The Banner

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Staff Listing Editors-in-Chief Victoria Karatza Emily Higham News Editors Julie Nichols Brianna Buzzell Sports Editors Tyler Fee Griffin Howell Kirsten Holz Feature Editor Sara Diesel

West Campus Editor Kayla Robinson Copy Editors Jake Young Sarah Strickland Stephanie Marceau Morale Chair Whitney Whitehead

Photographers Megan Buck Morgan Herzog Dahjuanna Jones Kelsey Rodriguez

Entertainment Editor Pedro Marin

Photography Editor Olivia Mitchinson

The Misconceptions of Islam

Columnists Kyle Goldstein Daniel Northrup Marta Werbanowska

Opinion Editor Aashima Sarin

Design Editor Anna Konieczny

pg 13 -

Staff Writers Austen Boillat-Cline Christine Pittenger Amanda Thompson

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The Pros and Cons of Winterfest

Media Editor Rylie Daniels The Bobcat Banner

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The Flint Local 432

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LETTER FROM THE EDITORS Dear Students and Staff, In this issue we bring you guns in the classroom, Winterfest, Super Bowl excitement, love on Valentine’s Day (or lack there of), and a new semester. These past few months have been full of chaos from the new year to the stress of finals week and everything in between. A big change rolls around with the excitement of snow days and the feeling that it’s finally winter, even if it is every other day. Seniors are finally starting to get wrapped up with their college applications and decisions while juniors have begun to think about the ACT. Freshmen are finally getting the hang of the high school schedule while sophomores already have a countdown to Graduation. Though we speak for the majority of the student body when we say that we are not the happiest with our Sadies replacement; Winterfest...we hope that it starts a chapter in the history of Grand Blanc High School that we can all embrace. As we get past the halfway mark to the end of the 2012 - 2013 school year, we have great things to look back on and memories to look forward to. But, for now, sit back, relax, and take the year as it comes. Hopefully, in this season of love, you, our dear readers, can fully enjoy your Single Awareness Day, or Valentine’s Day to its very fullest... not to mention the greater activites going on throughout school. No matter what the rest of the school year has in store for you, stay positive and do what feels right. Everything will turn out all right in the end. Have fun while the winter season lasts!

Until next time, & Victoria Karatza & Emily Higham 4

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NEWS

RAMPANT RUMORS A breakdown of Wednesday’s fiasco Brianna Buzzell | News Editor & Megan Buck | Photographer

It’s the Wednesday before break, Dec. 19. Everyone is bustling with excitement, ready for that week off of school and family celebrations. Sitting in 3rd hour, classes are going normally and anticipation is rising for the break. Suddenly, over the PA system comes an announcement. The school is going into a lockdown for the rest

of the week. Why? Because of threats of a “student revolt,” involving various students bringing weapons into the school on Friday. This threat comes less than a week after the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting, which put schools nationwide into high alert on all security threats and unusual activity. According to various stories and articles, the threats focused on the idea of Friday, Dec. 21 being the end of the world. This rumor had survived all year and started due to the end of a cycle on the ancient Mayan’s calendar. Since Friday was portrayed as the end

ofworld anyway, people reasoned that they should take the chance to take out their “enemies.” By fourth hour, the East Campus was told to stay in class while the West Campus building went into a total codered lockdown. While all the drama was going on at West Campus, East remained relatively calm. Ac-

elected to shut down school for the next two days. Posted on the Genesee Intermediate School District website was the following message: “We have discussed information from local law enforcement, the realities of being able to investigate every threat, information related to district sensitivities, and our concerns about whether a normal

cording to authorities, two students sent false text messages to their parents saying that there was a shooter in the building, which, consequently, caused the parents to call 9-1-1. Police responded and when the students were confronted, they reportedly stated that it was “just a joke.” Through all of the stress of one day in lockdown, two false reports of shootings, and all of the threats focusing on Friday, Genesee County superintendents met at 4 p.m. and

instructional day could be achieved. Our conclusion is that canceling school is the appropriate thing to do.” Students had various opinion on this, some in support of the school and others against. “I think things got way out of hand and the overreaction of the community was enough

to justify canceling school,” junior Rachel Kish said. While some agreed, others had opposing thoughts. “I think it was ridiculous for being in code yellow on Wednesday, although I liked not having school, I don’t think canceling was the right thing to do,” junior Devon Perry said. And those students who made

the false reports to their parents? “The disciplines ranged from 5 days suspension to expulsion,” said principal Dr. Jennifer Hammond. There have been talks of criminal charges being pressed on the students.


