March 2018 Issue by Fenton InPrint

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InPrint

PHOTO JACOB ANGLEVOSKI

MARCH 22, 2018 VOLUME 37 ISSUE 6

WE ARE ALL EQUAL

When it comes to contentious issues, like the rights of the LGBTQ+ community, whose voice will be heard? To see the staffâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s opinion on this topic, see page 8.

InPrint

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Fenton High School 3200 W. Shiawassee Ave., Fenton, MI 48430 Phone: (810) 591-2968 Email: inprintadvertising@gmail.com Website: www.fentoninprint.com

BRIEFS

Publication Policy

The InPrint is a student newspaper published every four weeks by the Advanced Journalism class at Fenton High School. We are an open forum. If the paper prints incorrect information, any necessary corrections will be made in the next issue.

THE NEW DANCE

Editorials

Editorials are staff editorials on which the entire class votes to decide on the stance taken. Opinions expressed in editorials are not those of the administration. Columns represent the opinion of the individual writer and do not reflect those of the administration. Polls represent a random sampling of 10 percent of the students attending the school.

Letters to the Editor

The staff encourages students, staff and administrators to submit guest columns or letters to the editor. Letters and guest columns may be emailed to inprintadvertising@gmail.com or deposited in the boxes in the main office or the media center. All the letters must be signed and include a phone number to verify information. Letters are subject to editing for space. Anonymous letters and those that are photocopied or addressed to a third person will not be considered.

Photography

Pictures considered offensive will not be run without written consent from the persons pictured and, if necessary, his/her legal guardian. All photography not labeled with a photo illustration has not been digitally altered to change.

Advertising

The InPrint reserves the right to edit any advertisement that is considered to be in poor taste for high school publication, or one that suggests a violation of federal, state or local laws. Through a voting process, the editorial board makes the final decision whether an advertisement should be published.

Staff

Print Editors in Chief: Website Editor in Chief:

Ellie Bennett, Devon Mann McKenzie Lookebill

Print Assistant Editor: Website Assistant Editor:

Ellie Vasbinder Jillian Ferry

Features Editor: Opinion Editor: Sports Editor:

Audrey Strickhouser Amber Kelly Tyler Soule

Multimedia Editor: Web Editors: Social Media Director:

Jacob Angelovski Gracie Warda, Madi Wheeler Emma Coffey

Artist:

Ellie Vasbinder

Ad Designers: Business Manager: Business Staff: Graphic Designer:

Haley Sordyl Vivian Huynh Cale Mitchell Michael Stinson

Writers:

Maci Best, Delaney Bryson, Sydney Bommersbach, Anna Ebert Andrea Elsholz, Taron Masi, Nick Megdanoff, Regina Pauly, Lydia Podlesak, Lily Tiong, Hannah Young, Lukas Zywicki

Photographers:

Abbey Banks, Matt Celotto, Kaitlin Gruber, Sena Haas, Jordyn Haines, Catherine Haines, Dow Kaenpracha, Lauren Megdanoff, Wilson Personett, Logan Reeves, Abby Sizemore, Maya Mead, Emma Senyko, Myranda Stark, Mason Tabor, Melissa Tousley, Jaden Williams, Katelyn Wallace, Reagan Wilson, Danielle Zawlocki

Adviser:

Pamela Bunka

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News Briefs

WRITER NICHOLAS MEGDANOFF

Student council organizers are hoping the third time’s the charm for the spring dance. For the last two years, the dance has been canceled because of low ticket sales. Instead of another Sadies Hawkins dance, the Spring Fling will be held on March 24. “Most schools have a Sadies or winter formal, but we decided to change it to a Spring Fling dance,” All-School president Molly Anderson said. “We’re trying to have the dance be an ‘anybody can ask anybody’ type thing. We wanted to do Snowcoming this year, but it just kept getting delayed.” The dance was originally scheduled to coincide with other events in the school, such as spirit week. However, inclement weather forced dates to be changed. The dance is taking place to give students an enjoyable experience

PHOTO FILE

WHILE THE PROM is often popular, the introduction of the Spring Fling comes as a result of student council’s difficulties in scheduling and the lack of interest in the Sadies Hawkins dance. Tickets for Spring Fling are now $15. in a social setting between homecoming and prom. “In the past, we always had a winter type dance and the last few years they were canceled due to us having so many snow days or not having enough tickets sales,” student council advisor Jill Starr said. “They just kept moving the date; it is hard to plan and get student interest, so we’re hoping for a turn around this year by

changing the theme. We’ve added a couple of new things to try and spark interest again.” Student council hopes the changes to the dance that involve new events and activities will bring in more ticket sales so that the dance can actually happen. Tickets are $15 a person and will be sold until March 23 outside of the cafeteria.

