The Pioneer Press December 19, 2023 by The Pioneer Press

DEARBORN HIGH SCHOOL dhspioneerpress@gmail.com- Dec. 19, 2023

The Pioneer Press VOL. 107, ISSUE 2

the Isreal-Palestine conflict has now spanned over a century. For an in-depth look into how it has developed over the years, flip to (PAGE 4)

THE PIONEER PRESS

NEWS

Dec. 19, 2023

TABLE OF CONTENTS 2 News 6 Feature 9 Opinion 12 Sports Adviser

Mike Schmitt Editor-in-chief Alyssa O’sada Husayn Hamoud News Alyssa O’sada Feature Mariam Baiz Sports Marissa Kenrick Opinion Angela Chehade Advertisment Angela Chehade Photo Alaa Zeineddine Mohamad Barakat Social Media Marissa Kenrick Web Mohammed Alali Wilson Inyang Staff Writers Simona Horia Sabrina Baiz Zahraa Salmassi Claire Simon Zainab Barakat @ThePioneerPress dhspioneerpress.net

Photo: TCD Instagram Truck crashes into SUV on Ford road in Dearborn Heights on March 8, 2023, leaving multiple people critically injuried and one dead.

Crashing Case Community faces challenges brought by Dearborn drivers

Alyssa O’sada

Simona Horia

Alaa Zeineddine

earborn drivers ed school, Epic Driving Education LLC, was suspended on November 1, 2023 after the Michigan Department of State (MDOS) held an investigation after a complaint was made against them. According to CBS News, the MDOS found 6,643 violations between 2021 to 2023 that include: failure to provide training records, contracts, and knowledge tests, failing to verify that students enrolled in a course meet the physical and mental requirements for licensure, failing to ensure students successfully passed a knowledge test prior to issuing a certificate of completion, and misrepresenting the quantity and quality of instruction provided for a driver's education certificate and/or driver's license. This caused previous students to contact the MDOS in order for them to verify whether their certificates of completion or drivers licenses are still valid, as the department cannot

issue certificates of completion to students who have participated in the courses. This incident has caused great controversy in the Dearborn community and many speculate whether this is the main reason why Dearborn has a high number of car accidents and significantly bad drivers.

eight years and has worked in the Dearborn department for four years while the other four years were split between Detroit, Southgate, and Taylor. Blair said that there are a minimum of 10 Dearborn patrol officers working at all times and that each officer generally averages 20-30 tickets per month. Despite common belief, patrol officers don’t have quotas to make with their amount of ticketing because michigan law says that police departments cannot have a set number of tickets as patrol officers. However, traffic officers do have a quota to follow of 10 tickets per day but they only focus on traffic enforcement and they don’t get dispatch runs. “They have to do 10 tickets a day, which really isn't a lot because they're working for 10 hours. So you figure one ticket an hour and it's really easy to get one traffic problem an hour especially in Dearborn with speeding alone,” Blair said. “They can sit there on Ford Road with a

Co-Editor-in-chief

Staff Writer

Closer Look at Dearborn Driving Research conducted by the Congressional Research Service (CRS) showed a total of 293,341 crashes in 2022, Michigan. The county with the highest number of crashes for 2022 was Wayne County with 50,697 crashes. More specifically, according to the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG) Dearborn had 3,150 crashes that range from fatal to minor injuries. Dearborn Detective and former patrol officer, Margaret Blair has been a police officer for

Photo Editor

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NEWS

Dec. 19, 2023

Michigan Counties with the most car accidents in 2022, provided by CRS

LIDAR gun which is a radar speed They just don't bother to go to gun and I mean every single light driver's training. I never used to cycle someone's speeding around 40 encounter it as much, but miles over the speed limit.” we have people that According to the CRS, we’ll stop a lot and Michigan’s total number of crashes they’ll give us a involving distracted drivers is 15,441 state ID and they Alsarraf Photo: Manar with Wayne County having the act like that's their most, 2,347. Blair said that younger license when they and more inexperienced drivers are probably never had driver's the most common to get into car training,” Blair said. accidents from the use and influence Blair said one of the of phones especially, social media. main reasons for people driving “They’ll be 19, 20-year-old with a suspended license is boys that have too fast of cars that because a lot of people can’t they shouldn't have. And they're afford to pay for a ticket that they Photo: TCD Instagram literally drag racing. And then receive and from them not paying, another main issue is they like to it will turn into a suspended license. make Snapchat stories and they “They can't afford to pay think it's cool to show themselves that ticket especially if they don’t going 100 mph down Ford road. have insurance and most of them They'll have their friend in the don’t but they still have to go to passenger seat taking a story or work so they continue to drive on a making a story themself and then suspended license,” Blair said. “If it they'll go around 100 mph and then comes down to getting groceries for they crash,” Blair said.“The phones the week or paying their rent versus are a huge problem. You can tap on going to pay that parking ticket, Dearborn on SnapMap and just look they're just not gonna pay the ticket. at the hot spots and every single They're gonna play the game and one is someone driving in their car roll the dice and hope they don't get recording what song he's playing, stopped.” just driving down the street pointing Throughout the years, his phone out the window and going the main concern many Dearborn above the speed limit.” residents held is the speeding Dearborn High School and other traffic errors that occur Language Arts teacher, Mary frequently in the community, and Kubicek has been a resident of they have hoped for a solution Dearborn for 56 years and said that to this problem. In recent years, she noticed a drastic difference in the driving in Dearborn compared to Efforts made to now and when she was growing up. Decrease Dearborn “I have noticed that at night Traffic Violations far more cars racing down telegraph efforts, primarily made by Dearborn and ford road. We didn’t really hear that when I was growing up but now Mayor, Abdullah Hammoud, and the Dearborn Police Department, were you hear it all night.,” Kubicek said. made to reduce traffic violations. “Not to mention that there’s a lot According to CBS News, more aggression and noise level as Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud well.” implemented a program called Blair said that at least 60% of the speed hump pilot program cars that they stop aren’t owned by that individual and that it’s become a announced in March, in which the city will install speed humps in common occurrence in the younger residential areas as a way to reduce generation to drive without even speeding. Currently there are three having a license. locations in Dearborn where these “It's very often that people speed humps reside and more are do not have a license or they have planned to be placed based on a city a suspended license, but they still drive. It's safe to assume that there's online survey for residents that can be found on the city’s online website. more people driving with a state ID.

