North Pointe Dec. 6, 2013 by North Pointe

NORTH GROSSE POINTE NORTH HIGH SCHOOL

POINTE FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2013

SINCE 1968

Michigan may cut the cord on landlines in 2017

Proposed Senate bill would allow companies to discontinue service with 30 days notice By Dayle Maas MANAGING EDITOR

SPORTS Step team prepares for basketball halftime performances in their winter season

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RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVE

Monday, Dec. 9 at 8 a.m. in the PAC lobby

Sophomore Ava DeLoach’s family said goodbye to their landline phone when she was in sixth grade. “I had to get rid of the phone so it wouldn’t mess up the computer,” DeLoach’s mother, Sheri, said. “I had Comcast, and the way that they wired my telephone and my computer, the telephone would mess up the computer.” “She said she kinda misses it,” Ava said about her mother. “She still wishes we had one.” Many families are following this trend of discontinuing their landline service due to reasons north Pointe – Friday, dec. 6, 2013other –8 than computer problems. In a National Health Statistics Report from 2011, one

GPN HOLIDAY CONCERT

in four American households had only wireless telephones. This overshadows the 12.9% that only had landline. A proposal to allow service providers to eliminate landlines in 2017 is currently making its way through Lansing legislature. Sponsored by state Senator Mike Nofs, this new bill was proposed by the Senate Energy & Technology Committee. Known as Senate Bill 636, it states “A telecommunication provider proposing to discontinue a regulated service to an exchange shall file a notice of the discontinuance of service with the commission, (and) publish the notice.” The bill is not specific to landlines, but it allows phone companies such as AT&T to pick and choose what geographic areas they want to provide an additional source of service to.

Thursday, Dec. 12 & Friday, Dec. 13 at 7 p.m. at First English Lutheran Church

NORTH VS. SOUTH BOYS VARSITY BASKETBALL GAME

Wednesday, Dec. 18 at 6:30 p.m. in the PAC

STRINGS EXTRAVAGANZA

Thursday, Dec. 19 in South’s PAC at 7:30 p.m.

Lizzie Marck Senior

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In last month’s online AARP (American Association of Retired Persons) opinion survey, 84% out of the 1,323 questioned currently have a landline. Additionally, 80% of those surveyed are satisfied with their landline even though 84% of those questioned have cell phones as well.

IN-DEPTH

Smith said they still sell many landline phones. “Everybody, every time when they come in looking for a certain phone, most of the Panasonics and the AT&Ts are the top sellers,” Smith said. “We’re always running out, and everybody’s always so upset.” Senior Lizzie Marck was raised on her landline and just recently got her first cell phone. Though she finds her cell phone “helpful,” and she “really likes it,” she disagrees with the follow-through of this proposal. “What about for people who can’t afford those huge cell phone plans? You can’t discontinue their landlines, especially in Detroit. A lot of those people can’t afford that, especially if you have to get a phone for every one of your family members,” Marck said. “People are still using their landlines. Why would you get rid of them?”

1470S THE USE OF THE PRINTING PRESS LEAD TO THE FREQUENT SPREAD OF

“I learned that in

real life, people

don’t

remember

the price

of your car,

but the

places

you’ve been with it.

“

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1870S THE FIRST FEW TELEPHONES WERE USED EARLY 1900S ROTARY PHONE SYSTEMS WERE USED

1970S FIRST GENERATION OF CELL PHONES WERE INVENTED

SINCE THEN THE RATE OF CELLULAR COMMUNICATION HAS EXPONENTIALLY INCREASED

Adopt-a-Family unites with South, easing student responsibilies

1960S CORDLESS PHONES WERE INVENTED

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By Jen Kusch

Adopt-a-family, North’s 30-yearold tradition of providing needy families in the District with Christmas gifts, has undergone a much-needed overhaul. The original guidelines encouraged both clubs and homerooms to participate by adopting their own families, and although intentions were in the right place, involved North students were overwhelmed. Student Association adviser Jonathan Byrne recognized the past strain on students and wanted to help. “We felt in the past that students were overburdened,” Byrne said. “So, if a student was in their third hour class (that) adopted a family, and they were in Impact Club, and Student Association, and their class and all these different organizations, they were overburdened with the number of gifts they had to provide.” This realization led to North’s partnership with South High School in an effort to ensure that all families in the program have adequate gifts and winter necessities for this

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1940S PUSHBUTTON DIAL PHONES WERE USED

winter without causing undue stress on the students and families who are donating. “I’ve convinced Grosse Pointe South that they should be a part of the program as well, so they will be taking half of the families, which will be taking some of the burden off of North,” Byrne said. By partnering with South, the 80 families that receive presents and winter necessities this year can continue to have a better, more stress-free holiday, as will the students providing them with gifts.

New Chinese teacher shares passion for 1150S PIGEONS WERE USE philosophy, TO RELAY MESSAGES language with students By Anu Subramaniam & Ritika Sanikommu

ASSISTANT EDITOR

IDEAS

With cell phones’ glitchy service coverage but useful portability, Smith sees landlines and cell phones going hand in hand. “You should actually have both because now, cell phones aren’t always gonna be handy, you know, ‘cause they can also lose reception, and then you always need a back-up phone. Sometimes if you just have a house phone, then that can blow out from a storm,” Smith said. “They’re the same thing. It’s just one is wireless, portable, you can take it anywhere, whereas the house phone stays at home. I just think it’s the second player in case something happens to your cell phone.” AT&T publicly supports the proposed bill. They claim that for them, the cost to maintain established landlines in addition to wireless coverage is too costly. With this bill, AT&T and other providers such as Verizon can eliminate the expenditure of landline maintenance.

Kristen Kaled

ACT TESTING

PRACTICE ACT SCORE RETURN

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People are still using their landlines. Why would you get rid of them?

1150S PIGEONS WERE USED TO RELAY MESSAGES

Friday, Dec. 13 at 7 p.m. in North’s gym

Saturday, Dec. 14 at 8 a.m. in the cafeteria

“That’s a bad idea because a lot of people still use them,” Mack Ave. RadioShack sales associate Marissa Smith said. “It is crazy how many people still use landlines. It is crazy.”

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When he was in high school, Chinese teacher John Patrick Cohan found his passion for Chinese philosophy and culture when he randomly came across his dad’s old Taoism textbook. “When I was at school in Grand Valley I studied philosophy and needed a second major to complete my credits, and since I had already taken a year of Chinese, I decided to keep going and ended up double majoring in Chinese,” Cohan said. After former Chinese teacher Tsen Joslyn resigned, her position was left vacant mid-semester.

