North Pointe - March 14, 2018

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THE WALKOUT ISSUE

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Students evaluate gun culture in, out of state

for one thing,” Holland said. “You can't always know where something is coming from, we don't know On Feb. 15, the day after the about home lives or anything like events at Marjory Stoneman Douglas that. Yes, you can tell kids to report High School in Parkland, Florida, it. But that's not always going to work Superintendent Gary Niehaus posted a out (in the way they hope it would).” message to his online blog addressing Sophomore Sydney Agius the district. This message was forwarded agrees with Holland on the issue to parents and students. that the district is responding in an “Like schools and districts across appropriate matter. the nation,” Niehaus wrote, “GPPSS is “They’re taking a good stance on working diligently to do everything in gun control,” Agius said. “They’re our power to provide a safe and secure doing what they can to keep us safe learning environment.” and I definitely think they’re doing Niehaus specified improvements and all of the right things.” modifications in his post Along with which may be put in the new safety place within the coming protocol, Niehaus months in his message. outlined a few These include, things students but are not limited can do to help the to, drill practices, situation. further training Niehaus teachers for emergency also said that situations and security the district is enhancements in Dr. Gary Niehaus encouraging buildings across the SUPERINTENDENT students to district. report warning On the Monday following mid- signs they may see in other winter break, Niehaus said that the students to parents, counselors or school board decided to bring back the other staff members. Compliance 1 program, which was the Also placing belief in parents, 2015-2016 evaluation of school security Niehaus asks that they talk to their and safety. children frequently about things in “Most everybody that's a parent school that may be worrying them. and most everybody that’s a teacher He also asks that students not let and most of our students, this is on the people into the school building and frontburner right now,” Niehaus said. help by keeping doors closed and “I think we’ve all tried to put it on the locked. Niehaus stresses that all of backburner but then another incident the new policies are important to the happens and it comes back to the safety of students, physical security frontburner all over again. We have to changes especially. reevaluate how we do things.” However, he said that The Grosse Pointe Woods and communication between the student Grosse Pointe Farms police chiefs also body and administration is vital, met with the school board, filling them despite the shortcomings students in on what law enforcement knows and like Holland believe such an idea discussing ways to keep the Grosse may hold. Pointe Schools safe. “If you see something — if Senior Will Holland said that he you know something — pass it believes the superintendent’s address is along,” Niehaus said. “That’s the effective but that, in regards to students one thing that keeps all of us safe. reporting warning signs in other I want to make sure that kids feel students, the plan is flawed. safe. That’s our main priority and “I think they're right in doing what our greatest necessity.” they're saying they're going to do except

@thenorthpointe www.northpointenow.org

We have to reevaluate how we do things.

VOLUME 50 | ISSUE 12

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By Zoe Graves, Syeda Rizvi & Hannah Zalewski PAGE EDITORS Sophomore Mason Nelson moved from Florida to Michigan this year. As the news of the shooting in Parkland reached him, he inquired about his friend’s whereabouts — a friend who went to Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School — the same high school where gunfire killed 17 people. Gun culture is something that varies from state to state. America, though one nation, has plenty of opinions regarding guns, resulting in various developing “gun cultures.” According to a 2015 Columbia University study published by Injury Prevention Journal, there were 357 million guns in the U.S. in 2013. Alaska was first in gun ownership with 62 percent of its residents owning a firearm. Michigan tied with Vermont for 31st at 29 percent. Despite Michigan being in the middle of the list, guns are still an important part of life for some in this state. According to Nelson, it is a cultural norm for many to own a gun in Florida. Since his move, he noticed it is much harder for people to acquire guns in Michigan. Despite recent events, Nelson is not an advocate for guns, nor is he antigun. He said he is neutral about the matter. “Guns don’t kill people. People kill people,” Nelson said. “If you take guns away from the good people, bad people are

Editorial Feature

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always going to have guns. Criminals will still have guns.” Sophomore Tessa Bessette moved from Pennsylvania to Michigan and said she noticed a significant difference between the gun cultures of the two states. Bessette moved when she was in sixth grade from a small town that was “very progun.” After moving to Michigan, the main thing she noticed was the many differences in opinions. “I wouldn’t say it was violent (in Pennsylvania), but if someone had their gun out in public, they wouldn't really hide it. It would just be in their waistband,” Bessette said. “It was normal because I knew almost everyone there, so it wasn’t really ‘I don’t know them, they’re a danger.’ I just saw their gun, and I was like, ‘Oh, okay. That’s a gun. Right there.’” But in Michigan, Bessette said she encountered a diversity of opinion: she met many people who were either pro- or anti-gun. Social studies teacher Barry Mulso grew up in Rochester and was often around guns because many of his family members were hunters. He believes guns serve a purpose when used properly. 5 6

