Vol. 2, Issue 1 by The Chariot

CHARIOT THE

TROY HIGH SCHOOL

TROY, MI.

VOL. 2 ISSUE 1

SEPT. 30, 2016

CROSSING THE LINE PAGE 8

News

The Chariot

The official student newspaper of Troy High School troychariot.org Leah Graham, editor-in-chief Jenny Boudon, cartoonist Bianca Bucholtz, copy editor Sarah Semon, design editor Elizabeth Graham, graphic editor Silvia Hoxha, photo editor Katie Bogdanovich, source editor Elisabeth Andrews, staff writer Priya Bandstra, staff writer Tracy Cabej, staff writer Liam Clancy, staff writer Gabrielle Francois, staff writer Sarah Funk, staff writer Kendyl Gatzemeyer, staff writer Skyla Jewell-Hammie, staff writer Patti Kubota, staff writer Sara Lewandowski, staff writer Morgan MacDonald, staff writer Kaitlyn Piggott, staff writer Annie Smuts, staff writer Stella Spagnuolo, staff writer Jack Stromberg, staff writer Natalie Suh, staff writer Megan Wallace, staff writer Maddie Young, staff writer Jayna Rumble, adviser

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 or 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 a non-review role and may offer advice on sensitive issues and will offer criticisms as warranted 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 editor represent those of the author. Letters to the editor 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 204 at Troy High School or via email at troynewspaper@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 return the letter to the author with an opportunity for corrections. The Editorial Board is solely responsible for these decisions. Letters must be received one week prior to print publication to be included in print.

PHOTO BY LEAH GRAHAM

A Letter from the Editors Senior design editor Sarah Semon works with staffers sophomores Sara Lewandowski and Morgan MacDonald.

Welcome to the first issue, and welcome back to school, even if being here isn’t really a choice. Dear Readers, We’ve asked ourselves many times why we put so much work into this paper. Approaching the one-year anniversary of the Chariot’s first issue, we decided we should probably figure it out. There is so much that goes on here: the back and forth of brainstorming sessions, the pizza boxes that accumulate during deadline, the elation of finally sending the paper to print, the parties on distribution day. Chasing down ideas is an undeniably cool way to spend a class period, and there are definite perks to being a student journalist. Rarely do we pay to get into games, and the snacks in the food cubby are lifesavers when we don’t think we can make through the day. Interviews can be horribly awkward, but after a while we realized our classmates aren’t too bad. Believe it or not, there are some pretty amazing people at this school. Most of you, in fact, have extraordinary stories. But to answer the original question, maybe we just care

too much. This endeavor only started last year, and we spend countless hours trying to make this whole thing work. And for the most part, it has. So we feel we owe it to that year of progress already under our belts, and to Mrs. Rumble, and to the staff, and maybe ourselves to some extent, to keep working, to keep trying new things. Yes, we still make grammatical errors and spell names wrong, and kudos to those of you who catch them. We may not always be totally successful, but we’ll keep trying. Sisyphus had his rock, and we have the Chariot. We set out to make something, and we want to do right by that. We want the Chariot to last long after we graduate, so, yes, we do care, and probably too much. But we think that’s alright, because caring about something helps with the mind-numbing boredom of high school. Four years is a long time, so we suggest finding something to care about while you’re here. Thanks for reading, The Editors.

Teen Proposes Hijab Emoji

Students react to the call for and possible creation of an emoji that represents girls who wear hijabs.

BY SARAH SEMON // DESIGN EDITOR Rayouf Alhumedhi is a 15-year-old girl, living in Germany, who sparked a protest to include all when it comes to social media and technology- specifically, emojis. According to Huffington Post, Alhumedhi sent a proposal into the committee who creates and develops emojis for women who wear hijabs and men who wear keffiyehs. The focal point of Alhumedhi’s petition is that she felt that more should be done to include people. “Emojis are more impactful and utilized than ever before. Millions use them to convey feelings, appearances and stories,” Alhumedhi wrote in her proposal. She has since come into contact with those on the committee and there are reports that the hijab emoji might be launched by next year. On hearing news of the protest, many students had positive feedback. “If there was a hijab emoji, that would be pretty cool,” senior Taalia Azhnruddin said. “I would totally be down.” Students also highlighted the potential apprehension that might be tacked onto a movement like this.

“With everything going on in the world, like terrorism, people might be a little uncomfortable with it and when it comes to companies like Apple, they aren’t trying to make a political statement,” senior Maahaa Aulakh said. Overall, she said she felt the purpose of emojis, particularly a hijabi girl emoji, GRAPHIC BY LEAH GRAHAM is “to make the text or whatever you’re sending more relatable.” “When you use emojis, it’s to help you create a picture in your mind almost. I think to add a girl in a hijab would be relative to a lot of people’s lives,” Aulakh said.

COVER PHOTO BY LEAH GRAHAM

News

English Teacher Begins Cancer Treatment After a series of tests over the summer, Jennifer Opalewski discovers a tumor in her chest; doctors diagnose her with stage 2 non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

BY LEAH GRAHAM // EDITOR-IN-CHIEF English teacher Jennifer Opalewski took a year off of teaching this fall per her doctor’s orders after being diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. A CT Scan in August revealed a large tumor in her chest. “I suspected for almost a year that something wasn’t right,” Opalewski said. “I wasn’t feeling good on a regular basis and had been to the doctor’s office at least 12 times before finally admitting myself to the hospital.” At Troy Beaumont, Opalewski had two surgeries to confirm the diagnosis, a type of non-Hodgkins lymphoma. “I had to start treatment immediately at the hospital because the tumor was pressing on my lungs and other vital areas,” she said. According to cancer.org, the overall 5-year relative survival rate for people with NHL is about 70 percent. “I was scared upon receiving my diagnosis; however, I felt relieved finally having answers as to why I was so sick for so long,” Opalewski said. “I am a person of very strong faith so no matter how I reacted or felt, this was always God’s plan for me- whether I understand it or not.” Opalewski completed her second chemotherapy treatment in September. “The chemo treatments are very tough on my body but this is what we must do in order to heal me,” she said. “I received my diagnosis surrounded by my entire family and they have not left my side since. It’s a beautiful thing to be supported by such a generous and loving family.” Opalewski said that while she appreciates being able to spend more time with her daughter, she misses her students. “I cannot describe how much I miss Troy High,” she said. “Every single day I wonder how my students are doing. I’m sure my 10 Honors students are wishing they could come talk to me about their first 11AP essay and how they ‘failed’ with a B. I miss my ninth graders and wonder how they are doing with their new courses- especially after having one year under their belts.” Students of Opalewski’s said they miss her as well. “It’s really sad. Every day after fifth hour I went to go

PHOTO COURTESY JENNIFER OPALEWSKI

English teacher Jennifer Opalewski smiles beside her husband Larry and daugher Cecelia prior to her diagnosis.

visit her and talk to her about life, and now I can’t do that any more,” senior Howard Li said. “She is a really amazing person, really friendly, really sweet, and she made class interesting and fun. She is my favorite teacher ever. She’s a really cool person.” Senior Shannon Lin agreed. “She made a big impact on my life as a student and being in her class was an enjoyment,” she said. “She was the turning point of my English career.” After Opalewski finished her second round of chemo, her

Student to Move to China

doctors gave her “great news.” “After only two cycles my tumor has reduced in size by half,” Opalewski said. “So, all is well. Cece actually calls this “mommy’s adventure” and she begins every morning by reading to me in my room.” Opalewski said she plans to return to teaching next year and encourages her students to keep in touch. “I’ve received some emails and they brightened my day,” she said. “Even though I am not physically there, I’m still here for my students and I hope they know that.”

Senior Chris Chen will relocate to Beijing to finish his final year of high school.

