atmosphere.

A four-year old can tell you that it’s a long journey for a plastic bottle to become a fleece jacket, but the world will be a better place with a few warmer people and a fewer landfills.

SouthwordS 11

COMMENTARY

| October 12, 2012

STAFF EDITORIAL

ACT reflects wealth, not intelligence

he ACT is an extremely important part of the college admissions process. Unfortunately, the ACT is not a fair representation of intelligence. The test too often reflects the amount of economic resources that a student does or does not have access to.

The ACT is meant to measure how well students can apply their knowledge. In other words, test takers really don’t have to memorize anything— the idea is that high school juniors have already learned everything they need to know to take the test.

Despite this, students still “study” for the ACT. In the educational culture of Maine South, it’s practically expected that a junior will prep for the test.

One would think that prep for a mostly applicative test wouldn’t have much effect on scores, but statistics say otherwise. “Excel Edge,” a corporation that provides the prep program used by many Maine South students, “ACT 36,” claims that the average student who takes their class improves their ACT score by 2-3 points.

The class gives students tips and tricks on how to do well on the test: how to narrow down answers when guessing, strategies for timing, and even which bubbles to blindly shade in during those last 30 seconds. This information—combined with hours of practice—can make a student look 2-3 points smarter to admissions officers. Last year, 143 Maine South students enrolled in the Excel Edge ACT class alone.

According to Excel Edge’s web-

12 SouthwordS

site, the ACT 36 program generally costs $9 to $15 per hour, depending on how much of the cost the host school chooses to subsidize. The class meets for one two-hour session every week over the course of seven or eight weeks, plus an additional 3.5-hour session in which a practice ACT is taken. It can cost almost $300 to change a score of 28 to a 31, an expensive jump that can make the difference between acceptance and rejection.

Besides prep classes, many students also hire private tutors to prepare for the

GRAPHIC BY SARAH HANDS

T

A C T. These tutors sometimes charge around $100 per hour. It’s an expensive resource for an allegedly “standardized” test.

Something else that should be considered is the chances a student has of improving their score by taking multiple tests. Many students do better on their second or third ACT than they do on their first. This is usually because they are more familiar with the test, or because outside factors

(stress, sickness, the conditions of the test room) affected their first score.

It’s unlikely that a two-month gap between tests resulted in any significant increase in the student’s aptitude.

Taking multiple tests can also benefit a student in the application process because many colleges “super score,” or take a student’s best scores from each individual portion of the test to create a better composite.

Let’s say a student took the ACT in October and scored a 34 on Reading, a 26 on Math, a 27 on English, and a 26 on Science, giving them a composite score of 28. Now let’s say that the same student takes the ACT again in May, scoring a 33 on Reading, a 29 on Math, a 29 on English, and a 23 on Science, earning a second composite of 29. If the college they apply to super scores, their ACT results will appear as 34 on Reading, 29 on Math, 29 on English, and 26 on Science, with a new composite of 30.

This provides an unfair advantage to students who have the money to pay multiple testing fees— for the 2012-2013 tests, that fee is $35. With the additional Writing section, it costs $50.50.

While the PSAE is administered for free to all students in Illinois, it is only administered once and it no longer includes the Writing section, which is required by some colleges. Most colleges who require a writing sample from a standardized test will take either the ACT or the SAT, but the SAT is not subsidized for Illinois students.

It’s impossible to measure something as subjective as intelligence by a number, especially one so easily manipulated.

Colleges need to invest in some other sort of assessment that better measures aptitude with minimal influence from outside socioeconomic factors. At the very least, ACT scores should not be looked at as absolute measurements, but weighted according to the student’s individual situation.

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

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

Katie Krall Des Mustafa Amanda Svachula

Commentary Editors Gianna Carrozza Lauren Smith Sports Editors

Hope Allchin Alex Ellyin Kay Thursby

Photography Editors Sophia Conde Jessica Gronke Adviser

Mr. Stathakis

October 12, 2012

| COMMENTARY

Already tired of the hypocrisy Soren Ramsey Editor-in-Chief

A

t what point is it too early to be disillusioned with politics?

