November 2015

N RTH STAR

November 24, 2015

Volume XLI Issue II

Parties are a common weekend activity for many, but are they really so much fun in the end? Read pages 10-11 to find out why.

Photo by DavyWay on Flickr.com

PARTIES: ARE THEY WORTH IT IN THE END? NO SHAVE NOVEMBER STARTED AT LCN

2

CHOIR HOSTS A VETERANS DAY CONCERT

6

CHESTERFIELD BAGGER DAVE’S IS REVIEWED

8

QDOBA OR CHIPOTLE: WHICH IS BETTER?

18

L’ANSE CREUSE HIGH SCHOOL - NORTH I I 23700 21 MILE ROAD I I MACOMB, MI 48042

2 | November 24, 2015

The North Star

No Shave November sparks competition among staff members Denver Paver ‘16 Photographer

With Thanksgiving right around the corner, it is important to remember the month-long event to raise awareness for cancer: No Shave November.

No Shave November – also known as Movember – is the 30-daylong event where people across the country pledge to not shave for the entire month in order to promote the awareness of cancer, more specifically prostate cancer. It affects about 220,000 people a year, according to the American Cancer Society. The goal is to embrace our hair and its natural beauty because many patients who battle cancer often lose their hair in efforts to dispel the wicked illness from their body. This event began in 2004 and has grown in global popularity ever since.

Not only has No Shave November made a global impact, but also the event has taken LCN by storm. It has even bred some competition among the teachers and administrators. This is LCN’s third year having faculty compete against each other in order to raise the most money for Link Crew. This year, the

stakes are higher than ever as the school has 16 competitors, which is the most the school has seen.

Growers, or those who will be growing a beard, are allowed to have “coaches” to ensure that they will raise as much money as possible. The goal is to not be the grower with the least amount of money earned come collection day. The ultimate goal of each competitor is to raise the most money by the end of November.

Jim Ekdahl, German teacher, has always been a strong competitor in No Shave November, and shared some information about this event. His plan to raise the most money is to sell buttons, shirts, and make an awesome video with a special cameo from the world’s favorite pro wrestler: John Cena. Ekdahl also has a strong coaching presence as he has the second most amount of coaches to spread and promote his cause. Following his response to his strategy, Ekdahl pondered the question debating if No Shave November was a tradition.

He said, “This is our third year doing this, so yeah, I think it’s starting to become a tradition

here at LCN.” Jason Hubbard, chemistry teacher, was also willing to share some information on his strategy to win No Shave November this year.

“I plan on growing an awesome beard,” Hubbard said. “I have only one coach: Mrs. Roggeman.”

Rosa Hough, social studies teacher, also offered insight about her coaching strategy and her grower. “I chose to coach Mr. Stanley because he is a good role model to the students, and I wanted to get him involved at this school,” she said.

Hough’s top priority is to beat Ekdahl in donations. Hough said, “Students should donate to me, so that this year I beat Mr. Ekdahl, he’s always so competitive.”

Steven Schaefer ‘16 decided to get involved in the competition by making two beard-inspired donation buckets for English teacher Wayne Cook and computer technician Chris Laity, respectively.

“I decided to help because my teachers needed it, and I did not have much else to do,” Schaefer said when asked why he decided to participate.

Both students and teachers are encouraged to help aid their favorite teachers. This adds up to more donations and fosters more competition.

This year’s No Shave November is full of excitement, fueled by all

the drama and explosive growers. The competition will last through December 1 and donations can be as large or as small as one chooses.

No Shave November not only stimulates friendly competition, but it has

news

also established a tradition that assists the Link Crew program; because of this, it is imperative to participate and donate to ensure that No Shave November is successful.

Photo by Floyd Wickman ‘16

Chemistry teacher Jason Hubbard shows off his No Shave November beard. He was eliminated from the competition during the November 13 count. Growers must avoid the bottom three after monetary collections are counted.

LCN Drumline will go to WGI World Finals Savannah Baurhenn ‘16 Photographer

Dennis Keena ‘16 Cover Editor

The L’Anse Creuse North drumline made it to WGI World Finals this past month. This is one of the highest-ranking competitions that they can compete in.

“We’ve competed in the state level

and the Michigan Color Guard Association for a few years,” said Drumline Director David Mette. “This year, we decided to compete at a higher level.”

The competition takes place in Dayton, Ohio, April 14-17.

There is a preliminary round which means that everyone plays, then they move onto an elimination. Mette and the line is very excited to try to get into the semifinals.

This is the first year that they have been in the competition, said Mette.

Natalie Hall ’16 said, “We are excited and we are the first drumline from the district to go to the competition.”

“We’ve been working really hard and pushing ourselves as the drumline to be able to compete against the world groups,” added Hall.

“We are going to be working a lot harder to compete in more competi-

tions,” Steven Fontana ’16 said, “It’s going to be very intense to go against the world groups.”

Being the first group in the L’Anse Creuse District to go to the world finals, the drumline has many obstacles to overcome to win. With practice and a lot of work, they believe they have what they need to succeed and come out with the win.

The North Star

news

November 24, 2015 | 3

News Briefs

Photo by Laurel Neitling ‘16

Luke Zito ‘16 Reporter

LCN Canned Food Drive Advisor Mark Forbert and the Key Club ran a canned food drive from November 2 – 13. The cans that were donated go to the Kiwanis (a nonprofit organization service club) who will distribute them to families in need.

Students had an opportunity to earn anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour of community service for the donations they have made.

Riley Janssen ‘16 Reporter

Yearbook sale ends in January Do you want to remember everything that happened during the 2015-2016 school year? Purchase a 2016 yearbook on Yearbookordercenter.com with the code number 3569. Yearbooks are $75. The sale ends on January 15. No purchasing extensions will be made, so order the yearbook now!

LCN Winter Band Concert On Wednesday, December 2, the band will host a winter concert at JAPAC. The band and orchestra worked hard to prepare for the seasonal show.

The concert starts at 7 p.m. and admission is free!

Photo by Miya Lekauf ‘16

The Key Club collected canned food during first hour classes.

This will be donated to the local Kiwanis Club which will give it to families in need.

Yearbook students spend time on computers in order to complete pages in the 201516 yearbook.

Italy trip schedule for 2017 Go on a trip of a lifetime to Italy with the Art and World Language departments! The trip will take place during spring break of 2017. A meeting to discuss the details of the trip was held on November 18. If you are interested, contact art teachers Jennifer Duffield, room 147, Patty Willoughby, room 140, or Italian teacher Preston Woodward, room 208, for more information.

Jake Mitchell ‘16 Reporter

Boys’ first basketball game The boys’ basketball team is starting up with tryouts November 16. The team is going to be playing its first game on December 9 against Port Huron Northern at Port Huron Northern.

Come out and support the team as they try to conquer the Huskies.

Hanukkah celebrated Dec. 6-13 The Jewish culture will celebrate Hanukkah this year starting December 6. The eight days of Hanukkah each have traditions for each night. The last day of Hanukkah is December 13, and celebrants light the last candle on that date.

Make a Difference Club goes “MAD” for Christmas, raises funds for gifts Chloe Acker ‘17 Focus Editor

Photo from Flickr

The Make a Difference Club has been collecting bottles this month in order to raise money for gift baskets.

The Make a Difference Club impacts the lives of many people in Crusader Nation. Club members do anything from giving out uplifting gifts to students to sending giant holiday gift baskets to families in need.

Over the next month, Make a Difference Club is focusing all of its attention on a big project for the holidays. The club recently started a bottle drive to raise money to go towards buying presents and basic necessities for homeless families at LCN. The club is planning on contacting these families to find out what kinds of activities they like to participate in, hobbies they enjoy and

needs the families have.

Make a Difference Club sponsor Pam VanThomme said, “We are contacting the families to find out what kinds of things they enjoy or may need; like if they enjoy reading books or if they need a new pair of pajamas.”

With the money the club raises from the bottle drive, they are going to go shopping and try to get as many items the families wished for. Families will receive baskets full of items such as: pajamas, clothes, shoes, books, basic home necessities, toys, blankets and much more!

The Make a Difference Club members want to do as much as they can to give these families the best holiday

season possible. Members of the club talk about why they joined, “We love helping and making a difference in someone’s life. We have always enjoyed making someone’s day better and this club really allows us to do that.”

The club is affecting the lives of many students and families as they can, and hope to make a difference in their lives.

They are hoping to raise a lot of money so they can fill up the gift baskets to help as many families as possible.

If you would like to make a difference in people’s lives contact VanThomme in room 209 to find out more. The club meets every first and third Tuesday of the month after school in VanThomme’s room.

The North Star

4 | November 24, 2015

features

‘Tis the season to go shopping Miya Leykauf ‘16

Photo from Flickr.com

Reviews Editor

Starting as early as 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day, shoppers begin to line up outside of stores in order to get the hottest deals of the year. Even students at LCN face large crowds and long lines, just to get these one-day bargains.

Hunter Meatte ’18 said, “I usually go with friends to Lakeside Mall, and also to other stores with my mom so she will buy me stuff.”

Having a parent tag along is a common occurrence for high schoolers. For most students, no job equals no money to spend on shopping; therefore, Black Friday is a no go.

“I’m pretty broke before Christmas, so no Black Friday for me,” said Kara Hart ’16.

If you are looking to get your parents, siblings, or that special someone a gift, this is the time to go. Stores such as Best Buy, Target, and Walmart offer some of the best deals. It is important to take advantage of these price cuts while you can, because they do not last long.

“I start saving money while babysitting over the summer, and this helps when it comes time for shopping,” said Jessica Driscoll ’16.

Best Buy provides an article on its

The latest updates can be found via many retailers’ smartphone apps.

Here is an example from KMart’s sales.

website titled, “Strategies to Make Your Black Friday Shopping a Success” that includes tips to make sure your shopping is profitable. The following information is presented:

1. Make a holiday shopping list.

Before you head to the store, make a holiday shopping list of the items you want the most, and plan to shop for those items first. The hottest Black Friday deals and door busters sell out quickly, so you’ll need to act fast to avoid missing out. Browse popular gift ideas to get your list started, and ask friends and family members to create wish ideas so that you know their top gifts. Then compare their lists to the Black Friday ads to find the best deals.

