Dexter High School 2200 N. Parker Road Dexter, MI 48130 www.thesquall.com
March, 28. 2013.. VOL. 18. Issue 6.
Small Town Recovery
A year after an F3 tornado tore through town, community reflects on recovery efforts Photo Illustration: Jordan Romanowski . The photo on the left is of the Kramer house on March 16, 2012 following the tornado. The photo on the right is of the same house a year later. Photo Credit: Kramer family
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3 4 7 8 11 14 16
Index On The web See our daily updates on www.thesquall.com
3 News
Senior Survivor enters fourth year
4 News
Womens basketball historic playoff run
7 Sports
Swimming and wrestling compete at state championships
8 Spread
Dexter Tornado one year later
11 Interactive Spread 5x5 with DHS subs Match the mural
14 Get Involved
THE
Students serve on mission trips
Squall
16 Photostory
DHS Improv gaining popularity
Letters to the Editor Policy: The Squall encourages letters to the editors. They can be emailed to dextersquall@gmail.com, dropped off in room 407 or given to staff member of The Squall. Letters may be edited for length and unprotected speech. Requests to withhold a writer’s name will be considered by the editorial board. Letters should be limited to 300 words or fewer.
Contact us at: 2200 N. Parker Road Dexter MI, 48130. (734) 426-4240 Editors-in-Chief Levi Kipke Cameron La Fontaine Head Designer Abby Mesaros Photo Editor Miranda Mors Assistant Photo Katie Vontom Web Editor Teddy Grammatico
Business Manager Erin Lashbrook
Opinion Editor Erin Lashbrook
llustrator & Design Drew Daugherty
Entertainment Editor Dan Edwards
Graphics Jordan Romanowski
Sports Editor Nate Nuttle
Center Spread Editor Lauren Kimmel
Get Involved Editor Carolin Schade
News Editor Morgan Van Hoof
YOU page Editor Mitch Kimball
Feature Editor Aman-Vir Mandair
ext: 7407. dextersquall@gmail.com
Design Team Ben Grover Levi Kipke Cameron LaFontaine Abby Mesaros Brandon Otto Jordan Romanowski Morgan Van Hoof Staff Writers Zeke Breuninger Dan Edwards Mitch Kimball Lauren Kimmel Aman-vir Mandair Noah Mellifont Bryce Pederson
Scott Rogers Carolin Schade Zac Sharp Morgan Van Hoof Photographers Casey Hansen Lindsay Henderson Andrew Milkey Nate Nuttle Kathryn Pisano Hadli Polidori Adviser Rodney Satterthwaite
Staff Editorials:
Editorials represent the majority opinion of the editorial board. Editorials are unsigned. Columns represented the opinions of the individual staff members who wrote them.
Staff Policy:
The Squall is a student publication distributed to students, faculty and staff of Dexter High School. The Squall is also distributed by subscription to the Dexter community. The Squall has a press run of 1700 copies and is printed by The Argus-Press in Owosso, MI The paper serves as a public forum with student editors making all content decisions. Opinions expressed in the newspaper are not necessarily those of Dexter Community Schools.
Memberships:
News 2013 Senior Survivor
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Despite threats issued last year, event continues with minor changes Morgan Van Hoof Staff Writer
When the first students began to arrive for what seemed to be a regular Wednesday on May 26 of last year, rumors began to spread like wildfire before the 8 a.m. bell even rang. Only one detail was clear: Senior Survivor had been cancelled. Senior Survivor, the week-long competition modeled after the TV show “Survivor” where seniors compete to raise money for charities of their choice, had only been at DHS for three years when the first problems arose. Just over two days into the competition, a confrontation between some of the survivors and two of the event’s supervisors, teachers Ryan and Jessica Baese, occurred. Conflicting accounts of the incident exist. None of last year’s survivors or the Baeses would comment for the article. After the incident, administrators threatened to cancel the program. Despite these threats, the program will return this year with minimal changes, which include a stricter set of rules for administrative oversight, according to student council President Andrew Milkey “There will be more supervision, but that’s basically it,” Milkey said. “There’s going to be at least one administrator there every night.” According to student council adviser and math teacher, Al Snider, by having an administrator there each night, can monitor the situation more closely. Snider is the adult in charge of organizing and planning the Survivor event. He also said that the rules for the competition will be reviewed and enforced with the participants before
the competition begins. “Our goal is to raise money for charity and at the same time create positive memories for all involved,” Assistant Principal Ken Koenig said. “We cannot change what happened at last year’s event. We can only make sure that it does not happen again.” Senior Survivor raised $15 thousand last year, even though the activities were cut short by three days. The money all went toward tornado relief following the March 15 tornado that hit Dexter. “The fact that we can donate money to a needed cause is awesome,” Snider said. “We have not yet encountered any problems this year, and I don’t expect there to be any problems.” This week, the teams were revealed and each team represents a different charity. In 2010, when Senior Survivor first debuted, the current senior survivors were only freshmen. But even then they knew they wanted to be part of the program. “I have wanted to do Senior Survivor since the first year it was ever done,” senior Alex Reich said. “I thought it looked like a good time. Now we’re seniors, and we’re the ones participating.” “I was behind the scenes last year planning it and wanted to experience the other side of it. I think it will be super fun,” senior Bailey Mayrand said. “I’m most looking forward to making a close bond with my partner and looking to the school to help raise money.” It’s not all fun and games, though. Those who participate take the competition very seriously. “I’m most looking forward to crushing the competition,” senior Greg Osberg said. “I’m going to form whatever alliances I can and sell the crap out of my T-shirts.” Osberg’s competitor, Sarah Keen, has some strategies of her own. “My goal is to be the most creative in raising money,” Keen said. “I wanted to participate because we raise money for good causes and raise school spirit at the same time.”
