North Pointe - May 9, 2014

NORTH GROSSE POINTE NORTH HIGH SCHOOL

SINCE 1968

POINTE FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2014

Risky behavior leads to policy reforms Ivy League college president denounces rising conduct

problems, bringing attention to recent policy reforms

By Melina Glusac, Kaley Makino & Gowri Yerramalli SENIOR ASSIStant editor, web section editor & assistant editor

S.A.V.E. A LIFE 5K S.A.V.E. hosts a 5K to raise money for the Children’s Hospital of Michigan and Moross Greenway Project. page 4

PARENT CLUB FLOWER SALE

Friday, May 9 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday, May 10 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Grosse Pointe Woods City Hall and Community Center

Parties at colleges such as University of Michigan and Grand Valley State University will be a little light on the body and on alcohol from now on.

Recently, several colleges have implemented new social responsibility policies, and others have become dry campuses. Senior Michael Carlisle has chosen to go to Grand Valley State University, a dry campus, to elude the increasingly dangerous party atmosphere.

“I definitely think the lack of (alcohol on campus) will prevent certain things from happening that shouldn’t happen in school in general,” Carlisle said.

“I think it’s an expectation that a lot of kids have that when you go to college, you’ll have to party, but making (regulations) strict is just trying to hold back the kids from ending up in a situation they don’t want to be in, like a car crash.”

Alex Krupiak, the vice president of Social Responsibility for the Interfraternity Council at the University of Michigan, helped to implement a new social responsibility policy at the University of Michigan this year. The policy bans hard liquor from open fraternity parties in hopes of reducing drunken behavior and consequences that have become more prevalent on college campuses.

“The students’ and staff’s reactions to the policy were both incredible. The staff was extremely happy to see our council take precautionary measures to keep our students as safe as possible,” Krupiak said via email. “The older students specifically understood the changes and realized that this will facilitate a safer environment for everyone.”

The new behavioral policies have been in response to a speech given by Dartmouth University’s president, Philip J. Hanlon. In his speech, Hanlon addresses the rising conduct problems within universities — sexual misconduct, excessive drinking and disregard for social norms — that he has noticed in his first year of being president of the Ivy League school. Krupiak believes that the students at the University of Michigan are able to handle the behavioral issues that Hanlon addressed.

“While the students at Dartmouth may experience some behavioral problems, the students at Michigan are constantly striving to fix any issues before they become more harmful on a larger scale,” Krupiak said.

The new policy only allows beer to be served at social gatherings, with the

Continued on Page 2

SENIOR PROM

Saturday, May 10 from 6:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. at the Roostertail

SPRING CONCERT

Friday, May 16 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, May 17 at 7 p.m. in the PAC

ART SHOW

Monday, May 19 through Friday, May 23 in the PAC lobby

SENIOR AWARDS NIGHT

Monday, May 19 at 7:30 p.m. in the PAC

IDEAS

“THE BEST WAY I

HAVE

FOUND TO

END THE

‘R-WORD’ IS TO

CALL PEOPLE

OUT ON IT.

“

page 3

graphic by Maria Liddane & haley reid

sgwineshop.com, globeliq.com, caloriecount.about.com, m.newstomato.com

State of Michigan affirmative action ban challenged, upheld

By Dora Juhasz & Emily Martinbianco WEB SECTION EDITORS

A few years down the road, when freshman Sarah Scott rips open her acceptance letters to her universities of choice, she wants to be accepted to the school of her dreams based solely on her academic achievements rather than her race or ethnic background.

“I personally would be offended if I got into a university based on my race,” Scott, whose African American said. “I want to know that I’m there for everything that I’ve achieved because I deserve to be there, not because of the way I look or how I was born.”

The Supreme Court upheld the Michigan ban on affirmative action on Tuesday, April 22.

With the overwhelming vote of 6-2 in favor of the ban, originally instituted in 2006, Michigan will continue preventing colleges from making decisions based on race, ethnicity, gender or national origin when considering incoming freshmen. Michigan is not the first state to uphold this ban.

“Other states already have done this, so we are not a stand-alone,” social studies teacher Sean McCarroll said. “But now the fact that the Supreme Court has upheld our decision, we will probably see that a lot more.”

The issue dates back to 2003, when a landmark ruling was won by Jennifer Gratz, a white student who argued that minority students who achieved less academically were being accepted into the University of Michigan while she was wait-listed. Although her protests started in 1995, eight years later Gratz won, and the ruling banned the University of Michigan from its continued use of the affirmative action policy.

“It’s not the first time that bill has been passed in Michigan, and especially at Michigan, the college where I went, it was a subject of that Supreme Court decision,” McCarroll said.

@myGPN

Recent tension over the ban continues as 17-year-old Brooke Kimbrough, a black student at University Prep Academy High School, brought national attention to her disapproval of the under-representation of minorities at universities. Kimbrough was rejected from University of Michigan, and feels that minorities are not properly represented at the university.

Not shying away from this new fame, Kimbrough and Daisha Martin, the president of the Black Student Union of Birmingham Seaholm High School, staged a rally at their school to raise awareness of their cause.

On another end of the spectrum, some argue that the ban hasn’t disadvantaged or changed the schools at all.

“We have a prevalent minority population, but there are still groups that are over represented and under (represented), but I think it is a good environment. It’s not necessary to break a law and put a lot of money and effort in diversifying,” Nicholas Scapini, North alumnus and University of Michigan student said. “The ban has been going on for the past few years, and it hasn’t really changed the student population. I know the school is still attempting to diversify by any means.”

McCarroll wasn’t surprised that this case had rocketed up to the Supreme Court.

“A lot of race issues historically have ended up in the Supreme Court because we can’t usually get consensus among lower courts, and I think that the Supreme Court being as diverse as it is now, or at least they attempt to make it more diverse, I think they are very interested in cases of diversity.”

With this high profile case and tension mounting, Scott would like to find a middle ground.

“I don’t think that they should disregard race altogether just because there are things to consider. Like if someone needs a scholarship, there are certain scholarships that go to certain races and different things. I do think they should look at it, but I don’t think it should be one of the determining factors,” Scott said. “You have to think about how it is on the other side, like if you were not a minority, you wouldn’t want to be put aside because of your race. It’s just not fair. There is no reason for you to be disregarded because of your race.”

www.myGPN.org

VOLUME 46, ISSUE 14

Quiz bowl makes it to nationals

By Maria Liddane Senior assistant editor

“I hear people say, ‘Oh I’m not smart enough to do that.’ But anybody can do it.”

Senior captain Harrison Campion, a fouryear member, dispels the misconception surrounding the quiz bowl team.

“Not a whole lot of people know about it.

If they came to the informational meetings, they’d realize a whole lot more people could be good at it,” he said.