“This program is about thinking beyond reactive measures and taking a preventative approach. These persistent public health and safety issues require dynamic, innovative, and multi-pronged strategies that lead with feedback from those directly affected,” Hammoud said. Blair said that the Dearborn Police Department received a traffic enforcement grant from the state called the standardized field sobriety testing (SFST) where officers specifically look for intoxicated drivers and have a certain quota to make but, any driving infraction can count towards this because they’re working overtime. With this grant, there is a separate component called the Wolfpack that was used to ensure that any officer would make this quota and is essentially a speed trap. “We'll have one car sitting, running the LIDAR and they’ll get the speed of the driver while we have a stack of patrol cars waiting on either the next or a couple of blocks away on a side street or a couple driveways over where you're hidden behind a building waiting for the call on the radio of the suspected driver,” Blair said. “The cars that are stacked up down the road or a couple blocks away, the first one at the top of the stack will pull out as soon as they see that car and do the traffic stop and immediately write

them a ticket.” Blair said that one of her hopes for the future is installing cameras on the busy intersections because she believes that it will make more people held accountable for traffic violations along with reducing police involvement. “In Washington DC they have traffic enforcement cameras that will literally send you a ticket in the mail if you're speeding. They have a speed radar gun and run your plate if you're speeding then you get a ticket in the mail,” Blair said. “People that live in DC just don't speed. I was out there with the kids last summer and it's scary. There's like a radar on every block, but nobody's speeding. I think that if people in the city knew that we had traffic enforcement cameras, they would slow down.”

THE PIONEER PRESS

NEWS

Dec. 19, 2023

T Spiraled Into War A timeline of the Israel-Palestine conflict in the last 130 years Husayn Hamoud

Co-Editor-in-chief

Sabrina Baiz

he war in the Israel-Palestine territory holds an especially close meaning to the Dearborn community as the war doesn't only affect Palestine and Israel territories, but the entire Middle East and even America. According to the Detroit Free Press, Dearborn holds the densest population of

Arab Americans compared to anywhere else in the world that doesn't reside in the Middle East. It's important to be reminded of what transpired that led to the current state of Palestine because, after 70 years of conflict, the origins and meaning of the war can easily be lost in translation.

Staff Writer

1896 Theodore Herzel,the founder of the Zionism ideology in Basel, Switzerland, in 1896 wanted to find a land that God promised the Jews however Herzel himself was an atheist. - Stokley Carmichael. He (Herzel) was not the first to find it however he was the one who U.K Foreign Secretary Arthur James Balfour made it a national political issued a 67-word declaration, the Balfour movement. The first zionist Declaration. In which he promised to assist in congress took place in the creation of such a Jewish State as he carried Basel, Switzerland in 1897, “Sympathy with Jewish Zionist aspirations.” the people who attended

1917

“Nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine.” -James Balfour

1967, The Six Day War

were secular Jewish and were looking to create a Jewish state.

1920

1947

After World War 2, opposed by Palestinians, Approved by the League of the newly formed United Nations called Nations, Britain was granted for Palestine to be segregated into authority to oversee the conditions separate Jewish and Arab states and assess the suitability of Palestine with Jerusalem under U.N. for Jewish immigration. Following the next supervision. 20 years, amplified due to Nazi Germany’s efforts during World War 2, over 100,000 Jewish immigrants fled to the country. This occupation was accommodated with slight resistance from the Palestinians.

Photo: Public Domain

Egyptian prisoners of war being round up outside El Arish, Egypt. After World War 2 and opposed by Palestinians, the newly formed United Nations called for Palestine to be segregated into separate Jewish and Arab states. Jeruselem became under the superivison of the United Nations. With the end of Britain's occupation of the state, Israel declared independence from Palestine. This fueled the flame of tension between the Jewish and Arab populations. Won by Israel, war broke out and extended into the following year. This resulted in the territory being redistributed. Israel gained some of the previously designated Palestinian territory and the region was divided into three subdivisions: the State of Israel; the West Bank, controlled by Jordan; and Gaza, controlled by Egypt. The Palestinian Islamic movement with the goal of Over 600,000 Palestinians were displaced from their homes, either due to fear of Israeli occupation re-establishing a Palestinian state that would reside in or forced removal. More than 400 Arab villages were destroyed and many ended up in refugee camps present-day Israel and the West Bank was formed. The according to Britannica. movement was named Hamas (‫)حماس‬, which translates to “Bravery” or “Strength and is still active today. Since the late 1990s, Hamas has been considered a terrorist *Timeline Data Collected Via U.S. News World & Report, The Gaurdian, and Aljazeera organization by Western governments.

