North Pointe - April 2, 2015

ON CAMPUS PAGE 6 Choir performed their Great Works Concert at Assumption Greek Orthodox Church March 26.

LEFT: Acafella, the boys acapella group, performed the songs “Nonelidoli” and “The Prayer of the Children.”

NORTH

EMMA BROCK

GROSSE POINTE NORTH HIGH SCHOOL

POINTE THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 2015

SINCE 1968

Critics condemn Greek life in midst of recent behavior

By Dora Juhasz and Haley Reid SENIOR ASSISTANT EDITORS

Though it’s part of her Greek heritage senior Olivia Cook doesn’t believe that Greek life embodies academic excellence.

While visiting a Central Michigan University fraternity, Cook was far from impressed.

“The fraternity house I was in was disgusting. I think it’s gross, and all they do is drink,” Cook said. “The typical stereotype is getting wasted, having parties around the house and guys taking advantage of girls.”

Cook isn’t the only one who views Greek life critically. Recent events have cast a negative spotlight on sororities and fraternities and Americans have become wary of the nonservice-oriented activities that occur behind doors plastered with Greek letters.

According to USA Today, nine million college students are members of a Greek organization. College graduation rates are 20 percent higher among Greeks than non-Greeks, and 85 percent of Fortune 500 executives participated in Greek life.

However, according to Elite Daily, fraternity men are also more likely to commit rape and sexual assault, and an estimated 70-90 percent of on-campus gang rapes occur because of fraternity events. In addition, four

out of five fraternity and sorority members are binge drinkers. In comparison, only two out of five college students are regular binge drinkers, according to addictioncenter.com.

The public eye has been skeptically observing the actions of Greek life as reports of misbehavior and scandals pile up.

The University of Oklahoma’s chapter of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity is now seeking forgiveness after a controversial video of members shouting racist chants leaked at the beginning of the month.

Similarly, the University of Michigan, in an effort to distance itself from the negative spotlight, has banned its chapter of the Sigma Alpha Mu fraternity and Sigma Delta Tau sorority after members trashed Treetops ski resort during a drunken weekend in January.

According to the Detroit Free Press, damages equated to over $400,000.

Class of 2014 alumnus Stephen Cleland is a member of the Pi Kappa Phi fraterntiy at Western Michigan University. He and his fraternity brothers were denied entry to the same ski resort because they were a part of a Greek organization. He said this misconception that all fraternities are similarly destructive couldn’t be further from the truth.

“My take on it is, there’s going to be partying anywhere you go in college. It isn’t just fraternities. So I do believe it’s unfair to stereotype like that,” Cleland said via email. “After SAE’s racist chant at OU, many news outlets have been calling for an end to Greek life.”

In cases like the University of Oklahoma’s, universities are abandoning their formerly coveted Greek social groups. Some have been disbanded nationally.

Social studies teacher Barry Mulso agrees that bad decision-making has tainted the national view of Greek life, but he feels his experience as president of a Western Michigan University fraternity was positive.

“We can’t paint all fraternities and sororities with the same broad brush. We hear these isolated, horrible incidents. And these are really bad things, and they deserve all of the bad press that they’re getting,” Mulso said. “But the reality is, is that we are not hearing about any of the good things that these organizations do, and they do plenty of good things.

The more outrageous it is, the more likely it is to get coverage.”

Cook claims she hasn’t seen the good in Greek life and feels deterred by an experience a family member had after being hazed at a Michigan State University sorority. Her relative left the Greek program and hasn’t returned.

According to USA Today, since 1975, there has been at least one hazing-induced death per year across college campuses — and 82 percent of these have come as a result of binge drinking.

Mulso feels that in many cases, groupthink is to blame for this type of behavior.

“Groups sometimes get these group mentalities where they make really stupid decisions, and we are looking at a bunch of young people, and this is part of their learning process,” Mulso said.

Senior Leesie Paglino plans to model after her sister, Class of 2013 alumna Jenna Paglino, at Michigan State University. She feels that sororities like Kappa Kappa Gamma, which Jenna belongs to, can make a large college campus feel more like home.

However, Paglino plans to be cautious, as she knows the intentions of Greek organizations are not all the same.

“I’ve gotten the impression that certain types of sororities, I don’t even know the names, but they’re more partiers than other sororities. Just from my sister’s point of view, Kappa isn’t as crazy as others,” Paglino said.

“When I first heard about it, I thought, ‘Is this going to be crazy, are the girls going to be insane, drinking a lot?’”

Mulso anticipates a steady decline in Greek life participation following recent controversies and stereotypes but doesn’t doubt it will rise again. He sees time for rehabilitation within the programs and good press as key to repairing their reputation.

Paglino hopes to surround herself with people who will only push her in a positive direction, whether they are a part of Greek life or not.

“I guess it’s just who you associate yourself with, who you make friends with, and stay away from,” she said.

AUDREY KAM & HALEY REID

WWW.SIGMAKAPPA.ORG WWW.ALIVECAMPUS.COM WWW.BLOGS.DALLASOBSERVER.COM

TV Production students produce film for competition

By Anu Subramaniam and Olivia Asimakis EDITOR-IN-CHIEF AND MANAGING EDITOR

The District 12 bread-baking Hunger Games fighting star Peeta Mellark, known in the real world as Josh Hutcherson is partly responsible for advanced TV production’s new assignment. After seeing Hutcherson talk about a program calledProject Imagination in an interview, TV production teacher Brian Stackpoole decided to do more research on the competition.

Project Imagination is a film competition sponsored by Canon. Director and producer Ron Howard will be joining the HutchersonCanon team for this nationwide event. The criteria for the project includes a one-minute movie trailer, and the winning trailer will be

produced into a motion picture with Hutcherson as the star.

Stackpoole felt this project would not only give his students more opportunities to work on their TV production skills but would also afford them with real-world opportunities.

The main allure of the project to Stackpoole was the wider audience the students would cater to.

“I really felt that the fact that it had scalability to it, that it’s not just a project we are doing in class, but this is a project that can grow into something else,” Stackpoole said.

Sophomore Alanah Herfi is one of the students participating in the assignment. Herfi and her group members sophomore Francesca Leone and juniors Kelly Baranek and Elaine Nesom are filming areas of North that look older to create an abandoned-vibe for their trailer. The group is leaving their picture up to interpretation as they feel it gives them a competitive advantage.

“We’re trying to keep ours really openended because they want a movie trailer to base a movie off of, not to make a movie off of. So ours so far is just a bunch of kind of rusty things and we are trying to go for like an invasion of school.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

North alumna hosts drama workshop

By Emily Martinbianco SENIOR ASSISTANT EDITOR

In an anticipated encore to her past performances on North’s stage, 1986 alumna and Broadway actress Sandra Joseph will make her star-studded return to test the vocal cords and dance moves of North students.

Participation in Joseph’s workshop, which began March 31 and will continue through the week of April 13, was awarded through audition. A concert on May 9 will display the talents of students accepted into the program. The students will be singing popular musical theater songs with Joseph in choreographed numbers.

“I’m looking forward to helping the students find the truth in their songs and personalize their material so that it comes from the heart. It’s the authenticity piece that connects with an audience,” Joseph said via email. “I will be encouraging each performer to bring

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

SPORTS - PAGE 9

IDEAS - PAGE 3

“We need to participate and create movements to share our own views on the world, on the government, on politics, on society.”

LAUREN SEXTON

@thenorthpointe

more of who they are to what they do. I believe that is the key to success, no matter what field you’re in.”

Sophomore Lolly Duus planned to audition for the opportunity to work with Joseph.

“I’m so excited to work with a Broadway star. Sandra Joseph is so talented. I just love that I will get to watch her perform. I’m most excited to watch her and be able to learn from her performance, and hopefully teaching, and incorporate it into my performing,” Duus said via email.

Drama Club director Sean Kifer spearheaded the workshop and contacted the broadway star. Kifer and Joseph will team up to conduct the classes, but Joseph will remain in the show and perform with the students.

“It was kind of a surprise to the whole club.

We didn’t find out about it until earlier this month, and we were all so shocked because we never thought that we would get the opportunity to do this, but it’s kind of just a way for Sandra Joseph to touch her roots with her old school and support our club,” senior and Drama Club president Emily Surzyn said.

Drama Club members are eager to meet and learn some performance skills from Joseph.

www.northpointenow.org

Junior Pelton Schneider plays in the first varsity lacrosse game of the 2015 season at home against St. Mary Catholic Central.

CONTENTS 1 2 3 4 5

NEWS CALENDAR IDEAS REVIEWS LIFE

6 7 8 9 10

ON CAMPUS ELECTIONS ELECTIONS SPORTS PHOTO ESSAY

VOLUME 47, ISSUE 13

NEWS

2 – Thursday, April 2, 2015 – North Pointe

TV Production CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

The thing is that it’s open-ended, so if they choose our trailer, they can make an abandoned school, an abandoned like world, an abandoned something,” Herfi said.

Another team consisting of juniors Caroline Bock, Sydnie Allor and Steven Marcus are also using a paranormal, suspenseful idea for their trailer. The center for their project mimics a ‘who-done-it’ theme where a student goes missing in a haunted school.

“We want(ed) it like kinda dark and eerie, so we wanted to see if any of the cameras had a night vision function,” Bock said. “Then we could film it in the dark and still see people.”

Both teams have tried something different and unique to give their trailers that extra edge. Herfi’s group also decided not

SPRING BREAK

Friday, April 3 through Sunday, April 12

ACT ASPIRE AND MSTEP TESTING

Tuesday, April 14 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. for freshmen and sophomores 8-10:30 a.m for juniors (English) (no school for seniors) Thursday, April 16

MSTEP for juniors (science, 1 hour)

All grades begin 8 a.m.

Tuesday, April 21

MSTEP (math, 1 hour)

All grades begin 8 a.m.

Thursday, April 23

MSTEP (soc. studies, 1

to use people in their trailer. They felt that it would limit the capabilities the producers would see in their trailer and reduce their chances of being picked.

However, Herfi isn’t too concerned about winning. She feels that just competing in a competition where tens of thousands of entries will be submitted is worth the effort.

“It’s just the experience of being able to turn it in and have the opportunity to (reach) a goal. To make it is really great, and I think it is going to turn out good allin-all for our level,” Herfi said.

The potential of being selected in this competition has helped Bock and her team explore new ideas and ways of filming. Bock believes Stackpoole has been a guide for producing the trailer, but she also feels he lets students express their creativity.

“When we filmed the first time, he (Stackpoole) helped us turn off the lights in the hallways and stuff, which is kind of cool because we’ve never seen that hap-

Drama workshop CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

“I’m really excited to meet her because she’s such a well known musical theater star, especially because she is a North alumni,” Surzyn said, “We were actually really honored to have her come back, and we’re doing this mini choir concert where she’s going to be singing a lot of her songs.”

While Joseph is a jack of many trades, she is mainly known for her role in the Broadway musical The Phantom of the Opera.

“I played Christine, the female lead in The Phantom of the Opera for 10 years and approximately 1,500 performances. I’m honored to have been named ‘the longest-running leading lady in Broadway’s longest-running show.’

I’m now a keynote speaker, singer and author traveling the country doing concerts and giving presentations and workshops encouraging other people to move through their blocks so they can show up and be seen and heard,” Joseph said.

