THETORCH
Our Voice Staff editorial on judging fashion trends on page 3.
Check out all things Snowcoming on page 5
January 27, 2016
Fashion through the ages,
best dressed,
shopping brands, and more on pages 8-9.
Gift Guide
No more Valentines Day Panic.
Emily Young ‘17. Photo by Maiah Lesher.
PLAINWELL HIGH SCHOOL 684 STARR RD, PLAINWELL, MI 49080 ISSUE 3, VOL 66
02 opinion The Trojan Torch Volume 66, Issue 3 January 27, 2016
trojantorch.com
Editor-in-Chief: Sarah Bommer Ashley Widner
News Editor:
Kaitlin Rietkerk
Feature Editor: Emily Totten
Michael Carroll
Photo Editor: Maiah Lesher
Staff Writers
Luciano Almeda ‘17 Hannah Arendsen’16 Mirchell Britton ‘16 Chase Bryant’16 Cassie Burnett’16 Devin Cobble’16 Breanna Colyer ‘18 Jarrett Comai’16 David Donovan’16 Colin Dorgan’16 Claire Durian ‘18 Andrew Dyke’16 Cole Evans ‘16 Alex Frederick’16 Tyler Gauthier ‘18 Andrea Gritter ‘18 Jeremy Guarino’16 Logan Hiemstra ‘16 Nathan Ingersoll ‘16 Catherine Jewell’18 Shelby Judd’16 Carlee Keim ‘16 Jaiden Kohls ‘16 Caleigha Lunarde ‘18 Ethan Macdonald ‘16 Kayleb Mallory’16 Jenna Mathis’16 Morgan McKee ‘16 Nikolai Minka’16 Trenton Opel ‘18 Alissa Pierce ‘18 Jordan Raglon ‘16 Liam Ridgway’16 Gary Selner’16 Isaac Shaw’16 Morgan Smith’16 Jessica Steffey’16 Daniel Stowell ‘16 Luke Vanslambrouck ‘16 Maci Wilson’18 Kendylle Wolthius’18
Index Opinion.....................................2 News..........................................5 Feature......................................8 Lifestyle...................................11 Advertisments.......................13 Sports......................................14
A successful life might not require a college degree; just follow your heart BY ETHAN MCDONALD STAFF WRITER
Opinion Editor:
Online Editor
january 27, 2016
the trojan torch
Online Stories: Current articles:
SAT replacing ACT, Plainwell water drive for Flint, and the PHS Choir Chicago trip .
Check out these articles to be posted later this week: Test taking tips; and differences between dance studios.
Follow us on Social Media Facebook
The Trojan Torch Twitter
@thetrojantorch Instagram
@thetrojantorch
The Trojan Torch serves students, faculty of PHS, and members of the community through informing, educating, interpreting, entertaining, and advertising. All members of the community and students are free to contribute stories, photos, and/or drawings to The Torch. We do reserve the right to edit or reject your work as we see fit. If the story submitted is anything other than editorial, The Torch requires all sources to be identified in order to continue its tradition as a credible news and information source. The Torch staff also reserves the right to accept or reject the purchase of any advertisement. To purchase advertising, or to submit a story, photo, or letter to the editor, please send it to: Plainwell High School Attn: Marilyn Hess 684 Starr Rd. Plainwell, MI 49080 269-685-9554 ext. 1544 mhess@plainwellschools.org Some material courtesy of the American Society of News Editors/MCT Campus news service.
In today’s world many Americans believe that you need to go to college in order to get a good job, and to be successful. I strongly disagree with that idea. First we need to understand what success is. Some people perceive success as having lots of money, sports cars, and a big house. Some people perceive success as having a good job and a good reputation. Some may perceive success as living in a van and traveling. The most common view of success is going to college, receiving your diploma, and working for the most of your life. But to me success is taking whatever life throws at you, and making the best out of that situation. It doesn’t matter if you live in a mansion or live in your van. I think if you are happy with your
life than you are successful. I’m not saying college is a bad thing, it does help a lot of people be successful and accomplish their dreams. But unfortunately, college graduates are having hard time finding work after receiving a diploma. Graduates are then stuck with crushing student debt and end up spending most of their money on paying off loans. Another problem i have with college is, a huge chunk of students who attend college don’t truly want to attend. In today’s society, we are pressured so much by our parents and the school system to go to college. So many kids are settling for careers they don’t truly desire just because it might make them decent money. No matter how much money you make if you aren’t happy with your career than you are not successful. Some of the most successful and brilliant people in the world
dropped out of high school or college. For example, Thomas Edison only completed three months of high school. The Wright Brothers never graduated high school. Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, and Mark Zuckerberg all dropped out of college. These men invented things, like light bulbs, airplanes, computer software, and social media sites. They invented things that life seems impossible without today, and none of them needed a college education to be successful. Once again I’m not trying to say college is a bad thing, but I truly believe you don’t need college to be successful. If you follow your heart and stay determined you will be successful. Whether you want to make millions of dollars or just live in a small country house, following your heart and doing what makes you happy is the true road to success.
Academic dishonesty list:
Has lack of consequences affected cheating?
BY HANNAH ARENDSEN STAFF WRITER Three years ago, Plainwell High School administration implemented the academic dishonesty list in order to scare students into obedience. Teachers may be naive enough to think it is working, but the list hasn’t impacted students cheating at all. A student is put on the academic dishonesty list after an incident related to unethical behavior such as: cheating, plagiarism, theft, changing records, or falsely blaming another student. The list was created when Plainwell High School started the Oneto-One Initiative in 2012, which is the introduction of more technology into the school, such as iPads. The administration was afraid that with more access to technology it was going to become easier for students to cheat in school. “Electronics in education forces educators to define what cheating is and isn’t,” said David Clark,
a teacher who frequently uses the iPads in his classes. Clark teaches both AP classes and non-AP classes and says that both groups of students cheat, just on different levels. He says to prevent cheating in his class he makes it clear what he considers cheating and changes the way he assigns/accepts assignments. Sandy Breitenbach, a science teacher who teaches AP classes, non-AP classes, and is adviser for the National Honor Society, said that it is hard to say whether the list has impacted the amount of cheating since they have still had cases of cheating each year that the list has been in place. “Checking the academic dishonesty list has been a normal part of the new member selection process and may be a determining factor in selection,” says Breitenbach on whether or not the academic dishonesty list is taken into account when a student is applying to be in NHS. As for students, many think that the academic dishonesty list hasn’t
influenced cheating. Nick Jackson ‘19 said he did not even know about it and for that reason it does not really scare him. “If I knew more about it, it would influence my decision to cheat. But we as students have been taught to not do it, so that’s one thing that I don’t mess with,” says Jackson. Molly Sides ‘16 who was on the list last year for cheating on a test said, “It doesn’t really influence my decision on cheating because I passed the class and cheating is what helped.” Students are not scared of the academic dishonesty list because it does not come with many consequences. Yes, the National Honor Society does look at it, but colleges, potential employers, and military recruiters, do not. So in the long run, the list does not affect the student’s future at all. In fact, if the student is already on the list and gets caught again, the only consequences are the student is placed on the list for another whole year.
