February 2019

THE

HAWKEYE

Bloomfield Hills High School

district NEWS Safe Stop saves the day Transportation app helps families track buses

by KUSHAL SANJEEV Managing Editor

February 2019

D E W O SN IN

The typical morning for any student riding the bus to school consists of waiting at home or at the stop, wondering when the bus is going to arrive, or if the bus has already come and gone. However, the district’s new bus tracking app “Safe Stop” puts this stressful morning routine to rest.

“The application utilizes GPS to determine the location of the bus and traffic data to create travel time to give an estimated time that the bus will be at the stop,” said District Transportation Manager Jane Mack.

Prior to the app, parents could not always accurately predict the estimated time of arrival of the buses, especially with the inconsistent weather patterns in Michigan.

“The other day, [my child’s] bus was in an accident before it picked up the kids. We did not know that and [my freshman son] stood outside for a long time,” said mother Cheryl Kelly. “If we would have had the app, we would have known.”

The tracker is not only used to provide updates to families, but also to the transportation office to provide more accurate data on bus travel time.

“These GPS systems are not like the ones on your phone. They show the Transportation Office where the bus is and all the events that the bus makes. Starts, stops, speed, time, all of these,” said Mack. “So, the development team

continued page 2

school news Sophomore wins art contest Ellyana Wills’ poster featured at the Auto Show

by SONYA BARLOW Staff Writer Out of over 750 entries, sophomore Ellyana Wills has recently been recognized in the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) 2019 poster contest with the “Best Use of Color” award.

Her poster was on display at the Cobo Center in Detroit as a part of the NAIAS program throughout the duration of the show. She was also awarded a grand prize of $250.

“I am planning on going and seeing my poster these coming weeks and I think it will make it more real that I have actually won. At first, I found it hard to believe that I was the winner and seeing it in person there would make it more real to me,” said Wills.

The 31st annual competition was open for 10th-12th-grade students all over Michigan.

Seeing that she is a passionate artist, she plans to enter multiple art contests in the future.

“I plan on entering other contests and for sure the poster contest next year. I already have ideas for it. I entered some paintings as well to scholastic competitions,” said Wills.

The posters were judged by a panel of members from the local art community, including 2019 NAIAS Chairman Bill Golling, a General Motors automotive designer, a college for creative studies instructor, and State Farm representatives.

With the help of Graphic Design teacher Peg Pasternak, Wills was able to enter the contest; since it was an option to do it in class, she took

Volume VI-Issue III

District blanketed in snow days

by DEBRA MORAITIS Staff Writer

M

ichigan is no stranger to severe weather. However, this winter included record-breaking snow, cold and ice, resulting in a series of snow days.

“This weather has really been unbelievable,” said teacher Matthew MacLeod. “It’s one thing to have eight snow days, let alone eight snow days in four weeks. In my fourteen years in the district, I have never seen this before. It’s unprecedented.”

Following a mild December, the metro-Detroit area was hit with several winter storms, causing the district to call eight snow days during late January and February alone. Most notably, the state of Michigan experienced record cold, with the wind chill reaching -40 degrees, causing Governor Gretchen Whitmer to declare a state of emergency.

“Keeping Michiganders safe during this stretch of dangerously cold temperatures is our priority,” said Whitmer. “Such widespread, extreme conditions have not occurred in Michigan for many years and it is imperative that we are proactive with record-low temperatures being predicted by the National Weather Service.”

These two “cold days,” coupled with a snow day the week before prolonged final exams and delayed the start of the second semester.

“Because it was finals week, canceling school threw off a lot of students’ study plans,” said senior Max Rosenzweig. “Changing the schedule last minute was confusing and I just wanted to move on into the second semester.”

The snow days have also forced teachers to readjust their class schedules to make up for the

missed days.

“We just have to make it work,” said social studies teacher Karen Twomey. “This could mean dropping a supplementary activity or giving some class work as homework on Google Classroom.”

Like the recent snowfall, the decision-making process isn’t light and goes further than a snowman-emoji tweet from Director of Physical Plant Services Brian Goby. Superintendent Rob Glass explained that several weather authorities and other area superintendents are consulted and an administration member will drive district roads between 3:00 and 4:30 a.m. to report findings.

“Typically, when wind chills head into the -22 and below range, we consider school cancellation because frostbite can set in within approximately 30 minutes,” said Glass in his snow day guide. “If the road conditions are not favorable, bus stop wait times may pose a risk to our students. Ultimately, I have to make a decision based on what I feel is in the best interest of Bloomfield Hills students.”

The lost class-time brought questions of extending the school year further into June, since “the district has used all six of its state-allotted snow days,” according to Superintendent Rob Glass.

“If we have any more snow days, we would be facing the possibility of extending school into June,” said Glass. “However, Sheila Alles, the Interim State School Superintendent, has indicated that, given the unusual weather this year, she will consider providing some additional snow days this year for districts who apply for them.

Ultimately, we will have to see [about extending school].”

2019 SNOW DAYS 1. JANUARY 16TH

4. JANUARY 30TH

2. JANUARY 23RD

3. JANUARY 28TH

7. FEBRUARY 12TH

5. JANUARY 31ST

6. FEBRUARY 6TH

8. FEBRUARY 18TH

continued page 2

INSIDE: BLOOMFIELD’S GOT TALENT see page 6

INSIDE: GRANT USED TO BUY YOGA BALLS see page 7

INSIDE: FRESHMAN WINS SKATING NATIONALS see page 11

INSIDE: NINO SALVAGGIO REVIEW see page 19

2

FEBRUARY NEWS

what

Safe Stop (from 1)

“So, the development team compared our routing to the GPS for six weeks to develop an accurate look for actual time at stops.”

Users of the app are connected to multiple screens when they utilize all of its functions including not only an estimated time of arrival, but a real-time update of how many stops remain leading to one’s location.

“One screen [of the app] shows the scheduled bus stop time, and next to it shows the ETA or actual time if the bus has already been to the stop. The second view is a map view, which shows your registered stop and the current location of the bus. The app is updated by the GPS system every 30 seconds when there is a signal,” said Mack.

Providing everyday use, the newly introduced app, “Safe Stop” is becoming a part of the regular morning of Bloomfield families, streamlining a line of communication between the bus and the parents as well.

“This app not only allows for parents and riders to see where the bus is and help get them to their stop in a timely manner, but it also has a messaging center where Transportation can send messages out to all registered users, a single route, or down to as small as a one stop,” said Mack. “The app enables the busing system to work on time in the morning, bringing students to the school on time, and after school as well allowing parents to monitor when students should be arriving home, ensuring the safest possible transportation procedure.”

in the

world?

Local and world news highlights

Parkland shooting anniversary February 14th marks the one-year anniversary of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida that killed 17 people. Since then, the national desire for gun control has decreased, according to an NPR poll. Immediately after the shooting, 71 percent of Americans wanted stricter gun control. Now, that number has decreased to 51 percent. Many of the differences of opinion fall across party lines, age divisions, and racial differences. However, a majority of Americans, about 53 percent, are afraid that a mass shooting could happen at a school nearby. The poll also found that 82 percent of those surveyed felt that background checks would make a difference in reducing gun violence, whereas arming teachers was the least popular, with 39 percent of those surveyed believing that it would make a difference.

What do you think?

Do you think the United States’ gun laws need to be more strict?

“Yes, I feel that assault rifles should be banned or should extremely hard to obtain because there is truly no use for them except for violence.”

Justin Hitler (12)

Photo by NPR

Art contest (from 1)

With the help of Graphic Design teacher Peg Pasternak, Wills was able to enter the contest; since it was an option to do it in class, she took the opportunity to showcase her talents.

“She is enormously talented. She’s the kind of kid that you don’t want to get in her way.

She is very good and she is very passionate,” said Pasternak.

Her artwork portrays the many aspects that are identified with Detroit such as a tiger, a record, sculptures, the Red Wings logo, and cars.

“I was very proud of my piece and it is probably one of my best pieces so that is why I entered,” said Wills.

Photo by Ellyana Wills

additional highlights Polar Vortex strikes the U.S. A mass of frigid air escaped from the Arctic and descended upon portions of North America, causing historically low temperatures. In Chicago, temperatures reached -45 degrees, making it colder than Antarctica on that same day. At least 21 have died as a result of the 2019 polar vortex. Early research connected a more unstable polar jet stream to climate change. As the Arctic continues to warm, cold snaps from the polar vortex could increase for some time.

“Yes, they should do better background checks and they should bring up the minimum age to own a gun to at least 21.”

Celeste Meisel (11) Photo by USA Today

Photo by The Independent

Photo by The New York Post

Venezuela power struggle

El Chapo found guilty

Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro has been accused of rigging the recent elections, sparking nationwide riots. National Assembly president, Juan Guaido has declared himself the interim president of Venezuela until a new election is held, causing a standoff with Maduro. No formal solution has yet been reached.

Joaquin Guzman Loera, the drug lord who headed the Sinaloa cartel, was found guilty of all ten federal counts charged against him, most notably engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise. While his sentencing is not until June 25, 2019, he will be facing a mandatory life sentence in prison.

“People, especially kids, should not be allowed to own and operate guns when they are still so young and can be greatly influenced by their surroundings pushing them to certain extremes.”

Nicholas Vogt (10)

BuildOn hosts blanket drive

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

Club collects warm blankets for cold winters

by ISABELLE HARBER Staff Writer Students in BuildOn recently finished their first blanket drive and donated the blankets to the homeless living in Detroit.

“Being that it is winter and we wanted to focus on a more local organization, we decided it would be a good idea to give back to those in need of more warmth,” said junior and BuildOn’s Community Service Coordinator Alyssa Sultani. “Since the Detroit Rescue Mission is a local organization, we decided that it would be perfect to choose blankets and provide through them.”

The blankets, comforters, sleeping bags, and bed sheets collected in Blankets for BuildOn, from January 9th to January 25th, were donated to the Detroit Rescue Mission, a nonprofit organization that provides food, shelter, and services in impoverished areas of Detroit.

“We chose to do a blanket drive because, especially in Michigan, it gets really cold during the winter months. We wanted to help those that didn’t have blankets and comforters [to] stay warm during the winter,” said junior and co-president Katie Heath.

This event was organized by the school’s BuildOn chapter, which mainly focuses on building schools in developing countries and supplying less fortunate schools with items the students need.

“This is one of the first times that we’ve focused more on our community and the communities around us, and I’m almost positive

that this is the first blanket drive that we’ve ever done before,” said Heath. “We want to continue contributing more to our own community as well as the global community.”

Junior Maddie Thai-Thang felt “compelled” to bring something for the drive.

“I donated to the blanket drive because it’s going towards places in need and it makes me feel good knowing that my contributions are going towards something worthwhile,” said

Thai-Thang. “BuildOn is a great nonprofit to help out with.”

Blankets for BuildOn brought in an estimated 90 blankets, and the group hopes to continue to give back to the community.

“I think students always need to be reminded of how privileged they may be,” said Sultani. “We often take the items that we own for granted and sometimes forget others don’t have simple things such as blankets.”

BuildOn stationed donation boxes around the Main Commons for students to drop blankets off in.

Photo by Georgia Zimmerman

3

february News

District adds homes

The Booth Center currently holds administrative buildings.

Photo by Georgia Zimmerman

New neighborhood added to Booth Center property

by BRENDAN LYNN Senior Sports Writer

Car showings at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) Photos by Jake Fogel and Georgia Zimmerman

End of an era Last Auto Show to take place in winter

by JAKE FOGEL Section Editor Thousands flocked to the Motor City to enjoy the 30th annual North American International Auto Show (NAIAS).

