THE
CHARIOT TROY HIGH SCHOOL
TROY, MI.
VOL. 7 ISSUE 1
OCTOBER 2021
OCT. 2021
2
Cover is a graphic illustration by Luanni Ford.
THE CHARIOT STAFF PRINT EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Vanisa Kumar WEBSITE EDITOR-INCHIEF Luanni Ford GRAPHICS EDITOR Anjali Sanil SOCIAL MEDIA EDITORS Raneen AlRammahi and Maddy Hiser BUSINESS EDITOR Lola Pinneo BODY COPY EDITORS Nidhi Kuchulakanti and Ashley Park
STAFF REPORTERS Michelle Baik Ainsley Giorio Matthew Grabowski Ria Gupta Hannah Lee October Marquez Emma Mertz Urvi Patil Ellen Seo Abby Werenka ADVISOR Morgan Clark
OUR MISSION STATEMENT 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. Opinions expressed 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 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.
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Viral ‘Devious Licks’ Trend....................................................................3 Britney Spears Conservatorship.............................................................4 Freakishly Fun Fall Festivities................................................................4 Troy High Survival Guide.......................................................................5 Day of the Dead.......................................................................................5 Heartbeat Bill Put in Place......................................................................6 A New Look and Feel..............................................................................7 1-800-Please-Hold...................................................................................7 Colt Case...........................................................................................8 & 9 Loving a Lie............................................................................................10 No Dip Amateur Sherlocks...................................................................11 Homecoming Fashion Guidebook......................................................11 The Grand Return of Y2K....................................................................12 All or Nothing........................................................................................13 The Lesser-Known Sports of Troy High ............................................14 COVID-19 + School..............................................................................15
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NEWS
Viral ‘Devious Licks’ Trend
A trend on the popular social media app ‘TikTok’ that teenagers are participating in. Lola Pinneo // Business Editor A popular social media trend emerged on the Tik Tok app called ‘Devious Licks’. This trend consists of students taking and vandalizing things in their schools. The trend mostly affects the bathrooms, but students also steal things out of classrooms and community spaces. This is happening at Troy High as well, almost every bathroom has been affected by it. This has caused bathrooms to be shut down for a period of time during the school day. Considering that the student body itself are the ones destroying the bathrooms, it’s reasonable to wonder if some students are bothered by the trend. Senior Sebastian Chokka said, “I have seen soap dispensers and paper towel dispensers taken, people carrying dispensers and urinals bro-
ken,” he said. “I have been late to pretty much all of my classes now because I’m just trying to go to the bathroom and I can’t find one”. Not only are students upset about this new trend, teachers are as well. Teacher Cheryl Rosenblatt has something to say about the devious licks trend. “Yes it bothers me that kids are destroying property,”. Rosenblatt said,. “Their actions affect others because the bathrooms have been locked for all. Kids are doing these horrible actions because of the TikTok trends.” Troy High has Safe-Eds that work at our school to help ensure a safe learning environment for us, these people work closely with administration. Kelley Cillop, a Safe-Ed at Troy High, has seen her fair share of the TikTok trend
and the destruction that it has brought. “I have not seen anything taken from the bathrooms but I have been handed things that have been taken from them,” they said. “I do know that one of the fine arts hallway girls bathroom soap dispensers was taken off the wall, that was the one handed to me and so for one day that bathroom was shut down for certain times of the day”. It’s possible that there is a reason that students are acting out and being destructive. In an interview with The New York Times, Amanda Brennan, the senior director of trends for the digital marketing agency XX Artists, said the answer might be the pandemic. After more than a year of shutdowns and virtual schooling, students, who are now returning to schools for the first time, may just be looking for a way to rebel. “It makes sense to see kids stealing things because it feels like a power play,” Brennan said,. “You feel powerful over these systems that you may not have felt as if you had a lot of control over.” The possibility that the pandemic had an impact on the behaviors of students is a very strong argument, yet it does not excuse the fact that destruction of property is wrong. Ultimately, schools are the ones victimized by this trend. Destroying property hurts not only the Troy High student body, but it also affects the staff at this school. The staff here work very hard to create a safe and clean learning space for us. Cillop has thoughts about the people affected by this trend. ‘’It’s kind of silly to be destructive to ruin someone else’s property because taxpayers pay for it students’ parents pay for it and there’s other fun things to do besides
destroy property” In many ways, social media can bring people closer and create an environment to share and communicate, but sometimes it creates a bad trend that harms schools and communities. It’s very possible that there is an end in sight to this trend and the destruction it has brought. According to NBC News, TikTok recently confirmed it has banned content around the ‘devious licks’ trend, in which students post videos of items they allegedly stole from their schools. Even though the trend has been banned, it does not appear that it has been stopped. App users are finding creative hashtags ranging from #devious #lick to #deviouslick to
get around the band hashtag. The ‘devious licks’ at Troy High have looked to slow down, so it’s possible students will start to respect their schools and stop this trend.
