North Pointe - May 30, 2014

NORTH GROSSE POINTE NORTH HIGH SCHOOL

POINTE FRIDAY, MAY 30, 2014

SINCE 1968

Seniors face possibility of not graduating

By Erica Lizza & Anu Subramaniam Co-Editors-in-chief

ON CAMPUS North students present art work to the public over the course of a week page 4

SENIOR EXAMS

Thursday, May 29 through Tuesday, June 3

NO MORE LATE STARTS

As of Monday, June 2

BLOOD DRIVE

Tuesday, June 3 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the PAC

SPRING SPORTS AWARDS

Wednesday, June 4 and Thursday, June 5 from 7 to 8 p.m. in the PAC

After a few days with an E as her overall grade in only one class, senior Katie Kohler’s parents received an email from administration saying that her walk across the stage was in jeopardy. Kohler’s parents forwarded the email to her.

“When I actually saw it, I got pretty angry,” Kohler said.

However, this is not a new course of action the administration takes. From the time students start high school, counselors and administrators closely monitor credits earned, credits needed and grades at risk.

“I call it Pinnacle stalking. We try to help figure out why the student is doing poorly.

We help arrange for before or after school help with teachers, or set up tutors etc.

We contact parents of failing students,” counselor Brian White said via email.

This monitoring continues throughout a student’s high school career beginning freshman year, when counselors explain the required classes in each subject, to junior year when they meet students one-on-one to figure out any remaining credits students need to fulfill. It continues through senior year and is especially enforced because there is no extra time to retake failed classes before graduation in June.

Trouble completing the requisite number of credits isn’t the typical reason students don’t graduate. “It takes 21 credits to graduate. With seven classes a day a student can graduate with 28 credits,” White said.

“Even if a student takes two tutorials every year the student would still earn 24 credits.”

Instead, a student’s lack of performance in an individual class can threaten graduation.

“If a student does not graduate, it is not because they did not take a class, it is because they failed a required class. Students know at their junior meeting what is needed to graduate. A student can make up credit in summer school or retake a class,” White said. “Let’s say a student fails a needed class the last semester of their senior year. If they take it in summer school they can graduate when the class is passed in summer school. They cannot attend graduation because they have not earned the credit at that point.”

Every year, counselors go through each individual student, especially seniors, to make sure they are taking their required courses and are on track to graduate.

“At the end of each year, it is common to have between 1 and 4 or 5 students who need to take additional credits in the summer to finish up their schooling,” assistant principal Tom Beach said via email.

There are many steps taken along the way to try and prevent a student from failing to graduate in June.

“After 1st quarter, and every quarter after that, seniors who need specific classes and are currently receiving a failing grade – or a low D grade – receive a letter home indicating they are in jeopardy,” Beach said. “Additionally, counselors call home to parents and notify them they are at risk of not graduating. The assistant principal for seniors (me this year) is kept informed and monitor this process via contact with the counselor.”

Less than 1% of the senior class doesn’t graduate. The ones who don’t graduate have failed a required class, have incurred excessive absences or have exhibited severe misbehavior.

The emails sent out to students and their parents do achieve the desired effect to warn students, but may be perceived as a nuisance.

“I understand some kids do need the support from their family. It’s just annoying they’d do it so close to graduation. They were threatening that I wouldn’t graduate if I didn’t get the grade up,” Kohler said. “It’s a senior thing. We’re not stupid, we’re just lazy.”

Bill passed to raise minimum wage in Michigan

GRADUATION

Wednesday, June 11 at 6:30 p.m. at the soccer field

LAST DAY OF SCHOOL

Thursday, June 12 is the last day of school for underclassmen

By Ritika Sanikommnu & Mallika Kanneganti assistant Editor & staff reporter Alanna sparks brigitte Smith

IDEAS

“satisfied I’m not

living in a world where my children would prefer to talk with Siri over

playing

kick the can with the kids down the block.

“

Page 3

CEO of Forbes Media, Steve Forbes, visited North on May 22 to deliver a speech on leadership and free enterprise. Forbes was invited by Young Americans for Freedom, lead by senior Grant Strobl. After the speech, Strobl gave Forbes Norsemen apparel from the school store.

Young Americans for Freedom invite guest speaker Steve Forbes

By Jennifer Kusch SECTION Editor

For junior and Young Americans for Freedom (YAF) member Barbara Fama, the name Forbes brings to mind wealth, success and now, North.

“It was really cool that he came to North. He was really down to earth, and he’s so, rich and I

@myGPN

just didn’t expect him to be that humble,” Fama said.

Business mogul and public servant Malcolm Stevenson (Steve) Forbes recently spoke to the student body at the behest of YAF, a national organization with a chapter at North. The conservative group promotes ideals such as limited government, individual rights and traditional values through outlets such as promotional speakers.

Forbes was one of many high-profile names in consideration to speak at the school-wide assembly on May 22.

“We wanted to get Herman Cain, but he was too busy. So instead, we ended up getting Forbes,

www.myGPN.org

Senior Eleni Doherty has a 25-hour work week, two jobs and makes minimum wage.

Doherty works at Little Caesars 15 hours per week for $7.25 an hour and at Assumption Church for 10 hours per week at $8 an hour. However, this all will change with the passage of a proposed bill to increase Michigan minimum wage.

The Michigan Senate considered an increase that will raise minimum wage in Michigan from $7.40 per hour to $9.20 per hour and from $2.65 to $3.50 an hour for tipped workers. Starting in 2017, workers like Doherty who are paid minimum wage, will be earning an increased amount in their paychecks.

“I work at Little Caesars and Assumption Church, and I do work to save up money. I’ve been working at Little Caesars for two years, and I will soon become a manager, and then my wage would increase along with the minimum wage increase. So, the increase would be beneficial to me,” Doherty said.

Senior Julia Rustmann, who also works two jobs, sees the benefits in raising minimum wages. Rustmann works as a waitress at Marchiori Catering and is also a lifeguard at the Grosse Pointe Woods Lake Front Park.

“It gives students more reason to work, ‘cause they have a lot to pay for, like college,” Rustmann said. continued on page 2

Continued on PAGE 2

VOLUME 46, ISSUE 15

© 2014 North Pointe

news

2 – North Pointe – Friday, May 30, 2014

brigitte Smith

One Acts directed by seniors Ten minutes. That’s the allotted time the seniors get.

One Acts are senior-directed short plays put on by the Drama Club that are one scene long. Performers can pick any scene they want or write their own.

“I’ve been in a few of them, and it’s my senior year so I decided I should (direct one),” senior Christina Amato said.

The shorts range from superheroes’ deaths to awkward teenage encounters to mysterious gifts.

“It’s called All but One,” Amato said. “It’s about these gifts (that) keep showing up in this apartment for this girl, but none of them are from her husband, so they’re trying to figure out who they’re from. I wrote it.”

Other senior directors are Marty Brown, Analisa Guido and Pearce Reickert. Junior Katelyn Carroll will assist in directing the play that she and Guido wrote together.

“It’s called Hot Lunch ... it focuses around two main teenagers as they struggle to try to ask each other to the dance, but they don’t know how because they’re really awkward,” Carroll said.

“Anyone can audition, you don’t have to be in Drama Club. We’re hoping next year to get a larger group of people auditioning so people know it’s open to the whole school.”

One Acts will be held on June 6 in the PAC. Tickets will be sold at the door.