1948-1949

1987

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NEWS

Dec. 19, 2023

Oct. 7, 2023

Hamas organized a surprise attack including an on-foot invasion and bombing along the Gaza Strip. Killing 1,400 people and taking more than 200 as hostages. Known as the deadliest day in the country’s history, Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant ordered a “complete siege” of Gaza. Israel’s first response was to cut off medical supplies, food, power, and fuel to Gaza. Israel promised to return these necessities once the Israeli hostages were released.

2021

Oct. 20, 2023

With Israel working on court orders to evict Palestinians living in East Jerusalem’s Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood with plans to turn over the land to Jewish families, Palestinians protested their efforts throughout the month of Ramadan of that year. In May, conflict with Palestinian protesters and Israeli police at Al-Aqsa mosque left hundreds of Palestinians wounded. Hamas responded via missile attacks from Gaza to Israel resulting in backand-forth firing for two weeks. This conflict left 250 Gaza and 13 Israeli citizens dead.

2020

Photo: Mohammed Alali Due to the great magnitude of global involvement, the conflict has been pushed into the public eye more than ever before. This has lead to various protests, demonstrations, and boycotts all around the world. Several demonstrations for peace were held throughout the city of Dearborn as well. Students of Fordson High The school organized a pro-Palestine rally on Oct. 19, with Dearborn High School following suit on Oct. 20 and held another on Oct. 27, 2023.

1987-1995

Originating from a Gaza refugee camp, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians rose against the Israeli government via a series of protests, boycotts, and attacks lasting several years. This was called the first Intifada, the “shaking off”.

2000

Greater in force, Palestine organized a second Intifada leading to the death of 4000 Palestinians and 1000 Israelis. Israel constructed a security barrier separating it from the West Bank following a suicide bombing in Netanya, Israel in 2002.

The Trump administration drafted the ‘Peace to Prosperity’. A plan aimed toward soothing relations between Israelis and Palestinians, but, according to The Associated Press, was reviled by Palestinians due to its favorability to Israel.

2006

Surprise to everyone including Palestinians, Hamas wins Palestinian Authority’s parliamentary elections which were pushed to take place by the George Bush Administration leading to conflict with the losing party, Fatah, due to their resistance to transfer power. One year later, Hamas gained control of the Gaza Strip resulting in the tightening of Israeli border restrictions. In June of 2006, Hamas captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit in a cross-border raid and was freed 5 years later in exchange for 1027, mostly Palestinian, hostages.

THE PIONEER PRESS

6 FEATURE

Dec. 19, 2023

Seeking Change DHS teachers Lena Abdrabbah and Kyle Jenks receive new positions.

Photo: Claire Simon DHS Forensics and AP Biology teacher, Kyle Jenks, teaches his AP Biology class on Dec. 8, 2023.

Alyssa O’sada

Claire Simon

any people desire to have some sort of change in their lives in many ways. Whether it be about growing personally, trying new experiences, or building new relationships, this desire for change is something we all share. Embracing change can open the door to a more exciting and fulfilling life where you can make everlasting memories. For Dearborn High School teachers Lena Abdrabbah and Kyle Jenks this was a deciding factor when it came to their careers. Dearborn High School AP Biology teacher Lena Abdrabbah was promoted to the position of assistant principal after a threepart interview that began in early September. This left the position of AP Biology vacant until DHS forensics teacher Kyle Jenks decided to take the position. Abdrabbah said that she’s been a teacher at DHS for 8 years. She started teaching AP Biology in her third year of teaching here and has stayed at the school ever since. Abdrabbah finished her master’s

in leadership earlier in the year and shortly after, saw a job opening for the position of assistant principal and applied for it. “I was looking for a new challenge and didn’t want to give up teaching. However, changing to leadership would give me the opportunity to continue teaching

Co-Editor-in-chief

Staff Writer

“I love making connections with students. And I feel like I can still do that as an assistant principal.”

-Lena Abdrabbah

in a different capacity and allow me to broaden my own learning,” Abdrabbah said. “What’s unique about my experience is I’ve shifted into this new role in the same building that I spent the last 8 years teaching in. This helps me support staff and students more effectively since I’m familiar with our school culture and dynamics.” Abdrabbah said that while this promotion has numerous benefits, the only side-effect is that she’ll miss her love for teaching.

