The Huron Emery Volume 8 Issue 6 June

HURON EMERY THE

TikTok: the time is running out

national security, which has stemmed from the potential ban of TikTok. TikTok, a popular so

is the number one used app globally. With around 1 billion active users a

in the United States, TikTok has a huge impact on the digital world and the outcome of the legal

moved to Ann Arbor in 1990 because of her husband’s job.

paper and yearbook adviser Sara Badalamente has used TikTok to promote

TikTok bans have already begun being implemented.

State Street, adorned with neon orange barriers and covered with dusty gravel, has been chaotic for nearly a year now. Though many citizens do not know why, the mass construction has some pretty plans for the future.

day to the parents or to the principal’s email or putting

There is a lot more to Lauren Warren than her rhyming name. Huron school librarian since 1999 and teacher of around 30 years, she is retiring at the end of the semester.

“[My husband] came home one day and just said to me, ‘We’re moving to Ann Arbor, Michigan,’” Warren said. “I was like, ‘Wow, great. Where is it?’” They were in Ann Arbor for nine years in which Warren stayed at home to raise their kids, but after her husband started doing freelance work, she needed to return to work. She started working downriver at Woodhaven-Brownstown, and then came to Huron.

After retirement, Warren wants to keep working, but on her own terms now.

“I want to be able to travel, to take a course, to not come in if the weatherman says we think it’s going to be bad [weather],” she said. Her favorite part about her career has been getting to work with students.

“It’s very interesting meeting people from all over the world with different perspectives, getting to know people, and helping people find out more about themselves,” Warren said. “You don’t know what you’re go-

ing to end up doing, but just pay attention. Enjoy your journey, and then things will fall into place.”

State street construction continuing this summer LIBRARIAN

“The goal is to bring the street and the surrounding infrastructure up to standard and improve the aesthetic of the space,” said Frances Todoro-Hargeaves, the Executive Director of State Street District, Ann Arbor. By the end of the project, they plan on having replacements and upgrades for electrical and water infrastructure, new light fixtures, aesthetics like flower beds and festival lights, and other updates. Despite the huge advances toward a more positive downtown space for citizens, the project has harmful impacts on small businesses on State Street.

“We have seen a decrease in sales and numbers outside of major events,” Todoro-Hargeaves said.

“The businesses are hopeful that the project will be completed on time this year and we will not miss any of the football season.”

According to Donna Karreci, an employee at the Getup Vintage, a small business affected by the construction, the construction has peeved some staff.

“It’s an annoyance

The State Street District looks streetscape and versatility

PHOTO BY SARA

GRAPHIC BY ANNA LEE

SATVIKA RAMANATHAN WEBSITE MANAGING EDITOR

Warren moved from New York to Michigan when her husband got a new job. PHOTO COURTESY OF WARREN

ANJALI NADARAJAH COPY EDITOR

Adam Grant: The journey to a Brighter Way

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

As Adam Grant strode into the room we’d reserved at the library, my eyes caught on his black leather jacket, the tattoos snaking up his hand and arm. But as soon as we started talking, every assumption I had about him went flying out the window. After serving a 27-year long prison sentence, Grant is now the executive director of a Brighter Way, an organization devoted to lowering recidivism rates in our community and helping formerly incarcerated readjust to society.

Grant was born to two high schoolers, a freshman and a senior. His parents, who were married for two years, divorced, and less than a year later, his mother remarried.

“It was abusive,” Grant said. “It was verbally abusive, physically abusive.” After his parents divorced in 1978, his mother remained single for a while, even returning to school. However, this left Grant largely responsible for his siblings.

A few months after his grandfather’s death, Grant committed his first robbery.

“I just stole from everybody after that,” he said. “People have the best intentions, they don’t always say things in a way that is taken the way it’s meant. So [my parents] always talked about my potential, but they didn’t realize that what I heard was, ‘You’re not living up to it.’”

This pressure wore down on Grant until, over time, he stopped trying to meet those expectations.

“The actual crime that I committed that led to those 27 years in prison was a bank robbery and conspiracy to

Out of approximately 9 million people in Michigan, approximately 2 million have some form of a criminal record.

Out of the more than 650,000 ex-offenders in the US who are released from prison every year, almost 44 percent return to prison within their first year out, and approximately two-thirds will likely be rearrested within three years of release.

commit bank robbery,” Grant said. And it wasn’t your runof-the-mill bank robbery.

It wasn’t one where I came in and presented a note or something. I came in with a shotgun with two other people.”

When the judge described Grant as a terrorist, the first thing he thought to himself was, I’m not a terrorist.

“But then I realized that I was,” Grant said. “I terrorized people, I came into a village of 700 people with a shotgun, and walked into a bank and told them to give me money.”

Grant had been detained a couple of times as a juvenile, but had never actually been placed in detention facilities.

“Had I been a black male in these situations, the chances are that I probably would have been incarcerated sooner,” Grant said. “They gave me chances because of the pigmentation of my skin. So I don’t take that lightly.”

The Michigan Department of Corrections was not exactly a welcoming place. The food was awful; inmates slept on mattresses that were three inches thick and lumpy, leaving Grant’s back permanently damaged.

“’I’ve also described it like this: if you were told to go to the Four Seasons hotel and you can’t leave for 27 years, it would still be a prison,” Grant said. And although prison is not meant to be a pleasant place, Grant asserts that the things that people do to make it that way are too extreme.

“They don’t understand that the worst part about prison is the separation from people, not having options and opportunities,” Grant said. “And you don’t have to make the conditions all that much more harsh to drive the point home.”

Grant later recalled a memory from early on in one of his sentences: while walking to the dining hall, an acquaintance of his was stabbed in the neck right next to him.

