THE
TALON
ROCHESTER HILLS, MI // DECEMBER 2019 // VOL. 82 ISSUE 3
Photo courtesy of: Kari Eickholdt
PAGE 2 || SCHOOL NEWS
THE TALON || DECEMBER 2019
News In RHS Holiday spirit week at RHS
RHS annual Blood Drive MARIAM HANNA FEATURE EDITOR
On Dec 17, 2019, Rochester High School Student Government Wonderland, and students are (StuGo) held its bi-annual encouraged to wear white. blood drive. They typically Lastly, Friday is Ugly Sweater hold one in winter and one in Day. Throughout the week, the spring for students who there is also a toy drive for are at least 16 years old. The charity. blood drive was through an “I’m most looking forward organization called Michigan to Tuesday because it’s blood that supplies blood Comfy Day, and I love to those in need across the being comfortable. And it’s state. also the blood drive day, so “We like to give back to while you’re getting your the community,” junior and blood taken, you can be StuGo member Stephanie very comfortable,” STUGO Glaspie said. member Carly Jones said. Students who donated blood had to fill out a basic info form prior. Those who were under 18 had to get
ROSHNI VEERAMACHANENI STAFF WRITER To transition into two weeks of holiday bliss, the student government has a fun-filled spirit week planned starting Dec. 16. That Monday has been declared Hat Day during which students are encouraged to wear hats in the holiday spirit. Similarly, that Tuesday is Sock Day, so it is recommended to wear festive socks. Wednesday is Comfy Day to coincide with the blood drive held then. Thursday is Winter
their parents consent, while those over simply had to list their preferred hour to donate blood. “We scheduled everyone on their preferred hour, and they got a pass,” Glaspie said. “On the day, they went to the auxiliary gym and they gave their blood and they went back to class.” Before being able to actually donate blood on the day of, students had to take a survey about how they were feeling and where they had traveled recently to ensure they were not giving diseased blood. After donating blood, students were able to say in
the gym and wait to go back to class until they felt better. “[After the survey,] they waited in line and other doctors took their blood,” Glaspie said. “Then they got to relax, watch a movie, eat some food, and they could go back to class when they were feeling better.” Glaspie explained that in order to plan the blood drive, she communicated a lot with Michigan Blood, and she had to get the word out so that people would donate. “It is important because you can save a life by just donating one time,” she said.
HOSA fundraises for states SUMMER RAWASHDEH STAFF WRITER Starting on December 2, Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) collected money for their yearly trip to the state competition in Traverse City, Michigan. The money that was donated by students and staff were placed in jars by the persons choosing between eight different teacher options: Mr. Byrd, Ms. Rosol, Ms. Cusmano, Mr. Wescott, Mr. Z, Ms. Thomas, Ms. Scislowicz, and Mr. Wrinkle. The top three teachers with the most money were pied in the face on Friday, Dec. 6 in each lunch.
Students voted to have Mr. Byrd pied in the face at lunch on Dec. 6 (Photo credit: Summer Rawashdeh).
PAGE 3 || FEATURE
THE TALON || DECEMBER 2019
Christmas Carols Uncovered
Christmas Carols are the gift that keep giving with psychological and emotional benefits CLAIRE BENSON LIFESYLE EDITOR center. School bands, choirs, families, and other organizations go caroling to spread joy, happiness, and even to raise awareness for certain causes. Organizations such as Nationwide Children’s Hospital ask volunteers to gather a group and carol door-to-door in order to raise money for research. Not only that, but many hospitals even have groups come and sing to the children in the hospital in order to raise their spirits. However, all of this begs the question of why it seems as though there are few Christmas carolers left. A study done by Pew Research Center in 2013 suggests that caroling is a disappearing tradition. “Eight-in-ten Americans (79%) say they plan to put up a Christmas tree this year, and two-thirds (65%) say they intend to send Christmas or holiday cards. Far fewer (16%) say they plan to go caroling this year.” However, there are many benefits to the tradition, benefitting both the singer and the audience. NPR has found that when people sing as a group, they lived through a shared experience. “...it took almost no time at all for the singers’ heart rates to become synchronized,” Bjorn Vickhoff, musicologist, said. “The readout from the pulse monitors starts as a jumble of jagged lines, but quickly becomes a series of uniform peaks. The heart rates fall into a shared rhythm guided by the song’s tempo.” Not only did the caroler’s heart rates synchronize, but they also slowed down, implying that it was a soothing and relaxing activity for them. To bring joy to others seems to reward that same happiness back. However, despite all of the positives, only adults over the age of 30 are likely to include caroling in their Christmas traditions due to fond childhood memories of the activity according to Pew Research.
