THE
HURON EMERY
@THEHURONEMERY
HURON HIGH SCHOOL, 2727 FULLER RD., ANN ARBOR MI 48105
VOL. 6 ISSUE 3
Teens continue to find love with social distancing VERENA WU, RUQAYYIAH ALSAADY AND KIANA HEMATI STAFF WRITERS AND SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR xxxxxxxLove is in the air, but so is COVID-19. Dating is a large part of many high schoolers’ lives, but in the middle of a pandemic, how has it changed? Senior Harry Youngman has been looking for a new relationship. “Before March, it was easier to go out with someone and have a good time, but now it’s a lot of them just stopping talking to you, getting ghosted and not having an explanation why,” Youngman said. “It’s sad and irritating because they stop talking to you and you don’t really have a way to discuss it in person.” The lack of inperson connection and communication creates feelings of separation that other people have experienced as well. xxxxx"I
NEWS
tendency to pull away and isolate myself which I think a lot of people do
and a lot of people are experiencing,” senior Sophie Hammond said. “I’ve been trying to work harder to reach out to people instead of expecting a reach out from them. Little things like everyday texts just like ‘how you are doing’ can go a long way so that they know that you’re thinking about them.” Hammond has been dating her boyfriend for a little over a year. He is a freshman in college, but has been in Ann Arbor because his school, University of Pennsylvania, is completely online. “I didn’t see shutdown in March except like once or twice a month
See DATING, PAGE 3
A2ReasonableReturn families display their support for returning to in-person learning in several ways including yard signs and attending school board meetings. CLARA BOWMAN
Return metrics cause polarization CLARA BOWMAN EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
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oughly one in seven Michigan school districts have had no in-person learning for the 2020-2021 school year, a minority that Ann Arbor Public Schools is a part of. At the beginning of the school year, AAPS families were given three choices for how they wanted their students to “attend school,” including one that has students eventually attend school inperson. AAPS created metrics to guide when it would reopen its physical doors.
GRAPHIC BY MAYA KOGULAN
“Now we can look back and see September was actually our lowest point compared to the whole fall,” AAPS Rec and Ed director Jenna Bacolor said. “But at that time, we thought things were going to get better and then we'll be able to reopen face-to-face.” The metrics include casecount and positivity rate where it would be safe to return to classrooms. Washtenaw county has not met these thresholds since June, and even then it was only for a few days, while the metrics would have to be
met for two weeks in order to return face-to-face. In essence, if AAPS follows these guidelines alone, the chance of any student seeing the inside of a classroom seems unlikely, much less high schoolers. “We're always considering new research and guidance,” Bacolor said. “So the metrics are meant to inform decision making, along with other research and data and good decision making by the school board.” For various reasons, local students and families have become frustrated with the metrics. That is
See METRICS, PAGE 3
briefs
Huron PTSO kicks off “celebrate a senior” program
News PAGE 2
KAITLYN SABB FEATURE EDITOR Without knowing if traditional senior activities will run, the Huron PTSO came up with a new, voluntary program called, “celebrate a senior.” The goal is to spread joy to the class of 2021. Seniors will be asked if they want to participate. “We are now working on getting your favorite things and will match you up with an anonymous sponsor,” parent committee member Molly Hester said. parents or other sponsors will demonstrate interest in sponsoring one or more seniors. These sponsors will provide the funding for small surprises that will be mailed to or Students who are interested in the “surprise” will be provided with a sponsor who was matched with them and given their list of favorite colors, candies, fast food, drink, sports
Even though traditional senior activities might not happen this year, seniors will receive anonymous gifts if they participate. KAITLYN
The music departments continue playing with some unique solutions
Mental Health Feature PAGE 6 + 7
Students and the elderly face mental health struggles due to quarantine
SABB
team, college and more. Additionally, there will be precautionary measures taken in order to stay socially distanced and responsible contact manner – on the porch, in the mailbox, or on the doorknob, after a quick knock or ring of the doorbell,” Hester said. “ The idea is for this to be completely anonymous and just a happy surprise.”
See MORE BRIEFS, PAGE 2
Review
PAGE 12 "If Anything Happens I Love You" explores how parents cope with a tragic loss
Sports
PAGE 16 Senior athletes commit to universities across the nation despite a virtual senior year
THE HURON EMERY | ISSUE 3: DECEMBER
2 | NEWS
Music students maneuver online platform in the pandemic metronome or a backing track. Then Upbeat combines the individual recordings
SCAN HERE
“This has been a gamechanger for us this fall as it has allowed us to pursue ensemble repertoire while creating a pattern for feedback and selfBefore beginning their recordings, students will often go into breakout
Orchestra students have used to the program Upbeat to pursue ensemble repertoire. COURTESY OF TIM KROHN
AMY XIU STAFF WRITER xxxxxxxEvery year, hundreds of students participate in the music program at Huron. Forced to move online, Band Director Robert Ash, Choir Director Kent Wattleworth and Orchestra Director Timothy Krohn had to make major changes to adapt to this new setting. part of being in one of these groups is the community, which can become a second family. One thing the music programs have integrated into the classes this year is icebreakers. Oftentimes, students work on a collaborative team challenge in breakout rooms. Some examples of these include “Who’s got the best caption,” a music-related meme captioning competition, and “Build a house,” where students make their own
house using only shapes from google slides. Instructors and student board members do their best to keep these activities fun and engaging for class members. “One day, I asked compliments for each other, making sure that everyone got complimented,” Wattleworth said. “They were so kind to each other and I could barely get them to stop.” After icebreakers, the music-making process begins. A typical music class begins with a warm up, which usually sets the tone for the rest of the practice. An in-person warm up would include tuning, playing some simple scales and exercises together as an ensemble. Due to Zoom’s sound delay, everyone cannot unmute and play at once. Instead, one person, usually the teacher, plays a warm up while students follow along while staying muted.
“I am the only one I can hear singing, and I just see the students participating without sound,” Wattleworth said. “If they don’t turn on their cameras, it is even more challenging, because I have no idea what they are doing.” After the warmup, the ensembles begin to work on pieces for upcoming performances. “It is impossible, given today’s technology, to blend, balance and make music in real-time over the internet,” Ash explained. “Signal latency is a real problem. If two musicians the results could be very musically unsatisfying, to say the least.” In Ann Arbor, schools have begun using Upbeat Music, a program that allows students to record individually while listening to either a
BRIEFS | FROM PAGE ONE
New psychology teacher to discuss important topics with students ANITA GAENKO STAFF WRITER
Hannah Freeland, Huron’s psychology teacher, will be discussing gender and sexuality in her classes. COURTESY OF FREELAND She’s been a waitress, lifeguard, camp counselor, research assistant and psychology lab manager, but now Hannah Freeland is Huron’s new psychology teacher.
Michigan. Her love of art and music started in high school and continues to this day. “The common thread that I low us to see life from someone else’s perspective,” Freeland said. She started studying psychology alongside English and secondary education at the University of Michigan, after transferring from Washtenaw Community College in 2017. “I enjoy learning and teaching about anything related to the complex experience of being human,” Freeland said. “I’ve noticed that a lot of my students at Huron like to engage with topics surrounding identity and social justice.” If she could just get one thing across to her students, she hopes they’ll leave her class with compassion and understanding, for themselves and other people. “Life can be really tough, but people are also very resilient and creative in managing the challenges they face,” she said.
to work on. They collaborate with each other, sharing notes on previous recordings and working on technique. Then, they use Upbeat to create a group video combining all the points they discussed. However, working online is not without frustrations. “In our in-person music rehearsals students are constantly assessing, adjusting and revising their work based on what they hear from their instrument, their stand partner, their section and the orchestra,” K r o h n said. “We a l s o respond to one another’s nonverbal cues as well, including conducting gestures, musician body movements, breaths and cues. Online, this is not possible.” Despite these challenges, all three directors are grateful to be given the opportunity to make music in a meaningful way while online. “Playing music is a gift, and performing with others is sharing that gift,” Ash said. “I am so glad we have not totally lost that this year.”
