The Communicator Volume 26 Edition 3 by The Communicator

the communicator

HOMELESS IN HIGH SCHOOL 05 BIKES, BUSES AND CARS 14 LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS 16 STANDARDIZED TESTING 18

Community High december 15, 2010 Volume 26 • Edition 3

letter from the

editors 12.15.10

- Kyle Aaronson, Katie O’Brien and Julia Kortberg Editors-in-Chief ‘10-‘11

the communicator letter from the editors

photoS jordan siden & cooper depriest

he world of journalism is changing, and print is in a slow and painful decline. In recent years we’ve seen many beloved papers, including our own Ann Arbor News, disappear, only to be replaced by inexpensive (and therefore less successful) mimics such as the Ann Arbor Journal and AnnArbor.com. This decline has even been noticed on a high school level as we make the steady transition to the web. Last year, Community began its very own web production, creating another Communicator class, rightfully titled Communicator Web. With a slogan of “Not Flammable,” Communicator Web has quickly become one of the most prestigious high school web publications in the country, winning a coveted Pacemaker in just its first year online and receiving 8th in show at the NSPA/JEA student journalism conference in Kansas City, MO. While the two Communicators remained distant last year, a foreign but beautiful integration has come about. Communicator students from each class are urged to work with one another in order for each student to learn every aspect of journalism possible. While Web students teach us the basics of WordPress, where we find difficulty in uploading articles, photos, videos and more, we try and share some of our knowledge of Adobe InDesign, the program Communicator Print uses to design its pages. Not only has the addition of another Communicator publication driven print students to learn more about the world of journalism as a whole, but it has also started a fire in each of our hearts, creating a passion for us to be the best we can be. Print and Web silently compete against one another, fighting to be better than the other. The competition is healthy and while we may disagree about which is better, we work together as one unit and the competition has fueled our drive towards greatness. While you feel our publication’s crisp pages in your hand right now, we urge you to reach for a computer and check out Communicator Web’s site. Once there, it’s easy to see how students have been working together – just try typing in a few names of Communicator Print writers for starters. Communicator Web plans on uploading short stories and poems from Judith’s Creative Writing class, publicizing art from Community art classes and jazz clips from Community bands can be heard online, further expanding their horizons. The limits are endless for Communicator Web and they’re out to prove it. C

TOC

STAFF Editors-In Chief Kyle Aaronson Julia Kortberg Katie O’Brien

THE COMMUNICATOR

Business Manager Cooper DePriest

Art Directors Jordan Siden Liz McCubbrey

News Editor Acer Xu

Sports Editor Spencer MacDonald

Opinion + Copy Editor Oriol Burgos-Tsoffar

Staff Joella Bennett Mari Cohen Julia DeVarti Josh Fendrick Kerryann Fingerle Ruthie Graff Olivia Kincaid Abby Kleinheksel Clare Lauer Erez Levin Emma Machcinski Patricia Nease Aaron Nelson-Purcell Brienne O’Donnell Hind Omar Justine Samaha Emma Share Zach Shaw Ryan Shea Paul Smith David Soth-Kimmel Eliza Stein Eli Sugerman Rosie Sullivan Tori Weshead

8 12 18

results 7

Adviser Tracy Rosewarne

A place to stay 5 Alpha House is here to help homeless families

Cover Art Liz McCubbrey

Lunch Date 7 Students spend lunchtime learning

12 be home soon?

An untold tale of deployment

16 Little shop of horrors

A review of CET’s first performance of the year

Preserving our parks 8 18 Playing The Game Volunteers work to preserve natural habitat An in-depth look at standardizing testing

Back Cover Illustration Colleen O’Brien

the reality of MADE 10 Sam Goven talks about her MADE experience

24 Spencer Vs.

Spencer tries rock climbing against Max McVety

personality profile in

300 words

Kevin Krull makes the switch from pioneer to Roberto emma share photo emma share

hey told him he was dumb. He wasn’t going to graduate. Kevin Krull had a bad habit of skipping class that led to failing grades. As a freshman and sophomore at Pioneer High School, Kevin had no motivation for school. Pioneer strongly suggested he switch schools. When he told his friends he was going to Roberto Clemente they started laughing at him. In their eyes, he was going to the “bad” school. Kevin didn’t see it that way. He took this as an opportunity to turn his life around. After spending his summer and the first two months of his junior year at Roberto, he came to the conclusion that students are there to make a change in their lives. Kevin says Roberto advertises change as working to improve kids’ grades. He thinks they primarily change their work

ethic, and then as a result many grades rise. Kevin’s largest class has 12 students. In this smaller environment he realizes how much the teachers and students care. When he was at Pioneer, a teacher asked for a volunteer to read aloud. No one raised a hand. At Roberto, every hand goes up in class. Kevin doesn’t act stupid anymore. He stopped going to parties all the time. He stopped skipping classes. He has too much to lose right now. Kevin is motivated in school. It’s the first time in his life he’s been looked at as a nerd; he has all A’s. He’s interested in friendships. He has allowed himself to let go of the friends that caused unwanted teenage drama. He realizes what he needs in life; and what he doesn’t. Kevin dreamed about being a police officer. Now he dreams about becom-

ing a school counselor. He wants to help kids who’ve had troubled pasts. Like his past. Kevin’s goal is to return to Pioneer, graduate from high school, go to Washtenaw Community College for two years and then transfer to a larger university. Kevin is a young man motivated to succeed. Kevin is anything but dumb. C

got a Story? do you know someone with a story worth sharing? Let us know by emailing us at: the.communicator@ gmail.com

ABOVE Kevin Krull works on papers for the Ann Arbor Community Foundation’s Youth Council. He is a new member of this all-teen, non-profit group.

living gluten free in a gluten world Claire Crause shares her Experiences living with Celiac disease as a teenager patricia nease

aving your own toaster and not sharing it with anyone else in your family might seem like a strange thing to many people, but for Claire Crause, a sophomore at Pioneer High School, it is normal. Crause is one of 3 million people in the United States who has celiac disease. Celiac is an autoimmune disease that causes the breakdown of villi in the small intestine when gluten is consumed, which results in nutrients not being absorbed. Gluten is found in wheat, rye, oats, and barley. Crause was diagnosed with celiac when she was ten. Celiac is not recognized easily, which may explain why 95% of people with celiac haven’t been properly diagnosed according to the National Foundation for Celac Awareness. “My parents took me to all kinds of doctors, and no one knew what was wrong,” Crause said of 04

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being diagnosed. “After a series of visits and a series of tests we got them to run a test for celiac and it came out positive,” Crause’s father Jeff said. The test was suggested by a family friend who knew of someone with a wheat allergy. The test for celiac included blood tests and an upper endoscopy for Crause. Once diagnosed with celiac, it is very easy to avoid symptoms, however symptoms can be different for different people. “Even before Claire got diagnosed, she naturally gravitated towards rice and wasn’t much of a fan of breads and pastas, and things that have flour in it. I think her body was telling her something,” Mr. Crause said. The diagnosis came as a relief to both Crause and her parents, “I started eating gluten-free, and things started getting better. [Before] it was really scary ‘cause they almost had to hos-

pitalize me to force-feed me,” Crause said. Luckily this wasn’t necessary. “It was a relief that we knew kinda what it was. We ruled out a lot of things that would not have been nice, like bulimia and those kinds of related illnesses,” Mr. Crause said. Adjusting to a gluten-free diet took a little while for Crause and her parents, “It’s a matter of learning how to read labels...you start reading the labels [and] you’ll find all kinds of things that you never think about that have gluten in them,” Crause’s father said. Recently there have been more companies - both mainstream, and specialty companies - coming out with gluten free products. Many grocery stores have a special gluten free section. Crause has found that having the gluten-free label on foods can be helpful, but as Crause said, “It is more expensive to buy gluten-free”. Fortunately

it is very easy to avoid gluten in every day cooking. “Usually... she will do everything gluten-free, cause it’s really easy to do,” Crause said of her mother’s cooking. “Once you know what it’s in, it’s really easy to stay away from those things”. A toaster seems like a little thing that wouldn’t make much of a difference, but as Crause said, “There are so many crumbs in there and... you can eat gluten by toasting your bread in a regular toaster.” Crause and others living with celiac have to be constantly aware of their surroundings, and the things with which they are interacting. Having celiac can make some things more difficult, but all in all, Crause has learned what is available and refuses to let the celiac slow her down or keep her from doing the things she loves. C

celiac was not originally thought of as a disease that could be found in children

95% of people who have celiac disease have not been properly diagnosed

a place to stay Alpha house provides a place for homeless teens to live

eliza stein photos Courtesy oF alpha house

uring the last school year, there were approximately 600 homeless youths in Washtenaw County, many of whom were teens. For them, there is no such thing as home. Instead, for some, it’s locking a car for the night instead of a front door. It’s not having the place to put your toothbrush; it’s not having a bedside table to place your novel on as you curl up in you warm bed to sleep. The comforts of a home are unfamiliar to hundreds of teens in Washtenaw County. For 36 families a year, Interfaith Hospitality Network (IHN) at Alpha House Shelter helps to provide some of these comforts. IHN Alpha House is able to provide three meals a day, shelter, assistance with job searches and help finding stable housing. “There are 60 families on the waitlist right now,” said Julie Steiner, executive director of IHN Alpha House.

“Some people might be doubled up, staying with their aunt or something like that. Other people are in much more desperate situations. They might not have anywhere to go. We just had a man call, who said his teenage son was living in one of the homeless encampments,” Steiner explained. The wait-list is prioritized by the direst conditions and IHN Alpha house has figured out an efficient way to serve as many homeless people as they can. Homeless teens face more challenges than the average Washtenaw County teenager. “Type up your English paper in 12 point font,” a high school English class syllabus reads. For homeless teens, it’s not that easy. Steiner explained, “There was a teenager, who when she first came in, had really bad grades because she had been moving around constantly. One week she would be staying here, another week she would stay there and another week she would stay there. It’s pretty hard to concentrate and pay attention to school.”

After just a few weeks of living under the same roof at IHN Alpha house, a change happened. “Once she settled and was stable, her grades got a lot better. Usually when [teens] are here, their grades get better and better while they are at the shelter,” Steiner continued. Teens at IHN Alpha House are allowed computer use, but have to share the time with the five other families wanting to use it. In addition, to supporting the students, IHN Alpha House provides daily tutoring to help kids with anything, from teaching the five year olds the ABCs, to helping a senior in high school struggling to solve a calculus problem. While staying at IHN Alpha house, teens are lucky enough to find a TV room, game room, and warm meals from the kitchen. The only private area each family has is their one bedroom. Each space outside of that is shared with five other families. An individual at the shelter is not the only one deciding on a TV channel to watch or how

loud to turn the volume. “Most of the people really get along and try to make the best of it,” Steiner said. In addition to sharing almost every living space, each family is required to eat all together, every night. Each dinner is a mystery. While volunteers eagerly bring in warm, hardy meals, there is no other choice. Teens don’t get to say “Tomorrow, Mom, can you make your special lasagna?” “Every day, when they’re [homeless teens] in school and things come up, like field trips, dances, or some kind of event that you have to pay for or you have to get dressed up for. People aren’t thinking, is there anyone who can’t afford to do this,” Steiner said. IHN Alpha House goes the distance to try to reach these needs. C

The comforts of home are unfamiliar to hundreds of teens across washtenaw county

feature the communicator 05

from

college

CHS to mari cohen photo Illustration jordan siden

mid Thanksgiving leftovers, Nadia Todoroff and Jennie Scheerer, both graduates of the Community High School class of 2010, lie relaxing on Scheerer’s family room couch, taking a well-earned break from the demands of college freshman life. “It’s all work, every day, except for the weekends,” explained Scheerer, who attends Kalamazoo College. “It’s still fun, but it’s just a lot of work.” Todoroff, a student at University of Michigan’s Residential College, expressed a similar sentiment. “It’s more fun, I think, than high school, because you get so much freedom and the weekends are really fun and you can do whatever you want and you meet so many people, but at the same time you’re constantly doing homework and you have to be really motivated.” Emerging from their first few months of college after four years of high school at Community, Scheerer and Todoroff are in an excellent position to reflect on the first-year college experience and, in particular, the shift from Community to college. The Community High School experience was a factor in both Scheerer’s and Todoroff ’s college decisions. “Going to Community made me want to go to a smaller school and have [a] community at school too, which is how it is [at Kalamazoo]. It’s a lot bigger than Community but it has a lot of the same 06

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aspects,” said Scheerer. Todoroff chose the Residential College for a similar reason. “I decided to go [to Michigan] because they have the Residential College, so I could still be in a small school but within a big school, which was nice because then I could broaden everything yet still have the small environment, which I liked at Community,” she said. However, Todoroff also chose the

huge adjustment from the Community workload to the college one. “Community definitely did not prepare me for the amount of work I had to do in college,” said Scheerer. She explained that at Community, it was often easy to slide by and still get an A. “Something always worked out, and [getting an A] happened, but it’s not the same at college. In college, you get Bs and Cs and you can’t do anything about it.”