BY SILVIA HOXHA // PHOTO EDITOR

Senior Chris Chen will move to Beijing, China on Oct. 5, less than a month into the new school year. “My mother moved to China because of her job,” Chen said. “My sister is going to graduate school, and I will be going to college soon, so she wanted to get a better financial support for my sister and myself.” Chen said he is anxious but excited about new opportunities that moving to another country will open for him. “I am pretty happy to be going somewhere [else],” Chen said. “I have never lived in China before, and I am excited to be living in a city with potentially more things to do. I will be happy to be with my family and do all the things I missed out on by living my whole life in Troy.”

PHOTO BY ELIZABETH GRAHAM

Despite his eagerness to experience a different culture, Chen still has his doubts when it comes to adapting to the new environment. “I think I am more sad than excited because there is so much I wanted to do senior year that I will be missing,” Chen said. “I also do not speak Chinese very well.” Chen will continue his senior year in China and will attend the Western Academy Of Beijing. Afterward, he intends to return back to America around summer time. “I will be going to college here, so I am moving back myself,” Chen said. Regarding school, Chen said he will miss his friends most of all. “Something I want to do [before I move] is hang out with my friends and help some of the ones I worry about,” Chen said. Chen’s friends say that his absence will not go unnoticed.

“We have been friends for a long time, since we were in middle school,” senior Kevin Li said. “I am going to miss everything about him. He is one of my true friends. I will miss talking to him.” Regardless of not being able to finish his senior year with his friend, Li said he is equally enthusiastic for Chen to experience a new region of the world. “He is going to finally learn how to speak Chinese,” Li said. Even though they will not be able to see each other for close to a year, Li said he is optimistic that they will be able to reunite once Chen returns to America. “We will probably [go to college] around the same area, so I will just meet him up there after he comes back,” Li said. Chen said he is anticipating many great things to come, especially concerning his new school. “My new school is an international school, so I am excited to learn about the IB program and the international curriculum,” Chen said.

News

Absences Now Marked on Transcripts Administration announces changes to the student attendance policy.

BY ELIZABETH GRAHAM // GRAPHICS EDITOR After a summer away, students returned to the news that the state of Michigan introduced a state mandated school attendance policy. All non exempt absences will now appear on high school transcripts. “Where I think it’s going to have the biggest impact personally is second semester senior year,” principal Remo Roncone said. “There tends to be a little blip in attendance. However, I don’t think it’s going to have any detrimental impact on our students getting into post-secondary institutions.” Some students are upset about the new policy. “I just don’t understand what the point is,” senior Pooja Gadhiya said. “I feel like as a senior, people miss when they have to or when it’s senior skip day. It would be ridiculous if colleges would take your atten-

dance into consideration unless it is some obscenely large number.” There are numerous exceptions to the new rule including chronic illness, religious holidays, field trips, bereavement and other extenuating circumstances. “People have a misconception that it’s ten [days], but it has been nine since way before my time,” Roncone said. The attendance change is the only modification of the traditional transcript this year, but at the moment it is still unknown if exempt absences, including suspensions, will appear on transcripts. “Because it’s still so new we’re waiting for some details from central office,” Roncone said. More information will be provided as the school year progresses.

Principal Remo Roncone holds the door open for students as they arrive in the morning. PHOTO BY LEAH GRAHAM

The Space Aims to Do ‘What School Couldn’t’ Seniors start club for discussion between students. BY KATIE BOGDANOVICH // STAFF WRITER Senior James Jim surveyed the people gathered for a meeting of The Space on Thursday, Sept. 22. He uncapped an Expo marker and drew three circles on the whiteboard, each one representing a discussion group. “We use small group conversations to foster communication, but what people will end up talking about I would say is mostly up to them,” Kim said. “Maybe you have something interesting to share, like the history of clown colleges- yes, they’re real- or a question you want to hear other voices respond to, or an idea you want some feedback on.” Kim took a step and drew an arrow to a larger circle. Eventually, he explains, the club would all come together in one big discussion. “We’re not gonna put you up against a wall until you talk or something,” Kim said. “We start the meetings with an image or questions, and then we split up into small groups to come up with a response to it, whether that be a connection you see in something you read or just a personal experience.” Moderators are the sole form of leadership in the club. They try to draw connections between the ideas and topics covered during the meeting. No subjects are restricted so long as the speaker is respectful, and digression is considered a good thing.

Students can show up with any topic they want to talk about or simply sit in on conversations. “I think it can serve a purpose unique to everyone,” Kim said. “I’d like others to consider how interesting the world is. For me, it’s a way to express my curiosities, gain knowledge from my peers and break away from the stress of formal learning. A lot of my aversion to studying came from the stigma attached to straight up academics at THS.” Senior Gustavo D’Mello is also involved with The Space. “I go to The Space because I just love everything about it,” D’Mello said. “You just go there and talk, and I’ve always liked talking, but it’s talking with a purpose. The purpose of The Space is for curious people to discuss ideas and learn more about life by just communicating with one another. Even if you’re shy and you don’t like to talk, you can just go and listen to what others are talking about and learn that way.” Kim started the The Space with senior Shreya Subramanian. “I’ve always really enjoyed learning through discussion, so this was very in line with that,” Subramanian said. “Something that’s cool about this is there’s hardly any structure and there’s a lot of freedom to bring ideas to the table that you are interested in. If there’s a topic you want to dis-

PHOTO BY LEAH GRAHAM

Seniors Daniel Qin, Gustavo D’Mello and James Kim make plans at The Space.

cuss you can just show up with it. There’s no rules.” Subramanian helped Kim name the club. “We were basically describing the space of the club in a bunch of different ways,” she said. “We just decided to go with The Space as a name because it’s so simple and it’s very ambiguous and it kind of parallels how the club itself, lacking structure, is very ambiguous.” Math teacher Sharon Douglas-Chong advises The Space. D’Mello is a discussion moderator, tasked with keeping the conver-

sation moving forward fluidly while also trying to include different people in the dialogue. “It’s just a place where people can go and not only relax but learn more about current events, culture and science, anything,” D’Mello said. “It’s kind of like what school couldn’t do, what they couldn’t pull off, if that makes sense. I want to learn about other people’s interests and adopt them and make them mine. It’s pretty cool that way.” Meetings of The Space are held on Thursdays after school at 2:15 in room 130.

News

Group Walks in 5K in Memory of Student Family and friends of late student Danial Ashtiani form a team to help raise suicide awareness.

BY SARAH FUNK // STAFF WRITER On Sunday, Oct. 9, while most people are recovering from a long night spent dancing with friends and dates, over 500 people will be joining together and walking 5 kilometers to raise money for suicide awareness. The “Out of the Darkness” walk begins at 1 p.m. on Sunday, with check-in at 11 a.m., and ends at 3 p.m. at Kensington Metro Park in Milford. It is run by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) and is one of 385 walks

across the country. The AFSP’s goal is to reduce the annual suicide rate by 20 percent by 2025 and is able to set this goal due to over 200,000 walkers participating and donating. Anyone can start a team in memorial of a loved one who battled or lost to suicide. Hasti Raveau, older sister of Danial Ashtiani, started a team called “Danny Boy” as a memorial to Danny’s death with hopes of helping to earn money along with over 100 other teams at the event. Weeks before the walk, “Danny Boy” has already earned double the goal of $1,000 with just over $2,000 raised so far thanks to over 40 donors. “It has been such an incredible feeling,” Raveau said. “At first, I had set the goal for $500, but we raised that in 24 hours. It shows the love people have for Danny, and how much they want to support this cause. Danny was the type of person who would have done anything for anyone if it meant it would bring a smile to their face, and I think his spirit is around all of us and that type of energy and love is bringing so many people together.” The total earnings of the Metro Detroit walk are over $55,000 and rising with Raveau as the fifth top contributor. Raveau’s team has 18 participants currently and is

open to anyone. “I’m participating to support anybody going through pain and people that have gone through pain and of course for Danny and [his] family and friends,” Troy High alumus Kyle Villamil said. “because we have all gone through pain and everybody can finally understand what each and every one of us has to go through so we will all be there for each other.” One person falls victim to suicide every 16 minutes. Danny was weeks shy of finishing his junior year at Troy High when his mental illnesses led to his suicide on May 30, 2016 “You know, we often hear people attend walks to support other conditions, but we never hear anyone attend a walk for suicide prevention. It is almost taboo to talk about,” Raveau said. “People are afraid to discuss the topic of suicide, and as long as we feed into this fear, we are allowing more and more individuals to lose their lives to this illness. By showing up, we are saying that we are not afraid to talk about it, that we are united, and that suicide prevention is a doable act.” Raveau invites and encourages anyone to join the team by signing up online at www. outofthedarkness.org.

