NORTH GROSSE POINTE NORTH HIGH SCHOOL
POINTE FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2012
SINCE 1968
tardY inCreases from 2011 to 2012 Last school year there were
That was a
26,992 tardies.
On Campus
Students and teachers participated in the annual AIDS walk Oak this past Sunday walking and raising money for the cause. Page 3
QUarter 1
2011
QUarter 3
QUarter 4
Tardies by quar ter
5,894
QUarter 2
14.76%
increase from the 2011 school year.
+8.81%
5,894 6,543
+3.85% +26.43%
5,544
+18.54%
2012
6,027 6,121
By Rachel Cullen and Marie Bourke Staff reporters
8,272 6,572 Jordan radke
Administration creates stricter punishments for late students By Jordan Radke
assistant managing editor
LIFE
Junior Jack McDonald returns home after living two years in Shanghai, China, making this his first year at North.
Page 5
this week in History September 21, 1986: a 7.6 magnitude earthquake hit Taiwan, killing 1,800 and injuring 4,000 others. It was the largest earthquake to hit the island on record. September 22, 1862: President Abraham Lincoln ordered the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation. September 23, P1806: the threeyear Lewis and Clark expedition concluded.
“
Ideas
Cinematicallyspoiled
citizens ... Join me on my crusade to culture the modern goer. page 7
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movie
© 2012 North Pointe Volume 45, Issue 1
Administration has become more aggressive in combating tardies, increasing the number of hall sweeps substantially this school year. “It’s about raising people’s level of awareness to the importance of being there on time and creating this sense of urgency,” Assistant Principal Tom Beach said. “Our goal is to get the kids in the classroom where they can learn. Because our numbers were way too high last year.” Though actual policy has not changed, its enforcement has. “We’ve got a different mechanism to track kids. We’re doing more hall sweeps to make sure they get in,” Beach said. Assistant Principal Kate Murray said there had been at least 30 hall sweeps in the first two full weeks of class, a dramatic increase from last year. “I suspect it was less than 30,” Murray said of the number of hall sweeps for all of last year. During the 2012 school year, there were 26,992 tardies, almost a 15% increase from the previous year. Beach points to this trend as reason for the new enforcement procedures. “We were starting to create this culture that you don’t have to be in class. You could look around and see, you know, 15 people down a hallway,” Beach said. “And we have lots of hallways.” For this reason, administration is also encouraging teachers to limit student passbook use during class. Hall monitor Glenn Lachowicz said students “have to have a pass. If they
Meet Interim Principal Tom Tobe By Kim Cusmano sports Editor
“Retired” is a funny word to Interim Principal Tom Tobe. Four of the five years in his “retirement,” he has been called back to work. Tobe has been everything from middle school teacher to activity director to principal. He has most recently brought his talents to North. North Pointe: What did you think the reputation of North was before you came here? Tom Tobe: The only thing I knew of Grosse Pointe North is what I knew athletically, because of my own children participating against (North) in football and such. An impression before I even got here would be high-achieving students, a high percentage going to college, good athletes, good students, and my assumption would be that they would be involved in activities here. NP: What high school and col-
Grassroots group stirs residency enforcement debate
don’t, they get a detention automatically.” “If students feel that it doesn’t matter and they’re not going to have to pay a consequence, they’re not going to care,” Beach said. Students serve 45-minute detentions for hall sweeps and are issued an in-school suspension if they don’t show up for detention or comply with its rules. Administration has also streamlined its system for tracking students who need to serve detentions. They keep students’ statuses on one comprehensive Google Docs list, which can be updated in real time so administration can follow up on detentions more quickly. Murray said the changes have been effective. “We’ve seen a dramatic decrease in tardiness,” Murray said. “The hallways are empty, and sometimes during a hall sweep, we don’t catch anyone. That means the entire school is on time to their class.” Murray said there is no definite time frame for decreasing hall sweeps’ frequency. “It takes 21 days to make a habit,” she said. “I suspect that we will be doing hall sweeps for as long as it takes to shift the culture of the school. And then they will be used periodically throughout the year.” For now, the salvo on tardiness will continue. “We had five out of seven yesterday. Today we’ve had two out of four so far,” Beach said at lunchtime in his office, on the second week of school. “Today, we’ll probably have three more.”
“The Grosse Pointes are built on the bedrock of three institutions: our parks, our excellent police and fire departments, and our competitive and cutting edge schools. They should all be protected and promoted for the benefit of those who support them with their tax dollars – the residents of the Grosse Pointe community.” These are the words of Linda Kusch, a member of Residents for Residency, a local group that focuses on the problem of non-resident students attending a school in the Grosse Pointe Public School System. This year, Residents for Residency has met twice with the School Board and presented them with several suggestions to eliminate that problem. They presented the board with two petitions. The first, which had over 400 signatures, asked that parents of students who were leaving the district be mandated to inform the school of their move within ten days. The second petition asked for a yearly residency check and asked that those found attending illegally pay compensation. That petition bore over 1,000 signatures. The School Board has recently declined to move forward with a step the group calls the Residency Affidavit, a statement declaring one’s legitimate residency in Grosse Pointe. “Unfortunately, there has been no progress toward this year’s Residency Affidavit,” Kusch said. “Residents for Residency was very clear with the Grosse Pointe School Board that this needed to be implemented this year and communicated this position to the board in July, but so far, it has not materialized.” “Our latest communication with the board indicates that it will not be implemented this school year.” Residency, as it relates to Grosse Pointe schools, is simple: in order for a child to attend a school in the Grosse Pointe Public School System, one parent or guardian has to be a legal, tax-paying resident of a Grosse Pointe community. Despite the presence of district lines, there are families who cross them. “It’s an ongoing issue, as there will always be people who try and break the rules and sneak into the district,” President of the Board of Education Judy Gafa said.
Contributing: Rachel Cullen & Sheldon Chavis
lege did you attend? Tobe: I grew up in Allen Park, which is considered a downriver Detroit suburb. Our high school was Melvindale, and I graduated and went on to MSU, and was a Spartan. (I) got my Masters from Eastern Michigan (and) continued my post Masters work at MSU. NP: What was your high school experience like? Tobe: I loved high school. I unfortunately just stopped growing. I was 5’9”, 150 pounds as a freshman, and I haven’t grown an inch since – I probably shrank. I was fortunate enough to play four years of varsity football and baseball. I could shoot a basketball, but boy, I had no D. So I took basketball season off. I was class vice president all four years. NP: How did you meet your wife? Tobe: I met my bride at MSU. I started dating her as a sophomore in college. My wife and I got married a month after our college graduation. We got married at the Michigan State alumni chapel. We’ve been married for 42 years, and I have enjoyed every moment of it. NP: What was your favorite subject in school? Tobe: When I was a student, I would say history. To this day, I love the History Channel. Sadly, from watching it, we learn from history that we don’t learn from history.
