North Pointe Issue16 - May 23, 2018

ON CAMPUS PAGE 4

Art department holds annual exhibit to showcase student work on Monday, May 14.

MARIAH LOPER

NORTH

GROSSE POINTE NORTH HIGH SCHOOL

UPCOMING

EVENTS

NO SCHOOL Monday, May 30 for all students SENIOR EXAMS Tuesday, May 29 - Friday, June 1 GRADUATION REHEARSAL Friday, June 1 at 9:45 a.m. in the gym SAT TESTING Saturday, June 2 at 8 a.m. in the gym

INSIDE

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By Sarah Shanley & Savannah Burguron STAFF REPORTER & INTERN

POINTE NORTHPOINTENOW.ORG

SINCE 1968

Wednesday, May 23, 2018

Local radio station silences Kanye West

Celebrities have the right to express their opinions in the media. Whether their ideas are social, political or economic in nature, society is bombarded with opinions from singers, actors or other public figures. Sometimes they are uplifting and call for change in humanity for the better — other times they spark controversy.

Recently, in a TMZ interview, artist Kanye West said, “When you hear about slavery for 400 years — for 400 years? That sounds like a choice.”

Immediately the media was outraged after discovering clips of what he said. But in a later article on TMZ, close friends and family said he meant it metaphorically. If viewers watch the full 30-minute clip of West's interview, he attempts to go more in-depth, explaining what he means. Longtime fan Daniel Bernas watched the interview and decided to interpret what West actually meant.

“He basically meant that, in an overall big way, African Americans and people in general are really putting themselves in mental slavery. He basically said that we aren’t open to new ideas. We aren’t open to think openly. We aren’t open to think out of the box that society has put us in,” Bernas said. “I disagree with that for the most part at least how I’ve grown up,

but I can’t speak for the black community. I can’t speak for any other minority to be honest.”

For those that did not watch the full interview, Kanye’s words could have easily been taken out of context.

“I don’t understand how someone could say slavery was a choice and not understand that, that is going to be taken and used and that's all people are going to see,” Bernas said.

“People are failing to see the whole side of the story — his

whole argument — which I think brought up some interesting points. I don’t necessarily agree with it.”

However, most people aren’t like Bernas. Radio station 105.1 The Bounce, a hip- hop and R&B radio station in Detroit, saw the interview and made the the decision to take West’s music off the air.

Sophomore Nia Crutcher agreed with the decision.

“I think it was the right thing to do because a lot of Americans would be very angry with what he said, and so it might cause them to not be fans of his music anymore,” Crutcher said. “So I believe it was the right thing to do so that radio station wouldn’t get backlash.”

However, The Bounce is leaving it to listeners to determine how long they mute Kanye’s music.

The station’s website is offering listeners a chance to send in their take on Kanye’s comments and also vote for whether or not the HANNAH ZALEWSKI station should play his music again. While some people may agree with their decision to ban his music, junior Hunter Adelson disagrees.

“I think it's kind of ironic because Kanye has done some really bad things, but then you have artists out there like Chris Brown who are out there assaulting people like Rihanna,” Adelson said. “He said some bad things but when you put it in perspective it's nowhere near as bad as what other artists have done so no I don't agree with it at all."

Former North student takes the broadway stage by storm

Student art showcase

When senior Ruth McCuen went to see “The Band's Visit” with the drama club earlier this month in New York City, she was blown away by the musical score and the pit orchestra.

She was also surprised to see a North alumnus on stage.

“All of the music from the pit is done on the stage, so you can see all of the crazy amounts of talent that these people had, and you could see the passion that they all had,” McCuen said. “It made the show amazing.”

“The Band’s Visit” is a Broadway musical about a band of eight Egyptian police officers who make up an orchestra, planning to perform in a city. They find themselves in a small town in Israel, where they are stuck for a day. It was recently nominated for for 11 Tonys including best musical and best musical score.

Choir director Ben Henri was on the trip with McCuen and the rest of the group. He saw the show and said it was unique because the music that would normally come from a pit was played by the actors on stage.

“Usually, you have the pit orchestra, and there is one, but it's only like four people, and they're never on stage. It’s not like you can see the conductor on stage. It's not a traditional orchestra,” Henri said.

The instruments used during the show highlight those that are more common in Arabic music such as the oud. The oud is a string instrument that resembles a long bodied guitar. Another instrument used is the dunbeck which is a small hand guitar. More traditional instruments are also used such as the violin, cello and clarinet.

North 2008 alumnus George Abud is in the show as one of the eight police officers.

He started acting during high school but has been playing the violin all of his life.

When he was given the chance to audition for the show, he had his heart set on performing in it. For him, the show was very interesting and special because of his family and childhood.

“I couldn't believe that this was going to be a story that was told on the stage. I thought, ‘I have to get into this,’” Abud said. “So, I took my violin, and I performed a song to sing, prepared a part of the script COUTESY OF SEAN KIFER'S TWITTER they wanted me to read, and I went and I read STARSTRUCK | Following the show students met with former north student, George for the director and all of the people in the Abud, backstage.

McCuen was estatic to meet Abud.

"We were all in awe to see that theater company.” someone from North could go that far, it was super cool."

McCuen said.

Abud was involved in both theater and

After weeks of preparation, senior Raj Ali and her classmates finished their artwork and put them on display at the annual GPN Art Show. On opening night, Monday, May 14, Ali’s work was included in the array of art for the public to view in the Performing Arts Center.

Art teacher Michael Lamb said he invested a great deal of time and effort in the Art Show and is pleased with the results. He and art teacher Lisa Warren organized, matted and mounted all the art pieces, and took them down after the show.

On display in the show were multiple art concepts ranging from sculptures and paintings to photography and computer design. All art was student produced from the different art classes at North, and every class was represented somewhere in the show.

Some students priced their work for sale, while others just intended to influence people and send a message.

Lamb said all the money from art sales went to the student who created the respective piece. He wanted all students to be rewarded for their art.

Ali’s pieces were among those displayed. She has taken art for two years and now branched out to computer graphics. Although she was excited, she said it was also bittersweet to be participating in her last show.

She displays her feelings and her thoughts through her art and said that one of the biggest reasons she took part in the Art Show was to express herself and her beliefs about certain issues.

“My art is really forward,” Ali said.

“It's about Islam, so I was nervous how people would perceive it."

By Emily Widgren PAGE EDITOR

@thenorthpointe www.northpointenow.org

VOLUME 50 | ISSUE 16

orchestra during his four years at North and joined choir for his senior year. Abud then continued his education at Wayne State, where he studied acting and then moved to New York City shortly after graduating college.

The musical has been in the works since 2015. The cast first started touring with the Atlantic Theater Company until the show garnered more popularity and more people wanted to see it. In 2016, the producers announced that the show would be taken to Broadway, and it moved to the Ethel-Barrymore Theater, which is where it is performed now.

Henri, McCuen and Abud all said that the show is inspiring for them. For McCuen, the show was inspiring because it showed her that performing on Broadway was something that can be attained no matter where you're from.

For Henri, the show was inspiring because through the show, different small stories of the townspeople were shared that showed the audience that no matter where you are from, we are more similar than we are different.

Abud said that stories like this are not usually shared, and that performing in a show about people of Arabic ethnicities and highlighting different people in a good way is something that he values about the show.

McCuen, who has been part of the drama club for most of her time at North, found that seeing Abud perform inspired her because it showed her what was possible with pursuing acting. She said that it was also inspiring for others on the trip.

“I think we were all in awe to see that someone from North could go that far, which was so amazing,” she said. “I learned that you should try to use people's talents as much as possible. Use the talents of different people to make the show amazing in the future.”

