volume 34, edition 4. by The Communicator

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Contents 24

37 06

65 NEWS

FEATURES

06 Ecology Resurrects Biostation Field Trip

14 Hearing Impaired, Not Deaf

The Community High Ecology Club traveled to Pellston, Mich. for a field trip to the University of Michigan Biological Station.

Robyn Skodzinsky shares her experience of discovering her impairment.

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22 Meals on Wheels It started as a program that delivered meals to 16 residents in Ypsilanti. Now, the program delivers 400 hot and cold meals everyday.

32 Old Country, New Country A mother’s immigration story from the capital of Iran to Ann Arbor, Mich.

EDITORIALS 44 6 Easy Tips To Forget All About Global Climate Change Want to blast that A.C. like there’s no tomorrow? Read on.

46 Betsy DeVos: Uneducated in Education

Private school attendee takes control of public school spending.

50 “Oscars Still So White” More than 80 years of existence and the Oscars are yet to see an Asian actress win the Best Actress.

Letter from the Editors Dear Readers, Looking back at the letters we editors have written to you readers in the editions since the election, we recognize that we’ve been real bummers. Like, certifiable Debbie Downers. We own that title, as there have been plenty of things to be sad about in the past few months, both on a national and local level. But this edition, we thought we’d offer a different take on the current political climate; this edition, we thought we’d offer a message of hope. On Feb. 28, dozens of Community students rallied outside of The Patrick V. McNamara Federal Building in Detroit, megaphone in hand, for Yousef Ajin, the father of a Community student, who was at risk of being deported. Yousef had been living in the United States since 1999 and is the primary source of his family’s income. Many things are still unclear about the facts surrounding his deportation hearing: we do not understand exactly why he was detained in the first place; we are unclear on how much of a role, if any, the rally played in the outcome of the hearing, which granted him permanent resident status and a green card while he continues on the path toward citizenship. While we do not know exactly how much our students did to ensure this result, the point is this: our students showed up. In a country that is trying to silence the voices of immigrants and other oppressed people, showing up, armed with both a literal and metaphorical megaphone to amplify the voices of such people, is one of the most important things we can possibly hope to do. On the first day of school, we spoke about this year being a time for action. But it is not just a mantra or a cheesy motto for opening day ceremony. Instead, it has become a way of life for the Community High School student body. Now is a time to take action and make our voices and the voices of those less fortunate than us heard. There have been, and are always going to be, steps forward and back, but the fact that we care enough to count our steps at all is something of which to be proud. In this edition, we chose to highlight stories about immigrants. These stories range from the 1940s to the modern day, which goes to show how universal issues concerning immigration have been and will continue to be. While immigration stories can be petri-dish-esque examples of human cruelty, they can also show the incredible strength of human spirit. We hope that the stories in this edition will especially emphasize the latter. As you read the pages of this Communicator, we ask that you keep this in mind: hope and love have triumphed over hate and fear before. They did on Feb. 28 at The Patrick V. McNamara Federal Building, and they will again. We are honored that we are able to fight for that love alongside this powerful student body.

Your editors, ALEXANDRA HOBRECHT, JOSH KRAUTH-HARDING, ISABEL RATNER, HANNAH RUBENSTEIN, MEGAN SYER

Print Editors-In-Chief

Staff

Alexandra Hobrecht Josh Krauth-Harding Isabel Ratner Hannah Rubenstein Megan Syer

Jack Belden Sonja Benjamins-Carey Elena Bernier Ayisha Bhavani Terah Blakemore Vivienne Brandt Avani Carter Samuel Ciesielski Atticus Dewey Anna Sophia Dinov Elinor Duck Pagie Duff Ella Edelstein Michael Eder Brennan Eicher Ally Einhaus Ava Esmael Isabel Espinosa Kyndall Flowers Oliver Fuchs Abbie Gaies Madie Gracey Alex Hughes Zane Jones Ethan Kahana Camille Konrad Helen Kulka Zoe Lubetkin Oliver Mayman Isaac McKenna KT Meono Ava Millman Jacqueline Mortell Shea O’Brien Suibhne O’Foighil Omalara Osofisan Mazey Perry Spencer Rech Alec Redding Henry Schirmer Miles Schwarz Alex Shaw Kat Stanczak Andie Tappenden Ruby Taylor Cammi Tirico Eleni Tsadis Sacha Verlon

Web Editors-In-Chief Kate Burns Joel Appel-Kraut

Managing Editors Francisco Fiori Gina Liu Suephie Saam

Photo Editor Grace Jensen

Social Media Editor Mary DeBona

Mentors

Bella Yerkes Claire Middleton Sophia Rosewarne

Fun Editor Emily Tschirhart

Art/Graphics Editor Caitlin Mahoney

Sports Editor Shane Hoffmann

Web Content and Business Editor

Mira Simonton-Chao

Adviser

Tracy Anderson

About the Cover (Photo by Spencer Rech, Designed by Josh Krauth-Harding)

Taken at the rally outside of Yousef Ajin’s deportation hearing, this cover depicts Catherine Nicoli, Callum Mein and Kaleb Doughten-Priuska, among other CHS students, taking action for a member of our community. “No hate, no fear,” followed by “immigrants are welcome here,” was chanted by Ajin’s supporters throughout the the rally. april

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A TIME FOR ACTION

Nyah Selassie is a junior and a member of Community’s lub Feminist Voice For Action (FVFA). The group is in the process of creating a curriculum to educate third and fourth graders about feminism, equality and love. BY ISABEL RATNER PHOTO: ALEC REDDING

Can you describe to me what you’re doing? My group FVFA (Feminist Voice for Action), we’re going to go to Ann Arbor Open and talk to third and fourth graders about spreading love and the basics of what feminism is all about, what stereotypes are, what equality vs equilibrium is and how would the world look very different if these things existed in it. Why do you think it’s important to emphasize these ideals for people who are younger? We are kind of getting these messages of hate through media or TV or socially, and I feel like starting at that younger age is very important. I feel like I kind of got that early on, and that’s why I am the person I am today. I just really find that those messages are lost, especially when you come into elementary school and further on into middle school. Did you join FVFA this year? Last year, me, Hawa Dicko and Nicole Coveyou created it together. We went to a workshop run by U of M. We talked about all these different issues and kind of gave us the step by step of how to do something about it, and like create a group—a supportive group or active group—that really targets these issues. It started out with us feeling really degraded in this society as women and also, how there is no space to talk about being cat called. We don’t talk about that. Women are told to keep that hush hush. We’re told that it’s a natural thing so that it doesn’t need to be talked about. But in reality, it happens all the time and we feel it, and it’s a very negative feeling. [We also talk about] the influence that our our society has, and media has, on women and how that turned into sexualizing ourselves, and also the rape culture that our society has and college campuses have. What has FVFA done besides this new program? Have you been more discussion based? I’ve always been a part of discussion based groups and always wanted more than that. And it’s a lot harder to do more than that when I feel like this generation is just waiting for someone to throw them something to do, waiting for the next leader, that next Martin Luther King or that next Malcolm X or Gandhi or Buddha who just leads them into a nice path, instead of digging that path out for ourselves. Now, we just have to go back to the grassroots way of doing things. We’ve been mostly of a support and communication group. We have to have that aspect always, no matter if you’re an action group or discussion group. You always have to have that point of conversation because that’s where you can grow as an individual while changing something on the outside. FVFA meets Mondays and Wednesdays lunch in Cindy’s room, 305.

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FEATURE

Hiding the Fear

Celia Ross, a mother and listener is struggling to explain today’s poiltical climate to her children. BY ISABEL RATNER

Celia Ross tries to follow the philosophy of “talk less, listen more.” Yet, she struggles. She struggles with the balance of knowing when to say something and when to listen. Sometimes, she knows she needs to speak up and say something. Other times, she knows she needs to open her ears. “You can talk yourself into a frenzy, when really, if you sit back and listen or breathe, you can avoid some of the stress or the panic or the aggravation,” she said. She wants to get everything done that needs to get done, but the world is distracting her. She’s thinking about herself. She’s thinking about her future.

She’s thinking about her kids. She’s thinking about their future. One is in third grade and the other in kindergarten. She doesn’t know how much she’s supposed to shield them from. She’s aware that children are becoming more and more aware. “It’s really hard to frame this in what’s really going on,” she said. “I think kids hear snippets here and there and so [I’m] trying not to [let them] feed into the fear. I don't want them to be afraid, but I think some kids are definitely taking that away from some of the conversations they hear.” Parents have shared with her their children’s thoughts. “I hear parents saying, ‘Oh, my child

is worried that they're gonna get kicked out of country. Someone told me at the Y that their daughter said, ‘I wish I was a boy because I heard Donald Trump doesn’t like women.’” Ross is doing the best she can. She knows that parents have gone through this before. “You have to take hope that the world's been around for a long time. I saw a political cartoon [about] having hope, because there were moms during the war who had the same fears. There were moms during the Cuban missile crisis, and so trying to keep the fear from the children.”

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NEWS

Ecology Club Resurrects Biostation Field Trip

The Community High Ecology Club traveled to Pellston, Mich. for a field trip to the University of Michigan Biological Station. 6

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dressed into their cold weather gear before a walking tour and then piled into the rental cars for a quick drive to a nearELLSTON, Mich.—The setby trailhead. The club was unable to find ting sun ventured in and out the trailhead, so they began their hike from behind the slouchdown Hogsback Road—a seasonal road ing branches of pine trees, covered in approximately a foot of snow. weighed down by wet packing snow; it From the road, the group was able to illuminated the snow that covered the find a map for the trail that they had been ground a buttery shade of yellow. The searching for and climbed up a steep hill forest was quiet as a group of snowto reach it. The trail was about a two mile shoers trotted through, led by four loop around the perimeter of a gorge Community High School teachers. that Little Carp River flowed through. The group of snowshoers, the CHS When the trail reached the gorge, Ecology Club, had been planning this some of the club members took off trip up north to Pellston since the begintheir snowshoes and began ning of the year—the fourth sledding down the snowy trip up north to be taken by hill that led into the gorge. the ecology club. The group “Kids are so busy that they need to take a “Just hiking around there departed from CHS at 9 a.m. and then sledding down the on Fri., March 3 and arrived at break and get away for awhile.” gorge on my snow pants, the University of Michigan Bijust really it was beautiful, ological Station—nicknamed it was amazing,” Kiley said. “the biostation”—soon after The ecology club returned 1 p.m. It wasn’t long before students began to strap on snowshoes lake, ate spaghetti for dinner and then to the dorm at the biostation and made and explore the snow-covered fro- went on a short walk outside to stargaze tacos for dinner before going to bed. zen Douglas Lake that sat just outside before watching a movie by the fire. The In the morning, the group ate cereal the dorm that the club was staying in. next morning, Kulka and students made and eggs for breakfast and then packed Over the course of the weekend, the pancakes, eggs and bacon for breakfast up for the road trip back Ann Arbor. “It’s a great opportunity for people who ecology club stargazed, snowshoed, before beginning their day. Before the cooked meals, played board games teachers went on a hike around the lake, don’t get out into nature and the north and was guided on a tour of the bio- the club teamed up to attempt answering woods a chance to be there and also just station campus by the leader of the all of the questions on one Trivial Pursuit a place to relax, get your technology ecology club, Courtney Kiley. Fellow card correctly. The club was unsuccess- away and be with people that like nature teachers Liz Stern, Marcy McCormick ful in answering all of the questions on and like to be outside and like snuggling and Ed Kulka chaperoned the trip. one card—an ecology club field trip tra- and playing games,” Kiley said. “I feel like this time of year, teachers dition—but still had fun in the process. After lunch, the ecology club got have a lot of burnout and I think stuBY MARY DEBONA

dents do too. It reminds me every year, and this is going to sound cheesy, that this is why I like teaching... Seeing kids be goofy and have fun and play games together and play in the snow,” Kiley said. “It just reminds me that this is why I love my job so much. It’s just relaxing and it’s so beautiful up there. It’s like a restorative weekend, and I think kids need that now more than ever. Kids are so busy that they need to take a break and get away for awhile.” On the first night of the trip, the ecology club warmed up inside the living area of the dorm after snowshoeing on the

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The eliminated and still competing share their reactions and feelings about the game.

BY KT MEONO

aylor Tucker-Gray, a senior at Community High School, was sitting at a picnic table on the third floor ledge of CHS with several of her friends during their free block listening to Disney music. Just as they were half way through singing along to Mulan’s “I’ll Make a Man Out of You,” Tucker-Gray extended her arm and sporked fellow senior Sean Tichenor. He had set his spork on the table. Tichenor is just one of many seniors this year to be eliminated from the annual spork game. When the game began on Feb. 14, there were 94 seniors participating; 18 people were sporked on the first day. As of March 27, 63 people have been eliminated. “It started with a great sporking of Sean Tichenor, ” Tucker-Gray said. “The next sporking was Kyndall. We were in Creative Writing doing some intense Valentine’s Day themed writing and she just set it down, and I went over and pretended I was getting hand sanitizer, but nope, and I sporked her. The last one was the ultimate betrayal when I got Syd-

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ney when she was writing a Valentine, so love was not in the air that day.” Tucker-Gray sporked three people in total on the first day. To participate, seniors must pay five dollars; this money goes into the ‘pot’ that the winner or winners receive when the spork game ends at graduation in the spring. This year’s winnings total 450 dollars. “The only real rule of the spork game is simple: if you get sporked and you’re not holding your spork, you’re out, [it’s] pretty straightforward,” said senior Adrian Huntley, co-organizer and participant of the spork game. Before the game began, Huntley was tasked with collecting money from the people who wanted to be a part of the game, and handing out the sporks. Now, he must make the final decision if there are disputes between players in the game. But there is one more important job Huntley has: running the CHS Spork Game Twitter account. This is how the players, and the many more spectators, stay up-to-date on who has been sporked and is now out of the game. Huntley has

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an extra flare to his tweets. Frequently the seniors decorate their sporks in different ways. “I drew a nice cat face on it, so I do feel bonded at the hip,” Tucker-Gray said. “I love my cat and their name is Sporky.” “I have a reminder set on my phone that goes off at 6:50 a.m. sharp and it says ‘that spork!’ and it helps me,” Tucker-Gray said. She is a member of CHS’s Mock Trial team and had to set up a spork free zone with the other seniors on the team. Teachers don’t always support the senior organized game. “I definitely know some teachers that are on board,” Tucker-Gray said. “I know some teachers that are very strict about not having [sporks out], [and because of that] they make their classrooms spork-free zones.” PICTURED LEFT TO RIGHT, TOP TO BOTTOM: Katy Stegemann comforts her victim Jasper Anderson after sporking him during class., Emily Fishman, Sadie Zinn, Adrian Huntley, reigning champion Taylor Tucker-Gray, Matt Vetort, Josh Krauth-Harding and Britta Carlson. Pictures taken by Ally Einhaus and Grace Jensen.

FEATURE

PHOTO: MAZEY PERRY

The Story Behind the Smile

BY MAZEY PERRY

very weekend, a familiar crowd of people make their way in and out of Cloverleaf Restaurant on Liberty Street in downtown Ann Arbor. Mary Smiley, a Cloverleaf waitress, asks how many people are in the party. She smiles, picks up the corresponding amount of menus and takes them to an open table. The customers that come in and out are usually not strangers; they are regulars that know their waitress well. What they do not all know is why she chose to work at the Cloverleaf. Well, here’s why: Because when she was nine, her mother committed suicide by overdosing on sleeping pills. Because, “[My father] bought a school bus, took out all the seats and made beds, and my sister, brother and I traveled with him,” Smiley said. She lived in the abandoned bus for five years. They stayed in various camp grounds, and sometimes in the woods. Her father did not believe in traditional schooling and was hooked on marijuana. Because she got pregnant, interrupt-

ing her dreams of moving to France and learning the language. She married a man who she did not truly love because her wanted to start a family. “Those were my favorite years of my life, when I had kids,” Smiley said. She and her husband’s home in Michigan was being foreclosed on, and their car had been towed. They moved to Georgia to be with her husband’s brother. Because after she had four kids, she decided she was not going to be with a man she did not want to spend the rest of her life with. She got a divorce that did not work out the way she had hoped. Her husband took the kids and moved to Michigan, so she tried to move on with someone else, but it only got worse from there. Because when she escaped the bad relationship, she started drinking and got pregnant again, but this time got an abortion. Because when she moved to Ann Arbor, she was broken. “I was seriously depressed and alcohol was the only thing that made me feel okay,” Smiley said.

Because she needed to get a job and get back on her feet and have a healthy relationship with her children. “I’ve been in rehab six times, finally now I have a relationship with them, but it’s taken this long and I missed their teenage years,” Smiley said. She now works weekends at the Cloverleaf and weekdays at the Avalon Cafe and Kitchen, right across the street. “I’m happy right now and I like my life and I’m willing to work everyday and I want a relationship with my kids,” Smiley said. She still struggles with alcohol addiction, but she has made an immense amount of progress. Her son just had a baby and she is a proud new grandmother. She wants to save up money in hopes of visiting the new baby. The customers that come in and out may never get to know her story. They may never understand that her smile is one of heartbreak, struggle and perseverance. ABOVE: Mary Smiley sits at a table in the Cloverleaf Restaurant in a free moment during her shift.

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NEWS

PHOTO COURTESY: JUSTIN DIMICK

Can You Teach an Old Surgeon New Tricks? Leaders of the Michigan Bariatric Surgery Collaborative have developed a way to teach practicing surgeons how to perform their operations better.

BY ABIGAIL GAIES

he Oxford dictionary defines a coach as “an instructor or trainer in sport.” Atul Gawande, M.D., M.P.H., surgeon, writer and public health researcher at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH), provides a broader definition of coaching in his New Yorker article, “Personal Best”: “The concept of a coach is slippery. Coaches are not teachers, but they teach. They’re not your boss, but they can be bossy. They don’t even have to be good at the sport. The famous Olympic gymnastics coach Bela Karolyi couldn’t do a split if his life depended on it. Mainly, they observe, they judge and they guide.” Using Gawande’s description, the title of “coach” could apply to those practicing professions beyond sports—including surgery. Justin Dimick, M.D., M.P.H., George D. Zuidema Professor of Surgery and Chief of the Division of Minimally Invasive Surgery at the University of Michigan (U-M) have been working with fellow surgeons in the Michigan Bariatric Surgery Collaborative (MBSC) to improve the quality of the operations they perform. Currently, there are many programs in 10

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place that focus on improving care processes before and after the surgery, “but we thought it was time to start focusing on the surgery itself,” Dimick said. The key question was: “For surgeons already in practice, already out there on their own, how do they learn new things, and how do they improve themselves?” Dimick and the other leaders of MBSC found that “what many [surgeons] recommend as the safest and the best way to learn things, and the things that they are actually doing aren’t the same.” Before they could figure out how to improve surgery, they needed a method to measure the quality of an operation. Although measuring the skill of a surgeon seems simple enough, a study

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ABOVE: Two of Michigan’s bariatric surgeons meet at one of the sessions. They discuss techniques on how to better perform a laparoscopic surgery on the stomach.

like this had never been performed before. Dimick and the other MBSC leaders collected videos of bariatric surgeries around the state. The surgeons looked at each other’s videos and rated the other surgeons’ skills. Dimick then linked the rating to the outcomes of the surgeries, as well as the complications that arose during or after. When he analyzed the data, he was not surprised to find a strong correlation between the rating of the surgeons and the surgical outcomes: surgeons with higher skill rating had fewer complications and better outcomes. Having discovered the bariatric surgeons with the best technical skills in the state was a strong start, but they still did not know how to—or if they could— improve the skills of other surgeons. Dimick was familiar with Gawande’s article. “[In it] he raised this issue of why is it that professional musicians and professional athletes who are the best in the world have coaches, but surgeons, who also rely on peak physical or technical performance, don’t have coaches,” Dimick said. This idea formed the basis of their plan to improve surgical skill among MBSC