NEVER AGAIN

National ‘March For Our Lives’ becomes local in Michigan with several locations set to have marches ASSISTANT PRINT EDITOR ELLIE VASBINDER

@FHSPUBLICATIONS

The Spring Fling dance set to replace Sadies Hawkins formal

March 22, 2018

Walkouts, protests, rallies and town hall meetings are now buzzing with controversy. After the school shooting that resulted in 17 deaths, in Parkland, Florida, students and activists around the nation are now pledging that school shootings will be #neveragain. “Of the 10 deadliest shootings during the last decade, seven involved the use of assault weapons,” the March For Our Lives petition said. “No civilian should be able to access these weapons of war, which should be restricted for use by our military and law enforcement only. These guns have no other purpose than to fire as many bullets as possible

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and indiscriminately kill anything they are pointed at with terrifying speed.” Protesters have organized the March For Our Lives rally for March 24 in Washington, D.C. This event will attract students from schools all over the country as well as multiple celebrities including Jennifer Hudson, Demi Lovato and Ariana Grande. In the wake of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, survivors urge people to march on their state capitals as well. In Michigan alone, there will be more than 25 sites to participate in marches. Some of the locations include: Ann Arbor, Flint, Lansing and Battle Creek.

“I think it’s important to participate in March For Our Lives,” senior Cassie Menzies said, “because it brings attention to the issue of gun violence in schools. I don’t want my school to be next. Personally, I want high powered weapons to be less accessible.” The March For Our Lives is the day citizens plan to honor the 17 victims of Parkland and will be demanding gun control. If you are interested in joining the fight to end the epidemic of mass shootings, you can sign the petition visit marchforourlivespetition.com.

CLOSING THE DOOR Michigan enacts state-laws that can block same-sex parents from the adoption process on grounds of religious beliefs; some question constitutionality of decision PRINT EDITOR IN CHIEF ELLIE BENNETT

If a same-sex couple walks into a federally funded adoption agency in Michigan and some other states looking to adopt a child in need, they can now be turned down. The couple cannot argue against it because their state legislators voted in favor of legislation that allows these federally funded agencies to turn them down, even on the basis of religion. States such as Michigan, North Dakota, South Dakota, Virginia, Texas, Mississippi and Alabama have laws that permit state-licensed child welfare agencies to “deny foster and adoption services to youth and families,” according to the Movement Advancement Project. Georgia has been in the news recently as it is in the process of passing a law that would prohibit same-sex couples to adopt within the state by allowing private adoption agencies receiving state funds to deny adoptions for certain couples or individual parents based on “sincerely held religious beliefs.” Michigan in 2017 was sued by the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) when a lesbian couple tried to adopted a child from the Catholic Charities, then Bethany Christian Services, to which both agencies said they don’t work with samesex couples. The agencies were allowed to do this legally because of the laws that Michigan has surrounding gay marriage. “Michigan Department of Health and Human Services permits child placement agencies to turn away prospective foster and adoptive families headed by same-sex couples based on their religious objections,” senior staff attorney for the ACLU Leslie Cooper said. “Many agencies doing child placement work in Michigan are faith-based agencies, some of which have religious objections to placing children with same-sex couples.” Many who support the bill have said that a child needs to be raised by a mother and father, not two fathers or two mothers. They believe that a child must grow up with the support of a mother and father and that for them to have a proper upbringing with emotional and physical support, two fathers or mothers would not suffice. However, according to Adopt U.S. Kids, there are currently more than 400,000 children in foster care in the United States. They range in age from infants to 18 years old (in some states). “Michigan can’t afford to have families be turned away based on criteria that has nothing to do with their ability to care for a child,” Cooper said. “Allowing state-contracted agencies to screen out prospective

families based on religious criteria not only harms the children most in need, it is also unconstitutional. It violates the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause, which bars the use of religious criteria in the provision of government services like foster care and adoption services for children in state custody. And it violates the Equal Protection Clause by discriminating against same-sex couples.” Opposers of the bill not only say that it is discrimination based on sexual orientation, but that there are children who need to be adopted. They believe that with this bill, the governments are stopping people who could be caring and loving parents from adopting a child in need. There is an estimated two million LGBT people are interested in adopting according to Williams Institute, UCLA School of Law. “Of the 594,000 same-sex couple households in the United States, 115,000 have children,” Lifelong Adoption stated. “People say that children need both a mother and a father to raise them, but there are others who believe that gender does not matter when parenting. Over the years, the number of children living with LGBTQ+ parents has risen tremendously. That number will only increase, as same sex adoption and parenting becomes more and more widely accepted.” Even with the 2015 ruling of Obergefell v. Hodges, which states that all 50 states must lawfully perform and recognize the marriages of same-sex couples on the same terms and conditions as the marriages of opposite-sex couples, these laws have found a way around it. “The marriage clause in state adoption requirements is one of the most effective ways that states continue to discriminate against LGBTQ+ couples who are looking to adopt,” Considering Adoption stated. “Because some states do not allow second-parent adoptions in these cases, these LGBTQ+ couples are left unable to grow their family through adoption.” Same-sex parents in the United States are four times more likely than different-sex parents to be raising an adopted child. Among couples with children under the age of 18 in the home, 13 percent of same-sex parents have an adopted child, compared to just three percent of different-sex parents. The states that have these restricting laws are under scrutiny by the ACLU. But those fighting for the legislation to be passed are hoping to have the law in Georgia soon.