january 27, 2016 w
Our Voice
Examine attitudes toward others and their clothing STAFF EDITORIAL Why is it that people care so much about the clothes on other people’s back? Typically teens put a lot of thought into their appearance and and the appearance of others. The problem is that no matter what, some people will judge others based on their fashion. Some will make the assumption that a person wearing sweatpants and hoodie is not as privileged as a person in a pair of jeans and a nice shirt. Don’t fall into that trap. In the morning when you’re choosing what to wear, you shouldn’t have to worry whether or not your peers will like your outfit. People should be able to feel as confident in a pair of sweatpants as they do in a pair of jeans. “Whether I dress up or dress down, I don’t really care about what people have to say about my clothes,” said Brooklyn Jensen ‘16. As individuals we have different tastes in what we do for fun, what kind of music we listen to, and what we like to dress in. Similarly, what we choose to wear is our own way of expressing ourselves. “When I was a freshman I tried like a pageant queen, now I’m a senior and I just woke up like this,” said Mackenzie Goodling ‘16, who was wearing sweatpants and a sweatshirt. And as long as she’s comfortable in her own skin, we shouldn’t judge her for that. We all look back at some point in our lives and ask ourselves the question “what was I thinking?” But as time goes on our personal style and comfortability in our skin changes. But truly, fashion and style are different to everyone. Who decides what is “fashionable” anyway?
opinion 03
the trojan torch
Everyone is comfortable in different clothing and once you decide what your personal “style” is you are golden. And trust us, you have lots of time and opportunities to switch it up. High school should be the time when we explore and experiment about fashion just like we do when considering what we might want to major in college or trying to find what sport it is that we truly like. Not only is someone’s personal style about expressing themselves but it’s also about wearing what we personally feel comfortable in. “I think you should dress the way you want to express yourself. If you feel good about yourself when you’re dressed up or wearing sweatpants, it shouldn’t matter to others?” said Abby Benson’16. Some people feel more comfortable in sweatpants and others feel the most comfortable in a dress. Whatever it could be, it isn’t our body, so we shouldn’t judge what others wear. Appearance can be judged so harshly, and for what reason? Some put way too much emphasis on how others look, when it doesn’t affect them at all. We should examine our motives and why we make the assumptions we do. Nobody is the same, and nobody’s personal style is going to be exactly the same either. Teens will probably always care about what their peers think about their appearance. But once more and more people stop caring, teens will become more confident in their personal style. Everyone should be confident and comfortable with what they wear, whether it be sweatpants or a dress.
Dance: an art and a sport BY ANDREA GRITTER STAFF WRITER There is a lot of controversy about dance being a sport. Many people believe it is not a sport, but an art. They’re not wrong, dance is an art but dance is also a sport. According to the Oxford Dictionary, the definition of the word sport is “an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others.” Dance is a very physical sport. Even though dance doesn’t involve harsh physical contact it still involves time, endurance, strength, flexibility, and coordination. Dancers also must
have skill and dedication like any other sport. “As a dancer I am training at least three hours, five days a week. We always start off the class with conditioning that involves a sevenminute ab workout, many pushups, running and more,” said Jessica Myers ‘18. “But that’s not even the hard part,” she said. “The technique of dance is really what takes years to master, and sometimes it’s never mastered.” Dance is just as competitive as any sport. At competitions they are judged by a panel of judges just like gymnastics. These judges have a strict set of guidelines that are used to score the dance performance. In the end, the best teams come out
“As a dancer I am training at least three hours five days a week.”
on top. Like other sports, dancers face many injuries. “I can speak for any dancer when I say this, dancers are always getting injured. I am always bruised,” said Cate Jewell ‘18. There are dozens of injuries that dancers can suffer from. Fractured bones, sprained ankles, pulled muscles, and hyper extensions of knees to name a few. In the worst case injury paralysis could happen if the dancer falls wrong. Not to mention dancer injuries are considered as sport injuries. Looking back at the definition of the word sport, dance fits every criteria of the word. It is athletic, competitive, and involves a crazy amount of skill. People should understand that dance and other sports are on an even ground. Dance is a sport and its participants deserve the same respect.
Diet pop not a healthier choice BY JAIDEN KOHLS STAFF WRITER
It’s lunchtime, and I’m thirsty. I’m craving an ice cold Pepsi. I go to the soda machine only to be disappointed- the only option is diet. In 2006, a legislation was passed that banned the selling of full-calorie sodas in high schools across the United States with the goal of decreasing obesity in students. Many parents and schools agree with this decision, as obesity in young people is a growing problem in the United States. However, they do not know the dark side of diet soda. It is not the healthier choice. Soda companies keep calories in their diet sodas low with artificial sweeteners like Splenda, Nutrasweet, and Sweet N’ Low. These sweeteners are often sweeter than sugar while having none on the calories. The main ingredients in these sweeteners, like aspartame and saccharin, have been linked to causing headaches, dizziness, and even increase the risk of cancer when consumed, according to the National Cancer Institute and other sources. Knowing all of that, the answer is clear: diet soda should not be substituted for full-calorie soda.