The team of a dozen students finished second in the Class A State Tournament to powerhouse Detroit Catholic Central High School April 12 at Michigan State University. They move on to the national tournament in Chicago from May 30-June 1. Assistant coach Ben Henri said Catholic Central is one of the top teams in the nation.

“That was no problem losing to them. That’s a high-quality team,” he said. “Second in the state to them is very admirable.”

Junior co-captain Harris Bunker said the game was competitive at the start.

“I think we were only down by 20-ish at halftime, but then they pulled away in the second half,” Bunker said. “We hang in there for 12 questions.”

Bunker was named to the all-state team after his performance in the state tournament.

“You have people who are running the tournament, and they’re keeping their eye out for people on teams who are just going gangbusters on answering questions,” Henri said.

“And Harris made a strong impression in all of his matches. Harris has got a lot of knowledge, he’s got a good buzzer finger, and so they’re keeping track. They also keep track of how many questions each person has answered.”

Bunker also was selected as one of the players to represent the state of Michigan at the Continued on Page 2

© 2014 North Pointe

news

2 – Friday, May 9, 2014 – North Pointe

Quiz bowl at nationals Continued from page 1

National Academic All-Star Tournament June 13 at Ohio State University.

“How I study is I read stuff, generally,” Bunker said. “I’ll read a book with different information. I’ll go on Wikipedia and check out different things I need to know about.

I’ll read quiz bowl packets, I’ll go on the quiz bowl database … look at trends of questions that come up.”

However, Bunker is more concerned with succeeding at nationals.

“I would rather do well as Grosse Pointe North High School than as the state of Michigan,” Bunker said.

About 250 teams compete in the national tournament.

“It’d be great if we won a couple games and were competitive against the better teams in the country,” he said.

“I’d be over the moon if we made the playoffs.”

Competition is strong in the national tournament.

“My expectation for nationals is go to answer questions and have a good time,” Henri said. “As first year helping with the team, I’m competitive, but at the same token, I know there’s going to be some really good teams there.”

The team defeated rival UAIS (Utica Academy for International Studies) in the regular season to finish undefeat-

ed in their league at 17-0.

“That was one of our main goals, to beat them. It was definitely close the entire time, but we had all of our starters there at the game,” Campion said. “We were all just kind of really excited to beat our rivals, that everyone just came together.”

Henri compared their league rivalry to basketball.

“You’ve got the Big Ten regular season, then the Big Ten tourney, then the dance,” Henri said. “We won the regular season, they won the tourney, and now we’re moving on to the big dance – which is nationals.”

Members of the starting lineup include Bunker, Campion and seniors Danny MacAskill, Conner Blaine and Pearce Reickert.

“I’m often the mythology guy,” Campion said. “But I kind of know a little about a lot of things, so I’m kind of like the general knowledge. Harris really has philosophy.

Danny is really good at literature and art. Conner is really good at biology. Pearce is really good at math – that’s a shock to everyone.”

Henri said the team puts in more work than he did in high school quiz bowl and praised their dedication to practicing outside of school.

“It’s the old saying,” Henri said. “‘The more you know, the more you realize you don’t know.’”

If you are interested in being a member of the 2014-2015 quiz bowl team, contact Jonathan.Byrne@gpschools.org or Ben.Henri@gpschools.org.

YAF sponsors Steve Forbes Young Americans for Freedom (YAF) is sponsoring Steve Forbes, Editor-In-Chief of Forbes Magazine and CEO of Forbes Entertainment, to speak at a school-wide assembly on Thursday, May 22. The assembly is an optional event.

“We wanted to get him because he is such an important part of society and how he’s been integrated into the households of many people through his magazines,” sophomore YAF member Trent Williams said.

Forbes will speak on leadership and free enterprise. The national branch of Young America’s Foundation is also donating $30,000 to help fund the event.

“I’m just hoping everyone’s on board with it and everyone wants to hear him speak as much as I do,” Williams said.

Band and orchestra attend Toronto music festival On Friday, April 12, the band and orchestra traveled to their annual spring festival. This year’s festival was held in Toronto and included a group visit to Niagara Falls.

“I really liked going to Niagara Falls and walking around to the little shops and everything,” freshman Lauren Archambeau said. “It was really nice, the weather was nice, and it was a really good sight to see.”

The band and orchestra’s performance at the Toronto International Music Festival was awarded gold and silver ratings.

“The main reason for going was the adjudicated festival, where the students performed for prestigious college professors and were adjudicated on the level of their performance,” band teacher David Cleveland said. “After each performance, the ensembles were given a clinic on ways that they could improve in the future.”

The full orchestra and the symphony band each received gold ratings – the highest possible rating – on their performances, and the concert band received a silver rating. Cleveland was proud of the performances and results.

“Our students performed very well and held up the long tradition of excellence that our program has achievedover the years,” Cleveland said. “The judges were very impressed by the organization of our overall program. They were so impressed with the depth of the music program at our school.”

Freshman Assist fundraises

photo courtesy of Matthew Kain

ABOVE: From left to right: senior Conner Blaine, senior Pearce Reickert, junior Harris Bunker, senior Harrison Campion and senior Danny MacAskill. The team has succeeded using a basic strategy of divide and conquer. “Not everyone can know everything, so as long as people know certain topics, we can kind of have a broad base of knowledge,” Blaine said.

College behavior Continued from page 1

exception of football games and smaller parties (i.e. only two fraternities or less), but must still follow the social responsibility guidelines.

Members of the council hope to create a controlled environment at parties with this new policy. Out of the 30 fraternities that belong to Greek Life at the University of Michigan, 27 voted in favor of the new policy.

“The beauty of Greek Life is that we are a self-governing organization. The students came up with this policy. The students will enforce it,” Krupiak said. “ We already have a task force that goes around and monitors that the fraternities and sororities are following the social rules. This is no different.”

Assistant principal Tom Beach believes the approach to alcohol and behavioral issues implemented in high schools can have a greater impact on students than college policies.

“Our ability in the school to impact what goes on outside of the school has limitations. We don’t have the ability to reach into someone’s house and see what they’re doing on a Friday or Saturday night and impact that. What we can do is when we hear about those things, we can have a conversation

with the kids,” Beach said. “It’s one thing to talk intellectually about the effects of alcoholism from a chemistry/biological standpoint, but the most effective way is through people talking about how it negatively impacts their lives.”

Beach sees the recent media cover-

“

It isn’t just frat parties that are going on.

There are plenty of plain old house parties that are going on as well, so either way kids are going to get a hold of it somehow.

Michael Carlisle Senior

”

age of these issues as the push colleges need to enforce behavioral policies more strongly. “(College administrators) know that the media is focusing on universities, and

Marchiori Catering Services for Your Special Occasion

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

so they have to be able to say, ‘Hey, we’re taking a look at this,’” Beach said. “The only way you get change is through a certain level of pressure.”

However, Carlisle believes that these new policies will not be as effective as the colleges hope.