New math teacher ready for change
Watch the orchestra showcase to hear the music they created this virtual semester
Freshman Zain Charania formed a new practice routine at home. MISHAL CHARANIA
in Livonia and later attended Central Michigan University. He did his student teaching in Plymouth RIDHIMA KODALI OPINION EDITOR Canton, and obtained a master’s in Pure Mathematics from EastAbout a month ago, the math ern Michigan University. department hired Eric Geiger to teach “I had no idea what I wanted to do four classes of geometry and one until the senior year of high school, class of precalculus at Huron. when I had AP Calculus, and AP physGeiger worked at Redford ics,” Geiger said. “Those two teachers Union High School for seemed like they had a seven years, where he blast in class, they were previously taught those really good at what they two courses. He came did, they had fun with the to Huron looking for a kids, and I was like ‘I think positive change. I could do that!’” “I felt like I was Geiger is open to the stagnating as a teacher, idea of adapting, changso I think this is going ing and trying something to give me more oppornew in the education systunity to grow,” Geiger tem. “Education said. “All the kids have has been a thing that been super welcom- Eric Geiger, Huron teachers, parents and eving, even though they’ve math teacher, feels eryone has been saying gone through a couple of welcomed despite for a long time that we teachers and substitutes, only meeting students need to make a change, and all the teachers and through Zoom. COURTESY OF GEIGER way, or kind of re-evaluhelpful. It’s nice to be ate what we’re teaching welcomed to the district.” and I think that we kind of just get Geiger went to Franklin High School complacent,” Geiger said.
THE HURON EMERY | ISSUE 3: DECEMBER METRICS| FROM PAGE ONE
“They
3 | NEWS chose
two
why a group of parents case count: one out of a million helped found the A2 cases and one out of 100,000 Reasonable Return group. cases,” A2 Reasonable Return “Right now there’s member and public health one standard for everybody,” expert Kathy Bishop said. “So, A2 Reasonable Return Coyou can quickly say ‘okay well founder Lena Kaufmann said. “There’s the same standard factor of 10. Right. But it’s not, that you would apply to when you want to open high schools metrics.” and it’s the The Michigan same for Safe-Start the younger requires cases kids and kids per million, with 504s while the and IEPs.” Center for A2 Reasonable Disease Control Return’s, recommends which has cases per about 120 100,000 as p a r e n t s reported by in regular Harvard Global attendance at Health. These meetings, goal to see the full AAPS retwo metrics is not to open turn to school metrics schools for drastically everyone, but because the Harvard data rather modify the metrics to doesn’t remove double allow certain groups to return. entries and false positives. “You can be 100 “By using the percent pro virtual learning for every family that works for, of a guarantee that we’re and in a pandemic everybody never gonna hit the metric who can and make virtual because one of them could learning work really should,” be correct one day, but the Kaufmann said. “But then you other one still is falsely high,” also have to recognize that Bishop said. “So, it’s like they human beings are complex, and want the metrics to fail.” family situations are complex. AAPS cited being in a We’re more, you know we’re university town as one of the about letting people have main reasons why it did not choices and mitigating risk.” have students return to inThere is no single person learning this fall when state or federal guideline for neighboring school districts returning to schools, which such as Saline and Dexter did. is why the district consulted “I think it was a several sources and experts. valid concern, going into the “What’s really, really year,” Bishop said. “However, hard about decision making knowing what we know now, during a pandemic is that we and seeing that those campus cases largely stayed pretty self contained and didn’t spread are choosing our trusted data throughout the community, sources to us,” Bacolor said. they have to stop using “It is just not easy to do this.” that as an excuse, because One key frustration we have new information.” for parents and students Michigan’s new comes from the complexity COVID-19 restrictions, and contradiction of including closing high schools some of the metrics.
SCAN HERE
Nov. 18 may seem to be a step backwards for A2 Reasonable Return. However, that is not necessarily the case. “I think her message actually backs up what we’ve vs been saying for a long *in Washtenaw County as of Dec. 17 time,” Kaufmann said. of students do not think “Whitmer kept K-8 Huron will return schools open. She “Downward in-person this Flat also said that even in or low & flat” year* high school, special education and English *according to Instagram language learners poll with over 200 responses d a i l y d a i l y ca ses could continue face c a s e s per 100k per 100k to face services if that was needed.” A2 Reasonable daily daily Return is advocating cases cases per mil. per mil. for an accelerated, stepwise reopening of schools with the youngest children and those with 504 and IEP plans returning as Metrics must be met soon as January. They for AAPS to are turning to recent in-person success in consider a rethe district to help turn to in-persupport their case. son learning “In a sense, it’s frustrating that high schoolers had fall sports, back one or two kids eventual return to classrooms. but we also think that it’s a that need to meet with their “People can great case example of how occupational agree or you can give people choice,” t h e r a p i s t disagree with Kaufmann said. “Let families is the same them, but come to their own conclusions t h i n g , ” they’re based about what risk level they K a u f m a n n on science are comfortable with.” s a i d . and guidance. In a sense it’s frustratMost fall sports were “ T h e y ’ r e “But right outside - only volleyball and t o t a l l y ing that high schoolers now, we’re swim were allowed indoors. had fall sports, but we Even if there is success in s c e n a r i o s , Bacolor said. bringing back certain groups s i m p l y also think it’s a great “It’s really of students, there is by no based on i m p o r tant case example of how for everyone means a guarantee that high the number schools open for everyone of people you can give people to remember willing to return. High school but also the that the students spread COVID-19 need is very choice” metrics just like adults and intermingle d i f f e r e n t . ” measure what more in and out of the school LENA KAUFMANN exists and environment, both factors R e g a r d l e s s A2 Reasonable Return Co-founder what’s already that greatly increase risk. of an there. We all “It’s kind of hard to individual’s stance on the have a role to play in bringing say that bringing back a full metrics, there is a consensus down the case numbers, so high school and bringing for how to help high school’s that we can go back to school.”
Zach Brewer Neeko Cho Gabriela Dimova Anita Gaenko Eric Heng
Current*
new cases per 100k
1-5
39.1
new1-5 cases per million
Last day all 7-20 315 metrics were 7-20 Positivity rate
June
<3%
9%
14 DAYS
13
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Quinn Newhouse Sports Editor Julie Park Design Editor Kiana Hemati Social Media Editor Allison Mi Copy Editor
Blake Mundy Rio Ohtake Visruth Rajendiran Adam Schork Jamil Wilson
Target
Daily Case trend
EDITORS-IN-CHIEF: Clara Bowman 2021bowmanclaram@aaps.k12.mi.us Maya Kogulan 2021kogulanumaiyal@aaps.k12.mi.us ADVISER: Sara-Beth Badalamente
Shania Ahmed Uthman Al Andulusi Ruqayyiah AlSaady Jaden Boster
Metrics overview:
85%
THE EMERY STAFF
Mishal Charania Managing Editor Vish Gondesi Online Editor-In-Chief Lydia Hargett News Editor Ridhima Kodali Opinion Editor Kaitlyn Sabb Feature Editor
AAPS REtrurn Metrics By the Numbers:
and upper education,
Verena Wu Amy Xiu Harry Youngman
MARK YOUR CALENDARS Dec Jan
21-01 No school Winter break
No homework weekends: Dec 18-20 and Jan 1-3
Jan
Jan
Jan
Jan
Return to classes
No school MLK Day
End of Q2/ semester 1
Block 1 and 7 finals
Jan
Jan
Jan
Feb
04 18 22 25 26 28 29 01
Start of Block 2 and Block 3 and Block 6 and makeup finals 5 finals semester 2 4 finals
THE HURON EMERY | ISSUE 3: 1: DECEMBER SEPTEMBER
2 | NEWS 4 | NEWS
BREAKING DOWN THE TEACHER CONTRACT MISHAL CHARANIA MANAGING EDITOR
What is the teacher contract?
