February 2023

YEARSWESTERNER
MAINE
WEST'S
STUDENT
VOICE FOR
64
february 15, 2023
MONSTER
MANIA
Juniors Youssif Massri and Cali Santos
prepare for this week’s productions
of the musical “Young Frankenstein,”
which opens tomorrow at
7 p.m. Read More about the show in
ENTERTAINMENT, page 5.
volume 64, issue 6
GABBY SZEWCZYK
mwwesterner.com + @mwwesterner

2 news/westerner
February 15, 2022
DP Theater sidesteps controversy
GABBY SZEWCZYK
after heated city council meeting
BY EVLIN MATHEW
reporter
Turmoil erupted in Des Plaines
when Awake Illinois -- a group that
claims “anti-Americanism is permeating
public education today” -- announced
earlier this year that they
would be hosting their Coalition for
Kids event at the Des Plaines Theater.
Outraged citizens of Des Plaines
protested the event at the city council
meeting on Jan. 17, citing the anti-gay
agenda of Coalition for Kids. Several
LGBTQIA+ supporting organizations
had representatives at the meeting
including SPEAK Des Plaines
and Equality Illinois. Maine West students
attended as well.
When Awake Illinois called the
people protecting trans rights “anti-
American” and “anti-child” and
said that their first amendment right
was “under attack,” it brought on
the question of free speech or hate
speech and where the line is drawn. “I
am really thankful that the hate group
didn’t make an appearance. It would
have made me feel way less safe in
the place that’s my home, and I know
I am not the only one,” senior Alex
Dusold O’Connor said.
Two days later Onesti Entertainment,
the company that operates the
Des Plaines Theater, released a press
release announcing the event’s cancellation.
“It enraged me because hate
groups claim to be supporting kids,
yet denying trans kids a means of
transitioning or affirming their gender
is literally deadly,” O’Connor said.
Many celebrated the event’s cancellation
but felt Onesti Entertainment’s
public statement was insincere.
Ron Onesti, the owner of Onesti Entertainment
issued a press release that
detailed threats he was allegedly receiving,
including mailed bullets, calls
for neighbors to fill his trash can with
feces and countless threats upon the
Des Plaines Theater itself.
Trying to determine the truth
about these threats, citizen Elizabeth
Wolf – a long-time resident of Des
Plaines -- filled out a Freedom of Information
Act (FOIA) request to find
out whether or not Onesti’s claims
about the threats were true. A FOIA
request allows any citizen to receive
copies of police reports and any other
government documents.
Wolf contacted the Des Plaines,
Woodale, and St. Charles Police departments
in hopes of finding police
reports linked to Onesti’s property,
but no police report appeared to
have been filed, casting doubt about
whether or not threats had actually
been made.
In a Westerner interview with Onesti,
he said, “I didn’t give it that much
thought; you know if I was that worried
about it I would’ve called the
police. The media focused on what
they want to focus on: the threats,” he
continued. “These people are making
it about the threats and it’s not
about the threats. It’s the fact that
they were threatening me because of
my position which I didn’t have in the
first place. I had zero position, for or
against” the agenda of Awake Illinois
Tuning in to new hallway T.V’s
BY PAIGE FOSTER
reporter
and the Coalition for Kids.
A common misconception about
the Des Plaines Theater is that the
business is owned by the city. While
the building is owned by the city, Onesti
owns the business running it. “The
renovation was publicly funded but
my business is a private enterprise,”
Onesti said. “That gives me the right
to do pretty much what I want there
but I don’t take that lightly.” Onesti,
who is in charge of booking events
at the theater, didn’t see Coalition for
Kids as an issue at the surface level.
But such a response brings up
more questions than answers. “I’m
sure you see if a band is bad before
booking them so would you not dig
and see what this is about?” Anita
Vaughan, a SPEAK Des Plaines
member asked.
Onesti said, “It’s not for me to vet
out every single individual; people are
saying I need to find out more about
the people that I have there; uh, not
really.”
Rather than staring at the same poster on the walls of each wing, 15
new TVs have sprouted up and changed the marketing game at Maine
West.
Messages posted on the TVs vary throughout the wings of Maine
West. “In D-wing we have the same information as the other buildings,
but we also share CTE-specific information. This could be fun things
that are happening in CTE such as DECA events,” said department
chair of CTE Samatha Archer. “It just provides another opportunity to
promote and share information beyond just emails and posters.”
While the TVs may be an upgrade to paper posters, safety issues
have to be considered before thinking about the payoff. And these safety
issues stem from the possibility of students, either intentionally or
accidentally, damaging the new TVs. “They have been mounted very securely
on the walls, and we have security cameras throughout the building,
so we are not worried about students hurting our TVs,” associate
principal John Aldworth said. “Overall, our students are very respectful
of our space, so we are not worried about them intentionally damaging
the monitors.”
At roughly $900 a piece, the onboarding of the new TVs is quite
pricey, especially the size and quality that have been purchased, leading
to the question of where this fits in the budget. “We built the cost
into our budget last year. We just recently got the software to run the
signage, so we are still working with the company to find better ways to
utilize the monitors,” Aldworth said.
But the happy sentiment over the new TVs is not shared by all, as
many students question whether or not such a purchase was the right
choice. “I thought they were not worth the money,” sophomore Stefana
Spirova said. When Spirova first heard about them, “I thought that it
was a lie and that there was no way they actually put in so many TVs.”
WEST TV

Febrarary 15 , 2023 westerner/news 3
BLACK STUDENT UNION COMES TOGETHER CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY
BSU BREAKS
BY MOHNISH SONI, CARLOS HERNANDEZ-HERNANDEZ, THOMAS NOONAN
news editor, news editor, asst. news editor
To celebrate the achievements of Black
Americans throughout history, SOAR and
Black Student Union have a calendar packed
with events and activities for Black History
Month.
