Bobcat Banner newsmagazine -- October by The Bobcat Banner

Banner

THE

Volume 45, Issue 1

October 2009

Corazza in Africa Pg. 9 sports

school

opinions

other

Catch up on all the sports Kick it up with the Dance Hungry Students want new Broadening Horizons: from Cross Country to Crew of Grand Blancoptions- Pg. 15 student submissions- Pg. 10 Swimming- Pg. 4 Pg. 5

2 Contents

Broadening

Horizons

We’ve all heard the chant, “Change you can believe in.” Whether or not you believe it, it has been a year of signiﬁcant change both nationally and locally. Change is never easy, but it forces us to look at life in a different way. It causes us to broaden our horizons and to move past the usual to something unusual and different. That is why the Banner staff decided to change our publication. Instead of a monthly newspaper, we are now a bi-monthly newsmagazine. We hope our readers will appreciate the gloss and quality of the print, but more than that, we hope to be able to offer you a closer look at the

people, places, and issues that affect your life. We recognize that how people get their news is also changing. To keep up with this, we have bobcatbanner.com for the latest school news. Check it for sports scores, features, and updates. Check it for recent movie, CD, and food reviews. Check it for our blogs on the latest hot topics. Interact with us by posting comments online or following us on facebook or twitter. Yes, the Bobcat Banner will friend you back. We hope that you’ll come with us as we broaden our horizons on the World Wide Web.

-Nick Popadich

The Banner Staff Editor-in-Chief

Stephani Dungey Angellica Gordon Zeina Hamade Cody Harrell Emily Hines Chelsea Hohn John Lynn Vince McKeoun Ryan Mohland Kaitlyn Santino-Gagne Karli Schummer Hunter Spees Erica Strieter Stephanie Tomczak

Kayla Cornell

Managing Editor Jerry Hendrix

Copy Editor Sarah Campbell

Staff Writers Chad Bartle Nichole Boehnke Taylor Brown Tuesday Carne Tichina Clark Maggie Command Sydney Daly

(Adviser)

November 1

Daylight Savings ends

- Election Day - Districts -Varsity Volleyball - No school for - Oakland U (3rd hour)

students!

- MSU (2nd)

- NHS 6:50am/2:30pm -Trine U (3rd) - Adrian College (5th hour)

- BAC - Youth-United tug-a-war

6 -Conference Diving -End of 1st

7 - Conference meet (Swim & Dive)

marking period

- LSIP

Veteran’s Day

- Grand Valley (6th)

- 2012 Premiere

- Lake Superior State (1st)

- Olivet College (5th hour)

- NHS

- Fall Play -7:30pm - Indian Tech (6th) -New Moon Premiere

6:50am/2:30pm

24 sc

ho o

- ½ day -Progress Reports

to ac k -B

26 - No school - Thanksgiving Day

27 -No school - Thanksgiving Recess

On the Team 3

Pom Squad Overcomes

Photo: Command/Banner

Getting down: Senior Cathleen Nielsen dances to the song “Down” at Interclass games, Sept. 25.

Photo: Command/Banner

Challenges

Counterclockwise from top: Junior class, Senior Cathleen Nielsen, Valerie Skubick, Samantha Rabidoux, Valerie Skubick, Cathleen Nielsen, Alison Baade, Sophomore class. Photos: Maggie Command

Dancing- It can’t be that hard, right? The Grand Blanc High School Pom Squad has faced many challenges throughout the past few years. Many issues made it difficult for the girls to always stay focused and confident; however, no matter the situation, the girls always seem to pull through and dance exceedingly well. In recent history, the Pom Squad has had trouble finding the right coach that would lead them to success. Many coaches have been very helpful in guiding the girls along the right path; however, none have stayed long enough to help the team overcome all of their obstacles. These include doing better at competitions, the possibility of becoming a varsity sport, and developing into better dancers. Senior and co-captain, Val Skubick described her thoughts on the new coach, Pamela Rabidoux. “I think she is great because she knows what is needed for us to improve. She will make us work harder so we will have to improve.” With the new coach, practices are earlier and there are a few things she does different at games. To prevent the girls from getting sick, the Varsity squad does not have to stay at the football games after half

time, and they do not have to go to the Junior Varsity games. Coach Rabidoux is planning on working the girls much harder this year and incorporating more stretching and exercises into their practices. This will prepare them for future competitions. Another issue with the squad is whether or not they should be considered a Varsity sport. “I think that they should deﬁnitely be a Varsity sport because they practice everyday and work just as hard as most teams,” freshman Shae Skinner said. As of now, the squad is just known as a sports club. Although the team has faced many difﬁculties, they always practice hard and have fun doing it. With all the practices and games the girls have become very close and know each other well. “We usually get along,” sophomore Liz Berklich said, “The only time we ever argue is when we are deciding how to do our hair.” During good times and bad, the Pom Squad always seems to entertain the audience. They have made it through and will continue to make every effort in improving their skills and dancing well at every game or event.

