THE
CHARIOT
TROY HIGH SCHOOL
TROY, MI.
VOL. 5, ISSUE 1
OCT. 25 2019
Shedding Light on Special Education PAGE 8
2
NEWS
The Chariot THE OFFICIAL STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF TROY HIGH SCHOOL WEBSITE troychariot.org TWITTER thechariot_news INSTAGRAM thechariotnews SNAPCHAT theTHE_CHARIOT
Staff PRINT EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Kaitlyn Piggott WEBSITE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Olivia Perron BODY COPY EDITORS Murryum Farooqi Meriam Meram DIGITIAL CONTENT EDITOR Chloe Collins GRAPHICS EDITOR / CARTOONIST Emy Galustyan
STAFF WRITERS Manny Al-Nsour Andy DeGrand Gabby DeRose Jessica Geisler Ping-Yu Hsu Rory Knauss AJ Kowalak Vanisa Kumar Lola Pinneo Bridgette Scott Allie Zaluski ADVISER Katelyn Carroll
The Chariot Staff Policy The Chariot is a student-produced news publication that publishes information relevant to the times as well as material that is essential to the overall well-being of its readers. It is The Chariot’s responsibility to cover school, city, state, national and international events and issues that affect the concerns of the campus, its students and its readers. The Chariot operates as a designated public forum for student expression. The Editorial Board, consisting of student editors is the sole decision-making and policy-setting body of The Chariot and has final say over all content decisions. The adviser and administration have non-review roles and may offer advice on sensitive issues and will offer critisisms as warrant but the Editorial Board reserves all rights to determine what material shall be published. Editorials represent the collective opinion of The Chariot staff. Opinions expressed by individuals and in letters to the editors represent those of the author. Letters to the editors should be typed, double-spaced and must include the author’s name, signature and class or position. Names of individuals may be withheld upon request, pending a vote of the Editorial Board. Letters may be submitted in hard copy to room 104 at Troy High School or via email at troychariot@gmail.com. All letters are subject to review by the Editorial Board. Letters will not be edited except to fix space limitations. Should the Editorial Board deem a letter to be potentially libelous or containing content inappropriate for publication, it will be returned to the author with an opportunity for corrections. The Editorial Board is solely responsible for these decisions. The Chariot’s purpose is to be the voice of the school. Its purpose is to shed light on groups and people that are not often discussed while bringing news that is important to the community.
THE VOICE OF TROY HIGH. WE SEE YOU. WE HEAR YOU. WE GET YOU.
Photo by Chloe Collins
Letter from the Editors
The new editors-in-chief discuss what the future of The Chariot will hold
Dear readers, Last year, we had a magazine and Jayna Rumble as our adviser. Last year our class was full of third-year staffers. That was last year. This year we have decided to move back to a newspaper. One that focuses more on the voice of the school, shedding light on groups not readily discussed. This year, we have a very young and new staff, with six returning staffers — one fourth-year, one third-year and four second-year. In addition, we have a new adviser who uses her expertise to push the newspaper into something new and better. For the majority of the summer, we were left in the dark of what was to come, whether or not we would have a teacher or a class large enough to actually put out a newspaper. This left us wondering what our senior years would be like without The Chariot. No knocking on doors during fifth hour, hoping the teacher doesn’t mind one last-minute student interview. The hours upon hours of moving the text box on InDesign just a little bit to the left. And then back. Sending story after story through each round of editors to make it as perfect aspossible. The ink stained on fingers from going door-to-door delivering the finished piece. The Chariot is a part of us, so we were more than ecstatic when we learned we could continue the paper for another year, yet that meant changes. This is a changing year, one where The Chariot wishes to expand on the content written and the ideas and events explored. We wanted the content to be more significant, not only to us, but the rest of the school and the community. This is The Chariot’s purpose. We want to be the voice of this large, diverse place we call our school. We want to write about what is important and relevant to the people who read this publication. This is The Chariot now. Thanks for reading,
Kaitlyn Piggott Print Editor-in-Chief
Olivia Perron Website Editor-in-Chief
3
NEWS
Climate Crisis
Global Warming has altered the earth with changes that could permanently affect the future of the planet
By Olivia Perron//Website Editor-in-Chief
Climate change is right now. Glaciers are melting, sea levels are rising and there are shorter periods between winter and summer. Global change is shown to be happening. The US Global Change Research Program says since 1906, the global average surface temperature has increased by more than 1.6 degrees Fahrenheit. Skynews reports a global temperature increase can cause glaciers to melt and mountainous regions to have an increase in landslides. As global warming becomes more relevant, the climate change movement has begun to unfold. Greta Thunberg, a 16-year-old girl from Sweden is an outspoken activist on climate change. She has taken the lead on school strikes in an effort to elicit change in the world today. She spoke at the 2019 United Nations Climate Action Summit, where she advocated for Generation Z and how the older generations need to take action or problems may arise for the future generations. Senior Molly Myers finds Thunberg’s actions to be directly increasing awareness and creating a cause for change. “I think one thing that’s unfortunate is that although people get involved on social media, that’s where it ends,” Myers said. “I think when you look at someone like Greta — who’s really taken it far beyond just retweeting things, making cute signs and posting pictures — she is really taking it to the level of meeting with people who will make change and making it impactful.”
On Oct. 1, 2019, the temperature in Troy reached 85 degrees Fahrenheit. On Oct. 1, 2015, the high temperature was 59 degrees Fahrenheit. As reviewed on the Old Farmer’s Almanac, the temperature on Oct. 1 between the years 2008 through 2018 did not exceed 70.2 degrees Fahrenheit in Troy. As temperatures continue to rise, many fear what the future will hold for them. “Americans are not proactive, they are reactive and I think we are just gonna be too late,” Robert Zynda, Environmental Science Teacher said. “We are gonna see shoreline issues, crazy storm issues. We are gonna see crop failures and then you’ll hear ‘Oh, maybe there was something, what are we going to do now?...Oh well, it’s a little late.’ It’s just the way we operate, we don’t like to think for the future, we are living for the day.” As of 2019, climate change has become a mainstream trend. The anti-straw movement began when a photo spread of a turtle with a plastic straw stuck in his nose, which caused many to switch to metal straws. This created a popular choice for people to purchase reusable water bottles and make them look pretty with stickers. The small changes started from the trend, but big changes still had to be done. Although the small changes that people are making reflect good intentions, many call for action from big corporations. As stated in Scientific American, scientists project fossil fuel related carbon dioxide emis-
sions will hit a record high of 37.1 billion metric tons by the end of this year. As for the average citizen, there are other things that can be done if one wants to help with change. “I think environmental change is a lot more than anti-straw movements and a lot more than just not using plastic water bottles,” Myers said. “All those things are important when it comes to be more environmentally friendly. It’s really important where you buy your clothes, how you buy food and what other activities you participate in.” To keep the future of our Earth intact, the facts show that issues of global warming needs to be handled now. The debate in the United States on whether climate change is real, isn’t a debate in other countries. Temperatures continue to rise without change, ice caps continue to melt and crops continue to fail, as some did in Michigan this year. The movement for change is elicting some change, but if something isn’t done soon, the future looks to be different. “We are liberating all this carbon that has been stored for millions of years underground and we don’t like to think about it because we are living for the day and not living for tomorrow,” Zynda said. “But, it is our carbon footprint and we are altering the environment. Storms are going to get worse, precipitation patterns will change, species are going extinct and we can do better. It’s all about us, it’s an anthropogenic situation and that’s climate change.”
