Dexter High School 2200 N. Parker Road Dexter, MI 48130 www.thesquall.com
May 23, 2011 • VOL. 17 • Issue 7
A thoughtful farewell from a dedicated editor
page 12
The Dreadnaughts’ voice
rise
Seniors on the pages 8 & 9
Photo from: Lauren LaFontaine
Index
The Squall Page 2 www.thesquall.com May 23, 2012
4&5 News & Feature Senior Survivor ends prematurely Here’s an in-depth look at what happened, what rumors were wrong and how much money was raised.
6&7 Sports & Entertainment Electric Forest
An athletic department in flux With Brett Steele’s resignation as athletic director, the administration is once again one staff member short.
page 4&5 Photo Credit: Miranda Mors
v. Hoedown This summer’s biggest concerts and music festivals have certain styles of dress. Read and be prepared.
8&9 Center Spread Seniors reminisce Seniors remember what made the 2011-2012 school year special.
So long
Editor-in-Chief Emily Darrow says goodbye.
10&11 Interactive Spread
Bucket list
Twelve things you need to do before the end of summer
The 5x5 Seniors sound off for the last time in this month’s 5x5.
12&13 Opinion & Editorial
page 14
Farewell
Editor-in-Chief Connor Thompson writes his last column Photo from Hunter Hook
Hipsters, take heed
Editorial
Students should work with administrators to solve athletic issues, and funds should be distributed based on merit.
Staff Writers Steve Miller and Tay Schmidt are really cool.
14&15 Get Involved & YOU Page Mission Trips
Student Samaritans take time out of their schedules to aid impoverished communities.
16 Photostory Prom
Upperclassmen found the commons turned into an enchanted forest when they arrived for the annual spring formal.
page 16 Photo Credit: Abby Mesaros
Good-bye
The Squall Page 3 www.thesquall.com May 23, 2012
Be sm art an d stay smart. Make memo that w ries ill last your entire life. Chery Scienc l Wells e teach er
od Enjoy this time. Make go to decisions when it comes e school and work. Don’t b for sk a d n a ck a b e m co to afraid help. Be smart, be safe. olan Stephanie N English teacher
DHS teachers say goodbye, each in their own way
Staff
Jason Miller Math teacher
farewells I’ll miss you. Jared Hollenbeck Substitute teacher
Good riddance.
t a h w r o f e s Have purpo our y t a h w d n fi d n a o d u o y r “why” is. e d i n S l A er h c a e t h t a M
Contact us
Mail address: 2200 N. Parker Road Dexter MI, 48130 (734) 426-4240 ext: 7407 Email: dextersquall@ gmail.com
Staff Editorials
Connor Thompson Editor-in-Chief Emily Darrow Editor-in-Chief & Head Designer Nicole Ferguson Web Editor Kristie Duve Photo Editor Jennifer Stirling Business Manager Carly Cash Illustrator & Design James Simonds Graphics Ali Bowman Taylor Schmidt Design Team Marissa Argiero Josh Boren Hank Dreffs Justin Juback Miranda Mors Kathryn Pisano Olivia Vollmers Photographers Benjamin Bruetsch Sirah Camara Dan Edwards Theodore Grammatico II Nathan Hoatlin Levi Kipke Cameron La Fontaine Abby Mesaros Steve Miller Charlotte Morrill Colin Northrup Emily Pap Staff Writers Rodney Satterthwaite Adviser
Memberships:
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.
Letters to the Editor The Squall encourages letters to the editors. All letters will be screened for libel and obscenity. The editorial board may edit or shorten letter as long as the meaning is unchanged. All letters must be signed and include a telephone number for confirmation. Request to withhold a writer’s name will be considered by the editorial board. Letters can be emailed to the Squall staff, dropped off in room 407 or given to any member of the Squall staff.
The Squall Page 4 www.thesquall.com May 23, 2012
Feature Senior Survivor cut short
Fund-raising competition to support tornado victims canceled after reported incident involving chaperones Cameron LaFontaine and Levi Kipke Staff Writers
Seniors Patrick Becker, Zac Whidby and Polly Washabaugh compete in musical chairs at the Senior Survivor assembly. Whidby won this competition for the purple team.
Senior Survivor play-by-play
Senior Survivors arrived at the school to begin the competition. Sun., April 23 7 p.m. Tues., April 25 10:30 a.m. Senior Survivor assembly in the gym. Yellow team, Jodie Friedman and Patrick Rogers eliminated. Blue team, Ali Bowman and Alex Friedman eliminated. Tues., April 25 3 p.m.
