2011 September Issue

What TV are you plugged into this year?

See pg. 8

Brotherly love in soccer plus football injuries.

See pg. 10 and 11

Your eyes, your ears,

Your Voice

S T O N E Y C R E E K

THE

SOURCE

Enrollment rises, budget declines

State cuts, more students mean shortages in classes and less personal instruction time. When given a dozen more essays to grade, teachers may not deliver feedback in as timely a manner.

Also, teachers are less capable of learning personal strengths and weaknesses in larger classes, according to Bennion, who feels this lack of personalization may hinder teaching.

“The major thing is that I get to know the kids a lot better in a small class setting,” Bennion said. “I think that I’m able to get to differentiate my instruction much more effectively with a class of 20-25 students, than I am at 35.”

Psychology teacher Mary Jo Hickey also believes the opportunity to teach creatively

Lifestyles Team/School Team

S

ometimes, it all comes down to the money. Last May, Governor Rick Snyder and the legislative body in Lansing prepared new budget cuts to education in Michigan, mainly public schools and colleges. And yes, Stoney Creek is in Michigan.

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Page 2-3 Meet Neil Harbin AP Studio Art

Desolate Library The Library is now closed before and after school.

The Media Center, occupied regurarly by students before school last year, now sits empty. (photo by Soumith Inturi)

Want a book?

You’ll have to wait Budget cuts lead to shorter library hours

by Reed Cao/ Soumith Inturi Sports Team/Opinion Team

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’m going to need a pass.

Those words will no longer be heard as Kathy Pardon, who had been working in the district for over 23 years, retired as the Media Assistant position was eliminated this year due to budget complications.

The Rochester Community Schools district received a budget cut this year. This is a very negative consequence of Governor Rick Snyder’s $800 million cut to education funds, according to an article from the Michigan Education Association.

“The shortfall in funding is putting very difficult choices before the Board of Education--there simply is not enough funding to cover all of our costs,” Lisa Nowak, the treasurer of the Board of Education, said as she explained the reason for such drastic changes to the Stoney Creek library. “The Board understands that

Page 4-5 Staff Editorial: Believe in Detroit Traffic Caused

by School Placement

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Overflowing Classroom Classes fill with more students causing difficulties in teaching and learning. (photo by Soumith Inturi)

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1,5

The Creek is also increasing in size. This year Assistant Principal John Kelley says enrollment exceeds even last year’s large student body, making the 2011-2012 school year the largest enrollment year the school ever had. This growth, in conjunction with recent budget cuts reducing the state education budget by over $1 billion dollars, according to the Michigan Education Association, means larger classes and fewer books. Students have yet to sense a significant change from these cuts, but some teachers feel otherwise.

(Please see History teacher Michael Bennion, for instance, has more “Enrollment” students this semester than he has ever had, with an Aerobics on p. 2) class at 45 students, two AP Government and Politics classes at 31 and 32, and two Practical Law Classes at 33 and 35 students.

Bennion notes the challenges to larger classes. More students attending class means more assuaging the group

September 30, 2011

PO PU LA T ION 1,7 po p 1

575 Tienken Road, Rochester Hills, MI 48306

by Christiana Tanner/ Michael Martinez

Volume 9 Issue 2

Page 6-7

eliminating the Media Assistant position affects our staff and students,” Nowak said.

According to Media Specialist Judith Freels, without the Media Assistant, the library loses a valuable asset to help manage many of the secretarial tasks, such as printing replacement student IDs and helping with scheduling. The previous year, the district had reinstated the position of media assistant after reducing it first. This year, however, the board decided to completely eliminate the position. Although the librarians were Senior Dan Kim consulted, the board had the final say and decided that the position of media assistant was not needed in the entire district.

“We were not really in favor of the decision, but it had to

Page 8-9

“

I was very disappointed and dissatisfied that the sort of services the library used to provide will not be there anymore.

”

(Please see “Library” on p. 2)

Page 10-11

Made in Detroit/ Detroit’s Development

Game Releases New TV Series

Homecoming Trends

Brothers in Soccer Football Injuries

Operation Beautiful

Last 30 seconds

2 SOURCE

THE

SCHOOL

BRIEFS

BPA looks to expand club Current members of the National Business Honor Society are looking to expand their club at the upcoming club fair by Oct. 4.

The club is open to any interested as long as they meet the requirements of having at least two business classes.

Thomas Mavis, supervisor of the club, is excited to expand the group as the club had done well in past years.

“I am shooting to have at least seventy members instead of the sixty we had last year,” Mavis said.

The finally deadline to apply for membership in the club is Oct. 4. The club will have a table in which anyone interested can sigh up.

Pride and Paper: Senior Nick Cruz proudly holds the page that started it all. He spent hours working on the page and perfecting it.

Journalist makes national finals Senior Nick Cruz is one of the five finalists who have been nominated for National School Press Association or NSPA design of the year for the graphic design division.

Cruz’s graphic design was from the February 2011 issue of the newspaper. The convention is being held on Nov. 19 in Minneapolis where Cruz will find out if his design placed first or not.

“I was really surprised when I found out I was a finalist.” Cruz said, “I don’t usually win big awards like this.”

Rotary Interact helps out The Rotary Interact club, led by teacher Laurene Kaschalk, is now welcoming members.

Each year the Rotary Interact members participate in a local and national service project. “[At the meetings] we talk about the projects we want to do,” Kaschalk said. “Last year we did a project helping out the Neighborhood House, and second semester we focused on a larger scale project where we helped to develop African schools. We collected school supplies and sent them to Africa.”

Every Monday after school in room C317, a meeting is held for club members. Any age student is welcome.

September 30, 2011

SCHOOL

Off the Record with

Neil Harbin

Introducing...

The Computer Genius

”

Assistant Pricipal John Kelly

A man capri? What’s a man capri? I wouldn’t wear them.

Source: When is the worst time to make a sandwich?

Harbin: In the morning. Like, absolute morning, right when you wake up. Tuesday through Thursday, generally.

Source: Do computers have personalities? Mine is slightly hormonal (it frequently acts up), rather suicidal (crashes), and a hypochondriac (viruses!).

Harbin: Ha ha. But the answer is no, they do not have personalities, but people can hack into them and make them seem like they do. I don’t have that problem. I have an insane security system with, like, 14 firewalls, a ton of data shields, so… yeah. I built my own, too.

Source: Have you ever had fourth meal?

Harbin: No?

Fun Facts about This Guy • He used to have long hair that reached the

Source: Do you even know what that is?

Harbin: No.

middle of his back!

Source: Oh. It’s where you go to Taco Bell really late at night.

Harbin: Oh. No. I like Taco Bell, but when I want something at midnight, I’d just go to my pantry. We have a lot of random food in our pantry.

Source: Can you tell me, in exact terms, the number of unicorns currently inhabiting this planet?

Harbin: 13.

Source: Good answer.

• He made his own video game.

• Harbin has no idea what man capris are.

Source: “Man capris” are really “in” in Europe right now, but how do you feel about them? Could you pull them off?

Harbin: A man Capri? What’s a man Capri? I wouldn’t wear them. I don’t know what they’d look like on me.

Source: If Obama asked you to ride a bald camel bareback on national television, would you carry out his wishes and do so?

Harbin: A bald camel? What? No! I would not! It doesn’t seem like a useful endeavor. It doesn’t amount to anything. Ha! Source: What do you do for fun at 3 a.m? Sleeping doesn’t count Harbin: I don’t even sleep at 3 a.m! I... what would I do?.. I’d be playing Mind Craft...

(Compiled by Danielle Linihan)

Library (continued from p. 1)

New plans for Spanish NHS This year, Spanish NHS is taking things seriously. Last year, all though many people signed up, not many people actively participated. Advisor Julie Frerichs, senior president Lindsey Lobdel and senior vice president Lauren Mater have plans to carry out more grade checks and participate in community service more often. In general, they want to act like a real strict NHS. The next meeting is on Oct. 18 in room C264.

be made,” Freels said. “It was a difficult decision.”

It was Pardon who would open the doors to the library at 7:00 a.m. and close up at 3:30 p.m. Without her, the media center will now not open until 7:25 a.m. and will not be open after school anymore.

Furthermore, teachers must make appointments days or even weeks ahead of schedule to secure a spot for them in the media center.

“It was disappointing that that’s how it all ended up,” Freels said.

Though the library budget cuts may not affect students immediately, the effects will certainly be evident sooner

or later. Eventually, students will have to type or print out assignments for their classes and may require the aid of the school library. Also, many students who do not have printers at home will be forced to print their assignments in the morning at the school library. However, if the library opens at 7:25 a.m., the time it takes the computer to turn on and log in will force the student to be tardy to class. So now students must find alternatives to working on or printing their class assignments at the school library. Senior Dan Kim went to the library many times throughout last year to do various things.

expands with smaller classes.

