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The IONEER MAINE EAST HIGH SCHOOL NEWS SEPT/OCT 2021 A Disney- WORLD OF TALENT Maine East students amaze everyone with their talents at the 2021 VERY DISNEY V-SHOW! See pages 2-3 Seniors Kendra Yap and Lance Sy perform a dance routine at the 2021 Maine East Variety Show.

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Club Spotlight : By Alex Tomy ty’s Business Olympics. Com- tinued to compete in the NIU The club is hosting Capital Foundations Club began peting with local high schools Business Olympics. To date, Conquest this year, a competi- with a simple motto: “Prepar- and colleges, the competitors members of the club have won tion in which groups com- ing for tomorrow, today.” In were tasked with developing over $3,000 in prize money. pete to see who can have the hopes of adapting a program and explaining the merits of a The virtual meetings and highest return on investment he led at the University of hypothetical merger between competitions gave members a given a paper-trading account Illinois at Urbana Champaign, two companies within the glimpse into real-life business with $100,000 deposited. As Jinal Shah, a Maine East medical technology sector. communication, through for the future of the club, alumni, met with Mr. Lasky to Competitors would start video conferencing and digital the newly-appointed officers sponsor Foundations Club at with an essay and end with a presentations. have a range of ideas, from Maine East. The club focused presentation. Both teams from district-wide competitions to on mini pitch-meeting style Maine East won their compe- This year, Foundations new marketing strategies. competitions between mem- titions, winning a combined has continued to prosper. The bers. cash prize of $1,200. three co-presidents, seniors For anyone interested in In late 2018, Foundations Prem Shah, Alex Tomy, and joining Foundations, meet- Club signed up to compete in During Covid, The club Jaylen Kunwar are due to ings are hosted every other the Northern Illinois Universi- participated in an investing graduate this year. Lan Ihsan, Tuesday. For more info, join competition by the Wharton Riddhi Patel, and Alex Duca the Google classroom using School of Business and con- will succeed them next year. the code: xgqs3uh. The EDITOR-IN-CHIEF The Pioneer reports on news, entertain- Scan this QR ment, and sports events for Maine East code to read IONEER Dalal Hassane High School and the surrounding commu- this issue on nity. The Pioneer is distributed in school your personal THE PIONEER NEWSPAPER EDITORS to students and staff; digital copies of electronic Maine East High School each issue are available at The Pioneer Park Ridge, Illinois Rianca Argenal website: bit.ly/ThePioneer device: Sept./Oct. 2021 James Lamerdin Readers can send story suggestions, Twitter: @mehspioneer photos, letters to the editor, or com- REPORTERS ments to sponsor Matt Miller or assistant Website: bit.ly/ThePioneer sponsor Dave Hessert via email: Sasha Jackson Alex Tomy [email protected] [email protected] Hailey Sanchez Joaquin Soriano 4 | THE PIONEER | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2021

“We may not see each other's smiles, but we feel each other's joy” ByHaileySanchez On March 11th, 2020, our world stopped. COVID-19 caused many of our modern day activities, such as going to school, to go virtual or end completely. This virtual setting became our new normal and was a very different experience for everyone, students and teachers especially. The pandemic was hard on everyone, but most don’t realize how difficult the year was for our teachers. I had the opportunity to interview some of our amazing teachers to discuss how it feels to be back teaching in person after a year of being virtual. Here’s what they said: “It’s been really nice to see artwork in progress. That was the thing I missed the most last year, seeing all of the artwork while it was being created and feeling that creative energy in the classroom. Although I loved learning new technology strategies to implement in the classroom, they don’t compare to physically being together in a creative studio.” –Addie Price,Fine Arts “In the classroom we can “The classroom discussions have been a really see each other eye to eye nice piece to come back to. I think they have and read together and enriched the classroom a little bit. Students talk about what we read- like to learn from each other more than their -it’s more transformative teachers which is hard to have virtually. It’s in the classroom. We also been amazing to be with my colleagues thrive off of that con- and department and to see students excited to versation that happens be back. It was just so refreshing” in the classroom and the unpredictability of it –Evan Rabens, Math which is not as frequent in the virtual world. We’re all just happier.” –Krys Chlebek, English “What I’ve loved so much about being “It makes a huge difference to be able back in school is the feedback from to sit down next to a student and talk students. It can be really hard online through a physics problem with them. to tell if I’m moving too fast or too I also like being around other teach- slow, or if the students understand or ers. It’s nice to have the comradery are confused. But in person I can walk of colleagues, and I think all teachers around, see where they are and make would say that too.” adjustments. I also love being able to have conversations with students –David Schultz, Science again. I love this job because I love SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2021 | THE PIONEER | 5 working with students and it’s nice to be back together again.” –Greg Reuhs, Social Science