“I love making connections with students. And I feel like I can still do that as an assistant principal, but working with the same students throughout the year and seeing growth in them throughout the year, that’s what I’ll miss the most,” Abdrabbah said. “Biology is my passion. I’ll miss teaching that content, but I feel like I’m still teaching in a different way.” Abdrabbah meets with Jenks periodically, generally a few times a week in order to discuss the curriculum and collaborate their material. Jenks is not new to the curriculum though. He previously taught AP Biology for half a year at Renaissance High School until he got transferred to DHS. Jenks currently teaches three AP Biology classes and one forensic class during sixth hour. While the new forensics teacher that was recently appointed to this position on Dec. 4, 2023, Aya Awada, teaches the other hours. Jenks said that he decided to teach AP Biology because of the amount of encouragement he received and was looking for a challenge despite his passion for teaching forensics. “A lot of people said that it was a good opportunity, they thought that I would be really good at it and that it would be a good fit for a lot of the students,” Jenks said. “It was a really difficult choice because obviously, I love teaching forensics, but I didn’t get tired of it. I think I was just needing something new and there was obviously the vacant position for AP Bio. So I thought that the timing wasn’t great being right in the middle of the semester, but it was kind of like a do-or-die situation,” Jenks said. Jenks said that he fears his new responsibilities juggling AP Biology might make it difficult to ensure that his forensics students receive a fair learning experience. “I’m really enjoying AP Bio. The content is challenging. With forensics, I’m still kind of teaching that, and that’s been a little bit of a struggle because I know a lot

of my old students miss me as a teacher and they’re not getting the full forensics experience as they should. So I feel really bad for them, but I’m doing the best that I can,” Jenks said. DHS Junior Sarah Nada has forensics during second hour and said that Jenks was an excellent teacher when she had him. “He was very open and laid back overall, it was a very positive experience. We had very interactive sessions. We’d go to the lab often, try things outside, even when he left he gave us a zoom video explaining blood samples,” Nada said. Jenks said that he is unsure of the specific classes that he’s teaching next year because of how early in the year it is and there’s not enough information from the students. “That is to be determined based on the student schedules and who wants to take AP Bio and the numbers. I would still like to teach Forensics and AP Bio, but I guess we’ll kind of see come springtime when students pick their classes,” Jenks said.

Photo: Alyssa O’sada

DHS Assistant Principal, Lena Abdrabbah, monitoring the cafeteria on Dec. 13, 2023.

THE PIONEER PRESS

FEATURE

Dec. 19, 2023

New Year New Success

Students of Dearborn Highschool start planning for ways to better their life as the new year approaches

Zainab Barakat

Staff Writer

Mariam Baiz

Feature Editor

t’s that time of year when students start thinking of ways to achieve their academic, athletic, and spiritual goals. Some students start planning for better grades and classes, while others start focusing on their physical performance and how they can improve or even just stay on track. Tailored strategies, special study sessions, and asking teachers

questions, help ensure students that they have the tools they need to do well in their academics. As 2024 unfolds, It’s important to make sure you are taking care of your body and the way you treat yourself as well. Well, studying and doing homework you should be, taking breaks, eating a snack, talking to family and friends then jumping right back in.

Zackariya Makki, Class of ‘24

Jumana Kamalaldin, Class of ‘25

Photo: Mariam Baiz

Photo: Angela Chehade

“I have plans to fix some of my grades for second semester and prepare for college,” Makki Said. “I plan on studying more for tests and paying more attention in class. I’m just looking forward to being done with high school this upcoming June”

“I plan on improving my grades by being more organized and having a planner, I plan on going to the gym and trying to work on my speed and stamina, some personal plans I have for the new year is to be more active and start to make some change for my community, I’m looking forward to a fresh and new start,” Kamalaldin said.

Safa Deeb, Class of ‘26

Alina Maklid, Class of 27’

Photo: Husayn Hamoud

“Rum etur? Quia sa suntis evendig eniscillab il modias sit idia nam qomnimus, seque pore. Tae volo beribus. molup.” -Burger

Photo: Mariam Baiz

“One personal plan I have for the new year is making time for myself to organize a schedule that I can use through my daily routine because personally, having time to work on myself is important,” said Deeb. “One thing in particular that I’m looking forward to is working on myself because with that, I will be able to focus on other parts of my life like my mental and physical health and school.”

Photo: Mariam Baiz

I plan to focus more in my classes by not talking as much in my classes, I also plan on working out more, I want a faster 40yard dash time,” said Makled.

THE PIONEER PRESS

FEATURE

Dec. 19, 2023

Holiday Traditions Mohammed Alali

Website Editor

Zahraa Salmassi

Staff Writer

Holidays, regardless of those who celebrate, represent times of peace and coexistence. Religious beliefs don’t stop people from appreciating and respecting each other’s differences. Although many people aren’t Christian, this hasn’t stopped them from celebrating Christmas, just without the religious aspect. While Christmas first started as a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, now it has become more of a commercial holiday. The celebration of Christmas has become more of a way and time for people to spend more time with their families and friends. Students from the DHS

community come from all different religious backgrounds. Whether the students are Christain, Muslim, Buddhist, or Atheist, we all celebrate the holidays so that we can spend a little more time with our families while still participating in the fun traditions. In order to shed light on the different perspectives that people have of the Christmas holiday, several students from different religious backgrounds were gathered to speak about their views of the meaning of Christmas and the traditions they follow with their families.

Christian

Buddhist Kenly Wan

Muslim Zackariya Makki

Athiest Thomas Besek

Photo: Mohammed Alali

A.“Christmas is an opportunity to spend time with my family a lot more because we are always busy working, mostly 24/7, so it gives us time to travel around the world and spend time with family,” Wan said.