NEWS surgeons. “We wrote a grant to the Na- goal than that, and that is to develop a cal skills are below that of their peers. tional Institute of Health and they fund- scientific understanding of how to do Furthermore, accepting coaching from ed it to develop a coaching program and coaching like this so that other places in a peer is not easy for most people—let have surgeons from around the state the country, and other procedures, can alone an accomplished surgeon. coach each other on their technical per- adopt it. I think that it’s a model that Getting past this barrier “is really not formance,” Dimick said. He compared it can be used for almost any procedure an exercise in research, it’s an exercise to a post-game video review for sports or intervention, and someone has to do in leadership—developing relationships like football: “You video yourself op- the scientific work to figure out how it with people and convincing them that erating, you sit down with somebody should be done and what it should look it’s a worthwhile thing to participate in,” who’s one of the best performers in the like.” Dimick said. state and you get feedback on your perIn other words, there is the short-term Luckily, there have been no major setformance.” goal of improving the specific bariatric backs. “I think the best way to overcome Caprice Greenberg, M.D., M.P.H., As- surgery that they are focusing on, but an obstacle is to see it coming and presociate Professor of Surgery and Direc- a long-term goal of fully understand- vent it,” Dimick said. “We’ve been pretty tor of the Wisconsin Surgical Outcomes ing how to create a coaching program good at preventing things, partly through Research Program at the University of like this for other physicians around the paranoia, partly through the fact that we Wisconsin-Madison, had a good leadership launched a pilot that team.” was tested at BWH, MBSC has been “You can do great things if you can convince people that a great asset. “If I Gawande’s hospital, in Boston. The pilot didn’t know them you’re making the world a better place.” program was a small through the collabgroup of surgeons foorative and if the cusing on the feasibilteam didn’t know ity of a coaching program, trying to see world. them through the collaborative, this nevhow it would work and what it would This program is right up Dimick’s al- er would’ve happened,” Dimick said. look like. After the initial pilot at BWH, ley. All of his projects focus on improv- “Those relationships, those preexisting Greenberg tested the concept in Wis- ing care for surgical patients in two ways. relationships, enabled this.” consin in what she called the Wisconsin “One is to directly implement projects Relationships have played a central Surgical Coaching Program. like this one that are innovative ways of role in this program’s success. “We spent However, Dimick’s program in Michi- improving care,” he said. Dimick’s other a lot of time developing relationships gan is the largest surgical coaching pro- specialty is evaluating medical care pub- in a way that they feel like they’re going gram to date. The 12 surgeons who had lic policies put in place to improve care. to get value out of it and that we’re not received the highest ratings in the orig- He tries to understand whether they lead wasting their time,” Dimick said. “[That inal videos were trained to be coaches. to better outcomes or save money. is] the biggest barrier in getting people “We didn’t train them in how to do the Although similar to many of the oth- to participate in anything: if you’re going operation better, because they already er projects he is involved in, the surgi- to waste their time.” knew how to do the operation well,” cal coaching program is different in that Ultimately, surgeons and other physiDimick said. “We trained them on how “it’s an implementation project,” Dimick cians will accept peer coaching, even if it to give feedback well and how to sit with said. “We’re not just evaluating things, is hard, because they want to do what’s a peer. You have two fully trained sur- we’re not just analyzing data, we actual- best for their patients. “You can do great geons, these aren’t residents, these ar- ly have to do something, put something things if you can convince people that en’t trainees, these are people that are all into motion.” you’re making the world a better place.” done, out on their own, and you have to It generated tremendous national atgive them feedback.” tention in the scientific and mainstream At the start of each meeting, the press. Although coaches sit down with their “coachees” the project has for two hours. During this time they go been successful, over the video that the coachee submit- there have been ted, and the coach gives them tips, tricks challenges along and techniques for improvement. the way. Surgeons There are two main things that Dimick were hesitant to is hoping to accomplish through the join this program surgical coaching program. “One is to in the beginning improve care for the patients that are because it is ofundergoing bariatric surgery in our col- ten challenging for laborative—improve the technical skills, them to come to up everybody’s game a little bit,” Dimick terms with the fact said. “But I think there’s a much bigger that their techniTOP LEFT: Highly-rated bariatric surgeons meet in the beginning of a session to learn how to properly teach their future coachees. These meetings happened a couple times in the beginning of the program before there were any meetings between the coaches and the coachees. TOP RIGHT: A coach and a coachee sit in a private meeting. They watch the coachee’s video on a large screen, discussing techniques and choices made during and after the video. BOTTOM: This is an example of the criteria the surgeons were rated on in the very beginning of the program. There are categories for each part of the surgery and specific things to judge in each category. There is a space for any additional comments needed to be made for each part of the surgery. april

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NEWS

PHOTO COURTESY: DECODE DETROIT

A City of Puzzles

Decode Detroit exposes Ann Arbor residents and visitors to small businesses one clue at a time.

BY AVA MILLMAN

lue lights blinked rhythmi- erva escape onto the internet—and have game to be successful. cally along the walls, giving the doors opened in return—or defy “If you go to Boston or New York, a sense of order to the room Minerva’s wishes and try to escape while and ask a restaurant to give up one table where a random assortment keeping her unstable program in the se- for a puzzle, they look at you like you’re of objects such as cords, ropes, flash- cure server. The second part of the sto- crazy,” Doyle said. “Because that’s two lights and keys were strewn across the ry is entitled “Minerva’s Escape.” After customers that you can no longer serve, floor. Players scrambled to find the final Minerva escapes onto the internet, play- but in Michigan we have the luxury of code as the artificial intelligence named ers must go around the city of Ann Ar- space.” Minerva laughed on the screen over- bor solving a series of puzzles in order “There’s a very creative culture in Michhead. The clock countigan, and Southeast Miched down, and when it igan in particular, made of hit zero, all hope was people who make things, “If you go to Boston or New York, and ask a lost. makers or do-it-yourself Heads hung low as people,” Doyle said. “Our restaurant to give up one table for a puzzle, Patton Doyle walked goal is to bring those peothey look at you like you’re crazy. Because through the door in a ple together to create a type white lab coat and exof entertainment that is not that’s two customers that you can no claimed how well they available and you couldn’t longer serve, but in Michigan we have the had done and how close pull off in more dense areas they were to escaping. of the country.” luxury of space.” Doyle experienced One of the key aspects of his first escape room Decode Detroit’s mission a little over a year ago, is to bring locals and visiand it sparked a dream that has recent- to gain her trust. tors alike to special places in the city that ly become a reality: an escape room that “We like to refer to her as an adolescent they might otherwise pass by. “A lot of has a corresponding urban adventure artificial intelligence,” Doyle said about the players have said, ‘I didn’t know any which is designed to draw people away the character Minerva. “She thinks she of these shops existed!’” Doyle said. “I from their phones and into the world knows things but she doesn’t really yet. don’t know if they’ll go back and buy around them. In taking things that might be natural things, but it’s very much introducing Doyle’s Company is called Decode conjectures for her, she makes mistakes people to places they didn’t know were Detroit, and by using technology and and it has significant implications.” around.” creativity, he, along with his family and The puzzles range from simple riddles Decode Detroit is leading the way to a college roommate, have created an ad- to electronic gears that must be posi- new form of entertainment where peoventure that takes players all throughout tioned correctly for the clue to be dis- ple are not confined by gates, walls or Ann Arbor chasing Minerva—an ado- played. a screen. Instead, they are purely being lescent artificial intelligence that has esThe “Minerva’s Escape” puzzles are introduced to the world that is already caped onto the internet—to dozens of hosted in small businesses like Spice around them in fun and exciting way. small local businesses in order to solve Merchants, Spun, 16 Hands and The They are currently expanding the puzpuzzles hidden throughout the city. Lunch Room, all of which are located in zles in Ann Arbor, and are planning on Minerva’s story is currently a two part Ann Arbor’s Kerrytown. adding a Detroit location in 2017. event, starting with “The Minerva ProjDoyle was trained as an urban transect,” an hour long escape room located portation planner at the University of Interested in Decode Detroit? Visit their www.decodedetroit.com or call just outside of Ann Arbor in which play- Michigan, and knows that the availability website (313) 438-8054 ers must decide if they should help Min- of space here in Michigan is key for the april

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FEATURE

PHOTO COURTESY: ANN ARBOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Hearing Impaired, Not Deaf

BY MADIE GRACEY

obyn Skodzinsky noticed she wasn’t raising her hand as often as other students. In third grade, Skodzinsky was taking a mandatory school screening for hearing. She had been tested several times and was caught cheating. The tester caught on, and Skodzinsky was tested alone with her back to the tester. At that point, the tester noticed loss of hearing in Skodzinsky’s left ear. It is likely that she was born with hearing loss, but it’s not certain. “I don’t think it came as a surprise to anyone that I had difficulty hearing,” Skodzinsky said. “Mostly, I think everyone was relieved that they could finally turn the TV down.” HEARING AIDS

At the age of 15, Skodzinsky received her first Behind-The-Ear (BTE) hearing aid for her left ear. As she aged, she lost more of her hearing. At 17, she received a second BTE hearing aid for her right 14

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ear and her hearing loss was considered moderate. She is now 36, and her hearing impairment is considered severe. She currently has a pair of BTE Super Power (SP) hearing aids, which boosts certain frequencies by as much as 80 decibels. All hearing aids are designed differently to accommodate different hearing losses. The BTE hearing aids are best for those with a high levels of loss. In-The-Ear (ITE) hearing aids tend to be best for those with mild loss, and are often worn

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ABOVE: Robyn Skodzinsky participates in the Ann Arbor Public Schools disability workshop. They take place all around the schools in the district.

by those who gradually lose their hearing as they age. Skodzinsky’s hearing aids are extremely strong and have custom-made earmolds to ensure a tight fit, so that feedback isn’t heard by those around her. “I was very excited to get hearing aids,” Skodzinsky said. “Some people are embarrassed that their hearing aids are visible, [but] I would rather people know that I have trouble hearing. My brother also wears hearing aids, but wants his to be as inconspicuous as possible.” Skodzinsky believes that her hearing loss has had a positive effect on her life. She relies on visual cues—including physical changes brought on by emotion—to help her communicate. “I think [my hearing loss] has led me to be a more empathetic person,” Skodzinsky said. “I am also more sensitive to the negative treatment of those who are differently abled.” If Skodzinsky loses any more hearing, her hearing aids may no longer be a ben-

FEATURE efit. She can no longer enjoy music or live theater like she used to. Because of this, she feels a strong sense of loss. For watching television and movies, she uses closed captioning since she can’t hear the actor’s voices. “About two years ago, I realized I could no longer hear birds singing, even while I was wearing hearing aids,” Skodzinsky said. “That moment was probably the hardest I’ve had as a hearing impaired person.”

for me if I lose more hearing,” Skodzinsky said. “It is assumed that we all have lost hearing because of ototoxic stimuli in our environment. While we know what caused Tommy and Diana’s hearing loss, we don’t know what stimuli is causing loss for Mark, Matt and myself.” Some pain relievers, antibiotics and antihistamines, are known to be ototoxic for some people.

LAWS AND COLLEGE

The American with Disabilities Act (ADA) has helped Skodzinsky tremendously. It assures her that she can rely on legal protections when they are not freely given. This was very important while she was in college, as she was able to ask for reasonable accommodations, such as asking the professor to wear a microphone. DETAILS

Accommodations have been made and Skodzinsky learned improved to help to speak naturally, those who have loss but she had trouof hearing. This helps “About two years ago, I realized I could no longer hear ble making a few them do simple, evbirds singing, even while I was wearing hearing aids. sounds like ‘s’ and eryday activities like ‘r’. Without intendtalking on the phone, That moment was probably the hardest I’ve had as a ing to, she learned using an alarm clock, hearing person.” to watch for visual etc. “I prefer to comcues to help bring municate by email context to a conand text rather than versation. She isn’t using a telephone,” an expert lip readSkodzinsky said. “But er, but she does rely when I do need to use on lip reading at least 50 percent of the HER JOB the phone to call someone, I use the captime. Skodzinsky works at King Elementa- tioned telephone (CapTel). I also use a “It is hardest to lip read when someone ry in the Ann Arbor Public School dis- special alarm clock that shakes my mathas facial hair, because it covers their trict. It tends to be a very inclusive envi- tress and turns my lamp on and off until mouth,” Skodzinsky said. “It can be hard ronment. She tries to be deliberate and I wake up.” to understand small children, as they are upfront with anyone she hasn’t met: “I just developing their speech patterns and briefly explain my hearing impairment BEING AROUND OTHERS may not enunciate as well. Children are and how they can effectively communi“Those who are Deaf wish to remain always willing to repeat themselves or cate with me,” Skodzinsky said. “Most unaided by hearing aids or cochlear imphrase their statement a different way.” people appreciate this and almost always plants,” Skodzinsky said. “They have Skodzinsky’s parents didn’t think learn- remember me from that moment.” a unique and rich culture that is often ing American Sign Language (ASL) It is harder to speak to someone on the fiercely protected. Those who are hearwould be beneficial—in the early 1970s, CapTel at work, because she cannot read ing impaired often feel like they are outit was considered best to “mainstream” their lips or see any visual cues. The Cap- siders to both the Deaf and hearing Deaf and hearing impaired kids. This Tel isn’t perfect, there is a delay between communities since they are neither Deaf means that they should learn to speak what someone says and what is cap- or hearing.” and lip read, not learn to sign, and go tioned on the phone. Sometimes it takes to “normal” schools with “normal” kids. a minute for the captioning to come on the screen. SPEECH

FAMILY

Skodzinsky’s family needed to modify their way of communicating with her. They could no longer call her from another room or speak with their back to her. She has three brothers and one sister who all wear hearing aids. Her half-sister, Diana, and half-brother, Tommy, virtually went deaf overnight when they were toddlers caused by an ototoxic flu medication. Two of Skodzinsky’s brothers, Matt and Mark, wear BTE hearing aids like her. Like her, they lost their hearing gradually. Their hearing loss was more gradual than Skodzinsky’s and they only began to wear hearing aids in their late 20s. All five of them, Skodzinsky and her siblings, have sensorineural hearing loss– damage to hair cells and/or the cochlea. “A cochlear implant may be beneficial

ABOVE: Skodzinsky, outside King Elementary School, playing with a group of second graders at their lunch recess.

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FEATURE

PHOTO: SACHA VERLON

Not Your Average Librarian Community High School media center specialist Jeri Schneider talks activism, veganism and of course, books.

BY PAIGE DUFF

t a first glance, you can tell Jeri Schneider is not your typical high school librarian. Her fuchsia-tipped hair, red reading glasses and vibrant smile stand out as soon as you see her. But there is even more to Schneider than what meets the eye. She is a woman of many interests, pursuits and passions. Social activism is one of them. “Back in the late ‘80s, early ‘90s, I was involved with a group called the Homeless Action Committee,” Schneider said. “They worked around Ann Arbor trying to get more affordable housing to people with low-income. We were initially just trying to raise awareness about the problems of homelessness in Ann Ar16

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bor. We were very locally focused.” The HAC attended meeting after meeting of the city council, begging them to put some of the city’s resources towards solving the problem. Unfortunately, city council would not budge. “The city kept saying, ‘Well, we know it’s a problem, and we’d like to do something about it, but we don’t have the resources,’” Schneider said. “‘We don’t have any money to spend on housing.

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ABOVE: Jeri Schneider behind her desk, hard at work. “It’s been fantastic... I love Community,” Schneider said.

It’s a big problem, but it’s too big.’” As it turns out, the city council had millions of dollars in their budget set aside for a new parking structure. The HAC was incredulous. “It was basically a lie that they didn’t have the money, it was really a choice they were making,” Schneider said. “It’s just a matter of changing people’s priorities, to say ‘Hey, it’s more important to house people than house cars.’ That actually became our big slogan: ‘House people, not cars.’” It soon became clear that Ann Arbor citizens agreed. That year, there was a mayoral election. The Republican candidate—who was in favor of the parking structure—lost.

FEATURE “We kind of took that as a ‘Hey, the people of Ann Arbor have spoken, and they don’t want this structure,’” Schneider said. The Homeless Action Committee’s work proved effective, raising significant awareness in and around the community and inspiring other organizations to heed their call to action. “The structure actually wasn’t built, there were a number of people in town who set up non-profit organizations.” Schneider said. “Avalon Housing being the main one, and they were unique in that they got grant funds, federal money, state funds, local city funds and private donations.” Founded in 1992, Avalon Housing currently works to provide homes for people who cannot afford to house themselves. Often, these people are homeless or on the verge of becoming homeless. With a large emphasis on comfortable, affordable living spaces and eviction prevention, Avalon currently houses over 600 people throughout Ann Arbor. “We still have homelessness, it hasn’t gone away, but people are doing something about it.” Schneider said. “I believe that’s partially a result of the work [the HAC] did. And I was not alone, I mean I was just one in a ton of people. It felt really good to be a part of that movement.” That sort of activist work within the community is not the only way Schneider makes a difference. For her, changing the world can start with something as simple as her diet. “I’ve been vegan since 1997, that’s a really big part of my life at this point,”

Schneider said. “One of my favorites is, well I call it a cheesy veg dip, it’s so delicious. People who are vegan, people who are die-hard cheese-eaters, they’ll love this stuff.” The ingredients include a cashew-cream base, carrots, onions, nutritional yeast, onions, garlic, lemon juice and “a few other things.” “It’s super simple to make, delicious and it’s really healthy.” Schneider said. “It doesn’t have all the cholesterol, hormones that you get in dairy cheese and doesn’t have all the animal suffering. It feels good to eat it for a bunch of reasons.” Schneider teaches vegan cooking classes every other month at the Whole Foods Cranbrook branch on Eisenhower. “You’ll learn how to make some delicious, simple, healthy vegan dishes, and you get to sample them at the end,” Schneider said. “I always give out recipes, tips, substitutions, techniques, things like that.” To sign up for a class, she said, call the branch’s service desk or visit their website. Despite all her unique traits, Schneider does have one passion that fits right into the librarian stereotype: her love of reading. “I read everyday,” Schneider said. “I don’t always have time to read as much as I want to. I get frustrated, there are so many things I want to read but I just don’t have the time. I’m actually a slow-reader, which is kind of ironic, being a librarian, but I do my best. I read a lot of different things, fiction, nonfic-

tion. I tend to have multiple books going at the same time, I often don’t finish books, I read as much as I can and then I get distracted by something else that’s really good and think I’ll come back to it later and then sometimes don’t. I have piles of library books at home, I have a really huge list of books I’ve checked out, a long list of books I have on hold,” Schneider said. One of her current favorites? “Just Mercy” by Bryan Stevenson. “He spoke at the University of Michigan March 7, and was amazing,” Schneider said. “I started reading his book yesterday, before the talk, and I’m going to try to get through that. It’s powerful stuff, he’s having a big impact.” Schneider is also a strong believer that for those who are more fortunate, having a positive impact on the world is in their job description. “I believe we all have the ability, and responsibility, especially if we come from privilege, to try and make a difference…” Schneider said. “I loved the Women’s March, that’s the most recent one I’ve gone to. I felt really empowered by that, I know a lot of us were feeling kind of knocked down, pretty defeated after the election. Going to that, being among like-minded people, some getting active really for the first time, some older more seasoned activists, but just everyone coming together and saying ‘We’re not just going to roll-over and take this.’” A librarian, mother, healthy-eating advocate, bibliophile and activist? Jeri Schneider clearly is not the kind of book that can be judged by its cover.

New Books in the Media Center

“Streetwise, caffeinated, and wonderfully eclectic.” — Michiko Kakutani, The New York Times

“Rupi Kaur is a poet of and for the 21st century…” — David Nilsen, Fourth and Sycamore

“Brilliant.” — San Francisco Chronicle

“Stunning new thriller.” — Publishing News

“Live it, express it, share it.” — Dean Haspiel, creator of Street Code

Above from left to right: This Is How You Lose Her by Junot Diaz, Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur, Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Enemies by Tim Bowler, Page by Paige by Laura Lee Gulledge.

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FEATURE

Memories of a Tiny Violin

Holocaust refugee recounts his journey from Nazi occupied Austria to Ann Arbor.

BY RUBY TAYLOR

e sank into the beige cushion of his favorite chair and leaned back against the torn woven straw. He folded his weathered hands and rested them on his belly. He stared out the window, cloudy eyes settling on the wintery scene. His expression was thoughtful as he watched snowflakes blowing through the air and settling on the wooden windowsill. He has watched this same scene out of the same window for 50 winters, but he is 84, and the first part of his life was not nearly so consistent. George Rosenwald is many things: husband, father, son, grandfather, retired professor, role model, writer, refugee and holocaust survivor. When Rosenwald was just five years old, his family fled Vienna, Austria. In order to stay unnoticed by the Geheime Staatspolizei, the secret police, he and his father left their apartment with nothing but a violin. If they had been stopped by the Geheime Staatspolizei, his father’s excuse would be that he was simply taking his son to a violin lesson, 18

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as they lived in a very musical part of town—a short walk away from the Vienna Opera House. Though the logical way to travel from Austria to Switzerland was by train, the Rosenwalds chose to travel by air to avoid trouble at the border where Nazis were often patrolling, which many jews had experienced. Though their apartment was just a block away from the bus stop where they would be driven to the airport, they would take the long road and loop around a few times, taking one last look at their home. His father held the violin case in one hand and his son’s in the other as he left his home of 45 years without looking back. The child-sized violin still sits at the back of Rosenwald’s closet 79 years later. Rosenwald still ponders how his mother and father made the difficult decision to leave Austria. His parents had built themselves a comfortable life in Vienna. They lived in an expensive roomy apartment in the heart of the town. His

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father was a successful lawyer and his mother had happily integrated into the community. They had a network of friends, three guaranteed hot meals everyday and most importantly, certainty. His father knew that he would not be able to work in other countries due to his refugee status. “We lived as very poor people,” Rosenwald said. They rented out small apartments and survived off of welfare for 10 years. It wasn’t too hard for Rosenwald because refugee living was all he had ever known, but he will never forget how difficult the transition was for his parents. Rosenwald is incredibly thankful for his parents decision. If they had decided to stay in Vienna, chances are he would not be alive today. “It took courage more than anything, to go into the unknown,” Rosenwald said. “You know what you’re giving up, but you don’t know what you’re getting into. You don’t know where you’re going.”