News Briefs

1 2

Editorial On Campus

3 4

Life Reviews

5 6

By Nick Asimakis PAGE EDITOR

In-Depth Sports

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 7 8

NEWS

2 – Wednesday, May 23, 2018 – North Pointe

IN BRIEF Homecoming moved up due to schedule change Due to scheduling changes, the 2018 homecoming dance has been moved up to Sept. 22. Although homecoming is usually during the first or second week of October, the district administration moved it up because North and South’s homecomings were originally on the same date.

The organizing and planning of the event, including the float building, will now need to be taken care of as soon as the school year starts, according to Student Association adviser Jonathan Byrne.

“It is really only going to give us less time to prepare,” Byrne said. “It is not going to change anything that we will do, it just means we have less time to get ready for all of the planning of homecoming.

Art Show

as looking professional was very important to her. She wanted to make a good first impression

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Like Ali, sophomore Jachia Smith was excited to display her personal artwork but was also nervous to participate in her first art show.

Smith uses Adobe Photoshop to edit photos in her photography class. She assembled some photos to either personalize them or send a message through them.

However, for other photos, she displayed them in their raw and unedited forms.

“Some of my pictures are personal, some of them aren’t,” Smith said.

“Different ones have different meanings.”

Smith spent weeks preparing for her show,

RAJ ALI

RAJ ALI RAJ ALI

as an artist who is new to the Art Show.

Lamb said the Art Show is not

only a way to present the students’ art, but also a way to honor the kids for all their hard work throughout the year.

“When I see the reaction of the students, that's what I find so gratifying,” Lamb said.

He also takes pleasure in the public’s reaction to the show.

He likes to see the observers get excited about all of his students’ art.

Ali said that putting her art out in the open is rewarding. She likes to put her feelings and emotions out to the public through her art and sees the Art Show as an opportunity to do that.

“It's fun because art is a part of you. So what you put to the world is how the world would look at you,” Ali said. “It's not about the money. It's more about expressing yourself.”

French students explore internet to through new Monaco and more

High speed arrive in GP fiber optic net work

A new fiber optic network that creates higher speed internet in Grosse Pointe is in the works. The city is working with Rocket Fiber, an internet and T.V. provider to offer the five Pointes — including Harper Woods, Beaumont, Grosse Pointe Public Library and the Grosse Pointe School System — one gigabyte of internet throughout. This additional gigabyte will speed up internet service in the Pointes by 10 times.

Social studies teacher Sean McCarroll believes that this could also persuade more districts to work within the network.

“The goal is that by working with Grosse Pointe, the network would able to attract more peer districts, such as Birmingham into participating into the cable,” McCarroll said.

North athletics launches updates on the website North’s athletic website has recently received an update that limits confusion by making the site more user-friendly for parents and students.

The website can now be accessed from North’s homepage under the athletic tab. According to athletic secretary Teresa Bennett, the new site updates within minutes with new information about games, practices, cancellations or moved locations.

The website also offers information such as summer camps, the senior athletic brunch and the standings of each team. For easy access, it allows users to click on quick links and instantly find information. They are also able to print off gold card forms instead of having to pick one up in the athletic office.

“That was our biggest goal, to try to and make the website more user-friendly,” Bennett said. “We just launched this in the spring, so we are still working on it, but it is big upgrade.”

By Nadia Fama

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learned so far,” Foster said.

PAGE EDITORS “Hopefully, it will give them more confidence with their speaking when For French teacher Pamela Foster, a they come back next year. They will summer trip to France every two years be able to share their experience with students from a variety of her with other North French students.”

French classes gives them all a chance to Social Studies teacher Terri explore France and allows the students Steimer is also thrilled for the trip. to showcase the French speaking skills “The chance to go to France again is they’ve learned throughout the year. exciting all in itself,” Steimer said via The 2018 trip will be June 27 to July 5. email. “Personally, I have been to the “I’m really excited to show the students Louvre museum three times, but it’s the different regions of France,” Foster said. never enough — I really look forward to The group is starting in Paris and going again. Also, I have not been to the taking a bullet train to Provence, in South of France, so going to Provence and the south of France. To conclude their Nice will be a new adventure. Finally trip, they will visit Nice and Monaco. — Monaco? What a fortunate trip.”

Junior Ava Wisniewski, a current French “I’m really excited for them to see the 3 student said that she hopes this trip will Eiffel Tower,” Foster said. “We’re going to give her an insight into what it is like to be seeing the Eiffel Tower at night, and it’s all truly live and experience French customs. lit up. That’s the icon of all things French.”

“I hope to learn more about the people In addition to exploring different and culture, like how they live their lives sights, Foster said this trip will give PAMELA FOSTER daily, like all the true French people her French classes a chance to show off what they have learned and build more like walking around,” Wisniewski said PAMELA FOSTER Like Foster and Steimer, Wisniewski confidence in their language skills.

“The purpose is that they will is excited to experience the different be able to use what they have regions of France, especially the south.

By Arzoo Chhaya & Adam Schwartz

“I don’t know that much about it,” Wisniewski said. “I’m really excited to go to Monaco. That’s going to be cool.”

Steimer looks forward to being with the French students while they explore new regions and sights in France.

“One of the greatest things about traveling with young people is watching the adventure through their eyes — watching people explore and enjoy great wonders of the world for the first time,” Steimer said.

PAMELA FOSTER

I-696 Closing brings inconvinience

By Michael Hartt PAGE EDITOR Government teacher Dan Gilleran’s daily drive home has become much longer than usual. Because of the westbound I-696 closure, Gilleran will spend hours more of his time in his car over the course of the next six months.

The construction that will be affecting 150,000 drivers daily began in early May and is expected to continue on the westbound side until November, when MDOT will route the eastbound traffic to the westbound side.

Originally scheduled for 2020, the $110 million project was moved up because the funding for the I-696 modernization project came early, according to MDOT. Gilleran said that the construction is not a problem on the way to school because he can continue taking I-696 eastbound like he normally would, but on the way home, it is a big inconvenience because detour roads are overcrowded.

“On the way home it is challenging because a lot of people are taking 8 Mile, and that is what I end up taking,” Gilleran said. “With the high volume of traffic, they can't time the lights as well, and you get stuck.”

The construction closing begins along the Macomb County stretch.

The project is supposed to make

improvements such as pavement replacement of the mainline, shoulders and ramps as well as drainage repairs.

Farther down the expressway in Oakland County, between I-275 and I-75 , work includes pavement repairs, drainage improvements and bridge repairs. That stretch of I-696, however, will only be completely closed for a maximum of 10 weekends. During other weekends and the night hours of the week, it will be partially closed.

Additionally, it will remain open during all weekday daytime hours.

Government teacher Barry Mulso is also impacted by the closure.

Although he says he is trying to keep a positive attitude, he is angry at legislators, whom he said failed to provide funding for road repairs through the past few decades.

“Our legislators neglected road repair since the early 1990s and through the entire decade of the 90s,” Mulso said. “They did no major road repair, and with the high amount of traffic and heavy weight limits, the roads deteriorated quickly.”

Freshman Elizabeth Cosio experienced the traffic delays firsthand when she drove with her family to Great Lakes Crossing last weekend.

She said that it took much longer than usual and that the detour roads were filled with traffic.

“We normally take I-696 as one

of the roads to get to Great Lakes Crossing, but it was closed, so we were stuck in traffic for a long time on the detours,” Cosio said.

Although the road is closed for now, the repairs made are expected to improve traffic speed and lessen the likelihood of accidents. Additionally, because the Macomb County stretch is being completely replaced, the road will not have to be worked on for a while after the project is done.

Gilleran admits that it has been challenging and it is far from over, but in the end, it will all be for the best.

