The Voice: February 6, 2013

what the

FLU? 2

The Flu outbreak

4

Living with Autism

7

New year, new music

8

Girls’ basketball turn-around

Voice The

your school. your voice.

Volume 53, Issue 4 February 6, 2013

NEWS

CLASS Reading Apprenticeship CORNER program targets comprehension 2013

In 9th grade English teacher Deb Babcock’s room, there sits a big, red and white book. Inside is a list of objectives being used to help improve students’ reading levels and their understanding of books. These objectives are being tried by teachers throughout the school in an effort to improve reading comprehension. The name given to adoption of these different strategies is Reading Apprenticeship.

Babcock is using a strategy from the book called “Talking to the Text.” Talking to the Text is meant to help students focus. While reading a book or a short narrative, students keep track of their questions or reactions. “[If] they have any thoughts they just put

it down,” said Babcock.

One reason Babcock and many others are using these strategies is because Everett is on the “Priority Schools list,” which means they are in the bottom 5% of the state’s “Top to Bottom” ranking. In order to get off the list, Everett is trying to make big changes in the categories of Reading and Climate and Culture.

“Go Slow To Go Fast” is the reading comprehension motto. What this means is that students are asked to slow down and not worry about how many books they’re reading, but how well they are comprehending the books they are reading.

Some students who have used the strategy say it works.

“It makes a better understanding of the story,” said freshman Jordan Jones.

English teacher Christi McGonigal said she has found that when she uses this strategy,

Class meetings First Wednesday of every month

2014

Election of class officers President, Freduh Davis; Vice President, Almer Dzananovic; Treasurer, Dalia Carpenter; Secretary, Sunshine Wheatley.

Damira Begic

Meeshon Rogers Editor-in-chief

Election of class officers President, Huong Nyguen; Vice President, Amber Love; Treasurer, Kristin Nelson; Secretary, Damira Begic

English teacher Deb Babcock helps freshman Elaysha Willis, using the Talk to the text Reading Apprenticeship strategy. she and her students are able to have more in- prehension of reading in any subject. Teachers telligent conversations. are attending training sessions for Reading Ap“Talking to the Text” is just one of a num- prenticeship throughout this school year, and ber of strategies from the big red and white over the summer. book. Other ideas, like K-W-L (Know, Want This year, the Reading Apprenticeship to know, Learned), will be familiar to students strategies are being used by English teachers from elementary and middle school classes. like Babcock and McGonigal. Next year, the The strategies aren’t just for use in the plan is to expand the strategies to all core classEnglish classroom; they can help student com- es throughout the building.

Final verdict: grad gown changes idea a no-go

T-Shirts Sale $10 T-shirt. See Mrs. Orr for more information.

Prevention key to keeping flu at bay Tori Murine Reporter

a Begic

As the first semester comes to a close, it becomes obvious to many students that the school year is halfway over. With graduation just around the corner, seniors want to make sure that this school year ends right. Seniors Morgan McIntyre, Dareese Robertson, and Aneysa Rogers came up with an idea for graduation that Everett has not done in a long time.

“We want the caps and gowns for graduation to be red and white, red for the men and white for the women,” said Aneysa Rogers.

After weeks of attempting to make their dream a reality, this year’s class will look like previous years, solid red.

In previous years, students said, some students would have gowns that were a different shade of red “It looks horrible when you look at the crowd and the shades of red don’t match,” said Robertson.

Also, the group thought that adding a white contrast to the sea of red at graduation would be something new.

“Our class is very different and special so we want that to be noticed for being the first class that brought this back,” said senior Morgan McIntyre.

The girls put together a petition, requesting the change. Over 150 students signed the petition.

“It’s a great idea,” said senior Angel Dill.

Although most of the students were on board for the change, there were a couple of main reasons given for not being able to implement the idea. One was that it was simply too late to try to make a switch.

“The graduation committee decided against white because it is too late to change it; Jostens already planned on red,” said assistant principal Susan Cheadle-Holt.

The graduation committee consists of assistant Principal Cheadle- Holt, head secretary Nita Kennedy, assistant superintendent for high schools, Worsie Gregory and a few other staff members.

Kennedy said that the white gowns that students purchase from Jostens are simply impractical.

“In order for this to work, girls would have to dress in solid colors because the material for the white gowns is see-through,” said Kennedy.

One school students looked at as an example of white gowns is East Lansing.

It was pointed out that those gowns are rented, and made of a thicker material than the ones Everett students buy.

In the future if it is planned out well in advance, seniors may be able to have a two-tone graduation.

“It could be considered for future graduates,” said Cheadle.

2015 Election of class officers President ,Thalia Morales-Esparza; Vice President, Brianna Billard; Treasurer, Crystal Robinson; Secretary, Youapa Her.

Do you have info for Class or club Corner? email:meeshonrogers@gmail.com

Damir

2 • The Voice • February 6, 2013 • myvikingvoice.com

Damira Begic Photo Editor

Fundraiser Updates Four Fundraisers have been planned, including: • Movie Night • Keychain Sales • Valentine Dance

Raging fevers and stuffy noses are something every teen tries to avoid, but for most it’s an extreme challenge that goes without success. Fall seems to be the season when everything from your common cold to an insane fever seems to infect the students, teacher and parents, causing them to miss classes and take sick days.