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Luke sturgill

www.myGPN.org

VOLUME 46, ISSUE 6

news

2 – Friday, Dec. 6, 2013 – North Pointe

Adopt-a-Family Continued from page 1

New Chinese teacher Continued from page 1

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“We partnered up with Grosse Pointe South, and because of their taking half of our families, we are able to do so now with a smaller amount of families. We are able to give more attention to the families we do have, and so that way each person, instead of having to spread out their money and donations between a bunch of families, can really focus on just their homeroom,” Student AssociStephanie Godoshian ation President Colleen Masophomore her said. Last year, sophomore Stephanie Godoshian felt pressure from her many clubs and organizations to provide their adopted families with quality gifts while also compensating for her other, more lacking classmates. “I was in like seven different groups last year, and I had to buy so many presents. It was really stressful and one of my classes gave, like, no presents, so I had to bring in so many to make up for it,” Godoshian said. As a result of situations like Godoshian’s, this year mainly homerooms have the option to provide families with gifts. But clubs can still adopt families if they are able to do so without further burdening their members with out-of-pocket expenses. “Some of the clubs that have their own funding are still adopting families. Brotherhood, for instance, is having a dodgeball tournament this weekend, and we are going to raise money... (that) could be used towards Adopt-A-Family. Instead of the students who are part of the Brotherhood bringing in presents or money, we’re going to use Brotherhood money itself,” Brotherhood adviser Byrne said. Although Adopt-A-Family has been restructured, the eighty families benefitting from the program will still receive the same quality gifts and experience for the holiday.

It was really stressful and one of my classes gave, like, no presents, so I had to bring in so many to make up for it.

”

No-Shave November fundraiser results North’s first annual No Shave November fundraiser for men’s cancer was won by English teacher Andy Montague, who garnered his support through games, bake sales and karaoke. “I feel pretty proud. I actually would have been happy had I not won, honestly, but I’m pretty com-

Law update affects lunch options There has been much speculation leading up to the date January 1, 2014 because of the new federal and state regulations regarding school lunches. The new regulations that would eliminate Union cookies and other treats from the school have been

“The position was vacant for two weeks all together. After about a week the school was in dire need to find a teacher, and my mom who works here found out and informed me, and the school chose me for whatever reasons,” Coha n sa id. Coha n’s only prior experience in teaching was t he t wo yea rs when he taught English to Chinese young adults a nd children in Sha ngha i. Cohan’s two experiences as a teacher have vastly differed. “This is a more serious position where I have to put in a lot more work than I did over there because English was my first language so it was easy to teach. But here there is obviously a lot more lesson planning involved,” Cohan said. Cohan said that the hardest aspect of his new teaching job is not being fluent in the language himself. “I’ve been doing a lot more work myself to improve my Chinese to stay ahead of all the kids,” Cohan said. Living in China helped Cohan acclimate to the foreign culture as well. “It just signif ica nt ly improved my abilit y to spea k a nd my f luency, being surrounded and immersed in the language and even when I couldn’t understand what people were saying around me, I feel like subconsciously being drow ned in the language is a great way to improve it, and to speak in order to sur vive,” Cohan said. However, finding a replacement was a difficult task for administration, especially because Joslyn’s resignation was abrupt. “We are tremendously fortunate to have him. If you look at the circumstance we are in, in the middle of a semester to lose a teacher and need to find a teacher is hard. To find a Chinese teacher is virtually impossible. And then to find someone who can teach the students while relate to the students is difficult regardless,” Assistant Principal Reed-Nordwall said. Cohan is still adjusting to being a new teacher and the American style of teaching. “I teach fifth hour at North and seventh hour at

petitive,” Montague said. The fundraiser was more than a competition for Montague since his father died from cancer. “My dad would be proud in the sense that we were drawing awareness for cancer. He would have also been proud about the amount of money we raised. I’m always amazed at how generous people are,” Montague said. “People just started giving money to us. What I took away from it was the tremendous generous group of people we have here at North.”

Choir teacher Ben Henri was one of the runners-up. “I was geeked to make it into the final four. I’m proud of how well I did,” Henri said. “What I was really encouraged by was how much student support there was— not just for me but all the teachers.” No Shave November turned out to exceed expectations as well. “I think Mr. Drouin was not expecting this to be such an enormous success. In the end we raised over $5,000, which is spectacular,” Henri said.

postponed. The regulations will now go into effect July 1, 2014. The main reason for the regulations to be postponed was the negative comments it received. “They give you the opportunity to comment and so many did and now they’re re-evaluating the law,” Student activities director Pat Gast said. This law does not only apply to cookies. It encompasses every food item and beverage sold during school

hours. Any food that does not meet the new standards cannot be sold on campus during school hours. Fundraisers will also be affected. There will be a number of fundraisers per year that are predetermined by the state, but the law is very vague. “It’s kind of a gray area. It’s a gray area in terms of what can and can’t be used and how frequently it can be sold,” Gast said.

By Diajah Williams & Lawrence Lezuch

Gearheads show off robot Oddjob at Holiday Parade The Gearhead’s newest creation, robot Oddjob, threw frisbees at eager viewers on Kercheval during the Grosse Pointe Holiday Parade. The Gearheads have been around since 2002, but Nov. 29 was a big day for the club, as it was their first

SADD sponsors blanket drive As a replacement activity for Adopt-a-Family, which is mostly unavailable to clubs this year, the Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) sponsored a blanket drive for the Detroit Rescue Mission, a homeless shelter in Detroit. “I don’t have a connection to (the Detroit Rescue

brigitte smith

South and although it’s only two hours, on paper it’s a significant amount of work, I’m usually here from 11 to four and even things like responding to emails everyday it’s something I’m not used to doing at all,” Cohan said. “So there’s a lot that goes into t his position t hat I didn’t rea lize when I was in high school.” In addition to his relationship w it h t he students, Coha n also brings a new element to his teaching style. “He’s teaching them, they’re reading, writing, speaking, listening to Chinese and he relates to them extremely well, and I think he’s an absolute gem,” Reed-Nordwall said. Hiring Cohan, however, was a temporar y fix for administration. “He’s in for the year and as we look at the program its gone through a lot of f lux. As we go from the spring, we are going to be looking at the program and seeing if it’s shrinking or if it’s grow ing,” ReedNordwall said. As for Cohan, he is looking to pursue his passion for Chinese philosophy and language. “A ll I know is that I am here for the year and after then I’m unaware. I believe that I w ill be continuing my ow n education after this year and tr ying to pursue a Ph.D,” Cohan said.

chance to show off Oddjob to the community. “The Gearheads got the name Oddjob from the villain from Batman,” senior Gearheads member Easton Washburn said. This is the same robot displayed at the pep assembly, but this time there was a little twist to it. They had to figure out a way for the battery to run for the whole parade. This wasn’t a problem that could be solved quickly. “All the electronics and mechanics worked fine, but we had to un-

jam a few frisbees that got stuck in the robot” senior Gearheads member Michael Bakowski said. As Oddjob was driven down Kercheval by South High School Gearhead member Geoff Corbin there were cheers from the crowd. The club was able to use a car battery that allowed the robot to be powered as long as they needed. “In the end everything went as planned,” Bakowski said.