“You just have to deal with it,” Gilleran said. “I would much rather them close it down, get it done, and be inconvenienced for a little while as opposed to lane closures back and forth.”

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EDITORIAL

NORTH

POINTE

North Pointe – Wednesday, May 23, 2018 – 3

Rejecting American exceptionalism

In the glory days, the air was cleaner, cars were sturdier and America was a simpler country. A proper “Grosse Pointe Public School administrators and teachers lady was quiet and MY TURN are responsible for encouraging and ensuring freedom SOPHIE KEHRIG cordial regardless of expression and freedom of the press for all students, of the “Hey sexy!”s regardless of whether the ideas expressed may be considered and “Nice ass!”es unpopular, critical, controversial, tasteless or offensive.” that were thrown BOARD OF EDUCATION POLICY at her on the street.

There were no snowflakes flitting about the airwaves, intruding the dim glow of a screen Syeda Rizvi Sofia Ketels Zoe Graves EDITOR-IN-CHIEF WEB EDITOR-IN-CHIEF MANAGING EDITOR displaying pristine nuclear families. There were few uncomfortable conversations about Arzoo Chhaya Amelia Nowicki Mariah Loper race, everyone knew their place and stayed in PAGE EDITOR PAGE EDITOR WEB EDITOR it. Men didn’t prance around like fops in floral suits and lace camisoles, they acted as real Michael Hartt Rory Angott Hannah Zalewski PAGE EDITOR PAGE EDITOR men should.

PAGE EDITOR It was peace. For a few, at least.

Except when it wasn’t.

Alex Harring Sarah Shanley Lindsey Ramsdell SENIOR ASSISTANT SENIOR ASSISTANT At every family gathering and every scroll STAFF REPORTER EDITOR EDITOR through the day’s news there is upheaval. The world has gone to hell, don’t you know? AccelAbbey Cadieux Charles Bernas SENIOR ASSISTANT STAFF REPORTER erating divorce rates, heightened hemlines, hoEDITOR mosexuals combing the streets for converts, inOur editorial represents the opinion of the North Pointe vading Mexicans, formidable Islamic terrorists.

Editorial Board consisting of the editors above. Mem- The world has changed. A new, grittier era has dawned on America. bers who have a conflict of interest with an editorial The other night on SNL, I watched a porn star topic do not partake in that meeting or vote. tell the president of the United States that a storm was coming, in real time. Later, a shirtless rapper by the stage name of Childish Gambino gyrated on stage to a song about the flaws in American ideals, amidst a rain of electric light.

Surely, the world has changed. A few decades ago, Stormy Daniels would have been dismissed as a crazed sex fiend vying for a moment in the national spotlight. A half-naked black man would have scarcely been allowed to dominate a stage, and never for the purpose of destroying the concept of American exceptionalism. I’ve witnessed a great many people treat this progress as a harbinger of doom.

We’re losing our values, they say.

What they fail to see is its gilding that coats SOFIA KETELS

their golden days. What was a simpler time for the straight, white, middle class male was fraught for the rest of the population.

According to PBS, in 1963, white people had on average seven times the annual income of non-white people. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in 1959, 55.1 percent of African-Americans lived below the poverty line. In 1960, people of color in the U.S. suffered incarceration rates 7.3 times higher than whites according to the Pew Research Center.

The past was not simpler.

In the 60s and 70s, homosexuality was widely accepted as a disease curable with psychiatric aversion treatment. Until the landmark Supreme Court case Lawrence v. Texas in 2003, states had the right to punish citizens for engaging in “homosexual conduct.” Consensual sex between adults of the same sex was a crime punishable by law.

The past was not simpler.

Before the era of #MeToo, there was not a wholly accurate way to discern the rates of rape or sexual assault. The barbaric violation of another human being was not taken seriously because that human being either happened to be a cisgender woman or a queer person.

Before it was socially acceptable for a woman to file for divorce, women in abusive relationships were trapped with little hope of reprieve.

The past was not simpler.

The present is not perfect either, but at the very least, we’ve made progress.

Where my conservative counterparts see a descent into madness and debauchery, I see as a slow, rather glorious rise of the marginalized into the mainstream media. A great white marble facade is being chipped away.

What lies beneath is beautiful and painful and foreign to some. It’s frightening yes, but it is imperative that we pay attention or else be left behind by a world that will evolve regardless of the rigidity of a few.

Considering implications During the week of April 29, rapper Kanye West said and tweeted a series of controversial statements. Since then, his words have been open to interpretation by everyone who sees them, including West himself, as he tries to pick up the pieces of the media firestorm he has caused.

During that week, West released a series of tweets displaying his support for President Trump, and said in an interview with TMZ that he believes slavery is a choice.

He has since tried to take back and explain the latter of those statements, saying that he was referencing to a more abstract term of “mental enslavement.” Whether he meant physical slavery or an enslavement of people’s minds and thoughts, he needs to remember his influence as a celebrity, and that even words interpreted the wrong way can still have a tremendous impact.

The debate over what West really meant when he talked about slavery has gone on for weeks now, with no clear answer.

However, what West’s meaning was doesn’t matter nearly as much as how people, specifically his fans, interpreted it.

Immediately after West tweeted his remarks expressing his support of Donald Trump, other celebrities were the first to point this out to him. Singer-songwriter John Legend reached out to West via text message, asking him to reconsider the impact his words may be having on his massive fanbase, reminding West of Trump’s policies and statements that have been known to be discriminatory against the people of color who comprise most of West’s fanbase.

As predicted, West has received massive backlash for his comments from his fans and others who saw his remarks online. Responses included fans tweeting at West demanding apologies, and agreeing with Legend by calling into question his justification for supporting President Trump’s actions.

The incident has alienated many fans who held the false hope that West may share their political views, but it also drew the support of many who would not normally have paid attention to his music, including the President himself.

In all sincerity, it is difficult to tell if even West was entirely sure of what he meant with regards to his TMZ comment on slavery and his subsequent self-contradiction. All these two incidents did was give West another five seconds in the spotlight. It could very well have just been a publicity stunt orchestrated by West and his team in order to drum up publicity for his upcoming albums, which he is currently working on. Still, this may have even surpassed West’s own comfort zone. For the past two weeks, West has once again put his phone and all social medias aside in order to focus on the albums.

All of West’s potentially self-serving motives aside, this social media storm brings up the unspoken rules of fame.

Like everyone else, West is entitled to his First Amendment right to state his beliefs without fear of persecution. But, when given a platform as large as his, when does being on the harmful side of an issue start to impact the way people perceive the issue?

By using his influence to make comments that endorse the policies of President Trump that have been criticized for bias against all people of color, West is acting against the interests of his own fans and the world in which his mixedrace children will grown up in.

These recent outputs of his opinion go beyond simply stating his world view and political views. In the case of his tweets about Trump, West endorses a campaign and presidency that has so far been fueled by little more than hate and prejudice against the people who helped West climb to fame. In the case of his TMZ comments about slavery, it can be perceived as something totally different from its intended effect.

It does not matter if he did not mean to throw this lifeline behind the President, or to speak about mental enslavement to TMZ. As a celebrity constantly in the public eye, West, along with other public figures, need to take more responsibility, not only for their words but for the possible implications behind them.

“My mom goes to work in that direction, so she's had to take an alternate route which other people are also taking.”

Keelin McCarthy FRESHMAN

“Since my dad lives out in Birmingham it's about a 28 minute drive out there. It's just a big inconvenience if we have to go to his house.”

Addison Blain SOPHOMORE

“It really doesn't affect me or my family in any way, except (when) we want to go to stores that are out of the city or out of the county.”