JOURNEY TO INDIA

Personal Narrative

Student reflects on trip marred by scandal Aashima Sarin | Opinion Editor “Ding,� went the seatbelt sign on the plane. My movie turned off and the generic Air France screen appeared. Outside the window I could see the city lights of New Delhi fill the dark sky. I was in India, the land of my ancestors and the birthplace of my parents; the country which was once cherished and respected by its citizens. My flight landed at 11:04 pm and my excitement was uncontrollable. Stepping out of the airport and seeing the awaiting eyes of my family was a priceless moment. While my family was rejoicing, the family members of another young female were praying for her survival. On Dec. 16, 2012, a 23-year-old female faced the monstrous actions of mankind; she was beaten and raped and thrown out onto the streets for everyone to see. On this day, the unnamed female innocently

stepped out of the house to go on a casual outing to the mall and the movies with her male friend. Upon their return, at about 9:30 pm, they boarded a bus that appeared to be identical to the rest of the public transport buses in Delhi. Aboard the bus were five men who appeared to be average passengers but in reality in on a master plan. When the girl and her friend sensed the route straying from normal, they questioned the bus driver- who was also in alliance with the five men. Immediately, the female began to be harassed. When her friend attempted to protect her, he was severely beaten with an iron rod. Not only was the female raped and tortured, but she and her friend were also thrown out of the bus unclothed -- not with the intentions to embarrass them, but to run them over with the bus to erase any proof of the occurrence. You may be thinking that in such a populated country, why was there was no one who immediately reported the incident, or even bothered to drape the

Photos: Banner/ Sarin

victims?

When the police arrived, they took the victims not to the closest hospital but to the furthest one. Upon medical investigation, the doctors decided her survival depended on treatment in Singapore. Two weeks later she died of cerebral edema, swelling of the brain at Mount Elizabeth Hospital and her body was brought back to the country the next day. The arrival of the dead body initiated an uproar in the country leading to protests and riots. The people of India were upset with the government and how something like this happened under their control. The streets of Delhi were jammed with traffic and the time it took to travel a distance of 5 kilometers took over 45 minutes. Visiting India after two years, my father was looking forward to visiting his favorite aunt who was getting older everyday. Due to the unstable conditions of the state, we were unable to do so, in the fear of endangering our lives. There is no doubt that rape is a recurring crime all over the world but the intensity of this incident has increased awareness. TV sets of all Indian homes were overcome with the traumatic news of this devastating incident. Every conversation entailed the brutalities of humankind at its worst. Be it the groundbreaking story of the year, it has united the citizens of India to stand against the government.Even though I am an American-born Indian, I pray that on my next trip back, the country becomes a safe environment for its women.

Editor Aashima Sarin recounts her experience in India. During her time abroad, a startling account of rape occured in the city where Sarin was residing.

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Tyler Fee | Sports Editor with contributions by: Whitney Whitehead, Jake Young, and Griffin Howell

Math teacher Nancy Elledge told us that one of her favorite Super Bowl traditions was making a cake for the Super Bowl - hence the name “Super Bowl Cake.” The recipe given below is courtesy of Elledge. Enjoy!

1white cake mix prepared according to directions in a rect. pan

SPORTS

SUPER BOWL CAKE

Photos: Banner/ Whitehead

1 six serving size chocolate instant pudding prepared according to directions 1 large Hershey with almonds candy bar, chopped into small pieces 1 sixteen oz. Cool Whip

Put half of cake, broken into small pieces into a large bowl, then half of pudding, then half of the Cool Whip, then half of candy bar. Repeat. Best if it sits overnight or at least 4-5 hours.

SUPER SUNDAY CELEBRATIONS Ever wondered whether or not your teachers are real people with real lives? We did. So, we went out and asked them if they celebrated the Super Bowl in the same way as the rest of the population. Do you have any traditions?

What team would you like to see win?

What is your favorite Do you have any money involved? part?

english teacher Charles Corazza

Having friends over to watch the game and hang out.