The event is intended to help improve talent as well as the Drama Club’s budget. According to Surzyn, the Drama Club is hosting the event and collecting the proceeds to fund the club.

Drama Club member Duus plans to do

pen,” Bock said. “It’s always up to us to figure out our own ideas and how we want to film it. It’s just really open, and we are independent about it.”

Stackpoole has seen his students translate their classroom experiences over to the competition and hopes that this trend will continue in the future, not just with projects.

“What it does is it really helps them see what else is out there and see how they can use the skills we are using in class in a wide-variety of techniques not just to enter into a contest, but hopefully make other projects for other things,” Stackpoole said.

The positive turnout of Project Imagination so far has encouraged Stackpoole to do more competitions for the future.

He has looked into another called Team Oscar and has students currently participating in the Meijer Great Choices Student Film Festival and Michigan Interscholastic Press Association Film Challenge in addition to Project Imagination.

what is necessary for the workshop and has high hopes for a positive outcome.

“I hope (to) just get more experience in my performing and learn more technique. This workshop with Sandra will benefit the North students very much. There are definitely students who want to go to Broadway, and this will help them grow as singers and actors, and for those who do it for fun, they will have an experience they will remember forever,” Duus said.

Joseph said her years in theater productions at North allowed her to flourish.

“It was such a thrill to get to play leading roles in shows as diverse as Annie, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Oliver and A Flea in Her Ear. I’m forever thankful to the teachers, parents and administrators who helped keep the performing arts programs thriving during my time at North,” Joseph said.

Joseph is donating more than just her time.

There’s a possibility she’ll help create a scholarship for the students she would be working with.

“She has such an amazing voice, and she’s starting a scholarship for our club to award seniors that are going into musical theater in college. It’ll be really cool to have that from her and get her involved in our school,” Surzyn said.

Band, orchestra prepare for festival Band and orchestra students performed their spring concert April 1 at Brownell Middle School. The concert featured performances by the symphony band, the concert band and the full and chamber orchestras.

Each ensemble performed at least two pieces that will also be featured at their festival trip to Nashville (April 16-19).

“We’re playing ‘Schubert’s Unfinished Symphony’ and Strauss’ ‘Horn Concerto,’” sophomore Lindsey Hoshaw said.

Hoshaw, a violist, said she preferred the energy of “Schubert’s Unfinished Symphony” over the slower orchestral music.

Senior Isabella Cubillejo, a violinist, also prepared for the festival.

“Well, the Schubert’s all right. It is fast at some parts, so that’s fun,” Cubillejo said. “And the Strauss is cool because it’s Nathan’s [Doss] solo, and he’s been rehearsing that for months, and it’s fun to accompany him.”

Sophomore Will Ferguson, an alto-saxophonist, is looking forward to the opportunity.

“I like the concerts and to hang out with my friends. It’s like a fun three-day thing,” Ferguson said.

The band will play the “First Holst Suite March in E Flat,” “Amazing Grace” and the “Honor March.” Aside from the performance component of the trip, students will have the opportunity to sightsee.

“It’s fun to see different places,” Ferguson said. “I hadn’t been to Toronto before so it was cool seeing that. I’ve also never been to Nashville either.”

By Harris Bunker

Contributing: Michal Ruprecht

hour)

LEFT: The 2015 Drama Club poses for a yearbook photo.

“I’m so excited to work with a Broadway star.

Sandra Joseph is so talented, I just love that I will get to watch her perform,” sophomore Lolly Duus said.

BELOW: Alumna Sandra Joseph performs in a production on Broadway.

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Bake sale proposal passes state Senate Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move ! campaign created new federal nutrition standards that eliminated unhealthy foods from schools for the 2014-2015 school year. However, that law might be tweaked if the Michigan Senate passes a bill to allow three bake sales a week.

“I think it’s a great idea,” Class of 2017 president Adam Schreck said.

Since the regulation banning non-nutritional foods went into effect, clubs and student councils have been struggling to find other means to raise funds for their activities. This new law would allow clubs to fundraise and would also bring back the beloved Union cookies.

“The guidelines said bake sales three days a week. I’m going to literally interpret it as a bake sale where the cookies do fall under (the guidelines), and do a bake sale,” student activities director Pat Gast said.

The Union plans on sharing the three days of bake sales with other clubs to raise money to ensure that everyone has an opportunity.

The bill still has to go through the Michigan House of Representatives before it is enacted into reality but clubs, councils and students are looking forward to the possibilities.

“It’s a matter of personal taste,” Gast said. “I know that if they’re not going to buy it (junk food) here, they’re going to buy it somewhere else, but hopefully it (the law) brought in awareness that students do need to eat healthier.”

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IDEAS

North Pointe – Thursday, April 2, 2015 – 3

The power of teens

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

BOARD OF EDUCATION POLICY Olivia Asimakis CO-MANAGING EDITOR

Yena Berhane IDEAS EDITOR

Katelyn Carney SPORTS EDITOR

Radiance Cooper ASSISTANT EDITOR

Mora Downs LIFE EDITOR

Billy Moin NEWS EDITOR

Katelynn Mulder INTERN

Emma Puglia WEB EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Ritika Sanikommu WEB MANAGING EDITOR

Anu Subramaniam EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Gowri Yerramalli BUSINESS MANAGER

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

OUR EDITORIAL

Bringing back our cookies

There are 1.8 billion teens worldwide.

This is the largest group of young people MY TURN in the world’s RADIANCE COOPER history, and we have potential to do great things. Yet we are disproportionately represented when it comes to influencing areas such as business and politics. We are almost always left out of critical decisions that affect our lives and our futures. We are not taken seriously most of the time, and our ideas often overlooked. Why? Maybe it all comes down to a bigger problem: could it be our own fault?

Of course it wouldn’t be fair to lump us all together and say every teenager had a hand in this. Instead, I think we can all agree that it’s due to a vocal minority that has created this problem for the rest of us.

Some teens choose not to make the brightest decisions including using social media irresponsibly. Reckless behavior like all-night partying, criminal pranks and binge-drinking that gets photographed or tweeted by the hour doesn’t exactly scream ‘take me seriously please.’ And because of the behavior of a few, everybody has to reap the consequences. We are underrepresented. We are seen as immature. We don’t get a place at the table. Some critics would say we don’t deserve a seat, but of course, I would have to disagree.

I know being young means making the world’s not-so-brightest decisions, but as young people, we’re wired by nature to be impulsive.

We’re built to be fearless, no matter how big the obstacle. We’re built to believe in miracles. We are built to feel virtually invincible.

Right now, we’re at the point in our lives where we can do anything we set our minds to. We don’t have to hesitate because of restrictions like unpaid mortgages or kids to take care of or doubts created by the unkind world we’ve seen too much of. This is the point in our lives where we are the most versatile.

Instead of using the Internet for silly purposes most of the time, we should try to use it for more important things. We have to try our best to be both heard and seen. We need to participate and create movements to share our own views on the world, on government, and society.

During the ‘60s, young people led protests against war, participated in boycotts and marched for peace, free expression and love.

All major participants were young people.

The same resilience and invincibility they had then, we carry with us now. Even online social activism like #YesAllWomen or #UmbrellaRevolution has young people leading the way. We have to participate in the conversation. As a teenage girl, I hear what my peers have to say about the world we live in, and despite popular belief, it doesn’t always consist of the latest Hollywood drama or complaining about how much homework we have. We may be young, but we’re savvy. Our ideas are worth something.

There are 1.8 billion of us around the world.

We are swelling with our own ideas, beliefs and problems that deserve to be unleashed.

We have the power and the potential to open eyes and change minds. Great things will happen when young people have a place at the table, but before that can happen some of us have to prove we can be responsible and worthy of the world’s attention. Through youthful revolutions, we can open the minds of people who weren’t paying attention before.

JEN KUSCH

Del ic ate, wa r m cook ie s u sed to sl ide of f of M rs .

G a st ’s spat u la f rom 10 :45 a .m to noon e ver y d ay.

But u n le s s t he y have made br ief appea r a nce at a school-sponsored d a nce, none of u s have seen a Un ion cook ie si nce la st Ju ne.

T he Sma r t Snack s i n S chools leg islat ion enac ted i n t he 2 014 -15 school yea r ha s placed nat ionw ide hea lt h requ i rement s on food sold du r i ng t he school d ay. Howe ver, t he M ich iga n S enate ha s pa s sed a bi l l t hat wou ld a l low up to t h ree f u ndr a isi ng ba ke s a le s per week . T h is bi l l is now bei ng i nt roduced to t he st ate Hou se of Repre sent at ive s .

I f it pa s se s , it w i l l go d i rec t ly to G over nor R ick Snyder for approva l . I f he sig ns , we’ l l get Un ion cook ie s back .

T he Sma r t Snack s i n S chools leg islat ion ba n ned Un ion cook ie s a s wel l a s ot her popu la r snack s sold i n t he St udent Un ion, at t he school store a nd at ba ke s a le s . T he requ i rement s st ate t hat food mu st meet cer t a i n nut r it iona l va lue s , i nclud i ng t he a mou nt of c a lor ie s , fat , sod iu m a nd su ga r.

S enate Bi l l 10 9, i nt roduced by st ate S enator Pat r ick C olbeck, pa s sed 36 -1. It w i l l now move to t he Hou se of Repre sent at ive s where it mu st receive a major it y vote to pa s s . T h is bi l l, i f pa s sed , w i l l prov ide a way a rou nd some of t he feder a l hea lt h st a nd a rd s pa s sed du r i ng t he oba ma ad m i n ist r at ion.

T he new law wou ld benef it school f u nd i ng bec au se it wou ld a l low ou r st udent gover n ment a nd ot her g roups to ea r n back t he re venue t he y lost when t he Sma r t Snack s i n S chools re st r ic t ions were i mposed .

Ba ke s a le s a re a major sou rce of f u nd i ng for clubs , spor t s a nd st udent gover n ment . St udent g roups have lost a n e st i mated $25,0 0 0 i n f u nd i ng t h is yea r a f ter losi ng t he abi l it y to hold ba ke s a le s du r i ng school . Wit hout t he i ncome, ou r orga n i z at ions lack t he proper re sou rce s to not on ly host d a nce s a nd ot her ac t iv it ie s — t he y have a lso lost t he abi l it y to cont i nue t hei r t r ad it ion of si z able donat ions to loc a l a nd nat iona l cha r it ie s .

W hen we lost ou r Un ion cook ie s , we d id n’t ju st lose mone y. We lost a 2 0 -yea r Nor t h t r ad it ion.

Un ion cook ie s were so u n ivers a l ly loved t hat when t hei r ex istence wa s je opa rd i z ed , st udent s re volted by ma k i ng a “Br i ng O u r C ook ie sBack ” Tw it ter accou nt a nd ha sht a g Un ion cook ie s brou g ht st udent s toget her, a nd t hat is somet h i ng t he hea lt h re st r ict ions , howe ver wel l mea n i ng , tore apa r t .