NP: Who has been your best friend so far at North? Tobe: You. No! (laughs) When I first hit here, Mr. Beach, Mrs. Murray and Mr. Bandfield could not have been more warm and receiving. I’ll never forget that. It means a lot. Part of their dedication swung me over to accept the job. Without question, they are good people and are in a very tough role. They deal with a lot of the negative, but you are not going to find three better people to work with. NP: How has experience with the North vs. South rivalry been? Tobe: I would rate it right up there with most rivalries I’ve seen. I’m telling you, I was giving fist pumps when we beat them in volleyball. I want the athletic competition and rivalry to be left on the athletic field. And afterwards, we can go up and shake their hands and look them in the face and, win or lose, know that we gave it our best effort.
continued on PAGE 2
Emily huguenin
It makes me feel better when we win. NP: What are the best and worst parts of this job so far? Tobe: Best – that’s hard because there are a lot of good things I’ve seen. I would say one of the very positives is the overall attitude of the students … it is very upbeat. They seem to be very focused. They seem to know what the expectations are, and they seem to live up to it. I’m very impressed with that. I’m being very honest with you, as far as a disappointment right now – I haven’t hit it. Everything that I would have thought has met or exceeded expectations.
2 – Friday, Sept. 21, 2012 – North Pointe
news
Austically-impaired students Social studies teacher Sean McCarroll have classrooms on third floor FIVE MINUTES WITH
By Natalie Skorupski
By Izzy Ellery & Taylor White
STAFF REPORTER
Staff Reporters
Newly-hired social studies teacher Sean McCarroll thought he was done with high school when he graduated. Little did he know he would be back after he graduated from college, this time as a teacher. As a senior in high school, McCarroll was introduced to a nonprofit organization called Dance Marathon, which raises money for kids with physical and mental limitations. McCarroll was also the owner of a landscape company. Merging the two enterprises, he used his business to help raise money towards the cause. “The reason we are called Dance Marathon is because, throughout the year, we have all these events. Then in March we have a 30-hour marathon where you stand for all 30 hours. Throughout those hours you learn segments of a 15-minute line dance, made up of 36 popular songs meshed together,” McCarroll said. Throughout his college career, McCarroll’s involvement with Dance Marathon increased. He worked within their hospitality committee, negotiating contracts with food sponsors. As time progressed, McCarroll realized his interests had shifted from business to a more handson teaching position. His focus was now on helping the kids learn dances for each event. Since taking the job at North, his participation in Dance Marathon has decreased. “It’s sad to not be as involved as previous years but it doesn’t always take years of service to make a difference. Sometimes it’s the simple interactions (and) moments that will leave the greatest impacts.”
Kaylee dall
Sean McCarroll, who graduated from North in 2008, is back again for a first year – taking on the job of teaching economics and world history. What is one of your favorite movies and why? “The Patroit because I am a huge Revolutionary War fan, and this was an especially good one.”
What is your favorite genre of music to listen to? “I like pretty much any kind. I would probably pick an older rock band to be my favorite. I listened to a lot of AC/DC and that type growing up.” What was your first concert? “It was the Steve Miller Band. I was about 12, and it was pretty cool at the time.”
If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you travel? “I would go to Russia, because they have so much cool historical stuff.” If you could pick one season to have all year round, what would it be? “Definitely fall. I like the change into the cooler temperature and the overall mood of the season. Plus, Halloween is one of my favorite holidays.”
Residency controversy Continued from Page 1
A popular method to skirt around the district boundary is to “borrow” the address of a family friend or relative who resides in Grosse Pointe – a tactic seen by many Grosse Pointe residents as unfair. “I know there’s a lot of resentment from parents and residents who pay the taxes they do,” counselor Joyce Lyjak said. Kusch points back to the law. “You cannot attend a Grosse Pointe School unless you satisfy “residency” as defined by state law, and generally speaking that is when you become a stakeholder in the community by purchasing or renting property here,” Kusch said. “This is not because we think we are superior, or seek to exclude, but simply because Grosse Pointe taxpayers have been paying taxes over and above those required by law to support our schools and we have been doing it for years. “Families who come in from outside the district have not paid this premium, but would seek to receive the benefit of it.” As for why a family would take the risk? “This issue reflects the failure of some public school districts – by “district” I mean teachers, administrators and parents – to solve a multitude of problems that stand in the way of educating children,” Kusch said. “And, when those failing districts, as evidenced by abysmal test scores and low graduation rates, are located relatively close to successful districts, families will be tempted to escape.” Policy Committee Chair Brendan Walsh said he’s never heard a trustee argue that it’s not important to enforce the residency
policy. However, there is ample disagreement over the details. The matter of how it is enforced, for instance, as well as the number of offenders in the school system, are divisive points. “No one is in favor of lax residency policy enforcement,” Walsh said. “(But) there’s no data to support the charge that our schools are teeming with illegal students.” “Our reports on investigations and expulsions prove that there are indeed violations, and we proactively investigate them and act on them. I take issue with the presumption of guilt based on visual observations and anecdotes, which in many cases prove unfounded or allowable under law. What visual cues are people associating with illegal students?” The Board met and voted 4-2 on a tuition rate for those students found to be non-residents. “A specific dollar amount using a formula implemented by the state was approved at the August board meeting of $13,030.00, as a tuition charge for people found violating the policy,” Gafa said. By charging the rule-breakers a tuition, the district is attempting to crack down. Some residents are concerned that by declining to implement the affidavit for this year, the School Board is overlooking an important step. “Residents for Residency believes that (the affidavit) is a crucial step toward securing our district as a closed district and to discouraging families who might cheat from doing so,” Kusch said. “Families who are currently cheating might rethink whether this is wise given the potential penalties.”
Most of the returning students have noticed the back-to-school changes around the halls. New teachers have moved in and others have switched rooms. One change that may fly under most Norsemen’s radar is the new autistically impaired, or AI, rooms on the third floor, made to welcome the new AI students this year. Due to the expansion of the GPPSS AI program and South’s limited space, three rooms on the third floor were revamped to accommodate the autistic students and AI teachers that made the migration from South High School. “The first step is to just learn our way around here and get them comfortable with the classrooms and the different places that they go during the day. So that will probably take a month or two,” AI teacher Mike DeCenso said. All autistic students in the district’s AI program were previously at South, but the students living in the North district were able to become Norsemen with the new space provided for them. This change in the program will make teaching and meet-
ing the needs of each student easier because of the smaller concentration of students in each location. “With one location, you have a wider range, and it’s more difficult to address needs individually,” Assistant Principal Tom Beach said. “This way we can meet their individual needs, and they can be at their own school.” In previous years, all the students were packed into South, but with the movement of many of the kids, the AI teachers will now have an easier time teaching each student individually. The program teaches a wide age range of students, ranging from 14 to 26 years old. Teachers will be preparing them for jobs outside of school. “We’re training them for some post high school job or experience. The kids here spend part of their day doing academics, but they spend a large part of their day learning job skills,” DeCenso said. “Some of them are counting money, stuffing envelopes, working with assembly tasks, maybe putting bolts together or something like that so the better they get at that, the richer their opportunities will be when they get older.”