“I wish I could take sick days... my mom just always claims I can push through it,” said sophomore Raina Gilbert.

The nurse’s office is always full during flu season, which means the nurses must work twice as hard to get the kids in and out.

“I hate going to the nurse’s office; I’d rather just go straight home,” said freshman Crystal Wroe.

Some students believe that by getting a flu shot you have no chance of getting sick, but just because you get a flu shot doesn’t mean you’re immune to the seasonal flu.

“I just avoid anyone sick and carry tons of hand sanitizer,” said Gilbert.

Sophomore Shyann LaFay believes that part of the reason illness spreads in school is the lack of cleanliness.

“It’s the students and the bathroom that spread the most germs,” said LaFay. As the flu year comes in full swing, many students expect to receive some kind of flu or cold.

“I’m not excited about getting a cold; it’s not something I look forward to ever,” said Wroe.

Flu shots are believed to prevent your average seasonal flu and there are a variety of places you can get a flu shot including the drug store, your doctor’s office, and the health department. Depending on your health insurance the price can range anywhere from free to 35 dollars, depending on where you go .

“I would get 100 flu shots if it meant not getting the flu,” said Wroe.

Flu Symptoms

- Fever or feeling feverish/chills - Cough - Sore throat - Runny or stuffy nose - Muscle or body aches - Headaches - Fatigue (tiredness) - Possible vomiting and diarrhea, more common in children than adults.

-Source: CDC.gov

OPINION Our Voice

Voice The

3 • The Voice • February 6, 2013 • myvikingvoice.com

Finals exemptions motivate students

THE STAFF EDITORS

Meeshon Rogers (Editorin-Chief, News)

Kayla Smith (Opinion) Jaimie Bozack (Features) Melanie Matchette (Photo)

Damira Begic (Photo) Brooke Burns (Entertainment) Lucas Barner (Sports) Emily Dake (Online) Dejana Puranovic (Online) Noelia Lopez (Business)

Thanks for the help, Miss Holly An Open Letter to Miss Holly: You’re pretty much the only person that helps my life in school. You try to keep my classes as calm as possible and allow me to take a break and come to your room. You sometimes get word from the classes to see how I am doing and I can say to you in person how it feels. Sometimes it feels great, sometimes it’s not and it helps a little when we try to get better classes for me. Either way, you’re helping me out a lot and for this I thank you, Ms. Holly Nathan Tschirhart, ‘16

Student disrespect hurts everyone Disrespectful students in class can stop class. A lot of the good people can get in trouble because of others. An example is if the teacher can’t handle the student and the other students get put in a position where they can’t

learn and do their work so it becomes their problem as well. For students having to stop to get other students to stop being disrespectful makes it a never ending problem. If people really care about or education and school you will do something about it.

Taylor Bashore, ‘16

Everyone should pitch in, help with bathrooms Readers responded to the December story “Toilet paper on girls’ bathroom ceiling symbol of disrespect for Everett”: “If the custodians are “short staffed: I feel the principal and other staff members should have already stepped up and pitched in to keep those bathrooms clean. Shame on the students for doing the destruction as well.

Absolutely hideous.”

Amber Burnett, on The Voice Facebook page “I see both sides of this. Yes the students are plenty old enough to clean up after

themselves and they know right from wrong.

However as a parent I feel there should be someone on staff who (much like a department store) cleans and maintains these bathrooms on a daily basis. Our kids have enough on their plates and their own chores to do at home. They should not go to school and have to chores there too. And for the kids that are making the mess they should be ashamed of themselves and should be suspended for vandalism and get community service which would include the cleaning of their messes!”

Misty Miller, on The Voice Facebook page “Whoever did the vandalism should be ashamed of themselves, after all this is high school. You don’t act that way at home, ( I hope!), so don’t act that way at school!”

Cindy Winborn, on The Voice Facebook Page “One simple solution would be to just lock the bathrooms. I don’t necessarily like the idea of punishing the majority for the actions of a few; however, I don’t agree that custodians, administrators, and other staff should be responsible to clean what never should have happened in the first place.”

Patte Carter-Hevia, on The Voice Facebook Page

No final exam exemptions anger students Sarah Yang Reporter This year and for years to come, there will be no final exam exemptions. In the school handbook it wasn’t clear if exemptions were accepted or not, but at the December School Improvement Team (SIT) meeting, “It was made official to have no exemptions,” said SIT Co-Chair Aaron Bales.

This decision by Everett administration is a mistake, and takes away an incentive for students to perform well throughout the semester.

The news of “no exemptions” has upset a few teachers.

“I can live with it for 2nd semester, but I’ve already promised (exemptions) to kids for 1st semester. (This is) too late to find out,” said math teacher Deborah Carl. “I’m angry that I have to go back on my promise at this late date. I plan to support the new policy, but I will reward my kids who earned an exemption in some significant way.”

The reason why the SIT voted on having no exemptions is that the function of exams is to “get information on what students learn in the semester,” said Bales.

It isn’t fair to those who are in class every day with low absences working and participating; these students are trying their best. Those are the students who deserve

exemptions, because they (most likely) are passing the class already.

