BGQ BBL LAAC CK K& & GO T ER RT LEYR L Y G LODL Q D UQAUR A april 2018 // volume ninety-seven
One bag at a time
Gender equality
Asylum to Mercato
Positive dispositions
’ editors note We at the BGQ firmly believe
require so much effort? As we
ics team experiences during
that in order to understand
began to research, we saw
competition time, as they
the present, one must be ed-
several social, patriarchal,
recently competed in the First
ucated on the past. We have
and political reasons that help
Robotics District competition
expanded upon this ideology
to answer our questions. In
here at Central; the Raptors,
in this issue, as we address
this issue, we provide a brief
Central’s team, was in 29th
the past, present, and future
history of the women’s rights
place and managed to finish
of events and social issues.
movement while discussing
as a finalist. Furthermore, we
The BGQ sought to cover the
movements that are further-
also decided to cover Front &
transition from old to new, to
ing the fight towards alleviat-
Central and detail what goes
illustrate how change is pain-
ing gender bigotry.
into producing each of their
ful but vital. With the current
Along with equality, we also
shows.
issues surrounding Michigan
decided to cover the Cen-
Lastly, we would like to
State University, Roy Moore,
tral-West Lacrosse merger.
thank the staff at the Mer-
and the #MeToo moment, it
School rivalries and tradi-
cato in the Grand Traverse
became quite important to
tions are strong, but change
Commons for taking us on an
the BGQ staff that we needed
is important regardless of
incredible tour of the build-
to address these issues to
the initial discomfort and
ings and providing us with a
their entirety. As we began
unfamiliarity. In One Bag at a
detailed history of the State
to dive into our research,
Time, we discuss how specific
Hospital.
several questions surfaced:
students from Central and
From the pub,
What are the implications and
West help foster children in
consequences of the #MeToo
Northern Michigan. We also
movement? Why does social
sought to feature the trials
change take so long and
and triumphs that the robot-
Send information, advertising and other inquiries to: Black & Gold Quarterly Central High School 1150 Milliken Drive Traverse City, MI 49686 Phone: (231) 933-3546 Email: filkinsji@tcaps.net 2 // BGQ // APRIL 2018
BGQ
BLACK & GOLD QUARTERLY:APRIL TWO THOUSAND EIGHTEEN EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Andrea Bavikatty Kirsten Berkey CONTENT EDITORS Abigail Harnish Jack Myers Abigail Vannatter
8
SPORTS EDITOR Hayley Scollard
12
BUSINESS MANAGER Baille Zipser PROMOTIONS EDITOR Hayley Scollard PHOTOGRAPHY Abigail Vannatter Olivia Wilson
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20 24
One bag at a time: changing the lives of foster children
Identity in Traverse City
Behind the scenes of Front & Central
8
16
24
4
Gender equality: a timeline of progress
12
Traverse City unitted: merging local lacrosse teams
14
Positive dispositions and Peer to Peer
18
Asylum to Mercato: exploring the State Hospital
22
Nuts and bolts: the TCC robotics team
26
GRAPHICS Gwen Snyder Dahlia Vincent STAFF WRITERS Brandt Albright Sophie Boyce Paige Conners Ava Edwards Connor Ellison Horacio Gonzalez Jacqueline Gutierrez Ashtyn McGraw Khatoria Perry Gwen Snyder Dahlia Vincent COVER PHOTO Olivia Wilson
Cinnamon roll french toast bake
MISSION STATEMENT: The Black and Gold Quarterly (BGQ) is Traverse City Central High School’s student-run magazine. Since its conception in 1886, our publication has evolved with the times, frequently changing in style, format, and even name. However, one factor has remained constant—our staff’s desire to capture the story of our community, to challenge the accepted, and to open our minds to perspectives that we hadn’t previously considered through investigation, research, and inquiry. We are constantly striving to improve our content and artistic elements; after all, the BGQ is a school publication, so educating both ourselves as well as our readers remains one of our primary goals.
All photos: courtesy of: S. Stepke
Onebag at a time
Two high school seniors from rivaling schools come together to make a change in the lives of the foster children across northern Michigan by ABIGAIL HARNISH & JACQUELINE GUTIERREZ
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Posing for a picture, the relief and excitment can be seen on Savannah Stepke ‘18 and Lexi Matthews’ ‘18 faces after they placed in first place for Health Occupations for Students of America (HOSA) regionals. Stepke and Matthews presented a portfolio which encompassed all of their research and information about their project.
Spread out across the floor, Stepke and Matthew’s toiletries they purchased were organized before being placed into the duffel bags. Using the funds from their first fundraiser, the Career Tech Center coin drive, they were able to send ten duffel bags, each valued at 100 dollars, to Child and Family Services.
