December 2014

h

THE HAWKEYE December 2014•Volume II•Issue II

Bloomfield Hills High School

3456 Lahser Rd, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48302

Students and educators discuss the declining public perception of teachers in America pg.18

Miss Understood

uncovering the controversy of pageants {pg.24}

University Policy affects Blackhawks

in-state tuition causing problems for students {pg.10}

THE EDITORS’ DESK Dear Editors,

Dear Editors,

Dear Editors,

After reading Merrick Weingarten’s article “District tutoring policy under review due to parent inquiry” in the print edition of the October 2014 issue of The Hawkeye, I was absolutely compelled to write to you. The issue of teachers not being able to privately tutor students within their buildings is a serious one and one I have very strong opinions about, which is why I applaud Merrick for writing a thoroughly researched, bias-free piece about it.

He provided the point of views of all parties involved by quoting Bloomfield Hills High School Superintendent Rob Glass, teacher Dennis Kwasny, parent Sophia Roslin, and student Brendan Eathorne. I personally am a firm believer that teachers should be allowed to tutor students that attend the high schools they teach at, which is why I am happy to see the issue getting the publicity it deserves. I hope that as progress continues to be made on it, the writers and editors of The Hawkeye continue to cover it with the thoroughness and impartiality that Merrick has.

I am writing to you about the article, “A New Standard of Grading” by Michelle Phillips in the October print edition of The Hawkeye. I agree that it is a little tedious to not be able to check your grades on Zangle and know what letter grade you have, but on the contrary I also enjoy how it gives more room for improvement and puts more emphasis on gaining knowledge. This article also helped me get a better understanding about how the new style of grading works. It helped that the author had quotes from teachers such as Mr. MacLeod and Mrs. Teal that helped explain what the ultimate goal of switching to standard based grading is. Another piece of the article that helped clear up the criteria for the new style of grading was where it showed what is expected of your work to earn a certain number. Overall I enjoyed this article very much and it was very helpful for gaining knowledge about the new grading.

I am writing to you about the article “The Adequate Leap Forward” by Daniel Bordener on page 22 from the October print issue of The Hawkeye. I completely agree with and enjoyed this article because I have the exact same opinion. Even though I do not own an iPhone 6, I have seen enough of it to know that this article is completely true. At this point Apple is just becoming a cash cow that pumps out slightly different iPhones every year in order to make money. A statistic on page four stated that 4 million iPhone 6s were sold in the first 24 hours of Apple preorder sales.

Apple noted that a record of 10 million units were sold in the first three days. This is astounding considering the fact that the major issues, such as battery life and durability, have not been fixed, which you pointed out. I also agree that the size of the iPhone 6 plus is too massive and feel the same way, that carrying it is similar to operating an iPad mini. As each iPhone becomes less innovative, Apple will eventually start feeling it in their sales.

~Matt Haji-Sheikh

~Naiel Aslam

~Pooja Prasad

humans of bloomfield Inspired by the breathtaking Humans of New York, the Humans of Bloomfield photoblog showcases the diverse staff and students of BHHS

“Being in the halls makes me feel like a kid again.” ~Christian Bilkovich and Jackie Osborn

“What’s the cane for?”

“I tore my meniscus, and now I’m recovering...is that interesting enough?” ~Casey Witt, 10

“Never order fish from a restaurant that has an aquarium.”

-Michael Russo, 11 (he requested that this photo be in black and white)

Want to see more?

2 DECEMBER 2014 THE HAWKEYE

Check out Humans of Bloomfield at thehawkeyenews.com/humansofbloomfield

THE HAWKEYE 2014-2015 STAFF Editors-In-Chief Maitreyi Anantharaman Sarah Kovan Executive Editors Narmeen Rehman Courtney Zhu Section Editors Aidan Menchaca [News] Nisa Khan [OP/ED] Michelle Phillips [OP/ED] Alison Jaksen [Feature] Merrick Weingarten [Sports] Jake Freed [Sports] Jonah Newman [Production] Staff Writers Daniel Bordener

letter from the editors

Dear Readers,

It’s the time of the year when it’s only natural to reflect upon our years and our lives. But in making our lists of things we appreciate, we often forget about a luxury we’re privileged to have—our education. This issue celebrates the teachers who have made a difference in our lives. Our editorial [page 22] is, quite literally, a thank you note to teachers, who are unsung heroes. This month’s cover story [“Respecting the profession,” page 18, Maitreyi Anantharaman] explores the way the education profession is viewed in American society. In some countries, teaching is considered the most noble profession there is. In Finland, fewer students are admitted to teach-

ers’ colleges than to medical school.

In America, however, our teachers are subject to intense scrutiny nowadays, and the prestige of teaching is at an all time low. Our cover story digs deeper at this issue, looking at what has caused this general lack of respect toward teaching, and whether the profession can ever be placed upon the same pedestal as are other professions.

After all, it is teachers who encourage us to pursue careers in Broadway theatre [“District alum returns to BHHS stage,” page 14, Michelle Phillips] and who work to develop close personal relationships with their students [“New tutoring program will help football players academically,” page 30, Aidan Menchaca].

In addition to celebrating our teach-

ers, this issue celebrates our diverse student body. Take, for example, the two freshman girls who broke a gender barrier in playing for the football team [“Girls Tackle Freshman Football”, page 31, Sarah Kovan]. Or the junior who overcame a disability to participate in the fall musical [“Junior brings sweetness and fresh perspective to the stage” page 16, Narmeen Rehman]. Or the students who spoke on the controversy of pageantry [“Miss Understood,” page 24, Courtney Zhu] As always, we appreciate your feedback. Happy December! ~The Editorial Board [Maitreyi Anantharaman, Sarah Kovan, Narmeen Rehman, Courtney Zhu]

Evie Chodock Madeline Mackie Tess Garcia Andrianna McKendrick Foster Stubbs Uzair Bandagi Guest Writers

Colin Barnes Jack Silberman Hannah Stein

Thomas Paul Jason Moonka Mallory Weiner

Katherine Prina Julia Eisenshtadt Giancarlo Tucci-Berube Phillip Shamsuddoha

editorial policy The Bloomfield Hills Hawkeye is a student publication

November contributor GET TO KNOW OUR STAFF WRITER- Andie McKendrick Q: What are your hobbies?

A: I play viola in symphony and chamber orchestra and I play saxophone in marching band. I also have my pilot’s license and I love to fly, especially jets. I am an award winning photographer and on the side I run my own photography business.

Q: Where is your photography displayed?

A: You can find my work in the hallways of BHHS, City Scape Deli, Facebook, my website andiemphotography.wix.com/photographs, and it soon will be featued at the Hudson Cafe in Detroit.

Q: Why did you join the newspaper staff?

A: I joined because I love doing documentary photography.

distributed free of charge to 1,600 students, faculty, local community members, and businesses. We strive to inform, to entertain, and to continue a tradition of journalistic excellence. We strive to report the news as accurately as possible.

Want more?

Check out our staff page at thehawkeyenews.com/staff

DECEMBER 2014 THE HAWKEYE 3

october

december contents 6

News+Briefs Blood drive, community service, graduation + more

7

News+Briefs Understanding midterm elections and troops in Iraq

9

News Enterovirus-D68 targets infants, children and teenagers

10

News Seniors affected by requirements for in-state tuition qualification

12

Feature Black Hawks are becoming Eagle Scouts

13

Feature Way Elementary students launch business

14

Feature District alum and Broadway actor returns to BHHS stage

15

Photostory Grease lightning comes to BHHS

16

Feature Junior brings a “sweetness to the stage and a fresh perspective”

17

Feature BHHS parent runs campaign for lieutenant governor

18

On the Cover: feature: Respect the Profession centerspread: Falling Behind editorial: A Thank You to Teachers

24

Feature Miss Understood: A Look at the Controversy of Pageantry

26

Pro+Con Pageants promote power and self-confidence

27

Pro+Con It’s not worth the crown; pageants cause self-esteem and body issues

28

Sports Life after Yante for boys’ varsity basketball

30

Sports Football team revamps tutoring program

31

Sports Freshman girls tackle football

32

Sports Our seasonal briefs: a quick roundup of this season’s sports

33

Sports Three Black Hawks to keep an eye on +the month’s must see games

34

Opinion On tweeting, being basic and intangible abstraction

35

Opinion On living in the moment, relaxing and accepting others

36

Lifestyle Road Trip: New monthly feature takes The Hawkeye to Royal Oak

38

Entertainment Teachers share their favorite playlists

40

Calendar The month’s most important events

for more content and daily updates, visit us on the web at thehawkeyenews.com

october

december contents 6

News+Briefs Blood drive, community service, graduation + more

7

News+Briefs Understanding midterm elections and troops in Iraq

9

News Enterovirus-D68 targets infants, children and teenagers

10

News Seniors affected by requirements for in-state tuition qualification

12

Feature Black Hawks are becoming Eagle Scouts

13

Feature Way Elementary students launch business

14

Feature District alum and Broadway actor returns to BHHS stage

15

Photostory Grease lightning comes to BHHS

16

Feature Junior brings a “sweetness to the stage and a fresh perspective”

17

Feature BHHS parent runs campaign for lieutenant governor

18

On the Cover: feature: Respect the Profession centerspread: Falling Behind editorial: A Thank You to Teachers

24

Feature Miss Understood: A Look at the Controversy of Pageantry

26

Pro+Con Pageants promote power and self-confidence

27

Pro+Con It’s not worth the crown; pageants cause self-esteem and body issues

28

Sports Life after Yante for boys’ varsity basketball

30

Sports Football team revamps tutoring program

31

Sports Freshman girls tackle football

32

Sports Our seasonal briefs: a quick roundup of this season’s sports

33

Sports Three Black Hawks to keep an eye on +the month’s must see games

34

Opinion On tweeting, being basic and intangible abstraction

35

Opinion On living in the moment, relaxing and accepting others

36

Lifestyle Road Trip: New monthly feature takes The Hawkeye to Royal Oak

38

Entertainment Teachers share their favorite playlists

40

Calendar The month’s most important events

for more content and daily updates, visit us on the web at thehawkeyenews.com

NEWS+BRIEFS news by the numbers: everything you need to know for december

409

students in Bloomfield Hills High School’s senior class are expected to graduate this spring.

58%

54

of seniors have not yet completed or submitted the 40 hours of community service that are required for graduation. If the minimum hours of community service are not completed by the end of a student’s senior year, that student will not be allowed to graduate.

pints of blood were donated to the American Red Cross during the Bloomfield Hills High School student and staff blood drive on November 5. The blood drive was held in the field house and was organized by Jenna Jacobson, Tina Camaj, and Natalie Langnas.

december 9 is Awareness Day. The event, sponsored by BHHS, Families Against Narcotics and the Birmingham Bloomfield Community Coalition will take place during 2nd and 4th hours and will invite guest speakers to share their experiences surrounding substance abuse and peer pressure.

Permission slips are due to the counseling office by December 3.

6 DECEMBER 2014 THE HAWKEYE

is the cost for one ticket to any home sporting event at Bloomfield Hills High School per game. The boys’ winter sport season includes swimming and diving, basketball, and ice hockey. The girls’ winter sport season includes ice hockey and basketball. Other teams are bowling, figure skating, cheer, poms, skiing, and wrestling.

black advisory days remain in the school year. Students are only allowed to travel during advisory if they get a purple pass, from their teacher, before the date they wish to travel. This time can be used to make up missed tests, retake tests, extra studying, or to work on group projects.

sources

BHHS Main Office bloomfield.org BHHS Student Leadership BHHS Community Service Office BHHS Counseling Office

31

what in the world Discover news from all around the world and how it affects the community IRAQ

AMERICA

The U.S. sends more troops to Iraq

President Obama announced this month that a “new phase” is going into effect in the war against the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant, or ISIL

MORE TROOPS

“NEW PHASE”

President Obama on Friday, November 7, committed to sending 3,000 troops to fight ISIL.

America’s early policies were largely aistrikes. Obama now intends to take a more offensive role.

NON-COMBAT ROLE Obama stated that the troops would not be fighting ISIL directly.

3 things you need to know about the U.S. midterm elections Voters went to the polls on Tuesday, November 4, to vote in gubernatorial, congressional and local elections.

•REPUBLICAN WIN Gaining seven Senate seats, the Republican party won control of the Senate and increased its power in the House of Representatives.

•SENATE GETS SHAKEN After losing the Senate, Democratic majority leader Harry Reid’s job looks to be taken over by a high ranking Republican, likely Rep. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) •LOW TURNOUT Analysts say that the turnout from the midterm elections was extremely low. The election turnout decreased over four percent, according to U.S. News, which cited data that put this year’s turnout at 36.6 percent.

GERMANY

Germany celebrates the fall of the Berlin

Germans took to the streets in Berlin on Sunday, November 9, to mark the twenty-fifth anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. As the Wall Street Journal reports, over 300,000 were on hand for the celebrations in the capital. The celebrations traveled through key areas of the wall like Checkpoint Charlie. The Berlin Wall itself was a border meant to enclose the eastern side of Berlin from the European-supported western side. It was demolished on November, 9, 1989.