Senior Tori Waidley sat outside in the hallway around midnight while teachers and administrators discussed the future of the competition. She wondered how and when the night was going to end. “We were sitting outside the room for almost two hours, waiting to hear what was going to happen,” Waidley said. On Tuesday, May 25, around 10 p.m., the annual student council-sponsored Senior Survivor competition was cut short by three days due to an incident that occurred between student competitors and a staff member. According to a source with inside knowledge of the event, the incident started when science teacher Jessica Kreeger brought two girls down to the locker room for their evening shower. Because of possible legal ramifications, the source said they would agree to an interview only if the Squall didn’t use their name. “After she let the girls in, two boys came out of the boys locker room and said they were locked out of the shower room,” the source said. “They said they needed a key, and she told them to go talk to (social studies teacher Ryan) Baese because they couldn’t have her key.” Neither Baese nor Kreeger would agree to an interview for this story. The source said that soon after, the students told Kreeger they wanted to be let into the pool to go swimming. Waidley confirmed this account of things.
Tues., April 25 10:30 p.m. Incident between senior survivors and Mrs. Kreeger in the alcove of the girls’ locker room.
and said Kreeger then tried to rationalize “We were all down there, trying to get with the students by saying it wasn’t her in,” Waidley said. “But it was all a big building, she didn’t have the authority to joke.” let them in the pool, and she could lose According to both parties, one of the her job. girls took the end of the lanyard of the The source said at first that Kreeger keys that Kreeger was holding. was joking, but when the students didn’t “(The student) was just kind of beg- stop what they were doing, she started ging Kreeger to let us in,” Waidley said. to get serious and yelled for Baese down “Then Kreeger let loose of the keys for a the halls. second, and (the student) grabbed them Waidley agreed with this account. from her hands and ran down the hall “She was yelling, ‘Baese, come help pretending she was me!’” Waidley said. “We thought going to open the she was just joking around, We did all that pool from the boys though. We were still in a line, we could, and the locker room.” because we didn’t want her to Shortly after this, chase after (the student) with community helped the unnamed source the keys. (One student) had his us to raise $15,600. said several students back to her because he was like That’s what we’re formed a line around boxing Kreeger out with her bereally proud of. the alcove to block hind him. There were no hands Kreeger from reinvolved, though.” trieving her keys. However, the unnamed Tori Waidley Waidley agreed source said Kreeger was assaultSenior ed, cornered, pinned along a this is what happened. brick wall and held against her “A few of us got in a line and pre- will after her keys were taken from her. tended we were not going to let her out,” The source said at this point Kreeger felt she said. overpowered and started to cry. According to Waidley, the seniors Waidley said the seniors noticed the continued to ask Kreeger to let them change. into the pool for several minutes, until “We sensed a change in mood,” WaidKreeger told the seniors she would let ley said. “We immediately stopped what them into the pool if Baese, the other su- we were doing, and about two seconds pervisor, consented. later, she walked away and started cry“(One of the male survivors) left to ing. We were all confused about what go find Baese,” Waidley said. “(He) had had just happened.” just left, but we were still messing with According to both parties, Baese then Kreeger about letting us in the pool.” walked in through the gym to the locker The unnamed source confirmed this, room hallway in just enough time to see
“
”
Wed., Apr. 26 midnight
Dean of Students Ken Koenig arrived to the high school.
Wed., Apr. 26 12:45 a.m.
Senior survivors’ parents were called and came to pick up the survivors.
Feature
The Squall Page 5 www.thesquall.com May 23, 2012
Tues. April 31 8 a.m.
The senior survivors’ appeal was granted and all punishments were revoked.
Senior survivors request an appeal of the suspension.
Seniors Tori Waidley and Alex Mortensen compete in a limbo challenge at the senior survivor assembly. The red team went on to win this challenge.
Mon., April 30 8:00 a.m.
Baese then emailed “He was like, ‘What the hell just happened?’ We told him we didn’t even student council advisknow what had happened because we er Al Snider and textwere all so confused,” Waidley said. “We ed Dean of Students Photos by: Miranda Mors, Kathryn Pisano, Olivia Vollmers told him that we were joking, and we Ken Koenig. Neither Seniors Jodie Friedman and Patrick Rogers make and entrance at the of them got back to senior survivor assembly. thought the joke got taken too far.” This is where Waidley and the source Baese immediately, disagree on their accounts of what hap- and he went upstairs mostly disappointed that Senior Surto check on the rooms, and he saw all the vivor was cancelled because the money pened. The source said that Kreeger viewed students in the hallway outside Kreeger’s raised was for charity. the kids’ actions as intentional and pre- room. Koenig called back 10-15 minutes “We put so much time and effort into meditated instead of in a joking manner, later and arrived 10 minutes after that. this thing, all for a good cause,” Senior Senior Survivor was canceled soon af- Survivor Alex Mortensen said. and that Kreeger felt their actions were terward. i n ap p r op r i The money raised went to Faith in According to both par- Action and the Dexter Tornado Relief ate. ties, there hasn’t been any Fund. Even without finishing out the Baese and contact between the Senior week, the students raised $15,600, more Kreeger then Survivors and the supervi- money than the last two years combined. went back sors since the incident. to Kreeger’s “The point is, I know Mo and I spent classroom. The next day, admin- every single day fundraising. I am sure total money raised Shortly afistrators informed the every other team did the same,” Waidley seniors that they would said. “We did all that we could, and the ter, according receive punishments. One community helped us to raise $15,600. to the source, senior received a two-day That’s what we’re really proud of.” Baese went back down to the locker room hallway suspension, and three others received Administrators and teachers includto make sure the kids didn’t open the Saturday school. ing Principal Kit Moran, Dean of Stupool door. The students had not opened However, all of the punishments have dents Ken Koenig and student council up the pool door and seemed visibly up- since been revoked after being appealed. adviser Al Snider all declined to comRegardless, the students say they are ment for this story. set.
