North Pointe Vol. 48, Issue 6- Dec. 16, 2015

LIFE PAGE 6 LEFT: Senior Tyler Ciechanowski is part of a youth program run

by General Motors that introduces high schoolers to car design.

NORTH

POINTE TYLER CIECHANOWSKI

GROSSE POINTE NORTH HIGH SCHOOL

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 16, 2015

SINCE 1968

NCAA regulates core class credits for college athletes

By Sonny Mulpuri & Billy Steigelman INTERNS

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is known for its superior athletic standards but has recently started to expect the same level of performance from its athletes in the classroom. The organization has a new eligibility rule for Division I-bound athletes to have at least 16 core classes, but there’s a catch.

Some classes don’t meet the NCAA’s core class requirements, which can potentially shape the types of classes high school athletes sign up for.

Freshman Julia Ayrault would like to play Division I womens basketball, but knows that this rule is important to follow if she wants to play.

“It makes students have to do well academically as well as in their sport so overall I think it’s a good rule,” Ayrault said.

To play at a Division I school, athletes need a total of 10 core class credits: four English credits, three math credits (Algebra 1 and higher), two science credits and one additional credit of any of those three subjects.

Other requirements are two social science credits, two foreign language credits and four additional credits of any core classes.

This core class minimum for athletes isn’t the same for students not pursuing collegiate athletics. Several different English courses, that would count towards the required four credits needed to graduate, like Film Liturature, would not count towards an athlete’s 10 credits.

Essentially, athletes around the country will have the same number of credit hours and same type of coursework if they want to go out of state and compete in college, setting a standard. For a class to be considered as a core credit, it must be re-

ceived as a graduation credit and should lead into a prep course an athlete can take in college.

Athletic director Brian Shelson said the purpose of the new regulation is to help keep the classes consistent for all student athletes around the country.

“It helps level out the playing field for people from different places,” Shelson said. “So people can’t take a bunch of classes that don’t count for the core and get all A’s versus a student that has to take more difficult classes.”

While Ayrault is aware of this rule, senior rower Emily Truss, who is committed to the University of Tulsa, was not aware

“

I think that any classes that count for credits under core classes should count for everyone.

Diane Montgomery ENGLISH TEACHER

“

and believes the NCAA shouldn’t put limits on the classes athletes can take.

“I think you should be able to take whatever classes you want because you don’t know what you will want to do in the future,” Truss said.

Boys cross country coach Diane Montgomery, who has coached a handful of college-bound runners, hasn’t encountered the rule. However, she said that student athletes’ transcripts should be treated the same as those for regular students.

“I don’t think it is very fair,” Montgomery said. “I think that any classes

that count for credits under core classes should count for everyone.”

Unlike the NCAA, the Grosse Pointe Public School District holds students to a minimum of 24 credits to graduate from high school. This includes elective subjects such as fine arts, technology and physical education, which are some of the examples of classes that the NCAA doesn’t count as a core credit.

An athlete who simply follows the necessary core classes provided by the district of four credits of math and English, three for science and social studies and two for a world language would easily be able to complete the requirements of the NCAA. Freshman Chad Lorkowski has always wanted to play Division I baseball. While he is currently taking many different kinds of classes such as physical education and cooking, Lorkowski knows he must become more focused on his core classes in the future to be able to continue his baseball career.

“I’ll start taking classes that aren’t as flat like cooking so I can make sure that I get the certain credits for main classes that you have to get,” Lorkowski said.

The rule has more impact on current day student athletes trying to play a sport in college than ever before.

Times have changed since Shelson was in college, when there was no rule affecting sports competitors. He knows that nowadays, colleges look at athletes’ abilities to both play on the court and perform in the classroom.

“I think it helps the athlete, and it helps the college because now you have to play your sport, but you also have to be a good student while meeting the NCAA requirement, which will help the future of not only the colleges, but the student-athletes themselves.”

ABOVE: Seniors Emily Truss and Jen Gmeiner sign to row in college.

BELOW: Truss and Gmeiner sit with principal Kate Murray. Truss will attend University of Tulsa and Gmeiner will attend Michigan State.

EMILY TRUSS

Digital Seminar to expand to full-year course

By Michal Ruprecht INTERN

A shimmering sound from the 3D printer rings through Science 304. Social studies and technolog y teacher Sean McCarroll transformed the old science room two years ago into a colorful technolog y hub filled w ith the latest gadgets for aspiring students.

Because of its popularit y, Digital Seminar w ill be expanded from one semester to t wo in the coming school year.

Senior Erin Armbruster is currently taking the course and believes the curriculum expansion w ill show others how diverse North is.

“I think it w ill make (Digital Seminar) more popular and get it more recognition throughout the cit y,” Armbruster said. “People w ill hear about it and see all the cool stuff that North is doing.”

Assistant principal Tom Beach has noticed a greater demand for the technolog y class and hopes this gives ever yone a chance to enroll.

“Class of ferings a re based on choices for students,” Beach sa id. “If you wa nt to ta ke a class, we t r y to ma ke it ava ilable for you. The reason t his class is being ex pa nded is t hat people a re ver y interested in it. People a re ta lk ing about it. They’re excited about it, a nd t hey do a lot of creative t hings in t here.”

The room houses ma ny new dev ices, ra ng ing f rom t he dist rict’s f irst 3D printer to HD T Vs, which ser ve as the class’s prime attractors. As technolog y advances, McCarroll hopes to add to the collection, keeping in mind the curriculum must change sy mbiotically w ith modern electronics.

IDEAS - PAGE 7

McCarroll found that adding new courses to his class helps students understand the complicated and developing world of technolog y. The new courses w ill be called iTech, iDesign and iCreate.

“(They) all build off of each other to teach students how to innovate in a world of constantly changing technolog y and resources,” McCarroll said v ia email. “It’s a good opportunit y for students to do

LIFE - PAGE 4

“I’m a high schooler with no political experience, but I do know when people are in need.”

Spend five minutes with science teacher Ann Muto and read about her skydiving experience.

ANN MUTO

@thenorthpointe www.northpointenow.org

VOLUME 48 | ISSUE 6

more hands-on work that is relevant to them. It’s a great way to take what they’ve learned in their other classes and have an outlet where they can use that knowledge to solve real-world problems.”

Through the class, students gain the opportunit y to prepare themselves the future. Senior Luke Drieborg, who is currently taking the class for one semester, believes the class proposes something new and exciting.

“I think what really grabs a lot of kids’ attention is the 3D printing,” Drieborg said. “It’s really hands on.

You’re able to use a lot of technolog y t hroughout t he class. It’s basica l ly … our world today. That’s why k ids li ke it.”

A f ter ta k ing t he class to f u lf i l l her computer credit, sophomore Ca rly Lema nsk i says t he class presents students w it h ra re ex periences.

“I never thought that I would be able to use a 3D printer, so t hat was interesting to do, a nd t he coding stuf f because you wou ldn’t t hin k you cou ld do t hat,” Lema nsk i sa id. “We’re obv iously adva ncing our technolog y, so it g ives you more ex perience w it h it. You’re able to f ig ure t hings out. I t hin k I w i l l be able to f ig ure t hings out better. Ot her people might be more conf used about it, a nd I cou ld help ot her people.”

Ma ny col leges a nd employers a re mov ing to env ironments simi la r to Dig ita l Semina r. McCa rrol l has obser ved t he diverg ing idea ls a nd believes t he class foreshadows what is to come for students.

Calendar | 2 News | 3

On Campus | 4 Life | 5-6

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

LIFE - PAGE 6

“The disadvantage our technology puts us at is evident when it comes to focusing on daily tasks.”

DARCY GRAHAM

Reviews | 7 On Pointe| 8

Editorial | 9 Sports | 10-11

In-Depth | 12

2 – Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2015 – North Pointe

Digital seminar CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 “Just getting more exposure to the twenty-first century skills is hugely important for everyone’s future, especially since employers look for adaptability to new situations more than root content knowledge,” McCarroll said.

“Employers are more interested in hir-

NEWS

ing people that can work well with others, think on their own and apply their knowledge to new situations rather than being fountains of memorization.

Having an opportunity to practice and have these skills will be helpful for both college and the workforce.”

As the technolog y has progressed, Digital Seminar projects have changed

for students today, and it’s not only something that they’re interested in, but they recognize they’ll be able to apply it. Life isn’t about liv ing in cubicles any more. It’s about working w ith others,” he said. “This class models ever y thing that w ill go on in college and in their jobs.”

from being independent-based to more group-based.

Beach believes the class goes hand in hand w ith daily lifest yles because of the rapid technological advances.

“Students nowadays are completely engaged in their digital lives. They’re digital natives. I think that class and what they’re teaching is ver y relevant

Wearable technology becomes everyday accessory

By Erin Kaled & Tommy Teftis

The watch is universally appealing, and remains popular in a high school setting.

“I can text off of it and can even make phone calls if Wearable technolog y is the newest craze in the I felt like it,” senior Alexis Jimmerson said. “My favorite fashion and digital world. The Fitbit Flex was intro- part is that I get control from my music from the watch.”

Just like a Fitbit, the Apple Watch is also a duced to the public in May 2013. It was inway to track a person’s body and health pattended to track the movement of a person terns.

The Apple Watch for 24 hours. Two years later, it’s become even detects when a common accessor y for people to have. one stands up, so The Fitbit is a ty pe of bracelet used it can motivate to help people stay motivated and its wearer remain in shape. It tracks weight, to stay acsleep patterns, food intake and retive.

It cords users’ workout and health shows how statistics. Fitbit lets wearers many calochoose what kind of help you need: ries one’s from ever yday fitness to perforb u r n e d mance fitness, it covers it all. and has a “There’s a clock on it and I love water-resishow it tracks my steps,” junior tant strap.

Johnathan Zinn said. “I think it’s revolutionar y and different beBesides the cause it’s digital.” health benJoining the Fitbit, the Apple efits associWatch is also becoming a common ated with the Apple sight. Ranging from $399 to $12,000, the Watch, the company watch is just like an iPhone. Users can introduced a new way track their health needs, talk to Siri, anto pay for the items you WWW.FLICKR.COM swer phone calls or texts and even stream purchase. Apple Pay is a digital wallet that their music through the device. connects to credit, reward and debit cards. It’s Although Apple Watches have declined in popularity a “safe” way to pay because the card details aren’t in recent months, according to analysts from Fortune, stored in the watch. Not only is Apple Pay available the company is estimated to have sold between 2.5 mil- for the Apple Watch, it’s accessible for iPhones and lion and 3 million watches. They are expecting a spike iPads as well. in holiday sales, however, with 7 percent of American A lthough both devices are popular, they both have adults planning on buying one this holiday season. relevant dow nsides. With the Fitbit’s lower price beINTERNS

ing ref lected in it’s lower quality construction and the Apple Watch having complaints about batter y life, they often appear to not be worth the money.