Photo Credit: Miranda Mors
Last year Senior Survivors Ali Bowman and Alex Friedman run out onto the floor during the opening ceremony.
Senior Survivor Facts •Senior Survivor raised $15,000 for the Dexter Tornado
Relief Fund last year despite the competition begin cut shot by three days. •Teams this year include seniors Nate Nuttle and Payton Lakey, AJ Sterlitz and Sara Keen, Alex Reich and Megan Flocken, JP Birmingham and Bailey Mayrand, Sean Coast and Daniela Gomez, and Greg Osberg and Valerie Manners. •Money will be donated to the winning team’s charity of choice. Some charities being considered so far include Nothing But Nets, The Cancer Society, and Huron Valley Humane Society. •Senior Survivor will take place April 14-19 as Survivors will remain in the school 24 hours a day.
Feature
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Post-Season Excitement Playoff run makes history Levi Kipke & Scott Rogers Staff Writers Ten seconds left in overtime. Score tied, 34-34. Dexter had come back from an 18-point deficit and didn’t plan to stop. Farmington Harrison passed the ball from one player to another. The clock ticked away: five seconds left. Freshman Taylor Olson saw her chance and snatched the ball out of a Farmington player’s hands as the girl tried to drive to the basket. The Dexter fans erupted. Everyone on their feet, screaming and shouting. Olson dribbled down the court and fired off a quick pass to senior
captain Riley McDonald. McDonald launched the ball towards the net from well outside the three-point line. The ball fell into the net, and Dexter secured its win and its ticket to the state playoffs. “Part of it is disbelief,” head coach Mike Bavineau said. “To actually know that it ended, and that you have won on that type of play, is unbelievable. I’m thrilled for the whole team, that they got to experience this.” The womens basketball team accomplished something this year that no Dexter womens basketball team has experienced. After a 17-2 regular season, they made it to state semi-
finals, beating seven teams in their post-season run. Even after losing to Grosse Pointe South in the state semifinals 48-29, the season was still regarded as a successful one by the players and coaches. Senior Makenzie Svihra said, “We made a list of goals at the beginning of the season, and we’ve literally completed every one.” According to Svihra, these goals included beating rival Chelsea twice, winning the SEC outright and playing in the Breslin Center at Michigan State University where the final four was held. Photo Credits: Casey Hansen and Jim Sodt
Senior Riley McDonald attacks the Grosse Pointe defense to no avail. The final score, 48-29, signaled an end to her last season as a Dreadnaught.
The underclassmen get ready to switch into the game as the final seconds of the game ticked away as seniors, in the final minutes of the semi-final match in the Breslin Center, cheered their younger teammates on.
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Senior Emma Kill goes up for a jump ball during the competition in the Breslin Center.
Their season was highlighted by the 37-34 Regional final win in overtime with the buzzer-beater from McDonald to beat Farmington Harrison. This win brought the girls team to states where they beat Saginaw Heritage 34-33 on two free-throws from Svihra, the team’s point guard. “I just tried to stay relaxed,” Svihra said about the end of the state quarterfinal. “I honestly have no recollection of that moment.” The team boasted five senior starters, including captain McDonald, with five underclassmen completing the roster. “Each one of the players does something a little bit different that brings success to the team,” Bavineau said. “They’ve all had a critical part or piece in all of our successes. Experience helps us be the best we can be when it matters the most.” Svihra agrees with Bavineau, saying leadership and chemistry were pivotal to the team’s success. “With there being five seniors, we’ve all been playing together since we started playing basketball,” Svihra said. “There’s a lot of chemistry on and off the court.” The team has also benefitted greatly from their postseason attitude, according to Svihra.
Dexter’s student section gets rowdy during the semi-final game to cheer on the Lady Dreads as they face Grosse Pointe South Blue Devils.
