Page 11 Page 14 Geek Club Northside’s Bands January 2006 Profile Perform

eat It’s the blood that counts

Northside’s annual Blood Drive by Ashraf Abbas As part of Northside’s annual Blood Drive they weren’t solicited, they just said ‘by the way refreshments station to make sure they were not

B in coalition with LifeSource, at approximately do you have the red blood cell harvester? Can I feeling dizzy or at a loss of balance after donat- 7:30 am on December 20th, students, parents, do that?’” ing blood. and faculty sat down and donated about 500 There were a few specifications, however, for The Blood Drive seemed a complete success cubic centimeters of blood. Mr. John Belcaster acted as moderator for this event as part of his newly appointed duty in place of Ms. Carolyn Rownd as Northside Student Council Supervisor. Every member of the student council played a vital role in advertising the Blood Drive, Northside College Preparatory High School The which made for a better turn-out.

oof To donate, students had to be at least seventeen years of age, weigh at least 110 pounds, and have valid identification (driver’s license, state ID, or school ID). Students that were sixteen years of age could participate with parental consent. LifeSource supervisor Brandy H

Vol. 7 No. 5 Vol. Weddington came ready for this year’s blood drive, using the same set-up that LifeSource used last year (same chair and table arrangements). Appar- ently, it helped the event run very smoothly. By far, the most interesting device at the Blood Drive was a new centrifuge machine called “ALYX.” “Basically it’s a one-needle procedure,” said Luis Zavala, the Micheal Kharouta, Adv. 605, prepares both his body and mind to give about 500 cubic centimeters of ALYX technician. “The machine blood. takes your blood, runs it through Photo by Ashraf Abbas the centrifuge department that separates the red blood cells and it returns your those who wanted to use ALYX. Males had to be and everyone left with a smile on their face, plasma platelets back to your body.” at least 5’ 1’’ and 130 lbs. Females have to be at knowing that they had just done a very good The procedure takes a total of thirty min- least 5’5’’ and weigh 150 lbs. Both genders had thing. As for the future, Northside plans to have utes, twice the time it takes to donate blood the to have a hemoglobin level of 13.5. Those that fit another blood drive sometime during second “normal” way. Of the five donors who tried the requirements seemed to enjoy the experience. semester, and the hope is that everyone will show the machine, four were adults. The general “When they reinserted the blood into my up again to give blood, considering how one only consensus was that ALYX was an interesting arm,” said Andrew Mayer, one of Northside’s needs to wait forty-five days between blood dona- experience, in fact, many people actually asked security guards, “it was a real cold sensation and tions. But considering how much of a success for the machine right out. it hurt a lot…I mean it hurt a little.” this Blood Drive was, their next one is sure to “From what I saw,” said Mr. Belcaster, “the As part of the procedure, students were asked build on this one’s success. adults that used the machine knew about it, so to stay for a total of at least fifteen minutes at the News pages 1-5 • Hillary Clinton kicks off youth initiative in Chicago Gather ‘round for some holiday cheer • Johnson presents to BOMA/Chicago • Poetry slam at Northside NHS sponsors “Winter Wonderland” Editorial page 6 by Kana Yoo The second floor atrium bustled Leadership Team. “It kind of fuses not occupied by “The Pig in the After visiting all the club stations • Markowski: Off-campus Sidewalk Café.” In the center of the lunch with activity on Wednesday, De- everyone into one spot.” and getting their tickets signed, cember 14, during National Honor Clubs set up their booths in atrium, NHS set up a main booth students were able to enter a raffle Centerfold pages 8-9 Society’s (NHS) Winter Wonder- the half of the second floor atrium where students picked up tickets. with three possible prizes. The first • Alumni Mustangs charge land. place prize was a $25 gift back Starting immediately after col- certificate to The Cheese- loquium, the club fair continued for cake Factory and the second Features pages 10-11 about an hour. During this time, an place prizes were two $10 • Earthquake relief assortment of Northside’s many gift certificates to Borders. fundraising different clubs set up booths to The fair provided an • Test your skills with sudoku promote themselves or, in the case opportunity for clubs to and crossword puzzles of ethnic clubs, to share informa- publicize and recruit new Arts & Entertainment pages 13-14 tion about their culture. Almost all members. Some, however, felt that the timing could • Album review: What the the clubs offered food ranging from Game’s Been Missing barbecue chicken wings to tradi- have been better. tional Polish desserts. “I think Winter Won- Sports pages 15-16 “I wanted to let people know derland did a great job,” said • Men’s Sophomore that Polish Club started this year,” Mike Kharouta, Adv. 605, Basketball coverage said Piotr Maniak, Adv. 701, found- who represented C.A.S.E. • Poms Team shoots for the er and president of Northside’s new Club. “But, for the sake of stars Polish Club. “I wanted to share the better promotion of school diverse culture of Poles.” clubs, it should probably The idea for the club fair occur earlier in the year. originated two years ago with the Having the event so late first Winter Wonderland, when the might make some freshman Class of 2004 led NHS. Current and sophomores feel like it’s NHS members tried to retain some too late to join up. Since this of the tradition of years past by du- is the key demographic for plicating the snowman decoration most clubs, it would be more lining the library’s glass wall. Other beneficial to have an event decorations that provided adver- like this earlier.” tising and spirit were a variety of Others felt that Winter snowflakes and large blue banners Wonderland was not suc- reading “Winter Wonderland.” cessful in its objective. “We think that it gives the “It just wasn’t impressive student body more of a chance to in any way,” said Caitlin interact with each other instead Cronin, Adv. 709, an at- of being around their usual group Szymon Sambor, Adv. 602, and William T. Hagen, Adv. 604, encourage others tendee. of friends,” said Nancy Cheng, to join C.A.S.E.’s efforts at Winter Wonderland. “It’s a high school club Adv. 601, an officer of the NHS Photo by Kana Yoo Continued on Page 5 Page 2 News The Hoof Beat Antuan Johnson presents to Northside College BOMA/Chicago Prep High School by Natalia Emanuel 5501 N. Kedzie On Thursday, November partnership with After School of two summers, Johnson and continued on to speak 17th, Antuan Johnson, Adv. Matters.” participated in making about how the programs had Chicago, IL 60625 710, presented at BOMA/ ASM is a not-for-profit mosaics. Johnson, along with facilitated his learning to ap- Chicago on behalf of After organization that facilitates other Chicago teens, worked preciate visual art. Johnson Tel: (773) 534-3954 School Matters (ASM). teen job training. It allows on “Change Makers” and concluded by saying how BOMA, the Building Owners Chicago teenagers to become “Canvas and Corn.” Despite much BOMA/Chicago’s Fax: (773) 534-3964 and Managers Association, is paid apprentices thereby this visual art, Johnson donation meant. an international association becoming more skilled in usually considers himself a “By giving to ASM, you Principal: Dr. James Lalley that provides information the arts, sports, technology, literary person. are not just giving money for about building develop- and/or communication. “I never really liked art or the sake of giving money,” Assistant Principal: Ms. Lisa Moreno ment, leasing, operating Johnson told them. “You Advisor: Mr. Chester Tylinski costs, energy consumption, are giving young adults my building codes, pertinent age the chance to enhance legislation, etc. At the their creativity, to have fun Editors-In-Chief: Ilya Chalik, Anisa Isap, BOMA/Chicago Annual working with great people, Asrar Khan, Monica Wojcik Meeting, the keynote speaker but most of all, to learn was Peter C. Lemon. Lemon from these amazing pro- was a recipient of the Con- grams. By doing this, more Copy Editors: Maxwell Brown, Natalia gressional Medal of Honor, people who have imagina- the United State’s highest tive minds see potential in Emanuel military award. He received something they love, and Managing Editors: Priyanka Bhagat, Ajla this honor for helping to that it can send them off not save the lives of his team only to a higher education, Sunje, Kana Yoo while serving in Vietnam. but also allows them to have Subsequently, Lemon wrote something very meaningful a book about his experience in their lives.” News Editors: Ashraf Abbas, Natalia entitled, Beyond the Medal, “He is very poised, Emanuel, Rachel Ramir A Journey from their Hearts to articulate, polite and Features Editors: Zainab Sozzer, Aisha Yours. He decided to donate respectful. His speech was the revenue from the sale an impassioned one. He Wahid, Kana Yoo of 50 signed copies of his articulated how impor- Centerfold Editors: Sanja Bajgoric, Mua- book to ASM. In addition, Antuan Johnson presented to BOMA/Chicago on behalf tant After School Matters BOMA, through its Office of After School Matters. was to him and what he mera Hadzic, Anthe Mitrakos Building of the Year Awards Photo by Natalia Emanuel had planned for his future. Editorial Editor: Aliy Markowski Evening Gala, an event that ASM partners with the anything like that,” he said, Antoine received a wonderful is intended to celebrate the City of Chicago, Chicago “but when I did the mosaics ovation from the audience,” Polls: Syyeda Ali highest standards of commer- Public Schools, Chicago I found it helped me ap- said Lawrence Cohn, Vice Arts and Entertainment Editors: Damon cial real estate management, Park District, Chicago Public preciate art. And it actually President of Lurie Manage- Beres, Micah Tepora raised $10,000 to contribute Libraries, Chicago Depart- helped me with my writing. ment and BOMA’s liaison to ASM as well. ment of Children and Youth They help me because when with Chicago’s non profit Sports Editors: Geethi Abraham, Idrees “[BOMA/Chicago] Services, as well as communi- I see art around anywhere I sector. Cohn escorted John- Mohiuddin wanted to partner up with ty organizations in attempts appreciate it and that it has son to BOMA/Chicago’s community based programs to facilitate out of school a story behind it and I can Annual Luncheon. He wrote Image Editors: Neha Alam, Zenobia Gon- and not-for-profits that are opportunities for Chicago’s write a story about it. Even to Northside complimenting salves, Shoaib Khan helping children or teenagers youth. though the artist portrayed Johnson, even referring to hone their gifts and use their Antuan Johnson, who it with paints and markers, him as an “honest communi- Business Manager: Syyeda Ali creative skills,” said John- presented at BOMA/ I can portray it with my cator.” Cohn closed his letter Satire: Ashraf Abbas, Damon Beres son. “They wanted to fund Chicago’s two events, repre- words.” saying “I am glad to have that. [So BOMA/Chicago sented ASM. Johnson had When Johnson spoke to met Antuan and am proud of Art Editor: Anthe Mitrakos gave] $10,000 to form a great worked two summers with BOMA/Chicago on behalf his accomplishments.” Junior Art Editor: Vasiliki Mitrakos After School Matters. In each of ASM, he mentioned this, Reporters: Shoaib Ali, Zainab Bilfaqi, Sejla Masterclasses greeted with mixed Dizdarevic, Rachel Hautzinger, Elizabeth Jose, Mohammad Khaleelulah, Salim Patel, emotions Amanda Perez, Nadir Rashid, Elizabeth So- Prominent local musicians assist students benes, Abir Usman, Michelle Zacarias. by Max Brown Junior Reporters: Zlatana Alibegovic, Tyler During the month of December, North- been the Director of the School of Music at Andre Segovia Chamber Or- side was presented with two “masterclasses” North Park University since 1999, with de- chestra, Sante Fe Opera, and the Johnson, Rhiannon Koehle, Andrea Ljevar, by the classical music community. Terree grees in Piano from Louisiana State and the National Ballet of Canada. The Karolina Maslanka, Martyna Michalak, Mo- Shofner-Emrich on the piano and Paul Zafer University of Wisconsin, Madison. Zafer has events were organized mainly on the violin, gave a class to all Northside a Master of Music from Northern Illinois and by Mr. Leo Park, Northside’s hammad Rahman students interested. They are both highly has performed with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra teacher. qualified individuals: Shofner-Emrich has Orchestra, English Chamber Orchestra, “Those who are very serious The Hoof Beat is a monthly publication pro- about playing may have duced by the Northside Prep Journalism Class. As walked away with some a student-run newspaper, your opinions are impor- valuable insight,” said tant to us. If you have any comments, corrections, Park. Any student who critiques, or questions, please e-mail Mr. Chester played the instruments of- Tylinski at [email protected]. fered was invited to attend, more or less regardless of skill level. audience.” “These classes are much more about The music department is looking to get progression than ability. The objective is more of the student body interested in the to impart knowledge upon the student,” programs; the auditorium was not quite as said Park. populated as it could have been for the two The music department hopes to classes. continue to have the classes in the “The event should have been publicized future as long as they can find similar more vigorously, as larger audiences are persons to teach them. always appreciated, both by performers and Students had mixed emotions about our visitors,” said Nagatani. “Non-perform- the class as well. ing piano students in the audience could have “I think we need more exposure drawn from the potentially valuable tips given to the masterclass format of learn- to performing students.” ing,” said Jonathon Nagatani, Adv. Northside students are reminded that 605. “The small turnout, especially in there are many nearby opportunities for them regards to the dismal amount of audi- and the school in the field of music. ence members, may have been due to “We have two universities within a half- an apprehensiveness concerning what mile radius with solid music programs,” said really happens in a masterclass,” added Park. “The more we collaborate and network, Nagatani. the more our programs will mature.” “Masterclasses, in my opinion, can The department is looking to make a con- go very well or not so well,” added Mr. sistent effort to branch out in the near future. Park. “All of this is contingent upon “There is already talk of a side-by-side who is leading the class and how he or performance with the North Park University Terree Shofner-Emrich teaches a masterclass to Northside students. she engages the audience. It is one thing Symphony Orchestra next year,” said Mr. Photo by Shoaib Ali to be imparting knowledge upon the Park. “With such resources, there is no doubt on-stage performer but another to deliver Northside’s music program will continue to it in a manner that is also useful for the grow and flourish.” January 2006 News Page 3 Hillary Clinton kicks off youth initiative in Chicago The American Democracy Institute’s Midwest Regional Summit by Aliy Markowski On Saturday, December 3rd, over four thou- sand students from across the Midwest filled Roosevelt University’s Auditorium Theatre for the American Democracy Institute’s (ADI) 2005 Midwest Regional Summit. The summit kicked off ADI’s tour of regional summits across the nation, with Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton serving as the Honorary Chair of the National Youth Initiative. “We want to understand what is important to you and what fuels the dreams you have for you and our country,” said John Hart, President and CEO of ADI, during his welcoming address. “America’s youth should be able to learn about today’s issues, offer opinions, ask questions, and get involved.” The ADI is a nonpartisan organization work- ing to improve American democracy through increased participation, understanding, civility, and discourse. Students from all over the Mid- west were invited to attend the Midwest Summit free of charge as a part of the ADI’s National Youth Initiative. The Initiative includes regional summits across the nation encouraging America’s youth to become politically active. Seven political and corporate leaders ad- dressed the audience, including New York Senator Hilary Rodham Clinton, Governor Rod Blagojevich, and William McNary, President of USAction and Co-Executive Director of Citizen Action/Illinois. Soon after the crowd rose to welcome Clinton Hilary Clinton expalins her plans for the Strategic Energy Fund to an excited audience. to deliver the Keynote Address, a group of anti- Photo by Zainab Bilfaqi war protestors began jeering from the balcony. Condemning Clinton’s approval of the 2002 Iraq alternative forms of energy in America and eliminating the “When young people get involved in the political process, invasion, the protestors opened umbrellas that read “Out of nation’s foreign oil dependency, which has created severe they make real, tangible, substantial change,” said Blagojevich Iraq” while others began waiving signs chanting “troops out tension with the Middle East. Her plans involve profitable oil delivering the opening remarks. “Your generation will make now” and throwing leaflets throughout the theater. companies financially contributing to the Strategic Energy the world a better place.” “Let’s make sure people have a chance to hold an open Fund. Featured Speaker William McNary raised the energy level dialogue,” said Senator Clinton addressing the protestors. “Oil companies have made more profit in the last six up a notch. “And I believe they do not want to hear from you at this months than any company in the history of the world,” said “If you don’t do politics, politics will do you,” said Mc- moment.” Clinton. “While gas prices for the average American have Nary, slamming the podium before a cheering crowd. “We Although the first protestors were physically removed dramatically increased.” need to level the playing field so your viability for winning from the auditorium, minutes later a smaller group of anti- Senator Clinton emphasized the importance of youth in public office is based on your ideals and what you represent.” war students began chanting the same condemnations before democracy. McNary’s energetic demands for equality and youth in- being escorted out by security. “We need a new generation of activists who will both lead volvement received a standing ovation from the audience. Following the interruptions, Clinton addressed her and listen as we try to chart a new progressive course,” said “I’m sick of progressives who don’t care if they win or position on the removal of U.S. Armed Forces from Iraq, Clinton. “Young people are the ones who are really going lose as long as they fight the good and noble fight,” said Mc- explaining that America can neither pull out right away nor to have to live with the decisions made. Be a part of making Nary. “We’re in it to win it.” stay without end. absolutely sure that America is what you want it to be.” The ADI will host regional summits across the nation “It would be wonderful if we could turn the clock Clinton discussed unprecedented political activism that is throughout the winter and early spring. ADI will return to back, but we cannot,” said Clinton. “We are in a long term already apparent in America’s youth. Chicago in February. struggle against nihilists. We can win this struggle by stand- “This generation is the greatest volunteering generation “We want you to have resources and tools to put your ing up for our best values and representing