2. Shop smarter.

Get last-minute deals and real-time updates on your smartphone by downloading the Best Buy or other store apps. Check customer reviews online before you buy to make sure the product meets your gift-giving standards.

Shop with rewards cards to earn points you can use to save on last-minute holiday gifts and stocking stuffers.

3. Find a shopping buddy.

Black Friday shopping is easier — and more fun — when you have help. Drop off a friend at the door to save a place in line, grab a cart, or start shopping while you find a parking space. Then split off in different directions to pick up all the items on your list.

4. Get there early.

If you want a chance at the hottest

Black Friday sales, you’ll need to get in line well before the stores open.

Check store hours ahead of time to plan your day. You may even be able to start your Black Friday shopping early at stores that open on Thanksgiving Day. 5. Avoid the crowds by shopping Black Friday online.

If the thought of elbow-to-elbow shoppers is overwhelming, consider doing your Black Friday shopping online instead. With great deals available early, you may not have to wait until after Thanksgiving to find the deals you want. Plus, don’t forget to start planning for Cyber Monday online shopping deals as well.

Many people do take advantage of online shopping, and skip having to deal with the chaos of Black Friday. It also gives students the opportunity to shop at stores that are not available nearby.

Barry Yung ’16 said, “I enjoy Cyber Monday, mainly because then I don’t have to deal with people. I typically shop at stores such as J Crew, Uniqlo, Allsaints, and Zara.”

Black Friday and Cyber Monday are a huge hit all around the country, and will continue to allow savvy shoppers to pinch pennies.

Black Friday crazy stories!

Shelby Stanton ‘17 Sports Editor

The inevitable Black Friday craze always brings about entertaining stories. Some stories are comedic, while others are downright insane. There have even been instances of people getting killed over an argument about a sale item. The amount of glutinous, determined shoppers that come out for Black Friday leads to the amount of police that need to be staked outside of malls. Thanksgiving no

longer seems to be about giving thanks; Rather, it is more looked at as “the day before Black Friday.”

There is something about cheap clothes, shoes and appliances that brings out the worst in people.

Nick Petrucci ’16 recalled his craziest Black Friday story: “We were in line at Foot Locker and it was about midnight and they opened the doors, and everyone flooded into the store and people were getting trampled over.”

Apparently, the health

and physical well-being Tanzy ’17. of people is less imporAdults physically fight tant than a pair of 50 on Black Friday. Their percent off minds “one of the ladies become shoes.

“I was at consumed noses started to Target and bleed and the fight with there was had to be broken greed. one televiBailey up by security,” said Hanson sion left, Natalie Tanzy ‘17 ’16 remiand these two women nisced on started her crazy physically Black Frifighting over it, and one day story that occurred of the ladies’ nose started two years ago. to bleed and the fight “I wanted the last pair had to be broken up by of these shoes and so did security,” said Natalie this mom and her daugh-

ter. They grabbed them before I got a chance to and I asked if I could have them and they declined. So, I offered them $100 because I wanted them that bad, and they gave them to me,” she said.

The ironic part of Hanson’s story is that she went into the store ready to get her favorite pair of shoes on sale, but ended up paying full price; she wanted to come out with what she went in for.

Jaylin Allen ’17 recalls his black Friday story: “I

went to Walmart to buy an iPad and me and this old lady grabbed it at the same time, and I tugged too hard to get it and she fell back, and I felt bad so I gave it to her.”

Lucky for these people, they lived to tell the story of their crazy Black Friday adventures. If you plan to go shopping this Black Friday, just remember your safety is more important than that cute pair of shoes.

The North Star

features

November 24, 2015 | 5

What are you thankful for?

The North Star surveyed 100 people at LCN about what they were most thankful for. The results are shown below.

Family 78%

Friends 11%

Photo from Wikipedia Commons

Photo from Pixaby

Teachers 2%

Photo from Flickr

Food 9%

Photo from Pexels

Compiled by Luke Zito ‘16

S^4: Thanksgiving thoughts Dinner conversation tips Shelby Stanton ‘17 Sports Editor

A

Sara Wills ‘16

Entertainment Editor

long with the holiday season comes amazing food, quality family time, and the dreaded dinner table conversations. Before the food coma comes into full effect, you have to get through the hounding of redundant questions you don’t want to answer. Luckily, we are here to relate and help you get through these tough times.

The number one question most popular amongst teens is “where are you going to college?” Whether you’re a freshman or a senior, there’s bound to be at least one aunt or uncle that is dying to know. Even though you know you’re more concerned with surviving the current school year, everyone assumes you’ve reserved your spot at a division one university.

Before you let out how you really feel,

Shyanne Symons ‘17 Sports Editor

Shayna Schroeder ‘17 Opinions Editor

keep them guessing with the response of “I’m undecided.” It’s short, sweet, and covers your answer. Although we can’t promise it won’t provoke a follow- up question come Easter dinner, we can guarantee it’ll help move the interrogation along. If you’re daring and looking to stir up chaos, be straightforward with your answer: “I’m not going.” (LOL, don’t actually do this, but we mean, YOLO).

It’s no secret your entire family thinks you are the ideal bachelor or bachelorette at your school. C’mon, you know you’re good-looking, witty, and full of intelligence! But, sometimes a relationship just can’t be fit into your schedule.

So, when you are questioned on your relationship status, hit them with the full-confidence answer: “I don’t need anyone right now.” It makes it clear

it’s your decision to stay single, despite the guys and gals chasing after you on the daily. Sure, they’ll reassure that you’re the greatest catch there is (like you aren’t already aware), but you have too many goals to let a significant other stand in the way.

“What do you want to be when you’re older?” Seriously? You’re asking me now? At this point in life, you aren’t even sure what you want for dinner, yet they expect you to have your career path laid out. Let’s be real: you’re going to change your major at least six times before you become content with your choice. Before you share what you are thinking, shove some turkey in your mouth and mumble along with a few added shrugs. To ensure time will permit, choke a little bit on your food, run to the bathroom, and by the time you’re

back, they’ll be talking about the next presidential election. (YIKES!) Regardless, we want you to enjoy your break and embrace visiting with your relatives, but our tips and tricks are sure to help this time fly by a little more smoothly.

XOXO, S^4

The North Star

6 | November 24, 2015

entertainment

Art Scholastics is drawing up attention Shayna Schroeder ‘16 Opinions Editor

The Art Scholastics Competition is held in January, and is available to students in all Michigan counties, with contestants ranging from seventh to twelfth grades. From four counties in this area, 1,200 pieces are accepted. Rachel Smith, LCN alumni, had her painting entered by art teacher Jennifer Duffield, which received very high marks and won a gold key last year.

“It’s like winning the World Series when a student wins a national award,” Duffield proudly stated.

Smith’s painting went on to compete nationally in New York and got the highest painting award. Scholarships may be offered to gold key winners.

Duffield explained that the art teachers will enter the stronger pieces from the students into the competition. The judges usually look for unique ideas, creativity, technique, and the general quality of the piece itself. Though, there are different categories and different judges. The pieces are hung for one month

and the judges take several days to vote; once the voting has taken place, the contestants find out if their piece will move on nationally or if it has met its end.

Abby Seaser ’16 has had two pieces entered into the competition before; one, a piece of jewelry and also a painting. None of her pieces moved on to compete nationally, but they did earn an honorable mention.

Seaser said, “I felt incredibly proud and honored to have my pieces even considered.”

Andrew Gable ’17 has also had a piece entered into the competition, which won an honorable mention and won first place at the secondary show! One of his current pieces, a red piece of pottery with five animal heads and African artwork inspired lacework, will be entered into this year’s Art Scholastics. Gable believes that it will earn a bronze key or higher. Gable’s pottery teacher, Patty Willoughby, said that his piece better at least get a gold key.

Checking out the new upcoming art from this generation’s artists could be a fun way to spend a weekend. This area’s competition is held at Macomb Community College.

Choir salutes veterans Savannah Baurhenn ‘16 Photographer

“I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” These are words that are recited every morning on the announcements. But what importance do they hold to the people here?

Veteran’s Day is celebrated every year in November, and this year, the L’Anse Creuse High School-North Choir wanted to give back. On November 5, 2015, all four of LCN’s choirs, Select Ensemble, Concert Choir, Show Choir, and Freshman Choir hosted “A Salute To Our Veterans” concert to honor them.

Select Ensemble sang “America, the Beautiful,” Concert and Show Choir sang “Let There Be Peace” and Freshman Choir sang “God Bless the U.S.A.” The objective of the concert was to donate food to the New Baltimore V.F.W. Post 7573. The concert was free to attend, but the choir asked that those attending bring non-perishable food items to donate to the V.F.W.’s food pantry.

This concert held much importance to the choir because they enjoyed the opportunity to give back.

Mitchell Osadchuk, LCN choir director, said, “This [concert] is a great opportunity to not only learn music and the history of music that was written during times of war that brought this country together, but

also to support those people who risked their lives for freedom.”

Charlotte Beach, LCN Choir accompanist, added, “This is a great way to give back and to honor them [veterans].”

In addition to the songs each individual choir performed, the majority of the concert was performed by combining all four choirs. The combined numbers were: “The Star-Spangled Banner,” “O, America!,” “Salute to the Armed Forces,” and “God Bless America.”

Logan Palm ‘16, A member of Select Ensemble, said, ‘O, America!’ is my favorite song that we sang

Photo by Patricia Willoughby

Junior Andrew Gable will submit this piece into Art Scholastics for the competition in February.

Photo by Patricia Willoughby

A photo of senior Abby Seaser’s pop art-inspired Art Scholastics 2014 submission.

because when the whole choir enjoyed it, you could really feel the emotion behind it.”

Although many will never know what it means to serve in the Armed Forces, Veteran’s Day is a perfect opportunity to give back to those who have. To these men and women, the pledge is more than just words said out of obligation every day in school; this is what they risked their lives to defend.

Stephen Baurhenn, veteran of the U.S. Navy, said, “It’s kind of cool that the choir has put that much effort into recognizing folks for services rendered in the past or currently. It means a lot to those who don’t normally get the thanks that they deserve.”