“I was standing on one side of them, and I watched the knife come out of the side that I was standing on,” Grant said.

That incident made him realize how serious everything was. Can I do this, can I survive this?

Grant found himself thinking. “You see some things that you can’t unsee,” Grant said. “You see people getting raped, you see people getting killed.”

However, the latter 17 years of his prison sentence changed the trajectory that the rest of his life would go.

“I started to realize

whatever you stole, the respect of somebody being afraid there may be consequences.”

And so, he started to live that way before he was even released.

are good and bad elements to anything, there are good and bad people wherever you go,” Grant said.

“There might be a bigger pool of less savory people in prison. But there are also a lot of good people, people who helped put me on the path to living a life worth living.”

painful part for Grant when he thinks about his time in prison: there are people still there that he genuinely cares about, and that he knows shouldn’t be anymore.

we put on people not only separate us from them, they separate them from us,” Grant said. “We draw these lines.”

Out of approximately 9 million people in Michigan,

of reentry into society. On Dec. 1, 2022, however, Grant took over as executive director. Although the organization has evolved since its creation, its mission and methods remain the same: mentors work one on one to help them navigate potential pitfalls upon returning home.

“Ultimately, what we try to do is improve a person’s quality of life,” Grant said. “If a person’s quality of life is markedly better here, then they’re not going to go back to prison.”

Out of approximately 9 million people in Michigan, approximately 2 million have some form of a criminal record. And if you put it on a national level, it gets even bigger.

“There are the same number, if not more, of people who have a criminal record in the United States, as people who are married,

“The employment problem has been kind of mitigated, it’s kind of hard to work if you don’t have a place to stay, especially in this day and age,” Grant said. “And it’s kind of hard to be able to get a place if you don’t have a good credit rating. And if you don’t have good credit, there can be all kinds of problems.”

Those who have been formerly incarcerated are not a protected class, Grant argues.

“What we need is options and opportunities to talk to people,” Grant said. “We need to reduce stigma, we need to help people understand why what we do is important.”

And although A Brighter Way is still a fairly small organization, Grant’s passion is clearly one of the things that makes it so impactful on our community.

“I’m not going to direct you to somebody else, you can come to me,” Grant said. “We’re located in downtown Ypsilanti, 124 Pearl Street, suite 201. We’re open Monday through Friday nine to five. It’s not a very big office, but we have a coffee pot and a microwave and anybody is welcome to stop in.”

Adam Grant and Laquan Hill at a conference. PHOTO COURTESY OF GRANT

MAYA FU WEBSITE

The obscure truth behind the test-optional policy

DANIEL LEE NEWS EDITOR

In recent years, an increasing number of colleges have decided to implement a test-optional policy in their admission process considering the public concern on the fairness of standardized testing and the lasting circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic. In response to this sudden change in admission policies in many top-tier schools in the nation, more and more students have decided to exclude their test-scores from their college applications: according to The Common App, only 43 percent of total applicants in 2021 submitted their test scores, compared to 77 percent in 2020. Likewise, many students, not only the ones who are particularly weak in standardized testing, left positive feedback on the change in admission policies against testing. Although standardized testing is often deemed inefficient in determining one’s likelihood of succeeding academics in college, there are also many other problems that are arising due to the new test-optional policy. Here are some reasons why the test-optional policy cannot benefit or guarantee fairness in every applicant in college admissions. One important fact students often forget to realize is that the word "test-optional" is not equal to "testblind.". Test-optional policies allow students to make their decision

whether to submit their testing scores or not, while test-blind policy means that all students´ cannot submit their test-scores regardless of their willingness to do so. This notable difference in two policies often confuse students on how the test-optional policy could in fact negatively affect their chances of getting into colleges. For example, let's say that student A and student B have very similar GPAs, SAT scores, extracurriculars, and backgrounds. If both students apply to a test-optional school in the same year, with student A reporting their SAT score and student B not reporting their score, who do you think will get into the college with a limited pool of admitted students? While the actual decision may vary depending on who reviews their application and other factors, it is likely that the SAT score student A reported will be considered as a plus-factor for the student compared to student B who did not submit their score. Although the test-optional policies allow some applicants who have a particular reason to perform poorly on the standardized testing to be reviewed on the same starting line with other students, the policy itself does not give an unconditional

advantage for students who do not have a specific reason as to exclude their test scores from their application. Another reason why test-scores are weighted less in college applications in recent years is the growing negative view on standardized testing in reflecting a students´ overall academic performance. Many believe that standardized tests do not correlate with IQ and other intellectual skills and therefore are irrelevant in determining how smart or qualified a student is to be admitted to a certain college. This miscor- relation is true and should be true because most colleges are not looking for students who are born with innately high brain activity or the ones who are statistically ¨smarter¨ than others. Although testing might not be the strongest suit for every student, it is the most definite and fair way of examining if the applicant is acquired with study skills and habits and their ability to prepare for the big exam that covers a vast amount of materials in English and math, which does relate to the student's likelihood of their academic success in college. Moreover, there could be students who do not put in the equal amount of

effort and time in studying for these tests and could be reviewed on the same level of criteria as students under the same condition who actually studied for these exams. There are many colleges that prioritize students who are hard-working and are capable of preparing for college classes, whose grades are heavily determined by a couple lengthy tests. While it is true that it is inappropriate to conclude that a student is hard-working solely based on one´s test scores, it is the easiest way for colleges to get a general standard on the academic level of applicants they are looking for. Standardized test scores are far too blunt in fully representing a student's overall academic performance and they are not always promising in estimating one´s chances of getting into a particular college. The test-optional policy is in fact needed in our current college admission system as it allows students to focus more on other components of their application and provide more equal admission opportunities for students who are unable to take or retake the standardized tests. Despite these benefits, it is also necessary to consider the fact that the test-optional policy does not necessarily increase one's chances of getting into a college and that it could provide an unfair advantage for certain students who use it to cover-up their academic weaknesses.