“We encourage inclusiveness and educate
people about Black History,” counselor and
BSU sponsor Allyson Adams said. “It’s an
organization anybody in the school can be a
part of.”
Aiming to boost participation among students
and staff, this year, “we are running a
door contest to decorate your door for Black
History Month,” Adams said. “That’s for the
whole school.”
Sponsored by the BSU, faculty at Maine
West are encouraged to decorate their doors
in creative ways, whether it be highlighting inventions
such as the potato chip, as displayed
on AP U.S. History teacher Bryanne Roemer’s
door, or successful Black Americans in the
dramatic arts showcased drama teacher David
Harmon’s A-Wing door.
At the student level, BSU plans on hosting
a Paint and Chill event after school on Feb. 22.
“Every student that wants to attend this event
will get a little canvas and we’re going to sit and
paint, and we’ll have a design already sketched
out on it and they can paint it,” Adams said.
BARRIERS
Not only do the activities provide students
with an opportunity to express themselves this
Black History Month, but it will provide the
opportunity to showcase that expression. “I
love being part of Black Student Union because
this is a place where we can feel comfortable
around each other. there are never any
dull moments,” senior member of BSU and
SOAR Bruktawit Yigsaw said.
BSU’s celebration of Black History Month
does not end with in-school activities, as they
have plans to bring Black history to a more
personal level. This Thursday, “we have a district
wide event called Black Excellence is Everywhere,
and that is going to be held at Maine
East,” Adams said. “At that event we have
some former students and we have some Black
professionals in the Chicagoland area that are
going to be a part of it.” This event is focused
on the showcase of career opportunities and
provides mentorship for those in BSU across
Maine Township, with the panel being led by
five professionals presenting information on
their specific career paths.
“We can talk to alumni from Black colleges;
they will give us their experience regarding
college,” senior member of BSU and SOAR
Arrielle Henderson said.
W
RI
ALLYSON ADAMS
sports, news, features, opinions, in-depth & entertainment
TE PHOTOGRAPH
BSU Members (l-r) Andrea Habler, Brandy Mc-
Donald, Benice Gyebi, and Ore Adesayo accepted
a proclamation to honor Black History Month
at the Des Plaines City Council meeting on Feb.
6. Above, social studies teacher Bryanne Roemer
is one of dozens of teachers who have
decorated their doors, with the help of students,
to honor the unique and under-appreciated
achievements of Black Americans.
Westerner applications
DESIGN
Be a part of this national award-winning student newspaper. Scan the QR code or visit tinyurl.com/Westerner2023app
DUE FRIDAY
D
RA
W

4 features/westerner
Speading some city love
February 15, 2023
Instead of sitting at home this weekend, why don’t you make Chicago your Valentine? With a three-day holiday ahead, make your weekend
something memorable by grabbing a friend or family member, getting out, exploring, and having some fun during these colder months. Here are
some fun and affordable ways to feel the love, no Hallmark card needed.
Shedd
Aquarium
The Shedd Aquarium is offering
free admission for Illinois
residents on Feb. 14, 15, 16. From
dolphin shows to penguin exhibits,
you’ll be transported to waters
around the world without
ever leaving the city.
Field
Museum
Illinois residents get free entry on Feb. 14,
15, 16. With new exhibit “First Kings of Europe,”
there’s even more ancient artifacts to
check out. Don’t forget to blow a kiss to Sue,
one of the largest Tyrannosaurus rex dinosaurs
ever discovered, on your way through
the main hall. Located at 1400 S Lake
Shore Dr., Chicago.
BY MICHELLE KANER
AND TEAGAN O’CONNOR
features editor and
asst. features editor
Lincoln Park Zoo
Always free year round and with
the warm spell of weather predicted
this week, a date with the gorillas and
lions is a great way to spend a day.
For people interested in long legs and
necks, check out the indoor giraffe
exhibit!
Gates open at 10 a.m.
Ice Skating Ribbon at
Maggie Daley Park
Right next to Millennium
Park with views of Lake Michigan
through the trees, the skating
ribbon is turning into a city
icon. Reserve a time slot at
maggiedaleypark.com
English teacher Liana Bracker
describes the skating ribbon
at Maggie Daley Park as a place
that provides the perfect backdrop
for immersing yourself in
the city, and she likes to take her
nephews, such as Nico pictured
here, to take in the views there.
“I love that you don’t skate in a
circle the entire time and that
it is surrounded by trees and
the Chicago skyline. The vibe
seems to be more about having
fun and less about doing triplet
axles,” Bracker said.
School severing screen time
BY EMMA MCGREEVY
reporter
Hoping to increase student focus and cut
back on distractions during the school day,
District 207 barred access on the schools’
servers to social media apps on Chromebooks,
tablets, and cell phones as of Feb. 1, just a few
weeks after restricting personal email access
from school-issued devices.
While these restrictions may be aimed at
improving classroom performance among
students, many West students are skeptical of
the new policy. “I believe these restrictions will
definitely cause difficulties. Students use social
media apps like Discord and Snapchat to communicate
with classmates about different assignments
and school clubs. These policies will
create issues for communication,” sophomore
Jaiden Maisonet said.
Another concern among students is how
the lack of access to personal emails and social
media while at school will affect certain
students. “I think the main group of students
these new policies will affect are students without
home internet access. Some use school Wi-
Fi to access personal emails for scholarships
and college information
so they’ll have
“Students will find their
way around the restrictions
— it’s inevitable.”
a much harder time
figuring out a way to
do this,” junior Leena
Lugo said. They also
risk being left out of
the information loops
that exist between
classmates on apps like
Snapchat.
Similarly, senior Alexander Haliotis said,
“Students in low-income households without
Wi-Fi will have to go completely outside of
school in order to get into any of their personal
profiles. It’s a huge accessibility issue.”
Despite many students expressing their dislike
for these policies, others in the building
see possible benefits to social media block-out.