Mission); I just called them. Mitch Albom is very involved with Detroit and that’s part of the Detroit Rescue Mission, part of that, so that’s why I chose that (charity),” SADD adviser Paula Staperfenne said. The new and gently used blankets were due on Nov. 22. “(We’ve been collecting for) two weeks. You do it much longer, it doesn’t matter,” Staperfenne said. “We have more than I thought we would get, because I was getting nothing.”

The amount of donations exceeded the team’s expectations. “If it’s successful, then yes, (it will continue) and as of right now, we have quite a few blankets,” senior and SADD president Patrick Turnbull said. “It’s getting cold. They could use them,” Staperfenne said. “They said they can use all sizes and weights so we have some very bright colored blankets and some wool ones and I’m assuming they will use all those.”

By Dajai Chatman & Mallika Kanneganti

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IDEAS Big sister blues “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

Maria Liddane Editor-in-Chief Izzy Ellery life editor

Andrea Scapini Gabby Burchett NEws editor Managing EDITOR

Melina Glusac ideas editor

Colleen Reveley Lauren Semack Sydney Thompson sports editor web content manager business manager

Our editorial represents the opinion of the North Pointe Editorial Board consisting of the editors above and staff members Erica Lizza and Jennifer Kusch.

OUR EDITORIAl

Bill in Lansing is a waste of time There’s a bill sashaying through Lansing at the moment – a bill that would permit phone companies to abolish landline phone services with only 90 days notice starting in 2017. It’s all theoretical, at this point. But the possibility of having no more landline phones is enough to make the less technologically savvy folk of the world shudder. Sure, landlines have become unnecessary for some. The Federal Communications Commission says landline customers in Michigan plummeted from 6.7 million in 2000 to 2.6 million in 2012. Wireless customers, however, made a huge leap: 3.5 million in 2000 to 9.3 million in 2012. It’s no lie that we’re becoming a more cellular friendly world, with many families already making the switch from landline to cell. Society is showing that they are, little by little, falling out of love with landlines. But that’s just the thing. It’s under society’s control. Natural selection will run its course, as it has done with past technologies (remember those things called record players?) They simply go out of style because people buy the new hot commodity (CD players). The same goes for landlines and cells; cellular devices are proving to be more popular, and landlines? Not so much. The people of Michigan have shown that in their purchases, and therefore state legislature does not need to interfere by giving phone companies the ability to vanquish landlines for us. We’re on our way. Give us time. It’ll happen on its own. This lends to the point of relevance, or lack thereof. Why are Michigan politicians spending their time grooming an unnecessary bill, when their state’s capital is dealing with intense financial obstacles? There are more important things to worry about in Michigan. There are more important things the people of Michigan are worried about. And Lansing is supposed to help the people. Helping is not defined by attempting to solve a problem that it is solving itself. That is hindering, at best.

The white dwarf and the red giant. One so luminous that you can’t help but notice it as soon as you look up. Boom. There it is. Shining brightly, aggressively even. Maybe it was even the first star to show up tonight. The other has probably already exploded. It is so far away from the earth, so many My TURN billions of light- Audrey kam years away, that the light we see is old. It’s in the past. This star, while admired and made the focus of many a telescope lens, may soon cease to be. Cease to shine, and be forgotten as life marches on and new things are discovered. When the star goes out, people will notice, but it will be short-lived. The constellation still looks the same. Ask any second grader. In more local news, my younger sister will be playing the part of Oliver in our school musical by the same name. Guess who’s the white dwarf. Most people respond to this news with the generic, “Really?”, “That’s great!”, “Wait, I thought Oliver was a guy”-type vocalizations. Then they learn that I also tried out for the musical. In case my explanation of this situation is not conveying this clearly enough: THIS IS WHERE THINGS GET AWKWARD. It’s always awkward when siblings compete. And while my sister and I are constantly racing to see who can get done first, who can make that better, we are always our own judges. It’s when others begin to judge us against each other that things get complicated. Those who know us know that we have distinct talents and skill sets that ought to be judged separately. But it’s hard for others to look past the shared last name and the similar facial structure to evaluate us as completely different people. I’ve always known that I’m not even on the same playing field as my sis-

“Yes, I went Black Friday shopping. I went to Bath and Body Works, and we got a whole bunch of candles for a great deal.” Sienna Rogers freshman

ter when it comes to vocal performance. That bothered me for a while, but as I grew older I realized I have talents she doesn’t, and I began to see myself as an individual. I was “doin’ me” – acting, playing my bass, learning Chinese, even running. I had one entire year to not have my weaknesses compared to someone else’s strengths. The funny thing is, since Clarissa is younger than I am, her weaknesses are put down to lack of experience, where mine are seen as deficiencies. I don’t want to be the archetypal older sibling, whose shadow obscures the younger one, and whose shoes are so gargantuan that they can never be filled by anyone bearing the same name again. For a while, though, I thought it might be nice. There goes Audrey, they would say. She writes for the paper, doesn’t she? Yep. You read that thing she did? When she first stepped in the spotlight, I was angry – adamant that she didn’t deserve the accolades and the fame she was getting. So I lashed out, spitting poison at her and anyone who took her side. So when the cast lists came out, I was livid. She didn’t deserve it. What could she do that I couldn’t? People’s congratulations seemed fake, forced, pitying. I had come out on bottom again. I had lost. I wasn’t good enough. But something occurred to me the other day. I am not a has-been. I am not a neverwas. I am not the wannabe follow-up act to my younger sister. And if I am, I am allowing myself to be. I was making the same mistake countless other people have. I was comparing myself to her. I was comparing myself, a completely separate and fundamentally unique being, to a younger – and equally unique – human who I just happen to share a few genetic traits and a bedroom with. I was not allowing myself to see my true worth. I am not a star gone out that doesn’t know it yet. I am an enigma, with years ahead of me to prove myself. I’ll make that true.

“I went to Bed, Bath and Beyond, and I got ... some great deals for like little stocking stuffers.” Vicki Blane

“The best deal I got was like buy one get one free socks. That was it. I wasn’t really that into it.” Charles Stahl

sophomore

junior

YOUR TURN: What was your best Black Friday deal? By Dana O’Donnell

Uniting with South improves holiday season giving experience It’s great that we have been giving back for years now. The Adopt-A-Family program has given back to numerous families in our own neighborhood, and we should keep the tradition of generosity and good deeds going for many years to come. The majority of students at North donated their time, efforts and money to the Adopt-A-Family cause, but sometimes a few involved students were left with an unnecessary burden to carry, because their clubs, classes and homeroom had all taken the initiative to adopt families. We recently reached out to Grosse Pointe South High School to extend an Adopt-A-Family partnership this season. Now that South is involved, we have less families. This means each student has one family at the most, and many third hours have opted to not adopt a family at all. Thus, the students who have a family can truly focus on providing their family with a wonderful Christmas – significantly relieving the economic burden. Less stress for students means greater focus on the true meaning of the Adopt-A-Family cause: giving back. Our outreach is within our own community. It’s Norsemen helping Norsemen and now Blue Devils helping Blue Devils. And actually, it’s cross assistance (as families could be anywhere within the Grosse Pointes). In the past, students have complained about having to purchase multiple items for an array of families, but because this year the amount of families North has to work with has been diminished, students should use this opportunity to their benefit. Students shouldn’t complain about how much money they spend on their family, especially since they only have one to worry about. It’s the season of giving, which is exemplified by Adopt-A-Family.