The fact that neither suggest many options for boosting athletic abilities (what foods you eat, what exercises to do, etc.) is seen as a problem.

“My (Fitbit) doesn’t time things. During cross country season, I had to wear a Fitbit and a watch to tell the time,” sophomore Maggie Bowers said.

Despite some complaints, both the Fitbit and Apple Watch have received plenty of praise from critics and customers. W hile the Apple Watch has other apps you can choose from, both the watch and the Fitbit seem to achieve their main goal: fitness. “(The Fitbit is) very convenient,” Bowers said. “It’s always on your wrist to see what .CO M W W W. FL ICKR you’re doing during the day.”

This outbreak in wearable technology has sparked a combination of style and practicality. Smart devices such as Apple Watches and Fitbits have embraced allure in their sleek design and suitability in the everchanging technology age. Because of their multiple uses, wearable technology has already replaced classic timepieces, soon to become a prevalent accommodation to many lives in the near future.

ENGINEERS, ARCHITECTS, SCIENTISTS, AND VISIONARIES.

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Possible is everything.

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

NEWS

Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2015 – North Pointe – 3

LocalMotionGreen encourages recycling

By Yena Berhane & Emma Puglia EDITOR-AT-LARGE & WEB EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Go green isn’t just a phrase reserved for cheers at Michigan State’s football games. It became a critical topic world leaders took to Paris for the twenty-first United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP21).

The conference, which ran from Nov. 30 to Dec. 11, reviewed the history of former climate change plans and detailed future goals to reach a universal climate agreement: keeping global warming below 2 degrees Celsius.

Environmental science teacher Chris Skowronski followed the daily updates with an optimistic outlook.

“It’s the first time in human history that every single leader of state for all the major countries are coming to one location to address one issue. First time ever.

For anything,” Skowronski said. “I think that pretty much says that the world is finally getting serious about climate change, and we’ve known about this as an issue for 30 years almost.”

Countries involved in the conference plan to readdress their individual carbon footprints and come up with solutions depending on how they currently use fossil fuels. For example, island nations closer to the equator would focus on wind and solar energy.

“I think that (climate change) is pretty bad since it’s eliminating certain

Gearheads take trip to General Motors workshop Cars. Rocket ships. Robots. Toasters.

They all have one thing in common: a chassis. Chassis are the frames of these devices and other machines, and they support the main body.

For junior Ben Sosnowski and the Gearheads robotics team, the chassis is a crucial part of every robot they build.

“It’s the main thing that you start with,” Sosnowski said. “It protects the wheels, and off that, you build most of the robot. It’s like the foundation.”

With just over a month left before the beginning of the season, the team was in need of the parts required to build their chassis. The missing parts are called channel, which are metal bars bent into a square “c” shape to make them stronger.

To get these parts, Sosnowski and several teammates travelled to the Ad-

habitats and ecosystems,” freshman Audrey Rancourt said. “Maybe by doing a fundraiser to support a group that’s trying to save that certain ecosystem, students can help.”

To bring the concept of conserving energy and biomass to the Grosse Pointe community, LocalMotionGreen at the Ecology Center recently enacted a program that allows sponsors to support outdoor recycling bins at school fields. Nearly half a million plastic bottles are thrown away at sporting events in Grosse Pointe each year, and the program aims to dramatically reduce that amount.

Melissa Sargent is the nonprofit’s environmental health manager. She started the venture two years ago and has helped place 12 recycling bins around the district to reinforce the already strong recycling ethic.

“I think as parents are raising their concern that they’re seeing the plastic overflowing basically out of the trashcan, it’ll make the parks and the playing fields more beautiful,” Sargent said.

“Also, if we look at just simply in G.P. and knowing that we’re a part of larger environment, and that this plastic is not being thrown away, it’s not going into a landfill, it’s not being incinerated and polluting the air that we all breathe, it’s going to be recycled and made into new plastic products. It will benefit the broader environment.” vanced Vehicle Integration Shop at the General Motors Technical Center in Warren on Wednesday, Dec. 2.

According to Jeffrey Santrock, the Gearheads assistant head mentor, the team went to the shop to work with engineers there and make the channel themselves, something they couldn’t do at their own workshop.

“I expected some tours and meetings ... and then a presentation about metal bending,” Hannah O’Grady, a Grosse Pointe South freshman, said. “I didn’t expect to actually be able to do it, but then we did, and I was happy.”

Before making any channel, the group had to find out where to bend the metal, a process called dimensioning.

“We had to calculate that out on paper manually and everything,” Sosnowski said. “It was pretty cool.”

Afterwards, they used a 20-ton press to squeeze metal sheets between two wedges to form the bends they wanted.

In their free time, Santrock said the students roamed the workshop and observed the different projects underway.

“We had a lot of fun,” Sosnowski said. “I got to talk to a lot of the GM people there ... and it made me think maybe I’ll go there in the future.”

By Billy Moin

Senior Olyvia Shimko, an officer in Students Against Violations of the Environment (S.A.V.E.), recognizes the potential in implementing outdoor recycling bins.

“Almost every time I come to a recreational activity at North that’s outdoors, I always notice everyone drinking plastic water bottles or using cans, and I always thought to myself that it would be nice to have outdoor recycling because of how many cans are going to waste being thrown out,” Shimko said.

“This will be really beneficial because as soon as we actually recycle and reuse, that just overall helps our environment and helps everything decompose in a more easier way, and we can reuse, which reduces all the items going into the landfill.”

LocalMotionGreen at the Ecology Center offers local businesses the opportunity to sponsor the outdoor recycling bins for $500 and have their business logo on the bin. Schools are receiving matching donations through a grant from the Worthington Family Foundation, bringing the cost per bin down to $200.

The green teams for each school are taking the lead within their individual schools, and because the ecology center receives a grant for educational materials from the Worthington Family Foundation, these bins serve as educational ma-

terials to help focus on the environment, recycling and the benefits.

“We really want students to be involved with that process actually, and how can we utilize the bins as educational materials. How can we use them to educate other students and the public on how and why we should be recycling?” Sargent said. “Whether it’s creating a video or 30-second morning announcement, there’s definitely ways where we want to involve the students in the education process.”

In his environmental classes, Skowronski teaches that food waste influences many various aspects of the atmosphere. When food is thrown into a landfill, methane is released, a chemical that contributes more to climate change than greenhouse gases. Considering about one-third of the world’s food is wasted each year, according to the United Nations Environment Programme, the amount adds up quick.

“What I always say to my students is that we all drink water, we all eat food, we all breathe air, so we should all know where it comes from,” Skowronski said.

“With climate change, it really impacts all of those things. If we address clean air and healthy food systems, climate change is gonna come after that, and we just have to look big picture.”

PHOTO CREDIT: WWW.PIXABAY.COM

CALENDAR BANDO-RAMA CONCERT

Tonight at 7:30 p.m. in the gym

HOCKEY GAME

Against South on Friday, Dec. 18 at 5 p.m. at McCann Ice Arena

BASKETBALL GAME

Against South on Friday, Dec. 18 at 7 p.m. at home

WINTER BREAK

From Friday, Dec. 18 to Monday, Jan. 4

BOOSTER MEETING

For band and orchestra, Tuesday, Jan. 5 from 7-8 p.m.

8TH GRADE ORIENTATION

Wednesday, Jan. 6 at 6:30 p.m.

JEFFREY SANTROCK

PARENT CLUB MEETING Jan. 13 from 7-9 p.m. in the Union

MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY No school Monday, Jan. 18

JEFFREY SANTROCK

FAR ABOVE: Sosnowski checks to see if the metal has the correct dimensions.

ABOVE: Sosnowski, freshman Hannah O’Grady and sophomores Josh O’Grady and Egan Kline prepare to bend another sheet into channel.

Red Cross hosts blood drive

LAUREN SEXTON

ABOVE: Senior Caelin Micks is checked out before getting her blood drawn.

20119 Mack Ave. Grosse Pointe, Michigan 48236

(313)-881-2800

Vials of blood were drawn in the Performing Arts Center on Monday, Dec. 7 as a part of the annual Red Cross Blood Drive. Junior Marissa Brown was a participant in the event. Brown believes that the event was a success, but the process was inefficient.

“I feel like the blood drive needs to be a lot more efficient on telling you what you need,” Brown said. “If you have one specific (problem), you can’t donate and it disappoints a lot of kids, but overall, it was a really good experience.”

Just like Brown, junior Casey Hedman shares the belief that the process of the drive was disorganized. Hedman didn’t get the opportunity to participate in the blood drive due to a inclined heart rate.

“I waited 30 minutes to be seen by the nurse and she took my forms, asked my address, pricked my finger, took my blood pressure, temperature and heart rate and then told me I was ineligible to give blood,” Hedman said. “So I didn’t get the opportunity to give blood.”

Senior George Mourtos, a volunteer at the drive, feels differently.

He believes that this year’s event was a success in the perspective of people giving blood.

“It went well. I was happy to see so many people interested in giving blood,” Mourtos said. “I worked a table that provided food and beverage for the donors to recuperate at, making sure everyone who donated was alright.”

Even though Brown felt like the process was slow, she still believes that the donations contributed to a good cause. She hopes that the students who donated will set an example to encourage more people in the community to give blood.

“If students are willing to give blood, then I think it’ll definitely give the adults the courage to do it as well.”

By Gowri Yerramalli

Follow @thenorthpointe on Twitter

ON CAMPUS

4 – North Pointe – Wed., Dec. 16, 2015

Radio astronomy team hosts Mineral Mania

By Sydney Benson PHOTO EDITOR

By Bella Desandy & Sydney Benson PHOTO EDITORS

FACES IN THE CROWD

Tommy Mowen

From intricate rhythms to rhyming words, junior Tommy Mowen indulges in the art of rapping. Inspired by Eminem and 2Pac, Mowen began rapping when he was in eighth grade.