Senior survivors and their parents met with the administration and received their punishments. Fri. April 29 8 a.m.
$15,269.81
Wed., April 26 8 a.m.
Administration met with Senior Survivors and their parents to debrief.
Survivors called down to the office for questioning.
Announcement made throughout the school to discourage spreading rumors about the incident. Thurs., April 27 8:30 a.m.
Wed., April 26 6:40 p.m. Wed., April 26 1:45 p.m.
Email sent out by Principal William Moran regarding the cancellation of Senior Survivor.
Sports
The Squall Page 6 www.thesquall.com May 23, 2012
Athletic Dept. to be restructured
Cuts prompt policy changes
Recent athletic renovations
structure,” Burton said. • The pool at Wylie received new air and Burton also said when Steele announced he was resignwater filtration systems, new starting ing, the Community Services and Athletic Department Ever since Gov. Rick Snyder assumed office in 2010, blocks and new sound-absorbing matequickly came together to determine what the immediate schools have struggled to keep a balanced budget. Because needs were and what solutions the District had to make. rial on walls as well as speakers. of these state-wide budget cuts, schools have had to cut “We tried our best to eliminate any plans that would many academic, extra-curricular and leave any sort of negative impact toward the athletic programs. • The football team received new We tried our best to students and their activities,” Burton said. In order to counter these cuts, ad“These plans are now in motion, and we are uniforms, helmets, locker room and ministrators have been looking at areas eliminate any plans that moving forward as part of the evaluation proto restructure to save the district money. bleachers. would leave any sort cess to mitigate any negative impacts for next One of the biggest programs being reyear.” of negative impact tostructured is the Athletic Department. Several issues have arisen within the proThe board of education is currently • Bond money will be used to fix the wards the students and gram that need to be addressed and the board discussing a plan to combine the Comis working very hard to find solutions to the drainage system at the soccer, softball their activities. munity Education department and the issues, Burton said. and baseball fields. Athletic Department to save money. And while there have been a number of is“The purpose of combining the desues surrounding the athletic department, he partments is to try to find any efficienActing Athletic Director said he and the rest of the board members are • Al Ritt stadium will get a new running cies of scheduling or coordination of working to find solutions. programs of younger students with older track installed He said, “Athletics are an important piece students, improved field usage, etc.” Superintendent Mary of the overall student experience, whether or not you’re a Marshall said. student athlete. With that said, I am very impressed with • Al Ritt stadium will get a new turf field While the plan is still a work in progress, Executive the level of dedication our student athletes, coaches and Director of Support Services Sean Burton is evaluating community has.” ways in which the combined Community Education and Athletics programs might work best. And the restructuring of the department isn’t the only problem the athletic department is facing. In early April, Brett Steele resigned from his position as athletic director after serving seven months at the job, saying these revisions didn’t match his philosophies. “It was very sudden,” Principal Kit Moran said. “I only found out he was resigning a few minutes before he did. Now we’ve got another big hole to fill.” Since the resignation of Steele, Burton said he has been conducting interviews and holding meetings with various stakeholders in both departments to evaluate the structure of the Department and to determine the strengths and weaknesses. “This was a good opportunity for me to gain insight into the stakeholders’ views and opinions of the overall Illustration by Carly Cash Dan Edwards Staff Writer
“
”
Sean Burton
Entertainment Cowboy hat If you wanna go all out at the hoedown, don’t leave home without one.
Daisy Duke shorts Gotta rock the slightly rugged yet cute look of the classic Daisy Dukes to any country event. Plus it’ll be hot. Jeans are probably not your best choice.
Cowboy boots You can’t do to a country concert without them Cowboy boots complete the look.
Dress right
Bandana Always a classic accessory to spice up your look.
for festivals Emily Pap
Staff Writer
Every year in early June, the Detroit country music station 99.5 hosts the three-day Downtown Hoedown. The event showcases both new and established country artists including Rascal Flatts, Reba McEntire and Big & Rich. Junior Emalie Taylor said she enjoyed her time when she went in 2010. “There was a ton of people, and I loved it,” she said. This year’s hoedown, held on June 8, 9 and 10, marks the event’s 30th anniversary. “There’s different stages with different artists performing and booths where you can buy T-shirts and food,” Taylor said. According to the 99.5 website, “The hoedown is regarded by the Country music industry as a premiere showcase opportunity for new and estab-
lished artists.” A different type of festival takes place June 28-July 1 in Rothbury, Mich. This festival, originally called Rothbury, is now called Electric Forest. It features indie, techno and house music. “The music is a merge between bluegrass and electronic music to attract the younger crowd,” senior Joel Gowen said. This will be Gowen’s first year going to the festival. Including musicians the festival also features different types of art, food and people. In previous years, Gym short shorts it also If you want to make a i n c lu d e d things statement, guys, short shorts such as a will never fail to get that job reincardone. nation garden, a garden constructed out of recycled materials to help people relax while exploring it. The resort also includes ponds and waterparks that the guests can use before the musicians begin to perform.
