February 2020

The

November 2019 February 2020

Bloomfield Hills Hills High High School School Bloomfield

VolumeVIIVII- Issue - IssueIIII Volume

Bloomfield Hills COmmunity MARLEE SACKSNER Section Editor

O

n December 19, 2019 at 11:58 a.m., the BluePoint alarm system was activated, triggering a campus-wide lockdown and sending students into a “run, hide, fight” protocol.

Students and staff reacted immediately, racing outside or locking down in place for safety, hearing shouts that there was an active shooter in the building.

Though fear struck, the community immediately came together as students, teachers, and administrators worked together to provide needed support, direction, and comfort. Although it remains unknown who pulled the alarm, authorities have

determined there was no credible threat. This event revealed the community’s strength during a crisis and cooperative determination to keep everyone safe. Principal Charlie Hollerith explained the incident’s ongoing impact on the school community.

“I think we’ve learned a lot from this incident. It made our school stronger because in these types of situations, students needed students, staff needed staff, students needed staff, and staff needed students,” said Hollerith.

“The number one responsibility of schools and school districts is safety and security of all students and these types of events really make us… stronger and really [make us] appreciate the val-

School News

ue of each and every student, the importance of planning and doing drills. Also, knowing that we have the support of the community, should we need it again in the future, [is comforting].”

Those working at nearby Kirk in the Hills, Lifetime Fitness, and the Bloomfield Township Town Hall also rose to the occasion, providing safe shelter to fleeing students and staff. Even without any explanation for the sudden onslaught of people, each of these community buildings immediately opened their doors to hundreds of panicked students. Alex Kim, the Youth Director at Kirk in the Hills, emphasized his commitment to the Bloomfield community and the importance of

student protection and wellbeing during the incident. “[Having been a part of the army,] I know how frightening it can be to hear that sound and worry for your life. So, a lot of the students were concerned [because] nobody really knew what was going on. As a pastor, I feel my job is to care for the well-being and souls of everyone, and in that instance, the students were the main concern,” said Kim. “In that situation, your emotions are going all over the place and you’re not thinking clearly and so just trying to help [the students] feel grounded, letting them know they were safe [was important]. Regardless of whether or not it was an actual shooting, the experience was certainly real

to all, and so we just tried to provide as much comfort as we could.”

BHHS staff played a pivotal role in ensuring everyone’s safety. Depending on their position in the building, teachers either fled with their students or locked down in their classrooms. Art teacher Matthew Beauchamp and his class locked down in a storage closet protected by steel doors in the Art Wing.

“I’ve spent a lot of time planning for this type of emergency, so I sprang into action. There is no time to be emotional or to panic - you have to act decisively,” said Beauchamp. “[This incident] gave us much-needed practice on how to respond to an emergency. I have a lot more confidence that we are pre-

LENNA PETERSON Staff Writer Starting at the beginning of this semester, administration has implemented a new pilot program in which classroom bells will be turned off in order to evaluate the need for them going forward.

In an email sent to the school community, Principal Charlie Hollerith wrote, “Throughout the course of the school day, bells can be disruptive to the learning environment and also provide an artificial and inauthentic start or end to a class or activity.

Just as they do with after school activities, jobs, and other appointments, students will be asked to get themselves to class on time and will be dismissed at the appropriate time by their instructors. We trust you to be on time and to manage your own schedules.’’

According to BHHS, the administration has chosen to remove these bells amid concerns surrounding anxiety among students and as an attempt to modernize the learning environment at school. From a student per-

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pared for such an incident.”

Students experienced intense emotions during and after the false alarm. Some upperclassmen recalled a similar BluePoint false alarm, noting a similar feeling of unity.

“Having experienced the alarm malfunction a few years ago, I was unsure if this was a real or fake situation,” said junior Chloe Erickson.

“However, these experiences showed me how a community can come together in a time of trouble. No matter where you go within the area, it is comforting to know that there is someone there looking out for you.”

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School News

Feature

Ringing in change BHHS removes school bells in a new pilot program

comes together after campus lockdown

Elevating student voice Mr. Posner, Steven Elias, Matthew Gutman, Jonathan Margosian, Joshua Bicos, Aerin Washington, Grant Rhodes, Andre Lizao, and Samatha Backolay posing after the Honors Band concert.

Photo by Scott Wolf

Music students honored Eight students attend top ranked music group in the state of Michigan LINDSEY ZOUSMER Staff Writer Eight students from BHHS participated in the seventh annual Honors Band performance, directed by Mr. Posner, on January 18.

Honors Band and All-State Band are two audition-based specialty bands that high school musicians can take advantage of.

Band director Alan Posner explained the selection process.

“The MSBOA All-State Band is comprised of some of the top musicians from the state of Michigan. In late October, over 3,000 students from all around the state auditioned for a chance to be in their high school orches-

See more stories at

Editorial Policy

bhhstoday.org

The Bloomfield Hills High School Hawkeye newspaper is a student publication whose content is chosen by students. Members of The Hawkeye staff such as the Editors-in-chief, managing editors, photography managers, and section editors oversee the work created for every publication, both in print and online. The adviser and the editors-in-chief make the final decisions on all content. Opinions expressed in any publication of The Hawkeye do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the BHHS staff, faculty, or administration.

tra, high school band, high school jazz band, middle school band, and middle school orchestra. Out of those 3,000 only about 300 are selected to participate. Being selected to participate in one of these ensembles is one of the highest honors for instrumental music students in the state of Michigan,” said Posner. “Students will rehearse Thursday and Friday as part of the Michigan Music Conference in Grand Rapids. The event culminates in a large performance on Saturday.

This year the event was held on Saturday, January 18.”

The students that participated in Honors Band this year include sophomore Samantha

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Submit Letters to the Editor Write a 200-300 word letter to the editor and send it to us: hawkeye@bloomfield.org

Kiersten McCollum honored with Michigan Student Voice award SHELBY JENKINS Section Editor On January 10, senior Kiersten McCollum was honored as a finalist for Michigan Student Voice, a speech contest available to students in Student Leadership; as a result, she landed a presentation spot at the state conference.

“It was super surreal,” said McCollum. “I was definitely shocked for a good two days.

Afterward, it had really hit me: wow, I’m going to the state conference to give a speech in front of a couple of thousand people.”

Michigan Student Voice’s goal is to spread messages of importance according to the Michigan Associate of Student Councils and Honors Society. Students create three-minute and 20-second presentations that combine images with public speaking to share a message on a topic the student selected.

Students then present at their respective regional conferences and advance to the state

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Follow us: @bloomfieldhawkeye @thehawkeyenews

2

February News

Bells (from 1) Kobe and Gianna Bryant killed in helicopter crash

Local and World News

Photo by Axios

Tweets: than a basketball “ More player, he was a beloved father, husband and teammate. Their love and light will remain in our hearts forever.

Local Reactions: Students and Social Media

-@Lakers

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Renowned Los Angeles Lakers Player Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gianna Bryant, were killed in a helicopter crash near Calabasas, California in late January. The helicopter was en route to one of Gianna Bryant’s basketball games before it crashed into a hillside. An investigation into the causes of the crash is still ongoing.

For more information about Kobe Bryant, see page 20.

He was an inspiration to many people and was always one of the best players on the court. He was tough and never took a day off. So many people have been inspired by him and his story.

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Voting rights town hall held

Top Story:

The Hawkeye Highlights

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spective, this adjustment has a major impact upon daily life.

“I think this will benefit students in the long term, while causing short term consequences beforehand,” said sophomore Naomi Parr.

“I think it’s causing a lot of difficulty as it’s a big change and something new to get used to. Once students have adjusted, I think I will appreciate the change as it seems to make the transitions between classes less stressful.’’

Mike Barry, a history teacher as well as a member of the Learning Community Committee, recognizes that using bells in schools may be anxiety-provoking.

“There’s been some research recently that suggests that bells in schools can be disruptive, and that they create a kind of dependency that actually prevents people from developing independent skills and responsibilities,” said Barry. “And then, in a couple of weeks, students and teachers and administrators and even parents are going to have the opportunity to provide some feedback regarding the pilot program. So I really think it’s about being open minded. It’s about being willing to try something new and just seeing how it works for you individually and for the people around you.’’

The administration encourages students as well as teachers to do their best to adapt to this new change, in order to better the school environment for all.

- Erin Marshall, senior

BHHS Political Awareness Club moderates first town hall of 2020 CASSIE ENGLISH Staff Writer On January 29, the BHHS Political Awareness Club (PAC) hosted a town hall on the topic of voting rights. Students feel that the 2020 election cycle has been a highly discussed topic of news, so the students involved in PAC took it upon themselves to hold an event to educate community members on both local and national voting policy.

The panelists included Kevin DeeganKrause, a published author and professor of political science at Wayne State University; Lisa Brown, an Oakland County clerk and former state representative; Janet Roncelli, a Bloomfield Township clerk; and Jason Reed from Rank MI Vote. The audience was made up of a large number of students, many of whom will not be able to vote in the 2020 presidential election.

“You [the audience] just being here… inspires me and it makes me hopeful for the future that you want to be engaged and knowledgeable before you even have the right to vote,” said Roncelli.

This event was organized by five PAC students who also served as the moderating panel: seniors Alan Zhang and Brody Mayoras, junior Savitri Anantharaman, sophomore Heather Chen, and freshman Natalie Simoni.

“I wanted to organize an event where we could have a broader discussion about voting rights issues, and where students and community members could have a dialogue with our Oakland County and Bloomfield Township clerks and some voting rights experts about those issues,” said Zhang.

Panelists were asked indirectly by the audience, who wrote their questions on note cards to be collected by Mayoras. Topics discussed included voting in primaries, new proposals and requirements affecting voters this year, and specific areas that the panelists were most educated on. Roncelli showed her passion for the illegalization of gerrymandering, something that affected her personally, and Reed discussed his work in promoting rank voting. All of the panelists emphasized the importance of local elections.

“One of the most important levels you have to vote at is when you have local elections or local issues because those are the people who touch you the closest,” said Brown.

There was a table near the entrance to the auditorium where members of the League of Women Voters, an organization that was formed in 1920 to help women become a larger part of public affairs, were available to help anyone who had not already registered to vote. The panelists expressed their gratitude to the audience throughout the town hall for being involved in their community, and the moderating team was very happy with the turnout.

“I hope that students and community members learned more about some issues and obstacles affecting the right to vote… and about recent changes made to voting laws and requirements. I also hope attendees were inspired to engage in more political activism in the future,” said Zhang. “I’d also like to give a big thank you to our amazing moderating team and our panelists!”

Italy declares state of emergency in wake of coronavirus

Detailed image of the Sun’s surface released

United Kingdom leaves European Union

As the fear surrounding the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus grows, the Italian government declared a state of emergency in efforts to contain the two cases confirmed in Rome in late January. Following information that a couple traveling from Wuhan had contracted the virus, all flights to and from China have been stopped. The state of emergency is expected to last about six months and an estimated $5.3 million has been directed towards treating the virus.

The Inouye Solar Telescope, located at the top of Mount Haleakala in Hawaii, has captured the most detailed images of the sun’s surface. The telescope, developed by the National Science Foundation, also has the ability to document the magnetic fields of the sun’s corona as well as other activity occuring on the surface.

The telescope, according to the National Science Foundation, will be instrumental in helping predict solar storms and understand what influences weather in space.

Following the vote in June of 2016 to leave the European Union (EU), The United Kingdom has officially departed the EU as of late January. A member of the EU since 1973, “Brexit” divided the nation when it was announced in 2016 that 52% of voters saw it time to depart from the 47-year membership. Britian will now enter an 11-month transition period to negotiate new agreements with the EU.

Photo by The New York Times

Photo by New Statesman

Photo by Universe Today

ASL classes offered by DHH program District ASL courses geared towards learners of all ages and skill levels JORDAN HAMILTON Staff Writer Every Monday night from February 3 to March 30, the district’s Deaf and Hard of Hearing Program is hosting American Sign Language (ASL) classes for free at Eastover Elementary School. These classes will be made available to all community members regardless of skill or age.

Foreign sign language coordinator Diana Campbell gave some insight as to what will be taught throughout the sessions and how participants will learn.

“The family sign language class has several leveled ASL courses and curriculum that will get the parents or siblings from ages 5-12 to learn the signs,” said Campbell.

Campbell noted that these classes will be modeled similarly to the ASL courses offered at Bloomfield Hills High School. There will be classes that are geared towards all levels of difficulty and background knowledge of ASL: advanced, intermediate, beginners, and kids.

The community has embraced the idea of educating one another on ASL and increasing communication with all throughout the community. Senior Jimmy Fontanesi discussed his eagerness to join in on these classes.

“Personally, I can’t wait for the arrival of these classes because it’s a much needed skill that all people should learn. It’s important to be able to communicate in these ways with the growing number of hearing impaired people in the world and I think it’s cool our

school district is stressing this importance.

You’ll be sure to catch me at a few of these classes!” said Fontanesi.

For those who are not able to attend any of the classes on the set dates, Campbell outlined ways you can learn on your own at home or, if you did attend some classes, enrich your learning and increase your knowledge.

“My advice for anyone who wants to communicate with a deaf person is to make eye contact and keep it while you are talking.

They will have difficulty understanding if you look away or cover your mouth. You can always write the note to communicate if you don’t know the sign, or [if] they couldn’t lip-

Instructor teaches atendees at community ASL class.

Photo by Sara Cabral

read. [People] can also go online and look up ASLdeafined (an online resource center with courses teaching basic sign language skills), where I work as an ASL curriculum developer. Most of the high schools offer a foreign language class where they sometimes include American Sign Languages,” said Campbell.

With this introduction of new classes, excitement from the community, and commitment to educating others from individuals who teach family sign language, the Bloomfield Hills community looks to improve communications amongst the hearing impaired, according to Campbell.