Photos by Olivia Perron
4
NEWS
Complications in Kashmir In an unprecedented action, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi revokes Article 370, leading to strong public criticism By Murryum Farooqi // Copy Editor On Aug. 5, 2019, Jammu and Kashmir, an Indian administered territory of the land disputed between India and Pakistan (known as Kashmir), lost the special status it was granted by India back in 1947. The special status, or “autonomy” J&K had with India allowed the region to govern itself and make its own laws, a result of Article 370 in the Indian Constitution. This recent loss of autonomy initiated by Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi included a lockdown and communications blackout, as well as 4,000 arrests (including politicians and 144 minors) according to global news outlet Al Jazeera, causing concerns about a humanitarian crisis. BBC News expanded on what exactly J&K has been like since the revocation of Article 370 in an article titled “Kashmir: Why India and Pakistan fight over it.” “Telephone networks and the internet were cut off in the region in the days before the presidential order was announced,” the article said. “Public gatherings were banned, and tens of thousands of troops were sent in. Tourists were told to leave Kashmir under warnings of a terror threat.” As India maintained that the lockdown and curfew are in place as a protective measure against violence, senior Amrita Umamaheswaran, vice president of Troy High’s Model United Nations, disagreed. “I think their general sentiment was to cause as much chaos [as possible] and their actual agenda is not to be a secular nation [but] just get that land and claim it as India’s,” Umamaheswaran said. Senior Hari Sanil, president of MUN also believes that the move by Modi wasn’t a step toward peace. “I don’t think what he did was right. I can understand the intentions, because obviously
Modi is from a party that is conservative [and] religiously motivated, [but this is] a politically motivated action, that’s why he’s doing it,” Sanil said. Senior Yusra Mahmood, who has relatives in Pakistan, explained what she thinks about the revocation of Article 370 and the actions that followed.
I think both the nations, India and Pakistan, should grant [Kashmir] complete autonomy.” Senior Amrita Umamaheswaran
“I don’t agree with how the Indian government suddenly revoked the rights they gave to
the Kashmiri people,” she said. In terms of solutions concerning the disputed land, Umamaheswaran believes it would be best for Kashmir to be its own country, as long as it properly treats all of its residents. “I think both the nations, India and Pakistan, should grant [Kashmir] complete autonomy, but I think in doing so you have to make sure that the Kashmiri government will also treat minorities and women right as well,” Umamaheswaran said. Sanil leans in a different direction, calling for a solution leaning more toward compromise. He calls his solution a “condominium,”and cites Pheasant Island, the island that for the past 350 years has switched ownership between France and Spain every six months, as an example of a successfully shared state. “Becoming its own country is not going to work. It doesn’t
have enough population or an economy to sustain itself, so that’s why I think it should be a condominium,” Sanil said. Mahmood disagrees with the idea of sharing and believes compromise can be utilized differently.
Becoming its own country is not going to work.” Senior Hari Sanil
“Pakistan and India sharing is definitely not a good idea,” she said over text. “If people are suggesting this, they should research a bit, esp. about the relationship between India and Kashmir. I feel like a diplomatic approach would be better.”
Umamaheswaran and Mahmood agree that global awareness of issues is something everyone should be practicing. Umamaheswaran emphasizes the importance of doing research. “It’s really good to do your research and then I think within doing that you’ll find yourself not flocking to one extreme side or another,” she said. Mahmood also believes people should be aware of issues no matter where they take place. “It’s important for everyday people to know what is going on in their world,” she said. “They shouldn’t just focus on their own lives or country but should consider what’s happening around the world, even if they might be thousands of miles away from an issue or conflict. Global awareness allows more people to become concerned, which can help spark action.”
Graphic by Emy Galustyan
5
NEWS
The Pressure is On
By Meriam Meram// Copy Editor Fall is here, which means the start of college applications for most seniors. With deadlines for many colleges being Nov. 1, seniors are finalizing their applications and gearing up to send to their colleges. Most of them include a set of general questions, an activities list and a general essay, with a prompt usually taken from the Common Application. Although many schools use prompts from the Common Application, some, such as the University of Chicago and many Ivy League schools, require supplemental and personal essays. This proves to be more of a struggle for many students. Senior Benjamin Rush is working on writing his supplemental essays. “I’ve written some of my essays, but the personal essays
are probably one of the hardest parts of my applications,” Rush said. Along with essays, most colleges require prospective students to send in their standardized testing scores from the ACT or the SAT. Since many schools like the University of Michigan and Michigan State University tend to be more competitive, with average ACT score ranging between 29-32 and 22-29 respectively, many students feel pressured to get high standardized test scores in order to have stronger applications. Senior Husna Mohammed sees a lot of importance in these scores for more than just general college admissions. “I think having a high standardized test score is really important because these scores can help you get into certain
programs within a college like Med-Direct at Wayne State,” Mohammed said. In recent years though, more universities are beginning to move away from looking at standardized test scores in their undergraduate applications. Instead, they are attempting to look at the applicant as a whole, outside of scores. In June 2018, the University of Chicago became one of the first universities to not require ACT or SAT scores in their undergraduate applicants. This begs the question whether standardized test scores should still be a large factor in college admissions. Rush agrees with the University of Chicago’s actions when it comes to standardized test scores. “I think these scores are important to some degree, but
Seniors take a step back to determine what makes a good college application
they shouldn’t just look at the scores,” Rush said. “There’s more to a student than their scores.” If standardized test scores no longer become required on college applications, many wonder how colleges would judge applicants. In previous years, many students believed these scores may have been a make-or-break factor when it came to admissions. But now, standardized tests may have become a thing of the past. Mohammed believes that colleges may have to look completely outside of an applicant’s school life when it comes to judging their applications. “I believe the thing that makes a good application isn’t just grades and standardardized test scores, but extra curricular activities, what you do outside of school,” Moham-
Better Sleep, Better Student By Vanisa Kumar //
The argument for delayed school days isn’t completely new, but the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, “a group of scientists and health experts with more than 10,000 members,” spoke out about the topic. For years, worldwide studies have suggested that later school starts can benefit teens and adolescents, but many also argue that high schoolers are just saying this to sleep in. Sophomore Skylar Garrow expresses her opinion toward this topic and how a later start time could potentially change her high school career for the better. “I honestly think my life would improve for the better if I even had just 2 more hours of sleep,” Garrow said. “What a typical day looks like for me is waking up way too early, going to school, and then going to work. However after a tiring day at work I have three hours of homework and probably two hours of studying for the next day; honestly because
of all the stress, sometimes I don’t even feel like doing any homework at all. The worst part is that this repeats for most of the week.” Evidence also supports Garrow’s theory of waking up later. An article from TIME Magazine titled “Teens May Do Better When School Starts Later” states that now, more and more people are getting affected by waking up earlier and sleeping later. “Doctors say that starting school earlier in the morning prevents children and teenagers from getting a full night’s
med said. “[The scores] aren’t a good representation of the student as a whole, scores and grades are only a part of who they are.” On the other hand, Rush believes that the answer to admissions lies in the grades. “The courses that you’re taking and the grades you got in those classes should be the most important part of an applcation,” Rush said. “It’s more represemtative of a student than just test scores.”