“This year, I thought the auto show was really cool, they had tons of new cars that my dad and I were really interested in,” said junior Hannah Kelley, a regular attendee of the auto show. “It’s also really innovative and a really good time to spend with family. [Attending the auto show is] always a thing that we do, and I feel like that’s the same with other

families.”

Following a mixed automotive season with massive layoffs at General Motors and the termination of several Ford model sedans, this year’s auto show featured about 30 newly revealed cars. There was also a smaller display of European cars, as companies such as BMW, Volvo, Porsche, and Mercedes Benz opted out of attendance this year.

“The only disappointing thing was that there weren’t as many cars and the whole show was a bit smaller,” said Kelly. “I would’ve liked to see a bit more cars than what they put out this year.”

Despite a smaller selection of cars, the show used test driving activities, obstacle courses for children, and virtual simulations in an attempt to become more interactive. “[The show] also had a lot of cars that weren’t for use, but the fact that they can make cars out of Legos or make cars that look like they’re from 30 years in the future was really cool,” said Kelly. “I think the technology and simulations they used this year was really cool because it allowed everyone who attended to see what it would be like to drive the car and it made the overall experience so much more interactive than it has

“I hope the change to [a] summer [show] helps the audience grow.”

Jim Veillette STEM Teacher

in the past.”

Though the auto show draws a crowd of thousands every January to Cobo Hall in downtown Detroit, this year’s show marked the last show that will take place in the winter. Starting in 2020, the show will move to June, allowing the use of outdoor venues, including displays outdoors and on the roof, as well as the implementation of virtual reality and technology related simulations, according to Crain’s Detroit.

“I love [the auto show moving to summer] and I cannot wait to go next year in the summer, ” said STEM teacher Jim Veillette.

“I’m so glad this is local and I think a lot of people take it for granted and do not go. It’s unfortunate and I hope the change to a summer show helps the audience [grow].”

The Booth Center property, which currently houses our district offices, will soon be undergoing changes by adding new residential homes to their property. “[The plan] will provide ten new homes that potential students and families could live in.” said Bloomfield Hills Superintendent Rob Glass.

The new homes, which will be visible from the current central administration offices, are expected to bring new families into the district without reducing the district’s property use.

“The houses will not impact the use the school has for the property right now. I think in many ways the houses will beautify [the area]” said Glass.

Senior Adrian Wilen agrees with Glass that the addition could bring more students into the district.

“I think the new houses will bring new people into the district and increase the presence of the Bloomfield Hills School District even more,” said Wilen. “It’s good that the developer left space for the people that live by the property.”

Although there was initial concern about the homes encroaching on the current building’s space, Glass said that the new houses won’t take much of the current parking area and the staff and visitors at the Booth Center will have enough parking and access to the building.

“We are thankful that [the developer] was willing to preserve the Nature Center as a valuable educational entity within our district.”

Shira Good

Director of Communications and Service Standards “The houses will be a nice addition to the neighborhood and the feel of the neighborhood. It will affect our parking a little bit in front of the building,” said Glass. “But, it won’t reduce enough of the parking to really affect us.”

Glass said the new houses will not be close to the surrounding neighborhoods; however, there were some dissenting opinions about the addition. There was an online petition circulating to oppose the new neighborhood which closed with 214 supporters.

“Some of our neighbors have expressed to us that they are not really happy. Especially, if their house borders up to the new neighborhood,” said Glass. “We have taken measures to position the homes as far away from the lot line as possible. This is to provide screening for both the new houses and the old ones.”

According to Shira Good, the district’s director of communications and service standards, the Nature Center, which was initially part of a separate housing proposal, will not be affected by anything in the plan.

“The district and builder have been working together for quite some time,” said Good.

“We are thankful that [the developer] was willing to entertain an alternative to his original concept to maintain and preserve the Nature Center as a valuable educational entity within our district.”

Debunking Hate Speech Increasing awareness to prevent hateful actions

by KAITLYN LUCKOFF Section Editor

A

S HATE SPEECH CONTINUES to be a topic of discussion in schools and communities, it has come to the attention of district administrators and staff that many individuals lack an understanding of what constitutes hate speech and the implications it may have.

“Hate speech is any speech which conveys discrimination or hateful views on the basis of race, religion, gender, etc,” explained administrator for social emotional learning and educational equity Margaret Schultz. “I think that hate speech can come from a lot of places based on what people know, understand, or believe. Unfortunately, there are people in this world that hate people just because of what they look like, what they believe, or even who they love - and that can cause hate speech. Hate speech can also occur out of ignorance. If a person doesn't get to know people that are different than them, then they can say things that are hateful and offensive without completely understanding why.”

After a recent incident in the building related to hate speech, community members assume that hate speech is on the rise. However, with social media use increasing among high school students, nearly everything is shared on a social media platform, causing issues or incidents to be misinterpreted and misunderstood.

“I don’t think [hate speech] is [a growing problem in our school],” said French teacher and instructional coach Holly Hammerle. “I think that because everybody has a cell phone now, it is easy to capture these things when they happen and through social media, things spread like wildfire and can’t be contained. I actually believe based on working with kids all the time

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that things are getting better. I think we all have biases that we don’t realize. No matter who you are, there’s just certain things that we come into with preconceived notions and it is really difficult to escape that. My suspicion is that people who are involved in hate speech probably lack exposure [to] people who are different than them and it could be that they are insecure, have shame or hurt, or that they have been exposed to a narrative in their life that they have not examined critically.”

One of the ways that the district aims to combat hate speech is through student Global Leaders.

Training events take place throughout the school year, which intend to teach students to be global citizens and someone who identifies with being part of an emerging world community.

“I believe that it is important to continue to spread awareness throughout our schools in age appropriate ways,” explained Schultz. “One unique [type of] event that we have in Bloomfield Hills are the Student Global Leaders Workshops. During

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these workshops, we examine stereotypes, and start to break apart our differences to build empathy and understanding. I also think it is important that we are talking about all of this in our classrooms. Many of our teachers use restorative circles or other instructional methods to allow students voices to be centered in classrooms and connect what we are learning about in content to what is happening in our world today.”

Students’ ability to concentrate in school is also impacted by witnessing or being a victim of hate speech.

“Hate speech can be extremely traumatizing to students,” said Schultz. “There are studies on how hate speech can actually impact our brains, for victims and also for those that witness hate speech. Hate speech may make students feel as though they don't belong,

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Freedom of (Hate) Speech

Covington Catholic High School Protest Questions Hate Speech

by MADDY MOSKUS Senior Column Writer

I

N A PERFECT WORLD, there would be no verbal harassment, no insults thrown or trash talked, or hearing from the grapevine that your best friend may not be your best friend. On a larger scale, the perfect world would keep the Delta Kappa Epsilon frat boys from chanting, “No means yes” and white supremacists in Charlottesville from shouting, “Jews will not replace us.” Unfortunately, as we have discovered by now, we don’t live in a perfect world.

Though the Constitution and Bill of Rights were the Founding Fathers’ attempt at a perfect world, there were quite a bit of flaws, especially when it comes to how much room they left for interpretation. The First Amendment guarantees the right to the freedom of speech, among other things, but this freedom is frequently called into question. Where this slippery slope becomes most precarious is with hate speech, a fierce enemy of freedom of speech.

According to the United States Courts, making and distributing obscene materials and inciting actions that would harm others are considered illegal forms of speech. Sounds pretty loose ended, right? Where is the line between expressing one’s opinion and obscenity or harmful speech?

In the case of Covington Catholic High School in Kentucky, where a rally of students clad in “Make

America Great Again” hats displayed blatant disrespect to Native American protesters and used their freedoms to protest abortion, hate speech has become a pressing issue. On one hand, the argument originated from a leftist

“We need to start taking social media bullying, hate speech, and slander more seriously.”

Maddy Moskus point of view that illustrated the boys as racist and accused them of using hate speech. The defense from the right called out how the accusers were exaggerating, the Native American protesters were lying, and that those who were

against the students were hypocrites in using hate speech to insult the Covington Catholic boys.

Perhaps the biggest perpetrator of the debate on hate speech is social media. With information traveling in the blink of an eye and millions hiding behind screens, what is considered hate speech or even illegal speech online? The countless threats posed at the high school students certainly sound like inciting harmful actions, and the racist remarks brought against the Native American activists aren’t far from obscenities.

What we need now is the government to take a closer look at speech. These loose ends left in words written hundreds of years ago must be cleaned up, and clear, modern legislation is necessary to ensure our safety. It’s not just about sensitivity and offending people, it’s about threats online, cyberbullying, tarnishing innocence with obscenities, and false news being spread like wildfire.

As media exacerbates what was already an issue, the line between legal and illegal only further blurs. When most violent acts over the course of this last decade can trace back to a person’s social media posts, it is clear that we need to start taking social media bullying, hate speech, and slander more seriously.

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15% OF

CRIME VICTIMS

eted because of sexual orientation

17%

increase in hate crimes across America

END HATE CRIME

58.1% OF

RELIGIOUS HATE CRIMES are against Jewish people

3 IN 5

HATE CRIMES ARE

RACIAL HATE CRIMES

accounting for more than half the reported hate crimes

Graphic by: Hanna Halstead

6

February News

Rolling with NHS

Michigan Rollverines pose for a picture on their basketball court.

Photo by the Michigan Rollverines

NHS works with new organization for chapter project

by SARAH KENKEL Staff Writer The National Honor Society has introduced a new chapter-wide service project.

“We’re going to be supporting a children’s wheelchair basketball team in Ann Arbor called the Michigan Rollverines,” said senior and NHS President Mara Sabin. “This year, [the Michigan Rollverines are] joining a real league and need more funding to keep the program running and that’s where we come in.”

This is a deviation from NHS’s previous chapter project since 2014, which was tutoring students for final exams.

“Though [tutoring] was very helpful, we found that we could make a bigger impact on a greater number of people if we tried out something new,” said Sabin. “We wanted to make our chapter feel more connected and we believe that unifying behind a common goal is how we can achieve that.”

This project also allows for “maximum participation from the chapter as a whole,” according to NHS officer Vikram Lakshmanan.

“We felt it would be a great opportunity for everyone to be a part of due to the fact that a student can be involved in multiple different ways, by donating or volunteering their time,” said Lakshmanan. “It brings the community together to help raise money in support of the team.”

“Though [tutoring] was very helpful, we found that we can make a bigger impact on a greater number of people if we tried out something new.”

Mara Sabin NHS President

Lakshmanan believes that this new NHS chapter project will “leave an impact because it is something that hasn’t been done before.” “[The project will] bring the NHS community together to help create different and creative ways to raise money,” said Lakshmanan. “It also provides an experience that I feel is unique to our NHS chapter.”

According to NHS officer Michelle Lee, NHS plans to attend one of the Rollverines’ games.

“Through fundraisers, we will come up with enough money to help support the Rollverines,” said Lee. “Later on, we plan to attend one of their games in order to give the kids our physical and emotional support.

Most importantly, we hope that this project brings more awareness to paraplegic sports.”

Sabin hopes that the chapter project will “make our school a more open-minded community.”

“While community service is amazing and absolutely one of the goals of our chapter, we also wanted to expose our members to amazing causes outside of their usual realm,” said Sabin. “We thought that the basketball team would be an excellent opportunity to see how people outside of our immediate community are trying to change the world.”

The 2018-2019 NHS chapter poses for a picture after their first meeting.

