Spring Edition
BLOOMFIELD HILLS HIGH SCHOOL | ISSUE IV | VOLUME IX
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HAWKEYESPRING
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PAGE 3 CLARIFYING RUMORS AT BLOOMFIELD HILLS HIGH SCHOOL What’s the truth behind alleged changes being brought to the school?
PAGE 6 APRIL SHOWERS BRING CLEAN ROOMS
STUDENT LEADERSHIP SUCCESS AT STATES
PAGE 5 PERSONALITY PROFILE: CATCHING UP WITH COACH BROWN
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TAPPING INTO SYRUP SEASON
SPRING SUSTAINABILITY
PAGE 12 SENIOR SPRING SPORTS SEASON
PAGE 13 A NEW RECIPE FOR THE NEW SEASON: SPRING ROLLS
PAGE 14 ENTERTAINMENT REVIEWS: BRIDGERTON, KANYE, and more!
PAGE 10 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF COLUMNS Who is your role model? Ode to S2 senior year Live Meaningfully and Women’s Empowerment
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CLARIFYING RUMORS AT BHHS What’s the truth behind alleged changes being brought to the school? by SETH KRUGER Editor-In-Chief and RUBY STOLLER Opinion Editor On Thursday, March 8, we interviewed Principal Stroughter, representing the Hawkeye Staff, regarding some of the rumors that have been circulating throughout BHHS. We uncovered the following information firsthand from our new principal to help clarify the air in our school environment.
A: Our district has seen fit to change out some of our old existing cameras and put in some new, more modern cameras that are able to see farther distances and are able to allow us better access at retrieving images. But, I do not believe that there are any microphones listening in on conversations.
One of the most common rumors that circulated concerned the school’s dress code, including an alleged ban on leggings and colored sweatpants.
“What’s with the cones in the parking lots?” students wonder.
Q: What, if anything, has changed about the school dress code? A: Our school district does have a dress code for students, but I personally haven’t done any work around the dress code at all. I’ve made no mention of changing our current practice of applying the dress code here at Bloomfield Hills High School. Another issue that has widely affected the students of Bloomfield is the security of the building, especially with doors and entrances around the building. Q: What are the policies with doors and entrances locking at certain times? A: We have one secure entrance and that one secure front door where we have a hall monitor with all kinds of surveillance equipment to see who’s coming in and who’s going out. And, we can monitor the safety and well being of our students coming and going in that space. So that’s why the building has been secured and locked down. It’s all about student safety.
Q: What changes have been made to the parking lots on campus with parent dropoff? Are there junior and senior parking lots? A: As far as parking spots, I mean, obviously students can’t park where staff park, but outside of that they can park in any of the spaces. So what we’re asking parents to do if they’re going to drop on that side of the building [by the athletic entrance] is that they follow the path all the way down, alongside those cones, turn into the lot, come back around all the way around and then they could turn out, as opposed to clogging up the entrance. So we’re basically turning that lane into a one way flow of traffic, which then makes it more efficient. Attendance at Bloomfield Hills High School has always been an important aspect of a full school day, but not until recently has it been an issue that has been focused on. Principal Stroughter has taken the lead on addressing these issues. Q: What is the purpose of the new attendance policies?
As students continue to search for minor and subtle changes to the school, a rumor that has arisen has been the addition of microphones throughout the school, including in hallways and common areas.
A: Our mission statement is to prepare you to be global citizens, and is described by the four cornerstones. This includes responsibility and ownership, meaning maybe getting up a little bit earlier so you can get to school on time, right?
Q: What’s the deal with the new security rumors, including microphones around the building?
We are excited to see what the future of BHHS looks like with the implementation of these new policies.
HAWKEYE HIGHLIGHTS by LENNA PETERSON Editor-In Chief and MADISON KESSLER Staff Writer
KETANJI BROWN JACKSON’S CONFIRMATION HEARING FOR THE SUPREME COURT Monday, March 21, history was made as Ketanji Brown Jackson stood as the first Black woman nominated to the Supreme Court in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee. During President Joe Biden’s election campaign, he promised a Black woman as the next Supreme Court justice nomination. That promise became a reality as the 51-year old Harvard-trained woman was nominated for the role. Jackson, who has previous support from the senate by being confirmed as an appellate court judge, would replace retiring Justice Stephen Breyer. It is predicted that potential 50-50
votes in the Senate would confirm Jackson. “Today is a proud day for America,” said Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., the Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman, as he opened the historic hearing. Being the first ever Black woman nominated for the position as a Supreme Court Justice is a huge honor as it has taken America 233 years to do so. At the end of Jackson’s first day of the confirmation hearings, she told senators that if she was confirmedto be a Supreme Court Justice, she would work “to support and defend the Constitution and this grand experiment of American democracy.”
NEWS BRIEFINGS “US forms an anti-Kremlin alliance as Russia ravages Ukraine” “Severe windswept fires blaze across Texas” “BA.2 Omicron subvariant detected in Michigan”
For the full stories, visit bhhstoday.org
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Stroughter in Session Mr. Stroughter seeks to maximize instructional time by MADISON KESSLER Staff Writer As Principal Stroughter has settled into his new position here at Bloomfield Hills High School, he has implemented timeliness standards with the solution of a new warning bell. Mr. Stroughter’s goal of timeliness comes from not wasting any time in high school. He elaborated on his viewpoint: “What happens in this four year period is very important. And [we are] preparing these students to be ready for college, trade school, or life after high school. So I don’t want to waste any time whatsoever, and give every student that walks through the door these opportunities to maximize the teaching and learning process,” said Stroughter. As a result of his point of view, a warning bell was implemented into the school’s bell schedule. The warning bell rings two minutes before class starts. “Many of our students, those that want to be on time, have been finding their way into class with that two minute mark because what happens is during that first five minutes, they walk to the general location of their class and they continue to have those conversations. Then, when that warning bell sounds then they start to move into the classroom so that their teacher can start class on time without constant interruption,” Stroughter said. When the warning bell was first introduced and first rang, many students were startled. It brought back memories of the bluepoint alarm or an alarm clock. Mr. Stroughter realized how the unpleasant sound affected the students in a negative way. Therefore, the warning bell was adapted and changed into a quick chirping sound. Besides the new warning bell, Mr. Stroughter has not implemented any other rules or procedures on timeliness; however, he has reinforced the tardy and late arrival policies. In the mornings, students have to sign into attendance by waiting in the attendance line if they arrive past 7:55 a.m. However, attendance policies or consequences haven’t been amended or created at this point. Overall, Mr. Stroughter’s main goal is to build a school community that is respectful to one another. By implementing the new warning bell, he hopes to offer structure to our BHHS student body in order to avoid wasting time or infringing upon other students as well as faculty.