A lt hou g h get t i ng t h ree d ay s wor t h of su ga r y s a le s a week is a step i n t he r ig ht d i rec t ion, we wa nt a f u l l week . T here a re some fore seeable problems t hat cou ld accompa ny t he pa s s a ge of t h is bi l l . Wit h a l i m it of t h ree s a le s a week, t here cou ld be compet it ion a mong clubs a nd spor t s tea ms over who get s t he spot s i n t he l i neup. Nonet hele s s , we need t he se t h ree d ay s before we c a n hope for f ive.

R a isi ng mone y t h rou g h ba ke s a le s is t he nu mber one way to i ncrea se prof it . Su ga r sel ls . St udent s have t r ied f u nd r a isi ng u si ng ot her, le s s ef fect ive met hod s , but not h i ng compa re s to t he mone y made t h rou g h sel l i ng sweet s . Wit h t he pa s s a ge of S enate Bi l l 10 9, st udent gover n ment w i l l get back t hei r lost prof it s wh ich w i l l go d i rec t ly back i nto t he school, i mprov i ng Nor t h a nd re stor i ng it s u n it y once a ga i n.

“Yes, because you get to meet new people and become good friends with the girls around you.”

“No, because ... I just want to be by myself and with my friends, and if they don’t join, I’m definitely not joining.”

Sam Karowicz

Jordan Jackson

FRESHMAN

SOPHOMORE

“Probably not. I don’t think it’s for me. Honestly, to get in is already hard enough, and then there are a whole bunch of parties ... I need to focus on my studies.”

Jarrell Cunningham JUNIOR

YOUR TURN: Would you want to join a fraternity or sorority?

By Mora Downs

“Yes. I think you can meet a lot of other people when in college and bond with a lot of other girls.”

“I would not. I sort of have a philosophical issue about fraternities. I find them to be divisive and don’t care for them.”

Karyn Schwartz

Patrick Hicks

SENIOR

SOCIAL STUDIES TEACHER

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Anu Subramaniam CO-MANAGING EDITORS: Olivia Asimakis, Jennifer Kusch SECTION EDITORS: Yena Berhane, Katelyn Carney, Mora Down, Audrey Kam, Billy Moin WEB EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Emma Puglia WEB MANAGING EDITOR: Ritika Sanikommu BUSINESS MANAGER: Gowri Yerramalli PHOTO EDITORS: Dalaney Bradley, Ava DeLoach, Alanna Sparks ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR: Sydney Benson ASSISTANT EDITORS: Emma Brock, Caitlin Bush, Radiance Cooper, Allison Lackner, Lindsey Ramsdell, Lauren Sexton, Sarah Wietecha STAFF REPORTERS: Josie Bennett, Alex Harring, Nathan Lonczynski, Addison Toutant INTERNS: Harris Bunker, Abbey Cadieux, Maria Cody, Darcy Graham, Camryn Harris, Erin Kaled, Bella Lawson, Trevor Mieczkowski, Katelynn Mulder, Sonny Mulpuri, Joey Parison, Montana Paton, Anna Post, Michal Ruprecht, Asia Simmons

“I don’t think I would want to be involved in a sorority just because I feel a lot of problems stem from it. A lot of good can come from it ... but I think they’re getting out of control.”

Wendy Spreder CLASS ADVISER

SENIOR ASSISTANT EDITORS: Brittney Hernandez, Wendy Ishmaku, Dora Juhasz, Erica Lizza, Kaley Makino, Emily Martinbianco, Haley Reid, Thomas Remener, Andrea Scapini, Luke Sturgill The North Pointe is edited and produced by Advanced Journalism students at Grosse Pointe North High School and is published every two weeks. It is in practice a designated public forum without prior review.

Comments should be directed to the student editors, who make all final content decisions. The views expressed are solely those of the authors or the student editorial board and do not reflect the opinions of the Grosse Pointe Public School System.

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

EDITOR’S DESK

ERICA LIZZA

Know your limits As a high school senior, I’m no stranger to unsolicited advice. What classes I should take, where to go to college, what to major in, how I should be spending my summers — I’ve learned all of these things from acquaintances, obscure relatives and friends of friends of my parents. But most of this guidance centers around which career I should pursue.

Everyone seems to have just one word for me: STEM. It’s today’s version of “plastics.” (Anyone who doesn’t understand that reference, please watch The Graduate immediately.)

They say there’s a great future in STEM, a tidy little acronym that stands for the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. And it’s not just third cousins thrice removed that sing its praises to me. From teachers to politicians to news anchors, our society has become fixated on STEM and pressures young people to take that path.

As a career move, it is logical.

In 2010, there were 7.6 million STEM workers in the U.S. That number is projected to grow 17% by 2018. STEM employees consistently earn more than their similarly educated peers in non-STEM fields.

Clearly, STEM is the new black. But black isn’t my color.

I don’t doubt most of this advice is well-meaning. But here’s my question: if my own parents — who undoubtedly know me better than anyone else — have never pushed these careers on me, why does everyone else?

I’m a girl. And in case you haven’t heard, women haven’t exactly been well-represented in STEM fields. Women hold only 25% of jobs in STEM fields, according to a U.S. Department of Commerce report. Yes, more girls should venture into STEM fields if that’s what interests them. Just not this girl.

Here’s the thing: I’m competent at math and science. I’ve earned decent grades in those subjects, but I wouldn’t say I’m gifted. I could be a capable engineer. I just wouldn’t be a happy one. Tolerating high school math classes has been difficult.

Solving equations for another 40 years would be unbearable.

I understand this country has a shortage of engineers, computer programmers and general technology fixer-uppers. And yes, these are crucial jobs, ones that will become even more so in the next few decades. But the last thing we need is more people who are apathetic about their jobs or downright miserable doing them.

So, people who urge me to focus on pre-med or engineering: how about asking me what I want to study instead? Ask me what I get passionate about. It’s not conservation of mass or integrals. Seriously. Ask about my analysis of 2016’s presidential candidates and who I think will ultimately win (Hint: it might not be Hillary). Ask me why I think The Great Gatsby is the quintessential American novel.

Ask me when to use a semicolon and when to use a regular colon. Ask me what I love most about the Constitution (It’s hard to beat the First Amendment, but I adore the Fourth through Sixth Amendments too, so it’s kind of a toss-up).

Soon-to-be college students, teens and tykes alike: when faced with ill-fitting advice, remember that you know yourself best. Learn what you’re good at, what you like, what you geek out about. Those three criteria usually coincide. Then, pursue it.

4 – Thursday, April 2, 2015 – North Pointe

REVIEWS

Insurgent movie proves to be incomparable to the book

By Anu Subramaniam EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

As t he t heater lights dimmed a nd t he screen f lickered w it h t he faces of t he Divergent cast, a n over whelming sense of unfa milia rit y f looded t he room.

From t he get-go, t he only sense o recognition belonged to t he faces of t he cha racters. The plot felt r ushed a nd new. It lef t me t hink ing, “This isn’t rea l.”

Insurgent, t he second book in t he Divergent series, centers a round ma in cha racter Tris Prior (Sha ilene Woodley) as she nav igates t hrough t he faction system — a system t hat sorts indiv idua ls into f ive factions, each representing a dif ferent v irtue. These include Er udite (intelligence), Daunt less (braver y), Ca ndor (honest y), Abnegation (self lessness) a nd A mit y (k indness). Tris’s problem isn’t t hat she doesn’t f it into a faction, like t he factionless, it’s t hat she f its into too ma ny — she’s divergent. Wit h t he help of her boy friend Four (Theo Ja mes), Tris tries to save what’s lef t of t he system a nd protect t hose a round her while f ighting

Jea nene Matt hews (Kate Winslet), Er udite’s leader who’s set on k illing divergents.

The overa ll series is interesting, sitting-on-t he-edge-ofyour-seat, ca n’t-put-t he-bookdow n interesting. I pulled a n a ll-nighter to read t he trilog y, as I couldn’t fa ll asleep w it hout k now ing how it ended. But, tr ue of ma ny series’ sequels, Insurgent was t he least interesting pa rt of t he series. The second-book curse has happened w it h ma ny ot her popula r series including The Hunger Games, Harr y Potter a nd Twilight, but director Robert Schwent ke has made sure t his sequel doesn’t succumb to t he sa me fate.

To keep t he audience from dozing of f in t heir seats, Schwent ke has made t he plot consta nt ly stimulating. There is no time for roma nce. Yes, v iewers must wa it a n hour a nd 27 minutes for Four a nd Tris to k iss, or for t he audience to breat he. Ever y t hing interesting about Insurgent rema ins, a nd t he rest has been t hrow n to t he factionless. For a n audience member who hasn’t read t he book, t he mov ie is not hing short of a t hriller w it h a n in-

teresting couple. For t hose of us who spent hours pouring over aut hor Veronica Rot h’s words, t his mov ie is a disappointment.

Don’t get me w rong, t he mov ie isn’t bad. If I had wa lked into t he t heater only hav ing watched t he f irst mov ie, it would have been on my “to-recommend list.” The f ilm brings t his science f iction world to life w it h good lighting, solid set design a nd creative costuming. The new plot is captivating, a nd t he actors f it t heir roles. I just ca n’t get over t he fact t hat while t his mov ie sha res t he sa me na me as t he book, it diverges from t he origina l plot.

The most redeeming qua lit y is its cast of cha racters. They a re Rot h’s words brought to life.

Jea nnene is cold a nd ca lculating. Tris’s brot her, Ca leb Prior (A nsel Elgort), is misg uided.

Four is forgiv ing a nd strong. Tris is rebellious, ca ring a nd brave.

Each actor a nd actress f its t hese ma rks to a tee. They stick to t he way t hat Rot h created t hem, ma k ing t hem f it into t he world, t he situations a nd t he mov ie f lawlessly. Despite t heir unique stories, t hey seem norma l a nd create a bond w it h t hose of us

shov ing popcorn into our faces.

The emotion is what kept me in my seat because it was t he cha racters t hat we fa ns fell in love w it h, not what happened to t hem.

The rev ised plot is interesting a nd actua lly quite refreshing, but it cha nged how t he cha racters interacted w it h each ot her, which is a problem. Schwent ke keeps v iewers attentive by moving t hem t hrough t he f luf f y relationship moments t hat Rot h spent hours cra f ting. However, he sweeps past Tris a nd Four’s relationship, a major point of t he novel a nd misses t he point of why it was specia l — t hey a re t wo of a k ind, a nd t hey f ind each ot her aga inst a ll odds. Schwent ke has created t he idea l action f ilm f illed w it h consta nt action, minimum relationship disturba nce a nd excitement, but he’s a lso created a Divergent series fa n’s biggest disappointment.

Insurgent (2015) PG-13 119 minutes Directed by Robert Schwentke

ALBUM

APP

ALBUM

APP

FROOT

FLINCH

WASTED ON THE DREAM

DARK ECHO

After patiently waiting three years, fans are ready for a taste of the new Marina and the Diamonds album, FROOT. Marina Diamandis, comreferred WWW.ITUNES.APPLE.COM monly to by her stage name Marina and the Diamonds, released her third album March 16.

Diamandis seems to return to what she knows best: indie pop. FROOT reflects the same alternative style as her first album, The Family Jewels.

Every song has its own distinct sound and message, making each all the more intriguing and less likely to be skipped, a rarity nowadays.

Diamandis satisfies all her listeners with slower ballads like “Solitaire” and “Weeds” balanced with poppier songs such as “Better Than That” and “Blue.”

