TAFT TODAY Issue 8Apr. 13, 2011

Volume 21

TABLE OF CONTENTSPAGE 2 - ONCE UPON A MATTRESSPAGE 3 - CLOSE-UP WASHINGTON, D.C.PAGE 3 - GLASS SLIPPER PROJECTPAGE 4 - DEBATE COMPETITIONPAGE 4 - JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENTPAGE 5 - SOPHIA COYNE-KOSNAKPAGE 5 - STUDENT OF THE MONTHPAGE 6 - FAVORITE TEACHERSPAGE 7 - SPRING BREAKPAGE 7 - EASTER HOLIDAY

PAGE 8 - ECOLOGY CLUBPAGE 8 - GOING GREENPAGE 9 - PSACPAGE 9 - HACKY SACK CLUBPAGE 10 - NO TO MARIJUANAPAGE 11 - YES TO MARIJUANAPAGE 12 - TEXTING WHILE DRIVINGPAGE 13 - TESTING AFTER BREAKPAGE 13 - NOMINATE TEACHERSPAGE 14 - EXPLORE WINDY CITY

PAGE 14 - FUN FOR SPRINGPAGE 15 - BRITNEY SPEARS REVIEWPAGE 15 - SPRING BREAK ACTIVITIESPAGE 16 - ICE CREAM SHOPSPAGE 17 - MUVICOPAGE 17 - DAVE & BUSTER’S REVIEWPAGE 18 - EAGLE CAPTAINSPAGE 19 - EAGLE CAPTAINS CONTINUEDPAGE 20 - SPORTS SCHOLARSHIPPAGE 20 - POWER LIFTING CLUB

Taft teachers got talent!By Kayla Newman

Have you ever won-dered if any of your teachers have unique or crazy

talents? Here’s your chance to find out!

“We were thinking about new ideas that would draw people in and these sort of events are always fun, so we thought the Teacher Talent Show would be a good idea,” said Talent Show Coordinator Fatime Rexhepi, Div. 111.

Taft’s National Honors Society (NHS) is hosting its first ever Taft Teacher Talent Show. The show will be held today, in the audito-rium at 1:30 p.m. The doors will open at 1 p.m. and tickets are $3 each. The proceeds will go to the American Red Cross, which will in turn go to Japan to help them rebuild after the disaster. NHS is also accepting donations for Japan, so don’t hold back! The money earned was originally supposed to go to Ignite the Spirit, which is a fund that donates to Chicago Fire Department charities, families, and widows.

“With the destruction in Japan we thought it was perfect timing. They could definitely use the money,” said Rexhepi.

There are about fifteen acts all together. The acts will range from singing to playing instruments, to performing skits, and much more.

“I think it’ll turn out really well. A lot of teachers have unique talents-more than people would think,” said NHS sponsor and Music Teacher Todd Finkel.

If seeing some of your teachers perform-ing on stage isn’t enough to get you there, there’s also another perk. You can earn service learning hours! If you save your ticket and write a reflection paper, you can earn five service learning hours.*

“Come and support your teachers. It’s for a great cause. The teachers are putting a lot of effort into it, so it’ll be worth it,” said Rexhepi.

The show is sure to be full of surprises and laughs. So, make sure you’re there tonight.

The teachers participating in the show include Spanish Teacher Daven Taba and English Teacher Sergio Santil-lian singing/guitar; Sarah Bednarski, singing; Counsler Michael Howe, music;

The Math Department, classroom skit; Dr. Arthur Tarvard-

ian and staff, surprise skit; English Teacher Quitin Nadig, singing/guitar; The Music Department, jazz number; Security Guard Nancy Nelson, singing; and English Teacher Patrick Levins, mind blowing surprise.

*tafths.org

Taba nervous about preforming in the teacher talent show.

Photo by Newman

2 NEWS CONTINUED APRIL 13, 2011

Taft students perform spring musicalBy, Manar Mahmud

In April, the musical Once Upon a Mattress made its way through Taft’s auditorium. Filled

with the school’s very own actors and musicians, the production came under the direction of Drama Teacher William Skar.

Once Upon a Mattress, the modernized musical version of The Princess and the Pea, was written by Mary Rogers and Mar-shall Barber; the book was written by Jay Thomp-son and Dean Fuller.

The play is a fairy tale about a princess named Winnifred, played by Emily Villarreal (Div. 147), who has to prove herself as a real princess in order to marry Prince Dauntless, played by Patrick Lebron (Div. 247), by facing a challenge that Queen Aggravain, played by Crystal

Roman (Div. 111), set up for her. The challenge is to stay awake on top of twenty mattresses with one pea under-neath them, since only a true princess can be as sensitive as that.*

Opening night was held on the

evening of March 30 and it ran for four days until closing night on April 2. Before opening, the cast and crew had the privilege of showcasing their production to neighborhood grammar school children, who were invited to watch their performance during the school day. Before closing, the show featured a special matinee performance in the afternoon with the show closing later that night.

Audrey Sansona (Div. 221), who volunteered as the curtain puller for the musical said, “I usually come to the plays if I hear they’re really good. [This musical] was, and it was also funny and childish in a good way. I just love fairy tales!”

Putting on the production was Skar’s foremost goal but in order to do that, the actors were to enhance their self-confidence and drama skills.

Christina McGrath (Div. 134), who played the Jester said, “It was the greatest experience you can have in high school. It allows you to make life-long friends, and you learn how to become a team player.”

The musical gave an opportunity for musicians to take part in it, as well as earn 20 service learning hours.

“It was the first time Taft had a student orchestra play for a musical, rather than renting the scenes or other

members to play for us, said Jose Mata (Div. 233), who played the euphonium.

The Orchestra Pit was conducted by Band Teacher Kevin Harriman, who helped set up the background of the songs to create originality.

Danielle Cantrell (Div. 242), one of the musicians, said, “I’ve seen so many versions of this play as a kid, and this version is the best I’ve seen yet. Patrick, I thought, was the best. He put so much enthusi-asm into his character, and I’ve seen him practice a lot.”

“Anyone can audition for the plays. I cast people who have never been in the

drama class before,” said Skar. “This

play was a wake-up call to the school that the theater program is a force to be reckoned. The actors went beyond expectations. Whenever I added a new rehearsal, even during the weekends, their answer was always yes, and the performance turned out to be solid.”

Skar will direct two upcoming plays next year in the fall and spring season. Anyone interested in participating in the musicals should see him for more information.

*kidsgen.com**Once Upon a Mattress Brochure

Photos by Manar Mahmud, Emmanuel Flores, and Irina Juca

The cast of Once Upon a Mattress singing the fi nal number in the show.

APRIL 13, 2011 NEWS CONTINUED 3Students get “Close Up” with democracy

By Emmanuel Flores

In March, Taft juniors Jennifer Abilmona (Div. 212), Hannah

Gallo (Div. 225), Joel Figueroa (Div. 212), Iliani Cartagena (Div. 248), Camille Mullins-Lemieux (Div. 212), Jessica Hosch (Div. 212), Cynthia Tobias (Div. 212), Andriy Sabetskyy (Div. 248), Damien Gadek-Enriquez (Div. 227), and Diana Bandera (Div. 212) partici-pated in the annual Close-Up program, an educational course that emphasizes the importance of youth involve-ment in the political process as well as contributing citizens in society, in the Nation’s Capital.

Founded in 1976*, Close-Up’s main goal is to “[educate] and [inspire] young people to become informed and en-gaged citizens”**.

“We [met] a lot of other students from various places across the country,” said Gadek-Enriquez. “Close-Up is basically a way to make learning about the government fun by letting partici-pants interact with others their own age. Not only is it unique in the way it teaches, but also in the way it’s so busy and

interesting.”The program is aimed to attract

college-bound students to aid them in learning their place and duty as a citizen in their society and local community where they live. It allows students to interact with Senators of Congress, some of which are Close-Up alumni and donors,** and to discuss their own opinions about what they feel are the most relevant issues that the country faces today.

“We met Senator Mark Kirk from Illi-

nois,” said Bandera. “The issue that I discussed with the Senator is one that is close to my heart: immigration. It’s great to know that we have a voice in Congress, but we need to make it heard by learning our duties as citizens.”

Students were also led across the Nation’s Capital to some of the most infamous monuments and locations. Along with guides and presentations, the students who participated in the program also discovered some of the history behind the Nation’s success.

The program runs throughout the year, with the opportunity for teachers to schedule a visit anytime by

going to the Close-Up pro-gram’s website at closeup.org.

“It’s a great experience and opportunity,” said Bandera. “The schedule is jam-packed with almost no time to relax because there are so many places to see and learn. I definitely encourage prospective junior to take advantage of such an enriching opportunity. It’s a different way to learn and it’s fun.”

For more information about Close-Up or to learn more about the program itself, go to closeup.org or talk to Sponsor and History Teacher Rachael Nicholas.

Close-Up students visit the World War II memorial.