Graphic by Emy Galustyan
Studies show that having later start times can benefit high school students
teens and adolescents around the world don’t get a healthy amount of sleep needed to perform cognitive functioning skills, like thinking, reasoning and remembering. “Teens are among those least likely to get enough sleep; while they need on average 9 1/4 hours of sleep per night for optimal performance, health and brain development, teens average fewer than 7 hours per school night by the end of high school, and most report feeling tired during the day,” TIME said. For many students, it isn’t hard to choose a side on this debacle. Photo by Olivia Perron However administration shows caution to the realism of the topic. sleep, which can affect their Principal Remo Roncone health, safety and academic expresses his concern to this performance,” the article said. TIME also believes that topic.
“If we were to change the start time for high schools, we would have to change middle school and elementary school starts too, along with bus scheduling and sport and club timings” Roncone said. “If it were possible to do, we would collectively have to plan years before in order to change such a big thing about our district.” Changing school start time requires planning and coordination that a district may not have room for. However, starting school later might benefit many students in terms of absences, work ethic and overall health. It is hard to conclude whether the proposal for later start times is realistic or not, however, as proven, it could potentially help students’ health and well being in the classroom and at home. “I have slept late for so many years, I thought five hours of sleep was a lot,” Garrow said.
6
SPORTS
Preseason Conditioning for Sports Teams
Coaches and players decide whether or not it is important to have conditioning trainings for sports teams before the season By Jessica Geisler // Staff Writer For sports teams, it’s crucial the team be ready for their upcoming season. As a result of this, many sports have developed early conditioning programs during the off season. During preseason conditioning in girls’ soccer for example, conditioning sessions start two
months before tryouts. These sessions consist of a mix of weight lifting and running, to get the girls in optimal shape for their upcoming season. Lisa Danhoff, former varsity basketball coach and current junior varsity golf coach, says that she used to run preseason
training for basketball. “When I coached varsity basketball, we would do a lot of conditioning and a lot of agility,” Danhoff said. “They would have to jump rope every time we got together.” One of the most important aspects for Danhoff was that
Photo by Olivia Perron
Senior Corey Pischel plays against the Red Hawks away at Athens High.
Give Archery A Shot By Allie Zaluski // Staff Writer
There are 26 varsity sports at Troy High School from football to swim and dive and many more. Currently, there are too many sports at the school to add another one; this is the case for archery. Sophomore Siya Gupta expresses her enthusiasm toward the archery program. “It’s actually not even a club, technically it’s an enrichment program, so it spans all three high schools,” Gupta said. “But eventually, we would love for it to become a united school sport [rather] than an enrichment program.” The three schoolsinvolved in the archery program are Troy High, Athens High School and International Academy East. These are the three schools that also partake in all
of the Troy United teams, such as water polo and rugby. Another member of archery, sophomore Eric Rymkiewicz, believes people should join archery. “Last year there was a group of six members so we all became very close friends,” Rymkiewicz said. “I feel like it’s a good way to create friends, and to grow close to those people. From the archery aspect, it’s really fun to just shoot an arrow and to see yourself get better.” Rymkiewicz believes the archery program has come a long way. Last year, the team came first in the Elite Division at the Michigan High School Archery Association’s State Competition. “This year [archery] has become more official, where
last year it was more in a beta phase. We hope to see more people come out,” Rymkiewicz said. Junior Sanjana Chimalakonda, an archery member, hopes archery becomes an official school sport and wants more people to come out and give archery a shot. “If I could, I would make archery an official school sport so that we would have a wider reach and be able to participate in more tournaments as a team,” Chimalakonda said. “Our club would love to have as many participants as possible,” Though there are 26 varsity sports at the school, the archery team would like to make the Troy United Archery team one of the 27 varsity teams.
the girls came to these sessions because they wanted to improve their own game, for the sake of themselves and their team. Although preparing for the upcoming season is important, Danhoff also understands that students have extremely busy lives. “I think an athlete is better when they are well-rounded,” Danhoff said. From the students’ point of view, preseason conditioning is equally as important to the actual season, however their opinions come from a different perspective. Senior Srujan Koneru, a boys’ varsity soccer player, believes that the early soccer training he attended has benefited him throughout his current season. “It gives you a head start and gets you in shape before the season,” Koneru said. Nonetheless, Koneru also thinks that what the coaches see before the season will affect their decisions during tryouts. “They are really a tryout be-
fore tryouts,” Koneru said. According to Danhoff, although the preseason conditioning will help their performance at tryouts, she likes to see that people are attending. From a coach’s perspective, it is more important that the players make the effort to come to these optional practices, rather than their actual performance at the conditioning. Although the environment surrounding the preseason is different for all sports, the common theme between them is the conditioning aspect of their preseason sessions. “It’s nice to see attendance and participation so I know who’s dedicated,” Danhoff said. Overall, coaches as well as athletes feel that conditioning before the season is crucial to making their team the best it can be for the season ahead. In order for the teams to accomplish their goals, manycoaches have decided to make the sports season start a few months prior to when the actual games begin.
The Archery enrichment program hopes to soon become recognized as official Troy United sport
Picture courtesy of Troy United Achery Instagram
Troy United Archery pose with last year’s trophy.
7
SPORTS
Uniform Crisis
The Troy High Dance Team grapples with new uniforms amid membership increase
By Bridgette Scott // Staff Writer Last year, the Troy High Dance Team grew from 16 to 23 members in a matter of months. With a team growing so fast, it may be surprising that some students don’t know about this unique club. “I thought they were a part of the cheer team,” sophomore Adrian Janarthanan said. Some students see the team as a new club with a lot of potential. “I know a lot of dancers, and I think if the club recruited some of those people [they] could be even better,’’ junior Sophia Tomasello said. Many think the dance team has a lot to offer. With all the buzz and excitement going around, the dance team was able to recruit their first male
dancer, sophomore Malachi Nix. “The team is so welcoming and kind,” Nix said. “We can practice and have fun at the same time.” Junior Grace Neill enjoys apart of the team. “I love being on the dance team, it’s a really fun group of people to spend time dancing with,” Neil said. “A lot of people at Troy High don’t even know we have a dance team, better advertising would be better.” This year is also the team’s second year with uniforms. Their uniforms may look very similar to the cheerleading team. Due to the rapid growth of the team, the cheerleading squad gave the dance team
uniforms from several years ago. Many members are grateful for the uniforms. “We love them so much, even though they’re from cheer,” Neill said. To some members, however, the situation is also upsetting, like freshman Rhea Hede. “It doesn’t feel great, it makes us feel like we don’t really matter,” Hede said. “Some of the uniforms were damaged, having lipstick stains and being stretched out to a point where they don’t fit right.” Hede also says it was hard wearing uniforms to school. “Everybody was asking, are you on the cheer team?” Hede said. “It was degrading and changed my overall view of
the team.” Other members wish for a uniform that is more original to the style of the club. “Maybe something breathable like leggings or joggers,”
Sophomore Nicolai Ianos said. “Comfort should be a priority.” Many think that improvements and changes will impact the dance team positively.
