The Voice: February 12, 2015

Voice The

your school. your voice.

Volume 54, Issue 1 October 23, 2014

Volume 54 Issue 2 February

WHY DO WE HATE OURSELVES?

NEWS

Photos from Lansing project unify Facebook page

Project Unify gives students a place to belong

The Project Unify bocce ball team gathers for a picture at the Area 8 Track and Field meet at Michigan State University. Each year, the group attends a variety of events throughout the state and country.

Link Leaders help freshmen prep for finals

where students train and play together.

Right now, Everett has unified bowling, cross country, bocce ball, cheerleading, basketball and softball teams. This year they are working towards adding unified alpine skiing and snowboarding.

Sports aren’t the only focus of Project Unify. Last year Brittanie Guilbeaux and Kira Thatcher, members of the unified cheerleading team, testified in support of the “R-Word” package of bills to remove the word retarded] from Michigan Laws. They were there when lieutenant governor Brian Calley signed the bills into law, and they attended the fourth annual Special Olympics Inspire Greatness Gala as his special guests. Project Unify is a program that makes a difference for all students.

“All students get the chance to participate in leadership opportunities, community services, sports teams, and other fun activities,” said Robinson.

Alivia Pulido Reporter National bullying awareness day was October 22. National bullying awareness day originally came from a campaign founded in 2006 by PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center. PACER made this campaign to educate and raise awareness about bullying. It was originally supposed to be in the first week in October, but in 2010 they expanded it to the whole month so they could spend more time spreading awareness through activities like Bullying Awareness Day. To support the cause, students wore orange.

Often, when people see other people getting bullied, they choose to stay out of the situation. The movement is trying to encourage students to reach out.

“I have seen somebody get bullied before and I told them to stop and to just worry about

themselves,” said sophomore Dayna Dowdy.

Dowdy said she thinks that bullying is a mean and a disgusting thing to do, and that it’s just a way to hurt others because they either get hurt at home or have issues. She hopes that there could be a way to stop bullying but she knows it won't stop any time soon.

“It could stop if people just worried about themselves, but there’s always going to be that one person that doesn't care and says something to hurt someone else,” said Dowdy.

Members from the student council hung up posters all over the school. That’s how some people found out about bullying day.

Junior Casey Hicks wore orange that day to spread awareness.

“I wore orange to spread awareness because it’s an issue that needs more attention and needs to be solved,” said Hicks.

Hicks said she thinks bullying is not going to be easily stopped at the school.

“It’s not a big issue at the school, but it’s definitely there,” said Hicks.

The student council president, Travon Rogers said that at the student council meetings and they ran out of time to plan and advertise, so they weren’t able to include as many students as they would have liked.

“Hopefully we will have a big bully awareness day/ month in the near future,” said Rogers.

Staff members are also involved in Everett’s effort to stop bullying. Behavior intervention monitor Jessica Ryan worked with student council to create a anti-bullying week.

Each day of the week, students participated in different events that pertained to bullying awareness.

“I hope that our school succeeds in cutting down on bullying because it’s a real issue that affects students,” said freshmen Marc Brown.

erin arnold erin arnold

Extravagant club buses please students

erin arnold

2 • The Voice • February 11, 2015 • myvikingvoice.com

ticipate in different events. This year, they went to Ypsilanti for the fall games ceremony. Every May, Everett’s unified bocce ball team participates in the Special Olympics State Summer Games at Central Michigan University. They are planning to send their unified cheerleaders to Los Angeles to cheer at the Special Olympics World Games. Although Project Unify is also a great way to have new experiences, it’s also a good place to meet other students that you wouldn’t get a chance to interact with.

“My favorite thing about Project Unify is meeting new people, whether they are a buddy or a parent,” said Arnold.

Project Unify benefits students with disabilities. It makes them feel like they’re a part of the Everett Community.

“My favorite part about Project Unify is helping make the students feel like they belong,” said junior Zaquan Callahan.

Project Unify has various sports teams

EV’s effort to stop bullying

Link Crew gathers with underclassmen to help them prepare for their finals in the annual Cocoa and Cram. Link crew members stayed after school in the cafeteria with teachers to prepare the event.

Link leaders gave the freshmen study and preparation tips for their finals. Below, An Nguyen helps freshman Rekha Adhikari study for her biology finals. Nguyen helped students at the science table.

Katrina Turner News Editor According to junior Austin Arnold, Project Unify is a home away from home.

A place where everyone supports you if you mess up, and no one judges you. Project Unify is a program that helps connect students by creating sports and leadership opportunities for students with and without disabilities.

“I joined Project Unify because it interested me, and I saw it as a way to learn more about kids with disabilities,” said Arnold. It also helps students educate their peers about offensive words and promotes anti-bullying.

“Students without disabilities learn that the students with them are not really any different from themselves,” said teacher of the deaf/hard of hearing Amy Robinson.

Project Unify has given students many opportunities to travel and par-

Nick Pine Reporter Confusion has struck some Everett students. Dean Charter buses have been seen frequently at the school picking up sports teams and the band. The reason that the expensive-looking buses are here is that Dean Transportation recently bought all of Lansing School District’s buses, and is the official provider of bus service.

What this means is that when the students go to the gym doors to find their bus for their extracurricular activity or sport, they often see a luxurious Dean Charter bus.

The buses have been used to take teams to places like Jackson and Eaton Rapids. They’ve also been used to take students to other places within a fairly short

distance, such as the Lansing Center.

“Dean is using their charter bus drivers to ease the load during the transition of taking on the Lansing School District,” said Dean charter bus driver Doug Howe.

This may last through the whole school year; when yellow buses are requested and yellow buses have run out, charter drivers attend to it. The transition is a large operation, and some changes are being worked out.

“Schools coming into Dean’s control need new drivers to be trained, not all the drivers stay, and new drivers are not used to working their day schedule at night,” said Howe.

The marching band recently performed at The Lansing Center and traveled there in a charter bus because all the

yellow buses were busy taking other students to school. They also went to Cedar Point recently and still traveled in a charter bus because a charter bus was requested.

