LIFE ALASKAN ADVENTURE page 5
“Stepping out of my comfort zone was the biggest thing. I just feel so proud of myself for stepping out of it and doing something that was kinda out there.” Jenna Mazzola SENIOR
PHOTO COURTESY OF JENNA MAZZOLA
NORTH GROSSE POINTE NORTH HIGH SCHOOL
FALL PLAY
Tonight and tomorrow, Sept. 20 at 7:30 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center and Sunday Sept. 21 at 3 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center
NORTH-SOUTH FOOTBALL GAME
Friday, Sept. 26 at 7 p.m. at South High School
STUDENT COUNT DAY
Wednesday, Oct. 1 beginning at 8 a.m.
HOMECOMING PARADE
Friday, Oct. 3 at 5:30 p.m. at Monteith Elementary School
HOMECOMING GAME
Friday, Oct. 3 at 7 p.m. at North
HOMECOMING DANCE
Saturday, Oct. 4 at 7 p.m. at North
IDEAS
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TO
WALK
DOWN.
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FRIDAY, SEPT 19, 2014
SINCE 1968
Digital footprints shape students’ academic and professional futures By Andrea Scapini, Haley Reid & Dora Juhasz
Home
MANAGING EDITORS & WEB EDITOR
It only takes 30 seconds to type out 140 characters and just milliseconds to broadcast that thought to the universe. One tweet is enough to change an entire future. “Your digital footprint is a ref lection of who you are and both the individuals around you and the organizations around you, whether we agree with it or not, judge you based on that digital footprint,” Principal Kate Murray said. Staff and administration are emphasizing the importance of teaching students how to correctly use social media. As new online tools are being released each year and interaction over the Internet expands, Murray says it is critical to educate students about the massive virtual world. “As these new tools develop, we see an increase in problems because it wasn’t even possible for the problem to exist before,” Murray said. “But I think then it becomes our responsibility, as educators, to keep talking with students and educate them on how to use these tools so that they don’t end up in a crisis.” The speed of social media makes careless posting more common. Murray refers to this impulsive posting as “Internet courage.” “That’s a main driver, that sometimes students are willing to do and say things on the Internet that they wouldn’t do in person because it’s not face-to-face, and you don’t immediately see the consequences,” she said. After experiencing cyberbullying, senior Molly Marcin found it easier to give up her social me-
USDA’s ROAD Smart Snacks Schools JUST in standards KEEPS forces cookie GETTING replacement
HARDER
POINTE
By Anu Subramaniam CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
According to the W hite House homepage, there are currently 9,313 citizens on the waiting list to share a meal w ith President Obama, a meal that would include a commemorative photo, a souvenir and a menu that offers T-Bone steak, garlic mashed potatoes, coffee, grilled shrimp and other high-end items. W hile these citizens enjoy a special meal and all the frills it entails, their children attending public schools w ill find their lunchroom options less appealing.
@myGPN
Tweets Facebook
Tweets sent... Per Minute
350k
94% of teens have a Facebook account.
Per Day
Per Year
500 million
200 billion
26% of teens have a Twitter account.
Social media trends among teachers
% of teachers who believe social media can enhance students’ learning.
% of teachers that have encouraged students to connect with them via social media. % of teachers that have received interactive training for social media
Teachers
11% of teens have an Instagram account. @teachers
80% of teachers use a social media website.
sources: facebook.com, twitter.com, Instagram, dailytech.com, thejournal.com = 10% INFOGRAPHIC BY LUKE STURGILL
dia accounts such as Twitter and Facebook. “You feel the need to check it all the time, and when you do, you’re kind of like knowing what everyone does 24/7. People, they only post the really good parts or the really bad parts of their lives on social media, so it’s almost like you’re seeing the extremes of people,” Marcin said. “Either you get really jealous because you think they’re having so much fun, or you feel really bad for them because you’re like, ‘Wow, this person’s life sounds horrible,’ and that’s just not realistically how they are, and so you get the wrong impression of people through social media.” Marcin believes her lack of constant interaction over social
media helps her meet people more naturally. “I think that it actually helps me to not judge people because if I first meet them and say, ‘Oh, I remember this person from a tweet,’ I’m already going to have a stereotype or an impression from them, so meeting them in person for the first time is way better than following them on a Twitter account.” The new technology also brings new responsibility for teachers. A staff member is legally obligated to immediately report any dangerous or illegal posts from students after viewing. Math teacher Lauren Nixon advises her students to post ap-
As part of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, the USDA’s Smart Snacks in School nutrition standards were initiated on July 1, 2014. Any school that receives federal funding for a free and reduced cost lunch program must adhere to the nutrition standards. Because of the new law, a 20-year-old North tradition was broken. Union cookies were replaced w ith a compliant cookie that is whole-wheat and under 200 calories. “It’s disappointing because ever y year during lunch, you would just look for ward to those Union cookies after your lunch, and this year you can’t even smell the cookies baking in the hallways,” Student Association president Lex i Ciaramitaro said. “That was just something you always had to look for ward to. I mean, I don’t know, Union cookies are legendar y. Ever ybody heard of them. Ever ybody loved them.” The district currently accepts $1.2 million a year to pay for the free and reduced cost lunch program, meaning it must com-
ply to the guidelines. If found non-compliant, any school could face a hefty fine. To continue being in accordance w ith the new guidelines and still raise money for the school, student activities
www.myGPN.org
CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
VOLUME 47, ISSUE 1
propriately in order to receive her follow-back. “If I were to follow them on social media, and they were to tweet anything inappropriate, illegal, anything essentially that will violate the school handbook or just the laws in general, I am bounded by law to report that to my administration and the police department if needed, and then they would have to take further action,” Nixon said. “So if I don’t report it, then I would be in trouble, and I would have to face those consequences, so I make sure to report them.” Nixon notices the harm students cause themselves CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
PHOTO BY ANU SUBRAMANIAM
THE NEW COOKIE
VS. THE OLD ONES
PHOTO BY KRISTEN KALED
© 2014 North Pointe
NEWS
2 – Friday, Sept. 19, 2014 – North Pointe
Social media scares CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
and their peers when misusing social media. “I don’t think people realize they’re doing it when they send out a tweet like, ‘Oh hey that was so dumb,’ but they really are hurting people,” Nixon said. “Maybe they don’t know it, but it does happen, and they cause more emotional damage.” Despite the potential negativity that social media can bring. Marcin, Murray and Nixon recognize the
New cookies CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
d i rector Pat Gast is t r y i ng to f i nd a lter nat ive products to sel l i n t he Un ion. “I ca n sel l Fr u it Rol l-Ups a nd t he Fr u it ies, a nd I ca n get what t he Cave has. I have added Sk i nny Pop a nd g u m—I’ve never sold g u m before,” Gast sa id. “It was sor t of aga i nst my pr i nciples because k ids don’t get r id of it t he way t he shou ld.” Gast sa id. Gast has a lso kept t he vendi ng mach i ne a nd is f i l l i ng it w it h suga r-f ree products a nd t hose t hat conta i n fewer t ha n f ive ca lor ies for ever y eig ht ou nces. “I’ve t r ied a couple of new t h i ngs. T here is a Dasa n i ( beverage) t hat is f lavored spa rk l i ng water. I’ve got t hat. T here is a not her new f r u it ju ice t hat k ids seem to t h i n k is pret t y good. I’ve got some of t hose,” she sa id. “I’m
academic benefits it can have. When the positive aspects of social media are harnessed correctly, Marcin views it as a useful social tool. “If it’s intended for the right purpose, then it can be used wisely, but I think that even if you have the right intent, you can still get caught in the drama, and it will suck you in, so I think staying clear of it is just the best scenario,” Marcin said. To avoid impulsive posts, Murray suggests a simple mantra. “Think before you type. I like the other rule too,” Murray said. “‘If your grandma saw this post, what might she say?’”