Photo coutesy of the dance team
The dance team posing in the new uniforms.
The Start of Girls Hockey
Troy High introduces its first official girls hockey team, Troy United girl’s hockey, with math teacher Joe Moceri as the coach By Chloe Collins // Digital Content Editor Manny Al-Nsour // Staff Writer two years to gather a roster of players, find ice time and help teach new players the ropes of the game. He hopes to provide girls with greater opportunities than just experiencing hockey as a team sport. “It gives them a chance to play in the future and earn scholarships,” Mr. Moceri said. “It gives them a chance to learn more about themselves, to push themselves to do more and better things, to push themselves beyond their limits.”
Since Troy High’s establishment in 1950 and the creation of the Troy United hockey team in 2015, there has never been an opportunity for a female hockey player. Two years ago, Math Teacher Joe Moceri brought up the idea of starting a Troy United girls’ hockey team. The 2018-2019 school year was full of planning and strategizing on how to get the team rolling. As of May 14, 2019, the Troy United girls’ hockey team was approved by the Michigan Metro Girls High School Hockey League. Mr. Moceri has a lot of motivation for getting this team started. He has worked really hard for the past Photo by Chloe Collins
Despite all the setbacks that the team has faced, Mr. Moceri continued to push for the team’s formation. “Last year I coached at Sacred Heart and to see that a school with 150 girls in the building could come up with a hockey team, I’m certain that a school with 2,000 students and at least a thousand girls can come up with a hockey team,’’ he said.
Graphic by Emy Galustyan
Not only does he push for all female students, but for his daughter, freshman Megan Moceri as well, who currently plays for a travel team. She has been playing hockey for the last four years. “I’m excited because it is a new experience and I’m going to meet a lot of new people,” Moceri said. Although there is a season full of games scheduled, nothing is set in stone without a roster on file. Mr. Moceri has high hopes for the team and big plans for the future. “I want a team of girls who work hard together, who play together, girls who have fun, girls to represent Troy High School and give a great impression to other schools that our girls are fantastic,” Mr. Moceri said.
8
In-Depth
Shedding Light on Special Education Accomodations are not cheating, students who receive services are not stupid and special education is not a place By Kaitlyn Piggott // Print Editor-in-Chief Please note that all of the parents and students interviewed have had their names changed not only to protect their family’s privacy, but also in respect to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. The names of the special education teacher’s name as well as the director of Special Education’s name have remained intact. Thomas Edison is known for many things, primarily the incandescent lightbulb. He attempted the invention hundreds of times before achieving it, cementing him as a person who exemplified true grit. A little known fact, though, sheds a different light on the man people call “America’s greatest inventor.” In a letter to his mother, his teacher called him “addled,” which later evolved into “retarded.” The letter went on to say they would not let him attend their school anymore. Some sources say he was dyslexic. He was then home-schooled by his mother. If it had not been for his mother and his personal strength and endurance, Edison would have fallen behind. Edison, one of the greatest inventors of all time, would qualify for services through the special education of modern times; therefore, one has to question how many other future Edisons hide in the midst.
A common misconception exists that students who receive services can’t be as strong academically as those who don’t. “[Students who receive services can] be just as competitive as the general education students,” Amelia Johnson, a mother of a student who previously received services through Troy High’s special education program, said. “Students with disabilities can learn; they learn differently. There are a lot of different paths to the same destination. One path should not be judged superior to another path.” Johnson’s experience with special education includes some bumps in the road. Her child, who had an Individualized Education Program, struggled to receive the extra help they deserved. The more her child was placed in, as she phrased it, “inappropriate programs” administered by teacher’s aides and substitutes rather than a teacher, the more stupid they felt. Johnson feels an emotion no parent should have to feel: guilt. Guilt because she places the blame on herself for her child falling behind and struggling in the way they did. She expresses that her child was not held to the same standards as the other general education students, even though learning disabilities have noth-
ing to do with one’s IQ. “[My child] felt like it was impossible to earn the grade on their own merit,” Johnson said. “They did not have a sense of what it took to be successful at a college or a university. It was just one more hit to my child’s self-esteem when they realized grades were not based on attendance and effort.” 9.9 percent of students in the Troy School District receive special education services. According to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act,
All [special education] students are general education students first.”
Jessica Carrier Director of Special Education for TSD special education is “specifically designed instruction, at no cost to the parents, to meet the unique needs of a child.” The purpose is “to prepare them for further education, employment and independent living.” Many students who receive services are perceived as “special ed students” and therefore viewed differently than the general population. “The thing that I think is
really important is that all [special education] students are general education students first,” Jessica Carrier, the director of Special Education for the TSD, said. For Kendall Williams, a mother of two children with IEPs, she sees strengths and weaknesses of special education. One of her children has a fair share of struggles with their journey with special education services, where her other child has a much more positive experience. Either way, it has affected her and her family. She says special education can be a sensitive topic to discuss, and at first, her family believed that talking about it would be declaring her children as different. Yet, she believes that had she not intervened into her child’s education, her child would have “fallen through the cracks.” “I had pushback from family,” Williams said. “I was told not to ‘label’ them as this would affect their future. Had I ignored the issues, their future might not have looked as bright as it does today.” Both Williams and Johnson have experienced feelings of isolation. Williams wishes there was more support for everyone involved and Johnson would like the school to be a safer place for all students. For Sarah Rollins, another mother of two children who receive
services through special education, she sees the struggles of isolation in children with special needs, but says she is grateful for all the assistance available for her children. That isn’t to say the road has been obstacle-free. “I often wonder how lucky parents feel if the biggest challenge their child has is that they are an average learner or have to work a little harder,” Mrs. Rollins said. “‘Normalcy’ is a gift itself.” Normalcy means something different for her son, Glenn Rollins. For Rollins, normal is receiving services. He personally doesn’t view special education negatively, rather he believes society has formed a negative narrative. Yet, he stresses that this is without fault to the school. Rollins doesn’t see himself differently from the rest of the general education students because he uses accomodations only as he needs them, not as a way to get out of doing a task. “I won’t use my accommodations as a crutch,” he said. “I put myself in the same circumstances everyone else does, so I can try to grow. Accommodations aren’t cheating.” Generally speaking, both of Mrs. Rollins’ children have had very positive experiences with their school journey. Mrs. Rollins accounts that she has seen the steps her son has taken along the way to be
In-Depth
where he is today, which include choices and coping skills, strong academic standing and good friendships. Rollins raves about his caseload manager. “My caseload manager has helped me in more ways than one, by just talking to me, helping me schedule tests, issues with other kids,” Rollins said. “When there were problems, my caseload manager really helped me maneuver through them. So, I’m really fortunate to have a really good caseload manager.” Like Rollins, Johnson has encountered some teachers that have been beneficial to her child. “I like that I know a few of the TSD special education teachers that have our special education student’s back,” Johnson said. “They stand up for what our special education students legally have a right to. They stand up to the negative stereotypes and they believe in our special education students’ ability to be academically successful. They see their strengths and make them feel valued.” Out of all of Rollins’ teachers throughout the years, he can only recount one teacher that gave him a hard time. “[My teacher] had a lot of preconceived notions and would only follow those notions,” Rollins said. “He wasn’t very accommodating and he would often put me in bad situations where I was set up to fail. He didn’t give me a chance to succeed.” A possible preconceived notion is that special education is a place where students are sent, in exile. Karly Didocha, resource room teacher and testing accommodations coordinator, stresses that special education is not a place. “Special education is a system of support,” she said. “Students that receive special education services are Troy High students, just like everyone else, that simply require some supports to receive an equal shot at education.” An equal shot at education was a struggle for Samantha Griffin’s son, a graduate who received services through his years at Troy High. “He was not always giv-
en the same opportunities as other students,” Griffin said. “[The school would] automatically [place him] in special education classes that we did not sign up for.” Unlike Griffin’s son, Josh Wu, a student with an IEP, has had a more positive perspective and experience with special education. He he had learned how to do math better and his homework in class more efficiently. He believes that his caseload manager has helped him a lot. “I like learning and I like the way [special education teachers] teach,” Wu said. “[My caseload manager] always asks me, ‘How are your classes going and do you need any help?’” Griffin accounts for some helpful teachers along the way, similar to Wu.