Field trips become viable, class activities offer more educational freedom, and she can follow individual students’ interests instead of merely checking their work.

“I think that we have the research and the knowledge to really know how to teach well,” Hickey said. “We have

“

“

Source: How would you ask this fine captain of culinary crunching out?

Harbin: Ha! Ah, oh… I don’t know…

I’d go up to his pirate ship, climb aboard, and ask him.

(continued from p. 1)

Just because you make budget cuts doesn’t automatically mean students get less attention...[A]s a whole, we have to work smarter, work together, and we have to try and stay a step ahead of things and be proactive...while still delivering quality teaching which leads to quality learning.

When senior and computer programming extraordinaire Neil Harbin agreed to the Q&A, questions about bald camels and cereal were the last things on his mind.

“No interrogation? No favorite quote?” he asked, leaning forward in his chair in astonishment.

For Harbin, his schedule involves a whole lot of work and not a lot of play. His day to day life is filled with studying. He’s teaching himself Japanese, learning C-Sharp, the language of computers, generating his own virtual planets on Photoshop, creating video games, and setting his sights on a job working for the National Security Agency. When you’ve got a mind like Harbin’s, who needs all that extra time?

Then again, a guy can’t spend every hour slaving over school work.

“I like looking up science videos about physics, quantum mechanics, stuff like that,” Harbin said, looking quite modest, but passionate. He’s smart and he knows what he wants in life. Perhaps it’s time to test his funny side.

Source: Given the choice between a hungry, hungry hippo and Cap’n Crunch, who would you take to Homecoming?

Harbin: Cap’n Crunch, because Cap’n Crunch is awesome! He’s a boss.

Enrollment

“I used to go there frequently to finish homework, relax, and print out assignments,” Kim said. “It is highly disappointing that I no longer have the opportunity to do these things,” he continued on to say.

This change could have a profound effect not only students who use the library regularly, but also on many teachers who need computer time for their lessons. With the class limit in the library, teachers will have a much harder time getting their class to the library for work time.

For a teacher to reserve the library, it can be very tough because, as English teacher Dan Bliss said, “[Counselors] need

the library, and other teachers need the library.”

And because some teachers require computers to teach some of their lesson plans, they will now have to change their lessons so that they fit around the time they can access the library.

“You have to realize what students are able to have computers and which ones are not,” Bliss said. So you have to make sure that you either give assignments where many kids can use one computer at the same time or you have to find a way to make sure that you have laptop carts down there too so that everyone can have a computer.”

lots of research that tells us what the fundamental elements are of good teaching. We also have research that tells us that relationship is really key. When you have a good relationship, when kids feel like you know them and you care about them, that’s very critical to the process.”

Bennion and Hickey are not alone in their convictions. The U.S. Department of Education and the American Educational Research Association have conducted studies that show an inverse correlation between class size and student learning.

As class size decreases, students retain more information and accomplish more educationally, and vice versa.

Outside the classroom, tiny budgets imply fewer student services, like necessary schoolbooks. For the last few years Secretary Janie Stoner has over-seen purchasing and allocation of new books for increasing numbers of students.

This year Stoner ordered more new books than ever due to increases in AP class sizes and the student population in general.

All hope for the world of Rochester education is not lost, however.

Assistant Principal Kelley, who worked as a Spanish teacher, sees the budget cuts and larger enrollments as a challenge, but not an insurmountable one.

“It’s just a matter of everyone, students included, trying to work together to keep teaching and learning going,” Kelley said.

Though Kelley acknowledged that smaller budgets for education will definitely make the job harder for both teachers and students, the job will nevertheless be done.

“Just because you make budget cuts doesn’t automatically mean students get less attention,” Kelley added. “Just as a whole, we have to work smarter, work together, and we have to try and stay a step ahead of things and be proactive...while still delivering quality teaching which leads to quality learning.

There’s no one way to do it, but you have to make do. Hopefully you find a way, and it’s not painful for the students.”

Follow the Money (Per pupil foundation allowance)

2009 - $8,348 2010 - $8,348 2011 - $7,878

$130

Average amount the foundation allowance has been cut mid-year for the past three years.

(Source: April 25, 2011 budget presentation to the Board)

THE

September 30, 2011

SOURCE

SCHOOL

3

Eyes focused up front. AP Studio Art students listen intently as fellow student Ben Waineo receives critique from General Motors designer, Teckla Rhoads. A GM designer has come every Thursday during first hour since the start of the school year. (photo by Charlotte Spehn)

General Motors offers unique class to AP Art

by Charlotte Spehn/ Darian Roseman School Team

S

tudents labor intently over their work, sketching and erasing.

AP Studio Art teacher, Diane Heath, glides between the tables, ready to answer any questions. A General Motors’ employee explains today’s assignment: designing the logo for the students’ fictional company. Welcome to Integrated Designs.

These graphic design students are now taking an advanced class offered by General Motors exclusively this semester. The class curriculum is focused on “branding”, in other words, having the students create their own company. Students also learn about working in the industry and working in a company, specifically on branding.

Senior Cherry Matthews enjoys this elite program, having done her own branding before.

“I [branded] at the OU Art Intensive, where we branded ourselves, but this is a little more open and where you can make a product instead of using yourself,” Matthews said.

Senior Christian Weissert is a transfer student from Rochester Adams High School.

He switched schools to take part in this class in hopes of one day

becoming an auto designer.

“You get a feel for what it’s like in the field and they expose you to some new things that you can really get inspired by,” Weissert said.

Weissert hopes that the skills he develops in the class will help out in the industry after putting together a collection of his work.

“I can really develop a great portfolio here,” Weissert said.

This project has previously been in partnership with only Pratt College of Design, located in New York City, but after noticing Stoney’s exceptional art program, they allowed this class to participate. Teckla Rhoads, director of Global Industrial Design, was the one who made the decision to try this program at the high school level.

“It is very exclusive! First time this has ever been done first time General Motors has done anything with a high school,” Heath said. “I guess [Rhoads] heard enough about what I do with my students to decide that she should approach me.”

Heath was approached

by Rhoads in the interest of forming a graphic art design partnership. Heath readily agreed to the project.

This class is designed to help build the students portfolios and their artistic abilities while they get hands-on experience of what it’s like to work in the industry.

Fashionista models her creation

Intent on her work

Nodding her head

AP Art Facts 30 Students in AP Art 3 Different types of AP portfolios being created 2 Portfolios being created for Scholastics 158 Pieces in Scholastics Regional Show last year 38 Scholastics Gold

Key winners last year

4 National Awards 1.3 Million in art scholarships earned last year 1 Finalist in Doodle for Google contest last year 1 National finalist team in Van Shoe contest last year 1 Piece in Governor’s traveling show last year Another student, senior Luiza Alainz, comments on the curriculum of the course. Alainz is branding her own unique music company.

“I really like the Apple Store and the technology, how it is all really futuristic. I also like music, so I’m creating this company that makes instruments that are completely electric. For example, I’ll create a violin that only has three strings. It’ll be a whole new design.”

Many of Heath’s students have taken part in some type

Senior Khia Aparente presents her idea to the class and Teckla Rhoads. She has branded a fictional fashion company.

Senior Cherry Matthews sketches her logo in her sketch book. She has branded before this class but enjoys this program better.

GM designer Teckla Rhoads gives approval to senior Ben Waineo. Rhoads has been with General Motors since 1983.

(Photos by Charlotte Spehn)

of branding, but never to this extent. The class operates more like a business than a class to most of the students.

“A General Motors employee comes every Thursday and it’s more like a boss than a teacher, but you can still ask

“

them questions and learn new things.” Weissert said.

The students of AP Studio Art are up for a tough but exciting semester, as General Motors extends a helping hand in the development of the next generation of graphic

designers.

“They work with the people that are professional designers, so they can put you on the right path,” Matthews said. “the path they know other designers have gone through.”

It is... [the] first time this has ever been done, first time General Motors has done anything with a high school.

AP Studio Art Teacher Diane Heath

”

Seeing homeless inspires senior to make blankets for comfort

by David Hanna School Team

Keeping the city warm: Senior Lindsey Diamond puts the finishing touches on her latest blanket. Diamond has been working on this project for almost three years. (photo by Nick Cruz)

Senior Lindsey Diamond fires up her sewing machine making blankets to prepare for winter.

The only twist is that the blankets are not for her. They are for the homeless citizens in Detroit. Diamond’s plan is to go to fabric stores such as Joe Ann Fabric’s and buy materials for blanket making. On her own time, Diamond will sew the fabric together to create warm blankets for needy people.

“I was driving home from a concert with my mom, and there were homeless people everywhere, and it was cold, and I just thought that we should make blankets for them,” Diamond said.

Diamond has also gotten help from the Key Club, who has

agreed to pitch in and support the cause later in the winter season.