Forbes served in various presidential administrations and was a two-time presidential candidate for the Republican ticket.

Forbes visits Continued from page 1

which worked out nicely,” Fama said.

Forbes has a strong conservative background and was seen as the ideal representative for Young Americans for Freedom and its beliefs. Forbes is a two-time presidential nominee for the Republican ticket and has served on various presidential administrations throughout his career. Forbes’ platforms during his presidential campaigns include his supply-side economics policy and a flat income tax.

“I’m not really that political, but I understand his point of view,” Fama said. “I don’t agree with maybe everything because what he thinks is a little too extreme for me, but I understand where he’s coming from.”

In addition to participating in politics, Forbes is also a force in the business world. He currently serves as the editor-in-chief of Forbes magazine and is the CEO of Forbes Media LLC, the magazine’s parent company.

The members of North’s YAF chapter started planning for a public speaking event since last year. Grant Strobl, YAF’s current president, was glad to see North welcome its first high-profile speaker.

“We had the idea to bring a speaker like Steve Forbes in for over a year, and we hadn’t been able to make it happen until now,” Strobl said.

After planning the event themselves, YAF pitched the idea to the superintendent Dr. Thomas Harwood and principal Kate Murray.

“The YAF kids approached the building and the district with the idea of bringing in a nationally-recognized speaker, and their organization’s financially sponsored the event and the district agreed to it … The YAF students

Minimum wage Continued from page 1

There are two sides to the argument over the proposal, with supporters promoting the increase under the belief that the recently-introduced bill will decrease unemployment rates while increasing the country’s gross domestic product growth. However, detractors say that the wage increase will cause inflation, causing more circulating money as a result of increased wages. This could lead to a depreciated value of currency combined with rising prices.

“The economics are clear that when wages go up, people have more money. When people have more money they spend more money and drive economic growth,” economics teacher Dan Quinn said via email.

With the new bill, there is also the possibility of jobs being lost as a result of businesses having to pay workers higher wages. Doherty sees losing jobs as a potential issue in the passing of the bill.

“It will be much harder to get jobs considering they (the companies) will need to hire less people,” Doherty said. “That means the job descriptions will get longer, and companies will want more experienced workers.”

However, one of the main intentions behind this proposal was to help people overcome poverty in an attempt to improve the lives of low-income families.

“Raising the minimum wage above its current level

Marchiori Catering Services for Your Special Occasion

took the lead in preparing the event,” Murray said.

Forbes’ speech was centered around economic policy and focused on the future students will have to face. His focus on free enterprise hit home with many students, as new national laws have come into effect, changing the nutritional regulations in public schools and limiting a school’s ability to sell certain foods.

“One of his lasting impacts is that students are starting to fight and advocate for free enterprise, an example being the ‘Bring Our Cookies Back’ Twitter account,” Strobl said.

“Union cookies have become even more famous. Steve Forbes even now endorses them.”

The event was publicized across metro Detroit and drew attention to YAF and its conservative message.

“The Detroit Free Press, the Grosse Pointe News, the Grosse Pointe Times, Channel 2 and Channel 4 were there to cover the event,” Strobl said.

Although his speech was highly publicized and a rare opportunity, Fama thinks that its impact will be limited.

“I don’t really think that the students will learn from it … they won’t listen to what he said because a lot of kids aren’t interested in what he had to say,” Fama said. “But, I mean, nobody really has a chance in high school to come and see Forbes, so it was cool.”

Though the economic policy didn’t have much relevance to high school students, Strobl thinks that Forbes’ appearance has sparked meaningful discussions and has increased interest for YAF. “After this event, it was really exciting to hear kids discussing things relating to free enterprise and limited government, which is what YAF advocates for. It has led to more interest in YAF than ever, so we are excited to take that excitement and continue our projects in the community and hopefully, in the future, bring in another bigname speaker as well.” Strobl said. would be a huge improvement for the millions of families dependent upon low-wage jobs. As it currently stands, someone trying to make a living on a minimum-wage job would be living below the poverty line,” Quinn said.

“The original intent of a minimum wage, when it went into effect, was to bring people out of poverty.”

Although they see these benefits in raising minimum wage, students like junior Ryane Pangborn are indifferent about the bill.

“That’s really good, but as long as I’m making money it doesn’t really matter how much I’m making,” Pangborn said.

An increase to minimum wage can also have additional repercussions. Unskilled workers could lose more than they gain, because an hourly pay increase could result in fewer working hours and reduced benefits.

Quinn thinks that the benefits outweigh the drawbacks.

“Minimum wage will be good for the economy, but there will be some costs involved. Increasing the minimum wage should be done gradually so that employers are still encouraged to create more jobs,” Quinn said.

“We also need to think about how we can increase the skill set of workers in the low-paying categories of our economy, making them less reliant on minimum wage jobs and more capable of moving up the income bracket.

In short, we need to keep educating our workers throughout their careers.”

Quinn sees potential nationwide benefits.

“Any type of raise, be it $9.20 or $10.10 per hour will be a step toward moving people out of poverty in the United States.”

Shellac Manicures

$20 w/ Margie only

Ask for Tony Marchiori 21800 Marter Rd. St. Clair Shores (586) 771-8600

AVENUE HAIR & NAILS SALON

Haircut & Style

Makeup & Updo

22215 Greater Mack St. Clair Shores MI 48080

$17

$70

586-773-6290

Carol Alfonsi Owner

885-8522 20513 Mack Grosse Pointe Woods www.littletonysgp.com Facebook: Little Tony’s-Lounge in the Woods

Senior and underclassmen awards nights The annual underclassmen and senior awards night was held on Monday, May 19 in the Performing Arts Center from 6:30-9:30 p.m.

The event began with a welcome from principal Kate Murray, while awards were announced and given out by teachers. Underclassmen awards included achievements in English, world languages, performing arts and business education.

“I won a Scholastic Gold Key for photography, and I won a nomination for the Mark Twain Award in American L i t e r a t u r e ,” sophomore Emily Brown Baker said.

The night continued with the distribution of awards to students with accomplishments in mathematics, science, social studies and art.

“It was like any other award show, there was a lot of very talented people,” sophomore Meghan Mitchell said. “I won the Mark Twain Literature Award and an art award. I worked hard all year in my art and English classes, and I guess the work paid off.”

Senior honors night recognized students with achievements in core subjects, journalism and Quiz Bowl. Students who received college and academic scholarship awards were announced. The night also showcased inductees to the Class of 2014 Academic Hall of Fame.

“I got Academic Hall of Fame and then National Honors Society, and then I was recognized for Science Olympiad and also for orchestra, solo and ensemble,” senior Sarah Schade said.

Physics classes study at Cedar Point Physics classes went to Cedar Point on Tuesday, May 20, to see physics in a real world situation and to complete an assignment that coordinated with the rides at the park.

“Cedar Point is physics in action,” physics teacher Don Pata said. “When you think about the way roller coasters work, they are all an exchange of energy that becomes a gravitational potential energy, and it goes to kinetic energy, and it’s real world application of the things we learn in class. It’s great that kids can see it in class and as well out of class.”

In science classes like physics, students may struggle to see the practical use of equations, and how matter and energy run parallel to one another. Pata hoped that taking students to Cedar Point would give them a better understanding of physics as a whole.