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February news

COLUMN Fear stays on campus Student recounts how BluePoint incident brings back troubling times ERIN SCHWARTZ Staff Writer

BluePoint alarm system with new cover security upgrade.

Photo by Georgia Zimmerman

BluePoint alarm system updated Following the December incidents, upgrades to campus secuirty have been added SHELBY JENKINS Staff Writer Shortly before noon on December 19, the BluePoint system was activated at BHHS. Lights began flashing and the alarm sounded throughout the building. Students took action to get themselves to safety once they noticed the system was triggered.

The BluePoint system was installed when BHHS was built in 2015. The system’s goal was to alert all people inside the building that there is an active threat and they need to take action accordingly. Once a BluePoint lever is pulled, a lockdown is triggered: lights around the school will begin to flash and a loud sound is played over the speakers, alerting students that they need to get safety. When it was pulled on December 19, administrators and officials noted that the system is working appropriately.

“As far as this system, it did exactly what it was intended to do,” said Officer Cory Donberger. “It was designed and engineered in a way to alert everybody that there

is something going on in the building.”

After the false alarm that occurred two years ago, the system was updated to send an immediate text message to teachers a n d staff w i t h the location of the pulled alarm.

T h e major u p dates following the latest incident i n clude both the addition of cases covering the alarms and the installation of additional cameras to monitor the pulls. “[To avoid] any more accidental activations, you can see that we put covers over all

them [and now] more unit activation pulls have cameras on them [too],” said Officer David VanKerckhove.

In addition to the BluePoint updates, both officers noted that there are always going to be more things w e could do to ensure s t u dent safety, such as implementi n g newer technologies or placing metal detectors inside schools.

“I think there is always more we can do,” said Officer David VanKerckhove. “We could have metal detectors [or] we could change the whole layout

“We were extremely fortunate to have such a positive community response.”

Charlie Hollerith Principal

of the school… but we can’t have TSA at our entrances.

I think we are doing a very good job of talking about mental health. I think we are doing a good job talking about if you see something [or] hear something, say something. We as law enforcement can investigate it and we will always stress that to everyone.”

Following the incident in December, Principal Charlie Hollerith commended the entire Bloomfield Hills community for their reactions following the activation of the Blue Point alarm. “[The positive community response] speaks volumes of how lucky we are to have our community step up in these types of situations and help our students and staff,” said Hollerith.

“The Township Hall, Lifetime, Kirk in the Hills, and other businesses were great in helping support and comfort our students through a very traumatic event.”

I was sitting in the classroom next to the media center sorting through my photographs to put on the school’s website. While deleting a bunch of photos, an unfamiliar siren played faintly above my head. I figured it could not have been a tornado; the weather was cold and sunny. It definitely wasn’t a fire alarm; that alarm has a very distinct sound that everyone can recognize. It almost sounded like a nuclear siren that you would hear in movies. I didn’t know what to think.

After several seconds of students looking around at each other in bewilderment, I heard a voice yell, “It’s the BluePoint alarm, run! Just run! Go!” The panic started to hit at that point. I grabbed my stuff and ran outside, down the media center staircase to the parking lot.

The first three people I saw were two of my closest friends and my little sister. I was relieved to see that they were all safe.

I calmed down once I found all of the important people in my life. I thought I was safe with my friends, and so I called my mom to let her know the situation. Suddenly, a staff member told us to keep running, so we ran further away and into the LifeTime Fitness across from the school.

As the situation continued to spiral out of control and with more questions floating among the panicked crowd, I started to get more worried. I lost control of my emotions for a little while and recalled the incident I was involved in during eighth grade.

I went to a tiny charter school in Madison Heights called Four Corners Montessori Academy. This school is where I discovered who I am, where I made friends who felt like family, and made memories that would last forever. However, not all of these memories were good.

As I left the school in my mother’s minivan one afternoon, I heard distant police sirens coming from the middle school building. I couldn’t check if my friends were safe. We were all only 12 or 13 years old at the time, and we didn’t all have phones, email, or anything to check up on each other.

It wasn’t until that night that my mom sat me down and told me what was going on.

A student had brought a gun to school. I couldn’t believe that one of the 38 kids that I had grown so close to had threatened other people’s lives.

I didn’t understand the reality of the situation until I showed up at school the next day and everyone was crying and holding each other tightly. No one knew how to handle this, and many of us still don’t really know what to think about that day.

Having an incident happen like this again was beyond scary. I was able to keep calm during the moment, but only because I’ve dealt with something similar before. My old school only had to deal with the emotional baggage of a few dozen students, while it was nearly 1,800 kids that they had to deal with during the recent incident.

I sincerely hope that no one ever has to go through a situation like this twice, especially when both times were left with questions unanswered. To all of those still struggling with this trauma, it does get better.

Follow-up after school-wide evacuation Students reflect on experience of a false alarm lockdown MARI LYNN Staff Writer

I was in the shop in the C100 learning community. I honestly was pretty calm about it because I had a broken foot and had to walk. I was a little worried at first but once it was all cleared up I felt a lot better. It took me some time but I was eventually able to get to Lifetime.

Tyrone McGinnis - 12th

I was in Graphic Design when the system went off, however, we ran into the photo room. I was extremely scared because nobody knew what was happening and there were some miscommunications amongst students regarding assumptions about the incident.

Riley Shapiro - 11th

I was definitely scared because I thought a sophomore was playing [the alarm] on his computer until I realized he wasn’t and was very panicked.

My sister was constantly calling me and telling me to leave the room but I wasn’t allowed to. My initial reaction was to follow the upperclassman that was running in the hallway and get out of the school.

Lola Halsband - 9th

At first, my body went into shock. I wasn’t sure what was going on, everyone around me was frozen. Then I saw some people running and I went into panic mode and fight or flight. I was scared for anyone left in the school. I ran out and went to LifeTime and stayed in the rooms.

At first I was confused and thought it was a drill but after 30 minutes of sitting silently in the corner of the classroom, I started to panic and think that something very serious was going on. I stayed in the room for 30 minutes until police escorted us out of the building.

Taylor Hughes - 12th

Rachel Kruman - 12th

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TikTo TikTok emerges as newest social media trend TikTok takes Gen Z by storm

by JAKE FOGEL Managing Editor Over the past year, the social media app TikTok has exploded in popularity, approaching 1.2 billion downloads. After rebranding the app Musical.ly, TikTok was introduced as a new way to share fun videos alongside audio clips. Among Generation Z, TikTok brings an element of humor uncommon on other social media outlets. Surpassing more established apps so quickly may beg the question of why TikTok has become so popular with ages ranging from middle school to college.

“I think a lot of people our age use Tik Tok because it’s a fun social media [app] that’s pretty new and a great way to procrastinate,” said senior TikTok user Emma Dwoskin.

One of the most prominent aspects of Tik Tok is the challenges, trends, and viral dances that come with it. According to Dwoskin, these especially attract young people.

“I think [Tik Tok] is unique to people our age since a lot of the trends target this age group as opposed to older generations,” said Dwoskin.

As Tik Tok becomes even more essential to the daily life of Gen Zers, many users are beginning to focus on going viral by appearing on the “for you” page on the social media platform. Dwoskin described her own experience with going viral on Tik Tok. For anyone hoping to go viral on TikTok, Dwoskin explained that one has to be familiar with the trends there are and then add their own creative spin to one.

Although many have sworn off the app, its prevalence within society has encouraged teens throughout the world to become users.

“I downloaded the app after refusing to for months and started making videos with my friends just for one. Then

I posted one and I checked back a few hours later and it had thousands of views,” said Dwoskin. “I’m not really sure how this happened, but it stayed on the for you page for weeks and is now at almost three million views.”

Another reason TikTok has become so popular is due to the notable inability of Gen Z-ers to focus for long periods of time.

AccordingtoMediakix.com,theaverageattentionspanofamember of Gen Z is eight seconds long, which is shorter than Millenials’ 12-second attention span. Still, TikTok’s 15-second videos allow young people to be able to stay entertained throughout the video.

TikTok is projected to continue to grow in number of users. So, whether you use TikTok or not already, be prepared to keep seeing more of it.

The TikTok takeover Student discusses the role change needed for TikTok

by IZZY O’BRIEN Staff Writer TikTok is the new obsession of 2020, and it has consumed everyone’s lives. Millions of people can share videos on the app, and everyone is racing to reach fame on the “For You” page.

When I first heard about TikTok, I was not impressed and I never thought I would download it. After watching a few videos from the app, I thought the content was boring and unfunny but as the app became increasingly more popular, I decided to download it, and it changed my life.

It is truly baffling how captivated people can become with TikTok. One of the culprits of this is due to the ever-changing content that TikTok presents to viewers. There is always something new, and you never see the same video twice. It’s what keeps the app interesting. I constantly find myself coming back to it because the content is always changing with what is happening in the world.

I truly enjoy the app because it has changed the definition of

fame for the better. The people who become famous from the app are normal people who teens can relate to, and they aren’t set on a pedestal like other celebrities. Some of the fame has even reached students from Bloomfield Hills High School. Sophomore Chris D’Agostino has gained a lot of attention on the app.

“I was doing it for fun at first, and I wasn’t expecting to get famous.

Now, getting famous is my goal, but it’s still fun,” said D’Agostino.

Although TikTok is an entertaining app to use, there are still some problems with it. One major issue teens have is spending too much time on their phones. TikTok definitely doesn’t help this concern because of how popular it has become. I often find myself returning to the app daily and have noticed how easy it is for me to get carried away scrolling through my feed for hours on end. Truthfully, I often use TikTok to procrastinate. Instead of doing my homework or studying for a test, I turn to TikTok to re-

lax, and it seems as if the real world fades away. Also, like most other social media platforms, TikTok causes its users to compare themselves to others and results in lowered self-esteem. Users, like myself, can become obsessed with their amount of followers or likes; being on social media can start to feel like a competition.

Although TikTok is entertaining, it needs to be used in moderation. Taking breaks are necessary when using any form of social media because users tend to stray away from reality.

Users can become stressed over the number of likes or followers they have, and become obsessed with increasing that number. Let’s face it; social media is always going to be a part of our lives, and new apps are being made every day. So, it is important that we find a healthy balance of screen time and the real world so that apps like TikTok don’t consume our lives.

Tracing the history of TikTok The background of TikTok and the features the app offers

by LAINIE RUBIN Staff Writer In 2014, teens were introduced to a social media platform known as Musical.ly. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the developers of this social media app, said Musical.ly was a place where teens and adults could convey their emotions through singing, dancing, comedy, and lip-syncing.

Musical.ly was bought out by ByteDance for around $800 million in 2017. ByteDance is the owner of a similar up-and-coming app known as TikTok. Since both apps are interchangable, the decision was to merge both Musical.ly and TikTok together under the TikTok name.

“I was a Musical.ly user, but just for the purpose of watching videos. When it became TikTok, I started becoming more active and made videos as well,” said sophomore Bella Muchnick.

All active Musical.ly users, along with its content, were automatically transferred over into TikTok when

the change was implemented. Todd Spangler, a writer for Variety, explained the features that the app entails.

“The feed highlights content from a user’s community and features personalized video recommendations based on viewing preferences,” said Spangler in his article.

Additionally, TikTok features a “reaction” component which allows TikTok users to react to a video; filters and camera effects can also be added to each video.

Junior Cameron Roumayah expressed his perspective on the app, emphasizing how simple and entertaining the app is to use.

“My favorite part of TikTok is learning all of the dances for each trendy song. I also love being able to make videos that people try and mimic,” said Roumayah.

The content presented on TikTok is based on comical sounds, dances, TV shows, and movies. To create a video, the user

selects a song of their choice to film with. Slow motion, time lapse, and fast forward filming is all available when producing the video. Once the video is created, there is an option to post the video onto the app where followers have the opportunity to view the video or to message it via social media, email or text.

TikTok will work to improve the creator programs which will eventually furnish technical support, performance ideas, and a way to increase growth. Additionally, the number of users are mainly a part of the United States and China, but the company’s goal is to spread TikTok to other countries like Indonesia because it is the largest market in Southern Asia.

Based on the facts and statistics, TikTok continues to help broaden the social media world. For many social media fanatics, TikTok will may allow the concept of likes and followers to be insignificant.

ok

New social media app surpasses 1.5 billion downloads worldwide

by BEN SILBERMAN DESIGN EDITOR

6

February News

Kiersten (from 1) Students then present at their respective regional conferences and advance to the state conference if their peers vote them through.

“My speech was called ‘The Hidden Symptoms of Stigmation.’ The whole premise of it was based around the stigmas surrounding sexual assault and PTSD, and ways to combat [them],” said McCollum. “I feel like it wasn’t so much a thing for me telling other people as a woman but me telling other people as a Student Leader because we’re supposed to be the people representing the community and standing up for [others]. If we don’t know what certain things we’re supposed to be standing up for, then I feel like we’re missing an entire area of people we could be helping.”

Student Leadership advisors Krista Laliberte and Emily Handy had offered this opportunity to students in the past, but this year was the first time any student had chosen to apply.

“We let them know that there’s a contest, how it works, and that there’s an opportunity for a scholarship at the end, but it is 100 percent on them to determine what they write about, talk about, present, and [prepare]. We just support whatever they decide to do,” said Laliberte. “This year, we were lucky enough to have actually three individuals [Kiersten McCollum, Taylor Hughes and Gavin Raab] run. They all did an amazing job at the regional conference but they only take one person per regional.”

After the final presentation at the regional conference on January 10, voting took place and McCollum was selected as the winner.

“For me, it was her speech. [It] was very different from the other kids’,” said Handy.

“She just had a mix of poise and humor but then also a very serious story. I think the story itself was powerful but her delivery was just so good. A lot of people had great stories to share but I think it was her presentation overall and her competence.”

McCollum will present at the state conference, which begins on February 29, for the chance to receive a scholarship.