A.“I’m not big on the religious aspect of it because I feel like that’s mostly for Christians,” Makki said. “I more celebrate it so that I can spend time with family and give gifts and also receive gifts and I go on vacations as well to I go to Florida every year for Christmas and we just spend time down there as a family.”

A.“Well it’s just a very positive time to kind of get cozy you know, put up the christmas tree decorate the house and stuff, nice time to get together with the family you know and like Christmas we have presents and nice dinner time to get together with everyone else,” Besek said.

Amelia Hayward

Photo: Mohammed Alali

Q.what does Christmas mean to you?

A.”Christmas means the most to me out of all the holidays celebrated at this time of year-it’s actually just my favorite holiday overall,” Hayward said. “Not only am I excited to spend time celebrating the birth of my favorite person ever to live (Jesus), but I know I get to celebrate with my whole family, who’s just as excited. It is easy to feel joyful and excited when everyone around you is feeling the same thing.”

People from different religious backgrounds can still celebrate Christmas because Christmas no longer has strong religious ties. People who aren’t Christian still celebrate Christmas because they want to spend more time with family and have fun doing so. Many in our technologically advancing world struggle to find time to spend with our loved ones. We hop on every opportunity to spend more time with them because family is above all else. While we might celebrate the holidays differently, having many different traditions, but

one thing is constant and it’s that we do all this so we can spend more time with family. Celebrating the holidays has become a time to create new memories and keep the traditions we have alive. Many come from different religious backgrounds however we must also acknowledge that we all just want to have a fun time celebrating our holidays with our family and friends.

OPINION

THE PIONEER PRESS

BOYCOTT BRIGADE

Dec. 19, 2023

Angela Chehade

Managing/Opinion Editor Following the genocide taking place in Palestine, many brands have come out in support of Israel. In a capitalist society, boycotting major brands is one of the only way to get the companies/owners to support positive change. Many times in history we see boycotts promoting change, for example in 2018 when HSBC Bank cut ties with Elbit Systems, an Israeli drone manufacturer known for selling weapons to the Israeli military which were then used to attack Palestinians after getting over 24,000 emails from groups calling for ties to be cut. We even saw the Montgomery Bus Boycott during the Civil Rights Movement being a catalyst to help black people get their civil rights. Now that over 20,000 civilians are dead, the least we can do as a community is to boycott the brands in support of such actions. If you are Pro-Palestine, below are brands to boycott with alternatives. More information can be found on the BDS website.

BOYCOTT Food, Drink, & Desserts

SUPPORT Food, Drink, & Desserts

- Burger King** - Starbucks** - Tim Hortons - McDonalds** - Taco Bell - Dunkin Donuts - KFC** - Dominos - Pizza Hut** - Popeyes - Ben and Jerry’s** - Coco-Cola

- Zo’s Good Burger - Treat You Batter - Jabal Coffee - Holy Cluck - Express Poultry - City Coffeehouse - Sals Pizza - Wing Fellas - Booza Delight - Modern Greek - Famous Hamburger - Wing Snob

On Friday, Oct. 20, 2023, DHS students held a student led protest in support of Palestine following Fordson High Schools student led protest on Thursday Oct. 19, 2023.

*Brands have direct relations to and/or have funded the Israeli government. Unmarked brands have just expressed their support.

OPINION

BOYCOTT Makeup

THE PIONEER PRESS

BOYCOTT BRIGADE

Dec. 19, 2023

BOYCOTT Skin/Haircare

- Rare Beauty** - Mac Cosmetics** - Clinique** - Laura Mercier - Benefit - Estee Lauder** - Kylie Cosmetics - Maybelline** - NYX** - Revlon - Too Faced** - Urban Decay**

- Aveeno - Cerave** - Olay** - Kiehls** - Dove** - La Roche Posay** - Neutrogena** - The Ordinary - Paula’s Choice - Garnier - Moroccanoil** - L’Oreal

SUPPORT Makeup

SUPPORT Skin/Haircare

- Charlotte Tillbury - Juvias Place - Huda Beauty - Essence - Milani - ELF Cosmetics - Pat Mcgrath - Colorgram - About-face - Ami Cole - Kulfi - Shiseido

- Beauty of Joseon - Cosrx - The Inkey List - Drunk Elephant - Supergoop - Tatcha - Laneige Wishful - It’s a 10 Haircare - As I am - BounceCurl - Pattern

ADVERTISE WITH US!! Do you have a business you would like to advertise? Contact us through our email or any of our social media and we will gladly do so! thepioneerdhs@gmail.com

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OPINION

Dec. 19, 2023

Lil Festive Review

A review of 4 staple restaurants in our community and rated on a 5 gingerbread man scale based on taste, price, and aesthetics. Mohammed Alali

Alaa Zeineddine

Website Editor

Photo Editor

Lil Moe

Alaa

The Donut Shoppe

Scoops and Smoothies

2227 N Beech Daly Rd, Dearborn Heights

23910 Cherry Hill St, Dearborn

Mochi Dough

22370 Michigan Ave Dearborn

Crumbl Cookies

Canton, 42049 Ford Rd, Canton

Taste:

The Fruity Pebble donut had a great flavour. When I bit into it there was a nice crunch and it tasted delicious. However, I feel like the fruit flavor was too weak but if it was stronger I would have given it the full 5 gingerbread men.