Garrett Vanmarter JUNIOR

YOUR TURN: How does the closing of I-696 West affect you? By Cairington Stahl

“I think in the long run, it's definitely a good thing that we're doing this. It's not very good road infrastructure-wise.”

Nicholas Trebilcock SENIOR

NORTH

“I live in Troy, so when coming to school, sometimes 94 is a little more congested. So it takes another five minutes when going home.”

“Sometimes I take 94 West home towards Ann Arbor, and now there's considerably more traffic going down 94.”

Greg Johnson

Brendan Williams

MATH TEACHER

ENGLISH TEACHER

POINTE

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Syeda Rizvi WEB EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Sofia Ketels MANAGING EDITOR: Zoe Graves WEB EDITORS: Brooklyn McWhorter, Amelia Nowicki SENIOR ASSISTANT EDITORS: Amber Braker Caitlin Bush, Abbey Cadieux, Alex Harring, Erin Kaled, Allison Lackner, Katelynn Mulder, Sonny Mulpuri, Anna Post, Lindsey Ramsdell, Michal Ruprecht, Billy Steigelman, Katie Thomas PAGE EDITORS: Rory Angott, Nick Asimakis, Maggie Carron, Arzoo Chhaya, Michael Hartt, Mariah Loper, Abi Murray Adam Schwartz, Emily Widgren, Hannah Zalewski BUSINESS MANAGER: Jordan Craighead DISTRIBUTION MANAGER: Elizabeth Ballinger STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS: Marina Gabriel, Jillian LaPere, Rachel Malinowski, Alyssa McLarty, Ashley Sexton, Nya Tatum, Kennedy Williams STAFF REPORTERS: Sophie Kehrig, Taylor Mitchell, Sarah Shanley, Cairington Stahl, Benjamin Uram INTERNS: Amelia Abraham, JoAnna Alexander, Charlie Bernas, Aundrianna Boles, Savannah Burguron, Nadia Fama, Colin Haroutunian,

Donald Hightower, Raven Jason, Cheryl Knorp, Emily McCloskey, Preston Rossignol, Katlyn Rood-Ballard, Amelia Schock, Sydney Semack, Jonathan Smith, Cordy Wettstein The North Pointe is edited and produced by 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. Readers are encouraged to write letters to the editor. Letters are edited only for length and are screened for libel and obscenity. 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. The North Pointe is printed on 100 percent recycled paper.

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EDITOR'S DESK KATIE THOMAS

Trenches of Trump's America When I see a video of an unarmed Black man being verbally and physically abused or killed by a police officer who won’t be indicted, my eyes glaze over with a familiarity to the shameful injustice.

When I hear that places like Puerto Rico and Flint are still suffering from atrocious hardships that America could effortlessly assist them in, I’m no longer appalled.

When a scandal involving the President of the United States and an adult film star was revealed to the public, I didn’t blink. And neither did the rest of the country, because we are simply numb to Trump’s America — an America that is anything but “great.”

However, deep in the trenches of this America there is hope for what this country could be when we look past color, gender, class or political affiliation and work together for the benefit of all. Deep in Trump’s America, underneath the seemingly abundant ignorance and disconnection, there is a yearning for unity and love among all.

Back in 2016, when our society was divided by Donald Trump’s Presidential victory, I encouraged angered citizens to give him and the rest of our government chance to potentially fix our broken, detached nation. I hoped that for the sake of our country, he would shock Americans and help to mend a society that had been deeply wounded — a wound that came from the foundations of America, problems that originated at its core. More than a year later, the state of our country shows me that there are still issues rooted deep in its origins, but also numerous new obstacles that have arisen from the current political climate As American citizens, we have become numb to these actions that separate us even further.

We’ve become numb to racism.

Numb to scandal. Numb to hatred.

From the invasive construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline on sacred Native land, to the Travel Ban and the process of “building the wall” and countless other political actions, the actions of our government have been divisive more than anything else, giving citizens every reason to separate and spread negativity because the President encourages that same behavior.

But that is not what we’re going to do.

Healing the wounds of the United States is no longer a matter of Democrat vs. Republican. It’s now an issue of Right vs. Wrong.

This fight to really “Make America Great Again” is one that requires understanding that this country was never sincerely great to begin with because it was a nation built on the premises of racism, sexism and greed, disguised as life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

To truly make America great requires waking up and shaking off the numbness and remembering to be outraged at the injustices occurring in our country every day.

Truth be told, everything cannot be blamed on Donald Trump, even though many of us wish to.

Racism, sexism and disconnection existed long before he held the title of President. His influence has just strengthened these toxic mindsets, and his flamboyant presence in the government has served as a pawn for lawmakers and their own agendas. The current administration has allowed the discrimination and prejudices that had been hiding in the shadows for generations to come to the light, and it is our job to completely demolish actions rooted in hatred.

A year ago, I had hopes that our new government would improve our country for everyone in it. Now I understand that these improvements might not come from our President or lawmakers but instead they’ll have to come from within, from the people who truly care about making America great.

ON CAMPUS

4 – Wednesday, May 23, 2018 - North Pointe

Art comes from the heart

By Mariah Loper PAGE EDITOR

FACES IN THE CROWD I-Allah Shabazz

Buck Buck Chicken is freshmen I-Allah Shabazz’ dream. Shabazz is an aspiring chef who hopes to one day open his own chicken restaurant.

Shabazz was inspired to start cooking after seeing his mother work in the kitchen.

“My mother would make a hot plate for us when she’s tired, and seeing her do that made me want to jump in and help her out,” Shabazz said.

“When I do that, I’m learning how to cook and I’m making sure all the work isn’t on her.”

Overall, Shabazz’s favorite meal to make is breakfast, specifically blueberry pancakes, eggs with cheese and hashbrowns. Despite his passion to cook all different meals, Shabazz feels his most famous dish is his chicken alfredo.

“Everyone in my family are cookers, (it’s) in our blood and it’s just coming and I guess it just got passed down to me,” Shabazz said. “I love to see peoples faces when they taste my food and find out how good it is.”

ALL PHOTOS BY MARIAH LOPER

HARD WORK PAYS OFF | Sophomore Nia Crutcher stands in front of her art pieces. The art show took place in the PAC from May 14-16.It is an annual event that allows the students to show their art to the public. Senior Raj Ali had art displayed in the show alongisde Crutcher. Ali likes the show because it allows him to reach a wider audience for his work. "It's fun because your art is like a part of you. So what you want to show the world is how the world would look at you," Ali said.

IT'S IN THE DETAILS | A woman looks down at the art. Art teacher Michael Lamb said that opening the show to the community makes it more successful. "It's nice because the public comes and sees the work as well," Lamb said. "They're always very impressed with how amazing the kids are here."

STUDENT EXPRESSION | One of the bulletin boards with art on display. The art show takes place to showcase the year-long work of the students. "(We put on the show) to celebrate the art program, to sort of a reward for the kids and their hard work," art teacher Michael Lamb said.

Jaicha Smith

Sophomore Jaicha Smith believes art shows feeling. Smith loves photography, and she feels every time she takes a photo it shows a unique feeling.

Smith took a photography class for the first time this year, and it has become something she that she is very interested in.

Smith is proudest of her artistic expression in two of her pieces. One, “The other America,” focused on her perception of America’s divisions.

The second, “Beauty in the Dark,” was her view of girls Smith sees feeling self conscious in their own skin.

One of Smith’s biggest inspirations in terms of photography is Gordon Park, who is known for his excellence in photography during the civil rights era.

“I feel like I could tell a story through my pictures as he did and I feel like it will touch people as he did and leave kind of an impact on certain peoples life.” Smith said.