Will the glass slipper fit you?By Manar Mahmud

Elegant dresses and beautiful accessories are what every girl attending prom wants to have for prom,* and this year’s Glass Slipper Project is

offering that opportunity to any junior or senior girl in the Chicago district for free.

The Glass Slipper project, an organization that provides free prom dresses as well as other necessities available to make the perfect prom dress, will be held on April 16 at Mc-Corkle School, which is located on 4421 South State St.

To be granted admission, students must bring their school ID or a letter from their principal to prove that they’re part of the upperclassman attending prom. Students must also be present to shop for their dress. Proof of financial

need is not necessary. Dresses will only be offered to the

first 500 girls arriving at each boutique.** The event opens at 10 a.m. and con-cludes at 4 p.m.

Girls attending the Glass Slipper Project, in other words known as the ‘Cinderellas’ to many donators,*** wake up to the extent of 4 a.m. to grasp the first pick at the dresses.

Armina Macaalay (Div.163) said, “I know someone who has been saving money since freshman year for a prom dress. This project will be a great opportunity to allow a girl’s dream to have a perfect prom dress come true.”

Dresses are in perfect condition; new, or gently used. Girls choose from a roomful of dresses, and try them on until they find the perfect dress. As prom has become the American tradition,***** the upperclassman now have an opportu-

nity to celebrate prom by choosing their own, free prom dress.

The event will be held by the registered student organization from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Cham-paign, local students, and community members.****

Service Learning Chairman Cynthia Sleko said, “If students are able to volunteer they can earn up to 15 service learning hours.”

Volunteers will help manage the event in each boutique, setting up refreshments and organizing dresses for the girls, though students are advised to bring snacks and food while they wait.

*promdress.net**theperfectpromproject.com*** yelp.com**** kentlaw.edu ***** glassslipporprojectchicago.

com

Math Teachers Theone Haralam-popoulos and Jennifer Ballema are the sponsors for Junior Achievement.

“I taught third graders about ‘Our City’ project,” said Emily Villarreal, Div. 147. “The project consisted of teaching the children about the different zones of our city. The little children were so adorable and very polite.”

New students who are interested in participating in Junior Achieve-ment have the opportunity to apply to be selected for the program. This upcoming May, prospective Junior Achievers will be chosen by Haralampopoulos for the upcoming events.

Both Villarreal and Fitzmau-rice both agreed that “the hugs [from the children] at the end of the day made the whole experi-ence worthwhile.”

For more information, students can go to myja.org or ja.org to see what they can do to help the Junior Achievement cause.

*myja.org**ja.org

4 NEWS CONTINUED APRIL 13, 2011

Arguing like champs!By Nathan Marroquin

On March 25 and 26, Taft participated in the Allstate CPS Debate Championship, held at the DePaul University campus, located in

Downtown Chicago. The championship invited every

team in each division, who had “broken” in previous tournaments. Breaking is when a single debate team makes it into either the octo-finals or quarter-finals. A school can also bring in one team, from either the Novice or Varsity class, who did not qualify for one of the finals.

All four divisions in the Chicago Debate League (CDL) , A, AA, LCC, and RCC (from beginners to most advanced), debated in the tournament. The division of a school is dependent on the overall performance of the school’s debate teams. Taft’s debate team is in the LCC division, which is the second most difficult division.

The Taft students who competed in the Championship were Takahana Miller (Div. 613), Courtney Madl (Div.

612), Jade Ivy (Div. 114), Kirsten Ivy (Div. 114), Aleeza Avila (Div. 510), Nathan Marroquin (Div. 211), Elizabeth Scray (Div. 112) and Raymond Hutchin-son Div. 349.

History Teachers and Debate Coaches Scott Plencner and Rachael Nicholas coached the entire team throughout the tournament, as well as the year.

“Every team did great this tourna-ment. Not only did our teams go against

our own division (LCC), but they also went against the elite division, RCC,” said Plencner.

“Competing against other divisions was very interesting; they all had different strengths and weaknesses. It was a great learning experience to debate most of the teams in the CDL, rather than only our division,” said Hutchison.

The Championship lasted two days, with 4 debates taking place on the March 25, and the last debate on March 26. After the last debate, the teams who advanced to the next round, the octo-finals, were announced. J. and K. Ivy advanced and competed against Whitney Young, negating in the round. Negating is attacking the opposing team’s plan on how to fix a certain problem, or resolution.

After a well argued round, the three debate judges decided Whitney Young to be the victor.

“It was a really good round. Both teams debated as best as we could and it showed in the round,” said K. Ivy.

Taft helps community through junior achievementBy Emmanuel Flores

Taft’s Junior Achieve-ment (J.A.), also the “world’s largest non-profit organization,”* discussed financial and occupation-al awareness with youth

during their annual presentation on Feb. 25.

Since 1919, Junior Achievement has brought the importance of work preparedness, financial literacy, and entrepreneurship to class-rooms in grades K-12.

“The most rewarding part of the experience,” said volunteer Jelena Mitrovic, (Div. 147) “was knowing that the students were actually understanding the information we were providing them with. At the end of the day, they thanked us with smiles and hugs and I felt like I made a big difference.”

Participants of Junior Achievement had the opportu-nity of discussing financial and occupational topics with stu-dents from Sauganash and

Bridge Elementary School. By providing such information, students learned a few skills in how to prepare for the future.

“It was definitely an eye opener for a career in elementary education,” said Bailey Fitzmaurice, Div. 147, another volunteer from the program. “Sauga-nash Elementary was a remarkable school as were the students.”

Logo provided by Debate Team

Sketch by Victoria McDonaugh

By Christine Trajano

Only the best of the best stand out when it comes to spotlights, flashy costumes, AP books, and

extra-curricular activities. Taft’s very own, Sophia Coyne-Kosnak (Div. 211) is the person that comes to mind when striving for success.

Coyne-Kosnak started dancing at the age of two and is currently part of a dance group called DeMaira Dancers. She has participated in numerous dance recit-als and competitions.

Inspired by her mother, Coyne-Kos-nak grew passionate for dancing.

“For me, dance means being able to use your own body as the artist’s tool and the stage as the blank canvas. You only have yourself to rely on and your emo-tions and abilities to showcase,” said Coyne-Kosnak.

She was taught by her dance teacher, Linda Capone and her mother, Colleen Coyne-Kosnak at DeMaira Dance Studio. She has learned and focused on all styles of dance including ballet, lyrical, Pointe, jazz, tap, modern, and hip-hop.

Coyne-Kosnak said, “My favorite type of dance is lyrical, because the movement is so versatile and I can lose myself in the movement. It’s like reading a good book and becoming someone else.”

Coyne-Kosnak practices every day except Sun. from 5-8 p.m. In Feb. 2009, her and a group of dance members participated in a lyrical dance competi-tion where they took gold and were the

high score winners. “I love dancing because it gives me

the opportunity to not only show my creativity to others, but to express myself through dance. Dancing is more like a unique form of art and it’s more than an activity to me; it helps me release my

stress, and I wouldn’t have my sense of self if I stopped dancing,” said Coyne-Kosnak.

Though dancing takes a lot of discipline and strength, Coyne-Kosnak works even harder to become a more

excellent dancer and balance her educa-tion.

Academically, Coyne-Kosnak is an honors/AP student, maintaining a 4.8 GPA. Along with academics, she has been on Taft’s Cheerleading squad for the past two years. She is also involved in clubs

and extra-curricular activities such as the National Honors Society and the Principal Student Advisory Committee (PSAC).

English Teacher Carla David-son said, “Sophia is one of the most outstanding students I have ever had the pleasure to teach.”

Occasionally on the weekends, Coyne-Kosnak stays home, relaxes, and is loaded with tons of home-work. Her goal for this school year is to study well for the upcoming ACT and PSAE exams.

“After dance practice, I try to get all of my homework done. Unlike others, I don’t procrastinate. I’m the type of person that makes sure all my homework is done, no matter how late it is at night,” said Coyne-Kosnak.

She would love to become a dance teacher after high school, since she previously taught others. In addition to her career path, she

plans to be a political analyst since her interest falls under government and politics.

“Life is not a dress rehearsal. You have one shot, so make it count,” said Coyne-Kosnak.

“See that girl, watch that scene, digging the dancing queen!”

Photo provided by Coyne-Kosnak

Coyne-Kosnak dancing at one of her many performances.

Student of the MonthEnglish Department- Todd Wilson, Div. 430

Mathematic Department- Georgiana Moise, Div. 144

Physical Education- Ashley Salbeck, Div. 134

Social Studies- Kelly Ross, Div. 410

Art Department- Paul Masnica, Div. 211

World Language- Ellen Mateling, Div. 243

Performing Arts- Crystal Roman, Div. 111

Science Department- Paul Hansel, Div. 334 News Editor

Lilly AthamanahFeatures Editor

Maggie ZiemannEditorial Editor

Elizabeth GalloEntertainment Editor

Hannah GalloSports Editor

Emily SchmalbachCopy EditorMegan Glowacz

STAFF BOX Advisor Patrick T. Levins

6 FEATURES CONTINUED APRIL 13, 2011

By Christine Trajano

At Taft, our teachers work diligently to gratify our learning abilities and develop our character.