FEATURE

Rising Through the Flames

PHOTO COURTESY: JOE GOBLET

The Chicago Fire Department Through the Eyes of One Lieutenant.

BY ISABEL ESPINOSA

oe Goblet did not plan on becoming a firefighter. He attended St. Louis University after growing up in Southwest Chicago;Goblet graduated with a major in Communications and a minor in Marketing with the intent of becoming an advertiser, but somehow found himself at the Chicago Fire Department (CFD) instead. Goblet joined the CFD when he got out of college. “It just so happened that I didn’t know what I wanted to do for a career, and they happened to announce a test [to get into the fire academy],” Goblet said. “Because it’s working for a big city, you can only apply and take the test when they give it.” Flash forward 20 years and Goblet has been promoted twice within the department. Similar to getting into the fire academy, promotions within the fire department are mainly due to timing. “You never quite know when the tests are coming around,” Goblet said. “There’s

no schedule, they will just announce when the tests are coming and you just have to prepare regardless.” Everybody in the CFD starts as a candidate firefighter and spends six months in the fire academy. The following year, candidate firefighters are placed at firehouses around the city, where they go through training and learn how to firefight on the street, as opposed to how they are taught in the academy. During that year, candidate firefighters cannot go to different firehouses because the administration assumes the candidate firefighters do not know anything. After roughly 18 months, the candidate name is removed and they become official firefighters for the city of Chicago. People can stay a firefighter for their whole career; they do not have to take promotional exams, but the tests do not occur very often so many employees take advantage of those opportunities. “Since [promotional exams] don’t happen very often, you can’t really let the

opportunity go,” Goblet said. After 12 years of being a firefighter, Goblet became an engineer—a person that drives the engines. Fire engines are the vehicles that pump water, while fire trucks are the vehicles with one or more ladders. “[I got] to drive something that’s 30 to 40 feet long with lights and sirens and people got out of my way; it was a pretty cool thing to do,” Goblet said. “You still have to follow the rules of the road, and you still have to be a safe driver.” Six years later the CFD gave another promotional exam to become a Lieutenant—the rank between an engineer and a captain who are in charge of a fire company for the time that they work. Goblet was fortunate enough to get the job with 18 years at the CFD. According to Goblet, the process of getting promoted within the department takes a long time. The exams are the way officers move up the ladder on the job and since the department gives the opportunity for a promotion so rarely, april

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FEATURE many officers take them even when they a work day, officers live at the firehouse when the food is put down on the tado not feel like it. for the day. The worst part for Goblet ble. There’s nothing like aged scrambled “Three years ago I was promoted to was having to drag all the gear, bedding eggs on Sunday mornings. They look so Lieutenant,” Goblet said. “We took the and other equipment he was issued to a good when you’re sitting down and by test in 2009 and I wasn’t promoted until different firehouse every day. the time you get back [from the run] it March of 2014. We didn’t get our grades “My car was my locker, and if we looks like play-dough you’ve left open until the end of 2012, but if you only had a big working fire usually all the for a couple days.” have an opportunity to move up once a stuff didn’t smell very good,” Goblet The stability of being a part of the decade you have very limited opportuni- said. “My car smelled like a chimney for CFD has been incredible for Goblet. ties. Right now I’m dealing with the Cap- about 3 weeks [after that]. There’s also “I’ve been very fortunate to be in a retain’s test. [I already took the written test the chance of forgetting stuff, and if you cession-proof occupation,” Goblet said. at the end of January] and I can’t wait had a bad night and you forgot some- “It doesn’t matter what the economy until the oral proficiency half is over.” thing, then you had to go back for it.” does. There are always fires; there are alGoblet served as a Relief Lieutenant Recently, Goblet requested a trans- ways people who need help.” for nine years. Relief officers are not as- fer to Engine 35 and got the spot based However, according to Goblet, there signed to one specific firehouse, but in- on seniority. He now serves at a house are a lot of strange things out there and stead fill in when assigned members are in Bucktown, roughly 20 minutes away disrespect to people in uniform. “[It can on vacation, injured or sick. The Re- from his home in southwest Chicago. be] challenging dealing with people but lief position can you just have to be be filled in any professional and rank, whether get the job done,” it be Engineer, Goblet said. Lieutenant, CapIn a small town, tain or Battalwhere there are “It doesn’t matter what the economy does. ion Chief. “They two or three fireThere are always fires; there are always give you a dishouses, it is much trict that you easier to maintain people who need help.” work in, a generall the apparatus al region of the needed for the job. city, [and] I just But in a big city bounced around like Chicago, it is every day,” Gobmuch harder to let said. When people call 911, it goes to an keep the equipment up to date because Goblet felt there were many pros of alarm center called the OEMC. From there are so many firehouses. The CFD relieving. “You don’t get involved in a lot there, it goes to a building with a map employs over 5,100 firefighters, engiof the issues that a house has,” Goblet of the whole city. They are able to get neers, lieutenants, captains and battalion said. “There might be conflicts between the address based on the phone num- chiefs, with roughly 100 engines and 60 members of the firehouse. I was work- ber and they send the run based on the trucks. Keeping the fleet maintained and ing with different people, and because I emergency. somewhat new is challenging and very was a Reliever I was working with differThe OEMC sends the run to the com- expensive. On top of just the physical ent firefighters.” puter systems in the firehouse, where the things, like equipment, the CFD also has But there are a few cons to not having bell goes off and a mechanical female to train all of the the new candidates. a house. Some of the camaraderie is lost voice that tell members of that house While the CFD may be Goblet’s evsince relieving officers are at a different what kind of run it is and what the ad- eryday life, his occupation seems more house every day. “You can go to a really dress is. But sometimes there can be glamorous to much of the public; since good house with really good people and misinterpretations from the phone call, 2012, the TV show ‘Chicago Fire’ has once your day is over, you’re on the road turning the process into something akin been airing on NBC. The show follows again and you don’t get to enjoy that ca- to a game of telephone. the lives of the firefighters and paramedmaraderie every day,” Goblet said. “You “The run might start as having a doz- ics working at the CFD at the firehouse might go to a house that might be having en tulips and by the time we get there we of Engine 51, Truck 81, Squad 3, Amissues and you just have to get through have a dozen roses,” Goblet said. bulance 61 and Battalion 25. Now airthe day. I would say 95 percent of my Firefighters are frequently interrupt- ing the fifth season, ‘Chicago Fire’ has work days were fun.” ed during simple tasks such as eating generated several spin-offs running in For Goblet, The hardest part of being and sleeping. “It’s part of the routine,” the same alternate universe such as ‘Chia relieving officer was carrying all of his Goblet said. “It’s like people have a cago Med’, ‘Chicago P.D.’ and ‘Chicago stuff with him everywhere he went. On camera on our kitchen [and] they know Justice’.

FIRST PAGE LEFT: The arial ladder of Truck 4 at the Chinatown Firehouse. FIRST PAGE RIGHT: The Chinatown firehouse. LEFT: The symbol of the Chicago Fire Department. It is printed on the sides of all rigs. RIGHT: The patch of the Chicago Fire Department. NEXT PAGE: Goblet’s rig, Engine 35, at his new house in Bucktown.

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FEATURE Goblet frequently gets asked how the show compares with the job and his answer is always the same. “It doesn’t,” Goblet said. “If you take the best runs throughout the course of your career and boil down all the coolest stories that you’ve seen, you can make probably one really cool episode.” “Chicago Fire” is filmed at an active firehouse. At the firehouse, a large tent is set up behind the house itself where the real rigs run out of when they are filming. The show is filmed at one of the newest firehouses in the city, located slightly Southwest of the Loop. It used to be one of the oldest houses in Chicago, but it was falling into disrepair so a new house was built. The house is located close enough to downtown so the Chicago skyline can be in shots of the show. “The first year they were filming the TV show, [the chief that advising them was asked] ‘How do we get the stunt men on the roof to look more like firemen?’ and he said ‘Use real firemen because we’re used to it,’” Goblet said. It is an unusual thing to walk on a peaked roof. The producers are always looking for fresh faces to be on the show. They look for different people to be in big trauma scenes where there are multiple victims or need real firefighters to fill in big action shots. But in the reality of Goblet’s job, every

now and then, a run is successful and the overall outcome is good, whether it be finding someone in a house fire or saving someone who has a sudden illness. A successful run to Goblet is when everybody at the firehouse does their job effectively and gets home safely. “I tell people all the time [that] regardless of the stuff we have to face, the most important part of out job is to go home because we all have families,” Goblet said. “It always feels good when we help other people and that’s what we’re there for. But the best feeling is when we get to come home safe.” Since Goblet has been apart of the CFD, he’s been told by others in the force that the number of fires down. “I think a lot of that is due to prevention and a lot of that is due to the technology in houses now with smoke detectors and CO detectors keeping people safer,” Goblet said. Fire drills take place throughout the country because of a tragedy in the city of Chicago. On Dec. 1, 1958, a fire broke out in the basement of the ‘Our Lady of the Angels’ school in Humboldt Park. The fire started in the basement near a stairway in the old elementary school. There were approximately 1600 students in the building at the time, with the fire killing 92 children and 3 nuns. Many more were injured as they jumped from the second-floor windows to es-

cape the smoke, fire and toxic gasses that filled the school. Chicago tragedies have influenced other fire safety techniques such as movie theater doors. The Iroquois Theater fire occurred on Dec. 30, 1903 is considered to be the deadliest theater fire in the history of the United States. The fire killed at least 602 people, starting from an electrical short-circuit. Many people attending the matinee performance who attempted to exit the burning theater got stuck inside because they had inward-swinging doors. The first people to the doors could not open them because the people behind them were smashing them into the doors and everybody was trapped inside. According to Goblet, this is why movie theater doors all open outward when you’re exiting the theater. Most of the fire service job evolves from tragedies that have happened; most of the training within the fire department originated from trying to avoid tragedies from occurring again. That is where a lot of the rules and regulations come in and the standard operating procedures into the future. “If it wasn’t for tragedies that have happened in the past, you wouldn’t think about how to improve the way of life and how to keep people safer out there,” Goblet said. “It’s pretty cool the number of fires are down. [It’s] a great thing with regards to the general public because it’s keeping everybody safer.”

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FEATURE

MEALS ON WHEELS It started as a program that delivered meals to 16 residents in Ypsilanti. Now, the program delivers 400 hot and cold meals everyday. BY MEGAN SYER

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FEATURE

avid Jordan leans with his hands shoulder-width apart on a table, glancing at the blue sticky note attached to the clipboard in front of him. He picks up a brown paper bag next to him and stands, shifting his eyes to the 18 others surrounding the clipboard. He stares at the sticky note, then back at the bags. “We’re one over,” he says, confused. “I guess that’s okay. Better to be one over than one under, right?” He shrugs and smiles before continuing to place them in bins— each bag filled with one banana, one pear, one or two cartons of milk and bread—which were then placed in a van to be distributed to residents surrounding the area of Ypsilanti, Mich. In the summer of 1973, the Mayor’s Council on Aging in the city of Ypsilanti approved to allot $8,000 for the delivery of meals to homebound individuals. By Jan. 14, 1974, the program, Ypsilanti Meals on Wheels (YMOW), had organized volunteers to prepare meals in the kitchen of First Baptist Church. The organization then made its first delivery to 16 residents. Since then, the program has expanded and distributes approximately 400 hot and cold (to be heated later) meals per day to the elderly, ill and disabled, regardless of financial state. Additionally, the organization purchased four vans for the delivery of meals, which are prepared by Valley Food Services. The menu rotates on a 21-day cycle for hot meals and a 15day cycle for cold; all meals are aimed to be low in fat and sodium and appropriate for recipients with diabetes. Jordan, a Client Care Associate at YMOW, started as a volunteer for the organization after retirement before responding to a request to deliver the meals regularly. He was personally motivated to join because his parents both received meals from the pro-

gram; his mother suffered from cancer, his father from Alzheimer’s disease. “If you didn’t put food in front of him, he didn’t think about [eating],” Jordan said. “The Alzheimer’s got so bad that they couldn’t cook for themselves… My sister and I were working full-time and it was just one of those situations.” Jordan got involved with YMOW in the fall of 2015 and, as a Client Care Associate, has realized that for some homebound residents, he provides

more than just a meal. “Other than giving people food who need it, it’s a little bit of interaction because sometimes we’re the only people they see all day,” Jordan said. “They have no other person that spends 30 seconds with them.” About 40 residents who receive meal service with pets additionally receive cat food, dog food and kitty litter provided by the Humane Society. YMOW also partners with students from the University of Michigan and Eastern

Michigan University; nursing and social work students participate in assessments, while students involved in sororities and fraternities at both universities volunteer to deliver meals. “We couldn’t do it without the volunteers,” said Cathie McClure, Vice President of the Board of Directors. “It’s great to have all the help with our community.” McClure got involved with YMOW by being a guide for the first Holiday Home Tours—one of the multiple fundraisers that takes place to continue supporting the community. The evening consists of a stroll through three to six homes with a wine reception at the Hutchinson Mansion and has been going on annually for the past 20 years. At bimonthly board meetings, members such as McClure discuss and look for new ways to improve wages and benefits in addition to improving the program for residents and volunteers. The board meetings also look for ways to prepare for the future financially. A few years ago, the organization came close to having to discontinue the program due to their financial status, which would mean closing their doors to a waiting list of nearly 30 people. Luckily, the organization bounced back and now has no waiting list; if someone were to call tomorrow, they would be able to get a meal delivered the next day. According to McClure, everyone is working hard now to secure the financial resources because the population of residents receiving meals is expected to grow. As the organization expands, YMOW will continue to support the community and deliver meals in the Ypsilanti area to individuals. “You get a joy out of helping somebody when they need it and they appreciate it,” McClure said.

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FEATURE

Yard Sign Salad

A collection of stories from people with signs in their yards. BY ISABEL ESPINOSA AND WM. HENRY SCHIRMER

LOVING EVERYONE

Margaret Elyakin is a Jewish-American living in the Upper Water Hill neighborhood in Ann Arbor, Mich. Her house displays the flag of Israel, the flag of the United States, and a “One Human Family” sign in her front yard. “When Trump got elected, I wanted to confirm to people that we’re not about that,” Elyakin said. “We are about One Human Family, and we support all our immigrant neighbors and Muslim neighbors. We love everybody.” Elyakin does not feel like President Trump is targeting the Jewish people. “I feel like he’s making it so other people feel okay about being racist, anti-semitic, and misogynistic,” Elyakin said. “He’s allowing those people to speak up and say terrible things that they wouldn’t have said in the past.” Elyakin feels the Jewish-American population is strong, so she is not nervous for her own safety. She is worried for all of the undocumented people, immigrants and people with less power than the government. Elyakin knows people fearful of immigration. She knows peo24

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ple who are undocumented. She knows people who don’t know what will happen in their future. Elyakin participated in the Women’s March on Jan. 21, 2017 in downtown Ann Arbor and the Pro-Planned Parenthood march on Feb. 11, 2017. “I want Trump and the Republicans to see how powerful we are, and how many of us there are, so they can’t just walk all SHOWING SUPPORT

Odette Petrini lives off of Newport Rd. and works as an Ann Arbor Public Schools teacher in the Adult Education Program. She teaches English as a second language to students between 21 to 80, many of them immigrants. In her front yard, she proudly displays a “One Human Family” sign. “I want everyone to know that I don’t support the way the country seems to be going right now,” Petrini said. She wants to make sure her neighbors and anyone else driving by that she is invested in making people feel welcome in this country. “It shows people that there is support for another point of view.” For Petrini, being silent is the same

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as showing agreement towards discrimination. “[Putting the sign in my yard] makes me feel like I am doing something because I am in such opposition to what is happening right now in the government, especially where immigrants are concerned,” Petrini said. “I have a classroom full of Iraqi refugees,” Petrini said. “One of my student’s father died [in Iraq] and she was not able to go back for his funeral. It was completely devastating to her.” Petrini’s students are all nervous and scared. The day after the ban against Muslims was put into place, Petrini showed her students different images of the support in airports around the country in order to try to make them feel better. Since Petrini’s grandparents were immigrants, she has always had an interest in immigration. She lived and taught overseas a few times. “I lived in a Muslim country and so I’d like to have a sign that says that everyone is welcome,” Petrini said. “It’s not just Muslims, but it’s whoever wants to come. They’re all welcome here.”

FEATURE

GIVING BACK TO NATURE

Marianna Sachs does not typically put signs in her yard. However, she feels so strongly against the deer cull that she has placed two “Stop the Shoot” signs in her front yard. Sachs loves animals and feels that Ann Arbor—or any other city—should not spend large amounts of money on a project to harm them. Sachs feels that cities such as Ann Arbor have taken all of the land away from the animals. “We need to give nature back to nature,” Sachs said. “That’s why I put the signs up.” Sachs wants the community around her to know that there are some people who feel very strongly against the deer shoot. “I have deer in my yard and I really don’t care if they eat some of my Hostas,” Sachs said. “If we’ve pushed them

to the point where they have no place else to go, it’s okay with me if they are in my yard.” She hopes that the more people who put signs up, the more support it might get from congresspeople. Sachs has not had any bad experiences with people who disagree with her views on the shoot. She noticed that other people in her neighborhood have political signs around her neighborhood, some that she does not agree with. “I would put something up against any congressperson who voted for more real-estate development anywhere in Ann Arbor,” Sachs said. Sachs feels that living in Ann Arbor affects how willing she is to show her opinions. “If I lived in Texas or Arizona or someplace else that had rednecks with guns I might think twice about putting signs up in my yard,” Sachs said. “Freedom of speech does make a difference.”

Even in Pinckney, Sachs might be more careful. She would have to think twice before putting a sign in her yard since more people hunt in Pinckney than in Ann Arbor. “I believe that if you hunt with a bow and arrow, you give the animal a fair chance,” Sachs said. “If you don’t put out traps for them then there is certainly some rational for that. I’m a vegetarian myself, so I don’t care for hunting but I can see hunting, and giving the animals a fair chance is one thing. But when you go into our parks and start shooting— not to mention the fact that you could be shooting a human—that’s going too far. When you use high powered rifles that have telescopic lenses and night vision, that’s not fair.” “I don’t know if it helps,” Sachs said. “Maybe I’m [lying to] myself but I’m hoping it does. I’m doing my bit to help.”

ABOVE: One of the two “Stop the Shoot” signs displayed in Marianna Sachs’ front yard. Living in Ann Arbor she feels very comfertable espressing her opinions. Being a vegetarian have greatly impacted her views on this issue. LEFT PAGE TOP LEFT: The “One Human Family” sign displayed in the front yard of Margaret Elyakin’s house. Along with this she hangs the flag of Israel and the flag of the United States. LEFT PAGE TOP RIGHT: One of the two “Drive Like Your Kids Live Here” sign in a yard along Miller Ave. in Ann Arbor, Mich. LEFT PAGE BOTTOM LEFT: One of the two “Hillary 2016” in the yard of a house on Miller Ave. in Ann Arbor, Mich. LEFT PAGE BOTTOM RIGHT: The “Refugees and Immigrants Welcome Here” sign posted near the parking lot of Ann Arbor Open School on Red Oak Rd. in Ann Arbor Mich. NEXT PAGE: The three signs desplayed in front of Brett Griffiths’s house. The signs include an “I Heart my Muslim Neighbor,” a “Black Lives Matter,” and a Hillary Clinton sign remaning from the election. Griffiths hopes to show that there is support for groups that may feel attacked under this administration.

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FEATURE A GROWING COLLECTION

es a lot of her ideals. German history has ally clear sign that this is someplace that Brett Griffiths has three signs in her always interested her. “[What] Ameri- they can go, that there is support,” Griffront yard along Miller Ave. She feels cans don’t spend a lot of time on when fiths said. Griffiths will continue to add signs to that protesting isn’t always meaningful in studying the Holocaust are the people Ann Arbor, where most of the popula- who didn’t say anything,” Griffiths said. her collection and hopes to eventually tion agrees with her political views. Mill- “We hear about the resistance, we hear get a “One Human Family” sign. “I call er Ave. is a highly traveled road, so she about the Nazis, but in order for really it my yard of sign salad,” Griffiths said. placed the signs in her yard so members horrible things to happen to people, a lot “It is important to me that members in my community… know there are supof her community know that there are of people have to be quiet.” When Griffiths was growing up, she porters for non-white people, for peovisible supporters. ple who may not adhere to The first sign that Griftraditional gender norms, fiths has in her yard is a and people who may have Hillary Clinton sign that been born in other counremains from before the tries,” Griffiths said. recent presidential elec“I can’t speak for black women, I can’t speak for “Every time the [prestion. “After the election transgender women, I can’t speak for immigrants, idential] administration I was concerned about a lot of members of [or] for Muslim women, but I can show them that I picks a new group of people that they hate and want my community here and am willing to hear them.” to attack,” Griffiths said. where I work,” Griffiths “I feel like it is necessary said. This led her to the to identify that group as idea of her other signs. being part of our group The first sign she bought was a “Black Lives Matter” sign. remembers signs on people’s doors that too.” She feels it’s important to protect Shortly following this she bought an “I were meant to symbolize a safe house and fight for the social justice of peoLove my Muslim Neighbor” sign. “I for small children. The purpose of the ple of all colors, races, gender, and any don’t take lightly the current presiden- signs was to have a safe place for chil- other people who have been attacked tial administration, and it is possible that dren to go to if they were running away or labeled by the government and other my views on him are more extreme than or being kidnapped. Children were sup- groups of our society. “I can’t speak for they should be and history will tell us posed to look for a sign if they were run- black women, I can’t speak for transgenning away from someone dangerous. She der women, I can’t speak for immigrants, that,” Griffiths said. Her husband is an immigrant from hopes that her signs will reflect that in a [or] for Muslim women, but I can show Germany and she believes this influenc- similar manner. “I want there to be a re- them that I am willing to hear them.”

