December 2016 pdf

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News at a Students take protests to the streets of Glance Washington DC for Million Woman March

Annual holiday concert rescheduled to after the New Year

PHOTO BY KEATON SMITH ‘17

By Grace Brooks ‘18

STAFF WRITER The holiday season is upon us which means festive lights, lighting the menorah, picking out presents, and, of course, the annual holiday concert. The concert was originally scheduled for Monday, Dec. 12th, but has been moved to Thursday, Jan. 5, 2017 at 7:30 pm due to the snow day. All of the high school choir groups will be performing: Madrigals, Bella Voce, Chamber Singers, freshmen female, and freshman male. Some of the songs that will be performed are “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”, “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch” and “12 Days of Christmas”. “I really like our song ‘Ring Out Wild Bells’ because it is very different from all the other songs and it is super powerful,” Livi VanderHyde ‘18 said. “We’ve all been working super hard and it will be a really great show!”

Administration aims to unite students on MLK Day

By Ashley Ward ‘18

STAFF WRITER This January, EGRHS students are embracing the message of Martin Luther King Jr. by returning the tradition of a Martin Luther King Day Assembly. The theme is E.A.S.T. which stands for “Embracing All - Stronger Together.” Although many of the details regarding the assembly are still being planned, The assembly hopes to include student participation, music and a professional presenter. “Various other things have been tried over the years to effectively communicate the importance of the message of Martin Luther King. Over the course of planning, it has become increasingly more evident, given our sociopolitical climate that a time for unity is needed and we think gathering together as a student body is one small step in helping the process” Jeff Webb said. The return of the assembly hopes to spread to idea of Martin Luther King and continue to spread the message of unity.

Students prepare for feminist march on Washington DC the day after PresidentElect Donald Trump is inaugurated By Asha Lewis ‘18

STAFF WRITER The Million Women March on tion results and also showing that Washington, the day after Inaugu- we’re not going to sit by quietly and ration Day, isn’t to protest the inau- just watch them make changes,” Sue guration of President-elect Donald West said. “People are going to be voTrump, which is a popular miscon- cal and they’re going to express their ception. It’s not to chastise the male dislike of what’s happening and it it population or protest the Trump ad- will show that the majority of Ameriministration. This march, which is cans don’t believe in racism and sexprojected to include more than a million women participating either in the march in Washington DC or many other major cities around the United States, it’s a peaceful protest for basic human rights. Members of our student body have taken the initiative to take part in this march, taking place on January 21, 2017, including Tess Cronin ‘17. “The million women march in D.C. is promoting equality between women and men,” Cronin said. “I’m attending this march because some of Trump’s comments towards women have given the impression that he is going to take a significant step back in the movePHOTO BY KEATON SMITH ‘17 ment for equality and we want to show that the people, specifically women, of this na- ism and homophobia. It’s sending a tion will be holding the government message and it’s helping making me accountable for our equal rights.” feel like I’m making a difference.” Sue West and Kris WaschFor people who also want to make busch, parents of Eleanor West ‘17 a difference but don’t have means of and strong advocates for women’s transportation, the Fountain Street rights, plan on taking their entire Church has organized chartered busfamily to march on Washington. ses for a $150 round trip for any West “Signing up to go to the march Michigan people willing to march for felt like we were actually effectively women’s rights. Suzy Deems ‘18, is showing our disapproval for the elec- planning on travelling with her family

on one of these buses, and can’t wait to voice her opinions on human rights. “I believe all people are created equal. Women should have the same rights as men, no matter what,” Deems said. “This election has alienated many groups of people like minorities, handicapped, refu-

gees, Hispanic, women, and the LGBTQ+ community. We need to tell the world that we are behind them and support them and do not stand with President elect Donald Trump.” For many, this march is seen as a call to action for people to become empowered and speak up in their community about equal rights for all genders. “It allows people to see how many other people agree with

what you stand for; it’s empowering,” Kris Waschbusch said. The participants in the march aren’t expecting the election to be overturned of for a life-changing bill to be passed immediately, but for a message to be sent to the country. Recently, the Presidential Inauguration Committee urged the National Park Service to prohibit the use of Lincoln Memorial as a protest site. The Lincoln Memorial has been the most popular rallying site, from the Civil Rights march in 1963 to the Break Free march, a protest to end offshore drilling by marching from Lafayette Park to the Lincoln Memorial just last May. The protestors and others not participating can still access the memorial, however, it will be in use for inaugural events. Since the committee requested a permit prior to the organizers of the march, the memorial was granted to the committee. The National Parks service is planning on working with the Million Women Marchers to find an alternative location. If interested in attending the Million Women March on Washington, or in Lansing, visit www. fountainstreet.org or contact Fountain Street Church’s executive director Jack Woller by phone at at (616) 459-8386 or via email at jwoller@fountainstreet.org.