Lindsey Zousmer recieves Student of the Year Award from Matt Alley Photo by LYDIA CADENA
Student Leadership Success at States BHHS Student Leadership received many awards at the MASC/MAHS State Conference by ERYN STERN Editor-in-Chief The BHHS Student Leadership team attended the MASC/MAHS Student Leadership State Conference in Grand Rapids on February 27-28. Many BHHS student leaders received individual and group recognition, and the BHHS Student Leadership team earned highest honors at the conference. Some of the awards that the entire leadership team earned were the Award of Excellence, Exceptional Service Project, and Star School. The Award of Excellence is given to the top 5% of Michigan high schools, and is the highest honor that a high school leadership program can receive. The Award of Excellence highlights the events, fundraisers, and community service initiatives organized by the school, along with the classroom environment and engagement opportunities. The Exceptional Service Project Award was given to BHHS for their community food-drive project, Porch Pantry. Finally, the Star School award recognizes the entire BHHS leadership team and all of their accomplishments. Regarding individual awards, senior Lindsey Zousmer, received the Student
of the Year Award. Zousmer is the BHHS Executive Board Co-President, and was the first BHHS Student Leadership member to receive this award in history. Zousmer received the highest honors with this award and was acknowledged for her hard work, commitment, dedi-
“I never feel less than inspired while in the Leadership classroom and I feel so lucky to receive this award alongside my supportive, encouraging, and loving team.”
LINDSEY ZOUSMER Student of the Year cation, and achievements. When asked about what the award meant to her and how student leadership impacted her, Zousmer said the following. “Being Student of the Year has really put the importance of this organization into perspective for me. Student Leadership has had a tremendous impact on my high school career, being one of
the communities in which I felt most at home, influential, and empowered. I am so honored to have worked with my incredible advisors and fellow leaders to make every vision we have come to life,” said Zousmer. “I never feel less than inspired while in the Leadership classroom and I feel so lucky to receive this award alongside my supportive, encouraging, and loving team.” In addition to Zousmer, junior Mollie Weiner was recognized with an Unsung Hero award. Weiner is on the BHHS Student Leadership Executive Board, and received the award for her positive attitude and commitment to ensuring a welcoming school environment. The entire BHHS Student Leadership team received many awards at the Student Leadership Conference and will look to continue their success next year. “States was a great opportunity to meet hundreds of student leaders from different schools around the state and share out about all of the amazing events and fundraisers we organize each year,” said junior Alexa Kessler. “We hope to implement some of the great events we learned about at States to our own school.”
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CATCHING UP WITH COACH One of Bloomfield’s newest faces are already beloved by SETH KRUGER Editor-in-Chief
Photo provided by COACH
Any fan of the Detroit Pistons would know each day. the name Tim McCormick, face of the pre- “This is who I am,” he said when reflecting game and post-game shows on Bally Sports on how people see him as being personable Network, home of Detroit sports. But how and humble. many fans, let alone people in general, Not many know about Coach’s prolific past could tell you that they blocked the eight in his own playing experiences. As a sophoyear NBA veteran in a high school basketball more at Highland Park High School, he was game? regarded as the best tenth grade hooper in Known affectionately as “Coach,” Coach the state. He also received one of the most Brown, the newest member of the Bloom- prestigious honors in national high school field Hills hall monitor and security team, basketball - he was named to the Converse supports students in the halls during lunch- All American team in 1982. He also set his es, as well as passing time and some trans- high school record for points scored in a portation periods. And yes, he blocked Tim game with 46. McCormick in a high school basketball faHe continued his career on a full scholceoff. arship to West Virginia University, where While the majority of students have met he was a solid four year big man for the Coach this year during their lunch periods Mountaineers, and got to match up against or passing time, he has actually been in the some of the best teams in the country, inBloomfield communicluding (at the time) ty for more years than top ranked University most people know. “Some of the first words of Nevada Las Vegas The current head (UNLV). that come to mind when coach of the Girls Varsity Although he was an Basketball team, coach a student thinks of Coach excelling ballplayer, Kristen Massey, played still knows include positive, welcoming, everyone her own high school cahim as Coach. reer at Novi Christian and down-to-earth, based “After over 30 years of Academy, where she was on the energy that he brings coaching and instructunder Coach’s instrucing, everyone I know to the school each day. ” calls me that, even tion. Recently, as she took on her slate of girls my lifetime friends. It basketball coaching, she sounds crazy, but they invited Coach back onto do. [Even so], someher own staff. times people forget “[Coach Kristen] that I played at a high Editor-in-Chief brought me into the level,” he said. girls’ program at BloomIn these 30 plus field Hills, and [after years, he has spent a that] I took a job at the school to get closer to lot of time with women’s basketball athletes, the players and student[s],” Coach said. especially at the high school level. He began Coach’s lifelong friend, Steve Green, also his coaching career with men’s basketball, coached at Novi Christian, and Coach is glad but found women’s basketball was a better that Coach Massey invited Green back to the fit for him. Bloomfield program, as he is coaching the Since coming to Bloomfield, Coach has freshman team. been delighted with the student support for Relationships and connections are one of the women’s team. the most important aspects of Coach’s life. “When I got here, I fell in love with the stuAt Bloomfield Hills, Coach views the stu- dent section. [They have] helped advance dent body, including the athletes, as vital to the girls’ program. I try to go to all the other a successful and safe school environment. sporting events because it builds commu“My favorite part of each day is communi- nity. Since I’ve been here, I’ve been talking cating with the kids first thing in the morn- with The Cage to support the girls much ing and talking sports with the athletes,” more, and it gives the team a big boost,” he said Coach. “A lot of kids [here] seem really said. nice because I have love for everybody, so Whether it be on the court, in the bleachwhen I see a person down, I try to encour- ers, or during passing time, Coach will alage them and keep them feeling good about ways be around to encourage everyone to be themselves,” he added. their best person every day and continue to Some of the first words that come to mind build strong, long lasting relationships. when a student thinks of Coach include pos“At this school, I treat everyone the same. itive, welcoming, and down-to-earth, based Sometimes it’s who you know, not always on the energy that he brings to the school what you know.”