Photos courtesy of Sebastian Chokka
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
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Britney Spears Conservatorship The status of Britney Spears’ conservatorship through recent advances and the “Free Britney” movement. October Marquez // Staff Reporter, Graphic by Anjali Sanil // Graphics Editor In 2008, Britney Spears was ordered into a conservatorship under her father. A conservatorship is when a person is declared too mentally unwell to care for themselves, and another person becomes responsible for their care and finances. Recently, the “Free Britney” movement fully bloomed, with many protests taking place for her to gain full rights back. But just as quickly as it rose, it has once again fallen to a smaller movement. As of Aug. 12, Jamie Spears had filed to be removed from financial responsibility for Britney. According to the NPR article Britney Spears’ Dad Has Been Suspended From Her Conservatorship, on Sept. 20, Jamie Spears was officially suspended as Britney’s conservator by Judge Brenda J. Penny. Jamie Spears claims
there’s no reason for his filing for removal from financial responsibility, despite immense pressure from Britney’s fans. Even though he is getting removed, Rosengart, Britney’s attorney, is “disappointed, however, by their ongoing shameful and reprehensible attacks on Ms. Spears” says the Washington Post article titled Jamie Spears, father of Britney Spears, agrees to step down as her conservator. Since the announcement of Jamie’s removal as Britney’s financial conservator, the movement has lost most of its traction. Part of this is due to how quickly social media activism moves, “no one cares about anything for more than two weeks if they’re lucky”, notes Junior Ryn Richards. But also, a lot of the anger was directed at her father for having power over her life, but after Jodi
Montgomery became Britney’s care conservator, many people lost interest in her situation. While the movement has lost much of its support, Britney will continue to be under a conservatorship, which has harmed her rather than helping. Britney has claimed she’s been harmed in multiple ways, such as being “compelled under the conservatorship to take certain medications and to use an intrauterine device for birth control against her will”, says the NPR article titled Britney Spears’ Father Has Filed A Petition To End Her Conservatorship.
Freakishly Fun Fall Festivities Students share their favorite activities to take part in during the fall season. Emma Mertz // Staff Reporter As the seasons begin to shift, many people get excited for fall to begin. The fall season brings lots of exciting events. Michigan has a lot to offer when it comes to fall-- people visit all of the apple orchards our state has to offer. Along with this, Michiganders love pumpkin season and decorating for the one and only Halloween. Considering that there are four seasons in the year and Michigan lets its residents experience each one to its full extent, it is reasonable to wonder if Troy High students prefer one over the other. When surveyed, 54% of students at Troy High said that fall was their favorite season. This is in comparison to the 27.3% that enjoy spring and the 18.2% that prefer winter. No one in the survey mentioned their love for summer. Sophomore Laney Marbutt has her own favorite season that she enjoys,
along with the activities that it brings. “Fall is one of my favorite seasons because of the colors of the trees and
and pumpkins for carving.” Michigan has lots to offer, including the many different haunted houses that
how pretty everything looks,” she said. “During fall, my family and friends visit the cider mill to get cinnamon donuts
are available. It’s common for people to get very excited about these events and frequent them often.
Senior Alexa Warburton likes to continue her fall traditions with her relatives. ‘’I like going apple picking with my family, it’s something we’ve done for a while.” One fall holiday that is enjoyed among people of all ages is Halloween. People can partake in many activities such as trick or treating, or having a classic Halloween movie marathon. Junior Audrey Konitsney has many fun Halloween memories, they share their favorite ways to celebrate the change of the seasons. “I like spending Halloween with my friends. Every year we get a bunch of candy and watch scary movies and it is a really fun night.” The autumn season is full of opportunities for fun around the Troy community. Photo by Emma Mertz
NEWS
Troy High Survival Guide
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A guide to surviving a year at Troy High. Maddy Hiser // Social Media Editor High school is a roller coaster of a million emotions, with drama, mishaps and time to make some of the best memories of a person’s life. But having fun in high school can be harder than the movies make it out to be. Surviving high school is different for everyone, but these general tips and tricks could help students stay on track to having good grades, surviving and thriving here at Troy High. Junior Sofia Johansson tells us about how she gets through a tough day here at Troy High: “You have to be yourself and people can think what they wanna think, but you know you’re true to your-
self,” Johansson stated when asked about how she keeps decent grades in such a busy time, along with balancing out sports. When asked how she makes sure her schoolwork and grades are up to date, Johansson said, “I use sports as motivation to keep my grades up.” Because of the rules with sports at Troy High, if a student’s grades get too low they could possibly be kicked off of the team they are playing for. Junior Leah Ostrowski says that students can learn a lot about this school very quickly, “It only takes a couple of days to figure out the layout of the school.”
Finding their way around the school is arguably one of the scarier parts of arriving at Troy High for new students, along with finding the best routes, and getting involved with things like sports and clubs. “Join clubs and sports to make more friends, and don’t be afraid to ask for help!”Ostrowski adds. Everyone has a different definition of surviving high school, whether it be barely passing, having a lot of fun or hating it or just going along with it, everyone finds their own way to thrive here at Troy High.
Photo by Maddy Hiser
Day of the Dead
A view on the widely celebrated Mexican holiday. Nidhi Kuchulakanti // Body Copy Editor, Graphic by Anjali Sanil // Graphics Editor Coming up on Nov. 1 and Nov. 2, Day of the Dead is one of the most celebrated holidays in Mexico. Although it originated from, and is mainly celebrated in Mexico, the holiday is also celebrated by many people all around the world. Day of the Dead is a day dedicated to bring in joy for memorial and block out anguish. It is filled with celebration and memorial in remembrance of people’s late loved ones. Over the course of the two autumn days, people decorate graves, go to cemeteries, bring toys, etc. Lisa Lopez-King, a Spanish teacher and the advisor of Spanish Club at Troy High, spoke on the beauty of Day of the Dead and the holiday’s importance. “It’s always very special to remember our loved ones who have passed.” She said,“It brings happiness and life to
those who are deceased, so instead of being sad, we can celebrate their life.” Lopez-King encompassed why Day of the Dead is a beautiful holiday worth appreciating and what Mexicans attribute to honor the deceased. Day of the Dead continues to bring in more popularity, even though it is not talked about regularly in the United States, it is a very important and diverse holiday to know about. According to Day of the Dead Traditions,“As Mexico is a large and diverse country, traditions are as varied as the country itself, but there are unique traditions that have become central to the holiday.” Many people tend to agree that Day of the Dead is an important holiday to be learned about. Junior Gopal M Soni, a Troy High student and Spanish Club officer, believes that
schools can make a change to spread awareness on the holiday. “We should make each class do something at the end of the hour that is about the Day of the Dead.” Soni said. Day of the Dead is an especially special holiday, and many people would benefit from knowing about it. As a school, Troy High can continue to work to make a change.