Degree/ Step Step 2 Step 3
The teacher contract refers to the contract teachers sign once they are hired. This contract outlines the teacher’s responsibilities as well as their salary schedule. Many teachers, including Ann Arbor Public Schools teachers, are paid on a step schedule. Teachers that are coming into a new district start at step two and would increase a step for each year they stay with the district. A teacher’s overall pay is dependent on the number of years they work for the district and their level of education. sporadic step freezes. AAPS and Michigan teachers as a ed. While a tentative agreement for AAPS teachers was reached last April, teachers are still not receiving all of the money they are owed based on their contract.
Bachelor of Arts (BA)
Master of Arts (MA)
Doctorate of Philosophy (PH.D)
Step 4 ...
$41,342 $43,906 $46,431
$46,899 $50,195 $53,568
$52,347 $55,887 $59,505
Step 9
$60,316
$71,570
$79,477
Step 10
$65,622
$78,285
$86,000
2019-2020 AAPS salary schedule* *Does not reflect entire salary schedule
Scan the QR code for the entire AAPS 2019-2020 salary schedule
What is the current situation regarding the teacher contract? A lot of the money AAPS receives can’t be used for paying salaries
The Ann Arbor Education Association, the union representing AAPS employees, reached a tentative agreement with AAPS in April. This agreement gave full time teachers a one-time bonus during the months of April and June and requires “half-steps” awarded to every full-time employee during the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 school years. This agreement ensures compensation for multiple years but does not repay the full amounts that teachers were meant to receive.
During Nov. 2019, AAPS put in a request grade building infrastructure. With this proposal, it was made clear that this money can’t go towards paying teacher salaries. Along with this,
Steps are not guaranteed which can districts are also often placed on the lowest step, regardless of how long they had been teaching published by Michigan Radio in 2017, out of 390
As neither of these bonds focused on teacher salaries, some teachers voted against the bonds because they didn’t feel that the district was prioritizing teacher salaries enough.
It feels like the school board doesn’t treat us as professionals, or as adults. It almost feels like we’re being penalized for wanting to speak up. and for wanting what was laid out in our contract.” English teacher Allison Eberts.
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“This is what I’ve always wanted to do and I love it. This was the first year that I had to have the hard conversation with myself that I maybe am going to need to do something else.” Special education teacher Rachel VanRiper.
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“Just to be able to live, I do work two other jobs. It’s really frustrating trying to do my job here [at AAPS] well when I have to do other things for hours just to be able to exist.” History teacher Kathryn Bellows.
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“I think that AAPS has the means and if teachers in America were valued they would find a way. I feel as though teachers have been taken advantage of in the past 20 years.” History teacher Luke Milne.
[ [ [ [
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The rules for awarding steps have changed in recent years
[ [ [ [
From the staff perspective
Teachers have received some compensation as of April 2020
What can the public do to support teachers? Be on top of what’s happening in the community
One of the biggest things the AAEA does to get their voice heard is having members attend school board meetings. While these meetings are long, a lot of important information is discussed and there is opportunity for public commentary. Additionally, looking at local news can be a way to stay connected. Local news sources often report on what is happening within the Ann Arbor and greater Michigan communities.
2
Understand the situation for AAPS teachers
work more than two jobs. Other opportunities teachers might have for compensation include some club advisor positions, professional development sessions, coach positions and jobs outside of the district. According to the All of these positions are additional AAEA, 66% of to teaching and don’t include work
Scan the QR code to read the tentative agreement for teachers’ salaries
AAPS teachers meetings or personal responsibilities. work more than one job
Impact of voting Voting for members of the school board also directly impacts who icy for Ann Arbor Public Schools. While the newest school board members for four years, knowing where each member community issues is also important.
THE HURON EMERY | ISSUE 3: DECEMBER DATING | FROM PAGE ONE and it would be socially distanced,” Hammond said. “We started seeing each other again around May and since then I’ve seen him consistently because I consider him part of my close circle.” Similarly, senior Olivia Conatser didn’t see her boyfriend between March and June, but was allowed to see him again over the summer. able to see each other for a couple months but we talked on the phone all the time during quarantine,” Conatser said. “We would also meet up at school sometimes and talk to each other from inside our cars with masks.” Sophomore Emily Ma date ideas to see her boyfriend, whom she met over quarantine. go around to actual places because everything’s really limited and we have to wear masks so it’s annoying and it’s really cold outside now, so we can’t do much, but we go to places like Panera to get food go,” Ma said. “We also went socially distanced ourselves because there were other people there.” To stay safe, Ma and her boyfriend have reduced their “circles” to three to four people, but Ma acknowledges that she should cut her circle
more because of the rising cases. While navigating COVID-19 restrictions has been challenging for many couples, Hammond also found it helped her relationship. “COVID has strengthened our relationship because when you can’t see each other because of quarantine or wanting to be safe, you have to rely on being there for each other and keeping each other company in an unconventional way,” Hammond said. Hammond and her boyfriend began watching movies together while still separated through an app as completing coloring pages and talking over FaceTime. Additionally, they played Bananagrams and changed the rules to accommodate for playing separately. Hammond suggests going on walks, picnics and drawing with chalk for socially distanced date ideas. However, for someone to go on a date with has been the issue. Senior Elayna Parkin would try to meet up with guys or at Barton Nature Center. “It was hard though because you don’t know much about a person you’re about since my family was cautious with COVID I didn’t want to take too many risks with new people,” Parkin said.
5 | FEATURE This was a new challenge for everyone. However, with social distancing and great weather this summer, students made it work. Some relied on social media to keep contact with their friends while also trying to start a summer romance. “I think I talk to most people over Snapchat because it’s easy to meet new people but it’s not as easy to actually meet new people in person,” Parkin said. Many other teens have turned to social media to meet new people. However, many have found that an Internet based connection only goes so far, and there is the Youngman was able to meet up with someone he met on the Internet. He was able to make meeting people over the Internet work by meeting up in person. The two followed COVID restrictions as well as discussing what they’re comfortable with in terms of social distancing before they met up. Even with COVID-19, new romantic and platonic connections are a big part of life. “COVID or not, it’s ok
Junior Emily Ma and her boyfriend have adapted to find new date night ideas with COVID-19 precautions. PHOTO COURTESY OF MA
D+E During quarantine, senior Sophie Hammond and her boyfriend enjoy spending time outside - biking riding, drawing with chalk, or even walking. PHOTO COURTESY OF HAMMOND
A+S
relationships and emotions,” Hammond said. “It’s okay to have seasons of doubt or going or what you’re doing in that relationship. It’s normal, a lot of people.”
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Senior Olivia Conatser kept in contact with her boyfriend through the shutdown by talking through their cars or calling each other on the phone. PHOTO COURTESY OF CONATSER
THE HURON EMERY | ISSUE 3: DECEMBER
We asked Huron
How has your mental health been affected by the pandem-
All responses are anonymous “I feel like I’m always at 30 percent brain power. No less, no more.” “Sometimes it feels hard to even get up and take care of myself.” “I used to be very on top of my work and did very good in school but everything’s harder.” “I have almost zero motivation and online school is so stressful. It makes me miserable.” “It has plummeted to the lowest it has ever been and caused me to develop social anxiety.” “It’s just kind of perpetually bad - I don’t really notice anymore.”
Q&A with Eli Atkinson about his mental health JULIE PARK | DESIGN EDITOR Q: What’s the most challenging part of virtual school as a student with anxiety and depression? A: “The most challenging part of virtual school and the COVID pandemic is feeling disconnected from everyone. I am a very extroverted person and I like to “recharge” by interacting with other people. Although there are opportunities to communicate with others through technology, I never get the same energy as I can when I’m connecting with people in the same physical space. This lack of in-the-flesh connection coupled with my anxiety and depression leaves me consistently drained of any ability to cope with or distract myself from their symptoms. It’s easy to find a day spent up by anxious racing thoughts or lack of motivation to roll out of bed and turn on my computer. One strategy I have for reducing my stress is reminding myself that there is nothing wrong with me. The last nine months have been different from every other time in my life. It makes perfect sense to struggle and be less productive than normal right now.”