In elementary and middle school, we were taught about presidential elections in terms of a spirited battle between the two finest leaders the country has to offer. As we get older, however, we see far more of the hypocrisy and short-sightedness of the whole process.

A prime example of this hypocrisy is the media’s varying responses to videos of each candidate that surfaced during their campaign. In the aftermath of Mitt Romney’s “47% comments,” news outlets like Fox News discredited the comment due

to the fact that it was made back in May. Then, not even two days later, Romney attacked Obama for comments made in 1998, in which he spoke in favor of redistribution.

Somehow, this statement of a belief made fourteen years ago that Romney partially agrees with is more important than a comment made four months ago.

Much in the same way, Obama supporters used Romney’s past to steer negative attention towards the Republican candidate. In what way was the witch hunt for Romney’s tax returns any different from the ridiculous birth certificate question four years ago? They both turned up information that was already widely known, with Obama having been born in Hawaii and Romney having paid a low tax rate due to his “investor class” status.

Neither of these really changed

anything about the issues, but both were used as a means to smear the opposition and divert attention away from issues voters should actually care about.

Nothing showed more about how ridiculous overzealous politicians can be than the conventions this August and September. A fantastic string of segments on “The Daily Show” made the attendees of both look absolutely ridiculous.

For example, at the Republican Convention, shortly after Romney announced his views differed slightly from the party’s, correspondents for the show wandered the stadium asking delegates for their opinion.

In defense of their candidate, delegates told heartwarming testimonies about how Romney made a tough decision, and he should be able to do and believe what he wants, free from government interference.

“The Daily Show” reporter then

asked why they don’t believe in this degree of freedom regarding abortion. Invariably, the candidate would come up with some poorlydevised argument for why this kind of freedom was different in another context.

In the interests of fairness, Jon Stewart sent his correspondents to Charlotte to make the DNC look just as ridiculous. In a segment on acceptance, one delegate talked about how the Democrats are all-inclusive and welcome everyone “unless you own a corporation, or are a hunter, a gun owner, or a white male.” Another talked about how Democrats don’t stereotype and generalize, “not like those hillbilly, redneck Tea-partiers.”

The fact that these delegates couldn’t see the sheer irony of what they were saying scares me. People are so convinced of the opposing party’s flaws that they can’t see their own.

Dancers struggle to beat the heat Hannah Beswick-Hale

Staff Writer sed by Dance 1 and 2 classes, Group Fitness, Orchesis, Hawkettes, and Martial Arts Club, the dance room is an important part of Maine South. It is also one of the only rooms in Maine South that is not air-conditioned. Plagued by extreme heat and humidity, this small, windowless space has no temperature control, which affects both the learning environment and the wellbeing of the students.

This summer, a new ventilation system, along with three large, incredibly-loud fans, were put in place, which was supposed to solve the problem of the heat, but as far as Ms. Sinclair and the students can tell, it has done nothing. All of these little improvements have been, according to dance teacher Ms. Sinclair, “Band-Aids for the biggest overall picture, the need for a temperature control system.”

In an attempt to deal with the heat, the doors of the dance room are often left open. Consequently, food aromas from café lines waft in making it uncomfortable for students to breathe during workouts. The high temperatures can be dangerous for

U

students when combined with the poor air quality.

The biggest problem is that Ms. Sinclair has to tailor her lesson plans to fit the daily weather.

“What students are learning shouldn’t depend on the temperature of the room,” she states.

Ms. Sinclair wants to keep the students moving for a full thirty-five minutes, and stopping for breaks every few minutes due to the heat slows the class down.

“The dance room here at South is unbearably hot,” said Senior Megan Hinds, a three-year member of Advanced Dance and four-year member of Orchesis Dance Company. “All of us dancers start sweating just standing in the room before class. The apparent system added over the summer has, if anything, made the air circulation in the room worse. Most of the dancers don’t want to work as hard as they would if the room was cooler.”

In addition, Maggie Flieta, a member of Advanced Dance and the president of Orchesis Dance Company went so far as to make Advanced Dance gym class tank tops to use as gym uniforms after dealing with the heat for three years in a row.