Kemar Inkton

NEW EXPERIENCES | Two of the bulletin boards of art being showcased. Many different areas of art were shown, including paint, graphic design and photgraphy, among other things. Sophomore photographer Jachia Smith had photos displayed in the show. "I'm pretty excited about it because it's my first art show I'm doing here," Smith said. "It's kind of stressful getting all your work together and getting your pricing."

COMMUNITY ACKNOWLEDGEMENT | Sophomore Elizabeth Ballinger and her mom, Catherine Ballinger, look at the art. The art is sold by art students, so all of the money made goes back to them, "I was amzed at how talented the artists were," Catherine said. "As high school students, they're accomplished artists."

Junior Kemar Inkton is producing his way to the top of the music industry. Inkton hopes to be a music producer, and was inspired by Chicago producer Young Chop.

Inkton looks up to Chop because of his confidence and individuality.

Inkton has been making beats for the past four years, and he would like to pursue hip-hop and R&B. “My cousins like to rap and stuff but, I don’t like rapping or singing,” Inkton said. “I like songs, but at the end of the day you still have to make the beat, so that’s what I do.”

Inkton hopes to go to school for music production in the future to continue pursuing his career. “(I’m inspired to make music) because I see a lot of people with a lot of talent,” Inkton said. “I think I have talent too, so I make music and I sell music to a lot of kids out here.”

By Donald Hightower

FIVE MINUTES WITH

History teacher Brent Maynard

By Zoe Graves MANAGING EDITOR

BRENT MAYNARD

FAMILY FIRST | History teacher Brent Maynard with his mom and his cousin. Besides playing hockey and being with his family, Maynard loves to read and play with his dog. "Either hanging out with my dog, who lives with me on and off, depending on it," Maynard said. "(I like) Reading a lot I'm a history teacher and I'm also obsessed with reading actual history stuff," Maynard said.

Hockey has been a part of history teacher Brent Maynard’s life for as long as he can remember. According to his parents, he first got on the ice when he was introduced to the sport by his father when he was a toddler.

“There's a picture of me and my cousin being dragged across the ice at the old Civic Arena over (in St. Clair Shores) by my dad,” Maynard said.“I was in skates on the ice at a year and a half, and then started playing hockey at 3. So I've been playing pretty much my whole life until I broke my back in high school, so that finally pulled me out for a little while. But I’m finally back.”

Maynard said that despite being one of the smaller guys on the ice, he’s always preferred playing defense rather than forward.

He is currently a long-term substitute at North but coached hockey at the school he taught at in Ohio before coming to Grosse Pointe. Now settled in Michigan, Maynard has found an “old man league” in Troy that he substitutes for whenever they’re down a player.

“I've been playing with a couple of my friends and a cousin who live up here, so it's nice to get back on the ice,” Maynard said.

“Right now (the team) doesn't really have a name. I've just joined in.”

Now that the weather has started getting warmer, Maynard has also started playing golf and getting ready for fishing season.

“I'm trying to like ease into the old-manhood early so that I'm better once the rest of (my friends) catch up to me,” he said. “I've been golfing since I was a real little kid, same thing as hockey, and then just picked it back up again.”

Being a younger teacher, Maynard doesn’currently have any kids, but said that if he did ever have any that it would be fun to try and get them into hockey.

“I mean if they didn't want to, that'd be fine,” Maynard said. “But I would definitely encourage it from a young age, be probably like my dad, putting on skates in the crib, just to get them used to it.”

DREAM SUPERPOWER

It definitely would have to be to fly because I could just get from place to place faster and I'd be able to go see a lots of sweet old historical artifacts.

ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE SURVIVAL PLAN

I would definitely stay around the U.P. We've got all the freshwater here and I would just hide out in the woods and work on my accent.

BACK IN TIME OR INTO THE FUTURE Back in time 100 percent. I have no specific place. I’d probably want to go maybe to the 1920s in Detroit, just to like experience what the city was when it was actually like booming and you were kind of free range to do whatever you want.

IF YOU COULD BE AN ANIMAL FOR A DAY

(I would) probably a dog, excited about everything, not many responsibilities, get fed whenever you want.

LIFE Making music is more than a hobby for sophomore Razeen Hasan. It’s a passion. Hasan has been experimenting with music since he started playing guitar almost eight years ago.

For the past two years, he has been selling his electronic music to rappers around the world.

“I have a whole set-up at my house,” Hasan said. “I record from my piano onto my computer, and from there I just make my music.”

Hasan got the idea to start posting his beats to Soundcloud from encouragement from his brother. After seeing Hasan playing one day, his brother helped him contact 19- year-old German artist Glenn Smilianski. Hasan and Smilianski posted a song to Soundcloud titled “Beat 26” that garnered 90 thousand views after being reviewed by a YouTube channel.

When Smilianski was contacted by Hasan’s brother, he was immediately impressed that at only 14, Hasan already had clear talent and a unique sound.

Smiliansk i believes that the success their beats have received is so impor tant because it helps promote awareness for the capabilities of other young ar tists, and that the attention they received for it is only a testament to that.

“It proves to me that if you put in the determination and effort, almost anything can be achieved,” Slimanksi said “We can see that for Razeen and his music today.”

Hasan credits connecting with so many other artists, like Smilianski, to his brother who helps him come in contact with the musicians he makes deals with.

“All of this is basically my brother,” he said. “He goes around showing people my music. He’ll say ‘Yo, listen to this dope music.’”

After so much success with Smilianski, Hasan decided to continue making beats for himself.

Since then, he has made over $4,000 selling his beats to a total of four artists. Hasan’s most profitable deal with, Joey Trap from San Diego, earned Hasan $2,500.

Although he is over the moon from big deals like that, his best friend, sophomore Tyler Mulkey, is impressed by how humble Hasan has stayed.

“I think it’s pretty cool because I don’t even think he really cares about the money,” Mulkey said. “I just think he’s happy that it’s something that he can actually pursue.”

North Pointe – Wednesday, May 23, 2018 – 5

Hasan wants students to be aware of the hard work and resources required to be successful. Even without buying the proper equipment, the program needed to make music is costly.

Going forward, Hasan is interested in a career as a producer, even though he fears the risky business.

“It can go one of two ways. It’s either I go big or go home. There’s really not much to it,” Hasan said. “It’s either you get noticed now at a young age, or as you get older, it’s gonna be harder to get noticed. Basically, my time is coming up.”

Mulkey has been friends with Razeen since second grade and likes encouraging him. Mulkey will spend hours at a time listening to what Hasan is working on and give him stylistic suggestions.

Although Mulkey doesn’t think Hasan realizes his potential, M u l k e y recognizes his recent

Sophomore takes hobby to the next level

By Abi Murray PAGE EDITOR

growth as a musician.

“He used to make beats though that were like, all right, for a kid,” Mulkey said. “But now they’re like actual beats you would hear from a professional that would make them.”

For those interested in making beats,

“It costs money to start this off. If you’re going to go into the producing thing, you have to be prepared to spend money,” Hasan said. “But to start off, you don’t need all the big equipment.

To start off, all you need is a laptop, and then I learned through tutorials. I only learned through tutorials basically on YouTube, so it’s really easy.”

Popping the question for Prom Junior Erina Nazarko was ecstatic when her friend Brendan Hull announced he would be asking her to his prom. Having already purchased a dress, Nazarko was anxiously waiting the promposal.

Hull arrived at her house with a poster and a bouquet of bright pink roses. The poster incorporated a pun that played on Nazarko’s last name, which she found to be quite amusing.

“I knew he was going to ask me, but I was also really surprised because I didn’t know it was going to be that day,” Nazarko said. “I was pretty happy because I know it’s going to be a good time.”