Go: How AI challenges the future of an ancient game

JAMIE TANG STAFF WRITER

Invented over 3000 years ago, the two-player mind game Go (also known as weiqi or baduk) is rooted in the Chinese theory of yin and yang that urges people to seek harmony in their lives. Go seems simpler than chess. The game has one type of playing piece, a stone, with one player playing black and the other white. The objective is simple: surround more territory than your opponent. The 19-by-19 Go board, compared to an 8-by8 chess board, results in more than 10 to the power of 170 possible board configurations. That’s more than the number of subatomic particles in the known universe! Due to the game’s possibilities, computer programs have struggled to develop efficient algorithms that could defeat amateur and professional Go players.

Until March 2016. The Google DeepMind team aspired to devise a computer program with the intelligence and intuition to defeat human Go players. The DeepMind team combined advanced search trees with deep neural networks to develop an advanced computer program. The program played with amateur human players to understand the human mind. The result was Alpha Go, a computer program capable of calculating 10,000 moves per second. Nineteen years after IBM’s computer program DeepBlue defeated chess grandmaster Garry Kasparov in 1997, Alpha Go sealed a 4-1 victory against the 18-time world champion Lee Sedol. Played between March 9-15, 2016, the fivegame series attracted over 200 million viewers online.

Three years later, Lee Sedol announced his retirement from professional play, stating

that AlphaGo was “an entity that cannot be defeated.” Since then, AlphaGo and subsequent versions have changed the game. Surprisingly, artificial intelligence is better at evaluating global positions than conducting in-depth local calculations. The more efficient variations that AlphaGo innovated, like the direct 3-3 invasion, have replaced classical ones. Although some applaud artificial intelligence for introducing new variations and improving the accuracy of human play, others find that reliance on artificial intelligence has robbed the game’s beauty.

intelligence cheating during the Covid-19 pandemic led many Go organizations to enforce new guidelines, such as prohibiting electronics and requiring proctors. In the US Open Masters, the most high-stakes North American

tournament, Han Han accused 14-year-old Alex Qi of using his glasses to cheat during their match. While the accusation was disproven, the example shows increasing distrust with the advancements in artificial intelligence.

Nonetheless, like Chat GPT, computer programs serve as a tool for Go players to improve their skills. Software engineer Eric Lui, one of the top American professional Go players, attested to the benefits of artificial intelligence.

“AI is something I

Machine learning is the future Staff Editorial: Machine learning’s capabilities keep growing

Although many use the two terms interchangeably, machine learning and artificial intelligence are not the same: machine learning is a specific category under the broad umbrella of artificial intelligence and is defined by the use and development of technology that can analyze and adapt without human interference or instruction. This technology

is instrumental in organizing data and looking for patterns which can imply causal relationships. These abilities, key to allowing researchers to form testable hypotheses, are key to the progression of healthcare. For instance, if given data about the traits of each person in a specific population , machine learning can look for correlations and make connections, such as that overweight people may

have higher rates of diabetes. Scientists can then develop strategies to investigate and treat these issues. Another example is in biomechanical engineering. When stem cells are placed on a culture dish, each cell spreads out or flattens to a different degree. Machine learning can generate certain connections from this, such as the fact that the more spread out stem cells have

better chances of survival, and are fitter for growth. This is essential for certain cell-based therapies – stem cells can turn themselves into different cell types like motor neurons, which control muscle contractions and are useful in treating neurological diseases. Thus, in spinal injuries caused by car accidents, motor neurons can be placed into the spinal cords of patients, a process critical

more accessible without geographical constraints, the potential of its development remains unclear. What if the growth of technology contributes to a decline in human creativity? In a world where technology has infiltrated our daily lives — from home appliances to schools and workplaces — we must rethink our roles.

to the recovery process. Machine learning is the future of healthcare. No longer simply being used to recommend videos on your TikTok FYP, or finding new restaurants for you to try, this technology is now a crucial aspect to the advancement of science, and society.

"Jackman.": A needed comeback

Every artist has a subjectively “bad” piece of work: be it a song, a drawing, a painting, or a picture, every creator has made something either they or the masses collectively hate. Jack Harlow’s “Jackman.” is a great rebound from the subpar, poorly rated release that was his 2022 studio album “Come Home The Kids Miss You”. A much-needed comeback after the overly industry production feel, Harlow goes back to his more soulful roots in production and voice. The no-feature release of “Jackman.” gives that classic and organic feel that Harlow was known for and urgently needed to bring back after the heavy disappointment that was “Come Home The Kids Miss You."

Harlow built his brand and musical image based on his family values and his fit in the music industry and the vital return to this feeling came back with “Jackman.” The opening track “Common Ground” has a patented Jack Harlow

ambiance focused on lyricism and a minute and a half of reconnecting with his musical roots. A lot of 2000’s feel production carries the softer, personal atmosphere through the meat of the album, especially track three “Ambitious” which keeps that childlike, grindtime aura that’s expected in every Harlow project.

Harlow rounds out the end of the album with four non-explicit, slow, emotion-filled pieces that complete the vibe of the album. He questions himself, the industry, his actions and personal emotions in what feels like an apology to himself and his supporters for straying away from himself and what his music is supposed to feel like. The retrospective lyrics in the closing track “Questions”

brings it all in perspective for us on the outside. Harlow explains himself with complete transparency on his struggles with balancing time, work, and women, along with his struggles with success and when it’ll all fall down.