Senior Brooklyn Lynn decorates Danial Ashtiani’s locker. Ashtiani died by suicide in May. PHOTO BY SARAH FUNK

McKenzie: The 2016 Hide-And-Seek Champion Months-long search for missing dog continues.

BY JACK STROMBERG // STAFF WRITER For the past four months, missing dog posters have been popping up all over the city; outside grocery stores, on the doors of restaurants and taped to people’s car windows. From Troy to Clawson to Royal Oak, they have captured the attention of passersby, and now, it seems everybody is talking about it. McKenzie, or “Mac” for short, is a 4-yearold female coonhound owned by Troy residents Chris and Cynthia Booth. Mac is a rescue dog who was first fostered by the Booths three years ago. After caring for her for a little over a year, they adopted her out to a family in Bloomfield Hills. Mac stayed there for a couple of weeks, then suddenly ran away. After four days, she had found her way back to Troy to be with the Booths. “We decided she had adopted us, so we officially adopted her,” Cynthia said. On June 22, Cynthia brought Mac to a friend’s house in Ferndale. “She has been in constant training since we adopted her to help her get over her fear of people, so she pretty much goes everywhere with me,” Cyn-

thia said. At around 10 that night, firecrackers went off nearby. Spooked by the noise, Mac jumped the fence and took off. The next day, she was spotted in Royal Oak, and soon after that, she had found her way back to Troy. At first, the Booths thought McKenzie was trying to find her way home like before. But sightings of Mac have all been on the side of I-75 opposite of where the Booths live. “We believe she is traveling along I-75, using that as a border she does not cross,” Cynthia said. Some locals who are also on the lookout for Mac suspect she may be moving based on garbage days in different neighborhoods, but this has not been confirmed. After notifying animal control, police and local animal shelters, they began putting up the signs. The Booths posted them on street signs and telephone poles, as well as in stores, veterinary offices and any other establishment that would allow it. “I was getting three sightings a week,” Cynthia said. “Then Troy said we were not allowed to put our posters and flyers on public

PHOTO BY DEE MAGGIO PHOTOGRAPHY

McKenzie, a four-year-old coonhound, ran away from home on June 22.

property or we would be fined.” As they took down flyers, people unfortunately began to think Mac had been found, so the Booths stopped getting calls. But with the help of social media, they are back to their normal rate. If McKenzie is spotted, the Booths want

to warn people not to chase or call out to her. Instead, use calm actions and voices. Dropping food may help bring her closer as well. The Booths also say to call one of their numbers immediately. “I would love it if someone could get a picture,” Cynthia said.

Sports

Class of 2017 Hopes to Defend Powderpuff Title

As juniors, they triumphed last year even with the senior class slated to win; now they set their sights on a second victory in the annual flag football game.

BY LEAH GRAHAM // EDITOR-IN-CHIEF The girls lined up on either side of the 20yard line, defense and offense squaring one another up, some in running shoes, others in cleats. Senior Miranda Urban took the snap and launched a spiral to senior Chelsea Henning. On defense, senior Lindsey Bolas stepped in and grabbed the ball out of the air. The turf sprayed up under her feet as she sprinted into the opposite end zone. The seniors’ first powderpuff practice was coming to an end on Friday, Sept. 23. “To be honest with you, I’m not really worried about this year,” coach senior Isaiah Smith said. “It should be a walk in the park. I’m very confident in my girls.” Powderpuff is an annual flag football game between junior and senior girls. The primary difference between traditional football and powderpuff is tackling; the girls don’t wear pads, only mouth guards. They have flags attached to their waists. When pulled, the player is considered down and the play is dead. “I heard it was a really big rivalry last year and the game was really intense,” junior Alex Lillie said. Last year, the class of 2017 beat the then-seniors. In the final quarter, the referees retracted one of their touchdowns, but they scored again on the very next play. “We were pretty confident, but we were surprised. Juniors aren’t supposed to win and we were kind of debating, like will we feel bad if we do?” senior Mary Cianciolo said. Seniors have historically won the powderpuff game, so the juniors’ win last year was considered an upset. “We made history last year, and now I’m excited for this year,” senior Melina DiMambro said. Lillie said she thinks the class of 2017 will win again. “The seniors are more determined to win,” she said. “Last year they beat the seniors, so I don’t think our age group has a chance.” This, however, did not discourage her. “I decided to play because I saw all the pictures everybody was posting,” Lillie said. “I just want to have a fun experience with my friends. That’s why my friends and I all signed up together. We heard it on the announcements and we all rushed down.” This year’s seniors said they expect another win. “They put in a lot of work in the off sea-

Senior Miranda Urban scans the field before throwing the football as senior Kiwi Balcoff closes in while playing defensive line.

son,” Smith said. “They stayed together. We’re bigger, we’re better, we’re faster, we’re stronger. I know the girls remember everything from last year, and we’re not going to change anything. We’re just going to stick to what we’ve been doing. We won it last year, and that’s how we’re going to win this year.” Cianciolo also said she feels confident about the game. “The juniors aren’t getting a yard out of us, not a single yard,” she said. “We’re 1-0 and we’re about to be 2-0, end of story.” Some juniors, however, look to repeat last year’s upset with their own grade. “I think the juniors do have a chance to win,” junior Rebecca Prater said. “People in my class are really motivated and we’re really athletic. I think we’re all really close, so with all of that we’ll be able to work together and pull a win.” The game is on Wednesday, Oct. 5 at 7 p.m.

PHOTOS BY LEAH GRAHAM

Senior Lindsey Bolas cradles the ball and runs down the field during powderpuff.

Sports

Girls Cross Country Wins First 4 Meets

The cross country team earned fifth place at their meet on Sept. 24.

BY MEGAN WALLACE // STAFF WRITER MADDIE YOUNG // STAFF WRITER

PHOTO COURTESY KEN SWART

Senior varsity football player James Lundy III reaches over an Avondale cornerback.

James Lundy III Comes Up With Big Catch Senior snags both 38-yard pass and internet fame in win over Avondale.

The girls varsity cross country team is starting off the 2016 season with four wins. The season began in early September, but most of the girls started training the first day of summer vacation. Meets continue until the end of October, and the girls have practice every day after school for two hours. At practice, they rotate between distance runs and workouts, which are in shorter intervals but at faster speeds. Most of the girls complete between three to eight miles on distance days, but some have run up to ten. Runners also go on weekend runs with friends to keep in shape and prepare for races. “It does take a lot of dedication; you have to have heart to do it,” freshman Annie Dingwall said. Many of the girls ran during the summer to practice before the season started. “When you see a lot of success early in the season, that’s what they decided to do over the summer, and how dedicated they were,” coach Matt Richardson said. Varsity runner sophomore Emily Stabinsky attended a cross country summer camp. Despite her preparation, she said she still feels nervous before big races. “Before you [are] a little bit nervous and after, you feel really great knowing that you tried your best,” Stabinsky said. According to WebMD, exercise like running can help improve self-image, stress and emotional well-being. “You gain confidence in yourself and your abilities, and that carries over in life,” Richardson said.