Bright colored tank top Bright colors are always flashy. Be flashy. Be awesome.
Electric Forest Festival
Downtown Hoedown
Plaid button down shirt The plaid buttonup is a classic country style.
The Squall Page 7 www.thesquall.com May 23, 2012
High socks Way above the knee: Adds to the of the festival.
Photos by Kristie Duve, Illustration by Carly Cash, Photo illustration by Ali Bowman
Freshman Darian Mayrand
Freshman Nick Rodriguez
Spread
The Squall Page 8 www.thesquall.com May 23,2012
From beginning ... 1997-2007 Harry Potter series published
1999, ‘12 Mens swim state Nov. 2000 Contested 2000 election Nov. 2001 iPods first released Jan. 2001- Jan. 2009 The Bush Administration
Kit Moran Principal
“We remember people, whether they’re students or teachers. You don’t remember the tests or assignments--except my leaf collection in junior high.”
Sept. 11, 2001 World Trade Center terrorist attack
Oct. 2001- present Iraq/Afghanistan Wars 2002 New Dexter High School built 2002, ‘03 ‘04, ‘05, ‘06 Men’s Cross Country state champions 2002 Women’s Swim state champions
Melissa Mabry Senior
“I think it’s safe to say the class of 2012 is a class to always be remembered. I wouldn’t have wanted to spend my life growing up with anyone else. Good luck in all you do everyone and thanks for all the years.
Editor In Chief
After eight issues of hiding, comfortably nestled in the back drop of The Squall, I have decided to come forward and give my most genuine response to the years I’ve spent as a Dreadnaught. I moved to Dexter Community Schools when I was in third grade - one of the hardest transitions I’d been through in what I thought of as my very long and wise seven years of life. New house, new school, new teachers, new kids, a new life. I swore I’d never make it through. But here I am, at the end of my high school career. What seemed so difficult at the age of 8 now hardly crosses my mind when looking back on the last nine years and the challenges that myself, our community, and we as a class, have faced. Just two months into my first school year in Dexter, I lost my older brother Justin, the next life challenge I thought I’d never survive. Then came all of our trivial tragedies. Someone stole your gel pen out of your desk in fourth grade. The first boy you truly most definitely were certain you were supposed to spend the rest of your life with broke your heart in sixth grade. You lost the big game in eighth. You were going into your freshman year, and those upperclassmen were going to inevitably eat you alive. No one asked you to the dance, you didn’t get the job, you made a stupid decision that challenged your moral values, you didn’t get that “A” that you were positive was going to be the difference between living on the street in a box or going to U of M to be a wealthy engineer. We have all been through the “hardest day of our lives” at least once, or if you’re like me, dozens of times while just attending high school. Sometimes it’s not just the petty little things. Your parents got divorced, a family member is sick, one of your parents loses a job in an already impossible financial crisis. Or like the tough times we’ve shared together, like losing classmate, or watching a tornado tear through our peaceful little village. But what do people do when times get tough? They come together. Teachers, counselors, parents, classmates, neighbors, loved ones. We have all been there on those hard days, consoling and holding each other, reminding each other of the bright prospect of a better day ahead. Because although the hardest and worst day can seem like every day, there’s always something to look forward to. You got the acceptance letter you’ve waited for, you found the perfect prom dress, you came home on your birthday to a car in the driveway and your parents hand over the keys. Suddenly the hardest days were yesterday, and today is a new beginning. But then there’s getting past hard times, like losing someone you love, or having to rebuild a community from the rubble. Days drag, but then weeks are gone and months, even years pass in the blink of an eye. What was an open wound that you were sure would never heal has fresh new skin in its place. You’ve learned to let the memory of that person live on, but rejoice in the good times instead To my right hand man, my biggest enemy, and my best friend. A huge, much needed and deserved thanks to my partner in crime, Connor Thompson. We’ve accomplished so much this year. You’re gonna of being so focused on the fact that they can no longer be do great things kid. I’ll never forget our time as editors for The Squall. Much love, dear. by your side. Houses that had been torn apart now have
... to end March 2012 Tornado Clare Tell
May 2011 Bin Laden dies
Senior
Mar.-Dec. 2011 Japanese earthquake and nuclear crisis
“It’s been fun you guys, but I think we’re all ready for bigger and better things. Have a wonderful life and thank you for everything.”