“Dean has been very accommodating to us,” said band director Penny Filonczuk. “If we hadn’t switched to Dean, Lansing School District may not have been able to provide a bus.”

Dean usually uses charter buses for far away schools, so the students don’t have to spend extended periods of time on uncomfortable buses, and they can stay relaxed and comfortable for their performance and/or game.

“It gets me relaxed, and allows me to have my own seat, other than riding on the yellow bus where I feel very cramped,” said Drumline Member Zaaron Campbell.

NEWS

Lansing Eastern faces possible shut down this year’s seniors did last year in December.”

Everett is also making in-class efforts to improve the ACT scores.

“There are a lot [of improvements]; they hired me to maintain the data... budget money for the students, a new math program called Think Through Math, and teachers are doing Reading Apprentice [strategies like Talk To The Text],” said Halstead.

There is also a new thing called iCollaborate in Everett.

“In iCollaborate, [visitors and teachers] come in to the classrooms and record about what the teachers are doing,” said Halstead.

“In December, we get the data and look at it together to see what we have to do different.”

Everett is showing improvement, according to the data.

“Students are showing more work on the Reading Apprentice,” said Halstead. “[RA] helps students read better, which helps the test scores; [data] shows that class discussions help the dropout rate go down.”

Students and staff at Everett may get an idea of what could happen if their scores do not go up from what’s happening to Eastern.

If Eastern doesn’t make the grade this year, big changes could be in store. They could be closed. The state could take over and replace the staff. Or, the state could decide to go in a completely different direction. Under the current policy, Eastern will lose the ability to decide its own fate. The school coordinator from Eastern wouldn’t comment for this story, but some people say the changes could be working.

“Some of the changes are kind of nice... especially the half days on Wednesdays and dinner,” said Maweja.

Sabrina Martin

Sabrina Martin

Brianna Billard Editor-in-Chief On January 15, New Tech students participated in the New Tech Arts showcase.

The event was a chance for students in visual and performing arts classes to display their work from first semester.

Dancers performed at the beginning and end of the show, and small groups danced in between. The small group dances were choreographed almost completely by the students themselves.

“I was very happy with their performances and their support of one another,” said dance teacher Karen Knaebel.

Many students were very excited about the dances and were proud of how they did.

“I know what it’s like to be passionate about dance and it was wonderful for me to see that passion evolve in my students,” said Knaebel.

3 • The Voice • February 11, 2015 • myvikingvoice.com

New Tech students showcase their talents

Sabrina Martin

Veronika Sarkisova Photo Story Editor It’s now or never for Eastern High School. This school year started with the building being in the bottom 5% of the state’s topto-bottom ranking of schools for four years in a row, making it a priority school. The list places the highest-performing schools at the top and lowest-performing “priority” schools at the bottom.

If Eastern cannot hit achievement goals this year, the state will take control. This can mean a variety of things, including a shutdown of the school.

Although the challenge is large, Superintendent Yvonne Caamal Canul is not giving up on Eastern.

“We need to be out of the bottom five percent, period,” said Caamal Canul to the Lansing State Journal. “I absolutely think it is doable.”

The high school has made some schedule changes this year to get them out of the bottom.

“We have seven classes, dinner is served, we get out of school at 3:45 and we have half days every Wednesday,” said Eastern sophomore Sarah Maweja.

Everett was in the critical bottom 5% of the “Top-to-Bottom” list for last school year, but got out of it this year by placing at 7%.

What people might not know is that Everett still has a chance of a state takeover if it doesn’t keep improving for the next four years.

“I think we’ll do great,” said Everett Priority Schools Coordinator Dee Halstead when asked about a possible Everett state takeover.

Everett has made changes to improve it’s ranking. “The juniors are taking a practice ACT like

OPINION

Four tweets that totally sum up the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show Salma Torres Social Media Editor he Victorias Secret Fashion show aired December 9, and Twitter was trending with the hashtag #VsFashionShow. Most of the tweets joked as they watched the event, like this tweet that explains how watching makes them feel overweight:

Other tweets kept with the food theme.

T

Not all tweets were quite as light-hearted. Some mentioned girls’ appearances and feeling insecure, like this one:

Or this one that made fun of the iconic Victoria’s Secret model’s wings:

4 • The Voice • February 11, 2015 • myvikingvoice.com

Trevor Manuel improves the team, but there are other great players as well Chase Rapin Reporter Basketball is a huge part of the Everett community, but this year the basketball team is getting noticed. Some students say they have high hopes for this year’s varsity team.

The team has picked up a few new players for the season, one of those being senior Trevor Manuel. He is known for his height (6’9”) and ability to easily dunk the ball. He averages 30 points a game but is he the only reason the team has improved? Some Everett students are quick to say yes, but they fail to realize he is not the only player on the team.

Will Oldham attends every home game with the pep band, he thinks Trevor does indeed improve the team.

“He is tall, he can get rebounds, and he can move…[but] they could still win games [if he were to stop playing],” said Oldham.

Manuel does improve the team. He does more then get points, he is a motivator, students are eager to attend games this year.

Manuel’s scholarship to Oregon has created

initiative to go see his performance. But once people arrive they won’t only be impressed with Trevor. The team as a whole has improved. Although Manuel improves the team he is not the only contributing factor in the teams success this year.

It is JaMyrin Jackson’s first year on varsity and some say he is known as a three point specialist. He averages 20 points a game and he is only a junior.

Players on the team agree that everyone has improved from last year, which means more playing time for more athletes. The teams defense has gotten extremely aggressive while their offense has prevailed. Basketball games have finally become unpredictable and exciting to watch here at Everett, and although Trevor may be the center of attention, the team a whole has become a sight to see.This team deserves a full house, the energy of their fellow Vikings can help player overcome future challenges. Students should come to see their team win games while performing as a unit

A lot of girls, and a lot of big accounts, were making tweets about self esteem/appearances. It sucks that girls don’t love their body and wish they looked like a VS model.