Dingwall said she likes to run and talk with friends, as it gives her an opportunity to learn about people she might not have otherwise met. “It’s a great way to get to know people,” Dingwall said. At practice, many girls run in groups with their teammates. “The team is very supportive and everyone is really good friends with each other. It’s a really good environment to be in,” Stabinsky said. Teammates often cheer each other on and offer support during practices and meets. “We are like a big family,” senior Alyssa Asmar said. Despite the large number of participants in cross country, many girls feel they still lack support equal to that of other sports from the school. “No one cares about cross country, even on the announcements,” Asmar said. Dingwall agreed. “We have a really big group and sometimes fight for our recognition,” she said. Despite feeling like the team does not get enough recognition, Asmar still encourages other students to join cross country. “I just recommend it to anyone. It’s worth it to try it out and see if you like it,” Asmar said. Richardson also wants people to come out and try cross country, and he feels that the team is like a family. “We are sometimes crazy but we all look out for each other,” Richardson said.

BY LIAM CLANCY // STAFF WRITER On Sept. 6, the varsity football team took on the Avondale Yellowjackets as both teams sought their first win. The Colts won 21-0 in a strong showing from the offensive and defensive teams throughout the game. Senior wide receiver James Lundy III contributed to Troy High’s victory with several catches throughout the game, one of which garnered significant attention on social media. As senior quarterback Scott Mittelbrun scrambled out of the pocket, he launched the ball 38 yards, dodging the enclosing Avondale defenders. Prior to the snap, the Colts ran a quick huddle, and Lundy was unable to hear what play Mittelbrun called at the line. “I just ran straight, and I looked back and saw two defenders behind me, and before I knew it, the ball was in the air,” Lundy said. What followed was a reaching effort by Lundy to bring in the catch for a huge gain. In what was described by USA Today High School Sports as “Prep Football’s Catch of the Year,” Lundy leapt up and grabbed the

ball from behind his head to reign in the catch over Avondale cornerback Derrick Hinton. “It was just adrenaline. I kept on thinking I barely caught that. I don’t know how I did it,” Lundy said. Junior defensive end and tight end Max Guitar described the atmosphere after the catch as chaotic. “I couldn’t believe he caught it. People were rolling around on the ground. I thought we might charge the field after it happened,” Guitar said. Lundy, who also plays cornerback, hopes to continue playing football in college. “I’m thinking about Central or Western Michigan as a walk-on. Wherever I get looked at or offered I’ll go,” he said. As for the rest of the season, the Colts strive to keep getting better as time goes on. “Our coach says our goal is to improve every week and every day in practice,” Guitar said.

PHOTO BY MEGAN WALLACE

Sophomore Kate Rivers and junior Martina Rabajoli run at a cross country practice.

PHOT

EST COUR

Y OF

THE TC

LINE

In-Depth

TC Line’s FUTURE UNCERTAIN

The status of a decade-old school tradition is jeopardized after students are ejected from the first home game. BY LEAH GRAHAM // EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

fter a two-week absence from Friday night football games, the fate of the TC Line is still “in limbo,” according to principal Remo Roncone. “Right now, it’s on pause, on the shelf,” Roncone said. “I don’t know what the end product is going to be. That current name and the things they were a part of, like the painting and the deer head, we just need to wait and see what’s best for the student body and the senior class moving forward.” Members of the Line and others were removed from the first home football game of the season after allegations that school rules were broken, which “had a really negative reflection on the school, themselves and the seniors,” Roncone said. “People now associate them with this one time, one action,” he said. “Until the dust settles on that and people don’t categorize and lump together some individual actions as a whole school, I think it’s important that we do some other things. We have allowed the TC Line to be independent, and maybe that support should’ve been there. We are going to provide that support to the current and future members, whatever it will end up being. For this time period, the phrase ‘TC Line’ is going to be put to the side. For what period of time, I don’t know.” Members of the Line are unsure about its future, too. “We really have no clue yet,” senior Jake Doyle, head of the TC Line, said. “We are supposed to have a meeting with admin this week or next but we really don’t know.

We are hoping that they saw how dead the group of guys helped, too.” stands were without us and they take that Friday, Sept. 23 was the first home footinto consideration, but for the [Homecom- ball game without the TC Line, but their hiing] game, we don’t think we will be able to atus was not the only change in the student paint but hopefully still do letters and bring section. Supervision started earlier in the the flag and deer head.” evening and a faculty member also moniRoncone said administration plans to tored the students. Spectators were not almeet with the Line before Homecoming. lowed to stand by the railing. “The whole going shirtless and paint“There’s nobody there to lead the cheer, so ing is going on hiatus for the time being it’s just kind of like, ‘Well, here we are,’” sefor sure until we can evaluate if that’s the nior Chelsea Henning said. “If you’re more best representation of than two feet from our school,” he said. “We are hoping the bleachers, you get “We’re looking at all out. Someone’s that they saw how kicked previous kinds of ritalready been kicked dead the stands uals and traditions out and someone else and what’s going to were without us and is on their third warncontinue. We were the they take that into ing. It’s like having a only school in Oakdrill sergeant.” consideration.” land County that I’m Senior Julia Calnen aware of in the eleven -head of the TC Line was there as well. years that I’ve been “It’s been God awsenior Jake Doyle here, that allowed ful,” she said. “People shirtless students, and we used to run into want to have fun but it’s really hard to do quite a lot of conflicts.” so when all of our spirit’s been taken away.” The TC Line is a school tradition, dating The student section was nearly empty by back at least a decade. Members paint their the fourth quarter. chests to spell out TROY COLTS and act as Roncone said he wants to use this opporthe keepers of a one-eared taxidermy deer tunity to “reinvigorate and bring new spirit head named Canela. ideas to the table.” “I loved being on the line,” senior Nick “The TC Line had kind of done things Sacco said. “It made me feel so involved a certain way for so long,” Roncone said. with the athletics as well as the players on “While there’s a lot of things the TC Line each team. We were always talking with did that I think were wonderful and different players on the teams about differ- school-spirited, I think that we can do that ent themes they wanted. Being with a great and more with a fresh rebranding.”

With the TC Line’s absence, a new spirit club including members of the faculty and student body has been meeting on Tuesdays in English teacher Val Nafso’s room. Roncone said “that almost all members” of the TC Line “are going to continue to provide school spirit in some way, shape or form.” Others were less optimistic about the possibility of a spirit club taking the place of the Line. “Absolutely not,” Calnen said. “It might help a little bit and I appreciate administration trying to, but it won’t be the same.” Henning added, “I appreciate the effort too, but you can’t have adults running the student section.” Without the Line, some students feel that the student section lacks leadership. “The underclassmen look up to the upperclassmen, and the student section is part of upperclassmen taking pride and leading cheers,” senior Michelle Cappetto said. Roncone said he wants to have a voting contest to name the student section. “[Assistant Principal Brian] Zawislak and I are working real close with students and teachers to have things up and running at a good level by Homecoming,” he said. Roncone said he is unsure “what the end product is going to look like yet.” “We have had conversations with lots and lots of people, current TC Line members, former TC Line members,” he said. “I do value tradition, but I don’t want people to associate negative things with the TC Line, Troy High or the senior class.”

In-Depth

Progression of the

Student Section Photos show how the crowd has changed over two weeks from the first Friday night football game of the year on Sept. 9 to the third on Sept. 23.