“I have a passion for public speaking and no matter what the topic is or where it is, I always have the same general goal, which is that I hope to impact at least one person’s life. That’s my whole goal. Especially on this big of a spectrum, I just love to give people another thing to think about.”

Furry friends join BHHS Student Leadership hosts a day of play with therapy dogs FALLAN SHERMAN Staff Writer Student Leadership hosted Ruff Week Relief during advisory the week before finals as a way to help students de-stress prior to exams. Another goal of this event was to help support the class of 2022’s prom.

Cami Krugel and sophomore student leadership representatives helped coordinate this event in hopes of providing students with the benefits that therapy dogs offer. “[Ruff Week Relief] helped the students of BHHS take a break from studying and gave them a chance to de-stress,” said Krugel.

“The event also supported the sophomore class and was a huge success.”

As it is the third year that this event has been hosted, the Ruff Week Relief event has been able to provide students with stress management options, and a brief studying distraction. During a 15-minute time slot in advisory, students had the chance to spend time with therapy dogs. Sophomore Samantha Cellar explained her experience after she participated in this event. “[Ruff Week Relief] gave me the opportunity to forget about finals for a minute,” said Cellar. “My favorite part was being able to incorporate a sophomore student’s therapy dog.”

In addition to being fun and relaxing, the event provided students with a learning experience about the dogs’ training while also successfully raising money for the class of 2022. Heather Chen, a sophomore and student leader, coordinated this fundraiser.

“My favorite part was being able to talk to the owners of the dogs,” said Chen. “They are dogs that are training to become leader dogs, and it takes so much time to raise these dogs.”

In planning the event, student leadership believed that providing students with time to spend with cute and friendly dogs would help to better a stressful week and boost kids through the end of the semester.

“It really was a great experience for me and my peers,” said Sammy Green, a junior who attended the event. “I am a dog lover and seeing something that I love in school really helped me to enjoy my day and gave me something to look forward to throughout the week.”

Cast of Clue performing during the Broadway Benefit.

Photo by Georgia Zimmerman

Spotlight on theater department benefit Muder-mystery and Broadway songs combined in one night only show CASSIE ENGLISH Staff Writer On February 7, the theater program’s annual musical and oneact showcase was held. The first act included performances of Broadway songs while the second act was a performance of the play, “Clue: Onstage High School Edition,” based on Clue, the Parker Brothers board game.

The first act’s collection of musical numbers was based around the theme of “victors and villains.” Songs from shows like “Annie,” “Hamilton,” and “Into The Woods” were performed by characters that fit either antagonist or protagonist roles.

This revue section was emceed by junior Francis Nwamgbe, who introduced the talents of the 45-member cast.

“There’s a lot of stuff going on in the showcase, so I [tried] my best to make sure that I make my emceeing entertaining but not too entertaining to the point of

being forced,” said Nwamgbe.

“I [was] very excited to just be an observer more than being very prese n t in the show.”

The s e c o n d act’s “Clue” i n cluded 1 0 leads a n d six ensemb l e members. The week prior to the Showcase, the cast and crew of “Clue” performed at the Mid-

Michigan Thespian Festival, more commonly known as LoveF e s t , where schools presented their o w n one-acts over a two-day span.

T h i s year was BHHS’s second year in attendance.

“Seeing the actors bring m y blocking to life has been really exciting and really cool to see the scene go from my head and onto the

Having only a handful of people in a rehearsal led to closer relationships and a very professional atmosphere.”

Megan Defrancesco

stage,” said student director Catherine Recknagel.

Recknagel’s duties during rehearsals included copying the cast’s blocking, directing a few scenes, and keeping cast members on task and organized. She worked alongside a student production team of seven, including a sound designer, light designer, and stage manager.

“The cast and crew had to work very hard in minimal time, but the show [was] pulled off remarkably,” said Megan Defrancesco, a junior who is playing the role of Ms. Scarlett.

Overall, the students involved agreed the performance was tight-knit and memorable.

“It’s funny, it’s fast, it’s complicated but so much fun and it was so amazing to help direct,” said Recknagel.

United (from 1) These two incidents also revealed connections between the different grade levels as upperclassmen provided support and guidance to younger students. Freshman Eli Fox experienced this firsthand, initially unsure of what to do as he evacuated the building with his classmates.

“When the alarm went off, my class first thought the sound was coming from a fire truck passing by the school. No one was completely sure what was happening. If there is a next time, we won’t hesitate. Luckily, after running out of the school, I was able to spot my sister in a crowd. She and her friends drove me home to safety,” said Fox. BHHS also relied upon the experience and dedication of the district security officers to ensure the community’s safety. First responding officer David VanKerckhove explained how training in preparation for these incidents is always taken seriously and how the event was a learning experience for all.

“Safety and security for the students in the building are always a priority for me and Officer DonBerger. We will continue to train students and staff [for these types of situations]. We always tell the staff to invite us into [their]classrooms if [they]want to talk to us about where [they] are in this area of the school and different options for [them]in case of an emergency situation,” said VanKerckhove. “I know our police department will have learned important things during this event that we’re going to improve and train from. I think [this incident] helped the school understand that we are not just trying to do these drills and to tell you what

‘run, hide, fight’ means; [we are doing it] to protect those in the building.”

Officer Cory Donberger, who arrived shortly after the alarm sounded, was struck by the immediacy of the community’s support.

“The Bloomfield Hills Schools staff set the tone: kind and calm.”

Tera Moon Assistant Director of the Bloomfield Township Library “We need that support at home and in the community [during these types of situations].

We know as law enforcement, we have a responsibility, and we know that we are here to help the school district with doing these types of things. We also know that the school

community has a responsibility as well and we really need that community piece to help support the area,” said Donberger.

As the event unfolded, all remaining students were relocated by bus to a well-publicized reunification site: the Bloomfield Township Public Library. Assistant Director of the library Tera Moon, who was also one of the organizers of the reunification site, described the goals of those managing the reunification.

“Everyone was focused on the students: making the environment welcoming, attending to their needs, and trying to make sure reunification went as smoothly as possible. It proved that everyone can pull together and focus on each other,” said Moon.

Principal Hollerith hopes to provide closure to students, teachers, staff, and all members of the community by finalizing the investigation. Hollerith explained the school’s next steps to better ensure safety to those within the building based on what was experienced on December 19.

“We understood that we needed covers on the BluePoint pull stations. Those have been installed and are in place. We have also realized that we need some upgrades to our video surveillance system including additional cameras, which are in the process of being ordered and installed here in the near future,” said Hollerith. “With any incident, you learn a lot. As educators, we are in the business of learning and should this event happen again, I would like to think that we will learn from this experience and be even more prepared next time, should it occur.”

FEBRuary feature

7

Honors band (from 1)

Student reflects on crisis in Australia Alexandra Sergakis shares thoughts on the horrors back home HANNAH WINTER Staff Writer Australia has been at the forefront of the news with the spreading of the bushfires that began late last year.

Bloomfield Hills High School student Alexandra Sergakis moved here from Australia, and had the opportunity to go back over this past winter break and see what has changed.

“The whole culture of it has changed. It was interesting to see how everything is different. It’s just not how it used to be. It’s sad because I feel like the Australian culture is starting to die out,” said Sergakis.

Sergakis noted how other cultures are introducing their food and shops into Australia, helping the economy but also causing the authentic Australian culture to fade out. When Sergakis went back to Australia, the culture was not the only thing that was differ-

ent. The fires spreading across Australia have taken a toll.

“Australia is a very pretty place and it was shocking to see smoke everywhere. The disaster had grown out of control and nothing like this ever happened to Australia when I lived there. I couldn’t see the freeways and there was smoke everywhere. It is very sad because I have seen lots of videos and pictures like everyone else [and I saw it] all in real life,” said Sergakis.

Although Sergakis was not near the fires when she visited, the fires have been terrifying for her family that still lives in Australia and there is a very real chance that some of Sergakis’s family could be affected by the fires.

“One of my brother’s godparents was only 45 minutes away from one of the fires and they were told to evacuate,” said Sergakis. “All of my extended

family lives there, and the fires could potentially affect them.”

The fires have been gaining national attention, especially on social media. However, not all of the accounts promoting helping the fires are legitimate and reliable. Sergakis encouraged people not to just repost images but to do their own research and look for causes that are for the right reasons.

“People repost images on their Instagram even though they are fake. People haven’t done their research so they wouldn’t know that. People wouldn’t understand the effects until they actually go to Australia, and see the damage that has been done. To find true information on how to donate, go on an Australian government website,” said Sergakis.

Sergakis pointed out that the news coverage in the United States has only recently started

discussing the disasters and was refraining from discussing it until the fires were at their peak.

“I think that the American news doesn’t show the dramatic effects of fires such as the number of animals that are dead or the number of people that are hurt by this disaster.

I know it may be hard for the public to view the effects, but it is also good to know what is going on,” said Sergakis.

Sergakis could not believe the damage that has been done to Australia by the fires. Her trip back to her hometown was one that she would never forget.

The fires have shown Sergakis just how close Australia is to her heart.

“It is just sad to see that everything is burning. The disaster just hits close to home, literally and figuratively,” said Sergakis.

The students that participated in Honors Band this year include sophomore Samantha Bekolay; juniors Aerin Washington, Steven Elias, Josh Bicos, Andre Lizano, and Grant Rhodes; and seniors Matthew Gutman and Jonathan Margosian.

Matthew Gutman was first chair tuba in District Four Honors Band, and third chair in All-State Band. Although a very talented musician, being a part of band was not always his dream.

“I initially joined band in high school because my parents forced me to. However, as time went on, I grew to love it more and more. One of my favorite parts about band is the friendships that I have made because of it. Being able to make music with people is a connection that is unlike any other, and it inspires me to continue doing what I love,” said Gutman.

To receive a spot in Honors Band, students must submit an application and their Solo and Ensemble score. To be a part of All-State Band, students perform a specific prepared etude in a blind audition, along with a sightreading portion and some scales. Over 2,500 high schoolers auditioned for the All-State Band, and around 110 students were chosen.

“The District Four Honors Band was an amazing experience. It was really great to meet people from different schools, and to play and practice together,” said third chair tuba player Aerin Washington. “My favorite part about band is being able to play an instrument while learning a lot about music and myself.”

The overall experience of Honors Band is worth the musicians’ hard work, according to Gutman.

“Being in the District Four Honors Band was an incredible experience, as I was surrounded by many other musicians who are just as passionate about the performing arts as I am. Performing in the All-State band was mind-blowing,” said Gutman. “Playing with 100 of the most talented high-school musicians in the state was an experience that I am truly grateful for, and I would not have been able to perform with such a group if it weren’t for the incredible teachers leading our performing arts program.”

District revises calendar

BHSD introduces Multicultural Calendar KAITLYN LUCKOFF Editor-in-Chief Beginning on January 31st, the Bloomfield Hills School District launched a Multicultural Calendar, created by the district Global Education Team. Over the past few years, the district has worked to include cultural awareness into school curriculum. The purpose of this calendar is to filter our large district calendar to all cultural and religious observances, in order to ensure that students and families are aware of the many observances that our diverse district recognizes. In an email to district families, Administrator for Social Emotional Learning and Educational Equity Margaret Schultz explains, “Bloomfield Hills Schools also recognizes it is critical that our students are learning about various cultures throughout the school year and curriculum, and that recognitions during these months/ days are in addition to and support an inclusive curriculum,” said Schultz. In the future, the district hopes to grow this calendar to include all cultural groups.

Made by Scott Spektor

8

February Feature

Prepare U added to curriculum Students and staff respond to Prepare U program SANJU SWAMY Business Manager Prepare U, a new social-emotional and mental health program has been implemented in many schools across North America, and now it is a large component of the health classes at BHHS. As a separate unit for students taking health classes, Prepare U aims to educate students about mental health. Health teacher Amy Scott incorporated the Prepare U curriculum into her health class from October 2019 to December 2019. She explained the goals of the program.

“Prepare U was created in an attempt to remove the stigma associated with mental health and to give students tools that they can use throughout their lives,” said Scott.

Since the program is new to the district, teachers have been applying their own techniques to implement it into the classroom.

Scott described her process of adding Prepare U to her curriculum.

“There are student manuals given to each student in health class at the beginning of the Prepare U unit. The students use manuals to self-reflect and to follow along with the lessons as the teacher presents. The teacher presents a new topic each class and there is usually a video to go along with it,” said Scott.

Freshman Genevieve Orlewicz shared her thoughts on the Prepare U program, emphasizing its ability to unify students through communication.

“Through this program, everyone becomes so much closer in class. Every day, we would circle up and have an open discussion, along with sharing stories about the topic [of that day]. I got to learn things about people that I never knew before and it made me more open,” said Orlewicz.

Scott noticed some trends that occurred as a result of the circle discussions. Scott believed her students acclimated to the unbounded speaking environment.

“It helps us to take down the walls and to speak freely in a safe environment. Prepare U opens the window of opportunity for BHHS to become a climate of acceptance and support for all students,” said Scott.

Freshman Benjamin Hunt spoke about how Prepare U has affected the in-class environment. Hunt recognized that in spite of how individuals felt about the program, they were all able to contribute during circle discussions.

“I felt that Prepare U helped open people up even if they were uncomfortable. Even though some people didn’t care for it, it was good to see people open up about themselves,” said Hunt.

Prepare U has more to offer than its mental training program. Orlewicz believes that there are other supplemental benefits of Prepare U. “Not only does it focus on mental health issues, but also solutions, how to manage things, and what to do in bad situations,” said Orlewicz.

Not a lot of students are aware of Prepare U and its role in the district. Scott spoke about the impact Prepare U has on the student body.

“I believe that Prepare U enlightens our students about many aspects of mental health. I also feel that it lets our students know that they are never alone, [and] that there is always someone they can reach out to,” said Scott.

Bionic Black Hawks competing at robotics competition.