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on campus Students and staff walk to combat AIDS
Science teacher Gary Abud recipient of Promise Award Last spring, science teacher Gary Abud received the Teacher of Promise Award from the Michigan Science Teachers Association. The award is for science teachers who use innovative teaching methods, inspire students and promote science education. “When you receive the award at the awards ceremony, you get to meet many great teachers with a wonderful assortment of talent,” Abud said. “It was inspiring to be with and meet all of these dedicated and talented teachers.” Abud was nominated for the award by Don Pata, science department chair. “Not only does he use outstanding teaching methodology, he’s a leader within the school community. Both are outstanding accomplishments for such a young teacher,” Pata said. Abud was required to fill out an application, write essays and obtain references to show his worthiness of the award. “I still feel like a pretty new teacher,” he said. “So, the award has helped me reflect on things I’ve done well so far and things I still need to develop to get even better.”
By Brigitte Smith, Jenna Belote & Caroline Schulte Interns & photo editor
Last Sunday, many of North’s staff and students participated in the annual AIDS Walk Detroit. AIDS Walk Detroit has grown into the largest HIV/AIDS fundraising group in Michigan. “It’s always a worthwhile cause and great opportunity to get involved in,” Diversity Club sponsor Dan Gilleran said. With the help of around 4,000 people
each year, including multiple donations from companies such as Delta, 98.7 Amp Radio, Starbucks and Vitamin Water, this organization has raised over $3.5 million for services to help citizens with this life changing disease. “It’s a great feeling, and it makes you want to keep getting involved,” junior Meagan Curran said. LEFT: Dan Gilleran and Terri Steimer participated in the AIDS Walk. “It’s nice to see so many kids dedicated to a good cause. It was also a very nice day weather-wise, so it was very enjoyable,” Gilleran said. BOTTOM LEFT: Some students had their faces painted. “The whole experience was great. I would do it again because I liked the fact that I was contributing to something,” junior Alana Paige said.
YAF organizes 9/11 remembrance events In commemoration of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Young Americans for Freedom organized the planting of 2,997 American flags along the driveway and circular drive of North. Each flag symbolized a victim who died in the attack. YAF President Grant Strobl said their goal was to raise awareness about the 9/11 terrorists for those who weren’t old enough to experience it at the time. Throughout the day, students in social studies classes went down and placed the flags in the ground. “I felt very sorrowful to see the flags out there. It made me think of the families that lost loved ones,” senior Jack Stapleton said. The flags also attracted media attention, including a reporter from the Grosse Pointe Patch. “Considering it’s been all over the media, I thought it turned out great. Students enjoyed it, and it was effective in opening their eyes. That was YAF’s goal,” Strobl said. YAF also has upcoming plans for a field trip to Columbus, Ohio. They will be attending a Freedom Conference there on Sept. 28 and 29. The conference is open to everyone, and tickets are $20.
BOTTOM RIGHT: Sophomores Nikki Haggerty and Karina Lucchese begin the walk through Royal Oak. “The whole experience was informing and I’m so glad I did it,” Haggerty said.
“Wi-Fi room” transformed into school store
ABOVE: Before the walk, there was a quilt ceremony. “It was nice to see how the disease affected people emotionally so that way I could see how damaging it was both physically and emotionally,” Haggerty said.
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Faces in the crowd Courtney Carroll
Senior Courtney Carroll has been involved in the North choir and musicals since her sophomore year, although she is regretful for not joining her freshman year. She was in the Parcells choir as well, but she says she had stage fright until eighth grade. “After I had a small solo in eighth grade, my stage fright decreased considerably,” she said. Carroll said one of the best components of the musical is bonding with the cast and crew she gets to work with for three months of intense rehearsal. “Working in such close quarters so often really forces you to become a family, and, after closing night, it’s heartbreaking knowing that you can no longer get on stage with your friends and just do what you love together,” Carroll said. “It sounds so cliché, but performing really does give you this indescribable rush. Hearing applause after a number is the most rewarding thing. It’s like a love letter from the audience to the performers telling us we’ve done a good job.”
George Mourtos
Oυγχαρtηρια — a term meaning “congratulations” that freshman George Mourtos heard after receiving the results of his Greek exam. Mourtos began learning the Greek language at age 5 and took classes through his church, Assumption Greek, until in sixth grade. Although many of his classmates discontinued formally learning Greek, Mourtos kept up with it by taking private lessons from his uncle. The sessions helped him tremendously when he learned that he would have the opportunity to take a test at the University of Michigan. This test is designed to test language skills, and a high score can exempt one from high school language classes. After nearly 10 years of studying Greek, Mourtos wasn’t especially worried going into the exam. “The hardest part was the instructions because they were in Greek, so there were words that I wasn’t familiar with,” Mourtos said. Once he was through the instructions, Mourtos found the exam easy.
Sydney Eger
The infamous, un-opened Wi-Fi lounge is no longer. In its place is the school store run by Business Management class students and co-advisers Michelle Davis and Brian Levinson. “It will give the opportunity for those interested in business to take a hands on, realworld experience, outside of experience from test, projects, and lectures,” Levinson said. The store will be open during both lunches with items for sale like Norseman spirit wear, novelties, cups, car flags, window clings, baseball caps, popcorn, coffee and muffins. There will also be some free, entertaining features. “There is an air hockey table in there. We’re working on getting a foosball table ... as well as different board games and card games. You just need your student ID to check out things,” Levinson said. As of last Tuesday, Sept. 18, there’s still something missing – a name. Davis and Levinson encourage the student body to submit names for the school store. One will be chosen as the best moniker and become the permanent name of the school store. By Sarah Schade, Amanda Berry, Danae DiCicco, Kristen Kaled & Sean O’Melia
North Pointe – Friday, Sept. 21, 2012 –3
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Over the summer, freshman Sydney Eger joined Grosse Pointe teens in a mission trip to an impoverished area in Kentucky. The Grosse Pointe Methodist church arranged this trip for their youth group to travel to renovate run-down homes. Eger and her peers built and painted porches for men and women who were suffering from cancer and undergoing chemotherapy. She said they worked in sweltering heat in hopes of lifting the spirits of the patients. “The people there are so unfortunate and they were all thankful for what we did,” she said. Along with their physical contributions, Eger’s youth group donated over $1,000 for the small community that they visited. Returning back to Grosse Pointe from a far more underprivileged area, she feels lucky to be living where she is. “It shows everybody here how much we really have,” she said. Sydney enjoyed her first year of mission work and plans on attending similar trips. By Libby Sumnik, Andrea Scapini & Haley Reid
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SPORTS
4 – Friday, Sept. 21, 2012 – North Pointe
QUICK HITS
Field hockey team nets new player Junior Marissa Stinson has lived across the states, but she has finally settled down in net for the varsity field hockey team. By Andrea Scapini & Ashley Brown
Assistant Editor & intern sean omelia
Sophomore David Gerlach spent time on the bench during recent football games due to a head injury.