NEWS
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Heartbeat Bill Put in Place The students of Troy High talk about the heartbeat bill and its effects on the student body. Luanni Ford // Web Editor-in-Chief, Graphics by Luanni Ford // Web Editor-in-Chief
On Sept. 1 2021, in Texas, a new condition was added to the Heartbeat Bill, stating that a person could not terminate a pregnancy beyond six weeks, after the first heartbeat is detected . If a woman was to have an abortion past six weeks, it wouldn’t be a criminal offense, but it would have the grounds for a lawsuit. Anyone who, according to Roe v. Wade, “know-
ingly engages in conduct that aids or abets the performance or inducement of an abortion” could also be sued. Senior Annie Schroeder tells The Chariot how important it is for students to know the right information when women’s rights are brought to light. “I think the bill is important for students to know.” Schroeder said. “It’s important because
there is lots of misinformation when it comes to abortion and kids are quick to judge based off incorrect info. Unfortunately, I don’t think the judgment towards and petitions to stop abortion will ever not be held over a woman’s head.” It’s not only Annie Schroeder that believes this. Declan Mallaney, senior, also speaks about how the heartbeat bill affects a large part of the community. “This bill will affect not just women, but all people with a uterus,” Mallaney said. “It shows that the people in power care more about a potential human life than the bodily needs and wellbeing of living people. The fact there is also no exceptions for victims of rape or incest will further add to the trauma of victims.” To provide more insight on the Heartbeat bill, on Sept. 1st, the US News published an article titled A Guide to Abortion Laws by State |
Best States | US News, that stated the laws state by state. “A ban on abortions performed after six weeks of pregnancy took effect in Texas on Sept. 1, becoming the strictest abortion policy in the nation after the Supreme Court did not respond to emergency requests for intervention,” The US News wrote. “The Texas law goes one step further than similar bills passed by other conservative-led states by incentivizing regular citizens to sue anyone who they suspect has violated the law, including health care workers, providers or anyone who helps someone access abortion services.” Later that day on Sept. 1, The Detroit Free Press posted an article titled Abortion in Michigan FAQ: What you need to know, on the updated laws and what they mean for Michigan. Currently, there is not much impact in Michigan, but, as the Detroit Free Press states, “it could foreshadow big changes in the future…In theory, the 1931 Michigan near-total ban on abortion goes back into effect. In practice, there will be additional legal challenges to the law. Nessel and other prosecutors have also already announced they would not pursue charges against anyone
who sought an abortion.” While the Heartbeat bill is still new and freshly impacting our surrounding states, it can be inferred that in the near future Michigan too will be affected by the repercussions of this bill. Troy High’s student body and Michigan as a state must do more to educate their youth on important bills that could have the potential to influence people in their community. As expressed, the Heartbeat bill is still relatively young, and could potentially evolve into a smaller or bigger piece of legislature in the future, and could even pave a path to more conversations about women’s reproductive rights.
IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW IS DEALING WITH TEEN PREGNANTCY Womens care center: (269) 684-4040 Planned parenthood: (734) 619-7580 My choice Network Berkley: (248) 545-6411
NEWS
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A New Look and Feel After a busy summer, a new space waits to read and learn. Matthew Grabowski // Staff Reporter Over this past summer, the librarians and construction workers worked hard on revamping Troy High School’s media center. The media center was in dire need of revamp, and is now looking better than ever for the new school year. The shiny and modern media center makes the school feel new, chic and calm. The new media center affects many people here at Troy High School. The Chariot was able to interview people who are linked to the library and have had major changes to their day-to-day lives at Troy High. Toni Issac, Troy High’s Media Specialist, had a varying but overall positive reaction to the new changes in the space. “All things considered, I think it went very smoothly,” Issac said, “I was really hoping
I’d be able to move into the library two weeks before school started, but because of supply issues and staffing issues they were a little bit behind schedule so I was not able to move in until about a week after school started.” While the new media center ultimately had a beneficial impact, Isaac said some things weren’t good news. “It’s been a lot of extra work. We just today unpacked the last of the boxes that the books were in,” she said, “We’re a little bit tight on shelf space because I did lose a lot of my shelving with the renovation. I had to eliminate 6000 books from the collection in order to make them all fit.” The new media center also affects the students at Troy High as well. Senior Julianne Pabalan, is a student assistant at the library. She provided
her input on the media center’s renovation. “The library is a lot nicer, and gives me a lot more space to study, and just do my job,”she said. Pabalan also discussed what other students had in store for them in the media center. “The students are able to check out any book available, and they are also able to study and chill out in here before and after school,” she said. With the new media center renovation, teachers also have a new space to teach students. This is especially exciting to the English department. When asked about teaching in the media center, English teacher Suria Ali-Ahmed said, “For me, I love the library, so I always love teaching there, even before the renovation, and I will continue to do that.”