4 // BGQ // APRIL 2018
apers spread out on the bed and music blaring from a laptop, Career Tech Students Savannah Stepke ‘18, Central High School, and Lexi Matthews ‘18, West Senior High, discuss the ideas for their school project. At the time, however, they were completely unaware of the significance it would have for the members of the Northern Michigan community. “We were sitting in my bedroom one night going through the requirements for this event just snacking, listening to music, and hanging out,” muses Stepke. “We just knew exactly what we wanted to do, help children in the foster care system.” Their project was to raise money and use it to help the children who are in foster care by providing duffle bags filled with necessary items that they do not have when entering the system. The goal of their project was to raise awareness for children in the foster care system. Stepke thinks “a lot of times people assume that they are going to be fine because they’re with a foster family, but they don’t realize that there is not enough foster families for all these kids.” If a child’s home is unsafe for them until a placement is sorted out, he or she is placed in emergency placement. In these circumstances, they are dropped off to a temporary foster home until they can find a more permanent placement. When children are put on emergency placement many times they do not have items such as a blanket, pillow or toothbrush because Child and Family Services may come in in the middle of the night and take the children quickly, leaving them with not enough time to gather his or her items. The duffel bags contain those certain items to provide a sense of security despite their vulnerability. The younger children often suffer from emotional issues like attachment disorders, sleep disorders, and PTSD, which was a “realization that was really difficult” to process for Stepke. It was one of the toughest things to hear throughout the whole project. “It breaks my heart,” Stepke said. “A lot of these kids feel guilty but they’ve done nothing wrong. They don’t get to pick their situation, and so we wanted to do something to help them.” To achieve their goal to raise awareness, Stepke and Matthews started a change war at the TBAISD Career Tech Center. The objective was to fill glass jars with as many coins as they could. The jars were placed in each class at CTC. The school pulled together to support the issue and raised about $900. With the money, Stepke and Matthews put together duffel bags filled with necessary and therapeutic items like coloring books because it is a way that these children are able to express themselves. The duffel bags are given to the children before entering the system to hopefully make them feel secure and comfortable. Stepke has been working with her partner Matthews on this project since
October of 2017 for the competition held by Health Occupations for Students of America. HOSA is a national competitive events program that empowers future health professionals to become leaders in the global health community through education, collaboration and experience. Hearing the stories of the hardships these children endure has been eye-opening to Stepke and Matthews and ignited their determination. Stepke and Matthews feel “that there is a break in our system,” and they want to bring light to that. According to a report from the U.S Department of Health and Human Services, there are 437,465 children in foster care, which has increased from 396,966 in 2012. One main reason children enter the foster care system as young as a year old is because of child neglect. “I want everyone to wake up and see what is happening to these children,” Stepke said. Having a personal connection to children in foster care and seeing first hand is what motivated Stepke to make change happen and inspired Matthews as well. A communication director from Child and Family Services heard about their intentions of helping children in foster care with their project and put them in contact with the Record Eagle. ey had a sit-down interview with Sean Miller, a journalist from the Record Eagle, to discuss the details and implementation of their project. The ensuing article published in the Record Eagle “just got the ball rolling,” as Stepke likes to put it. Many people donated money towards their project as they took note of two teenage girls recognizing and acting on the issue of the foster care system. There were many other generous money donations from companies, such as a $500 donation from Fifth Third Bank. The community was inspired by their
Standing with two of their three shopping carts, Savannah Stepke ‘18 reflects on the experience. “It wasn’t about a medal or a bigger competition,” Stepke said. “I think I have touched a lot of children, more than I even realized and that is a priceless feeling. I have built wonderful relationships with people from Child and Family Services.”
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SPRING DENIM STYLES ARRIVING NOW
Time in Care Over 5 Years : 0.06
Less than 1 Month : 0.06
3- 4 Years : 0.09
1- 5 Months : 0.22
30- 35 Months : 0.05
24- 29 Months : 0.08
18- 23 Months : 0.1 6- 11 Months : 0.2 12- 17 Months : 0.15
Less than 1 Month 18- 23 Months Over 5 Years
1- 5 Months 24- 29 Months
6- 11 Months 30- 35 Months
12- 17 Months 3- 4 Years meta-chart.com
Visit www.gliks.com to find your nearest locationPage 1 of 1
Page 1 of 1
Reasons for Discharge Reunification with Parent(s) or Primary Caretaker(s)
Circumstances Associated With Child’s Removal Alcohol Abuse(Child) : 0
Runaway : 0 %
Parent Death : 0.01
Death : 0 % Transfer to Another Agency : 2 %
Relinquishment : 0.01
Guardianship : 10 %
Child Disability : 0.02 Neglect : 0.61
Drug Abuse(Child) : 0.02
Emancipation : 8 %
Sexual Abuse : 0.04 Parent Incarceration : 0.05 Housing : 0.1 Child Behavior : 0.11
Adoption : 7 %
Physical Abuse : 0.12
Living with Other Relatives : 51 %
Caretaker Inability to Cope : 0.14 Drug Abuse(Parent) : 0.34
Neglect
Child Behavior
Drug Abuse(Parent)
Drug Abuse(Child)
Alcohol Abuse(Child)
Housing
Caretaker Inability to Cope
Parent Incarceration
Child Disability
Relinquishment
Physical Abuse
Sexual Abuse
Living with Other Relatives Transfer to Another Agency
Parent Death
Adoption Runaway
Emancipation Death
Guardianship meta-chart.com
meta-chart.com
story and wanted to help out in any way possible; Stepke would receive 10-30 messages file:///C:/Users/snydergwe42/Downloads/Chart%201.svg week from community members asking what they could do to help. The project, which took time, patience, and dedication, was a life changing experience for both of Stepke and Matthews and also a “journey that has been so awakening,” acknowledged Stepke. Their project took first place at the regional HOSA conference. As they were presenting, the Michigan advisor for HOSA, Mark Burley, praised Stepke and Matthew’s project saying that he has never seen a project like theirs fueled with so much emotion and dedication. Their next step is to attend the Michigan conference to shed more light on the issue and encourage others to act on it as well. Stepke and Matthews will continue to partner with Child and Family Services and continue to supply duffle bags file:///C:/Users/snydergwe42/Downloads/chart%202.svg 6 // BGQ // APRIL 2018