david gerlach Sophomore David Gerlach will be watching his team play from the bench this year. In his nine-game season, Gerlach has to miss three due to a gradeone concussion. After two to three weeks of rest, dealing with exhaustion and short-term memory loss, he will be back on the field. Gerlach has been playing football for 11 years. This year marks his second year on North’s JV team. “I love football because it’s the one sport that you can use all of your strength and power to hit someone across from you,” Gerlach said. However, as Gerlach was on the field, his love for the game turned against him as one of his opponents blindsided him – causing this headacheinducing injury. “I was mad at first, but I realized that this is a very serious injury, and (I) needed to be safe.”
meet the coach JV field hockey coach Margi Scholtes Q: Where did you coach before coming to North? A: I went to South but graduated from a school down in South Africa in 2006. Then I went on to play at Tufts University in Boston. After playing four years there, I went on to coach one year as an assistant coach at Tufts. After Tufts, I went down to Baltimore, Maryland and was getting another degree from Johns Hopkins and helped coach at Johns Hopkins University. Q: What is your coaching style? A: I’m really big on developmental skills and learning how to play field hockey and learning all the skills but having fun at the same time. You aren’t going to play a sport unless it’s fun. (Have) the discipline and the skill and condition you need to have to play a sport, but also having fun while at it. Q: Why field hockey? A: I started playing field hockey when I was younger. I went to Ligget in middle school, so I fell in love with it then. Athletics have always been a part of my life. Then when I was being recruited to play in college, it came down to volleyball and field hockey. I chose field hockey. Q: What’s your favorite part of coaching? A: I’m very competitive. I really like going out and playing and winning, obviously. One of my favorite parts of coaching is teaching new girls or new athletes how to play field hockey since field hockey, especially in the Midwest, is fairly new and not many people know it. A lot of times people play sports not because it’s fun, but because they have to because of their parents, and then they kind of lose having fun in the sport. So whether we play tail tag or scrimmage, it’s really important to me that the girls have a say in what we do or what drills they like. Q: Why do you think your teams are successful? A: Our teams are successful because they get along as a team. It’s really important that your team gets along, on and off the field. I’m not saying everyone has to be best friends, but being a team is playing as a team, and to play as a team, you need to like each other on the field. So a lot of that is team bonding, communication and having fun. Winning is fun, but to win you need to have fun on the field.
By Sara Villani & Colleen Reveley
B
orn and raised as a “military brat,” a kid who has grown up in military life, junior Marissa Stinson is accustomed to quickly adjusting in new environments. Stinson moved to Grosse Pointe this year, one of the many journeys that she has taken due to her father, Colonel Ben Stinson’s, job. “All military ‘brats’ know that they’re gonna have to (move), so they make friends quickly and know how to keep in touch and look forward to seeing their friends again,” Colonel Stinson said. “Marissa has friends that she made back when she was three that she remembers,” he said. “We’re still in touch with their parents, and it’s kind of like an extended family. They kind of become cousins in a way because you keep running into them.” In her most recent location, Virginia, Stinson took up field hockey in seventh grade as a way to make friends after discontinuing her home schooled education and transitioning to public school. “The whole southern East Coast in Virginia, Pennsylvania and all those places are very into field hockey. It’s probably the biggest girls sport on the East Coast,” Stinson said. “In the area that I came from, the girls have been playing since they could pick up a stick, so all of them played all through high school and probably will through college.” Coming from an area where field hockey was highly competitive to a place where it’s less prominent was a big adjustment. “I like coming into this team because I have a good mindset and high goals,” Stinson said. “It’s definitely a lot more relaxing coming into this school af-
family photo
Varsity field hockey goaltender junior Marissa Stinson averages 25 saves per game with a save percentage of 90%. ter a year of not playing and Stinson’s teammates recoggetting back into the swing of nize that her work ethic brings things. If I did that going back a new energy to the team as a into an elite team, I don’t think whole. I would’ve got“She actuten in.” ally knows how The more to play field laid back aura hockey, and she of the field brought expehockey team rience to the at North is not team,” varsity what she exfield hockey copected. captain Anna “ H o n e s t l y, Giordano said. the girls on “We’ve never my other team had a really didn’t lose begood goalie, so cause they she knows what worked just so, she’s doing, and so hard. It was it really helps difficult,” Stinbecause she’s Marissa Stinson son said. experienced.” Junior “I remem“Her attiber throwing tude is really up the first day of practice, but positive, and she just loves field I was in the best shape of my life hockey and just wants to be remy freshman year. I had mus- ally good and tries her hardest,” cles everywhere.” Giordano said.
“I remember throwing up the first day of practice, but I was in the best shape of my life my freshman year. I had muscles everywhere.”
Although her future isn’t set in stone, Stinson is aspiring to be a goaltender for a college team. “She puts a lot of pressure on herself because she knows what she’s supposed to do and she knows how it’s supposed to be played so she’s going to give it 100% for sure,” Stinson’s mother, Toni Stinson, said. “We’re hoping that she gets a few looks. If not this year, we’ll send some films and some information out to coaches at some of the schools that she’s interested in, and if they’re interested in coming up, then we’ll go from there.” Stinson is also considering going down the same path as her father. “I really want to work with foreign affairs, going overseas to other counties,” Stinson said. “I want to go into the naval military, if I can get in.”
Junior turns team manager this season By Dayle Maas News editor
Junior Bradley Centala attends every varsity boys soccer practice and game, but his name isn’t on the roster. Centala plays travel soccer and can’t play for his high school team. Instead, he assists the team any way he can, whether it be taking statistics during games or setting up exercises at practices. “It allows me to be a part of the team and be with my friends,” Centala said. Centala played North varsity soccer last year, but this year is playing on Vardar Academy team, which is a U.S. developmental travel soccer team that sticks together 10 months of the year. The Vardar coach sees high school soccer to be anti-productive for Centala. “(I miss) playing with and in front of my friends from school because it was just a fun atmosphere and experience,” Centala said. Boys varsity soccer coach and one of Centala’s former club coaches, Skip Mukhtar, wanted to give Centala the opportunity to still be a part of the high school soccer experience, allowing him to help out at games and practices. “I know it’s killing him not being able to play with the high school team, so the second best thing is still being involved, still being involved with his buddies,” Mukhtar said.