just goi ng to sta r t sma l l a nd see what we have a nd see how we ca n bu i ld. We a re a l l t r y i ng to f ig u re out what’s goi ng on.” A s one of t he teachers who helps r u n t he school store, business teacher Br ia n Lev i nson is a lso test i ng new products. “We have had to completely replace a l l of t he food a nd beverages we ca r r ied t he past t wo yea rs,” Lev i nson sa id. “St udents i n t he Ma rket i ng II & III class have had to resea rch a nd t hen sa mple ma ny d i f ferent items to see wh ich t hey t houg ht cou ld be successf u l.” Sout h’s success i n sel l i ng out t hei r f i rst order of cook ies du ri ng t he f i rst few week s of school has lef t a more opt i m ist ic outlook for Nor t h’s school store a nd t he Un ion sa les. “T he Un ion was a big cont r ibut ion to ou r f u nds, to even t he class f u nds too, t he i nd iv idua l classes,” Cia ra m ita ro sa id. “I mea n, ever ybody loved t he
Un ion, t he ca ndy, ba ke sa les, t he cook ies. It’s just a big cha nge, a nd we a l l have to get used to it, but it w i l l def i n itely ta ke some t i me to get used to, a nd it w i l l def i n itely hu r t us for a couple mont hs u nt i l we act ua l ly get adjusted to t h is new system.” A long w it h t he Un ion’s adjust ment to t he new system a nd products, t he at mosphere has a lso cha nged. T here is no longer a sig n adver t isi ng how much a Un ion cook ie costs, nor a re shelves stocked f u l l of color f u l ca ndy boxes. “I don’t rea l ly t h i n k I wa nt to buy a lot of st u f f, so t he d isplays a re not as I qu ite l i ke t hem. You cou ld t h row a box of ca ndy i n t here, a nd ever y t h i ng wou ld look good because it was packaged to ma rket i n t he box,” Gast sa id. “T h is is not rea l ly packaged to ma rket. T h is is packaged to vend, a nd it’s not a ma rket. So it is what it is.”
Temporary counselor fills vacancy Former Blue Devil Nicholas Bernbeck has crossed town to work at North as a temporary part-time counselor while Joyce Lyjak is on leave. The new counselor attended Michigan State University for his undergraduate degree and Wayne State University for graduate school. Aside from working at North and having had a previous internship at South, he has also worked for the New Oakland Child-Adolescent Center, a mental health agency, and was a substitute teacher in Grosse Pointe following that job. Bernbeck spent a year working in Nepal as a school counselor. Bernbeck has faced challenges while transitioning into Lyjak’s position. “The biggest difficulty is finding time to do everything,” Bernbeck said. “Currently, I’m a part-time counselor, and there isn’t anybody else in here any other time, so I am trying to do all the jobs of a counselor within half the time.” Bernbeck’s favorite part about being a counselor is the faceto-face contact and helping kids find their way in high school. He is now three weeks into his new position, and Bernbeck has come to adjust to it. “The counseling department here has been great answering my questions, the administration has been wonderfully supportive,” Bernbeck said. “But it always comes back to the students, and I think they’ve been great here so far.”
District appoints Abud Instructional Coach Science teacher Gary Abud’s job entails more than teaching high school students this school year. As a result of being named the 2013 Michigan Teacher of the Year, the district has given him a one-year assignment to work district-wide. “The position is called InstructionalCoach, and what that means is it’s a position that is half working with the technology department and half working with our curricular department,” Abud said. “What that means is that I work with teachers on ways to share (new lessons) for teaching at all grade levels and for all subject areas.” Abud spent his first week of school meeting with teachers and administration to come up with a plan for how to improve each school. He then traveled from school to school to help educators within the district by working on projects with students in each grade. “The other thing that I do in the schools is I work with all the administrators in the district to support the district-level projects,” Abud said. “Some of your classrooms might be using Google Drive or Blogger or other Google applications, so I work with the district to help support that district-level project.” At the moment, Abud is unsure of the exact duration of his new assignment. The district still considers him to be a North teacher, and he expects to return as a science teacher next year.
APPLE.COM
Apple releases new iPhone 6
equipped with new ones unique to previous generations of the iPhone. The 6 includes iSight, which allows users to take time-lapse videos and uses focus pixels to create a faster and better autofocus. It also comes with the new iOS8 pre-installed. Despite these additions, not all current iPhone users are excited to see this new gadget on the market due to its lack of variety from previous iPhones. SciBy Gowri Yerramalli ence teacher Kristen Lee is one of them. ASSISTANT EDITOR “I have the iPhone 5S. I don’t have to have (the iPhone 6) ... I would get it when my contract’s up,” Lee With its newly publicized release, the iPhone 6 has said. “I don’t see how it could be that much greater become the apple of America’s eye. Apple is releas- than this one.” ing the latest edition of the smartphone today. The The Apple Watch will include notifications, alerts, company has also announced the creation of another incoming message notifications and even a health new gadget, the Apple Watch, which will be released and fitness companion. The Apple Watch will have to in early 2015, though the exact date remains unclear. be synced with an iPhone for use. It comes in three After announcing their new product’s release, Ap- different designs: the Watch, the Watch Sport and the ple offered its customers the opportunity to pre-order Watch Edition. their device before it comes out today. Social StudGhanem is not considering getting an Apple Watch. ies teacher Sean McCarroll joins “The watches are supposed to work off your phone, so why not the ranks of many customers just do everything on your phone? ” who are awaiting their device. Ghanem said. “I don’t even wear “I do plan on getting the watches.” 6. It’s new. I like that. It looks With Apple coming out with cooler that the screen is bignew products each year, more cusger,” McCarroll said. “I honestly tomers are getting drawn away don’t know a ton about the new version. I know that I just like to from these new gadgets and are stick with Apple because a lot of seeking products from other comthe apps are more oriented for panies. sharing.” The Android and Google Nexus The device will be released are slowly gaining popularity as with U2’s new album Songs of the number of iPhone users dwinInnocence pre-downloaded. Sedles. Bunker believes that Apple’s nior Harris Bunker is not a big products are good but are overfan of Apple products, but appriced. He prefers Samsung. Sean McCarroll preciates the company’s give“I have the Galaxy X4. It’s simSOCIAL STUDIES TEACHER away. ple to use, the apps are cheap, the “I’m not a fan of the band, phone is cheap,” Bunker said. “No but it’s good that they’re giving problems with it technically, and away free music,” Bunker said. it’s got good specs and camera.” Not everyone appreciated the freebie. Apple reAlthough Apple is beginning to experience more ceived criticism from customers who were upset with stiff competition, people are still waiting to see what the album being automatically downloaded without the iPhone 6 and the Apple Watch will have in store, their consent. In response, Apple has created a one- and what new products the company will release click removal button for any customers who do not next. McCarroll has used their products mainly for want it and is also offering assistance through their the security it brings, which he believe other compacustomer support line. nies can’t provide. Senior Kristina Ghanem is one of the customers “I like Apple products because their coding is more who did not appreciate having the U2 album on her protective than Windows-based or PC-based-type iPhone. things,” McCarroll said, “I’ve had so many experienc“It was kind of annoying ‘cause I didn’t even want es throughout high school with PCs with viruses, and it,” Ghanem said. “But I didn’t even notice because I them getting too slow, so I like the security that Apple always use Spotif y and Pandora and stuff. I didn’t re- provides.” alize that it was there.” The iPhone 6 comes with standard features but is Contributing: Andrea Scapini and Erica Lizza
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I’ve had so many experiences throughout high school with PC’s with viruses, and them getting too slow, so I like the security that Apple provides.