6 | MENTAL HEALTH FEATURE
The Second P Hitting the limit Students’ mental health suffers as they aim for perfection amidst pandemic chaos SHANIA AHMED STAFF WRITER
on people’s emotional wellbeing.” When considering instances of the impacts online school has on students, the question of how preventing, this becomes crucial. A step you can take is to check up on not only the people around you, but also yourself and take time to participate in activities you enjoy. It’s most important to remind ourselves that it’s okay not to be okay. And that feeling of loneliness, depression, and sadness are normal - but valid.
Mental illnesses have been a prominent issue within today’s society, especially within teens and young adults. According to MIA (Mental Health In America), mental health is worsening among youth; 9.7 percent have severe or major depression, a value that additionally has skyrocketed as a result of the pandemic. A recent survey conducted by the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California presents that more than half of students indicated a need for mental health support throughout the pandemic. The rising prominence of mental health illnesses has left parents and teachers concerned. So, what impacts does virtual school have on mental illness amongst work towards preventing this occurrence? The pandemic altered the normality of the world as people know it, changing routines as well as aspects of everyday life. For instance, an everyday school day consisted of students interacting and or socializing from one class to another and having the opportunity to ask questions and gain feedback from teachers. However, due to the virtual school, students are unable to have this opportunity. “I don’t necessarily think that virtual learning has a negative impact on students,” school psychologist Jason Lewis said. “I do however feel that because of virtual learning that students may be missing out on a lot of the great aspects of school that they get from being there in person. People in general are social beings, and this pandemic has caused us to forego a lot of the social aspects of life that are a part of our humanity. Many students are missing their friends that they usually see on a day to day basis. They miss seeing their teachers and getting personal attention, missing meaningful conversations, sports, clubs, joking around, of these things can have an impact
Mental Health Resources at Huron
If you or someone you know needs urgent assistance, call the crisis lines below.
Washtenaw County Community MenIf you would like to talk to someone about tal Health Crisis Line: 734-544-3050 your mental health, reach out to your counselor, advisor, social worker, or Ozone House Crisis Line: Huron’s psychologist, Dr. Lewis (lewisj@ 734-662-2222 a2schools.org).
THE HURON EMERY | ISSUE 3: DECEMBER
7 | MENTAL HEALTH FEATURE
Pandemic Lost in isolation How the physical distancing negatively affects the elderly ALLISON MI COPY EDITOR At the outset of the pandemic quarantine in March, the most reasonable solution for protecting the elderly, with their vulnerability to COVID-19, was to isolate them.
All ages - from teenagers to the elderly - are starting to feel the mental health impacts of the pandemic. While they are separated by several generations, the feeling of today remains the same - they are tired, scared and exhausted.
Completely. After all, the fatality rate from the disease is 14.8 percent for people all age groups. When the elderly are physically secluded, all possible risks of infection are eliminated. However, in isolation, another crucial aspect of their well-being is unintentionally compromised: mental health. While most of do not consider this factor as being critical, in fact, it is necessary for survival. “There are so many things physiologically that happen when we’re socially engaged,” commented Linda Chatters, PhD, University of M i c h i g a n Nanya Professor of Health Behavior & Health Education. “We are hardwired,
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They’re saying that they’ll never see their loved ones, and if they have to live like this, they might as well give up.”
Studies of orphanages show that children who do not get daily interactions with caretakers show withdrawal, a smaller physique, less development and an overall “failure to thrive” compared to children who have stronger s o c i a l connections. “We gain a lot developmentally by the interactions that we have that involve visual cues of engagement,” Prof. Chatters said. “This includes gaze, holding one another, talking and mimicking. These are all ways in which our brains develop.” Workers at Ann Arbor’s Hillside Terrace Senior Living have noticed both obvious physical and mental declines in their residents, who have been quarantined for eight months. “I mean, just the mood itself, it is very clear how much of a toll this has taken on them,” Erin McIver, the Life Enrichment Director, said. “It’s almost like we’re not able to get people out of this kind of depression, even once we’ve been able to open back up. We’re encouraging them, ‘No, don’t worry, you don’t have to be stuck in this room anymore, we can get out and go do things now.’” The quarantine impact on social health is unmistakable.
resident’s daughters came to surprise him at his window. They aligned their hands up and touched the window together, and blew each other a kiss. He then turned around with a tear in his eye.
GRAPHIC BY BRIDGIT JUNG
to several mental health issues, the most prevalent being depression and anxiety. Additionally, the lack of social interaction can also worsen dementia. “Getting out and interacting with others is therapeutic for older adults with dementia,” Prof. Chatters said. “That’s going to be curtailed. Access to those [social] services has been a problem. Some of it you can do virtually, but certainly not all of it.” While residents have mixed feelings regarding conversations with boxed faces through Zoom, and some have even gotten used to it, face-to-face interactions have undoubtedly been missed. “They’re starting to think [these extreme precautions are] neverending,” Nanya Litz, Hillside’s Litz senior administrator, said. “They’re saying that they’ll never see their loved ones, and if they have to live like this, they might as well give up.” The frustration got to a point where some people began to refuse to drink water. To help lessen
Her visit was one of his last interactions. He died the following Sunday from COVID-19. In Michigan, nursing homes and assisted living facilities account for 30.9 percent of COVID-19 deaths, a number that would probably be much higher without these enforced isolation measures. The dilemma lies in the fact that this policy, although it alleviates contamination, is also linked
movies and TV shows to word games and art projects. “I try to change up their daily routines because they are stuck in four walls for months at a time,” McIver said. Gradually, as the snow melted and and so did the activities at Hillside. “It’s almost like you see the light come back in some of these residents’ eyes,” McIver recalled. However, enforcing social distancing amongst the residents who were exhilarated to see their friends again was not as easy as she had anticipated. “I had to constantly remind them, ‘I’m sorry, but you can’t linger. I’m sorry, but you have to be six feet apart. I’m sorry, but you can’t hug each other,’” McIver said. walking program. In 14-day increments, a group of six people or fewer walked six feet apart in the beautiful courtyard, as temperatures warmed. Ice cream was served, too. “I’ll never forget about Walter, [who has a wife and daughter back at home], holding that ice cream,” Litz said. “It took him forever to eat it. Everybody else was done with theirs. So, I said to him, ‘Why are you waiting to eat that ice cream? Why are you eating it so slow?’” Walter’s thoughtful response speaks to all of us. “I am savoring this moment,” he said.