Photo by Sara Cabral

Building the robotics community Bionic Black Hawks launch initiative to introduce robotics to youth RYANNE LEONARD Staff Writer For years, the 2834 Bionic Black Hawks, BHHS’s robotics team, has provided opportunities for district elementary and middle school students to be introduced to robotics through mentoring and competitions. The team decided to take on this initiative in order to expand involvement in STEM and within the robotics program.

The robotics team launched its project through the organization called For Inspiration, Recognition, and Science and Technology (FIRST). In the program, the youngest age group, ranging from ages 3-7, participates in the FIRST Lego League (FLL) Jr., where they learn the basics of engineering through crafting Lego robots which they get to display to a panel of student volunteer judges. FLL is a continuation of this, from ages 8-10.

For the older age group, ages 11-13, it becomes more competitive with a judging process centered around core values. Some awards include Gracious Professionalism or Most Spirited Team.

Unlike the younger students, this level creates 18-inch metal robots

and the tasks grow in difficulty.

With these competitions, youth are exposed to career opportunities.

Hannah Barr, a junior and member of the robotics team, explained the importance of these programs.

“Not only does robotics help a lot with problem solving skills, but it also is a good way to get involved and interested in those STEM fields. That can stem off into finding a career and thinking, ‘I’m going to do that with my life,’” said Barr.

The significance of introducing STEM to younger kids is further elaborated on by Bionic Black Hawks Captain and senior Sophie Henderson.

“We want to make sure that everyone has the opportunity to be exposed to STEM because it’s a really important and pivotal part of our society. It’s also important to expose them to new things when they’re younger to get that curiosity sparked,” said Henderson.

This robotics initiative extends beyond engineering and science, promoting teamwork and investigative thinking, among other values. “[The initiative] allows [par-

was able to join a government advocacy group to endorse women involvement in STEM, speaking at Washington D.C. and United Nations conferences in the past. Despite a focus on science and technology, numerous members found other meanings for the club.

“Robotics is way more dimensional than [programming] and it provides opportunities for learning leadership,” said Chen.

Although this mentoring initiative is focused on aiding other teams, it also strengthens the Bionic Black Hawks itself, reinforcing unity within the team.

“We want to have that connection between the four grade levels of teams. We want us all to be working together and supporting each other,” said Henderson.

On the surface, clubs may seem confined to the certain activity or title it promotes, but beyond that, there are branches applicable to all interests and layers of unity.

“Robotics is about so much more than Robotics; it’s about working with your community,” said Chen.

Art selectively featured Students in art program compete to display artwork ISA HALSBAND Staff Writer

Freshmen group of students posing after Prepared U lesson Photo by Grace Jenkins

ticipants] to practice things like teamwork and problem solving. In fact, a majority of the program is based around core values,” said former member Heather Chen.

The Bionic Black Hawks has been accredited as one of the most successful teams in the state of Michigan and is notable for its community work, earning the Chairman’s Award in 2018. Another instance of their outreach is their assistance to the Detroit robotics team that was in need of help.

In the future, the team hopes to continue to mentor and assist Dufrey Elementary-Middle School in Detroit, which had received little funding from the school or parents of the community. The team aims to provide the values of robotics to the disadvantaged.

“It’s really sad to see underprivileged kids who don’t have the opportunity to have STEM in their life because their school just can’t afford to provide that,” said Henderson. “[Dufrey] had a great time and you can see the effects; those kids were so happy and so excited to be involved.”

Because of Robotics, Chen

The featured Artist of the Month program has become a BHHS tradition in which students are nominated by teachers and counseling staff members to display their artwork in the counseling office. Featuring Bloomfield’s most artistically inclined, the contest nominates a new student each month.

Despite it just recently growing in popularity, Artist of the Month dates all the way back to 2013, when Andover and Lahser High Schools merged to form BHHS. “When we moved in [to the new building] and were decorating the office, we were buying some pictures,” said Jackie Osborne, the athletics, special education, and International Baccalaureate secretary. “It was brought to our attention that we had a lot of talent here in house. So, when we bought [shelves], we decided to leave a space on one [for students’ artwork].”

The shelf welcomes anyone who can impress staff members with their artistic abilities. The highlighted piece is chosen based on what catches their eye while taking a stroll through the art wing. Whether a graphic design piece or a ceramic sculpture, students’ artwork is accepted in all forms.

“We try to hit all different types of mediums,” said counseling secretary Marianne Litz. “And then sometimes it’s seasonal. In the spring, we like something with brighter colors. In the fall, we had a scary one for Hal-

loween. Sometimes it’s just something that grabs our attention. We had a mask last year, [which] was kind of cool. [We feature] any type of artwork.”

For December’s titleholder, junior Matthew Hendrick, photography played an important role in the process.

“I created a picture of a broken mirror on the ground in three different places,” said Hendrick. “I probably spent a day taking photos, and then a couple hours actually making it.”

January’s featured artist, junior Henri Barths, created a more freestyle piece. He created a compilation of random pictures he took throughout the school and added painted portions to give it a distinct look.

“My piece is a digital collage that includes painting and photography,” said Barths. “I went into it with basically no plan. I went around the school taking pictures of different

BHHS featured artist’s, Henri Barths, work displayed in main offices.

Photo by Sara Cabral

objects, and then played around with paint.

Then I just used photoshop to integrate what I photographed and painted into a piece that I thought looked aesthetically pleasing. It ended up being a fun process.”

Artist of the Month provides students like Hendrick and Barths with a platform for their artwork and allows them to share their accomplishments with those around them. “[The purpose is] definitely to showcase students’ art in a different area than the art hall,” said Litz. “A lot of people get to see it.”

There is also a counseling Twitter account that features the Artist of the Month and their work.

“It’s cool [to have my art displayed],” said Barths. “I’ve had a few people come up to me to talk about it. I wasn’t expecting it to be showcased, so I was pretty excited when I heard that it was.”

9

february Feature

THE Dance

Student Leadership hosted the annual winter dance where students across all grades came together for a night of music and dancing

WUHAN

CORONAVIRUS AN OUTBREAK OF A NEW CORONAVIRUS IN WUHAN, CHINA HAS THE WORLD IN PANIC MODE. THE DISEASE IS SPREADING RAPIDLY AND CASES HAVE BEEN CONFIRMED IN ALL CORNERS OF THE GLOBE. HERE'S WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR:

CAUSE

UNCONFIRMED; BELIEVED TO HAVE ORIGINATED IN ANIMALS SOLD IN LOCAL MARKETS

AS OF FEBRUARY 9TH, 2020, AT LEAST 813 PEOPLE HAVE DIED AND OVER 37,000 ARE INFECTED.

SYMPTOMS

DEATHS

FEVER, COUGH, SHORTNESS OF BREATH AND BREATHING DIFFICULTIES; IN EXTREME CASES, CORONAVIRUS CAN LEAD TO PNEUMONIA, KIDNEY FAILURE, AND DEATH

BY BEN SILBERMAN SOURCES AND IMAGE CREDITS: FOX NEWS, CNN, WALL STREET JOURNAL, ALJAZEERA

Derrik Lee Jr. & Noah Adamczyk

Freshmen hit the

Duo of freshmen lead Varsity basketball team GABE SINGER Staff Writer

T

he standard development of a high school basketball player: freshman year playing on the freshmen team, sophomore year on Junior Varsity, junior year as a role player on Varsity, and finally, a fourth-year, where their hard work culminates and they are handed the keys to the team. For two freshman Black Hawks, this typical blueprint has been thrown out the window.

Noah Adamczyk and Derrick “DJ” Lee Jr. are providing immediate contributions to the Varsity team in their ninth-grade year. With the majority of the regular season completed,

Adamczyk, who leads the team in points, is already possessing a large responsibility within the team.

“I need to keep my shooting percentage high,” Adamczyk said. “I can’t go cold one game and miss a lot of shots.”

Lee Jr.’s adjustment to the Varsity level is also developing quicker than anticipated.

“I had to adjust to the speed of the game and get out of my comfort zone. Playing [in the Amateur Athletic Union] since the third grade helped me develop and ignite my game,” said Lee Jr. This quick acclimation has been assisted by some Black Hawk veterans, along with their coaching staff.

“A lot of the older guys have been

taking them under their wing,” said senior forward Brad Zousmer. “They’re great basketball players who have gotten used to our program pretty quickly.”

Head Coach Phil Kurajian echoed Zousmer’s opinion, stating “they have been extremely coachable and willing to learn. They are sponges for information from our more experienced upperclassmen, taking in and absorbing as much as possible.”

Both Adamczyk and Lee Jr. have begun to build their individual aspirations for their Black Hawk careers. They both emphasized team success over personal accolades, as the primary goal for both of them is to win a state championship.

“It would be great to be nominated as a McDonald’s All American,” Lee Jr. said.

However, these accomplishments will not be possible without countless hours of hard work and improvement.

“I need to get better at communicating because that is the key. I am quiet and I like to observe and let my actions speak for itself,” Lee Jr. said.

Kurajian added high praise for both freshmen.

“Noah is extremely skilled and has an outstanding knowledge of the game. He sees the game very well and combined that with his ability to score the ball, defend at a high level, and lightning-quick first step”, said Kurajian. “DJ is

one of the best true athletes I have ever coached, but it doesn’t stop there. He’s also very skilled, has the ability to score in several different ways, and can rebound and defend at an extremely high level.”

Zousmer mirrored those views.

“Noah is such a great basketball player, with a great basketball IQ. He can score from anywhere on the court,” said Zousmer. “DJ is one of the best athletes I’ve ever met, and he’s everywhere on the floor, and such a great defender.”

With a young core taking the lead, there’s no saying what this boys basketball program can’t accomplish.

12

February sports

GIRLS BASKETBALL

BOYS HOCKEY

Lexi McGinnis puts up a three pointer, while senior Jordan Banks boxes out for the rebound. The girls basketball team facing off against Pontiac High School in which they won 48-37.

Photo by Georgia Zimmerman

Senior Nick Joseph prepares for a face off in a game against Troy High School. The Black Hawks took down the Colts in a close 3-2.

BOYS SWIMMING

Jameson Kennary swimming the 100 meter Butterfly at practice. Now closing off the regular season, the swim team aims to win regionals at the beginning of March.

Photo by Barbie Hoag

Photo by Theresa Solomon

SKIING

Black Hawk Sports Update Catch up with the Black Hawk teams as the close off the winter season

BOWLING

GIRLS HOCKEY

Ariana Riegele sends her ball down at practice. The co-ed bowling team has gone on to be 3-1 and now looks towards the regional tournament at the end of February.

Senior Sam Paull races down to score for her first goal in the Bloomfield Invitational.

Photo by Sonya Barlow

World of Sports The past few weeks have been busy for sports fans, from the highest of highs to the lowest of lows.

To kick off sports in the new year, LSU faced off against the reigning college football champions, the Clemson Tigers.

Heisman winner Joe Burrow led LSU to overthrow Clemson 42-25.

Conor McGregor returned to the octagon on January 18 for the first time since October 6, 2018, fighting in UFC 246 against Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone. McGregor’s highly anticipated return ended quicker than most would have predicted. Just 40 seconds into the first round, McGregor KO’d Cowboy to take the fight with ease. This was a statement fight for McGregor, proving that he still has a ton of fight left in him following the loss to Khabib Nurmagomedov in UFC 229 a couple of years ago.

Tragedy struck on January 26, 2020, when basketball legend Kobe Bryant passed away along with his daughter Gianna and seven other passengers. During his 20 years in the league, Kobe changed the game of basketball and inspired millions on and off the court through his camps and achievements. His love for the game, determination, and tenacity were second to none and traits

that he had only begun passing down to his 13-year-old daughter. The incident sent shockwaves through the NBA and professional sports around the globe.

For a few days, the entire world stopped as people paid their respects in all kinds of ways.

Back on the gridiron, the NFL’s 100th season concluded on February 2, better known as Super Bowl Sunday. Before the game even began, history had been made. The San Francisco 49ers offensive assistant Katie Sowers is the NFL’s only female and openly gay coach in the league’s history.

Making a difference on and off the field, Sowers is a Super Bowl coach who is changing the game each and every day: an absolute win for women and sports in general.

As for the game, fans were blessed with a thriller. Kansas City Chiefs star QB Patrick Mahomes fueled a fourth-quarter comeback for the ages throwing two touchdowns in the final six minutes to take the lead after trailing by 10. With a late Damian Williams rushing touchdown, the Chiefs secured a 31-20 victory over the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LIV. Mahomes was awarded the Super Bowl MVP after throwing for 286 yards with an additional two passing and one rushing touchdown.

Photo by Scott Campbell

Allison Lipson and Anna Charboneau posing after the final run at practice.

Photo by Brooke Bass

Winter Sports It’s the new year and as we near the end of February, the winter sports are wrapping up their seasons, looking forward to District, Regionals and State Championships.

The boys basketball teams are set to take on Ferndale High School away on Thursday, February 13, with the Varsity Black Hawks tipping off at 7:00 pm.

They recently lost to the number one seeded Clarkston High School on February 6. On Friday, February 7, the girls basketball team hosted Black Hawk Fever at the high school and played against Groves high school.

Boys swim and dive will compete at Groves High School on February 13. The Black Hawks will also swim in their OAA league meet beginning on Wednesday, February 26.

On the slopes, the girls ski team placed 3rd and the boys team took 3rd at their race on February 6. On February 12, both the girls and boys teams placed second in their region and advanced

to the state finals.

Girls gymnastics placed 1st their quad- and dual-meet on January 27th and 29th respectively as a team, out-scoring the teams from Birmingham, Grosse Pointe,

West Bloomfield, and Frasher.

The gymnastics team will have the chance to earn state qualification on March 7th at their regional competition.

Black Hawk Bowling recently took on Royal Oak High School

on Monday, February 10 and are set to compete in their regional championships on February 28 and 29.