The hot chocolate tasted amazing and gave me a nostalgic feeling. It was very well done, but my only issue would be that they didn’t add enough marshmallows to my liking. Overall, the hot chocolate was very good.

The taste of the donuts was promising. It had the right amount of sweetness and the dough had a fluffy texture. Each topping had a special flavor, plus, the flavor changes depending on the season.

I had the chance to sample four different cookies, each with its own special design and flavor. All four cookies were incredibly tasty and had their own distinct taste. The design and toppings on each cookie were visually pleasing and perfectly matched the name of the cookie.

Aesthetic:

The restaurant has a very nice and welcoming look. The colors they chose weren’t too bright and they stuck very well to the donut aspect of their shop. My only suggestion would be to go a little more with the donut design and possibly have it be more apparent throughout the shop.

They had an ice cream and dessert theme that worked very well with the vibe of the restaurant. Its vibrant colors gave the shop a very welcoming feel, and the customer service was phenomenal.

The place is very aesthetically pleasing and they have specific areas dedicated to taking pictures. The donut’s unique shape and presentation has made it more aesthetically appealing.

Since the place does not provide a dine-in option, its setup is quite simple. It consists of a basic white interior with only a designated area for the workers.

Affordability:

The $1.50 price isn’t too expensive, but for that price I expected the donut to be bigger. The overall experience was still worth giving the place a try.

I purchased their hot chocolate. Adding marshmallows and whipped cream was $0.50 and worth the added cost. It was 5 dollars in total though, which is too steep for just hot chocolate.

For $7.50 i got a box of 3 Mochi Dough donuts, and with tax it came out to around $9, which is a little bit overpriced but it’s fair considering how good they are.

I purchased a 4-pack of cookies for approximately $15. While it may be considered a bit pricey, the effort put into designing the cookies and offering different flavors every week makes the cost justifiable.

THE PIONEER PRESS

SPORTS

Dec 19, 2023

Are School Uniforms Appropriate for Everyone?

Dearborn High School student-athletes and coaches reflect on uniforms and how rules have changed to accommodate different religions and cultures.

ccording to Islamic belief, the hijab is used as a symbol of modesty and purity. Regarding sports uniforms, it can become an issue for some who wear hijabs and follow other Islamic dress codes as many sports require revealing uniforms and play activities that a hijab can make more difficult to participate in. Around 70% of students attending schools within the city of Dearborn are Arab or of Arab descent according to the U.S. Census Bureau, mainly written for the community of Detroit and Dearborn. Within the city of Dearborn, around 54% of people are Arab, or of Arab descent. Of that, around 30% are Muslim. Uniform requirements tend to vary

and are dependent on the sport that is being discussed. This means that a football uniform may have different rules than those that are to be worn for golf. For example, in volleyball, the libero wears a different color shirt, or in soccer the goalie wears neon; however, in tennis, everyone wears the same color and style of uniform. DHS’s Athletic Director, Jeff Conway, said that Islamic dress codes don't always clash with sports dress codes. “All sports have different uniform regulations. Usually, one team is required to wear white and the other team is required to wear a color,” Conway said. “That can vary depending on the sport, but typically that's the general thing: somebody wears white, sometimes it's the

home team that wears the white sometimes it's the visiting team, but somebody wears white and somebody wears a color. Beyond that, each sport has specific uniform requirements. It can be the size of the numbers, logo, or if individual last names are allowed on the back or not.” In Swimming, Cross Country, and Track, and the procedures taken for those specific sports, athletes may be affected due to restrictions with the normal uniforms. Due to the shortcuts and trims in the attire, the uniform may affect more people than a different sport might. Conway said that there are procedures that can be taken if someone were to need accommodation for their uniforms.

70% of Dearborn High School Students have Middle-Eastern Backgrounds 54% of Dearborn has Middle-Eastern Background 30% of Dearborn Residents are Muslim

*U.S. Census Bureau

Seniors Ava Wolski and Aya Mougni compare the 2022-2023 Track uniforms. Wolski (left) is wearing the singlet with spandex shorts. Mougni, (right), is wearing the same singlet with a longer shirt underneath and leggings under her shorts. The two girls don’t have any issue competing in the same sport with different attire.

Photo of womens cross-country uniforms from the 2023-2024 season.

Marissa Kenrick

Social Media & Sports Editor “Normally in swimming, people just wear speedos, like speed suits, the boys wear a men's bathing suit and the girls wear a girl’s bathing suit,” Conway said. “But they make suits for people that have religious reasons that need to be covered or partially covered or whatever the case may be, you know, the swim manufacturers make suits that are for those situations. For cross country you know someone might want to wear running tights underneath their uniform shorts for more coverage. Typically that's something that they already have on their own so there wouldn't be a need for the school to pay, but if somebody needed it we could get it for them. it's not so hard to do." In swimming, athletes have to purchase their own suits due to hygiene safety. While doing so, athletes needing longer attire are recommended a place of purchase. DHS girl’s assistant coach, Dean Kendall, said there are variations of suits girls can purchase to make them feel more comfortable. “The regular, you know, I mean, there are variations for girl suits that can be more or less covered, but the ones that we order are full coverage, you know, you're only allowed to have a certain size strap at the top. It can't have any tie strings in the back and stuff like that. So, you know, they cover the back and come in the front and that's the standard uniform”, said Kendall. “The few girls that, you know, wear a hijab have different suits. We even have