the America we ever,” said Clinton. “Even on MTV, no one can turn away ideas and ideals into action,” said Hart. “We’ll be back in the know and love.” from the issues. MTV News coverage of the genocide in Su- spring to see how you are doing in taking an active role in The Senator also discussed energy policy and youth dan has put the major news networks to shame.” your communities.” involvement in policy making. Clinton focused on finding Governor Rod Blagojevich also spoke at the conference. Have a ball! Asian Club sponsors the winter formal dance by Kana Yoo Northside students and guests dressed up stairway in heels or dress shoes to the third loons complimented a large arch of balloons Members of Asian Club helped enhance in either black or white for Asian Club’s Win- floor. Streamers hanging from the dance’s towering over the dance floor. the dance’s coinciding winter theme by selling ter Snowball on Saturday, December 17. entranceway divided the completely different “I really liked the black and white theme,” hot chocolate at a concession stand on the After paying an entrance fee of ten dol- atmospheres of the bright and banal stairwell, said Malikat Rufai, Adv. 705. “I think it’s second floor atrium. The unique “Hot Choco- lars per couple, or seven dollars per person, and the dark and decorated atrium. Within classy, and I really loved picking out a dress. late Bar” was decorated with bright Christmas students climbed up Northside’s main the atrium, black or white columns of bal- And, the decorations were awesome.” lights, cotton fluff, and sparkly, silver-coated flowers. “I thought it was a good idea,” said Tess Banaszkiewicz, Adv. 700, “especially since it went with the whole theme. It was a really cute idea—a nice way to warm up.” Towards the later part of the evening, Poms treated dancers to a special perfor- mance that combined new choreography with an older routine. “It was nice having a guest performance,” said Lizelle Marcial, Adv. 807. “The dance got more exciting; everyone wanted to see them perform.” To top off the evening, a dance competi- tion was held to crown Winter Snowball’s King and Queen. Nominees showed their moves in a dance off, and the volume of the screams determined the winner. After several rounds, Jordan Stacey, Adv. 600, and Chelsea Ringquist, Adv. 904, came out on top as the victorious King and Queen of the formal. Other highlights of the evening included the DJ playing songs such as “Laffy Taffy” and the chaperones hitting the dance floor. “I got to dance with Ms. Park!” exclaimed Jordan Stacey, after the event. “As snowball chaperon, I think it was good time for the many students who par- ticipated,” said Ms. Jeung-Hee Park of the World Language Department. “I was asked by students to supervise the event, but while I was there, I wanted students to enjoy the dance and to expand their social horizons Northsiders dance the night away under a large arch of black and white balloons. within school boundaries.” Photo by Kana Yoo Page 4 News The Hoof Beat Aid for the unpaid Northside hosts financial aids night by Zlatana Alibegovic On December 6, Northside hosted its an- nual Financial Aids Night with Eric Weems, the Financial Aid Director at Loyola Univer- sity. He stopped by to share some informa- tion with juniors and seemingly eager seniors ready to apply for federal aid. The audito- rium was quickly filled with students, parents, and their questions. Financial Aid Night was put together to give juniors and seniors a basic understand- ing of what was expected of their Financial Aids application process, a process that Ms. Marina Medina, head of the Counseling De- partment, believes will be important to a vast majority of Northside’s student population. Mr. Weems went over the application process bit by bit and brought up some general rules for the procedure. Men applying for federal aid must first be registered with the Selective Service System to be eligible. This can be done with a simple checking of a box on the application. Applying online with FAFSA, Free Ap- plication for Federal Student Aid, is the first step, available after January 1, 2006. This is a program used for federal financial aid. In addition, most states and individual schools acquire information through this form for non-federal aid. However, be aware that some states and schools may not use this procedure; they may require additional applications, with separate deadline dates, and some may come attached with their own charges. When applying online, it is recommended to apply for a U.S. Department of Education PIN number, which serves as your electronic signature and provides access to personal records. Eric Weems, Financial Aids Director at Loyola University, answers student’s questions after his explanation of the Financial Aids The Parent Information section asks for process. information about both the mother and the fa- Photo by Shoaib Khan ther. If the student’s parents are divorced, they are filling out information about the parent that they reside with for the majority of the year. If Social Security Administration checks all of the submitted “If you don’t know what it means, it probably doesn’t that parent is remarried, then information about the parents information. apply to you,” said Eric Weems about FAFSA’s worksheets on spouse goes on the application. “When you finally get to college, it still won’t be over,” annual earnings and losses. Tax information occupies a majority of one’s application, said Mr. Weems. “Tonight raised my awareness,” said Johanna Flores, Adv. but what happens if parents will not file in the 2005 year or Weems stressed the need for students to understand what 604. don’t receive an exemption by the application due date? If put is involved with the aid they receive. It may be a one-year She was one of many students and parents who walked in that situation, the best move is to apply with the previous grant, and students may need to find different grants for the out looking enlightened. She, and most students and parents, year’s tax return, or estimate as close as possible. If they are following year. Students need to understand what applies to found the night very succesful. planning on filing, then don’t miss the deadline date! them and what doesn’t, and the exceptions on their applica- Applications and more information can be found at Submitted information needs to be truthful, because the tion. www.fafsa.ed.gov. Giving to the needy Northside’s canned food drive for Thanksgiving 2005 by Vasiliki Mitrakos Every year, many food donations are This year, in an attempt to persuade more each advisory, where students could donate. didn’t win the contest, some students were made by the school to local charities to help students to donate, National Honor Society The contest was held for three days. glad to have donated to those in need. those in need. Students were encouraged to hosted the Battle of the Advisories, in which The canned food drive was sponsored "We didn’t really care about winning, it donate imperishable foods, preferably canned, students competed by donating cans to see by Ms. Anna Searcy and was carried out by was just to help out," said Christine Rus, Adv. to be given to the needy during the Thanks- which advisory could collect the most canned NHS along with the Student Council. The 902. giving season. foods. Large brown paper bags were placed in canned food was donated to the Greater Even with catchy phrases like "feed to get Chicago Food Deposi- fed" on the brown bags for collection, some tory. Together, both students unintentionally forgot to bring food fundraisers collected to donate. over 1,200 cans. Ms. Tamara "We didn’t really care about win- Driver’s advisory, ning, it was just to help out," said Advisory Christine Rus, Adv. 902. 708, won first place in the Battle "I would have liked to donate, but it of the Advisories, completely slipped my mind," said Madi Hol- collecting 166 cans land, Adv. 908. "I never really thought about total. The students in writing it down to remember." Advisory 708 enjoyed a Student Council also put together another breakfast from Panera creative fundraiser to collect more canned Bread during extended foods. They decided to host a Turkey Bowl advisory as their prize after colloquium that Wednesday to support for donating the most the cause. cans. Admirable men- Students had to donate three cans as tions include Ms. Lisa admission to take part in the games, which Price's advisory, Adv. included football, three legged races, and pie 902, for collecting 133 contests. Students also enjoyed the fact that cans, and Mr. John they were helping out as well as having a Belcaster's advisory, good time with their friends. Adv. 908, for collecting "It was fun while helping out the needy, 95 cans. so it was beneficial and successful," said Karla "As freshmen they Ortez, Adv. 902. came up with a plan Others suggested that having a Turkey and were dedicated to Bowl was a great idea and it should be done following through. As more often. a group they decided to "The Turkey Bowl was awesome, and each bring five cans," there was a lot of school spirit. We should do said Ms. Lisa Price. stuff like this more often," said Ben Garcia, Even though they Adv. 909. January 2006 News Page 5 Poetry that’s sure to slam Northside’s Poetry slam a success by Rachel Hautzinger Poetry cracked and sizzled in Mr. Barry by a a poem.” McRaith’s room on December 13, 2005, as group of Only four to five, possibly even six, spots try-outs were held for Northside’s slam poetry mixed judges were available on the team. After the 17 team. The panel of judges, consisting of who give out poems were performed, the judges spent time both students and teachers, decided the final scores on a to collaboratively decide who was to receive members of the team to be Natalia Emanuel, 0 to 10 point those spots based on the comments and opin- Adv. 808, Adam Gottlieb, Adv. 807, Annie scale. ions they had written about each. The names Lesser, Adv. 709, and Alexia Willis, Adv. 606, of the team members and alternates were with Jesse Welch, Adv. 810, and Minhal Baig, “What’s re- posted the next day, Wednesday the 14th. Adv. 807, as the team’s alternates. The team ally exciting “Everyone did a great job, it made the de- is preparing for their first climactic event, about cision difficult for the judges,” said Ms. Lisa Louder Than a Bomb, which takes place from slam to Price, who judged the audition and will be March 3 to March 6, 2006. me is helping Mr. McRaith set up a piece. “There “The fundamentals of slam poetry not the was a definite deliberating process.” are language and performance,” said Mr. genre, it’s the “I was worried at first that there wouldn’t McRaith. “I looked for two things in the event,” said Poe and the likes,” said Emanuel. be quality judging because it was such a applicants: a respect for words and fire in the Mr. McRaith. “What they miss by thinking of mixed group of students and teachers,” said belly.” such authors is the word ‘perfor- Gottlieb. “But it wasn’t a tense competition; it Slam poetry was originally a Chicago mance.’ There is a massive difference between was straight-forward and really turned out to based Olympic-style poetry contest predating a written poem and a performance poem. A be a good method of judging.” to 1985, but is now an international sensation. performance poem goes straight to their heart, The poets chosen for the team performed In an actual competition, each team has up to only briefly stopping at the brain, whereas a a wide range of poetry— Emanuel’s about six members and four of these members com- “You will see hundreds and written poem goes go the brain stopping on bigotry, Gottlieb’s about children and love, pete individually in two preliminary rounds. hundreds of young people com- the way at the heart.” Willis’s of modern culture and sexuality, The top four ranking teams will compete ing together for words and perfor- For the try-outs the 18 contestants had and Lesser’s poem about the joy of popping in finals, and the top six ranking poets will mance.” to write a poem and express the emotions pimples. compete in a different final. Each team A slam poem is quite difficult to through actions and expressions in front of “The selected team is a good group of must have at least two poems for describe; upon watching it performed, one the judges. poets who are willing to work together,” said each person. In addition, each team could call it a way of expressing their feel- “I was a little nervous about the try-outs,” Gottlieb. “I hope for the best.” prepares a group poem in which four ings through actions and poetry. said Harold Jaffe, Adv. 802, a contestant. “I don’t have any expectations,” said Mr. members participate. The teams’ poems, both “When people hear the words ‘poetry’ “But everyone was really encouraging. It’s McRaith. “Which is not to say I don’t expect individual and team performed, are judged they think of authors such as Edgar Allen such a great feeling to be up there performing anything from them. I just hope we have fun.” Beyond test scores- Northside is still number one by Aliy Markowski As of December 2nd, the Chicago Public Schools method of evaluating schools has been revamped and Northside is still at the top. New “scorecards” measure schools beyond the number of students meeting the Prairie State Achievement Exam (PSAE) standard. These new evaluations assess schools based on nineteen criteria in four categories: Student Out- comes, Academic Progress, Student Connection, and School Characteristics. CPS’ seven Selective Enrollment High Schools are grouped and ranked in a separate category; in seven of the ten metrics ranked this year, Northside comes in first: average ACT score, percentage of students enrolled in AP classes, meeting the PSAE standard, making expected gains, freshmen on track to graduate, graduates enrolled in college or post-sec- ondary education, and average days absent per student. “It’s a move in the right direction beyond just the PSAE,” said Tim Devine, Head of Northside’s Social Science Depart- ment. “There is a lot more to any school than just test scores.” The new scorecards are the first step in CPS’ High School Transformation Project, an extensive effort to reform Chi- cago high schools. CPS decided to re-evaluate its method of measuring schools in an effort to provide greater transparency for prospective students and parents. When considering a CPS high school, eighth graders now have access to a better win- dow into the school’s students, teachers, and programs. “The scorecard includes some interesting categories beyond just academics,” said Tim Putten, CPS Department of Communications. “The Student Connection and the School Characteristics areas provide a sense of the school’s atmo- sphere.” The Student Connection and School Characteristics categories include metrics such as student participation in extracurricular activities, school climate, high expectations and support, highly qualified teachers, and student and teacher absences. However, out of seven measures under these two categories, the only metrics scored this year were average student absences and highly qualified teachers. CPS says the other measures should be available by the start of next school year, but the subjective nature of these metrics is under debate. “How do you measure some of these categories like high expectations and support or school climate?” said Devine. “We’re getting there but there are still flaws and a great deal of room for improvement with these scorecards.” Northside landed first in many of the scorecard categories, but the measurement of some metrics inaccurately assessed the school’s condition, hurting Northside’s numbers. Northside has recently greatly increased the number of students in the profoundly disabled special education program led by Chris Pellikan. Rather than graduating, these students age out of the school at twenty years. Profoundly disabled stu- dents were inappropriately included in the metrics of freshmen graduating in five years and graduates enrolled in post-second- ary education, significantly lowering the school’s statistics. “The profoundly disabled program is a great program that we’re all happy to have here,” said Devine. “But to include the program in Northside’s graduation and college statistics is not a good indication for prospective students and parents of where we actually stand in those respects.” Another concern this year was the numerous empty categories, including most of the categories beyond test scores developed to provide a complete look at each school. “We’ve heard complaints that several of the categories are empty or not applicable,” said Putten. “Some people have said we need to fill those out, and we will. We figured let’s just move ahead and get started with this.” By fall this year, CPS expects all nineteen scorecard cat- Northside Scorecard courtesy of CPS: egories will be available to the public. http://www.cps.k12.il.us/Schools/scorecard/SchoolScorecard_PDF/SchoolScorecard1740.pdf Page 6 Editorials The Hoof Beat Mark My Words The Hoof Beat Colloquium: Northside’s Student Newspaper Saving Grace Let us eat out by Aliy Markowski Standardized test scores raise responsibilities of difficult courses. Years ago, as the groundwork lunch on campus choosing from Northside’s lunch schedule. Be- Northside to the top of the charts, but We come back to regular classes on for the new school was laid, the barely edible and extremely cause Northside has a very small what makes our school unique goes far Thursday, rejuvenated from the change Northside made a promise to the unhealthy offerings of the CPS cafeteria, the school is forced to beyond how well students do on the of pace of colloquium the day before. surrounding community that the lunch program? Perhaps the have four lunch periods to ac- PSAE. Not only do students meet and Not only does colloquium allow school would not allow students school is worried that Northside commodate students, the earliest exceed test standards, but most North- us to restore our energy levels to finish to venture off-campus for lunch. may begin to face attendance beginning at 9:50 a.m. Students siders also take Advanced Placement the week strongly, but it also fits into At that time the neighborhood problems if we are allowed to appropriately refer to the 2A classes in their junior and senior years. the block schedule to give students was worried that a new Chicago go off-campus. The possibility lunch block as “breakfast.” Eating These courses are supposed to be at a three nights between each class ses- Public High School would bring of students returning late or not lunch before 10:00 in the morning college-level, requiring students sion. Having three nights to complete unruly teenagers to the area. This returning to classes at all would is simply ridiculous. Most stu- to devote a large number assignments is extremely helpful for concern was not unwarranted; be a serious consideration at any dents eat breakfast only a couple of time and energy students in Northside’s toughest many CPS High Schools do deal school. However, in the past seven of hours earlier and are not hun- to prepare for classes. While we still receive with serious disciplinary issues, years Northsiders have demon- gry for lunch before 10 a.m. But each class a large amount of home- and the misbehavior is likely strated a sense of responsibility if they choose not to eat, students period, work, the schedule to continue off-campus when that is evident from the freedom- are forced to struggle through at meaning allows us to discipline students are given free roam dur- filled, unproblematic atmosphere least five more hours until they lots of ourselves to handle as- ing lunch. However, seven years that defines the school. Students have another opportunity to eat homework. signments over the three-day after its conception, it is evident have yet to disappoint in disciplin- a meal. A quarter of Northsiders So how, then, span. This, in and of itself, requires that Northside is not your