YOUR TURN

What do you think about the President sending more troops to Iraq?

“I think its a bad idea because it’s creating unnessecary problems for the U.S.that we don’t need.”

-ERIN WALKER, 11

“I think its good that the President is increasing the troops but also its pretty expensive to send our troops.”

-NICK SCHNEIDER, 12

“I support the conflict in Iraq and sending troops to fight [ISIL]. The fact that it’s non-combat eases my fears.”

-TREVOR WOODS, 11

THE HAWKEYE DECEMBER 2014 7

Want More?

For exclusive coverage, breaking news, entertainment, and more, visit the Hawkeye Web at:

www.thehawkeyenews.com read quality articles

The Hawkeye Web strives to cover timely events and be the source of breaking news in the community. We publish new stories everyday. The Web is also where you’ll find photo stories, personality profiles, and popular culture reviews.

meet our staff

Who are the reporters and voices behind the Hawkeye? The staff page will introduce you to BHHS’s top student journalists. Get to know our staff by checking out individual pages and written works.

humans of bloomfield

Inspired by Humans of New York, the Hawkeye created the Humans of Bloomfield to capture the personality, diversity, and voice of the student body.

Enterovirus D-68 outbreak in Michigan causing trouble for those with weak immune systems Prevention of the contagious respiratory disease could be aided by having accessible school nurses, say health officials, especially in Michigan where nurse-student ratio is low.

NISA KHAN Section Editor It has arrived in Michigan.

“The D68 strain has been the ‘hot’ topic in the media lately,” said Public Information Officer Dan Reynolds for the Health Department of Northwest Michigan, on the 86 reported cases of D68. “But like the flu, its symptoms are generally mild to moderate, and go away on their own in most cases. Complications can be more serious for those with respiratory issues or other underlying medical conditions, or with compromised immune systems.”

According to Public Information Officer from the Michigan Department of Community Health Jennifer Smith while the D68 strain is a non-polio variation of enterovirus that primarily affects infants, children it can affect teenagers too.

“I have pretty bad asthma. I get sick at least five to ten times a year,” said Bloomfield Hills High School junior Rukayla Ross. “Whatever the seasons start changing and the weather goes back and forth, it can get really bad.

Especially in Michigan, when the weather is constantly changing. I never heard of the Enterovirus [D68] before— the fact that it affects respiratory problems the most is pretty scary.

“It’s scary not knowing what respiratory problems are out there that can affect my asthma.”

It’s scary not knowing what respiratory problems are out there that can affect my asthma.”

Out of the over one hundred types of Enteroviruses, the D68 strain seems to cause more respiratory issues Smith said, but there are simple ways to prevent the virus. “There is no vaccine for D68, so it is really important for people to practice basic hygiene such

As of Oct. 23, the CDC and state public-health labs have confirmed more than 970 cases of EV-D68 in 47 states and Washington, D.C. Nearly all of the cases have been in children. Health officials expect that EV-D68 cases, like cases of all enteroviruses, will begin to decline by late fall. as washing your hands often and staying home from work or school if you are sick, as well as cleaning frequently touched surfaces and covering your nose or mouth when you sneeze.”

Other health officials believe having school nurses readily accessible to students could potentially help with prevention; however, Michigan State School Nurse Consultant Linda Meeder said that budget cuts have contributed to the lack of school nurse funding thus the lack of school nurses in public schools.

“In my opinion all schools should have the opportunity of having a school nurse. That doesn’t seem feasible at this point but I would like to at least recommend a school nurse in every school district or Inter-

mediate School District. Michigan has the lowest number of school nurse to student ratio in the nation,” she said.

Ross feels that although she has seen parent volunteers come into the buildings, “they don’t really know about sickness that well, so I think having a nurse with experience in school would really help out.”

Looking at the current Enterovirus D68 epidemic Smith said that the “Enterovirus typically peaks in the middle of fall. Hopefully, the virus has already peaked and the rates are starting to decline. [However] the season isn’t over yet and people still need to use caution and be educated.”

For more information on the Enterovirus D68

DECEMBER 2014 THE HAWKEYE 9

NEWS U OF M’S PATHWAYS TO

IN-STATE TUITION University policy affects Black Hawks 1

residence You must be able to prove that: 1. Michigan is your permanent

1

state of residence by: a) showing that both of your parents are permanent legal residents of Michigan b) showing that you or your parents are employed fulltime in Michigan.

Circumstances that do NOT show residency: 1. You are enrolled in school in Michigan. 2. Your or your parent’s job is short-term or usually held by a student. 3. Your relatives live in Michigan. 4. You own property in Michigan.

2

ATTENDANCE

You must be able to prove that:

1.

You have attended a Michigan high school for at least three years and thereafter either graduated or received a GED.

2.

You attended a Michigan middle

school for the two years preceding high school.

3.

You are starting your education at U of M within 28-months of graduating from the Michigan high school or earning your GED.

3

SERVICE

You must be able to prove one of the following:

1. You are serving on active duty in the US Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, National Guard, Merchant

Marine, or Coast Guard. 2. You are a reservist in one of those branches. 3. You were honorably discharged from one of those branches. 4. You are an officer in the US Public Health Service. 5. You are the dependent of someone livning or stationed in Michigan who is serving in one of those branches. 6. You are the dependent of someone serving as an officer in the US Public Health Service.

10 december 2014 THE HAWKEYE

Students have been contacted by the University of Michigan’s Office of the Registrar regarding in-state tuition SARAH KOVAN Editor-in-Chief “I’m a little behind the quote on quote schedule of how life is supposed to go,” said BHHS alumna Minhal Asim. “I feel like I haven’t started that new life yet and I’m just stuck in between high school and college.”

After being told that she would not be granted in-state tuition at the University of Michigan, Asim was forced to defer her college enrollment until January of 2015.

According to the University of Michigan’s Director of Public Affairs Rick Fitzgerald, the university’s new set of criteria intends to increase the number of ways in which applicants can qualify for in-state tuition.

“We instituted a new policy in January 2014.

There were pretty significant changes. We created distinct pathways, if you will, to in-state tuition,” said Fitzgerald. “One of course is by being a Michigan resident. The second one is for veterans, so that military veterans or those involved in active duty can qualify for in-state tuition regardless of their state of residence.

The third is by attending middle school and high school in Michigan regardless of where the permanent citizenship or residency may be. Any sort of significant out-of-state activity that may indicate that a student’s family is living out-of-state may bring into question their status as a Michigan resident and ask for some additional documentation.”

Asim said she was initially denied in-state tuition because had not lived in the state of Michigan for at least three years and thus did not satisfy any of the three pathways.

“Their policy is that you must have been in the state of Michigan for at least three years when you apply to the school,” she said.

“When I applied I had been here for two years and four months, but it would have been three years by the time I started college, which is why I thought I would qualify for in-state tuition. My family moved here from Pakistan when I was fifteen because they want-

ed my sister and me to have an education. I on to her parents. “I forwarded the email to thought I was going to college, but in the end my parents and wrote in all caps that this is urI found out I was still considered out of state. gent and they should read it,” she said. “It was That was only a week before college started. a Saturday, so their office was closed. I waited I had everything set out and I had already until Monday to call. They told me the reason paid my dues for dorms and everything.” was because I attended an educational instiWhen Seniors Evie Chodock and Courttution that wasn’t in Michigan. I, personally, ney Zhu applied early action to the Univermoved from Winnetka, Illinois to Bloomfield sity of Michigan this fall, they received email Hills, Michigan when I was in seventh grade. notifications that For that reason, they may not qualI have to file an ify for in-state tu- “ extensive applicaition because they tion to qualify for had not completed in-state tuition.” five full years of “The specifics of the policy By reaching out to school in Michigan. are pretty well documented students like Asim, “When I applied on our website. The types of Chodock, and to the University of Zhu who may not Michigan, I was un- additional documents need- qualify for in-state der the impression ed are not standard across the tuition, the univerthat I would qualify board. They depend on the sity is giving them for instate tuition,” a chance to submit said Chodock who individual situation and what additional documoved to Michigan may have triggered someone ments that may from Connecticut to question whether this person help their cases. right before her ju“About 80% of nior year. “After I qualifies for in-state tuition.” the time, people applied, there was who have to proRICK FITZGERALD Director of Public Affairs something flagged vide additional at the University of Michigan in the application documentation are because my trangranted in-state script shows I went tuition,” said Fitzto school in another gerald. “The spestate. It was really cifics of the policy stressful because I thought I wasn’t going to are pretty well documented on our website. get accepted to the school. My parents had to The types of additional documents needed are spend three weeks getting all these forms and not standard across the board. They depend bills together to prove I live in Michigan. Then on the individual situation and what may three weeks later, they told me that it wouldn’t have triggered someone to question whethaffect my admissions decision. It would only er this person qualifies for in-state tuition.” affect the amount of tuition that I had to pay.”

“It was a long process,” said Asim who also After receiving the notification, Zhu said noted that she should have started the appeals that she immediately passed the information process earlier. “The application is about

stats

80+20 43+57

By the numbers: In-state tuition at the University of Michigan

three or four pages, but that is not all. You have to give them a lot of personal information like your social security number and your tax returns. We have green cards and we had to show all of our family members’ green cards.

U of M is a prestigious University, so I trusted them, but it still felt weird. My parents have been through a lot more than I have, but even my dad said he had never had to show every document. I didn’t start this process until June, and now they are still sending me requests for more documents. I have decided to attend Wayne State University next semester instead.”

For students like Chodock and Zhu, however, there is still time.

“Now that it’s all settled out, I just have to fill out an application. It asks you a couple of questions. You have to write all of the schools you have attended In addition to that, you have to file your documentation to prove that you are a citizen here [in Michigan] and prove that you are a U.S. citizen. My parents are helping me with it, so it’s not that bad. Still, I thought it was an unnecessary process that is just supposedly a formality. I’ve been an active part of my community, and, to me, this whole process of filing an application to even qualify for in-state tuition is unnecessary,” said Zhu. “You can’t cry about it,” said Counselor Laura Hollyer-Madis. “I think that kids tend to panic because it is just one more application you need to fill out. You need to go through that hoop, but it is not going to stop you unless you don’t meet the criteria. In life, people expect you to follow through with processes. If you don’t do it, you will be paying out of state tuition. Yes it’s a headache, but you need to deal with it.”

Fitzgerald concluded that the policy was created to help, not hinder, applicants’ chances to qualify for in-state tuition.

“What the registrar’s office staff is doing by reaching out at this point is looking for ways to help you qualify,” he said. “If it is not clear from the first application, the reason they would be reaching out it to be helpful, to say ‘You’re close, but perhaps there is more information that will make this clearer for us so we can grant you in-state tuition.’ They’re always looking for another possible way to help you show that you qualify for in-state tuition.”

For more information, stop by the counseing office or visit ro.umich.edu/resreg.php

NEWS

3+4213+351023+ 11+24 20%

52.7%

80%

According to Fitzgerald, approximately 80% of students who provide additional documentation are ultimately granted in-state tuition.

42.6%

In the fall of 2012, approximately 42,6% of the freshman class was comprised of students considered to be out-of-state or international. 57.4% of students were considered in-state.

college tuition & fees in michigan In-State vs, Out-of-State *For one year or 30 credits as a freshman*

$41,906

$35,026

$23,872

$23,116

$13,246

$10,093

$10,612

$13,486

University of Michigan

Michigan State University

Wayne State University

Oakland University

Sources: annarbor.com, ro.umich.edu/resreg.php, http://admissions.msu.edu/finances/tuition.asp, https://www.oakland.edu, http://reg.wayne.edu/students/tuition-info.php, http://www.finaid.umich.edu

december 2014 THE HAWKEYE 11

feature

Black Hawks become Eagles BHHS students share just what it takes to be an Eagle Scout TESS GARCIA, Staff Writer Dressed in his protocol, patch-adorned button down, he stands outside the Bloomfield Township Public Library’s room waiting a verdict he has spent the past 10 years working toward.

“The Board of Review is where you sit down and leaders in your troop, as well as someone from the Council--one of the big guys-spend three hours or so talking about your Eagle Scout Project and what you’ve done,” said sophomore Giancarlo Tucci of the experience. “They basically decide in that room if they feel you’re worthy of becoming an Eagle. Then, you come back in and they tell you what they’ve decided. For me, it was, ‘Congratulations, you’re an Eagle Scout.’ Finally hearing that was a little surreal.”

According to Troop Leader Gerald Brohard, of Troop 1022, the Eagle Scout Service Project is the final step Scouts take to becoming Eagles. Brohard This will normally entail 100 to 150 hours of community service done by the scout with the help of community members and his fellow troop members. Each troop participates in approximately four to five Eagle Scout Projects every year.

Since its beginnings, Troop 1022 has produced a total of 210, and counting, Eagle Scouts.

12 DECEMBER 2014 THE HAWKEYE

Tucci, as well as junior Foster Stubbs were officially named Eagle Scouts at induction ceremonies in October and September of this year, respectively, while junior Tyler Fine received the title as an 8th grader.