The great thing about Diamandis’ songs is the variation in topics. Unlike other pop queens like Taylor Swift and Ariana Grande, she doesn’t write exclusively about boys and relationships. For example, “Savages” is about the cruelty and corruption of society and “Immortal” shows her desire to be remembered.

However, some of these new songs do resemble the old. “Forget” is a catchy song, but it reminds the listener of Diamandis’ older music.

This miniscule flaw does not divert from this album’s near perfection. The lyrics of each song are meaningful and beautiful.

One in particular, “Happy,” might have the power to move listeners to tears, with inspiring words to those searching for their own happiness.

By seamlessly mixing slow songs with energetic ones and digressing a little from songwriting norms, Diamandis proves, once again, conformity isn’t key.

Most people are familiar with the staring contest: one person looks intently at his opponent until the other smiles. Flinch WWW.TWITTER.COM is an innovative take on the classic game.

In Flinch, the player is paired with either a friend or random player. The players then connect over video chat until one player smiles or time runs out.

The app may be exciting and intriguing, but it’s not perfect. For example, the app doesn’t always catch when a player smiles. The player must take a selfie during account setup, but that doesn’t work every time.

This is detrimental, since the entire game revolves around that moment when one player cracks a smile.

Although there are issues, the game boasts a beautiful, minimalistic design. It has an ever-changing color scheme that keeps the player engaged.

Flinch provides a very good video connection, unlike most similar apps. Once two players are connected, each has a crystal clear view of the other so there is no confusion.

Also, when players use distractions to deter their opponents, the sounds and pictures are high quality.

The app is initially addictive. The elation that forms during the match makes players want to continue. Even when a player loses, it’s still a relaxed and new experience.

While Flinch has some technical issues, but it is still a great game.

The thrill of drawing out a smile outweighs the app’s minor glitches.

Two guys w ith long, wav y hair and dirtstained, lightwashed jeans f loat amid the clouds making the kind of WWW.REDEYEDNBLUE.COM eye contact that says, “You probably have never heard of this genre before.”

A h, yes. Someone must have just released another new alternative rock soundtrack.

Jeff the Brotherhood is a two-piece band out of Nashv ille, Tennessee. The brothers released their album Wasted On The Dream on Tuesday, March 24 — two weeks after their intended release date. Their dream debut was delayed because their label, Warner Bros., dropped them mid-Februar y.

How quintessentially rock-n-roll.

The album itself includes riffs identical to ever y radio-broadcasted Black Sabbath song and vocals f luctuating between Kurt Cobain and Mark Hoppus. Needless to say, there’s a serious lack of originality. The listener is forced to rely on satirical lyrics and oddly placed f lute solos to add f lavor to the Brotherhood’s take on the already saturated garage-rock scene.

A lbum highlights include “Black Cherr y Pie” and “Coat Check Girl,” which dabble w ith the angst-fueled, grung y style that f lourished in the late 90s. However, their occasional infusion of 2000s pop f lare comes off awkwardly.

The band’s underground objective is clear, but it seems Warner Bros. must have pressured them for radio appeal. The mix of styles was executed poorly, and rockin’ cover art just can’t make up for that.

As the game flickers across the phone screen and the atmosphere of horror fills the user, the realization hits.

There is one goal: find the exit.

WWW.METACRITIC.COM Trapped in darkness, the user must use visuals of sound waves to guide the way through a dangerous environment, avoiding sinister red lines that represent danger. Level I starts off as “Blind.” The gamer learns that the object of the game is to find the exit.

However, progress to Level III, “Death,” and the player discovers that the red lines truly signify death. When the red lines are touched, the player screams. The sound of blood dripping completes the terror. The screen turns red, and the player is sent back to the beginning of the level.

Minimal design combined with exceptional sound results in a combination of horror and strategy.

The sound waves from footsteps bounce off impending obstacles and are the only guide. The player must make a strategy in order to survive.

This innovative app forces the player to rely on instinct and think quickly while bypassing the distractions around, such as the buzzing of flies or the creepy sounds of invisible monsters coming.

The creaking of a door opening at the point of exit is comforting, but that feeling won’t last. The player must recover quick and prepare for another round that is guaranteed to be more inten se. The first few levels may start out as easy, like most games, but as the levels progress, the game scenarios make the player fear for what may be in store. All 80 levels of this horror game definitely achieve the fear factor and are a work of art, even if there is nothing to see.

Marina and the Diamonds; FROOT; Atlantic Records UK; 2015

Flinch, Spitfire Technologies LLC, Feb 17, 2015, Apple, Free

Jeff the Brotherhood; Wasted on the Dream; Infinity Cat Records; 2015

Dark Echo; RAC7: March 17, 2015, Apple, Free

By Mora Downs

By Alex Harring

By Kaley Makino

By Yena Berhane

LIFE

North Pointe – Thursday, April 2, 2015 – 5

Student cultivates foreign roots

By Mora Downs & Sarah Wietecha LIFE EDITOR & ASSISTANT EDITOR

COURTESY OF OLIVIA ANGOTT

ABOVE: Angott attended school in Helsingborg, Sweden. Her experience was different from her previous visits. “Especially the first week just knowing where I’m supposed to get off and I didn’t know anyone except for my grandparents. It was kind of different then when I usually go there,” Angott said.

LEFT: Angott poses with her class in Sweden. “They don’t test as much, and they’re more lenient, but you still learn a lot and it’s not as stressful as it is in the U.S.,” Angott said.

COURTESY OF OLIVIA ANGOTT

COURTESY OF OLIVIA ANGOTT

COURTESY OF OLIVIA ANGOTT

ABOVE LEFT: Angott spent a lot of her free time in Helsingborg while in Sweden. “At lunch, we could go out in the city and go eat wherever, so it was kind of nice. It was cool to do that instead of just being around a bunch of houses,” Angott said.

ABOVE RIGHT: Angott attended Swedish high school Nicolaiskolan during her semester abroad. Angott believes the career-focused structure of the classes helped her learn a lot not only about her business oriented future, but it also showed her the importance of learning for value instead of test scores.

Trying to make the most of her last year in high school, senior Olivia Angott left the comfort of American schools for a semester abroad in Europe. Angott chose to travel to Sweden because of her relationship with the country and knowledge of the language.

“I was born in Sweden, and my family is from Sweden, and I am already fluent in Swedish, so overall it was easier to go to a foreign school when I already knew the language,” Angott said.

Angott stayed with her grandparents, making the transition easier for her in Ekeby, Sweden.

“I was all for it because that’s where I grew up, and she was going to my old high school, so I was excited,” Olivia’s mother Lena Angott said. “I thought that it would be a great learning experience for her to go there and study the Swedish language more and stuff. Sweden, it’s almost like a second home to Olivia.”

Although Lena was excited for Olivia’s opportunity to study abroad, her absence was difficult for her.

“I was really excited when she came back. It was very nice to have her home.

Luckily, with Skype and phones, we spoke every day so (it) made it a little easier,” Lena said.

In Sweden, high schools focus on career paths to prepare students for a particular field. Olivia attended Nicolaiskolan in Helsingborg, a business-orientated school. She feels that the Swedish system better prepares students than its American counterpart.

The classes’ structure was more flexible and helped the students get a feel for real-world jobs. The different language didn’t create problems for Angott, either.

“They would just send us out randomly to go into the city and go look at what the businesses are doing and ask the salespeople questions so it helped with learning,” Olivia said. “Even though all the classes were in Swedish, I learned a lot for accounting and business kind of stuff, and it just definitely helped with my Swedish.”

Olivia noticed significant differences between the American and Swedish education system that made her prefer Sweden’s style of education. For example, the Swedish schools don’t emphasize testing as much, making school less stressful and more comfortable for her.

“With the classes, it’s kinda like elementary school. Like, you’re with the same 30 kids all day and have the exact same schedule as everyone in your class, and you get paid every month to go to school,” Olivia said. “The testing isn’t that important. We don’t have to stress that much on testing in the U.S. because the stress just kind of makes us freak out and almost do worse sometimes, and you can see that in Finland too, they have really good test scores, and they only test once in a while.”

Olivia also noted that the classroom atmosphere was more relaxed in Sweden. Students usually call teachers by their first name, which she believes creates a more comfortable environment.

While in Sweden, Olivia developed several lasting friendships, one with senior Anna Adlercreutz. The two kept in touch, and Adlercreutz is plans to visit Olivia in June.

“It was tough. We got really close during the time she were here. Of course I cried a little after she left because I knew it will be six months until I will see her again,” Adlercreutz said via email. “Traveling to America have (sic) always been a goal for me, I’m most excited about seeing Olivia again, and to meet her friends and family. I’m also excited to see how different America is compared to Sweden.”

Olivia sees her experience as an eye-opener and great opportunity to have seen another part of the world.

“High school is a completely different thing in Europe ... it’s definitely really cool to see that and meet new people and make friends around the world.”

Junior elected DECA state officer

Francesca Giacona’s newfound responsibilities will lead to a more prominent North representation in Michigan’s DECA community

By Brittney Hernandez, Andrea Scapini, Erin Kaled & Anna Post SENIOR ASSISTANT EDITORS & INTERNS

As she peered into a sea of 6,000 young entrepreneurs, junior Francesca Giacona centered her nerves and presented her speech for DECA state officer elections.

“It was terrif ying. Up until the moment, I was shaking so badly, and then I got up on stage, and I was just completely calm,” Giacona said. “It can only be a two-minute speech, so I was just watching the little clock and hoping that I wouldn’t run out of time.”

The responsibilities of a state officer, a position that Giacona earned after defeating 12 other state finalists, include attending national conferences, leadership conventions and organizing state conferences. She also oversees everything to make sure it is running smoothly and works on the brand of the organization, as well as making business partnerships.

Opposed to her opponents’ tactics, such as approval-seeking, Giacona took a more straightforward approach.

“To me, she’s genuine, and her speech was completely that. She ran on a ‘nogimmick’ gimmick,” business teacher and DECA adviser Michelle Davis said.

“One of the boys was like, ‘hashtag vote for me,’ ... and they all had some kind of gimmick where hers was all about, ‘I don’t have a gimmick. This is what I want to do. This is what DECA is. This is who I am. This is why I fit.’ Her speech was just phenomenal.”

Fellow DECA member senior Meghan Veltri anticipated Giacona’s success.

“Fran’s really smart and a really good speechmaker, so I knew that she would do really well. She was really good against the competition. I wasn’t too surprised,” Veltri said. “She focused

more on the policies, and I thought that was really good because it showed that she really cared about DECA and what Michigan DECA was going to do next year.”

Giancona was encouraged by Davis as well as North’s DECA chapter to pursue the position. As a current vice president of North’s chapter, Giacona saw this as a plausible step towards becoming more involved with the organization.

Giacona and other members such as Veltri and senior Ricky Kent hope her position as DECA state officer will help represent North’s chapter.

“It really increases our visibility among the DECA of the state of Michigan and even nationwide and internationally,” Kent said.

Davis also anticipates an increase in DECA membership.

“She’s the vice president of community relations, so I think that bringing it to here is gonna help increase our membership here. But more for that, it’s gonna be huge for Fran,” Davis said.