22%
of people who have COVID are 85+
30.9%
of COVID-19 deaths in Michigan are from nursing homes
80%
of COVID-19 deaths comes from people over 65 Statistics are from Center for Disease Control and Business Insider
THE HURON EMERY | ISSUE 3: DECEMBER
BRIDGIT JUNG GUEST WRITER Before founding Youth Arts Alliance, Heather Martin worked in adult correctional facilities across Michigan, working to bring jobs in the creative arts to adults. When providing workshops to incarcerated adults, Martin recalls, “a resounding theme in talking to folks was ‘What if I had this opportunity sooner?’” Because they did not have the opportunity to have such experiences earlier in their lives, they were not aware of their potential and interest in the arts. This inspired Martin to found YAA, aiming to provide such experiences to community and incarceral settings. YAA, formed in 2013, workshops and opportunities in the arts to young people in incarceral settings. They work at Washtenaw County Youth Center, Monroe County Youth Center, Jackson County Youth Center and Vista Maria in Wayne County, each one a part of the juvenile justice system that provides detention and a large variety of workshops across a multitude of art forms. in visual art like mural-making, mosaic-making, printmaking, as well as creative writing, poetry, short story, engineering, original song creation, illustration theater, movement and horticulture,” Martin said. “We have programming that we feel young people haven’t had the opportunity to participate in. What that looks like is a 12-
week workshop, where youth gather once a week for ninety minutes and engage in healing-center high-quality arts practices.” In addition to providing arts experiences to the juvenile justice system, YAA also provides workshops to the community, including Parkridge Community Center in Ypsilanti, American Indian Health and Family Services in Detroit and Western Career Prep high school in Jackson County. “We believe that the arts have compounding benefits a c r o s s the lifespan, so experiences in the arts are essential for health,” she said. “It was my goal in founding YAA that we as an organization would make space in these settings to create, express, and have access and equity in arts experiences as a pathway to disand skills, and have fun too,” In the Southeast Michigan juvenile justice system, a disproportionate amount of youth of color are represented in facilities, and a large number of them come from households of lower socioeconomic status. For example, while 58.9 percent of the Washtenaw County juvenile detention population is African American, only 18 percent (ages 0-17) of the total county’s population is African American. While Ypsilanti, Michigan consists of only 27 percent of
8 | FEATURE
the whole county’s population, 51 percent of the juvenile detention population comes from Ypsilanti. Additionally, Ypsilanti faces a $30,000 median household income disparity compared to the rest of Washtenaw County. (Statistics from Youth Arts Alliance: Prioritizing Juvenile Justice) Using arts as a means for healing, YAA provides these opportunities to young people to help express themselves. “Young people who are engaging in our workshops have sometimes experienced complex trauma, like experiences that they didn’t have any control over,” Martin said. “This could be the loss of a parent, or an experience in which they were victimized themselves. There is a disproportionate amount of young people in the juvenile justice system who come from areas of low socioeconomic resource, and all of those things coming together can create a feeling of hopelessness and a lack of control over life events.” Martin is well informed of the multiplying in the arts can bring. Experiences in the arts can improve academic outcomes dition, the act of completing a work of art creates a sense of pride and ownership. “It’s healing to express yourself and talk about things that matter to you: your values, experiences that you’ve been resilient in through your life and all the hopes and dreams you have for the future,” Martin said. “The act itself
their
pain and trauma. “One of the most powerful things that results from engaging in art practice is that young people who have been holding a lot of pain and trauma have a vehicle to release those experiences,” Martin said. “Through poetry, music and art to talk about the things they’ve been through. One of the most beautiful things is that a person who ist, a writer, or a performer engages in programming, and exits with tremendous conI’m a writer. I’m a performer. I have things that are important and valuable to share.’” During the COVID-19 pandemic, YAA continues to week, providing art supplies and creativity books to hundreds of youth and families, and video prompts that facilitate expression across a wide range of mediums. Follow Youth Arts Alliance on Instagram at @youth.arts.alliance.
Scan this QR code to support Youth Arts Alliance:
Additionally, the arts can act as a channel in which youth can work through
“Mask On,” a performance created by artists from a multi-media workshop at Vista Maria. COURTESY OF YAA
THE HURON EMERY | ISSUE 3: DECEMBER
9 | FEATURE
Behind the virtual background: teaching with young kids “My kids are both hams and they want to perform for the camera and my students, so oftentimes they’re jumping all over As students struggle to pay atten- me, screaming, begging for my tion in class, teachers are facing attention, wanting to play with some difficulties of their own. me etc. all while I’m trying to Teaching online has made teach- teach,” Horwitz says. ers feel disconnected from their Juggling the role as a students. However, their efforts mother and a teacher presents to create a welcoming classroom challenges, yet Horwitz is hanatmosphere regardless of the con- dling it with grace. Other teachditions don’t go unnoticed. That ers have kids who do not leave being said, the students on their the home and are engaging in computer screens aren’t the only online curriculum. kids teachers are worried about; a “With kids learning on lot of them have children of their the other side of your wall and own. other kids learning on the other “As a mother and a side of your screen, it’s a lot to teacher you always feel torn be- keep up with,” Spanish teacher cause you Ellen Schultz have your said. “My kids children at go to an Ann home but Arbor Public your stuSchools eleWith kids learning on dents bementary so we come your have all been the other side of your children as doing virtual wall and other kids well,” Enschool from glish teachhome. It has learning on the other er Sheri been challengside of your screen, it’s ing but we are Horwitz said. “And managing.” a lot to keep up with,” of course Schultz’s mom ELLEN SCHULTZ you want has been able SPANISH TEACHER to give 100 to help with percent to her kids’ online all of your children.” schooling, which has been a great Horwitz’s kids attend a help to Shultz’s family. Nonethedaycare and are able to be out of less, her children still make apthe house safely for a period of pearances on their mom’s zoom time, giving her a vacant work- calls. This doesn’t pose as a disspace. However, when they’re traction to the students, if anyhome they love to make appear- thing, it’s a fun little surprise. ances for the camera. Jeremy Schuitman, a
KIANA HEMATI SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR
“
English and Journalism teacher, Sara Badalamente has three young boys - two who are all attending AAPS virtual school. COURTESY OF BADALAMENTE math teacher at Huron High school, is experiencing a similar circumstance. “My lessons are often interrupted by my six year old,” Schuitman said. “She loves coming to say hello. I have to be patient with her. We are a strong family and are really enjoying our time together.” Family time is a plus for the Schuitman family as they’re also able to travel while teaching and attending class. Though there are some perks to distance learning such as the flexibility of a work space, teachers have said they are finding new challenges to make connections with their students as they usually would. “I have struggled com-
municating with my students,” Schuitman said. “‘Turn your camera on!’ I often want to shout- but I do not — I totally understand that the camera has to be off. The 10 second conversations that happen in class cannot be reproduced online. I really miss those conversations that get us all on the same page in school.” Teachers value the personal connections they make with their students and are doing their best this year with the unusual circumstance. “Establishing meaningful connections with students is always on top of teachers’ priorities. Zoom, sadly, did not make that any easier,” Spanish teacher Daniel Verdugo said.
How much can you really get to know someone through a screen, let alone with just their voice? Teachers are willing to listen to students’ concerns and understand nearly no one’s experience has been smooth sailing this year. “I am not 100 percent sure what my students are learning if they do not communicate with me,” Schuitman said. Safety precautions may take away from the learning experience, many teachers agree they are necessary. “I still believe that safeguarding as much as possible from transmission of COVID-19 is my preference for the school year,” Schultz said.
Traveling at home: students participate in virtual college visits and tours VISH GONDESI ONLINE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Colleges across the U.S. have been asking students to stay home, with some trying to allow their students on campus in a safe manner. So, the possibility of high school students going on a visit is virtually non-existent. However, virtual college visits have quickly become a popular option: accessible, informative and free. Ann Arbor Public schools compiled a list of college visits for the fall season, counselors have been notifying students via Schoology and more opportunities are expected to start back up around spring. Junior Varun Krishna chose to check out Wayne State University. “Given the circumstances it was a really good way of gauging what the college is about,” Krishna said. “They gave the same information that they would have told us on an in person visit, minus all the walking around and seeing [the college].” To set it up, Krishna went to the university website, and scheduled a one on one with a college representative. “If you had any questions prior to the visit, you could ask the admissions team, and they would answer them to the best of
their ability,” Krishna said. “Other than that, they just gave an idea of what campus life was like, what organizations were there, they asked what major I was interested in and then they talked about all the things associated with that.” However, many students might not engage in these visits simply because their preferred college isn’t there. According to school counselor Heather Potocki, students should try and be more open. Back when she was applying for colleges to receive her master’s degree, Potocki singled out Arizona State University, but after further research, Ottawa University best fit her. “ E v e n if it’s a college you’re not so sure about or one you’re dead set o n , [you
should go] because you might hear something while you’re there and say, ‘oh, I didn’t know about that,” because the whole idea is making sure that you’re finding the college that fits you,” Potocki said. “ So you need to do as much research as you can about these colleges. And when you hear straight from the mouth of the college representative what the school is about, that’s a really good opportunity to learn about the university.” Krishna agrees that talking to college counselors is much different from high school ones.