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FEATURE

RISING FROM THE ASHES

The Ford Resource and Engagement Center in Mexicantown, Detroit is influencing the surrounding community for the better.

BY MARY DEBONA

or nearly four years, a newly constructed building sat empty in the Mexicantown Mercado, located in southwest Detroit—its purpose undecided. In 2012, Ford claimed the building and promised to put 10 million dollars into it in an effort to assist the Mexicantown community by providing a variety of services inside the building. “The vision for our facility was to save a building that was not being utilized properly in an effort to help revitalize the community residents and their businesses in the surrounding area,” said Michelle Angiano, the administrative assistant at the Ford Resource and Engagement Center. The FREC opened in 2013 and has since provided the surrounding community of southwest Detroit—48209, 48210 and 48216 zip codes—with over 1.5 million pounds of food and numerous other forms of assistance. The FREC is sponsored by both Ford Motor Company and Gleaners Community Food Bank and provides services from many other organizations including the Accounting Aid Society (AAS), SER (Service Employment Redevelopment) Metro Detroit, Living Arts, Latin Americans for Social and Economic Development (LA SED), among many others. “What we contribute here at the FREC is [pulling] all of those partners together, all of those agencies together, and provide resources in one spot,” Angiano said. “There’s always somebody in need

and a lot of times they don’t know where to go, being able to have that one place to go for various resources is more helpful than sending them on a scavenger hunt per say.” The Gleaners Food Bank is the main contributing factor in attracting most people into the FREC building, but visitors often leave aware of many more services and classes that they have access to. “We have wrap-around services,” said Carmen Mattia, the senior executive director. “And by wrap-around services, I mean that we are able to bring in a client that might need help with food assistance, but in the process of getting that help, they will also learn that in the same place, they can get assistance with attorneys, they can enroll into classes like GED, English classes, Spanish classes, computer classes, there’s art, there’s dance in the building.” Recently, Gleaners began “Cooking Matters,” a six week program to help people who use the food

ABOVE: The Mexican Mercado building that sat empty for four years until Ford transformed it into the Ford Resource and Engagement Center in 2012.

pantry learn how to cook healthy and utilize all of the produce and healthy ingredients that the food pantry provides. In addition to “Cooking Matters,” the FREC hosts health fairs targeted to attract different age groups including families, students and adults. The facility holds events for youth and families different times of the year. On Halloween, families are welcomed inside the building for events activities. In the summer, the FREC holds a summer concert series that includes youth performances with various partners like Detroit Jazz to encourage children to get involved in music and other talents. Since the facility opened, much of the surrounding community has benefitted from its services, whether from a Spanish/English class or receiving a high school diploma through the GED program. The FREC has brought hope to those living in southwest Detroit by making the process of receiving assistance and finding classes much easier. “I believe that the FREC and the array of services it provides offers a sense of empowerment and hope for a better tomorrow to the many residents in this surrounding area who face many struggles of life,” Angiano said. “The services to help with various struggles include yet not limited to education completion for adults, food assistance program, job search, recreational courses for children, income tax and legal issues.”

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FEATURE

Paleoclimatology: What History Tells Us University of Michigan paleoclimatology professors Nathan Sheldon and Christopher Poulsen discuss what can be inferred from the history of climate.

BY SAM CIESIELSKI

aleoclimatology is the study of the evolution and history of the Earth’s climate. How has the Earth’s climate changed over the past 100 million years and beyond? What are the causes of major climate trends throughout the Earth’s history? What implications do these findings have for the future? These are all questions that University of Michigan professors Chris Poulsen and Nathan Sheldon explore in their research. On Feb. 22, The University of Michigan Museum of Natural History hosted their monthly science cafe at Conor O’Neill’s Pub in downtown Ann Arbor. 28

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A science cafe is an interactive lecture open to the public on contemporary issues in the STEM fields. February’s subject, “Ancient Climates, Future Climates–What Can the Deep Past Tell Us?,” was led by Sheldon and Poulsen. Professor Poulsen began the discussion by focusing on the physical processes that affect long term climate change. “[To predict temperatures] we use geochemical signals called [stable oxygen-18 isotopes] in little shells called

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ABOVE: Professor Nathan Sheldon Speaking at Connor O’Neill’s.

Benthic Foraminifera,” Poulson said. “These are little organisms that flow or move along the ocean floor.” Geologists have recovered tens of thousands of these shells and measured the amount of stable oxygen-18 isotopes preserved in each one. By doing that, they have developed a timeline of the temperature of the Earth over the past 110 million years. The kicker: average surface temperature has declined by 12 degrees Celsius in the past 100 million years. “This is not the same as a ten-degree temperature change that happens in Ann Arbor; we do that daily,” Poulsen continued. “This is the long-term average tempera-

FEATURE ture of the ocean over tens of millions period around 70 million years ago in warmer. The second possible outcome of years.” which it is thought temperatures rose 5 is that the average temperature of the But the climate sink is no reason to to 8 degrees celsius in about 4000 years. Earth stays the same, but the variance of think lightly of modern climate change. It is a result of massive carbon injection climate changes. In other words, we will Over the past 500 thousand years the into the atmosphere. The Paleocene-Eo- have sporadic temperature changes year carbon dioxide parts per million (ppm) cene Thermal Maximum is the closest round. “If you’re a farmer, it’d make it a has bounced around between 180 and thing the Earth has experienced to mod- lot harder to predict when to plant your 280 ppm. This variation is typical short ern climate change. Even so, “the rate product,” Sheldon said. “Do you try to term climate change. However, that at which [carbon dioxide] was coming get an extra harvest in when the snow’s number has risen sharply in the past 150 out was ten times lower than the rate at gone? What happens if it snows in two years and has reached a historic high of which carbon emissions are happening weeks and it wiped out that first bit of 406 ppm. today,” Poulsen said. “Even though the crop? This has an impact on stuff like “The interest of the paleoclimatolo- Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum that.” gists and my interest is in what drove is our best analogue for modern climate When Sheldon was studying at the that long term change,” Poulsen said. change, it comes nowhere close to the University of London, the British gov“How did we go from a world ernment was encouraging that was completely different the climatologists to spread to the one that we know to- “How did we go from a world that was com- the idea that the effects of day?” To figure that out, paclimate change are not unipletely different to the one that we know lateral; the effect of climate leoclimatologists use climate models. Climate models are change will not simply be a today?” simulations that mimic the warmer atmosphere. They conditions of the surface, wanted people to underoceans, and atmosphere of stand the consequences of the Earth. These models are often used rate at which we are emitting CO2 to- increased climate variation. “The end reby climatologists to predict what the fu- day.” sult of all this was an observation that ture climate of the Earth will look like. Professor Sheldon spoke primarily the best place to grow wine in Europe is The conclusion that can be drawn by about the implications that the historical not going to be France anymore. It’s gousing the proxy method (using more changes in climate have for the future. ing to shift across the English Channel than one variable to measure a single “We don’t refer to climate change any- to England.” variable that cannot be measured direct- more as global warming,” Sheldon said. The lesson to be learned, according ly) is that CO2 and climate have a direct “The reason for this change is not be- to Professor Sheldon, id that the effects relationship. If carbon dioxide levels cause the planet as a whole isn’t warming of climate change are not unilateral; the drop, temperature drops. If carbon di- up. It’s because it’s not warming up at the average temperature of the Earth is not oxide levels rise, temperature rises. Over same rate at every place.” Sheldon dis- simply rising as we build our carbon the past 100 million years, both variables cussed the two main effects that our cur- footprint. The more devastating effect have dropped at similar rates. rent carbon dioxide emission rates may will be the combination of the rising avOne of the biggest comparative tools have. The first, the average temperature erage temperature and the unpredictabilthat paleoclimatologists have is the Pa- of the Earth will become warmer. Con- ity of climate phenomenons. leocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum. sequently, winters will be shorter, sumThe Paleocene-Eocene period was a mers will be longer and both will be

THINGS TO REMEMBER...

WHY THEY’RE IMPORTANT...

CO2 has a direct relationship with atmospheric temperature

The higher the CO2 content in the atmosphere, the higher the average temperature and vice versa.

CO2 emissions are accelerating faster than ever

At no time in the last 100 million years has average atmospheric temperature increased as rapidly as it is today.

Climate is different than weather

Weather is considered your day-to-day changes in meteorology. Climate consists of years worth of weather trends.

The Earth’s climate has not always been on the rise

Over the past 110 million years, the Earth’s average temperature has decreased by 12 degrees Celsius.

The effects of modern climate change are multilateral

Average atmospheric temperature will not only increase, but the variability of climate will as well. april

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HOW VACCINE-CHOICE ACTIVISM HAS COME TO LIGHT IN MICHIGAN

BY ELLA EDELSTEIN

n this turbulent political climate, it seems unlikely that any cause could gain support from both the far-right and far-left. Surprisingly, the movement in opposition of mandatory vaccines has done just that. While President Trump and many of his supporters are skeptical of vaccines and their side effects, so are many liberal Americans, including many from Ann Arbor, one of the least vaccinated cities in Michigan. During the 2013-14 school year, seven percent of kindergarteners in the Ann Arbor Public Schools (AAPS) registered with vaccine waivers–a document allowing the student to attend school without the required vaccinations. Some schools, like Ann Arbor Open, have rates as high as 24 percent. This falls above the state average of 5.9 percent, and well above the national average of 1.7 percent, according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC). For years, anti-vaccine activists–sometimes referred to as “anti-vaxxers”–have been swept under the rug by politicians,

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A SHOTIN THEDARK

dismissed as little more than conspiracy theorists. Now, with a president who is himself a critic of vaccination, the concerns of anti-vaxxers have surfaced as a serious issue. Trump’s presidency may be the ladder to national publicity they have sought for years. “I don’t think we’ve ever had an opportunity in the twenty-some years I have been doing this to actually bring this to attention at the national level,” Suzanne Waltman, president of Michigan for Vaccine Choice, said. “A lot can be done with [Trump’s] appointment of Dr. Tom Price to the Health and Human Services division because he’s a doctor who believes in vaccine choice.” While for a majority of the population, receiving the required vaccines–polio, chickenpox, measles, tetanus and a few others–seems like second nature, for some, like Waltman, the decision is not nearly as straightforward. Waltman and those behind her cause believe that mandatory vaccines, like those required by schools, infringe on their freedom to choose what does and does

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not enter their bodies. “I absolutely think it’s a right to decide what kind of drugs a person should use,” Waltman said. “The government should not take away our right to make decisions.” If vaccines keep society from experiencing outbreaks of a variety of unpleasant and dangerous illnesses from polio to pertussis, why would one decline the opportunity? Besides religious objections and medical inability to receive vaccination, many are worried that vaccines just aren’t as safe as they are made out to be. In addition, they fear that the risks of vaccination are not fully discussed with families. “If there’s no issue, then why did the government pass the 1986 Vaccine Injury Act which protects vaccine manufacturers from being sued for bad product?” Waltman said. “That itself tells me that there’s a problem. If there’s a problem with the product, you should be able to refuse it.” The act mentioned provides compensation to those who experience compli-

FEATURE cations from vaccination. Still, Waltman about 2,000 were classified as disabling, rienced an outbreak of pertussis (comsays that those injured by vaccines rarely life-threatening or fatal. monly known as whooping cough) likely receive care. Still, these events do occur and an- originating from Grand Traverse Acad“You can’t get any kind of remedy ex- ti-vaccine activists want to bring aware- emy, a large private school with 17 percept from some vaccine court that takes ness to parents who may have never cent of students attending under vaccine several years to get any kind of compen- considered the risks of vaccination. waivers. sation, if indeed you can,” she said. On the other hand, health officials worWith some Ann Arbor schools boastAlthough little authentic information ry about how a low vaccinated popula- ing even higher waiver rates like those connecting vacof Ann Arbor cines and autism Open, outbreak exists, vaccine of minor diseasskeptics worry es, like measles that a treatment and pertussis, “ I don’t think we’ve ever had an opportunity in the meant to promay be a very real twenty-some years I have been doing this to actually bring risk. tect their children is doing Whatever is this to attention at the national level.” the opposite: to come for the sending them city of Ann Arhome with a life bor, the anti-vacchanging condicine movement is tion. tion will be able to retain herd immunity, one that will likely be gaining a platform However, the data—provided by the the idea that a highly vaccinated popula- throughout Trump’s presidency. While CDC and Vaccine Adverse Event Re- tion will be able to protect those unable facing much opposition, Waltman and porting System (VAERS)—may not be to be vaccinated by reducing the spread other vaccine-choice activists won’t be particularly revealing. Out of over 10 of disease. While a polio epidemic does backing down anytime soon: “We’re not million vaccines issued yearly, partic- not look to be in our near future, Ann going to stop putting our message out ularly to children under 1 year, about Arbor’s relatively low vaccination levels there because we want everyone to be 30,000 people–or 0.3 percent–report- come close to the danger zone where able to grow up a healthy individual and ed an adverse reaction (coincidental or herd immunity begins to falter off. have a productive life, and not have to vaccine-caused) after receiving a vacIn 2014, Traverse City, one of the suffer because of some debilitating concine. Out of thousands of reports, least vaccinated cities in the state, expe- dition caused by a drug.”

11% Washtenaw Country 5.9% Michigan 1.7% National

Percent of kindergarten students registered with vaccine waivers in the 2013-14 school year. april

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FEATURE

Old Country, New Country

PHOTO COURTESY: MICHAEL BRIGGS

A mother’s immigration story from the capital of Iran to Ann Arbor, Michigan. BY KYNDALL FLOWERS

It was the summer of 2003, and he remembers the lush, bright colors of spice, metal and fruit shops—and being hungry in Tehran. His mother had temporarily left her husband, son and daughter to find a restaurant to settle into, and in her absence a generous rug shop owner approached the foreign family. He asked Briggs’s sister if they were lost, and she responded by saying that the family wasn’t lost, just hungry. In broken English, the man invited them to his shop and offered to buy them breakfast. Within minutes the rug shop owner brought the Briggs trio cheese, honey, bread and tea. His mother returned, unphased by the strangers eagerness to invite her family over for breakfast in his shop. “That’s just something that happens in this country,” she said. “This country,” Iran, was her own. Briggs’s mom, Hedieh Haghighatou was born in Iran before it was the Islam32

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ic Republic of Iran. She lived through the Iranian Revolution of 1979 and then the Iraq-Iran war that followed. In 1983, when Hedieh was thirteen, she left Iran for the United States. While the U.S. wasn’t home, she hoped the new country would offer her safety, an education and the bright future she couldn’t find in Iran. In 1983, Hediah joined the ranks of the thousands of immigrants that left in search of something their home country couldn’t offer. “It was mixed,” Briggs said. “It was nice to be in a safe place, it was hard not knowing the language or the culture.” She found herself at

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ABOVE: Michael’s uncle pouring tea in Ramsar, a city on the coast of of the Caspian Sea. RIGHT: Iran, being a majority Muslim country is often subject to Islamophobia. Michael’s understanding of Islam is that it’s “a religion of love. It’s a religion of peace. It’s a religion of giving back.”

a majority-white school facing Islamophobia and xenophobia. Despite the well-circulated myth of being a ‘lazy’ and ‘dangerous’ immigrant, she picked English up quickly, graduated valedictorian, was offered a full scholarship at Michigan State and got into the University Of Michigan. “She just wanted to work as hard as she possibly could,” Briggs said. “I think that’s something that’s in almost every immigrant: wanting to do everything they possibly can do to succeed, and help other people succeed.” Briggs believes her generosity and drive to help others succeed came from how she was raised. Hedieh lost both her parents in a car crash when she was two years old. She was raised by her great-grandparents and had what Briggs called a “complicated childhood.” “She grew up watching her nation first be run by a tyrant—who was backed by America—who allowed people to starve and was brutal to people in prisons and

FEATURE things like that, and then she watched vulnerable. ly for my mom. My dad and I, growing the revolution happen. Originally, it “It definitely makes the house a lot up in the United States, always felt opwasn’t an Islamic revolution. It was just a more lively and you gain a family mem- timistic about the government,” Briggs revolution in general of wanting to over- ber,” Briggs says of the experience. said. throw the government, wanting some- “Most of them have been immigrants; However, a corrupt government was thing new.” most of them were not born in this all too familiar for Hedieh. While Briggs’s mother was young at county; most of them had a different re“My mom lived through a revolution, the time, she remembers the revolution. ligion than my own; most of them spoke and lived through the government do“When you’re growing up and your a different language than my own. It’s ing terrible acts against humanity. She cousins are being thrown in jail, you pay been an amazing experience: being able wasn’t as surprised,” Briggs said. “She attention,” Briggs rightfully assumed. to see the world through their eyes and understood that this could happen. She Living in Iran’s capital, Tehran, many of being able to see the humanity in all of was just devastated that she spent all his family members fought for freedom us from all around the world.” this time fighting to come to this counand went to jail for it. Briggs’s aunt spent Hedieh also uses her voice in politics. try that was supposed to be a place for months in solitary confinement for pass- She’s the Vice President of Washtenaw everyone. A place that loved democracy, ing out pamphlets a place for all peothat helped to ple. Just seeing that, mobilize and orthose doors shut, ganize Iranian acwas heartbreaking “The one thing a Persian woman tivists. Hedieh refor her. That’s evcannot be is silenced.” members being erything she fought scared for one of for her entire life.” her more vocally Despite the pain political teachers. of the Muslim Ban “She was just constantly scared that Dems and works closely with politicians. and Iran’s reaction to ban Americans she would show up at school and it’d be “I think because she didn’t grow up from Iran, effectively cutting Briggs and a different teacher,” Briggs said. Still He- with a democracy she knows how valu- his family off from visiting his mothdieh did her part. She was young, but she able it is, and how it isn’t a right. It isn’t er’s home country, Hedieh’s tenacity was fighting too, in her own little way. something that’s inherently there. You and passion for democracy and freedom “We’re just like, born revolutionaries. have to constantly fight for democracy, echoes in her son. We just need to protest everything wrong and she knows that because she grew up “When one person hurts, when one with the government and we cannot be without it. She wants people to recog- person is discriminated against, it brings silenced. The one thing a Persian woman nize that, wants everyone to vote even if everyone down,” Briggs said. “If you cannot be is silenced,” Briggs said. they’re against her politically.” want a freer country, if you want a better At home, Hedieh’s activism comes in This love of democracy comes at a country for everyone—including yourthe form of a safehouse. She’s opened steep and demoralizing cost. On Jan. 27, self, even if you’re not Muslim—you’ve her home to around 50 people in a 25 President Trump put forth the execu- got to fight.” year period. Many of them are friends tive order for the Muslim Ban. The exTo his mother, Briggs says, for all of of hers from Iran, coming to the coun- ecutive order barred citizens from seven the work she’s done to provide a better try for the same reason she did as a child. predominatly Muslim countries includ- life for herself, countless others and her She houses them while they regain their ing Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Sudan, Somalia, children, Briggs would tell her, “Thank balance, get their green cards and find a Libya and Iran. The order made Hedieh you. And I would tell her that out of permanent place to stay. Much like the and her family’s life “a lot more compli- all this hardship only greatness would rug shop owner, Hedieh is eager to serve cated.” come.” others through opening her home to the “It was extremely depressing, especial-

april

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PHOTOS COURTESY: JOYBOX EXPRESS

Mr. B’s Joybox Express

Mr. B’s vision slides into place as his new project “Sprint 4 Flint” draws closer.

BY SHANE HOFFMANN

eft, right, left, right goes Mark Braun’s head, rhythmically puncturing the now disrupted Skyline lap pool water. He swims lap after lap hauling an underwater parachute behind him, more than doubling his usual lap time. Above the pool stands Mo-Jo Isaac, Skyline High School’s swimming and diving instructor. She closely monitors her trainee as she paces back and forth on the slippery, narrow pool deck. While Braun, also known as Mr. B, has always had an affinity for sports and exercise, he has instead made a name for himself as a pianist and vocalist in the Flint and Ann Arbor areas. Growing up in Flint and attending Southwestern High School, Braun began playing music seriously around the age of 12 or 13, and did not entertain it as a possible future until his late high school years. However, he continued to follow his passion which led to appearances with several bands including the well-known Steve Nardella

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Band. Later, he branched out as a soloist with his use of the lesser-used boogie woogie style as well as jazz and blues. Now, he takes on a very different matter: his own nonprofit organization. Founded in 2009, Mr. B’s Joybox Express works to enhance the quality of children’s lives through music, art and athletics throughout the Flint school systems. “My premise for Joybox Express was that arts and athletics are two of the most important components of what make us whole and completely healthy,” Braun said. “They are two elements that are being lost in school curriculums.”