Throughout the trials and tribulations Harlow files out in the end of this album, he keeps his head up and continues to try push his way through to his idea of success despite the troubles he brings upon himself consciously and the ones he runs into physically. “Jackman.” is Harlow’s way of bringing us into his thoughts after only seeing his actions over the last year since his previous release, perfectly displaying that even through his mistakes, he’s still Jack, man.

The newest hit love song: Beabadoobee's "Glue Song"

ANNA LEE STAFF WRITER

“I’ve never known someone like you; Tangled in love stuck by you from the glue.” Sweet chords of a guitar start Beatrice Kristi Laus’—better known as Beabadoobee—new single, “Glue Song,” followed by bright string instruments and the mellow tune of a trumpet. Beabadoobee’s soft voice and heart-warming lyrics tie it all together—merging together a symphony of love in its most fluffy, tooth-ache inducing form.

Released on Valentine's Day earlier this year, “Glue Song” is the perfect lovey-dovey song for couples and hopeless romantics alike. First teased on TikTok by Laus in early January, fans and those who hadn’t heard of Beabadoobee at all immediately fell in love with the small fifteen second audio she posted on her account, @gnocchi500. “Glue Song” gained a lot of attention as more and more TikToks were made with its trending audio. In the first week following its release, it had already gained 20 million streams on Spotify. Quite different from the rest of Laus’ songs, “Glue Song” is a more experimental, tentative step from her

usual indie rock. Songs like “Don’t Get The Deal” with ripping electric guitar riffs and “Fairy Song” with its harsh, screaming ad-libs from her previous album, Beatopia, contrast largely with the overall tenderness of “Glue Song.” One could say that the uplifting song is a testament to Laus’ newfound happiness with her flowering relationship and steadily rising career.

Lyrically, “Glue Song” can be interpreted many different ways. Either a heart

feel the same crush-like love as when they first met. This lyrical versatility is what struck Laus’ new single as an immediate hit on social media. With its unique, Beabadoobee-esque sound and Laus’ addictive voice, it’s difficult to listen to this short two minute love song without hitting the repeat button at least once.

“My favorite love song I’ve written so far,” Bea writes on her instagram account, this message accompanied by loads of song makes you feel happy

JACKSON POLLARD PHOTO EDITOR

“

Harlow goes back to his more soulful roots in production and voice."

JACKSON POLLARD PHOTO EDITOR

Beabadoobee performing live at a concert. PHOTOS BY KELLY PARK

Graduation 2023: Saying Goodbye to the Emery’s Seniors

The Huron Emery taught me that the best things in life can’t be planned. My world in room 4203 is one of those “best things.” Entering high school, newspaper never crossed my mind as an avocation I could dive into. But in sophomore year, the pandemic and the ample time it offered naturally swayed me towards journalism, and thus our beloved Huron Emery. Though it all started off in Zoom, this is where I found my haven for the next three years. The concept of journalism fascinated me: beyond the writing, photographing, designing, every aspect of the “do’’ in our work was packaged between a “we” and a “serve.” And I love that. It’s no secret that there’s many breakdowns in InDesign, sweat, and tears behind each issue, website and social media cycle. But it’s all the colorful times in-between the starting line and the date we send to press that highlight the best of The Emery: the collaboration, the creativity, and the community. As we look to the future of the wonders to be built in room 4203, I — and all seniors — are appeased knowing our paper is in good hands. Continue putting that love and passion into your work. Continue storytelling. And continue serving the community through the work you put forth.

I was always curious about people. It’s that mystery of what it would be like to be another person and live through the experiences they live in. When I walked into room 4203, I knew this was where I had the opportunity to not only share my voice but give a voice to those who do not. Even though I was scared and had no idea what I was doing, I felt an instant connection to room 4203. There is beauty in sharing someone’s story. As four years have passed, including a year on Zoom, I can definitively say that journalism transformed me into a storyteller and truth seeker. This couldn’t have been possible without those I have interviewed, my fellow Emery staffers, and the support of OC. From pulling all-nighters to finishing my stories or edits to any issue, The Huron Emery taught me the importance of teamwork, listening to other perspectives, sharing the truth, and putting the people first. I am so proud to have been part of this community of change agents and servant leaders. Seeing the underclassmen, I am excited to see how The Emery will flourish. I cannot wait to look back and read. To future Emery leaders: don’t be scared, be fearless. Keep listening, reporting, and sharing stories. Our community, democracy, needs storytellers and truthseekers. But also cherish the interviews and staying up late to finish a story. Cherish the millions of hours spent on In-design. And cherish the relationships you’ve built. Because before you know it, you will look around and reminisce about a flashback, a flood of memories, wishing to do it all over again.

The only advice that I can rightfully offer that can successfully apply to anyone who reads this—if anyone does—is to live profoundly. Plunge fearlessly from the greatest heights into the farthest depths of passion, courage, kindness and perseverance in your general approach to everything. Unfortunately, I can’t speak to how to succeed or excel within journalism. I have really no authority to tell anyone how to be a good journalist other than anything you could find on the internet — know your AP style, always ask questions and be curious. But — as I hope anyone reading this will come to find out — being part of The Huron Emery offers far more lessons for life than for journalism. One lesson that Emery has instilled in me: is to win the world over with kindness. Life may make you think that the only appropriate response to the plentiful adversity the world has to offer, is to harden yourself and to block yourself off from everything that the world may throw at you—good or bad. Instead, have unwavering kindness and faith in the capacity for good things to occur. Live profoundly and love profoundly, and be compassionate to others. Both within Room 4203 or outside of it, be a good human being, and love people for who they are and be forgiving for all that they lack. Be accepting of what comes at you, and stand your ground, and no matter what: live profoundly.