”
Gast seeks new Thor As footba ll season gets under way, students and fans await a new Thor mascot. Because t he prev ious Thor transferred schools, student activ ities director Pat Gast has beg un look ing for anot her volunteer who displays t he same Norseman qua lities. “(I am look ing for) someone who has a Norseman heart, t hat has a lot of passion for t he school, t hat is not afraid to put t hemselves out t here,” Gast said. Mobilit y and f lex ibilit y are a lso key to ta k ing on t his role, as Thor must be available for teams and t heir games as needed. W hile t he mascot’s attendance isn’t compulsor y at ever y sporting event, his or her presence at certain activ ities is mandator y. “They can ma ke it as litt le or as much as t hey want to,” Gast said. “Requirements (are) pep assembly, Nort hSout h game, home games, parade, t hat t y pe of t hing.” Thor is a sy mbol of Norsemen pride who ma kes sure studentsfeels spirited and supported. Some at hletic teams specif ica lly request t hat Thor be a part of t heir festiv ities. “The hockey team loves it when Thor was t here because t hey k new he represented t he school, and t hey k new he was t here for t hem,” Gast said. Gast is w illing to have multiple students ser ve as Thor. Her only requirement is hav ing an abundance of school spirit. “I mean, t here could be t wo. Last year, t here were t wo Thors. Ever y t hing t hey do has to be ver y positive,” Gast said.
By Emma Brock, Katelyn Carney, Jen Kusch & Josie Bennett
Marchiori Catering Services for Your Special Occasion
Ask for Tony Marchiori 21800 Marter Rd. St. Clair Shores (586) 771-8600
North Pointe – Friday, Sept. 19, 2014 – 3
A world of perspective “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 Erica Lizza CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Anu Subramaniam CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Haley Reid CO-MANAGING EDITOR
Olivia Asimakis NEWS EDITOR
Brittney Hernandez LIFE EDITOR
Wendy Ishmaku BUSINESS MANAGER
Dora Juhasz WEB NEWS EDITOR
Jennifer Kusch IDEAS EDITOR
Kaley Makino WEB IDEAS EDITOR
Ritika Sanikommu ASSISTANT EDITOR
Emily Martinbianco WEB LIFE EDITOR
Our editorial represents the opinion of the North Pointe Editorial Board consisting of the editors above. Members who have a conflict of interest with an editorial topic do not partake in that meeting or vote.
OUR EDITORIAL
Social media regulation should respect First Amendment rights
As Americans, I think it’s easy for us to take the luxuries of our western lifestyle for granted. We find it difficult to wrap our minds around how different other cultures can be. This summer, I spent three weeks in China on a People To People (P2P) trip, MY TURN and boy, were KALEY MAKINO there some culture shocks. I hope to enlighten some of my fellow travel bugs and to be a source of information for those interested in the peculiarities of other walks of life. 1. Bathrooms: I was more or less certain that, as long as you weren’t in rural Ethiopia there would always be toilets and all toilets looked the same. Man oh man, was I wrong. And toilet paper, a given? Not necessarily. Generally, in Asia you’re expected to carry Kleenex with you. Or you can do as I did and beg the confused Chinese waitress to give you a pack of napkins. A little gruesome, I apologize, but it’s the truth, and I don’t want you to be that one American who is laughed at by locals for screaming upon opening the stall—which is something many of us P2P kids did more than once. Also, in China, it’s commonplace to see little kids stop and pee in the middle of a public place, which is why most babies and toddlers run around in crotchless pants—do you see what I’m saying now? These are just not things we experience in America, which in some ways shelters us for the better. No one needs a “squatter” (hole-in-the-ground toilet) in their life.
2. Fashion: As a rule of thumb, the bigger the city, the more stylish the individuals were. I think that’s true just about everywhere. Women’s shoes were the main difference. They were straight-up wonky. I’m talking straps and buckles and holes and so many platforms, it was almost comical. Though I must say, towards the end of the trip, I distinctly remembering growing fonder of them. Leave me there a week longer, and I probably would’ve snagged a pair. These things grow on you, I swear. 3. Flirts: Men of Asian cultures are bold, but not in the catcall way they are here. It’s more like a “I’ll rub my bare stomach while smiling and possibly wink at you” type of f lirtation. But it felt pretty harmless in Asia, which is something to appreciate. 4. Food: Don’t even get me started on the variety they had, like corn-flavored gummies. Why anyone would want one is beyond me. Every meal included stir-fry and rice served family-style on a giant lazy Susan. I missed cheese, bread and anything the slightest bit sweet. Also, I would advise being careful with what you eat: I once mistook a pig’s foot for a pork chop and duck blood soup for tomato. No joke. Those are just a few of the big things, but even with its squatters and creepy dudes, I wouldn’t trade my experience in China for anything. It took me out of my comfort zone in the best way possible. And honestly, the biggest thing is the people. The basic rules are the same worldwide. Besides all the differences you encounter in travel, there are three things that never change: smiles never hurt, patience is key and as long as you keep an open mind, you’ll conquer the worst of it.
ART BY CAMRYN HARRIS
As social media’s prevalence in the lives of students grows, questions about the extent of administration’s authority over students’ social media accounts become more common. Recent incidents involving students and social media resulted in consequences that were unpopular among the student body. Students felt their right to privacy was being taken away when they were forced to delete images or tweets or were reported to the police. Students reasoned that because their social media accounts are not school-related, they should not face school consequences. However, the Student Code of Conduct states otherwise. While registering online for school, students and their parents or guardians were required to sign and accept the terms of the Code of Conduct which outlines administration’s abilities and course of action, including dealing with situations that occur on the Internet. By agreeing to the terms, students agreed to utilize the school network and equipment appropriately—which includes content—while at school or during school-related events. While administration’s jurisdiction is established in the outline, the definition of what is appropriate online behavior is not. Any illegal activity posted on social media that is reported can be sent to the police and will be dealt with in school. Such offenses include underage drinking, recreational drug use, underage smoking of cigarettes or indecent photos of minors. In addition, any kind of post or tweet that disturbs the learning environment at school in any way will be subject to administrative review. Disruptions such as these do not have to be posted from the school’s network to warrant attention but will be reviewed upon submission. These disruptions include threats or bullying of any kind that endangers a student or compromises the comfort in the learning environment. Though these conditions seem reasonable, there is a fine line between dealing with special circumstances and censoring students’ free speech. According to the Supreme Court case of Tinker vs. Des Moines (1969), students do not shed their right to free speech when they walk through the door of a public institution. This prompts the question of what kind of action can be taken against a student who tweets or posts something deemed inappropriate. A suggestion to remove the content is within the school’s rights and does not violate the student’s freedom of speech. However, being forced to remove content on a personal account is excessive and pushes those limits unless it falls under the categories above. Besides the possibility of infringing students’ rights, increased administrative response to social media situations opens more opportunity for students to single each other out. Because anyone can bring social media posts to administration’s attention, there is plenty of leeway for students to selectively report each other based on personal motives, instead of on an objective assessment of posts’s content. This is a type of bullying in and of itself. Social media is a public forum. But while a student’s right to privacy is limited when he or she posts something that is available to the world, the school should not be able to force a student to take down content that is within their First Amendment rights. Illegal activity is not protected by the First Amendment, and cyberbullying has become a criminal offense in many states. Those who post material that falls under these categories should be held liable for choices they make outside of school. However, students should also be able to attend school without worrying about being pulled out of class because an administrator deemed their post inappropriate for school though it did not violate the Code of Conduct or law.