Photo by Charolette Beach

The LCN choirs combined to sing “The Star Spangled Banner,” “O, America!”, “Salute to the Armed Forces” and “God Bless America.” They are led by director Mitchell Osadchuk (front).

entertainment

The North Star

Creative Crusaders Riley Janssen ‘16 Reporter

Have you ever wondered about that kid who is always playing his harmonica in the bathroom during school? Have you ever wondered the name of the boy who brings his guitar to gym class instead of playing dodgeball? If you have, you’ve come to the right place!

Noah York is a junior who is remarkably talented.

York has been fascinated with music ever since he could remember. He started out with the guitar when he was 5 years old.

York said, “I got my first real wood guitar when I was five. My parents tried to take me to guitar lessons, but I never paid much attention. I was always doing my own thing.”

A couple months ago, York picked up a fiddle for the first time. York said, “My first couple fiddle tunes I played were ‘Orange Blossom Special’, ‘Ida Red’ by Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys, and ‘Get Along Home Cindy’.”

He plays six instruments which include the guitar, fiddle, banjo, mandolin, harmonica, and trumpet for the LCN band.

York said, “Most of the other instruments I have learned were self-taught.” York‘s favorite instrument to play is the fiddle because it is very expressive.

York said, “I am into old-time country music like Bill Monroe or George Jones. My favorite type of music is blue grass. It’s an old school country style.

I think pop is too repetitive. I enjoy the old style of music,” York said.

A family friend introduced York to The Beatles. “My inspiration for music started when I was introduced to the Beatles. Ever since then, I got into listening to old performers.”

York occasionally enjoys bringing his different instruments to school. York said, “My friends ask me to bring in an instrument, and I like to find a day that works the best to play for them.”

York loves entertaining and showing off his talents.

He was even nice enough to play the fiddle for Kim Kozian’s Journalism class!

York would like to keep his music career going in the future. He is looking to start a country music group to play retro country music with others who like the same style. York has a Soundcloud account set up @NoahYork! Check him out!

Day in the life of Keith Corsi Brooke Piekutowski ‘16 Photographer

Keith Corsi, supervisory aide of L’Anse Creuse High School- North, has one of the most entertaining, adventurous jobs in the building. If you don’t know him... Well, get to know him because he is truly an awesome guy and makes school somewhat enjoyable.

He says he never has a dull moment while working and can always count on his job to give him a good laugh. Some of the newspaper students got the honor of following Corsi around for the entire day to observe his daily routine.

Corsi arrives at LCN at 6:30 a.m. every day, with a hot cup of coffee in his hand to help him get his long day started. He strolls along the school hallways making sure kids are on time to class, and tries to keep all the high school nonsense to a minimum.

Usually, before school starts, you can find Corsi in the cafeteria keeping the breakfast line under control.

After the bell rings and school is started for the day, Corsi patrols the hallways and then usually makes his way to the Commons to talk with Scott Smith at the front desk and watch all the late kids walk through the doors.

After first hour, Corsi said on his normal days he usually gets radioed to deliver passes to students to either go speak with the principal, the dean of students, or police liaison Vince Pipia. If he isn’t getting radioed to deliver passes, then he most likely is

November 24, 2015 | 7

getting radioed to find some kids skipping class (this happens more often than not). Corsi is also a firefighter and medical professional, so if someone ever got injured or needs medical attention, Corsi would be the go-to guy.

Corsi has a very humorous personality and has a way of always making the students and staff members laugh. If you see him in the hallway, he will stop you and say something random to make you smile.

Corsi’s job is not just a high school security guard, he also helps any one with their problems and always gives awesome advice, no matter what the situation is.

Joe Naniewicz, a marketing teacher at LCN, said, “He is a great guy, always there to help me with ANYTHING whether it’s for a tournament, help sell pizza in the school store (and eat the pizza), or even referee when needed. I don’t know what I’d do without him.

He is truly a vital part of LCN.” Teandre Cobb ’17 said, “He’s chill, he is my favorite security guard that works here at LCN. He’s always here to help everyone and is very easy to talk to, which is nice because a lot of staff members at school are not as easy to talk to as Corsi.”

Corsi is a huge part of why LCN is as great of a place as it is. He makes students feel comfortable and always can brighten anybody’s day. He makes this school a safe environment for everyone and always lends a helping hand when needed.

Photo by Lauren Bergeski ‘16

Junior Noah York ‘16 gives a fiddle performance to Kim Kozian’s seventh hour Journalism class.

Inset: York’s Soundcloud profile photo.

Photo by Kim Kozian

Keith Corsi speaks to Kim Kozian’s Journalism class about his job at LCN. They will write a profile about him.

8 | November 24, 2015

reviews

The North Star

Blown away by Bagger Dave’s Toni Lahoud ‘16

Get artsy at Creative Keepsakes Samantha Buffa ‘16 Copy Editor

Are you into trying new things and getting creative? Creative Keepsakes Ceramics is thew place for all of the art fanatics and enthusiasts.

Creative Keepsakes Ceramics has traditional and contemporary products. The store has everything a beginner could need, such as brushes, paint by Mayco and Doc Holiday, decals, and cleaning tools.

Photo from Google

Creative Keepsakes Ceramics also offers classes for beginners; it is a great way to do something new with friends.

Once you pick what you are going to paint, you paint it in the store.

The ambience of the store is very relaxed, so it’s a great stress reliever.

There are five kilns in the back for making all of the ceramic and glass designs to decorate. The shelves are loaded with different options of items you can

paint, anywhere from dogs and cats to holiday décor and candle holders.

There are also plates and bowls available to paint, and once you paint them, you can actually use them!

The store has been open for many years and the owner, Kathy, is very knowledgeable of all things creative. Creative Keepsakes Ceramics has been relocated to

the plaza on 23 mile road and Gratiot. The store is rated 4.7 out of 5 stars online, but I would give it 5 out of 5, so any experience is likely to be an enjoyable one.

Menu from Bagger Dave’s website

DIFFERENT KINDS OF BURGERS* Our Signature and Create Your Own Burgers come with your choice of Dave’s Sweet Potato Chips® or Fresh-Cut Potato Fries and a choice of dipping sauce.

❑ Great American Cheeseburger ❑ Bacon BBQ Burger

❑ Fiery Bleu Buffalo Turkey Burger 

Choose your sauce.

❑ Santa Fe Chipotle Turkey Burger

❑ Crispy Cheese Bacon Burger

❑ Asian Turkey Burger

❑ Train Wreck Burger ®

❑ Chicken Parm

❑ The Blues Burger ® 

❑ Latin Chicken

❑ Saucy Sicilian Pizza Burger ®

❑ Tuscan Chicken

❑ Korean BBQ Burger

❑ Blackened Mahi-Mahi Burger 

❑ Mexicali Burger 

❑ Black Bean Veggie Burger 

How would you like your signature beef burger cooked? ❑ Medium or ❑ Medium Well Turkey burgers come ❑ Solo ( 1 patty ) or ❑ Stacked (2 patties ).

I want my burger as a Bagger Bowl with no bun. ❑

CREATE YOUR OWN BURGER* STEP 1: PROTEIN

STEP 2: BUN

STEP 3: CHEESE

❑

Turkey - Stack

Brioche

Add 1.25 cents each.

Turkey - Solo

8.25 6.75

❑

❑

❑

9-Grain Wheat

❑

American

❑

Chicken Breast

8.25

❑

Sesame Brioche

❑

Mozzarella

❑

Veggie Black Bean

7.75

❑

Pretzel (add $1.00)

❑

Smoked Gouda

❑

Mahi-Mahi

9.25

❑

Bagger Bowl (no bun)

❑

Pepper Jack 

❑

Signature Beef ❑ Medium ❑ Medium Well

7.75

❑

Cheddar

❑

Swiss

❑

Bleu Cheese

STEP 4: CUSTOMMADE SAUCES

STEP 5: PREMIUM TOPPINGS

STEP 6: MEANINGLESS FREE TOPPINGS®

One is included; additional sauces 50 cents each. ❑ Buttermilk Ranch

Add 1.50 each.

❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑

❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑

Honey Mustard Asian Sesame Chipotle BBQ  Sweet BBQ Korean BBQ

❑

Fresh-Cut Potato Fries**

❑

Guacamole

❑

Applewood Bacon

❑

Sunny Side Up Egg

❑

Fried Egg

❑

Turkey Black Bean Chili

** Fries only available as burger topping.

Bleu Cheese Santa Fe Chipotle  Buffalo Garlic  House Caesar Railhouse Thousand Island®

CHOOSE YOUR SIDE

❑ ❑ ❑

Ketchup Mustard Mayonnaise Pineapple Slice Fresh-Cut Jalapeños  Green Olives Red Onion Leaf Lettuce Basil Pickles Tomato Pico de Gallo Cajun Spice  Sautéed Mushrooms Caramelized Onions Banana Peppers

Dave’s Sweet Potato Chips® Fresh-Cut Potato Fries Cajun Himalayan Salt Tortilla Chips

= Bagger Dave’s Favorite

= Hot or Spicy Item

Flip to back

➤

*Our beef is cooked to medium and medium well. Turkey and chicken are fully cooked. All prices and products subject to change without notice.

Ask your server about menu items that are cooked to order. Consuming undercooked meat or eggs may increase your risk of foodborne illness.

Ratings Scale Hated it Disliked it

Hours of Operation Monday 11:00 am-06:00 pm Tuesday 11:00 am-09:00 pm Wednesday 11:00 am-09:00 pm Thursday 11:00 am-04:00 pm Friday 11:00 am-08:00 pm Saturday 10:00 am-05:00 pm Sunday Closed

Guest

have a full bar for adults that features local craft beers.

The servers are very efficient, knowledgeable, and understand what it takes to have good customer service. They balance professionalism with a bit of chatter to make the hungry customers feel comfortable. The waiters are quick to bring out the food, as are the chefs to cook it.

Everyone’s taste buds are different, but the burger melts in your mouth. You leave full, wishing you had room for more. No one seems to leave the restaurant with complaints. Bagger Dave’s Burger Tavern, 4 out of 5 stars, is recommended to anyone who needs to satisfy their hunger.