For the past 4 years, I have been so proud to call The Emery my home. There’s tons of words I could use for this, but I’ll keep my reflection short and sweet (like me)-

Firstly, the years of guidance under OC have been invaluable to my growth not just as a writer but as a person. I am forever grateful.

Secondly, the wonderful staff members throughout the years that have worked so diligently to create such a gorgeous final product. To all of you that have done a page in under an hour, worked to pass out our papers, or simply wrote the briefest of Humans of Huron, thank you. I’ve met so many amazing people who will go on to do brilliant things. Thank you, forever and ever.

Finally, my advice is for everyone to sign up for a newspaper class under OC. It’s challenging, it’s painful, and at times it really sucks to be up at midnight design ing a page for the fifth time. But my high school experi ence would be null without the experiences in this class. Do it, I promise it’s worth it. and all the staff upcom ing, good luck, and go team.

There are an infinite number of emotions I feel when I think about my time at The Emery. But the most repetitive one is regret. There are the simple little regrets, like wishing I put more effort into an article or a photostory. But some are not so simple. I regret not being able to teach underclassmen more effectively. I regret not cherishing every single moment in 4203. I regret not hugging OC tighter. I regret not joining The Emery sooner. I regret not doing more for The Emery. But I believe it should be impossible to regret, because the endless pride and hope for the future of The Emery is firmly imprinted in my heart. I love you all, and I am so grateful to have known you.

ALLISON MI CO-PRINT-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

RIDHIMA KODALI CO-PRINT-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

TARIK FERMIN MANAGING EDITOR

QUINN NEWHOUSE SPORTS EDITOR SANDRA FU SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

On May 31, 2023, seniors Allison Mi, Sandra Fu and Ridhima Kodali graduated high school at Eastern Michigan Universtiy’s George Gervin GameAbove Center.

PHOTO BY MELISSA MI

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Snapchat: The not so quintessential teenhood app

the maturity to understand this and fact-check everything AI tells them: according to the American Psychological Association, there are no differences of psychosocial maturity among people from the ages of 10-17.

AI does not have access to the user’s age. It is only programmed to “know” certain pieces of information,

Did you know that My AI is the most well-known app powered by ChatGPT, according to a survey of 85 Huron High School community members? My AI (41) , Grammarly Go (26), Duolingo Max (21), Write for Me (4), and Khanmigo (3).

GRAPHICS BY ANNA LEE

Chat GPT: The focus on integration vs. elimination

Pro: The latest calculator

TARIK FERMIN Managing Editor

scoring a 72%. But, the AI’s capability to pass these incredibly difficult tests is not

Baccalaureate (IB) program, a college credit education organization much like The College Board, has come to the decision to allow ChatGPT

case. Though there may be ethical drawbacks to using ChatGPT entirely, to use it as a tool to aid doctors in narrowing down possibilities

Con: An artificial replacement

ChatGPT,the groundbreakinglanguage modeldevelopedbyOpenAI, hasswiftlycapturedthe imaginationofAIenthusiasts andprofessionalsalike. Poweredbytheimpressive GPT-3.5architecture,

remarkable conversational abilities. Trained on vast amountsoftextdata,thisAI modeleffortlesslyengagesin dialogue,offeringinsightful andcontextuallyrelevant responses.Fromcustomer service to education and contentcreation,ChatGPThas

providingpersonalized support,tutoring,andidea generation.Althoughithasits limitations and ethical considerations,ChatGPT showcases the immense potentialofartificial intelligence,pavingtheway for a future where humanmachine conversations blur the lines of distinction.

Now, notice how bland, unoriginal and scattered this introduction is? It’s because I had ChatGPT write its own introduction.

ChatGPT and other AI services are a brewing disaster for human creativity and human autonomy likewise. While AI was originally seen to be a service to solve low-level, low-pay

30%

of the Huron High School community are “unsure” whether students should be allowed to use AI tools and apps — if cited — to assist with schoolwork.

unwanted jobs, the stronger new wave of AI models has moved to taking the process away from creativity and taking the creativity away from the human process. Although we create AI and what it can do, at the pace we are going with rapid AI development, the future can be helplessly bleak if we do not head to caution soon.

ChatGPT may be convenient, but it will never substitute for the real writing and individuality of literature. The convenience can help with simple high school essays, but the quality of writing comes from the person, not the words used. Focus back to the intro for a second. Take note of the

boring use of verbs used: “effortlessly,” “contextually relevant,” and “immense potential.” It feels robotic. It isn’t human writing, and it’s obvious, too.

Finally, resorting back to ChatGPT as your source for any writing is a terrible idea.

Researchers at Duke University found that more often than not, ChatGPT will fabricate sources instead of finding the true source of information. AI can be convenient, but it is also sloppy and lazy.

Clearly, ChatGPT solves the convenience issues of writing, but it will never replace the true individuality within human words.

Bridgerton spinoff goes beyond the screen

The new Netflix spin-off of the popular period drama “Bridgerton,”” is called “Queen Charlotte,” and it follows a series of throwbacks to the early life of Queen Charlotte from the original series Bridgerton.

In the series, Charlotte is a young German royal who is arranged to marry the King George III of England. The series follows their life together as newlyweds and the challenges they face in their relationship.

The storyline is by no means a factual account of history. But, as stated in the beginning of the show, “It is not a history lesson. It is fiction inspired by fact.” Thus, there are many accurate historical references hidden in the plot. Just like the series, there was a real life King George III, who was best known for his role in Britain’s loss of control of the American colonies, who was married to the German Queen Charlotte.