for the remainder of their senior year to hopefully create a solid foundation for the system 3/9/2018 to continue on when their partnership ends. This journey has made them realize what individuals can accomplish. It has also created lifelong relationships, priceless feelings, and heart touching moments. The project has been an epiphany for Stepke, “Now I realized what I’m capable of, and I just want to keep going and going.”//
Loading their donations into the car, Savannah Stepke ‘18 and Lexi Matthews ‘18 consider the impact their project has had on the community around them. “Originally our goal was $1000, as long as we can do $1000 we can be happy, well now we’re at nearly $4000, which is insane and I never imagined for it to grow this large,” Stepke said. file:///C:/Users/snydergwe42/Downloads/meta-chart%20(5).svg 3/9/2018
3/9/2018
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his past year, the impact of women’s marches, women running for office, and cries of sexual assault have swept the nation and the world. When Hillary Clinton ran for president in 2016, the women’s empowerment movement gained momentum and a renewed fervor. Many women turned to the feminist movement in hope of rectifying the continuous gender inequalities that plague the nation and the world. Multiple movements brought out the fight for equality in 2017. In October, the #MeToo movement ignited and swept across the nation in the wake of multiple sexual assault allegations surfacing in both politics and Hollywood; there were numerous allegations against politicians in 2017, beginning with then presidential candidate Donald Trump. During the presidential race, fifteen women accused Trump of sexual harassment and assault. After the election, the number of women accusing President Trump of harassment and assault grew to at least 20. Along with the allegations, a video from Hollywood Access surfaced on the internet of Trump talking about women in a demeaning manner. Trump is seen on video saying: “I just start kissing them, it’s like a magnet. Just kiss. I don’t even wait. When you’re a star, they let you do it. You can do anything. Grab ‘em by the pussy. You can do anything.” The national outrage over Trump’s election, despite his blatantly disrespectful comments about women and the numerous sexual assault accusations, helped to spark the #Metoo movement. Kat Barr, chief campaign officer for UltraViolet, an organization against sexism in politics, media, and pop culture, stated that “It is impossible for us to tackle the nation’s sexual assault and harassment epidemic when the man who occupies our highest office is facing no accountability for the scores of sexual abuse accusations mounted against him.” The #Metoo movement began as an attempt to hold men, particular those in positions of power and influence, accountable for their words and actions. The movement was born back in 2006 by Tarana Burke as a way to help survivors of sexual violence and ensure they are aware that they are not alone. Jocelyn Frye from Center of American Progress said that, “part of the change is that you can see an onslaught of women who have now come forward, who have taken the power of the numbers of people coming forward and said, ‘If she can do it, then I can too.’” More women are
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by S O
PHI
EB
OYC E,
speaking up because sexual assault itself is finally being taken seriously. In 2017, Hollywood stars were called out, politicians stepped down – people are beginning to be held accountable. For example, Alabama Democrat Senator Doug Jones was elected over his competitor, Roy Moore, by 21,924 votes. Moore has multiple sexual assault allegations against him, and was even banned from his local mall and YMCA after his badgering of young girls in 1979 according to the New Yorker. In addition, multiple girls spoke out saying that, while they were in high school, Moore sexually assaulted them. Despite the allegations against him, CNN reported that over 60% of white men and women
“If she can do it, then I can too.” in Alabama voted for Moore. Jone’s win can be attributed to the help of 98% of black women in the state voting for him. This accountability extended to the face of NBC Today, Matt Lauer, who was fired after allegations of inappropriate sexual behavior with a employee. This was the first complaint, yet according to the NY Times, NBC had reasons to believe it was not an isolated event. Along with holding people accountable, individuals are attempting to educate others on the inequalities that women face in society. The new production of The Handmaid’s Tale TV show brought those inequalities to the forefront. In the show, the red capes worn by women in public are analogous to modern day suffering. Although the show is bringing attention to the issues women face in our society, some individuals underscore their efforts. For
PAIG
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EN exBER KEY ample in a New York Post opinion piece the writer, Nicole Russell stated that, “American women possess as much if not more, gender parity than in most of the world. There are places where women are subjected to dystopian repression, but America with a Republic Congress isn’t one of them.” Russell begs the question: If American women have it good, but are still unequal, what does that say for women in oppressed parts of the world? Even though more men are becoming aware of gender issues, it is essential that both men and women learn to distinguish the difference between harassment and harmless flirting. Men have begun to evaluate their behavior and actions, as well as the behavior and actions of others. In the article, “5 Men on Why They Didn’t Stop Harassment at Work,” by The Cut, multiple men recounted the times they turned a blind eye to sexual harassment. One of the interviewee said, “Since #Metoo, “I’m more aware of these situations, but a big part of the issue is simply not knowing the best approach to take.” Another interviewee, said that this behavior continues in part because other men do nothing, to which he admitted, “I was part of the problem.” In a CNN article it was said by Marianne Schnall that, “Our society appears to be in the beginning of a long-overdue national conversation about the abuse of power and privilege, the socialization of men and boys, the objectification of women and a culture of toxic masculinity.” While a majority of sexual assault cases are happening in Hollywood and DC, one of the largest explosions for #Metoo of the year occured at Michigan State University. MSU’s osteopathic physician, professor, and USA gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar was accused and convicted of sexually assaulting young athletes. Nassar was first accused of assault back in 1994, and just two years later became the medical coordinator for USA gymnastics. Throughout his twenty-plus years working at MSU and as the medical coordinator, Nassar had sexually assaulted 256 people according
Equ
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ality
We t futu he BGQ r pus e of ge seek t hed o n thes der eq inform u e is sue ality, a our rea n s in to th d the ders on e pu curre t nt m he pas blic t, eye ove men prese ts th nt, a at h nd ave