“I’m broke so I didn’t buy anything.”

“I did get a couple deals, really good deals (at Macy’s).“

“There’s nothing that provides savings enough for me to go out and deal with all the crazy people who are out shopping that day.“

Mike Wickham

Mary Tocco

Brian Levinson

senior

Office secretary

Business teacher

Josie Riley, Stephanie Roy, Maya Sewell EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Maria Liddane MANAGING EDITORS: Gabby Burchett, Dayle Maas SECTION EDITORS: Andrea Scapini, Melina Glusac, Izzy Ellery, Colleen Reveley WEB CONTENT EDITORS: Marie Bourke, Lauren Semack WEB MANAGERS: Emma Puglia, Anu Subramaniam BUSINESS MANAGER: Sydney Thompson STAFF DEVELOPMENT EDITOR: Patricia Bajis DESIGN EDITOR: Kristen Kaled PHOTO EDITOR: Brigitte Smith, Emily Hug ASSISTANT EDITORS: Haley Reid, Wendy Ishmaku, Jennifer Kusch, Audrey Kam, Katelyn Carney STAFF REPORTERS: Jenna Belote, Radiance Cooper, Dora Juhaz, Erica Lizza, Emily Martinbianco, Brittney Hernandez, Malika Kanneganti, Caelin Micks, Diajah Williams, Olivia Asimakis, Gowri Yerramalli INTERNS: Dana O’Donnell, Thomas Remenar, Emma Brock, Mora Downs, Kristina Kowalski, Kaley Makino, Isabella Meteer, Billy Moin, Ritika Sanikommu, Addison Toutant, Calix Waldrop, Alex Batts, Josie Bennett, Yena Berhane, Dajai Chatman, Claire Dalian, Lia DeCoste, Erin Haggerty, Lawrence Lezuch, Kayla Luteran, Lillian Rancourt,

North Pointe – Friday, Dec. 6, 2013 – 3

The North Pointe is edited and produced by Advanced Journalism students at Grosse Pointe North High School and is published every two weeks. It is in practice a designated public forum without prior review. Comments should be directed to the student editors, who make all final content decisions. The views expressed are solely those of the authors or the student editorial board and do not reflect the opinions of the Grosse Pointe School System. We are a member of the Michigan Scholastic Press Association, Columbia Scholastic Press Association, National Scholastic Press Association and Student Press Law Center. We subscribe to McClatchy-Tribune Information Services and iStockphoto.com. One copy is available free to all community members. Additional copies may be purchased. Our editorial policy and advertising rates are available online at myGPN.org. The North Pointe is printed on 100% recycled paper. CONTACT US 707 Vernier Road Grosse Pointe Woods MI, 48236 Phone: 313.432.3248 Email: northpointe@gpschools.org Twitter: @myGPN FACULTY ADVISER: Shari Adwers, CJE

Editor’s desk sydney thompson

For the love of a Prius I drive a Prius. Instead of the vroom vroom of a “real” engine, I get the eerie hum of an electric motor. You may all chuckle and even be embarrassed for me that that’s my mode of transportation. But let me ask you this: How many of you have to pay for your own gas? And how many of you only spend $10 a week on gas? When Dora, my beloved 2002 Ford Explorer (Get it? Dora the Explorer?), died of old age, I got booted to the hybrid. The change in horsepower was quite a culture shock to the new driver that I was. I had learned how to drive in that car, and the Prius was nothing like it. The Prius is a smart choice. With it being about half the size of my old car, the Prius can fit in the tiniest, most awkward of parking spots. It costs me about $25 every two weeks to fill my tank, and I drive a lot. This allows me to spend my money on the more important things of life: clothes, food, concert tickets, Starbucks and more food. Yes, I’ll admit driving a car that doesn’t make a sound when you accelerate can be a bit shameful. Don’t even get me started on driving in anything but perfect road conditions. That little car would hydroplane in a desert. I was embarrassed about my car up until recently. The truth is, most people who mock me for my car don’t even have one themselves. I’ve always laughed along with the jokes. I’ve even dished it back a few times. When people asked about the batteries that someone left in my car, I told them it was in case I ran out of gas. Sadly, some believed me. The car was my dad’s. He didn’t just pass on an economical car, but a fresh perspective on material items. He knew the Prius wasn’t a “man’s” car, but my dad’s view is that your car doesn’t reflect who you are. Of course, he still comforted me by claiming that the most popular car in California is the noble Prius, so I was rollin’ like Miley Cyrus and all her A-list friends. But I was raised tough, and I was raised right. The brand of my car doesn’t matter. What matters is that it has all four wheels, a functioning gas pedal and, hopefully, a functioning brake. People have tried to sympathize with me, giving me their pity. I don’t need it. I don’t care what my car looks like or how loud, or quiet, the engine is. My dad has instilled in me the perception that you don’t need to prove to anyone but to yourself what you’re worth. Of course, it took me some time to understand this concept. Like every other teenager, I went through the expensive brand only phase. And I’ll be the first to admit that I still have an expensive taste even though my bank account doesn’t agree. However, I learned that in real life, people don’t remember the price of your car, but the places you’ve been with it. The time you spend worrying over what your peers will think of your clothes, car or house is time wasted.

On Campus

4 – North Pointe – Friday, Dec. 6, 2013

Eighth grade students tour North Future Norsemen from Parcells, Brownell, St. Joan of Arc and Star of the Sea received tours from North students on Nov. 26. They were able to meet administators and teachers, visit classes and interact with students. By Jeffrey Valentic, Claire Dalian & Lillian Rancourt photographer & interns

LEFT: Physics teacher Don Pata teaches eighth graders how to juggle. This lesson was one of the reasons eighth grader Robert Martin from Brownell enjoyed his visit. “I like it because there’s a lot of activities, the teachers are cool and it’s a big school,” Martin said. “(My favorite part was) learning how to juggle in class because it’s a hard activity and I’ve always wanted to know how to do it.” BELOW: Eighth graders sit in on a class. “It’s nice; the teachers are nice, it’s really big and kinda confusing,” eighth grader Thomas Supal said. “The teachers will talk to you more, you get to know them more. They have presentations and PowerPoints and stuff.”