“We knew we had to want it,” she said. “In the playoffs it comes down to which team wants it more. We talked about this before going into each game, which helped us to focus on doing everything we could to win each game.” The desire possessed by every player on the team was critical in the Regional final against Farmington Harrison when they were trailing 30-12. “We just realized this could be the last 16 minutes of our season,” Svihra said. “We weren’t going to go down without a fight.” Bavineau said he tried to motivate the team as best he could, but at a certain point he realized his team was able and willing to get the job done. “I’ve tried to get them pumped up, and I’ve tried to get them calm,” he said. “But they always leave the locker room the exact same way, with quiet confidence to know they can go out there and do it. They’re supremely confident in their ability.” Once Dexter began to mount its comeback, Bavineau knew it would be difficult for his team to take the lead and finish off Farmington, which he said is typical of high school teams. “I was nervous when we got to that point, got close,” he said. “So many times
you see teams get to that point and you can’t quite get over the hump.” Dexter was able to complete a 22-4 run to tie the score at 34 and send the game into overtime. “Once we got into overtime, I felt like we were in pretty good shape,” Bavineau said. After a scoreless period, Dexter was able to steal the ball on the final possession of the game, leading to the buzzer beater from McDonald. Bavineau said the excitement sparked by this game is best suited for high school. From storming the court to the viral video, he said it was special because all of the fans know the girls who made it happen. “Those are your classmates out there representing you,” Bavineau said. “High school is just the sheer emotion.” Even though the season ended with the disappointing loss to Grosse Pointe South, Bavineau said the regular-season success and playoff run will be something the entire team will hold on to. “You’d love to send your seniors out this way every year,” he said. “I’m sure it’ll be something Riley will never forget.”
Freshmen Taylor Olson drives down the floor in the hopes of putting Dexter on the board during the competition.
Sports
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MARCH MADNESS Louisville Missouri Oklahoma St. St. Louis Memphis Michigan St. Creighton Duke Gonzaga Pittsburgh Wisconsin K. State Arizona New Mexico Iowa State Ohio State
SQUALL BRACKET 2013
Louisville
Kansas
Louisville
Michigan
OK State
Michigan Louisville
MSU
Michigan Minnesota
Louisville MSU
Georgetown Georgetown
Duke
Indiana Gonzaga
Indiana Indiana
Wisconsin
Syracuse
Indiana
Wisconsin Ohio State
Indiana
Arizona
Marquette Ohio State
Miami Miami
Ohio State
Kansas N. Carolina V.C.U Michigan Minnesota Florida Oklahoma Georgetown Indiana NC State UNLV Syracuse Bucknell Marquette Illinois Miami
March continues its madness Cameron LaFontaine Staff Writer
Every year since 1939 the mens NCAA basketball tournament has captured the undivided attention of fans as the NCAA’s best battle in a bracket-style tournament. People all over the world fill out brackets. In fact, in ESPN’s Tournament Challenge online 8.15 million people submitted brackets for a chance to win $10,000. Even at Dexter High School many students participate in a bracket pool. One of the largest bracket pools is headed by junior Jeff Wicks who’s in his second year of doing a bracket pool. “This year we have about 55 students in our
bracket, which is a huge increase from last year’s pool where we had about 30,” he said. “Last year was mainly just my close friends, but this year we’ve opened it up to a lot more people.” Wicks chooses to do a paper bracket pool where he grades brackets manually rather than creating a group online which is gaining popularity. “I feel that people like to have the experience of filling out a paper bracket rather than clicking the buttons on a computer,” he said. “Sometimes it’s better to just be old school.” Headlining bracket news so far are teams like Florida Gulf Coast, a 15 seed. They beat a 2 seed, Georgetown, and 7 seed, San Diego State, to make it to the Sweet 16. Another team adding to the madness is La Salle, a 13 seed that began in a play-in game to be able
to get into the tournament. They handled 4 seed Kansas State and 12 seed. Ole Miss and are also in the sweet 16. Michigan and Michigan State entered the tournament as a 3 and 4 seeds . Michigan plowed through South Dakota State and VCU as it cruised into the sweet 16 and will face 1 seed Kansas on Friday, March 29. Michigan State also handled its first two rounds with ease beating Valparaiso and Memphis. MSU will face 2 seed Duke on March 29. According to Wicks, the NCAA tournament is always exciting to watch. “The best thing about March Madness is that any team can win and it’s always intense,” he said. “Even though the weather sucks, the basketball is great.”
Sports
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Swim & dive head to states Wrestling too
Senior Jonathan Zofchak swims anchor in the 200 freestyle relay at the state meet.
Carolin Schade Staff Writer
With his Speedo, shaved head and six pack, freshman Jimmy Morgan dove off the starting blocks to begin his first event in his first state meet. The buzzer sounded and Morgan lunged into the pool. As soon as he felt the water hit his skin, all his stress and worry melted away. All that mattered now was swimming. “It was really intimidating,” Morgan said. “You are competing with a lot of really good swimmers.” On March 9 and 10, Morgan swam the 200 free and 500 free. Since it was his first time competing at such a high level, Morgan said he was “happy” he qualified but “frightened” upon arriving. “There was so much energy,” Morgan said. “Everyone is really good.” Despite the intimidating atmosphere, Morgan placed in the top 16 in both the 200 and 500 free. Morgan’s a freshman so it’s his first year at states. But his team is no stranger to the competition. In fact, the team has made it to states a total of 23 times in its history. The first, in the 1987-1988 school year, the team placed 26th. This year they placed fourth. Fellow freshman Robbie Zofchak also placed at states, earning fourth in the 400 free, sixth in the medley relay, 12th in the 200 IM and 19th in the 100 back. Robby swam the 400 free relay with senior Max Merriman and both senior captains, Brennan Maisch and his brother Jonathan
Photo Credit: Miranda Mors
Zofchak. Maisch and Jonathan both said they had several captain duties throughout the season and at states to help the team succeed. “We lead cheers,” Jonathan said. But he said the most difficult role was not showing anger or disappointment when a certain event didn’t go well. “It was hard not to get mad,” Jonathan said. The only junior to make it to states, Andrew Watson, will be a captain next year alongside fellow juniors, diver Jake Kilian and swimmer Jack Donevan. Watson said he hopes to continue the winning streak next year. “I want to place top eight at states and guide the team to do its best,” Watson said. Along with keeping the streak going both Maish and Jonathan hope that the future captains will carry on the traditions of the mens swim team, both public and “classified.” Maisch said the best advice he could give to future generations was to work hard every day in practice in order to uphold the tradition of making it to states every year. Coach Michael McHugh said the culture built around the swim team has been the reason for its success. “The kids have bought into what I’m doing,” McHugh said. “And they don’t question it; they just do it, getting the results in the end.” Morgan exemplifies the qualities McHugh looks for in a team member. “It’s an individual sport,” Morgan said. “But we are very team-oriented, like one big family.”