“It takes a lot of hard work, a lot of patience,” said Stubbs of becoming an Eagle Scout. “There’s a stigma with Boy Scouts, where there’s an image of a nerdy kid with absurdly-high socks and giant glasses running around watching birds. It’s really not like that at all. There’s a lot more to Scouting. It’s not an easy process.”

“Only one percent of scouts become Eagle Scouts,” said Fine.

“Out of that, 79 percent of those end up becoming influential leaders in society, such as CEOs and astronauts. Scouting, and the Eagle Scout Project in particular, allows boys to become leaders, acquire wilderness skills, and other leadership skills in theatre, communications-- pretty much anything.

The Project taught me how to communicate, do paperwork, work with others, and become active in the community.” “[The scouts] need to get the idea, plan it out, submit a very formal plan to the Council, have it approved, and organize the scouts to do the Project,” said Brohard. “After completing the project, they have to submit a formal report at the end as

a part of their Eagle application before they make Eagle Scout. I’m their coach, mentor, and advisor along the way.”

Brohard explained that even though applicants must adhere to the requirements of eligibility, aims of individual Eagle Scout projects can vary with the individual passions and ambitions of the scouts. For Tucci, completing the Eagle Project meant designing and refurbishing a garden in Brightmoor, a neighborhood in Detroit, Fine conducted a project that bore its own distinct results.

“For my Eagle Scout Project, I went to Maple Ridge Retirement Home and we re-stained and rebuilt a gazebo that was over eight feet of water,” said Fine. “The entire process took a good eight months of planning, but the actual work took about two weeks. It’s more paper work than actual work.”

“I have been scouting ever since I was in second grade, so it truly was a 10-year journey coming to an end for me,” said Tucci of completing the Eagle Scout Project. “It had always been a goal since I was a little kid. Initially, I just kind of wanted [to become an Eagle Scout]. I didn’t realize how great of an opportunity the Project was and how many experiences it would give me. Scouting really has shaped me and changed my life.”

Local “kidpreneurs” expand business nationwide A line of lensless glasses designed by Way Elementary students will be sold in over 1,000 Claire’s stores HANNAH STEIN Guest Writer What started as a fun idea between siblings has now become an entrepreneurial opportunity nationwide.

“It all started as simple 3D glasses from the movie theater,” said fifth-grader at Way Elementary Christian Hosler of his family’s invention. “[At] the end of the 3D movie, my sisters kept the glasses and decorated them. My mom was shocked.”

Two years later, Christian and his sibling’s fun idea continued to shock their mother Leena Hosler, after an article in the October 23rd edition of The Oakland Press stated that their glasses “will be sold nationwide [in] over 1,000 [Claire’s] stores in America.”

Three days after, an article in the Observer & Eccentric Hometownlife published that “The price range is $10.50 to $11.50 and over 18,000 pairs [have been sold] so far.”

“Two years ago, they were just kind of wearing them for fun. But then that next spring, Sophia’s Kindergarten teacher asked the kids to come in to the classroom to talk about their business for their economics unit,” Leena said. “After that we got tons of responses from parents asking where we got them, and their kids would not take them off.”

Fourth grader Melia Hosler, with her brother Christian and her sister Sophia Hosler, who is in second grade, were shocked with how much attention their glasses had been getting. Thus, they decided to create an official name for their product: Nooloos.

“We decided to take the kids’ names and nicknames and write them on small pieces of paper to create different combina-

tions,” said Leena Hosler, the mother of interest. When we contacted Claire’s we just the young entrepreneurs. “This is how had a prototype. So in a year’s time we went the name Nooloos came to be,” she said. from prototype to having it on the shelf, includAccording to Leena, the product comes ing: product development in that time, governwith a pair of glasses, with no lenses, and ment safety testing, and website development.” a pack of embellishments and decorations “The production is actually overseen. The so that kids can design their own glasses. kids have been involved with Skyping with the With the large response, Leena said, “That’s factories so they can actually see how the prodwhen we really had to rethink the idea and uct is produced, where it is produced, who’s create business, which we behind it all. I want also called Nooloos. We them to be able to see made it official last summer. “To see the product when that part of it, so they We then filed an official they first made it, [and then] to understand how it is beLLC company a year ago.” ing done,” said Leena.

Each of the Hos- actually see it come to fruition “I feel like just seeing ler children has their is something that I dreamed the product on the shelf own role and respon- of. I am so proud of them for was a huge accomplishsibility in the business. their ability to see the potential ment,” Christian said.

Sophia enjoys designing, “Hopefully we will go a while Melia works more in it, and for their determination.” long way with Nooloos.”

LEENA HOSLER with marketing and tellAccording to Leena, ing others about the social media has been business. The two both helping to give the agreed they like designing and making money. company more attention. With about 850 likes Christian said, “I am the Chief Finanon Facebook, and over 1000 likes on Twitter, cial Officer. I keep track of the monthe business is working its way to getting more ey, making sure my family is not spendand more recognition from the community. ing too much, and I do all the sales.”

Along with The Oakland Press and Observer Leena described the business as “a really long & Eccentric Hometownlife, Nooloos received process, requiring a lot of patience. Right now, media attention from Dbusiness Magazine and we are in the phase, of just launching a few continues to be recognized. First seen in DBusiweeks ago. We are really pushing a lot of the ness Magazine in their July-August edition, they social media right now to get people excited were referred to as “Young CEOs of the Year.” about the product, and get them building “It is beyond what I’d even imagined,” awareness. It was exactly a year ago when we said Leena. “To see the product when they [first] met with Claire’s, and when they showed first made it, [and then] to actually see it

come to fruition is something that I dreamed of. I am so proud of them for their ability to see the potential in it, and for their determination.”

Nooloos will be donating 15% of their online proceeds to the Bloomfield Hills Schools Foundation in order to “help [Bloomfield] schools have more special activities,” Christian said, according to an article in the October 26th edition of Observer & Eccentric Hometownlife.

“The foundation grants funds to staff within the Bloomfield Hills Schools to support unique and innovative programs that they would like to bring to the classroom, the school, or the district as a whole,” said Cathie Bendalamenti, executive director of the foundation. “The foundation right now gives out mini grants to teachers twice a year. Any teachers are welcome to apply for these mini grants, and they support everything from technology, to programming, specific programming, to equipment, other types of equipment other than technology.”

Bendalamenti said she was surprised by the kids from the Nooloos initiative to develop the product and help the foundation.

“I was very impressed with the kids initiative overall from developing the product, from coming up with the idea to giving back to their own community,” she said. “I was grateful from the foundation, but I also was impressed that these young students at that age have a sense of philanthropy and understand the value of giving back.”

Interested in donating to the foundation?

Check out: www.bloomfield.org/foundation.

For more about Noooloos, visit: http://nooloos.com.

DECEMBER 2014 THE HAWKEYE 13

NEWS

WHAT DO YOU THINK? Fall musical Grease starred junior Brendan Eathorne as Danny Zuko, senior Erica Freeburg as Sandy Dumbrowski and senior Ryley Decker as Betty Rizzo. The show was sold out for two of its four performances.

“I’m going to bring out my A-game because he [Sean McCourt] is going to sing and I want to perform up to his par.

It’s a cool experience and I’m really excited.”

-Pan Stravropoulos, 10

“I think that this is a phenomenal experience for all of us who are involved and hoping to be in the position he is in someday.”

-Miles Eichenhorn, 10

14 DECEMBER 2014 THE HAWKEYE

Bloomfield Hills School District alum returns to BHHS stage Broadway actor Sean McCourt, who has starred in Wicked and The Titanic made an appearance as Johnny Casino in fall musical Grease Michelle Phillips Section Editor He’s come back to where he got his start.

“The first show I ever saw at Lahser was Grease, my older brother was in it in 1980,” said Broadway actor Sean McCourt, Class of 1988 Bloomfield Hills alum who will be starring as Johnny Casino in the fall musical.

“I loved it so much that I couldn’t stop clapping, minutes later I would still be clapping because I thought it was so awesome and I thought ‘I’m going to be the last person to ever applaud for that show’ I loved it so much, I knew this was something I wanted to do.”

Director Tina Greenlee explained that casting alumni is among many new traditions.

“We have never done anything like this before I really think it will take this show to the next level,” Greenlee said. “[In addition.] we didn’t really have anybody who could sing the falsetto part of the music and we just thought it would be kind of a fun thing to have a guest come in and play the part.”

Involved in Broadway productions such as The Titanic and Wicked, McCourt brings his professional experience to the stage. Se-

nior Erica Freeburg who is playing the lead Sandy Dumbrowski said she believes, “it will be really beneficial to the cast to see the professionality of someone from the industry and I really think it will enhance the hand jive scene that he is featured in.”

Sophomore Elana Weberman who plays Sandy’s understudy agrees with Freeburg.

“Because he has been in big Broadway productions like Titanic he will be on top of his game,” she said. “ I am really excited to see his techniques about developing his character and how he conquers the role of Johnny Casino.”

For McCourt coming back to his alma mater is even more special because he not only gets to give back to a younger generation but to the lady whom he said gave him the start to his career in the show business.

“Tina entered me in a contest that is now called Young Arts, and they still do it every year, its not a lot of money but it was a ‘kick-in-the-pants’ if you know what I mean.

She got me a voice teacher, and she helped me with my monologue and from there

I ended up winning the scholarship and they flew me down to Miami to compete for the next level and then I won that and then the ended up flying me to the White House where I got to meet the President.”

“It was that moment of people outside of my peer group saying ‘you could totally make a living at this’,” said McCourt of the experience. “I always tell people I skipped out on a homecoming pep rally because I just wasn’t into sports and I came to the theater, and I remember laying down in the backstage at Lahser I never felt so at home anywhere. [Greenlee] has been a huge influence on my life. It cannot be overstated.”

Looking forward to the November performances, McCourt said, “I always think back to the Lahser auditorium, when I am on all these other stages. All the slide curtains, jumps, legs and the black material that has just been surrounding my whole life since performing at Lahser. That’s the one thing that has been a real constant in my life. I can’t wait to come back to that in a few short weeks.”

“Greased lightning” strikes at BHHS The fall musical, which starred senior Erica Freeburg as Sandy and junior Brendan Eathorne as Danny, opened Thursday the 20th and closed on Sunday the 23rd photos by ANDI MCKENDRICK Guest Writer

Clockwise from top left: (1) Sekai Murashige, who played Danny Zuko’s best friend Kenickie, sings “Greased Lightning.” (2) Junior Caitlin Emerson applies makeup before performing (3) Junior Brendan Eathorne and Senior Erica Freeburg, who played Danny Zuko and Sandy Dumbrowski, watch a movie during the drive-in theater scene.

(4) Junior Amith Lohitsa, in the role of the “Teen Angel” sings “Beauty School Dropout,” persuading Frenchy to return to school. (5) Junior Michelle Phillips as Frenchy in the Pink Ladies’ sleepover scene.

DECEMBER 2014 THE HAWKEYE 15

Junior brings a “fresh perspective” in fall musical Elizabeth Holmes shares her passion for dancing and singing with cast of Grease.

NARMEEN REHMAN Executive Editor From a very young age, her father knew his daughter was meant to be on the stage.

“Elizabeth grew up around music, so it’s not surprising that she has a passion for it,” said Mark Holmes of his daughter Elizabeth who was diagnosed with Down syndrome, a genetic disorder where a person is born with an extra 21st chromosome. “Since she was about three or four years old, she has loved being on the stage and you can see that. She just lights up as soon as she’s in the spotlight. From the beginning, she has always been the first one on the stage and the last one off.”

According to the National Down Syndrome Society, one in every 691 babies is born with Down syndrome. Through out her 38 years of directing, Grease’s head director Tina Greenlee said she doesn’t recall ever having a cast member with Down syndrome.

“When she came to auditions, I didn’t even think it,” Greenlee said. “When I look at Elizabeth I don’t see a student with Down syndrome, but a student who is excited about everything she does.

Elizabeth brings a sweetness to the stage and a fresh perspective.”

As one of the dancers in BHHS’ musical production Grease, Junior Elizabeth Holmes’ father says “it has been a long process, but she has been very patient. As a parent, there’s no greater feeling than seeing your child having fun and being challenged. There were many times where she could have easily said ‘I’m tired, I want to go home, I don’t want to do this.’ But, she has stayed positive and dedicated; she knows the people who stick it out achieve and that is exactly what she is doing.”

16 DECEMBER 2014 THE HAWKEYE

“[Down syndrome] impacts everything she does; she eventually When she watches her ‘typical peers’ rock out, she feels so much does all that other kids do. It just takes a little bit longer. But, more alike everyone else than she is different,” she said. “The joy this hasn’t held her back,” said Colleen Holmes of her daughter’s of my heart is to see Elizabeth have the confidence to do anyparticipation in BHHS’ second ever musical. “Sometimes we thing she wants to do in her life. A direct result of her involvewill mentor her a little bit, but Elizabeth is very independent. ment in the theater is an increase in confidence. I love that they don’t look at her disability first, they She will pick up the baton, and look at her as a confident young lady.” then she is off and running.”