“When I went on the Witch’s Wheel, I actually knew what the force was that was keeping me from falling to my death when I went upside down,” said junior Katie Roy. Students found traveling to Sandusky, Ohio to see physics through a new perspective to be wothwhile. Having this learning experience left students with new knowledge and the feeling of physics ‘protecting’ them from falling.

“This field trip was a ton of fun because when you study these concepts all year, you can’t help but think of them during the rides, and it was great to be able to apply my class to everyday life,” said Roy.

By Lauren Semack, Radiance Cooper and Katelyn Carney & Caelin Micks

Jerry’s Party Club Store 383 Kercheval Grosse Pointe Farms, MI 48236 884-7155

IDEAS Of the people, for the people “Grosse Pointe Public School administrators and teachers are responsible for encouraging and ensuring freedom of expression and freedom of the press for all students, regardless of whether the ideas expressed may be considered unpopular, critical, controversial, tasteless or offensive.”

Board of Education Policy Erica Lizza co-Editor-in-Chief

Anu Subramaniam Co-editor-in-chief

Haley Reid managing editor

Olivia Asimakis news editor

Brittney Hernandez Life EDITOR

Wendy Ishmaku business manager

Dora Juhasz web news editor

Jennifer Kusch ideas editor

Kaley Makino web ideas editor

Our editorial represents the opinion of the North Pointe Editorial Board consisting of the editors above and staff members Diajah Williams and Ritika Sanikommu. Members who have a conflict of interest with an editorial topic do not partake in that meeting or vote.

Our editorial

Minimum wage increase does more harm than good The goal of the highly debated increase in minimum wage is to allow citizens working full-time minimum wage jobs to live above the poverty line. The proposed goal in Michigan was to raise the minimum wage from $7.40 to $10.10 an hour, but the Michigan Senate passed a compromise bill raising it to $9.20.

This chain of legislative action follows President Obama’s executive order to raise minimum wage for federal contractors, an action he hoped would encourage similar legislation nationwide. Ideally, the end result is to see a growing middle class and an increased number of jobs by giving people more disposable income.

The effects of this wage increase in the short term sound positive. Higher wages would allow people, especially students with school loans, to pay back owed money with more ease and would hopefully expand the job market. Increasing the income of people working minimum wage jobs enables them to spend more of their money, increasing economic growth and investment.

However, the long-term effects prove negative and will adversely affect today’s youth. As a result of a higher minimum wage, the people creating products will receive more pay, increasing the cost of making the product, which companies offset by raising prices.

As prices and income rise, the market faces serious inflation, causing problems for people living on fixed income and those looking for employment. Employers will be less likely to hire more workers, especially the teenagers whom minimum-wage jobs are aimed at. Businesses will be more likely to hire experienced workers if they are forced to expend more on employee salaries. This puts America’s students at risk of high unemployment and inadvertently shrinks the job market, the opposite of the policy’s intent.

With consumer spending increasing, the Federal Reserve is likely to intervene with contractionary monetary policy to try to control inflation. By doing so, interest rates would increase, making borrowing money for student loans or mortgages difficult, especially for students with fewer job opportunities.

The goal of the policy is to lessen income inequality and increase the middle class. However, raising the minimum wage would result in an increase in wages for other people as well, which would compound an already-inflated currency. If non-minimum wage earners’ income doesn’t increase, their standard of living for middle class families will decline in relation to the lower-class rise.

With fewer minimum wage job, and higher pay for those jobs, this bill would create a high chance of increased competition. Minimum wage should not be increased because it is aimed at jobs commonly held by high school and college students and not as a family’s main source of income. Making it possible for an individual to live above the poverty level by working a minimum wage job discourages students from taking out student loans to pursue a college education. This could result in a long-term issue for the country.

The possibility of inflation, high interest rates, increased unemployment and decrease in future economic growth shed controversy on the increase in wage rates. An increase in minimum wage seems imminent as policy makers in many states vote in favor of wage increases, and the Obama administration continues to push for it, but the associated risks outweigh the short-term benefits.

The student council recently chose board gamesfornextyear’shomecoming theme,withthe freshman council deciding on Super Mario. Many freshmen were against it because they thought of it as a video game, since Super Mario existed as a board game for only one year, and the name brings to mind a pixellated image of video game charac- my turn ters beating levels on Billy moin a screen.

What did we do when we disagreed with the council’s choice? A petition was prepared against the theme to see if we could get it changed, and it received over 70 signatures in half of a day. The council’s adviser invited the petition’s organizers to meet with the council and present an alternate theme.

However, the suggested theme of the board game Life was quickly discarded.

The freshman class adviser discussed how the student council system at North works, explaining that each class elects representatives to make decisions on their behalf. When we met with the council and adviser, we were warned that if the theme was altered, it would create an unwelcome divide among the class.

Throughout this lecture, it seemed like we were being told that the council makes the decisions and that as petitioners we aren’t allowed to take action and ask for a change.

Shouldn’t we be able to take a stand against decisions we don’t agree with and attempt to make a difference? As students, we are the people of this government, and we should be able to speak our minds.

When we were told that this petition was driving a wedge into the class, we were basically being told we could not advocate this change and that we should simply agree with all council decisions.

Teachers and administrators expect us to act like mature adults. If they want North students to be-

“Yeah , because some high school kids need to save up for college, and they don’t have enough because their parents aren’t rich enough” Jordan Jackson freshman

have maturely, shouldn’t we be able to make mature changes?

Our council has appointed members. These members submitted applications to be reviewed by the council, but nearly everyone who applied had run for a council seat and lost, and the adviser appointed all of them. The appointed members asserted that unless a student is a council member, he or she doesn’t get a voice in council discussions.

Their condescending attitude showed what council members think of themselves and the students they are supposed to represent and make decisions on behalf of. They seem to think of themselves as above the rest of us “normal” students, which they aren’t, especially since some weren’t even voted into their positions in the first place.

This highlights a flaw in the system. Appointed members have a say in council decisions. We voters apparently can’t make the rules or make our voice heard, yet those who hold appointed positions can do all of the above. The adviser shouldn’t be able to appoint members, since they will feel indebted to her and will support her decisions in order to retain their positions.

We simply wanted to present ideas that a lot of students supported, but we couldn’t even voice our opinions without being attacked with hostility from council members. We cannot participate without being treated like children or told we don’t have a say in the council’s decisions.

North’s multiple student government constitutions state that a council has to listen to matters addressed to them by the student body, communicate any matters they are considering and seek input and show care for all classmate opinions. This is our school, and our opinions shouldn’t be attacked or dismissed.

Our student government limits our voice too much. We vote for representatives, but they don’t have to listen to our ideas. The student government constitutions say council members have to seek out our opinions, yet the council is allowed to ignore these rules and their electors.

“I think it should be increased because you get paid more, and you can have more money in your pocket.”

“Yes, because I think that the amount they give now to people isn’t enough for them to pay for things they need to do.”

Makiya Smith

Gabby Lewis

Sophomore

junior

YOUR TURN: Do you think that minimum wage should be increased?

By Yena Berhane & Dajai Chatman

“Minimum wage should not be increased because it’ll drive all the other prices up.”

“Yes, the increase should keep up at least with the inflation rate that’s going on with the economy.”