“When I was 13, I wanted to be a rapper,” Mowen said. “I thought I was pretty decent so I continued with it.”

When mowen writes, he tends to improve and random bursts of inspiration.

“I never wrote a song but if I was just writing for the heck of it, I would think of a phrase, think of another that has the best rhyme for it, and then try to link those two lines,” Mowen said.

Mowen deviated from his hobby in order to pursue a more practical career path, however, that hasn’t stopped him from occasionally writing down his ideas.

“I started thinking about colleges and more realistic careers,” Mowen said. “I’ll probably never actually make a Soundcloud or anything, but if I think of a line I think is funny, I’ll jot it down.”

Francesca Giacona

ABOVE: Watching over the elementary students as they play Toss for Minerals, junior Adam Gellert makes sure they understand the directions. “Basically, we have kids line up here and try to make it on the board or in the hole, and they can keep on trying until they get both (minerals),” Gellert said.

For senior Fran Giacona, providing support and friendly smiles to speacial needs kids is a normal routine. Giacona volunteers at a multidisciplinary camp for children with autism called Kids On the Go during the summer.

“I coached tennis and bike riding, and worked at the day camp where I helped with therapy and teaching,” Giacona said. “I also now have stepped into a new role helping the director of the camp with some related tasks during the year.”

Giacona, who has gone to the camp twice, appreciates how it has let her grow as a person and create new friendships.

“The best part is establishing these really unique connections with each child and getting to see the progress they make over the weeks and from year to year,” Giacona said.

“The kids grow, the staff grows. Overall, it’s a great joint learning experience.”

Thanos Hedglin ABOVE: Astronomy teacher Ardis Herrold shows one mineral scavenger what a pyrex is. “Most of the money goes into everything we are giving away tonight,” Harrold said. “We get very little profit off of this event. If we get any, we go on an annual trip to West Virginia in April and (this) probably will use that to offset the cost.”

ABOVE: Before the students arrived at Mineral Mania, senior Joey Bejin tested the Pyrex Hunt. “The money we are raising is going towards RATZ, which is the Radio Astronomy Team,” Bejin said. “This is the fourth year we’ve done it. The first year was Commet Con, the second year was Planet Palooza, last year’s was Fossil Fest, and this year is Mineral Mania.”

LEFT: Freshman Madison Graham revealed her finished design to the mineral scavenger. “It was really fun to do everything, and I was there almost every single lunch working on it (Mineral Mania),” Graham said.

Thanos, Hajime, sensei and jodan are just some familiar terms for junior Athanasios Hedglin. Hedglin started martial arts training when he was five, but only resumed two years ago.

“I had a class when I was about five, but I didn’t have time for it then,” Hedglin said.

Hedglin currently takes a class for a style of martial arts called Jeet Kune Do. He believed starting the class would help him improve his lifestyle while learning self-defense.

“I started martial arts because I wanted to learn self-defense and at the same time have a way better life, physically and spiritually,” Hedglin said.

Although Hedglin doesn’t plan to have a career in martial arts in the future, he does plan to continue with it throughout college.

“In the future, I plan to teach a martial arts class during college to earn some extra money,” Hedglin said.

By Gowri Yerramalli

FIVE MINUTES WITH

Science teacher Anne Muto

By Trevor Mieckowski STAFF REPORTER

ANNE MUTO

ABOVE: Science teacher Anne Muto prepares take a leap from an airplane. “It is just amazing, and the freefall is very, very short once you pull your parachute. It just slows you down so much, and then it is very tranquil. It is very peaceful.”

Petite and quiet, it might not be surprising that science teacher Anne Muto is afraid of roller coasters. What would be surprising is that she’s addicted to skydiving.

Skydiving had always been a dream for Muto. One year, celebrating her husband and his best friend’s birthday, she was able to cross it off of her bucket list.

“They decided to go skydiving, so a big group of us went to Tecumseh Skydive,” Muto said. “And when we got there, all the other girls chickened out except for me and my best friend.”

Although Muto did not chicken out, she was still very nervous. What calmed her down, though, came as a surprise.

“The person right next to me was 72 years old,” Muto said. “He looked at me and said ‘Honey, are you scared?’ and I said, ‘I am a little nervous,’ and he said, ‘Don’t be. I’ve done this my entire life.’ It was just very reassuring to me, and then once I got to the door, I was ready, and I was just so excited to just do it.”

When Muto’s turn came, she was strapped to the chest of a professional skydiver and had to crawl to the door. Once at the door, the professional tilted her forward and rocked back and forth three times.

After the third rock, off they went, tumbling through the clouds and to the ground.

“It’s just the most incredible feeling ever. You have no sensation of falling whatsoever. It is like laying on a giant fan,” Muto said. “Like when you were little, and you would get in front of the fan, and you could feel it blowing over your face, but now it is blowing over your entire body, so there is no sensation of falling. It’s just like this incredible wind.”

Muto and her friends enjoyed their first skydiving experience so much that it became an addiction for them. Now they go at least once a year.

“We usually go once a summer except for when I was pregnant,” Muto said. “We actually just bought a Groupon because we are going to go a couple of times this summer.”

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in Goodrich, Michigan.

What is your favorite breakfast?

My favorite breakfast is anything from the Pancake House or the Jagged Fork.

What is your favorite ice cream?

My favorite ice cream is from a very famous gelato shop, in Rome, and it is a dark-double-chocolate-rum ice cream. It is phenomenal and I make a pilgrimage every time I go to Rome.

What sort of music do you listen to?

A variety of music, nothing in particular, but Maroon Five is my favorite band, and I’m actually going to see them in concert over New Year’s Eve in Vegas.

Who are your personal heroes?

Eleanor Roosevelt very much so, my dad, and some teachers that made a huge impact on my life. My math and physics teacher, Mr. Ruler, for sure, and Dr. Rosteen, who was my French professor in college.

LIFE

North Pointe – Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2015 – 5

Eight seconds to impress

The human attention span has dwindled in recent years because of technology

By Lindsey Ramsdell, Anna Post & Katelynn Mulder ASSISTANT EDITORS & STAFF REPORTER

On average, a human’s attention span is shorter than that of a goldfish—smartphones aren’t helping the matter.

Each year, our beloved phones deplete our ability to focus, resulting in fleeting attention span that is similar to a house pet’s. As smartphones quicken the pace of modern life, it is no surprise that they are linked to the decline of our attention spans.

The number of smartphone users worldwide is nearing two billion. Coinciding with this trend, a study by Microsoft revealed the average person’s ability to stay on task has recently fallen to eight seconds. This is a steep drop from the 12-second attention span of most humans in 2000, and a whole second shorter than the estimated nine-second attention span of a goldfish.

The disadvantage technology puts us at is evident when it comes to focusing on daily tasks, from extended reading to being engaged in class.

At the same time, websites and apps are being modified to suit people’s impaired attention, which is only adding to the problem. TV providers like Netflix and Hulu now offer streaming sites with few to no commercials. On Vine, each video lasts just six seconds. Tweets are limited to 140 characters. The average Youtube video lasts just over four minutes. The shorter, the more likely people are to use it and remain engaged.

English teacher Andy Montague has been teaching at North for 22 years, and has noticed smartphones’ effect on student behavior.

“Students almost always (check their phones), they find a way to sneak in a look,” Montague said. “I’m going to draw a correlation between phones and phone use, and attention span and ability to concentrate. They think they can multitask when in fact I’m not sure they actually can.”

However, the Microsoft study did find that humans’ ability to multitask has drastically improved over time.

Since 2003, there has been a significant increase in the number of kids diagnosed with ADHD in the United States. Now, 11 percent of kids have been diagnosed. Multitasking is common in our digital age, and can be exacerbated by ADHD. Sophomore Tony Golia has been diagnosed with ADHD and considers himself an active phone-user.

“I’m typically on my phone every other hour to check Twitter, Instagram, messages, Snapchats, emails and stuff,” said Golia. “It

Average attention span OLIVIA ASIMAKIS

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does become tempting to answer texts and notifications during class.”

Having his phone w ith him throughout the day provides additional distractions to Golia’s already impaired ability to concentrate. Because of this, he tries to limit his usage when he knows he needs to focus on his work.

“Especially for someone like me having ADHD, I’m naturally distracted. So it’s something you just need to have self control over,” Golia said.

Microsoft found that 77 percent of people between the

ages 18 and 24 who are not being occupied by something will immediately reach for their phone. Meanwhile, only 10 percent of people over 65 admit to doing this.

This study illustrates how younger generations are harmed by their constant phone use. However, every generation is still affected even if they have not been using this technology their whole lives.

“I’m the kind of person that I have my phone by my bed at night and I’ll wake up in the middle of night, I’ll actually check my emails.” Montague said.

“That’s not healthy and I’m really fascinated w ith what it’s going to look like in 10 years or in 15 years.”

Anonymity fuels school sexting scandals

By Lindsey Ramsdell, Anna Post & Katelynn Mulder ASSISTANT EDITORS & STAFF REPORTER

“

ANNA POST

www.dosomething.org

“

STUDENTS WHO SEXT

With anonymity and confidentiality made Steiner said. “There are never guarantees that easy by new apps, smartphones have put a picture w ill remain private. A student also many students into critical legal situations. must worr y about their picture getting into In the past month over one hundred stu- the w rong hands.” dents at Canon City High in Colorado have Sexting involving minors is a crime punbeen investigated for association w ith a sex- ishable by a $100,000 fine and up to 20 years ting problem in their school. School officials in prison if the offender is brought up on child discovered hundreds of nude photos of class- pornography charges. mates that had been circulating the school “I know that students in high schools don’t via secret photo sharing apps. Anyone who see themselves as children, but by law they took, shared, or ow ned any of the photos are are, and so the electronic transfer of inforfacing potential child pornography charges, mation in the law’s eyes is considered child and some even face possible registration as pornography which is in our society really sex offenders. considered taboo,” Beach said. “It carries ver y This type of large-scale sexting among teens high penalties.” has only recently become an issue for schools.

Beach said North always tries to approach Because of this problem’s these issues in a teachable No college wants infancy, many students and way that would not jeopfaculty are unprepared to ardize the student’s too to be associated with handle the circumstances. greatly. Still, they are reIn Colorado, the investigaquired to report the events child pornography. tion has become a monthto the police, and when that long process. At one point, happens, faculty have no Tom Beach phones were confiscated and control over the outcome.

ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL searched. Most situations, If convicted, the offender however, involve only a couwill not only face time behind ple students, but the punishments can reach bars and heavy fines, the crime will go on their felony-level. transcript where colleges and future employers “From a school standpoint, we always tr y to can easily see it. approach things from a learning and a teachIn cases where the student is 18 years old able moment, so a lot of a specific response is or older and is inappropriately messaging going to be based on the individual circum- a younger student, the older student would stance. But, we are also required by law to re- have to register as a sex offender. For the rest port it to the police,” assistant principal Tom of their life they would be required to keep Beach said. the police updated on their whereabouts and Sexting’s problems can extend beyond the physical appearance. This ty pe of charge legal world. Students whose pictures get into permanently follows the offender, affecting the w rong hands could be bullied and embar- many aspects of his/her future. rassed for months after wards.

“There have been cases where colleges re“Often kids are bullied after sexting. The scind their acceptance of students who are inperson who sends the picture often ends up volved w ith things like this. There are plenty feeling shame and guilt and w ill experience of cases like that, where (colleges) hear and embarrassment and humiliation.” Students word gets out,” Beach said. “No college wants Against Destructive Decisions advisor Lisa to be associated w ith child pornography.”

LIFE

6 – North Pointe – Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2015

Senior capitalizes on opportunity in automotive industry

Ciechanowski’s clay modeled car after weeks of designing. “(Designers) teach you how to draw cars, like proportions and everything, and they teach you how to render them on a computer then you make a clay model out of your design.”

By Olivia Asimakis MANAGING EDITOR

TYLER CIECHANOWSKI

To some, cars ooze style and luxury. To others, they are simply a means of transportation and freedom. For senior Tyler Ciechanowski, they are his future.

Ciechanowksi spends every Thursday night at the General Motors Technical Center in Warren working on his car designs with real professionals. He applied to General Motor’s (GM) “You Make a Difference” program both this year and last year.

The program has 30 spots for students in the metro Detroit area and only offers spots to art students who have won a Scholastic Gold Key Award. The application requires a portfolio and an essay. Cienchansowki feels his experience in this program has helped him hone in on the type of art he wants to pursue.

“I knew I wanted to go into art. I didn’t want to do fine arts or anything, but I had no idea I wanted to do it before the program,” Ciechanowski said. “It taught me everything I wanted to know about my future.”

The internship is 22 weeks long, and each student is paired with a personal GM designer. The process of constructing a car is long and tedious—the details have to be precise.

Ciechanowski has redrawn countless times. Once the drawing is as perfect as possible, the design is moved to the computer where it is edited until the car is ready to be sculpted from clay. Ciechanowski loves watching his art come to life.

He was first introduced to the program through his art teachers, Susan Forrest and Michael Lamb. Forrest is pleased with Ciechanowski’s involvement and appreciates how he’s capitalized on this opportunity.

“As many times as a student can intern, the more they are going to learn about the field, the better prepared they are going to be, the more insight they will have about the job and wheth-

er they will like the job in the final say,” Forrest said.

Ciechanowski was accepted to the College of Creative Studies (CCS) and plans on attending. He believes the GM program has given him an advantage in transportation design.

Senior and fellow intern Elaine Nesom was also accepted into CCS and intends to go there as well. She’s in Advanced Placement Studio Art with Ciechanowski and shares his passion for art. “(Art) takes you away from everything you have to deal with. You really want to focus on what you’re putting on the paper,” Nesom said. “He’s inspired me because he’s really good, and I want to be as good as him.”

Last year, Ciechanowski designed a crossover he called the Chevy Crossfit. Now, he’s creating a Chevy Tahoe. Ciechanowski’s personal mentor, Eduardo Bordba Walendowsky, works for GM as a designer. This is his first year in the “You Make a Difference” program.

“Working with Tyler has been a good experience to me. He is a very talent-

ed student with fresh ideas and good car sketches,” Bordba Walebdowsky said via email. “I hope Tyler can go forward with his career and keep improving his skills. The GM mentoring program is a good opportunity for him to learn from professional designers and modelers. He can start (at CCS) with some more experience and give more value to his portfolio to join a trainee program in any automotive industry.”

Ciechanowski shares his work with Lamb weekly looking for advice and an additional sounding board. Lamb recognizes his talent and feels Ciechanowski’s involvement in the GM program is helping him grow.

“He seems to love it. He’s really impressed by how much he’s still learning. He always talks about how much he’s still learning after every time he goes,” Lamb said. “His skill was evident early. He excels at the design aspect. He’s fearless when he works. He’ll try everything. He’ll try different mediums. He’ll try drawing different things. He’s really curious about art and willing to put himself on the line, and he does it.”

Mariana Mansfield, Forrest’s student teacher, is a student at CCS and is aware of the expertise and skill level a car designer must posses.

“It’s more difficult to become a car designer than it is to become a doctor,” Mansfield said. “You’re allowed to try and retake the test to become a doctor multiple times, but you only get one shot at getting into the auto department.”

Ciechanowski has been drawing for as long as he can remember. He feels art can have an impact on society and hopes to be a part of that.

“It’s something that can inspire people and motivate people. It’s therapeutic. It’s peaceful to me, and I try to inspire other artists with it,” Ciechanowski said. “Design means a lot to me because for me, I can set an expectation for society through it. It’s something I can do for the world.”

TYLER CIECHANOWSKI

University of Detroit Mercy’s Bachelor of Science in Business Administration gives you everything you need to get started in your career—the latest in accounting, law, finance, marketing, management, information systems, international business—as well as a lifelong ethical perspective that you can only get at a Jesuit and Mercy institution.

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Visit us to learn why U.S. News & World Report ranks our Management program among the top 10 in the nation; experience our new, state-of-the-art Financial Markets Lab; find out about our five-year BS/MBA program with 100 percent job placement, or register for free, dual-enrollment college courses in business.

And inquire about our Commerce Scholarship—a renewable $25,000 scholarship for outstanding freshmen entering as business majors.

As a UDM business major, take advantage of internships at major companies, mentoring from corporate executives and service-learning courses that bring a hands-on approach to real-world issues. And our AACSB accreditation means you are attending an elite university where teaching matters as much as research—and accountability reigns.

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GROSSE POINTE NORTH HIGH SCHOOL

We want great things for you.

ISSUE DATES

business.udmercy.edu 800-635-5020

North Pointe – Wednesday, Dec. 16 2015 – 7

IDEAS

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BOOK FROZEN TIDES (FALLING KINGDOMS #4)

The fourth installment of the Falling Kingdom series was released Dec. 15. Written by New York Times bestselling author Morgan Rhodes this fantasy series starts where Gathering Darkness left off with the kingdom in chaos and Princess Cleo of Mytica needing to reclaim her GOODREADS.COM throne.

Including much anticipated singles such as “Zero” and “Back to Sleep,” Chris Brown’s seventh album drops Dec. 18. Named after his daughter, Royalty, this 18-song soundtrack features a variety of tracks from love ballads to dance numbers.

Album

A guide to being president

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By Olivia Robinson INTERN

Stitched together in a circle of desks, my fourth grade classmates and I wove elaborate stories of our adult aspirations. Gazing at one another, we marveled that we were sitting in the presence of future astronauts and pop stars, even the fiftieth President of the United States.

Confidence and excitement radiated through the room, firmly believing our dreams would come true one day. And yet for most Americans, there are shifts that occur somewhere between our childlike wonder and the reality thrust upon us come high school that derail us from those dreams.

This shift is not unexpected, being that, yes, people change. We are not the innocent fourth graders of our pasts, so it’s natural for our interests and hobbies to mold into new goals and career paths. Each of us are shaped daily by our individual experiences that are sometimes more powerful than the hopes we had in fourth grade.

But what if this shift wasn’t your decision? For years we’ve been asked that infamous question: “So, what are your college plans?” And we quickly roll our eyes and say something employable and with a 401K. Unless you’re lucky, you’ve probably encountered someone that has belittled your interests or goals, injecting you with realistic expectations and a predictable life path.

The question “How do you plan to make money doing…?” pulls us back to earth, grounding our soaring aspirations.

According to a poll conducted

by LinkedIn, 30 percent of adults across the globe practice the career they dreamed of as children. The study also found that just 43 percent of teens are confident that they will achieve their dream job, down 11 percent since 2007.

Depending on the lifestyle you desire, a stable salary may overrule that dream job. Career wise, doing what you love is a luxury not all of us can afford, but being a lawyer because it was always your parents’ dream isn’t the solution either.

In high school, it’s not uncommon to be shamed out of doing something. We want to be smart, fit in and be accepted by our peers. We all want to make the right choices that will positively influence our reputations and the rest of our lives.

So when a certain club or hobby is ridiculed for being “uncool,” some people may shy away. Still it’s important for all of us to make choices for our own good, not to please anyone else.

Hiding our true identity and talent hinders us from amazing life experiences and amazing people to share them with. The way we look at the word is unique, and our paths shouldn’t be paved by those who think they know us better than we know ourselves. Being sure of yourself and your goals may take time, but it’s worth it.

If you want your artwork to illuminate museums in Paris and Manhattan, nurture your skills and fuel your passion until your name is up alongside the best. Don’t hide your work in an attic for it to rot, because even if your best isn’t good enough, you won’t live everyday wondering what could’ve been if you had stayed true to yourself.

This holiday season and beyond, when that aunt asks you what you want to be when you grow up, say “an astronaut”or “the fiftieth President of the United States” and watch how they marvel at the confidence you radiate, knowing that your dreams can come true.

STARWARS.COM

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On Dec. 18, Walt Disney will give Star Wars fans what they’ve been waiting for. Episode 7 of the saga is has a star-studded cast of Academy Award recipients and pop culture icons. Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill reprise their roles from the original films.

Movie

STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS

ON POINTE

ROYALTY

For one day and one day only, Moscow’s Russian ballet, Ballet Moskva, is bringing a taste of classic holiday entertainment to Detroit. The ballet is performing The Nutcracker, an enchanting tale about Clara and her magical Nutcracker Prince as they embark on a treacherous adventure involving a war between mice and tin soldiers.

Tickets are available on the Fox Theatre website.

By Ritika Sanikommu & Josie Bennett

The top 10 things this week that we can’t live without

VIBE.COM

1 Event

MOSCOW BALLET’S GREAT RUSSIAN NUTCRACKER

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Movie JOY

Jennifer Lawrence is set to blaze the big screen once again.