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one right now who doesn't wear a hijab, but she wears a different suit. It doesn’t go all the way to her ankles, but it comes down a little bit longer on the leg. But a couple of girls we've had recently where the job you know, wore something that came all the way down and down at the ankle.” DHS senior Aya Moughni plays volleyball and runs cross country in the fall, plays basketball in the winter, and runs track and plays soccer in the spring. Moughni said that even though some might think it would be a challenge to be a hijabi in athletics, she doesn’t find it too difficult for her. “The outdoor sports I play sometimes come with uncomfortability, but I wouldn’t see it as a setback because I am used to the uniforms,” said Mougani. “I’ve never not worn a uniform because of modesty, more altered it for my own comfortability. I don’t let the visible aspect of myself due to my religion affect other aspects of me. If I am comfortable in the uniform, I wear it, but if not, I change it to what makes me, and me only, feel right. I think everyone has their own definition of modesty and I’m not someone to speak on behalf of other athletes at DHS. Everyone is on their own path in life to choose what they are comfortable in and has the ability to alter aspects of their uniform to their comfortability.” Moughni said she takes pride in being able to represent her religion and culture by wearing the hijab during competition. “Wearing the hijab has been an experience that I am still discovering how to correctly grasp in the aspect of my own religious journey,” Moughni said. “My religion and the sports I play both play a huge role in shaping my identity and I would not change either of these independent aspects to suit the stereotype of the other.” DHS senior and captain of the cross country team, Ava Wolski, said she's noticed an increase in demand to provide DHS athletes with the appropriate uniforms to be

Dec 19, 2023 worn. “There’s a lot more people from different backgrounds joining cross country and track. The shorts shouldn’t be required or they shouldn’t be worn by anyone at all,” she said. “When we show up to meets we want to look good to

but have gotten declined by either the coaches or the athletic director himself,” Wolski said. “I think that it’s important as female runners to have a say in what we get and what goes on our body, especially for girls needing more coverage.” While many girls think that

“Wearing the hijab has been an experience that I am still discovering how to correctly grasp in the aspect of my own religious journey” -Aya Mougani feel good and confident with our running.” DHS’s track uniform, even though just newly bought, only came in oversized sizes. Wolski speaks on how and why this is a controversial topic considering that girls deserve to have a different uniform for the women runners to accentuate from the men’s team. “Even though the new uniforms are in women’s sizes, they aren’t fit to women’s shapes and sizes and fit just like the men’s. We have offered to help as a team to get better uniforms for the girls in the past,

since it’s important to get new, better-cut uniforms, Philip Mahar, head coach of girls’ track and field for 41 years, gives reasoning on why he orders larger, more oversized, uniforms. “We have tried to keep the cut of the uniform modest for all athletes. I did order more uniforms in larger sizes knowing that some athletes will choose to wear additional clothing under their uniform”, says Mahar. “Everyone on the team has the option to wear a long-sleeved shirt under their jersey. I would rather the athletes make their

own decision about wearing a t-shirt, and what length, under their jersey.” Years ago, DHS would have to write to the MHSAA to ask for their permission if someone with a religious situation would be allowed to have their uniform look a little different from the others. Today, MHSAA rules and regulations state that religious expectations will be made without athletic directors or coaches having to reach out and ask for permission beforehand. Mahar said that the world of school sports is far different now from when he first started coaching. “When I first started coaching in 1982, I had to carry a letter to share with the starter stating that some of the girls had to wear a hijab and long pants. There was never an issue, even if I did not bring the letter. This rule has been eliminated. I have never had an official or coach of another team make an issue with girls adapting their uniforms for religious reasons,” Mahar said.“If the members of the team ever had an issue with the cut of the uniforms, I would hope that they would bring it to my attention so that we could address their concerns.”

Photo: Aya Abdou October 11, 2022, Aya Mougani makes a strong finish at the end of the Dearborn vs Fordson meet. Mougani sprints to the finish, beating the girl in front of her.

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Dec. 19, 2023

Dearborn Highschool Winter Sports Preview A look into the current state of the winter sports teams at DHS Mohamad Barakat

Korben Zavla

Sports Editor

Boys Varsity Basketball

Staff Writer

Boys Varsity Swim

Varsity Wrestling

Photo: Wilson Inyang

Photo: Hussein Barakat

Junior Muhammad Mashhour shoots during the varsity basketball game on Dec. 8, 2023. Mashhour has been on the team since his freshman year.

Freshman Ameer Hider strokes through the water during practice on Dec. 8, 2023. Hider is on the 2023-24 varsity swim team.

The varsity wrestling team went 10-6 during the 2022-23 season. Their current record for the 202324 season is 3-1.