In the series, a big

part of the plot surrounded King George’s mental illness, which is a mystery to the audience but caused him to spiral into delusions and transformed him into a different version of himself. This severely impacted his relationship with Charlotte. Similarly, the real King George also was known for his mental health troubles, which

SKY History UK noted as his “Descent into Madness.” The real King George underwent similar extreme treatments that the one in the show went through, such as being plunged into cold water and burning his skin, all of which did not work.

The main storyline involving the older Queen Charlotte is the one of her mission to secure a legitimate heir after her man children. This is prompted when her only granddaughter dies in childbirth. These events also happened in history, when Princess Charlotte, the only legitimate granddaughter of King George and Queen Charlotte, died in childbirth, causing a deep impact on the

royal family.

Viewers see a distressed older Queen Charlotte obsessing over her Christmas trees in the show, regularly calling for “more gold!” to be put as tree decorations. According to English Heritage, the actual Queen Charlotte was the first to introduce the Christmas tree to Britain, popularizing it amongst the upper class. In one particular scene, Queen Charlotte was in the presence of her ladies in waiting while they listened to a young piano prodigy Mozart-- perform. According to the Royal Trust Collection, the famous classical composer,

Indian Matchmaking - Rethinking arranged marriage in the modern day

their dating endeavors and their experiences.

Because of the natural cultural similarities that exist in arranged marriages, people might be more compatible in them. It’s also never a bad idea to ask for help or someone else’s opinion, especially when making a big decision like marriage. Especially when taking big steps in life, the thoughts and feelings of the people closest to you (family, for many) can be really helpful in seeing how this will impact your life and if it is a good choice to make for you.

they were really desperate to get married, some people were there because their parents forced them to, and some people were there because they thought, “Why not?”

“A marriage planned and agreed by the families or guardians of the couple concerned rather than by the couple themselves” is how Merriam-Webster defines arranged marriages. Basically, the idea is that young people get help from their families to choose their spouse.

Even though arranged marriages are deemed controversial, they do not have to be so negative. Arranged marriages are common in many cultures, especially in the East, and

while the idea might seem appalling, getting help from your family to find someone doesn’t have to be that bad.

This idea of arranged marriages is explored in the Netflix show, “Indian Matchmaking.” The first season of the show premiered in 2020, and the most recent season 3 was released at the end of April of this year. The show was a hit among many people, especially Indian Americans. The reality show follows a matchmaker, Sima Taparia, who travels around India and the US (and England, in the latest season) to meet clients, and we follow

It’s also important to note that an arranged marriage is not the same as a forced marriage – a forced marriage is when the couple gets no say in who they marry, which is not the case for a standard arranged marriage. In an arranged marriage, the couple gets to choose whether or not they get married, and their families and parents are just helping them find options.

“Indian Matchmaking” highlights this process in a clear and insightful way. We get to see a direct view of different interactions with a matchmaker as well as the ups and downs that come with that. I really appreciated how the show truly depicted various experiences with arranged marriages and feelings toward them. Some people were there because

Of course, a TV show can’t and won’t be completely accurate in the way that real life works. Because it is a reality show, anyone who is in the show has volunteered to be there, and because of that, there is less diversity in the cast and their experiences. The show is also made for entertainment, which, of course, sometimes tones down the reality of it. The truth is, arranged marriage does not have to mean that you go to a matchmaker and get married to someone the day you meet them. Arranged marriages can also look very different from person to person, especially now in 2023. Arranged marriages can vary from matchmaking websites (similar to dating apps) to your mom sending your “biodata,” a list of information about you, to all her WhatsApp groups.

Even though it might not be completely relatable to all people, “Indian Matchmaking” is still a very engaging show. The show does a great job of making you feel something for the people featured – whether positive or negative, you have reactions to everyone.

I also really enjoyed the cultural aspect of the

show.

As an Indian-American, representation in mainstream media isn’t something that I see very often (although Netflix has really been upping its game with shows like “Never Have I Ever” and “Bridgerton Season 2,” and movies like “Wedding Season”!), and I love getting to see Indian people represented as main characters. Representation matters, and getting to see yourself in the people you love on TV is so important and special.

Of course, the show isn’t perfect, but I love the Indianness of it all, and I highly recommend watching it to anyone who wants a good laugh!

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, did in fact play for the Queen and King when he was about eight years old.

SATVIKA RAMANATHAN WEBSITE MANAGING EDITOR

Netflix’s Queen Charlotte and historical Queen Charlotte make for a solid historical mash-up. ILLUSTRATION BY SANDRA FU

Netflix reality TV show Indian Matchmaking, first aired on July 16, 2020, sparks discussion about arranged marriage.

ALLISON MI EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

As a little freshman entering high school, I had big eyes and expectations. For years, I had seen high school

The Prom Phenomenon

principal declared Class of 2023 graduated. Leading up to senior year, I had far too many mindless Pinterest scroll sessions, fantasizing about that dream prom dress. With friends, we would deliberate

gowns, and tears. As a junior, seeing my senior friends finish school two weeks early, making trips to Michael’s to buy crafts materials to decorate their caps, and going shopping together to buy their attire for when they cross that

still have a bit before realizing that Paris destination wedding, in what felt like the blink of an eye, it was the second semester of my senior year. I was embarking on mini day trips with friends to go prom dress shopping. The endeavor had more dead ends and scam shippings than my doe-eyed freshmanself had anticipated, but weeks later, I did end up finding “the one.”