This time, not as the Girl on Fire, but as a loving and determined mother who goes through a tumultuous journey as she attempts to regain her family business.

Based on the true story of Joy Mangano, this soulful drama stars the much-loved trio from Silver Linings Playbook—Lawrence, Bradley Cooper and Robert De Niro.

IMDB.COM

EDITOR & STAFF REPORTER

TRAVIASUITE.COM

Catch the Red Wings Event at Joe Louis arena HOLIDAY SPECIALS FATHEAD.COM as they take on the VanRED WINGS couver Canucks (Friday, Dec. We’re getting 18), Calgary Flames (Sunday, our specialty fixes they’re Dec. 20) and New Jersey Devils before gone. Settle in (Tuesday, Dec. 22). with a hot cup whether it’s Starbucks chestnut praline latte or Event Biggby’s peppermint stick latte.

BRONNER’S Then, grab a treat CHRISTMAS at Tim Horton’s.

WONDERLAND We recommend the gingerbread glazed or candy COMMONS.WIKIMEDIA.ORG With Christmas just around the corcane chocolate ner, what better way to enjoy the season donuts.

One of the most successful than visiting Bronner’s Christmas Wonnew shows of the fall reached its derland in Frankenmuth. Christmas season finale Dec. 13. Quantico trees, ornaments, lights, decor. If it’s came as a surprise, casting an Christmas related, Bronner’s has it.

Indian actress in the lead as Alex Show Parrish, an FBI trainee framed QUANTICO for one of the largest homeland terrorist attacks since 9/11. Set at the FBI training camp in Quantico, Virginia, the thriller introEntertainment duced a number of new faces and NETFLIX was renewed for a second season.

STARBUCKS.COM Make sure to catch up before it resumes.

‘Tis the season to curl up and watch all the movies and shows we were too busy to watch this fall. Netflix is encouraging the binge. Now streaming is the final season of Hart of Dixie, which followed a doctor who was dropped in the countryside where she operated a clinic. Sticking with a medical theme, the entire series of Nurse Jackie will drop as well. Also in our queue is Dan Brown’s bestseller-turned-movie, The Da Vinci Code, and a handful of Christmas movies. Basically, this December your binge-watching will be in full swing.

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REVIEWS

8 – Wednesday, Dec.16 2015 – North Pointe

RIVER

NETFLIX’S NEW ORIGINAL SERIES DEBUNKS COP CLICHÉ

PIXABAY.COM

By Jen Kusch

MANAGING-EDITOR

Tortured, hy pocritical cops are not a concept unique to Netf lix’s new original series River. W hether it was Elliot Stabler’s violent outbursts on Law and Order: Special Victims Unit or Matthew McConaughey’s tortured performance on HBO’s hit drama True Detective, we’ve been there, done that.

However, River lends a refreshingly real perspective to the age-old story. The drama doesn’t have the molasses-rich sex appeal of McConaughey or killer theme music of Law and Order, yet it feels enticingly new.

Detective Inspector John River (Stella n Ska rsga rd) is a schizophrenic cop in London lef t reeling a f ter t he murder of his pa rtner, Stev ie (Nicola Wa lker).

River is a man of few words—with the living. He is plagued by “manifests” of the dead, and his hallucinations guide him to closure in both his cases and emotions as he pursues Stevie’s shooter. His mental health teeters on a hallucinogenic cliff as he openly converses with these manifests in the workplace, f loating deeper into the fog of a life without any genuine relationships keeping him anchored to reality.

Skarsgard delivered a monumental performance in the show’s debut season. Despite the first season’s brief six-show run, his concise development of River did not feel rushed, and his craggy face and dejected exterior f loat through the London suburbs as a moral

entity above the fray of the London police.

The development of River’s state often leaves the viewer doing the detective work, as the lines between reality and hallucination blur into a haze of delusion that viewers and River must wade through together.

His relationship with Stevie is developed stunningly as River clings to the idea of his beloved colleague—an honest, loyal partner with a fiery love of disco and karaoke—instead of the image being painted in the wake of a suspicious drive-by shooting.

W h i l e River

r e l ishes his own misery, the show does not remain unrelentlessly depressed.

Though their present ghostly partOM AY.C B A nership may not be conventional, Stevie’s PIX (imagined) presence provides for witty banter between the two old friends. It also allows further development of River’s affection for her, a partnership that was never given the time to be anything more than professional.

But Stevie is not the only skeleton in River’s closet.

He is shadowed by a number of imagined ghosts, in-

cluding those of a teenage girl and a man he believed had a connection to Stevie’s murder.

The show’s pithy writing and dreary setting lends the Scandi-noir piece an eerie tone fit for a more urbane Netf lix audience. River is refined, subtle, yet finds a way to bask in muted desperation. Its execution understates and exaggerates in a way that will keep viewers on their toes as River battles with his own psyche and his undying love for a departed partner.

River is worth the emotional ride and is a Netf lix binge in the most quintessential way. In a handful of episodes, the show is able to delve into the darkest workings of the human mind, how we get our demons (visible or invisible) and how our intangible manifestations can define our palpable actions. River’s analysis of family ties and the truth beneath the stories we weave binds the show’s deeper message to a cop cliché made unpredictable.

RIVER 2015 UNRATED NETFLIX

GAME/APP

BOOK

GAME/APP

TV SHOW

MONUMENT VALLEY

THE SWORD OF SUMMER

HOPELESS 2: CAVE ESCAPE

THE FLASH: SEASON 2

From the author of the Percy Jackson series and the Kane Chronicles comes a new story based on Norse mythology. The Sword of Summer by Rick RIORDAN.WIKIA.COM Riordan takes place in the same universe as his other books and even includes a character from Percy Jackson, who appears in several chapters as a minor character.

Riordan’s fans will find he departs from his typical beginning. The main character, Magnus, begins his quest to discover his heritage and save the world by dying. After he is killed, he is sent to Valhalla, where warriors who die brave deaths train tirelessly for Ragnarok, the end of the world.

Here, he discovers who his father really is, the Norse god Frey.

This idea is unique and Riordan uses it well, tying it into other parts of Norse mythology by including Valkyries and the World Tree. Even readers who know very little about Norse mythology will find the book pretty easy to follow. Having some background knowledge would be helpful at parts, but the book generally does a good job of explaining the myths.

Throughout the book, there are many surprises and an interesting variety of characters. An elf, valkyrie, dwarf and undead warriors from many different time periods are only some of the unusual cast that appear throughout it.

The story takes place only in Magnus’s point of view, and many of the characters hide their intentions from him, keeping the reader guessing whose side they’re really on. This can be frustrating but also puts the reader in Magnus’s position as he too is new to this world, making the story even more realistic.

Any fans of Riordan’s previous work or Norse mythology will love this book. Even at 500 pages, it’s a true page-turner. Riordan creates a unique place for the Norse gods alongside the Greeks, Romans and Egyptians. And while so far only Annabeth interacts with Magnus, there is a chance for many more old characters to make an appearance.

After over a year of silence, IronSource has released the fourth game in the Hopeless series.

Hopeless 2: Cave Escape offers a fresh spin on the series.

In the first APKONE.NET three games, players fight as frightened yellow blobs against monsters hunting them.

But now the blobs are on the run, and players must protect the armed blobs as they ride in minecarts through monsterridden caves, searching for safety.

However, not everything is different. Similar to the earlier games, the caves are poorly lit, and monsters will appear seemingly out of nowhere. This forces players to have quick reflexes to make it through the level.

Each level begins with one blob in the cart, and others can be saved along the way.

The cart can hold up to three blobs at a time, essentially serving as three lives. But beware, loose blobs can also be accidentally killed, and doing so too often will end the level.

Players must also restart when every blob dies. Restarting forces the player to lose on of their carts, which are required to play and will regenerate over time.

As the player progresses, the difficulty increases rapidly. Levels become more intricate, and the design harder to get through on the first try.

Players can combat the game’s increasing adversity by obtaining better weapons.

Weapons range from weak pistols to deadly acid guns and can make or break the player’s chances at a level. They are also extremely expensive and often force players to reluctantly replay levels to afford the next one.

In addition to guns, gadgets and boosters are also available. These items provide single-use assistance that can help struggling players get past a tough level.

There are two types featured in the game: coins and gems. Coins can be found spread throughout levels, while gems are rewards for completing missions, similar to those assigned in Jetpack Joyride.

Overall, Hopeless 2, although not perfect, proves to be an enticing game that is just as challenging to play as it is to put down.

After a particle accelerated exploded in the middle of Central City, unleashing a new type of radiation on the general population, a new breed of human was born.

ARROW.WIKIA.COM These new humans, dubbed metahumans, exhibited supernatural abilities seemingly defy the laws of physics themselves. However, as humans are, some use these powers for selfish gains.

Enter Barry Allen (Grant Gustin), a shy forensic scientist who devotes his career to finding the truth behind his mother’s supernatural demise. Allen has the ability to achieve simply impossible speeds because of the radiation released from the particle accelerator. He dons the persona of The Flash and fights the wrongdoings metahumans who threaten the city.

Season two begins with Barry rebuilding the city six months after causing and subsequently stopping the cataclysmic wormhole that nearly devoured Central City at the end of the first season.

One thing that holds true into the second season is the fact that the special effects of the show, while serviceable still seem cheap.

CGI seems relatively rubbery and not realistic at all. The Flash’s sense of speed is also made cheesy by the liberal use of light and lightening streaks. However, to some people, that aspect may add to the experience.

The acting is average, nothing truly exceptional. Gustin plays his role as The Flash well enough, however all of the characters have an oddly artificial “daytime TV” feel to them. It is as though they are merely acting and not truly convincing the audience that they embody the characters.

The battles themselves, although made shabby by the computer animation, are still very intense. The combat is a feast for the eyes as cars are thrown and buildings break at the whim of metahumans.

For any fan of DC Comics, The Flash is a great treat of fan service that will keep people watching and enjoying every second of seeing memorable characters portrayed in live action. However, this is the show’s main demographic. Casual watchers may find it a bit difficult to break in and get absorbed in the series.

Dropping users into a shadowy first level as soon as it opens, iTunes’ Free App of the Week Monument Valley from indie game studio Ustwo will pique players’ inWWW.ITUNES.APPLE.COM

terests the second they lay eyes on its elegance.