It is time we demand that fullcalorie sodas be allowed in our vending machines. It is understood that they are not allowed because everyone is worried about obesity, but high school students are old enough to decide what they do or do not consume. Just like the donuts at Wesco or the cheeseburgers at Culver’s, just because it’s there doesn’t mean students are going to be inhaling it constantly. Generally students are trying to be healthy, too. But when they need a shot of caffeine or the energy from sugar, they should have that choice. We’ve all heard the saying “guns don’t kill people, people kill people”. That saying applies to this issue as well. The availability of fullcalorie soda doesn’t make people fat, people make people fat. We are all adults, or pretty darn close to it. As adults, we should be able to decide whether we want to drink diet soda or full-calorie soda. The state deciding what we drink for us makes it seem like they don’t want us to feel grown up, and that is the goal of high school, to prepare us to be adults and make our own decisions. The decisions the state is making for us that are meant to keep us healthy could actually be harm-
ing us. The diet soda they are forcing into our schools could be the reason for your headaches and increasing your risk of developing cancer. It’s time to take a stand. It’s time to demand legislators to change this law and allow full-calorie sodas to be sold in schools.
Risks of Diet Pop -Associated with an increased risk of Type 2 diabetes -Has no nutritional value -Aspartame (the main sweetener) is linked to headaches Information from health.com
04 opinion
january 27, 2016
the trojan torch
Are you feeling the Bern or nah? IN SUPPORT BY QUINN NEWLAND STAFF WRITER On the opposite end of the spectrum from Donald Trump, is self-described “Democratic Socialist” Bernie Sanders. While Hillary Clinton is leading the polls, Sanders is close behind. The more play he gets on the internet and TV, the more people seem to be turning towards him as opposed to Clinton. Where she wants the presidency, he wants to make a difference. He may not be the hero we want, but he is the hero we need. Sanders has a long history of being at the forefront of various social movements, and large world events. Not only was Sanders a student leader for the Civil Rights Movement, but he was also a leader of the first ever sit-in in Chicago history; one that led to the investigation of discrimination in the schools. Bernie Sanders is a presiden-
tial candidate for the people, he believes that big change must start with the individual. He’s a big supporter of the “Black Lives Matter,” feminist, and LGBT rights movements. As the LGBT demographic now represents around 4 percent of the voting population it is important to actually represent these groups. He’s also interested in making decently paying jobs, creating a living wage, and he’s even fighting to lower prescription drug prices. “What kind of nation are we when we give tax breaks to billionaires, but we can’t take care of the children and elderly,” Sanders said at a rally. Even on bigger financial issues, such as lowering military spending and getting big money out of politics and restoring proper democracy; he always has the American people in mind. “America must defend freedom at home and abroad, but we must seek diplomatic solutions before resorting to military ac-
tion. While force must always be an option, war must be a last resort, not the first option,” says Sanders. It’s important that America remains a world power, but it’s the inching towards abuse of that power that is starting to worry some. It’s important that in its efforts to defend the world and itself from terrorism, America doesn’t become that terrorism itself. Sanders seems to understand this and agree with it wholeheartedly. Sanders has unusual methods for sure, but that is exactly what America needs; a distancing from what we have been doing. Obama made several steps in the right direction, but he still played it just a little to safe. Sanders is looking to make many large strides towards greatness, and that is why he should be elected our next president.
AGAINST BY TRENT JOYNT STAFF WRITER
Photo from wikimedia.org.
Bernie Sanders frequently likes to call himself a “Democratic Socialist” in his eyes this is a diluted version of the harsh word Socialist, that tends to strike hard in debates and goes against everything on which this country was built. I believe that with Sanders in office, we will no longer be able to live up to the title as greatest country in the world. Sanders likes to compare the United States to countries like Sweden and Denmark. Some people say that comparing the U.S to other countries will only make the U.S weaker. In order to stay the greatest nation in the world, we must continue to make reforms and solutions to our own problems without becoming a diluted version of a socialist society. Sanders is un-American and weak when it comes to foreign policy; voting against the Iraq
Photo taken from berniesanders.org.
war, stating that we should only use military force as a last resort. Honestly yes, military force is a last resort. But when national security is at stake, and something like 9/11 happens, will Sanders be there to take care of the issues at hand and use force when necessary? To say that force wasn’t necessary after 9/11 is like someone shooting someone in the middle of class and only getting suspended. This is a valid point considering the pressing issues of ISIS at this moment in time. Would Sanders be there if ISIS were to bomb the USA next? Some of Sanders’ ideas such as saying that everyone should have a right to health care is a fair and true statement. Ideas like college being free and or more affordable for students would also be a great idea. But having a Socialist in office at this point will only hurt the economy. Magically making health care college free by increasing taxes for the upper class while lowering those for the middle class is
hardly “Democratic” but Socialist; in all aspects of the word. We need a capitalist in office if America wishes to bounce back from such a deficit of $18.6 trillion. I agree with Sanders saying that “the top 1 percent needs to start paying their fair share of taxes.” A common argument to this is that, the 1 percent does pay more in taxes than that of the middle to lower class. But they do not pay a fair share when in terms of percentage of income. “I not only pay a lower tax rate than my secretary, but the rest of my office,” Warren Buffett once said. He was one of Forbes top -grossing people in the world. Overall, I do agree with the majority of what Sanders has to say. But to say that I believe he’s the best candidate for office would be going against what I think is best for this country. In order to preserve this country’s greatness and protect ourselves from communism and evil everywhere; we need to take a stand and vote for someone who isn’t afraid to use military force.
january 27, 2016
news 05
the trojan torch
Snowcoming:
What the Student Senate has in store for us BY JORDAN RAGLON STAFF WRITER
Mariah Crandall ‘16 and Elise George ‘18 working hard preparing for snowcoming. Photo by Sarah Bommer
Snowcoming is around the corner and students have different views on what it will be like. Jake Wisnaski ‘16 is the one in charge of this event for Student Senate and has high hopes for what is to come. “It will be fun! Great music with even greater people,” said Wisnaski. The average number of people at dances vary from 200 to 250. They are filled with loud music, the main light is off but usually other lights tend to stay on. Toward the back they have containers of punch and water. Since this is the seniors’ last Snowcoming, some seem especially interested. “It will be so much fun and a night to remember,” said Jessica Nyberg ‘16. Savannah Tustin ‘16 wants to get out there and boogie on the dance floor, along with Macken-
zie Goodling ‘16. “It is the last dance and it will be really fun. Bittersweet but I am excited to see how it will turn out,” said Goodling. Andrew Hansen is the Senate adviser and he is thrilled about this year’s Snowcoming. “The spirit days are going to be based off the movie Straight Outta Compton,” said Hansen. Sydney James ‘17 is also working on the spirit committe and along with Wisnaski has high hopes for this year’s events. “I think the spirit days are going to be really fun and something different,” said James. This dance is a Sadie Hawkins dance, so girls will ask the guys, perhaps in a creative way. The theme is “Party at Great Gatsby’s”. Some are choosing to go with friends. “Having no date can be fun at the same time. I would prefer having no date,” said Sarah Roberts ‘19.