Despite just being friends with Hull, Nazarko couldn’t be more excited to go to the dance as a junior. She said everyone should experience prom some time in their high school career and considers herself lucky to have more than one opportunity to do so.

Besides getting to wear her new burgundy dress, Nazarko is eager because many of her other friends will be attending the dance.

“I’m actually really excited to go as a junior because there are a lot of other junior friends of mine that are going,” she said. “It’s going to be fun to be with my junior and senior friends at the same time before I actually go for real next year.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF ERINA NAZARKO

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF & PAGE EDITOR

Junior Regan Sliwinski’s promposal included balloons, candles and chicken wings — and there is nothing she would do to change it. Sliwinski and her boyfriend, senior Henry Zalewski, have been dating for a little over a year. Sliwinski said she was expecting him to ask her to prom, she just didn’t know when it was going to happen.

It all began when Sliwinski’s friend took her to the Chocolate Bar Cafe, giving Zalewski and some of her basketball teammates time to set up the promposal.

When she returned, Sliwinski’s pathway to her house was illuminated by candles and lights. She said her friends did an amazing job hiding it from her.

“I was really excited,” she said. “I mean, obviously I knew he was going to ask me to prom, but it was the whole thing of being asked, and I think it’s a fun thing to do.”

Though she is excited, Sliwinski acknowledges the stresses of going to prom. She will be missing a volleyball tournament and is nervous about the process of getting her hair and makeup done.

Despite there being things to worry about, Sliwinski believes that everybody should have the adventure of prom night.

“I think that even if you dont have a date, it’s important that you go because it’s part of your high school experience,” she said. “At our school, we only have a senior prom. Once you get asked by senior, it’s important to have the high school experience.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF REGAN SLIWINSKI

Junior Karina Nahra was completely surprised when Jack Sterberger showed up to her house to ask her to his senior prom.

With help from one of Nahra’s friends, Stergberger arrived with a poster in hand that read “I can finally relax if you say yes to prom.” He also had a lacrosse stick filled with red roses.

Nahra, who’s on the varsity lacrosse team, found Stergberger’s gesture really thoughtful.

Despite being surprised by the crowd that unexpectedly gathered on her front porch, Nahra is quite glad that Stergberger asked her to go with him.

“It made me feel really happy because Jack is a really sweet kid,” Nahra said. “I am really excited for prom.”

Nahra is thrilled to be going to prom as a junior and cannot wait for the night to come.

Although she has never attended a prom before Nahra said she expects the dance will be a lot of fun and a great experience to have surrounded by friends.

PHOTO COURTESY OF KARINA NAHRA

By Syeda Rizvi & Hannah Zalewski

After purchasing her prom dress, Senior Josie Ciaravino returned home to a surprise waiting for her in front of her house.

Ciaravino’s boyfriend Nick Marchiori, whose family owns a catering business, had set up one of their catering vans filled with balloons in her driveway. Inside, he waited with a prom sign and a cake that read “It’s meant to be.”

When Ciaravino opened the door to the van, Marchiori emerged as her favorite song, “Meant to Be” by Florida Georgia Line and Bebe Rexha rang in the background. Ciaravino was left speechless.

“I was just in shock. I mean, I knew he was going to ask me, but I just didn’t know when,” Ciaravino said. “I was like, ‘This is so cool!’ It was just perfect.”

Having already bought her dress, Ciaravino is anticipating the big night and believes prom is the final hurrah she will have as a senior before graduation.

Although eager, Ciaravino is apprehensive as she does not see herself as much of a dancer.

She believes that being surrounded by her friends will help calm her nerves and make the night that more enjoyable.

“I’m excited for the pictures, to take them with all my friends from the past four years,” Ciaravino said.

“I don’t know how it’s all going to be, but it’ll be fun.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF JOSIE CIARAVINO

REVIEWS

6 – Wednesday, May 23, 2018 – North Pointe

Childish Gambino brings new meaning to social commentary with "This Is America" video

By Emily Widgren & Taylor Mitchell PAGE EDITOR & STAFF REPORTER Since its beginning, music has been used to represent the times of the generation from which it came. From Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On” to Michael Jackson’s “Man in the Mirror,” musicians have used their music to express their feelings about their current political or social climate. Rapper Childish Gambino, also known as Donald Glover, has done this in his new “This is America” music video.

The music video, which takes viewers on a journey of secret meanings and hidden messages, went viral and received media attention with both explicit and implicit visuals.

Within the first minute, the sinister sound of a gun being fired draws viewers into Gambino’s four-minute video. As some may see a man dancing with a group of kids with random shootings along the way, it’s what’s hidden in the shadows that makes this the best video of 2018 so far.

The symbolism within it has created many theories as to what Gambino was actually getting at. Most people have come to the shared conclusion that guns and our “thoughts and prayers” culture in the United States were the underlying themes. His creative ability to completely distract the audience from what's happening in the background compels everyone to watch the video many more times to truly pick up on everything.

Gambino uses hip moves and happy children as a distraction, just as pop

culture distracts us and takes our attention away from the chaos in front of us. Viewers may see a group of people dancing, but in the background, they see a man falling off of a balcony, or a white horse running across the screen. As seen in the media, mass shootings have almost become a part of everyday culture.

The public always just moves on to the next breaking news story or presidential scandal.

Gambino uses his song and platform to play on this societal downfall as he covers the hell behind him with his literal song and dance. At every hail of gunfire and round of bullets, silence and sadness follow, but not for long, as Gambino walks on to the next pop culture reference.

Within the video, Gambino also makes his view of America's gentle care for their guns above people’s lives abundantly clear. As Gambino shot and killed the citizens in his video, the gun was carefully placed on a red hand towel.

That signifies the intense fight of citizens trying to protect their Second Amendment rights at any cost. The seemingly extreme protection of gun rights has left a stagnant moment without change in the gun control battle, something Gambino is trying to end.

As society moves on from the disasters it faces, the main theme of this video is the thin facade pop culture places over the trauma caused by gun violence. This is what Gambino references through the entire video, including the multiple shootings and afterwards dancing it off as a way to cope with the trauma, but also showing that people are too quick to move on to different topic after any mass shooting.

CHILDISH GAMBINO VEVO

GAME

SONG

ALBUM

ALBUM

DOODLE GOD: MIGHTY TRIO

YOUTH

SPEAK YOUR MIND

VOICENOTES

Doodle God: Mighty Trio is the fifth game in the Doodle God series.

Available on both mobile and PC, the games were originally based on the trial and STEAM error of combining elements to create a world. Now the game has been reinvented into something of a puzzler with little reminiscent of its predecessors despite apparent efforts.

The object of the game is to connect groups of elements in the style of “Candy Crush,” in which the player needs to reach a specified numeric goal in order to win each round. Every few rounds or so, there is a mini-game where you have to create complex elements by dragging simpler elements on top of each other The mini-games contribute almost nothing to the game and seem as if they were put in as an afterthought, and are almost insulting to players intelligence because of how simple they are. At the beginning of each one, there are directions that state to “drag this element onto that element and you will create this new element” and then leave the player to follow those instructions as if it were some kind of challenge. The sole reason the mini-game was included was to cling to some vague resemblance of the older, more successful games, while at the same time attempting to dip its toes into the lucrative “match-3” genre.

The free-to-play Steam game has a more cartoonish, sophomoric design than the previous four Doodle God games, and compliments the more upbeat and mainstream aim of the game well. The visuals aren’t groundbreaking or original, but they do a good job of suiting the juvenile feel of the game. Despite the charming visuals, the soundtrack doesn’t exactly entrance the player, and there are approximately five minutes until the tiresome loops of pan flutes and angelic sing-song voices begins to drill a hole into the player’s skull.