Imperialism’s effects seen again after Afghanistan withdrawal By Dalal Hassane of 1978, in which the Soviet tervened in the first place. The ghanistan, Kurdistan, Palestine, For centuries, U.S. imperi- Union gained much more military-industrial complex is Syria, and Cuba are all coun- alism and foreign intervention influence in the nation, the a large component of Ameri- tries painted as terrorist war have devastated marginalized United States began funding ca’s “patriotic” identity, but it zones in the eyes of the patriot. groups, particularly in the resistance groups in order to glorifies the selfish needs of the In reality, they are countries SWANA (Southwest Asia and prevent the increase of Soviet United States over the pros- with centuries of culture, na- North Africa) region. This past power. A key part of the re- perity of countries affected by ture, and people -- people who month, however, the United sistance was the Mujahedeen, foreign intervention. don’t deserve to live in lands States withdrawal from Af- which included jihadist groups that are constantly changing on ghanistan has been a subject of like the Taliban. The U.S. has The United States operates account of the red, white, and deep concern for global news maintained involvement in nearly 800 military bases in blue. outlets. Although the with- Afghanistan throughout the more than 70 countries. Af- drawal will leave lasting harm, past few decades, especially the real issue inflicting violence after the 9/11 attacks when the upon Afghans is the U.S. Bush administration decided to presence in the nation. While invade Afghanistan. headlines have portrayed the U.S. as leading a war on terror, The United States’ pres- the country’s constant involve- ence in Afghanistan reflects ment in the SWANA region has what many refuse to accept actually fueled terrorism. about the United States: it is an In the 1970s, during the imperialist military state that Cold War, the United States prioritizes money and power and Soviet Union became more over human lives. While the heavily involved in Afghani- U.S. withdrawal put many lives stan. After the Saur Revolution at stake and was detrimental to the SWANA region, the military never should have in- 6 | THE PIONEER | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2021

ProposedcutstoLibraryservices wouldhurtcommunity By Rianca Argenal nursing homes and schools, often bring kids to the library The proposed cuts even For many students and deemed repairs to the library to participate in storytimes in endanger the library itself. Ac- community members, the building as “unnecessary,” and order to foster a love of read- cording to the Niles Coalition, Niles-Maine District Library advocated for limiting the ing. The Niles Library serves an the library needs repair funds has been a valuable resource, inventory of books written in a incredibly diverse community, for its roof, which is in danger providing books, movies, and foreign language. and offers books in multiple of collapse. The repair will ob- music. Cardholders can also languages in their inventory, viously cost a lot of money, yet access language learning sites These cuts will have a including Spanish and Korean. the price tag of rebuilding the and online newspapers. Over serious impact on the eldery, Instead of fostering an environ- roof if it suffers further damage the years, the library won a few children, and anyone who ment where multilingualism is or collapses will be much accolades, including the John speaks or wants to study a accepted, Trustee Joe Makula, more expensive. However, the Cotton Dana Award for public language other than English. at a recent board meeting, said trustees want to put off paying relations and communications For the elderly, homebound the library “should concentrate for the repairs, which can result for their Best. Deal. Ever! cam- delivery is a critical library on people learning English.” in a disastrous situation for the paign to increase the number service. Parents and teachers library. of library card-holders and the Star Library honor, which In response to these issues ranked the library as one of the and more, the Niles Coalition best in the country. formed to take action against But this spring, trustees the anti-library trustees. While proposed dramatic cuts that there’s still a lot more to be would limit the library’s re- done in order to ensure that sources and staff salaries. These the library is rid of these prob- dramatic cuts were initiated lems, the Coalition participated by four new trustees on the in the blocking of the library’s Library Board: Joe Makula, budget cuts and the resignation Carolyn Drblik, Olivia Hanu- of Olivia Hanusiak. If this mo- siak, and Suzanne Schoenfeldt. mentum continues, the entire These new, more conservative, Niles community will win back trustees were voted in during the library, with its resources, the most recent election in hours, and staff safe from the Niles. Luckily, during the Au- selfish decisions of the anti-li- gust board meeting, Hanusiak brary trustees. voted against the proposed budget cuts, ensuring that the library’s hours will remain the same and that employees will retain their jobs and salaries. However, the trustees suggest- ed eliminating outreach to SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2021 | THE PIONEER | 7

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POWDER PUFF FOOTBALL GAME Night - Lite Rally SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2021 | THE PIONEER | 9

Homecoming Pep Assembly 10 | THE PIONEER | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2021