SWEATING IT OUT

PHOTO BY: jESSICA gRONKE

Multiple classes and extracurricular programs use the dance room daily. Some dancers have experienced heat rashes because of the excessive temperatures.

“I’m used to dancing in warm places,” says Ms. Sinclair. “The studio that I dance at has poor temperature control and my body has adjusted to it, but by the end of 9th period I’m exhausted,” says Ms. Sinclair.

Sinclair has contacted the Buildings and Grounds crew multiple times to speak about the temperature problem, and even invited administration to sit in on a class and experience the discomfort, but the room conditions remain the same. Parents even complained about the muggy atmosphere to Ms. Sinclair during parents’ night.

Mr. Messmer is aware of the conditions and there is an action plan.

“There was an exhaust fan installed

for the dance room and the back gym at the end of the summer,” Mr. Messmer said. “However, it did not have the appropriate airflow regulator on it.” The parts weren’t right, creating a setback which should be corrected soon. They also plan on installing door vents to both the back gym and dance room.

Even though the administration is aware of the problem, is an exhaust fan really the answer? Maybe it will help reduce the temperature somewhat, but the room will still be subjected to mediocre conditions compared to those of other parts of the school. It seems like the only true solution would be the installation of an air conditioning system.

SouthwordS 13

SPORTS

| October 12, 2012

Recruiting process filled with challenges, triumphs Sports Editor ollege is a stressful topic for all high school students, but especially so for the most talented athletes hoping to play after high school.

The search for the right school typically begins for recruiting hopefuls in their sophomore year, but because of the competition for all-star players, it can start as early their freshman season.

Maine South athletic stars like seniors Matt Alviti, who has verbally committed to Northwestern, and Pat Maloney, who has verbally committed to Ball State, have been navigating the process for years, trying to find their perfect fit.

Recruiting is often unpredictable and, because of this, often done behind closed doors. Most people only hear about the best moments, the glorious days of verbal commitments and college acceptances—not the tough phone calls and time pressure.

For football, the recruiting process starts with a list of 10 to 15 players from a graduating class who have best chances of recruitment. This list will be sent to colleges after an outside professional recruiting service is contacted. Colleges receive information that includes the players’ positions, heights, weights, and drill times.

Then, the colleges compare these lists from high schools across the country to find the players that are best suited for their programs. If a college is interested in a player, the school will contact his high school and request a video that showcases the player’s talent.

If the school is impressed with the film, it will schedule a meeting with the player. This meeting starts with what is known as the “eye test,” or the scout’s first impression. During this meeting, the scout estimates the size and speed of the player to check the accuracy of the statistics sent by the high school. A player needs to pass this initial test in order to continue along the recruiting process.

Most players hoping to be recruited will know about how many colleges in each division are considering them for recruitment by the spring of their junior year. The many rules regarding recruiting, imposed to keep college coaches from interfering with the players’ education, are strictly

SOUTHWORDS FILE PHOTOS

Hope Allchin

C

14 SouthwordS

TOP RECRUITS

Seniors Pat Maloney (left) and Matt Alviti (right) have both verbally committed to Division I universities on full-ride scholarships.

enforced, and any violation can cost a college scholarships in the future.

Coaches cannot contact a player until after June 15 when he has finished his sophomore year. When the player is a junior, a coach can only call the player once a month and visit the school twice. The player, however, can call the coach as often as he wants.

The most sought-after players begin to receive offers in the spring of their junior year, while the very top recruits may get offers as early as their sophomore seasons. Players seriously considering accepting a scholarship will attend a summer camp at the college, where they will be compared side-by-side with other recruits.

For the majority of players, the recruiting process intensifies over their senior year. Official visits to the campus of the colleges happen in the fall. Players meet with the coaches, tour the facilities, and usually attend a football game.

“For me, the recruiting process was my college choice,” said Alviti. “It was a long process that started after my sophomore football season. I had a lot of college coaches come in to see me... I could tell what coaches really had interest in me and what coaches were just coming in because other schools were coming in.”