“While a lot of students seem to be not in favor
of these new decisions, I believe this will
be beneficial for students,” fine arts teacher
Melissa Lloyd said. “Without access to social
media, there is more time to focus on learning.”
With these rules
being in effect for
just over two weeks,
students will have had
time to adjust to these
restrictions, but only
time will tell if opinions
will fluctuate on
the new policies.
As it is, students
with cell plans that allow for unlimited data are
still able to get to the restricted apps by using
their data plans. “Students will find their way
around the restrictions—it’s inevitable,” senior
Alexander Haliotis said.
— senior Alexander Haliotis

February 15, 2023 westerner/entertainment 5
BY EMILIA EZLAKOWSKI
reporter
As anyone who has read the actual story knows, Frankenstein
is not a big monster with bolts in his head.
But even those people will be on the edge of their
seats facing surprise after surprise when Maine West students
perform Mel Brooks’ musical “Young Frankenstein,” starting
tomorrow.
Mary Shelley created the original story of Frankenstein
when she published her book in 1818. Mel Brooks used her
idea and put his own witty twist on it, creating a comedyhorror
movie in 1974. Now, director David Harmon has
selected his cast to put on a friendlier version of the show,
taking place at 7 p.m. tomorrow through Saturday and at
2 p.m. on Sunday.
“The main character, Frederick, is the grandson of the
famous scientist Victor Frankenstein but he doesn’t want
to accept that. He lives in the shadows of his grandfather
and has a lot of expectations laid on him by Frau Blücher.
Frederick starts to slowly accept his fate and steps into his
grandfather’s shoes,” junior Haven Wallgren Lemmerman,
who plays Igor, said.
While last year’s musical, “Beauty and the Beast,” had
moments of deep sincerity, this year’s musical is a comedic
send-up. “This is the funniest show I have ever performed
in. It is PG-13 so leave the kids at home and come prepared
to laugh,” sophomore Jaiden Maisonet, who plays Frau
Blücher, said.
Students started working on
the musical as long
as three
INTERVIEWS AND HEADSHOTS BY KAROLINA
GLOWA AND ZONNA TODOROVSKA
WHAT’S YOUR
FAVORITE THING
ABOUT BEING IN THE
MUSICAL?
BACK FROM THE DEAD
FINE ARTS BRINGS YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN TO LIFE
months ago. “You audition with a song by a character. There
were three songs to choose from this year representing the
female lead, male lead, and the ensemble,” junior Ethan
Mattson, who plays the monster, said.
After all the roles were cast, tech crew started to build
sets, organize props and determine lighting and sound. “The
sets add a lot to the show. Tech Crew makes them so intricately,
and they create really cool designs. During tech week,
the show really comes together since we can see the finished
stage,” senior Deroy Chitan, who plays Victor Frankenstein,
said.
Costumer Ashley Benson leads costume design by bringing
in students for their fittings and curating a unique piece
for each character. “The costume really shows a part of the
characters. My first costume is torn and ragged, showing
how much of an uncivilized monster I am when first created.
Then during ‘Puttin’ On The Ritz,’ I end up in a suit,
showing how much my character has matured and learned,”
Mattson said.
The cast’s schedules are packed. Performers have to get
familiar with the story, memorize lines, work on their accents,
block their stage location, take dance classes, learn songs, attend
vocal lessons, and finally clean everything up. “Once the
musical started it became my whole life. Rehearsals are right
after school and we also have Saturday practices. When I get
home I only have time to eat, do some homework, and then
I’m straight off to my bed,” Wallgren Lemmerman said.
The cast has gotten close to each other over the weeks of
rehearsal thanks to laughs shared during rehearsals. “There
are a lot of different innuendos during practice that cause
someone to break character. Then someone will start chuckling,
and it’s so contagious that we all end up laughing,” Maisonet
said.
Show tickets are $7 for students and
$10 for adults, which can be purchased
at the door or
online.
Youssif Massri and
Cali Santos (above),
and Ethan Mattson,
and Alex Kazimierski
(below) prepare to
break into their roles
for opening night.
GABBY SZEWCZYK
“Being in the musical got me
through last year, which is why I
wanted to do it this year. I am able
to connect with a lot of people and
I love working with all of the staff.”
-- senior Aubrey Brown (dance
captain)
“I get to hang out with my friends
after school. We get to build lots
of cool things, which is the main
reason I joined.” -- freshman
Christian Bardygula (Tech)
“My character is the inspector who
is portrayed as the main antagonist.
He really just wants what is
best for the village and is trying to
get rid of the monster and doctor.
He has a peg leg and wooden arm
that really adds to the comedy of
the musical.” -- junior Alexander
Kazimierski (Kemp)
“Frau Blücher is really emotionless
in the beginning, but every now and
then, she shows she cares. Once
Frederick is in town, she starts to become
more interested in the creation
of the monster because of a past
relationship with his grandfather, Victor.”
-- sophomore Jaiden Maisonet
(Frau Blucher)
“My character is the wackiest.
He’s this weird little hunchback
thing that is Frederick’s underling
and he helps him throughout the
show.” -- junior Haven Wallgren-
Lemmerman (Igor)
“Having something to do. Going
straight home can be boring and
the musical keeps me on my toes
-- it keeps me busy, which I really
like.” -- sophomore Irene Han
(Ensemble)
DESCRIBE YOUR
CHARACTER IN THE
MUSICAL.

6 in-depth/westerner
February 1
Driver’s licenses: the key
to teenage freedoms
After taking months of driving lessons,
honing their skills, and finally passing the big
test, plenty of Maine West students have received
one of the most coveted possessions a
high-schooler can have: their driver’s license.
With it comes a plethora of new freedoms
and places to explore, but also a good amount
of responsibilities.