Where there are exemptions, students would try to aim for high grades to be exempt from exams, thus improving their scores.

Everett needs to bring back exemptions. If students care about this issue, they can petition the school to bring them back.

Bales encouraged students to “come and sit down at the table” for a discussion, but added that changing the minds of administration seems “unlikely.”

If students who care don’t even try to make their case, though, they are the only ones to blame for exemptions.

Amber Love

Exemptions from finals has always been a way to reward students for doing well in a class. Students would have to have an A or B with less than three absences to be exempt. Recently, Everett made finals mandatory. This new policy is in effect for first and second semester.

At the beginning of the year, some teachers talk about exemptions from final exams. They explain that if you have less than three absences and a 90% or higher you can get exempt. This makes students work harder because they know if they achieve this, they won’t have to take an exam. Being exempt rewards students for showing up to class and doing well on their work. It pushes students to achieve by giving them something to look forward to and work toward.

Many believe that if a student has a high grade and has been coming to school regularly there should be no need for a final; they have shown what they know throughout the course.

When teachers exempt students from exams, not only is it one less stressor for students, it’s also one less stressor for teachers. While students don’t have to worry about studying and passing an exam, teachers have one less to grade. Students can focus on the exams that they really need to do well on. Exemptions would be easier on the student as well as the teacher. Out of the 150+ students teachers see throughout a school day, having one less to grade would make their day and give them a chance to get their grades in quicker. It would also make a student’s day by letting them end their day earlier and taking time to go study for a different exam or just have some fun.

While exemptions are a nice reward for students, some say that it does not allow teachers the chance to see what students have learned over the course of the semester.

Teachers take a lot of time to plan for the semester for students and want to see what they have learned. But, students with a 90% have been showing what they know all along.

Another concern that has been brought up is where students go and what they do when they are not in school taking an exam; it raises safety concerns for many that they are not in a supervised area. The previous policy solved these issues by having exempt students get a signed permission from a parent allowing them to miss that class on exam day.

Exemptions would be the best thing for not only students but also the teachers. It would give students more time to focus on other exams that are important and it would let teachers focus on the ones who need the most help. Administration should give serious consideration to allowing exemptions for second semester finals.

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REPORTERS Deanera Barrow Christopher Buckner Haley Buskulic Benjamin DeYoung Thalia Esparaza Bria Hall Brittany Harris Sum Huynh Lindsay July Janelle Lewis McKayla Marinoff Morgan McIntyre Tori Murine Alexus Patterson Tara Phan

Tanesha Rodriguez-Riley

James Vandegrift Sophia Williams

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.

Features

A day in the life of an Autistic high school student Kayla Smith Opinion Editor When students have a substitute teacher in a class, it can be loud, and crazy. Some days, nobody gets anything done. For most students, this is okay; it’s a break, a chance to have some fun. But for sophomore Caleb Markham-Adkins, a class with a sub can be one of the worst parts of the day. Noise and chaos make it impossible for Caleb to focus, and the result is that he may begin to act out.

Caleb is on what’s known as the Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), which means he has a hard time adapting to “social norms,” things that we learn how to do in society, how we act, how we treat one another. People who are on the Spectrum have a hard time overlooking sounds that the average student hardly notices. It’s not that they can’t handle loud sounds, it’s that they don’t have time to prepare for it.

“Sound is a very sensitive area for most

individuals with Autism, so know that your voice level, tapping on a desk or banging a wall effects them a great deal,” said Social Worker Holly Triestram.

Most often they struggle with the concept of sarcasm and statements such as “Once in a blue moon” or “Let’s call it a day.” They expect the moon to be blue and it to become night.

“Instead say ‘once a week’ or whatever

sistency throughout their days. Keeping a routine helps make their day manageable.

“I like to know when things are going to be normal or not normal,” said Caleb.

For him, days with a sub are definitely “not normal.” When there is a substitute teacher in a class, some students use the hour to talk to their friends and begin to act up.

“I don’t know why students would act like that,” said Caleb.

When people with ASD act out, it’s usually because they don’t under-Social Worker Holly Triestram. stand the rules. For Caleb, when he acts out it usually leads the actual time frame is,” said Triestram.

People with ASD do not understand sar- to meltdowns. One incident ended with him casm because they are concrete thinkers. Con- refusing to leave a classroom, swinging and crete thinkers take things at a very literal level, punching people.

People who are on the Spectrum generwhereas abstract thinkers are more in depth.

For Caleb, routine is important. The best ally have a higher IQ than most. The higher on days are when everything goes according to the spectrum, the higher the person’s IQ tends to be. Imagine being able to walk into a history plan.

People with ASD are very inflexible with class, have the teacher hand you a textbook, their schedule. They need structure and con- take it home, read it over the semester, then

“People with ASD are just like you, they can do the same things you can do.”

Gross bathrooms leave students holding it in them,” said sophomore Rebecca Hartley.

Some students say that they don’t want the bathrooms to be locked, but it’s the easiest way to end the pollution in the rest rooms.

Assistant principal Dustin Gill said he thinks it would be difficult to catch someone in the act, but if the school updated the bathrooms and made them look nicer then maybe it would decrease the bathroom pollution.