Justin Clayton

Gary Abud

senior

Science teacher

EDITORS-IN-CHIEF: Erica Lizza, Anu Subramaniam MANAGING EDITORS: Haley Reid, Andrea Scapini SECTION EDITORS: Olivia Asimakis, Katelyn Carney, Brittney Hernandez, Jennifer Kusch WEB MANAGING EDITOR: Emma Puglia WEB SECTION EDITORS: Yena Berhane, Dora Juhasz, Kaley Makino, Emily Martinbianco BUSINESS MANAGER: Wendy Ishmaku SENIOR ASSISTANT EDITORS: Patricia Bajis, Marie Bourke, Gabby Burchett, Izzy Ellery, Melina Glusac, Kristen Kaled, Maria Liddane, Dayle Maas, Colleen Reveley, Lauren Semack, Brigitte Smith, Sydney Thompson PHOTO EDITORS: Alanna Sparks, Jeffery Valentic ASSISTANT EDITORS: Josie Bennett, Emma Brock, Mora Downs, Erin Haggerty, Audrey Kam, Billy Moin, Lillian Rancourt, Thomas Remenar, Ritika Sanikommu, Gowri Yerramalli STAFF REPORTERS: Alex Batts, Dajai Chatman, Radiance Cooper, Mallika Kanneganti, Kristina Kowalski, Kayla Luteran, Josie Riley, Luke Sturgill, Addison Toutant, Diajah Williams INTERNS: Claire Dalian, Lawrence Lezuch, Stephanie Roy

“Yes, definitely there should be an increase. The cost of living has gone up, and businesses haven’t really changed their prices in years.“ Al Fox day foreman

The North Pointe is edited and produced

by Advanced Journalism students at Grosse Pointe North High School and is published every two weeks. It is in practice a designated public forum without prior review.

Comments should be directed to the student editors, who make all final content decisions.

The views expressed are solely those of the authors or the student editorial board and do not reflect the opinions of the Grosse Pointe School System.

We are a member of the Michigan Scholastic Press Association, Columbia Scholastic Press Association, National Scholastic Press Association and Student Press Law Center. We subscribe to McClatchy-Tribune Information Services and iStockphoto.com.

One copy is available free to all community members. Additional copies may be purchased. Our editorial policy and advertising rates are available online at myGPN.org.

The North Pointe is printed on 100% recycled paper.

CONTACT US 707 Vernier Road Grosse Pointe Woods MI, 48236 Phone: 313.432.3248 Email: northpointe@gpschools.org Twitter: @myGPN FACULTY ADVISER: Shari Adwers, MJE

North Pointe – Friday, May 30, 2014 – 3

editor’s desk andrea scapini

Learning to look up Noah Calhoun didn’t send Allie Hamilton a text message saying, “I want all of you forever. You and me, every day,” to win her back in The Notebook.

John Bender didn’t snapchat a selfie of him raising his fist in triumph at the end of The Breakfast Club.

And in Titanic, Jack Dawson didn’t post his portrait of Rose DeWitt-Bukater on Instagram to see how many likes he’d get.

The most famously gushed-over scenes in movies and books involve romantic gestures through face-toface interaction. They aren’t good-night texts or Facebook posts.

My parents weren’t devoted to documenting their lives through social media posts, broadcasting their personal lives to everyone at the touch of a button.

None of my fondest memories begin with, “Remember that time we went to dinner and sat there with our noses in our phones the whole time?” Regretfully, this has become a trademark of our generation. We continue to buy the smartest phones and expose ourselves through social media posts. We cancel coffee dates because we’ve convinced ourselves that a Facetime call will suffice.

My parents hung out with their friends. Their times together consisted of eye contact and verbal conversation – skills we seem to lack.

I shouldn’t have to be nostalgic about a world that I was born a decade too late to experience – a world where flirting was through compliments and batting eyelashes, not through heart-eyed emojis in Instagram comments.

Call me traditional, but I’m bitter about the fact that it’s not a social norm for boys to knock on the front door to pick up their date anymore.

I get it. Times have changed.

But that’s no reason to dismiss the mutual respect underlying some old-fashioned traditions.

Sure, it’s more efficient to shoot a quick “here” text message to your date as you pull into their driveway, but don’t they deserve more?

I’m not exempt from this “social” media world either. I send thousands of texts each month. And my approximate 8,000 tweets don’t exactly imply that I’m willing to downgrade to a flip phone. Yet I’m not willing to fully accept society the way it is.

I’m not comfortable living in a world where Facebook takes precedence over burying one’s face in a hardcover book.

I’m not satisfied living in a world where my children would prefer to talk with Siri over playing kick-the-can with the kids down the block.

To suggest we should shun technology would deprive us of the wonders it can bring.

The real answer lies in a coexistence of social media and old-fashioned social grace.

We need to establish that the Twitter bird doesn’t have a seat at the dinner table and that iContact is not an appropriate substitution for genuine eye contact.

Connecting with friends through social networks can be incredibly useful, but we can’t allow it to inhibit the type of conversation where you convey more than a smile made from a colon and parentheses ever could.

On Campus

4 – North Pointe – Friday, May 30, 2014

Students display work at Art Pop Art students from Computer Graphics, Drawing and Painting, Photography and Ceramics had their work shown from May 19-22 in the lobby of the PAC. The exhibit included pieces students worked on over the course of the school year. Students were also allowed to price their artwork for purchase.

By Katelyn Carney & Caelin Micks sports assistant editor and staff reporter

Faces in the crowd Jack Nelson

It’s nearing that time of year again. Beginning in June, freshman Jack Nelson takes his motor boat out for a weekly spin.

“We go every weekend in the summer,” Nelson said. “We usually stop boating in September.”

This tradition has been a staple in his household for a long time.

Nelson’s family keeps their boat in St. Clair Shores.

“We have a boat in a marina. It’s called Island Harbor Marina,” Nelson said.

There are multiple aspects of boating that Nelson enjoys.

“My favorite thing to do during boating is ... to take it out to a beachy spot by the yacht club and go swimming,” Nelson said. “We also fish and boat to Canada for a weekend in the summer.”

Nelson plans to continue this tradition.

“I hope to teach my future kids boating so that they will have as much fun as I did.” Nelson said.

Nicole Haggerty

TOP LEFT: Junior Duncan Ragland admires a piece of artwork. “This artwork seems really positive with the girl holding the heart. I think it is really deserving of the Todd A. McConaughey award,” Ragland said.

TOP RIGHT: Sophomore Allayah Hamiltonposes with her work.“I just see bright colors, and it is very bright and vibrant, and it shows the enthusiastic side of myself,” Hamilton said.

LEFT: Sophomore Celeste Jansen stands by a painting, “This is photography with editing, an editing process of making the colors brighter, and I tried to make special things pop out. I am really proud of this, because I think it looks really cool,” Jansen said.

BOTTOM: Junior Kedric Gabriel points to a drawing,“This picture is interesting. I really like the way (Natalie Schaefer) captures the image behind her, but she also drew herself into it at the same time,” Gabriel said.

Junior Nikki Haggerty has a love for hedgehogs.

She’s had two hedgehogs in the past, Sprinkles and Knuckles.

“Sprinkles was named because that’s what her spines looked like: a bunch of sprinkles,” Haggerty said.

“Knuckles was named after the Sonic character, even though he’s not a hedgehog in the game.”

Haggerty’s admiration for hedgehogs began when her friend offered her one in fourth grade.

From then on, Haggerty has had an everlasting love for the prickly creatures. She has even brought them on the set of WPBC (Parcells Middle School’s student broadcasting class), where Sprinkles became famous.