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ABOVE: Galena, Illinois — Mr. B (center) and the Joybox Express, educate elementary students on the challenges of executing a vision and reaching your goals. RIGHT: Mr. B (piano) and Sam Genson (percussion) perform in one of many cities on the 2014 Mississippi River Road Ride, a pervious Joybox Express project.

Braun and his fellow six member board of directors have worked to accomplish their goal through several projects, the most recent of which, “Sprint 4 Flint,” is set to take place Labor Day of 2017. “Sprint 4 Flint” contains four components, ride, swim, play, give, with the central goal being to raise awareness and funds for kid’s arts and athletics programs in the area. To accomplish their goal, Joybox Express has partnered with Flint and Genesee Chamber of Commerce to benefit a program they run called YouthQuest. YouthQuest is an after school enrichment program in downtown Flint. The organization currently supports 15 different schools, accommodating approximately 2,000 kids in their program. “Kids are given a meal everyday as well as fresh water… sad you even have to talk about that,” Braun said. “They’re given tutoring. They’re given a host of club opportunities such as chess, various arts and crafts, various athletic endeav-

FEATURE ors. They fit our mold extremely well and they were excited about the prospect of partnering with us, so they’re going to help us execute Sprint 4 Flint.” YouthQuest welcomes the partnership as it gives them an opportunity to branch out as a program. “Joybox Express has gotten our name out to a bigger audience,” said Brandon Morgan, YouthQuest’s Grant Coordinator. “Before we teamed up, nobody in Ann Arbor knew who we were.” Another intent of the partnership is to spread awareness of those in Flint throughout the Ann Arbor Public Schools system. Dan Ezekiel, a retired AAPS science teacher who previously worked alongside Mr. B, is one of the many volunteers helping to spread the word. Ezekiel works to create a connection between local Ann Arbor kids and those enrolled in YouthQuest. He introduces the program to students through an in-school presentation before challenging them to get involved and donate. After visiting with kids who are part of the program earlier this year, he can speak to its advantages and adequately pass on the vision. “I was very impressed,” Ezekiel said. “I was a teacher for a long time and it only takes me five minutes to diagnose a program. With YouthQuest, it was apparent from the start. Every kid is taken care of; they are all healthy and safe.” One of the main ways in which people are being encouraged to contribute, is during the “ride” portion of the event. It entails a 240 mile, 24 hour, aroundthe-clock bike ride from Flint to Mackinaw City on the Joybox Express, a 620 pound, three person piano bike. The back two seats of the bike will be divid-

ed up into 10 mile, one hour increments accounting for 48 individual shifts. “We are asking everyone who takes a shift on the back to raise a set amount of money,” Braun said. “It is their responsibility to pay us for the privilege of riding on the back of the piano bike, all to support YouthQuest.” In addition, individual riders will be encouraged to ride behind the Express for any portion of the trip, raising as much as they can, then donating it towards YouthQuest. The Joybox Express will make several stops along the way to their final destination. “When we ride into your town on this bike, you can see how much work it is, it is good for kids to see it,” Braun said. “To see the challenge for a dream to come to life and see someone battle through the challenges, the many challenges, of executing a program like this.” Former University of Michigan running back Vincent Smith—often remembered by Michigan fans as the victim of a brutal hit in the 2013 Outback Bowl, in which his helmet flew off—has also given a verbal agreement to make an appearance during the ride. Furthermore, Smith has hinted at the possibility of Thomas Rawls, a Flint native, former University of Michigan and Central Michigan football player and current Seattle Seahawks running back, accompanying him on the ride. Braun hopes to use more local celebrities like this pair to draw in attention to the cause in future projects. After a few days rest, Braun will begin the swim portion of the event. Accompanying him will be his swim instructor Isaac and the world’s premier tow swimmer, Jim Dreyer. Dreyer will lead the swim due to his extensive experience,

having pulled a 27-ton-boat as well as swimming all five Great Lakes unassisted. In addition, he developed a mechanism which will allow the trio to pull the boat with minor impediment to their speed. Each swimmer will take a one inch nylon dog collar and put a neoprene boot on their feet, then tie a figure eight around their foot and ankle before taking the carabiner and attaching it to the dog collar. That carabiner is then attached to yellow neoprene rope which runs back to the boat. The trio will pull the piano boat approximately four and a half miles through the inconsistent currents of the Mackinac Straits before arriving at their final destination, Mackinac Island. While the majority of funds won’t be tallied until after the event, volunteers have already begun collecting donations from local students and families. After teaching at Slauson and Forsythe for an extended period during his teaching career, Ezekiel has used his connections to the advantage of the event. After presenting to both schools, he believes he could have over one thousand dollars in the works in donation money between the schools. “Sprint 4 Flint” is just one event in a continuous stream of projects in hopes to improve and make a real impact in the lives of young kids in the Flint area. Even after Labor Day, the mission will continue, with new projects already in the works. Those wishing to donate, ride along with the Express or assist the cause in any other way can contact the project or donate at www.joyboxexpress.com.

april

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FEATURE

A Refugee in a Different Time

A World War II refugee’s journey from Latvia to Ann Arbor.

BY ELENA BERNIER

hen Mirdza Vitins was brought to a cafeteria her first day in the United States, she was struck with awe. “I hadn’t seen so much food for seven years,” Vitins said. She is a resident of Ann Arbor but is originally from Latvia. Vitins is a refugee of World War II. She has traveled around the sun 105 times, and lived through both World Wars as they went on around her in Europe. She was born into a fairly well-off middle class family of intellectuals in Riga, the capital of Latvia. She remembers the dark night of Jun. 14, 1941 when—in only a few hours—15,500 Latvians were torn from their beds, loaded onto cattle cars and shipped to Siberia. Not even babies or the elderly were spared. Today, the path which those cattle cars took is lined with graves. “There was no food, and I think there was not even water,” Vitins said. “So babies were dying and old people were dying. They were thrown out on the side.” By some stroke of luck, Vitins’s family was spared. They awoke the next day to find their neighbors, friends and relatives gone. Later, they learned that they were 36

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supposed to have been deported that night, but for a reason they will never know, they were overlooked. At the beginning of World War II the Soviet Union invaded Latvia. “The Russian punks, without any warning, crossed our borders and went in,” Vitins said. “And our president was wise enough, what could we do?” Under the Communist regime, everything that was once private was nationalized, including Vitins’s parents’ spacious apartment. Vitins’ family were all forced to move in together, along with four tenants. Although the apartment was large, it only had one bathroom. “Can you imagine all the people for one bathroom?” Vitins said. “It was quite terrible.” Vitins worked at a scientific library in Riga, where she would spend her days surrounded by ancient, first

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ABOVE: Mirdza Vitins and her daughters Aya (right) and Ieva (left)

edition books. Safely enclosed in the old library, as tensions between the Allies and Axis Powers grew around her, she worked on translating an extremely valuable series of German books, handwritten in the 19th century. When Nazi Germany invaded, many Latvians saw it as a liberation. They didn’t know what horrors the Nazis had in store. They brought lemonade to the Nazi soldiers as they lied on the streets, exhausted from a night of fighting. Meanwhile, her mother couldn’t sleep at all. All night she would be kept awake by the sound of the trucks rumbling through the streets, afraid that this would be the truck to take her away to the desolate tundra of Siberia. Vitins’s mother and Vitins’ young daughter, Aya, traveled to the countryside to her uncle’s farm, to escape the chaos of the city. Even though they had been overlooked, Vitins and her husband were still afraid they were going to be deported. They tried to sleep somewhere different most nights. They slept in abandoned bars, at neighbor’s houses-wherever they could. What was once the beautiful, vibrant city of Riga was completely transformed as the Germans and Russians fought. One day in the summer, Vitins decided

FEATURE to go to a department store downtown lowed a Latvian Legion, for Latvian men After World War II ended, they moved to try to buy warm clothes in prepara- who wanted to fight against Russians, to a displaced persons camp in Southtion for the possibility that they would because [the Russians were responsible] ern Germany. Vitins got a job in the be deported. It was useless; everything for so many deported people,” Vitins main office of the camp. There was a was sold out. The department store was said. kindergarten and elementary school for empty. Suddenly, she heard gunfire erupt Vitins decided to separate from her her daughters. There were even classes in the streets. Vitins remembers running husband and father who refused to leave for all kinds of trades like weaving, ceout of the store and taking shelter in an Riga. She left for the safety of the coun- ramics and a drama school. “It was a life apartment building. try, once again, with her daughters in you could live, but we didn’t know what She reached her head up to look tow. “It was a very hard decision,” said would happen the next day,” Vitins said. out, and what she saw utterly shocked Vitins. In 1947, the displaced persons camp her. “The big St. Peter’s Church was in During that summer, Vitins was on was getting emptier and emptier. People flames, that was the highest spire [in the beach, watching her daughters as were emigrating to elsewhere like CanRiga],” Vitins said. “And it was burning. they swam in the blue-green waters of ada, the United States and Australia to Oh, it was horrible!” the Baltic Sea, with a portable radio bab- start their new lives. In August, Mirdza That day she walked through a main bling in the background. Suddenly she was taken in by a family in Grand Rappark in Central Riga—the equivalent of heard an announcement: the last train ids, Michigan who had volunteered to Central Park in sponsor refugee New York City— families from the on her way home. Before they “So babies were dying and old people were dying. They were war. She had to sidewere able to immistep all the trenchgrate to the United thrown out on the side.” es that had been States they had to dug during the pass all the required fighting. leaving for Riga was embarking soon. tests. “Oh my god, weeks and weeks [of After one night of bombing by the After that, the bridge would be blown tests,]” Vitins said. Germans, Vitins came out onto a desert- up, destroying her link back to her husOnce they were approved, they were fied street early in the morning. She re- band and father, and her home. She nally able to board a ship heading for the members how quiet the city was. She saw raced back to her uncle’s farm. “What United States and their new life. Vitins pages blowing down the street. When to grab? We had to go to the station!” remembers arriving in Grand Rapids like she picked one up she saw that it was Vitins said. She packed only the neces- it was yesterday. “Oh it was a gray mornfrom a book in Latin, just like the books sities and rushed to the station. It was ing, it was two days after Thanksgiving,” that were in her beloved library. Amidst packed, full of people who believed the Vitins said. the battle that night, her library had been prospect of being separated from their As Vitins and her daughters were drivset on fire, and all of those books were families was worse than potential vio- en through Grand Rapids, Vitins asked now ashes. lence in Riga. their sponsor family where the city was. But not every book was lost. Her series Vitins stayed in Riga with her husband To that they replied with a laugh that this of German books that she had pains- for a few days. One night, he came home was, in fact the city. Her sponsor famitakingly translated was hidden away in a and told her that she had to leave on ly consisted of Margaret, a teacher, and bank safe. Aug. 5th. The German government was Harold, a bookkeeper. They had three On July 1, the Soviet Occupation was providing a boat that would send mostly children and lived close to the school, officially over; Nazi Germany now had women and children to a displaced per- which Vitins considered a luxury. “They control of Latvia. By now, it was getting sons camp in Germany. were wonderful people, they were very too dangerous to live in heavily populatOn the boat, Vitins and her children nice,” Vitins said. ed areas. Vitins, her husband and her fa- were crammed into the haul, nestled in In 1952, Mirdza eventually moved to ther decided to join the rest of her fami- straw. Tensions were high as the boat Ann Arbor once she got accepted to ly on the farm. Unfortunately, most train made its way across the Baltic Sea, which the University of Michigan, where she bridges had been blown up, so they had was full of naval mines. “We somehow worked in the General Library for the to walk and hitchhike. Eventually they made it,” Vitins said. University until her retirement. made it to the safe haven, which was the In Germany, Vitins and her children Eight years earlier, in late 1944, the family farm, where they stayed until the stayed and survived through tough con- Russians conquered Latvia again and fighting died down. ditions. Every displaced person camp occupied it for the next 47 years. It was By 1942, it was safe to live in Riga had little food, medical care, or any of very hard to leave Latvia under the Soagain. During that year, her second the necessities. viet regime. Mirdza’s husband stayed in daughter, Ieva, was born. They were givThey eventually were allowed to move Latvia where he lived until his death in en back ownership of their apartment in to a little village in Germany, whose the 1990’s, never to be reunited with his Riga, but resources were still scarce. name translated to the “City of Flow- family. With the other two Baltic counThen, in 1944, Vitins’s mother died. ers.” “There were no flowers, there were tries of Lithuania and Estonia, Latvia During that time, the German army was geese,” Vitins said. “Our family called gained its independence in 1991. invading Russia, and things started to go it the Geese Village.” They stayed there Aya and Ieva grew up in the United poorly. The Germans were retreating for a year and a half. It was very hard States, and both Vitins and her daughand the Russians were advancing on Lat- on Vitins and her daughters. Food was ters were successfully granted citizenvia. This worried the Vitins family. If the scarce, like everywhere else. They were ship to United States, all becoming conRussians took control again they were given few ration tickets which allowed tributing members of society. Vitins and certain they would be sent to the frozen her to get bread and milk for the chil- her daughter Ieva have traveled back to tundra of Siberia. dren, but there was no source of pro- Latvia numerous times. Although they As the Russian army got closer and tein available. “It was really a struggle, have spent most of their life in the Unitcloser to Latvia, Vitins’s husband decid- we were thinking everyday [about] what ed States, they are all still strongly coned to join a militia. “The Germans al- we were going to eat,” Vitins said. nected to their homeland. april

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FEATURE

Finding His Aesthetic

BY FRANCISCO FIORI

hen Griffin Hall was in middle school, he made haunted houses in his backyard garage. He would stick spray-painted toilet paper to the ceilings and paper cloths to the walls. He would make costumes in his room and sets in his backyard. He loved working with his hands. And that’s how he began to grow confident as an artist. Now a senior at Community High, Hall still considers himself an artist, 38

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ABOVE AND RIGHT: Hall poses for a photoshoot with Chanel peals as tears.

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and explores his artwork through mediums such as makeup, special effects, photography and clothing. As a visual person, Hall gets inspired by ordinary objects and palettes and turns them around to convey something. “I have to find meaning behind what I do, and most of that conveys either an emotion that I’m

feeling or just a general aesthetic or visual that I see in my brain,” Hall said. “I like to produce that, and that’s what I call art.” He gets inspired from ordinary objects, but Hall tries not to draw inspiration from other artists in order to stay true to his vision. First, he sees something in his brain or wants to portray an emotion, and then tries to match that up with actual visuals. Hall’s current works are mostly self-portraits and how he explores his

FEATURE

gender spectrum. At first, he was nervous to convey this message in his artwork, but realized that if he denied that side of his character, he would be denying himself. And now, he plays with his feminine and masculine side in his artwork. “It’s fun to test those limits and see what you can do, and see what I can do to make that a little more fluid,” Hall said. “I always felt as if though myself and my identity was malleable, and it can change, and it’s fun to change, and it’s

exciting.” Hall wants a world where little kids see themselves however they want to, free of outside influence. He believes that gender doesn’t matter, and that kids shouldn’t be put in a stereotype based on their gender. Apart from doing special effects and makeup, Hall occasionally does drag. Hall became inspired for one of his makeup looks by pearl pins that stuck out of people’s hair. His friend left her expensive Chanel pearls at his house,

and he wanted to incorporate them into the shoot somehow. He ended up with the concept of “crying pearls,” and made it a little more alien-like by getting rid of his eyebrows and replacing them with pearls. Hall thinks of his artwork aesthetic as a journey, and he’s only in the middle of finding his muse. “I think everybody is on the journey, everyone’s involved,” Hall said. “Especially right now through high school and middle school, that’s the biggest change in someone’s life.” april

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From the Ground Up A Groundcover vendor shares her story.

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FEATURE BY CLAIRE MIDDLETON, SOPHIA ROSEWARNE AND BELLA YERKES PHOTO: ALEC REDDING

Wilbert went up to Michigan to be “beautiful paper” and expresses her People sat and walked along the rocks at Santa Monica Pier in the 90s. It was Fe- with Raina and Malachi after the shoot- gratefulness for everything God has licia Wilbert’s favorite pier. She was there ing. Raina’s father wanted to get back at done for her. “I wouldn’t want to be out with a cup,” on a date with ‘80s rapper Joe Cooley. Raina’s shooters, but Wilbert would not When Wilbert made her way back to her have it, “Let go and let God do justice, Wilbert said. “To me, that’s no dignity, home with Cooley at her side, girls burst because God can do more justice than that’s no pride in myself. That’s no hope. out in squeals and screams at the sight we can,” said Wilbert, “It’s so easy to go But when you got Groundcover, you got take a man’s life, but it’s so hard to deal dignity, you got pride you got hope.” of him. She also has inspired Raina to begin sellWilbert, confused, playfully pushed with it afterwards. They take it for granthim into her house and asked him who ed, that they shot her and everything, ing Groundcover, as soon as the weathhe was. Cooley laughed and explained, and think it’s a joke… but it’s okay be- er conditions don’t restrain her, as it has been too cold for her heart and lungs surprised that she didn’t already know. cause God will get a hold of them.” Before Raina was shot, she had a pho- to handle. Wilbert wants to travel back Wilbert never treated him like a fan would, which he loved about her. But tographic memory. After being shot she to California with her daughter as well. when Wilbert was 32, Cooley asked was left with memory issues, epilepsy, “If I could take any state I’d have Caliher to marry him and she ran away. She PTSD, manic depression, bipolar de- fornia,” Wilbert said. “I’d take Groundpression and anxiety. Raina also suffered cover with me. If I could take Groundwasn’t ready to get married yet. At 22, Wilbert gave birth to her only from a stroke on the right side of her cover with me. Groundcover is beautiful I ain’t gonna kid you. It’s the best thing daughter, Raina, who became an excel- brain. that happens to lent student, musician and the homeless peosinger. ple out here.” Wilbert moved from her Since moving back hometown, Detroit, Mich, from the South, to California in 1989. Wilbert has been The move to California “I feel complete. I feel good everyday. If I were staying with variwas a bold one for Wilbert. to die today, I can’t do nothing but say thank you ous friends while After marrying a friend of Raina and Malahers to help him attain citJesus. ” chi are staying at izenship in the U.S., they the Staples Center, were living in Detroit. Wila homeless shelter bert, itching to leave the city, operated by The took his truck and drove Upon returning to Florida, Wilbert Salvation Army. herself straight to California. “You One of Wilbert’s main joys in life is could not pin me down, because I want- got a job working the midnight shift at ed to travel,” Wilbert said. She left at 9 a Walmart in Clermont to encourage her taking Malachi to the museums to teach a.m. on Friday and arrived in California daughter to get her first job after she had him things and watching him learn and at 11:30 p.m. on Sunday. “I tore the high- been shot. Wilbert described the store as discover. Wilbert is hoping to take him the “most beautiful place she has ever to the Philadelphia Museum before he way down,” Wilbert said. In California, Wilbert lived in the San worked” because they let her work with turns five. “It’s worth every penny. It’s so amazing. It’s three floors of nothing Bernardino area and LA county. “I went and help her daughter. However, the gunplay in Orlando was but artwork from all over the world, evto every beach, every pier. I made it my point. That was my whole reason for be- putting Raina into night terrors and it erywhere, every corner, every avenue,” ing out there, getting to the beaches,” was negatively affecting her mental re- Wilbert said. Wilbert last visited the mucovery from being shot. “People need to seum in 1994. Wilbert said. Wilbert and Raina are planning on When Raina was 26, she gave birth to realize a gun’s place is not in the hands her only son, Malachi, in Orlando, Fla. of young people who have no morals, Malachi attending preschool later this no manners and no sense,” said Wilbert. year, as soon as he and Raina get into on Jan. 1, 2014. When Raina gave birth to her son, the “Who needs to put guns in their hands?” housing, and for him to attend school Wilbert’s lease in Orlando was up, and in Ann Arbor and get a good education doctors heard three heartbeats. After waiting for another baby to come, the the crime index was almost double the once he reaches that age. At three, Maladoctors discovered that Raina had two national average. With mold growing in chi is already reading. “He’s a three year aortas. Wilbert believes that God gave Wilbert’s apartment, she was encour- old going on thirty, he’s very, very, very wise,” Wilbert said. Raina her second aorta, knowing she aged to move back to Ann Arbor. Once she returned, Wilbert discov“I feel complete. I feel good everyday. would need it later, because she was not ered Groundcover News. She was at the If I were to die today I can’t do nothing born with it. Just around a year after Malachi was Delonis Center when a vendor named but say, ‘Thank you Jesus.’ He gave me born, Raina traveled north to Detroit — Gabby and her boyfriend encouraged a good life I can’t complain no matter which turned out to be a live changing her to sell Ann Arbor’s street newspaper, what happened to me I thank you beexperience—to introduce her son to her Groundcover, and began to tell her how cause I’ve had everything,” Wilbert said. great it was. “God is real, he’s so real, don’t ever grandmother. “I went with Gabby one day and just believe that he’s not, I don’t care how The short trip to Detroit, turned Wilbert’s life in a completely new direction. went up there, and they sold me some bad your life gets, Now, I never believed Raina, 27 at the time, was struck by a papers. I just got out there ever since,” that’d I’d be homeless, never,” Wilbert said. bullet. Her extra heartbeat is the reason Wilbert said. Wilbert describes Groundcover as a she didn’t lose her life.