Who is to blame for girls feeling that way? I think a lot of it comes from society. We praise these models as if they are gods. We praise anyone who is skinny, with a great butt and the right size of boobs, so then there’s the need for girls to wish they looked like society’s idea of “perfection.”

Most girls, when they look at themselves in the mirror, don’t like what they see, and that’s scary. We live in a society where we base our thinking on what everyone else’s thinking is: “Small boobs isn’t okay” “Boys like a bigger butt” “Be skinny, not fat” Since when do we care what other people think of us? Shouldn’t as long as we’re content with ourselves be all that matters? And how can a girl be content when everyone around is throwing ideas of what is “perfection”?

Why is it that girls get low self esteem? Is it because they want to look like them because it’s them that actually wants those looks for themselves or is it because they want to look like that because it’s what we as society praise and categorize it as “perfection”? If it’s because of us making that the idea of perfection then that’s pretty cruel we would do that, we should praise every type of body.

Many people place blame on the modeling industry because of its normally very thin models, but recently the plus size model industry has been booming. Models like Ashley Graham and Nadia Aboulhosn have been teaching their fans to love their bodies, regardless of the standards

they face and the way people judge them.

There’s this picture that I love and it lets girls know it’s okay if you don’t look like a model. In reality, we all won’t have a slim stomach and skinny waist. No matter what size you are, you’re still beautiful. I think we should love ourselves no matter what we look like, compliment ourselves, it might look cocky to others but self worth means so much and we shouldn’t expect others to give us that self boost, little compliments to yourself could really help.

Your Voice:

Bullying needs to stop Bullying in schools have been blown up to the point where it’s not being informative it’s being overly pushy. I feel it’s good to inform people but at this point it’s informative to the point where kids are scared to come out about being bullied as they are afraid of the repercussions of it.

I feel this as I have lived through it.

I have been bullied since second grade and I’ve, until recently, been afraid to say those four words. “I have been bullied.”

An example of this is I would feel safer just not talking to anyone and keeping my head down all day instead of just finding people that will fight with me as they have been bullied as well. I am kicking this habit but I feel as it is hard to do when everyone is freaking out about bullying.

The other side of this argument is that kids are just playing around but their words are hurting people and we have to inform people of this. I don’t think that

is right. However, because people are scared more than usual to come out and say that phrase, “I have been bullied.”

I think we should talk about it a little less and in a smaller environment. I know that someone that has bullied me in the past was right in the same row during that presentation for bullying week and it made me feel even more intimidated and vulnerable during it.

-Kaitlyn Brown-Hatchett, 8

OPINION Radio stations ruin good songs by over playing them

OUR VOICE

Talk to the Text strategy fails hopeful students Katrina Turner News Editor Everett implemented a reading technique in 2013 known as Talk to the Text (T4). The technique is used to improve reading comprehension, but the implementation of the technique has caused mix feelings in students at Everett. T4 is an overused strategy that started off as a good idea, and quickly turned into a nuisance.

Upperclassman don’t see the point of the reading strategy, and feel belittled by the attempt to force the reading strategy on all students. Seniors have already taken their ACT’s and have gone through three years of high school, yet they’re forced to use the strategy just as much as freshmen. “It kind of sucks we have to do it so much,” said senior Veronika Sarkisova.

This strategy doesn’t help students understand text when the text isn’t relative to anything they’re doing in class, students have articles on dropout rates and car accidents. The articles students are given to read are random and usually nothing that is hard to comprehend.

Staff tells students that T4 will help them in the future, on tests, such as the ACT

and in studying and comprehending texts.

Yet students don’t feel that you can successfully use T4 in real life because it takes so much time and work to achieve minimal understanding. “It’s pointless and a waste of time because you can’t talk to the text in serious situations you’d need it, like timed tests [ACT],” said junior Arlexeia Bernard.

When the strategy was first implemented, it showed great potential. Reading techniques are something any student can benefit from. But almost too quickly the strategy crashed and burned, becoming overused and forced onto students, even in classes where you don’t use reading such as gym, art, and music. This just caused students to resent the technique and caused even more of a gap between enjoying reading and viewing reading as a chore. If students view reading as a chore they won’t do it, and then they will never be able to improve.

The school board needs to kick T4 to the curb. Students have had enough of the so called strategy for learning that no one is accepting or benefitting from. There has been minimal results from the strategy, and it just isn’t helping students get to where they need to be.

3900 Stabler Road Lansing, MI 48910 (517)755-4472 myvikingvoice.com myvikingvoice@gmail.com

Senior Avonte Bell from the Sexton Big Red football team bursts through the banner during the announcement of the big state final game. Sexton went on to lose the game 28-27 against Grand Rapids South Christian.

Sexton makes it to Ford Field Tyree Pruitt Reporter The Sexton Big Reds went all the way this football season to make it 13-0 and got the chance to play for a state title at Ford Field. This is a very good thing for Lansing School District and a gives a good name to Lansing as a whole.

Them making it as far as they did may be one of the best things that has happen to Lansing schools in along time.

Some of Everett’s students don't find that Sexton making as far as they did makes much of a difference... it's not us, so it really doesn't even matter.

Others, though, see Sexton playing on

television in the big game as a good thing, because you never see any teams from Lansing make it as far as they did.

“They played hard and they did something that has never been done before,” said senior Julian Mills.

Even though the team lost in the championship, 28-29, the state got to see Lansing students and fans in a positive light. The team played a clean game, and the fans were supportive all the way. The next time someone thinks about Lansing, they might just think about those people they saw on TV and think “that seems like a nice town.” And that’s good for everybody.

Your Voice: Anti-bullying needs more than one week There shouldn’t just be a week of bullying awareness, it should be every day. I’m tired of seeing people watch a movie about bullying and laugh, snicker, and scoff at people who have been bullied. It’s not funny at all.

Think about it, some people would rather end their lives than face another day of people making them feel worthless. They would rather never breathe again and leave their family than face their bullies. It’s pretty sad that people would actually make people feel this way. This is ridiculous.

How many lives have to be taken for people to care? How many people have to die to make society change?