Photo Courtesy of Needpix.com
Christmas carols predate celebrations of Christmas or religion, back to a time of cold, bleak Decembers. In the past, December became synonymous with misery due to the long hours of darkness and cold weather. People began to sing and party to combat the depression surrounding the month. The songs not only lifted up the spirits of those around them, but brought joy to the singers as well. During the late middle ages, caroling became a tradition associated with religion despite prior celebrations, such as those in the Roman Empire, that emphasized song and dance in the winter months. Christian missionaries chose to give religious lyrics to the songs and spread the Christian message. This caught on because the hymns were readily available to all people, despite religious affiliation, transforming the tradition into one of culture and inclusion. This was the goal: even those who did not believe in a Christian God were spreading the religion through song. This began to spread rapidly in European countries. In the 19th century, most of the population of Europe was illiterate and poor, but they could learn the words solely by hearing the songs. This led to many cultures adopting different versions of songs as they were only spread by word of mouth. Additionally, people would gather in prominent areas of the town to sing the songs together, and soon, this led to the groups, today referred to as carolers, walking to different homes to share the music with others. However, the tradition was furthered mainly by one group: the Victorians. “The Victorians wanted to make Christmas a cozy, family time, and they also wanted carols to have a moral message about behaving well, like Jesus did,” Lucie Skeaping, a Christmas carol expert from BBC, said. “They composed hundreds of new carols and made some of the old carols more modern, so that today we can understand better what they mean.” In the present day, Christmas has become a holiday that is celebrated as a cultural holiday rather than a solely religious one; more non-religious families celebrate Christmas than ever before. Thus, Christmas songs have become a part of popular culture, and many do not even allude to religion anymore. In fact, about one third of Americans view Christmas as a mainly cultural holiday according to Pew Research
Those younger than 30 have not been as exposed to caroling because it’s becoming less common. Additionally, not only the carolers are rewarded by the songs; there are benefits for the audience as well based on their psychological reaction to the music. “There is a ‘Christmas spirit network’ in the human brain comprising several cortical areas,” a study, published in the British Medical Journal, explains. “This network had a significantly higher activation in a people who celebrate Christmas with positive associations as opposed to a people who have no Christmas traditions and neutral associations.” The ‘Christmas spirit network’ lights up in response to holiday music, and causes people to feel a sense of joy. Additionally, a clinical neurologist told NBC News that holiday music also triggers a reaction to the familiar. “Many of us associate this music with childhood and a happy time of presents and traditions and all the specialness that happens around that time of year,” Dr. Rhonda Freeman, a clinical neuropsychologist, said. “When the brain makes these associations with something very positive and pleasurable, the rewards system is being activated [which triggers] a number of chemicals including dopamine.” These songs elicit positive reactions from the audience and spread holiday cheer. Overall, caroling is a fun tradition that students can do with families, friends, or even to raise money for non-profit organizations. In any way, carolers are improving the world in a miniscule, but incredibly important, way.
On December 5 at Rochester High School, students may have been visited by the carolers from the American Sign Language 2 class. These carols are especially unique because they are signed instead of sung; the students use hand gestures to communicate the lyrics RHS is a school that prides itself on its inclusive efforts, and the nonverbal holiday carols are a large part of this mission. “The purpose is to bring the Holiday spirit around and to introduce ASL to other people at RHS,” sophomore Madolyn Watson said. This event is a favorite by students as it raises awareness about ASL. Many teenagers have never been exposed to methods of nonverbal communication such as ASL, so this event is special in that it allows students to understand and appreciate a different perspective. “Yes, it is a fun experience,” sophomore Emma Tobbiason said. “And I like being able to sign with my class in front of other people and teachers.” ASL is less common than the other languages taught at RHS with only around 200,000-500,000 people using the language according to Gallaudet University (a historically university for people with auditory disabilities). In comparison, Spanish has about 440 million speakers worldwide. “I am only in ASL 1, but I look forward to getting to participate in this awesome tradition next year,” Freshman Kayla Mow said.
MEGAN SPLAN STAFF WRITER
Best Christmas Joke of the Season What do you call the fear of being trrapped in a chimney? CLAUStrophobia!!
PAGE 4 || OPINION
THE TALON || DECEMBER 2019
The Blizzard is Here
A fellow snowflake’s take on the term ‘political correctness’ KARI EICKHOLDT EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
The Christmas spirit—starting in November for most—has brought on favorable family traditions of decorating christmas trees, making holiday sweets, building snowmen, and bundling up with hot cocoa to watch classic holiday films (or the preferred Hallmark holiday dramas). However, the film “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” (1964) has been under fire for being politically incorrect by portraying a problematic plot line with “Yearly reminder that #Ruldolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is a parable on racism and homophobia w/ Santa as a bigoted exploitative prick,” tweeted by actor Garytt Proirier and highlighted in a HuffPost video. The so-called “problematic” plot line contains protagonist Ruldolph who indeed has a glowing red nose which is a unique feature compared to his peers. To recall, his peers judge him for his glowing red nose which then leaves Ruldolph to fend for his own. He ends up saving the day when he uses his nose to guide Santa Clause through the harsh weather. In 1917, the term “political
correctness” first appeared in Marxist-Leninist Vocabulary following the Russian Revolution. Originally, the term had the intent to substitute vulgar language with the least offensive substitute. Through time, it has been commonly used to ridicule alternating language that can change public perceptions and influence multiple outcomes regarding race, gender, culture, or sexual orientation. Today, political correctness is viewed as a form of self- censorship that places limits on speech with the intent to lessen offensive group stereotypes and common prejudices. This commonality is said to be on the rise from the activism of “Generation Snowflake.” The snowflake generation earned it’s ranking on the Collins English Dictionary words of the year (2016) defining Millennials (23-38 years old) as “the generation of people who became adults in the 2010s, viewed as being less resilient and more prone to taking offence than previous generations.” In January of 2018, it was added to the Oxford English
Dictionary due to its significant rise in popularity. Meanwhile, opposing parties refer to the term as a direct description of “younger people” that often includes Millennials and Generation Z (7-22 years old). Politically, Emeritus Professor Norman Fairclough of Linguistics at the Department of Linguistics and English Language at Lancaster University, approaches the controversy in Political Correctness: The Politics of Culture and Language. He references the term as “cultural” politics directed at the changing values, identities, and representations with the intent of changing culture and discourse. Criticism of political controversy have been attempted by majority feminists and anti-racists to “persuade organizations such as workplaces or universities to adopt guidelines which asks people to think about how they act and speak, to avoid certain behavior and language (e.g. sexist language), and to adopt alternatives” (Fairclough, 20-21). In the works of comedy, the frequently asked question, “Is
political correctness killing comedy?” American comedian, Jerry Seinfeld thinks so. In a recent episode of “Late Night with Seth Meyers,” comedian and television host Seth Meyers speaks out about political correctness in comedy by saying, “comedy, I do think, is supposed to push towards the lines of the medium. There are more people now who will let you know if they think you went over the line than ever before.” Seinfeld in response said, “Yeah, but they keep moving the lines in for no reason. There is a creepy PC [political controversy] thing out there that really bothers me.” Since an individual can interpret a situation in infinite directions, it’s hard to decipher what’s crossing the line and if there even is a definitive line to begin with. Moving forward, it’s hard to say whether Generation Snowflake will melt or remain in crystallization regarding political correctness. Say what you will, however, have the facts to back it up.