Dec. 2010- present Arab Spring 2010-12 Squall censorship scandal
McKenzie Goff Senior
Jan. 2010 Haitian earthquake
“Take every experience with you and keep an open mind.”
Dec. 2009 Affordable Health Care Law passes
June 2009 Michael Jackson dies Patrick Becker Senior
November 2008 Obama’s election
“If I had four years to live, I would spend it at Dexter High School, because this has felt like an eternity.”
2008 Marvel begins its series of superhero movie franchises with The Incredible Hulk and Iron Man
A special thanks ...
2004 Equestrian state champions 2004 and on Massachusetts, Iowa and other states legalize gay marriage
Emily Darrow
new siding and roofs, and happy families again nestled in the heart of them. When my brother died, I thought that such an event would define me for the rest of my life. I was destined to be broken. I just knew that that day would be never-ending. Justin will have been gone ten years this October, and I’d be so proud to show him all that I’ve accomplished in that time. In those years, I’ve watched Dexter win some rowdy football games, like at Lincoln when we came back at the last minute to steal what we were all sure was going to be a losing game. There have been homecoming queens and prom kings, college team signings, and board policy meetings regarding what it means to be a young person and having the freedom to express oneself. I’ve been on the Squall staff for four years, and as a senior finally got to see what it was like to be the lady in charge as editor-in-chief, and watch our paper progress and mature. But most importantly, as I’ve grown, through the experience of my hardest days in life, I’ve been able to help my own classmates and friends through some of theirs as well. High school is hard, no matter what anyone says. Whether you were struggling academically, or socially, it’s a time of dramatic changes in our lives. Now maybe we all haven’t found ourselves quite yet, and maybe there are still a lot of questions to be asked and answered, but this is where that growth started. Right here at Dexter High School. All of those hard days had us asking about better ones, and how we were going to get there. So here we are, ladies and gentlemen, at the end of the beginning. While it’s hard to imagine that we will walk out of that gym on graduation day and possibly never see some of each others faces again, I cannot begin to express how honored I am to spend that day, and every day leading up to the last with you all, and I hope you all could say the same of myself and each other. The best day of our lives, with so many better ones to come. Just know that no matter how hard it gets, no matter who or what we lose and leave behind, those people would look at you today with pride in their hearts and minds. I know Justin would. So let’s honor his memory by leaving this place behind and letting what has happened here go, knowing that while we spent some of our hardest days here, we also had some of our best. And we will move ahead stronger and wiser for our experiences here. Thank you class of 2012, for helping shape who I am today. I could never forget, nor would I ever dream of wanting to.
The Squall Page 9 www.thesquall.com May 23, 2012
2004, 2005, 2007 Women’s golf state champions
Aug., 2005 Hurricane Katrina
2007 Mens track and field state champions 2006 Mens soccer state champions
2007- present The Great Recession
2007- present The Great Recession
Interactive Spread
The Squall Page 10 www.thesquall.com May 23, 2012
Q&A Jeff Oesch Economics Teacher
s
r o i n
Se
Emily Pap
Describe your high school experience in one sentence.
How many times have you contemplated stealing the Gator?
What has been your best excuse to leave school?
One thing you’ve always wanted to do in high school but never did.
Money in thy purse!
One time too many.
Falling asleep during a test.
There’s a fire at the orphanage, and I’m the only one who can save them.
Kidnap science teacher Daniel Witte’s turtles.
Silly.
I did steal it. Multiple times.
Missing your AP exam.
I gotta play with my puppies. They require a minimum of eight hours of play time daily.
Balance beam the rail of the catwalk.
Extremely funtabulous with my buds.
At least once a day.
Amanda Mayer. Nuff said.
I left my lights on. My lights are automatic.
Start a food fight.
Get rich or die trying.
Contemplated?
Having it start junior year.
TORNADO!
Show up on time to my AP exam.
Ridiculous.
A solid four and a half.
Last night I found myself procrastinating going to sleep.
Oh, diabetes.
Go on a date with Maria.
Staff Writer
What is your greatest example of senioritis?
Ben Bruetsch
Staff Writer
BB: How has your first year at DHS been? JO: Excellent. The students are great here, and I love the academic rigor. Also, the focus on academics is exceptional. BB: How is it different from where you used to teach at Rogers High School in Wyoming, Mich. ? JO: It’s much different. A lot more friendly. There is a lot less violence, and kids actually care about school here.
Alex Mortensen Senior
BB: So you would say you feel much safer here? JO: Definitely. There has been no drive-by shootings while I am at work. I don’t even know why they tried shooting up the football team at Rogers. They weren’t even good. BB: Do fellow staff members haze or treat you like a rookie? JO: This is not Florida A&M University. There is no real hazing, but I did end (up) with a four-foot dead, rotting cactus in my room, compliments of Mr. Beau Kimmey. Also I have had random objects, usually trophies and awards, in my mailbox and given a glass swan. BB: Would you say that you’re good at your job? How good? JO: I am not a master teacher because let’s face it, I haven’t had the experience some of the teachers in the school. But am I better than anyone at Pinckney? Yes. Could Watson do my job? Probably not.