BY LEAH GRAHAM // EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Wearing face paint, senior Sam Smolinski cheers during the first home varsity football game of the season while the “Kiss Canela” poster is held up in the air behind her.

Senior Shane Messina spray paints a parade float.

PHOTO BY LEAH GRAHAM

Students Snap, Crackle, Pop Over Cereal Theme

Debate arises after Student Government announces an outside-of-the-box theme for the annual Homecoming parade and dance.

BY SARAH SEMON // DESIGN EDITOR

Dressed in tie-dye with glitter around her eyes, senior Audrey Thompson chants as gym teacher Gary Harlan leads the student section in cheers at the gold-out game.

Standing in the front row, senior Alex Guindi laughs with senior Neil Vaishampayan.

Traditionally, dances carry themes like Under the Sea, Starry Night, Black and White, or something based off of a movie. This year, Student Government chose a less conventional route and selected Cereal as the homecoming theme. The homecoming theme selection meeting was held Tuesday, June 7 with representatives from all grades in attendance. Cereal, which is a “joke” theme entered every year and was not expected to win, made it through the bracket-style elimination to the “Final Four.” Cereal was up against Pixar, space and recess/playground. After the Student Government twitter account released the theme on the site, students shared their mixed reactions. “I think [the students] have a right to be upset, but they should respect the decisions made,” senior class president Andrew Adams said. Some students still have issues with the theme or are disappointed in the selection of cereal. One student, senior Ana Paz, started a Change.org petiton to fight for a new theme to be selected. “It’s my senior year and I wanted a cool homecoming theme,” senior Ana Paz said.

“I saw it work at my old school for an issue and I thought maybe that something could come out of it.” Cereal Club and its co-founders seniors Tiffany Nogoy and Caroline Schlimgen are excited to see the theme’s effects on their club, especially as it gets closer to Oct. 8. “We’ve only had one meeting [this year] so I think once the theme gets around to the underclassmen and it gets closer to homecoming, there might be more people,” Schlimgen said. Nogoy added, “Cereal Club hasn’t gotten any hate. People still love Cereal Club.” Many students are positive about the theme. “I thought it would be a fun idea to put the float together,” freshman Ellie Bossenberger said. “[The theme] might make people not want to come but it probably won’t because homecoming is just to have fun. It doesn’t really matter what the theme is.” Despite the different feelings, some students have several ideas how this may affect future themes. “I think it’ll give more freedom for people to pick something more outside of the box,” Bossenberger said.

Features

School Sees Wave Of New Students Students and faculty notice the large quantity of students who transferred because of the school’s sports, theatre and academics.

BY BIANCA BUCHOLTZ // COPY EDITOR

PHOTO BY LEAH GRAHAM

Junior Stefannie Savoy, who recently transferred to Troy for theatre after being homeschooled, rehearses for the Troy Theatre Ensemble’s production of “Who Am I This Time?”

Within the first few weeks of the new school year, many students and teachers have noticed the growing number of students in the classrooms and hallways, many complaining that the hallways and classrooms are becoming too crowded. The current issue in the school is that alongside of the incoming freshmen, the school has also received a large number of transfer students this year. In 2014, there were 135 transfer students. In 2015 there were 113. This year 99 students transferred. The school receives transfer students for many different reasons, such as sports, arts or academic classes. Junior Perry Winfree left his family this past summer in North Carolina and moved to the city of Troy, Michigan to play hockey on the Junior Grizzlies Elite Hockey Team. “I transfered to play hockey,” Winfree said. “I am looking to play in college and so I figured if I moved up north I might get better exposure.” The Junior Grizzlies are based out of Troy and they are known to have a highly ranked

program and have put experienced hockey players out into college. The junior grizzlies are national champions and are currently striving to win nationals again this year. Winfree decided to go to Troy High School and is currently living with a billet family while he plays in Troy. A billet family offers to house junior hockey players who leave home to join teams in other towns. Students from across the country move to new cities to pursue sports and many live with billet families while doing so. “I live right next to the school and my mom wanted me to go to public school to have a social life out of high school,” Winfree said. “I live with a billet family and my two brothers live back home. I have billet parents and a billet brother. I have to leave my family for nine months.” Winfree hopes to go to Pennsylvania State University to pursue hockey. “That is the goal,” Winfree said. While some students come from other states, some transfer students are from nearby. Junior Stefannie Savoy lived in Detroit and was homeschooled for most of her

life.

“I was homeschooled all throughout middle school, ninth and tenth grade,” Savoy said. After hearing positive reviews of the Troy Theatre Ensemble and the school’s theatre classes, Savoy wanted acting and theatre experience. “[I transferred] mainly because of the theatre program,” Savoy said. “I wanted more theatre. So many people were raving about it and [I wanted] to have the opportunity to do it during the day. There is also a great choir program and I am really liking it.” Savoy said she is excited to be participating in the TTE fall production and hopes to do the spring musical as well. “I am in the show ‘Who Am I This Time’ and I am playing Helene Shaw,” Savoy said. This year, there are a lot of freshmen who have transferred into the Troy School District from other districts. Freshman Jason Loucks is one of many. Loucks transferred to Troy High this year after moving from Clarkston School

District. After spending a day at Troy High, he decided he wanted to transfer to the school. “I decided to transfer to Troy because Troy seemed to have more academic oppourtunity,” Loucks said. “I like that Troy has a lot of clubs that I can join. Anything that I can think of, there is probably a club for it.” Loucks wanted to participate in the Troy High arts programs and he recently audtioned for the school Acapella group and was one of 21 kids who made it. “I’m participating in acapella currently,” Loucks said. “I was excited because I have never been in any choir or a cappella before. I am hoping to be a part of the musical.” The school is still currently getting transfer students, and the number may rise significantly within the first few weeks of the new school year. “My favorite thing about Troy High is their spirit,” Loucks said. “They always have something going on that will boost school spirit.”

Features

Students Attend College Summer Camps Many students attend programs at different colleges and universities over the summer for various subjects and personal interests. BY PATTI KUBOTA // STAFF WRITER KAITLYN PIGGOTT // STAFF WRITER

This summer, many students attended academic summer camps all around the country. In order to attend the programs, they had to submit an application and complete an interview. A couple of the programs asked for a student résumé and teacher recommendations, while other programs required essays and test scores. Senior Emily Lourim went to the American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA) to study performing arts. It was a two-week program in New York City. The Academy contacted her and asked her several times to attend their program. She accepted the offer and sent in an application which included her former performance experience and videos of performances. While she was at the camp, she met people from all over the world. “There was one girl from Israel, and my roommate was from Panama. It is a lot of fun, but it takes a lot of work so you want to be fully dedicated to it. It is worth it,”

Lourim said. Senior Allison Feng attended the High School Honors Science Program for seven weeks at Michigan State University. Classes were separated, so the students received individual mentors, and they got to do different labs than other students in the program. In order to get into the program, Feng had to send in applications, essays, reading lists, transcripts and test scores. She was one of 24 people to get accepted into the class. After high school, she said she’s thinking about studying engineering now that she has more experience with math and science. “It was sort of like college. You get to live by yourself with a roommate in a dorm,” Feng said. Many other students went to summer programs, including seniors Trena Datta and Lueda Shemitraku. Datta went to a summer program for eight weeks at Stanford studying electrical engineering. Shemitraku spent the same amount of time at the

PHOTO COURTESY AMDA

Senior Emily Lourim stars in a show at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy summer program.

University of Michigan studying photonic and multiscale nanomaterials. “C-PHOM [Center for Photonic and Multiscale Nanomate-

rials] was such an incredible and valuable experience. It gave me an insight not only to the university but to undergraduate and graduate education and research in en-

gineering. For me it was very helpful because it showed me what my future in engineering could be like and how I can get involved in the latest research,” Shemitraku said.