On January 29, the boys wrestling team celebrated senior night during their double-dual league meet against Avondale and Farmington. As of the 29th, the team had 15 wins and only 1 loss.

To cap off the Black Hawk winter season on the ice, the Black Hawk figure skating team started off the season strong, winning the first competition of the season and are looking towards their next at the end of the month. The girls hockey is set to take on Troy High School on Saturday, February 15 after coming off a 3-2 win over Grosse Pointe South High School. And lastly, the boys hockey team will take on Clarkson High School on Thursday, February 13 and begin their regional playoffs on the 25th.

Looking forward to the upcoming season, all spring sports are set to begin scheduled practices or tryouts on March 9.

Upcoming Events 2/18/2020

2/20/2020

2/23/2020

Boys Basketball @ 7:00pm

Boys hockey @ 5:40pm

girls hockey @ 5:00pm

February Sports

13

Athletes honored

Two BHHS athletes nominated for Detroit Free Press Sports Awards BRANDON YAKER Staff Writer

Varsity gymnastics team practicing on their beam routine.

Photo by Sara Cabral

Varsity gymnastics sets the bar high With a 7-4 record, the gymnastics team gives an inside look at their season and goals NOAH ROSLIN Staff Writer After placing third as a team in the 16-team Walled Lake Invitational on February 8, the gymnastics team has a 7-4 record with four meets to go before regionals. The team, led by Coach Cynthia Tan and Captains Morgan Mathis and Kalyn Mullens, is now in its second year as a Varsity sport. Individually at the Invitational, sophomore Maeve Wright scored 8.2 on the vault, placing second in the event, as well as third on beam with a score of 9.3.

Her floor score posted a 9.55, which would have been enough to win if not for a technical error nulling the floor score.

In gymnastics, the level in high school differs from that of private clubs or competitions.

“It’s a much higher level [in high school],” said sophomore Sammi Desmon. “You need skills

that you would never even try in club because high school is based off of level nine out of 10, c o m pared to most of the girls hovering around levels six and seven in club.”

The team is currently preparing for regionals which will be held on March 7 at Lakeland High School. After finishing fifth in Region Four last season

and falling short of qualifying for team states by a margin of 4.175 points, the team looks to r e a c h s t a t e s this year.

Last year, only four members were sent to the state competition: K a l y n Mullens, M a e v e Wright, Anna German, and Katie Noettl. They became the first gymnasts from the school to ever compete in states. Mullens placed

“Another medal on my rack won’t be the same fulfillment as seeing our team succeed as a whole.”

Kayla Mullens Varsity Gymnast

fourth on the bars and tenth all-around, Wright topped the scoreboards on the beam and finished third on the floor, and German finished second on bars.

“Being a first-year gymnastics team at our high school, I didn’t know what to expect walking into states,” said Mullens. “When I placed on bars and all-around, I was extremely excited for not only myself but for the future of our gymnastics program.”

Off the mat, the girls are a close-knit family, which is important in a sport that is relatively individual.

“Everyone is so supportive of one another and we love to encourage each other to try new things,” said Mathis.

This year’s team could have the chance to become the first team in the school’s history to place at states in gymnastics.

The tradition continues New Wall of Honor unites swim and dive community LARA JANOSZ Editor-in-Chief After over 10 years of planning, the Bloomfield Hills High School Girls and Boys Swim and Dive Programs will represent swimmers and divers of the past, present, and future on the newly constructed Wall of Honor. “[The Wall] consists of people who have made an impact in the Bloomfield swimming and diving community,” said Girls Swim and Dive co-Captain Gabrielle Lorincz. “In order to recognize them, their name goes up on the wall or you could also purchase a spot on the wall for family names, too.”

The Wall, constructed in the shape of a Black Hawk, can be found above the stands on the west end of the pool deck. According to the Girls Swim and Dive head coach and creator of the Wall of Honor, David Zulkiewski, the Black Hawk will soon be covered in personalized bubbles with the names of current program members, program sponsors, contributors to the swim and dive community, and swim and dive alum, including those who were apart of the Lasher and Andover swim and dive teams before the two programs merged.

“More than 10 years ago, I started reaching out and started playing around...I knew at some point we were going to have a new pool and we’d want to do something,” said Zulkiewski. “I know a lot of the Lahser and Andover kids have said they want to do it but most people have been waiting for it [the Wall] to go up. Hopefully, we’ll get some more going once it’s all done but it’s a process. I’ve gotten about 200 [bubbles] and I think there are 400 bubbles to go.”

According to Zulkiewski, purchasing the bubbles will not only help fund parts of the program such as the purchase of new training equipment, but it also serves as a connection point between the Bloomfield teams and

the Lasher and Andover teams.

“I think it’s a good place for swimmers and divers to leave their mark on the deck so people can see that they were there and were committed and wanted to be there and were determined to be the best they could be,” said Girls Swim and Dive co-Captain Katy O’Neil.

“It shows people that the program has been around a long time.”

The bubbles are available for purchase on both the Girls and Boys Swim and Dive websites and range in price from $50 to $150 based on size. As the bubbles continue to be

Swim Wall of Honor at the BHHS swimming pool.

Photo by David Zulkiewski

purchased, Zulkiewski hopes the wall will give community members a chance to connect back with the program.

“After we evaluated [the pool deck], we saw more opportunities to get more bubbles and get more people up on the wall by the stands so I’m hoping this gives them a chance to put their names up there,” said Zulkiewski. “You not only get your name up there but you also have a way to give back to the program as well so I’m hoping this will give people a chance to chime in.”

For the third straight year, the Detroit Free Press is honoring the top high school athletes in the state at the Detroit Free Press Sports Awards. This year, the event, consisting of a red carpet show followed by the award ceremony, will be held on June 2 at the Fillmore in Detroit. There will be eight nominees for each of the MHSAA-sanctioned high school sports from the Metro-Detroit area. The first batch of nominees have been named from the eight fall sports, two of whom are Black Hawks.

Senior Alexa Rousseau is nominated for her accomplishments in volleyball. This year, Rousseau recorded 370 kills, 923 assists, 159 service aces, and 290 digs. Throughout her four-year varsity tenure, Alexa set a school record for kills, assists, aces and number of games played.

“I think there are a lot of things that I will always remember about my years playing high school volleyball, from really intense matches that we weren’t expected to win to seeing all the teammates around me… grow as not only people but teammates,” said Rousseau.

Alexa received first team All-State honors and was a Miss Volleyball finalist for the state of Michigan in 2019. Rousseau is familiar with the Detroit Free Press Awards, having been nominated two years prior.

“I received a nomination for this award my sophomore year as well,” said Rousseau.

“Being recognized for it again my senior year just proved that all the hours and work that

“It was really humbling and rewarding to know that my determination and work ethic was being noticed once again.”

Alexa Rousseau Varisty Volleyball Player I had put in trying to become better leading up to my senior season has been recognized as one of the highest levels possible.”

Rousseau is in competition for the award with seven other of the most talented high school volleyball players in Michigan.

“The competition within this year’s nominees is definitely really high,” said Rousseau.

“A lot of the girls are my current or previous travel volleyball teammates and girls that I’ve known for almost seven years now. All of them are such strong women and volleyball players and I truly believe that each one of them is more than deserving of this prestigious award. I’d obviously love to win this award, but I think every other girl that has the opportunity has worked really hard to get to where they are and is fully qualified to be a nominee.”

Bloomfield Hills’ other Free Press Awards nominee is sophomore tennis player Noah Roslin. After winning a state championship playing one doubles match as a freshman, Rolsin completed his first year as the Black Hawks’ one singles player this past fall. Noah won 14 matches as a sophomore, adding a team regional title and an individual trip to the state quarterfinals.

“The highlight of my season was upsetting the No. 6 seed at states in the second round,” Roslin said.

Noah is one of two sophomores nominated for the Free Press Awards.

“It felt great and incredibly humbling to be nominated for this prestigious award. I know a lot of the nominees having grown up looking up to the older guys. They are all good people and good [athletes], so competition between us is incredibly [tight],” Roslin said.

Noah looks to continue his success with singles as a junior and senior.

“My goal is to win a state title in the next two years,” said Roslin.

Both Rousseau and Roslin will attend the award ceremony in June and will be joined by the other nominees of fall sports as well as the nominees of winter and spring sports, which have yet to be announced.

14

FEBRUARY OP/ED

Beyond

A call for journalistic integrity

The bright side of being apart

A Drill

Editor reflects on the need for ethical reporting online

Editor reflects on having friends around the country DARBY KRUGEL Editor-in-Chief

KAITLYN LUCKOFF Editor-in-Chief If the online presence of the social media community considered ethics and moral principles, the president would not be tweeting fake information, incorrect coronavirus information would not be rapidly spreading, and TMZ would not have released the news of Kobe and Gianna Bryant’s deaths before all family members were aware of the news. However, as we enter 2020, it is apparent that media outlets will rush produce any content, to ensure that they are the first media source to release the information, whether it is right or wrong.

As digital citizens in this age, it is apparent that when a major event occurs, some early coverage will feature false information. However, TMZ is usually right as a celebrity news oriented site.

In 2009, TMZ was the first to release the news of Michael Jackson’s death, and was also one of the first news outlets to release details of the rapper Juice Wrld’s death in December of 2019. Most of the time, this invasive news source reports quick information. While releasing details of Kobe’s death before his family was notified was completely inappropriate and unacceptable, it will make no difference for next time. It’s simply what they do.

Many fans at first did not believe this credible site, because the news seemed so sudden that it couldn’t be accurate.

“There needs to be a new ethical standard in social media.”

Staff reflects on the repercussions of the BluePoint incident Shortly before winter break, the BluePoint system was activated during the school day and has been a topic of conversation among students, parents, and staff. As details of this situation are limited, the most important discovery is that there was not an active threat in the building. However, many students are left wondering what will come next.

Frequently, we watch the news to see that yet another school shooting has occurred, but we always hope that we are never in this situation. This fear nearly became a reality when the BluePoint system was activated just days before winter break, resulting in widespread fear and confusion.

At first, students were simply in shock and reactions varied. Eventually, students understood the need to act on the situation, and respond with our ‘run, hide, fight’ training that we have been through during our lockdown drills.

While this experience was tragic and extremely frightening, it put into perspective the

Whenever a new story comes to light, it is important for journalists to consider and decide how far it is appropriate to go and how fast it is acceptable to do so. Especially for tragic reports, journalists must consider the ramifications of putting themselves and their reputation over the emotions of the family.

Unlike TMZ, the Los Angeles Times proceeded with caution when news was released of Kobe’s death. The credible news source used twitter to explain, “We are aware of reports about Kobe Bryant and are currently investigating,” the newspaper said on Twitter at 2:36 p.m. Eastern time. “We will update here as soon as we can confirm anything.”

Recently, a change.org petition was created to abolish the TMZ news source. The petition explains, “Basketball legend Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna died in a horrific helicopter crash, and TMZ leaked the news before the authorities were even able to notify the family,” the petition reads. “That means that Vanessa Bryant found out about the death of her husband and child through TMZ, tweets, or comments. It’s time for Fox to cancel TMZ after what they did to Kobe Bryant’s family,” says TMZ’s actions were “beyond not ok” and hopes to “get TMZ taken down once and for all.” Over this past week, the petition has gathered over 100,000 signatures.

As social media outlets are often an individual’s primary news source, they should have an increased obligation to ensure truthful, accurate, and ethical reporting practices. Unfortunately, as the race to be first instead of best persists, we can likely expect little change and future incidents of journalistic misconduct.

What students think

“[We] didn’t know what the sound was so nobody knew what was going on. I am happy to have learned from the experience because now I know what it sounds like if god forbid it would happen again.”

Adviser Rachel Matz Editors-in-Chief Lara Janosz Darby Krugel Kaitlyn Luckoff Kushal Sanjeev

STAFF

need to be able to react in these types of situations. Students and staff reacted exactly as we were supposed to; based on classroom location and ability to reach safety, we were advised to run to safety or hide if our classroom design allowed for it. It is apparent that if a situation like this were to occur again, all students and staff will be prepared. Thankfully, nobody was hurt in this incident but if this happens again, we hope everyone will know what to do.

Overall, this event was significantly traumatic.

Hopefully, we will never have to deal with this again, but more awareness was raised to ensure future safety. We believe that this incident incited a unified need for change regarding future incidents like this.

In the future, we believe other changes that might be beneficial are supplying information about how to react in a situation like this to everyone in the building. We also hope that students and staff will be prepared with more realistic and efficient drills.

Managing Editors Jake Fogel Laine Lord Jenny She

“It has taught me what to do if there was a real emergency. Sadly, we think it would never happen to us but in this situation, it did so we were all caught off guard.”

Graham Smith - 10th

Rachel Lybeck - 12th

“I learned that people hadn’t practiced these protocols but the communication through it was great.”

Remy Hanna - 11th

“How many safety measures are taken to get us out of here was absolutely amazing. It is incredible to see how many people take this so seriously and just want us to be safe”

“I began to find the fun in friendships with those who don’t live near me.”

However, after a few plane rides and hundreds of hours on FaceTime, I realized that these people weren’t going anywhere. My sadness started to melt away, and I found the silver linings of these far-away friends. When I was angry with someone at home, I typed in a phone number that didn’t start with 248, and was granted immediate access to my own private rant session. I had no fear that anything I said would get back to anyone, because these friends didn’t know anybody else here. They were on my side unconditionally.

I also began to find the fun in friendships with those who don’t live near me. I can’t begin to count the amount of hilarious conversations I’ve had with my friends about the correct pronunciations of words (I apparently have a very strong Midwestern accent, but I will forever stand by the way I say “mom” and “Snapchat”). I’ve found that another benefit of long-distance friendships is that every once in a while, one of my friends and I will plan a weekend together. These visits have become one of the highlights of my high school years. They are so incredible because we know that we only have so long before we’re ripped miles apart once again, so there’s no room for boredom or arguing- every minute is pure joy and love and laughter.