For many Maine West students, having the
ability to drive oneself without waiting for a
ride is the biggest freedom that comes with
getting a license. Having to ask a friend or
family member to tag along or be dropped off
can feel annoying for the driver and asker. Junior
Ava Williams, who got her license in July
of 2022, said, “I don’t have to ask my parents,
‘Hey, can I get dinner with my friend?’ I can
just be like ‘Hey, is it okay if I go’ and, I just
take myself.”
Sophomore Lana Gerstmayr, who got her
license in January, has similar feelings. “I can
leave school when I want to instead of waiting
for my dad, and I can drive someone to Dairy
Queen after a football game instead of having
to ride,” said Gerstmayr. “I don’t need to
depend on my parents being free to drive me
anywhere, so I can just drive myself, and pick
up someone if they don’t have a ride.”
Aside from being able to drive oneself,
many students now have the freedom of going
to more places. “I have a wider range of
options,” said senior Faith Almerigi, who has
BY ADDISON STUTHEIT
In-Depth Reporter
been driving since February of 2022. “I can
drive myself to the mall if I feel like it, instead
of going to downtown Des Plaines.” Many
students at Maine West have access to their
own car or a shared family car, making their
driving experience even more enjoyable.
With a newly obtained license comes the
ability to drive others instead of being the one
to ask. “I drive my friends a lot,” said junior
Amelia Foy, who got her license in July of
2022. “I like to drive, and none of them like
driving. Most of them do have their license,
but I like to drive so usually I do. I just think
it’s relaxing; something about it is just nice. I
like listening to my music while I drive.”
With all these new freedoms come a few
unexpected roadblocks, gas being the mostcomplained
about. “I don’t like getting gas.
Especially, I won’t go at night. I don’t like
getting gas at night, I think it’s scary,” commented
Foy.
Gerstmayr agreed, saying, “You have to
get gas and stuff, and if you don’t have a garage
you have to wipe off all the snow on your
car.”
In Illinois, drivers aged 16-17 have curfews
starting at 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday,
and 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. New drivers
are only allowed to drive one passenger
under 20 years old, unless they are a family
member, until they are 18 or have had their
license for a year. In addition to these restrictions,
some parents add extra rules for
their teen drivers to follow. “I had to be
home and my car had to be parked and
off by 9 p.m. every day,” recalls Almerigi
about the rules her parents used
to set.
For Williams, the biggest change
has been time management. “I now
have to time-manage more, to see
when I need to leave the house and
when I need to be back.” But while
unexpected, this was only a small
detour. “It honestly helps a lot with
time management, having to organize
everything,” said Williams.
“Being like, ‘Okay, I have to wake
up at 7 a.m. to leave by 7:45 to be
there by 8.’ So I wouldn’t say it’s
necessarily a negative; it’s a new
skill you have to learn.”
Being a new driver is a
bumpy but exciting ride.
Whether you’re worried
about the responsibility
of being safe and on
time or excited to go
driving with friends,
there’s no doubt that
being a teen driver is
an experience to remember.
Steps to Getting
Your License
1. Find the right Drivers Education course for you, whether at Maine West or through a private company.
a. Complete 30 hours of in-class instruction
b. Complete 6 hours of behind-the-wheel instruction
2. Obtain a driver’s permit.
a. Pass the written exam at an Illinois Driver Services Facility.
One is located at 1470 Lee St in Des Plaines.
3. Practice, practice, practice!
a. State law requires 50 hours of practice to be logged, 10 of which must be done during the night.
4. Go back to the Illinois Driver Services Facility.
a. Make sure to bring all required documents
b. Pass all needed exams
5. Go celebrate!

5, 2023 westerner/in-depth
7
the bumpy ride
Maine West drivers find comedy and
frustration on their path to a license
BY EMILY WOJNICKI
in-depth reporter
Driver’s Education, for many teens, is the beginning of a newfound
freedom. Like most other 15-year-olds around the country, it
means one thing: getting your license and access to a car. In order
to obtain said privilege, one must learn the rules of the road, hence
enrolling in driver’s ed. However, the process of driver’s ed isn’t always
so simple, at least not for many teens at Maine West who have
experienced everything from wacky to worrisome moments while
taking private driver’s ed classes.
Joe Chamlin, a sophomore, attended Walters Driving School
for lessons, which included the required time behind the wheel
with a teacher and other students. “One time, I was driving and
he made up nicknames. When you go too slow he’d call you
Grandma Moses and if you go slightly over the limit he calls you
Speedy. He also uses people’s names to make stories,” Chamlin
said.
With hours of life spent sitting in a car with so many nervous
teenagers, instructors find ways to add some humor to
the process. “Like one time, there was this kid named Adam
and [the instructor] kept asking him where Eve was,” Chamlin
said. “He’d also make up names for every guy in my class,
like he’d call all of them George, and one time he confused
himself so much he actually thought there was a George in
my class.”
Chamlin isn’t alone in his experience. Sometimes, it
seems like instructors have reached the end of their creativity
in how to keep up a conversation while monitoring
student drivers.
“My first ever time driving, I was nervous,” sophomore Eden
Layous recalled. The teacher “starts asking me what my zodiac sign
is and guesses right, and doesn’t stop talking about how much he
loves Geminis for the next hour and a half. He also started talking
about a past relationship with a Gemini that ended horribly.”
Students who attended Warsaw Driving School, which is now
closed, worked with a teacher who called herself “Gangster Anna.”
“There was this one time she came to class wearing no shoes,”
sophomore Althea Amon said. “She sat at her desk and put on
makeup, but she made herself look like an actual clown.”
Sophomore Damira Beganovic also shared some other crazy experiences
she had while in private driving classes there. “We went to
get ice cream this one time, and there was a car in the drive-through
area. We were all crossing, so she jumps onto the hood of this random
person’s car and starts screaming, ‘There are children crossing!’