The game follows a small, geometricallyshaped princess named Ida who has been sent on a journey. The game’s goal is for users to get Ida through minimalistically designed levels that are equal parts optical illusion and obscure adventure.

The story behind the destruction of Ida’s quiet world is revealed at the end of select levels.

This otherworldly element combined with MonumentValley’s muted color scheme, ambient soundtrack and elaborate task make it easy for users to become entranced.

Players can manually move levers to reveal the ability to alter parts of the puzzle’s landscape, too. MonumentValley demands users’ focus, ensuring they keep track of Ida’s every step.

Clearing the pathway for Ida to reach the top of each level is no easy feat. she will run into menaces called Crow People, and users will often have to twist the architecture of the puzzles to get her through.

The constant perspective shifts prove to be the most difficult aspect of the gaming experience. These changes include Ida disappearing out of the user’s sight until repositioned and occasionally having to defy gravity (if gravity even exists in Ida’s world) and walk completely upside down.

Ustwo takes the simplistic cube-y style that is found in other popular games like Minecraft and Crossy Road to the next level by adding mesmerizing visuals like multi-colored towers and palaces with running streams.

Monument Valley’s unique narrative style is what sets it apart from most puzzle games in the App Store. Instead of having each level be its own individual journey, Monument Valley blends the story lines of multiple levels together, making the experience more authentic for users as they guide Ida through them.

For users looking for a challenging adventure with compelling visuals, Monument Valley is a go-to game.

Monument Valley; Ustwo digital product studio; iTunes App Store; Free

The Sword Of Summer; Rick Riodan; 491 pp; $12.99

Hopeless 2: Cave Escape; IronSource; 2015; Available for Apple and Android; Free

The Flash: Season 2; 2015; TV-PG; The CW

By Abbey Cadieux

By Katelynn Mulder

By Billy Moin

By Giuseppe Parison

IDEAS

Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2015 – North Pointe – 9

Hiding behind the hashtag “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.”

Governor Snyder, tear down this wall Mora Downs EDITOR

BOARD OF EDUCATION POLICY Anu Subramaniam EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Olivia Asimakis MANAGING EDITOR

Katelyn Carney SPORTS EDITOR

Billy Moin NEWS EDITOR

Mora Downs LIFE EDITOR

Gowri Yerramalli BUSINESS MANAGER

Emma Puglia WEB EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Ritika Sanikommu IDEAS EDITOR Katelynn Mulder STAFF REPORTER

Yena Berhane EDITOR-AT-LARGE

Radiance Cooper ASSISTANT EDITOR

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

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Anu Subramaniam MANAGING EDITORS: Olivia Asimakis MANAGING EDITOR-AT-LARGE: Jennifer Kusch EDITORS-AT-LARGE: Yena Berhane, Rey Kam SECTION EDITORS: Katelyn Carney, Mora Downs, Audrey Kam, Billy Moin, Ritika Sanikommu WEB EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Emma Puglia BUSINESS MANAGERS: Jillian Berndtson, Gowri Yerramalli PHOTO EDITORS: Sydney Benson, Dalaney Bradley, Ava Deloach, Bella DeSandy, Erinne Lubienski ASSISTANT EDITORS: Emma Brock, Caitlin Bush, Abbey Cadieux, Radiance Cooper, Allison Lackner, Lindsey Ramsdell, Anna Post, Lauren Sexton, Sarah Wietecha STAFF REPORTERS: Josie Bennett, Alex Harring, Bella Lawson, Nathan Lonczynski, Trevor Mieczkowski, Katelynn Mulder, Addison Toutant, Michal Ruprecht INTERNS: Darcy Graham, Erin Kaled, Sonny Mulpuri, Joey Parison, Montana Paton, Olivia Robinson,Asia Simmons, Billy Steigelman, Tommy Teftsis 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.

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YENA BERHANE

Social media has given us the power to indulge in our passions and share ideas with millions of people in seconds. 140 characters can encompass an immense and deceivingly innocent power that is easy to overlook. Whether it’s to share pictures with friends or join a meaningful cause, social media has created a new norm that enables social participation without participating.

The desire to be a part of any new trend is tempting, especially if it’s for sharing a moral view on a meteoric rise. It also creates a feeling of belonging and acceptance as we can contribute to a cause that’s bigger than ourselves.

These hashtags make people feel like they are a part of something, when in reality they are sitting alone in a room making no tangible contribution to any cause. Hundreds, thousands or millions of socially conscious tweets and snapchats amount to mere white noise. It really solves nothing.

Yes, including a meaningful hashtag can help an issue gain attention and convey messages of support to the people who are affected the most. Keep in mind, however, that all those likes are only likes. In the physical world, those retweets don’t matter. We are worrying about the amount of likes or favorites we can get on a post about something tragic, but not the meaning behind it. We are more hesitant to post our true feelings and ideas on media when they aren’t trending. Everyone is too busy fearing being left behind by not posting popular trends. By doing this, we are losing our individuality online. Every account looks the same as they blur together in one meaningless, identical profile filled with ALS Ice Bucket Challenge posts and #PrayforParis tweets that fall into the herd of posts saying the exact same thing. Yet, the need to fit in is more tempting than the need to stand out.

Peer pressure inf luences all of us. We convince our friends and family to join in on trends that make us feel included, but the peer pressure can affect us without any catalysts. The need to feel included in

pop culture moments is stronger that the thought put behind these posts. #SanBernadino has become the hashtag of choice for millions of people after the gruesome attacks that occurred in a disability aid center on Dec. 2. Ironically, the city’s name is misspelled in the 33,000 hashtags that were posted on the day it occurred. This shows how ignorant we are by rushing to sail on the socially-conscious tide without even making sure what we are posting is spelled correctly. Instead of providing support for the victims and their families, we angered and upset them further. Timelines were flooded with posts about the event and included captions that were impersonal signs of sympathy.

Meanwhile, other tragic incidents including floods and earthquakes have tested the resilience of many countries. Chennai, a major cosmopolitan city in India, experienced calamitous floods that swallowed many homes and killed hundreds. The hashtag #prayforChennai has found its way into Instagram posts.

Merely including a hashtag in millions of similar posts is not enough. Instead of donating time, money, or supplies, most will go the easier route and simply click the “post” button and move on.

Showing support by using social media hashtags is fine, but it’s not the best way to make a difference in the world. Having a filter of the French flag on your snapchat story or a profile picture of the Eiffel Tower in a peace sign does show a little emotional support, but it does not show any physical support.

During a tragedy or terrorist attack, the victims won’t be checking Twitter for help, instead they will be struggling to come to terms with what happened.

Their priorities are different, and ours should be too.

Many of the people left in the wake of hurricanes and terrorist attacks are still left struggling to recover years later. No situation is ever too small or too big to help. We can start by sending donations to a local church or charity, even physical messages would help more than a hashtag ever could.

“I’m excited to go to my grandparents’ house, and excited for Christmas to get new stuff and clothes and to spend time with my family.”

“I’m looking forward to spending time with my family on my mom’s side because I don’t really get to see them that much, so it’s a good time.”

“I’m looking forward to getting my tonsils out four days before Christmas, and then hopefully healing fast so that I can spend time with my friends for New Years.”

Evelyn Zacharias FRESHMAN

Jimmy Mazzola SOPHOMORE

Chandler McClarty JUNIOR

YOUR TURN: What are you looking forward Instant Norseman to during winter break?

Instant Norsemen Updates Updates

By Sydney Benson PHOTO EDITOR

Syria, a country that was once a beautiful center of learning in the Middle East, has become a desolate war zone since pro-democracy protests led to a full-fledged civil war in 2011. For four and a half years Syria has been fighting, and a quarter of a million lives have been lost.

Syrians can no longer live in the country they call home.

About 11 million Syrians have fled. The United Nations believes around 12.2 million are in need of humanitarian assistance, 5.6 million of those being children. This is the largest outpouring of people from one country since World War II. Stories of the journeys of these Syrian refugees have made countless headlines. No one could forget the haunting photos of 3-year-old refugee Aylan’s lifeless body being carried off a beach in Turkey after the boat he was on capsized.

However, refugees drowning during their escape is common. As of September, 2,000 refugees have drowned while trying to flee Syria. People are leaving the death and destruction of their homeland and risking their lives just for the chance of survival.

The United States has a long history of immigration, with the first Americans coming from Asia 12,000 years ago. I am the stereotypical third-generation American. My family came to America from Ireland, the United Kingdom, Germany, Lebanon and Syria. They left their homes to establish a better life for themselves and their families.

My family is lucky. Based on one decision made over 100 years ago, we were able to avoid facing a crisis like that of Syria.

However, Syrian refugees face countries unwelcoming to them. Opponents of Syrians coming to America do have some plausible concerns. Inviting in millions of refugees could create a strain on resources and space. Also, ISIS militants could attempt to pass themselves off as refugees as they did in Paris.

But it is evident that the Syrians cannot stay where they are, sparking the current debate captivating the U.S. and various European nations.

The U.S. is a world power.

We have the largest military in the world. We live in the third largest country on Earth. We have the highest GDP (gross domestic product). We are permanent members of the UN Security Council. We are obligated to assist those in need.

However, the government hasn’t shared this belief. At least 19 governors have expressed that they oppose an influx of refugees entering their state, our own governor Rick Snyder is urging a pause in Michigan’s reception of Syrian refugees.

Worries of terrorist attacks are completely viable, especially since the shootings in San Bernardino by two individuals confirmed as ISIS “supporters.” This view is somewhat hypocritical since a handful of events that qualify as terrorist attacks have been committed by our own citizens.

Heightening security is worth helping the millions of Syrians literally dying to come to America.

Governor Snyder, I don’t detest you for your concerns and I don’t blame you for adopting my views. I’m a high schooler with no political experience, but I do know when people are in need.

The people of Syria are dying. We cannot idly sit by and let them.

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“I’m excited to go to New York for winter break because I will be at Times Square for the dropping of the ball on New Year’s Eve. “

Damon Massey SENIOR

“Getting together with family because my sister lives in Minnesota, and my two brothers live here in Grosse Pointe. So we traditionally have gotten together for nearly the entire break, so for me it’s always about spending time with family.”

Brad Armbruster MATH TEACHER

“I’m looking forward to going to my cottage on Harsens Island. “It’s just my husband and I going so we kind of get away from everything and everybody.”