Elizabeth said that through out Greenlee said, “Elizabeth is so wide“When I look at Elizabeth, I don’t eyed and innocent in everything. the entire process, her parents see a student with Down From seeing the costumes to the set have been her biggest supportto learning the dances, Elizabeth is ers. “When my dad took me syndrome, but a student who so excited. It’s almost contagious.” to auditions, I was excited and is excited about everything she “Everyone in Grease plays a crucial a little nervous. I didn’t know does. Elizabeth brings a what to expect. But, when I got role in the show, Elizabeth is caring and puts just as much effort, if not more, as on the stage, I felt happy. On sweetness to the stage and a everyone else does,” said Senior Shelstage, I feel carefree and I love it. fresh perspective.” bi Jouni, who played the role of Jan. I never want to get off,” she said.

“Without Elizabeth, the show truly Reflecting back to Elizabeth’s audition, Greenwould not be the same. The whole cast is so happy that she is apart of the musical.” lee said, “Elizabeth came Senior Alani Black, who played the role of Cha Cha, added and just danced full out, with passion and excitement. From the very beginning, the cast has been nothing but support- that the cast immediately embraced Elizabeth as one of their own.

“She brings a great energy to the show that you don’t just find anyive, embracing her like every other member of the cast.”

Adding to Greenlee’s observations, Colleen said that hav- where. It goes to show, just because you’re different, you aren’t less ing an encouraging group of directors, students, and back- capable of doing anything. She does a great job in the musical and it stage crew in the musical cast has made all the difference. supports the fact that she’s just like everyone else. We don’t treat her “All of the students that are in the show motivate her to do more. any differently, she’s as a part of the musical family the rest of the cast.”

lisa brown’s

POLITICAL history 2008

United States President Barack Obama attends a Democratic campaign rally for Mark Schauer, left, and U.S. Rep. Gary Peters, right, at Matthaei Physical Education Center on Wayne State’s campus in Detroit. Schauer and Lisa Brown, a district parent, ran for governor and lieutenant governor. (Kimberly P. Mitchell/Detroit Free Press/MCT)

District mom runs midterm campaign Lisa Brown’s involvement in state government has inspired her son Andrew, a BHHS junior, to consider a career in politics MERRICK WEINGARTEN Section Editor Watching the Local 4 News at home, BHHS junior Andrew Brown sees a familiar sight: his mom campaigning for this year’s midterm elections.

“For the most part, it’s pretty cool seeing her on TV, at least in the good and positive political ads,” Andrew said of his mother Lisa Brown running for Michigan’s Lieutenant Governor. “At the same time though, it is kind of strange since a lot of people do not know she is my mom when they see her campaign. Just seeing her on TV trying to make a change in our society is really awesome for me since I can tell people that is my mom.”

After previously serving as the Oakland County Clerk and as a member of the Michigan State House of Representatives, Lisa Brown decided about one year ago to run for Michigan’s second highest ranking official.

Junior Harrison Parker believes his stepmom “is a very strong woman who has a powerful voice and will do whatever benefits the people.

She is a great role model and a great politician.”

According to Andrew Brown, Lisa’s campaign requires her to do a large amount

of traveling around the state of Michigan.

“There were a couple of periods in the two last weeks that I did not get to see my mom for four days [at a time]. Every now and then there are always a few days where I go without seeing her for a while. It’s like having a parent on a business trip. I would love to see more of her, but I know while she is on these trips she is helping the greater good and most importantly helping the people.”

Despite the long trips, Andrew said that his mother has served as an inspiration and role model. “What she has been doing up in Lansing and throughout Michigan is trying to make a change. So, I feel like I should be doing that too in school or out of school.

She has taught me at home and at the political level how to become a better public speaker,” said Brown. “Just a few years ago in middle school, I was very shy and terrible at public speaking, and so now I feel like public speaking comes more naturally to me.”

Lisa stresses the importance of good public-speaking and listening skills not only to her son, but also to anyone involved in politics.

“[Politics] is all about public service. If that’s something you are interested in, then it is a great career. It is not about having a fancy title. It is about wanting to have good ideas for your community. Understanding the needs of your community is very important as well, so it is very important to be a good listener, to know what issues are important to the people you represent, and to be able to work with people who may not agree with you or you may not agree with.”

Because of his mom’s actions, Andrew said he is beginning to take an interest in a career in politics. “I have thought about going into politics a few times. [I’m] not actually putting my foot in the door but it is a pretty cool career that is definitely on my mind. I like the idea that politics can change the community for the greater good. It is pretty much helping out the common person and trying to make everyone’s life a little easier. When you are trying to make this change in our society, you are in a very important position, and [that is a] position I could see myself wanting to be in one day.”

Brown was elected to be the 39th district representative in the Michigan House of Representatives

2010 Brown was elected to a second term in the Michigan House of Representatives

2012 Brown was elected County Clerk and Register of Deeds

2014 Brown was selected to be Democrat Mark Schauer’s runningmate, lieutenant governor, in his gubernatorial campaign. Schauer was defeated by incumbent governor Rick Snyder.

DECEMBER 2014 THE HAWKEYE 17

on the cover

RESPECT THE PROFESSION Why does teaching continue to be undervalued in America?

MAITREYI ANANTHARAMAN Editor-in-Chief hen senior Rachel Ockner was five years old, she decided she wanted to be an elementary school teacher.

There’s only one problem: according to her peers, she’s too smart.

“Everyone has always been a little startled, like ‘Oh, you’re so much smarter than that!’” said Ockner. “I think my peers’ reaction to my wanting to be a teacher is a good indication that no one really respects teachers anymore. The profession is looked down upon.”

In Finland, it is harder to get into a teachers college than it is to get into medical school.

In Singapore, teachers receive stipends for the years they spend studying to become a teacher.

Yet, in the United States, the profession continues to be undervalued. Why? Donald Heller, Dean of the Michigan State University College of Education pointed to the increasingly political nature of education as the source of this problem.

18 THE HAWKEYE DECEMBER 2014

“As schools and school performance has come under more scrutiny, people have been criticizing teachers and teachers unions for the failure to achieve state standards,” said Heller. “We are also in an era when there is more and more testing of students, and teachers feel extreme pressure to focus their teaching on ensuring students pass state-mandated tests, rather than learning for broader goals. Many states, including Michigan, have been making changes to teacher compensation and benefits that make teaching a less attractive profession.”

Social studies teacher Vivian Johnston agreed, believing the lack of respect for teachers is rooted in an American preoccupation with making money.

“There’s an assumption that all Americans, if they can get a job that pays more, will get a job that pays more—that Americans are solely driven by money,” said Johnston. “And so the conclusion, which I think is a wrong conclusion, is that you must not

be competent or intelligent or hardworking if you choose to work for less money.”

The US Department of Education said last year that the average annual salary of a teacher was $56, 383. Family practitioners, offered the lowest pay of all physicians, are paid on average $189,000, still over three times as much as teachers.

Rosetta Marantz Cohen is a professor at Smith College who has studied the changing public perception of teachers. Her research supports Johnston’s claim that the lack of respect for teachers is rooted in American culture.

“Teaching has always been a low-prestige career—since the very beginning of our country,” Cohen said. “America has always tended to value action over thought. The feminization of the profession in the early 1800’s reinforced the sense of the profession as second-class work—work that wasn’t paid well. Since women at the time had few career options, they accepted the low pay without

complaint. In the twentieth century, teaching continued to suffer from the low wages and status that defined it from the start.”

Ockner said her senior year has been eye opening, as she has gained teaching experience through being an ACT tutor and assisting in an AP Statistics class. She has enjoyed the experiences, but she has also been more exposed to the downsides of teaching.

“It’s hard to get respect,” she said. “It’s really made me re-evaluate doing this for the rest of my life. Do I really want to come to a place where the students are just going to resent me and resent the work that I give them, when I’m just trying to help them? I don’t know.

Even as I defend teaching and say that’s what I want to do with my life, I look at the downsides and I’m not sure that it’s worth it.”

Johnston, who after 20 years as an attorney, left to become a teacher, said the lack of respect for teachers was a driving force in her decision to retire at the end of the 2014-2015 school year.

“I think there needs to be a Copernican shift in mindset in this country. We need to see teaching as creative work—brain-work of the most challenging and exciting kind; not as short-term service for bright kids en route to medical careers or as a last refuge for students who don’t do well in college. The better the teacher, the better the students.”

“Part of the reason I’m retiring this year is that it’s kind of depressing,” she said.

I don’t feel like I’m valued. I am making a fraction of what I used to make. I gave up incredible wealth and prestige to give back and it seems like a very small handful of people appreciate what I’ve done.”

Ockner and Johnston pose the question: Will teachers ever get the respect they deserve? Cohen believes the answer is “yes,” but it will be a while before American educators earn the same respect as their counterparts in other countries.

“I think there needs to be a Copernican shift in mindset in this country,” Cohen said. We need to see teaching as creative work—brainwork of the most challenging and exciting kind; not as short-term service for bright kids en route to medical careers or as a last refuge for students who don’t do well in college. We need to make entrance into the profession more competitive by paying teachers more and by making schools adult-friendly places to work.

The better the teacher, the better the students.

Johnston agreed. “I think it would require a whole cultural shift where our country stops valuing money and materialism over caring and compassion and service.”

This summer, Third Way, a D.C.-based think tank, released a 5-step plan for making teaching a more respected and prestigious

career. In addition to proposing a higher salary for teachers and a national standard for teaching, the plan pointed to improving teacher preparation as one of the best ways to modernize the teaching profession and to improve the public view of teaching.

“As we saw in our study, the preparation is sort of seen as a joke,” said Tamara Hiler. a Third Way policy analyst who was the architect of the plan. “It’s seen as something where you can party your way through college and still graduate as a teacher.

So I think a lot of undergraduate students see the preparation as one of the reasons why teaching isn’t that prestigious. Once you’re in the classroom it’s an incredibly demanding job, but I don’t think a lot of people realize that.”

In a June Slate article, author and journalist Amanda Ripley said that making teacher preparation more rigorous would make the profession more respected.

In Finland, she said, only 10% of students are accepted into the nation’s teachers’ colleges.

“This selectivity sends a message to everyone in the country that education is important—and that teaching is damn hard to do,” Ripley said. “Instead of just repeating these claims over and over like Americans, the Finns act like they mean it.”

“At Michigan State, we try to emphasize the rewards you get from teaching,” Heller said. “The ability to have a lasting impact on a child, something they will remember the rest of their lives.

I think that if we had more high-achieving students going into teaching, this would help to raise the prestige of the profession.

But this is only one step. We have to figure out ways for teachers and schools to be more respected in society.”

One of these ways is raising teacher pay, Hiler said.

“Obviously a lot millenials don’t even consider teaching because the pay is just abysmal,” she said. “What we saw in our survey is that millenials don’t care as much what their starting survey is, but they care about where they can get to on a salary arc. And the problem with teaching is that

there isn’t as much of an arc, or an ability to earn more over the span of their career.”

Ockner said the low salary is her “mom’s biggest complaint.”

“It really gets me worried because, what if I can’t support myself?” she said. “If I don’t think I can sustain a good lifestyle for myself and I don’t think I’ll be okay living on a teacher’s salary, I’m going to have to consider some other fields. It would really suck to have to consider another option because I can’t think of anything else I’d rather do.”

Although she said teaching has come with its difficulties , Johnston said she doesn’t regret leaving the legal profession.

“After practicing law and helping people with money keep their money or make more money, I wanted to contribute to society in a more meaningful way,” Johnston said. “So people might not see it as prestigious or they might think Kim Kardashian is cooler than me, but I really know that I am making a difference and I’m having an impact. Even if it’s just a couple of kids a year, it’s a gift to have that impact.”

“People should definitely reevaluate the way they think about teachers, because where would they be without them?” Ockner said. “I think it’s sad that someone like me, who has wanted to be a teacher ever since I was five, is reconsidering because I don’t think I would be able to support myself or get any respect.”

DECEMBER 2014 THE HAWKEYE 19

Jane Doe

falling

Unit 2: American Education

America & the World [evaluating education]

ey Zhu

by Courtnye Web} d e n ig s e ke d hief of Haw -C

{Editor-in

objective one

KEY IDEA

Why America is lagging behind in education endemic child poverty Last year a report showed that teachers in China get the greatest respect. The UK and the US ranked in the middle of the Global Teacher Status Index, lower down than South Korea and Greece where teachers were more valued.

In America, 16,401 children under the age of 18 live in poverty as of 2010.

value in quantity over quality "In our effort to graduate everyone from high school, we have so degraded the curriculum that the diploma is in terms of genuine achievement, meaningless.