Junior Creates New Tutoring Club Eesha Pattabhi establishes the Detroit Education Society Tutoring Club to help to underprivileged students with their studies in math and English classes.

BY GABRIELLE FRANCOIS // STAFF WRITER

PHOTO BY GABRIELLE FRANCOIS

Junior Eesha Pattabhi is determined to change the way students feel about school.

With the goal of being a lawyer one day, junior Eesha Pattabhi aspires to help underpriviledged children and people in need. “I want to be a lawyer so I can help others and have good communication skills,” Pattabhi said. She said she enjoys encouraging others and volunteering to give her the leadership skills to start the Detroit Education Society Tutoring club. “These qualities are important to have in order to tutor children,” Pattabhi said. The Detroit Education Society Tutoring Club aims to help underprivileged children in Detroit. Club members offer tutoring in math or English. Information will be given beforehand to prepare students for the topic that will be covered. The tutoring sessions are usually on Mondays and Tuesdays with alternating weeks for each volunteer, depending on who offers to tutor.

“I wanted to give back to the community and underprivileged children,” Pattabhi said. Pattabhi said she created this club because she wanted to contribute to the community and give help wherever it is needed. “I love to work with children,” Pattabhi said. She said she is determined to try to change the way the children feel about school. She believes the Detroit Education Society Tutoring Club can also benefit the students doing the tutoring. “Besides giving back to your community you can give your time to a fourth or fifth grader that really appreciates it,” Pattabhi said. “Students from Troy High can learn social skills and tutoring skills for the future.” This program is designed to give volunteer points for National Honor Society, make some money and to provide life lessons for students who offer their time. “Contact me and I will send an email to

the person who wants to sign up and send the link on signupgenius.com. The student will put their contact info and schedule a day of the week to sign up,” Pattabhi said. “To tutor Detroit Public Schools we will do it via Google Hangouts. Training for Google Hangouts will be provided at upcoming meetings.” According to Cowley Collegetutoring students improves performance and personal growth, motivates self-paced and self-directed learning, and improves self-esteem. Also, for the tutors, it encourages higher levels of thinking, increases motivation to learn in order to maintain new role, and strengthens one’s ability to manage learning and study strategies. “The mission of this club is to also create a bond between the tutor and student. We want to help these less fortunate and underprivileged children as much as we can,” Pattabhi said.

Birkenstocks

vs.

BY MORGAN MACDONALD // STAFF WRITER Jean skirts and scrunchies aren’t the only things coming back in style. If you take a look around school you’ll notice some wacky footwear you might not expect to see in 2016: Crocs and Birkenstocks. Which one is the better ugly sandal? Junior Allie Percy isn’t ashamed when it comes to rocking her Crocs at school. Although she said she gets weird looks all the time, she still loves them. “I love my Crocs because they are so comfy. I also feel confident in them. I just love them so much and support them 100 percent,”

Percy said. “When people give me looks I don’t even care.” Percy said she prefers how Crocs look over Birkenstocks but does not dislike them. She does, however, have one complaint. “In Birkenstocks you can always see people’s crusty toes,” Percy said. Percy gives props to people who wear socks with Birkenstocks but thinks Crocs and socks look better.

PHOTOS BY MORGAN MACDONALD

“In Birkenstocks you can always see people’s crusty toes.” -junior Allie Percy

Crocs On the more popular side of the footwear spectrum are Birkenstocks. Senior Molly Crusse doesn’t think people judge her Birkenstocks as much as they would judge shoes like Crocs because they are the trend now. “People will judge Crocs more now because that trend ended in like 2004,” Crusse said. Another strong supporter of Birkenstocks is senior Julia Alaimo. Alaimo got her first pair about four years ago, way before

Entertainment Students share thoughts on footwear trends.

the trend started. “When I first got them I got made fun of hardcore for them, but once they became more popular people didn’t as much,” Alaimo said. Crusse likes Birkenstocks for their convenience factor. “They are easy to slip on if I need to go run an errand,” Crusse said. Alaimo especially likes them for their comfort and style. “I also like that they are super comfortable and match with almost everything,” Alaimo said.

Singing it Loud From the Underground

The up-and-coming alternative rock band explains what makes their music unique in the underground scene and how it all started for the five members.

BY KENDYL GATZMEYER // STAFF WRITER Young Pioneer is an alternative rock band based out of Brighton, Michigan. They currently play small shows around Michigan, more specifically, Lansing. Young Pioneer, previously Signals, began four years ago when guitarist Jonny Walker and a guitarist named Mitch (who recently left) decided to start a band. The two found singer Ben Awrey and bassist Bob Schmid along the way and picked up guitarist Jason Marr and drummer Austin Howard after a falling out with their previous band. “Music has always been such a huge passion for me,” Walker said. “I never knew how to play guitar in high school, so I always practiced in front of a mirror, so I finally decided to join a band.” Walker said, explaining his interest in music. “Our generation are the people that are coming up next and are kind of pioneers of the next generation of what’s gonna be happening in this world, so we’re the Young Pioneers that are shaping this world,” Schmid said. “Being a pioneer is all about pushing forward,” Awrey said. “‘When Does The Night End’ [the band’s newly released album] is a little dark, but also with a hopeful tone,” Awrey said. “When Does The Night End” is

about the emotional journey from being unsure in life to the realization of their immaturity. “Sometimes life is rough. Sometimes something really sucks and you find yourself asking when is this going to end? But what keeps us going is that knowing that it’s going to end soon,” Awrey said. Walker is suprised they have been together so long. “It’s crazy that we’ve been a band for four years. All of my other bands never made it past a year, so this is definitely an accomplishment,” Walker said. Before joining Young Pioneer, Jason Marr and Austin Howard were in a band called Lights And Caves. Marr toured the country with L.A. Street Lunatic for ten years before joining Lights And Caves, where he met Howard for the first time. Even after touring the country, Marr felt that Young Pioneer stood out to him from many other bands he had seen. “I don’t think it’s about the music, it’s about us as people. We like to meet all our fans, we like to watch the bands we play with, we like to interact with whoever we can,” Marr said. They value every person who takes a chance on their music, because unlike others, Young Pioneer is founded on being humble.

Young Pioneer opens up for the band Thank You Scientist.

PHOTO COURTESY OF JAMIE BOZACK

Entertainment

Clubs Prep for Hoco

Marching Band TCMB members don’t have substitutes in case of injury or illness. As Homecoming draws nearer, clubs get ready for festivities. “We prepare for Homecoming BY SARA LEWANDOWSKI // STAFF WRITER by working double time and taking everything we do and workSTELLA SPAGNUOLO // STAFF WRITER ing harder by 100 percent so we can make the parade, the halftime show and the game as enjoyable and entertaining as possible,” sophomore George Azar said. PHOTO BY STELLA SPAGNUOLO

The marching band practices for the halftime show.

SADD Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) puts a crashed car in front of the school

and sells carnations. “We use the money to spread awareness in various activist weeks later on. We have an overall message of students against destructive decisions,” chemistry teacher Kathryn Robles said. Dance Team For the dance team, Homecoming is their biggest event of the year. Because of their small numbers, the parade is a place to show people what they can do. The dance team also performs dances at basketball games

and pep assemblies. “We are trying to put on a show for people and convey that dance team is something anyone with any dance experience can do,” junior Emma Bruns said. Robotics Robotics shoots t-shirts out of a remote-controlled robot during the parade. “We built this T-shirt shooter robot and we take it out and shoot Troy Colts shirts, robotics T-shirts and pack it full of candy,” senior Neelesh Kris said.