The team did great and went 19-7 last year. They went on to their Division and District Championships, but they did not go on to win the Regional Championship. The current Captain of the varsity team is Nassim Mashhour and the head Coach is Mike Allie. Mashhour said that with the season starting, its important to consider how its gone in the past in choosing how to tackle the new one. “Although I constantly play to the best of my ability, I'm always seeking improvement and I'll look through every game and find situations where I could've been better. As a team, overall we played good basketball but we lost some games that we definitely shouldn't have, and our season ended too quickly,” Mashhour said. Allie said they have big goals for this season. “We look forward to an exciting season ahead as we chase a conference and state championship.” Said Allie. Both the head Captain and Coach are set on going on past divisions and Districts again and on to win the Regional championship.

The boys' swim team went 7-3 last year; they ended up finishing 3rd overall in the KLAA East. This year's swim captains are Head Captain Mason Wehab and Captains Gregory Busuioc and Yousof Aboumrad. Wehab said that he’s optimistic about this season. “This year's gonna be a lot more solid than the past four; we have a lot more seniors and a lot more experience. Everyone always starts off for their reasons, but what's kept me strong is the team, and as head captain, I try to keep them strong,” Wehab said.

The wrestling team went 16-18 in meets last year. This year's team captains were named; the two Senior Captains are Billal Illayan and Adam Rahal. The two Junior Captains are Malik Mozham and Mahdi Sabbagh. Rahal said that dedication to the sport is all you need in order to have a succesful season. “Pushing the limits every day, putting the work in every day, you think you can’t do something, but you put the work in and you just do it,” Rahal said. “I think that I can help the team by making sure we’re always doing what we are supposed to during practice and motivating them.” The head coach is Hassen Berri. Returning Seniors are Mohamad Barakat, Adam Rahal, Ferras Rammal, Adam Sabra, Brody Ryan, Billal Illayan, Mohammed Sabra, Ali Khanafer, Aiden Kenndedy, Rami Abdulaama, Hussein Mokalled, Dourgham Haider, and Ibrahim Abdelbaki.

The head coach is Bryan Myerscough, who is very optimistic and excited for this year. He plans on teaching the swimmers more of what he’s learned so they can make it further in the KLAA. “We have a lot of returning kids this year, and a lot of them look bigger and stronger than they did last year. We finished 3rd in the district, so this year I’d like to at least finish top 2,” Myerscough said. Returning seniors are Mason Wehab, Hadi Taleb, Ali G Moubarak, Erik Giedeman, Gregory Busuioc, Zane Alsheeblawy, and Yousof A AbouMrad.

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Dec. 19, 2023

“If you have one bad moment, it shouldn’t dictate the rest of your day.” -Eddie Mroczka Girls Varsity Basketball

Competitive Cheer

Boys Varsity Bowling

Photo: Yearbook

2023 Dearborn High School graduate Celine Bazzi shoots for a basket during the 2022-23 season. The girl’s varsity team had a 13-11 record.

DHS junior Thalia Nichols, senior Samantha Clark, senior Ally Lauri, and sophmore Everly Schiltz prepare to preform their routine during the 202223 competitive cheer season. The team consisted of 5 girls last season.

DHS junior Edward Mroczka strikes bowling pins during the 2022-23 season. The team went 7-9-0 last year.

The girls' basketball team went 13-11 last varsity season. According to the players, the team struggled last year to play together on the court as the team's dynamic was off. This year's team captains, Katya Salame and Gabby Ali, are working hard as leaders to help the team build a stronger team. Salame said that communication plays a large role in the team’s preformance. “I took that position with confidence and felt like I respected and helped everyone I could. As a captain, I’m always looking to improve myself and do what’s best for my team. I plan to be as vocal as I can be and to always be an outlet for anything my teammates need. I understand I have an important role and I’m excited to help bring in a great season for the program and my team in any way Ican,” Salame said. As of this year, Coach Mahdi Hamade is the head girls' basketball coach. Hamade said its important to have players that are already familiar with the program. “I believe we’ll have a great year. We have a lot of returning players, and they have meshed well so far,” Hamade said. Returning seniors are Katya Salame, Gabriella Ali, Mariam Homayed, and Hala Chami.

The competitive cheer team last year was very small but for the size did well according to head Coach Alexis Wilson. “Overall, the competitive program at Dearborn High is still in the building stages,” Wilson said, “This year the main improvements we are planning to make in terms of performance are competing for higher level skills.” The current team captains are Seniors Sophia Calderona and Samantha Clark. Calderona said that they know what needs to be worked on going into the season. “I personally think we could've done better management-wise,” Calderona said. Although the sport is still in its early years, only being founded at DHS in 2019, they plan on becoming better and better with every year that passes. Returning seniors include Sophia Calderona, Samantha Clark, and Allyse Lauri.

The boy’s bowling team had major success last year; everyone had improved through the season, and they had a player make the state finals. Team Captains are Nathan Wood, Kyler Pumer, and Dylan Mincey. DHS returning player, Junior Edward Mroczka said that everything counts in making a good team and each component is as important as the last. “Each team member plays a major role in the success of the team, whether you’re actively bowling or cheering on the team. I truly enjoy engaging with my team members, as they are great people to be around. Bowling has taught me that if you have one bad moment, it shouldn’t dictate the rest of your day,” Mroczka said. The head coach is Paul Macron who's been bowling for at least 45 years. “With hard work and the team listening to my suggestions, they will all improve just like last season, and maybe we will have more make it to states,” Macron said. Returning seniors are Kyle Pumer and Dylan Mincey.

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