There’s only one team to consider in CFB Playoffs KELLEN BURKE STAFF WRITER
With the College Football Playoff selection complete, the four teams who will have a chance at a national championship have been revealed. With the number four seed is the 12-1 Oklahoma Sooners, led by their Senior dual threat quarterback Jalen Hurts. With the number three seed, the defending national champions, the 13-0 Clemson Tigers were selected. At the number two seed
came the 13-0 Ohio State Buckeyes, who’s stout defense has been carried by defensive end Chase Young. Finally at number one comes the undefeated LSU Tigers, led by the leading Heissman trophy candidate, quarterback Joe Burrow. Even with all four of these teams having outstanding seasons, only one team stands a real chance at winning it all. The LSU Tigers are much more
dominant than the other three teams. With the hardest schedule of any team in college football, LSU remains undefeated. Clemson, while undefeated, they have yet to play a top ten team. Their best win came over a Texas A&M team who ended the year with a 7-5 record. Ohio State’s most impressive was the fact that they beat Wisconsin, who finished 10-3, twice during the
season. The Wisconsin team wasn’t all that impressive though, playing a relatively easy schedule and also losing big to a 6-6 Illinois team. Oklahoma, who barely slipped into the playoff picture with an overtime win over Baylor in the Big 12 Championship.
PAGE 5 || OPINION
THE TALON || DECEMBER 2019
BENEFITS OF DECORATING FOR HOLIDAYS IN SCHOOLS OUTWEIGH CONS MARIAM HANNA FEATURES EDITOR
December in the United States is well known for its holiday celebrations in all aspects of life. Holiday decorations are sold in stores and bought at an extraordinary rate, lines to take a picture with Santa are hours long, and Christmas parties at work have become just another commonality. The only part of Americans’ lives that is not always touched by the holidays is public education. Actually, whether representing or celebrating any sort of holiday in schools should even be allowed is a quite controversial debate in today’s society. Many cite the idea that not everyone celebrates every holiday and that church and state are supposed to be seperate when arguing against this, but celebrating holidays and different religions is actually more beneficial to students than it is detrimental. America is often described as a melting pot- a place where a plethora of cultures, religions, and backgrounds come together to form a diverse and exceptional community. Because of this, everyone living here will inevitably have to interact with people who have different beliefs. It is significant that in public schools, students get used to these interactions so that they know how to work with varying types of people when the time comes. The only way to do this is to introduce religious practices to students at an
early age. After all, isn’t this what high school is all about? Learning techniques and methods that will allow people to live a happy and successful life? Now, note that I am not suggesting the broadcasting of one specific religion or holiday, like Christianity or Christmas. That would go against the point of introducing a diverse selection of beliefs to students. However, Christmas is not the only winter holiday. Others, like Hanaukauh and Kwanzaa, can also be represented in schools. My suggestion is that if a teacher is interested in putting up holiday decor, they can ask their students what holidays they celebrate this time of year and how they would like to see it represented in their classroom. The teacher can look at the responses and decorate their room based on them. This way, nobody feels left out in a society where Christmas is already displayed as the only acceptable holiday since Christianity is a prevalent religion. Although that instance is true for some people, certain holidays are actually against their religion (e.g., the celebration of Christmas to Jehovah’s Witnesses) it is still crucial to teach students tolerance. It is perfectly fine and absolutely beautiful to have a certain set of beliefs and adhere to them, but that does not mean it is alright to constrict others from
having different beliefs. By putting up holiday decorations and explaining the different religions they are associated with, even briefly, students are learning to be okay with beliefs that vary and even sometimes contradict theirs. They are being taught to at least listen to unique viewpoints. All of this is vital to their growing brains so that in the future, they are able to work with people who are unlike them in an effective manner. Additionally, by talking about different religions, some students might be able to form connections with one another when they realize they have the same set of beliefs and values. This leads to open minded discussions that incorporate the critical thinking skills they have been learning in school their entire lives. They can discuss why they believe what they believe, how it has affected them, and where their views slightly vary. It can even birth a friendship. he benefits of being able to celebrate religions and holidays in schools outweigh the downsides, and the downsides can easily be avoided if looked at in an open minded manner. Because of this, schools should not ban teachers and students from decorating for holidays and celebrating them in class.
Ways to Decorate for Winter Holidays Christmas
Hanukkah
Christmas Trees- These come in a variety if colors and sizes, and could add a fun Christmas touch to any classroom.
Menorahs- Hanukkah is a celebration of how centuries ago, an oil lmap that was supposed to go out right away but lasted seven days, so the seven candles represent that.