SETH KRUGER
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April showers bring clean rooms Tips to freshen up your spring cleaning by MADDY MOSS Senior Columnist Every year, as soon as the temperature hits 50º, it seems like there’s something in the air that makes everyone want to deep clean every crevice of their home. Maybe it’s the extra hour of sunlight or slightly warmer temperatures that make everyone want to swap out their snow boots for sandals. Whatever the reason, there’s no better time to clean out your closet than now. Have no fear, for here are some of my personally tested tips for the best, most effective spring cleaning routine! Start off by setting aside a certain amount of time to clean a room. I like to set aside a few hours to fully clean my room and make sure everything scattered on the counters has a place to go. Making sure you have sufficient time ensures that you will complete your cleaning project and won’t come back to a half-done project.
Graphic by CAMERON KAUFMAN
If that’s not feasible, start small and tackle one part of a room at a time. Sometimes it can get too overwhelming to see your whole bookshelf lying on your floor. In reality, I find that what most deters people about cleaning is that they get too ambitious. When they start cleaning, expecting to get through a whole house in one day, they get burnt out very early in the process. To curb burnout, I like to turn on a good playlist or an interesting podcast, such as The Office Ladies, Teenage Therapy, or TED Talks Daily. When I listen to a podcast, I like to clean for the entirety of the podcast and then take a break for a few minutes, restarting a new episode or playlist after. To go along with cleaning in increments, I typically like to start with something small such as my desk: First clearing everything off, then making piles such as keep, donate, or a “maybe” pile. The pile system helps when I go to donate
my things. I love donating my things and allowing them to have another life, and I love finding new things. I have found that donating locally is more sustainable than donating to a big chain such as The Salvation Army or Goodwill. Local places such as the National Council of Jewish Women Resale Store or Potomac Rescue Mission Thrift Store can help support the local community and allow for a quick trip to donate your things. However, if you want to make a bit of money off some of your higher-end goods, there are consignment stores—such as Sum Girls Boutique, Closet NV, and Refined Resale—which offer some of the profit back if the item is sold. Of course, make sure that you make the spring cleaning fun and worth your time. After you are done with your task for the day, relax, watch your favorite show, and enjoy your freshly cleaned space.
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A SWEET START TO THE SEASON Behind the process for sugary goodness at E.L. Johnson Nature Center by GRACE MAIN Staff Writer Sap Happy Event at the E.L. Johnson Nature Center Photo by GRACE MAIN
Sugary, sweet, maple syrup season is upon us. Although collecting sap, boiling it down, and packaging it may be a lengthy process, it is well worth the time and effort for the delicious treat. The first trees that were tapped were by Indigenous Americans. Legends and stories differ from tribe to tribe, and when European settlers arrived, syrup and tapping trees became a hit with them too. Late winter into early spring is the best time to tap maple trees. This is when the temperature at night goes below freezing and the temperature during the day averages around 40 degrees. This is usually when sap in the tree is flowing freely and the most sap is collected. To start the process, find a maple tree. The best tree to make syrup is the Sugar Maple because of its high sugar content of around 2%. Other maples can be tapped as well; however, the sugar concentration will be slightly less, and there might be a difference in taste between the syrups. Collecting sap can be done multiple ways. Using a tap and a bucket is the traditional method; it is done by drilling a tap or multiple taps into a tree. The more modern way to collect the sap is through tubes. Tubes connecting to the taps can be filtered into buckets or led into a culminating area for the sap to be stored before boiling. Allison Posner, a naturalist at the E.L. Johnson Nature Center in Bloomfield Hills, discussed her favorite part of the sugaring process: tapping. “Once you drill the hole and watch the sap flow from the tree it’s really exciting. It’s like all my hard work has paid off.” Posner said. The boiling process is lengthy. Roughly 40 gallons of sap makes one gallon of syrup, so the water in the sap needs to boil down for hours to get the right consistency and taste of the syrup. The syrup is done boiling when the remaining part is twothirds sugar or when the temperature is seven degrees above the boiling point. There are different methods for boiling the sap down. For smaller amounts of sap,
boiling outside on an open flame is the best bet. Boiling outside is a better option than boiling inside to keep the steam from peeling paint or wallpaper. For larger scale boiling, sugar shacks are a common option. The Johnson Nature Center has 164 tappable trees in its sugarbush and a sugar shack to accompany it. Brian Klosterman, the Operations Leader at the Nature Center, works in the sugar shack. “This machine (the Evaporator) will have 20 gallons of water that will evaporate and process it out, which gives me a half a gallon of syrup in one hour. But that’s if I’m roaring the fire.” The sugar shack is also running and producing the syrup multiple days a week. “Right now [it runs] Tuesday through Thursday. On a day like today, we will have it running all day,” Klosterman said. Although labor intensive, the reward is fully worth the time and hard work. Newcomers to sugaring can pick up on it fairly quickly, as it isn’t extremely complicated. Garrett Johnson is also a Naturalist at the Johnson Nature Center. “My advice would be to just go for it. I think there’s a lot of information out there, but the basic process of getting sap, heating it up, and making syrup is pretty straightforward, and as you go through the process, you will see the little details to refine your process, and it’s an art you can keep building on. But just go for it and see what happens,” Johnson said, sharing his advice for new sugarers. The Johnson Nature Center has “Sap Happy” events through the month of March to give people the chance to experience the sugaring process. Next year, when sugaring season comes around again, don’t wait. Get going to have breakfast after breakfast of delicious maple syrup.
