April 2019 by The Bloomfield Hawkeye

THE

HAWKEYE

Bloomfield Hills High School

SCHOOL NEWS Police make new protocol

April 2019

$ 100 Cutting through Lifetime parking lot warrants $125 ticket 100 $ 100 by LAINE LORD Staff Writer

Cutting through the Lifetime Fitness parking lot has been a relatively common, daily activity done by both students and staff as a direct way to spit out onto Telegraph road. However, on March 12th, the Bloomfield Township Police Department announced that they will begin to administer and enforce a new parking protocol, prohibiting students, parents, and staff from cutting to and from Telegraph road through the Lifetime parking lot. “The Bloomfield Township Police Department will increase efforts in patrolling, monitoring, and issuing violations when [cutting through the lots, or parking and waiting for students] occurs,” stated the latest parking statement from Bloomfield Township Police Officer and District Security Officer Cory Donberger. “Driving through Lifetime Fitness to get to Telegraph Road will result in a traffic stop; vehicles parked within private parking lots will be impounded.” Act 300 of 1949, section 611 of the Michigan Vehicle Code states that, “The driver of a vehicle shall not, for the purpose of avoiding obedience to a traffic control device placed in accordance with this chapter, drive upon or through private property, or upon or through public property which is not a street or highway. (3) A person who violates this section is responsible for a civil infraction.” Since the Lifetime lot is technically private property, cutting through it violates Act 300 of 1949, section 611 of the Michigan Vehicle Code. Despite the rules listed within Michigan Vehicle Code, many BHHS students and staff did not know its application within the Lifetime parking lot, creating miscommunication amongst students and staff. “I found out about [the new parking protocol] the hard way,” said math teacher Brian Bigham. “I think I was the first person that got a ticket in the parking lot” The miscommunication and confusion with the new parking protocol led to a handful of students and staff receiving $125 parking tickets and, in some cases, an extra two points on their licenses. Junior Zahra Basha shared her experiences with the new parking protocol. “While driving towards the parking lot, I saw a police car and someone pulled over near the exit path onto Telegraph. I didn’t think much of it and thought that car must have got pulled over for speeding or some other violation. I slowly tried to maneuver my way past the commotion, then noticed another police car pulling up behind me. To my surprise, when he got out of his car, he made an immediate beeline to my window,” said Basha. “I led myself into the trap. It wasn’t until he told me that I avoided a traffic control did I get an idea of what was happening. I had no clue going out that way was a violation; there were no signs or announcements ever made about it. I only heard warnings about parking in the Lifetime, but never anything about driving through that way.” Lack of awareness about the parking protocol seemed to be at the heart of the problem among those affected. However, regardless of opinion or experience with the new protocol, students, staff, and the police department share a common goal: to create a safe environment for all. Looking to the future, Basha explained what she aspires to see from the parking protocol moving forward. “I hope [the parking protocol will] promote the best interest regarding the safety of the Bloomfield Hills Community.” The Bloomfield Township Police Department’s email concludes with a statement concerning to the overall safety of Bloomfield Hills as well. “Please obey all traffic laws, be patient, respect private property and other drivers. We all have schedules and places to be, but our collective priority must remain student, staff, and overall community safety.”

INSIDE: DECA MAKES NATIONALS see page 5

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CORRUPTION Taking a side door into college Nation reacts to admissions scandal by LARA JANOSZ Managing Editor

n the wake of the college admissions scandal, which first surfaced in early March, students and staff across the country have been left questioning both the college admissions process and what this incident means for the future of higher education. “It was interesting to me because I know that a lot of people have done that before and it’s just weird to see it being turned into a crime. I know that parents have donated money to colleges before just to get their kids into that university so it’s just interesting to have the story brought out,” said senior Megan Sun. “It’s just kind

of sad when you don’t get into the college that you wanted just because people have used their money to get in.” According to Sun, donations to a university in order to get a student into that school are not uncommon. The recent case, however, highlights wealthy families bribing standardized test proctors and other college admissions officers with significant sums of money in order to get their children into competitive universities, such as USC, a specific institution highlighted in this scandal. “When you hire someone to write your essay, for example... it’s okay to have somebody help you, but it’s not okay to have somebody write it. Colleges are really good at figuring out if this is an adult or student voice,” said counselor Laura Hollyer-Madis. “In respect to the test scores, that’s a tough one but we’ve seen that

happen, though it’s a small percentage where this occurs. ACT and the College Board try to flush cheating out when they see drastic jumps in test scores; they then will ask a student to retake the test in a very supervised location.” According to Madis, it’s not hard for students and their parents to take advantage of the standardized testing and college admissions process. That said, this incident has concerned students across the nation who are looking to apply to more competitive schools. Going forward, the college admissions process itself will remain unchanged. Academic honesty on these applications, however, will be held to a higher standards and watched more closely. “I think the biggest takeaway, as a society, as parents, is that we need to remember

that college doesn’t define you, it shapes you. And we forget that sometimes. We want so much for our kids to [achieve] their dreams and maybe those dreams have been placed on them because of what we have said in our own homes; students need to find what fits them best as a learner and not feel the pressure of selecting a college based on family legacy,” said Madis. “The one thing that we say in our counseling department is, ‘Where you go is not the only path to success and it’s certainly not the only path to happiness.’ The key ingredient is the student; what they bring, who they are when they get there, who they are when they leave. Our job is to guide our students and support them through the process, not do the work for them.”

Community news University experiences shooting scare Alumni reflect upon possible active shooter by CAITLIN FINERTY Web Content Manager On Saturday, March 16, on the campus of the University of Michigan, students, faculty, and campus guests were panic-stricken when they heard that there was an active shooter in Mason Hall. The entire event turned out to be a false alarm, but the fear was real. “It seems kind of ridiculous afterwards, like it was a bunch of people popping balloons,” said U-of-M sophomore and BHHS graduate Shibi Sanjeev. “But when you are in that moment everything you felt was completely real. It seems a little ridiculous to think that all of that actually happened but all that confusion, the adrenaline, was real.” This active shooter threat turned out to be

INSIDE: SENIORS HONORED FOR PERFORMANCE see page 8

balloons being popped on campus during a big party weekend because of St. Patrick’s Day. Many BHHS students had siblings on the campus during the active shooter threat. “I was at a Forensics competition when I heard, and I went to the window to call my sisters,” said senior Max Rosenzweig. “My sister [Ellery], who was at U-of-M, wouldn’t answer the phone.” The shooter was said to be both near Mason Hall and the Shapiro Undergraduate Library, two buildings in Central Campus. BHHS alumni Akram Albeer was in the library when the threat was first reported. “A report came out that there was a shooter at the undergraduate library which is when tension really started to grow around us,” said Albeer. “There was one moment in particular where a women started raising her voice telling everyone to move and everyone started running for their lives. It was the most chaotic thing I’ve seen. My friends and I ran up 5 floors of stairs and were met by 5 or 6 armed police officers who ushered us back downstairs.” On March 16, the campus was bustling with

INSIDE: PRO/CON ON DIGITAL ASSISTANTS see page 15

activities. In addition to it being a big party weekend, there was a Women’s March and a vigil for the victims of the shooting in New Zealand the week prior. “There was a vigil for New Zealand and a Women’s Day March that same day,” said freshman and BHHS graduate Erika Folbe. “I thought that was the reason the shooting happened.” Students all over campus were hiding in lockdown mode, including Sanjeev, who was in the Psychology Atrium. “[Two women] took me up to the fifth floor, they went through a door that was four inches thick, they had to swipe a card, put in a code, then we go down two hallways and then we get to a door and they call someone inside the room and they said to open up the door,” said Sanjeev. “It literally felt like a bunker.” Students were scared and confused through the entire time they were on lockdown. “I hate that we live in a society that we assume that popping balloons translates to there is an active shooter,” said Folbe. “I also hated all the

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INSIDE: CAPTAIN MARVEL REVIEW see page 23

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UMich (from 1) false information given to us. We were told that they were in so many different buildings. I hope if we, god forbid, have a real emergency on campus that it is handled so much better.” Albeer also has something to say to the University. “I think the university could have done a better job of letting us students know what to do in a situation like that,” said Albeer. “A lot was going on and they were obviously trying to figure what was going on themselves but in the library no one really knew what to do which made it a very stressful situation. Most of the information going around that day was through word of mouth which is why so many false rumors came about.”

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APRIL NEWS

Local and world news highlights

New Zealand mosque attacked Following the events of a mass shooting in the Christchurch mosque in New Zealand, 50 lives have been taken with several others suffering serious injuries. The attack is reported to have been driven by the white nationalist ideals expressed by the shooter. In the wake of the attack, New Zealand has banned all semi-automatic weapons, assault rifles, and high-capacity magazines. In addition to this, a gun reform bill has recently passed in the aftermath of the shooting, placing a permanent ban on all of the weapons listed prior. The bill was first announced by Prime Minister Jacinda Arden in early March and has since gone into effect within the country. The bill, known as the Arms (Prohibited Firearms, Magazines, and Parts) Amendment Bill, hopes to close any possible gaps in gun control laws that have allowed attacks like this one to occur.

What do you think? After the NZ shooting, why is it important to learn about different cultures?

“Even though people may have different religions, it’s important to learn about all of them because it impacts all of us. “ Nick Krupa (10)

Photo by The Daily Star

additional highlights Disney acquires Twentieth-Century Fox

YOUR AD HERE Email us at: hawkeye@bloomfield.org to purchase Available Sizes: 1/4 page 1/2 page Full page One month web ad Semester-long web ad Year-long web ad

After being in the works for a year, Disney has purchased Twentieth-Century Fox for $71 billion. The deal brings several known movies and TV shows under Disney’s umbrella, including rights to “X-Men” and the TV show “This is Us”. All of these new titles will soon be available to stream on Disney+, Disney’s streaming app set to be released later this year. Photo by Ziggy Knows Disney

Photo by The Huffington Post

Photo by Change.org

Floods hit the Midwest

Hawaii adopts plastic ban

After a bomb cyclone swept the midwest with heavy amounts of snow and/or rain, several areas of extreme flooding were left in its wake in the Midwest. States such as Minnesota and Nebraska have been hit hardest; the cleanup cost in Nebraska is currently costing the state $130 billion. The flooding is expected to last throughout the spring.

After passing a statewide ban on single use plastic bags in grocery stores, the state of Hawaii is now looking to expand this ban to single use plastic found commonly in restaurants. Plastic utensils, plates, cups, and wrappings qualify as these single use plastics, along with styrofoam products. The ban hopes to protect the marine life, oceans, and other natural habitats found within the state.

“I think it’s important to not just learn about different cultures but to learn about different human beings. We are all human we should all be treated the same way.” Austin Wiggins (12)

“I think it’s important for other people to learn about different cultures so that you can help spread peace instead of hate.” Jane Appel (10)

Michigan last in educational funding Report puts Michigan behind the rest of the US by NATASHA MEHTA Staff Writer This January, Michigan State University published a report stating that Michigan is “dead last” in funding growth for K-12 schools, impacting educational facilities across the state. School board president Paul Kolin explained that one possible cause of the lack of revenue growth could be “that funding has not been a priority for our legislatures. I don’t think in Lansing our legislators in the last decade have really put a focus on K through 12 [school] funding and it’s shown [that] it has suffered.” Along with this regression of prioritizing, another possible explanation for this could be Proposal A, Michigan schools’ current financing method. “For Michigan schools in general, under the current funding, which is commonly referred to as Proposal A, there was a shift in where revenues came from,” said Tina Kostiuk, Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Operations for Bloomfield Hills Schools. “Much of it used to be local property taxes, and it shifted to the majority of the revenue determined by the state, and the majority of that comes from what is called Foundation Allowance per pupil.” This allowance is an amount of money given to schools based on the number of students they have. According to Kolin, the Foundation Allowance is “less than what [a recent] study says it takes to fund the student.” Bloomfield Hills Schools currently receives

funding from three parts of the Foundation Allowance: “hold harmless,” a state paid portion, and a local non-homestead portion with the state-paid and local non-homestead portions amounting to approximately $8000 per pupil. “A study that came out said that per student, in order to educate them properly, [schools] should get a significantly [larger] amount than $8,000,” Kolin said. In fact, the recommendation is a base of $9,590 with additional funding recommended for special education students, economically disadvantaged students, English language learners, and career and technical education. According to Kolin, this lack of financing for Michigan schools has additional consequences. “[It has] impacted our ability to give all of

Photo by Erin Schwartz

the programming adequate support and pay our teachers what they deserve.” On March 5, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced a proposal regarding this issue. In response to Whitmer’s plan, Karen Hildebrandt, the Director of Finance for Bloomfield Hills Schools, said, “The governor’s proposal proposes an increase of funding [in] a range [of] 120-180 dollars. It won’t level up [the allowance to the amount needed], but it will definitely help beyond what we had before.” Based on the formula, Bloomfield Hills would expect to receive $120 per pupil. The budget will have to pass in the legislature in order to be finalized and Michigan schools will have to see how the budget will affect their institutions, and their funding, in the future.

April News

Junior ranks in New York Times Tommy Sherman wins nomination in essay contest by FALLAN SHERMAN Staff Writer

Former MSU Model UN Chairs from BHHS give advice to BHHS Model UN team Photo by Jake Fogel

Model UN alumni carry legacy Model UN alumni credit high school club by JAKE FOGEL Section Editor Model UN, one of our school’s largest organizations, seems to follow its members much past high school meetings and conferences into their college educations, with many joining and leading university teams and eventually the workforce, using skills such as public speaking and argumentative techniques. “The BHHS Model UN program focuses more on growing as a student and a delegate than on getting hardwareandawards,”saidJackWroldsen, BHHS alumnus and active member of the University of Michigan Model UN team. “[Model UN] is about thinking about the world from different perspectives, being empathetic, and problem-solving.” Many believe that part of the reason why the BHHS Model UN team is so successful in conferences is due to the fact that alumni continue the club in college, such as at the University of Michigan, Michigan State University, and many others. “More and more universities have come to see the value of a Model UN education, and a lot of people even in the workforce value stu-

dents who have done Model UN because they recognize the skills it requires,” said Model UN adviser Matthew MacLeod. “These are skills that transcend careers.” As MacLeod has experienced the growth and success of our Model UN team, many alumni of the club have also recognized how Model UN, specifically at our school, prepared them for the future. “I truly owe the development of my character to MUN. At the surface level, Model UN has provided me with a medium to learn about other countries and large issues pertaining to the world,” said Jackie Berger, BHHS alumni and former president of the University of Michigan Model UN team. “Going deeper, Model UN helped build my confidence as a public speaker. Public speaking is arguably the greatest skill anyone can learn…I used to be an extremely shy kid, and now I’m performing stand-up comedy routines in my spare time.” While many former members of

our Model UN team explain the ways Model UN as a whole has been a platform for the development of many life skills, they also credit the impact the team has had on them. “BHHS has a stellar Model UN team, and the team has gained so much momentum through the years in building its reputation,” said Berger. “Regardless of awards or rankings, however, I think the reason that so many BHHS alumni continue Model UN in their future is because they associate Model UN with amazing experiences at past conferences. In the end, it all comes down to creating a memorable and positive experience for students, and I think [the BHHS Model UN club] is exceptionally successful in that.” Echoing the sentiments of Berger, Wroldsen also recognizes the lasting effects of his experience on the Model UN team, ultimately leading him to become the new Secretary-Gen-

“BHHS has a stellar Model UN team and has gained so much momentum.”