String Lights- Usually used inside and outside of houses this holiday season, these bright lights in a multitude of colors would light up a classroom.
Dreidels- These are spinning tops with letters in Hebrew on the sides used to play games during the Hanukkah season.
Kwanzaaa Kinaraa- These are candle holdera for seven candles used to represent different principals of the African American cuture.
Baskets of Fruit- Kwanza was orinially a celebration of the harvest, so fuit as decor symbolizes the basis of the holiday.
THE TALON || DECEMBER 2019
PAGES 6-7 || FEATURE
Don’t Veer for Deer
Brewster Elementary involvement in city issue ALYSSA HART
OPINIONS EDITOR
One Tuesday afternoon, I was on my way home from school when I noticed a block in the road. After turning left onto John R., all the cars on the road were at a dead stop. Slowly, the cars started moving again, and when I got towards the source of the problem I realized what was happening- a woman had hit and killed a deer. Her car was very damaged and had left debris all over the road. Cars were trying to work their way around the bloody deer, the large chunks of debris left in the road, and the woman’s car. The deer crisis has been a rising problem in the state of Michigan for years. Deer inhabit every county of Michigan and their population is heavily varied throughout the state. In addition to this, the population has been steadily decreasing for years. In 2012 the deer population was 1.7 million, which dropped to 1.6 million in 2013, then down to 1.4 million in 2014. These harsh drops are not only due to hunting, but also to clash of urban and rural environments; this results in deer-vehicle collisions that impact both those in the car and the deer population. The deer make their way onto busy country roads and highways, then jump out to surprise people who are simply just getting where they need to go. This trend is not true for the city of Rochester Hills. Rochester faces vast deer overpopulation problems according to Mayor Bryan Barnett. “We do have an overpopulation of deer. There is no doubt … We spend a lot of time on this. We are constantly being alerted to articles around the country, to new processes and
approaches across the country,” he told the Rochester Post. This puts not only the life of the deer in danger, but also those in the vehicle. According to the Michigan State Police, 50,000 people each year are involved in deer related car crashes throughout the state. Of this amount, 80 percent of these crashes occur at night. The deer problem in Rochester Hills has impacted the lives of those who inhabit the area. Rochester High School’s most beloved Mrs. Rosell has had a particularly interesting encounter with a deer. She was on her way to work another day here at RHS when she saw something in the corner of her eye. A deer was running full speed towards the passenger side of her car. The deer ended up denting the side of her car, nearly ripping off her passenger side mirror, and leaving shards of antler embedded in the car. Mrs. Rosell made it out unharmed, but the deer wasn’t so lucky. “I didn’t hit the deer, the deer hit me!” Mrs. Rosell said. Her story places an emphasis on the severity of the issue. Thankfully, Mrs. Rosell did not veer, and thus there were no injuries to herself or others. Rochester Hills has some of the highest rates of deer-vehicle collisions in Michigan, with Oakland county being 5th in the state. Oakland country had 166 deer-related crashes in 2017, three of which resulted in injuries. Knowing that deer crashes in the area are quite common, what are some ways to avoid a collision? The first way to avoid a deer collision is by remaining alert, sober, and focused when driving. This is the best way to ensure you do not miss any deer crash warning signs, and that you know when deer are approaching your vehicle. In addition to this, deer are more active at night. This means from dusk to dawn it is especially important to be aware of your surroundings. Also, deer are present year round, but tend to come out more during the spring and fall; thus, you should be more cautious during these seasons. Another important thing to note is that deer typically travel in groups, and move in lines. So if you see a deer run across the road, know that there are likely more following it. You should always try to avoid getting in a situation where you could hit a deer, but if the crash in unavoidable, there are some things to keep in mind. The most important thing to do is to continue driving straight. You may have heard of the phrase “don’t veer for deer.” Well, it is used for a reason. If you swerve to avoid a collision you put yourself and others at a greater risk for injuries and fatalities. The correct thing to do is to maintain control of the wheel, break firmly, and come to a controlled stop. This is the method to ensure those in the vehicle, and all surrounding vehicles, remain safe. The deer crisis in Rochester Hills is one caused by a variety of sources. The combination of the overpopulation within the area in addition to lack of education on what to do when encountering a deer, This map displays the deer hot spots throughot Rochester Hills, MI. has created a substantial issue within our city. Photo courtesy of: Mrs. Sears
Recently Mrs. Sears son, Jacob Sears, and his 4-5th grade Robotics team from Brewster Elementary School conducted a research project pertaining to this issue. “For our research we also interviewed Rochester Hills Mayor Barnett and City Natural Resource Manager Matt Einheuser,” Mrs. Sears said. “We then presented our Solution and Project to Dr. Shaner and the City of Rochester Hills Natural Resource Manager Matt Einheuser- Mayor Barnett was supposed to be there too, but had a death in the family.” “The board was very supportive of the students and appreciated their feedback,” said Mrs. Sears. All of the elementary students present at the meeting were reported to have had an amazing experience with the Superintendent and Resource manager. Dr. Shaner was very supportive of the robotics group and talked to them about working on social media outreach, Mrs. Sears said The team conducted research about how the “Don’t Veer for Deer Campaign” is only targeted at older groups, and how there is a lack of education regarding this campaign towards young drivers. After looking into the problem further, they concluded that there is a hole in the City of Rochester Hills’ education plan for the “Don’t Veer for Deer Campaign” In the state of Michigan, the state has no requirements about deer education when it comes to students in drivers education. This means that some drivers education classes may touch on it, but not all. They found that the City of Rochester Hills does nothing to educate teenage drivers” said Mrs. Sears. Meaning most young drivers in Michigan are unaware of roads that have higher likelihood of deer collisions. Some Roads in Rochester Hills have a higher likelihood of deer crashes. Avon Road, Adams Road, Walton, and