It was okay

Liked it

Loved it

Fresh Rewards #

ing from sesame buns to brioche. You also have the option of cheese.

They have an abundance of crafted sauces and toppings to add on. They even offer craft fries on which you can add hot cheese and other toppings! The prices vary depending on what is ordered. Burgers can range from $8-$12, and the fries are an extra $3-$4 add-on. In the end, it will be worth the cash.

The craft sodas are indeed a must! The most popular soda is the mystery flavor. Customers love to be surprised!

The flavor ends up being pomegranate lemonade.

Yummy! They also provide a collection of other flavors, such as black cherry cream and lemon lime, which are big hits.

Not to mention, they

CREATE YOUR OWN BURGER

pub feel. The radio plays music from local hit staIf you have a taste for tions to bring a bit of a burgers and sodas, then younger crowd.

Bagger Dave’s is the spot The tavern’s concept is to go! It is a casual tavern to build your own burger. serving a multitude of There are a ton of great creative craft meals and options to drinks. choose There from. For is a new those who Chesterfield would location on 23 rather Mile Road and chose a Gratiot. The menu item, tavern opened that option a few months is availago, bringing able as an abundance of Photo from web site well. new customers When building your in to try out the food. own burger, you first will Walking into the respick the type of meat you taurant, customers get would like. It could be a very warm, welcomground beef, a turkey, ing feeling. Overhead is or chicken burger. They a train that circles the have gluten-free options, perimeter of the tavern. too. Next, you can chose There are bar seats, and which bun will go with it. also high tables and They have choices rangstools to sit at for a nice Reporter

The North Star

reviews

November 24, 2015 | 9

Getting to know prodigy students Shyanne Symons ‘17 Sports Editor

Relatable novels have grown increasingly popular, especially amongst high school teens. Everyone wants to know they are not in it alone, and that others go through the same situations they do. The Overachievers

by Alexandra Robbins contains everything an adolescent wants to read about: academic, social, and personal struggles, as well as worries faced daily by teenagers.

This non-fiction novel is a narrated compilation of

interviews with a group of students who attend Walt Whitman High School. Each of these students possesses the status of which the book is titled after: overachiever. They all strive for perfection within their education, stress over finding a healthy balance of extracurriculars, and worry about their overall mental stability.

The individuals all have their own set of issues and obstacles, but every topic discussed revolves around a fact and the study behind it.

For example, the stress associated with the SAT was one of the main focuses. Audrey was the student to whom this topic related to on a personal level. Robbins then followed it with actual statistics from real-life occurrences. Robbins does an excellent job of allowing the story to be composed through the students’ eyes while balancing it with her own additions.

Since it is the current book for AP Language and Composition students, many have been

not stand to wait to find raving over it, myself out what happens next. I included. It is not every can relate to day that a the majorrequired ity of the book for events that a class is occur in the one the book, which students allows me enjoy. to connect Never with the text have I that much found more. myself keep Other ing up AP Lang on daily students can chapter also attest to Photo from book cover assignthat. Aidan ments, let alone reading Kushel ‘17 finds a sense ahead because I could of security from the read.

“All the characters are stressing out about growing up and going to college which is the same boat I’m in,” shared Kushel. “Everyone’s situations turn out okay, no matter how bad they are, which makes me feel a little bit better about mine.”

If you are looking for a book that is easy to comprehend, relatable, and super interesting, The Overachievers should definitely be your next read. Consider yourself warned: you won’t be able to put it down.

Double Treble: Music Reviews Ray Goren’s EP

Big Sean’s concert

Photo from CD cover

Sara Wills ‘17

Entertainment Editor

Fifteen-year-old Los Angeles native Ray Goren has been playing music ever since he was 3 years old.

Goren first released an EP of covers in 2014 called “LA Sessions.”

This EP featured songs such as “All She Needs is Me” and “Memories.”

When I was first introduced to the latest EP from Ray Goren “Songs For You,” I expected sugary pop lyrics with a guitar or piano-based influence. He was not just another teenage boy trying to make it onto the radio.

With the first track, “Those Days,” I was happily surprised. Goren has a deep, soulful voice that could absolutely fill a venue. Goren has a gospel choir backing him

up on this track which gives the artist’s second EP a great start. The electric guitar solos and bass influences give Goren an undeniable edge most 15-year-olds do not possess.

The second track definitely gives off more of a pop vibe. “Light My Fire” uses southern blues and jazz-inspired bass and guitar to give the song a slow yet powerful feel.

LCN student and mu-

sic fan Abby Seaser ’16 said, “ I have never heard of Ray Goren but I’m willing to listen to anything once.”

After hearing “Down & Out,” a ballad featuring drums, guitar, violin, and Goren’s vocals, Seaser said, “It’s definitely not something I would listen to on my own, although it’s not terrible.”

The rest of the EP follows the same pattern of blues- and jazz-inspired tracks such as “Song for Me” and “It’s on You.” Although Goren is new to the music scene with a long way to go, he is someone to watch in the music world. I would give the “Songs For You” EP 3 out of 5 stars.

Jimmy Tocco ‘16 Business Manager

Sean Anderson, better known as Big Sean, was born in Santa Monica, California; however, he would move to Detroit, Michigan, when he was only three months old.

He has released two professional albums, “Hall of Fame” and “Dark Sky Paradise.” Anderson had only performed in Detroit once since his rise to stardom in 2013. On November 6, 2015, he made his return to Joe Louis Arena.

Dubbed the Finding Paradise Tour, Sean made his appearance on stage in front of a handful of Photo by Hailee Hunt ‘16 props imitating his hometown of Detroit,

including a mock liquor store, jail cells, and a church. Of the many songs that were performed, “Blessed,” “Paradise,” and” Supa Dupa Lemonade” were some of my favorites.

Intending to give his home city the best show possible, Sean brought out a handful of famous guests: Lil’ Wayne and Jhene Aiko were in attendance, as well as a plethora of Detroit-born artists, such as Mike Posner, Dej Loaf, Royce Da 5’9, Danny Brown, and of course, hometown hero Eminem.

Lil’ Wayne would only be on stage for roughly 30 minutes, performing his hit song “A Milli” and

a few others. To conclude the concert, the group of Big Sean, Dej Loaf, Danny Brown, Royce Da 5’9 and Eminem performed their famous cypher entitled “Detroit vs. Everybody.”

Finding Paradise was hands-down the best concert I have seen.

Being that I have seen a handful of famous rap artists in concert, including Wiz Khalifa, Mac Miller, Kendrick Lamar, and J. Cole, giving Big Sean the gold medal should show how great of a performance he put on. I give Big Sean 5 stars for his homecoming concert, and I expect the next to be even better!

Foc

The North Star

10 | November 24, 2015

Impaired driving leads to serious consequences Madison Wehby ‘16 Photographer

Every year, at least 10,076 people are killed in alcohol-impaired car accidents, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA). Every day, several lives are taken by people who drink and drive. Every two-hours, three people are killed in alcohol-related highway crashes, the NHTSA says.

There are many consequences to driving while being intoxicated, like arrests, property damage, injuries, and thousands of deaths each year.

People do not realize how much damage can be done when they enter a car after drinking. Not only do people put themselves at risk, but also they put other people on the road at greater risk.

A senior said, “I know someone close to me that was put on probation for drinking and driving.

He received an MIP and was on probation for six

months. When people start hanging out with the wrong crowd, they do shameful things.”

It is proven that hanging out with the wrong crowd in high school can influence a person to drink alcohol and other prohibited activities.

When a teenager starts hanging out with people who constantly drink, it influences them to do the same. This is when peer pressure comes in.

L’Anse Creuse High School- North’s art teacher Patty Willoughby said, “My father was an alcoholic, and I can remember my mom receiving a phone call in the middle of the night because he had been in an accident. There is no

excuse now at all. Call an Uber!” [Like a taxi] It is always a good idea to plan on having a designated driver when people plan on going out and drinking. If anyone is ever in a situation where he/she cannot find a driver he/she can always call a taxi which are there to help prevent these situations.

Another senior said, “I’ve been in a car with someone who had been drinking and it was the scariest thing.”

Many students have been in the car with a driver who was drunk.

People do not realize how big of an impact drinking and driving can have on their lives. If someone gets pulled over while they have been drinking and driving, police will issue a MIP or DUI. A MIP is a citation for Mi-

“There is no excuse now at all. Call an Uber!”

North by the numbers Compiled by Dennis Keena ‘16

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to

nor in Possession, which means having alcohol under the legal age of 21.

An MIP is a criminal offense, typically a misdemeanor according to the Find law website. A DUI (Driving under the Influence) is the act or crime of driving while affected by alcohol or drugs. Having a DUI or an MIP on record can prevent you from many things in the future. It can easily prevent teenagers from getting into a university, or it may even cause them to lose a scholarship. It is definitely not worth it for one night of “fun.”

A junior said, “I was at a party that had alcohol.

Many kids were drinking.

I insisted to drive them all home.”

It is always important to offer rides to people who have been drinking.

By doing this, lives are saved every day. Life is so much more important than driving home intoxicated, pick up a phone and call someone.

A selection of students were surveyed anonymously in English classes specific to grade levels.

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Tips to staying Evan Rinaldi ‘16 Online Editor

It is no secret that many high school students, including those of Crusader Nation, will have attended at least one party by the time they graduate. After each party, it is common to see pictures of fellow classmates posing with liquor, beer or the infamous “red Solo cup” in hand. Someone who happens to see these pictures can only assume that those who are holding those items have also consumed the contents inside.

In the past few years, there have been countless stories of people at parties being drugged through their drinks. A drug called Rohypnol, also known as roofies, is becoming more and

more popular at partie For those who have never heard of roofies, is most commonly give to a party-goer by bein put in their drink. In most cases, the victim is unaware that a culprit has slipped it in to their cup, whether thei drink is alcoholic or no According to Drug Free World.org, 20 to 30 mi utes after consuming th drug, the victim will fa into a state of paralysis When the effects of the drug kick in, it is common for the culprit to take advantage of the v tim in some way. While it is absolutely illegal fo anyone under the age o 21 to drink, it is always better to be safe than sorry. In efforts to info high school partiers to encourage safety, here are a few tips:

Buddy system Ellie Baguzis ‘16 Opinions Editor

When asked at what age alcohol 22% of freshwas first conmen, 73% of sumed, 3% of sophomores, students said age 60% of juniors, 12, 6% said 13, 19% and 82% of se- said 14, 25% said niors have con- 15, 13% said 16, sumed at least 14% said 17 and one alcoholic the other 20% have beverage. never tried alcohol.