Students that receive special education services are Troy High students, just like everyone else.” Karly Didocha Resource room teacher
“I think the triumphs are from the staff that took the time to understand [my child’s] learning style and that he was more than capable when provided the right supports,” Griffin said. Didocha sees the value in her fellow teachers. “We have a great team of teachers, social workers, speech pathologist and psychologist here at Troy High,” she said. “We all work very well together to meet the needs of all students the best we can. We collaborate and help each other as best we can. Every special ed staff member here has the best interest of every student at heart.” For Rachel Adams, a graduate of Troy High, she sees more downfalls to special education than positives and sees the divide between general education students
9
and students who receive services. She did not believe Troy High’s special education system prepared her for future education. Adams said that the school would pass her in classes with an A or B without teaching her how to study or how to take tests. “People think that we are not smart,” she said. “We work twice as hard as everyone else to get our work done. Even though we get extra help, that does not mean that we get the answers to tests or that we get to skip homework.” Didocha is in agreement with Adams that there are misconceptions with accommodations. She believes this is a stereotype that some people believe, and would like to debunk it. “Special education students learn differently,” Didocha said. “They have not done anything wrong. They are not lazy. They want to do well. They simply need help learning and showing what they have learned in a traditional setting.” Students who receive services through special education are just as much a student and a person as those who don’t. Special education is not a place where students are sent to be permanently removed from the rest of general education. It’s not the intention. It’s not the purpose. Different isn’t a bad thing. “Sped” is a derogatory term, same with “retard.” Just because someone receives services, doesn’t make them stupid. Getting accommodations isn’t cheating. “People are capable of whatever they set their mind to,” Rollins said. So, spread around the right narrative. Knowledge is power. When one walks through these hallways, they might just be walking past the next Thomas Edison.
Graphis by Kaitlyn Piggott
10
Deer Pressure
Features Troy High’s deer head has been a subject of controversy among students and staff alike
By AJ Kowalak // Staff Writer
Troy High’s deer head, Canela, is synonymous with many things. When most students hear the name Canela, they may think about the TC Line or their first high school football game in the student section. One of the more serious things that is associated with Canela is peer pressure. For many freshmen, to be pressured or even forced to kiss the deer head can be overwhelming. There comes a point where a tradition must be questioned to determine whether it is just a tradition or an excuse to harass students in a never-ending cycle of uncomfortable anxiety. Canela is one of the more controversial things brought to a football game. Canela was originally found on the side of the road in the garbage by David Kennedy, a now-graduated student. She was brought to one football game, then another and then the rest of the season and she became tradition.
After an injury and hundreds of close calls, Canela had her first surgery: antler removal. She has been spray-painted, urinated on and has had major hair loss over the years.
If the deer head was near me, I would probably be a bit scared.” Freshman Nicholas Von Eper
After freshman year, the stress of Canela started to dissipate for Sophomore Marco Papadelis. “I think it’s a cool tradition that’s been in the school for a long time,” Papadelis said. “Sometimes it gets out of hand, but for the most part I think it’s a cool funny thing and no one’s
really offended by it.” Papadelis is not the only one who feels this way. Tommy Douglas, senior and member of the TC Line, believes Canela is a symbol of pride for students. “It’s just tradition, kids have just always done it and we are just trying to follow tradition,” Douglas said. “I thought it was the grossest thing in the world. I never wanted to touch that thing, then you grow up and you realize it’s like the pride of our school.” One teacher is confused on why Canela is the pride of the student body. “It’s ridiculous,” History Teacher Scott Gibbons said. “We’re Colt Country, how does a deer become the unofficial mascot of the students? It seemed bizarre. Traditions are important, so long as it doesn’t cross into bullying.” For freshman Nicholas Von Eper Canela can be a scary topic.
“I thought it would be a minor thing, like every now and then there would be a deer head,” Von Eper said. “If the deer head was near me, I would probably be a bit scared.”
It’s tradition, kids have always done it and we are just trying to follow tradition. Senior Tommy Douglas
To Will Smally, senior and TC Line member, however, the pressure to kiss Canela
shouldn’t be viewed as harassment. “It’s tradition, I had to kiss it when I was a freshman, sophomore [and] junior,” Smally said. “Now that I’m a senior and I’m on the other side of the fence, of course I’m gonna make the other kids kiss it.” Peer Mediation Adviser Gail Yax doesn’t seem to take issue with the taxidermied deer head. “I think it’s a good piece of spirit, the students rely on it for spirit. I’d like to see a new one,” Yax said. “[Kissing Canela] should never be required, it should only be if you want to.” Throughout her history, Canela has been a debated topic. Whether she is just a harmless tradition or an excuse to instill peer pressure is hard to say.
Photo by AJ Kowalak
An unsuspecting student dodges Canela.
Photo by Olivia Perron
Senior Omar Ibrahim holds the deer head at the gold-out game.
Photo by AJ Kowalak
Junior Sam Kotas kisses Canela at the game.