Faces in the crowd Sienna Rogers

Freshman Sienna Rogers envisions herself in New York, in her own art gallery ten years from now. Rogers has been working on her art skills since she was three years old. “That’s what I want to do when I’m older, I want to do art. That’s basically my life,” Rogers said. Rogers refers to herself as a self-taught artist. She didn’t take a formal class until 6th grade when she learned a skill she uses often. “I remember in sixth grade we learned shading in this textbook and so I use a lot of shading in what I do right now. So that actually did help from 6th grade,” she said. Rogers doesn’t always get to draw during the week unless she is just sketching in class. She mostly works on her pieces during the weekends when she has the most free time. “There’s aspects that I do so I break it down so maybe like starting out just drawing it, sketching it out, that might take an hour or if it’s a bigger piece it might take two hours,” Rogers said. “Then I add color and usually I don’t do that the same day, I do it the next day and that takes more time, about three hours, so there’s a lot to do with it.” “With being an artist you just have to go with what you’re doing,” she said. “You can’t back down when you do something wrong.”

Jacob Kempton

ABOVE: Seniors Katie Kohler and Michael Bylski, along with Thor, welcome eighth graders as they walk into the building. Eighth grader Natalie Barstys noticed the difference between Parcells and North right away. “I like it, there’s a lot more kids and it’s a lot bigger. It’s kind of overwhelming,” Barstys said. Senior Katie Kohler wanted to fulfill her duty as a tour guide and show the students what the school has to offer. “I am making sure that they see all parts of North and realize that school is actually really fun,” Kohler said.

ABOVE: Two eighth graders are welcomed with high-fives from seniors. “It’s a lot bigger, there’s a lot more kids from other schools,” Parcells eighth grader Caroline Weaver said. “(I’m looking forward to) seeing all my friends I went to elementary school with because they went to Brownell. I’m meeting up with a lot of them now.”

It may have started off as a hobby, but junior Jacob Kempton’s interest in antiques has blossomed into a business. “I didn’t really think about it, but one day I just went to a garage sale, and I saw something, and I knew I could sell it for more,” Kempton said. His grandmother owned an antique shop, and he began to notice the different items she had as he started to visit more often. Kempton now does antique shows but usually sells antiques online or to loyal customers he’s gained. Kempton’s favorite items are Coca-Cola products from the 1930s to 50s. However, most of his antiques are from the 1920s. Antiques may be considered old-fashioned, but even his friends find some of them interesting, like old movie posters or an old soda fountain. “Some things are relatable to everyone,” Kempton said. Not only did his interest in antiques increase over time, but he realized that each antique is a piece of history. “They can teach you about history, and they can also teach you about how money works, like how some things go up in value and how other things go down in value. Different things have a lot of different lessons,” Kempton said.

By Emma Brock & Yena Berhane

FIVE MINUTES WITH

Security guard Mario Ponder By Sydney Thompson & Dana O’Donnell Business Manager & Intern

Dalaney Bradley

Security guard Mario Ponder uses his musical skills to dabble in many different types of genres. “Everything. I like jazz to country, rock, R&B, hip hop. Pretty much everything,” Ponder said.

Managing security, managing music artists and making music: all common activities for security guard Mario Ponder. Ponder found his passion for music at an early age singing at his church. “Well, I started out singing back when I was probably 12 years old. I started in a gospel group and just kept going from there. I just love music,” Ponder said. Ponder started with singing, but as time went on, he ventured out to other aspects of music. He had the idea to manage his own group to ensure the highest amount of opportunities for success and to avoid crooks in the music managing field. From there, Ponder started to manage local artists. “There were a few guys managing my group at the time, and they weren’t doing a good job. So I decided that I wanted to go into the business end and make sure the artist wasn’t being treated wrong,”

Ponder said. “A lot of people try to snake you and guide you the wrong way. So I pretty much wanted to not do that to other people’s careers and give them a better chance than I had.” Along with managing and creating his own music, Ponder helps others launch their musical careers. “I have artists that I deal with that I manage right now. I have two different artists that are getting ready to come out. One R&B singer and a hip-hop rapper,” he said. Ponder has the ability to create music with the keyboard but primarily uses the computer to do so. He does not have a predilection towards a certain genre and plays all types of music. Ponder spends the majority of his leisure time working with his music. “I like managing and producing music. I do sound engineering. I also have a studio of my own,” he said. “As far as my hobby right now, that is my focus.”

When did you start working here? “I started working here last year in August, I believe. I started in custodial work then branched off into security.”

Do you like security better than your previous position? “Yes, I do. It’s more hands on with the kids and the staff here. I really enjoy being around the kids and giving them my different ideas on what to do and not to do.” Have you written any of your own songs? “As far as music goes, I’ve written a lot. But as far as writing songs, I haven’t written any yet.”

How did you get into security? “One day, I was sitting with (security guard Antoine) Nof and asked him about it, and he said there was a position available, and I decided to try and switch jobs.”

Have the people you managed come out with any albums yet or anything? “No not yet, this is all fresh and new. So the first thing I was doing was just recording and I decided to take one artist and manage them myself.”

life

North Pointe –Friday, Dec. 6, 2013 – 5

Junior follows a tradition of transaction By Wendy Ishmaku Assistant Editor

After at least $1,000 and 24 hours of Black Friday shopping, only then can it be considered a successful Thanksgiving holiday for junior Danaija Chatman and her family. “We just call it a girls’ day. We all get together, and my mom still goes with us, and it’s a girls’ day out basically,” Chatman’s mother, Tallissa Mitchell, said. Chatman joined her mother, grandmother and sister in this shopping craze when she was about eight or nine. She has been looking forward to the fourth Friday of November ever since. “When I was little my mom and grandma used to go Black Friday shopping for us, but then when we found out they were Santa Claus, they started taking us to pick out our own stuff,” Chatman said. After her many years of experience, Chatman knows how to prepare to browse the shops. “Eat a lot on Thanksgiving and take a nap first, and then go as soon as the stores open,” Chatman said. The girls have also collectively developed a systematic approach to the event. “We get a paper usually around Thanksgiving time, and we check off what we want and what stores we have to go to because after that I have to work the next

day,” Chatman’s grandmother, Denesia Jackson, said. “We used to go about, what, 10 or 11 o’clock, and shop until maybe 7:30 (a.m.). And then I go to work.” But the fun doesn’t stop there for the rest of the family, Chatman says they stay out for about 24 hours, stopping for short breaks in between. “We might take the bags home and take a break, like take a quick nap, but we go right back out,” Chatman said. The girls aren’t necessarily picky on where they to do their shopping, but they prefer a classic: Great Lakes Crossing Outlets. “I would say we usually just go to Great Lakes, the mall, because it’s got more stores, and we got more places to go to and stuff,” Jackson said. “My first daughter usually wants to go to that one because that’s the first one that’s open.” Throughout her years of being a part of the growing trend, Chatman has experienced some wild moments while stocking up at various stores. “When I was little, the Foreman Grill had just came out, and we were getting one for my grandma for a surprise because she wasn’t with us that time because she had to work,” Chatman said. “So this lady set her’s down, and my mom made me and my sister go steal it.” It wasn’t easy to get these gifts, and there have been