“It’s a huge marketing piece. That on a college app is huge, not that she has to worry about a college app. If she wants to go into business any where, that’s a huge piece.”

Although still unsure of her future career path, Giacona hopes this opportunity will help in her decisionmaking.

“I’m hoping it will kinda help me zero in. I don’t know between business, law and medicine right now,” Giacona said.

“For civic consciousness, it’s a lot about community service and working with the muscular business association, so that really overlaps with a lot of things that I wanna do.”

ABOVE: Giacona poses with fellow DECA state officers. “Theres one president, a secretary, and then there are six VPs and each have a different focus area, and so I’m civic consciousness,” Giacona said.

LEFT: At the 2014 DECA state conference, junior Francesca Giacona placed first in her individual competitive series event. “I joined DECA last year, and I did pretty well, so I wanted to get more involved,” Giacona said. “I was vice president of our chapter here at North, and then at the district conference, I found out about the state elections.”

ON CAMPUS

6 – North Pointe – Thursday, April 2, 2015

Classics in concert

Selections from Mozart’s “Requiem” were among pieces performed by choirs at the annual Great Works concert at Assumption Greek Orthodox Church Thursday, March 26

By Emma Brock & Sarah Wietecha ASSITANT EDITORS

FACES IN THE CROWD

Adam Schade

Chicago, Amsterdam and Sydney are just a few of the cities in which sophomore Adam Schade wants to open hotels.

Schade has wanted a job in the hotel industry practically his whole life. His interest stemmed from his love of traveling.

“I was just really fascinated by (hotels), I guess.

I thought they were really cool. They’re just this big place that has all these rooms. I like going to them, so it just stuck with me,” Schade said.

Schade joined DECA to take steps towards his goal.

“There’s a bunch of categories (to compete in), and I did hotel and lodging management, so that already has kind of given me a little bit of background,” Schade said.

Schade hopes for a hotel debut in Michigan.

“Detroit has a really rich history of hotels.

They’ve had really luxurious hotels, and I think it’d just be really cool to be a part of that, and it’d be a great place to start,” Schade said.

Jill Berndston

ABOVE: The choirs performed a combined number at the end of the concert with selected orchestra members playing.

“I felt the students did a magnificent job. They just made some really beautiful music tonight and it’s nice to think of the idea that that was just a singular event. It’s a unique experience to create music like that in such a beautiful space with these student(s),” choir teacher Ben Henri said. “That sort of thing will never be recreated. Next year we do a new show, and it will be a new experience and a new level of excitement.”

RIGHT: Junior Olivia Hoover performs her solo, “Once I Was.” “I thought it was really fun because I liked my song a lot and I was also nervous a little bit for the high notes because I always get nervous when I have to sing that high,” Hoover said. “I felt relieved because I knew everybody pretty much in the crowd so it was kind of comforting seeing all my friends and family.”

A chance connection by a family friend who studied abroad created an opportunity for junior Jillian Berndtson to explore a new culture and country.

Charlotte Ansanay, a 15-year-old who lives in France, will be traveling to America in July to stay with Berndtson and her family, and Berndtson anticipates a future visit to see Ansanay’s family in France.

The two have never met. Their friendship began with a Facebook friend request.

“I think our conversations are put through translators because they’ll always make perfect sense, so it’s kind of weird that way,” Berndtson said.

Though neither are fluent in the other’s language, Berndtson plans on learning basic French before she travels. Berndtson hopes to be able to show Ansanay an average teenage life in the United States.

“She wants to experience typical American life, I guess. I guess we’re the typical family,” Berndtson said. “We were hesitant at first, but now we’re excited about it.”

Elizabeth Abel ABOVE: Junior Jeffery Redd sings “Didn’t My Lord Deliver Daniel” as a solo for the concert. “The choir concert was actually really successful. It was just flowing,” Redd said.

“It was just every group that went out there did amazing, and each soloist did good as well, and overall the concert went really well.”

Growing up in a culturally diverse household, freshman Elizabeth Abel has been exposed to Spanish culture her entire life.

She learned the language young from her Spanishteaching father and Mexican-born mother and can speak fluently, but takes classes to improve her grammar and writing.

“When you speak it, it comes naturally.

But when you write it, you really have to think about it,” Abel said.

Abel believes that knowing a second language helps her learn other languages.

“I’m also taking French, and it helps me with vocab,” Abel said. “The vocab is similar, and I know how to conjugate the verbs.”

Abel sees fluency in multiple languages as an advantage in the job market.

“When you’re applying for a job, it shows that you’ve done more studies and stuff, and it can help you get more opportunities in life,” Abel said.

LEFT: Senior Panos Varlamos reflects on one of his last concerts in Pointe Chorale. “It’s kind of sad, but I think it’s going to be worse when we have our spring concert because that’s probably our favorite one of the year,” Varlamos said. By Mora Downs, Montana Paton & Anna Post

FIVE MINUTES WITH

Spanish teacher Alma Turk

By Lindsey Ramsdell ASSISTANT EDITOR

ALMA TURK

Spanish teacher Alma Turk poses with husband Aaron Turk at her favorite museum, The National Anthropology Museum in Mexico City. “Northern Mexico is very closely related to Southern Arizona, so we have a lot of American influences there. I would say definitely the culture. The biggest difference, I think, is the closeness with family,” Turk said.

Despite living over 2,000 miles away, Spanish teacher Alma Turk has stayed in touch with her Mexican roots.

Turk was born in Northern Mexico and lived there for seven years before her family emigrated to the United States to provide their children with better opportunities.

“Even when we emigrated to the U.S., we would go back and spend our summers at my grandfather’s ranch and spend a lot of time there with them while my mom stayed in the U.S. and continued to work,” Turk said. “My twin sister and I would go back every summer and get to see all of our cousins, and that’s why we always stayed deeply rooted to our culture and never lost our language.”

Since moving to Michigan, Turk has found it more difficult to visit as often as she would like, yet she still manages to return about twice a year, usually for special occasions and holidays.

Geographically, Turk’s Mexican origin is near Arizona, and she saw the American influence in its culture

but also how the two cultures remained quite different. She said one of the biggest differences is the closeness with family.

“Here students, once you graduate high school, you are encouraged to go on and find the best university fit for you. Whereas most students in Mexico are more likely to stay nearby, to study nearby, to stay with their families,” Turk said.

Before settling in Michigan, Turk lived in Washington, D.C., where she met her husband. He was stationed at the Pentagon for the military, and when he left the service, they moved to Boston for two years. The decision to return to Michigan, where her husband is from, marked the beginning of Turk’s career in teaching.

Yet even after all the years and miles Turk spent away from her hometown, she remembers her childhood affectionately.

“Mexico was wonderful for me.

I grew up with a very loving family, thank God. And though I come from a very humble beginning, my family didn’t necessarily have a lot, but I have really fond memories of Mexico.”

Do you have any hobbies?

So, I love to run. I just did my first marathon, the Detroit Marathon. It was very slow, but at least I was able to check that off my list. I love to run. I also love to dance and I love to learn languages.

I’m currently still taking Farsi classes, Dari classes. Dari is a dialect spoken in Afghanistan.

Those are my three main hobbies.

What magazine did you work for?

I worked for Latina Style magazine, and I also worked for the Hispanic National Bar Association, which is an organization that advocates on behalf of Latino law students and judges and Latino attorneys.

Your husband was in the military, right?

Yes, he was in the military. My husband was originally from Farmington, Michigan. That’s what brought us back to Michigan. But he went to the University of Michigan, did the ROTC program there. He flew for the Navy, was a pilot for the Navy for about 10 years.

We met while he was in D.C. He was stationed at the Pentagon, and I was fundraising and working for a magazine at the time, and then the last two years we’ve spent in the Boston area where he was completing grad school.

Are there any differences between Mexico and the U.S.?

Another big difference is, if you are born into a middle class, for example, or into a lower socioeconomic status, it’s a lot more difficult to have access to those educational opportunities and those future career opportunities. Whereas here, I feel like your hard work goes a longer way.

ELECTIONS

7 – Friday, April 2, 2014 – North Pointe

Lauren Archambeau SECRETARY

I play field hockey and lacrosse, and I am a member of WILLOW, Fashion Club, Girl Scouts and orchestra.

My goals for student government are to get everyone involved and for everyone to enjoy their times at North while having a lot of fun.

Students should vote for me because I have been a student council member before, and I am very involved in the school and the community.

Olivia Bloomhuff VICE PRESIDENT

I am currently student activities director, I am in National Honor Society and a Link Crew leader.

Additionally, I am in WILLOW, field hockey captain and play soccer for North.

I plan to showcase all that North has to offer. All students should feel involved in activities going on throughout the school and know that their opinions are heard.

With leadership experience on my side, I understand the responsibilities of this role. I am dedicated, organized and an upstanding student that will work for the betterment of our school.

Stephanie Godoshian SECRETARY

I was a freshman, sophomore and junior senator for Student Association and Student Council, WILLOW CEO, and a member of Impact Club, SADD club, Italian Club, Strong Girls and S.A.V.E. club.

My goal is to continue to work with others to plan meaningful events for our school. I am also eager to promote activities within the community that demonstrate our Norsemen pride and accomplishments.

As a Senator, I understand the needs of our school and the role of Student Association. I will strive to represent all students and make sure all ideas are considered.

Jen Kusch PRESIDENT

Varsity sports: field hockey (MVP and All-State), hockey and track.

School: NHS, WILLOW, North Pointe (Managing Editor) and student council.

Extracurricular: Piano (13 years) and nannying.

I want to promote student activities and make next year as fun as possible. I want more studentdriven events so we can grow school spirit and participation.

I am fun, hardworking, experienced and very approachable. I would love to represent our school, and I could make next year the best it could be.

Lauren Lesha TREASURER

I am very involved outside of school as I participate in WILLOW, Link Crew, Student Association, and NHS. Additionally, I play on the varsity volleyball, basketball and tennis teams.

My goal for the upcoming school year is to budget our money effectively. I will help design a budget that sets aside money for deserving charities and our school activities.

I have experience as treasurer and with economics. I will work relentlessly to voice the opinions of our diverse school in order to make next year great.

Meghan Mitchell VICE PRESIDENT

I am one of the editors of Harbinger, have been in several school musicals, am a current senator for the Class of 2016, a member of WILLOW and NHS and serve as the vice president of S.A.V.E. I want the student government to be as involved with the student body as possible. School unity is important and I hope to help encourage everyone to participate in events.

You should vote for me because I am enthusiastic about helping our school reach its full potential and excited to bring new ideas.

George Mourtos SECRETARY

I am a varsity wrestler here at North, I am in NHS and I carry myself with pride.

I plan on taking into consideration what all of our student body has to say and implementing it into whatever I throw onto the table at meetings.

Rarely taking no for an answer, you should vote for a determined young gentleman like myself to get your voice heard.

Olivia Randazzo VICE PRESIDENT

I am a member of the Student Association, Student Council, K.N.O.T.S., Willow, choir, and Varsity Softball team and I play travel softball.

I hope to enhance the overall positivity and spirit of our school environment. I want to make North a place students from other schools really want to go to.

As a member since freshman year, you can always expect me to try my hardest and advocate in the best interests of the students. I have a genuine passion for this.