Some have pointed out that there is one simple way to keep the bathrooms clean: throw your trash in the trash can and if you see a friend throw something on the floor, tell them to clean it up.

Melanie Matchette

Toilet paper all over the bathrooms but none in the stalls, water and urine flooding the floor, and trash going from the door to the stalls. An easier way to describe the Everett bathrooms: GROSS. But who’s to blame?

Students? Janitors? Both?

“The bathrooms are so gross I’d rather hold it until I get home,” said sophomore Donald Van Arsdall.

The trashing of the bathrooms happens every day, said head custodian Marisol Castilla. “The bathrooms are spick and span after the night shift cleans them, so the stu-

dents are the ones destroying the cleanliness of the rest rooms,” said Castilla.

Public safety officer Mark Langschwager said he feels that it isn’t every student destroying all the hard work spent on those bathrooms.

“All it takes is a handful of kids,” said Langschwager.

What can students do to keep the rest rooms as clean as possible?

“If someone catches a student trashing the bathroom they should tell a security officer and they could be snap suspended,” said sophomore Abby Barrios.

“I think if you get caught messing up the bathrooms then you should have to clean

Jaimie Bozack

4 • The Voice • February 6, 2013 • myvikingvoice.com

Haley Buskulic Reporter

The bathroom before the day has started

The bathroom after the school day is over

walk in and pass the final exam with an A. For Caleb, that is what he does.

“I read the whole textbook.

Except for math, because it is a workbook,” said Caleb.

Eventually Caleb plans to graduate high school, go to college, get a job and live a normal life just like anyone would. Which is what Triestram and others want people to know about students with ASD: they’re not really any different from anyone else.

“People with ASD are just like you, they can do the same things you can do,” said Triestram.

The Autism awareness ribbon is made up of puzzle pieces, symbolizing the puzzling complexity of the disorder.

Upcoming Events: February: 2/8: Homecoming; dance afterwards 2/11-2/12: Talent show auditions 2/20: Talent Show 7pm 2/21: Band concert 7pm 2/27: Parent/teacher conferences March: 3/6: Student vs Staff basketball game practice; open to anyone 3/7: Student vs Staff game April: 4/1-4/5: Spring Break 4/10: Parent/Teacher conferences 4/18-4/19: Spring Musical 4/24-4/25: Graduation Supply Delivery 4/26-4/28: Spring Musical May: 5/3: Prom

Features Shelters need caring people who will adopt, volunteer

Clockwise from top left: Ingham County Animal Control’s new Outreach Center had its grand opening January 26. The Center is a the corner of Saginaw and Chicago; A local takes his dog to get microchipped at the Outreach Center; Many treats, including dog bone shaped cookies were available for visitors to the grand opening; A volunteer holds Dixie, a dog available for adoption.

Melanie Matchette

Tori Murine Reporter

Animal shelters in Michigan and the U.S. have many animals that need to be adopted, yet people choose to breed animals and not give the shelter animals their needed recognition.

“They support a really good cause and what they're doing should be recognized more frequently,” said freshman Randi Wilkins Chances are the animal shelter has the kind of animal most people are looking for. Many times, these animals have been abandoned, sometimes abused, and just want a home and to be loved by someone again.

According to ASPCA, 3 to 4 million dogs and cats are euthanized each year, because there is not enough room for them all.

“Animal shelters make me sad, because I had to take my cat there when I was little because we couldn't keep him,” said junior Alyssa Bos.

ASPCA estimates that 60-70 percent of shelter animals end up being killed.

Animal shelters work to care for their animals and find them all homes. They get all of their pets up to date on shots and vaccines, give them food, shelter and toys, and maintain a staff of employees and volunteers who take care of them every day.

Events like pet shows and monthly showings at Petco and Soldan’s get the animals into the community, and show people that it’s not very expensive to adopt an animal. It is much cheaper than buying from a breeder.

Even if a student can’t afford a pet, or if their parent won’t allow it, they can still visit the shelter as a volunteer.

They are always looking for people to come and play with the animals.

“I think people should become more educated on ways that you can volunteer at your local animal shelter,” said Wilkins.

Volunteer at the Outreach Center: ac.ingham.org Volunteer at the Humane Society: www.cahs-lansing.org

Many students see Aaron Bales as an average guy who does his job as a Special Education coordinator. But what most students don’t know is that Bales is a founding member of the folk/rock band Flatfoot.

Bales plays guitar, accordion and also does vocals on most of the tracks. Flatfoot is mainly a rock-n-roll band, but their style varies.

“We have a really good rhythm section and interesting guitar parts, we don’t necessarily sound like any specific genre or thing,” said Bales.

The band was something that had been talked about for some time. It really became a thing during Bales’ year of student teaching. He and his brother were the main founders, while other members have come in and out.

“It’s been a steady progression; we are

very lucky to know such talented people,” said Bales.

Flatfoot has been together 11 years, in which they have had two albums and have played many live shows. Many students don’t know of Bales’ “double life.”

“I don’t publicize it much but when students do find out they are surprised and usually find it hilarious,” said Bales.

Although not many know of Bales and his band, some do. Many of the staff/students that know have attended shows and followed Flatfoot regularly.