“The first school that contacted me was the school that I am committed to, which is Ball State,” said Maloney.

“They got ahold of my film, liked what they saw, and invited me down to campus in Muncie, Indiana and offered me a full ride scholarship.

Typically after you get one scholarship

you receive others and from there I picked up a total of 15.”

Those players who have been offered scholarships by the end of their senior season usually begin to narrow down their choices through the winter. There is a lot of pressure on players to verbally commitment to a college as each level has a limited number of scholarships, with only 85 being offered at the Division I level, and a certain number set aside for each position. Verbal commitments are non-binding for both the player and college, but there is an unspoken honor rule that other schools can no longer attempt to recruit the player.

A player cannot legally make a formal commitment until the first Wednesday of February in his senior year. This is the earliest a player can sign a National Letter of Intent.

Despite the complications, recruitment is something that many look forward to.

“It’s always exciting when a head coach of a school contacts you and offers you a scholarship,” said Maloney. “Going to visit the school’s campus and football facilities, getting your own private tour of what that school is like, is great too. Developing relationships with coaches was an awesome experience.”

Recruiting is not always a positive experience, though.

“The mail began to become annoying,” continues Maloney.

“Coaches want you to call them, which gets old, but you do not want to ignore so you still seem interested.

The hardest part for me was calling

up the coaches who had offered [a scholarship] and telling them I committed to Ball State. Talking to someone once or twice a week for months you develop a good relationship with them and it was extremely difficult to tell them that, but at the end of the day you have to do what’s best for you.”

High school coaches do play a role, but they tend to be more involved with the preliminary steps of contacting the colleges.

“My head coach Dave Inserra is a man who had lots of experience with recruiting prior to me,” said Maloney.

“He would always call coaches or talk to the scouts who came into school and tell them only the good things about me and none of the bad. He’d give me his opinion and thoughts on many things and informed me on things I never knew about. He truly was like a third parent to me during the process, and I owe him the world for that. I would not be in the position I am in today if it weren’t for him.”

“Everything we [as a program] can do and say about the player is important, but when it comes down to it, college coaches are going to watch the game film and rely on testing numbers to make their choices,” added Coach Inserra. “It can be a disheartening process.”

Despite this, many Maine South football players have successfully navigated the process, with 18 players currently active on college rosters.

“We are hoping we will have seven or eight players from this year’s team besides Matt Alviti and Pat Maloney commit to play in college,” said Coach Inserra. “That would be awesome.”

The current seniors are not discouraged either.

“I visited a lot of schools, but my top three were Northwestern, Notre Dame, and Michigan State,” said Alviti. “I picked Northwestern for many reasons, and I am happy with my commitment to Northwestern.”

“I felt very privileged to be recruited,” said Maloney. “With all the scholarships I had left over after my commitment, I wish I could hand them over to my teammates who are pursuing playing college football, but maybe weren’t as lucky and fortunate as I was. Looking back, it was definitely a tremendous experience. I learned a lot about myself, met a lot of great people and found my home for the next four years.”

Staff Writer

W

ith last year’s fourth-place finish in conference in mind, the Maine South boys’ golf team wanted to be a top competitor in the CSL Conference.

“Compared to last year, we’re a lot stronger,” senior captain Robert Mazza said as he and his team prepared for Conference, which took place on Tuesday, Sept. 25. The Hawks ended up taking third, just behind New Trier and Evanston.

“We have a lot of depth and a lot of kids shooting low scores,” said Mazza.

“We play extremely well as a team.”

The Hawks lost a few seniors from last year but got some much needed help added to the roster this year.

“This year we have six varsity players which has added some depth to the team that we didn’t have last year,” said varsity coach Steve Scholl. “[The added players] has translated into our team being more competitive within our conference and certainly our non-conference matches.”

As the Hawks continue their late-season surge, a few players have come out strong, keeping their scores low. Junior Joe DeFrenza has led the Hawks in conference, and is making great strides to help his team advance past Regionals. “[Defrenza has] been playing like

a madman lately,” said Mazza. “His scores are low and he’s been keeping

them low, especially during conference when we need the best from everyone.”