1-800-Please-Hold
Ali-Ahmed also talked about viting and homey, and I think the new layout. it attracts kids to want to go “I think they’re still in the there and when there’s books, process of organizing all of the they’re more likely to pick books, I don’t think the books something off the shelf and are there yet, I think they’re read it, because it’s a really still in the process of putting nice and peaceful space.” things together, but she did a After a summer filled with really good job of telling every- renovation, the media center one where everything is, and at Troy High has turned from doing orientation.” an outdated, uncomfortable Ali-Ahmed also discussed and bland space to a colorful, her thoughts on the changes welcoming and open one. This to the media center’s appear- crucial space within Troy High ance. is now a place that people can “The spacing, and the phys- study, read and learn. ical layout feel a lot more inPhoto by Matthew Grabowski
With a lack of feedback about the use of mental health resources and hotlines, the cycle of negative experiences continues. Michelle Baik // Staff Reporter, Graphic by Raneen AlRammahi// Social Media Editor 1-800-273-8255. The number on the back of all Troy High School’s student IDs. But what really lies behind this number? What it might be like to actually dial 1-800-2738255-- the National Suicide Prevention Hotline? This hotline, among other mental health resources, has been heavily relied on as a safe place to get help. Many view the hotlines as extremely positive and effective. However, because the usage of a hotline or resource is a relatively private matter, our society lacks feedback about how well the system works. Sometimes, the Suicide Hotline has proven to be less effective and unhelpful, with issues such as long holds, lack of intimacy and connec-
tion and difficult employees. Making sure that these critiques get to the workers in this field would greatly benefit future users. A Troy High student, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of this piece, had tried using the suicide hotline. They were put on hold for an hour. “After the first call I’ve never ever tried to call again,” they said, “What was the point of calling when they were going to leave me on hold for almost an hour...When someone could already be gone, and when that someone could have been me?” On the other hand, Thomas Keegan, a counselor at Troy High School, stated that the
suicide hotline “is definitely effective.” “I think it’s helpful for those who need it,” said
Kaireen O’Hanisain, Troy High School’s psychologist, “I think that it is easy to access.”
Many professionals also seem to agree. Although our anonymous source is only one person out of the many who have tried the hotlines and cannot summarize or represent the overall review in its entirety, it is still concerning that many mental health professionals seem to be unaware of the possible setbacks of the hotline. Additionally, in a recent Chariot survey of Troy High students, 56.3 percent of respondents agreed that mental health resources and hotlines were not effective. Hopefully, increasing awareness about the varied feedback about this system can also help improve the hotline in general. “Making it known who’s on
the other end of the hotline [would improve the system]… I think that people might be more open to reaching out and connecting with the person,” said Keegan. If there was a more effective feedback system to share negative experiences with the people who work in this field and spread awareness about some of the shortcomings of suicide hotlines, it could greatly benefit the people who need it. This could break the assumption that hotlines and other resources are fine as they are. Continued efforts to advocate for change in the mental health resources system could create a new safe haven for the students who are struggling.
EDITORIAL
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9
EDITORIAL Disclaimer: This article contains mentions of rape, child molestation and serial murder. Please read with caution. On the off chance that you ever search up Troy High School on Wikipedia, and scroll down to the alumni list, you’ll find a very … diverse mix of people who have attended Troy High. We have everything from NBA players (Bud Acton and Henry Akin) to actors (Sutton Foster and Ellen Hollman), but as you continue to scroll through the list-- you may pause, because right above Steven Yeun, from Minari and The Walking Dead, there’s the name Aileen Wuornos, “serial killer”. Aileen “Lee” Wuornos, known for being America’s most notorious female serial killer, was once a former student at Troy High School, class of 1974. She was born on Feb. 29, 1956 in Rochester, Michigan. Aileen, her older brother Keith, and her older sister Lori, grew up with their grandparents after being abandoned by their mother, months before Aileen’s fourth birthday. However, her grandparents failed to provide a healthy upbringing for Aileen and her siblings, as her grandmother was a known alcoholic and their grandfather an abuser. She never knew her father, as he was arrested for child molestation before she was born, and subsequently took his own life in prison. She was the youngest of three siblings. Wuornos was kicked out of her home after her grandmother died, and resorted to prostitution in order to support herself. Bouncing from home to home, she managed to make enough to keep herself afloat. While some administrators and counselors may have known pieces of Aileen’s story, most of the staff and students at Smith Middle School (where Aileen attended until 1970), were only made aware of what truly happened when her case started to make the news in the late 1990s and early 2000s. According to former Smith Middle School teacher, John Bancroft, the teachers at the time were not aware of the events occurring in the Wuornos home: “There are a lot of people — teachers, counselors, administrators — that worked there then, that feel so bad, because we didn’t know what was going on in her life,” he said. “The teachers didn’t know it, the principal didn’t know it. Or else they would have done something. As a teacher, you want to protect your students. And when it didn’t happen correctly, for no good reason, it still bugs you.” As to her behavior in school, Bancroft shared, “She was not a bad student, she wasn’t trouble in class, but she had a real short fuse.” The sentiment regarding
Wuornos’ short temper was also shared by Dawn Botkins, Wuornos’ closest friend. Through her sister, Lori Wuornos, Aileen Wuornos first met Dawn Botkins. Botkins would soon become a close friend of Aileen Wuornos and would remain in touch with Wuornos until the day of her eventual execution. In a recent Chariot interview with Dawn Botkins, Botkins explained how Wuornos was treated in society and more specifically in school. “They just judged her and put her down, and she knew nobody really cared for her,” Botkins shared. “But she knew when her and I hung out during the day, I was her number one.” Dawn further elaborated on Aileen’s interactions with her peers: “None of the kids would have anything to do with her,” she explained, citing the fact that people spread rumors about Aileen and her private life. “I never asked her, ‘Did you really have a baby?’ or ‘Are you really a prostitute?’ Of course not, why would I say that? [Because] If you treated her right, she treated you right, too. Guess nobody treated her right but me.” According to the Troy High School student records that Chariot reporters obtained, Aileen loved to watch television and was known for drawing her own comics, but was introverted and kept mostly to herself. Aileen was often ridiculed and ostracized by her peers for having a baby at the age of 14, conceived as the result of a rape by her grandfather’s friend. After dropping out of High School, Aileen hitchhiked from Michigan to Colorado to Florida. During her time in Florida, Aileen killed seven men from 1989 to 1990. Similar to other serial killers, Aileen
targeted the same type of people, middle-aged white men. Her first murder victim was a man by the name Richard Mallory, the owner of an electrical shop, who was found several miles away from his abandoned vehicle. Like all of her future victims, he was killed with numerous shots to the chest from a handgun. David Spears and Charles Carskaddon were both found within five days of one another in June of 1990, the former being discovered nude with the exception of a baseball hat. In the same month, Peter Siems was also killed by Wuornos, according to her own confession, although his body was never found. Troy Burress, in late July of the same year, was reported missing. He was later found in early August in Marion County, partially decomposed, but the evidence of two bullet holes was still apparent. Charles “Dick” Humphreys, a former police chief, was also found in the same county as Burress in September of 1990. The body of Walter Jeno Antonio was found in November, mostly nude. However, differing from previous victims, Antonio was shot in the head as opposed to the chest area. The commonalities between the murders eventually led to Aileen Wuornos’ arrest on Jan. 9, 1991. It was only seven days later, on the 16th, that she confessed to one of the murders, with the initial claim that it was self-defense. However, Aileen later contradicted herself in court stating, “I robbed them, and I killed them as cold as ice, and I would do it again, and I know I would kill another person because I’ve hated humans for a long time.”