27% of freshmen, 30% of sophomores, 43% of juniors and 82% of seniors have smoked marijuana at least once.

14% of freshmen, 21% of sophomores, 19% of juniors, and 35% of seniors have had more than five alcoholic drinks in a row.

12% of freshmen, 13% of sophomores, 16% of juniors and 20% of seniors have done/taken a drug that is not marijuana or prescribed. pixabay.com

Imagine waking up after a wild night of partying to an unfamiliar room all alone, with no idea where your friends might be.

One LCN student had faced this consequence after deciding to party.

“I had no idea where I was or where my friends were. I was so scared and worried,” an anonymous senior said.

Losing a friend while at a party can lead to terrible things happening. That is why it is so important to keep the buddy system in effect.

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The North Star

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1. If you set your drink down, don’t pick it back up!

No drink is worth putting yourself in danger. If your drink is left unattended, there is a chance someone could tamper with it.

Get a new drink to ensure your safety.

2. If you are ever to have a drink at a party, make sure you are the one to pour or open it.

You are your most trusted person. You can trust yourself more than anyone else, so make sure you are the one in charge of your drink.

3. See something? Say something!

If you see someone who could be a victim of the date rape drug Rohypnol, stop them.

Odds are they will be grateful rather than angry. Keep your eyes out for a small, white pill.

4. Stay close to your friends.

It is always safer to stay in a group, whether it is two people or more. For more information read the story below.

5. Respect the law.

If the police happen to show up at the party, be respectful and follow what they tell you. If you have been participating in something that you know is illegal and they catch you, accept the consequences.

buddy system is one of the most ant things to follow while at a especially if it is at a large gatht can prevent a partier from taken advantage of and losing f his/her friends. most got left at the frat because parated from my friends and e all too drunk to think clearly,” r anonymous senior said. be that kid at the party who ackout drunk; be coherent h to have a recollection as to ou’re doing. Be alert and know rroundings. le should watch out for the girl too drunk to remember any-

November 24, 2015 | 11

Alcohol poisoning can be deadly of alcohol poisoning but you suspect they have it, seek medical care. If Alcohol poisoning is a you are with someone very serious and somewho has been drinking times deadly outcome of a lot of alcohol and you drinking large quantinotice any of the signs ties of alcohol in a small or symptoms above, amount of time. call 911. Drinkaware’s Medical News Today’s web site indicated that website says that drinka person should never ing a massive amount of assume that someone alcohol too quickly can will sleep off alcohol alter a person’s breathing, poisoning. Be prepared heart rate, body temto provide information perature, and gag reflex. to emergency personnel Sometimes drinking too like how much alcohol much too fast can lead was consumed, when to a coma or even death. that person drank it, and Rarely, alcohol poisonwhat they drank. Do not ing occurs when adults or leave an unconscious children either accidenperson alone. Since tally or intentionally drink alcohol poisoning affects a household product that how the gag reflex works, contains alcohol. If a per- someone could unknowson has alcohol poisoning ingly vomit and choke. he or she needs to receive If someone is vomiting, immediate medical atten- try to make sure they are tion. sitting up. If a person Some signs and sympmust lie down, make sure toms of alcohol poisoning to turn his or her head to include: confusion, vomit- the side to help prevent ing, seizures, slow or choking. irregular breathing, blueIt can be hard to decide tinged or pale skin, low if someone is drunk body temperature, and enough to need medipassing out, according to cal attention, but it is the National Institute on better to be safe than Alcohol Abuse (NIAAA). sorry. You might worry If someone does not about the consequences have these classic signs for yourself or a loved Samantha Buffa ‘16 Copy Editor

thing, even if they don’t know her; it is common courtesy for someone to take her under their wing to make sure nothing happens to her. She will be thankful in the morning that someone was there to keep an eye on her.

“If I saw a girl too drunk, I would make sure to watch over her even if I didn’t know her because someone could easily take advantage of her,” a junior said.

Girls should stick together whether they know each other or not. If the buddy system fails, it could potentially lead to bad situations.

“My friends and I got separated during the party, and the next morning

one, especially if you are under age, but the consequences of not getting the right help can be much more serious.

Binge drinking is a major cause of alcohol poisoning. Binge drinking is a pattern of heavy drinking within hours, and some binges can last up to several days.

Even when a person has stopped drinking, his or her stomach still releases alcohol to the intestines and into the bloodstream, so the level of alcohol in the body continues to rise, according to experts Alcohol is absorbed quickly by the body, unlike food which takes hours to digest. It also takes a lot longer for the body to get rid of the alcohol a person consumed. Most alcohol is processed by the liver; it takes about one hour for the liver to metabolize the alcohol in one drink.

Collegedrinkingprevention’s website says that mixed drinks may contain more than one serving of alcohol and could take even longer to metabolize than a usual alcoholic beverage. There

none of us had any idea where each other were,” the anonymous senior said. “It was seriously one of the scariest moments in my life; I was worried something bad happened to my friends.”

Having a buddy decreases the chances of being raped or kidnapped.

“The buddy system is so important because there are creepy people in this world who will do anything for something they want, and having a buddy will help prevent that,” another senior said.

The main purpose of the buddy system is to ensure that everyone has a fun but safe night.

are a number of factors that can increase the risk of alcohol poisoning including: the size, weight, overall health, if a person has eaten recently, if a person combined alcohol with other drugs, tolerance level, and the percentage of alcohol in the drink.

Alcohol poisoning can have severe complications. If a person accidentally inhales vomit, it can lead to a stoppage of breathing. Vomiting can cause severe dehydration, which can lead to very low blood pressure and a fast heart rate.

Blood sugar levels can drop, and if it drops low enough, it can cause a seizure. If the body temperature drops too low, it could lead to hypothermia or even cardiac arrest. Heavy drinking can lead to irreversible brain damage. In addition for watching blood sugar levels and checking for signs and symptoms, a doctor will order a blood and urine tests to check blood alcohol levels and identify other levels of alcohol toxicity.

Photo from pixabay.com

A view of what drinking too much alcohol can do to your vision.

The North Star

12 | November 24, 2015

sports

Wrapping up fall sports Floyd Wickman ‘16 Reporter

LCN’s 2015 fall sports teams performed very well this year. With the boys’ soccer team and girls’ volleyball team both making the playoffs, it shows the fight LCN put up this year during the fall season.

The boys’ Varsity Soccer Team ended their season with a 9-5-6 record, good enough to finish second in the MAC White. This year, the players bonded throughout the season, and their chemistry drove them to victory.

When asked about the best moment of the season, Helgi Suvaria ‘16 said, “Just coming together as a team and connecting throughout the season.”

The girls’ Varsity Volleyball Team also had a very successful season, finishing with a 28-116 record that was good enough to win the MAC Blue Division.

Bailey Hanson ‘16

talked about the best win of the season for the Varsity Volleyball Team.

She said, “The Utica game, because the MAC title was on the line, and we came back from being down two sets. That game was hype because all the odds were against us and we fought back.”

The team advanced to the playoffs, but exited early with a hard-fought loss to Anchor Bay. The JV Volleyball Team played well, finishing four games over .500 with a 9-5 record.

The girls were happy with the season.

When asked about what they could have improved on, Monica Dostert ‘18 said, “We definitely could have communicated on the court more, and not playing down on worse teams’ levels would of resulted in a more successful season for us.”

The Freshmen Volleyball Team have a lot of potential for future years. They finished the

season with a 7-7 record.

With a lot of young talent, the future varsity LCN volleyball team looks to be promising.

When asked about her prediction about future LCN volleyball teams, Lauren Rhoney ‘19 said, “Next year, we are going to have more fans and work hard for an undefeated season.”

The LCN football program had its ups and downs throughout the season. The Varsity Football Team finished 4-5, just shy of making the playoffs. Playing in the MAC Red makes for tough competition.

With many high school football experts calling the MAC Red the hardest division in the state, the Crusaders fought their

hardest.

Despite not winning enough games to make it into the playoffs, two state records were broken during the season, Branden Taylor ‘16, LCN’s quarterback, broke the record for most completions during a game with 44. During that same game, Jake Mitrak ‘16 broke the state record for most receptions with 19.

When asked about how the season went, cornerback Adam Porter ‘16 said, “I think we had our ups and downs during the season and if we stayed consistent, we could have been a very good football team.”

The JV and freshmen football teams each finished with 3-6 records. Most of the players on the team agreed that if they would have more discipline, their seasons could have been

more successful. They look to improve next year and win more games since they are moving down to the MAC White.

The Cross Country Teams both produced strong runners. Despite not performing up to their expectations due to injury, the team still managed to achieve good times, even with a lot of new runners. They did not qualify for states as a team, but they have a lot of young runners who look good for the future of LCN cross country.

See the story on page 15 for more.

The girls’ Swim Team was very successful this year. They went undefeated in their dual meets in the MAC Blue for the second year in a row.

However, they fell short to Anchor Bay in the division, 333-331. The team plans on moving up to the MAC White next year due to their success in the MAC Blue.

The girls’ Varsity Golf Team finished

Photo by Sieloff Studio

Photo by Sieloff Studio Photo by Sieloff Studio

Shea Pawl ‘17 takes a swing on the golf course.

Members of the JV Volleyball Team shake hands with the opposing team before the game.

second in their division tournament in the MAC Blue. They fought hard all season, led by Maddison Quick ‘18 who finished first in the MAC Blue tournament and finished ninth in counties.

The girls look to finish on top of their division next year and hope to go farther than they did this year.

Boys’ tennis was very proud of their performance this year. Varsity won two big tournaments and finished their season 7-3. JV was also proud of their performance, finishing 6-3. They all look to perform well next year.