Sally Colby SUBSTITUTE TEACHER

FRESHMAN FINDS SUCCESS IN IRISH DANCE

By Lindsey Ramsdell ASSISTANT EDITOR

Two to five hours a day, six days a week, for over 10 years.

That’s how much time freshman Michaela Cosgrove has dedicated to Irish dance to qualify for the World Irish Dancing Championships not once, but twice.

After placing 10th in North America last July, Cosgrove will travel to Glasgow, Scotland this March to compete against the top dancers in the world in the 15 and under class.

“I got in the top 10 in North America for my age group,” Cosgrove said. “I think they qualified maybe around 20, maybe a couple l e s s

than that.

But, all t he judges have to give you high enough scores t hat would qua lif y you for it. So, yea h, it’s rea lly just t he judges lik ing you a nd your steps.”

She recently returned from the Regional Championship which was held Nov. 27-29 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She placed 17th out of 113 competitors, qualif ying her for Worlds again, even though she had already made the cut in July.

Cosgrove began dancing when she was 4 at the Ardán Academy of Irish Dance after attending one of their performances. Cosgrove’s mother, Kathleen Cosgrove, was a catalyst in her daughter’s dancing career and has traveled to all her competitions.

“I happened to find the school that we’re at now was doing a fundraiser,” Kathleen said. “I was able to take her to that, and she loved it. She got to participate. We talked to her teacher, and we decided to have her start dancing.

So, I was pretty excited about it.”

Irish dancing stands out from other forms of classical dance. The dancers keep their upper body still and their posture stiff while they perform quick, bouncing steps w ith their feet. It is also divided into two subcategories —

heav y and soft dancing. In heav y dancing, dancers wear hard shoes similar to tap shoes. In soft dancing they wear shoes resembling ballet shoes.

Over the years of teaching her, Michaela’s coach Chris Stefani has noticed her develop her ow n personal f lair.

“Michaela has a ver y technica l a nd rhy t hmic st yle to her da ncing. She is a strong heav y da ncer a nd has a sha rp ‘attack ing’ st yle to her sof t da ncing,” Stefa ni sa id v ia ema il.

A lso unique about the sport is the competition attire.

In addition to their ornately embroidered traditional Irish dresses and show makeup, the girls wear curled w igs.

Kathleen notes that competitions can get a bit hectic, w ith hundreds of families there to support their dancer and prepare them for their performance.

Despite the chaos, competing is one of Michaela’s favorite parts of the sport.

“I really like to compete. I really like wearing my dress and w ig because it’s such a unique sport. We all call it a sport because it’s really intense training, and you just really have to love it and be dedicated to it really if you want to do well,” Michaela said.

For t he past t hree yea rs, Michaela has been a pa rt of A rdá n Academy’s elite performa nce tea m. This has given her t he opportunit y to travel to competitions w it h her friends, which is one of the things she loves about the sport.

Michaela’s impact on the team’s atmosphere has not gone unnoticed. Stefa ni has seen her rise as a leader of t he group.

“Michaela is a hardworking dancer. She has a dedication, drive and focus that few people her age have,”Stefani said. “Besides being a hard worker and strong competitor, she is also a natural leader. Michaela not only is able to motivate herself but naturally motivates those around her.”

Michaela’s hard work has brought her to the high caliber she dances at now, but w ith over 1000 dancers representing over 37 countries present at Worlds, it w ill be the largest competition she has ever attended.

Michaela hopes to recall at the world championship this spring. This means that if she places in the top 30 percent in the preliminar y round, she w ill have the chance to perform another dance for the judges. At most competitions, the top half of competitors get recalled, making Worlds a more selective competition.

After seeing how well she placed at the North American National Championships last July, Stefani expects positive results from Micheala at Worlds.

For Kathleen, she still finds joy in watching her daughter perform, even after the many years.

“It is ver y exciting because she beams from head to foot.

She truly loves what she’s doing, and it shows,” Kathleen said. “She’s ver y on her game all the time. So, it’s exciting to watch her. Sometimes I cr y.”

MICHAELA COSGROVE

MICHAELA COSGROVE

MICHAELA COSGROVE

MICHAELA COSGROVE

ABOVE LEFT: Freshman Michaela Cosgrove poses after qualifying for her second World Irish Dancing Championship.

ABOVE: Cosgrove and a fellow dancer show off their trophies and medals.

LEFT: Cosgrove posing with her trophy.

BELOW: Cosgrove with her certificate for her second qualification.

Has the NCAA become too powerful?

By Katelyn Carney EDITOR

Katelyn’s Korner

SPORTS

10 – North Pointe – Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2015

As citizens of the free nation of the United States of America, we solemnly pledge allegiance to the flag, the republic, oh and sports.

Sports control us. They determine where we eat (“Will there be a TV to watch the game?”), when we sleep (“But, the game’s still on.”) and how we feel on Sunday nights (“We lost. It was a hail Mary.”). And as Americans—although we tend to deny it—we define ourselves as land of the free, and home of the (insert team name here).

But all joking aside, college sports are one of the activities at the heart of our culture. It’s something we have and should take pride in. However, we have failed to acknowledge the elephant in the room, poisoning our once healthy leagues.

In 1905, 18 players died while playing college football in just one season alone. So, recognizing the increase in risk, good ‘ole Teddy Roosevelt recruited 12 football fanatics, like himself, to a White House meeting to improve the safety of the sport. The several meetings culminated into the creation of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

According to the NCAA official website, “The NCAA was founded in 1906 to protect young people from the dangerous and exploitive athletic practices of the time.”

At this time in athletic history, the NCAA was necessary in order to continue to maintain the integrity of the game and the safety of its athletes.

And that still reigns true today—to an extent. But it seems that the NCAA has gone out of bounds on its original intentions. We, as a strong sportsminded society, need to draw the line at some point, and that time is now.

The NCAA transformed from 12 people concerned with the well-being of college athletes to yet another one of today’s multi-billion dollar entities. And when money is a part of the equation, the most probable outcome is greed. The recently instilled College Bowl playoff is going to generate $51 million per team of the top ten power conferences. That’s $510 million right off the bat, and that’s not even a glimpse of what the event’s total revenue will amount to. So, are we really interested in the welfare of the individual athlete? Or are we counting the zeros at the end of our bank account? Think I’m wrong?

This year, the NCAA declared Cheick Diallo, a senior at Our Savior New American in Long Island, New York, to be withheld from playing basketball for the University of Kansas due to purported extra benefits. (What exactly were those “extra benefits”? I wouldn’t know because the NCAA ignored both the high school and college’s questioning in hopes of clearing up the issue.) Then, to top it off, the NCAA decided that Diallo’s core classes did not qualify him to play at the collegiate level. When did educators defer their duty to deem a student’s academics worthy or unworthy of participation in athletics to the NCAA? Why does the NCAA feel that they have the authority to intervene in a matter which does not rest on their shoulders?

In 2013, the University of Iowa wanted to honor their late teammate Chris Street, by printing ‘Street’ on the back of each player’s jersey in replacement of their own last name. The university proposed this idea to the NCAA, requesting a one-game exception to the league’s uniform regulations. The proposal was denied. So, enlighten me, how does rejecting this plan protect the athletes’ overall safety?

In 2011, five Ohio State football players sold their Conference Championships rings to get tattoos. The NCAA discovered the infraction in the off period between the Conference Championship and the bowl games. But, instead of punishing the players immediately by forcing them to sit out of the Sugar Bowl, they postponed the penalty of five games until the following season.

Of course, why would the NCAA want star players to sit out of the highest rated game of the year?

That could have costed them big bucks. (We all know that the NCAA only approves of tattoos of dollar signs on athletic directors’ eyelids.)

In 2005, Reggie Bush was forced to return his Heisman trophy after the NCAA proved that Bush received money from a sports agent prior to his graduation. But did the University of Southern California have to return any of the profit they made by Bush playing for them? No, sir.

Their original mission may have been to safeguard the athletes from exploitive practices of the time, but what’s the NCAA’s purpose now? To take away the university’s right to determine if athlete’s classes are worthy of a college education? To not allow players to mourn by honoring the death of a teammate? To make an extra dollar or two by making rules that benefit only themselves?

The NCAA has become an overwhelming monopoly of college athletics that has the ability to dictate every aspect of the sport because what they say goes, no questions asked. And that’s just the problem. The NCAA rules with an iron fist, and no one lashes back with the same force.

I’m not calling for an overthrow. All sports organizations need a governing body or chaos would ensue. But it’s time to reign in the firebreathing dragon, who’s been forgetting that their job is to protect the princess, not burn down the city.

TIGHT

SPORTS

Managing

North Pointe – Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2015 – 11

s p a c e s As the winter sports season progresses, teams sharing the gyms must learn to coordinate and accomodating has made practicing problematic

ABOVE: The typical set-up for the gymnastics team’s practices.

By Anu Subramaniam EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Michigan’s harsh w inters make playing sports outdoors impractical. As a result, indoor space—especially g ym space—is in high demand. The upper and lower g yms have to accommodate six basketball teams, as well as g ymnastics, cheerleading and dance teams. To juggle schedules, athletic director Brian Shelson and the w inter coaches had a pre-season meeting to determine what times work for each sport. Meets and games take priority over practices, but practices are skewed so that each team has access to the necessar y facilities.

W hile basketball teams are minimally affected because the lower g ym is large enough to accommodate them, the cheer team has to use the cafeteria most days becauseit shares the upper g ym w ith the g ymnastics team.

Shelson finds that the teams work well together and are f lex ible.

“We do a good job of taking care of one another, and know ing that we have one big g ym to work w ith (versus three separate g yms), ever yone has to share and work together,” Shelson said via email. “Ultimately, there is good interaction between our teams and athletes, which creates great camaraderie for all of North.”

The g ymnastics team and cheer team often work together to schedule their upper g ym practices.

On Thursdays, the g ymnastics team has a later practice so the cheerleaders can use the mats upstairs for tumbling and stunting. The athletic department provided the cheer team w ith a set of mats so they can practice in the cafeteria.

Gymnastics coach Courtney Hamidi finds it’s been beneficial for for all involved.

“This has really been nice for both teams because on most days, we can ma x imize our practice times w ithout interruption,” Hamidi said via email.

Despite the accommodation, both teams do find the practice setup inconvenient.

Sophomore g ymnast Maggie Bowers feels the g ym time is divided fairly but that sw itching between the teams takes time out of their practices. She’s also found it difficult to find rides w ith the changing practice times.