“It isn’t just frat parties that are going on. There are plenty of plain old house parties that are going on as well, so either way kids are going to get a hold of it somehow,” Carlisle said. “If they really feel like they need to drink, they’re going to find a way, but it’s good that they decided to take it away from something rather than just letting it keep on going and getting worse.”

Carlisle feels that a policy coming directly from the university will best suit the increasing drinking problems because they have the most control over the campus.

“It is the university’s job to deal with these problems. It is their students that are going out and drinking and getting crazy, and ultimately, some of them end up having bad things happen,” Carlisle said. “The university is doing a good thing by stepping up and saying, ‘Hey, we want to protect you in this little way.’”

Freshman Assist is a program that helps struggling incoming freshmen reach their academic and social goals.

This is accomplished through a network of teachers (English teacher Jonathan Byrne, Freshman Assist teacher Geoffrey Young, math teacher Devin Cox and social studies teacher Bridget Cooley) and hand-selected upperclassman mentors. The mentors are hosting fundraisers to raise money for the program for their legacy project.

“It was a class assignment. Mr. Byrne’s and Mr. Young’s classes against Mrs. Cooley’s and Mrs. Cox’s classes, to see who could raise the most money with (their) fundraiser,” senior mentor Taylor McAfee said.

The girls team held a three-point shootout on May 1, raking in a total profit of $189. The boys team is hosting a movie night in the PAC tonight at 7:30 p.m.

“We are inviting the community to come watch Despicable Me 2. It gets all of the current mentors who are a part of the program involved in increasing the funds for the program.”

Tickets can be purchased at the door for $5 and popcorn, candy, chips and water will be sold. Doors open at 7 p.m.

By Dayle Maas, Andrea Scapini & Kristina Kowalski

You can follow us on your phone without setting up an account.

Text “follow mygpn” to 40404

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

Elite Driving School 586.778.4934

State of Michigan Approved and Certified for Classes & Road Tests ROAD TESTING given by ELITE DRIVING SCHOOL Private Lessons available for Teens and Adults *No Down Payment Required* Payment Plans available “A Driving Experience that’s Priceless” Visit our web page www.elitedrivingschool.org

Learn to Drive New Segment I and II Classes Form Monthly Teens 14.8 to 18 years of age Pick Up and Drop Off available for Driving Six hours of ‘on-the-road’ driving 23804 Harper Ave., between 9 & 10 mile Rd., St. Clair Shores. MI 48080

IDEAS A tale of two cities “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.

Letter to the editor Editor’s Note: This letter has been printed as is.

North Pointe did not make corrections to any spelling, punctuation or capitalization to conform to AP Style.

Dear North Pointe Editorial Staff, We are writing in response to your recent editorial column about the new positions in the Student Association.

We appreciate your participation in the democratic process; a democracy demands a free and vibrant press. Because of this, we would like to address your concerns about the appointing of the director positions.

We would first like to be clear: we do not think the election process or its results were f lawed in any way. The students of Grosse Pointe North have spoken, and we respect their collective voice.

The new officers and senators are excited to get to work. The decision to appoint these positions after the elections was intentional, but it was not for the reasons your column suggests. You assume all students applying for these positions recently lost an election. This simply is not true. Almost half of the applicants have never run for office and simply thought their talents could benefit North.

You also seem concerned that these directors will “inf luence decisions that affect the student body” without ever having been elected. The implication is that “doing work” means the same thing as “representing the interests of the student body.” These appointed officials will not have a vote. They want to do work, plain and simple. We don’t think that only officers should have a say in what the f loat design should be at Homecoming. We don’t believe only elected officials should be able to offer suggestions for charities. We don’t want to shut out anyone’s ideas. As we are sure you are aware, all students at Grosse Pointe North are de facto members of the Student Association. They are welcome to attend meetings, go through the procedures to be put on the agenda, and propose ideas to be enacted. We feel this is essential in letting all students be heard. Would you suggest we stop that process because those who choose to show up with ideas were never elected? We have no intention of closing our doors to the students of Grosse Pointe North or their ideas and concerns.

One of the missions of the Student Association is to communicate effectively with the student body. We apologize if the director positions were not advertised sufficiently. We recognize, as any successful organization does, our strengths and weaknesses. (It is not by coincidence that we are encouraging students who are interested to apply for our public relations director position.) We did run ads on the Norsemen News daily for about a week, and we tried to get current senators to relay the opportunity to their constituents. But we did not invent these positions out of thin air, nor have we tried to keep them a secret. There is ample precedence throughout the history of the Student Association for all of these positions.

There is also ample precedence in every governing body at every level for appointing qualified people to fill crucial positions. Does anyone think their rights are trampled when the President of the United States appoints a Chief of Staff? This person certainly inf luences the President and essentially runs the White House on a day-to-day basis.

Applicants are vetted and approved or not based on their qualifications.

But the simplest answer to your concerns is that to have students vote to fill these positions would be against our constitution. Our governing document stipulates that only four officers will be elected by the student body: president, vice-president, secretary, and treasurer. Of course, as we stated before, any student at North can propose a constitutional amendment if they follow the proper procedures. Until then, this is all just semantics.

Sincerely, The Grosse Pointe North Student Association Executive Board and Jonathan Byrne and Pat Gast, advisors

I became addicted at the young age of 12.

From the instant I headed for the airport, I knew. I knew that when I came back, I wouldn’t be the same. I was right.

In May 2012, my cousin got married. He moved to England before that to live with his wife, so the wedding was there. my turn When my mom mora downs and I were invited to go to the wedding, I became infatuated with the idea of traveling to England. Every day after I returned from school, I begged my mom to consider it.

I told her it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and that if we didn’t go, she would regret it for the rest of her life.

These pleas were eventually successful.

We were going to England. To this day, I can’t remember my response. I might have cried. Fulfilling a dream has to be one of the best feelings in the world, but as I later realized, it has its negative aspects as well.

When the day finally came to leave, I was giddy. I radiated happiness. Even a ninehour plane ride couldn’t kill my utter excitement, and I saw our four-hour layover in Amsterdam as more of an adventure than an inconvenience.

I spent approximately three days in northern England where my cousin and his wife resided. Northern England fits the English stereotype to a tee. It was rarely sunny, the towns were pub-heavy, and there was a disturbing amount of sheep. I saw magnificent, ancient buildings. I swear one of the universities up there was Hogwarts.

My mom and I then took a train down to London and passed through many wellknown cities of England, including Cheshire, where I proceeded to fangirl over the fact that

“No, because I don’t like to run. I don’t like to run because my legs are short, and I don’t go anywhere, really.”

Shawn’Taja Purry freshman

I passed through Harry Styles’ hometown.

I’ve never had an emotional connection with a city until I went to London. I was the nerdy tourist that freaked out over everything, but in my defense, it’s hard not to. I went to typical attractions such as the Tower of London and the London Eye. I even made the pilgrimage to Abbey Road. The city was squeaky clean, and residents were on their best behavior because of the impending 2012 Summer Olympic Games.