Spirit Days Monday: Straight outta the gym Tueday: Straight outta Coachella (hippy day) Wednesday: Straight outta the jungle Thursday: Straight outta Rock of Ages Friday: Straight outta Plainwell
Sadie Hawkins dance is chance for girls to be creative BY BREE COLYER STAFF WRITER
“This is an opportunity for the girl to step up and take responsibility in the relationship.”
Is a Sadie Hawkins (girls ask guys) dance a good idea for Snowcoming? And who is Sadie Hawkins, anyway? Believe it or not the idea originates from a comic strip from the 1940’s. There are many opinions about this high school tradition. Nikki Allen ‘16 is not fond of the idea. “I don’t like the idea, it’s too much work and planning out. That’s the guy’s job”, said Allen. Mia Parker ‘17 also agrees with Allen by saying “We did this last year and don’t need to do it again. I like the classic guys ask girls idea.” On the other hand, Sam Gernaat ‘18 sees this topic differently. “A Sadie Hawkins a good idea but not a lot of girls participate so it’s just not as fun. If a girl
asked me out of the blue it may be a little weird, other than that i like the idea.” Hannah Beauregard ‘18 is in an agreement with Gernaat. “This is an opportunity for the girl to step up and take responsibility in the relationship.” It’s usually the guys responsibility to do everything like that . Jake Wisnaski ‘16 who is the committee chair of the dance for Student Senate, says they chose the Sadie Hawkins theme because of how successful and popular the idea was last year, when it was tried for the first time in many years. “It’s a nice twist that the majority of people enjoy,” expresses Wisnaski. Whether students like the format or not, the Senate is preparing for the dance Feb. 6 from 8-11 p.m. Tickets will be on sale at lunch the week before.
Veronica Klein ‘16 asks Jack Wideman ‘17 to snowcoming in punny and creative fashion. Photo courtesy of Klein.
06 news
the trojan torch
GSA club making a comeback
january 27, 2016
News flash News that is kinda important, yet not important enough to warrant its own story
Local: Kalamazoo Restaurant Week starts January 23 and runs until January 30. Local restaurants such as Mangia Mangia, Food Dance, Bell’s Brewery, and 11 more are featuring a fixed menu. Tasting menu’s are available for $10 and three course meals are available for $25. There will also be a chili and salsa cookoff. Daniel Joseph Cory was found outside of St. Michael Catholic Church last Friday. Police originally treated the case as a homicide, but the autopsy has since revealed the cause of death as hypothermia.
State: Members of the GSA club gathering to support their peers. Photo by Kaitlin Rietkerk. BY ANGELA MILLAR AND KAITLIN RIETKERK STAFF WRITER AND NEWS EDITOR The Gay Straight Alliance has recently been re-started at Plainwell to raise awareness for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning students. The GSA group meets in English teacher Andrea Villarreal’s room after school every other week on Thursday. When a student steps into the room it becomes a judgment free zone. “We have a mix of gay and straight people in the club. Believe it or not it’s not just for the gays. The whole point of the club is acceptance,” said Paige Siver ‘16. The club isn’t just a bunch of people coming to eat and talk, the students form bonds that make them feel like they aren’t alone. “We are like one big family, and I think the club is extremely
important. It definitely helps me, personally it’s helping me learn how to care for all different types of people. It allows me to give everyone the information they need to grow into who they are meant to be,” said Siver. The club isn’t just there to learn more about LGBT issues, it’s also in place to provide support to all who need it. “I think it provides an open arm sort of deal. So you feel less alone,” said Emily Stewart ‘16 Currently, there are around 30 students who have attended sessions and members hope that number will continue to grow. It doesn’t matter if you are a senior or a freshman. And you don’t necessarily have to be LGBT to get involved. “Anybody can come who just wants to learn more or talk about LGBT issues, and we have a big variety of grade levels that come,” said Villarreal. This club seems to be making a positive impact on the student body. “I think this club will for sure
give me confidence. I also think it will expand my group of friends,” said Bethany Benton ‘19. Even students who are not a part of the club feel that it is making an impact at the school. “I am not a part of the club, but I think that it is really inspiring that they have it, and I really hope that it will spread acceptance throughout the school,” said Lauren Shields ‘17. So far, they have only had a few meetings, but at each one they have talked about how their group can make a difference in the world. The club has even taken a field trip to spread the positivity. “We went to the United Church of Wayland for the Transgender Day of Awareness and we read a poem, it was really nice,” said Megan Preston ‘17. There are absolutely no qualifications to be in this club. “You can just show up, you just come when you can, we try to do it every other Thursday, and there is snacks,” said Villarreal.
In Frankenlust Township, MI a 7-year old girl was hit by an SUV on her way home from a basketball game while she was crossing the road. She ended up dying from her injuries on Sunday Jan 24,; she had been in critical condition since Friday Jan 22. The driver was traveling southbound down Westside Saginaw Road in a Buick Enclave. The Bay County deputies responded to the accident right by St. Paul Lutheran school at 7:55 pm. The whole incident is still under investigation.
National: Shovels and snowblowers are being used quite a bit along the East coast this week as people are beginning to clear the way out of their houses after this week’s blizzard, named Jonas. Apparently blizzards have been becoming more common every year. “The number of blizzards each year has doubled over the past two decades,” according to preliminary research by geographer Jill Coleman at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. Some people are beginning to believe that the cause of the blizzards is sunspots. Studies have shown that over the years the fewer sunspots there are the more blizzards there are.
Information was gathered from usatoday.com, mlive.com, wwmt.com, and woodtv.com
january 27, 2016
news 07
the trojan torch
New imports:
Plainwell welcomes two more foreign exchange students BY JENNA MATHIS STAFF WRITER
Jaqueline West ‘16 demonstrates her new love for snow. Photo by Hannah Arendsen.