Photo by Mara Sabin

Left Column (top to bottom): Judges at Bloomfield’s Got Talent Rate Performers, Senior Charlie Binder sings, Senior Grace Muluroni sings Middle Column (top to bottom): Jackson Brown and Roni Cane host, The judges and top three performers pose for a celebratory photo, freshman Elina Bolster sings and plays the guitar Right Column (top to bottom): Senior Dallas ... sings and plays the guitar, Sophomore JT Langlas sings, The show takes a short intermission with a dance off with students from the audience Photos by Rachele Rose

The Biff hosts Bloomfield’s Got Talent School radio station holds talent show

by KAITLYN KEELE Staff Writer In early January, the BIFF hosted the first ever Bloomfield’s Got Talent , a successful and fun event for both students and faculty.

Because it was a new event, those in charge were busy making sure that everything ran smoothly and everyone was happy with the show, according to Bloomfield’s Got Talent co-host Jackson Brown.

“We had no idea what to expect, but we hoped that it would be an

amazing show that we [could] continue in the future,” said Sophia Washer, student station manager of the BIFF. Bloomfield’s Got Talent showcased multiple performers. Sophia Washer, also known by her stage name Sofi K, started off the show by singing “Valerie” by Amy Winehouse.

Several students with musical and vocal talents made the audience smile, laugh, and even cry.

Throughout the course of the show, the panel of judges, consisting of BHHS teachers

David Jenvey, Krista Laliberte, and Jesse Gandley scored each participant out of ten points.

The student with the highest score would win the talent show and receive a prize from the BIFF. Senior Charlie Binder, who received a perfect score of 30 points from the judges, won first place with his performance of “Feeling Good” by Michael Buble. In second place was sophomore JT Langlas with 29 points, while freshman Elina Bolster finished in third place, following

“Kids should be able to express their creativity and have fun.”

Jackson Brown

Bloomfield’s Got Talent Co-host

close behind.

According to psychologist Dr. Sylvia Rimm from the Family Achievement Clinic, talent shows have been established in schools across the country as ways for students to develop their emotional and intellectual health by expressing themselves creatively.

“Kids should be able to express their creativity and have fun whenever they can to create a break from the humdrum of school life,” Brown said. “It honestly surprises me that talent shows aren’t more common around here at BHHS. We’ve got a lot of great, talented kids here.”

Extracurriculars take over advisory Two organizations form advisories for their members

by CAITLIN FINERTY Web Content Manager This semester will be the first time when advisory becomes a group meeting space for extracurricular groups.

“I am excited that [advisory] is going to be a dedicated time that we can check in with our students,” said Karen Twomey, advisor of Global Leaders. “This time will be used in order to start implementing some of the fabulous ideas that they came up with in trainings and in some of our meetings that we would have after school.”

The upcoming Global Leaders advisory was created to supplement meetings after school and during travel advisories that have happened in the past. Karen Twomey and Marlowe B’sheart will teach the Global Leaders advisory second semester.

Additionally, the National Honors Society (NHS) now has all its officers and small group leaders together in an advisory. Vicki Crenshaw is the advisor in charge of the NHS advisory that started in November. “[Advisory] is the best way to organize the small group leaders and officers because it gives us access to our advisors and we are able to all meet at the same time in the same place,” said senior and chapter president Mara Sabin. “Meeting before or after school as such a large group gets really difficult because everybody has a lot of extracurriculars.”

After school scheduling difficulties was also an obstacle for the Global Leaders members and served as a reason to start their advisor.

“I think [Global Leaders advisory is] really nice especially because it is a leadership type advisory, so all of us are leaders within the group and are very busy,” said junior and Global Leaders member Maya Siegmann.

“Meeting after school was very hard for us to find a time that everyone could come to.

Being able to meet during advisory is really helpful because we can get stuff done and work together as a whole instead of just having parts of the group every time.”

According to Sabin, the new advisories have allowed the groups to “get a lot of work done.”

“Advisory has given us a lot of time to talk about how NHS can grow and how we can improve the organization,” said Sabin.

“We’ve also had a chance to organize a new chapter project, something that we haven’t had the chance to do in the past few years.”

However, advisory’s main purpose remains as a chance to see teachers, something Twomey does not plan to change for students in

these club-based advisories.

“We want to respect the time for the students so we recognize that aside from the grounded advisories, all we are really getting to do is a five or ten minute check-in once a week,” said Twomey. “Those who are able to stay back and work on projects may do so, but we also want to put a priority on academics and the needs of students to go make up tests and do whatever else they have to see their teachers for.”

Sabin hopes that the advisory will allow NHS to develop in the future..

“With this advisory, I want to allow NHS to grow,” said Sabin. “We’ve had pretty much the same system the past few years, so, given this advisory, we wanted to focus on improving the chapter. So far, we’ve organized a chapter project, created a new system for the small groups, and digitized hours collection.

We hope to make even more improvements next semester.”

Global Leaders students work on 2018 Post-it note day by writing positive affirmation on a stack of sticky notes.

Photo by Karen Twomey

7

February Feature

Junior in Honors Choir

Photo by Georgia Zimmerman

Carmen McCuenogando will perform at MMC

by KAITLYN KEELE Staff Writer Psychology students take advantage of unique seating.

Photo by Georgia Zimmerman

Bouncing into 2019 Teacher uses grant for yoga ball seating

by DARBY KRUGEL Copy Editor When given the opportunity to apply for a grant, psychology, sociology, and global studies teacher Marlowe B’sheart chose to request yoga balls for her classroom.

“The grant is a process through the Bloomfield PTO, which is a fabulous opportunity for classroom teachers to seek resources that will enhance learning for students,” said B’sheart. “The process [of obtaining the grant] involved determining what it was I was asking for, and explaining why and how it would benefit students and our learning together.”

The elastic nature of yoga balls incorporates movement into learning by forcing students who are sitting on them to move slightly to stay upright. This movement leads to the benefits of yoga balls.

“Movement increases blood flow,

which in turn carries more oxygen to the brain. [This] helps the student to be more aware and alert,” said physical and health education teacher Amy Scott. “Being more alert will create a more engaged student. There have also been studies that show a direct connection between movement and an increase in brain activity, which would increase the chance of remembering the concepts being taught.”

B’sheart chose to apply for this grant due to research about the benefits of yoga balls in classrooms.

“What I’ve seen here, and what the research supports, is that for students who choose to

sit on yoga balls, it allows their body to get sensory feedback, which helps students with attention, focus, [and] alertness.

Our bodies weren’t designed to sit… as much as we ask adolescents to,” said B’sheart.

“Sitting on a yoga ball involves subtle movement [that] provides your central nervous system and your body with feedback. It encourages healthier posture by engaging core muscles and asking you to sit more straight with your spine. That increases our alertness. For students who struggle with attention issues, as well as students who don’t but simply want to reap

“The students that get to use [the yoga balls] will see an increase in attentivness, alertness, and engagement.”

Amy Scott

Physical Education and Health Teacher

the benefits of having that as an option to keep them more focused or alert, all of these pieces are going for learning, for attention, and for how we feel while we’re in school.”

Psychology students who have the opportunity to use the yoga balls feel the benefits firsthand.

“I think that they are really nice to sit on,” said junior and AP Psychology student Emma Dwoskin. “It helps wake me up in the morning because I have to pay more attention to do basic things like sitting. It just gives me a good burst of energy.”

In concurrence, Scott agrees that yoga balls provide energy and other benefits to students sitting in classrooms.

“You can’t fall asleep on a yoga ball,” said Scott. “The students that get to use [the yoga balls] will see an increase in attentiveness, alertness, and engagement. They will have a much better overall experience in the class because they will be invested in the learning.

They will be given the chance to become stronger learners, both physically and mentally.”

Junior Carmen McCuenogando has been invited by the Michigan School Vocal Music Association (MSVMA) to be a part of the SSAA State Honors Choir “I was surprised and really proud of myself that I made it,” said McCuenogando, who received the news at the Regional Honors Choir performance in December.

From January 24th-26th, the 2019 State Honors Choir will be rehearsing and performing at the Michigan Music Conference (MMC) in Grand Rapids. The purpose of the State Honors Choir is for students to work with different choral directors to gain new insights about the singing world.

“I have to continue to practice intensively because there are about four new pieces that I need to work on and continue to work on the sight reading portion,” said McCuenogando.

McCuenogando began her audition process in October of 2018 with a video audition to submit for the Regional Honors Choir.

“You submit one piece [online] beforehand to get into regionals,” said McCuenogando.

“At the regional rehearsal, you audition for an adjudicator and then you perform random excerpts of four new pieces from memory, as well as sight read a piece of music.”

Due to the multiple levels to the audition process, students are required to go through rigorous training.

“I did intensive practicing every day and would sit at my piano for hours, practicing these five pieces for weird rhythms and keys,” said McCuenogando. “I spent a lot of time with my vocal teacher, Judith Premin, and I am grateful for her.”

After the MMC, McCuenogando hopes to be accepted to the All-State Honors Choir, which performs in May at the Michigan Youth Arts Festival.

Your child is ready for Kindergarten.

No worries.

NOW IT'S OUR JOB TO HELP YOU GET READY TO HAVE A KINDERGARTNER. Now Step 1 Start to gather the items you’ll need to begin the enrollment process.

Details are listed at www.bloomfield.org/ kindergarten.

Feb 11 2019

Step 2 Attend the Kindergarten Info Session on Feb. 11, from 7 to 8 PM at Bloomfield Hills High School in the Auditorium, 4200 Andover Road, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48302.

March 2019

Step 3 Bring your child to their neighborhood school and experience what kindergarten will be like!

Details will be shared soon.

Any time Step 4 Our family ambassadors are available to host you for a tour, answer questions, and help you prepare. Utilize their expertise by texting “KDG” to 248-230-2879.

8

February Feature

Robotics teams grow

The high school robotics team poses for a photo.

Photo by the Bionic Black Hawks

Robotics programs expand district-wide

by HILARY LAM Staff Writer The robotics program in Bloomfield Hills has reached an all-time high of team membership.

“This year, across the district, there are 26 FIRST LEGO League Junior teams, which are the youngest teams kindergarten through third grade. There are nine FIRST LEGO League teams, which is fourth and fifth grade, and there are 11 FIRST Tech Challenge teams [for] six, seventh, and eighth [grade], which is great. All of that rolls into our one high school, the Bionic Black Hawks team,” said Sarah Piper, the lead coordinator of the district’s robotics program.

The Bionic Black Hawks, along with the middle and elementary school teams, are part of the FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) robotics program. The district program has grown from one to 46 teams across the district.

“The team is now going into year 11. We started in our first year with six students, and this year we have 52,” said Bionic Black Hawks coach Andrew Raine. “There has been steady growth on the high school team to reach this point. This is the most students we’ve had on the team ever.”

According to Piper, the high school team’s community involvement is the root of the growing interest in robotics.

“The high school team was really the catalyst to spur the growth. They started with doing camps and the original idea was to expose more students to robotics,” said Piper.

“I [also] think part of the reason why robotics has grown is because it’s fun, and kids enjoy doing it.”

The growth of robotics statewide has additionally been promoted by initiatives created by former Governor Rick Snyder.

“The high school team was really the catalyst to spur the growth. They started with doing camps to expose more students to robotics.”

Sarah Piper District Robotics Coordinator

“We’re really fortunate that former Governor Snyder wanted to keep talent and [retain] STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) jobs in Michigan. One of the long range goals he had to do that was to invest in STEM programming in the state of Michigan,” said Piper. “So that’s one of the things that the Black Hawks take advantage of; all our teams receive state of Michigan grants at all levels. That helps start and fund teams.”

The growth is not just apparent in Michigan, but also globally.

“There are over 3,000 teams worldwide of FIRST Robotics from all countries across the globe,” said Piper. “They now have two World Championships because there are so many teams, to facilitate the growth, and one of those World Championships is right here in Detroit.”