“At WPBC, I brought Sprinkles in to anchor with us and made an intro,” Haggerty said.

While Sprinkles has passed, Knuckles has found a new home with family friends of the Haggertys.

“They mean the world to me,” Haggerty said.

“I love them so much, and I wish I still had them both.”

Annie Armbruster

A flat board, marked with the letters of the alphabet, numbers zero through nine and “yes” or “no” in the corners was, at first, an innocent game to junior Annie Armbruster.

“After we did the Ouija board in the summertime, a lot of weird stuff just started happening, and it kind of just gradually progressed,” Armbruster said. “It kind of comes and goes, but lately it has been pretty odd.”

Strange occurrences during the school day and at home have led Armbruster to believe she may have been possessed by a spirit. She said that her bedroom, where she first used the Ouija board, gives her nightmares and uncommon symptoms. Armbruster plans to search for a solution.

“I don’t want to get an exorcism, but I kind of want to go talk to somebody that’s experienced with spirits so I can get it undone,” Armbrustersaid.

By Billy Moin, Gowri Yerramalli & Haley Reid

FIVE MINUTES WITH

Math teacher Greg Johnson

By Anu Subramaniam co-Editor-In-Chief

Jeffery valentic

Math teacher Greg Johnson applies his math skills outside the classroom during his administrative duties and at home with his kids.

A common question students ask within classrooms is, “W hen will I ever use this concept in the future or real world? ” There are some examples of real-world applications given in textbooks and then the generic response of, “If you go into this specific field you will use this all the time.” AP Calculus teacher Greg Johnson answers this question without a textbook by applying his long-standing passion of math outside of the classroom with his additional job and two kids.

After teaching AP Calculus AB and BC during his second and third hour, Johnson trades in the Calculus in the classroom for the statistical and analytical side of math in the administration office.

“I usually do student data analysis. So, anything from demographics to assessment results and try to present it in a way that can be utilized proper-

ly for the district, or the school board or the principals,” Johnson said. “It’s statistics to some degree, and just presentation of data, organizing the data. Just getting it in a form that other people can utilize and make sense of it and helping people understand the data.”

Johnson doesn’t limit his math usage after spending the afternoon working with it at the office, but also integrates it into his personal life. He operates a 120-liter saltwater aquarium at home. To keep it running smoothly, Johnson uses limits, carrying capacity and chemistry to fill and maintain the aquarium accordingly. His math use outside of the classroom is ref lected his two children as well.

“It is one of their better subjects - and one that they usually can handle independently,” Johnson said. “Both are on track to take AP Calculus by their senior year in high school.”

Do you think your office job shows a realworld application for math?

The job involves creating and maintaining datasets in either spreadsheets and databases which can involve several formulas, logic tests, queries, coding and advanced charting and tabling. Some of the work involves running statistical analysis such as averages, subgrouping, standard deviations, Z and T-Tests for testing significant differences.

Which part of your day is your favorite part, and why?

I enjoy helping others in both jobs – whether it’s helping students making sense of the complex subject of Calculus or assisting teachers and administrators in their data use and decision making processes.

In high school did you enjoy math or did you want to become a teacher?

Math was favorite subject in high school. As both of my parents’ careers were also in the field of education - my mother was a high school chemistry teacher and my father was a chemistry professor. I didn’t start to really consider teaching until working as both a chemistry lab assistant and as an intern in chemistry research in college.

Does your job influence your personal life (or vice versa), if so how?

I’m not sure it is possible to fully separate the two. Both define who you are. Teaching isn’t something that starts at 8 a.m. and ends at 3:05 p.m.

5 – Friday May 30, 2014 – North Pointe

Students start jean buisness: Bel Air shorts

life

By Mora Downs & Emma Puglia assitant editor & web manager

With over 225,000 attendees in six days, Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival is rapidly gaining popularity. It’s also the inspiration for sophomores Laurel Kreuter and Sam MacConnachie when designing shorts for their new company, Bel Air, because of the festival’s beachy themes and the stylish socialites who attend.

“We look everywhere, basically – social media. There are people who have a lot of followers, like this one girl Hannah Bingham. No one knows her, but she has a lot of followers on Twitter, and her fashion sense is key. It’s prime,” Kreuter said.

MacConnachie also has a list of influences for shorts designs.

“Music festivals, summertime, summer nights, Alexa Chung,” MacConnachie said.

After being self-taught, MacConnachie created shorts for two years because she enjoyed being able to control what she wore and how it looked.

With MacConnachie’s short-making experience and Kreuter’s passion for fashion, the duo created their shorts business on a whim.

“She basically texted me one night and goes, ‘Laurel, I have this great idea. We should make a shorts company over the summer. We can make a lot of money,’ and I was like, ‘Yeah, I’ve tried doing it before, and it failed horribly, but we could try it.’ We spent 20 minutes trying to come up with a name, and I was like, ‘Lana Del Rey has some good song names.’ I just googled Lana Del Rey songs and one was ‘Bel Air,’ so I was like, ‘What about Bel Air shorts?’” Kreuter said.

The two created a Tumblr website (belairshortss.tumblr.com) to advertise and order their shorts. By connecting with people in their contact lists, the two already have 15 potential customers.

“Right now they’re probably ordering verbally or through text. They don’t really follow the website of ordering in the box. It’s a start. It’s fine because we know those people,” Kreuter said.

Bel Air shorts come in a variety of styles: original frayed, destroyed, studs, bleach, acid wash, dip-dye and fabric-embellished. Prices range from $10 to $15 a pair.

MacConnachie finds that making her own shorts is often cheaper than buying them.

“When you pay for high-waisted shorts, like when you go to Urban Outfitters, it’s ridiculous. They’re $50 or $60, and you can go to a thrift shop and get a pair of old mom jeans and cut them and make them however you want them. People just tell us what they want, and we can do it because I have experience with it,” MacConnachie said. “I’ve been doing it for a couple years now, and people are always like ‘Where’d you get your shorts?’ and I say, ‘I made them.’”

Unlike buying shorts from a retail store, customers get to personalize their shorts.

“We’ll go to a thrift store, and we’ll pick out the size of the short or the jean, then we’ll cut them into the shorts. We ask how short they want them — short, long-ish, whatever —

Advanced Placement to academic peace After a rigorous year, AP students finish the year with projects and activities

By Katelyn Carney & Caelin Micks section editor & staff reporter

With tests, prom, sports, looming senior exams and an approaching graduation cramming the end of the school year, senior Carter Bock feels a sense of relief

after finishing his Advanced Placement tests.

For each AP class, the teacher’s goal is to prepare their or her students for the rigorous AP exam in May by strictly teaching the test’s content. After this pivotal day, AP teachers find themselves with a room full of students and some extra time to teach information outside the test’s content.

“AP Lit so far has been free reading of a book of our choice,” Bock said. “We have homework assignments in which we write journals about what we have read throughout it.”

Without having the strict deadline and specific material to cover, the classroom’s dynamic changes to include more flexible time to work on final projects and additional information teachers couldn’t cover during the time frame before AP exams.

“The entire class seems to be more relaxed. Ms. Steimer no longer has to worry about time constraints. Overall, I feel the class has a lighter, less pressured outlook,” sophomore Sydney Eger said.

