Early in the morning of Sunday, September 11, the words "Draft beer, not students!" were spray-painted on the retaining wall around South's lake.
On Friday, September 16, Bill Murphy, Student Council President, expressed SC's anger at the incident and the culprit, and explained the cost of the prank to the school.
The following Monday more evidence of vandalism was discovered, this time painted on the east wall of the school facing the parking lot.
Whether or not this second incidence of vandalism took place as a proof to the community that "Student Council can't tell me what to do!" or whether it is the work of a different person with different motives remains to be discovered. The fact is, the name of Maine South has been damaged by someone who failed to consider the destruction he was doing to the school building as well as to every student at Maine.
Most student reactions to the destruction have been similar to those expressed by Bill in his speech. The phrase may have been catchy, they say, but $750 is a high price to pay for a joke.
Students generally agree that the prankster must be found, but it remains to be seen if they will work to find him. One freshman boy, expressing his concern, stated, "If I find out who did it, I'll turn them in."
Often in a vandalism case like this, however, it is the teachers and the administration who must answer to the community for such an act.
Principal Clyde K. Watson, the man who must often represent Maine South to the community, expressed his reactions to the incident. "It is most unfortunate," he said, "that anyone would destroy property in this way. It will cost the people of Park Ridge about $750 to remove this from the retaining wall." He added, "I can't believe that a Maine South student would stoop to such a thing."
Assistant Principal Mr. Robert Barker stated about the vandalism, "It's a very odd kind of action that we don't ordinarily find in students, and there's something wrong with whoever is doing it, particularly after the appeal made by Student Council--it just didn't do any good. This doesn't mean these vandals are angry--there's just something wrong with them."
Miss Margaret Lowery, Spanish teacher, believes, "This action represents part of the whole psychological trend toward rebellion in this country, and a feeling that property is not inviolate. Every student should make it his civic duty to discover the culprit and to prevent incidents of this sort."
Mrs. Rosella Dieter of the business education department at South feels strongly about the impression vandalism makes on the community. "Although it may be only a a few of the total student population that is guilty of vandalism, it does affect the school. The appearance that a school gives to outsiders is the overall impression that a person derives about the entire school and its potential. Instead of appearing to be the first-rate school that it is, the writing on the walls and the displaced fixtures certainly cause people to think that Maine South is other than first-rate."
Mrs. Dieter continued, "The major problem is that something must be done to prevent vandalism. Every person must see that he himself has respect for property. And when he sees another damaging property, it is essential that he takes it upon himself to stop the destruction."
"Students want responsibility and will be given much responsibility if they would show they could handle it. Vandalism is not the answer."
It is a certainty that the vandalism at South will have an effect on the reputation of Maine students. As Mr. Timothy Little of the history department stated, "Recent student actions have made the definition of the term 'infantile' remarkably easy!"
No one can disagree.