“They are an American folk band and I like that because it keeps our history alive,” said AP US History Lothar Konietzko.

“They’re fun.”

Flatfoot just recently released their new album, “Blue Water.” The 12-track CD features their unique sound and is available at places like Flat Black and Circular, as well as on iTunes. They also have some upcoming shows to promote the new album.

Left to right: Flatfoot is Dan Amori, David Baldwin, Tom Green, Thomas McCartan, and Everett’s own Aaron Bales. The band plays an all-ages show Saturday at the Avenue Cafe, 2021 E. Michigan Avenue, at 8:00.

“We usually one play one show and it’s on a weekend, or we go crazy and do two,” said Bales.

Flatfoot’s upcoming shows include one

at The Avenue Cafe in Lansing and also a show at the Lansing Folk Festival.

Bales loves being in a band but has no big goal of stardom. Flatfoot is more of a

hobby for Bales.

“I love being at Everett and I love teaching,” said Bales. “The band is just a fun but also small part.”

5 • The Voice • February 6, 2013 • myvikingvoice.com

Jaimie Bozack Features Editor

courtesy Saque Photography

Bales lives second life as alt-rocker

Entertainment

Cost of prom can be shocking Brittany Harris Reporter The big debate about prom has been ongoing for years: who pays more? The girls or the guys?

“I think girls pay more,” said senior Da’reese Robertson. “We have to get a lot.”

Depending on how far she wants to go, a girl can spend over $1,000. A dress, shoes, nails, and hair are just the beginning for some girls.

Guys think they have to get a lot, too.

“Guys have to rent a suit, pay for dinner and all that other stuff,” said senior Sammie Johnson.

According to research, Johnson is mistaken, at least on the average. According to a survey released

by Visa Inc., the average girl is spending $1,078 all

Top 10 albums of 2012 surprises students Lindsay July Reporter

6 • The Voice • February 6, 2013 • myvikingvoice.com

This whole year, you have been listening to the radio, rocking out to songs or changing the station because you can’t stand a song. Maybe, you liked an artist so much you went out and bought their album. If so, you weren’t the only one. A few artists sold millions of copies of their albums this year.

Here is a look at the top-ten selling albums in 2012... you might be surprised at some of the artists on the list.

Some of the albums on the list were re-

leased a couple years ago, yet still remain on the top 10 list. Some students were surprised about some of the albums on the list.

“Adele having the top selling album and tenth most selling album is strange,” said junior Brittany Ayers-McWain. “How is One Direction #2 when they just came out?”

Others thought that these are pretty mainstream artists and weren’t so surprised.

“None of them surprise me simply because the ratings are ratings that’s how it is,” said junior Belinda Trinh. “Maybe Bruno Mars should have been on there because he’s quite popular.”

10 “19” by Adele (2008) 1,262,000 copies sold.

9 Whitney Houston’s “Greatest Hits” (2000) 1,290,000 copies sold.

8 “talk that talk” by Rihanna (2011) 1,310,000 copies sold.

7 “Wrecking Ball” by Bruce Springsteen (2012) 1,370,000 copies sold.

6 “Making Mirrors” by Gotye (2011) 1,374,000 copies sold.

5 “MDNA” by Madonna (2012) 1, 460,000 copies sold.

4 “Mylo Xyloto” by Coldplay (2011) 1,672,000 copies sold.

3 “Born to Die” by Lana Del Ray (2012) 1,854,000 copies sold.

2 “Up All Night” by One Direction (2011) 1,865,000 copies sold.

1 “21” by Adele (2011) 7,505,000 copies sold.

together for prom this year, which is over $200 more than they spent last year.

“That’s way too much to spend,” said senior Damieka Merriwether.

When the different expenses start to get broken down, though, it’s obvious how prom night can add up. Even though it’s still over four months away, it may be time for people to start building up their bank accounts.

“I'm going to save a lot to help my mom pay for all this,” said senior Amoni Brown.

Prom can be expensive, but it doesn't have to be a bank-buster.

“If girls didn't go through all that stuff like buying expensive things, (boys and girls) could pay the same amount,” said senior Marquan Howard.

Video games have come a long way since Pong Chris Buckner Reporter

Video Games are now one of the largest industries in the US. They’ve come a long way from where they began. They gained their mainstream popularity in about the 1970’s when arcade games, gaming consoles and home computer games were introduced. They started off at 8-bit resolution, like Mario.

Most at this school are “90’s kids.” We were born in the gaming age. Most of us grew up playing games like Donkey Kong, Zelda, Resident Evil and Final Fantasy. As we have grown, the video game industry has continued to grow and evolve as well.

The graphics of current video games compared to the graphics of past video games are amazing.

There are many different genres of games. There are Shooters, Action/Adventure, Role-Playing and Strategy. Inside of those are other sub-categories. If you don’t like video games, its probably

because you haven’t found the right genre for you.

Some of the best games out today are RPG’s (Role-Playing Games). A great example of this is “The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.” It gives you the ability to do what whatever you want. You can customize your character for starters. You get to pick how you play the game. If you want to destroy a village, you can. It’s all about doing what you want to do, and that is what makes it so good.