Overall, I still wish that I was in Maryland right now, but I’ve learned to see the greatness in these sometimes heartwrenching relationships. As we grow from high school and our friends scatter around the globe, it helps to keep in mind that long-distance friendships are special in their own unique way.

Tatum Kalt - 11th

Design Editor Ben Silberman

Social Media Manager Jillian Sacksner

Copy Editor Izzi Harber

Business Manager Sanju Swamy

Photography Manager Georgia Zimmerman

Staff Writers Vansh Bhardwaj Noa Goldstein Cassie English Ashley Fogel Isa Halsband Seth Kruger Ryanne Leonard Mari Lynn

Section Editors Sonya Barlow Shelby Jenkins Kaitlyn Keele Marlee Sacksner

When I am asked the common icebreaker question, “If you could go anywhere in the world right now, where would you go?” I give an uncommon answer: Maryland. This often gets laughs, but honestly, I’m not kidding. My best friends live in Maryland, and I am perpetually counting down the days until my next visit.

Generally, long-distance friendships form after high school, as we spread to different colleges and eventually different cities in young adulthood. However, I have the unique experience of having had a plethora of long-distance friendships throughout my high school years. For the past three summers, I’ve attended programs through B’nai B’rith Youth Organization.

These draw participants from almost every U.S. state and several countries.

I’ve gone into each of these as one of the only teens from Michigan, and left deep friendships with people from Maryland, New York, Texas, Georgia, Colorado, Alabama, and more.

At first, these long-distance friendships frustrated and saddened me.

Looking through social media made my heart physically ache, because I missed my friends so intensely. I wished daily that all of my friends would move to Michigan or that I could move to them. Especially when I was going through friend drama and social issues at home, I felt almost like I was grieving for those who lived so far away.

Jane Rosett Noah Roslin Lainie Rubin Erin Schwartz Fallan Sherman Gabe Singer Brandon Yaker Lindsey Zousmer Guest Writers Mariah Al-Atraqchi Niranjan Anatharaman Noah Brook Sara Cabral Gabriel Cali

Frank Ducu Caroline Griffin Lexi Guerrieri Jordan Hamilton Grace Kobernik Alec Mayoras Kalyn Mullens Elizabeth Nwagwu Lenna Peterson Skylar Stearns Eryn Stern Abbey Weitzman Margot Wester Olivia White Hanna Winter Brandon Yaker

15

February Op/ed

Profit over patient Editor examines the impacts of temporary healthcare solutions LARA JANOSZ Editor-in-Chief We’re all familiar with the endless drug and health insurance advertisements that are shoved in our faces on an almost daily basis.

We watch them on TV, hear them on the radio, and see them plastered across newspaper pages, magazines, and billboards along the expressway. It has become eerie how familiar they have become to us: a seemingly integral part of our everyday routines. What they really are is a sign of our failing healthcare system in terms of how modern healthcare has lost focus on the patient. At the end of the day, our healthcare is becoming less about the patient and more about the generation of money in the most efficient way possible (as it is, unfortunately, with most things). However, unlike “most things,” the damage that is being done to our healthcare system has created a much more sinister cycle of large companies and corporate-run hospitals profiting off of patients. Meaningful patient care is coming in second to profit.

The imbalance in how time is spent in the healthcare industry is severely one-sided.

Too much time is spent on selling the next “miracle drug” and condensing hospitals rather than on the meaningful and worthwhile care of the patient. It is easier to throw another drug in our faces than to try and prevent another hospital visit altogether.

This lack of proper care towards the patient has not only created this horrible cycle, but it can make people more dependent on this broken system. More often than not, patients are sent home with temporary solutions that either don’t solve the situation at all or make it worse, sending them right back to where they started. Since more resources are being

“Preventative strategies and a more long-lasting solution are not feasible options in our current ‘drive-through’ healthcare model.” spent on sending patients home with another temporary solution, the amount of time doctors are spending actually treating the patient has decreased. Doctors are evaluated on a volume and productivity model and not necessarily from a “healthy outcomes” standpoint. The average amount of time doctors spend with their patients on average is 17.5 minutes. Quick, easily prescribable solutions are the only ‘tools’ in the physician’s toolbox as they are encouraged to move onto the next patient. Preventative strategies and a more long-lasting solution are not feasible options in our current ‘drive-through’ healthcare model.

What we need are solutions that are meaningful and patients that are encouraged and supported to improve their overall health long after they’ve had their visit to the doctor. We spend about 88% of our time and money on medical services such as hospital visits when we should be investing our time on the things that truly make us healthy.

Learning and practicing self-care and other healthy behaviors will help us prevent future illnesses and decrease our dependence on a failing healthcare system. Each person deserves to be treated in their own, unique way; the same solution cannot be expected to work for everyone. We cannot keep expecting the same drugs and treatments to have the same effect on everyone, especially if they aren’t even the right solutions to being with.

We need a system that leads to more ‘well checks’ and less ‘urgent care’ visits.

Unfortunately, modern medicine has become so advanced that it has become easier to commercialize it and, therefore, harder to stop the corporate entities that may not have the patient’s wellness at the center of their business model. Each drug commercial, each hospital that is down-sized, is another step towards a largely unproductive and harmful future of our healthcare system and our overall future health.

PRO: Consistent collaboration Group work helps students advance in life JILLIAN SACKSNER Social Media Manager There are many guarantees in high school - studying, doing homework, and taking finals, to name a few. Perhaps the most helpful of these guarantees is group work. Throughout high school, one will have to participate in at least one collaborative project at some point. These experiences are always the most impactful and helpful for a student’s future. Students are able to learn how to approach, attack, and complete any project while working with others who may have different opinions and ideas.

Collaborative work gives every student the experience necessary to work well with others in the future. It is because of collaborative endeavors that students are able to become working adults.

Group projects also allow young people to make new connections to people with different backgrounds, demographics, and opinions. In assigned groups, students are able to learn new things from these different people and possibly form new opinions. According to Washington University in St. Louis, students who engage in cooperative learning show an increase in individual achievement as compared to students working alone. Students actually learn more from each other than they think.

When considering the large number of ideas being shared during collaborative work, collabo-

ration continues to create a positive impact on students’ academic careers. As more and more ideas are shared, groups are able to advance much more rapidly, thus being able to complete the final product a lot more efficiently. Because of this, students may even have extra time to study, research, and work on other subjects.

Working as a group also helps individuals manage their responsibilities. Students never want to be a group member who is lagging behind the others. Because of this, everyone works hard in order to complete all the work on time, creating a wellthought-out and thorough group project. Students learn better when working in a group, and also get the experience of making sure they pull their own weight throughout the entire process.

Group projects are crucial to a student’s high school experience. Not only do they help students’ social skills grow, but they teach them the necessary tools to work well with anyone.

Group projects are a fun, helpful, and intuitive way for every student to grow in their academics, social life, and future careers. When thinking about the guarantees of high school, it is obvious that group work should be something looked forward to.

“The true purpose of group work is to learn how to work with other people.”

PRO/CON: Collaboration

CON: Collaboration conundrum Group work inhibits individual success NOA GOLDSTEIN Staff Writer During high school, there are many chances to be a team player, and one of these chances is through group work opportunities in the classrooms.

While some students get excited for the opportunity to work with their friends, others dread collaborating due to a lack of effort from certain individuals that can affect the quality of the product, When you’re working individually, your project can be everything that you imagine, without anyone else compromising your ideas. You also are able to pace yourself, and you do not have to rely on others to do their part. Individualism is one of the greatest skills in life and schools must do a better job teaching kids how to manage their time through individual projects.

In life, jobs and employers seek leadership and individualism, but collaboration in school does not prepare kids for this. Many kids are paired with other students who don’t fully participate and end up having to do all the work themselves.

Even those group members that didn’t participate get credit for one student’s work, which promotes laziness and complacency instead of teamwork.

Additionally, many group project members are chosen by teachers, which can cause an unequal division of labor and conflicting schedules. For instance, a student who plays varsity football and a student who doesn’t do any after school activities

might be paired together. This is a big problem because the one with no agenda ends up doing the majority of the work, and over time, students develop a habit of deferring to those who will do the work for them.

One of the most important reasons why individual work is more effective is because of conflicting personalities and ideas. Even if individuals who are paired together are friends, they might have completely different ideas for the project. Also, if someone has a strong personality or wants to take the lead, they could affect the cohesiveness of the group by having too much power. This might make people feel undervalued or unappreciated in the group.

On top of that many students favor group projects because it’s time to work with friends, which means that many will slack off and procrastinate. Even though this isn’t always the case, there is always at least one group that does this. They end up producing something that could have been of much higher quality if they had spent more time on it.

While doing individual work, you acquire more lifelong skills and better practice for future careers.

There are instances when group work can be beneficial, but it is very rare. Individuality is a trait that will stay with you for the rest of your life, so it is best to place less emphasis on group work.

“Relying on someone else to get your work done defeats the whole purpose of a group project.”

The 17-yearold lesson Editor examines the definition of success KUSHAL SANJEEV Editor-in-Chief The idea of success has resonated with me throughout my entire life. Whether it was my mom, dad, or brother, everyone in my family pushed me to be the best and most successful out of all of us. The only problem was that it took 17 years for me to finally realize that success is so much more than a single word.

I was never the kid who was able to just accept things; I always needed to ask why? why? why? and it didn’t stop there. Being thrown around in extra math classes was one of the toughest things I went through as a little kid. Not because I hated math or anything but just because I had no clue what was going on. I was never able to say “ok,” understand it, and move on; I had to know all of the little intricacies to solving those horrible systems of equations through every possible method. It was because of my incapability to just acknowledge certain facts that I always had to work harder than most to reach that level of success that I thought was acceptable in my family. And it didn’t stop there.

Growing up with a brother like mine, it was very difficult to stand out: he was great at everything. Whether it was math, tennis, reading speed, or even my dreaded ACT score, I always felt like I had to work harder and harder to even come close. That concept of things just coming easy for me was a very foreign idea which I didn’t just see at home either. Through my extra math classes as a kid, I always thought I would be the “cream of the cream,” as my dad always put it, without ever having to worry. Well… I was wrong. There were no breaks in the classroom either. I was raised with the foundations of never giving up, never taking no for an answer, and always fighting to get to the top. I would love to say I continued these life lessons every day since then, but unfortunately, I cannot.

“The idea of success has become increasingly clouded year after year and the personality behind it has been lost.”

Fast forward 8 or so years later and it was the beginning of the summer before my senior year of high school. Here I was still finally finishing the ACT, no summer homework, and getting ready for my final tennis season; life was good. It was also the time where I began to see myself in a whole new perspective.

All my life I credited myself with being successful in all kinds of areas. Whether it was extracurriculars or my core classes. I soon began to consider what success really was.

I was raised thinking success was a straight path comprised of high GPAs, straight A’s, and the rest of the whole nine yards. But that wasn’t really the case because, in reality, success is comprised of so much more than a straight line: it’s determination, ambition, intuitiveness, and so much more. Looking back I saw a lack in a lot of those areas. It was from that moment on I began to work for what my own success would look like.

This new definition of success is what I credit my new lifestyle towards. By changing the aspects of life that were there just because and not because I put it there, I was able to create a new sense of self-validation. The idea of self-validation is absent amongst the majority of the world we see nowadays. Whether it’s kids mindlessly taking classes just because they are told to or even presidential candidates running for office and becoming the thousandth character on tv saying the exact same things as the person next to them, people are losing focus on what their own idea of success truly means. In the end, success is really anything your willpower desires and works to achieve.

All my life I have worked and worked not knowing what I want to be. It took 17 years for me to finalize this and gain a clear picture on that idea in my own future. Success is not a dream that people are programmed to search for their entire lives. Success is built on goals. Once you accomplish one, we move onto the next. In some way or another, this was the lesson I had been taught by my family all those years ago, it just took me some time to realize it. That moment of self-reflection allowed me to see the experiences I had gone through and how they built on each other to help build my own path. After so many years, I finally learned the lesson that success is so much more than a simple score or position we encounter along the way. Success shall and will always be defined by the pursuit of those who are ever-growing, everchanging, and constantly fighting to achieve their next goal.

16

February Op/ED

The sky is not the limit

It is better to aim high and miss than to aim low and hit SONYA BARLOW Section Editor Do you ever wish your life was more fulfilling and accomplished, but don’t have the courage to try something new? You are not alone.

Countless individuals deal with anxiety every day.

Being in one’s comfort zone implies familiarity, safety, and security, which most individuals rely on because it’s all they know.

Therefore, because fear can be manipulative, intense and traumatizing, many people don’t want to travel into the unknown.

But, as humans, it is imperative that we redirect that fear and turn it into a growth mindset. Therefore, the only solution is to leave your comfort zone. You may be wondering, what does leaving your comfort zone mean, exactly? Simply put, it means doing something that you wouldn’t normally do, but could potentially benefit you. When one chooses to leave their comfort zone, they are able to expand their knowledge and experience new adventures.

Whether it is bungee jumping or eating exotic food, challenging yourself to do something new can increase your knowledge of the world and see it in a variety of alternative perspectives. Personally, I have traveled to various countries and I have found that I’ve become more open-minded to learning more about other cultures and societies. Getting out of my house, let alone traveling outside of the country, can be daunting, but I don’t regret going out into the world and learning about different cultures, languages and food.

Additionally, in general, people who are going through big changes, such as transitioning from high school to college, can be more adaptable to change. Change is a part of life and people need to be able to face these experiences head-on, which starts by pushing yourself beyond your comfort zone.

Breaking your usual routine means you will also encounter obstacles, which may make you feel stressed or anxious. This is a good thing. Worries rooted in a fear of failing or getting hurt push you to transform yourself as you take risks to learn from your mistakes.

The more risks you take, the more life experiences you have to learn from.