fentoninprint.com

March 22, 2018

News

Photo EMMA SENYKO

Heat Of The MoMent Beating rivals, working well

HOMETOWN ZEROS

together comprise players’ top winter season memories SPORTS EDITOR TYLER SOULE

BOYS VARSITY BASKETBALL

“Our season was really fulfilling; we had a great group of guys who always wanted to work hard and do whatever it takes to win. Our struggles were getting off to bad starts and not finishing games that we should have won. I thought we worked well together, and just had a few games get away from us at some points.”

-sophomore Addison McIntosh

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BOYS VARSITY WRESTLING

GIRLS VARSITY BASKETBALL

BOYS VARSITY BOWLING

-junior Rachel Smith

-sophomore Brady Triola

-senior Madeline Carr

-senior Colin Shaughnessy

“The girls ended up second in the division overall, and we’ve placed in the top two teams in the division ever since I’ve been on the team as a freshman. We struggled throughout the regular season; people were a little shaky, but we ended up coming back when it mattered the most in the end.”

Sports

“This past season was really good, our team did great until the end, when we lost to Linden. The most memorable part was at the Brandon meet, when [Lukas] Zywicki pinned this kid; because that was when our team finally came together. We all cared about what was going on, we were all cheering really loud. Our team finally connected.”

March 22, 2018

“The most memorable part of the season was beating Flushing. It meant a lot to me. Since my freshman year, we have never beat them; that was the year they came into the Metro League. Their win streak was 54 games. We bonded really well as a team; you could tell we were all playing for each other at that point.”

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“As a team, we had a lot of fun and gave it our best. We had only one returning player, so we weren’t expecting to win everything. The most memorable moment was regionals, because we were at the meet for so long. I feel like the boys bonded more as a team that day than the whole season. Even the last day of the matches, everyone did their best.”

Detroit sports are nearing an all time low. The Red Wings are struggling to even come close to a .500 win percentage and the Tiger’s win percentage was .395 last season. The Pistons are almost at .500. The Lions went 9-7. Detroit has gone 10 years without a championship, which is its longest drought since the 15 year period from 1968 to 1983. Having hope for Detroit is necessary, but with two of our four teams in “rebuilding mode,” it is tough. When I say rebuilding mode, I mean that we are trading LZ Sports away all of our WRITER good players for LUKAS ZYWICKI prospects and draft picks. But that alone is failing, and we are trading away too much for too little. The Tigers, for example, traded away Justin Verlander (starting ace pitcher) for Franklin Perez, Daz Cameron and Jake Rogers. Never heard of them? Yeah, neither has anyone else. They are highly ranked prospects, but they are still playing positions that we do not necessarily need this season; catcher, pitcher and another center fielder. The Tigers released Brad Ausmus last season and have since hired Ron Gardenhire as his replacement. It is good to have a new manager, because Ausmus was failing, but Gardenhire has failed on every team he has managed so far, including the Minnesota Twins, which was one of the worst teams in baseball during his reign. The Lions are also a perfect example of how a front office can ruin a team. Time and time again, the Lions have wasted high draft picks on selected players that do not perform. The Lions just franchise tagged Ziggy Ansah, a player who had only 39 tackles last year, which is a decent number, but not franchise tag worthy, as he seems to be injury prone. We wasted too much money on him. Instead, we could have signed a running back who might actually run or an offensive lineman who can block. The Pistons are by far the biggest letdown in Detroit; they came into this season with high hopes to be one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference, and they started off the season 10-6. After that, Detroit lost seven straight, spiraling into a season full of gloom. The Blake Griffin trade was a huge move, and Griffin has played very well, but the rest of the team has not. The trade has become a bust. Detroit sports need to change, and fast. Moves need to be made, players need to be traded. Failing managers need to be replaced. Big changes need to come or we are looking down a dark, ugly hole. We cannot expect anything good to happen when we are still scoring more points than the average IQ level of its athletes, and we are not scoring very many points.

Review: ‘Love, Simon’ offers representation LGBTQ+ youth need today, puts fresh perspective on typical love story PRINT EDITOR IN CHIEF DEVON MANN

IMAGE 20TH CENTURY FOX PHOTO ILLUSTRATION DEVON MANN

It’s been a big year thus far for LGBTQ+ related cinema and it won’t be stopping anytime soon. After the widespread success of “Call Me By Your Name” this past awards season, expectations are high and all eyes are centered on the next big gay movie of 2018: “Love, Simon.” Based on Becky Albertalli’s YA novel entitled “Simon vs. The Homosapiens Agenda,” this movie, directed by Greg Berlanti and starring Nick Robinson, is centered around Simon Spier, a 17-year-old high school senior with one “huge ass secret”: the fact that no one knows he’s gay. That is, no one besides Blue, another anonymous closeted teen at Simon’s school who he has struck up an email relationship with. The film follows Simon’s quest to find the identity of Blue and his own struggle to come-out to those closest to him.