-Maggie Command (Staff Writer)

4 In action

ON THE BANDWAGON... Photo: Daly/Banner

a nne ly/B

catching up on some of the fall sports

: Da o Phot

is ex am , e t A l l KLA yba olle in the ging v y it ng e brin oach vars layi The to be p w leagu istant c itely s n e d cite h is a n tion. As are deﬁ eti c t g e i e h e W p w com aid, “ ht tim son new Daly s the rig of sea e d t h Rick oving a r the en icts.” T r r o t p f s i y m d i read . and ting ament ng well n i r ly o u g to s i Da on seas ney

-Syd

Photo: Lynn/Banner

ew ndr ut A o ’s tain ab cap cited y team r o x i tr e ll Sen ne is coun we’ d in k s o ir get t n s i h S cro I th or t ill the re, “ ond ch w id. u i c fut sh se --wh he sa i s l ,” n s a ynn ﬁ ion L ate t g s re nto hn i -Jo us

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am is olo te e p r e t wa . “W e arsity eason tw The v fun this s start, bu nd e g w n o i a sl hav ar the off to gether ne ing forth e r e o w br ht it t e all p broug season. W ort to hel r f io f e e n h t u d j f n o ork a ger,” said district w m tea ron eir e d. Th ow st us gr Millwoo s and thre n n i a d w Jor wo Daly d is t y e n d recor -Sy s. losse

“The season went well,” freshman Aboul Mohammed said about the freshmen soccer team. “I always have a lot of fun with those guys.” The team ended their season Oct. 15 with a tie against Lakeland.

g to awin s r d n easo Bobcat the s y s With , the Lad r district se fo b r o i l p c u K a ring r Kellie ins. a e g are y Senio capta b ellow of only f lead r e dh ord itz an ason rec ajor ene s a e is m Th osses nt. l o w t Lynn geme n h o coura J Photo: Daly/Ba nner

-John Lynn

Masterpiece Monogramming FREE SPORTS monogramming from $210

Includes basic lettering package. Monogramming for all you Bobcat clothing! (Hats, Shirts, T-shirts, Weatshirts, Shorts, and More!

4440 S. Saginaw, Burton, MI 48529 742.2901

with the purchase of a varsity jacket. $12 off your jacket with this coupon. Must present cupon when ordering.

Flint Branch of the NAACP 3455 Lippincott Blvd. Flint, MI 48507 (810) 742-8622

Youth & College Division invite you to become a partner in our ﬁght for justice for all. Youth Membership Levels (under 21) Regualr Youth - $15 Youth w/out Crisis Magazine - $10

On Campus

Kickin’ it

with the

Photo: Cornell/Banner

Photo: Popadich/Banner

Photo: Cornell/Banner

“Not many people know much about the culture of what we do, and I would love for it to be spread around the school,” said senior David Wang. He was talking about the Grand Blanc Dance Crew. These individuals have faced many struggles getting the group started, but now they are all working very hard to become stronger dancers and more well known and respected for what they do. “Performing with the Pom Squad at Interclass Games was really big for us, and we hope to be involved with more events,” said senior Jerry Hendrix. “We want people to see the role dancing plays in each of our lives so it can in theirs as well.” Practices are held each Monday after school behind the commons. They also dance in their spare time to prepare themselves for competitions like Flint’s Best Dance Crew, and other battles in Detroit, Grand Rapids, and Lansing. This group of dancers are always welcoming new people to come see what they are about. New members discussed that they learned of this club through other friends, and said that everyone in the group got along very well. They each have different styles of dancing such as break dancing, popping, and even tap-dancing. Each member brings something new and their own style to the group.

Sick beats: Ampliﬁed Steps helps out in the Grand Blanc Dance Crew, a new club last year. It has potential to attract students from all across the board.

“I have been dancing since the sixth grade,” said senior Greyson Chase. “Salah, my favorite popper, has been the biggest inﬂuence on my dancing style.” In fact, many shows such as So You Think You Can Dance and America’s Best Dance Crew have begun to inspire teens across the nation, which has resulted in the recent increase in dancing throughout the United States. Even though it is mostly boys in this group, don’t be fooled. Girls are always welcome as well. Caitlin Smoot talked about what it is like being one of the only females in the dance club. “It makes me really nervous, I feel like I’m expected to do a lot more, but it takes me longer than the boys to learn the moves.” This group is still not very well known throughout the school, but they know what they love to do and what they are good at. If any students know they have talent as a dancer, become a part of this group to make good friends who share the same passion for dancing.