Emily Huguenin
Junior Bradley Centala divvies up his time between helping out with Norsemen soccer and playing on his travel soccer team, Vardar Academy. “I know because I loved playing high school soccer, and I knew that I wanted to get Bradley involved.” Although Centala wishes to be on the field with his classmates, he says the high intensity level offered through Vardar keeps him playing on his travel team. “We are able to do different things as a team during games and practices that could not be done at the high school level,” Centala said. “Also, the practices and games are a lot more intense because more is expected of us. Everyone is trying to get noticed by colleges, so they are always playing their best.” This is Centala’s fourth year playing for Vardar. In his high school years, his club teams have each given him different guidelines to the high school season. During his
freshman year, because of his early birthday, he had a grade up on his club teammates. The coach didn’t permit him to play for high school so he would be on par with the eighth grade players. His sophomore year, when the whole club team entered high school, the prospect of playing for North finally arrived. Now, junior year, his first year on the elite Vardar academy team, he is again denied the chance to play soccer at the high school level. Centala credits his soccer ability to travel soccer and hopes those experiences will further his soccer career. He hopes to reach his aspirations of playing at a Division I school. “I have been playing soccer all my life, and college is just the next step.”
Life
North Pointe – Friday, September 21, 2012 – 5
Finding comfort in three’s company:
Triplet freshmen sisters help guide each other through high school By Danae DiCicco & Melissa Healy
down.” “We interact with each other. At Staff Reporters lunch, we all sit in the same group,” Lily said. “It’s not like she (Sophia) Walking the halls of a new school with new has her friends, Victoria has her faces and new surroundings can all become a friends and I have my friends. We are little overwhelming. Luckily, freshmen Victoall together.” ria, Sophia and Lily Smith have the comfort of While the triplets share friends each others’ faces in the sea of unfamiliarity. here and there, the girls highlight that “We came from South Lake, so we wouldn’t this is not a commonality amogst know anyone,” Lily said. “I’m kind of glad that them, but that their differences in we know each other because I wouldn’t know personality often make them differanyone and be able to hang out with anyone entiate them between social groups. at lunch and just sit alone, but then I get to sit “I would say Sophia is unexpected with them.” because everyone at my old school Although all three sisters have shared the thought that Sophia was the quietest same school their whole lives, they haven’t person in the world,” Victoria said. shared the same classes. “She was like the sweetest person, “Well, Victoria and I are both in French I. but at home she’s so loud, and it’s just We have Ms. Ciocovenaru, and she was very funny to see what she is like at home. surprised to hear that we were triplets because Lily is loud. She’s loud everywhere.” Lily has her for tutorial. She’s like, ‘(Lily) said But, just like any other siblings, the she was a triplet. Are you girls the other tripsisters bicker and need time apart. lets?”’ Sophia said. “She calls us the twins be“We do argue, but it’s never a fullcause there’s not three of us.” blown-out fight. We don’t really fight. The sisters, however, aren’t identical. Before We argue, but it never really lasts very being informed, many people are unaware long,” Sophia said. “It’s just like a conDanae DiCicco they are even sisters. From left to right, freshmen fraternal triplet sisters Victoria, Sophia and Lily together take on flict, and then we are like, ‘oh you want “Sometimes people say ‘oh my gosh, you the new campus of North, coming from South Lake High School. to jump on the trampoline?’ And then guys are the same.’ But if you lived with us, you would don’t look alike. I’m kind of glad that that’s one of the dif- we are friends again.” know that we are not the same. We have totally different ferent things so people don’t mix us up.” “I like having friends with my sisters, but sometimes personalities, and it’s kind of shocking,” Victoria said. “We like some of the same things, have some of the I like just being with my friends alone. Being with your “We hang out with different people and do different same friends and we know how to react to each other,” sisters 24 hours a day is a long time,” Victoria said. things. Like they aren’t musical and I am, I play saxo- said Victoria. “Like if you have a fight with a friend and But according to Lily, it’s worth it: “I don’t know who I phone and they play volleyball,” Sophia said. “But we all you’re mad at them forever then we know how to cool would be without them.”
Pata handsomely rewarded for work in Physics, but finds real prize in teaching By Gabby Burchett & Melina Glusac Staff Reporters
It’s not what means the most to him. Still, science teacher Don Pata’s reception of the Presidential Award of Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching is an honor – the highest an educator can receive from the federal government. Only 97 teachers throughout the country win each year. This year Pata was the only awardee from Michigan. “I’m so passionate about teaching and learning that for someone outside of my immediate sphere of influence to say ‘We think you’re doing a great job!’ is so meaningful,” Pata said. After being nominated in 2011 by his mentor Mark Davids, a former South High School science teacher, Pata began a laborious application process. The application required that the 13-year veteran shoot a video, in which he had to record himself teaching, and submit a 15-page essay. “He has always been a first-class person. He’s always been passionate and always wanted to do his best in everything,” Davids said. “I was convinced from his work ethic that he would do great with the essays and the application.” A couple months after Pata submitted his work, he found out he was one out of three finalists hailing from Michigan. Those finalists’ applications were then sent to the National Science Foundation, where a panel of experts, scientists and teachers deliberated to see who was the best in Michigan. It was narrowed down further to two teachers, and the applications were sent to the White
House where another panel judged them. On June 14, the absolute best submissions were chosen. So what’s the secret to his success? Pata attributes it to all that he’s learned from his teachers; he often draws inspiration from his fellow colleagues, as well. “I see (teaching) more as a legacy. I am a good teacher because I’ve worked with other great teachers. And now I’m going to take this opportunity to work with other teachers and pass on this legacy of good teaching to them,” he said. Pata is not the only one that thinks highly of his collaborators; Assistant Principal Kate Murray is proud of her fellow Norseman. “Mr. Pata’s pedagogical skill helps all students construct their own meaning in his physics classroom,” Murray said. This mixed with his work ethic, vouched for by Davids, made Pata a force to be reckoned with in the competition. Although recognition is sweet, it is not the true allure of his field. “We don’t go into teaching because of awards. We go into teaching because we love kids, and we love to pass on knowledge,” he said. “The award is just something else ancillary to that.” In fact, Pata has never relied on awards or even modern conveniences to propel him forward in his profession. “He went to the Peace Corps and taught in Africa for a few years,” Davids said. “He was literally teaching science with sticks and stones.” Even an adaptable teacher like Pata looks beyond the books, pens, sticks and stones and cites something deeper as his favorite aspect of the job. “When you get to know them, as not only as students, but as people also, and you can share in their experiences, I love that.” Pata said. “I get to know 150 different people every year. I get to spend every day with them, and get to know their personalities. Building relationships matters.” Senior Kamala Kanneganti and Physics teacher Don Pata review the basics of Physics. “Now that I won here, we are the only school district in Michigan who has three teachers who have won it,” Pata said.