Nicoletta Valenzano PRESIDENT

STUDENT ASSOCIATION

I am a current SA vice president, Senator for two years, WILLOW, Strong Girls, Spirit Committee, Link Crew, Fashion Club, volunteer at GP Animal Adoption Society and Samaritan Nursing Home and employed at Josef’s Bakery.

My goal is to create an environment where student council connects the opinions of all students so that everyone has a say, not just a select few.

As SA vice president I am an experienced, hard-working student leader at North. I will listen to others and I will make our #NorsemenPride even stronger.

CLASS OF 2018

Sophie Kehrig

This school year I have participated in many activities such as student council, French Club, cross country, track, varsity soccer, full orchestra and travel soccer.

My goals upon being elected would be to make the sophomore council more organized, spirited, interactive with the student body and to create more fundraising opportunities.

I would make a great class president or senator because of my hard work ethic, determination and organization. I am also a very strong leader and work well with others.

SENATOR

SENATOR

Alex Harring

SECRETARY/ SENATOR VICE PRESIDENT/ SENATOR

Sam Lopicollo Maddy Martinbianco

Student Council, Student Association, Honors Orchestra, school play, work with the assisted living, volunteer at Monteith Elementary School’s Field Day and other all school activities, WILLOW and sailing.

My goal is to work with the student body to ensure they have a voice. I will use my position to demonstrate that we are a valuable group of students.

I am a member of student council. I am knowledgeable of how a council works. I am dedicated and I am a contributor to decision making for the school.

SENATOR

Mikey Ciaravino

SENATOR

Lindsey Ramsdell

SECRETARY

Current senator for the Class of 2018. Cross country, WILLOW, Interact, K.N.O.T.S. I am also a reading tutor with SOAR and teach Sunday school at Grace Community Church My aim is to create an atmosphere where each member of 2018 feels valued and is encouraged to take part in class activities. I will inspire and lead others to connect with classmates and stand united.

Re-elect me and I will create an atmosphere of unity for the Class of 2018. I will advocate and act for every student. I will create opportunities for the class to thrive, and motivated. I will truly represent you and will be your support throughout high school.

Student Council, Student Association, cross country, track, WILLOW, Interact Club and guitar.

My goals are to increase student participation. Our class will have everyone involved and contributing ideas to make sure we have lots of school spirit and enjoy our time at North.

Vote for me because I am determined, dedicated and reliable. I will work hard to make our class successful and I will make sure everyone’s voice is heard.

SENATOR

Alex Dean Lynlee Duquet

I participate in Interact, K.N.O.T.S., animal rights club and GPN softball.

My goals for student government is to unite all the students at GPN and the community surrounding us.

People should vote for me because I love GPN, and being on student council gives me another way to show it and I will do my best to make the school an even better place.

I participate in GPN field hockey, ice hockey and I plan on sailing this spring. I’m currently on student council as the class webmaster, and on North Pointe staff.

My goals are to help create fundraisers and activities that not only raise money for the class, but get students more involved, and earn the reputation we deserve.

Vote for me because I’m dedicated in and out of school, and will work hard in senate. I will bring new ideas to student council that portray our class positively.

Stephanie Schaefer

SECRETARY/ SENATOR

Cross country, drama club, Pep Band, Track & Field, Counterpointe, fall play, spring musical, treble choir, Concert Band, K.N.O.T.S. My goals for student government are to place a school-wide emphasis on the equal treatment of all students and community members and to help student council run more smoothly.

You should vote for me because I have contact with many different groups of students and I have previous student government experience: Interim Council and student council in middle school.

I participate in GPN volleyball, the 2018 student council, Michigan Elite Volleyball and Young Life.

My goals are to connect the freshman class with the council and relay ideas between the two. I also want to represent the freshman class to our full potential to the best of my ability.

Vote for me because I will make our school a better environment by coming up with new ideas to improve the school life of a GPN student.

SENATOR

PRESIDENT/ SENATOR VICE PRESIDENT

Student council, cross country, baseball and enjoy working with special needs kids.

My goals for student government are to create a better place for students to get a good education and make their time here unforgettable.

People should vote for me because I have experience in the past with leading the class. I also have had the chance to work with the students within student council.

I participate in things that will help me become a better person. WILLOW and Interact Club are the ones I do here at North. Participating in activities makes me hope that I can make a difference.

My goals for becoming a part of the student government would be to let my classmates have their voices be heard. Their suggestions are important, and can be beneficial to our school.

I think people should vote for me, because I am a hard worker and will always give my best effort. I will be committed to this task, and will try hard to not let anyone down.

Sydney Semack

Eva Ciaramitaro

I participated in JV basketball, JV soccer, student council class president (this year), WILLOW, Interact Club Officer.

My goals for our student government is to interact more with people not as involved and get people to enjoy coming to school.

I think people should vote for me because I am an involved student and great leader.

I love talking to new people, getting people excited and including everyone in activities.

I am the current fundraiser coordinator for the freshman student council, and I participate in the Radio Astronomy team, Harbinger and Art Club.

My goals for next term are to raise as much money as possible for our prom, charity and keep the students included in the activities of student council.

People should vote for me because I promise to work hard to make this term great by listening to other students ideas and putting their agenda above my own.

PRESIDENT/ SENATOR

Erica Benoit

Maggie Bowers

Current 2018 student council treasurer, Grosse Pointe United Gymnastics, I am interested in television production and marketing.

My goal is to keep the Class of 2018 informed and involved in school activities so that everyone has fun and memorable high school experience.

I’m dedicated to this class of 2018 informed and involved in school activities so that everyone has a fun and memorable high school experience.

Current class secretary, movie club, drama club, Interact Club, North Pointe staff, Interim Student Council, S.A.V.E. Club, elementary tutoring, former NJHS member and secretary, school and travel soccer.

My goals include involving more students when making decisions and to make more class events like dances and movie nights happen.

I am dedicated and work very hard as our current class secretary. I also have leadership experience and want to continue to make our class and school better.

Lauren Sickmiller

SENATOR TREASURER

I do Cross country, lacrosse and hockey and am a current senator for the Class of 2018.

My goals are to contribute ideas collected from the student body to the council and also to raise interest in school participation.

You should vote for me because I am very motivated to be involved and get other students involved, also I would love to contribute to the class of 2018.

TREASURER/ SENATOR

I am a part of the Class of 2018’s current student council, Student Association, Interact Club, WILLOW, French Cslub and I’m the goalie for JV lacrosse.

My goals for student council are that everyone in our class’ opinions are heard, and to unite our class as a whole using creative ways.

Vote for me because I know I can put forth the effort and help lead our class positively and geatly.

Charlotte Duus

Catie Archambeau

CLASS OF 2018

8 – Thursday, April 2, 2014 – North Pointe

ELECTIONS

Two year student council member, Boy Scout-10 years, choir, cross country, archery club I believe our student council should be more about everyone’s opinion, rather than just us representing you.

You should vote for me because I am confront-able, have been in student council previously, and I am prepared to represent our class.

SENATOR/ TREASURER

Lauren Miller

SENATOR

Olivia Randazzo Chloe Ribco

Stage technology (PAC), student council, JV girls lacrosse My main goal for student government is to make sure the student body has a voice in any of our decisions that will affect them.

You should vote for me because I’m not popular and I’m not just putting student council on my college apps. I’m running for class president to make change happen.

Current 2017 class president, varsity swim team, symphonic band, jazz band, german club, swim coach and lifeguard I plan to increase school dances and class spirit activities, but, most importantly, I will make it my goal that our class will win this year’s spirit week competition.

If you are a student who wants to make the most out of your high school experience, vote Adam Schreck for class president.

I am a member of WILLOW, choir, Student Association and Fashion Club, Tennis and Field Hockey teams.

As a council member I hope to continue to be the voice of the students of our school and also to contribute to the bettering of our school and our community.

I am reliable, organized, devoted, and more importantly I am a leader. I don’t hope to watch other make change I want to make the changes the best benefit our students and North as a whole.

PRESIDENT

SENATOR

SENATOR

Francesca Leone Katie Lesha Lindsey Lesha

VICE PRESIDENT/ SENATOR

Rachel Mourad

VICE PRESIDENT/ SENATOR

Student Association, student council, K.N.O.T.S., WILLOW, choir, varsity softball, travel softball.

I hope to enhance the overall positivity and spirit of our school environment. I want to make North a place students from other schools really want to go to.

As a member since freshman year, you can always expect me to try my hardest and advocate in the best interests of the students. I have a genuine passion for this.

PRESIDENT SECRETARY

SENATOR SENATOR/ TREASURER PRESIDENT

Nadya Herfi

SECRETARY

Andrew Kane

SECRETARTY/ SENATOR

Hello, I’m Nadya Herfi, I actively participate in softball, musicals, piano, and choir. I also participated in an organization, Teens Talking Truth, and am a member of Spanish Club.

I would like to motivate our class to want to be involved. If I hear thoughts and opinions from classmates, I can help to shape things in favor of the student body.

I have had this position as secretary of the council for the past two years, and I absolutely love it. I know how to do what needs to be done to ensure that these next few years will be a great experience for you!

I participate in many activities here at North, Interact Club, WILLOW, field hockey, swimming and lacrosse My goals for student government are to help things run smoothly while organizing projects, and listen to what my peers want for change in our school.

I am dedicated and willing to work hard to make sure that North is a fun and safe place for everyone.

Adam Schreck

I participate in tennis, student council, choir, piano, and an outside of school orginization called T3 My goals for our student government is to help get them organized and on track when it comes to projects and fundraisers. Another goal of mine is to make sure that the class of 2017 had the most memorable high school experience as possible!

You should vote for me because I am very dedicated. Although I was unsuccessful in the previous election I still attended every meeting and participated in all events, not for or under a title, just because I want what’s best for our class.

I’m currently in student council, K.N.O.T.S., S.A.V.E, and WILLOW. I play volleyball and tennis for North. My goal is to make everyone’s time in high school very enjoyable and memorable. Dedicated. Responsible. Organized. These are three words describe me, and three reasons why you should vote for me.

Sarah Scott

This school year I’m currently involved in student council, Student Association, Pep Band, and synchronized swimming. My goals for the student body for the upcoming school year are bring everyone together and coming up with new volunteer activities that people will be exited for. I think I would be a good person to represent the class of 2017 because I’m very motivated to help and get people involved.

I am a member of Student Council, WILLOW and the field hockey, basketball, and soccer teams at North. My goal on the council is to make as fun and memorable of a year as possible. Vote for me for senator because I will work hard to best represent our class.

I participate in student council and WILLOW and also play field hockey, basketball and soccer. My goal is to budget our class savings efficiently and effectively. Vote for me for treasurer because I am a great leader and will fulfill my responsibilities diligently.

Natalie Shenkosky

Mora Downs

I am involved in student council, Student Association and North Pointe.

My goals for student government are to make homecoming the best it can be, raise money for our class and give back to the community and school.

People should vote for me because I have been a senator for two years and I am prepared for the responsibility that being a senator entails. I give most of my free time to student council and Student Association this year and I know I will be able to next year as well.

This year, I participated in varsity field hockey in the fall. I am also a member of WILLOW. My goals for our student government are to make our council strong and listen to everyone’s ideas to make smart decisions for the hope of a better council.

Our class should vote for me because I would help our council be successful through the unique ideas I would bring. I would also make sure to include everyone in our discussions.