“You just assimilate super fast and after a while it becomes everyday life.” University of Michigan to get away from the downsides of a small school. “I really loved Community, but after four years I was looking for something bigger, like more opportunities to meet people and just expand, because once you know everyone in the school, I don’t know, for me it just got kind of old. I did love Community, but I wanted somewhere where…it could be bigger if I wanted it to be.” Both girls have experienced a quick transition from high school to college life, something that neither of them anticipated. “You just assimilate super fast, and after a while it becomes everyday life,” said Todoroff. “Even though it is still really fun, it’s like normal life after a while,” agreed Scheerer. However, they have had to undergo a

“Community did not prepare me for the workload,” agreed Todoroff. “For me at Community, I feel like I worked really hard my sophomore year and then every other year I basically did nothing and got all As.” Still, both girls said that they wouldn’t change a lot about their Community education if they were to go back. “[In college] I can still understand stuff, it’s not over my head, “ said Scheerer. “I like Community. It was good how it was.” Todoroff spoke along the same lines. “It’s good to take advantage of that [light workload] before you have to do a ton of work,” she said. But Todoroff did find parts of Community very helpful for college. “Judith’s writing classes did prepare me for writing,” she said. “I’m definitely

getting good grades on my papers, which is awesome.” And despite the lesser amount of work, she feels that the learning at Community was fulfilling. “Overall, academically, like the learning aspect, I think Community really prepared me.” Jennie Scheerer’s older sister, Vicky, a senior at Northwestern University who graduated from Community in 2007, chimed in, saying, “I think Community definitely taught me how to budget my time, or just doing your learning on your own,” she said. “My freshman year I was able to do pretty well because I was already used to being self-motivated to do things, and a lot of other kids I saw having trouble just getting out of bed to go to class because you could skip class in college and nobody will care, and at Community you can do that, but if you want to do well you know that you have to go to class. So, that was a good lesson to learn.” Jennie Scheerer concluded with important advice for current high school seniors in the application process. “Get your applications in early and apply like a lot of places so you have a lot of options, because you don’t want to be stuck.” Todoroff echoed her warning: “If you want to apply [to the University of Michigan], you should apply really early and get your application in on time.” C

clare lauer & jordan siden

s students pour out from the double doors onto the back lawn, you stay inside, and head to a classroom. You have 50 minutes. While most CHS students enjoy a leisurely lunch period, others find themselves in classrooms, finishing homework, answering questions and taking tests. While it is not the most ideal time for students or teachers, both still manage to find themselves hard at work during what should be their break. Frequently using lunch periods as a time to work with teachers is a price some students are willing to pay for extra help. “Sometimes you want to go out with your friends at lunch,” said freshman Sari Greifer, “but yeah, I definitely think that sometimes it’s a burden and a hassle [to go do work during lunch], but I think it’s worth it.” Unlike her peers, who may miss out on an afternoon meal entirely, Greifer plans ahead and brings a packed lunch on days she receives help. “I just [would] really rather have lunch with my friends,” said junior Emma Weichmann. Weichmann hardly ever comes to teachers for help, preferring to tackle challenging assignments on her own. “I can usually figure [assignments] out by myself without having to sacrifice that lunch time that I really like to spend with friends.” Working lunch periods are a burden for teachers as well. “Some days it feels like I’m heading to my next class without a chance to take a breath,” said CHS math teacher Anne Thomas, “but I do feel like it’s part of my job, and supporting kids [who struggle] in mathematics is, to me, really important, so it’s a priority, and if my lunch falls by the wayside, I feel like that’s what I got to do.” Thomas can have 10 students in her room at any given lunch, giving her limited time for each student. “It feels a little overwhelming, because to really help people individually is difficult to do. You probably get to help each kid with a couple of questions but not real thoroughly.”

Weichmann did see more teachers at lunch in her sophomore year, but was left frustrated by the lack of individual attention she received. “I wouldn’t get any attention and I wouldn’t even get any of my stuff done, so it felt like I just wasted an entire lunch period. It’s hard to get the attention you need. I know some teachers are really good at

that, but some are just too busy.” FOS III teacher Liz Stern is no stranger to a bustling classroom during lunch. Stern often spends her 50 minute lunch breaks helping students one-on-one with labs, classwork and homework. With a full schedule, Stern sees lunch as a convenient time for both her and her students.

a midday lunch break is dissapearing for some community students

“Well, lunch is really the only sure time that I know kids can come in, and while I would really love to have a little break in the middle of the day, I have my prep time right afterward. And I didn’t mean to do that, but that’s how it ended up, and that ended up working really well.” Stern encourages her students to use lunch as an opportunity to catch up on missing assignments, or to get help on difficult concepts, but she finds that helping absent students take up a big portion of her lunch time. “You just look at your attendance list and go ‘I’ve got an entire class of kids who are not here!’ You’ve got to mop up 15 to 25 kids, and then it’s like, ‘How am I going to teach it to them?’ I mean, that is a lot of the kids who come in.” CHS Health teacher Robbie Stapleton thinks the common 50 minutes off that faculty and students share throughout the building is what leads to meetings, help, tutoring, and make up work. With so many teachers and students regularly working during their free time, it is important to consider the health benefits of a midday break. “I’m sure you could come up with a good scientific study to support what we all know intuitively, which is, it does everybody some good to take some time during the day, to just relax,” said Stapleton. “Most of us have 15 to 20 minutes a day, if we’re honest with ourselves.” “One really healthy thing we do is give ourselves 50 minutes. That’s really smart. And I do think it’s important, especially for kids who are athletes, to get some calories throughout the day,” Stapleton continued. Working non-stop throughout the day takes its toll on Greifer. She admits that she often finds herself exhausted after working through her lunch break, “You kind of need that break at lunch to just kind of relax and take it easy sometimes...it’s kind of hard to stay awake during your next class.” “It’s hard for kids,” agreed Stapleton. “It’s hard for me, to pay attention for an hour and a half. And that’s our block schedule. To do that, without a break in the middle of the day would be asking a lot of ourselves.” C

Photo ILLUSTRATION jordan siden feature the communicator 07

preserving our parks natural area preservation Provides a unique OPPortunity to lend a hand in maintaining Ann Arbor’s natural spaces ryan shea

A ABOVE A volunteer helps in conducting a prescribed burn on a prairie area in Ann Arbor BELOW CHS student Carlos Jackson pulls down a buckthorn tree, one of the many invasive species that NAP is in charge of regulating in Ann Arbor’s natural spaces

the communicator

nn Arbor is a city that greatly values its prairies, woods and wetlands. There are over 150 parks in Ann Arbor and it is often taken for granted that they will remain green and beautiful for the public. The people who use these natural spaces rarely think about all of the work that goes into maintaining these areas. This is, in part, thanks to the work of Natural Area Preservation, a unit of the Field Operations Department of the city. NAP was formed after a 1992 millage and has since been the caretaker of Ann Arbor’s natural spaces. The duties of NAP include removing invasive species, maintaining trails and directing prescribed burns, as well as involving and educating people in the work NAP does and how to be a better environmental steward. Jason Frenzel, the volunteer and outreach coordinator at NAP, said, “Our mission is to protect and restore Ann Arbors natural areas and to foster an environmental ethic among citizens, so it’s an intentional two-pronged mission.” The manager and creator of NAP, David Borneman, created NAP based off of the oldschool conservationist mottos. “To do real positive land management change, real things that benefit the earth, not only do you have to change the earth and what we’re doing but you have to change the people that are doing the work. We’re not going to solve the problems we’re in if we don’t solve the problems that created the problems,”

explained Frenzel. Historically, about one third of the groundwork has been done by volunteers. This year, however, due in part to the two Community High School workdays, the fraction of the groundwork done by volunteers is closer to half. Much of this is also due to the work of Frenzel. “Often times I call myself a fixer of problems: I find bottlenecks in our organization that limit the number of volunteers and then try to solve them. So, when Community High School worked with us in the spring of 2010 [they] said ‘Hey we want to bring

if they could bring a larger group out. 100 is a number that’s thrown out there randomly by a lot of sororities and fraternities and usually our answer has been, ‘No, but we can be one of three or five sites that would work with you.’” Because of the two Community workdays Frenzel has been able to reevaluate how NAP can most effectively utilize their staff and volunteer leaders. Though some volunteers are regulars at NAP, helping in the office or burn team, the majority of the volunteers for NAP are still volunteering at the three-hour sessions that take place on

“Often times I call myself a fixer of problems. I find bottlenecks in our organization that limit the number of volunteers and then try to solve them.” out a bunch of students. How many do you think you could take?’ At that point our largest event had been 80 people, and when it was all said and done, when we went out and pulled garlic mustard that day in May of 2010, we took about 270 students” That first workday led to NAP’s realization that if they could be able to handle large groups of people that wanted to volunteer together regularly, they would be filling a niche market that is fairly unique in Ann Arbor. “Over the years I’ve had a series of calls from other organizations asking

Saturdays. Frenzel loves seeing new people at these three-hour sessions and is adamant in his belief that getting out to volunteer is fun and healthy. “It’s a great experience to be able to get out as a volunteer. You get to learn the parks. You get to learn from advanced volunteers or staff that have a lot of interest in the parks. It’s just a great way to spend a Saturday morning or afternoon. It can be a lot of fun and build a lot of camaraderie. Grab a couple of friends or a couple family members.” C

the brinery former chs graduate becomes vegetable fermenting entrepreneur emma machcinski photoS emma machcinski

eople, in our hearts—even if we don’t know it in our minds—are hungry for real, nutritious food,” said David Klingenberger, a man who intends to do his part to bring people in Ann Arbor the wholesome food they crave. Klingenberger is the creator of The Brinery, a business that specializes in fermented local vegetables. Using the process of fermentation to make goods such as sauerkraut, kimchi, and pickles, Klingenberger has made a business of putting the spotlight on traditional side dishes. “What I love about it is fermented vegetables are delicious…but this process is extremely nutritional,” said Klingenberger. “It’s a condiment; it’s also an ancient art of food preservation, as well as being extremely beneficial to your overall health.” It is plain to see that Klingenberger has a passion for fermenting vegetables, and for him it was an obvious choice to share that with other people. “I knew I wanted to start it right away when I did, because there was no one else doing it here in Southeast Michigan, and I thought if I didn’t do it, somebody else would,” said Klingenberger. Klingenberger has been involved in the Ann Arbor food scene for some time now. A former Community High School student, Klingenberger was first

introduced to Tantre—a local organic farm—through a CR his girlfriend was taking there. Klingenberger eventually ended up at Tantre, working there on and off over the past 10 years. “My first step [out of high school] actually was to hit the road. I wanted to travel. I fancy myself a vagabond and a hobo,” said Klingenberger. “So right out of high school, there was not even a question of going to college. To be honest I barely even graduated high school. And I hit the road, and then came back and worked at Tantre Farm.” It was at Tantre, beginning in 1999, that Klingenberger started making sauerkraut. Last winter, Klingenberger made sauerkraut out of Tantre’s extra cabbage, and it was then that things started falling into place. What started out as a hobby grew into a business plan. “I realized it was my calling,” said Klingenberger. “A sauerkraut angel visited me in the night.” Soon after, The Brinery was born. The Brinery is still a new business, only a year old, yet it is quickly gaining momentum and recognition. “So I’ve hit the ground running. I’ve been selling self-employed, and selling at the farmers’ market,” said Klingenberger. “I’m supplying to local restaurants like The Grange, Zingerman’s Roadhouse, Zingerman’s Deli...Zingerman’s mail

order is going to distribute my jars this winter, about 300 jars. So I hope to keep growing that way.” Beyond grabbing the attention of businesses in the area, The Brinery has opportunity to expand nationally, possibly with the help of a major corporation. Whole Foods has expressed interest in carrying Klingenberger’s products. “The thing would be to get strong locally with them and then potentially break in bigger,” said Klingenberger. “But to be honest… I’d rather be strong with locally owned businesses, not corporations like Whole Foods which is nation-wide, and may or may not have local businesses’ best interest at heart.” Klingenberger puts a strong emphasis on being local. All the produce he buys is Michigan grown, with much of it coming from Tantre Farm. “By local, I mean we’re not producing stuff to be shipped all over the world without a face. I feel such a deep connect to growing food, or to making a food product like my fermented vegetables. And that’s why I want to base my business around the farmers’ market, because I want to see people. I want people to see me,” said Klingenberger. “And I want that to be the basis. I want to go beyond that, but I want to be, at the core, a part of the local foods community.” C

feature

the communicator

the reality of MADE After being featured on the show, SAMANTHA GOVEN’S EXPERIeNCE ON THE TELEVISION SHOW “MAdE” WASN’T WHAT SHE expected IT to BE abby kleinheksel & ruthie graff photoS courtesy of gabby rosales

amantha Goven began her sophomore year the same way as many other students at Ypsilanti High School. She worried about homework, curfew, and fitting in. She never would have guessed that by the end of the year the whole school would know her name. She wasn’t expecting to end her school year having been the focus of the MTV show MADE. However, Goven did start her sophomore year feeling out of place. “I wanted to have more confidence to be able to do stuff that was a little out of my realm,” she said. Goven also had an interest in dance, but was too busy with other sports, as well as academics, to take classes. When it was announced that MADE was coming to her school for open auditions, Goven decided to give it a shot. “I had always watched the show and when they said they were going to have open auditions it was more of my friends pushing me to do it because I was always saying, ‘Oh I wish I could be on MADE, I wish I could be “made” into something.’ Plus, I really wanted to learn how to dance, so it was kind of a way to get free dance lessons,” said Goven. After the initial open audition, or “questionnaire” as Goven calls it, it was almost half a year of waiting before Goven got the call telling her she was going to be on the show. “Then, after that, actually filming the show was just a completely different world,” said Goven. For Goven, as well as her family, friends and teammates, getting used to cameras following her every move became stressful. “Some people were really cool with the cameras. They 10