‘CALL ME BY YOUR NAME’ IS THE MOVIE OF THE YEAR Review: This film sheds light on falling in love with a person regardless of their gender; it’s not a straight thing or gay thing

From start to end, this film is a heart-warming, feel good picture that will leave viewers smiling from ear to ear. Films targeted toward younger audiences feel out of touch and clichéd, and not an accurate depiction of what it’s often like to be a teenager these days. But the writing in this film is authentic and hilariously witty. Performances by all cast members were great, with lead Nick Robinson’s being especially endearing. “Love, Simon” is revolutionary in the fact that it’s the first gay-themed rom-com to be headed by a major production company that is targeted toward teens. While LGBTQ+ films are nothing new to the cinematic community, they’re usually some sort of art-house drama, often filled with dark undertones and geared toward older audiences. While it is great to see LGBTQ+

representation in any kind in film, these indie, art-house pictures often fail to resonate with younger audiences. It’s true that “Love, Simon” doesn’t stick out, it doesn’t take risks, but that’s exactly why it has received such mass acclaim thus far. Teenagers, especially LGBTQ+ teenagers, don’t need another film filled with social or political allegories; they need a simple love story. In an age where it seems kids are always being told, “It’s okay and normal to be gay,” there seems to be an underwhelming amount of normalized LGBTQ+ representation. “Love, Simon,” is taking a crucial first step in trying to change that. The only difference between this film and any other great high school rom-com is that it’s one Romeo chasing after another.

THE FILM RECEIVED FOUR ACADEMY AWARD NOMINATIONS BEST PICTURE

Peter SPearS, Luca GuadaGnino, emiLie GeorGeS and marco morabito

BEST ACTOR

timothée chaLamet

BEST ORIGINAL SONG “MYSTERY OF LOVE” SuFJan SteVenS

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY [WON] JameS iVorY

PRINT EDITOR IN CHIEF ELLIE BENNETT ART MICHAEL STINSON

Directed by Luca Guadagnino, the movie edition of “Call Me By Your Name” is just as meaningful and spectacular as the book written by André Aciman in 2007. Just 10 years after the book was published, the project started as an indie film and soon turned into a mainstream movie, garnering multiple Academy Award nominations for Best Actor (Timothée Chalamet), Best Picture, Best Original Song and ultimately winning for Best Adapted Screenplay. The movie, set in the countryside of Northern Italy in the summer of 1983, centers around 17-year-old Elio (played by Chalamet) who has a deep desire and affection for Oliver (played by Armie Hammer). Oliver is a graduate student who comes to stay with Elio’s family as part of an internship program with Elio’s father, a distinguished archaeology professor. Shortly into the movie, one can see that Elio is fascinated with Oliver. He observes Oliver’s actions, even down to how he feels based on the color shorts he wears. One simply doesn’t just watch this movie, you become a part of it and the beautiful story that is told. You become so engrossed in the story that when the movie is over you want to know what happens next with their journey; will they come together again or will they accept that maybe their love was just first love and that was all it was meant to be? “Call Me By Your Name” has a clear and precise message to it: love is love. It’s not a gay thing or straight thing. The two characters fell in love with each other regardless of their gender which shows the true desire that they had for each other.

IMAGE SONY PICTURES

The way that Guadagnino captured the unforgettable scenes made the fans of the book happy. Along with the amazing scene work, the actors cast in the roles of Oliver and Elio have made the movie a complete masterpiece. Chalamet brought a face to the role of Elio and captured the essence of the character in each scene. Hammer, as well, had the performance of his career, as he brought the sophistication of Oliver to life. This movie will continue to make an impact for years to come as it teaches everyone that love isn’t based off of our gender.

