North Pointe - March 7, 2014

NORTH GROSSE POINTE NORTH HIGH SCHOOL

POINTE FRIDAY, MARCH 7, 2014

SINCE 1968

U.S. District Court reviews ban on gay marriage

By Anu Subramanium, Erica Lizza, Katelyn Carney & Mora Downs

WEB EDITOR, ASSISTANT EDITORS & STAFF REPORTER

ON CAMPUS Student Association hosts a bucket drive for leadership conference fundraiser page 6

WINTER SPORTS AWARDS

Wednesday, March 12 at 7 p.m. in the PAC

MEET THE SPRING COACHES

Monday, March 17 at 6:30 p.m. in the cafeteria

COLLEGE NIGHT

Tuesday, March 18 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the gym

Junior Sheldon Chavis is openly gay.

However, his future, along with the futures of many like him, rests in the hands of indecisive state governments.

“I want to be able to get married to the one that I love when I grow older,” Chavis said.

After a Michigan same-sex couple sued the state for shared parental rights of their adopted children, their suit expanded, causing courts to reconsider the state’s constitutional ban on gay marriage.

In June 2013, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that lawfully married same-sex couples should receive the same treatment under federal law.

They repealed the Defense of Marriage Act, which defined marriage as between a man and a woman.

Following the decision, nine states ruled their bans on gay marriage unconstitutional. The suit in Michigan was filed by April DeBoer and Jayne Rowse for shared parental rights of their three adopted children.

“They were initially suing under to get the ability to adopt each other’s children,” Gay-Straight Alliance adviser Daniel Gilleran said.

“It morphed into this whole idea of gay marriage in Michigan because

if they were legally married, they wouldn’t have to jump through these extra legal hoops in order to get that done.”

In the past two months, four states have legalized gay marriage.

Seventeen states and the District of Columbia recognize same-sex marriage, while 33 states still have the ban.

“You look in the last 12 months, and seven states have said that the gay marriage ban is unconstitutional. They just did it yesterday (Feb. 26) in Texas, and the judge said that it was unconstitutional.

Arizona, the governor just vetoed last night (Feb. 26) the measure that would have allowed religious freedom for private companies to discriminate against anybody who was gay,” Gilleran said. “I mean, clearly, there is a huge generational difference between the people that think gay marriage is okay and ones that don’t. Sixty-five and older: mostly against it. Twenty-five and younger: people who are for it. It’s just a matter of time before it gets overturned.”

A growing number of Americans favor legalizing same-sex marriage.

A recent poll conducted by the Washington Post/ABC News shows that 58% of Americans feel that gay marriage should be legalized. This result shows a 14-point increase from 2004.

“I think that the world is evolving, and we’re becoming more accepting and just realizing that because someone loves someone of the same gender doesn’t mean they are bad or an unhealthy person. It just means that they’re different,” Chavis said.

Thirty-eight percent of those surveyed in the poll thought gay marriage should be banned. Senior Jack Marone and other opponents of legalization agree. He sees it as a religious issue.

“There’s this thing, it’s like 2,000 years old. It’s called the Bible. If you want to be gay, that’s cool, but I don’t think it’s right to be married in church,” Marone said.

A part of the spectrum also includes those who are indifferent towards the legalization of gay marriage. Six percent of respondents did not choose a side in the survey.

“It wouldn’t make a difference to me because I’m not (gay). If people are happy that way, then I think that it should be legalized, but it wouldn’t make that much of a difference in my life,” junior Zach Backer said.

The original focus of this trial was same-sex couples’ adoption rights. The suit was filed for couples to gain joint custody. Currently, same-sex couples must adopt their children separately, meaning that if one parent dies, the other one could

lose custody of the children.

“I feel it could help gay adoption a lot because there are problems.

You can’t have a same-sex couple adopting one child. You have to have one parent adopt; I feel if you would let a same-sex couple adopt a child, it would make the parents’ and the child’s lives a lot easier,” Chavis said.

Marone disagrees. He thinks having gay parents could have a negative psychological effect on kids.

“It’s just a breeding ground for making their kid homosexual. It confuses them. You can’t have a kid growing up with two dads or two moms. I just do not agree with gay marriage,” Marone said.

The plaintiffs have called Nancy Cott, a Harvard professor specializing in gender and sexuality, to the stand, along with a sociologist, psychologist and law professor to testify about the psychological effects that having same-sex parents can cause.

Cott and the other witnesses called by the plaintiffs feel the children are raised to be more accepting members of society, while the state will call their first witness this week to testify, supporting their position that having both a father and a mother is optimal for a child’s well-being. It will be up to presiding judge Bernard Friedman to rule on the constitutionality of Michigan’s ban on gay marriage.

GREAT WORKS CONCERT

Wednesday, March 19 at 7 p.m. at Assumption Greek Orthodox Church

PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES

Wednesday, March 19 and Thursday, March 20 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

“I

IDEAS

Graphics by haley reid & luke sturgill

Riots in Ukraine hit close to home dancing for junior was not

learned the hard way that

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highly.

In fact, for male

athletes, it’s at

rock bottom.

“

page 3

By Izzy Ellery & Ritika Sannikomnu EDITOR & STAFF REPORTER

For junior Victoria Potapenko, the recent Ukrainian protests hit close to home. Potapenko, who is of Ukrainian descent and has one uncle who resides in Kiev (the site of the protests) and another who is politically involved in the country, the revolts are a cause of fear for her family.

“It’s definitely scary knowing that I have family there when there’s so much bloodshed from the whole country. And my uncle and my dad are really big Ukrainian political activists, so it really impacts them,” Potapenko said. “And it’s kind of just like the work that my family has done to help Ukraine become independent kind of goes down the drain.”

Though they’re a world away from their family in Ukraine, the Potapenkos and their Ukrainian community in Southeast Michigan support each other through church services, as well as honor those who have died in the rebellion.

“We go to the Ukrainian churches. There’s one

@myGPN

in Hamtramck and one in Warren. They have mass services for people who died in the protest, and it’s kind of like the whole community helps each other,” Potapenko said.

The rebellion began after Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych refused to accept the invitation to the European Union in November 2013, an invitation that protesters wanted him to accept. Instead, Yanukovych has been strengthening ties with Russia, the country that was the administering state of Ukraine until the Soviet Union was dissolved in 1991. Yanukovych and Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to a $15 billion aid package from Russia. This action, which goes directly against what the protesters are seeking, spurred violent protests.

“From what I know, from my understanding, is that just last week the president, the elected leader of Ukraine, was ousted in a coup by rebels, and he’s currently being sheltered or protected by Moscow,

by Vladimir Putin who sees him as an ally and had definitely taken the country to more of an alliance with Russia,” social studies teacher Bridget Cooley said. “The rebels that overthrew him see themselves as wanting to ally more toward the European Union and definitely exposed corruption and misuse of government and taxpayer money.”

This isn’t the beginning of things going on

www.myGPN.org

continued on PAGE 2

Link Crew further promotes school unity

By Brittney Hernandez & Dora Juhasz STAFF REPORTERS

The Link Crew will hold Friday game days open for all grades during early and late lunch starting today. Every other Friday, students are invited to come play a variety of games with Link Crew members, and small prizes will be awarded to winners.

“What we are trying to do is gain exposure for Link Crew,” adviser Joe Drouin said.

“The idea is to gather more relations and make lunch time a little more fun.”

Inspired by other high school Link Crews, North’s Link Crew advisers wanted to incorporate the idea in their regular agenda.

“They do this at North Farmington; they just have fun. One day they’re giving out candy, one day they have a raffle and you don’t have to pay for it. Maybe raffle off some Union cookies. Just little things to get the Link Crew name out there,” Drouin said.

Although Drouin does not think the games will match the hype of No Shave continued on PAGE 2

VOLUME 46, ISSUE 10

© 2014 North Pointe

news

2 – Friday, March 7, 2014 – North Pointe

Ukraine

there are concerns for the Ukrainian people’s safety.