Junior Zeke Breuninger was the only member of the wrestling team to qualify for states. One of the captains, Breuninger needed to place in the top four at both districts and regionals in order to make it to states. He placed first at both. In order to prepare for states Breuninger said he practiced every day, including in the off-season. “I had to cut a substantial amount of weight” Breuninger said. This weight loss was necessary in order for him to compete in the 112 pound weight class. Throughout this process Breuninger said he considers his coaches Kurt Phelps and Jeff Oesch to be supportive. On Feb. 28-March 3 Breuninger took eighth place at states.
Photo Credit: Randy Reich
Senior Zeke Breuninger competes at the state wrestling finals at the Palace of Auburn Hills.
Spread
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1
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year later Community’s Efforts
Firefighters assess the damage left behind from the EF3 tornado.
Busch’s provided bottled water for all of the volunteers.
Gym teacher Katie Jazwinski’s family was trapped in this house when the tornado struck it.
The Bricault’s home was damages from the intense force of winds caused by the tornado. The photo on the right is a photo of the Bricaults’ home after the tornado hit. The photo on the left is a photo of their home after reconstruction.
Celebrated
Photo Credits: The Jazwinsksi, The Kilians, The Martins, The Davis’
Cameron LaFontaine and Mitch Kimball Staff Writers
With heavy hearts and wet eyes, more than 350 citizens from Dexter met at the local LaFontaine Chevrolet dealer to reminisce and reflect exactly one year after the tornado struck Dexter. Just over a year ago, these residents took cover as an EF3 tornado ravaged their town, leaving the broken pieces of more than 380 homes and businesses in its wake. The event, “One Year Strong,” included donated food, testimonials reflecting on personal experiences during the tornado and pictures of the damage and recovery to help create a collage that will be displayed at the historical society.
me appreciate things a lot more.” While grateful to also be back in his home, Bazick still cannot believe that such a tragedy happened in his town. “It’s still a shocking feeling because you hear of all this stuff that happens but nothing ever happens in Dexter,” he said.
THE DAY OF THE TORNADO
While the tornado caused lots of damage, the community played a key role in helping tornado victims like Vollmers, Bazick, and junior Jake Kilian move back into their houses more quickly. Kilian, whose house suffered two collapsed ceilings and siding damage from the tornado, was grateful for the help the community lent his family. “The community as a whole really came together, and everyone we knew came over to our house to help out after the tornado,” he said. Former student Jordan Sharp was just one person who helped with clean up efforts the day after the tornado struck last year and was very impressed with the community’s efforts. “Even though it was a horrible tragedy, I think the tornado did a lot of good for the community,” he said. “It showed how much we could achieve if we come together and all work for a good cause. It made me even more proud to be from Dexter.”
On Thursday, March 15, 2012 a tornado watch was issued in Washtenaw County by the National Weather Service at 5 p.m. At 5:17 p.m., the reportedly 800-foot wide tornado touched down and traveled down Dexter-Pinckney Road. Initially, the tornado was measured at EF-1 damage with winds estimated at 100-120 MPH. At 5:31 p.m., the tornado intensified to 135-140 MPH winds and touched down again in the Huron Farms subdivision, located near downtown Dexter. The damage was now measured as EF-3. After demolishing many homes, the tornado then weakened as it neared the intersection of Zeeb Road and Dexter-Ann Arbor, the terror over. An estimated 2,000 DTE customers were left without power for days. Over 380 homes and businesses were left with minimal to catastrophic damage after the tornado swept through. The National Weather Service only gave southeast Michigan a 2 percent chance of tornadoes on March 15. Many students felt the harsh effects that the tornado wrought upon the community. Senior Olivia Vollmers was at soccer practice when the tornado struck. “We had to go in the team room of the school, and I obviously wasn’t thinking the tornado would hit my house so I was super calm,” she said. “When we were finally able to get out of the team room, I saw that I had like 50 missed calls from my mom so I called her back. She said my house got hit, and I started crying. I got home, and we had to leave immediately and get a hotel room.” As Vollmers rushed home, she experienced high emotions and lingering questions. “I just got the biggest knot in my stomach,” she said. “I just wanted to make sure my entire family was OK, and my cat because I wanted to make sure he was OK. And then just wondering where we were going to live for the next couple months because I knew we didn’t have enough money to just rent another house.” Sophomore Luke Bazick was also affected by the tornado. “I was in my basement with my mom, dad, sister and my best friend,” he said. “I was terrified during the tornado, and after I was just in shock because nothing bad like this ever happens in Dexter.” Bazick’s house suffered many broken windows, a lightning-struck roof resulting in open holes, and water and internal damage from the storm. The tornado put both Vollmer’s and Bazick out of their homes. Vollmers moved back into her house around Thanksgiving of last year, over eight months after the tornado hit. “I feel like the tornado made me a lot stronger, and it made my family a lot closer because of everything we had to go through and it was a good learning experience. It made
Members of the community lug a large tree branch towards the wood pile.