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March 22, 2018

Arts & Entertainment

FEDERAL GUIDELINES REPEALED

After government decision, transgender facility policies left up to each school WRITER ANDREA ELSHOLZ

After the federal government passed legislation requiring federally funded schools to “treat transgender students consistent with their gender identity” in February 2016, the Trump administration has retracted this law, leaving the decision up to the states. Michigan does not have any law regarding the use of school bathrooms and locker rooms by transgender students. Instead, local school districts decide what policies and practices are best for their students. “Our school allows transgender students to choose the bathroom corresponding with the gender they identify as,” guidance counselor Michelle Pietraszkiewicz said. “However, if the students don’t feel comfortable using the male or female restrooms, they can use the bathroom in the office. The same goes for the locker rooms; if they prefer, they can come down to the office to change. It’s ultimately their choice of what they prefer and what they feel most comfortable with. Everyone has the right to use the restroom. We want our students to feel safe at our school so we try to offer them whatever option makes them feel comfortable and safe. Ideally it would be nice if we could have three bathrooms; male, female and a third one for people who preferred it.” A report by the Michigan State Board of Education in 2015 showed that transgender students are 2.3 times

more likely to be assaulted by weapons or threatened with them on school grounds. While Fenton High allows transgender students to use the restroom they feel most comfortable using, Gender Spectrum (an organization dedicated to creating an inclusive environment for youth) reports that more than half of transgender students in public schools avoided using school bathrooms. “I am able to use the bathroom of the gender I identify with at this school, so I don’t feel targeted by the transgender bathroom issue,” senior Oliver Healey said. “However, I still feel like the federal government sees me as a threat; transgender students are one of the most targeted demographics. I personally don’t think gender identity with bathrooms falls under Title IX [for sex discrimination], because I know people might take advantage of it. The choice is up to the school, based on a case-to-case basis and the environment around them. I generally always go to the counseling office to use the bathroom; I don’t want to make others uncomfortable because I’m not fully passing as either gender yet. Some people are uneasy with the thought of me in a public bathroom, so I try to consider how others feel.” Schools in some states are reportedly having trouble with the transgender bathroom issue after parents have filed a lawsuit against the Dallas School District in

THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY BY THE NUMBERS SOURCES HUMAN rigHts cAMpAigN, pewreseArcH, sexUAldiversity STATISTIC COMPILED BY WRITER LYDIA PODLESAK

10 million of the U.S. adult population

identified as LGBTQ+ in 2016

Almost half of gay and lesbian teens state they have attempted suicide more than once

73% of LGBTQ+ youth say they are more honest about themselves while online than in the real world

34%

of LGBTQ+ youth say they have been bullied or harassed while on school property

LGBTTQQIAAP

(lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, transsexual, queer, questioning, intersex, asexual, ally, pansexual)

ART ELLIE BENNETT

Double Truck

March 22, 2018

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Oregon for permitting a transgender boy, Elliot Yoder, to use the boys bathroom and locker room. “It would be nice if all schools had a consistent policy, but different schools have different cultures, which makes it hard to know the right policy for every school,” Pietraszkiewicz said. “Some schools are more accepting; it just depends on the community. From talking with some of my transgender students, I get the perception from students that female-male transitions are more acceptable, while students going from male to female are faced with more stigma and judgment. The students here are overall pretty accepting from what I’ve seen and heard.” A 2015 Michigan Youth Risk Behavior Survey found transgender students are twice as likely to skip school and experience less academic success because of bullying. In September 2016, Michigan’s State Board of Education passed guidelines in hopes of creating a safe learning environment for LGBTQ+ students. Because the federal government has recently repealed certain laws, individual school districts in Michigan and across the nation are now deciding how they would like to promote treatment of and accessibility to school facilities for transgender students.

R A E W

RUNNING THE COMMUNITY

Opinion: Success of LGBTQ+ athletes at highest levels inspires next generation ASSISTANT PRINT EDITOR ELLIE VASBINDER

At the winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, figure skater Adam Rippon and freestyle skier Gus Kenworthy were the first openly gay American men to compete in the Olympics since the legality of same-sex marriage. After seeing these two men compete for the US, and more openly gay athletes coming out each year, hope is kindled for members of the LGBTQ+ community across the globe. “Hopefully, people will see the reaction we got,” Kenworthy said. “I feel like we were so supported during this games and had so much love and encouragement that it will provide people the solace they need to come forward themselves.” Kenworthy hopes they will inspire other athletes to come out and embrace the community. It is important that all people feel welcome, regardless of the environment. With the LGBTQ+ community comprising 3.8 percent of the United States population and a record 14 openly gay athletes in this year’s Winter Olympics, there are young athletes everywhere feeling more accepted than ever in their sport. “Most people are accepting, so it doesn’t affect me so much,” senior Pat Smith said. “You’ll most likely be accepted and if not, just keep doing what you’re doing. Play

R E AL L

your game how you always play it and it shouldn’t affect anyone. You’re just there to play.” While some students have never been discriminated for their sexuality in sports, the fear is still present. With the rise of hate crimes in 2017, people could be more discouraged to come out. Sexual orientation is ranked as the third-highest motivator for hate crime incidents (17 percent of total attacks). Five population-based surveys

“I’ve never really felt like I’ve been treated differently,” Smith said, “But seeing professional athletes who have come out makes it feel more accepting, just that there are other people out there, too, who play sports. They’re all over, especially in college sports.” It is famous openly gay athletes like Eric Radford, Michael Sam, Elena Delle Donne and Jason Collins that make it more comfortable for people to come out despite skeptics. It is the activists who double as athletes to remove the use of homophobic slurs in the locker room. The more athletes who come out and fight, the stronger the community is. “While you may not be shocked that I am gay (surprise),” Rippon tweeted. “I hope it helps a young girl or boy who doesn’t feel like they belong (like I once did) and lets them know it’s awesome to be yourself. You can do anything if you work hard.” Regardless of their sexuality, each athlete is there to play his or her hardest and represent their team. Step by step, hope is being kindled as gay athletes are feeling acceptance from the audience. From the NFL to the Olympics and on, the LGBTQ+ community is here and their athletes are here to play. Editor’s Note: Pat Smith is the name used to protect the identity of our anonymous source.