Although teachers may not know what we [students] go through every day, they are the essential mentors that hearten us to have a flourishing, successful future. These students would like their favorite teachers to know how much they appreciate them!

Yolanda Irineo (Div. 345) said, “[Science Teacher] Brenda McGeever is my favorite teacher because she’s so unpredictable! She talks about anything and everything. One of my favorite memories in her class was when she told our class she got a pair of Nine West boots at Bloomingdale’s for only $4. I learn well in her class.”

“[Physics Teacher] Jessica Lane is my favorite teacher because she is one of the funniest teachers at Taft. She can make a joke and keep a straight face. Lane can talk a lot, but when it comes down to

teaching, she makes sure her students stay on point. She also gives students that one-on-one help,” said Mathew Guerrero, Div. 227.

“[Avid Teacher] Anil Menon is such an amazing teacher. He’s very funny, helpful, and motivates his students to become better learners. He constantly reminds you to do well so you can make it to a four-year university. Menon can make the hardest subjects be a piece of cake and he will be there for you if you need anything,” said Irina Juca, Div. 247.

Jonathon Doss (Div. 163) said, “I have a couple of favorite teachers, but [Computer Teacher] Robert Simonsis is probably the best one. He’s always in a good mood which affects the whole class. Also, he plays funny music in class and gives us some good life-learning lessons. I’m always looking forward to going to that class every day.”

“My favorite teacher is [Anatomy Teacher] Preet Singh. He brought new challenges for me to do that I hadn’t come across in my last three years of high school. He showed me what college is really like and how difficult the courses are. He also believes that we can do and accomplish anything we want. He pushes us hard because he truly wants the best for us. He has made anatomy fun and we learn something new each day. He really is a great teacher,” said Michelle Salazar, Div. 147.

Gerardo Bucio (Div. 211) said, “[Physics Teacher] Vishal Mody is my

favorite teacher because his teaching skills are exquisite. He can be sarcastic and he engages his students to partici-pate in his class. There is never a day where he fails to makes us laugh.”

Joseph Niz (Div. 424) said, “[Choir Teacher] Sarah Bednarski is my favorite teacher because she makes choir class really fun. She has an optimistic mindset and helps us with our work. She also teaches us how to sing whether we are horrible, yet she still tries her hardest.”

“My favorite teacher is [Spanish Teacher] Leslie Williams because she is a great, energetic, and wonderful teacher. She makes learning about Spanish and the culture interesting and unique. She’s always in a good mood and I learn a lot in her class; we get a lot of work done,” said David Koza, Div. 329.

There’s always one teacher who will be remembered. Who will yours be?

Spotlight on spectacular teachers!

Salazar

Juca

Bucio

Doss

Niz

By Lisa Nitti

Everyone has been counting down the days since winter break, waiting for the next break

to come up. Spring Break is known to many as a week of no classes, no tests, and a break from school. Whether you’re traveling to a new destination or staying home to relax, Taft students and teachers are all counting down the days until April 16.

Spring Break provides a great opportunity for students and teachers to go on vacation and travel or stay home with family and friends.

Graphic Design Teacher, Robert Olszewski said, “I’ll be in Boston in the beginning of [Spring Break]. I haven’t participated in the Boston Marathon in ten years, but have qualified many times over the past twenty years. It’s a great race!”

Kasia Zapotoczna (Div. 210) said, “I might be going to Mexico with my aunt. It’ll be my first time going. If that

doesn’t work out I’ll probably be spend-ing my days hanging out with friends.”

Psychology Student Teacher, Jake Carmen said, “I might be going to Venice Beach, California. It’s my second year in a row going and it’s one of my favorite places to visit.”

Janet Ghanayem (Div. 210) said, “I’ve wanted to go on vacation, and since I got good grades this year my parents are sending me to Miami with a friend. I’ve been waiting for this moment forever since I like to travel, I’m so excited.”

Marco Meneses (Div. 337) said, “I’m probably going to go to Mexico. I get to go every time we get enough money to fly. I am looking forward to the hot weather and going to the beach.”

While some are looking forward to going on vacation, others are planning on staying in Chicago and taking advan-tage of the break to do as they like.

Halyna Rogach (Div. 247) said, “I am staying in Chicago and I’ll just be going out with friends. I’m very much looking forward to it.”

Adam Wonholz (Div. 328) said, “For Spring Break I’m going to be staying in Chicago. I’m looking forward to [Spring Break] because I’ve been working harder in school trying to improve my grade so it’ll be a nice break.”

Some find Spring Break as a great opportunity to give back and help the community. From volunteering at a library or helping out at a senior center, Spring Break is a great time to catch up on your service learning hours while still assisting others.

“Over Spring Break I am going to go to the nursing home with my friends. We went last year, had so much fun and plan to go again this year,” said Esma Susuz, Div. 228. “When we went last year we played games such as bingo with the senior citizens. We also gave them their food and asked what they wanted for lunch and got it for them.”

So whether you’re staying home to relax or going out for an adventure, Spring Break is coming up soon to provide you with a chance to do what you yearn for.

Taft’s take on Spring Break!

By Lisa Nitti

With spring coming up, Easter soon follows; the time of year when Catholics gather with family and

friends to celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

On the third day after Good Friday (also known as Easter Sunday), Jesus Christ rose from the dead and is honored by people on this holy holiday.* Many cel-ebrate this holiday by attending the Holy Mass on Easter Sunday. The many Easter symbols such as bunnies, eggs, and chocolate often distract the true meaning and religious aspect of the holiday.

Victoria Zalizna (Div. 227) said, “For Easter we get a nice basket with painted eggs and go to church and get the basket blessed. The following day we have a big feast with the food we had in the basket and we leave some overnight so that the spirits of our dead relatives can come and have some food as well.”

Easter symbols have an importance

of their own. For example, eggs and baby chicks symbolize new life and re-birth. The famous Easter bunny reminds us of spring and fertility. There is also the lamb, which represents Jesus, “the Lamb of God.”* Easter is known for its well-known traditions such as

painting Easter eggs, playing egg hunts, and eating a big feast with the family.

“On Easter day, my family and I go to church and dress up all nice. After the

service we go to my grandparent’s house and they prepare a big meal with my aunt for all of us. Then my aunt gives out candy and chocolates and hides them in eggs throughout the house for my little sisters to collect,” said Kendra Del Toro, Div. 247. “It’s always fun since we’re all together.

Overall, we celebrate Christ’s resurrection and it’s a tradition that we have done since I was a baby.”

“Easter is the holiest day of the year for my family and I. On Holy Saturday, I go to church for mass and bring in a decorated basket with some traditional foods to be blessed,” said Anna Nowak, Div. 230. “Some traditional foods include eggs, butter lamb, sausage, salt horserad-ish, bread, and cake. On Easter Sunday, I go to church again and then have a big dinner with my family. My mom and I decorate a lot of eggs for Easter as well.”

So put on your nice clothes and get ready to

celebrate this holy holiday with your family and friends!

*theholidayspot.com

Spring into Easter!

7APRIL 13 , 2011 FEATURES CONTINUED

Sketched by Lisa Nitti

FEATURES CONTINUED APRIL 13, 2011 8

By Lisa Nitti

Walking through the courtyard you can’t help but notice how great it looks. You can thank the Ecology Club for that!

Ecology Club members are commit-ted to making a difference and protect-ing Taft’s environment while receiving service learning hours for their volunteer work. This club has been going strong for six years and when it first began, the courtyard was a mess! They’ve had a winter hiatus, but will be starting up again soon.

In the past, the Ecology Club has developed and renovated the courtyard, planted trees around the campus, and ensured good quality water in the Chicago River. Future projects include the May 14 river clean up, and preparing the courtyard by cleaning and painting benches, raking leaves, and getting the pond clean. In the past, there has been a good turnout with 60 Taft students helping clean the river.

The Ecology Club Sponsor, Michael Mulligan said, “We try to promote more green activities. A goal of ours is to promote the courtyard as a learning

environment. We are hoping to use the courtyard year round so students and teachers can take advantage of it.”

Ecology Club member Elizabeth Molek (Div. 211) said, “In the fall, a tree got cut down so we cleaned up. Also, we took fish out of the pond and put them in a classroom. When [Ecology Club] starts again, we are placing the fish back in the pond, cleaning the courtyard, and planting flowers.”

The Ecology Club also started a recycling program back in Jan. 2007. The recycling program has assigned groups of students to recycle on different days according to their lunch period.

Mulligan said, “We believe we are making an impact by recycling everyday. This is the second year in a row we’ve received awards for our volume of recycling.”

Recycling Team President, Victoria Zalizna (Div. 227) said, “We help above and beyond. I feel very satisfied with helping our school.”