All the fall sports teams were overall proud of how they played, they all gave their best efforts and look to succeed even more in 2016. With a few fall sports teams moving down a division, and some moving up a division, fans look for more excitement next autumn.

Photo by Sieloff Studio

The girls’ swim team lines up in preparation for their meet.

Ubaldo Robles ‘17 passes the ball off to one of his teammates.

The North Star

sports

November 24, 2015 | 13

Varsity volleyball prepares for districts Hailee Hunt ‘16 Reporter

The Varsity Volleyball Team has been “setting up” to get a big win in their first round of districts. The Lady Crusaders won the MAC Blue Division with a 19-1 record. The volleyball team has been working every day to become the team they are today.

As soon as school got out, the girls started their volleyball training in June. They worked out Monday through Thursday in the mornings, then they had tournaments every Wednesday.

Throughout the summer, they also attended many training camps, including Wayne State University and another at Grand Valley State University.

The varsity girls have not had a break all season. They all want to work hard to reach their

goal of winning districts.

Captain Allie Felsner ‘16 said, “We’ve been working harder than ever. We’ve never wanted something more than districts. We deserve this win.”

This year the volleyball team definitely had a different season with new coach Denise Sargent to lead them; she is doing everything she can to make the volleyball program better. From coaching to making the fans in the stands have lots of fun with noise makers, to getting a couch put in the stands, Sargent has put thousands of hours into this program. Coach Sargent has also brought coaches and players from universities to help coach the girls on key components.

Coach Sargent said, “I want to do everything I

can to put the LCN volleyball program on the map. The girls work hard, they deserve the support of their school, and I’m definitely proud of the team we’ve become.”

Being on the team is a ton of hard work between homework, practices, and spending time with family, but they balance everything well and stay 100 percent committed to their team.

Felsner also said, “It takes a lot to be on this team. You have to always stay positive and support one another.

You also learn to never give up. You have to keep proving that you deserve a spot on that court.”

Aside from being close in the gym, the varsity volleyball team

is also known for being a close-knit group outside of the sport.

Player Lexie Felsner ’16 said, “We’re all a big family; we spend more time together than we do with our own families. We’ve all become very close and I consider them all to be like sisters to me. We love having team dinners and just hanging out with each other even outside of the school gym. I couldn’t ask for a better team to be a part of.”

Their close bond definitely shows on the court. When they are in sync, there is no stopping them.

Although the team worked hard all season, they lost in the first match of districts against Anchor Bay on November 5, ending their season with only one league loss.

Photo by Denise Sargent

The varsity volleyball team gathers at a big game versus Sterling Heights where they clinched a share of the MAC Blue championship.

Photo by Amy Stanton

Varsity volleyball attends a tournament at Lutheran High Northwest, where they won first place in the silver bracket.

Striking up bowling tryouts Kevin Rhoney ‘16 Reporter

As the month of November rolls in, the bowling season begins. New faces are excited to be a part of this team at LCN. Bowling is a very calm sport, and it takes a lot of patience and time. Many students prepare for tryouts throughout the year, improving the little things to fix their game, as well as fixing some huge things that can make their game better.

Bowling tryouts usually last about two days.

During the two days, each person bowls 10 games by paying a tryout fee of $20; after they try out, the coaches cut their high and low game and determine their average.

Based on the player’s average, the coaching staff determines a few things: the player’s average and his/her potential.

After the coaches determine that, each aspiring bowler receives a call if they made the team or not. Students either receive good or bad news, but regardless of the result, the students always strive to improve. LCN Bowling try outs were held on Monday, November 16 from 6-8 p.m., and as well as Wednesday, November 18, from 6-8 p.m.

Returning bowlers do not usually get cut from the bowling team, unless somehow they get drastically worse. Some return-

ing bowlers answered a few questions about the team’s potential.

Mike Torres ’18 talked about being excited for the upcoming season: “Yes, I’m really excited for bowling season. I had a lot of fun last year, and I can’t wait for this season.”

A perk of bowling is getting to meet different people and everyone becomes like a family.

Bradley Thomas ’16 said, “I have a few goals for me personally, and for the team in general.

My personal goals are to average a 220, and win all of my match play points throughout the year. As a team, I would like to win the MAC Red

and go on and win states, which would be really cool.”

Bowling may seem like a fun sport, but it also can be very competitive at big tournaments like the MAC Red, Regionals, and States. Also, just like any other sport, it is important to have goals for the year to have something to strive for.

Lucas Baxa ’17 said, “I do bowling leagues and it helps me a lot. I try to bowl one to three times a week to stay consistent.”

Consistency is usually the main aspect of bowling, rolling the same shot multiple times and getting the same result, a strike, is an extremely good sign. If the players are not consistent

in bowling, then that is something they need to work on in the offseason.

Head coach Debra Gainor discussed what she is looking for in a bowler: “I expect them to have fun, challenge themselves, and improve their game individually.

The most important thing in my eyes is to work together as a team.”

Bowling is both an individual sport and a team sport. Being a bowler means doing what is best for the team and the individual.

The first tournament for the LCN Bowling team is the L’Anse Creuse Singles Invitational, which takes place on Sunday, December 6, at Imperial Lanes.

Photo by Kevin Rhoney ‘16

Sam Gainor ‘16 stays in perfect form as she watches her ball crush the pins.

14 | November 24, 2015

The North Star

What’s the cost of school sports?

Jimmy Tocco ‘16 Business Manager

The L’Anse Creuse Public Schools District is comprised of 24 educational centers: Two high schools, four middle schools, 10 elementary schools, and eight miscellaneous buildings. LCN itself fields 45 sports teams every year.

With a total enrollment of about 10,800, the district has a total budget of $107,754,128, according to its website. Yes, you read that right. Over $100 million is spent throughout the district every year!

According to LCN Athletic Director Cody Smith, the annual athletic budget was previously around $81,000 per year; however, this year the athletic department

was subject to a 20 percent cut, which resulted in a $66,000 budget -about 0.0005 percent of the district’s total. This total is determined by the LCPS Business Office.

The budget is used for a plethora of things, including officials, uniforms, transportation, and supplies.

Of the 45 teams at LCN, three are club teams: hockey, dance, and bowling. These sports do get some funding from the district budget, but mainly rely on parents and fundraising for their own personal budget.

The other 42 teams receive more funds from the athletic department, although fundraising is required for most sports teams. The football program fundraises by

selling discount cards every summer.

Evan Horne ‘16 commented, “The football program sells gold cards every summer. It isn’t the easiest thing to sell, but if we sell a lot of them, we always get some nice stuff in return, so it works out for us.”

Another key in funding sports teams is the LCN Booster Club, according to Smith. The Booster Club fundraises an enormous amount of money in order to offset the costs that the budget cannot cover. The Booster Club is in charge of concessions, ticket sales, and all the annual

fundraising events such as Tastefest.

“The Booster Club is an enormous help in keeping our teams at LCN competing every season,” said assistant Athletic Director Brian Anderson.

After all the fundraising is finished, there still are some costs that need to be covered by the athletes. LCPS was one of the last districts to require Pay-to-Play, a required fee to take part in sports. LCPS began this policy four years ago, and it was the last district in Macomb County to do so.

Pay-to-Play costs $150 per player, but they are not charged more than twice a year. If a student

sports

is a multi-sport athlete, their third season and more are free. Also, the district will work with families who need financial aid.

“With only $66,000 to field 45 sports teams, keeping the teams competing every season is quite the task,” said Anderson. “We pride ourselves on the ability of having every team and every athlete taking part in any sport they would like. Our athletes are our number one priority.”

Fantasize with fantasy football Jake Mitchell ‘16 Reporter

Fantasy football is not actually football, but it is definitely just as competitive.

Fantasy football is an online activity based on the performance of NFL players. The way an NFL player performs is a direct reflection of how many points the player receives in the game.

All of the players on a fantasy team are picked individually and earn points for the team. The team with the most points wins.

There are many ways to play fantasy football. There are leagues to join online with random participants, or leagues can be created amongst family and friends. The gambling side of fantasy football is joining leagues on places like Draftkings.com or Fanduel. com and betting money.

Ben Walmsley ’16 said, “I love fantasy football, and I’m a part of a 10-person league.”

A person picks his or her team in a fantasy league on a draft day which is when the season begins. The draft is the most important event of the fantasy league because the athletes chosen will most likely be the players on his or her

Logo from web site

team the rest of the season.

Business teacher Joe Naniewicz said, “The draft is by far the most important piece of the fantasy season because it is where it all begins.”

The fantasy season starts the day the real NFL season starts, and it runs all the way to end of the NFL season. Every week, a person faces an opponent in his or her league, and tries to defeat them by having players score more fantasy points than their opponent’s players. Fantasy points can work all different ways in leagues, but the majority of a league’s points work on a touchdown and yards system. Each offensive position (QB, RB, WR, TE) is rewarded five points for each touchdown scored

and one point per 10 yards they throw, run, or catch.

The other special positions, defense and kicker, are rewarded by the number of field goals they make or how many points a defense does not give up.

Normal leagues usually have eight to 12 teams and compete in a championship just like the real NFL. Depending on the size of the league, there are usually four to eight teams in the playoffs.

Fantasy football can be very enjoyable with lots of excitement during the 16week long season. It is one of the most talked-about topics in the sport’s world with millions playing.

Jalen Jones ‘16 stated, “I have been playing fantasy football for five years now, and it’s one of my favorite activities during the football season. I would

recommend fantasy football to anyone.”

While football season is already full of fun, fantasy football makes it that much more exciting.

The North Star

sports

November 24, 2015 | 15

Cross country runs to states Reporter

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his year’s Crusader Cross Country Team battled injuries, but they still managed to achieve a successful outcome.

The team failed to qualify for states; however, they had a few runners that qualified individually for the contest.

Karenna Duffey ‘18 made it to states, finishing in fourteenth place. Jacob Schaldenbrand ‘17 made

it to states as well, finishing in eighty-seventh place out of all the qualifying runners.

For new runner Connor Barlow ‘16, this year has been nothing but uphill for him. He decided to go out for cross country for the first time and has been improving since day one.