The fear of traveling to a new country, new environment, new people, and maybe a new language can be intense. Jacqueline West ‘16 from Sydney, Australia and Elisa Ranuzzi ‘16 from Rome, Italy have brought on this challenge. They have both come to Plainwell High school for six months, joining the 11 from other countries already here. “My favorite thing about America so far is school and snow. I don’t have any things I don’t like,” said West about her favorite and least favorite things about America. “I love school. I don’t like some of the food,” added Ranuzzi. The most interesting thing Ranuzzi has seen is snow. This is not the first time West has been to America. She has been all over California and to New York, but is the first time Ranuzzi has been to America The reason behind West’s choice to come to America was to see how others live. She decided to only stay six months because she she would miss her family too much.
On the other side, Ranuzzi decided to come to America to expand her horizon and make new friends. Ranuzzi decided to only stay six months because it would put her behind. Italian schools move a lot faster. What are the differences between Australian and American schools? “We have to wear uniforms, we use the metric system and our classes change every two weeks. Also, it is not harder just different,” said West. There are differences as well between Italian and American schools “We have the same students in each class, we learn around 15 subjects, and we have different subjects each day. We also have to study at least six hours a day,” said Ranuzzi. The grades she earned during her half year in Italy and the credits she earns here in the U.S. will be averaged together to count for one year of schooling. West also will gain credit for the classes she takes here. “Yes, they do count, kind of. I just have to show that I have been in school for these six months,” said West. West’s favorite American food
Italy
Elisa Ranuzzi ‘16 enjoys reading in English as well as in Italian. Photo by Hannah Arendsen.
is pizza and she doesn’t speak any other languages. Ranuzzi’s favorite food is bagels and she speaks Italian and Spanish. West leaves at home a sister who is 12, a mom who is a general manager of company and a dad who is an engineer of the Australian Airline “Qantas”. Ranuzzi leaves at home a brother who is 14, a mom who is a computer programer, and a dad who is in human services. They both had families willing to welcome them on this side of the ocean. “I decided to get a foreign exchange student for the experience for my kids and to be exposed to a different culture,” said Principal Jeremy Wright, whose family hosts Ranuzzi. He decided to host an exchange student for a half year because it would be easier on his family. “Ranuzzi is a really nice kid. She is polite and quiet. I hope to learn a lot from her. She taught me to make lasagna,” said Wright. Ranuzzi isn’t intimidated to live with our principal. “It is cool because I get to meet new people and he’s really nice. It is a little strange though,” Ranuzzi said.
Australia
Population: 61.3 million
Population: 23.6 million
Captial: Rome
Capital: Canberra
President: Sergio Matterella
Prime Minister: Tony Abbott
Prime Minister: Matteo Renzi
Government: Democracy
Government: Democracy
-Divided into six states
-The average Italian consumes half a pound of bread a day
-There are more kangaroos than people
Fashions then and now Vanessa VanDenberg: “I like name brand but sometimes everybody has the same thing.”
Adidas 16%
your brand?
What is
Forever 21 11%
Luke Morrell: “I obsess over Nike and Under Armour.”
Victoria’s Secret 19%
Under Armour 17% American Eagle 9% Nike 28%
Zach Burnham: “Good looks aren’t cheap.”
I buy whatever’s cheapest 14%
Don’t care about it 27%
I have some name brands16%
It’s Important 28%
Without it I would die 15%
How Important Are Brands (100 Students)
man clothes, lots of blue jeans, Tshirts, pretty normal stuff.” “Dance floor grinding didn’t exist. It wasn’t that we were well-behaved; we just would have thought it was strange,” Straub said. “No school dance was complete without the “Cha-Cha Slide” or “Soulja Boy”. Basically, those songs that tell people how to dance,” says Stacy. “There wasn’t a lot of dances that we did but we did try to emulate anything Michael Jackson did, but we were too white to do them,” says Taylor. Most of these people would like Photo courtesy of Alex Stacy. to bring one trend back. “I’d probably bring back the big afro,” said Cool. “I would want to bring back the old rotary phones and maybe that will get rid of cell phones,” stated Taylor. “The loud/bright colors. Clothes today are a lot more bland and muted than they used to be. We need more prints and patterns,” said Stacy. “The permed hair (so much easier to style),” says Straub, “also a shiny, shiny iridescent purple/pink blazer (people would call me ‘Disco’ when I wore it.” “We had high wasted pants with kind of skinny legs, not as skinny as the ones today though,” said chemistry teacher Theresa Schwartz, who graduated in 1981. “I would probably also bring back the cool music videos. All the videos now are all boring and not cool,” said Taylor. “I would bring back ‘Mickey Rats’, said Schwartz. Mickey Rats was a place that had all sorts of old games such as Pac-Man.
feature 09
Best dressed BY CALEIGHA LUNARDE STAFF WRITER
BY T.J. OPEL STAFF WRITER Remember wearing light-up shoes and feeling cool, like you were all that? What about crocs or gaucho pants? Now you would only wear those things to a costume party, and you might feel stupid anyway. Over the years there have obviously been many different styles of clothes and dances. But not every student knows exactly what all of those styles were beyond what they can remember themselves--and that’s not going back very far. In 1979, the year science teacher Scott Cool graduated, the style was not even close to what it is today. “I used to wear bell bottom pants and silky shirts and girls wore awesome mini skirts and tube tops,” says Cool. “We used to do the hustle,” Cool stated. The hustle was a disco line dance. There was a song of the same name, but the dance could be done to any song. A decade later, in 1983, the trends were a little different. “I wore ‘student cut’ Levi’s straight-leg jeans,” said English teacher Sheelagh Straub, “You’d buy them and then wash them multiple times to get them to fit,” she explained. A few years later in 1986, science teacher Chris Taylor says, “We obviously wore levi’s 501 jeans, a polo shirt, my J’s or some penny loafers”. “We only wore Nikes because there wasn’t Under Armour back then,” stated Taylor. Two decades later when english teacher Alex Stacy graduated in 2007, he simply says he wore “HuPhoto courtesy of Theresa Shwartz
BY CARLEE KEIM STAFF WRITER Like most high schools, Plainwell has many different types of styles ranging from the grunge look to ‘just stepped off the runway’. Emma Seiler ‘16 knows first hand what it’s like to be just stepping off the runway. “I have been modeling for a year and half with Matthew Agency,” said Seiler. She says modeling is fun but the drive to photoshoots isn’t. She doesn’t know how long she will be involved in modeling. “I am just gonna see where it takes me,” she said. Seiler not only signed to be a model but also won “Best Dressed” in the senior mock elections. She says this was not something she was particularly going for, but thought it was really cool and exciting when she won it. “I’m really into fashion and it makes school better to be able to dress up everyday,” said Seiler. Seiler has her off days too though, but how does she get over them? “I change my outfit,” said Seiler. Seiler also has some great friends that help her out along the way. “She is literally good at everything she does, from drawing to fashion it just amazes me,” said Gabrielle Torres ‘16. Seiler enjoys shopping at Forever 21, Topshop, Urban Outfitters, and Salvation Army. Being a model can be tricky for some but luckily she has some tips for the next models of our generation.