What are some ways to help the planet this spring? by BENJI STERN Managing Editor
Ah, spring. The days are getting longer and warmer, the birds start chirping, there’s more pollen in the air, daylight savings time takes away an hour of sleep, final exams are coming up, seniors are leaving, and oh, yeah, we’re still in the midst of a global climate crisis. Although the months of puffy winter coats and scraping windshields are coming to an end, spring comes with its own lovely, little stressors. There’s not much we can do about the birds, pollen, daylight, finals, or the inevitability of our senior friends leaving high school and starting their lives; however, we just might be able to help out with that pesky climate issue. We aren’t all Greta Thunberg, but if you are, thanks for reading my article, Greta! Nevertheless, that does not mean we can’t do our part to ensure the future of our planet. The US Environmental Protection Agency reports that transportation is responsible for 29% of all greenhouse gas emissions. Instead of driving to school, soccer practice, or the grocery store, you can swap your four wheels for two, if you are able. Riding a bike and walking are completely carbon neutral ways to get around. If you’re really cool though, you’ll be happy to hear that rollerblading your way around is also an option. According to CNN Style, 2.31 billion tons of greenhouse gas emissions came directly from the global fashion industry in 2018. That number has only grown since. It will continue to grow if we, the people, don’t start making some creative, sustainable swaps for spring. One of these changes could include purchasing clothing secondhand, via thrift stores and garage sales. Thrifting helps avoid contributing to the excessive production of fast fashion. It’s also a fun way to spend time with friends. Beyond clothing, you can go to estate sales for home decor and objects like plant pots, vases, and more. Contrary to popular belief, your copy of The Hawkeye is good for more than just endless news and entertainment. After you have read every single article in this issue, there are plenty of ways to reuse it. If you are a do-it-yourself kind
of person, you can use newspapers as biodegradable pots for seedlings. Look at that, not only are you saving the newspaper from the landfill, but you are planting life in the process, look at you go. In the case that you aren’t the crafty or botanical kind of person, you may be thrilled to learn that newspaper is compostable. Throw it in the compost bin with your egg shells and banana peels, and you’ll be living an eco-friendly life in no time. Of course, these actions are just a small fraction of the ways to do your part. I encourage you to find swaps that fit your life to reduce your carbon footprint on our planet and create a healthy home for generations to come.
1. SPEND TIME OUTSIDE 2. GET A REUSABLE WATER BOTTLE 3. USE REUSABLE GROCERY BAGS 4. UNPLUG YOUR DEVICES 5. WASTE LESS WATER 6. RIDE YOUR BIKE TO SCHOOL 7. EAT PLANT-BASED MEALS NIRANJAN ANANTHARAMAN
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Who is your role model? Editor discusses the importance of having mentors and older peers to look up to by ERYN STERN Editor-in-Chief When I think back to my freshman year of high school and the many wonderful experiences I had, one of the first things that always comes to my mind is the older students who I looked up to. Whether it was the seniors on my tennis team, the editors-in-chief of the Hawkeye, or the senior presidents of the clubs I participated in, the older students were always my role models. Always an excellent source of information, I would often find myself asking them many questions, regardless of what the topic was. From simple questions, such as what classes they recommended or who their favorite teachers were, to more complex questions, such as their favorite high school memories or what I should do to be successful, I
always knew that I had older peers to rely on. But, it wasn’t just the incredible advice and useful information my older peers gave me that shaped the beginning of my high school experience; it was their presence and actions that truly defined them as my role models. From watching the seniors leading club meetings and solving complex problems, to observing how they helped younger students and carried themselves in the school hallways, I gained many new values and learned how I could be an excellent role model in the future. And here I am. Currently a second semester senior, I have stepped into the role as a leader, mentor, and role model for my younger peers to look up to. Just as the seniors set a good example for me when I was younger, I have now had the opportunity to do the same. Wheth-
er it is leading club meetings or giving advice to younger students, I am so grateful for the experience to help my younger peers cope with the same high school struggles I had, and be their role model. In life, we all have times when we are the role model and we are not. For example, as I begin college this fall, I will be looking up to the older students and how they have navigated their college experience. I will no longer be the role model; I will be seeking to find my own. Whether it be in high school, college, or work, we can always learn from each other. Having role models you can look up to can be instrumental in any experience. For me, I know my high school role models played a key role in my success. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for them. Photo via BRIAN MASSERMAN