april

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A&E

PHOTO COURTESY: KELLY PUELO

The Orwells Release “THB” Chicago Indie Punkers Release Their 3rd Full Length Album, “Terrible Human Beings.” BY ALEX HUGHES

hicago natives, The Orwells, are back and stronger than ever with their new Record “Terrible Human Beings.” “Terrible Human Beings” marks their third official release and their second release on Canvasback Music, a label attached to The Atlantic records group. The band recorded the LP at Chicago’s Electrical Audio with producer Jim Abbiss, who is credited with producing several tracks on “Disgraceland” and has also worked with the likes of the Arctic Monkeys and Adele. “Terrible Human Beings” marks a clear departure for the band from their previous releases “Remember When” and “Disgraceland,” displaying a new mature style of songwriting. “It’s kind of funny how our songs and records have evolved, because when we first started together, we very much had no idea what we were doing,” guitarist Dominic Corso said on the band’s recent work. “We’ve grown into being able to 42

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write legitimately musical songs that we worked hard on and are proud of.” Guitarist Matt O’Keefe describes the band’s new sound as “mutilated pop songs.” Vocalist Mario Cuomo agrees stating, “We wanted to make songs that at their core are catchy and pretty, then slash them up.” The trademark chords and riffs that Orwells’ fans have grown to love are still present but have been distorted and spread out in a way like never before, giving the band a blistering new sound. Cuomo has also progressed fromhis lyrical work on “Disgraceland,” moving away from the

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ABOVE: Left To Right: Matt O’Keefe, Dominic Corso, Mario Cuomo. Henry Brinner and Grant Brinner

classic snotty teenage phrases he is known for. Drawing inspiration from thrillers such as It Follows and Last Exit To Brooklyn, Cuomo produced a more mature and narrative set of lyrics on “Terrible Human Beings.” Cuomo has stated that his bandmates encouraged him to work outside of his comfort zone in a way that reflects the band’s growing maturity as songwriters. “Terrible Human Beings” hooked me from start to finish. The album flows in a way that keeps the listener’s attention with each track fading perfectly into the next. Some songs that stood out the most to me were “Black Francis,” “Heavy Head” and “Double Feature.” “Black Francis” was the fourth and final single released before the band put out the full album. One thing that really draws the listener to this song is the vocals. “Terrible Human Beings” is the first Orwells’ album to really showcase backing vocals from O’Keefe and Corso. Together, O’Keefe and Corso chant

A&E snotty responses to Cuomo’s witty lyrics, “Have you heard that band / yeah I think they’re shit / and the way they dress / yeah they think they’re hip / and the things they say / yeah it’s all a bluff / and where they’re from / yeah it ain’t that rough.” This verse builds into an explosion of a chorus with all three of them singing “Black Frankie’s got my world in his hands, Black Frankie’s got my world in his hands / Viva Loma Rica, Viva Loma Rica , Viva Loma Rica, Viva Loma Rica.” While “Black Francis” may not show as much musical growth as other songs on the album, it is a solid testament to their former work showing where the band has been and where they’re headed. “Heavy Head” is a perfect example of the band writing “mutilated pop songs.” The band took what would appear to some to be a simple chord progression and a two-note riff, and turned it into a beautiful mess of distortion and grit. While some could argue the narrative sense of “Heavy Head” is similar to some of the Orwells past work such as “Norman” and “Hallway Homicide,”

the music behind the lyrics has taken a huge step up to meet the menacing tone of the story. Cuomo’s lyrics tell the tale of a sinister decapitation in the dry desert: “dry mouthed in the hot white sand, duct-taped in a big white van / put a bag over their heads, cut a hole and their face turns red.” This verse leads into a dark and intriguing bridge of muted guitars and heavy drums with Cuomo singing in a dark Johnny Cash-esque voice, “I got this feeling when you’re not around, like a freight train runnin’ through town / and when they bark and it don’t make a sound, this whole generation don’t make a.” “Double Feature” is the album’s closing track and the longest by far clocking in at seven minutes and nineteen seconds. The song describes a wasted youth and a twisted adult reality of a kid from “the wrong side of the tracks.” O’Keefe describes the song as “our own Hail Mary, a stack of drum loops and guitars and voices coming at you from all different directions. It all collapses in on itself towards the dead end.” Truer words could not be spoken. The track takes the

listener through a tale of regret and reality: “Should’ve been a doctor or a lawyer / should’ve never listened to destroyer / could’ve been a madman or a teacher / could’ve been a bad man or a preacher.” Cuomo’s vocals then go on to describe what has happened to some of the character’s peers: “Bobby got locked up in the fall / Paul is a child of the law / Bobby took her under the bleachers / Paulie went and called a double feature.” Brothers Grant and Henry Brinner, on bass and drums respectively, hold down a solid rhythm section with O’Keefe and Corso layering loose riffs and tight progressions above it all. The song draws into a frantic kraut-rock freak-out bringing the band’s impressive release to a close. “Terrible Human Beings” is an awesome album. It shows immense progress from the band’s past releases but still rings true to their old sound. I’m very excited to see where this album takes them and can’t wait for the next one. The Orwells will be at El Club in Detroit on May 18 with fellow Chicago band, the Walters.

ABOVE: The Orwells “Terrible Human Beings” Released Feb. 17 2017. PHOTO COURTESY: CANVASBACK MUSIC

ABOVE: The Orwells 2016 PHOTO COURTESY: KELLY PUELO

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EASY to FORGET ALL ABOUT GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE! TIPS

BY ELLA EDELSTEIN

Newsflash: the Earth is changing. And it’s not just becoming warmer, but more erratic. Seas are rising, islands are sinking, ice

sheets are dwindling and storms are growing more severe. Global climate change is scary, isn’t it? So scary, that some might wish that it was all just a big hoax. If you feel this way, I assure you there is hope. Not by actually fixing climate change —we’re pretty much screwed in that regard—but by denying that it even exists! With these easy steps, you can forget about our struggling planet, and get back to the real issues like taking away women’s healthcare and defunding public schools.

Forget facts.

Seriously, ‘alternative facts’ are all the rage right now. If a scientist tries to talk to you, plug your ears and scream “LALALALA I CAN’T HEAR YOU!!” until they go away.

Have some sort of financial interest in an environmentally dangerous industry. Think coal, oil, commercial manufacturing—you get the picture. Climate change is just a foreign plot to keep the U.S. industries down, so if you love America: Drill baby drill!

Become a politician.

Take notes from the President Trump, who has stated that climate change “was creat ed by and for the Chinese in order to make U.S. manufacturing non-competitive,” and “nobody really knows” what the deal with this whole climate change thing is. So, in the first hundred days of his presidency, he is looking to revoke Obama’s Climate Action Plan and cancel the Paris Climate Agreement, all while pushing the Dakota Access Pipeline forward. Some other politicians to look up to: V.P. Mike Pence, Steve Bannon, Ben Carson, Jeff Sessions,Ted Cruz and many other Conservatives. Let the public know that they are in good hands by assuring them that their struggling planet will be okay.

But even for the most steadfast skeptics, the weight of facts can be too much to bear. The truth is heavy, even if we wish it was not so. So I must issue a warning: climate change denial might seem like a game, but the amount of fun can’t last - it is inevitable that truth will prevail. Layer upon layer of evidence supports the theory of global climate change. Already, people die from heat islands (dense urban areas

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Give unscientific evidence and personal anecdotes as to why our Earth is doing just fine. It helps to have little understanding of the differences between weather and climate. Try heavy hitters like: “If the Earth really is getting warmer, then why is there snow in my backyard right now, huh?” or “The water at my beach house in the Hamptons was freezing. Global climate change is a hoax!”

Become very wealthy.

Luckily, Step 2 and 3 usually overlap. Wrap that Gucci blindfold around your head and pretend you don’t see all the compelling data! You can afford air conditioning, so what does it matter if the summers are a little warmer?

Advocate for some unfounded, sensationalized conspiracy, instead of science.

Try vaccine-caused autism, a theory embraced by our very own president, a well known climate change skeptic. Remember, legitimate science holds no power if you make the rules yourself.

with much higher temperatures than surrounding land) every summer in the U.S. and globally. Children perish from dehydration and malnourishment every day in progressively drier environments such as Madagascar. In America, families are being displaced from their homes by monster storms and waning shores. If our president continues to deny facts for his own benefit, the blood of the next victims will be on his hands. Sad!

Access Denied: The Muslim Ban at Home

EDITORIAL

GRAPHIC: GRACE JENSEN

BY SUEPHIE SAAM

In wake of the Muslim ban, I feel saddened to call this country my home. I feel saddened that to some, diversity is not our strength, and that the oppression of thousands of Muslim-Americans is now seen as normal. I, having two parents who were born in Iran, one of the countries under the ban, and having experienced the warmth in the Iranian people, feel eternal remorse and frustration towards President Trump. On Jan. 27, President Trump signed an executive order banning some Muslims and refugees from entering the country. The ban specifically targets seven countries: Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. This ban has not only had a traumatic effect on the people who are attempting to enter the U.S., but has also disrupted the lives of hundreds of immigrants currently in the country under their visas. As Trump sat in the Pentagon ready to sign the order officially titled “Protection Of The Nation From Foreign Terrorist Entry Into The United States,” he explained he wanted to protect our country from the threats our soldiers are

fighting overseas. “I am establishing new vetting measures to keep radical Islamic terrorists out of the United States of America,” Trump said. “We don’t want them here.” Over a week later, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals lifted the banning of Muslims and refugees from entering the United States which made Debbie Dingell—a congresswoman in the 12th district of Michigan—release a strong and hopeful statement. “Today’s unanimous ruling on President Trump’s Executive Order reaffirms that this ban runs counter to our Constitution and our values as Americans,” Dingell said. “National Security experts, business leaders and academia have warned that this ban endangers both our national security and our economy. While this ruling is a victory, uncertainty remains, and we will continue to fight to protect our Constitution with every ounce of our strength.” This ban has resulted in countries like Iran to ban Americans from entering their country. This has not only created a large dent in the progress we have made

in the U.S. with immigration rights, but it has caused other countries to resent us. This movement allowed us to descend into an even more divided country, and therefore forcing other countries to do the same towards us. According to Time magazine, as of Jan. 30, 200-250 people were denied entry after their flight had already landed and as of Jan. 31, 720 people did not reach the U.S. because they were denied boarding. Although, according to the New York Times, on the Saturday the ban was officially released, a federal judge in Brooklyn ordered that those stuck in airports not be returned to their home countries, still leaving the future of the others unknown. Although the ban has now been lifted, the oppression in this country is still very real. I am fearful to see what our president will do next. With that, I am hopeful and motivated to fight back. It is important for us to partake and fight in the protests along the road. It is necessary to share our voice and to strive for equality, unity and diversity for the future of our country.

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EDITORIAL

Betsy DeVos: Uneducated in Education

PHOTO COURTESY: MICHAEL

BY ISAAC MCKENNA

etsy DeVos has never attended a public school, nor have any of her children. She went to a Christian private school, paid for by her billionaire father, and is now in charge of public education in America. How did she get her appointment to Secretary of Education? During her confirmation hearings, after questioning from Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont), DeVos admitted that it was “possible” that her family had donated $200 million to the Republican Party. She bought her way into control of the education of American students, and now threatens the futures of the students of America. VOUCHERS

DeVos has long been a supporter of school choice programs, namely vouchers. Private school vouchers are a way to allow families to take taxpayer funds and use them to pay for the school of their choice. Devos believes that this al46

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lows parents to choose a better education for their children, and in doing so, will create competition to improve all schools. But the scores of students who participate in state-level voucher programs disprove this rhetoric. In a 2016 study by Education Research Alliance for New Orleans, it was found that students that enrolled in Louisiana’s voucher program fell nearly 50 percent in math achievement and over 15 percent in reading. Instead of focusing on moving students to schools where they will often fail, DeVos should focus on improving the public schools we already have.

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However, her decades-long support of these programs dispels any hope that educators may have for a different system. When the voucher program is implemented, every student who leaves public schools and gives their money to a business will have taken that money from the majority of students in this country. Schools like Community High School will not have those funds replaced, and will struggle as a result. The potential of every student will be supressed by the choice so many parents—oblivious to the setbacks of millions of underprivileged children—will soon be able to make. ABOVE: Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos speaks at the 2017 Conservative Political Action Conference.

FREE LUNCHES

The students in American public schools may soon face another challenge. Over 20 million kids are sustained through the rigors of school with free lunch every day. For many of these economically challenged children and teens, this may be one of their only meals of

EDITORIAL the day. DeVos seems to find this struggle humorous. She, like Trump, has expressed her dislike for the free lunch programs. At the Conservative Political Action Conference, she joked about this serious issue, saying “I pride myself in being… perhaps the first person to tell Bernie Sanders to his face that there is no such thing as a free lunch.” She may be right. To the government, the lunch may cost $1.50, but to a student in need, it is priceless. The nourishment to get them through the school day is essential, and her joke is staggeringly unamusing and disrespectful to those who benefit from this program. RELIGIOUS SCHOOLS

Holland Christian High School, which DeVos attended, is entirely private as it, and all other religious schools, should be, if we aim to ensure that the words of our founders are implemented. The First Amendment to the Bill of Rights states that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion.” DeVos wants to do just that. In open defiance of these words that constitute part of our American creed, DeVos has, for decades, fought for the allowance of vouchers to be used at religious schools such as the one whose name resides on her diploma. She has previously said that she wants to use taxpayer dollars to “advance God’s Kingdom.” Consider that statement. Through a veil of privilege, will-

ful ignorance and inner self-righteousness, she has decided that the best use of money coming from people of all religious backgrounds and cultural beliefs is in the support of religious schools. That means that atheist parents may pay for Creationist education, or that Muslim parents could have their money funneled into a school which preaches anti-Islamic hatred. This is not fair to any American. The separation of church and state was meant to keep people from fighting holy wars, whether politically or literally. DeVos’s statements show that she prefers to disregard the will of the Constitution and use her power to force money previously destined for public schools out of the hands of taxpayers and into the hands of religious educators. Furthermore, one can reasonably assume that when she says “God’s Kingdom,” she does not mean the kingdom of the Muslim or Jewish God, or of the many Hindu Gods. DeVos wants the furtherance of the power of the Christian God over the people of America. There is nothing wrong with this in its most basic form, but the use of taxpayer dollars to manipulate young, easily changed minds is an abomination. CIVIL RIGHTS

Trump’s recent swipe at the rights of transgender students has not gone unsupported by DeVos. She called Obama’s bill to protect students’ rights to use the bathroom that corresponds with their

gender identity an “overreach” of power, and has made no remark against his repeal. She has said that she supports gay rights in the past, but apparently her support does not extend to actually supporting these students. Community High School has always been one of the most accepting schools towards anyone, including and especially those members of the LGBTQ+ community. The Queer Straight Alliance is a club that represents this support, and the gender neutral bathroom shows the school’s willingness to go above and beyond Obama’s legislation. Its mascot, the rainbow zebra, is emblematic of this appreciation for diversity. Although this small community will likely remain strong and refuse unconstitutional practices such as refusing the use of a bathroom to a vulnerable teenager, the same cannot be said of all schools in America. So there must come a time when this school will take a stand against the injustices of DeVos and Trump. As students participating in the public school system, it is no less than their duty to show this oligarch, who is only in government because of her money and her family, the good that can come from a well-run establishment of public education. Students must stand up for what is right. Their voices may not matter to DeVos, but they are the only thing they have. Students, as the ones who are most affected by these detrimental policies, have a responsibility to fight.

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EDITORIAL

journalism [jur-nl-iz-uh m] noun

1. the occupation of reporting, writing, editing, photographing, or broadcasting news or of conducting any news organization as a business. BY CAMMI TIRICO

GRAPHIC: SONJA BENJAMINS-CAREY

The world needs journalists. In a world currently filled with “alternate facts” and opinions in place of the truth, the proven fact is the information that needs to be shared. Journalism in its most basic form is delivering important information to people who need it. With the amount of technology in the world right now, information is becoming more and more accessible. However, information can be interpreted in many ways. Journalists simplify and translate that information. The founding fathers protected the rights of journalists in the First Amendment: “Congress shall make no law... abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press...and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” The creators of our nation felt the need to guarantee the rights of the press to be able to share valuable information. Recently, that right has been under attack. Under the current President, Donald Trump, and his administration, good journalists and truth tellers are needed more than ever. President Trump has repeatedly attacked journalists. In recent tweets, President Trump 48

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wrote that the nation’s news media “is the enemy of the American people.” Other world leaders have declared press as an enemy of the state: Hugo Chavez, militant president of Venezuela; Vladimir Putin, president of Russia; and Kim Jong-Un, dictator of North Korea. Just the day before the tweet was released, Mr. Trump devoted much of a 77-minute news conference to criticizing his press coverage. Defendants of the media were quick to respond on Twitter by starting the trending hashtag, #NotTheEnemy. Tweets involved mentions of journalists who have lost their lives while reporting, in addition to journalists who broke headline stories such as the Watergate scandal. In an interview with The New York Times in January, Steve Bannon, Chief White House Strategist, called reporters the “opposition party” and said “the media should be embarrassed and humiliated and keep its mouth shut and just listen for a while.” Before Bannon was the Chief White House Strategist, he was the chair of the far-right Breitbart News. Breitbart News is known to periodically publish falsehoods and conspiracy theories, in addition to intentionally misleading stories.

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Carl Bernstein was one of the journalists who uncovered the Watergate scandal. According to a New York Times article Bernstein said “Oh boy,” after a reporter read him Mr. Trump’s tweet. “Donald Trump is demonstrating an authoritarian attitude and inclination that shows no understanding of the role of the free press,” Bernstein added. Historians have been quick to point out similarities between President Trump and former President Richard Nixon. In 1972, President Nixon told his national security adviser, “The press is the enemy.” “[President’s Trump’s language] may be more insidious and dangerous than Richard Nixon’s attacks on the press,” Bernstein said. “But there is a similarity in trying to divide the country, and make the conduct of the press the issue, instead of the conduct of the president.” The comparison between President Nixon and Trump is a scary one to make, but not a far stretch at all. There was a constant demand for good journalists during the Nixon administration. However now, with “alternate facts” circling around and tweets instead of press conferences, there is an urgent need for journalists and truth tellers.

EDITORIAL

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EDITORIAL

“Oscars still so White.”

More than 80 years of existance and the Oscars are yet to see an Asian actress win the Best Actress. Has American cinema really changed?

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EDITORIAL

BY MIRA SIMONTON-CHAO

21st-century America is not Black and White. In fact, it is quite the opposite. With growing minority populations across the country and a more than 50 percent Asian, Hispanic and Latino population in California—the third largest state in the United States—the U.S. is an incredibly diverse entity: the popularized idea of Black and White marginalizing millions of Americans in a nameless category making up for almost 20 percent of U.S. citizens. With an ethnic breakdown such as California’s, the assumption of a racially representative Hollywood seems logical. And yet Hollywood continues to fail in producing more than a handful of films starring minority characters a year. The nominations for this years Academy Awards are an acute reminder that though America is not simply Black and White, American cinema often fails to illustrate that. Since the beginning of the Academy Awards, a total of three awards have been given out to Asian actors. Haing S. Ngor, the most recent of whom, was given an Oscar for his role in the film “The Killing Fields” in 1984—more than 30 years ago. Though these numbers are astonishing, they are understandable. With an ever prevalent culture of Whitewashing in the American film industry, Asian actors are simply not being hired for lead roles; this deep-rooted institutional racism allows Eurocentrism to flourish in the United States. A White male lead is nothing particularly special. In fact, if one were to

open Netflix right now, at least three, if not more of the first movies to pop up would have White males as their leads. But in recent months, it seems as if the concept of a “White savior” has been once again launched into popularity: two films within the last few months starring White males saving blatantly not-White things such as, you know, the entire country of China. But Whitewashing is not a new concept. The practice of replacing ethnic characters with Whiter, less diverse characters dates all the way back to the first beginnings of playwriting. Its origins may have began with Yellowface but the construct of Whitewashing has evolved into something much more complex in recent years. The days of flagrant Eurocentrism making way as a much more developed form of institutionalized racism replaces it. “There’s 17 million Asian Americans in this country, and 17 million Italian Americans,” said Alan Yang, co-creator of the show “Master of None,” in his artfully articulated Emmys acceptance speech in 2016. “They have ‘The Godfather,’ ‘Goodfellas,’ ‘Rocky,’ and ‘The Sopranos.’ We’ve got Long Duk Dong.” Played by Gedde Watanabe in the 1984 film “16 Candles”, the infamous Long Duk Dong is an often overlooked exhibit of stereotyping and racism in the American film industry: the racist stereotypes taken on by his character overlooked in the light of so called comedy. For the last century, Hollywood has not only forced Asian actors out of the

industry with Whitewashing but also mocked them by casting them in stereotypical roles that entertain Americans at the cost of their own culture and dignity. Asian-American children need to see strong and willful-minded role models up on the screens; ones that they can relate to and share similar backgrounds with and are not in fact Caucasian redheads named Emma Stone and Scarlett Johansson. While Dev Patel’s most recent nomination for Best Supporting Actor is a step in the right direction, we cannot forget that he is only the second Asianmale actor to ever be nominated for an Academy Award in the over 80 year history of the Oscars, and the only Asian actor nominated for any award since 2010. The fight for a less White, more diverse Oscars and Hollywood is nowhere near close to over. Blatantly Asian roles are still being given away to even more blatantly non-Asian actors and actresses more than 60 years after Mickey Rooney took to the screen as Mr. Yunioshi in one of the most offensive instances of Yellowface Hollywood has ever seen. It has been 60 years and the little amount of progress the film industry has made is astounding. The Oscars are dominated by White actors in a predominantly White industry. The practice of Whitewashing encourages Eurocentrism in the U.S. as ethnic actors are being pushed out of American cinema and television. 21st-century America is not Black and White, and Hollywood needs to recognize that.