The roundabout journey I had to go through to get my prom dress was a time for me to realign my expectations about prom. Sure, it was not an ideal experience, with its fair share of frustration, but it was an experience that I would not mind redoing. I realized, just because prom is “Once in a lifetime,” it does not mean it has to be the best time of my life and that is

At prom, we took pictures on the field of The Big House, we went upstairs afterward for food, photobooths, and a dance floor. It felt like a fancier homecoming. Though it was not a standout night to remember, I had a great time

The Truth Behind “Boy Crazy” Girls

KIM STAFF WRITER

Teenage girls are famously known for having negative reputations. They are said to be self absorbed, vain, ditzy, and reliant on men. I have seen this idea of teenage girls be portrayed through the media and through my personal life. The media always bases females around their male love interest, or display them as “damsels in distress” waiting for a boy to come and save them. Take almost every Disney princess movie, for example. The plot of every movie revolves around a female, pining over and having to be rescued by her male love interest. It shows young girls that the only interesting part of a girl’s life is based on men. Overtime, this stereotype has grown stronger, and teenage girls have officially obtained the label of “boy crazy”.

“Teenage girls are boy crazy” is a statement that a lot of people would agree with. It has become so normalized and popular to stereotype girls as being obsessive over boys, that nobody ever stops to think about what the term “boy crazy” really means. This term insinuates that girls have no life outside of boys. It is telling us that there is nothing more to a teenage girl, other than being wrapped up in boy drama. Not only is this extremely misogynistic, but it is also just completely untrue.

I have seen girls referred to as “boy crazy” hundreds of times, but I have never once seen a boy referred to as “girl crazy.” Why is this? This is because of the unconscious bias that our society has built up against young girls all throughout our history, saying girls are dependent on men. It is because of the pedestal that

boys are put on, suggesting that girls have to chase after them and revolve their world around them.

sexism exists everywhere, and so many young girls, including myself, have repeatedly experienced and been victims of this. I have had many people, specifically adults, insert themselves into my personal life with

with the people whom I sailed the boat of high school with for the past four years was more than enough to make my night.

Life is filled with moments like prom: moments we look forward to, even subconsciously, and when it actually happens, we need to adjust our 12-year old vision to match with what is currently plausible. Take starting college life, traveling to a dream destination, graduation, and weddings. There should be nothing discouraging in having to readjust fantasies that one has spent the past decade crafting. The special part of milestones is that because one now has the privilege of realizing them, it is but a natural course of action to have to edit dreams when translating them to reality.

My graduation may be more so filled with ruined mascara and my wedding may not be in the Jardin du Luxembourg, but those changes are all part of the beauty of finally living a dream moment. But, just to be clear, a Paris destination wedding is still not entirely off

The termination of the term “boy crazy” is long overdue, and it’s time we stop building on the idea that girls are insufficient without a boy.

“Boy crazy” is just one of the many derogatory terms used

may argue, there is underlying

Being a teenager isn’t easy, and we certainly do not need to deal with the passive aggressive stereotypes and sexism that exists everywhere.

ASHLEY

Huron’s Annual Collage Concert: The Final Concert of the Year

up on the screen through the retina, it just isn’t the same as posting on TikTok. It’s more relatable to students,” Badalamente said. “Although TikTok is a great platform for marketing and getting views and clicks, anybody can post and there are not enough regulations on what’s being posted. Sometimes what we think might be true really is not.”

President Joe Biden and Congress have demanded that the app be completely banned from the U.S. In efforts to ban TikTok, The Restrict Act, was proposed on March 7 to the Senate. The Restrict Act’s purpose is to limit national security risks by granting the Secretary of Commerce the power to mitigate, review and block transactions. It has yet to pass into law but if it does, the U.S. government would have the power to ban TikTok if the app is declared a

threat to Americans’ security. However, lawmakers and legal and national security experts have said that the government’s efforts to ban TikTok may be impossible because it would be too hard with too many hurdles to overcome.

Dexter Community Schools in Washtenaw county has joined the federal lawsuit against social media, TikTok included.

“We’ll have 9, 10, 11-year olds who are on one of the apps, and they’re doing things that are inappropriate that then seeps its way into the school and creates issues between kids in a school,” Dexter Superintendent Dr. Chrostopher Timmist told WEMU news.

As the uproar of TikTok increases, schools have expressed increasing concern over young children accessing social media.

ByteDance argues that the ban would infringe upon

users’ freedom of expression and emphasizes the mesures they have taken to address data privacy concerns.

“We do not promote or remove content at the request of the Chinese government,” TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew said to Congress. “It is our commitment to this committee and all our users that we will keep [TikTok] free from any manipulation by any government.”

TikTok has filed an appeal in attempts to overturn the ban, claiming that the ban will violate constitutional rights of people. As we continue to see the battle between the court and TikTok unfold, this decision will be pivotal for the future of TikTok. The ruling and outcome of this case is being closely watched by everyone, as it will have an everlasting im pact on our society as a whole.

JUNIOR HELPING SENIORS DONATE LUNCH MONEY

Junior Sri Tharika Jothipuram Jayakumar is currently a junior here at Huron. Thanks to her, seniors have the option to donate their remaining meal balance to students with outstanding balances.

“As a senior you can’t retrieve the money in your Chartwells account anyway, so why waste the money when you can pay it forward?” Jayakumar says. She came across the idea while scrolling aim-

lessly on Instagram. There she saw another high school doing it, and she was inspired to take action. She then reached out directly to Chartwells, and got the idea approved by Mr. Carter.

“I just hope that seniors really consider donating, because they’re helping their community,” Jayakumar said.

MADELEINE PALE STAFF WRITER

1. A Capella and Bel Canto choirs performing “What About Us.” 2. Vivian Waugh, Madeline Tai, Nicole Harris, and Selene Koremenos-Tsebelis singing “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy.” 3. Peter Fazekas playing excerpts from Bartok’s “Romanian Dances.” 4. Jazz band starting the performances off strong.