Tienken are all hot spots. However, the issue is that most young drivers are unaware of these facts, which puts them at a greater danger of getting in a crash. The Deer Management Committee was created by the city in 2009 in an attempt to solve these issues. The committee conducts annual deer recounts, and makes suggestions about how to solve the overpopulation problem in Rochester Hills. $10,400 is given to the committee each year for many purposes. For example, throughout Rochester, the city has placed electronic signs saying “High Deer Crash Area, Use Caution”; these signs warn drivers when they are entering an area with a high likelihood of deer crossings. The committee also takes measures to make the population aware of the issue. This is done by publishing informational material in order to keep citizens up to date, and also organizing deer gardening programs. However, these measures are not seen as enough in the eyes of the students. They want to give this message to younger drivers in any way they can. “The next step that we are taking because the drivers training groups are privately owned we are working with them to get some more information out,” said Mrs. Sears. Additionally, the kids want to write a letter to the state to get in touch with the drivers education companies and continue to work with the city on getting more information out. One way the Robotics team has worked to get more infor-
mation out is via social media. The group created an instagram account in an attempt to spread awareness, and the handle is @bionic.bulldogs. “You’ve got to remember that these are 4th and 5th graders!’ Mrs. Sears said, astounded by their accomplishments and level of outreach. Overall, movement is being made to solve the deer problem in Rochester Hills by incredibly young and progressive groups. The “Don’t Veer for Campaign” will hopefully continue to be advertised and practiced within the city, in addition to proper deer safety etiquette.
BULLDOGS MEET WITH THE BOARD
THE TALON || DECEMBER 2019
PAGE 8 || ENTERTAINMENT
Apparently, we all want a crown for Christmas
Exploring the newest trend: Christmas royalty movies CLAIRE BENSON LIFESTYLE EDITOR
The emerging genre of Christmas royalty movies is a fascinating one. It’s not clear where these movies came from or who wanted them, but they are here now, and there are lots of them. Once you watch one, you have basically watched them all because they all have the same plot. There is a prince/princess and they fall in love with an ordinary citizen in about three days time, and they go horseback riding in the snow and kiss under fairy lights. Usually, the girl is a journalist or the guy is a baker. The girl looks like Vanessa Hudgens (or actually is Vanessa Hudgens) and the guy is a blond with a dashing smile. The appeal of these movies is obvious, because who doesn’t love a love story in a magical world in the winter? It is almost every little girl’s dream to fall in love with a prince and move into a castle and live Disney’s magic kingdom. (Photo courtesy of Creative Commons) happily forever after. Christmas movie industry. Each Hallmark I am not saying that I have never enjoyed have to wonder why there are so many of them. movie is aired about 10-15 times a season, one of these Hallmark movies, but I just Hallmark is the largest player in the and Hallmark releases with as many as 37
new movies each year as they did in 2018 according to the Houston Chronicle. Four of these movies were about royalty, and with more coming out every year, they start to accumulate, and there is no need for this many to exist. There is no need for an entire genre, but these movies succeed anyways. People love a heartwarming film in a season full of joy. Even Netflix, who are a new, major player in this genre, poked fun at people who love these types of movies. “To the 53 people who’ve watched A Christmas Prince every day for the past 18 days: Who hurt you?” Netflix tweeted in December of 2017. So get under a comfy blanket, turn on “A Knight Before Christmas,” and get ready to laugh at the 14th century knight who, by the way of a magical amulet, gets transported into the 21st century on a quest to fall in love with Vanessa Hudgens.
The horrors of Holiday TV programming
Analyzing the best and worst of Christmas episodes
ROSHNI VEERAMACHANENI STAFF WRITER programming, from Christmas movies to holiday comedy specials. Namely, it’s become a tradition for TV shows to air holiday-themed episodes during this festive time of year and, to put it bluntly, some do it better than others. To explain the horrors of holiday TV programming, no better episode Screencap of Cory and Topanga in “A Very Topanga Christmas.” comes to mind than “Christmas As the masses are now putting up fragrant at the Tipton” from The Suite Life of Zack pine trees in their houses and singing to Michael Bublé on the radio, the characters on and Cody, a Disney Channel series about two brothers living in a hotel amongst the typical their TV screens are doing the same. wacky sitcom characters that aired from December brings an onslaught of holiday 2005 to 2008. In the episode, Zack and Cody
are snowed in and prevented from leaving on vacation. The hotel also runs out of oil, so the hotel manager, Mr. Mosby, attempts to keep the residents warm in other ways. It was one of the first Christmas episodes I remember seeing as a child and, after watching it, I felt thoroughly disappointed because it was just a normal episode under the backdrop of Christmas. These events could have happened any other time with a few minor changes. The fact that it was Christmas did not drive anything in the plot; it seemed that the holiday was only part of a broad appeal to viewers who were in the Christmas mood. Granted, this show targets a young demographic who likely were not as displeased as I was when watching this episode. But this empty holiday pandering in children’s programming still leaves something to be desired: perhaps a lesson. Take, for example, the 1997 episode “A Very Topanga Christmas” from Boy Meets World, another TV series following a boy
named Cory and his friends from middle school to college. The episode centers around a conflict around Cory and his girlfriend, Topanga. Topanga is invited to spend Christmas with Cory’s family for the first time, but she ends up altering many of their long-standing traditions. In one instance, she insists they buy an actual evergreen Christmas tree, rather than their usual aluminum one. Cory is unsettled by the sudden changes. However, when faced with the possibility of losing each other, they both realize the importance of compromise and combine their family traditions. Unlike in “Christmas at Tipton,” there is a clear theme here that gives young viewers things to consider during Christmastime: that each person celebrates the holidays differently, and that inclusion is important. So, this December, let the masses choose holiday programming for children that contains a little substance.