-Sydney Daly (Staff Writer)

dance crew

6 On Campus

...............

the Comic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . corner

NOW ACCEPTING SUBMISSIONS

-Sophomore Ashley Campus

Comic strips offer a glimpse into the human heart and psyche like few other short works of art. They can remind us of how trivial our day-to-day concerns are. We can smile knowing that we’ve “been there before” or laugh out loud in pure schadenfreude that we haven’t. With just a few panels, they say a lot.

Many of us have seen the Peanuts, Garﬁeld, or Calvin and Hobbes in newspapers, on TV, and plastered to our refrigerators for years. For some, they have become like a part of the family – albeit the strange ones at that. If it is true that tragedy plus time equals comedy, we hope that you will come to love these strips as they parody personal, school, and maybe even national issues. Look for new submissions from the Comic Club every month, along with reader-generated submissions.

C lub Connections On Campus

Photo: Campbell/Banner

Embracing cultures: Seniors Nicole DeSousa (left), Sophie Pokhrel (above), Connor Davidson (bottom left), and Alex Justice (bottom right) share in the Indian Club experience Fridays after school.

Spanish Club, led by Spanish teacher Adriana Bas and selected ofﬁcers, offers the opportunity for students to gain a better understanding of the Hispanic culture and celebrate its well-known holidays. Students participate in crafts and contests in this club and have the opportunity to enjoy music ranging from Shakira (“Los pies Desclazos” or “Bare Feet”) to Enrique Iglesias( “Heroe” or “Hero”). This month, the club is going to celebrate “El Día de los Muertos” or “Day of the Dead,” Thursday, Oct 29. In this celebration, students will celebrate by making crafts, like a skeleton with movable joints, along with other activities. Also on this day, Spanish teacher Susan Stockton is presenting information about the holiday. Meetings occur in different locations depending on the size of the group (the last meeting’s attendance was around 60 students and was held in room 407). The club is open to all who are interested in gaining a better understanding of other cultures. For more information on Spanish Club and activities contact Spanish teacher, Adriana Bas.

Spanish C lub

Photo: Campbell/Banner

(Staff Writer)

Photo: Campbell/Banner

Indian C lub

Imagine walking down the foreign language hallway in the 400 wing around 2:30 p.m. on a Friday. In room 407, there might be Indian music blaring accompanied by the sweet aroma of freshly made Indian food. Inside, there are students socializing and making food while learning more about the Indian culture. The students are laughing, talking, and enjoying a Bollywood film or learning how to wrap a sari. Bollywood, (India’s version of Hollywood films, only filled with many dance numbers and a lot more colors) and saris, (traditional Indian dress for women) aren’t subjects common to everyone, but the goal of the Indian Club is to make these and other aspects of Indian society known to the community. Indian Club offers the opportunity to dispel misconceptions about the Indian culture, while embracing the diversity found in Grand Blanc. “I love how there are people here who aren’t Indian and want to learn more about the culture,” said senior Sophie Pohkrel. The club allows students to have a hands on experience with the Indian culture, all while having fun. Seniors Smita Bhattacharya, Sophie Pokhrel, and teacher Adriana Bas lead the club. Meetings are open to anyone interested in learning more about Indian culture and customs. -Angellica Gordon

-Angellica Gordon (Staff Writer)

-Ryan Mohland (Staff Writer)

r anne nd/B ohla Pho

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to help get everyone involved and really drive students to connect more with school. She hopes to bring a program she previously worked on to our community. Camp Connections, a smaller group learning program, is geared towards bringing people together. Camp Connections, although not yet approved, would be “like Challenge day, but bigger.” Antonishek explained. Camp Connections would be a three-day camp for students. The camp lead by teachers and staff would promote acceptance for every member of the community regardless of any personal differences. Camp Connections would stand with a purpose to make more accepting individuals as well as a better community. “The staff is so caring about the students; they really want to make sure they all succeed,” said Antonishek. Helping students succeed in school and after graduation is really what she hopes to do for all students. It is a new year with new changes and faces. The administration has hired new staff members to carry on our district’s tradition. Each new member to the Grand Blanc High School Faculty is determined to help move students into the future and broaden everyone’s horizons.

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from teaching middle school and reflects that his current students are much more mature.“The student body is a really great mix of people.” New to the foreign language department, Susan Stockton brings a love of Spanish language and culture. Her roots in Spanish come from her childhood. Stockton remembers, “There was this Spanish show on after Mr. Roger’s, called La Villa Alegre. [The Happy Village], and it killed me to not know what they were saying!” Stockton has taught for 18 years in two states, and at all different levels. She has a dream to help students really exceed, not only in Spanish, but in life. She would like to encourage students to take Spanish further in life than just the two required years, to be more competitive in the global market. So far shes finding GBHS to be a good fit. “I’m loving my job, very much so. Everyone is very friendly and very welcoming.” Lisa Antonishek expressed her excitement to start working with everyone involved with the school system. “Grand Blanc is an up and coming district with lots of students to help and an awesome staff,” Antonishek explained. Antonishek hopes to bring new clubs and interest groups to school