“It’s definitely affected their safety there because things are dangerous, and there are these protests, and the government was using force against its own people to try and keep things under control,” Victoria’s mother Lisa Potapenko said.

The Potapenko family sees the recent unrest a first step in a changed Europe that will eventually affect the United States.

“If Putin tries to put together the Soviet Union again, that’s really gonna affect your generation because if it becomes a communist country, you guys will be the leaders of the future, and you’ll need to deal with the political and humanitarian problems that come with having to deal with a large block of Soviet countries again,” Lisa said.

Putin the go-ahead on March 1 to use military force to protect Russia against the Ukrainian rebellions.

Most recently, Russian troops occupied the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea. This caused stocks to fall in Asia, Europe and the U.S. On March 2, Ukraine prepared for war after Putin declared his right to invade to protect Russian citizens.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was partially motivated by a desire to maintain control of Sevastopol, a Crimean port on the Black Sea that Russia has leased from Ukraine since the Soviet Union collapsed.

Sevastopol, the site of a Russian naval base, gives Russia trade and naval access to the Mediterranean Sea and the Middle East. Russia is also concerned about ethnic Russians, many of whom live in Crimea.

In all of the upheaval going on,

Continued from page 1

between Russia and the Ukraine.

“Russia has strong economic ties with Europe and will consider other alternatives rather than direct military intervention,” history teacher Frank Tymrak said. “The biggest concern that the Ukraine has had since the breakup of the Soviet Union is the rampant corruption on a regional and national level.”

Despite the protests, change is yet to be seen within the government.

“Many people have protested against (the corruption), and even though the president has fled to Russia, they are noticing some of the same people in charge. That is going to be problem,” Tymrak said.

This corruption isn’t www.reuters.com easing the problems. According to Bloomberg News, Ukrainians replaced their National Bank governor after they discovered the misuse of money in their country.

The new governor, Stepan Kubiv, is the ex-chairman of Lviv-based VAT Kredo00 bank. To avoid a complete 650,0 orting p economic downfall, the n-sup s fled to a i s s country needs financial Ru nian aid. However, Ukraine ukrai still needs a new govern$16 billion is due before ment before it can receive the end of 2015 any.

Despite warnings from President Barack Obama against any interference from Russia, the Russian government gave

economic turmoil and civil differences increase ukrainian chaos

www.money.cnn.com www.cnn.com www.reuters.com www.rt.com

Link Crew Continued from page 1

November, he believes they will attract attention to the program and allow Link Crew to further branch out.

“I think it’s going to put the Link Crew name out a little more. That’s what we are hoping for, that the student body sees that we are not just ‘the guys who did the November thing,’” Drouin said. “We want us to be a group who is visible in the North community.”

Andrew Pola, another Link Crew adviser, emphasized the relationships that will continue building between the freshmen and the upperclassmen mentors.

“The games are related to starting conversations between the mentors

Scholarships earned from high PSAT scores

By Dajai Chatman staff reporter

Along with all the worries about college, there are also worries about earning scholarships to help lessen the costs. The National Merit Scholarship is one of the biggest ones given out. They have almost 1.5 million students enter the competition each year; last year the National Merit Scholarship Corporation awarded various scholarships totaling around $49 million to over 9,800 students.

“It’s a scholarship competition, and it’s throughout the whole country, and basically you qualify for it by

a Russi

testor 100 pro Kiev in deaths

946 ies due casualt sts to prote

ukraine owes $13 billion National bank spent $12 billion in attempt to in debt this year stabilize economy

Wendy Ishmaku, LUke Sturgill & BRittney Hernandez

and the freshmen in a fun way dur- Drouin said.

Many of the games will include caning lunch that’s non-threatening,” Pola said. “And hopefully that’ll make dy, raffles and outdoor activities once the weather gets them feel more warmer. welcome and at “I’m very excited. It the same time, sounds like so much build relationfun,” freshman Lauships so they can ren Miller said. “I’m come to leaders excited for all of the with problems or activities and getting issues that they involved with other may have.” people at North.”

The participaAccording to tion in the games Andrew Pola Pola, it’s not so much also serve to gain link crew adviser about the games as applicants for fuit is participation ture Link Crew members. and communication between “It might get us more applicants for the students.

“The type of game isn’t supposed to following year. It might re-establish what we’re trying to do with some of be the primary focus. It’s more about the juniors on Link Crew, so next year building relationships,” Pola said. we will have a stronger senior class,”

“

The type of game isn’t supposed to be the primary focus. It’s more about building relationships.

”

taking the PSAT. If you get to semifinalist status, then you have to submit an application and see if you are a finalist, but it’s basically a scholarship competition,” senior and finalist Carrie Rakowicz said.

Senior Emily Alway was also recognized through the competition.

“I was a commended student. Half of the 50,000 students that take the PSAT get commended or semi-finalist,” Alway said.

Alway plans to use money she may be awarded for college, mostly for tuition.

Out of all the juniors that were there, about less than half of them got scholarships, Rakowicz being one of them.

“I made it to the finalist status, so I got to the highest stage ... Because of it, I have a full ride to the University of Alabama, so if I go there, which I probably will, then it will be pretty nice,” Rakowicz said.

“I already knew about it because

my dad mentioned it to me sophomore year, but sophomores can’t get in the competition. It’s only for juniors. I didn’t try to study for the PSAT,” Alway said.

The competition is a good opportunity for students, but those who win must choose their college carefully to ensure that they reap the most benefits.

“Some colleges say they help the National Merit Scholars, but sometimes it can only be a $200 scholarship, where other colleges might give more or less a full tuition scholarship for their university,” counselor Millisa Pierce said. “So once a student qualifies for a National Merit finalist they have to do good research to find which college is the best fit for them, most importantly — secondly the college that supports them the most financially.”

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Quiz Bowl makes nationals After their regular season, the Quiz Bowl team will be heading to the National High School Championship in Chicago this May. “Only a certain number of teams make it to the national tournament. There will be about 250 teams there that qualified,” team adviser Jonathan Byrne said.

Making it to nationals was no surprise for the team.

“Our team is just so much better than last year, so I knew that we definitely were going to get there,” team captain Harrison Campion said.

However, this result was not achieved without effort.

“We have upped practices and added structure to what we were doing so that we know which person on the team knows which subjects, and we just have worked better as a team,” Campion said.

Both Byrne and Campion have high hopes for future teams and plan to use this year’s success as a model to build on.

“We hope we will be able to recruit more members in the future and build on the great tradition that we have,” Byrne said.

Tech bond results announced The Grosse Pointe voting community struck down the $50.2 million technology bond on Feb. 25. The proposed bond would cause a 23% tax increase for technology and other resources used for educational purposes.

Of the 10,829 voters that came out on that Tuesday or sent in an absentee ballot, 78.3% voted opposed to the tech bond, while 2,343 voted in favor of the tech bond. The voting community consisted of all parts of Grosse Pointe and a portion of Harper Woods.

Superintendent Dr. Thomas Harwood was dissatisfied with the outcome of the voting, but is looking forward to the opportunity to incorporate the concerns the community posed and to find a bond that is right for the Grosse Pointe community.

“I am disappointed in the results, but we will work with members of our Board, our community and our administration to seek additional input and collaborate on addressing our school system’s technology needs,” Harwood said. “We are very fortunate that the families in our school community have always provided and continue to provide a great deal of support of our schools in many different ways.”

On the other hand, School Board member Cindy Pangborn, who was opposed to this tech bond, was pleased to see that the voting population educated themselves on the bond.

“My initial reaction was of gratitude to the community for educating themselves and realizing that the proposed bond was too much, too long, for too little,” Pangborn said.

“The margin of victory shows how detached the administration and the majority of the school board members has become from our community.”

On Feb. 26 Harwood sent out an email to the community regarding the outcome and the steps they plan to take.