some painful times they’ve have had to go through. “I broke my ankle once two years ago, and it was on November the 14th,” Jackson said. “I slipped down the steps.” But that didn’t stop her from shopping. “I did take a couple pills and keep on going,” Jackson said. Aside from that particular shopping altercation, they have had their fair share of witnessing shoppers go wild to get the last gift. “They start fighting over items,” Mitchell said. “Even fist fight.” Not only do they have to worry about conflicts while struggling to get gifts, but they worry about the overpopulated stores as well. “It’s just the business of it, you know. It’s just overcrowded, the stores, and then it’s the lines that you have to wait sometimes,” Jackson said. Mitchell says she’s seen lines run out the door and that she’s waited for over an hour in them. But that doesn’t stop them from getting great holiday presents. Chatman’s best gift she’s gotten someone was a complete outfit, while her mom an LED Mitsubishi T.V. “(My favorite part about the day is) getting everything I want, and then I don’t have to worry about going out to get something else,” Chatman said.

Allison Fly

Junior Danaija Chatman has participated in a family tradition of Black Friday shopping with her mom and grandma since she was young. The girls start shopping around 8 p.m. on Thanksgiving and stay out until 8 p.m. the next night.

Kristen Kaled

LEFT: Sophomore Chris Collins uses his laptop to design computer games, and although he is eager to design an app, he can’t yet because his laptop has a slow processor. “I have a laptop, Toshiba, and it’s processing is very slow, only about 1.3 gigahertz, and the computers here are about 10 years old, and they have a faster processor than I do, so it’s kind of dodgy. It’s kind of ironic that I love computers, and yet my computer is just way down there,” Collins said. RIGHT: Collins works on creating one of his video games.

Sophomore takes gaming to new level By Marie Bourke Web Content Editor

A “stamp of quality” seals every one of his video game creations. Sophomore Chris Collins has immersed himself into a world of technology where his games form his own work of art and feature personal touches of what his life is like. “I enjoy playing my own games and seeing what I can do to make them better and more original,” Collins said. “I like adding my own touch to it, either inserting myself into it, you know my face, something silly like that, but I also made a few games for my classes.” His games tend to be in the “retro genre” like one of his favorites, Super Mario Bros. 3 on the Nintendo Entertainment System. But many times he creates more modern games like another favorite, Mass Effect 3. Through trial and error he corrects his creations to make them the best they can be. “I play, program and modify games. Of course I play video games, like every other guy does,” Collins said. “I am mainly involved in video games, but I like a little bit of variety. I have made remakes of classic games with better graphics, like I revamp them, so to speak.”

Through his process of programming and rating games, Collins has fine tuned his talent of purchasing the best ones. This process takes reading game reviews, aspects, and overall game play. It takes him about two months to research before he will fork over the cash for a new game. Collins also enjoys exploring other creator’s games in the online community. “It’s a place called YoYo Games and people just like me upload their games to the website, and I actually play them and rate them and judge them.” Collins’ passion for computer programming and creating games started young. He inherited the hobby from a line of family members also involved in technology. It started with his grandfather and was passed on to his father and uncle. Now he sees the enthusiasm for computers in himself. “It started off when I was about nine and (my dad) gave me his old Mac to play with, and I started getting on there and looking up programs, and I saw all this code. I never knew what it meant until I was 12, and then I really got into it, and I started playing more video games.” His mother noticed Chris’ penchant for technology at a very young age. “Christopher used to play educational games on my old Gateway computer when he was three years old: Arthur, Clifford, and others. He really loved it. Then at some point he started teaching me more than I could teach him,” mother Kimberly Collins said. The family tries to purchase some type of new technology for the house on a regular basis and Chris helps his

parents out. “Now that he’s older and I have problems or his dad has problems on either an Android or our Apple products, Chris is always the first one to find how to bypass something or to make something work again or fix something; it’s really great,” Kimberly said. Collins hopes that he can carry this talent with him to a future career and develop his skills even more to move up the ladder in computer processing. “I’m probably going to go into computer design and engineering and focus on a wider range because there’s so much more you can do, not just video games but it’s social media.” Taking a step further from video games, Collins would like to create an app one day, but is “waiting to be inspired.” Because of the complex programs required, he wants to build the necessary skills and workmanship it would involve. “As of right now I feel that if I develop my skills further that I’ll be able to pump out better products, not just better games but maybe variations of software to enhance social media.” Collins will continue making games and building upon past creations. He believes “practice makes perfect.” “Customizing games these days are extremely complex and are fantastic and seeing yourself in the game world is so amazing,” he said. “But when it really comes from your own passion and your own mind it’s basically like your child.”

reviews

North Pointe – Friday Dec. 6, 2013 – 6

Hold the phone By Addison Toutant Intern

When Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone, he had no idea that it would be used to connect the living with their deceased loved ones as it did in Coldwater, Michigan. Albom weaves two separate phone calls, one starring Bell, the other with a woman from Coldwater, into one story: The First Phone Call From Heaven. Coldwater is a typical small town where everyone knows everybody, and they live by a rigid schedule. When certain individuals receive phone calls from their beloved who have passed, their once-concrete schedules change drastically. A mother, a son and a brother connect with their living family, saying that heaven is real and that there is no pain there, only love. Enter Sully Harding, an ex-prisoner that comes home to Coldwater. A few months before his release, he finds out his wife had died. He returns to find the town in this state of “miracle fever” from the phone calls, and his own son now carries around a toy phone in hopes that his dead mother will call him. Harding is determined to reveal that these calls are a hoax to make him and his son feel better. Teaming up with one of the call recipients, Elias Rowe, the two dive into an incredible journey of introspection and self-importance. Meanwhile, the first to receive their call, Katherine Yellin, is asked by reporter Amy Penn if she wants a documentary shot about these calls. Amy takes them very seriously, but once one of her videos leaks onto the internet and goes viral. Coldwater becomes a tourist haven, filled with other people trying to be contacted. Protesters angered by the events gathered as well. Throughout the story, Mitch Albom captures one of the essences of human nature: the fact that we want there to be a place to live after our time on earth is over. The people who received the phone

calls are asked to be on a worldwide broadcast where there are thousands of people watching from all over the world. These people want to know if there is a life after we die. The fictitious characters, who want to know if there is an eternity, aren’t much different from us. They want to know the same things we do. Is there an afterlife? To be frank, if there was only one book I could read for the rest of my life, it would be this one. The ambiance starts at the beginning and stays there throughout the entire novel. The waves of curious and pessimistic visitors creates a sense of ambiguity for not only the characters, but the reader. The way that the recipients of these calls aren’t completely giddy, but are actually breaking down emotionally is incredibly realistic and made the event feel real, even though I knew it was fictitious. The way that Albom switches seamlessly between Alexander Graham Bell’s struggles with inventing the telephone to the ordeal in Coldwater is amazing. The novel also switches between among different characters’ perspectives, but it doesn’t do so in a confusing manner, which is a problem that other novels seem to run into. There are several sections that are written like a news report which preface the information in the upcoming chapters and add a bit of variety to the straight narrative style that novels normally use. The book is also presented in a convincing manner. The plot generates the feeling that we’ll have our entire family waiting for us in heaven.