Baltimore

Eating, friends, food, and watching the games

math teacher Nancy Elledge

Makes a fantastic Super Bowl cake.

Who cares?

Commercials

Square buying

history teacher Adam Reed

Makes queso dip in crockpot.

San Francisco

Food, commercials, and the flyover

Square buying

substitute teacher Tiffany Kelley

Goes to lakehouse with friends.

Baltimore

Commercials

Square buying

Square buying

Teachers

He and his upstanding citizens do not partake in illegal activity.

history teacher Heather Grzymkowski

Cheesy dip with meat in crockpot.

Who cares?

Commercials

math teacher Michael Arbit

Hangs out with family, buys footlong subs, enjoys cheese puffs.

Baltimore

Food and commercials Square buying

english teacher Allyson Walroth

Goes to friend’s house.

San Francisco

Commercials

Square buying with M&M’s

math teacher Chad Carney

Watches game with friends.

San Francisco

Entertaining game and defensive teams

No money involved


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FEATURE

T F 810 C R A

Sara Diesel | Feature Editor

Feb. 14, a day anticipated by few and despaired by many more. A day contributing to spiked flower and chocolate sales, and even some cringe-inducing cards. But here’s the truth: even if you find Valentine’s day a horrible mashup of needy, sad people and stale sweet tarts, there’s still a chance to appreciate this mid-month holiday... because everyone needs a little “corny” in their life.

For Him: Red Velvet-tine twinkie

1. Form twinkie mold using aluminum foil (approx. 10 12X14 inch each) to mold around a standard spice bottle. 2. Follow direction on back of Red Velvet cake mix box, but beat eggs separately, then combine. 3. Pour mix into your molds, filling them ¾ full. 4. Once baked, take toothpick and make hole through center. 5. Make filler with top secret recipe. 6. Fill the twinkie and decorate the top.

Photo: Banner/ Diesel

For Her: Heart on your sleeve elbow-patches Photo: Banner/ Diesel

Top secret twinkie-filler recipe Courtesy of: Todd Wilbur from topsecret recipes.com Ingredients: 2 tsp. hot water, ¼ tsp. salt, 2 cups marshmal low creme, ⅓ cup shortening, ⅓ cup powdered sugar, ½ tsp. vanilla Instructions: 1. Combine salt and hot water and let cool. 2. Combine marshmallow creme, shorten ing, powdered sugar, and va nilla. Mix until fluffy. 3. Stir the mix tures together.

1. Choose an old sweater from your closet abyss that could use some TLC. 2. Select a wool for your patches. 3. Place a heart shaped cookie cutter on the elbows of the sweater. 4. Push wool into cookie cutter. 5. Stab the wool through the sweater with a needle. 6. Spray area with water and iron dry.


DATE NIGHT

Zachery Manes | Guest Writer

Classic date night ideas for common couples

Going out

Staying in

Ice Skating “The Rink” at campus Martius Park

Spicy Chicken Rigatoni

Hours: Monday-Thursday 11a.m.-9p.m. Friday 11 a.m. - midnight Saturday 10 a.m. - 11 p.m. Sunday 12 p.m. - 8 p.m. Prices: Adults - Ages 13 to 49 - $7 Children - Ages 12 & under - $6 Skate rental $3

Phone number: (313) 963-9393 800 Woodward Ave. Detroit, Michigan Go during the day time for sure because you know, its Detroit!

Ingredients: ¼ Cup extra virgin olive oil 1 Clove of minced garlic Salt & pepper ¼ Teaspoon of crushed red pepper (more if you like) ½ Pound of Rigatoni pasta Directions: 1)Preheat oven to 425 2)Boil water in large pot 3)Add olive oil and spices to warm skillet 4)Brown garlic in oil and spices 5)Cut chicken breasts then add to garlic mixture 6)Allow chicken to brown and fully cook

AUTO SHOW WIN For many the combination of cars and art would seem like an odd pairing; however, senior Emiri Nishihira found inspiration between the two. In fact, she won the “Best Use of Color” Award from the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) as well as a cash prize of $250. Nishihira, who spent a over four hours on her piece, is thrilled to have her art internationally recognized and awarded. “It makes me really happy,” Nishihira said. “It’s also an international show, so it’s not just someone from Grand Blanc that likes my work, it’s people from all over who can give me an

honest opinion.” NAIAS is an auto show that has been held annually in Detroit since 1907. Nishihira’s piece was in the 2013 Poster Category and according to NAIAS website it was a “unique opportunity for students to become involved in our world premier auto show, while gaining experience in creative competition.” The poster contest was open to Michigan students in grades 10-12. Nishihira’s poster was judged by an “independent panel of recognized members of the local art community.” Grand Blanc High