Molek said, “I feel like I’m making a

difference. We should conserve our environment because if we don’t, the atmosphere won’t be as beautiful as it should be.”

So if you’re in need of a volunteer opportunity and want to help out the environment, join the Ecology Club!

Mulligan said, “People can always join and we will start again in the spring. It’s very important for us to understand and respect our environment.”

With Earth Day coming up on April 22, it’s never too late to help out! Look out for an announcement on one of the upcoming Thursdays for the meetings to start again.

Going green + recycling = Ecology Club!

By Klaudia Dobosz

We all love our planet, so why not make it a better place? Earth Day is a day dedicated

to helping save our planet.

Earth Day is celebrated world-wide on April 22. Its purpose is to bring environmental awareness to people around the world. The idea of Earth Day evolved from Gaylord Nelson, a past U.S. Senator of Wiscon-sin. Inspired by the student anti-war movement*, he realized if he could bring public awareness about air and water pollution, it would help to force the government to somehow try to save the environment. As a result, on Apr. 22, 1970, 20 million Americans participated in rallies all over the country. That day led to the formation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the passage of the Clean Air, Clean Water, and Endangered Species Act. Now, 191 countries take their part in celebrating Earth Day.**

“With all of the natural disasters, it’s

important to understand and respect our environment. Earth Day is a perfect day to reflect on all of the issues that are going on with it,” said Science Teacher, Michael Mulligan.

One of the ways to spend this day is by learning more about the environ-ment and how you can help to protect it. There are issues such as pollution, endangered species, water shortages, recycling, and climate change. Think

about issues that concern you the most, and if you haven’t done so already, join a local group that undertakes activities to help protect the environment in your area.***

When you go shopping, avoid items that come with lots of packag-ing. As well, bring your own bag that is made out of cloth or use recyclable bags. At home, recycle as much as you can, instead of disposable plates and cups use the one that you can re-use. Don’t forget to turn off the light when you leave a room. Furthermore, support Earth Day by wearing clothes in environmental colors, such as brown and green.***

“When you see some trash laying on the floor, just pick it up and throw it out. It’s as simple as that! Or even better don’t throw it on the floor,” said Seham Hussein, Div. 242.

* Thousands of young students in 1965 trying to escape Vietnam draft by protesting and escaping to different countries.

**earthday.org***go-green.ae

Reduce, reuse, recycle

Photo provided by Yearbook

Sketch by Kendra Deltoro (Div. 247)

APRIL 13, 2011 FEATURES CONTINUED 9

By Klaudia Dobosz

Do you want to be heard and make your opinion count? That is the purpose

of Arthur Tarvardian’s Principal Student Advisory Committee (PSAC).

This year, PSAC has eighteen members consisting of freshmen, sophomores, and juniors. To become a PSAC member, these students had to apply and were selected by the Head of the Coun-seling Office, Phyllis Ehret and Tarvardian. The two requirements that students had to meet were: no discipline problems and good attendance. One benefit of PSAC is that it looks great on your college application.

“I like having my opinion acknowl-edged, which is why I applied for the committee, and thankfully the adminis-tration accepted my application,” said

Coyne-Kosnak. Members are to advise the principal

on how to solve problems within Taft. Ehret said, “Some of the questions

PSAC members are asked include: what

are their concerns? What do they see around school? What are some issues that bother them about the school? How are they planning to improve Taft High School?”

Coyne-Kosnak said, “We discuss different problems that are apparent

within Taft. Right now we are focusing on attracting new students to Taft and promoting the school’s image as a whole to aspiring high school students. This includes organizing the high school

investigation day.”The investigation day

is a day when eighth graders come to Taft to see a preview of what daily life in high school is like. This year, PSAC is planning on showing incoming Taft students around the school and allowing them to sit in on classes to experience daily high school life.

“In order to promote our school we are trying to coordinate with as many of Taft’s feeder schools as possible to talk with elementary school students about going to Taft,” said Coyne-Kosnak.

Club meetings take place once a week on Weds. If anyone has issues about Taft that they would like to address, they should talk to one of the eighteen representatives of PSAC who will bring up the issue in the next meeting.

*cps.edu

Students join forces with principal to help school

Student discuss issues with Dr. Tarvardian and Ehret.

Photo by Klaudia Dobosz

By Klaudia Dobosz

Are you up for trying something new? Bring your friends and come join Taft’s newly

formed Hacky Sack Club. Hacky Sack is a sport that can be

played individually or with a group of people by kicking a sack bag with your feet or any other part of body except for the hands or arms.*

This club was started by Tomasz Zoladz (Div. 230) and is sponsored by English Teacher Natasha Dragoi.

Zoladz said, “One day while playing hack sack with my friends during lunch, I randomly just thought of starting a club. Since everyone thought it would be awesome, I found out how to start a club, then found a sponsor, and made it happen.”

The point of the club is to play hacky sack with a bunch of friends and have fun while meeting new people.

“Just come and see who else is

doing it,” said Dragoi.Hacky sack is a good exercise. In

1972 this game was invented in the U.S. by John Stalberger and Mike Marshall. It was just a fun way for Stalberger to exercise his knee after his knee surgery. After that, they decided to promote their new game under the trademark of “Hacky Sack”. **

“I like [hacky sack] because it increases your reflexes and leg-eye coordination. As well, it is a sport that you can always get better at,” said James Arnold, Div . 229.

The club’s first meeting took place on Mar. 15 in room 236, and meets every Tue. and Thur. at 2:45p.m. to 3:15p.m. Anyone can bring their own sack, but it is not required.

“I highly encourage people to try it out. Even people who have never played hacky sack should try, it is a lot of fun! Also, meeting new people is always a positive thing,” said Zoladz

*wikihow.com

**collegesportsscholarships.com

Hacky sack lovers, unite!Taken by Klaudia Dobosz

Zoladz shows off his hacky sack skills

more likely to smoke more than one cigarette a day while people who smoke marijuana usually don’t chain smoke. In turn, cigarette smokers inhale much more smoke than pot smokers do. There has never been a reported case of lung cancer that was caused solely by the use of marijuana. A large study presented to the American Thoracic Society in 2006 proved that even heavy users of marijuana did not have a higher risk of lung cancer. *****

Probably one of the most popular myths that the media and government push upon Americans is that marijuana is a gateway drug. It does not cause people to use hard drugs. The gateway theory is based on the statistics of common and uncommon drugs. Marijuana is the most popular illegal drug. Therefore, people who have used uncommon drugs such as cocaine and heroin are likely to have also used marijuana in the past. However, most marijuana users never try any other drugs. *****

Most teens know people who smoke weed, but how many of those people do coke or meth? People smoke for social reasons. A lot of people smoke marijuana, making it a popular activity for social gatherings. It’s not very common for a group of high schoolers to shoot up heroin together. People know their boundar-ies-they aren’t going to start using hard narcotics just because they’ve smoked weed.

It’s unfair for the government to regulate what Americans can and cannot buy. If we want to buy or smoke something, we should be able to. America is said to be a “free country,” and choosing to smoke marijuana doesn’t directly affect the government. If all of these so called “consequences” that the media drills into our heads are true, then we’re only hurting ourselves, not them.

*alternet.org**usgovinfo.about.com***altmed.creighton.edu****medicalmarijuana.procon.

org*****drugpolicy.org

By Kayla Newman Annually, one billion dollars of tax payer’s money goes towards imprisoning marijuana users and sellers.* It doesn’t stop there;

everyone who is arrested for marijuana related offenses aren’t always sent to jail. People who are arrested, but not imprisoned, for violating laws regard-ing marijuana costs American tax payers an additional eight billion dollars for legal fees.*

Why are we wasting our money on these people? The problem could be solved with one simple solution: legalizing marijuana. Not only would tax payers save their money, but the government could also tax marijuana and make a profit on it. They could treat the sale of mari-juana like the sale of a pack of ciga-rettes. It could potentially create a great deal of revenue for the govern-ment. Instead of wasting money, we could be making it.

One out of every eight U.S. Drug prisoners is serving time for a pot related offense. That is a lot of people taking up a lot of unecessary space. In 2001, state prisons were operating up to 16% above capacity and federal prisons were 30% capacity. **Over capacity wouldn’t be a problem if they weren’t imprisoning ten thousand and thirty five thousand “criminals” for something that, isn’t that bad. If you think pot is “bad,” then why does it have a medicinal use? People who suffer from eating disorders are often offered medicinal cannabis to help them with their appetite. Cancer patients are also occasionally given the option of being prescribed medicinal marijuana to help them cope with nausea due to chemotherapy. ***

“My mother was offered medicinal marijuana for her nausea,” said Science Teacher William McDade.