Dressing well enough to win “Best Dressed” in the senior mock elections might be considered stressful, but not for Kyle Shannon ‘16. “I don’t feel like I have to look good, I chose to look good,” says Shannon. But he has lazy days. “Absolutely, I love my joggers,” he said. Still, he was happy to receive the recognition from his peers. “I was happy because I guess that means people notice what I wear and I didn’t really have a goal, but towards the end of the year I started to care more and put more thought into my outfits,” he said. Fashion plays a pretty big role in his life. When Shannon graduates high school he wants to major in marketing and minor in fashion. Which is not only saying he is passionate about it but also committed to fashion. Shannon likes fashion because he can be creative with what he wears. “I just enjoy pairing the clothing and matching different color schemes,” started Shannon, “ I follow a trend and try to make it my own.” Fashion is not only about clothes but also about shoes. He owns not one, not two, but over 30 pairs of shoes. For clothing, Shannon’s favorite brand is Calvin Klein. He also likes to shop at H&M, forever 21, Express, and Aldo. His least favorite thing to wear our socks. And he would never wear a crop top.
1940:
Guys: Hair parted on left or right side Long sleeve button up Suspenders Maybe a tie Girls: Dresses Skirts with shirt tucked in Shirts had white collars Or a blouse that was poofy BY CALEIGHA LUNARDE STAFF WRITER
Top brands around PHS (100 Students)
january 27, 2016
Timeline
08 feature
2016:
1980:
1960:
Guys: button up with the sleeves rolled up or not short sleeve button up pants went down to ankles Girls: long skirts shirts with high collars around neck necklace higher socks
Guys: t-shirts that were tight light colored pants some shirts were tucked in some wore bell bottom jeans hair short Girls: flare jeans shirt or sweater hair mostly parted down the middle
2000:
Guys: baggy jeans any shirt long sleeve shirt Girls: high waisted shorts shirts that are tucked in jeans with any shirt long sleeve
A quick perusal of yearbooks in the library reveals what students were wearing to PHS in different decades.
Guys: polo shirts & polo shoes khakis long sleeve button up regular t-shirts Girls: plain shirts shirts with logos on them shirts with sparkles Skinny jeans leggings & yoga pants boots tennis shoes
10 feature
january 27, 2016
the trojan torch
The man who runs PHS BY HALEY HOLLY STAFF WRITER
P
rincipal Jeremy Wright rolls into Plainwell High School at 7:10 a.m., reports for hallway duty to talk to students and staff until classes begin, and spends the rest of his school day doing teacher evaluations, serving lunch duty, and attending lots of meetings. On top of that he manages the school budget, and answers 50 to 100 emails per day. “It keeps me busy,” said Wright. “He does so much more than just sit in his office and yell at people like a lot principals. He works really hard to make PHS a good school,” said Emily Zimmer ‘17. His school days finally ends between 3:30 and 4 p.m. That is, of course, unless there is an athletic event that day. Wright is no stranger to long school days, though. He has been doing it his entire life. Wright attended Wayne State University on a football scholarship after high school, but left after one semester. He then took classes at Macomb Community College and played shot put on
the track team. Later, he transferred to Adrian College where he played football for two years. “We ended up winning the MIAA championship. We had a great year,” said Wright. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in French and Communications, he studied French at Universite Laval in Quebec, Canada. “He doesn’t do too badly, he’s just a little rusty. However I think he remembers the naughty words more than anything else,” said French teacher Sarah Boven of his ability to still the speak the language. He finally ended up at Florida Atlantic University where he earned a master’s degree in Educational Technology and a doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction. After several years working as an assistant principal in Florida, Wright accepted the principal position at Plainwell High School in January 2010. When he left for Michigan, his family stayed behind in Florida to finish out the school year. His wife Jennifer was working as a first grade teacher at the time, his son Jacob was 2 years old, and his daughter Kaylee was 5 years old. “It was very difficult. He would fly back every few weekends to see us, but the last thing
he wanted to do was help pack or mow the lawn,” said Jennifer. Luckily, the Wright family has since happily settled down in Plainwell. Jennifer has been working as a teacher at Starr Elementary for the last five years, Jacob now attends Starr Elementary, and Kaylee now attends Plainwell Middle School. They also have a dog named Gigi, and are now hosting an exchange student from Italy named Elisa Ranuzzi beginning in January. “Dr. Wright is, in my mind, an excellent principal. Being greeted by name every morning is one of the many little things this man does to show he is really involved and happy to be a part of our school. Plainwell is lucky to have him,” said Forrest Bennett ‘16. Moving forward, Wright has three goals for the school. They are to “maintain and continue to develop PHS to be one of the best and most respected schools in the area not only in test scores but in graduation rate, academic preparation, and student and staff leadership; convince each and every student to work to his/her potential to meet their goals; and continue to be innovative and ‘fresh’ in educational programming,” said Wright.