A lot of people think that they are gamers because they play video games on occasion. But, according to Senior Michael Duncan, gaming is a lifestyle.

“To be a gamer is to waste a lot of time,” said Duncan. “Time that could be way better spent on needs rather than wants. Being a gamer is to sacrifice a lot of physical contact for digital or virtual contact.”

Duncan said that a life online has similarities with the real world. For example, those who are the best at what they do need to work at it. Also, online worlds have as many, if not more, trash-talkers as the real world.

“It's frustrating for a real gamer,” said Duncan, “always pushing to be better. Putting up with a lot of trash talk. Apparently everyone online has slept with my supposedly overweight mother.”

Gamers see gaming as having benefits that other may not immediately see.

“But it can be rewarding; such as improved visual attention, improved perception and reaction skills, less depression, and control over one’s dreams,” said Duncan.

The typical “gamer” is seen by many as a nerd, a social recluse. There may be people who do play video games who are like that, but that doesn’t mean everyone is.

“It's a lifestyle, not a hobby,” said Duncan. “It's going to be part of my life until I die.”

Melanie Matchette Photo Editor The new year always brings new music, and this year, many popular artists are releasing their next albums in January and February.

On January 28, J. Cole’s sophomore album Born Sinner is scheduled to release. According to billboard.com, Cole’s new album will feature R&B star Melanie Fiona. The North Carolina-born rapper also plans to release a collaboration album with rapper Kendrick Lamar sometime in 2013.

“His first album was amazing and I think after that dropped, it gave him a lot of time to grow up and know what type of artist he wants to be,” said senior Sum Huynh.

Canadian indie pop/rock duo Tegan and Sara plans to release their album Heartthrob a day later, January 29. This is their seventh studio album, and it features the hit single “Closer.”

“It's always really interesting to see how (Tegan and Sara's) sound is changing," said

Brooke Burns Entertainment Editor

sophomore Erika Wentworth. "I think it can be safely said that they've changed a lot since The Con, but I still think they're fantastic."

On February 5, two new albums are going to be released. Country singer Tim McGraw’s album Two Lanes of Freedom and post-hardcore band Silverstein’s album This Is How the Wind Shifts both come out that day. Two Lanes of Freedom is McGraw’s 12th studio album and it features the singles “Truck Yeah” and “One of Those Nights.”

Silverstein’s album This Is How the Wind Shifts is the Canadian band’s seventh studio album. It is the band’s first album to feature their new guitarist Paul-Marc Rousseau.

Later that month on February 26, the Swedish indie-rock band Shout Out Louds is scheduled to release their album Optica, their fourth studio album. The band is also scheduled to tour soon after the album release.

Their tour starts in Brooklyn, New York on March 11 and they will visit the Detroit area at The Magic Bag in Ferndale on May 15.

Movie remakes vs. originals Melanie Matchette Photo Editor Movie remakes have drawn in many moviegoers, both those who have seen the original and those who just want the entertainment of the movie. Senior Ben DeYoung said he prefers originals to remakes.

“I usually prefer the originals because remakes try too hard to one-up the original,” said DeYoung.

A popular remake is Total Recall , which originally came out in 1990 and was remade in 2012. The original movie received a 7.5/10 International Movie Database (IMDb) rating and starred Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sharon Stone. The movie was set in the year 2084, construction worker Douglas Quaid (played

by Schwarzenegger) is haunted by nightmares about Mars. He goes to Total Rekall where he buys an implanted memory to learn more about his dream. It goes horribly wrong and he remembers that he’s a secret agent fighting against Mars’ evil administrator Cohaagen. The 2012 remake received a 6.3/10 IMDb rating and starred Colin Farrell and Kate Beckinsdale. In this remake, Quaid is a fac-

tory worker who decides to take a “mind trip” to get away from his stressful life. However, it goes wrong and he discovers that he is a secret agent working for Cohaagen but makes a decision to join the resistance when he finds out that Cohaagen is evil.

Another recent remake is Red Dawn, which originally came out in 1984 and was remade in 2012. The 1984 version received an IMDb rating of 6.1/10 and starred Patrick Swayze and Charlie Sheen. The movie follows a group of American teenagers in the 1980s who resist the guerilla warfare of the Soviet Union and Cuban invasion of the United States. The remake was rated 5.6/10 on IMDb and starred Chris Hemsworth, Josh Peck, and Josh Hutcherson. In the remake, the U.S. is invaded by North Korean forces instead of Soviet and Cuban forces, but the plotline is mostly the same.

The original Nightmare On Elm Street, regarded as a classic in the horror genre, came out in 1984 and was given a 7.5/10 IMDb rating. It starred Heather Langenkamp and Robert Englund. Set in fictional Springwood, Ohio, several teenagers are stalked and killed in their dreams by Freddy Krueger (played

by Englund). The teenagers begin to die and Nancy Thompson (played by Langenkamp) realizes that she must stay awake to stay alive.

The 2010 remake received a 5.1/10 IMDb rating and starred Rooney Mara and Jackie Earle Haley. The plot was similar, but there was an effort made by the makers of the movie to recreate the darker nature of the original, which had become comical over time.