At conference, DeFrenza shot a 75 and placed ninth overall, making him the only Maine South player to place in the top 10 at Conference.

Although DeFrenza was the only one from Maine South to place, Mazza and senior Jack Touhy were hot on his heels, shooting a 77 and 78 to help boost the Hawks past Glenbrook South and take third.

“We lost to [GBS] in a conference match, so it was nice to come back and beat [GBS] in an 18-hole event,” said Coach Scholl about the third-place finish over Glenbrook South.

“We played extremely well as a team,” Touhy commented about the Hawks’ finish in conference. “We have an actual shot to get past Regionals this year.”

Wit h m a ny p a r t s of t h e i r team clicking, the Hawks have high expectations for Regionals after beating Glenbrook South in Conference by seven points.

The future is looking bright for Maine South boys’ golf. They may be losing six seniors after this year, but they still have a competitive team coming up from the freshman and sophomore squad.

“I believe that as a team, we can

be just as competitive as we were this year,” commented Coach Scholl on the upcoming team. “The frosh/soph team went four and one in conference under Coach Young.”

The Hawks came in second at regionals on Oct. 2 at Glenview Golf Club, facing some of their main competitors including Glenbrook South, Glenbrook North, and Notre Dame.

The boys competed for Sectionals on Oct. 8. against Maine West and Glenbrook South on New Trier’s home course, but results weren’t available at press time.

The Hawks are hoping to advance everyone on the team to State.

Katie Krall; junior Brittany Lung; and seniors Kathleen Daly, Kelly McCone, and Nicole Schaul.

“They have all played well all season long, but Leia Atas has our lowest individual average,” said Coach Hamann.

Atas led their team to a big win against Highland Park, shooting a 38, one stroke off the school record.

Katie Krall led them with an 85 at the Conference Tournament and also shot a 38 against Taft.

Nicole Schaul shot a personal best of 39 against Prospect and New Trier.

“I think that this year was the best year to finish out my high school career in golf,” said captain McCone.

“Our team is so strong score wise, but most importantly, we are a family.

We have eliminated the competition factor that comes with an individual

sport. All of us are dedicated and focused. We’ve got the best team.”

Coach Hamann’s goals for the end of the season are for the girls to play hard and put themselves in a position to advance through Regionals as a team and play well at Sectionals.

“If we do that, we feel we will put ourselves in great position to make State for the first time ever,” said Coach Hamann.

On Oct. 3, the girls headed to Bridges of Poplar Creek for their regional round. Atas, Annie and Katie Krall, and Daly put together a total score of 344, securing the Regional title for the Hawks.

“The team did really well as a whole,” said Daly. “We thrived off our on course communication. We were especially focused on the back nine.”

The team advanced to Sectionals which took place on Oct. 9.

FORE!

Senior captain Robert Mazza at Regionals. The regional round took place at the Park Ridge Country Club on Oct. 8.

Girls’ golf has record year Claire Raphael

Staff Writer he girls’ golf team looks better than ever after breaking several team records, and tying for fourth in Conference against a number of top-ten teams in the state. The Maine South girls’ golf team broke the 18hole team scoring record once and the 9-hole team scoring record three times this year.

The girls broke the 9-hole record two days in a row, leaving the record at 160. They then finished 10-5 overall and 6-2 in the CSL Conference.

“We broke the 18-hole record at the first tournament of the season,” stated Coach Hamann. “We finished third only behind defending State Champ Prospect and runner-up New Trier.”

The seven Varsity players are sophomores Leia Atas, Annie Krall,

T

Photo by molly petray

Zachary Jones

Mrs. Markworth, P.E.

M

rs. Markworth was one of the shortest girls on her college vollyball team, but that never held her back from trying her best and encouraging her teammates.

Mrs . Markwot h k ne w t hat volley ball would be the most dominant part of her college life, along with school work. She says that “practicing and training year round and long weekend trips during the season does not leave much time for anything other than school work.” The time put in allowed her to build stronger relationships with both her teammates and coaches, forming relationships that are still alive today.