However, this growth is dependent on more than just student interest.

“Bloomfield Hills schools robotics is run completely by volunteers,” said Raine. “[There are] over 350 students involved at all the grade levels K through 12, so the growth will certainly depend on that continued interest, and the commitment of the families.”

“Robotics means being able to communicate on [the] individual and multi-personal level[s], and being able to compete fairly and honestly with one another,” said Noah Stillman, a senior on the team.

TOP: The band performs at their winter concert. BOTTOM: (Pictured left to right) Band director Alan Posner poses with the students who qualified for Honors Band.

Photos by Matthew Gutman

Students selected for Honors Band Members will perform at arts festival in May

by KAITLYN KEELE Staff Writer

Recently, several musicians performed in the District Four Honors Band at Clarkston High School, organized through the Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association, MSBOA. “Students are asked to submit a written application and are accepted based on solo and ensemble scores and director recommendation,” said District Four President and BHHS Band Director Alan Posner. “The students are then selected by the District Four Honors Band chair

to participate in the jazz band, concert band, or wind ensemble.”

The District Four Honors Band, which includes members from across Oakland County, are asked to rehearse and put on a concert in only 24 hours.

Because the concert begins immediately after the start of rehearsal, the application process ensures that the band features the most hardworking and efficient musicians.

The District Four Honors Band was established 16 years ago and is still strong today, as there are many eager musicians trying to earn a spot in the program.

“This group allows students to experience music through the eyes of a world class guest clinician.

District Four always brings in great educators from around the country to help lead each ensemble,” said Posner.

BHHS Senior Charles Dickson has been accepted into the band along

“This group allows students to experience music through the eyes of a world-class guest clinician.”

Alan Posner Band Director

with Junior Matthew Gutman.

Even though this was a great opportunity for Gutman to expand his musical knowledge, it was also an inspiration for his future career goal.

“After being in the Honors Band, I wish to become a music teacher even more than I already did,” said Gutman.

“Being in a band with people who love music as much as I do was very fun. Playing with musicians of a higher caliber was also very cool and a good learning experience.”

“The main reason I participate in the band is for the enjoyment,” said Dickson. “I gained a better knowledge of music and was surrounded by other accomplished players who made me a better musician.”

Winter park takes Bloomfield by storm Bowers Farm creates a winter park

by BEN MOSS Guest Writer Over the past several months, director of the Bowers Farm, Alan Jaros, transformed the property into a Winter Park, open to the community on select weekend in January and February.

The park, which was sponsored by Bloomfield Hills Schools and supported by community programs such as the Bloomfield Hills Schools Foundation, operated during both the day and evening in an effort to draw families and community members.

Some of the features of the park included ice skating, sledding, live entertainment, and an indoor space to warm up and enjoy a hot chocolate. Jaros wanted to go above and beyond with the park by including themes for each day, which he hoped would make the experience more fun. Many activities are available at the Bowers Farm in Bloomfield Hills. Jaros hopes these promotions will increase engagement from the community.

Senior Matthew Katz sees a lack of entertainment in our community. “I think Bloomfield Hills doesn’t have enough parks or places for teens to hang out,” said Katz. “I would be interested in the Bowers Winter Park if there were fun activities like ice skating.”

According to Jaros, the park will need student volunteers throughout operation.

“We need help with parking, collecting admission, skate rentals, and a variety of tasks including rink setup and maintenance,” said Jaros. “If you or a group you belong to would like to help out, please contact Bowers School Farm for more info.”

Jaros’s plan to bring engagement and fun back to Bloomfield was with these winter activities. He was very excited to share the park with our community.

“The park was really fun.” said freshman Cara Dones. “There was an open mic act that was really entertaining.”

Jaros hopes that the Winter Park will become an annual tradition. “The winter park seems like an idea that can unite the community as a whole with all of these fun events and activities.” Said Jaros, “There are a lot of fun activities that go on at the farm all the time. So, this will be great both for the farm and the district in terms of attention.”

Bowers Farm opens up for the first night of their winter park.

Photo by Bloomfield Hills Schools Foundation

Bowers Winter Park: January 12, 13, 19, 20, 26, 27 February 2, 3 Hours: 12pm to 8pm 1219 E Square Lake Rd Bloomfield Hills, MI 48304

9

February Feature

That’s Entertainment!

Theater department hosts benefit show featuring a Broadway Revue and a one-act play, The 39 Steps, which previously competed at the Bay City “Love-Fest”

Senior Boulos Ghafari’s character, Mr. Memory, is dying while the other characters (Rachel Beltowski, Chloe Spencer, Laine Lord, Cassie English, Mollie Menuck, and Jack Hale) watch on. During this scene, sophomore Jack Hale’s character, Richard Hannay, tries to obtain any last information from Mr. Memory about the 39 steps before he dies.

The company of the first act performs a mashup of “Aquarius” and “Let the Sunshine In” from the musical Hair. Students dressed up with flower crowns to commemorate the show’s setting in the 1970’s United States. Freshman Catherine Recknagel and senior Stephanie Recknagel performed solos.

Senior Charlie Binder, sophomore Joey Rankin, and the men’s ensemble perform various Broadway songs.

The 39 Steps ensemble alongside senior Boulos Ghafari and sophomore Eddie Eichenhorn sit chat with sophomore Jack Hale’s character about a woman allegedly murdered by him while on The Scotland Express.

Seniors Mollie Menuck, Stephanie Recknagel, Julia Russo, Gabriella Rose, Rachel Beltowski, and Emily Williams sang and danced to the song “Dancing Queen” from the movie musical Mamma Mia. They wore denim and colored-lens sunglasses to honor the original performers of the song, ABBA.

Senior Gabriella Rose performed a self-choreographed dance to an instrumental version of “Once Upon a December” from the movie musical and Broadway show Anastasia.

Junior Gretchen Peters sang “She Used to Be Mine” from the musical Waitress while senior Rachel Beltowski performed a self-choreographed dance to the song at the same time.

Junior Laine Lord, playing the wife of a well-known professor, leads sophomore Jack Hale’s character through their large house in order to meet in private.

AFRICAN AMERICAN FIRSTS

Celebrating Black History Month with barrier breakthroughs

1869

1909

1919

1940

1940

1947

1958

1967

Isaac Myers founds the Matthew A. Henson joins George Washington Carver Hattie McDaniel is the first Colored National Labor Robert E. Peary on the develops over 300 food, African American to Union, the first largeUnited States’ first industrial, and commercial receive an Oscar for her scale African American successful expedition to products derived from performance in Gone with labor union the North Pole peanuts the Wind

Dr. Charles Drew invents Jackie Robinson becomes Ella Fitzgerald and the blood bank and the first African Count Basie become the makes great strides in American to play Major first African American blood research League Baseball for the man and woman to Brooklyn Dodgers receive a Grammy

Thurgood Marshall becomes the first African American Supreme Court Justice

2008

Barack Obama is elected as the first African American president of the United States in one of the most pivotal civil rights moments in American history

By Ben Silberman

Sources: History Channel, Infoplease, Cumberland Times-News, Wikimedia Commons

Section B

Goldstein takes the

SCHOOL NEWS

Varsity Hockey succeeds Boys varsity hockey team rises to top of division

GOLD

by JONAH STONE Staff Writer Despite the loss of nine seniors from last season, the varsity hockey team has not missed a beat so far. Through the first seventeen games of the season, the team is 126, sitting at the top of the OAA. “Although we lost some key players after last season, we’ve been playing at a very high level of hockey, so everyone is constantly getting better,” said senior assistant captain Dom Yee. “All of us knew that we had to step up coming into this season, and so far everyone has done their absolute best.”

The team’s success has come from many different factors. With some players at the top of the state rankings in goals and assists, and a goalie who is the best in the state in several categories, many of the varsity players know this team is special.

“There’s no one factor that has led to our team’s success. We’ve had stellar goaltending, we’ve been scoring a lot of goals, and our role players have been improving every game,” said Yee. As the season slowly comes to an end, the hockey team has big goals, and they believe they are attainable, according to starting goalie Jeremy Kahan.

“We’re playing some tough teams the rest of the year but I know we’re good enough to compete in any game we want to,” said Kahan. “So I have my eyes set on big goals, like the OAA League Championship.”

Through the hard work and success, the players have been able to create a bond which contributes to their success greatly.

“One thing that sets our team apart from other teams is our ability to have fun. We have fun with everything we do; in games, practices, or just hanging out together,” said Jack Luer, a senior who is number one in the state in goals scored. “The reason why we have done so much better than everyone expected us to do, is because we’re so close to each other. It shows in the games.”

Fans have contributed to the team’s run to the top. The Black Hawks, who are currently near the top of their league, say that having fans watching, supporting, and cheering them on really helps them play at a higher level.

“Having fans really helps everyone play better,” said Kahan. “It always helps to see your buds up in the stands supporting you.”

Although the season slowly coming to a close, the Varsity team wants to keep winning and head deep in playoffs “Our season is picking up in difficulty, but we’re ready and waiting for the challenges ahead,” said Luer. “Playoffs start on February 26th at Oak Park against Walled Lake Northern, and we can’t wait for the opportunity to go far into states.”

Freshman wins Nationals

by KUSHAL SANJEEV Managing Editor

by JAKE WEITZMAN Managing Editor After ten years of practice and countless hours on the ice, she rose to a tier that only a few can ever dream of reaching: the U. S.

Figure Skating Championships.

“Winning the final round was a big achievement. We skated confidently and it paid off for us,” said freshman Isabelle Goldstein, who won novice pairs at the 2019 U.S. Figure Skating Championships.

“We still had two strong pair teams to skate after us so it was nerve-wracking waiting for the end results.”

Competing alongside her 20-year-old partner, Keyton Bearinger, Goldstein returned to her home rink, the Detroit Skating Club, to contend for the junior duos championship.

“I have skated since I was fiveyears-old, but have only been se-

However, over the past four years, the duo has had to develop more than just their skating skills.

“We have figured out how to deal with each other and how the other operates under certain circumstances. The amount of trust she has in me is unheard of,” said Bearinger. “For example, during one of our practices during the competition, she had her hair partially down. We went to go do our double twist, and when I went to catch her, I caught her with her hair completely covering her face.

I asked her later, ‘How can you even see when you wear your hair like that?’ She said with no hesitation, ‘I can’t, I just know you’re going to catch me.’”

With the victory this year, the duo is set to move up a division for next year.

“Our next step will be starting up again at the n e x t level,” s a i d Goldstein. “ W e need to master a triple twist, more triple throws, hopefully, the throw triple flip, and harder combination jumps.”

Goldstein plans on advancing to an international stage later on in her figure skating career.

“I really would like to represent the United States on the international circuit,” said Goldstein. “It takes a lot of work and I would like to have the opportunity. I think it would be great to make it to the Olympics but I know that is a long road so I am just focused on trying to make the international team.”

STAFF VOICE

Practice over break, no thanks Sports should not require practice over school breaks

by GABE SINGER Guest Writer

Jonah Stone and Jack Luer face off against Royal Oak. Photo by Susan Adams

rious for the past four years,” said Goldstein. “This rink is like my second home and skates are like my everyday shoes. Skating allows me to feel free and release a lot of stress.”

The final stretch leading up to the championship included increased training, resulting in Goldstein getting injured.

“Leading up to the championships, I spent four to five hours a day at the rink. Our coaches spent a lot of time running our programs and helping us perfect our elements,” said Goldstein.

“Three weeks before nationals, I twisted my ankle on a throw triple salchow. Injuries definitely impact you more in skating as it limits how much you can prepare.