average ary matters. Therefore, it is unfair are stuck with such an early lunch are Northsiders, Northsiders to be mature in handling CPS school. to restrict us from venturing off- block, and the next one beginning on top of so much the responsibility of having a longer Northside, arguably at 10:40 is hardly school work, able to be period of time to complete course- the top CPS high school, any better. An well-rounded individuals, participating work. Learning to manage this re- shines as a gem in the off-campus in clubs, sports, and other activities sponsibility is critical at a college prep community. Northside lunch policy after school? The answer is the block school. The block schedule is much stands alone not only in could eliminate schedule with colloquium, Northside’s more similar to a college class schedule high academic perfor- the need for saving grace. than the high school standard of eight mance, but is also set all four lunch The school’s schedule is set up so daily classes. Northsiders build longer apart by the unique envi- periods. Instead, that each class meets twice a week, attention spans, attending classes that ronment of the school’s the school could for one hundred minutes every time, are twice as long, and also become community defined by potentially man- with the exception of one half-block skilled in time management, teaching the students. An undeni- age with only of fifty minutes four days a week. themselves to get work done even if the able characteristic of this the later two Colloquium comes every Wednesday, class is not meeting every day. environment is the good lunch periods, unless it is a four day week when the The block schedule and collo- behavior of students and scheduled at ap- day is eliminated to compensate for the quium are essential components of the lack of disciplinary propriate lunch day off. Every colloquium day students Northside. Without classes meeting issues. At Northside hours between come to school to spend two and a half only twice a week and the break of we simply do not face 11:40 and 1:25, hours learning about a unique topic colloquium every Wednesday, it is the kind of discipline because a large of their choice- classes that would not unlikely students would be able to take problems that many other number of stu- be included in the core curriculum of as many demanding classes without CPS schools encounter. dents would eat any high school. From the mechan- becoming overly stressed by the rigors There are no fights in the off-campus. campus for lunch based solely on ics of motorcycles to gardening to of school work. Furthermore, we halls, and Northside’s attendance As Northside students, we the potential for a problem, when film to food, there is a vast array of would miss out on the opportunity to record is better than all of the deserve the opportunity to be able time and time again Northsiders interesting choices for colloquium. study an offbeat yet appealing topic other selective enrollment schools. to eat lunch off-campus. Nearby have proven to handle freedom At 11:10 on colloquium days, we are in colloquium. Across the city, state, Clearly, Northside students are schools including Lane, Mather, and responsibility. We should be dismissed from school. This half day and country, Northside is viewed as an not the kind of trouble-causing and Von Steuben all have off- given the chance to demonstrate in the middle of the week, without the exemplary school, with intelligent yet adolescents the community was campus lunch policies, and there that we are capable of responsibly stress of normal classes, allows us to well-rounded students. High schools worried about when the no-off- is little reason to believe North- managing our freedom, rather recuperate. Whether students catch nationwide should begin looking be- campus-lunch-promise was made. side should be the exception. than being restricted without up on homework or sleep, go out with yond the academic rigors of Northside In fact, an off-campus lunch Northsiders have demonstrated reasonable cause. friends, or participate in some activity to what really makes Northside unique, policy would support the commu- responsibility over the years that Not only would an off-cam- in or outside of school, colloquium the block schedule with colloquium. nity by patronizing local restau- have earned us the trust of teach- pus lunch policy please Northside within the block schedule allows By following our example, schools rants that keep the neighborhood ers, administrators, and the sur- students, since we would eagerly students to take time for themselves elsewhere could reap the same benefits businesses alive. rounding community. Such good accept a change of scenery in the every Wednesday. This recuperation and enhance student academic perfor- So if Northsiders eating behavior should be rewarded with otherwise monotonous school in the middle of the week is crucial for mance by creating their very own block in nearby restaurants poses no privileges of freedom, including day, but it would also serve the students who manage the demanding schedule with colloquium. potential threat to the community, an off-campus lunch policy. why then are we forced to eat practical purpose of improving Be a man: carry your Keep the pack off your pack back by Damon Beris by Ashraf Abbas Backpacks with wheels (sometimes there comes the aforementioned wheel Almost everywhere you go nowadays heavy weight on your backside makes you referred to as “wheelie backpacks” or “rollie concern. It’s impossible for a rollie bopkiner you see people trekking around with no pack the Hunchback of Northside. bopkins”) are without question the bane of to constantly monitor the status of their bag’s on their back. Instead, they are pulling their The problem is simple, and the solution our collective existence. Students deal with wheels, which in turn leads to unfortunate school bag along like a piece of luggage. Not is even simpler. All you have to do is buy a their treachery on a daily basis as the rollie destruction. Students agree that “it smarts only is this amazingly stylish, but it’s also wheelie backpack, fill it with your books and bopkin overlords traipse throughout the halls like heck” when a wheelie backpack runs one of the smartest choices you can make to supplies, and then glide along effortlessly. with reckless abandon. Toes are severed with over their toes. Feet are only the beginning. protect your physical health. Many of these wheelie backpacks come startling frequency by their demon wheels of Imagine that there’s a Research has equipped with carrying straps that make fury. We cannot allow their evil to proliferate. book or stray animal shown that conven- them just like the conventional backpacks, in It all seems so innocent at first. Our lying dormant in the tional backpacks case you need to walk up a staircase or cir- textbooks are heavy and have a tendency to hallway, totally un- are constantly cumnavigate puddles. Notice: this is only for cause spinal damage. Naturally, the obvious suspecting. A rollie pushed to their a brief time. And if you don’t really want to solution is to cease carrying them on our bopkin could easily limits when it go up the stairs, use the elevator. When you backs and instead cast them to the ground slam into the object, comes to the sheer get off the staircase, you can just take it off where we can pull them. And yet, the obvi- fly into the air, and poundage they can and start dragging it again. No pain on your ous question must be asked: are we willing sever an innocent by- carry. High school back means you’re on the right track. to sacrifice certain amounts of safety so that stander at the neck. tends to send kids Some people, too caught up in their certain members of our society can benefit It would be home with at least conventional backpack world, are ignorant from the stilted convenience of a rollie bop- unwise to deny these one project, two and can’t really see the advantage of having kin? No, my friends. The answer is no. certain facts. We essays, and three a wheelie backpack. For them, it is actually Yes, these backpacks on wheels do pres- must take action now chapters to read cooler to walk around complaining about ent real safety issues, however acute they to prevent the spread daily, meaning their shoulder pains and refuse treatment, may be. First of all, they clearly take up of backpacks with heavy backpacks, showing their toughness. Collision course more room than the average backpack. My wheels. Already leading to shoulder guys: it’s not toughness. It’s pure hurt and scientific measurements have concluded that they conspire in their and back problems. could bruise you for the rest of your life if each wheel fills up roughly the same amount nefarious rolly bop- This is obviously you keep going. ‘Well then, I’ll get gel pads of space as a medium slab of ham, and when kin lairs to destroy bad for every single for my shoulder blades.’ Give it a shot. But you multiply that number by two, we’re civilization as we person who walks it’s really stupid to attempt to prolong the talking space of prime rib proportions. Not know it, all under the this Earth. Spines inevitable. to mention the extendable handle that one guise of making it everywhere are The smarter of your two choices is to uses to pull the bag: those are easily as large easier on our backs. taking tremendous go for the wheelie backpack. That way, your as a decent sized menorah. In other words, Easier on our backs, beatings, straining back will be safe, and if you feel like chang- each wheelie backpack is easily the size of a but not so easy on at critical levels just ing back to the conventional backpack later, small moon, and in the event of emergency, mankind’s existence: to hold the weight, it will still be a viable option. All in all, the their sheer size would undoubtedly clog the this much is fact. and all because criterion on which you base your decision hallways and cause the intense crisping of Call your local politi- their careless own- should be the health of your spine. Wheelie countless Northside students. cians and ask them Many students are seen rolling the wheeled ers don’t take them backpacks provide a simple way to keep the Beyond the undisputable size issues, to outlaw rollie bopkins.backpack down the school. into consideration. pack off your back. Photo by Kana Yoo To put it simply:

Page 8 Centerfold The Hoof Beat College admissions through the Alumni Mustangs eyes of those who have done it Charge Back! by Natalia Emanuel Throughout high school an ever-recurring topic is college. views about the department were vastly different. at all, at least from a college admis- From the time students enter Northside’s hallways to the time “I got pretty regular notifications through my advisers, sions stand point,” Yang said. they leave, college is somewhere on their radar. Starting in through my counselor about all the minutia about the appli- Other students were less than freshman year with career path planning, the college process cation process,” said Wellington Dasilva, a Northside gradu- impressed even with the College continues into sophomore and junior years with class selec- ate now attending Northeastern University. “While I did not Counseling Department’s han- tions and forms, along with advertisement mail from all sorts feel as though the counseling department knew about where dling of matters that were related of colleges. I wanted to go, what I wanted to do, I did feel that whatever to college admissions. Zak Estrada, The whole process culminates early senior year when my choices were, they were helping me go where I wanted to a freshman at the Illinois Institute of students finally have to make the final decisions as to where go, do what I needed to do.” Technology (IIT), noted that though the Counseling Department requested all forms be turned in one month before the deadline for submission to a given school, the department always seemed to be in a rush when the deadlines rolled around. “They always rushed us to do things,” Estrada said, “but [they] took their time with everything. There was a lack of urgency.” A major factor that played a role in many people’s final decisions as to where to attend college was the feel on campus. “The hardest part of the process for me was choos- ing which school to attend,” said Estrada. (from left to right) Michael Good, Randy Yang, Mark Spreitzer, and Jacqueline Lewandowski, listen to (not pictured) moderators “I chose my schools Polina Dekhtyar and Sonam Velani describe the housing policies at Harvard College. based on what I liked Photo by Anisa Isap from talking to current they want to apply, how they want to advertise themselves to Randy Yang recognized that while the Counseling students and what I saw colleges, who they want to write their teacher recommenda- Department did as well as they were able, there was only in visits. Definitely get a feel for the tions, etc. During Northside’s Alumni Night, a few alumni so much they could do. Yang described some of his college school before you decide to go there.” touched on the topic which is ever present for juniors: the friends’ experiences with admissions: Polina Dekhtyar’s visit to Harvard college admissions process. “Their counselors were on first name bases with admis- also made a significant impact on her. Alumni stressed that some colleges’ financial aid is sions officer at Harvard, Yale, Princeton or wherever. They “I had loved Harvard when I had significant enough to make attending a possibility—no matter could pull a lot of weight. One of my friends actually was visited it because the location seemed familial wealth. deferred early from Harvard and her counselor called in a wonderful and the school had every- “I think that a lot of kids at Northside don’t understand rage. And when she got in regular, the admissions officer thing I wanted and hoped for, as well that... the financial aid is amazing,” said Randy Yang, a fresh- personally called her to say ‘I’m sorry for deferring you.’ [The as an academic setup that I liked. So I man at Stanford. “A lot of kids think ‘It is 45,000 a year, there admissions officer did this] because her counselor had such a applied to Harvard early,” she said. is no way I can go.’ But places like these top tier schools have large impact.” “I would definitely suggest visiting a a whole lot of money to give. And the counseling office needs Yang stressed that this benefit that other students was school if you can,” she recommended, to emphasize that.” unfair and also given Northside’s youth, as a school, it was “because you can get a very personal Polina Dekhtyar, a freshman at Harvard, noted that this understandable that the Northside Counseling Department feeling from a school which could never was not the case at all colleges. She added that this issue could not do that. be conveyed on paper. If a school just played a big roll in her choice of college. “But they definitely do the best they can with the re- doesn’t feel right, don’t force it just be- “Harvard has lots of money and is very generous with sources they have,” said Yang. cause it may be a ‘brand name’ school. it,” she said. “Penn, not so much. And since financial aid was However Yang also mentioned that some of the activities Go for what will make you happy and huge for me, the decision was essentially made for me.” that the department requested students do were superfluous. will give you the best opportunities to One group of people who assist throughout the entire The one he brought up was the Career Building set of activi- do everything you want to do in college admissions process is Northside’s College Counseling De- ties. These activities students begin as freshmen, pinpointing – this means not only academics, but partment. This department is responsible for getting a good what types of professions they might be interested in. also extracurriculars and other outside number of things in order such as transcripts. The alumni’s “I think all the career counseling stuff did not really help projects or activities.” The art of evading panic New lives of Northside Alumni by Rhiannon Koehler — they are very into [the activities Northside alumni seems to revolve to…they’ve given out their For those without someone to that] people are doing,” said alum- around adjusting to the new agen- phone numbers [in case a turn to for intimate advice about nus Michael Pomeranz. das they must create from scratch. student needs guidance],” said college, a whisper of an individual Northsiders need not wonder if “The most difficult thing alumni Rebecca Welch. experience can mean more than any college is anything like the classes [about starting college] was learn- “I’ve eaten meals with pro- and all of the “free publications” that they are presently enrolled in. ing how to schedule yourself…in fessors…I’ve walked into office issued by anonymous institutions “Harvard is a lot like Northside college there is no standardiza- hours of professors who aren’t across the country. Boundless op- Northside squared,” said Miller. tion…you have to make sure that mine,” said Michael Pomeranz. portunities await seniors regarding “It’s much more intense. A very in- there are no time conflicts and that The ability to communicate choosing a college, picking a major, tellectual high-powered place while you still have time to sleep and with professors opens doorways outlining a schedule, and selecting still being laid back.” However, not have fun,” said Miller. for students, allowing them professors. As college freshmen, all schools are the same. Other small details of life in to obtain the education they they will also face such dilemmas “Yale is really really hard…there college grewlarger for Northside strive for. The most valuable gift as where to live, who to room with, is so much to do all of the time,” alumni once the issue of facing alumni can leave high-school and how to manage their time. said Pomeranz. them alone became a reality. Mag- students is advice for their last While many people selected Balance seems to be the key to dalena Casper-Shipp, a student years at Northside. colleges based on cost, parental in- sustaining a healthy lifestyle at UIC, reminds students of the “Find something you’re pas- fluence, and location, others chose while in college. necessity of going to bed on time, sionate about and throw your- their colleges based on different “You have a lot of downtime finding places to eat and places to self into that rather than spread- factors. that helps you meet friends…bal- do your laundry. The tasks of liv- ing yourself too thin based on “I chose Harvard because of ancing [this] with academics is ing alone add up for alumni, and what other people want you to the people,” said Andrew Miller, very hard,” said Michael Good, college is more than just another take,” advises Welch. a Northside alumnus. “They Northside alumnus and student at school for them. “Take classes you want to were unbelievably passionate and the University of Illinois. Student-teacher relation- take.Don’t get sucked into the interesting, and far exceeded my Jonathan Miller, a sophomore at Exceptional friends, mentors, ships arextremely important at Stanford University, encouraged AP credit. Do extra-curricular expectations.” and professors have helped North- the college level, and maintaining activities you want to do,” said Atmosphere also played a big students to not be intimidated side alumni obtain this goal, while relationships with teachers helps about applying to Ivy League Miller. “Realize how amazing part in how alumni selected their enjoying their college experience. to foster a rewarding educational schools. high school is while it lasts, but schools. The most challenging thing regard- experience. Photo by Anisa Isap still keep in mind that hard work “Everyone at Yale likes Yale ing the transition to college for “Teachers are easy to relate pays off. January 2006 Centerfold Page 9 Alumni Mustangs To work or not to work…that is Charge Back! the Question: Do AP classes really count in college?