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didn’t really mind it. But then a few of my teammates would hide. And then [there’s] my mom, who hates being photographed, and then also a lot of my family felt that it was really intrusive,” said Goven. While filming the show, Goven said she felt like quitting several times. “It was really tough [to balance] schoolwork and dance practices,” she said. “There were also lots of conflicts between my parents, and then stuff with [my boyrfriend] Zach. It was just a lot of stress.” Goven also talks about the way

very nice on the show,” said Rosales. Rosales feels that this experience has changed Goven’s relationships. “I feel like it changed all of it, not just mine, but everybody else’s too, because it dominated her life while she was filming,” said Rosales. Goven’s relationships with Rosales, her mom and her boyfriend were slightly stressed during the process of filming. Goven reveals that some of the things on the show are variations of what actually happened. “They would have [Zach] ask certain things, like he really wanted to meet my parents but

“Everything is kind of exaggerated and it doesn’t make it look good...it wasn’t what I thought would be in it at all.” she and her family are portrayed on the show. “I feel like the ideas had to sprout from somewhere but it’s just how big they blew them out of proportion.” Goven feels like her Mom specifically was portrayed as being mean and uptight, when in reality, Goven thinks her Mom is just concerned about her daughter’s well being. CHS student Gabby Rosales agrees with Goven. Rosales, Goven’s best friend, was very involved with the filming of the show. She also believes that the show was edited a lot and made Goven seem different to make the show more interesting. “Everything is kind of exaggerated and it doesn’t make it look good. I watched the episode, it wasn’t what I thought would be in it at all. They made her boyfriend issues worse than they were. Her mom is the nicest person in the world, but they made her look not

he already had met them before,” said Goven. They would often re-shoot moments until they were perfect. The sequencing of events on the show was also not always correct. Goven said she was surprised by the final edit, and felt like for all the filming that was done there was a lot of material left out of the show. “There was so much that they didn’t put in the show that I wish they had,” said Goven. “Like the first dance practice I had I came in really timid and I was intimidated by Tristan who was dancing all over the place and when I was leaving he was like, ‘I want you to have a lot of sass, slam that door behind you and don’t look back!’ So I slammed the door and when I came back the next day it turns out I broke the wall! So I felt like that should have been in the show, but it wasn’t.” On MADE, Goven had a coach who

helped her learn the basics and then the more advanced aspects of hip hop dancing. Goven’s coach, Tristan, was also put through an audition process. Once chosen he began working with Goven almost every day after school. At times they would bump heads but now, after the show, Goven still keeps in contact with Tristan. “I call him my big brother,” said Goven. While it may seem that Goven had a negative MADE experience, it wasn’t all bad. “I love that you get to meet so many new people, and people you really wouldn’t expect to be talking to, you get to know better. A lot of people come up to you and they become interested in you because you’re on TV but then they become your friend. And you get so many different connections and networks. I guess I could say I am more confident now. I don’t have a problem talking to more people, or being in the middle of a dance circle or something.” Goven’s final performance, was in front of her entire school at their annual talent show. Goven recalls the talent show fondly. “The talent show was so exciting! A lot of people said they went out there just to see the whole performance and see how good it looked, because if it’s a big deal around the school, obviously it has to be something exciting,” said Goven. However, Goven still stresses the point that the making of her final routine was something she does not want to go through again. During this experience, Goven’s view on reality T.V. has changed drastically. “I think that the whole experience really made me view shows differently, just cause, well I don’t want to say I don’t enjoy it anymore, but it just brings back so [many] stressful memories and

ABOVE Goven poses with her dance crew (bottom) and her MADE coach’s dance crew (top)

I feel these kids, and watching MADE after I was on it, it’s like you don’t know how much really went on or is real in the shows,” said Goven. She now understands that only a small portion of the entire footage is shown, and it is edited to be what the director wants it to be; it is not actually reality. Goven hopes that others also understand that not all of what we see on reality shows is the whole story. “I sure hope everyone has the idea that everything isn’t as real as it’s made out to be on TV. It’s real to a certain extent,” said Goven. While some high school students might want to try to be on MADE or another reality TV show, Goven wants them to think twice before auditioning. “I would say just spend your money or work up the courage to do what you want to do, if it’s something that you’re really passionate and want to do then go for it, but you might not end up with the results you’re looking for. I mean, I thought I was going to go on the show and never cry and look like the best made kid ever but, it’s so much more than you see on TV.” C LEFT Goven gives her MADE coach a hug after a successful hip-hop dance performance at her school’s talent show RIGHT Goven with her boyfriend Zach after her performance feature the communicator 11

be home soon? tori westhead & hind omar photoS courtesy of pete westhead

H there are currently 32 thousand american soldiers in afghanistan

OOOOORAHH!” The many voices of a battalion echo throughout the drill hall as families stand off to the side watching their loved ones. This is a typical scene for the family of someone enlisted, watching as the drill sergeant takes attendance, hugging for the last time and stifling tears as they watch their loved ones board the bus to another town in order to head to a base where they will be trained and debriefed, and then, in less than a month’s time, sent overseas. With little or no communication with their loved ones, it can be a very difficult time for many families. For Sergeant First Class Will Craven Junior, this is nothing new. He was deployed six times between 1999 and 2008 to five different places. Sgt. Craven travels across the world, not knowing when, or even if, he’ll return home. Two of his deployments were in Iraq, and he now knows what to expect, unlike Nathan Queen, a junior at Community High School, who will begin the deployment process in about six months when he turns 17. Queen has decided that as soon as he is of age he will enlist full-time in the Marine Corps. Although he will be giving up his spare time and spring break this year, he is prepared for the commitment. Instead of finishing high school and college like most do before enlist-

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ing full-time he’s going to enlist before he starts his senior year in high school and plans to take college courses while overseas. Queen has decided to attend college when he returns home. “Yeah, it’s kind of nice and not so nice because when people are going to be road tripping, going to Miami or wherever, I’m going to be stuck in camp training and it’s more of a character kind of thing, like a character building kind of thing,” Queen said. The life that Marines lead appeals to Queen. “I want to do it just so...I can be set

Shield, an operation put into action during the Gulf War that deployed soldiers to help defend Saudi Arabia. Even though Queen will not have the traditional college experience he’s not worried. “I’m partly doing it to pay for college. After your active duty...[the government] pays for your college, [and] I’d like to go to U of M but it’s not really in my family budget,” Queen said. Sgt. Craven always knew that he wanted to be a part of the armed forces. “It was an easy decision for me,” Sgt. Craven said. “I saw myself on a path

“I saw myself on a path of destruction and joining the army seemed like the thing to do at the time.” aside from the group [and] stand out, but you do sacrifice a lot of free time,” he said. “I like the lifestyle, the discipline - it kind of sets the bar. If you can join the marines [then] what can’t you do? It’s a confidence builder. It’s one of those things that I don’t want to look back and regret I didn’t do it.” Most armed forces members join because of family members who are veterans or because they attended a university ROTC. For Sgt. Craven this was not the case. After attending college, he joined the army at the brink of Desert

of destruction and joining the army seemed like the thing to do at the time.” For Craven, there was never a doubt in his mind about enlisting; even as a child he knew this was what he wanted to do. The choice was not difficult for Queen either, but he didn’t always know he wanted to be a part of the military. Queen and his brother are the first generation in their family to enlist in the military, but the decision Queen’s brother made to enlist did not influence Queen. “There were other things that I

wanted to do but this was always at the top of the list so I haven’t really had a doubt that I’m going to join,” Queen said. Sgt. Craven’s family, with the exception of his mother, approved of his decision. His mother was furious when Sgt. Craven first joined; nonetheless, their relationship has held strong through the years. Queen’s family had a similar reaction when his older brother made the announcement. “They understood, [but] my mom didn’t want [him] to go,” Queen said. However, his parents had a much more mellow reaction when Queen told them he intends to do the same. “I already told them [and] it’s like 6 months until I join so I kinda gave them a heads up. My mom was like, ‘Only one at a time.’ But [then] I would have to wait until my brother was like 30 something. They can’t really say no once I’m 18 anyways,” he said. For Sgt. Craven, being in the military is a full-time commitment. He is an active guard reservist (AGR) and his work load is never-ending. AGR soldiers are required to serve full time, and can be stationed anywhere on the globe that has a U.S. Military base. They get the same benefits as all the other full time soldiers including full pay and medical care for their immediate family and

OPPOSITE Craven and his battalion outside Camp Anaconda TOP LEFT Craven and company taking inventory in Sykes before beginning the long journey back to the States BOTTOM LEFT Soldier transport plane (sherpa) on the runway waiting for passengers FAR RIGHT Craven traveling on assignment in a sherpa just 1500 feet above the ground

themselves. However, AGR soldiers can have many different tasks including, providing logistical support, providing explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) of unexploded ordinance, destroying all confiscated arms/ammunition/munitions and maintaining air support. Sgt. Craven believes the living conditions for American soldiers have greatly improved. “Most [places] are easily livable,” said Sgt. Craven. In the past, soldiers stayed in wooden huts (hootches), often with nothing but strips of plastic as a door. They were one room dwellings with waist-high plywood separating the beds creating “privacy.” Usually the beds were nothing but flimsy folding cots, similar to those at summer camps. The roofs were made of sheet metal pieced together across the length of the building. The hootches were surrounded by chesthigh sand bags for “protection.” Luckily, some safety was provided. Between each hootch was a bunker for protection from incoming artillery. Now, soldiers live in containerized housing unit’s (CHU’s) with one or two people. A CHU is a building made out of solid concrete with no windows. They are usually about 14 feet by 7 feet and are meant for two people. As for the food, Sgt. Craven feels, “[It has] never been something to complain about.” One thing remaining the same is the bathroom situation. Shower

points and latrines were much closer to your hootch (100 yards away, at most) in the past. Now, there is usually one hygiene facility per group of CHU’s. Soldiers are required to leave their rifle outside while they do their business and must retrieve it afterwards. A small number of unlucky soldiers don’t get the pleasure of indoor plumbing. They dig a hole in the ground and use their “shower in a bag” which consists of a very large wet wipe, soap, shampoo, razor, deodorant, toothbrush etc. In Iraq it can be over 100 degrees dur-

those things that are not too inviting, like being away from home, the heat, the long hours, then yes, it will cause much heartache. However, if you spend your time trying to make the best of it, no matter what it is, then even a menial task such as mopping the floor can be rewarding.” Luckily for Sgt. Craven, he has returned from each deployment safely without a single injury, mental or physical. Many soldiers come back severely injured, others never come back at all. Sgt. Craven has witnessed serious

“Any work that will cause you to travel away from family, friends, and the comforts of your home lifestyle can be lonely.” ing the day and below freezing at night. Growing up and living in the Midwest, Sgt. Craven had difficulties adapting to the drastic temperature changes. Sgt. Craven believes serving his country is rewarding. He admits that this line of work is challenging. “In my opinion, any work that will cause you to travel away from family, friends, and the comforts of your home lifestyle can be lonely and extremely demanding,” he said. “However, any job that you do in life, [including] serving your country, is that which you make of it. If your time is spent focusing on

injuries, some fatal. While stationed in Bosnia, he saw a man die from an accidental shooting. Five years later, a man stationed with him in Afghanistan died during a mortar attack. “My experiences have not introduced me to such brutal surrounding as some that have, or are, serving overseas,” Sgt. Craven added. Although the job can be life-changing and difficult at times,“Transitioning is different for each solider,” Sgt. Craven said of returning home. “There are so many things that are available to soldiers now, as compared to those that

have served before us in the days of the World Wars.” he said. One thing that is available now is the psychological screening that each soldier goes through in order to ensure a safe transition. This screening will indicate whether support while transitioning will be needed. Some aspects make it especially hard to transition back into civilian life. “There is still some decompression that every soldier must endure in returning to civilian life, by the manner in which so many things are taken for granted and the amount of spoiled attitudes the general American population carriers, just to name a couple,” Craven said. Queen does not know what to expect because transitioning can be difficult. He is unsure whether it will be a life changing experience or not. Sgt. Craven, however, had a very positive outlook as he looked back on his deployments: “They are all experiences, like all other [experiences] in life, [that] have brought me to where I am and who I am. I wouldn’t change a thing... all I can really offer is that each deployment provided me with a deeper appreciation of all [that] we have in this great country.” C

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since the u.s. armed forces entered afghanistan, there have been 7589 civilian casualites.