We had to replace one of the elements I had hoped to perform but in the end, it all worked o u t okay.”

To reach t h e U . S .

Figure Skating C h a m pionships, skaters have to continue adding new moves to their programs as well as developing their show throughout each level.

“We had a couple of new tricks this year like our throw triple salchow and our overhead lasso lift. Those are some of the more rewarding tricks for points since those are kinda the ones that separate you from everyone else,” said Bearinger, Goldstein’s partner. “We decided that we would try something new with our long program music this year, so we went for a more Spanish vibe which was pretty fun.”

Being on a sports team allows you to experience hard work, camaraderie, and teamwork, among other attributes. Sports are fun because of these factors. However, there comes a point where a high school sports team becomes too

competitive and restricting.

Most teams in this school practice every day.

Many teams in the building prevent athletes from traveling during winter and spring break because the athletes must attend mandatory practices during the time off.

Additionally, these teams may penalize players for traveling during a winter or spring season by benching, suspending, or even threatening to kick them off the team. I believe that a break should be a break: a time free from any school-related events, including sports, homework, and stress.

I understand that many teams want to maintain practice during an extended period to

gain a competitive edge. Since several teams from other schools are not practicing during this time, there is an incentive for teams to get a step ahead of their competition. I also realize that multiple weeks away from your sport could make you a bit rusty once you come back.

However, these issues are minuscule compared to the experiences you will gain during these school breaks. Not training for a few days is not going to render you useless once you come back to practice.

continued page 13

12

February SPORTS

Girls hockey

Boys Basketball Coming off of an overtime loss at Oak Park, the boys basketball team looks to bounce back. Centered around the seniors, the Boys Varsity Basketball team enjoys a solid 7-9 record, after a hot start to the year. Coached by Phil Kurajian, the Black Hawks have risen to 5th place in the OAA red division thus far.

“So far, we have been pretty solid this year,” said senior capitan Ari Singer. “We just need to focus on finishing out games, as many of our losses have been by two possessions or less. Hopefully we can use our momentum after beating West Bloomfield last time and make a run at the division title. We’ve got a few tough games left on our schedule and we are going to need to play really well during this upcoming stretch.” Next, for the Black Hawks, they travel to West Bloomfield to face-off against their cross-town rivals in the Lakers, of which they beat previously in the year. As the season comes to a close, the Black Hawks attempt to rise to the top of the OAA red division

7 W - 10 L

Photo by: Susan Adams

Although the girls hockey team has had a losing record this season. “So far this season, our team has really stepped up. We’ve beaten teams we haven’t even been able to compete with in previous years. I think we are definitely going to go far in playoffs because we’ve really been performing well as the season goes on. This team has been the best group of girls we’ve had in years and I’m hoping we get a good chance in the playoffs.”

5W-3L-2t

Photo by: Jonathan Fischer

Black Hawk Sports Update Cathching up with the Black Hawk Varsity Teams

Poms Recently, the Varsity Poms team has undergone a series of changes compared to the last season, including two new coaches and a change in style, specifically focusing on improving their skills and flexibility, especially with the entering to the basketball season this winter. “I enjoy how coach Jenna pushes us out of our comfort zone to learn unique routines and show off our best skills to ensure a strong team,” said junior Rachel Kruman.

The Varsity Poms team practices multiple days a week to prepare for weekly halftime performances at boys’ and girls’ basketball games. “I like learning new dances and always performing something different. I also like practicing with my teammates after school during the week,” said junior Emma Dwoskin.

After a successful fall season and a great start to the winter season, the team looks forward to continuing to support Black Hawk sports.

Skiing

As the season progresses, the varsity ski team continues to work in both practices and competitions. Sophomore Eleanor Deprez said, “This season, BHHS hasn’t had any wins quite yet, but we are doing good and working hard. If we don’t have a ski meet, we will run drills and do practice courses. Every day, the team as a whole has been improving, and it’s been really cool to see how far people have come.”

Photo by: Paul Kolin

Wrestling

9W-1L

Photo by: Kyra Nicholson

The wrestling team, which started their season in early November, has been working hard training and in meets under head coach Anthony Scigliano. Recently, the team competed at the District Championship meet, with six wrestlers placing in the top four and qualifying for the Regional Championships on February 16. The team’s success this year sets a new record for BHHS as this is the highest number of wrestlers qualifying for Regionals in over 20 years. Among those who qualified for Regionals is freshman Jordan Jones, who is looking forward to the competition.

28 W - 10 L

Photo by: Bloomfield Hills School District

Boys swim/dive The Bloomfield Hills Boys’ Swim team spends hours practicing with efforts to “improve tremendously” said sophomore James Kanary. “[The season] has been a lot better. The culture of the team has improved greatly and now we have freshmen that are willing to work no matter how hard it is,” said Kanary. “We are hosting the OAA White Division League Meet on February 20th22nd. Those that qualify will also go to Oakland County Championships and the MHSAA Division 1 Championship.”

7W-0L

Photo by: Susan Adams

Boys Hockey After a game-winning goal scored in overtime against Clarkston High School, the BHHS Boys Hockey Team is prepared for the upcoming playoffs. “We have playoffs coming up starting on Feb 26 versus Walled Lake Northern at Oak Park Ice Arena. We’re hoping to win that and continue on to play for a state championship,” said junior Nicholas Reitmeyer.

11 W - 6 L

Photo by: Nick Reitmeyer

13

February Sports

Gymnastics draws to a close

Junior Morgan Mathis executing her routine at a recent competition.

Photo by Susan Adams

Gymnastics team finishes in first this season

by SHELBY JENKINS Staff Writer Outside view of the Top Golf location in Auburn Hills.

Photo by Top Golf

A golfer’s dream come true TopGolf swings into Auburn Hills

by JUSTIN YAKER Section Editor TopGolf in Auburn Hills is not your typical golfing range.

According to WXYZ Detroit, the chain’s first Michigan location boasts 3,000 square feet of private event space and 102 climate-controlled separate hitting bays between three floors that can host up to six players. Each bay offers golfers the same nine different game modes to choose from that each involve hitting towards the range’s targets, which are placed at seven different yardages from the bay, in order to accumulate points based on accuracy.

“The facilities at TopGolf are top notch. When you are over there, you see all your statistics, whether it is the height of the ball, the speed of the ball, or how far the ball travels,” said senior and Black Hawks varsity golfer Yanni Stavropoulos. “I am able to learn from my previous shot what to do next. ” The new TopGolf location is one of 48 locations across the United States.

“The TopGolf in Michigan is just as good, if not better, than the TopGolf in [other locations].

Both are in prime locations for people who love to golf, so they are always very lively,” said senior and Black Hawks varsity golfer Ankith Varchasvi. “Due to the recent opening of the Auburn Hills location, the wait time is much more significant. I had to wait upwards of three hours for a bay on a Saturday night. Because of the possible wait time, I suggest making a reservation in advance through [TopGolf’s] website.”

Varchasvi’s teammate on the varsity golf team, junior Joey Arslanian, explains TopGolf from an entertainment perspective.

“I went to TopGolf in Auburn Hills twice, and it was very fun both times. Once, I went with some of my friends from the golf team, so it was a good competition. We enjoyed playing against each other in all the different games that they had,” said Arslanian. “One time I went there with my family, and it was a twohour wait to hit. We went downstairs, had dinner, played pool, and the time flew by. We then got to our bay [and] golfed for about an hour.

We were there for about three hours, and enjoyed it the entire time.”

Girls varsity golf coach Brendan Harrington specifically described TopGolf as “a perfect practice facility for high school golfers.”

“Our team has two bays scheduled every Tuesday

“TopGolf has really improved my game and analytics when I am trying to aim at different targets on the course.”

Yanni Stavropoulos Varsity Golfer

from 4-6. They get there and it is ready for them,” said Harrington. “The distances to the greens at TopGolf are perfect for the exact types of distances these high school players should be working on, ranging from 25 to 185 yards.”

Harrington also emphasized the fact that success comes from competition, of which TopGolf provides plenty.

“The fact that the range is all points-based, and the more accurate you hit the ball, the better off you’ll score is huge.

It makes it like a live video game of sorts. At a traditional range, you can hit at greens,” said Harrington. “At the TopGolf greens though, the closer you are to the center, the more you are rewarded. With up to nine different games to choose from, the options for a competition are endless. You can play team games (two on two or three on three, or even our bay against your bay) and play individual games as well.”

Harrington believes that their regular access to a facility like TopGolf will benefit the team this year.

“There is no doubt that this winter practice will keep the swings fresh for when they get back to playing golf,” he said.

Skating their way to States Figure Skating team moves to state competition

by AVA SINGER Staff Writer The figure skating team, which has won all of their competitions this year, has been gearing up for the state competition in March.

Senior captains Grace Weaver and Kaya Chakrabortty have been encouraging camaraderie amongst their team by holding practices and maintaining a sense of encouragement.

“In all of the competitions leading up to States, the team has been super supportive of each other. We are all one huge family,” said Weaver. “We always sit on the boards while our teammates are doing their elements to cheer them on.”

During her performances, Weaver explained her focus and excitement as she skates for the judges.

“While I am performing, I am really thinking about executing the move as technically as possible,” said Weaver. “Our elements are graded very specifically [in a competition], so I have to make sure that I am completing the move up to these standards.”

Like Weaver, Chakrabortty emphasized the pressure to execute each element with extreme precision.

“You just have to throw away all the pressure and the negative thoughts in your head,” said Chakrabortty.

Chakrabortty also described the importance of having a positive and encouraging team environment.

“Before we compete, we hand out the spirit bags with a unique note for each skater so that

they are more confident,” said Chakrabortty.

“Keeping a good connection and relationship is very important in having a healthy team.

We are all working together for the same goal, which is to do well at the competitions.”

Weaver highlighted her joy in holding a position of leadership on the Figure Skating team.

“I love being a captain of the Skating team because I truly love all of my teammates. I am so proud of our team and all that we have accomplished,” said Weaver.

Skating by the numbers 23 total members 5 graduating seniors 15 points at each competition 3 - 0 team record 5 time State champions

Although this may be the first year that girls gymnastics has been a school-sponsored team at BHHS, the team has been “very successful,” according to head coach Cynthia Tan. The Black Hawks gymnastics team was established this school year and so far, they have earned first place at a meet versus Walled Lake Unified and second place at the Lowell Invitational. Most recently, they defeated Dearborn Edsel and Waterford on January 18.

“Going into the first competition, we didn’t know what to expect and we were just going to try to have a good time and see what happened. We were pleasantly surprised when we did so well,” said junior and co-captain Morgan Mathis. “I think the team is successful because of the support and dedication we have for one another and the team.”

The gymnastics team is coached by Tan, who has twenty years of previous coaching experience, as well as a background in the sport. She credits the success of the team to the talent the athletes brought in with their previous experience in club teams.

The team will compete in MHSAA Regionals on Saturday, March 2, with a possible trip to state competitions on March 8 and 9.

“I want all of the team to qualify for regionals; there are certain score requirements you have to get,” said Kalyn Mullen, sophomore co-captain. “Most of us are doing it so far but I really want all the girls to be able to compete at regionals and after regionals, there are states, and that would be incredible.”

Practice (continued from 11) High school sports should be competitive, no doubt. However, practicing during a break and restricting students’ ability to take a vacation crosses the line from competitive to excessive. If the attempt is to create a professional environment for athletics, that’s fine, but even professional teams get at least a week off from practice and games.

School sports should continue to be competitive and time-consuming due to the social and physical benefits they provide. However, once a break begins, the student should be exempt from all of those responsibilities and have a break.

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Junior Regan Lee skating her routine at Districts.