“I feel college counselors are able to give you a more in depth review, an explanation of all the different things you can do at these colleges, what they’re really about and opportunities provided,” Krishna said. “Basically they can give you information that your school counselor might not know or might not be able to tell you. If you have a mindset about going to a certain college, but you never really speak to anyone who went there, or you’ve never seen it for yourself, then you should definitely visit it or try one of these virtual experiences because it can give you that idea.” T h e widespread virtual visAMY XIU its aren’t the only change from the usual college application process. Students should consider how college programs will be in a virtual or hybrid state, and measure t h e overall
COVID-19 effect on the colleges. “Many people choose to go to Washtenaw because college is expensive,” Potocki said. “And why does a student want to pay a lot of money, if they don’t necessarily get to be on campus, and have that college experience? Especially when you think about the financial aspect of it, COVID-19 has hit a lot of our families really hard. So having the option to pay a whole tuition for a four year university might not be there.” How different the current “college experience” will be is still mostly up in the air. Regardless, Potocki thinks students should start by assembling a list of favored schools, doing additional research and start looking at application requirements, but also use whatever other resources they can. “Even asking your teachers here at Huron [questions] like what colleges did you go to?” Potocki said. “How did you make your decision? What was the deciding factor for you? What did you like about this university and not like about this one? That’s an obstacle for our juniors is making those connections with their teachers to be able to have those solid letters of recommendation. It’s definitely going to be different for you all.”
THE HURON EMERY | ISSUE 3: DECEMBER
10 |OPINION
The Young Scientist
Understanding Scientific Fallacies The list goes on and on.
media only allows such falsehoods to thrive in an environment where it is
Many of these harm. While not eating food with MSG may not nec-
ERIC HENG COLUMNIST
out. -
“MSG can cause headaches.” “GMOs are harmful for the human body.” “Humans only use 10% of their brains.” These seemingly innocuous statements are actually all
would miss a few delicious dishes - the refusal to use a life-saving vaccine on a
tend to have more faith in GMOs at nearly double similar for many other
of the next decade by the World Health Organization. These unfounded refusals
While believed by large will directly reduce our abil-
and safety of vaccines. ing mistrust science more?
Scientific education is essential to be an active citizen in society—especially as it becomes more technologically advanced. (Al Seib/Los Angeles Times/TNS)
authority to question the least all evidence behind the subject has been discredited. This is just a small taste of the many misconexist within
do not reach immunity. Why do
“
can we mend this breach in trust? -
ue to believe these urban myths that have been
Successful education will promote a generation of young and time scientists.” again? With
the serious (“vaccines cause autism” or “climate change
the advent of the Internet and the wealth of information that comes
that it can harm them.
of that individual. How can we hit two birds with one stone? The -
full of truths and falsewe are lacking is critical
education reveal the unknowns of science to curious reveal their delusions as “alternative news” have -
single discovery. Addi-
ation of young scientists. -
harmless (“mythical creatures exist”) to downright -
education because -
-
be willing to evaluate each tively and ensure fake news
ability to discern the value of information. As the generation -
A rigged system: why gifted and talented schools need to make amends the gifted and regular My grade had no
were twice as likely to get recommended into the gifted their children tend to score lower on IQ testing when in actuality their intelligence may be higher.
years in a gifted and talented
My elementary The gifted and talented
gifted and talented entrance exam overwhelming favors children with highly educated
microaggression - teachers
“modern-day segregation.” more likely white. And if a student
asking ‘where I am really aware of my race - my
refute the decision - only if The root of this entrance exam - the IQ test. It is hard to identify “giftedness” in a young
Rio Ohtake
the Saginaw River - my
and talented elementary
older than their teachers and are frequent readers test in same neighborhoods and
this is blatantly unfair for low-income or working class
that was normal. have become aware that the
entrance exam is only available to students and
education. They rarely had
MAYA KOGULAN EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
characters of the books in the
school and request it. Gifted
Gifted and talented education is broken. It creates classrooms with a majority
market to the African American community. And
creating barriers for minority children. School districts
of the American Educational other gifted qualities such as
boards and overbearing country club moms.
school district. And the only
that between children with the same math and reading
THE HURON EMERY | ISSUE 3: DECEMBER
11 | OPINION
PERSPECTIVES OF CHALLENGES DURING VIRTUAL SCHOOL “I HAVE ADHD”: Q&A WITH SENIOR JOEY OH VERENA WU STAFF WRITER
My grades are a little lower, but maybe that’s because it’s my senior It’s harder to focus at home. If I’m somewhat comfortable, like in my bed I’ll really just not be paying attention at all, but if I’m uncomfortable then it’s not as hard for me to focus. Like in school I’m sitting in a chair and there’s people around me, so it’s
During online school, Oh is able to have items to fidget with, like a rubix cube, which teachers generally don’t like in regular class. PHOTO COURTESY OF OH
myself like ‘what just happened?,’ you know? Even though I’m actually paying attention in class. And I’m just at home, so I automatically don’t focus as well. It’s kind of awkward to ask teachers, especially in a Zoom call, like in front of the class ‘What just
MOVING ACROSS THE COUNTRY BEFORE A VIRTUAL YEAR
ALEXANDRA PIPER-WAGNER GUEST WRITER When my parents told me we were moving from Washington of the senior traditions that I had been anticipating since I was a freshman with the friends I had grown up with were taken from me in the blink of an eye. Little did I know that seniors across the country would get their senior year taken away as well. Online school has been
more outside of class because I’m not really learning in class. It’s a lot easier when I’m doing activities in class because I actually have to focus. Online class without activities is kind of voluntary, and I really just don’t pay attention then.
exhausting. Adjusting to a new environment while trying to make friends is hard enough, and adding online school to that has been rough. I am sad that I don’t get to go to football games or school dances and that all I will remember from my senior year is staring at a computer screen for hours a day. However, I am comforted by knowing that I am not alone and everyone is going through a new experience. I have found that chatting with people in breakout rooms has helped me meet some very kind people, and teachers are cognizant of trying to give students time to connect with each other. Huron has welcomed me with open arms and I am very grateful.
happened?’ It’s awkward to just say ‘Can I ask a question?’ So I think it’d be better if there were more breakout rooms where you can talk to your friends who know what’s going on. So you don’t feel pressured to not look stupid. Sometimes I just text my friends outside of class. So I guess more breakout rooms and more opportunity to talk to your peers, because teachers expect you to ask questions but sometimes even as a senior I get scared asking questions.
SPECIAL EDUCATION REFLECTS ON STUDENT SUPPORTS One of the toughest parts for a lot of my students is navigating the virtual learning environment, across all classes.
RACHEL VANRIPER SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER My absolute favorite thing about being a teacher is the interactions and relationships I get to build with a variety of students. The virtual learning environment challenge. I can’t even explain the joy and emotions I feel when a student turns on their camera during class or when we are in a meeting. It’s so good to get to see them and feel like we are all still in this together.
materials while also listening to the teachers’ instructions, keeping an eye on the chat, remembering to mute/unmute, and meeting assignment deadlines. It’s a lot for our brains to process at once, even without a disability surrounding comprehending the content. Even with the struggles, I really think the resilience of the been inspiring. Teachers are working over time to provide accommodations and support to our students right now.
We’re in it for the long haul
Staff Editorial: It’s time we accept that Huron won’t return this year According to a recent poll on The Emery Instagram, 85 percent of students do not think Huron will return to in-person classes this school year, and we agree. Even with a vaccine on the horizon, the high school environment is simply too unsafe to return. High schools are big, students are not always responsible outside of school between
classes
not impossible. At this point, the best course of action for everyone --students, alike-- is to recognize that virtual school is more than a short-term solution. Several students who responded that they believe Huron will reopen this year did so essentially because they wanted it to. While keeping a positive attitude is
makes well-being, if focused wrong,
it could do more harm than good. Maintaining false hope can lead to disappointment and discourage individuals from accepting the current situation that is virtual school and making the best out of it. This is why Ann Arbor Public Schools to admit concretely that high schoolers won’t see the inside of classrooms anytime soon. Just because high schools should stay closed,
doesn’t mean all AAPS doors should remain sealed. There are groups of students that can and should return in the nearer future. It is up to the district to come up with creative solutions to make this happen. But for now, it is everyone’s job to make the best of the current situation and stay safe so at some point we can return.