Most people are accepting...You’ll most likely be accepted and if not, just keep doing what you’re doing. Play your game how you always play it and it shouldn’t affect anyone. You’re just there to play.” -Pat Smith of high school students by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation found that those who identify with the LGBTQ+ community have higher rates of sexual abuse and forced intercourse than their heterosexual counterparts. However, more openly gay athletes in mainstream sports inspire upcoming athletes.

LGBTQ+ youth report living in a community that is “not accepting”

43%

growth in Americans identifying as LGBTQ+

63%

the LGBTQ+ youth said they “hear negative comments about being LGBTQ+”

92%

18-29 years olds who identify as bisexual are women

73%

LGBTQ+ community are men

50%

18-34 years old support the LGBTQ+ community

63% ART ELLIE BENNETT, DEVON MANN

PHOTO CREATIVE COMMON

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March 22, 2018

Double Truck

STAFF ED The staff selects a topic for each issue and votes to determine the direction the editorial will take. The majority rules and the editorial is written from that angle. AT ISSUE Should the will of the majority be able

to dictate rights of minority groups, such as the LGBTQ+?

he past decade has undoubtedly seen monumental social progress being made within American society in regards to gender-identity-expression and sexual orientation being accepted and recognized among all citizens, with the most notable sign of this progress is groundbreaking legislation passed in 2015 that guaranteed the rights of LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer) individuals to marry. In 2018, LGBT+ individuals are becoming increasingly integrated into the American mainstream, with LGBT+ centered movies and TV series winning some of the most prestigious cinematic awards and prominent LGBTQ+ individuals, from entertainers to athletes to politicians, comprising the community of 10 million Americans that identify as LGBTQ+. Despite these advancements, despite LGBT+ people becoming increasingly more visible with each year that passes, the struggle of this community to achieve equal rights is still unfolding. When it comes to the rights of LGBTQ+ or the rights of any minority group, the question posed is whose voice will be recognized as valid? How does a society cater to the desires of those who hope for two different outcomes? In response to questions like these, many often look to a referendum, hoping to let the popular voice of the people decide the proper course of action. But, how can the rights of a minority be preserved if they encompass a significantly lower portion of the population? Whose decision is it to make?

WHOSE VOICE?

Equal protection under the law and non-discrimination, guaranteed by the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments, should not be up for contention

OUR VIEW No, individual rights of the LGBTQ+ are not to be

decided by the will of the majority, but are rather inherent for all persons and ensured by the Constitution.

Agree: 12 Abstain: 7 Disagree: 6 w

Opinion

March 22, 2018

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As Russian-American philosopher Ayn Rand points out, it is really no one groupâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s decision, but rather a non-decision entirely. Randâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s teachings highlight that rights are not given once they have been approved by the majority, but rather are inherent in all individuals, despite which way the majority population feels, and rather these rights serve to protect minorities from being subjected to the will of the majority. The principle for legal equality for LGBTQ+ individuals is based on fundamental constitutional principles, specifically that of equal protection under the law which is guaranteed by the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments. Despite these principles functioning in theory, there is still no specific federal legislation that prevents a person from being fired or refused a job based on their sexual orientation or gender expression. In 16 states, there is legislation that prevents transgender individuals from using a bathroom which contradicts their sex assigned at birth. In eight states, even, there is legislation that prohibits LGBT+ related issues to be addressed in schools. When actions like these are undertaken, they violate the constitutional principles that guarantee equal protection for all citizens and ensure that no individual will be discriminated on any characteristic of their being, specifically in regards to race, religion, sexual orientation or gender-identity. The notion that the will of a majority can either legitimize or de-legitimize the rights of a minority is flawed. Despite what anyone might think, even if it is the majority opinion, these fundamental rights ensure equality under the law and non-discrimination, which is not up for contention.

BLOCKED

https://www.twitter.com/

What’s On Your Mind? How do you feel about blocked web pages? PhOTOs Amber kelly

Maeve Smith | sophomore “I don’t think the county should be allowed to block websites because we’re in high school now and I feel like we should have more freedom to view what we want.”

Noah Maier | junior “The county shouldn’t be allowed to block sites because we need them for research. YouTube is especially hard to get on. We are trying to do academic work and running into blocks is unnecessary.”