Leaving the city made me acknowledge the annoying little thought in the back of my mind: soon enough, I was going to have to return home. I was bitter about departing London with this thought in mind, but decided to deal with it later, since I still had an exciting part of my trip left: Paris.

For about two hours, I was in a train under the English Channel. Going to Paris was another dream come true. Aside from the abundance of pickpocket threats, Paris appeared exactly how it is in movies. I spent over half the time there marvelling that I was actually there. I, of course, waited in line for two hours to ascend to the top of the Eiffel Tower.

My last night in Paris was when I started to deal with that annoying little thought. I was leaving my beloved Europe. Even worse, I finally discovered the negative aspects of accomplishing my dream: I was depressed and had nothing to look forward to.

That’s what I learned about dreams.

They’re something you hold on to during bad times. And once you achieve them , you feel as if you have nothing left. I felt like this for weeks after I returned.

Europe was all I talked about, all I thought about. I became obsessed with the idea of going back. I still am. I know that one day I will return, only to leave as a hollow shell yet again.

But that’s the great part of dreams: once your dream is fulfilled, you can find a new one.

“No, I don’t have any time to do it. I have baseball practice.”

“I might. I’m not really sure right now. The money is going toward a good cause.”

Jacob Kahn

Joe Ciaravino

Sophomore

junior

YOUR TURN: Are you participating in the S.A.V.E a Life 5K?

By Sydney Thompson & Andrea Scapini

“Yes. It’s a really great cause. It’s going towards the Moross Greenway Project and kids with leukemia, and it’s very easy to help people by doing that.”

Jessica Gabel senior

“Absolutely. This has been my passion for the last two years. I’m really excited to see people come out.”

“I’m not doing the S.A.V.E. A Life 5K this year. I’m bummed out because I really wanted to, but I’m going to be out of town.“

Chris Skowronski

Laura Huff

s.A.V.E. adviser

EDITORS-IN-CHIEF: Erica Lizza, Anu Subramaniam MANAGING EDITORS: Haley Reid, Andrea Scapini SECTION EDITORS: Olivia Askimakis, 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, Brigette 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

Athletic secretary

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 Interscholastic 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 GPN community members. Additional copies may be purchased. Our editorial policy and advertising rates are available online at www.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 9 , 2014 – 3

editor’s desk colleen reveley

End the ‘R-word’ “That’s so retarded.”

Really? Is the fact that you have a math test today retarded? Is the fact you have a math test today “slow or limited in intellectual or emotional development or academic progress”? Because according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, that’s what you’re saying.

Using “retarded” as an adjective to describe a person or action that doesn’t match up with its actual definition shows ignorance. There are roughly 1,025,110 words in the English language, but people still choose this one. Buy a dictionary. Read a book.

Expand your vocabulary.

Next time you’re tempted to call someone or something retarded, think of the other words you can use that would make you seem smarter and better express what was trying to be said: absurd, not cool, obscure, trivial, irrational, pointless, illogical and careless.

Working with intellectually and socially-impaired students for the past two years at North has really opened my eyes and mind.

Hearing these students distressed because of something an ignorant peer said breaks their hearts and mine. I understand that people use the ‘R-word’ as a slang word and aren’t trying to offend those with disabilities. But since it was derived from a derogatory term classifying people with special needs, every time it’s said, people with disabilities are still offended.

The best way I have found to end the ‘R-word’ is to call people out on it. If someone says it in class, I tend to blatantly point out that it is not a nice word and they aren’t using it properly. Embarrass them if you have to. I can promise you that this person will think twice before letting the ‘R-word’ roll off their tongue again.

In 2012, political conservative Ann Coulter, a writer, columnist, lawyer and political commentator was under fire for tweeting during a presidential debate using the ‘R-word.’ She tweeted, “I highly approve of Romney’s decision to be kind and gentle to the retard.”

Coulter received immense amounts of hate mail, including mail from Special Olympic athletes.

Less than 140 characters caused this uproar, proving that the word stings.

If doctors no longer refer to people with intellectual disabilities as retarded, why do we refer to someone without disabilities in that way?

Just as the ‘N-word’ is a slur against blacks, the same can be said about the ‘R-word’ being a slur on the intellectually disabled. As children, we have all heard the childish phrase, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” I don’t find that to be true. I like to live by, “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.”

Before you let the ‘Rword’ fly out of your mouth, put yourself in someone else’s shoes.

Pledge to spread the word to end the ‘R-word’ at www.r-word.org.

On Campus

4 – North Pointe – Friday May 9, 2014

S.A.V.E. hosts second annual 5K

Faces in the crowd

Students and community members come together to raise funds for cancer research and environmental improvements

Thanos Hedglin

As opposed to the classic way of fishing with a hook and worm, freshman Thanos Hedglin prefers fly fishing.

“It’s pretty much like normal fishing. You just have to swing the rod a couple more times, almost like you’re cracking a whip,” Hedglin said.

This began around five years ago.

“I started because my dad has been on several fishing trips, and he wanted to start taking me along,” Hedglin said.

Hedglin enjoys many aspects of fly fishing.

“I like spending time with my dad and my brother, and I also really like fishing,” Hedglin said.

For Hedglin, the process of fishing isn’t the only difference he has with some other fishermen.

“We make the actual flies that we go fishing with. We start out with materials such as furs and feathers and stuff like that, and you just tie knots around a hook,” Hedglin said.

By Ritika Sanikommu, Emma Brock & Alanna Sparks assistant editors & photo editor

Caroline Bock

ABOVE: Sophomore Emily Harder holds the banner for the race. “The race went really well, and everyone seemed to enjoy it a lot. I think it impacted students to be more involved. I volunteered because I liked the causes and wanted to help out Mr. Skowronski,” Harder said.

LEFT: Freshman Adam Schreck runs alongside his brother Garret wearing matching Turkey Trot shirts. “I thought it was a good cause to run for, and I will continue to run for charity races if there are more,” Schreck said.

RIGHT: Sophomore Connor Sickmiller crosses the finish line, winning the race with a time of 18:23. “The race was a lot of fun. I love 5Ks, and getting to run them in a non-competitive environment is really nice.The money is going to a great cause, and I was very happy to support it,” Sickmiller said.

Ashley McLarty

BOTTOM RIGHT: Freshman Grace Sexton gives a thumbs up as she prepares for the race. “Since I do cross country ... I was used to the distance, and I am in the middle of track season, so it would be a really fun thing to do and still stay in shape for the season,” Sexton said.

ABOVE: Freshman Ryan Race celebrates after finishing the 5K. “It was an enjoyable race that was fun to do, and just being out with my friends was fun,” Race said.