High school and colleges have colluded in this embrace of mediocrity”

-Georgia Public Policy Foundation, May 1994

lack of discipline

compare & contrast What are some of the crucial differences between nations with high-performing education systems and the United States? The table below analyzes educator background and teacher attitudes. source: 2010 McKinsey study (Closing the Talent Gap)

difference

educator background teacher attitudes

countries with high-performing education systems

United States

100%

23%

of teachers in countries like South Korea, Finland, and Singapore come from the top third of their academic cohorts

of teachers in America come from the top third of their academic cohorts

100%

of those graduates agreed with the statement “I would be proud to tell others I had this job”

66%

of those graduates agreed with the statement “I would be proud to tell others I had this job”

Both teachers and parents are afraid to reprimand students, making if difficult to foster discipline in the academic realm.

-Miguel A. Faria Jr., MD

low school budgets The School Superintendents Association recently polled 541 superintendents from 48 states about the automatic budget cuts: About half of the respondents said they had laid off staff and increased class sizes to absorb the cut; 46% said they put off technology purchases and 32% said their school districts put off textbook purchases in response to the cuts.

lack of respect for teaching to learn more, read the Hawkeye’s cover story, “Respect the Profession” on pages 18-19.

As a resu lt of poor school funding, low teac h er salaries, an d lack of r e spect for teach ers in Am e r educatio n in the U ica, n ited States is la gging.

Wh at steps ca n our na tion take to impro ve our s y stem of educatio n?

comparing teachers’ salaries using a bar graph

guiding question

What lessons can the U.S. learn from high-performing countries?

Information provided by New York Times Editorial (“Why Other Countries Teach Better”)

data was provided by bloomberg.com

COUNTRY

AVERAGE SALARY*

Luxembourg

$97,808

Switzerland

$68,849

Germany

$64,289

Netherlands $59,894 Canada

1. school funding Canada strives to minimize the funding inequality that would otherwise exist between poor and wealthy districts.

However, in most American states, the wealthiest districts spend about twice as much per pupil as the lowest-spending districts, according to a federal advisory commission report.

2. teacher training In 2010, 6,600 Finn applicants competed for 660 available primary school preparation slots in the eight Finnish universities that educate teachers. Clearly, Finland’s teacher training system is more selective than that of the United States.

Ireland

$56,422 $54,954 $53,004

Denmark

$49,185 $48,937 South Korea $48,181 Belgium Austria

Scotland

$47,984

United States

$47,165

hawk ta

lk

studen t teache speaks out a r salar b ies in A out low meric a

relevance A strong correlation exists between teachers’ salaries and their educational background, for countries that attract the best and brightest teachers are paying them well.

teachers vs. doctors in the U.S.

3. fighting elitism China has moved away from an elitist system in which resources and top instructors were given to favored schools, and toward a more egalitarian attendance system in which students of diverse backgrounds and abilities are educated under one roof. Shanghai, in particular, has focused on bringing children of migrant workers into the school system.

*the average salary was calculated based on salaries of teachers who have taught for 15 years or more. These teachers are from all levels of education.

“I thin k like m it’s sad tha ts e, who teach has w omeone er anted to be recon ever since I s think idering bec was five, is I’ll be ause I able t o [fina don’t suppo nc rt my self.” ially]

-Rachel O

ckner (12)

Pediatricians— the lowest earning doctors—make roughly $150,000 a year on average.

That’s three times what the average teachers make.

Jane Doe

falling

Unit 2: American Education

America & the World [evaluating education]

ey Zhu

by Courtnye Web} d e n ig s e ke d hief of Haw -C

{Editor-in

objective one

KEY IDEA

Why America is lagging behind in education endemic child poverty Last year a report showed that teachers in China get the greatest respect. The UK and the US ranked in the middle of the Global Teacher Status Index, lower down than South Korea and Greece where teachers were more valued.

In America, 16,401 children under the age of 18 live in poverty as of 2010.

value in quantity over quality "In our effort to graduate everyone from high school, we have so degraded the curriculum that the diploma is in terms of genuine achievement, meaningless.

High school and colleges have colluded in this embrace of mediocrity”

-Georgia Public Policy Foundation, May 1994

lack of discipline

compare & contrast What are some of the crucial differences between nations with high-performing education systems and the United States? The table below analyzes educator background and teacher attitudes. source: 2010 McKinsey study (Closing the Talent Gap)

difference

educator background teacher attitudes

countries with high-performing education systems

United States

100%

23%

of teachers in countries like South Korea, Finland, and Singapore come from the top third of their academic cohorts

of teachers in America come from the top third of their academic cohorts

100%

of those graduates agreed with the statement “I would be proud to tell others I had this job”

66%

of those graduates agreed with the statement “I would be proud to tell others I had this job”

Both teachers and parents are afraid to reprimand students, making if difficult to foster discipline in the academic realm.

-Miguel A. Faria Jr., MD

low school budgets The School Superintendents Association recently polled 541 superintendents from 48 states about the automatic budget cuts: About half of the respondents said they had laid off staff and increased class sizes to absorb the cut; 46% said they put off technology purchases and 32% said their school districts put off textbook purchases in response to the cuts.

lack of respect for teaching to learn more, read the Hawkeye’s cover story, “Respect the Profession” on pages 18-19.

As a resu lt of poor school funding, low teac h er salaries, an d lack of r e spect for teach ers in Am e r educatio n in the U ica, n ited States is la gging.

Wh at steps ca n our na tion take to impro ve our s y stem of educatio n?

comparing teachers’ salaries using a bar graph

guiding question

What lessons can the U.S. learn from high-performing countries?

Information provided by New York Times Editorial (“Why Other Countries Teach Better”)

data was provided by bloomberg.com

COUNTRY

AVERAGE SALARY*

Luxembourg

$97,808

Switzerland

$68,849

Germany

$64,289

Netherlands $59,894 Canada

1. school funding Canada strives to minimize the funding inequality that would otherwise exist between poor and wealthy districts.

However, in most American states, the wealthiest districts spend about twice as much per pupil as the lowest-spending districts, according to a federal advisory commission report.

2. teacher training In 2010, 6,600 Finn applicants competed for 660 available primary school preparation slots in the eight Finnish universities that educate teachers. Clearly, Finland’s teacher training system is more selective than that of the United States.

Ireland

$56,422 $54,954 $53,004

Denmark

$49,185 $48,937 South Korea $48,181 Belgium Austria

Scotland

$47,984

United States

$47,165

hawk ta

lk

studen t teache speaks out a r salar b ies in A out low meric a

relevance A strong correlation exists between teachers’ salaries and their educational background, for countries that attract the best and brightest teachers are paying them well.

teachers vs. doctors in the U.S.

3. fighting elitism China has moved away from an elitist system in which resources and top instructors were given to favored schools, and toward a more egalitarian attendance system in which students of diverse backgrounds and abilities are educated under one roof. Shanghai, in particular, has focused on bringing children of migrant workers into the school system.

*the average salary was calculated based on salaries of teachers who have taught for 15 years or more. These teachers are from all levels of education.

“I thin k like m it’s sad tha ts e, who teach has w omeone er anted to be recon ever since I s think idering bec was five, is I’ll be ause I able t o [fina don’t suppo nc rt my self.” ially]

-Rachel O

ckner (12)

Pediatricians— the lowest earning doctors—make roughly $150,000 a year on average.

That’s three times what the average teachers make.

OPINION+editorial

WHAT DO YOU THINK? “I think it’s really important for a teacher to make a connection beyond the classroom and to make their students feel comfortable no matter the situation” -Mallory Weiner, Staff Writer

“It’s very important for teachers to care about how their students learn.

I really like the way that Ms.Cervi teaches because she doesn’t just lecture from the textbook. Her lessons are very interesting and different.”

-Lia Forman, 10

22 DECEMBER 2014 THE HAWKEYE

STAFF EDITORIAL

“We believe it’s time to say ‘thank you’ to our teachers for all they do.”

Dear Teachers,

On behalf of all the students here at BHHS, The Hawkeye staff would like to say “thank you” because we don’t say it enough. Thank you for all the things you do and the time you spend making sure our high school experiences are nothing less than amazing.

Thank you for putting up with us on Monday mornings before our caffeine has kicked in. Thank you for keeping all 1,650 students engaged as we stare at the clock, counting down the seconds until 2:30 on Friday afternoon.

Each and every one of us really appreciates all that you do to provide and secure the foundations of our futures.

Thank you for realizing that teaching is so much more than reciting words from a textbook. As John Steinbeck once said, “A great teacher is a great artist and that there are as few as there are any other great artists. Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit.” Because of your artistry our minds have been pushed to heights we never thought we could reach, molded in ways we never thought possible, and challenged in ways we never thought we could

overcome. But because of you have we reached those heights, embraced the molds, and overcome the challenges.

Thank you for the time you spend coming in early to go over essays, the hours you stay late to go over impossible homework problems, and the nights you stay up to create the curriculum that inspires and pushes us everyday. Even though we joke that teachers have no lives outside of school, we all know you do. Thank you for the sacrificing all that time to make sure we succeed. It has not gone unnoticed.

Thank you for not only caring about our test scores, but for caring about who we are as a person. Thank you for taking the extra minute to ask how we are doing on a Monday morning and wishing us a good weekend on a Friday afternoon. We know that you truly mean what you say and that extra minute makes all the difference.

Now, because of you, we are ready to take the leap into the real world, ready to tackle the challenges life gives us. Because of you we know that there is nothing we cannot do.

And for that we thank you.

Sincerely, Your Students

BLOOMFIELD HILLS BLACK HAWKS 100% CUSTOM GEAR

PERSONALIZE YOUR DESIGN! 1) Visit Shop.MyLocker.net 2) Enter Locker Number: Eu994 3) Use Promo Code dA8qhCeM at Checkout Expires: 01/05/2015

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FEATURE

Miss Understood SEE PAGE 27 FOR THE PAGEANT PRO/CON

The Facts

72%

24 THE HAWKEYE DECEMBER 2014

of girls who compete in beauty pageants hire a coach

4

the Miss America TH pageant is the longest running live television event in history

Focusing on glitz, glam, and catfights, media has distorted the public image of pageantry COURTNEY ZHU Executive Editor There’s a face to the pageant industry that’s overwhelmingly misunderstood by the public, one that’s not caked with sunkissed bronzer, sparkly pink eyeshadow, and ruby red lipstick.

“I think that television productions like Miss America and Toddlers & Tiaras show off he superficial and catty side of pageantry. Shows like these lead [viewers] to think that pageants are all about physical beauty and nothing else. However, from my [involvement in pageantry], I’ve never experienced anything like that,” said junior Valedie Oray, who has competed in three regional pageants since seventh grade. “In reality, the purpose of pageantry is to build confidence, teach valuable communication skills, and make girls of all ages feel like they’re special.”

Pageantry has been subject to public controversy for decades. As stated by senior Maysam Seif, it is often criticized for trapping participants in a ruthlessly competitive mindset and undermining the fundamental values of feminism.

However, Oray said pageant organizations like National American Miss, Miss American Coed, and even Miss America defy these stereotypes and are devoted to building self-esteem and leaving an impact on the global community. “[The first thing I think of when the word ‘pageantry’ comes to mind] is a group of attractive women who plaster their faces with foundation and bronzer,” said senior Karlyn Sykes. “Then they’d parade around a catwalk in bikinis and expensive gowns to prove that they [embody] the quintessential woman: pretty, smart, talented, and maybe even independent. That’s what shows like Toddlers & Tiaras have led me to believe.”

According to Miss Saginaw County 2015 Danielle Purtell, the public’s exposure to pageantry is limited to what they see on TV, especially segments of Miss America and reality shows like Toddlers and Tiaras.

“What most don’t realize is that these shows are productions. They’re meant to be televised, to entertain, and to get viewers. TV shows like those don’t capture what the pageant industry is all about,” said Purtell.

Seif adds, “The fundamental intent of media is to gain viewers and generate revenue, not use actual facts to educate the public. The media has definitely ignored any of the positive attributes of pageantry. And as a result, media has negatively impacted my perception of pageantry.”

100,000

beauty pageants are held in the United States every year

“It bothers me [when others criticize the pageant industry] because I would not be half the person I am today if I had not been involved in pageantry,” said Purtell, who competed in her first pageant when she was eighteen. “It has given me the ability to pursue my dreams, to do so unapologetically, and to have the support system at which to do so. But as someone who has lived the majority of her life not understanding [what the pageant industry is all about], I can see where [the criticism] may come from.”

Royalty Coordinator for Miss American Coed Wendy Fierro agrees with Purtell, saying that television captures only a small portion of the pageant industry. As a result, many viewers associates the entire pageant industry with rampant cat fights and shameful superficiality.

“Unfortunately, the more natural, more genuine pageants are not shown on TV, probably because there’s not much drama involved,” said Fierro. “In our pageants, there’s a lot of excitement, love, and family atmosphere. But we can’t make TV because we don’t have screaming pageant moms or overbearing pageant dads.”

However, Sykes says that media is not the only source of influence on her opposition to pageantry. She continues to believe that pageants are just another opportunity for men and women to judge each other based on face value.

“My parents instilled this mentality in me and my sister that we should be independent women who don’t have to rely on a panel of judges to applaud us for being physically attractive, wearing the right clothes, and answering the right questions. I remember when I was in elementary school, I asked my dad if I could try out for cheerleading. He told me that I should not be the girl prancing around, cheering for someone else to succeed, but actually on the field being cheered for,” said Sykes.