2021 Homecoming Dance SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2021 | THE PIONEER | 11

Best Scary Movies for the Post-Halloween Blues By Sasha Jackson 2. Candyman 1. Scream While attempting to complete her thesis on A small town in Cali- urban folklore, a Chicago fornia is plagued by the graduate student takes serial killer, Ghostface, interest in the myth of the a masked murderer out Candyman, but she quick- for blood, and one girl’s ly discovers that there is blood in particular. more to the myth than Scream takes delight in she thought was possible. playing in the tropes Candyman is set in the of the slasher genre, as Cabrini-Green’s public the audience is led in a housing development in guessing game to try to Chicago, and is loosely find out the identity of based on real events in Ghostface. that housing development. 3. Get Out 4. Pan’s Labyrinth After a young black man is invited to his In Spain in the after- white girlfriend’s fam- math of the Spanish ily estate, he uncovers Civil War, the step- something deeply daughter of an army disturbing. Get Out is officer discovers a a quick-paced thriller mystical world in the that will keep you on labyrinth near her new the edge of your seat. home. Pan’s Labyrinth is a dark fairytale, but 5. The Ring the magical world that so many children fan- During her inves- tasize about, is tinged tigation of a cursed with inescapable videotape that kills the nightmares. viewer seven days after the initial viewing, a 6. The Shining journalist watches the video, leaving her with When writer and recovering alcoholic Jack Torrance takes on just seven days to find the role of caretaker for the Overlook Hotel, he and his family a way to live. The Ring stay at the isolated hotel, but over the duration of their stay, creates an unsettling, their lives change drastically. The Shining is widely regarded as chilly atmosphere that one of the best horror films of all times, and for good reason: lingers long after the It has a gripping plot, strong characters, and is chock full of movie is over. unnerving visuals. 12 | THE PIONEER | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2021 7. Psycho A woman on the run stops at the Bates Motel for the night where she has a pleasant encounter with the owner, but her plans to run away are cut short. Psycho is one of the first slasher films, with an intense score, beautiful camerawork, and a memorable twist. see MOVIES, next page

The IONEERCOMICS The Maine Quadrant by Joaquin Soriano MOVIES, from previous page 9. Saw 10. It: Chapter One 8. Silence of the Lambs Two men wake up in a bathroom with Seven children in Derry, Maine are no memory of having gotten there, hunted by a terrifying, otherworld- FBI trainee Clarice Starling seeks discovering quickly that they have been ly being that preys on their own help from the cannibal Dr. Hannibal trapped by the Jigsaw Killer. Saw tells the fears. It: Chapter One has several Lecter in her attempt to hunt down story of several different victims, each heart-stopping jump scares, and one the serial killer Buffalo Bill. Silence of story more horrifying and gruesome of the scariest villains in horror. the Lambs has complex and fascinat- than the last. ing characters that practically leap out of the screen. SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2021 | THE PIONEER | 13

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SPORTS GIRLS SWIMMING & DIVING Head Coach: Peter Przekota KEY PERFORMERS: SEASON HIGHLIGHTS: Irene Laznyi (Jr.) 2nd Place at the Leyden Invite Rianca Argenal (Sr.) 3rd Place at the Hoffman Invite Jessica Domian (Sr.) Anna Shelkova (Jr.) 4th Place at Demon Relays COACH’S COMMENT: It has been great being able to work with the team in a more “normal” year, com- ing off last season when all of our meets were virtual. The team has worked extremely hard and put in some great times at Conference and Sectionals!! SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2021 | THE PIONEER | 17

SPORTS GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY Head Coach: Scott Schultes KEY PERFORMERS: SEASON HIGHLIGHTS: Shalini Patel (Fr.) The girls cross country team is very Alex Schnirer (Fr.) young with a majority of athletes new Ashley Gaba (So.) to distance running. All of the girls Michelle Piro (Sr.) improved dramatically over the course of the season, with many freshman COACH’S COMMENT: showing promise to be competitive on the varsity level next season! Watch for great things from this girls cross country team in the future!! 18 | THE PIONEER | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2021

SPORTS BOYS & GIRLS GOLF Head Coach: Matt Miller KEY PERFORMERS: TEAM HIGHLIGHTS: Jiro Yamat (Fr.) • Dual match victories over Niles North and Rochelle Zelle Param Vimawala (Jr.) • 3rd Place finish in Salt Creek Invitational Clarissa Valeroso (Sr.) • Five matches with a team score below 200 • Freshman Jiro Yamat named to All-Conference team Tim Schaefer (Jr.) Tom Schaefer (Jr.) COACH’S COMMENT: The Maine East Golf Team continued to improve in 2021, en- joying its most successful season in the past five years. New- comer Jiro Yamat had a terrific freshman season, and a strong mix of experienced juniors and seniors combined for some of the lowest scores the golf team has shot in several years. With the core of the team returning in 2022, the Blue Demons will look to surprise some teams in the CSL next season! SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2021 | THE PIONEER | 19

SPORTS BOYS CROSS COUNTRY Head Coach: Chris Peters KEY PERFORMERS: SEASON HIGHLIGHTS: Lukasz Iwanowski (Sr.) Lukasz Iwanowski’s had an all-conference performance Ezequiel Figueroa (Sr.) at the CSL Championships. In addition, Lukasz ran a great race at the IHSA Sectional Meet to qualify for the IHSA Adam Mrozek (Jr.) State Championship Meet. At the State Meet, Lukasz fin- Allan Bochenek (Jr.) ished in the top half, capping off a brilliant senior season! Luis Mendoza (Fr.) COACH’S COMMENT: I have enjoyed working with a great group of guys this year. The team has worked hard to improve and seeing Lukasz and Adam compete at such high levels has been exciting! Senior Lukasz Iwanowski became the first Blue Demon cross country runner to qualify for the Illinois State Meet in over ten years. He finished the race in the the top half, making him one of the best cross country runners in the state of Illinois in 2021! 20 | THE PIONEER | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2021