THE TALON || DECEMBER 2019
PAGE 9 || LIFESTYLES
Change begins with choice RHS staff and students explain why it’s not necessary to wait until New Year’s to make a resolution HOLLY MCDONALD NEWS EDITOR
It is the first of January and millions around the world set resolutions for a successful new year. Whether it’s deciding to exercise more, eat healthy, or try something new, many go into the new year feeling optimistic and ready for a change. But, is it necessary to wait until the next year to set resolutions? New goals or resolutions can be set at any time of year; there’s no need to wait. As long as one has the right mindset and a positive attitude, a goal can be achieved. “I think that people can set goals and resolutions at any time of the year as long as they feel motivated and a positive need or desire to make a change in their lives,” sophomore Allison Gadlage said. Science teacher Ms. Lindsay Meyer is a believer that resolutions can be set and achieved at any time of the year. “You don’t need a new year to make a change, you just need a reason,” Ms. Meyer said. “Time does not need to be a factor in when you choose to better yourself.” Language Arts teacher Mrs. Miller understands that circumstances are always shifting, so goals can also change. “We are always changing and with that, our intentions change,” Mrs. Miller said. “We need to rise up to the challenges in our lives and continue changing our intentions, perspectives, and focus.” Many people will wait for January 1st to set a resolution, but sophomore Emma Sawdon believes it is because of its popularity. “I think people wait until January 1st to set resolutions because they want to stick to the trend and the motto ‘new year new me,’” Sawdon said. History teacher Mrs. Sarah Thomas shares a similar view, but also believes the difficulty level of the goal is a factor. “I think they want to make a change, but some of those changes might be hard,” Mrs. Thomas said. “If they take a little more time to wrap their head around it, they might feel more mentally prepared to take on the task of changing after a set date of January 1st. I also think it’s a cultural or societal norm in the United States.” From a different perspective, sophomore Rahi Shah believes that people push off setting their goals. “Someone once told
me that most people these days are procrastinators,” Shah said. “So in a way, January 1st is like a deadline to set a goal.” In order to achieve a resolution, one must have a positive mindset on the overall goal. “Students need to have a growth mindset and always set goals for themselves to follow through with resolutions,” sophomore Evie Ansari said. “Students should always keep trying and never give up, a ‘can-do’ attitude.” To follow through with a goal, it has to fit in the person’s schedule. The goal can’t be too hard to accomplish or one will feel discouraged. “One needs to honestly believe that the goals and resolutions will make their life better. They need structure and a realistic plan. They also need to be forgiving to themselves, and not strive for perfection,” Ms. East said. “Perfection is not attainable, and trying to be that will only bring about failure. We should all strive to be better versions of ourselves, but at the same time we have to appreciate our good qualities and see the good what we are and what we have.”
Ms. Meyer has a similar way of setting goals and begins with a simple process. “I’m not sure yet if I will make a new year’s resolution, but I try to make goals for myself often,” Ms. Meyer said. “I keep them small at first so I can work toward accomplishing them without getting discouraged.” Accomplishing a goal takes more than just the right mindset. Sometimes letting others know about your goals motivates you to follow through. “If I make a resolution, to stick with it I need to make time to allow it to happen and hold myself
“Perseverance and strive to do better as a person and help the world is how I stick to my resolution.” Evie Ansari ‘22
accountable, sometimes by telling others so that they can make sure that I am sticking to my goals,” Gadlage said. Sticking with a resolution is not always easy. Sometimes people have to push themselves to keep it all year. “Perseverance and strive to do better as a
person and help the world is how I stick to my resolution,” Ansari said. Setting a goal can be really exciting, especially in January, but as the year goes on that desire to accomplish a goal can die out. “I think a lot of people fall short in following through with a goal or resolution,” Mrs. Thomas said. “In the beginning, it’s very exciting and you’re motivated, along with everyone else who might have made a New Year’s resolution, but as time goes on you really have to stay positive and not let any obstacles, big or small, get in your way of achieving what you really want.” Sawdon has a new year’s resolution that requires her to push away one of her daily habits. “My new year’s resolution is to be more interactive with the world and spend less time on my phone,” Sawdon said. Mrs. Miller plans on setting a resolution that will help to make a better version of herself. “[I want] to live in the moment and breathe more,” she said. “These are both big ones for me.” Ansari sets the same resolution every year, and she plans on continuing this tradition for this upcoming new year. “This might sound silly but every year I make the resolution or goal to try to make the world a better place and I try every year to do just that,” Ansari said. Ms. Meyer plans on making a resolution that involves her education and completing her long term goal. “I want to finish my master’s program in the next few months, so my resolution will be to finish one class every three weeks,” Ms. Meyer said. “That should get me to the final goal.” For Gadlage, the most important thing is becoming the best version of herself and using her life to help others “I don’t have a resolution for the new year yet, but I want to become more involved and proactive in my life to live as my best and most positive self,” Gadlage said. “I want to spread positivity into all whom I come in contact with and focus all of my energy into what I am passionate about.”