“The guy in the car looked astonished, and then she goes up
to his window and starts cussing him out,” Beganovic said. “We
ended up getting ice cream” but the experience was an eye-opener
for everyone
MARIA MURILLO
MARIA MURILLO

8 opinions/westerner
EDITORIAL POLICY
The student-produced newspaper
of Maine West High School, the Westerner,
is dedicated to maintaining the
values of truth, integrity, and courage
in reporting. The Westerner provides
an open public forum for free and
responsible expression of student
opinion, as well as balanced coverage
of issues of student interest. The
staff encourages discussion and free
expression between all members of
the school and community and maintains
its responsibility to inform and
educate the student body.
Unsigned editorials represent the
majority viewpoint of the editorial
board. Letters to the editor, which
are subject to editing for length and
clarity, must be signed by name and
may be published upon approval
from the editorial board. Opinions
in letters are not necessarily those of
the Westerner, nor should any opinion
expressed in the Westerner be construed
as the opinion or policy of the
adviser, the Westerner staff as a whole,
the school staff, the school administration,
or District 207 school board.
EDITORIAL BOARD:
Editors-in-Chief:
Sabrina Bukvarevic, Caitlyn Claussen
News Editors:
Carlos Hernandez-Hernandez,
Mohnish Soni
Features Editor:
Michelle Kaner
In-Depth Editor:
Sabrina Bukvarevic
Entertainment Editor:
Karolina Glowa
Opinions Editors:
Salma Hassab, Timea Matavova
Sports Editors:
Daniel Solomon, Caitlyn Claussen
Photo/Art Editor:
Gabby Szewczyk
Digital Editor:
Andrei Badulescu
Assistant Editors:
Aleksandra Majewski,
Caiden Claussen, Teagan O’Connor,
Tom Noonan, Zonna Todorovska
STAFF MEMBERS
Ysabela Ang, Damira Beganovic
Joey Bruno, Brooke Capper, Jris dela
Cruz, Cynthia Del Rio Martinez,
Rohan Doma, Emilia Ezlakowski,
Gabriela Febus, Paige Foster, Bethsy
Galvan Acevedo, Alexandra Kania,
Weronika Kmiec, Evlin Mathew,
Taryn McGannon, Emma McGreevy,
Nikhil Nair, Emma Penumaka,
Addison Stutheit, Anna Tooley,
Emily Wojnicki, Bruktawit Yigzaw
ADVISER: Laurie McGowan
VIEW FROM THE BOARD OF EDITORS
Dear Couples,
Public displays of affection are
quite the sloppy spectacles, many
of which are most audaciously performed
in the hallways of Maine
West. Who wants to examine such an
act? The answer is, nobody. And yet,
these immature children disguised
as teenagers care nothing for what
the civil student population wants
or does not want. As a result, countless
students have fallen victim to the
viewings of such overt face-sucking
and groping.
Affectionate teenagers, we kindly
ask, could you calm your hormones?
Your significant other will make it
out alive from their math class; there
is no need to pat them down like a
security guard searching for contraband
at the airport. As unlikely as it
seems, you will survive one hour of
not having your hands all over another
human being. Amazingly, your
partner’s heart will continue to pump
blood -- you can continue to expect
to get your daily kissy face selfie and
heart emojis during class – but we all
don’t need to be part of the experience.
And even more mind-blowingly,
you can simply save all the loveydovey
affection for times
when you’re not in public.
We’d like you to consider
these two words: innocent
bystander. That is
what the rest of the Maine
West population is. We are
innocent bystanders, constantly
being traumatized
by relationships that likely
won’t last longer than a
month – no, a week. Still,
these couples, ones that
will inevitably disappear
faster than the blink of an
eye, leave a lasting psychological effect
on those of us that are just trying
to get from class to class. Trust
we aren’t “jealous” of you and your
two-week-long relationship. We just
want to save ourselves from the trauma
of seeing our unrestrained emotions
in action.
We would also like to introduce
you to another wonderful word: privacy.
Privacy is defined as “the state
of being free from being observed
or disturbed by other people.” Except
the people that would now be
free from being disturbed would be
Annoyingly Simple
or
Simply Annoying?
As you surf the web, drive down
the street, or turn into a store aisle,
you may notice that there has been a
recent influx of logo redesigns over
the past decade. It’s a pattern of rebranding
with a rather minimalistic
style that makes them “fit in” with
the modern times. The simplification
of the design makes the logo
easier for consumers to process and
digest, an ideal choice for redesigns,
but to what extent should companies
go to modernize their logo?
Minimalism itself isn’t the issue.
The problem is that certain companies
are focusing too much on jumping
onto the minimalist bandwagon
that they forget to hint at their company’s
purpose, which is supposed
to be reflected in their logo.
Petco is an example of a redesign
gone wrong. The positive connections
made by consumers that are
associated with the iconic but now
retired blue cat and red dog are now
gone. Instead they are replaced with
lifeless purple letters that fail to convey
the same level of familiarity and
dependability. There was a flood of
outrage across Petco’s social media
when this change occurred. Now,
instead of standing out, Petco joins
the thousands of other companies
with effortless lowercase letters as
their logo.
Despite the unavoidable disapproval
that follows a redesign, there
are certain companies that have had
smoother transitions with minimalist
logos, thanks to their attention to
stay true to their name. Take for example,
Olive Garden. Their current
logo is less detailed than the previous
one, but the addition of the olive
February 15, 2023
‘Could you
not?’
WERONIKA
KMIEC
us innocent bystanders. It’s unlikely
that the eyes of other Maine West
students ever bothered you while
you’re trying to perform a mid-hallway
tonsillectomy. When we say privacy,
however, we do not mean the
E-wing stairwell or a random conspicuous
corner. Newsflash: we can
still see and hear you.
If the question you are asking
yourself right now is: Where are
we allowed to “hang out” if during
school isn’t an option? Then relationships
are probably not for you yet,
friends.
BY BETHSY GALVAN
columnist
branch reflects the restaurant’s name
more effectively than the grapes in
the older versions. They not only
modernized their logo, but enhanced
its original features rather than hide
them away behind dull letters.