11
Features
Sodexo to Chartwells
School lunch providers change after expiration of Sodexo contract
By Andy DeGrand // Staff Writer This year, Troy High has changed the lunch food company from Sodexo to Chartwells. Many students have their own opinion on the switch. Last year the food provider was Sodexo, a multi-national food service company that provides food for not just schools, but many other places like nursing homes, hospitals and different kinds of businesses. As of this year, Chartwells is the new food service company providing the school with lunches. Chartwells is also a multi-national food service and currently the most contracted food service in the world. Many freshmen, like Lillian Schlafhauser, did not know of the sudden change in providers, as they are new to high school. “I had no idea,” Freshman Schlafhauser said. “It’s better than Boulan’s, but [when compared to food at home] it’s not the best, I don’t want to say it’s
not as fresh but that may be the right word.” She continued that the school has a huge variety of food and appreciates how there is always more to try. Schlafhauser wasn’t the only one that believes that. Freshman George Magar had similar things to say. “They have a lot of options and it’s just good food,” Magar said. “It is for sure better than my middle school food.” Although, if he could change things about it, he would. “Maybe something a little more special per day,” Magar said. Many students in different grades have had different opinions. Senior Labib Yassa, a student that has had the school lunch everyday, had something different to say. “I think it tastes the same,” Yassa said. Although Yassa did not no-
tice the change in the cafeteria, junior Praneetha Ankisettpalli did. “It tastes completely different but I liked last year’s food better,” Ankisettpalli said, “Maybe they thought that people would like this more than the previous one.” Ankisettpalli, like many other students, wondered why there was a change this year. According to Principal Roncone, “There’s contracts and I believe that the last one was a three year contract,” Roncone said. “The contract had expired, and anytime that contract expires we put a bid out. We had multiple companies bid to try to be our next food service provider.” After the bid, the companies present and the three finalists for prepare a presentation or the bid committee. “We felt Chartwells made the best presentation and would give us the best service
A New Addition
and a flexible menu to meet our really diverse appetites that we have here at Troy High,” Roncone said. “I think it’s most important to talk to students about what their experiences [have been] and so far most have said they’ve liked the food better or they haven’t no-
ticed the change.” Many students have begun to wonder why the salad bar and cooking demonstrations haven’t been open at lunch, and if it has anything to do with the new company. “Those things are coming, it just takes a little time, but we
Photo by Andy DeGrand
During lunch, students eat Chartwells’ meals.
For the first time in Troy High history, incoming freshmen received iPads to assist them in class and at home
By Rory Knauss // Staff Writer
Freshmen were thrown a curveball when Troy High gave them iPads for the first time. They were the only grade who received iPads. The school provided all students and teachers of ninth grade classes, with a sixth generation iPad and blue Logitech Rugged Combo 2 protective case with an attached keyboard. Biology Teacher Alyssa Armstrong uses the iPads to efficiently manage her classes. “I use them for quick assignment submissions and working on assignments in class,” Armstrong said. “I like them because I can monitor what the students are doing at all times with Apple classroom.” For freshman Sally Craig, the iPads are a blessing and a curse. “One pro of the iPads is it
makes researching for classes much easier. If I need to look something up for class or for a paper I can just grab my iPad out of my bag,” Craig said. “One con is that they are heavy. My backpack is already heavy enough and the added weight of the iPad and its big case is such a burden.” Ella Koweck, a freshman, believes iPads are an unnecessary change from laptops and phones. “[The iPads are] useful when you need to immediately search something, but we usually use our phones for that,” she said. “The school restricts what we can search, so we can’t have access to many sources.” Koweck, along with a large number of other students, aren’t benefiting from the outcome of iPads, even though
the school hoped it would help freshmen along in their education. “We get marked up when the teachers can’t read our pictures of assignments, even though they would rather have the assignment electronically,” Koweck said. “We’re forced to have iPads, but we have to pay for minor damages and insurance, even though we didn’t ask for iPads.” Intro to Physics Teacher Jacob Augustine sees the iPads as a learning opportunity for students. “I like their versatility and how similar their interfaces are to cellphones. It makes using them very intuitive,” Augustine said. “I also like how easy it makes extending learning to outside the classroom.” While some see the positive
effects of iPads, such as a new way to assist students with schoolwork, any freshmen consider the iPads an unnecessary add-on. It’s uncertain whether
the new technology will continue to be handed out to students or come to their end, but for now, their fate is yet to be decided.
Photo by Rory Knauss
Freshman Ella Koweck works on her iPad.
12
Stay Tuned
By Gabby DeRose // Staff Writer With autumn comes the season premieres of countless shows. Though shows like “Rick and Morty” and “Jack Ryan” continue onto their fourth and second seasons respectively, several shows near the end of their time in the spotlight. “Criminal Minds,” “Modern Family,” “Arrow” and “Mr. Robot” are among those that fans are disheartened to see go. With one of the longest-running scripted series on CBS coming to its end with its 15th season, many fans are saddened by the upcoming finale of the hit crime drama “Criminal Minds.” Senior Kate Gendrushcke has been watching “Criminal Minds” for the past few years. “I’m not caught up on it,” Gendruschke said. “I’m a season or two behind on Netflix.
I heard it’s ending, which is sad.” Among other shows, the critically acclaimed “Mr. Robot,” starring “Bohemian Rhapsody” star Rami Malek, nears its fourth and final season on USA. The beloved “Modern Family” pemiered its 11th and final season on Sept. 25 on ABC, and “Arrow” plans to end on The CW with its eighth season. Senior Veronica Roach, a long-time “Arrow” and “Modern Family” fan, feels somewhat hopeful for the end of these shows. “I’m excited to see how ‘Modern Family’ ends,” Roach said. “I [also] started watching ‘Arrow’ around ninth grade… I watched ‘Arrow’ a lot, it used to be one of my favorite shows.” Other shows like “Amer-
ican Horror Story” and “Grey’s Anatomy” continue their reign. Installments such as “The
Graphic by Emy Galustyan
Good Doctor” on ABC reached its third season after high acclaim; the long running “Survivor” on CBS, marked its 39th season on the Fiji islands; and the hit YouTube series “Buzz-
Entertainment A look into 2019’s fall season TV shows, including premiers, finales and returning series
feed: Unsolved” continued onto its sixth season. Fans have a plethora of popular shows to return to this fall. A fan of “American Horror Story” since its early episodes, Gendruschke voiced her opinions on the new chapter, which airs its ninth season on FX. “I watched the very first [episode] and I liked it, but it’s weird with all defferent actors and actresses,” Gendruschke said. “It’s not really the same as it was in the beginning, but I’m still going to watch it. It’s still going to be good, because it’s ‘American Horror Story.” Junior Celina Hammerschmidt is excited about the upcoming sixteenth season of the highly acclaimed medical drama, “Grey’s Anatomy.” “I’ve been watching it since
Blake’s or Yates?
eighth grade,” she said. “The first episode comes out on [Sept. 26].” Along with shows returning and shows ending, this fall also offers a number of new series premieres. Disney plans to release its new streaming service Disney+ on Nov. 12, which will feature “The World According to Jeff Goldblum” and “High School Musical: The Series.” Netflix also aired its original comedy, “Living With Yourself” on Oct. 18, and Amazon Prime released its original drama “The Family Man” on Sept. 20. In all, many TV fans are excited to see the season premieres of returning and brand new fall shows, and many are saddened to see their favorite shows ome off the air. Nonetheless, this fall is bound to reel in viewers.