A list of New Year’s Resolutions Photo by: Holly McDonald
THE TALON || DECEMBER 2019
PAGE 10 || SPORTS
High expectations for Rochester High’s Wrestling Team KELLEN BURKE STAFF WRITER
The wrestling season ended in the best way possible last year for Rochester: With then sophomore Kavan Troy bringing home a state championship for his 103 pound weight class. He ended the year with a perfect 50-0 record, the first wrestler to do so in the history of Rochester High. Troy has high hopes for not only himself, but for the whole team going into his junior year. “I believe that we can win districts as a team,” Troy said, “that’s one of the goals.” Troy isn’t the only Falcon wrestler with a chance at making it to states this season. Four-year varsity wrestler, senior Magd Boutany also has a good chance of going all the way in his upcoming senior season after making it to regionals last winter. Boutany started wrestling seven years ago. Now, he is going into his fourth year as a Falcon wrestler. “I’ve made some great memories and gotten to know some great people across the years,” he said, “I’ve had so much fun being apart of the program.” Now in his final season, Boutany has very big goals for both himself and his program. “I expect really big things this year,” Boutany said, “I want to win the district title as a team and wrestle for the regional title. And as for me individually, I expect to make the state tournament and compete for the state title. I am extremely excited for the
season and can’t wait to get started.” Another four-year varsity wrestler, senior Ian Carroll, has high expectations for his team this season. “I still need to see how our line up fills out, but I have very high hopes for this season,” Carroll said, “especially for Magd [Boutany] and the returning state champ Kavan Troy. They both have very good chances at winning states”. Carroll won all but one of his JV tournaments back in his freshman season, earning him a chance to compete at the varsity level at the end of his first year. While he may not have had as much success as he may have hoped that season, wrestling at the varsity level as a freshman ended up being a great experience for Carroll. He was in the varsity lineup for the entirety of his sophomore season the following winter. His first full season on varsity may have been unsuccessful, as he still wasn’t used to the varsity level. But by his junior year last winter, Carroll really hit his stride.
“Once my junior year came around I went really positive,” he said, “I felt like I really started to show what I was capable of by placing top three in several tournaments.” In regards to his goals for his senior season, Carroll simply said, “I’m just gonna do what I do.” Three-year varsity wrestler Adrian Adiwidjaja is hoping to help lead the team this season as a strong 119lb or 125lb weight class wrestler. Adiwidjaja has been in the varsity lineup since his sophomore year, and has always been a very solid and consistent wrestler. “In one tournament my sophomore year, we were down only by a couple points with two matches to go,” Adiwidjaja said, “we needed to win both to have a chance to win. One of those wins had to be a pin and I knew I had to get it. I started out a little wobbly in my match, but I sauced him in the last period and pinned him. We ended up winning by about a point!” One wrestler hoping for a breakout season is the team’s 135 pound wrestler: Sophomore Tyler Swenson. Swenson was
“I’ve made some great memories and gotten to know some great people across the years.” Magd Boutany ‘20
an outstanding middle school wrestler at Reuther, so good in fact that other wrestlers have forfeited to him before their matches even started. Now, he is returning for his second varsity season for the Falcons. “Right now, I’m really hoping that I can qualify for states,” Swenson says, “I feel that we’re going to be a solid team. Our lineup is stacked from top to bottom and we have many returning people that were on the main lineup last year, so we have a lot of experience in that aspect.” Senior Enido Shyti is hoping for a comeback season for his second year on varsity. His junior season was cut short when he suffered a torn meniscus; a season ending injury. Now that he’s healthy, he hopes to continue where he left off last winter, and make and impact for his team in his final season. While Shyti has always been passionate about wrestling, to him and all the athletes, the sport means more than just that. “The friends I’ve made and the wins we’ve gotten are the best memories for sure,” Shyti said. Head wrestling coach Erik Vernon believes that the team has the potential for a phenomenal season this winter. “We just gotta work hard and get the right kids in the right weight classes,” Coach Vernon said. “We have a lot of good individual wrestlers, so as long as we stay healthy we’re hoping for a good year.”
Season kicks off for Varsity Ski PRESTON SCHROYER STAFF WRITER
The Rochester High ski team is full of great athletes. Right now, they are practicing for the upcoming season that begins in December. Head Coach, Susie Mackens, will try to guide the team to a successful season. According to many ski team members, the team is a great way to meet new people and make friends. “I enjoy how close all of us are,” senior Camden Williams said. “It’s like one big family.” Senior Emily Eckel dedicates her time for conditioning for the season: “I do a lot of cross training, running, and weight lifting,” Eckel said. Current members of the ski team persuade others who enjoy skiing to join. “Just join the team because you will improve more than you will ever imagine,” Williams said. “You can turn good into great. Also, you will make so many new friends and the coaches are awesome.”