Without the coaching of her friend’s mother in fourth grade, Mrs. Markworth’s volleyball journey might have never occurred. She taught Mrs. Markworth and the others the basic skills that they needed. Mrs. Markworth then started to play club volleyball from sixth grade to senior year, preparing her for a competitive athletic environment at Mother McAuley High School.

After coaching at Maine South for eleven years, Mrs. Markworth decided to dedicate her coaching career to Lyons Jr. volleyball club, where she coaches three teams, each with one of her children on them.

According to Mrs. Markworth, the connections she made while playing college volleyball really helped her from a personal and professional standpoint after graduation. She highly recommends participating in a sport if given the opportunity.

PhotoCOURTESY courtesyOF ofMRS. mr. stock PHOTO MARKWORTH

Boys’ golf makes sectionals

October 12, 2012 | SPORTS

SouthwordS 15

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

Alex Ellyin

Sports Editor ometimes less is more, and for girls’ tennis, their small team has allowed them to become closer as a group.

The support they have had from their coaches has aided in their development, and the team has momentum heading into the conference meet.

“This year’s varsity team combines experience, youth, talent, and hard work into a competitive and cohesive mixture that has resulted in a team record of 11-6,” said head coach Mrs. Bondi about the squad.

Wi t h t h i s re c ord a re f i r s t place finishes in the Buffalo Grove Tournament, which took place on Sept. 8 and in the Sept. 15 eight-team Hawk Invite.

“The team this year is strong regarding both skill and the ability to work together,” said Senior Captain Lauren Zydowsky. “We all get along with one another and do our best to work on our tennis game and have fun at the same time.”

The environment that is created with the friendly and competitive nature of the teammates has increased the ladies’ confidence as well.

S

Senior Captain Nicole Kitsuse could not be happier with the results so far.

“This year, we have a team with an incredible amount of depth, and there have been a lot of close matches with schools that we normally wouldn’t have beaten.”

The girls have reached certain targets this season by coming close to winning matches against Glenbrook South and winning points against New Trier, the state runner-ups last season.

In addition, the team beat Fremd 7-0 for the first time in school history on Aug. 23. Winning close matches against Rolling Meadows out of conference was another high note that came out of the season.

Senior Night took place on Oct. 1 at Oak Park River Forest. Seniors Claudia Aniol, Caroline Borowski, Stephanie Daul, Kituse, Meghan Salgia, and Zydowsky were honored for their four years of dedication to the team. “[The season is going] well and the team is as close together as ever,” Kituse went on to say. “If we continue to progress, going to state seems very likely.”

After losing only two seniors from

Who is your favorite superhero?

If you could meet any professional athlete, who would it be?

If you could play your sport anywhere, where would it be?

What is your favorite Park Ridge restaurant?

Do you have any pre-game rituals?

Photo by Jessica gronke

Goals reached for girls’ tennis SOARING TO VICTORY Senior Lauren Zydowsky leaps for a ball as the girls prepare before the Sept. 15 Hawk Invite. The Hawks won the invite, defeating eight elite teams in the Chicago-land area. the previous season, many of the girls have played with each other prior to this year. There are only two newcomers to the squad, including freshman Leigh Friedman, the number one singles player on the squad, who is making a significant impact already.

Sophomores Nicole Dinkel and Randi Wind are second-year varsity players who are players to look out for as well.

The team has the goal of going to state in mind, and would like to improve

on their 12th-place finish last season.

With the regular season now over, the girls are preparing extremely hard to show what they are capable of doing in the postseason. More significantly though, the girls want to play their absolute best and make Maine South proud.

The squad’s conference meet took place Oct. 5 and 6 at New Trier’s campus. The state competition will take place on the 18, 19, and 20 of October.

Chris Pattullo

Emma Ropski

Pat Maloney

Anne Marie Pavlis

Batman

Flash

Spiderman

Wonder Woman

Pelé

Will Ferrell

Sean White

Michael Phelps

Chelsea FC

Colorado

Ball State

Hawaii

Noodles and Company

Noodles and Company

Wally’s

Potbelly’s

Eating a Nutrigrain bar

Visualization

Slam a Red Bull

Dance the Macarena