Vote Natalie Shenkosky for class secretory or senator because I will continue to fulfill class of 2017’s needs to the best of my ability while being in office.

North Pointe, soccer, cross country, WILLOW, student council (the past two years) My goals is to get our class more involved with the decisions our council makes. I would also like to get our class and our council more involved with the community.

Vote for me because I’ve had involvement in the council the past two years and I work well with others. I am also very eager to work with new people.

SENATOR

Ashley Carroll Carmen Castronero

Hi, my name is Carmen Castronero and I’m running for secretary and senator for the Class of 2017 student council. I play field hockey in the fall and tennis in the spring.

I am in concert band and Pep Band. My goals are to make the school more welcoming and to get students to be more excited and enthused about coming to school.

Students should vote for me because I am loyal, dedicated, and spirited.

Field Hockey, Lacrosse, K.N.O.T.S., WILLOW, Spanish Club, Student Council, Student Association My goals for the student government would be to represent my class to the best of my ability by listening to their ideas and incorporating it into our council.

People should vote for me because I have two years of experience in both student council and Student Association, and I am very dedicated to our council.

Sarah Wietecha

SENATOR VICE PRESIDENT

I am active in Drama Club, WILLOW, S.A.V.E., Spanish Club, varsity tennis, choir, piano lessons, and the school musical. I have put in countless hours towards our class’ Homecoming theme.

As vice president, I would contribute my time and effort to bettering North High School, and advocate my peers’ concerns in student council meetings.

Already having been vice president, I am well equipped with the qualities it takes to lead this class, such as dedication, responsibility, and motivation. Vote for me, Ashley Carroll!

SECRETARY/ SENATOR

Field hockey, lacrosse, WILLOW, Fashion Club, Girl Scouts, orchestra My goals for student government are to get everyone involved and for everyone to enjoy their times at North while having a lot of fun!

Students should vote for me because I have been a student council member before and I am very involved in the school and the community.

Hannah Engels

I am an active member of Interact Club at Grosse Pointe North. I have volunteered at the Capuchin Soup Kitchen. I attend many school functions and am involved in class projects. As an officer of the school I will focus on student awareness regarding the issue of bullying and its negative impacts. Some of my best qualities are that I am compassionate, empathic and I believe I can make a difference. I will be democratic and determined.

PRESIDENT/ SENATOR

CLASS OF 2017

Alanah Herfi

Lauren Arcambeau

Vincent Albri

VICE PRESIDENT/ SENATOR

CLASS OF 2017

CLASS 2016

Student Council, NHS, WILLOW, Strong Girls, spirit committee, North Pointe, varsity Tennis, volunteer at a nephrologist office, youth advisory board member for the Washington Journalism and Media Conference My goal is to make it more connected to other students. I want to include others and their ideas and help alleviate the separation.

I think I’d be a good candidate because I enjoy helping others. I want to make other’s ideas for senior year a possibility and I think I have the communication skills to deliver.

Current Student Association vice president, senator for two years, WILLOW, Strong Girls, spirit committee, Link Crew, Fashion Club, volunteer at GP Animal Adoption Society and Samaritan Nursing Home, employed at Josef’s Bakery.

To create an environment where student council connects the opinions of all students so that everyone has a say, not just a select few.

As Student Association vice president I am an experienced, hard working student leader at North, I will listen to others, and I will make our #NorsemenPride even stronger

SENATOR

SENATOR

SENATOR

PRESIDENT/ SENATOR

SENATOR

Will McNelis

Emily McPharlin Meghan Mitchel George Mourtos CJ Ramsdell

Varsity sports: field hockey (MVP and All-State), hockey and track.

School: NHS, WILLOW, North Pointe (managing editor) and student council.

Extracurricular: Piano (13 years) and nannying I want to promote class spirit, especially with prom and our last spirit week coming up. This is our year, and I can help make it the best one yet.

I am experienced and hardworking. I love being a part of student council, and I know I could continue to represent our class well.

Student Association, Class of 2016 Student Council, NHS, KNOTs, Link Crew, Valhalla, Spirit Committee, Spark Innovation, French Club, Track, and Cross Country.

My goals as senator are to be a leader to all Norsemen and to encourage student involvement.

As a committed member of Student Association and Student Council I will continue to provide a positive impact on our school.

SENATOR

PRESIDENT

VICE PRESIDENT SENATOR

Sydney Eger

SENATOR SENATOR

Stephanie Godoshian Francesca Giacona

SENATOR

Freshman, sophomore and junior senator for Student Association and student council, WILLOW CEO, Interact Club, SADD, Italian Club, Strong Girls, S.A.V.E. My goal is to continue planning successful events for our class. Through my involvement in a variety of activities, I am able to gain input that will benefit our class and the GPN community.

As a Senator the past three years, I understand the commitment and dedication necessary to make Student Council successful. I will seek suggestions from classmates and make sure they are considered.

Jen Kusch

WILLOW, SADD, Interact, HCIC, Student Association/council, travel soccer, intern athletic trainer, Beaumont volunteer, NHS, DECA. I hope to increase accessibility, aligning with the goals of the senior class. With prom and graduation coming up, I will translate the wants of the senior class into results.

My work in Student Association and at North in general, whether academics or extracurriculars, speaks for my character as well as the personal bonds I’ve

Participated in the DECA state competition, North Varsity Hockey team, North Lacrosse team, Brotherhood , Harbinger, National Honor Society You should vote for me for senator because I am a hardworking, and dependable representative. I will work tirelessly to represent our class and will be an advocate for your ideas.

My goals are to improve the communication between our student body, and our faculty and student council. Furthermore, I will work to increase participation at class functions, such as school dances, and increase class involvement in the commun

Nicole Stein

SENATOR

I am in several clubs and sports at Grosse Pointe North and embrace everyone as a new chance to learn and gain new perspectives.

As your student council secretary I would ensure that information and decisions discussed during student council meetings are accurately recorded and communicated to the Class of 2016.

I am experienced in the secretarial position as I have served the past three years as secretary and I would be honored if I could serve one last year.

I am a varsity wrestler here at North, I am in NHS, and I carry myself with pride.

I plan on taking into consideration what all of our student body has to say and implementing it into whatever I throw onto the table at meetings Rarely taking no for an answer, you should vote for a determined young gentleman like myself to get your voice heard.

TREASURER

Jarrel Cunningham

I am involved in multiple things in the school. For example, I’m in choir, Drama Club, and I’m on the yearbook staff. All of those things require teamwork, cooperation, and that you get along with your peers.

I believe that is what student council is. You put out ideas, you work with the people around you to make the school a better place and make the high school experience extraordinary

-Editor of Harbinger-School musical -Student council and student association -WILLOW -Vice president of SAVE club -National Honor Society.

I want the student government to be as involved with the student body as possible. School unity is important and I hope to help encourage everyone to participate in events.

You should vote for me because I am enthusiastic about helping our school reach its full potential and excited to bring new ideas.

Anu Subramaniam

Dalaney Bradley

Yearbook, Harbinger, S.A.V.E., student council, Link Crew, NHS, varsity lacrosse. for student government is to finish out our years at North with an awesome homecoming, prom, and graduation People should vote for me because I’ve been dedicated to this council my entire high school career and I’m excited to see what my last year has in store for me.

I am very active in the school as a two sport varsity athlete, three year student council member, and involved in WILLOW. Hardworking, dedicated, and motivated would describe me well.

Motivating students, continued student involvement, listening to all ideas, winning the spirit jug, and planning the best senior activities are my goals for our senior year!

I am an approachable, dedicated, hard-working and experienced person. Vote for me to turn your ideas and dreams into a reality as we enter our final year at north.

SENATOR

Vikkie Blaine

I participate in many activities. This includes student council, CEO of WILLOW, varsity softball. Outside of school I am involved in my churches youth group and travel softball.

My goals for next year include an amazing homecoming and prom. Prom is the focus for next year and I plan to make it great.

People should vote for me because I have experience from the past few years. I am also a good leader and team player

Student council senator (three years), Student association senator (three years), Harbinger literary journal member (two years), Strong Boys participant, Norseman K.N.O.T.S. member (one year), Kids on the Go volunteer, National Honors Society member, Varsity Swimming team captain, Middle school Diving coach To represent all members of my class and make their voices heard, to continue to be an active member of our class, and to use every opportunity that I have to make the class of 2016 the best that Grosse Pointe North has ever seen.

With three years of experience as a senator I know how decisions affect our class and what actions benefit its members. I will continue to make our class a priority and work hard to ensure that everything possible is being done to help it.

Nicoleta Valenzano

Yena Berhane

Student council president for two years, YAF president, member of WILLOW, SADD, cross country, Interact Club, spirit committee, piano enthusiast. Section Editor on North Pointe and employed at JHouse Juice.

To incorporate what everyone wants into our student councils’ activities by representing all opinions so students feel respected and heard. We can make our last year the best one yet.

Our senior year should be amazing. Student council is about the class, and our class should be united. I have the experience and dedication to make that happen.

SENATOR

Olivia Asimakis

I’m an editor on North Pointe, captain of girls varsity swimming and diving team, swimmer for Pointe Aquatics, current senator, played for girls lacrosse, member of WILLOW, SADD, and Interact Club. I’m also a part of Link Crew, freshman assist, and the National Honor Society. I also run the boys swimming and diving meets, where I run the computer and timing system.

I want my classmates’ voices to be heard, and my goal is to make sure they are. Prom is on the horizon, and I want to make sure we have an amazing prom.

As a senator, I want to make sure my class is represented. I am a good leader, and I know how to communicate well. I will make sure the Class of 2016’s best interests are my top priority.

SECRETARY

CLASS 2016

By Billy Moin

SPORTS

Tigers’ difficult upcoming season poses threat to ALC title

North Pointe – Thursday, April 2, 2015 – 9

NEWS EDITOR

Opening Day. These two words are music to every baseball fan’s ears as they mark the beginning of the six-month baseball season — 162 games of strikeouts, home runs and hot dogs.

Here comes another year of Detroit Tigers baseball, and fans plan on it being a good one. The Tigers have won the American League (AL) Central Division each of the last four years. Expectations are so high that www.athlonsports. com forsees another Detroit victory.

After all, look who we have playing for us. We have nine-time All-Star Miguel Cabrera, who has won 35 awards in the last five years, notably the Triple Crown (2012) and two AL MVP awards (2012 & 2013). Then there’s Justin Verlander, the 2011 AL MVP and Cy Young Award winner. Don’t forget Victor Martinez, who was runner-up for the MVP award last year. We could keep going, but you get the point.

With this loaded roster, it’s not surprising that Detroit has done well in the playoffs recently. In three of the last four years, the Tigers have made it to the American League Championship Series, professional baseball’s semifinals, and in 2012, they even advanced to the World Series. Last year was the first time in their four-year streak that they failed to make it to the semifinals.

But it’s not all tulips and daffodils for this Tigers team. They have several problems heading into the season that could hurt their chances to win a fifth straight AL Central title.

The Tigers have faced an inability to be consistent. It seems that every time Detroit gets a comfortable lead, they get too comfortable and blow it. Look at what happened to them last year. According to www.baseball-reference.com, the Tigers not once, but twice, let huge seven-game leads slip through their fingers over the course of a month. After their first catastrophe, one would think they’d learned their lesson, but apparently not. Complacency almost cost Detroit last year, and history has a tendency to repeat itself.