Jackie Berger BHHS Alumni

eral of the University of Michigan’s Model UN conference, MUNUM. “Once you start something as impactful and valuable as Model UN, you’ll find it’s hard to not want to continue it. I see it in my friends and myself. Aside from that, Model UN has basically given me my majors and my research interests in college,” said Wroldsen. Many public figures ranging from politicians to actors have credited the impact Model UN has had on them. “[I] loved serving on secretariat [of Model UN] when I was in college. Good luck to all the schools in House District 40 awaiting awards for the hard work and debate this weekend. Get those gavels,” said Michigan Representative Mari Manoogian in a tweet, in regards to the recent Michigan State University Model United Nations (MSUMUN) conference, which Bloomfield’s team attended. Whether Model UN is for you or not, one of Bloomfield’s most notable and sizeable clubs has had a great impact according to its members. “Any students who are on the fence about joining Model UN, do it. It is a terrific club that will create fun opportunities for you and your friends, and will also

Junior Tommy Sherman was nominated as a runner up for The New York Times Connections Essay Contest. Despite outlets in both media and news, Tommy was exposed to the Connections Contest within the school doors. “I heard about the essay contest through my AP Government teacher Mrs. Twomey,” said Sherman. “I figured it was a cool opportunity and I should try it.” Encouraged to embark on the challenge, Sherman’s decision was definitely more of “a sporadic decision” and had slight correlation with affinities for writing and English. That being said, Sherman found his achievement very unexpected. “I am very much a math and science person, and I am not much of an English person. [Being recognized as runner up] was very surprising for me,” said Sherman. The contest was held by the the New York Times and had certain criteria for each writer to follow; the rest was up to him on how he chose to differentiate his paper from the other applicants. “We were asked to write a 450 word essay drawing a connection between something we learned in school and something in the news, basing the essay on the connection between the two topics,” said Sherman. “In my English class, we were reading the play, Waiting for Godot, and for my essay I connected [this production] to global warming

“It’s a huge personal achievement because I’ve never done anything like it before.”

Tommy Sherman Junior

and our inaction in response to climate change.” Regarding assistance from peers and educators, Sherman received help from various other people within the school, who supported him indirectly. He felt as though without this support, the outcome wouldn’t have been the same. “Mrs. Griesbeck and Mrs. Twomey helped me with editing and there are all sorts of people who helped me indirectly,” said Sherman. “I ran it by my parents a few times and my counselor, Mrs. Brooks, helped get my schedule set. I definitely couldn’t have done it without such amazing teachers.” Moving forward with this accomplishment, Tommy plans on waiting for his essay to potentially be published as one of the New York Times’ essays. “After submitting my essay, [New York Times staff] plans on publishing some of the essays of the winners and runners up in the summer edition of the times. There’s definitely a possibility that mine will get published,” said Sherman. According to Sherman, he was rewarded not just this new opportunity, but a personal accomplishment within his own abilities. “For me, [being awarded in the contest is] a huge personal accomplishment because I’ve never done anything like it before,” said Sherman. “It was very exciting.”

April News

Left Column (top to bottom): Vikram dancing his 2nd round at the All Ireland’s, Vikram placing 6th at the All Ireland’s Middle Column: Vikram placing 2nd in the Mid-America region Right Column (top to bottom): Vikram competing in the 3rd round at the All Ireland’s, Vikram competing in the first round on stage in Killarney, Ireland Photos by Vikram Lakshmanan

Vikram Lakshmanan wins second at World Qualifiers Senior ready to jig to 2019 Worlds by MARI LYNN Staff Writer Senior Vikram Lakshmanan is ready to reel, jig, and hornpipe his way to the 2019 World Irish Dance Championships. This championship, often referred to as the “Olympics of Irish Dancing,” is expected to attract 5,000 competitors in Greensboro, North Carolina from April 14th through the 21st. Before qualifying for Worlds, Lakshmanan first

had to compete in regional competitions and the Oireachtas regionals. While regional competitions are just to rehearse his routines on a stage, Oireachtas regionals determine if one is eligible to compete in the World Championships. By placing second in the Oireachtas, Lakshmanan is a member of the 1% of Irish dancers who qualify to compete in this prestigious event. However, this isn’t his first time qualifying for the world competition. Having participated in Irish dance for 12 years now, Lakshmanan has qualified for Worlds seven times and has received

countless accolades from the competitions. He has won Mid-America/MidWest region, placed in the top ten at the American Nationals twice, and has earned a ranking of sixth at the Irish Nationals. As this y e a r ’ s championship isn’t his first Worlds, Lakshmanan has set high ambitions for himself. “In 2018, I was half a

point away from a World Medal Holder spot,” said Lakshmanan. Taking home a World M e d a l would mean that Lakshmanan would automatically re-qualify to compete in next year’s competition. Lakshmanan explained that he has regained the confidence he had instilled in him from his first Worlds back in Boston, six years ago. Af-

“My main goal is to become a World Medal Holder.”

Vikram Lakshmanan Senior

ter Worlds in 2013, he lost some of his self-esteem, as he didn’t qualify into the third round for the four Worlds that came after 2014. From this setback, he learned that he would have to take training more seriously. “I feel that I really amped up my training, and come to terms with my personal vision, and it definitely paid off at the 2018 Worlds, where I not only reached the third round but came very close to being a World Medal Holder,” Lakshmanan said, For the past eight months, he has been preparing vigorously for

Worlds. He started training after Nationals in 2018 and will continue to practice during spring break. With only three weeks until Worlds, Lakshmanan is focusing on his solo and his group dances with his team. “At this point in the game, it is all about perfecting the different rhythms, steps, and mastering the corrections that our teachers give us,” said Lakshmanan. After Worlds, Lakshmanan plans to continue training for the American Nationals and hopes to secure a spot in the top five dancers.

APRIL NEWS

DECA team advances

Bloomfield Hills High School DECA team at nationals Photo by Barry Sabin

Students attend DECA nationals by JANE ROSETT Staff Writer

Stephanie Bevier poses in front of banner Photo by Bloomfield Hills Schools

Bevier receives nomination Teacher earns County recognition by MARLEE SACKSNER Staff Writer Stephanie Bevier, Media Specialist and MYP Personal Project Coordinator, was selected to be the nominee for the 2019 Oakland County High School Teacher of the Year Award. This award is presented yearly to honor and reward teachers who have accomplished, through their effort and leadership roles, the highest standards of excellence within their profession. Bevier has held the position of Media Specialist for ten years, starting at Andover High School and now continuing this role at Bloomfield Hills High School. “As an administration team, we choose a teacher of the year. We ask for a parent letter of support, student letter of support [regarding the criteria], and his or her

interaction with the nominee, and then we also ask a staff member,” said Associate Principal Sharida Lewis. “We look at how that person engages with students, how they meet the individual needs of students, how they demonstrate a thorough knowledge of their subject area, classroom management, and their ability to relate to parents and their colleagues. [The candidate must also] demonstrate citizenship and leadership within our school community...[Bevier] is just phenomenal: her personal-

ity, her leadership abilities, her colleagues respect her, her students respect her, we all love her.” After going through the process of choosing a candidate, Bevier felt honored by the administration team’s selection. “It means a lot. So many times, we go to school and go to work every day and we just do our job and go home. We don’t do it for accolades or for people patting us on the back all day. But to have someone recognize the hard work that you do is always gratifying. We always like to hear that we are appreciated and that the things

“ “We have so many amazing teachers here and we have so many amazing students here, that they inspire me to want to work harder.”

Stephanie Bevier BHSD Faculty

we do are appreciated. So, it is really very special,” said Bevier. “[As a teacher], I am most proud of seeing the progress we’ve made, that the teachers have made, that the students have made, that the school has made, in moving forward in the access to materials and resources that they have and their ability to incorporate technology. As teachers do in their teaching, as students do in their learning, we find more resources and progress and keep moving through this thing we call education.” Due to Bevier’s experience, coworker and friend Lynetra Stevens, also a media specialist, feels that she exemplifies the qualities of this nomination. “[I am impressed with her ability] to maintain all the craziness. Through all the different people, all the different questions, she is always ready for anything and everything. From the students, technology, teachers, what Mr. Hollerith may need, she is everywhere,” said Stevens.

Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA) is a competition for students in which they can be challenged in different categories and be judged by business and industry professionals. DECA events allow students to challenge themselves and others using their knowledge and skill, while also representing their school. 25 competitions are held for students to compete in various events throughout the year; students have the opportunity to compete in marketing, business management, administration, finance, hospitality, tourism, and entrepreneurship. Many are rewarded with certain awards, as DECA recognizes student achievement and allows top students opportunities to travel to conferences and network with peers. The DECA program is believed to help prepare students for their future professional careers. Recently, sophomore Barry Sabin made it to DECA state semifinals. Many returning DECA participants were asked to write an essay in order to advance in the competition. However, since this was Sabin’s first year participating in DECA, he was given a prompt and was asked to do role play. He was given a prompt and had ten minutes

“DECA is an awesome club that provides so many opportunities to learn more about business-related events .”

Katie Heath Junior

to come up with an answer to the business related problem that the prompt had. An example of this would be when Barry was given information about a job he was interviewing for so he had ten minutes to prepare for that and then his actual competition with the judge was his interview. He received only ten minutes to prepare for his role play and was judged on his presentation of the prompt. “DECA is a business competition where people choose a category and often take part in a judged business related role play. Everyone competes in a district-level competition and the winners move on to state and international competitions,” said Sabin. “DECA is important to me because it gives me an opportunity to meet new people from around the world with similar interests as well as meet advisors from colleges I hope to attend one day. The skills I have learned through DECA have given me more confidence in my future in business.” This year, The DECA International Career Development Conference will be held April 27-30, 2019 in Orlando, FL. Junior Katie Heath, a DECA finalist said, “I was able to develop and carry out a marketing plan for a non-profit organization, The Living and Learning Enrichment Center, which provides social skills development and employment training for young adults on the autism spectrum.” Heath is very passionate about her topic and believes her DECA experience has taught her a lot. She also said, “the DECA State Career Development Center was an amazing experience and I am very excited about the International Conference. I am so excited to attend the International Career Development Conference in Orlando, Florida. Not only will we be able to expand our knowledge through competing with students from all over the world, but we will also have the opportunity to raise awareness about the services that the Living and Learning Enrichment Center provides.”

ADDRE

C L IM A T E

Students fighting for change Students take legislative action to combat climate change by KAITLYN LUCKOFF Section Editor

n a building with approximately 1,800 students, we are constantly encouraged to take advantage of the many opportunities that we are offered. While some students join sports teams and clubs, other students can be found working to combat global issues. “There is a case right now that is before the ninth circuit court in California and it is called Juliana v. U.S. That case is a group of young people suing the government, saying that their rights are being affected by the government ignoring climate change. The fifth amendment guarantees everyone the right to life, liberty, and property unless it’s denied by due process of law and there’s been no due process of law for climate change,” said senior Brady Crimmins. “What I did for that case is I reached out to a couple professors at the University of Michigan, who connected me to people that worked with me and an organization called the sunrise movement to create a legal brief that got a bunch of essays from a bunch of kids in different states, put them all together in a package for them, and sent them to the court so the court could see the real

testimony from actual people who would be affected.” Locally, citizens recently had the opportunity to take their voices to the streets. Junior Rikki Goldman explained her experience marching in Ann Arbor in hopes of confirming that U-M President Schlissel was on board to address their demands. “After the really powerful speakers, we started marching around the city. It was really exciting to be with a bunch of young people who are passionate about the same things,” said Goldman. “It was a really unique and cool experience.” While there are many impactful efforts organized to fight global issues around the world, the most important are believed to be student-led initiatives. “Student efforts are so important because we are the next generation of workers, activists, and politicians,” said Goldman. “We really need to learn and understand the world that we are living in before we go out there and make an impact.” Crimmins echoed Goldman’s statement. “I feel like we are the ones that are going to be left

with whatever world our politicians give us. We don’t really have the same power that other citizens do to vote; we are disenfranchised a lot of the time, so it is really important that we take action where we can to make sure that our voices are still heard,” said Crimmins. Specifically, students at our school are working diligently on their own time in attempts to tackle climate change. Their hard work and dedication to bettering the world is creating a better school community for all students and faculty. “Climate change is absolutely confirmed by science. If we care about the future of not just human generations, but of the survival of the many other diverse species inhabiting Earth, we must take proactive legislative action on an international level to work towards decreasing greenhouse gas emissions,” said Environmental Club president Izzy Bonito. “Environmental Club is focused on creating a community of like-minded young individuals working to increase awareness of environmental issues in addition to taking proactive action to combat these issues.”