to: M

There are newbies to Grand Blanc High School, but they won’t be graduating anytime soon. They are the new faculty and they are adding new and refreshing aspects to school life, while broadening our horizons. Principal, Dr. Jennifer Hammond stated that this year was a unique year in hiring. Because of the current economy, Grand Blanc saw an increase in applicants. Committees were formed, phone interviews conducted, cuts made, face-to- face interviews held, and even lessons were taught to ensure that the best candidates were hired. It’s not that simple to get into Grand Blanc High School; after all we do have a tradition of excellence. Who better to carry that on, then our staff members? Members of the new class of faculty include: Lisa Antonishek, counselor; Erik Osborne, counselor; Susan Stockton, Spanish; Mike Wesner, business/ computers; and Jake Finkbeiner, assistant band director. New staff members had the same ﬁrst day nerves a student does at a new school. “You’re always nervous on the ﬁrst day, meeting all new people all looking at you with blank looks on their faces,” said Wesner. Wesner brings with him a background in computer software programming. He comes straight

Pho

Additions to the faculty bring experiences and future plans to the forefront

r nne

New Faces

r anne rrel/B : Ha to o h P

8 On Campus

New on the block: With new teachers and counselors on staff this year, expect some changes and new programs.

On Campus

OUT of Africa...

While all the summer stories are heard and done, English teacher Charlie Corazza has a story that hasn’t been told. Corazza went to Africa this summer on honeymoon with his wife Chelsey Corazza. “It was a once in a lifetime thing, we wanted to do something different and fun,” said Corazza. Different and fun is right. How many honeymoons are chock full of zebra, elephants, and wildebeest? Not many. The Corazzas set out each morning on a safari in a Jeep packed with the day’s meals, and they were off. Each day was ﬁlled with new adventures and new experiences. Corazza told of a time when they had to stop and turn the Jeep off for 45 minutes. “We had to sit there while a group of lions decided to just take a nap.” The couple spent hours exploring the endless plains of the Serengeti. Though they missed the annual anima migration by about two months, there wasn’t Photos: Corazza/ Banner a shortage of animal action.

Trip of a lifetime: English teacher Charlie Corazza and his wife Chelsey recently returned from their honeymoon in Africa.

Corazza talked about an extraordinary sight, a sea of wildebeest, as far as the eye could see. Extraordinary sights were every day things, including the sunsets. Africa has been known to have amazing sunsets, and Corazza saw them first hand, “It was surreal, I’ve never seen colors like that in my life, such a quality golden.” Lake Manyara was another attraction the couple visited. Located in Tanzania, Ernest Hemingway called it “the loveliest in Africa.” The lake is 127 square miles, but hidden. “We couldn’t see it,” Corazza said. “It was so big it blended into the horizon.” The Ngorongoro crater was another place the couple ventured to. Inside this large inactive volcano is earth and grass instead of lava. The crater was freezing and they had to wear winter clothes to dress for the occasion. The Corazzas traveled to more than just Africa, they spent three days in Amsterdam, taking walking tours and enjoying their time before the African journey began. The two put the safari gear away and ended the trip relaxing on the beach in Zanzibar. Corazza took more than memories and photos from the trip: he came home with a sense of appreciating home. Even though they stayed in five star hotels, running water was still a luxury that wasn’t always available. Food was impossible to tell what they were eating due to the lack of translation. “I actually tried wild boar,” said Corazza. The first thing the couple ate after arriving back at home? A nice, juicy, Americanized, burger. Still Corazza remains captivated about Africa. The word that continued to resurface is “phenomenal.” This was a trip of a lifetime, and they planned that specifically: the couple didn’t want to go anywhere that they could possibly go back to. In addition to the memories, photos, and new outlooks, the Corazzas took with them newfound friends. They met a couple who were also honeymooning on the same trip. They have stayed in touch, and plan on making a visit to Nice, France in the spring when the adventures of the Corazza’s continue.

-Che;sea Hohn (Staff Writer)