Why Are We BLOCKED?

Victoria Carnell | freshman “I think the county should be allowed to block websites that could be inappropriate. Other times, I’ve tried to do research but couldn’t look up the information I needed because they were blocked.”

Genesee County’s ISD block inhibits students from effectively working during the school day

OPINION EDITOR AMBER KELLY

Students are finding it has become increasingly more complicated to effectively use class time as more and more websites are being blocked and becoming unreachable. When the Genesee County ISD (Independent School District) blocks web pages just because they’re associated with ‘sensitive content,’ all it does is prevent the student body from doing required work. One of the biggest misconceptions about blocking websites is that the school district is behind the blocks. It isn’t. Fenton High uses the county’s streaming service, and therefore is at the mercy of what they choose to block as all of the websites go through a main drive, which is controlled by the county. Then, the site is either allowed to pass through to reach the students’ computers or are blocked by several filters. By law, the school district has to block sites or they’ll lose funding from the federal government. I understand having to block certain sites, but the school district should have its own WiFi and not have to rely on the county to make decisions on what their students can and cannot view. There is a lot of inappropriate content on YouTube, so the county should be able to block it, but they shouldn’t be blocking informational videos that could

be used for teaching. If the content hasn’t gotten any red flags, then students should be able to view it. Although teachers can request to unblock a website, that takes time and shouldn’t be needed. It’s not logical to have restricted content while on the school WiFi when it has already been approved by teachers. Blocking pages won’t prevent students or anyone from visiting websites with sensitive content. If a students really wants to visit a site, they can bypass the blockade by using their phones. So, it only really causes the student body more trouble than if they were just allowed to view the sites. A “VPN” (Virtual Private Network) app is used by many of students, which allows them to connect to the WiFi but bypass the blockade. The VPN app is a violation of the AUP form (Authorized User Protocol) that students sign at the beginning of the year, they many not realize that by using these apps they could face disciplinary action. The solution to this problem is obvious. Filtering fewer websites and allowing the academic ones from being blocked would be a good start. Websites that are filtered only hinder learning from happening, instead of helping it.

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Greg Mock | senior “The county should not be allowed to block websites because when I am writing an essay and need information, I have a really hard time getting good sources because so much is blocked.”

Kai Parr | freshman

“The county should only be allowed to block certain sites because we’re mature enough to be able to make the decision of what’s right and what’s wrong and which websites we should not be on.”

March 22, 2018

Opinion

Something to Bark aBout

Therapy dogs are becoming increasingly prevalent, being used to comfort or educate in places from senior care centers to elementary schools FEATURES EDITOR AUDREY STRICKHOUSER

the trainers,” Tiemann said. “It will take anywhere from 10-12 months for the training, so it’s way beyond the typical therapy dog certificate. A typical therapy dog has a handler and goes with that person classroom to classroom on the leash, but this dog will be trained ‘off leash’ so that it will be able to go with any of the teachers. The teachers will be trained and learn the commands so they can control the dog.” Before the dog could be purchased and the training arranged, a significant financial hurdle had to be met. “The biggest challenge that I thought we might face was trying to raise the $8,000,” Tiemann said. “This includes the cost of the puppy and the year-long intensive training that he will receive. Once we started promoting the idea and seeking sponsors, the overwhelming support from our school and Fenton community was amazing. Our sponsors included families throughout the community, the State Bank, the Fenton Rotary Club and our majority sponsor, Dr. Wax Orthodontics, who donated $5,000 for the therapy dog.” Tiemann made it a priority to research therapy dogs before jumping into the project, he looked into things like kid friendly dog breeds and reliable training facilities. “Getting a therapy dog is something I have thought about a lot,” Tiemann said. “I have seen them in hospitals and heard about them in other schools. When doing research I found out Brighton schools uses therapy dogs in a few of their buildings and they are in the process of getting them in every school. I contacted them and got some resources to start the process of getting a therapy dog. The dog we decided to get was a miniature goldendoodle because I didn’t want a dog that sheds. By doing this I was trying to avoid some of the allergy concerns some parents may have.” Therapy dogs are growing in popularity across the country. No matter the type of job given to the dog, it’s sole purpose is to provide comfort and alleviate anxiety for the people they are around. Not only can a dog be man’s best friend, but it can be a worker, too.