E S S IN G

C HANGE

Feeling the heat of climate change Countries around the world respond to reports of climate change by DEBRA MORAITIS Staff Writer

n Bangladesh, where 165 million people live in a space smaller than Illinois, rising sea levels are swallowing the homes of thousands. With a third of the nation living along the south Asian coast, the densely populated country is familiar with tropical storms and other natural disasters. However, it's not your imagination: natural disasters are more frequent and hitting harder than ever before. The phrase “climate change” doesn’t merely allude to hotter summers and colder winters; it means a world of devastating extremes for those living in places like Bangladesh -- or even Florida. “We have seen many extreme weather events (i.e. hurricanes, drought, floods, heat waves, etc.). All of these things have been predicted by scientists and are now happening,” said Biology and Environmental Science teacher Mike Huhta. “The data provided by over 80 countries worldwide say that the planet is warming. The correlation between increasing carbon dioxide levels (and other greenhouse gases) and the temperature is very convincing. It is hard to deny some of the symptoms of our warming planet,” Huhta went on to

say. Despite statements made by President Trump and many others, numerous professionals and scientists alike agree that climate change is a major concern. “I teach in my biology class that climate change affects many areas of ecology,” said Huhta. “Whole ecosystems have been changed for many reasons related to the warming of our planet. We are seeing an increasing loss of biodiversity (and not just because of changing climates). Human population growth is increasing exponentially, demanding a higher demand on resources.” In March 2017, President Trump signed an executive order gutting many of Obama’s climate policies, including the Clean Power Plan, and the following June, he announced that he was pulling the United States out of the Paris Climate Agreement, which was designed to limit greenhouse gas emissions to levels that would prevent global temperatures from increasing more than 2°C (3.6°F) from pre-industrial levels. The topic of climate change isn’t just found in America’s political circuit, it has its place in the Bloomfield

Hills High School curriculum: “We’ve been learning about global warming in our science classes for years,” said senior Maddy Kroll. “But now, even in our IB French class, we did a whole unit on food waste and sustainability because of how important it is. We discussed how it impacts both French and American cultures.” “This is something every human should care about,” Kroll continued. In 2050, the World Bank Report predicts that there will be 143 million people displaced due to climate change, thus posing the question of how we can individually contribute to saving our planet. Simple steps to limit energy consumption could mean lowering household temperatures in the winter, being conscious of and conservative with running water, and switching to energy-efficient light bulbs. “For myself,” Huhta said, “this means voting for people who understand climate change.”

Design by: Jenny She

Graphic by: Hanna Halstead

April Feature

More inclusion, less hate TAKE A S TA N D

REPORT INCIDENTS OF BIAS & HATE

PhoNE Inclusive posters plased around BHHS Photo by Georgia Zimmerman

District joins with Anti-Defamation League by ISABELLE HARBER Staff Writer Recently, in order to further efforts in being an anti-bias and anti-hate school, Bloomfield Hills High School partnered with the AntiDefamation League to begin the process of becoming a No Place for Hate school. The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) was founded in 1913 to stop the slandering of Jewish people and to secure fairness and equal treatment for all people. The ADL’s No Place for Hate program is a framework for schools that helps to organize processes for tackling bullying, bias, and hatred. “Our organization has three main focuses; we work on advocacy, investigation, and education,” said Kristin Jager, the Education Director for the ADL Detroit Regional Office. The application to become a No Place for Hate school was finished at the end of February. However, there is still a lot of time before the position is official. “This is actually a process for Bloomfield Hills High School that’s probably going to be completed by the end of 2020,” said Jager. “In order to become a No Place for Hate school, the first step is to register and then [to select] a committee who will be doing most of the work to become a No Place for Hate school. The committee is going to meet monthly and should include staff members, students, [and] there might be parents involved as well.”

“We want to do events that are meaningul that... hopefully students can embrace, be part of, and get us to our ultimate goal of being an inclusive, anti-bias school.”

Charlie Hollerith Principal of BHHS

Global Leaders will be a part of this committee and are already planning school-wide projects that will be a part of becoming a No Place for Hate school. The ADL is not the only organization in the works. “We’re also going to utilize other community resources, too, whether it’s Bloomfield Youth Assistance, [or] other organizations like the NAACP, and others that have a lot of very good curriculum to help educators in this anti-bias work,” said Principal Charlie Hollerith. The new surge of inclusion programs was largely prompted by several incidents that occurred this past fall. Junior Lexi Moss noticed these acts of hate. “[There’s] not a lot [of hate] but it still exists,” Moss said. “I think our school can be more strict on the consequences.” With the new framework of the ADL, changes can be expected, just like the many other Michigan schools, such as Royal Oak High School, that embraced the program during a similar process. “We have a school that now has been a No Place for Hate school for over 10 years, and what they often say to me is that what the No Place for Hate framework does is it helps them to open dialogue around tough subjects related to prejudice and discrimination,” said Jager. “I think overall the student body is impacted by becoming a little more empathetic to the experiences of other people.”

Charlie and Debra performing Photo by Nicole Menuck

Seniors qualify for Sutton Foster Award Students chosen for top award by KAITLYN KEELE Staff Writer During the fall, the Broken Leg Theatre Company put on a performance of Cinderella that starred Charlie Binder as Prince Topher and Debra Moraitis as Cinderella. Both actors portrayed a story of hardship, love, and kindness through Cinderella, which nominated them for the Sutton Foster Award. The Sutton Foster Award has played a part in the performing arts community for several years and gives high school students the chance to be nominated for the Jimmy Awards, or the National High School Musical Theatre Awards. According to the

Wharton Center, the award “recognizes individual artistry in vocal, dance, and acting performances for both a male and female lead in a high school musical theater production.” The production of Cinderella proved to the judges that Charlie Binder and Debra Moraitis were strong competitors and they soon became qualifiers for the award. “I sat down with our wonderful director, Mary Bogrette, and she broke the news to me, and I just gave a big smile to her and an even bigger thank you,” said Binder. Binder and Moraitis have been invited to the Ovation Awards

on May 11 and 12 in Lansing. During that time, Charlie and Debra are required to perform at the Wharton Center Cobb Great Hall, so that professional adjudicators can choose the winners. From there, the winners will go to an allexpenses paid trip to New York to perform on Broadway and fight for the National High School Musical Theatre Award. They would also receive a $1,000 scholarship and free tuition to the summer Broadway program, “Take it From the Top.” “I plan to work with Mrs. Ri-

“Finding out I was nominated for Sutton Foster was a huge honor.”

Charlie Binder Senior

ley on my song selections and I might seek out a private vocal coach as well. I’ll just have to see how comfortable I am with my material before May 11,” said Moraitis. The Sutton Foster Award is known for giving opportunities to young performers as a way for them to take a step into the industry and learn from their experiences. “I hope to gain even more knowledge about how I can become the best performer that I can be, which I expect to do from learning from such a prestigious award and program at MSU,” said Binder, “I will put it towards my career by staying involved in any way I can.” Debra Moraitis plans on using this opportunity to further pursue a career in theatre through the professional exposure and critique for acting school.

BHS promotion created by alumnus Alex Scharg creates new promotional video for district by ALI RANDEL Copy Editor District alumnus Alex Scharg returned to his alma mater to create a promotional video for the Bloomfield Hills district. Scharg’s company, Flow Video, worked hand in hand with the district’s communications department to create a video that showcases everything that Bloomfield Hills Schools have to offer. “We’re always very interested in hearing about what our alumni are up to and what they’ve done since leaving Bloomfield Hills Schools,” said communications director Shira Good. “Alex and I had a wonderful opportunity to connect and hear about all of his adventures since graduation and we talked about kind of profiling him, which we do sometimes in our alumni magazine, or some of our newsletters.” According to Good, this conversation led to her exploration of Flow Video’s previous productions and piqued her interest in having them create a feature on the district. She relied on Flow Video’s experience in visual storytelling to help drive the direction of the video. Good said, “I really leaned on them to help us kind of identify the stories from start to finish of the video and told them some of our things to feature and that we want[ed] to have.” Different from videos that the company has produced before, which were usually scripted, Good and the rest of the communications department had a goal to feature student voice in an unplanned, authentic way.

“Bloomfield Hills Schools puts a very special emphasis on student growth, and it was important that the video reflect that as well. The students are the ones to tell their story, their learning journey, and not adults sort of telling it for them. That was very important to us from the very beginning was that it would only feature the voices of students,” said Good. According to FlowVideo.com, Scharg has also worked on projects for Dan Gilbert and Rock Ventures, Fox Sports Detroit, the Cleveland Cavaliers, Spartan Sports Network, and WKAR-TV/AM. “I hope that Alex and his company and the other alumni that we connect with, I hope

Photo by Bloomfield Hills Schools

that they serve to show current students that you really can dream and you really can think about what you want to do after high school and you can really go out and do that,” said Good. “Hearing him reflect on his own learning experiences and that he never thought he could be where he is, and now he’s there, he wants other students, and we want other students, to know that Alex is just one fabulous example of all the great [alumni] that we have. That’s really possible with a Bloomfield Hills Schools education.”

April Feature

Lansing advocacy

Robotics team outside state capitol. Photo by Hilary Lam

Bionic Blackhawks attend advocacy conference Robotics team stand outside the United Nations Photo by Hilary Lam

Robotics attends United Nations event Event held to honor women in STEM by HILARY LAM Staff Writer The Bionic Blackhawks recently traveled to the United Nations Headquarters New York City to participate in the International Day of Girls in Science and Technology Conference, which included presentations from leaders in STEM around the world. The UN has been creating global initiatives to inspire and engage women in STEM and promote equality as part of the mission to achieve the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda. This event was initiated by Princess Dr.NisreenEl-Hashemite,knownas the Science Princess, through the Royal Academy of Science Institute Trust (RASIT), of which she is the president. “The whole idea started five years ago with the inaugural World Women’s Health and Development forum,” said Princess Dr. Nisreen. “There were many

women, but no one was looking, so there was a need for recognition for their achievements.” With the aid of the Maltese government, Princess Dr. Nisreen was able to name February 11 the International Day of Girls in Science and Technology, finalized by the UN General Assembly. The conference focused on highlighting the scientific contributions of women in the STEM. “These are all fields in which women are constantly the minority. Male domination is something that is so present that girls all over the world to allow themselves to be shadowed. Going to the conference was to help change

those statistics, and empower these impressionable young girls,” said sophomore Thaneesha Sivapalan. The team was first invited through the efforts of mentor Diane Victor, who was interested in the organization’s work and began an extended correspondence with Princess Dr. Nisreen. All students on the team were invited, with girls offered the opportunity to present. “I chose to attend this event due to the incredible opportunity it posed. The chance to even attend a conference at the United Nations, let alone present on the panel, seemed like an experience I couldn’t miss,” said junior Sophie Henderson.

“The chance to even attend a conference at the UN... it seemed like an experience I couldn’t miss.”

Sophie Henderson Junior

The team brought six members to present at a panel where youth shared anecdotes about their experience in STEM and how they are impacting the community around them. “[We] talked about gender inequality in STEM and the program our team is involved in and our own personal experiences with this. This included stories about stereotyping, math dyslexia, and 3D printing for those in need,” Henderson said. The event led participants and attendees to consider the future of STEM, as well as their own future impact. “I learned so many things from this experience, but one main takeaway I had was that there is still so much work to be done for women and girls in science all over the world,” said Henderson. “Programs we learned about are working to promote gender equality across the globe, but locally our team can also contribute to this by expanding our gender inclusive programs and outreach.”

bionic blackhawks TEAM 2834

Achievements United Nations Team Members spoke at the United Nations for International Day of Women and Girls in Science

Detroit Won the Chairman’s Award at the Detroit World Championship and entered the Hall of Fame

CHINA Traveled to China as abassadors for robotics in the United States

by JILLIAN SACKSNER Staff Writer The Bloomfield Robotics Team, the Bionic Blackhawks, recently attended the Michigan Advocacy Conference (MAC) in Lansing. The Bionic Blackhawks were one of three teams invited to the conference with the intention to gain an understanding about leadership opportunities and receiving funding in the field of robotics. The team was invited to this conference with the goal of establishing more funding for FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) engineering initiatives in general, with a specific focus on bettering robotics teams. Team representatives Charlie Polito, Noah Casper, and Margaret Murray were given the opportunity to meet at Michigan Representative Robert Wittenberg’s office and have a meeting with his fill-in representative while he was in session. “We were competing with many lobbyists to get [Wittenberg’s] attention, but in the end, we got to say our elevator speech, a short talk where you have to sell your idea, and take a picture,” said sophomore and member of the Bionic Blackhawks Margaret Murray. “It was a really cool experience because we got to advocate for more funding which in the end will impact our team financially and help our team grow.” Beyond the conference’s main purpose, according to sophomore Noah Casper, the meeting meant a lot to the team’s members. Casper said, “attending the 2018 Michigan Advocacy Conference was a great experience for me to learn and to talk with legislative officials about increasing STEM funding for various districts throughout the state.”

APRIL FEATURE

Voyagez Differemment

Students used research from Travel Enjoy Respect to write about tourism. Photo by Travel Enjoy Respect movement.

French 300 student promotes responsible tourism by MAXINE WEISSE Guest Writer Je pense que tout le monde suit au moin un blogeur de voyage aux médias sociaux. Mais quelles sont les raisons pour voyager et comment est-ce qu’on peut découvrir la vraie culture d’un pays? On ne doit pas visiter seulement les grandes villes touristiques. Attendre pendant des heures pour voir les principales attractions touristiques. Il y a beaucoup de raisons différentes pour lesquelles les personnes voudraient voyager. Une des raisons pour laquelle les gens voyagent est pour apprendre une nouvelle langue grâce à une visite à un autre pays et passer du temps avec les personnes locales. Beaucoup de personnes et particulièrement les gens qui voyagent seules gagneraient la confiance en soi. En faisant face aux situations qu’ils n’experimenteraient pas. Le voyage va vous gagner des expériences inoubliables et personne ne vous peut enlever. Une autre raison très importante est que cela élargira votre vision de vie en voyage. Afin de pouvoir faire un voyage vous

“Le voyage va vous gagner des expériences inoubliables et personne ne vous peut enlever. Une autre raison très importante est que cela élargira votre vision de vie en voyage.”

Maxine Weisse devriez considérer faire un voyage solidaire et passer du temps dans la nature, avec les locaux et des animaux. Il y a de différentes types de voyages. Un exemple est le voyage d’aventure ou les gens feraient les activités différentes que ce qu’il font normalement dans leur vie quotidienne. Un autre est le tourisme religieux qui fait les personnes voyager aux endroits pour explorer leur religion ou même une autre. Il y a aussi beaucoup de différentes options qui aideront les communautés locales et l’environnement. Les gens peuvent utiliser les transports en commun ou en vélo. Cela ne préserve que l’environnement, mais aussi on économise l’argent. Ca vous fait voir les nouvelles choses. Une autre option et de manger local. Ce n’est pas trop cher et on vivra la vraie culture du pays. Il y a beaucoup de possibilités pour faire le tourisme solidaire. Reconsidérez les différentes options et vous aurez un voyage inoubliable!