When one kid dies, they surround the family with attention about how this is awful, their child will be missed and how this has to change. But as soon as it dies down, they go back to not caring, not noticing that children everyday are being treated with such hate that they would rather die than live in the world.

Nobody should forget. The parents don’t forget. They’ll never forget that their child was taken from them by bullies. Their precious child which they loved very much, killed because people are stupid and rude. They do

this for no reason. They bully someone because they want to, it’s a choice.

There are ways to battle this. People need to target the bullies, not the bullied. Search for the people who would be bullies. If they can get it through their head that what they’re doing is wrong, maybe we can stop it. If we make them realize their words and actions do matter to someone, maybe they’ll stop. If we put them in those situations, and they feel the pain they inflict on others, maybe they’ll realize their actions. Maybe this will solve the problem.

Nothing has been working, this has been going on forever. But this isn’t going to happen over night. Unless we have a huge change in civilization, nothing is going to change that quickly We have to do some serious work if we want to change all the bullying, pain, hurt, suffering and damage that has been going on for centuries.

-Julia Tominski, 8 Do you have a letter you’d like to share? Let your voice be heard! Send your opinion to myvikingvoice@ gmail.com, or drop it off in room 313.

THE STAFF EDITORS Brianna Billard (Editor-in-Chief) Katrina Turner (News) Kiana Henry(Opinion) Britani Gibson (Features) Antonio Bermudez (Entertainment) Arlexeia Bernard (Sports) Veronika Sarkisova(Photo Story) Kaley McEnhill (Online) Salma Torres (Social Media) Cynthia Hunter(Business Manager) REPORTERS Nakia Drane Erin Arnold Madinah Johnson Chase Rappin Alivia Pulido Nick Pine Sabrina Martin Deqa Husein Tyree Pruitt Lloyd Harrision-Hines Paula Jones Julia Montez ADVISOR Chad Sanders Mission Statement The Voice is a monthly publication of Everett High School. It is published the second Wednesday of each month by the fourth hour Newspaper class.

The Voice is distributed free of charge to every student and staff member at Everett. The current issue is always available on the counter of the main office. Subscriptions are also available for $15/year.

The Voice is an award-winning member of the Michigan Interscholastic Press Association.

Letters to the editor are accepted at the discretion of the editorial board.

Forms of speech not protected by the First Amendment will not be published.

Letters must be signed by the author, and will be edited for quality. Direct all questions to room 313. We can be contacted via email at myvikingvoice@ gmail.com The Lansing School District is committed to a policy of providing equal opportunities to all qualified people regardless of economic or social status and will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethic origin, national origin, creed, religion, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, age, veteran status, or physical or mental ability.

5 • The Voice • February 11, 2015 • myvikingvoice.com

song on the radio may not really make a difference…According to the “About Technology” webpage, there is a process in how they choose what to play on the radio. First, a large group of people are asked about what they’re opinion is, and then a small focus group is asked to put in their input, and then they record those answers for the groups, and use a music scheduling software that is designed to rotate everyone’s opinion all throughout the day.

So, what can we do to manage our annoyance and frustrations with the overplaying of music on the radio? Use CD’s or buy an aux cord that will let you control what comes out of your speakers all from your phone. It’s cheap and resourceful!

Another thing is, find lyrics you like and can connect to in the song instead or just listening absentmindedly. Try to enjoy the catchy tunes, and maybe you’ll surprise yourself when you realize you’re dancing along in your car, and getting strange looks at every stoplight by the people in the nearby cars.

Brianna Billard

Cynthia Hunter Business Manager The first time you hear a song, it’s great, and you want to hear it over and over again.

But eventually the song becomes the new fad of the radio and you turn the volume down, or change the station, every time it comes on.

The radio and internet have ruined what once were fun, catchy songs that we loved to hear by overplaying the song after every commercial. I think it’s safe to say nobody was feeling happy after hearing the hit song of 2014, “Happy” by Pharrell Williams every five minutes for five months.

“Every song these days are overplayed on the radio, and it is so annoying,” said junior Albrya Walker.

Others defend the reason behind the repetitive use of a song.

“Some people request the same song over and over because they like it so much,” said geometry and algebra teacher Bethann Barron.

It turns out, though, that requesting a

Voice The

Features

6 • The Voice • February 11, 2015 • myvikingvoice.com

Erin Arnold Reporter This year, Everett participated in “Anti-bullying Week.” Activities encouraged students to think about the way they act towards others, and to think about how their words can affect how people think about themselves, especially their looks. 43% of the students at Everett surveyed say that they have been bullied based on their looks.

According to the 2011 November issue of the Oprah magazine, 50% of teens feel self-conscience about their body. Sometimes, that feeling can be made worse by people making comments about their body, either to their faces or online. “Body bashing” is a term given to this behavior; it means a harsh, gratuitous, prejudicial attack on a person’s body.

Sophomore Octavia Schooler said she can feel insecure at times because of body image, and has personally been body bashed in high school.

“Growing up, people [have] made fun of my body, but I’ve learned not to care sometimes,” said Schooler. “[Some] people tell me that I have a weird shaped body, [or that] I don’t have a butt and they say my stomach is too big.”

Schooler doesn’t confide to anyone whenever she gets body bashed.

“I don’t talk to [anybody],” said Schooler.

“I honestly take it in, I think about it and then I look at myself in the mirror and I examine

25%

of girls age 15-17 would consider undergoing plastic surgery

my body.”

Schooler just brushes off what people say.

“I [just say] whatever, I have to live with it, I’ve lived with it all my life,” said Schooler.

According to heartofleadership.org, 7 in 10 girls believe they are not good enough or do not measure up in some way.

Schooler says it’s not okay for people to get body bashed.

“It’s not fair that other people talk about other people’s bodies,” said Schooler.

Schooler said she stands up for random people who get body bashed.

“If somebody has a health problem they can gain weight or lose weight,” said Schooler.

“Most of the time it’s not somebody’s fault.”

Schooler has some advice for people who get body bashed.