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(and the bike and the car)

bicycle burglary

go round and round The difficulties of transportation To and From School paul smith

illustration katie o’brien mari cohen & julia devarti

t is fairly typical for a high school student to ride to school on a large yellow bus. But the morning routines of senior Jennifer Sercel and junior Elizabeth Caldwell, both Community High School students, vary from the traditional model. Sercel and Caldwell take not one, but two buses each morning in order to get to Community. Sercel starts her day at 5:10 in the morning so that she can catch the 6:50 school bus to Huron. She then transfers to a shuttle bus to Community, which leaves Huron around 7:20. Caldwell’s morning schedule is similar, though she rides instead to Pioneer and takes the shuttle bus from there. For both Sercel and Caldwell, this is the only transportation option. They don’t have cars, their parents are not available in the morning to drive them,

on driving, find other places to park their car. Usually this costs money. Junior Kelsey Teribery parks her car in the St. Thomas church parking lot for $60 a month. “It’d be nice if the [Community] parking lot was bigger, so I could park there for free,” she said. But for now, until she has senior parking lot privileges, Teribery considers the St. Thomas lot a good option. “It’s cheaper than parking in the parking structure every day and it’s cheaper than getting a parking structure pass.” Junior Ian Grosh’s transportation routine is also complicated. He takes the city bus to school in the morning. At the end of the day, when he has to go to Skyline for after-school sports, he walks a sizable distance to the University of Michigan parking lot, where the car he shares with his mom is parked. Grosh’s family pays $500 a year for a

“When you enroll at Community, you know transportation isn’t part of the deal.” and the nearest city bus stop is too far. Though two buses may not be the most ideal way to get to school, both girls accept it as part of going to Community. “It’s better than what it could be,” said Caldwell. “I mean, Community students are really widespread out over the district maps, so there’s no real way to pick us up and just bring us directly to Community. [Taking two buses] is the only way for me to go to Community. I think it’s worth it.” Because of the wide distribution of Community students, students have had to get creative with their transportation plans. Students frequently utilize city buses, and many walk or ride bikes to school. Others drive to and from Community, but it can get complicated for juniors and sophomores, who are not able to park in the school parking lot. Some juniors and sophomores, intent 14

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photo jordan siden

the wheels on the bus

UofM parking pass that they all share. The city bus is another form of transportation that often requires money. All students who live more than a mile and a half away from the school are able to get an Ann Arbor Transit Authority bus pass that allows them to ride for free. However, the bus passes only work between 3 and 4:30. At all other times, students must pay 75 cents to ride. Hein clarified the reason for the time limit. “The passes are in place to support students who take what are called seventh hour classes at the comprehensive high schools. And so those are for students who take a class later in the day and are not able to access a shuttle or a yellow school bus home.” Grosh finds it “extremely annoying” that the bus passes don’t work in the morning, but he understands why. “If the money was there, I would say

‘Yeah, they should give more time on the bus passes’ but there’s probably just not enough money to pay for it. I get by.” There are not currently any plans to change the time limit on the bus passes. Hein explained that accounting for and managing your own transportation is part of being a CHS student. “When you come and enroll at Community High School to be a student, you know going in that transportation isn’t part of the deal.” The seniors-only parking lot policy, however, might turn out to be more flexible. “We’ve had conversations in the past year and a half that I’ve been [at Community] about offering a certain number of spots to juniors or beginning to think about charging for parking like the other high schools do, but we really haven’t pursued that. [It’s] just been some informal conversation,” said Hein. Another option for students is biking. Sophomore Kate Summers often rides her bike from her home to Community, and from Community to Pioneer, where she split enrolls. She likes that it’s a way for her to stay active. “Otherwise, I wouldn’t have any time for exercise,” she explained. In the winter, Summers takes the city bus instead. Junior Zak Arrington bikes to Community as well. “It gets me from A to B,” he said. Even in the winter, Arrington continues to bike. “In the winter, I just try to be careful. Try not to slip up or skid out,” he explained. Overall, Hein sees it as a positive that Community students have to use so many unique forms of transportation. “I think our kids are very good independent travelers. Almost everybody comes in knowing how to ride a city bus, and I think that’s a very important thing to know how to do, particularly when you get ready to go to a university or you travel around the world. You need to take public transportation and that’s an important skill.” C

or some denizens of Ann Arbor, transportation means exercise. For some residents living between Huron Street to Stadium, transportation means bundling up in the winter. For many Ann Arbor citizens, transportation means bicycles. And for some unlucky, ardent bicyclers, bicycle theft may take its toll. Bicycle culture is rampant in Ann Arbor. There are students and adults who, instead of taking public transportation or driving their mother’s car to school, would prefer to bike through rain, sleet, snow and hail. For these individuals, a bicycle is not just a mode of motion but also an extension of the self. Bicycle theft means more than a loss of money; it can have a major impact on any person affected. Bicycle theft can be relatable even to car theft. While bicycles are perhaps not as expensive, they can be a major mode of transportation and an enjoyable one at that. As Nick Freese, a senior at Huron High School and Community, said, “Generally [bikes] would be my main mode of transportation most of the time, and my favorite one”. There is more than movement to biking; there is joy. Freese has experienced bike theft twice saying of it: “It feels really terrible, it’s hard to believe at first. Normally [transportation is] something that would be so easy. Now, you’re walking miles and miles that normally wouldn’t have been such a big deal. And it might have to start costing you money to get places now... [biking] is a free mode of transportation, or at least very cheap, considering bike maintenance,” he said. The justification bicycle thieves use often is that bicycles not locked up are fine to take, that taking an unlocked object is not morally reprehensible. This rationale is deeply flawed in that it assumes possession as a matter of force and opportunity, not as a matter of both emotional attachment and legal purchase. Arguments can be made for the thief who takes an abandoned bike. “I’ve seen bikes sitting outside for months and months and months, the rust just dripping onto the ground below it, not moved or touched or anything…. And I think at that point some liberation can definitely be called for,” Freese said. Jake Cinti, a senior at Pioneer High School who duals at Community, offered a similar opinion “It’s pretty legit to take it if it’s ‘abandoned’. But if it’s in good shape and it’s unlocked, and [somebody] takes it, not legit. Somebody could have left it there and forgotten about it, you never know what people do with their bike in Ann Arbor. [They] could have forgotten about their bikes and have to go back and get it at some point.” There seems to be a clear distinction in bicycle culture between bicycle theft and bicycle adoption. With no bicycle, no preferred means of transportation, bicycle theft may leave victims feeling stranded. When asked how he felt when his bicycle was cut from him, Freese said “violated”. There is ultimately no excuse for a person to take another’s bicycle, and nothing can replace a stolen, loved bike. C

students pay it off Community High Students talk about their experience of balancing a job while being a student brienne o’donnell

parents wishes. She agrees with them. “It’s good to balance school and a job,” said Dettling. In the past Dettling worked at Kroger: stocking shelves, moving carts, and bagging customer’s groceries. Dettling found this work irritating and wanted a different job. Luckily, she found the job that she has now at T.J. Maxx. “I just saw that they were hiring so I put in an application and [was] called that week to be hired,” said Dettling. Teribery, like Dettling, had previous experience before working at McDonald’s. Teribery worked at Old Navy for two weeks. She was hired along with a group of other people. Teribery found the work annoying and slow so she decided to work else where. “It was really boring,” said Teribery. Teribery was happy to work at McDonald’s and did not find the hiring process too difficult. “[To be] hired at McDonald’s you really only need to have a pulse,” said Teribery. The work is fast paced and interacting with people outside of school and family are

photo jordan siden

lmost every high school student spends money on the weekends; usually this money is from his/her parents. Most of the high school students just take the money, never thinking twice about how they could have provided for themselves instead. Kesley Teribery and Allie Dettling are two students at Community High who have found a way to begin to provide for themselves. Teribery has found work at McDonald’s very beneficial and fun. “I [get] to meet a lot of people,” said Teribery. Dettling agreed, saying that working at T.J. Maxx has prepared her for the future. Teribery started working during the summer because she was looking for a job that would keep her busy. Now, Teribery continues to work because she uses the money for items that she needs to pay for and also items she would like to buy. “The next check, I can get [a laptop],” said Teribery. After purchasing her laptop Teribery is going to save money for college. Unlike Teribery, Dettling started working because of her

ABOVE Allie Dettling shows off her work badge after a long shift.

some of works’ best qualities for Teribery. “The work in general is my [least favorite] part, and the shifts are eight hours long on the weekend.” Teribery thinks that eight hours is a long time to work and is very tiring. She works sixteen hours on the weekend. For now Teribery thinks she will stay at McDonald’s. “I have established a routine and

same thing so if I can master it now it will make the transition from high school to college a little less rough,” said Teribery. Working has taught Teribery and Dettling many useful skills that they plan to use in the future, including time management and communicating. “You have to be pretty focused to do well in school too,” said

“Work taught me how to balance my life between homework, friends, and work.” everyone likes me and I can get more hours during the summertime,” said Teribery. So far Dettling really enjoys working at T.J. Maxx. “You feel independent, you get a paycheck so I [have] money.” At T.J. Maxx on the weekends shifts are five to six hours, but during the week they shorten the shifts to four. Dettling works between ten to 12 hours during the week. Usually she works one day during the week and one on the weekend. The downside of work is that you don’t have as much time to spend with friends. “It’s different, but it’s not too hard,” said Dettling about work as a whole. “I never thought that I would work at a retail store, but I like it a lot.” When both Teribery and Dettling started their jobs they found the adjust ment difficult. “[You have] a boss, someone higher up who you have to impress and deal with. You have to be mature,” said Dettling. Teribery found it hard as well. “In the beginning it was awful,” said Teribery. The fast pace of serving people in McDonald’s doesn’t leave much time for anything besides working. “You don’t have time to stop and think,” said Teribery. Now after they have adjusted, work is pleasant and they both enjoy the extra money. The experience for the future is also a bonus. “In college I will be doing the

Teribery. When you work you have to rearrange your schedule multiple times. Dettling and Teribery acknowledge that you have to rank things and decide for yourself what is the most important, and prioritize those. “It is nice to have a feel for what it’s like to work and have school,” added Dettling. Dettling and Teribery agree that if you can find the job, go for it. “It is definitely not easy, so [for] anyone wanting it to be easy that is not going to happen,” said Teribery. “If you can find a job [then] it is good to have one [because] you have a goal, or something to save for,” added Dettling. Both agree that you should brace yourself for a challenge, but that once you adjust to the challenge, it’s worth it. “You have money on the weekends [and] you don’t have to ask your parents for it,” said Dettling. They agree that the self- satisfaction of providing for yourself is worth the long hours at your job. Having a job has been very beneficial for Dettling and Teribery. Teribery found that the best way to adjust is to find your balance. “Work taught me how to balance my life between homework, friends, and work.” said Teribery. Dettling agrees with Teribery saying that it’s different but not hard. “[Working now] makes it easier in the long run,” concluded Teribery. C

feature the communicator 15

Little Shop of Horrors photoS dwight cendrowski

TOP Rosie Sullivan as Audrey II and Anabel Cruz, Morgan Harvey and Manasseh McClair as the plant dancers laugh at Seymour as he tries to kill her. TOP LEFT The Skid Row Chorus sings to the audience to not feed the plants in the final song. ABOVE Eli Rhodenhiser, as Seymour, sings “Grow For Me” to his plant, named Audrey II, asking it to grow and bring more good luck. LEFT The Female Greek Chorus – from left, Sarah Holmes, Gabrielle Vuylstere, Bradie Connor, Elise Wander, Rosie Sullivan, Zoey Fuller and Alexandra Cubero-Matos – read magazines on the stoop below ‘Mushnik’s Skid Row Florists.’ 16

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ABOVE Gil Eisbruch, as the radio announcer, interviews Seymour about the success with his plant.