Spanish teacher Andrew Tucker

By Emma Puglia Web Managing Editor

COURTESY OF Andrew tucker

Man’s best friend became man’s best lookout when junior Ashley McLarty’s dog, Hunter, helped save her family from a gas leak.

The three-month-old Siberian Husky woke McLarty’s mother in the middle of the night to warn her of a gas burner that was still running on the stove. However, no one realized why Hunter was barking.

“She took him outside thinking he had to go to the bathroom, but he just continued crying,” McLarty said. “So she took him back in, and he continued to cry and ran and sat by the stove, which is when my mom noticed that a burner was left on with just gas coming out.”

If Hunter hadn’t alerted the family to the hazard, a single spark could have caused serious damage.

“The gas leak could’ve potentially blown my house up if we wouldn’t have turned off the burner when we did,” McLarty said.

The family adopted the dog two weeks prior to the incident.

“He wasn’t trained. He just did it,” McLarty said.

By Billy Moin, Emma Brock & Katelyn Carney

FIVE MINUTES WITH

Spanish teacher Andrew Tucker gathers his son’s hockey team to give advice before their game.

Sophomore Caroline Bock is on varsity lacrosse for a second year, allowing her to play her favorite sport.

“There’s a bunch of different skills that go into it, like you have to know how to do cradling left and right hand and throwing and catching with both your hands,” Bock said.

Even though she is on a different team than most of her friends, she loves the challenge of playing with the varsity girls. Bock furthers her skills by attending lacrosse camps in the summer.

Bock has also played for the Neighborhood Club and St. Paul Church. She aspires to continue playing her favorite sport even after she graduates.

“I really want to improve, and it’s something that I probably want to do in college.”

An icy blast of cold air in a hockey arena and the joy of teaching the sport to youngsters are two things that appeal to Spanish teacher Andrew Tucker, known as Señor T. Since he played hockey for most of his life, Tucker began helping out as an assistant coach in Trenton.

“I’ve done assisting for the last couple years, but this is my first time as a head coach. They’re running the systems well that I’ve taught them,” Tucker said.

Tucker’s son, Solomon, is one of the players on the team. Tucker said he enjoys watching his son develop and get better.

“He’s working. He’s still little, he’s seven, so he’s still working hard and trying to do his best,” Tucker said.

After working at North for 13 years, helping out with North’s varsity hockey team was an option Tucker had to turn down.

“I considered assisting North’s

team, but I’m too busy because the other team — it’s a travel team,” Tucker said.

Although Tucker is involved in the coaching of novice hockey players, he’s interested in professional hockey as well. Tucker chose the Red Wings as his top squad, justifying it with, “they’re our team!”

While Steve Yzerman is Tucker’s all-time favorite Red Wings player, his current pick is Pavel Datsyuk. “(Datsyuk) has changed the game. Before he came along, we’d never seen anybody like that,” Tucker said.

A dedicated fan, Tucker has a number of old season schedules hung around his desk and has been to about 30 Red Wings games. His favorite game that he has attended wasn’t a playoff or a last-second goal.

“My son actually got to play when he was a Timbit in between periods. So that was a fun game,” Tucker said. “He was probably five years old.”

Why did you want to play hockey?

It was fun. I love hockey. I’ve played all my life. I started when everybody in the city where I live plays hockey, so it was one of those things where it’s just what you do. It’s just what we do.

Where is Trenton?

It’s 15 minutes south of Detroit. Trenton is a big hockey community. We won states this year and when I first started teaching here, Grosse Pointe North hockey started.

When it started, Grosse Pointe North modeled their hockey team off of ours because we won so many state championships.

What did you think about the Red Wings playoffs this year?

Yeah, not so good, no. Next year, next year.

If you could give a piece of advice to a large group of people, what would it be?

Never give up.

When you were a student, what did you want to be when you grew up?

In high school, I kind of had a plan to go into teaching. In elementary school, I wanted to be an astronaut. You know how little kids are: when you’re little, you want to go into space. Teaching was what I wanted to get a degree in and then possibly business, maybe art. I do a lot of artwork, just on my own; business was a thing that had good money; and travel, which I love traveling.

REVIEWS

North Pointe – Friday, May 9, 2014 – 5

Under anesthesia, above the clouds LUKE STURGILL

By Caelin Micks So is it all real?

Such controversy followed the book Heaven Is For Real in 2010, as the book was based on a “real” event. It immediately broke the publisher’s sales records and readers’ convictions upon publication.

A movie version was released on April 16. Heaven Is For Real has captivated an audience of people looking to reassure their faith and others who are looking to decipher the feasibility of the story.

The plot centers around four-year-old Colton Burpo, played by Connor Corum.

During an emergency appendectomy, Colton believes that he left his body and went to heaven. This near-death experience is the basis of the story’s controversy.

After his surgery, Colton is able to recount events that he was never told about or never witnessed. While Colton tells these stories, the viewer falls in love with the sincerity that actor Connor Corum perfectly portrays. Corum’s voice and facial expressions accurately capture the innocence of fouryear-olds and garners viewers’ sympathy.

Colton initially questions why his father, Todd Burpo (Greg Kinnear), screamed at Jesus while alone in the hospital chapel

during Colton’s operation. His father is confused, as he thought he was alone in the chapel, but he brushes it off, reasoning that Colton’s mother told their son what happened.

However, Colton’s parents start to believe in his journey when he tells them about a stranger who hugged him while he was with God. The surprising story Colton recounts is a true tear-jerker: the stranger was his miscarried older sister.

Colton’s mother, Sonja Burpo (Kelly Reilly), becomes convinced of her son’s storie, because she and Todd never told anyone else, even Colton, about the miscarriage.

This emotional scene kept the audience at the edge of their seats.

Despite the heart-warming emotion, many viewers still doubted whether this four-year-old could really could have experienced this. But the sadness and change in mood in this scene makes Colton’s experience seem undoubtedly true to the viewer.

Todd starts to believe his son went to heaven once Colton tells his father numerous stories he couldn’t possibly know.

As a pastor, Todd had always preached about heaven but never thought he would hear about someone’s firsthand experience in heaven.

Todd quickly becomes obsessed with learning as much as possible about his son’s amazing experience, being a religious man himself. Yet he still finds himself questioning his own faith, which prompts the viewer to do the same. Greg Kinnear plays the role of a small-town preacher exactly as one would picture a preacher reacting to his son’s firsthand account of heaven —amazed.

But since Todd is the town’s preacher, the real-life controversy centers on the belief that he fed Colton these stories to get more people to attend his church in search of similar miracles.

In one of Todd’s Sunday sermons, he opens up about Colton’s experience. No one in the congregation understands, leaving the scene a little dry, with a sense of palpable awkwardness inside the church. Todd is asked to step down as preacher when his small-town friends don’t believe Colton’s experience in heaven was real. Viewers may be disappointed in the town’s lack of faith in Colton’s story and sympathize with Todd’s plight. At the same time, viewers may question whether they would believe Todd and Colton’s story if it occurred in their communities.