Strut Your Stuff: All the Latest in Fall Fashion Students talk about where they find their style this season. BY PRIYA BANDSTRA // STAFF WRITER TRACY CABEJ // STAFF WRITER

Ladies and gentleman, dust off your combat boots and stylish vests, grab yourself a nice, warm Pumpkin Spice Latte and get ready for fall. Fall is loved by many, mostly because of the Sophomore Zoe Rouvalis

Senior Joey Carpenter

Dressing cute isn’t always easy. Rouvalis spends almost one hour every morning making sure she completes the look that she likes. “I get a lot of my inspiration from past eras like the 80’s and 90’s, but I also just like to do my own thing,” Rouvalis said. To find her funky clothes, Rouvalis usually shops at H&M, American Eagle and Forever 21.

Carpenter decides to take on a more vintage style. He likes shopping at places like Salvation Army, Somerset and Great Lakes Crossing. Unlike most people, Carpenter plans his outfits three days beforehand. “I don’t like dressing down,” Carpenter said. “I don’t feel as if it’s an outward expression of who I am. I dress in a way that individualizes and represents me.”

PHOTOS BY TRACY CABEJ

wonderfully cozy and ridiculously cute fashion. As we looked around, we noticed a couple of people who came up with some great looks.

Junior Brianna Nogoy Nogoy’s sister plays a big role in her fashion, as she often provides her with clothes. “I get my inspiration from my older sister, who is a fashion blogger and works with different bloggers and takes photo shoots, so she gives me a lot of her tips too,” Nogoy said. When Nogoy does go shopping she goes to places like T.J. Maxx and Nordstrom Rack because of the good prices.

Sophomore Brent Duller

Sophomore Lorna Sharkas

Duller does not plan his outfits ahead of time. He has a more laid back approach when it comes to choosing his clothes. “It takes me around five to ten minutes [to get ready],” Duller said. He just puts on whatever he thinks looks good. Duller said he usually gets his clothes at H&M for a reasonable price.

When Sharkas needs inspiration she looks to the runway for ideas. Sharkas usually shops at places like Forever 21, H&M and Urban Outfitters. “I don’t really own any sweats,” Sharkas said. “The only thing I have is one sweatshirt and around two joggers.” Sharkas does not plan on scrubbing it any time soon.

Opinion

Trust Us, It’s Not ‘High School Musical’

Even if high school isn’t a Disney Channel Original movie, it’s a far cry from ‘Mean Girls’; freshmen get used to new people and a new environment.

BY KATIE BOGDANOVICH // SOURCE EDITOR NATALIE SUH // STAFF WRITER

Aug. 25 Uncertainty and excitement is felt through the air as the incoming freshmen hear cowbells and blaring music. They approach the Troy High labyrinth, which upperclassmen have already mastered, to get a glimpse of the next four years. Some of the upperclassmen Student Government members volunteered to “round up” the freshmen and make them feel welcomed; however, some of the freshmen reacted unexpectedly. “One of them ran away. We were chasing them with flags,” junior Jacob Sirhan said. However scary it may have seemed walking in for the first time, “We are trying to open them up and be as crazy and welcoming as we can,” Sirhan said. Sept. 6 They have seen the first day of high school hundreds of times in movies and TV shows, but now it is their time to experience it for themselves. Some of them are still figuring out where their classes are, and where the never ending hallway stops. “The school is much bigger and I am still

getting lost,” freshman Will Smalley said.” Even though it might not be anything like “High School Musical” they still have the chance to do the spring musiCAL (read in Ms. Darbus’s voice) and get their head in the game. “I am excited to finally sit in the student section, and play some JV or varsity sports, and maybe do some of the musicals,” freshman Max Brune said. But a lot can change in a few weeks. Sept. 19 After a few weeks of exploring the new grounds they have finally found the end of the never ending hallway. They have settled in and started the beginning of their four-part high school series. “Before I came I thought it was going to be a lot more stressful and scary, but now I have realized it is not that bad,” freshman Jade Parks said. So whether you have to kiss the deer head or face Freshman Friday, embrace all the experiences Troy High has to offer.

PHOTO BY LEAH GRAHAM

Junior Caitlin Moon (right) blows a vuvuzela as freshman John Dannug (left) arrives at Freshman Roundup on Aug. 25 with his father, physics teacher Christopher Dannug.

College Admissions Pressure at an All-Time High Kids by no means have it easy these days. BY SKYLA JEWELL-HAMMIE // STAFF WRITER ANNIE SMUTS // STAFF WRITER

ed pt

ccepted 6A

e nie d

2,193 Accep ted

ed pt

90%

ted

Accepted

1,662 A cce 10%

ed pt

71.4%

89%

Duke, known for its While not as selective high ave. ACT composin comparison to the ite, maintains a high other universities 28 39 volumeadmit of applicants ,6 8 ,5 7 listed, UMich’s 6 7D decreasing e nie d D e nie rate has while plummeted d acceptance by 8%. the most (18.4%).

125,5,800 A 62 ccep ted Ac ce

11% 28.6%

ted ep

Duke Michigan

93.54%

,5 7

90%

,0 6 ie d 1 D e nie d

ed pt

81%

47%

Accepted

28.6%

81%

ed pt

19% 53%

47%

1,662 A cce 10%

00 A 125,,5 862 ccepte d Ac ce 11%

124, ,219 A 24 cc

95.3%

In 2016, Stanford was the In the past 10 years, the most exclusive school in the already extremely country with only 4.7% of 41 selective Princeton has ,9 4 applicants gaining acceplowered the acceptance 3D enied27, tance. The rate been 3%. 4 0 9 D e nie d ratehas by about reduced 6.3% since 2006.

1 3,5 4

90%

6.46%

1 3,5 4

Stanford Princeton

ted ep ccepted 6A

10%

1,894 Accep ted

53%

listed, UMich’s admit rate has plummeted the most (18.4%).

4,219 Ac 12, c 24 19%

94 Accep 2,063 Ac1c,8 ep ted ted 4.7% 6.46%

89% 90% 19 ,8 2 5,7 7 3 D e n i4e dD e i e d n

students are more stressed than ever. 1,790 Accep t

10%

ccepted 6A

11%

2,400 A1c,790 Ac cep ce p t

Getting into college isn’t as easy as it used to be. While applicant numbers grow exponentially, admittance rates fall alongGetting into college isn’t as easy as it sideused student the numto be.hope. WhileComparing applicant numbers grow addmittance rates fall2016 bersexponentially, from 2006 (smaller charts) and alongside student hope. Comparing (larger charts), it becomes clear why the stunumbers from 2006 [small chart] and dents are [large more chart], stressedit becomes than ever.clear why 2016

reduced 6.3% since 2006.

college.” At times, parents start planning for their child’s college career before2,06they’ve even 2,400 Ac 3 Accep ce ted p 11%We see that as a little too exbeen born. 4.7% treme. 89% Due to this pressure, according to Psy19 ,8 2 3 DToday, chology the average high school e nied student can show the same level 95.3% of anxiety Stanford as theIn 2016, average psychiatric patient in the Stanford was the school in the 1950s.most If exclusive that doesn’t open your eyes to the country with only 4.7% of 41 ,9 4 gaining accep3 D levels, we don’t realityapplicants of The high school stress e n ie d tance. rate has been reduced 6.3% since 2006. know what will. With this pressure, comes newfound stress. High test scores and an 12, 15,8 24 62 Ac your outstanding GPA won’t get you into ce dream 53% school 47% anymore. Being in this po28.6% sition,D we are paralyzed with fear over just en i e d and letters. numbers “Just this one thing can determine your Michigan 71.4% future so you have to do well. You have to While not as selective comparison tointo the put a lotinother of time it, ” David said. universities 1 3,5 4

We’re sorry to inform you...

We’re Sorry to Inform You...

students are more stressed than ever.