Graphic: D. Vincent
1770
States collectively pass laws that revoked women’s voting rights
1848
The Seneca Falls Convention occurrs, women’s rights discussed
MSU and as the medical coordinator, Nassar had sexually assaulted 256 people according to TIME magazine. Following the breakout of the scandal in 2017, MSU president Lou Anna Simon came under fire for mishandling the situation and turning a blind eye. In a CNN article, one of Nassar’s victims Olivia Cowan said, “A public apology after you’ve hid behind this monster for 20 years will never be enough. Where were you when we needed you? If you would have only listened to the women that brought complaints and concerns over all these years, this would have saved so many women and children from being abused, and from all the scars this has created.” After Nassar was sentenced up to 175 years in prison, Simon resigned from her position. Considering the importance of the Nassar case, it is no wonder that TIME magazine named the “Silence Breakers” it’s person of the year, and cited “Feminism” as the top searched word of the year. Just as women need men to aid in this fight, other women in other areas of the world need visible and prominent female leaders to inspire them. They need people to break ground. They need women leaders to show them it can be done. In 2017,The United States of America was not the only
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1868
The 14th amendment passes
1882
The Married Women’s Property Act allows married women to own property separate from their husbands
country making strides to end sexual assault. Multiple Latin American countries are working towards ending child marriage laws, according to UNWomen.org. Countries such as Jordan, Lebanon, and Tunisia expunged their laws allowing rapists to marry their victim to escape punishment. Women in Saudi Arabia gained the right to drive. The issues that plague the world do not only affect women, but men as well; women are not exclusively sexually harassed. While it is less common, there are cases of women sexually harassing men, as well as men harassing other men. Patriarchal society has detrimental effects to men as well as women. Society has set expectations for men and women. Boys are taught that they need to be tough, play sports, and to be chivalrous. Men are expected to be masculine; women are expected to be feminine. From a young age, children are taught that some things are for girls, and others are for boys. Girls should wear pink frilly dresses and play barbies. Boys should be in blue and playing football. Unless Society confronts these issues together, progress towards gender equality is unlikely. Women weren’t taken seriously in the past. They feared retaliation for speaking up in the form of losing their job, being called a liar, and the loss of
1916
Margaret Sanger opens an illegal contraceptive clinic in New York
reputation. Some feel that women are too late, that they should have spoken up sooner about assault or harassment, but it isn’t that easy. In the past women were taught to keep quiet and pretend it didn’t happen. It was the woman who was ruined by speaking up, not the man. But that was then. Now, women are done putting up with bosses who blatantly and callously cross boundaries. Ignorance is no longer an acceptable, justifiable, or condoned excuse. Tolerance for men using power to take advantage of women is gone. In her Golden Globes Speech, Oprah Winfrey shared a story about a woman who was gang raped in 1944 but never received justice because, “justice wasn’t an option in the era of Jim Crow.” She continued with, “She lived, and we all have lived, too many years in a culture broken by brutally powerful men. And for too long, women have not been believed if they dared to speak their truth to the power of those men. But their time is up.” Social change is something that takes time. The women’s rights movement has made significant leaps and bounds, but those leaps were centuries in the making. Change is inevitable. This movement has a long way to go, and no matter how long it takes, women and men are going to get there. //
1920
The 19th amendment passes, granting women the right to vote
1930
Fair Labor Standards Act passes, a step towards equal pay between men and women in the workplace
1948
The Women’s Armed Services Integration Act of 1948 gives women the explicit right to fight for their country
1986
1994
The Supreme Court rules “hostile” work environments a form of discrimination
The Pentagon revokes the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act of 1948
Data sources: Library of Congress and National Women History Project
All Graphics: D. Vincent
Traverse City United Once crosstown rivalries of Traverse City, West and Central high school come together for an exciting merge in the sport of lacrosse. Students from both schools are learning to keep the rivalry sane and show the city what they have as a team, combined
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by ASHTYN McGRAW
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he cross-team rivalry between Central High School and West High School has existed since the fall of 1997. Up until now boys lacrosse has been recognized as a club, but the rivalry has always had the same intensity—Trojans vs.
“
We’re having a hard time becoming a total team because they’ve been our rivals for many years.
”
Titans. This spring marks a pivotal season for lacrosse in Northern Michigan. Both CHS and WHS will join forces to become one, sanctioned and recognized sport. A merger of the lacrosse clubs The Bay Hawks and The Thunder Squirrels was brought about through much plotting and planning, and will result in one lacrosse team, Traverse City United. With the merger, both CHS and WHS will offer boys lacrosse at the varsity level, a first for 12 // BGQ // APRIL 2018
Traverse Area Public Schools. TC United will be recognized by MHSAA (Michigan High School Athletic Association) in division one. As clubs, the Thunder Squirrels and the Bay Hawks only played teams in Northern Michigan. Now, being a part of MHSAA, a wider variety of teams are expected to compete against Traverse City United. Teams from as far away as Grand Rapids, Cranbrook, Sault Ste. Marie, Rockford, and Midland will be on the schedule and raise the competition level. Along with the newer competition, TC United will sport new team colors along with the new team name. “We have neutral colors, grey and white” according to former Thunder Squirrel Ike Battle ‘19. The head coach for the TC United inaugural season will be Liberty Provost, former Thunder Squirrel head coach. Provost brings tons of experience in Lacrosse. Not only has he been the head coach of the Thunder Squirrels since 2007, he was head coach of the co-op travel team that consisted of lacrosse players from Traverse City Central, West Senior High and St. Francis. The
MHSAA has approved TC United merge for two seasons. Having that being set in place, both Provost and Mark Mattson, CHS Athletic Director sees the lacrosse program moving beyond two seasons, or even a possibility of the merger leading to separate varsity
“
We’re already seeing some results of their coaching, just having that higher level of expertise.