Although McDade’s mother didn’t take the offer, about 270,000 people in the United States do end up accepting the prescription.****

There are a lot of myths that come

to mind when marijuana is men-tioned. One very popular myth associated with smoking weed is that it is highly addictive. This is a false statement. Less than one percent of Americans who smoke, smoke on a daily basis. An even smaller percent-age develops a dependency on the drug. In fact, frequent and heavy smokers can actually stop smoking without any difficulty. *****

If it’s so “addictive,” then why aren’t there aids to help people quit? There are gums and patches to help people quit smoking cigarettes. If addiction to marijuana was such a problem, one would think that there would be products to assist people in quitting. If there was money to be made selling these products, surely someone would be doing it.

Another common myth tied to the use of marijuana is that it is extremely damaging to your lungs. However, that isn’t true. This is due to the fact that people who smoke mari-juana typically smoke less of the substance than people who smoke cigarettes or other tobacco products. People who smoke cigarettes are

Graphic by Emily Schmalbach

Should marijuana be legalized?Yes

EDITORIALS CONTINUED APRIL 13, 20011 11

No to marijuana By Rana YurtseverMany people blame

the government for the war on marijuana because the govern-ment refuses to legalize the drug. However the war on drugs isn’t as shortsighted as propo-

nents of legalization would like to think. Legalizing marijuana will not solve all of our drug war problems and it certainly will not make our country a better place to live.

It’s often stated by the advocates of marijuana that if the use of marijuana is legalized, our economy would flourish because the government would be able to tax it. Although this may sound right at first glance, it is not. When one observes the revenue and the actual costs of legal drugs like alcohol, one can tell why this statement is not accurate at all!

Alcohol-related costs add up to over $185 billion, while federal and state governments col-lected an estimated $14.5 billion in tax revenue.* These numbers show that the costs of legal alcohol are more than 12 times the total tax revenue collected. This is an economically disastrous trade-off!

If marijuana was legalized, the only way to eliminate its illegal trade would be to sell marijuana untaxed and unregulated to any willing buyer. Hopefully, you are not uneducated enough to know that this is not possible in today’s society.

Even if marijuana was made legal to buy and sell, those who are underage

would still not be able to purchase it. Therefore, young people would become (or remain) the main targets of ille-gal drug pushers because 63 % of first-time marijuana users are under 18 years of age.****

56.25 % of Taft students think marijuana should be legalized. Is it really worth the time, money, and effort to make an abused drug, that has no possible benefits, a legal drug? It may not be as harmful as cigarettes or alcohol to your health, but standards should not be set on a level of harmful-

ness; they should be set on a level of helpfulness.

There are many side effects to using marijuana like: irritability when unable to obtain weed, anxiety or cravings for marijuana, problems with school or work functioning, loss of interest in former friends or close family members, and making poor decisions while impaired such as the decision to drive while high.**

The consequences associated with driving under the influence of drugs are

similar to those associated with driving while being alcohol impaired. It will cost large amounts of money (about $8,000-$10,000) as well as time, embarrassment, possible injury, and even death. Besides, it affects not just the impaired driver, but the people in the car, and other drivers, as well.

“Marijuana should not be legalized due [to] its damages to people’s health. It kills brain cells. Although they grow back after a while, they will start to deteriorate,” said Stephanie Swiech, Div. 232.

Although marijuana is not physically addictive, it is psychologically addictive. Many users rely on marijuana to feel

relaxed or refreshed. They believe they need the drug to fit in socially, or to cope with life. Psychologi-cal addiction is very powerful and sometimes more difficult to overcome than physical addiction.**

The damage to your health only concerns you, but if usage has come to a point where it will affect your surround-ings, it has to stop!

“It all comes down to the same

question: ‘Why would you waste your money on unnecessary things like drugs, rather than having fun without being dependent on something?” said Tomasz Lugowski, Div. 410.

If you are not socially challenged and don’t have to depend on marijuana to cope with life, then stop trying to pro-mote its legalization and get a life!

*cnbc.com**marijuanadrugtreatment.com***marijuanatoday.com****cannabisnews.org

% of students who think marijuana should be legalized

It’s not too late to vote for teacher of the month. To vote email us at taft.today@yahoo.com or click the link at the bottom of the Taft Today

web page (tafths.org/newspaper).

By Fatime Rexhepi

Have you ever been on the road and noticed someone looking down into their lap when they should really be paying attention to their driving?

Texting while driving has become one of the most dangerous driving distractions in recent years.*

Texting while driving has been the cause of over 16,000 deaths in the United States since 2001.* With these high numbers, one would think that people would have stopped using their cell phones while driving, but the death and injury rates are still increasing.

World Language Teacher Daven Taba said, “Teens text because their phones are their lives. It’s irresponsible and dangerous to text while driving. I don’t text while driving because I can’t even drink and walk at the same time. How am I supposed to text and drive?”

According to distraction.gov, there are three main types of distractions: Visual: taking your eyes off the road; Manual: taking your hands off the wheel; and Cognitive: taking your mind off what you’re doing. ** Texting requires you to do all three of these distractions, making your chances of getting into an accident high. Taking your eyes off the road disables you from seeing where you’re going, taking your hands off the wheel means you don’t have control over your vehicle, and taking your mind off of driving takes away your ability to notice what you are currently doing.

“[Texting while driving] is horrible

OMG, I just hit the car in front of me! G2G!because people can get into accidents and hurt others. I must confess, I have texted while driving twice, but only because it was an emer-gency. I did pull over though. If it’s an emergency then I call the person, put them on speakerphone, and say ‘Talk to me’,” said Marco Jaquez, Div. 160.

A study done by the University of Utah has shown that using a cell phone while driving delays a driver’s reaction as much as having a blood alcohol concen-tration at the legal limit of .08%. ** Because of alarming studies such as this, 30 states in the U.S., including Illinois, have passed laws banning the use of cellular devices while driving. *** Even if you are waiting at a red light, it is still illegal to text or use your phone.

Texting is very popular among teenagers, and as a result teens are mostly involved in distracted driving accidents. *** It is so common, that every

time I drive I see some-one in their car either talking on the phone or texting. Many teens argue that they text while driving but it doesn’t affect their driving ability. Teenagers are not the best drivers because they only have a few years of

experience. If adults who have been driving half their lives can get into an accident because they were using their phone, then teens are even more likely to.

It is shocking to learn that many people text while driving. It isn’t fair for safe drivers to be caught in a crossroad with someone who isn’t paying attention. You could be a very good driver, but that doesn’t matter if you are surrounded by people who are busy texting.

You should never text while you are behind the wheel, but if it is absolutely necessary then pull over to the side of the street to do so. Another option would be to give your phone to a friend so they can read the text aloud to you and even text what you want to reply. The smartest and safest thing to do is to just wait until you are parked and no longer driving. The message is not going anywhere; it will still be there when you are safely out of the car.

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the deadliest day of the year for teens to be driving is May 20. This date falls during the prom and graduation season, making texting rates very high for teens. *** With this date looming in the near future, be sure to take extra precautions to avoid texting while driving.

It only takes a few seconds to read a text message, but it also only takes a few seconds to get into an accident. No text is important enough to risk putting your life on the line. So, take precaution and keep your phone safely in your pocket while you drive!

*mobilecrunch.com**distraction.gov***texting-while-driving.org

Sketch by Fatime Rexhepi

EDITORIALS CONTINUED APRIL 13, 201112

This spring break students might not get a breakBy Hannah GalloSpring Break Notes:

sleeping in late? Check. Movies for movie marathon? Check. Hanging out with friends? Check. ACT prep book? WHAT?!

This school year the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) scheduled the PSAE and ACT testing days for April 27-28. That doesn’t seem so bad, right? Wrong! These important testing days fall only two days after the end of spring break. It’s time to buckle down and study over break.

The Ameri-can College Test (ACT) is a standardized test that tests participants on four core subjects: math, science, English, and reading. The test is scored on a scale from 1-36. The ACT offers an optional writing portion, which Taft juniors will be taking. Also the ACT exam tests students on the skills they should have acquired throughout high school and gives colleges an accurate representation if students are prepared for college or not. *

The Prairie State Achievement Examination (PSAE) measures a student’s preparedness in reading, writing, mathematics, and social science. The PSAE is scored on a 120 to 200 point scale. Contrary to popular belief the PSAE does go on your transcript, and should be taken seriously. Illinois Law requires all juniors to participate in the PSAE exam.**

For the freshmen and sophomores, the extra two days off just after spring break may be a bonus, but these tests aren’t going anywhere and you’re next. Start studying now, and be prepared for next year.

The ACT/PSAE are the primary factors that determine Taft’s academic standing. Students not studying, not showing up, and not caring about these exams will result in ACT/PSAE scores dropping. It is essential that Taft juniors focus on getting good scores.

“It’s always a possibility [that Taft can go on probation], but beyond the school going on probation, each individual needs to focus on the ACT and WORK-KEYS. Do you want [the university] to

choose you, or do you want to choose the [university]? It is to the students’ best interests to score as high as they possibly can. Getting the best scores possible is the ultimate goal,” said Assistant Principal Mary Kay Cappitelli.

Taking the ACT/ PSAE days after spring break is also a problem because it is hard to get back into the school groove. Students’ brains are on break and remem-bering math formulas and grammar rules will be difficult after ten days of partying.