For an English translation, visit BHHSToday.org

Jenvey and his students celebrate the award. Photo by Rachel Matz

BHS Foundation honors educators David Jenvey receives award from BHS by DARBY KRUGEL Copy Editor Every year, the Bloomfield Hills Schools Foundation holds a “CeleBHration” as their largest fundraiser of the year. In the past, alumni of Bloomfield Hills Schools have been honored during this gala, but this year, for the first time ever, teachers from the district are the ones receiving recognition. The teachers are being honored for inspiring their students. There was one educator from every school in the Bloomfield Hills district who was chosen to receive an award at the gala. “The process [of choosing the honorees] was very simple,” said Cathie Badalamenti, Foundation Director. “We did a survey...ev-

ery student was able to nominate a teacher that inspired them. [The recipients were] simply based on the number of nominations for each school. Students could nominate teachers from both in the school they’re in, and in schools that they previously had the teacher.” Social Studies teacher David Jenvey was the recipient of this honor from Bloomfield Hills High School. Teachers were not notified of the change in honorees, from alumni to educators, so finding out that he was being recognized at this fundraiser was a complete surprise for Jenvey. “I was shocked,” Jenvey said. “The superintendent came to the door of the workroom, and I know him pretty well, but I had no idea what he was there for. He told me and I was like, ‘Oh wow!’ So I was really really excited.” In addition to the surprise factor, Jenvey explained his

positive feelings about all aspects of the award. “I’m absolutely honored. It’s something that really makes me feel amazed,” said Jenvey. “I had no idea they were going to [honor teachers], it was a surprise, and I just feel so, so happy to be a part of this community, and always have been. It’s been 18 years in the district, and this has been just a wonderful experience for me. I wouldn’t want to do anything else. And to be honored like this really goes straight to my heart. It means so much to me.” Freshman Lindsey Zousmer, a student in Jenvey’s class, feels that Jenvey’s passion shines through in his teaching. “I’ve never had a teacher like Mr. Jenvey,” Zousmer said. “He is always so positive, it’s like he’s barely human because he’s so positive. He’s such a light to everyone. I have him first hour, and I’m always so exhausted, but once he comes

in I just feel ready to have the best day ever.” Jenvey’s award comes after almost two decades of teaching in Bloomfield Hills. He expressed his love for the district and the students in his classes. “The students are the best. I have so much fun with the students. I just feel so incredibly blessed to be around such smart, intelligent, fun, enthusiastic students, and that gives me the energy that I need and I thrive off of that energy and enthusiasm, and the kindness as well,” Jenvey said. “I’ve never seen so many kind students as here, offering to help each other. They make my job so much easier because everyone’s willing to help each other with the learning environment that we’re in. For me, the students have been everything and I’m so blessed to be around such brilliant students every day.”

Peg Pasternak receives Scholastic award Art teacher is named an Inspiring Educator by SEEMA SHAH Staff Writer Art teacher Peg Pasternak recently won the Inspiring Educator Award due to her dedication to her students. The award ceremony took place in early February, at the Detroit Institute of Arts. Pasternak has been a teacher in the Bloomfield Hills Community for 11 years and has taught several generations of students. “[My students are] just brilliant. I have students who are so smart and so talented. It’s fun to watch you guys, you just think about things in different ways than I would,” said Pasternak. “Having your energy around is really great for me, people who are thinking new things, and trying different things. I think connecting with students is really great, it’s just fun.” Pasternak has always had a strong bond with students, as her inspiration comes from them. Sophomore Carly Finerty feels that this shows through her teaching. “She is very fun and easy to talk to...she’s a really interesting person and is a really good teacher for graphic design. She knows what she is talking about and she is very good at being able to connect with students,” said Finerty. Finerty was inspired to continue art after her semester of Graphic Design was over. She gave credit to Pasternak for that inspiration because Pasternak found ways to make her class “fun.” Pasternak was inspired by

her own high school art teacher, where she “fell in love with art.” “Thankfully, I had this great art teacher, who recognized me and helped me a lot and when I found art I was like, ‘Aha, this is my thing!’ So I just went for it,” said Pasternak. Pasternak feels that the best part of her career is the students and believes that it was her students that led her to receive this award. Sophomore Claire Samberg believes that Pasternak shows interest in all students’ ideas and has good communication skills. “I really like how [Pasternak] gives us a lot

Peg Pasternak smiles after recieving her award. Photo by Georgia Zimmerman

of time and doesn’t rush us, so we get to explore our creativity. She communicates with all of her students and shows her interest in all of our ideas, which is a characteristic of teachers that I really value,” said Samberg. Pasternak enjoys the company and relationships she has developed with her students and was “flattered” as well as “surprised” when she learned she had won the Inspiring Educator Award. Pasternak gave much of the credit to her students, for not only taking the time to fill out a survey, but to acknowledge her teaching.

April feature

Dancing with the Staff Student Leadership hosts 2019 Dancing with the Staff by GEORGIA ZIMMERMAN Photography Manager

Ms. Lauter, Ms. Rose, and Ms. Matz dance to a medley of 90’s songs.

Junior Annaka Torrey hosting.

Mrs. Greer interprets the song “Little Town” from the movie “Beauty and the Beast” alongside Sophomore Max Tomalka.

Ms. Rose and her nieces dance.

District Superintendent Rob Glass plays the drums alongside the BHHS Jazz Band.

Senior Charles Dickson plays a saxophone solo as the audience files in.

Mrs. DeAngelis, Mrs. DeLuca, Mrs. Bitterman-Wenson, Mrs. Vasille, Mrs. Jones, Mr. Huhta, Mr. Huhta, and Mrs. Collis, along with students, dance to music.

Senior Charlie Binder performs a cover of Nina Simone’s song “Feeling Good”.

2020

PRESIDENTIAL

CANDIDATES

2020 is a pivotal year in American politics. With several democrats looking to unseat President Trump, it truly is anyone’s race at this point. Here are the candidates:

THE DEMOCRATS SENATOR BERNIE SANDERS D-VT 77 conservative

REP. BETO O'ROURKE

D-TX 46

moderate

liberal

SENATOR AMY KLOBUCHAR

D-MN 58 conservative

moderate

liberal

conservative

moderate

conservative

moderate

D-MA 69

liberal

conservative

moderate

conservative

liberal

moderate

liberal

conservative

moderate

liberal

conservative

D-IN 37 SOUTH BEND

conservative

moderate

conservative

liberal

GOVERNOR JOHN HICKENLOOPER

D-CO 67

D-WA 68

moderate

liberal

conservative

moderate

liberal

REP. TULSI GABBARD D-HI 37

moderate

GOVERNOR JAY INSLEE

liberal

MAYOR PETE BUTTIGIEG

REP. ANDREW JOHN YANG DELANEY D-NY 44 D-MD 55 conservative

liberal

SENATOR CORY BOOKER D-NJ 49

SEC. JULIÁN CASTRO D-TX 44

moderate

D-PA 76

SENATOR KAMALA HARRIS D-CA 54

SENATOR ELIZABETH WARREN

conservative

liberal

VP JOE BIDEN

conservative

moderate

liberal

SENATOR KIRSTEN GILLIBRAND

D-NY 52 liberal

conservative

moderate

liberal

REPUBLICANS PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP R-NY 72 conservative

moderate

INCUMBENT

SOURCES: PEOPLE MAGAZINE, WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

GOVERNOR BILL WELD R-MA 73 liberal

conservative

moderate

liberal

Section B Column

Quitting is not the end

Competition

vs. Collaboration

Editor reflects on standing up for oneself

by MADDY MOSKUS Senior Column Writer I had it all planned out in my head: lighting the largest saganaki anyone had ever seen, telling a customer that they could carry themselves out with that attitude, and having a few choice words saved for my managers. This is the glamorous fantasy of how I was going to quit my job at Leo’s Coney Island. Instead, what it all amounted to was a conversation that lasted five minutes and 32 seconds where I was told to come back for three more shifts. Not exactly a movie scene. The feeling after, however, was as glorious as I’d hoped. No longer was I in the presence of shady managers, catty coworkers, and some of Bloomfield’s worst suburban moms. It took only a week for me to be hired at a new job that prides itself as being voted one of the best places of employment. The point is, there are better places. I thought about leaving Leo’s for about three months before finally taking that leap to a new job, something that had scared me for so long. What I’ve learned is, especially in the teen world of minimum wage jobs, there’s always someone else hiring. Plenty of minimum wage jobs foster healthy, respectful environments, but on the flipside of that, many see you as just another worker and aim to exploit you. Most of us that start our first job are either pressured by parents or ourselves to stick with it, and power through this for a couple of years to save up for college. It doesn’t have to be that bleak. For the longest time, I was convinced that Leo’s was the only job I could get that quickly and without years of experience in waitressing. However, I couldn’t have been more wrong. Within a week of quitting, I had three jobs lined up, all of which paid more than Leo’s. Furthermore, there comes a point where a toxic job, even one that is part time, can interfere heavily with mental health. You have to be getting more out of your jobit than just the money, because in the long run, it’s not that much money to be worth sacrificing your happiness. I get it, college is incredibly expensive and the experience of dipping your toes into working is important. But money and experience can be found easily at much more accomodating workplaces, even more so if you have previous experience. Change and starting over somewhere new are difficult hurdles to get past, but the payoff is monumental. Keep in mind that as long as you’re actively looking and putting yourself out there, you’ll find somewhere new in no time. I know too many people who are miserable at their part time jobs, but I also know people who actually enjoylike their minimum wage job. Imagine that. If it’s Monday and you’re already dreading a shift you have on Thursday, it’s not worth it. Consider this your sign to move on, because there’s always an open door.

The struggle for academic perfection by KAITLYN LUCKOFF Section A Editor The design of our recently built school contains endless features promoting collaboration between and among students, such as learning communities, conference rooms, bump-out rooms, Chromebooks, and student Google accounts. However, in recent years, we have been faced with the challenge of determining the time and place for collaboration in a society that emphasizes competition. Today more than ever, students are structured to be constantly competing with each other. We compete to receive better grades than our peers, compete to be on better sports teams than our friends, and we compete to be the most involved student. This competitive nature seems to revolve around the ultimate goal in high school students’ lives: college. We constantly overwhelm and exhaust ourselves in hopes that our

outrageous efforts will be enough to earn an acceptance letter. Even when working collaboratively, students strive to be the group leader and have their voice heard over their peers. As we get older, it is clear that the once collaborative nature of our classes has metamorphosed into a competition. Before students even start to receive grades in school, they are placed in a competitive environment, leaving parents and teachers wondering if this rivalry actually prepares children for the workforce and the required skills for a 21st-century work environment. In my opinion, stress and mental illness among students branches from constantly wondering if students are meeting the expectations of their parents, their educators, and themselves. In a world where the majority of the workforce is collaborative, it seems pointless to me for students to grow up in such a competitive environment. The stress that high school students experience serves nobody well, and is often a side effect of this competition. Forming relationships with peers and learning how to work well together is a way to curb the side effects of competition and can also assist in preparing students for their futures after high school.

One of the biggest and most stressful competitions we find ourselves in is the competition to be admitted to that dream school. Not only that, but who will be admitted first, or find a roommate first, or get the better dorm on campus. However, students must understand that where you go after high school does not define who you will be; not everybody is meant for the spaces that they are potentially competing for. High school students are constantly worrying about their futures. It is apparent that the real reason students struggle for academic perfection is not for their own satisfaction, but to appease college admissions officers. Growing up being compared to other students does not prepare children for their future careers; we are taught to work against our peers, rather than work together. One of my teachers at the beginning of tenth grade assigned my class a project using a new computer program. She explained that only one student would win, which immediately created a competitive and negative work environment. Instead of being able to assist each other when navigating this unfamiliar website, my classmates and I spent nearly all of our class time attempting

to create the best project, rather than helping everyone learn how to have an equal chance to learn. It was not until later in my sophomore year that I was able to remove the competitive aspect of grades. For the first time, my history and English classes were combined, sharing a three hour block period every other day. Being in a room with 60 other students, nearly every lesson encouraged working in groups with different peers. From this experience, I learned how much more efficiently I work when working with new people, rather than trying to do better than my classmates. I now understand that the rivalry and tension between my peers and I does not exist if it is not forced, and we work much more efficiently when we cohesively work together. As high school students, we adapt to our surroundings and their expectations. If we are expected (or encouraged) to compete, we will rise to that challenge; however, when we are instead supported through collaborative efforts and empowered to embrace our individuality and personal strengths, we are able to see how our constant competing hurts us, rather than giving us the leg up we so desperately crave.

April OP/Ed

Conquering

STAFF

College Admissions

Dear editor,

Adviser Rachel Matz

I recently read your article about Stan Lee and how important of a role he plays in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. I feel that you are absolutely right about how even though he has a minuscule position in the latest movies, it is amazing to watch a movie and see the man who created the whole Marvel Universe, the man who made that movie that you’re watching possible. Stan Lee’s characters have made history, as almost every single Marvel movie is a box office hit. Without him, superhero movies just won’t be the same.