Seif agrees, saying that the idea of competition to promote self-confidence is radically hypocritical.

“The fact that there is a winner of a competition of self-acceptance still promotes the idea that one must achieve a certain set of standards. I question how much a pageant can promote self-empowerment when one woman is told she has achieved the desired set of standards and a thousand other people are told the way they carry themselves isn’t the right way, or at least worse than the winner’s way.”

In conjunction with Seif, senior Constantine Stavropoulos argues that pageantry is undermining the position of women in contemporary society.

“I think pageantry dehumanizes women, and it’s unfortu-

nate that something like a beauty contest still exists. It’s ridiculous to me that women have to be held to standards like that.”

Just like Stavropoulos, critics of pageantry also fear that the industry is undermining a widespread popular movement: feminism.

“Many people are against pageants because they think it’s all about objectifying women, seeing them as sexual objects, only being valued for their physical appearance,” explains Purtell. “Looking back at history, especially in the 1920s, that argument was valid because pageants back then were only focused on beauty.”

“The truth is that a lot has evolved since then,” Purtell continues. “A large portion of [a contestant’s] score is the interview portion, which allows women to show offtheir brain and intelligence. And while the swimsuit competition may seem like it is sexualizing and objectifying young women, it’s really a testament to how empowered they are and how comfortable they are. In reality today, we’re not judged on our physical appearance or our facial beauty, but rather how we carry ourselves.”

Oray agrees that the purpose of pageants is to empower women and simply to have the experience of a lifetime.

“Growing up, I was always shy, so doing pageants tremendously boosted my self-confidence. When I was on stage, I felt like everyone in the audience was there to support me. Also, just having the experience of dressing up in a ballgown and walking on stage with my father as an escort was a very special moment.”

“Many people think that pageants are all about winning, who is the prettiest, or who is the most photogenic,” said Oray.

“But that’s not at all true. Most pageant organizations choose the girl who is confident, who can be a role model for other girls, and who looks the most genuinely happy on stage.”

According to Seif, pageantry will always be a controversial two-sided issue. But both Seif and Purtell encourage supporters and critics alike to be well-informed before voicing opinions.

“I don’t like speaking about things I’m not aware of. I don’t go out and talk about politics a lot because I’m not very well-educated about it. And for the same reason, I don’t talk about football very often. Before you criticize something, you should really take the time to look at what you’re criticizing and look at what the facts are instead of what is being sensationalized on TV,” said Purtell. “It all boils down to ignorance. The issue is that the pageant industry is not on people’s radar, and most people don’t take the time to fully understand pageantry before criticizing it.”

z

2.5

million girls compete in beauty pageants in the U.S. annually

DECEMBER 2014 THE HAWKEYE 25

Opinion

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

“I think beauty pageants are a good cultural experience, they are an outlet of expression just as much as a sport is and require the same or even more amount of dedication.

Paegants, at the world and national level, provide a good platform to see the diversity of beauty that different places, cultures, and ethnicities provide. Not to mention they accept the LGBTQ society as there have been transgender competitors both in the past and present. If the standard of beauty is ever changed, beauty paeants will be a large contributor to the change.”

-ROBERTO CARRIEDO OSTOS, 12

26 DECEMBER 2014 THE HAWKEYE

PRO Pageants promote power Despite the misconceptions, these competitions come with valuable opportunities, promote diversity and boost self-confidence AMAL RASS Guest Writer I will admit, there is a nasty side to pageants. I find myself cringing at the shiny tanned skinned of bikini clad elementary girls on TV who cry to their moms and just want to go home. But I also see something else-- something more powerful. The concepts that pageants hold for girls across the country can truly be valuable. These shows of honor are put in place to encourage women to feel beautiful in their own skin.

Pageants allow young women to feel powerful and confident. By strutting on stage with her head held high, ready to prove herself in front of a panel of judges, these girls feel empowered. They receive the praise and acknowledgement that every girl deserves. According to NPR, Miss Idaho Sierra Sandison was proud to walk the stage with her insulin pump showing, inspiring millions of young girls who are insecure of their diabetes and insulin pumps.

This concept of pageants, allowing women to take control of what they show to the world, sets the model for young children to see: it is okay to speak out; to be beautiful. What these women do is not vanity or shameful; it is liberating.

Pageants also showcase women from numerous backgrounds-- not just the typical blonde hair, blue eyed girl that people think of when they say “an Amer-

Miss America is the world’s biggest scholarship provider for women

ican girl”. While that girl is beautiful too, she is not the only type of American girl.

Recently, the University of Michigan graduate Nina Davuluri became the first Indian-American woman to win Miss America.

She received backlash that she wasn’t a “real American”. Donald Trump’s pageant had discriminatory rules against transgendered women, disqualifying one contestant and ruining her dreams.

According to the Huffington Post, outrage from activist groups forced the pageant to revise their regulations, now letting Kylan Arianna Wenzel to be the first transgendered woman to ever compete in an American beauty pageant. Pageants are part of the American “melting pot” culture; they allow the average American audiences to see women of all nationalities and backgrounds. Pageants grant for more exposure and diversity in our media, which is much needed in order to battle prejudices.

According to the Detroit Free Press, Nina Davuluri says “I’ve always viewed Miss America as the girl next door, and the girl next door is evolving as diversity in America evolves.”

An estimated 5,000 child beauty pageants are heald in the U.S. each year

Today, there is an influx of rewards available for being a beauty pageant contestant, one of them being scholarship opportunities. According to the College Scholarship Organization, the Miss America Organization is the largest beauty pageant scholarship provider in the world, with more than $45 million up to give. Each year, over 12,000 bright young women are awarded these scholarships. Several of the girls who were granted these scholarships are currently educated women with college diplomas.

Many people fail to realize that the girls in these pageants aren’t “abused”. They are in it because they want to. They want to compete and they strive to display their knowledge when asked about social and political issues.

Pageants manage to not only make girls feel confident with their body types, but also make them proud of their intellect. I’ll be the first to say that there are flaws in pageants and it is best to revise them and our perception of women. At the end of that day, the harm in pageants are usually in the fault of the pageant instructor or the environment of the pageant, which doesn’t respect their contestants. And that is the sole purpose of pageants—to honor the woman.

“It is okay to speak out: to be beautiful.

What these women do is not vanity or shameful; it is liberating.”

72% of beauty pageant contestants hire pageant coaches

CON It’s not worth the crown Pageants are causing girls across the nation to lose self esteem and lead to serious physical and emotional problems MALLORY WEINER Staff Writer Let’s make one thing clear.

I have never competed in a beauty pageant. I never will compete in a pageant. I never want to compete in pageants.

Looking from the outside into this world of sashes and sequins I have found that these displays of beauty do no good for society and just add pressure to already being the All American teenage girl.

Ever since the 1920s, the average teenage girl like me has lost self-confidence by watching the 200 contestants strut their stuff on stage. Why should we be compared to this “ideal” American 24 size body?

For almost 100 years, these catwalks have carried a cattle call of controversy.

Who really believes that these unrealistic external Barbie measurements are perfect? Most girls who are involved in beauty pageants from a young age are being taught that beauty comes from the outside rather than within.

These competitions are just plain wrong.

These girls learn that the only way to succeed is by being the most beautiful. And to them this means appearance: wearing the most expensive dress, having the biggest hair, and wearing the most makeup.

Although 2014 Miss America winner Nina Davuluri is Indian, she has the same look as the past 100 winners. My problem with pageants isn’t diversity, it’s the promotion of the ideal look.

These girls feel the need to be perfect: with a squeaky clean, Stepford smile ap-

pearance and a sugar-sweet personality.

Mallory Hytes Hagan, the 2013 Miss America winner raised the issue of sexual abuse against children as her platform, but she stated that if she did not compete in the pageant the issue would not have become prominent. Judges and spectators looked up to her because of her beauty, not because of her brains. This way of thinking is reflected heavily in society. Audrey Hepburn is a UN ambassador and yet she will always be remembered as the beautiful woman with a cigarette holder.

Girls are starting to see themselves in this unrealistic way from six months old when their parents enter them into pageants before they can say no. On the hit show Toddlers and Tiaras, the mother of Isabella and Scarlet Tammaro entered her twin daughters in the town’s pageant when they were five months old. The two cried onstage and offstage, yet they were forced to suffer because they didn’t have any say in the matter.

During the pageants, girls are asked a series of questions that test their knowl-

Earlier this month, Luna Collins became the world’s youngest beauty pageant contestant at 6 weeks old

edge on various social issues. But on TV they never show the contestants frantically looking over note cards beforehand. They only show the contestants putting on eyeliner and fixing their lipstick. Makeup has never been an important part of my life. I don’t feel the need to change my face to make a difference in the world.

But what happens to the kid who doesn’t win?

She is crushed. She is devastated. She feels worthless.

Over 6% of girls who enter beauty pageants each year are diagnosed with severe depression. According to Ashley Hesseltine, a doctor at the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), of the 2.5 million girls who enter pageants solely in the US annually, that 6% equals 150,000 girls each year.

According to the November 2012 issue of Psychology Today, 50% of the pageant girls diagnosed with depression are also diagnosed with anorexia. I have witnessed this disease taking over the lives of my family and friends, and sadly beauty pageants have only enforced this habit in the minds of bystanders.

Girls should realize that they do not need a score, a crown, a title, in order to realize their worth. Self-confidence is worth a thousand crowns.

“What these kids aren’t told by their parents, by the judges, by those who should know better, is that beauty is not just from the outside.”

The average cost of a pageant dress is $1000 and can cost up to $5000

More than half of Miss Americas since 1970 have had a Body Mass Index below 18.5

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

“I believe that beauty pageants are definitely not a positive thing because it puts value of beauty over all others including intelligence and personality and it shifts the focus away from a girl coming into her own to coming into what others plan that she should be based on trends and stereotypes of that day. That constantly changes, but girls develop into who they are not based on what century they’re in. I think its detrimental to a girl’s personality to dress her up and make her something she’s not and then give her a reward for it.”

-ERIN DWYER 12

DECEMBER 2014 THE HAWKEYE 27

LIFE WITHOUT YANTE The BHHS Varsity basketball team aims for another successful season despite the departure of Yante Maten

19.5

15.2

6.9

points per game rebounds per game blocks per game

“He was obviously our biggest player, and our best player, but more importantly, he really taught the younger guys what it’s like to lead, and his attitude for the game was great. He showed people how great the game is.”

JACK SILBERMAN Guest Writer

This season, a familiar face will be missing.

“Yante was a big part of this program for the four years that he was here,” said senior guard Cameron Dalton on 2014 alum Yante Maten, who is now a freshman on The University of Georgia’s basketball team.

“I was only able to play on the same team as him for one of those years, but he made so much of a difference for the program, taking us district championships, leading us to the state championship, and winning plenty of awards.”

Returning varsity BHHS players believe that although Maten had to trade in his Black Hawk black and silver to be a red and black Georgia Bulldog, the impact this 6’8 forward/center made in the program will not go unnoticed in the upcoming 2014-2015 varsity season.

“Yante put Bloomfield Hills basketball on the map,” said Senior forward Josh Bender. “Not many public schools from this area have made it that far in the high school basketball playoffs. By getting through districts and regionals, he put our name out there. He set a reputation up for the future with both his leadership and his skill.”

Maten led the 2013-14 team in four categories, averaging 19.5 points, 15.2 rebounds, 6.9 blocks, and 4.9 assists.

Looking at these stats Bender said, “Yante is obviously a freak of nature. He is an unbelievable athlete. He set the pace for Bloomfield Hills basketball for the future, taking us to a state championship last year. He was obviously our

biggest player, and our best player, but more importantly, he really taught the younger guys what it’s like to lead, and his attitude for the game was great. He showed people how great the game is. For him, it’s more than a game, it’s about leadership.”

Varsity head coach Duane Graves believes that even without the 2014 Michigan Gatorade Player of the Year, the team will exceed expectations.

He believes that Maten’s former teammates are ready to take the lead, along with some new faces.

“The team this year will be a lot different from what everyone expects,” Graves said. “We have a lot of young guys who are working really hard. I’m very excited for this year, as we have a lot of guys that will be battling for positions and we have a couple surprises that we didn’t know that we were going to have.”

Taking time from his college academics, Maten said he will miss being part of a team that was as close as the 2013-14 Black Hawks.

“I will miss how close we all were. We would all hang out after school as well as in school.

That’s probably why we did so well last year,” he said “Also, the team breakfasts at the Weiss house and the bus rides to games made us inseparable.”

Looking ahead for the Blackhawks, Maten believes the team “will do pretty good this year.

There are a lot of young, talented players. As long as they play together they should do just fine. It takes a while to buy into the system, but the quicker they do, the quicker they’ll win.”