“I’ve always thought [about college],” senior Carley David said. “I went to [visit] MSU when I was younger and always wanted to go there.” College football games on the weekend and family legacies make students dream Getting as easy as it about goinginto to acollege certainisn’t school. used to be. While applicant numbers grow “You have a addmittance lot of students who exponentially, rates fall have thesealongside ambitions and aspirations of wanting student hope. Comparing the numbers from 2006 [small chart] andAli to get into a specific college, ” counselor 2016 [large chart], it becomes clear why Ali-Ahmed said. “I feel as though it creates students are more stressed than ever. a lot of stress on students because it is a very competitive application process. 1”,894 Accep 2,400 Ac1,790 Accep 2,063 Accep ted ce t ted p Even underclassmen are feeling the pres10% 11% 6.46% 4.7% sure regarding college admissions whereas 90% 89% our parents began worrying during their 5, 19 77 ,8 2year, junior is absolutely ludicrous. D e nie d 3 D e n i e4d which “[I feel] a lot of pressure95.3% because of the Princeton Stanford 93.54% competition from students and parents to In thewas pastthe 10 years, the In 2016, Stanford extremely mosttop, exclusive school in the be on ”already sophomore Kaylin Jung said. Princeton has country withselective only 4.7% of 41 ,9 4 lowered the acceptance applicants gaining accep“Expectations are high 3to 2 into the best D enget ratehas by been about 3%. tance. The rate ie 7,4 0 9 D e nie d ted

We’re Sorry to Inform You...

ted

We’re Sorry to Inform You...

graduate to go to school out of state. Applications were submitted by mail in March and students would hear a response by the beginning of April. “I ran to the mailbox everyday waiting for a thick envelope, which meant I was accepted,” Troy High alumnus Cheryl Ruff Houpt said. Also, the application process wasn’t as tedious: students didn’t have to write an essay. “[The process] was very smooth and not too lengthy back then,” Houpt said. Now, those statistics have flipped. During the 2015-2016 school year, 17 percent of the graduating senior class went to school out of state and one student went to a university Getting college isn’t as easyprocess as it 4,458 milesinto away. The application is to be. While applicant numbers grow alsoused completely different. Students are exexponentially, addmittance rates fall pected to begin applying the August alongside student hope.during Comparing the before their from senior year[small and almost always numbers 2006 chart] and 2016 [largeschool chart],in it mind. becomes clear why have a dream

Your eyes are burning from staring at a computer screen for too long while the Common Application website is looming in front of you. Your whole future is teetering back and forth like your finger on the “submit” button. The clock counts down as the deadline nears and your hands begin to tremble. We all will feel this feeling at least once in our lifetime and for seniors, it is all too familiar. More than 20 million students apply to college every year and more than 25 percent of applicants submit seven or more applications to different colleges or universities. However, things weren’t always this way. Our parents had a completely different experience when looking for their ideal school. In 1985, the maximum GPA you could earn was a 4.0, the highest achieving students at Troy High went to the University of Michigan, as it was less common for a

D e nie d

Columbia Located in NYC, Columbia takes only the best and the brightest. As the years pass this acceptance has dropped 4%.

94%

,0 9

9 De

nied Elizabeth Graham

GRAPHICS BY ELIZABETH GRAHAM 2,193 Accep ted

Opinion

Buzzfeed Helps Me Write My College Essays Universities ask for Freudian-level psychoanalysis, and self-reflection is definitely not easy, so maybe some clickbait personality quizzes can help.

BY LEAH GRAHAM // EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

PHO

E BY L

AHA

Thinking about the future is hard, choosing schools to apply to is hard and getting accepted is hard (and it’s only gotten harder

over the last decade). As of Aug. 1, I have been blindly stumbling through the labyrinth of suffering that is the college admissions process. The essays especially. The questions are about identity, asked in five slightly different ways with phrases like “ethical dilemma,” “transition from childhood to adulthood” and “fundamental to later success.” That involves a lot of self-reflection, which is gross and gave me a headache each time I’ve tried it. So, looking for guidance, I turned to the ultimate source of modern wisdom: Buzzfeed, and their unfailingly accurate personality quizzes. First up- Which Taylor Swift are you? Ac-

cording to the all-knowing Buzzfeed staff writers, I most closely align with “Sassy Swift,” because I guess I “know life is too short to be the doormat all the time.” This seemed a little incomplete. While I do have the occasional attitude problem, I can also be a huge wuss. I needed more information. When I chose Mulan as my favorite Disney princess, I found out that I am entitled and I “fall apart” when things don’t go my way because I feel like I “deserve better.” That one stung a little, but I’d have to learn these things about myself if I wanted to get into college. I kept digging. Lastly, I selected my ideal brunch order to reveal a hidden truth about myself. Evidently, I am so sick of everything I will “flip some tables and leave town.” Should I suffer one more inconvenience, I would “go live on an island and make best friends with a volleyball.” Here it was, the absolute proof that Buzzfeed truly understood me. I was, in fact, done. Done with college admissions, done with class work, done with everything. And

I suspect I’m not alone in that feeling. With my diagnosis of being fed up, I came to this conclusion: it’s too late to bail. Four years is a long time- 33 percent longer than the average prison sentence for a felon, according to the Policy Almanac. So I just need to suck it up. Fake it ‘til I make it. And that’s OK, because, frankly, the kid I see in my college applications isn’t someone I know too well. She’s got all the basics of a good student, but she’s not an actual human being. All the little things that are too tediously real to make it onto the Common App- like the fact that I ask to pet every dog I see, that my favorite food is strawberry banana smoothies, that I like being left-handednone of those tiny pieces of a person make it in front of admissions officers. They’re looking at an application, not a person. I’ll consider just making it through this whole process an accomplishment, because who you are and what you submit are two different things. And, if I have any more questions, there’s always Buzzfeed.

The Chariot

Boudon’s Blueprint BY JENNY BOUDON // CARTOONIST

Grey’s Anatomy

Pretty Little Liars

Stranger Things

American Horror Story

GRAPHIC BY ELIZABETH GRAHAM

Students Discuss TV Shows to Watch this Fall

Fall is prime time for major television networks as popular shows hit the air. BY ELISABETH ANDREWS // STAFF WRITER There is an overwhelming number of new ars” are also returning with more seasons, shows coming out this fall, like “Speechless” “Grey’s Anatomy” with its 13th. It’s amazor “Notorious,” as well as others. The shows ing how the writers of “Grey’s Anatomy” students talk about most are “American can keep a show going so long and keep Horror Story,” “Pretty Little Liars,” “Grey’s their viewers in an aura of mystery. “Pretty Anatomy” and “Stranger Things.” Little Liars” still manages to be suspenseful “I like when a show has more of a vintage and creepy, even to those who have read the feel, so Stranger Things is really up my al- books by Sara Shepard. But it’s not just the ley,” junior Madison Howe said. plot that matters. “Stranger Things” is a Netflix Original “An actor can make or break it. It’s like about a boy disappearing, and the town the sprinkles on the cake,” junior Juliette looking for him. That’s where the title comes Danyal said. into play. Not everything is as it seems. A lot depends on the actors. Many students are interested in the “With ‘Law and Order: Special Victims shows that are coming back around for an- Unit,’ I got invested because of Mariska other season, like “American Horror Story.” Hargitay and how great of an actress she is,” Each new season is essentially a brand new English teacher Val Nafso said. show, each one telling a new urban legend. “Stranger Things” is available on Net“I’m going to watch American Horror Story flix. “American Horror Story” airs Wednesbecause I really want to see what people are days at 10pm on FX. Grey’s Anatomy is on talking about,” freshman Abby Smith said. Thursdays at 8pm on ABC. “Pretty Little “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Pretty Little Li- Liars” will be on Netflix next year.

AVAILABLE FOR SENIOR PICTURES AND HOMECOMING