Family photo
“He (my dad) told me about three or four months in advance (of thier move to China). I was given the option, I thought it would be for the best to go, “ junior Jack McDonald said. “There was definitely some restaurants . . . or foods that I couldn’t get over there, (like) Coney Island.”
Junior voyages across Pacific for an extended stay in Shanghai, China By Libby Sumnik & Audrey Kam Staff Reporters
Bri git te S mit h
Twenty-six months ago, junior Jack McDonald left behind his mother, his sister and his life in America for Shanghai, China because of his dad’s job at General Motors. McDonald had to transition from the suburbs of Grosse Pointe to the populated city life without even knowing the native language. “My dad spoke pretty good Chinese, and I was traveling with him most of the time, so I felt pretty comfortable with it. I learned it just when I got there. It was required to take a language, and I chose Chinese because it’d be the most useful,” McDonald said. “It was very hard. All I had was my dad, and I didn’t start school for another two weeks before, so I was just in my room most of the time.” McDonald’s mother, Patty McDonald, said that it was difficult making her decision of letting him go to Shanghai, but she couldn’t deny him the opportunity to live in another country. McDonald visited his mom and older sister, Kelly, in America every Christmas and summer. “Every time I dropped him off at the airport, it was horrible. Knowing I wasn’t going to see him for six months, it was hard,” McDonald’s mom said. “He gained opportunities to meet people from other countries, to live in a big city. You know there’s 23 million people in Shanghai, so he got to learn how it’s like to live in an apartment, to live in a big city, and to travel. They would go on a field trip for five
days. They would go to different remote parts of China and live like the Chinese. They would kayak and mountain climb, so those experiences you wouldn’t have here.” McDonald was put into the Shanghai Community International School for his freshman and sophomore year. “I met a lot of people from around the world,” McDonald said. “When I was a new student in China, the teachers weren’t expecting as much of me for the first week because they know what I was going through just moving to China, while here I was just sort of thrown in, not given much time to adjust.” After two years overseas, McDonald left Shanghai even though his dad is still living there until the end of the year. He says that his experience has affected what he values and how he looks at things now. “There’s a lot of times I think people in America are more small minded. They’re not looking at the full picture. After getting my experience over there, I see more open minded. It increased what I value more,” McDonald said. “I try not to take things for granted now. I try to look at perspectives from both sides before making a decision if I really need something. I got to see how some of the Chinese people were living and how poor they were and how they had to live their life, and they were still managing to be happy.” “It’s not something a lot of high school students can say they did. I’m going to miss Shanghai, but it’s always good to be back home.”
LIFE
6 – Friday, September 21, 2012 – North Pointe
Television drama breaks news on what happens after the camera stops rolling By Jacob Barry Staff reporter
Will MacAvoy (Jeff Daniels) is an average TV news anchor on the new drama Newsroom on HBO. He has a reputation for not bothering anybody, a trait for which he’s well liked. He’s called the Leno of news. He guest stars on an unknown television show where he’s asked, “Why is America the greatest country in the world?” The other guest on the show says “diversity and opportunity,” while the host says “freedom and freedom,” but Will is sparked to action when an audience member holds up a notepad saying “IT’S NOT. BUT IT CAN BE.” With the notepad’s message in mind, Will responds to the question with an eloquent rant. He goes on to explain how America is not the only country with freedom in the world, nor is it number one in anything ex-
cept a number of incarcerated citizens per capita, number of adults who believe in angels, and defense spending, “where we spend more than the next 26 countries combined; 25 of whom are allies.” Not to spoil the whole speech, but to give an idea of how powerful it was, I woke up on that day, started Newsroom for the fun of it, heard that speech and knew what I was doing for the rest of that day. I spent the next nine hours glued to my television watching every episode. Will comes back to work, faces some minor difficulties, and finds himself with a new staff of reporters and an ex–girlfriend for an executive producer, one whose relationship ended on rocky terms. Will is furious when he finds out who his new executive producer is, but there’s not a lot of time because of a news alert that goes off on one of the staff reporter’s com-
puter. They address it as an oil spill off the Gulf Coast and disregard it. But, a new reporter gets a chance to prove himself when he gets the information that the oil company doesn’t know how to patch it at that depth. April 20, 2010 rolls across the screen–the day of the BP oil spill. The main selling point of the show is definitely the dialogue. It’s always crackling with life and packs an emotional punch. Show creator Aaron Sorkin also created the hit show West Wing which was praised for its intelligent political wit for dialogue. But like the show West Wing, Newsroom seems to promote Sorkin’s political agenda of the moderate republican protagonist who, through the ability to compromise, wins in the end. While the dialogue was commendable, the plot of the show’s love interests was not. The show follows two staff reporters who have an almost ju-
venile exchange for the whole season. It could be described as a “he likes her, but she doesn’t like him back because she has a boyfriend” situation. Sounds like high school drama to me, and it was just as predictable. Their relationship even reached its would-be gratifying climax in the season finale with the cliche kiss in the rain. Aside from the romantic sub-plot that tended to drag on, the show actually had a myriad of quality sub –plotlines. These included a feisty, 60 –year– old studio manager who likes to make threats about kicking in teeth; or the growing gossip girl reporter issue with the main anchor MacAvoy. The show speaks credible opinions on complicated issues in a manner that enthralls the viewer. It’s worth a watch.
Grade: A-
REVIEWS xx’s coexist
Weather underground
tHE POSSESSION
The darkness
Minor key tonalities, whispered vocal duets and generally sparse ins t r u ment at ion should provide the perfect mefor the thexx.sandbag.uk.com dium emotional, desirous lyrics it seems the xx hoped to communicate. And the band definitely has style. Yet, lyrically, Coexist falls flat, painting nebulous portraits of love and lust, never attaining poignancy or even articulateness. Neither is the indie pop trio’s music especially dynamic or defined, but this is not its complete undoing. The instrumentation fluctuates calmly – Jamie Smith’s beats may creep in behind reverb-laden guitar and Romy Croft’s pleasing vocals, as on the opening track, “Angels.” Steelpans work their way into “Reunion,” a creative and welcome addition to an album whose sound is largely uniform. Despite the quietness of the album, the duets and the lyrical content, the album never feels intimate, as it’s trying to be. They have a certain style about them – but from it there is nothing remarkable or transcendent produced.