10 On Campus

izons

Broadening

Hor

Finding my pride

Many times in my life I have, so-called, “broadened my horizons.” But I will not forget the one time when I joined the high school marching band. I was an 8th grader struggling through middle school. My grades were poor, my work ethic was inconsistent, and my motivation was non existent. But joining the high school marching band changed the way I acted…No…felt. It made me feel wanted and needed. Something that a parent, counselor, or doctor could not do. I was doing pretty poorly in middle school. My grades were all over the place. I would have a D in science and an A in math one quarter, only to see them flipflop the next. I didn’t have anyone to really call a friend, except the group of girls that were always nice to me and called me their little brother. Sure it helped a lot, but I wasn’t planning on changing my sexual orientation anytime soon. I needed some guy friends, something that I could talk or connect with another guy about. Then I found it. Drumline! I had been playing percussion and drums since 5th grade, but nobody cared or knew. I learned from my middle school band teacher that there was drumline practice starting at the high school in the spring, so I started to attend and met other guys in my grade there. We soon bonded and I made my first group of friends. The freshmen year started and so did Marching Band/Drumline. Now the whole band was together, and it was amazing. At the football games, everyone would scream and holler for the band. Especially for drumline when we played the Street Beat. Everyone knows the Street Beat, the student section would go wild. I soon felt something new. Pride. And it was then, that I knew I had found my place. I had found my clique. I had learned and experienced something new and felt proud of it. Since then my grades have improved, my circle of friends has expanded greatly, my motivation skyrocketed, and I met my current girlfriend of two years. It’s hard to imagine that just by joining the band it would help me so much. Finding something you’re good at, meeting new people, and building confidence have really helped me grow and be a better person.

-Junior Dylan Page

Crossing Over to Lacrosse

t den

ons

si mis

Sub

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Foggy Reflection

He pulled back the curtain, rattling the rings. Hopped in, turned the knob And heard the water pour down. Then felt the boiling water and quickly jumped back, He heard his own cry of pain. Adjusted the temperature – ﬁne tuned it, And heard the water die down. Looked in the mirror, wiped away the fog, Saw his grey hair lacking texture. As water drops run down his face, He heard himself think, “This is who I am,” And heard his conscience reply, “But why?” He turned to the shower, felt the water, Smiled, thinking that it was just right, but Instead of getting back in, he stood In contemplation – then, He heard himself say to his conscience, “This is who I am, Because life is not a shower It doesn’t change for me, I have changed for it ‘And that has made all the difference.’” Looked into the mirror again and smiled, Laughed, And hopped back into the shower.

-Senior David Wang

“In the end, what we regret most are the chances we never took.” – Frasier Crane. Last spring, I took the chance to take on lacrosse as a new sport, after years of being dedicated to only playing soccer. After deciding to no longer play soccer, my mom encouraged me to try lacrosse. To be completely honest, I knew nothing about lacrosse prior to trying out. However, I managed to make the team with my athletic background. Learning all of the rules of lacrosse to this day has been an extraordinary challenge for me. Each practice is vital to improving on my skills so I can grasp onto the sport better. As cliché as it sounds, practice really does make perfect, and to me, practice is the building block to becoming successful. Lacrosse is the epitome of a team sport. Players must work together in order to be victorious. When I broadened my horizons to join the lacrosse team, I not only discovered a sport that I love, but I also gained plenty of friends from all different grades. This decision I casually made to join the lacrosse team back in the spring led to so much more than I could have ever imagined. Since then, I’ve expanded my perspective on life and how I live it. Now, I’m more open to taking chances and risks when I know I could beneﬁt from them in someway in the future. I advise anyone who is considering trying something new such as a sport, hobby, activity, club, and so on, go for it. You have nothing to lose, and so much to gain. Leave all of your regrets behind to take the chance to just be yourself. -Junior Megan Chesley

On Campus 11

Faces from 2. Anne Sophie

3. Mona Elidjani

Ki-yeon Choi

4. “M”

Daniela Dias

Country:

Differences in teens:

What you miss the most:

Teens in Brazil are a lot closer with one anFriends and family. As well as other. They are way more friendly as well. soccer! American teens are always in cliques.

Favorite American activity:

1. 2. Belgium

Teens in Belgum don’t get to do whatever they want like American teens do. The parents are a lot more strict!

The biggest difference in teens is that they The news and newspapers. Amer- Football games are a lot of fun and how many people go are not as close with each other and Ameri- ican media does not do a good job in sharing what’s going on. is ﬂabbergasting. can teens are very poorly dressed.

Brazil

Germany

4. 5.South Korea Thailand

Misses Beligum laws because they are not as strict. Along with her boyfriend and family.

Teens in Thailand are a lot more proper and Her family as well as having close friends to hang out with all well mannered. We have uniforms so that of the time. helps us look classy.

Football games and going to the movies! Going to the Homecoming Dance with her friends. Dancing to American music.

Meeting new people and having a different perspective on different education.