You can also become more creative when you experiment with new ideas, which you gain from a variety of different experiences. When we seek new opportunities, learn new skills, and open new doors, we become inspired. The frustration that comes from tackling the unknown paves the way for brainstorming new possibilities and viewing challenges through a different lens.

I agree with the fact that getting out of your comfort zone can be a struggle, but that struggle is what helps us grow into the people we wish to become. When we challenge ourselves, the things we have the potential to discover about ourselves and the world are limitless, but only if we are willing to take that leap of faith.

Photo by CBS

A Survivor first creates controversy Editor explores reality tv’s ethical issues DARBY KRUGEL Editor-in-Chief When a show has been on the air for 39 seasons, viewers expect that they have seen it all before.

However, for Survivor, this could not be less true, as the most recent season held a record-breaking moment: the first Survivor player to ever be removed from the show by production.

The contestant in question is Dan Spilo, a talent manager from Los Angeles. Controversy around Dan started only a few episodes into the season, when female player Kellee Kim expressed discomfort with the way Dan was touching her. She talked to him about it and he apologized. However, this happened again a few episodes later, and other female players reinforced Kellee’s feelings by claiming that this had happened to them too.

At this point, Survivor showed a message that the producers had met with all the players to caution them about personal boundaries, and had also warned Dan individually. However, this issue continued to dominate the game-

play. After an explosive Tribal Council with many accusations and rebuttals, Kellee was voted out and Dan stayed in the game. Later, the game twisted again, when one episode before the finale, host Jeff Probst told the players that Dan would not be returning. Again, a title card was used to explain that Dan was removed from the game after a report of another offcamera incident not involving a player.

This crazy first of the game has evoked a lot of emotions and opinions in viewers. I understand why. It’s hard to have a clear view; this is a very complicated situation.

First, when Kellee told Dan to stop touching her, he should have. He did at that moment, but it absolutely never should have happened again. No means no, and everyone needs to know that. Kellee did the right and admirable thing by speaking up, and this issue should have ended there.

However, it obviously did not.

Part of the reason that this is so tricky is that it became part of

the gameplay. The premise of Survivor is that someone gets voted out every week, and players do all that they can to make sure it’s not them. By focusing on the tension between Kellee and Dan, heat was taken off other worried players.

When other women told Kellee that Dan also touched them inappropriately, it was clearly part of their strategy, as they rescinded these claims later.

These players used Kellee’s concerns to push negative attention onto Dan, in order to pull it off of themselves.

Lying is often encouraged on Survivor, and I usually have no issues with this integral part of the game. However, I think that these players crossed a line. Sexual harassment is too serious a topic to have been brought into the sloppy social gameplay. There is just too much at stake, as making this issue part of the game can have the effect of minimizing its importance and potentially ruining lives. While I can’t judge the mindsets of people living in the middle of the

jungle with little food or rest, I wish these players would have thought more critically before complicating a genuinely concerning issue.

Survivor viewers are also missing some critical facts. Like any reality show, our opinions are swayed by what the producers choose to show or not.

While there are rumors that Dan grabbed onto a woman who works on Survivor production as he was stepping onto a boat, we do not know what actually happened that caused him to be kicked off. I would like to believe that the producers made the right decision, but as we do not have an unbiased account of the incident, there’s no way to know.

Overall, Survivor has always been known as a microcosm of society. This was brought to a new level during Season 39, leading to questions of ethical gameplay and how to handle an unprecedented situation when real life invades reality TV.

The tipping point Do you want a future of decency, equality, and real social justice?

NOAH BROOK Staff Writer Our world is changing quickly, and our unrealistic expectations of what life looks like in the United States is leaving those born today more unprepared than ever before. Generations born in the 2000s are unique as they represent the collapse of upward mobility.

They are the first in American history to be projected to make less than their parents and to lose out on a traditional retirement.

Americans work the longest, most stressful hours in the world, and generations will spend another 10 years on average a part of the workforce. These same people working early mornings and late nights can’t afford health insurance and thus forgo doctor visits. This leaves us with our life expectancy falling, not climbing. Suicide among teenagers has risen 70% over the last several years.

These suicides are often linked to untreated depression and other mental health challenges. Furthermore, chronic loneliness has been linked to shorter, less fulfilling lives and 35% of Americans over the age of 35 classified themselves as such. Collectively, the drop in life expectancy can be accredited to our decreased quality of life.

Criticism of life in our country is taken as treasonous to many and it is what is stopping us from adopting the progressive change needed to fundamentally restructure our society to work more fairly for everybody. The system in place is failing to provide regular Americans with a place in the future that they find contentment with; the incongruence between public opinion and public policy before our eyes is the tearing open of the so-

cial contract: we’re supposed to forfeit select freedoms to the government, and in return, we find a role in the safe prosperous society created.

Thomas Jefferson proposed something truly radical - that the constitution be rewritten every 19 years allowing for every generation to adapt the text to the changing times.

A fundamental restructuring of the federal government is needed through revision of the constitution to minimize the systemic problems that plague the political process today. The rigidity of the Constitution is seen through its antiquated solutions to legislative affairs that led to the shut down of the federal government because of politicians’ inaction.

Twice, Democrats have lost elections because of the Electoral College despite winning the popular vote, a clause written only to appease slave owners. These compromises made by liberals are still affecting us today, and because of it, the future that was afforded for previous generations has been eroded by corruption.

Franklin Roosevelt’s social security net was built and cut before we even got old enough to collect on it. Our government’s inability to take the federal budget seriously displays its failure to see real people as nothing more than statistics. The slow repeal of the affordable care act and social security go unnoticed but before the end of our lives, it will start to show; the millions who get kicked off food stamps, and stop receiving quality treatment from their doctors will notice when the funding runs out on their programs.

The United States needs to take swift and decisive action in rewriting the Constitution to adjust to the increased power that money

has in our society, along with the partisan corruption holding up the needed changes to our public policy. Without legislation to address the climate, our ongoing gun crisis, and ever growing divide between rich and poor, we have no choice but to face the reality of that future together. Through grassroots organization, and efforts to engage further of the electorate, we can renegotiate the contract that we have without government.

.

Photo by Noah Brook

has in our society, along with the partisan corruption holding up the needed changes to our public policy. Without legislation to address the climate, our ongoing gun crisis, and ever growing divide between rich and poor, we have no choice but to face the reality of that future together. Through grassroots organization, and efforts to engage further of the electorate, we can renegotiate the contract that we have without government.

17

February Op/ed

Photo by Jing Daily

The influencer illusion Editor examines the role influencers play in our lives IZZI HARBER Copy Editor Scrolling through the search page on Instagram, you click on a post, look at the caption, and the first thing you see is “#ad.” Whether marketing clothes by Revolve or customized phone cases, influencers, those who use social media to promote a company’s products, are capitalizing on the growing online business place.

According to a 2019 report by eMarketer, a market research company, about 45% of chief marketing officers of companies are increasing their focus on using social media in marketing and 31% are increasing their focus on specifically using influencers. Additionally, Influencer Marketing Hub, an influencerresource website, says that 63% of

businesses intend to increase their influencer marketing budget.

They also said influencer marketing is expected to grow upwards of a $6.5 billion industry in the near future.

Although the industry shows few signs of slowing down, the culture surrounding influencers is a big problem. When nearly every influencer uses editing apps such as Facetune to edit and “perfect” their physical appearances in pictures, people viewing these pictures start to believe in the illusion of a “perfect-looking” person. For kids and teens, this can be especially detrimental to one’s self-esteem.

Also, what does this say about our society if we continue to put the spotlight on influencers? Will we listen to people who are better-

looking, even if their looks are the work of technology?

Not only is the influencer culture built on this foundation of vanity, but it is built on lies as well. In order to gain more traction with brands, influencers often buy followers on social media platforms or even create accounts solely for the purposes of adding more followers, likes and comments to their socials.

Businesses almost always do not find out about these fake accounts and can be tricked into paying influencers a higher price for promoting their merchandise. This is also unfair to true, loyal followers; they think the influencer is authentic when, in reality, they are not.

From what I’ve seen, most influencers seem to be people in

their twenties who went to college, tried to work at a 9-5 job, and quit to pursue social media full-time. It practically looks easy to start an Instagram account or a YouTube channel.

In fact, in a survey conducted

by Morning Consult, 86% of Gen Z and Millenials say that they would post sponsored content for money. However, everybody can’t be an influencer, and if the number of influencers rises too much, the market will become saturated with them. Plus, influencers who can make a living and afford to not have a normal job sometimes can “inspire” others to quit their own job. For example, in one of her vlogs, YouTuber Brooke Miccio said that she met a subscriber who said that they quit their job because she had

quit hers. In general, the parts of their lives that influencers show are often embellished and can cause people to get a false sense of what something, like a job, is like.

The growing influencer culture may become a larger part of marketing in the future, but at some point, it will come crashing down. When people realize that influencers tend to fake their appearance and lie to gain popularity, they will wonder why they listened to them in the first place. Perhaps even sooner than this, there will be an excess of influencers, and with no guarantee that Instagram or YouTube will last forever, influencer culture is bound to be only a small blip in the business world.

Letters to the Editor Dear Editor,

Dear Editor,

Dear Editor,

I am writing in response to your “Preparing for Future Success,” article. I believe this is a very influential article for students who want to improve their education and excel academically and socially in High School. This helps students get a “head start” in their career and gives us options as to what we are looking for in our futures. Seeing all of these different experiences from different students helps me see the potential in what I have now and how I can improve my studies to reach my goals. In high school, teachers and adults are always trying to prepare you for your post-school life and this article is something that really gives some insight into that part of our lives. Many students do not have the opportunity to explore career pathways during high school, and it is cool that we have a chance to be out in the workforce while having the safety net of high school supporting us. Once we leave high school, any career moves we make could have far reaching implications - both the time we will dedicate to exploring potential careers and the finances we may expend through college courses and training. By exploring careers in high school, we can try something new without feeling the pressure of a lifelong commitment. I believe that this will be a very positive experience for students interested in preparing for possible careers. I am always looking toward what that next step in my life will be and as a senior, I look forward to being involved in the Capstone program so I can further explore my plans after this stage in my education.

This issue, I really enjoyed the article that spoke about Mr. Watson’s arrival. I wanted to respond to this article because I did not know that he was formerly West Bloomfield High School’s principal, and I am excited for him to be welcomed into our district. After reading “Watson to Bloomfield,” I began to dig through the newspaper and found a lot of interesting articles. I thought it was really interesting that there were a lot more winter sports at our school than I even thought of and a lot more happening in the world of sports. My favorite piece was the best of the decade in the tabloid. I thought it was really interesting how many things happened so long ago and how we often forget about these huge moments over time. While we watched this past decade come to an end, it was nice to see some of the highlights in my own high school’s newspaper.

Overall, I can say that I really like the newspaper a lot more mainly due to the fact that a lot of the stories connect to our high school lives.

Through the Hawkeye, students can read and write about current events in and out of school, which makes us more aware of the excitment in our community. As a soccer player, I look forward to reading duture issues of the Hawkeye, specifically in the sports section. As a student, I am excited to see some of the tips and tricks of improving my overall high school experience.

As a reader, I enjoy exploring different reviews and perspectives on several topics and learning more about them. I am glad that I discovered the newspaper, because now I have another outlet to become more aware about what is occuring at our school.

I was so pleased to read my friend Noah’s article “Dialogue Across Divides” published in the Holiday issue of the Hawkeye. It reminded me of what I think is so important about our relationships with others; what we have in common.

Our differences often make communication difficult but using your advice I’ve been able to stay cooler when met with challenges. Instead of feeling personally offended by unexpected circumstances, I’ve recently found myself taking the long view on these feelings, and letting them go. I think that if we don’t have more conversations with people we disagree with, we’ll become more disconnected. Growing up, we would play outside without neighbors but the older we get it feels like we are eventually taught to distrust the people that live side by side us. When I’m older, I want to live in a place where people forget about the superficial divides that politics creates and treat each other as what we always have been; neighbors. Than you for everyone’s hard work to publish such a fantastic newspaper, and I cannot wait to keep reading what the Hawkeye has coming!

- Rachel Shepard, 10th

- Mamdouh Alsagher, 12th

We want to hear what you think Write a 200-300 word letter to the editor and sent it to us: bloomfieldhawkeye@gmail.com

- Simon Abohasira, 12th

18

February Entertainment

reviews Beyond dragons and sword fights KUSHAL SANJEEV Editor-in-Chief I didn’t really know what to expect when I first heard about The Witcher. A live-action tv show based off of a game that had only become known after the third release in the series seemed far-fetched even for Netflix. All The Witcher seemed to be was a Game of Thrones reboot filled with dragons, knights, and magic.

Thankfully, I was wrong.

The Witcher is a dark, mysterious, and adventurous series centered around Henry Cavill starring as Geralt of Rivia: a man who travels across The Continent with his horse named Roach chasing down monsters and after every girl he meets.

Throughout the first season of the series, we get bits and pieces of three main storylines that lead up on different timelines to a final moment in the series finale. We have our main character Geralt of Rivia traveling around on his adventure. Next, we have Ciri, played by Freya Allan, who finds her own path after she loses her home and all of her family. And finally, we have Anya

Chalotra who plays the character of Yennefer, a girl burdened by a twisted lineage who is always chasing after something or another.

Without a doubt, this is one of the best-developed shows I have seen. The series is based on various novels and games intertwining in an order that is nowhere near close to the one they were released on Netflix. The storyline was very much like The Mandalorian. Whereas in The Mandalorian, Mando was off on a different mission every week alongside baby Yoda, the same concept was applied here with Geralt of Rivia and his sidekick Dandelion (Joey Batey) hunting and creating almost a “monster of the week” theme in each episode while spreading the tales of the great Witcher.