Doing a sub-par job of doing something new without forgetting its roots, Doodle God: Mighty Trio’s gameplay starts to get repetitive after about 10 minutes. The game is still only in early access, so there is still time to fix the numerous problems before the full release in about a year. Let’s hope the developers realize the downfalls before then and get their act together.

Released six weeks after tracks “In My Blood” and “Lost in Japan,” Singer-songwriter Shawn Mendes has returned with his latest single “Youth.”

Featuring ITUNES.COM Grammy-nominated Khalid, the song begins slow with both him and Mendes singing the emotional first verse and playing acoustic guitar. As it goes on, the song speeds up and hits listeners with a catchy hook and upbeat tempo. Mendes upcoming album was written with Scott Harris, Geoff Warburton, and Teddy Geiger, with Mendes also producing alongside Joel Little.

Soon after the song was released, activist David Hogg took to twitter to show his support for the artists by tweeting their lyrics and adding how he believes that young, socially conscious people of his generation will “win” against outdated measures.

Taken off of Mendes’s new self titled album coming out May 25th, “Youth” was written about the hate and violence happening in the world today.

Currently in the top ten on iTunes, the song has mostly positive reviews. Rolling Stone described the song as a “pop gem,” and “fresh,” While The Musical Hype says the song “strikes gold.” The tune mixes Shawn Mendes’s perfect vocal range with Khalid's relaxing voice. Khalid is one of only two features on the album, the other being Julia Michaels.

Different from his other songs, usually about love, “Youth” has a much needed socially aware message. In today's times, it’s refreshing to hear an impactful meaning paired with catchy tune, especially from younger artists. With a singersongwriter like Mendes, fans are excited to see what he comes up with next.

Mendes’s other tracks on the album include “Because I had you,” “Queen,” and “Why.” Fans can pre-order the self-titled album “Shawn Mendes” on iTunes for $9.99 before its official release on May 29th.

Overall, “Youth” is a fresh, raw alternative from rappers like Cardi B or alternative artists like Post Malone. It’s nice to know that singers with a platform in a similar age range as you understand the issues that normal people face everyday. With police brutality, recent terrorism, and the current state of our politics, it’s important that the youth is demanding to be listened to.

“Doodle God; Mighty Trio; 2018 Free on Google Play

"Youth"; Single availiable for $1.29 on iTunes

An athlete turned musician, singersongwriter AnneMarie was a threetime world karate champion before entering the music industry, making her musical debut.

Featuring on tracks ITUNES.COM with Gorgon City and Rudimental, she had her breakthrough after collaborating with Clean Bandit and Sean Paul on the 2016 hit “Rockabye,” which spent nine weeks at number one.

It’s been two years, but the English singer finally released her debut album “Speak Your Mind” on April 27. The upbeat pop album features 12 songs, while the deluxe version has 17, and a few high-profile collaborations.

The lead single, “Alarm,” was released in 2016, and brings fans back to the early days of her career.

It gives off a sense of nostalgia, reminding listeners of the first time they heard the song two years ago.

The instrumentals in the background are interesting, reminiscent of a phone buzzing on a tabletop.

One of the catchiest songs on the album, “2002” is a tribute to a relationship with a childhood friend and an ode to the summer of 2002 when they first met. The song references multiple early 2000s hits in the chorus, such as Britney Spears’ “Oops...I Did It Again,” JayZ’s “99 Problems,” ‘N Sync’s “Bye Bye Bye” and Nelly’s “Ride Wit Me.” The song was the last single released before the album came out, and was co-written by Anne-Marie and fellow English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran, who she opened for on his “Divide” tour.

Anne-Marie also collaborated with Marshmallow on “FRIENDS,” which spent time on the charts in multiple different countries before “Speak Your Mind” was released.

The album is a fresh take on pop music, incorporating many unique sounds as it seamlessly weaves mainstream pop with more electronic elements, making it interesting to listen to. However, it gets annoying after a while.

Individually, each song is special and would be easy to listen to when on a playlist mixed in with different artists, but once combined, they all blend together and are just kind of “blah.” “Speak Your Mind” was a solid debut album, but nothing extraordinarily special.

With the release of his new album “Voicenotes,” pop singer Charlie Puth takes his pop aesthetic and mixes in better lyrics and a variety of featured artists.

ITUNES.COM The album includes Puth’s hit single, “Attention” and another previously released track, “If You Leave Me Now,” that features the R&B group Boyz II Men. Since its release, “Voicenotes” has become eligible for gold certification.

Puth has also said that in this album, he’s breaking down the barrier that divides his true self and what his music may portray. The meaningful lyrics of the song “Somebody Told Me” tell the story of an alleged cheater and, although she keeps lying, the knowingness of the listeners causes them to hold their breath until the last beat.

Although the album has similar sounds from song to song, the track that stuck out from the others was the final one, “Through It All.” With its mesmerising, heartfelt lyrics, it tells a story that can only be told by somebody who’s lived a full life, and Puth captures that perfectly. In this song, he creates an image of one who has been everywhere, who has lived their life and is left to wonder what else there is to do.

Unlike the other songs on the album, “Through It All” has a slow tempo to exemplify the true emotion that the song is portraying: a somber combination of contentedness and mourning of a life that was through before it even began.

However, this song is more of a diamond in the rough than another jewel in a treasure chest.

Individually, the songs are good, but even then they sound pretty much the same.

Lyrically, the songs are wonderfully constructed, but the beauty of the words is undermined by repetitive beats, drops and harmonies. After a while, it seems extremely redundant.

Overall, the album combined the beats we know with a new lyrical pattern, and that’s what really made this album new for the artist, but not for the Top 100.

"Speak Your Mind," 2018; Available to download for $9.99 on iTunes

“Voicenotes;" by Charlie Puth Availiable for $9.99 on iTunes

By Zoe Graves

By Amelia Nowicki

By Erin Kaled

By Brooklyn McWhorter

IN-DEPTH

North Pointe – Wednesday, May 23, 2018 – 7

Diving into the smog Environmental changes, how they may effect the world and what certain regions are doing to combat them

SOPHIE KEHRIG

PAGE EDITORS

With new reports emerging about the effects of climate change, science teacher Chris Skowronski said that he has noticed a change in the way the world gets its energy, with many countries moving toward more environmentally friendly systems.

“There (has) definitely has been a shift in how our world gets its energy, where many countries are embracing renewable energy,” Skowronski said via email. “Many cities are putting in safety measures to mitigate the worst effects of climate change.”

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, 10 Michigan counties have been classified as having non-attainable, or unhealthily high, levels of pollution.

However, according to the Detroit News, the state of Michigan will remain one of the least affected parts of the United States when it comes to climate change. Climate change, the News said, may benefit Michigan economically while hurting many poor, southern regions of the U.S. SAVE Club president, junior Monica Hill,-- said that while Michigan may benefit economically, this is not a situation in which money should hinder developments toward climate change solutions.

“We have a planet to protect before our economy,” Hill said. “I mean, our economy is important, but our planet will always be our home, so I think the logical conclusion is that we need to put planet over profit.”

To some, the idea of climate change seems unrealistic or just generally blown out of proportion.

Junior Brian Johnson said that while he does support regulations on air and water pollution, climate change doesn’t seem to be as much of an imminent issue as it is portrayed in some areas of politics or the press.

Many who are less inclined to believe in climate change follow the idea that the Earth’s climate runs on a cycle of rising and decreasing temperatures, which Johnson agrees with.

This take on the issue is backed by a study published in the Journal of Atmospheric and Solar-Terrestrial Physics. The study found that, since 1850, climatic fluctuations have happened with little to no influence from human activities, rather from natural events within the solar system. More specifically, the study found that at least 50-70 percent of 20th century warming may be linked to increased solar activity.