“I think social media harms because it distracts the learning environment, and kids are cyberbullied so easy nowadays.” Maya Ciechanowski FRESHMAN
“I think it helps more because you can communicate with people, get your messages to your friends and stuff.”
“I think it helps more because you can connect with people.”
Mikey Carron
Cydeny Orr
SOPHOMORE
JUNIOR
YOUR TURN: Is social media harmful or helpful? By Haley Reid, Andrea Scapini & Jeffrey Valentic
“I would say that social media can be used to both help and harm... but when it harms, it’s a big deal, and it blows up.”
“It depends. I think it can be something harmful or something helpful. I think it’s used both ways depending on the user.”
Nick Gbur
Katy Vernier
SENIOR
MATH TEACHER
EDITORS-IN-CHIEF: Erica Lizza, Anu Subramaniam MANAGING EDITORS: Haley Reid, Andrea Scapini SECTION EDITORS: Olivia Asimakis, Katelyn Carney, Brittney Hernandez, Jennifer Kusch WEB MANAGING EDITOR: Emma Puglia WEB SECTION EDITORS: Yena Berhane, Dora Juhasz, Kaley Makino, Emily Martinbianco BUSINESS MANAGER: Wendy Ishmaku PHOTO EDITORS: Alanna Sparks, Jeffrey Valentic ASSISTANT EDITORS: Josie Bennett, Emma Brock, Mora Downs, Audrey Kam, Billy Moin, Thomas Remenar, Ritika Sanikommu, Gowri Yerramalli STAFF REPORTERS: Radiance Cooper, Luke Sturgill, Addison Toutant INTERNS: Sydney Benson, Caitlin Bush, Allison Lackner, Lauren Sexton
“It helps kids stay in communication with each other, but I think the vast majority of students don’t filter what goes in there, and that’s bad.” Tom Beach ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL
The North Pointe is edited and produced by Advanced Journalism students at Grosse Pointe North High School and is published every two weeks. It is in practice a designated public forum without prior review. Comments should be directed to the student editors, who make all final content decisions. The views expressed are solely those of the authors or the student editorial board and do not reflect the opinions of the Grosse Pointe School System. We are a member of the Michigan Scholastic Press Association, Columbia Scholastic Press Association, National Scholastic Press Association and Student Press Law Center. We subscribe to McClatchy-Tribune Information Services and iStockphoto.com. One copy is available free to all community members. Additional copies may be purchased. Our editorial policy and advertising rates are available online at myGPN.org. The North Pointe is printed on 100% recycled paper. CONTACT US 707 Vernier Road Grosse Pointe Woods MI, 48236 Phone: 313.432.3248 Email: northpointe@gpschools.org Twitter: @myGPN FACULTY ADVISER: Shari Adwers, MJE
EDITOR’S DESK AUDREY KAM
Impact
I want to leave a dent on the world imprinted with more than just a name and a set of dates. I want a shadow. An impact. And I have no idea how to get there. Because no matter how much I am encouraged to go my own way, at the end of the day, I’m not much more than a teen stranded between being supported and being independent. How can I live a three-dimensional life without getting past this trial phase that I seem to be stuck in right now? How will I be able to deal with “real life,” if these past 16 years have been only the tip of the metaphorical iceberg? I’m standing in the middle of the yellow brick road to college with a head full of straw, a slowly rusting heart and some courage that’s been kicked within an inch of its life. I’m turning in circles, humming a tune that I learned years ago as my classmates, one by one, begin to spot the Emerald City they’ve been promised. I know it’s at the end of the same road I’m wandering, yet I just can’t seem to clap my peepers on a single green turret of that magical land. How can college possibly be within reach when I can’t even do my homework without crying? What good are high test scores if I couldn’t even motivate myself to pass Chemistry last year? (A mistake that I’m now paying for with an extra semester of online credit recovery during an already busy year.) All the witches in this land of mine are good. They’ve all given me their blessings, and I’ve filled out all the paperwork. I should be ready to begin my journey to higher education without any significant snags. The road just keeps getting harder to walk down. I used to be able to keep myself walking down this road by using the thought of college—of moving on. The mere thought of being able to succeed in a profession that I love was enough to keep me plugging along at this (so far) lifelong journey. And until recently, I had a solid plan for doing this. I was going to spend the next two years on a path of passing classes, making friends and playing sports. But a brand new path has appeared. A steeper one, leading away from my friends and all of my silly little high school concerns. And I have a choice to make. I qualified for a program the University of Southern California that accepts high school students who have completed their junior year. Should I choose to accept it? This will mean I’m getting out of the most stressful period of my lifetime an entire year early. I’m being offered a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that has the potential to put me one more step closer to my mark on the world. But, it will also mean leaving behind people with whom I’ve just begun to form close friendships. It means giving up what could have been a stellar senior year. My senior prom. My last seasons of running cross country and track. Toga day. I have less than three months to decide. My shoes won’t take me home or to my future—because I’m frozen in the middle of the biggest decision of my life.
ON CAMPUS
4 – North Pointe – Friday, Sept. 19, 2014
Students rehearse for fall play Students in Drama Club practice their performance of The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) during dress rehearsal. Performances run from Friday, Sept. 19 to Sunday, Sept. 21 By Alanna Sparks PHOTO EDITOR
FACES IN THE CROWD Olivia Robinson
The British Invasion was a first-hand experience for junior Olivia Robinson after she wrote a report on John Lennon in middle school. “In eighth grade, I had to do a report on a famous person. I was like John Lennon, he seems like a cool guy, so I did a lot of research on him, listened to the music and fell in love instantly,” Robinson said. Robinson’s love for The Beatles was fostered by her dad, a fellow fan. “My dad liked them too, and he tells me what albums to buy, which ones to get first and where to find them,” she said. After three years of being a Beatles lover, her favorite band member has remained unchanged. “George Harrison is my favorite because his lyrics are inspiring, ” Robinson said. It’s the variety in song styles and sounds that continues to draw Robinson into Beatlemania. “I like how they were so dynamic and complex and how every album was different. It was like a work of art. Everything they did was top-notch.”
Alfonso Garcia Rivera TOP LEFT: Freshman Caitlin Mayernik thinks that this production differs from her past experiences on stage. “It’s unlike any other show I’ve been in because we break the fourth wall and have tons of audience interaction,” Mayernik said. TOP RIGHT: Because each actor plays more than one character, senior Nikki Haggerty and the rest of the cast have more opportunity to work with each other. “The cast is so close-knit and amazing. I couldn’t have thought of a better production to do, and I couldn’t have thought of better people to do it with,” Haggerty said. LEFT: Senior Peter Gritsas emobodies Juliet Capulet’s persona, while wearing an outfit that resembles the original. “Wearing a corset isn’t all that bad,” Gritsas said. “I love how close the cast has gotten, and I love working with Nikki again.“ BOTTOM (left to right): Senior Nikki Haggerty, freshman Caitlin Mayernik, freshman Alex Dean, junior Audrey Kam and senior Peter Gritsas rehearse the end of the play’s Romeo and Juliet scene. “The show itself is so high-energy and hilarious that it’s great to be a part of it,” Mayernik said.