When asked about the season, Barlow said, “As the guys’ team, we had a lot of new runners including me. As a team we

struggled due to injuries towards the end of the year.”

Coach Jason Hubbard is very impressed with how his team has trained.

When asked what he’s most proud about of his team’s performance, he said, “Just their overall work ethic. I hear a lot from students outside of cross country that they always see them running and that makes me happy as a coach.”

This year the cross country team had a lot of young runners. They had some injuries that may have hurt their season.

Being led by state qualifiers, the Crusaders Cross Country Team looks to be very hopeful in the future.

Photo by Lincoln Shryack

Karenna Duffey ‘18 is seen crossing the finish line at the Spartan Invitational.

Lawrence Technological University isn’t for just anyone. We want the future designers, engineers, scientists, and entrepreneurs who will create the innovations of tomorrow.

ENGINEERS, ARCHITECTS, SCIENTISTS, AND REBELS.

Floyd Wickman ‘16

The earning potential of Lawrence Tech grads is among the highest in America.

If you believe that everything is possible, and that possible is everything, we want you at LTU. Watch LTU students share their college experiences at ltu.edu/StudentStories.

Ready to apply now?

Visit ltu.edu/applyfree.

Southfield, Michigan 800.225.5588 admissions@ltu.edu www.ltu.edu Architecture and Design | Arts and Sciences Engineering | Management

The North Star

16 | November 24, 2015

opinions

Bashing with Baguzis The ride or die is not your guy

Ellie Baguzis ‘16 Opinions Editor

High schoolers seem to focus so much on relationships these days, they don’t realize that there is more to life than dating. Adolescents are too busy devoting their lives to finding their one true love.

Teenagers tend to care more about hugs and holding hands than sharing the same beliefs and values. Adolescents have yet to define themselves, so they often cling to someone who makes

them feel like they have a purpose. Eventually, they will find that they spent so much time trying to fulfill their significant other’s image of perfection that they lost themselves in the process.

Yeah, I get it, having a significant other can be a great experience, but there are other relationships that are much stronger.

Friendship is one of the most genuine connections you will ever make.

A good relationship with your best friend will carry you through life. It will help you grow into the individual you have always wanted to be. The memories you make with your friends will stick

with you forever.

Your best friend is the one who will be your support system. They are the one who will be there to comfort you at 3 a.m. while you are in tears and don’t know what to do. They will knock sense into you and support you, even if they don’t fully agree. They will be the one to push you to your limits and test your boundaries. They want what is best for you.

People get too caught up in their love lives.

They are willing to drop their friends for a person they just started dating. Who is going to be by their side when that guy drops them? He is replaceable; however,

friends are not. The connection you have with your best friends can never be replaced. They are the ones who will be by your side through everything. Friendship is true love.

The word ‘love’ doesn’t even seem to mean anything anymore. It’s thrown around too much.

“I love my boyfriend so much! He means the world to me,” said the girl who seems to be on her what… third boyfriend this month?

Is she actually in love or just in love with the idea of it? People rush into relationships so fast. Just because a person walks into your life does not mean you have to be with

them.

Relationships should be built upon a strong foundation. This foundation is one that takes time, not a three-day streak on Snapchat. Relationships take forgiveness, trust, compromise, and a whole lot of work. Teenage romance is especially dangerous because their vulnerable hearts fall fast and hard.

The key is to fall in love with the person, not just your idea of them. Your significant other is more than red roses and compliments. They are the one who should love you unconditionally and accept you for who you are, not who they want you to be. The gifts themselves

are not a problem, but they are often used in an attempt to make up for the absence of an emotional connection.

Take the time out of your day to sit back and appreciate the friends you have. Stop complaining about how you need to be in a relationship. You don’t NEED a relationship, you’re still in high school, so calm down. You still have a long time to worry about finding “the one.”

Right now, focus on the relationships with your friends because relationships come and go; friendships are what last and make a difference.

morning, but if we had two, everyone would get at least one tutorial.”

One reason we might not already have more frequent tutorials is because staff may view it as time for students to slack off, but I asked three juniors another question that proves students use tutorial to their academic benefit.

“I use my tutorial time as a time for my homework that day,” said Brendin Laporte ‘17.

Bowman and Clemmens answered along the lines of Laporte’s response, both saying that they used tutorial for homework or catching up in classes.

If staff were questioned about having more tutorials, their responses might be that we just don’t have enough time in our school day to have tutorial more often. Take

this into consideration: The one tutorial we have now is every Wednesday, which is an hour shorter than every other school day. If we can have tutorial on Wednesday, we can have tutorial any other day of the week. If we shortened each class hour by as little as a few minutes, we would be able to put tutorial any day of the week, with little class time sacrificed to do so. We do have enough time for tutorial.

One note: the State of Michigan’s Department of Education requires 1,098 hours of instruction for grades K-12.

Adding more tutorial time to the school week will enable students to get more work done, to catch up on classes, and would lead to an overall healthier and less stressed out student population.

Students want more tutorial time Gavin McHugh ‘17 News Editor

Darious Henry ‘16 completes his homework during lunch time. More tutorial time during the school day would help students.

Photo by Laurel Neitling ‘16

Out of the seven hours a day and 34 hours a week we spend at school, a 30-minute period between second and third hour every Wednesday is one of L’Anse Creuse North students’ most anticipated times of the week.

This chunk of time, otherwise known as tutorial, is on par with “study hall” in middle school; however, study hall is a daily occurrence, while the rare high school tutorial is only scheduled on Wednesdays. Study hall and tutorial are intended to do the same for students: To provide a time for us to get work done or to catch up in classes.

The thing is, this time is provided less for the ones who need it most. I believe that we need more tutorials throughout the

week, and I think many students would agree with me on that.

Tutorial is used to get homework done or to get help in a class or a course you’re falling behind in.

The problem is, tutorial is only a once-a-week occurrence, and the students of LCN think that needs to change.

“I think it would be nice to have more than one because it is very helpful and you can get a lot of stuff done during it,” said Baylee Bowman ‘17.

But students who attend classes at the Pankow Center during morning hours never get even one tutorial.

Qua’Nisha Clemmens ‘17, a student who attends Pankow during the morning hours, put the topic into new perspective, “I think it’d be cool to have two because kids at Pankow miss it in the

The North Star

opinions

November 24, 2015 | 17

You’ve been blocked (from social media) Marissa Ficorelli ‘16 Features Editor

When we think of social media nowadays, we think of Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, and many other sites used to communicate with other people. The issue on social media being blocked in schools is a big thing right now. Usually social media is just blocked on the school Wi-Fi, but even without the Wi-Fi enabled, the connection is not good enough to use the sites.

At LCN, we have a policy that restricts the use of cell phones in school.

The policy has three different zones that tell students when cell phone use is allowed. The green zone allows students to use phones freely, the yellow zone allows use of phones for educational

purposes, and the red strictly prohibits cell phone use. This policy helps administrators keep social media use to a minimum in school.

People have all different types of opinions on the topic and many reasons for blocking or not blocking social media. Of course, one of the more obvious reasons for schools blocking social media is because of the distractions, but some don’t agree with it.

“I think that it shouldn’t be blocked because if they are allowing us to have our phones in school, then we should be able to use them for social media as long as it is not interfering with our learning,” said Parker Pagano ‘16.

Many students believe that social media is not

as big of a distraction as schools think.

“It should not be blocked because it’s not that big of an issue. If someone is done with all their work that needs to be done, then they should be able to go on social media, although there should be restrictions when we are learning,” said Anna Ciechanowski ‘16.

There are some ways that social media can be used for educational purposes, such as the school newspaper. The North Star staff connects with students on Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat to let students know what is going on every week.

“I don’t think it should be blocked in school because it can help people connect with each other, and can be used to learn

Student Brittany DiDonato ‘16 Snapchats her friends.

Photo by Dennis Keena ‘16

in some ways,” said Jason Eckenrode ‘18.

Within the near future,

hopefully this policy will change and students will be able to use social

media sites in school, but for now the policy will remain the same.

“The Breakfast Club” is a lie: the truth about detention Lauren Bergeski ‘16 Copy Editor

Somebody call The Guinness Book of World Records, because I have just set an amazing feat.

I was/am the first person in history to ask for a detention. It wasn’t even a substitution for suspension; I just needed a detention. My motivation?

A deceitful cult classic, a misleading major motion picture, a fraudulent film.

That’s right, “The Breakfast Club.”

“The Breakfast Club” is a lie. The movie told us that detention would be an adventure, running around the hallways, dancing on top of bookshelves, and hiding from ignorant teachers. The reality could not be farther from the movie.

My dedication had no boundaries. I was so intent on getting a deten-

tion that I went straight to the top: the Dean, Jennie Brady. This is where I learned my first lesson: never get lunch detention.

Across from my seat sat a lone teenager, eating lunch in solitude with just the silence to comfort her.The sight was heartbreaking, but before anything was said, Dean Brady entered the room, and I was given my detention.

When a student gets served, they are given a reflection form. The form asks the basics, like “What did you do wrong?” and “How are you going to fix it?” The school destroys the idea of writing a snarky essay, like in “The Breakfast Club,” before you even walk in.

“Baby Jail” as Keith Corsi, supervisory aide,

calls it, is held in room 101. I got quite a few friendly stares from my fellow classmates upon entering the room. Corsi, started on the rules by saying, “No talking, no laughing, no sleeping, no playing, and no fun.” Meanwhile, during Corsi’s speech, the kid next to me tried to snake a mess of black earbuds up his hoodie. I don’t know if his time in detention had hardened him, or if he has always been this bold. Either way, he got caught. As if I didn’t see that coming.

Luckily, he got off easy, and was allowed to listen to his music as long as he cooperated.

One thing the movies get wrong is the teachers. There seems to be an unwritten rule of mutual respect. Corsi backed this statement up, saying

“Nothing bad has really happens in detention.

Nothing big.”

For example, a senior, who was there for skipping class, had multiple hours of detention to serve. He was unable to stay after for two straight hours, so Corsi called Dean Brady who arrived 10 minutes later and let him split up his detention time.