”
lacrosse teams for both Traverse City Central and West Senior High. Although the Central- West rivalry might be a cause for concern for some, Central’s Brady Shuch ‘19 looks at it this way, “We’ll want to show up the West kids or they’ll want to show us up so we have to work together.” Central’s Battle ‘19 shows some TC United team spirit and what two rivals coming to-
gether really looks like, “I was a little skeptical on how well we were going to bond with the West guys, but it actually worked out really well and it’s going really well.” The main rivalry for the TC United team is going to be TC St. Francis. Being under the lights on Thirlby Field against St. Francis is going to be an adrenaline rush for the boys of TC United. Battle ‘19 puts it this way, “we have to play them twice in a row so we are going to beat them twice underneath the lights of Thirlby Field.”
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We have really good teams separately, but together we’re just a powerhouse up north.
”
It might be a bit surreal to have both West and Central fans supporting the same team but there is a definite advantage. Perhaps that is where the inspiration for the team’s name came from. In previous years, the crowd has been a little thin at lacrosse matches on both sides of town. Now that the team is bigger games should generate more excitement at Thirlby Field, Case ‘18 is excited to have people show up at games, “I’m looking forward to playing games on Thirlby and actually having people come to games and not be made fun of for not being a varsity sport.” Shuch ‘19 exclaimed “Lacrosse has been a sport for a while and it’s really fun to watch so we wanted to be able to represent our school on Thirlby Field.” Although players on both Central and West have been on edge about merging with their biggest rival, scrimmages are coming up and the team will get a feel of how they all work together. Plus, a lot more teammates have been recruited to join teammates from previous years to take on the challenge and really show Traverse City what they can do. //
A brief explanation of lacrosse: Lacrosse is a sport that involves sticks with either triangular or curved netting on the end. The ball is to be thrown or caught by the players on the field and run to the goals. Much like soccer, but with sticks in place. Positions on the field are defensive players who play against offensive players making sure there are minimum shots to the goal. Midfielders are both offensive and defensive players who mainly control the ball back and forth throughout the game keeping a close eye on the other team. The attackmen which are just offensive players are the players to make the goals of the team and or find teammates who are open to pass to. The attackmen play on one side of the field where they will make threatening moves towards the opposing team. Then there is the goalie who obviously has to keep any of the opposing teams’ shots out of the net. Although, that’s not the only job of the goalie. Goalies have a fuller more wide view of the field. The goalies can see everything that is going on amongst the players like the opponents brewing up a play and make up their own ways of stopping any players from coming towards them. The goalies have an important role of communicating with their teammates and making sure they know what is going on as well as vocally helping on the field.
All photos: O. Wilson
santi beyro
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I think that for me, my first priority has always been to travel; I feel that knowing more people and different cultures make you have an open mind about things.
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gabe pickett
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I enjoy the team spirit aspect that brings us together to support other teams. It’s a great feeling when all of my friends and I are cheering on our peers who play basketball. I believe it’s most important to support each other in sports.
”
14 // BGQ // APRIL 2018
identity in
traverse city by ABIGAIL VANNATTER & OLIVIA WILSON
In our spinoff of Humans of New York, the Black & Gold Quarterly went out into the Grand Traverse community in search of uniquity. Our mission was to find inspiring stories and share them to encourage self-expression. Through a variety of randomly selected people, we were able to find one commonality—passion. Stories like theirs are what make us believe in the power that comes from expression through journalism. People are art. We feel when combining their words with a visual story, a unique and inspiring message is created. Members of our community have conveyed their identities and inspired us through their words and sense of passion. To us, this is the truest kind of journalism—finding moving stories and sharing them. //
caelan wright “
When you’re going down the ski hill, everything else dissolves. All that matters is getting to the next gate as fast as possible. It’s almost as if the speed strips away everything else in your life, like it’s all left at the top of the mountain the moment you push off.