COMMUNITY EFFORTS
DEXTER TORNADO RELIEF FUND
In addition to the tremendous efforts of volunteers after the tornado hit, the Freshman Joy Hook and junior Abbi Kemperman help clean up Huron Farms after the tornado whipped through. Many students victims were helped by the Dexter Relief Fund created by local business owner assisted in the efforts towards cleaning up Dexter. Matt LaFontaine and Chelsea State Bank manager David Klumpp. “A committee was formed after the tornado as we realized we were going gratitude from when Cornerstone Elementary School raised funds for Japan following the to receive a significant amount of donations,” Klumpp said. “The committee consisted earthquake and tsunami that devastated the country in 2011. of Matt (LaFontaine), myself, Nancy Paul from Faith in Action, Sharon Raschke and Looking back on the event that shook Dexter just one year ago, LaFontaine feels proud Mary Marshall from Dexter Schools, Courtney Nichols from Village of Dexter and Libby of his community. Brushaber from Dexter Township. To date, we have given back a little over $309,00 to “The most rewarding thing for me was not just the money we raised - over $340,000 those families affected by the tornado. This included helping families with their insurance in cash - but the lessons the tornado taught all of us. This kind of thing can happen to deductibles, food, clothing, gasoline, lodging, tree removal and yard damage.” anyone. It brought us together, and it showed everyone what lending a hand meant. We According to Matt LaFontaine, the Dexter Relief Fund was not just created for clean- had donations from local young school children emptying out their piggy banks, to as far up. away as Japan. It truly was a blessing that no one was physically hurt, and it taught us all “Our mission turned from how to help after this tragedy, to how to help all of the a lesson of ‘helping thy neighbor.’” people affected not only heal but come out on the other end of this tragic event somehow Klumpp, while proud, was not surprised that the community came together during this better,” LaFontaine said. “We had money come from as far away as California. As time tragedy. went on, it was kind of like that six degrees of separation. You find out how many people “People coming together, working hand in hand, total strangers at times did not surknow you or are connected to Dexter. When the donations started coming in from out of prise me as that is what Dexter is all about,” he said. “It makes me very proud of where I state, we realized we were part of a much bigger community.” live and work--the committee I cannot say enough. They have been great, and we should LaFontaine found out just how big that community was when the Consulate-General all be very proud of what we have accomplished in a relatively short period of time.” of Japan in Detroit personally donated a $1,000 check to the relief fund, as a token of
Interactive Spread
The Squall Page 10 www.thesquall.com March 28, 2013
THE FIVE BY FIVE Mr. Mark Substitute
Mr. Kahn Substitute
Noah Mellifont & Zac Sharp Staff Writers Mrs. DeCamp Substitute
Mr. Heidtke Substitute
Key and Peele Substitute
What makes you the best substitute teacher? Understanding and compassion. I know how your evil minds work.
I engage the students, and I’m willing to help. Plus, I’m not cranky.
While I am not sure that I am the “best,” I love being in class with the students and seeing their accomplishments. I think they respect that.
I wouldn’t say I am, but I am a fun one.
I provide students with the knowledge of how to pronounce their names correctly.
Have students ever tried to pull a prank on you? If yes, than what? Anything you do, try or say, I’ve done. That’s what makes you amateurs.
One time a student had Pop Its and was throwing them in class, so I had to call the vice-principal.
Not really. I guess my reputation for following the rules and classroom order precede me.
Closest was a kid who tried to leave class and said his mom was calling him, but it was a girl in the class. I could see them both on their phones.
This little brat named A-A-ron is telling me his name is Aaron.
What do you think is the common reaction by students when they hear that you are subbing? “Not again.” Some love me, some hate me.
A good, positive reaction hopefully.
There are two reactions: “Hi Mrs. DeCamp, you are my favorite sub” and “Oh no, we can’t get away with anything with her.”
Can’t tell you, not enough experience.
Pumped and prepared to learn. The children love me.
One word to describe the style of your subbing? Stink-eye.
Awesome.
Enthusiastic. If we have two, also “caring.”
Fer-real.
Teaching. That’s what I do.
Worst experience subbing? A student pushed me. Minor problem.
Haven’t had a worst experience.
The day that I broke my arm, first hour; that was not a good start to my day.
The teacher left and didn’t leave me any plans, so that got awkward.
Taking attendance.