Terri Steimer’s AP U.S. History students took their exam on May 14 and

eMMA PUGLIA Sophomores Laurel Kreuter and Sam MacConnachie admire their finished pair of Bel Air shorts. “It’s kind of a step-by-step process. I mean, you do something, and then see how it looks, then add more and see how it looks,” Kreuter said.

and then cut them in a diagonal place going down, and they kind of fray up. Based on the design that they want, we can either add holes, or studs or pockets (in) the back. We can sew fabric into them,” MacConnachie said. “Basically, the process is pretty easy. It’s just once you do the holes and stuff. It gets complicated because you have to do placement.”

Friends of MacConnachie and Kreuter say they are relieved to have a reliable and decent-priced source for shorts.

“I tried to make my own shorts, and I failed. So I’m glad I can buy a pair where they’re not $40 like American Apparel,” senior Jillian Fenner said.

Kreuter’s love for fashion and clothing design began at a young age.

“I probably started a design book when I was in third grade. I got very inspired once

by Spanish Latina dresses, so I was drawing all these Spanish festival dresses. And then when Miley Cyrus’ video, “7 Things,” came out, I literally drew every outfit that she wore in the music video. I was obsessed with it. But now, I don’t really design as much, but (I focus) more on journalism in fashion,” Kreuter said.

Both MacConnachie and Kreuter plan on staying involved in the arts when they advance to college. Kreuter is interested in the fashion industry, while MacConnachie takes the artistic quality of creating shorts and plans to use it on college applications when applying for an art school.

Though they don’t plan on taking the company beyond high school, the two will share the process of planning ideas and constructing the shorts.

“I kind of design, or more like create. I just create the clothes,” MacConnachie said.

have been watching Forrest Gump since then. Steimer plans to have her students start working on their final project once they finish the movie.

“Their project is called It’s All About Me, and it’s recent history,” Steimer said.

“They pull the whole project together, and there’s pictures and so many pieces to that project. Then, they give a five-minute presentation on exam day.”

Juniors in AP Lang will now change course and head towards preparing for their futures.

“For the rest of the year, our class is focusing on writing our essays for our college applications, which can be a lot of work depending on which colleges you plan to apply to,” junior Christian Sottrel said. “Also, since all of our coursework is completed, our final is that we have to give a commencement speech to our class as if we were a senior graduating this year.”

While AP Lang focuses more heavily on writing skills, AP Literature focuses on students’ reading comprehension. AP Lang students’ final project involves writing daily reflections on a book he or she is reading.

“I really like reading, and it’s a really low-stress project, so I haven’t had trouble motivating myself. I just finished The Color Purple, and now I’m reading Catch 22, but overall, I think it’s a really good project that gives us a lot of freedom,” senior Maddie Gafa said.

During the course, the workload can be very stressful to students. After they complete their test and their coursework is done, students find themselves with an improved work ethic and in-depth knowledge on the specific subject.

“I’ve learned a lot about how to manage time and take pride in my work. Also, how much your own personal effort can impact your success,” sophomore Olivia Bloomhuff said.

In addition to helping students with their study habits, AP classes help to prepare them for similar college-level courses, by testing them on the same material and giving them an intense workload.

“I feel the class was worth it because I not only learned a lot of useful information, but I also gained the experience of an AP course,” Eger said.

Emily cleary

REVIEWS

North Pointe – Friday, May 30, 2014 – 6

Now

Then

You can run, but you can’t hide

WWW.NEXT.Com

By Dora Juhasz

WWW.NEXT.Com

“The arrogance of man is thinking nature is in our control and not the other way around.” Godzilla, 2014 Sixty years ago, the cinematic icon that is Godzilla first appeared on grainy blackand-white televisions. The towering, gruesome monster rose from the depths of the Pacific Ocean and mercilessly destroyed the coasts of Japan.

Godzilla’s massive destruction in the original film became a clear symbol of the power that lies in the hands of humans. America’s ability to split an atom to create bombs devastated Japan after the nuclear attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War II. As a result, Godzilla became Japan’s biggest pop culture symbol as a worldwide metaphor for the evils of atomic power.

After sixty long years the monster returned to the screen. Only this time, he served as the savior instead of the demolisher. In this 2014 rendition, Godzilla is reawakened to take on a role as the “alpha predator,” as described by Dr. Ichiro Serizawa, played by actor Ken Watanabe.

Godzilla faces opposition from two other mutant monsters who remakes it his goal to prey and kill.

Once the two smaller but equally destructive monsters (called “MUTOs”) appear, Godzilla emerges from the depths of the ocean for the first time in decades.

Although his appearance causes ineffable calamity, scientists and naval leaders soon realize that Godzilla could be the key to victory against these new creatures.

Terror consistently escalates throughout the film. There isn’t one moment when the audience feels secure, safe or able to predict a solution. The emotional ties created in the film elevate the constant, cringing fear of who will die next.

The plot focuses on the fate of one particular family: the Brodys. Lieutenant Ford Brody (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) suffers the loss of his mother at a young age after a horrific accident at a Japanese nuclear power plant. His father Joe (played

by Breaking Bad’s Bryan Cranston) becomes obsessed with the accident.

More than a decade after the accident, Joe is still convinced there is much more behind the story than the government is telling them. His son first views Joe’s concerns as irrational paranoia, but once a giant, radiation-devouring MUTO hatches from the site of the power plant meltdown, Ford realizes his father may be right. Trepidation falls upon them.

From there, the plot thickens and creates shaky anticipation. The extraordinary graphics and visually unnerving scenes crawl under the audience’s skin, while the classic roar of Godzilla gives goosebumps. Exceptional camera work and stunning scenes leave images of terror engraved in viewers’ minds.

What makes this movie successful is that it doesn’t strictly focus on the three ungodly creatures roaming the world.

Instead, it goes beyond and effectively portrays the raw panic and dread felt by the citizens who fall victim to these creatures, allowing the audience to vicariously experience the terror.

Bryan Cranston’s performance as Joe Brody stimulates the plot and proves to be extremely memorable. His pure passion and perseverance in discovering the secrets behind his wife’s death and his connection with his son resonate emotionally with the audience. His strength as one of the film’s protagonists carries on throughout, even when he is no longer the main focus.

Along with the emotional aspects that develop through the human characters, the three monsters’ continuous battle for the spotlight gives constant excitement to the audience. It may seem too much of

the plot is focused on the MUTOs, rather than the monstrous Godzilla himself, but in the end the monster again reclaims his role as king.

Fans of the old Godzilla will love the newer version, as will those who found the original tacky. This version adds a deeper meaning to the cheesy, black-andwhite original. Being rated PG-13, the film does an incredible job of instilling horror and apprehension without overloading on violence or disturbing material. The movie touches audiences emotionally and cultivates a deeper thinking about Mother Nature and human nature alike.

faking it

god’S not dead

WHich wich

xscape

B

b+

b

a-

web editor

Hester High School is not a typical Texas high school.

Things teenagers are usually bullied for are instead celebrated. Main characters A my Raudenfeld (Rita tvline.com Volk) and Karma Ashcroft (Katie Stevens) attempt to climb the social ladder in MTV’s new show, Faking It. While it may seem to be a trite teen TV show about two teen girls, Amy and Karma’s way of gaining popularity proves unexpected.