Cappitelli said, “If students want material [to study] they can ask their teachers for help. Review what you need to. You have your test scores, you know where you are deficient, so those are the things you should review.”

Sleep also plays an important role in

the ACT. The Princeton Review, Cracking the ACT 2011 Edition points out that it is vital that one is on a routine sleeping and waking schedule before the test.*** This means that one should go to sleep early and wake up early for at least a week before taking the exam. The sleep-wake schedule is essential for good physical and mental condition while taking the test.**** An extra hour of sleep only the night before the test will not help your score.

Studies have shown that during sleep the brain is working extra hard to control and master each memo-ry.***** Without the proper amount of sleep, many test taking strategies and exam prep work can be easily forgotten. Sleeping allows the brain to undergo a reconstruction process where memories are strengthened, tissues are repaired, and things learned on earlier days are restructured.****** Lack of concentra-tion is another result of lack of sleep******

“One Spring Break is not worth jeopardizing your ACT score. The ACT is a very significant part of the college

application process, and should not be

taken lightly. Remember it’s only one spring break, you will have one again senior year,” said Counselor Sonia Abrego.

If you continue to think the tests don’t matter, neither will a High School Diploma coming from a failing school. Try to study and not over do it. Don’t wait until the night before the ACT to open a book for the first time.

*www.actstudent.org**www.isbe.state.il.us***The Princeton Review, Cracking

the ACT 2011 Edition ****www.act.org*****www.newsweek.com******Thinking About Psychology,

The science of Mind and Behav- ior (Text Book)

Make sure you save time for studying this spring break.

EDITORIALS CONTINUED APRIL 13, 2011 13

Sketch by Erika Jose

Explore the windy cityBy Amani Abutaleb

Wondering where you should spend your spring this year? Down-town, Chicago offers a wide variety of places

to go that even tourists can enjoy.

Chicago’s “Loop” is the city’s downtown area. It is the second largest downtown business district in the United States. The Loop is known for its famous skyscrapers and historic build-ings; it has been the site of architectural creativity and experimentation for years.*

Buckingham Fountain is a wonderful place to go during the spring time. It is one of the world’s largest fountains, and it is located at Columbus Drive (301 East) and Con-gress Parkway (500 South) in Grant Park. Pack a picnic, and bring a friend for a nice lunch.

Razanne Aleid (Div. 124) said, “Buckingham Fountain is a unique attraction that both Chicagoans and tourists can enjoy.”

The fountain runs daily from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., typically from April to mid-October, depending on the weather. For 20 mins of every hour, the fountain produces a big water display, with the center jet shooting 150 feet

into the air. It then is accompanied by a major light and music display.

Millennium Park is also a great place to go during the spring. It is located on Michigan Avenue between Randolph and Monroe Streets; it is a 24- acre park.

It’s attractions include Jay Pritzker, Pavilion BP Bridge, Chase Promenade, Crown Fountain, Exelon Pavilions Harris Theater, Harris Theater, Kapoor Sculpture on SBC Plaza, Lurie Garden, McCormick Tribune Plaza.**

All of these places can be fun to visit when you take your friends and family along with you to spend time together watching a movie, have a picnic, or just

enjoy the view!Summer Darayyad (Div. 147)

said, “Millennium Park makes me happy and reminds me how proud I am to live in Chicago. There is the huge bean that is enjoyable and it’s very nice to have picnic with your family or friends around the park.”

“The Bean” is a public sculpture created by the British Artist Anish Kapoor. It weighs about 110 tons, and is 66 feet long and 33 feet high. It was created using many individual stainless steel plates. The sculpture has the appearance of a giant drop of liquid mercury, and the mirrored surface offers a reflection of the city’s skyline. ****

Another great place to go to is Navy Pier. It is located on 600 East

Grand Avenue. Navy Pier has been around for ten years now, and it is the

best place to enjoy Lake Michigan. There are indoor museums, boats,

cruises, rides, attractions, and many restaurants. It is a beautiful place to have fun with anyone. ***

Downtown Chicago is one of a kind and is the best place to learn more about your city. So take advantage of the spring time here in Chicago and head down-town.

* www.chicagotraveler.com** www.chicagotraveler.com*** maps.google.com **** gochicago.about.com

Photo from kakom777.webs.

Visit the Chicago Bean!

Don’t be a bum, go have fun!By Joey Figueroa

Everyone loves spring break; the flowers are blooming, the birds are chirping, and best of all, no school! But if you aren’t going out of town

for spring break, it can be hard to find fun and new things to do. However, there are many local places where you can go to a have a great, fun-filled spring break.

Since the spring weather will be much nicer than this dreary winter weather, go outside and enjoy it! The

perfect way to spend a nice, sunny day is miniature golfing. Chicago’s premier location for mini golfing and gaming is Novelty Golf & Games located on 3650 W. Devon Ave in Lincolnwood, Illinois. Novelty Golf & Games will be open in April for the 62nd straight year.

“I love mini golfing because I’m mini too!” said Shannon Molizon, Div. 212. “Novelty Golf & Games has always been my favorite place to go mini golfing, especially on a beautiful, spring day.”

If mini golfing isn’t your thing, Novelty Golf & Games also has a large

game room containing 25 classic arcade games, including air hockey. Batting cages are also available, as well as the Bunny Hutch where you can get quality food and refreshments.

Novelty Golf & Games is open from 11 a.m. until 10 p.m. every day, weather permitting. The cost of mini golf is $7.00 before noon, $8.00 from noon until 6 p.m., and $9.00 from 6 p.m. until closing. It costs $1.00 for 12 pitches at the batting cages and arcade game prices vary.*Article continued on pg. 16

Live up your spring break!By Klaudia Dobosz

Another spring break at home, that doesn’t sound like fun. But you can make it better with these few ideas.

If you enjoy watching movies, have a movie themed night. It’s an easy, cheap way to have fun! First, think of a theme. There is a large variety of genres to choose from such as scary movies, romantic movies, comedies, Disney classics, and more. Next, pick the movies you want to watch, so that you can rent or buy them in many rental places like Netflix and Red Box, or stores like Target and Best Buy.

Netflix is an online movie rental service that starts at $7.99 a month. Membership includes many movies that you can watch instantly online, and others that can get shipped to your house within three days. Also, Netflix has no late fees. If you are interested in trying Netflix, there is one month free trail offered on netflix.com. *

Red box is a machine where you can rent movies for only $1 a night and video games for $2 a night. They are

located by most Walgreens, Jewels and CVS stores. **

If you don’t want to rent a movie, see if any friends own any movies that you are interested in. Once you finally have the movies, invite your friends, make some food and have a blast!

Don’t forget that spring break is a great time to catch up with friends. If you enjoy playing video games, you can invite friends over and make a video game party. In addition, you can have a board game day where you and friends can play your favorite games such as Monopoly, Scrabble, The Game of Life, and many more.

Something fun to do over break is to organize a cooking session. Invite friends over and prepare your favorite meals. If you don’t know any recipes, the internet has a variety of them. Some of the delicious treats that you can prepare are brownies, chocolate chip cookies, fruity pies, cupcakes, and rice krispies treats.

“My idea of spring break is buying a

lot of pop and junk food and playing videogames all day long and watching movies with my friends at night,” said Alexander Von Ahnen, Div.147.

It is important to remember that spring break is not only a time to be lazy, but a time to be productive. There is nothing better than a morning jog to wake you up. Sleeping in late is great, but don’t oversleep your spring break because it only comes once a year!

*netflix.com**redbox.com

Artwork by Klaudia Dobosz

APRIL 13, 2011 ENTERTAINMENT CONTINUED 15

By Mela Moczybroda

Anyone who was born after 1990 is guaranteed to have heard of Britney Spears, the 29-year-old pop-star who is

famous for her music, performances, and personal issues. More often than not, people may know her for her crazy, dramatic, and exposed life. Now, she’s back to regain her title as the “Queen of Pop” with her newest album, Femme Fatale.

Spears’ two new singles have become huge hits. Her lead single, Hold It Against Me debuted number one in Canada, Belgium, Wallonia, Denmark, and New Zealand. It also charted in the top ten in countries such as Australia, Ireland, Italy, Sweden and the United Kingdom.* Her second single Til the World Ends premiered on March 4 on the Ryan Seacrest Show.

Many complain that her music style has changed since the start of her career in 1999, but it might just be the fact that the music industry has developed. If you think Spears trailed away from her original

style, Femme Fatale brings it back with a modernized sound that reminds fans of her bubbly, happy personality.

“I would definitely buy the CD because her music is great to dance to,” said Sophia Coyne-Kosnak, Div. 211.

The songs are very euro-pop and catchy just like her recent albums, Circus and Blackout. The songs have

the “Britney feel” to them, but with a hint of techno. She does a good job bringing back her earlier pop taste and incorporating it with modern club music.

Her lyrics are mildly sexual, which isn’t a surprise for a singer like Spears. They’re also very repetitive just like most club euro music.