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¾ Cup of marinara sauce ½ Cup of alfredo sauce Parmesan cheese (optional) 2 Chicken breasts chopped into small squares 2-3 Garlic rolls Estimated total price = $8.57

Phottos: Banner/Manes

“Date night” is here. A totally original column that gives guys and girls alike adorable date night ideas for spending time with their significant other, best friend, those just-friend dates and every thing in between.

7)Add sauces to chicken mixture 8)Put garlic rolls in oven for 3-5 minutes 9)Drain noodles (rinse with hot water) 10)Combine noodles and chicken mixture into your large pot 11)Remove garlic bread from oven Serve hot! (Add cheese or more red pepper flakes if desired)

Student wins contest Julie Nichols | News Editor

School was one of 86 schools that had students participating the in contest. When asked if she wanted to pursue a career in art, Nishihira said she wanted to

be a manga artist, which is a “comic artist in Japan.” This year marked the 25th Anniversary of the NAIAS’ poster contest. Since Nishihira is a senior and isn’t eligible to enter again, her advice to aspiring artists is to “be creative. I entered an auto show, but I can’t draw cars well.” Nishihira thought outside of to box and instead choose to draw a female racecar driver. “I wanted to target men,” Nishihira said. “I made [her] an appealing woman.” She found a way to make her poster auto related without having to draw a car and ended up a winner for it.

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A DLY

O OSC PES

What to expect for your Valentine’s Day Anna Konieczny | Design Editor

ARIES Single: You will spend a lovely evening watching “The Notebook” with your cat. Couple: Your partner will forget about you, but don’t worry, there’s plenty of fish in the sea.

LEO

Single: It’s better to be single/alone and happy than with someone else and miserable. You just keep telling yourself that... Couple: Your imaginary relationship with Zac Efron or Megan Fox doesn’t count. See single horoscope.

VIRGO

GEMINI

CANCER

Single: You will get a lovely gift from your grandmother. Couple: You will go on a nice date and possibly hold hands (if you’re lucky).

Single: Your bus driver will give you candy. Couple: Don’t expect too much, your partner secretly despises you, they will try to ruin you.

LIBRA

Single: You’ll get a strangely creepy message from a middleschooler on Facebook telling you that you’re attractive. Couple: Your valentine may not be exactly what you need... MOVE ON.

Single: Your teacher will wish you a Happy Valentine’s Day, that’s all you’re going to get. Couple: You will find out that your partner is a cheater. See single horoscope.

Single: You’ll have a nice intimate evening with your sweethearts, Ben and Jerry. Couple: Your date will come over for dinner... only to be scared away by your dad.

SAGITTARIUS

CAPRICORN

AQUARIUS

Single: Stop imagining that you’re in a relationship. It’s really sad and never going to happen. Couple: You were caught texting your ex. You are a terrible, manipulative person, therefore you are going to be dumped. See

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TAURUS

Dahjuanna Jones | Photographer

Single: You’re going to have a bad hair/face day, and everyone will hate you more, sorry. Couple: You’re that one lucky couple that gets married after high school, you’ll have five kids, but your marriage won’t survive. Hope it’s fun while it lasts.

SCORPIO Single: Unfortunately for you, you seem very unappealing to the opposite sex. Try showering more often, that might help (no guarantees). Couple: Your partner will give you a box of expired chocolates. Now Valentine’s Day is Pukentine’s Day for you.

Single: You will spend a sad evening alone after you discover that your pet fish died. Couple: You will be so swamped with homework that you can’t do anything for Valentine’s. Day. Your valentine will then leave you to do your work and hang out with their other more attractive friends. You will die alone. Goooooooood luck.

PISCES Single: You will gain four pounds today just from stress eating. Couple: The stars are showing that you will most likely fail a test, and it will ruin your grade. One does not simply date failures. See single horoscope.