One year later, in Jan.1992, Wuornos was tried and convicted for the murder of Richard Mallory. She would later confess to five additional murders. Aileen would receive her death sentence Jan. 31, 1992. Botkins still recalls the last visit she ever had with Aileen as one of their favorites.. “That was our best visit ever,” Botkins recalled, “for four hours, we just laughed.” Aileen Wuornos was executed on Oct. 9, 2002. Despite being faced with her own death, however, Botkins describes Aileen’s final night as peaceful, happy, and unusual. “I mean, how many people have to be woken up for their own execution? Most people can’t sleep,” Botkins said. In 2021, with details of her story reemerging with the new movie “Aileen Wuornos: American Boogeywoman,” starring Peyton List, and the recent anniversary of her death, the interest in her grows. The blue link, reading Troy High School, on her Wikipedia page will forever lead her back to her Troy roots, and remind the Troy community of all we have lost at the hands of Aileen Wuornos.
Graphic by Anjali Sanil // Graphics Editor, Photo courtesy of the Troy High Gladiator
10
FEATURES
Loving a Lie
Students and staff shed light on relationship red flags. Raneen AlRammahi // Social Media Editor, Ashley Park // Body Copy Editor, Graphic by Raneen AlRammahi Many may have heard of the infamous story of Gabby Petito. A sweet 22-year old woman who is assumed to be murdered by her “loving” fiancé. While on a road trip with her partner, Brian Laundrie, Petito went missing and never arrived at their destination. Her fiancé has fled from law enforcement and is yet to be found. Their story sparks nationwide conversation about an important issue: domestic abuse. More often than not, it’s only talked about until after it’s too late. It’s important to realize that abuse comes in many different forms and can start at any age. According to a survey done by The Chariot staff, an alarming 55.6 percent of the respondents were not able to catch the warning signs of an abusive relationship. Knowing the signs can help prevent domestic violence as well as save victims from further harm. School psychologist, Kaireen O’Hanisain, tells us the basic signs of abuse. “When you think about domestic violence, it’s always about power and control,” she
says, “…it may look different in any relationship…but the underlying theme is power and control.” These major red flags are the most important factors to know whether or not the relationship is abusive. Examples of this behavior include “control of what the victim wears and how they act, demeaning the victim either privately or publicly,” says the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV). However, there are times where the signs aren’t as noticeable. “Either one of them might belittle the other one for their job, or belittle an accomplishment, or have a pet name for them that’s a negative pet name…,” O’Hanisain says.“It’s demeaning and it’s hurtful, but they make it sound not.” One person, who wished to stay anonymous for personal reasons, decided to share their story with The Chariot. They started dating their ex-boyfriend in December of 8th grade, and things were all good until their first break up
Photo courtesy of senior Srishti Gowda
in May. After being apart for nine months, they decided to get back together. “In February I confessed my feelings and we started dating again. It was really nice at first, it was everything I could have wanted,” they said. “But around the time that lock-down started, he started changing.” Their partner asked for the relationship to progress in ways they were uncomfortable with, they explained. However, due to the dynamics of the relationship, our source didn’t feel like they could voice their concerns to their partner. “I didn’t want to make him self conscious, so I didn’t tell him I was uncomfortable.” Eventually things started to escalate. “The first time I visited I avoided doing anything ‘too serious,’ but the second time I wasn’t so lucky,” they said, “I don’t remember much from it, as I blocked it out, but I went home that night feeling wrong.” They went on further, explaining how that the relationship began to spiral out of their
control. That was, until their boyfriend stopped talking to them again. “I didn’t actually realize what the relationship was until after he broke up with me,” they said, “It took me a couple of weeks before it hit me what had happened.” Many victims don’t recognize that they’re in abusive relationships because abuse is often normalized. According to the NCADV, many abusers will manipulate victims and will “try to convince the person they are abusing that they do these things out of love or care.” O’Hanisain agrees, further explaining the thought process of the victims. “The more you make someone feel bad about themselves, that person is more apt to stay in that relationship with you because they feel like they can’t get anyone else,” she says. But why does abuse happen? O’Hanisain states her own thoughts about the issue. “Some people think it’s a pattern…I believe… a lot of it has to do with insecurity,” she
said, “…It’s out of insecurity and fear of losing that person, so they become that way so they don’t leave.” The people surrounding the victims are important. School counselor Ali Ali-Ahmed talked about how to receive help: “If you think you’re in an abusive relationship, please seek help from an adult that you can trust and do not feel like you have to handle it on your own,” Ali-Ahmed says, “I always tell my students that together we’re much stronger than we’re alone.” O’Hanisain provides some more advice on how to confront the situation. “If you see a friend that you suspect is in that type of relationship, you have to be supportive and not attack it.” O’Hanisain says,“Don’t make them defensive because then the defensiveness makes them feel worse and lets them retreat back into that relationship more.”