If a company decides to utilize
a minimalist style in their logo redesigns,
they should focus on preserving
the original authenticity and
distinctive characteristics that made
them unique, instead of attempting
to fit a mold that would drown in
a monotonous sea of bland, uninspired
logos. Otherwise minimalist
logos will slowly become another
mass-manufactured product of corporate
companies: dull, soulless, and
easy to make.

February 15, 2023 westerner/opinions 9
Shining a
light on
our
After working for a decade to
develop it, the College Board began
its pilot program this year for a
new course: AP African American
Studies. 60 schools across the U.S.
agreed to teach the course, which is
said to cover the contributions and
experiences of African Americans
in fields including the arts, political
science, geography, and more.
Some Republican politicians,
however, would prefer that students
stay ignorant on this oftenignored,
frequently-silenced part
of our nation’s history. Most
Hidden
History
BY CYNTHIA DEL
RIO MARTINEZ
columnist
notably, Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’s press secretary
said the class is a “vehicle for a political agenda.”
Florida’s Education Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr. called
the course “woke indoctrination masquerading as education.”
He added that the content “violated Florida law.”
This outrage from Republican leaders comes as no surprise,
considering that we live in a country where simply acknowledging
America’s history of slavery and the systemic
racism that still persists throughout the country is deemed
un-American.
That’s right: being truthful is now labeled as being unpatriotic,
as though lies are what make us great.
In the last few weeks, we’ve seen actual legislative backlash
against the College Board: Gov. DeSantis has banned
the course from being taught in the state’s high schools,
claiming it violates state law – despite not naming any laws
in his response letter to the College Board — and that the
AP course “lacks educational value.”
DeSantis is one of the main GOP leaders heading efforts
to restrict the history taught in American high schools,
often excluding the experiences of queer people and people
of color. Just last year, DeSantis passed his infamous
“Don’t Say Gay” bill, which restricts talk of sexual orientation
or queer identity for Florida students in kindergarten
through third grade.
Heaven forbid students should learn about the experiences
of queer African-Americans, or feminist African-
Americans, or even the Black Lives Matter Movement -- all
topics that have provoked public anger among Republicans
for being mentioned within the AP African American Studies
curriculum.
To deny high school students – who are on the brink
of becoming full participants in this democracy as voters
– exposure to a fuller truth about our nation is a choice
to foster ignorance and hatred at the expense of growth
and understanding. Maybe, under some leaders, that’s the
objective after all.
Dear leaders of
our school,
We here at West have noticed
your constant efforts to make this
school a better place. On behalf
of all students, I want to voice my
support for the recently implemented
policies. In fact, I love them so
much that I’d like to share a few of
my own ideas.
Firstly, I think we should further
raise lunch prices. On the one
hand, I feel that the lunch catering
company is not getting
enough profit, but
on the other hand, if
the prices are raised,
students will be incentivized
to bring
lunch from home and
choose healthier food
options. I also think
that advisory should
be held four days a
week to allow students
to truly flourish.
Having advisory
4 days a week will give students
more relaxation time since most of
advisory time is spent daydreaming
out windows, pondering the meaning
of existence, and meditating on
the redemptive qualities of the next
three day weekend.
I would also like to suggest that
every student be required to wear
the “on time, every time” motto
sewn onto their shirts so that kids
are reminded to get to
I’m confident that the
kids who don’t
attend class on
time every time
BY NIKHIL NAIR
columnist
class.
currently are
simply forgetting
to do so, and that shoving
it in their face more would remedy
the issue.
As a student, I’ve noticed a lot
of suspicious activity in the bathrooms.
Therefore, I also think installing
surveillance cameras in the
bathrooms would prevent students
from vaping in them. However, students
violate school policy throughout
the building, so I also believe we
should invest in hallway
patrol robots to ensure
kids are on time, every
time. These robots would
significantly reduce hallway
incidents and would
be cheaper to maintain
than paying security
guards, although that last
point is irrelevant because
this school spends their
budget on whatever they
want anyways.
Lastly, in regards to
the more recent restrictions on social
media, I think the policy is too
flimsy. Instead, when students are
found on their phone in class, teachers
should look through their posts
and search history and then turn
them into the next day’s vocabulary
lesson. The humiliation aspect of
this will encourage kids to stay off
their devices.
I hope you seriously consider
these possible new policies and by
doing so, continue to improve the
school in innovative ways. Please get
back to me at your earliest convenience
and perhaps we can schedule
a meeting in your free time.
YSABELA ANG

10
news/westerner
Girls basketball
dominates East
for senior night
BY DANIEL SOLOMON
sports editor
With an early season double-overtime win
over Highland Park fueling their confidence, the
girls basketball Warriors have posted some big
victories this season.
Going up against their rivals, the Maine East
Blue Demons, on Jan. 27 for senior night, the
Warriors won 54-19 by capitalizing on every inch
of the court. “My favorite game of the season
was when we destroyed Maine East on our senior
night. We played incredibly intelligent basketball
and amazing defense,” senior Ximena Acuna
said. They were able to play amazing defense and
run away with the game. They also were able to
play well rounded basketball and enjoy the game.
Coming off their victory over Maine East,
the Warriors trounced Niles North, 66-26, on
Feb. 3, which cemented a third place finish in
conference for the Warriors. This wasn’t the only
memorable victory of their season.
In their December game against Highland
Park, the Warriors pulled out a 63-57 win over
the Giants after a full game of play and two overtimes.
“My favorite game of the season was the
double overtime game against Highland Park. We
were extremely tired and had to work incredibly
hard to win that game. They are a good team so
it was also a pretty big deal to be able to beat
them,” senior Shannon Walsh said.
The Warriors notched another win over
Highland Park on Jan. 13. Despite the fact that
the girls team has had a solid season, there have
been many instances where people chose to
watch the boys basketball game over the girls
basketball games. “It does bother me that people
brush off girls’ basketball. We put in a lot of
work and try our very best to win games,” senior
Abby Sutton said. An example of this is when
the majority of Maine West students went to the
boys away game against Maine East on Jan. 27
for them to lose 87-67. This was the same day as
the girls senior night 54-19 win over Maine East.