Teens in South Korea are a lot more well be- Kimchi! (herbs and spices). Along Rollerskating and eating the haved. We don’t act wild. We are a lot more with the subway. It makes every- food. thing so much easier to get to. strict on ourselves and our behavior.

different places

On Campus 13

a true friend

Remembering

Think back to that ﬁrst day in a new school. New sights, smells, sounds, and teachers whose opening statements went a little something like “Welcome to Hell!” And maybe even remember that outspoken individual who made it his mission to learn your name, debate your favorite sport, s port, and accepted you for who you were, not caring anything about your y our past. He came to you when you needed someone most, even if y ou didn’t know it yet. That’s the guy who knew every way to put a smile you on your face. That’s the guy who was able to be in the marching band and have a personal life at the same time. That’s the guy who managed to start a story on top of the waterslide and kept telling the story until they forced him down. That’s the guy who inspired his parents to do things in “the best of ways.” That guy was a hero. Christopher Allan Acre was just another freshman to someone just roaming the halls: random, crazy, hilarious, and marching to the beat of his own drum. But to those who really knew him he was much more than that. “I met Chris in seventh grade when some random kid [Acre] jumped on my back,” senior Nathan Ruddle said. “He was known for that kind of random stuff.” Senior Niko Castro also had an interesting meeting with Chris. “I was new in seventh grade and Chris just walked right up and introduced himself to me.” Chris’s mother, Colleen Acre, who works at Grand Blanc High as a hall monitor, remembers those moments fondly. “He always welcomed new people with a smile,” Acre described. “He was a warm and inviting person.” Some people tend to remember Chris for his involvement at the school. “Chris was involved a lot at the school,” Acre said. “He did marching band, boy scouts, lacrosse—oh he loved sports, youth group, and he had a lot of friends.” His closest friends remember him by his dedication and perseverance. “Chris would never give up, no matter what,” Castro exclaimed. Chris was also known to be a big competitor. “Chris was a role model to me,” Ruddle added. “He was always competitive. No matter who or what it was, he would get back up and try until he got it. He made me a more competitive person.” But unfortunately, during his freshman year, on April 27, 2007, Chris passed away due to multi-focal bronchitis with an upper respiratory infection. This infection deals with the bronchi in the lungs and has

symptoms of a cough that lasts a long time along with wheezing and shortness of breath. His death hit hard on his friends, mostly bringing thoughts of disbelief. “I thought everyone was kidding me,” senior Christopher Harrell said. “I didn’t want to believe it.” Senior Matthew Sutter, who had band class with him ﬁrst hour, felt similar after hearing the news. “It was the only day that Hutch (band director) was late. I was wondering where Chris was. I had no idea. When I heard the news, all I could think was ‘It can’t be possible…not Chris.’” Chris’s death had a huge impact on the school, and it showed. “The entire funeral home was ﬁlled, with people standing outside,” Castro said. “The whole lacrosse team was there, the marching band, a ton of freshmen and sophomores, nearly the entire school.” Although his death struck a soft spot in all our hearts, Acre is still remembered in the best of ways. Especially this year, which would have been his senior year. “When I see something crazy done by someone, sometimes random thoughts come to me like ‘Oh Chris would have done that!’” Sutter stated. “It makes me smile.” Not soon after his death, memorial t-shirts 2009 graduate Joey Visser designed were sold in his remembrance at the school. Over 270 t-shirts were bought and are worn today. The front shows his lacrosse number, 73, and several symbols summarizing his life, such as music, a lacrosse pole, a cross, a saxophone, and a Boy Scout logo. All things he stood for and lived by. And on the back, the words we remember him by, the words that inspire us everyday, and the words his friends who are set to graduate, remember him by:“Play Hard/ March Proud/ Be True”

“Play Hard March Proud Be True”

-Cody Harrell (Staff Writer)

14 On our mind

Michigan’s broken promises Gov. Jennifer Granholm once said in a gubernatorial debate, “In six years, we’ll blow you away.” In less than that, she’s blown and chased everyone away, including most of our industries and workforce. With the state budget in limbo until the end of the month, options available to ﬁx the economy end up hurting students. House Republicans have cut the Michigan Promise Scholarship, the scholarship which was originally designed to give students who did average or above average on their Michigan Merit Exam up to $4,000. Once Gov. Granholm began to sink our state into the toilet however, it was shrunk to $3,000. And now,

because it appears the only people left in Michigan are students, the Michigan State Government has completely eliminated the Michigan Promise Scholarship, in order to chase them out as well. The kicker to all of this is, the government claims that the reason for eliminating the scholarship was because it was merit and not need based, it was no longer necessary to continue funding. What about the students whose parents make (according to the government) enough money that they don’t need any extra money to pay for the rising cost of college? Where do they go? These are the students who work hard enough to earn their MME money, and now will not be able to receive it because they don’t “need” it. Apparently, that money should now go to new programs that ﬁnance students in underprivileged areas, regardless of whether they are trying to get good

grades or not. Is it just me, or is there something wrong with this picture? Not only is this affecting current high school students, but worse, college freshman and sophomores who were counting on this money to pay for this year’s tuition and fees are being left out in the cold. That’s right, if Granholm approves the budget as currently presented by legislators, the students who had been planning to use this money cannot do so. So the two grand that they need is now missing, and some of them have already maxed out their student loans. Many don’t qualify for ﬁnancial aid from the FAFSA, but still cannot afford one year’s college tuition, let alone four, not including room and board. People in Michigan are losing jobs like lost luggage at an airport due to the failure of the Big Three. Parents are facing lowered to no incomes, and still they are con-