Dr. Wright’s day takes many forms. From top: he consults with Administrative Assistant Dalene Anson; he makes plans with Assistant Principal Deb Burley; he strolls the halls with his radio; he helps with the Flint water drive; and he monitors lunch with hall monitor Larry Ash. Water drive photo by Sarah Bommer; all other photos by Hannah Arendsen.
january 27, 2016
the trojan torch
You’ve got a PAL in me
lifestyle 11
10-year program still going strong
PALS show the love. Photo by Nikki Barth. BY LISA HOUGH STAFF WRITER For about a year or two during the 1980s Allegan and Van Buren county had reports of several suicides of students. The teachers then realized that students who have issues are not going to adults or counselors, but friends and peers. So they decided to make a group called PALS. PALS stands for Peer Assistant Leader/Listener. “PALS is a program developed to help students who don’t exactly feel comfortable going and talking to a counselor, so they come and talk to a PAL who has been trained to talk with other students who feel comfortable around them,” said PAL Chase King ‘16. English teacher Chase Mielke, counselor Janelle Rieman, and Nikki Barth have had a PALS group for about 10 years now and are still going strong. “PALS doesn’t just help you help other people, it also helps you help yourself. You grow in the program,” said PAL Emily Boso ‘16. To become a PAL, students suggest other fellow students from all grades who they feel
they can go to with their issues and know that it won’t go throughout the whole school. Then the advisors go through the suggestions and pick whose names came up five or more times and ask them to fill out an application. Mielke, Rieman, and Barth look through every application before they pick between 20-30 students to set up interviews with. Out of those 20-30 they pick around 20 to train for the next school year. “It’s a pretty extensive process, but well worth it,” said Mielke. Getting into PALS is a long process but after becoming a PAL everything changes. In the PALS program they have a “Code of Ethics”, which are rules that must be followed in order to become and stay a PAL. One rule includes no drugs or alcohol. Nobody wants you to get drunk and spill all the secrets they entrusted you with, plus PALS are supposed to model a healthy lifestyle. “PALS has made me a more positive person with a more positive outlook towards difficult situations and a better under-
standing of what others can be going through,” said PAL, Matt Miller ‘16. PALS did not learn all their skills from their own common sense. They had to take two trimesters filled with practicing leadership and responsibility. For the first trimester PALS learn communication skills, listening skills, peer mediation, and problem solving from Mielke and Barth. The second trimester is taught by Barth and Rieman. This section is where PALs learn various different topics such as depression, loss, body image, disorders, coping methods, relationships, drug addiction, and suicide. After completing the two required trimesters of PALS, all PALS are able to take a placement where they can use their skills and knowledge to meet with the students in the class, that want/need to. During third trimester the girls in PALS are able to sign up for PRIDE. PRIDE is a group of only female PALS that get placed into groups with middle school girls, where they help them with emotional growth and team building. With something as impacting as PALS, it’s not surprising that
Plainwell isn’t the only school who does it. “In our county we have Wayland, Allegan, and Fennville who also have a program similar to ours,” said Mielke. PALS has become something that not only impacts other students or PAL students, but has also impacted the teachers as well. “It has made me re-think my
own modeling and leadership, I can’t tell kids to be trustworthy and to have integrity if I am not proving that myself,” said Mielke. “It’s not all about you in high school, other people are going through things too. It gives you a different perspective,” said Boso. Students can sign up in the guidance office to see a PAL at anytime of the day.
Guy PALs
Girl PALs
Josh Axelson Teigen Betts Chase King Ben Meddock Matt Miller Isaac Shaw Jacob Wisnaski
Haven Born Emily Boso Hayley Hawkes Tricia Kelly Veronica Klein Jenna Mathis Angela Miller Sophie Monroe Kristina O’Connell Mikenzie Opel Bailee Reiman Kaitlin Ristau Maya Scott Gabrielle Torres Emily Totten
12 lifestyle
january 27, 2016
the trojan torch
Keep the love alive
Valentines day gifts... BY HANNAH ARENDSEN STAFF WRITER
-Homemade coupon book
-Ti c
ket s to
-Framed photo
-He ad
-Mixtape/CD
-Giant teddy bear
-Memory jar
r ) sta .com -Concert tickets a e ion m t -Na istra g -Clothes/shoes to ho r-re a p t d (s me a r D -Sunglasses -F e/C p a ixt -M p -Jewelry keu a M e lat -Perfume o c o h C le -Purse nd a -C s ok -Bo
eo
-Socks -Hat
-Co
log
-Cl
ng
Photo by Nick Girolami.
...and plans Less than $20
-Qdoba date (kiss to get BOGO free meal) -Relaxed night in (with heart shaped pizza) -Rollerskating
Photo by Nick Girolami.
Between $20 and $40 -Movie and dinner -Go dancing -Hockey game
More than $40 -Book a getaway -Couples massages -Go to a concert
on
gam
ne
oth i
-W alle t -W atc h
rts
ph
-Vi d
-Baked goods
spo
es
es
gam
e
january 27, 2016
the trojan torch
advertisements 13
NAPA AUTO PARTS PLAINWELL AUTO SUPPLY CO. Mon - Fri: 8:00 AM- 6:00 PM Sat: 8:00 AM - 1:00 PM
ENGINEERS, ARCHITECTS, SCIENTISTS, AND FREE SPIRITS.
155 North Main St. Plainwell, MI 4980 269-685-5817
Possible is everything.
Lawrence Technological University isn’t for just anyone. We want the future designers, engineers, scientists, and entrepreneurs who will create the innovations of tomorrow. The earning potential of Lawrence Tech grads is among the highest in America. If you believe that everything is possible, and that possible is everything, we want you at LTU. Watch LTU students share their college experiences at ltu.edu/StudentStories. Ready to apply now? Visit ltu.edu/applyfree. Southfield, Michigan 800.225.5588 admissions@ltu.edu www.ltu.edu Architecture and Design | Arts and Sciences Engineering | Management
14 sports
january 27, 2016
the trojan torch
Varsity numbers on the board
Sports beyond the walls of PHS
2
wins out of 7 matches for the bowling squad
1
win out of 8 games for boys basketball
7
wins for the wrestling team, and 3 losses this season
BY AUSTIN TOPP STAFF WRITER
5
wins and 1 loss for boys swim and dive, on track for 1st in conference
1
win and 8 losses for girls basketball
3
Mark Andrysiak ‘17 (far right) playing forward for the Kalamazoo Eagles. Photo courtesy of Andrysiak.