Q&A with Albert Lesser Q: What is your favorite activity on the farm? A: I like shootin’ stuff. Q: What is your biggest pet peeve? A: Liberals. Q: In your eyes, what’s your biggest flaw? A: I speak my mind. Q: What’s your favorite farm animal and why? A: I like cows. All around good animal and I like beef. Q: What are your thoughts during school? A: How many hours do I have left here?
Q: What’s your favorite piece of farm equipment? A: Combine. I like to scare people on bicycles. That’s fun when I go down the road. Q: What’s your standard dresswear? A: Flannel shirt, jeans, steel toed boots, Carhart, and a hat. Q: What are your feelings on the school dress code? A: Everybody should dress like me. Q: What’s one thing you want everyone to know about you? A: Deep down, I’m a pretty nice guy.
Interactive Spread 1 C
The Squall Page 11 www.thesquall.com March 28, 2011
E
5
2
A
B
3
D
4 Photo Credits: Nate Nuttle
Answers: 1-B, 2-C, 3-E, 4-D, 5-G, 6-A, 7-F
Mix ‘n Match
G
Can you figure it out?
Match the zoomed-in snapshots of each mural, labeled with numbers, with the corresponding whole picture of the mural, labeled with letters.
7 6
F
Opinion
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Dan Edwards Staff Writer
We need more sports
As we all know, football is the king of the sports world at Dexter High School. It rules with an iron fist and seems to destroy every opponent in its way, when it comes to the budget. The football team receives the most money of all the sports programs in the school. I understand that football brings in the most money, and I enjoy going to the games just as much as the next guy. But come on. The amount of money we designate to one sport takes money and attention from other sports. I think if we put a little bit less money into funding major sports, we could use some to offer a new sport to compete in. Like bowling, cricket or crew. Some students are afraid of doing certain sports because they don’t want to get injured or can’t perform in them because of an ailment. So I think it’d be a good idea to make a wider variety of sports available for our students who would like to become more active to choose from. And I know some sports aren’t popular
over here in The States but that’s because we haven’t opened up a market for them yet. Take cricket, for example; Junior Gordon Makin says the sport is awesome. “I used to play baseball,” Makin said, “But one day my dad (who’s from England) brought home a flyer for cricket, and I signed up.” Makin quickly realized that he liked the sport a lot more than baseball. “I like baseball, but cricket is just way more creative,” he said. “In baseball, you just stand there and hit. But in cricket you can add your own style and creativity to how you hit.” Cricket is the national sport of England and is the second most popular sport in the world after football (soccer). If you really don’t know what cricket is, watch the movie “Lagaan.” Makin says he would like to see cricket catch on in the States, but he is doubtful that it will. “The game is too long for Americans,” Makin said.
Long or not, I think D e x t e r would have a great cricket squad. And former exchange student Ayub Khan agrees. And for bowling, every time I go to the bowling alley, I see the same group of people every time. So, I would imagine these people would like to compete for real against other schools. These smaller sports aren’t given enough of a chance to get popular. So I think the fat cats in Lansing should loosen their purse strings and give schools some more money to not only continue funding our educations but also so we can offer more sports. After that, it’s your move, Dexter.
Pizza and pizza and pizza and pizza and pizza Zeke Breuninger Staff Writer
Pizza seems to be a lunch-choice epidemic, and I am becoming ill from it. As a freshman it was cool. Prepubescent voices would scream, “Oh my goodness. It’s Classic Pizza day!” It was something Mill Creek wouldn’t offer to us. It was like a 5th grade pizza party in lunch. We were unable to wrap our heads around it. As many slices as we wanted from our favorite pizza place? Once a week? However, years passed, and pizza began to become a common part of our Styrofoam trays. The euphoric pizza party sensation is long gone and pizza has gone overboard. Because of the increase in pizza production, I have been left with many worries. Classic Pizza isn’t even the same anymore. It used to be something to look forward to. Your little league team just won the league championship and now it’s time to celebrate. So the kid with a hot mom arrives with four boxes of fresh pizza and the little fourth graders chow down. That’s how I like to remember it. Instead, I now walk into the cafeteria as a junior only to watch pizza under heating lamps slowly become discolored, and I’m supposed to eat it? Cold lunch here I come. While we should be investing our money to our suc-
cessful football team, instead, we’re going to have to pay for new tables to support everyone’s caboose. No names here, but I do remember a while ago watching someone plop down on a seat only to witness them breaking the leg of their chair, plummeting to the ground on their tailbone. Extra pizza adds extra weight. And It’s a safety hazard. What about my class reunion 50 years from now? I’ll roll out of my tractor-spaceship, most likely with my wife Carrie Underwood, only to find myself in a near-toempty banquet room. The few classmates that will be surrounding me? You guessed it, they all had mommy pack a cold lunch for them. All those pizza eaters? Dead. With every bad thing I dish out about pizza, there are a few benefits it has to offer to us. Perhaps next year we will have a set of offensive lineman that will be tipping the scales with a little more marinara sauce. And the wrestling team won’t have to forfeit heavy-
Illustration Credit: Drew Daughtery
weight anymore. A couple of years ago we had a heavy weight named Porkchop. Maybe next year we can have a Pepperoni. Junior Theodore Ardon Walton said it best, “I feel bloated and my booty is caboted, I can eat no more pizza.”