ABOVE Jessic Shapiro as Mr. Mushnik reads while waiting for her employees.

CET finds success with new director REVIEW

patricia nease and cooper depriest

ittle Shop of Horrors,” CHS’s new theater director Quinn Strassel’s debut, was a success even before the curtain opened on December 3, 2010. Tickets for the performance quickly sold out and Strassel had to add a fourth performance to accommodate the amount of people wishing to see the show. The fourth show sold out in record time. The only chance for people wanting to see the show after all the tickets were gone was to fight for twelve spots to usher, and those were only open to CHS students. To say a ticket to see “Little Shop” was a hot commodity would be an understatement. The performance started out with Strassel on stage thanking people who gave their time to the show. The transition between thanks and production was seamless. There were actors

“

all around Craft Theater singing and pulling the audience into the show. Throughout the first act, and even the intermission, the way the actors effortlessly captivated the playgoers was a drastic change for the better. Under Strassel’s lead, the CHS students put together one of the best performances the Craft Theater has seen. In the first act, Mrs. Mushnik, played by Jessica Shapiro, gave a jaw-dropping performance. She captured the persona of Skid Row impeccably. The actors brought a sense of life and humor to their performances. Orin, the evil dentist, played by Jack Kausch, brought a darker feeling to Skid Row. The way he presented his character was demonic and highly entertaining. The street urchins on both sides of the theater made the audience feel as if they were part of the scene.

“There’s more of a family environment this year.” Zoey Fuller, female greek chorus

“Quinn did a great job using the space he had.”

Katy Sanderson, CHS secretary

The introduction of a musical at this caliber is a daunting task for the students and Strassel to undertake, yet they managed to execute the music superbly. With the help of the tech crew and band, the voices of the actors carried through the theater. Strassel included a wide range of students such as those from art classes to create the well- designed costumes, Dance Body members and choreography by Connie Trahar, and members from the community to perform in the band. The inclusion of such a large number and wide variety of members from the student body made the entire school feel a connection to the production. When Audrey II was unfurled at the end of the first act there was an audible gasp that could be heard from the crowd. Covered in green glitter Rosie

Sullivan gave an enchanting performance. As various characters were consumed to satisfy Audrey II’s flesh eating desires, Seymour, played by Eli Rhodenhiser, became more and more disgusted with his own actions and those of his plant. Overall the Community Ensemble Theater put on a well organized and dazzling show. The addition of Strassel’s directorial talent is one that appears as if it will be hugely beneficial in the years to come, for it is already a success. His apparent organizational abilities and eye for details brings the entire cast’s performances to a higher level. This year’s production of “Little Shop of Horrors” brightens the outlook of CET for the future. C

“It was a total production.” John Boshoven, CHS counselor

“It was a great experience, and Quinn’s a great director.” Amanda Joll, Skid Row Chorus

“My favorite part was just watching it all come together.” Tom Ellsworth, Skid Row Chorus

feature the communicator 17

playing the game An in-depth Look at the importance of standardized tests and how they affect students julia kortberg

he first two pages of the Princeton Review Manual for the SAT make four things clear. One -- the SAT acronym The act was stands for nothing. Two -- SAT score created in 1959 in accounts for 25% of your application if Iowa City, IA you are applying to a libearl arts college and approximately 44% if you are applying to a large university. Three – the SAT is not fair. Four – the SAT tests how carefully you read and nothing else. The first two pages of the Princeton Review Manual for the ACT only include that ACT accounts for 25% of your application for the small liberal arts school, and approximately 44% if you are applying to a large university. Given this information, it is reasonable for some high school students to be frustrated with standardized tests. “I think [standardized tests] are really overrated,” said CHS junior Gillian Teall. “I don’t think that they show your Over 800 true abilities or anything you’re going colleges in the into, unless you’re going into test taking, united States no which most people don’t. I really don’t longer require think they are an accurate depiction of standardized who you are as a student and how hard tests for admission you work in school and how right you are for what you go into.”

Reasoning Behind Standardized Tests CHS counselor John Boshoven explains the reasoning behind standardized tests. “How do you determine the difference between a kid at Community High and a senior applying to Boise State from Boise Central High School? How can they compare curriculum and teachers and methods and buildings? It’s really hard, so [that’s] the reason that standardized tests were originally

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developed.” Kristie Nemanis, a teacher from the Princeton Review Test Prep Company in Ann Arbor, elaborates. “It’s supposed to give students a level playing ground across the board. But you know, that’s really up to you whether it’s fair or not.” According to Boshoven, the SAT was developed to eliminate the “inbred” population of Ivy Leagues by geographical means. Princeton University and the College Board developed the SAT to provide students across the nation with an opportunity to attend an Ivy League. “Believe it or not, the Ivy League created, with the College Board, the first SAT to try to actually open their doors to non-private school kids. Now, so many of these colleges are using them to keep kids out of college,” Boshoven said. The east and the west coasts traditionally used the SAT. However, in 1959 the ACT (American College Test) was developed in Iowa City, Iowa as a competitor to the SAT. It was used throughout the Midwest. Although many states have preferred one test over the other, all colleges currently accept both tests and view them equally.

Importance of tests Boshoven cannot stress this point enough. “Most people don’t know the difference [between the two tests] and don’t know that colleges take the best score of either test. So that’s my job to try and be the town crier, to try and inform.” Although the ACT is Michigan’s state test, Boshoven emphasizes the importance of taking both tests to see

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which is more compatible for the test taker. “The ACT is more of a curriculum based test. So it’s more about the knowledge that I’ve obtained, and hopefully remembered,” Boshoven said. “The SAT is more of an aptitude test… it’s more, ‘Can I derive the answer given the clues and the questions?’ From the four answers given, ‘can I figure out which one is the best one?’” The importance of standardized tests varies by college. “I wouldn’t want students to feel stressed and pressured [about the tests] but it’s part of the game you play. [You’ve got to ask yourself] what’s my goal here? Is my goal Harvard? Well then I have to play Harvard’s game. Is my goal Lawrence University? Well then I have to play Lawrence University’s game. If you want to play the game, you’ve got to play by their rules,” Boshoven said. Teall feels the pressure of getting a satisfactory score on the ACT. “It’s really funny because so many teachers and parents are like, ‘Don’t worry about it because these scores only reflect how you take the test.’ And I’m like alright, well if I’m not supposed to worry

a determining factor According to Nemanis, standardized tests can determine whether or not a student will be accepted into college. “Depending on what school you go to, it may matter more, but [for] a public university your application gets either considered or thrown out depending on your score,” Nemanis said. CHS junior Nick Sorscher sees this as an advantage. “I really like the idea of the ACT because I’m kind of a lazy person. So when they tell you that if you do really well during these four hours, then you’ll be basically set for the rest of your college process, I really like that idea.” However, Sorscher acknowledges that his opinion may not be shared with many others. “Just because I like it doesn’t mean everybody else does. I could see plenty of people being frustrated with the fact that those few hours determine so much, but…if you don’t do very well on your standardized test then you have to work harder in other areas such as your GPA and whatever else gets you into college,” Sorscher said.

“I wouldn’t want students to feel stressed and pressured [about the tests], but it’s part of the game you play.” about my score, then if I don’t get a good score what am I supposed to do about it? They tell me not to stress about it, but I have to. I have to get a good score no matter what because I need to go to college.”

Boshoven doesn’t see this usage of standardized tests going away. “It is a really easy way to draw an easy line to say, ‘you can’t get in.’ Especially for the very selective colleges, who are going to get kids with very high grades from very good schools… it’s one of the

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a controversial connection The main reason these colleges do not require standardized tests is because of the questionable correlation between standardized tests and performance in college. The Princeton Review admits that the SAT “measures neither intelligence nor the depth and breadth of what you’re learning in high school. It doesn’t predict college grades as well as your high school grades do.” It also says, “It underpredicts the college performance of women, minorities, and disadvantaged students.” According to fairtest.org, there is no definite reason why this is true. However, a study conducted by Phyllis Rosser on the SAT gender gap found that a substantial amount of questions

pretend to measure your analytic ability or your intelligence…The ACT does not predict your ultimate success or failure as a human being… you should never consider the score you receive on this or any other test a final judgment of your abilities.” According to an article written by Lawrence M. Aleamoni and Linda Oboler on The Educational and Psychological Measurement website, the ACT and the SAT are equally competent in predicting first semester college grades. However, the ACT seemed to predict first semester GPA more accurately at highly selective institutions. The Case Against the SAT, written by James Crouse and Dale Trusheim, agrees with the incapability of predicting grades in college. The book claims there are many flaws in a study conducted by ETS (Educational Testing Services). ETS develops and adminis-

ults now what

Regardless, the competition is fierce. Test scores continue to rise. “As more and more people have applied, it means fewer and fewer can get in… so the test scores will go up proportionally with the number of students,” Boshoven said. This is a major concern for CHS junior Senait Dafa, who is preparing for an Ivy League. Dafa studies at least one hour every Saturday and one hour on Sunday, depending on her schedule. “I really want to do well because I’ve been studying a lot for it. I think that in general people just weigh standardized tests too much because it’s not really testing anything, its just testing how you do on standardized tests.” Nemanis believes a contributing factor to the rise in test scores is the availability of prep courses for the tests. “I feel like it was more of a drastic increase because these courses are more accessible through partnership courses and cheaper prices and more companies are actually around to do that sort of stuff.” This addresses a major concern of

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The big schools aren’t going to know the kids in any way,” Boshoven said.

Rise in test scores

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“It’s one of the many measures that they’re trying to cause you to trip up on so that they can eliminate you from the pool.”

ters the SAT. “There’s a lot of colleges, a lot of really good colleges, that say, you know when we look at how well our kids do at college, and we compare their test scores coming in to college we realize that it doesn’t necessarily have that much correlation,” Boshoven said. However, The College Board insists that the best predictor is a standardized test combined with the grade point average.

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were biased towards males. The results indicated that females generally performed greater on questions regarding humanities, relationships, and aesthetics while males performed greater on questions regarding business, physical sciences and athletics. As for the ACT, the Princeton Review says, “At its root, the ACT measures academic achievement. It doesn’t

pr f acre results te t e s t ic e

many measures that they’re trying to cause you to trip up on so that they can eliminate you from the pool.” However, according to Boshoven, 800 of the 3,500 colleges in the United States no longer require standardized tests. These tend to be smaller colleges. “They’re the ones taking the risk to say, you know, I think we need to get to know these kids in other personal ways.

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the average cost of a princeton review ultimate course is $1099

whether standardized tests are really fair. “Guess who pays for those courses? The kids whose families can afford it. So the rich get richer, the privileged get more privileged and they take tests again and again,” Boshoven said. The average cost of a Princeton Review Ultimate course is $1099. This course includes twelve, three hourlong courses, and four, four hour-long practice tests. The regular course costs $599. This includes seven, three hourlong classes and four, four hour-long practice tests. They offer a money back guarantee if there is no improvement of your score, and a free re-enrollment of the same course if you are unhappy with your results. Nemanis believes the prices listed above have become more affordable and negotiable because of the discounts and various prepping options offered by Princeton Review. This includes a partnership class with

over 50 schools, not including AAPS. These courses have higher enrollment, but are less expensive. Princeton Review also claims to have scholarships and contests that provide students with free classes. They also offer three free test dates throughout the year. However, Boshoven only recommends prep courses to those who want to improve in all areas of standardized tests. “I don’t think a course is ever the first line of defense,” Boshoven said. He suggests taking one of each test and focusing on the areas that needs the most improvement. He believes that even the sophomore PLAN and the PSAT are great indicators of how one will perform on the actual ACT and SAT. Break here again Boshoven has witnessed a growing concern in students’ preparation for the ACT and SAT. “The number of kids who actually want to take a practice test

in their sophomore year…this never used to happen. In the last ten years that’s been a really big change. Kids have said, ‘can I take it, before I have to take it, before I have to take it?’” He does not recommend or even encourage this for everyone. “I think for the kid that wants to do it, it’s great. If you’re kicking and screaming and grandmother is dragging you to the course, it’s not going to be of any use,” Boshoven said. However, he does encourage students to focus on what colleges want holistically. “The five things that they [colleges] are looking for are: grade point average, depth of curriculum, breadth of curriculum, rigor of curriculum and where it was delivered, and the context of the curriculum,” Boshoven said. Boshoven understands that standardized tests are challenging. “[You can] either play the game or decide that there is a way to win the battle without

playing the game; and that’s, let’s look at the colleges that don’t require this. And let’s try and get you excited about going to one of these great colleges,” Boshoven said. “So there might be some ways creatively to get off the treadmill of having to always play the game.” Nemanis acknowledges the dubious validity of standardized tests as well. “I completely understand where the universities are coming from because there is no way of standardizing students, comparing people from different countries, and states, and different towns even. So I do understand why they need something like that, but the test is somewhat skewed. I guess because it just tests how you take a test. The fact that you can improve your score three points just by learning strategies should say something.” C

Which standardized test will you take? A. ACT B. SAT C. Both

Max Lewis Junior

Fernando Rojo Freshman

student voice How important is this test to you?

photoS kerry fingerle

Which standardized test will you take? A. ACT B. SAT C. Both How important is this test to you?