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RISING STAR

Singing her way to the top of the charts

B

Amanda Thompson | Staff Writer

RIO

NNA

Q: Why did you want to get on iTunes? A: I wanted people to hear my songs, and I felt that it would be cool and professional.

S

Q: How did you get started? A: I started singing solos in church and singing with my mom.

T

IN NE

TT

Q: How do you think of lyrics? A: I usually just write down what I feel, then try to arrange it to the rhythm. Q: What equipment do you use? A: I use Protools, Bluebird Mic, Maschine Mikro, and my Yamaha key board. Q: What are your songs? A: “Brionna” and “So Fly” Q: What do your songs mean to you? A: They mean the world to me because they took so long to make and it’s from my personal experiences. Q: How far do you want to get? A: I want to go as far as it takes. Hopefully a Grammy!

Photo: Banner/ Pittenger

ISLAM

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Kar atz a

tion of the United States, even though that may seem small, it’s nearly 3.12 million people. Around 170,000 call the state of Michigan home. Despite being so prevalent, Muslims are constantly discriminated against. Even though the United States has more diverse cultures and religions than any other country around the world, many individuals fail to see the basics of the religion. Christians and Jews across America know very little about something or someone that is so close to them. Islam, Judaism, and Christianity are all Abrahamic religions, tracing back to the prophet Abraham. Abraham made a Photo: Banne r/

Throughout the world, countless beliefs have proliferated society for centuries. From polytheism to monotheism, Judaism to Christianity, religion isn’t just something that brings people closer together, it’s a lifestyle. Yet changing demographics from around the world have brought greater tensions between religious groups and the communities they inhabit... particularly in the misinterpreted religion of Islam. Increasing to over 2.1 billion followers since it’s founding, Islam is the largest religion in the world, around 30 percent of its population. On a smaller scale, the Muslim population makes up 2.11 percent of the popula-

Common misconceptions of the religion Emily Higham | Editor-in-Chief covenant with God, and later became the father of the world’s three monotheistic and most popular religions. All over the United States, there are misconceptions as to what the Islamic religion really is and who Muslims really are. “People tend to interchange the words Arab, Muslim, and Islam,” senior Nabeal Aljabban ex-

plained, “Islam is our religion, Muslims are people who follow that religion, and Arabs are just people that are from countries that speak Arabic.” Some people even go as far as to assume that Muslims worship a different God than Christians and Jews, when in reality, they don’t. “We believe in the same God, but we also believe Muhammad was his last prophet,” said senior Yamann Sahlool. Though there are many disagreements between the three groups, they all have one thing in common, “The most important thing is faith in God,” senior Faiha Osman said.

Senior Faiha Osman is one of four main leaders of GBHS’s MSA.

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OPINION

LOVE IS IN THE AIR Ask Angie And it’s choking me

Dear Angie, My girlfriend and I have been dating for almost a year, and I want to do something special for her this Valentine’s Day. Do you have any suggestions?

Kyle Goldstein | Staff Writer

There is very little in this every five seconds. world that so profoundly disSo, this being a season of love, gusts me and makes me question PDA is going to be at a yearly whether there is any good like high, again. We’ve all been exValentine ’s Day does. Whether posed to a lot of horror through it’s stupid jewelry commercials, movies and TV, but nothing the eternal cliché of buying makes us sicker than a bunch of chocolates and flowers, or kids going Hannibal Lecter on constant face-sucking in the each other’s faces. hallways, it all leads up to a lot Even with all these atrocities, of scars from pounding my head the thing I hate the most about repeatedly against a desk, hopethis Hallmark holiday is “Singles fully causing me to lose conAwareness Day.” At first, I sciousness and be free from how laughed along with everyone else stupid everyone except me is. at this little joke to make those What difference do flowers Valentine-less feel a little on a car, a porch, or in somebetter. But that was before one’s house have? The answer every girl without a boyis that they’re all the same friend began to recycle gift, but in different locations. the joke over and over Yet, with this logic in mind, again, repeating it every it’s difficult to undersingle Valentine’s stand why every Day. And girl falls for then the old it’s on chocolates Twitter, and flowFaceers trick. book As if giving and every gifts that every other social male in the last networking 100 years has site we have, and Photo: Banner/Mitchinson given wasn’t obnoxthen be berated by it ious enough, it doesn’t help that again on TV. this is literally one of the worst However, after reflecting gifts one can give. It’s like saying upon all this, that I may be in the “Oh hey, babe, picked a bunch wrong. Perhaps I’ve missed the of weeds for you that’ll die in a point of Valentine’s Day. Perhaps, week, Happy Valentine’s Day! Valentine’s Day isn’t really about And better yet, it’s on your desk jewelry and cards, but it’s about instead of in your car like last how it brings people close, and year! Aren’t I thoughtful?” gives us a reason to be that close. Of course, these gifts just lead Perhaps, in a world as torn and up to an even greater offense shattered as this one, love and on mankind: public displays a reason to love is really all we of affection. There’s nothing really need. wrong with a little smooching Or maybe Valentine’s Day of course, as long as everyone really is just an absurdly obnoxremembers that no one wants ious holiday encouraged so that to see it. But, if Grand Blanc Hallmark can sell more cards students remembered even the and goodies than people would simplest things, there wouldn’t normally buy. be a bomb or shooting threat Yeah, probably the last one.