Chantal Singer Senior
Mark Brown Senior
BB: Describe your teaching style JO: I will teach you econ if it’s the last thing I ever do, but I will add intellectual, funny comments in between or even a good story, even if it doesn’t relate. BB: If you were Maverick who would be your Goose? Iceman? JO: English teacher Patrick Stolkey would be my Goose because he was in a band, and he could sing “Goodness Gracious Great Balls of Fire” with the rest of them. Kimmey would be my Iceman because we are in a battle of wills. He has given me “gifts” I have not wanted, and I have retaliated by making bio. book pyramids in inconvenient places around his room.
Amanda Mayer Senior
BB:Where do you see yourself in 10 years? JO: I see myself reenacting the A-Team and saving the economy in a 1979 Dodge Ram.
Patrick Rogers Senior
Interactive Spread
The Squall Page 11 www.thesquall.com May 23, 2012
Illustration: James Simonds
Opinion
The Squall Page 12 www.thesquall.com May 23, 2012
Farewell seniors Connor Thompson Editor In Chief
Ever since the first day of school freshman year, the class of 2012 had a goal: to reach today. Well, now we’re here. Congratulations, guys; we did it. Four years of high school over, finished, in the past. In the coming days, we’re going to get a lot of advice. Relatives will tell us which college major or career path is best. Teachers will encourage us to keep learning even after we finish school. Commencement speakers will wax eloquent about what they think is the best course for us to take as a group, as this year’s seniors. There’s a reason why we are being grouped like this. Are we not a family, after all? Many of us have been classmates since kindergarten; we, the individual students, we are what made the class of 2012 special. So take a minute to remember how we made our mark on Dexter High School, and how Dexter High School made its mark on us. I remember Mr. Baird greeting me by name every time we passed in the hall, even though I hadn’t had him as a teacher since the first trimester of freshman year. I remember six months of philosophical debate and art PowerPoints punctuated by occasional lunacy in Humanities; I remember countless long newspaper layout nights kept sane by Mr. Satterthwaite’s irrepressible optimism; I remember Coach McHugh leading the way as a few dozen swimmers, divers and coaches dived into Holland Community Pool, delirious with joy, on top of the world. Now we’re all on top of the world. We stand here at a crossroads; now, and only now, we are truly free to take whatever path we choose for ourselves. Relish it - it won’t happen again. So what now? That’s a question I’ve been asking myself a lot
lately. After so many years of working toward this one defining moment, it’s hard not to be a little overwhelmed. It’s time to go out into the world, but some of us kind of like the protective bubble that is Dexter, Michigan. Socrates said that the most important statement for scholars to make is that we know that we do not know. The universe is a scary place. We, for the first time, are leaving the nest. And, to paraphrase Douglas Adams, the universe is big. Really big. You just won’t believe how vastly, hugely, mind-bogglingly big it is. Now is the point in our lives at which we have the most individual freedom. We stand together at the onset of a great journey - and though we go our separate ways, we remain joined on a single quest for individual determination and meaning. Make no mistake, we do stand together. You, my peers, you who lived together, who learned together, who laughed together, who loved together - you have made each other so much more than we could have been anywhere else. You came together to rebuild after the tornado, you came together to start Dance Marathons and blood drives, you stuck together in the good times and the bad. That’s what friends are for. So sure, it’s scary. But I’m convinced that we, the class of 2012, will never lose our capacity to grow and learn about ourselves as we become full members of society. I think Calvin and Hobbes creator Bill Watterson described our situation best, almost 20 years ago. Everything familiar has disappeared! The world looks brand-new! It’s like having a big white sheet of paper to draw on! A day full of possibilities! It’s a magical world, class of 2012. Let’s go exploring!
Play it right
Illustration by Carly Cash
Steve Miller & Taylor Schmidt Staff Writers
It’s safe to say that we’ve learned how to succeed in high school. From our freshman to senior year, we’ve seen everything. And, based on our own experiences, we’ve developed a guide to help students rise to the top of the food chain. Tweet Everything. #Everything. Social networking has become the leading factor in building a reputation. Take advantage of it whenever possible. Everyone likes the guy who narrates his life through Twitter. Updates such as “Just got out of the shower; abs are looking crispy” are not only informative, but vital to a lucrative high school career. Make sure your Facebook page stays fresh with plenty of pictures, preferably with your bathroom in the background. Ladies, the cleavage duckface is always a good call. Guys, go for the seductive beater pullup. At this point in your lives, people already know what your face looks like. You might as well show them something they’ll remember you by. Take advantage of thrift Stores. When being fashionable, it’s not always about the appearance, but also the cost. Why go to Von Maur or Macy’s when you can get a semi-worn, robust-smelling corduroy suit for $2.37? People envy a person who can sport the love-stained, partially-ripped crew neck sweatshirt that mentions the word “grandpa” and is topped off with a fresh snapback hat that was most likely given out for free in the first place.