5. Timothy Krohn conducting the Symphony Orchestra. 6. The art gallery set up outside the auditorium. PHOTOS BY SATVIKA RAMANATHAN

Jayakumar worked to find a way for seniors to donate their left over lunch money from high school..

PHOTO BY SARA-BETH BADALAMENTE

TIKTOK| FROM PAGE ONE

Hats off River Rats: 2023 Graduation

20 23

graduates one more time. 3. Students in the music programs are invited to participate at graduation. Seniors are able to perform one last time as River Rats at the event.

4. Tim Baker, Sebastian Casillas-Lopez, Aiden Behmer PHOTOS BY JULYA MAE JONES AND ANNA ESPER

5 6 7

On the pitch with women’s soccer

The Huron Women’s Soccer program is known for its success. Coached by Murali Nair and assistant Angela Heflin, the team was ready to defend their district title this spring. Last year, the Rats moved on to regionals, where they fell to Belleville. After their successful 12-2-2 season, with over 70 goals scored,

the team took on the Pioneers-- who they beat two times in the normal season. In this cross-town showdown, they unfor tunately fell short and the season came to an end. “Our regular season went real ly well this year and I’m so proud of our team,” midfielder Melinda Mei said. “We were definitely shocked by the loss.”

Greatest Skill: Throw-ins

said.

“There are a lot of times where I have no options but to let umpires and the opposing team refer to me as ‘she’ or broadly recognize the team as ‘ladies.’”

Breaking the b inary in sports

REBECCA CARLSON STAFF WRITER

For as long as sports have been around, there have always been barriers separating genders from playing with each other. Sports are considered a more “masculine” domain where boys are perceived to possess greater ability than women, making it more important to them because they have the chance to be the best. Although women can play in men’s leagues such as the NFL, NHL, and more, it is very uncommon for women to join a male-dominated sport. Not to mention Title IX, which requires all educational institutions in the US to reward male and female athletes equally, was not passed until 1972. While sports have always been labeled ‘male’ or ‘female,’ many non-binary, non-gender conforming, or genderqueer athletes have felt like they had no other option but to play the sport of the gender people think they identify as or what they used to identify as.

“It definitely doesn’t help my dysphoria,”

sophomore

Liv Kalikin

Ohio has now proposed a transgender athlete bill that would make it so that, if there is any doubt, a child as young as kindergarten aged would have to undergo an invasive exam, just to prove she was female, so she can play a sport. This bill allows athletes to file a civil lawsuit “if the participant is deprived of an athletic opportunity or suffers harm as a result of a violation of the bill’s single-sex participation requirements or if the participant is subject to retaliation for reporting such a violation,” according to an analysis by the Legislative Service Commission.

“With the massive amount of anti-trans bills [447] going through other states, I know they won’t be able to stop me from playing [softball], but I also know that if I want to live my authentic self, I will need to stop playing,” Kalikin says.

Many people, even in the Olympics, have felt like they couldn’t be themselves because of the world. The Tokyo Games were the first to feature trans and non-binary athletes Quinn and Alana Smith. Smith, despite having their pronouns [they/them] on their skateboard, was constantly misgendered by commentators and callers from the BBC while competing. While Sarah Fuller also became the first woman to play football in a Power Five Conference she received almost endless hate and comments:

““Is it bad that I want her to get ROCKED? I mean it’s only fair.”

“They couldn’t have grabbed one from the guys’ team?”

“Someone better tackle - her. Make her realize it’s 2020, but you shouldn’t be on the - field.”

And that is only some of the things that people have said about her.

“I think there is a reason that the gender barrier exists because otherwise sports would really be dominated by men,” Kalikin says. “However, I think that there are ways to let people play the sports they want to play, on the teams they want to be on.”

According to AAPS’s website: “In compliance with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the District does not discriminate on the basis of sex in the edu- cational programs and activities which it operates, including employment, admissions, recruitment, referrals, and collective bargaining.”

Rats win against the Gryphons

TARIK FERMIN MANAGING EDITOR

1. Falling to the ground is junior Jack Regan. He marvelously maintainted control of the ball as Greenhills defenders swarmed around him. This was the last regular season game for the Rats 2. Senior Brady Grenier fights for control over a ground ball.

3. Narrolwly escaping a Greenhills defender, Regan gains possession of the ball during a face-off. The team pulled off the win 14-3.

PHOTOS BY TARIK FERMIN

I think that there are ways to let people play the sports they want to play, on teams they want to be on.

Liv Kalikin 10

“I’m a big oat milk fan (it’s especially sustainable!), so that’s why I decided to try it.”

11th

“Someone on TikTok liked it. I probably wouldn’t have tried certain drinks without social media.”

“Whenever I taste the pumpkin spice, it reminds me of my favorite time of the year.”

“I really like the taste of green tea!”

“Flavorful and sweet.”

“It’s the perfect blend. Great taste, very creamy, and very smooth.”

According to the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 83.2% of adolescents consume caffeiated beverages regularly. This infographic includes data collected from 88 Huron High School community members to analyze coffee consumption habits. Over a half of the responders preferred Starbucks over other cafes. When the responders were asked about why they enjoyed Starbucks, the most popular reasons included taste, variety of options, and ambience.

Vanilla Oatmilk Expresso

Matcha Frappuccino

Iced Chai Latte

Caramel Macchiato

Strawberry Acai Refresher

Pumpkin Spice

- Graham Baker, 11th

- Lauren Hayes, 11th

- Mariana Rosas-Martinez, 11th

- Anna Wyman,

- Aleko Katsambouris, 12th

- Shawn Logan, 12th

SENA YOSHIDA AND JAMIE TANG STAFF WRITERS