That was it. Trust me, I am just as disappointed as you are. There were no thrilling chases through the halls, nor any bonding with my fellow vagabonds. Detention was not like “The Breakfast Club.” Detention was a small room, where the regretful whispers of your classmates are your only friend.

Sincerely yours, The After School Snack Club

A student receives a detention slip for skipping class.

Photo by Ellie Baguzis ‘16

18 | November 24, 2015

The North Star

opinions

Editorial:

You’re toxic, we’re slippin’ under

T

they should have gotten it instead. This type of person simply cannot be happy for someone else because they are not even happy with themselves. They will too.

Friends are the people who laugh with frequently mention what you have, and follow up the statement by saying that you, cry with you, and never judge you they want it. There is a difference beduring your Netflix binges. The majortween “I wish I had hair like that” and ity of your best memories will be made “I should have that hair instead.” with your best friends by your side.

The friendship is one-sided.

Because of this, ending a friendship You send the first is not easy. The You make history behind Ending a toxic friend- text. the plans. You ask a friendship can ship does not have to how their day was. make it hard to leave. If a friendhappen immediately or What do you get in return? Hey. Cool. ship does not in a drastic manner. make you the best Good. This is not possible version the kind of person of you, then it is not a friendship worth who will ask you how school or work is having. This is known as a toxic friendgoing. You are giving your 100 percent, ship, and there are a few clear signs to but they aren’t even giving 20 percent.

They are constantly seeking valilook out for. dation. Have you ever had that friend They envy you. Instead of conwho needs to hear how wonderful they gratulating you on getting that new job are 20 times a day? That friend is bad promotion, they complain about how oxic drinks are not the only thing to look out for. Sometimes the people in your life can be toxic,

news. At first, it might seem as though they just lack self-confidence. While they may struggle with confidence, they also may just be striving for attention.

They only show up when they need something. Whether their Friday night plans fell through or they need a ride to work, they only seem to talk to you as a last resort. This friend is a user, and you only remain in their life for convenience. This friend will take advantage of you and your kindness.

Ending a toxic friendship does not have to happen immediately or in a drastic manner. Instead of cutting all ties, it is best to slowly remove yourself. Just because this person is toxic to you does not mean he or she is a bad person. At some point in your life, he or she was exactly what you needed.

Not every friendship is meant to last forever. While everyone enters your life for a reason, sometimes they leave for a greater purpose as well.

Erin’s Eggcellent Column How to battle stress

Erin Antosiek ‘16 Photo Editor

A

sk a teen how they are doing and they will nearly always answer ‘busy.’ For most teens, this is a true statement. High school teens and college students are often tired and complain of stress. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, anxiety disorders affect one in eight children. Stress among this age group is at an all-time high.

So my advice to you is: Take a break: Just take a moment to decompress, set priorities, relax, and take a deep breath.

Go outside: Try to find some time to take a 20-minute walk to just go outside. Not only is it calming, but you can get fresh air, exercise and vitamin D! Kick back and watch your favorite movie or show: It’s not like you don’t go on Netflix anyway. After a hard day, just relax, grab a snack and continue that TV show series/movie you were watching.

Find a good pastime: Whether it is completing puzzles, reading or playing a video game, find some activity to take up. Over-thinking without being able to take a break can draw you into a deeper feeling of being overwhelmed.

Whether your parents like it or not, getting absorbed in video games provides a distraction and relaxes the nervous system.

Call or hang out with a friend: It’s a nice mental break. Being with a friend can help make your troubles go away, and it’s nice to have a friend that can give you a pick-me-up.

While you’re at it, make some plans for the weekend. It’s a great thing to look forward to!

Treat yourself: Sometimes, you just need your nails done or to get a new hair-do.

Clean your room and desk: It may sound lame, but it takes less time than you think. A clear space leads to a clear mind, and it can increase productivity.

Photo by Lynn Sobczak

Take a shower: Take a nice, warm shower and let the stress melt away.

Go out for a drive: Go out on the open road, play your favorite music and enjoy the scenery while you’re at it. You’ll also be able to get some alone time from the house to clear your mind.

Watch some funny Youtube clips: Laughter is the best medicine!

Who doesn’t want to see a dog driving a car or a man eating 500 Sour Patch Kids in one sitting?

Eat at your favorite restaurant: Food is always the answer.

Listen to music: Find a new station on Pandora or buy some iTunes cards, and then sit back and let your favorite music calm your nerves. Tuning out the world for even five minutes can lower stress and improve mental clarity.

Youth stressors • School pressure and career decisions • After-school or summer jobs • Dating and friendships • Pressure to wear certain types of clothing, jewelry,or hairstyles • Pressure to experiment with drugs, alcohol, or sex • Pressure to be a particular size or body shape. With girls, the focus is often weight. With boys, it is usually a certain muscular or athletic physique.

• Dealing with the physical and cognitive changes of puberty • Family and peer conflicts • Being bullied or exposed to violence or sexual harassment • Crammed schedules, juggling school, sports, after-school activities, social life, and family obligations Source: John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

The North Star

opinions

November 24, 2015 | 19

Spice it up with some controversy Toni Lahoud ‘16 Reporter

Craving a warm, stuffed burrito with all of your favorite veggies and more?

Then, Qdoba and Chipotle are the places to go. Over the past year, Qdoba and Chipotle have become two of the most popular fast food restaurants at which to eat in the Macomb area. These are both chains of fast casual fresh Mex restaurants in the United States. The service is similar to Subway: pick the ingredients for the burrito and the burristas will make it. Fast, simple, and especially delicious!

There have been lots of debates over which chain is better. The price, quality, and everything in between are different. The students of LCN were asked to decide which is better.

Dominique Miller ‘18 believes Chipotle is the better choice. “The quality of their food is better than Qdoba. I believe it is also fresher. I can always count on Chipotle to never leave food out too long so that their customers always have a good experience.” Miller thinks that Qdoba doesn’t swap out food often.

Nathan Gallagher ’17 shared some disturbing news about Chipotle. “Recently, there was an outbreak of e-coli at 46 Chipotle locations. Personally,

I like Qdoba more because Chipotle is too spicy for my taste. They also have better options. Qdoba offers queso and free guacamole, unlike Chipotle where they make you pay for guac.”

Gallagher is not surprised about the news because he never liked Chipotle anyway. He thinks this issue is really going to hurt their reputation and send many consumers Qdoba’s way.

“Although Chipotle is quite a drive from me, opposed to Qdoba, I would much rather take the time commuting there than eating at Qdoba. The meat at Qdoba tends to be rubbery. Chipotle’s meat is always fresh and never has any fat on it. Biting into my amazing burrito and tasting chicken of that consistency is a burrito turn off! Chipotle packs their burritos fuller than Qdoba, too. I am always guaranteed my money well spent!” Christian Roy ’16 argued.

Roy believes that if people do not agree, then they are missing out on a good meal!

Overall, this debate will probably never end. Both restaurants have some benefits while also having drawbacks.

Take a trip to your nearest Qdoba and Chipotle to develop an opinion on which place has the best burrito creation possible. Chipotle or Qdoba: It is up to you.

N RTH STAR

L’Anse Creuse H.S. - North 23700 21 Mile Road Macomb, MI 48042 (586) 493-5270

The staff of The North Star are members of Quill and Scroll Society, Michigan Interscholastic Press Association and National Scholastic Press Association.

• • •

Photos by Denver Paver ’16

Despite Qdoba (23 Mile Road) and Chipotle (Hall Road) both being popular restaurants, they spark up quite the debate about which students prefer.

Contacting the North Star:

Editor-in-Chief . . . . . . . Laurel Neitling Cover Editor. . . . . . . . . . . Dennis Keena News Editor . . . . . . . . . . Gavin McHugh Feature Editor . . . . . . .Marissa Ficorelli Entertainment Editor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Sara Wills Reviews Editor. . . . . . . . . Miya Leykauf Focus Editor. . . . . . . . . . . . Chloe Acker Sports Editor . . . . . . . . . Shelby Stanton Sports Editor . . . . . . . Shyanne Symons Opinions Editor . . . . Shayna Schroeder Opinions Editor . . . . . . . . Ellie Baguzis Copy Editor . . . . . . . . . Lauren Bergeski Copy Editor. . . . . . . . . Samantha Buffa Photo Editor. . . . . . . . . . . Erin Antosiek Online Editors . . . . . . . . . . Evan Rinaldi Business Manager . . . . . . Jimmy Tocco Photographers . . . . . . Madison Wehby, Savannah Baurhenn, Brooke Piekutowski, Denver Paver Reporters. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Luke Zito, Jake Mitchell, Hailee Hunt, Kevin Rhoney, Floyd Wickman, Riley Janssen, Toni Lahoud Adviser. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kim Kozian

• • •

Facebook.com/LCNNewspaper

@

Search: @LCNNewspaper

Search: Search: @LCNNewspaper @LCNNewspaper

Email us at: northstar.np@gmail.com

Find The North Star’s website: www.lcnnewspaper.com

The staff of the North Star accepts letters to the editor with feedback on how we express our opinion in this paper. All letters must be signed. The staff also accepts future ideas in room 213 or Ms. Kozian’s mailbox in the main office. The viewpoints expressed in The North Star are those of the editorial newspaper staff, but do not necessarily reflect those of the administration and faculty of LCN. Visit Ms. Kozian’s web page, www.lc-ps. org/Schools/LCHSNorth, for editorial policies and procedures.

20 | November 24, 2015

snapshot

The North Star

PLAID WEDNESDAY Photos by Dennis Keena ‘16

Yes, that checkered pattern is in style at LCN! Every Wednesday, students will show off their plaid fashions.

Ellie Baguzis ‘16, Lauren Neitling ‘16, Luke Zito ‘16, Lauren Bergeski ‘16, and Denver Paver ‘16 wear their plaids!

Bailey Taylor ‘18 wears a plaid skirt while Jennifer Cox ‘18 sports a plaid shirt.

Andrew Sevin ‘17, Jillian Wilhelm ‘18 and Kamil Amerla ‘18 show off their checkered choices.

Kaitlyn Dumire ‘19 rocks her red and black flannel!

Jasmine Cotteledge ‘19 wears classic plaid!

Ashley Bennet ‘17 flaunts her red and blue!