The coaching staff has been very helpful to these athletes as well. The team is led by head coach Susie Mackens, who has gotten high praise from her athletes. ”I have been around the coaches for a while now,” Eckel said. “I love how they can mix being fun and nice, but also push you to your full potential.” These skiers are very excited for this year’s competitions, and they will give all they got this winter. “I am very excited for this upcoming season because this team has the talent to win,” senior Emily Eckel said. This 2019-2020 season should be very exciting with all the talented skiiers we have in the Rochester High School program. They will represent their talent and try to win titles this winter, but most of all, they will have fun being around all of their friends. Junior Trenton Simmons racing down the slope of Pine Knob. Photo courtesy of: Olivia Weick
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THE TALON || DECEMBER 2019
Tradition built on success
History of the “Winningest Cheer Team” in Michigan COLLIN KILPATRICK SPORTS EDITOR
As you walk in the athletic wing of Rochester you may notice an entire trophy case dedicated entirely to the Rochester High School Cheer Team. Success is a word that has long been associated with Rochester Cheer, and its proven by their 25 league championships, 8 district championships, 30 regional championships, 7 state runner up trophies, and 19 state championships. While the cheer team has seen much success over the years, many of their accomplishments have been built by a culture of hard work, and finding athletes with strong dedication to the program and the sport. “We have to maintain the culture of loving to work hard,” Varsity Cheer head coach Susan Wood said. “It’s hard to find kids who love to work hard and who actually enjoy very challenging and very difficult stuff. This is not for the faint of heart, so whenever I can find kids like that I know where going to do well, so to maintain this level we have to constantly keep that culture going.” High School Cheer has been recognized as an official sport for 27 years, however Coach Wood has been coaching for years before that, which helped to establish the culture of hard work at Rochester, and helped the program gain an edge over the other cheer teams in the state. “I’ve been coaching a long time, so in the earlier years, I just had more longevity than the other coaches, and I have had a crazy ridiculous passion for coaching and for teaching,” Coach Wood said. “So I ended up getting the edge just by accident, I just discovered it was something I was good at.” Development of the athletes has been
a huge part of Rochester’s success: Each coach works to develop each girl, at every level of the program. “We have really had some great coaches, coaches at the middle school, coaches at the JV and freshman level, so that the kids coming up through the program are progressing,” Coach Wood said. “I really believe in having a freshman program, over the years a lot of schools have dropped freshmen, and they have just had JV and varsity, but to maintain this level we really have to maintain the program from top to bottom.” The team’s great success and reputation has been able to motivate many of the athletes to work hard and preserve the great standing of Rochester High School Cheer. “Holding the legacy keeps Rochester motivated,” Former cheerleader Ally Khalaf ‘19 said. “The team has had a really great motive of ‘What are you doing today to be a state champion?’ And I really do think each girl is willing to work just as hard as the next one.” Rochester Cheer may be known for the trophies, and accomplishments, but it hasn’t always been easy to keep their reputation with so many competitive teams in the state vying for their spot. “Most of the time were always struggling to get to the top, it’s very rare that were just walking on top of the world, I know a whole lot of people know how many championships we have won, but we’ve just had to kill ourselves to get there,” Coach Wood said. “We always feel like it’s impossible and we’re not going to get there, but we just keep pushing, and it’s very rewarding.” Winning a state championship at the
Trophy case showcasing Rochester Cheer’s accomplishements. (Photo courtesy of Collin Kilpatrick)
Rochester cheer celebrating after 2017 state title. (Photo courtesy of Rochester Varsity Cheer Instagram) end of the season is the ultimate goal every year, and when this goal is accomplished, it can give the girls on the team memories that they can take with them for the rest of their lives. “Winning a state championship was arguably one of the greatest moments in my lifetime, that I will cherish forever,” Khalaf said. “I remember running off the mat after round three, hugging my best friend, and I was just in absolute tears. I would do anything just to relive that moment.” Winning the state championship is the goal for every team, so the work for that starts in the offseason. “We go in the summertime, three days a week, within the rules of our sport, and we condition a lot. We really believe in taking care of a lot of details in the summer,” Coach Wood said. “Because championships are won in the offseason, and at practice, not the day of the meet, we want to develop really good muscle memory in the summer by being really picky about really small things, so when we get to the complicated things, some of the basics are for sure going to work.” In addition to the team’s success on the mat, the cheer team strives to benefit their school, and community. “The cheer team has done a lot for the school,” Khalaf said. “Such as cheering at 7 a.m. with the pep band, cheering at games, and even things people don’t notice as much, like helping at parent teacher conferences, or eighth grade night. Being able to give back to those who support us is such a great feeling.” Many of the girls have gone on to cheer at the collegiate level, and some believe their time spent on the Rochester Cheer Team, helped to get them to the next level.
“I’m still continuing my cheerleading at Wayne State University, and being able to cheer at Rochester has given me a lot of benefits for collegiate teams to scout me,” Khalaf said. “In the moment, you don’t really realize you’re cheering for such an amazing program, but as soon as I started cheering in college, people still drool over the thought of Rochester.” Along with creating lasting memories, and developing better cheerleaders, Rochester cheer can give lessons, that can be taken with the girls for the rest of their lives. “Being a part of the team throughout high school defined who I am today. Going through a program with such great success pushed me to be a better person every day,” Math teacher and former Rochester Cheerleader Ms. Rosol ‘13 said. “Each day that I showed up to practice, I knew the expectation was to win. I learned to find the drive within to push for my goals rather than searching for acceptance from others.” Rochester already has a well established history of success, and state championships, however the program is still putting in the work year in, and year out so the positive reputation of Rochester cheer is kept for future seasons. “I want to keep it that it’s always a high quality program, In order to keep it going I intend on challenging myself every year,” Coach Wood said. “I really think these kids work hard, their parents are really supportive, my coaching staff is really supportive, so as it turns out, whether we win or not, we have a great time trying to win. Because it is fun to be good, you don’t have to win to have fun, but you have to be pretty good to where you enjoy what your doing.”
THE TALON || DECEMBER 2019
PAGE 12 || INTERACTIVE
Find Me Game
Find the principal in the crowd at the football game! CONNER ARSENAULT
PHOTO & DESIGN/ WEB EDITOR Find Mr. DeLuca in the crowd at the football game.
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