CATCHING FIRE

MIDNIGHT MEMORIES

QUIZUP

MGMT concert at the fillmore

Catching Fire, the second book in Suzanne Collins’s Hunger Games trilogy, has been transformed into an action-packed film that satisfies her avid readers www.iosnoops.com and average movie-goers, as well. The movie resumes a year after first movie, left off with tributes Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark returning home as victors of the 74th annual Hunger Games. By defying the Capitol, Katniss saved both Peeta and herself from the Hunger Games, but also incited rebellions across the districts in the process. The portrayal of the protests and harsh methods of containing them spiked viewers’ adrenaline while bringing tears to their eyes. The new Gamemaker Plutarch Heavensbee forced the previous victors back into the arena for the Games’ third Quarter Quell, an event that shocked even the most informed reader of the series. But even in the midst of all the life-threatening action, Katniss debated whether she loved Peeta or her close friend, Gale Hawthorne. The love triangle was apparent in the beginning of the film, but the return to the arena left Gale out in the dust. The movie captured the true emotion that was involved in the rekindling of their relationship, and even some Team Gale members believed in Katniss and Peeta’s romance. The movie closely followed the plot of the book, but some arena scenes felt rushed, a disappointment to anxiously awaiting fans who craved more detail. After two hours and 26 minutes of on-theedge-of-your-seat excitement, Catching Fire ended on a cliffhanger, leaving viewers eager for the series’ next installment.

Stepping out of their comfort zone, British boy band One Direction went with more rock ‘n’ roll sounding songs on their third album, Midnight www.justjaredjr.com Memories. Released Nov. 25, One Direction’s album has received positive feedback from their fans. The cookie-cutter band that first drove teens worldwide crazy three years ago hopes now to reach out to a larger, more mature crowd. Their new album contains 18 songs with emotion and situations better suited to an older crowd. Greater involvement in writing their lyrics allowed One Direction to express more of their own feelings. Their second single, “Story of My Life,” showed the boys’ deeper feelings about their childhood memories with their families. This emotional and personal theme was carried out throughout their album. Because the boys have grown up not only physically, but lyrically, since their last album, it seems that they are singing about riskier and more mature topics. Lyrics talking about more intimate relationships and the baggage that comes with them. With this new sound, the lads have included instrumental sounds. The solos were more evenly divided in Midnight Memories than they were in Take Me Home. Guitar solos in the background help tie the solos together and make the group’s harmonization sound more together. The album gives off a 70s rock feel as opposed to the original puppy-dog love songs. Overall, the band’s image and sound has improved as they have gotten older, and their new album helps listeners connect.

Joining the elite world of gaming apps that allow the player to compete in real time with actual people, QuizUp is “the biggest www.twitter.com trivia game in the world.” Available only in the iTunes store, this game holds over hundreds of topics to be quizzed on – from Whitney Houston to literature. The QuizUp team is determined to have the player’s favorite, and if they don’t, a request can be submitted for its creation. Once a topic is selected, the player will be paired with a competitor and the questions will commence. At the end of the game, QuizUp allows the player to rematch their competitor, or vice versa, if desired and keeps the analytics of the matches as they culminate. This is one of the most extravagant, free apps that has graced the touchscreens of iPhones this year. When simply reading the number on paper, 250 topics may not seem like a wide variety, but when the choice between the Miley Cyrus or the Grey’s Anatomy categories is an option, it’s a good day. There is the occasional glitch, however, as the app sometimes spends copious amounts of time attempting to connect with a live player but cannot find one. This means the game cannot be played since there are no simulation competitors. Despite the hiccup, this addictive game has replaced the space Candy Crush once held in the hearts of many and not only passes the time, but works the brain.

Hippies and hipsters alike united on Wednesday, Nov. 20 at The Fillmore in downtown Detroit. It was a beautiful experience. Kuroma, comwww.sciencefiction.com prised of members of MGMT’s backing band, opened up the concert. They set it off on a decent note, although the lead singer’s vocals were a little too high-pitched for the gruffness of their sound. But the main act turned it around. Psychedelic electronic band MGMT kicked off their concert with their craziest hit, “Flash Delirium.” It set the tone for the entire concert, a colorful explosion of guitar and ethereal vocals, all promoting their new, self-titled album. For a relatively indie band with only a few mainstream hits (think: “Electric Feel” and “Kids”), The Fillmore was filled to the brim. The main floor was a good kind of claustrophobic, and the balcony seats were just as loaded. A chill atmosphere fermented as soon as lead singer Andrew VanWynGarden sang his first note. Good vibes reverberated throughout the entire concert, as everyone raised and swayed their hands toward the bright, multicolored backdrop screen supporting the band. Smiles and lip syncing hipsters could be found at every turn. The new songs are nearly just as catchy as the old ones. “Alien Days” united the crowd with it’s lighthearted synthesizers. After that, everyone was hooked. MGMT’s concert lent itself to an enjoyable, entertaining experience that met all expectations (and exceeded them quite often).

A-

B+

iTube; Dmitry Taoubes; Nov. 4; Apple; free

Midnight Memories, One Direction; Columbia, 2013

Quizup; Plain Vanilla; Nov. 11; Apple; free

By Katelyn Carney

By Jenna Belote

By Patricia Bajis

A-

Nov. 20, The Fillmore; MGMT By Melina Glusac

Sports QUICK HIT Meet Martice Dunlap By Colleen Reveley

North Pointe – Friday, Dec. 6, 2013 – 7

Step team STOMPS into winter season

Sports Editor

Emily Huguenin

The word “strike” in terms of sports might make baseball come to mind— “three strikes and you’re out!” But this typically negative word carries a much more positive meaning for senior Matrice Dunlap. “I’ve been bowling for ten years,” Dunlap said. “My mom was a bowler and I just started bowling with her when I was younger. Since I started at a young age it just came more naturally to me.” Bowling isn’t just a hobby for Dunlap—he plays competitively. He competes in a number of different tournaments throughout the year. “I bowl at Bronco Lanes,” Dunlap said. “It’s one tournament at the same time every year, then it’s three events, and we double into teams, and then there’s the other little small tournaments within the Metro Detroit area.” Practicing for bowling is mainly about the mind work, not the physical aspect for Dunlap. Bowling every day doesn’t make him a better bowler, but the strength to stay mentally indefatigable has lead him to success. “You really don’t have to practice every day like football, basketball and all of that—it’s more of a mental game,” Dunlap said. “If you mess up, you can’t just slouch down and keep messing up, you have to pick yourself up in this game of persistency.”