by Michelle Zacarias It’s nice to watch the re- think otherwise. turning alumni reunite at North- “I don’t know about everyone else, but my AP classes side; it gives hope to students of helped out a lot, not only with colleges, but I gained a lot someday leaving for col- through the actual class as well,” said Vu, who is currently lege— independent, free, away attending Loyola University Chicago. from parents, and above all One explanation for the lack of agreement between away from sleep-depriving, alumni that don’t think AP classes are worth the trouble and homework loading Advance those that do is that the significance of AP classes depends on Placement classes. Of the college one is attending. Matthew Melinkoff, of the 2005 course all the hard work graduating class, is currently attending University of Illinois at that one accomplishes Chicago. He is another student who believes that AP classes in high school AP count in the college acceptation process. classes will “I never took any AP classes, but I know that UIC does pay off in give credit to students who took advance placement classes,” college… said Melinkoff. or will it? In most cases, especially when one is intending to apply to highly selective schools, it is common to take AP classes It’s one of due to the intense competition for admission. the biggest However, there may be other ways of questions allowing more opportunity buzzing in to enter good colleges, for the minds of example, extra curricular many Northsiders; activities. This is a very will one really receive credit in college for AP popular way of building classes? It seems that every year students go through so much up a resume and impressing trouble, paying for a chance to take an AP exam, studying for schools. the actual test, and then going through the stressful process Kevin Moss, also a 2005 of waiting months to see if they passed. However, the chaos senior, agreed with the prospect ‘Alumni Speak’: isn’t just in the few months leading up to and after the AP of using other sources to test. From the start of the course, there is a lot of demand- help you get in college. ing homework to complete and many endless nights of test “I didn’t take any AP rating Northside’s reviewing. Still students seem to be satisfied with the thought classes, but I did participate in that colleges will choose them over other applicants because of a lot of plays and school perfor- performance in college the extra points that AP classes add to their GPA. This, how- mances, they really helped me with ever, may not be the case, according to some of Northside’s my college choices,” said Moss. preparation graduates. AP classes really had no affect on their acceptance One of the most important factors, for students taking AP towards specific colleges. Adam Bain from the graduating classes, is to make sure to research the college before apply- class of 2004 is one among many students who found that the ing for it, that way one can guarantee that they got credit for by Zainab Bilfaqi AP classes he took had no effect on his college acceptance. all the work that they did. Nevertheless, one thing that most Northside is known and commended for preparing stu- “AP doesn’t count, all the classes you take during high alumni are in agreement with is that AP classes should at least dents for college, which is evident in the college preparatory school, well at least AP, they don’t count at all,” said Bain, deal with subjects that the student enjoys even if it is taken just label of the school, yet does it prepare enough? Northside who is currently attending Northwestern University where he to raise one’s GPA. sends about 99 percent of their graduates to four-year colleges, is intending to major in Performing Arts. Even with so much stress within the Northside community including some the best-known schools in the country— Har- However, for those struggling over-achievers who, after to get into a good school many students choose not to take vard, Yale and Stanford— and often the transition is seamless. reading the previous paragraph, have burst into tears while AP classes. Those that do, end up taking the chance of risking In fact, when questioned about the topic, many alumni could thinking about all the traumatic experiences in studying for no credit from the schools they apply to; however, in the end not think of any aspect that Northside did not prepare them AP tests: wipe those eyes, there is good news to come. Ac- it may be worth the time and energy because as time passes for, but some had a few suggestions. cording to the other half of Northside’s alumni, AP classes Northside’s reputation grows and colleges will soon learn Most students at Northside agree that the atmosphere do count. It appears as though the graduates are on opposites about the overachieving standards of NCPHS. So whether or strays from the guiding principle at most schools that students sides of the scale, some saying that AP classes aren’t worth the not AP classes count now, there is much to prepare for in col- will usually be told what to do and corrected if their behavior energy while others like Kimberly Vu, from the class of 2005 lege, and advanced placement will prepare any hardworking is out of line, and this is also the case at most colleges. Mi- student for the challenges to come. chael Keenan, class of 2008, explained the policy of the honor system at Washington and Lee where students are expected to take responsibility for what they do and don’t do, as well as for Alumni Night invokes mixed reactions the consequences of their decisions. However, some students, by Elizabeth Jose such as Aric Zonta, class of 2007 at DePaul University in Alumni Night was, in the opinion their time to experience it. According to the lack of representation from less Chicago, found that college is more strict than the laid back of the coordinators, a success, especially Michael Keenan, the plan for this year prominent schools, the alumni were atmosphere at Northside and thus it was difficult to get used when compared to previous events. was to give students the chance to ask the able to talk about the different types of to the college atmosphere. According to some students and even questions that interested them by having colleges and universities, and the posi- Although Northside is known for its rigorous AP program some parents, however, it was not as the alumni give short 3-minute talks fol- tivesand negatives for each of them. and college-level work that gives students a taste of what lies useful or informative as they had hoped. lowed by a question-and-answersession. There were some alumni who were ahead, many alumni commented that they would have found Michael Keenan, currently in his This worked fairly well and gave not pleased with their choice of col- more training in writing invaluable in college. second year at lege or university and gave their “Northside could have prepared me better with research Washington and opinions of what to do in such a writing,” said Jennifer Jensen, college class 2009 at Gordon Lee, made Alum- situation and how to prevent this College in Wendham, MA, echoing Magda Casper-Shipp ni Night hap- from happening.The alumni’s class of 2008 at the University of Illinois in Chicago, who also pen by working most frequent advice was to visit thinks that more research writing at Northside is necessary. with the Alumni as many campuses as possible. Despite consistent results from studies that show that IMP Association and The alumni had an ongoing students are not being harmed by using a non-traditional cur- the Parent Net- argument about the best school. riculum, some alumni think otherwise of IMP’s approach to work to gather It went so far as to involve the mathematics education. alumni together. number of fruit trees or excit- “IMP is not at all like college math,” said Magda. “[I Although they ing snowball fights on campus. would have preferred] more algebra incorporated within endeavored to Although this was amusing to higher levels of math and maybe a class about proofs.” recruit students many people, it went far enough The college application process is inherently stressful and, from a variety to annoy some people and as most students, Northside alumni were not able to avoid of colleges, the exposed the bias opinions of the the chaos, but some expressed that more events when they alumnus’ avail- alumni. were attending Northside, such as Alumni Night, would have ability insures “I think they [Alumni] took helped the process run smoother. whether or not their argument a little too far “Having a mini-course that informs you of the applica- they can partici- and that time could have been tion process and helps you decide” could have prepared David pate in the event. used for other things,” said Mrs. Peterson, class of 2007 at the University of Michigan in Ann The turnout for Kowar, a parent who attended Arbor, MI, better. Alumni Night Alumni Night. Going to a new school with a new environment may be was very pleasing Although the event was challenging and in many ways Northside tries to prepare its to the coordina- Moderators Polina Dekhtyar and Sonam Velani introduce the meant to begin at 4:00 p.m., the students for all the necessary aspects of college, yet some vital tors who hoped diverse panel of alumni for the night. first hour was spent outside the resources, according to some alumni, are those that students that the changes Photo by Anisa Isap auditorium, entering a raffle and have to search for and take advantage of for themselves. For they made from last year’s program some people the opportunity to ask ques- talking. The presentation itself example, many found that non-obligatory classes and oppor- would be useful for those attending the tions, but the lengthy responses to each began with Dr. James Lalley welcom- tunities in the foreign language would have helped them after event. question did not allow for many ques- ing the alumni back to Northside with high school if they had been involved in them. “Northside was an amazing experi- tions. Fortunately, those who were not the words of T. S. Elliot, and then a “Definitely take advantage of the study abroad programs ence for me,” said Michael Keenan, given the chance to ask questions during welcome from Ana Kaufman, Presi- and language skills in high school,” said Mary Gallery, class president of the Northside Alumni the actual program were able to speak dent of the Northside Parent Network. of 2007 at Princeton University in Princeton, NJ. Association. “This [Alumni Night] is a with many of the Alumni individually af- “I wish I had the chance to ask a The goal of Northside teachers is to prepare the students way for me to give back to Northside.” terwards while enjoying plenty of pizza. few more questions,” said Mrs. Kowar. for college, but sometimes little objectives get left out unin- Alumni Night was created in order “It is the first time we had such a “There was useful information such tentionally, leaving students a bit bewildered once they reach to give students the opportunity to find massive group,” said Michael Keenan. as being rejected from colleges and college. Various obstacles may occur in different colleges and out more about life after high school The majority of schools represented universities, but I think they could have although Northside as a whole tries to prepare its students, and to begin preparations for it as soon at Alumni Night were either Ivy League told us much more. I still want them to teachers cannot prepare its students for every little problem as possible and hopefully before it is or known for their excellence. Despite have one again next year though.” that may arise. Page Page 1 100 Features Features The Hoof The HoofBeat Beat We can’t all be A quaking tragedy NPR afcionados Relief for the South Asian Pakistani earthquake by Zainab Sozzer and Aisha Wahid The occurrence of natural disasters has increased in the can image what’s like for children who lost everything.” past two years, causing devastation for the world’s population. Earlier in the year Northside Jama’ah Club held their an- No matter how frequently these disasters occur, people can nual Ramadan dinner during which they asked their guests to never become fully accustomed to them. When an earthquake donate as much as they could to aid those in Pakistan. About with a magnitude of 7.6 on the Richter scale hit Pakistan on $150 were collected in donations, which were given to Makki October 8th, 2005, it affected people across the world, and Masjid. The mosque sent the money with a Pakistani man vol- Northside, once again, attempted to lend a helping hand. unteering in the devastated areas to provide aid to the victims According to the USGS site, the earthquake occurred of the earthquake. around 8:50 a.m. and it took at least 86,000 lives, injured more “It was such a devastating event that it would be difficult than 69,000 and left the northern chunk of Pakistan with for us not to help,” said Hamida Patel, Adv. 708, co-president extensive damage. of the Jama’ah Club. “I feel like it was very vivid,” said Margaret Jadlowski, Recently, Muhammad Akhtar sold taffy apples to send Adv.800. “The damage was so extensive, but I feel it got more money overseas. He began by proposing the eclipsed by the hurricane because our idea to Ms. Martha Mulligan, sponsor government didn’t do much for it.” of Key Club. Next, he gained sup- “I followed the news over the next port by holding a meeting at Key couple of days and was disap- Club where he asked for sugges- by Rachel Ramir pointed by the aid response of tions and ideas. I am an NPR abuser. the western world,” said Imran “I was motivated to start That is, I love to listen, but when they’re asking for Ghaffar, a Pakistani tourist this fundraiser to aid those who money I calmly turn out my pockets and confess my from Melbourne, Australia. are in desperate need”, said minority. “Human loss is a human Akhtar. “Seeing an entire re- Being able to turn on the radio and listen to some loss and one shall not draw gion of Pakistan destroyed due well-researched, well-written, well-established programs comparisons, but inter- to an earthquake, harming is something I’ve come to appreciate each and every national response to innocent individuals, was morning. “National Public Radio” really brings it home the tsunami was more horrible. In my eyes, in all those respects at all times of the day, whether it prompt and generous helping them is almost is in the evenings for the news or afternoons for “The compared to the earth- mandatory, not for World.” Even “Car Talk” has its merits. That NPR is the quake appeal in Pakistan.” every Pakistani, but greatest radio station in all of existence seems obvious The damage was every human being to me; however, I realize that a significant majority of quite extensive and the in general.” Chicagoans (Northsiders included) opt for a less serious majority of it was done By the end of brand of radio. That all said, I’ll introduce the topic: to Muzaffarabad, Kash- the fundraiser, on Chicago’s morning talk shows. For a week in December, mir, where an entire vil- December 22nd, I gave up my beloved NPR to listen in on a more typical lage was destroyed, and Key Club was able radio show. The results were frightening. Uri, where 80 percent of to collect about I began my tour on Monday in the lower frequencies. the town was destroyed. $115 through the Where better but B96? That B96’s morning show, featur- About 32,335 buildings Affy Taple sales. ing Eddie and Jobo, is produced for a younger audience collapsed and the tremors The Desi Club is no secret, nor was it very unapparent when I listened of the earthquake reached also planned to in. Those two deserve an amount of credit for keeping India, where at least 1,350 fundraise. up their morning show for as long as they have. You can people were killed and 6,255 “When we [Desi hardly tell that they’re way over that proverbial hill of were injured. In Pakistan, alone, Club] first found out about age. On the particular morning I chose to listen in, they the official death toll was above 87,300. the earthquake, we knew we had to do something,” said Aisha were discussing the Sox’s victory, the joy it sewed in Chi- Wikipedia estimated that the death toll could reach Sozzer, Adv. 603, the co-founder and president of the club, cago hearts. A bit behind in their news? I couldn’t shake over 100, 000. “because our club is made up of Pakistani-Indian students the feeling that I was listening to a dated 90s record – one “Seeing such grief cloud an innocent region of Pakistan we thought it was our responsibility to help out in any way that has been played about 5,000 times before. The entire made me want to do more than just sit and sympathize,” said possible.” half-hour I listened heard consisted of their Sox segment Muhammad Akhtar, Adv. 806. “I wanted to take action.” The details of the fundraiser are still unconfirmed, but the and a phone call from a fan, professing her love for two In a UNICEF article, Kun Li Omar Abdi, a representa- club has decided that it will be held either at the end of Janu- men who are probably now old enough to be her grand- tive in