Students give their insight on the most popular local mills and hangout spots around Troy
By Emy Galustyan // Graphics Editor
As fall begins and leaves transition from greens to oranges, happy sunny days are now decorated with spiderwebs, witches brooms, bats and and most importantly, fall treats. “I’m obsessed with fall,” junior Lucie Schroeder said. “The cider, the doughnuts, the clothes, the friends, it all comes together perfectly.”
Graphics by Emy Galustyan
The smells of cinnamon and cider fill the air as everyone heads to orchards to pick pumpkins and fill themselves with sugar-encrusted donuts. The question is, though, what are the best orchards to go to? Best cider? Donuts? Apple picking? Hayrides? Students give their insight on the most popular local mills and hangout spots around Troy. Blake’s Orchard and Cider Mill and Yates Cider Mill are two of the most-known fall hangout sites known among students. B l a k e ’ s prides itself on being one of the first U-Pick orchards in the state, meaning
anyone can come and pick their own fresh apples or pumpkins. Yates, on the other hand, prides itself on their 100% all-natural cider made with the Yates’ family water powered cider press. Founded in 1876, the Yates’ cider mill is one of the more historical attractions in the rochester hills area. Out of 20 students polled at Troy High, 11 students agree with Schroeder that Yates is the superior hangout spot when comparing the cider, donuts, aesthetics and fun. Others, like senior Ambika Tripathi, beg to differ. “Blake’s is the best place to go,” Tripathi said. “There’s so much more to do. Haunted hayrides, apple picking, especially with larger groups, no one gets bored.” Nine others prefer Blake’s more than Yates when comparing the cider, donuts,
aesthetics and fun. This means Yates is the winner among the 20 people interviewed to choose between the two. “Of course Yates is better, their food wins by a landslide. It’s the perfect place for high-schoolers,” Schroeder
said. “I know people who go and buy dozens of donuts or giant jugs of cider to bring home from yates. Sure Blakes is good, but Blake’s is more for families and kids..so for people my age, it’s just more chill.”
Entertainment
“Do You Like Scary Movies?”
13 Headline and subheadline courtesy of “Scream” movie franchise
“Don’t you blame the movies. Movies don’t create psychos. Movies make psychos more creative!” By Chloe Collins // Digital Content Editor
As it reaches the time of year where the leaves change and people carve pumpkins, Disney Channel and other networks such as SYFY start to air all of their Halloween movies. Movies are a large part of not just US culture, but culture all over the world. On average, an approximate 850 box office movies are released a year in the US alone. That’s not including the solo movie projects that might never be seen on the big screen. Wide release is usually saved for the larger budget movies. Movies in film festivals such as the Tribeca Film Festival is where this occurs more often than not. Many people may think horror movies are a big part of the US Halloween scene and the way children and young adults react to the holiday. “Halloween is a weird celebration of the scary side of life, and horror movies do just that,” senior Sam Kneale said. “Halloween would not be what it is without horror films for that reason.” Some of the more memorable Halloween movies that many high schoolers recall are “Twitches,” “Mostly Ghostly” and the “Halloweentown” series. “These movies etch into our minds the feeling of unease and elation,” senior Sara Rose Williams said.
These movies are some of the Disney Channel and their affiliates’ most-played movies durring the Halloween season. Other movies include the cult classic “Hocus Pocus” and “The Nightmare Before Christmas.” Some people may have forgotten why they enjoy these movies, but these are the movies that have been around for more than one generation to watch. In a lot of these movies, especially the Disney Channel Originals, there is some type of musical aspect. In“A Nightmare Before Christmas,” the music is one of the more memorable parts of the movie for many viewers. “The music guides the story and it sends chills down your back,” Williams said. “Girl vs Monster” is one of the newer Halloween movies on Disney which was released in 2012. Starring Olivia Holt from Disney XD’s “Kickin It,” the movie features multiple songs that may be recognized by the average student. “Invisible Sister” is the newest released in October 2015 and stars Rowan Blanchard and Paris Berelc. Since its release in 2005, “Twitches” has been aired every year, without fail, during the Halloween season. “Twitches” is a movie that can be remembered by its original plot and turning
points in the action. “Twitches” is disguised as a generic movie about witches and their journey to find who they are. “Mostly Ghostly,” originally a book by R.L Stine, is not quite as well known among students as “Twitches” or “Halloweentown” according to a survey taken of 45 Troy High students. Since “Mostly Ghostly” first aired, it has become a Halloween Disney Channel staple, playing multiple times in October. Since the original release in 2008, there have been two remakes of the movie. One of the remakes, which aired in 2014, starred Bella Thorne and Maddison Pettis, who also starred in the original. “Halloweentown” is the better known of the Disney Halloween movies, and it has been around for significantly longer. Released in 1998, “Halloweentown” tells the story of Marnie, a teenage witch who is just discovering her powers. As the movie series continues, the viewer follows Marnie on her journey to learning all about her new powers as a witch. Horror movies are an entirely different story. SYFY is the channel on TV where you may be able to find the most horror movies. 2019 marks the 20th anniversary of “The Blair Witch Project,” the first of its kind in the found footage cat-
“Halloweentown” (1998) The Walt Disney Company
“Mostly Ghostly: Who Let The Ghosts Out?” (2008) Commotion Pictures
“Blair Witch Project” (1999) Haxan Films
egory of horror movies. Although it may not be, by any means, the best horror movie of its time, the movie set a precedent on how horror movies could be made. “Horror films highlight all the negative parts of society with the social taboos that come with that,” Kneale said. “Nightmare on Elm Street” is another horror movie that has a villain who has the potential to induce nightmares, Freddy Krueger. Other villains that may be recognized by some people are, Jason Voorhees, Michael Meyers, Leatherface, Ghostface, Jigsaw and Hannibal Lecter. “Michael Myers is scary because there is no reason why he does what he does. He just does it,’” Kneale said. “He is just freaky because you never know whats coming next. He is unpredictable.” Although there are plenty of movies to choose from, students are mainly familiar with the movies they grew up watching on TV. Halloween movies are not a set category of movies. It can be a comedy, romcom, romance, thriller or even an action movie. There isn’t a rule saying it has to be a scary movie or a movie made by Disney.