Weather Underground, as it’s found in the App Store, contains the normal weekly weather report, but takes advanced steps beyond The wunderground.com Weather Channel app. It allows you to view hourly reports, not only for the day of, but for the entire week, including a time for sunrise and sunset. This free app has an easily accessible map of the world, magnified to show the state you are in, showing temperatures for all the cities near you as well as the present precipitation status and wind patterns. Available as well are fun features such as sea surface temperatures for tropical climates and ski resorts for your location. Wunderground’s Twitter feed is built in, updating users from dangerous storms to weather fun facts. A Twitter account is not required to use this feature. This app offers unique new features to the user. In my experience its forecast predictions have proven accurate and was a reliable tool for this summer vacation. While only grazing the surface of the app it clearly surpasses the weather app provided by Apple.
The Possession starts off as any generic demon–possession movie would. Little girl finds old creepy box. Her family notices thepossessionmovie.com bizarre changes in her personality. The solution? Take her to an exorcist – which, just like any other demon-filled movie, doesn’t actually solve the problem. Clyde (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) gets a divorce. His daughters, Hannah (Madison Davenport) and Em (Natasha Calis) take the change well. Clyde tries to spend as much time as the custody agreement will allow. While the girls and their father are at a garage sale, Em finds an old wooden box with Hebrew writing on it, and insists her father buy sit. From the box, Em hears strange voices, and grows curious. Soon, she goes from being daddy’s little sweetheart, to a parent’s worst nightmare. If you’re somebody who believes every demon-possession movie, this movie will suffice. Otherwise, The Possession will be like any other mediocre exorcist movie. Save ten dollars and rent one from Redbox.
To explain L ond on – b a s e d band The Darkness would be impossible without hearing the piercing scream that lead singer Justin Hawkins theactualdarkness.com belts during the chorus of “Every Inch of You” in their new album Hot Cakes. To hear Hawkins’s scream is to hear the energy that pulses through The Darkness’ every masterpiece of a song. It’s the kind of energy that has you singing along by the second time the chorus comes around, and buying the album when the last note is thrust upon you. Hot Cakes exceeds every expectation The Darkness has set with their past two albums. The most enjoyable prospect of Hot Cakes is that it spells out a tour for The Darkness, considering they have gained a notable reputation for selling out their shows, especially now that they’re touring with shock–pop star Lady Gaga. If The Darkness hasn’t had you emotional when they bid you adieu with “I Can’t Believe It’s Not Love,” then it’s quite possible to believe that you are musically impaired. Because to disagree that Hot Cakes is one of the best albums of 2012 would ultimately leave you looking quite disturbed.
By Jordan Radke
By Patricia Bajis
By Melissa Healy
By Emma Ockerman
C+
A
C-
A
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IDEAS
North Pointe – Friday, September 21, 2012 – 7
You’re killin’ me smalls! “Grosse Pointe Public School administrators and teachers are responsible 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
Dayle Maas NEws editor
Gabby Burchett Ideas editor
Jordan Radke Managing Editor
Emma Ockerman next issue planning editor
Kim Cusmano Sports editor
Our editorial represents the opinion of the North Pointe Editorial Board consisting of the editors above.
OUR EDITORIAL
The battle for senior girls shirts
Administrative cautioning, feisty Facebook-group discourse, 100 banned t-shirts, and 100 disgruntled female students (not to mention parents.) What generated such a ruckus? Senior girls shirts. One hundred new, custom-designed t-shirts remained unwrinkled on the first day of school. Ten other custom shirts were donned for their intended purpose: celebrating the beginning of the Senior Lady Norsemen’s last year of high school. With 100 girls denied the right to wear senior shirts on Wednesday, Sept. 5, but 10 permitted, and years of administrative acceptance prior, it’s easy to imagine the resulting resentment. The front of the 100 banned shirts read: “Senior Girls 2013.” The back read: “We Run this like a Boss.” The group of 10 shirts read: “Seniors.” In April of last year, Class of 2013 student council was advised to end the relatively long-standing tradition of senior girls t-shirts. Administration views the stratification of senior girls as a promotion of superiority. Assistant Principal Tom Beach warned girls on the “Senior Girls Shirts ” Facebook fan-page that “everyone needs to make their own decision, but anyone who wears these shirts will not be allowed in classrooms or the hallway.” Several girls fought back with lengthy posts about a violation of their rights, and shot down Beach’s attempts to keep them out of trouble. On the other hand, 10 shirts were permitted – the ones without a phrase on the back or the word “girls.” The ten that said simply said “Seniors.” All aforementioned shirts should have been permitted. Both shirts were exclusive. To some, the 100 shirts were more alienating by defining gender, but the other 10 implied “girl” – all bodies occupying them were female. The effect of each in that respect was equal. However, only one was snarky, the group of 100: “We Run This Like A Boss” – a clear statement of their coolness. How unusual, seniors flaunting their senior-ness! So in that lay the negative sentiment. However the banned t-shirts were neither vulgar or inappropriate. There was no hidden inside joke or blatant rudeness. (Mind you, South’s girls senior shirts stated “Bow Down.”) Exclusivity does not equate to vulgarity, nor does sassiness. If that were the case, much of our sports teams apparel would be against the rules, like Girls cross country’s “Shut Up and Run” or girls varsity volleyball’s “Get On Our Level.” General fashion shirts like “Cool Story Bro” would have to be shredded. The dress code in our code of conduct states, “Clothing must be free of advertising for, or reference to, alcohol or tobacco products, and must not have drug references, depict weapons, or violence, or display inappropriate language.” “We Run This Like A Boss” does not defy these regulations. Monitoring sassiness, attitude or other such intangibles is an overly-subjective, fruitless endeavor. The attempt to do so in this case made a mountain out of a molehill.