Pakistan, said, “The emotional stress and trauma that ary or the beginning of February. father. It was also during this half-hour that I realized children have to go through is unimaginable. I can give you “I thought that Northside’s Clubs tried to contribute to what NPR listeners don’t have to put up with: redundant, an example of my own two daughters. They didn’t eat or providing relief, but I’m sure they could do better in the future. insipid, and near-insulting commercials. drink for the whole day. They didn’t want to go to sleep and I felt sympathy for all the victims and hope they’ll be aided in The next morning was Q101, located on the other are afraid of staying inside the house. For children who have rebuilding their lives again,” said Elizabeth Lewis, Adv. 909. end of the music genre spectrum. This frequency houses a roof and have parents around, they still suffer like that, you “Mancow” Muller and his morning show, Mancow’s Morning Madhouse. This guy yells, makes obscene jokes at innocent callers’ expense, demands to know why everyone around him is an idiot, and turns the news into Northside’s ambassador for change a wad of unusable junk. At least he touches on the news. by Anisa Isap I understand this is all meant to be funny…it may be that Many communities already dealing with the daily struggle World AIDS Day was the second Global Action Day that I’m just not a part of the audience they’re looking for. of survival in extreme poverty were met with even more chal- Viets-VanLear organized. The first, focused on world hunger, This show is definitely geared towards young men with lenges; the Asian tsunami, the Southeast Asian earthquake, was in September. Near the lunchroom, Viets-VanLear pre- anger issues and late generation x-ers who really, really and Hurricane Stan in Guatemala are only a few in a long list pared a roulette wheel transcribed with poverty statistics. The don’t want to grow up. Granted, there is something to of natural disasters within the past two years. idea behind the wheel was that Northside students would win be said for low-brow humor and making light of things. This has led to many well-publicized events, such as the a piece of candy if they spun the wheel and landed on one of “Mancow” takes this to a whole new extreme, painting Live 8 concerts, led by celebrities who wish to inspire govern- the small pie pieces, which indicated that they were one of the every topic in a negative light. The worst part may be ment officials to provide more aid and relieve the debts of few billionaires in the world. Most, however, landed that he thinks he is being clever in all of this. Another poverty-stricken nations. on one of the larger pie pieces which indicated contender would be the dozen commercials for adult “I think any kind of shout-out makes a differ- that they were one of the many individuals liv- entertainment clubs and genitalia enlargements heard in ence,” said Nathaniel Viets-VanLear, Adv. 705, ing on less than a dollar a day. that short morning span. in response to skepticism of the benefit that ex- Viets-VanLear was initially introduced Wednesday, and a few clicks upwards from the cow, pensive events such as Live 8 actually provide. to NetAid and GCC by the founder of an was the realm of the loveable, huggable pair: Eric and “Those with bigger voices [celebrities] raising organization called the Awassa Children’s Kathy. It may be surprising to some that they’ve been on awareness and attempting to influence others Project, where Viets-VanLear is presently the air for nearly ten years now, surviving well beyond can never be a bad thing.” a junior board member. In the future, the adult-alternative fad of the 90s (“Barenaked Ladies,” However, Viets-VanLear and others like Viets-VanLear hopes to follow up on an “Goo Goo Dolls,” “Alanis Morisette), though failing to him have proven that one does not have to invitation to give direct aid at Awassa change with the times. The show itself is boring in its be famous in order to help change the world. Children’s Center, an orphanage and com- lack of risk and experimentation, and obviously follows From providing immediate relief to areas munity center in Ethiopia. Seven years ago a well-worn path; this coming from a person who finds struck by natural disasters to the less publicized the Awassa Children’s Center began caring for news radio to be entertaining. Their formula consists of daily struggles of extreme poverty, NetAid, a non- Ethiopian orphans, the vast majority of whom have a series of listener polls followed by polite laughter and profit organization, plays a critical role in lobbying lost their families due to AIDS, and currently cares clean jokes. Rinse and Repeat. They claim to be a “fam- for improvement in the lives of citizens in some of the for about 50 children between the ages of 5 and ily show,” and they do a great job of keeping it G-Rated. most impoverished regions in the world. 12. Helping to operate the Center would allow him I just can’t see typical teenagers appreciating it. Viets-VanLear is a member of NetAid’s Global Citi- to cut out the middleman and much of the red tape “Kiss FM” – 103.5 – played the most music of zen Corps (GCC), a group of 100 high school stu- that is associated with larger organizations. all the other stations, possibly to allow listeners to cool dents with various backgrounds that work together Presently for Viets-VanLear and other GCC down before hitting them again with “Drex in the Morn- to educate their peers about global poverty through leaders, the World AIDS and Hunger Days are just ing.” “Drex,” is, coincidentally, a show about “sex.” a series of four Global Action Days, the latest of the beginning of a year of activism. Upcoming Pumping the morning waves full of nighttime and some- which was World AIDS Day on December 1, 2005. events include campaigning for universal primary what taboo topics is an interesting idea, though not nec- (December 1 was taken up by governments, organiza- education in April. He currently has a handful of essarily what I’m looking for first thing in the morning. tions, and charities as the international day of action students at Northside to help him “take some of the Basically, callers phone the station to relate their strange on HIV and AIDS because the first case of AIDS was first steps to reducing extreme poverty by 2015.” sexual encounters to Drex and company, who offer their diagnosed on this day in 1981.) In a press release disclosed on “[These pandemics are] not something we can ignore,” advice. Aside from the timing, the most unsettling part World AIDS Day, NetAid acknowledged that GCC reached said Viets-VanLear. “And I would definitely encourage ev- of the show is the seriousness of the advice doled out. over 150,000 students in schools across the United States with eryone to become involved in any manner. Anyone wishing Boyfriend attracted to your older cousin? Call Drex. Hav- awareness-raising activities, such as school-wide assemblies to help coordinate an effort is welcome to contact me or Ms. ing problems finding a mate who loves Star Trek reruns and charity sporting events. [Christine] Olsen.” as much as you? Call Drex. Call Drex, because he’ll tell At Northside, many students and faculty wore red as a With such a monumental goal, the more students involved you exactly what to do, in all seriousness. Half of these sign of support for people living with HIV and as a symbol of the more realistic the objective becomes. GCC will soon stories have to be made up, because I really can’t believe hope for the future. begin accepting applications for student leaders for the I’ll stick to the Public Radio for now. made interested,” said Viets-VanLear. “However, we too can next school year. make a profound impact and it is our responsibility to do so.” JanuaryJanuary 20062006 The Hoof Beat Features Page Page11 11 Skills…strategy…synchronization The past, the by Nadir Rashid “Relaaaaaxed,” said Faraz Khan, present, and Adv. 810, describing the atmosphere of a new and very popular addition to Northside’s many clubs, G.E.E.K. the future: This unusual name stands for General Electronic Entertainment Klub, which is, to put it simple, a video Colloquium gaming club. G.E.E.K is sponsored by Mr. Nathan Harada and is the creation by Karolina Maslanka of Sean Kung, Adv. 807, who is, as and Martyna Michalak proclaimed by NongTipa Limson, Adv. Motorcycles, knit- 802, the “official dictator of the club.” ting, kites… the selection G.E.E.K meets every Monday after is enormous for North- school, on the second floor near the end siders to choose from. of the English Department hallway, or With second semester mainly in Mr. Harada’s science class, right around the corner, room 303. it’s time to choose a Playing games and relaxing is the new colloquium again. main purpose of the club. After a hard Mrs. Elizabeth Wiener, day’s work and cramming for tests, it’s colloquium coordina- a great feeling for people to come to tor, worked very hard in G.E.E.K and enjoy an hour of video order to get the new col- games and conversation with other gam- loquium program ready ing fanatics. before the winter-spring To set up, all the club does is grab a session that begins on few TVs, cables, gaming systems, and February 1st, 2006 controllers, plug it all in, and let the “This semester’s good times roll. People bring gaming theme is “A Feast for systems such as the Nintendo Game- Your Senses.” It has the largest number of new colloquia cube, Sony Playstation 2, and Microsoft Members of G.E.E.K. stomp their way through a round of DDR. ever,” said Mrs. Weiner. “The creativity and diversity will Corporation’s Xbox. Some of the big- Photo by Nadir Rashid create for a fantastic semester.” gest gaming titles that the members play times, they even hold tournaments important in some games since it’s all There were over 40 colloquiums to choose from for the include Dance Dance Revolution, Super for players of all gaming skills, and about timing and knowing when to tap second semester. With this variety there is something for Smash Bros. Melee, and Halo 2. How- although they are mostly held just for a button or in which combination to everyone’s taste and style. ever, the most renowned game in this fun, on some occasions cash prizes are press buttons. Doing well in this area Due to popular demand in the previous years some col- club is Super Smash Bros. Melee, and it awarded to the winner. can turn the tides drastically in a game; loquia returned, including The History of Court Sports, The is also one of the more addicting titles. Playing video games is a big interest it can lead a person who is just about to History of Film, Magical Women, and Chicago as a Tourist. This game is primarily about mashing among many students, and this club lose to become victorious. Many of these colloquia are seen again because the intrigu- buttons to beat up opponents. This game was established for them, but it is also Video games are just one of the ing topics that they covered have caught the eye of many includes a large variety of characters to open to beginners in the pastime. The many methods that allow a person to students. select, including Pikachu, Link, Bowser, best advice one of the more experienced relax or have a fun time with his/her Some colloquia that continue to run in the second and Samus. These characters specified gamers can give to newcomers is how to friends. G.E.E.K is open to anyone, semester are Asian Calligraphy, an entrance into the world are from other famous Nintendo titles play, because it’s all about having skills, with skills of the members ranging of Asian culture, Write Your Pants Off, where students write and include a large variety of player strategy, and synchronization while from having never played a video reflections about field trips and adventures, Get Rich Quick, types. playing. Skills of course are developed game to experienced gamers battling where students can invest money and see it grow, Knit Wit, When people hear “G.E.E.K”, through experience and practice. Then in a tournament. G.E.E.K members where students learn the art of knitting, and the Life Aquat- what pops into their minds is something there is the idea of having a strategy encourage anyone and everyone to at ic, where students will take their exploration of marine life unusual; however, G.E.E.K. entails a to set up a plan to take down your op- the least come by and check it out. during the first semester into action by scuba diving. These very competitive virtual sport. Some- ponent. Synchronization is extremely four colloquia and many others that were very successful in the first semester returned and will provide other students the opportunity to join them. Even though many older hits are coming back better Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle than ever, there are also many new never-before-offered col- loquia next semester. One of these new colloquia are Will Recycling Club continues to benefit Northside Power: A Performance Piece/ Educational Tool, which will be funded to make plays and perform them at “at risk” high schools thereby educating the students about controversial environmentally topics. Into The Wind is a new colloquium where students will design fun 3-D kites and fly them. Be a Pioneer of the by Riaz Shaikh Reduce, reuse, and recycle are the magic words that have and Back-ups. The club also includes Leaders, also known Global Initiative is a colloquium working with other high been with Northside for almost four years, but most students as Representatives. These are the more experienced mem- schools around the world and offers the students service are oblivious to this simple yet effective program. The club bers who have either been involved with the club for a long hours for their work.. Lengthen. Strengthen. Move. Breathe was founded by science teachers Dr. Anna Marie Vites and time or have had personal experience with recycling pro- is a colloquium in which students will be able to relax their Mr. Johan Tabora. Students from all grades volunteer every grams. The task of this group is to supervise and manage the bodies by spending Wednesday morning doing yoga and day during their lunch periods to collect recycling bins from recycling schedule, train new members, report to Dr. Vites, other exercises. Another colloquium is Flying Doughnuts classrooms. and sometimes even help out with collecting bins. There are and Airborne Eggs. For those who enjoyed Freshmen There are three different types of members in the club: approximately two to four Leaders for every lunch period. Freakout, this colloquium is perfect; students will conduct Recyclers, Back-ups, and Leaders. The Recyclers usually Club meetings are held every two weeks. During meet- physics-based activities. work either individually or in pairs, collecting bins from vari- ings members come together to collaborate information, “I expect a lot of fun. I expect people making stuff, ous assigned areas in the school. The Back-ups are students discuss problems, bring forth suggestions, and contribute breaking stuff, crushing stuff, and splats,” said Mr. Nathan who have volunteered to uphold the responsibility of certain towards future plans and decisions. Some future plans are Harada, a science teacher who will be teaching the colloqui- Recyclers when they are absent or unable to fulfill their duties. to begin recycling batteries and cell phones as well as paper. um. “It’s a lot of work for the students but the students that In a few cases some students play the double-role of Recyclers Every quarter new members are invited and previous mem- did it last year and put in the effort enjoyed it. The students bers who would like to discharge from the club may leave at have to be willing to participate.” this point. In most cases previous members are prominent in Colloquium on Wednesdays provides students the op- the club. Juniors are the most likely members to retire as they portunity to learn new skills, which can be applied to the have other programs and extra curricular activities to partici- real world, that are not incorporated in a normal classroom. pate in during their senior year. In fact, Dr. Vites encourages On colloquium days, Northsiders are able to not only learn seniors not to take part in the Recycling Club. She states that new skills, but also have the chance to explore their own seniors are too preoccupied with other activities and college interests by picking the colloquium that they find most inter- applications, and it will just add on to their responsibilities esting. It is also a break from the busy schedule. and already hectic schedules. Nevertheless, a few dedicated “You want to mix both fun and interactive learning,” seniors are still active in the club. said Leonel Zuniga, Adv.710, when talking about what a The Recycling Club also offers to give members service colloquium should provide. learning hours for volunteering during lunch periods. Service “It let’s me have more balance because not only is it a learning hours work in quarter (10 weeks) terms. Students class that I enjoy learning about, but on that day I have more who have already worked one quarter may not gain