Graphics by: Emy Galustyan
14
Opinion
Special Ed or Fellow Student There is a divide between students who receive services and those who do not, but rarely if every does people talk about it A Staff Editorial
It is evident there is still a stigma surrounding special education, even though it isn’t new and isn’t going anywhere. To this day, people still believe that students who receive services are less than those who don’t. There is a divide between students who receive services and those who don’t. Most of this is caused by a lack of knowledge about what special education really is and just people with disabilities in general. According to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, in order to receive services through special education for a high school student, they must have one or more of the following 12 disabilities: Autism Spectrum Disorder, Cognitive Impairment, emotional impairment, hearing impairment, other health impairment,
physical impairment, severe multiple impairment, specific learning disability, speech and language impairment, traumatic brain injury and visual impairment. The topic hit close to home for many and the separation can be seen in our own community. So, we decided that it was time to shed light on what exactly is special education and tell the stories of a group that is rarely discussed. As a publication representing the entity of Troy High, we wanted to give students who receive services, parents of children with needs as well as professionals in the area a platform to share their journeys with special education and provide more awareness. We wanted to help possibly change the stigma and the negative connotation that we believe shouldn’t exist. We felt
the topic needed to be talked about in our community. Due to the stigma and for their privacy, most of the sources, all of them besides professionals, wished to remain anonymous. Upon finding sources, there was an influx of responses from numerous people ranging in stories and experiences with the special education system. Special education is designed to be individualized; it is important to note that not all students and parents will have the same experiences, not even the same experiences exist in the same family. We picked sources that had insight, noteworthy information and compelling stories to tell the rest of the community. This isn’t to say that the article will depict what every child and parent’s journey is like. The article, rather, is just
what some people’s stories are. The purpose remains the same, though; the correct narrative needs to spread around the community. Change can occur and should occur, but the only
way to do so is if people know what is right. Some of us may receive services. Some of us may not. Yet, we are all students of Troy High.
Photo by Meriam Meram
Students pledged to end the “R” word.
Why Esports are a Real Sport
Esports are the real deal and should be considered a sport since they share the important characteristics of a traditional sport By Ping-Yu Hsu // Staff Writer
As someone that has been a competitive League of Legends player since 13 and a dedicated League of Legends Championship Series viewer, my experi-
ence and exposure to esports, or electronic sports, has led me to believe that esports qualify as a sport beyond all reasonable doubt.
Photo Courtesy of Esports Michigan
Students play esports for Troy High club.
Sports require skill, effort, teamwork and most importantly, competition. To be fair, I don’t think esports will ever be on the same level as the more physical sports like basketball or soccer. Esports fit in more with fishing, hunting and competitive eating. When I watch the competitions, especially the LCS, I see the passion in the players putting all their effort into what they love. Esports is rising in the sports genre, now showing on ESPN and other sports networks. Just last year, the League of Legends World Championship, a competition held by the creators of the game for the best teams in North America, was held in Incheon Munhak Stadium in South Korea. While the stadium can hold 50,000 people, the total views during the finals exceeded that number with 200 million views, many of which were being watched
from streaming services like Twitch. Some universities, like Michigan State University and the University of Michigan, are also giving out scholarships to students who are deemed good enough at certain competitive games, like “League of Legends” or “Counter Strike,” for their esports teams. Junior Alex Prater is an avid gamer. He plays many games for fun, but never competitively because he doesn’t like to take anything he plays seriously. He thinks that esports is considered a sport, but not in the same way as the traditional sports. “I think esports is a sport, because you can see the passion in the players and fans about the games,” Prater said. “I feel like a sport is anything like a competition and a display of skill, but I feel like traditional sports and esports are both sports in their own way.”
Junior Justin Byun is a member of the “League of Legends” club at Troy High. He has been playing “League of Legends” since he was in seventh grade and played competitively when he was a freshman. He considers it a sport, but like Prater, not at the same level as traditional sports. “It’s sort of a sport but it’s not exactly the same as other sports like soccer and basketball since they require actual physical activity,” Byun said. “I think it’s a sport because it’s two teams competing against each other in something that requires skill.” Though esports don’t require physical activity, they should be considered a sport regardless. The definition of a sport should not be something that requires physical activity, but something that requires skill and competition, which esports do.
15
Opinion
Candy vs. Chocolate
Photo by Olivia Perron
Staff writers Manny Al-Nsour and Lola Pinneo discuss the superiority of candy or chocolate as the best of Halloween snacks By Manny Al-Nsour // Staff Writer Candy is the superior fall sweet. When you think of Halloween and trick-or-treating, the first thing that usually comes to mind is candy. Sour Patch Kids, Airheads, Lifesavers, gummy worms and pretty much all things sugar. While chocolate is still delicious, it always comes as an afterthought, the stuff at the bottom of the bowl left there until Christmas. Candy can be used for a multitude of different occasions, especially when it comes to decorating. They are the finishing touch that pulls together any holiday dessert. As a kid, I never celebrated Christmas, so my brother and I always opted to go all out on Halloween. We always bought Halloween-themed gingerbread houses, and the best part of every year was getting to choose what candies we wanted to use to decorate our houses with. Not only is candy the more fun and tasty sweet, but it also metabolizes faster. In an article titled “How Can Sweets Give You Energy?” by San Francisco Gate, chocolate has a
higher fat content than most candies, which makes it take longer to break down. “The ingredient that makes sweets so enjoyable -- sugar -- is a carbohydrate your body prefers to use for fuel,” the article said. With candy, you get a quick boost of energy from the fast breakdown of the sugars. With chocolate, you get a slower breakdown over time because of the added fats. Candy is also more versatile. The diversity in the colors, shapes and sizes in candies make them more exciting than a boring, brown chocolate bars. In every chocolate bar, the taste is almost the same. Sure, you can throw in some caramel, or add various nuts, but that’s really the only variable that would change it. Candy is so much more fun because of the variety in flavors. While artificial flavorings like bubble gum, root beer and blue raspberry are pretty bad for you, they still add that final kick that pushes candy to be superior over chocolate.
By Lola Pinneo // Staff Writer My one true treat love: chocolate. Arguably the best sweet around. I do not only adore this confection because of its good looks and taste. Rather, some of my favorite memories are sitting on the ground in my living room after a fun but exhausting night of trick-or-treating. I would pour out my candy on the ground and sort them into neatly stacked piles, picking out the iconic American chocolate bars each person in my family loves. I would then deliver the candy to each person in my family like a little present. Mom likes Mounds, Dad likes York Peppermint Patties, my brother DJ likes Snickers, my sister Alexa likes Twix and well, I like any kind of chocolate. I felt such joy and excitement in my little self, being able to share something that I loved with the people I love. That’s one of the best feelings. Imagine sitting down and eating a smooth, rich, yummy, flavorful piece of chocolate, then eating a hard, crunchy, sugar-coated piece of candy. I know which one I would rather
have. Chocolate is such a versatile sweet. You can get it in so many varieties and different combinations of flavors: peanut butter, mint and caramel. These are just a few of the many combinations that make this treat one of the best around. Imagine all your favorite foods without chocolate. What would you do? A s’more without a Hershey bar, strawberries not dipped in chocolate, a cake without chocolate frosting wouldn’t be complete without chocolate. Imagine all these amazing wonderful foods without the very best sweet on it. It would not be the same. Without chocolate, you would just have a strawberry, a graham cracker with marshmallow and a piece of cake with no flavor. That’s not the same, nor as good. You need chocolate to make these treats wonderful. In my opinion, chocolate will always be the best sweet you could possibly get.
Revenge of the Hydroflask
Concept and Sketch by Ping-Yu Hsu // Staff Writer