Illustration by Carly Cash
Hate popular music No one hates music, and everyone has
their own unique flavor. The important thing to remember is to let everyone know you found it first. Take advantage of such remarks as, “Yeah I heard that song like two years ago. I hope they don’t sell out.” When those artists become mainstream, make sure you stop listening immediately, otherwise you’re no different from anyone else. Do yourself a favor, and every time someone plays a song for you, seem unimpressed and compare it to something far more underground. If you do this right, by the end of your high school career, nothing will be underground enough for you, and you will end up listening to nu-rave, minimalist techno for the rest of your life. Don’t study Our experience with difficult classes is that studying is worthless. If you study and do less than desirable on a test, then you only have yourself to blame. When you get an “A” after studying, that’s boring. You had to work for that “A”. You knew what you were going to get on the test. There’s no excitement in that. On the other hand, if you “forget” to study or choose to do something more productive with your time and you do poorly, then you have an excuse. Doing well is the equivalent to taking home the gold medal. So when it’s the night before a major test, do more productive things: like texting people of the opposite sex, posting on Facebook or wondering whether or not you logged in your daily amount of online gaming. Though these guidelines may seem ridiculous and unnecessary, they are proven effective. High school is said to be the best four years of your life, so take advantage of it and make a name for yourself. And if our advice doesn’t help you and, in fact, ruins your chance at popularity, well, then it was all Steve’s fault.
Editorial
The Squall Page 13 www.thesquall.com May 23, 2012
More needs to be done to provide AD consistency Dexter has had three athletic directors in the last five years, and with around 20 sports to manage and administer, the athletic director position is one of the more responsibility-heavy staff positions in the district. This is why more needs to be done to provide consistency in this position. The recent resignation of Athletic Director Brett Steele took many by surprise, including Principal Kit Moran. “It was very sudden,” he said. “I found out he was resigning a few minutes before he did.” This seems odd. And while Executive Director of Support Services Sean Burton said he is working to fill Steele’s place as fast as possible, if the position’s filled but the next person resigns within a few months, as seems to be the pattern, what’s the point? Burton said, “When Mr. Steele announced his retirement, the Community Services and Athletic Department team came together quickly to determine what our immediate needs were and then came up with solutions to reduce and try to eliminate any negative impact to the students and their activities specifically for the remainder of this year. These plans are now in motion and we are moving forward as part of the evaluation process to mitigate any negative impacts for next year.” Unfortunately, no one on the committee to pick a new AD, including Burton, would tell us what these plans are. So while The Squall is looking forward to the opportunity to have a new athletic director who could help with some of the challenges at hand, it’s imperative that the district hire someone with good
organization and communication skills and be more transparent in the process. In fact, we’d like to see this hiring committee include captains and other student-athletes to get the opinion of the individuals who will actually be playing the sports. Constructive criticism and suggestions from the players could help the administrative staff improve on the issues participants have. We think is important for the student body to be active in hiring a new athletic director and students should contribute to the new ideas and solutions being discussed by the department. As far as suggestions for a new AD, we’d like to see spending equally divided among sports teams, perhaps factoring in the success and relative needs of the sport in question. For example, the football team hasn’t won the SEC championship since the 1960s, but they have recently been given new uniforms as well as renovations to their field’s bleachers. Meanwhile, the swim team, which recently won the state championship, receives less funding and has only had its pool renovated once since the building’s construction. This may be fair since football brings in more income, but when have students been allowed input on these decisions? We would like to see students and staff working together. More active students will make the athletic program more successful. But not keeping students and community members informed about and engaged in the process for hiring an AD makes it more likely that the new person won’t be a good fit for the district either.
What we think:
Any new athletic director should cooperate with students and staff to fix major issues and work toward a better future for the district’s athletic program.
Illustration by Carly Cash
What are some qualities you wish to see in our new athletic director? Spencer Vollmers Freshman
Alex Maser Sophomore
Megan Flocken Junior
Jeff Baldus Senior
“We need someone who has been a coach somewhere so they know how teams work and what teams need to succeed.”
“I think it’s important to keep sport funding, and someone needs to fix the heater in the high school pool.”
“I would like to see both the girls lacrosse team and the girls field hockey team to be considered a varsity sport.”
“I think we need a new, young athletic director who is organized and willing to help the athletics greatly. I would like to see more community and school support in athletics.”
Get Involved
The Squall Page 14 www.thesquall.com May 23, 2012
Other ways to volunteer Leo Club
Senior Hunter Hook plays cards with Haitian boys he met on his mission trip.
photos from: Don Dalgleish, Jeremy Hannich
Senior Charlie Sleder works with a boy he met on his mission trip to Haiti.