In this email he said in order to create a tech bond that successfully does its job in the Grosse Pointe community, it is crucial that the voters give their feedback through a customer satisfaction survey that will be available online and in each school office.

Be the Change club established Challenge Day is no longer limited to two days a year, by virtue of the new Be the Change club directed by special resources teacher Lisa Steiner. The club will meet on Wednesdays at 3:15 p.m.

“After having Challenge Day here, we asked the students if they would like to continue the ‘Be the change.’ Almost everyone signed up,” Steiner said.

The club is an extension of Challenge Day, but it reaches out to more than just the struggles in student life. It focuses on both the individual and the school as a whole from a student point of view.

“We want the kids to come with things that they feel we need to change,” Steiner said. “Teachers look at it at a different perspective, and we want kids to tell us what they think needs to be changed, and then we want them to think of different things they can do to make the change.”

Be the Change club is still at a developing stage, and activities to get involved with the school are not verified at this point in time.

“We’re going to let the students decide the activities. I’m not sure, maybe some things during lunch,” Steiner said.

“They might do some activities to get the whole school involved in the lunch room during A and B lunch.”

By Audrey Kam & Lillian Rancourt, Colleen Reveley & Diajah Williams

Grosse Pointe Driving School WINTER/SPRING SCHEDULE 2013

SEGMENT 1: 6-8 p.m.

Jan. 6-Jan. 23 Jan. 27-Feb. 13 March 10-March 27 March 31-April 17

SEGMENT 2: 4-6 p.m.

Jan. 6-9 Jan. 20-23 Feb. 3-6 Feb. 17-20 March 3-6

Classes held at the Grosse Pointe War Memorial 32 Lake Shore Dr., Grosse Pointe Farms, 313-881-7511

22501 Harper Ave St. Clair Shores, MI Monday-Friday 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Saturday & Sunday 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

(586) 552-5038

IDEAS Dancing through life “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.

Members who have a conflict of interest with an editorial topic do not partake in that meeting or vote.

OUR EDITORIAl

University of Michigan Black Student Union demands changes – on-campus improvements vital Black students from the University of Michigan have been tweeting using #BBUM (Being Black at U of M) to share their experiences. The Black Student Union has held protests and sat in on meetings to voice their concerns. In a speech delivered at the steps of Hill Auditorium, they have given the university a list and threatened further action if their demands are not met.

The Black Student Union has demanded an increased budget, emergency scholarships solely for black students, renovation and relocation of the Trotter Multicultural Center and an increase in the number of black students enrolled from 5% to 10%. The Union also wants “increased disclosure of all documents within Bentley Library” explaining that “there should be transparency about the University and its past dealing with race relations.”

We worry that the University of Michigan’s response and attempt to increase diversity will lead simply to a return of affirmative action policies in college admissions. We side with Michigan’s voters who banned the affirmative action preferences in a 2006 ballot initiative.

The Supreme Court heard arguments last fall because some challenged this ban, claiming it was discriminatory. The Court will publish its ruling in June.

According to www.mlive.com, U of M President Mary Sue Coleman said, “I was chastened by the comments from the students. Our numbers are not where we’d like them to be.”

But looking to increase the quantity of students, and thus swaying the admission decision based on race, should not be the goal.

These black students have expressed feelings of being marginalized and dealing with daily hostile or ignorant comments. The Union’s efforts to address these issues head-on is commendable, and the university should do the same. Race-relations within a college campus can arouse sensitive topics to address, but these are vital to discuss and resolve in order to promote cultural unity and understanding. Their vocal efforts are the best and fastest way to encourage change, until U of M can start encouraging change, too.

“I assure you that any one person who feels frustrated or downtrodden because of unfulfilled promises or lack of oversight over policy geared towards social climate is only frustrated because they possess a desire for equality that is so strong, not even a blow of unaccountability can burn the fight for equality,” a Black Student Union student representative said.

Provost Martha Pollack acknowledged the need to reassess how U of M promotes diversity, according to www.mlive.com. She says they are doing what’s within the law to incentivize minorities to come to U of M, like utilizing outreach programs.

Correction In our Feb. 14 issue in “Parents seek solution to special education issues,” we wrote that parent advocate Joan Mason’s daughter graduated from North. Her daughter actually graduated from University Liggett after Mason took her daughter out of the school system.

Am I human? Or am I dancer?

A question asked by The Killers back in 2009, I know my side. My hands aren’t cold. I am a dancer and no one can convince me otherwise.

Now, this hasn’t been an easy path.

The amount of controversy I’ve gotten is more than any kid my My TURN age should have addison toutant received. I don’t really mind that much because I can think of a number of good reasons to be a dancer, whether it’s the workout I get, the people I meet or how it changed the way I am.

I get a good workout when dancing.

It’s cardio, but there’s always something I can be doing different, and there are several different styles to work with.

Tap dancing is probably my favorite, because it’s all about keeping your upper body stiff, and yet it’s also about being loose with your feet. You always have to stay on toes during tap, though some steps are an exception to this rule. It’s the sort of balance between tight and loose that keeps the style interesting to me. Lyrical dance is also interesting. It’s all about interpreting what the music is saying with its lyrics and instruments.

That’s part of the fun. Finding the beats and meaning behind the song is important, but oddly satisfying when you do. It’s really fun to incorporate your favorite trick into a strange rhythm.

I also meet a lot of people, some guys, some girls. I’ve known some of them almost all my life and I’ve made good friends with some of them. I’ve known

the studio owner for as long as I can remember.

Most of all, dance has really changed who I am as a person. It’s helped me cope with my ADHD and it’s given me a reason to look forward to getting out of school.

Dancing has been life-changer.

I wouldn’t be where I am today without dance. I used to be really headstrong and I refused to take any advice. Dance, with its focus on technique and precision, has made me more disciplined. It’s changed who I am, without me realizing it until now.

Not that I could live through that peacefully. I learned the hard way that dancing was not looked at very highly.

In fact, for male athletes, it’s at rock bottom. I was constantly taunted, teased, put down, etc. I learned to live with it.

I showed them in the end. I was able to showcase my mad skills at Brownell’s end of the year talent show in eighth grade. I amazed almost everyone there.

It’s probably one of the moments I’m most proud of.

That’s the same sort of sensation I get anytime I go on stage. This feeling of pure excitement, that I can show people what I’m made of. It’s the feeling that nothing can stop me, that I can impress the audience no matter what I do.

Not to mention that most famous dancers are male: tap dancer Savion Glover and Rob Schultz, who specializes in contemporary dance, to name a few.

I’ve met Schultz, and he is a very inspiring person. He told me I could go as far as I want to with dancing.

To be frank, I don’t care about the controversy I get. I’m just pursuing what I’m passionate about.

“Yes, I’m going to the musical, and I’m going to hear my brother play (in the pit orchestra) and see my friends dance and sing.”

“I’m in the musical, so yes.”

“I’m pretty sure I’m going.

I was in the pit orchestra last year. I want to go and support all of my friends who are in it this year.”

Camille Burke

Rebecca Flynn

Karyn Schwartz

freshman

sophomore

junior

YOUR TURN: Are you going to see Oliver! ?

By Yena Berhane and Dajai Chatman

“No. I already made plans.

But, I’m supporting my friend Marty Brown. I know he’s going to steal the show.”

“I was planning on taking my class to the matinee, but there wasn’t enough interest this year.”

“Yes, I plan to as long as there’s tickets available.”

Jamal Hawkins

Steven Kosmas

Lauren Nixon

senior

science teacher

North Pointe – Friday, March 7, 2014 – 3

math teacher

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 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Maria Liddane public forum without prior review. ComMANAGING EDITORS: Gabby Burchett, Dayle Maas ments should be directed to the student SECTION EDITORS: Andrea Scapini, Melina editors, who make all final content decisions.