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
No Dip, Amateur Sherlocks
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Amateur sleuths take to social media to uncover pop culture’s biggest mysteries. Abby Werenka // Staff Reporter On Sept. 7, 2021, reality star and beauty mogul Kylie Jenner finally put the rumors to rest, allowing internet sleuths and conspiracy theorists alike to breathe a collective sigh of relief. They were correct, she was expecting her second child. But, they had a lot of people convinced weeks earlier. In an interview with Buzzfeed News, Tiffany O’Neil, the TikToker who claims to have started the viral theory, said that it was meant to prove that she was right to her friends. “I made the video so I could jokingly be like I told you so … not expecting anyone to see it,” she explained. But, people caught on. O’Neil admits, “I really couldn’t believe it was spreading so fast and reaching that many people.”
In the following weeks, other users began compiling alleged evidence into TikToks of their own, effectively growing the theory into a massive story. Jenner confirmed her pregnancy two weeks later. When so much of their lives are shared with the public, especially for celebrities who have grown up in the spotlight such as Jenner, it almost seems far fetched when they choose to keep something private. Practically everything people need to know about celebrities is readily available through the click of a button and with humanity’s constant need to be entertained, social media has only made that curiosity stronger. For years, people have been enthralled with the personal lives of celebrities. “I think even before social media was really big we saw
that with tabloid culture,” says junior Mary Germilhac. “[People] need to mind their own business at times,” agrees Kaitlyn Calle, a junior. So this begs the question, have people taken social media too far? While it may provide people great entertainment, celebrities deserve privacy too.
Photo by Ainsley Gioro
Homecoming Fashion Guidebook Student trends change to reflect current trends and event requirements. Ellen Seo // Staff Reporter Two years have passed since the last homecoming dance in 2019 as COVID-19 forced both Troy High students and the homecoming dance into quarantine last year. Students who didn’t have any homecoming dance experience were confused on what dress they should pick. Before considering the fashion trends, students needed to be aware of regulations on dresses. Student government president, Alexander Matthews explains, “At the homecoming dance, no heels would be allowed in, but also you can’t go barefoot.” Matthews said, “You have to bring flats of any kind, converse, sandals, whatever works. But we also want people to bring jackets in case it’s cold because it will be outside.” He also added that these regulations could be changed next year since they were implemented due to holding the
dance outside. Senior Ariel Perkowski shares her advice on the homecoming matter as she replies, “For the girls, don’t wear heels. Bring extra shoes” Now to the most important element: the dress. Freshman Daniel Lee said it should be “...something that suits you.” Furthermore, he suggested that getting other people’s opinions on what you should wear is a good idea. Homecoming dresses can either be semi-formal or casual. Usually, the length is over the knee, but students could also wear long dresses if they chose to. The colors vary from black to vivid yellow. This year, there were a number of students who preferred dresses with stripes, flowers, or other unique patterns over simple party dresses. Some
wore dresses with a short front and a long back. There was no right or wrong homecoming dress if students respected the regulations and brought extra shoes. Many students even incorporated their coats into their look, which was brought due to the chillier weather. Overall, it is important to remember, the best dress is the one that makes you shine, not the one that follows the fashion trend.
Photo by Ainsley Gioro
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
The Grand Return of Y2K
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Early 2000’s fashion is making its return in 2021. Ainsley Giorio// Staff Reporter, Graphic by Raneen AlRammahi // Social Media Editor In recent years, those involved in the fashion scene have seen the revival of Y2K fashion, or fashion highly prevalent in the early 2000s; with both Millennials and Gen-Z’ers hopping on this trend . This may be related to the fashion trend cycle, celebrities and some form of nostalgia. The trend cycle in fashion has been around forever, as they say, what goes around comes around. A trend cycle starts with a style being introduced (or reintroduced) likely by a celebrity or designer who largely affects fashion. That style is accepted by people publicly and is worn by general consumers, staying prominent in fashion for a number of years. Then, the style slowly loses favor among younger crowds and is eventually exiled as a thing of the past until the cycle repeats. Recently, we have seen that the trend cycle has greatly lessened in time between recycling fashion. This is likely due to social media, and the fact that people are demanding new and unique fashion constantly. English teacher Emily Rusk shared her opinion about the fashion trend cycle, and its shrinking in length. “Back in the 2000s, we would get a lot of our fashion inspiration from magazines, so we would have to go to the store and buy magazines to see what people were wearing,” Rusk said. “Now you get that information so fast from social media, that it causes fashion to evolve faster as you are more quickly informed of trends.” Social media is causing fashion to be recycled at a rapid speed at which trends are brought back not even 20 years later. Sooner or later 2010s fashion will be back, so don’t throw away your mid-rise skinny jeans and bomber jackets. Social media’s prevalence in modern day also gives celebrities a chance to influence fash-
ion. Celebrities such as Bella Hadid, Madison Beer, Lily Rose Depp and Olivia Rodrigo have all been sporting Y2K fashion as of recently. There are many more celebrities dressed in Y2K fashion and together they have a huge influence on people, and how society perceives fashion. Then, there are celebrities such as Paris Hilton, Rihanna and Britney Spears who have stayed prevalent in pop culture through the years. Celebrities like this cause nostalgia especially amongst millennials, who have a big hand in how fashion is categorized today. The recent pandemic has caused many people to feel the effects of lack of socialization. With Millennials growing up in
the early 2000s and Gen-Z being heavily affected by Y2K pop culture, fashion from the early 2000s is a huge aspect of both generations’ childhoods. When asked if she remembers the early 2000s as a better time, English teacher Christina Rick said, “The lack of media that was easily accessible in the early 2000s, kinda created this bubble where I didn’t really realize reality.” Rick said, “That may be where some of the happiness was from, more of an ignorance. I do think the lack of connection was nice as it allowed me to be more childlike for longer.” Many people in both generations categorize the early 2000s as a “better time”,
so subconsciously many may choose to dress like it’s still the 2000s to achieve that same feeling. Of course, all of these opinions are coming from the internet, and opinions found on the internet are often more extreme. Big corporations have also managed to re-modernize clothing without facing the constant comparison to previous fashion trends. English teacher Harriet Clark shared her experience. “Think about boot leg jeans or flare jeans . . . They are the same type of jeans, we just renamed them.” Clark said, “Or like flare yoga pants, we used to call them yoga pants and now you guys call them leggings,” Big corporations renamed
or used synonyms for previously fashionable items of clothing. A brand that is guilty of this is Pink. They were very popular in the early 2000s with their low-rise yoga pants, and today they sell high-waisted leggings that are advertised as workout attire. People are no longer looking for yoga pants as we now interpret that article of clothing as old and unappealing, whereas leggings are considered trendy and versatile. Y2K is coming back and there is no hiding from it. So dust off your low rise jeans, baby-doll dresses, and velour tracksuits. Whether you’re happy or not about Y2K’s revival, it was bound to happen.