”
Photo: O. Wilson
“It’s just super amazing to form bonds with the people who are part of Peer to Peer.” -James Asava ‘18
positive dispositions and the peer to peer program
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by ABIGAIL VANNATTER & PAIGE CONNERS Going into this story, we planned on highlighting the positive thoughts and moments that fill the lives of students with disabilities. We wanted to bring to light the fact that these students are not defined by their disabilities but by their personalities. After talking to many people, we weren’t getting exactly what we expected. Deadline was approaching and we realized we had no choice but to go back to the drawing board. We dug through our interviews, looked at our options, and then, as we had hoped, something just clicked and a common theme emerged. We had spent weeks trying to map out the perfect story and collect the perfect information, and suddenly the idea of perfection simply vanished. How would you define normal? Although the Oxford Dictionary defines normal as “conforming to a standard,” it seems that society has narrowed this meaning into explicitly a social standard. Oftentimes, being viewed as normal is a good thing— the closer someone is to ‘normal,’ the closer they are to the majority or, in other words, fitting in to the accepted social norms. We rarely see society using the word normal to describe a minority. More often words that emphasize differences or underscore how a person is an outlier from the norm are used. When we dug deeper into this concept of normality, we started to sense that, perhaps, normal has become “conforming to a standard” that is constantly changing, morphing or evolving, not unlike technology or social “norms” themselves. Simply put, the old definition of normal is outdated. So much so, that there exists a distorted perception of it for many people. The surface of all high school students’ lives look pretty similar. Students come to school and go about roughly the same routine: attend classes, have lunch, return to classes, and go home at the end of the day. But while this structure is similar, dare we say “normal,” every single student still has their own needs. Andrew Melius, a special education teacher at Central High School, compares this idea of equal standards to the Heimlich maneuver, now known as abdominal thrusts, “If I’m choking and somebody gives the Heimlich maneuver to me, does that mean everybody else should get it because we are all treated equal? The simple answer is no, because it’s not some-
thing that everybody needs at the moment.” The staff at Central High School attempts to offer programs and classes that meet the learning styles and needs of all students. Peer to Peer Program is an innovative attempt to create an atmosphere in which students learn and help each other at the same time. The general education students meet three days a week to learn about the autism spectrum, methods for mentoring students with autism, and leadership as well as skills related to occupations in human services. The remainder of the week, usually Thursday and Fridays, the Peer to Peer class pairs special education students, particularly those with autism, with general education students. The general education students, or peers, become a mentor to their partner. They help their mentee with a variety of things, specifically to feel more integrated into the school population as a whole. There are a variety of reasons as to why a student might sign up for the program, but everyone seems to agree that it becomes “something more” after they have been a part of it for a while, as stated by peer Kevin Somchanmavong. For peer James Asava ‘18, the program helped him to realize that he wants to go into teaching students with special needs after high school. It has also allowed him to form bonds with both peers and mentees. His mentee is Cole Connell, who agrees that the program has let him make new friends at the school. “The peers are very caring. I like that I can talk to them about my school life.” Asava explains that the Peer to Peer Program is kind of like an anti-bullying program as well. It’s meant to promote kindness in the school, and the idea that kids with special needs are no different from other students. “I think the program has helped the mentees understand that people actually care about them, and it helps them understand that school is a nice place,” he maintains. Mentee Kyle Taylor sees the positive impact of the program, “I do enjoy the Peer to Peer Program because I meet new people and new friends. I think the Peer to Peer Program has promoted kindness in the school.” Everyone involved with the program seems to enjoy it immensely, both peers and mentees. Not only does it help special education students with their social skills and
becoming more comfortable with talking to people, but it also “makes the whole school feel a little bit closer,” according to peer Molly Tank ‘19. Classes like those taught by Melius exist in order to meet the needs of students with mental and physical disabilities, but they have an added dimension of bringing the student body as a whole closer together. This may seem a bit paradoxical, but these classes don’t exist to provide equality to all students. Frankly, it is impossible to treat everyone equally. That would mean treating everyone the same and, although that’s a noble thought, it’s not particularly realistic. Instead, this is a situation of equity, in which different individuals are presented with different resources to help them achieve different goals. Equity requires a deeper understanding of the unique needs of an individual followed by an attempt to meet or support those needs. “My whole job is about treating everybody differently because everybody has different needs and different things that work for them,” Melius explains. “I wouldn’t treat everybody the same because of that.” To reach personal happiness is a general goal of life, in that most people want to be happy and endeavor to achieve this state. Furthermore, despite the different needs from student to student, there’s still a common craving for kindness throughout the student body. Every student we talked with wanted a kinder, more positive student body. They sought to do that by spreading happiness themselves. David Ronthi ‘20 prides himself on this, “I like being positive, I’m a very positive person. I don’t look down on a person and judge them by their looks, I want to get to know them. I’m not a person to judge.” He’s not the only one who responded to a question about strengths with the fact that he cares about other people. This positive disposition is so important, especially for students who don’t fit the outdated definition of normal. Everyone will benefit from the idea of kindness and treating their peers like they are a friend. “The perspective of what’s really important is my biggest take-away,” Melius smiled. “I thought this going into this career you know, and when you’re learning alongside the students, it’s a pretty powerful thing.” //
All photos: O. Wilson
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The Northern Michigan Asylum, also referred to as the State Hospital, is rooted in history. After three years of construction, the Victorian-Italianate styled asylum opened its doors in 1885. While it was operational, the hospital was used for a multitude of purposes other than housing and treating those labeled as mentally ill: such as taking care of the elderly, acting as a rehabilitation facility, and training nurses. At its peak, the asylum housed 3,600 patients. The cottages to the south were the men’s wards, while the cottages to the north were the women’s wards. Before the use of psychiatric drugs and 18 20182018 18////BGQ BGQ////APRIL JANUARY
Thank you to the Village at Grand Traverse Commons for taking the BGQ on a tour of the buildings and tunnels and providing information about the past, present, and future of the State Hospital.