However, inconsistency isn’t the only issue. One cause of the Tiger’s downfall last year was their weak bullpen. It was one of the league’s worst. Al Alburquerque and Kyle Lobstein were the only decent ones in the group. Until this issue is fixed, the Tigers will struggle to remain a formidable opponent.

Injuries also ran rampant last season, and several players were hurt at one point or another. Jose Iglesias’ fractured shins and Bruce Rondon’s elbow kept them out for all of 2014. Verlander and Cabrera both had surgery for sports hernias, and Cabrera also had a stress fracture in his ankle. In the offseason, Victor Martinez tore his left meniscus and had to undergo surgery. How will this affect these players’ performances this year? Will they be the same? Worse? Will they hurt themselves again? Just because they’re healed now doesn’t mean they’ll remain healthy all year long. The level of uncertainty is something to fear.

And let’s not forget, Detroit isn’t the only competitive team in their division. In years past, the Tigers barely had any competition to win the AL Central. In 2011, the Cleveland Indians took second in their division, 15 games behind Detroit.

But now, we have trouble on our hands.

The Kansas City Royals made it to the World Series last year, and they gave the Giants a run for their money, finally losing in game seven. The Royals oneupped us, and Detroit is no longer the AL Central’s lone contender.

A fifth straight title is not out of Detroit’s reach, but if they want to earn that award, there are tough obstacles to beat. With injuries, the upcoming Royals, and especially complacency to look for, Detroit has to watch its back to defend its title. It’s theirs to take. They can’t just let go like last year and expect to win.

Former Secretary of State Colin Powell once said, “A dream doesn’t become reality through magic. It takes sweat, determination and hard work.” Detroit can win their division, but the road to get there will be tougher than ever before.

Freshman Natalia Asimakis shoots the winning goal for her team to win the state tournament.

THE ASIMAKIS FAMILY

Freshman achieves goal of hockey nationals

By Katelynn Mulder STAFF REPORTER

Eight years of hockey came down to scoring the game-winning goal at states for freshman Natalia Asimakis, whose all-girls Little Caesars team traveled to nationals March 26.

“Winning states was a big accomplishment for me because I really wanted to win states, but I think that my improvement overall as a player this year and the friendship bonds that I have made has helped me grow as a person,” Asimakis said.

Since Asimakis attended her first hockey tryout at age six, she knew hockey was the sport for her.

“She started figure skating, and one year when she was 5, I said that our schedule was too busy, and I got to cut something out of this schedule, and figure skating’s got to go,” Asimakis’s mother, Patrice Asimakis, said. “And she said to me, ‘That’s okay, I want to play hockey anyway.’ I never thought that I’d have a girl playing hockey, but she went to her dad and said, ‘I want to play hockey,’ and he said okay, and she’s never looked back.”

Natalia is now the left forward for her extra-curricular team that is based out of Southfield. She has been playing with the girls on this team since she was 9 years old. Besides having a really strong bond with the girls, Natalia also has a strong love for the sport.

“I like that it’s a team sport because I don’t like individual things, like tennis or swimming, when you have to go up there by yourself. But I do like that it’s a team sport, and I like skating, playing with the puck, and shooting and stickhandling and stuff. It just makes me happy,” Natalia said.

Playing with Little Caesars has allowed Natalia to not only have the support of her teammates, but also the support of her family. Natalia

and her family have to travel frequently to accommodate her game schedule.

“She probably participates in seven to ten tournaments each year, many of them out of state or in the Toronto area,” Natalia’s dad, William Asimakis, said.

Natalia feels that having her family at her games to support her encourages her to play better. She feels that her dad is an extra motivator for her when she is on the ice.

“I push myself, but my family and my other teammates also do because they help me during practice and games, and my coaches probably push me the most,” Asimakis said. “My dad, whenever he watches me or is on the glass, I feel like I need to play better and step up my game, so I definitely say that my dad pushes me in hockey.”

Fellow teammate Kelly Solak feels that Asimakis’ personality is reflected in her playing style, which makes her a good teammate.

“Natalia is very patient, she’s strong, and she’s very smart on the ice. She makes very good decisions, and she’s selfless,” Solak said.

Natalia’s mother feels that hockey’s effect on Natalia has expanded beyond the rink’s borders.

“It’s taught her those life lessons that parents hope their kids get from playing sports: team work, resolution, how to lose,” Patrice said.

Natalia wants to continue playing hockey into college and possibly beyond.

“That’s what I’ve wanted to do since I was 8 years old, was to get a college scholarship to play hockey,” she said.

Natalia said she used to dream of playing for an all-girls NHL team.

“I used to always dream that when I was 11 or 12. That was like my goal. It’s kinda fizzled a little bit, I guess, but I’m still going out to go far in hockey.”

MEET THE SPRING SEASON MANAGERS

By Radiance Cooper

Ben Vasquez (JV Tennis manager)

Tyler Scoggin (Tennis manager)

Emily McPharlin (Soccer manager)

NP: What team do you manage?

Vasquez: I manage the girls JV tennis team NP: How did you become the team’s manager?

Vasquez: I literally just asked the coach who manages it because I play with her in the fall for boys JV. NP: What are your responsibilities?

Vasquez: My responsibilities are (that) I make sure the girls do what the coach tells them to do, and I ... get all the stuff out, help them with it, all that, you know.

NP: What do you like most about being the team manager?

Vasquez: I like how I get to play tennis more often, but I also like interacting with students that I usually don’t get to because they’re (in) lower grade levels than me.

NP: Is there anything that you don’t enjoy?

Vasquez: Not really. I mean, there’s nothing except for (that) I still have to do my homework. That’s the only bad part.

NP: What’s the team atmosphere like?

Vasquez: Everyone’s upbeat. No one’s ever upset, so far at least. Yeah, no one complains really, which is good.

NP: How do you motivate the players?

Vasquez: You know every day’s a good day. You don’t say stuff that doesn’t need to be said. You don’t encourage negative behavior.

NP: What are you looking forward to most this season?

Vasquez: I really want to see them improve as players, and I’d like to see them have good competitions everywhere they go.

NP: Do you think that you’ll return as the manager for the team next year?

Vasquez: Yeah, if I have the time, I definitely would.

NP: What team do you man age?

Scoggin: I manage the girls Grosse Pointe North tennis team.

NP: How’d you become manager?

Scoggin: I play tennis in the fall.

I know the coach, and I already know some of the players. I’m pretty good friends with some of them. So, I just feel like it was pretty fitting, and then I knew the person who managed it before, and he said it was a lot of fun doing it, so it just seemed like a really good fit for me.

NP: What are your responsibilities as the team manager?

Scoggin: So far, my responsibilities have just been to help out and then clean up whenever, feed balls a little bit, and I think I’m gonna play during the practices and then help the girls with techniques or during matches. I’ll just help the coach with whatever he needs help with, whether it’s putting out matches or taking scores or whatever.

NP: What do you like about being the team manager?

Scoggin: Compared to being a player on a team, there’s not nearly as much pressure, but it’s definitely as much fun because you get the whole experience, but then you’re not actually playing in the matches, but you still get to hang out with everyone, and it’s a lot of fun being with them.

NP: Is there anything you don’t like about it?

Scoggin: Maybe that there’s not as much playing for me. It’s a lot more behind the scenes — picking up, cleaning up and then feeding the balls. There’s not as much real playing tennis.

NP: What are you most looking forward to this season?

Scoggin: I’m looking forward to the regionals, and states, and seeing how well everyone does. You know, that’s like the big events of the year. So it’s the end of the year, that’s when everything comes together, and I just really want them to do well, I guess.

NP: Do you think that you will return as manager next year?

Scoggin: I hope so. If I like it enough, which I think I will, so far I do, then I think I will.

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NP: What team do you manage?

McPharlin: I manage the girls varsity soccer team.

NP: Why did you want to manage that team?

McPharlin: I was actually injured this year in the basketball season. I tore my ACL and both meniscuses, so I’m registered on the team, but since I can’t play due to injury, so I am the manager.

NP: What are your responsibilities as team manager?

McPharlin: This year, I’m usually kind of being a cheerleader for the girls. I helped order spirit wear, and I’m also a captain on the team, so I work hard to talk to the ref if there’s any conflicts.

NP: What do you like most about being the manager?

McPharlin: I guess ... a close relationship to all the girls on the team and all the coaches.

NP: What’s the team atmosphere like?

McPharlin: This year we have a very close team. We have girls from all different grades, and it’s really fun to be able to have friends in every grade.

NP: How do you motivate the players?

McPharlin:I’m a very vocal person, so I usually do a lot of cheering for the girls at games and practices.

NP: What are looking forward to most this season?

McPharlin: First of all, we have a new coach, and we have a tough schedule, but I’m hoping that the girls are gonna work hard like they always do, and that we can get a couple good wins under our belt.

NP: If you’re able to come back from your injury, do you think that you’ll return as a player next year?

McPharlin: Yes, I hope to return as the starting goalkeeper next year.

10 – Thursday, April 2, 2015 – North Pointe

Spring sports face first games Teams sports compete in season’s first games

By Lauren Sexton & Sydney Benson ASSISTANT EDITOR & ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR

LAUREN SEXTON LAUREN SEXTON

LAUREN SEXTON

ABOVE LEFT: Freshman Allison Blaine pitches from the mound for the first girls JV softball game against Lakeview High School March 24.

ABOVE RIGHT: Junior Pelton Schneider throws the balls as he is attacked by one of the opposing team’s defenders during the boys lacrosse game.

BELOW LEFT: Junior Lauren Lesha prepares to serve for one of her three matches on March 27. “Tennis gives me an opportunity to compete against some of the top kids in the state. It provides a good challenge in my life while allowing me to meet new people at the same time. My team is made up of the nicest and funniest group of girls, and I love them all to death.

We are a young team, but we believe we can compete well in the Mac Red this season,” Lesha said.

LEFT: Seniors Ryane Pangborn and Olivia Cook set up an offensive play. “I love having teammates that I can rely on and can’t imagine playing anything but a team sport,” Pangborn said. “I love all the girls on my team, and they never put me down or make me feel bad if I make a bad play or have a bad touch.”

BELOW: Freshman Lauren Sickmiller has been playing soccer since she was 4 years old. Her passion for playing center back has grown over the years.“It’s just a really fun sport, and it’s really competitive,” Sickmiller said.

BELOW CENTER: Pelton Schneider jogs off the field to the team bench during the lacrosse team’s first game against Saint Mary Catholic Central High School March 25.

LAUREN SEXTON

SYDNEY BENSON

LAUREN SEXTON

LAUREN SEXTON

LAUREN SEXTON

ABOVE : Freshman Chloe Redeye fights for the ball in an effort to send it down the field. “I’m looking forward to making friend with all of the people on the team and being able to play soccer together,” Redeye said. “Soccer has taught me how to work with other people.”

LEFT: Freshman Allison Blaine has been conditioning year-round and has been waiting for the spring season to start. “I’m looking forward to all of our games, and we have a really good team this year, and I think we are going to do well,” Blaine said.

LAUREN SEXTON