Texas Chainsaw Massacre 3D is a film that follows a mentally challenged murderer, who uses a chainsaw to kill his victims. The film has made over 34 million in the Box office so far, and was #1 its opening weekend.

When Heather (Alexandra Daddario) finds out she is adopted, she has to go to Texas to get her inheritance from her grandmother who passed away. A group of her friends decide to go with her. On the way she picks up a hitchhiker and they all make their way to Texas. Once they arrive in Texas, Heather finds out that she inherited a house. A letter from her grandmother explaining some of the house’s surprises goes unread, and “Leatherface” (Dan Yeager) is let loose. Leatherface is a guy, who covers up his own face by using his victims faces as his own, after he kills them.

He lives in the basement of the house.

A few twists at the end of the movie, leaves you confused and asking what just happened.

This definitely is a Texas Chainsaw movie... it is a bloody mess. Some parts made you want to gag. Some scenes where Leatherface comes running out of nowhere is certainly startling. The movie could make you nervous because by the music, you could tell something

Texas Chainsaw Massacre made 28.1 million dollars its opening weekend at the box office. was going to happen. The acting was actually pretty good. The killing scenes looked real and some scenes made you want to turn your head and look away. The 3D effects were not very good. There was only a few parts that were actually 3D. There was some chainsaws popping out of the screen, but that was about the coolest special effect. The movie was not actually that bad, but it probably did not need the 3D effects.

‘Warm Bodies’ release excites many zombieloving students Lindsay July Reporter Lots of movies come from popular books like Twilight, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, and Perks of Being a Wallflower. Even the new zombie love movie Warm Bodies was first a book.

The movie and book is like another version of Romeo and Juliet. The zombie (R) and a human (Julie) fall in love with each other after R eats Julie’s boyfriend’s brain. The fact that a zombie and human fall for each other is quite different. Julie’s dad doesn’t approve of this, but what dad would?

Students are looking forward to see- Warm bodies is based on a book by Isaac Marion. ing this movie.

“I didn’t know it was a book, but I would “It looks awesome and it’s a different kind of zombie movie,” said junior Breanna love to read it,” said Ayers-McWain.

A review in the San Francisco ChroniIgnatuk.

Summit entertainment made Twilight and cle said positive things about the movie that Warm Bodies, but that does not make students opened February 1.

“As a date movie for teens and twentythink this will be another Twilight movie.

“I think Warm Bodies will be different somethings that nods toward edgy fantasy because there are some scary scenes in the while favoring down-to-earth mellowness, the previews that Twilight didn’t have,” said junior Summit release is primed to hit the box-office sweet spot,” wrote critic Sheri Linden.

Brittany Ayers-McWain.

Warm Bodies’ is rated PG-13 for zombie Even though most people haven’t read the book, many are looking forward to reading violence and some language. and watching Warm Bodies.

7 • The Voice • February 6, 2013 • myvikingvoice.com

New Year, New

Entertainment Texas Chainsaw review Music

SPORTS Girls hoops looks to turn season around heading into districts

Courtesy Michelle Hoffman

From the years 1999-2001, the Lady Vikings basketball team were the best girls’ basketball team in the state. In each of those years, they appeared in the state finals.

Two of those years, they came out state champions (back-to-back in 2000 and 2001).

During that elite era, they were coached by legendary coach Johnny Jones, who also was the head coach of the boys team.

Jones was the head coach for both teams back then because the girls played during the fall until a 2007 Supreme Court ruling against the MHSAA put boys’ and girls’ basketball during the same season.

Now the Vikings are being coached by first-year head coach Liz Ballinger (also a math teacher at Everett), after former head coach K.C. Keyton left the team after last season.

Some of her goals are to instill a competitive attitude in her players, and have them come out every game ready to play.

“I have a great group of girls who have a lot of potential,” said Ballinger.

Although they are back-to-back City Champions (the rivalry between Eastern, Sexton, and Everett), the Lady Vikings are not the elite team they used to be.

In the past three years, they have only managed to win 10 games (1-20 in 2009-10, 4-17 in 2010-11, 5-16 in 2011-12).

Courtesy Michelle Hoffman

Lucas Barner Sports Editor

Again off to a slow start to the 2012-13 season (4-9), the team hopes to turn their season around.

“The desire to actually win is not there,” said junior point guard Azalea Miller. “You're only as strong as your weakest player, and when your weakest player doesn’t want it, it

affects the team as a whole.”

The teams goal is to finish strong with a record of 11-9 heading into Districts.

“A major goal of everyone’s is to lose the individual attitudes and pull together as a team,” said Miller.

With many of the Lady Vikings having

8 • The Voice • February 6, 2013 • myvikingvoice.com

For Williams, wrestling is his form of stress relief

Junior guard/forward Nina Foster (30) blocks a shot from an Okemos player. The Lady Vikings went on to lose the game.

She believes that to turn their season around, they need to stay together as a team and continue to push each other everyday whether it be on the court or off.

“We are very athletic and run the ball well,” said Ballinger. “We need to improve on our team work and knowledge of the game.”

Crimson Tide win third National Title in four years

MELANIE MATCHETTE

Lucas Barner Sports Editor

Senior wrestler Jacqwese Williams says wrestling is what keeps him disciplined.