Glusac, Izzy Ellery, Colleen Reveley The views expressed are solely those of the WEB CONTENT EDITORS: Marie Bourke, Lauren authors or the student editorial board and do Semack not reflect the opinions of the Grosse Pointe WEB MANAGERS: Emma Puglia, Anu SubramaSchool System. niam BUSINESS MANAGER: Sydney Thompson We are a member of the Michigan Scholastic STAFF DEVELOPMENT EDITOR: Patricia Bajis Press Association, Columbia Scholastic Press DESIGN EDITOR: Kristen Kaled Association, National Scholastic Press AsPHOTO EDITOR: Brigitte Smith, Emily Huguenin sociation and Student Press Law Center. We ASSISTANT EDITORS: Haley Reid, Wendy subscribe to McClatchy-Tribune Information Ishmaku, Jennifer Kusch, Audrey Kam, Katelyn Services and iStockphoto.com.

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Emma Brock, Mora Downs, Kristina Kowalski, Kaley Makino, Isabella Meteer, Billy Moin, Ritika Sanikommu, Addison Toutant, Calix WalCONTACT US drop, Alex Batts, Josie Bennett, Yena Berhane, 707 Vernier Road Dajai Chatman, Claire Dalian, Lia DeCoste, Erin Grosse Pointe Woods MI, 48236 Haggerty, Lawrence Lezuch, Kayla Luteran, Phone: 313.432.3248 Lillian Rancourt, Josie Riley, Stephanie Roy, Email: northpointe@gpschools.org Maya Sewell Twitter: @myGPN FACULTY ADVISER: Shari Adwers, CJE

Editor’s desk Kristen kaled

Hanging up my noseplugs It was a long nine years.

A lot of laughs came with them, from myself and my teammates, from happiness and many out of ridicule.

I don’t care, though. I love synchronized swimming.

This sport became a part of my life just after fourth grade. I did a summer program at the Grosse Pointe Woods Lakefront Park with some of my friends; it was our moms’ idea.

I continued each summer. I grew closer with my friends, team and coaches.

Once I was a freshmen I even became one of the coaches of the team where I got started.

I was excited for synchro in high school, and only one of my friends from the summer program continued on with me. We sharpened our skills together. It was, and is (in both our opinions) the hardest sport out there (insert readers’ scoffing noise).

From conditioning our bodies to not require air as often by swimming underwater laps, to frustrating moves, painful cramps and underwater collisions, it wasn’t perfect by any means. But to me, the sport was perfection.

Routines with costumes were so much fun but took so much work. Giving it your all was never enough, until finally you would get the hang of it and then begin to master it. Let me also mention that for routines, we all have to wear knox gelatin in our hair. Its basically jelly/ glue that hardens and cements your bun and hair to your head. It’s evil, and yes I still have a chunk in my hair as I’m writing this, multiple showers after my last meet.

The last meet of the season is states. This is for medals and pride; it’s “go harder than you ever have in your life and hope you’re good enough, or go home ribbonless, medal-less, and a little crushed.” After four long years of working together, my friend, co-captain and partner and I were finally able to win a medal for our duet. Third place felt like the sweetest thing in the world as the only two seniors on the team. That third could not be any more deserved and appreciated.

All that was left was the show, put on for all the friends and family in the district. The one time everyone could see our hard work. I was excited to end my last season in front of my loved ones, with the most amazing girls I had both been on a team with, and even coached years prior. My partner and I could not be prouder captains. Needless to say, when I woke up that morning with the flu, I had never been more crushed.

I was devastated. Why today, the last day of my favorite thing in the world?

Throughout the weekend, though, I accepted it. I could at least be thankful the illness held off long enough to compete in my final meet.

No matter who saw, I knew how hard I worked and how great all our routines were.

There was nothing to be disappointed about. I know I’ll be leaving the team with a great group of talented girls, and I know I’ll be proud when I come back next year to see how much they’ve grown. I finished my career strongly, and I couldn’t be more thankful for all the joy synchronized swimming has given me.

REVIEWS

4 – Friday, March 7, 2014 – North Pointe

Flappy’s flock of friends elated, the columns are just as large and overly-sensitive and the overall point of the game is exactly the same.

Though it is faux-Flappy, the app offers some cool new features. There’s no “restart” button; all the user has to do is tap to play again, adding fuel to addictive behavior. Also, once the user passes 20, there are items that can be collected, like crowns. Splashy Fish dons the bling he receives in future rounds, adding some spice to the game.

For those that missed out on Flappy Bird, this alternative will suffice.

By Melina Glusac ideas Editor

Flappy Bird

Grade: B-

Tap Tap Duck Meet Flappy Bird’s angry uncle, Tap Tap Duck. Though the aim of this knockoff app is the same, Tap Tap Duck is bleaker.

With half-closed eyes, looking as though he would emit a deeply unimpressive quack, this duck is, surprisingly, a lot stronger and more upwardly mobile than Flappy Bird. For those used to the

more slovenly Flappy, it’ll take quite a few tries to get used to Tap Tap Duck’s smooth, zippy flight. Flappy’s sloweddown pace is almost preferable, as it is easier to control.

The designers of this app really didn’t do much to make it aesthetically appealing — that’s not what Tap Tap Duck would’ve wanted, anyway. The background is a solid sky of purest gray, with a few diminutive, dark trees in the distance.

This app will leave the user just about as excited as Tap Tap Duck.

Luke sturgill

This game.

This is not a game for the faint of heart.

It messes with the users’ minds, pesters and pokes at their patience until the point of no return.

And it just makes them so angry.

So what’s at the source of this impregnable wrath? Birds. Birds that like to flap. Are they products of nature, these iPhone birds? Graceful creatures who flaunt their fluffy wingspans for the world? Nope. It could be argued that they come from a much more hellish place, their orange, pixelated beaks haunting the tired eyes of app users everywhere.

There’s just something about them, though — something about this game that keeps users hooked.

A true testament to the tenacious spirit of humans and users alike, these birds inspire thumbs to keep trying. A high-score of seven, although commendable, is not good enough for them. So, the blurry bird ventures through those green pipes again and again. Loss of sensation in the thumb? Nevermind that. Be a warrior. Make it to 20 (a nearly impossible feat).

Flappy-overload was reached when the app’s creator Dong Nguyen decided (much to Harper Lee’s dismay) to kill the user-mocking bird almost two weeks ago. The app is no longer available on the App Store; its accidental addictiveness disturbed Nguyen, who had intended for it to be relaxing.

In the recent mourning period of Flappy Bird, a current 533 imitations have been conceived on iTunes, each with its own unique twist. Although some are satisfactory, none measure up to the old school vibes of the original Flappy.

It’s a game that tests the user, encourages him or her to keep at it and get better. The only clear drawback is the intoxicating nature of it.

Call it what you will, but Flappy Bird was a classic. A hair-pulling, teeth-grinding, super rewarding classic.

Grade: B+

Splashy Fish

Grade: D+

Flappy Bird’s distant cousin from under the sea goes for a swim in Splashy Fish, a semi-clever take on a notorious app.

In this popular knockoff, a little red fish swims through Atlantis-like columns underwater. That is, if you classify “underwater” as a blue background with a few dismal shadows of fish thrown in.

It’s almost the same as Flappy — it’s just as pix-

Flappy Doge Wow. Much likes. Such colors.

To those acquainted with the Doge meme, this app is great. It’s rife with

psychedelic marble columns, a hilariously cheap little flying Doge, and complete with a starry night sky with an giant Doge-faced moon.

For those that aren’t familiar, the app should still elicit a chuckle, though it may be a shallow one. Doge, a meme of a starstruck Shiba dog, can be found on nearly all facets of social media. This app does the famous meme justice, playing into its comical nature.

Doge flies at lightning speed, and it may be hard for Flappy traditionalists to adapt to that agility. And if anything, the game can get sore on the eyes, as Doge is constantly releasing rainbow excrements during his flight.

He’s easy to control, though, and once the user gets the hang of it, it almost measures up to Flappy.