Volunteering at the next level Students take service work abroad
Colin Northrup Staff Writer
While some students may be planning to spend their summer playing video games and getting lots of sleep, senior Eric Koch will be among 64 students going with Dexter United Methodist Church’s high school youth group to volunteer for “Service Over Self” in Memphis, Tenn. Koch has been going on this trip to help the residents of inner-city Memphis since his freshman year and said some of his favorite memories include getting to know the homeowners, especially by hearing their stories and helping them out any way he can. He said he would encourage everyone to go on a trip like this. “There’s no reason to be nervous,” he said. “Everyone who goes is pretty welcoming, and we’re not a tight-knit group. We all get along pretty well.” Among other students going on the trip is junior Galya Traskos, who is volunteering at SOS for the first time. “My friend Lauren, my parents and the youth minister, Jeremy Hannich, encouraged me to go,” Traskos said. “They said it would be good for me. I decided two weeks ago when Jeremy brought it up. I hadn’t thought about it until then. My brother went last year.” Traskos said she is looking forward to meeting new people and also changing lives by building houses and helping with whatever needs to be done. Hannich, the Director of Youth Ministry at Dexter United Methodist Church, said his church started participating in the SOS program eight years ago. “The first SOS trip I went on was in the summer of 2008,” he said. “It’s really cool that they’ve been able to connect to the community for 25 years and that we get to be part of something
like this.” What Hannich said he takes away the most from these trips is bonding with the student volunteers. Fortunately, opportunities for the bonding are growing yearly. “We’ll be taking 64 students to SOS this summer,” he said. “Last year we took 50, and the summer before that it was in the 40s. It’s getting bigger and bigger every year. It’s a cool way to give back because we work on one house for an entire week, we get to know the homeowner really well.” Just because they’re working for an entire week doesn’t mean the volunteers don’t have time for fun, though. “We finish our work day at 5, and we get to have some evening activities and have a little fun,” Hannich said. “On Wednesday, we spend half the day exploring the sights in Memphis, which is a lot of fun.” Dexter United Methodist isn’t the only church planning a major summer mission trip. Don Dalgleish, the Coordinator of Youth Ministries at St. Joseph Catholic Church, has coordinated an annual one-week mission trip for area high school students each summer with The National Relief Network, a disaster relief organization that sends teams of students to help relief efforts after natural disasters. “This summer we are taking 70 students, and you don’t have to be a member of our church to join us,” Dalgleish said. “We go wherever NRN sends us. We did three tours in Joplin (Mo.) dismantling destroyed homes after the EF5 tornado. We have stacked sandbags in Fargo, North Dakota after the floods and cut down trees in Florida. Everyone comes away being very thankful for what we have. Personally, for me, it is very rewarding to open up opportunities for young people to serve others. Our group keeps growing because students invite their friends.”
Leo is a community service organization that has done everything from stuffing backpacks for the less-fortunate to giving Christmas gift cards. They are able to do those projects by holding lots of fund raisers. The club meets on Wednesdays at 7 a.m.. in Adviser Al Snider’s room. Illustrations: Carly Cash
Interact Club Interact club was founded in the spring of 2009 and officially chartered by Rotary International in November of 2010. The club’s community service projects include growing 150 pounds of potatoes in 2011 for Faith In Action and collecting over 600 pounds of food for FIA’s Thanksgiving food drive as well. The club meets every Tuesday morning in the library at 7:15 a.m. Students interested should see Media Specialist Linda Livingstone for more information.
Light of the World Light of The World Academy is a Pinckney Montessori school that holds preschool through 6th grade. It was first established in 2002. High school students can help at the school by tutoring and reading to them. During the summer, students can volunteer at the school’s annual summer camps. Interested students can call the school office at 734-878-3301.
YOU Page
The Squall Page 15 www.thesquall.com May 23, 2012
Photostory
The Squall Page 16 www.thesquall.com May 23, 2012
Juniors Erin Lashbrook and Lindsey Ebling compare accessories.
Seniors Marissa Argerio, Taylor Cassidy, Amanda Mayer, Noelle Stabler, Christina Condron and Lauren LaFontaine perform karaoke to ‘Barbie Girl’ by Aqua.
Senior Julie Lindemann and freshman Kyle Parm slow dance.
Prom gets enchanted Jennifer Stirling Business Manager
Students began arriving at the enchanted forest-themed school on Saturday, May 19 around 8 p.m. Events at prom included karaoke, dancing, casino games, mini golf and the video game Rock Band. And, instead of the traditional “Nearlywed Game,” magician Alan Smola, a University of Michigan graduate, performed for the crowds. The orchestra room was decorating according to a “Chronicles of Narnia” theme. The choir room, where Smola performed, was King Arthur-themed. Students and volunteers worked from after school on Friday to around 11 p.m. and finished setting up on Saturday morning. “I thought prom was as fun as you decided to make it,” senior Paige Driscoll said. “If you just walked around and watched people, of course, it would be boring. But if you found ways to have fun and danced a little, hung out with good friends and enjoyed yourself, it was a really great time.”
Senior Mitch Rayer and junior Carolyn Whittaker share a moment at prom. Photos: Abby Mesaros