An ode to second semester senior year Editor reflects upon the bittersweet nature of endings by LENNA PETERSON Editor-in-Chief I am learning to bask in the unknown. I am making peace with it in whatever way I can, because the thought of knowing three weeks from now where I’m going to college is both amazingly thrilling and deeply frightening at the exact same time. I could not tell you where I’ll be five months from now, but for now, I’m going to have to live with that uncertainty, simply because I don’t have much of a choice in the matter. The paralyzing combination of having to wrap up some of the most meaningful parts of my high school career within the next few months and not being able to channel my energy into the future to cope with this change has been agonizing. How am I supposed to begin to move on from the people and memories that I hold so close to my heart if I don’t even know what state I’ll be living
in in September? A few weeks ago, this thought made me spiral, but now, it has become one of the most important lessons of my senior year. As a fervent control freak, the lack of continuity in my life spurred anxiety into motion until I realized that there can still be moments of beauty in the ‘’waiting period’’ that is March of your senior year. Just because we’ll all have to move on from high school in a mere two months doesn’t mean that the experiences that we are having have lost their novelty. As long as there is still time left in our senior year, there is still room to flourish, learn and thrive within the communities and passions that matter to us as individuals. Although these moments spark a series of final memories, internalizing this mindset and embracing the unpredictability that comes with being a second semester senior is incredibly meaningful. Forcing myself to remain present and embrace the un-
knowns that exist within my life in the moment has been incredibly difficult for someone who at one point had their entire future planned out on Pinterest. But as a solution, I’ve begun to find comfort in the certainty that as the days continue to pass and things slowly become increasingly more clear, this era in time will simply become a memory for me. And next year when I’m at my respective university, I would rather be able to look back on the last few months in Bloomfield with nostalgia instead of resentment. Because why would I want to spend my last few moments as a student here with anticipation instead of peace? Personally, I would rather the latter; and although these past few months have certainly not gone the way I would have expected, they have undoubtedly taught me how to find joy in the waiting. Photo via STEPHANIE LYNNE PHOTOGRAPHY
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The Women That Inspire Editor reflects on society’s expectations and standards by LINDSEY ZOUSMER Editor-in-Chief When I was in fifth grade, I was told by a teacher that the boys wanted to be rough when they played basketball on recess so I should go play on the monkey bars instead. After countless attempts to run the mile in under ten minutes, my classmates would tell me that it would be impossible since I run like a girl. I was consistently told I could not be in a math group with males because “boys brains’ work in numbers and girls’ brains work in letters.” So when all of my friends’ mothers were stay-at-home moms, I asked my mom why she chose to work. “I think it’s important that I show you and your sister that women are just as capable of making a difference as men,” she responded.
I never realized that ten years later, the significance of that statement would be astronomical, altering the premise, goals, and path of my life. Ever since, I have felt empowered by all the accomplished women around me, stemming from the motivation my mom, and other inspirational females, have provided for me. During International Womens’ Month, I look at figures like Michelle Obama, RBG, Stacey Abrams, and Jackie Corin who have created incredible movements and ideas to benefit the entirety of humanity, but additionally, I explore the stigmas broken and barriers faced by the empowering females I know personally. All of my teachers, friends, doctors, and family members have been inspirations as I reflect on my identity of being a women and how the idea of feminism has evolved.
However, we still have a ton of work to do. I hope that for future generations “You can’t” is never a phrase associated with any gender or orientation. I hope everyone is able to see that perspectives and encourage young aspiring women to dream big by demonstrating the capability and overwhelming success of the female community. Even when I was told I could not run the mile or progress in my math classes or play basketball during recess due to my femininity, I take pride in being a part of the movement that will make history books one day. As I express admiration towards every woman in my life, I hope that my peers and I will both fulfill those future roles and continue progressing towards female empowerment. I am confident that the future is female.
Photo via FRAMEABLE FACES
Living A Meaningful Life Editor distinguishes differences in quality lifestyles by SETH KRUGER Editor-in-Chief As I’ve learned this year in my AP Psychology class, many psychologists and researchers have determined that a human can live their life to two different fulfillments; happiness or meaningfulness. A lot of research also went into differentiating these two life paths. To skip the boring parts, living a happy life is accredited to gaining short term fulfillment for one’s actions, whereas living a meaningful life focuses on the long term successes of relationships and journeys, instead of in-the-moment emotions. If it’s just a matter of being in a meaningful mindset over a happy one, how hard can it be? This is a question that I posed upon myself after learning about the distinction between these two lifestyles, and the answer, after many months, is that it’s difficult, but not impossible.