any more time for activities outside of school,” said Cristina Herren, service learning hours until the next year. Dr. Vites states Adv. 811. that the majority, if not all the current members are working With the diverse offerings, students should be able to with the club even after their service hours have surpassed the find a suitable colloquium that will let them enjoy their required amount. Wednesday mornings. Hopefully it will provide everyone Northside’s recycling club is one of the very few recycling with a balance of education and relaxation. clubs in the CPS system that is student-driven. Dr. Vites was proud to say that even though she helps out and is the spon- sor of the club, the student members should be praised for all their hard work and dedication. “They put in a considerable amount of work and per- sonal time,” said Dr. Vites. It is estimated that within one school year the recycling club collects between 7,000 to 12,000 cubic yards of paper and sends it to the City of Chicago to be recycled. Northside hires two trucks a week to come and collect the paper. The truck expenditures are paid for through grants received from the city and personal companies, and not through fundrais- ers. At the end of each quarter and year Dr. Vites treats the Coleman Gailloreto, Adv. 906, deposits paper in a bin club to a nice meal of pizza and cola. Dr. Vites concludes that will later be emptied by Recycling Club. each year with a video, fieldtrip, or guest speaker. Photo by Shoaib Khan Page 12 Features The Hoof Beat Homecoming not just about the money by Monica Wojcik Barely four years old, Northside’s traditional winter Council is a student organization voted on by all the classes. profits. The group in charge of the dance designates where the Homecoming Dance, combined with the activities of Spirit They were not ready to give up sponsorship of the dance, profits are to go, and AKA wanted to donate the Homecom- Week and the basketball game, has grown to be one of North- however. ing profits to charity. In true Northside spirit, Student Council side’s most well-attended dances. Being more formal, the “It’s not just about the profits, it’s about Homecoming and AKA decided to organize Homecoming together and dance is concurrently notorious for its elevated ticket prices. - school pride and unity,” said Liz O’Meara, Adv. 601, Senior donate profits to charity in accordance with original AKA Dances can be sponsored by any Northside student organi- Class President. “We really wanted to [host Homecoming] wishes. zation, but school tradition held that Student Council orga- and we have the resources. Student Council wanted to be part “I was really impressed with the whole compromise,” said nizes three dances during the year: the Back to School Dance, of it.” Ms. Runkel. “It wasn’t what everyone wanted, since every- the Halloween Dance, and Homecoming. Tradition also Student Council was thus willing to compromise with thing expected didn’t happen, [but] they still all got something dictated where the profits from those dances were designated; AKA, but a key element of the conflict regarded sharing the out of it.” profits from the Back to School Dance went to general school The minor conflict, however, brings up the question of funding, profits from the Halloween Dance went to fundrais- profits from dances in general. Prom cost is determined by the ing for the Junior Prom, and Homecoming profits went to sup- cost of the dinner, DJ, decorations, security, and chaperone port Senior Prom fundraising. dinners. The ticket price is never less than the cost of dinner, A recent surprising detail concerning this “tradition,” but there is about fifteen dollars worth of room to maneuver however, brought up the question: how far does tradition go? the price, and fundraising money comes into play here. Ac- Officially, these three dances are not magically apportioned to cording to Student Council and the Senior Prom Leadership, Student Council. All organizations, prior to hosting a dance, the funds from Homecoming could have potentially been used must approach the administration for formal permission. Prior to cover a major expense such as the DJ, therefore knocking to this year, Student Council was not aware of this regulation, off a few dollars from everyone’s ticket price. Yet students and and was somehow automatically signed up for these dances. administration nonetheless question the idea of dance profits “Traditionally Student Council has the three dances,” said designated to pay for other dances. Aileen Cordero, Adv. 604, Student Council President. “We “Most [dances] are not looked at as fundraisers,” said Dr. didn’t know we had the obligation [to sign up at the end of the James Lalley. “They are social events for the benefits of the year].” students. There is no need to increase price [of admission AKA, a student hip-hop and service club, on the other tickets].” hand, was aware of the regulations and received administra- Administration is potentially considering a change within tive permission to host the Halloween Dance. Shortly after, the procedure of assigning dances from simply first-come-first- they were asked to switch the dance they were organizing serve to perhaps lotteries or organizing Student Council dance from Halloween to Homecoming, and the club agreed. At subcommittees. They did not have a formal comment on that point, Homecoming was not assigned to any host on the whether the system will change and what it will become. administrative master calendar of school events. Meanwhile, Student Council and AKA are working to “AKA got permission to host one of the dances, but lost successfully organize Homecoming. that,” said Ms. Beth Runkel, faculty sponsor of AKA. “Thus, “At first it seemed like it was going to be an issue, but it’s they agreed to do Homecoming instead.” better now,” said Cordero and O’Meara. “We worked through This came as a surprise to Student Council, who was look- it, so someone who really needs it [the profits] will get it. ing forward to hosting Homecoming, and to the Senior Class, It helped us realize that it [Homecoming] should bring our who was to use Homecoming profits to offset Senior Prom school together. It’s always hard when two people want the costs. Student Council and AKA put up posters around the school, like the one above, to same thing; we’re going to together make Homecoming even “It seemed weird that a club would do it, but they did go advertise for this year’s Homecoming. bigger.” through the right process,” said Cordero, stressing that Student Photo by Shoaib Khan Aliy’s Sudoku and Crossword Can you beat Aliy’s Sudoku time of 8:02?

Instructions: Fill in the puzzle so that every row, column, and 3 by 3 subsection of the 9 by 9 square includes all digits from 1 through 9 in any order. Page 13 Arts and Entertainment The Hoof Beat Beresilicious Is Santana really ‘What The Northside’s Game’s Been Missing?’ by Shoaib Ali musical beauty Juelz Santana, in association Santana contributed several verses of the song that makes the single with Diplomats/Def Jam Records, to other MCs’ tracks and made his at least a bit captivating. The beat taken for granted? released his new album What the full-length debut with his 2003 and tempo is what actually carries Game’s Been Missing on November release of “From Me to U.” “Dip- the song, while the lyrics can easily 22, 2005. His sophomoric effort set (Santana’s Town),” by far the be disregarded and have little to no continues to satisfy current fans, yet best track from the release, hardly effect upon the listener. Other songs by Damon Beres new listeners are hesitant to accept. that feature his simple lyrics are Our hallway passing period Through the Northside blew up the charts. However, it While some suggest that his music music is truly a blessing to everyone passing period music system, we deserved much more appreciation “Clockwork” and “Freaky.” falls into a genre of its own, others in this school. We owe a great deal are treated to the tastes of our than it received. To assure public- Despite questionable concerns believe that he is a “poser” – that on his originality, no other member to Mr. Leo Park and, before him, peers, allowing us to truly bask ity, he remained active with the he poses as an artist, but actually of the music industry, however, is Mr. Cedric Hampton, as well as the in the glory of musical subjec- possesses very administration, for allowing our tivity, and yet many of us tend able to produce Santana’s signature little creativity. poppy hymns as in “Oh Yes.” In hallways to be graced with such a to amble down the hallways The success of significantly diverse selection of with headphones firmly draped addition, there are some tracks that his first major re- music everyday. Of course, our mu- over our ears (to set the record actually reflect Santana, instead of lease, “From Me sic is culled from the submissions of straight, I myself tend to carry the Diplomats. In “Rumble Young to U,” might have Man Rumble” and “This Is Me” he our students, but Mr. Park is the one headphones around on my neck, set standards offers himself by defying the usual that throws them on our PA system. though I generally do not listen and expectations Despite the glorious privilege to them during school hours). style of the Diplomats and gives the for Santana and listener his voice, resulting in his we’re treated to on a daily basis at It’s mind-boggling at best: people his later music, Northside, it seems as though we do realize that there’s music flow- demonstration of some originality. which would rarely take the time to actually stop ing out of our PA speakers, don’t Since exposure of Santana varies have been diffi- and listen to the music. Truth be they? Forgive me for making so much, it is most likely Diplomat cult to exceed. It devotees who would be jumping on told, it seems as though many of assumptions, but I would guess is imperative that the band wagon. Many are fans of our students would be just as well to that whatever it is that’s coming he proves himself Dipset team primarily because of have a typical bell system like every out of one’s MP3 or CD player in the music in- the street credit that accompanies other high school. This is wrong. is something that one has heard dustry, for there This is heinous. This is criminal. several times over. Generally the click. This is a possible hin- is little tolerance The true beauty of this system speaking, our PA music is likely drance of Diplomats artists from for albums that isn’t its ability to present us with to be something new, and one continuing on to the next level do not present escaping the field of inconsistent enjoyable, familiar music; it is its can always return to a musi- the artist’s full album releasing. Their label appears tendency to bestow upon us the cal comfort zone at a later time potential. Due to be unstable as the Dipset artists’ gift of variety and diversity. We anyway. to the impulsive albums are not in line with other don’t need our PA system to be akin In other words, I’m imploring behaviors of con- to Kiss FM or the oft-lambasted the student body at Northside to recording artists of the same label. sumers and the B96. Truth be told, I cannot find a take some time to actually appre- Photo courtesy of www.amazon.com However, all in all, there is no doubt inconsistency of suitable radio station comparison ciate our variety of hallway pass- that Juelz Santana could prove him- disliking and liking artists, Santana self as a more powerful lyricist and for our passing period music, as we ing period music. After all, it’s a Diplomats’ popular mixtapes. will have to make up for the medio- have something so truly unique and tremendously innovative feature “Dipset” addicts, admirers of influence in later releases. Credit is cre quality of What the Game’s Been unquestionably due to Santana, for glorious that stale AM, FM, or even of our school that we would be the Harlem crew, would probably Missing to keep his fans. he established a concrete fan base. XM could never hope to compare. wise to appreciate. Northside become the only buyers of the What This something is completely clearly stands out because of its Born as LaRon James in the Game’s Been Missing album. In His fans are also Diplomats fans, user-controlled content, a veritable academics, but there are so many Harlem, New York, the ambi- addition, the 22-track CD undoubt- even not necessarily solely Santa- na’s. His effort to gain the respect harmonic democracy, a completely other features of our school that tious Juelz Santana was not edly contradicts with the title of liberal system with the exception distinguish us. Passing period noticed until 2000. Recording his album for it scarcely offers similar to many legendary artists of a completely fair moderation music obviously won’t get us artist Cam’ron, former Roc-A- anything revolutionary. In his lead must be recognized. Santana may not be on the radio every hour, but process. Sure, radio stations allow any higher in the rankings, but it Fella Records, artist granted him single, “There It Go (The Whistle you do know who he is, compared for caller requests, but it’s not like certainly does add to our identity, a guest spot on a track called, Song),” one would have reason to they’ll play anything that isn’t on both as a communal unit and as “Double Up.” Afterwards, he question his lyrical skills, as hardly to the numerous artists who are eager to get their music onto the their top-rated lists anyway. individuals at this school. joined Cam’ron’s “Diplomats,” any unique and impressive lines of also known as the “Dipset” crew. rhyme are present. It is the cadence shelves of Best Buy. Boston Pops pop into Northside by Salim Patel On Monday, December 5, during the session was pretty cool because we were spur-of-the moment, she eloquently played people, and so important,” said Abelson. 2A and 6A lunch periods, Northside was able to ask the musicians about their lives an exquisite piece that wowed the audience. “Well, I was a little disappointed because honored to host members of the Boston Pops and got an understanding of what they went When she completed her piece, the members they only told me what I did good, and said Orchestra. These world famous musicians through,” said Ikram Khan, Adv. 800. of the Boston Pops Orchestra commented I didn’t have anything to fix. I wish they had came and spoke to students and the teachers After the question and answer session, the that her intonation was good and that overall told me some tips about technique.” of the Music Department. They discussed members of the Boston Pops Orchestra had she did a great job. Cellist Lucy Holland, Adv. 900, and their experiences as members of the Boston the opportunity to listen to one of Northside’s “I was very excited, because they were violinist Richard Paulius, Adv. 705, also Pop Orchestra and how they came to be such own advanced violinists, Carmen Abelson, so famous, but also kind of scared, because played with the members of the Boston Pops great musicians. Adv. 900. Even though she was chosen I always get scared when I have to play for Orchestra. This session between the Boston “I thought this would be a Pops Orchestra members and great opportunity for students the Northside musicians was to meet people who do this for very similar to a masterclass. a living,” said Mr. Leo Park, Robert Solomon, father of Northside’s orchestra conductor. Steve Soloman, director of the “They could gain insight into presentation and creator of the what being a professional musi- Music Advocacy and Awards cian entails.” Committee (MAAAD), wanted The Boston Pops Orchestra the Boston Pops Orchestra is one of the most renowned members to visit students of orchestras in the world. They the Music Department because were performing at the UIC pa- he felt that it would motivate vilion, and they decided to visit the students to pursue careers Northside. The members of the in music. Also, the Music De- Boston Pops Orchestra hoped partment at Northside is young their presentation would touch and can become even better. the hearts of students so that He believes that the students of they would consider furthering music should be more of a part their experiences in music and of the school’s culture. making it a profession. “The Music Depart- “I was inspired by the visi- ment and the musical groups, tors and hope to someday be a especially the top performance good musician like them,” said groups, are not as interwoven Mohammed Ahmed, Adv. 907. into the culture of our school Gerald Mordis, a violinist, as they are at most other began the presentation with a schools,” said Robert Solomon. beautiful number that entranced To finish off the Boston the entire audience. The audi- Pops Orchestra visit, Steve ence was then introduced to Solomon, performed Autumn the other three members of the Leaves on the piano, a piece Boston Pops Orchestra: Kristine that mesmerized the audience. Nilsson, violinist and cousin of “It was a great presenta- Steve Solomon, Adv. 810, Jim tion, and I really enjoyed Orent, violinist and Cover Con- playing for my cousin and ductor, and Eugene Kim, cellist. her colleagues,” said