Becoming accustomed to the American way of life is a daily task for sophomore Alfonso Garcia Rivera. Garcia Rivera moved throughout Mexico and Guatemala for the first 13 years of his life, until his dad accepted a job at Wayne State University Hospital in 2012. Garcia Rivera, sees a dramatic contrast between his old and new life. “When I lived in Guatemala for two years ... I didn’t like to go outside walking or even in a car because I didn’t feel safe there,” Garcia Rivera said. “You can get killed just in the street, and it’s not the same up here. You can walk anywhere up here.” Exposure to the different customs and traditions of a foreign country has molded Garcia Rivera. “People are more responsible here, not just in school, but in life. I have learned from this culture and still kept some of mine, like a combination,” Garcia Rivera said. “We have to evolve to stay in this place.”
Francesca Leone
SophomoreFrancesca Leone envies the red carpet lifestyle that she witnessed while meeting multiple celebrities– including Selena Gomez, Kim Kardashian, Big Sean, Serena Williams, Adam Sandler and Ellen Pompeo. Leone’s favorite celebrity was Selena Gomez. “I have always wanted to meet her ever since Wizards of Waverly Place came out,” Leone said. Leone has also had some not-so-nice celebrity encounters, including her run-in with Adam Sandler. “He was with his kids, and he wasn’t really that nice,” Leone said. “He was kinda snotty. He was like ‘Okay, you can take one picture, but that’s it.’” Despite her negative experience with Sandler, Leone has found her interactions with other stars enjoyable. “You kind of get a feel for if a celebrity is nice in person or if they’re kind of mean,” Leone said. “It’s cool to actually meet them in person.” By Caitlin Bush, Olivia Asimakis & Gowri Yerramalli
FIVE MINUTES WITH
English teacher Charles Crimando By Wendy Ishmaku BUSINESS MANAGER
ALANNA SPARKS
English teacher Charles Crimando stands in front of the classroom while teaching. “English to me is the easiest way to, in a school setting, to make connections to, you know, the true difficulties of experience as human beings,” Crimando said.
While most literature students see poetry as a chore, new English teacher Charles Crimando developed deep feelings for literature after reading e.e. Cummings’ “Since Feeling is First,” which marked the starting point of his life-long passion. “I remember thinking, ‘This guy can express something that I always thought was inexpressible. I can really visualize it,’” Crimando said. “All of these difficult thoughts that feel so amorphous, they actually took a solid form. And I got it, and I thought, ‘I want to live by doing this and sharing this with some people.’” As the newest addition to the English Department, Crimando sees the subject itself as a crucial way to gain insight into human connection. “(English) sets the foundations for communication, for the ability to look deeply into things and start to find meanings where it looks like there are none,” Crimando said. After graduating from Indiana University, Crimando first began a teaching job at Chicago International Charter School.
“It was in an area that was hit by a lot of poverty, and I think that they’re just a generally underserved population of students,” Crimando said. He says the experience from teaching in this area was more beneficial than any college course could have been. “I learned way more from being there than I ever learned in graduate school or in my teaching classes,” Crimando said. “You know, just by being there, I learned how a student’s life can impact his or her work in the classroom. I learned how that’s always a consideration that should be in the forefront of a teacher’s mind.” The variety of teaching experiences in Chicago, Ann Arbor, online classes and journalism at South has shaped Crimando’s purpose in education. “To help guide a new generation is absolutely at the forefront of anything, and it certainly is mine,” Crimando said. “If I can help another generation or generations, I hope, express themselves, to feel they can communicate, to think about their worlds critically, then I think that I’m helping to mold some good citizens.”
What are your hobbies outside of work? I do like to run. I run quite a bit. I write a lot of music. I play a lot of different instruments. I have a recording studio in my basement, so I can make music there. I guess it’s not a hobby, but I really love hanging out with my daughter Stella. She’s 5 months old, so she’s a lot of fun.
What instruments do you play? I play guitar, the bass guitar, drums, piano. I sing. I play whatever I can–anything I can get my hands on, pretty much. Did you always think you were going to be a teacher, or did you want to be a writer? I think I could do both. I still write on top of being a teacher. I think that it helps to be both, particularly as an English teacher, to write and to be a person who teaches the subject itself. Yeah, there were times where I thought, ‘Yeah maybe I can try to be a writer,’ but I think I just love the subject so much that I want to be able to share it will people, that I want to get them to see some things that are valuable to them too, like how I’ve gotten from it. Do you prefer teaching English or journalism? I have always loved English most, so whenever I have the option to teach literature or something to do with English, that’s what I would choose, and that’s one of the major reasons why I’m here. It’s where I love to be.
LIFE
North Pointe –Friday, Sept. 19, 2014 – 5
Senior takes on professional research at Wayne State Michael Marchiori takes the opportunity to spend the summer assisting with rat-related medical research
By Britt ney Herna ndez & Emi ly Ma r tinbia nco
The program exposed Marchiori to things that most students wouldn’t experience unless they were enrolled in a pre-medicine program in college. Most college stuA summer spent at Wayne State University research- dents will change their major a number of times before ing hypertension in rats may not sound appealing to they declare it permanently, but Marchiori has already some, but for senior Michael Marchiori, it was an inter- decided what he will do in the future. esting look into the world of medicine. “For Michael, this is a huge opportunity for learning, “What really made me want to do it was just my in- and he has more doors open now than ever before. He terest in medicine as a whole,” Marchiori said. “I really doesn’t have to wonder, ‘Hey, should I try research in like science and every aspect of it, college?’ He’s already done that. He so I figured that if I’m going into will already know,” Speirs said. medicine, I’m going to need some The medical field is broad and research background.” contains many branches. The deThe opportunity was presentcision between the plethora of oped through connections made in tions can be difficult. Wayne, howNorth’s Applied Medical Research ever, validated Marchiori’s love for with Clinical Investigations class. the medical field helped broaden to The process involved an applicaa greater understanding. tion and an all-staff interview with “Those experiments allowed me potential candidates. Marchiori to see the research aspect of mediwas the only volunteer under the cine. Medicine isn’t just dealing age of 23 accepted for the position. with patients and figuring out the “In this room, we don’t do easy. disease. Medicine is also about figMichael Marchiori We make easy happen through uring out what is going on in the SENIOR hard work and learning, and I body,” Marchiori said. “This gave think Michael’s resume conveyed me the opportunity to figure out more of that kind of thing,” Applied Medical Research the anatomy of a creature and figure out how science teacher Sue Speirs said. “He understood what it meant allowed us to help the creature.” to work hard.” Although Marchiori was the only North student to Marchiori was in charge of histology, which is the be involved in this summer project, Speirs believes that study of the structure of tissue on lab rats after the pro- any student with a passion for science can pursue simifessors and graduate students completed their experi- lar opportunities. ments. The rat then went through the process of “sacri“If you have the drive, the desire, the perseverance fice,” followed by dissection. and you work hard, and you’re not afraid of hard, this “I was treated as if I was the professional scientist and is something that can happen for any student,” Speirs researcher,” Marchiori said. “It was a legitimate lab set- said. ting. There were of course hundreds of pieces of equipment that I had no clue what they were. It was really cool.” LIFE SECTION EDITOR & WEB SECTION EDITOR
“
Medicine isn’t just dealing with patients and figuring out the disease. Medicine is also about figuring out what is going on in the body.
”
PHOTO BY ALANNA SPARKS
Senior Michael Marchiori examines a specimen under the microscope. “My favorite part was working with a team in a lab and actually feeling like I was a part of a team,” Marchiori said.