“Take it in, try if you want to change how you look,” said Schooler. “If you don’t want to like me you don’t have to, just be comfortable.”

Girls who are “skinny” can also have insecurities about how they feel about their bodies.

Freshman Arianna Nappier says she feels insecure about her body.

“I feel like I’m too skinny,” says Nappier.

“It’s just the way our generation is really [that makes me feel insecure].”

Nappier said she has been body bashed before.

50%

of teens feel selfconscience about their body.

“[People have said] you’re so skinny, you look like a twig,” said Nappier. “[They just say] little jokes, I hate it.”

Nappier explains how she feels body bashing is affecting our society today. “[Body bashing] is causing a lot [of things] because you know everybody isn’t the same,” said Nappier. “They [used] to call you out by clothing to separate how everybody sees themselves, but now [they call you out] by how you look or how you wear your hair, things like that.”

According to a student who wrote for Huffington Post, insecurity about being skinny is very real.

“I was often teased and harassed, and was quite self-conscious about being thin,” she said.

It doesn’t matter what size a girl is, she can be made fun of or be made to feel insecure.

Freshman Andrea Thompson also shared her opinion on how body bashing affects our society today.

“People tell [people other things] about themselves they feel they should change,” said Thompson. “[People] look at themselves differently after that.”

According to the October Healthday article, only one in five women is satisfied about their body.

Thompson says she isn’t insecure about her body.

“I don’t care what people say,” said Thompson.

More than 90% of girls --- 15 to 17 years--- want to change at least one aspect of their physical appearances, with body weight ranking the highest according to an article from heartofleadership.org.

Sophomore Brenda Gonzalez said that she would change something about her body if she could.

“There’s a lot of things I’d like to change about myself,” said Gonzalez. “If I do change [things about myself] though, it’s for me to feel confident about myself,” Brown University wrote about body image and they said that comments from family, friends and about our bodies today others about our, their, and other people’s bodies, both positive and negative affect how we feel.

Gonzalez said that family “body bashing” her negatively affects her.

“When family “body bashes” me, it affects me even more,” said Gonzalez. “Family is supposed to be the people who make you feel loved and cared for.”

According to a UK Girls’ Attitude survey, 42% of young girls and young women feel that the most negative part about being a female is the pressure to look attractive.

Gonzalez said she believes there is pressure on girls to have a perfect body. Nearly a quarter of girls age 15-17 would consider undergoing plastic surgery.

70%

of girls believe they are not good enough or do not measure up in some way.

“Girls get pressured nowadays to have a perfect skinny body with sexy curves,” said Gonzalez.

“If their body isn’t perfect it’s like they don’t even matter in society.”

So are the effects of body bashing a problem at Everett?

Counselor Jennifer West said that sometimes people say they what don’t really mean.

“I think that people say things about how people look without really thinking about it,” said West. “Is their intention to bully? No. But I think that people sometimes say things and don’t realize how those words impact the other person.”

Students may feel like they don’t have anyone to talk to at the school. West said that she has had students come to her office and talk to her about how they feel about their body.

“As long as I have been here I have had both male and female students that have come in and have talked about how they feel about themselves, to the point even of eating disorders,” said West.

West has given people advice about their body insecurities.

“One of the most important things people need to know is that what we tell ourselves is not necessarily how other people see us,” said West. “Sometimes there is a distortion in how people view their own bodies versus how other people see them.”

90%

of girls want to change at least one aspect of their physical appearance

Brianna Billard Editor-in-Chief Music artists like Nicki Minaj and Meghan Trainor are being looked at as role models for teenage girls. When Nicki Minaj’s hit single “Anaconda” released in August 2014, the Youtube video received 19.6 million clicks within the first day of Vevo’s posting. In January of 2015, the video now has nearly 400 million clicks.

The video shows a scantily-clad Minaj and other women shaking and twerking with abandon. The comments came pouring in fast, and many people have very strong beliefs about the video, and Nicki Minaj herself.

“She’s only famous for being a walking thirst trap with 90% of her body made of plastic because she’s not that good of a rapper,” said youtube user whoisblackx. “I agree the rap industry is filled with mostly men who are just as terrible as this [woman who sleeps around], but to call her influential only because the fact she’s a female is just stupid.”

He also adds that the video sends the wrong idea to all of the girls who have seen it.

“The overall message of this video is saying girl’s bodies are like sex tools,” said whoisblackx.

“The video is kind of ridiculous, from my

point of view. I don’t’ like it. It influences our generation negatively, especially the younger ones. Little kids aren’t ready to know what their anaconda wants,” said senior Luke Xiong.

Meghan Trainor released her hit song “All About That Bass” in June of 2014. When the song first released, many body types were pleased, however a few others were pretty upset about the lyrics of the new hit.

“I’m bringing booty back. Go ahead and tell them skinny b****** that.”

Trainor said in an interview with The Guardian that she was just trying to write lyrics that were clever and fun and that she wants everyone to feel good about themselves.

“Skinny girls sure do [have all the right junk]. Any body type is beautiful. It’s all about loving what you got and rocking it,” said Trainor.

The comments came pouring in as soon as the song released. Hate and love comments alike, fans and critics were in an uproar.

“Meghan wasn’t trying to insult skinny girls. She is saying every girl should love herself the way they are. Especially fat girls, because let’s face it, fat girls don’t get much love from people. Skinny is the ‘in’ thing,” said youtube user Jessica Anyanwu. “But Meghan is saying everyone is perfect just the way they are.”

There are some arguments that say being “skinny” isn’t something that one should feel bad about, and that being “fat is more embarrassing.

“I’m not going to pretend that “skinny” women don’t have it 100 times easier than “fat” women,” said senior Erika Wentworth. “‘Fat’ women are constantly put down whether it’s in department stores that only carry up to size 10, or in the “Lose weight FAST” magazine headline.”

In an interview with radio.com, Trainor explained her lyrics to her fans.

“I’m just going off on myself. I’m not writing a song to bash skinny people. I don’t know who would wish to do that. I did it for me to enhance my confidence,” said Trainor.