SPORTS
All or Nothing Exploring the cause for the THS football team’s winning streak. Vanisa Kumar // Editor-in-Chief
Troy High School, as well as many rival schools, can’t deny our football team has been crushing it lately with the wins. With the season coming to an end, it is important to acknowledge and recognize our team’s achievement and dedication to their game, and take time to analyze who or what they may owe their success to. Football coach Brady Blackwell expresses what he believes the team’s success is owed to and what factors play a role in the creation of a winning team. “We have great senior leadership and they have worked extremely hard in the off season and that has carried over to this season” Blackwell said. “Many of our players started on last year’s team and that experience combined with their athleticism has led us to the start we have had.” Blackwell sheds light on the behind the scenes work that led to the amazing success of the Troy High football team’s season so far, and begins to describe how a sport’s off-season can be very important and
very beneficial for the overall prosperity of a team. Following the theme of out of season work and maintenance, according to an article written by Ohio University titled Why is Off-Season Athletic Training Important? The off season can be a time to train, community build, and strategize, for upcoming seasons. “It’s important to maintain athletic prowess, because it’s much easier to stay in shape than get back into shape,” the article said, “off-season training is important regardless of the sport because it is a time to rest, develop, improve and focus on skills that directly and indirectly affect competitive performance”. However it’s not just Blackwell and Ohio University that believe the off-season dedication drives a team to success. Football coach Chris Frasier also seems to agree. “I think our team experience and off-season investment are the biggest reason for our success...They learned what worked and also what things they needed to work on
before this year started” Fraiser said. “As a group, they all made a huge investment in the off-season, both in the weight room and during our camps. These investments have paid off this year with the current success they are experiencing on the field.” To further understand what the team’s success is dedicated
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Photo courtesy of @Troy__Athletics to, senior George Lawless, ex- skill set so they can work as plains the team atmosphere one team, one unit.” and how their feelings for The family dynamic that one another, and their overall our coaches and players have bond as a whole, plays a big managed to interweb in their part in their triumph. team, and the dedicated and “The thing that has contrib- purposeful steps taken to conuted the most is us as a family, tinue to do better even in the we all love each other and will off-season, have definitely fight for each other.” Lawless paved the path to accomplishsaid. “We all have the heart ments for our football team. for the sport and it’s starting As many sources both in and to show”. out of Troy High’s team say, An article written by An- the support within the team thony Stone in 2017 titled The drives them to do better, and Importance of Transforming in turn, play better; and as a Football Team into a Family Lawless said, further solidifies the idea that “With the fantastic help a good team bond is necessary of our coaching staff we have for any football team’s success. been able to play for each oth“Football is more than just er and our family. As well as a game - it’s a bond, and it goes Troy High”. beyond the football field... Something happens every time they step on the field. Players learn to rely on each other because football is not a sport of individuals or play-makers. It is a sport that unifies individuals into a working machine.” Stone said. “The quarterback needs the offensive line just as much as the tight ends and the receivers. The offense relies on the success of the defense and vice versa. It is crucial that every player is fine tuned in their
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SPORTS
The Lesser-Known Sports of Troy High Students should be informed about other sport teams offered at Troy High. Urvi Patil // Staff Reporter Most parents feel proud if their kids are on a soccer, football or basketball team. But there are many other sports that Troy High offers which many students and parents are not so aware of. Troy High has many students who are passionate about sports and want to participate in them during their four years here. However, not all sports are well-known and these lesser-known sports should be brought to the attention of students so they might develop interest in them. Some of these lesser-known sports include sailing, rugby and girl’s ice hockey. All of which are currently taking place at Troy High, yet lack regular student recognition. Each of these sports take place in different seasons of
the school year. Girls ice hockey taking place during winter, sailing taking place during fall, and rugby taking place during the spring season. Students could find interests in sports even if they do not consider themselves to be athletic. Junior sailing captain, Monika Torkos has advice for students who want to get into sailing. “If you want to join, I’d say go for it, we have a lot of people there who aren’t athletic”. Torkos said, “You don’t have to be athletic to actually participate in the sport, just come out and try it. Be ready to learn about the sport and all the boats and just to make a bunch of new friends because in the sport everyone there is basically family.”