Steve Following this the students and Solomon Adv. 810. “I really teachers were allowed to ask the (From left to right) Cong Nyguyen, Adv. 805, Asma Ahmed, Adv. 601, and Mohammed Ahmed, Adv. 907 of hope that we have other such musicians some questions. the Northside College Prep Beginning Orchestra practice their cellos so that they can someday play like the performances just like this in “The [question and answer] members of the Boston Pops Orchestra. coming years.” Photo by Salim Patel Page 14 Arts and Entertainment The Hoof Beat Chilling out on a Friday night All three of Northside’s bands perform by Mohammad Rahman On Friday, December 16th, the share the same fingerings, such as nervous on stage,” said flutist Mad- with the Concert Band playing “We worked very hard for this school auditorium was completely the flute and the saxophone. eline Holland, Adv. 908, “but once I “Christmas Festival,” a band ar- concert,” said Alexandra Prusko. packed with people. The audience After ending their part of the got on it, I felt very confident.” rangement that accumulated all the “Our hard work paid off because had one objective, and that was to Band Concert with “Groovin’ The bands in concert finished familiar Christmas tunes. this concert was a success!” watch Northside’s bands in concert. Hard,” the Jazz Ensemble handed The bands that played on that day over the torch to the Northside Be- were the Beginning, Jazz, and Con- ginning Band. Most members of the cert bands. Northside Beginning Band have The concert started with the been playing their instruments for Jazz Ensemble whose first piece only about two months and many was “A Quick Aside.” After the had no prior experience. piece was finished, the audience’s “The 2005-2006 Beginning cheers were deafening. Band has a larger number of drum- “I love the Jazz Band; I have mers compared with past years,” been in it for three years now,” said said Mr. Michael Lill, Northside’s saxophone player Alex Makkawy, band conductor. “This is because Adv. 700. “The best part is that most people want to play it, and everybody gets to play together and their second choice is usually to you learn how to cooperate with play the saxophone. Since I cannot other people using only music.” always fulfill everyone’s wishes, I They also played the pieces “Let have to then pick names out of a it Snow,” “Straight No Chaser,” and drum!” “Oye Como Va.” All the Jazz En- Northside’s Beginning Band semble pieces had a lot of rhythm played “Jingle Bells,” “Sawmill and even included solo parts for the Creek,” “Montego Bay,” and “Regal drums. March” from their Beginning Band “My favorite piece was Oye Method book, and ended their part Como Va,” said Alexandra Prusko, by playing the band arrangement Adv. 903, who plays the trumpet in “Simple Gifts.” the Jazz Ensemble. “The reason I “The Beginning Band was re- like it so much is because it is lively, ally good considering the fact that and also because it is just plain they have been only playing for good to listen to. The other jazz two months,” said Sherin Nasreen, band pieces that we played were a parent who came to watch the superb too.” band concert. “The Beginning Band The Jazz Ensemble is com- drummers did a great job by keep- prised mostly of the brass, percus- ing the beat, but other instruments sion, and woodwind instruments. did a really good job too.” The three pianists in the Jazz En- After the Beginning Band, the semble share the grand piano and Concert Band took over the stage. It most members also play more than included more than seventy mem- one instrument. This is because bers and nearly all types of musical most of the time there are so few instruments, except for strings. parts for some instruments, such as They played the pieces “The Blue the flute, that it is better to play two and the Gray” and “Hollywood Cassandra Boykin, Adv. 603, Andy Hastings, Adv. 708, and Liz Kivel, Adv. 706 (left to right) make up instruments instead of one. Other Milestones.” the French horn section while showing holiday spirit. than this, many instruments also “I thought I was going to be Photo by Kana Yoo A “new Southern classic” “So sick of love songs” Ludacris nods to the confederacy and sick of this song by Rachel Ramir On December 13, 2005, ronment. “Bunch of hustlas “Next to Bama,/ Under the Ludacris and his hip-hop run on every corner…” is Carolinas and Tennessee.” Ne-Yo’s album “In group released their second an especially potent line in There is one extremely album as a follow-up to its delivery and imagery. He unsettling lyric, and it is My Own Words” their very successful debut moves on to reminisce about difficult to understand why by Abir Usman album, Golden Grain. Ludacris living in a black household in Ludacris would want to slip “I’m so sorry, seeing you mad is so sexy.” Presents… Disturbing tha Georgia, especially praising this in, what he was going That should explain everything. Reality Peace features Ludacris and the cuisine: “candy yams and for, or how he thought it check: if a woman is mad at a man, it isn’t a his “posse” of recording would be appropriate: good thing. It is far from it, and if that is the artists, most of whom “Scope your pumpkin case, how did Ne-Yo come to the conclusion are lesser-known rappers and smash ya/ We’ll come that seeing a woman mad is sexy? Is it the signed to Ludacris’s record through your hood worse way her eyes give hard glances, or the way she label, “Disturbing tha than a tsunami disaster.” throws things around? “When You’re Mad” is Peace.” That is very much like the song to listen to if listeners would like to “Georgia,” the someone from outside of further understand Ne-Yo’s theory. album’s single, is a fairly the United States making Ne-Yo’s most popular song would have to catchy, memorable song a joke at the expense of be “So Sick.” It has gotten its share of hype, that covers every known the World Trade Center but for good reason. It is probably one of the topic, including “crap in the months follow- best after-break-up songs available. The steady shooting,” and unknown ing September 11. He beat and the light harp accompaniment adds topic, as in “jocking the cannot possibly under- to the ambiance of the song, creating a calm grammar.” All are derived stand what the people “groove” for the listeners. The interesting part from Ludacris’s childhood of Eastern Asia went about this song is, again, the lyrics that Ne-Yo in the Sunbelt and his through and continue provides. It tells a provocative story of how Ne-Yo’s Debut album “In My Own life in Albany, Georgia. to cope with in light of his girlfriend left him and how he is tired of Words” is set to release on February Jamie Foxx supplies the last summer’s tsunami. reminiscing. He listens to love songs to help 28, 2006. supporting vocals on this Apparently he doesn’t ease his pain only to become sick of them, Courtesy of Moxie track, interrupting rap care. The lyric is neither and even when he figures that much out, he Sick” because Ne-Yo sings about how spec- sequences with a melodic Photo courtesy of www.gomoxie.org clever nor funny, and still can’t turn the radio off. tacular this one girl is in this song whereas in and passionate chorus one would think that for Another interesting song that Ne-Yo has “So Sick” he sings about how he wants to get of, “Georgia… Geor- chitlings/ Gram’s homemade all of the preaching he does on this album is “Let Me Get This Right.” over this one girl. The songs go hand in hand. gia!” Foxx also intertwines baked biscuits.” However, about ‘living the rough life’ The music that Ne-Yo chooses to accompany One of Ne-Yo’s most recognized lyrical simple piano work with the the topic inevitably switches he would be more sensitive to his lyrics is very soulful and relaxed. All of works is “Let Me Love You,” which was per- usual backing track of mixer, back to women with curves the poor conditions of other the songs give off this gospel type of old formed by R&B artist Mario. The song was drums, and bass. Unfortu- prancing around in thongs people. school feel to them. And “Let Me Get This on Billboards #1 R&B chart for several weeks nately, the backing music is – unfortunate, but expected Ludacris Presents… Right” is a song that really stands out both in 2004. He has also written songs for artists the most successful part of in light of the present state of Disturbing the Peace, if musically and lyrically. Ne-Yo speaks of two such as Mary J. Blige, B2K, Faith Evans, and the song. the music scene. “Georgia” is any indication, friends that realize that there is something Musiq. To begin with, the lyrics Ludacris uses examples has shaped up to be a fairly more to their relationship than just friendship. Addressing the song, “Let Me Love You” are a bit confusing. There are like “I got a Chevrolet on typical hip-hop album, one The music is playful yet has those hard hitting Ne-Yo states “It’s a great song, and I’m really times when Ludacris seems 26s,” and, “I got five homes worthy of today’s charts. As beats that give off the vibe that the mood happy to have wrote it, but if you can only to be getting back to the where I rest my Georgia far as the inspiration for this should be light but there are some things that write one really great song, then you shouldn’t core of hip-hop. The genre bones,” to contrast with the single is concerned, Ludacris need to be cleared up. be in this business, and I know I should be was meant to be an outlet images of a harsh, run-down describes Albany as a place “Stay,” featuring Peedi Crack, is another here.” for frustrations associated city, as well as to point out where “choppas will toma- song found on the new album and plays a That is good advice, and maybe Ne-Yo with living in a rough, urban how far he has come. These hawk your top” constantly, little off of the song “So Sick” as shown in its should take it. Ne-Yo is still an amateur artist dwelling, which he touches ideas are positive in a bizarre and “wet paint drip jelly on music video, where Ne- Yo sings “So Sick” to in the industry and has accomplished two upon often. He speaks of way, but they come at ran- Pirellis and the chrome on himself before the actual song, “Stay,” begins major hits in his time. If Ne-Yo can write and high crime rates, gangs, and dom intervals and between the Chevy,” at every corner. to play. It is more upbeat than “So Sick” but record more songs like “Let Me Love You” “robbas,” as well as what it lines that describe Georgia’s What that means, exactly, is has the same lyrical effect that “So Sick” pos- and “So Sick,” he just might make it in the takes to live in such an envi- relative geographic location: up for interpretation. sesses. It sounds more like a prologue to “So business. January 2006 Sports Page 15 JV Women’s Basketball off to a fast start by Michael Wojcik As a cold wind slips in through the doors, so do the winter shooting, and blocking, sports, bringing with them new teams and new hopes. The as well as making sure Northside Women’s Junior Varsity Basketball Team has done she understands the posi- just that. Several new faces have been introduced to the team tion she plays and her this year, bringing more game to the table. The team consists significance to the team. of seven freshmen and seven sophomores aspiring to learn, He wants to improve have fun, and, of course, play basketball. the team’s shooting in The returning players in the group see a lot of potential the red zone as well as in the new faces and hope to explore that potential during the getting faster breaks in upcoming season. The freshmen have been picking up quickly games. and adjusting well to the high school life of Northside, work- The coach, however, ing hard and pushing themselves to achieve their best scores. understands that the “The freshmen are trying to work hard because they have players are still learning, big shoes to fill in,” said Cathy Malewicz, Adv. 900. still young, and doing The sophomore players help the younger members, their best with the tools acknowledging their mistakes and encouraging them in the they have. A priority is games. The top scorer is Liliana Leon, Adv. 804, though new- still to make sure the comer Aral Johnson, Adv 904, is also learning well. The team athletes are enjoying is very encouraging to one another and often hypes each other themselves. up to do their best. When not in the game, the rest of the team “If they are not hav- is supportive by cheering on their teammates. ing fun, then I’m not do- “We just have good chemistry together,” said JV captain, ing my job,” said Coach Kerri Sheehy, Adv. 803. Whalen. As the season continues, through intense practices, the Coach Whalen is team gains much more experience. Practices generally last two also equally concerned hours a day and consist of running drills. Each player usually that every member of the shoots about 40 to 50 free throws and 60 to 75 three-pointer team pays a great deal of shots during practice, and also works on any other necessary attention to her studies. elements of the game. In addition to that, the team also visits “If you want to be the weight room twice a week and spends time reviewing their good and stay in the plays. game, you have to pound Aral Johnson, Adv. 904, attempts a free throw as her teammates Cathy Malewicz (11), Adv. The coach, Dave Whalen, identified the defense as the the books,” said Coach 900, and Amanda Radcliffe (24), Adv. 806, box-out for the rebound. Photo by Michael Wojcik strongest aspect of the team at this point in the season, specifi- Whalen. cally the team’s lane defense. So far in the season, the women’s record in conference is said JV player Hannah Basil, Adv. 907. “The audience really “We need to work on our stamina and top speed,” said 11-6 overall, demonstrating the success of their work. does motivate you.” Johnson. However, the team still hopes to improve one more fea- Games for the 2006 season will continue through January Coach Whalen wants to ensure that every player on the ture, acknowledging that they play better when motivated. and into February, and thus far the team has been showing team is familiar with the fundamentals, including dribbling, “We would appreciate more support from the audience,” teamwork and rising scores. Men’s sophomore basketball shoots off a new season by Sejla Dizdarevic As most Northsiders were getting ready were disadvantaged because one of the team’s a lot to work to do in order to beat Von [Steu- for winter break, the Men's Sophomore star players, Conor Camp, Adv. 800, was ben] and other red north teams." Basketball Team was getting ready for the away on vacation and wasn't able to make it "I had expected to play better, but we upcoming tournament at Notre Dame, to the games. didn't play up to full potential,” said Saif where they played three games. "If we had Conor, it would have made Rahman, Adv. 803. “On the other hand, we The first game on December 26th was a substantial difference," said Coach Ruehl, had eight games in eleven days; therefore, unsuccessful against Notre Dame, in which "Also, I am very happy to say that Mackenzie everything came out pretty good." Northside lost 47 to 27. Although Northside Rivers, (Adv. 807) was moved up to varsity. "I was looking forward to seeing how we'd played a great game, Notre Dame played a This says a lot about him." play against non-CPS schools and wanted to far superior game. The next day, the sopho- The Mustangs played Lane on Wednes- develop team play,” said Jorge Saldarriaga, more team defeated Ridgewood 58 to 47. day that week, but lost. They beat Lane just a Adv. 811. “Overall, I am disappointed in the The success gave the players hope of win- couple of days before, but this time, they were team." ning the next day’s game against Lane Tech. unsuccessful. Lane Tech got a high head start The tournament gave the players an op- However, they eventually lost the game with in the first quarter, making it difficult for the portunity to play against the suburban schools an end score of 53 to 37. Mustangs to come back. that are often hard to beat. Going into the tournament, Coach Dave "I thought we'd do better than we did,” "I was looking forward to dominating the Ruehl, along with the rest of the team, had said Coach Ruehl. “We were defeated in the tournament with ease and beating the subur- many expectations. game against Lane Tech because we had a ban kids senseless," said Mackenzie Rivers, "I was expecting to win at least two of terrible first quarter. We also had many games Adv. 807. the games, but we were unsuccessful," said in those nine days and hardly any practice. The Men's Sophomore Basketball Team Coach Ruehl. "Instead, we won one game With the upcoming games, we will get more was not as successful as they had expected due to the fact that we had trouble handling practice time, and it's all about to change. We to be, but the tournament did give them the the pressure, and we didn't shoot the ball were also missing three very good players." opportunity to practice playing as a team and well. It is the first half of the season, and The players also had expectations that develop strategies for the future. we are doing very well, though. We won 11 weren’t fulfilled. games, lost 