Photo by Chao-chi Lee

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14

February op/ed

H STAFF

Adviser Rachel Matz

Eliminating

Media Bias

Print Managing Editors Lara Janosz Jake Weitzman Web Managing Editors Kushal Sanjeev Jenny She Copy Editors Darby Krugel Ali Randal

Sincerely, Tamia Harrison (11)

Design Editor Ben Silberman Section Editors Jake Fogel Kaitlyn Luckoff Justin Yaker

Promotional Manager Sadie Kirschner Web Content Manager Caitlin Finerty Senior Writers Brendan Lynn Madeline Moskus Illustrators Hanna Halstead Vikram Lakshmanan Margot Wester Staff Writers Sonya Barlow Isadora Halsband Isabelle Harber Shelby Jenkins Kaitlyn Keele Sarah Kenkel Hilary Lam Laine Lord Mari Lynn Natasha Mehta Debra Moraitis Ben Mutz Alexis Rillema Erin Schwartz Ava Singer Sydney Stearns Jonah Stone Guest Writers Vansh Bhardwaj Ben Moss Kiersten Pape Jane Rosett Lainie Rubin Jillian Sacksner Marlee Sacksner Seema Shah Fallan Sherman Gabe Singer Sanjuktha Swamy

Dear editor, I am writing in response to your article about the impact of social media on body image. In my opinion, social media isn’t the problem. Even if we were to delete all social media, we would still be surrounded by different faces and bodies.

Yes, social media plays a part in forming that “perfect body” image, but it all has to do with an individual’s mindset on what they think is “perfect.” We need to learn how to love ourselves; it’s the only way we can stop comparing ourselves to others.

Editors-in-Chief Riya Doshi Evan Stern

Photography Manager Georgia Zimmerman

Letters to the Editor

Illustration by Margot Wester

What we think

The media response to the Covington Catholic incident represents a larger issue Our nation, yet again, has become absorbed in a media-led sensation that has sadly been blown far out of proportion.

In the first weeks of 2019, a video of a confrontation in our nation’s capital between a group of high school students from Kentucky and a Native American activist surfaced, quickly making national headlines and becoming a subject of national conversation.

With a number of Americans united against the students at first, who appeared to be taunting Native American activist Nathan Phillips, the tables soon turned as more of the story was revealed.

Ultimately, while we still don’t completely understand this confrontation in its entirety, we, members of the Hawkeye, do understand one thing: the American media failed to represent the true story to the American people as a whole, an absolute disservice to those seeking the true story.

As journalists, we are tasked every day with presenting to our readers the true, unbiased story. It is our duty to educate our readers with

entirely true information.

Observing the coverage of this confrontation that endured for days before more of the story finally emerged, it is evident that the media certainly did not educate the American people based on accepted journalistic principles.

Whether we consider this incident or countless others in our ever-changing society, it remains greatly important to tell the true and complete story, no matter how painful or difficult.

We, as a society, must pressure our media to present the complete story at all times, something that remains our duty as citizens of a nation where freedom of expression remains paramount.

It is obvious that too many stories have been covered in recent years in a questionable manner by our media as a whole. In an age of rapid, far-reaching change, it has never been as important as now to truly assert our right to receive an accurate depiction of the events that define our lives.

What students think

“The news portrayed it that the students wearing MAGA hats deliberately stood in the way of the Native Americans simply to cause a commotion.”

Jamie Blatnikoff (12)

“A lot of the news we are presented is cherry picked in order to push certain news platforms’ agendas, which isn’t right. Journalists should only give the truth.”

Hannah Kelly (11)

“The situation was skewed in a way that doesn’t fully show the whole situation.

It’s journalists’ duty to properly showcase events like this in their entirety.”

Olivia Loveland (11)

Dear editor, I am writing in order to express my opinion regarding the article written to inform students about the student advisory committee being established. I believe that students should always have a voice. I am proud to say that my school allows students to voice their opinion and have a postition of power in order to impact important issues that effect our every day lives. I am ecstatic to hear that there is an organized group of students that are working together to fix any issues and concerns in our school.

Sincerely, Tayven Taylor (11) Dear editor, After reading the story “Community responds to anti-semitism”, I feel sad that antisemitism is taking place in our community, but refreshed knowing that people are standing up and taking actions to make sure these hateful and powerful words aren’t said again.

I think this story was written very well, expressing both what hateful comments were being said by students, but also how the school is taking action. Later in this article, it is made clear that the school is in contact with places such as the AntiDefamation League (ADL) to educate students about how powerful these words are to Jewish people in our school community. I think this article does a great job educating others on what is happening in our school, how wrong and hurtful these things are, and how places such as the ADL are taking time to educate our students and the community they live in. I think this allows students to understand that there is diversity around them and hopefully teach them a lesson on how serious anti-semitic comments are.

Sincerely, Rachel Kruman (11)

“Media platforms try and put out information that they think will draw attention, but really people are just looking for the true and full story of things.”

Zoe Seiferheld (10)

“When we are not well informed of a situation, we are quick to jump to conclusions without considering both sides of the story.”

Alivia Slazinski (11)

“This is a touchy subject that needs to be covered well in order to positively represent all points of view, and the way this editorial is written provides that.”

Max Wittenberg (12)

We want to hear what you think.

Write a 100-200 word letter to the editor and send it to us: hawkeye@bloomfield.org

15

February Op/Ed

A wall of hatred

Editor examines legislative discrimination

by RIYA DOSHI Editor-in-Chief For the past three years, we’ve only heard one thing: build a wall.

It’s been the phrase on the tip of the president’s tongue since the beginning of his political career, treating the notion of a border wall between the United States and Mexico as the cure to all our problems as a country.

Illegal immigration? Build a wall.

Drug trafficking? Build a wall.

Terrorism? Build a wall.

However, amidst this never-ending push for a border wall, earning Trump a significant number of his supporters, it seems as though few have bothered to fact check his boisterous claims.

The primary source of illegal immigration, according to data from the Department of Homeland Security, is legal immigrants overstaying their visas past expiration. A wall would not stop this.

The DHS also found that 90 percent of heroin seized at the border was taken at legal ports of entry, the primary places through which drugs are transported when crossing the U.S./Mexico border. At points where there is fencing or a wall, cartels developed a system of underground tunnels to bypass these barriers. A wall would not stop this.

According to the Pew Research Center, 80 percent of those who planned or committed an act of terrorism in the U.S. since 9/11 were either legal citizens or permanent residents. Out of the 154 who were foreignborn, only one was Mexican. A wall would not stop this.

“Our world craves the ability to blame a group for our woes.”

Riya Doshi Building a border wall between the United States and Mexico is not going to solve any of our problems. If anything, it will create more by increasing tensions between the two countries and becoming a black hole of money, requiring billions of dollars for construction and hundreds of millions annually for staffing and maintenance.

And, yet, the president was not only willing to hold a 35 day long government shutdown, but to also declare a national state of emergency to redirect funding to this project. Over fifty percent of his supporters, according to CNN, said they will vote against him in the 2020 election if he doesn’t build his wall.

The wall’s true purpose is not to protect the United States; it’s to divide people. Its existence is based in a rhetoric of fear and prejudice, and it entirely invalidates the American promise of acceptance. However, the wall is not the first instance of a turn to discrimination in times of uncertainty.

Time and time again, society has looked to solve all of our world’s ailments by using marginalized groups of people as scapegoats, such as people of color, women, and the LGBTQ+ community.

In a promise to end the surge of terrorism recently afflicting the world, the president enacted a ban on immigrants from predominantly Muslim countries, something overturned by judges on multiple occasions because of its clear unconstitutional and discriminatory nature. Citing high medical costs, Trump incited a ban from transgender people from enlisting in the military.

Even during World War II, President Roosevelt ordered the relocation of thousands of Japanese Americans to internment camps along the West Coast.

The reality of our world is that we crave the ability to blame a group for our woes.

However, legislative discrimination is doing nothing to better our society — it’s only filling it with hatred. Instead of instilling discriminatory practices with a shallow pretense of societal good, the only way to ensure our survival as human beings is to embrace our diversity and accept others’ differences. After all, we’re all human.

PRO: Immediate news Social media allows the latest news to always be at our fingertips

by MARI LYNN Staff Writer Without even having to pick up a newspaper, billions of people worldwide are able to access the latest news. Scrolling through our feeds on social media, we have access to the world right at our fingertips. With more than 1 billion active Instagram and Facebook users, and millions of users on apps like Twitter, Snapchat, and YouTube, it is unquestionable that social media is a valuable platform in our modern society. As a news source, it has enabled more stories to be shared, more voices to be heard, and more exposure to noteworthy news.

According to 2018 figures from the Pew Research Center, social media sites have surpassed newspapers as the most favorable news source for American citizens. In a time when technology is rapidly changing the world, it is reasonable that 1 in 5 adults in the United States receives news via social media, while in previous years, the amount of people who got news from social media was equal to those who looked to newspapers.These shifting trends come at a time when newspaper publications and circulation is not only on the decline, but its use as a news medium is being phased out.

The younger demographic, consisting of those between the ages of eighteen and thirty, tend to favor digital consumption of news. Compared to those sixty-five years of age and older, they are four times more

likely to check out the news from social media. Through social media, teens are able to become just as aware of and informed about the the events occuring in our civilization as adults, ultimately increasing youth awareness.

As a collective society, we like the immediacy of major news. Social media enables us to hear about natural disasters and global tragedies quickly and effectively. All thanks to news breaking first on social media, we have heard about the death of Bin Laden and the Royal Wedding announcement back in 2010. In fact, the 2017 Las Vegas shooting was first reported on social media. Due to the fact that we heard the news while it was happening, people were able to take action immediately. If we had waited for broadcast television to report on it, people in Las Vegas might have left their homes during an unsafe time. However, the immediacy of the news allowed medical personnel to be prepared for the great number of patients arriving, and volunteers were able to help donate necessities, such as blood.

At the end of the day, it is up to us to take responsibility for where we obtain our information, how we interpret it, and the ways in which we share it on social media.

News from social media, combined with verified sources, allows for the truth to emerge instantly. To make the public aware of this, we could just tweet about it.

PRO/CON:

Social Media as a News Source CON: Fake news media Journalism on social media is less credible than we think

by LARA JANOSZ Managing Editor It is time we face the fact that we can’t believe everything we see, especially because we’ve entered an era where “fake news” and social media go hand in hand.

We obsess over our phones on a constant basis, especially to check what’s going on in the world around us. Ironically, to get this information, our first instinct is to visit social media sites, not news media sites. The problem with this is that not everything on social media is credible, which leads to the unfortunate spread of false information (aka “fake news”). Anyone can post on social media, which means that anyone can falsify information. A news story that you may see on Facebook or Twitter may not even be news at all, just someone looking to spread rumors.

Social media is also where clickbait lives.

Misleading headlines that literally hook onto your interest, causing you to open up a story that is completely false and based off of inaccurate information.

This has not gone unnoticed by the American public either. In fact, 57% of

Americans have reported that they expect the news that they see on social media to be inaccurate or untrustworthy.

Unfortunately, social media has begun to undermine both the ways in which our society functions, and credible journalism itself. Everything that is reported is always heavily questioned to be true. As technology usage in the United States has significantly increased, so has the influence of social media and tech giants over the lives of Americans. Companies like Twitter, Facebook, and Google have taken advantage of our need for information as soon as it can be made available, thus lowering the quality of the news that we see and spreading “fake news.” Seldom do Americans today opt to pick up an actual newspaper when they have the world right at their fingertips.