Susan Adam s Photo graph y

4.9

1.8

ASSISTS per game STEALS per game

DECEMBER OCTOBER 2014 THE HAWKEYE 29

Sports Athletics &

Academics According to the LA Times, high school athletes earn GPAs that are approximately .55 to .75 points higher than students who don’t play sports. http://www.latimes.com

A University of Kansas study proved that athletes have a higher chance of graduating high school than non-athletes. http://www.ku.edu

Each year, the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) selects 32 athletes for the Scholar-Athlete Award.

Each winner is awarded a scholarship for $1,000 http://www.mhsaa.com

30 DECEMBeR 2014 THE HAWKEYE

New tutoring program will help football players academically The BHHS football team is implementing a new program to improve players’ academic standings and keep them eligible for the season.

AIDAN MENCHACA News Editor They will work as a team on the field as well as off the football field.

“I think it will be better. It might get annoying going there but in the long run it’s going to help kids,” said BHHS football player Matt Haji-Sheik about the current changes within the varsity football team tutoring program. “I think the changes will continue to help build team chemistry by spending more time with [the coaches] it builds a better bond which will translate onto the field.”

According to Head Varsity Coach Dan Loria, due to problems with the prior after school study hall and a desire to improve team’s chemistry the BHHS football team has improved their study table program.

“I tried to handle all of the kids. I went on Zangle and I’d use NHS for the tutors [as support]. What would happen was that I would have an after school tutoring program. Kids play multiple sports [and] they can’t get in [to come],” said Loria when discussing the faults of the prior system. “This way we’re going to use our advisory time so they have no choice but to work with their tutor. It much more controlled; the football player’s time is controlled by [the coaches].”

Loria said that, making use of advisory and ACT tutors, the new system will provide support for struggling players.

“We’ve taken all of the kids in the football program and we’ve spread them out among the coaches that are in the building and the 9th grade campus. Every even Monday they check in with the coaches [that they were assigned to] and go over their current grades.

If [the coach] feels that any of the grades are help promote that relationship piece so that in jeopardy ( grades of a D, E or if a parent every kid knows that he has a coach that feels, C) they’re sent to coach Macleod who he can turn to and every kid has a coach in assigns them one of the [ACT] tutors for that the building that they can turn to. In years particular subject... On black days they’ll be passed there were three of us coaches and 100 with the tutors and they’ll be tutord in the kids, now there are eight of us and 82 kids. specific subject [that they need help on].” We think it’s going to create a better sense of According to Special Teams Coordinator team between the players and the coaches.”

Matt Macleod, in addition to previous inefJunior offensive tackle Jeff Ross agrees ficiency, the abiland said that the relationity to have a more ships built in the program personal coach-to- “Before we only knew will be integral to the team. player relationship “Before we only knew our our coaches in the fall coaches was also a reason in the fall and the sumfor expanding and the summer. Keep- mer. Keeping that constant relaand reinvigorat- ing that constant re- tionship going that’s not only on ing the program. field but off the field shows lationship going that’s the “One of the that our coaches care not only biggest problems not only on the field but about our football but how we that we’ve had in off the field shows that are as people and as students.” the past is [that] Overall, said Macleod, our coaches care not the new the season ends program will help in October and only about our football to maintain the football then you don’t get but how we are as peo- team’s coaching philosophy. to see them until always thought it ple and as students.” was “We’ve august and you important to be coaches JEFF ROSS Junior lose that opportuall year, that we as the football nity to have that staff feel it’s very important quality relationthat our season doesn’t end in ship and this is meant to help our kids see October and November and we wait to see that we really do care about them. We want the kids in august; we think it’s important to to know how their doing. Most of our stu- stay in constant contact with our kid….We’ve dent athletes are very strong academically been a very successful academic team. We’ve and that’s the point. I’m not just checking in won a lot of high ranking all state awards on the kids who are struggling, we’re going and we have a long standing of being an acto check in every other week with all of our ademic team. The reason why is, when the football players. We want to make sure the season ends, we don’t stop the academic supclasses are going well, life is going well and port….Once the season ends we don’t quit.”

TACKLING

FOOTBALl Plantation, Florida

In 2012, 17 year-old Erin DiMeglio became the quarterback for South Plantation High School’s varsity football team

Ellisville, Mississippi Freshmen girls Hannah Passer and Olivia Brack decided to join the freshman football team after playing in middle school.

(Above) Freshman face Troy Athens High School in late September.

Girls tackle freshman football

This football season, two girls joined the freshman team as kickers SARAH KOVAN Editor-In-Chief Girls at BHHS are starting to tackle football.

“Actually there are a couple of teams in the state that exclusively have girl kickers,” said freshman football coach Nicholas Riggs.

“They can come out and work on kicking the whole time because kicking is a real skill and it needs to be developed and worked on and practiced. If it is the only thing you are working on, you can become really good at it.”

After kicking on the East Hills Middle School football team, freshmen girls Hannah Passer and Olivia Brack decided to join the freshman team. They were responsible for scoring points after touchdowns by kicking the football through the uprights.

“Although kicking is a very important part of football, the kickers are not on the field for much of the game,” said Riggs.

“A lot of the guys are interested in a ton of playing time, so they want to do other positions. The more positions you work on, the less attention you can give to kicking.”

Passer said that she and Brack, on the other hand, were able to devote the majority of practice time to developing their kicking skills.

“They needed the guys on the team to be there practicing every single drill so that they

could get all of the forms and techniques down. They spent a lot of time working on tackling drills. During that time, Olivia and I were on the sidelines kicking,” she said.

However, according to Brack and freshman wide receiver Brent Bosart, when it came to conditioning, the girls were held to the same standards as the guys.

“The coaches treated us the same as the guys and, aside from the tackling, expected us to do all of the same things that they did,” said Brack. “At practices, we had to do a lot of running and stretching. It was not fun but we got through it.”

“The girls did not get any special treatment. They did all of the conditioning that we did, which I give them credit for because it can be tough sometimes,” said Bosart.

While freshman football players and coaches agreed that having girl kickers was beneficial to the team, they said that others were skeptical.

“When Olivia and I went house to house selling coupons for the football team, one house told us that she didn’t want to buy anything because she didn’t support girls being on the football team,” said Passer. “We just laughed it off because there are so many teams across the U.S. that are now having girls as kickers.”

“Yeah the other teams were also surprised

to see that there were girls on the team,” added Brack. “They would stare at us and do a lot of double takes. It actually put some pressure on us because they were all waiting to see what the girls could do. In the end, it pushed me harder to try to prove myself.

“I think that most people were surprised when Hannah and Olivia joined the team because football is typically a very physical sport with a lot of contact,” said Bosart. “But if they’re better than a guy at a position, why not let them play? The girls put more points on the board. They shouldn’t be judged on their sex or gender. If they’re better than the guys, they should be able to do it. For example, I couldn’t go out as a kicker. I would kick it about two feet off the ground. They can kick it in the PAT and I cannot do that. You need to have confidence in somebody in order for them to succeed and I don’t think that the community had complete confidence in the kickers until they started making field goals.”

Riggs concluded that, “The most important thing is that I would never want anybody to be deterred from coming out to join the football team girl or boy. I think that having them come out and show that they can do everything in terms of conditioning, skills, and agility training is a great thing.”

17 year-old Mary Kate Smith was a kicker on the varsity team and homecoming queen at South Jones High School.

Vancouver, Washington Sophomore Lisa Spangler held the most tackles on the varsity football team of Fort Vancouver High School during the 2011 season for two consecutive games.

Pinckney, Michigan 18 yr-old Brianna Amat kicked the game-winning field goal for the varsity game the same night on which she was crowned homecoming queen at Pinckney Community High School.

Bridgeville, Pennsylvania Kristina Coyne was the kicker for the varsity football team at Chartiers Valley High School.

DECEMBER 2014 THE HAWKEYE 31

SPORTS

one last look: fall sports FOOTBALL

GIRLS’ SWIMMING AND DIVING

POMS

“It was great to see the progress throughout the year, we started off with some goals at the beginning of the year and focused on those goals all year and we worked hard and by the end of the season we were in the 90th percentile for personal bests. We’re very happy with that,” said Girls Swimming Coach Zulkiewski.

Football team Coach Loria said, “I think we progressed well. Throughout the year, we got better and that is a big indicator. As difficult task as it was, we kept improving and worked hard week in and week out. I felt the first year we played better at the end and I felt this year we played better at the end. I expect us to continue that trend and hopefully make the playoff next year.”

“The poms had a great fall season. We had a lot of fun and a lot of new girls on the team so it has been a really great year of learning, making up new dances, and bringing more spirit to the Blackhawk field,” said Poms Coach Rachel Matz. “We are looking forward to winter season and varsity basketball.”

CROSS COUNTRY

“I think the season went very well. There were a lot of injuries, but our talent was high and we worked hard, and both the girls and the boys won Leagues.

That’s the first time for Bloomfield where both teams won Leagues, which was one of our goals from the beginning of the year,” said Senior Captain Josh Thelen. “I think the team got close, and a lot of people grew throughout the season. It was a good season, and I think next year has a lot of potential.”

GIRLS’ VOLLEYBALL “Our expectation was that we were going to fine [this year]. We thought we weren’t going to be as strong as we were the year before, but we thought we would be good,” said Volleyball Coach Robert Hurdle. “We had a very good year. In light of battling injuries and losing Michaela Elliot, who is an all-regional setter, halfway through the season, we had a very positive year and I look forward to the potential of having a great team next year because of the return of so many of key players. Next season right out off the bat, we will be one of the best teams in Oakland county.”

BOYS’ TENNIS “We had a great season and strong showing at states. Our singles were very strong and our doubles also played great. The team should continue to improve since our top flights from this year were all underclassmen. The team has a bright future ahead,” said Senior Hassan Kobeissi. “Aside from our success on the court, the team became very close and created many memories together. Overall, it was a great experience and I’m proud of our accomplishments.”

EQUESTRIAN “We had a fantastic season,” said Coach Jackie Grassi. “Several top three finishes in competitions and a huge amount of growth and development in our first-year riders. We were able to assist a non-profit horse rescue, Day Dreams Farm Equine Rescue & Rehabilitation in Marine City. It was a great opportunity. We also won the MIHA District 2 Sportsmanship Award.”

32 \ BER 2014 THE HAWKEYE

BOYS’ SOCCER “The soccer season went very well this year. We went to the state championship again but got a little unlucky and gave up a three-goal lead which was very disappointing but overall I think we performed very well,” said Varsity Captain Garrett Winter. “Next year I am looking forward to working more and playing with all my teammates again.

Hopefully we can win the district championship again.”

GIRLS’ GOLF “The team finished in a tie for first in the OAA blue division, 3rd place in the regional tournament, and 10th overall in the state,” said Coach Brendan Harrington. “Look out for years to come as the program is young and has a lot of great potential. Golf is a spectator sport, so feel free to come out and watch the girls play next year.”

Photo Credit: Susan Adams, Nick Stration, Haeji Kim, Renee Teer

SPORTS

best in the nest

Three black hawks to keep an eye on this school year

“This year I am a co-editor -in-chief. Seeing the four editors-in-chief from last year work so hard to put time and effort into the book showed my co-editor-in-chief Mia and I that being EIC is a rewarding opportunity. Distributing the books at the end of the year is by far the most fulfilling experience for me, It is very meaningful to watch people look at your work and compliment your book. My favorite part about yearbook is the food. We are the legacy family.”

Leigh Surugeon(12) Yearbook

“Model UN is a debate between many people in a room, that represent different countries, which evolves into a discussion and attempt to prove to the other people and countries that your public and foreign policy is the best and most effective. I my brother did Model UN and he said it is a small time commitment and well worth it. My favorite part about model UN is finding the weakest candidate or politician in the room, and you can easily take advantage of their lack of knowledge and pass whatever bill you want.”

Brandon Kowalski (11) Model UN

BHHS

Detroit Tigers

NFL

The winter sports season began at the end November. Get ready to cheer on your fellow Black Hawks in basketball, bowling, ice hockey, boys swimming and diving, competitive cheer, figure skating, poms, skiing, and wrestling.

On November 12th, the Detroit Tigers officially announced that they have re-signed Victor Martinez. The designated hitter’s $68 million contract will last for four years from 2015 through 2018.

This Thanksgiving, November 27th, the Detroit Lions beat the Chicago Bears at Ford Field with a score of 34 to 17. The two teams will face off again on Sunday, December 21 at Soldier Field.

Sources: bhhs.bloomfield.org, freep.com, nfl.com

Carson Kenum (10) Forensics

“Forensics is a team that incorporates public speaking and acting into one. I have done forensics for three years before this in middle school, and now I’m going on my second year of high school forensics. My family is very involved with forensics, my mom is a coach, and my brother did forensics before me. I primarily do forensics because it’s a great learning experience, and really helps your public speaking skills. I really enjoy seeing the other people perform at other tournaments, it’s very entertaining, almost like watching a TV show.”

the game plan: december the best of this month’s school, state, national and international sports news DECEMBER 2014 THE HAWKEYE 33

Opinion

our turn: from the hawkeye staff It’s okay to go back to the basics The problem with abstracting reality “If anything, JULIA EISENSHTADT Guess Writer

AIDAN MENCHACA Section Editor We all know it. We have a bad day and then the world’s “evil” is out to get us.

