By PAT LAUTEN

I'm sure everyone has noticed the large plaque with the huge black letters proclaiming "The Maine Way" at one time or another.

The words on that plaque: Non‑Prejudice, Integrity, Respect, Responsibility, Friendleness, and Sportsmanship are all nice sounding words, and on that plaque they look very appropriate, but I wonder just how many of those words are actually practiced in the halls of Maine West.

Many students complain of the "gestapo tatics" used by the school such as hall passes, the cut system, and the attendance procedures, yet if the students would only act as responsible adults I'm sure they would find the administration relaxing many of the so‑called "gestapo tatics" now in operation. After all, how can the students accept the responsibility of an open campus when many of them continually break plates in the cafeteria for "fun?''

Friendleness? Most of the students at Maine West are friendly except when huge traffic jams block the hallways, and the frosh behind you steps on the back of your shoe. Instead of turning around and scaring the kid half out of his wits by yelling at him, wouldn't a smile be just as effective?

But the words on that plaque mean more than smiling when someone does something you don't like, or respecting your teachers because if you don't, you'll get sent down to S‑201. No one should be motivated by fear.

Those five simple words are an attitude that should apply not only here at Maine West, but everywhere. In this age of "peace and love" it makes one wonder how far we have really come when a black athlete receives hate mail because he has a chance of breaking a. record set by a white man.

It's something to think about the next time you gaze at the words on that plaque. Only people can put the real meaning into those words.