A. I’ll cry if I get less than 35/2300. B. I’ll cry if I get less than 30/1980.

A. I’ll cry if I get less than 35/2300.

C. I won’t cry regardless.

B. I’ll cry if I get less than 30/1980. C. I won’t cry regardless.

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How do you plan on preparing?

How do you feel about standardized

How do you plan on preparing?

How do you feel about standardized

A. Brainwashed by overcharging com-

tests?

A. Brainwashed by overcharging com-

tests?

panies.

A. I tape my results to the inside of my

panies.

B. Brainwashed by overcharging indi-

locker.

B. Brainwashed by overcharging indi-

viduals.

B. I tape my results to my refrigerator.

viduals.

B. I tape my results to my refrigerator.

C. Be a loner with a feeble attempt at

C. I tape my results to my dart board.

C. Be a loner with a feeble attempt at

C. I tape my results to my dart board.

self education.

D. I tape my results to the inside of a

self education.

D. I tape my results to the inside of

D. Preparing for what?

urinal.

D. Preparing for what?

news feature

A. I tape my results to the inside of my locker.

a urinal.

waiting for superman? murphy austin

Susan Dynarski, an Associate Professor of Education and Public Policy at the University of Michigan, has done extensive research on charter schools. During the discussion session after the movie, she explained the results of her research on charters in Massachusetts. “The effects that we measured [in these charter schools]…are larger than any intervention I’ve ever seen

mentally broken, and that a dramatic shift to charter schools would be uncalled for. This position is reinforced by a statistic briefly mentioned in “Waiting for Superman”: only 17% of charter schools have performed better academically than similar public schools. Bob Galardi stands for a different kind of public school. A former dean of Community High, he worked in the

in education.” Dynarski collected data from charter schools that taught mostly minority students, and found that “Two, three, four years in one of these schools was erasing the achievement gap between blacks and whites, between Hispanics and whites…We’ve got something where we don’t know why it works, but we do know it does work.” But other panelists argued that, though improvement is necessary, the public education system is not funda-

Ann Arbor Public Schools for 31 years. He is now an educational consultant for the Institute of Student Achievement, an organization based in New York City that works with struggling school districts to create small, independent public high schools. Specifically, he is helping the Detroit Public Schools with four recently opened ISA schools. “The interesting thing that anybody at Community would like to know about is that these schools are based… solely on a model that looks like Com-

photo courtesy of paramount picutres

he documentary called “Waiting for Superman” has brought a lot of publicity to the public education system, its flaws, and how it can be improved. At the screening I attended in the Michigan Theater, which was followed by a discussion session with a panel of education experts, the main theater was packed. Even before the movie began, it was clear that public education is a sensitive topic to many: teachers, administrators, and school principals made up a large part of the audience. “Waiting for Superman” told a compelling story. It was centered on five children, four of whom were impoverished, inner-city minorities living in Los Angeles, New York City, and Washington D.C. They each had parents who were concerned about their child’s education, and who were searching for an alternative to the local, low quality public school. Eventually, these parents found charter schools with good reputations to enroll their children, in but because the limited spaces were assigned by lottery, only one student was accepted. This narrative was interspersed with interviews featuring Michelle Rhee, the former chancellor of Washington D.C. schools, Geoffrey Canada, founder of a charter school called the Harlem Children’s Zone, and other education reformers. They gave the “down-anddirty” on what they believed was wrong with public education in America and how it can be fixed, aided by infographics galore. As the movie ended and discussions began, the belief that steps need to be taken to improve education in America seemed to be the only thing everyone agreed on. The movie discussed obvious problems such as failing schools with abysmal graduation rates, called “dropout factories,” and the achievement gap between white and minority students. But when it came to finding solutions, discord abounded. One controversial suggestion promoted by “Waiting for Superman” is the expansion of charter schools. Charter schools are privately run but publically funded, and by law must use a random lottery to accept students. Charters are more independent than public schools – they employ their own teachers and administrators – and proponents argue that this makes them more effective.

munity,” said Galardi. “I mean exactly. They have distributive counseling… which is forum, there is no separate curriculum, all students are expected to go to college, and they’re not to be enrolled beyond 400 to 450 students.” And, like the dean at Community High, principals at these schools have more authority and freedom to do things differently. “These are all research based principals for creating great schools.” Galardi added. Another hot topic brought up in “Waiting for Superman” was the need for improvement in teacher quality. The movie asserted that teachers are the most significant factor in a student’s education, because all kids can learn under the right circumstances. According to the movie, a bad teacher can manage to teach as little as 50% of subject matter for one year, while a good teacher can squeeze in as much as 150%. The conclusion drawn from this is simple: teaching quality must improve, whether by firing bad teachers, instituting alternative forms of compensation, or providing more professional development if education is to improve. Those on the discussion panel following the movie accepted this notion with more than a few grains of salt. Michael Flanagan, the superintendent of public schools in Michigan, argued that administrators also play a large role in shaping a public school, saying, “It’s old research that principals and superintendents make the difference.” Bob Galardi agreed with this critique. “The problem with ‘Waiting for Superman’ is that they made teachers seem like superpeople, but teachers fit into a whole system,” he said. “If a system is effective, marginal teachers get better when they work around good teachers.” Regardless of how data is interpreted or issues debated, the fact remains that education is as important as ever. “Waiting for Superman” pointed out that in the last 30 years, America’s education system has fallen behind those of many other developed nations in reading and math, even as U.S. educational spending has increased. According to Bob Galardi, this trend is not sustainable in today’s economy. “This transition we’re making is from an industrial economy to a smart economy, and then to a technical economy. We have children that won’t have a place if they don’t learn. There’s nowhere.” C entertainment feature the communicator 21

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Movie review

reel good

oriol burgos-tsoffar

“HArry Potter And ThE Deathly Hallows” The esoteric culmination of a successful franchise

he Harry Potter film series’s

Harry Potter development largely mirand the Deathly rors that of the characters Hallows Part it depicts; the films started 1 grossed $125 out youthful and innocent, then went million in its opening weekend. through that awkward phase in the

Part 2 is set to be released on july 15, 2011

fourth and fifth installments where neither the filmmakers nor the characters really knew what they were doing, and then everybody grew up and the films earned PG-13 ratings. By that regard, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1” (the first of two portions into which the eponymous book has been divided) should be the rewarding, mature payoff for those who stuck with Harry through thick and thin. It is, in most ways, but it could be so much more. The acting is decent, not great. One would think that Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson, who

play Harry Potter, Ronald Weasley and Hermione Granger, respectively, would have learned something about acting after having starred in so many movies. However, instead of emerging from their chrysalis as stunning actors, they appear to have metamorphosed into simple Gap models. On the whole, they appear to be a bit less vacuous than in the other films, and as usual, Watson rises above the other two, but these differences are slight. The real talent appears only in the periphery, in established thespians such as Alan Rickman and Brendan Gleeson. Ralph Fiennes shines once more as Lord Voldemort, laughing to himself as he turns his campiness all the way up. Visually, the film is nothing short of beautiful. Director David Yates has spent the last two films refining his technique, and it shows in a way that makes one feel like every other film in the series has been holding back. The film’s transient nature, along with the departure from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, allows for some genuinely amazing location scouting. Set design is excellent, too; Dolores Umbridge’s office in the second act is an over-the-top kitsch nightmare-masterpiece. My jaw literally dropped when I saw it. Of course, fans will miss the jovial, academic in-school setting of the older films, but these are dark times,

as the first line of the film tells us, and the movie conveys this. The cinematography is completely epic, with wide swooping shots that dwarf the actors, giving the audience a sense not only of the scale of the environments, but also the scale of the struggle that Harry, Ron and Hermione face in tracking down Lord Voldemort’s Horcruxes and solving the mystery of the Deathly Hallows. This leads me to the movie’s main flaw. I mentioned earlier that the movie is, largely, a reward for the loyal fans – the first part of the culmination of a sprawling adventure. Unfortunately, it won’t be rewarding for anyone else. Those unfamiliar with Potter lore will find themselves completely lost within the numerous intricacies of the wizarding world. The film takes for granted a prior knowledge of the Potter universe, so if you are the one person who is reading this review that still hasn’t seen the movies or read the books, this film is probably not the best place to start. For fear of redundancy, I won’t detail the plot here. Instead I refer you, popculturally challenged reader, to the first film or novel in the series. As for the plot itself, it too is good, but not great. However, Yates has made good use of the source material. Rowling’s writing, while not at the pinnacle of sophistication, lends

itself quite well to the decidedly more accessible medium of film. The film also takes several departures from the book, all generally successful. The story of the Peverell brothers and the Deathly Hallows is told through a brilliant animated sequence, and in one particularly poignant scene, Harry and Hermione share a dance as the song “O Children,” by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, plays on the radio. That scene manages to show the uncertainty of their future while also preaching the value of friendship in a way that is not overly forced or corny. There is also a scene in Godric’s Hollow that evokes a great many slasher horror films in both structure and atmosphere. This film has taken a book that was riddled with fairy tale and fantasy genre contrivances and made it into a surprisingly diverse movie that regularly strays from the norm. It is a satisfying penultimate installment in a series that has in itself accomplished so much; Warner Brothers has maintained a loyal demographic of fans, contributing greatly to the “Pottermania” subculture, and managed to create what appears to be an arguably successful series of eight films whereas other franchises struggle to create decent trilogies. C

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listen to harry potter fans talk about the new movie at the midnight premiere. A HARRY POTTER LOVE STORY, BY MURPHY AUSTIN: the-communicator.org/ 2010/12/harry/

BAnd Profile

new sounds emerge from milan A NEW METAL BAND, PEACE BE STILL, IS IN TOWN. erez levin

percussion section of the Milan High School band […] and decided to go do our own thing,” said Mull. Coty Mathieu (lead vocals) was recruited by Carpus, who brought him to a band practice, and “he worked.” Daniel McCall (rhythm guitar) auditioned for the band alongside several competitors. The band chose him, and Peace Be Still erupted in its full form. This is a band full of musical techniques unorthodox to their genre. Aside

from the band’s pop sensibility, which, according to Mull, “is abnormal in metal; the two usually don’t mix,” they incorporate the use of three part and even four part harmonies, something not often found in most metal bands. Watching the band set up their equipment on the B-Side stage, it is clear that the relationship of the members defies the traditional metal stereotype of brutality. “We get along pretty well, for the most part, but when someone gets

out of line, we just have to use physical violence and kill them every once in a while,” Mull joked, “That usually seems to work out, but other than that, it’s all good.” In the meantime, the band is working, preparing for upcoming shows, and writing. “We’re still fairly new, so we’re not recording yet or anything,” said Mull. But look out. Peace Be Still has arrived, and they are here to stay. C

Check out Peace be still on facebook: www.facebook. com/pages/ Peace-BeStill/14496108 8867224

photo erez levin

resh out of Milan MI, a new band has begun the long journey towards world domination. Combining the sheer power and aggressiveness of metal and the melodic tones of pop, Peace Be Still has arrived to blow minds and noses, in case someone in the band gets a cold. The new five-piece was formed by Garrison Mull (lead guitar and vocals), Daniel Eliason (drums), and Ryan Carpus (bass). “We were friends in the

photo Courtesy of peace be still

what is your musical guilty pleasure? photos erez levin

Lady Gaga - Charlie Maher

Usher; he makes me nod my head - Tod Tharp

Three Days Grace - Daniel Chapman

Fergie; I like her humps - Darius Ajam

Playing in Echoes - Max Brown

Beyonce; She’s sexy but not slutty - Sarah Holmes

Britney Spears - Christain O’Keefe

Ke$ha - Maia Volk

arts and entertainment the communicator 23

SPORTS Spencer vs.