Many music listeners disagree with Trainor’s statement, and are upset with Trainor as an artist.

“I think that there is a problem with poking fun at one body type in order to empower another,” said Wentworth.

Even though her song is offensive to some, many people think that she had good intentions and enjoy the catchy beat.

“I don’t like the way the song was written, [but] I think the motive is good,” said Wentworth.

My Voice: Guys can be insecure, too Cynthia Hunter Business Manager Size doesn’t matter, as long as you are healthy. If you are a size two it doesn’t mean you are starving yourself, and if you are overweight it doesn’t mean you are entitled to body-bashing.

Society has huge standards for women: you must be thin, yet you must have curves or guys won’t like you. You must be this or that… but what about for men?

Men deal with common insecurities just like females. If you aren’t “ripped” you can’t be a successful athlete. If you are too hairy, you’re gross. If you have no hair, you aren’t manly. If you are a gay male, it’s considered gross, whereas if there is a gay female, it is considered “hot.”

The list goes on.

“Guys have the stigma of having to look like a Ken doll-body with abs, or being slim, or muscular. Having clear skin is the only way that people would want to associate with you,” said Junior ZaQuan Callahan.

“Basically if you don’t have any of that, you might as well just walk away from society and never look back because until you’re in the 30+ range, that’s all people look at.”

According to Media Arts, body dissatisfaction amongst boys and young men is fuelled not just by the idealized male bodies they see in media, but also by the idealized images of women that are represented. A 2008 study found that young men were

more self-conscious about their bodies after reading “lad magazines” featuring photos of sexualized, scantily-clad women, based on the belief that girls would expect similar idealized physiques from men as well.

Some boys even go to such extremes as to use muscle enhancers, and boys as young as age 10 are becoming obsessed with building a muscular physique, a condition that is thought to be related to changes in how muscular male sex symbols have become over the last few decades. This obsession may take the form of fixation with exercise, particularly weightlifting; abuse of anabolic steroids and other performanceenhancing drugs, which may damage the heart, liver, kidneys and immune system; and muscle dysmorphia, whose sufferers see themselves as thin and weak no matter how well-muscled they become.

Some students also feel that race plays a role in the judgement of others. It’s hard to feel secure or okay with yourself in today’s society.

“Even in this day in time, the color of your skin still defines you, and just gives people the opportunity to judge somebody before they know even know them,” said junior Isaiah Garrett.

Although it is kept under the radar, males also are affected in their day to day life, and they struggle just as much as females.

My Voice: You are beautiful Julia Tominski Special to the voice Body Bashing is definitely a problem between teenagers, and it’s especially bad between teen girls. Society has this image of the perfect teenage girl. Skinny, long hair, pretty smile, perfect makeup, big boobs/butt and small thighs. But you know what? There are 7 billion people in this world, and not everybody is going to look the same and not everybody wants to look the same anyways. Somehow over the years the ideal body turned from curvaceous to curveless. It went from Marilyn Monroe to Keira Knightley. From wide thighs and soft curves to thigh gaps and sharp curves.

That is sending the wrong message to young teen girls. A teenage girl is told that if she doesn’t check off all the requirements of society’s definition of pretty, she isn’t.

That is a big BIG problem. A teenage girl then has to either force herself to be pretty

by changing herself in a big way or hate herself because she thinks she isn’t pretty.

We need to stop this immediately.

Beauty is not just a pretty face and skinny body. Beauty is large thighs. Beauty is flat chests. Beauty is big butts. Beauty is 6’4’ tall. Beauty is 4’7’ short. Beautiful hair is brown, blonde, red or any other color of the rainbow. Beautiful eyes are brown, blue, green, hazel and any other colors. Beautiful bodies are every shape and size. Beautiful skin is every color under the sun. Beautiful ethnicities are everyone born on planet Earth. You were born beautiful and don’t let anyone tell you different. Society is wrong, you are beautiful in every single way. So if there is a young girl in your life, teach her that she was born beautiful and is beautiful just the way she is. Tell her she is beautiful and don’t let anyone tell her differently. So please, pass on this message to young girls and maybe we can tell society, I’m beautiful just the way I am.

7 • The Voice • February 11, 2015 • myvikingvoice.com

Features Women of the music industry feel the societal pressure as well

Features

Does access to technology make America more superficial?

Tiffany July Special to the Voice

8 • The Voice • February 11, 2015 • myvikingvoice.com

You’re sitting there minding your own business on the internet when out of the blue, a photo of a boy bagging groceries from Target pops up. Because of that picture, a guy now known as “Alex from Target,” has become Twitter famous, gained thousands of followers, and has even been on the Ellen Degeneres Show.

Media has changed how millennials think, speak, act, and the way they interact with one another.

“We are very judgemental and we base things off of looks and not talent,” said senior Sarah LeVasseur on how our generation has changed in terms of what “talent” is.

Alex From Target isn’t the only one becoming famous for looks. Remember Jeremy Meeks? He became a known name overnight just because women deemed him attractive from his mugshot. This man skyrocketed on social media from his mugshot, but while he wasn’t able to go on any shows because of his jail time, many entertainment news shows and social media displayed his face all around,

reporting and adding fuel to the fire making him stand out more. And from the aftermath of this, he now has a modeling contract once he gets out of jail.

While these two have gained their 15 minutes, many other did-nothing celebrities managed to keep themselves in the limelight.

Kim Kardashian and her family have managed to stay in the limelight with their reality show just strictly based on the drama surrounding their family. The cast of Jersey Shore, all the “Real Housewives,” and virtually anybody who’s been on a reality show based on their life are other people who have managed to accomplish this as well.

Not only have we begun associating looks with talent in both acting and reality television, but the music industry has also been impacted by this.

“They use [autotune] to modify voices,” said LeVasseur on how music has become more superficial.

With autotune and electronic dance beats, the music industry has transformed an industry that once thrived on using real instruments to enhance a singer’s voice into an industry that is reliant on using fake beats

and autotune to make even untalented people sound great.