-Anonymous Dear Anonymous, First of all, congrats on sticking with this girl for so long. I know how high school girls can be. Secondly, if this is your first Valentine’s Day, keep it sweet and simple. Most girls love the cliché “I love you” bears and chocolates. You don’t have to go overboard with the romantic-comedyesque hot air balloons or a sunset picnic. Especially since that’s not even realistic for someone in the suburbs of Michigan with temperatures in the low 30s. If you really want to do something special for her, surprise her with a corny card on her desk in class, or spend more time with her than you normally do after school or before school at breakfast or getting coffee. Tell her how you feel and compliment her on this day, make sure to compliment her. With a few admirations like, “Your eyes sparkle in this flourescent lighting,” you’re golden. Unless she’s a more needy girlfriend, then you’ll need at least a single red rose and some of those heart-shaped candies (because, let’s face it, everyone loves those). Good luck,

Angie


GUNS IN THE CLASSROOM Staff Editorial

A couple of mass shootings and the whole country erupts. Many people believe that they have found the one simple solution to stopping these killers. In order to stop school shootings, some people are willing to allow everyday school teachers to have weapons in the classroom. Others totally oppose this scary thought. Prior to the most recent school shooting that took place in Newtown, Conn, there were 18 states that allowed adults to carry a

firearm in schools with little or no restrictions. After the shooting that claimed 26 lives, many more states immediately tried to pass laws allowing the same. The bill was approved by top lawmakers but was later vetoed by Gov. Rick Snyder. No matter who you are or what you think, the reality of the situation is that there is no simple solution to save lives or keep guns out of schools. However, giving teachers a firearm in the classroom is simply not a good idea. Accidents really do happen even when somebody has good intentions. Which leads to the fact that even trained

Photo: Banner/Tykocki

police officers cannot be trusted to hit their intended targets 100 percent of the time. A study by the New York Times on NYPD officers was done in 2008. This study revealed that throughout the years 1996-2006 when the officers had to shoot a firearm in the field, they only hit their intended targets about 34 percent of the time. These statistics do not comfort the average parent, student, or co worker. A follow up study was done by the RAND Center on Quality Policing, and this data revealed that during a gunfight when the subject was returning fire at an officer the accuracy of the trained, NYPD officers dropped down to only 18 percent. So do you really believe that your teachers should be the ones protecting your life?

IS WINTERFEST A GOOD IDEA? Olivia Mitchinson | Photography Editor

Stephanie Marceau | Copy Editor

PROS

CONS

1. Saving money on dresses, suits, dinners, and corsages

1. Formal dresses girls dream of are now replaced with jeans

2. Less date centered

2. Dancing detoured by bounce houses

3. Not weird or awkward to go single, or with a group of friends; casual

3. Would inappropriate dancing with ‘casual clothes’ be much difference?

4. Bungee Basketball, Bungee Run, Karaoke, Wrecking Ball

6. It’s not like you have anything better to do... banner2012//@BobcatBanner

Photo: Heart Breaker Entertainment

5. Cold Air Blasters for when you get hot

4. Monitoring students may become even more difficult to do 5. If we are expected to learn values such as how to be understanding, shouldn’t the school model that behavior, attempt to level with us maturely? 15