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Q&A

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A Musical Revolution

Q&A

How can jazz stay relevant? Clarence Collins III weighs in. BY GRACE JENSEN

Do you think [making music] is all about the end result, like giving something to your audience, or is it more about yourself? That’s a good question, because I ask myself a lot, “Who do I make music for? And who do people make music for?” And obviously it’s different for different people. But like, “What do I want to do? What is the purpose, why do I want to make music?” And it’s a combination of the two sometimes, sometimes it’s one, sometimes it’s the other. Sometimes I’m like "Oh, I want the audience to get wowed by this." But at the same time, sometimes I really want to just have something for me. And I feel like that’s why people didn’t like Miles Davis in his later years, because he was making music for him, and not for the audience. Like he’d turn his back on the audience all the time, and I’d be like "I feel that though." I want to convey a message sometimes in my music. Like there’s a song by Christian Scott called KKPD which stands for Ku Klux Police Department, [and] it is not that musically difficult or really extraneous or any harsh sounds, but it really conveys a harsh emotion better than words can, better than any sort of medium can. So, I think, I want to make it for myself because it is so fun to do, but also it gives me almost like a therapeutic relief from doing stuff. I want to play it so I can get out stuff, but also I want people to feel what I’m talking about. But not talking, playing. Do you have a lot of influence or inspiration from other artists around you? ...Really, actually, what influences my sound the most... when people ask jazz musicians "who are your influences?" the first reaction is to give jazz artists, but I realized very recently that my playing is very centered around, not old R&B, but semi-recent older R&B music, like Aaliyah and Ciara, R. Kelly. There's a lot of R&B that I listen to and that's the one main genre that I listen to more than anything. I think that influences my sound the most. Definitely R&B, definitely hip-hop, definitely all the things that I listen to currently. Because I think that's what sucks about jazz, and why not many people like conventional jazz, which is like Charlie Parker and beebop, is because it's stayed so stagnant for such a long time, and people are always wanting to resort back to bee-bop. And yes, so many jazz professors would be like, "No, you have to study beebop," like yes, okay, I'm going to study it, but to say that jazz is only that is such... It kills the music, and it's been killing the music for a long time. The fact that people aren't recognizing that there are so many new art forms and new sounds in the world—like hiphop, like new R&B, like dubstep—why aren't we integrating those into jazz? Because that's what jazz is. Jazz was birthed out of a conglomerate of blues and spirituals and gospels and all this other stuff, but also, it kept growing. We don't sound like Louie Armstrong anymore, it doesn't sound like a march anymore. So that’s something you would want to work on in the future, progressing jazz to include different types of music? Definitely. Jazz is dead to the popular people because we haven’t progressed since beebop, like we always keep learning beebop. I think that’s why, to an extent, because I think we should learn the art form but I feel like we shouldn’t only think that. We have to start there, we have to learn what other people were doing, but then that education engrains in peoples’ brains that beebop is the only way, that that’s what jazz is, and nothing new is jazz. Like you know Robert Glasper is always classified as “neo-soul hip-hop,” whatever, but it’s just jazz. And Christian Scott is like “Latin world music,” like no, he’s a jazz musician. It’s jazz, it’s just not straightahead jazz.

Where do you think the limit is between what’s jazz and what’s not? That’s the question, is it not. I don’t know. I think what also is the problem is we constitute jazz. When we describe jazz it’s like “oh yeah, it has a 4/4 feel, and we always have to have emphasis on the 2 and the 4, and it’s all instrumental,” like no. What do we call hip-hop? “Oh, it’s these boys rapping about their problems.” That’s it! That’s all we call, like what else is rap? And it’s like, you’re doing it while talking in a rhythm? So, why can’t jazz be like [that]. And what [jazz] was, we weren’t playing it to be like “Yeah, this is complex, and we should wow the audience.” We were playing it because this sounds good. This is new. So why not play it because of that anymore? Rock ‘n’ roll would not exist without jazz. All this other [stuff]... So why do we have to constitute jazz as not a progressive art form? It’s been new, and it’s always been new, and it’s always progressing. And we’ve been playing what we hear, and that’s good, but we’re not doing what it has been doing initially. The whole purpose of it initially was taking other things and turning it into a new thing. If you take any ten-year time window in jazz before the ‘70s, the first year and the tenth year are completely different, I can guarantee you. Louie Armstrong to Duke Ellington? 100 percent of different things! They do not even sound... they both have instruments, that’s all I can say. And they both kind of swing. So what about from 2000 to 2010, so you think they would be very different? No! I think they’ve been very the same. 2000 to 2010, that ten years didn’t really add much. Like yeah, the thing is we had that smooth jazz stuff in the ‘80s and ‘90s, and that was... some people liked it, some people hated it. I’m indifferent honestly. But I think 2000 to 2010 had, if any progression, not much. I think music had a progression, like obviously we don’t listen to Smash Mouth and not everybody listens to Green Day anymore. We don’t all listen to the same stuff that we did in the early 2000s. But for some reason, even if punk and rock and stuff progressed... Especially electronic music, we could talk about that. I remember listening to the first house music and the first electric stuff, and listening to dubstep and trap music now, they don’t even sound like the same genre. But they are. So when you hear the progression from 2000 to 2010 in jazz... what changed? But this whole thing about making jazz new, I think that still goes back to who is it for, because if it’s just for the jazz musician they should just play the old stuff if that’s they like. Exactly. But if it’s for the audience, then maybe the audience needs something new. My problem is, as a musician, and I can only speak for myself, obviously, but as a musician I feel so angry when I’m not able to make new things, and when I don’t listen to new things. Like, wouldn't you be mad, Grace, if there was one tree, and no leaves fell off, everything was the same about the tree and it never died, you only had to take pictures of that tree? [There would be] different angles, but how many different angles are there? You'd be taking good pictures, and it'd be really good. Same thing. If I’m playing beebop and I keep playing it over and over again, it’s going to be really good! But it’s not going to be anything new. And it won’t enrich the culture. That’s what I’m saying, and that’s the problem, that’s the real thing. It’s the culture. I need to make the whole atmosphere of performance art new and rich. What’s the point? Why would I want to listen to something if I can listen to it on the record?

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HUMANS OF COMMUNITY

humans of community MEET THE FACES OF COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL

MARIKA CHUPP BY ZOE LUBETKIN

“Don’t take anything too seriously. Don’t dwell on anything too long.”

“Life advice? Don’t take anything too seriously. Don’t dwell on anything too long because it makes it hard to move on. It’ll just make you stuck… it’ll just keep getting worse and worse and worse and you can’t grow, you can’t learn, you can’t enjoy life if

you’re stuck. And I think that reflecting on what you do in relation to what’s going on in your life that you’re unhappy about, that really helps with it. So I just think trying to learn… learn from everything that you do.”

GRACE YORK BY AVA MILLMAN

“I’ve always wanted to dance, my whole life, and I just never had the outlet to do it.” 56

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“I’ve always wanted to dance, my whole life, and I just never had the outlet to do it. It was just never on the priority list. I did a lot of other sports and it just wasn’t a thing I had really thought about until I was in fifth grade and I was in a talent show with my

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friends. We did a dance and I was like, ‘I really want to do this!’ So a few weeks after that my mom signed me up for dance classes and I have been taking them ever since.”

HUMANS OF COMMUNITY

THEA ROWE BY MIRA SIMONTON-CHAO & GRACE JENSEN

“I think art is incredibly important and it’s an integral part of society. “

“I think art is incredibly important and it’s an integral part of society. I also think that it can be helpful to society as a whole and also to the individual to communicate. I think it’s a really beautiful thing. I don’t really know yet [how art has helped me]. I’m hoping to figure out soon so I can make better art. I’ve done a lot of art and crafty

“I think I’ll take after my parents [when I’m older] and try to change it up.”

“I live on a corner, and where the sidewalks intersect there is a green space between the sidewalk and the street. In that space my parents always plant a pumpkin. At the beginning of the year it’s small and just has a few leaves on it. Once it grows bigger all the leaves spread out and take over that whole corner and the pumpkin keeps getting bigger and bigger. It’s mostly my dad’s idea. I think he enjoys what I don’t enjoy. He likes to be unique. And he likes having his house, and a lot about himself to be different, so I think that might be the main purpose of it and he likes connecting with neighbors about it. I don’t really tell anyone because I’m kind of

things with my mom, and it’s been a really nice way for us to bond. And especially because I haven’t been able to see her as much as I would like. So, I think that that’s been a really nice thing. Something that we can do together and also have to look back at.”

JASPER ANDERSON BY KATE BURNS & GRACE JENSEN

embarrassed. I think it’s kind of strange to live in a semi-urban neighborhood where no one else plants in a public space. But when people bring it up, like Anne [Thomas] did today, I think it’s funny that people know where I live. It’s known as the pumpkin house. When I’m older it will probably be an inspiration to start something new and be unique, but as a teenager now I’d rather just be like all the other houses and just have grass in my front yard, but I think I’ll take after my parents [when I’m older] and try to change it up and maybe start a tradition but probably not as weird.”

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HUMANS OF NEW YORK

BY MAZEY PERRY

A A RO N F U L L E R “I get on the train every single morning at 6:07 [A.M.]. I catch the A train from Columbus Circle, and I go to 2 Park Place across from City Hall. The other day one person got into an argument. Someone next to me was homeless, and he was eating cream cheese out of a container with a knife, and someone came in the train and then someone else came in, and I don’t really remember but, in a nutshell, someone spit cream cheese on someone because they were in a fight, and then one guy pushed a girl and one guy got in the way and it was just crazy.”

SUNNY MELET I’m a New York native, I live in Tribeca. I take [the subway] every day; it’s my commute from Tribeca to the Upper East Side. They have dancers sometimes, and this guy was on his head and he was dancing around one of the subway poles on his head… I don’t even know how to explain it. It was really weird. I saw a video that my friend took of a guy jumping from one platform to the other, over the train tracks. I would almost call it culture. The subway has a culture of its own. You see a lot of different things but really anything goes down there.”

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S E RG E D O S S “I do live in the city… Well I used to, I just moved to Jersey City like a month ago so, I take the subway everyday. My work is far from here, so I just take the train everyday. Actually right now, I’m going to the Bronx to my barber shop. I’m originally French, I was born in France and one time I was on a train and a guy got on and performed a song that I really liked, from a French artist, which is very rare. I was just like ‘oh my god I can’t believe he’s singing this song!’”

H E I D I A L BA R A Z “I live in Brooklyn, I take the train every day except weekends. I see a lot of crazy things. I’ve seen people bloody on the train, maybe a broken ligament or something somewhere. I’ve seen teenage dancers which is always fun and entertaining. I’ve seen homeless people, all kinds of homeless people. Those are just everyday things you see. People like practically putting on their faces in the morning on the train. But what I really can’t stand is when people try to smoke a cigarette on the train, that’s not fun and I’ve experienced that several times and it’s just so annoying.”

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SIGHTS & SOUNDS of

ICELAND BY MIRA SIMONTON-CHAO

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1 Þingvellir

A national park in southwest Iceland, Þingvellir is a site of historical, cultural and geological significance. A popular tourist destination, Þingvellir is commonly anglicised as Thingvellir and is only 25-miles from Rejkjavík—Iceland’s capital city. The park lies in a rift between the North-American and Eurasian tectonic plates: marking the crest of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge.

2 Geysir

The Geysir field located to the east of Laugafell mountain in Hverasandar, Iceland boasts one of the largest and most famous geysers in Iceland: the Strokkur geyser. One of the most active sprouting springs in the area, Strokkur spouts a highly powerful stream of water, gas and steam approximately every ten minutes. The stream reaching as high as 30 meters into the sky then settling back into its pool of light blue and pink water.

SIGHTS AND SOUNDS

3 Gjabakkavegur

A long and winding road running from Laugarvatn to Pingvellir, Gjabakkavegur winds through some of the most beautiful parts of Iceland. With lush fields and winding springs, ponies and sheep roam freely along the road, pit stops are scattered every few miles or so for tourists to enjoy the views.

Valley of Reykjadalur

Located in Southern Iceland, the Valley of Reykjadalur is only about 30-miles away from Iceland’s bustling capital Rejkjavík. With a small restaurant and parking lot at the start of the about 2 mile hike, the valley is a lush green bowl. The canyon Djúpagil runs through it as well as many waterfalls and an expanse of hot springs and blue mud pools. With changing walls and a walk way, the hot springs are a lovely place to stop for a quick swim, and are often referred to as a miniature version of the Blue Lagoon.

5 Reykjadalur

Streams and Rivers Surrounded in lush foliage, the rivers and streams of the Valley of Reykjadalur wind their away up and down hills and canyons. The muddy banks and high sulfur levels creating a constant state of fogginess in the valley.

6 Urridafoss On the Þjórsá River—Iceland’s longest river—the Urridafoss waterfall is one of the most voluminous waterfalls in Iceland though often overlooked. Easy to miss, Urridafoss is off of a main road located in Urriðafossvegur, Iceland. It is approximated that Urridafoss generates upwards of 930 GWH annually. A power plant is proposed to go underneath the waterfall though the project has, at this point, not taken off.

66 april

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1000 WORDS

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1000 WORDS

1000 WORDS BY GRACE JENSEN

PHOTO: KT MEONO

T Meono stayed with her grandmother on Lake Michigan over winter break of 2016. Her grandma’s house is her favorite place in the world. The property borders both the beach and the woods, allowing for many scenic landscapes and photo opportunities. Meono remembers photographing one night during a windstorm so crazy that she had to shield her camera with her body to keep it from shaking. “I knew that if it was really windy that the waves would be whipped up, and that would be cool for some slow shutter speed,” she said. “So I took all my stuff and I went down to the beach and I set up. There was this absolutely beautiful sunset, and I took a lot of pictures of the sunset, but then the sun started to fade and I was like, ‘okay, well I should just go back up to the house.’ And then I walked over along the beach and I saw this group of rocks that juts out into the lake and I saw this little bush. And I know that during the summer it’s really pretty, and it’s big and it’s green and it’s full of foliage, but I just thought it was really interesting that it was covered in these layers of ice and that the waves just kept rolling over it as they came in, which only added more layers of ice.”

april

THE COMMUNICATOR

RECIPES

Raspberry Sorbet

1/3 cup water 1/3 cup sugar 1 pound of frozen raspberries (thawed)

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INSTRUCTIONS

1. Place the water in a small saucepan over low heat, and stir until the sugar is completely dissolved for 3 to 5 minutes. 2. Boil the mixture for 1 minute, then remove from the heat. Pour the sugar syrup into a container and place in the refrigerator until completely chilled (about 1 ½ hours). 3. Place the raspberries in a saucepan, along with the cooled sugar syrup, bring to a boil, and then simmer for 2 to 3 minutes. Allow the raspberries to cool for a few minutes, then transfer to a blender or food processor until puréed. Pour the raspberry purée into a container and put it in the freezer. 4. When the sorbet is completely frozen (3 to 4 hours), remove from the freezer and let stand at room temperature until partially thawed. Transfer to a food processor or blender, and process to break up ice formed on the sorbet. Blending it further gives the sorbet a smooth texture. 5. Place the sorbet back into the pan and refreeze for at least 3 hours and up to several days.

RECIPES

Spring Pasta with Veggies ½ cup lemon juice 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard

1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil, divided 4 cups pasta of choice 1 leek, halved 1 garlic clove, minced 2 ½ cups snap peas ½ bundle asparagus, cut in 1-inch segments 1 teaspoon basil 1 teaspoon thyme

INSTRUCTIONS

1. In a small bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, mustard and 1 tablespoon of the oil. Set aside. 2. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add a pinch of salt to the pasta. Cook according to package instructions until al dente. Remove from heat, and drain the water. 3. Meanwhile, heat the remaining teaspoon of oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Add the leek and sauté for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the garlic and sauté for about 2 minutes. Add the snap peas, asparagus, basil and thyme and sauté until the snap peas become tender, about 5 minutes. When tender, remove from heat. 4. Add the vegetables to the pasta in the pot. Stir in the lemon sauce. Serve warm with pea shoots piled on top.

pea shoots april

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10 QUESTIONS

Ethan Ziolek

them with ketchup and a whole bunch of food from the kitchen and just threw it at them. Then they went around camp and if they couldn’t find anyone that would give them a hug, they had to do something crazy again or clean something. Rachel kept trying to hug me. At some point her and another LIT just like surrounded me and like I got tackled by mud, ketchup, cheese and barbecue sauce. It was pretty gross. What’s your biggest fear and why? Drowning is my biggest fear, because just imagine if you were trying to hold your breath and you just couldn’t get to the surface of the water. Nothing besides the water forcefully made you stop breathing. That’s why I wanted to get into swimming. That’s why I joined the swim team and took swim lessons because I didn’t want to drown. Who inspires you? Generally speaking just my friends inspire me to be a good person. I always see my friends, and I love seeing them happy, and it makes me want to be nice to everyone. What’s your main goal in life? Pretty much my fantasy goal is to be able to produce or make music. I always have liked music and I think about it in a deeper way. I’ve always wanted to express myself with my own beats. This is very abstract from that but also maybe be a comedian and just be able to talk and have a good time. What pushes you to do better? My realistic goal in life is to have a family. Someone I love and kids and giving them opportunities and having a house. It pushes me just to be able to think of some people that I will help support and give opportunities to. What’s the weirdest fight you’ve ever had? It was Matthew Dubin’s birthday party. We were all there, and it was like his 12th birthday party and he invited a lot of dudes over for a sleepover. For some reason we had a wrestling tournament. Me and Isaac Hollander were both stronger kids for our ages and would usually overpower [our] other friends. So it came down to us two, and we were wrestling and guess I lost and I got mad so I ran upstairs and took these things that were on the ground. If you remember squinkies—those little rubber animal things—I had those in my pocket and I threw them in the toilet and flushed them. Those ended up actually being Lauren Dubin’s, Matthew’s little sisters. I felt so bad because she ran crying to her parents and I was like “Lauren, don’t worry I’ll just get you the ones I have.” I never did.

Ethan Ziolek talks about summer camp adventures and making girls cry! BY TERAH BLAKEMORE

What is one of your favorite childhood memories? I was in fourth grade and I had this really cool teacher. His name was Mr. Petty. He participated in King Elementary School’s silent auction called Mr. Petty’s basketball class. He got the principal’s son, who played high school varsity basketball, and they all got 10 elementary schoolers to play basketball on a team versus each other. Mr. Petty and the principal’s son both led teams and gave them basketball skills. Of course, being in Mr. Petty’s class, I wanted to play against him. So I was with the principal’s son, and the whole time I was talking trash. Elementary school trash. I would say, ‘Yeah Mr. Petty I just scored on you.’ That was just really fun time. It was really cool too because it was one of his last years before Mr. Petty left to become a principal at another school. What’s something you treasure? I definitely treasure my family and the opportunities they gave me to try everything that I wanted to when I was younger. Like being able to play all these different sports, like soccer, basketball, ultimate frisbee, baseball and all these other crazy sports. Also other art classes and crazy opportunities that a lot of kids just don’t get. What’s the wildest thing you’ve ever done? This was like in 9th grade. One night me and my friend Andrew Alson were just out and about at like one in the morning. It was winter and we were just [fooling around]. So we decided to like mark our territory, like dogs, and spell our names with our pee in the snow. It was there the next day cause it froze over. What’s your favorite place to be and why? Besides my house [it] is probably Camp Al-Gon-Quian, and why is because it’s just home away from home. It’s where I found a way to be my own person. What’s the weirdest thing that’s ever happened at Camp Al-Gon-Quian? My friend Rachel Hunsberger —she was a LIT(camp leader in training) that year— they had this devotion thing or whatever, so they went to this place called the mud pit. All the LITs did. Their counselors sprayed

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PHOTO: BRENNAN EICHER

BOOKS THAT CHANGE LIVES

BOOKS THAT CHANGE LIVES BOOK AUTHOR Anita Diamant

REVIEWER Lia Kahan

DATE PUBLISHED

GENRE

9.15.97

Historical Drama

BY SUEPHIE SAAM

here’s a book I’m reading right now; it’s called “The Red Tent.” It’s really cool. I don’t know biblical stuff very well, but it’s talking about these women from the Bible who were sisters. They all married Joseph, which was kind of weird. And so [the story] is talking about these biblical stories, which are well known, but told from the perspective of the women there. The idea of the red tent is so when [the women] are on their period they just live in this red tent together and they’re pretty much like, “[Screw] all the men!” I think it’s interesting because I don’t know a lot about the Bible, and these women who were living thousands of years ago are living with some of the problems we have now. I’m also interested in medicine and they have this whole “early medicine” aspect where they use herbs and stuff. One woman was trying to have an abortion and so she drank this tea. It’s kind of wild how the same things we deal with today people dealt with back then. One of the main themes is just women standing by each other; there’s one section where the sisters’ father has a slave mistress but she’s the same age of his daughters and so for a while they ignore her and see her beaten to death. I think that correlates to what we experience today. We see terrible things happening to people like us close to home and across the world and we’re like, “Oh! We don’t need to worry about that,” but I think we’re all women dealing with the same things.