Kiwanas Liansion Junior Marley Watson, who according to Key Club is the representative for the school’s Key Club as to the National Key Club approved of the idea and thinks it will help students earn points.

“As a club, we think making blankets for the homeless is a small step in rebuilding the city of Detroit,” Watson said.

With the school’s theme “Made in Detroit,” reaching out to the citizens fits into Diamond’s idea of making blankets.

Although Key Club isn’t planning on counting the blanket making for points until later in the winter, Diamond is starting to make the blankets now. Everything has been left completely up to her. The way the blankets are made, who

to give them to, and where to deliver them.

“I don’t really have a specific shelter that I was going to take the blankets to,” Diamond said.

“I was just planning on driving around and handing them out to homeless people out on the streets.”

The blankets that are left over will be donated to the American Red Cross. Diamond has put in much effort to try and get this idea passed by Key Club and is excited to start working on this project she has been waiting to do for almost three years.

“Making the blankets for the homeless people is just a way for me to give back to Detroit,” Diamond said. “The homeless people should have a warm blanket to cover themselves, especially when you live in Michigan.”

4 SOURCE

THE

September 30, 2011

NUMB3RS Detroit Sports

23 thousand tickets to be sold in Comerica Park

65

thousand tickets to be sold in Ford Field

20 thousand tickets to be sold in Joe Louis Arena

Detroit History

108

years since Ford Motor Company was founded

310 years since Detroit was founded

40 years since the Astoria Pastry Shop was founded

GRRR

BY THE

GRRR! Bye-bye Charlie- Charlie Sheen is no more on Two and a Half Men. He’s gone for good.

Homecoming Happiness- Homecoming hype has ended. We’re left without that big dance or a big game to look forward to.

Where’s Mr. Miesch?!- Mr. Meish left us to work at the same school as his beloved wife.

Cute, but we miss him! And what’s more, he went to RHS, our rivals!

PRRR

OPINION THE STAFF

PRRR!

Editor-in-Chief:

Hello Ashton- Two and a Half Men is now all about Ashton Kutcher! He debuted on the show’s season opener on Sept. 19.

Cross Town Charity Bowl- Look forward to Oct. 21 when we battle Adams in a game benefitting the New Day Foundation for Families!

Don’t forget your pink shirts!

There’s Mr. Miesch!- Have no fear! Even though Mr. Meish no longer teaches here, he still announces at our football games and advises our Improv Club!

THE EDITORIAL

Young people need to believe in Detroit once again

D

etroit is a city in the process of being resurrected. But what is it really that Detroit needs? It needs support. It needs pride. It needs dignity.

But who is going to push Detroit over the hump of poverty back to prosperity? Who is going to stand by Detroit and give it the verbal sustenance it needs? Well, no one.

No one will unless we do.

Here lies the problem: When we as high school kids talk to each other and joke around, the stereotypical, bigoted comments tend to find their way out of our mouths. It’s just how it is. We’re kids after all. The reality, though? We are helping to bring down our city, our Detroit, with every side-splitting comment we make.

“I know Scary Movie 3 made fun of Detroit, and a lot of people make fun of it,” senior Meredith White said. “Everyone’s like, ‘It’s really high on the murder list.’”

While we aren’t the only group of people guilty of the pessimism, the more the negativity spreads, the longer Detroit will take to climb out of its depression, and Mayor of Detroit Dave Bing agrees.

“I guess most people would say that bad news, it sells quicker than good news,” Bing said in an interview with Michigan Public Radio. “If people would say, ‘Let’s

Your View:

really go there and see what’s happening’… when people come here I think they leave with a different impression all together.”

And many have been blinded from the authentic Detroit that exists beneath the negativity. This many cannot see the artistic societies coming to life in Detroit.

They cannot see the masses of people scurrying to the Eastern Market every Saturday. They cannot see the assembly lines booting up again.

But how can we help? We’re just kids after all.

The moment we realize that we no longer play the role of “just kids” in this situation is the moment we can do our part in sending Detroit back up to the big times.

The first step is remembering our roots.

We have to remember that Detroit is our city and that we are its suburb. We have to want to help.

As we all should, White remembers.

“I almost grew up in Detroit,” White said in a passion. “My great grandma lived down there and we would go there every year for the dog show…my perception of it

growing up is that it’s awesome.”

Once we all remember, it won’t be hard to help. As Bing said, what Detroit needs is for people to go experience it again. And who can better enjoy Comerica Park, the ice rink, or the Astoria Bakery in Greektown than teenagers… than we can?

No one, that’s who.

But in case we need a little extra motivation or a role model to help raise up our once-fallen city, we can look to rapper Marshall Mathers. We can look to Eminem.

His Chrysler commercial known as “Imported from Detroit” just won a Creative Arts Emmy on Sept. 10. The commercial featured Mathers driving through Detroit, soaking up the city, and flaunting its many colors.

Though we don’t all have a fan base as large as Mathers’, we can all take steps similar to his by supporting our city, taking pride in our city, and bringing back its dignity.

Let’s remember our roots. Let’s resurrect our city. Let’s enjoy Detroit.

If we say Detroit, what do you say?

Detroit Art

13

shows coming to the Detroit Opera House this season

3,370 like the Contemporary Art Institute of Detroit on Facebook

“The Motor City. I think Detroits got a bad rap, because everyone always sees the bad parts of Detroit... If they repair some buildings and get rid of some graffiti it’d be a really good place.”

“My dad’s work.”

“Sports.”

Sophomore Eric Autio

Junior Fred Lee

“I think of the science center, the DIA, Comerica Park, the Lions, Joe Louis Arena, you know, Hockey Town, Greektown... It’s also an amazing landmark, not something to be ashamed of.”

Senior Meredith White

Freshman Matt Medlin

1,358

students attend the College for Creative Studies in Detroit

Staff Vote: Do you think that Detroit will prosper only if teenagers are more proactive with its prosperity?

Yes: 17 No: 0 Undecided: 1

(compiled by Lindsey Scullen)

Letter to the Editor

Texting may be hazardous to grades, health Dear Editor, These days, innovative technology has become so prevalent as the newest addition to technology. It has become a part of our daily lives and many teenagers rely upon it heavily. But just like everything else in the world, there is an effect and a downside. In a poll taken in 2009 on Edutopia, and educational website, of 273 votes 47% chose “Yes, I believe students are carrying over the writing habits in texts to their school work.” Therefore, texting is indeed having a negative effect on students.

Students, however, do not necessarily know all the effects that texting is having on them, some of which could be dangerous to their health. The Source needs to write an article about these effects to educate the students of our school on the dangers of texting.

Let’s take a real life scenario: one teenage girl Reina, a thirteen yearold from Lake Forest, California is an avid texter, receiving a deluge of texts throughout the day. She likes to stay in constant touch with her friends and once she texted 14,528 texts in a single

month. The negatives this action has are tremendous.

First off, how is this large amount of texting affecting her grades? If she is sending this many texts in a normal 31 day month, that averages to 468 texts per day! Educators from the University of Alabama suggest that this form of messaging is “hindering today’s teens’ abilities to apply proper grammar.” Can you imagine what poor grammar skills this poor girl has simply because she texts a lot and is used to the “texting lingo?” She deserves to know what exactly she is doing to her body and her future by sending simple texts.

Secondly, if teens are texting throughout the school day during class, their attention level is reduced, according to researchers. Therefore, they aren’t paying complete attention, which may cause their grades to drop.

There are also several shocking medical effects linked to important extremities.

Doctors at the U of M Hospital in Ann Arbor say that excessive amounts of texting could lead to multiple sclerosis.

This is an excruciating inflammatory disease of the nervous system. The

disease makes it painful to pick up objects, make physical contact with an object and other people painful, and may also prevent one from being able to work. These large sums of texting have also been linked to back and eye problems. Eye doctors around the world report that because of the increased use of texting on cell phones, the amount of nearsighted people has increased.

To top it off, excessive phone usage has also been linked to brain cancer. This is because the amount of radiation that is carried through phone waves travels through your brain, possibly leading to cancer. It is extremely unhealthy!

These are just a few of the outstanding effects of texting. Teens need to be educated about the dangerous effects of this. Many young teens use it without even realizing what exactly it is doing to them. Chances are the girl in the scenario didn’t know what texting would be doing to her body in the long run.

Since she texts so frequently, there is a high possibility that she could have medical problems later in life. She is an uneducated teen.

In a survey that I conducted here

at Stoney Creek the week of May 10, 2011, consisting of 50 freshmen and 50 sophomores, 78% admitted that texting adds stress to their lives. They can recognize that is has an impact on them mentally and emotionally but they aren’t educated on the physical effects. Don’t the students at our school have the right to know what else it is doing to them?

Simply put, texting has a lot of negative effects that many are unaware of.