Saving cinematically-challenged citizens one reel at a time
Cinematically-spoiled citizens of the universe, I am summoning you. Join me in my crusade to culture the modern moviegoer. Those who only subject themselves to the trite elements of romantic comedies: a boy and girl in love, a cheesy montage of their great life together, a misinterpreted My turn action, a close- By Lauren semack minded dismissal of said action, etc. Don’t worry though; unlike reality, they get back together through valiant efforts of one partner. People who only watch movies based off Nicholas Sparks’ books (a main character dies?! No one ever could have called that). Or movies like Crazy, Stupid, Love and 27 Dresses: I am begging on my knees right now – open your life to films that will expand your knowledge of the world around you. This reading exercise has potential to fine-tune the tastebuds of your movie-going experiences and spark a latent enthusiasm for “film,” not “movies,” or, heaven forbid, “chick flicks.” My first suggestion is Breakfast at Tiffany’s. No, not that song by Deep Blue Something. The adventure of Audrey Hepburn as a wannabe socialite, and her wannabe author neighbor. Critically acclaimed, full of wannabes and a classic. The catch for high-retina display lovers – it’s black and white. Nowadays, the general teenage population seems to take black and white and make it synonymous with obsolete garbage. Lies. My next suggestion is the musical The Rocky Horror Picture Show. It’s no runof-the-mill film. No special effects like in the latest science-fiction/double feature. There’s no soundtrack I love to wake up to
more than this. An autumn setlist, it has fittingly proved useful for me these past grueling weeks. This is the beloved story of Brad and Janet in a mixture of every science-fiction movie you have ever heard of. And ... they eat another character. Open mind people, open mind! Stars include Susan Sarandon, Meatloaf, and a seductive Tim Curry as the leading vestite. And to those who have parents that shield eyes when anything more than elbow is exposed on-screen, there are other films for you. This is not it. Next, the Indie film. When I was younger I was under the notion it was from India or was some rogue creation. Oh how naïve I was! So first things first, Indie stands for “independent,” meaning no generic company will be paying big bucks for this nonOscar-winning sensation. They are odd, but are the epitome of art in the world of film. Usually it’s created to illustrate a philosophy one can only express visually. Besides the need for an open mind to watch, reading skills may be a necessity too. Independent films such as Le Fabuleux Destin d’Amélie Poulain are in French, but have English subtitles. But if it’s Friday night and you don’t have the effort to skim that screenplay, the next suggestion is The Ballad of Jack and Rose. No, not the characters from Titanic (sorry all teenage girls). Of the films I’ve discussed, it’s the most controversial and taboo film. It will cause “Uhh”’s and raised eyebrows in disbelief. But attempt to permeate the writer’s mind and seek the truth she is subliminally sending you about modern society. Moreover, I hope I have intrigued your mind. As you may now see, there is nothing wrong with spending a few hours witnessing the occasional cannibal dinner, reading a few words in German and watching a sepia-toned film.
“It doesn’t really matter to me because I’m never tardy.”
“I wish they didn’t have hallsweeps like they do, but more like if you got two tardies it would be a detention.”
“It’s probably for the best of the school, but it’s annoying because I’m tardy a lot.”
Alison Fly
Cameron Schreiber
Annie Armbruster
Junior
Freshman
Sophomore
YOUR TURN: What do you think about administration enforcing district policies on tardies? By Libby Sumnik
“I think it’s just getting to the point where it’s unfair.”
“It’s not that big of a deal to be on time at North because we have seven minutes of passing time.”
“I think it’s a good idea to start early and nip it in the bud, then we wont have a problem later on.”
Josh Dessinger
Brian White
Kathy Jensen
senior
Staff
rebuttal
It’s a shirt, stop whining
SECTION EDITORS: Dayle Maas, Kim Cusmano, Lauren Semack, Gabby Burchett
If a simple polyester-cotton blend shirt causes this much grief for the administration, it’s not really worth the sweat and tears of 17-year-old girls across North. The prospect of having senior girls shirts claiming that, yes, they are seniors and, in fact, are girls doesn’t trouble administration. It’s the notion of seniors claiming “they run this place” or “are the boss,” and having it stamped across their back just to let everyone know how big and bad they are. Seniors by this point should be able to tell the difference between the futile and what truly impacts their lives, between the importance of a petty Facebook rebellion group and doing something at least moderately productive. Because it’s highly doubtful that a once-senior girl will be sitting by the fireplace at a ripe old age telling her grandchild the epic tale of the senior shirt rebellion. In short – get over it.
ASSISTANT EDITORS: Kristen Kaled, Andrea Scapini, Amanda Berry, Marie Bourke, Emma Ockerman STAFF REPORTERS: Patricia Bajis, Colleen Reveley, Izzy Ellery, Melissa Healy, Natalie Skorupski, Sara Villani, Libby Sumnik, Rachel Cullen, Jacob Barry, Danae DiCicco PHOTOGRAPHERS: Caroline Schulte (Photo Editor) Emily Huguenin ( Assistant Photo Editor) Sean O’meilia, Kaylee Dall INTERNS: Sheldon Chavis, Ashley Brown, Hayley Reid, Sarah Schade, Nathan Kane, Audrey Kam, Anna Hopkins, Jenna Belote ASSISTANT MANAGING EDITOR: Jordan Radke NEXT ISSUE MANAGING EDITOR: Emma Ockerman
Staff
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 percent recycled paper. CONTACT US 707 Vernier Road Grosse Pointe Woods MI, 48236 Phone: 313.432.3248 Email: northpointe@gpschools.org Website: myGPN.org Twitter: myGPN FACULTY ADVISER: Shari Adwers
Editors desk By Emma Ockerman
Dear politically ignorant teenagers, As election season is upon us young-minded souls, it would be of my utmost pleasure to inform you why there might be a reason for you to turn your minds attention to the news instead of your news feed. We are in an economic crisis, one that is spelled out in traumas worse than fourdollar-a-gallon gas and the last season of Jersey Shore. According to a report done by the U.S. Department of Education, just over one million students that are currently enrolled in school have no home to go to. They help make up the 46.2 million Americans that currently live in poverty, aided by a 8.1% unemployment rate. Yet, according to a Gallup poll, just over half of the largest and most diverse voter demographic – young Americans – plans to head to the voting booths to vote for either presidential candidate this November. So what does that other half insist on doing instead of participating in democracy, besides complaining about the elected officials they themselves did not choose? Consider for a moment that elected officials – the ones young people so frequently ignore – have the ability to institute a draft, increase interest rates on student loans, raise tuition at state schools and raise the amount of taxes and government fees that come out of an already meager teenage paycheck. So what of these Facebook statuses and tweets that preach that politics are for old, bitter people wagging you off their lawn with a shotgun? Actually, those old, bitter people have the biggest voter turnout. According to a poll done by the U.S. Census Bureau, during the 2008 election, around 70% of them made it to the voting booths. And not surprisingly, they typically vote against the usual teenybopper’s interest. That can be changed if you get off your couch and speak your mind with more than a tiny plastic keyboard. Young people typically have a pathetic voter turnout, but can be the loudest and most influential when it comes to rallying their opinions, gathering the attention of their peers and taking the time to be angry about things worth being angry for. It’s your fellow young Americans that fight for our country, your reproductive rights that are being disputed by people decades older, and your future that’s being debated all of the days you wake up and growl at old people for whining about the news. Can you see why these things matter now? Do your research, I beg of you. Read the newspaper, be informed. Angry, even. You have a right to be knowledgeable to the world surrounding you. After all, couch-potato teenagers now are the future decision-makers in America. Signed, Politically outraged, but purposefully informed, teenager.
North Pointe – Friday, September 21, 2012 – 8