Along with the music and entertainment industry being impacted by looks outweighing talent, the one industry that absolutely thrives on looks is the modeling industry.

“It’s a liability [to society]. Who cares what people look like,” said LeVasseur.

Through this industry, clothes get shown off on men and women who have an “ideal” body type. This industry uses looks to enhance the look and quality to their clothes. Because of this, models don’t get the opportunity to show off their personality or show any sort of talent they have other than strutting down a catwalk to show off what they are wearing.

“They’re practically walking mannequins,” said LeVasseur.

Alex from Target is only one example of the ways that our society has changed into one that once had numerous amounts of talent to one that now would rather find talent with eyes rather than ears. While the future for the entertainment industry is unpredictable, don’t expect reality television, autotune, or people posting random pictures of strangers on social media to slow down anytime soon.

After gaining thousands of followers and becoming a twitter trend, Alex from Target was invited on The Ellen DeGeneres Show and given an iPad. Here, Alex helps Ellen sell her new Target exclusive holiday album.

The picture was posted on @TheEllenShow on twitter and got nearly 80,000 favorites and more than 33,000 retweets.

Entertainment

This or that?: Everett’s likes and dislikes

Interstellar is a huge success with public solid character development keeps you interested in the lives of these astronauts and their families.

German Composer Hans Zimmer has created one of the most invigorating scores of all time. The music gives space a soundtrack of its own. The sounds of the film will make you grip your seat and bite your lip. Interstellar was great film that will be talked about for years to come. This movie will keep you intrigued while making you question the universe and the survival of the human race.

Interstellar was the most exhilarating film of 2014. With its breathtaking scenery and complex story it is a movie that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end.

See Interstellar on DVD March 31.

Brianna Billard

Chase Rapin Reporter Interstellar is Christopher Nolan’s 9th film.

His other films have grossed over $3.5 billion worldwide. He is best known for directing popular films such as Inception and the Dark Knight trilogy. With such a reputation, Interstellar was predicted to be one of the best films of 2014, and it definitely was.

Academy Award winner Matthew McConaughey plays the lead role of Cooper, a farmer who is a former pilot for NASA. He is sent on a death defying mission into outer space to save mankind. McConaughey proved his skills as an actor in this film, he displayed a vast variety of emotions which makes viewers care about the mission at hand. This film’s

Appleseed Collective member Brandon Smith rocks it out on the mandolin at The Loft in December. The band formed in 2010 and released their live album recorded in The Ark (a venue in their home town, Ann Arbor, Michigan) in December of 2014.

Brianna Billard Editor-in-Chief The Appleseed Collective played at The Loft in December, and they were a huge hit.

The music is catchy, the lyrics are full of wit, and all ages can enjoy this kind of Americana music.

The band consists of four members, all of them contributing an important sound. Andrew Brown is the guitarist that has an intriguing and satisfying voice that keeps you tapping your feet. Brandon Smith, (pictured left) a violinist and mandolinist, his finger strumming and bow stroking gives the music an entirely different feel that will keep your head nodding and your eyes wide with excitement. Although the entire band is full of positive vibes, Vince Russo carries the high energy through the entire performance. Before he went on stage, he was jumping and dancing all around the dance floor to the opening band’s music. Russo plays the washboard and keeps the band on beat, definitely an entertaining guy to watch. Eric Dawe plays the bass and studies Indian classical music. While keeping quiet, he serves an important purpose in the band by his smooth playing and holding the band together.

“Everybody brings something different to the table and together we are stronger than the sum of our parts,” said Smith.

Currently on tour, The Appleseed Collective will be coming back to Michigan on April 24 when they stop in Benton Harbor at the Livery. Tickets are $5 in advance and $8 at the door.

9 • The Voice • February 11, 2015 • myvikingvoice.com

Appleseed Collective big hit at The Loft

The Rundown:

SPORTS

3

What you need to know about winter sports

Girl’s Basketball

4

Boy’s Swimming

Nick Pine Reporter

Senior Jessica Delapaz brings the ball down the court while she looks for a teammate to pass to during the East Lansing game. The girls lost that match, 67-58.

Brianna Billard

The girls’ basketball team kicked off their season early last summer, working out 3 times a week. They also attended camps at U of M, Eastern Michigan, Madonna, and Wayne State.

“Our season is ok, there is a lot more chemistry and everyone is open to working hard and learning our program,” said Senior Jessica Delapaz.

Brianna Billard

Erin Arnold

1 Boy’s Basketball

Senior Chase Rapin cheers on his younger brother, sophomore Evan Rapin during the meet against Holt. The Lansing Legacy lost that meet, but some did well individually.

The boys’ swimming team has also put in a great amount of work over the summer, swimming four days a week up until the start of the girls’ season in August.

“It’s been a good season, I am making progress as the season continues,” said Junior Quy Ho. Swimming is a great sport to make new friends and get into great shape, while winning a few medals in the process.

“I get faster every day, and I’ve made some new friends,” said Ho.

5 Cheerleading

Senior Marvin Wright passes to one of his teammates during the varsity basketball game against Sexton. Everett went on to win 68-56.

2 Bowling

Senior Mario Arambula goes for a strike during the 2013-2014 bowling season.

Everett’s bowling team has struggled so far this season, taking two losses to Leslie and Jackson. That fact doesn’t get the bowlers down, though.

“Our season is good, it’s fun to come bowl and chill with friends,” said senior Mario Arambula.

Erin Arnold

10 • The Voice February 11, 2015 • myvikingvoice.com Kayla • Elkins

This year’s varsity boys basketball team has been working all summer and fall to succeed this season. They started off their season beating teams such as Okemos, Waverly, and Holt. These are some schools that have been tougher to beat in the past.

“Last year only eight or nine of us got playing time, but this year we are a lot deeper skill-wise,” said senior Marvin Wright.

Sophomore Kaela McCoy gets ready for her stunt during the Grand Ledge basketball game.

This year’s winter cheerleading squad has had a great turnout of 23 members, and they are louder than ever!