3, and have a long way to go." “I expected us to do better than we did,” Coah Ruehl also mentioned that they said Kevin Menczynski, Adv. 810. “We have The Dancing into the new year forgotten warriors Continued from page 16 by Elizabeth Sobenes a ready pin. Also the “cradle” success. He puts in a lot of Northside’s Poms dancers have There would hear on the radio. Some of is a body twisting technique that time to train the team and has a been laboriously practicing for are the artists whose music they dance leaves the wrestler immobile due to well-known history of training various future performances that eighteen to are Fantasia, Ying Yang Twins, the inability to pull out of a knot. Olympic wrestlers and top notch will take place later in January. dancers and Missy Elliot. One can also “ride” his or her wrestling teams. Jeannette Santos, Adv. 600, and in total “The music has a good beat opponent to get them back on the “I used to wrestle for Okla- Stephanie Arias, Adv.703, co- that practice that’s good to dance to,” said Kris- floor when they are attempting to homa State,” said Coach George. captains of Poms, led the group twice a week tine Pol, Adv. 804. get up. It is also possible to “drive” “It’s one of the best schools for by choreographing the dances. on Tuesdays and Not only is Poms practicing for a challenger, which is a move that wrestling in the country.” The team has received words Thursdays. their performances at Northside, but is used when the opponent is on Each wrestling match is full of encouragement with visits “It can get they are also beginning to prac- his or her stomach and the goal is of tension, suspense, and at times from former Poms members, pretty stressful and tice for a larger Universal Dance to try to get him on his back. The disappointment. However, each including alumnus Kim Le. confusing; but when Association Competition (UDAC) only way of actually pinning the time the team manages to pull Poms’ first perfor- it comes together, you on January 29th, along with the opponent is by getting them on its strengths together to try and mance took place on No- feel proud of the girls city competition. The competitions their back and having both their achieve victory, the team learns vember 26, 2005, and the and the time and effort involve dance teams from different shoulders touch the mat for at least from its experience. Although Poms team members were they have all put in,” high schools coming together and to seconds. wrestling may be a “man-sport,” also the guest performers said Santos. competing in different categories, “Wrestling is definitely a tough it is open to anybody who is inter- at the Winter Snow Ball “The best such as Poms. This competition sport,” said Gustavo Pacheco, Adv. ested. The team is currently trying and performed on December part of Poms will be the first for Poms this school 707. “Our goal as a team is to bet- to recruit those willing to devote 12th and on Decem- is definitely year. The UDAC will be a bit dif- ter our techniques this year and pin long hours training. Nevertheless ber 21st, at the all the fun we ferent for the team this year. It will more people.” wrestling is an intense sport for men’s varsity have with the involve almost all suburban schools, Improvement is undeniably those strong enough to make it basketball games to girls,” said as opposed to just Chicago Public showing as the team has learned through. As an unknown proverb show their support Arias. Schools. from its mistakes and continues to once said, “If someone has to for the team. Poms mostly per- Poms are “We’ve never done this before improve at wrestling. remind you that there’s no crying form for the home games. However, performing and are expecting some fierce com- Coach George is one of the in baseball, then don’t even bother sometimes they attend away games. to various modern songs that one petition,” said Santos. main contributors to the team’s joining wrestling.” Page 16 Sports The Hoof Beat Khan-Ya Hear Mustangs route in semi-finals Me? Men’s Varsity falls short in championships by Idrees Mohiuddin Da Bears will be back Following Christmas utes remaining in the quarter, committing turnovers that led fortable nine point lead with by Asrar Khan weekend, the Fifth An- Mackenzie Rivers, Adv. 807, to six fast break points. The a score of 44-35. Then they As I angrily switched off the television in nual Northside College Prep entered the game in his first Eagles cut the lead to five took a commanding lead light of the 29-21 demolition of my beloved Holiday Tournament was appearance for the varsity points once again when they of 48-36 with two minutes Bears, I sat there wondering about how we held from Monday December team this season after being went on a 7-3 run to bring and change remaining in the blew it. This was the year the Bears could 26th to Wednesday the 28th. promoted from the sopho- the score to 28-23 Mustangs. quarter to seal the game for have won it all. Beating the Panthers would There were a total good. The final have sent us to face Seattle- a far from perfect team (though of 14 teams from score was 52-44 they did, to my delight, destroy the Panthers). In the Super CPS high schools Mustangs. Bowl, there would have been no Manning or Brady, and competing in the The top two though Pittsburgh did hand our butts to us in December, the tournament. players for the Bears could have learned from their mistakes and prepared The Mustangs Mustangs were more adequately. Instead, we blew it. But not to worry - here advanced to the Michael Burke is a plan that will, barring injuries or unforeseen disaster, put final four of the and Christos the Bears in the Super Bowl next year. tournament where Kolovos, Adv. 606. Perhaps the utmost respect for the Bears can be seen in they took on the Michael Burke this quote by a rival NFC north coach. Dyett Eagles on was the team’s “In this division,” new Vikings coach Brad Childress December 26th. leading scorer with said shortly after being hired, “it’s all about Chicago right From the begin- 15 points in the now.” ning of the game, game and Christos Indeed it is, but why? It’s no secret that defense has the Mustangs came Kolovos chipped in carried the Bears all season long; however, I regret to say out with much nine points and 16 that defense was the sole reason we lost to Delhomme. Our more intensity than rebounds. first order of business will be to sign a potential shutdown their counterparts. “This really corner. The term shutdown doesn’t really apply anymore, in Fueled by the was a break-out this era, (maybe with the exception of Champ Bailey), but it support from the game for Chris,” has become increasingly clear that the Bears possess none. impressively large said Coach Horn. Tillman is a great corner who has repeatedly been burned number of fans, the “He’s capable of by smaller, quicker receivers, and Vasher, a human ball Mustangs got off to such performances magnet, is not really capable of going head to head with a a quick start in the like this on a given larger, more physical receiver. Logic would indicate you put first quarter by tak- night. If he can Tillman on the larger, more physical receiver, and Vasher on ing a 10 point lead. develop some the quicker, fleet-footed one, but the Bears Cover 2 system is Looking undersized consistency he’d be a concrete scheme that requires one corner to always cover a great asset to our and careless, the Jake Baskin, Adv. 601, prepares to shoot a free throw in the final minutes of one side of the field. The Bears must draft a highly regarded Eagles were able team. He’s capable corner, capable of starting at least in nickel (3rd corner) the third quarter in the semi-finals. The Mustangs were able to hold off an 8-3 to muster up all run by the Dyett Eagles in the quarter to win comfortably. of contributing in duty right away. Or they can go spend some money this of three points to Photo by Idrees Mohiuddin so many ways that off-season to get the oft injured but highly talented Charles begin the game he’s pretty impor- Woodson. That would certainly shore up the corners. against the alert and active more team. He provided an As the quarter went on, the tant to out team.” The next order of business defensively will be to find Mustang defenders, and instant boost to the team by Eagles remained in the game “I was just doing what I viable backup for Mike Brown. In the games Mike Brown trailed 13-3 at the end of the blocking a shot which led through their defensive effort do best,” said Christos Ko- didn’t play this year, the defense was a shell of itself; teams first quarter. to a breakaway lay-up for as both the Mustang and lovos. “My game is all about ran all over the Bears, as Carolina did when Brown left due “We only gave up three Michael Burke, Adv. 601, Eagle offenses struggled to hustle and I made sure that I to an injured calf. Sign Adam Archuleta or Lance Schulters, points in the first quarter,” putting the Mustangs up 17- score. With two minutes to pounded the boards and got two Mike Brown type players—hard hitting and intense. said Coach Horn. “That was 10. The Mustangs continued go in the third quarter, the to every rebound that came Two more pressing items defensively. Although we had by-far the best defensive per- to surge at both ends of the Eagles brought the score to my way.” a spectacular pass rush this season, we never really had a formance we have had for an floor as they blocked four within three points at 32-29 As the Mustangs contin- speed pass rusher, built for obvious passing downs that will entire quarter in five years.” shots and scored 10 points after pulling off an 8-3 run. ued on in their quest to win give Adewale Ogunleye or Alex Brown a breather. Trade As the second quarter in the final two minutes of But once again, the Mustangs the tournament champion- Michael Haynes, who is in Lovie Smith’s doghouse for ensued, the Eagles were the half. The first half ended were able to regain their ship, they hit a road block his lack of speed and motor, for a draft pick, and use that consistently being beaten on with the Mustangs up 25-16. composure as they had done against Dunbar High School. pick for a pure speed rusher that relentlessly goes after the the boards as Mustang after “The other team came so in the final minutes of In the championship game quarterback.. The last order of business defensively will be Mustang was able to gather out strong in the second the second quarter and were held on the 28th, the Mus- to sign or draft a strong side linebacker that can challenge missed shots on both ends quarter,” said Coach Horn. able to end the third quarter tangs fell to Dunbar. In the Hunter Hillenmeyer, Chicago’s only weak link defensively. of the floor. But to make “They were much faster and on 4-0 run capped off with end, what the Mustangs were We’ll probably address this through the draft, but imagine up for their lack of size and their quickness caught up to a buzzer-beating lay-up by able to cope with and adjust Cato June in a Bears uniform. strength, the Eagles pressured us on offense early on when Michael Burke. to in the semi-finals was their Offensively, the Bears took some positive steps at the the Mustangs defensively they pressured us defensively. At the onset of the fourth downfall in the champion- nd end of the season. Rex Grossman played well 2 quarter on, and offensively with their But I was happy by the way quarter, the offensive play ship game. and besides his late game interception, continually moved speed and quickness. Midway we performed and closed out picked up at both ends of the “We struggled with the the ball against a feared defense. It’s obvious Grossman is into the second quarter, the the quarter.” floor as both teams traded speed and quickness of their the starter going into next year, but Kyle Orton has proven Eagles were able to decrease Early on in the third baskets. Midway through the team,” said Michael Burke. that he can lead the Bears to victory and will be waiting the scoring deficit to 15-10 quarter, the Eagles came quarter, the Mustangs were “We weren’t able to adjust in the wings if Grossman fails or, more likely, tears any after going on a 7-2 run. out with aggressive play and able to continue pouring in and that caught up to us the muscles or breaks another bone. Our running game looks With less than two min- forced the Mustangs into offensively and had a com- entire game.” spectacular, with Thomas Jones posting a 1,300 yard season and talented Benson, who will have a full training camp to prepare, in the mix. Adrian Peterson averaged five yards a pop last year and looks like a viable running back. Northside’s forgotten warriors: The offensive line played great last year. The signing of Roberto Garza at the start of the season was the most un- derrated signing of the year, as he filled in seamlessly when Mustang wrestlers struggle to gain respect Ruben Brown and Terrance Metcalf were hurt. But the by Michelle Zacarias offensive line is aging and injuries do occur, which is why It is six thirty in the afternoon, the of the few incoming the Bears will be smart if they somehow manage to keep sun has already set, and the halls are freshman that made it Metcalf, a free agent, for next season. Drafting an interior quiet and empty. Of course there is through conditioning. lineman wouldn’t be a bad idea either. hardly anyone left at school; the only “Wrestling is actu- At the wide receiver position, Muhsin Muhammad cer- inhabitants are the janitors, the security ally a lot more fun than tainly did not earn his part of the $30 million contract and guards and…the wrestlers? I thought it would be,” looks like he was a poor investment. He will be thiry-three Although it may be hard to believe, said Melissa, as she next season and looks to have lost a step. Mark Bradley and due to the lack of knowledge about the hurried off to join the especially Bernard Berrian seem to have great potential for a team, the Mustang Wrestling Team rest of the team while more vertical attack. In all honesty, however, the Bears need is one of the hardest working sports they jogged around the another receiver, one that has the experience to make life teams that Northside has. From the gymnasium. easier for Grossman. Now, there were rumors that Terrell very moment that school gets out until The new captain Owens had dinner with Bears GM Jerry Angelo this week, six o’clock, wrestling practice continues for this year is senior and he might seriously be considered an option as scary nonstop. The drill consists of running Christopher Zysko, as it sounds. If they do not make a push for TO, which laps, carrying teammates on each others Adv. 604, and the co- would probably be the smart thing to do, they could go after backs while sprinting, weight lifting, captain is Ryne Tobin, Antwaan Randle El, a quicker receiver who would not only jogging up and down the stairwell, leg Adv. 704. Both young start right away, but would also fill the Bears pressing need throws, and even practicing the actual men are star wrestlers for a punt returner. wrestling moves. To ensure that the on the team, and Tobin Finally, the last order of business is the tight end posi- team gets its full, exhausting workout, even made the Section- tion, where Desmond Clark did not show up at all this Coach Elliot George is there to watch al Championships last season. The Bears could easily draft a tight end, maybe even year. He hopes that his John Ko, Adv. 909, prepares himself as his opponent over the wrestlers’ improvements. gets into starting position. in the first or second round, to fill this spot, but the premiere The wrestling season started in the accomplishments from Photo by Michelle Zacarias prospect at this position, Vernon Davis, is predicted to be fall with conditioning to guarantee that the previous season will long gone by the time the Bears pick. Signing the proven only the toughest athletes joined the inspire the team. ments when both wrestlers are deciding Chad Lewis might not be a bad idea since he is a viable red team. The plan was simple: those who “Once everyone gains confidence, what move to make, and as soon as one zone target and blocks well. could make it through conditioning we will be unstoppable,” said Tobin. shoots, the match is on. One of the most Whatever direction the Bears choose to go next season could make the team. Unfortunately, the The actual sport of wrestling is common and efficient defense mecha- with free agency or the draft will certainly be important, as work was too intense for many people about survival. As difficult as the work- nisms for wrestling is tripping your op- it seems the division has been substantially weakened and and only a small number of new com- out may be, the actual matches take a ponent. This usually gets them on their the NFC is there for the taking. Just how much money An- ers made it on the team. The rest were lot more out of the body than anything gelo wants to spend, and how well he scouts, is the question. veterans from the previous season. during practice. Right after the referee Continued on page 15 as Melissa Jordan, Adv. 902, is one blows the whistle, there are a few mo- “The forgotten warriors”