The album responsible for embark-ing Spears’ career is Baby One More Time which was my favorite album as a child. She was pure bubblegum pop, inno-cent, and confident. Most of her popular singles such as Crazy and Some-times also came from that album.

Spears worked on her newest album from 2009 to 2011, along with

frequent collaborators, Max Martin and Dr.Luke. Femme Fatale is her seventh album. Although there are talks of a 2011 tour, no official dates have been announced. The album was released on March 29 and sells for $14.99 on iTunes. **

If you were a fan of her back in the day, this album will remind you of your child-hood, but with a matured twist.

*offuhuge.com**idolator.com

Oops… She does it again!

Buy Spears’ new album at most stores today!

Photo from laurendolce.com By Fatime Rexhepi

Ice cream is the perfect treat for any occasion, but it’s especially enjoyable when the weather is warm. With spring

here and warm days ahead, ice cream is the perfect dessert!

Ice cream has been around since 400 B.C., but it has not gotten old! It is one of the most popular desserts around the world.* There are millions of ice cream parlors, but you don’t have to travel far to get this delicious dessert.

Cold Stone Creamery, located at 7080 Mannheim Rd, Rosemont, IL, and is only 12 mins away from Taft. Cold Stone has about 16 regular flavors, but your order can be customized in over 11.5 million different ways!** They offer 20 Signature Creations that are absolutely delicious. The most popular item on the menu is their signature creation: Birthday Cake Remix. Prices range from $3.65-$4.39, depending on what size you get. Hours of service are Sun.-Thur. from noon-10p.m., and Fri.-Sat. from noon-11p.m. **

Natalie Kearns (Div. 161) said “Cold Stone takes ice cream and pushes it one step further. I love their Birthday Cake Remix because I love cake and the fact that I can eat ice cream that tastes like cake is heaven!”

Another great ice cream place is Oberweis Dairy, which is located at 101-103 S. Northwest Highway, Park

I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream!

Ridge, IL, and is only nine mins away from Taft. Their delicious ice cream is also made fresh everyday and is made in a strict fashion in order to provide the best quality for customers. There are about 25 different ice cream flavors, which change season-ally. Prices range from $0.99-$6.99. Oberweis also sells shakes, sundaes, and banana splits and the chocolate shake is the most popular item on the menu. They are open Sun.-Thur. from 10 a.m.-10 p.m. and Fri.-Sat. from 10 a.m.-11:00 p.m. ***

When I go to Oberweis, I love ordering their waffle cone. It is huge and I can hardly finish it, but it is really delicious. Although it is a generic flavor, I always order the plain chocolate ice cream. It is

smooth and creamy, and tastes amazing.

“I like Oberweis because it’s set up differ-ently than other ice cream places; it’s more modern. Their ice cream is delicious and the texture is different,” said Eneida Mendoza, Div. 142.

A great ice cream parlor to visit is Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream located at 5337 W. Devon Ave, making it only 10 mins. away from Taft. It is decorated each month with new themes, which change from Halloween to Fifties to Western and more! Choco-late Shoppe Ice Cream serves over 32 flavors of ice cream, making it an ice cream lover’s dream! Prices range from $2.83-$3.42

depending on the amount of scoops you get. Their most popular item on the menu is Zanzibar Chocolate, which earned 2nd place for best dark chocolate ice cream by the World Dairy Expo. Along with their ice cream, they sell customized cakes, soft-served yogurts, and smoothies.****

Check out these delicious ice cream places and you’re sure to keep going back. Ice cream is a great dessert, so treat yourself with a scoop…or two!

*wikipedia.org**coldstonecreamery.com***oberweisdairy.com****chocolateshoppeicecream.com

Try the banana split at Oberweis Dairy!

When spring arrives, so does baseball season! And a great way to spend a day during spring break is at the ballpark. Even if baseball isn’t your favorite sport, the atmosphere at a baseball game can give anyone chills. There are no better sounds than the crack of a baseball bat and the cheering of the crowd.

“The best thing about spring is the new baseball season,” said Adam Rozanek, Div. 212, “and baseball is always better when you watch it live.”

If you’re a Cubs fan, Wrigley Field is the place to be on a clear spring day. Wrigley Field is one of the most popular landmarks in Chicago. The sights at Wrigley, like the famous marquee and the ivy-covered brick walls, are incred-ible. Wrigley Field is located on 1060

West Addison Street and ticket prices vary.

If you’re a White Sox fan, U.S. Cellular Field is just as great as Wrigley Field. It is a much newer stadium with a state-of-the-art scoreboard and sound system. Whenever a White Sox player hits a homerun, massive amounts of fireworks go off, and the energy at the stadium is unbelievable. U.S. Cellular Field is located on 333 West 35th Street, and tickets prices vary depending on group deals and seating.**

One of the best things to do in Chicago when the weather is nice is to go Downtown. Especially at night, downtown Chicago is a beautiful array of landmarks, restaurants, and quality shopping. Whether you stroll down

the Magnificent Mile, visit Millennium Park, go on a shopping spree, or just gaze at the skyscrapers, Downtown is an excellent place to spend the day. When visiting Downtown, you will never find yourself with nothing to do or nowhere to go. It is simply the perfect venue for a mild, spring night in the city.

“Going cruising downtown on a warm, spring night is really cool,” said Gregory Wajda, Div. 212. “You can drive fast, blast music, and the scenery is really awe-inspir-ing.”

Spring break should be a week of fun and excitement. So, if you find yourself sitting at home doing nothing, check out these great places!

*noveltygolf.com**ballparksofbaseball.com

Don’t be a bum, go have fun- continued from page 14.

ENTERTAINMENT CONTINUED APRIL 13, 201116

Photo by Rexhepi

By Amani Abutaleb

Dave & Buster’s (D&B) is an American restaurant and entertainment business. Each D&B has a full-service

restaurant and a video arcade. As of July 1, 2009, the company has 55 locations across the United States. **

Dave and Buster’s is located on 1030 North Clark, Chicago, IL. 60610, and is about 20-25 mins away from Taft. They are open on Sun--Wed, from11:30 a.m.-12 a.m.; Thu-Sat 11:30 a.m.-1a.m.*

Fun and games collide with food and drink at this night spot. The restaurant menu has something for everyone, including appetizers, crisp

salads, burgers, fresh seafood, and steaks. **

Whether you come for a burger or for a New York strip, everything is very tasty here. Partners David Corriveau and James “Buster” Corley opened the first Dave & Buster’s in 1989. **

Alex Milbrant (Div. 111) said, “If you are looking for good food, a good time, and just plain old fun, I would say Dave and Buster’s is the place to go.”

The adult fun centers feature the latest in video games and motion simulators, as well as games of skill that are played for prizes. Games at the arcade include the Million Dollar Midway, Power Hour, Winner’s Circle, Billiard, Shuffleboard, and there are bowling lanes too.**

One great deal includes the Party &

Play combo. You get to choose from one of three amazing buffets, and a $10 Game card for only $20.99. This deal is available everyday after 5 p.m. **

Another great deal is that you get to choose one of two amazing buffets, as well as receiving a $15 Game Card for only $26.99. Date and time restrictions apply; both of these deals must be booked in advance.

Ruba Awad (Div. 125) said, “It’s like Chuck E. Cheese for adults, and really fun if you’re with a big group.”

Dave and Buster’s is a unique place to experience when you’re with a group of friends or family members because it is fun for all ages. You will have a great time, and it will make you feel like a kid again.

*maps.google.com** daveandbusters.com

Discover your inner child

Looking for the best? Muvico is a yes!By Lisa Nitti

Are you tired of the same old crowded, uncom-fortable

movie theater? Wouldn’t you rather watch a movie in ultimate comfort? If your answers are yes, then you should check out Muvico Theaters!

Located in Rosemont on 9701 Bryn Mawr Ave., Muvico is approximately a ten minute car ride from Taft. Muvico Entertainment is a growing chain of pre-mium, megaplex motion picture theaters in the U.S., operating 152 screens in nine locations.*

The theater is open Sun. - Thurs. from 11 a.m.-11 p.m., and Fri.-Sat. from 11 am-1 a.m. Ticket prices run at $10 for adults, $7.50 for senior citizens, and $7 for children. Also, student pricing is $7.50, but a student id must be present. If you’re willing to pay a little more and for those over the age of 21, VIP premier tickets are available. This includes reserved seating, free popcorn, and free valet parking.*

Muvico is unlike your typical movie theater, it exceeds ones expectations. When you walk in, you will be amazed

with how extravagant and stunning the theater appears.

When I first saw a movie at Muvico, I knew I would keep going back for more. Equipped with state-of-the-art technol-ogy such as Sony 4K Digital Projections and Digital 3D, you are ensured perfect video quality.* Another feature that keeps moviegoers coming back is their luxurious stadium seating. The seats are larger than average, extremely comfort-able, and offer extra leg and arm room.