There are many things in my life that bring me the emotion that would satisfy living a “happy” life. Things like good grades, sporting success, extracurricular events, or even just a positive onetime interaction with a familiar face in the hallway all contribute fuel to a happiness scale. These types of things are, by far, the easiest things to focus on throughout our lives. For an average high school student, the most important focuses in our lives are good grades and satisfied authority figures in our lives. But, this is not meaningful. One of the most clear cut ways that I’ve been able to distinguish meaningful experiences is by purely giving thought to them. How often is it that, after a satisfying set of notes is completed or a rewarding shift at work has been clocked, we tell ourselves that we want to remember that moment? See, an average “happiness lifestyle” person would call this idea ridiculous. Why would you want to remember the three laboring hours you spent in the
restaurant kitchen? It’s because these people can’t focus on the underlying feature of a meaningful life: impact and relationships. The impact that a simple service can have on an individual is enough in itself to fulfill a lifetime of meaningful experiences. It’s like those viral TikToks, where a person takes in someone from the streets to give them a meal, a haircut, and a job opportunity. Although the video creator doesn’t show their emotions to the cold internet, their actions should be seen as impactful. In the end, if we are all able to think to ourselves, how did that action or experience impact someone else? then the meaningfulness will follow naturally. Next time you feel yourself longing to remember what you did at work, just know that the impact you made on another human life could mean the difference to them. Photo via FOCAL POINT STUDIOS
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Gymnastics Season Recap
SENIOR SPRING SPORTS
League and Regional Champions Finish Off Their Season Strong
by NOA GOLDSTEIN Web Manager
by TARYN SAROKEN Staff Writer Four years ago, girls at Bloomfield Hills High School started the school’s first gymnastics team. Over the years, the team has gained many new athletes and now has 14 participants. This year has been exceptional for the Black Hawks. They are now back-to-back league champions and 2022 Regional champions. The team started the season with a team score of 135.5 and worked hard to achieve their season-best of 139.925. For those who don’t know how high school gymnastics scoring works, the harder skills you do, the higher your start value is. Your execution score is then deducted from that start value. A season improvement of four points is considered a great improvement. After improving throughout the season, the team competed at Leagues against Fraser, Grosse Pointe North, Birmingham United, Port Huron, and Troy. The team placed first with a score of 138.90, beating the second-place team by 2.325 points. This score qualified the Black Hawks gymnastics team for the Regional competition. At the Regionals meet, the team improved by 1.025 points. From there, the Black Hawks gymnastics team picked up their first Regional victory, sending the team to MHSAA State Championships. Not only did this victory lead the whole team to states, but many team members qualified in individual events too. Maeve Wright placed first individually all-around, and Chloe Gilcher took fifth. Their performances qualified them to compete in every event at individual States. Alongside these performances, Katie Noettl also qualified for three events, Genevieve Orlewicz qualified for two, and Mia Bragman qualified for one event. On March 11-12, the team competed at the States. On Friday, the team competed as a whole to win the title of the 11th best team in the state. On Saturday, the individuals competed. All of the gymnasts competed in some of their best routines of the season. Chloe Gilcher placed 20th in the all-around competition and Maeve Wright 4th overall in Michigan. The season has now come to an end, and the gymnasts have achieved more this year than they ever had in the past. Congratulations to all gymnasts, and wishing them the best of luck for the seasons to come.
Spring is finally here, which means that nine sports began their seasons on Monday, March 14th. Many teams are heavily anticipating the upcoming 2022 season. Here, some senior student athletes of BHHS reflect their excitement and hopes for their final season.
BOYS BASKETBALL
BOYS TRACK
PETER PRYZGODA: “I’m so excited
BOBBY WEIN: “I’m most
to just be outside playing again with my friends. We have ten to eleven seniors on the varsity team this year, and so all of us getting to play together for the last time will be really fun.”
GIRLS SOFTBALL HAYDEN FREED: “I love softball
because it is so much teamwork and that makes us all super close. We may be planning a team fundraiser, and we also have some new freshmen in our program that will help us become even better than last year.”
BOY <?xml version=”1.0” NOAH YAKER: “I am most excited to
get back with my teammates, work hard, and have a better year than last year. I love being on the field, and am excited to compete every play. We are planning on becoming a lot closer by having lots of team dinners and hang outs outside of practice as well!”
GIRLS LACROSSE ABBY SUNG: “I am most excited to be
back with my team and get to spend every day with them again! Last year we did the best Bloomfield has done in girls lacrosse in 10 years. We are looking to pick up right where we left off!”
excited to finish off my senior year with one last track season alongside everyone that I have been with since freshman year. It will be fun to lead the team this year alongside my friends Josh Halprin and Evan Knox, and hopefully run alongside them in the 4x100 relay event!”
GIRLS TRACK GRACE JENKINS: “Im looking
forward to leaving one last mark on the track program and enjoying my last high school season. Last year our team took multiple relays to the state meet and got all state in two relays. This year we hope to take back both of those relays and place even higher than last year, while taking even more girls to the state championship.”
GIRLS SOCCER ALICE SPIEGEL: “Coming off an injury last year and Covid the year before that, I haven’t been able to play with my team since freshman year. I am so excited to finish my senior year with them and be able to play for the school. These girls are some of my best friends and we build bonds that will last a lifetime.”
GIRLS TENNIS GRACE BICKERSTETH: “Covid has really affected the last two seasons of tennis, as we didnt have a season sophomore year and, last year, had to continuously get Covid tested with some players missing out on matches because of protocol. I am so excited to have somewhat of a normal year this year while I play with my friends and teammates one last time. Our team is super close, and we plan on hanging out a lot more this season.”
BOYS GOLF NATHAN MADLAMBAYAN: “This year I am excited to just play again. The offseason has been very long which has given me and many others time to improve our game before the season starts. This year each level of the golf program has a really fun event planned for the year. The varsity team will travel to Dayton, Ohio, to take part in a 3-day tournament called the Southern Swing.”
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SPRINGHAWKEYE
Ingredients:
A New Recipe for the Spring Season Spring rolling in with spring rolls by MADISON KESSLER Staff Writer As spring is on its way, vegetables are sprouting from the ground. Farmers are selling their crops to communities such as ours. Soon enough, the fresh vegetables will be bought by consumers and members of our community. While many wonder how to use their fresh flavors, I have a recipe for you: Spring rolls. They are the perfect dish to welcome the upcoming season with their fresh vegetables and refreshing flavors.