We want to hear YOU! Write for The Emery! Submit your pitch to The Emery for a chance to be featured in the next issue’s “Student Voices.” Scan the QR code or email thehuronemery@gmail.com to learn more!
THE HURON EMERY | ISSUE 3: DECEMBER
12 | ARTS+ENTERTAINMENT
“If anyt hing happ ens I love you”
Five Things I Learned from this Netflix Short
ALLISON MI COPY EDITOR
1
case, the shadows are a truthful representation of negative emotions. In another scene, however, the mother’s shadow is shown comforting her as she cries into her knees, caressing that blue shirt. We all have our own shadows, on the good and bad days, present to show us what cannot be seen, but what is as strongly present in ourselves.
thumbnail. It was by pure chance that my mouse stumbled upon the stale white thumbnail of “If anything happens I love you.” To be fair, I was
I saw that the former was only 12 minutes long, I shrugged and thought, “Why not?”
2
4
Less is more.
around the girl’s cheerful photographs, they start to actually see each other with empathy. In the last scene, the parents start to cry. But this time, they go to each other for comfort. Still seated in their daughter’s room, her memories as potent as ever, they have simply chosen not merely to move on, but to live on.
topic with dialogue. Without verbal cues, I found myself focusing more on the visual nuances, like the few splashes of colors, which only appear when something related to the daughter shows up. Noticing the blue mark on the wall where she had once accidentally kicked a soccer ball, or that the only shirt in the washing machine with color was
5
where in a sea of sombre recollections, the only colorful specks belong to their daughter.
3
on and living on. We move on from jobs and
breakups. But the loss of a child? In the beginning, the parents are not speaking to each other. There is a solemn fog in their house. There is not much of their child that is displayed. When they both enter her room
written and animated by Michael Govier and Will McCormack has no dialogue and is mostly in black and white. Astoundingly, these simplicities successfully depict the heavy journey of two grieving parents as they mourn the loss of their daughter in a school shooting.
If anything happens, if nothing happens, I love you. One of the most
heartbreaking moments is when I saw the bunny-eared phone case and a projection of her text saying, “If anything happens I
We all have our own “shadow.” There seems to be
mother, father and daughter. But what really adds the layers of emotion to this movie is that with some ambiguity, there may actually be six. Each character has a shadow that represents them and acts as the substitute to their dialogue. In the opening scene, when the parents are eating dinner at opposite ends of the table in silence, heads down and their forks dragging in their plates, the two shadows emphatically are bickering over their heads. In this
parents never knew that she would not be coming home that night. She herself did not even know that. The most frightening part, especially in reality, is that none of us ever knows. As the movie credits began to roll, I ran downstairs and told my parents that I love them. Because if anything happens, or if nothing happens, I want them to know. NETFLIX AND GILBERT FILMS
THE EMERY READS: ASIAN AMERICAN AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT NOTE: These books contain imagery and language that may be triggering to some audiences. teenager growing up in Ohio, and the resulting impact on her family. The book moves between past and present events and is set in the 1970s. Ng brings together suspense and mystery to craft Everything I Never Told You into a perfect book for young
Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng
Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng is a novel based around the death of Lydia Lee, an Asian American
all kinds. The point of view shifts between each member of the Lee family as they cope and go through the motions of being part of an Asian American family in a predominantly caucasian community.
They Called Us Enemy by George Takei
George Takei’s graphic novel centers around his family’s time in Japanese internment camps during World
War II. As a child, Takei didn’t comprehend the injustices he was living through but narrates the experiences of his parents, demonstrating the reality of the situation. The graphic novel explains the history and legislation behind the internment camps, his years of experience living in two internment camps as well as the resulting aftermath on his family and the U.S. as whole. They Called Us Enemy is an informative read on a neglected piece of American history as well as a commentary on the state of the U.S.
Chemistry
by Weike Wang Chemistry follows a woman whose life is falling apart. She’s trying to get her Ph.D. in Chemistry but is
working lab results and is being pressured by her boyfriend of years to get married. The narrator and her parents migrated from China to the United States when the narrator was a baby. Growing up she has lived under constant pressure to be smart by her father and reminders that she isn’t beautiful by her mother. Weike Wang portrays an anxietyjust trying to get her life together and takes the reader through her her place in academia and in a relationship.
THE HURON EMERY | ISSUE 3: DECEMBER
13 | ARTS+ENTERTAINMENT
DRINKS
Sharetea’s modern and clean interior provides a nice study spot or hang out space. JULIE PARK
Sharetea: new boba shop offers a unique menu VERENA WU AND KIANA HEMATI STAFF WRITER AND SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR
Sharetea, a Taiwan based bubble tea company, recently opened in downtown Ann Arbor. With the onset of COVID-19, they delayed their opening from March to October. Despite the delay, Sharetea’s manager still believes that the restaurant can succeed, given the success of locations in California. We visited Sharetea with our friend, senior Ethel Kim. Kim has visited Sharetea twice and trusts Sharetea’s COVID-19 protocols. Sharetea requires all workers to wear masks and they have a digital ordering screen to avoid human contact during order. “They don’t control the number of people that can enter the store at a time but the store is quite roomy so it doesn’t get overcrowded,” Kim said.
Sharetea’s strength is seen in the diversity of their menu, which includes mojitos, blended drinks and unique toppings like ice cream, aiyu jelly and kiwi.
is the drinks Sharetea sells that aren’t available at other stores,” Kim said. “Each store has unique drinks that aren’t available elsewhere. For example, ChaTime has a taro drink with actual chunks of taro, CoCo has grapefruit green tea with grapefruit pulp and Sharetea has kiwi pulp drinks.” Sharetea’s drinks take a lot of preparation, as they are all made to order fresh. Despite this, Kim said that the time it takes to get your order are similar to other stores in Ann Arbor. One downside to Sharetea is that drinks come in one size only, which is fairly large. We recommend that you
DECOR
order a drink that you will not get sick of quickly; We ordered Thai Milk tea, which was very sweet and we weren’t able We also warn about changing sweetness for drinks. Sharetea drinks are sweeter than drinks from other bubble tea locations like Coco, so we all changed our sweetness levels from the default. Compared to other bubble tea shops in Ann Arbor, Sharetea provides a very modern and clean environment which you could use to study or just hang out with friends when dine-in services are allowed. You can order Sharetea in person, online, or over the phone. Sharetea’s extensive and unique menu is not to be missed out on!