The most popular kids at school mistake the inseparable best friends for a lesbian couple. When the two friends supposedly “come out” they skyrocket to the top of the foodchain, and are even elected homecoming queens. The two decide to roll with the charade to attain school-wide fame and to allow Karma to get closer to her big-time crush, Liam Booker (Gregg Sulkin). Still, no one but Amy’s soon-to-be stepsister, Lauren Cooper (Bailey Buntain) knows that the couple is faking.

But are they really?

After kissing Karma, Amy believes she might actually be gay.

While the acting in this show needs improvement, it is up to par with other teen dramas. The plot isn’t always clear either. Viewers are sometimes left wondering what is going on, such as why Amy attempts to secure a secret boyfriend if she’s questioning her sexuality. Karma’s unconventional strategy for getting close to Liam makes the typical “outcast girl pursuing the popular boy” angle more entertaining.

Faking It is refreshing to watch.

Though it might seem a little dramatic, the whole idea of a socially unorthodox high school isn’t as common on high school TV shows as the strict social hierarchy concept. Faking It is unlike classic teen dramas, which is likely to attract viewers and keep it on the air.

Pre-law student and devout Christian Josh Wheaton (Shane Harper) finds a different kind of challenge on his first day of class. His atheist philosophy godsnotdeadthemovie.com professor, (Professor) Radisson (Kevin Sorbo) challenges his students’ faith by forcing them to write that “God is dead.” Josh’s refusal to complete the task invites the wrath of Professor Radisson who, as a result, mocks Josh throughout the rest of the movie. Radisson smugly offers Josh the alternative, which was to convince his peers that God is not dead by preparing a well-researched, intellectual argument to use to face the professor in head-to-head debate.

Josh accepts this challenge, which creates an exciting moment in an otherwise dull plot. The obstacles in his way are numerous, but the blessings that accompany Josh on his journey are even more plentiful. Movie-goers find themselves caught in a tangle of uncertainty and questioning why Josh feels it necessary to argue such the point instead of just writing it.

God’s Not Dead ties together multiple short stories of non-believers who open their eyes to the light of God as a result of Josh’s research. Each member of this cast is a symbol of hope, encouraging viewers to seek an alternative perspective in situations.

Although the movie was not based on a true story, it was based on a series of lawsuits over religion on college campuses, one of which took place at Wayne State University.

This movie persuades the audience to ponder their beliefs and question how reliable their values are. This film is an emotional roller coaster and a true test of faith, backed by an inspiring message as well.

Faking it; 2014; TV-14; MTV

The upbeat atmosphere is apparent as soon as the doors of the Which Wich sandwich shop, home of “Superior Sandwiches,” are opened.

The bright yelwhichwich.com low walls and high-energy music give a definite feel of a fun hangout. On one of the walls, sandwich bags hang with customers’ drawings ranging from crude and simplistic to charming and artistic. The shop’s unique personality increasingly attracts customers and sparks curiosity to come inside.

The process begins with a brown paper bag, each with a different category of sandwiches. Ruben, BLT, clubhouse and five other variations of the lunchtime classic are available. Each bag is marked with different options, such as extra condiments and toasting the sandwich.

This wide variety will encourage customers to come back so they can try new combinations. There are various flavors of milkshakes that can be personalizedtoo.

The service is novel as well. The paper bag is clipped to a line above the counter and is flung down to the sandwich makers.

Seeing the process of the meal being built isn’t special, but is interesting nonetheless because you can also see what other people are putting on their sandwich.

These flavorful options come at a high price. Though the food has a tasty, homemade feel to it, and a small sandwich is $5.50. Not to mention that some of the condiments add another fifty cents. The total for a sandwich and a milkshake is almost $12.

However, the amount of customization along with unusual and delightful atmosphere is entirely worth the price. The ability to make the ultimate sandwich is satisfying in its own right.

Godzilla Gareth Edwards 2014 PG-13

Six years after his passing, Michael Jackson’s new album XSCAPE was released

by MJJ Productions and producer Timbaland.

Locked Itunes.apple.com and loaded with nine songs that were recorded during the peaks of his success, these tunes have a contemporary twist. The modern sound, however, still manages to echo the “King of Pop’s” iconic style.

Fans are reminded of his glory days with songs like, “Love Never Felt So Good” (1983) and “Place With No Name” (1972). The disco and funky rhythms of these songs combined with Jackson’s legendary vocals feel reminiscent of his “Off the Wall” and “Thriller” era.

Other songs like “Do You Know Where the Children Are,” – which was slated for Dangerous, but never made it – has all of Jackson’s classic style with an added twist is strategically placed in the middle of the record. “Chicago,” a funky song about a shady woman, failed to make its mark on the Dangerous album as well, but shines on XSCAPE with Jackson’s lovely blues sound.

“Blue Gangsta,” however, acts as a rare low point in this great collection of songs. The odd rhythm was unlike Jackson’s. The title track “XSCAPE” is the only song on the album to welcome back its original producer, Rodney Ditto Jerkins. “XSCAPE” brings back the happy disco sound of Jackson’s early career.

XSCAPE resurrects the sound and spirit of Michael Jackson. By the end of the album, the listener will be reminded of why many consider Michael Jackson as the king of pop.

17045 Kercheval Ave, Grosse Pointe, Michigan XSCAPE; MJJ Productions ;May 9 2014; iTunes; $16.99+

God’s Not Dead; Harold Cronk;PG;2014

By Mora Downs

Grade: A

By Katelyn Carney

By Addison Toutant

By Radiance Cooper

Sports

North Pointe – Friday, May 30, 2014 – 7

Sophomore shatters 25-year-old record

By Kaley Makino Web section editor

Fifty-seven seconds after the pop of the starter gun, sophomore Sydney Benson crossed the finish line of the 400-meter dash, breaking a 25-year-old school record.

“I was super excited because last year I was just trying to work on the 100, but I couldn’t get my times down. So I was like, ‘Let me just train for the 400 and see how that goes,’” Benson said. “And the weather was really nice, so it was a good day to go break a record.”

Benson’s time for the 400-meter event qualified her for regionals, states and nationals. Since nationals only accepts six individuals per region in each event and age group, Benson feels the competition will be hard to beat.

“I need to be running a 54 (second lap) to be at the top of all of the other girls. To stand out, you need to have a 54 or a 55,” Benson said. “Seconds make a difference.”

To try to shave down those last few seconds, Benson trains with personal Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) coach Kevin Brathwaite, who assigns Benson daily workouts that differ from the rest of the track team’s regimen.

“I adapt the workout to the individual for the most part. I focus on the athlete’s weaknesses and work to minimize those while maximizing their strengths,” Brathwaite said via email. “Due to the volume of maintenance strength training we do, we must ensure that the muscles are sufficiently warm and functioning properly.”

Benson warms up vigorously to prepare for her competitions.

“I do two 400s every day before practice with drills in between, so I’m already doing an 800 to start practice off with. So that’s why I went up and did a 4x8 because I was like, ‘Okay, that’s not that bad.’ I really don’t rest that much. I just keep going,” Benson said. “I usually do 300 repeats, and that helps you with how you need to do a 400. Plus, it’s using your arms most of the time, so (300 repeats) plus weight training makes the difference between five seconds and a second.”

At regionals, Benson came in second for the 400, missing first by .2 seconds. She also came in second for the 4x8 and came in first for the 4x4.

“I wish I did better in my open events, but I’m happy with both of my relays,” Benson said.

Brathwaite is more optimistic than Benson when it comes to states and nationals. He anticipates Benson improving her time and doing well in both competitions.