Editors-in-Chief Riya Doshi Evan Stern Print Managing Editors Lara Janosz Jake Weitzman Web Managing Editors Kushal Sanjeev Jenny She Copy Editors Darby Krugel Ali Randal Design Editor Ben Silberman Section Editors Jake Fogel Kaitlyn Luckoff Justin Yaker Photography Manager Georgia Zimmerman Promotional Manager Sadie Kirschner Web Content Manager Caitlin Finerty Senior Writers Brendan Lynn Madeline Moskus Staff Writers Sonya Barlow Vansh Bhardwaj Isa Halsband Hanna Halstead Isabelle Harber Shelby Jenkins Kaitlyn Keele Sarah Kenkel Vikram Lakshmanan Hillary Lam Laine Lord Mari Lynn Debra Moraitis Ben Moss Ben Mutz Kiersten Pape Alexis Rillema Jane Rosett Lainie Rubin Jillian Sacksner Marlee Sacksner Erin Schwartz Seema Shah Ava Singer Gabe Singer Sydney Stearns Jonah Stone Sanjuktha Swamy

Letters to the Editor

Sincerely, Frank Duca (11)

What we think

Dear editor,

Equality in the admissions process must be reevaluated Over the last few weeks, a far-reaching college admissions scandal has come to light. As details of this scandal and its ensuing consequences become public knowledge, many are considering and questioning the implications of this unethical and illegal activity in our community and around the world. As was revealed, numerous celebrities and high power executives have been using their wealth in hopes of giving their children advantages when applying to college, with new elements of this stunning story emerging unceasingly. With a debate unfolding over this issue, many are calling into question the college admissions process as a whole, and the unfair playing field many are forced to compete on. As a school with a large majority of seniors pursuing college every year, with some of these institutions directly being involved in this scandal, we, as the staff of the Hawkeye, firmly believe that cheating has no place in the admissions process, whether it be our high school,

our community, or the world. Every year, we watch as countless of our peers are admitted to a wide range of schools, based on true academic and athletic achievements. However, based on this scandal, we believe that many deserving students already have and will continue to be disadvantaged in this unequal system. As members of a successful high school, we feel that it is imperative that there is an even and level playing field for all students. This means that all students should be considered for admission to the institution of their choice based on their true achievements and potential to succeed at that school, true principles of the college admissions process that have more recently been overlooked. To ensure this equality amongst all applicants — regardless of wealth, race, gender, or religion — we, as a staff, believe that steps must be taken immediately in order to guarantee a completely fair transition from high school to college.

What students think

I think Letting high school kids donate blood is a great idea. It makes us feel like we’re really helping, and as a high school student, I know how easy it is to feel a little helpless. So knowing that you have the opportunity now to really give blood to someone who needs it is really a day-maker. I’m also really happy the blood drive crew was just as happy with their results as we were donating. Personally, I would pass out halfway through but to the people who have the guts to go through that, then 100% everyone should because it’s a simple thing you can do to save someone’s life; having that feeling in your heart is too good to pass up. Sincerely, Jahan Raffi (11) Dear editor,

“I think it’s disgusting that people think that they can do whatever they want, and they have the ability to do whatever they want.” Caitlin Cahill (11)

“This scandal is a bad thing. I think it is unfair that students are being admitted for this reason and everyone deserves an even playing field.” Joey Fishkind (11)

“It’s not fair what these celebrities are doing. Money should not define where you go; if you get in, you get in.” Zoe Goldman (9)

Your article on hate speech was very well written, and I’m glad that someone took the time to address this issue. No one should feel scared or anxious about their race, ethnicity, or ancestry, especially in a school. School is a place to learn, and it gives you the opportunity to meet people from other backgrounds and connect with them. We should be grateful for the opportunity we have to meet and interact with other backgrounds, and build each other up instead of drag each other down. Making fun of anybody for something that they can’t control is unacceptable. Sincerely, Roman Brown (11)

“I don’t think cheating is good in our schools because admissions should be based on your work ethic.” Christian Jordan (10)

“I think it is really eye opening that cheating is becoming such a big issue and that people are gaining unfair advantages. We need to find a way to stop this.” Rafae Quadir (11)

“It’s important to level the playing field. Anyone should be able to attend a good school, not just the people who can pay.” Deema Ghazi (10)

We want to hear what you think. Write a 100-200 word letter to the editor and sent it to us: bloomfieldhawkeye@ gmail.com

April OP/Ed

What we aren’t discussing Editor discusses the presence of institutional racism

by RIYA DOSHI Editor-in-Chief The Fifteenth Amendment prevents any citizen from being denied the right to vote based on “race, color, or previous condition of servitude.” This historic amendment was passed in 1870 during the aftermath of the Civil War. However, almost 150 years later, our country has failed to actually see this law through and ensure that all American citizens have the ability to vote for their representatives. The truth is, the United States still has systems in place to prevent predominantly black communities from exercising their constitutional right, skewing the outcomes of our elections. And no one is talking about it. These laws aren’t blatant in their racial targeting; that is, of course, unconstitutional and would never pass. Instead, they rely upon other established systems which target people of color to do all the work they need. According to the Washington Post, black people are more than 13 times more likely to be jailed than white people on illicit drug charges, despite similar rates of actual use. In a number of states, including Alabama and, until recently, Florida, any felon or ex-felon cannot vote. This law has permanently disenfranchised 34 percent of black

“No one is talking about how everyday these injustices are, in fact, injustices and not simply accepted fates of American society .”

Riya Doshi men in the state of Alabama alone. In ten years, that percentage is projected to supersede the black disenfranchisement rates from prior to the passage of the Voting Rights Act. If that wasn’t enough, black children have a significantly higher mortality rate, about 2.2 times that of a white child. Due to these factors, millions of black people are never able to vote. In fact, according to the same Washington Post article, an estimated 4 million black votes were never cast in 2010 because of these two issues. These are only a few examples of the bigger issue: institutional racism. Defined as the distribution of resources to benefit specific racial groups, institutional racism is present from health care disparities to housing opportunities. The most logical question from here is why? Why are these laws in place? Why are politicians able to get away with establishing these laws? Why, in a completely different century, are we still facing the same problems? The common factor in all instances is that there is no conversation. Human rights lawyer and activist Bryan Stevenson calls it a “stunning silence.” Talking about race makes us uncomfortable. The word “privilege” activates defense mechanisms and the word “racism” carries the weight of centuries. Acknowledging that there is something “there” when we try so hard to pretend we don’t see color is not a desirable situation for most people. However, that doesn’t make it less necessary, less important. If anything, it only makes it more so. Anyone can contribute to putting an end to institutional racism, primarily through educating yourself and those around you. Websites such as Racial Equity Tools, Intergroup Resources, and the Black Youth Project break down what institutional racism is and how it affects our society. Additionally, it is ever more important to vote for representatives who want to champion equality and hold them accountable. Research candidates prior to elections to read about their views and missions if put into office. Once they’re elected, call or write to them expressing your views about institutional racism so they know what the priorities are of the people who put them in office. We are never going to progress as a society if we pretend there isn’t any improvement we can make. We are never going to establish equality if we pretend that it already exists for everyone. We can only enact change if we are willing to start the uncomfortable conversations.

PRO: Helpful Technoloy Our dependence on digital assistants has shown no signs of stopping by SONYA BARLOW Staff Writer “Hey Alexa, how many people use Alexa?” Her response is “Over 39 million Americans own an Alexa device.” Various digital assistant devices including Siri on smartphones, Amazon Alexa on Echo and Echo Dots, and Google Assistant on Google Home are commonly used. With so many relying on information and action from these digital helpers, the question remains, why? Our dependence on technology is increasing, and our world is becoming more digitally advanced. According to a Pew Research survey in July 2018, almost half of Americans - nearly 164 million people - use digital assistants, including myself, and this number continues to rise. Digital assistants make our lives so much easier and more hands-free, thus benefiting people with mobility issues. To de-stress and meditate in order to live a more calm and positive life, these devices are always at your disposal. Therefore, they can provide therapeutic exercises in order to keep anxiety low without even having to interact physically with them. These programs include Headspace, Guided Meditation, Meditation Studio, Sweet Dreams, and One Minute Meditation. To promote the well-being of millions of people, these devices serve as personal trainers, providing us with goal setting programs, access to healthy recipes, and even exercise programs. These activities have become a vital part of our everyday life and we continue to depend on the digital assistants that provide them. Since digital assistants are highly dependable, busy individuals use them as constant reminders to keep track of their daily lives. It is eﬀortless to

ask your assistant for the weather, the date, or upcoming events. Digital assistants can also be asked to do things such as changing the temperature on the thermostat, turning the lights on or off, ordering a pizza from your favorite pizza parlor, or simply telling a joke. Without these assistants, life would be like a ghost town - inefficient and difficult. Day to day, I personally use Alexa to listen to music to liven the mood or ask her for the weather outside. It is easier to interact with them and obtain information a lot more quickly. Striving to make digital assistants more resourceful and useful is the ultimate goal. Currently, companies are seriously considering adding screens to the devices because it would be more efficient to find key information to your convenience instead of listening to it ramble about irrelevant information. I think the reliance on these devices, especially as they are technologically advanced, will continue to play a major role in our digital future. That being said, these devices will be found in more homes as time progresses, just like the constant use of phones in our daily lives. It seems like these digital assistants have unlimited skills, which is extraordinarily helpful in guiding us through the hardships of life. These devices will continue to transcend the technological breakthroughs that continue to be made. The tech world strives to have these digital assistants be part of the greater world outside of one’s home. The use of these digital assistants has made it clear that they are the ones that will change our technological vision of the future.

PRO/CON: Digital Assistans

CON: Privacy Invaders Digital assistants aren’t everrything they’re made out to be by NATASHA MEHTA Staff Writer We live in a world where technology is everywhere: in the morning, an alarm blares music to rattle you awake; at night, you plug in a dying phone, sucked of its life after a tiring workout of Netflix and Snapchat. Slowly and steadily, these devices have incorporated themselves into our lives, evolving into a necessity that lingers in our minds, pulling us away from reality and into its grasp. In more recent times, technology has grown to include digital assistants, such as the Google Home, Amazon Alexa, and Siri. These helpers can be found everywhere, but do they have a hidden intention? Have you ever wondered how Alexa or Siri can hear you calling their name? What many people don’t realize is that they are always listening, in a creepy way, for that one trigger word they respond to. Every time you have a conversation- from deciding what to eat for dinner to paying the bills for the month- they are listening. With this leverage the artificial intelligence (AI) has, the possibilities are endless. They can use your dialogue as a blueprint to the perfect ads or for selling merchandise. Once this connection is made, you may think that both you and the AI are getting a good deal: you with ads you actually enjoy, and them with more sales and happy customers. But what if we take it one step further?

If it can listen in on your conversations, what stops it from recording them? Furthermore, why can’t a hacker? Why can’t a complete stranger that can take advantage of the information they hear, and can watch without being noticed? Who can then distribute this gained knowledge to whomever they desire. Then what? This information can also be subpoenaed, something that has come up many times in the news lately. From the privacy of your home to the news of the world, you cannot count on a single private conversation. Instead of asking Alexa to play our favorite song, we should be focused on what knowledge it has access to. At some point, we need to understand that having certain types of technology can be harmful and that digital assistants, even with their helpful comments, are a force that many of us do not know the extent of. Next time you have a conversation in your dining room with a digital assistant nearby, think twice about what you say, for you don’t know who’s listening on the other side.

Breaking down investments Editor addresses the different options to invest in

by EVAN STERN Editor-in-Chief Since I wrote a column for the Hawkeye in February regarding the power of investing, I have received several questions and comments from members of our school community expressing interest in this subject and would like to focus on this topic a little more deeply this month. Undoubtedly, it is highly evident that investing is a powerful and greatly accessible tool to ensure future financial stability. Being a practice with understandable benefit, it is clear that numerous young investors, many at the high school age, desire to get a jump-start on their money-management careers, though this task may seem particularly daunting given the great variety of investment options, each incorporating different principles that may or may not be what one is aiming for. Individual stocks, individual bonds, stock exchange-traded funds (ETFs), bond ETFs, real estate investment trusts (REITs), money market funds, and more all remain attractive options for different reasons, and it is important to choose wisely as one plans their financial future. With the lengthy time horizon that we, as high schoolers, have, I feel that investing in individual companies is a proven path to eventual financial success. As I indicated last month, $1,000 invested in the S&P 500 in 1980 (a commonly-referenced index of some of America’s largest companies) would have amounted to $76,000 by last year. While individual stocks tend to be riskier than other investment options, especially during periods of slower or negative economic growth, they clearly boast more reward in the long-run and no doubt should be greatly considered for all longterm investors. But even understanding the clear reasons to bet on the successes of great, well-known companies, exactly which investments, amidst the great variety specializing in individual companies, should be selected? Throughout the school day, I commonly hear of many students’ investments in companies with proven track-records of success. These include, though are certainly not limited to, Apple Inc. (AAPL), Amazon.com, Inc. (AMZN), and JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM), to name a few. These are no doubt excellent options to invest in, with sky-high likelihoods of continuing to perform exceedingly well in the future. However, we all know that many times, great companies hit bumps in the road, whether it is due to some issue within the company itself or a problem afflicting the entire economy. AAPL stock, for instance, fell to almost $140 a share, down from over $230 at its high point, at the beginning of this year due to worries over product sales; more recently, Boeing Co. (BA) stock fell sharply in the aftermath of an Ethiopian Airlines crash that resulted in over 150 deaths. Both Apple and Boeing are no doubt highly respected companies, but just like anything else, issues are encountered and must be dealt with. Due to this type of volatility that great companies face, as these examples prove, I would highly encourage readers to explore and invest in ETFs specializing in individual stocks. These funds, which invest in hundreds and sometimes even thousands of individual companies, provide investors with broad exposure to the market as a whole and cushion the effects of potential issues, such as the ones outlined above. Boasting a much lower level of risk than a number of companies, individual stock ETFs are clearly an attractive option for long-term investors who are content with sitting back and watching their money grow for years into the future. Plus, since nearly all ETFs are managed professionally at an investment firm for a generally small annual fee, investors can have great confidence, even as the market fluctuates. For those interested in investing in ETFs, I would particularly recommend many of the very affordable options offered by Vanguard, including the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO), the Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (VTI), and the Vanguard Growth ETF (VUG), although the list of options is seemingly endless and exciting to explore.

April SPORTS

girls softball Girls softball is getting back into the swing of things, as their tryouts recently took place on March 11. The girls’ season will begin with their opening game at 4 pm on March 27 at Avondale High School. “I really think this season is going to be a good one. The team connection is great and we have all been working hard during the winter for this season. I think one of the goals a lot of the girls have is to do well at districts and looking at the team this year, I think we can make that happen,” said junior and team member Hannah Kelly.

Track & Field So far this 2019 season, the track team has only competed in one meet, which took place on Wednesday, March 20th, at Saginaw Valley State University. “Our team came in 13th place,” said freshman Kate Jenkins, “which is higher than what we were ranked, so it was a good meet.” There are 70 members of the team, but during practice, they divide into groups based on the events they compete in. “[In practice,] we all warm up … and break down as a team,” said sophomore Grace Phillips. “[However,] the sprinters work out, and the distance runners go on distance runs to gain mileage.”