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FASHION

2 1

Community Fashion BY BRENNAN EICHER

1. Senior Jaleana Pace wears a flowy black dress with an army green jacket with a thin choker. 2. Junior Hawa Dicko sits in Zingermanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s with a black boat-neck shirt to reveal shoulders and collarbones.

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3. Senior Ruby Lowenstein dresses in a burgundy sweater with black detailing wrapped around. 4. Senior Olivia Comai sports an all black attire that shows contrast with her bright hair.

FASHION

5 4

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The Arborialist Ann Arbor Street Fashion BY EMILY TSCHIRHART

1. A black letterman jacket paired with corduroy pants, a blue patterned hat and black combat boots. 2. An olive green jacket with grey faux fur was the choice for this girl scout to sell samoas and thin mints.

3. A navy knee-length coat, bright red jeans, and chestnut oxfords laced just past the ankles. 4. A camel brown winter coat with grey fur, beige khakis and turquoise Nike sneakers.

5. A woman finishes her shopping spree at the Getup, Pitaya and American Apparel in blue jeans, a pink tee, beige-grey chelseas and a grey patterned poncho.

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al an w ha th G

ARTIST PROFILE: KAILYN MCGUIRE

BY WM. HENRY SCHIRMER

Kailyn McGuire is a sophmore at Community High School. She enjoys drawing the emotion she finds in animals with graphite pencils. She hopes to one day be able to sell her art. When did you first start creating art? I started working really hard and trying to make my art better probably around this past summer. I started to put a lot more effort into my art and take longer time and think about what I was doing, but I’ve always liked art. What motivated you to start creating art? I really wanted to draw my trainer’s horse, so I just sat down and tried to draw it. It was really bad, so I looked at other people’s art and I started teaching myself to do different things. I know I’m a lot better than when I started. What is your inspiration for your art? I try to get emotion. I guess what inspires me is different animals and the emotion I see in them. I like to draw it and put it onto paper. I guess it’s really relaxing. I think it’s really calming, and I like animals. It’s fun. Is there any medium you wish you could work with? I would love to learn how to oil paint. Oil painting is really hard because the paint can be toxic. I would really like to learn how to do that one day. That would definitely be the next thing that I would want to learn.

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What mediums do you tend to work with? I like watercolor and pen, but I mostly do graphite drawings. I would say most of my work is realism done with pencils. Do you have any artist that you look up to? Yes. Most of them are Instagram people, but there is this one girl in Norway that taught herself how to draw and she is 20. In the past two years, she has improved so much. Any artist who has put in the time and effort to improve themselves and any artist who is kind to other people and who motivates others, I really look up to artists like that. There is one artist, his name is Tim Marsh, and I’ve always really liked his paintings. He always comes to the Ann Arbor Art Fair and I go there every year to see his work. What do you hope for the future of your art? I’d like to be able to start selling [my art] and having people come to me to draw their animals. I feel accomplished when people ask me to draw their animals, because that means they like my art and they think they would like to see their pet through my eyes. How would you describe yourself as an artist? I really like [my art] to be neat and realistic. I do enjoy doodling and sketching and doing other things, but I am definitelty more of a neat realism artist. I prefer realism over other types, like abstract. I guess I’m a neat artist. I also do like to be creative with my works, so I will change things to make them more colorful or have more depth to them, but I like them to be neat.

all these Greek myths and legends and where they might have come from and the history of the Greeks

edition 4 playlist: CAITLIN MAHONEY AND GINA LIU

what to listen to

listen when you’re

Night Frank Ocean

driving in the dark

California Childish Gambino

on vacation

Guru Coast Modern

walking outside

Herman’s Habit Justin Hurwitz

making pasta

Lotus Flower Bomb Wale (ft. Miguel)

feeling emotional

Survivor Destiny’s Child

going through something tough

Domo23 Tyler the Creator

getting PUMPED!

Do You Go Up khai

needing to relax

Ex Calling 6LACK

going on a late night walk

Apartment Young the Giant

unsure of your emotions

When They Fight, They Fight The Generationals

you need a pick-me-up

Something Real Blackbear

in a good mood

LISTEN ONLINE!

Munny Right Jon Bellion

working hard

Go Flex Post Malone

tiptoe-ing in feels

The Edge of Glory Lady Gaga

https://open.spotify.com/ user/wizardoftherefrigerator/playlist/3XXj4Q1VftD9EHgpXoM41R

about to go on a date

Forgive Them Father Lauryn Hill

having a realization

My Lovin’ (You’re Never Gonna Get It) En Vogue

feeling better then someone

Weak AJR

crying

Somebody Else VÉRITÉ

thinking about your ex april

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Pop Quiz Test your knowledge of Community High School by answering the following questions. Answers are listed below! BY KT MEONO

1. What is Kevin’s last name?

8. What high school did Chloe go to?

2. How many picnic tables are there in the front of the school?

9. What teacher goes by their last name?

3. Who was Judith’s student teacher before he was hired as a full time staff member?

10. What language is Liz fluent in? 11. Where does Ed take his classes out to eat?

4. How many teachers have classrooms in the stairwells? a. 4 b. 2 c. 3 d. 5

12. What does the Latin phrase on Jason’s door translate to? a. Living while teaching is hope b. Learning is like natural food for the mind c. Every soul is the artisan of their own fortune d. Fortune favors the bold

5. What mural is this a part of, and where in the school is it?

13. What is the name of the yearbook? 14. How many years has the Communicator been a magazine? 15. What are all the trophies in the trophy case for? 16. How many shows does CET put on every year? 17. Starting in 2010 how many times has the Stapleton Forum won tug-of-war? 18. Which current teacher was a former CHS dean?

6. Who works in the main office? a. Wendi b. Janelle c. Cherie d. Gretchen 7. Where did John go to college?

19. True or false: a couple got married on the front steps of Community. 20. Before Community was renovated and outfitted to be a high school it was what? a. A cheese making factory b. An elementary school c. An office building d. A community college

Answers: Davis, 4 tables, Robert, 4 teachers, Liz’s corridor, Wendy, University of Michigan, Community High School, Brandon Jackson, French, Buffalo Wild Wings, Learning is like natural food for the mind, Midnight sun, 34 years, Mock trial, 3 shows, 5 years, Peter, True, An elementary school 72

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BY KT MEONO

1. Go to a poetry reading 2. Eat lunch on the back lawn 3. Play basketball on the courts outside 4. Get quoted in the Communicator 5. Go to/be in a CET show 6. Ask Kevin about his tattoos 7. Go to Commstock 8. Participate in tug-of-war at field day 9. Take a class with Judith 10. Help a freshman find a class 11. Join a club 12. Go on an overnight forum trip 13. Park in the parking lot 14. Swing on the swings in the front lawn 15. Ride the elevator 16. Go to the basement 17. Go to prom 18. Run the 5k in personal fitness 19. Skip class on senior skip day 20. Paint a mural on one of the walls 21. Listen to music on the first floor 22. Get into the 0% club (it’s a FOS thing) 23. Take a U of M class 24. Take a CR 25. Go to the Halloween dance 26. Watch “The Godfather” with Steve 27. Go into the teacher work room 28. Read through an entire Communicator edition 29. Tell John a cheesy joke 30. Get buzzed in by Wendi 31. Come to school on the weekend

32. Dress up every day for spirit week 33. Go to a Jazz concert 34. Make it through senior year without a parking ticket 35. Participate in the senior spork game 36. Submit to Free Verse 37. Become a FOS BOSS! 38. Have your egg survive “the drop” 39. Participate in the senior scavenger hunt 40. Eat pie on pie day 41. Get sent to the back of the line at registration 42. Be in the front in the all-school picture 43. Eat pancakes with Ed 44. Come to school fully decked out in CHS swag— CHS sweatshirt and CHS sweatpants 45. Go through a full day of school without coffee (warning: attempt at your own risk 46. Walk to Washtenaw Dairy with your forum 47. Play frisbee on the back lawn 48. See Courtney prom-pose to Liz 49. Watch the sunset from the third floor 50. Eat at all of the classic CHS lunch spots: a. Sparrow b. Kosmos c. Teriyaki Time d. Zingerman’s e. No Thai! f. Monahan’s g. The Lunch Room h. Ahmo’s i. People’s Food Co-Op and Cafe Verde

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PHOTO COURTESY: MARLIN JENKINS

Marlin Jenkins, Not The Poet An interview with Marlin Jenkins, a poet in The University Of Michigan’s MFA Program. BY KYNDALL FLOWERS

What do you think is the responsibility of an ally? Some people are really pushing against that word: ally. I think that’s useful. In general, I think my view on a lot of things is to resist the buzzword because there are all these associated meanings that come with it. If I say ally, and you say ally, and some other person says ally it might mean three different things. But there is this assumed meaning that gets attached to it. I think part of my expectation of an ally then is to push beyond what we call ally, and to interrogate that. I think all of our jobs, as humans, and all of our responsibility should be to interrogate ourselves and I think that’s often missing. A lot of allyship is more interested in the outward than it is on the inward, and that’s a problem. It’s the “Look who I am and what I’m doing and under what role and label am I operating more than, this is the work I’m doing internally, even when that’s not always visible.” What’s the hardest thing for you to be emotionally honest about? The imme-

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diate answer is probably the intensity of my depression. It also depends on if we’re talking poems or if we’re talking about real life. Something that I struggle with in interactions with people is that I never want to feel like I’m bogging people down or burdening them. I’m always very nervous that I’m being like, “Oh, look how depressed I am, look how hard my struggle is,” and I don’t want to be that person. I don’t want to be someone who’s exploiting my struggle and my mental illness. Or exploiting issues of race or class or background. I don’t want to over focus on those things, even though they need their time and expression. Especially because I feel like I talk a lot, too. I either don’t talk at all or I just don’t stop

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ABOVE: Marlin Jenskins was born and raised in Detroit, and has worked with their InsideOut Literary Arts Program.

talking. There’s no in-between, and then I feel like I’m taking up too much space. That’s hard for me, in person. I don’t have many problems talking about mental health in my poems. I’m very comfortable in that space while I’m writing it. I do think I struggle being emotionally honest as it relates to loneliness. I think a part of that might honestly be some of my poetic biases. If I’m like, “Oh, this is how lonely I am,” it’ll feel like a journal entry, not a poem. I think the easy answer to that is that sometimes I need to be journaling, not writing poems. Being honest with myself, there’s a thrill of “What is it that I need to be doing to continue to move forward?” Marlin Jenkins has been published in The Journal, Yemassee, The Puritan, Cura, Banango Street, Squalorly, Cheap Pop and others.

POEMS AND PROSE

“A Cliché Poem Made of Hope and Light and Borderline Realistic Fantasy” BY THEA ROWE

1. To exhale all of the choking, sickening fumes that have gathered in the vacuoles of my lungs as I’ve watched others live loves 2. To put my hands where my mind is and to keep my mind where my hands are 3. To close my eyes when I feel sunlight kiss my cheeks and to smile at the way its lips dance and to fold the memories of these moments into the lining of my heart until it glows 4. To trust the winds that guide me and not to always go where I am urged 5. To no longer fear burning too hot, or running out of light and love and wonder to pour into the world, to no longer fear having none left for my own heart 6. To love stars without counting them and to love myself the same way 7. To exhale love with every breath of life I take 8. To push and pull on my own bones until they stretch and grow and reach out long enough to grab each idea floating past me 9. To grow my soul past what I can imagine tonight

PHOTO: GRACE JENSEN

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SONG OF THE DAY

“DANG!” MAC MILLER FT. ANDERSON .PAAK ‘It was difficult for me to choose a song to lose my Song-of-theDay virginity to, but “Dang!” was compelling from the first beat. I think it was this fact alone that pushed me to make my choice. The first time I heard it, I was hooked by the time Anderson .Paak’s barely-audible breath comes around just before the hook. This is the second track off Mac Miller’s fourth and newest album, “The Divine Feminine,” and my first exposure to both of the artists. It was an effective gateway drug, one which provided comfortable listening that builds from the beginning beats into a song I kept hoping would come on when I shuffled my Spotify playlist. “The Divine Feminine” is composed entirely of love songs, and this song is no exception—over muted beats Mac Miller repeatedly declares, however hesitant and hot/cold, his affection. Anderson .Paak is a key player as well, smoothly singing his hook and how he “can’t keep on losing you” over and over until there is no doubt that it is true. The men get sensitive in order to maintain their relationships, and in my opinion it works. The soft, synth chords and silky vocals over them create the right atmosphere for effortless affirmations of love. The obvious attachment is there, but it is not too overbearing or in your face. It’s a late-night “wyd” text with a little more flair, and it is almost guaranteed he is getting a reply.

- Zoe Lubetkin

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“GHETTO DOPE” DEX OSAMA A rainy Monday morning drive to school always calls for a buoyant beat to combat the groggy atmosphere. The funky sound of “Ghetto Dope” gets the job done, a song unique to Dex’s typical aggression. Taking a closer listen to the lyrics, however, reminds you it is the same angry Dex: “Talking bodies yeah we got those / hop out swinging choppas till yo block close.” This combination makes you ready to tackle the day—cheery but assertive, all smiles but don’t look at me wrong. Understanding the context behind Dex Osama’s music as a Detroit rapper is crucial in appreciating his work. Heavily influenced by drugs, violence and gangs, his lyrics and sound encapsulate the struggles that accompanied his life. His birth name was Byron Cox, and he was murdered two years ago, when he was shot outside of a strip club in Detroit. He was taken far too early, only 26 years old at the time of his death. His family and friends compiled his work into an album titled “Long Live Dex,” released in June of 2016. Dex Osama’s early death meant he was never able to fulfill his potential as an artist, but his work continues to influence emerging Detroit artists today.

- Helen Kulka

“FIGURES” JESSIE REYEZ

Every once in awhile, an artist, or rather a voice, will evoke emotions or feelings you thought that music never could. Think of the first time you heard Amy Winehouse plead for company on “Valerie,” Lauren Hill’s cadence on The Fugees’ “Killing me Softly With His Song” or Beyonce’s flawless key changes on “Love on Top.” Now it would be bold, probably even downright insane, to place Toronto’s Jessie Reyez among these vocal titans, but the first time I heard her voice, a chill ran down my spine. I would not say that her voice makes me happy, or that she hits every note perfectly, but her tone is undeniably powerful and she conveys pain and sorrow in a way unlike most singers today. This is evident from the get-go on her debut single “Figures,” which starts with a steady guitar line and one half-whispered word: “Figures.” Reyez bounced around the Toronto area as a kid while her family awaited U.S. citizenship. She moved to Miami and worked as a bartender in her early 20’s, but found the club scene there to be a dangerous cycle of drinking and recovering for the next night’s drinking. It was not until she was accepted into The Remix Project, an organization that serves marginalized and under-privileged youth looking to enter the creative arts industries, that she truly found her place as an artist. Reyez credits the Project with teaching her how to write songs from more genuine emotions, as well as providing her with her first big break—a collaboration with Chicago’s King Louis. Look out for Reyez to develop even more as a songwriter. Once she does, there is no telling what she could create.

- Joel Appel-Kraut

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IN MY ROOM with

NATALIE LAKIN 1. “This smallest one has the most meaning. It is from Canadian Nationals, so we are international champions. I got it as a sophomore and it was a really tight race. We won by maybe one point something seconds and it was one of my biggest accomplishments I think.” 2. “I really like knives and swords. I have one tattooed. I got [this knife] from the Celtic Festival in Saline this past summer. I’m just looking for cheap, sharp thrills. I’m Scottish and Irish and we come from the Gunn clan, from Scotland. My mom and my family are really into ancestry, so we like to go. I also really like the Celtic music and the Renaissance festival.”

3. “[Yellow Submarine] is one of my favorite movies. I wanted to get a poster for it, but I didn’t want to buy it, so I just made it. It was for Advanced Art. The piece was ‘Big Piece, Small Idea.’”

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6. “ I did [my tattoos] when I was sixteen. I did them as a stick and poke. I really like art and I wanted to have my own art on my body too, not just trust other people. Plus I was young and couldn’t do anything else. Luckily I don’t regret them, but I wouldn’t suggest for people to do their own. I still like them a lot.” 78

4. “I was in Gender Studies at the time [when I made this collage] and I was thinking about this stuff a lot. It was also after the election and all of the bad stuff going on. I was feeling kinda down on myself because I don’t really always feel comfortable being different from other people. I’m not always loud and proud, but I had this magazine that I got from Pride in the summer in Lansing. It is just stuff that it is important to me. I have this Martin Luther King postcard that I got when I went to March on Washington and I visited all the monuments. I have cutouts from comic books and from the magazine. 5. “I got [Rosie] the summer after fourth grade. We would do this thing in my class about something you were looking forward to and I would always raise my hand and say ‘I might get a dog this summer!’ and then we did. So I finally got her. It was four years after my other dog died; we had a hard time getting over that. [Rosie} was the runt, she was the tiniest and she was so cute. My mom almost wanted to send her back because she started being kinda bad when she was younger. She snapped at her one day so [my mom] sort of held her down and said ‘Who’s the mama? I’m the mama!’ Then after that she just listened to her. She got her tail removed when she was three. She has had nine tumors removed. They are the kind that she is just going to keep on getting.”

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BY JOSH KRAUTH-HARDING

WHAT WAS THE LAST SONG YOU LISTENED TO? I listened to “Hard in Da Paint.” It’s Waka Flocka basically saying a lot of words I cannot repeat. I really enjoy it.

WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU STUDIED WITH? Well I haven’t studied in a while, but I study with Sadie Zinn sometimes. We study together by just talking about the stuff.

WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU LAUGHED WITH? Andrew Reynolds. He said something and I laughed so hard I think I peed my pants a little bit. I think he said something about farting on stage. I have literally never laughed harder in my life.

WHAT WAS THE LAST BOARD GAME YOU PLAYED? I played Clue eight weeks ago. I don’t know how to play Clue, so people were getting really mad at me but I was like “I’m trying my best!” So that’s what really counts I think. I played with my family and they w e r e like “You’re d u m b ,” and I was like “Sorry guys!”

one

WHAT WAS THE LAST DREAM YOU HAD? Last night I was dreaming, but then I woke up but I was still dreaming when I woke up. Do you ever have that? I was trying to turn off my alarm, but I was like “Who am I?” and “Where am I?” and “What am I doing?” I was just tapping on my screen and when I woke up for real I was like, wow, I did a lot of stuff on my phone and I don’t know what any of it was.

WHERE WAS THE LAST PLACE YOU BIKED? I can’t ride a bike. So, never. Literally never. I’ve never biked anywhere.

last thing

WHERE WAS THE LAST FAMILY TRIP YOU TOOK?

We went to Florida, and we had Thanksgiving with my grandparents and my other cousins. It was pretty bad. I didn’t like it. No one in my family was a cook really, or knows how to cook, or does that... ever. Usually we just go to the club, which is where my grandparents eat everyday, because they live in a community where they go to the club to eat, and usually we go to the club for Thanksgiving dinner. But this time, my aunt was like “Um, I’m going to make it,” and then she made it, and I was like “Girl, could we please have just gone to the club?” That’s how my Thanksgiving went. It was pretty bad.

emily fishman WHERE WAS THE LAST PLACE YOU GARDENED? The last place I gardened was probably my front lawn. My mom’s always like “I need you to scrape the moss out of the sidewalk,” and I’m like “I don’t know what that means,” but then I do it. I take that little scrape-y thing and I get on the ground and I’m like “Scrape scrape!” And she’s like, “That’s wrong. That’s not what I asked you to do.” So I’m just like, “I’m done for today,” and she says, “Great job,” and then I go inside. [Sometimes] she’s like, “That’s the pretty moss! I wanted you to get the ugly moss,” but there’s no difference. Gardening is not my strong suit.

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ART THROB: GRIFFIN HALL; SENIOR “I was really inspired by floral shapes. It was the spring at the time that I took it [and] I love blooming flowers, so I was like ‘how can I encapture that throughout the whole body and the look of the silhouette,’ and I found this piece of pink silk. So I was like ‘whip it around,’ and I found that that was the easiest way to create these like blooming shapes of color and I loved how the green and the pink looked together.” 80

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