“I see Sydney’s time dropping down into the 56.0 range very soon. She has already improved her 400m by over two seconds since last year,” Brathwaite said.

“I believe that Sydney will finish in the top three at states and will also get a medal at nationals.”

Benson and her mother, Katrina Benson, agree that running was something that came naturally to her. Her speed was recognized in middle school when she began pursuing track and field.

“I never really pushed Sydney one way or the other. She played a lot of soccer when she was younger, and she had a lot of speed there,” Katrina said. “She began running track over at Parcells in seventh and eighth grade. From there, we saw that she had a talent, and she went on to run in high school.”

Benson is a member of both AAU and another na-

Spring 2011 Benson began her first year of running track at Parcells Middle School

June 1, 2013 Benson competed in the 400-meter dash and 1600-meter relay at the state meet

May 17, 2013 Benson qualifies for her first state meet during North’s regional meet

July 16, 2013 Benson places in the top 50 at the AAU Junior Olympics

QUICK HITs Freshman Baseball Two-thirds of the way through the season, the freshman boys baseball team is 19-2 with seven games left.

Freshman pitcher Sam Cross helped them early in the season with a no-hitter against Grosse Pointe South, winning 1-0.

“It’s been a good season so far,” Cross said. “We’ve only lost two games, and we have a really good team this year.”

The team is 4-2 against South.

“We’ve beat South four times, twice on walk-offs and once scoring in the bottom of the sixth and holding them in the bottom of the seventh,” head coach Mark Orr said. “The other we pretty much blew ‘em out.”

The team has won against every other opponent.

“We’ve beat U of D, who had won the Catholic League Championship (Saturday, May 17), twice when we swept a doubleheader from them. We’ve beat Stevenson, whose varsity team is number two in the state, on Friday (May 16),” Orr said.“We’ve beat Dakota, we’ve beat Chippewa Valley first time around. We’ve beat everyone we’ve played.”

Orr sees a large amount of potential in the team.

“It’s been an incredible year. There’s enough talent on this team to win a couple of state championships in the next couple years if, when you combine ‘em with the JV, who’s having a good year as well and the guys who are juniors on varsity so it’s been a lot of fun,” Orr said.

There’s also a possibility for a new freshman record.

“We have a chance to get 25 wins, which would certainly break the freshman record,” Orr said. “I don’t think there’s ever been a freshmen team to ever win 20 games, and I know there were no records back in the day, but that’s a lot of games to win for a freshman team.”

Summer sports camps Junior Mike Bowden plans to spend his summer in college gyms, practicing for next year’s wrestling season. Bowden and many others are registered for sports camps to stay in shape this summer.

“It will get me that edge over my competition. The more I wrestle, the better I get,” Bowden said.

Training to improve before the season is important to student athletes like Bowden.

“I can improve my skill and hopefully place at least top three in state,” Bowden said.

Freshman Katie Lesha also finds it necessary to train before the season, but instead of attending college workshops, she will attend a field hockey camp at North.

“It’ll help me because I’ll be in shape before I start the season, so I won’t have to worry about that at my games and at practices, and I can just get in shape, and get ready and review how to play the game before I start,” Lesha said.

Lesha finds that sports camps promote team bonding before the season.

“Most of the team usually does it. Almost all the girls either do North’s camp or South’s camp to get ready and to get in shape,” Lesha said.

Lesha hopes incoming freshmen interested in field hockey will attend the camp.

“It definitely helped me adjust and meet new girls, and a lot of the girls I met are in my classes and school, so it’s a good thing to do,” Lesha said.

By Billy Moin & Mora Downs

tional league called United States of American Track and Field (USATF) both of which help her progress on to her goal of competitively running in college. Through these leagues, plus her additional AAU track team, New Breed, Benson is able to continue running year round.

“The USATF feeds directly into the Olympics, and AAU is an amateur association, but most people who run in college run for both leagues, so she has to maintain membership with both,” Katrina said.

Sydney will be running this summer to qualify for the AAU Junior Olympics held in Iowa from July 28August 2.

“AAU’s national meet was here at Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti last year. This coming year it will be in Des Moines, Iowa. She participated last year and hopefully she will meet the requirements again,” Katrina said. “Every weekend they have different meets, and you have to progress along, and if you’re in the top three in your age group, then you can progress to district regionals, and then to states, and then from there they go to nationals.”

July 21-27 2014 Benson will race at the USA Track & Field Junior Olympics.

May 31, 2014 Benson will compete in the 3200-meter relay, 400-meter dash and 1600-meter relay at the state meet.

June 14-16, 2014 Benson has qualified in several events for the upcoming New Balance Nationals

Courtesy of sydney benson

July 25-Aug. 1, 2014 Benson will return to run at the AAU Junior Olympics in hopes of improving her ranking

Pino DiNoto Rose DiNoto

20223 Mack Avenue Grosse Pointe Woods, MI 48236

For the best Italian dishes you’ll eat in any Grosse Pointe restaurant, call DiNoto’s.

Phone: (313) 884-5030 Fax: (313) 884-5051 Full carry-out menu available

dinotos.com

North Pointe – Friday, May 30, 2014 – 8

In-Depth

A Sweet Legacy Two decades after activities director Pat Gast introduced Union cookies to North, new legislation has brought the Norsemen tradition to an end

By Emma Puglia & Anu Subramaniam Web managing editor & co-editor-in-chief

ALLISON FLY

ABOVE: “It’s a real loss for the students. It’s a loss of income, it’s a loss of almost a freedom, that you have the right to choose whether you want to have a cookie or not. I think it’s going to affect a lot, because we’re losing a lot of money, and all the money we earn in here goes back to the students,” activities director Pat Gast said. “Student Association has formed a committee, and they are going to look at the bill and see if there are any loopholes. It’s not just at the federal level — it’s at the state level, and it’s also at the school board level.”

ABOVE RIGHT: “I’m a senior, so it was going to be my last anyways regardless of the new law.

I was sad to eat my last cookie, and I feel bad for future classes who will no longer be able to experience the joy a Union cookie brings,” senior Matthew Kain said. “As I took my last bite, I was reminded of a quote from the great Dr. Seuss, ‘Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.’”

BELOW: “I am not happy at all. Chocolate makes people happy, so now everyone is going to be mean,” senior Analisa Guido said. “I felt like a part of my high school experience was being taken away. They may seem like just cookies, but they are so much more.”

Allison Fly

RIGHT: The student support to get cookies back has been taken to Twitter with the new Bring Our Cookies Back account that reached over 100 followers in under two hours. That one day marked the end of Union cookies and for the most part, the end of the Union itself. Stress levels were high, and patience was lower than preferred as both students and staff were racing to the Union with the hopes of getting their hands on one final cookie.

“It was a shame to see the final cookie go, but I’m still hoping it’ll just be the last cookie of the year, not in North history,” junior Michael Marchiori said.

BELOW: Sophomore Nicole Valenzano sold cookies during both early and late lunch on Friday, May 23, the last day. “It means the end of a 19-year tradition at Grosse Pointe North, which even though I’ve been at North for two years, I’ll miss having the opportunity to increase my lunchtime happiness through indulging in Otis Spunkmeyer cookies,” Valenzano said. “If we do have alternate things, we are thinking of maybe frozen yogurt or a fruit bar.”

m.twitter.com

eMILY HUGEUNIN

eMILY HUGEUNIN