wins, and 3 losses for competitive cheer
S
tudents at Plainwell High School are expanding their horizons, participating in sports teams that are beyond the walls of their school. These students may be pursuing uncommon athletic goals, but with new experiences come new lessons and new teammates. Several students from the school participate in hockey. “I started skating when I was 3, and I started playing games out on the ice when I was about 5,” said Mark Andrysiak ‘17. Hockey has been a ritual for the Andrysiak brothers since they were born. Looking up to his older brother Kevin, Andrysiak learned the skills to slaying puck pretty quickly. “I used to watch the Red Wings and think all the guys on the ice were pretty sweet. I wanted to be one of those guys,” said Andrysiak. “You have to have good vision, quick feet, and good hands in hockey,” said Andrysiak. Andrysiak currently plays for a travel team known as the Ka-
lamazoo Eagles. Hockey players from around the area participate in this team. “I have teammates from Plainwell, Otsego, Parchment, Kalamazoo, and Allegan,” said Andrysiak. Being in front of your home crowd at the school gym is much different from being on the ice in front of fans from many different places. “Big games like Portage Northern have a lot of fans and it gets pretty rowdy, it is kind of intimidating,” said Andrysiak. The atmosphere of a men’s hockey team locker room can definitely get interesting, especially since the coaches are in no connection to the school board or the principal of the school. “We have a lot of freedom in the locker room to do or say what we want, probably because the coaches can’t get us suspended from school and stuff,” said Andrysiak. “I recommend hockey because it’s fun and you meet a lot of unique people,” said Andrysiak. Another Plainwell athlete who performs on the ice participates in the sport of figure skating.
“I started ice skating when I was 3. My mom took me to the ice arena in Traverse City and I fell in love with it,” said Maddy Keely ‘18. Keely participates in both solo performances and team performances. “Performing is nerve wracking especially when you are all alone against 15 other skaters,” said Keely. Figure skaters in Keely’s division can compete in synchronized groups as well as solos. “I have gotten first place in like 13 out of the 20 performances I’ve done,” said Keely. Being on the ice may seem graceful, but can also be pretty painful. “I’ve fallen quite a bit, I even broke my tailbone a couple times,” said Keely. Despite falling down, Keely continues to get back up and improve her talents. “Ice skating is special to me because it gives me the chance to relate to the music and I just love everything about being on the ice,” said Keely. Yet another unique athlete at Plainwell High School is fencer Savannah Tustin ‘16. “I have been fencing for three
months. I take classes and I compete against other pweople who fence,” said Tustin “I was inspired to fence when I saw it in the movie, Parent Trap, it looked so cool,” said Tustin. Training was the primary goal for Tustin in order to prepare herself for the competitions. “I learned a lot of the basic skills to fencing both in training and a class, mostly balance techniques,” said Tustin. According to Tustin, the competitions are between three people. A fencer receives a point for touching and holding the “sword” on the opponent’s body. “Once you get twenty points you win the match and it’s best two out of three,” said Tustin. The unusualness of fencing all the more increases the ability to meet new and unique people outside of PHS. “There are quite a few fencers that go to Gull Lake High School and also Mattawan High School,” said Tustin. “I recommend fencing to people at Plainwell because it’s different from the everyday sports at school and you meet new people,” said Tustin.
january 27, 2016
sports 15
the trojan torch
Stephenson plans to continue her cheer career KATIE MCMAHON STAFF WRITER She is just starting her eighth Varsity competitive cheer season, has received MVP six times, as well as first team All-Conference four times and All-District two times. It’s not necessary to state that Cheyenne Stephenson ‘16 is motivated and a leader. “The biggest challenge would be the long practices and trying to manage school, clubs, etc because we have cheer six days a week. It’s hard to physically keep up with the sport it wears your body out to a point where I have to tape my ankles and my wrists every day just to make it through practice,” said Stephenson. Stephenson has been cheering since she was in 5th grade, competing multiple times every week. She shares her knowledge at All That Gymnastics where she coaches boys and girls ages 3-9. Her social life includes training to improve her skills and to build up her natural talent on the mat. “I love sideline and competitive, but I prefer competitive. All the attention is on you and you work hard for you and your team, not for the audience watching the football game,” said Stephenson, “I enjoy sideline for its fun atmosphere and for the way it brings not only our school, but our community together.” Since day one, Stephenson has taken on the years of cheering with her “partner in crime” Mackenzie Goodling ‘16. The girls have made an impact on the cheer team with their leadership skills and commitment to the program. “Mac and I are considered leaders of the team. We have worked hard to be where we are today,”
said Stephenson. Stephenson is looked up to by the underclassmen for her constant hard work and positivity on and off the mat. “I’ve been cheering with Chey for four years. She’s motivated and a positive leader. She makes us want to improve our skills,” said Katie Rush ‘15. “Cheyenne takes cheer very seriously and that pushes the team to do better.” Stephenson’s years of cheering at PHS are coming to an end with her last season of sideline ending this fall and her last competitive season just starting. Although her high school career is almost over, Stephenson plans on expanding her hard work and effort that she has put into cheer onto college next fall. “I’m going to miss all of the friendships I’ve made over the years, as well as Friday night lights and cheering for the guys I’ve cheered for since 5th grade,” Stephenson said. Stephenson has been invited to have the opportunity to cheer for multiple schools, a few being Western Michigan University, Grand Valley State University, and to compete in the spring of 2017 in Daytona Florida at nationals with Davenport University. In college the routine is combined into 2 minutes and 30 seconds and has music. You compete two days at Daytona Beach right on the beach. I’m really excited for it,” said Stephenson Stephenson is committed to GVSU for the fall of 2016 where she plans on studying nursing. “I’ve learned that although people do not accept cheerleading as a sport, or us as athletes, they have to realize the amount of hours, blood, sweat and tears we put into this sport. The hard work will prove to others that you are an athlete and no one can take that away from you,” said Stephenson.
“She’s motivated and a positive leader. She makes us want to improve our skills.”
From top left to lower right: Cheyenne Stephenson ‘16 fliping on Streidl field; Senior picture; Stephenson and “partner in crime” Mackenzie Goodling ‘16; Stephenson (top front) doing a stunt. Photos courtesy of Stephenson.
Cheyenne Central Inspiration: Gabie Dinsbeer (three time world cheer champion) Favorite stunt (for girls): bow and arrow twist cradle Favorite stunt (for co-ed): toss extension, hands, heels stretch pop offs Hobby: skiing
Favorite food: pizza Favorite color: teal Dream vacation: The Bahamas Favorite animal: koala Favorite Band: the weeknd
16 photo
the trojan torch
Can you find thesew fashion brands?
january 27, 2016