Viewers who are still in disbelief may think Todd’s method of revealing the sto-

ry is evidence of a publicity stunt, until a touching interview from a local journalist hydrates the movie and warms the audience’s hearts. The interview also convinces the townspeople of Colton’s story.

During this emotional rollercoaster, Colton’s older sister, Cassie (Lane Styles), still struggles to understand what her brother is going through. She adds a humorous element to the movie when she punches two boys who were making fun of her brother, though she still doesn’t fully believe Colton’s experience. This comical scene breaks the movie’s heavily dramatic streak, lifting the audience’s mood and making them excited to see how it all ends.

The movie leaves the audience thinking about their own families and beliefs and asking themselves if this is all a publicity stunt. Or is heaven for real?

Drive-In Movies

Waze

the other woman

Head or heart

B-

b

B-

a-

Staff Reporter

D e s pit e fearing for my well-being in the surrounding Dearborn neighborhood, the Ford DriveIn movie theatre was like a charming relic. forddrivein.com The moviegoer first drives up to the ticket booth, where he or she states the desired movie and pays the fee. Tickets for adults are $8.95, children’s cost $3.95 and children 5 and under get in free.

The seller directed me to the ‘theater’ that I would be driving to. A sign urges drivers to turn out their lights, and follow the wooden posts directing the path to the theatre. I followed a short dirt path to theater three, where Captain America: The Winter Soldier was playing. It was light enough to see, but not quite light enough at 10:50 p.m. to see the gigantic pothole I drove over.

Despite this, I managed to get to theater three, which consisted of a few rows of grassy, dirt hills to park on to view the gigantic screen. Wooden posts separate each spot and are connected to speakers that can be placed in the cars. Also, a sign on the screen tells the movie-goer which radio station the movie can be heard on, which was a convenient feature on a chilly night. However, parking spots farther back had poor reception.

Each theatre is close enough to view the other screen but far enough apart to provide plenty of parking for each of the five lots. There is a small building for concession and bathrooms in the center of the complex. The bathrooms were extremely outdated and grimy, not to mention the toilet paper was locked in the holder.

Being able to go to an old drive-in theatre with current movies was a good experience.

Although Ford Drive-In doesn’t feel like the safest place and could use some maintenance, I would do it again.

Current showtimes can be found at www.forddrivein.com.

By Kristen Kaled

Sitting in traffic may be a thing of the past. Technology has found ways to avoid it.

During a recent road trip to Florida, there was an accident causing a few miles of facebook.com backed-up traffic.

When people got out to stretch, a man from Ohio in a nearby car informed surrounding bystanders of a traffic app called Waze.

Upon downloading, the main screen is a map of the location of the user’s vehicle.

In the lower right corner is a button that has different alerts you that can be added to the map. It’s possible to find out if there was an accident and how far away it is. There is also the mapchat started by nearby “Wazers,” who share updates about the road ahead.

Wazers build off of each other’s reports.

Once something is reported, whether it be a car on the shoulder, debris on the road or speed trap, a small icon shows up ahead of the vehicle’s location on the map. This is a very helpful way to avoid upcoming danger and inconveniences. The app also tells how many other Wazers are nearby.

Another feature shows nearby gas stations and their prices. However, some of the reported prices are older and inaccurate.

A downfall of the app is inaccurate alerts.

This is mostly due to human error. It might say the traffic is clearing up, or a cop is not where it was reported. However, upon passing each spot on the map, a button pops up allowing one to report that the hazard was no longer exists. It can also be hard to tell which side of the road a hazard is on And although the app vocalizes that there is an upcoming hazard, it would be distracting to pay attention to if one had no passengers in the car.

Unless there is a passenger to assist the driver, the app is less useful. However, with the help of a navigator, the app is a great way to stay safe on the roads and save time.

Waze; Waze Inc.; 2014; Iphone & Ipad; Free

By Kristen Kaled

Grade: AHeaven Is For Real Randall Wallace 2014 PG-13

The Other Woman, starring two strong female leads, Cameron Diaz and Leslie Mann, is the perfect girl power, post-break up, ‘feel better about yourself’ movie. The scenario of three trailers.apple.com girls getting played by the same guy and then becoming BFFs for a total male takedown was done quite well in the 2006 film John Tucker Must Die. Though they have similar plots, The Other Woman is directed for a more mature audience than John Tucker Must Die was. Both focus on girl power and revenge, but The Other Woman takes it a step further by incorporating romantic subplots.

The whole plot of the movie was an attempt at encouraging feminism, but at times, it relied on quick wit and cheap laughs instead of reaching its full empowering potential, especially with Nicki Minaj making her attempt at an acting debut, playing a secretary that doubles as Cameron Diaz’s love consultant. The plot line is also muddled at times; it tries to appeal to the funny bone instead of the logical train of thought.

The plot was choppy and executed poorly, and the acting was mediocre and inconsistent. Leslie Mann perfected the crazed wife, while Cameron Diaz’s portrayal of a successful, professionally motivated woman was spot on. As for Kate Upton’s character, they were looking to cast a bimbo, and that’s what they got.

The PG-13 rating was fitting for its crude and sometimes distasteful sense of humor. It seemed as if the humor was trying to appeal to the teenage and young adult male audience, while the sometimes murky storyline appealed more to the female teenage and young adult crowds instead. Although some of the humor in the movie was mean-spirited and poorly delivered, this movie is surely one red stiletto step toward female domination in the film industry.

Emotiona l lyrics and creative instrumentals introduce Christina Perri’s second album, Head or Heart. The titles of the songs and the album itself Itunes.apple.com show that Perri uses her inner emotions to tell stories through her music.

Her first single from The album’s first single “Human,” was a hit when introduced to the musical world. It is currently popular on the radio everywhere. This is one of the more heartwarming songs when it comes to the lyrics on her album.

Songs about vulnerability and life experiences are showcased throughout Perri’s tracks. Her soulful, powerful voice and passionate lyrics not only help build each song musically but also lyrically. This makes listeners receive her messages through the songs easier when her voice is more calm and welcoming.

Perri’s music is easy to listen to because it produces a slower and more powerful sound that is usually not present in the current music industry. This, however, can also turn listeners away because at times the songs feel too slow. Her musical talent is extraordinary and is proven throughout this album, but it is one that may be skipped over once in a while. The technology that is used to create the songs also has an affect on how they sound. Hearing the strong piano skills can add dramatic effect behind her lyrics but can also drown out her voice, which then detracts from the power of the song.

Head or Heart is popular right now, but it probably won’t last long at the top of competitive music charts. However, Perri has managed to make this album a hit for the time being. With its inspirational lyrics and powerful passion, it is one to have in your rainy day playlist.