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By Rory Angott & Amelia Nowicki PAGE EDITOR & STAFF REPORTER

process, which is unusual because some schools across the country are punishing students for participating. Murray initially expressed her interest in North students creating their own walkout by speaking to student leaders at the Student Association meeting on Feb. 28 and by meeting with Ciaramitaro to confirm her vision for the walkout. Ciaramitaro has also been collaborating with Murray to ensure students are not punished for participating in the walkout. This walkout is set to be one of the biggest student-led events of the year for North. Walkouts are not only scheduled for high schools, but also the three middle schools within the district as well. Murray said she is impressed with the leadership exemplified by the students who planned it and is hoping it will go according to plan. “I have great faith that North students are going to do this,” Murray said. “They are going to do this in a way that honors victims and also highlights what sort of student advocates we have here.”

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decision about whether or not to walk out.” Some students throughout the North community have also expressed concerns in walking out because they think it will not instigate change. Although Ciaramitaro agrees the walkout is only a prelim-inary action towards instigating change, she still thinks it is an important SC HO step our OL W AL s c h o ol KO UT should take. “There are so many more things we can do,” Ciaramitaro said. “We can write letters to our representatives, we can go and lobby to our representatives, and there are multiple, multiple ways, and (students) can go do those. This is just the first step we are taking.” North’s administration has also been heavily involved in the planning

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BAND AND ORCHESTRA CONCERT March 25 at 3 p.m. at Orchestra Hall

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into the school’s schedule. “It is post TV announcements, it is not in the middle of an hour, and it gives us enough time to perhaps get out to the football field and then participate in the activities and return to class before the end of the hour,” Murray said. For the students who do not walk out, there will be six classrooms on the second floor for them to go to. This raises concerns among students like freshman Annaliese Thomas, who is not planning on participating. “Having our teachers walk out without us pressures us to also walk out, too,” Thomas said. “Students should be able to make their own

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MEET THE COACHES Tuesday, March 20 from 6-7 p.m. in the cafeteria

By Nick Asimakis & Michael Hartt STAFF REPORTERS alkouts around the country have become a way for students to advocate changes to reduce gun violence in schools and to remember the students lost in the Parkland, Florida shooting. Senior Eva Ciaramitaro, who is leading the walkout at North today, March 14, is hoping to accomplish some of the same goals, but with a few changes Students that are participating will leave third hour at 10 a.m. Ten minutes are set aside for the walk to thew football field. Then, students will sit outside for 17 minutes, one minute for each victim of the Parkland shooting. Those who participate will hear speakers discuss the objectives for the event decided upon by administartion and student-organizers: honoring the victims of Parkland, rallying against school violence and advocating for resources to ensure safe and secure buildings. When it is over, students will have 10 minutes to return to the building for fourth hour. Principal Kate Murray said the official walkout timing fits perfectly

#ENOUGH NATIONAL

WINTER SPORTS AWARDS Monday, March 19 from 7-9 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center

WEDNESDAY, MARCH. 14, 2018

Admin, students organize district walkout

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“You know I’ve got hammers in my garage, too. They are tools used to do a certain thing. That's how guns were for me,” Mulso said. “They have never been an object of fascination or anything like that. It's a gun. You use them to hunt. You use them to protect yourself if necessary.” Bessette and Mulso agree that assault-style weapons should not be available for public purchase. According to Mulso, weapons of that type do not serve a purpose in America today whatsoever other than to kill. Despite the various cultures they’ve experienced, Mulso, Bessette and Nelson agree that something needs to change in the way guns are handled and sold in America. Bessette believes the answer is to make the qualifications to obtain a gun more selective. “Criminals should not get guns. People with mental disorders shouldn’t get guns,” Bessette said. “I feel like there should be more limitations and certifications you should have.”


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North Pointe - March 14, 2018 by North Pointe - Issuu