Students service the last frontier Seniors Jenna Mazzola and Leesie Paglino spend their summer constructing trails in the Alaskan wilderness By Jennifer Kusch IDEAS SECTION EDITOR
Seniors Jenna Mazzola and Leesie Paglino traded in cool frappuccinos and sunny skies for forest downpours and buckets brimming with dirt as a part of a program known as Overland Experience. The girls flew across the country to Juneau, Alaska to pursue a unique service project. By the end of the first rainy day, the girls knew the trip would be a challenge. “I was laying on my thin, thin, thin air mattress—when I say thin, I mean it was very thin— and me and Leesie would look at each other and almost start crying because, I mean, we’re out in the wilderness and the rain, and we’re just out there in a tent… and I think, ‘How am I gonna do this for two weeks?’” Paglino and Mazzola originally heard about the trip from a friend of the Paglino family.
“We heard it was a great trip, and I always wanted to do something like this, so I kind of just did it. And on the plus side, it’s a service trip, so it will look good on a resume,” Paglino said. Their parents immediately took to the idea. “We thought that to get her out of the Grosse Pointe bubble and to do this program would be a great experience for her. It was very challenging, and that was important because adversity builds character,” Paglino’s father Joe Paglino said. “She just asked for our advice and opinions, and we’re big proponents for leading a purposeful life, and so we thought it’d be a great idea. We had heard about people having had a great experience. It’s not as exciting as some of Overland’s other locations, like Hawaii, but it turned out to be challenging, and that was what she needed to grow and learn from it all.” The duo spent 12 days in southern Alaska hiking, kayaking and building and preserving trails. Although they were surrounded by beautiful scenery, their trip differed from the relaxing summer camps some kids frequent. “It was wake up at 5:30, get there by 6 and work for a good four or five hours on trails. Then, we’d break for lunch and work again. Then, you hike back and make dinner, and then hang out and go to bed. Then, you wake up the next day and do it all over again,” Mazzola said. Rustic accommodations made basic appliances seem like a distant luxury. “I was camping out there, and I didn’t have electricity, my phone or a dishwasher,” Paglino said. “We had to use the same bowl and spoon for every meal, and yeah, we had rain water to rinse it out with and stuff, but there was no soap, no nothing.” While friends at home were participating in the ‘Ice bucket challenge’ phenomenon, the pair had to go days without a simple show-
er.
PHOTO COURTESY OF JENNA MAZZOLA
“There’s all this stuff that you take for granted. It’s just, I didn’t shower for nine days … it was pretty unsanitary,” Paglino said. The girls soon adjusted to most aspects of their living situation. “I was leaving my house to go to the airport, and I was leaving my phone in my drawer, and I was like, ‘Crap.’ I wasn’t gonna have my phone to use, but as time went on, you kind of just forgot about it,” Mazzola said. Although they were not able to call home, their loved ones made sure they didn’t feel too homesick. “You got letters in the mail sometimes, which was really different and a good feeling,” Mazzola said. “My mom sent me letters and then some candy, magazines ... she went overboard. Cards, deodorant, hand sanitizer—just a ton of stuff.” Paglino and Mazzola worked in Juneau alongside 10 other high schoolers whom they had not met before landing. By the end of the trip, they had formed a special bond. “At first, walking into the airport, I was like, ‘Oh well.’ You don’t know anyone, you’re kinda just looking at everyone. You really don’t know how it’s gonna go. And as the trip went on, I loved them, absolutely loved every single one of them ... I still keep in touch with them,” Mazzola said. Despite the work-orientated purpose of the program, the girls were able to take in the beauty of Alaska. “On the second-to-last night, we kayaked to a separate island and spent the night there, and that was really cool because the scenery was just beautiful and open,” Paglino said. While their camp adventure was not typical, both recognize that they grew from the experience. “Stepping out of my comfort zone was the biggest thing. And I just feel so proud of myself for stepping out of it and doing something that was kinda out there,” Mazzola said. “I would have never pictured myself going to—well, first of all—Alaska. That’s a big step. And camping. I’d never even been camping before, and suddenly I’m in Alaska, and I’m there in the woods camping for 12 days. I just felt very accomplished.” One of their greatest rewards was the bond forged over the rainy nights, exhausting days and new environment. “It made us closer because we have something we can talk about that no one else knows about,” Mazzola said. “We have this shared experience … what we went through together—that’s something you just don’t ever forget.”
6 – Friday, Sept.19, 2014 – North Pointe
REVIEWS
: Playing with life By Jennifer Kusch & Allison Lackner IDEAS EDITOR & INTERN
Locking all focus onto The Sims 4 is easier than it should be. Within minutes, it can be impossible to w rench the player’s gaze away from the screen. The Sims 4, the latest Sims installment, creates a whole new gaming experience and puts life in the palm of the gamer’s hand. From the sassy characters to the fantastic features, the franchise makes it possible to create a fantasy life. The new installment brings an overhauled Create-a-Sim process, putting the control where it belongs: w ith the player. It is now possible for players to design Sims exactly to their liking, and the new “dragging” functions offer the ability to create a plethora of diverse-looking Sims. However, the new tools for character development do not compensate for the loss of control over fabrics, textures and colors that Createa-Style has w rought over ever y object in the game. W hen creating an avatar, a randomized Sim appears, which the user can then customize to his/her liking. A Sim’s clothes can be handselected to match its hair, face and personality and are diverse for males and females of various ages. The last step when creating a Sim is to pick a major
trait and a minor trait. Depending on how one wants the Sim to act, he/she can pick three additional traits, which can var y from cheerful, active and gloomy to perfectionist, foodie and clumsy. The rest of the game is based around creating a life for the Sim and helping it reach the set goals that correspond w ith its given characteristics. Once a Sim is created, it needs a place to live. There are two v irtual tow ns in The Sims 4, Willow Creek and Oasis Springs. The transitions between home and the tow n maps are no longer cohesive, as he/she cannot simply zoom out of its house v iew and be able to move about the tow n. In The Sims 4, the player can no longer move around tow n w ith a single click, and this means too many loading screens. Does a Sim want to go across the street? Loading screen. How about to the g ym? There w ill be a loading screen. The loading screens are more apparent than the game itself, which can make
the maps feel like a waste of time. Impatient players are better off just keeping their Sims at home. After finding the perfect plot of land for their Sim to live on, gamers can begin building its house. A feature new to this edition is the ability to take pre-built rooms and simply place them next to each other. A lthough the building process is easier, the world seems too f lat. There is no longer any terrain control, so the lack of natural hills, valleys and even pools leaves much to be desired. W hile EA has simplified the building process, home items are inaccessible unless they’re unlocked, creating more work for the player. This is very discouraging for many gamers, and it makes the game feel like too much trouble for a small gain. The game feels more level-based, which has never been t he case for t he life-simulation series. This cha nge was a bad ca ll, a nd ma kes t he ga me feel less like a n upgrade a nd more like a punishment. One of the biggest dow nfalls was the removal of tod-
dlers from the game. Toddlers brought forth adorable antics and chubby cheeks that made ever y player eager to start a family. A lthough there are many drawbacks to this installment, it had too much to live up to. The Sims 3 had set an unattainable standard, and its features were so unique and beloved that changing any thing seemed to lower the quality of the game. The largest appeal of this installment is its focus on interactions. Sims’ interactions are now dictated by their emotions, which are no longer stagnant, bringing a much-needed level of realism to the game. Players w ill find that the Sims new demeanors w ill inf luence stor ylines in unanticipated and humorous ways, adding a new social layer that has never been present in the franchise. The Sims games w ill always be addicting. There’s something about playing God that never gets old, and liv ing v icariously through little doll-like people has been appealing to “Simmers” since 2000. A lthough Sims 4 lacks many outstanding elements, there have been some improvements. W hile the game itself is enjoyable, its predecessor, The Sims 3, was impossible to top. There really was no room to improve, so this addition is a dissapointment.