Students need to be educated on these and the perfect way to do so is by having The Source write an article about the effects of it. Students read the paper and it is well respected. Therefore, the information will be taken seriously.

Educating our youth is the main importance. As Albert Einstein once said, “Education is power,” and with the teens of Stoney Creek High School educated about their daily activities it is possible to limit future health problems and create a brighter future.

Sincerely, Andrea D’Onofrio

Matt Pitlock Managing Content Editor: Lindsey Scullen Managing Design Editor: Nick Cruz School Team: Darian Roseman Charlotte Spehn David Hanna Soojin Chun Danielle Linihan Christiana Tanner Opinion Team: Christina Leininger Soumith Inturi Alexandra Zurkan Lifestyles Team: Danielle Blessing Brooke Meharg Kira Bucksbaum Courtney Bourgoin Rachel Shutter Sports Team: Blake Adams Reed Cao Rakesh Reddy Matt Houghton Claire Efting Advisor: Gayle Martin

THE POLICY We, the Stoney Creek Source Staff, produce this publication to accomplish the following goals: The Source will serve as a means of communication between students, teachers, and members of the community.

We will respect all opinions and present them in an unbiased manner. The Source will inform and entertain readers and address trends and issues important to its audience. Although we are a student publication produced by the Writing for a Publication class, we will strive to make The Source accurate and truthful and to adhere to all strandards of professional journalism.

We recognize and respect the privileges given to us under the First Amendment, including the freedom of speech and of the press. The Source is a forum of student expression and we, the students of the staff, have the editorial authority to make our own content decisions. We will provide a sounding board for the student body and the community; therefore, the opinions expressed in by-lines opinion articles and letters should not be considered to be the opinions of the entire newspaper staff, the advisor, the school administration, or the student body as a whole.

CONTACT LETTER POLICY: Letters to the editor and guest articles and art may be submitted to Mrs. Gayle Martin in Room C285. All letters, articles, and art must be signed. Names may be withheld upon request.

The Source Stoney Creek 575 Tienken Rd. Roch. Hills, 48306 E-mail: gmartin@ rochester.k12.mi.us

MEMBERS

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5 SOURCE

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September 30, 2011

OPINION N

W

E S

Slow!

Look out for middle school kids and hurried parents.

Careful! A parent illegally dropping off a kid could run into you!

Slow!

Senior Lot

Teacher Lot

Buses! Twinkies on wheels with more blind spots than a mole.

Slow!

Slow!

Bus Circle

Offices

Courtyard

Auditorium

Pool/Gym Parent Circle

Sheldon Road

Junior Lot

Slow!

Although this is not a drop off spot, there is a line of parent cars here each morning threatening to run over teachers.

Watchout for John Doe, in Daddy’s Camaro rushing out of school.

Slow!

STOP

The Tr

Junior/Sports Lot

!

affic T error

Be wary of those blind drivers, and Jane Doe in Mommy’s Lexus eager to get to her tan on.

Tienken Road Placement of school causes traffic complications

by Blake Adams Sports team

N

o one likes rush hour, that’s a known fact.

Here at the corner of Tienken and Sheldon we have the typical rush hour, and we all hate it. But lucky for us, we get to experience that same thing before and after school.

Stoney Creek is a great establishment.

Academically profound, award winning. But we probably have one of the worst road and traffic layout systems in this galaxy and the next. Our big problem here is where we are placed. On top of that the placement of our parking lot, and furhter on top of that is our minimal entrances and exits.

Our school is placed on the corner of two two-lane roads.

The main road (Tienken) is a

commercial road filled with commuters going to and from work. The other road (Sheldon) has a middle school on it, conveniently placed right across from Stoney Creek. Which, naturally, doesn’t make driving on that road a hazardous hassle at all. Widening the lanes of these roads would be a miracle, but the city already tried to widen Tienken, and failed.

And sadly we cannot move the school, so we are stuck here.

The circle on the Tienken side of Stoney is designed so that cars turning into the school from the road can drive right past parking lots on the left and right. That means that those parking lots have stop signs where the exits are. That means that cars turning from Tienken do not have to stop, ever. But what happens? Cars turning

from Tienken stop, all the time.

Apparently we have a majority of blind drivers here at Stoney Creek. We could just make it an official four-way stop to avoid the confusion.

There are three entrances from the main roads into school parking lots. The Tienken entrance has no stoplight.

The two Sheldon entrances do not have stoplights. There is, however, a wonderful roundabout where Tienken and Sheldon meet, which half of the city’s population seems to not know how to use. Stoplights would do us all some good.

Describing the whole layout points out a lot of faults. Add in other variables to that frantic picture, and it gets messy.

Stoney’s students walk, ride, bike, and loiter on these roads and these parking lots five days

a week, especially before and after school. Teachers do, too.

Rain, snow, ice, and other lovely gifts from mother nature litter our roads and parking spaces for half the year. Buses packed with kids hold up traffic and nearly take off car mirrors. School kids and eager parents rush through the lots, making their own way in or out, regardless of whether they might cause accidents. All of those variables, plus the basic layout, paint a pretty nasty picture.

“I’ve only been driving to Stoney a week now, and I’ve almost been hit twice,” junior Jacob Dowell said. “It’s really hard to shove two hundred cars out of a one lane exit when we are all trying to leave after school,” Dowell said. “It just doesn’t work.”

Teacher Traci Naylis agrees.

“The one entrance per lot I think is part of the issue,” Naylis said.

Naylis further pointed out the time issue.

“I come to school early just to avoid traffic. The difference in the traffic from 6:45 a.m. to 7:00 a.m. is huge.”

So it seems that Stoney is stuck in a rut. We built this beautiful and wonderful building in a trapped corner, and students furbished it with frantic driving. It may look pretty and seem organized, but I would beg to differ.

The layout of these roads contribute to confusion, accidents, and, most definitely, road rage at astronomical levels.

It may have looked pretty on paper, but how our roads and parking lots are set up are well over due for some revision.

Millions go toward local Rochester road work

by Michael Martinez Opinion Team Traffic is traffic. Unless, the traffic is not merely traffic and has some cause outside the common pedestrian hold up, right-of-way miscommunication, or the accordion effect of inexperienced,tailgating drivers. An unfortunately more common source of traffic is road projects, which the city of Rochester has been experiencing in rather suspicious waves for quite some time. Expensive, time-consuming, unnecessary construction waves that leave streets fuller than school staff toilets.

Blah blah, annoying road

projects, old news; life goes on.

People adjust to closed roads as regularly as they adjust to the weather. The problem here, however, is not any one closed road. Rather, the quantity of closed roads.

Rochester is home to three beloved high schools, four middle schools, and a whole messy slew of elementary schools.

Needless to say at the starts and ends of school (or work), many students and other homo sapiens require usage of the roads. This traffic collage’s centerpiece is Rochester Road, or Main Street, which crams its vast travelers onto a mere four fifths of a mile by Google Maps’ estimate. Put politely, vehicular

travel at school/work time can be frustrating.

Travel is never more frustrating than with road construction. Back in 2010, the Tienken Bridge near Stoney underwent student-loathed repair. This past summer, the route on Parkdale endured similar treatment. In August, a project on Walton Boulevard ended just as a new one on Adams began. As of now, attendants of the Rochester Hills Public Library can be lulled into a sweet state of relaxation by the grinding construction on Olde Towne Road outside.

Now, construction will always be a part of city life. Roadwork is always happening some-

where, just like somewhere there will always be a puppy urinating on a fire hydrant.

In a place like New York, the citizens can expect plagues of closed roads across the reaches of their vast metro. But Rochester? According Google Maps, east to west, the full distance of the few road projects covered above doesn’t even reach six miles.

Roads need maintenance.

Safety first, of course. The Department of Transportation exists for a reason. Even from an objective viewpoint, however, Rochester’s calendar includes a lot of roadwork, enough to offer the question of necessity.

Those road projects on Wal-

ton and Adams? Patch Media recorded that those escapades were funded with $540,000 in federal funds (or in other words, public funds), $85,000 from Oakland County, $450,000 from the Road Commission, $255,000 from Rochester Hills, and $85,000 from the city of Auburn for a grand total of $1.4 million. Any way you slice it, $1.4 million is a lot of money.

The driving question: Could that $1.4 million have been used in a more effective, more visible, more generally beneficial, more heavily prioritized manner than to simply repave relatively modern, healthy roads?

Probably, yes.

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September 30, 2011

LIFESTYLES

Senior becomes a hometown superfan

by Courtney Bourgoin Lifestyles Team Students anticipate it every year: the crazy senior shenanigans that take place in our own hallways after sixth hour.

On Sept. 12, Senior Charlie Kern zipped around the hallway wearing a skin-tight blue body suit to show off his school spirit. Blue and gold runs through his seniors veins, and he’s making a name for himself in “The Core.”