That said, Skowronski believes that while the Earth’s climate is running on a cycle, humans have — since the Industrial Revolution — altered the atmospheric composition so much that cycle has been thrown off balance.

“Climate is cyclical, but humans have altered the atmosphere so much in the past 200 years that the nature rhythm of climate change has been sped up,” Skowronski said.

According to the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, as of 2013, it is extremely likely that human-linked greenhouse gas emissions are responsible for more than half of the Earth’s warming since 1951.

In order to combat these findings, which are backed by numerous organizations such as NASA, the European Environmental

Association and the EPA, many national governments are taking direct action.

The Norwegian government incentivises the purchase of electric vehicles, leading to the Tesla Model X becoming the most sold car in the country in 2017. These incentives include free parking in many cities, free charging access points as well as tax deductions. Norway also heavily subsidizes the use and production of clean energy such as hydroelectric

“

I think that the logical conclusion is that we need to put planet over profit.

Monica Hill JUNIOR

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By Rory Angott & Emily Widgren

power, wind power and solar power.

These initiatives lend to a significant decreases in carbon emissions and have made Norway a global leader in fighting climate change, according to the EEA. Some states, like California, Utah and New York are taking similar actions to those being taken in Norway.

In California, recent legislation mandates the install of solar power on every newly built home

in the state.

Utah has recently taken a note from Norwegian policies by offering incentives for the purchase of electric vehicles.

Governors Andrew Cuomo of New York, Jerry Brown of California and Jay Inslee of Washington have committed to upholding the Paris Climate Change Agreement while President Trump has withdrawn the U.S. from the deal.

The President stated The Paris Agreement is “unfair to the United States to the exclusive benefit of other countries.” Johnson agrees.

“We should have left it a while ago because I believe in the ideology of America First, and I believe our economy comes first,” Johnson said.

“I care for other countries, don’t get me wrong. I just want to minimize the effects on our economy that the Paris Agreement could bring.”

If the agreement were to remain in effect, it would have bound the U.S. to an annual recommendation for greenhouse gas emissions.

However, Hill believes that this was the wrong course of action.

“I think that we need to do everything we can to protect our planet, even if Michigan might be less affected than other places,” Hill said. “Really, we’re in this fight as a whole planet, not a bunch of separate countries.”

In the past, history teacher Terri Steimer said that climate change was much less of a partisan issue.

Republican President Richard Nixon commissioned the EPA and oversaw the passing of the Clean Air Act, legislation that regulated carbon emissions in an effort to protect the environment.

According to a Gallup poll

conducted in March of this year, 66 percent of Democrats worry about climate change a great deal, while only 18 percent of Republicans do the same. Among independents, that figure sits at 45 percent.

“That’s been a standard pattern between liberals and conservatives.

Liberals tend to want more government action, interaction and regulation, especially in business, and that spills over into the social and scientific worlds,” Steimer said.

“Where conservatives tend to want to shrink government and shrink government control, taking more self-responsibility.”

Politics aside, Hill said it’s important to note that climate change does not only encompass the warming of the planet’s temperature, but also increases risk for droughts, severe storms, rising sea levels, wildfires and severe cold and heat.

According to NASA, storms like the severe hurricanes of 2017 may become more commonplace as climate change takes its toll.

Tornadoes tearing through Tornado Alley may become more severe, and typhoons hitting Asian countries may lead to even more damage than they already inflict.

Skowronski said he’s hopeful for the future of the world’s climate and encourages an increase in education on the subject.

“We should encourage more carpooling and other mass transit options,” Skowronski said. “Also, we should work on making our buildings more eco-friendly with better insulation, planting more Michigan native plants and encourage water conservation.”

RORY ANGOTT

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SPORTS

8 – Wednesday, May 23, 2018 – North Pointe

JENNA BUCKMAN

Discrepancies in college graduation rates between black and white male student-athletes found in University of Southern California study MANAGING EDITOR & PAGE EDITOR

“They put a lot of hard work and time into it, and they’re kind of putting their future on the line,” Pinckney said. “They might not

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I think that it’s a product of society more than anything else.

Kareem Hakim

BASKETBALL COACH

just be crunched with their studies, they could get hurt too.”

Hakim said that socioeconomic status may be a factor of the lower graduation rates of black male

students. He said some form of a stipend could be helpful to studentathletes enabling them to better budget their time without having to worry about working on the side.

Some of these athletes may, according to Hakim, leave their studies early in order to pursue a career in a professional league like the NBA or the NFL, again affecting the graduation rate.

On top of that, other factors such as the lack of access to tutors during high school may lead to students who are financially disadvantaged, particularly those who are students of color, being less prepared for their studies. Hakim said, in general, he thinks white students may have more access to things like tutors, and because of that can be more prepared.

“Students who maybe are trying to pursue a degree might not have the skills to reach that point. They can’t sustain those four years because in high school I guess they don’t have those steps to help support them,” Hakim said. “I think that it’s a product of society

more than anything else.”

Sophomore Rhea Janka agreed that this issue is partially a product of society, and thinks it to be a matter of systematic racism.

She said that although she’ll never know how this would feel to a person of color, seeing these statistics could potentially damage their confidence when heading into collegiate athletics, especially football or basketball.

“I suppose it’s because a lot of people are racist, and they might not expect as much academically of a person of color as a nonperson of color (or) as a white person. Because the stigma around people of color and their work ethic and how smart they are, just in general, was especially linked to their socioeconomic status because of the discrimination they face,” Janka said. “(It’s) really just an endless cycle of not being able to leave the situation where you’re not able to further yourself.”

Contribuing: Sofia Ketels

RORY ANGOTT

When freshman boys basketball coach Kareem Hakim was a student at the University of Michigan in 2014, he noticed a large difference in the number of black males who were studentathletes and those pursuing bachelor degrees. Now, four years later, those discrepancies persist at National Collegiate Athletic Association schools, according to a study done by the Race and Equity Center at the University of Southern California.

“I was a (residence assistant) in the dorm (at Michigan), and many of my students who were white who lived in the dorm just went to school and did their thing, many of whom were very grateful.

They just didn’t have to think about that,” Hakim said. “Many of my black students, also who were (not) living in the dorms (as much) because they couldn’t afford it, had to work jobs. When I would go to my class, I wouldn’t see as

many black students.”

According to the USC study, 69.2 percent of students graduated within six years, while only 55.2 percent of black male studentathletes accomplished the same.

Black males represented 2.5 percent of undergraduates at the 65 examined universities, while they accounted for 55 percent of football teams and 56 percent of basketball teams at those same college campuses.

The University of Michigan, Hakim’s alma mater, saw the seventh highest graduation rates for black male athletes among the studied schools at 67 percent, tied with Wake Forest University.

The highest rate in the country was at Northwestern University in Chicago at 88 percent. They were followed by Vanderbilt University at 86 percent.

Sophomore Ethan Pinckney, who is on the junior varsity football team, said that he has noticed these discrepancies, and feels that a great deal could be done about them.

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By Zoe Graves & Rory Angott

UPCOMING EVENTS

JV Track

Varsity Baseball

Girls Varsity Soccer

Boys Varsity Golf

T h e 9 t h a n d 10 t h G r a d e

Home game on

H o m e g a m e o n Tu e s d a y,

State Finals at The

Invitational will be hosted

S a t u r d a y, M a y 2 6 a t

M a y 2 9 a g a i n s t We s t e r n

Meadows Golf Course on

a t N o r t h o n We d n e s d a y,

10 : 0 0 a . m . a g a i n s t

High School at 6:00 p.m.

F r i d a y, J u n e 8 a g a i n s t

May 23 at 3:30 p.m.

Northville High School

multiple opponents