Looking for a snack to enjoy while watching your movie? Head to the concession stand which offers an

extended menu along with the typical popcorn, soda, and nachos. Here you can find anything from hotdogs, to chicken tenders, and bite-sized burgers. If you have a larger appetite and are searching for more of a meal, then you should check out Bogart’s Bar & Grille located in the upper level of Muvico. Bogart’s offers everything from pizzas, burgers, and salads, to filet mignon and fish entrees.*

After your movie, visit Muvico’s arcade room which includes every arcade game you can imagine! Another place to relax and hang out is the Digi-Den, featuring flat

screen TV’s and internet access to surf the web.*

To top it all off, Muvico offers theater rentals for movie showings, birthdays, graduations, or other special events. Group tickets for larger events are sold in a set of 100 tickets at $7.50 each.*

Nataliya Ivanyk (Div. 143) said, “It’s a fun place to hang out with friends and watch new movies. They offer a variety of movies for all ages.”

Make Muvico your go to theatre. You are guaranteed a remarkable movie experience!

*muvico.com

APRIL 13, 2011 ENTERTAINMENT CONTINUED 17

Photo by NittiBy Christine Trajano

Sport captain(s) are the leaders of an athletic team, often with additional roles or responsibilities.* These eagle captains are an example of showing good leadership, strong participation, vital

responsibilities, and providing team spirit for their teammates to make their sport season enjoyable and memorable.

Mighty eagle captains taking charge!

Team Leaders (left to right): James Flammang, Div. 161Raymond Cekus, Div. 210Michael Lemus, Div. 161Michael Shewchuk, Div. 212Head Coach: Richard Pildes They are the team leaders because they motivate their

teammates to give out their best every game, and their goal is to be better than they are expected to be on the field.

Coach’s Perspective: “We don’t have captains for base-ball; it’s more of who takes the role of showing good leader-ship skills to the team,” said Pildes.

Team Captains (left to right): Megan Ponti, Div. 212 (Captain)

Sarah Griffin, Div. 310 (Co-Captain)

Head Coach: Natalia GadekThe captains’ main objective

is to be good role models to the girls, help build endurance during practices, and have a better record than last year’s season.

Coach’s perspective: “Ponti and Griffin have great listening skills. Not only do they demon-strate strong leadership, but they also motivate the girls to become better players,” said Gadek.

Team Captain: Jaime Riano, Div. 228Head Coach: Tim Mayfield“As captain, my goals for the team is to

give the guys a different sport experience, win our swim meets, and build teamwork,” said Riano.

Coach’s perspective: “Riano is a very good swimmer; he knows the comprehension of water polo, and is a whole-set to the team, meaning he motivates the guys well,” said Mayfield.

Team Captain: Kaley Villasenor, Div. 114

Head Coach: Garrett McClinn “My goal is to make the girls

stronger individually and be an even stronger and unstoppable team!” said Villasenor.

Coach’s perspective: “Villasenor has a lot of leadership qualities and is exemplary part of Taft,” said McClinn.

BASEBALL

GIRLS’ TRACK

GIRLS’ WATER POLO

BOYS’ WATER POLO

Photo by Christine Trajano

Photo by Christine Trajano

Photo by Christine Trajano

Photo by Christine Trajano

EAGLE ATHLETICS APRIL 13, 201118

Team Captains (left to right): Eunice Leon, Div. 227Alena Banks, Div. 211Amy Brown, Div. 114Head Coach: Christine Medunycia As captains of the soccer team, their goal is to keep

the motivational level up for the girls, help them control their nerves so they can play more controlled soccer, and work their way to become conference champs this season.

Coach’s perspective: “A captain must show leader-ship, be academically sound, and be able to motivate their teammates. These girls were chosen from their team and the coaches have the final say,” said Medunycia.

Team Captains (left to right): Michal Laszcz, Div. 111Jacob Tannehill, Div. 125 Head Coach: William AngelAs captains of the volleyball team, their goal is to develop

the team to a point where they can easily compete with the top division teams, seeing as they have moved up to a much stronger division from last year, and to also make it to the city championship.

Coach’s perspective: “Laszcz and Tannehill are the captains for three reasons: They present excellent leadership skills, both are the best players, and they acquire knowledge of the game,” said Angel.

Team Captains (left to right): Timothy DeFilippo, Div. 111Adam Horszowski, Div. 211Brandon Bassie, Div. 226Head Coach: Daniel HarteAs captains, the boys want to improve the team to become

better players on and off the field, and for all the guys to give their best performance.

Coach’s perspective: “DeFilippo leads by example, Bassie is the vocal leader who rallies the team, and Horszowski is the quiet confidence who the players believe will have their backs,” said Harte.

Team Captain: Emily Schmalbach, Div. 111

Head Coach: Kirk Vidas“My goal for the team is to help the

girls win city this year and take our conference. Besides fielding and hitting during practice, we work on giving 120% at all times,” said Schmalbach.

Coach’s perspective: “Emily is an outstanding young lady with the talent and leadership to be a mentor for the whole program,” said Vidas.

Team Captain: Andrey Dutka, Div. 147

Head Coach: James Bleicher“My goal for the team is to

make the guys run as fast as they can and for them to be in tough shape,” said Dutka.

Coach’s perspective: “Dutka is not the most vocal, but he definitely leads by example,” said Bleicher.

These athletes are true leaders with a great vision for their team. Captains like these are the ones that make it all happen.

* answers.com

LACROSSE BOYS’ VOLLEYBALL

BOYS’ TRACKGIRLS’ SOCCER

GIRLS’ SOFTBALL

Photo by Christine Trajano

Photos by Christine Trajano

Photo by Christine Trajano

Photo by Christine Trajano

Photo by Hannah Gallo

APRIL 13, 2011 EAGLE ATHLETICS CONTINUED 19

school to finish the workouts so it helps you stay focused,” said Michael Special-le, Div. 233.

It has been proven that working out in the morning will allow the exerciser to have more focus and energy throughout the day, help them eat healthier, and help them sleep easier and longer at night.**

“It makes it easier for me to weight train and play a sport after school every day,” said Kurt Klumak, Div. 243.

Power Lifting Club is from 6:15 a.m.-7:30 a.m. for four days a week. The

next session begins on April 25. To join the club, sign up is in room 213, and it costs $30.

“Not only do we power lift, but we put emphasis on form and technique to avoid injuries throughout the season while enhancing our ‘swolarity’,” said Bakula.

*bodybuilding.nl**associatedcontent.com

Members are also very pleased to have the club before school starts.

“It’s convenient because I can get my workout done earlier in the day and not have to spend time after school. Also, there’s a set time before

By George Vidas

Want to build a better body? The Power Lifting Club can help you achieve that.

The club was founded by Wrestling Coach Mi-chael Bakula in order to help athletes weight lift if they do not have the time after school.

The club works out for four days a week for eight weeks, including a pre-test and post-test. It focuses on the eight main muscle groups (chest, shoulders, stomach, back, biceps, triceps, upper legs, calves*). Participants work two muscle groups a day, with eight exercises per muscle and three sets per exercise. Members are given these exercises every two weeks, and must complete the workouts each week.

Power lifting club shows their guns

By Daisy Velasco

Every high school has “All-Star athletes”, and they tend to receive a college athletic scholarship because of their sport

skill. But the Metropoli-tan Officials Association (MOA) is offering a great scholarship to the everyday athletes.

The MOA is an organization where high schools, or any sports team, can hire officials to keep score for baseball, basketball, or football teams.*

Chicago Public School (CPS) student athletes have given much time and effort to the association, so the MOA has decided to give a little back. The association is a small part of the education of CPS student – ath-letes, and with that in mind, the MOA has established the MOA Scholarship.

There are four, $1,000 scholar-ships to be given to any female or male athlete that meets the requirements.

To be eligible for the scholarship, students must have at least a “C” average in school and they must submit a copy of their transcripts with the application.

Future dreams made easy with sports scholarship!

Only seniors, or someone who has a GED equivalent to the year of the application are allowed to apply. The students must also be involved in Community/Public Service Organizations.** Along with the application, two recommendation letters are also required.

“All you have to do is fill out the paper work and you’re pretty much in,” said Athletic Director Nick Nishibayashi.

If the application is not fully completed, the application will not be judged. The MOA is looking for athletes that go far and beyond in both sports and academics. A one page essay must also be submitted with the application, explaining his/her goals in life.**

After the application is submit-ted, the athlete will then have to attend an oral interview in front of a Scholarship Committee Panel. The application must be returned by April 29.**

In 2008, one of our very own alumni athletes, Marissa Maile, received the scholarship for cross country.

“The scholarship is great because you don’t need to be an exceptional student to get it,” said Nishibayashi.If any senior is interested in the MOA

Scholarship, talk to Nishibayashi for further information.

*metropolitanofficialsassociation. com/

**MOA Scholarship Application

Photo by Christine Trajano

Sketch by Kevin King

Attending the fi rst eight weeks of lifting pays off for these members.