A timeline of what’s to come in February and March

Pedro Marin | Entertainment Editor

Key: TV Shows

Books

Movies

Albums

Concerts

Games

“The Indigo Spell” by Richelle Mead

“Side Effects”

with contributions by: Morgan Herzog, Jake Young, Victoria Karatza, and Kelsey Rodriguez

“Optica” Shout Out Louds

“Escape from Planet Earth”

“Snitch”

“A Good Day to Die Hard”

Three Days Grace at Dow Event Center

“Top Gun” *Rerelease

“Beautiful Creatures”

“Street King Immortal” 50 Cent

“Safe Haven” “Dark Skies”

“Zero Hour” Shinedown at Dow Event Center

“The Playroom”

P.O.D at Dow Event Center

8

Maroon 5 at the Palace “Bless Me Ultima”

Neon Trees at the Palace

“Identity Thief”

FEBRUARY

ENTERTAINMENT

COMING SOON TO YOU

12

“Golden Boy”

Owl City at the Palace

14

22

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With the start of the new year, comes new entertainment. The entertainment franchise strives for success. Throughout February and March, many new books, albums, movies, games, concerts, and TV shows come out. Each one battles it out for your approval to receive good ratings. Whether you only watch movies or you only listen to music, there’s always something to look forward to in the entertainment universe.

“Nanobots” They Might Be Giants

“The Clockwork Princess” by Cassandra Clare

“God of War: Ascension”

“BioShock Infinite”

Imagine Dragons at the Fillmore Detroit

“Lover at Last” by J.R. Ward

“Requiem” by Lauren Oliver

“Hit the Waves” The Maryonettes

“Gears of War: Judgement”

MARCH

“What About Now” Bon Jovi

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THE FLINT LOCAL 432 The Local aims to bring back a younger generation to Flint

Victoria Karatza | Editor-in-Chief Photos: Banner/Karatza & Baughman

The city of Flint has tions such as the Flint to not only again provide GBHS STUDENTS accumulated a variety of Institute of Arts, the an all-ages music venue to reputations over the years. Longway Planetarium, Flint, but as an outreach ON THE LOCAL From being known as and The Whiting as well effort for the youth of the the birthplace of General as restaurants like The area in order to help build “The Local is a place Motors and playing a vital 501, The Flint Crepe an improved community. that breaks the norm role in the Dan on what we’re used to. automotive Moilanen, The music is literally industry, to current club local, but it’s good and taking the manager for you get a look at a side number one The Local, along spot on the with other staff of Flint that you “Most Violent and volunteers don’t normally Cities in have been putsee.” America” list ting forth much and repeateffort in making -Rachael Vogt, senior edly being The Local gain called out on the popular“The Flint Local is just how danity it once had. gerous the Build a band a really awesome place city is, Flint workshops have to be. The vibe there is is not the started up to aid always so welcoming first choice local bands with and fun. It gives a place that most merchandise for bands just starting high school sales, publicity, out a chance to get students and performtheir name out. One consider ing. Also, The of my favorite bands when making Local is lookstarted off playing plans for the ing forward to there so I just reweekend. starting work With a lot with a possible ally love everyof the youth zine and series thing about in Genof web shows what they do esee County Local band, Hyper Lytics, played at The Local on Friday, that will include there.” disregarding January 11. The Local features bands each weekend. live performances -Joshua Hatfield, junior Flint as a spot to hang Company, and Cork, Flint taped at the venue. out, they are not allowing is also home to the newly Though The Local is “I really gain from the themselves to explore the revived Flint Local 432. not as populated on the Local more than I could culture-filled and unique The Local originally weekends as it used to gain from most things locations and activities opened as an actual venue be, Moilanen is relying back in Grand Blanc Flint has to offer. Besides for local music in 1995. on word of mouth and the Flint Cultural center Initially, it served as an connections with differbecause at the Flint Lowhich includes instituattraction in Flint that ent high schools to spread cal, you are surrounded could provide young word about its re-opening. by people who all share people a safe, comfortable, His goal is to see The one genuine and unique place to go Local reach its peak in interest and to experience new success and for the young bond through music. After clospeople of the area to music.” ing due to lack of realize how great it is to funding in 2005, have a place like The Local -Megan Baughman, senior The Local renearby, just as he did years opened in April ago. of 2012 in hopes banner2012//@BobcatBanner

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