The girls have a 9-17 record while being 6-4 in
their conference – which puts them ahead of the
boys in both categories..
The girls team didn’t let this affect their season.
They were able to have fun together and
truly connect. “It was really funny when the
freshman tried to draw portraits of the seniors
for senior night. It was also incredibly sweet and
tightened the bond of the team,” Walsh said.
Senior sets new
school records
at conference
CHRIS TRELLA
After winning conference in
the 50 yard free and 100 yard
free, Blezien is headed to sectionals
this weekend, with his
eyes ahead to state.
February 15, 2023
BY JOEY BRUNO
reporter
Breaking two Maine West records, senior
Maxwell Blezien rewrote school history
when he became conference champion this
past Saturday in two events. Blezien swam
the 100 yard freestyle in 48.21 seconds, and
he posted a time of 21.82 seconds in the 50
yard freestyle -- the fastest times ever clocked
in Maine West history.
Being among the best-ever Warriors is
the result of a long grind of practices and
meets, stretching back years. “It took a lot
of work to get to the
point where I am now. I
am happy with how far
I have come,” Blezien
said. Next, “I have my
eyes set on state.”
To qualify for state,
“Max will have to drop
less than half a second
in the 50 and a second
in the 100. That may not
sound like much but, at a
championship like that, it
is the difference between
first and 10th place,”
coach Chris Trella said.
“I am confident that
Max will succeed because
he has worked so
hard now for four years,
and I know he’s not going
to hold anything
back for his senior year.
He’s got the heart of a
warrior.”
This weekend, at sectional championship,
the Warriors will go up against some of the
top teams in Illinois: “New Trier, Evanston,
and Glenbrook South will all be there,” Trella
said. It’s “easily the fastest sectional championship
in the state.”
While swimming is different from sports
like basketball or football in the aspect of
passing a ball or having hard contact, it is
still a very team-oriented sport. That chemistry
plays a huge role in the success of the
swimmers. “Our team is like a second family,”
junior Ben Huk said. “Being close makes
practices and meets more enjoyable but also
helps us compete harder.”
While the boys took a rare break last
Thursday to have their annual synchronized
swimming competition, having challenging
practices provides essential endurance needed
to compete with at the
elite level. “There is no
substitute for hard work,”
Trella said.
Even though the team
is challenged every day,
they know it is helping
get them better. “Practice
is hard and we don’t
get much rest when we
are doing our workouts.
While it isn’t fun a lot
of times, we know what
we’re doing can be the
difference between places
and times at our meets,”
Huk said.
There have been
many memorable moments
in the season, but
a top memory includes
the team’s second place
finish at the Maine East
Invitational and a hard
fought win against Leyden.
“The personal records and good placements
shows how far we’ve come and makes
us more motivated to continue our training,”
Huk said.
CHRIS TRELLA
Blezien after breaking
the school 50 and
100 yard freestyle record.
Senior Max Blezien practices with the varsity team last Wednesday, one of his
last times in the pool before breaking two school records.

February 15, 2023 westerner/sports 11
ROUNDING
off
the
season
Sophmore Maddison Story flips head
over heels.
PHOTOS BY DEREK JOHNSON
BY CAIDEN CLAUSSEN
asst. sports editor
Signing off for the year, the Maine West girls
gymnastics team finished their season at regionals
on Jan. 31. This also marked the end
of coach Amanda Harrison’s gymnastics coaching
career here at West.
One of the many successful athletes this season
was senior Matilda Mendoza. Throughout the
season, Mendoza was working hard even in tough
times to be able to finish off her senior season in
a positive way. Mendoza said, “In the practices before
[Maine West’s “Winter Wonderland” invite], I
felt very insecure about my abilities and skills so
I was very nervous about the big invite.” At the
Winter Wonderland invite she placed third overall
along with placing in all of her events. The focus
for this year’s team was improvement, and by the
end of the year each varsity athlete grew on average
Maine West’s 2023 gymnastics team
2.6 points.
This year, the team’s favorite traditions that got
lost due to COVID were brought back. Events like
their banquet at Club Casa and an overnight lock-in
at Maine West all started back up again this year.
“This year there were a lot more team bonding activities
that we brought back like our pasta parties
and the lock in. Everyone loves it. It’s fun for everyone
and unites the team,” Mendoza said.
Competitions weren’t all stressful; there were
plenty of fun moments,too. “I had the most fun at
the conference meet, and I didn’t have an asthma
attack after my floor routine,” sophomore Addison
Derusha said.
Harrison was West coach for 11 years and has
accomplished much in her time, with three appearances
at state, several athletic records broken by her
athletes, and being named CSL North head coach
of the year this year. Harrison said, “I have so many
Freshman Gisele Mansour does
a split leap in competition.
great memories of all these years. I have had huge
support from the athletic department which contributed
to my success.”
Throughout her years of coaching, particular
students stood apart. “One of the years I had a
girl returning who had made state the year prior
but then had to have knee surgery over the summer.
This gymnast was very frustrated as she didn’t
return with most of her skills,” Harrison said.“I
told her many times throughout the season to trust
me, if she wants to go back to state, I will get her
there but be patient. She ended up placing fifth at
sectionals on floor and made state for the second
year in a row. No Maine West gymnast has had back
to back appearances at state. The greatest memory
was not the going to state, but her perseverance to
go to state!”
WRESTLING TEAMS FINISH WITH CONFERENCE WINS
Slamming success
BY ROHAN DOMA AND CAIDEN CLAUSSEN
sports writer and asst. sports editor
With a new girls team on the mat, too, the Maine West varsity wrestling
program ended this year with a winning conference record of 3-2, placing second
overall. Sophomore Luca Burgio and senior Jason Hidan were also named
all-conference.