The Other Woman, 2014, Nick Cassavetes, PG-13

Christina Perri, Head or Heart, Martin Johnson, 2014; $9.99

By Colleen Reveley

By Jenna Belote

6 – Friday May 9, 2014 – North Pointe

life

Sen[seen-yor-eye-tis] · ior · it · is noun. a destructive disease that commonly infects second semester seniors. Side effects may include: lack of motivation, increase in procrastination, an excessive wearing of sweatpants and an overpowering urge to sleep in whatever class has the most comfortable desks

By Josie Bennett & Brittney Hernandez assistant editor & section editor

It’s that time of year again. Fourth quarter has arrived, and summer is just on the horizon. Excitement and anxiety fill the halls of every grade level. Seniors everywhere prepare for life beyond high school with a celebratory lack of motivation that has become such an epidemic it has developed its own name: senioritis.

This infectious “disease” has affected even the least susceptible and continues to be the biggest threat to final grades.

“I have less motivation to do my homework,” senior Caroline Schulte said. “I have scholarships and college applications to worry about, which seem more important at this point of my life than doing homework for classes that I don’t even need to take to graduate.”

Warning: senioritis may cause those affected to question the value of their final months Although the immensely ill believe the year to be practically over and last-minute work to be overrated, teachers hold a different opinion, thinking that senioritis is more of a cover-up for their utter loss of academic interest.

“It’s really sad sometimes to see some students absolutely shut down,” English teacher Andy Montague said. “There have been a few more that have checked out portionally than in years past.”

Warning: symptoms may develop early This year’s senior class may be a little more than ready to skedaddle out of North for good, but their excitement is anticipated.

Even Montague had the pre-graduation fever. Each year brings with it another class just as eager to escape as the last. The “disease” takes its full effect once the third -year responsibilites have cleared.

“Fourth quarter junior year after the ACT. That’s when the senioritis really started to set in,” senior A.J. Owens said.

Warning: lack of attendance may become a social norm amongst infected peers All the years of standardized testing and mandatory 8 a.m. classes start to sound less appealing as senior year rolls around. Attendance becomes more of an option than a standard. After almost four years of highschool dedication, the graduating students are restless, and the symptoms of senioritis become more evident than ever before.

“It really kicks in after acceptance letters come in second quarter of their senior year,” Montague said.

“They have this feeling that he or she has done everything that he or she needs to do. It’s done.”

Warning: there is no fix once the last semester is in full throttle Accomplishing all that is needed to graduate becomes an enormous factor to the senioritis bug. With the school year coming to a close no one is safe from the scientifically vague “disease,” and the only cure lies at the end of graduation. The benefits? The more severe the case, the closer to nirvana.

“It’s the end of the year, and I am ready to leave,” Owens said.

Jennifer Kusch

“Knot” your typical friendship

Both general and special education students build relationships through KNOTS program

By Yena Berhane & Mallika Kanneganti web sports editor & staff reporter

After eating with special needs students at lunch, junior Micah Darnell was prompted to join Kids Needs Opportunities to Socialize (KNOTS) and to help coach track and field for special needs students.

“I just have a drive to work with them. I like it a lot,” Darnell said. “Sometimes you have to have patience with them, but usually it’s fine.”

General education students have the opportunity to work with special education students while at school through KNOTS during tutorial or lunch. For them, what was once considered “work” has now become bonding time with their newfound friends.

During her tutorial, Darnell helps special needs students in their gym class, which has allowed her to foster friendships with students with whom she wouldn’t normally have the chance to interact. Darnell has become good friends with the students she helps, even though she does not see them outside of school.

“They’re really nice, and they’re good people. And I’ll see them down the hallway, and they don’t hesitate to say ‘Hey,’” Darnell said. “They’re really easy to get along with ... they get really excited, and they want you to ask them questions about them. And they’re really interested in what you have to say, too.”

Friendships between special and general ed students teach social skills. Autism Spectrum Disorder teacher Michael DeCenso observes that his students do not interact as much as in previous years, although he would like them to.

“Our students learn social norms and things like that that help them get their acceptance,” DeCenso said. “The social skills that you guys take for granted they have to learn them.”

Special needs teacher Lisa Lucas benefits from her interactions with her students.

“It’s rewarding. You see students overcome things that they felt that they could never do, and then they do it,” Lucas said. “It’s a really good feeling,” Lucas said.

Lucas realizes the importance of understanding the condition of her students.

“It’s important that not just the students, but teachers, are aware of people’s different needs, and really just being open to knowing that everyone is different,” Lucas said. “We all learn in different ways, and we all have different likes and dislikes.”

Junior Joe Ciaravino has also made strong friendships through KNOTS. After hearing about the program on the announcements, he decided to join.

“The fact that I only see them a few times a week (is the difference),” Ciaravino said. “I don’t really see them that different from my other friends.”

Ciaravino eats lunch with two special needs students on Tuesdays through Thursdays. “(I help them) become like a little bit more comfortable around other kids and just kind of socialize a little more than they usually would,” Ciaravino said.

Over time, he learned how to transform his work into concrete friendships.

“I guess at the start, it was kind of hard to get to know them a little bit, but now it comes naturally. So I guess there isn’t really a hard part anymore,” Ciaravino said. “It’s easy to have a conversation with them.”

Brigitte Smith

Junior Joe Ciaravino enjoys a leisurely talk with Yarnell Walker. “I’ve really got to know Yarnell and the past few weeks have been really enjoyed hanging out with him. It’s a really good relationship,” Ciaravino said.

Like others, he began his friendship with special education students as volunteer work but forged deeper connections.

“I usually wouldn’t talk to kids with special needs. I guess (KNOTS) kinda opened a new door for me and like allowed me to see into their life and see how they’re doing, what they have to go through,” Ciaravino said. “And it’s kinda given a different perspective than my circle of friends, just letting me meet new kids.”

Sports

North Pointe – Friday, May 9, 2014 – 7

Family bolsters Olympic dream on and off the ice

By Anu Subramaniam & Ritika Sanikommu co-Editor-in-Chief & Assistant Editor

What was a family affair became a life-long passion for freshman Heidi Washburn when her mom prepared her to hit the ice for the first time at two years old.

“I wanted to join skating originally when I saw my cousin. She was skating, and I went to one of her competitions, and I looked at my mom, and I said I want to do that, and she signed me up, and I’ve been in love with it ever since,” Washburn said.

Some of Washburn’s other early inf luences were her parents and siblings, who helped her get involved with the sport.

“My dad coaches hockey. All (three of ) my brothers played hockey. My two youngest brothers still play hockey. My mom was a figure skater,” she said. “I was just raised in the rink and on the ice. It’s in my blood.”

Washburn continued skating under coach Lindsay O’Donoghue for seven years until she switched from singles figure skating to ice dancing.

“Both of her parents were competitive athletes themselves, so they instilled in Heidi the work ethic and the importance of working hard and achieving goals,” O’Donoghue said. “They have always supported her in what she wanted to do, and Heidi has always worked hard at it. They give her what she needs to succeed.”