THESIMS4.COM
Grade: C The Sims 4 EA Windows XP, (SP3), Windows Vista (SP2), Windows 7, Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 Sept. 2, 2014 (T) Teen
J HOUSE JUICE
WHEN THE GAME STANDS TALL
FLING!
GHOSTBUSTERS 30TH ANNIVERSARY
B+
A-
B
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“Raw,” “organic” and “coldpressed” are the trademarks J House Juice uses to describe their specialty juice drinks and smoothies. The WWW.JHOUSEJUICE.COM petite-sized juice house specializes in concocting allnatural drinks with fresh fruits and vegetables. By cold pressing ingredients such as organic spinach, celery, apple and carrot, the juice does not lose any enzymes or nutrients that may be lost using conventional juicers and blenders. J House Juice prides itself on using fresh, organic ingredients that accommodate a healthy lifestyle. The drink “Green Print,” for example, contains vitamins A, C and K and provides antioxidant and anti-inflammatory support (as stated on J House Juice’s menu). Customers can choose from uniquely-named drinks ranging from “The Big Apple,” to “Energy Packed” to “The Prickly Pear.” If you’re not in the mood for juice, no worries. J House Juice offers a selection of six refreshing smoothies, and an assortment of vegan and gluten-free snacks, many of which are created on location. They also sell Starbucks products, including frappuccinos and espressos. Despite the delicious ingredients and pleasant service, this juice house is not an ideal daily visit. Beverages range from $6 to $7.50, and their snacks are pricey as well (a tiny container of Pots de Creme is $4.50). And although the rustic interior is refreshing, it’s not an optimal place to study or hang out because of the limited space and boisterous blenders. But when a craving for something exceptionally healthy hits, it’s the spot to explore.
It had been over a decade since they lost a game, until, just like that, the nation’s longest football winning streak ended. The movie, When the Game Stands Tall, ITUNES.APPLE.COM is based on the true story of the De La Salle High School Spartans and tells the events surrounding their streak-ending loss. The Spartans had won the North Coast Conference Championship in Concord, California, in 2003, reaching a record 151 wins. However, right before spring practices begin, their coach, Bob Ladouceur (Jim Caviezel) has a heart attack and misses the spring season. His absence leads the new seniors to become self-involved, causing the school’s first loss in over ten years. To attempt a comeback, the coaches have to reunite the team. Watching the team struggle to overcome their loss was relatable for athletes. The film stresses the importance of being a team and “giving your perfect effort,” as their coach frequently reminds them. Seeing the players unite causes viewers to eagerly anticipate a Spartan victory. Witnessing the players overcome loss and work as a team inspires the audience to go back to their everyday lives with the same commitment, especially on the playing field. The common athlete feels compelled to work harder, not only for himself, but for his team. Coach Ladouceur and Chris Ryan (Alexander Ludwig), one of the team’s conflicted captains, were some of the most dynamic characters because they truly fit their roles. The movie was a heartwarming retelling of a true story. Similar to Remember the Titans, this movie is a must-see for any athlete or anyone seeking motivation.
Fling! is more challenging and addicting than the average puzzle-oriented game. In this teenfriendly app, the user is required WWW.TECHLICIOUS.COM to “fling” furry creatures shuffleboard-style into one another, to solve each puzzle and advance onto the next level. The objective of each level is to knock off all of the furballs by shoving them toward one another either vertically or horizontally, until only one remains. As players indulge themselves in the series of brow-furrowing puzzles, each puzzle requires players to think strategically about the advantages of various moves. The levels are created to make players think they have found a pathway, until they are once again at a dead end. To navigate around this problem, the game includes “redos” and “hints” so the player can try multiple solutions. While redos are unlimited, players are only allowed one hint throughout the game. Deciding when to use the hint becomes one of the main roadblocks in solving the puzzles. The first few levels are challenging, but once the player identifies the patterns, the puzzles become easier to solve. After level six, the patterns begin to repeat, causing the user to become bored over time. Despite the eventual repetition, this app is intriguing and highly stimulating. Finding the strategy to complete each section is what hooks the user, drawing them in for hours of addictive fun. This app is available for both Apple and Android products, in both free and paid versions.
With proton packs on their backs, the Ghostbusters are back on the silver screen for a special 30-year anniversary. The cast of the original WWW.FANDANGO.COM 1984 Ghostbusters consists of two former Saturday Night Live cast members, Bill Murray and Dan Aykrod, along with Harold Ramis, Sigourney Weaver, Rick Moranis and Ernie Hudson. After three parapsychologists are kicked out of their university, they create a business specializing in paranormal activity. When New York has something strange going on in their neighborhood, the Ghostbusters are the ones to call. Ray (Aykroyd), Peter (Murray), Egon (Ramis) and Winston (Hudson) must save New York from the paranormal likes of the Gatekeeper, the Key Master, Gozer and Zulo. Bizarre situations keep the humor level high. The Stay Puff Marshmallow Man runs up and down East 54th Street, threatening the city, Ghostbusters get mauled by ghosts at every corner and glowing green ectoplasm is an ever-present threat. Timeless situations like these make up for the outdated, tacky 80s effects. And, while the pop culture references in the movie may be outdated, they are still relatable. A third movie has been proposed starring original cast members Murray and Weaver along with Kristen Wigg (Bridesmaids), Anna Faris (Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs), Emma Stone (Amazing Spiderman), Melissa McCarthy (The Heat) and Eliza Dushku (Bring it On). Nothing is set in stone, but there’s been mention of an early-2016 release date. Ghostbusters is in select theaters for a limited time. It may be thrilling to catch at the cinema, but it’s also on Netflix – so you can skip the pricey movie ticket. Ghostbusters still remains a classic that’s worth seeing.
375 Fisher Road, Grosse Pointe, Michigan, (313) 571-3423, www.jhousejuice.com
When the Game Stands Tall (2014), Directed by Thomas Carter, PG, 1hr., 55mins.
Fling!, Candy Cane Games, 2014, Available in Apple and Android, Free
Ghostbusters (1984), Directed by Ivan Reitma, PG, 1 hr., 47 mins.
By Dora Juhasz
By Billy Moin
By Katelyn Carney
By Lauren Sexton and Allison Lackner
SPORTS
North Pointe – Friday, Sept. 19, 2014 – 7
A running debut of 26.2 Senior Emily Waldner completed her first marathon this summer By Anu Subramaniam & Andrea Scapini CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF & CO-MANAGING EDITOR
Motivated by her playlist and seeing her dad at the finish line, senior Emily Waldner finished her first marathon w ith a time of 4:43:49. “W hen I was coming across the finish line, ‘We Are the Champions’ started playing on my iPod, so I started to cr y,” Waldner said. “I ran through, and I was cr ying, and I ran to my dad who was waiting, and I hugged him, and I was just kind of sobbing.”
Waldner ran her first marathon in Charlevoix, Michigan on June 21 with her mom, a more experienced marathon runner. “We did about three half-marathons before that, as we were building up on mileage,” Waldner’s mom Kim Jevons said. “Watching her run was a thrill for me because you want to share the thing that you like to do w ith your children.” After being on the cross countr y team for three years and w itnessing her mom run the Marine Corps Marathon, Waldner decided to run a full marathon.