Spring rolls: Rice paper (Spring roll wrappers) Salt to taste Pepper to taste Olive Oil Super-Firm Tofu 1 Carrot cut into matchstick pieces 1 Small Cucumber or ¼ Cucumber cut into matchstick pieces 1 Pepper (Choose color based on preference) Lettuce finely chopped Fresh herbs and microgreens of choice Peanut Sauce: 1/6 cup creamy peanut butter (Substitute for allergies) 1 tablespoon rice vinegar 1 tablespoon soy sauce 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup ½ tablespoon toasted sesame oil 1 clove minced garlic Water as needed to thin out sauce
To begin, prep all of the ingredients. Cut the carrots, cucumbers, and peppers into matchstick pieces—meaning thin, short, bitesize pieces. Next, cut your tofu into slices. Prepare a pan with a thin layer of oil on the stove under medium-high heat. When the oil is hot, place your tofu onto the pan and cook until golden brown or for 2-5 minutes. Flip over and repeat on all sides. Once all of your ingredients are ready, get a shallow dish and fill with a thin layer of lukewarm water. Lay the spring roll wrappers in the water for a few seconds until soft. Then, place the wrappers on a plate and fill them with all of your chosen ingredients. Roll up the wrapper and you have a finished spring roll. To make the peanut sauce, mix all of the ingredients together in a small mixing bowl. The consistency can be to your preference. Dip your spring rolls into the sauce and enjoy. These fresh spring rolls are the perfect snack, lunch, or small dinner for the cool, crisp, weather of spring. I would give this recipe a very high rating of five out of five stars. The spring rolls were crunchy while chewy, fresh while sweet, and displayed a perfect balance necessary for any great recipe. It is definitely a fitting recipe to welcome in the new season.
Trader Joes Spring Items Try these new items debuting this Spring! by ISABELLE GOLDSTEIN Entertainment Editor It was only fitting to have another seasonal Trader Joe’s taste test. And…the spring items bring something fresh to the table! The first bite of their new, appropriately-named Cinnamon Dragons was disappointingly overwhelming as the fiery flavor overpowers the taste buds with each bite. Additionally, the gummy texture is an unusual pairing with the cinnamon flavor and left me wishing for a hard candy or piece of gum instead. I did not go for seconds and had to rinse with water a few times before the flavor dissipated from my mouth. However, their new crunchy Mini Banana Bread Biscotti Cookies pleasantly surprised me. The biscotti pairs together the perfect amount of crispy cookie with the sweetest of banana bread! Definitely enjoy the cookies as a side or dipping treat with any hot morning beverage. Next up, the Chocolate Oat Bar is a predictable addition to the chocolate bar family, as people transition from cow milk to substitutions such as oat and
almond. The oat chocolate bars tackled this task creating a more modern chocolate bar alternative. There was nothing extra special but it was a creamy, non-dairy candy bar. For that reason, I think this was a success! For peanut butter fans, the new Crispy Crunch Peanut Butter Cookies give the old fashion Ritz cracker and peanut butter combo a run for their money. The peanut butter cookies are, as advertised, crispy and crunchy. Each small cookie brings a well balanced peanut butter flavor without an overwhelming after taste. Peanut butter cookies are pretty common but this new Trader Joe’s version is my favorite. Lastly and ranking highest on my list, the flaky, savory Rosemary Croissant Croutons were the highlight of my grocery run. The rosemary seasoning brings a sophisticated flavor to a meal and the flaky texture nicely substitutes for the traditional crunchy crouton. The crouton was very enjoyable and a perfect addition for a fresh spring soup or salad. The new spring lineup at Trader Joe’s didn’t bring any overwhelmingly unique products, but do not sleep on any of these treats. Pop into a nearby Trader Joe’s and add these items to your pantry!
New display at Trader Joe’s to showcase their Spring seasonal tiems photo by ISABELLE GOLDSTEIN
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HAWKEYESPRING
94th academy awards preview
Can the beloved award show make a comeback? by HAYDEN BUCKFIRE Section Editor The Academy Awards, also known as the Oscars, will take place on Sunday, March 27 at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles. Wanda Sykes, Amy Schumer, and Regina Hall will serve as hosts. Ten films are nominated for Best Picture this year: The Power of the Dog, a historical western; Belfast, an Irish historical drama; Don’t Look Up, an apocalyptic satire; Dune, a science fiction film based on the 1965 novel; King Richard, a Williams tennis family biopic; Drive My Car, a Japanese foreign language film; Licorice Pizza, a comedy set in 1973 California; Nightmare Alley, a neonoir thriller; CODA, a drama about life in a Deaf family; and West Side Story, a remake of the 1961 original. The Power of the Dog—starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Jesse Plemons, Kirsten Dunst, and Kodi Smit-McPhee—is considered a favorite to win the Best Picture award. Jane Campion, the director, is also speculated to win the Best Director award. The film leads with 12 nominations. King Richard, starring Will Smith, is expected to be a contender for many notably Best Actor for Smith. Belfast, a period drama about life in Northern Ireland in the 1960s, has also been highly spoken of and has great potential for winning major awards in categories. A source of controversy regarding the event includes the Academy of Motion Pictures’ efforts to combat increasingly low television ratings. Last year’s event received only 10.4 million viewers, down 56% from 2020. Some are worried that the Oscars may never again be the nationwide television event it once was. Aiming to boost public interest, a “Fan Favorite” award was created in which viewers could vote for their top picks. To combat these low ratings further, the Academy of Motion Pictures, which runs the award ceremony, decided to move eight non-major award categories to be awarded one hour before the broadcast and stitched into the main broadcast to save time. Some within the industry, such as famed composer John Williams and director James Cameron, have criticized the decision. Others have expressed disappointment that Spider-Man: No Way Home, a Marvel superhero film that grossed over $1.8 billion, did not receive a nomination in any major award category. Most nominated films are available to view at a local theater or streaming service.