“I want to make people go to the games,” Kern said. “If you don’t like your school… why go there at all?”

Kern has attended every Varsity football game this year sporting gold face paint and a blue afro. But the super fan has bigger plans for Homecoming.

“Oh I’m going shirtless.

Glitter. The whole works.” Kern said, “Get ready.”

Getting the crowd pumped up for homecoming is one thing but getting in trouble is another thing Kern has mastered.

“Oh Mr. G has had to tell me many times to put my shirt on,” Kern said. “And when I ran onto the field I got in huge trouble.”

The consequences d o n ’ t bother K e r n who is in it for p u r e support to his

peers.

“I just love making other people feel good about themselves,” Kern said,.“Everything’s worth it in the end.”

Senior Eli Nasr remembers when Kern was there for him during his critical races for cross country.

“He makes you smile when you’re working really hard,” Nasr said Kern has turned school spirit upside down and sophomore Ben Dantforth recalls his craziest times in the Core with Charlie.

“The best part is when they crowd surf me,” Dantforth said, “Charlie is the craziest kid and makes the games fun for everyone.”

Unlike most high school students, Kerns popularity come for his love for the school and all the team in it.

“When I leave, I’ll really miss the vibe I get in there [the Core], Kern said. “I love all the enthusiastic people and when I see the players run out, I just get ready to go ham.”

Kerns most prized fan possesssion is the gold helmet he received from Mr. Dillon for being the number one fan school-wide.

“I felt like a God when he handed me that helmet,” Kern giggled, “I guess my hard work is really paying off.”

Whether it ‘s the homecoming games or track meets, it’s hard to miss the fan of all fans. Kerns school enthusiasm has lifted spirits and made for him a memorable senior year.

“God bless America,” Kern said. “and God Bless Stoney Creek High School.”

Shout! Senior Charlie Kern yells at The Core to start The Roller Coaster. Kern directed The Roller Coaster twice during the Cougars vs. Southfield-Lathrup game. (Photo by Nick Cruz)

[ ][ ][ ][ ] Hot: Short and sweet

Short, above-the-knee dresses come with many plusses: they are usually less expensive, not as hot as long dresses, coming in handy when dancing in a large group of people. What’s more, they give the wearer a chance to show off her legs.

If you are attending a school dance for the first time and are not sure what to wear, a short, formal dress is a safe bet.

Hot: Cute heels While it is true that the dress is usually the main focus of a Homecoming ensemble, the right shoes can make the outfit! If your dress is simple and could use some pizzazz, a pair of heels in a flashy color, pattern, or style could do the trick.

Hot: A healthy glow

Hot: A dress with a S.O.F. (Standout Factor)

By the beginning of October, most people are starting to lose that “summer glow.” If you are feeling self-conscious of your vampiric complexion, most drug stores sell bronzers ranging from $3 to $10.

Feel like spending a little more? Ulta, Sephora, and department stores all sell illuminating primers which will give your face a natural glow.

If you really want to be the belle of the ball, you want your dress to make a statement. A S.O.F. can come from accents such as animal print, sequins, or a really flashy color. “[My dress] is a bright-orange color. I mean, that’s just fun to me!” says junior Tricia Goble.

Uptown vs. Downtown Homecoming Trends Not: Super short dresses

While a dress may look fantastic on display at a department store dressing room, it might not be appropriate to wear out in public.

Remember, you will be dancing in this dress.

“I have seen a lot of girls that have worn dresses that are far too short, and they probably shouldn’t be doing that,” says junior Marley Watson.

So, her advice?

“Would you wear it to your Grandma’s birthday party? That’s how I think about it.”

Not: Unreasonably high heels

While your heart may be set on that pair of stilettos, some shoes are just not practical.

Pictures, dinner, the dance, and the afterparty—that’s a long time to be on your feet!

“Most people take their heels off [at the dance],” says Watson.

It would be an unfortunate end to Homecoming to have to send someone to the emergency room because you impaled his or her foot with your skyscraper-high heels!

Not: Everything but the kitchen sink

Not: Looking like a carrot or a lobster

Be careful with tanning and spray tanning. You don’t want to look like someone from “Jersey Shore.”

“To a certain extent you can fake-tan, as long as it looks natural,” says junior Tricia Goble. “I don’t believe in turning orange, like oompaloompas.”

Unless your goal is to look like Lady Gaga, dresses that have an extremely high S.O.F. can make you stand out for all the wrong reasons. “[Don’t] overwhelm the people that are going to look at you, because in pictures you want to look back and say, ‘Wow, I chose a really nice dress,’ as opposed to saying, ‘Wow, I chose something that I will never wear again,’” says Watson.

(Compiled by Alexandra Zurkan)

Students take part in city clean up

by Kira Bucksbaum Lifestyles Team

W

hen recession hit in 2008, the city of Detroit felt the sting especially hard. The already poor economy suffered, and the homeless population sky rocketed. Even before the recession, Detroit struggled for many years with economic turmoil.

But now, after years of being perceived as a run-down dump, this city is ready for a come-back. Volunteer groups are cleaning up the streets and the auto industry has surged.

Tourism attractions all around the city are raking in revenue, and there are even efforts to make Detroit more environmentally friendly.

There is far more than meets the eye when it comes to Detroit. This is why our Homecoming theme was chosen this year—to show our pride in the motor city.

One particular aspect of Detroit is the auto industry. Many students in the Cougar com-

h

munity have one or more relatives who work for one of the big three car companies: General Motors, Ford, or Chrysler.

All three were affected by the recession, and thousands of workers were let go, according to The History of the Economy of Detroit.

“At Ford, there were three sets of layoffs” senior Sydney Moore explained.

Moore’s father works for Ford, and was able to keep his job.

“During that time, my parents were extra cautious because we didn’t know if my dad would be fired or not. It was really nerve racking,” Moore said.

While many families were rattled by the car company plunges, there seems to be a bright future ahead. All three native businesses are doing well and still have employees in Michigan.

“Now, everything’s getting back to how it was before. Better, even. It’s made home life a lot more comfortable,” Moore said with a smile.

Besides the strides being

o

The Hickeys are urban farmmade with the Detroit car industries, improvement can be ers, meaning they cultivate seen in inner city neighbor- crops in their own back yard hoods. There are many organi- in the city. They open their yard up to the zations planneighborhood, ning events giving those and volunteer who might not projects, inbe able to pay cluding the their grocery Detroit Dream bills access to Project and food. the Friends “We let the of the Detroit neighborhood River project. kids come and Students and pick what they teachers from want and usuour school are ally they ask if also making they can help an impact. us out someBill and Bilhow. So we let lie Hickey, a them help us couple who plant or move voluntarily moved to a Senior Sydney Moore things,” Mr. Hickey said. small De“They’re very troit neighgrateful.” borhood, set The Hickeys have also emup an urban farming project. barked on a mission to bring Teacher Mary Jo Hickey is sisa greater sense of ter-in-law to Bill Hickey, and community to their took a small group of students Detroit neighborlast year to see exactly what hood. In a someit is they do.

“

My parents were extra

cautious

because we

didn’t know

if my dad would be fired or not.

”

m

e

what dangerous area, Mrs. explained that some children are not allowed to go outside and play when they’re alone. So, the Hickeys and their neighbors take multiple measures to provide comfort for families. They hired artists to paint colorful murals over abandoned houses, planted foliage on barren street corners, and have even installed a neighborhood watch.

When a group of students drove down to learn about the urban farming experience, they realized how big of an impact the Hickeys make. Senior Evie de Avila felt that she had experience quite a culture shock.

“The fact that kids can’t go outside safely is heartbreaking.

I just never realized how hard life can be for some people,” de Avila said, “and the fact that Bill and Billie are doing what they do really makes all the difference in the world... they give Detroit hope.”

c

D

M

o

m

THE

September 30, 2011

LIFESTYLES

Motor City hot spots attract students

SOURCE

7

by Kira Bucksbaum Lifestyles Team

Detroit is a hustling hub for Michiganders and foreigners alike. From family friendly events to nighttime hot spots, there is something in Detroit for everyone. So next time you take a trip to the motor city, be sure to check out these entertaining attractions.

On Their Way Up

The Detroit Tigers tore through regular season, standing number one in the American League. Playoffs have just started, and tickets can range from $100- $1000.

Restoring the Roar

Most laugh when they think about the Detroit Lions and their tedious past, but this year things are changing on the field. The team has kicked off the season with a 3-0 record. Season tickets range from $185 to $390.

A New Face for City Art

The Detroit Institute of Art’s new building has attracted tourists worldwide. Entry fees are free for members and $8 for adults.

Hey Hey Hockeytown

Preseason has begun for the hometown heroes and the Red Wings are living up to their winning record. Preseason family packs can be bought for $44.

Motown Music

The Fox Theater has hosted every concert from Elvis Presley to Eminem. The venue holds 5,048 people and tickets can be purchased on fox.theatredetroit.net.