Editorial
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Our View
Student service is a necessity for all
While time always seems scarce, and there are only so many hours in the day, some of a student’s time should be dedicated to giving back to their community. Community service is important for many reasons. It teaches students responsibility, charity and selflessness; traits that seems to be disappearing more each day. Community service is a tool that not only changes the lives of the less fortunate but also the lives of the volunteers. One of the most rewarding things a person can do is to give something to another person without expecting anything in return. But aren’t students schedules already packed enough? Between homework, sports, clubs, jobs and other extracurriculars, it seems like there already aren’t enough hours in the day. But everyone should make time to volunteer and give back to their community, regardless of how little time they feel that they and schools can help. Schools should make volunteering mandatory by requiring a set amount of community service hours that must be completed by graduation. The hours would
be done for an organization approved by the school and would have to be signed off on by someone from the organization to meet the requirement. We’d suggest 40 hours of community service for a student to graduate. While this may seem like a lot, over the course of four years, students could dedicate one weekend a school year to volunteering and would meet the requirement easily. If a school of 1,000 students each completed 40 hours of service to graduate, that would equal 40,000 hours of community service per graduating class. Imagine the benefits. In addition if one class could volunteer at the local homeless shelter and another could be responsible for helping out at the humane society, that way, students could work together towards a common goal, creating a unifying force among each grade. In the nineties, Michigan did have a graduation requirement that included community service hours. Why would this have been retracted? Community service and real-life experiences are just as important, if not more impor
Illustration Credit: Drew Daugherty
tant, than skills learned inside the classroom. While there may be some resistance among students to forced volunteering, after the hours are logged, we guarantee many of these doubters would find that the experience was well worth their time. It is important to give back to the community that has provided students with an education for the past 13 years. And since stronger communities create stronger school districts, it’s a win-win for all.
Editors’ Vote Should students participate in more community service?
11
.............................................Yes
1
..........................................No
Do you think that students participate in their community enough? “Some do through school I guess, through school clubs like Key Club.”
“No, I think that they don’t care as much as they should, or see real problems that people need help with.”
Andrew Guise freshman
Jenny Squire, sophomore
“Yes, in sports like with fan support and refereeing students get involved.”
Matt Mitchell, junior
“As a community we come together well, but the younger kids could probably do a little more. Like last year during the tornado it was awesome to see how many high schoolers came together to help.”
Alex Dinser, senior
Get Involved
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As mission trips become popular
Students find themselves getting down and dirty
and how much it meant to her. I got to see the roof Staff Writer keeping her safe. The roof While many high schoolers spend their summers at the I had worked on.” A memorable moment pool, at the beach or, more likely, sleeping in, senior Emily for De Zeeuw also had to Stone is getting her hands dirty. Stone has gone with her church, Dexter United Method- do with talking to those afist Church, on a summer mission trip for the past four years fected. “One day we went down with an organization called Service Over Self, or SOS. Year after year, their goal is to patch up houses in bad condition to this village on a lake,” De Zeeuw said. “Due to in inner city Memphis. “We have to make sure it’s a good, safe environment for the earthquake, the pH levels were off in the lake, and kids,” Stone said. But in addition to helping, students also go on relief there was a decrease in the number of fish.” trips for the social aspects. This particular village “It’s basically a week with your friends,” Stone said. “The had been a fishing village, first year I had a really fun group. We didn’t really know so the people had lost their Juniors Garrett Weng and Jake Kilian work on the roof of a house during their time in Memphis. each other, and now we’re really good friends. You make business and income due to friends with people you might not have.” And while service trips can be an opportunity to meet the after effects of the 2010 earthquake. De Zeeuw and his new people, junior Michael De Zeeuw said inviting friends church did a “prayer walk,” where they walked from hut to sign up could also positively affect a student’s experience to hut and prayed over the people in the house. According to De Zeeuw, the people of the village’s selflessness was on these service trips. memorable. “Find a group “We had a translator with us, because it’s easier so we could ask them what they to do stuff like this wanted us to pray for,” De Zeeuw if you’re with peosaid. “They always wanted us to ple you’re comfortpray for the village, never for them•Students who would like to work with NRN through St. able with,” he said. selves, which was pretty cool.” De Zeeuw went Joseph Parish Church should contact Don Dalgleish at And some advice when going on with his church, 734-426-2674 (ext. 206) or don_dalgleish@stjos.com a relief trip is to keep an ear out for Ann Arbor Christhe stories of those affected by the •The first meeting is April 24 at 6:30 p.m. in the Parish tian Reformed natural disaster, according to Don Church, on a trip to Center at St. Joseph Parish Church. Dalgleish, Catholic Youth Minister Haiti over the sum•Currently 42 high school students and 10 adults have at St. Joseph and NRN trip coordimer. The volunnator. signed up to help the organization, according to Dalgleish teers helped build a “Be prepared to listen to the stowell, brought food ries