In today’s world, your eyes can truly deceive you. We no longer have the luxury of believing the news that is reported because we read half of it from untrustworthy sources on social media. If we want to change the way we view the world, we have to recognize the lies when we see them. And look up from our screens for once.

The power of investing

Editor discusses effective money management

by EVAN STERN Editor-in-Chief Whether one is an engineer or doctor or an architect or teacher, the importance of managing money properly, and the security that comes with it, remains a solid fact.

In our world today though, learning how to handle money to many seems like navigating a complex realm of confusion.

With banks and financial advisers, as well as a myriad of services, constantly vying for people’s money to manage, the constant task of steering through the world of money seems quite daunting.

As a high school senior, I am young in my career of managing money. Despite this fact, though, I have witnessed the power of a simple thing that can dramatically solidify one’s prospects of financial stability and security throughout life.

Many people feel that investing is complex and dangerous. People frequently ask themselves, “Should I let a bank invest my money, or should I open an account and do it myself?,” or “Am I going to lose much of what I have worked for if the market crashes?”

The truth is that much of the fear associated with investing is not necessary. Of course, the market can fluctuate some, but investing has maintained a proven track record of success, should one stick to a plan and remain calm.

Especially for students around my age, investing truly holds limitless potential. Given the long time horizon of teenagers and the enormous benefits of compounding, only $1,000 invested in stocks with an appreciation of ten percent per year, considered the historical standard for the market, would

“Investing truly holds limitless potential.”

Evan Stern yield over $117,000 after 50 years, when most of us would be in our sixties.

True, the market will have endured pain throughout this time period. It may surge 30 percent one year and plunge 25 the next. But over time, on average, it is quite likely to produce exciting results. From historical figures, investing just $1,000 in 1980 in the S&P 500, a common index of American stocks, would have yielded about $76,000 by 2018 (a 38-year period).

The best part is that it is very easy to immerse oneself in the power of the markets immediately. Setting aside financial advisers and other high-cost methods, with the presence of technology and the Internet, numerous low-cost, safe options exist.

In particular, one of the best ways to be exposed to the market is through exchangetraded funds, or ETFs for short. By investing in a particular fund with a proven track record that is professionally-managed, one is assuming a lower level of risk and is gaining access to the returns of thousands of companies.

While there are a number of potential ETF selections, sticking to the simple options remains a successful strategy promoted by numerous investing legends, including Warren Buffett, Chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway.

There are many places to start, although I would encourage one to look to popular funds, including such options as the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO), that have been proven to deliver over the course of the long-term.

The important thing to remember is, regardless of where one invests or what they invest in, that the prevailing strategy remains to invest for the long-term; this means putting money away and sticking to the initial plan. Even if the market falls, it will rise to a new record high before long.

As members of an ever-changing society, the need for financial security remains paramount, and regardless of age, investing can act as a powerful tool to ensure stability for years to come.

16

february op/ed

Staff Voice

Photo by The Daily Trojan

Coachella co-owner creates controversy Writer questions the nation’s largest music festival

by MADDY MOSKUS Senior Column Writer The dry desert of Indio, California; the flocks of sweaty people; the burning hot sun; and seeing your favorite artists from about a mile away. Coachella really does sound like a paradise worth paying your last three paychecks for, right?

It is not a far off statement to say that Coachella is this generation’s Woodstock.

With hundreds of thousands flocking from all over the country, and even the world, to

the annual two-weekend music festival, the event is undoubtedly one of the biggest of each year. Like every event on this scale, there is bound to be trouble in paradise.

Coachella’s controversy, like most others, takes root in politics. Philip Anschutz owns Goldenvoice, the organizer of Coachella, along with half of the festival itself through his entertainment company AEG (Anschutz Entertainment Group). Just imagine the kind of money he’s making from that.

So what’s a guy to do when he owns most of the country’s biggest music festival and has an estimated net worth of $11.3 billion? Get into politics, of course. One of the cornerstones of our country’s “democracy” is that everyone has a voice, but the rich get many, many voices. Unlike most people with companies that rely on public opinion, Anschutz did not play it safe with his money and used plenty of it to sway politics.

For an owner of a billion dollar company, Anschutz didn’t do a great job of considering his audience here. The Coachella crowd of wild teenagers, crazy Californians, and hippie replicators really doesn’t scream staunch Republican. This is why it was a shock when the Anschutz Foundation’s tax filings revealed that Anschutz had given $190,000 to anti-LGBT and far right wing groups between 2010 and 2013. In more recent tax reports, the Anschutz Foundation had ceased some of their funding to the larger, more noteworthy anti-LGBT groups, but the funding to smaller groups with those ideals had not stopped.

As a fan of almost every artist on the Coachella lineups, this is appalling. When it comes to politics, I understand a division between the Democratic and Republican parties, and while I may not support both, I understand that people have their own views. But, do-

nating to groups that advocate for stripping a group of their rights is deplorable.

The best way I can sum it up is being disappointed, but not surprised. When wealth can be used to make the rich richer and poor poorer, it makes sense that Anschutz would pour his money into the party that gives him tax breaks. Likewise, the founder of the parent company to Urban Outfitters, Forever 21, and Anthropologie, has also put his earnings into these same types of groups. Why would these billionaires want rights for other people when they’re doing just fine?

The hashtags #BoycottCoachella and #Nochella open up conversation about the backwards ideals of Coachella’s co-owner, but a few woke celebrities and a Twitter hashtag won’t stop Coachella. There’s money to be made, after all.

Photo by The Huffington Post

Photo by Georgia Zimmerman

The essay I wish I could write

Plastic will be our world’s demise

Applications would not be stressful if it were this simple

by JAKE WEITZMAN Managing Editor To the university of my dreams, The one thing I want is to be admitted to your school. It’s all I’ve been dreaming of since I was a boy. I wouldn’t feel right living in any other college town for the next four years.

For the past 17 years of my life, I have been raised with you as the ultimate goal. My mother attended your school, and my father went to a school 10 minutes away (but he always came to your city). My room is decked out in your colors, my closet is full of your apparel, and the license plate border on my car praises your mascot. I have been to countless football games in your ever-sofamous stadium, I have witnessed your success in March Madness, and I have supported every sport in between.

You, dream school, have played such a

strong role in my life since before I even knew what college was.

I could go on and on about what made me fall for you. The food scene is unreal. Hot dogs, pizza, wings, pizza, Insomnia Cookies.

Did I mention pizza? I would also rush a fraternity. My closest friends who have graduated before me all tell me how much fun they have with their new brothers. Who wouldn’t want a second family while making such a life-changing transition? The nature is some of the most beautiful I have ever seen, with one-of-a-kind gardens and an arboretum. The architecture is a close second with the old and new buildings scattered all over town.

However, it isn’t what you have that makes me love you. It is YOU that makes me love you.

You have everything I need to achieve my goals. You have the tools to guide me on a journey to success. You have the faculty, the education, the students, the alumni.

You are you. All I ask of you now is one simple favor: a chance.

“You, dream school, have played such a strong role in my life since before I even knew what college was.”

Jake Weitzman

Writer urges society to say no to single-use plastic

by NATASHA MEHTA Staff Writer Could you go a week without single-use plastic, that is, plastic which can be used only once before it is thrown away? How about a day?

It seems easy enough, at least, easier than it seems going a week without a phone, Instagram, or any sort of technology. However, single-use plastic is deeply rooted in our society. Take your morning coffee, for example. The cups are lined with plastic polyethylene and capped with plastic lids. Plus, it’s infused with creamer from plastic containers and likely blended using at least two plastic drink stirrers because one never seems to be enough. I, for one, am fed up with the constant exploitation of single-use plastic. Limiting single-use plastic includes putting away plastic grocery bags, straws, water bottles, cups, cutlery, sandwich bags, take-out containers, individually wrapped snacks, plastic wrap, pop bottles, and tape, to name a few.

We may not realize it, but single-use plastic has become an integral part of our lives.

According to National Geographic, plastic packaging makes up 40% of all plastic that is manufactured. More often than not, the

packaging is opened and then carelessly discarded, only recycled if a trash bin is not in close proximity. It is this laziness and lack of motivation which prevents the salvation of our planet from decaying under mounds of plastic waste.

This in part, is why boycotting single-use plastic, or even a limited usage of it, is vital.

Sometimes we can’t find a recycling bin or we are just too tired to care. This is where reusable bottles and containers come in.

Rather than using wasteful plastic, it is much more environmentally friendly to utilize straws that you can wash, thermoses that can hold your coffee and keep it warm, and reusable cups and utensils.

Hopefully, piece by piece, our society will follow suit. Simple changes, such as reusable trays at lunch instead of Styrofoam and more recycling bins around the school can quickly influence environmental reform.

Currently, our facility has an extreme shortage of recycling bins, while trash bins are all too common. Grocery stores with reusable bags and restaurants without plastic straws could become a societal norm if we put this simplistic yet effective idea in motion.

It’s about time we start taking responsibility for our actions and realize that, good or bad, we all have an impact on our environment.

The challenge is simple: go a week without single-use plastic. Just try it. And when that week is over, try another, and another. Make it a habit to say no to harming the environment, because if we don’t, who will?

17

february op/ed

Staff Voice

Walt Disney Studios presents their anticipated release schedule from 2017 into 2019.

Photo by The Associated Press

Disney’s destruction of movie authenticity Studio’s quick production threatens creativity

by LAINE LORD Staff Writer Disney is the owner of almost anything and everything entertainment. From television channels such as ABC and the majority of ESPN, to production studios such as Touchstone Pictures, Disney dominates in all realms. More familiar sectors controlled

by Disney include Marvel, Pixar, Lifetime, and most importantly, Lucasfilm (the original owner and creator of the Star Wars franchise).

At the moment, Disney has at least nine Star Wars movies in the making. Nine.

That’s the equivalent to three entire new trilogies. Seems a little much, right? Back in 2012, Disney bought out the owner and creator of Star Wars, Lucasfilm, for 4 billion dollars. Before the buyout, Star Wars, and Lucasfilm in general, valued the production of intentful storytelling. It took time to produce high-quality movies. As a result of both careful development and intelligent distribution techniques, each Star Wars movie within each separate trilogy (original, prequel, and sequel) was released within two to three years of each other, with decades between each trilogy itself. In simpler words, there were large gaps within releases of each movie. As a matter of fact, a large amount of time in between each film worked perfectly.

It allowed audiences to anticipate, desider-

ate, and crave a new Star Wars movie, causing massive amounts of people to flock to the theatres when finally released, resulting in amazing box office revenue.

However, this perfect spacing was completely obliterated when Disney’s Solo: A Star Wars Story was released less than six months after Star Wars: The Last Jedi. It may not seem like such a big deal, but box office numbers say otherwise. When The Last Jedi was released in 2017, it earned an astounding 1.3 billion U.S. dollars globally.

However, five months later, Solo earned 392.9 million dollars, nearly a 1 billion dollar drop from The Last Jedi. Why is this you may ask? Aside from poor timing, there is one simple answer: boredom. Audiences were utterly uninterested, and it makes complete sense. Given that an average American citizen will go to the movie theater less than

once per month, why would one rush to theatres to go see another movie from the same franchise in a short period... it’s not like they have been patiently waiting for two years.

Disney’s unspoken concept of “the more movies we make, the more money we will make” doesn’t seem as foolproof as anticipated, regarding both profit margin and the quality of movies actually being created.

When trying to crank out as many movies as possible, the quality and creativity of these movies decreases dramatically, leaving theaters packed with nothing but rushed, bland movies, that no one wants to see. So, Disney, is it really worth compromising profit, creativity, and audience interest for a few more movies stamped with the Disney name?