“Cheering isn’t anything easy, it is not just yelling and jumping; it’s always having hope even [in those times] when there is little to none left,” said Junior Cotoria Jones.

SPORTS

IN IT TO PIN IT He includes that wrestling is a difficult sport that you have to be in shape for, and dedicated to in order to improve.

“You have to be strong minded, you have to be able to deal with different bruises and injuries, you have to be mentally strong,” said Foster. “You have to be able to tell yourself that you’re not tired.

A lot of kids like to be lazy, but wrestling is a sport that you can’t be lazy in.”

By being mentally strong, players can’t let the little things get to them, they have to trust in themselves and let their body do the work.

“We tell a lot of our kids to stop thinking.

When you’re thinking your mind is telling you one thing but your body is telling you that you can do more,” said Foster.

Like any sport, every athlete is different. Humans learn things differently and perceive things in different ways than their teammates might.

“Good coaches don’t treat everyone the same, because they have different circumstances, and different personalities,” said Foster.

Although a few of the athletes couldn’t manage wrestling this year, many wrestlers still have a strong passion for the sport.

“I love learning new moves, it makes you understand how the human body works,” said Tidwell.

Even though the team has been through struggles this season, the wrestlers have done well individually.

“When an athlete does better than expected it shows that they’ve been working hard and it’s paying off,” said Foster.

“Maybe they are getting better every day like you expect as a coach. It’s rewarding to know that it’s paying off.”

ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT Alyssa Moody

Weight class: 119/125 Record: 0-12 Junior Alyssa Moody stepped into the wrestling room not so sure what she was getting herself into. But soon after, she was taking shots with the boys, and loving it.

“I wanted to take on the challenge,” said Moody. “Most girls don’t do it and I wanted to give it a try.”

Although her record isn’t very high, Moody says that she wants to give it a try next year so that she can improve her skills.

“She has made progress just because she’s more committed now, and more comfortable being on the mat,” said head wrestling coach Chad Foster.

Like any athlete, Alyssa can get discouraged after a loss. Despite that, she keeps her head up, and practices for the next meet.

“It’s hard wrestling kids that have been wrestling for years,” said Moody. “I want to keep going when I get beat.”

Moody wrestled another female at a tournament, and lost. However, Moody almost had her pinned.

“The whole team got really excited and started yelling for her,” said mat maid Antonella Benevidez.

Winning the match isn’t that important to Moody, but spending time with her team and learning new moves is her favorite part.

“The wrestlers treat me like family,” said Moody.

11 • The Voice • February 11, 2015 • myvikingvoice.com

Brianna Billard Editor-in-Chief The building is cold and the lights are bright. As the wrestlers begin their matches, you can smell their sweat, and hear the squeak of their shoes. It’s sophomore year, and Christopher Tidwell prepares for his first match of the day. When his eyes meet his first opponent, he’s instantly intimidated. Jacob Stewart is wrestling at 140 pounds, but he looks nearly 160. Although Tidwell was nervous for his first tournament, his teammates cheered him on throughout the match and talked him through his first loss.

“He beat me real bad,” said Tidwell.

For the past few years, the wrestling team has always been there for one another, and a close knit family with nearly 40 members. However, there aren’t as many wrestlers for the 20142015 season.

“I was really looking forward to wrestling with all of my teammates,” said Tidwell. “Now that we don’t have a lot of wrestlers, we automatically lose matches.”

Senior football player and ex wrestler James Fredd said that he enjoys football more than wrestling, and was just looking to participate in a winter sport to keep in shape.

“You physically have to be more in shape to do wrestling.

After the first thirty seconds, you’re exhausted but you have to keep going,” said Fredd.

Due to the lack of wrestlers, they don’t win as many meets as they did in the past.

“If we don’t have a full line up then we have to give the other team six points for each weight that we don’t have somebody,” said wrestling head coach Chad Foster.

Mat maid Antonella Benavides says that sometimes it’s hard for the boys to focus and they don’t do as well, which makes them want to stop wrestling.

“I think it’s hard for them to stop thinking so much about what they should and shouldn’t do during a match,” said Benavides.

Sometimes the boys feel pressured to please their coaches, parents, school, etc like most athletes do. However, even when the wrestlers do their best, they can’t always pull through.

“It’s frustrating [when an athlete doesn’t do well] because you know that they’ve been working hard and putting in a lot of time, and it sucks because the results aren’t coming. It’s tough to keep their mental aspect of wrestling up,” said Foster.

When losses happen, the coaches make sure to build the players back up and try to have them make corrections in a positive way.

“When they don’t do well, you try to focus on the good things that they did, instead of tearing them down,” For the 2013-2014 wrestling season, they had nearly 20 more wrestlers than they have this year.

“The main reason that there’s not as many wrestlers is that there’s not as many new kids. There’s only about five this year when there were almost 15 last year,” said Foster. “Kids are just getting lazier and wrestling is super tough.”

Having many seniors on the team is helpful because they usually have more experience. However, having freshmen on the team is great in the long run.

“Seniors mean that hopefully they’ve been aggressive for a while, I don’t mind young kids who are fresh to the sport, you can teach them what you want them to know,” said Foster.

Photo Story

VERONIKA SARKISOVA

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FINALS: We’re All In This Together

VERONIKA SARKISOVA

Freshmen get in line to get their hot cocoa and cookie.

Link Crew Leaders prepare for Cocoa and Cram by making signs for each subject.

Alex Wudyka concentrating hard on his work.

Mrs. Shelby talking to the Link Crew Leaders at the meeting about what is going to happen at Cocoa and Cram.

VERONIKA SARKISOVA eRIN aRNOLD

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(From clockwise) Sophomore Kurstina Simmons giving it her all for her dance final.

Students concentrate on their Senior Math Final.

Veronika Sarkisova

Teachers and Link Crew Leaders helping out the freshmen with their work at each subject station. bRIANNA bILLARD

12 • The Voice • February 11, 2015 • myvikingvoice.com

VERONIKA SARKISOVA

Sophomore Jason Maas creates a poster for his desktop publishing exam.