DETROIT

MADE IN

i

n

g

2

0

1

1

(Illustration by Nick Cruz)

8 SOURCE

THE

“Have you seen

that kid’s mom?

She’s pretty foxy.”

“I was like,

‘Whoa man, I am the man.’”

“We created a

unicorn utopia. . . .”

“She sleeps in a toga.”

LIFESTYLES

New Video Game Releases Build Hype Sports Team / Managing Design Editor

H

e’s killed another one.

Senior Andrew Boe aims down his Intervention, a long range sniper rifle. He steadies his aim, centers his crosshair on his target’s head, and pulls the trigger.

“Headshot,” Boe mutters, slightly smirking.

For Boe, this shooting is not uncommon. The video game series “Call of Duty” allows him to simulate scenarios like this all in the safety of his basement.

On Nov. 8, Boe will have more chances to snipe with the release of the next game in the series: “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3”. In addition, the release of “Battlefield 3” on Oct. 25 will let Boe and other students, such as sophomore Garret Galia, choose between two new competing first-person shooter games.

“Modern Warfare 3’s going to be pretty good,” Galia said. “But I’m not excited for it because Battlefield 3’s going to come out, and it’ll be a lot better.”

According to a YouTube video titled,

clown, it would be pointless.”

“So it was

moving. . . and she ate it?!”

“You can go

“Your mom

smells like a dinosaur!”

“Unfortunately

the world will get rid of all the pink flamingos by sending them to the moon.”

“I can’t decide

a name for my ‘Angry Birds’ pet.

You know, the big black bomb one?”

“I am going to

use your hair to shank people.”

“Where are

“Excuse me,

your blouse is ringing.”

“I went to get

a dress, but got a hat with a monkey on it instead.”

”

Prime Times 8-10 p.m.

Lifestyles Team Out of the new shows of 2011, find the one that best suits you.

Maybe you like reality shows, maybe you like fantasy shows, or maybe you like suspense shows.

(Source: TV Guide) (Compiled by Nick Cruz and Brooke Meharg)

If you like...

Monday

Tuesday Wednesday Thursday

Saturday

The Secret Circle

9:00 p.m.

Castle

10:00 p.m.

Unforgettable

If you like...

Richard Castle, a well-known mystery author, shadows Detective Beckett in order to get ideas for his books. At first, Beckett disapproved of Castle, but then learned that he was useful for her team.

Season Premieres, Sept. 19 p.m. on ABC

8 p.m.

Friday

The X Factor Vampire Diaries

8:00 p.m.

Castle

In Mystic Falls, vampires, werewolves, witches, and humans all roam together. Stefan, a vampire, is on a bloody rampage.

Damon, also a vampire, and Elena, a human, seek a way to help Stefan, while Jeremy, a human, is seeing dead people. at

Sunday

If you like...

The Vampire Diaries

Season Premieres, Sep 15 CW

Times

at

American Idol

Singers flock to American Idol hoping to be celebrated as the best singer in America. Jennifer Lopez, Steven Tyler, and Randy Jackson act as judges along with America.

10

on

then you may also like...

then you may also like...

then you may also like...

The X Factor

Unforgettable

An NYPD detective has the uncanny ability to remember everything.

Her ability makes her uniquely qualified for her job. However, it is a curse in her personal life, especially because on the day her sister got kidnapped, she doesn’t remember anything.

The Secret Circle After the death of her mother, a teenage girl moves to a small town. There she discovers that she is a witch, a member of a secret coven, and will play a role in the timeless battle between good and evil. The secret circle is based on a series from The Vampire Diaries’ author.

Premiers, Sept. 20 CBS

at

10 p.m.

8.0

7.5 The Secret Circle

Castle 8.4

Premieres Sept. 21 at 8 p.m. on Fox

on

Source: TV Guide (Compiled by Brooke Meharg and Nick Cruz)

Premieres, Sept. 15 at 9 p.m. on CW The Vampire Diaries

This new talent show accepts all ages, twelve and up, unlike American Idol. Paula and Simon, two of the American Idol judges, will be judges on The X Factor. In the X Factor, judges may teach contestants.

American Idol 6.7 Unforgettable

4.6

4.9

Adele

HOT

The X Factor

(Compiled by Brooke Meharg) (Source: imdb.com)

Hair Feathers

Henna Tattoos

The Hotness Matrix Bing Search

Engine Sweats tucked into Uggs

NEW

people when they’re in a coma?”

“Narnia.”

You can blow up houses on people. Who wouldn’t want to do that?

} } }

to the dance, then after, you romance. But sir, you don’t have a chance.”

“

“Battlefield 3” is the only first-person shooter game on the market using Frostbite 2.

“I think Battlefield 3 is going to go all out with their imagery,” Galia said.

“We’re just going to have to see how it goes.”

Though “Battlefield 3” has a new game engine to run high quality graphics, the game runs at 30 frames per second (FPS), according to bf3blog.com, “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3” runs at 60 FPS. “I’m sure [Call of Duty] will have more background effects because with their FPS they can do a lot more in the background with it,” Senior Alex Blaha says. “But I think the overall core gameplay is going to be more important for a lot of people.”

The high FPS that “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3” has allows for smoother gameplay.

But” Battlefield 3,” along with its new game engine, allows for stunning explosions and destruction not seen in the “Call of Duty” series.

“I think that it’s going to make it more immersive and cool,” Galia said.

“You can blow up houses on people.

Who wouldn’t want to do that?”

TV Shows Play to Viewers’ Interests

by Brooke Meharg

“Without the

“Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Multi- class remain similar to the system that player Briefing,” Infinity Ward creative “Call of Duty” players are familiar with, strategist Robert Bowling claims that including some new additions such as “this is the most balanced multiplayer the Assault Drone, a small, controllable, experience that [Infinity Ward] has ever RC helicopter with an automatic gun.

The Assault Drone requires 10 kills in a done.”

Bowling also confirms more chang- row to obtain.

The second class is called “Support” es to the “Call of Duty” multiplayer and focuses on aiding the gameplay, stating team with its objectives or that there will be no kills. One new strike packmore one-man army age in this class is the Balperk, no game ending listic Vests package, which nuke, no shotguns as requires five kills in a row. secondary guns, no The third class is called commando perk, and “Specialist” and consists no last stand perk. only of perks. Every kill “I hate when peoin a row adds a new perk ple use [last stand],” to the player’s arsenal, alBoe said. “I’m glad though dying loses not only it’s gone.” the player’s streak, but also Along with the Sophomore his extra perks. removal of some feaGarrett Galia “Battlefield 3” has some tures of the previous Modern Warfare, developers Infinity new features as well. Of these, the biggest Ward, Sledgehammer Games, and Ra- game update will be the use of Frostbite ven Software have revamped the kill 2 as the game’s engine.

According to Frostbite2.com, Froststreak system into “strike packages” bite 2 “allows Battlefield 3 to deliver suwith three different classes.

The first strike package class is perior performance in character animacalled “Assault” and focuses on offensive tion, visual rendering, audio and physigameplay. The kill streaks within the cal destruction.”

by Rakesh Reddy / Nick Cruz

OLD

Overheard in the Halls

September 30, 2011

Planking Guy Uggs

Ponchos

NOT

Facebook Changes

THE

September 30, 2011

SOURCE

LIFESTYLES

You Are Beautiful!

“It kind of reminds me of Friends of Rachel to be honest.”

Junior Lizzie LaLonde

Operation Beautiful leaves its mark on bathrooms

by Christina Leininger / Kristie Robinson

Opinion Team / Lifestyles Team Every morning, someone attaches a neon sticky note bearing a message onto the girl’s gym locker room mirror; however, this is not the typical, obscene bathroom graffiti. Students passing by are confronted face-on with kind words, courtesy of an absolute stranger.

According to Caitlin Boyle, the editor of Operationbeautiful.com, “The mission of Operation Beautiful is to post anonymous notes in public places for other women to find.” The Web site explains the importance of eliminating negative internal sentences. Boyle writes, “Through my own experiences fighting Fat Talk, I’ve realized the power behind an anonymous act such as Operation Beautiful. When I post a note, I’m saying, ‘I CHOOSE to be positive!’’’

Behind Operation Beautiful, stands a powerful army. Each volunteer is out to eliminate self-consciousness one case at a time with the ammunition of sticky notes. Because they believe that low self-esteem is much too common of a disease nowadays, Operation Beautiful has people joining forces to

fight full-force what they be- bathroom at school this morning to make sure I looked okay, lieve to be an epidemic.

Although the person who thats where I found a note on began this mission is unknown, the mirror it said ‘dont bother, it has become an international your beautiful!’ It made my crusade. Operation Beauti- day[sic].”