With all of that being said, the series is home to some truly scary moments. In the first episode, we see Geralt hunting after a spider swamp beast that, is first of all sure to leave some with nightmares, but also a key piece in setting the tone for not only the series, but the character as well. Some actors are made for certain characters. Just as we saw with Robert Downey Jr. and Iron Man, Henry Cavill was made to be Geralt of Rivia. I’ll be honest, Man of Steel was a great

performance that made Henry Cavill a known name, but from now on, Henry Cavill is Geralt of Rivia. He inhabits the role so well that he exceeds any and every expectation. The supporting characters around Geralt are excellent as well. From the various sorcerers and magicians to barkeeps and singers, there’s a diverse cast that brings life to the screen and The Continent that viewers have not seen before.

But while the highlighted moments of the series are great, its the supporting features that really make this show stand out.

From the music put together by Sonya Belousova and the phenomenal costume design by Tim Aslam, every bit of the show is brought to a new height.

One of my favorite things about The Witcher is that Geralt is neither a hero nor anti-hero.

He is just the guy you will always root for. And with the sleek costumes, epic sword, and his bestfriend horse, what’s not to love.

All in all, if you’re looking for an original dark fantasy tv show filled with some horror, lots of adventure, and tons of moments leaving you on the edge of your seat, look no further. The Witcher is destined to surprise and thrill viewers of all kinds. I give The Witcher 4/5 stars.

FOOD

TV

TV

Pita Post opens in Bloomfield Hills

The Mandalorian pleasently surprises

This Is The Show For YOU

JANE ROSETT Staff Writer

JOSH RILLEMA Guest Writer

SKYLAR STEARNS Staff Writer

If you want a unique take on Israeli food, try the new restaurant, Pita Post, which is located on 4135 W. Maple Rd. inside of the Maple Theater. This new restaurant, originally a food truck service, has opened in Bloomfield Hills serving the following hours: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesdays through Saturdays and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays.

The menu offers a variety of traditional Israeli foods that will appeal to both adults and children. The main courses, which are also the best sellers, include the Falafel Boy and the Sh-ni-tzel. These two dishes are popular for their unique, homemade sauces such as tahini and celery seed sauce. Having eaten there several times, I can say that both of these meals and the dressings are delicious.

Not only is the food amazing, but the price is right for a fast casual menu. The menu offers many different options for the main courses and three additional combos and caters to vegetarian and vegan customers as well.

The owner, Tal Sasson, was born in Tel Aviv, Israel and wanted to bring the Israeli food culture to Detroit. He put his own spin on the Mediterranean cuisine when he started his food truck in 2013. The food truck remains permanently at the Detroit Fleat in Ferndale. His overarching goal with his cooking is to create a brick-and-mortar restaurant.

Sasson offers different specials on specific days of the week in addition to the regular menu. These specials range from salads to sides to sandwiches. In addition to their extensive menu, they also serve coffees, lattes, and teas.

The restaurant interior (located within the newly redesigned Maple Theater space) is very modern with high ceilings and tables, which enhances a more comfortable and open atmosphere.

Next time you are looking for a good and inexpensive meal, check out Pita Post for delicious and creative Israeli cuisine.

The Mandalorian is one of the latest additions to Disney’s streaming service, Disney+. Critically acclaimed Emmy-nominated producer Jon Favreau wrote and directed this liveaction TV show. Through his amazing cinematography and storytelling, the show transports viewers into ‘a galaxy, far far away.’

Set five years after the fall of the Empire in Star Wars Episode: VI Return of the Jedi, the story follows a Mandalorian bounty hunter (Pedro Pascal) tasked with hunting “The Child” for a hefty payload. After refusing to hand over the Force-sensitive foundling to the Imperials to perform tests on him, the Mandalorian and “The Child” are forced to hide on the outskirts of the galaxy.

Although the Mandalorian is tasked with an unethical job in an immoral universe, he defies his duties and sticks to his moral code. This creates a very interesting dilemma in which the character gets in trouble for doing the right things. Although we never get to know the Mandalorian’s real name, the other characters tend to refer to him as “Mando.”

Mando follows the Mandalorian religion of the warriors which states that its followers can never remove their helmets in the presence of others. Regardless of the person he meets, this creates a dynamic where he is forced to live behind the metaphorical wall that prohibits him from living a normal life.

The Mandalorian also introduces new types of stormtroopers into the Star Wars universe. A point was made by Disney executives to make sure the series is original. Instead of introducing new species and characters into the show, the series made a galactic empire into domestic warlords. This was one of my favorite aspects of the show as I could see this series more connected to the real world instead of a space fantasy, which is a nice change of pace for the saga.

The series also developed a relationship between the internet’s newest obsession ‘Baby Yoda’ and the Mandalorian.

The Mandalorian started off as a heartless bounty hunter, but slowly starts to develop a caring personality when he meets Baby Yoda. This loving and cuteness of Baby Yoda made him an instant fan favorite. That same innocence in the character also led him into troubled situations leaving viewers constantly on the edge of their seats.

Overall, I believe The Mandalorian is a great series that is well worth your time.

You may be familiar with a certain stalker, known as Dan Humphrey, from the teen drama series, “Gossip Girl.” Many of us are pleased to see actor Penn Badgely back and better than ever as he appears in the new show, “You,” portraying Joe Goldberg. Joe describes himself as an aged soul who enjoys keeping things old school.

This series is an American thriller about a psychopathic bookstore manager, Joe Goldberg (Badgely), who has many skeletons in his closet. The shocking discovery of his past will surely leave you on the edge of your seat.

In September of 2018, the first season of “You” came out, taking place in New York City where Joe works. He meets his girlfriends/victims in typical, everyday situations, and once he spots a girl that he’s interested in, he devotes his life to making hers perfect. Joe wants to be the only person in the lives of his love interests, and he will do anything and everything to make sure he gets all of their attention.

Throughout the series, Joe’s obsessive character traits are revealed. For example, at the beginning of the series, he tries to control Beck’s (Elizabeth Lail) life. Now that season two is out on Netflix, we see the past repeating itself. A different girl, Love (Victoria Pedretti), has a unique personality that makes up for her cheesy name. We see Joe pining for this new girl and doing everything possible to catch her eye. Unlike season one, this brand new season ends with a twist that you would have never expected. I particularly love season two because the plot and character development is very strong. We get to see how these characters grow throughout the episodes.

“You” is a great show that I recommend to anyone who is intrested in thrillers or murder mysteries. You can find this series on Netflix.

19

February Entertainment

reviews

Just the book

JILLIAN SACKSNER Social Media Manager Bryan Stevenson’s memoir Just Mercy is a distressing yet exquisite work; it’s the type of book that demands a re-evaluation of one’s viewpoint on the death penalty, along with its impact on the criminal justice system and society as a whole.

The movie adaptation of this memoir was released to the public on December 25, 2019.

Both the book and the film offer glimpses into Stevenson’s career as a lawyer specializing in death penalty cases. Both highlight the racial divisions that still exist in Alabama today and elsewhere in the United States.

Though the book and the film are both commendable, the differences between them are impactful and offer a complete understanding of Stevenson’s and McMillian’s

complex story and relationship.

In general, the film and the book focused primarily on the pivotal case of Walter McMillian, an Alabama resident convicted of a crime in which he had no involvement, yet still received the death penalty. Each medium exposed McMillian’s horror, fear, and suffering while living on death row for six years, watching as other inmates were sent to the electric chair.

From there, the differences between the book and the film became apparent. In the movie, the audience mostly views Stevenson and McMillian’s relationship as that of a lawyer and a client. In the book, however, Stevenson establishes that he and McMillian connected on a deeper and more personal level, becoming friends and lifelong confidants. This difference creates a deeper and more emotional connection to the story and

its readers, which is a connection lost in the film.

Not only is the emotional relationship between Stevenson and McMIllian minimized in the film, but their shared legal battle is greatly streamlined and Stevenson’s other cases disappear. Specifically, the sequencing in the book offered a deep dive into McMillian’s complex case during every other chapter, revealing its various victories and defeats, while looking at many of Stevenson’s other compelling cases in the opposite chapters.

In contrast, the film focuses entirely on McMillian’s case. This practical, and perhaps necessary, choice by the filmmaker reduces the audience’s understanding of the overarching problems with death penalty cases. The book, showcasing many cases, successfully reveals the pervasive themes

of disappointment and defeat throughout these battles as the courts pretend ignorance of the real injustice of McMillian’s and others’ cases.

Similarly, the film lost sight of the book’s many chapters examining the racist tendencies of law enforcement in Alabama towards individual characters. The film simply lacked a strong buildup of these characters, losing the opportunity to demand change.

Overall, both the book and the film offer a compelling and worthwhile depiction of Stevenson and McMillian’s shared forces. If prompted to choose between them, I would choose the book because it offers a more nuanced and complete understanding of the story.

TV

MOVIE

All in this together

Parasite receives the worldwide praise it deserves

KAITLYN KEELE Section Editor Like most other children in 2008, I was obsessed with “High School Musical.” The love story between Troy Bolton and Gabriella Montez was the highlight of my childhood; the songs and dances were imprinted in my brain; and the iconic lines filled my vocabulary. No other Disney production ever came close to beating this impeccable trilogy, and nothing has, until “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series.”

Don’t get me wrong, I was horrified the very first time that I heard the rumor of a new High School Musical. How could anything upstage such an amazing movie? I was very skeptical of the series as a whole because I thought they would simply be copying the movie in a new, unnecessary lens. However, that was far from the case.

I started to watch the series as a joke to make sure that I was in on all of the memes about how terrible it would be. Instead, I fell in love with it right away. The show is set at the famous East High School. It follows high school students and their theatrical journey to the opening night of their production of “High School Musical: The Musical” while focusing on both high school relationships and the discovery of self-identity.

Among the many aspects of HSMTMTS that I loved, one of my favorites was definitely the cast who really brought the characters

to life. Nina “Nini” Salazar-Roberts (Olivia Rodriguez) and Ricky Bowen (Joshua Bassett) kept me on the edge of my seat with the juicy drama of their love story. Additionally, the relationship between Carlos Rodriguez (Frankie A. Rodriguez) and Seb MatthewSmith (Joe Serafini) was one of the first times I have seen the normalization of same-sex couples on Disney. Every single character gave a new perspective on a high school student’s daily life, while still including themes from the original movie, which I found refreshing and quite unexpected.

Even though the plot and characters truly made the series great, the music is what set my opinion in stone. Of course there were some songs from the original movie that were reprised wonderfully, but I loved every one of the new songs as well; I could relate to them, they were catchy, and they represented the characters and their identities very well.

“High School Musical: The Musical: The Series” really surprised me. I never thought that I would like a show that was made for 12-year-olds. HSMTMTS is about so much more than just a high school performance and I can’t wait for season two.

LAINE LORD Managing Editor I’ve never seen a movie quite like Parasite.

Enticingly twisted in the best way possible, Parasite proves to not only be an unprecedented, genre-bending thriller but two hours and twelve minutes of pure genius.

Directed by the legendary Bong Joon-Ho, the Palme D’or winning film follows the financially-struggling Kim family as each family member schemes their way into being hired by the wealthy Park family. Initially, all seems to go well as the son (Choi Woo-shik), the daughter (Park So-dam), the mother (Lee Jeong-eun), and the father (Kang Hosong) all manage to succeed in deceiving the Park family. However, they soon realize that things don’t always go as planned.

Nominated for six Oscars including Best Picture and Best Director, Parasite is getting the attention it rightfully deserves. In addition to Parasite’s phenomenal critical acclaim, it’s also making history. It is one of the 12 foreign films to ever be nominated for Best Picture, and the first-ever Korean film to be nominated for Best Picture. Given that the Best Director title last year was awarded to Alfonso Cuaron for the foreign film, Roma, it would be great to see this representation continued and have a foreign film

director win this year as well.

The simultaneous unexpectedness of Parasite’s plot and its international success is part of what makes it so good. Parasite’s trailblazing amalgamation of genres is a fresh take I’m happy to see a filmmaker create, especially amongst the bland remakes and sequels flooding our theaters in today’s age. In addition to the utter originality of Parasite, it’s compelling social commentary took it to the next level. Along with the recurring and quite literal symbolism throughout the film, the social commentary on wealth disparity and the juxtaposition of rich and poor lifestyles elevate the cultural significance of the film drastically.

I don’t know how else to say it: Parasite is one of those movies that everyone has to see.

Every aspect of the movie was perfect; from the extraordinary cast to the brilliant screenplay, the culmination of these superlative attributes resulted in a film truly like no other.

Not only will Parasite leave you on the edge of your seat, but it will quite literally leave you with your jaw on the floor. Each turn is wilder than the last and without a doubt, you’ll be hooked, leaving the theater both satisfied and begging for more.

REMEMBERING

KOBE BRYANT 1978 - 2020

On January 26th, 2020, the world lost one of its greatest inspirations and basketball legends.

Kobe Bryant and 8 others, including his 13-year-old daughter Gianna, were tragically killed in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California. Over his 20 year career, Bryant dominated the league and cemented himself as one of the greatest to ever play the game. Off the court, Bryant was a family man, philanthropist, Oscar-winning filmmaker, and advocate for women's sports.

NBA CHAMPIONSHIPS - 5X 2000 2001 2002 2009 2010

HOMETOWN

HIGH SCHOOL

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA

LOWER-MERION HIGH SCHOOL

POINTS SCORED

1996 NBA DRAFT

33,643

13TH OVERALL

(4TH MOST ALL TIME)

TRADED FROM CHARLOTTE TO LOS ANGELES

ALL-NBA SELECTIONS

MVPs

15 ALL-NBA TEAMS

- 2X FINALS MVP - 4X ALL-STAR MVP - 2008 NBA MVP

LEAGUE RECORD

REST IN PEACE, KOBE

BY BEN SILBERMAN SOURCES: NBC NEWS, STATS REFERENCE

SOURCES AND IMAGE CREDITS: NBC NEWS, GETTY, ESPN, LA TIMES, ABC NEWS, NBA.COM