of those that lived the disaster and spent their free because you are doing more than time at an orphanrebuilding homes and cleaning debris. You’re rebuilding age. Not all trips are as international as De Zeeuw’s, lives,” Dalgleish said. Both Kurczes agree and said that talking to the residents though. Many are more like Stone’s in that they stay within of Joplin, MO also created some of their most memorable the U.S. moments. Such is the case for sophomore Maddie Kurcz and her An EF5 tornado tore through Joplin on May 22, 2011. It older brother Louie who have gone on three summer trips left damages of up to $2.8 billion and caused 158 casualties. with their church, St. Joseph Parish, through an organiza“One guy that we talked to in Joplin said the tornado tion called the National Relief Network. NRN has gone on trips across the country to help with tornado cleanup, flood went right over his house,” Louie said. “We got to hear his story and how the windows busted in. It sounded really and hurricane relief efforts. According to Maddie, the trip is a good combination of scary, but it was the most memorable point for me.” Maddie also had the chance to hear some of the survival friends and helping the community. “You’re spending time with friends and helping others at stories from the day of the tornado. Photo Credit: Kate Eekhoff “There was one lady in Joplin whose entire house was the same time,” she said. blown away,” she said. “She was holding on by only a pole.” Junior Brittany Byma and sophomore Sophia Bryson along with MiIt seems this sense of helping others is a key factor in Dalgleish said he hopes that more students get the opchael Dekker and Andie Dekker work with children in Haiti. keeping students coming back year after year. “I like helping people. The feeling of making a differ- portunity to hear these stories, rather than letting their split up the work in teams,” she said. doubts get in the way. ence is really cool,” Stone said. Louie agrees that the pros of going on a mission trip “Don’t listen to that little voice that is telling you that Louie agrees: “It feels good to know you’re making a difoutweigh the cons. you can’t do it because you either don’t have any resources ference. The people there really appreciate it.” “I definitely suggest it. It’s a great experience, and it feels or skills to volunteer,” he said. “Most people talk themStone had the opportunity to see the work she had done in action. On her last trip, she was stationed to work down selves out of volunteering for a number of reasons, so the good to help people,” he said. All in all, Maddie encourages other students to get inthe street from the house she had worked on four years ear- hardest part about volunteering is saying yes to volunteervolved in trips like those involved with NRN and SOS. ing.” lier. “Everyone gains something from it. I know people who According to Stone, students shouldn’t let the manual la“We were able to visit and talk to the homeowner,” Stone said. “She told us how much of a difference we had made bor daunt them from participating in a relief trip either.“It weren’t sure about it and went and ended up loving it,” she might sound like a lot of work, but it’s not that bad. You said. “Every hand counts.”
Lauren Kimmel
NRN Contact Info
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Improv provides creative outlet Aman-Vir Mandair Staff Writer
Senior Jacob Rich is known by his peers as a funny, jovial guy with a quick wit and ability to entertain and make others smile. Though he gets fewer opportunities to express these traits during the busy and stressful school days, he said he comes alive on stage during his Improv performances. Rich has been an Improviser for three years, and he is joined by other veteran Improv members like Seniors Jacob Dishman and Barrett Bryson. “Ever since I was a small child, I’ve been inspired by improvised TV shows like “Whose Line is it Anyway?”,” Rich said. “I’ve always loved to perform in front of people, and because of my experience with Drama I was drawn into Improv.” Junior Graham Northrup is also a part of Improv, and joined the club at the end of his sophomore year. “I first learned about Improv during my sophomore year from my brother, who told me to attend the Improv workshops,” Northrup said. “I finally gave in during the end of the year and decided to attend one of them. I immediately liked it.” Northrup said it was the freedom of expression and imagination that hooked him in, as he loved to be able to say or do whatever
he wanted at any time during performances. Students interested in Improv have to attend the meetings each Friday, which occur from 3:15 to 4:15. Between 12 to 18 people are cast for each of three shows, and the current captains are juniors Tyrus Caldwell and Havah Roussel. According to Coach Erin Palmer, students are chosen based on a number of different factors. “To be cast for shows, students are selected based on how much they impress the captains, how much they willing to help their fellow performers during shows, and how often they attend the meetings,” she said. “Learning to improvise is a developed skill, and you have to be a risk taker and able to develop your character on the spot.” Northrup also talked about Improv’s openness to all kinds of students. “One of the biggest reasons why kids should join Improv is that it helps them to open up their personalities,” he said. “You don’t necessarily have to be the most outgoing person to do Improv, and you could be very shy but still be a great performer.” So what makes a great Improv performance? Rich said that the key is always confidence. “You always have to have the belief in yourself that what you’re doing on the stage is funny and entertaining to the crowd,” he said. “We all have a sense of humor. But it’s how you convey your sense of humor that matters.”
Junior Graham Northrup and Senior Jacob Rich hold a stance during the Improv show. This is Rich’s last year performing with the club.
Senior Hunter Scharf plays the role of a bully and junior Collin Ullmann plays the role of an innocent student begging for mercy. Freshman Kurtis Hansen, sophomore Dan Laird and junior Havah Roussel play the Improv game “slideshow.” Improvisers freeze in a completely random stance while one or two others proceed to explain their poses. Roussel is captain of the Improv club along with Tyrus Caldwell. Photo Credit: Katie Vontom