Amanda is just one of 1,364 ful has been posting sticky who have left notes across a comment the country on Operationfor over two beautiful.com, years. The goal sharing how is simple—the the movement effect, reachhas made an ing many. impact on The most their lives. common mesInterviewsage on bathing students room mirrors exiting the is a short-andbathroom simple, “You who had read are beautithe Operaful,” but other tion Beautiful quotes show sticky notes up as well.

Editor on the mirror O t h e r Caitlin Boyle (placed there quotes found for the puradorning the girls’ bathroom at our school pose of this article), opinions include, “A face that smiles is a and reactions to the message face that shines beauty,” and the varied from person to person.

Sophomore Katherine Anfamous Kahlil Gibran’s quote, “Beauty is not in the face; beau- drusz said, “I think that [the Operation Beautiful notes] ty is a light in the heart.”

The project’s Web site make people feel better about displays comments of many themselves and make their day who praise Operation Beauti- better.”

Sophomore Alex Felix, anful.

On the Web site, a girl other supporter of Operation named Amanda said, “I have al- Beautiful, said, “People with ways been self conscious about low self-esteem may feel bad, my weight. I went into the but when they look in the mir-

“I’ve realized the power behind an anonymous act such as

Operation Beautiful.”

9

ror [and see a note], they feel good.”

On the other hand, senior Kelly Hoyer questions the sincerity of these notes. “[The anonymous notewriters] don’t know you personally and don’t understand what you’ve been going through,” Hoyer explains “I’ve had a situation where my best friend, Lizzie Roeser, put a sticky note in my agenda that said you are beautiful, and that touched my heart.”

To Hoyer, a few words scribbled out by a stranger do not hold the same weight.

Operation Handsome was a lost cause. The majority of males exiting the restroom appeared uncomfortable after encountering a sticky note reading, “You are handsome.”

“I was creeped out,” Junior Nick Elias said, taking offense at the note in his face. “I think it’s a weird and odd thing to do.”

Operation Beautiful will probably remain a single-sex cause. Nevertheless, to any female who wishes to get involved in Operation Beautiful, Boyle instructs, “Write a motivating note on a post it and put it up in a public place– such as on a bathroom mirror, in the gym locker room, or even on a random car’s windshield.”

“I think they could make people feel more welcome at school.”

Junior Victoria Longton

“I think finding a note reading ‘You are Handsome’ in the bathroom would be funny.”

Junior Charlie Ruiz

“I’d wonder who put it there.”

Sophomore Breanna Dione

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Athletic Programs have several returning starters in for a big year

by Matt Pitlock Editor-in-Chief

There has never been a more exciting time to be a fan of high school sports in Stoney Creek. In ten years our school has never had more returning talent, harder competition, or higher expectations than the teams of 2011-2012.

The school was home to several individual and team top ten finishers last year and many of those are returning for another season.

For starters, last year’s Boys Cross Country team took 11 in the state and they are returning four of their six starters for this season, including senior Eli Naser.

They have a great chance to win their league and region again this season.

Along with Cross Country Girls Golf had a very successful year, taking second place in the state as a team and has placed in the top ten both of the past two seasons.

What makes this team so exciting this season is senior Gabby Yurik.

In her three years on varsity Yurik has been incredibly consistant qualifying for the state tournament all three years and taking runner-up last year.

The winter season teams have as high of expectations as the fall teams, starting with the Wrestling team. It is also returning two state qualifiers including senior state runner up Nick Gajdzick. Last season Gajdzick lost in a thrilling state champion match to oxford senior Prescott Line. If these two athletes meet again for the 215 pound state title, it will be one of the most exciting matches in school history.

The other winter team with soaring expectations this year is Competitive Cheer, who won the state title two seasons ago and placed sixth last year. This is Coach Tricia Williams third season, and she has enjoyed a great amount of success her first two years. It shouldn’t be slowing down this season.

During the spring sports season, the Baseball team will be defending their league championship with three returning seniors with over two years of experience: Zach Northrup, Mike Difransice and Anthony Gonzalaz. All of these seniors started last year and should only be more affective this season.

With several teams who are returning starters from successful seasons last year, this season is shaping out to be an exciting one. As sport fans, we should all sit back and enjoy the ride.

The

Call

September 30, 2011

SPORTS

When the going gets tough Soccer coach makes motivational move

by Matt Pitlock and Matt Houghton Editor-in-Chief/Sports Team

W

ith the seniors on the varsity soccer team benched, six freshman took the field against Holly on Sept. 6. The inexperienced players tried their best, but the team fell 1-0. Their record dropped to 0-2 in the league.

On paper the game is a complete failure, but according to the players, this was the game that saved the soccer season.

Following a disappointing loss to Troy Athens during which the starters were unmotivated, boy’s varsity soccer coach Adam Bican chose to bench his veteran players. Senior Sam Shafer and captains Kevin Wilcox, Nick Sobczynski and Ryan Taylor were all replaced by less experienced players who had shown more effort.

According to Bican The team suffered a hard loss, but he was very pleased with their performance.

“Against Troy Athens it wasn’t there,” Bican said. “So the decision to bring the freshman up, I thought, the team handled very well, and it did motivate them.”

He expected his starters to just sit on the bench and resent the players who had taken their spots, but he

was surprised by how the seniors behaved.

“I wanted to see how they reacted, and one of the things I was proud of is that they were rooting for the freshman,” Bican said. “You can tell a lot when you sit people and start a lot of players in front of them.

The tendency is to sit back and be more reserved. They showed a lot to me by how they acted on the bench.”

Bican used this game as a test of the seniors leadership, and according to junior forward Nick Marn, they passed.

“They help the younger players in practice and are really supportive even if one of us makes a mistake,” Marn said. He thinks coach Bican sent the right message and really gave the team a lesson in effort, not just leadership. “[Coach Bican] knows how hard we can work,” Marn said. “He watched us play all summer and we weren’t doing the fundamental things well. We weren’t making good passes, we weren’t going to the ball, and we were overall not working hard.”

He feels that Bican sent a message that there is no room for complacency on his team. According to Marn and teammate senior Ben Suhajda, the team has been on a hot streak ever since the Holly match, including a win over the second ranked team in the state, Grand

Rise

Blanc, according to MIPrepzone.com.

“We stopped losing games, we played better and we really started working as a team,” Suhajda said.

He has noticed a sharpness in practice that was missing. Suhajda credits the hard work to friendly competition and believes the players know that they need to perform or someone else will.

“No one is safe. We now know we have to play at the highest level every game,” Suhajda said. He made it clear that now the team knows the dangers of getting benched. Suhajda says this has caused the players to push themselves and fight for every minute.

Bican agrees that the team has stepped up after the Holly game.

“It wasn’t just one player that excelled,” Bican said. “It was just all the way around.”

He explained that a team like this is always growing from different hardships and triumphs.

Bican nods to his captian Sobsinski.

“Ready to get wet?” Bican said with a smile.

- “The season is long and it’s a process and you’re always finding out who you are,” Bican said. “if you look back on the season that will be a crucial point, and the boys reacted extremely well.”

He leaves the hall for a rainy practice with his team.

“

If you look back on the season that will be a crucial point, and the boys reacted extremely well.

”

To the challenge

W Catholic Central

W Traverse City West

Stoney 2 Catholic Central 1 Sept. 19

Stoney 2 Traverse City west 0 Aug. 25

W Clarkston Stoney 2 Clarkston 0 Sept. 15

T Rochester Stoney 1 Rochester 1 Sept. 8

W Grand Blanc Stoney 1 Grand Blanc 0 Sept. 19

L Holly

Holly 1 Stoney 0 Sept. 6 *Starters Did not play.

(Photo used with permission of Todd Taylor) (Compiled by Matt Houghton and Matt Pitlock) (According to StoneySoccer.com)

L Troy Athens Troy Athens 2 Stoney 0 Sept. 1

Brotherly love Relationships on team go further than field

by Danielle Linihan School Team Varsity soccer coach Adam Bican prepares to deliver his pre-game pep talk. The boys joke and cajol each other, but as Bican begins to speak, they quiet down, listening in rapt attention. Outside it’s a monsoon, but regardless of the wind and the rain, they’re all here.

They huddle closer together beneath the ticket booths, leaving their rambunctious behavior for the field.

“Clarkston needs to know that they can’t come here,” Coach Bican said. “We need to beat them and we need to give it our all…. get ready to play an unbelievably intense game that they’ll never forget… because they’re going to lose!”

The encouragements are followed by a rally of cheers before the lot of them charge off to the field, still laughing and chatting like one big family.

In a sense, that’s what they are.

With three sets of brothers on the team—senior Nick and junior Jack Sobczynski, juniors Nick and Mike Marn, junior Francisco and freshman Frederico Kulyckyj—the team has a family dynamic unlike any before. With a 7-2-5 season, this dynamic might just be working.