Photo by Jillian Sacksner

Photo by Shelby Jenkins

Black Hawk Sports Update

Girls Soccer The girl’s soccer teams held tryouts the week of March 11. Three teams were formed: JVB, JVA, and Varsity. “We had a lot of talented underclassmen try out, so they will definitely aid in the success of each team,” said senior captain Lilly Formanek. Varsity won 2-0 and JVA won 3-0 at Chippewa Valley on March 21, while JVB lost 0-1 to Huron High School. On March 25, Varsity and JVA played Oxford, while JVB went against Belleville. The last games before Spring Break were on March 27 versus Walled Lake Northern. After break, the first couple of games will be in early April at Groves.

The Black Hawks gear up for the spring sports season

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Photo by Melissa Briggs

World of Sports As the temperatures rise and the snow begins to melt off the fields, MLB teams are making their way to Florida and Arizona for spring training. This season opens earlier than ever before, with all 30 teams pitching off on March 28th, 2019. Bryce Harper recently signed the most expensive contract in the history of the MLB, a $330 million deal with the Philadelphia Phillies, leaving the Washington Nationals where he was drafted in 2010. In football news, the NFL just wrapped up its combine in Indianapolis on March 4th. NFL hopefuls came to show their talents performing tests such as the Vertical Jump, Bench Press, and Forty Yard Dash. The NFL draft will begin on April 25th at 9 pm Eastern Standard Time. This year on the hard court, the North Carolina Tar Heels have shown their dominance versus the Duke Blue Devils in the biggest rivalry in sports, as they won the past two games to obtain a 2-0 record against the Blue Devils. In the beginning moments of the first game, freshman Zion Williamson, blew out his shoe, causing him a mild knee sprain that forced him to leave the game. In the last game versus North Carolina on March 9th, Zion didn’t enter the game and whether or not he will play in the NCAA tournament is still unknown. He returned to the court on March 22nd in the first round of the playoffs and is likely to be the number one pick in the NBA draft in June. On the professional level, this year was full of highlights l for LeBron James, but not in a good way. He recently left the Cleveland Cavaliers for the bright

lights in Los Angeles, but will likely miss the playoffs for the first time in over ten years. On the other hand, the Detroit Pistons have shown playoff contention, they could possibly repeat their 2015-2016 season, when they made it to the playoffs. Currently, as of the middle of March, they have a winning record. Blake Griffin has helped the team gain momentum leading in both points and assists; they are currently slated to play against Indiana in the first round. Across the pond, new technology has entered the world of soccer and has already made an impact on the game. Video assistant referee technology (VAR), was recently introduced into the Champions Soccer League this February. Unfortunately, for soccer team Paris Saint-Germain F.C. (PSG), this technology has ended their season. This new tech led to a hand ball called in the 95th minute of a knockout game against Manchester United F.C., awarding Manchester a penalty and allowing them to pull ahead and win knocking PSG out of the tournament. In other soccer news, the United States Women’s National Soccer team filed a federal lawsuit against U.S. Soccer over gender discriminations. The lawsuit, filed by all 28 players on the team in the United States District Court in Los Angeles, called for equal pay and treatment. Even with the lawsuit in the background, the women’s team is staying focused for the FIFA World Cup this summer in Paris, France.

boys golf Last year, the boy’s golf team was just five strokes away from getting to states and ending fifth overall in the playoffs. The team returns with many new golfers and will be looking to go to states. The Black Hawks have seniors Alex Gold and Ankith Varchasvi and juniors Joey Arslanian and Colin Segasser to improve on their 2018 Michigan High School Athletic Association Regional score. “We have a great team this year, with five returning varsity players, and are looking to be very successful over the next three months. Our goal this year is to be at the top of our OAA Division and prepare ourselves to win the regional competition in May so that we can move onto States,” saidVarchasvi.

Girls Tennis The girl’s tennis team is gearing up for the upcoming season with the Varsity A team adding ten new players to its roster. “There are some big matches coming up… and some realistic goals for the team this season include winning regionals and I do believe that we also have a good chance of winning states,” said Varsity A Senior Captain Tia Mukherjee. Varsity A Coach Chris Dobson said, “I’m really excited about this season. All three teams [JV, Varsity B, and Varsity A] are going to be extremely difficult to beat.”

Photo by Joey Arsalanian

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Photo by Jenna Silverman

Boys Lacrosse After a long week of tryouts, the boy’s lacrosse season is officially underway. “I think we will be solid,” said sophomore Tanner Slazinski. “We have a good group of seniors with a lot of experience.” After a close loss to Brother Rice in the state semifinals last year, the Black Hawks are hungry for redemption. “We’re strong at pretty much everything,” said Slazinski. The Black Hawks started the year 1-0, after a 7-3 victory at Huron Valley. In their second game they fell against Saint Mary’s 6-9.

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Photo by Susan Adams Photography

April Sports

Wilson takes on States

Josh Wilson winning wrestling match this season. Photo by BHSD

Sophomore qualifies for State wrestling by ISA HALSBAND Staff Writer After placing in the top four in both districts and regionals, sophomore wrestler Josh Wilson qualified for the state tournament. Wilson trained nearly every day of the week, while also attending meets and tournaments. “In the [gym], I worked on fundamentals, practiced moves and worked on keeping stamina up for the difficult matches I had,” said Wilson. “Next year, I’m definitely going to focus on getting more moves that better fit me along with working out and getting in better shape.” Wilson, in addition to receiving help from his coaches, was assisted by Pete Cahill, who wrestled professionally in college. “I usually go practice with older opponents that are very experienced and who are able to…teach me,” said Wilson. “[Cahill] was an extreme help to me, helping me train and become a much better wrestler. He helped me improve a great amount.” The results of the state tournament were not in Wilson’s favor, however, as he fell behind with two losses. “The biggest part of wrestling is either to make your opponent’s shoulder blades touch the ground and have the ref call it, have 15 more points than your opponent, or by the end of the three periods, [which are] two minutes each, have more points…States went fairly poorly for me,” said Wilson. “[I felt that one opponent] had the upper hand. The other [however] beat me as nerves got the best of me. I feel I could do much better if it happened again.” Despite the outcome of States, throughout Wilson’s season, he sustained twice as many wins as losses, as he won over 30 of his matches and lost less than 15. “[As states progressed], I got into the swing of things. I feel I did much better and it let me work harder and show what I was capable of,” said Wilson.

US Women’s Soccer Team celebrating their win against Brazil. Photo by USA Today Sports

Womens soccer team takes action USWNT sues for equal compensation by SANJU SWAMY Staff Writer On International Women’s Day, 28 members of the U.S. Women’s Soccer team took action against the National Soccer Federation on the basis of gender discrimination. Mary Paulon, a varsity soccer player, shared her perception of the event, and said: “I think the U.S. team suing is a good thing, because this discrimination is affecting how much they get paid, their training, and their medical treatment.” With the World Cup only three months away, this event has been thrust to the forefront of media. “The publicity they receive puts

them in a perfect position to protest gender discrimination... their protesting is going to encourage other women’s, and maybe even men’s sports teams to do the same,” said Anja Weller, sophomore and varsity soccer player. This particular lawsuit is the third attempt by the U.S. Women’s Soccer team since 2016. “The Women’s team’s protest is completely justified. Their team is more successful and works just as hard, if not harder, than the men’s team while earning only 60% of what the men make,” concluded Weller. This fight for equality has also

influenced female athletes in our high school soccer team. Paulon said, “I think in general, female athletes feel discouraged because the unequal pay promotes the idea that male sports are more important.” Weller states her personal experience and her stance with the events happening. “I’m actually really fortunate to say that gender inequality doesn’t really affect my soccer life that much... I, of course, support the efforts of the women’s soccer team,” she said. Paulon and Weller both envisioned similar ways in which this issue could be dealt with for the future.

“ I’ve been lucky to have great opportunities to grow as a player .”

Anja Weller Sophomore

Weller’s decision included “dedicating certain games to promoting gender equality to vocalize their team’s commitment to solving the issue.” “Other women’s sports teams should do this as well because the more support there is for this issue, the more change we will see regarding equality,” said Paulon. With the lawsuit in place, the Women’s Soccer team continues to prepare for the upcoming World Cup, to work toward the champion title they achieved against Japan in 2015. “My teammates agree with the idea that the women’s national team suing will bring awareness to this issue,” said Paulon. “[This] will hopefully bring about change in the next few years.”

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DVEN A R T ME

EAST REGION By GABE SINGER We begin the Hawkeye bracket in the East Region, where the top seeded Duke Blue Devils reside. Led by a roster of star studded freshmen, this team is a nightmare for almost any opponent. They finished their 2019 campaign with an impressive record of 29-5, with only one loss when they were fully healthy. I expect Duke to breeze into the Sweet 16. Moving down the region, Virginia Tech, who will be getting back Justin Robinson from injury, is also expected to coast past St. Louis. However, who they play is the question. The five/twelve seed matchup is infamous for its upsets, as over 75% of March Madness tournaments include one. But, I

expect Mississippi State to Louisville will be facing off squeak past Liberty, before against the Minnesota Golden being bested by Virginia Tech Gophers. The Cardinals should en route to the Sweet 16. have no trouble against Minnesota, who was ice-cold Moving on, Belmont earned from three in the Big Ten a spot in the tournament. The Tournament. My expectation is Bruins will upset the Maryland that they will move on to meet Terrapins, who are just 6-6 in Michigan State, as the Spartans their last 12 games. Next up are will take care of Bradley. the Louisiana State Tigers, who Louisville and MSU have met face off against the Ivy-League once before this year, and I representative: Yale. LSU has wouldn’t be surprised if the duplicated. The faced some off-court drama result with their head coach being Cardinals’ pressure defense will suspended, leaving them cause havoc against the vulnerable to an upset. turnover-heavy Spartans, and However, often times adversity Louisville will advance. brings teams together, so I look for LSU to beat Yale and This leaves us with a Sweet 16 Belmont, punching their ticket of Duke versus Virginia Tech to the Sweet 16. and LSU against Louisville.

Although Duke fell to Virginia Tech earlier this year, this game has one key difference: Zion Williamson. The probable first pick in the NBA draft has been averaging an unbelievable 27 points and 10 rebounds since returning from injury, and he is the X-factor in this game. Similar to most teams, Virginia Tech has no one that can stop Zion, which will propel Duke straight into the Elite 8. I believe that they will be met by Louisville, who has the coaching advantage against LSU. Chris Mack is a magician in March, as he led his former team, Xavier, to the Sweet 16 four times and the Elite Eight once in his 9 year tenure.

WEST REGION By JONAH STONE Onto the West Region, the home of one of the weaker number one seeds. Number one seeded Gonzaga ended their season 30-3, however, they only played three top 25 teams all season, and two of their losses came from those teams. The Bulldogs lost to Tennessee and North Carolina early in the season. They did beat Duke in November, which shows potential, but not enough to make them a lock in the tournament. I predict number two seeded Michigan will make it to the Final Four from this region. Michigan, despite losing to Michigan State multiple times, has had a stellar season. The team finished ranked second nationally in defense. Their defense, along with the offensive push from freshman Ignas Brazdeikis and a healthier Charles Matthews, will be the difference maker for this Wolverines. The West region potentially holds several upsets. The heaviest being

Sourc e s : NCAA, WIkimedia commons, USA today, Sports illustrated

Northern Kentucky over Texas Tech. Northern Kentucky is coming into March Madness winning five straight, including a Horizon League championship. Texas Tech, although having an arguably successful season, comes off an upset loss to West Virginia in the Big 12. Additionally, Texas Tech’s outstanding defense will be put to the test against red hot Northern Kentucky, which shot 57.1% from long range in the championship game of the Horizon League Tournament. Ranked fifth in assists per game, Northern Kentucky looks to move this tough defense around and bust some brackets.

averaged 25 points per game and picked up multiple 50 point performances. These two are sure to show off and be a part of a huge offensive game. In the end, the difference maker will be the prolific offense and very reliable defense of Murray State.

Another team coming into the tournament on fire is the Buffalo Bulls. They have won their last 12 straight, including a Mid-American Conference title. Buffalo has the fastest offense in the nation, and they rarely turn over the ball, which is often a result of such a quick paced offense. They rank 19th in the country in turnover rate with One of the best games in the 15.5%. tournament will be seed number five Marquette vs. seed number twelve As the tournament nears, the teams, Murray State. This includes the specifically in the West region, are sure matchup of Ja Morant of Murray State to surprise many. Any team can win any and Markus Howard of Marquette. game, and fans should be ecstatic to Morant averaged 24.6 points per game watch the chaos unfold. and ten assists per game, while Howard

An ACC showdown with a trip to the Final Four on the line, Duke versus Louisville will be a good one. Duke has so many options on the offensive side of the ball as RJ Barrett and Zion Williamson each average 20 points on a game to game basis. Their dynasty will continue, as the Duke Blue Devils will conquer Louisville and advance to the Final Four in Minneapolis, giving Hall of Fame coach Mike Krzyzewski his 13th Final Four appearance.

FINAL FOUR The Midwest region of the bracket has some truly intriguing matchups. Two blue bloods, North Carolina and Kentucky, headline the region as the number one and two seeds followed by the 31-3 Houston Cougars and the Kansas Jayhawks as the three four seeds. This region possesses many talented teams, and despite your future busted bracket, we are in store for some high level college hoops. To break this down further, let’s advance the North Carolina Tar Heels and the Kentucky Wildcats directly to the Sweet 16. Both teams have been playing outstanding

basketball as of late, and don’t foresee a overwhelming upsets. Ut State will edge pa Washington and twel seeded New Mexico Sta will upset five seed Auburn to advance. Al advancing in the round 64 will be Kansas, Io State, Houston, and Set Hall in an upset ov Wofford. Moving on on again to the sweet 1 twelve seeded New Mexi State will upset Kansas, a Houston will beat Io State. I think underd New Mexico State can gi the Jayhawks a real run f their money and w ultimately be able to pull the win due to their leth run-and-gun play style. T

SOUTH REGION By JUSTIN YAKER There is no need to overthink the South region. Lock in Virginia to the final four with confidence, and watch as they cruise past everyone in their way.