But have we stopped to consider that perhaps, we as humans cause our own strife?

This may seem obvious--that our actions create our own consequences--but the deeply ingrained mindset that the world is out to get us does something. We think of forces in our life as abstract and this perspective of real life gets in the way of our own power as humanity.

Think, firstly, of the idea of destiny. When our life is going right destiny has blessed us but when the converse happens it was our naturally-endowed destiny to fail and languish in our pitiful worthlessness. The caprice of destiny, then, decides for us, not our own actions.

Perhaps you’re starting to see the problem.

Let’s look at a more technical example.

Ponder the ways we look at the the idea of good and evil.

Throughout history we have had inquisitors, “heretics”, infidels and those residing in the “city upon a hill.” In all of these regards, humans act in the physical world and yet attribute their actions to the spirits of good and evil.

Again, our mindset has us believe that it is not these people in our history who have committed such actions but rather the spirits plaguing humanity make them.

So what do these illogical abstractions really mean?

We create our lives in the abstract because we don’t want to believe in our own power to do things good or bad.

Every process that runs its course in this earth involves humans. Perhaps if we realize that humans are the causes of good and evil, create turmoil and fight in wars, we may realize our true power, a power not to perpetuate these issues but rather to stop them.

34 decembER 2014 THE HAWKEYE

“Julia, you’re so basic.”

No, she didn’t just tell me that I have a pH level of 14. In fact, what she said to me felt pretty acidic. To teens nowadays, basic isn’t just one of your Chemistry vocabulary words, it’s a defining feature.

So, what is it that makes someone “basic”? According to the (non-existent) teenage dictionary, basic is an adjective used to describe anything involving typical behavior. This behavior might include loving scented candles, eating at Chipotle, abbreviating words when talking, having an iPhone, or shopping at lululemon.

So what if the barista at Starbucks knows my order? Or if I have as many lululemon headbands as days in the week? Everyone

is an individual and shouldn’t be judged is too basic, or not basic enough. As Taybased on how many selfies they post or how lor Swift stated: “the haters gonna hate”, many times a day they “literally can’t even.” but you my friend just need to shake it off.

If anything, something is basic beBasically, I love Starbucks, I wear legcause it’s popular and gings, and I take plenty things are popular for of selfies. I will tweet a reason: they’re good. about fall as much as I something is As a teenage girl, I can want to, and I will say “I testify that teens just want literally can’t even” until basic because it’s to fit in. If a student isn’t popular and things I literally can’t even say “basic”, then wouldn’t it anymore. However, I are popular for they be judged just as do not consider myself much for being different? to be a basic girl, nor a reason: they’re Calling someone basic is are you. Go out and get good.” like telling them that they clothes from lululemon, aren’t special. It’s stereobuy scented candles, typing them just for following trends. Ob- and post as many #foodstagrams as your viously there are much more important heart desires. We are all individuals no things to worry about than if your outfit matter how society defines us. #blessed

Experiencing a Twitter identity crisis TESS GARCIA Staff Writer According to Tweetails.com, I am a “Level 17 Expert Tweet Shaman.”

I don’t feel very shamanly; I feel like two different people.

Twitter Tess, though similar to Real Life Tess, is far more interesting, and without the constant ticking of an inner self-doubt time bomb. It’s kind of like comparing One has something that the other couldn’t possibly attain.

I like Twitter Tes—let’s call her TT—more than I like Me Tess. TT is a super-bangin, witty, mop-headed anarchist who is followed by the official account of The Cheesecake Factory. She could spend hours talking about Obama’s toenails and still have the attention of an entire community of teenagers.

Me Tess isn’t as hard to keep up with.

She has acne scars, a bad attitude, and a pair of weathered crescents under her eyes that put Pillsbury to shame. She

can’t sit through an entire precalc class false image on the Twittersphere than without asking at least six questions. learn to love who we really are. E-denMe Tess, Real Tess, does not cap- tity is the superhero’s mask, Kendall tivate. She is not an auto-enhanced, Jenner’s false eyelashes. It keeps others square-cropped profile picture. from knowing the real us, and eventuShe is not alluring. She is human. ally keeps us from knowing ourselves.

I’m in the middle of a Twitter identity I made you read through all these ridiccrisis, and if you have ulous metaphors for a reason. Frankly, our online an account, I’m willing “Frankly, our people-persons say a lot to bet you’re in one, online peopletoo. Thanks to kids like about who we are, or aren’t, you and me, the careful in real life. Logically, there persons say a lot balance between realshouldn’t be a difference about who we are, istic and retweetable is between TT and Me Tess. or aren’t.”

But we’re teenagbeing sliced into pieces.

Most of us don’t know ers, and by nature, which “us” we like betwe happen to love throwing logic out the window in fa- ter, and we’re the ones holding the knives.

Now tell me, my 1,032 devoted followers: vor of our own self-serving desires.

We favor a world written in 140 char- do you like me, or do you like my tweets? acters or less over the one we were born To tell you the truth, if I were into. Some of us would rather put up a you, I don’t know how I’d answer.

Close down your feeds and look up MICHELLE PHILLIPS Section Editor What does it really even mean to be “living”?

So much of our world consists of too much time behind a screen and not enough of living in the moment.

From flat screens to touch screens our technologies have advanced but our people skills definitely haven’t. It has become way too common that people get distracted from what is actually going on right in front of them. And I’m sick of it.

It feels like just yesterday I was sitting on the swings, living life in the moment. Now, I spend way too many hours in the day looking at a screen, whether its to do homework or check instagram to see how many likes I got in the past hour. Let me be technical with you, the times have really changed.

According to Helen A.S. Popkin, a CNBC reporter, the united states as a whole spent a whopping 121 billion min-

utes on social media sites in July of 2012.

I dont know about you, but I can think of 121 billion things that I would rather spend my summer doing.

Far too often I see students my age sitting down at pep assemblies scrolling their Twitter feed making fun of Kylie Jenner’s lips, or taking hundreds of pictures at a sporting even they aren’t even watching. For them, I feel sorry.

Sorry that they don’t know what real life is, and what it is like to spend five minutes without checking to see if your ‘bae’ texted you.

So much of the social spectrum has changed because of these new connections. I am tired of hearing ‘Imma bout to slide into her dms’ across the cafeteria.

Boys, what happened to being a gentleman and striking a good conversation with someone who sparks your interest?

What happened to making real live connections with people rather than using

a technological device to substitute this.

Sorry, but I don’t see the appeal of pushing and shoving people around at a concert to get the best angle for a Snapchat story. It not only hinders my experience of the live performer but it affects everyone around you, who is actually listening and actually enjoying the music, and not wasting their time trying to impress their friends. They are the ones who get pulled up on stage to sing with Idina Menzel, they seize the moment and life rewards them for it.

It baffles me that people would choose to spend their time on instagram, ‘site-seeing’ girls wearing shorts that cost more than nine chipotle burritos calling and calling it a halloween costume. There are so many sights to see if you would just look up from your phone. There are so many interesting stories to hear that wouldn’t come through a pair of headphones.

As cliché as this may sound, life is short, and someday we will be looking back on memories of what once was. Go to a football game, join a club, spend time with your family, do something you love to do, and see the light.

Don’t make assumptions about faith NARMEEN REHMAN Executive Editor “You’re a terrorist.”

“Why?” “Because you’re Muslim.”

As the words rolled off his tongue, the sharp venom stabbed me. My chin dropped to my chest. My lips trembled, attempting to form words. Me, a terrorist? It didn’t make sense, what did I do? All I’ve ever known was peace.

At that point in time, I had just learned how to add fractions, loved to play house, and spend hours watching reruns of SpongeBob. Yet, I was accused for terrorizing innocent civilians about issues my innocent mind couldn’t even fathom.

As a second grader, I couldn’t comprehend why my religion would be a source of harassment. As a senior in high school, I don’t understand why it still is.

I condemn Al-Qaeda.

I condemn ISIS. I condemn the 9/11 attacks, the Fort Hood tragedy, and so does my religion.

Still, no matter how many times I say it, I always feel like I’m talking to a wall. As the media continues to incorrectly cover Islam as a “dangerous” religion, I find the wall growing, brick by brick enclosing me inside a trapped box. With every click of the mouse or flick of my remote these talking screens depict the “War on Terror” as synonymous with the “War on Islam.” Voice after voice argue that all followers of Islam are behind all the violence in the world.

Ironically, the majority of the media shares the same misconstrued view: that Islam is a violent religion. Actually, it preaches the exact opposite.

The truth is, terrorism has no religion.

Instead, it hides behind a false shroud.

The true beliefs of Islam that preach peace

are being taken out of context and applied incorrectly by awful, malicious terrorist groups like ISIS and Al-Qaeda who corner 1.57 billion Muslims of all backgrounds, colors, and ethnicities into the same box and constantly stereotype, generalize, and smear us for simply following our faith.

Is it fair for a majority to get punished for the acts of a minority? Would it be fair if one girl cheated on a test and the teachers suspended all students for her actions?

I’m tired of being punished for something I didn’t do and I wish I wasn’t so tired.

According to a Pew Forum’s report, only 54% of Americans knew the Qur’an was the holy book of Islam. If we can not even correctly identify the book of a religion, how can we judge it?

It’s time for us to wake up, reject ignorance, and accept reality. Before you make assumptions about someone’s faith, make sure you know where they are coming from.

Learning to let someone else take control EVIE CHODOCK Staff Writer I hit “Submit.”

Now what?

After all this work, there is absolutely nothing else I can do. This thought alone scares the living daylights out of me. I am a person who likes to have control over my life, who likes to minimize the unknown, especially with decisions as important as college.

The mere idea that a group of individuals I have never met, nor will I ever meet, have the ability to decide my future based on what’s written on a piece of paper is more terrifying than walking into a lunchroom not knowing a single person there.

Hitting submit was essentially relinquishing my control over my education, my future, and thus my life, to a group of individuals who don’t even know who I am.

I cannot wrap my head around the fact that I no longer have the power to make these decisions. I cannot wrap my head around the fact that this is my life, and yet someone else is making this decision for me.

Why can’t it be me? And the fact that such a miniscule event can change my application from a yes to a no, without me ever knowing the reason, is even more terrifying.

What if the admissions representative in charge of reading my essay has a coffee spilled on him or her on their way to work, causing them to reject me because my last name starts with a ‘C’ and that reminded them of coffee?

What if the admissions rep just got into a fight with his or her friend/ significant other named Evie, and to take vengeance, they reject my application? So what have I learned from this whole college application process?

I have learned to search for the situations in life I can control, regardless of how small they may be. I have realized some decisions are out of my control, but my reaction to said decision is something I can control. I have tentatively given the remote to someone else. Now it’s your turn.

Put down remote for long enough to check snapchat, sit back, and relax. Realize that the remote has been handed to someone else, regardless of how scary that might seem.

Just know that your reactions to any decision made by someone else is more important than the decision itself.

NOVEMBER 2014 THE HAWKEYE 35

ROAD TRIP Our new monthly feature takes the Hawkeye’s editorial board to some of metro-Detroit’s best neighborhoods this month: Royal Oak

36 DECEMBER 2014 THE HAWKEYE

café muse

lost and found

rail and anchor

goldfish tea

Famous for its grilled three cheese sandwich (featured on the Oprah Winfrey Show in 2008), Café Muse is a perfect spot to grab brunch.

If you’re not in the mood for grilled cheese ($8.25), try the Exotic Mushroom Scramble ($10.50) or go for the Ricotta and Lemon Pancakes ($9.50).

“I think we have a really European flair,” said co-founder David Smith. “We’re really small and intimate.”Café Muse’s weekly specials are inspired by the season’s ingredients.

Lost and Found has been a Royal Oak staple since 2003.

The three-floor store is sure to have something for everyone. Spend an hour trying on one of the store’s fabulous sweaters and coats. Some of our favorite finds: vintage Cosmopolitan magazines, a trunk full of hats, and a wall of cowboy boots. “People drive out just to come here,” said employee Emily Fishman, a Bloomfield Hills District alum.

“I love the little knick knacks that we have around the store.”

A little bit hipster, a little bit prepster, and a little bit rock and roll: the masculine Rail and Anchor is Royal Oak’s go-to gift shop. Vintage college penants, throw pillows in beautiful prints, and playful knicknacks line the walls of the store. It’s perfect for when you’re looking for a quirky gift for a friend, or if you ever just need to kill time. Also be sure to check out the orange Jeep parked inside the store (which is unfortunately, not for sale).

Wind down the day with a stop at Goldfish Tea, an Asian-inspired tearoom. If you’re a tea virgin, there’s no need to worry: Goldfish Tea’s helpful employees are more than willing to explain the extensive menu (bubble teas, tea lattes and everything in between) and will generously offer a free sniff of some tea leaves if you’re debating between an oolong and their jasmine pearl tea. Comfortable armchairs and shelves of board games make for a perfect atmosphere.

Visit thehawkeyenews.com for video coverage of our Royal Oak trip and make sure to read next issue’s Road Trip, which takes us to Ferndale

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