By continuing to skate, Washburn hopes to skate internationally and make it to the Olympics. To meet her goal, she has had to overcome many obstacles and injuries that have come her way.

“I mean, with all that training, you get injured a lot, and you tough through it, and that’s why I had to quit freestyle and join dance. I had wrist problems,” Washburn said.

In addition to working with injuries, Washburn has to manipulate her school schedule by taking her sixth hour online and missing her seventh hour so she can dedicate more time to the rink. The extra time at the rink has its benefits, but also affects Washburn’s social life.

“You kind of sacrifice a lot of the social life at school, and you don’t get to hang out with your friends at school as much because you’re at the rink,” she said. “I have rink friends, but even when you’re on the rink, you’re training. Even with your friends on the rink, you get the time when you put your skates on, taking them off, walking to (skating) class, walking on ice, there’s really not that much socialization.”

Along with the sacrifices that Washburn has to make comes the support of her parents, close friends and coaches.

“I encourage her to be her best and try to be as supportive and understanding when things are stressful,” Heidi’s mother, Jamie Washburn said. “It’s especially difficult right now because we are looking for a partner. So we are driving around trying to find the perfect partner to skate with (which) is extremely difficult.”

Despite these challenges, Washburn wants to continue skating because of her love for the sport.

“I’ve just been working towards my goals by training every day, and training my hardest, and giving 110% and giving it everything I have,” Washburn said.

Her training regimen includes practicing five times a week. Each session consists of ice practice, ballet en pointe, pilates, yoga and ballroom dancing. During most weeks, Washburn adds additional ice hours to her practice.

Clippers owner under seige Tabloid release of recorded racial remarks caused backlash from professional basketball fans Clippers team owner Donald Sterling caused an uproar in the National Basktetball Association (NBA) community after racist remarks were recorded and released by TMZ. NBA commissioner Adam Silver officially banned Sterling from any association with the Clippers organization and the NBA for life and issued him a $2.5 million fine on Tuesday, April 29.

The well-deserved punishment was a long time coming. Sterling had been heard making racist remarks numerous times before, but this time it was caught on recording.

The NBA Board of Governors plans to “force” Sterling to sell his team if he refuses to do so on his own. In an interview with ESPN, Magic Johnson stated that he also believes Sterling should be required to sell the team. Johnson also acknowledged that the team’s value has drastically increased since purchased

by Sterling, and the fine would do little damage to his wallet.

Sterling purchased the Clippers in 1981 for $12 million. The team’s value is now an estimated $600 million dollars.

Although the NBA’s maximum fine of $2.5 million was demanded of Sterling, in perspective the amount is not even a scratch in the profit Sterling will gain from selling the team.

Sterling’s girlfriend, V. Stiviano, who is biracial and identifies as “Mexican and black,” claims not to have released the recording. Sources had originally thought otherwise. Stiviano has remained commentless since the controversy has began. However, her record is not so clean either. CNN reports that Sterling’s estranged wife Rochelle Sterling claims that Stiviano has a past of targeting wealthy, older men.

Courtesy of Heidi Washburn

“It’s just my life now. I chose the sport when I was young, and I’ve grown into it, and I have friends there. I have pretty much family there, and I live at the rink, and it’s a part of me,” Washburn said.

“It’s really just that balance between being athletic and being strong and getting that athleticism into the sport while getting that performance aspect, in the ballet, in the prettiness and the elegance of the sport,” Washburn said.

Washburn’s former coach sees this balance in Wahburn’s routines and believes she has what it takes to achieve her ultimate goal of making it to the Olympics.

“She has a natural presence on the ice. She loves to perform and is extremely musical,” O’Donoghue said. “She is an extremely hard worker, and she just —on and off the ice — is just a really great all-around kid.”

Through her many years of figure skating, Washburn has found a love of the sport and a family to share it with.

“I was raised at the St. Clair Shores rink, and that’s where my skating family has always been. Those are the coaches I grew up with, the kids that I grew up with,” Washburn said.

With a goal in mind and passion on her side, Washburn uses her family’s support on and off the ice to pursue her dreams of becoming an international figure skater.

“I want Heidi to have fun,” Jamie Washburn said. “I know her goal is to compete internationally, and I would love to see her accomplish this and have those experiences with people that she enjoys and doing something that she loves.”

Pino DiNoto Rose DiNoto

SPORTS OPINION COLUMN SYDNEY THOMPSON The argument was held between Sterling and Stiviano over his disapproval of her Instagram photos with minorities.

He told her he does not want her bringing black friends to the games. In the recording, Sterling claims Stiviano doesn’t understand “culture” and implies that broadcasting friendships with minorities, specifically black people, is harmful to one’s reputation. In reality, being seen in public with Sterling would harm one’s reputation.

This is a generational clash. Eightyyear-old Sterling and 31-year-old Stiviano butt heads over a topic that is important to him and dismissible to her.

Sterling’s age contributes to his negative views of minorities, representative of a time in American society when segregation and racism were the norm.

In contrast, Stiviano was born and raised in times that focused on overcoming racist views in society. This is what caused their argument to escalate and reach no solution. While racism clearly still exists, the dispute about being seen with minorities and the effects it has on one’s image is irrelevant in this day and age.

Sterling, contradicts himself by owning a diverse team and employing minority coaches. As the team owner, he works with minorities on a daily basis and is associated with these people every day.

But Sterling does not view it like that.

He views them as his employees only.

Former Clippers executive Elgin Baylor and others have accused Sterling of having a “plantation mentality:” wanting a rich white man to be in charge of and theoretically own minorities. This showcases how ignorant Sterling’s views of an evolving, diverse world really are.

Sterling needs to step down gracefully from his position as team owner and stay out of the way, hidden in one of his many mansions.

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

10 liquor law violations

1 liquor law violation

10 drugs law violations

=

=

=

According to www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov, 40% of college students admit to binge drinking.

Aside from obvious legality issues arising from the fact that many students are under the legal drinking age, those who binge drink are more likely to miss class, fall behind and maintain a lower average grade point than those who abstain from it.

As Dartmouth College president Philip Hanlon pointed out in his speech, recent years have seen an upturn in both substance abuse and behavioral misconduct.

Partying became a larger issue at Dartmouth when the United States Department of Education began their investigation of harassment and sexual violence at the college, and again when president Hanlon voiced his concerns about the future of the institution being threatened by this campus culture.

According to the Washington Post, applications at Dartmouth are down 14% this year.

Tipsy timeline:

North Pointe – Friday, May 9, 2014 – 8

2010

2011

Contributing: Josie Riley, Luke Sturgill & Maria Liddane

Assitant editor

By Audrey Kam

A short history of party behavior in Dartmouth College’s student housing

in-depth

2012

shoptinnels.com

en.Wikipedia.org