Grade: C+

Grabby Bird A refreshing take on Flappy Bird, Grabby Bird adds the element of acquiring coins to the mix. It’s a fun addition to a game that can get trite.

The background in which Grabby Bird gets to fly is equally as inventive as the coin element, as it switches between air and water with Grabby hovering above a lake. It’s hard to decipher whether or not Grabby is a bird or a fish, though — the graphics are better, but not too good. But one thing is for sure: Grabby is obese. It’s hard for him to fit through the spaces of the columns, making it even harder on the users’ patience.

Grabby’s coins are never in his trajectory, either, so that requires more deviation from his already tight path.

It’s difficult for the user to make it back in time.

Regardless, Grabby Bird is a playfully fresh alternative to Flappy Bird.

Though, Flappy conservatives may find the additions unecessary.

Grade: B-

www.appannie.com www.apptweak.com www.dogetek.co www.iosnoops.com www.ibtimes.co.uk www.Wikipedia.com

Endless Love

Morning phase

Chromatik App

fooducate

David Elliott is a boy who works in his dad’s garage with no plans for college.

Jade Butterfield is a girl who has had her nose stuck in a book her whole aintitcool.com life and has her entire future mapped out.

After attending the same school for four years but not talking once, they are acquainted when Jade drops her yearbook while out to dinner with her family. David’s working at the restaurant as a valet, and their eyes met when they both reached for the dropped book.

Their relationship continues when David goes to Jade’s graduation party and he calls many of their classmates to come over, despite her dad’s wishes for her party to remain one for adults and their families.

Jade continues to drift further from her parents’ expectations as she becomes more involved with David. She breaks into a zoo while on drugs and even turns down her summer internship at Brown University to spend more time with him.

Finally, her father is forced to get a restraining order, and Jade is forbidden to see David.

What’s captured in this film is the true feeling of love: desperation, acceptance and second chances. The plot twists and turns, but the movie finishes with the fact that true love is endless.

After a fiveyear break, Beck is back.

Throughout his new album, Beck delves into a soft, refreshing sound, playing into the album starling.ie title, Morning Phase. The lush instrumentals and flowing verses enwrap the listener into the world of a dreary, dreamy morning and lull calm with soothing sounds in the atmosphere.

Beck, known for constantly recreating his sound, has yet again found a new and calmer style. With his enchantingly soft vocals still intact, he found a blissful tempo to match them.

With the album’s release, Beck is already proving to have unveiled plenty of hits. He exposes his raw sound in “Waking Light” and “Say Goodbye,” with touches of a country sound that echo through the album. Beck also merges into a psychedelic rhythm in “Blue Moon,” and floats back to his folk roots with the soft song “Morning.”

Although the sleepy tunes could have some listeners reaching for their pillows, it draws in anyone searching for a uniquely lush and atmospheric sound.

Song covers have become a popular way to document and showcase unique music ability and style, and Chromatik attempts crunchbase.com to perfect that.

Chromatik provides the user a handful of songs as well as the sheet music, audio and, of course, a recording option. Just select the instrument of choice (anything from oboe to voice) and Chromatik presents a list of “current tunes” (songs that have sheet music available for users).

Thankfully, the song selection has variety. Although it focuses on the pop genre, classical composers are well represented. Be sure to do favorites first because eventually the songs expire, replaced by new tunes to play.

If users have limited time, this feature may seem like a burden, however it can also be seen as a way to keep things fresh.

In all, the app is a straightforward way for music lovers to participate, even offering an in-app metronome that helps players keep the beat of the music. Also, a clean design keeps everything you need right at your fingertips.

The down side: this app could become easily forgotten by the user through some of it’s more tedious aspects, including a limit on how many songs that can be covered. Overall, it’s solid, but doesn’t prove itself to be anything more than average.

Fooducate allows users to scan the barcodes of food items through the phone camera, instantly retrieving nutrition information on the product, including itunes.apple.com calories per package, vitamin and sugar content and an overall letter grade evaluating nutritional criteria.

Free in the App Store and Google Play store, this app also offers alternatives to the food item scanned and user comments. Premium versions of this app that cost money can be purchased and are able to track carb and fat intake of foods. They also help with the selection of gluten free products and allow for daily goals to be kept track of.

When Fooducate is first opened, the user is presented with a home screen, presenting the options of scanning a new barcode, browsing foods in certain categories, tracking a meal or reading stories in their “daily tips” section.

Similar to a social network, users can connect in real time with others and see what is currently being scanned, rated, asked and recommended. Scanned foods can be added to a “likes” list which allows them to easily access their favorites when shopping and share their thoughts on certain products.

The detailed analysis of each product is extremely impressive. From explaining the chemical treatment of the food item to why certain ingredients were added, this service offers more than enough information on each product, especially considering it’s free.

By conveniently explaining almost every aspect of the food item, this app helps take the guesswork out of grocery shopping.

Endless Love, 2014, Directed by Shana Feste, PG-13

Beck; Morning Phase; 2014; $9.99

Chromatik ; Ch romat i k Inc. ; Feb 19 ; Apple dev ices ; Free

Fooducate; Fooducate LTD; Feb 13; Android and Apple devices; Free

By Emma Brock

By Emily Martinbianco

By Josie Riley

By Patricia Bajis

B+

A-

B-

A

winning

BIG

life

North Pointe – Friday, March 7, 2014 – 5

Italian teacher Albina Trumza won opportunity of a lifetime, impacting her future

By Izzy Ellery & Gabby Burchett editors

She won the lottery.

At age 37, Italian teacher Albina Trumza won a new life — a life in America.

Trying her hand at the Diversity Visa Lottery thanks to encouragement from a friend, Trumza did not expect to win. She lived in her home country of Albania for 32 years, which was communist at the time, and moved when she got the chance to live in Germany and Austria. Trumza was working to turn her life around, but she wasn’t expecting such a huge surprise.

“I had never been better than now. I had a job. I had money. I had more than one job.

I was working for the German Humanitarian Organization,” Trumza said. “I filled it out. I never thought of that. In August the answer came: ‘You won the lottery.’”

Fifty-five thousand people won the Diversity Visa Lottery that year, but only around 20,000 filled out the right papers, had the right documentation and were cleared to come to the U.S. Seeing the move as a rare and amazing opportunity, Trumza was encouraged by her colleagues and family to push past her hesitation and go.

“They said, ‘We know America, we know Albania, and we pretty much can picture your future. You have this door open in America — go to America. You are going 200 years ahead in time, and it will take your country a while to get up from where it is. We would use this opportunity,’” Trumza said.

Trumza wasn’t nervous about her new adventure, but she recognized that there would be differences between America and Albania.

“I wasn’t scared, but the environment ... I had never lived in suburbs, but big cities. And I felt lost here. Where am I? America is such a big space. I had never seen so much space in my entire life,” Trumza said.

“Those parking lots were huge. You see all this space and nobody. I was used to walking, people greeting each other on each side of the sidewalk. Here you don’t see anybody doing that.”

Despite the long flight and attempts to

adjust to the new culture, as soon as Trumza got to America, things began to fall into place. She had a full-time teaching job six months after her arrival. Several years later, her luck began to rub off on her family.

“I lived six years by myself. Nobody, nobody, nobody. After six years, five other people won the lottery in my family. My sister and her two daughters, my brother and my sister-in-law. They all came because of me,” Trumza said.

Trumza’s mother was not one of the winners and was content with staying in Europe until her health began to decline, and she was moved to America so Trumza could help take care of her.

“You can bring your parents, and her health has gotten 1,000% better because she has all her children around her, and that makes her feel happy,” Trumza said.

Having family close by helped Trumza feel more at home.

“Well, I have lived with them all my life, besides those six years. It makes me feel much more comfortable,” Trumza said.

“It’s not that I bother them all the time, but just knowing that they are there. And my brother lives a mile away from me. So it makes me feel comfortable and I travel less. I don’t go to my country because my mom is here.”

Now, Trumza only has a niece and a brother still living in Europe.