Bridgerton Season 2 Photo by WWD
Buzzing with excitement for Bridgerton Season Two Fans await the release of Netflix’s Bridgerton Season 2 on March 25 by ALEXA KESSLER Section editor Over a year since season one of the beloved Bridgerton dropped on Netflix, Lady Whistledown, the show’s equivalent of a “Gossip Girl,” announced the second season with a letter posted on social media stating: “The ton are abuzz with the latest gossip, and so it is my honour to impart to you: Bridgerton shall officially return for a second season…However, gentle reader, before you set the comments section alight with requests for more sordid details, know that I am disinclined to report on the particulars at this time. Patience, after all, is a virtue. Yours Truly, Lady Whistledown.” The season will drop on Netflix on March 25. Bridgerton, created by Shonda Rhimes—the producer behind Grey’s Anatomy and Scandal—follows the royal life of the Bridgerton family living in London during the Regency Era in the early 1800s. Season One, which came out on Christmas day of 2020, followed the journey of Daphne Bridgerton, the
eldest daughter of the Bridgerton family. The show mostly focused on the relationship between Simon Basset, the Duke of Hastings, and Daphne Bridgerton. Fans fell head over heels in love with these two crucial characters. Season one took the world by surprise and surpassed many Netflix records, reaching over 82 million households within the first 28 days. The show was also nominated for 12 Emmys following its huge success. Now, after over a year, fans are excited for the second season. This season will focus on Anthony Bridgerton (Jonathan Bailey), the eldest brother of the Bridgerton family, who is looking to find a wife, along with his interactions with Lady Whistledown. The show will feature his interactions with two main women, Edwina (Charithra Chandran) and Kate (Simone Ashley). This season will take inspiration from the second novel in Julia Quinn’s Bridgerton series, The Viscount Who Loved Me. Lord Whistledown taunted fans with a bit more information following the announcement, writing, “This author has
been reliably informed that Lord Anthony Bridgerton intends to dominate the social season. I will have my pen to report on any and all of his romantic activities.” Although viewers are on the edge of their seats, awaiting the date they can binge the next season, it is disappointing for many that Duke Simon (RegéJean Page) won’t be featured in the second season. While the cast will feature all the other main characters as season one, Netflix announced on April 2 that, “We will miss Simon’s presence on screen, but he will always be a part of the Bridgerton family.” Above all, like Lady Whistledown said, “Patience… is a virtue.”
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SPRINGHAWKEYE
Say “I Do” To Marry Me After much anticipation, “Marry Me” has finally arrived by JORDYN TEPPER Staff Writer
“Jeen-yuhs: A Kayne Triology”. Photo via NETFLIX
jeen-yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy Chaotic. Egotistic. Emotional. Raw. Kanye West. by ASHLEY FOGEL Senior Columnist A household name, a tabloid favorite, a social media scandal, and an inspiration. There are so many sides of Kanye West that sometimes I question if he is even real. While I do listen to Kanye’s music, I wouldn’t consider myself a fan of his. However, Jeen-yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy, may have changed my mind. Coodie Simons, commonly known as just Coodie, narrates the story of how Kanye West rose to fame, along with how Coodie happily went along for the ride. Coodie was a stand-up comedian when he was offered a job to host Channel Zero, a news show in Chicago. He realized that it was clear nobody covered the rise of Hip-Hop in Chicago except for him, so he began to place his efforts towards more coverage of the subject. At the time, Kanye was an up and coming producer. He was the man behind some of the most popular songs, producing for people from Jay-z to Lil Kim, living from beat to beat. After a short interview, Coodie knew
that there was something special in Kanye. Something more. Kanye moved to New York after leaving Chicago with hope to finally find a record deal. There was no doubt in Coodie’s mind that Kanye was going to be a star. On a whim, Coodie moved to New York
“Through this documentary, we are watching something form. Something that can only be described as magic.”
ASHLEY FOGEL Senior Columnist with Kanye to make a documentary seeing how far he’d go. It was now or never. We watch Kanye struggle finding someone who would take him seriously. We watch him strive to turn vision into a reality. We watch him succeed. Through this documen-
tary, we are watching something form. Something that can only be described as magic. As I watched Kanye become Kanye, I was surprised when I found myself rooting for him. I saw him work through lyrics and beats, and I felt them. I was inspired by his confidence and by how much he believed in himself. I admired the fact that he was his own biggest advocate. That was the reason he was successful, the reason he made it. But in the end, he became his biggest enemy. I wish this wasn’t Kanye, the one we know now anyway. The one who picks arguments with his wife over Instagram stories and runs for president as the founder of the “Birthday” party. The version of Kanye we see today isn’t the sweet, humble artist we were lucky to see in this documentary. There is no doubt in my mind, after watching the documentary, that Kanye changed the rap industry into what it is today. While that remains true, there is also no doubt in my mind that he changed along with it.
The long-awaited romance movie starring Jennifer Lopez and Owen Wilson has finally been released on Peacock. To no one’s surprise, the Valentine’s Day movie, Marry Me has quickly risen to the top. The feel-good movie reaffirmed our belief in love, as it is a sweet love story between a worldwide pop star and an average teacher and father. Kat Valdez (Jennifer Lopez) was deeply in love with her fiance and fellow popstar, Bastian (played by Maluma), and the couple planned to sing their famous song “Marry Me” as they tied the knot on stage in front of 20 million people. After abruptly hearing that her fiance was unfaithful, Kat picked Charlie Gilbert (Owen Wilson) out of the crowd and decided to marry him. Although it opens as a publicity stunt, the two begin to take a liking to each other over the course of a few weeks. As the movie progresses, we see the relationship between Kat and Charlie grow. Similar to most relationships, the two experience a few challenges while finding a way to balance their vastly different lives. As a viewer of the movie, I absolutely loved the message. On the other hand, I found the plot to be quite unrealistic. What are the chances that a pop star wants to get married on stage, publicly dumps her fiance at her wedding, and selects a random, single man out of the crowd to marry? To take it even further, what is the likelihood that the two will actually be compatible? The probability of this situation occurring is basically non-existent, so therefore the relatability of the movie is low. So why watch Marry Me? It highlights the idea that love is possible for everyone, especially for unexpected couples. I recommend that anyone who is looking for a smile and a few laughs watch Marry Me on Peacock. I am definitely among those whose favorite movies now include Marry Me.
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