18

FEBRUARY Entertainment

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

by EVAN STERN Editor-in-Chief

ACROSS

1. Third monday in February is _____ day 3. Holiday on February 14 4. Large football game 6. Shortest month of the year 9. Cold, icy wind _____ can cause frostbite.

DOWN

2. Beautiful winter shape 4. When school is cancelled, it’s a _____ day 5. A year with February 29 7. The month of February celebrates _____ history 8. February 12th is President _____’s birthday

Here are the answers to our Holiday Crossword!

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

Humans of Bloomfield Every issue, the Hawkeye finds a few standout faces at Bloomfield Hills High School. Here are their stories about their plans after high school:

Meredith Parr

Nik Salah

Gretchen Peters

“Although I have no idea where, I plan on studying public health and nutritional sciences in college. I don’t know exactly what career I want out of this field of study, but I know for sure that I want to work with people on improving health and nutrition worldwide. I became interested in this topic when I was around 6 years old and discovered that meat was made from animals. I still carry that same love for animals and passion for the environment and hope that I can make a difference in this area of study.”

“After high school, I would like to go to college to study secondary education or acting. I became interested in acting through my love of sharing stories & experience with others, which eventually took me to audition for Les Miserables, our schools musical my sophomore year. My dream role would have to be Will Bloom from the musical Big Fish. I think it’s crucial to study the arts because unlike math or science, with the arts you are constantly up and moving and creating art rather than just studying it. Fine arts like theatre arts or vocal performance are not just learned subjects in school, but rather they are tools that can be crucial in developing students’ skills like resilience and problem solving.”

“After high school, I want to go to college. I want to go into psychology, because mental health is really important.

I started thinking about psychology as a career in 8th grade, when I started going to therapy. I realized how important my mental health is. I want to go to University of Kentucky, probably, because I visited my brother down there and I really like the campus and its just a really nice atmosphere.”

19

HAWKEYE reviews

THE

February Entertainment

H

NiNO? More like Ni-YES

by MARLEE SACKSNER Staff Writer The doors slide open, the lights are beaming, and everything is brand new. Nino Salvaggio is finally open and ready for business after months of wild anticipation.

Nino’s has everything you could ask for in a grocery store. Along with usual items, Nino’s combines its own unique vibe with touches from similar markets, such as Plum Market, Kroger, and Breadsmith.

With their endless supply of fresh fruits, vegetables, delicious and easy precooked meals, and decadent desserts, Nino’s was definitely worth the wait.

Not only is Nino’s a grocery store, but it is also a cafe, bakery, and restaurant. When you need a cake to celebrate, head to the back of the store and grab it on the go. When you need some party snacks, Nino’s has hundred of options waiting for you. Even if you need a simple, fresh loaf of bread, all you have to do is walk in.

Sophomore Estee Moss said, “Nino’s is a great grocery store because it has a variety of

fresh fruits and vegetables and has lots of options. Everytime I go I find a new food that I love and I always look forward to going.”

Likewise, sophomore Sarah Tyner said, “I really like the fruit at Nino’s, especially the cotton candy grapes. I think Nino’s has the best fruit and I always enjoy every bite.”

With countless items to choose from, I would recommend the green grapes, crisp and sweet, and the flavorful spinach and artichoke dip. These items are a definite go to for me and I highly recommend giving them a try next time you stop by.

Additionally, Nino’s countless supply of desserts will fill your stomach with every bite.

From beautiful black forest cake to a creamy chocolate pie, Nino’s has anything and everything a person could want. I am truly impressed with Nino’s ability to make all their foods feel special and restaurant-like, which is something most grocery stores are unable to accomplish.

While I find the kosher offerings a little disappointing, Nino’s remains an impressive supermarket; from deli meats to desserts, there is something for everybody to enjoy.

So, make sure you don’t miss a chance and head to the greatest grocery store in Bloomfield Hills, located at the intersection of Maple and Telegraph roads.

MOVIES

Mary Poppins delights fans

Spider-Man defies the norm

Bird Box has blinding success

by ALEXIS RILLEMA Staff Writer

by BEN MUTZ Staff Writer

by VANSH BHARDWAJ Guest Writer

One of the most beloved and classic nannies of all time is back and she is still perfect in every way in Robert Marshall’s Mary Poppins Returns.

Taking place 30 years after the original Mary Poppins starring Julie Andrews premiered, Michael Banks (played by Ben Whishaw), now a father of 3 children, learns that their house will be repossessed by the bank in five days because of a loan he took out that he now has to pay in full.

However, Michael and his sister Jane Banks (played by Emily Mortimer) know that their late father George Banks (played

by David Tomlinson) was a senior partner in the bank, leaving behind his children many shares that would pay off their loan, allowing the family to keep their house. Unfortunately, Michael and Jane cannot find the missing certificate to show that they have shares in the bank.

Just as they seem to have no hope, Mary Poppins, expertly played by Emily Blunt, returns just in time to take the Banks children (both original and next generation) on another magical adventure and save the day one more time.

The sequel includes many unexpected surprises, such as an appearance from Dick Van Dyke, now 93, known from the original movie for his role as Bert; Meryl Streep as Topsy, Mary Poppins’s cousin; and Lin-Manuel Miranda as Jack, the lamplighter, whose character serves a similar purpose as Bert from the original movie.

Mary Poppins Returns is a breath of fresh air that pays tribute to its original, made in 1964; Blunt makes the role her own while still keeping the the nostalgic viewers happy with classic tributes to the original with this playful sequel.

Being a Mary Poppins and Julie Andrews fanatic, I was pleased with the overall turnout of the second movie. This movie had big shoes to fill and it did just that with the excellent acting, the creativity of the scenes with the design and graphics, and the nostalgic hints and tributes to the original film sewn into the plot. In the end, the movie left me with a smile on my face.

With all of these positive aspects of the film, the biggest plus for me was that the movie took me back to my childhood when I used to watch the original with my mom. The magic was still there and I felt like a kid again, thanks to Mary Poppins.

Overall, the movie did a wonderful job in keeping the magic alive with its classic upbeat music, and the amount of detail that went into the design of the outfits and sets.

I would give this movie 4.5 out of 5 stars because of the creativity of the adventures the characters endure, the tributes paid to the first movie, and the way Emily Blunt steps right into Mary Poppins’s shoes. The sequel was nevertheless perfect in every way and did not disappoint.

We all know the story of Peter Parker. The tragic death of his uncle Ben, the radioactive spider bite, the wall climbing, the web shooting: all vital parts of the Amazing Spider-Man himself. But do you know the story of Miles Morales? Peni Parker and her Robotic Spider? Spider-Man Noir or SpiderHam? Probably not, unless you’ve seen the newest SpiderMan movie, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, directed by Peter Ramsey and Robert Persichetti.

I sat down to watch the film expecting to see another classic Spider-Man film. Spider bite, unfortunate death, and the emergence of a neighborhood superhero named Spider-Man who heroically takes down the bad guy and saves the day.

It’s safe to say that I didn’t get exactly what I expected. The plot begins with Spider-Man battling the notorious Kingpin, a crime boss who has formed a group of genius scientists with one goal in mind: to create a particle-accelerator that can break through different dimensions of reality. Each reality is similar to one another, but also very different, and it is dangerous to disrupt the balance between them.

Meanwhile, local teenager, Miles Morales, who was voiced

by Shameik Moore, is bitten by a radioactive spider and is shocked to find that he has the ability to shoot webs, climb walls, turn invisible, and venom blast, a powerful attack that disables enemies on touch. Miles wanders into the secret laboratory and interrupts Spider-Man and Kingpin’s brawl.

Spider-Man sees Miles and senses that they are the same.

Spider-Man ultimately fails to disable the particle accelerator, and is finished off by being forced into the particle accelerator stream by one of Kingpin’s goons. The accelerator malfunctions and sends five spider-themed superheroes into our reality, but in doing so, kills the Spider-Man from this reality. In the rubble, the dying Spider-Man hands Miles the deactivation key on his last breath. It is now up to Miles and the five interdimensional Spideys (who are actually pretty skilled) to stop Kingpin, return home, and prevent the space-time continuum from imploding.

This movie gave me a whole new take on what a superhero movie can be. Not only did the multiverse theme make me question many enigmas in my own reality, but I found myself pleasantly entangled in the stories of the Spider-heroes from the other universes. Visually, the film is unlike anything I’ve ever seen before. At times, I had to remind myself that this was a movie, not a comic book. It’s a feel-good thriller for all ages and shares messages about hope, family, and sacrifice that are truly moving.

Netflix has done it again. Based on the novel with the same name, the low-budget film, Bird Box, has over 45 million views worldwide and fans buzzing on social media. Directed

by Susanne Bier and written by Eric Heisserer, the movie displays an interesting take on the human psyche.

The movie follows Malorie (Sandra Bullock) in a world where global suicides suddenly begin, caused by the sight of a mysterious force, resulting in the characters having to wear blindfolds when outside. The story of the first incident of these suicides is paralleled with Malorie’s journey five years later to take her children to a safe haven downriver while blindfolded.

This movie was filled with bold choices, including never showing the “vision” which caused a character to commit suicide, making it ever more suspenseful. However, I was somewhat disappointed that the vision was never physically given a face.

In terms of story, the movie does a favorable job in maintaining suspense. I easily slid into the shoes of Malorie and Tom, and the heart-racing scenes made it an adventurous and thrilling experience. The resolution of the film, while satisfying, still left me craving more suspense and a clearer answer. However, the symbolic and picturesque conclusion is one to be appreciated.

The prevalent symbolism in the film was extremely impactful and could have been interpreted in a variety of ways.

Some theories include that the symbolic undertones explore the importance of religion and faith to escape tragedy, the impending doom of social media on impressionable minds, and the growing awareness for mental health in today’s society.

While the religious symbolism of the film seems like a stretch, referring to the blindfold as a “leap of faith,” other concepts like mental health awareness being spread through the message of pent up emotional baggage leading to suicide. Also, the impact of social media is shown with Mallorie’s difficulty to connect with her children on the boat.

Bird Box was an extremely well-done fail and maintained a sense of suspense throughout. Sandra Bullock, Trevante Rhodes, and Danielle MacDonald exemplified great talent and maintained a believable plot. Specifically, Sandra Bullock, fully embodied the character of Mallorie and inspired me with her tremendous performance. Between the artistic cinematography and layered storyline, the movie is definitely worth the watch. I would recommend this movie to anyone ready to take on a large amount of thrill and emotions embedded in a film with many symbolic undertones that are ready for interpretation.

Government

SHUTDOWN Our government was previously shut down from December 22nd, 2018 to January 25th, 2019. A government shutdown means that a budget for federal services isn't approved, which causes them to be suspended until they have funds to operate. This past shutdown was the longest one in American history, a record 35 days. Failure to reach a deal on a budget for border security between the President and Congress caused political gridlock in Washington.

Pressure to open the government from both parties prompted President Trump to sign a bill that temporarily re-opened the government for three weeks to buy time for congress to discuss a long-term deal on border security. If both sides can't come to a compromise, our government may shut down again.

Who is affected by a government shutdown?

TSA, FAA, and over 800,000 total federal workers employees are forced to work without pay.

The Food and Drug Administration has suspended all routine food inspections, putting our safety in jeopardy.

An additional 350,000 workers have been placed on unpaid leave with no idea as to when they will be working again.

What will happen if the government shuts down again?

If the government shuts down again, the consequences could be catastrophic. Federal workers may quit in large numbers to find paying jobs, our food will not be inspected, and our airports may not be able to function. Avoiding another shutdown at all costs is imperative.

Sources; CNBC, NPR, Vecteezy.com

By Ben Silberman