“It is hard to live far from my family members, especially in hard moments of life, but they all try to call and maintain contact almost every day,” Trumza’s niece Xhoana Hila said.

Despite living an ocean away from family members, Hila still is able to see them every year, and even when she doesn’t see them, she is aware of the impact they have had on her life. “(Trumza) is a role model for me. I remember that when I was a child I wanted to be like her, to study hard like her and to become a strong person like her. She gave me her typewriter when she was about to leave for Germany, and I was thrilled I could have it. She always pushed us toward studying, reading, etcetera,” Hila said.

“She was the first person from our fam-

erinne lubienski

ily who moved to the United States. Even though she was far away, she kept helping us and, especially, me. She kept an eye over me all the time.”

Trumza realizes the luck she has had in her life but still remembers how tough her life was in Albania growing up while the country was under a dictatorship.

“To say that poverty was a challenge, I wouldn’t say that ever. I would choose that as the lightest thing in your life,” Trumza said. “The biggest challenge was lack of freedom. We were not free, not only to speak and say what we wanted, but even thoughts were controlled.”

Growing up in this type of environment led her to believe that other places also dealt with this same lack of freedom and poverty.

“For me, the good thing of communism was (that) we were all poor. We didn’t feel below the others because we were all poor. You were all the same. I thought the whole world was like that,” Trumza said.

“But for people like my dad who used to have money, or seeing his kids living like that, I don’t remember his face cherishing anything. He was so depressed because he couldn’t offer us what he was able, or what he had planned.”

It wasn’t until she came to America that

her life finished turning around.

“When I came here, everything changed.

I had energy. I wanted to achieve something. So, I would say my life started here,” Trumza said. “America has open doors for everyone who wants to work and study. But you have to do the work.”

The memories of Trumza’s childhood still loom, but being a teacher and working with students has helped her repair some of the more painful ones.

“We were so much in control, and when I came here I was surrounded by people, thinking that all of them were spies, that if I make a mistake and say something wrong they will go to the police, and then I’ll be punished or go to prison or my family will suffer somehow. Now I lived 30 years like that,” Trumza said. “And as much time I spent here, that kind of fear that was in my mind, I started to lower the pressure and was much more relaxed because students were so nice and students were so patient with me, and I started understanding that I am in a different world. I did not consider anybody a friend, and my students accepted me because kids are just clean and no judgement. They just accepted me the way I was. My students have healed me day after day and they will never understand.”

Teen advisory council prepares somphomore for future career in medicine

By Wendy Ishmaku assistant editor

emily huguenin

To most people, the smell of hospitals carry a sense of uneasiness and disease. But for sophomore Francesca Giacona, it’s something she wants to be around — something that lures her in.

Giacona takes part in the Teen Advisory Council at Beaumont Hospital in Grosse Pointe.

The group is made up of five or six high school students looking to make a change within the medical world.

“I’m really interested in the medical field when I grow up, and I thought it would be a good way to get to know the hospital better,” Giacona said.

Though this council doesn’t cater to her specific medical interests, Giacona and the group’s members discuss how to make general improvements in the hospital.

They concentrate on learning how to raise awareness of issues they feel need to be addressed and recognized in society, particularly ones teens struggle with.

“We kinda discuss ways the council can learn about different things, the ways the hospital can improve things and raise awareness for more things and also just issues people have to deal with that we can make more clear to other people in our daily lives,” Giacona said.

“We just talk about current teen issues and

offer up solutions,” sophomore Grace Addy, another member, said.

The council created a particularly uplifting project where the members held signs with adjectives they felt best described themselves, took a picture of it all and made it into a collage to post in the hospital. “(We started the project) just to kind of foster that spirit of individualism and kind of brighten it up a little, I suppose,” Giacona said.

Organizer Vita Vendetti presents ideas to the group, and the members respond by setting up projects, which then get transferred to a higher level.

“She brings up what we say to another board of the hospital, the people she works for, and they take our ideas and our projects into consideration and are using that even more directly to affect the hospital,” Giacona said. “They kinda bring us in as a focus group to run ideas by us that they also run past the other board — the hospital board.”

In addition to healing society, this council also indirectly prepares Giacona for her medical career.

“This leads to several opportunities in the hospital, and it also is just making me a lot more comfortable going out in the hospital and really getting a different look at how everything works,” Giacona said. “I can establish a relationship with the people who work in the hospital and get a better idea of the working atmosphere.”

On Campus

6– North Pointe – Friday, March 7, 2014

Buckets full of relief

Third hour classes donate items, raise money to fill buckets for disaster relief group DRAW (Disaster Relief At Work, Inc.). Classes that filled at least three buckets won Union cookies, and the class with the most filled buckets won a pizza party.

By Allison Fly & Olivia Asimakis photo editor & Assistant Editor

Faces in the crowd LeSean Patton

A life filled with brownies, cookies and other baked delicacies is the ideal life of freshman LeSean Patton.

“My grandma inspired me to bake because she bakes cakes and stuff all the time when I go over to her house,” Patton said. “So I was like, ‘I want to do that too,’ and I like sweets.

Like who doesn’t like sweets? I started trying cookies first, and then I got into cupcakes.”

Although Patton does not wish to pursue a career in baking, she still could see herself eventually opening a bakery. Until then, Patton will keep trying to perfect her baking skills.

“I just like doing new things and trying new stuff,” Patton said. “I like seeing the finished product and eating it.”

Anna Simpson

ABOVE: There were three themes for the buckets that classes could choose: toiletries bucket, valuables bucket and patching bucket. Each type of bucket had a list of items catered to the theme.

BELOW: Juniors Quinn Gallant and Joe Ciaravino gather items to put into the buckets. “I think (the bucket drive) is a great idea because we can help out those in need, and I think it’s great that it’s competitive because it further encourages students to participate,” Ciaravino said. “It helped me realize how after a disaster, families have nothing, and what they need are the simple necessities we take advantage of having everyday.”

Practicing 15-20 hours total a week, freshman Anna Simpson is a devoted dancer at the Grosse Pointe Dance Center.

“I sometimes have a hard time catching up on homework, but since I’ve been dancing for a long time, I’ve learned how to manage my time, so it’s not as hard as it used to be,” Simpson said.

Over the summer, she went to New York with her dance team and took classes at Broadway Dance Center.

“It really strengthened me as a dancer, and it was a really good experience,” Simpson said.

Simpson has had the opportunity to meet many famous dancers and choreographers like Melanie Moore, winner of season eight of So You Think You Can Dance, Yakima from season 10 of So You Think You Can Dance and choreographers Travis Wall and Kenny Wormald from Footloose.

Simpson doesn’t let meeting famous people distract her from dancing.

“I like the way that I can just forget about everything else,” Simpson said. “Just go to dance, and let everything go.”

Camryn Champney

For freshman Camryn Champney, family time is what she’s most thankful for. She cherishes the bond she has with her cousins.

“Since they only live 20 minutes away, and I’ve always been close with them, it’s fun to hang out with them and see what their day has been like and see how it’s different from mine since they are all younger than me,” Champney said.

Champney is particularly close with her cousin, Hannah. She is a year younger than Champney, making it easy for them to relate to each other. Since Champney can’t talk with her younger cousins like she can with Hannah, their conversations are what she looks forward to.

“I like to go to her, and she likes to come to me. We talk about problems and issues, and I help her with the typical 14-year-old stuff,” Champney said.

TOP: Junior Chris Bahr loads buckets into the book store.

“North being involved in programs like this prompts the students to do something for others. Also, service opportunities like this get the message out that North cares,” Bahr said.

BELOW: Junior Michael Sacchetti arranges buckets in order to tally which class will win. “It was a brilliant idea to use the homerooms as the collection spots. From picking up the buckets for inventory, I can say that our goal was reached,” Sacchetti said.