techniques like electroshock, the original administration of the hospital believed in a unique medical philosophy for the time; Dr. James Decker Munson, the first superintendent of the hospital, was a firm believer in the “Beauty is Therapy” philosophy, meaning that patients were treated through comfort, pleasure, and kindness. Munson believed that if the patients were surrounded by beautiful things, like flowers from the garden, their mental health and happiness would surge. The doctors and staff provided opportunities for patients to gain a sense of purpose by allowing them to participate in any trades that kept the institu-
tion self-sufficient: such as farming, furniture constructing, and fruit canning. Despite the hospital’s self sufficiency, the asylum closed in 1989. The community struggled with the use of the asylum after it closed down until the Minervini Group negotiated an agreement with the Grand Traverse Commons Redevelopment Corporation in 2000 to renovate the historic buildings. The State Hospital is currently about half way through it’s entire renovation process, and is one of the largest historical renovation sites in the nation today.//
Behind the scenes of The staff of Front and Central works hard to produce their show for students by CONNOR ELLISON
Front and Central, the broadcast news source for students at Central
High School, will air its 99th show by the end of the school year. The show, now in its sixth season is produced by students in the Broadcast Communications II class. Recently, changes have been enacted by the school administration to add ten minutes onto the fifth hour period every other Friday to allow the entire student body to watch Front and Central. Anchor and reporter Fielding Schaefer ‘18 thinks, “the fact that everyone is consistently watching Front and Central is a great thing for the school and the community.” Olivia Edwardson ‘20, who has been on the staff for two years, also appreciates the new time slot because “it gives us a lot of recognition that we deserve. We work really hard on the show.” The Front and Central staff is filled with students who love what they // BGQ // MARCH 2018 2020 //20 BGQ //// APRIL 20182018 // BGQ JANUARY 20 // BGQ // JANUARY 2018
do. They put hard work and passion into writing scripts, featuring stories about sports, students and the community, as well as producing the actual show. Each show requires students to perform as news anchors, camera operators, a teleprompter tech, a floor manager, an audio-tech and a board operator. Plus the show requires post editing as well. In addition to all of the positions required to film Front and Central, reporters also interview people and cover various events. The dedication of the staff is impressive considering most of the stories they cover require numerous hours be spent working outside of school. As Schaefer explained, “the content that is in the show, the stories, those will start out weeks, maybe even months in advance. Some of them will be even days before if they are timely based news. Producing a show “includes writing
Photo: A. Vannatter
a script, getting all of our content into it, making sure everyone is on the same page of the script and what will be in the show. It takes a few rehearsals for all the team members to be able to hammer out a consistent thing.” Front and Central advisor Jim Filkins pointed out that things can get a bit crazy. “When we cover sporting events the night before we record a show, everybody is scrambling that day to update scripts and make sure camera cues are correct. Because of the timing of girls varsity basketball and varsity hockey playoffs for show ten of this year, the entire crew worked their fanny’s off to make the show as current as possible.” Newcomer to the show, Henry Huschke ‘21, describes Front and Central as “amazing and full of opportunity.” Huschke works as an
anchor, reporter, and helps to set up the studio. Setting up the show is more than just sitting the anchors down and recording what they say, the correct lighting and camera angles are a necessity as well. “This includes writing a script, getting all our content into it, making sure everyone is on the same page of the script and what will be in the show. It takes a few rehearsals for all the team members to be able to hammer out a consistent thing,” Schaefer added. Setting up the studio with precision, reading lines without stumbling, and asking pressing questions are the hidden keys the student body does not see when Front and Central pops up at the front of their fifth hour classes every other Friday. //
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There is more to robotics than meets the eye, from building and competition to the Raptors’ team culture by GWEN SNYDER & DAHLIA VINCENT
After six weeks of long nights, sweat, and tears, only three minutes
remain until midnight, the deadline for robot building, after which the Raptors 1711 team cannot make any adjustments to their robot. As the final adjustments are made, mentors and crew members look on before the robot is put into the bag, causing everyone to cheer. Completely building a robot is no easy feat. Everything starts at Kickoff, each crew member of the team is given the rules for this year’s game. Usually, the Raptors attend Kickoff at the very beginning of the year in the cold month of January, leaving early in the morning to receive the rules directly from For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST) Robotics, the program that encompasses all robotics teams. These rules are important to follow or else teams will be barred from competing. Eventually, as the afternoon wears on, the teams must depart on their busses, back to their hometowns. While they head back, the Raptors’ bus fills with chatter. Despite it being just the beginning of the season, teammates are already bouncing ideas off of each other for this year’s robot. Every Raptor is tasked with reading and understanding the rules of the game. Once everyone has a basic idea of the goals and mechanics of the game, the team gathers in the Nest, their meeting area, to 24 // BGQ // MARCH 20188 22 // BGQ // APRIL 2018 MARCH 22 // BGQ // JANUARY 2018 20// //BGQ BGQ// //NOVEMBER JANUARY2018 2018 22 2017
develop their strategy for the competition. After the meeting, the team splits into the various subteams to start working on their individual tasks. The designers work in Computer Aided Design (CAD) and Inventor, programs they use to digitally draft 3D models of parts for the robot, to start creating models of the parts that will be needed for the robot “responsible for the robots design, and creating the robot in cad so that we can make sure that we have all the parts we need and to make sure everything will fit, and most importantly this year because we are doing so much with sheet metal, that I can send out files to the local shops that we work with so that they can cut and break and weld all the stuff that we need” Robotics team captain Trevor Sears ‘18 said. Programmers start writing the code responsible for the robot’s functions, while the build team orders necessary materials to construct the robot. The media and communications team garners attention on social media, designs and sells official team merchandise, and builds the props for the pit, the booth where the team controls the robot from. During build season, the time window when the team prepares for the competitions ahead, some of the materials needed for pieces in the robot, which the Raptors cannot make themselves, are sent to local shops to be made for construction. Designing the pieces alone can be
Photo: O. Wilson
1.