sidered too “wealthy” to receive aid, even though they are barely getting by. Most families linked to General Motors are losing not only the Michigan Promise Scholarship, but the scholarships they would have received from their parents being employed by GM. Many of these families are stuck in a tough spot—do we pay this month’s electricity bill, or do we send Johnny to college? If you have to ask, most will choose the electricity bill, and Johnny won’t be going to even community college this year. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a hardcore republican. But when the House Republicans are willing to cut a promise they made not too long ago, there’s something wrong with this picture. If you’re going to cut it due to our current economic state, at least have the courtesy to allow those who earned it (through taking the MME during your freshman and

junior year) to use it now, when they need it most. The budget isn’t the only thing that’s hurting; our wallets are hurting just as much.

-Stephanie Tomczak (Staff Writer)

Genesys

Regional Medical Center

Emergency Room Physicians One Genesys Parkway Grand Blanc, Michigan 48439-8066 Phone: (810) 605-5951 Fax: (810) 606-5906

On our mind 15

Long lunch lines starve students A school with a student population of 2600 will obviously have its fair share of problems. Crowded hallways, crowded classrooms, crowded assemblies, Sure, navigating through the school may be difﬁcult, but I ﬁnd it bearable. However, there’s one thing that I can’t compromise with, and that’s my lunch. Many argue that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but in the life of a teenager whose teachers are under the impression that they’re the only ones who give out

homework, breakfast becomes nearly nonexistent. So what, then, becomes the most important meal of the day in the life of a teenager? Lunch. And with the overcrowding of the cafeteria, lunch for everyone is now being jeopardized. Going to lunch has gone from the stress-free, social time of our middle school years to a cutthroat race to the cafeteria as soon as the bell rings. In order to avoid staying in line for at least 10 minutes, one must arrive at least one minute after the bell has rung, or else all hope is lost. So what can we do in the face of starvation, what can we do to go to lunch, and eat it too? We must ﬁght. We must charge through the hallways like

Banner Banter

the running of the bulls and gore anyone in our way, especially those already with food in their bellies, in order to take that ﬁrst, second, third place in line and successfully attain our lunches. Or, the school can ﬁnd someway to streamline the lunch service in order to forego further chaos. Not only are the lines outrageous this year, but the prices have changed this year as well. Instead of selling 20 oz Gatorades for $1.25, the cafeteria is now selling 12 oz All Star Gatorades for $1, making one spend $2 in order to get near the same amount of Gatorade as last year; however, the Student Store is selling 20 oz Gatorades this year for $1, trouncing the cafeteria’s prices. Although I’m a dedi-

The good, the bad, and the astoundingly stupid; summing up the month’s news in a sarcastic and highly opinionated form.

Do You Believe?

Hard Lessons

Flying High

The Swine Fear

Paranormal Activity has people saying that it’s one of the scariest movies to come out this decade. Why is it so intense? You’ll have to see it for yourself. It’s certain that this movie really scares people.

Six-year-old Falcom Heene had the world on edge after he supposedly got into a balloon and disappeared turning up hours later. Really? A six-year-old can’t even hold his bladder that long. Authorities are now investigating his father’s hoax.

Plymouth Canton High School learned a valuable lesson in football protocal after a loss to John Glenn Westland High School after a blocked ﬁeld goal kick left the game ball live on the ground. The ball was then returned by a John Glenn player.

The H1N1 virus more commonly known as Swine Flu still continues to cause distress. A single cough or small sneeze has the person believing they now have the dreaded Swine Flu and are going to spread it to everyone they know. Will the paranoia ever end?

cated fan of the cafeteria (especially the pizza), I feel that this year trying to get an affordable lunch in time to eat it is much more work than it should be. As an institution that is meant to help its students, hopefully the school will

hear our plight, and decide to somehow change the structure of the lunches. For now, I’ll continue racing down hallway to hallway in an attempt to gain sustenance.

-Jerry Hendrix

(Managing Editor)

Wrong priorities plague youth

The average teenager has access to a myriad of networks and communication devices that adults couldn’t even fathom in the age when all they had was Pong. Be it on Facebook, Twitter, or the newest website allowing teenagers to share detailed updates about what they’re doing at the particular moment, the millennia generation is clearly the age of documenting life events. Although spending a hour ﬁlling out a questionnaire about “how afraid you are” is one way to pass the time, today’s youth has become more focused on Charlie the Unicorn and countless other YouTube related videos than foreign affairs and the state of the economy. This is no way an attempt to inﬂuence the student body to put down their cell phones, step away from the computer, and become activists. Instead, today’s youth should use the numerous advancements in technology as a tool to make changes in the declining world around them. Using tools like Facebook and Twitter as mediums to deliver thoughts and opinions regarding today’s important issues seems