PHOTO COURTESY OF EMILY WALDNER
Junior Emily Waldner completed her first marathon after months of training.“Right before the race, I felt extremely nervous, like I was going to die off at one point and not be able to finish,” Waldner said.
Former student pursues hockey scholarship in Canada By Ritika Sanikommu ASSISTANT EDITOR
After receiving a hockey scholarship from the Hockey Training Institute of Ontario, former student Kallin Morris moved to Barrie, Canada to pursue the sport. “I went to a showcase tourney in Pittsburgh, and the coaches of this team called me up for their prospect camp,” Morris said. “At the camp, they told me they wanted me back for the winter program and gave me a scholarship to the school. I actually got scouted, and it was better than North’s program. And (will provide) more opportunities for college.” Morris transferred after her junior year and moved in August to start training. “It’s just Canada. It’s like going to college,” Morris said. “Our training is: up at 6, leave for the rink at 6:15, skate 7-8, school 9-2, then off ice 3:30-5. Sometimes off ice and on ice switch.” Morris was introduced to hockey through her father and brother. “I put her on the ice when she was young, and when my son started playing, she start-
ed doing practices with him, and I got her to go out and do that,” Morris’s father, Raymond Morris said. Raymond Morris finds that sharing the rink as a family has allowed them to bond. “Her mom skated, her youngest sister played for a year or two, so it’s like a family sport,” he said. Morris started playing hockey her freshman year in North’s program. Besides the games scheduled during the season, Morris also played in additional tournaments and camps for prospective players. “I like that it was a fast sport and that it was contact,” Morris said. While she balances hockey and school work, she finds that there is limited time to socialize. “Our social life is pretty much with our team or the boys team,” Morris said. Morris’s goal is to play in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) hockey program while she is in college. After she finishes college, Morris would like to play hockey professionally. “Hockey is pretty much everything to me right now,” she said.
QUICK HIT S
TWO FRESHMEN MAKE VARISTY FIELD HOCKEY
By Brittney Hernandez & Emily Martinbianco
“We started tryouts in August, and a week later we found out,” Ramsdell said. “I was surprised. I didn’t think I would make it. It was my first time ever playing.” She wasn’t the only newcomer. “There were a lot of freshmen. I thought I would be on a freshman team,” Yoshida said. Though freshmen on the varsity team is uncommon, the two girls feel that the team’s chemistry works well. “There are two freshmen, a bunch of sophomores, a few juniors and a few seniors,” Yoshida said. “We are all pretty close.”
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092514CB
As the varsity field hockey team stormed their way into the season, two new faces sprinted along as well. The freshmen newcomers, Lindsey Ramsdell and Naomi Yoshida, hustled onto the field in early August, along with their upperclassmen teammates. For Ramsdell, field hockey was a gateway to forming fast friendships at a new school. “It was good having people you already knew coming into North because the practices started in August,” Ramsdell said. “Everybody is really nice.” An inexperienced Ramsdell, unsure if she would make the cut, decided to try out.
“I started (my training) about the middle of Februar y,” she said. “It was basically follow ing the Hal Higdon’s training plan.” The longest run Waldner had endured before the marathon was 20 miles, making her last 6.2 miles more of a challenge during the marathon. “I was always told to go slower than I thought because you have 26.2 miles to go,” Waldner said. “Around mile nine I started feeling a little bit worse, and then, around mile 14-ish, I got the runner’s high which is the most wonderful thing in the world, but it died off w ith six miles left to go, so I was like, ‘Oh, I’m dying now.’” As a first-time marathon runner, Waldner was able to share her journey w ith her mother, a veteran runner, who crossed the finish line some time after Waldner. Experiencing the similar running regimen involved in training for a marathon has brought Jevons and Waldner closer, even though they do not always run side-by-side. “For the marathon, I gave ... a schedule to her and I gave her her miles that day. So we’d both go out, but we wouldn’t run together because she is faster than me, but we would be able to know that the other person was going to run that day also, and that would get you going,” Jevons said. “We’ll go to a race, we spend that time together, and we can talk about it, and we all understand how hard it is or easy the workout is we are doing.” After sharing running w ith her mother, Waldner has decided to recruit her friend, senior Lauren Nyquist, to also share the experience. “Emily and I actually have plans to run a marathon this summer. I definitely think it w ill be difficult,” Nyquist said. “We kind of are already training because of the cross countr y season, but once it gets to w inter and spring and summer, we just have to keep training through then and maybe run farther. Emily definitely inspired me to get out and actually run the marathon and even just to work harder in cross country.” Waldner’s first marathon encounter inspired her to continue, making her new goal to run a marathon or half-marathon in each of the 50 states. “W hen you sweat and stuff, it makes me feel all healthy, which I feel cool about that,” she said. “I like being in shape. Just being able to walk up the stairs at North – it’s a feat in itself.”
313-417-9666 • Visit pointefitness.com
IN-DEPTH
North Pointe – Friday, Sept. 19 – 8
VS. Meet The Makers:
By Audrey Kam ASSISTANT EDITOR
YIK YAK
Contributing Addison Toutant, Radiance Cooper, Devyn La Valley & Anu Subramaniam STAFF REPORTERS, FREELANCE ARTIST & CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
ITUNES.COM
SEVEN MONTHS AGO, YIK YAK WAS BORN IN THE MINDS OF TWO COLLEGE STUDENTS
EIGHT YEARS AGO, TWITTER WAS CREATED BY TWO APP DEVELOPERS
JOBOJA.BLOGSPOT
Evan Williams and Biz Stone
Brooks Buffington and Tyler Droll
Has no minimum age
Anony mous messageboard
Widely used by teachers and students alike as a learning tool/form of communication Twitter users can “tweet” posts that may contain pictures, links, videos, or just plain text This format encourages witty humor Accessible and usable globally
IBTIMES.CO.UK
Location-based Users must be 17+
Had several incidents of bullying and other dangerous behavior reported by high school administra Social media apps tors, which resulted in a geo Highly addictive ban on the app within most Very popular among high schools’ campuses . teenagers/young adults Yik Yak was created for college students “Up” the “Yaks” you agree with
“Favorite” tweets you like
You get: 140 characters
Why do you like twitter?
I like Twitter because...you can even see famous people, so you see what they’re doing, but Yik Yak is anonymous and it’s evil. It’s not just like, “Oh hey I went to the football game tonight,” it’s “I saw this person at the football game and they were wearing the ugliest outfit, up this if you think it was ugly.”
Poll Results:
Why do you think Grosse Pointe is known for its Yik Yak? ‘Cause we’re judgemental, people say. And then we just judge our own people where we should be supporting them.
apps anon.
incognito aplications [via nymag.com’s list of anonymous apps]
39 favorited @twitter people
TECHCRUNCH.COM
You get:
Caelin Micks feeds the bird
Rumr: Allows you to chat with your friends who have the app, but there’s the twist, nobody knows who is talking.
Thomas Essak tracks the Yak
200 characters
Why do you like Yik Yak?
It’s better, and it’s anonymous. It’s easier to get “ups” than favorites. How is it easier to get ups than favorites? ‘Cause it’s anonymous, and it’s not like on a follower basis, everyone doesn’t know who’s doing what. What makes it better than Twitter?
11 “upped” Yik Yak people
It’s like a two-person thing. You sit there and enjoy what’s being said and try to guess who’s saying it as well.
ITUNES.COM
Confidly: Users post their worries or “confide” in the anonymous messageboard, and others can give them support.
ITUNES.COM
Shortwave: Allows users to both anonymously share snapshots of their life and to view and comment on others posts.
Steams: Users post their frustrations anonymously for other people’s perusal.