By Gowri Yerramalli, Stephanie Roy & Josie Bennett

FIVE MINUTES WITH Math teacher Tracey D’Hondt

By Caelin Micks Staff Reporter

yena berhane

Sports have always been present in some part of math teacher Tracey D’Hondt’s life. “I have played sports since I was six, so it has always been a part of my life,” D’Hondt said.

Having a passion for exercise her whole life, math teacher Tracey D’Hondt knew she had to find something affiliated with exercise that would fulfill her life as an adult.

“I played coed softball, and then I got into tennis. I have always been in sports, and one summer I decided to get my fitness instructor certification,” D’Hondt said.

D’Hondt had her time full as a teenager participating in volleyball, basketball and soccer throughout high school and taking her softball game to college.

“In college, I played one year of softball at Wayne State. I got a scholarship, but then I quit because my grades were dropping,” D’Hondt said.

Once D’Hondt began teaching at North, counselor Milissa Pierce invited her to the YMCA to begin putting use to D’Hondt’s fitness instructor certification.

“I teach two to three spinning classes a week, then I teach a step

aerobics class, which is kind of like a boot camp class, so I do that twice a week,” D’Hondt said.

D’Hondt’s passion is still growing in the exercise world, and she still wants to learn new fitness routines.

“One thing I always want to learn how to do is tap dance. I wanna take some lessons, and then I want to get into yoga a little bit,” D’Hondt said.

Math and exercise classes are valuable to D’Hondt, and tools from both areas are found in all activities of life. Finding a common ground helps D’Hondt’s activities overlap smoothly.

“Repetition, repetition, repetition. Also, encouragement helps people to learn,” D’Hondt said.

Teaching math, spinning and aerobics classes is plenty for D’Hondt at this time, as her classes, academic and athletic, take up most of the hours in her day.

“This is about all I can handle with teaching, and I tutor also.

I tutor kids in math on the side, so my day is pretty much full,” D’Hondt said.

What do you do in your step aerobics class?

We do push-ups, squats, jump squats, different kinds of aerobic exercises, stuff like that.

If you could teach any other workout class what would it be?

Just an aerobics class, like a boot camp class.

What is your best softball memory?

My best memory was I hit a home run, and it was a district game against our rival, and I hit a home run, and I was on the news that night.

Why is working out so important to you?

It makes me feel good, and I like staying fit.

If you could work out with anyone in the world who would would it be?

I would like to a do a workout routine with Olympic athletes for a week.

What is you’re favorite math subject?

Probably geometry. It is fun.

Why do you enjoy teaching high school math over other math?

I like the higher level math better than middle school. I did teach at Parcells (Middle School) for 12 years before coming here.

Why do you enjoy teaching math?

Because math always came easy to me, and it’s kind of fun to teach something that came easy to you, and students struggle with math, so it is kind of satisfying to help kids with math because some kids are not good at it.

Sports

North Pointe – Friday, March 7, 2014 – 7

SYNCH

& swim

Blue Dolphins perform last show of season during South’s annual synchronized swimming exhibition

By Allison Fly Photo editor

TOP: The technical team consisting of underclassmen Sarah Corbet, Mora Downs, Claire Drew, Olivia Francis, Stephanie Godoshian, Brooke Martin, Anu Subramaniam and Lindsay Rabaut pose mid-performance. Freshman Sarah Corbet enjoys her technical routine, but she struggles with the difficulty of the routine. ”Anyone can sit on the bottom of the pool for 30 seconds, but to do 30 seconds then eggbeater for 15 then 30 seconds, it’s mostly the lack of breath,”Corbet said.

ABOVE: The team floats on their backs above the water in preparation for the next set of moves.

MIDDLE: The united Grosse Pointe technical team stands ready as they wait for the music to cue them into the pool. Junior Karyn Schwartz loves participating in synchro, but dreads performances and competitions because of the massive amounts of the hair product, Knox. “It takes a while to get on, and plus when we get off, it takes a while to get off too, we have to take, like, ten showers,” Schwartz said.

ABOVE: South swimmers freshman Brooke Martin and sophomore Claire Drew perform their technical duet to the musical styling of Stevie Wonder’s “Sir Duke.”

FAR LEFT: The technical team performs to the songs “Countdown” by Beyonce and “ Dance Apocalyptic” by Janelle Monae.

LEFT: North junior Emily Martinbianco and freshman Hannah Engles prepare to perform their duet to the Motown Remix of Miley Cyrus’s “Wrecking Ball.”

Engles notices a diffence in emotion between her show and competition. ”I feel more nervous for the show at the end of the year because you actually know the people in the audience,” Engles said.

Junior Zach Werenski pursues dream on U.S. National Team

By Jennifer Kusch Assistant editor

With the national anthem playing overhead and ‘USA’ emblazoned across his chest, former North student Zach Werenski stands with his teammates, ready to represent his country on the ice. Few players have ever had the honor of representing the United States on the world’s stage. Zach Werenski is one of the lucky few.

“When I was around four I really looked up to my cousin, and I wanted to follow in his footsteps, so my parents put me in hockey, and I stuck with it ever since,” Werenski said.

What started as a little kid just trying to be like his cousin soon grew into a passion that has taken Werenski around the world, with more adventures to come.

“After the national team, I’m not really sure what I’m going to do yet. Between college or major junior, I’m still trying to figure out that path. I want to keep all my doors open and not jump into anything too soon,” Werenski said.

Werenski is a defenseman for the U17 (under 17) National Team. Being a member of the USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program has marked him as one of the best hockey players in the nation, which may lead to a career of college hockey, the NHL or even Olympic level play in the future.

He did not get this opportunity by chance.

Rather, it was culmination of years of work that earned him a spot on the team.

“I never had to ask him to work harder. He was just a young man that spent a lot of time in the gym, always came to hockey with a great work ethic and led by example,” Joe Smaza said, who was Werenski’s coach for five years.

Werenski always went the extra mile to make himself better, challenging himself to play with kids who were much older than him.

This effort earned him the respect of all those around him.

“He was one of our captains even though he was a year younger than all the kids that he played with. The guys really looked up to him and respected him for his hard work,” Smaza said.

This effort and determination never went

unnoticed by the adults in his life. Instead, he left a mark on many coaches and adults, and was able to serve as a role model to many of the skaters he played with, acting as captain or assistant captain on many occasions.

“He leads by example and just works hard and is so positive,” Werenski’s mom Kristen Werenski said. “He knows that if you work hard out there and encourage your teammates, something successful is going to happen.”

Although Werenski possesses an abundance of skill and ability, he credits his family’s constant support for molding him into the player he is today.

“They would support me whether I had a good game or a bad game,” Werenski said.

“They told me not to let it get to my head and to just play how I knew I could … they’ve definitely had an influence on my life and my career, and I’m thankful for that every day.”

The national team trains out of Ann Arbor, which led Werenski to move from Grosse Pointe to stay with a host family in Saline, where he attends Ann Arbor Pioneer. Although this change has allowed him to pursue his goals on the ice, it has been an adjustment.

“It’s not that far, so that made it easier for us,” Werenski said. “It’s just that not … going to school with your best friends every day and going home to your parents at night is definitely something that’s different.”

Werenski has embraced his new family in Saline, bonding with their kids and spending time with their whole family.

“My family’s awesome out here, and they own a bakery, so the food’s definitely never bad. They’re so nice and welcoming … I can’t thank them enough for everything they’ve done,” Werenski said. “They have two kids, and one’s a boy, a freshman, so I get to bond with him a lot and we’ve become pretty close friends this year.”

Although he has become very close to his host family, he often misses Grosse Pointe. But unlike many of his teammates, Werenski can

easily come home to visit.

“He’s been able to come home a few times so far, which has been really nice because a lot of kids live across the country and they aren’t able to do that,” Kristen Werenski said. “It’s great, but we still miss him a lot. But, he’s has this chance to follow his dreams and we’re gonna support that no matter what.”

No matter where his hockey career takes him, Werenski is a shining example to any athlete willing to do whatever it takes to be their best.