The legality and and logistics of the Michigan recount come into question as both sides allege voter fraud By Ben Sagritalo ‘18

STAFF WRITER Just as we were finally getting used to life without the turbulent presidential election, voting practices across the country are being critiqued. Green Party Nominee Jill Stein filed for a recount in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania, citing possible voting irregularities. President Barack Obama, joined by a bipartisan group of Senators such as Senator John McCain of Arizona and Senator Chuck Schumer of New York are advocating for an investigation into allegations of Russian influence in the election. Secretary Hillary Clinton decisively won the popular vote, even as she lost the election, due to Donald Trump’s narrow Electoral College win. This has left many Americans believing there are significant issues with the voting practices in our country. Many Americans are choosing to vent their frustration with the results of the election through Green Party Nominee Jill Stein’s recount effort. The recount campaign was launched on November 22nd as an effort to “Audit the Vote” after allegations of voting discrepancies in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania. With the margin of victory in the three states being 10,704, 22,177, and 44,307 votes, respectively, they

Reflecting on President Barack Obama’s eight years during his last month News 4

were the deciding states in the election. If the recount effort produced enough new votes for Secretary Clinton to win each of those states, she

It’s definitely possible [for the recount to change the winner of Michigan’s electoral votes], however, the way recount will be conducted will make it nearly impossible to change [the results]... a significant portion of precincts in Michigan aren’t eligible for a recount.

Spencer Bowdle ’17 would become the President-elect. “It’s definitely possible,” Spencer Bowdle ‘17 said of the potential for a recount to change the winner of Michigan’s sixteen electoral votes.

“However, the way recount will be conducted, will make it nearly impossible to change [the results]... a significant portion of precincts in Michigan aren’t eligible for a recount.” Over 7 million dollars has been raised for the recount campaign, and while it is being advocated for by Jill Stein, many people believe it is to help Secretary Clinton. “I believe most of the supporters of the recount are Democrats hoping for election results to change,” Drew Thomas ‘18 said, “Obviously Hillary Clinton’s supporters aren’t happy with the outcome.” The slight possibility that a recount could potentially change the result of the election are now unfeasible, due U.S. District Judge Mark Goldsmith deciding that Jill Stein was not eligible to call for a recount. After previously ruling in favor of the the timing of Jill Stein’s recount, Judge Goldsmith ruled she was not an “aggrieved party”, a candidate that could be affected by a recount effort due to her fourth place finish in Michigan. Goldsmith’s ruling effectively shuts down the recount process in Michigan. Even if the Michigan recount was permitted, history shows us that it would likely not change the overall

results. In the last presidential election a recount had a significant role, the 2000 Election in Florida, the election results did not change in a meaningful way. The chances of the recount significantly reversing Donald Trump’s election as president are even more negligible considering Donald Trump’s margin of victory in the three states far surpassed that of President George W. Bush in the states recounted. In addition, Secretary Hillary Clinton would need to win Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania to win the presidency, compared to Vice President Al Gore, who only needed Florida to be elected president. The use of technology in our electoral process has also been highlighted in this election. The Washington Post has reported that the CIA now concludes that the Russian Government acted to help Donald Trump’s election as president. The Russian Government has been accused of hacking into the Democratic National Committee and Hillary Clinton’s campaign, which provided Wikileaks with thousands of emails. While these acts have been confirmed, it has inspired numerous conspiracies on the extent of Russian involvement in the presidential election.

Holiday gift guide for all of your gift giving needs

Renowned swim coach achieves 20th state championship

Entertainment 6

Sports 11


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December 2016 pdf by The East Vision - Issuu