VALUE
“The Queen’s Gambit”: a mix of chess and drug addiction VERENA WU STAFF WRITER Based on a book written by Walter Tevis in 1983, the TV show, “The Queen’s Gambit,” 2020, has been rising in popularity-and for good reason. It stars Anya Taylor-Joy as Beth Harmon, an orphaned Kentucky girl who discovers chess and drugs at her orphanage. The show follows her path to becoming the world’s best chess player while combating addiction and other emotional struggles. A headstrong and incredibly intelligent woman,
Harmon is the ideal female hero. Her talents take her and the audience around the world, introduce her to complex characters, and create a riveting story that allowed me to procrastinate a bit too much. While I’m not sure why I thought it was based on a true story, I out that there was no truth to the plot or characters. It was that there would be a show about “the world’s greatest chess player”, but the player never existedlike if there was a movie
fast-paced (except in games that path to being elected, but she didn’t move so quickly you wonder how actually exist. Despite this, the someone can think so quickly) and show pulled me in some scenes are more immediately, even drawn out than they need with the slow start. to be, but the storyline It was inspiring to Beth as a child is not stays fresh with many see others pursing the most talkative character, but there the audience locked in with what they love in are many things to pay the passion and excitement life, despite chalattention to from the of Beth and other chess lenges they face.” start of the show, like players. It was inspiring to Harmon’s cold stare see others pursuing what and composure, the they love in life, despite complex characters she meets and challenges they face. her evident talent as a chess player. But the otherwise plot and People may be apprehensive of the emotional soundness does not pardon the “black best friend” (BBF). Used dull, but the show proves that chess frequently in the media to add false is more than just a board game. Each game is shot excellently, building the READ THE REST OF THE STORY ON anticipation and drama of each one. THEHURONEMERY.COM The show is never incredibly
PHIL BRAY/NETFLIX
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THE HURON EMERY | ISSUE |2: ISSUE NOVEMBER THE HURON EMERY 3: DECEMBER
14 | 14 ARTS+ENTERTAINMENT | ARTS+ENTERTAINMENT
2020 RECAP: ENTERTAINMENT ALBUMS ALBUMS “With the release of “Blame it on Baby”, I was very excited to hear what DaBaby has in store,” senior Peter Overgaard. “BLAME IT ON BABY” - DABABY
““After Hours” is the best album of 2020 and The
““Folklore” is a lyrical masterpiece. It was what we all needed during quarantine,” freshman Marisa Randall.
deserved a Grammy nomination,” senior Daniela Walbridge. “AFTER HOURS “- THE WEEK ND
“FOLKLORE” - TAYLOR SWIFT
“This album has a song for every mood you’re in and I can’t complain about it,” sophomore Ava Nolan.
“CONFETTI “- LITTLE MIX
TV TV SHOWS SHOWS “Season 4 came featured Princess Diana and Margaret Thatcher which made the season really interesting to watch since they are so famous,” senior Eilene Koo “THE CROWN”
“The scenes that the show took place were so was cool and I liked the ending. Especially now that we know season 2 is coming out,” junior Jewel Pendley. “OUTER BANKS”
“The makers brought it to life and made it thrilling. The costume and set design was also well done. I watched the entire series in days,” senior Niharica Suri-Kannan “THE QUEEN’S GAMBIT”
“This was my favorite show to watch when it came out and I binge watched it during quarantine,” senior Olivia Conatser. “ALL AMERICAN”
MOVIES MOVIES
“HAMILTON”
I really enjoyed watching it with my mother at home; we ordered food and everything as we actually wanted to see in live. But that day was good too,” senior Tamia Brannon.
“I liked this movie because it’s based on a play that was written in the 1960’s and highlights gay culture in a time when that just wasn’t done,” senior Jada Godin.
“THE BOYS IN THE BAND”
“It just came out it was one of the few movies that I watched but I felt that it was well written,” senior Jake Watkins.
“LIFE IN A Y EAR”
“I loved the whole sherlock series and this movie was about his little sister so of course I had to watch it and love it,” sophomore “ENOLA HOLMES”
HURON HURON UNWRAPPED “The weirdest song on my Spotify Unwrapped was “Moshpit” by Kodak Black because I haven’t listened to it in so long,” freshman Zain Charania.
“Because of the shutdown, I wasn’t able to watch many movies this year. One movie I did watch, and loved in 2020 was the “Mulan”,” senior Shahed Fouad.
“The weirdest song on my Spotify Unwrapped was “Purple Hat” My friends and I listened to it as a joke,” junior Kyla Graves.
My favorite movie of 2020 was “Tenet”. This is because not many movies came out in 2020, but also because the movie was very enjoyable to watch. It made me think a lot, and were very cool to see,” sophomore Nathan Choi.
“The weirdest thing on my Spotify Unwrapped was the “Against All Odds Podcast”, I didn’t know I have listened to it that much,” senior
SCAN THE QR CODE TO SEE HURON’S FAVORITE SONGS OF 2020
THE HURON EMERY | ISSUE 3: DECEMBER
15 | SPORTS
Fans celebrate after Matt Patricia firing: Is Jim Harbaugh next? following the announcement of Patricia’s termination. Head coach Jim Harbaugh watches as players run scrimmage during Michigan’s Spring Game at Michigan Stadium (Jacob Hamilton/MLive/TNS)
inaugural season.
PETER HAGAN COLUMNIST After two and a half disappointing seasons as the Detroit Lions head coach, let go. Brought in to restore a Lions program which
await the outcome of a similar situation.
Detroit Lions coach Matt Patricia looks on before their NFL game against the Dallas Cowboys at Ford Field in Detroit, Patricia was fired on Nov. 28, 2020. (Mike Mulholland/
-
hailed as the savior of Univer-
that used to stir emotion and -
Rutgers- a program which has
lost six of its last eight games. -
-
to get his feet under himself. After racking up 22 losses
Michigan took an ear-
mediocre opponents and the -
together a meager nine wins, Patricia was in desperate need never came. Despite managing a handful of wins, the season
-
such as star wide receiver Nico Collins, have opted not
Championship until his eighth in his sixth season and has
and when the dust settled, it was another devastating defeat for the Wolverines at the game-deciding call that went in favor of Ohio State, Har-
it seems unclear whether or
But while these pandemic-reFor the Lions, a move
expressed their satisfaction
defeat to Michigan State at home on Halloween. Several
look suggests that Michigan -
post-game comments critiinfuriated and unafraid to
HARBAUGH HAS NEVER BEATEN OHIO STATE (O-5 career record)
PATRICIA HAS NEVER BEATEN VIKINGS OR BEARS (0-10 career record)
light at the end of the tunnel however, remains suspended in the frustration of not know-
just as he was unafraid to make his excitement clear in But in the months
needs to change. Though the
several successful seasons. On the sidelines, he seems disoriented, perhaps even disconnected. What hap-
career as a Wolverine.
Student hosts virtual 5k for C.S. Mott’s Children’s QUINN NEWHOUSE SPORTS EDITOR
The 5k, which is going
Sophomore Aidan Behmer is doing something Personal Project. Behmer,
a
little more optimistic with people record their times on
cross time and distance.
C.S. Mott’s Hospital.
Hospital
has prevented me and lots of other 5k’s that were supposed
Children’s
a lot of people just in our local area that like to run too, and thought that with the
appreciate According to U.S. News and World Report, C.S. Mott’s Children’s Hospital was the only hospital in Michigan to be ranked in all ten medical specialties. Behmer chose it to be the place he donated his 5k proceedings. Photo courtesy of
the
work
that
use more equipment or newer
Dwight Burdette (CC By 3.0)
having to go digital for this 5k.
THE HURON EMERY | ISSUE 3: DECEMBER
16 | SPORTS
Committed in a flash A De a r Hu r o n
Senior athletes commit to colleges for sports scholarships
t h le t e s,
u a re h e pa t h yo t f o s s ow le Re g a rd c h o o l, we k n s h g i h r e h le t t a k i n g a ft t o n o ur a t c a p m i n a iny o u m a de e yo u c on t p o h e W . y t i ey i c s c o m m un le t i c j o u r n h t a r u o y n g fo r a ue on wi t h e a n s p la y i m t a h t jus t r e wh e t h al t eam o r n o i t a e r c e nd go c o lle g e, a r Go o d lu c k a . s d n e i fr r wi t h y o u Ra t s ! T h e Hu r o n
Abigail Ketslakh University of Michigan
Swim and Dive team
Em e r y
Kevin Zhou Ohio Weslya
n
Swim team
Devynn Wilderman
Kingsley Perkins Lake Superior State
Amherst College Softball Team
Basketball team
Angie Zhou
Annie Costello
Pomona Co lle
University of Michigan
Tennis Team
Swim and Dive team
ls Brandon Raw y State Saginaw Valle am Basketball te
Tyson Edmondson Lake Superior State Basketball team
ge
Devin Womack Lake Superior State Basketball team
Haley Camp
ain
Universit y o f Minnesota
Rowing team