“It just shows that young athletes, if they have a goal and are willing to work to that goal and stay dedicated ... they can do it, and they see him having that success because that’s what he did,” said Smaza. “Some kids see him have success like that, and it’s a dream. What kid out there wouldn’t want to play for their country and wear a USA jersey?”

COURTESY OF USANTDP.com

in-depth

8 - North Pointe – Friday, March 7, 2014

This year’s musical will be performed tonight, Friday, March 7 and Saturday, March 8 at 7:30 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for students and senior citizens. Tickets can be purchased at Wild Birds Unlimited or at the door.

By Sydney Thompson & Andrea Scapini

N

Business manager & News editor

ormally tucked in at 9 p.m. with a full stomach, washed hair and homework complete, fifth-grader Sarah Shanley’s routine has been altered since participating in Oliver!

“The hardest thing about being in a musical to me is that you have to be there everyday after school at four o’clock, and then this week sometimes we get home at eight, om t.c and then we have a bunch of homework to do,” Shanley said. “I norpi c l ta to mally am up really late sometimes.”

Oliver! is a tale which follows Oliver Twist through his adolescent adventure of escaping his harsh and lonesome life at an orphanage. Twist falls harmoniously into a band of pick-pocketing young boys, who are played by 15 elementary and middle schoolers.

“It makes it a whole lot better for the show because Oliver! is so kid-based. We need kids in so many areas of this show that it just wouldn’t really be the same without them,” junior cast member Peter Gritsas said. “It wouldn’t be as authentic without them because we have little workhouse children, we have little pickpockets. I think it looks better with kids.”

High school cast members were asked to recruit younger siblings or friends who would be interested. However, some of the children took it upon themselves to join the musical.

“I really wanted to be in something that has acting, and I really got jealous of the other kids that got to do it, and this was like my first big chance to do a big production. I know people in this, in the children’s chorus. I love it,” fourth-grader Sarah Lawlis said.

Upon learning that lower-school kids would be involved in the show, the auditioners felt their potential roles were threatened. Initial apprehension was replaced with relief when the kids were cast as extras. Director Sean Kifer said the cast was hesitant at first but have warmed up to the kids.

“A lot of them have started to like having them around,” Kifer said. “And they are kept kind of separate, you know what I mean? Like they’re in a separate dressing room, they’re in a separate, kind of an almost hallway-building.”

When off stage, the younger children play games to stay busy and to learn vital lessons that help them when performing.

“We have to devise a lot

more games to help them realize exactly what they have to do on stage. It helps them resonate that what we do here has to happen on stage, and then they get on stage and get more direction from the director so it makes more sense,” parent costume designer Sheri Kam said. “Their retention is no different than the high schoolers, they just learn in a different way.”

Stage parents keep in mind that the purpose of rehearsal is for the kids to learn their roles, but they also acknowledge that in order to learn, they must be entertained and involved.

“The thing that I like that we try to do is we try to run through their dance numbers back here and keep it kind of fun back here as well,” stage mom Deborah Hoshaw said. “We try to let them engage with the other kids as well as we can so they can learn and they can see that the older kids can be mentors to the younger kids as well. I think watching them in awe of everything that goes on and seeing the total hyperness of it all is kind of fun.”

The interaction between the kids and high school cast has molded an off-stage environment that’s unique to this year’s musical.

“The high school kids have had to watch their language and stuff like that because there’s little kids around,” Kifer said. “But you know, other than that, I don’t know that the process has really changed.”

Several high school performers have siblings on set, which will curve their behavior behind curtains.

“It’s funny because we’ve never done a show together. This is our first show together. We have a little interaction in the show; he’s one of the pickpockets. At first I was a little apprehensive, I was like, ‘Oh boy,’ because we’re brothers, we fight,” Gritsas said.

“But he’s fine, he takes it very seriously and he does a good job.”

Unlike the Gritsas brothers, performing together isn’t new to junior Shannon McEnroe and fifth-grader Liam McEnroe.

“I really love being in musicals with my brother. This is my second musical with him, and it’s really brought us closer together,” Shannon said.

As sibling bonds grew stronger through Oliver!, it introduced fourth grader Cate Ramsey to her newfound knack for theatre.

“I’m really excited to get to high school, mainly because of the drama club because after being in Oliver! I want to maybe get a lead role,” Ramsey said. “I find it fun because it’s a good experience and I’m sure that I will join the drama club, no doubt.”

Right: Fifth grader Ashley Sexton brings her fellow orphans food in the opening number “Food Glorious Food.”

Left: Freshman Clarissa Kam, fourth grader Aaron Daudert and fourth grader Sarah Shanley act as orphans in the opening scene.

allison fly

Splitting the spotlight Seniors Christina Amato and Analisa Guido share the role of Nancy in the musical while senior Leslie Jacobs and freshman Lolly Duus share the role of Widow Corney.

By Marie Bourke & Kaley Makino Web content editor & Staff Reporter

Being double-cast in the musical has been a bit of a challenge for seniors Christina Amato (left) and Analisa Guido (right).

They both have been involved in the musical since freshman year and were cast as a dual role for lack of girl roles in the school musical, Oliver!

“I’m pretty sure it was indecisiveness or lack of female parts in the show,” Amato said. “There’s really only like three girl singing parts, so that’s why they had to double cast two of them because we have five songs.”

The difficulty of sharing the role is that they don’t get the same amount of practice time as everyone else. When one of the girls is playing their character, Nancy, the other is in chorus which means they have to keep the two separate.

“We’ll be doing the dance, and she’ll be setting spots for everybody, and we’ll be like, ‘Remember we’re one person,’” Guido said.

Remembering the different songs between the chorus and character has been one of the hardest parts for the girls, especially a scene in a bar filled with chorus members.

“That was particularly hard because that’s the part where Nancy sings that song, but when we’re in chorus we have to be in that song,” Guido said.

This is the first time North has double cast in a musical, but this is not new to the district, as South High School often double casts because of an overflow of talent.

“We had so many talented girls audition this year, that we decided to doublecast two of the main female roles,” director Sean Kifer said. “We wanted to use their talent to the fullest extent.”

Through the challenges Amato and Guido are both excited for the upcoming performances, as this will be their last large production at North.

“I am very excited to perform. I’m thrilled that for my last performance at North I get to play such a dynamic character and really get into it, and to perform with some of my friends for the last time,” Amato said.

Splitting roles has been a learning opportunity for freshman Lolly Duus (left) and senior Leslie Jacobs (right). The pair have acted together in several shows and feel comfortable sharing the stage for the production of Oliver!.

“Mr. Kiefer, our director, really likes splitting roles I think. Like he split the roles at Parcells this year and here at North,” Duus said. “A lot of people who are chorus year after year really deserve to get a lead because they work so hard, and a lot of times they need a chance to be a lead. Splitting leads gives them more of a chance.”

Duus and Jacobs find splitting the role of Widow Corney a positive experience.

They look to each other for character development, and with Duus being a freshman, she sees her senior partner as inspiration.

“The support system is nice because obviously with anything a job is done better with two people,” Jacobs said.

“Frankly, I’m happy it’s her because I’ve acted with her for a very long time and I’ve known her for a very long time so I’m really comfortable with her.”

Duus agrees with Jacobs’ positive outlook.

“Leslie’s been so nice to me,” Duus said. “We can look at each other and find out how to play the role better.”

Duus and Jacobs agree that this show is different than the ones they’ve been in before. Not because of the splitting of the roles, but more the musical itself.

“It’s not really that different in terms of the children because there’s usually a lot of children in Grosse Pointe Theatre.

It’s different in terms of I’ve never done a show on a work that’s as well-known as Oliver!,” Jacobs said. “Mostly it’s just ‘Oh, we’re doing this musical that’s known because it’s a musical!’ This is known as a novel. So, I think there will be people in the audience who are familiar with the novel and they’ll be looking for aspects from that as opposed to just it being a musical.”

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