Photo by Luanni Ford // Web Editor
There is also more to a sport than only competitions. Professor at Oakland University and coach of Troy High rugby team, Rob Anderson explains how rugby is more than just a sport. “One of the things that I think is really distinctive about rugby as a sport is that it’s not just a sport, it’s a culture, and the players who get involved in rugby and play for a long time actually come to love culture rugby as much as the sport, and part of the culture is it’s a sport that’s built on respect.” Anderson said. There are many key takeaways these sports can teach to students. Ice hockey coach, Joseph Moceri mentions the skills the sport can teach students and how it implements
these skills in their daily lives, too. “The skills that it teaches are strength, endurance, conditioning, perseverance, teamwork, decision making and it also teaches you to not give up.” Moceri said. Sports can also come with helpful advice for people who want to participate. Moceri gives advice for going into girl’s ice hockey: “I would give them the advice to train hard, practice a lot, never give up, always keep on trying, there’s always something you can learn, even the professional hockey players, they still have people that train them and work with them all the time.” By acknowledging these sports, students would be able
to take challenges in trying out new athletic opportunities to see if they’re a good fit for them. All sports require teamwork, hard work and dedication, which is a life learning experience for everyone. Trying out a new sport can help students venture outside their boundaries to learn something new. They never know that might become their passion and they may have the opportunity to play at a higher level in the future, too.
OPINION
COVID-19+School
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A look into the school year of 2021. Hannah Lee // Staff Reporter, Graphic by Anjali Sanil // Graphics Editor March 2020, a month that turned the world upside down. Eighteen months later, Troy High is back to normal with precautions. Last year was very different because of the hybrid schooling system that was used as the first step in going back to a somewhat normal life. During hybrid learning, school ended before lunch, now school ends at the usual time of 2:10 p.m. Masks had to be mandated along with some social distancing rules. This is to reduce the contact with people who do have COVID-19. Although school is back to ”normal”, getting the virus, even with a vaccine, is still a possible risk. Thus, masks must be mandated. Mask-wearing has been a large debate this past year with some people believing they are not necessary and some believing they are crucial. However, the CDC said, “ ….use of face coverings onboard was associated with a 70% reduced risk.” In a tightly packed and enclosed palace, like the stairs, spread could be at higher risk than an empty hallway. Keeping masks on, and wearing them properly, can protect family members and most importantly, yourself. To avoid and decrease the risk of getting the virus, wearing the mask over the nose at all times (unless necessary) can keep everyone safe. Principle Remo Roncone said, “...the vast majority of our community did not complain about the mandate… we are in a good place with it at the moment.” Masks have been a crucial part of the pandemic and have proved necessary. Although masks are not the most ideal thing to wear for 6+ hours, most students are wearing the masks the way they are supposed to be worn. However, there are some
students who wear masks incorrectly and at times, don’t wear one at all. It’s the same students who are wearing it under the nose. It really is not difficult to wear masks above the nose. Most are uncomfortable but staying safe should be the priority instead of the comfort associated with keeping it below the nose. If face coverings are worn below the nose, the purpose of it is defeated. Water droplets can travel into noses and mouths so if one of the two individuals involved is not covered, the virus will still be able to travel. Moving masks above the nose can make all the difference. It really isn’t hard to keep it on, especially in the indoor setting of the school. Some people are at more risk than others, and being considerate of the people who are can be shown by wearing the masks correctly. Being responsible for making someone sick, especially someone at a greater risk, will result in guilt.
Since there is a possibility of returning back to virtual school, which was most of last year, keeping masks on and wearing them properly will decrease that chance. Masks are what allow us to be in a school setting. If masks are being worn improperly, this allows the virus to spread and increases the chance of school getting shut down. Virtual school has shown the impacts as it offers no real connection with teachers and peers. The separation of learning through a screen has shown detrimental impact on most students. Sophomore Luisa Castro said, “Virtual school was really difficult and took a toll on me mentally and physically too,” Luisa speaks for the majority of the people about feelings toward virtual school. It is very hard to work when the comfort of a bed is sitting right next to you. “Motivation was lost and it became harder to do school,” she said.
To prevent loss of motivation, staying in a school setting is very important to some people to stay on top of things. There is a reason school is in a building where everyone gathers and not done individually over a zoom call. The importance of masks was shown greatly over the last year. Cases in Michigan haven’t gone down for a reason. The reason being is that masks are not being worn correctly and in some places not mandatory at all. According to Beaumont hospital doctor, Matthew Sims, there’s “no reason to take the risk of making this optional.” An indoor setting with people not wearing masks will produce a hotspot that makes the spread of the virus more quick and effective. Life before masks won’t be back anytime soon. Obviously, this goal is far from reach since there are high cases of COVID-19 even with a vaccine. If there is constantly an issue of not wearing
masks, how much longer will it take? It has already been a year and a half. People are ready to return to a life without having to worry about being sick. This pandemic stole the time of many people and it is time to return back.
A Letter from the Editors
Vanisa Kumar// Print Editor-in-Chief
Luanni Ford// Website Editor-in-Chief
Last year, we had an untraditional way of publishing. Last year we would send the newspaper out to our peers by links rather than by paper. But that was last year. This year with a large majority of the student body being back in person we are excited to get back to doing what we do best… distributing news. With eight returners, six of them being editors and ten being new staff reporters, we hope to give a voice and represent the student body of Troy High to the best of our ability. We plan on shedding light on ideas, topics and movements not as heavily discussed, conducting interviews with exciting new sources, and incorporating new types of media, such as podcasts and comics, into our news. We thank last year’s editors for training and preparing us to write in unfavorable conditions. In a strange way last year made our publication resilient, to time, absence of an audience, and even to a global pandemic. This year our plan is to continue to build off of the ideas of our predecessors and be the publication we all wanted to be in the height of COVID-19. This is The Chariot, the Troy High student newspaper.