He has an individual winning record, 17-6 this season so far.

3+ years on the varsity level (Azalea Miller-3, Nina Foster-3, Starr Allen-4, and DeAnna Martin-4), it’s hard to understand why the Lady Vikings are in a drought.

But even though they have been in a slump, Ballinger expects her girls with experience to lead the team and keep them positive.

Junior Point Guard Azalea Miller (5) drives through the lane during the third game of the season against the Okemos Chiefs.

Brittany Harris What makes him the best is how fast he Reporter is.

“I wrestle The wrestling team Jacqwese knows that to hasn’t been doing so well. be a good wrestler you have to because it’s practice and work for it.

In fact, they haven’t won a match yet. But, one “I've been wrestling since a discipline,” wrestler, senior Jacqwese 6th grade and I work hard at Williams said. it,” he said.

Williams, has seen individual success. sport is not as easy “It keeps me as it The Williams is 17-6 for may seem, Williams exthe season and has won one focused on plained; a lot goes into wresmedal. tling. life instead of For Williams, wrestling “You have to learn the helps him stay centered. technique and work on speed,” drama.”

“I wrestle because it’s a said Williams. discipline,” Williams said. “It Williams also said that for keeps me focused on life instead of drama.” him wrestling is a way to relieve stress.

His teammates think he’s the best wres“You can take your anger out in this tler on the whole team. sport instead of fighting or something.”

The BCS Championship game is something that people tend to look forward to. Many people place large bets on who they think will win.

The last four National Championships have made it back to the state of Alabama.

The Alabama Crimson Tide have won three out of the last four title games (2010, 2012, 2013) with former Michigan State head football coach, Nick Saban.

Along with Saban, the Crimson Tide were led by Heisman Trophy winner and Flint, MI native Mark Ingram when they won it back in 2010.

Some say the only reason Auburn made it to the title game in 2011 is because of quarterback Cam Newton, who eventually went on to win the Heisman Trophy and get drafted 1st overall by the Carolina Panthers in the NFL Draft.

Newton brought the Tigers from being pre-season unranked to the number one team in the country and a 22-19 victory over the Oregon Ducks.

The 2012 title game brought the Crimson Tide back to the title game. This time around, they knocked off the only team that had beaten them that season. The Louisiana State (LSU) Tigers were the number one team in the country with the top ranked defense. They had beaten “Bama” earlier in the year 9-6 in overtime led by star defensive backs Tyrann Mathieu and Morris Claiborne.

Coming off a 42-10 SEC (Southeastern Conference) Championship game win against

the Georgia Bulldogs, the Tigers were hot and undefeated at 13-0.

That all changed within the sixty minutes of play on the field on January 9, 2012.

The number one defense in the country had allowed 21 points to Alabama and all of those points were unanswered, leaving Alabama as the National Champions with a 21-0 win.

As the 2012-13 season approached, “Bama” entered with high hopes to get back to the title game. Throughout the first ten weeks, the Tide dominated every opponent.

Then they faced and lost to the Texas A&M Aggies, led by redshirt freshman Quarterback Johnny Manziel.

Manziel was already considered a heisman trophy finalist, but with the win over the Tide, he secured the trophy and became the first-ever freshman winner, just five years after Tim Tebow became the first-ever sophomore to win.

For Alabama, the loss knocked them back to the number four spot, leaving Oregon, Kansas State, and Notre Dame ahead of them.

Losses for both Oregon and K-State helped Notre Dame and Alabama move into the number one and two spots.

The Crimson Tide would go the rest of the season without suffering another loss and win the SEC West division. They would play the Georgia Bulldogs (SEC East Champions) in the SEC championship and the chance to play for the National title against Notre Dame.

The two teams went back and forth and the game literally came down to the last second.

Georgia was in their “hurry-up” offense and they ran a pass play that was tipped at the line, but then caught by a receiver who immedi-

ately fell down. The Bulldogs had no timeouts and the clock ran out, leaving Alabama the SEC Champs with a 32-28 victory.

Now the Tide had a little over a month to prepare for Notre Dame. The Irish were led by their All-American, heisman finalist linebacker, Manti Te’o.

The game would be played at Sun Life Stadium in Miami, FL (Home of the Miami Dolphins).

Alabama came into the game ready to play from the get-go, getting off to a quick 14-0 lead in the first quarter. “Bama” would add another 14 points in the second quarter and headed into the half with a 28-0 lead.

Alabama rolled over Notre Dame and went on to win their second straight National Championship, 42-14.

Now the question about Alabama is how long can they stay at the top?

Tom Jones of the Tampa Bay Times says that Saban’s key to success is his recruiting.

He wrote: “When Saban took over the Tide in 2007, he put together what Rivals.com considered the 10th-best recruiting class in the nation. Over the next five seasons, Rivals ranked Saban's recruiting classes as first, first, fifth, first and first.”

According to SI.com Andy Staples, as long as Saban is at Alabama, they will always be national championship contenders.

“The true success of his system (Saban) hinges on the selection of players and the way they are trained once they arrive on campus,” wrote Staples. “That is why Saban's system can endure when schemes can't, and it is also why several programs have made big bets that it can be duplicated.”