“I think we’re on the right track. We had a little lull there [early in the season], but the boys responded well and picked it up. I think the dynamics between the brothers is fantastic,” Bican said, watching his team practice.

On Sept. 15 Bican and his boys faced up against Clarkston, the very team Bican used to coach. It was one game he and the players didn’t want to lose. As a team, their reputation was on line, and more than ever they needed to work together.

That many close ties between teammates could eas-

ily go south with family feuds, but it doesn’t. The brothers and their teammates all form tight bonds by the end of the year.

“I think it’s kind of cool to be honest, it makes it more fun. [Nick and I], we’re pretty close,” Jack Sobczynski said.

Both Jack and Nick made varsity the same year, Jack as a freshman and Nick as a sophomore. Neither of them took it for granted. The varsity brothers accepted their positions, knowing they would have to work hard.

Mike Marn shed some light on the reality, sharing the advice his brother Nick gave him for tryouts.

“Work your hardest because that’s what coach really likes. If you don’t try and show any signs of slacking, then you’ll get cut,” Mike said, in the words of his brother. They’re twins, and whether they’re on or off the field, their bond is tight.

“I mean, obviously me and my brother are really close because we’re twins and we’re with each other every day. We have that twin telepathy thing, so that’s an advantage, too,” Nick adds, laughing alongside his brother.

Francisco and Frederico Kulyckyj are the final pair, and these boys use their understanding of the other’s strengths and weaknesses to practice efficiently together.

“Whenever we can, we practice. In the summer we go outside, kick the ball around. Because we’re brothers… we know what to do with each other when we get the ball,” Frederico said, a freshmen on the team.

And all of this brotherly understanding makes for an exciting game.

There’s a minute left on the clock, Stoney leads by one. In the last 42 seconds there’s another goal scored

Determination throughout every minute of the game: Junior Forward Nick Marn sprints down the field. He attempeted to control the ball. (Photo used with permission of Todd Taylor) and it’s a two to one shut out against Clarkston.

It was a team effort, and a brotherly one at that.

“You can say that as a team, you’re a family, but we actually are a family. I would have it like this all the time,” Bican said.

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September 30, 2011

SPORTS

Tackling the Issues

Football team plows through injuries

by Lindsey Scullen Managing Content Editor And they all take a knee.

Trainer Amy Braun rushes out onto the field. Senior Zack Northrup is on the ground for a moment, but he’s up again. The crowd claps and the game resumes.

This is the sport they live for. It’s the sport they practice for like it’s a job. It’s the sport they sweat and fight for on Friday nights. It’s the sport they’ll endure any pain to play.

Going 1-4 for the season so far, the football team continues to battle through a season that adds more than just other teams to the list of opponents.

Injuries. According to trainer Amy Braun, this season has yielded more injuries than most, the most common injuries being concussions and knee injuries.

“This year I believe is getting close to the most injuries during a football season since I have started working at Stoney in 2004,” Braun said.

While injuries create another obstacle for the team to face, they

have by no means hindered the strength and drive of the team, according to football captain senior Paul Ziemba.

Ziemba, who is currently dealing with a small tear in his meniscus and some ACL damage, has not let his injury beat him yet, and he doesn’t intend to.

“I went to the doctor today, and I was going to have surgery on Sept.

22, but it’s moved back to the end of football season,” Ziemba said. “I might actually be able to play again in the season, sometime in the last three weeks.”

While Ziemba waits for recovery, senior Ryan Denha finally takes the field again, playing on Sept. 9, the day of the Harrison game, for the first time this season. Coming back from two knee injuries, one from the summer going into last year and the next from Cougar Craze going into this year, Denha recognizes the nature of his sport.

“It’s just football, just part of the game,” Denha said of his injuries.

Although he is cleared to play for the rest of the season, Denha understands what it feels like for the players who aren’t as lucky.

“It’s not as bad if you know you’re

Observing From the Sideline: Junior Sam Clayman watches his team play from the sideline. His back injury had him on the bench for the game. (photo by Lindsey Scullen)

coming back,” Denha said. “But for the first time [last year] I was out for the season, no doubt about that, so I was just around not really doing anything.”

And there are players facing that hardship right now. Juniors Andrew Holloman and Mike Angeli both faced season-ending injuries earlier this fall, Holloman with a dislocated shoulder and Angeli with a torn ACL. Both will need surgery.

With a twice-dislocated shoulder, Holloman, too, faces not only a season-ending injury, but a careerending one as well.

“If I get hit again, it could come out,” Holloman said resignedly of his arm. “I mean it’s not worth the chance.”

Coach Calvin Gross acknowledges the hardships his players have gone through.

“I always feel bad for the players that sustain an injury that is a season ending one,” Coach Gross said. “These kids put so much into a sport they love.”

While Coach Gross knows that injures are a part of the game of football, this year’s injuries have caused more damage to his team

“

We need to get healthy so that we can compete with the remaining games on our schedule.

””

Coach Calvin Gross

than in previous years, and not because of the sheer number.

“Many of the players that have been injured play on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball,” Coach Gross said. “When they do get injured, we are replacing two positions.”

Still, the season goes on and the fight continues. According to Coach Gross, the team continues to battle their opponents with a goal of improving from week to week in mind.

“Football is a tough and physical sport. That is why many young men play the game,” Coach Gross said.

“I believe we are getting better every day… I believe as the season continues we will see the results in our play on Friday nights.”

(Photo by Soumith Inturi)

Freshmen cheer team grows in numbers

by Rachel Shutter/ Claire Efting Lifestyles/Sports Team

Poms in the Air: Freshmen Cheerleaders encourage the players on the field.

Their voices echoed throughout the stadium. (photos by Melissa Houghton)

I love my team so “much; it wouldn’t be the same without all of them.

”

Freshman Helena Wiesemann

(Photo by Melissa Houghton)

Freshmen Football Stoney Creek Cougars vs. Birmingham Groves Falcons August 31, 4:30 p.m.

Cougar Stadium Final score: Cougars 23, Falcons 22 The crowd was filled with silence.

As the people in the stands listened to the sound of grunting players and clashing pads, no explanation was necessary.

The look on the faces of the fans at the freshman football game said it all.

Battling after being down in the first half, freshman players fought hard to come back. Determination filled the eyes of the players as they were about to be tested for their strength, toughness, and determination.

A loud, high pitched chatter can be heard from down the hall as a large mass of girls enters a room that is almost too small. They immediately get to work and begin to set up for a long and crowded three hours.

Huge mats suspended many feet in the air are brought down and rolled out across the auxiliary gym floor, by over sixty cheerleaders on three teams.

Almost half of these girls are freshmen, it is one of the biggest freshmen cheer teams to date.

Freshmen cheer coach Claire Mozer spent time at Hart last year recruiting future squad members.

For Mozer, a large squad is a great opportunity for the cheerleaders and the cheer program, making it an advantage for everyone involved.

“I want to have an army every single year,” says Mozer about the number of girls that are on the team.

To an outsider, organizing

such a large number of girls may seem like a difficult task. According to Mozer, the large number of girls enables her to manipulate formations to add visual elements to a routine.

“Some girls really just give cheer a try because it seems fun and exciting even though they have little experience,” Mozer said. “It’s great.”

Even though there are 24 girls on the team, most of them with little cheer experience, Freshman Amanda Blake is excited about the newcomers.

“We do have way more girls than I have ever had on a cheer team before,” said Blake.

According to Blake, the additional girls on the team have also made it easier for the team to deal with injuries.

CBS news reports that National Center for Catastrophic Sports Injury Research found that more than half of the 112 catastrophic female high school sports injuries in the past 25 years have occurred in cheerleading.

The team had some injuries over the summer, according

to Blake, but had no troubles substituting a girl in.

So while the stunts that cheerleaders execute in this sport are dangerous, having a big team helps to deal with these injuries when they arise.

To freshman Helena Wiesemann, being on the team is more than just a good experience.

“I’ve gotten to meet so many new people and made a lot of new friends because of cheer,” Wiesemann said.

“It’s so much fun.”

Agreeing, Mozer said, “The team has bonded together so well and the large numbers help rule out the cliques.”

The team is large and loud, but according to Mozer, the 24 girls on the team are very dedicated and are there because they love cheer. In addition, Mozer said she is very excited for the future of the squad and cheer program.

“The only problem I have with the large group is when they won’t stop talking,” Mozer said smiling. “But when they start to cheer and really get into it they become a team.”

30 the last

Seconds

The air was tense as spectators prepared themselves for a nailbiting finish.

By the look of Coach Paul LaFrance’s face, he knew that with only minutes remaining, his team could score the game winning points and walk away with a “W”.

Dashing down the field, the crowd was roaring with a hundreds of different cries. But at that moment, only one mattered… Touchdown! (compiled by Matt Houghton)

(photo by Melissa Houghton)

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September 30, 2011

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