By Diajah Williams

As the winter sports season comes into full swing, the familiar sound of the step team’s feet pounding the floor can be heard around the school, preparing for their winter performances. Returning step team member sophomore Shataya Henderson has more experience with step than most. Henderson’s brother was the founder of the step team at North. “I’ve been doing step for a while because my brother went here, and he started the step team. So I’ve been doing it since then,” Henderson said. “It’s not hard once you get the hang of it. It becomes natural.” The responsibility of the step team changed this year from student activities director Pat Gast to lifeskills teacher Stacy Kryzminski. “My adviser is Ms. Krzyminski. She watches over the team and helps plan our routines and schedule,” senior Tiziana Skinner said. Not having an official coach gives the girls a creative outlet to produce their own routines and give old routines a fresh twist. The downside of not having a coach is the conflicting ideas and consequential disagreements that ensue. “Everyone including myself comes up with the step ideas and puts them together. The hardest part about being on the step team is that sometimes it is difficult to resolve conflict within the team that can result to no progress with the rest of the practice time,” Skinner said. “It works perfectly without a coach. We take known routines from everyone. If they are good then we use them, but mostly from Tiziana and Shataya,” Woods said. Arguments that result from the butting ideas don’t last long. The girls create bonds that are strong enough to withstand life outside school’s conducive environment. “It’s a family. Outside of school we are close to the people here,” Henderson said. Step team is considered to be an underrated sport at North, despite the rise in participation from previous years. “We don’t get as much publicity as other sports. Also (other sports) think it’s not hard to step. Ha. They don’t understand how much work and effort is put into performing,” Woods said.

Allison Fly

ABOVE: Seniors Brittany Moore and Kamire Woods perform the spotlight segment of their routine during the pep assembly. BOTTOM LEFT: Bianca Banks stands in position waiting for the team’s routine to begin. BOTTOM RIGHT: Senior Tiziana Skinner claps and steps to the beat of the music. Skinner’s favorite part of being on the team is the opportunity to perform in front of crowds. “My favorite part about being on the step team is that we get to show off our moves as a team,” Skinner said. “I feel like people think the step team is underrated because step isn’t as supported or popular as other clubs and sports.”

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in-depth

North Pointe – Friday, Dec. 6, 2013 – 8

Behind the stitches: Norsemen’s memories of marks left by of surgeries, burns and and other accidents By Lauren Semack Web content editor

Meagan Curran John Chanske

When senior Meagan Curran was nine years old, she joked about the scar on her left shoulder for the first time. A girl at gymnastics practice was close to tears after Curran told her she was bitten by a shark, though that wasn’t the case. “Whenever people ask me about it I always give them a completely different story and freak them out and make them feel really uncomfortable about asking about it,” Curran said. The scar is actually from a surgery that Curran underwent when she was six years old due to a questionable birthmark. “We went to a skin specialist and they said it was on the verge of becoming very cancerous,” Curran said. “They ended up having to do a bunch of surgeries on it and they ended up doing a really bad job so now I’m scarred, literally.” Although the surgeries left an unnecessary mark, Curran has no problem with it. “It doesn’t bother me too much. I actually kind of like it. It makes me, me – so I like it.”

As blood trickled down his right arm and part of his humerus bone stuck out of his bicep, freshman John Chanske realized his arm was snapped in two. “I was skateboarding at a skate park, and I lost my balance, and I fell on a ramp and broke my arm in half. I didn’t really feel anything, and when I went to put my arm up on something, the bone came out of my arm, and then I put it back in,” Chanske said. “I saw the bone, and it freaked me out and didn’t want to see it, so I just put it in.” The day before, Chanske had tried out for the Team Vengeance baseball team, but because he had to undergo surgery, he was temporarily unable to practice. “I had a bionic brace that helped me get my mobility back in my arm as soon as possible, ‘cause I had to play baseball that season, but I wore it for about eight weeks,” Chanske said. “I can’t get my arm straight fully. I have to have surgery for that once I get my plates out.” Chanske still has two large scars on his arm to remind him of the fateful day at the skate park he and hasn’t ridden a skateboard since.

By Andrea Scapini

By Mora Downs & Billy Moin

Samantha MacConnachie Danielle Zukowksi “I screamed for a second, I was like ‘Oh my God,’” senior Danielle Zukowski said about her estimated second degree burn she received right before the school year started. A rectangular, fresh piece of skin now covers Zukowski’s right forearm where a hair straightener singed her. “My sister was trying to hand it to me, and it was still on. It just slipped and fell and burnt both sides of my arm,” Zukowski said. “At first, it just started turning really red, and then it kind of hardened. It was a bunch of different colors; it was oozing.” Zukowski’s dad, who is a pharmacist, prescribed her a medical cream called Silvadene that is used for patients with severe burns. After two months, the blistering burn healed but left a scar that has attracted a lot of attention. “It was right before school, and I came and everyone was freaking out and asking about it,” Zukowski said. “I was at my church, and everyone was staring at it, and one kid asked and was like, ‘I was afraid to ask. I thought it was something you’ve had since birth.’” By Haley Reid

Gr aphic

it By Brig

te Smit

Gabrielle Torossian Physics did not work in the favor of science teacher Gabrielle Torossian when she had a fall in gymnastics in first grade. “There were two people on the trampoline at one point and I got double bounced way too high … and I fell back down onto the spring and broke my leg,” Torossian said. She broke her femur, the largest and strongest bone in the human body, that can withstand almost a ton of pressure. “Two years later… my doctor ended up finding out my bone was thinner than an eggshell,” Torossian explained. “I had a choice between coral and cadaver (human bone) to fill in my bone. I chose cadaver because I knew it was human. I wish I could say now, ‘Yeah, I have coral in my body,’ so I have a scar from that.” By Addison Toutant

Sophomore Samantha MacConnachie remembers the day she was in a car accident every time she looks in the mirror. “I was in a really bad rollover car accident when I was little. And the car rolled into the ditch. I was about seven,” MacConnachie said. “I’ve had five surgeries on my forehead because it was a really big dent, and they filled it with silicon.” MacConnachie does not see her scar as an imperfection but rather a part of who she is. “Everybody has those days where they don’t like what they look like, but I kind of like my scar. It defines me as a different person than everybody else,” MacConnachie said. “I have a story to tell when people ask about them. It’s a part of me. It’s what people know me by.” Although MacConnachie is at peace with her scars, not everyone in her family has the same opinion on them. “My dad is really, really strongly opinionated about it. He wants it gone. He’s the one that wants me to go get more surgery because he thinks I don’t deserve it. He wants me to have a better forehead. It doesn’t bother me as much as it does other people,” MacConnachie said. By Colleen Reveley

*scars’ positions correlate correctly to anatomical position, from the subject’s perspective.