The senior wrestlers set high expectations for themselves and the team. Hidan
went 3-2 this past weekend at IHSA 3A sectionals, ending his varsity career
with an overall record of 20-8 and CSL all-conference title.
With promising young talent, the freshman team won their conference,
with a 5-0 conference record this season. “Watching our athletes grow is probably
the most fulfilling thing,” coach Thomas Maddex said.
This year Maine West was able to form a girls wrestling team, who competed
at IHSA girls wrestling sectionals this past weekend. Five Warriors girls
wrestled on Friday, and three moved on to semifinals on Saturday: sophomore
Ava Reyes, sophomore Lily Garrett, and junior Ellie Garrett. Wrestling at Sectionals
on Friday “was a huge step forward in my career,” senior Katerina Conrad
said. “Most of us are beginners, so it forced me to work harder and push
more. It was a moment in history for us all to be there; we were making history
ourselves.”
Senior night against Maine East was a big win for the Warrior girls, too, with
Conrad and Lily Garrett both notching victories. Conrad, who is working towards
wrestling in college, said, “My parents are both Maine West alumni, and
it was a dream come true for me to rock across the mat that night.”
For Conrad, her sectional appearance capped off a successful senior year
that included big wins at the Maine South Quad Invite. “I pinned my Taft girl,
I won by points for the Maine South girl, and I pinned the Plainfield Central
girl,” Conrad said, describing her path to victory that day. With her wins, Conrad
is upholding a long tradition of Warrior wrestlers in her family. “My biggest
motivator is my dad because I don’t want to let him down especially because
this sport has been in my family for years. I’m the first girl in the family to do
it, so it’s a big honor, and a big responsibility for me.”

12 sports/westerner
Bringing home the GOLD
MAINE WEST LIFE SKILLS
PROGRAM GEARS UP FOR
BASKETBALL SEASON
LAURA PETTYJOHN
(left to right) William Martin, Eamon
McHugh, Daniel Kryczka and Micaiah
Henderson won silver at the regional
snowshoe competition.
The Life Skills program also has a lot of
basketball to look forward to in the month of
February. National Honor Society and the Life
Skills program will be competing against each
other in a Friends Connect game on Feb. 16.
“I am really excited to shoot some hoops. I
have been practicing a lot in P.E. and shooting
threes,” Henderson said. This game is an opportunity
for students to come together and
collaborate on the court.
“We look forward to this fun event each
year. Our Friends Connect basketball team has
so much fun playing against peers and practicing
for our upcoming basketball tournament.
It is such a great day,” Life Skills teacher Laura
Pettyjohn said. “We can’t thank our NHS club
enough for hosting this event for our program.”
CAITLYN CLAUSSEN
W
editor-in-chief
inning the state gold medal in the Special
Olympics snowshoe race, Maine West student
Daniel Kryczka dominated the competition
in the 50m division at the statewide games, held
in Galena Jan. 30 through Feb. 2. Kryczka qualified
for state after a top performance at regionals,
where other students in the Maine West Life
Skills program also earned medals in snowshoeing.
The Maine West team of Michaiah Henderson,
Eamon McHugh, William Martin and Kryczka
earned silver in the snowshoe relay race. The boys
also competed on their own: Kryczka placed first
in the 50m and sixth in the 100m; Martin placed
third in the 50m and first in the 100m; McHugh
placed fifth in the 50m and fourth in the 100m;
and Henderson placed second in 50m and third
in the 100m.
For the first time in three
years, Maine West will be hosting the
Christian Volkmann basketball tournament
again. This tournament is in honor
of a late student, Christian Volkmann, who
passed away 10 years ago. Volkmann always
looked forward to this event and loved to
participate in the basketball games, making
this tournament a special time for everyone
involved. Many schools in the area participate:
Maine South, Maine East, Maine East
Transition Program, Warren, Highland
Park, New Trier and Niles West/North.
Students on each team get to spend time
with friends from other schools while also
competing against one another.
Cheer soared to sectionals
February 15, 2023
LAURA PETTYJOHN
Daniel Kryczka won the gold medal
at the Special Olympic snowshoe
race.
“I am excited to take down the other teams.
We are going to dominate and eliminate them,”
McHugh said.
“We are so lucky to have Maine West peers
and staff that help volunteer for the day, without
them our tournament wouldn’t be such a
success. It truly is an amazing experience for
our program and our community,” Pettyjohn
said. If interested in volunteering, go to C107
or C109 to fill out a volunteer form, or contact
Laura Pettyjohn.
TARYN MCGANNON
reporter
Varsity cheerleading won second in conference
on Jan. 12 at Glenbrook North.
Placing in the CSL conference competition
initiated the step forward to sectionals
on Jan.28 at Buffalo Grove. “Finishing second
in conference was a big deal because it’s
the first time I have ever placed at a competition
while being on varsity. It’s a really nice
feeling knowing how important the competition
was and how we have improved as a
team,” junior captain Hannah Good said.
Maine West cheerleading has only made
it to state one time, in 2008, but placing
second in a tough conference validated all
of their hard work this year, even if state
ultimately eluded them. “It is especially rewarding
to see all of the growth our athletes
make from football season to competition
season,” coach Mia Romano said.
With much on the line, the team has rituals
to help get them focused and motivated
before going onto the competition floor.
“We like to scream and let all of our nerves
out by playing music to hype ourselves up.
Anything to get our adrenaline going,” senior
captain Lina Aboebied said.
The environment this team created is
why they have had so much success this season.
“We always make sure to meet at school
a little early the day of a competition to
warm up and get ready together,” Romano
said. The family they have created is what
has fostered the success of their season.
“Cheer is a team sport that requires collaboration,
trust & diligence,” coach Jay
Funches said.
DEREK JOHNSON
Senior captain Lina Aboebied performs
an arabesque with the support
of the stunt team.