JOSIE BENNETT

“If my parents couldn’t drive me, I’d have to find a ride from somebody else, and sometimes people weren’t at practice,” Bowers said. “Since it’s a conjoined team and a smaller team, I’d sometimes ask South students to drive me, so it’s sometimes further out of the way.”

Gymnastics does not have other practice options because of the nature of their equipment. It is housed at North, bolted dow n in the upper g ym. But for meets, the g ymnastics team does need a part of the lower g ym.

Bowers finds that the other teams are nice about them using the portion of the g ym to set up an extra vault.

“The only thing we do dow n in the lower g ym is vault because there is not enough space in the upper g ym for both teams, so it’s just easier to vault dow nstairs, but there’s not a second set of bars or beam to set up in the lower g ym,” Bowers said.

Because g ymnastics is unable to move their practices, the cheer team has to sw itch locations.

“We set the cafeteria up the same way how it is set up upstairs,” senior cheerleader Gabby Watkins said. “However our competitions look, we make sure that’s how we place the mats on the f loor, so we can get the feel of it, especially the new girls that have never competed before.”

Though the mats allow both teams to practice simultaneously, they take a while to set up. The school’s custodians help by moving some of the tables out of the way so the teams can set up, but it is still a lengthy process.

Watkins feels that the mats don’t offer the same bounce as those in the upper g ym because they don’t have a spring, changing the feel of the stunts.

“We have to roll out seven mats ever y day before practice and roll them back up ever y day at 7:30 when practice is over. It gets really hard and stressful because ever ybody wants to help roll out the mats because it takes so much time.

You got to put tape dow n on them, then roll them back up. Ever ybody (is) ready to go. They’re tired after practice,” Watkins said. “It’s kind of hard to change your whole habitat from upstairs to dow nstairs.”

MARY KOHLER

WWW.EASTFC.ORG

Eastside FC scores new coaches, players

By Radiance Cooper ASSISTANT EDITOR

This year they are going to take it all the way. That’s the mantra for the newly redesigned Eastside FC soccer club.

The club has undergone major changes in order to prepare for their upcoming season including a name change, new coaches and a new dome practice facility.

Sophomore club member Tommy Kohler sees the new additions as helpful to the team’s growth.

“I’d say that bringing (the new coaches) in is gonna make us a lot better … they know a lot of things,” Kohler said. “They’re gonna make us a lot better with our passing skills and everything.”

After discovering that the club was losing players to rival teams in the area, a group of parents and coaches decided that the club needed several changes. The club decided to switch their name from the Grosse Pointe Soccer Association to Eastside FC. Volunteer parent Mary Kohler saw the name change as crucial towards increasing the number of players for the team.

“By making a change in name to Eastside, now we expanded our pool of players from begining at youth or 3 years old to 19. From bringing in kids from Detroit all the way out to Mount Clemens, as a result the mix of the players has really changed and has only enhanced the competitiveness of the team,” Mary said.

Adding to the number of changes, the club brought in new coaches by partnering with Youth Elite Soccer organization (Y.E.S.), which is based in the United Kingdom. Through this partnership, semi-professional soccer players from Europe are sent overseas to do a rotation with Eastside FC, where they will spend any where from six months to a year training players to perform at a higher level.

“The soccer staff that they have is geared towards youth players as well as high school players,” Mary said. “(It’s) really challenging our players for those who are really interested in playing at the college level because most of the soccer coaches

ABOVE: Sophomores Tommy Kohler, Chris Corsentino and Brendan Bergeron pose with their team for a picture. “Our goal here is to keep our players within the community, to grow and foster the relationships within our community so that at the young age to their adult age they continue to play with their friends and the people that they go to school with or they can play competitive soccer together,” volunteer parent Mary Kohler said. that are now employed by Eastside … did play in college or they played semi-pro or pro.”

Craig Doble, one of the new additions to the coaching staff, is originally from Manchester, where he coached soccer for 10 years. He was just made the technical director of Eastside FC and plans on developing the players’ technical skills rather than focusing on the traditional American soccer playing style.

In addition to advancing the players and their skill sets, Doble plans on taking a select number of players over to England in August to compete against other soccer academies and experience life as a professional soccer player.

“They will train most days. They will experience what it’s like to be a professional footballer for the two weeks that they’re there. They’ll play against (teams including) Manchester City, Liverpool, Edmonton,” Doble said. “Diets and recovery sessions will be there, like a professional footballer, and then they will get to go watch an English Premier League game as well.”

In order to help further the develop the players, a new dome was constructed as a practice facility for the team. The new space has allowed the club to greatly enhance not only their training space, but also the amount of time spent practicing. Holding practice indoors allows the team to practice year round, which helps make it more competitive when preparing to play against other higher level clubs.

The dome also provides a location that is easy for players and their families to reach as opposed to the old routine of driving out to farther away practice facilities.

“We were driving out to places that were on 23 Mile Road that were 30 minutes away from here, and it wasn’t fun,” Mary said. “We were spending more time on the road going to other clubs and places to play, but this is a place, now with this dome, having this facility, we can brand it our own and really build on the Eastside soccer club.”

Mary Kohler has witnessed the improvements that the team has made because of all of the new changes that have been made to the team and envisions the team going all the way to the State Cup finals this season.

“We’ve got a great asset that is very much focused on building that confidence.

Not only building their skills, but building their confidence to be the best that they can be and to take it all the way. That’s the mantra of the team this year: they’re gonna take it all the way,” Mary said. “They’re gonna take it to the finish line, and I actually believe that it’s going to happen.”

12 – Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2015 – North Pointe

IDEAS

Affirmative action, cultural sensitivity on college campuses KMZU.COM

University of Missouri president Tim Wolfe was asked to resign after failing to recognize a series of racial incidents on campus.

In response, a graduate student went on a hungerstrike, lasting a few days before the university’s football team joined the protests. The AfricanAmerican players on the team refused to play in any games until Wolfe stepped down, promting his immediate resignation.

Campuses with issues per state.

Darker states have a higher number of colleges with protests on their campuses.

WIKIMEDIA.ORG

In an email response to complaints about a “White Girls Only” Halloween party, the housemaster’s wife Erica Christakis told students it was not her responsibility to regulate their behaviors, as they are adults.

Christakis resigned from Yale University, claiming that it did not have the open or educational environment it used to have.

This week, many colleges will start sending out their early action results. They’ve spent months reviewing applications and individuals to see who would be the best fit for their campus.

However, while they are trying to find their next class of students, several institutions have been facing challenges from their current ones.

Over the past several weeks, many institutions of higher education were accused of cultural insensitivity. Some of the schools include University of Missouri, Harvard University, Yale University and the University of Ottawa. The rolling list of problems includes a president failing to address racial incidents and claims that a yoga class was in itself culturally insensitive.

As a result, many campuses have have seen a wide-range of student responses including boycotting professors and protesting.

These disputes over equality may culminate in a Supreme Court decision, which the New York Times reports may be affected by the different situations the country has seen over the last few months. Here is our breakdown of the situation.

HARLANINSTITUE.ORG

By Anu Subramaniam EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

In 2003, the University of Michigan was involved in a Supreme Court case centering on the legality of affirmative action. The Supreme Court ruled in favor of the students who brought the case forward, stating that the university’s allocation of points to minority applicants during the admissions process was unconstitutional.

This was considered a landmark case because it made a final decision about affirmative action after many different cases came to the court’s attention. It was the last major Supreme Court decision involving universities until now.

Abigail Fisher, a white student who was denied admission to the University of Texas at Austin, brought forward a similar suit in 2008. She claimed that the consideration of race in the university’s admissions process is unconstitutional. The case made its way to the Supreme Court, which returned it to the lower court, suggesting those judges review their decision.

The lower court upheld its original ruling that what the University of Texas did was constitutional, causing the case to go back up to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court had condoned using race in the admissions process for the sole purpose of diversifying the educational environment on a college campus during Gratz v.

Bollinger. But, they did rule that it was unconstitutional for a school to set a quota or fixed percentage for minorities or members of a particular race during the admissions process.

The issue of race on college campuses has come to the forefront with widespread campus protests across the country. The different issues involving race and culture have come to the Supreme Court’s attention and may have an effect on this new case. Justices could either go one step further than they did in 2003 by completely removing race as a factor in admissions, or they could decide to uphold the lower court’s decision.

The inclusion of recent events in their decision can be attributed to the widespread discourse and to the fact that it is happening at some of the justices alma matters, including Yale and Harvard Universities. Five justices—John Roberts Jr., Atonin Scalia, Athony Kennedy, Stephen Breyer and Elena Kagan—attended Harvard University for law school,

and three—Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito Jr. and Sonia Sotomayor—attended Yale.

Yale and Harvard are among the schools that have received major news coverage for the protests on their campuses. Educators, administrators, lawmakers and even the justices are divided on this issue. Currently, Scalia, Roberts and Alito are in favor of removing race as a factor on college campuses. Sotomayor is staunchly pro-affirmative action. The remaining justices have not shown favor to either side and are the deciding votes in the matter.

The first large incident occurred at the University of Missouri when a graduate student went on a hunger strike, and the African American players on the football team refused to play until the university’s president resigned.

The protest was successful, and university president Tim Wolfe resigned.

The success of this protest spurred a chain reaction at many schools on the east coast and throughout the rest of the nation. Protests at other schools garnered similar student support but did not receive positive attention from the schools’ staffs. At Yale, Erica Christakis, a housemaster’s wife, responded to student complaints about a White Girls Only Halloween party, by saying the students are legally adults, and it is not her place to regulate their behaviors. Similar attitudes were taken by other school administrators and has caused increased discontent on many of the campuses.

Many of the school’s newspapers have written editorials based on their individual’s school’s issues, but have come back to a similar question: what priority does student comfort take in th educational environment? There has not been a consensus on the topic, but because the number of incidents has exponentially increased over the course of the last two months, the Supreme Court has suggested they will give it weight in their decision. The Court began to hear this case on Dec. 9 and is in discussion to reach their decision. Analysts find that it is very unlikely that the court uphold the previous decision, because they sent it back for review, acknowledging a discrepancy in the standing decision.

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Photos of African-American professors in Harvard University’s Law School were defaced with black tape.

Students later decorated those same portraits with messages about love and peace. However, students put pressure on the school’s adminstration and the police department to act faster and have an open dialogue with the public.