All photos: O. Wilson
1. Max McGinty ‘18 and Trevor Sears ‘18 drive the Raptors’ robot at the competition at Central High School on March 2. The Raptors started out losing most of their matches, but were able to make a comback and win a majority of them, making their way up from twenty-ninth place to the district finals throughout the weekend. 2. John Failor, mentor for the Raptors, smiles as his team advanced throughout competition. 3. Referees observe and discuss a match during the Robotics tournament at Central. “I am excited to compete this year because competition is one of the best parts of the Robotics’ season.” Spencer Crawford ‘20 said.
satisfying in its own right. “I started working on the files for the manipu lator, a piece that consists of a few compact joints or axes that allow for movement, which I finished a little after 1:30 p.m., and sent them to my dad at the latest possible time that he could have got something cut. At Robotics that night, we brought in the pieces and they had all been cut and prepared.” Sears said. “It is just amazing to see something go from a concept to an actual built piece, especially so fast.” As the robot progresses towards functionality, some crew members break off to start building mock pieces of the game to test the robot. As to be expected, with so many projects everywhere, the work area becomes an absolute pandemonium. There is so much going on, that some of the Raptors must work in other rooms or in the hallway, making it nearly impossible to walk without stepping over workstations or other Raptors. As serious as the building process is for every member of the team, it still has its moments of tomfoolery. However, sometimes these shenanigans can go a little too far; too often does the safety lead break up a sword fight or stop a Raptor from dabbing with two by fours in a crowded work area. One time, according to Massimo Vozza ‘19, “someone drank glue for a dollar”. In another incident, someone “made scrambled eggs with a fork attached to a drill and a heat gun,” Spencer Crawford ‘20 said. Such things may not be productive to the creation of the robot, but they strengthen the bonds of the team itself. Although they are there to complete a task, they also learn to be comfortable with their other teammates. These jokes are only made because of the dedication each Raptor has for the team, as well as sharing the same long nights at practice in the midst of frustration and deadline panic. And alongside all of the long nights, and dedication, the Raptors learn to balance their responsibilities. The Raptors still work hard at their classes in school,
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Smiling and having fun with the competition, Raptor’s teammates Tevor Sears ‘18 and Max McGinty 18 enjoy their time spent competing with other teams; all of their hardwork, sweat, blood, and tears has led up to this euphoric moment.
prepare for college and work at their jobs. Without the connections they make through their silly moments together, it does not seem possible that the Raptors would be so devoted. Most of the Raptors on the team join the team as underclassmen. It is difficult starting out, but it is an overall rewarding experience to go to competition and see the product of their hard work in action. “I had a rough first year in robotics, but I was able to make it to competitions, which I love.” Sears said. “If the competitions were not so much fun, I do not think I would have done robotics again. However, robotics is more than that now. I love designing the robot, the team culture and it is just a fun thing to do. I love everything about it.” Despite the difficulty of adjustment every member of the team is still an important asset to getting the robot built, there are always tasks to do and different ways for everyone to get involved. As more time is spent on the team and a better understanding of what need to be done and how to do those things, more responsibility makes its way to the people who have stuck with it for the longest, usually the upperclassmen. On the first day of the competition at Central High School, taking those first few steps into the gymnasium, the Raptors feel a lot smaller as the ceiling gives way into the larger room. It is fully animated with people, signs, and music. Teams from other cities line the bleachers, rushing between the gyms to set up, making sure their robot is ready to compete. None of the teams can ever be too ready according to Max
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McGinty ‘18. “At the competition you come in with an idea of how you think your robot is going to work, and then you then realize how your robot is actually going to work, and they are usually not the same thing,” Being able to participate in competitions and meet with other teams is ultimately what the team works towards for the whole year. And despite such anticipation, no matter how careful a team may be, not everything works out the way they originally plan. “Emotionally, it is a rollercoaster, from finding out something you have worked really hard on is broken, to joking around with your friends, and to the sense of accomplishment when we succeed during competition.” McGinty said. “Everytime we finish a match, there is a build up to find out who wins because no one really knows due to all the points not being tallied yet. If anything it is stressful, but it is good, it is fun.” This year at the week one tournament at Central High School, the Raptors played twelve matches for the district competition. At the halfway point, the Raptors had won one game, and lost five, but were able to make a turnaround and come five to seven, earning them 29th place overall. After the district matches are finished, the top eight teams choose two other teams to accompany them and create an alliance. The Raptors were chosen by team 6087 from Ellsworth and team 5424 from Midland to compete in the finals. The Raptors’ alliance nearly won the first place in the finals, but were edged out by four points by the other alliance consisting of teams from East Jordan and Grand Rapids. //
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Photo: A. Vannatter
cinnamon roll french toast bake recipe courtesy of Buzzfeed Tasty
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Photo: A. Vannatter
ingredients 2 tubes cinnamon roll, refrigerated, with icing 4 tablespoons butter, melted 6 eggs ½ cup milk (i used whole, any milk works) 2 teaspoons cinnamon 2 teaspoons vanilla 1 cup maple syrup
preparation 1 cut each cinnamon roll into eight pieces 2 in a medium sized bowl, whisk eggs, milk, vanilla and cinnamon to set aside 3 preheat the oven to 375 degrees fahrenheit. pour the melted butter into a 9 X 13 inch glass baking dish 4 evenly spread the cut cinnamon roll pieces in the pan. making sure to cover every piece, pour the egg and milk mixture overtop the cinnamon rolls. pour 1 cup of maple syrup over the entire mixture 5 bake for 25-30 minutes, or until center is cooked through 6 let sit for 5 minutes (or until they are warm to the touch) and top with the icing from the cinnamon rolls