spencer macdonald

would be competing in the bouldering section comprised of smaller walls with increased difficulty. On the bouldering walls, harnesses are not needed as the farthest you can fall is eight feet. This did not console me as my fear of heights kicks in at about five feet off the ground. Max and I started with a quick warmup climb before starting our competition. We had decided that the best way to showcase Max’s talent was a race to the top of the wall. I mounted my first hold, got a firm grip and pushed off, reaching skyward for the next one. What I got instead was a handful of air as I fell backward onto the mat. Above me I saw Max gracefully gliding from hold to hold as if gravity was a mere second thought to him. He pulled himself up to the final hold, grinned triumphantly, and dropped off the wall. After several more attempts my back was beginning to ache and I was spending most of my time on the ground. Max won all four of the races as I had yet to complete the course without falling. I had again been outmatched by my opponent to the point of embarrassment. My record has sunk to 0-3 and my spirits have sunk even lower. There is nothing left to do but dust myself off and prepare for my next challenge. C

Photos jordan siden

very month is the same. I find a worthy CHS athlete, challenge them to their sport, suffer a disheartening loss, and start the monotonous cycle over. Often when athletes fall into a slump they will look for a quick fix to get them out. The obvious option would be performance enhancing drugs. We watched Barry Bonds transform overnight from a skinny, scrawny outfielder to a home run monster with biceps as big as Queen Latifah’s thighs and an ego that was even bigger. However as my friends at CVS pharmacy kindly reminded me, steroids are illegal and also have many negative effects. For my latest challenge, I chose a more dangerous path as I looked to square up against rock climbing prodigy Max McVety. Max is a semi-professional rock climber who competes in several of the American Bouldering Series tournaments. Max has made it to the regional rounds in years past and is hoping to make the national tournament this year. Max trains primarily at Planet Rock on Jackson Road in Ann Arbor, which is one of the largest climbing gyms in the country. So that’s where I found myself on a cold evening in November, preparing to literally risk my neck climbing up a giant wall with hand holds. We

Photos ana leon 24 the communicator sports

feature

The Bcs

mental overload High school sport tryouts not only require physical endurance but mental focus as well jesse buchsbaum Photo courtesy of huron soccer parents

ach year, millions of high school athletes around the world prepare for the most important week in the sports season– tryouts. Every time tryouts roll around, these athletes are faced with the challenge of getting psychologically prepared for a week of evaluation. There are many different methods, even superstitions, to prepare for tryouts. Some athletes eat a specific meal the night before, wear a certain shirt, or arrive at the field early to prepare mentally. Others just try to be ready physically. Tomasso Helwig, a junior at Community High School, has a unique perspective on tryouts. He was cut from junior varsity soccer at Huron High School last year, despite making the team the previous year. Helwig focused on the physical aspects of getting ready for tryouts. “Obviously, I think you have to go out and show the coach that you belong

on the team,” said Helwig. “Especially with a new coach, you have to go out and make sure he notices you, because if you don’t stand out from the pack, you’re going to have trouble making it.” According to Helwig, the weeks before tryouts are also vital in terms of getting prepared psychologically. “I think you have to avoid getting complacent going into tryouts,” said Helwig. “Even if you make a team the year before, there’s no guarantee that you’re going to make it again, so you have to keep running and keep working hard to get better in the off-season so you can show well at tryouts. As soon as complacency sets in, you’re going to have a hard time achieving anything.” Waleed Samaha is the varsity basketball coach at Huron High School, and had a different perspective on tryouts, coming from a coaching angle. “Any coach will tell you that… there are two days of the season that are the absolute worst,” said Samaha. “[The

worst] is when you lose your last game, and the second worst is the day you make cuts.” According to Samaha, getting mentally and physically ready for tryouts can be the deciding factor in making a team. You have to get a good meal the night’s before, get a good night sleep, and stay relaxed prior to tryouts. If you can do those things, the chances of performing well in tryouts are much greater.” Samaha also talked about looking at a player from an academic and social standpoint, not just as an athlete. “I look at what kind of person is he, what kind of work ethic does he have, what skills will he bring to the team that may not be basketball specific,” said Samaha. “So when you look at our team, you look at a group of guys who– certainly there are more talented guys who don’t make the team, but it’s what you bring to the team overall that will ultimately determine what role you will play in the program.” There is no doubt that finding a way to separate yourself from the crowd is one of the most important things in tryouts. Figuring out how to stand out, however, is the the real struggle. “Just come into tryouts prepared and ready to work hard, and there shouldn’t ever be any debate,” said Helwig. “If you get ready the right way and avoid complacency, you’ll won’t have any trouble standing out and making the team.” C

The Huron High School soccer team listens to Coach Reese Richardson during practice.

CHS athlete profile

Name: Emma Weichmann

Photo jesse buchsbaum

josh fendrick

ust imagine yourself sitting in front of the fireplace during winter break. You’ve just finished shoveling your driveway and now you’re ready to curl up in a blanket and watch some college football. You turn on the TV to see Middle Tennessee Agricultural Tech taking on Eastern Washington State in the Website.com Bank of Money Toilet Bowl. How did this happen? Why does America have to suffer? The answer is simple. The BCS sucks. I don’t know what else to say. It has proved time and time again that it just doesn’t accurately measure how good a team is. From the abandonment of the AP poll to the over valuing of margin of victory, it is riddled with problems. The BCS, or Bowl Championship Series, is a rankings system that has never had the 10 best teams playing in its five major bowls. As a college football die-hard, I’ve never been happy with the current bowl system. I’m sorry, but I’m really not impressed with your team’s victory in the Midwestern Central Car Care Pizza Place Bowl. All I care about is seeing the best teams in the nation duke it out. This is why we should adopt an eight-team playoff system. Think about it: the top eight teams in the country playing each other in a single-elimination tournament. Six big bowl games leading up to a true national championship, all over the span of two weeks. The teams get their marquee matchups, networks get their big cash from primetime performances, and fans get what they really want: a real way of determining the best team. I wouldn’t want to get off my couch, let alone miss one of these heavyweight bowl games. Sure, you can still have your little bowls that pit Northeastern A&M against Southwestern University, just keep them out of this epic two-week stretch where the real powerhouses state their claims as best college football team in the world. Have them play in December, where fans can decide whether or not they want to watch these stinkers take place, and not early January, where my head is wrapped around the looming BCS bowl games and doesn’t have the attention span or desire to think about other bowls. Even the president, Barack Obama himself, is in favor of a college football playoff! President Obama has been quoted saying, “If you’ve got a bunch of teams who play throughout the season and many of them have one loss or two losses, there’s no clear, decisive winner. We should be creating a playoff system.” I fail to see how we still have the current ranking system if the leader of the free world despises the soul-crushing BCS, but hopefully he’ll get on that soon enough. The BCS is flawed. There is no way of denying it. A group of defective, out of date computers has a say in who is our national champion, and I think that’s ridiculous. Call me crazy, but I feel like teams should have to beat one another and prove their dominance. Until the day where a playoff is instated in college football, we have to deal with the baffling, confusing, and saddening BCS. C

Sport: Pioneer swimming and water polo

Who is your favorite athlete? Probably Caroline Joyce. She swam for Pioneer

What is your favorite pregame meal? Pasta, usually linguini.

Who is your role model? Definitely Miles Grofsorean.

What is your hardest class? Definitely FOS. FOS III.

If you could play any sport other than your sport, what would it be? Probably pool. Or poker. Is pro poker a professioinal sport? sports the communicator 25

opinion

Letter to the editors

photo olivia kincaid

Staff editorial “Are part time jobs beneficial to students in the long run, or are they just one more thing to worry about?”

n these increasingly unstable financial times, students seek additional finance to help them out. It is rare that a student does not wish they had more money. To appease this, many students take part-time jobs. Although these jobs can detract from free time, they are worthwhile in the long run due to the benefits that accompany an occupation. Obviously, part-time jobs provide money. Finance is a major concern for students and many students’ only source of money is often their allowance, which is highly variable and tends toward the low end of what we consider reasonable. This allowance is usually meant for student lunches. When these students aspire to some financial goal, they have to save up from their allowance, cutting corners in regards to their nutrition. The financial security of a job lets students buy food and many other

editorial cartoon

things they might want. Student jobs can also be used to pay for college. In addition to providing money, jobs help students learn invaluable skills. Many things such as proper work ethics, teamwork, multi-tasking, and speed that are not necessarily taught or communicated in school can be learned through a job. These, combined with the job itself, help prepare students for professional employment. Work experience always looks good on a college application or résumé. Jobs also allow students to explore different fields and interests before they have to commit to them. Some would have you think that student jobs are detrimental to students’ education and social development. They argue that jobs only detract from students’ free time, which is already infringed upon by school, sports, extracurriculars and social life. This over-

crowding can lead to a struggle to get the required amount of sleep, as well as a drop in grades and commitment overall. Clearly, however, this is a problem that solves itself. As long as the student spends a reasonable amount of time working, the process will streamline itself. The student’s time management skills will improve, helping the student to maximize their personal efficiency. This process, which some view as detrimental, is in fact incredibly beneficial, helping students learn a skill that will be very important later in life. To reiterate, part-time jobs in high school are worthwhile in the long run due to the benefits that accompany them. Despite all of the potential difficulties, these jobs will, quite literally, pay off in the end, in more ways than one. C

Illustration paul smith

To the Editors,

hen I moved to Ann Arbor my parents’ friends and co-workers told me Community would be a perfect place for someone who wants to learn, perfect for setting up a good education. In eighth grade I overheard many of my peers saying that they wanted to come to Community because “you didn’t have to do work there.” Now that I actually go to Community I find that it is an odd combination of the two. We have so many teachers and students that care so much about learning, not just about grades but the action of learning. However, these students are often in classes with friends who may be wonderful people, but just do not make learning easy. One reason I love Community is that students do not get lost. A perfect example of this is Jason McKnight. He refuses to let anyone fall off the wagon, which makes our class go a lot slower than I expected when I signed up for it last year. Teachers care, but because of this, when students do not do their homework or study, it pulls the rest of the class down with them. I love this school. I love my classmates, my teachers and the general atmosphere, so if you are falling behind in class, do not wait for your teacher to drag you back onto the right track; you could set up a study or homework group with your friends – if you have extracurricular activities or generally no time, set it up during lunch. If you do not need help yourself, do not let your class be pulled down; you can help others, even if it is only so that it is easier for you to work. If more students did not just say they cared, but told people to be quiet so others could work,or checked in with their friends about whether they were getting their homework done, we could have such a perfect school. Laura Waltje

the communicator op-ed

FEel good about volunteering? Kerry Fingerle

had a great Thanksgiving. My extended family spent a sentimental evening at my house and we all enjoyed a delicious meal together. I thus far have eaten half of my weight in leftovers. I’d say it was a pretty successful holiday. Thanksgiving, a holiday that’s built around our once admirable relationship with the Native Americans, is a time which allows us to reflect on what we’re thankful for--because, believe it or not, we actually do need a holiday for that. I’d like to think we all took special notice to the people and things we sometimes take for granted, and realize how lucky we truly are. But as I sat at my dining table with my family, I thought about the people that aren’t sitting in a warm house with their family and a wonderful meal. Now, how very saint-like of me to devote my time on Thanksgiving to thinking about those less-fortunate than myself. That must mean I’m a selfless, Ann Arbor high-school student, who would love nothing more than to spend my free time volunteering at any of the hundred charities in the area. Prestigious university, here I come (sarcasm included). I’m being a little stereotypical, I have to say, but I’m growing increasingly annoyed with the high-school students who volunteer, or do other extra-circulars, to impress colleges. As a collegebound junior in high school, I, along with the good majority of my friends, am worrying about the “extra-factor” for colleges. What will make me look different from the hundreds of thousands of other well-educated teenagers applying to college? One of the many solutions: volunteering. A great addi-

photo melanie langa

tion to any college app, that, if done in depth, will make you look selfless and involved in your community. What’s wrong with that? Nothing, on paper. And I suppose, if the volunteering gets done and someone, other than yourself, benefits from the work, I can’t complain (but I’m stubborn, and I’m going to complain anyway). It seems to be that we’re doing volunteer work/community service to appeal to colleges, and, in a typical Ann Arbor fashion, to uphold our own reputation of being “the teenager who does all the volunteer work.” I hate to think we’ve come to the point in society where we’re volunteering for ourselves. Does that seem wrong to anyone else? Oh the Ann Arbor way of life. It’s kind of a bubble, and we love living inside of it, but it’s so easy to get lost in this accepting, diverse hullabaloo. As a disclaimer, I’m being extremely general. There are exceptions to what I’m saying, of course, and there are teenagers in Ann Arbor that enjoy volunteering. They volunteer for the right reasons. And I think we pride ourselves in that, rightfully so, but it’s exaggerated. I love you Ann Arbor, but our underlying sense of entitlement is getting a little old. So here is my challenge to you, Ann Arbor teenagers. In the spirit of Thanksgiving and the upcoming New Year, think about why you volunteer. Are you passionate about the field you’re volunteering in? What do you get out of volunteering? Why do you spend three nights a week at the Neutral Zone? If you volunteer because you genuinely want to help other people, then bravo. You’ve overcome the Ann Arbor-way-of-life. C

The Communicator, being committed to the free exchange of ideas, is an open forum for expression of opinions published monthly. The Communicator is student-run and students make all decisions about content. Letters to the editor are encouraged and can be sent to the.communicator@gmail.com. Signed articles will be accepted with no prior administrative review as space is available. However, in attaining the highest journalistic standards, The Communicator reserves the right to edit submissions. Furthermore, opinions expressed therein are those of the authors and not of this newspaper, Community High School, or Ann Arbor Public Schools. The Communicator welcomes advertisements. However, the staff reserves the right to reject, edit, or cancel ads that are judged offensive, inaccurate, misleading, libelous, or that encourage illegal activity. Advertisers are solely responsible for the contents of their ads, which do not represent the view of this newspaper or its staff. Please contact the communicator at the.communicator@gmail.com.