like an easy thing to do, yet rarely is done. Modern teenagers have been engulfed by their small, melodramatic lives so fully that very few know the current state of the Iraq War. Of course, if you were to even mention Kanye West, the results would be vastly different. Countless issues that have a direct impact on today’s youth. To combat the denied Promise Scholarship, students have to be willing to get passionate about the issue. Sitting around playing Rock Band is not a way to ﬁght for what is now being denied. Of course, guilty pleasures relieve stress and help to pass time during the school year more smoothly, but there comes a time when the future needs to take precedence over the present. Forget about purchasing the new Ugg boots when college is gobbling up all available income. Teenagers need to ﬁnd middle ground between youthful entertainment and pressing matters that will affect the outcome of their lives.

-Kayla Cornell (Editor-in-Chief)

16 On our mind

fall play

PREVIEW

Denise Botzki has it all. Not only is she the director of this fall’s play: You Can’t Take It With You, she is the set director, the casting director, the one who chooses it all. For the upcoming play, Botzki’s crew is putting together a two-story set. Most would say that it’s not possible to take on all these roles, along with being a teacher and a functioning human being, but Botzki gets the job done. The play takes place in the ‘30s, during the Great Depression, which is a small part of the reason Botzki chose this play with the current economic problems we’re living with. “I hope people see the universal truth’s that go along with it,” Botzki said in reference to the play’s similarities with recent times. The play features two kids who fall in love, with disapproving parents to make matters more interesting. “It has really eccentric characters,” said Botzki. Tony, the boy that falls in love, could be described as the opposite of Steve Carrell’s character Michael Scott in the show “The Office.” He thinks he is undeserving of the high position he has in his work. The girl that falls in love with Tony is an average girl with a less than average family and a mom that leads the family with her xylophone serenades. Another lead character is Martin Vanderhoff who protests work and avidly avoids his taxes. The play has a theme of happiness weaved in and out of the scenes. All the characters are driven by the idea of being happy in everything that they do, no matter what it is. Botzki has high expectations for this play, and has big shoes to live up to as the play has won a Pulitzer Prize and was highest grossing film in 1936. With a crew of talented and devoted actors and actresses at her finger tips, this should be no hard task. Photo: Hohn/Banner

-Chelsea Hohn (Staff Writer)

Get Spooked

with ‘Paranormal Activity’ I’ve never been a fan of scary movies. Something about the chasing, violence, blood and gore serves only to make me dizzy, confused, and extremely bored. In fact, the last “scary” movie that I remember seeing is Saw V, which has since led me to believe that “scary” and “gory” movies should be two separate genres entirely. So when I ﬁrst saw the rumor mill comments circulating about Paranormal Activity, I was obviously skeptical. However, once I saw the movie trailer, I began to understand what Paranormal Activity was at its core: a movie that didn’t hide things from you, a movie that didn’t depersonalize you from it with crappy camera angles and a shaky screen, but a movie that made you the observer, that said, “This

is what’s happening, just as those two people in bed perceive it.” The movie begins with Micah turning on the camera, opening the eyes of the audience. After his girlfriend Katie comes home from work, he explains that he bought the camera to see if they could catch the socalled “paranormal activity” on the camera, effectively explaining our presence in their home. As the movie progresses, stunning truths revealed and paranormal activity in the house increasing, we, the camera, begin to take a more opinionated, verbal stance. More so than in other scary movies I’ve seen, the audience began to make comments more and more. In fact, I found myself making snide remarks and sugges-

tions on more than one occasion. This personalization, this involvement, not only served to bring us closer to the characters onDemon Watch: visits from a demon at 3AM will scare the living daylights out screen, but to affect us even more of anyone. Paranormal Activity’s By giving actors Katie adversely. I’ve unique blend of natural Featherston and Micah Sloat never seen as many people humor with genuine creepimere outlines instead of walk out of a theatre eyes red ness not only makes it one scripts, and using a “home” and watery than I saw come of the greatest, most unique camera as the entire perspecout from Paranormal—even movie of this decade, but of tive of the movie, director counting those Disney movall time. Its terrifying content Oren Peli did not only ies where the dog dies in has led many to call it the immerse me and my fellow the end. Alien of its time, and I don’t moviegoers into the eerie Because Micah carries doubt that to be true. Paraspectacle that is Paranormal the camera around the entire normal Activity is the reason Activity, but also gave the movie, we realize that we why teenagers and adults movie a more natural ﬂow, truly are just a pair of eyes alike are losing sleep all over allowing it to nix clichés and that watch, dissect, and America, and it’s surely for corny dialogue and instead slowly become a part of what good reason. be replaced with lines that is happening in the house, -Jerry Hendrix seemed ordinary, and at and this is where the value of many times amusing. the movie lies. (Managing Editor)