Virginia will be playing with a chip on their shoulders in this year's NCAA tournament, after being the first number one seed in history to lose to a 16 seed year last. Moreover, defense wins championships, and this Virginia teams prides themselves on defense. The Cavaliers rank first in the nation in three point defense and fifth in nation in field goal In my opinion, the rest of the percentage defense, while playing in the best conference in the nation South is pretty week, and there is potential for several upsets. This (ACC). region possess arguably the worst More importantly though, this two and three seed with Tennessee and Purdue. While it is unlikely two

seeded Tennessee loses to 15 seeded Colgate, don’t expect them to make a run. The Volunteers were playing like the best team in the nation, in January. As of lately though, the Volunteers have been awful, and just got blown out by Auburn. This team struggles to rebound defensively, and could find Cincinnati in the second round, one of the best offensive rebounding teams in the nation. Book the seven seed over two seeded Tennessee. I am also not a fan of three seeded Purdue. Purdue is significantly dependent on star junior guard Carson Edwards who averages 23 points a game. The ball is always in his hands, and when he isn’t hot the team struggles. It is possible that Purdue falls to Old Dominion, but I wouldn’t count on it. I would count on Purdue falling to the winner of

St. Mary’s or Villanova, which will be one of the best games of the tournament. Nova is very hot at the right time, and I expect them to stay that way. They are led by fifth year seniors Phil Booth and Eric Paschall. Not to mention, Nova is always great in the tournament. Don’t let the fact that they are a six seed scare you from picking them to the elite eight.

basketball. They don’t make mistakes, and are one of the best defensive teams in the nation. Plus, they are returning key senior forward Dean Wade for the tournament.

To summarize, Virginia is the team to beat in the South region, and they have a cakewalk road to the final four. Look for Tennessee, Purdue, and Wisconsin to take an Looking at the rest of the South early exit and Villanova to make Region, I would be shocked if five noise once again. seed Wisconsin wins their first round game versus Pac 12 tourney champs Oregon. Wisconsin is awful, they have no chemistry, and they should be a seven seed at best. Also look for Kansas State in the sweet 16. Many people are thinking that UC Irvine will upset them in the first round. But as I said, don’t overthink it. K-state is a really good team. They play team

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Virginia team is hungry. They are experienced, and they are built to make a run in the tournament. They are led by star guard trio Kyle Guy (junior), Ty Jerome (junior), and the X-factor in my mind Deandre Hunter (sophomore). Hunter is a phenomenal 6’7’’ guard who can do it all on both ends of the floor. When he’s feeling it, the Cavs are the best team in the nation. People forget that Hunter was injured during Virginia's early exit last year. With Hunter back, and another year of experience from Guy and Jerome, the Cavaliers will be a very tough out for any team.

sum it up, North Carolina, New Mexico State, Houston, and Kentucky will be in this year’s Sweet 16.

Cougars have what it takes. The team has a certain energy to them, and that’s dangerous to bet against during March. The Cougars will take down In short, New Mexico John Calipari and his State can’t guard North Kentucky Wildcats to move Carolina. North Carolina’s on to the elite 8. transition basketball is some of the best in the Lastly, I’m picking North country, and New Mexico Carolina over Houston. State simply doesn’t have Both teams are high level the athleticism to match programs but at the end of their pace. The Tar Heels the day, North Carolina just will get the job done and has too many weapons to be advance to the Elite 8. taken down between their Consequently, Houston offense and defense. The will upset Kentucky on the North Carolina Tar Heels other side of the bracket. I will represent the Midwest see this game going back region in the Final Four. and forth and it could honestly go either way, but I believe the Houston

Midwest Region By BEN MUTZ The Midwest region of the bracket has some truly intriguing matchups. Two blue bloods, North Carolina and Kentucky, headline the region as the number one and two seeds followed by the 31-3 Houston Cougars and the Kansas Jayhawks as the three four seeds. This region possesses many talented teams, and despite your future busted bracket, we are in store for some high level college hoops. To break this down further, let’s advance the North Carolina Tar Heels and the Kentucky Wildcats directly to the Sweet 16. Both teams have been playing outstanding basketball as of late, and I don’t foresee any overwhelming upsets. Utah State will edge past Washington and twelve seeded New Mexico State will upset five seeded Auburn to advance. Also advancing in the round of 64 will be Kansas, Iowa State, Houston, and Seton Hall in an upset over Wofford. Moving on once again

to the sweet 16, twelve seeded New Mexico State will upset Kansas, and Houston will beat Iowa State. I think underdog New Mexico State can give the Jayhawks a real run for their money and will ultimately be able to pull off the win due to their lethal runand-gun play style. To sum it up, North Carolina, New Mexico State, Houston, and Kentucky will be in this year’s Sweet 16.

has a certain energy to them, and that’s dangerous to bet against during March. The Cougars will take down John Calipari and his Kentucky Wildcats to move on to the elite 8.

Lastly, I’m picking North Carolina over Houston. Both teams are high level programs but at the end of the day, North Carolina just has too many weapons to be taken down between their offense and defense. The North In short, New Mexico State can’t Carolina Tar Heels will represent the guard North Carolina. North Midwest region in the Final Four. Carolina’s transition basketball is some of the best in the country, and New Mexico State simply doesn’t have the athleticism to match their pace. The Tar Heels will get the job done and advance to the Elite 8. Consequently, Houston will upset Kentucky on the other side of the bracket. I see this game going back and forth and it could honestly go either way, but I believe the Houston Cougars have what it takes. The team

DESIGN BY BEN SILBERMAN

April Sports

Lewis wins “Unsung Hero”

Photo by Georgia Zimmerman

Athletic Secretary receives news award by KAITLYN KEELE Staff Writer For the past three years, Channel 4 News has held the “4Frenzy Winter Fan Choice Awards” for Oakland County to nominate staff members, students, and parents in the district to be given the “Unsung Hero” award. For the 2019-2020 school year, one of our own district members, Administrative Assistant Angi Lewis, was nominated as the “Unsung Hero” staff member. Lewis won the competition for being described as a “tremendous staff member who goes the extra mile for her fellow colleagues and works tirelessly to give our student-athletes the best experience possible,” according to Channel 4 News. “I was very honored [to receive the award]. I do like to stay under the radar, I’m not at all a fan of the spotlight, but I appreciate everyone who took the time to vote and congratulate me,” said Lewis. “What I enjoy most about my job is trying to make everything easier for our community, especially the boosters, PTO, and all volunteer parents who selflessly volunteer their time, effort, and talents.” BHHS Athletic Secretary Jacqueline Osborn and Lewis have worked together for

“She takes great pride in the job that she does and never takes a shortcut.”

Mike Cowdrey

District Athletic Director years as colleagues and close friends. “It gives me personal gratification to know I helped Angi become the hero she is being recognized for,” Osborn said. “Even though I am a small part of the big picture, knowing I am a part of it, and that Angi deserves this title and more, makes me proud to be a part of her team. She works hard to make herself and her department better than it is today every day.” The Bloomfield Hills community has supported Lewis through every step as she works hard to make a mark on her colleagues and students. “First of all, Angi is an incredibly hardworking, knowledgeable, and conscientious worker,” said District Athletic Director Mike Cowdrey. “She is very helpful and goes out of her way to make sure that others’ jobs or duties are easier.” Lewis is beyond grateful for the honor of receiving this award, but she credits her fellow colleagues, student-athletes, and parents who make her job so enjoyable. “I just want everyone to know how much I enjoy and appreciate the job that I have and do. I sincerely enjoy coming to work every day. I work for excellent [people] who care very much about this school district and community,” Lewis said. “We all share the ultimate goal of making sure our students have the best chance to succeed in athletics, but more importantly to bond with their fellow teammates, to learn, and to have fun.”

Maeve Wright doing her beam routine at the state competition. Photo by Maeve Wright

Wright rises to the top Maeve Wright wins states in gymnastics by KUSHAL SANJEEV Managing Editor The most recent addition to the roster of Black Hawk sports teams this year was the girls gymnastics team. Although this team competed at all 16 regular, tri, and invitational meets, one particular member rose to the top of her league as a freshman at the state finals: Maeve Wright. “My state finals competition could not have gone better. Going into states, my teammates and I were all very nervous. When we arrived at the competition, we all began to calm down and enjoyed the experience. Both Kalyn (my teammate) and I nailed our beam routines, which was a huge relief. After a great start, we all did great on all the other events too,” said Wright. Wright competed in three of the

four total events: Vault, Beam, and Floor. In addition to the different event types, each individual event is scored based on difficulty, event requirements, execution, and the bonus factor. “They score based on how well you execute your skills. The difficulty of your skills determines the starting value of your routine. The harder your skills are, the higher your start value will be. Bonus, however, adds .2 to your score for each bonus skill you compete, which brings up the overall score of your routine,” said Wright. The growth of the team was something to watch as this was a brand new team sport in our school. “This was a very sentimental season for all of us. Gymnastics is a brand new sport at BHHS, and it is very special to be a part of a new opportunity,” said Wright. “Leaving club gymnastics and competing for the high school was one of the best decisions I have ever made, and almost all of my teammates

agree. Competing for BHHS has brought back our love for the sport of gymnastics.” The new team also brought an opportunity to return to gymnastics for sophomore Anna German. “I have been doing gymnastics since I was five but I quit last spring. So it really meant a lot to me that I was able to continue doing gymnastics at the high school level; gymnastics on a private team takes a lot of time and so it really meant a lot that I was able to return and compete on my school team,” said German. The state competition was held at Rockford High School and this was Wright’s final stop for her freshman year after practicing for the past twelve years. “The high school practices were quite heavy. A typical practice starts off with a quick warm up and some stretching. After warming up, we would usually go to 3 events (depending on what was available at the gym). At each event, we would

practice our skills for competition, and start to work on upgraded versions of our skills as well,” said Wright. In addition to the many practices, Wright experienced a large number of falls or “bloopers,” as it came to be known by the team. “Bloopers are funny fails or wipeouts that happen during a practice or a competition. When a blooper happens, the whole team bursts out laughing, sometimes even to the point of falling to the floor from laughing so hard. It was so fun to laugh with my team this season,” said Wright. With the state finals ending, the freshman plans on honing her skills even further for the following years. “Winning the balance beam state title was a huge accomplishment. I am so proud to represent BHHS, and I am so happy that I was able to bring home a state championship for my team and my coaches,” said Wright.

Ski team sees success on the slopes The ski teams ends their season at the state finals by SHELBY JENKINS Staff Writer While the rest of the student body bundled up and stayed warm during the snow days this winter, the Black Hawks ski team again hit the slopes. “I think that the team, and myself individually, have made major improvements throughout the season,” said junior girls captain Erin DiMarzo. “I’ve been on the team since freshman year, but this year was the best because sophomore Maria Yankelevich and I qualified for states as individuals.” During this season, the boys team went undefeated before reaching the playoffs; they secured a 8-0 record during the regular season races. Before qualifying for the state meet, the boys team finished in the top three at the Varsity Divisionals. This earned them qualification to the SEMSL, the South East Michigan Ski League Championship, on Tuesday, February 19th, a major achievement in their season. “I felt that the team performed great this season,” said junior boys captain Nate Busch. “I think that we put together a lot of good runs when it counted, which was a major factor in getting us to states. “ The ski team showed their skills at the regional qualifiers on February 13th at Pine Knob Ski Resort. The varsity boys skied themselves to another state qualification by earning second place at regionals. “States was our hardest competition of the season,” said Busch. “The team had it hard.

We don’t get to train on steep, icy hills 24/7, unlike many teams we competed with, which makes it very hard for our team to score super high, even on a good day. Due to this, our team got seventh, but I think this was a motivator for the team to work harder next year to beat the teams Up North and in our region.” At the Division 1 state meet on February 25th, the boys took seventh, an improvement from their ninth place finish as a team during the 2018 state finals. Hunter Halstead led

Junior Erin Dimarzo finishing her run at States. Photo by Kyra Nicholson

the boys team, placing 17th overall out of 67 competitors. On the girls side, Yankelevich finished 32nd out of 66 other skiers and DiMarzo took 42nd place at the state meet. This year, the ski team, “put forth a lot of time and commitment to practice,” according to senior captain Nathan Van Duijvenbode, “and it paid off throughout the season.” The team continued to make improvements on their times and places at their races, ending the season with state meet qualifications for multiple athletes.

APRIL Entertainment

Crossword Challenge yourself to the Hawkeye’s April Crossword Puzzle!

ACROSS

Here are the answers to our February Crossword!

The answers to this crossword will be in our next issue!

by EVAN STERN Editor-in-Chief

3. Holiday celebrated by Christian community. 5. April _____ showers bring May flowers. 7. April is _____ Literacy month. 9. April is _____ days in length.

DOWN

1. Holiday celebrated by Jewish community. 2. Good … 4. _____ Fools’ Day. 6. April 22 is _____ Day. 7. Bright and colorful. 8. The name of the month April comes from:

Spring Fling & Pancake Breakfast at Bowers School Farm

May 11, 2019 Enjoy a pancake breakfast, followed by a 2-hour, selfguided program, including wagon rides, farm animal interaction (including newborn animals), children’s activities and other agricultural learning experiences!

$ 14 per person. 1 year & under, free. Purchase tickets at www.bloomfield.org/spring Questions? Call 248.341.6481.

april entertainment

Smoothie Showdown

VS. Tropical staycation

Beyond your imagination

by ALEXIS RILEMMA Staff Writer

by LAINE RUBIN Staff Writer

Tropical Smoothie Cafe, my favorite smoothie place in the area, offers tasty, healthy, and filling smoothies. Although they have many locations in the Oakland County area, I always stop at the one at Telegraph and Square Lake because it is closest to my house. I tend to get the Jetty Punch smoothie, with no added sugar, because strawberry banana is my favorite. However, from time to time I like to change it up a bit to satisfy a craving. Another favorite of mine is the Mocha Madness. This smoothie contains chocolate, coffee, and non-fat yogurt. Since I can’t go a day without coffee, I like to get a smoothie version because this fills me up and is a healthier option than Starbucks. A lot of people tend to make the argument that they don’t like Tropical Smoothie Cafe because their smoothies are too sugary. To solve this problem, just ask for your smoothie with no added sugar and voila! This version of the smoothie cuts my cravings for sugar or chocolate and is a healthier option that keeps me full. You also get so much more for your money at Tropical

Smoothie as their cups are much bigger than the ones that Beyond uses for the same price! What I think distinguishes Tropical Smoothie from other smoothie places, specifically Beyond Juice, is that it really capitalizes on the industry. Tropical Smoothie is also much more flexible when it comes to changing your smoothie and customizing your very own. They have a balanced mix of foods and smoothies that include breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert, snacks, and third-party delivery and catering. For example, Tropical has many healthy/gluten free desserts and snacks such as chips, candy, and fruit/ veggies. I am gluten free and love getting the sandwiches and wraps with the gluten-free bread; however, I cannot do this at Beyond Juice because they got rid of their gluten-free bread a long time ago. Taking this into account, these are just some of the reasons why I love Tropical Smoothie Cafe.