Too Much Tech Kyle Aaronson

sat down the other day to watch a movie with my cousins and younger brother. They had their minds set on watching the sixth Harry Potter movie despite how atrocious of a film it is; sadly, OnDemand disappointed them (it didn’t have the sixth film, just the first five). After flipping through the possible selections for another 5 minutes or so, they finally decided on “Grown Ups” a movie that had received similar reviews to the terror that is the second Sex and the City movie. Despite not wanting to watch the movie, I curled up on the couch with my phone, rapidly texting away, and just a few minutes in, one of the scenes affected me. The five main characters, now middle aged, were sitting on the front lawn of a cabin by a lake, enjoying the beautiful weather and pleasant view – their children were inside playing video games. Is this what our generation has come to? I peered down at the cell phone, which, as if on cue, vibrated my sternum. I must have already sent a couple thousand texts that much that, give or take a few, I could have easily lived without. Looking up again, I stared at the giant TV screen in front of me and immediately felt ashamed. Never did I think that such a lame movie would bring me to such a realization. Between the summer of 7th and 8th grade, I spent nearly every night parading around the neighborhood, playing extreme games of tag and escape on my bike. It wasn’t just one or two kids; the whole neighborhood got involved. We played much later than any of our parents could have asked for, romping around the streets, whooping and yelling like hooligans. After we got tired, we’d head over to my friend Anna’s house and lie on her trampoline until someone got restless and decided to start bouncing. The next day, I’d wake up, call my friends and organize a game of pick up football at a local park. But in just five years, it seems that everything has changed; everything has become more technological. At first thought, I believed that it was because I was older. Over the years I had made more friends and the only way to really keep in touch with them were through my phone or through the computer – but I see my brother doing the same thing I do every night. He checks his Facebook, e-mail, watches movies, etc.

photo jordan siden

Obviously, this poses a problem; people can’t get through life relying on technology to interact with others. It’s imperative that children learn to talk without the use of a computer. The more technology we use, the less genuine and real our conversations become. Yet, it would be difficult for me to get along without a social networking site, cell phone and e-mail. While I may waste endless hours on them doing nothing, I also keep in touch with friends who I don’t have the chance to see. Although I would like to shut down my use of technology completely, but this would not be possible. I wouldn’t be able to update my mom on when I got home; I wouldn’t be able to let my friends know what time to come over to watch the football game; I wouldn’t be able to stay in touch with my aunt who lives in California. I still enjoy the times I get to go outside and throw a Frisbee around with friends or run through the hills of the wave field. But no one can deny that technology has changed things. There are plenty of people who I spend more time talking to on Facebook chat than in real life, generally because I don’t see them enough during the day due to my busy schedule. But it seems to me it’d be better for all if just for one summer, everyone could put down there video game controllers, television remotes and mice and just play one big game of capture the flag. C

got something to say? Many students at Community High have a passion or an opinion. We here at the Cmmunicator would love to see your letters, but keep in mind that we do reserve the right to decide which letters will appear and we reserve the right to edit your letters. If you do have something you want to say, write a letter to our editors at the.communicator@gmail.com and you might see your letter here!

op-ed

the communicator 27

photo jordan siden

photo ruthie graff

A spoonful of suger

ECO Echoes: greenwashing

eli sugerman

katie o’brien

eath, diapers and loads of disinfectant are probably not the most attractive terms for a job description, but for employees of the Bala Nursing and Retirement Center, running a nursing center is an exciting job with unique challenges and intense personal connections. In a country with a growing population of seniors, it is imperative that we focus on the care of our elders. Walking into the Bala Nursing and Retirement Center, I was expecting a dilapidated building, a tranquil environment and tired people who all smelled like someone’s great grandparents. However, that is not what I experienced, apart from the old-person smell of course. The Bala Nursing and Retirement Center, located in Philadelphia, is just one of many facilities providing care to our aging population. To learn more about this fascinating facility, I got a personal tour of this Nursing and Retirement Center from its Assistant Administrator and 21 year employee, Amy Pierce. Entering Bala, I envisioned a stereotypical image of a nursing home: all bingo and sitting around. This was not the case. Nursing centers clearly aren’t as rowdy as college football games, but they’re not as boring as you may think. When I walked into the Bala Nursing and Retirement Center, not only was I greeted by a warm “Hello” from one of the residents, but I could also hear singing from one of the nearby rooms where residents were practicing Christmas carols. Nursing centers offer a multitude of activities, to the extent that the Bala Nursing Center puts out a monthly calendar detailing offerings such as book clubs, pet therapy, tabletop bowling and much more. There are about 180 residents in the Bala Nursing and Retirement Center. Usually there are two in each room, although there are a few “private” rooms. Grouping two residents in a single room is an issue in itself. Not only are residents grouped based on how well they get along, but also based on infections and care levels. For example, an infectious person cannot room with someone with an open wound. There are also extremely 29 the communicator columns

precise ways to care for each resident. Pierce explained the care they provide. “Everything in a nursing home is [done on a] physician’s order, so a doctor has to order everything. Each resident has a chart, and the chart provides specific instructions...The big thing is that everyone has an individual plan of care. So the nurses have to follow what that plan of care is.” When you think of a nursing or retirement center your mind inevitably wanders to “that place we go to see Grandma every Thanksgiving.” But did you ever stop to think about who runs “Grandma’s nursing home” and how much work goes in to maintaining such a center? Probably not. If you, much like myself before writing this article, didn’t expect running a nursing home to be very difficult, you would be sorely mistaken. The health care industry is one of the most heavily governmentally regulated industries in existence. Not surprisingly then, there is a great deal of stress and hard work. The nursing center has to be constantly prepared for random check-ins from the Department of Health. “We have surprise visits from the Department of Health. Which means that at any point, day or night, a team of five surveyors could walk into the building and ask us to produce documents. They look at charts, they look at residents, they check heels to see if there are any skin issues, everything. The kitchen, is [it] nice and clean? Food temperatures, every possible thing you could imagine, anything that happens in the building.” Running a nursing facility is a complicated business requiring compliance with laws and regulations. In this way, it’s the equivalent of running a hotel, restaurant, doctor’s office, school, beauty salon, and health club all at once. Aside from dealing with government regulations, Pierce is also responsible for dealing with issues within the nursing home. One common issue is elopement, or in other words, residents escaping. Pierce stated that some residents just want to leave the nursing home, and others are simply so confused they may inadvertently walk out,

putting their safety is at risk. To deal with issues such as elopement, some residents wear bracelets, and some wear anklets, that activate an alarm and lock the doors when the particular resident gets too close to the door. Bala Nursing and Retirement Center has many “accommodations” like the aforementioned safety regulator. For example, if a resident is not supposed to be standing up, she may have an alarm on her chair to notify a nurse if she tries to stand up. Or, a resident may have a lowered bed if he is at risk of falling. Although most residents come directly from a hospital, the residents at Bala are encouraged to personalize their rooms by bringing with them items from home. The “baby boomer” generation refers to the population of people born between 1946 and 1964. According to the United States Census Bureau, the baby boomer generation makes up one of America’s largest populations. By the year 2030, only 20 years into the future, the baby boomer generation will have an expected 57.8 million Americans, ranging in age from 66 to 84. As this population nears the age at which many will require special care, it is increasingly important for us, the generation responsible for their care, to start focusing on nursing and retirement centers such as the Bala Nursing and Retirement Center. How we treat and care for our elders reflects our societal values and our country as a whole. Like anything, nursing homes are not everything they are stereotyped to be. Not only are they active places where residents have a wide range in choice of activities, but a lot of work also goes into ensuring that they run properly and effectively. Pierce says that the most rewarding part of her job is the contact she has with the residents. Respecting our population as we age and providing our elders with many choices as they age reflects heavily on our society. Thus it is important to put the time, resources and commitment into making sure the nursing homes provide quality care. C

verything today is trying to label itself as green or sustainable: Clorox came out with a natural cleaner called Green Works, Wal-Mart is trying to use renewable energy and have zero waste, and CocaCola launched a new bottle known as PlantBottle. Practically every big corporation has some sustainability page on their website. But they aren’t the only ones. Universities are starting to catch on and highlight things they are doing to help the environment. In choosing a school for the next four years of my life, I knew I wanted one that had a good environmental sciences program. But above that, it needed to be a sustainable program. I do not want to go somewhere that has a wonderful program, but will not spend a penny on renewable energy sources or greener buildings. I think it is hypocritical of programs if they cannot change the campus to an enviornmentally friendly one. When I was browsing school websites I always looked at their environmental commitment or sustainability page. One had no carbon impact on the environment, a few had goals to be carbon neutral by a certain year (I would have graduated long before then), and some were buying renewable energy and remodeling some buildings. But if I am paying to go to a school, I want it to reflect my values and I want the years to be meaningful. It’s just that I would feel better at a school with no impact. There is no regulation in the United States for companies; claims of sustainability. A school may claim to be green but there is no certification. Consumers are left to figure out what is greenwashing, a misleading picture of environmental friendliness, and what is not. There are sites like greenwashingindex.com, which gave Wal-Mart’s sustainability campaign a 4.5, Green Works a 3.8, and PlantBottle a 4.4. The site is on a scale from 1, authentic, to 5, bogus. But these are merely consumer reviews and there are multiple entries for each item. They offer some guidance to the reader, however this is not the only information one should consider. Colleges also lack the regulation, although they are less sneaky than the corporations. But are they really doing enough? To say that they are sustainable, they should actually be sustainable, not just a single building with LEED certification, the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification system. What I found incredibly helpful in my search was the Sierra Club’s Cool Schools list. It ranks colleges for their sustainability and you can read their answers for the questionnaire. But it is still flawed, ranking the only zero-carbon emission school in the country as number nine on its list. And does not take into account sustainable and eco-conscious buildings that are not LEED certified. In the end I think it is best to research claims of sustainability on your own and be suspicious of vague wording. Remember that that what a college or corporation claims about its sustainability may be true, or it may just be a crafty attempt to seem more green. C

shorts What are your holiday traditions?

Photos jordan siden

“We bake a cake and we bake in a figurine and wait to see who has the figurine in their piece of cake. I’m part French, and this is some sort of French tradition.” -Sierra Koepele

“On Christmas, my family opens presents but we start with the youngest and go around until everyone has opened their gifts.” -Ana León

Gillian’s goodies

illustration joella bennett

Hot Chocoholic WARNING: This recipe is extremely rich and thick. Make this if you feel like drinking a chocolate bar. This recipe makes many servings, considering you probably won’t be able to drink an entire glass. 1/2 cup heavy cream 1 cup milk 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate 1 tbs. sugar *all ingredients are adjustable according to personal preferance 1. Stir 1/4 cup of heavy cream and milk in a saucepan over medium-low heat until warm. 2. Melt chocolate and 1/4 cup heavy cream in a double boiler until completely melted. 3. Add sugar to chocolate and mix completely.

“My family always builds three snowmen, one for each of us.” -Amanda Joll

4. Slowly add milk mixture and stir it until all contents are completely combined. 5. Serve immediately and enjoy!

“Everyone in their jackets, and the holes in my shoes when I walk outside.” -Magda Aeshbach

What is your favorite part of winter?

“Probably the windows.” -Melissa Kreinke

illustrationS joella bennett

“The heater is turned on “A lot of people wearing coats and warm clothes.” in all the classrooms.” -Trey Sarmento -Jennifer Sercel

shorts the communicator 29

think local & shop local

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little shop of horrors-spotlight: lydia brown-reading in the library-CHS jazz with pete siers-national writing month-cyber bullying-food gatherers-high school sports-STAND-op/ed-1000 words-CHS athlete profiles

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