Walking into the Wellbridge Rehab Center with her therapy dog, Peanut, senior Julia Acton sees many of the patient’s eyes light up. As she walks around from room to room, patients share a moment of happiness with Peanut during their recovery at the center. “I decided to get my dog certified as a therapy dog a few years ago for the sophomore project,” Acton said. “My family had been wanting to do it for a while, because she was super well behaved and we knew she would be a great therapy dog. The process took six weeks and three days. We took her to training once a week for six weeks, and then her actual test spanned over the last three days.” During the six weeks of training, Peanut was taught standard obedience, such as learning to react to basic commands. Training is not required for a therapy dog, yet Acton wanted to make sure her dog was fully trained before taking her to the rehab center. “I knew that turning Peanut into a therapy dog would be a commitment,” Acton said. “I definitely think that all of the training and nights at the rehab center with her are worth it, though, if I can use my animal to make others happy for even a short bit of time, I feel like I am doing something good.” Acton doesn’t stand alone, State Road Elementary Principal Barry Tiemann recently completed the final steps to provide a permanent therapy dog for his school to create a better environment for the students. “I just got the puppy on Feb. 16; that following Monday, I dropped him off at

THE BENEFITS OF A THERAPY DOG Speech Dogs encourage communication and can aid children in overcoming speech disorders. Physiological Benefits

SENIOR JULIA ACTON had her pet, Peanut, certified as a therapy dog for the sophomore MYP personal project. Now, Acton regularly takes Peanut to the Wellbridge Rehab Center to interact with patients. PHOTO COURTESY JULIA ACTON

Features

March 22, 2018

fentoninprint.com

Dogs have been proven to lower blood pressure and improve cardiovascular health.

Anxiety When a person is feeling anxious, trained therapy dogs seek to soothe and lessen feelings

of anxiety.

Mental Health Dogs decrease feelings of loneliness and increase sense of community and socialization. Hormones released in the brain can boost overall morale. Healing Touch Petting a dog produces an automatic relaxation response, which is believed to reduce the amount of medication needed for people. SOURCE PAWSFORPEOPLE.ORG ART AUDREY STRICKHOUSER

Art DEVON MANN

How To Make Your Voices Heard in Congress

Want to Get Involved?

Avoid social media, congressional leaders can best be contacted through calling, writing letters or emailing

Art DEVON MANN

WRITER MACI BEST

Every day, congressmen and women receive hundreds of emails, texts, calls and tags on social media about issues in regards to the latest law or regulation that was passed. In most cases, a response to these messages is unlikely because of the volume in which congressional representatives receive messages from their constituents, but that does not mean it is impossible for one’s voice to be heard. A person may believe that the opinion of a teenager is an a pointless and uneducated one compared to the wave of messages sent to legislators by age-of-majority constituents. However, this is a common misconception. “I worked for Congress for six years and there is a way to successfully contact them,” Utah’s district congressional office staffer Emily Ellsworth tweeted. “We held town halls consistently that fewer than 50 people showed up for, and it was always the same people. No matter what you do, if you communicate with your member of congress at all, you are ahead of most people.” According to Ellsworth, before messages from constituents can reach a representative directly, they are usually first read by a staff member. When staffers hear about issues of importance from voters, the message is then relayed to the congressman. Also, if one takes the time to learn the views and opinions of their respective representative, then it can add a sense of intelligence to the speaker that will allow them to be more respected. “As always, please be kind but firm with those staffers. They will listen and talk to you. I always did,” Ellsworth said. “The staff are the ones who run the ground game for Congress. You have to help them understand where you are coming from, politically.”

When it comes to successfully going about getting local representatives’ attention, one must be very careful as some methods are much less effective than others. While social media, such as Twitter and Instagram, have become very popular in terms of political sharing, that does not mean it is the most powerful way to get direct attention from legislators. “Tweeting or writing on Facebook is largely ineffective,” Ellsworth said. “I never looked at those comments except to remove the harassing ones. The most effective way of communication is to actually call your representative on the phone at their state’s office. They have to talk to you when you call them there.” With an exorbitant number of incoming calls, these hired staffers are tasked with answering them and keeping track of patterns. For example, if there is a newly passed policy with a large amount of negative feedback, it would be more likely addressed than something with little to no acknowledgment. Whether it is paid staff or an intern, most calls will not go unanswered. “One time, a radio host gave out our phone number on air. He was against our immigration policy and told our constituents to call. All I did that day was answer phones,” Ellsworth said. “It was exhausting, and you can bet my bosses heard about it. We had discussions because of that call to action. When we started getting a pattern of calls, I called our D.C. office and asked if they were getting the same calls.” Contacting Congress is completely possible and easy, all it takes is a little effort. Taking that first step in going out of the way to address concerns and issues of importance is better than doing nothing. Individuals all over the country have stepped up to make a change, and now students can, too.

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The most effective way to get a congressman’s attention is to call them. Keep it brief, and do not forget to offer a solution to your concerning problem.

message is going 2. Iftoyour be longer than five

minutes, send an email. In most cases, staff members open them, but that does not mean it will be passed on.

letter, keep 3. Ifinyoumindsendthatahundreds are sent every day, so take the time to be personal and thorough as yours might just be one of the few chosen to be addressed.

MAIL

of the least effective 4. One ways to contact congress

is through social media. From harassment to comments, they receive all of the above and usually ignore most of it.

March 22, 2018

Features

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