Student Poll

When I am in a rush and need a quick snack, Beyond Juice is an easy go-to. They offer so many sandwiches, salads, wraps, acai bowls, and popular smoothies that I can always find something I’m in the mood for. In order to fulfill my nutritional needs in a smoothie, I rely on Beyond Juice. Beyond Juice has a plethora of smoothie recipes, allowing addons of different fruits, liquids, proteins, and vegetables. The Total Energy Plus, my favorite, includes banana, strawberry, kale, and spinach, which I love because I enjoy having some greens incorporated into my fruity drinks. When adding kale and spinach into my smoothie, I barely taste the difference, and it is an easy way to get all the nutrients I need in my daily diet. Occasionally, I treat myself to the Columbian; a sweetened smoothie. The Columbian combines coffee, mocha, almond milk,

and peanut butter. I appreciate this smoothie as it involves coffee which is a daily necessity for me. Beyond Juice smoothies are also completely customizable, which means even if it’s not on the menu, I can get creative and quench my craving all in one. Even though they aren’t known for their sandwhiches, Beyond Juice also has amazing wraps, like the egg white burrito, which are a perfect complement to their smoothies. Over the years, Beyond Juice has become more popular and has expanded from its original downtown Birmingham location to a second Birmingham store, Somerset, Equinox Gym, Southfield, Grosse Pointe, Eastern Market, and soon expanding to West Bloomfield. Each destination offers slightly different varieties in their menu, including “customer creations” which allow frequent customers to add their own stamp on classic smoothie recipes. Beyond also recently added an “order ahead” feature to their app, which means I can get my smoothie fill even when I’m in a rush. With an ever-changing and evolving menu and new locations popping up, Beyond Juice has solidified its status as the smoothies in town.

Offset album cover. Photo by Vox

Photo by Playbill

Offset exceeds all expectations

Lightning Thief fails to recapture magic

by JONAH STONE Staff Writer On February 22nd, Offset, from the rap group Migos, invited listeners into his heart to hear the deepest, darkest thoughts that had been buried due to repeated hardships. His debut solo album shows a different side of the artist that has not been displayed on Migos’s past albums such as Culture and Culture II. A reflective and apologetic tone is all throughout his album. The album’s first song, “Father of 4 feat. Big Rube,” is an apology to his four children for not being in their lives as much as he should have. Later in the album, he apologizes to Cardi B on “Don’t Lose Me,” reflecting on his poor decision making and behavior, and how he promises to do things differently the second time around. Expert producing is a large reason this album has received positive critical acclaim. Father of 4 is produced by legendary producers Metro Boomin and South-

side. They provide their unmatched touch on every track, making each track unique from other Migos and Offset songs. The production focuses on bass heaviness and snare focused tracks, which allows Offset to take control of the song due to his choppy flow. Despite the nostalgic and remorseful themes of many of the songs on Father of 4, Offset does not forget about the choppy, club bangers that got him to this level of fame and success. Assisted by rappers Travis Scott and 21 Savage on the track “Legacy,” Offset discusses establishing his legacy in the music industry, something artists struggle to do. With help from Travis Scott, 21 Savage, Cee Lo Green, Cardi B, Quavo, Gucci Mane, Gunna, and J Cole, Offset released the best solo album out of any of the solo albums released by Migos members. Offset surely establishes his legacy, with a huge ceiling to build upon it. I would give this album 4 stars out of 5.

“Father of 4 establishes Offset as a top tier storyteller with more to rap about than just money, girls, cars, and clothes.”

by CAITLIN FINERTY Web Content Manager My entire upper elementary school experience was defined by Rick Riordan and the stories that he wrote. I grew up cheering on Percy and Annabeth and hating Luke from the pit of my stomach. To say the least, if there was going to be a musical, it had to be good. I only went to see this new musical because my sister wanted to see it; she is a fan of everything Rick Riordan, from Percy Jackson to Magnus Chase to The Kane Chronicles. She enjoyed the show, but I can’t say the same for myself. As much as I wanted to love The Lightning Thief, I had a strange feeling the entire time. I heard mixed reviews from friends, and I had heard one of the 19 songs before. The problem with that was the song was one of only two that were amazing. The rest of the music wasn’t awful; I have been listening to it a lot, but the song I really liked, “My Grand Plan,” was the necessary secondary character song that every musical seems to have. It reminded me of songs like “One Song Glory” from Rent or Vivienne’s song, “Legally Blonde Remix,” from Legally Blonde: the Musical. This made the mu-

sic seem unoriginal and uncomfortably familiar when I was watching it at first. The most interesting part of the show was how they used the set and small cast. There was no actor or singer who wasn’t good and they all played different people, so it was nice not to have to worry about listening to bad singers. The sets were unique because they stayed the same no matter where the setting was. It started in the Museum of History in New York and the rest of the props, including a train and a car, were just repurposed parts from the museum. The funniest, but in turn campiest, part of the whole show was the “magic” involved. Percy Jackson is the son of the Greek God of Water, Poseidon, and he can, when flooded with enough emotion, control water. To do this in the musical, the characters came on stage and shot the bad guy, Ares, the Greek God of War, with toilet paper shot off by a leaf blower, attempting to represent water. Overall, I am glad I went to see this musical. My elementary school self was happy, and I will continue to listen to the music on Spotify, but I would not go see this again. The book is so good, the movie is so bad, and this show was kind of in the middle, which is why I am giving this three out of five stars.

April Entertaiment

reviews Captain Marvel empowers the MCU by LAINE LORD Staff Writer I am proud to say Captain Marvel is my new favorite superhero and after watching Marvel’s latest installment, I assure you she will be your favorite too. Captain Marvel, the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s (MCU) first stand-alone movie with a female superhero lead, serves up a refreshing new story that is sure to amuse and inspire all audiences. Taking place in the mid 1990’s, Kree warrior Captain Marvel, otherwise known as Carol Danvers, played by Brie Larson, crash lands on Earth amidst a war between intergalactic rivals, the Kree and the shape shifting Skrulls. While on Earth, Carol slowly uncovers her past identity before her memory was wiped, while simultaneously fighting in this complicated war. Throughout her journey, Danvers meets the young S.H.I.E.L.D Agent Nick Fury, played by Samuel L. Jackson, and her best friend from her forgotten past, Maria Rambeau, played by Lashana

Lynch, who come together to help her defeat evil and discover herself along the way. One of the aspects that amazed me the most was how Captain Marvel somehow managed to combine the introduction of a new superhero, provide her backstory, and explore a new plotline, all into one action packed, two-hour movie. To achieve this, Captain Marvel had to be fast-paced. However, the film didn’t move too fast or too slowly, to a point of boredom. To me, Captain Marvel truly achieved the goldilocks ideal of superhero movies. Among the prevalent comic relief and phenomenal soundtrack within the PG-13 Captain Marvel, the best aspect of the film was the gender representation. Both in front of and behind the camera, women dominated in powerful positions. As a matter of fact, not only did Captain Marvel have a female lead, but it was co-directed by Anna Boden alongside Ryan Fleck and was written by primarily female writers. The gender diversity within various levels of production resulted in a unique and powerful film which was much needed in this lingering period before the

MOVIE

next Avengers movie. However, despite Captain Marvel’s well-deserved success, backlash and critique consisted of some saying it was “too feminist.” I have never heard something so ignorant. Just because Captain Marvel is a woman, this automatically makes Captain Marvel “too feminist”? Why does representation have to be so unusual? Yes, Captain Marvel mentioned gender inequity. And yes, Captain Marvel mentioned discrimination faced by women every day. But no, it did not overwhelm the movie. That’s not what Captain Marvel was solely about. The film highlighted the tribulations and inequities faced by women daily, nothing more, nothing less. So, I’m sorry if critics think calling out the gender inequalities of our society and empowering young girls is “too feminist”, but Captain Marvel did exactly that, and should be celebrated for it. And even if it is “too feminist”, so what? Seeing a powerful woman superhero rock the Marvel universe not only inspired and empowered me, but will do so for generations of young girls to come. Overall, I give Captain Marvel an 5/5.

“World” of dance?

High Flying Bird, low results

Umbrella Academy thrills

by MARI LYNN Staff Writer

by BEN MUTZ Staff Writer

by VANSH BHARDWAJ Staff Writer

With dancers competing from all around the globe, the third season of World of Dance is truly a world of dance. Contestants from Canada, Germany, Norway, South Korea, India, and Japan vie for a staggering $1 million prize in front of expert celebrity judges Jennifer Lopez, Ne-Yo, and Derek Hough. Unlike the other popular dance competition shows like Dancing with the Stars, which pairs celebrities with professional ballroom dancers, World of Dance creates an environment that allows its competitors to be the stars. Competitors on World of Dance get the spotlight while performing their own routines in their preferred style. No style of dance is off limits for these dancers as they compete in styles ranging from hip-hop to ballroom, contemporary to pop. Each season, a new group of dancers undergoes the intense competition process to earn the title “Best in the World.” Groups and individuals battle in multiple rounds from the Qualifiers, the Duels, the Cut, Divisional Final, and the World Final. The third season is the most exhilarating yet, with new heartwarming and sentimental stories. Viewers build connections to performers as they share their inspirations, personal backstories, and challenges leading up to the show. Briar Nolet, my personal season favorite, proves that sometimes a story cannot be fully explained in words; sometimes it just has to be expressed through dance. Her routine in the Duels conveys her journey with epilepsy and her control over the condition with her powerful movements. Unique to this season is an additional round called Redemption. At the end of each division, the two highest scoring acts that were eliminated have an opportunity to redeem themselves by going head to head in a dance battle. The winner of the Redemption round earns the last slot in the next round of the competition. I love this new aspect of the show since I have seen many crowd-pleasing favorite dancers lose from the biased scoring system. This year, I put my money on the Crazy 8’s, All Ready, Briar Nolet, and Lauren Yakima. While the show does an excellent job of showcasing talented dancers from around the world, it lacks the true opinion of the world. The scores are solely determined by the judges, without any audience input. For this reason, the winner is not actually a true representation of the world, as the title of the show claims, but rather the judges. I give this show a 4/5 stars.

Imagine being paid millions of dollars to do what you love, but never having access to the money. Steven Soderbergh’s original Netflix movie High Flying Bird takes place in Manhattan during a months-long NBA lockout. The story follows seasoned sports agent Ray (Andre Holland), and his client, the number one draft pick in the NBA, Erick Scott played by Melvin Gregg. The film begins with Ray criticizing Erick for taking out a high-interest loan that he can’t pay back. Seemingly odd for an NBA player to be broke, but since the NBA is on hiatus, nobody is getting paid. Throughout the film, Ray talks about the game within the game extensively. The give and take between NBA front office capitalist businessmen and the NBA players association, and Ray’s goal, is to master the balance between the two, and ultimately end the lockout. I confess that this film is an unshapely piece of storytelling. In spite of my high expectations, there are many holes in the plot and the story doesn’t flow well. When I first learned the film was about basketball and business, I assumed that there would be a fair amount of high flying jams and flashy passes. I was wrong. The theme from the start is mellow, and displays basketball in only one small scene, so if you were expecting some Michael Jordan-level basketball scenes, maybe go watch Space Jam. At the end of the day, I enjoyed watching this film, but it didn’t make me laugh, or cry, or jump out my seat. It’s just not one of those films. As a huge basketball fan and player myself, I kept waiting to see action on the court, but it never happened. Soderbergh, in my mind, did a better job of sending a powerful message to his audience than actually entertaining them. The film sends messages about exploitation of the black athlete and the intersection of race and power in basketball, but nonetheless, never had me on the edge of my seat. Overall, I give this movie a 3/5 stars.

With countless twists and turns, the Netflix original series Umbrella Academy successfully hooks viewers with instant mystery and intrigue. The latest Netflix series, based off of the original comics with the same name, was written by the talented Gerard Way and Gabriel Bá with each episode ending with an exciting cliffhanger. The story opens with 43 children being born all around the world spontaneously on the same day, their mothers not showing any signs of pregnancy before giving birth. This leads eccentric billionaire Reginald Hargreeves to pursue adopting as many of these children as he can, assuming the circumstances of their birth must make them special in some way, ultimately adopting seven of the children. Instead of giving them names, each of the children is numbered one through seven. These children whose superpowers are revealed throughout the first episode, were raised by Hargreeves to fight crime together, but drifted apart as the they reached adulthood. The show focuses on the children as adults, after they’ve taken on the group name of “Umbrella Academy,” and their greatest challenge yet: to investigate the suspicious death of their father while overcoming their many differences and past feuds. Throughout the series, the acting and character development of the diverse cast was never lacking. The mystery behind each character was an essential part of the show, enhancing the overall viewing experience. As the series went on, the serious storyline was lightened by the use of comedic moments, making the show less grim. There was also a variety of action sequences and a good soundtrack to supported the upbeat tone of the series, while maintaining the serious storyline. The Umbrella Academy shares many similarities with another book-turned-Netflix-series A Series of Unfortunate Events. These similarities include the investigative properties of each episode and the mysterious cliffhangers throughout the series; however, The Umbrella Academy addresses the superhuman powers that each of the seven main characters possess in a completely unprecedented manner. The similarities between the two appeal to fans of a certain genre and do not disappoint. Ultimately, The Umbrella Academy is a fascinating series that is definitely worth the watch.

VACCINES 1 Vaccine can prevent 5 diseases: 1. Haemophilus inﬂuenzae type B 2.Hepatitis B 3.Diphteria 4. Tetanus 5. Pertussis (Whooping Cough)

DEBUNKING MISCONCEPTIONS NO Autism Link, there are many scientiﬁc studies done that show there is no link between Autism and Vaccination

Why are va

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292

103

Sources: Healthcare Management Degree, Cleveland Clinic Health Essentials, Canada Public Health